Comparison of meat quality between eland (Taurotragus oryx) and cattle (Bos taurus) raised under similar conditions

Physical, chemical and sensory characteristics of meat were compared between non-domestic eland (Taurotragus oryx) bulls (n = 6) and domestic Fleckvieh (Bos taurus) bulls (n = 6) which were finished under controlled conditions of feeding and management. Musculus longissimus lumborum from eland were darker and less yellow in colour, with a higher pH₂₄ and lower contents of intramuscular fat and total collagen, compared to cattle. Contents (mg/100 g muscle tissue) and proportions (g/100 g of FA determined) of SFA and MUFA were higher (P < 0.01) in cattle. Although the proportion of total PUFA were higher (P < 0.001) in eland, contents of PUFA were similar between species. Meat from cattle was consistently scored higher (P < 0.05) for sensory texture characteristics, juiciness, flavour, and overall acceptance. We concluded that bulls of eland provided low-fat meat with a beneficial fatty acid composition from a human nutrition perspective, but with lower sensory scores, compared to bull beef.     

Relational similarity-based model of data part 2: dependencies in data

This paper is a sequel to our previous paper on relational similarity-based model of data and its fundamental query systems. The present paper elaborates on the dependency theory in the similarity-based model, focusing mainly on similarity-based functional dependencies, their semantic entailment, model-theoretic properties, complete axiomatizations, characterization of nonredundant bases, computational issues, and related algorithms. The paper shows that various aspects of dependencies in ranked data tables over domains with similarities can be properly formalized using complete residuated lattices as structures for similarities and ranks. In addition to their theoretical importance, the results can be directly applied in the areas of similarity-based constraints, query result analysis, and knowledge discovery from relational data which involves similarity-based reasoning. We assume that readers are acquainted with the prequel of this paper.     

Personenerkennung mittels 3D Handgeometrie

Der Artikel beschreibt die herk?mmlichen Methoden für Personenerkennung mittels Handgeometrie, Vergleich der Methoden und ein Konzept eines neuen Verfahrens, welches auf den vorherigen Erfahrungen basiert. Das Verfahren orientiert sich an einer geeigneten Beleuchtungsmethode für die einfachste, schnellste und genaueste geometrische Erfassung der Handoberfl?che und die nachfolgende Rekonstruktion der 3D Oberfl?che. In diesem Zusammenhang werden einige Beispiele pr?sentiert, wobei unterschiedliche Wellenl?ngen und strukturierte Lichtquellen verwendet wurden. Alle dargestellten Ans?tze werden miteinander verglichen und die Vor- und Nachteile ihres Einsatzes werden angegeben. Weiterhin werden in diesem Beitrag zwei Verfahren zum Vergleich von zwei Messungen vorgestellt. Das erste Verfahren vergleicht beide Bilder als Texturen. Das zweite Verfahren beschreibt eine 3D Methode, die ?hnliche Algorithmen benutzt, wie sie auch in 3D Gesichtserkennungssystemen Anwendung fanden.     

Influence of pressing parameters on dimensional stability and density of compressed beech wood

European beech (Fagus sylvatica) wood specimens were subjected to thermo-mechanical densification, and the influence of pressing parameters on dimensional stability, mean density and density profiles was evaluated. The specimens with two initial moisture contents, 18% and the fibre saturation point, were compressed by 20 and 40% at temperatures of 160, 180, 200, and 220 °C for several times, specified in the Methods, ranging from 6 to 12 min. Dimensional changes were observed immediately after the removal from the hot press and subsequent conditioning (20 °C, 65% relative humidity). The properties of the compressed beech wood were influenced by all the pressing parameters. This influence, however, varied based on the factor and property. The analysis showed as most appropriate: an initial moisture content ranging from 17 to 20%, a pressing temperature?≥?180 °C and pressing time?≥?10 min for the given thickness. As for the compression degree, it is necessary to consider the purpose of compression and the wood properties required.     

Density profile and microstructural analysis of densified beech wood (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus sylvatica</Emphasis> L.) plasticized by microwave treatment

This study was carried out in order to determine the efficacy of microwave (MW) plasticization for wood densification purposes. The plasticization process was carried out using a continuous feed laboratory MW at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) specimens measuring 50 mm?×?40 mm?×?8 mm were MW treated (plasticized) with an output of 3.5 kW at a conveyor speed of 0.4 m/min. Afterwards, MW plasticized specimens were densified with a ratio of 50%. Microscopic structure changes of densified wood were detected using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and density profiles were measured using the X-ray densitography. An average density of 677 kg m^?3 and 771 kg m^?3 increased significantly to 951 kg m^?3 for radially densified and to 1194 kg m^?3 for tangentially densified specimens. X-ray densitography results show uniformity of density profiles through specimen thickness, which confirmed the evenly plasticized volume of wood. Microscopic structure observation revealed that the MW plasticization was not accompanied by any fractures, and deformations present in the densified wood were due to viscoelastic buckling of cell walls without crack propagation. Therefore, MW treatment can be considered as an effective method for wood plasticization.     

Efficient and environmentally friendly energy systems for microregions

Maximum possible utilization of renewable sources as well as minimization of waste production and preference of recycling is definitely a positive trend. Global economic crisis, however, has brought about several aspects that have been neglected before. It is difficult to find a market for much of the sorted PET bottles and paper; thus sorting itself and recycling unfortunately lose their meaning. This gives rise to the question as to whether current procedures and technologies are appropriate or not. This article tries to offer a new approach which lies in maximizing waste processing (sorting, recycling, incineration, etc.) at the site of its production, along with an emphasis on maximizing efficiency of waste treatment by minimization of transport distances, labour costs and use of synergic effects of several different technologies in an open central controlled system called “MICROREGION”.     

Mechanical Properties and Microstructural Characterization of Amorphous SiCxNy Thin Films After Annealing Beyond 1100°C

The effect of thermal annealing on structure and mechanical properties of amorphous SiC_xN_y (y ≥ 0) thin films was investigated up to 1500°C in air and Ar. The SiC_xN_y films (2.2–3.4 μm) were deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputtering on Si, Al₂O₃ and α‐SiC substrates without intentional heating and at 600°C. The SiC target with small excess of carbon was sputtered at various N₂/Ar gas flow ratios (0–0.48). The nitrogen content in the films changes in the range 0–43 at.%. Hardness and elastic modulus (nanoindentation), change in film thickness, film composition, and structure (Raman spectroscopy, XRD) were investigated in dependence on annealing temperature and nitrogen content. All SiC_xN_y films preserve their amorphous structure up to 1500°C. The hardness of all as‐deposited and both air‐ and Ar‐annealed SiC_xN_y films decreases with growth of nitrogen content. The annealing in Ar at temperatures of 1100°C–1300°C results in noticeable hardness growth despite the ordering of graphite‐like structure in carbon clusters in nitrogen free films. Unlike the SiC, this graphitization leads to hardness saturation of SiCN films starting above 900°C, especially for films with higher nitrogen content (deposited at higher N₂/Ar). This indicates the practical hardness limit achievable by thermal treatment for SiC_xN_y films deposited on unheated substrates. The ordering in carbon phase is facilitated by the presence of nitrogen in the films and its extent is controlled by the N/C atomic ratio. The suppression of graphitization was observed for N/C ranging between 0.5–0.7. Films deposited at 600°C show higher hardness and oxidation resistance after annealing in comparison with those deposited on unheated substrates. Hardness reaches 40 GPa for SiC and ~28 GPa for SiC_xN_y (35 at.% of nitrogen). Such a high hardness of SiC film stems from its partial crystallization. Annealing of SiC_xN_y film (35 at.% of N) in Ar at 1400°C is accompanied by formation of numerous hillocks (indicating heterogeneous structure of amorphous films) and redistribution of film material.     

Parallel simulation algorithm for maintenance optimization based on directed Acyclic Graph

An efficient simulation algorithm for the quantification of reliability performance indicators of a complex system is demonstrated in the paper that is based on Monte Carlo method. A directed Acyclic Graph is used as a useful system representation. A parallel simulation technique is used in the algorithm which is based on the construction of the special course of life sequence of transformed transition times subjected to the corresponding part of the Acyclic Graph. The parts of the Acyclic Graph represent individual subsystems of a given system and may be effectively evaluated from the reliability point of view. The wide range of models for both deterministic and stochastic processes applied on the terminal nodes of the Acyclic Graph is allowed in the algorithm. The use of the algorithm for comparative theoretical calculations as well as for industrial applications is shown by a visual demonstration. A cost-optimization problem is shortly introduced which may be fully solved by the algorithm using additional genetic algorithms as an applicable optimization technique. The problem takes into account also additional objective that is defined as a prescribed constraint of a selected reliability performance indicator. The solution of the cost-optimization problem is demonstrated on two practical examples.