Microbiological denitrification of red beet juice

The purpose of study was the determination of optimal conditions for red beet juice denitrification by Paracoccus denitrificans bacteria as well as the evaluation of the usefulness of microbiologically treated juice for the production of a natural colouring preparation for foods. Total reduction of nitrates was found during bacterial culturing at 25 and 30 °C, at an initial pH of 7.0-8.0 and juice osmotic pressure of 900-1100 mOsm/kg. Microbiological denitrification procedure affected colour, taste and aroma of the juice. However, the use of juice as food colouring and component was made feasible by acidification and partial evaporation of water together with volatile substances.     

Suspension force and mechanism of debris flows

The paper discusses the postulated suspension force, by which it is possible to explain some enigmatic phenomena observed in different types of mass movements. This force is generated in thick suspensions as a result of friction between sinking solid particles and static water. The suspension force is related to the seepage force but they have opposite directions. Both forces form flow networks. Having explained the suspension force, the paper describes how this influences the movement of material, particularly in debris flows. Enigmatic features and the mechanism of debris flows and lahars are explained by virtue of the suspension force. Electronic Publication     

Scheduling railway traffic at a construction site

We consider the problem of rescheduling trains in the case where one track of a railway section consisting of two tracks in opposing directions is closed due to construction activities. After presenting an appropriate model for this situation we derive a polynomial algorithm for the subproblem of finding an optimal schedule with minimal latenesss if the subsequences of trains for both directions outside the construction site are fixed. Based on this algorithm we propose a local search procedure for the general problem of finding good schedules and report test results for some real world instances. Received: December 8, 1999 / Accepted: May 2, 2001     

Fibre backbone for cable TV using multi-channel am video trunking

This paper updates a scenario for the evolutionary integration of optical fibre transmission technology into existing cable television networks first presented in 1988. The resulting ‘fibre backbone’ yields a hybrid fibre/coaxial network with significantly better reliability and transmission quality than present systems. System and electro-optical component advances in the last year are reviewed, and the merits of various modulation techniques are examined. The fibre backbone approach emphasizes continuing the broadband delivery of a large number of video signals to the consumer.     

Replacement of beef fat in Frankfurters by interesterified palm,cottonseed and olive oils

Three interesterified vegetable oils (IVOs) prepared from palm, cottonseed, and olive oil, respectively, have been studied for application to Frankfurters. Beef fat (10%) was replaced by one of the IVOs at 20, 60 or 100%. Fatty acid composition of the lipid fraction in the Frankfurters and saturated/unsaturated ratios were established for all batches. We found that total or partial replacement of beef fat by IVOs did not lead to significant changes in appearance, colour, texture, flavour or sensory score. We conclude that IVOs may be successfully applied as beef fat substitutes in Frankfurters.     

Shallow Linear Action Graphs and their Embeddings

Action calculi, which generalise process calculi such as Petri nets, π-calculusand ambient calculus, have been presented in terms of action graphs. We here offer linear action graphs as a primitive basis for action calculi. This paper presents the category of embeddings of undirected linear action graphs without nesting, using a novel form of graphical reasoning which simplifies some otherwise complex manipulations in regular algebra. The results are adapted in a few lines to directed graphs. This work is part of a long-term search for a uniform behavioural theory for process calculi. Received October 2000 / Accepted in revised form April 2001     

The organisational learning effects of management accounting information under advanced manufacturing technology

This study empirically examined the organisational learning effects of the nonfinancial performance information provided by management accounting information systems (MAISs) under advanced manufacturing technology (AMT). In this study, a target costing system and the frequent and quick reporting of information were considered the facilitators of learning. First, we examined the relationships between AMT level and the amount of nonfinancial performance information produced by MAISs. The empirical results showed that there are significant positive relationships between the level of AMT and nonfinancial performance information. With a systems approach, we also proved the impact of the relationships among AMT levels, nonfinancial performance information and learning facilitators on the organisational performance of a firm. The results of our research suggest that under a high level of AMT, for the provision of information to result in an increase of performance through organisational learning, a target costing system must be introduced and a large amount of information should be provided frequently and quickly. The results of this study also showed that although AMT level may be low, fairly well-arranged facilitators and a moderately large amount of information may be necessary for the improvement of performance. In conclusion, effective organisational learning depends on the provision of relevant information as well as efficient learning support mechanisms.     

Effect of moderate to very low fat defined formula diets on serum lipids in healthy subjects

Serum total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were studied in healthy male and female subjects consuming for one-week periods a diet of conventional food (CF) providing 42% of energy as fat, principally butter fat, and then in random order nutritionally complete, defined formula diets of moderate (32%) to very low (1%) fat content. Compared to CF, the formula with 32% of energy as corn oil lowered serum cholesterol by 25% and the ratio of total to HDL-cholesterol by 13%. Low (9%) and very low (1–3%) fat formulas reduced HDL-cholesterol by as much as 40%, raised the total: HDL-cholesterol ratio by about 20% and raised serum triglyceride levels by as much as 100%. When low and very low fat formulas were ingested for three weeks, these effects persisted although maximal responses occurred during the first week. These results demonstrated that a moderate fat formula diet with a high P/S ratio had a more favorable effect on serum lipid levels than various low fat formulas. Low fat conventional food diets should be studied in long-term controlled metabolic experiments before such diets are recommended to the general population for coronary heart disease or cancer prevention.