Optical scattering in beef steak to predict tenderness using hyperspectral imaging in the VIS-NIR region

The objective of this research is to develop a non-destructive method for predicting cooked beef tenderness using optical scattering of light on fresh beef muscle tissue. A hyperspectral imaging system (λ = 496–1,036 nm) that consists of a CCD camera and an imaging spectrograph, was used to acquire beef steak images. The hyperspectral image consisted of 120 bands with spectral intervals of 4.54 nm. Sixty-one fresh beef steaks, including 44 strip loin and 17 tenderloin cuts, were collected. After imaging, the steaks were cooked and Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) force values were collected as tenderness references. The optical scattering profiles were derived from the hyperspectral images and fitted to the modified Lorentzian function. Parameters, such as the peak height, full scattering width at half maximum (FWHM), and the slope around the FWHM were determined at each wavelength. Stepwise regression was used to identify 7 key wavelengths and parameters. The parameters were then used to predict the WBS scores. The model was able to predict WBS scores with an R = 0.67. Optical scattering implemented with hyperspectral imaging shows limited success for predicting current status of tenderness in beef steak.     

软件:有效数字化广告牌背后的"大脑"

日益精密且成本逐渐下降的的显示技术使人们对下一代户内、户外广告的"数字化"充满了期待。然而运行显示网络必不可少的"大脑"是不容忽略的。下面综述了成功的数字广告系统的软件需求,以及这些系统的工作方式。     

Effects of three crosslinkers on colored pH‐responsive core–shell latexes

Environmentally responsive hydrogels have become attractive research subjects for many applications. In this work, a series of pH‐sensitive and color‐changing nanoparticles (nanogels) with core–shell structures were synthesized. The cores were blue latex particles synthesized by a miniemulsion technique with styrene and methacrylic acid as monomers and Neozapon Blue 807 as a dye. The shell was a pH‐sensitive polymer that was precipitation‐polymerized onto the core from 2‐(diethylamino) ethyl methacrylate with N,N′‐methylenebisacrylamide, poly(propylene glycol) diacrylate, and divinylbenzene as crosslinking agents. In the resultant latexes, the color was observed to change from deep blue to pale blue as the pH of the system was changed from a high of 10 to a low of 3. The synthesized latexes and particles (gels) were then characterized with an ultraviolet–visible spectrometer, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance. Atomic force microscopy was also used to investigate the different morphologies of the particles after the synthesized latexes were dried at different pH values. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

印度的开放

印度在对外国公司开放零售市场上已经迈出了第一步，但仍然有很长的路要走。     

Thai power: Net metering comes to Thailand

Thailand has recently introduced net metering legislation that provides streamlined procedures for small renewable energy generators to connect to the grid, and guarantees both a market and good prices. The new laws create income opportunities for rural communities based on locally produced, clean, renewable energy supplies and offer significant potential to reduce Thailand's dependence on imported oil and coal. Chris Greacen, Chuenchom Sangarasri Greacen and Rich Plevin report.     

Assessing Consequences of Substance Use: Psychometric Properties of the Inventory of Drug Use Consequences.

Negative consequences are an important component of the substance use change process, yet no standardized measure exists to assess consequences of use. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Inventory of Drug Use Consequences, a self-report measure assessing drinking and drug use consequences. Participants (N=252) were assessed at entry into outpatient substance abuse treatment. Items loaded strongly on 1 factor, and internal consistency of the total scale was high. Fifteen items with the highest correlations with the total scale were chosen to represent the construct. The shortened measure exhibited good internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity, and detected change over time and may be the measure of substance use consequences that is lacking in the field. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Close phenotypic and functional similarities between human and murine alphabeta T cells expressing invariant TCR alpha-chains

Several studies have demonstrated the existence of a murine NK1.1+ alphabeta T cell subset expressing V alpha14+ TCR alpha-chains with highly conserved invariant junctional sequences and able to secrete Th2 cytokines when exposed to CD1+ stimulator cells. In humans, alphabeta T cells carrying invariant V alpha24+ TCR alpha-chains highly homologous to those expressed by murine NK1.1 cells have been recently described. Here we show that these cells (referred to as V alpha24inv T cells) and murine NK1.1+ alphabeta T cells resemble each other in several ways. First, like their murine counterparts, T cells expressing high levels of V alpha24inv TCRs can be either CD4- CD8- double negative (DN) or CD4+, but they never express heterodimeric CD8 molecules. Second, most V alpha24inv T cells are brightly stained by NKRP1-specific mAb but not by mAb directed against other type II transmembrane proteins of the NK complex. Third, DN and particularly CD4+ V alpha24inv T cells are greatly enriched for IL-4 producers. The concomitant expression of highly conserved TCRs of a particular set of NK markers and of Th2 cytokines in human and murine alphabeta T cells suggests a coordinate acquisition of these phenotypic and functional properties. Furthermore, the relatively high frequency of human V alpha24inv T cells, which are presently shown to represent on average 1/500 PBL, and the high interindividual variations of the size of this cell subset under physiologic conditions go for a major role played by alphabeta T cells carrying invariant TCR in a large array of immune responses.