Design and implementation of an adaptable software environment

In any major software project, a large volume of project-related information must be maintained and manipulated throughout the software life-cycle. Often this information is scattered, in different media ranging from scraps of papers to program listings, poorly cross-referenced, and inaccessible. TRIAD, an adaptable, integrated software development environment, has been designed to integrate and manage all this information in an organized and structured manner.

The TRIAD tool-box environment supports different methodologies to guide the users during development and maintenance of project related information. The environment can be customized by selecting a set of forms which enforce a particular methodology. These forms help develop, integrate, and maintain project information. Forms for a methodology can be tuned to reflect a project-team's experience. When customized by the tuned methodology, TRIAD can provide better project oriented support.

TRIAD uses grammar forms as its organizational model. This paper will discuss the advantages of using grammar forms in the modeling and implementation of an adaptable software information editor, within the TRIAD tool-box environment.     

Detection of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal adducts of turkey and chicken myoglobins using mass spectrometry

4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), an unsaturated aldehyde generated by peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, is highly reactive and destabilizes myoglobin (Mb) redox state, affecting meat colour. Our objective was to characterise the adduction of HNE to turkey and chicken Mbs using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Turkey and chicken oxymyoglobins (OxyMbs) were incubated with HNE at 25 °C, pH 5.8 or 7.4. MetMb formation was greater in the presence of HNE than controls (p < 0.05). Electrospray ionisation-Q-TOF mass spectrometry of HNE-reacted Mbs revealed covalent adduction of HNE to both turkey and chicken Mbs via Michael addition. LC–ESI-MS/MS of chicken Mb reacted with HNE identified covalent adduction of histidine (His) residues 64 and 93 at pH 7.4, whereas at pH 5.8 only His 64 was adducted. These results suggest that HNE accelerates chicken OxyMb oxidation in vitro by covalent modification at histidine residues.     

Some aspects of unsaturated flow in jointed rock

The applicability of Darcy's Law to two-phase flow has been discussed. Specialised triaxial equipment has been employed to separately inject two pore fluid components (air and water) into fractured rock specimens, so that two-phase flow behaviour can be studied at high axial and confining stresses. Improvements to recently developed two-phase high-pressure triaxial apparatus have enabled the authors to continue their study of air–water (i.e. unsaturated) flow in intact and fractured rock specimens under a wide range of stress conditions, similar to those encountered in underground mining operations. In this paper, a simplified stratified two-phase flow model is also presented that satisfactorily predicts flow behaviour in an inclined rock fracture over a range of linear laminar flow for particular capillary pressure relationships. The mathematical model is based upon the principles of conservation of mass and momentum, and relates the fracture aperture (e_t) to phase permeability (k_i) using Poiseuille's law and the proposed ‘phase height’, h_i(t), for water and air phases. The experimental approach used to verify the model predictions is described and the predicted results compared with the measurements. The experimental data confirmed the relationship between relative permeability and flow rate, with respect to two-phase flow conditions.     

Use of Digital Terrestrial Photogrammetry in rocky slope stability analysis by Distinct Elements Numerical Methods

Current approaches to rocky slope stability analysis require knowledge of the geometrical–structural setting, as well as the physical–mechanical properties of the intact material and its discontinuities. The physical–mechanical properties are derived from in situ and laboratory tests, whereas the geometrical characteristics come from field attitude measurements. Frequently, the inaccessibility of walls does not allow direct measurement of discontinuity surfaces by traditional geological methods. In such cases, data can only be obtained by statistical methods. Although this approach is significant and provides spatial meaning, it is ineffective for deterministic analysis.This paper provides a solution to this problem by applying digital terrestrial photogrammetric techniques employing a reamed bar, an aerostatic balloon and a helicopter. Results demonstrate that the accuracy and the quantity of geometrical and engineering–geological data coming from the photogrammetric survey, allow for numerical simulation of the relationship between rock elements as a function of their physical–mechanical properties and load conditions. The 3DEC code was chosen among the different methods available to model the discontinuous media through distinct elements.The proposed methodology was applied to a quarry located in the Carrara Marble District (the Apuan Alps, Italy), the largest and most exploited mining region in Europe. The economic value of the area required a detailed study of the presence of instability phenomena so that marble extraction could continue in safe conditions.     

Effects of pyruvate, succinate, and lactate enhancement on beef longissimus raw color

Beef strip loins (n=30) were divided into halves, and each half was assigned randomly to one of four injection enhancements: (1) non-enhanced control, (2) 3% pyruvate, (3) 3% succinate, and (4) 3% lactate. Steaks were cut and packaged in either vacuum, high oxygen (80% O(2)/20% CO(2)), or PVC. Color and lipid oxidation were measured on days 0, 5, and 13 of storage at 1°C. Enhancement had a significant effect on steak pH. On day 13 of storage, steaks enhanced with lactate, pyruvate, and succinate were less discolored (P<0.05) than control steaks in PVC and high oxygen. Enhancement darkened steaks (P<0.05) compared with control steaks. Succinate had the greatest and pyruvate had the least metmyoglobin-reducing activity (P<0.05). Lactate and pyruvate decreased the TBARS values of steaks packaged in PVC (P<0.05) whereas pyruvate was most effective for lowering lipid oxidation in high-oxygen packaging.     

Linkages among energy, agriculture and environment in rural India

The interconnections between energy, agriculture and environment in rural India are analyzed in this paper using a systems perspective. Rural areas of developing countries use biomass for fuel, fodder, fertilizer and other purposes, and it is necessary to understand the fuel-fodder–fertilizer relationships for optimal biomass allocation. The allocation is explored using a linear programming model. First, the model is validated by simulating it using data for the year 1990–1991. The model is then applied for the year 2000, and several scenarios are generated to obtain answers to various policy questions. The results show that it is necessary to increase fertilizer consumption, to increase efficiencies of cooking stoves, to improve livestock feed, and/or to decrease population growth for maximizing the revenue generated in the rural system of India. It shows that when the prices of fertilizers increase, a large increase in kerosene requirements can be expected. It also points to the necessity to increase kerosene consumption to reduce emissions (due to non-commercial fuels) and soil fertility loss. For example, the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the scenarios range from 137.50 to 62.50 million tons (in carbon equivalent terms) for the high and low cases, respectively. Correspondingly, kerosene consumption ranges from 0.18 to 15.49 kilotons (kT).     

Photon-assisted synthesis of ultra-thin yttria-doped zirconia membranes: Structure, variable temperature conductivity and micro-fuel cell devices

We report on the synthesis and functional properties of nanoscale (50 nm) dense Y-doped zirconia (YDZ) electrolyte thin films by photon-assisted oxidation of Zr–Y precursor alloy thin films. Crystalline zirconia films with grain size of 5 nm were successfully grown at room temperature by oxidation under ultra-violet (UV) photon irradiation. Microstructure of the films was characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemical conductivity of UV grown YDZ electrolytes was investigated over a broad range of temperatures using Pt electrodes as a function of yttria doping concentration. The slightly lower electrical conductivity in UV grown films at intermediate temperature range (400–550 °C) is consistent with previous reports on oxygen defect annihilation under photo-excitation. Micro-fuel cells utilizing such ultra-thin YDZ membranes yielded 12 mW cm⁻² power density at 550 °C. The results are of potential relevance in advancing low temperature ultra-thin oxide membrane synthesis for energy applications.