Automated diagnosis system for age‐related macular degeneration using hybrid features set from fundus images

Impairment to macula can cause loss of central vision. There are various macular disorders that can affect macular region and if not treated at an early stage can cause irreversible central vision loss. Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) disorder is one of the most threading macular disorder. Bright lesion, drusens presence in macular region is known as the hallmark of AMD disorder. This bright lesion differentiation from other bright lesion like exudates is important for accurate diagnosis of AMD. Focus of this article is automated diagnosis of affected macular region by applying a hybrid features set containing textural, color, and structural/shape features for more accurate detection of AMD at an early stage using fundus images. These features also help to distinguish drusens from exudates. The proposed algorithm at first stage, detect macular region from input fundus image and then perform features extraction based on textural pattern, edge, and structural properties of macular region to classify abnormal macula from normal macula. For classification, we have used support vector machine (SVM), K‐nearest neighbor and neural networks but SVM classifier achieves high accuracy. The proposed algorithm is tested on publicly available STARE and locally available AFIO datasets. Attained sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of our proposed system are 97.5%, 95% and 95.45%, respectively, when applied on STARE dataset. When we have applied our proposed system on AFIO dataset, we have attained sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 93.3%, 92% and 92.34%, respectively.     

Industry 4.0: Architecture and Equipment Revolution

The development of science and technology has led to the era of Industry 4.0. The core concept is the combination of “material and informationization”. In the supply chain and manufacturing process, the “material” of the physical entity world is realized by data, identity, intelligence, and information. Industry 4.0 is a disruptive transformation and upgrade of intelligent industrialization based on the Internet-of-Things and Big Data in traditional industrialization. The goal is “maximizing production efficiency, minimizing production costs, and maximizing the individual needs of human beings for products and services.” Achieving this goal will surely bring about a major leap in the history of the industry, which will lead to the “Fourth Industrial Revolution.” This paper presents a detailed discussion of industrial big data, strategic roles, architectures, characteristics, and four types of innovative business models that can generate profits for enterprises. The key revolutionary aspect of Industry 4.0 is explained, which is the equipment revolution. Six important attributes of equipment are explained under the Industry 4.0 perspective.     

Characterizing hydraulic fracturing fluid <Emphasis Type="Italic">greenness</Emphasis>: application of a hazard-based index approach

Growth of the unconventional gas industry is predicted to continue to be an important component of the global energy landscape. The rapid expansion of shale and tight gas development has raised many environmental and human health concerns, particularly in regards to ground and surface water contamination. The unconventional gas industry has begun to transition toward the use of hydraulic fracturing chemicals that pose minimal environmental and human health hazards in order to mitigate the risks associated with possible chemical containment failure. Integrated chemical hazard evaluation has been facilitated by an adapted index-based approach to combine noncommensurate multiparameter chemical hazard data into a single score value. Comparative analysis of existing chemical hazard index scoring systems as well as the formulation of a novel hydraulic fracturing fluid greenness assessment system revealed several important considerations for index development and application. Index scores calculated using the investigated index systems highlighted the need for informed, optimized hazard class selection as input for score determination, the maintenance of hazard category intensity during parameter transformation, as well as representative hazard class and chemical component mathematical weightings, and robust aggregation techniques for final score calculation. Continued research should work to model the combined hazard posed by individual chemicals while considering the effect of dilution as well as incorporate additional index metrics beyond hazard intensity. Fully disclosed index systems, applied with complete knowledge of their strengths and weaknesses, provide useful monitoring and communication tools to promote environmental-best practices in the unconventional gas industry.     

Implementing process views in the web service environment

Web service and business process technologies are widely adopted to facilitate business automation and collaboration. Given the complexity of business processes, it is a sought-after feature to show a business process with different views to cater for the diverse interests, authority levels, etc., of different users. Aiming to implement such flexible process views in the Web service environment, this paper presents a novel framework named FlexView to support view abstraction and concretisation of WS-BPEL processes. In the FlexView framework, a rigorous view model is proposed to specify the dependency and correlation between structural components of process views with emphasis on the characteristics of WS-BPEL, and a set of rules are defined to guarantee the structural consistency between process views during transformations. A set of algorithms are developed to shift the abstraction and concretisation operations to the operational level. A prototype is also implemented for the proof-of-concept purpose.     

Statistical optimisation of the exopolysaccharide production by Lactobacillus fermentum Lf2 and analysis of its chemical composition

Lactobacillus fermentum Lf2 produces high amounts of exopolysaccharides (EPS) (~1 g/L) with demonstrated functional and technological roles when applied as a food ingredient in dairy matrices, properties that made these EPS interesting in comparison with other similar molecules from lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Those characteristics encouraged us to optimise the production. The EPS extract is composed of a high molecular mass β‐glucan and a medium molecular mass heteroglycan. In the present work, the optimal conditions that doubled the EPS yield using a semidefined medium (SDM, 0.63% yeast nitrogen base, 0.53% bacto casitone, 0.53% ammonium citrate, 6.25% sucrose, pH 6.5) were found by means of response surface methodology (RSM). The chemical characterisation indicated that under optimised conditions the synthesis of the heteroglycan was favoured compared with that of the β‐glucan.     

Gelatin nanocomposite films incorporated with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for shelf life extension of grapes

Nanocomposite films were obtained by solution casting method from aqueous solution of bovine gelatin with addition of various concentrations of magnetic iron oxide (MIO) nanoparticles (NPs) (5, 10, 15, and 20% w/w of dry gelatin). The incorporation of MIO NPs improved the mechanical and physical properties of the nanocomposites. The increase in concentration of NPs up to 10% improved barrier and mechanical properties which slightly decreased after increasing the concentration beyond that limit due to particle agglomeration. The scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to evaluate the morphology and crystalline structure of gelatin nanocomposite films, respectively. Gelatin nanocomposites with 20% w/w NPs exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (7.1 ± 0.085 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (8.22 ± 1.04 mm). Finally, the potential of gelatin/MIO nanocomposites as packaging material was evaluated to extend the shelf life of grapes. The gelatin/MIO nanocomposites can be used as a replacement to non-biodegradable packaging.     

Concept of double salt fortification; a tool to curtail micronutrient deficiencies and improve human health status

Fortification of food with micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals is one of the main strategies used to combat micronutrient deficiencies. Fortification in common salt is a fruitful strategy because of the daily consumption of 5–12 g salt per person globally. Therefore double fortification of salt with iodine and iron could be a reasonable approach to prevent both iodine and iron deficiencies. It is reckoned that about two billion people are iodine‐deficient worldwide. Iodine deficiency during pregnancy may affect the health status of both mother and fetus and increase infant mortality. Deficiencies of both these micronutrients during childhood affect somatic growth and cognitive and neurological function. Thyroid metabolism is negatively affected by iron deficiency and reduced effectiveness of iodine prophylaxis in areas of endemic goiter. High prevalence of iron deficiency among children may be reduced by the application of effective iodized salt programs. However, ensuring the stability and bioavailability of both iron and iodine as double‐fortified salt is difficult. Iodine present in iodide or iodate form in dual‐fortified salt is oxidized to free iodine in the presence of ferrous ions and oxygen and consequently loses its characteristics. Moreover, ferrous iron is more bioavailable but is readily oxidized to the less bioavailable ferric form. However, both forms of iron may lead to discoloration of the final product, which can be reduced by providing a physical barrier around the iron. Salt encapsulation is one of the best tools to provide a physical barrier for undesirable reactions and interactions during storage. In this review the concept of dual salt fortification, the impact of fortification on curing various life‐threatening maladies, latest assessments of mineral deficiencies and the choice of fortificants are discussed. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Lactic Acid Bacteria as Antifungal and Anti‐Mycotoxigenic Agents: A Comprehensive Review

Fungal contamination of food and animal feed, especially by mycotoxigenic fungi, is not only a global food quality concern for food manufacturers, but it also poses serious health concerns because of the production of a variety of mycotoxins, some of which present considerable food safety challenges. In today's mega‐scale food and feed productions, which involve a number of processing steps and the use of a variety of ingredients, fungal contamination is regarded as unavoidable, even good manufacturing practices are followed. Chemical preservatives, to some extent, are successful in retarding microbial growth and achieving considerably longer shelf‐life. However, the increasing demand for clean label products requires manufacturers to find natural alternatives to replace chemically derived ingredients to guarantee the clean label. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), with the status generally recognized as safe (GRAS), are apprehended as an apt choice to be used as natural preservatives in food and animal feed to control fungal growth and subsequent mycotoxin production. LAB species produce a vast spectrum of antifungal metabolites to inhibit fungal growth; and also have the capacity to adsorb, degrade, or detoxify fungal mycotoxins including ochratoxins, aflatoxins, and Fusarium toxins. The potential of many LAB species to circumvent spoilage associated with fungi has been exploited in a variety of human food and animal feed stuff. This review provides the most recent updates on the ability of LAB to serve as antifungal and anti‐mycotoxigenic agents. In addition, some recent trends of the use of LAB as biopreservative agents against fungal growth and mycotoxin production are highlighted.     

The safe operation zone of the spark ignition engine working with dual renewable supplemented fuels (hydrogen+ethyl alcohol)

The effect of the amount of hydrogen/ethyl alcohol addition on the performance and pollutant emission of a four-stroke spark ignition engine has been studied. The results of the study show that all engine performance parameters have been improved when operating the gasoline spark ignition engine with dual addition of hydrogen and ethyl alcohol. The important improvements of alcohol addition are to reduce the NOx emission while increasing the higher useful compression ratio and output power of hydrogen-supplemented engine. An equation has been derived from experimental data to specify the least quantity of ethyl alcohol blended with gasoline and satisfying constant NOx emission when hydrogen is added. A chart limiting the safe operation zone of the engine fueled with dual renewable supplemented fuel, (hydrogen and ethyl alcohol) has been produced. The safe zone provides lower NOx and CO emission, lower s.f.c. and higher brake power compared to an equivalent gasoline engine. When ethyl alcohol is increased over 30%, it causes unstable engine operation which can be related to the fact that the fuel is not vaporized, and this causes a reduction in both break power and efficiency.     

Biological quality and safety assessment of rice bran protein isolates

Three stabilisation techniques, microwave, dry heat and parboiling were applied to bran followed by enzymatic extraction, biological quality through growth and nitrogen balance study and safety assessment through 45 days feeding trial. Traits linked with protein bio‐evaluation were affected significantly by the test diets (P < 0.05), growth study parameters during the experimental remained as; PER from 1.97 to 2.18 with higher value for microwave stabilised protein isolates, net protein ratio of 4.43–5.14. Nitrogen balance study parameters too were better in microwave and dry heat stabilised protein isolates, while the lowest values were observed for parboiled protein isolates; true digestibility was within the range of 76.0–86.11% and biological value of extracted isolates was within the upper and lower limit of 78.57–88.23. No general ill effects were observed during the safety evaluation trial as the serum biochemical profile and organ to body weight ratio exhibited normal metabolic activity. Findings of current study are supportive for the suggestion that these extracted isolates can be safely used for variety of foods especially the designed formulations for protein deficient vulnerable groups especially from low socio‐economic countries.