Effects of Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) Juice on Lipid Oxidation During Spray Drying of Microencapsulated Menhaden Oil

This study investigated the effect of blueberry juice on menhaden oil lipid oxidation during microencapsulation. Oil in water emulsions containing menhaden oil with 0, 5, or 10% blueberry juice were spray dried to produce control-M, 5% BJ-M, and 10% BJ-M microencapsulated powders, respectively. All microencapsulated powders had similar encapsulation efficiencies with low surface oil content. Peroxide value (meq/kg of oil) was 4.50, 4.31, and 3.38 for control-M, 5% BJ-M and 10% BJ-M, respectively. Ten percent BJ-M had lower (P < 0.05) anisidine value, and totox values than 5% BJ-M and control-M. This indicated that 10% blueberry juice reduced lipid oxidation in menhaden oil during microencapsulation to a greater extent than the other formulations.     

Nanoscale E-cadherin ligand patterns show threshold size for cellular adhesion and adherence junction formation

The role of ligand spatial distribution on the formation of cadherin mediated cell-cell contacts is studied utilizing nanopatterns of E-cadherin ligands. Protein patches ranging in size from 100 to 800 nm prepared by colloidal lithography critically influence adhesion, spreading, and formation of adherence junctions in epithelial cells. Cells at 100 nm patterns show poor adhesion, while larger pattern sizes show good adhesion, significant spreading, and defined cortical actin. We estimate a threshold of 0.03 μm(2) for epithelial cellular attachment via E-Cadherin.     

The effect of vitamin D(3) supplementation on texture and oxidative stability of beef loins from steers treated with zilpaterol hydrochloride

In this study, 10 young steers received no beta agonist (C), 50 animals all received zilpaterol hydrochloride (Z), with 1 group receiving Z while the other 4 groups received Z and vitamin D₃ at the following levels (IU/animal /day) and durations before slaughter: 7 million for 3 days (3D7M) or 6 days (6D7M), 7 million for 6 days with 7 days no supplementation (6D7M7N) and 1 million for 9 days (9D1M). LD samples were vacuum-aged 14 days post mortem, and repacked in high-oxygen modified atmosphere (70% O₂/30% CO₂) for a further 7 days. Parameters included Warner Bratzler shear force (WBSF), myofibril fragment length, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, free thiol levels, muscle fat, and instrumental colour parameters. When allowing for a conversion period of vitamin D₃ to its active metabolites, supplementing the zilpaterol treated steers with a high dosage of vitamin D₃ (6D7M7N) resulted in improved colour stability, higher stability towards protein oxidation and lower stability towards lipid oxidation.     

Polymorphism, microstructure and rheology of butter. Effects of cream heat treatment

The effect of cream heat treatment prior to butter manufacturing, fluctuating temperatures during storage and presence of fat globules vs. no fat globules was examined in laboratory scale produced butter. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry was used to study crystallization behaviour and nuclear magnetic resonance to measure solid fat content and water droplet size distribution. Furthermore, the crystal structure was linked to the rheological properties and microstructure of the butter using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Butter produced from non-matured cream mainly formed α- and β'-crystals with minor traces of β-crystals. Maturing of the cream caused a transition from α- to β'- and β-form. The rheological behaviour of slow cooled butter deviated from the matured ones by having a lower elastic modulus, caused by a weaker crystal network. Presence of fat globules did not affect the rheological properties significantly.     

Transient lupus anticoagulants associated with hemorrhage rather than thrombosis: the hemorrhagic lupus anticoagulant syndrome

Lupus anticoagulants (LAs) represent a diverse group of antibodies directed against phospholipids. Patients with LAs may be free of symptoms but can have thrombotic complications including stroke, placental infarction, and fetal loss. Rarely hemorrhagic symptoms have been reported. We describe six previously healthy children who were first seen with clinical bleeding and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time. Laboratory evaluation revealed positive results on mixing studies and evidence of phospholipid dependence of the anticoagulant, suggesting LAs. Four of six patients had anticardiolipin antibodies, and all four who were tested had reduced factor II activity levels. In all patients, bleeding symptoms resolved spontaneously within 3 months, and laboratory findings returned to normal within 6 months. The hemorrhagic LA syndrome should be considered in previously healthy children with new-onset bleeding and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time. This clinical entity probably represents pathogenic mechanism distinct from thrombotic LA syndromes.     

Influence theory for color constancy models

The problem that color constancy models address is one of recovering the reflectances of a surface under different illuminants and spatial configurations. As models of the human visual system, they should recover surface reflectances when the human visual system recovers those reflectances and fail when the human visual system fails to recover those reflectances. Unfortunately, it is difficult to determine just when these models will recover surface reflectances and when they will fail. We introduce a theory of influence that quantifies the degree to which the lightness calculated for a given surface element is influenced by the receptor responses to other elements. Influence theory is shown to be a very useful tool for highlighting testable predictions that can discriminate among color constancy models without having to determine directly when they will recover surface reflectances. This technique for generating empirical predictions is demonstrated by studying the effects of choosing different normalizing functions on an asymptotic retinex algorithm.     

Analysis and decomposition of spatial variation in integratedcircuit processes and devices

Variation is a key concern in semiconductor manufacturing and is manifest in several forms. Spatial variation across each wafer results from equipment or process limitations, and variation within each die may be exacerbated further by complex pattern dependencies. Spatial variation information is important not only for process optimization and control, but also for design of circuits that are robust to such variation. Systematic and random components of the variation must be identified, and models relating the spatial variation to specific process and pattern causes are needed. In this work, extraction and modeling methods are described for wafer-level, die-level, and wafer-die interaction contributions to spatial variation. Wafer-level estimation methods include filtering, spline, and regression based approaches. Die-level (or intra-die) variation can be extracted using spatial Fourier transform methods; important issues include spectral interpolation and sampling requirements. Finally, the interaction between wafer- and die-level effects is important to fully capture and separate systematic versus random variation; spline- and frequency-based methods are proposed for this modeling. Together, these provide an effective collection of methods to identify and model spatial variation for future use in process control to reduce systematic variation, and in process/device design to produce more robust circuits     

Design thinking and imitatio in an educational setting

Schools are expected to prepare students for the future, providing them with methods for dealing with the emergent world. This article considers how teachers can work with digital productions at primary schools even when they are not acquainted with the new production genres. We propose a methodological framework to assist students and teachers in their exploration of unknown media genres based on a case study. We revive the ancient concept of imitatio and integrate it with contemporary design thinking to support production dynamics that lead to increased digital literacy.     

Autocovariance Structure of Markov Regime Switching Models and Model Selection

We show that the covariance function of a second-order stationary vector Markov regime switching time series has a vector ARMA( p , q ) representation, where upper bounds for p and q are elementary functions of the number of regimes. These bounds apply to vector Markov regime switching processes with both mean–variance and autoregressive switching. This result yields an easily computed method for setting a lower bound on the number of underlying Markov regimes from an estimated autocovariance function.     

Support schemes and vertical integration—Who skims the cream?

This paper examines how the effectiveness of feed-in tariffs for distributed generators, producing renewable electricity, depends on industry structure, i.e., vertical integration vs. unbundling. A stylized analytical model with a monopolist and a competitive fringe (distributed generators) will be developed to analyze the impact of feed-in tariffs on renewable power production. The vertically integrated monopolist maximizes profits by setting the electricity price for residual demand and a network access charge incurred by the fringe. The fringe receives a fixed feed-in tariff per unit of electricity produced. Under vertical integration, a rise in the feed-in tariff induces the monopolist to raise access charges for fringe firms and skim part of their additional income. This partially offsets the supply increase of the fringe firms stimulated by the feed-in tariff. However, in the case of effective unbundling with an externally set access charge, there is no possibility for the monopolist to extract part of the fringe's profit. Then, the feed-in tariff fully accrues to the competitive fringe, and its supply will further increase. This setting will be extended to horizontal expansion when the monopolist also enters the renewable production segment. The effects on prices and output will be derived and compared.