Mixture models with higher order moments

The authors present a novel method for mixed pixel classification where the classification of groups of mixed pixels is achieved by taking into consideration the higher order moments of the distributions of the pure and the mixed classes. The equations expressing the relationship between the higher order moments are used to augment the set of equations that express the relationship between the means only. The authors show that weighting these equations does not make the set of equations available less reliable. As a consequence, the number of equations can be increased and thus more classes than available bands can be identified. The method is exhaustively tested using simulated data and is also applied to real Landsat TM data for which ground data are available     

A dislocation-density-based 3D crystal plasticity model for pure aluminum

A dislocation-density-based crystal plasticity finite-element model (CPFEM) is developed in which different dislocation densities evolve. Based upon the kinematics of crystal deformation and dislocation interaction laws, dislocation generation and annihilation are modeled. The CPFEM model is calibrated for pure aluminum using experimental stress–strain curves of pure aluminum single crystal from the literature. Crystallographic texture predictions in plane-strain compression of aluminum are validated against experimental observations in the literature. The framework is implemented in ABAQUS with user interface UMAT subroutine.     

Physicochemical and sensory analysis of dry bean landraces in conjunction with multivariate analysis: an exploratory approach

Five landraces of Greek common dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), were analysed for thirteen physico‐chemical and eighteen sensory variables. Brightness, acceptance, odour and hardness were the most important sensory variables for the overall acceptability of the cooked product. Application of principal component analysis revealed a rather weak relationship between the sensory attributes and the physico‐chemical variables. However, a certain grouping of cultivars with corresponding properties [(PC1 vs. PC2, Kastoria with saltiness, hardness, grassiness, intensity, protein and metal; Byzitsa bushy with fat, odour and sourness; Ksanthi and Belestino with tenaciousness, chroma, pH and overall impression), (PC1 vs. PC3 Byzitsa bushy with odour and acridness; Ksanthi with metal, hardness and pH; Kastoria with colour, protein and intensity)] was made. On the contrary, cluster analysis showed a much more satisfactory grouping of dry bean varieties based on their geographical origin. The multiple regression equation explained 72.3% of the variation in total acceptance of dry beans. The relative importance of brightness, acceptance, smell and hardness in predicting the overall impression of dry beans was 13%, 13.7%, 26% and 10%, respectively. These results may indicate that smell, brightness and acceptance are the most important factors determining dry bean total acceptability, so effort should be directed at improving these attributes in an attempt to satisfy consumer experience.     

Study of the solubility,antioxidant activity and structure of inclusion complex of vanillin with β-cyclodextrin

In the present study, complexes of vanillin with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) were prepared by the freeze-drying method. The formation of the inclusion complex was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). DSC thermograms indicated that the endothermic peak of vanillin and the physical mixture of vanillin with β-CD, due to the melting of vanillin crystals, were absent in DSC thermograms obtained for the freeze-dried inclusion complex. Moreover, the DSC studies under oxidation conditions indicate that the complex of vanillin with β-CD is protected towards oxidation since it remains intact at temperatures where the free vanillin is oxidising. The structure of the complex in aqueous solutions was established by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies and specifically by two-dimensional rotational frame NOE spectra. NMR studies showed inclusion of the entire vanillin molecule in the β-CD in a tilted manner and with the aldehyde group in the primary side. The stoichiometry of the complex was 1:1. A phase solubility study was performed by mixing an excess amount of vanillin with aqueous solutions containing increasing amounts of β-CD. The results indicated that the complex of a vanillin/β-CD inclusion is more soluble in water than vanillin alone.     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Action of Hollow Ceria Nanospheres with/without a Conductive Polymer Coating

Hollow ceria nanospheres were synthesized using anionic polystyrene lattices which were prepared by emulsion polymerization of styrene using potassium persulfate as the initiator. These anionic colloidal particles were dispersed in water in the presence of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and mixed with aqueous solutions of cerium (III) acetylacetonate [Ce(acac)₃]. Subsequently, hollow nanospheres of cerium compounds were obtained by calcination of the coated polystyrene lattices at an elevated temperature in air. The hollow ceria nanospheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential thermal analysis. The hollow ceria nanospheres were coated with conductive polymers (polyaniline and polypyrrole) via an electropolymerization process. Moreover, the antibacterial action of illuminated hollow ceria nanospheres and hollow ceria nanospheres coated with conductive polymers (CPCeO₂) on a pure culture of Escherichia coli was studied. A decrease of E. coli concentration was observed after illumination of bacteria in the presence of hollow ceria nanospheres and CPCeO₂.     

Conversion of a Mono‐ and Diacylglycerol Lipase into a Triacylglycerol Lipase by Protein Engineering

Despite the fact that most lipases are believed to be active against triacylglycerides, there is a small group of lipases that are active only on mono‐ and diacylglycerides. The reason for this difference in substrate scope is not clear. We tried to identify the reasons for this in the lipase from Malassezia globosa. By protein engineering, and with only one mutation, we managed to convert this enzyme into a typical triacylglycerol lipase (the wild‐type lipase does not accept triacylglycerides). The variant Q282L accepts a broad spectrum of triacylglycerides, although the catalytic behavior is altered to some extent. From in silico analysis it seems that specific hydrophobic interactions are key to the altered substrate specificity.