Drying of Chestnuts (Castanea sativa Mill.) after Osmotic Dehydration with Sucrose and Glucose Solutions

Chestnuts were dehydrated by using a combined method of osmotic dehydration followed by air drying. Samples were osmotically pretreated with sucrose (60% w/w) and glucose (56% w/w) for 8 h, air-dried at temperatures of 45, 55, and 65°C, at a relative humidity of 30% and at a velocity of 2.7 m·s^-1 and the experimental data of the drying kinetics were obtained. Whole samples were dried with different peelings: (a) removal of endocarp and pericarp (peeled) and (b) additionally the internal rough surface (cut). In all cases, cut chestnuts show greater drying rates than peeled samples, indicating that a significant mass transfer resistance in the layer nearest to the surface takes place. Peeled samples pretreated with sucrose solutions behave in a similar way to untreated samples. For the rest of the samples, the cut samples osmotically treated with sucrose solutions and all the samples treated with the glucose solution, the drying rates decrease during drying. Drying kinetics are successfully modeled by employing a diffusional model that takes the shrinkage into account. The effective coefficient of water diffusion was evaluated and correlated with temperature. The quality of the final product was monitored by color change. In spite of the fact that the total color difference is not modified by the osmotic treatment, the L*, a*, and b* color coordinates of cut samples treated with sucrose and glucose solutions do undergo changes; the L* and a* coordinates change less than the b*.     

CAL delivery selection criteria and authoring systems

Abstract  In the past, authoring systems have been used to generate computer-assisted learning materials that have often followed the rather restrictive programmed learning format. A number of innovative ways of using recently developed systems to develop CAL packages that include a wider range of learning activities (access to data bases, simulations, interactive video, etc.) are described. Analogous to the concept of a media selection model, a computer delivery mode selection model is presented as an aid to decision making for designers. This increase in flexibility should broaden the applicability of computerassisted learning (CAL) to a wider range of educational objectives and raise the level of the cognitive emphasis in learning packages, as well as facilitate the implementation of visually appealing materials. The paper also implies a standard of acceptability for authoring systems.     

A strain hardening failure assessment diagram derived from carbon-manganese steel compact tension specimens

A failure assessment diagram is derived from carbon-manganese steel compact tension specimens. The diagram has been determined from an elastic-plastic finite element analysis of a compact tension specimen geometry. The diagram has been validated by using experimental fracture toughness data obtained on the same steel and specimen geometry modelled in the finite element analysis. The plastic collapse load has been determined empirically for this geometry.It is shown that a non-work-hardening failure assessment diagram is not a good representation of the experimental data and that the computed failure assessment diagram is more appropriate for describing the behaviour of the carbon-manganese steel specimens.     

Toxicity of Detroit River Sediment-Bound Contaminants to Ultraplankton

Four sites in the Detroit River/Lake Erie western basin were evaluated for their toxicity. The evaluation was based on 1) bulk chemical characterization of the sediments, 2) chemical composition of the sediment elutriates, and 3) toxicity of the elutriates to ultraplankton and microplankton/net plankton. A sequence of decreasing contamination was determined from the chemical composition of the elutriates based on the elutriation release of metals such as Zn, Mn, Cd, Ni, and Co. Bioassessment of elutriate toxicity was determined by carbon-14 Algal Fractionation Bioassays (AFB's) which were conducted with various dilutions of standard and Chelex-100 treated elutriates. Site A (near Windsor, Ontario) and Site D (western Lake Erie) were found to be toxic to ultraplankton. The observed toxicity was attributed to the bioavailability and synergistic impact of elutriated metals on ultraplankton production. A direct relationship between the water soluble metal fraction and toxicity was observed. These results confirmed that sediment toxicity should not be evaluated solely on bulk chemical composition of the sediments. The AFB's have been proven useful in the bioassessment of sediments due to their rapidity/sensitivity and hence could be routinely used for the screening and early detection of contaminants affecting fast growing organisms which form the basis of the aquatic food chain.     

Single-sided ventilation — Part II. further considerations

This paper extends an earlier report of measurements and computer predictions of flows in a cubical cavity exposed on one side to the scavenging effect of an external stream. Further measurements and photographs are presented; they are consistent with each other and with the predictions of the computational model. Specifically, comparisons are made between measured and predicted mean velocities and turbulent shear stresses, and photographs are used to elucidate features of the shear layers generated by accelerating and decelerating external flows. The computer model is used to deduce approximate relations between internal turbulent activity (measured by mean velocity, turbulence energy and shear stress) and external velocity, percentage ‘window’ opening and relative position of the plane walls upstream and downstream of the cavity.