Laser Scanning System for Real-Time Mapping of Fiber Formations in Meat Analogues

ABSTRACT:  High moisture extrusion has been used to produce vegetable meat analogues that resemble real animal meat and can provide significant health benefits. Since visual and textural properties are key factors for consumer acceptance, assessing fiber formation in the extruded products is important for quality control purpose. Recently, we developed a nondestructive photon migration method to quantify fiber formation in meat analogues. In this study, we implemented this technique in a real-time optical scanning system. This system can scan the entire sample area in real-time and provide 2-dimensional maps to visualize the degree of fiber formation and fiber orientation in the sample. The new system has a potential to provide a fast, nondestructive means for online monitoring of the fiber formation in meat analogues.     

Use of simulated evaporation to assess the potential for scale formation during reverse osmosis desalination

The tendency of solutes in input water to precipitate efficiency lowering scale deposits on the membranes of reverse osmosis (RO) desalination systems is an important factor in determining the suitability of input water for desalination. Simulated input water evaporation can be used as a technique to quantitatively assess the potential for scale formation in RO desalination systems. The technique was demonstrated by simulating the increase in solute concentrations required to form calcite, gypsum, and amorphous silica scales at 25°C and 40°C from 23 desalination input waters taken from the literature. Simulation results could be used to quantitatively assess the potential of a given input water to form scale or to compare the potential of a number of input waters to form scale during RO desalination. Simulated evaporation of input waters cannot accurately predict the conditions under which scale will form owing to the effects of potentially stable supersaturated solutions, solution velocity, and residence time inside RO systems. However, the simulated scale-forming potential of proposed input waters could be compared with the simulated scale-forming potentials and actual scale-forming properties of input waters having documented operational histories in RO systems. This may provide a technique to estimate the actual performance and suitability of proposed input waters during RO.     

Assessing realized information systems strategy

This research developed and validated a tool to measure realized information systems strategy or existing uses of information technology in organizations. It was recognized that intended uses of technology often differ from actual uses. The objective of the study was to determine a valid and reliable way of quantifying how information technology is actually used by organizations to provide support for business operations.     

A diathesis-stress model of posttraumatic stress disorder: Ecological, biological, and residual stress pathways.

The symptoms captured within the contemporary diagnostic definition of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been studied for more than 100 years. Yet, even with increasingly advanced discoveries regarding the etiology of PTSD, a comprehensive and up-to-date etiological model that incorporates both medical and psychological research has not been described and systematically studied. The diathesis-stress model proposed here consolidates existing medical and psychological research data on etiological factors associated with PTSD into 3 causal pathways: residual stress, ecological, and biological. In combination, these pathways illuminate how PTSD might develop and who might be at higher risk for developing the disorder. Research and treatment implications related to the diathesis-stress model are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Directional reconfigurable antennas on laptop computers: Simulation, measurement and evaluation of candidate integration positions

This study reports on the integration of a novel reconfigurable microstrip antenna capable of reconfiguring both its radiation pattern and frequency response onto a generic laptop computer structure. The purpose of such an exercise is to provide the relevant information necessary to integrate high performance antennas onto structures that can be used in ad hoc communication scenarios as well as other demanding applications. To pre-evaluate candidate antenna locations on the laptop chassis, an electromagnetic visibility study (EVS) is performed. Once integrated into candidate positions that have been analyzed by the EVS, the operation of the antenna on the host structure is measured and assessed with consideration to several realistic electromagnetic environments. The resulting performance and packaging issues are discussed. A formalized procedure for the integration of the antenna onto any host chassis using the EVS as a tool is also included.     

Oxidized type IV hypertriglyceridemic VLDL-remnants cause greater macrophage cholesteryl ester accumulation than oxidized LDL

We have previously shown that very low density lipoproteins (VLDL, Sf 60-400) from subjects with type IV hyperlipoproteinemia (HTG-VLDL) will induce appreciable cholesteryl ester accumulation in cultured macrophages (J774A.1). The present study examined whether copper-mediated oxidative modification of HTG-VLDL and their remnants would further enhance cholesteryl ester accumulation in J774A.1 cells. Incubation with oxidized VLDL-remnants caused the greatest increase in cellular cholesteryl ester concentrations (54-fold) relative to control cells (P = 0.001). HTG-VLDL and VLDL-remnants each induced similar increases in cholesteryl ester levels (32.3- and 35.8-fold, respectively; both P = 0.001), whereas incubation with oxidized HTG-VLDL brought about only a 20.6-fold increase in cholesteryl ester concentrations (P = 0.014). The increase in cellular cholesteryl ester concentrations induced by oxidized VLDL-remnants was significantly higher (P < or = 0.04) than that induced by all other lipoproteins tested including low density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidized LDL which caused a 6.7- and a 35.1-fold increase (P < or = 0.0002 for both), respectively. Unlike HTG-VLDL and to a lesser extent VLDL-remnants, uptake of oxidized VLDL and oxidized VLDL-remnants did not require catalytically active, cell secreted lipoprotein lipase. Co-incubation with polyinosine, which blocks binding to the type I scavenger receptor, completely inhibited the cholesteryl ester accumulation induced by oxidized HTG-VLDL, oxidized VLDL-remnants and oxidized LDL (P < or = 0.02). We conclude that oxidation of VLDL-remnants significantly enhances macrophage cholesteryl ester accumulation compared to either HTG-VLDL, VLDL-remnants, or oxidized LDL. Uptake of oxidized VLDL and oxidized VLDL-remnants does not require catalytically active lipoprotein lipase, and involves a receptor that can be competed for by polyinosine.