Pattern recognition with evidential knowledge

Many real situations may be seen as classifications problems if the information used to relate items with classes is a probability measure on 𝒫(X×C) (set of all subsets of X×C). It is well known that a probability measure on 𝒫(X×C) induces two evidence measures on X×C. We will formulate a classification model where it is assumed classes are fuzzy sets and the available information is evidential. Two bad classification loss functions will be established for this purpose, by using Dempster's upper and lower integrals. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Characterisation and classification of Spanish Verdejo young white wines by volatile and sensory analysis with chemometric tools

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, Verdejo young wine is exported to many countries all over the world, so it is considered one of the most important Spanish white young wines. In spite of its commercial and historical repercussions, little information is available about the aromatic profile of Spanish Verdejo young wine. The aim of our study was to give further information about this aspect, focusing our research on the characterisation and classification of Verdejo young wine. RESULTS: Aroma of the Verdejo, Sauvignon blanc and barrel‐fermented and barrel‐aged Verdejo wines—all from the D.O. Rueda, Spain—was evaluated using gas chromatographic and sensory analyses. A good relationship was found between the chemical composition and some of the sensory attributes of the wines. The wine samples were correctly classified according to their grape variety and oenological practice showing a 100% of correct classification using chemical or sensory data. CONCLUSIONS: Characterisation and differentiation of Spanish Verdejo wines was achieved, for the first time, showing different groups of Verdejo wines with similar volatile composition and sensory profiles. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Sterols,fatty alcohol and triterpenic alcohol changes during ripe table olive processing

The aim of the work was to study the effects of processing on the unsaponifiable matter, sterols and fatty and triterpenic alcohol in ripe olive fat (Manzanilla and Hojiblanca cultivars) and to disclose the most influential factors using GLM, PCA and DA. There were significant effects of cultivars or ps on unsaponifiable matter, β-sitosterol, Δ⁵-avenasterol, total sterols, 1-docosanol, 1-tetracosanol (ps), erythrodiol and percentage erythrodiol + uvaol. The values of most of these parameters were within the limits established by the EU Directives for olive and pomace oils but classification of the respective oils was not conclusive. Predictive discriminant analysis using these variables permitted 100% success in the classification according to cultivars and ps (68% in the case of cross validation). Results revealed that some influential steps should be re-designed, particularly the storage phase, in order to minimise changes in the studied fat components during ripe olive processing.     

PhD theses in Spain: A gender study covering the years 1990–2004

In this study we analyse gender equality in the preparation, supervision and defence of PhD theses in Spain in the period 1990–2004. The results indicate a tendency towards greater equality in the number of men and women successfully completing doctoral studies. However, the gender imbalance among thesis supervisors and on thesis assessment boards is more apparent, with a predominance of male academics. Moreover, the gender of the PhD student is clearly related to the gender of the supervisor, and both are related to the gender of the members of the assessment boards of PhD theses in Spain.     

Barrier properties of sodium caseinate films as affected by lipid composition and moisture content

This work analyses the effect of lipid addition (oleic acid, beeswax and oleic acid-beeswax mixtures) as well as the influence of the relative humidity (RH), or the equilibrium water content of the films, on the permeability of sodium caseinate based films to water vapor and gas (oxygen and carbon dioxide). The effect that lipid addition had on the gas and water vapor permeability was dependent both on the composition of oleic acid-beeswax mixtures and the film’s moisture content. The addition of lipid mixtures reduced water vapor transfer as compared to the control films (without lipid), whereas pure oleic acid or beeswax were less effective. Both control films and films prepared with pure beeswax showed the lowest O₂ and CO₂ permeability, whereas the incorporation of oleic acid exponentially increased these values. A linear increase in water vapor and gas permeability was observed when the water content of the film rose, due to its plasticizing effect, which led to an increase in the molecular mobility. Predictive equations for water vapor permeability (WVP) and gas permeability were established as a function of water content and lipid composition.     

Endothelium-dependent vasodilator and antioxidant properties of a novel enzymatic extract of grape pomace from wine industrial waste

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the vascular effects of an enzymatic extract of grape pomace (GP-EE) on isolated arteries, focusing our attention on endothelium-derived relaxation and on its antioxidant properties. Grape pomace derived from wine making was extracted by an enzymatic process and its composition of polyphenols was evaluated by HPLC and ESI-MS/MS, detecting kaempferol, catechin, quercetin and procyanidins B1 and B2, trace levels of resveratrol and tracing out gallocatechin and anthocyanidins. GP-EE induced endothelium- and NO-dependent vasodilatation of both rat aorta and small mesenteric artery (SMA) segments and reduced Phe-induced response in aortic rings. Both ORAC and DPPH assays confirmed antioxidant scavenging properties of GP-EE, which also prevented O(2)(·-) production (assessed by DHE fluorescence) and contraction elicited by ET-1. These results provide evidence that GP-EE possesses interesting antioxidant and protective vascular properties and highlight the potential interest of this extract as a functional food.     

Microwave heating effect on rheology and microstructure of white sauces

The microstructure and rheological properties of white sauces formulated with different starches were analyzed after being microwave-heated for different times. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in rheological parameters analyzed-storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G″), and loss tangent (tanδ)-were obtained for sauces made with different starches. Microwave reheating did not affect G' and G″ values until water evaporation became significant. In addition, tanδ values did not change significantly (P < 0.05) even during long reheating times showing that sauce viscoelastic properties did not change after microwave irradiation. However, microstructure assessed by confocal laser scanning microscopy showed changes in fat globule and protein. These microstructural changes did not seem to have a significant effect on rheological measurements since starch and ι-carrageenan are mainly responsible for the viscoelastic behavior of the sauces. Practical Application: The development of products appropriate to microwave heating is constantly rising in food industry. It is necessary to understand the behavior of the ingredients and the final product to microwave heating in order to choose those ingredients which will develop the best performance. Starches are common ingredients in industrial sauces, and rheological and microstructural techniques have shown their usefulness in characterization of starch-based systems.