Effects of light exposure on chlorophyll,sugars and vitamin C content of fresh‐cut celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce) petioles

Effects of light exposure (24 μmol m^?2 s^?1) on fresh‐cut celery nutritional quality were evaluated during 8‐day storage at 7 °C using darkness as control. Light exposure preserved 47% chlorophyll a and 48% chlorophyll b contents more than darkness at the end of storage. Sucrose, reducing sugar and glucose contents in light‐stored petioles were 17%, 25% and 67% higher than those in dark‐stored petioles after 8‐day storage, respectively, thus resulting in higher total soluble solids content in light condition. Moreover, l ‐ascorbic acid content increased at 2‐day storage in light condition and was 46% more than in darkness at the end of storage. The fresh weight loss significantly increased in all petioles, and this increase was markedly accelerated by light exposure with a maximum of 1.43% at the end of storage. Dry matter content was induced more by light exposure than by darkness at 2‐day storage.     

Oriented total variation l1/2 regularization

Total Variation (TV) is a widely used image restoration/decomposition model. It is observed that the classical TV l1 and TV l2 regularization, on the one hand, do not favor higher-gradient structures over lower-gradient details as expected for structure preserving image processing, and on the other hand, tend to reduce the horizontal and vertical gradients, and thus inevitably blur the oblique edges in images. In this paper, we address these two problems by defining Oriented Total Variation l1/2 (OTV l1/2). It is theoretically and experimentally demonstrated that applying l1/2 regularization to the directional derivatives of images leads to superior structure preservation. OTV l1/2 regularization can be applied to image denoising and video compression, and the experimental results verify that OTV l1/2 outperforms other similar models.     

An improved scatter search algorithm for the single machine total weighted tardiness scheduling problem with sequence-dependent setup times

In this paper, a scatter search algorithm with improved component modules is proposed to solve the single machine total weighted tardiness problem with sequence-dependent setup times. For diversification generation module, both random strategy based heuristics and construction heuristic are adopted to generate the diversified population. For improvement module, variable neighborhood search based local searches are embedded into the algorithm to improve the trial solutions and the combined solutions. For reference set update module, the number of edges by which the two solutions differ from each other is counted to measure the diversification value between two solutions. We also propose a new strategy in which the length of the reference set could be adjusted adaptively to balance the computing time and solving ability. In addition, a discrete differential evolution operator is proposed with another two operators constitute the combination module to generate the new trial solutions with the solutions in the subsets. The proposed algorithm is tested on the 120 benchmark instances from the literature. Computational results indicate that the average relative percentage deviations of the improved algorithm from the ACO_AP, DPSO, DDE and GVNS are −5.16%, −3.33%, −1.81% and −0.08%, respectively. Comparing with the state-of-the-art and exact algorithms, the proposed algorithm can obtain 78 optimal solutions out of 120 instances within a reasonable computational time.     

Heterogeneous face matching using geometric edge-texture feature (GETF) and multiple fuzzy-classifier system

A novel and accurate method for matching of heterogeneous faces, such as sketch and near-infrared (NIR) images, with the visible (VIS) photo gallery and vice a versa has been presented here. A new geometric edge-texture feature (GETF) is proposed, which is not only able to capture the edge information but also the texture information. GETF is constructed from the combined information of edge and texture image of same individual. For texture information local binary pattern (LBP) is used, while for edge information canny edge detection is chosen. Edges are sensitive to illumination, so before applying canny edge operation, we convert the image into illumination invariant gradient domain. For each pixel of the edge image, the nearest edge pixel is found. Finally, the total hamming distance between any pixel and its nearest edge pixel of the corresponding texture image gives GETF_Dist and the angle between them gives the GETF_Ang feature. To classify the heterogeneous faces we proposed a multiple fuzzy-classifier system, which is a combination of fuzzy partial least square (FPLS) and fuzzy local feature-based discriminant analysis (FLFDA). We have tested statistically that, the proposed classifier performs better than the individual classifiers. In sketch-photo matching, a rank-1 accuracy of 99.66% is achieved in a gallery of 606 photos consisting of CUHK student dataset, AR face dataset, and XM2VTS dataset. In NIR–VIS image matching, a rank-1 accuracy of 99.50% is achieved in a gallery of 400 VIS images from CASIA-HFB dataset.     

A portfolio of powertrains for the UK: An energy systems analysis

There has recently been a concerted effort to commence a transition to fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) in Europe. A coalition of companies released an influential McKinsey-coordinated report in 2010, which concluded that FCVs are ready for commercial deployment. Public–private H₂Mobility programmes have subsequently been established across Europe to develop business cases for the introduction of FCVs. In this paper, we examine the conclusions of these studies from an energy systems perspective, using the UK as a case study. Other UK energy system studies have identified only a minor role for FCVs, after 2030, but we reconcile these views by showing that the differences are primarily driven by different data assumptions rather than methodological differences. Some energy system models do not start a transition to FCVs until around 2040 as they do not account for the time normally taken for the diffusion of new powertrains. We show that applying dynamic growth constraints to the UK MARKAL energy system model more realistically represents insights from innovation theory. We conclude that the optimum deployment of FCVs, from an energy systems perspective, is broadly in line with the roadmap developed by UK H₂Mobility and that a transition needs to commence soon if FCVs are to become widespread by 2050.     

Optimum surface area distribution of quadruple-effect evaporator in sugar juice evaporation process

The evaporation process in raw sugar manufacturing consists of juice heater, multiple-effect evaporator, and crystallizer. Two performance parameters of the evaporation process are the rate of processed sugar juice and the steam economy, defined as the ratio between water content of sugar juice entering the process to the amount of steam required to run the process. If the total surface area of the multiple-effect evaporator is fixed, the performance parameters are affected by the distribution of the surface area among the effects of the evaporator. Although the optimization of evaporator surface area distribution has been investigated in previous studies, they have considered only the multiple-effect evaporator, and overlooked interactions between the three components of the evaporation process. The current investigation proposes a model of the evaporation process that takes into account interactions between the three components of the process through mass and energy balances. The model is used to find the optimum surface area distribution that maximizes the rate of sugar juice processed by the system and the optimum surface area distribution that maximizes the steam economy are different.     

Effect of ingestion of dark chocolates with similar lipid composition and different cocoa content on antioxidant and lipid status in healthy humans

The association between in vitro antioxidant capacity of dark chocolates with different cocoa percentage and the in vivo response on antioxidant status was investigated. In a randomized crossover design, 15 healthy volunteer consumed 100 g of high antioxidants dark chocolate (HADC) or dark chocolate (DC). In vitro, HADC displayed a higher Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) than DC. In vivo, plasma TAC significantly peaked 2 h after ingestion of both chocolates. TAC levels went back to zero 5 h after DC ingestion whilst levels remained significantly higher for HADC. HADC induced a significantly higher urinary TAC in the 5-12 h interval time than DC. No change was detected in urinary excretion of F2-isoprostanes. Plasma thiols and triacylglycerol (TG) levels significantly increased for both chocolate with a peak at 2 h remaining significantly higher for DC after 5 h respect to HADC. Results provide evidence of a direct association between antioxidant content of chocolate and the extent of in vivo response on plasma antioxidant capacity.     

Realization of active power filter based on indirect current control algorithm using Xilinx system generator for harmonic elimination

Realization of active power filter with Model Based Design approach is presented in this paper. The approach adopts different modeling platforms as well as selection of proper hardware for step wise verification and testing. The active power filter model is developed using the Matlab/Simulink platform for single phase. The efficiency of the control algorithms such as synchronous detection method and indirect current control for active power filter is analyzed. Efficient control algorithm is developed by Xilinx system generator which is incorporated into Simulink as Xilinx tool box. Xilinx system generator provides a virtual platform for easy and effective design of the required system models in FPGA (field programmable gate array) design environments. Optimized automatic VHDL code is generated for the control algorithm which is simulated using ISE 13.2 for the generation of switching signals for the control of IGBTs of the active power filter. Suitable compensation signal is generated from the active power filter for the better elimination harmonics to improve the power quality. THD is reduced to a considered value which is able to satisfy the limits of the IEEE standard.     

Chemical,amino acid and fatty acid composition of Sterculia urens L. seed

The chemical, amino acid and fatty acid compositions of Sterculia urens seeds are reported. The cotyledons were found to be rich in protein (30.88%) and lipids (39.2%). The major amino acids in defatted Sterculia urens cotyledon flour (DSCF) were determined as glutamic acid, arginine and aspartic acid. Cysteine, methionine, tyrosine and histidine were observed in minor quantities. The ratio of essential to non-essential amino acids was observed to be 0.45. Among the essential amino acids, isoleucine was found to be higher than the reported FAO/WHO requirements. The GC-FID and GC–MS analysis revealed that the major fatty acids of the total lipid were stearic acid (31.72%), linoleic acid (28.83%) and palmitic acid (26.79%). Eicosadienoic acid (4.98%) and eicosatrienoic acid (2.96%) were also found in the total lipid.     

Antioxidant Activity of Seaweed Extracts: In Vitro Assays,Evaluation in 5 % Fish Oil‐in‐Water Emulsions and Characterization

In this study the antioxidant activity of absolute ethanol, 50 % ethanol and water extracts of two species of seaweeds, namely Fucus serratus and Polysiphonia fucoides, were evaluated both in in vitro assays and in 5 % fish oil‐in‐water (o/w) emulsions. The 50 % ethanolic extracts of P. fucoides showed higher antioxidant activity both in in vitro assays and in 5 % oil‐in‐water emulsion in the presence or absence of iron. In spite of the higher phenolic content and very good antioxidant activity in some of the in vitro assays, the absolute ethanol extracts of both the species showed a pro‐oxidative tendency in 5 % fish oil‐in‐water emulsion in the presence or absence of iron. In order to investigate the reason for the higher antioxidant activity of 50 % ethanolic extracts of P. fucoides, these extracts were further fractionated into polyphenol‐rich, protein‐rich, polysaccharide‐rich and low‐molecular‐weight fractions. These fractions were tested both in in vitro and in 5 % oil‐in‐water emulsions. The results of the present study showed that the main effect was due to the phenolic compounds. In conclusion, the 50 % ethanolic extracts of P. fucoides can be a potential source of natural antioxidants as these extracts have antioxidant activities similar to those of synthetic antioxidants such as BHT.