Changing our view on design evaluation meetings methodology: a study of software technical review meetings

By contrast to design meetings, design evaluation meetings (DEMs) have generally been considered as situations in which, according to DEM methodologies, design activities are quite marginal. In a study of DEMs in software development, i.e. in technical review meetings following a particular review methodology, we showed: (i) the occurrence of design activities as part of an argumentation process; (ii) the relative importance of cognitive synchronisation as a prerequisite for evaluation; (iii) the important role played in evaluation by argumentation that makes explicit the underlying design rationale (DR). On the basis of our results, we discuss the potential for using DR methodologies in this kind of meetings.     

Real-time control of video surveillance systems with program supervision techniques

In this article, we describe a knowledge-based controlled platform using program supervision techniques. This platform eases the creation and the configuration of video surveillance systems. Several issues need to be addressed to provide a correct system configuration: (1) to choose, among a library of programs, those which are best satisfying a given user request, (2) to assign a correct value for each program parameter, (3) to evaluate performances and to guarantee a performance rate which is satisfactory regarding end-user requirements. This platform is composed of three main components: the library of programs, the knowledge base and the control component. The knowledge is either given by experts or learnt by the system. The control is generic in the sense that it is independent of any application. To validate this platform, we have built and evaluated six video surveillance systems which are featured with three properties: adaptability, reliability and real-time processing.     

珠江口盆地开平凹陷油气聚集条件分析

珠江口盆地自新生代以来,曾先后受到不同方向张应力的作用,造成了不同时期构造体系的交叉叠合.中中新世以来构造运动强烈,并具有东强西弱的特点,对油气的运移与聚集产生了重要影响.开平凹陷的剧烈断裂和断陷活动始于始新世,并在同期沉积了巨厚的文昌组.晚渐新世以后,由于断裂活动非常微弱,在成熟的烃源岩与其上地层之间缺乏有效的油源断层,因而自生自储、近距离运移可能是开平凹陷油气聚集的基本特征.在凹陷内部,因重力滑动和欠压实泥岩共同作用所形成的KPll-1构造带可能是该区最具有油气远景的地区.     

大功率CO_2激光器非平衡态合成WO_3／Fe_2O_3新型陶瓷催化剂──Ⅱ．WO_3／Fe_2O_3烯烃歧化反应催化剂的催化活性

用大功率ＣＯ２激光器熔制ＷＯ３／Ｆｅ２Ｏ３新型烯烃歧化反应催化剂。考查了催化剂组成、激光功率及熔炼时间与丙烯歧化反应催化活性之间的关系。     

Subdivision of work on construction projects

In order to control a project, construction management requires project information. This is obtained through accounting, estimating, cost management and scheduling functions which produce project reports. These reports are best obtained by subdividing the project into small parts. The ways in which each of these functions subdivides a project in order to produce its reports is discussed, together with a means of interrelating this information with a technique known as the work breakdown structure.     

Screening of South African Food Plants for Antioxidant Activity

ABSTRACT: In a screening of South African indigenous food plants for antioxidant activity by testing for inhibition of lipid peroxidation, the "potherbs" Amaranthus sp., Sisymbrium thellungii , and Urtica dioica had very high activity. This activity was greatest in the boiled extract of Amaranthus sp. and the boilet and aqueous extracts of Sisymbrium thellungii and Urtica dioica. The activity in the aqueous extract of Nasturtium aquatica was lost by boiling. High activity was also obtained with the teas Galium aparine and Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos) and with the tuber Colocasia esculenta.     

Trypsin inhibitor activity of soybean as affected by genotype and fertilisation

The presence of protease inhibitors in soybean prohibits the utilisation of the raw beans for food and feed. However, little information is available about environmental influences and the effects of nitrogen and sulphur supply on the antinutritional constituents of soybean. As these factors may influence protease inhibitors, soybean genotypes segregated according to the presence or absence of the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor have been evaluated for trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) in field trials. TIA was affected significantly by environment (geographical location), fertilisation treatment and genotype. Environmental means of TIA were between 69.5 and 104.8 mg g^?1. Nitrogen application, which caused an increase in seed protein content, resulted in a reduction in TIA by about 15% as compared with the control. Remarkably, simultaneous application of nitrogen and sulphur in the form of ammonium sulphate had a similar reductive effect on TIA to that of nitrogen application alone, although soybean protease inhibitors are rich in sulphur amino acids. Significant genetic variation in TIA was found both within the genotype class with the Kunitz inhibitor present as well as within the class lacking this inhibitor. The results suggest that TIA of soybean may be modified considerably by genetic improvement and appropriate agronomic management. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Development and evaluation of antimicrobial natamycin‐incorporated film in gorgonzola cheese conservation

Conservation of food products depends on product quality and packaging suitability. The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate the antimicrobial efficiency of natamycin‐incorporated film in the production process of Gorgonzola cheese. It aims to optimize the production process and increase shelf‐life and food safety for the consumer. Films with different concentrations of natamycin were produced and tested in Gorgonzola cheeses to evaluate its efficiency against Penicillium roqueforti on the cheese surface. Films with 2 and 4% natamycin presented satisfactory results for fungus inhibition and the amount of natamycin released to the cheese was below that allowed by the legislation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of surfactants on phenol removal by the method of polymerization and precipitation catalysed by Coprinus cinereus peroxidase

The removal of phenol by peroxidase‐catalysed polymerization was examined using Coprinus cinereus peroxidase in the presence of surfactants. The non‐ionic surfactants with poly(oxyethene) residues, Triton X‐100, Triton X‐405 and Tween 20, enhanced the phenol removal efficiency at a level similar to high relative molecular mass poly(ethylene glycol) (relative molecular mass 3000). Although the improvement in the removal efficiency was less than that of Triton X‐100, Span 20, sodium lauryl sulfate (SDS) and lauryl trimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) also enhanced the removal efficiency. The requirement of the enzyme for almost 100% removal of 100 mg dm^?3 phenol decreased to one‐fourth by the addition of 30 mg dm^?3 Triton X‐100. Triton X‐100, Triton X‐405, Tween 20 and DTAB could reactivate the enzyme precipitated with the phenol polymer, leading to the restarting of the phenol removal reaction. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry