Sesquiterpenes in grapes and wines: Occurrence,biosynthesis, functionality,and influence of winemaking processes

Grapes are an important global horticultural product, and are mainly used for winemaking. Typically, grapes and wines are rich in various phytochemicals, including phenolics, terpenes, pyrazines, and benzenoids, with different compounds responsible for different nutritional and sensory properties. Among these compounds, sesquiterpenes, a subcategory of the terpenes, are attracting increasing interest as they affect aroma and have potential health benefits. The characteristics of sesquiterpenes in grapes and wines in terms of classification, biosynthesis pathway, and active functions have not been extensively reviewed. This paper summarizes 97 different sesquiterpenes reported in grapes and wines and reviews their biosynthesis pathways and relevant bio‐regulation mechanisms. This review further discusses the functionalities of these sesquiterpenes including their aroma contribution to grapes and wines and potential health benefits, as well as how winemaking processes affect sesquiterpene concentrations.     

Systematic packaging design tools integrating functional and environmental consequences on product life cycle: Case studies on laundry detergent and milk

This study presents systematic packaging design tools integrating functional and environmental consequences on product life cycle. To design packaging for sustainability, the trade-offs between functional and environmental aspects of packaging throughout the product life cycle should be considered. However, it is difficult for packaging designers to understand the overall trade-offs because the extent of the design consequences on the entire life cycle of packaging and its contents is unclear. We developed two tools for packaging design: the Life Cycle Association Matrix (LCAM) and the Function Network Diagram (FND). The following three steps, based on literature reviews and interviews with industrial experts, were applied. Firstly, we listed the product functions and design variables related to the functions as the attributes allocated to the product life cycle. Secondly, the attributes were connected appropriately based on causal relationships. Lastly, we identified the factors to support decision making in the packaging design procedure. As a result, the LCAM depicts the design consequences on the life cycle, and the FND determines the stakeholders affected by the design consequences. Two case studies were demonstrated to analyze the trade-offs by using our tools. In the case studies, a liquid laundry detergent bottle and a milk carton were redesigned. The tools identified the design consequences and stakeholders affected by the redesign of the usability and protective function for the detergent and milk cases, respectively. The results showed the significance of understanding the design consequences on the product life cycle by integrating the functional and environmental aspects.     

Postharvest processes of edible insects in Africa: A review of processing methods,and the implications for nutrition,safety and new products development

In many African cultures, insects are part of the diet of humans and domesticated animals. Compared to conventional food and feed sources, insects have been associated with a low ecological foot print because fewer natural resources are required for their production. To this end, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recognized the role that edible insects can play in improving global food and nutrition security; processing technologies, as well as packaging and storage techniques that improve shelf-life were identified as being crucial. However, knowledge of these aspects in light of nutritional value, safety, and functionality is fragmentary and needs to be consolidated. This review attempts to contribute to this effort by evaluating the available evidence on postharvest processes for edible insects in Africa, with the aim of identifying areas that need research impetus. It further draws attention to potential postharvest technology options for overcoming hurdles associated with utilization of insects for food and feed. A greater research thrust is needed in processing and this can build on traditional knowledge. The focus should be to establish optimal techniques that improve presentation, quality and safety of products, and open possibilities to diversify use of edible insects for other benefits.     

Protection value and functional service life of heritage timber buildings

ABSTRACT

The development of objective methodologies for the preventive conservation of historic buildings is extremely relevant to mitigate the deterioration of buildings and sites with exceptional cultural value. In this sense, there is a growing need to develop comprehensive, coherent plans to manage, preserve and protect heritage buildings in areas that are extremely susceptible to natural disasters, such as the case of the Pacific coast of South America. Two methodologies are presented in this study to assess the functional service life and protection level of cultural heritage in Chile. This research intends to establish a correlation between the functional performance of heritage buildings and the Chilean code related to the definition of the preservation of historic heritage buildings. This study applies both methodologies to 25 heritage buildings (timber housing) located in the city of Valdivia, Chile. A multiple linear regression analysis is applied in order to rank the influence of the variables used to define the protection level, according to the Chilean standard, in the functionality index of timber heritage constructions. The information obtained in this study is exceptionally relevant for the researchers and stakeholders responsible for the definition and implementation of maintenance programmes in building stocks.     

Supercritical CO2 Extraction of Oil from Atlantic Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and Protein Functionality

Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) extraction temperature and pressure for oil removal from freeze-dried, fall Atlantic mackerel muscle were optimized. The effect of extraction conditions on pH and water-binding potential (WBP) of the protein residue was evaluated. For the temperature range (35–55°C) and pressure interval (20.7–34.5 MPa), 34.5 MPa/35°C gave highest oil yield and concentration of ω-3 fatty acids. SC-CO₂ extraction at higher pressure levels caused slight decreases in protein residue pH. WBP of residual proteins was maximal at 1.49g H₂O/g protein for 34.5 MPa/45°C. The high lipid removal and retention of protein functionality in the residue after oil extraction may make such processes useful for future food applications.     

A new coding algorithm for arbitrarily shaped image segments

In this paper, a new texture coding algorithm for arbitrarily shaped image segments is introduced. In contrast to other methods described in the literature, the proposed coding algorithm has low computational complexity, is based on the widely used 8 × 8 2D-DCT, and thus, can be readily implemented using existing block-based coding standards such as JPEG, H.261, MPEG. And the content based functionalities currently discussed in the MPEG-4 standardization phase can be easily achieved with the proposed algorithm. Computer simulations and comparisons with other results from the literature reveal that our proposed technique is quite promising and competitive.     

Reticular Chemistry of Multifunctional Metal-Organic Framework Materials

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline solids constructed by means of reticular chemistry (refers to the connection of molecular building units via strong bonds to make extended structures), which is currently one of the most rapidly expanding platforms for new functional materials. Rational combinations of various building units enable MOFs to show tailorable pore structures. Based on well-established approaches, including the control over pore size and pore chemistry, immobilization of functional sites, post-synthetic modification, and multivariate complex, multifunctional MOFs can be readily synthesized. In this brief review, we summarize and highlight our research progress in MOF chemistry on applications including gas storage, gas separations, optical response, chemical sensing, proton conduction, and molecular recognitions.     

A General Model of Unit Testing Efficacy

Much of software engineering is targeted towards identifying and removing existing defects while preventing the injection of new ones. Defect management is therefore one important software development process whose principal aim is to ensure that the software produced reaches the required quality standard before it is shipped into the market place. In this paper, we report on the results of research conducted to develop a predictive model of the efficacy of one important defect management technique, that of unit testing. We have taken an empirical approach. We commence with a number of assumptions that led to a theoretical model which describes the relationship between effort expended and the number of defects remaining in a software code module tested (the latter measure being termed correctness). This model is general enough to capture the possibility that debugging of a software defect is not perfect and could lead to new defects being injected. The Model is examined empirically against actual data and validated as a good predictive model under specific conditions. The work has been done in such a way that models are derived not only for the case of overall correctness but also for specific types of correctness such as correctness arising from the removal of defects contributing to shortcoming in reliability (R-type), functionality (F-type), usability (U-type) and maintainability (M-type) aspects of the program subject to defect management.