Determination of the uncertainty for the thermal conductivity obtained as a function of the moisture content for several foodstuffs

Many times, when an experimental result is communicated, the uncertainty is omitted, particularly in the case in which the parameter of interest is determined by curve fitting. This article presents a review study to include an uncertainty to the parameter of interest, obtained by fitting of a straight line to an experimental data set, supposing that systematic errors can be neglected. This study is applied to the determination of expressions for the thermal conductivity of food products, supposing a constant mean temperature. In this case, in general, the thermal conductivity is a linear function of the moisture content (wb). Expressions of the thermal conductivity were obtained for several foodstuffs, according to the recommendation of the International Organization for Standardization. Thus, for a given moisture content, the obtained expressions enable to determine the value for the thermal conductivity, as well as its uncertainty, for a stipulated confidence limit.     

Surface Modification by Combined Thermochemical and Ultrasound Treatment

The combination of thermochemical and ultrasound treatment is considered. A system is proposed for such combined surface-layer treatment of steel and aluminum-alloy manufacturing components.     

Longitudinal photoconductivity of GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wires

The photoconductivity (PC) of undoped GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wires (QWRs) along the wire direction is studied for the first time. The PC spectrum reveals a strong substrate-related background as well as several small structures, some of which could be connected with the QWRs. This suggestion is confirmed by the observed polarization dependence of the PC and by photoluminescence (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) measurements on a similar sample. Prolonged pre-illumination of the sample with infrared light (hν=1.18 eV) considerably reduces the background in the PC spectrum, and makes the QWR structures better resolved.     

Signaling Role of Mitochondrial Enzymes and Ultrastructure in the Formation of Molecular Mechanisms of Adaptation to Hypoxia

This study was the first comprehensive investigation of the dependence of mitochondrial enzyme response (catalytic subunits of mitochondrial complexes (MC) I-V, including NDUFV2, SDHA, Cyt b, COX1 and ATP5A) and mitochondrial ultrastructure in the rat cerebral cortex (CC) on the severity and duration of in vivo hypoxic exposures. The role of individual animal’s resistance to hypoxia was also studied. The respiratory chain (RC) was shown to respond to changes in environmental [O₂] as follows: (a) differential reaction of mitochondrial enzymes, which depends on the severity of the hypoxic exposure and which indicates changes in the content and catalytic properties of mitochondrial enzymes, both during acute and multiple exposures; and (b) ultrastructural changes in mitochondria, which reflect various degrees of mitochondrial energization. Within a specific range of reduced O₂ concentrations, activation of the MC II is a compensatory response supporting the RC electron transport function. In this process, MC I develops new kinetic properties, and its function recovers in hypoxia by reprograming the RC substrate site. Therefore, the mitochondrial RC performs as an in vivo molecular oxygen sensor. Substantial differences between responses of rats with high and low resistance to hypoxia were determined.     

Applying design patterns in the search-based optimization of software product line architectures

Software and Systems Modeling - The design of the product line architecture (PLA) is a difficult activity that can benefit from the application of design patterns and from the use of a search-based...