Processing and microstructure of investment casting turbine blade NITAC in-situ composites

Directional solidification was used to produce turbine blades by the Bridgman method. NITAC alloys with various carbon contents were investigated; the optimum range was found to be 0.40 to 0.48%. Within this range, except for the blade locking piece edges, the blade structure consisted predominantly of aligned eutectics. The in- situ eutectics were aligned tantalum fibers embedded in a γ- phase matrix. The blades were produced using an alloy displacement rate of 1.86 x 10 ^{- 6} m/s. Measurements of fiber spacings along the blade height indicated that the rate of displacement of the solidification front exhibited some variations. These variations were closely associated with dimensional changes in the turbine blade cross sections.     

Limitations of a Mapping Algorithm with Fragmentation Mimics (MAFM) when modeling statistical data sources based on measured packet network traffic

Knowing the estimation of a statistical process’s parameters for measured network traffic is very important as it can then be further used for the statistical analyses and modeling of network traffic in simulation tools. It is for this reason that different estimation methods are proposed that allow estimations of the statistical processes of network traffic. One of them is our own histograms comparison (EMHC) based method that can be used to estimate statistical data-length process parameters from measured packet traffic. The main part of EMHC method is Mapping Algorithm with Fragmentation Mimics (MAFM).     

Synthesis of regional networks for the supply of energy and bioproducts

This article presents a method for the synthesis of regional renewable energy supply chains, based on Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP). This method addresses the challenges presented by biomass resources. The main challenges are the distributive and varied availabilities regarding both location and time. This work also aims to maximise the economically viable utilisation of resources, accounting for the competition between energy and food production. A four-layer supply chain superstructure has been developed, which includes the harvesting, preparation, core processing and distribution of products. This considered system’s boundaries involve a region, which is then divided into zones for optimising conversion operations and transportation flows. An MILP model has been formulated with profit maximisation as the optimisation criterion. The environmental impact is evaluated by the carbon footprint. The sensitivity of the optimal solutions is analysed for different regions’ sizes, transportation costs, pre-processing alternatives and the co-production of food and energy.     

Influence of background and surround on image color matching

In this article, the corresponding‐color data for complex images reproduced on different media were obtained by simultaneous matching using an adjustment method. In our experiment printed color images and images displayed on a monitor were compared in different viewing conditions. The viewing condition varied in surround relative luminance and background. The experimental data show that surround relative luminance has little influence on color matching between printed and monitor images while changes in background modify color appearance. These results were used to evaluate different chromatic adaptation transforms (CAT). We found that for the same viewing conditions the SHARP transform shows the best agreement between the experimental and predicted data. SHARP transform can not predict accurately corresponding colors for blue and black regions. Therefore, we proposed new CAT that shows better characteristics than other transforms for cyan, green, and black colors and similar characteristics for other colors. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 17, 244–251, 2007     

Influence of solvent and temperature on extraction of phenolic compounds from grape seed,antioxidant activity and colour of extract

This study was aimed to investigate the influence of solvent (water and ethanol in concentration: 50%, 70% and 96%) and extraction temperature (25–80) °C on polyphenols extraction of grape seed (Vitis vinifera L. cv. “Frankovka”) cultivated in Eastern Croatia. The best results were reached using 50% ethanol at 80 °C. The most abundant individual polyphenolic compound was catechin which makes the average of 45.11% of the total phenolic content followed by epicatechin (34.45%), procyanidin B₂ (12.90%), gallic acid (5.34%), gallocatechin (1.58%), epicatechin gallate (1.01%). The antioxidant activity of extracts was determined by DPPH‐method and it was highly dependent on extraction solvent and temperature. The total extractable proanthocyanidins content of extract had the highest positive correlation (r = 0.994) with antioxidant activity, which indicated that these compounds might be the most important antioxidant in examined grape seed extracts. Relationship between phenolic content and colour of extracts was observed.     

TWO DIMENSIONAL SIMULATION OF DEHYDRATION OF A HIGHLY DEFORMABLEGEL : MOISTURE CONTENT, STRESS AND STRAW FIELDS

A model taking into account the simultaneous influence of mechanical and hygrometric actions (Mrani and al., 1995a, 1995b) was applied to study of the dehydration of a cylinder of highly deformable biphase gel (agar gel) (Mrani and al., 1995b). Numerical solution of the water transport equation and the mechanical equilibrium equation provided access to the water content and stresses and strains in the cylinder. The numerical results were validated for water content and overall deformation of gel cylinders. The model clearly shows the inversion of the curve of the faces of the cylinder observed experimentally. Three deformation phases were observed. In the first phase, when the concaveness of the faces of the cylinder was turned inwards, tractive stress appeared at the surface of the sample. More uniform distribution of the water content became established in a second phase and the cylinder recovered its initial shape corresponding to the relaxation of the stress state. In the third phase, the concaveness of the faces of the cylinder was turned outwards, the surface became rigid with compression at the surface and traction in the centre.     

Acid‐formed pectin gel delays major incomplete kiwi fruit allergen Act c 1 proteolysis in in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

BACKGROUND: It is thought that food sensitisers must be able to reach the intestine in order to sensitise patients. Pectin is a gel‐forming plant polysaccharide that can protect allergens from in vivo gastric digestion and in vitro pepsin digestion. The aim of this study was to examine if pectin gel formed in the acidic environment of the stomach can protect labile allergen from in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. RESULTS: Pectin forms a gel in the acidic conditions of gastric fluid up to a concentration of 1.0 ± 0.14 g L^?1. Four allergenic fruits (kiwi, cherry, apple and banana) form gels in the same manner at the dilutions 14.8 ± 0.4; 8.4 ± 0.2, 9.4 ± 0.35 and 29.1 ± 0.2, respectively. The time necessary for dissolution of 50 g L^?1 pectin gel in intestinal fluid was found to be 70 ± 0.2 min. Pectin gel formed in situ was able to protect Act c 1 from pepsin digestion for 1 h and from further intestinal digestion for one additional hour. CONCLUSION: Pectin gel in an acidic environment protects Act c 1 from pepsin digestion and dissolves slowly in the slightly basic environment of the intestine allowing the survival of fruit allergen for additional time and possible interaction with the gut immune system. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Removal of N-terminal peptides from β-lactoglobulin by proteolytic contaminants in a commercial phenol oxidase preparation

The use of enzymes may improve the functional properties of various food ingredients. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of proteolytic contaminants in phenol oxidases on β-lactoglobulin (BLG). In the presence of Trametes versicolor laccase and Agaricus bisporus tyrosinase, both variants of BLG (A and B) underwent removal of a peptide from the N-terminus. The truncated forms were more susceptible to digestion by pepsin. The truncation of BLG resulted from contaminating proteases and not due to the action of phenol oxidases. The removal of N-terminal peptides proceeded quickly, while the rest of the globular protein remained resistant to proteolysis for up to 3 h. In the case of the application of enzymes in food bioprocessing, it may be important to carefully monitor the effects of contaminating proteases in enzyme preparations used.