Viscoelastic State for the Solutions of Spherically Symmetric Viscoelasticity Problems

The solutions of the spherically symmetric, linear, isothermal, and transient viscoelasticity problems via reciprocity theorem have been investigated for a specific material. The integral form of stress–strain relations has been used. The Laplace transform of a viscoelastic state, which is necessary for the integral equation arising as a result of reciprocity theorem, has been derived. This integral equation has been solved by Laplace transform. A sample problem has been solved to test the presented formulation. A numerical application of the analytic solution of this problem has been given.     

Automatic recognition fingerspelling gestures in multiple languages for a communication interface for the disabled

This paper presents the design and evaluation of a multi-lingual fingerspelling recognition module that is designed for an information terminal. Through the use of multimodal input and output methods, the information terminal acts as a communication medium between deaf and blind people. The system converts fingerspelled words to speech and vice versa using fingerspelling recognition, fingerspelling synthesis, speech recognition and speech synthesis in Czech, Russian, and Turkish languages. We describe an adaptive skin color based fingersign recognition system with a close to real-time performance and present recognition results on 88 different letters signed by five different signers, using above four hours of training and test videos.     

Synthesis of 2‐monoglycerides by alcoholysis of palm oil and tuna oil using immobilized lipases

Commercial immobilized lipases were used for the synthesis of 2‐monoglycerides (2‐MG) by alcoholysis of palm and tuna oils with ethanol in organic solvents. Several parameters were studied, i.e., the type of immobilized lipases, water activity, type of solvents and temperatures. The optimum conditions for alcoholysis of tuna oil were at a water activity of 0.43 and a temperature of 60 °C in methyl‐tert‐butyl ether for ～12 h. Although immobilized lipase preparations from Pseudomonas sp. and Candida antarctica fraction B are not 1, 3‐regiospecific enzymes, they were considered to be more suitable for the production of 2‐MG by the alcoholysis of tuna oil than the 1, 3‐regiospecific lipases (Lipozyme RM IM from Rhizomucor miehei and lipase D from Rhizopus delemar). With Pseudomonas sp. lipase a yield of up to 81% 2‐MG containing 80% PUFA (poly‐unsaturated fatty acids) from tuna oil was achieved. The optimum conditions for alcoholysis of palm oil were similar as these of tuna oil alcoholysis. However, lipase D immobilized on Accurel EP100 was used as catalyst at 40 °C with shorter reaction times (<12 h). This lead to a yield of ～60% 2‐MG containing 55.0‐55.7% oleic acid and 18.7‐21.0% linoleic acid.     

Thromboelastography in healthy dairy cows

Thromboelastography is a whole blood-based coagulation assay that can be used to investigate hypocoagulability and hypercoagulability, as seen with thromboembolic diseases and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Numerous coagulopathies due to different causes are reported in cows. The objective was to establish reference intervals for thromboelastography using the TEG 5000 (Haemonetics GmbH, Munich, Germany) with citrated whole blood samples and kaolin activation in dairy cows and to investigate possible thromboelastographic changes between cows in different lactation periods. An additional objective was to test the stability of samples for up to 100 h. Sixty blood samples from healthy Holstein-Friesian cows were examined. The samples were allocated to 3 different lactation groups (≤30 d postcalving, 31–99 d postcalving, ≥100 d postcalving). Thromboelastography was performed by using the TEG 5000 analyzer with citrated whole blood samples with kaolin activation. The calculated reference intervals were as follows: reaction time = 2.2 to 6.2 min, coagulation time = 0.8 to 2.0 min, angle α = 58.2 to 81.8°, maximum amplitude = 64.3 to 89.2 mm, and clot rigidity = 9.2 to 41.2 dyn/cm². The 3 different lactation groups showed no significant differences in TEG parameters. No significant difference was seen in samples stored for up to 48 h at room temperature, which indicates that delays in processing samples, such as those arising during transit, are not an issue.     

Lipids from cephalothorax and hepatopancreas of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei): Compositions and deterioration as affected by iced storage

Lipids from cephalothorax and hepatopancreas of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) stored in ice for up to 6 days were extracted and characterised. The extraction yields of lipids from hepatopancreas (10.65–12.64%) were higher than those from cephalothorax (2.59–2.88%). However, no changes in the extraction yield were observed during the storage (p > 0.05). The carotenoid contents of lipids from cephalothorax and hepatopancreas slightly increased within the first 2 and 4 days of iced storage (p < 0.05), respectively, but decreased thereafter (p < 0.05). With increasing storage time, a progressive formation of hydroperoxide was found as evidenced by the increase in the absorbance band at 3600–3200 cm⁻¹ in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, and increased peroxide values (PVs) (p < 0.05). The increases in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), p-anisidine value (AnV) and free fatty acid (FFA) content of lipids were noticeable when iced storage time increased (p < 0.05). Those changes indicated that lipid oxidation and hydrolysis occurred in both samples. Phospholipids (PL) were the major components in lipids from cephalothorax (82.51% of total lipids). Nevertheless, lipids from hepatopancreas contained triglyceride (TG) and PL as the dominant components (45.35% and 38.03% of total lipids, respectively). A decrease in the TG content with a concomitant increase in free fatty acid was observed at the end of storage (day 6) (p < 0.05). Decreases in unsaturated fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5(n-3)) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6(n-3)) were noticeable at day 6 of storage (p < 0.05). Thus, the extended storage time resulted in the enhanced deterioration of extracted lipids.     

Practical Intractability: A Critique of the Hypercomputation Movement

For over a decade, the hypercomputation movement has produced computational models that in theory solve the algorithmically unsolvable, but they are not physically realizable according to currently accepted physical theories. While opponents to the hypercomputation movement provide arguments against the physical realizability of specific models in order to demonstrate this, these arguments lack the generality to be a satisfactory justification against the construction of any information-processing machine that computes beyond the universal Turing machine. To this end, I present a more mathematically concrete challenge to hypercomputability, and will show that one is immediately led into physical impossibilities, thereby demonstrating the infeasibility of hypercomputers more generally. This gives impetus to propose and justify a more plausible starting point for an extension to the classical paradigm that is physically possible, at least in principle. Instead of attempting to rely on infinities such as idealized limits of infinite time or numerical precision, or some other physically unattainable source, one should focus on extending the classical paradigm to better encapsulate modern computational problems that are not well-expressed/modeled by the closed-system paradigm of the Turing machine. I present the first steps toward this goal by considering contemporary computational problems dealing with intractability and issues surrounding cyber-physical systems, and argue that a reasonable extension to the classical paradigm should focus on these issues in order to be practically viable.     

Organic Heat Stabilizers for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): A Synergistic Behavior of Eugenol and Uracil Derivative

Recycling ability, mechanical, and thermal properties of PVC stabilized with organic heat stabilizers, i.e., uracil (DAU) and eugenol were investigated to substitute PVCs stabilized with commercial lead, Ca/Zn, and organic-based stabilizer for PVC pipe production. PVC stabilized with the DAU and the eugenol can be processable at 30 °C lower than that of the PVC stabilized with commercial heat stabilizers. The most remarkable short-term thermal stability belonged to the PVC stabilized with the DAU, and its original color can be maintained at least up to 3 processing cycles. Synergistic behavior in thermal stability of the PVC mixed with DAU and eugenol at mass ratios of 1.5:1.5 was observed. Mechanical properties of DAU- and eugenol-stabilized PVC were higher than the samples with other heat stabilizers. Glass transition temperature of the PVC stabilized with all heat stabilizers was determined to be 99 °C with the exception of the value of 89 °C for eugenol-stabilized PVC. Therefore, the DAU and the eugenol showed high potential to be used as an organic heat stabilizer for PVC because of their non-toxic and good heat resistance properties.     

Determination of nutrients and volatile constituents of Agaricus bisporus (brown) at different stages

BACKGROUND: The physical properties, proximate composition, mineral and vitamin contents, and estimated volatile components of Portobello mushroom, Agaricus bisporus (brown), were analyzed in three flushes and at two different harvest times. The results showed different trends in the flushes and harvest terms studied. RESULTS: The mean values of texture, diameter, and protein of the harvested produce were 1.78–1.97 kg mm^?2, 4.67–5.02 cm, and 4.18–3.31% wet weight basis (wb), respectively. The mean Zn, Fe, P, Mg, K, Na, and Ca contents of both harvests (mg kg^?1 wb) were 8.15–7.07, 7.40–7.96, 1180.93–1038.69, 88.05–76.29, 213.29–238.82, 2652.0–2500.89, and 534.2–554.80, respectively. In terms of vitamin C, folic acid, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin, the mean contents (mg kg^?1 wb) were 6.75–3.97, 0.09–0.08, 0.085–0.09, 0.27–0.29, and 3.62–2.94, respectively. The estimated volatile components comprised 18‐ or 16‐carbon compounds such as octadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid derivatives, and other important volatiles like dl‐limonene, n‐nonane, benzendicarboxylic acid, and cis‐linoleic acid esters. CONCLUSION: Nutritive contents and estimated volatiles of Portobello mushroom were evaluated in detail at different stages. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry