Optical scattering in beef steak to predict tenderness using hyperspectral imaging in the VIS-NIR region

The objective of this research is to develop a non-destructive method for predicting cooked beef tenderness using optical scattering of light on fresh beef muscle tissue. A hyperspectral imaging system (λ = 496–1,036 nm) that consists of a CCD camera and an imaging spectrograph, was used to acquire beef steak images. The hyperspectral image consisted of 120 bands with spectral intervals of 4.54 nm. Sixty-one fresh beef steaks, including 44 strip loin and 17 tenderloin cuts, were collected. After imaging, the steaks were cooked and Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) force values were collected as tenderness references. The optical scattering profiles were derived from the hyperspectral images and fitted to the modified Lorentzian function. Parameters, such as the peak height, full scattering width at half maximum (FWHM), and the slope around the FWHM were determined at each wavelength. Stepwise regression was used to identify 7 key wavelengths and parameters. The parameters were then used to predict the WBS scores. The model was able to predict WBS scores with an R = 0.67. Optical scattering implemented with hyperspectral imaging shows limited success for predicting current status of tenderness in beef steak.     

Distributed diagnosis in dynamic fault environments

The problem of distributed diagnosis in the presence of dynamic failures and repairs is considered. To address this problem, the notion of bounded correctness is defined. Bounded correctness is made up of three properties: bounded diagnostic latency, which ensures that information about state changes of nodes in the system reaches working nodes with a bounded delay, bounded start-up time, which guarantees that working nodes determine valid states for every other node in the system within bounded time after their recovery, and accuracy, which ensures that no spurious events are recorded by working nodes. It is shown that, in order to achieve bounded correctness, the rate at which nodes fail and are repaired must be limited. This requirement is quantified by defining a minimum state holding time in the system. Algorithm heartbeatcomplete is presented and it is proven that this algorithm achieves bounded correctness in fully-connected systems while simultaneously minimizing diagnostic latency, start-up time, and state holding time. A diagnosis algorithm for arbitrary topologies, known as algorithm forwardheartbeat, is also presented. Forwardheartbeat is shown to produce significantly shorter latency and state holding time than prior algorithms, which focused primarily on minimizing the number of tests at the expense of latency.     

Antagonism of croton oil inflammation by topical emu oil in CD-1 mice

Emu oil is derived from the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), which originated in Australia, and has been reported to have anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation was induced in anesthetized CD-1 mice by applying 50 μL of 2% croton oil to the inner surface of the left ear. After 2 h, the area was treated with 5μL of emu, fish, flaxseed, olive, or liquified chicken fat, or left untreated. Animals were euthanized at 6 h postapplication of different oils, and earplugs (FP) and plasma samples were collected. Inflammation was evaluated by change in earlobe thickness, increase in weight of EP tissue (compared to the untreated ear), and induction in cytokines interleukin (IL)-1α and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in EP homogenates. Al-though reductions relative to control (croton oil) were noted for all treatments, auricular thickness and EP weights were, significantly reduced (−72 and −71%, respectively) only in the emu oil-treated group. IL-1α levels in homogenates of auricular tissue were significantly reduced in the fish oil (−57%) and emu oil (−70%) groups relative to the control group. The cytokine TNF-α from auricular homogenates was significantly reduced in the olive oil (−52%) and emu oil (−60%) treatment groups relative to the control group. Plasma cytokine levels were not changed by croton oil treatment. Although auricular thickness and weight were significantly correlated with each other (r=0.750, P<0.003), auricular thickness but not weight was significantly correlated with cytokine IL-1α (r=0.750, P<0.006) and TNF-α (r=0.690, P<0.02). These studies indicate that topical emu oil has anti-inflammatory properties in the CD-1 mouse that are associated with decreased auricular thickness and weight, and with the cytokines IL-1α and TNF-α.     

Corrosion behavior of metals and alloys in marine-industrial environment

This work deals with atmospheric corrosion to assess the degrading effects of air pollutants on ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys, which are mostly used as engineering materials. An exposure study was conducted in the Tuticorin port area located on the east coast of South India, in the Gulf of Mannar with Sri Lanka to the southeast. Common engineering materials, namely mild steel, galvanized iron, Zn, Al, Cu and Cu–Zn alloys (Cu–27Zn, Cu–30Zn and Cu–37Zn), were used in the investigation. The site was chosen where the metals are exposed to marine and industrial atmospheres. Seasonal 1 to 12 month corrosion losses of these metals and alloys were determined by a weight loss method. The weight losses showed strong corrosion of mild steel, galvanized iron, Cu and Zn and minor effect on Al and Cu–Zn alloys. Linear regression analysis was conducted to study the mechanism of corrosion. The composition of corrosion products formed on the metal surfaces was identified by x-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.     

Numerical prediction of three-dimensional fiber orientation in Hele-Shaw flows

A numerical technique is developed to determine the three-dimensional fiber orientation in complex flows. The fiber orientation state is specified in terms of orientation tensors, which are used in several constitutive models. This method is applied to quasi-steady state Hele-Shaw flows in order to predict the flow-induced fiber orientation during injection molding at zero volume fraction limit. At the inlet, a number of fibers are introduced at a specified rate into the flow and each fiber location is traced during the mold filling. Along these determined paths, the independent components of fourth order orientation tensors are solved, describing the orientation state. The numerical grid generation technique, which is suitable for complex mold shapes, is employed for the flow solution. Orientation ellipsoids are calculated from the second order tensors and are used to present the fiber orientation results. The numerical solutions are obtained for channel and converging flows. Planar, longitudinal, and transverse orientation results are generated from the orthogonal projections of the orientation ellipsoids.     

Structural and Electrical Properties of Ni‐Substituted Mg‐Mn Nanoferrite by Coprecipitation Route

Ni²⁺ ions doped on Mg_0.40Mn_0.60‐xNi_xFe₂O₄ compositions with 0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.60 have been synthesized by coprecipitation method and taken for the present work to study the dielectric properties and impedance characterization using the XRD and electrical measurements. The X‐ray diffraction and FT‐IR revealed that the ferrite has single‐phase cubic spinel structure. The calculated particle size from XRD data verified using SEM as well as AFM. These photographs show that the ferrites have crystalline size in the range of 20–50 nm. It was observed that the particle size decreased and Ni concentration increased. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss decreased with increase in nonmagnetic Ni²⁺ ions. Electrical properties indicate that synthesized nanoferrite particles have high resistivity.     

Analytical solution of amperometric enzymatic reactions based on Homotopy perturbation method

Electrochemical polymerization is a simple and direct technique often employed for immobilizing redox enzymes at an electrode surface. Besides these, it allows precise control over the amount, spatial distribution and orientation of the enzymes. Analytical expressions pertaining to the immobilization of enzyme by electrochemical polymerization on the electrode surface were obtained by Homotopy perturbation method (HPM). This expression further distinguishes the product of the enzyme reaction at the electrode surface from those occurring alongside the polymer employed for immobilization. These analytical results are compared with the available limiting case results and they are found to be in good agreement.     

FT-IR studies on the evolution of different phases and their interaction in ferric molybdate—molybdenum trioxide catalysts

Two samples of Fe–Mo catalysts have been prepared from ferric nitrate and ammonium paramolybdate, one following a conventional procedure and the other by a new precipitation procedure in a buffer medium. The evolution of different Fe–Mo phases, from the fresh precipitate to the aged and then to the calcined state, has been followed by FT-IR spectroscopy. All the spectral vibrations have been related to different coordination spheres of Mo and Fe ions in the samples and a comparison with a commercial catalyst of similar composition has been made. The new preparation procedure leads to small, uniform (0·3 μm size) particles and a homogeneous morphology of phases as seen by scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, a higher surface area (10·3 m² g^?1), lower bulk density (0·66 g cm^?3), a methanol conversion efficiency of > 90% and an HCHO selectivity of 95% distinguish this sample from the conventionally prepared one. Better thermal stability of this sample is inferred from the IR spectral and XRD analyses of the heat-treated (up to 800°C) samples and is related to the interaction between Fe₂(MoO₄)₃ and MoO₃ phases.     

Organic and Inorganic Blocking Layers for Solution‐Processed Colloidal PbSe Nanocrystal Infrared Photodetectors

A PbSe solution‐processed nanocrystal‐based infrared photodetector incorporating carrier blocking layers is demonstrated, and significant reduction of dark current is achieved. Detectivity values close to 10¹² Jones are achieved by using poly[(9,9′‐dioctylfluorenyl‐2,7‐diyl)‐co‐(4,4′‐(N‐(4‐sec‐butyl))diphenylamine)] (TFB) and ZnO nanocrystals (NC) as the electron blocker and hole blocker, respectively. An improvement in lifetime is also observed in the devices with the ZnO NCs hole blocking layer.     

Significant association of lipid peroxidation products with high density lipoproteins

In this study the role of high density lipoproteins in lipoprotein peroxidation process was investigated. Under basal conditions, HDL isolated from human plasma or from total lipoprotein fraction (density > 1.21) using precipitation technique carried nearly 35-40% of the total plasma fatty acid peroxidation product (measured as malonaldehyde, MDA). HDL associated MDA was reduced to < 20% when HDL was isolated by ultracentrifugation from plasma treated with Cu++. Under these conditions, 45% of the cholesterol peroxidation products (oxysterols) were associated with HDL. HDL isolated from Cu++ treated plasma significantly lost its ability to inhibit LDL peroxidation. These results suggest that HDL plays an important role in lipid peroxidation a) by carrying significant amounts of cholesterol and lipid peroxidation products, and b) its ability to inhibit LDL oxidation is compromised when HDL itself is oxidized.