Destructive and non-destructive evaluation of concrete for optimum sand to aggregate volume ratio

Aggregates are the biggest contributor to concrete volume and are a crucial parameter in dictating its mechanical properties. As such, a detailed experimental investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of sand-to-aggregate volume ratio (s/a) on the mechanical properties of concrete utilizing both destructive and non-destructive testing (employing UPV (ultrasonic pulse velocity) measurements). For investigation, standard cylindrical concrete samples were made with different s/a (0.36, 0.40, 0.44, 0.48, 0.52, and 0.56), cement content (340 and 450 kg/m³), water-to-cement ratio (0.45 and 0.50), and maximum aggregate size (12 and 19 mm). The effect of these design parameters on the 7, 14, and 28 d compressive strength, tensile strength, elastic modulus, and UPV of concrete were assessed. The careful analysis demonstrates that aggregate proportions and size need to be optimized for formulating mix designs; optimum ratios of s/a were found to be 0.40 and 0.44 for the maximum aggregate size of 12 and 19 mm, respectively, irrespective of the W/C (water-to-cement) and cement content.     

CIRCULANT MATRICES AND THE STABILITY OF A CLASS OF CNNs

In this paper we show that feedback matrices of ring CNNs are block circulants; as special cases, for example, feedback matrices of one-dimensional ring CNNs are circulant matrices. Circulants and their close relations the block circulants possess many pleasant properties which allow one to describe their spectrum completely. After deriving the spectrum of the feedback operator, we discuss conditions for a CNN to be contractive, ensuring global asymptotic stability.     

INTROGRESSING PHEROMONE QTL BETWEEN SPECIES: TOWARDS AN EVOLUTIONARY UNDERSTANDING OF DIFFERENTIATION IN SEXUAL COMMUNICATION

As a first step toward understanding how noctuid moths evolve species-specific pheromone communication systems, we hybridized and backcrossed two closely related moth species, Heliothis virescens (Hv) and H. subflexa (Hs), which differ qualitatively and quantitatively in their multi-component sex pheromone blends. We used amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker-based mapping of backcross families to determine which of the 30 autosomes in these moths contained quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling the percentages of specific chemical components in the pheromone blends. In two previous backcrosses to Hs, we found a strong depressive effect of Hv-chromosome 22 on the percentage of three acetate components in the pheromone gland. These acetates are present in Hs and absent in Hv. Here, we describe how we introgressed Hv-chromosome 22 into the genomic background of Hs. Selection for Hv-chromosome 22 started from backcross 3 (BC₃) females. All females that had Hv-chromosome 22 and a low percentage of acetates (< 3% of the total amount of pheromone components present) were backcrossed to Hs males. In BC₅ to BC₈, we determined whether Hv-chromosome 22 was present by a) running only the primer pairs that would yield the markers for that chromosome, and/or b) determining the relative percentages of acetates in the pheromone glands. Either or both genotype and phenotype were used as a criterion to continue to backcross these females to Hs males. In BC₉, we confirmed the isolation of Hv-chromosome 22 in the Hs genomic background, and backcrossed the males to Hs females to eliminate the Hv-sex chromosome as well as mitochondrial DNA. The pheromone composition was determined in BC₃, BC₅, and BC₁₁ females with and without Hv-chromosome 22. All backcross females with Hv-chromosome 22 contained significantly less acetates than females without this chromosome. In addition, BC₃ females with Hv-chromosome 22 contained significantly more Z11-16:OH than BC₃ females without Hv-chromosome 22. However, in BC₅ and BC₁₁ females, the correlation between Z11-16:OH and Hv-chromosome 22 was lost, suggesting that there are separate QTL for the acetates and for Z11-16:OH, and that the relative amount of the alcohol component is only affected in epistasis with other (minor) QTL. Now that we have succeeded in isolating the chromosome that has a major effect on acetate production, we can test in behavioral experiments whether the presence of acetates may have been a driving force for a shift in pheromone composition. Such tests are necessary to move towards an evolutionary understanding of the differentiation in sexual communication in Heliothis spp. moths.     

SOLAR TUNNEL DRYING OF TURMERIC (CURCUMA LONGA LINN. SYN. C. DOMESTICA VAL.) FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

Turmeric is one of the most ancient medicinal spices of the world. As its homeland, India acts as the largest producer, exporter and consumer of turmeric. The value of turmeric is due to its color and flavor, which is being given by curcumin, volatile oil and oleoresin. The end quality of turmeric is very much dependent on its post-harvest methods. Traditionally, open sun drying is the chief method adopted for processing. In the present investigation, freshly harvested turmeric rhizomes were collected from 30 stations and drying experiments were conducted by adopting three methods: (1) solar tunnel drying; (2) conventional drying; and (3) commercial drying. Various pre-drying and post-drying treatments were conducted. The results proved that conventional processing could maintain the intrinsic quality up to a certain level, but extrinsic quality could not be achieved. Solar tunnel drying method is an effective alternative to traditional open sun drying, where retention of curcumin, volatile oil and oleoresin was high, with less drying time. The study also disclosed the importance of pre-drying and post-drying treatments and hygienic practices to be adopted during processing.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Solar tunnel dryer can be used to process most of the spices, vegetables, fruits and other perishable crops with maximum retention of intrinsic quality and for better shelf life. Substantial reduction of drying time and physical quality improvement with regard to international quality standards are the other advantages.     

绾青丝

不知不觉夏天的脚步已经走得这样近了,平时在风中飘扬的头发,随着温度越升越高成了恼人的“麻烦”。天天扎马尾,好像太平常;随手挽个髻,又觉太稀疏。Joy是位在英国求学的中国妹妹,她最擅长设计发髻,一支发卡,几枚发夹,三千青丝不再烦恼。换个发型,也换种心情,动手学学就可换每天好心情。     

Protein Quality of Selected Muscle Foods as Affected by the Exchange of Dietary Wheat Bran for Cellulose

The exchange of 8.4% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of wheat bran for 8.3% NDF of cellulose in diets containing either beef, chicken, fish or casein as protein sources did not (P>0.05) alter feed consumption, weight gain or energy intake in the protein efficiency ratio (PER) bioassay with weanling rats. Higher (P<0.05) fecal nitrogen (N) excretions and lower (P<0.05) N digestibilities occurred for each protein source when wheat bran was exchanged for cellulose. The exchange also had no effect (P>0.05) on PER or net protein ratio (NPR) of casein or fish protein or on NPR of chicken protein. However, PER and NPR of beef and PER for chicken were reduced (P<0.05) when the dietary fiber was exchanged.     

Effect of Form of Enrichment and Iron on Thiamin, Riboflavin and Niacinamide, and Cooking Parameters of Enriched Spaghetti

The effect of encapsulation, iron and low (LT) or high (HT) temperature drying on thiamin, riboflavin and niacinamide concentrations and on cooked spaghetti parameters of enriched spaghetti were studied. Thiamin, riboflavin and niacinamide were greater in the encapsulated enriched spaghetti. Cooked spaghetti had lower cooked weight but greater firmness when enriched with encapsulated vitamins. Thiamin, niacinamide and cooked weight were greater in cooked spaghetti when iron was added, but spaghetti was less firm. High temperature drying resulted in lower riboflavin and niacinamide in dried spaghetti but did not affect vitamin concentrations in cooked spaghetti. High temperature drying caused less cooking loss and greater firmness in cooked spaghetti.     

TACHISTOSCOPIC RECOGNITION OF NUMBER SEQUENCES.

ACCURACY AND ORDER OF REPORT OF 6-DIGIT NUMBER SEQUENCES WERE INVESTIGATED IN 16 UNDERGRADUATES UNDER BOTH FREE-RECALL AND ORDERED-RECALL CONDITIONS. THESE DATA, WHEN COMPARED TO PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED DATA FOR LETTERS AND FORMS, INDICATE THAT PROCESSING OF NUMBERS IN THE RECOGNITION TASK IS MORE FLEXIBLE THAN THAT OF LETTERS BUT LESS FLEXIBLE THAN THAT OF FORMS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT WHILE FAMILIARITY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE, PART OF THE POLARIZATION IN THE PROCESSING OF LETTERS RESULTS FROM UNIQUE PROPERTIES OF LETTERS WHICH REFLECT SS READING EXPERIENCE. (FRENCH SUMMARY) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

用于反射型显示器的光致发光增强技术

摘译电子书市场受众的逐渐增加,极大地促进了人们对低耗、日光下可读反射型显示器的关注。目前的反射显示器通常是黑白的,如亚马逊公司的Kindle电子书使用的是E-Ink Vizplex成像膜;或者仅仅能显示暗淡色域     

The solid modelling of part orienting tracks for automated assembly

Part orienting tracks used for feeding component parts to an automated assembly system are conventionally designed and fabricated manually by increasingly small numbers of skilled operators. It is time-consuming, labour-intensive and hence results in expensive tooling cost and long manufacture lead time. A new approach based on solid modelling has been developed to facilitate efficient track design and manufacture

This paper presents the methodology adopted in the development and implementation of the CAD system. It describes the conceptual model of an orienting track, discusses the overall data structure of the system, and outlines the method used in modelling tracks. The paper concludes with an example demonstrating how an orienting track can be designed using the CAD system.