Study on the Complementation of Two Proteins of Low Quality: Black Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and Sesame (Sesamun incdicum L.).

In order to determine the complementary potential of black bean and sesame proteins, female rats were fed diets with 10% protein from black bean, sesame or combinations of these. Data showed that diets with these proteins combined had better quality than either protein alone. Maximum protein quality was observed when the two protein sources were mixed in a 1:l (w/w) ratio. This mixturn had PER and NPR values 2 and 5 times higher, respectively, than those of the black bean protein alone and 61 and 71% of the values of PER and NPR, respectively, obtained with a casein diet. Also, there was no alteration of serum or liver lipids.     

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CONTEXTUAL SEGMENTATION METHODS FOR DIGITAL ANGIOGRAM ANALYSIS

This paper presents a comparative study of several well-known and thoroughly tested techniques for the segmentation of textured images, including two algorithms belonging to the adaptive Bayesian family of restoration and segmentation methods, and a novel approach based on the recently introduced concept of the frequency histogram of connected elements (FHCE). The paper first introduces the parameters that define a connected element and then details the sensitivity analysis of these parameters, showing that the grayscale intensity histogram of a digital image is a particular case of the FHCE. The application domain chosen for comparison purposes is the problem of medical images segmentation and, more specifically, as a particularly illustrative case the segmentation of digital angiograms is analyzed in detail. To get a comparative evaluation of FHCE performance, two well-established adaptive or contextual Bayesian segmentation algorithms have been applied to the segmentation of digital angiograms as well. The paper ends with a brief discussion of the comparative performances.     

ANALYTICAL PREDICTION OF DRYING PERFORMANCE IN NONCONVENTIONAL SHAPES

A study is made to develop a tool to predict drying performance of nonconventional shapes. Many food drying processes are diffusion-controlled. An approximated analytical solution to Fick's diffusion equation is given for bodies which have a cardioidal, corrugated, circular, epitrochoidal, square, or hexagonal cross section. A conformal mapping approach is used to obtain the concentration distribution and the result is integrated over the volume to yield analytical weight loss equations for each shape. The result is applied to compare drying performance of apples on an equal weight-equal cross sectional area or an equal weight-equal thickness basis.     

Transformation Plasticity of CeO2-Stabilized Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystals: II, Pseudoelasticity and Shape Memory Effect

A macroscopic shape memory effect is demonstrated by first deforming a CeO₂-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Ce-TZP) between the M_b and A_s temperatures and then recovering the shape change by heating above A_b . Shape changes effected above A_b are immediately recoverable during unloading, giving rise to a pseudoelastic behavior. Deformation texture is reversible when the shape strain recovers. Both M_b and A_b , along with the associated temperature range for these effects, are depressed to lower temperatures by grain refinement. Prior deformation widens the gap between the transformation temperatures. These observations demonstrate that the shape accommodation in Ce-TZP arises from twinning and elastic distortions. The operation of pseudoelasticity and shape memory effect is rationalized in terms of martensitic nucleation statistics, the stability of thermoelastic martensite, and internal stresses at the martensitic interface. The implications on transformation plasticity and transformation toughening are explored.     

USING LONGEST-SIDE BISECTION TECHNIQUES FOR THE AUTOMATIC REFINEMENT OF DELAUNAY TRIANGULATIONS

In this paper we discuss, study and compare two linear algorithms for the triangulation refinement problem: the known longest-side (triangle bisection) refinement algorithm, as well as a new algorithm that uses longest side bisection techniques for refining Delaunay triangulations. We show that the automatic point insertion criterion, taken from the fractal property of optimal (linear) longest-side bisection algorithms, assures the construction of good quality Delaunay triangulations in linear time. Numerical evidence, showing that the practical behaviour of the new algorithm is in complete agreement with the theory, is included. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE CHANGES IN AEROBIC MICROFLORA FROM INTESTINAL CONTENTS OF SOUTH-BALTIC COD DURING STORAGE AT 1-2°C

SUMMARY— The bacterial flora of the intestinal content of cod (Gedus morrhua L) were investigated during a period of 1 year. The quantity of bacteria in recently caught fish was studied during the full period. the quality during only 6 months. 3 groups of fish from the same capture and fishing grounds were analyzed: fresh, and stored at 1–2°C for 5 and 10 days. It was seen that in general gram-positive bacterial flora dominated in recently caught fish, while after 5 and 10 days of storage gram-negative flora our numbered the former. In the intestinal contents of fresh fish the Vibrio species dominated, whereas at storage, Pseudomonas spp. became dominant. In fresh fish, the bacterial flora of stored fish amounted to 3.10% of the total initial quantity after 5 days of storage and 1.5% after 10 days. Also, the gram-positive flora decreased comparatively more rapidly than gram-negative flora. The authors believe that the temperature of 1–27°C may play a part in the decreasing number of flora, as well as some other factors not investigated in the present research.     

DISCREPANCIES AND CONSISTENCIES IN THE SUBJECTIVE RATINGS OF WINE-TASTING COMMITTEES

Tasting committees issuing subjective scores carry out the evaluation of wines, as for many other food products. Since highly qualified experts form wine‐tasting committees, the reliability of the scores is not generally questioned. Nevertheless, statistical methods can be applied to assess the work of tasters from the point of view of concordance. Agreement degree may be used as a measurement of the reliability of subjective rating. In order to evaluate both the extent of agreement as well as the circumstances that produce disagreement, this paper examines the subjective scores assigned to white wines awarded the Rias Baixas (Spain) denomination of origin certificate using statistical analysis. It will be seen that agreement depends significantly on the variability in scoring. A statistical method is proposed, which permits an appraisal, in terms of consistency and reliability, of the committees that evaluate wines for quality and authenticity.     

Transformation Plasticity of CeO2-Stabilized Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystals: I, Stress Assistance and Autocatalysis

Transformation plasticity in CeO₂-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals due to the tetragonal-to-monoclinic transformation was studied by inducing volumetric and shear deformation under compression and bending between the burst temperature of martensite (monoclinic) formation ( M_b ) and the burst temperature of austenite (tetragonal) formation ( A_b ). The stress-strain curve features a load drop, a perfect plastic regime, and an extended strain-hardening regime before the exhaustion of transformation. Macroscopic shear bands formed in the perfect plastic regime. The yield stress has a strong, positive pressure and temperature sensitivity but is strain-rate sensitive only in the last stage of deformation. These results are rationalized in terms of stress assistance to the transformation which, in a homogeneous tetragonal polycrystal, may propagate autocatalytically. Autocatalysis can be impeded by a second phase, such as monoclinic ZrO₂ or Al₂O₃, and is suppressed at higher temperature. Flow localization is found to precede and precipitate crack formation. As a result, the actual fracture energy is much less than the total plastic work. The implications of stress-assisted, autocatalytic transformation on strength and toughness are explored.