Correlation study between standard plate count and flow cytometry for determination of raw milk total bacterial count

Milk samples were collected in the dry season ( n =  155) and in the rainy season ( n =  68) to establish a correlation between electronic flow cytometry and standard plate count for the determination of total bacterial count of raw milk. Results were expressed in individual bacterial count (ibc) and colony forming unit (cfu) for electronic flow cytometry (Bactocount) and standard plate count, respectively. The accuracy of Bactocount, denoted by the residual standard deviation ( s ( y,x )), was 0.309 log cfu/mL. The predictive interval of estimated values was broad and it is suggested that total bacterial count should be expressed in ibc without transformation to cfu.     

Some results on system equivalence

Simple, necessary and sufficient conditions for system equivalence at infinity and strong system equivalence of systems in the form (T(s), B, C, D) are established. A necessary condition for system equivalence at infinity of systems in the general form (T(s), U(S), V(S), W(S)) is also established.     

AN APPLICATION OF THE DISCRETE MAXIMUM PRINCIPLE TO THE SEGMENTATION OF A WALL FOR NONLINEAR SLOPES

A problem consisting of the optimal design of a segmented wall on a surface having a nonlinear slope contour is considered. It is formulated as an optimal control problem and a solution procedure based on the Discrete Maximum Principle is developed. An application to a real case, which previously had been solved by a Dynamic Programming based method, is included together with some critical comments on the above-mentioned technique.     

Prediction of pH Change in Processed Acidified Turnips

The acetic acid uptake by turnips was studied during an acidification process in containers. The process was successfully described by a Fickian diffusion, using a correlation for the buffer effect. Diffusion coefficients (0.629 to 3.99 × 10^-9 m²/sec) and partition coefficients (0.8 to 1.1) were obtained by optimization of the fit between experimental and theoretical values, using the simplex method. The partition coefficient did not show an evident dependence on temperature, while diffusivity followed an Arrhenius type behavior. The relationship between acid concentration and pH was described using a cubic model with parameters independent of temperature. Results showed that the combination of these models describing the acid diffusion into the food and the buffering effects of the food allowed accurate prediction of pH evolution in the acidification process.     

Flexible manufacturing system structural control and the Neighborhood Policy,part 1. Correctness and scalability

IIE Transactions - Structural Control Policies (SCPs) are real-time flexible manufacturing system (FMS) operating policies that guarantee deadlock-free operation. SCPs must be correct and scalable....