Evaluation of an improved tracer method to monitor cheese curd syneresis at varying milk fat levels in a cheese vat

Previous studies have reported that cheese curd syneresis kinetics can be monitored by dilution of chemical tracers, such as Blue Dextran, in whey. The objective of this study was to evaluate an improved tracer method to monitor whey volumes expelled over time during syneresis. Two experiments with different ranges of milk fat (0-5% and 2.3-3.5%) were carried out in an 11 L double-O laboratory scale cheese vat. Tracer was added to the curd-whey mixture during the cutting phase of cheese making and samples were taken at 10 min intervals up to 75 min after cutting. The volume of whey expelled was measured gravimetrically and the dilution of tracer in the whey was measured by absorbance at 620 nm. The volumes of whey expelled were significantly reduced at higher milk fat levels. Whey yield was predicted with a SEP ranging from 3.2 to 6.3 g whey/100 mL of milk and a CV ranging from 2.03 to 2.7% at different milk fat levels.

Towards a method for the economic evaluation of environmental indicators in UK Integrated Arable Farming Systems

Integrated Arable Farming Systems (IAFS), which involve a reduction in the use of off-farm inputs, are attracting considerable research interest in the UK. The objectives of these systems experiments are to compare their financial performance with that from conventional or current farming practices. To date, this comparison has taken little account of any environmental benefits (or disbenefits) of the two systems. The objective of this paper is to review the assessment methodologies available for the analysis of environmental impacts. To illustrate the results of this exercise, the methodology and environmental indicators chosen are then applied to data from one of the LINK - Integrated Farming Systems experimental sites. Data from the Pathhead site in Southern Scotland are used to evaluate the use of invertebrates and nitrate loss as environmental indicators within IAFS. The results suggest that between 1992 and 1995 the biomass of earthworms fell by 28 kg per hectare on the integrated rotation and rose by 31 kg per hectare on the conventional system. This led to environmental costs ranging between £2.24 and £13.44 per hectare for the integrated system and gains of between £2.48 and £14.88 for the conventional system. In terms of nitrate, the integrated system had an estimated loss of £72.21 per hectare in comparison to £149.40 per hectare on the conventional system. Conclusions are drawn about the advantages and disadvantages of this type of analytical framework. Keywords: Farming systems; IAFS; Environmental valuation; Economics; Earthworms; Nitrates; Soil fauna

A design of evaluation method for SaaS in cloud computing

Purpose: This paper aims to design an evaluation method that enables an organization to assess its current IT landscape and provide readiness assessment prior to Software as a Service (SaaS) adoption. Design/methodology/approach: The research employs a mixed of quantitative and qualitative approaches for conducting an IT application assessment. Quantitative data such as end user’s feedback on the IT applications contribute to the technical impact on efficiency and productivity. Qualitative data such as business domain, business services and IT application cost drivers are used to determine the business value of the IT applications in an organization. Findings: The assessment of IT applications leads to decisions on suitability of each IT application that can be migrated to cloud environment. Research limitations/implications: The evaluation of how a particular IT application impacts on a business service is done based on the logical interpretation. Data mining method is suggested in order to derive the patterns of the IT application capabilities. Practical implications: This method has been applied in a local council in UK. This helps the council to decide the future status of the IT applications for cost saving purpose.

EVALUATION OF METAL TOXICITY BY A MODIFIED METHOD BASED ON THE FUNGUS GERRONEMA VIRIDILUCENS BIOLUMINESCENCE IN AGAR MEDIUM

Metal cation toxicity to basidiomycete fungi is poorly understood, despite its well-known importance in terrestrial ecosystems. Moreover, there is no reported methodology for the routine evaluation of metal toxicity to basidiomycetes. In the present study, we describe the development of a procedure to assess the acute toxicity of metal cations (Na(+), K(+), Li(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Co(2+), Zn(2+), Ni(2+), Mn(2+), Cd(2+), and Cu(2+)) to the bioluminescent basidiomycete fungus Gerronema viridilucens. The method is based on the decrease in the intensity of bioluminescence resulting from injuries sustained by the fungus mycelium exposed to either essential or nonessential metal toxicants. The assay described herein enables LIS to propose a metal toxicity series to Gerronenia viridilucens based on data obtained from the bioluminescence intensity (median effective concentration [EC50] values) versus metal concentration: Cd(2+) > Cu(2+) > Mn(2+) approximate to Ni(2+) approximate to Co(2+) > Zn(2+) > Mg(2+) > Li(+) > K(+) approximate to Na(+) > Ca(2+), and to shed some li-ht on the mechanism of toxic action of metal cations to basidiomycete fungi. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:320-326. (C) 2009 SETAC

Evaluation of the QuEChERS Method and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis Pesticide Residues in Water and Sediment

A method for the determination of pesticide residues in water and sediment was developed using the QuEChERS method followed by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. The method was validated in terms of accuracy, specificity, linearity, detection and quantification limits. The recovery percentages obtained for the pesticides in water at different concentrations ranged from 63 to 116%, with relative standard deviations below 12%. The corresponding results from the sediment ranged from 48 to 115% with relative standard deviations below 16%. The limits of detection for the pesticides in water and sediment were below 0.003 mg L(-1) and 0.02 mg kg(-1), respectively.

Evaluation of surface treatment techniques for polypropylene andimplementation of a method for testing ink adhesion

If a plastic material is used as a print bearer there are a need of a special surface treatment to get agod and durable printing. The most used surface treatment technique for the moment is coronatreatment. This kind of treatment has unfortunately showed not to be so durable in the long term.Plasma treatment which in this case uses different kind of gases in the treatment of polypropyleneis shown as a more effective treatment in this project. When the plasma treated surface has beenprinted is the good quality last much longer and the adhesion between the ink and the surface isremained. To test this adhesion is for the moment a standard used (ASTM D3359). This standardhas appeared unstable and dependent at many different factors, which gives a big variation in thetest results. Because of this has new test methods been carried out to give a more even and morereliable result in the test of the adhesion.

Evaluation of the photoelectrocatalytic method for oxidizing chloride and simultaneous removal of microcystin toxins in surface waters

The production of chlorine was investigated in the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of a chloride-containing solution using a TiO(2) thin-film electrode biased at current density from 5 to 50 mA cm(-2) and illuminated by UV light. Such parameters as chloride concentrations from 0.001 to 0.10 mol L(-1), pH 2-12, and interfering salts were varied in this study in order to determine their effect on this oxidation process. At an optimum condition this photoelectrocatalytic method can produce active chlorine at levels compatible to water disinfections processes using a chloride concentration higher than 0.010 mol L(-1) at a pH of 4 and a current density of 30 mA cm(-2). The method was successfully applied to treat surface water collected from a Brazilian river. After 150 min of photoelectrocatalytic oxidation, we obtained a 90% reduction in total organic carbon removal, a 100% removal of turbidity, a 93% decrease in colour and a chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of around 96% (N=3). The proposed technology based on photoelectrocatalytic oxidation was also tested in treating 250 mL of a solution containing 0.05 mol L(-1) NaCl and 50 mu g L(-1) of Microcystin aeruginosa. The bacteria is completely removed after 5 min of photoelectrocatalysis following an initial rate constant removal of -0.260 min(-1), suggesting that the present method could be considered as a promising alternative to chlorine-based disinfections. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spatial evaluation of larvae of Culicidae (Diptera) from different breeding sites: application of a geospatial method and implications for vector control

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Study of alternative schemes for the parameterization step of the continuation power flow method based on physical parameters, part II: Performance evaluation

New parameterization schemes have been proposed by the authors in Part I of this paper. In this part these new options for the parameterization of power flow equations are tested, namely, the total power losses (real and reactive), the power at the slack bus (real or reactive), the reactive power at generation buses, and the transmission line power losses (real and reactive). These different parameterization schemes can be used to obtain the maximum loading point without ill-conditioning problems, once the singularity of Jacobian matrix is avoided. The results obtained with the new approach for the IEEE test systems (14, 30, 57, and 118 buses) show that the characteristics of the conventional method are not only preserved but also improved. In addition, it is shown that the proposed method and the conventional one can be switched during the tracing of PV curves to determine, with few iterations, all points of the PV curve. Several tests were also carried out to compare the performance of the proposed parameterization schemes for the continuation power flow method with the use of both the secant and tangent predictors.

Aesthetic correction of a hypertrophic sinus frontalis: A long-term follow-up evaluation and refinement of the method

Two cases treated for hypertrophy of the frontal sinus are presented. In both patients, the excised frontal bone was inverted, and the resultant cavity was filled with either bone dust from the parietal region or Medpor. The first patient is shown with an excellent result after a follow-up period of 16 years. The second patient, who also achieved an excellent result, is presented after a follow-up period of 5 years. Using Medpor instead of bone dust resulted in the advantage that the operation could be performed with the patient under local anesthesia with sedation and prevention of an additional donor site. The use of Medpor has certain advantages over the use of hydroxyapatite, not least of which is its significant lower cost.