Development of a shelling method to recover whole kernels of the Cutia nut (Couepia edulis)

The kernel of the cutia nut (castanha-de-cutia, Couepia edulis (Prance) Prance) of the western Amazon, which is consumed by the local population, has traditionally been extracted from the nut with a machete, a dangerous procedure that only produces kernels cut in half. A shelling off machine prototype, which produces whole kernels without serious risks to its operator, is described and tested. The machine makes a circular cut in the central part of the fruit shell, perpendicular to its main axis. Three ways of conditioning the fruits before cutting were compared: (1) control; (2) oven drying immediately prior to cutting; (3) oven drying, followed by a 24-hour interval before cutting. The time needed to extract and separate the kernel from the endocarp and testa was measured. Treatment 3 produced the highest output: 63 kernels per hour, the highest percentage of whole kernels (90%), and the best kernel taste. Kernel extraction with treatment 3 required 50% less time than treatment 1, while treatment 2 needed 38% less time than treatment 1. The proportion of kernels attached to the testa was 93%, 47%, and 8% for treatments 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and was the main reason for extraction time differences.

Brazil nut sorting for aflatoxin prevention: a comparison between automatic and manual shelling methods

The impact of automatic and manual shelling methods during manual/visual sorting of different batches of Brazil nuts from the 2010 and 2011 harvests was evaluated in order to investigate aflatoxin prevention.The samples were tested as follows: in-shell, shell, shelled, and pieces in order to evaluate the moisture content (mc), water activity (Aw), and total aflatoxin (LOD = 0.3 µg/kg and LOQ 0.85 µg/kg) at the Brazil nut processing plant. The results of aflatoxins obtained for the manually shelled nut samples ranged from 3.0 to 60.3 µg/g and from 2.0 to 31.0 µg/g for the automatically shelled samples. All samples showed levels of mc below the limit of 15%; on the other hand, shelled samples from both harvests showed levels of Aw above the limit. There were no significant differences concerning the manual or automatic shelling results during the sorting stages. On the other hand, the visual sorting was effective in decreasing the aflatoxin contamination in both methods.

Shelling mechanism

A corn shelling mechanism comprising an elongated concave means having one end thereof positioned below a rotatable cylinder. A continuous belt sheller is positioned above the concave in a spaced relationship with respect thereto. The corn ears are fed to the rotating cylinder by a feeder housing means with the ear receiving one or more impacts by the rasp bar of the cylinder before it travels out of range of the cylinder. The partially shelled ear passes between the belt sheller and the concave with the belt sheller urging the ears into engagement with the concave to complete the shelling operation.

Monitor peanut cleaning, shelling, grading, and roasting machinery for whole and shelled nuts.

Includes index.

Analysis of the TGF beta functional pathway in epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma is often diagnosed at an advanced stage of disease and is the leading cause of death from gynaecological neoplasia. The genetic changes that occur during the development of this carcinoma are poorly understood. It has been proposed that IGFIIR, TGF beta1 and TGF beta RII act as a functional unit in the TGF beta growth inhibitory pathway, and that somatic loss-of-function mutations in any one of these genes could lead to disruption of the pathway and subsequent loss of cell cycle control. We have examined these 3 genes in 25 epithelial ovarian carcinomas using single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis and DNA sequence analysis. A total of 3 somatic missense mutations were found in the TGF beta RII gene, but none in IGFRII or TGF beta1. An association was found between TGF beta RII mutations and histology, with 2 out of 3 clear cell carcinomas having TGF beta RII mutations. This data supports other evidence from mutational analysis of the PTEN and beta -catenin genes that there are distinct developmental pathways responsible for the progression of different epithelial ovarian cancer histologic subtypes. (C) 2001 Cancer Research Campaign.

Le corps “mort-vivant” et la ville “détruite” dans le cinéma libanais d’après guerre.

"ENTRE DEUX", le film que j'ai écrit et réalisé pour cette recherche-création, a été filmé avec les caméras Canon 5D et 7D et monté en utilisant le logiciel final cut pro 7

Farmers’ desired traits and selection criteria for maize varieties and their implications for maize breeding: A case study from KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

Adoption of hybrids and improved varieties has remained low in the smallholder farming sector of South Africa, despite maize being the staple food crop for the majority of households. The objective of this study was to establish preferred maize characteristics by farmers which can be used as selection criteria by maize breeders in crop improvement. Data were collected from three villages of a selected smallholder farming area in South Africa using a survey covering 300 households and participatory rural appraisal methodology. Results indicated a limited selection of maize varieties grown by farmers in the area compared to other communities in Africa. More than 97% of the farmers grew a local landrace called Natal-8-row or IsiZulu. Hybrids and improved open pollinated varieties were planted by less than 40% of the farmers. The Natal-8-row landrace had characteristics similar to landraces from eastern and southern Africa and closely resembled Hickory King, a landrace still popular in Southern Africa. The local landrace was preferred for its taste, recycled seed, tolerance to abiotic stresses and yield stability. Preferred characteristics of maize varieties were high yield and prolificacy, disease resistance, early maturity, white grain colour, and drying and shelling qualities. Farmers were willing to grow hybrids if the cost of seed and other inputs were affordable and their preferences were considered. Our results show that breeding opportunities exist for improving the farmers’ local varieties and maize breeders can take advantage of these preferred traits and incorporate them into existing high yielding varieties.

Asociación entre psoriasis y el control de diabetes mellitus tipo 2

La psoriasis es una enfermedad que se caracteriza por un proceso inflamatorio crónico y exagerado local y sistémico. Se ha encontrado en la literatura una relación entre la psoriasis y el desarrollo de patologías como diabetes mellitus tipo 2 y el mal control de estas patologías, lo cual aumenta la morbimortalidad de estos pacientes. El presente estudio mostró que no se encontró asociación entre psoriasis y el control de la DM2 , y que la variable mas significativa sobre el control es la adherencia al tratamiento hipoglicemiante.

Determinação do perfil térmico em amostras de aço AISI M35 imersas em plasma

The heat transfer between plasma and a solid occurs mostly due the radiation and the collision of the particles on the material surface, heating the material from the surface to the bulk. The thermal gradient inside the sample depends of the rate of particles collisions and thermal conductivity of the solid. In order to study that effect, samples of AISI M35 steel, with 9,5 mm X 3,0 mm (diameter X thickness) were quenched in resistive furnace and tempereds in plasma using the plane configuration and hollow cathode, working with pressures of 4 and 10 mbar respectively. Analyzing the samples microstructure and measuring the hardness along the transversal profile, it was possible to associate the tempered temperature evaluating indirectly the thermal profile. This relation was obtained by microstructural analyzes and through the hardness curve x tempered sample temperature in resistive furnace, using temperatures of 500, 550, 600, 650 and 700°C. The microstructural characterization of the samples was obtained by the scanning electron microscopy, optic microscopy and X-ray diffraction. It was verified that all samples treated in plasma presented a superficial layer, denominated affected shelling zone, wich was not present in the samples treated in resistive furnace. Moreover, the samples that presented larger thermal gradient were treated in hollow cathode with pressure of 4 mbar

Desempenho da colhedora de milho Penha CLM-350: parte II - sistemas de debulhamento e limpeza

Com a finalidade de quantificar o desempenho dos sistemas de debulhamento e limpeza da colhedora Penha CLM-350,, estudou-se as perdas percentuais era grão de milho, ocorridos na saída de palhas, bem como a porcentagem de impurezas, presente no milho ensacado. Tomando-se como 100% os grãos de milho colhidos pelo sistema espigador, determinou-se o valor percentual perdido pelos sistemas de debulhamento e limpeza, bem como a porcentagem de impurezas presente nos grãos de milho ensacado, nos diversos tratamentos estudados. O teor médio de umidade foi de 15,78% (b.u.). Os tratamentos correspondentes ao sistema de debulhamento e limpeza são as velocidades periféricas do debulhador ou as rotações do aspirador em faces da configuração geométrica da máquina. Os resultados obtidos foram estudados através da análise de variância, empregando-se os testes F, aos níveis de 1% e 5% de probabilidade e o teste Tukey, para a comparação estatística entre as médias. A análise estatística para verificar a influência da rotação do aspirador, era relação a porcentagem de grãos de milho perdidos na saída de palhas, mostrou diferenças altamente significativas, podendo-se admitir uma relação direta entre os dois parâmetros nas condições do ensaio. Com relação a rotação do aspirador e a porcentagem de impurezas, presentes nos grãos de milho ensacados, os testes das médias revelaram significância entre os tratamento D (1241,7 rpm) e E (820 rpm) sendo que este último apresentou a maior média. Uma análise mais acurada dos resultados sugere que a porcentagem de impurezas, estaria mais na dependência das relações de fluxo através da colhedora, do que propriamente do regime do aspirador.

Desempenho da colhedora de milho Penha CLM-350: parte III - danos mecânicos

Cm vistas a estudar o efeito do sistema de debulhamento na qualidade dos grãos de milho, realizou-se o presente trabalho, onde foram estudados os danos mecânicos sofridos pelos grãos, bem como os danos mecânicos invisíveis, evidenciados pelos testes de germinação. Nos diversos tratamentos estudados, determinou-se a porcentagem de umidade presente nos grãos de milho. Definiu-se a velocidade periférica do debulhador, pelo diâmetro (300 mm) do mesmo e as rotações, para os diversos tratamentos. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso com 5 tratamentos e 6 repetições onde foram estudados os valores percentuais de grãos inteiros e quebrados, os teores de umidade correspondentes e os valores de germinação através da análise de variância. Empregou-se o teste F aos níveis de 1% e 5% de probabilidade e o teste Tukey para comparação entre as médias. da análise pode-se concluir que em relação ao teor de umidade dos grãos, os tratamentos não diferiram estatisticamente.

Socio-Epidemiological Aspects of Suicide in Sarajevo from 1992-1995

The project investigated the phenomenon of suicide in war-encircled Sarajevo, where the population was uninterruptedly exposed for four years to direct danger of life from constant shelling and sniper fire, as well as from the lack of essential food items, energy sources and water. It showed that in the pre-war peacetime year of 1991 the suicide rate was 8.36, which was almost 100% less than that in the first post-war peacetime year of 1996, when 16.13 suicides were recorded per 100,000 citizens. The first wartime year, 1992, was characterised by a fall in the number of suicides by almost 40% of the 1991 figure. It is indicative that not a single suicide was registered during the six months from May to October of that first wartime year. In 1993 there was 96.29% increase on 1992, with a total of 53 suicides, showing that the initial shock of danger to one's life from others had passed and that statistics on suicide had returned to "normal". In the following year, 1994, 47 suicides were recorded, and in 1995 the figure was 49. Data from the first post-war peacetime year clearly shows that the human tragedy of taking one's own life has continued, with the number of suicides increasing steadily, especially among demobilised soldiers ranging in age from 30 to 40. Most of them ended their lives by activating a bomb or other explosive device, choosing the place carefully so as to avoid any possible risk to other lives during the act of taking their own.

Spring-mounted rasp bar sheller

A spring-mounted rasp bar sheller for com is described herein. The sheller comprises a plurality of spaced apart rasp bars mounted on a combine or sheller cylinder. Each of the rasp bars has studs secured thereto which extend therefrom through the cylinder backing plates. Springs are mounted on the studs behind the backing plates for yieldably urging the rasp bar inwardly towards the backing plate. Centrifugal force causes the rasp bar to move out radially towards the concave as the cylinder is rotated. During shelling, impact forces on the rasp bars deflect them radially inwardly. Filler plates are also disclosed for preventing the com from becoming lodged between the backing plate and the rasp bars.

The Taiwan Strait Crisis of 1954-55 and U.S.-R.O.C Relations

On September 3, 1954, Chinese artillery began shelling Quemoy (Jinmen), one of the Kuomintang-held offshore islands, setting off the first Taiwan Strait Crisis. This paper focuses on the crisis and analyzes the following three questions: (1) What was the policy the U.S. took towards the Republic of China (R.O.C), especially towards the offshore islands, to try to end the Taiwan Strait Crisis? (2) What were the intentions of the U.S. government in trying to end the Taiwan Strait Crisis? And (3) how should U.S. policy towards the R.O.C. which led to solving the Taiwan Strait Crisis be positioned in the history of Sino-American relations? Through analysis of these questions, this study concludes that the position the U.S. took to bring an end to crisis, one which prevented China from “liberating Taiwan” and the Kuomintang from “attacking the mainland,” brought about the existence of a de facto “two-China” situation.

Determinação do perfil térmico em amostras de aço AISI M35 imersas em plasma

The heat transfer between plasma and a solid occurs mostly due the radiation and the collision of the particles on the material surface, heating the material from the surface to the bulk. The thermal gradient inside the sample depends of the rate of particles collisions and thermal conductivity of the solid. In order to study that effect, samples of AISI M35 steel, with 9,5 mm X 3,0 mm (diameter X thickness) were quenched in resistive furnace and tempereds in plasma using the plane configuration and hollow cathode, working with pressures of 4 and 10 mbar respectively. Analyzing the samples microstructure and measuring the hardness along the transversal profile, it was possible to associate the tempered temperature evaluating indirectly the thermal profile. This relation was obtained by microstructural analyzes and through the hardness curve x tempered sample temperature in resistive furnace, using temperatures of 500, 550, 600, 650 and 700°C. The microstructural characterization of the samples was obtained by the scanning electron microscopy, optic microscopy and X-ray diffraction. It was verified that all samples treated in plasma presented a superficial layer, denominated affected shelling zone, wich was not present in the samples treated in resistive furnace. Moreover, the samples that presented larger thermal gradient were treated in hollow cathode with pressure of 4 mbar