Morphological Plant Modeling: Unleashing Geometric and Topological Potential within the Plant Sciences

The geometries and topologies of leaves, flowers, roots, shoots, and their arrangements have fascinated plant biologists and mathematicians alike. As such, plant morphology is inherently mathematical in that it describes plant form and architecture with geometrical and topological techniques. Gaining an understanding of how to modify plant morphology, through molecular biology and breeding, aided by a mathematical perspective, is critical to improving agriculture, and the monitoring of ecosystems is vital to modeling a future with fewer natural resources. In this white paper, we begin with an overview in quantifying the form of plants and mathematical models of patterning in plants. We then explore the fundamental challenges that remain unanswered concerning plant morphology, from the barriers preventing the prediction of phenotype from genotype to modeling the movement of leaves in air streams. We end with a discussion concerning the education of plant morphology synthesizing biological and mathematical approaches and ways to facilitate research advances through outreach, cross-disciplinary training, and open science. Unleashing the potential of geometric and topological approaches in the plant sciences promises to transform our understanding of both plants and mathematics

Hygiene in catering establishments where food is produced in front of consumer

Celem badań była ocena przestrzegania zasad higieny w zakładach gastronomicznych wytwarzających żywność w obecności konsumenta, w wybranych krajach. Jako metodę badań zastosowano audyty procesów wykonywane przez przeszkolonych audytorów na podstawie formularza pytań. Formularz audytu zawierał 4 grupy pytań dotyczących higieny: personelu, pomieszczeń produkcyjnych, procesu produkcji i dystrybucji żywności. Wykonano 30 audytów w różnych zakładach gastronomicznych zlokalizowanych w 5 krajach. Były to: Polska (Warszawa), Austria (Salzburg), Niemcy (Hesja i Bawaria), Republika Chińska (Tajwan), USA (Nowy Jork). Na podstawie przeprowadzonych audytów stwierdzono liczne niezgodności we wszystkich ocenianych zakładach gastronomicznych, niezależnie od różnic kulturowych i przepisów obowiązujących w danym kraju. Dotyczyły one zarówno obszaru higieny personelu (rąk, głowy), jak i higieny pomieszczeń produkcyjnych i produkcji żywności. Były to: nieprawidłowy układ funkcjonalny pomieszczeń oraz brak rozdzielności pomiędzy czystymi i brudnymi strefami pracy. Wykazano wiele błędów w zakresie higieny personelu, takich jak: dotykanie twarzy, nosa, uszu, włosów podczas produkcji i serwowania żywności. Najwięcej niezgodności stwierdzono w lokalach gastronomicznych na Tajwanie, a najmniej – w Niemczech. W polskich zakładach zaobserwowano nieznacznie więcej niezgodności niż w Bawarii i znacznie mniej niż w USA. Brak przestrzegania zasad higieny w zakładach gastronomicznych wytwarzających żywność w obecności klienta jest zjawiskiem powszechnym na świecie i występuje mimo różnic kulturowych oraz uwarunkowań prawnych.The objective of the research study was to assess the compliance with hygiene rules in catering establishments, which produce food in front of their consumers, in some selected countries. The audit research method applied consisted in that the trained auditors audited the processes on the basis of a questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised 4 groups of questions referring to the hygiene of: employees, production premises, production process, and food distribution. 30 audits were performed in various catering establishments situated in 5 countries. Those countries included: Poland (Warsaw), Austria (Salzburg), Germany (Hessen and Bavaria), The Republic of China (Taiwan), and USA (New York). Based on the results of the audits performed, numerous incompatibilities were found in all the catering establishments audited regardless of the cultural differences and rules in force in a given country. The incompatibilities reported involved the hygiene of employees (hands, head), the production premises hygiene, and the food production hygiene. These were: incorrect functional layout of premises and no separation between the soiled and clean working areas. Many errors were reported as regards the hygiene of staff, such as touching face, nose, and hair while making and serving food. The most incompatibilities were accounted for the catering establishments in Taiwan and the least for German establishments. In the Polish catering establishments, a little bit more incompatibilities were found than in Bavaria and significantly less than in the U.S. The non-compliance with the hygiene rules in the catering establishments that produce food in front of the customer is a common phenomenon throughout the world, and it occurs notwithstanding the cultural differences or legal requirements

The effect of log heating temperature on the peeling process and veneer quality: beech, birch, and spruce case studies

Heating green-wood prior to peeling is necessary to improve both peeling process and quality of veneer. This study investigates optimum heating temperatures by soaking of beech, birch and spruce. Experiments have studied the influence of heating temperatures from 20 to 80 C on thickness deviations and veneer lathe checking using a pneumatic rugosimeter and image analysis of opening checks with the SMOF device (Système de Mesure de l’Ouverture des Fissures). Conclusions account for reduced heating temperatures compared to the temperatures currently in-use in the industry. Already at 50 C, positive effects of heating ensure efficient peeling process. Low temperatures produce veneers with deeper and more spaced checks than high temperatures when checks are closer and less deep, becoming even unpredictable especially in case of spruce. These results establish the SMOF as an essential non-destructive control device to control the quality of the veneer produced at research level.Institut Carnot, RYM-TO Doctoral Schoo

Morphological Plant Modeling: Unleashing Geometric and Topological Potential within the Plant Sciences.

The geometries and topologies of leaves, flowers, roots, shoots, and their arrangements have fascinated plant biologists and mathematicians alike. As such, plant morphology is inherently mathematical in that it describes plant form and architecture with geometrical and topological techniques. Gaining an understanding of how to modify plant morphology, through molecular biology and breeding, aided by a mathematical perspective, is critical to improving agriculture, and the monitoring of ecosystems is vital to modeling a future with fewer natural resources. In this white paper, we begin with an overview in quantifying the form of plants and mathematical models of patterning in plants. We then explore the fundamental challenges that remain unanswered concerning plant morphology, from the barriers preventing the prediction of phenotype from genotype to modeling the movement of leaves in air streams. We end with a discussion concerning the education of plant morphology synthesizing biological and mathematical approaches and ways to facilitate research advances through outreach, cross-disciplinary training, and open science. Unleashing the potential of geometric and topological approaches in the plant sciences promises to transform our understanding of both plants and mathematics