The Size Distribution and Shape of Curd Granules in Traditional Swiss Hard and Semi-Hard Cheeses

Curd granule junction patterns in hard (Emmentaler, Gruyere, Sbrinz) and semi-hard cheeses (Appenzeller , Tilsiter, Raclette) were visualized on slices and examined using light microscopy and digital image analysis. Horizontal and vertical sections were cut in different zones of the loaves, in order to obtain information on the orientation of the flattened curd granules. The frequency histograms of the cross section areas could in most cases adequately be described as a log-normal distribution. The median values ranged from 0.97 to 1.15 mm2 and, from 1.31 to 1.68 mm2 for hard and semi-hard cheeses, respectively. An elliptical form factor was used as a measure of the deformation of the granules. The average ratio of the elliptical axes was in the range of 0 .41 to 0.56 in horizontal and 0.33 to 0.48 i n vertical sections. The difference between the form factors in the orthogonal sections was less pronounced in the Appenzeller and Tilsiter cheeses than in the other varieties. Significantly different junction patterns were observed in regions of the edges and sides of the original billets of curd . The micrographs reveal ed interesting features around the eyes and in the cheese rind. Semi-mechanized and traditionally manufactured Appenzeller and Tilsiter cheeses had different curd granule junction patterns, mainly because of different moulding and pressing arrangements

Un défi des gestionnaires du territoire : comment composer avec les différentes définitions des risques?

Dans les pays en développement, où les territoires présentent de multiples facteurs de vulnérabilité et où l'exposition à des dangers divers et nombreux sont des phénomènes quotidiens, la mise en place de mesures visant à contrebalancer ces phénomènes devient un enjeu difficile à réaliser. Dans cette perspective, il s'agit d'étudier, à travers les pratiques des acteurs, quels sont les éléments qui permettent de définir les risques et les actions à entreprendre. Les acteurs doivent négocier ou même imposer la légitimité de leurs vulnérabilités dans un jeu de négociations, d'arbitrages et de conflits. Le cas d'étude à San Cristóbal, Guatemala, permet d'analyser les différentes solutions proposées sous l'angle des vulnérabilités en jeu. Nous montrons que la prise en compte des vulnérabilités influence la lecture de l'équation du risque des acteurs concernés et conditionne le champ des solutions possibles. Les résultats de cette recherche indiquent que le risque n'est pas univoque mais qu'il est le résultat d'un choix et des calculs faits par les acteurs. Pour cette raison, les mesures à entreprendre dépendent des compromis élaborés entre les acteurs

Measurement of the drift velocity of holes in silicon at high-field strengths

A method is presented which allows the measurement of the velocity-field relationship of charge carriers in a semiconductor. The device used is a four-layer structure. The mode of operation is based on the injection by punch-through of charge carriers into a long depleted region. The velocity can be determined from the VI characteristic of the device and its geometry. Drift velocity saturation is indicated directly by the form of the characteristic. The method has been applied to the measurement of the high-field velocity of holes in silicon. Technological limitations restricted the measurements to fields above 4 · 10^4 V/cm. From this value up to 11 · 10^4 V/cm the hole velocity is found to be constant and equal to 7.5 · 10^6 cm/s ± 5%

The agrin gene codes for a family of basal lamina proteins that differ in function and distribution

We isolated two cDNAs that encode isoforms of agrin, the basal lamina protein that mediates the motor neuron-induced aggregation of acetylcholine receptors on muscle fibers at the neuromuscular junction. Both proteins are the result of alternative splicing of the product of the agrin gene, but, unlike agrin, they are inactive in standard acetylcholine receptor aggregation assays. They lack one (agrin-related protein 1) or two (agrin-related protein 2) regions in agrin that are required for its activity. Expression studies provide evidence that both proteins are present in the nervous system and muscle and that, in muscle, myofibers and Schwann cells synthesize the agrin-related proteins while the axon terminals of motor neurons are the sole source of agrin

Spin wave spectrum of the quantum ferromagnet on the pyrochlore lattice Lu2V2O7

Neutron inelastic scattering has been used to probe the spin dynamics of the quantum (S=1/2) ferromagnet on the pyrochlore lattice Lu2V2O7. Well-defined spin waves are observed at all energies and wavevectors, allowing us to determine the parameters of the Hamiltonian of the system. The data are found to be in excellent overall agreement with a minimal model that includes a nearest- neighbour Heisenberg exchange J = 8:22(2) meV and a Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) D =1:5(1) meV. The large DMI term revealed by our study is broadly consistent with the model developed by Onose et al. to explain the magnon Hall effect they observed in Lu2V2O7 [1], although our ratio of D=J = 0:18(1) is roughly half of their value and three times larger than calculated by ab initio methods [2].Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Quantum statistics of interacting dimer spin systems

The compound TlCuCl3 represents a model system of dimerized quantum spins with strong interdimer interactions. We investigate the triplet dispersion as a function of temperature by inelastic neutron scattering experiments on single crystals. By comparison with a number of theoretical approaches we demonstrate that the description of Troyer, Tsunetsugu, and Wurtz [Phys. Rev. B 50, 13 515 (1994)] provides an appropriate quantum statistical model for dimer spin systems at finite temperatures, where many-body correlations become particularly important

Correlated decay of triplet excitations in the Shastry-Sutherland compound SrCu2_2(BO3_3)2_2

The temperature dependence of the gapped triplet excitations (triplons) in the 2D Shastry-Sutherland quantum magnet SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$ is studied by means of inelastic neutron scattering. The excitation amplitude rapidly decreases as a function of temperature while the integrated spectral weight can be explained by an isolated dimer model up to 10~K. Analyzing this anomalous spectral line-shape in terms of damped harmonic oscillators shows that the observed damping is due to a two-component process: one component remains sharp and resolution limited while the second broadens. We explain the underlying mechanism through a simple yet quantitatively accurate model of correlated decay of triplons: an excited triplon is long-lived if no thermally populated triplons are near-by but decays quickly if there are. The phenomenon is a direct consequence of frustration induced triplon localization in the Shastry--Sutherland lattice.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure