Certain Changes in Chemical Composition of Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.) Stored in Controlled Atmosphere

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of four different combinations of treatments and storage; i.e., controlled atmosphere (2.5 percent O2 and 2.5 percent CO2), controlled atmosphere in combination with phaltan (1,000 ppm), controlled atmosphere with packaging in polyethylene bags, controlled atmosphere with phaltan and packaging in polyethylene bags, as well as conventional refrigeration, on the chemical composition of lettuce heads (Cultivar Great Lakes ) during 75 days of storage. Analyses of total sugars, starch, reducing sugars, total organic acids, free amino acids, soluble proteins, pH, titratable acidity, and total carotenes were made on the fifteenth, thirtieth, forty-fifth, sixtieth, and seventy-fifth days of storage at 35 F. There were no significant differences in total organic acids and free amino acids between the conventional refrigeration (35 F) and other treatments during the early stage of storage. They were, however, higher after 45 days of storage with phaltan treatments, although still not changed in controlled atmosphere and controlled atmosphere in combination with packaging. The soluble proteins and the reducing sugars were lower in the controlled atmosphere lettuce than in the conventional refrigeration lettuce. The lettuce treated with phaltan or phaltan in combination with polyethylene packaging had higher amounts of soluble proteins. Although pH of the lettuce heads was not changed throughout 75 days of storage, the titratable acidity was higher in all treatments during the storage

Automatic Dimension Selection for a Non-negative Factorization Approach to Clustering Multiple Random Graphs

We consider a problem of grouping multiple graphs into several clusters using singular value thesholding and non-negative factorization. We derive a model selection information criterion to estimate the number of clusters. We demonstrate our approach using "Swimmer data set" as well as simulated data set, and compare its performance with two standard clustering algorithms.Comment: This paper has been withdrawn by the author due to a newer version with overlapping content

Meshfree Model for Wave-Seabed Interactions Around Offshore Pipelines

The evaluation of the wave-induced seabed instability around a submarine pipeline is particularly important for coastal engineers involved in the design of pipelines protection. Unlike previous studies, a meshfree model is developed to investigate the wave-induced soil response in the vicinity of a submarine pipeline. In the present model, Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations are employed to simulate the wave loading, while Biot&rsquo s consolidation equations are adopted to investigate the wave-induced soil response. Momentary liquefaction around an offshore pipeline in a trench is examined. Validation of the present seabed model was conducted by comparing with the analytical solution, experimental data, and numerical models available in the literature, which demonstrates the capacity of the present model. Based on the newly proposed model, a parametric study is carried out to investigate the influence of soil properties and wave characteristics for the soil response around the pipeline. The numerical results conclude that the liquefaction depth at the bottom of the pipeline increases with increasing water period (T) and wave height (H), but decreases as backfilled depth ( H b ), degree of saturation ( S r ) and soil permeability (K) increase. Document type: Articl

Criteria Deployment at Evaluation Gates Under different New Product Development Strategies

[[abstract]]Effective project evaluation is critical to successful new product programs and the importance of evaluation gates during the NPD process has been widely recognized. However, many firms still fail in their NPD projects by suffering from inaccurate and/or inappropriate criteria deployment. This study examines the relation between perceived importance and actual implement of evaluation gates for NPD performance, and also investigates what are the most frequently used and appropriate evaluation criteria at development gates throughout the NPD process under different new product strategies. Based on a survey of 87 successful new product projects, the results show that there exists significant difference between the perceived importance and actual implement in the lowperformance group. More importantly, the aggregated results across new product strategies indicate that some evaluation categories are mainly applied in approving particular stage, whereas some others are used notably high in approving every stage. Specifically, market criteria are frequently used in pre commercialization testing, and post-launch review gates. Financial criteria frequently appear in decision on business case and post-launch review gates. Technical criteria noticeably figure in the product testing and pre commercialization testing gates. Time criteria emerge only in the pre-commercialization testing gate. Opportunity criteria have no position in the ranked list. Finally, we conclude with theoretical contributions and managerial implications.[[notice]]補正完畢[[journaltype]]國外[[ispeerreviewed]]Y[[booktype]]紙本[[countrycodes]]SY

Covid-19: Can Halal Food Lessen the Risks of the Next Similar Outbreak?

As COVID-19 is a zoonosis virus that involves wildlife as its primary host (i.e. bat) like the previous outbreaks (SARS and MERS), it is prudent to reduce the transmission risk from wildlife consumption. Such an approach should be enforced to mitigate the risk of a future outbreak akin to COVID-19. However apparently, it is not a simple task to change such a consumption culture in a short time, though the devastating socio-economic impacts obviously have been yielded. Concerned with the current outbreak impacts, this study attempts to propose a prophylactic strategy through Halal food, an Islamic diet tradition, as a way to lessen the risk of a future outbreak akin to COVID-19. Tayyib(wholesome) principle which is often associated with Halal food can make Halal food not only “permissible” upon Islamic teaching but also “good” and “clean” to consume. As Tayyibredefines the conventional Halal food concept, it underlines more strongly on the medical facet of Halal food, i.e. food safety and health. According to Islamic teaching, Halal food encourages the consumption of domestic animals and more plant-based food. Meanwhile at the same time, it also heavily establishes the procedures of food safety and maintains the integrity of its credence status. Based on these, this study claims that more Halal food consumptions can lessen the risk of future outbreaks like COVID-19