EFFECT OF DIETARY SORGHUM DISTILLERY RESIDUE ON HEMATOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURED GREY MULLET (MUGIL CEPHALUS)—AN ANIMAL MODEL FOR PRESCREENING ANTIOXIDANT AND BLOOD THINNING ACTIVITIES

The sorghum distillery residue (SDR) has been an underutilized by‐product with estimated production of 150 ton/day in Kinmen, Taiwan. The objective of this study was to test for any physiological effects of SDR, thus to utilize it as a nutraceutical feed ingredient in diets for cultured fish. Hot air‐dried, wet, and dehulled‐wet sorghum distillery residue showed 63%, 90% and 97% inhibition of the hemoglobin‐catalyzed oxidation of linoleic acid compared to soybean (13%) and rice bran (78%). The feed formulated with 20% wet or dehulled‐wet sorghum distillery residue both showed an antioxidant activity of 68% being higher than the control diet (53%). Feeding these diets to cultured grey mullet for 60 days in summer (temperature ranged 24–30C), resulted in a lower hydroperoxide content in gill tissue, as shown by a chemiluminesence intensity of 1806 or 1409 mV as opposed to 2666 mV for fish fed a control diet. In winter, when the water temperature decreased to 14C, grey mullet fed a diet consisting of 10% dehulled wet sorghum distillery residue had a blood viscosity of 1.9 mPas and a hematocrit value of 33%, in contrast to 3.6 mPas and 41% for control. The blood of the control group started to aggregate in 6 h and showed hemolysis, while the mullet fed dehulled, wet sorghum distillery residue did not show blood aggregation, maintained normal fluidity and erythrocyte membrane integrity. It seems that cultured fish may have the potential as an animal model for prescreening antioxidant and blood thinning effects of food ingredients.     

The strategic value of IT insourcing: An IT-enabled business process perspective

Although research on the business impact of IT outsourcing abounds, little is known about the relative strategic value of IT outsourcing and IT insourcing. Drawing upon the knowledge-based view of the firm, this study postulates that, compared with IT outsourcing, IT insourcing is more effective for developing IT-enabled business processes (IEBP), which subsequently lead to superior firm performance. Our analysis of the data from InformationWeek and Compustat shows that IT insourcing is positively associated with IEBP, while the relationship between IT outsourcing and IEBP is not statistically significant. We also find that IEBP have a significant influence on firm performance. Finally, the effect of IT sourcing mechanisms on IEBP and the effect of IEBP on firm performance are both moderated by the type of innovation related to IEBP. The results suggest that in order to improve their performance firms should consider IT an integral part of their strategic core and should be proactively involved in the internal development of IT resources. We conclude with managerial implications and directions for future research.     

Motion teaching method for complex robot links using motor current

Conventional robot motion teaching methods use a teaching pendant or a motion capture device and are not the most convenient or intuitive ways to teach a robot sophisticated and fluid movements such as martial arts motions. Ideally, a robot could be set up as if it were a clothing mannequin that has light limbs and flexible yet frictional joints which can be positioned at desirable shape and hold all the positions. To do the same with a robot, an operator could pull or push the links with minor forces until the desired robot posture is attained. For this, a robot should measure the applied external force by using torque sensors at the robot joints. However, torque sensors are bulky and expensive to install in every DOF joints while keeping a compact design, which is essential to humanoid robots. In this paper, we use only motor current readings to acquire joint torques. The equations used to compensate for the effect of gravity on the joint torques and the self-calibration method to earn link parameters are presented. Additionally, kinematic restrictions can be imposed on the robot’s arms to simplify the motion teaching. Here, we teach the Kendo training robot with this method and the robot’s learnt martial art motions are demonstrated.     

Magnetorefractive Effect for Co/Ru Multilayer Film with Antiferromagnetic Interlayer Exchange Coupling

The spin‐dependent scattering of conduction electron in metallic magnetic multilayers was investigated to reveal the optical properties which corresponded to the magnetization state. From the measurement of magnetorefractive effect in antiferro‐magnetically exchange coupled Co/Ru multilayers, it was found that (1) the transmittance varied around 1% at wavelength of 1550 nm during the parallel/antiparallel spin alignment changes, (2) as a result of number of repetition and Co thickness for the multilayers, transmittance difference between the parallel and antiparallel spin alignment states had trade‐off relationship with the magnitude of transmittance, and (3) asymmetric Co/Ru/Co stacking structure brought different interlayer exchange coupling fields in each layer, which resulted in magnetic field sensitive transmittance.     

Growth of InGaN HBTs by MOCVD

The design and growth of GaN/InGaN heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) are studied. Atomic-force microscopy (AFM) images of p⁺InGaN base layers (∼100 nm) deposited under various growth conditions indicate that the optimal growth temperature is limited to the range between 810 and 830°C due to a trade-off between surface roughness and indium incorporation. At these temperatures, the growth pressure must be kept above 300 Torr in order to keep surface pit density under control. An InGaN graded-composition emitter is adopted in order to reduce the number of V-shaped defects, which appear at the interface between GaN emitter and InGaN base and render an abrupt emitter-base heterojunction nearly impossible. However, the device performance is severely limited by the high p-type base contact resistance due to surface etching damage, which resulted from the emitter mesa etch.     

A LOGIC PROGRAMMING APPROACH TO HYBRID KNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATION

A new hybrid system called Sphinx is presented which combines classification-based reasoning with logic programming technique. It consists of two major components: a terminological component and an assertional one. The former uses a frame-based knowledge representation scheme based on classification and the latter is a theorem prover based on Horn logic. The assertional component can also handle a first-order query language and wh-questions. A new knowledge base maintenance mechanism based on the negation as failure inference rule enables Sphinx to support incremental assertions and retractions. In addition, Sphinx provides explanation capability to help the user in developing and debugging knowledge bases.     

Cloud detection from thermal infrared images using a segmentation technique

In this paper, a fast and accurate method is proposed for two cloud detection tests on thermal infrared (IR) data obtained from satellite images over sea; an IR gross cloud test and a spatial coherence test. The proposed method is based on a regional segmentation technique. After the segmentation of an IR image, small regions were regarded as cloudy due to their high spatial variability in temperature. This technique preserved the spatial resolution of the detected cloud image which would be degraded by the conventional spatial coherence test. It also reduced the computation dramatically, compared to the conventional spatial coherence test. An accurate temperature threshold between clear sea and clouds was determined directly from the segmented image. This post-determined threshold was found to be more accurate than pre-determined temperature thresholds. Since this algorithm does not require any human interaction, it can be combined with other tests in an automatic cloud detection algorithm.