Automatic transport plane resource discovery mechanisms for ASON/GMPLS ring networks

In this letter, we propose two novel mechanisms which enable GMPLS LMP to cope with the automatic discovery of all-optical transport planes. The feasibility of our contributions and their performances are assessed by simulations as well as experimental results over the ASON/GMPLS CARISMA field-trial     

Effect of calcium chloride marination on calpain and quality characteristics of meat from chicken, horse, cattle and rabbit

Differences in the quality of meat obtained from four animal species (beef, horse, rabbit and chicken) treated with two concentrations of calcium chloride (75 or 150 mM) were evaluated by a sensory panel. Physicochemical variables analysed were water holding capacity, instrumental colour and pH. Sensory analysis was by recognition index (R-index) by untrained and trained panels. CaCl(2) led to an increase in enzymatic activity, although it was not significantly different in treated compared to untreated samples. Lightness was higher (paler) in treated meat for all species studied. R-index showed that treatment of raw beef with 75mM CaCl(2) had negligible effect on odour compared to fresh, untreated beef. More juicy meat resulted from marination. Treatments with 150 mM CaCl(2) caused a more tender meat. The best combinations of cooking method and CaCl(2) concentration to obtain the most acceptable meat varied from attribute to attribute. The best odour was obtained when beef was treated with 150 mM CaCl(2) and cooked in a convection oven, whereas juiciness was improved if beef was treated with 150 mM CaCl(2) and cooked in a microwave oven. The highest scores for tenderness were for 75 mM CaCl(2)-treated samples regardless of cooking method. Flavour profile showed that the most marked feature in marinated beef is the predominance of a bitter flavour and after taste, which probably masks other flavour attributes. It is concluded that, in accordance with other authors, marination has no adverse effects on beef odour and improves texture, producing more tender material. However, marination at the CaCl(2) levels tested caused a bitter after taste and flavour.     

Mercury and lead sorption properties of poly(ethyleneimine) coated onto silica gel

In this article, we studied the sorption properties of poly(ethyleneimine) coated on silica gel for metal ions with impact on the environment, such as Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), and Pb(II). The experiments were carried out by batch procedure and the effects of pH, concentration, and temperature were evaluated. In addition, the selectivity was studied for binary, ternary, and quaternary metal ion mixtures. Mercury and lead showed promising results, achieving higher than 65% of sorption after only 1 h of contact. Under competitive conditions, resin presented high selectivity toward Hg(II) reaching 91 and 87% of retention respect to total amount of ions for binary and quaternary mixtures, respectively. The effect of time on Pb(II) and Hg(II) sorption was studied by batch procedure and the experimental data were adjusted to pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intra-particle diffusion models. Pseudo-second-order model presented good agreement for Pb(II) sorption, while pseudo-first-order model fits better to Hg(II) sorption. Intra-particle diffusion model showed that sorption process is controlled mainly by film diffusion.     

Extraction and microencapsulation of bioactive compounds from pomegranate (Punica granatum var. Wonderful) residues

Pomegranate peels and seeds are industrial residues considered interesting sources of punicalagin (PU) and punicic acid (PA), respectively. To optimise their extraction process and protect them against environmental factors, pomegranate residues were extracted with supercritical CO₂ (SC‐CO₂) using a Box–Behnken design and then optimal extracts encapsulated by spray‐drying applying a 2² central composite design. Peel extracts showed a PU content of 0.4–9.5% with optimal extraction conditions of 400 bar, 43 °C and 20% ethanol. On the other hand, SC‐CO₂ seed extracts showed a PA content of 65.1–78.4% with 450 bar, 48 °C and 10% ethanol as optimal extraction parameters. Otherwise, the encapsulation efficiency of SC‐CO₂ extracts was significantly affected by core/wall material ratio and its quadratic effect. This parameter ranged from 35.1% to 72.4% for peel extracts and from 68.2% to 92.7% for seed extracts. Results showed that the proposed technologies are a feasible approach to the integral utilisation of residues from the pomegranate industry.     

Oxidative enzymes and functional quality of minimally processed grape berries sanitised with ozonated water

Thompson Seedless (TS) and Black (BS) grapes sanitised with 2, 4, 6, 8 mg L^?1 O₃ or NaOCl (100 mg L^?1) were stored 21 days at 5 °C. Ozonated water stimulated the respiration rate, especially after 5 days of storage, and increased superoxide dismutase and catalase activity compared to NaOCl‐sanitised grapes. Total polyphenol content (TPC) was 23–50% higher in TS and 18.5–28% higher in BS samples sanitised with ozonated water. Twofold higher total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was registered in TS at all of the evaluated O₃ doses while the doses of 6 and 8 mg L^?1 increased TAC by 19–30% in BS. The use of ozonated water as a sanitising method, especially at 6 and 8 mg L^?1 doses, improved the functional quality and maintained low microbial counts on fresh‐cut grapes being a good alternative for the industry.     

Estimation of the diffusivities of sodium chloride,potassium sorbate and sodium bisulphite in mango slices processed by hurdle technology

The fractional amount of sodium chloride, potassium sorbate and sodium bisulphite were evaluated in mango slices immersed in limited volumes of syrup at 25, 50 and 70 °C. The syrup contained 250 g sucrose, 1.5 g sodium chloride, 0.5 g potassium sorbate and 0.25 g sodium bisulphate per kilogram of solution. The sodium chloride concentration in the syrup was confirmed with a flame photometer, and the concentrations of potassium sorbate and sodium bisulphite were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fick’s second law was used to calculate effective diffusion coefficients and to predict solute content in the mango slices. Diffusion coefficients were affected by temperature and were correlated by the Arrhenius equation. The experimental data fit the proposed mathematical model well, allowing prediction of the system’s behavior at different temperatures. The resultant diffusivities ranges were 2.63–3.54 × 10^?9 m²/s for sodium chloride, 3.88 × 10^?9–8.3 × 10^?10 m²/s for potassium sorbate and 1.83 × 10^?7–5.98 × 10^-8 m²/s for sodium bisulphite.     

Detecting Web requirements conflicts and inconsistencies under a model-based perspective

Web requirements engineering is an essential phase in the software project life cycle for the project results. This phase covers different activities and tasks that in many situations, depending on the analyst's experience or intuition, help getting accurate specifications. One of these tasks is the conciliation of requirements in projects with different groups of users. This article presents an approach for the systematic conciliation of requirements in big projects dealing with a model-based approach. The article presents a possible implementation of the approach in the context of the NDT (Navigational Development Techniques) Methodology and shows the empirical evaluation in a real project by analysing the improvements obtained with our approach. The paper presents interesting results that demonstrate that we can get a reduction in the time required to find conflicts between requirements, which implies a reduction in the global development costs.     

Spatial Cournot equilibrium: do branches matter?

This paper aims to contribute to the literature of Cournot spatial equilibria in two-dimensional spaces by considering branching. We study the case in which two firms compete on a circle and each one has the possibility of opening one or more branches. An innovative method—polar coordinates—is employed to obtain the complex profit functions. We show that there exists a symmetric subgame perfect Nash equilibrium where both firms place their n branches alternately and at the same distance from the center of the circle. Additionally, we show that this is, up to rotation, the unique symmetric equilibrium location.     

Nanometric bimetallic sulfides prepared via thermal decomposition of Ni and Fe heteropolymolybdate emulsions

NiMo and FeMo nanometric particles were prepared by thermal decomposition of water in oil emulsions, where the aqueous phase was a solution of iron or nickel heteropolymolybdates. Decomposition experiments were carried out at 573 K and 70 Bar of hydrogen, with carbon disulfide added to the emulsions. Solids were characterized by X ray diffraction, confocal microscopy and BET surface area. Thiophene hydrodesulfurization was performed in a continuous flow microreactor at 553 K and 1.0 Bar. Particles with diameters between 370 and 560 nm were obtained, and thiophene HDS was in the order NiMoS > MoS ≈ FeMoS > NiS > FeS. The feasibility of using thermal decomposition of emulsions to obtain nanometric bimetallic sulfides particles was shown.