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Great Amount (great + amount)
Selected AbstractsCOMPARISON OF VOLATILE COMPOUNDS AND CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES IN ORANGE JUICE FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF JINCHEN FRUITJOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 2 2010YU QIAO ABSTRACT Jinchen is a native sweet cultivar of Citrus sinensis and one of the most important varieties used in orange juice processing in China. The study of flavor components of Jinchen orange juice has not been carried out before. In this paper, the color characteristics, pH value, total soluble solids, total acids, as well as organic acids and sugars were determined in Jinchen orange juice from different parts of fruit (peeled juice, pulp juice, whole fruit juice). The color characteristics were significantly different among three types of Jinchen orange juice. The level of vitamin C and total soluble solids/total acids ratio (TSS/TA) is higher in whole fruit juice. The organic acids and sugars also changed. Pulp juice is rich in the highest amounts of organic acids and sugars. Volatiles from three juices were studied using the solid phase microextraction (SPME) combined with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The whole fruit juice has the highest amount of volatile compounds (53.07 mg/L) followed by peeled juice (51.044 mg/L) and pulp juice (27.107 mg/L). Some differences in the constituents of the volatile compounds of three type juices were observed. These results indicated that volatile compounds and quality properties differed in Jinchen orange juice from different parts of fruit. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The peeled orange fruits are usually used for juice processing. Great amounts of aroma components with intensive odor are located in the peel of orange. The aroma of pulp possessing weak fresh citrus odor is different from peel. The different parts of the orange utilized in processing have direct impact on juice quality. It is very essential to obtain the data of chemical and physical properties in juice from different parts of orange fruit. The quality information could be used to modify the orange aroma. [source] An Adaptive Method for Indirect Illumination Using Light VectorsCOMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 3 2001Xavier Serpaggi In computer graphics, several phenomema need to be taken into account when it comes to the field of photo-realism. One of the most relevant is obviously the notion of global, and more precisely indirect, illumination. In "classical" ray-tracing if you are not under the light, then you are in a shadow. A great amount of work has been carried out which proposes ray-tracing based solutions to take into account the fact that "there is a certain amount of light in shadows". All of these methods carry the same weaknesses: high computation time and a lot of parameters you need to manage to get something out of the method. This paper proposes a generic computation method of indirect illumination based on Monte Carlo sampling and on the sequential analysis theory, which is faster and more automatic than classical methods. [source] Studying Biodiversity on Private LandsCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2003Jodi Hilty Private lands harbor a great amount of biodiversity, including at least some habitat for 95% of the federally listed species in the United States. It is important to conduct conservation biology research on private lands, but our review of the literature indicates that few conservation-oriented field studies are conducted on private property. Based on our success in obtaining permission to conduct research on 43 land parcels in Sonoma County, California, we developed methods to enhance a conservation biologist's chance of obtaining permission to work on private lands. We provide guidelines for researchers to conduct studies successfully on private land with the goal of improving access, data collection, and relationships with private landowners. We also discuss constraints researchers face, such as designing studies appropriate for working on privately owned parcels. In light of the importance of these lands to biodiversity conservation, greater effort should be made to conduct research on private lands. Resumen: Más de la mitad de la tierra en los Estados Unidos es propiedad privada. Las tierras de propiedad privada albergan una gran cantidad de biodiversidad, incluyendo al menos algunos hábitats para el 95% de las especies incluidas en la lista nacional de especies en peligro de extinción en los Estados Unidos. Es importante llevar a cabo investigación sobre biología de la conservación en tierras privadas, pero nuestra revisión de la literatura indica que existen pocos estudios a campo orientados hacia la conservación en propiedades privadas. En base a nuestro éxito en obtener permisos para llevar a cabo estudios de investigación en 43 parcelas de tierra en el condado de Sonoma, California, desarrollamos métodos para mejorar las posibilidades de los biólogos conservacionistas de obtener permisos para trabajar en tierras privadas. Hemos provisto lineamientos para que los investigadores lleven a cabo estudios exilosos en tierras privadas con el objeto de mejorar el acceso, la recolección de datos y las relaciones con los dueños de tierras privadas. También discutimos las limitantes que los investigadores enfrentan, tales como el diseño de estudios adecuados para trabajar en parcelas de propiedad privada. Dada la importancia de estas tierras para la conservación de la biodiversidad, se debería realizar un esfuerzo mayor para llevar a cabo investigaciones en tierras privadas. [source] Responses of dryland soil respiration and soil carbon pool size to abrupt vs. gradual and individual vs. combined changes in soil temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric [CO2]: a simulation analysisGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2009WEIJUN SHEN Abstract With the large extent and great amount of soil carbon (C) storage, drylands play an important role in terrestrial C balance and feedbacks to climate change. Yet, how dryland soils respond to gradual and concomitant changes in multiple global change drivers [e.g., temperature (Ts), precipitation (Ppt), and atmospheric [CO2] (CO2)] has rarely been studied. We used a process-based ecosystem model patch arid land simulator to simulate dryland soil respiration (Rs) and C pool size (Cs) changes to abrupt vs. gradual and single vs. combined alterations in Ts, Ppt and CO2 at multiple treatment levels. Results showed that abrupt perturbations generally resulted in larger Rs and had longer differentiated impacts than did gradual perturbations. Rs was stimulated by increases in Ts, Ppt, and CO2 in a nonlinear fashion (e.g., parabolically or asymptotically) but suppressed by Ppt reduction. Warming mainly stimulated heterotrophic Rs (i.e., Rh) whereas Ppt and CO2 influenced autotrophic Rs (i.e., Ra). The combined effects of warming, Ppt, and CO2 were nonadditive of primary single-factor effects as a result of substantial interactions among these factors. Warming amplified the effects of both Ppt addition and CO2 elevation whereas Ppt addition and CO2 elevation counteracted with each other. Precipitation reduction either magnified or suppressed warming and CO2 effects, depending on the magnitude of factor's alteration and the components of Rs (Ra or Rh) being examined. Overall, Ppt had dominant influence on dryland Rs and Cs over Ts and CO2. Increasing Ppt individually or in combination with Ts and CO2 benefited soil C sequestration. We therefore suggested that global change experimental studies for dryland ecosystems should focus more on the effects of precipitation regime changes and the combined effects of Ppt with other global change factors (e.g., Ts, CO2, and N deposition). [source] Design and implementation of real-time software-based H.261 video codecINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMAGING SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2002Wen-Shiung Chen Abstract ITU-T H.261 is a video coding standard for videophone and video-conferencing applications on LAN and ISDN, which requires a great amount of computing power for DCT and motion estimation, traditionally provided by hardware. Since motion estimation is a major problem in developing real-time video codec, in this paper we propose a simple and fast motion estimation algorithm to reduce searching time. Mainly, a real-time software-based H.261 video codec is investigated and implemented, in which several fast methods such as programming technique and Intel MMXÔ instruction are used to improve computing speed. The experimental results have demonstrated that our H.261 codec can compress video in CIF format over 30 fps and in QCIF at 105 fps, and can achieve a very high decoding rate. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol 12, 73,83, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ima.10013 [source] Ehealth: Market Potential and Business StrategiesJOURNAL OF COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION, Issue 4 2001Pamela Whitten Due to the economic and social priorities afforded health services in the United States, research on new delivery modalities such as the Internet is gaining in popularity. Claims of the Internet's potential range from a promise to revolutionize the fundamental way health care is delivered to a tool for empowering patients through enhanced interaction with providers (Rice, 2001). Even though a great amount of attention has been given to e-health activity, the preponderance of publications to date has focused on the Internet as a source of health information. However important this form of e-health is, this type of service simply does not face the same constraints that must be addressed by those actually delivering health care services or tightly regulated pharmaceutical products. In this paper, we examine e-health by focusing explicitly on the delivery of health care products and services. Our examination of e-health activity is guided by two broad research questions. First, we ask what the potential is for the development of online health care services by examining its potential in major health care service and product sectors. Second, based upon case studies of two online health service firms, we seek to understand the emerging strategies of firms that are attempting to enter the health care market with an entirely online approach. Our examination of current e-health trends, as well as our two case studies, demonstrates the tremendous potential for health-related commercial activity on the Internet. However, our examination of the barriers facing ehealth from the US health system also pointed out the almost insurmountable challenges. We therefore conclude that a "click and mortar" model may perhaps be the optimal strategy for e-health. [source] Medicaid matters: children's health and medicaid eligibility expansionsJOURNAL OF POLICY ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2002Kristine A. Lykens In the late 1980s, a series of federal laws were enacted which expanded Medicaid eligibility to more of the nation's children. States had a great amount of discretion in how fast and how far these expansions were implemented. As a result, there was great variation among the states in defining who was eligible for the program. This variation provides a rare opportunity to disentangle the effect of Medicaid from a child's socioeconomic status. Using data from the National Health Interview Survey, we address whether the Medicaid expansions improved the health and functional status of children. Econometric models were developed using fixed-effects regressions, and were estimated separately for white, black, and Hispanic children. White children experienced statistically significant reductions in acute health conditions and functional limitations. Black and Hispanic children showed some evidence of improved health conditions and functional status, but this evidence is inconclusive in the study sample. This may be due to differences in their access to appropriate health services or to the smaller sample size of minorities in each geographic area. The findings are also relevant to the implementation of the Children' Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the latest federal effort to expand access to health care to poor and near poor children. In many states, CHIP is being implemented in whole or in part through further Medicaid expansions. © 2002 by the Association for Policy Analysis and Management. [source] Using bald eagles to indicate the health of the Great Lakes' environmentLAKES & RESERVOIRS: RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2002William W. Bowerman Abstract The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is one of the most studied birds of North America, and a great amount of natural life-history information, including the response of various stressors on the eagles' ability to reproduce, are well known. In Michigan, the eagle has been chosen to track the trends of bioaccumulative compounds of concern across watersheds in the state. The state has been divided into major watersheds, and 20% of these are surveyed each year. A control area in northern Minnesota, Voyageurs National Park, is also sampled annually. We report here on the methods used, the preliminary results of the 1999 field season, and how differences in mercury concentrations varied over a 10-year period. Mercury in feathers of nestling eagles declined over time only in Lakes Michigan and Huron, but have not decreased among other subpopulations in Michigan. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 4,4,-DDE in blood plasma from nestling eagles have declined over time for most subpopulations; however, they remain greater for breeding areas associated with the Great Lakes' food web. Sea eagles of the genus Haliaeetus are a good sentinel species to track trends in bioaccumulative compounds in aquatic systems. [source] Effect of high-energy vibro-milling of filler on the mechanical properties of filled high-density polyethylenePOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 3 2003Shaoyun Guo The effect of high-energy mechanical milling of CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) and STC (a mixture of sericite, tridymite and cristobalite) on mechanical properties, rheological and dynamical mechanical behavior of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/CaCO3 and HDPE/STC was studied through SEM (scanning electron microscope), DMTA (dynastic mechanical test analysis), mechanical and melt rheological properties tests. The experimental results show that addition of fillers treated by coupling agent and vibromilling to HDPE makes the impact strength of HDPE greatly increased. The impact strength of HDPE/treated CaCO3 (60/40) and HDPE/treated STC (60/40) is ca. 4 and 3 times respectively as high as that of HDPE. The SEM micrographs of impact fractured surfaces of treated fillers filled HDPE show extensive plastic deformation of HDPE matrix, indicating that the plastic deformation of matrix induced by the treated fillers is the main contribution for absorbing a great amount of impact energy. This is the reason why the impact strength of HDPE greatly increases with addition of coupling agent and vibromilling treated fillers. The intensity of , relaxation peak of HDPE in HDPE/treated CaCO3 on tan, vs. temperature curve increases and the peak shifts to higher temperature due to its stronger interface interaction as compared with that of HDPE/untreated CaCO3. [source] A Quantitative Study of Fault Zone SealingACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 1 2010Yang LI Abstract: A fault is not simply a plane, but a zone consisting of a series of broken planes or lower faults. The greater the scale of faults, the wider and more complex the fault zone is. Fault-sealing properties are influenced by the fault zone itself, whose fault displacement, depth, net-to-gross-ratio of mudstone, fault plane angle, and fault mechanical properties play important controlling roles. The sealing of hydrocarbon by the fault zone depends on whether the fault zone can form a continuous sealing zone and if the pore throats connecting those fault zones are small enough. The concept of fault zone-sealing potential is proposed here, and a quantitative formula is established by using a great amount of practical statistical data as well as the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method, which is a comprehensive characterization parameter to judge whether or not fault zones could seal oil hydrocarbon. The greater the value of the fault zone-sealing potential, the better sealed the fault is. For example, with increasing depth, the sealing degree of the Xin 68 Fault in the Dongxin 1 oilfield changes greatly, reflecting the complexity of fault-sealing properties. [source] Magmatic Event at the End of the Archean in Eastern Hebei Province and Its Geological ImplicationACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 6 2006GENG Yuansheng Abstract: By using the SHRIMP U-Pb and single zircon stepwise evaporation methods, the authors have obtained some results for granitoids from eastern Hebei Province. The Yuhuzhai hyperthene tonalitic granite was formed 2550 Ma ago, the Qingyangshu gabbroic gneiss 2536 Ma, the Yinmahe granodioritic gneiss near Lücao, Lulong County, 2533 Ma, the gabbro-dioritic gneiss near Longwan, Qianxi County, 2518-2515 Ma, the Qiuhuayu trondjemitic gneiss at Zunhua 2515 Ma, the Xiaoguanzhuang tonalitic gneiss at Zunhua 2495 Ma, and the Cuizhangzi gneiss in Qianxi County 2492 Ma. These geochronilogical data demonstrate that, though diverse in composition, type and origin, the granitic gneisses in eastern Hebei Province were emplaced and crystallized in a rather short period of magmatic activity. The formation of such a great amount of gneisses in this small time gap suggests that it was a critical crust accretion stage at the end of Neoarchean. The fact that granitoids of various types occurred at the same time implies a large-scale underplating (mantle plume) activity, which was then responsible for the crust accretion. [source] Effect of Catalysis on Plasma Assisted Catalytic Removal of Nitrogen Oxides and SootCHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (CET), Issue 10 2006X. Peng Abstract An active perovskite-type catalyst (La0.8K0.2Cu0.05Mn0.95O3) was prepared and characterized using XRD, BET, and SEM. Then, the effect of catalysis on plasma assisted catalytic removal of nitrogen oxides and soot was investigated by combining temperature programmed reaction (TPR) and the analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). When the C3H6 concentration in the feed gas is 0.27,%, the maximum NOx removal rate increases from 43.5,% to 72.2,% after adding catalyst. FT-IR results indicate that the addition of catalyst will promote the removal of NOx, HC, and soot. There is still great amount of NOx and HC remaining after plasma reaction, little NOx and almost no HC after catalytic reaction, and no NOx and HC after plasma assisted catalytic reaction. [source] The analysis of fundus autofluorescence patterns in retinal diseasesACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2007P POPOVIC Purpose: Fundus autofluorescence (AF) imaging is a method that shows accumulation of lipofuscin in the retinal pigment epithelium cells in vivo. Fundus AF may be recorded in retinal diseases either by scanning laser ophthalmoscope or by fundus camera using the appropriate filter. The aim of this study was to analyze the AF pattern by both methods. Methods: 20 patients with different retinal diseases including retinitis pigmentosa, cone-rod dystrophy, Stargardt disease, Best macular dystrophy, central serous retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration were included in the study. AF images were obtained from each subject using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmosope and digital fundus camera. The distribution and amount of AF were compared by the use of both systems. Results: In all disease entities both instruments showed distinct pattern of AF typical for the disease. Areas of high intensity of AF recorded with HRA matched to areas of increased intensity of AF detected with fundus camera. The distribution of areas of low or absent AF also corresponded well in both systems. Images taken with conventional fundus camera were in general lower contrasted and therefore less sharp. This was particularly true for patients with even mild media opacity. The advantage of fundus camera was however a recording of AF of a greater field of view. Conclusions: AF imaging is a very useful noninvasive method for detecting RPE abnormalities. In clinical practice, when scanning laser ophthalmoscope for recording of AF is not available, conventional digital fundus camera can be used for screening of patients suspected to have retinal disease. Care should be taken in patients with nuclear cataract, as the AF image is influenced by the AF of the crystalline lens by a great amount. [source] Synthesis and Characterization of 2-Deoxy-2-nicotinoylamido-,- D -glucopyranoseCHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2005Guo Zhen-Chu Abstract A new nicotinic acid derivative, 2-deoxy-2-nicotinoylamido-,- D -glucopyranose, was synthesized with ,-configuration exclusively. The structure and properties of the product were characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR, MS, DSC and polarimeter. The details of 1H NMR spectrum and the mass spectrum proved that there are a great amount of hydrogen bonds in the product. [source] Modeling, experimenting, and improving skid steering on a 6 × 6 all-terrain mobile platformJOURNAL OF FIELD ROBOTICS (FORMERLY JOURNAL OF ROBOTIC SYSTEMS), Issue 2 2010J.-C. Fauroux Multiple-wheel all-terrain vehicles without a steering system must use great amounts of power when skid steering. Skid steering is modeled with emphasis put on the ground contact forces of the wheels according to the mass distribution of the vehicle. To increase steering efficiency, it is possible to modify the distribution of the normal contact forces on the wheels. This paper focuses on two aspects: first, it provides a model and an experimental study of skid steering on an all-road 6 × 6 electric wheelchair, the Kokoon mobile platform. Second, it studies two configurations of the distribution of the normal forces on the six wheels, obtained via suspension adjustments. This was both modeled and experimented. Contact forces were measured with a six-component force plate. The first results show that skid steering can be substantially improved by only minor adjustments to the suspensions. This setting decreases the required longitudinal forces applied by the engines and improves the steering ability of the vehicle or robot. Skid-steering characteristic parameters, such as the position of the center of rotation and absorbed skid power, are also dealt with in this paper. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] A Strategic Planning Process for a Small Nonprofit Organization: A Hospice ExampleNONPROFIT MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP, Issue 2 2000Cynthia Massie Mara Strategic planning is an essential part of management. However, planning processes can consume great amounts of time and resources that small, nonprofit organizations may lack. Moreover, the process that is used can be tedious and may result in plans that are discarded before or during their implementation. In this article, a strategic planning process is presented that incorporates a Policy Delphi group technique and Situation Structuring, a computer program that assists participants in structuring or defining the problems to be addressed in the plan. The organization to which the process is applied is a small, nonprofit hospice. Both the planning process and an evaluation of the implementation of the resultant strategic plan are examined. [source] Effects of starch and protein sources on starch disappearance in the gastrointestinal tract of Hanwoo (Korean native) steersANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2010Kyoung Hoon KIM ABSTRACT Hanwoo (Korean native) steers (274.8 ± 4.6 kg) with ruminal and duodenal cannulae were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment to examine the effects of dietary treatments on starch disappearance in the gastrointestinal tract. Dietary treatments consisted of concentrate that were based on ground corn with soybean meal (C-SBM), ground corn with corn gluten meal (C-CGM), ground barley with soybean meal (B-SBM) and ground barley with corn gluten meal (B-CGM). Although the intakes of starch and protein for steers fed experimental diets were different, it did not change ruminal pH and total volatile fatty acid concentrations. Average duodenal CP flow and quantity of CP apparently digested post-ruminally was higher (P = 0.001) for CGM-based diets than SBM-based diets. There were increases in quantity (P < 0.001) and percentage (P < 0.001) of corn starch digested post-ruminally compared to barley starch. Synchronized diets showed higher percentages (P = 0.03) of starch apparently digested post-ruminally than asynchronization. Hanwoo steers fed a corn-based diet with a large quantity of starch reaching the duodenum and fed C-CGM supplying great amounts of protein to the small intestine may have contributed to increased post-ruminal starch digestion. [source] Maintenance of pluripotency in mouse embryonic stem cells cultivated in stirred microcarrier culturesBIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 2 2010Paulo A. N. Marinho Abstract The development of efficient and reproducible culture systems for embryonic stem (ES) cells is an essential pre-requisite for regenerative medicine. Culture scale-up ensuring maintenance of cell pluripotency is a central issue, because large amounts of pluripotent cells must be generated to warrant that differentiated cells deriving thereof are transplanted in great amounts and survive the procedure. This study aimed to develop a robust scalable cell expansion system, using a murine embryonic stem cell line that is feeder-dependent and adapted to serum-free medium, thus representing a more realistic model for human ES cells. We showed that high concentrations of murine ES cells can be obtained in stirred microcarrier-based spinner cultures, with a 10-fold concentration of cells per volume of medium and a 5-fold greater cell concentration per surface area, as compared to static cultures. No differences in terms of pluripotency and differentiation capability were observed between cells grown in traditional static systems and cells that were replated onto the traditional system after being expanded on microcarriers in the stirred system. This was verified by morphological analyses, quantification of cells expressing important pluripotency markers (Oct-4, SSEA-1, and SOX2), karyotype profile, and the ability to form embryoid bodies with similar sizes, and maintaining their intrinsic ability to differentiate into all three germ layers. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2010 [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||