Enhancing the accuracy of area extraction in machine vision-based pig weighing through edge detection

The accuracy of extracting projected pig area is critical to the accuracy of the weight measurement of pigs by machine vision.The capability of both the conventional and the edge detection methods for extracting pig area was examined using the images of 47 pigs of different weights.Relationship between the threshold value and the extracted area was numerically analyzed for both methods.It was found that the accuracy of the conventional method depended heavily on the threshold value,while choice of threshold value in the edge detection approach had no influence on the extracted area over a wide range.In normal lighting conditions,both methods yielded comparable values of predicted weight;however,under variable light intensities,the edge detection method was superior to the conventional method,because the former was proven to be independent of light intensities.This makes edge detection an ideal method for area extraction during the walk-through weighing process where pigs are allowed to move around.

Expedited extraction of xylan from corncob by power ultrasound

Some lignocellulosic biomass like corncob contains a large amount of xylan,a valuable material for applications in food,chemical and pharmaceutical industries.Conventional extraction of xylan is a time consuming process,requiring 12 to 24 hours to complete.In this study,the efficacy of power ultrasound for reducing the extraction time and increasing the xylan yield was investigated.Two acoustic energy densities(0.18 W/mL and 0.45 W/mL)of the power ultrasound were applied to corncob for 10,20,30,and 60 min.The treated samples were steamed at 110,118 and 121℃for 30 min.At 0.45 W/mL acoustic energy density and 121℃steaming temperature,ultrasonic treatment was able to extract 39%of xylan in 43 min.In contrast,the conventional treatment was able to extract only 34%of xylan in 24 h.Power ultrasound assisted extraction reduced the processing time by 97%in addition to yield increase by 14.7%.Power ultrasound can be a potential technology for enhanced xylan extraction from corncob to result in significant processing time savings.

Effects of type of packaging material on physicochemical and sensory properties of olive oil

This study was performed to evaluate changes in physicochemical and sensory attributes of olive oil stored in different packaging materials for up to 60 days.The olive oil samples from a local company(Ajlon-Jordan)were stored in containers made from glass,tinplate,and plastic for two months at 25℃with quality attributes analyzed at selected time intervals.The results showed that as time increased from 0 to 60 days the acidity and peroxide values(PV)of the oil increased while antioxidant activities,total phenolics,and sensory attributes decreased.The samples in the glass container exhibited the lowest acidity(1.25%to 1.53%)and PV(6.13 to 7.17 milliequivalents meq/kg)values followed by those stored in the plastic and tinplate containers.The lowest antioxidant activities and total phenolics values were recorded in oil from the tinplate container while no significant difference(p≤0.05)was found for samples in the glass and plastic containers.The oil in the tinplate container had the highest values of sedimentation(0.17%).The glass container provided the best protection to oil samples as indicated by the best sensory properties,followed by plastic and tinplate containers.

Effect of tehina processing and storage in the physical-chemical quality

The effect of tehina processing and storage during six months at 25℃and 35℃on total phenolics,antioxidant activity,anthocyanins,and fatty acid analysis was evaluated.Tehina processing,storage period and temperature significantly(p≤0.05)decreased total phenolics,antioxidant activity and anthocyanins contents.The results showed that raw sesame seeds had the highest total phenolics(99.98 mg GAE/100 g)and lower levels were found in dehulled unroasted sesame seeds,tehina at zero time and roasted sesame seeds(62.53,60.61 and 47.03 mg GAE/100 g,respectively).In addition,tehina during storage showed a significant decrease in total phenolics(60.61 to 42.45 mg GAE/100 g).Raw sesame seeds had the highest antioxidant activity(0.51 mg/mL),while the tehina,dehulled unroasted and roasted sesame had antioxidant activity values of 1.21,1.35 and 1.79 mg/mL,respectively.Also,antioxidant activity of tehina at zero time was highest(1.21 mg/mL)and lowest was in tehina stored for six months(1.70 mg/mL).Sesame seeds and tehina had low levels of anthocyanins(1.26 and 0.50 mg cya-3-glu/100 g).Fatty acid analysis showed that sesame seeds(raw,dehulled unroasted and roasted)and tehina samples contain high percent of unsaturated fatty acid oleic(C18:1)and linoleic(C18:2).

Effects of drying process on total phenolics,antioxidant activity and flavonoid contents of common Mediterranean herbs

Four different fresh and dried herb species(sage,thyme,mint and lemonbalm)were evaluated to study the effect of drying process on the total phenolics,antioxidant activity,flavonoid contents and color properties.Fresh mint had the highest contents of total phenolics(335.4 mg GAE/100 g),whereas lower levels were respectively found in sage(316.4 mg GAE/100 g)followed by lemonbalm(303.2 mg GAE/100 g)and thyme(299.2 mg GAE/100 g).Dry processing significantly decreased the phytochemical contents of all investigated herbs.Compare to air drying,total phenolics,antioxidant activity and flavonoids content in herbs decreased apparently by oven dried.Fresh mint had the highest antioxidant activity(87.46%)and flavonoids content(298.51 mg CE/100 g),while the fresh sage,thyme and lemonbalm were found to have antioxidant activity values of 86.81%,86.56% and 85.26%,respectively.Results showed that air drying herbs contained more total phenolics,antioxidant activity,and flavonoids than oven drying herbs.