A method to check impurities in food grain based on digital image processing is proposed in this study. According to the feature of the impurity, one image with twice processing is put forward based on blob analysis, ...A method to check impurities in food grain based on digital image processing is proposed in this study. According to the feature of the impurity, one image with twice processing is put forward based on blob analysis, which eliminates impurities that were brighter or darker than normal particles. With the image processing system developed by Matrox Imaging Library, black and white blobs are extracted for twice with one function, and then the size and the position of impurities are calculated quickly through mathematical morphologic and blob analysis. The method can be extended and applied in other fields due to its advantages of quick speed and high accuracy.展开更多
The architecture of the panicle, including grain size and panicle morphology, directly determines grain yield. Panicle erectness, which is selected for achieving ideal plant arehitecture in the northern part of China,...The architecture of the panicle, including grain size and panicle morphology, directly determines grain yield. Panicle erectness, which is selected for achieving ideal plant arehitecture in the northern part of China, has drawn increasing attention of rice breeders. Here, dense and erect panicle 2 （dep2） mutant, which shows a dense and erect panicle phenotype, was identified. DEP2 encodes a plant-specific protein without any known functional domain. Expression profiling of DEP2 revealed that it is highly expressed in young tissues, with most abundance in young panicles. Morphological and expression analysis indicated that mutation in DEP2 mainly affects the rapid elongation of rachis and primary and secondary branches, but does not impair the initiation or formation of panicle primordia. Further analysis suggests that decrease of panicle length in dep2 is caused by a defect in cell proliferation during the exponential elongation of panicle. Despite a more compact plant type in the dep2 mutant, no significant alteration in grain production was found between wild type and dep2 mutant. Therefore, the study of DEP2 not only strengthens our understanding of the molecular genetic basis of panicle architecture but also has important implications for rice breeding.展开更多
6H-SiC single crystals were grown by sublimation method. It is found that foreign grains occur frequently on the facets of the crystals. To characterize the foreign grain, a longitudinal and a sectional cut samples we...6H-SiC single crystals were grown by sublimation method. It is found that foreign grains occur frequently on the facets of the crystals. To characterize the foreign grain, a longitudinal and a sectional cut samples were prepared by standard mechanical processing method. Raman spectrum confirms that the foreign grain is actually a mis-oriented 6H-SiC grain. The surface structure of the foreign grain was studied by chemical etching and optical microscopy. It is shown that etch pits in foreign grain region take the shape of isosceles triangle, which are different from those in mono-crystalline region, and high density stacking faults are observed on the surface of the foreign grain. The orientation of foreign grain surface is determined to be （10]-4） plane by back-scattering X-ray Laue image. The X-ray powder diffraction reveals that the powder is partly graphitized after a long crystal growth rim. Therefore it is believed that the loss of Si results in the formation of C inclusions, which is responsible for the nucleation of foreign grain in the facet region.展开更多
The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of thermal processing, press throughput and roller-die gap on pellet physical quality, protein solubility and starch gelatinization in a corn-soybean based broiler diet. ...The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of thermal processing, press throughput and roller-die gap on pellet physical quality, protein solubility and starch gelatinization in a corn-soybean based broiler diet. The different processing factors were combined in a 2 × 5 × 3 factorial arrangement with eight randomized block consisting of eight production series： two thermal processing treatments （conditioning-pelleting or conditioning-expanding-pelleting）, five press throughput levels （18, 21, 24, 27 and 30 ton/h） and three roller-die gap （0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 mm）, which resulted in 30 different processed feeds. For determination of pellet durability index （PDI）, amount of intact pellets, degree of starch gelatinization and protein solubility, one composed feed sample was collected per treatment in each of eight production series, totaling eight replicates per treatment. Data concerning the amount of intact pellet and protein solubility in KOH were transformed using a variation of Box-Cox transformation in order to fit a normal distribution （P 〉 0.05）. Pellet physical quality was enhanced by conditioning-expanding treatment （P 〈 0.01）, narrower roller-die-gap （P 〈 0.01） and reduced press throughput （P 〈 0.01）. Protein solubility in KOH was impaired （P 〈 0.01） in the expander treatment and larger roller-die distance （0.75 mm and 1.00 mm） （P 〈 0.01）. Finally, greater starch gelatinization degree was achieved in expanded treatment （P 〈 0.01） and in 1.00 mm roller-die gap （P 〈 0.05）. The factors evaluated in this study resulted in interactions and significant effects on physicochemical properties of broiler feed pellets.展开更多
Rheological properties of large particulate-liquid model food systems were studied by using the BMS （ball measuring system）. The model food systems were composed of alginate gel particles （-10mm） and a gelatinised...Rheological properties of large particulate-liquid model food systems were studied by using the BMS （ball measuring system）. The model food systems were composed of alginate gel particles （-10mm） and a gelatinised starch solution with 1% w/w sodium chloride as a liquid phase. The effects of particle phase volume （Ф, 0-0.60）, particle shapes （cube, sphere, rod and disc） and starch concentrations （3% and 5% w/w starch） were investigated. The power law model was successfully applied to characterize the flow properties of each system and the consistency K and power law index n were obtained. The K increased and n decreased with increasing # for samples at all particle shapes at 3% w/w starch in the liquid phase. The particle effect on the viscosity is further analysed by means of the Krieger-Dougherty model and the maximum packing fraction #,, and the intrinsic viscosity [η] were obtained in each system. The Фm, depended on the particle shape, as expected. The [7] value depended on particle shape and was largely in the order of 4.04 （cube）, 3.28 （disc）, 2.56 （sphere） and 2.32 （rod） at 3% w/w starch. The [η] also depended on starch concentration and was 1.1 at 5%,6 w/w starch in the liquid phase with spherical particles. The present results show successful application of BMS to study the rheological properties of large particulate liquid food systems at relatively small scale experiment （-0.5 L） and also that existing models for suspension rheology are applicable for such food systems to a great extend.展开更多
In Uganda, grain amaranth is relatively new and has generally not been considered as an important crop compared to other grain crops and legumes. This study was therefore conducted to determine factors affecting adopt...In Uganda, grain amaranth is relatively new and has generally not been considered as an important crop compared to other grain crops and legumes. This study was therefore conducted to determine factors affecting adoption of grain amaranth growing, factors affecting production, and economic returns on investment of its production. The study was carried out in Kamuli district where a total of 174 grain amaranth farmers and 90 non-grain amaranth farmers were randomly selected and interviewed. Using descriptive statistics, regression analysis （logit model and a Cobb-Douglas type production function） and profitability ratios, it was found that grain amaranth is produced on a small scale and yields are low. Farmer adoption of the crop was favoured by age, gender （female）, education of the farmer, and source of income. The output was positively affected by the amount of labour and manure used in production, while a negative relationship existed between output and male farmers. The crop was most viable under small acreages （0.02-0.04 ha） with positive returns to investment of 0.016. Its production should therefore be encouraged because of its income generation potential and since it requires small land.展开更多
文摘A method to check impurities in food grain based on digital image processing is proposed in this study. According to the feature of the impurity, one image with twice processing is put forward based on blob analysis, which eliminates impurities that were brighter or darker than normal particles. With the image processing system developed by Matrox Imaging Library, black and white blobs are extracted for twice with one function, and then the size and the position of impurities are calculated quickly through mathematical morphologic and blob analysis. The method can be extended and applied in other fields due to its advantages of quick speed and high accuracy.
基金Supplementary information is linked to the online version of the paper on the Cell Research website. Acknowledgments We thank Professor Gary Loake （University of Edinburg, UK） for critical reading of this manuscript. This work was supported by grants from Ministry of Agriculture of China （2008ZX08001）, Ministry of Science and Technology of China （2009CB 118506, 2006AA10A101）, and National Natural Science Foundation of China （30671128, 30621001）.
文摘The architecture of the panicle, including grain size and panicle morphology, directly determines grain yield. Panicle erectness, which is selected for achieving ideal plant arehitecture in the northern part of China, has drawn increasing attention of rice breeders. Here, dense and erect panicle 2 （dep2） mutant, which shows a dense and erect panicle phenotype, was identified. DEP2 encodes a plant-specific protein without any known functional domain. Expression profiling of DEP2 revealed that it is highly expressed in young tissues, with most abundance in young panicles. Morphological and expression analysis indicated that mutation in DEP2 mainly affects the rapid elongation of rachis and primary and secondary branches, but does not impair the initiation or formation of panicle primordia. Further analysis suggests that decrease of panicle length in dep2 is caused by a defect in cell proliferation during the exponential elongation of panicle. Despite a more compact plant type in the dep2 mutant, no significant alteration in grain production was found between wild type and dep2 mutant. Therefore, the study of DEP2 not only strengthens our understanding of the molecular genetic basis of panicle architecture but also has important implications for rice breeding.
基金Projects(2006AA03A145,2007AA03Z405) supported by the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of ChinaProjects(50721002,50802053) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject (707039) supported by the Cultivation Fund of the Key Scientific and Technical Innovation Project,Ministry of Education of China
文摘6H-SiC single crystals were grown by sublimation method. It is found that foreign grains occur frequently on the facets of the crystals. To characterize the foreign grain, a longitudinal and a sectional cut samples were prepared by standard mechanical processing method. Raman spectrum confirms that the foreign grain is actually a mis-oriented 6H-SiC grain. The surface structure of the foreign grain was studied by chemical etching and optical microscopy. It is shown that etch pits in foreign grain region take the shape of isosceles triangle, which are different from those in mono-crystalline region, and high density stacking faults are observed on the surface of the foreign grain. The orientation of foreign grain surface is determined to be （10]-4） plane by back-scattering X-ray Laue image. The X-ray powder diffraction reveals that the powder is partly graphitized after a long crystal growth rim. Therefore it is believed that the loss of Si results in the formation of C inclusions, which is responsible for the nucleation of foreign grain in the facet region.
文摘The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of thermal processing, press throughput and roller-die gap on pellet physical quality, protein solubility and starch gelatinization in a corn-soybean based broiler diet. The different processing factors were combined in a 2 × 5 × 3 factorial arrangement with eight randomized block consisting of eight production series： two thermal processing treatments （conditioning-pelleting or conditioning-expanding-pelleting）, five press throughput levels （18, 21, 24, 27 and 30 ton/h） and three roller-die gap （0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 mm）, which resulted in 30 different processed feeds. For determination of pellet durability index （PDI）, amount of intact pellets, degree of starch gelatinization and protein solubility, one composed feed sample was collected per treatment in each of eight production series, totaling eight replicates per treatment. Data concerning the amount of intact pellet and protein solubility in KOH were transformed using a variation of Box-Cox transformation in order to fit a normal distribution （P 〉 0.05）. Pellet physical quality was enhanced by conditioning-expanding treatment （P 〈 0.01）, narrower roller-die-gap （P 〈 0.01） and reduced press throughput （P 〈 0.01）. Protein solubility in KOH was impaired （P 〈 0.01） in the expander treatment and larger roller-die distance （0.75 mm and 1.00 mm） （P 〈 0.01）. Finally, greater starch gelatinization degree was achieved in expanded treatment （P 〈 0.01） and in 1.00 mm roller-die gap （P 〈 0.05）. The factors evaluated in this study resulted in interactions and significant effects on physicochemical properties of broiler feed pellets.
文摘Rheological properties of large particulate-liquid model food systems were studied by using the BMS （ball measuring system）. The model food systems were composed of alginate gel particles （-10mm） and a gelatinised starch solution with 1% w/w sodium chloride as a liquid phase. The effects of particle phase volume （Ф, 0-0.60）, particle shapes （cube, sphere, rod and disc） and starch concentrations （3% and 5% w/w starch） were investigated. The power law model was successfully applied to characterize the flow properties of each system and the consistency K and power law index n were obtained. The K increased and n decreased with increasing # for samples at all particle shapes at 3% w/w starch in the liquid phase. The particle effect on the viscosity is further analysed by means of the Krieger-Dougherty model and the maximum packing fraction #,, and the intrinsic viscosity [η] were obtained in each system. The Фm, depended on the particle shape, as expected. The [7] value depended on particle shape and was largely in the order of 4.04 （cube）, 3.28 （disc）, 2.56 （sphere） and 2.32 （rod） at 3% w/w starch. The [η] also depended on starch concentration and was 1.1 at 5%,6 w/w starch in the liquid phase with spherical particles. The present results show successful application of BMS to study the rheological properties of large particulate liquid food systems at relatively small scale experiment （-0.5 L） and also that existing models for suspension rheology are applicable for such food systems to a great extend.
文摘In Uganda, grain amaranth is relatively new and has generally not been considered as an important crop compared to other grain crops and legumes. This study was therefore conducted to determine factors affecting adoption of grain amaranth growing, factors affecting production, and economic returns on investment of its production. The study was carried out in Kamuli district where a total of 174 grain amaranth farmers and 90 non-grain amaranth farmers were randomly selected and interviewed. Using descriptive statistics, regression analysis （logit model and a Cobb-Douglas type production function） and profitability ratios, it was found that grain amaranth is produced on a small scale and yields are low. Farmer adoption of the crop was favoured by age, gender （female）, education of the farmer, and source of income. The output was positively affected by the amount of labour and manure used in production, while a negative relationship existed between output and male farmers. The crop was most viable under small acreages （0.02-0.04 ha） with positive returns to investment of 0.016. Its production should therefore be encouraged because of its income generation potential and since it requires small land.
