Measurement Of Quality Attributes Research Articles

Quality of Service Issues in Distributed Component Based Environments

The use of distributed component based environments and architectures in the software development lifecycle has increased significantly over recent years particularly with the adoption of service orientation in the form of Service-Oriented Architectures and Web Services. As more applications are based on the component paradigm, Quality of Service (QoS) issues have grown to become imperative since it is essential to achieve the desired QoS on resources assembled dynamically from enterprise, service provider, and customer systems. In this work some of the many of aspects of QoS for component based development are investigated and the metrics and measurement approaches that can be used are considered. Although they are generic it is relatively straightforward to drill down from a generic quality attributes, such as performance or reliability, until measurable and controllable quality attributes are identified.

Reduction of Staphylococcusaureus and quality changes in apple juice processed by ultraviolet irradiation, pre-heating and pulsed electric fields

Apple juice inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus (SST 2.4) was processed by a hurdle sequence including ultraviolet irradiation (UV; 30 min, 20 °C), pre-heating and pulsed electric fields (PEF). Four different levels of pre-heating temperature (35–50 °C), electric field strength (28–40 kV cm −1) and total treatment time (25–100 μs), were used in an orthogonal design, evaluating their impact on S. aureus. Selected physical and chemical quality attributes were measured and compared to conventional pasteurisation (26 s, 94 °C). A higher reduction ( P < 0.05) of S. aureus was achieved with a hurdle approach (UV; 46 °C (PEF inlet) and 58 °C (PEF outlet); PEF 40 kV cm −1 and 100 μs) in comparison to conventional pasteurisation (9.5 vs. 8.2 log 10, respectively). Bacterial inactivation was not affected by pre-heating temperature ( P ⩾ 0.05), while increasing electric field strength and treatment time both induced a reduction in bacterial numbers ( P < 0.05). An analysis of the normalised energy densities for all UV/PEF processing conditions indicated a maximised energy efficiency at higher electric field strengths and shorter treatment times. Treatments showed little effect on the measured quality attributes.

Software quality assurance through COSMIC FFP

Success in software development depends on the satisfaction of the quality requirements stated by the stakeholders. Software architecture ensures development of quality software. Quality measurement at the software architecture level leads to risk mitigation, cost reduction and quality assurance. Existing software architectural measurement techniques are qualitative in nature. However, quantification of quality measures facilitates the process of effective quality assurance. In this paper, we propose a new quantitative measurement technique based on COSMIC Full Function Points (CFFP) and ISO 9126 quality standards. Though CFFP methodology was basically designed to measure the functional size of software at the requirements level, attempt has been made to apply COSMIC FFP principles at the architectural level to measure quality attributes based on ISO 9126 quality standards.

AT-HARVEST FRUIT QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF NEW ZEALAND FEIJOA CULTIVARS

At-harvest fruit quality attributes of four feijoa (Feijoa sellowiana) cultivars ('Unique', 'Triumph', 'Apollo' and 'Mammoth') were measured during the 2002 season. Fruit were supplied ungraded and unsorted at optimum maturity as determined by 'touch picking' and were sourced from five production regions within New Zealand. The measured quality attributes were grouped into categories: (1) size and shape; (2) storage potential; (3) texture and taste; and (4) fruit maturity. Large variations between individual fruit and fruit batches were observed for most quality attributes. The ratio of the translucent part of the fruit section to overall cross-sectional area appeared to have utility as a measure of fruit maturity. Significant (P<0.05) between-batch differences in average water vapour permeance, titratable acidity, and brix to acid ratio showed potential to be linked in building an overall maturity index. Non-destructive fruit firmness may also be able to be used as a maturity indicator for grading and sorting fruit.

NON-DESTRUCTIVE TECHNIQUES FOR MEASURING QUALITY OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

An overview is given of non-destructive techniques for measuring quality attributes of horticultural produce. First, vibration based techniques to measure mechanical properties of fruit will be reviewed. The relationship between destructive and non-destructive measures of firmness will be addressed, as well as how this relationship is affected by factors such as species, cultivar and water status of the fruit. Also the limitations of the so-called firmness index when applied to non-spherical fruit will be investigated. Next, optical techniques to measure quality attributes such as soluble solids content and firmness of fruit and vegetables will be considered. Special emphasis will be paid to inappropriate use of multivariate statistical techniques, and cultivar and orchard effects. Novel techniques such as time and space resolved spectroscopy for the estimation of light absorption and scattering properties of vegetable tissue, as well as NIR hyperspectral imaging techniques will be discussed.

Measurement Of Quality Attributes In Accounting Education Programs: Perceptions Of Certified Public Accountants

Higher education institutions must address quality issues relating to diverse user needs. Students, their families, employers, governing boards and society in general are all interested in maintaining and improving the quality of higher education. Specific attributes of quality in higher education are difficult to define, and may vary according to the needs of user groups. This study examines quality attributes of educational programs from the perspective of one particular user group: certified public accountants (CPAs).

INTRODUCTION OF AN ACCREDITED QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM IN A POSTHARVEST LABORATORY: THE FAIRY GARDEN BEYOND THE PAPER MOUNTAIN

The Flanders Centre of Postharvest Technology (VCBT) has introduced an accredited quality control system according to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. The accredited scope covers the measurements of quality attributes of fruits and vegetables. The implementation of the system involved the fulfilment of several management and technical requirements. Therefore a well structured document flow was established. Whereas for some measurements ISO standards were available, for other methods new procedures, calibration and validation methods had to be developed. A lot of effort was paid towards developing a training program for the staff. Also an efficient monitoring and control of the work and the storage conditions was necessary to produce valid test results. This accreditation has made it possible to meet the requirements of the customers of the VCBT, i.e. the Belgian Fruit and Vegetable Auctions. INTRODUCTION Nowadays, consumers and retailers are not only concerned about the safety and the quality of fruits and vegetables, but also about the way they are produced. Leading European food retailers have established the EUREP GAP Protocol, which describes best practice for global production of fresh produce and horticultural products. Because of legislative and market pressures, fruit and vegetable auctions also need to comply with quality standards (HACCP, ISO 9002). This implies that, when auctions appeal to laboratories for routine analyses of quality attributes, such as absence of residue and microbial contamination, firmness, and soluble solids content, they expect reliable test results. For this reason the Flanders Centre of Postharvest Technology (VCBT), has decided to implement a quality system according to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. Moreover, an accredited quality system in the VCBT was necessary to improve the internal quality of the measurements, to have a competitive advantage and to meet the market demands. In this way the laboratory intends to guarantee its competence to generate technically valid test results. The aim of this paper was to give a short overview about the quality systems applied in the industry of fresh fruits and vegetables and to outline the experience of the VCBT with the implementation of an accredited quality system with special emphasis on the unavoidable administrative burden, calibration and verification of measuring equipment and education of personnel.

Construction Contract Quality Warranties: Hybrid Quality Assessment Model

The term "quality" is defined as the conformance to predetermined requirements or specifications. These requirements may be simple or complex. They may be set in terms of the end result required or as a detailed description of how work should be executed. Recently, there has been increasing interest in quality assurance in the construction industry. Most current techniques used in infrastructure assessment and quality inspection rely merely on subjective criteria. Such inaccurate or subjective assessment techniques have been identified as critical obstacles to effective infrastructure management. An overview of contract quality warranties for steel bridge coatings is presented as a practical example, and a hybrid assessment model that can be used to quantitatively measure quality attributes is proposed. The hybrid model combines image processing and neural networks for defect (specifically, rust) recognition and measurement and uses statistical analysis for quality acceptance or rejection on the basis of the contract warranty clauses. The hybrid model incorporates human experience through the training stage to benefit from experts’ knowledge and to correct for other external factors.

Effect of Thrips Scars on Table Grape Quality1

Abstract Scars caused by the ovipositional and feeding activities of the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande), on ‘Thompson Seedless’ and ‘Calmeria’ table grapes, Vitis vinifera L., had no effect on many measurable quality attributes of the fruit. Scarred berries showed no apparent differences in size or average weight when compared to undamaged fruit. However, scarred ‘Thompson Seedless’ berries had a higher soluble solids content. The acid content was not affected by any type of scar and all fruit had soluble solids to acid ratios of at least 20:1. Scarring did not affect the weight loss of fruit in short-term storage at 0.6°C, and scarred berries were not injured by sulfur dioxide fumigation.