Significant Changes In Texture Research Articles

Unraveling cell wall polysaccharides during blueberry ripening: insights into the roles of rhamnogalacturonan-I and arabinogalactan proteins in fruit firmness.

Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) undergo significant texture changes during development and ripening, notably a consistent decrease in firmness, which affects fruit quality, consumer preference, transportability, and shelf life. This study examined the composition and structural modifications of the cell wall in five commercially available blueberry varieties with differing firmness levels at harvest. Our approach integrated various biochemical techniques for a comprehensive analysis of cell wall components to elucidate firmness differences at the harvest stage. One of the conclusions was the relationship between a low degree of pectin methylesterification and the presence of increased egg-box structures, which correlated with increased firmness. The data suggest that low-abundance pectins in blueberry cell walls, such as rhamnogalacturonan-I participate in firmness modulation through their side branches or by linking to arabinogalactan proteins. Additionally, the xyloglucan structure can be one of the determinants of fruit firmness. Although, this work provides a broad insight into the relationship between cell wall composition and firmness in blueberry, a more detailed analysis, specifically focusing on pectin and hemicelluloses, would be of significant value.

Long-term evaluation of surface topographic and topsoil grain composition changes in an agricultural landscape

Understanding long-term changes in topography and topsoil grain composition is crucial for the management of agricultural landscapes, especially in areas prone to wind erosion. This study investigates long-term changes in topography and topsoil grain composition within an agricultural landscape in south-western Slovakia. To analyse topographic changes over time, we used high-precision positioning measurements and airborne laser scanning to create digital terrain models (DTM) for the years 2011, 2017 and 2020. To assess changes in soil grain composition, we performed grain size analyses on soil samples collected during three different periods: M1 (1961–1970), M2 (2009–2015) and M3 (2015–2016). Changes in soil texture were evaluated to understand the impact of wind erosion on soil composition. The influence of windbreaks was also analysed by comparing the accumulation and deflation processes. The results showed significant changes in both topography and soil texture over the study period. The DTMs showed marked differences in the accumulation and deflation processes, highlighting areas affected by wind erosion. Comparisons of soil samples showed a shift in dominant soil types from loam and clay loam to silty loam, highlighting the effects of wind erosion. Analysis revealed a decrease in clay and silt content and an increase in sand content, indicating wind-induced soil degradation. The presence of windbreaks played a crucial role in reducing soil erosion by reducing wind speed, promoting soil accumulation and stabilising the landscape up to 80 m windward and 20 m leeward. The study highlights the complex interplay of climate and wind factors in shaping topography and soil properties and emphasises the protective role of windbreaks in agricultural landscapes over time. Our results show that wind erosion significantly alters soil texture, which can affect agricultural productivity. However, windbreaks have proven to be an effective measure in reducing soil erosion and maintaining soil quality.

The Influence of Selected Herb Additives on the Organoleptic and Antioxidant Properties and Storage Stability of Frozen Homemade Tofu

The aim of this study was to check the impact of the addition of selected flavoring herbs on the organoleptic and antioxidant properties of homemade tofu, as well as the possibility of its storage extension by freezing. The optimization of homemade tofu production based on organic soy and the enrichment (2% w/w) of obtained tofu with dried plant additives (wild garlic, basil, Herbes de Provence, black cumin seeds, and dried cranberries) was performed. The manufactured tofu was compared to commercial tofu (control) in terms of antioxidant activity, total polyphenol content, and polyphenol profile using thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Moreover, the texture profile and organoleptic assessment of the compared products were performed. The antioxidant and texture parameters were also controlled in tofu fixed by different methods: cold herbal infusion and prolonged freezing of vacuum-packed products. It was shown that homemade tofu was characterized by better sensory and texture properties than commercial product. Moreover, the introduction of plant additives to tofu increased the antioxidant activity and the content of polyphenols in the final product; the greater the activity of the herbs used, the higher the degree of tofu enrichment was achieved. In terms of all analyzed parameters, cranberries and Herbes de Provence additives to tofu were found to be the first choice. It was found that the addition of herbs to tofu allowed us to create new sensory features, enhanced the pro-healthy value, and extended the storage time. Due to no significant changes in texture and antioxidant properties of frozen tofu, as well as its acceptable microbial quality, freezing vacuum-packed tofu can be recommended as a beneficial way to extend the storage time at home condition. The addition of herbs allows for the design of new versions of tofu in accordance with consumer preferences, and the proposed packaging method can be applied on an industrial scale.

Development of Healthy and Clean-Label Crackers Incorporating Apple and Carrot Pomace Flours

The valorization of fruit and vegetable side-streams from the juice industry is an important contribution to the optimization of food resources and is an environmentally friendly practice in line with the concepts of circular economy and sustainability. The aim of this work is to incorporate them back into the food value chain by adding them as ingredients in staple foods like crackers. This is also important in terms of food fortification, as they are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds. Crackers are popular snacks with a huge global market value, enjoyed by consumers of all ages. The current study aims to integrate flour from dried apple and carrot pomaces, resulting from juice processing, as natural ingredients with potential health benefits. The incorporation levels ranged from 20 to 40% dry weight in crackers, and their impact on physicochemical and mechanical properties was evaluated, as well as bioactivity (potential impact on health) and sensory acceptance. The addition of pomaces resulted in significant changes in texture and color, as well as enhancing the antioxidant activity of the crackers. Crackers containing pomace flours, except for the cracker with 40% carrot pomace, showed a high overall sensory acceptability and good intentions to buy.

Bioactive, textural and sensory attributes of soft confections enriched with plant protein hydrolysates

AbstractSoft confections can serve as a reservoir for bioactive peptide delivery in both functional food and food supplement applications. In this study, pectin-based soft confections were fortified with proteolytic plant protein hydrolysates and the residual bioactivity of hydrolysates was studied after processing or simulated digestion. Cold press sunflower or hazelnut cakes were used in the manufacture of protein isolates based on an alkali extraction-isoelectric precipitation (AE-IP) method. Trypsin or bromelain were utilized in the proteolysis of the isolates and thus prepared liquid hydrolysates were used in confectionery manufacture. DPP-IV (dipeptidyl peptidase-IV) inhibitory activity (i.e., in vitro antidiabetic activity) and antioxidative activities were measured. In addition, sensory and textural attributes were investigated. In all cases, a significant concentration of hydrolysates were added to the confections (27%), which lead to significant changes in color, texture and sensory acceptance. The peptide profile and size distribution mostly altered such characteristics, while observed bioactivity was significant after processing. Simulated digestion enhanced DPP-IV inhibitory activity up to approx. 40%, whereas antioxidative performance decreased. While the applicability of the current findings is limited by hydrolysate solubility, ingredient interactions, and processing costs, the relevance of degree of hydrolysis (DH%), peptide characteristics and phenolic-peptide interactions on product quality and eventual bioactivity are being discussed.

A CNN-based denoising method trained with images acquired with electron density phantoms for thin-sliced coronary artery calcium scans.

This work proposed a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based method trained with images acquired with electron density phantoms to reduce quantum noise for coronary artery calcium (CAC) scans reconstructed with slice thickness less than 3mm. A DenseNet model was used to estimate quantum noise for CAC scans reconstructed with slice thickness of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5mm. Training data was acquired using electron density phantoms in three different sizes. The label images of the CNN model were real noise maps, while the input images of the CNN model were pseudo noise maps. Image denoising was conducted by subtracting the CNN output images from thin-sliced CAC scans. The efficacy of the proposed method was verified through both phantom study and patient study. By means of phantom study, the proposed method was proven effective in reducing quantum noise in CAC scans reconstructed with 1.5-mm slice thickness without causing significant texture change or variation in HU values. With regard to patient study, calcifications were more clear on the denoised CAC scans reconstructed with slice thickness of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5mm than on 3-mm slice images, while over-smooth changes were not observed in the denoised CAC scans reconstructed with 1.5-mm slice thickness. Our results demonstrated that the electron density phantoms can be used to generate training data for the proposed CNN-based denoising method to reduce quantum noise for CAC scans reconstructed with 1.5-mm slice thickness. Because anthropomorphic phantom is not a necessity, our method could make image denoising more practical in routine clinical practice.

Low Vp/VsValues as an Indicator for Fractures in the Critical Zone

AbstractPoisson's ratio for earth materials is usually assumed to be positive (Vp/Vs > 1.4). However, this assumption may not be valid in the critical zone because near Earth's surface effective pressures are low (<1 MPa), porosity has a wide range (0%–60%), there are significant texture changes (e.g., unconsolidated vs. fractured media), and saturation ranges from 0% to 100%. We present P‐wave (Vp) and S‐wave (Vs) velocities from seismic refraction profiles collected in weathered crystalline environments in South Carolina and Wyoming. Our data show that ∼20% of the subsurface has negative Poisson's ratios (Vp/Vsvalues < 1.4), a conclusion supported by borehole sonic logs. The low Vp/Vsvalues are confined to the fractured bedrock and saprolite. Our data support the hypothesis that weathering‐generated microcracks can produce a negative Poisson's ratio and that Vp/Vsvalues can thus provide insight into important critical zone weathering processes.

On the Assessment of Strawberries' Shelf-Life and Quality, Based on Image Analysis, Physicochemical Methods, and Chemometrics.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate Marisol strawberries' (Fragaria × ananassa) physicochemical quality and shelf-life during storage, using an integrated analytical approach. More specifically, the research aimed to assess the strawberries' color, texture, and nutritional quality, over an 11-day storage period, employing physicochemical analyses, spectrophotometric assays, Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, image analysis, and statistical tools. The results revealed significant changes in the outer surface texture and color characteristics, indicating spoilage progression. Physicochemical parameters such as water activity, moisture content, soluble solids, titratable acidity, and ascorbic acid content exhibited significant alterations, influencing the taste profile and freshness perception. Antioxidant and antiradical activities showed fluctuations, suggesting a potential decrease in phenolic content during storage. Moreover, the ATR-FTIR spectra findings confirmed the results regarding the moisture content, soluble solids, and total phenolic content. The integration of physicochemical and image analysis-derived features through a principal component analysis (PCA) enabled the accurate classification of samples based on storage days. Regression analysis, using these features, successfully predicted the storage day with high accuracy. Overall, this integrated analytical approach provided valuable information on the estimation of Marisol strawberries' shelf-life and the prediction of their quality deterioration, contributing to better fruit management and the minimization of discards.

How and when do Pt- and Pd-semimetal minerals crystallize from saturated sulfide liquids?

Platinum and Pd-arsenides, antimonides, tellurides, bismuthinides, and sulfides are the major hosts of Pt and Pd in magmatic and hydrothermal Cu-Ni-sulfide ores. Textural relationships among such minerals in nature often provide contradictory messages about the mechanism and timing of their formation. To know how and when Pt and Pd mineral phases crystallize from sulfide-saturated liquids and how their compositions and textures evolve during cooling, we undertook controlled cooling experiments in evacuated silica tubes. A Cu-Ni-Fe sulfide mixture, similar in composition to the average Merensky Reef sulfide magma, was charged (in a 9:1 wt.% proportion) with one of the PtAs2, PtTe2, PtSb2, PtBi2, PdAs2, PdTe2, PdSb, and PdBi2 compounds, heated to 1,100°C, and slowly cooled (15°C/day) to room temperature. The run products were sampled at 950°C, 750°C, and 25°C by quenching the silica tubes in water. The results show that Pt formed stable phases with As, Te, and Sb above 950°C and with Bi and S below 750°C. The Pt phases were found mostly in the decomposed intermediate solid solution (ISS), and all the phases survived to 25°C with no compositional changes. At 950°C, Pd formed arsenide, telluride, and antimonide immiscible melts that coexisted with monosulfide solid solution (MSS) and sulfide melt. The composition of the Pd-semimetal melt droplets changed during cooling by equilibration with the host sulfide. Palladium mineral phases formed at temperatures below 750°C directly from the immiscible semimetal-rich melts where they kept the rounded shapes of the melt droplets. Ni-sulfarsenides preceded the formation of Pd arsenides. No Ni tellurides, antimonides, or bismuthinides formed in any of the systems, implying that their formation requires higher semimetal/Pt + Pd ratios. The decomposition of MSS and ISS to base metal sulfides led to significant textural changes in Pt and Pd mineral grains. The compositions of Pt and Pd phases are inherited from the magmatic stage, and their textures are low-temperature (<450°C) features.

Evaluation of Ni–B alloy electroplated with different anionic groups

In order to study the effects of the main nickel salt on the electroplated nanocrystalline Ni–B alloy coating, the deposition rates, surface morphology, crystallinity, grain sizes, hardness, and corrosion resistance of the Ni–B films electrodeposited with plating baths containing separately nickel sulfate (NS) and nickel sulfamate (NSA) under various temperatures and current densities were compared. Under all conditions, the NSA bath system offered higher deposition rates and lower B contents than the NS counterpart because of the formation of Ni-ammonium complex, which can be adsorbed faster than nickel ions. These two groups of coatings had similar surface morphology and crystallinity under all plating conditions except for those plated with the NS bath system at 60 °C, wherein significant changes in surface texture and preferred crystal orientation as well as an abrupt increase in grain size occurred. The coating hardness was optimized by reducing the grain size and increasing the boron content because of the combined effects of grain refinement strengthening and solid solution strengthening. The differences between the two main salt systems can be explained by the presence of ammonium ions in the NSA bath, which not only increased the deposition rate but also maintained the preferred orientation in Ni (111) at high temperature. Our results indicate that, under high current density and high temperature operation conditions, the NSA main salt plating system is a more favorable option for obtaining higher quality Ni–B alloy coatings.

Toxicological study of the ethanolic extract of <i>Cleome viscosa</i> leaves in Wistar rats

Cleome viscosa is traditionally used to cure various pathologies, especially malaria, hemorrhoids, fever and headaches. However, there are few experimental data on its possible toxicity. The present study investigated the toxicity of the extract of Cleome viscosa in Wistar rats. In acute toxicity, a single administration of the extract of Cleome viscosa at 5000 mg/kg was administered orally to rats. General behavior, adverse effects and mortality were recorded up to 14 days after treatment. For subchronic toxicity, the extract at 500 mg/kg/day and 1000 mg/kg/day were administered orally to rats for 28 days. The body weight of rats was recorded daily, while hematological and biochemical parameters and relative organ weights were assessed on day 29. Neither was mortality nor induction of intoxication recorded in the treated. Subchronic administration of Cleome viscosa did not result in any significant changes in weight gain or feeding in the rats. Macroscopic observation of the organs of treated rats showed no significant change in color and texture. Also, hematological and biochemical parameters showed no significant changes. Oral administration of extract of Cleome viscosa can be considered relatively free of toxicity.

Development and Characterization of Functional Low Calorie Gelatin Gummies Enriched with Glycosaminoglycans Extracted from Mackerel Fish Waste

ABSTRACT Fish processing waste amounts to around 50% and contains novel recoverable molecules like glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), health beneficial bioactive polysaccharide, and a nutraceutical. The present work aimed to formulate gelatin based gummies with added GAGs targeting obesity. Prepared formulations were sugar (S) and no added sugar (NAS), where sugar was replaced with maltitol. GAGs were supplemented at 0.5%, 1.5%, and 3% (w/w) in both. Storage studies (6 months, 25°C in RT) showed no significant changes in texture or sensory analysis and were microbiologically safe; GAGs were extractable up to 95%. Gummies with maltitol and GAGs at 1.5% were a suitable formulation as anti-obesity product.

Black Bean Hulls as a Byproduct of an Extraction Process to Enhance Nutraceutical and Glycemic-Related Properties of Nixtamalized Maize Tostadas.

Black bean hulls (BBH) are rich in phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, which can be incorporated into common staple foods such as maize tostadas, enhancing the nutraceutical properties of these products. This study incorporates black bean hulls to produce nixtamalized maize tostadas with nutraceutical properties. Nixtamalized corn flour (NCF) and black bean hulls (BBH) were characterized in terms of protein, fat, crude and dietary fiber, anthocyanin concentration, and different starch fractions. NCF and BBH depicted 53.7 and 16.8% of total digestible starch (TDS), respectively, and 1.2 and 7.6% of resistant starch (RS), in the same order. BBH was incorporated into nixtamalized flour at 10, 15, and 20% w/w, and the resulting dough was thermo-mechanically characterized. Tostadas with BBH had higher protein, dietary fiber, and anthocyanin concentrations. Enriched tostadas did not show significant changes in texture or other sensory characteristics. However, a reduction in total digestible starch (61.97 up to 59.07%), an increase in resistant starch (0.46 to 2.3% from control tostadas to 20% BBH tostadas), and a reduction in the predicted glycemic index (52 to 49), among other parameters, indicated that BBH is a suitable alternative for developing nutraceutical food products.

3-D and 2-D reconstruction of bladders for the assessment of inter-session detection of tissue changes: a proof of concept.

Abnormalities in the bladder wall require careful investigation regarding type, spatial position and invasiveness. Construction of a 3-D model of the bladder is helpful to ensure adequate coverage of the scanning procedure, quantitative comparison of bladder wall textures between successive sessions and finding back previously discovered abnormalities. Videos of both an in vivo bladder and a textured bladder phantom were acquired. Structure-from-motion and bundle adjustment algorithms were used to construct a 3-D point cloud, approximate it by a surface mesh, texture it with the back-projected camera frames and draw the corresponding 2-D atlas. Reconstructions of successive sessions were compared; those of the bladder phantom were co-registered, transformed using 3-D thin plate splines and post-processed to highlight significant changes in texture. The reconstruction algorithms of the presented workflow were able to construct 3-D models and corresponding 2-D atlas of both the in vivo bladder and the bladder phantom. For the in vivo bladder the portion of the reconstructed surface area was 58% and 79% for the pre- and post-operative scan, respectively. For the bladder phantom the full surface was reconstructed and the mean reprojection error was 0.081 mm (range 0-0.79 mm). In inter-session comparison the changes in texture were correctly indicated for all six locations. The proposed proof of concept was able to perform 3-D and 2-D reconstruction of an in vivo bladder wall based on a set of monocular images. In a phantom study the computer vision algorithms were also effective in co-registering reconstructions of successive sessions and highlighting texture changes between sessions. These techniques may be useful for detecting, monitoring and revisiting suspicious lesions.

NERVE MONITORING IN THYROID SURGERY: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

Background:The proximity of the Recurrent Laryngeal and External Branch of Superior Laryngeal Nerve to the Thyroid Gland has been a key factor for a profound interest of surgeons and clinicians in the clinical outcomes and Vocal changes in the post operative period in the patients undergoing thyroid surgery. The presence of Recurrent Laryngeal nerve in proximity of Thyroid poses a significant risk of damage to the nerve during surgery. The Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve SuppliesLarynx below the level of vocal cords and all the muscles except Cricothyroid. Posterior Cricoarytenoid, the only abductor of vocal cord is also supplied by this nerve. So, any damage to the nerve during surgery causes significant changes in pitch and texture of voice, commonly referred to as hoarseness.Intra-operative Nerve Monitoringwas introduced about 50 years ago and various neuromonitoring methods (glottis pressure method, glottic monitoring method, insertion of needle electrodes invocal cords endoscopically or through cricothyroid membrane, laryngeal palpationmethod, and monitoring via endotracheal tube with surface electrodes) have been utilized. We present a retrospective cohort study to surmise the effect of the use of Intraoperative nerve monitoring devices during Thyroid surgery and compare the clinical outcome in two cohorts. First, the study group where the nerve monitoring was used intraoperatively and the Second, where no intraoperative nerve monitoring was used. All the Patients included in the study underwent Thyroid surgery in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, MBS Hospital, Kota. Methods:This retrospective cohort study includes 100 patients as per the inclusion criteria specified in this article and all the included patients were studied after dividing them into two groups with one group where intraoperative nerve monitoring was used and the other group where no nerve monitoring was used. Each group had 50 patients each. All the patients are regularly documented for with Video Laryngoscopic Examination as a standard. All the data collected from the archives and put to statistical evaluation to analyse the data Age wise, Sex wise, Residential address wise, according to mean Thyroid volume, according to presenting complaints, according to history, according to mean operative time, according to the type of Nerve Injury, according to duration of hospital stay and other parameters as followed in the study. Results: On appropriate statistical analysis of the data, it was seen that there were no demographic variables within groups that ensured statistical similarity in the groups, there was also no statistical correlation of functional preservation attributable to mean Thyroid volume. The incidence of nerve injury was higher in the patients who got themselves operated for the malignancy of thyroid and the revision surgeries. The patients being operated for controlled toxic goitre reported ni nerve injury in the post operative period. The intraoperative nerve monitoring reported lower mean time required to do the surgery. There was a similar incidence of permanent and transient nerve injury in both the cohort groups.

RCoO3 {R=Pr, Nd and Sm} electrode-based for efficient solid-state symmetric supercapacitor

Tunable electrical conductivity and energy storage ability have been achieved by controllable rare earth substitution at the A-site in hydrothermally synthesized single perovskite oxides. Controlling the electrochemical performance of these electro-active materials has been attractive for futuristic energy storage devices. Crystallographic analysis confirmed a distorted orthorhombic Pnma structure for PrCoO3 (PCO), NdCoO3 (NCO) and SmCoO3 (SCO). The morphology of the materials showed significant changes in size, texture and porosity; with shape morphology varied from rectangular shaped crystallites in SCO and NCO to spherical shaped crystallites in PCO. The comparison of room temperature electrical conductivity shows good correlation with the structural features. A gradual decrease in the activation energies, obtained from the small polaron hopping (SPH) model, was observed as a function of the increasing ionic radii (Pr3+>Nd3+>Sm3+). The electrochemical properties are systematically investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) analysis. The charge storage mechanism in PCO, NCO and SCO is clearly demonstrated to be a diffusion controlled process. An effective correlation is drawn between the electrical and electrochemical parameters and their inherent structural disorder. PCO based materials show superior electrochemistry with a specific capacitance of ∼557 F/g at 1 A/g and ∼88% capacity retention even after 10,000 charging and discharging cycles. Based on its superior 3-electrode performance, a solid-state symmetric supercapacitor (SSC–P) was fabricated using PCO-based electrodes. It shows an energy and power densities of ∼40 W-h/Kg and ∼5574 W/kg respectively retaining 81% stability even after 5000 operational cycles. Finally, our fabricated solid-state symmetric supercapacitor (SSC–P) illuminated a LED for 3 min after 1 min charging, which shows its applicative potential for optimal smart energy storage device applications.

Investigating the Feasibility of Using DenseNet to Improve Coronary Calcification Detection in CT

Interscan reproducibility of coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring can be improved by using a smaller slice thickness but at the cost of higher image noise. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using densely connected convolutional network (DenseNet) to reduce the image noise in CAC scans reconstructed with slice thickness < 3 mm for improving coronary calcification detection in CT. Phantom data acquired with QRM and CIRS phantoms were used for model training and testing, where the DenseNet model adopted in this work was a convolutional neural network (CNN) designed for super resolution recovery. After phantom study, the proposed method was evaluated in terms of its ability to improve calcification detection using patient data. The CNN input images (IMGinput) were CAC scans reconstructed with 0.5-, 1.0- and 1.5-mm slice thickness, while CNN label images were CAC scans reconstructed with 3-mm slice thickness (IMG3mm). Region of interest (ROI) analysis was carried out on IMG3mm, IMGinput and CNN output images (IMGoutput). Two-sample t test was used to compare the difference in Hounsfield Unit (HU) values within ROI between IMG3mm and IMGoutput. For the calcifications in QRM phantoms, no statistically significant difference was found when comparing the HU values of 400- and 800-HA calcifications identified on IMG3mm to those on IMGoutput with slice thickness of 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 mm. On the other hand, statistically significant difference was found when comparing the HU values of 200-HA calcifications identified on IMG3mm to those on IMGoutput with a slice thickness of 0.5 and 1.0 mm. Meanwhile, no statistically significant difference was found when comparing the HU values of 200-HA calcifications identified on IMG3mm to those on IMGoutput with a slice thickness of 1.5 mm. As for the rod inserts in CIRS phantoms simulating 9 different tissue types in human body, there was no statistically significant difference between IMG3mm and IMGoutput with slice thickness of 1.5 mm, and all the p values were larger than 0.10. With regards to patient study, more calcification pixels were detected on IMGoutput with a slice thickness of 1.5 mm than on IMG3mm, so calcifications were more clear on the denoised images. According to our results, the CNN-based denoising method could reduce statistical noise in IMGinput with a slice thickness of 1.5 mm without causing significant texture change or variation in HU values. The proposed method could improve cardiovascular risk prediction by detecting small and soft calcifications that are barely identified on 3-mm slice images used in conventional CAC scans.

Elucidating dynamic precipitation and yield strength of rolled Mg–Al–Ca–Mn alloy

Although the precipitation and recrystallization of Mg–Al–Ca–Mn based alloys have been well investigated individually, there is still a lack of a detailed investigation on the effect of the Al-rich clusters, Mn-rich precipitates and/or Ca-rich Laves phases formed from dynamic precipitation during rolling on the grain size and texture as well as yield strength. Here, we have investigated the effect of Mn (1 wt. %) on the dynamic precipitation and yield strength of rolled Mg–3Al–1Ca alloy after rolling up to 1 and 6 passes (at 350 °C and 300 °C). It was found that an effective grain refinement can be obtained due to the fact that the dynamic precipitation enhances dynamic recrystallization by particle stimulated nucleation (PSN) mechanism. No significant texture change was obtained although the dynamic precipitation of Mn-rich particles due to the addition of 1 wt. % Mn results in a change from an RD-split texture to a strong basal texture. Three different Mn-rich phases ((i) large primary Al8Mn5 phase, (ii) the long plated-shaped Al8Mn5 phase, and (iii) nanoscale Al8Mn5 phase), C15 Laves phase (Al2Ca) and Al-rich clusters (G.P. zone), were observed, while no plate-shaped Al–Ca precipitate was observed on the basal plane of α-Mg matrix, indicating a competition among the formation of Al-rich clusters, plate-like Al–Ca precipitates, Ca-rich Laves phase, and Mn–rich phase within α-Mg matrix. Dispersion strengthening by the Ca-rich Laves phase, Mn–rich phase and Al-rich clusters is proposed to be attributed to the significant improvement of yield strength. This investigation highlights the importance of elucidating the effect of the dynamic precipitation on yield strength of rolled Mg–3Al–1Ca–1Mn alloys and provides helpful hints to further optimize the deformation and mechanical properties of Mg–Al–Ca–Mn based alloys.

Multiscale Exploration of Texture and Microstructure Development in Recrystallization Annealing of Heavily Deformed Ferritic Alloys

We present a multi-scale study of recrystallization annealing of an 85% cold rolled Fe-3%Si-0.1%Sn alloy using a combination of dark field X-ray microscopy (DFXM), synchrotron X-ray diffraction (SXRD), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Grains of interest from high stored energy (HSE) regions in a 200μm-thick sample are studied using DFXM during isothermal annealing. The intra-granular structure of the as deformed grain reveals deformation bands separated by ≈ 3–5° misorientation. Geometrically Necessary Dislocation evolution during recrystallization and growth is investigated. These findings are supported by a quantitative non-destructive texture analysis using SXRD in terms of pole figures and orientation distribution functions. Although no significant macroscopic texture change is observed up to 50% recrystallization, the calculated texture index indicates different nucleation and growth processes at various stages of annealing. Our results show that zones of local misorientation in the HSE regions are decisive for the formation and growth of recrystallized grains.

Traditional puffed fish cracker ('kemplang Palembang') by microwave-oven method: Physical properties and microstructure evaluation

This research has investigated the physical properties (volume expansion, texture) and microstructure of 'kemplang Palembang', traditional fish puffed crackers from Indonesia which were puffed using the microwave-oven method. The microwave-oven method was designed by the factorial randomised block design (FRBD) which contains egg addition as factors (A1 – control; A2 – egg yolk; A3 – egg white and egg yolk) and moisture factors (B1 – 7.5 ± 1%; B2 – 13.5 ± 1%). The results revealed that the egg addition and moisture were significant (P &amp;lt; 0.05) to the volume expansion and texture. Meanwhile, the microstructure of kemplang Palembang was evidenced by 3D visual analysis using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The microstructural analysis by SEM showed that the porosity caused a significant change in volume expansion and texture. The results suggest the feasibility of adding eggs and moisture 13.5 ± 1% (A1B2 treatment) for proper volume expansion (523%), texture [156.2 gram-force (gf)], and microstructure.