Assessing Pearl Quality Using Reflectance UV-Vis Spectroscopy: Does the Same Donor Produce Consistent Pearl Quality?

Two groups of commercial quality ("acceptable") pearls produced using two donors, and a group of "acceptable" pearls from other donors were analyzed using reflectance UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Three pearls with different colors produced by the same donor showed different absorption spectra. Cream and gold colored pearls showed a wide absorption from 320 to about 460 nm, while there was just slight reflectance around 400 nm by the white pearl with a pink overtone. Cream and gold pearls reached a reflectance peak at 560 to 590 nm, while the white pearl with pink overtone showed slightly wider absorption in this region. Both cream and gold pearls showed an absorption peak after the reflectance peak, at about 700 nm for the cream pearl and 750 nm for the gold pearl. Two other pearls produced by the same donor (white with cream overtone and cream with various overtones) showed similar spectra, which differed in their intensity. One of these pearls had very high lustre and its spectrum showed a much higher percentage reflectance than the second pearl with inferior lustre. This result may indicate that reflectance is a useful quantitative indicator of pearl lustre. The spectra of two white pearls resulting from different donors with the same color nacre (silver) showed a reflectance at 260 nm, followed by absorption at 280 nm and another reflectance peak at 340 nm. After this peak the spectra for these pearls remained flat until a slight absorption peak around 700 nm. Throughout the visible region, all white pearls used in this study showed similar reflectance spectra although there were differences in reflectance intensity. Unlike the spectral results from white pearls, the results from yellow and gold pearls varied according to color saturation of the pearl. The results of this study show that similarities between absorption and reflectance spectra of cultured pearls resulting from the same saibo donor are negligible and could not be detected with UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Nevertheless, this technique could have a role to play in developing less subjective methods of assessing pearl quality and in further studies of the relationships between pearl quality and that of the donor and recipient oysters.     

Use of Natural Antimicrobial Peptides and Bacterial Biopolymers for Cultured Pearl Production

Cultured pearls are the product of grafting and rearing of Pinctada margaritifera pearl oysters in their natural environment. Nucleus rejections and oyster mortality appear to result from bacterial infections or from an inappropriate grafting practice. To reduce the impact of bacterial infections, synthetic antibiotics have been applied during the grafting practice. However, the use of such antibiotics presents a number of problems associated with their incomplete biodegradability, limited efficacy in some cases, and an increased risk of selecting for antimicrobial resistant bacteria. We investigated the application of a marine antimicrobial peptide, tachyplesin, which is present in the Japanese horseshoe crab Tachypleus tridentatus, in combination with two marine bacterial exopolymers as alternative treatment agents. In field studies, the combination treatment resulted in a significant reduction in graft failures vs. untreated controls. The combination of tachyplesin (73 mg/L) with two bacterial exopolysaccharides (0.5% w/w) acting as filming agents, reduces graft-associated bacterial contamination. The survival data were similar to that reported for antibiotic treatments. These data suggest that non-antibiotic treatments of pearl oysters may provide an effective means of improving oyster survival following grafting procedures.     

不同渗糖技术对龙滩珍珠李果脯品质及果实细胞结构的比较

本文以龙滩珍珠李为原料,采用常压、真空、微波和超声波4种渗糖技术加工果脯,研究不同渗糖技术对龙滩珍珠李果脯感官品质、理化营养品质、质构特性以及对龙滩珍珠李果实细胞结构的影响。结果表明：真空渗糖制备的龙滩珍珠李果脯色泽最佳、褐变度最低（1.95）,Vc含量最高（58.33 μg/g）,总糖含量较低,但组织状态和口感差;微波渗糖得到的果脯色泽最差,褐变度最高（3.18）,Vc含量最低（41.34 μg/g）,且均与常压处理存在显著性差异（P<0.05）,硬度、咀嚼性、弹性和胶着性均最低,分别为508.33 g、10.57 mJ、3.44 mm和256.33 g;超声波渗糖获得的龙滩珍珠李果脯感官总分、总糖含量、硬度、咀嚼性、弹性和胶着性均为最高,分别为82.13分、49.22%、868.33 g、16.00 mJ、3.68 mm和452.33 g,显著高于常压处理的（P<0.05）,复水率最低（106.48%~128.66%）,且明显降低了对龙滩珍珠李果实细胞结构的破坏。可见,超声波渗糖技术对龙滩珍珠李果脯品质及果实细胞结构的保护效果最好。     

Special rice in China

Shanxi black rice It was originally from Yang County, Hanzhong Region.This rice was a world-famous rice variety developed in 140 BC. It had pitch-black surface with the protein and oil contents being 6.8% and 20% higher than that of common rice, respectively. It had 15 kinds of amino acids and many kinds of vitamins. It was praised as" Black pearl" and "The king of the world riee".DongnianThe other names for Dongnian were "Yellow rice" and "Oil rice". It was grown in E City and Huangmei County,Hubei Province. It was characterized by its long-slim shape, milky yellow in color, oily, solid, and sticky quality, fragrant smell, and easiness for digestion.Guizhou black pearl rice     

烤烟新品种湘烟1号的选育及特征特性

烤烟新品种湘烟1号是用G80作母本，G140作父本杂交，经系谱选择育成，2000年3月通过湖南省农作物品种审定委员会审定。该品种农艺性状稳定，植株塔型，叶形长椭圆形，大田生育期110d左右。经济性状优于或相当于K326。烟叶分层落黄好，易烘烤。初烤原烟多为橘黄，金黄，油分多，光泽强，结构疏松，厚薄适中，主要化学成分含量适宜，比例协调，卷烟评吸质量档次中偏上。抗青枯病，中抗黑胫病和CMV。抗旱耐涝。湘烟1号具有优质、稳产、抗逆性强、适应性广和易烘烤等特点。     

Immobilization of TiO2 nanoparticles on PET fabric modified with silane coupling agent by low temperature hydrothermal method

PET fabric was first modified with silane coupling agent KH-560, and then was loaded with a layer of nano-scaled TiO₂ particles using tetrabutyl titanate as precursor by low temperature hydrothermal method, followed by dyeing with Disperse Blue 56. The morphology, crystalline phase, chemical modification, thermal stability and optical property of PET fiber before and after treatments were studied by scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric and diffuse reflectance spectrum techniques. The properties of tensile, air permeability, luster, ultraviolet (UV) protection, photocatalytic activity, K/S value and color fastness were also measured. It was found that compared with the TiO₂-coated fabric without modification with KH-560, the loading of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the surface of the TiO₂-coated fabric modified with KH-560 was obviously improved. The pure anatase TiO₂ nanoparticle was grafted onto the fiber surface. The onset decomposition temperature increased. The absorbing capability to ultraviolet radiation was enhanced. The properties of tensile, air permeability, luster, K/S value and color fastness changed slightly. The UV protection ability and photodegradation of methyl orange under UV illumination were enhanced to some extent.     

Application of silver nanoparticles as an antibacterial mordant in wool natural dyeing: Synthesis,antibacterial activity,and color characteristics

Madder is a natural colorant which is commonly applied with metal salts as a mordant to improve its affinity to fibers and color fastness. Madder produces an insoluble complex or lake in the presence of metal ions on mordanted fabric. In this study, wool fabric was pretreated with AgNPs (silver nanoparticles) as a mordant, then dyed with madder. The wool fabric samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and their colorimetric characteristics were evaluated. The formation of spherical silver nanoparticle was confirmed using UV-Visible spectroscopy, SEM images, and elemental analysis. The average size of synthesized silver nanoparticles on the surface of wool fibers is around 73 nm. The dyed wool samples were pretreated with different concentration of Ag⁺ ions or AgNPs, which showed higher color strength value compared to untreated dyed wool fabric. This pretreatment also presented good antibacterial activity.     

基于图像特征的花生贮藏时间识别方法研究

贮藏时间对花生的品质存在影响,这种影响和表皮的色泽变化存在相关性。为了利用视觉技术快速检测花生贮藏时间,进行了不同包装方式下的花生常温贮藏试验,研究了花生表皮颜色、光泽随贮藏时间的变化规律。结果表明：不同包装的花生其颜色、光泽反映出相同的变化规律。最后,以室温贮藏、薄膜包装花生为例,利用马氏距离判别准则建立了H、S、V...     

Short-term evaluation of oxygen transfer from rice (Oryza sativa) to mixed planted drought-adapted upland crops under hydroponic culture

Mixed cropping is a cultivation method widely practiced in tropical regions. The newly developed close mixed planting technique mitigates the flood stress of drought-adapted upland cereal species by co-growing rice (Oryza sativa) plants under field flood conditions. We tested the hypothesis that O₂ was transferred from rice to upland crops using the model system of hydroponic culture. To confirm the hypothesis, the phenomena of O₂ absorption and release by plants were evaluated in a water culture condition without soil. Experiments were conducted in a climate chamber to estimate the amount of O₂ released from the roots of rice and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) under both O₂-rich (20.0 ± .0% conc. in phase I) and O₂-free dark (.8 ± .0% conc. in phase II) conditions. The total O₂ change (between the two phases) in a single planting of rice and pearl millet was significantly higher than that of the mixed planting of rice and pearl millet, which indicated that O₂ was transferred from rice to pearl millet under a water culture condition. The result indicated that approximately 7 μM O₂ g fresh root weight^?1 h^?1 was transferred between the two plant species. O₂ transfer was confirmed between the two plant species in a mix cultured in water, implying its contribution to the phenomenon that improved the physiological status of drought-adapted upland crops under field flood conditions.     

Effect of fermentation on protein,fat, minerals and thiamine content of pearl millet

Natural as well as single, mixed and sequential pure cutlure (S. diastaticus, S. cerevisiae, L. brevis andL. fermentum) fermentations of pearl millet flour for 72h lowered pH and raised titratable acidity. The fermentation either decreased or did not change the protein content of pearl millet flour. Natural fermentation increased whereas pure culture fermentation decreased the fat content. Ash content did not change. Natural fermentation at 20°C and 25°C increased whereas at 30°C it decreased the thiamine content of the pearl millet flour. Yeast fermentation raised the level of thiamine two- to three-fold, while lactobacilli fermentation lowered it significantly.     

不同真空预冷终温对豆腐品质的影响

研究不同终温（4、6、8℃）时真空预冷对豆腐降温速率、失水率，及其在4℃环境下1W内的蛋白质、持水性、pH值、硬度和色泽等指标的影响。结果表明：终温变化对降温速率和质量损失率无显著的影响，然而，对豆腐的品质（蛋白质、持水性、pH值、硬度及色泽）影响显著。综合比较得知，在压力500Pa条件下预冷终温为4℃的样品品质最优，当贮藏温度为4℃时贮藏期不宜超过5d。     

Biological evaluation of pearl millet protein: effect of different treatments and storage

Whole grain flour of one variety (HC-4) of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum L. Leeke) after giving different treatments (defatting, butylated hydroxyanisole, ascorbic acid and thermal) was stored in earthen pots at prevailing room temperature (28–34°C) and relative humidity (70–80%) for 30 days. The flour samples were evaluated for protein quality using rats. Storage of flour for 30 days markedly reduced the protein quality. The values of protein efficiency ratio, true digestibility, biological value, net protein retention and net protein utilisation were significantly (P<0.05) higher in fresh and treated flour than untreated flour. Among treated flours, defatted flour showed best growth followed by butylated hydroxyanisole, thermal and ascorbic acid treated flour.     

Water supply from pearl millet by hydraulic lift can mitigate drought stress and improve productivity of rice by the close mixed planting

The authors have proposed the close mixed planting technique using mixed seedlings of two different crop species that results in close tangling of their root systems. Especially, the combination of drought-adaptive upland crops (e.g. pearl millet or sorghum) and flood-adaptive lowland crop of rice would be beneficial to overcome the drought and flood conditions and to reduce the risks of crop failure. In our previous studies, we found that upland crop yield losses by flood stress was mitigated by mix-cropped rice, owing to the oxygen gas released from the rice roots into the aqueous rhizosphere. In the present study, we conducted two experiments to assess whether mixed cropping a drought-resistant cereal, pearl millet, would improve the performance of co-growing drought-susceptible crop, rice under drought conditions. In the field experiment, some grains were obtained from the rice plants mix-cropped with pearl millet under drought condition. However, no rice matured in the single cropping system. In the model experiment using deuterium analysis, it was confirmed that water absorbed by pearl millet roots from deep soil layer was utilized by rice, suggesting that mix-cropped rice could withstand drought stress and complete grain filling using water released into the upper soil layer by hydraulic lift.     

Determinants of ruminant nutritional quality of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] stover: I. Effects of management alternatives on stover quality and productivity

The paper investigates management and cultivar type effects on pearl millet stover yield and fodder quality. Sixteen pearl millet cultivars available to farmers in India were selected to represent three cultivar types: (1) traditional landrace germplasm from the arid/semi-arid millet production zones, (2) improved dual-purpose (grain and stover) open-pollinated varieties incorporating differing amounts of traditional landrace germplasm and (3) commercial, grain-type F1 hybrids, bred for use in the arid/semi-arid zone. The cultivars were grown for 2 years (2000 and 2001) at high fertility (HF: 65 kg N ha⁻¹ and 18 kg P ha⁻¹) and low fertility (LF: 21 kg N ha⁻¹ and 9 kg P ha⁻¹). Within each fertility level high (HP) and low (LP) plant population densities were established by varying sowing rate and then thinning to the target populations (HP: 11 plants m⁻² and LP: 5 plants m⁻²). Stover fodder quality traits (nitrogen concentration, sugar content, in vitro digestibility and metabolizable energy content) were analyzed using a combination of conventional laboratory analysis and near infrared spectroscopy. In general, fertility level and cultivar type had strong effects on grain and stover yields, and on a range of stover nutritional quality traits, but with significant year interactions. In contrast, the effect of population density on these variables was largely insignificant. Higher fertilizer application significantly increased grain and stover yields and stover nitrogen concentration, in vitro digestibility and metabolizable energy content. As a result, fertilization resulted in significant increases in the yields of both digestible and metabolizable stover. Landrace cultivars as a group produced higher quality fodder than modern hybrids, but at a significant cost in grain yield. Dual-purpose, open-pollinated cultivars were generally intermediate between the landraces and hybrids, in terms of both stover quality and grain yield, but produced the highest yields of both digestible and metabolizable stover. The paper discusses the implications of these findings for Indian pearl millet farmers with various resource levels and farming objectives.     

Nutritional quality of pearl millet flour and bread

Market samples of pearl millet flour and bread from Saudi Arabia were analysed for chemical composition and nutritional quality. Pearl millet flour contained, on a dry weight basis, 17.4% protein, 6.3% fat, 2.8% fiber and 2.2% ash. Lysine was the most limiting essential amino acid with a chemical score of 53 (FAO/WHO, 1973). Linoleic acid (44.8%), oleic acid (23.2%) and palmitic acid (22.3%) were the dominant fatty acids in millet oil followed by stearic acid (4.0%) and linolenic acid (2.9%). The invitro protein digestibility (IVPD) of millet flour was 75.6% and the calculated protein efficiency ratio (C-PER) was 1.38 in comparison to ANRC casein values of 90% and 2.50, respectively. Baking at 300°C for 15 min had only little effect on the proximate and fatty acid composition of the bread but decreased the arginine, cystine and lysine contents by 31.3%, 15.8% and 13.8%, respectively. The IVPD was not affected but the C-PER decreased by 18% on baking.     

基于FTIR和UV-Vis光谱表征蒸汽介质高温热改性对橡胶木颜色的影响

以水蒸汽作为保护气,将橡胶木分别置于155℃处理2、6 h,185℃处理2、6 h,215℃处理2 h,测定了热改性后的橡胶木颜色,并通过紫外-可见光谱(UV-Vis)和傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)对木材热改性前后的化学结构进行了表征。结果表明,高温热改性处理使橡胶木的颜色从浅黄白色变为橙色然后转向深棕褐色,随着处理程度加深,明度值L*持续降低。热改性程度较浅时色饱和度C*略有增加,木材颜色趋于鲜艳,而随着处理程度加深色饱和度C*大幅降低,颜色趋于黯淡。木材颜色变化的总色差ΔE*可反映热改性的程度,改性处理越剧烈,总色差ΔE*越大,处理温度比处理时间对木材颜色变化的影响更为显著。UV-Vis光谱显示,热改性材在350～550nm波段的吸收显著增强,说明有大量发色基团和助色基团生成。结合FTIR光谱,可以推测热改性过程木质素的相对含量升高,紫丁香基团上的甲氧基脱落,木素上苯环氧键的含量稳步降低,从侧面印证可能发生了生成醌的反应。同时,FTIR光谱中有迹象显示可能在155℃处理2 h时半纤维素的乙酰基就开始大量脱落。     

花生感官品质研究

从山东省花生研究所搜集、保存的国内外花生种质资源中随机抽取265份，并对265份花生品种的感官品质米型、米色以及口味进行量化评分。结果表明，栽培花生五大类型间米色、米型、口味的表现差异大，多粒型花生的口味优均达到一级水平；普通型花生的米型较优，与另外四种类型花生品种的米型相比平均值最高；龙生型花生品种米色、米型和口味最差；中间型花生品种米色、米型和口味变异范围比较大，这与其系统来源有相当大关系。     

Influence of particle size and blend composition on quality of wheat semolina-pearl millet pasta

Effect of particle size and blend composition (wheat semolina: pearl millet flour) on quality of pasta were investigated in this study. Initially, the pasta was prepared from 100% pearl millet flour of different particle sizes (241–780 μm). Observation indicated that it was not possible to make pasta from 100% pearl millet flour as these disintegrated after cooking. Particle sizes of pearl millet flour showed significant effect on nutritional and cooking quality of pearl millet pasta. Pasta from pearl millet flour of particle size 425 μm had least cooking loss, high protein, iron and zinc contents. Further, with increase in the level of pearl millet flour in the blend composition, protein, ash and cooking loss of pasta increased whereas hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, gumminess and chewiness showed decreasing trend. Blend composition (wheat semolina: pearl millet flour) in the ratio of 70:30 was found to be satisfactory for making pasta with desirable quality characteristics like cooking loss (<8%), protein content (>10%), ash content (<0.7%), colour and texture. However, with the objective of maximum incorporation of pearl millet flour in the final product, a blend composition of 50:50 could be used to make pasta with acceptable quality.     

Image analysis of the luster of fabrics with modified cross-section fibers

We have investigated the luster of modified cross-sectional fiber fabrics as one of the essential quality estimates for clothing development. We have confirmed an objective evaluation method, and have determined the experimental luster characteristics of modified cross-section fibers. The cross-section of the fibers in a fabric affects the appearance of a textile. We used the image analysis method to investigate the luster to determine the critical factors influencing the appearance of modified cross-section fiber fabrics. For similarly structured textiles in a component fabric, clear differences were observed in the fabric weave, density, percentage, and total area of blobs, which is image region. Color played a decisive role in the luster of the textiles, and luster was not significantly influenced by the modified cross-section fabric weave. In addition, the degree of luster did not increase in the order plain to twill to satin for modified cross-sectional fiber fabrics. All the split-type microfibers exhibited higher numerical luster values (percentage of pixels, and number and total area of blobs) than sea-island microfibers did. The degree of luster of the modified cross-sectional fiber fabrics was not high at specular reflection angles.     

计算机图像识别鉴定油菜种子颜色

为了更加方便准确全面地评价油菜种子籽粒颜色,研究探索了种子颜色计算机识别技术鉴定法。采用 数码照相机采集油菜种子的原始图像,根据曝光时间计算矫正系数,用Abode Photoshop CS对图像进行三原色识 别。随机提取20粒种子的RGB值,加权平均后得到RGB平均值,再将RGB平均值转化为HSB系统,获得色相 (Hue) 、亮度(Brightness)和饱和度( Saturation) ,并对种子颜色进行评价。28个不同颜色的油菜种子测定结果表 明, HSB各因素与颜色等级(CI)成极显著正相关。以H和B值对不同类别的黄籽油菜进行分类,可以明显地将肉 眼无法判别差异的纯黄籽区分出来。与肉眼鉴定的颜色等级相比,国际颜色标准RGB、HSB中的各因素均成极显 著相关关系,且精度大大提高,较为全面地反映了籽粒颜色的色相(颜色种类) 、亮度和色彩强度(饱和度)的全面 指标。