Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopic (SORS) Analysis of Wine Alcoholic Fermentation: A Preliminary Study

Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) is a non-invasive analytical technique that allows the analysis of samples through a container. This makes it an effective tool for studying food and beverage products, as it can measure the sample without being affected by the packaging or the container. In this study, a portable SORS equipment was used for the first time to analyse the alcoholic fermentation process of white wine. Different sample measurement arrangements were tested in order to determine the most effective method for monitoring the fermentation process and predicting key oenological parameters. The best results were obtained when the sample was directly measured through the glass container in which the fermentation was occurring. This allowed for the accurate monitoring of the process and the prediction of density and pH with a root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) of 0.0029 g·L−1 and 0.04, respectively, and R2 values of 0.993 and 0.961 for density and pH, respectively. Additionally, the sources of variability depending on the measurement arrangements were studied using ANOVA-Simultaneous Component Analysis (ASCA)

Area-charge inequality for black holes

The inequality between area and charge $A\geq 4\pi Q^2$ for dynamical black holes is proved. No symmetry assumption is made and charged matter fields are included. Extensions of this inequality are also proved for regions in the spacetime which are not necessarily black hole boundaries.Comment: 21 pages, 2 figure

Ammonia levels in different kinds of sampling sites in the central Iberian Peninsula

Ponencia presentada en:2nd Iberian Meeting on Aerosol Science and Technology (RICTA 2014) celebrado en Tarragona del 7 al 9 de julio de 2014.Ammonia is the Secondary Inorganic Aerosol (SIC) gaseous precursor which has been studied to a lesser extent in the Madrid Metropolitan Area up to date. A study conducted in the city of Madrid with the aim of characterizing levels of ammonia took place in 2011. These campaigns formed part of a larger study conducted in 6 Spanish cities. A time series of weekly integrated ammonia measurements available at an EMEP rural site (Campisábalos) has been used to obtain information on the ammonia rural background in the region. The results point to traffic and waste treatment plants as the main ammonia sources in Madrid. Relevant seasonal differences have not been observed in the Metropolitan Area. The explanation can be related to the fall in the rural background levels during July 2011, which might conceal urban summer emission increases observed in other cities

Geometric inequalities for axially symmetric black holes

A geometric inequality in General Relativity relates quantities that have both a physical interpretation and a geometrical definition. It is well known that the parameters that characterize the Kerr-Newman black hole satisfy several important geometric inequalities. Remarkably enough, some of these inequalities also hold for dynamical black holes. This kind of inequalities play an important role in the characterization of the gravitational collapse, they are closed related with the cosmic censorship conjecture. Axially symmetric black holes are the natural candidates to study these inequalities because the quasi-local angular momentum is well defined for them. We review recent results in this subject and we also describe the main ideas behind the proofs. Finally, a list of relevant open problem is presented.Comment: 65 pages, 5 figures. Review article, to appear in Class. Quantum Grav. as Topical Review. Improved presentation, minor corrections, references updat

A New Index to Detect Process Deviations Using IR Spectroscopy and Chemometrics Process Tools

Process analytical technologies (PATs) have transformed the beverage production management by providing real-time monitoring and control of critical process parameters through non-destructive measurements, such as those obtained with infrared (IR) spectroscopy and enabling process readjustment if necessary. New requirements in the analysis of beverages call for new methods, so in this article, we propose a method based on the construction of multivariate statistical process control (MSPC) charts from a new dissimilarity index (the evolving window dissimilarity index, EWDI) to monitor fermentation processes. The EWDI was applied to monitor wine alcoholic fermentation, the biochemical transformation of sugars into ethanol. Small-scale fermentations were carried out and analyzed using a portable mid-infrared spectrometer. In some of them, process deviations due to nitrogen deficiency or temperature changes were intentionally promoted to evaluate the performance of the EWDI. The MSPC charts build by using the fermentations carried out under normal operating conditions allowed identifying deviations of the fermentation in its early stages. Furthermore, the shape of the EWDI curve over time provides insights about the specific type of deviation occurring. These results show the potential of this new approach to improve the monitoring and control of key process stages in biochemical processes in the food industry, which allows maximizing quality and minimizing losses

Diffuse PM10emission factors associated with dust abatement technologies in the ceramic industry

In this paper, an analytical methodology is proposed for estimating diffuse dust emissions from bulk solids managing (storage, handling, and transport) activities in the ceramic industry. The methodology is based on analytical methods drawn from the AP-42, US Environmental Protection Agency reports and the Emission Estimation Technique (EET) Manual for Mining from Environment Australia. The analytical methods were evaluated by means of experimental campaigns in open and closed bulk solids storage and managing facilities in ceramic plants. Dust concentrations and meteorological variables were recorded in experimental field studies in order to implement the experimental models: a method based on Reverse Dispersion Modelling (RDM) was applied in open facilities, and the Roof Monitor Method (RMM) was used to estimate diffuse dust emissions in closed facilities. The proposed methodology was applied to 13 ceramic plants with different technological scenarios. The methodology enabled the diffuse PM10 emission factors associated with different dust abatement technologies to be determined. This methodology thus allows the Best Available Techniques (BATs) to be selected for reducing these emissions in ceramic and similar facilities.This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, through the National Plan for Scientific Research, Development, and Technological Innovation 2008–2011, by funding project CGL2009-14680-C02-0

The potential role of drug transporters and amikacin modifying enzymes in M. avium

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Mycobacterium avium (M. avium) complex bacteria cause opportunistic infections in humans. Treatment yields cure rates of 60% and consists of a macrolide, a rifamycin, and ethambutol, and in severe cases, amikacin. Mechanisms of antibiotic tolerance remain mostly unknown. Therefore, we studied the contribution of efflux and amikacin modification to antibiotic susceptibility. Methods: We characterised M. avium ABC transporters and studied their expression together with other transporters following exposure to clarithromycin, amikacin, ethambutol, and rifampicin. We determined the effect of combining the efflux pump inhibitors berberine, verapamil and CCCP (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone), to study the role of efflux on susceptibility. Finally, we studied the modification of amikacin by M. avium using metabolomic analysis. Results: Clustering shows conservation between M. avium and M. tuberculosis and transporters from most bacterial subfamilies (2–6, 7a/b, 10–12) were found. The largest number of transporter encoding genes was up-regulated after clarithromycin exposure, and the least following amikacin exposure. Only berberine increased the susceptibility to clarithromycin. Finally, because of the limited effect of amikacin on transporter expression, we studied amikacin modification and showed that M. avium, in contrast to M. abscessus, is not able to modify amikacin. Conclusion: We show that M. avium carries ABC transporters from all major families important for antibiotic efflux, including homologues shown to have affinity for drugs included in treatment. Efflux inhibition in M. avium can increase susceptibility, but this effect is efflux pump inhibitor– and antibiotic-specific. Finally, the lack of amikacin modifying activity in M. avium is important for its activity