Convolutional Neural Networks for Olive Oil Classification

The analysis of the quality of olive oil is a task that is hav-ing a lot of impact nowadays due to the large frauds that have been observed in the olive oil market. To solve this problem we have trained a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to classify 701 images obtained using GC-IMS methodology (gas chromatography coupled to ion mobil-ity spectrometry). The aim of this study is to show that Deep Learn-ing techniques can be a great alternative to traditional oil classification methods based on the subjectivity of the standardized sensory analy-sis according to the panel test method, and also to novel techniques provided by the chemical field, such as chemometric markers. This tech-nique is quite expensive since the markers are manually extracted by an expert. The analyzed data includes instances belonging to two different crops, the first covers the years 2014–2015 and the second 2015–2016. Both har-vests have instances classified in the three categories of existing oil, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), virgin olive oil (VOO) and lampante olive oil (LOO). The aim of this study is to demonstrate that Deep Learning techniques in combination with chemical techniques are a good alterna-tive to the panel test method, implying even better accuracy than results obtained in previous wor

Reorganization energy from charge transport measurements in a monolithically−-integrated molecular device

Intermolecular charge transfer reactions are key processes in physical chemistry. The electron-transfer rates depend on a few system's parameters, such as temperature, electromagnetic field, distance between adsorbates and, especially, the molecular reorganization energy. This microscopic greatness is the energetic cost to rearrange each single$-$molecule and its surrounding environment when a charge is transferred. Reorganization energies are measured by electrochemistry and spectroscopy techniques as well as at the single-molecule limit using atomic force microscopy approaches, but not from temperature$-$dependent charge transport measurements nor in a monolithically$-$integrated molecular device. Nowadays self$-$rolling nanomembrane (rNM) devices, with strain$-$engineered mechanical properties, on$-$a$-$chip monolithic integration, and operable in distinct environments, overcome those challenges. Here, we investigate the charge transfer reactions occurring within a ca. 6 nm thick copper$-$phthalocyanine (CuPc) film employed as electrode-spacer in a monolithically integrated nanocapacitor. Employing the rNM technology allows us to measure the molecules' charge$-$transport dependence on temperature for different electric fields. Thereby, the CuPc reorganization energy is determined as (930 $\pm$ 40) meV, whereas density functional theory (DFT) calculations support our findings with the atomistic picture of the CuPc charge transfer reaction. Our approach presents a consistent route towards electron transfer reaction characterization using current$-$voltage spectroscopy and provides insight into the role of the molecular reorganization energy when it comes to electrochemical nanodevices.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figure

Proteomic and functional analysis identifies galectin-1 as a novel regulatory component of the cytotoxic granule machinery

Secretory granules released by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are powerful weapons against intracellular microbes and tumor cells. Despite significant progress, there is still limited information on the molecular mechanisms implicated in target-driven degranulation, effector cell survival and composition and structure of the lytic granules. Here, using a proteomic approach we identified a panel of putative cytotoxic granule proteins, including some already known granule constituents and novel proteins that contribute to regulate the CTL lytic machinery. Particularly, we identified galectin-1 (Gal1), an endogenous immune regulatory lectin, as an integral component of the secretory granule machinery and unveil the unexpected function of this lectin in regulating CTL killing activity. Mechanistic studies revealed the ability of Gal1 to control the non-secretory lytic pathway by influencing Fas–Fas ligand interactions. This study offers new insights on the composition of the cytotoxic granule machinery, highlighting the dynamic cross talk between secretory and non-secretory pathways in controlling CTL lytic function

Rhodolith Beds Are Major CaCO3 Bio-Factories in the Tropical South West Atlantic

Rhodoliths are nodules of non-geniculate coralline algae that occur in shallow waters (<150 m depth) subjected to episodic disturbance. Rhodolith beds stand with kelp beds, seagrass meadows, and coralline algal reefs as one of the world's four largest macrophyte-dominated benthic communities. Geographic distribution of rhodolith beds is discontinuous, with large concentrations off Japan, Australia and the Gulf of California, as well as in the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, eastern Caribbean and Brazil. Although there are major gaps in terms of seabed habitat mapping, the largest rhodolith beds are purported to occur off Brazil, where these communities are recorded across a wide latitudinal range (2°N - 27°S). To quantify their extent, we carried out an inter-reefal seabed habitat survey on the Abrolhos Shelf (16°50′ - 19°45′S) off eastern Brazil, and confirmed the most expansive and contiguous rhodolith bed in the world, covering about 20,900 km2. Distribution, extent, composition and structure of this bed were assessed with side scan sonar, remotely operated vehicles, and SCUBA. The mean rate of CaCO3 production was estimated from in situ growth assays at 1.07 kg m−2 yr−1, with a total production rate of 0.025 Gt yr−1, comparable to those of the world's largest biogenic CaCO3 deposits. These gigantic rhodolith beds, of areal extent equivalent to the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, are a critical, yet poorly understood component of the tropical South Atlantic Ocean. Based on the relatively high vulnerability of coralline algae to ocean acidification, these beds are likely to experience a profound restructuring in the coming decades

Rhodolith bed structure along a depth gradient on the northern coast of bahia state, brazil

The aim of this study was to determine the structure of a rhodolith bed along a depth gradient of 5 to 25 m in the shelf in front of Salvador City, a region of northeastern Brazil. The dimensions, morphology and coralline algae composition of the rhodoliths were analyzed, as well as the vitality, density, and associated flora of the bed at three depths: 5, 15 and 25 m. Samples were obtained by SCUBA divers in summer 2007. Five rhodolith-forming taxa were identified: Sporolithon episporum, Lithothamnion brasiliense, Lithothamnion superpositum, Mesophyllum erubescens, and Lithophyllum sp. The encrusting growth form and the spherical shape were predominant at all depths. Rhodolith dimensions and vitality decreased and the density increased from the shallow to the deepest zones. Fifty-six macroalgal species were found as rhodolith-associated flora. The shallower depth presented higher values for macroalgal biomass and number of species. These results associated with other recent rhodolith bed descriptions indicate that the pattern of Brazilian rhodolith bed structure along depth gradients may be related to a combination of the extent and slope of the continental shelf.O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a estrutura de um banco de rodolitos ao longo de um gradiente de profundidade na plataforma em frente à cidade de Salvador, nordeste brasileiro. Foram analisadas as dimensões, a forma e composição das algas calcárias dos rodolitos, bem como a vitalidade, densidade e flora associada ao banco, em três profundidades: 5, 15 e 25 m. As amostras foram obtidas por meio de mergulho autônomo no verão de 2007. Cinco espécies de algas calcárias formadoras de rodolito foram identificadas: Sporolithon episporum, Lithothamnion brasiliense, Lithothamnion superpositum, Mesophyllum erubescens e Lithophyllum sp. A forma de crescimento incrustante e a forma esférica foram predominantes em todas as profundidades. Houve uma redução da dimensão e vitalidade dos rodolitos e um aumento da densidade com a profundidade. Cinqüenta e seis espécies de macroalgas foram encontradas como flora associada aos rodolitos. A profundidade mais rasa apresentou os maiores valores de biomassa e número de espécies de macroalgas. Esses resultados, associados com outras descrições recentes de bancos de rodolitos, indicam que o padrão estrutural desses bancos no Brasil, ao longo de gradientes de profundidade, pode estar relacionado a uma combinação da extensão e da inclinação da plataforma continental

Brazilian coral reefs in a period of global change: A synthesis

Abstract Brazilian coral reefs form structures significantly different from the well-known reef models, as follows: (i) they have a growth form of mushroom-shaped coral pinnacles called "chapeirões", (ii) they are built by a low diversity coral fauna rich in endemic species, most of them relic forms dating back to the Tertiary, and (iii) the nearshore bank reefs are surrounded by siliciclastic sediments. The reefs are distributed in the following four major sectors along the Brazilian coast: the northern, the northeastern and the eastern regions, and the oceanic islands, but certain isolated coral species can be found in warmer waters in embayments of the southern region. There are different types of bank reefs, fringing reefs, isolated "chapeirões" and an atoll present along the Brazilian coast. Corals, milleporids and coralline algae build the rigid frame of the reefs. The areas in which the major coral reefs occur correspond to regions in which nearby urban centers are experiencing accelerated growth, and tourism development is rapidly increasing. The major human effects on the reef ecosystem are mostly associated with the increased sedimentation due to the removal of the Atlantic rainforest and the discharge of industrial and urban effluents. The effects of the warming of oceanic waters that had previously affected several reef areas with high intensity coral bleaching had not shown, by the time of the 2010 event, any episodes of mass coral mortality on Brazilian reefs

Processing and mechanical properties evaluation of glass fiber-reinforced PTFE laminates

A specific manufacturing process to obtain continuous glass fiber-reinforced RIFE laminates was studied and some of their mechanical properties were evaluated. Young's modulus and maximum strength were measured by three-point bending test and tensile test using the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique. Adhesion tests, thermal analysis and microscopy were used to evaluate the fiber-matrix adhesion, which is very dependent on the sintering time. The composite material obtained had a Young's modulus of 14.2 GPa and ultimate strength of 165 MPa, which corresponds to approximately 24 times the modulus and six times the ultimate strength of pure RIFE. These results show that the RIFE composite, manufactured under specific conditions, has great potential to provide structural parts with a performance suitable for application in structural components. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.CNPq (Brazilian Government Agency)Brazilian government agency CNP

Sensor array made with nanostructured films to detect a phenothiazine compound

The detection of trace amounts of phenothiazines with fast, direct methods is important for medical applications and the pharmaceutical industry. In this paper we explore the concept of an electronic tongue to detect methylene blue (MB), with a sensor array comprising 6 units. These units were a bare Pt electrode, and Pt electrodes coated with 1-layer LB films of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG), a 5-layer LB film of stearic acid, and 10 nm PVD films of bis benzimidazo perylene (AzoPTCD) and iron phthalocyanine (FePc). The electrical response obtained with impedance spectroscopy varied with the sensing unit, in spite of the small film thickness, thus indicating good cross-sensitivity. Upon treating the capacitance data at 1 kHz with Principal Component Analysis (PCA), the sensor array was capable of distinguishing MB solutions from ultrapure water down to 1 nM. This unprecedented high sensitivity was probably due to strong interactions between MB and DPPC and DPPG, as the sensing units of these phospholipids gave the most important contributions to the PCA plots. Such strong interaction was not manifested in the surface pressure-area isotherms of co-spread monolayers of MB and DPPC or DPPG, which emphasizes the high sensitivity of the electrical measurements in ultrathin films in contact with liquids, now widely exploited in electronic tongues.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Layer-by-Layer Technique as a New Approach to Produce Nanostructured Films Containing Phospholipids as Transducers in Sensing Applications

Phospholipids are widely used as mimetic systems to exploit interactions involving biological membranes and pharmacological drugs, In this work, the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique was used as a new approach to produce multilayered thin films containing biological phospholipids applied as transducers onto Pt interdigitated electrodes forming sensing units of an electronic tongue system. Low concentrations (nM level) of a phenothiazine compound were detected through impedance spectroscopy. Both negative 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-3-glycero-[phosphor-rac-(1-glycerol)] (DPPG) and zwitterionic i.-alpha-1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-3-glycero-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) phospholipids were used to produce the LbL films, whose molecular architecture was monitored combining spectroscopy and microscopy at micro and nanoscales. The sensor array was complemented by Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayers of DPPG and DPPC deposited onto Pt interdigitated electrodes as well. It was found that the distinct molecular architecture presented by both LbL, and LB films plays a key role on the sensitivity of the sensor array with the importance of the LbL films being demonstrated by principal component analysis (PCA).Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq