Characterizing the tissue of apple air-dried and osmo-air-dried rings by X-CT and OCT and relationship with ring crispness and fruit maturity at harvest measured by TRS

Air-dried apple rings were prepared from ‘Golden Delicious’ apples selected at harvest as less mature and more mature according to the absorption coefficient measured at 670 nm by time-resolved reflectance spectroscopy (TRS), stored in air for 5 months, and subjected to air-drying with (OSMO) and without (noOSMO) osmodehydration pre-treatment (60% sucrose syrup). Selected rings were submitted to microstructural analysis by X-ray computed tomography (X-CT), to subsurface structure analysis by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to texture and sound emission analysis by bending–snapping test. Higher crispness index, higher number of sound events and higher average sound pressure level (SPL) characterized the OSMO rings. Total porosity was related to SPLav 60, pore fragmentation index to fracturability and specific surface area to the work required to snap the ring. A differentiation of the drying treatments, as well as of the products according to the TRS maturity class at harvest was obtained analyzing by principal component analysis (PCA) microstructure parameters and texture and acoustic parameters. The differences in mechanical and acoustic characteristics between OSMO and noOSMO rings were due to the different subsurface structure as found with OCT analysis

Prospective of Innovative Technologies for Quality Supervision and Classification of Roasted Coffee Beans

Color sorting is the major procedure employed for establish roast degree of coffee beans. However, color-based procedures have been proven to be ineffective, since coffee beans roasted to different degrees can present the same average readings in light reflectance measurements with significant quality variations. Besides to color, other major changes in beans are volume (swell), mass, form, bean pop and density. Eight samples of arabica coffee from Colombia and Guatemala have been roasted under slightly different conditions of time and temperature in order to obtain the same color classification. Sample analysis of data from nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry show differences between samples in T1 and T2 parameters at cellular and subcellular level, and image analysis carried out on X-ray μCT leading to microestruture images corroborate differences in porosity and fissures presence among them, proving the potentiality of these technological solutions for sensing the microstructure of coffee to provide tools to enhance the roasting process

Observation of damage initiation for trans-laminar fracture using in situ fast synchrotron x-ray radiography and ex situ x-ray computed tomography

Trans-laminar fracture is an important topic for engineering composites. In this study, trans-laminar fracture initiation in quasi-isotropic carbon/epoxy laminates made of non-crimp fabrics was examined using in situ fast synchrotron X-ray radiography and ex situ X-ray computed tomography. The maximum split lengths were measured by in situ radiography and were compared with the predicted values in a detailed FE model using cohesive elements. Ex situ computed tomography scans were also conducted to confirm that no fibre breakage occurs before the final load drop in the experiments. In situ and ex situ observations are complementary for the understanding of damage initiation

Development of biosensors for the detection of histamine for intestinal application

In recent health care is a growing need for bio- and chemosensors for the rapid and accurate detection of molecules. A biosensor uses a recognition element of biological origin. Immunosensors in particular are biosensors that use antibodies or immunoglobulines as their biological recognition element. Sensing systems based on biological recognition elements have some restrictions, limiting their use. Replacing the biological recognition element by a chemical receptor is therefore becoming of increasing interest. As opposed to the sensors containing biological recognition elements, biomimetic sensors, containing artificial receptors, are chemically and physically inert. Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) the specificity and affinity of biological receptors can be mimicked. In addition, a MIP-based sensor can measure in harsh environments. This is beneficial for the use of sensors in vivo, in bodily fluids or in the intestines, for example in research for the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The IBS is characterized by visceral hypersensitivity. The pathogenesis is poorly understood, but there is evidence that mast cells are involved in this process. Mast cells degranulate upon activation, and release histamine, tryptase and other compounds. The accessibility of the intestine makes it difficult to measure this intestinal mast cell activation in vivo. Therefore a biosensor for the detection of histamine and tryptase in vivo in the intestine is developed...

Development of biosensors for the detection of histamine for intestinal application

In recent health care is a growing need for bio- and chemosensors for the rapid and accurate detection of molecules. A biosensor uses a recognition element of biological origin. Immunosensors in particular are biosensors that use antibodies or immunoglobulines as their biological recognition element. Sensing systems based on biological recognition elements have some restrictions, limiting their use. Replacing the biological recognition element by a chemical receptor is therefore becoming of increasing interest. As opposed to the sensors containing biological recognition elements, biomimetic sensors, containing artificial receptors, are chemically and physically inert. Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) the specificity and affinity of biological receptors can be mimicked. In addition, a MIP-based sensor can measure in harsh environments. This is beneficial for the use of sensors in vivo, in bodily fluids or in the intestines, for example in research for the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The IBS is characterized by visceral hypersensitivity. The pathogenesis is poorly understood, but there is evidence that mast cells are involved in this process. Mast cells degranulate upon activation, and release histamine, tryptase and other compounds. The accessibility of the intestine makes it difficult to measure this intestinal mast cell activation in vivo. Therefore a biosensor for the detection of histamine and tryptase in vivo in the intestine is developed...