Effects of pulsed electric field on the viscoelastic properties of potato tissue

We have investigated whether transient permeabilization caused by the application of pulsed electric field would give rise to transient changes in the potato tissue viscoelastic properties. Potato tissue was subjected to nominal field strengths (E) ranging from 30 to 500 V/cm, with a single rectangular pulse of 10−5, 10−4, or 10−3 s. The changes on the viscoelastic properties of potato tissue during pulsed electric fields (PEF) were monitored through small amplitude oscillatory dynamic rheological measurements. The elastic (G′) and viscous moduli (G″) were measured every 30 s after the delivery of the pulse and the loss tangent change (tan-δ) was calculated. The results were correlated with measurements of changes on electrical resistance during the delivery of the pulse. Results show a drastic increase of tan-δ in the first 30 s after the application of the pulse, followed by a decrease 1 min after pulsation. This response is strongly influenced by pulsing conditions and is independent of the total permeabilization achieved by the pulse. Our results, supported by similar measurements on osmotically dehydrated control samples, clearly show that PEF causes a rapid change of the viscoelastic properties of the tissue that could be attributed to a partial loss in turgor pressure. This would be an expected consequence of electroporation. The recovery of tan-δ to values similar to those before pulsation strongly suggests recovery of cell membrane properties and turgor, pointing at reversible permeabilization of the cells. A slight increase of stiffness traduced by a negative change of tan-δ after application of certain PEF conditions may also give an indication of events occurring on cell wall structure due to stress responses. This study set the basis for further investigations on the complex cell stress physiology involving both cell membrane functional properties and cell wall structure that would influence tissue physical properties upon PEF application.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Properties of natural reinforced earth-bases composites: advantages and drawbacks with synthetic reinforcemen

The increase of awareness of the need to improve the sustainability of the construction industry and the concurrent development of "Green Technologies" has led to the raise of bio-composite materials with natural reinforcements for building applications. This process has involved the revival of the interest in the use of natural reinforced earth materials. Of these, the earthy materials with natural or synthetic reinforcements belong to a field that hasn’t been very much developed beyond traditional or emergency applications in architecture. The most determining aspect to develop products and systems based on reinforced earth based composites is the huge diversity on its physical and mechanical properties. Composites properties depend on diverse variables, among which are those concerning the type of soil and ground grain, type of reinforcement fibers (natural or synthetic), natural conditions in which were obtained, processing methods and characteristics of the possible matrices used as stabilizers. This paper aims for a comprehensive review of literature of the available natural or synthetic reinforced earth based composites. General characteristics of the mainly used reinforcement agents depending on its origin, type, composition, structure, chemical composition and mechanical properties of the studied material (animal hair, jute, sisal, coir, flax, hemp, pineapple fiber, bamboo, rice husk, oil palm, etc). Moreover, different processing methods to improve physical and chemical characteristics, together with processing systems and factors affecting the production and characteristics of these composites will be considered (moisture content, type of reinforcement, ratios, distribution, coupling agent, etc.). The present review is intended to update the overview the research of these kind products as well as to outline the main objectives and issues addressed in these current lines of research

Chemical composition of PM10 at a rural site in the western Mediterranean and its relationship with the oxidative potential

A comprehensive chemical characterization (water-soluble ions, organic and elemental carbon, water- and methanol-soluble organic carbon, levoglucosan, and major and trace metals) of PM10 samples collected in a rural area located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula was performed. Additionally, the oxidative potential of the samples, used as an indicator of aerosol toxicity, was determined by the ascorbic acid (OPAA) and dithiothreitol (OPDTT) assays. The average concentration of PM10 during the study period, spanning from late winter to early spring, was 20.2 ± 10.8 μg m 3. Nitrate, carbonate and calcium (accounting for 20% of the average PM10 mass concentration) and organic matter (with a contribution of 28%) were the main chemical components of PM10. Average concentrations of traffic tracers such as elemental carbon, copper and zinc (0.31 μg m 3, 3 ng m 3, and 9 ng m 3, respectively) were low compared with those obtained at an urban site in the same region, due to the almost total absence of traffic in the surrounding of the sampling site. Regarding levoglucosan and K+, which can be considered as tracers of biomass burning, their concentrations (0.12 μg m 3 and 55 ng m 3, respectively) were in the lower range of values reported for other rural areas in Europe, suggesting a moderate contribution form this source to PM10 levels. The results of the Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that volume-normalised OPAA and OPDTT levels (average values of 0.11 and 0.32 nmol min 1 m 3, respectively) were sensitive to different PM10 chemical components. Whereas OPAA was not strongly correlated with any of the species measured, good correlation coefficients of OPDTT with water-soluble organic carbon (r = 0.81) and K+ (r = 0.73) were obtained, which points to biomass burning as an important driver of the DTT activity

Exploring metabolic responses of potato tissue induced by electric pulses

In this study, we investigated the metabolic responses of potato tissue induced by pulsed electric field (PEF). Potato tissue was subjected to field strengths ranging from 30 to 500 V/cm, with a single rectangular pulse of 10 μs, 100 μs, or 1 ms. Metabolic responses were monitored using isothermal calorimetry, changes on electrical resistance during the delivery of the pulse, as well as impedance measurements. Our results show that the metabolic response involves oxygen consuming pathways as well as other unidentified events that are shown to be insensitive to metabolic inhibitors such as KCN and sodium azide. The metabolic response is strongly dependent on pulsing conditions and is independent of the total permeabilization achieved by the pulse. Evidence shows that calorimetry is a simple and powerful method for exploring conditions for metabolic stimulation, providing information on metabolic responses that can not be obtained from electrical measurements. This study set the basis for further investigations on defense-related consequences of PEF-induced stress.Sparbanksstiftelsen Färs & Frosta (Sweden).Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT).Lund University (Sweden).Department of Cell and Organism Biology; Department of Plant Biochemistry

Desarrollo de interfaz web para monitoreo de métricas e indicadores Exel-Pitss

ITESO, A.C

The Poincaré problem, algebraic integrability and dicritical divisors

We solve the Poincaré problem for plane foliations with only one dicritical divisor. Moreover, in this case, we give a simple algorithm that decides whether a foliation has a rational first integral and computes it in the affirmative case. We also provide an algorithm to compute a rational first integral of prefixed genus g≠1 of any type of plane foliation F. When the number of dicritical divisors dic(F) is larger than 2, this algorithm depends on suitable families of invariant curves. When dic(F)=2, it proves that the degree of the rational first integral can be bounded only in terms of g , the degree of F and the local analytic type of the dicritical singularities of F.Supported by the Spain Ministry of Education MTM2012-36917-C03-03 and Univ. Jaume I P1-1B2012-04. The authors would like to thank the anonymous referee for his/her careful reading of the manuscript and for constructive suggestions that have improved it.Galindo Pastor, C.; Monserrat Delpalillo, FJ. (2014). The Poincaré problem, algebraic integrability and dicritical divisors. Journal of Differential Equations. 256(11):3614-3633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jde.2014.02.015S361436332561

Degradation of buried ice and permafrost in the Veleta cirque (Sierra Nevada, Spain) from 2006 to 2013 as a response to recent climate trends

The Veleta cirque is located at the foot of the Veleta peak, one of the highest summits of the Sierra Nevada National Park (southern Spain). This cirque was the source of a glacier valley during the Quaternary cold periods. During the Little Ice Age it sheltered a small glacier, the most southerly in Europe, about which we have possessed written records since the 17th century. This glacier still had ice residues until the mid-20th century. This ice is no longer visible, but a residue persists along with discontinuous permafrost trapped under strata of rock blocks that make up an incipient rock glacier. From 2006 to 2013, this rock glacier was monitored by measurement of the temperature of the active layer, the degree of snow cover on the ground, movements of the body of the rock glacier and geophysical prospection inside it. The results show that the relict ice and trapped permafrost have been steadily declining. The processes that explain this degradation occur in chain, starting from the external radiation that affects the ground in summer, which is when the temperatures are higher. In effect, when this radiation steadily melts the snow on the ground, the thermal expansive wave advances into the heart of the active layer, reaching the ceiling of the frozen mass, which it then degrades and melts. In this entire linked process, the circulation of meltwaters fulfils a highly significant function, as they act as heat transmitters. The complementary nature of these processes explains the subsidence and continuous changes in the entire clastic pack and the melting of the frozen ceiling on which it rests. This happens in summer in just a few weeks. All these events, in particular the geomorphological ones, take place on the Sierra Nevada peaks within certain climate conditions that are at present unfavourable to the maintenance of snow on the ground in summer. These conditions could be related to recent variations in the climate, starting in the mid-19th century and most markedly since the second half of the 20th century. The work and results highlight the climate sensitivity of the peaks of the Sierra Nevada to the effect of climate change and its impact on the dynamics of ecosystems, which is a benchmark for evaluating the current evolution of landscapes of Mediterranean high mountains.We are grateful to the research projects 018/2007 of the Autonomous Organisation of National Parks and CSO2012-30681 from the Ministry of Economy and Competition

Hacia la construcción de la plataforma integrada de información para el sector salud de México

Objetivo. Estandarizar técnica, funcional y operativamente los principales sistemas de información en salud de la Subsecretaria de Promoción y Prevención de la Salud de México (SPPS) de la Secretaría de Salud Federal (SSA). Metodología. Se realizó el diagnóstico de los sistemas de información de la SPPS y se priorizaron los hallazgos con base en los requerimientos y necesidades, para llevar a cabo las acciones de estandarización, mantenimiento y actualización. Resultados. Se evaluaron y realizaron mejoras a nueve sistemas de información, mismos que se encuentran operando de manera regular o en fase pre-operativa para el apoyo del monitoreo de programas preventivos.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Hacia la construcción de la plataforma integrada de información para el sector salud de México

Objetivo. Estandarizar técnica, funcional y operativamente los principales sistemas de información en salud de la Subsecretaria de Promoción y Prevención de la Salud de México (SPPS) de la Secretaría de Salud Federal (SSA). Metodología. Se realizó el diagnóstico de los sistemas de información de la SPPS y se priorizaron los hallazgos con base en los requerimientos y necesidades, para llevar a cabo las acciones de estandarización, mantenimiento y actualización. Resultados. Se evaluaron y realizaron mejoras a nueve sistemas de información, mismos que se encuentran operando de manera regular o en fase pre-operativa para el apoyo del monitoreo de programas preventivos.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Hacia la construcción de la plataforma integrada de información para el sector salud de México

Objetivo. Estandarizar técnica, funcional y operativamente los principales sistemas de información en salud de la Subsecretaria de Promoción y Prevención de la Salud de México (SPPS) de la Secretaría de Salud Federal (SSA). Metodología. Se realizó el diagnóstico de los sistemas de información de la SPPS y se priorizaron los hallazgos con base en los requerimientos y necesidades, para llevar a cabo las acciones de estandarización, mantenimiento y actualización. Resultados. Se evaluaron y realizaron mejoras a nueve sistemas de información, mismos que se encuentran operando de manera regular o en fase pre-operativa para el apoyo del monitoreo de programas preventivos.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ