Application of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy in screening of fresh cassava (Manihot esculenta crantz) storage roots for provitamin A carotenoids

A developed Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) calibration equation was used for determining provitamin A carotenoids contents of different trials of fresh yellow root cassava genotypes using a total of 50 cassava genotypes scanned twice by NIRS from 400 nm to 2498 nm. The NIRS calibration equations were used to predict the β-cryptoxanthin, 13-cis β-carotene, trans β-carotene, 9-cis β -carotene, total β-carotene and total carotenoid concentrations of the samples. The predicted values for total carotenoids (TC-pred) ranged from 3.93 μg g–1 to 10.51 μg g–1 with mean of 7.07 ± 2.55 μg g–1 for International Collaborative Trials (ICT), 7.97–11.03 μg g–1 fresh weight with mean of 9.40 ± 0.76 μg g–1 for yellow root trial 8 (Multi-location Uniform Yield Trial) and 6.38–10.44 μg g–1 with mean of 8.74 ± 1.07 μg g–1 for yellow root trial 9 (Multilocation Advanced Yield Trial). Total carotenoids results using reference spectrophotometric method (TC-spec) ranged from 2.57 μg g–1 to 9.97 μg g–1 with mean of 5.66 ± 2.99 μg g–1 for ICT, 6.55–8.74 μg g–1 with mean of 7.74 ± 0.64 μg g–1 for yellow root trial 8 and 4.22–11.00 μg g–1 with mean of 7.57 ± 1.54 μg g–1 for yellow root trail 9. There is significant (P ≤ 0.001) positive correlation (r = 0.55) between TC-pred by NIRS and TC-spec. Also, significant (P ≤ 0.001) positive correlation (r = 0.52) exist between trans β-carotene predicted by NIRS and high-performance liquid chromatography reference. The developed NIRS calibration equations could be used to predict total carotenoids and trans β-carotene content of yellow root cassava and serve as rapid and cost-effective screening method for large cassava sample sets

Study of wavelength-shifting chemicals for use in large-scale water Cherenkov detectors

Cherenkov detectors employ various methods to maximize light collection at the photomultiplier tubes (PMTs). These generally involve the use of highly reflective materials lining the interior of the detector, reflective materials around the PMTs, or wavelength-shifting sheets around the PMTs. Recently, the use of water-soluble wavelength-shifters has been explored to increase the measurable light yield of Cherenkov radiation in water. These wave-shifting chemicals are capable of absorbing light in the ultravoilet and re-emitting the light in a range detectable by PMTs. Using a 250 L water Cherenkov detector, we have characterized the increase in light yield from three compounds in water: 4-Methylumbelliferone, Carbostyril-124, and Amino-G Salt. We report the gain in PMT response at a concentration of 1 ppm as: 1.88 $\pm$ 0.02 for 4-Methylumbelliferone, stable to within 0.5% over 50 days, 1.37 $\pm$ 0.03 for Carbostyril-124, and 1.20 $\pm$ 0.02 for Amino-G Salt. The response of 4-Methylumbelliferone was modeled, resulting in a simulated gain within 9% of the experimental gain at 1 ppm concentration. Finally, we report an increase in neutron detection performance of a large-scale (3.5 kL) gadolinium-doped water Cherenkov detector at a 4-Methylumbelliferone concentration of 1 ppm.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures, Submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods

Hőkezelési Döntéstámogató Rendszer bevezetése az ISD Dunaferrnél

Az acélok edzési technológiájának tervezésére numerikus szimulációs rendszer kifejlesztésére és bevezetésére került sor az ISD Dunaferrnél. A Hõkezelési Döntéstámogató Rendszer az edzett munkadarabok elvárt tulajdonságegyüttesének kialakításához szükséges hõkezelési paraméterek kiválasztásához nyújt segítséget. A rendszer alkalmazhatóságát egy esettanulmányon keresztül mutatjuk b

Utilization of NIRS and Minolta Chromameter in selection for increased carotenoids content in cassava roots. [SP10-03]

Significant progress has been made increasing carotenoids content in cassava roots. The information was used to test the usefulness of NIRs and the Minolta Chromameter in predicting carotenoids content (and other relevant traits). Quantification was made of fresh root tissue (not lyophilized). The dataset (2129 data points) was first cleaned of outlying or suspicious data points to develop reliable prediction equations. R2 values between NIRs prediction and actual measurements were 0.91 for total carotenoids content (TCC); 0.93 for total ?-carotene (TBC), and 0.95 for dry matter content, but is less efficient for cyanogenic potential (0,81). Standard error of cross validation (SECV) for TCC and TBC were (1.191 and 0.837, respectively) while the residual predictive deviations (RPD) were also acceptable (above 3.0). These results suggest that NIRs can be used to reliably predict different variables based on fresh root samples. The Minolta Chromameter can also be used for pre-selection as its R2 values were 0.58 for TCC and 0.64 for TBC. Relative concentration of different carotenoids and precursors did not suggest the existence of a major blockage in the metabolic pathway towards the synthesis of ?-carotene. Once phytoene is synthesized most to the different pigments in the metabolic pathway are found, as expected, in correlated proportions. (Résumé d'auteur