151 research outputs found
Variation of almond yield, biometry, α-tocopherol levels, and antioxidant properties with nitrogen fertilization
A two yearsâ experiment (2015â2016) was set in a factorial design in which the effect of two application forms of nitrogen (N) (soil and soil + foliar spray) in different doses (0, 25, 50, and 100 kg N ha-1) on almond (Prunus dulcis Mill. cv. âMasboveraâ) was evaluated. Kernel yield, biometric properties, phytochemicals, and antioxidant activities were assessed. The results showed that almond kernel yield increases with an increment in N rate doses and was positively correlated with kernel weight and thickness, and negatively with fruit weight. The levels of α-tocopherol and total polyphenol content were higher with lower N doses (25 and 50 kg N haâ1). The antioxidant activities were positively correlated with polyphenol content. Based on our results, excessive N rates over 50 kg/ha depreciate the levels of α-tocopherol, total polyphenols, and antioxidant bioactivities of kernels. Practical applications Almond is an important nut (dry) fruit that contains high levels of α-tocopherol, moderate levels of polyphenols, and high antioxidant activities, all responsible for their claimed health-promoting properties. Almond trees are known by their alternate behavior in which kernel yield and levels of phytochemicals and other compounds are highly variable between years. This article studies the usage of a sustainable nitrogen fertilization program toward a reduction of their alternate behavior, preserving and promoting their antioxidant properties and their levels of phytochemicals, particularly α-tocopherol and polyphenols. Our findings may provide a useful guide for adequate nitrogen fertilization program toward a better almond kernel qualityinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
QUBIC: The QU Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology
One of the major challenges of modern cosmology is the detection of B-mode
polarization anisotropies in the CMB. These originate from tensor fluctuations
of the metric produced during the inflationary phase. Their detection would
therefore constitute a major step towards understanding the primordial
Universe. The expected level of these anisotropies is however so small that it
requires a new generation of instruments with high sensitivity and extremely
good control of systematic effects. We propose the QUBIC instrument based on
the novel concept of bolometric interferometry, bringing together the
sensitivity advantages of bolometric detectors with the systematics effects
advantages of interferometry. Methods: The instrument will directly observe the
sky through an array of entry horns whose signals will be combined together
using an optical combiner. The whole set-up is located inside a cryostat.
Polarization modulation will be achieved using a rotating half-wave plate and
interference fringes will be imaged on two focal planes (separated by a
polarizing grid) tiled with bolometers. We show that QUBIC can be considered as
a synthetic imager, exactly similar to a usual imager but with a synthesized
beam formed by the array of entry horns. Scanning the sky provides an
additional modulation of the signal and improve the sky coverage shape. The
usual techniques of map-making and power spectrum estimation can then be
applied. We show that the sensitivity of such an instrument is comparable with
that of an imager with the same number of horns. We anticipate a low level of
beam-related systematics thanks to the fact that the synthesized beam is
determined by the location of the primary horns. Other systematics should be
under good control thanks to an autocalibration technique, specific to our
concept, that will permit the accurate determination of most of the systematics
parameters.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Astronomy and Astrophysic
Multimode horn antennas for far-infrared astronomy
Multi-mode horns combined with bolometric or incoherent detectors are finding application in astronomical receivers for which partially coherent operation can provide increased throughput and thus sensitivity. This is advantageous when observing faint sources, especially if diffraction limited resolution is not required, or if the horn beam is truncated by a cold stop in the optical train. We discuss how such horns can be simulated and present examples from receiver instrumentation on the Planck and SPICA space telescopes
QUBIC: The QU Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology
Context. One of the major challenges of modern cosmology is the detection of B-mode polarization anisotropies in the Cosmic
Microwave Background. These originate from tensor fluctuations of the metric produced during the inflationary phase. Their detection
would therefore constitute a major step towards understanding the primordial Universe. The expected level of these anisotropies is
however so small that it requires a new generation of instruments with high sensitivity and extremely good control of systematic
eects.
Aims. We propose the QUBIC instrument based on the novel concept of bolometric interferometry, bringing together the sensitivity
advantages of bolometric detectors with the systematics eects advantages of interferometry.
Methods. The instrument will directly observe the sky through an array of entry horns whose signals will be combined together
using an optical combiner. The whole set-up is located inside a cryostat. Polarization modulation will be achieved using a rotating
half-wave plate and the images of the interference fringes will be formed on two focal planes (separated by a polarizing grid) tiled
with bolometers.
Results.We show that QUBIC can be considered as a synthetic imager, exactly similar to a usual imager but with a synthesized beam
formed by the array of entry horns. Scanning the sky provides an additional modulation of the signal and improve the sky coverage
shape. The usual techniques of map-making and power spectrum estimation can then be applied. We show that the sensitivity of
such an instrument is comparable with that of an imager with the same number of horns. We anticipate a low level of beam-related
systematics thanks to the fact that the synthesized beam is determined by the location of the primary horns. Other systematics should
be under good control thanks to an autocalibration technique, specific to our concept, that will permit the accurate determination of
most of the systematics parameters
QUBIC: the Q&U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology
The primordial B-mode polarisation of the Cosmic Microwave Background is the imprints of the gravitational wave background generated by inflation. Observing the B-mode is up to now the most direct way to constrain the physics of the primordial Universe, especially inflation. To detect these B-modes, high sensitivity is required as well as an exquisite control of systematics effects. To comply with these requirements, we propose a new instrument called QUBIC (Q and U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology) based on bolometric interferometry. The control of systematics is obtained with a close-packed interferometer while bolometers cooled to very low temperature allow for high sensitivity. We present the architecture of this new instrument, the status of the project and the self-calibration technique which allows accurate measurement of the instrumental systematic effects
Physical Fruit Traits in Moroccan Almond Seedlings: Quality Aspects and Post-Harvest Uses
The physical traits of local almond populations from Morocco were studied to characterize their genetic resources and to evaluate the possibility of their commercial valorization. Nut weight ranged between 1.15 and 7.39 g, and kernel weight between 0.54 and 1.85 g, but most accessions were characterized by small kernels, pronounced wrinkles, and double kernels. Although the physical quality of the kernels of these populations was low, they show the possibility of some specialized uses, which could improve their marketable value. The genotypes with favorable values could be incorporated into an almond breeding program as parents to increase the kernel quality.Publishe
Status of QUBIC, the Q&U Bolometer for Cosmology
The Q&U Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology (QUBIC) is a novel kind of
polarimeter optimized for the measurement of the B-mode polarization of the
Cosmic Microwave Back-ground (CMB), which is one of the major challenges of
observational cosmology. The signal is expected to be of the order of a few
tens of nK, prone to instrumental systematic effects and polluted by various
astrophysical foregrounds which can only be controlled through multichroic
observations. QUBIC is designed to address these observational issues with a
novel approach that combines the advantages of interferometry in terms of
control of instrumental systematics with those of bolometric detectors in terms
of wide-band, background-limited sensitivity.Comment: Contribution to the 2022 Cosmology session of the 33rd Rencontres de
Blois. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2203.0894
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