Characterisation of the Colour Fraction of Pedro Ximenez Andalusian Sweet Wines

Changes in colour fraction of commercially bottled Pedro Ximenez sweet wines, unaged and oxidatively agedin American oak casks and mostly produced in the Montilla-Moriles and Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Designations ofOrigin (Spain), have been studied. The total tannin content and the total polyphenol content (A280) increasedwith increased aging time, a trend clearly observed in the Jerez wines. Browning, as measured by the absorbanceat 420 nm, differed markedly between unaged and aged wines. Aged wines showed an increase in browning withtime and an increase in high molecular weight browning compounds, most probably Maillard compounds.Colour measurements based on the CIELab system showed a gradual decrease in hue and lightness with ageing

The Automated Root Exudate System (ARES): a method to apply solutes at regular intervals to soils in the field.

Root exudation is a key component of nutrient and carbon dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems. Exudation rates vary widely by plant species and environmental conditions, but our understanding of how root exudates affect soil functioning is incomplete, in part because there are few viable methods to manipulate root exudates in situ. To address this, we devised the Automated Root Exudate System (ARES), which simulates increased root exudation by applying small amounts of labile solutes at regular intervals in the field. The ARES is a gravity-fed drip irrigation system comprising a reservoir bottle connected via a timer to a micro-hose irrigation grid covering c. 1 m2; 24 drip-tips are inserted into the soil to 4-cm depth to apply solutions into the rooting zone. We installed two ARES subplots within existing litter removal and control plots in a temperate deciduous woodland. We applied either an artificial root exudate solution (RE) or a procedural control solution (CP) to each subplot for 1 min day-1 during two growing seasons. To investigate the influence of root exudation on soil carbon dynamics, we measured soil respiration monthly and soil microbial biomass at the end of each growing season. The ARES applied the solutions at a rate of c. 2 L m-2 week-1 without significantly increasing soil water content. The application of RE solution had a clear effect on soil carbon dynamics, but the response varied by litter treatment. Across two growing seasons, soil respiration was 25% higher in RE compared to CP subplots in the litter removal treatment, but not in the control plots. By contrast, we observed a significant increase in microbial biomass carbon (33%) and nitrogen (26%) in RE subplots in the control litter treatment. The ARES is an effective, low-cost method to apply experimental solutions directly into the rooting zone in the field. The installation of the systems entails minimal disturbance to the soil and little maintenance is required. Although we used ARES to apply root exudate solution, the method can be used to apply many other treatments involving solute inputs at regular intervals in a wide range of ecosystems

A Linear Time Algorithm for Counting #2SAT on Series-Parallel Formulas

Capítulo de libroAn O(m + n) time algorithm is presented for counting the number of models of a two Conjunctive Normal Form Boolean Formula whose constrained graph is represented by a Series-Parallel graph, where n is the number of variables and m is the number of clauses. To the best of our knowledge, no linear time algorithm has been developed for counting in this kind of formulas

Novel methodology for diagnosis of causes associated with mould growth in dwellings

Increased occupancy rates, inappropriate ventilation and intermittent heating regimes in dwellings can result in excessive atmospheric moisture levels, potentially leading to mould growth and lower indoor air quality. Identifying the causes associated to mould growth and taking correct remedial actions can be essential in reducing the prevalence of this problem. In practice it is often complex, even for experts, to accurately identify some of these causes and this can lead to costly and unnecessary interventions. Towards development of a novel systematic diagnostic procedure an extensive monitoring exercise has been undertaken involving collection of environmental data from dwellings with and without mould issues. The data has been analysed, considering building characteristics and occupancy's lifestyle features, with the objective to identify thresholds on measurable parameters that are indicative of mould growth risks. The proposed methodology links key parameters to identify factors that contribute to surface condensation and mould growth in buildings. This research presents a process towards environmental data collection, post-processing to compute and interpret pertinent environmental parameters, and displaying them in a clear and easy-to-interpret manner

Determinants of Metabolic Health Across Body Mass Index Categories in Central Europe: A Comparison Between Swiss and Czech Populations.

Comparisons among countries can help to identify opportunities for the reduction of inequalities in cardiometabolic health. The present cross-sectional analysis and meta-analysis aim to address to what extent obesity traits, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors determine poor metabolic health across body mass index (BMI) categories in two urban population-based samples from Central Europe. Data from the CoLaus (~6,000 participants; Lausanne, Switzerland) and the Kardiovize Brno 2030 (~2,000 participants; Brno, Czech Republic) cohorts. For each cohort, logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the main determinants of poor metabolic health overall and stratified by body mass index (BMI) categories. The results of each cohort were then combined in a meta-analysis. We first observed that waist circumference and body fat mass were associated with metabolic health, especially in non-obese individuals. Moreover, increasing age, being male, having low-medium educational level, abdominal obesity, and high body fat mass were the main determinants of the metabolically unhealthy profile in both cohorts. Meta-analysis stratified by BMI categories confirmed the previous results with slight differences across BMI categories. In fact, increasing age and being male were the main determinants of poor metabolic health independent of obesity status. In contrast, low educational level and current smoking were associated with poor metabolic health only in non-obese individuals. In line, public health strategies against obesity and related comorbidities should aim to improve social conditions and to promote healthy lifestyles before the progression of metabolic disorders

Radial imbibition in paper under temperature differences

Spontaneous radial imbibition into thin circular samples of porous material when they have been subjected to radial temperature differences was analyzed theoretically and experimentally. The use of the Darcy equation allows us to take into account temperature variations in the dynamic viscosity and surface tension in order to found the one-dimensional equation for the imbibition fronts. Experiments in blotting paper show the good fit between the experimental data to theoretical profiles.Fil: Lopez Villa, Abel. Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados. Departamento de Investigaciones Educativas.; MéxicoFil: Medina, Abraham. Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados. Departamento de Investigaciones Educativas.; MéxicoFil: Higuera, F. J.. No especifíca;Fil: Mac Intyre, Jonatan Raúl. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Física Arroyo Seco; ArgentinaFil: Perazzo, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería. Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Gomba, Juan Manuel. Universidad Favaloro; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigaciones En Fisica E Ingenieria del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Sede Olavarria del Centro de Investifaciones En Fisica E Ingenieria del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires | Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Pcia.de Bs.as.. Centro de Investigaciones En Fisica E Ingenieria del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Sede Olavarria del Centro de Investifaciones En Fisica E Ingenieria del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires.; Argentin

Yeasts isolated from different European dry-sausages in the course of ripening

The evolution in counts of yeasts from six lots of different dry-sausages produced in three European Union (EU) countries (France, Italy and Spain) is tested. Each lot was analyzed in three phases of their production: fresh product, first staged drying and final product. Three samples were analyzed in each test. Counts of yeasts during the ripening process showed an irregular evolution. Regarding the species isolated, the most frequent ones belonged to genera Candida (C. albicans, C. famata, C. guillermondii, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. stellatoidea, C. zeylanoides.), Trichosporon (T. capitatum, T. beigelli), Rhodotorula and Geotrichum (G. candidum)