Music Learning Tools for Android Devices

In this paper, a musical learning application for mobile devices is presented. The main objective is to design and develop an application capable of offering exercises to practice and improve a selection of music skills, to users interested in music learning and training. The selected music skills are rhythm, melodic dictation and singing. The application includes an audio signal analysis system implemented making use of the Goertzel algorithm which is employed in singing exercises to check if the user sings the right musical note. This application also includes a graphical interface to represent musical symbols. A set of tests were conducted to check the usefulness of the application as musical learning tool. A group of users with different music knowledge have tested the system and reported to have found it effective, easy and accessible.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Experimental Validation of a Numerical Forward Model for Tunnel Detection Using Cross-Borehole Radar

The goal of this research is to develop an experimentally validated twodimensional (2D) finite difference frequency domain (FDFD) numerical forward model to study the potential of radar-based tunnel detection. Tunnel detection has become a subject of interest to the nation due to the use of tunnels by illegal immigrants, smugglers, prisoners, assailants, and terrorists. These concerns call for research to nondestructively detect, localize, and monitor tunnels. Nondestructive detection requires robust image reconstruction and inverse models, which in turn need robust forward models. Cross-Well Radar (CWR) modality is used for experimentation to avoid soil-air interface roughness. CWR is not a versatile field technology for political boundaries but is still applicable to monitoring the perimeter of buildings or secure sites. Multiple-depth wideband frequency-response measurements are experimentally collected in fully water-saturated sand, across PVC-cased ferrite-bead-jacketed borehole monopole antennae at a pilot scale facility (referred to as SoilBED). The experimental results are then compared with the 2D-FDFD model. The agreement between the results of the numerical and experimental simulations is then evaluated. Results of this work provide key diagnostic tools that can help to develop the algorithms needed for the detection of underground tunnels using radar-based methods

The feasibility of pulsed light processing in the meat industry

Today, the increasing demand for minimally processed foods that are nutritious, sensorially acceptable, and free from microbial, chemical and physical hazards, challenges research and development to establish alternative methods to reduce the level of bacterial contamination. As one of the newly developing non-thermal methods, pulsed light is a technology for the fast, mild, and residue-free surface decontamination of meat and meat contact materials in the meat processing environment. This review provides specific information on pulsed light technology and the feasibility of its application for unpackaged and packaged meat and meat products as well as meat contact materials. The advantages, limitations and achieved effects of pulsed light on microbial inactivation, lipid peroxidation, sensory quality and color of meat, seafood and meat products are illustrated and discussed in relation to its implementation on the industrial level

Modelling the Dynamics of Fuel and EU Allowance Prices during Phase 3 of the EU ETS

This article studies the relationship between the prices of fuel and EU Allowances (EUA) for carbon emissions during Phase 3 of the European Union Emissions Trading System. We find that the forward prices of EUA, coal, gas and Brent oil are jointly determined in equilibrium. The existence of such a long-run relationship entails a permanent-transitory decomposition for the series of EUA and fuel prices that reveals the short- and long-term causal influence of the EUA market in shaping the joint dynamics of fuel prices. This result complements the literature that suggests that EUA prices are driven by the dynamics of fuel prices. Interestingly, we do not find an equilibrium relationship in the spot market. EUA and fuel spot prices are driven by independent unit root processes. The differences between spot and forward markets are attributed to the tradability of forward prices that are used for speculation and hedging in financial markets. In contrast, spot prices are mainly driven by supply and demand in energy markets.This research was funded by Spanish Government under Grant Number ECO2017-87069-P, and the APC was funded by Newbers Energy Analytics

Innovative non-thermal technologies affecting potato tuber and fried potato quality

Background: Potatoes are important tubers for human consumption, providing an essential source of energy and great nutritional characteristics for human health. However, before consumption, potato tubers need to be stored and processed. As frying is the most common technique used in potato processing, fried potato is the most important processed potato product. Some food characteristics, provided by the frying process, are considered desirable, but others are harmful to human health and, thereby the main challenge is to reduce the formation of the undesirable characteristics, without compromising the sensorial attributes. Scope and approach: In this review, the origin, economic importance, morphology and composition of potato tubers are presented. Afterwards, some factors affecting potato tuber quality, not only for human consumption, but also for further processing are addressed. Then, potato processing is discussed with a focus on the frying process, including the textural, chemical and nutritional changes induced by frying and the main characteristics affecting the quality of fried potato products. Finally, a special focus is given to the novel emerging non-thermal technologies and a brief review of their effects on potato tuber and fried potato quality is provided. Key findings and conclusions: Irradiation, cold plasma, ultrasounds, pulsed electric fields and high pressure processing are innovative non-thermal technologies with potential to be an alternative for the traditional treatments of potato tubers and to be applied as a frying pre-treatment, improving time and energy for slicing and cooking, and creating improved and healthier fried potatoes. Further studies are needed to better understand the subjacent biochemical mechanisms.publishe

Effect of nacl replacement by other salts on the quality of bísaro pork sausages (Pgi chouriça de vinhais)

Concerned about the trend to reduce salt consumption, the meat industry has been increasing the strategies to produce and commercialize products where the reduction or even the replacement of NaCl is an important goal. The aim of this study was to test the effect of partial NaCl replacement by KCl and Sub4Salt® on the quality of pork sausages. Three different formulations (NaCl + KCl, NaCl + Sub4Salt®, and KCl + Sub4Salt®) were considered and compared to the control (2% NaCl). Physicochemical properties, chemical composition, and microbiological and sensory characteristics were evaluated. The replacement of NaCl did not affect pH, water activity (aw) or its chemical composition after eight or 16 days ripening time, while a significant sodium reduction was achieved. The oxidation index expressed in TBARS was also not affected by the NaCl substitution and varied between 0.01 to 0.04 of malonaldehyde (MDA) per kg of sample. Similarly, the NaCl replacement did not change the microbiological quality of the sausages, and the production of healthier meat sausages had also no significant effect on their sensory characteristics. Therefore, according to the results obtained, it is viable and a good strategy for the meat industry to produce “reduced sodium content” sausages without affecting their traditional quality.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support by national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020); to Bísaro-Salsicharia Tradicional industry and to Laboratory of Carcass and Meat Quality of Agriculture School of Polytechnic Institute of Bragança ‘Cantinho do Alfredo’. Thanks are extended to GAIN (Axencia Galega de Innovación) for supporting this work (grant number IN607A2019/01). The authors are members of the Healthy Meat network, funded by CYTED (ref. 119RT0568).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Algae as a potential source of protein meat alternatives

With the rise of plant-based meat alternatives, there is a growing need for sustainable and nutritious sources of protein. Alga is a rich protein source, and initial studies show that it can be a good component in developing protein meat alternatives. However, there are certain limitations in their use as the need for efficient and optimal technical process in large-scale protein extraction and purification, as well as overcoming certain negative effects such as potentially harmful compounds, allergenicity issues, or sensorial affections, especially in color but also in textural and flavor characteristics. This review offers a vision of the fledgling research about using alga protein in the development of meat alternatives or supplementing meat products

Short communication: Broadening the diagnosis panel of reproductive pathogens associated with abortion in ruminants

Diagnosis of abortion in cattle, sheep and goat have been mainly focused on abortive pathogens with a recognized impact in outbreaks, but the aetiologic diagnosis rates have been historically low worldwide. Thus, we analysed the presence of pathogens in abortion outbreaks, focusing on the less-common pathogens in cattle farms with control programmes for reproductive pathogens, and in ovine and caprine farms. Thirty-one cases from Galician farms submitted to our laboratory during 2013-2015 were analysed (16 bovine, 7 ovine and 8 caprine farms) by polymerase chain reaction and culture from foetal tissues (n = 52 foetuses). Diagnosis was reached in 21/31 farms: 9/16 in bovine, 6/7 in ovine and 6/8 in caprine. Campylobacter spp. were found in all three species (3/9 diagnosed cases in bovine, 2/6 in ovine and 4/6 in caprine). Furthermore, Ureaplasma diversum was detected in cattle (4/9 of diagnosed cases), Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus – 2 was detected in sheep (2/6) and Neospora caninum in goats (1/6). Our results prove the occurrence of abortion in response to pathogens that are traditionally considered less relevant and rarely included in the diagnosis of ruminant abortion. Therefore, differential diagnosis of abortion should consider these pathogens (at least when other causes have been ruled out), to effectively control abortion in farms