Efficacy of plant essential oils on postharvest control of rots caused by fungi on different stone fruits in vivo.

The antifungal activity of plant essential oils was evaluated as postharvest treatment on stone fruit against brown rot and grey mold rot of stone fruit caused by Monilinia laxa and Botrytis cinerea, respectively. The essential oils from basil (Ocimum basilicum), fennel (Foeniculum sativum), lavender (Lavandula officinalis), marjoram (Origanum majorana), oregano (Origanum vulgare), peppermint (Mentha piperita), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), sage (Salvia officinalis), savory (Satureja montana), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), and wild mint (Mentha arvensis) were tested at two different concentrations on apricots (cv. Kyoto and cv. Tonda di Costigliole), nectarines (cv. Big Top and cv. Nectaross) and plums (cv. Italia and cv. TC Sun). The volatile composition of the essential oils tested was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The treatments containing essential oils from oregano, savory, and thyme at 1% (vol/vol) controlled both B. cinerea and M. laxa growing on apricots cv. Tonda di Costigliole and plums cv. Italia and cv. TC Sun; however, the same treatments were phytotoxic for the carposphere of nectarines cv. Big Top and cv. Nectaross. Treatments with 10% (vol/vol) essential oils were highly phytotoxic, notwithstanding their efficacy against the pathogens tested. The essential oils containing as major components α-pinene, p-cymene, carvacrol, and thymol showed similar results on stone fruit, so their antimicrobial activity and the phytotoxicity produced could be based on the concentration of their principal compounds and their synergistic activity. The efficacy of the essential oil treatments on control of fungal pathogens in postharvest depended on the fruit cultivar, the composition and concentration of the essential oil applied, and the length of storage

Evolution of the Scientific Instrumentation for <em>In Situ</em> Mars Exploration

Mars has always been a magnet for the human curiosity. The more we know about the red planet and its past, the more complex are the unanswered questions. In order to answer them, an ambitious long-term plan for the robotic and manned exploration of Mars has been established by the scientific community worldwide. To ensure success in answering the issues to be investigated on each step of the plan, the selection of “on board” payloads at mission level is specifically designed for achieving the best possible results. This selection also has modified the mission operation modes from a set of individual experiments to a cooperative science paradigm where all the instruments in the mission payload contribute jointly to achieve unprecedented scientific results. Collaboration not only between experiments but also between agencies for achieving major goals has been demonstrated as the optimum way forward for Mars exploration. This chapter presents a historical review, with a look into the future, of the human efforts aimed at understanding the red planet, focusing on the technological advances and scientific discoveries achieved that help answer some of the most thrilling and transcendental questions ever raised by humanity: Are we alone in the Universe

Effects of Gamma Irradiation on Curcumin

In this study, remnants concentrations of curcumin in Curcuma longa (organic turmeric powder) were determined after it was exposed to irradiation doses of 1, 2 and 3 kGy. Curcumin analysis was performed using the analyte-sensitive impulse differential polarography technique (LOD: 0.621 ppm and LOQ: 2.130 ppm). The results obtained showed a decreasing concentration of curcumin as a function of the irradiation dose. This reduction is low in terms of affecting the product’s quality with respect to its concentration

Realidad aumentada

RESUMENEn este artículo estudiaremos las distintas herramientas de desarrollo que nos permiten el construir aplicaciones basadas en la Realidad Aumentada, analizando desde los inicios de esta tecnología hasta lo más reciente. Inicialmente con este documento se logra describir el trabajo realizado por nosotros como grupo de investigación, aun cuando nuestro principal objetivo es el estudiar este nuevo sistema de la Realidad Aumentada, empezaremos con el análisis de cada uno de los factores importantes para su desarrollo entre estos el analizar algunas de las características del desarrollo de software que nos brinda así como su implementación, al igual que identificar cual de esos kit de desarrollo se utilizan ya sean gratuitas o comerciales, sus ventajas y desventajas encontradas en el estudio, de igual manera el conocer la forma más fácil de que los usuarios o los desarrolladores finales utilicen están herramientas para la creación de estas aplicaciones, entre otros factores que influyen en el desarrollo de la Realidad Aumentada, como puede ser el identificar los distintos enfoques tecnológicos que esta tecnología nos brinda así como su arquitectura, al igual que todas sus aplicaciones, sus ventajas y desventajas encontradas en el estudio, de igual manera el conocer la forma de como interactúa esta tecnología con los usuarios finales, así como determinar los requerimiento de hardware y software que utilizan para la implementación de estas aplicaciones, hasta el conocer las distintas áreas de utilización de esta misma tecnología.ABSTRACT- In this article we will study the various development tools that allow us to build applications based on augmented reality for mobile devices, analyzing from the beginning of this technology to the most recent. Initially this document fails to describe the work done by us as a research group, even though our main objective is to study this new Augmented Reality system, start with the analysis of each of the important factors for the development between these analyze some of the characteristics of software development that gives us and their implementation, as well as identify which of these development kit used either free or commercial, their advantages and disadvantages encountered in the study, just as knowing the easiest way that end users or developers are using tools for creating these applications, among other factors that influence the development of Augmented Reality, such as the identification of different technological approaches to this technology and gives us its architecture, like all applications, advantages and disadvantages encountered in the study, the same way the know-how of how this technology interacts with end users and determine hardware and software requirements for implementation using of these applications to meet the various areas of utilization of the same technology

A lean six sigma framework for continuous and incremental improvement in the oil and gas sector

This article aims to explore synergies between Lean Production (LP) and Six Sigma principles in order to propose a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) framework for continuous and incremental improvement in the oil and gas sector. The Three-Dimensional LSS Framework seeks to provide various combinations about the integration between LP principles, DMAIC cycle and PDCA cycle to support operations management needs. Design/methodology/approach - The research method is composed of two main steps: (i) diagnostic of current problems and proposition of a conceptual framework that qualitatively integrates synergistic aspects of LP and Six Sigma; and (ii) analysis of the application of the construct through semi-structured interviews with leaders from oil and gas companies to assess and validate the proposed framework. Findings - As a result, a conceptual framework of LSS is developed contemplating the integration of LP and Six Sigma and providing a systemic and holistic approach to problemsolving through continuous and incremental improvement in the oil and gas sector. Originality/value - This research is different from previous studies because it integrates LP principles, DMAIC and PDCA cycles into a unique framework that fulfils a specific need of oil and gas sector. It presents a customized LSS framework that guides wastes and costs reduction, while enhances quality and reduces process variability to elevate efficiency in operations management of this sector. The paper type is an original research that present new and original scientific findings.N/

Detection of gastrointestinal nematode populations resistant to albendazole and ivermectin in sheep

Gastrointestinal parasite infections represent a major welfare problem in small ruminants reared in extensive systems, which may be exacerbated by anthelmintic resistance. Therefore, we aimed to study the efficacy of albendazole and ivermectin in sheep. Eighty-six animals were selected from commercial farms in the temperate area of the State of Mexico at the age of seven months. These animals were randomly distributed into three groups: Group A, treated with albendazole, Group I, treated with ivermectin and Group C, left untreated. Faecal samples were collected before the anthelmintic was administered and 15 days post-treatment. Both Group A and Group I displayed a significant decrease of faecal egg counts when pre-and post-treatment values were compared (p = 0.003 and p = 0.049, respectively), and a significantly lower faecal egg count when compared with Group C after the treatment (p &lt; 0.05). However, the faecal egg count reduction test showed that gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) developed anthelmintic resistance to both albendazole and ivermectin. The results of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allowed the identification of Cooperia spp., and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. The allele-specific PCR results confirmed that T. colubriformis was resistant to albendazole. In conclusion, this study showed the presence of resistant GIN to albendazole and ivermectin in sheep reared in Mexican temperate zones. Therefore, nematode infections should be systematically monitored in order to implement integrated management strategies to prevent the spread of anthelmintic resistance

Gall wasp community response to fragmentation of oak tree species:importance of fragment size and isolated trees

Received 23 September 2014; revised 22 November 2014; accepted 8 December 2014; final version received 9 January 2015; published 18 March 2015We explore the impact of habitat fragmentation on interactions between keystone resources of forest trees—oaks, genus Quercus (Fagaceae)—and an associated radiation of specialist cynipid gall wasps. Habitat fragmentation is predicted to have bottom-up impacts on cynipid communities through impacts on host plant quality (plant vigor hypothesis). We explored the bottom-up impacts on cynipid communities of habitat fragment size, fragment edge effects and presence of isolated oaks. We quantified temporal and spatial variation of leaves produced in the canopy to quantify plant vigor, and surveyed cynipid gall species abundance and richness over three years using 15 permanent forest patches and 25 isolated oaks in a fragmented oak woodland landscape in central Mexico. Cynipid gall abundance and species richness were higher in isolated oaks and small woodland fragments than in larger ones. Cynipid abundance and species richness were also higher along fragment edges in comparison with fragment interiors. This contrasts with patterns observed in other taxa. In addition, host plant quality was higher in isolated trees, in smaller fragments and along fragment edges. We therefore hypothesize that observed patterns in cynipid abundance and species richness are driven by changes in host plant quality due to forest fragmentation. Our data represent a baseline for longer-term monitoring of fragmentation effects at a landscape scale. Further work is required to explore alternative potential explanations for observed patterns, including the estimation of potential top-down impacts of fragmentation mediated by natural enemies.J. L. Nieves-Aldrey was supported in part by the research projects CGL2009-10111 and CGL-2010-15786 funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation (subprogram BOS).Peer reviewe

Prospects for Observations of Pulsars and Pulsar Wind Nebulae with CTA

The last few years have seen a revolution in very-high gamma-ray astronomy (VHE; E>100 GeV) driven largely by a new generation of Cherenkov telescopes (namely the H.E.S.S. telescope array, the MAGIC and MAGIC-II large telescopes and the VERITAS telescope array). The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) project foresees a factor of 5 to 10 improvement in sensitivity above 0.1 TeV, extending the accessible energy range to higher energies up to 100 TeV, in the Galactic cut-off regime, and down to a few tens GeV, covering the VHE photon spectrum with good energy and angular resolution. As a result of the fast development of the VHE field, the number of pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) detected has increased from one PWN in the early '90s to more than two dozen firm candidates today. Also, the low energy threshold achieved and good sensitivity at TeV energies has resulted in the detection of pulsed emission from the Crab Pulsar (or its close environment) opening new and exiting expectations about the pulsed spectra of the high energy pulsars powering PWNe. Here we discuss the physics goals we aim to achieve with CTA on pulsar and PWNe physics evaluating the response of the instrument for different configurations.Comment: accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic