Optical properties of apple skin and flesh in the wavelength range from 350 to 2200 nm

Optical measurement of fruit quality is challenging due to the presence of a skin around the fruit flesh and the multiple scattering by the structured tissues. To gain insight in the light-tissue interaction, the optical properties of apple skin and flesh tissue are estimated in the 350-2200nm range for three cultivars. For this purpose, single integrating sphere measurements are combined with inverse adding- doubling. The observed absorption coefficient spectra are dominated by water in the near infrared and by pigments and chlorophyll in the visible region, whose concentrations are much higher in skin tissue. The scattering coefficient spectra show the monotonic decrease with increasing wavelength typical for biological tissues with skin tissue being approximately three times more scattering than flesh tissue. Comparison to the values from time-resolved spectroscopy reported in literature showed comparable profiles for the optical properties, but overestimation of the absorption coefficient values, due to light losses

GLOrbit: A 3D satellite orbit propagator for network topology analysis

Los protocolos de redes tradicionales fueron desarrollados para redes terrestres, caracterizadas por topologías altamente estáticas. En este escenario, los errores de enlace aleatorios han sido el cambio más demandante que una configuración de red podía enfrentar. Por otro lado, los protocolos de redes móviles se ocupan de topologías dinámicas pero asumen trayectorias desconocidas y muy alta conectividad.  Ninguna de ambas se aplica al paradigma para las redes de constelaciones satelitales donde su naturaleza orbital describe topologías temporalmente variables pero altamente predecibles. Para estudiar este tipo de redes tolerantes a demoras, proponemos GLOrbit; una herramienta de análisis de topologías y redes de satélites, capaz de propagar nodos espaciales en el tiempo, en un ambiente visual 3D mientras registra la topología en diferentes formatos para estudios analíticos posteriores. Para esto implementamos el algoritmo de propagación SGP4, evaluadores de enlace entre nodos, y un motor gráfico de OpenGL. Esto permite obtener salidas precisas para graficar la red satelital y el análisis físico mientras se va ganando intuición visual para diferentes configuraciones orbitales. Se demuestran las capacidades de la herramienta con un primer trabajo de análisis con GLOrbit de tres topologías de orbitas bajas representativas. Escenarios lineales, transversales y diferentes escenarios de altitud son estudiados concluyendo que los lineales poseen una gran fortaleza en los enlaces inter-satelitales, mientras que los segundos en los contactos tierra-espacio. Finalmente, pero no por ello menos importante, debido a que los gráficos tradicionales representan redes estáticas, una novedosa estructura gráfica para topologías evolutivas temporalmente, es presentada como un resultado para el diseño topológico de redes tolerantes a demoras predecibles y sus estrategias de asignación de enlaces

Trend in ice moistening the stratosphere – constraints from isotope data of water and methane

Water plays a major role in the chemistry and radiative budget of the stratosphere. Air enters the stratosphere predominantly in the tropics, where the very low temperatures around the tropopause constrain water vapour mixing ratios to a few parts per million. Observations of stratospheric water vapour show a large positive long-term trend, which can not be explained by change in tropopause temperatures. Trends in the partitioning between vapour and ice of water entering the stratosphere have been suggested to resolve this conundrum. We present measurements of stratospheric H_(2)O, HDO, CH_4 and CH_(3)D in the period 1991–2007 to evaluate this hypothesis. Because of fractionation processes during phase changes, the hydrogen isotopic composition of H_(2)O is a sensitive indicator of changes in the partitioning of vapour and ice. We find that the seasonal variations of H_(2)O are mirrored in the variation of the ratio of HDO to H_(2)O with a slope of the correlation consistent with water entering the stratosphere mainly as vapour. The variability in the fractionation over the entire observation period is well explained by variations in H_(2)O. The isotopic data allow concluding that the trend in ice arising from particulate water is no more than (0.01±0.13) ppmv/decade in the observation period. Our observations suggest that between 1991 and 2007 the contribution from changes in particulate water transported through the tropopause plays only a minor role in altering in the amount of water entering the stratosphere

New methods for measuring and monitoring chromatic dispersion in optical communication systems

This PFC main goal is to introduce new approaches on the chromatic dispersion measurement field, based on the big range of possibilities the setup of a general standard RF-tone modulation chromatic modulation method provides, and to show its good performance pointing towards a real-time on-line monitoring system for optical communication networks. The project’s objectives are defined considering two well-delimited stages. First, we will study some standard RF-tone-addition techniques for measuring chromatic dispersion, specifically the Modulation Phase Shift Method (MPSM) [2] and the Peucheret`s Method [3]. We will analyze their operating principles, recognize all the variables involved in their basic configurations and evaluate their performances under different measurement conditions. We will also study the implications of real-time on-line monitoring of chromatic dispersion in optical networks. We have to consider that the test signal has to travel together with the data; therefore, it is a priority to keep the optical carrier unaltered in the transmission and reception procedures. This background will help us to identify the main drawbacks of both methods which motivate the proposal of a new improved technique based on a similar mathematical basis but with better performance in terms of accuracy and cost trade-off. The general features of this new approach will be exposed on a basic setup designed for a laboratory environment, so that we can contrast it with the conventional techniques. This method dubbed Asymmetric Modulation Bias-Controlled Method (ABCM) will focus on RF modulated signal amplitude and will take advantage of its direct relation with chromatic dispersion. One of the basic building blocks of these standard methods is the device that imposes the RF pure-tone modulation to the optical signal, namely the Mach-Zehnder interferometric modulator usually in the conventional push-pull configuration and biased at the quadrature point. In the context of the new improved CD measurement methods, we will observe how the Mach-Zehnder modulator Bias Voltage concept gains relevance; becoming the main variable to be handled by the use of a dual drive Mach-Zehnder modulator in asymmetric configuration. Finally, we will analyze this ABCM method performance while some fixed parameters (RF Frequency, Nominal Dispersion, resolution) take different values in order to find out the optimum operating conditions. The problem when trying to apply the ABCM to the real-time on-line monitoring of optical networks is that it relies in the eventual cancellation of the optical carrier which in a network monitoring application is shared with the data and it is essential for a proper data recovery. We must find an alternative where this optical carrier cancellation is not essential for the monitoring function and that would be the ABCM-SC (SC for suppressed carrier) Therefore, on a second stage, we will focus on giving this new perspective about dispersion measurement a direct application in optical communications field. We will restructure the ABCM into a practical dispersion monitoring system for optical communication networks. This improved monitoring technique will be based on a proof-of-concept study (no real data transmission considered) to evaluate the method’s performance in terms of accuracy, robustness and adaptability, building the basis for data transmission experiments in future projects. An important aspect to take into account will be the way we carry out the RF tone addition procedure without altering the optical carrier (transmitted data). To accomplish this requirement we will use a Bessel function analysis to achieve a carrier-suppressed modulation of the RF tone, which introduces another important handling parameter: the RF Tone Amplitude. We will also be concerned about isolating the emitter part (where data is transmitted) from the monitoring point (where dispersion is measured), but at the same time complementing each other to operate in a real-time situation. Finally, we will study the requirement of including the second RF harmonic detection together with the first harmonic as it adjusts better to a real-time monitoring system and increases the accuracy level in chromatic dispersion measurement

LOS MECANISMOS DE DEFENSA COMERCIAL EN EL PARAGUAY

El presente trabajo tiene por objeto hacer conocer los Mecanismos deDefensa Comercial que se tiene a disposición para enfrentar la competenciadesleal de importaciones, o de incrementos significativos en el volumen delas importaciones realizadas en condiciones tales, que estén ocasionando oamanezando ocasionar un daño importante a una rama de la producciónnacional

Quality Parameters of Wet and Dry Aged Beef Loins from Cattle Fed High Doses of Vitamin E

The objective of this experiment was to determine if dietary supplementation of high doses of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol; 2,200 IU per day for 100 days) can impact quality attributes of wet and dry-aged beef strip loins. Steaks from beef cattle supplemented with high doses of vitamin E exhibited less lipid oxidation after wet or dry aging, took longer time to discolor during retail display, and sustained redder color for a longer period under retail display conditions compared to controls. Free amino acids related to positive beef flavor attributes were higher for dry-aged loins compared to traditional wet aged samples loins. In dry-aged beef, trained sensory panelists found fewer negative flavors in beef from cattle fed high doses of vitamin E compared to controls. Dietary supplementation of high vitamin E levels can reduce lipid oxidation during wet or dry aging, improve color stability during retail display, reduce off flavors and maintain red color for a longer period under retail display conditions compared to controls

Beef Quality following Prolonged Aging after Supplementing High Levels of Vitamin E

Increased postmortem aging of beef can accelerate discoloration, shortening retail display time, inducing oxidation of lipids and proteins, and generating negative flavor attributes. This study was conducted to evaluate supplementation of high levels (2,200 International Units/head/day for 100 d) of Vitamin E (α-tocopherol) when feeding cattle as a strategy to sustain meat color quality in beef strip loins after prolonged aging. Results showed significantly less discoloration in loins from animals fed high levels of Vitamin E across 3, 6, and 9 weeks of aging. In addition, loins from cattle fed high levels of Vitamin E exhibited significantly greater redness (a*) values across 3, 6, and 9 weeks of aging. Lastly, cattle fed Vitamin E exhibited significantly less lipid oxidation compared to control fed cattle at 3, 6, and 9 weeks of aging. Feeding high levels of Vitamin E to cattle sustains meat color and oxidative stability following prolonged aging, like what may occur during export

Beef Quality and Oxidative Stability from Cattle Fed High Levels of Vitamin E

Meat color is a major factor for consumer meat purchasing decisions. Aging beef, which can improve tenderness, has been shown to accelerate discoloration in fresh beef, shortening retail display time, and generating negative flavor attributes. The objective of this study was to evaluate supplementing cattle high levels (2,200 International Units/ day) of Vitamin E to sustain meat quality during prolonged retail display in beef strip loins after 2 or 14 days aging compared to commercially-produced loins selected as controls. Results showed a treatment x age effect for Warner-Bratzler shear force and free calcium content, primarily due to aging. A dietary treatment x age x day interaction in redness (a*) and subjective discoloration occurred. High vitamin E samples exhibited more acceptable color scores compared to Control samples throughout retail display. As aging increased (14 days vs 2 days), Vitamin E samples sustained color better than Control samples, as shown by delta E (overall color change) values. A dietary treatment x day effect in lipid oxidation occurred with Vitamin E samples having significantly less malonaldehyde than Control samples. No differences in slice shear force, moisture, fat, or ash content were found. Supplementing high levels of Vitamin E to cattle resulted in sustained meat color and oxidative stability compared to commercially-produced cattl

Nutritional value of four pest animals to be used in feeding monogastric organisms

[ES] Las muestras de animales plagas fueron colectadas, secadas y molidas. Estas fueron analizadas para determinar su contenido en proteína, cenizas y aminoácidos. Los análisis bromatológicos mostraron que Achatina fulica y Pieris brassica, contienen más proteína bruta, (PB) (779.2 y 812.2 g/kg) en comparación a Phyllophaga spp. y Spodoptera frugierda (432. 5 y 445.7 g/ kg). Comparando el perfil de aminoácidos, A. fulica y P. brassica obtuvieron los niveles más altos en la mayoría de los amino ácidos esenciales (AAE) que la torta de soya y en el caso de A. fulica, éste exhibió valores más altos que la harina de pescado en arginina, cisteina, glicina, serina y tirosina. Observando la relación de AAE/AANE (amino ácidos no esenciales) en las harinas, sólo S. frugiperda presentó valores similares a la harina de pescado (0.85). Todas las harinas de animales plagas presentaron una reducción en la cuantificación de amino ácidos en relación con los valores de PB obtenidos por el método de Kjeldahl, esta reducción se encontraba entre 28.6 y 38.0%. Esta disminución podría deberse a la combinación entre la proteína y la quitina que se encuentran en el cuerpo de los insectos. A pesar de esta reducción la cuantificación de amino ácidos de los animales plagas podría ser una buena alternativa para su uso en la alimentación de monogástricos, especialmente para peces y crustáceos.[EN] The pest samples were collected, dried, and grounded. They were analysed to determinate contain of protein, energy, ashes and amino acids. The bromatological analysis showed that Achatina fulica and Pieris brassica, obtained a higher amount of crude protein (CP) (779.2 and 812.2 g/kg) in comparison to Phyllophaga spp. and Spodoptera frugiperda (432.5 and 455.7 g/kg). Comparing the amino acids profile, A. fulica and P. brassica obtained higher values in most of the essential amino acids (EAA) than soybean meal, and A. fulica exhibited even higher values than fish meal (FM) in Arginine, Cysteine, Glycine, Serine, and Tyrosine. Observing the relation of EAA/NEEA (no essential amino acids) in all the meals only S. frugiperda presented a similar value to fish meal (0.85). All the pest meals presented a reduction in the amino acids quantification in comparison to the CP values obtained by the Kjeldahl method, with reduction between 28.6 through 38.0%. This diminution could be due to the linkage of the protein to the chitin content of the insect body. In spite of the reduction of the amino acids quantification, the pest meals could be an alternative in feeding monogastric organisms, especially fish and crustaceans.To the Polytechnic University of Valencia for it support.Nogales Mérida, S.; Velazco Vargas, JL.; Martínez-Llorens, S.; Tomas-Vidal, A. (2018). Nutritional value of four pest animals to be used in feeding monogastric organisms. Archivos de Zootecnia. 67(258):278-282. https://doi.org/10.21071/az.v67i258.3664S2782826725