3,216 research outputs found
Microwave energy supplied by a prototype oven prevents the spread of Fusarium wilt during the propagation of melon plantlets by seed
The re-use of propagation trays in nursery greenhouses is one of the main ways in which fusarium wilt is spread in melon crops (Cucumis melo). The causal agent of the disease is the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis. This paper reports that exposing these seed trays to the energy produced by a prototype microwave oven during the commercial production of melon plantlets can prevent the spread of this pathogen with only a very small increase in production costs
Controlled nucleation of topological defects in the stripe domain patterns of Lateral multilayers with Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy: competition between magnetostatic, exchange and misfit interactions
Magnetic lateral multilayers have been fabricated on weak perpendicular
magnetic anisotropy amorphous Nd-Co films in order to perform a systematic
study on the conditions for controlled nucleation of topological defects within
their magnetic stripe domain pattern. A lateral thickness modulation of period
is defined on the nanostructured samples that, in turn, induces a lateral
modulation of both magnetic stripe domain periods and average
in-plane magnetization component . Depending on lateral multilayer
period and in-plane applied field, thin and thick regions switch independently
during in-plane magnetization reversal and domain walls are created within the
in-plane magnetization configuration coupled to variable angle grain boundaries
and disclinations within the magnetic stripe domain patterns. This process is
mainly driven by the competition between rotatable anisotropy (that couples the
magnetic stripe pattern to in-plane magnetization) and in-plane shape
anisotropy induced by the periodic thickness modulation. However, as the
structural period becomes comparable to magnetic stripe period ,
the nucleation of topological defects at the interfaces between thin and thick
regions is hindered by a size effect and stripe domains in the different
thickness regions become strongly coupled.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Physical Review
Anomalous Roughening in Experiments of Interfaces in Hele-Shaw Flows with Strong Quenched Disorder
We report experimental evidences of anomalous kinetic roughening in the
stable displacement of an oil-air interface in a Hele-Shaw cell with strong
quenched disorder. The disorder consists on a random modulation of the gap
spacing transverse to the growth direction (tracks). We have performed
experiments varying average interface velocity and gap spacing, and measured
the scaling exponents. We have obtained beta=0.50, beta*=0.25, alpha=1.0,
alpha_l=0.5, and z=2. When there is no fluid injection, the interface is driven
solely by capillary forces, and a higher value of beta around beta=0.65 is
measured. The presence of multiscaling and the particular morphology of the
interfaces, characterized by high slopes that follow a L\'evy distribution,
confirms the existence of anomalous scaling. From a detailed study of the
motion of the oil--air interface we show that the anomaly is a consequence of
different local velocities over tracks plus the coupling in the motion between
neighboring tracks. The anomaly disappears at high interface velocities, weak
capillary forces, or when the disorder is not sufficiently persistent in the
growth direction. We have also observed the absence of scaling when the
disorder is very strong or when a regular modulation of the gap spacing is
introduced.Comment: 14 pages, 17 figure
Current density maps, magnetizability, and nuclear magnetic shielding tensors of bis-heteropentalenes. II. Furo-furan Isomers
Magnetic susceptibility and nuclear magnetic shielding at the nuclei of bis-heteropentalenes formed by two furan units ([2,3-b], [3,2-b], [3,4-b], and [3,4-c] isomers) have been computed by several approximated techniques and a large Gaussian basis set to achieve near Hartree–Fock estimates. Ab initio models of the ring currents induced by a magnetic field normal to the molecular plane were obtained for the three isomeric systems of higher symmetry, showing that the π electrons give rise to intense diamagnetic circulation. The π currents are responsible for enhanced magnetic anisotropy and strong out-of-plane proton deshielding. The theoretical findings are used to build up a “diatropicity matrix” for two fused five-membered heterocyclic [email protected] ; [email protected]
Anthropogenic food subsidies reshape the migratory behaviour of a long-distance migrant
Bird migratory journeys are often long and hostile, requiring high energetic expenditure, and thus forcing birds to pause between migratory flights. Stopover sites allow migrants to replenish fuel reserves and rest, being crucial for the success of migration. Worldwide, the increasing accumulation of waste on landfills and rubbish dumps has been described to provide superabundant food resources for many bird species not only during the breeding and wintering seasons but also during migration, being used as stopover sites. Using GPS-tracking data of juvenile white storks (Ciconia ciconia) during their first migration from the Iberia Peninsula to the sub-Saharan wintering grounds, we uncover the effects of stopping en route on individual migratory perfor-mance. Particularly, we examine the benefits of stopping at artificial sites (landfills and rubbish dumps) when com-pared to natural stopover sites (wetlands, agricultural or desert areas) and explore the influence of anthropogenic food resources on storks' migratory strategies. Overall, white storks spent up to one-third of the migration in stopovers. We found that birds that stopped for longer periods made more detours, increasing migration duration by half a day for each stopover day. Stopping more often did not reflect on increasing in-flight energetic efficiency nor the likelihood of completing the migration. Juvenile storks used artificial sites in 80 % of the stopover days, spending 45 % less time and 10 % less energy foraging than when using natural stopovers. While stopping in landfills did not translate into differences in migratory performance, individuals in poor body condition possibly rely on these sites to improve body weight before proceed-ing, enabling them to successfully complete migration. Artificial stopover sites are attractive and likely increase the number and duration of stops for white storks. Even though the consequences of arriving late at the wintering grounds are unknown, it can lead to cascading consequences, influencing individual fitness and population dynamics.Peer reviewe
Impact of texture TDS and flavour TDS tasks and of chocolate-chip biscuit characteristics on oral processing features
[EN] The objective of the present study was to investigate differences in oral activity when biscuits of the same type but with subtle composition differences are consumed and how performing a Temporal Dominance of Sensations (TDS) task modifies the way one eats. In addition, comparisons were made between performing a texture TDS (T-TDS) and a flavour TDS (F-TDS). Oral activity while eating biscuits with and without conducting a TDS task was recorded using a 3.dimensional motion capture system to monitor the evolution of jaw movements.
The results showed that oral activity evolved over the consumption time, differed depending on the texture of the sample and was affected to a small but significant extent when a TDS task was performed simultaneously (the differences averaged < 4 cycles, 1 s in duration, 0.1 cycles/s in frequency, and 1 mm in lateral displacement). The biscuit samples were affected equally. Almost no differences were found on comparing oral activity during the execution of the T-TDS and the F-TDS tasks.
Overall, the present results show differences in oral activity even for food products of the same category with subtle differences in composition. Performing TDS tasks (regardless of their modality) during sample consumption affected the total number, frequency and lateral amplitude of the chewing movements which should be taken into account for future research. However, these differences were small and affected both samples equally.The authors are grateful to the Spanish Ministry of the Economy and Competitiveness (AGL-2016-75403-R, Spain) and to the Regional Government of Valencia (Project Prometeo 2017/189, Spain) for financial support.Rizo, A.; Jimenez-Pérez, I.; Camacho-García, A.; Fiszman, S.; Pérez-Soriano, P.; Tarrega, A. (2019). Impact of texture TDS and flavour TDS tasks and of chocolate-chip biscuit characteristics on oral processing features. Food Quality and Preference. 76:109-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2019.04.005S1091177
Experiments of Interfacial Roughening in Hele-Shaw Flows with Weak Quenched Disorder
We have studied the kinetic roughening of an oil--air interface in a forced
imbibition experiment in a horizontal Hele--Shaw cell with quenched disorder.
Different disorder configurations, characterized by their persistence length in
the direction of growth, have been explored by varying the average interface
velocity v and the gap spacing b. Through the analysis of the rms width as a
function of time, we have measured a growth exponent beta ~= 0.5 that is almost
independent of the experimental parameters. The analysis of the roughness
exponent alpha through the power spectrum have shown different behaviors at
short (alpha_1) and long (alpha_2) length scales, separated by a crossover
wavenumber q_c. The values of the measured roughness exponents depend on
experimental parameters, but at large velocities we obtain alpha_1 ~= 1.3
independently of the disorder configuration. The dependence of the crossover
wavenumber with the experimental parameters has also been investigated,
measuring q_c ~ v^{0.47} for the shortest persistence length, in agreement with
theoretical predictions.Comment: 20 pages, 22 figure
Physico-chemical analysis of Albian (Lower Cretaceous) amber from San Just (Spain) : implications for palaeoenvironmental and palaeoecological studies
Amber from a Lower Cretaceous outcrop at San Just, located in the Eastern Iberian Peninsula (Escucha Formation, Maestrat Basin), was investigated to evaluate its physico-chemical properties. Thermogravimetric (TG) and Differential Thermogravimetric (DTG) analyses, infra-red spectroscopy, elemental and C-isotope analyses were performed. Physico-chemical differences between the internal light nuclei and the peripheral darker portions of San Just amber can be attributed to processes of diagenetic alteration that preferentially took place in the external amber border colonized by microorganisms (fungi or bacteria) when the resin was still liquid or slightly polymerized. δ13Camber values of different pieces of the same sample, from the nucleus to the external part, are remarkably homogeneous, as are δ13Camber values of the darker peripheral portions and lighter inner parts of the same samples. Hence, neither invasive microorganisms, nor diagenetic alteration changed the bulk isotopic composition of the amber. δ13C values of different amber samples range from -21.1‰ to -24‰, as expected for C3 plant-derived material. C-isotope analysis, coupled to palaeobotanical, TG and DTG data and infra-red spectra, suggests that San Just amber was exuded by only one conifer species, belonging to either the Cheirolepidiaceae or Aracauriaceae, coniferous families probably living under stable palaeoenvironmental and palaeoecological conditions
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