Underwater acoustic modem with streaming video capabilities

Oceans have shown tremendous importance and impact on our lives. Thus the need for monitoring and protecting the oceans has grown exponentially in recent years. On the other hand, oceans have economical and industrial potential in areas such as pharmaceutical, oil, minerals and biodiversity. This demand is increasing and the need for high data rate and near real-time communications between submerged agents became of paramount importance. Among the needs for underwater communications, streaming video (e.g. for inspecting risers or hydrothermal vents) can be seen as the top challenge, which when solved will make all the other applications possible. Presently, the only reliable approach for underwater video streaming relies on wired connections or tethers (e.g. from ROVs to the surface) which presents severe operational constraints that makes acoustic links together with AUVs and sensor networks strongly appealing. Using new polymer-based acoustic transducers, which in very recent works have shown to have bandwidth and power efficiency much higher than the usual ceramics, this article proposes the development of a reprogrammable acoustic modem for operating in underwater communications with video streaming capabilities. The results have shown a maximum data-rate of 1Mbps with a simple modulation scheme such as OOK, at a distance of 20 m.FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia) in the scope of the project: PEst-OE/EEA/UI04436/2015; Project Scope: PEst-UID/CECI00319/201

Purple corn (zea mays l.) pericarp hydroalcoholic extracts obtained by conventional processes at atmospheric pressure and by processes at high pressure

Extracts of Peruvian purple corn pericarp (Zea mays L.) were obtained: (1) via supercritical fluid extraction with CO2 as solvent and EtOH-H2O (70:30, v/v) as co-solvent, (2) via pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with EtOH-H2O (70:30, v/v) and, (3) via two conventional extraction processes, stirred vessel and Soxhlet. The extraction yields and extract compositions were compared to each other. The parameters measured were the point-to-point extraction yield, the global extraction yield and composition of extracts regarding contents of total phenolics, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins and specific anthocyanins such as cyanidin-3-glucoside, peonidin-3-glucoside and pelargonidin-3-glucoside. Antioxidant activity by DPPH and in vitro antiproliferative activity were also evaluated considering seven cancer cell lines. High yields and higher contents of phenolic compounds, accompanied by a high antioxidant activity at 50 °C, were obtained for supercritical extraction at 60 °C. Antioxidant activity showed good correlation with the content of phenolic compounds, but there was no antiproliferative activity37237248COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPSem informação12/51317-

Solubility of caffeic acid in CO2 + ethanol: experimental and predicted data using Cubic Plus Association Equation of State

This work evaluated the solubility of caffeic acid (CA) in mixtures of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) and ethanol at different temperatures (313, 323 and 333 K), pressures (20, 30 and 40 MPa) and concentrations of ethanol (2.2, 5.4 and 10.2 mol%). The Soave-Redlich-Kwong and Cubic Plus Association (CPA) equations of state were used to correlate the binary mixture data and to predict the ternary system data. CA solubility in ethanol is approximately 106 times higher than its solubility in pure scCO2. By using 10.2 mol% ethanol in scCO2, CA solubility increased 30,000 times at 313 K and 20 MPa. Both models provided reasonable descriptions of the experimental data for the binary systems. However, CPA-EoS can better describe the strong interactions between acid molecules and ethanol, and can predict that the addition of small amounts of ethanol to scCO2 provides a large increase in CA solubility.publishe

Screen printing of cotton fabric with hydrochromic paste: evaluation of color uniformity, reversibility and fastness properties

Smart textiles are promising for the future of the textile industry, providing natural fibers with attractive and interactive features. Within this context, it is possible to emphasize the chromic materials, as, for example, the hydrochromic, which alter their visual properties (color) through an external stimulus (water). The purpose of this work is to functionalize and characterize cotton knitted fabric with hydrochromic agent studying the reversibility and fastness properties of the print. It was observed that the particles are well dispersed and adhered to the natural fiber surface and did not display significant changes in the color after subsequent washing and rubbing fastness cycles.智能纺织品为纺织工业的未来带来了希望, 它提供了具有吸引力和互动功 能的天然纤维. 在这种情况下, 可以强调铬材料, 例如水变色材料, 通过外部 刺激（水）改变其视觉特性（颜色）. 本研究的目的是利用水致变色剂对 棉针织物进行功能化和表征, 研究印花的可逆性和牢度性能. 经观察, 这些 颗粒在天然纤维表面分散良好, 粘附在纤维表面, 在随后的洗涤和摩擦牢度 循环后, 颜色没有明显变化

The long-term evolution of the Douro River as evidenced by strath terrace staircases located at NE Portugal (western Iberia)

In western Iberia, mechanisms that explain the transition from endorheic to exorheic continental-scale drainage reorganisation are foreland basin overspill, headwards erosion and capture by an Atlantic river, or a combination of both. To explore these controls we have investigated the Portuguese sector of the Douro River, the site of drainage re-organsation. The Douro River routes downstream through weak sedimentary infill of the Douro Cenozoic Basin (Spain), after which the river cuts down through granitic and metamorphic rocks cut by active fault zones (NE Portugal), before reaching the Atlantic coast. We investigated the drainage reorganisation using an integrated remote sensing, field survey and geochronological approach applied to Pliocene-Quaternary fluvial sediments and landforms. The older drainage record is documented by a series of high and intermediate landform levels comprising 1) a high level (1000-600 m) faulted regional fluvial erosion surface, the North Iberian Meseta Planation Surface (NIMPS); 2) an inset level (650-600 m altitude) comprising a broad fluvial surface formed onto a large ENE-WSW depression that overlies resistant ProterozoicandPaleozoic bedrock and 3) an inset (500450m) fluvial surface. The younger drainage record comprises an entrenched fluvial strath terrace sequence of up to 9 levels (T9 = oldest positioned at 246-242 m above the modern river base (a.r.b); T1 = youngest positioned at 17-13 m a.r.b.). Levels T1 and T3 display fault offsets where the cross active NNE-SSW fault zones. The three lowest terrace levels (T1-T3) were dated using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques using Quartz-OSL and post infra-red stimulated luminescence (pIRIR). Results ranged from 39-12ka (T1), 57ka (T2) and >360ka (minimum) (T3). Fluvial incision rates of the younger (terrace) drainage record were quantified and temporally exptrapolated to model the ages of the high to intermediate elevation levels of the early drainage record. Integration of incision data with fault zone derived crustal uplift values informs on the timing of the endorheic to exhoreic drainage reorganization. We interpret the NIMPS to be part of the endorehic Douro Cenozoic Basin drainage divide erosion. The inset wide fluvial surface at 650-600 m altitude represents the overspill level in the area of the Mesão Frio ridges (drainage divide with the Atlantic drainage). Development of the exhoreic ancestral Douro valley is documented in the 500-450 m fluvial surface with our age and uplift modelling suggesting this became established during the upper Pleistocene (3.6 Ma) through to the Early Pleistocene (1.8 Ma). The entrenched river terrace sequence spans the Pleistocene, developing via spatial and temporal variations in rock strength, uplift and cyclic cool climate variability as the river adjusts to the Atlantic base level

LOS PRECIOS INTERNACIONALES DE MAÃZ Y PETRÓLEO Y SU EFECTO SOBRE EL PRECIO DE VENTA DE LOS BECERROS PARA EXPORTACIÓN EN SONORA, MÉXICO

An analysis of the available information of years 2006 and 2007 at diverse sources in dependences, institutions and commercialization systems of cattle in Sonora was made. We analyzed international price fluctuation data of corn with base in information of stock-market of Chicago. From the previous information, data that allowed analyzing the present price behavior, weight and seasons were generated at which the yearling calves leave to the market through the year in the state of Sonora. Results show that this type of cattle is sold throughout the year, showing two picks at which the affluence is greater: in March and November. Depending on the condition of the animals, these classify like yearling calves number one (European type), one and a half (crossed) and two (Creole or zebu), with average monthly weights that fluctuate between 165 and 187 kilograms; average monthly price by kilogram of 22 to 28 pesos. Through these two years, animal weight as well as the sale price has had marked fluctuations, displaying declining tendencies in both cases. In this study, it was observed a noticeable and proportional inversely effect between these tendencies and the international prices of cereals and the bioenergetics.Sonora, yearling calves, export, prices, corn, petroleum., Agribusiness,

Classical Infinite-Range-Interaction Heisenberg Ferromagnetic Model: Metastability and Sensitivity to Initial Conditions

A N-sized inertial classical Heisenberg ferromagnet, which consists in a modification of the well-known standard model, where the spins are replaced by classical rotators, is studied in the limit of infinite-range interactions. The usual canonical-ensemble mean-field solution of the inertial classical $n$-vector ferromagnet (for which $n=3$ recovers the particular Heisenberg model considered herein) is briefly reviewed, showing the well-known second-order phase transition. This Heisenberg model is studied numerically within the microcanonical ensemble, through molecular dynamics.Comment: 18 pages text, and 7 EPS figure

Impact of deficit irrigation on grapevine cv. ‘Touriga Nacional’ during three seasons in Douro region: an agronomical and metabolomics approach

The introduction of irrigation in vineyards of the Mediterranean basin is a matter of debate, in particular in those of the Douro Demarcated Region (DDR), due to the limited number of available studies. Here, we aimed to perform a robust analysis in three consecutive vintages (2018, 2019, and 2020) on the impact of deficit irrigation on the yield, berry quality traits, and metabolome of cv. ‘Touriga Nacional’. Results showed that in the peaks of extreme drought, irrigation at 30% crop evapotranspiration (ETc) (R30) was able to prevent a decay of up to 0.4 MPa of leaf predawn water potential (ΨPd), but irrigation at 70% ETc (R70) did not translate into additional protection against drought stress. Following three seasons of irrigation, the yield was significantly improved in vines irrigated at R30, whereas irrigation at R70 positively affected the yield only in the 2020 season. Berry quality traits at harvest were not significantly changed by irrigation, except for Total Soluble Solids (TSS) in 2018. A UPLC–MS-based targeted metabolomic analysis identified eight classes of compounds, amino acids, phenolic acids, stilbenoid DP1, stilbenoid DP2, flavonols, flavan-3-ols, di-OH- and tri-OH anthocyanins, and showed that anthocyanins and phenolic acids did not change significantly with irrigation. The present study showed that deficit irrigation partially mitigated the severe summer water deficit conditions in the DDR but did not significantly change key metabolites.This research was funded by the VISCA project (Vineyards’ Integrated Smart Climate Application), funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 730253. The Région-Centre Val de Loire (France) supported this work under the grant agreement to Project VITI’ACTIF. The work was also supported by the “Contrato-Programa” UIDB/04050/2020 funded by Portuguese national funds through the FCT I.P. The work was also supported by FCT, CCDR-N (Norte Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission) and European Funds (FEDER/POCI/COMPETE2020) through the project AgriFoodXXI (NORTE01-0145-FEDER-000041) and the research projects BerryPlastid (PTDC/BIA-FBT/28165/2017 and POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028165), MitiVineDrought (PTDC/BIA-FBT/30341/2017 and POCI-01-0145- FEDER-030341), and GrapeInfectomics (PTDC/ASPHOR/28485/2017). A.T. was supported by a post-doctoral researcher contract/position within the project “BerryPlastid”. This work also benefited from the networking activities within the European COST Action CA 17111 INTEGRAPE, the CoLAB VINES & WINES, and the CoLAB 4FOOD—Collaborative Laboratory for Innovation in the Food Industry