Development and application starch films: PBAT with additives for evaluating the shelf life of Tommy Atkins mango in the fresh-cut state

In this study, formulations of cassava starch and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) flexible films were developed, with glycerol, coconut nanocellulose, annatto, and citric acid in different concentrations, as well as the effectiveness of the selected materials in fresh-cut mangoes storage was evaluated. The tensile strength of the different formulations varied from 1.90 (E4) to 6.65 MPa (E3c), and the strain varied from 206.31 (E1c) to 278.41% (E8); this variation was dependent on the percentage of the polymer matrix incorporated. The a_w values of the formulations ranged from 0.396 (E2) to 0.569 (E3c). The Formulations E4 and E7 (with additives) presented good properties and were selected to condition mangoes. The micrographs of these films showed regions of micropores that can facilitate the diffusion of water from the packaged product to the surface, allowing decreases in moisture and a_w, which is associated with higher color maintenance during fruit storage. E7 presented better barrier properties than E4 (lower values of WVP and water solubility) which may have influenced in a positive way to maintain the stability of the package in the studied period. E7 can be considered as a viable alternative for minimally processed mango storage. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 48150.     

Dealing with Uncertainty in Decision-Making for Drinking Water Supply Systems Exposed to Extreme Events

The availability and the quality of drinking water are key requirements for the well-being and the safety of a community, both in ordinary conditions and in case of disasters. Providing safe drinking water in emergency contributes to limit the intensity and the duration of crises, and is thus one of the main concerns for decision-makers, who operate under significant uncertainty. The present work proposes a Decision Support System for the emergency management of drinking water supply systems, integrating: i) a vulnerability assessment model based on Bayesian Belief Networks with the related uncertainty assessment model; ii) a model for impact, and related uncertainty assessment, based on Bayesian Belief Networks. The results of these models are jointly analyzed, providing decision-makers with a ranking of the priority of intervention. A GIS interface (G-Net) is developed to manage both input spatial information and results. The methodology is implemented in L’Aquila case study, discussing the potentialities associated to the use of the tool dealing with information and data uncertainty.     

Effect of dicationic ionic liquids on cloud points of tergitol surfactant and the formation of aqueous micellar two-phase systems

Journal of Materials Science - A cloud point evaluation was performed for the nonionic surfactant Tergitol 15-S-7 in aqueous solutions of McIlvaine buffer (pH 7.0). Cloud point temperatures of the...     

Improvement of the short‐ and long‐term mechanical properties of injection‐molded poly(etheretherketone) and hydroxyapatite nanocomposites

Nanocomposites of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles treated with a silane coupling agent were successfully prepared by twin screw extrusion and injection molding. Some of the samples were annealed after the injection molding. The silane treatment promoted an improvement of the short‐ and long‐term mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. A higher stress and a six times higher deformation at break and a higher impact strength were observed in the silane‐treated nanocomposites when compared to the nontreated ones. The number of cycles to fail of the treated nanocomposites was almost 200% higher than the number of cycles to fail of the nontreated samples. The treatment also decreased the glass transition temperature and amount of crystallinity of the samples. This improvement in mechanical properties obtained from the silane treatment was attributed to the strengthening of the PEEK/HA interfacial bond, to the plasticization of the PEEK matrix by silane oligomers produced during the processing and to a better dispersion of the HA nanoparticles within the PEEK matrix. Samples annealing, however, diminished all these properties due to the increase in crystallinity. Studies of the short‐ and long‐term mechanical properties of these nanocomposites under physiological conditions and of the proliferation of stem cells are under way. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44476.     

Color space transformations for digital photography exploiting information about the illuminant estimation process

The color reproduction accuracy is a key factor to the overall perceived image quality in digital photography. In this framework, both the illuminant estimation process and the color correction matrix concur in the formation of the overall perceived image quality. To the best of our knowledge, the two processes have always been studied separately, thus ignoring the interactions between them. We investigate here these interactions, showing how the color correction transform amplifies the illuminant estimation errors. We demonstrate that incorporating knowledge about the illuminant estimation behavior in the optimization of the color correction matrix makes it possible to alleviate the error amplification. Different strategies to improve color accuracy under both perfect and imperfect white point estimations are investigated, and the experimental results obtained with a digital camera simulator are reported.     

Thermal and structural study of nanocrystalline Fe(Co)NiZrB alloys prepared by mechanical alloying

Three nanocrystalline alloys, Fe_75−x Co _x (Ni₇₀Zr₃₀)₁₅B₁₀ (x = 0, 10, and 20), were synthesized from elemental powders in a planetary high-energy ball mill. Their microstructure, magnetic properties, and thermal stability were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission M?ssbauer spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, induction coupled plasma, vibrating sample magnetometry, and differential scanning calorimetry. After 80 h of milling, the nanocrystallites size of alloys is in the range 6–10 ± 1 nm. The lattice parameter decreases when increasing (decreasing) milling time (Fe content). Furthermore, the thermal stability of the nanocrystalline phase increases when increasing Co concentration. The activation energy of the main crystallization process, between 275 ± 8 and 311 ± 10 kJ mol⁻¹, is associated with grain growth. Slight contamination from milling tools and milling atmosphere was detected. Minor differences were detected after M?ssbauer analysis.     

Thermal damage during ablation of biological tissues

This study presents the numerical solution of a bioheat transfer problem related to the ablation of biological tissues continuously heated by a laser. Different mechanisms of thermal decomposition, such as coagulation, vaporization, and removal of the necrotic tissues, were taken into account in the analysis. The finite volume method was used to obtain the numerical solution of the temperature field, while the volume of fluid method was used to track the ablation interface. Results obtained for cases of practical interest provide a good indication of the area affected by the thermal treatment and are in good agreement with experimental data available in the literature.     

Integrating an automated activity monitor into an artificial insemination program and the associated risk factors affecting reproductive performance of dairy cows

The aim of this study was to compare 2 reproductive programs for the management of first postpartum artificial insemination (AI) based on activity monitors and timed AI, as well as to determine the effect of health-related factors on detection and expression of estrus. Lactating Holstein cows (n = 918) from 2 commercial farms were enrolled. Estrous cycles of all cows were presynchronized with 2 injections of PGF_2α administered 2 wk apart. Treatments were (1) first insemination performed by timed AI (TAI) and (2) first insemination based upon the detection of estrus by activity monitors (ACT; Heatime, SCR Engineering, Netanya, Israel) after the presynchronization, whereas cows not inseminated by the detection of estrus were enrolled in the Ovsynch protocol. Body condition score (BCS; scale 1 to 5), hock score (scale: 1 to 4), gait score (scale: 1 to 4), and corpus luteum presence detected by ovarian ultrasonography were recorded twice during the presynchronization. On the ACT treatment, 50.5% of cows were inseminated based on detected estrus, whereas 83.2% of the cows on the TAI treatment were inseminated appropriately after the timed AI protocol. Pregnancy per AI did not differ by treatment (30.8 vs. 33.5% for ACT and TAI, respectively). Success of pregnancy was affected by parity, cyclicity, BCS, milk production, and a tendency for leg health. In addition, treatment × cyclicity and treatment × parity interactions were found to affect pregnancy success, where anovulatory cows and older cows had compromised pregnancy outcomes on the ACT treatment but not on the TAI treatment. Factors affecting pregnancy outcomes varied among farms. Hazard of pregnancy by 300 DIM was affected by farm, parity, BCS, a treatment × cyclicity interaction, and a tendency for an interaction between leg health and farm. Detection of estrus was affected by farm, parity, cyclicity, and leg health, but not BCS or milk production. Expression of estrus was compromised in anovular and older cows, and by the timing of the estrus event, but not by gait score, BCS, or milk production. Increased duration of estrus, but not intensity of estrus, improved pregnancy per AI. In conclusion, using an automated activity monitor for the detection of estrus within a Presynch-Ovsynch program resulted in similar pregnancy per AI and days open compared with a reproduction program that was strictly based on timed AI for first postpartum AI. In contrast, notable variations in reproductive outcomes were detected between farms, suggesting that the use of automated activity monitors is prone to individual farm management.