Performance evaluation of edge-computing platforms for the prediction of low temperatures in agriculture using deep learning

The Journal of Supercomputing - The Internet of Things (IoT) is driving the digital revolution. AlSome palliative measures aremost all economic sectors are becoming “Smart” thanks to...     

Ripening changes in Ras cheese prepared from ultrafiltered milk

Summary The changes in the proteins and fats of Ras cheese prepared from ultrafiltered milk (UF) were followed during ripening. The soluble protein fraction was made up of whey protein which resisted hydrolysis during ripening. The insoluble protein fraction of fresh cheese was made up mainly of-casein,-casein ands₁-I, indicating pronounced proteolysis during the salting step. Further ripening was accompanied with decrease ins₁-I and increase in-casein. The free fatty acids (FFA) of UF Ras cheese increased with advanced ripening. The pattern of FFA in Ras cheese was similar to that of bovine milk triacylglycerols.

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Veränderungen in der Zusammensetzung von Ras-Käse aus ultrafiltrierter Milch während der Reifung

Zusammenfassung Es wurden die Veränderungen der Proteine und der Fettfraktionen von Ras-Käse aus ultrafiltrierter Milch während der Reifung studiert. Die lösliche Proteinfraktion bestand aus Molkeproteinen, die der Hydrolyse während der Reifung widerstand. Die unlösliche Proteinfraktion des frischen Käses bestand aus-Casein,-Casein unds₁-I, was auf starke Proteolyse während des Einsalzens hinweist. In der nachfolgenden Reifung wurde eine Abnahme dess₁-Caseins und eine Zunahme der-Caseine beobachtet. Die freien Fettsäuren des Ras-Käses nahmen während der Reifung zu. Das Muster der freien Fettsäuren des Ras-Käses und das der Milchtriglyceride sind ähnlich.

     

Influence of polymerization conditions on the viscosity of polyacrylamide via experimental design

Polyacrylamide was synthesized by a free‐radical inverse emulsion technique and optimized via statistical experimental design, with the objective of developing a polymer with a high viscosity within this synthesis technique. The factors considered to affect the response variable, the viscosity of the polymer, were initiator (K₂S₂O₈) concentration (c), reaction temperature (T), stirring rate (r), and initiator addition method (s, batch or dropwise). An experimental design of the four factors at two levels (2⁴) was carried out to study the effect of these process variables on the viscosity of the polymer. The results show that the main factor having an effect on the viscosity was T, with smaller contributions from r and cs. The optimum combination of values for the factors yielding maximum viscosity was T = 65°C, c = 1 mM, r = 230 rpm, and s = dropwise addition. A close fit was obtained between the experimental and predicted values of the viscosity of the polymer solution. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 5719–5724, 2006     

Refractive Index Dispersion of Sodium Magnesium Silicate Glasses for Ultralow-Loss Fibers

The refractive index dispersion and infrared (IR) reflection spectra of soda magnesium silicate glasses with low Rayleigh scattering were measured to evaluate their potential for use in fabricating ultralow-loss fibers. The zero-material dispersion wavelength (λ₀) was found to be around 1.5 μm, which is one of the key wavelengths in the present telecommunication system. The compositional dependence of λ₀ was found to relate to the population of nonbridging oxygen. Since the oscillation strength and frequency of the Si—O stretching vibrations of the glasses were found to be smaller than those of silica glass, their IR absorption loss was considered to be less than that of silica glass. The minimum loss due to the intrinsic factors, Rayleigh scattering and IR absorption, was estimated to be 0.06 dB/km at 1.6μm.     

Raman spectroscopy study of HM carbon fibres: effect of plasma treatment on the interfacial properties of single fibre/epoxy composites

The effect of an oxygen plasma treatment upon the structural and morphological properties of high-modulus carbon fibres has been studied by means of several characterisation techniques. Scanning electron microscopy showed that there were only minor changes of the morphology of the fibres following treatment. X-ray diffraction traces revealed that there were differences in structural parameters between the untreated fibres but no further modifications in the crystalline structure were detected after the plasma oxidation. Raman spectroscopy was used to follow the changes on the fibre surface structure following treatment. The peak positions and widths of the four main Raman bands (D, G, D′ and G′) were determined, with no significant changes observed after the surface treatment. A relationship between the width of the G band and the crystal parameter d₀₀₂ was found, with the magnitudes of both decreasing as the fibre modulus increased. A reference order parameter I_D/(I_D+I_G) ratio was calculated from the intensities of D and G bands. The treated fibres exhibited a more highly disordered surface structure that the untreated ones, as revealed by the increase of I_D/(I_D+I_G) after the plasma oxidation.     

Enzymic hydrolysis of animal fats in organic solvents at temperatures below their melting points

Lipase fromCandida rugosa catalyzed the hydrolysis of inedible beef tallow and pork lard (edible and inedible) in the presence of organic solvents at temperatures below the melting point of the fat. Reactions were carried out at 50% substrate with 180 lipase units per gram of fat in a two-liter reactor. In the presence of isooctane (5-10%) beef tallow yielded 94% hydrolysis in 24 hr both at 37° and 31°C. Edible pork lard yielded 97% hydrolysis under these conditions and at temperatures as low as 25°C, while inedible lard gave hydrolysis intermediate between the other two fats.     

Virtual Blocks: a serious game for spatial ability improvement on mobile devices

This paper presents a novel spatial instruction system for improving spatial abilities of engineering students. A 3D mobile game application called Virtual Blocks has been designed to provide a 3D virtual environment to build models with cubes that help students to perform visualization tasks to promote the development of their spatial ability during a short remedial course. A validation study with 26 freshman engineering students at La Laguna University (Spain) has concluded that the training had a measurable and positive impact on students’ spatial ability. In addition, the results obtained using a satisfaction questionnaire show that Virtual Blocks is considered an easy to use and stimulating application.     

Sex Attractant Pheromone from the Neotropical Red-Shouldered Stink Bug, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thyanta perditor</Emphasis> (F.)

Olfactometer bioassays showed that odors from mature Thyanta perditor males attracted females but not males. Furthermore, odors from females did not attract either sex, indicating that like other phytophagous pentatomid bugs, the males produce a sex pheromone. Attraction appeared to peak in late afternoon to evening. The headspace volatiles collected from male and female T. perditor were analyzed by GC-MS and HPLC. A male-specific compound, methyl (2E,4Z,6Z)-decatrienoate (2E,4Z,6Z-10:COOMe), was identified along with a number of other compounds found in extracts from both sexes. Bioassays carried out with 2E,4Z,6Z-10:COOMe showed it was as attractive to females as the crude extract of male volatiles, suggesting that the male-produced sex pheromone consists of 2E,4Z,6Z-10:COOMe as a single component. Consecutive volatiles collections from males showed that 2E,4Z,6Z-10:COOMe began appearing in extracts from males about 9 d after the final molt, as the males became sexually mature.     

Attractant pheromone for nearctic stink bug,Euschistus obscurus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae): Insight into a neotropical relative

Volatiles fromEuschistus obscurus males were found to be attractive to conspecific females in bioassays. A new type of olfactometer assembled from commercially available glassware was used to bioassay aeration extracts of the Nearctic stink bug,E. obscurus. Fractionated extracts suggest that pheromonal activity is associated with late-eluting, male-specific compounds. Research onE. obscurus offered a means to indirectly study the pheromone of the Neotropical pest species,E. heros, without importing this soybean pest into the United States.Research performed as a Visiting Scientist at: USDA-ARS, Insect Chemical Ecology Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. Mention of commercial products does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Supported by a grant from CNPq.     

A Framework for Situated Interaction with Augmented Surfaces

We propose a framework for the construction of collaborative services, based on a technique for coding content - generated by authoritative organisations or by users - on physical surfaces, which thus become supports to different forms of interaction. In particular, we illustrate features of the conceptual framework of augmented surfaces, expressed via a UML profile, and of the architectural infrastructure supporting the flexible development of interactive applications and present different scenarios of interaction based on this framework. We argue that the possibility of combining situtated interaction on surfaces with other types of interaction would create a collaboration space in which documents and objects allow seamless access to both centralised and distributed information.