Providing accessibility to blind people using GIS

In everyday life, people need to move, whether in business or leisure. Navigation requires spatial knowledge and ability to make decisions based on geographic information. Recently, powerful tools have been developed, enhancing the capabilities of geographical analysis and decision-making. This work presents a platform to handle and provide geographic information, including accessibility oriented features. This geographic information system (GIS) is part of a wider project, called SmartVision. The aim of this project is to create a system that allows blind users to navigate in the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro campus. The GIS platform, together with other modules of the SmartVision system prototype, provides information to blind users, assisting their navigation and giving alerts of nearby points-of-interest or obstacles. Together with the GIS platform, this paper also describes the handling of accessibility information by the SmartVision prototype, namely the Navigation Module, the Computer Vision Module and the Interface Module.     

Controlled Release of Epigenetically-Enhanced Extracellular Vesicles from a GelMA/Nanoclay Composite Hydrogel to Promote Bone Repair

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have garnered growing attention as promising acellular tools for bone repair. Although EVs’ potential for bone regeneration has been shown, issues associated with their therapeutic potency and short half-life in vivo hinders their clinical utility. Epigenetic reprogramming with the histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA) has been reported to promote the osteoinductive potency of osteoblast-derived EVs. Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels functionalised with the synthetic nanoclay laponite (LAP) have been shown to effectively bind, stabilise, and improve the retention of bioactive factors. This study investigated the potential of utilising a GelMA-LAP hydrogel to improve local retention and control delivery of epigenetically enhanced osteoblast-derived EVs as a novel bone repair strategy. LAP was found to elicit a dose-dependent increase in GelMA compressive modulus and shear-thinning properties. Incorporation of the nanoclay was also found to enhance shape fidelity when 3D printed compared to LAP-free gels. Interestingly, GelMA hydrogels containing LAP displayed increased mineralisation capacity (1.41-fold) (p ≤ 0.01) over 14 days. EV release kinetics from these nanocomposite systems were also strongly influenced by LAP concentration with significantly more vesicles being released from GelMA constructs as detected by a CD63 ELISA (p ≤ 0.001). EVs derived from TSA-treated osteoblasts (TSA-EVs) enhanced proliferation (1.09-fold), migration (1.83-fold), histone acetylation (1.32-fold) and mineralisation (1.87-fold) of human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) when released from the GelMA-LAP hydrogel compared to the untreated EV gels (p ≤ 0.01). Importantly, the TSA-EV functionalised GelMA-LAP hydrogel significantly promoted encapsulated hBMSCs extracellular matrix collagen production (≥1.3-fold) and mineralisation (≥1.78-fold) in a dose-dependent manner compared to untreated EV constructs (p ≤ 0.001). Taken together, these findings demonstrate the potential of combining epigenetically enhanced osteoblast-derived EVs with a nanocomposite photocurable hydrogel to promote the therapeutic efficacy of acellular vesicle approaches for bone regeneration.     

Representativity of the singular stress state in the failure of adhesively bonded joints between metals and composites

Several critical points, where both geometry and material properties change abruptly, arise in an adhesively bonded lap joint between a metallic and a composite material. These critical points, called multimaterial corners or cross-points, at which the linear theory of elasticity predicts unbounded (singular) stresses, are potential points for failure initiation. In this work, a complete stress characterization at these multimaterial corners has been carried out to analyze, after a preliminary experimental test program, the suitability of the application of the parameters defining the singular stress state in the characterization of the failure of these joints. The comparative analysis of the numerical and experimental results obtained show that the singular stress state controlled by a series of the generalized stress intensity factors is controlling the failure path at these corners.     

Multi-objective parameter estimation via minimal correlation criterion

The paper deals with the problem of parameter estimation using two different sources of information, namely a time series with dynamic data and steady-state data. The new estimator is based on a two-step procedure: first a multi-objective optimization is performed, leading to a set of Pareto-optimal vectors of parameter estimates and, second, a single model is chosen based on the free-run simulation error which is required to be minimally correlated with the model output. The procedure is general in nature and can be applied to any model representation, but for the sake of simplicity, the new procedure is illustrated using NARX polynomial models for which closed formulae for generating the Pareto-set are readily available. Monte Carlo simulation studies suggest that the new estimator, which does not assume any particular noise model, is fairly unbiased even when the conventional least-squares estimator is biased.     

Closed-form correlative coding (CFC2) blindidentification of MIMO channels: isometry fitting to second orderstatistics

We present a blind closed-form consistent channel estimator for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems that uses only second order statistics. We spectrally modulate the output of each source by correlative coding it with a distinct filter. The correlative filters are designed to meet the following desirable characteristics: no additional power or bandwidth is required; no synchronization between the sources is needed; the original data rate is maintained. We first prove an identifiability theorem: under a simple spectral condition on the transmitted random processes, the MIMO channel is uniquely determined, up to a phase offset per user, from the second order statistics of the received data. We then develop the closed-form algorithm that attains this identifiability bound. We show that minimum-phase finite impulse response filters with arbitrary memory satisfy our sufficient spectral identifiability condition. This results in a computationally attractive scheme for retrieving the data information sequences after the MIMO channel has been identified. We assess the performance of the proposed algorithms by computer simulations. In particular, the results show that our technique outperforms the previously introduced transmitter-induced conjugate cyclostationarity approach when there are carrier frequency misadjustments     

Alternative Extraction Method of Bioactive Compounds from Mulberry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Morus nigra</Emphasis> L.) Pulp Using Pressurized-Liquid Extraction

Black mulberry (Morus nigra L.) is one of the most important species of the genus Morus as its fruit contains substantial levels of anthocyanins and phenolic compounds which show a potentially positive effect on the human health. Nowadays, PLE is becoming a promising extraction technology. Therefore, the development of fast extraction methods of anthocyanins and phenolic compounds from mulberry pulp using pressurized-liquid extraction (PLE) has been studied in this paper. The operating conditions (solvent, temperature, pressure, purge time, pH, and flushing) were investigated by a Box–Behnken design. Analysis of the model clearly showed that the most influential factors were temperature and solvent composition. The optimum extraction conditions for anthocyanins were 47.2% methanol in water, a temperature of 75.5 °C, pressure of 200 atm, a purge time of 90 s, pH 3.01, and 50.2% for flushing. The best conditions for the extraction of phenolics were 74.6% methanol, 99.4 °C, 100 atm, 90 s purge, pH 7, and 100% flushing. The optimum extraction time was 10 min. The precision values of the methods were also evaluated and excellent results (RSD?<?5%) were obtained. The developed methods were successfully applied to several mulberry marmalade samples. The results using PLE were compared to those achieved by UAE methods. Similar extraction yields were obtained for anthocyanins by PLE and UAE under optimized conditions; however, PLE required less methanol consumption. Besides, PLE showed higher extraction efficiency for total phenolic compounds. From the results, it can be concluded that pressurized-liquid extraction can be considered as an efficient alternative and powerful tool for the extraction of bioactive compounds from mulberries.     

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of volatile oil from Italian coriander seeds

Supercritical CO₂ fluid extraction of the volatile oil from Italian coriander seeds was carried out under different conditions of temperature (40 and 50 °C), pressure (90, 100 and 150 bar), mean particle size (0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 mm) and CO₂ flow rate (0.79, 1.10 and 1.56kg/h) in order to evaluate their influence on the yield and composition of the volatile oil. Hydrodistillation with the same mean particle sizes was performed and used as a comparative method. The best supercritical fluid extraction conditions were found to be 90 bar, 40 °C, 1.10 kg/h and 0.6 mm. The chemical composition of each supercritical fluid extraction sample was analysed by GC and GC–MS and the global composition was compared with that obtained by hydrodistillation. The dominant components were linalool (65–79%), γ-terpinene (4–7%), camphor (3%), geranyl acetate (2–4%), α-pinene (1–3%), geraniol (1–3%) and limonene (1–2%). Moreover, supercritical fluid extraction samples were collected at specific intervals of amount of CO₂ consumed, during each extraction, and the contribution of the main volatile components from each sample, for the global volatile compositions, was evaluated. In general, the first sample of each extraction contained up to 50% of the mass of each component.     

Development and optimisation by means of sensory analysis of new beverages based on different fruit juices and sherry wine vinegar

BACKGROUND: Despite the long history of sherry wine vinegar, new alternatives of consumption are being developed, with the aim of diversifying its market. Several new acetic‐based fruit juices have been developed by optimising the amount of sherry wine vinegar added to different fruit juices: apple, peach, orange and pineapple. Once the concentrations of wine vinegar were optimised by an expert panel, the aforementioned new acetic fruit juices were tasted by 86 consumers. Three different aspects were taken into account: habits of consumption of vinegar and fruit juices, gender and age. RESULTS: Based on the sensory analysis, 50 g kg^?1 of wine vinegar was the optimal and preferred amount of wine vinegar added to the apple, orange and peach juices, whereas 10 g kg^?1 was the favourite for the pineapple fruit. Based on the olfactory and gustatory impression, and ‘purchase intent’, the acetic beverages made from peach and pineapple juices were the most appreciated, followed by apple juice, while those obtained from orange juice were the least preferred by consumers. CONCLUSION: New opportunities for diversification of the oenological market could be possible as a result of the development of this type of new product which can be easily developed by any vinegar or fruit juice maker company. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Capsaicinoid Contents in Peppers and Pepper-Related Spicy Foods

The quantification of the major capsaicinoids, namely nordihydrocapsaicin, capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, homocapsaicin, and homodihydrocapsaicin, present in spicy foods made from peppers has been performed. The capsaicin content is directly related to the pungency properties of foods that contain hot peppers. The samples studied included 10 different dried hot peppers, 19 hot sauces, 4 kinds of paprika, and 4 different ketchups. The range of concentrations of capsaicinoids found were as follows: dried hot peppers (554.1–1705.9 mol kg^?1), paprikas (582.0–665.0 mol kg^?1), spicy ketchups (4.0–12.4 mol kg^?1), and hot sauces (4.6–843.8 mol kg^?1). Variability in the capsaicinoid content was found, with capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin present at the highest levels. The capsaicin content was generally higher than the dihydrocapsaicin content.     

Technologies for enhancing accessibility and fighting info-exclusion

Universal Access in the Information Society -