Transportation,handling, and microbial growth performance of molded fiber and expanded polystyrene apple trays

Washington State apples are shipped all over the United States for retail sales. Adequate packaging is needed to minimize apple damage during distribution. Two common materials used for apple trays are expanded polystyrene (EPS) and molded fiber (MF). A recent industry change from MF to EPS trays provoked an interest in exploring the performance difference between the two. Distribution environment hazards include shock, vibration, and compression forces. Prior work has focused only on comparing vibration or shock performance of EPS and MF trays used in protecting apples. In this study, a variety of typical hazards encountered between case pack and retail preparation are considered on a larger sampling scale. The shock, vibration, and interlayer dynamic compressive forces are simulated as well as free‐fall drops possible with manual handling of the cases. A novel device and test method is developed to simulate the forces because of human hands removing trays of apples from the case at retail. Further, a microbial analysis of worst case apple condensation is performed to compare the tray materials effect on apple microbial populations. It is concluded through physical and microbial testing that there is no statistical difference in the physical protection or the growth of microbial populations between EPS and MF apple trays. Most significant tray damage is observed in the EPS trays because of free‐fall drop testing. Apple tray material selection can be shifted to other factors such as cost or consumer preference.     

Chemical routes in the synthesis of nanomaterials using the sol-gel process

In this Account, we discuss the usefulness of the sol-gel process in the synthesis of materials comprising nanoscale architectures. We describe the processing of semiconducting, metallic, ferroelectric, or scintillating nanoparticles in various oxide matrices. We also discuss the synthesis of some nanoporous oxides and organic-inorganic nanohybrids, including core-shell nanostructures.     

When Does Communication Learning Need Hierarchical Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning

Abstract

Multi-agent systems need to communicate to coordinate a shared task. We show that a recurrent neural network (RNN) can learn a communication protocol for coordination, even if the actions to coordinate are performed steps after the communication phase. We show that a separation of tasks with different temporal scale is necessary for successful learning. We contribute a hierarchical deep reinforcement learning model for multi-agent systems that separates the communication and coordination task from the action picking through a hierarchical policy. We further on show, that a separation of concerns in communication is beneficial but not necessary. As a testbed, we propose the Dungeon Lever Game and we extend the Differentiable Inter-Agent Learning (DIAL) framework. We present and compare results from different model variations on the Dungeon Lever Game.     

Pore conductivity control at the hundred-nanometer scale: an experimental and theoretical study

We report on the observation of an unexpected mechanism that controls conductivity at the 100-nm scale on track-etched polycarbonate membranes. Transport measurements of positively charged methyl viologen performed by absorption spectroscopy under various pH conditions demonstrate that for 100-nm-diameter pores at pH 2 conductivity is blocked, while at pH 5 the ions move through the membrane according to diffusion laws. An oppositely charged molecular ion, naphthalene disulfonate, in the same membrane, shows the opposite trend: diffusion of the negative ion at pH 2 and very low conductivity at pH 5. The influence of parameters such as ionic strength and membrane surface coating are also investigated. A theoretical study of the system shows that at the 100-nm scale the magnitude of the electric field in the vicinity of the pores is too small to account for the experimental observations; rather, it is the surface trapping of the mobile ion (Cl- or Na+) that gives rise to the observed control of the conductivity. This surprising effect has potential applications for high-throughput separation of large molecules and bio-organisms.     

Evanescent wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy: a platform for the study of supported lipid bilayers

Evanescent wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy (EW-CRDS) is advocated as an approach for monitoring the formation of supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) on quartz substrates in situ and for the quantitative study of fast molecular adsorption kinetics at the resulting modified biomimetic surface. This approach is illustrated using SLBs of 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP). Complementary atomic force microscopy (AFM) and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) measurements confirm the formation of bilayers on quartz. The subsequent interaction of the porphyrin, 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphine-p,p',p',p'-tetrasulfonic acid tetrasodium hydrate (TPPS) with the cationic bilayer-modified silica surface has been studied using EW-CRDS combined with an impinging-jet to deliver analyte to the surface in a well-defined manner. The adsorption of TPPS to the bilayer was kinetically controlled and the adsorption rate constant was found to be 1.7 (±0.6) × 10(-4) cm s(-1) from finite element modeling of the jet hydrodynamics and associated convective-diffusion equation, coupled to a first-order surface process describing adsorption. These proof-of-concept studies provide a platform for the investigation of molecular processes at biomembranes using EW-CRDS for chemical species showing optical absorbance in the visible and ultraviolet range.     

Added dietary sulfur and molybdenum has a greater influence on hepatic copper concentration,intake, and performance in Holstein-Friesian dairy cows offered a grass silage- rather than corn silage-based diet

To test the hypothesis that the metabolism of Cu in dairy cows is affected by basal forage and added S and Mo, 56 dairy cows that were 35 (standard error ± 2.2) days postcalving and yielding 38.9 kg of milk/d (standard error ± 0.91) were offered 1 of 4 diets in a 2 × 2 factorial design for a 14-wk period. The 4 diets contained approximately 20 mg of Cu/kg of dry matter (DM), and had a corn silage-to-grass silage ratio of 0.75:0.25 (C) or 0.25:0.75 (G) and were either unsupplemented (?) or supplemented (+) with an additional 2 g of S/kg of DM and 6.5 mg of Mo/kg of DM. We found an interaction between forage source and added S and Mo on DM intake, with cows offered G+ having a 2.1 kg of DM lower intake than those offered G?, but no effect on the corn silage-based diets. Mean milk yield was 38.9 kg/d and we observed an interaction between basal forage and added S and Mo, with yield being decreased in cows offered G+ but increased on C+. No effect of dietary treatment on milk composition or live weight was noted, but body condition was lower in cows fed added S and Mo irrespective of forage source. We found an interaction between forage source and added S and Mo on milk somatic cell count, which was higher in cows offered G+ compared with G?, but not in cows fed the corn silage-based diets, although all values were low (mean values of 1.72, 1.50, 1.39, and 1.67 log₁₀/mL for C?, C+, G?, and G+, respectively). Mean plasma Cu, Fe, and Mn concentrations were 13.8, 41.3, and 0.25 µmol/L, respectively, and were not affected by dietary treatment, whereas plasma Mo was 0.2 µmol/L higher in cows receiving added S and Mo. The addition of dietary S and Mo decreased liver Cu balance over the study period in cows fed either basal forage, but the decrease was considerably greater in cows receiving the grass silage-based diet. Similarly, hepatic Fe decreased more in cows receiving G than C when S and Mo were included in the diet. We concluded that added S and Mo reduces hepatic Cu reserves irrespective of basal forage source, but this decrease is considerably more pronounced in cows receiving grass silage- than corn silage-based rations and is associated with a decrease in intake and milk performance and an increase in milk somatic cell count.     

Low energy electron excited nanoscale luminescence spectroscopy of erbium doped AIN

We have investigated the optical activity of Er³⁺ ions in AlN via depth-resolved, (5 nm to 250 nm), low energy electron-excited nanoscale (LEEN) luminescence spectroscopy and compared it with the luminescence of an Er-free AlN film. For the Er-free film, there was no emission in the IR from the AlN at any depth, and at higher energies we measured only a broad, weak feature between 1.7–3.25 eV along with an O defect related feature at 3.8 eV, which is significantly enhanced toward the surface. We found strong emission in the AlN:Er films from the first excited → ground state transition of Er³⁺ at 0.80 eV along with many other excited state transitions, although the features are broad compared to those of GaN:Er. The AlN:Er luminescence saturates near a concentration of 10²¹ cm⁻³, at which point we also observe enhanced O defect related luminescence uniformly distributed throughout the film. This finding suggests a role for O in activating the Er at low Er concentrations, while inhibiting the Er activity at high O concentrations.     

Estimating suspended sediment concentrations in turbid coastal waters of the Santa Barbara Channel with SeaWiFS

A technique is presented for estimating suspended sediment concentrations of turbid coastal waters with remotely sensed multi-spectral data. The method improves upon many standard techniques, since it incorporates analyses of multiple wavelength bands (four for Sea-viewing Wide Field of view Sensor (SeaWiFS)) and a nonlinear calibration, which produce highly accurate results (expected errors are approximately ±10%). Further, potential errors produced by erroneous atmospheric calibration in excessively turbid waters and influences of dissolved organic materials, chlorophyll pigments and atmospheric aerosols are limited by a dark pixel subtraction and removal of the violet to blue wavelength bands. Results are presented for the Santa Barbara Channel, California where suspended sediment concentrations ranged from 0–200+ mg?l^?1 (±20?mg?l^?1) immediately after large river runoff events. The largest plumes were observed 10–30?km off the coast and occurred immediately following large El Niño winter floods.     

Enhanced Bioavailability of Eicosapentaenoic Acid from Fish Oil After Encapsulation Within Plant Spore Exines as Microcapsules

Benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) can be enhanced by raising their bioavailability through microencapsulation. Pollen can be emptied to form hollow shells, known as exines, and then used to encapsulate material, such as oils in a dry powder form. Six healthy volunteers ingested 4.6 g of fish oil containing 20% EPA in the form of ethyl ester first alone and then as 1:1 microencapsulated powder of exines and fish oil. Serum bioavailability of EPA was measured by area under curve (AUC_0–24). The mean AUC_0–24 of EPA from ethyl ester with exine (M = 19.7, SD = 4.3) was significantly higher than ethyl ester without exines (M = 2, SD = 1.4, p < 0.01).The bioavailability of EPA is enhanced by encapsulation by pollen exines.     

The influence of electron momentum on the shape of backscatter peaks in gamma-ray spectrometers

The shape and intensity of backscatter peaks in pulse-height spectra have a complicated dependence on details of detector design, gamma-ray energy and geometry. In addition they show a remarkably strong systematic dependence on the atomic number of the scattering material and even manifest specifically solid state effects. The external backscatter peak can be regarded as a weighted composite of Compton profiles with an unexploited potential for revealing small changes in the electron momentum spectra of the scattering material. Its sensitivity in this role could be improved by the use of detectors with very thick depletion layers and by a redesign of the coldfinger to diminish the internal backscatter peak. By reduction of the source energy and the use of a small absorber post, the system evolves into a new type of Compton-profile spectrometer of outstanding efficiency and small dimensions.