Changes in the milk and cheese fat composition of ewes fed commercial supplements containing linseed with special reference to the CLA content and isomer composition

A study was carried out to increase the CLA contents in ewes’ milk fat under field conditions by dietary means and to investigate the extent of the changes and consequences for milk processing and cheese quality. During a 3-mon period, ewes’ bulk milk samples were collected every week from two different herds. For the first 4 wk the ewes were fed a conventional diet. Then the following 6 wk a supplement enriched in α-linolenate (whole linseed) was incorporated into the ovine diet. Finally, in the last 3 wk the feeding was the same as in the first 4 wk. The FA profile in milk fat was monitored by GC, and the distribution of CLA isomers was thoroughly tested by combining GC-MS of 4,4-dimethyloxazoline derivatives (DMOX) with silver ion-HPLC (Ag⁺-HPLC) of FAME. Reconstructed mass spectral profiles of CLA characteristic ions from DMOX were used to identify positional isomers, and Ag⁺-HPLC was used to quantify them. An increase in total CLA in milk fat was observed, and total CLA remained elevated during the weeks of enriched α-linolenate feeding. In our experimental conditions there was a linear relationship between trans-vaccenic acid (trans-11-octadecenoic acid; trans-11 18∶1) and 9-cis, 11-trans CLA in ewes’ milk fat. Concerning the CLA isomer profile, increases in the 11,13- and 12,14–18∶2 positional isomers were considerable when linseed was included in the diet. Organoleptic characteristics of cheeses made with CLA-enriched milk did not substantially differ from those made with nonsupplemented ewes’ milk. CLA total content and isomer profile did not change during ripening.     

Physical examination of arteriovenous fistula: The influence of professional experience in the detection of complications

Vascular access is one of the leading causes of mobilization of financial resources in health systems for people with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. Physical examination of the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) has demonstrated its effectiveness in identifying complications. We decided to evaluate the influence of nurses' professional experience in the detection of complications of the AVF (venous stenosis and steal syndrome). The study took place in eight hemodialysis centers between May and September of 2011 in the north of Portugal. Sample was constituted by registered nurses. The nurses involved in the experiment were divided in two groups: those who had more than 5 years of experience and those who had less than 5 years of experience. Ninety‐two nurses participated in the study: 34 nurses had less than 5 years of professional experience and 58 had more than 5 years of professional experience. In the practices considered by nurses in the detection of venous stenosis, there were no differences observed between the groups (P > 0.05). In steal syndrome, there were no differences observed between the groups in the practices of the nurses in the detection of this complication of the AVF (P > 0.05). We concluded that professional experience does not influence the detection of venous stenosis and steal syndrome.     

Nonlinear optoelectronic materials formed by push–pull (bi)thiophene derivatives functionalized with di(tri)cyanovinyl acceptor groups

Novel nonlinear optical (NLO) materials based on six novel NLO chromophores featuring di(tri)cyanovinyl acceptor linked to (bi)thiophene heterocyclic donor system were fabricated for the first time in polymethyl methacrylate matrices with a 1,064 nm laser working in the 20 ns time pulse regime. Absorption spectra and DFT calculations were also done. This multidisciplinary study showed that tayloring of the optical (linear and nonlinear) properties in the desired direction can be achieved by increasing the length of the π-conjugated heterocyclic system (thiophene vs. bithiophene), the strength of the electron donor groups (H → MeO/EtO → Et₂N) as well as the strength of the electron acceptor moieties (dicyanovinyl vs. tricyanovinyl, two vs. three electron withdrawing cyano groups). Due to the relatively high and tunable second-order susceptibilities (0.08–6.45 pm/V at wavelength 1,064 nm), the studied push–pull chromophores can be denoted as promising second-order NLO chromophores.     

A case-based approach for coordinated action selection in robot soccer

Designing coordinated robot behaviors in uncertain, dynamic, real-time, adversarial environments, such as in robot soccer, is very challenging. In this work we present a case-based reasoning approach for cooperative action selection, which relies on the storage, retrieval, and adaptation of example cases. We focus on cases of coordinated attacking passes between robots in the presence of the defending opponent robots. We present the case representation explicitly distinguishing between controllable and uncontrollable indexing features, corresponding to the positions of the team members and opponent robots, respectively. We use the symmetric properties of the domain to automatically augment the case library. We introduce a retrieval technique that weights the similarity of a situation in terms of the continuous ball positional features, the uncontrollable features, and the cost of moving the robots from the current situation to match the case controllable features. The case adaptation includes a best match between the positions of the robots in the past case and in the new situation. The robots are assigned an adapted position to which they move to maximize the match to the retrieved case. Case retrieval and reuse are achieved within the distributed team of robots through communication and sharing of own internal states and actions. We evaluate our approach, both in simulation and with real robots, in laboratory scenarios with two attacking robots versus two defending robots as well as versus a defender and a goalie. We show that we achieve the desired coordinated passing behavior, and also outperform a reactive action selection approach.     

Use of coffee by‐products for the cultivation of Pleurotus citrinopileatus and Pleurotus salmoneo‐stramineus and its impact on biological properties of extracts thereof

Incorporating spent coffee grounds (SCGs), a by‐product from coffee brewing, in growth substrate of beneficial edible mushrooms is an approach that has to be further studied due to its potential positive outcomes: environmental impact mitigation, production costs reduction and beneficial impact on consumer health. Hence, cultivation of Pleurotus citrinopileatus and Pleurotus salmoneo‐stramineus was tested using SCG which enabled maximum production yield of P. citrinopileatus which was of 25.1% (w/w). Variable antidiabetic potential was observed between aqueous and enzymatic extracts (3.8%–29% inhibition) regardless species and substrates, whereas aqueous extract of P. citrinopileatus grown in substrate without SCG stood out presenting the highest antioxidant activity and inhibition activity of angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (IC₅₀ = 123 μg mL^?1). Ethanolic and aqueous extracts of both Pleurotus species grown in the presence or absence of SGC proved to be an interesting prebiotic source for growth of Bifidobacterium animalis Bo in comparison with fructooligosaccharides (FOS).     

Development and validation of a high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay for determination of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and methylenedioxy derivatives in meconium

A procedure based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) is described for determination of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and methylendioxy derivatives in meconium, using 3,4-methylendioxypropylamphetamine as internal standard. The analytes were initially extracted from the matrix by 17 mM methanolic HCl. Subsequently, a solid-phase extraction with Bondelut Certify columns was applied. Chromatography was performed on a C(18) reversed-phase column using a linear gradient of 10 mM ammonium bicarbonate, pH 9.0-methanol as a mobile phase. Analytes were determined in LC-MS single ion monitoring mode with an atmospheric pressure ionization-electrospray interface. The method was validated in the range 0.005-1.00 microg/g using 1 g of meconium per assay. Mean recoveries ranged between 61.1 and 87.2% for different analytes. The quantification limits were 0.005 microg/g meconium for amphetamine, methamphetamine, and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine and 0.004 microg/g meconium for 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine, and N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butanamine. The method was applied to analysis of meconium in newborns to assess eventual fetal exposure to amphetamine derivatives.     

Dissimilar Resistance Spot Welding of Q&P and TWIP Steel Sheets

Dissimilar resistance spot welding of twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) and quenching and partitioning (Q&P) steel grades has been investigated by evaluating the effects of clamping force, welding current, and welding time on the microstructure, shear tension strength, and fracture of welded samples. The spot welding of TWIP and Q&P steels promotes the occurrence of an asymmetrical weld nugget with a greater dilution of TWIP steel because of its lower melting temperature and thermal conductivity. As a result, weld nuggets exhibit an austenitic microstructure. TWIP steel undergoes a grain coarsening in the HAZ, whereas Q&P steel undergoes some phase transformations. Welded samples tend to exhibit higher shear tension strength as they are joined at the highest welding current, even though an improper clamping force can promote excessive metal expulsion, thereby reducing the mechanical strength of the welded joints. Shear tension welded samples failed through interfacial fracture with partial thickness fracture mode for a low welding current, while partial thickness with button pull fractures were observed when a high welding current was used. The weld spots predominantly failed at the TWIP side. However, as TWIP steel can work harden significantly in the more resistant welded joints, the failures occur, instead, at the Q&P side.     

Changes in selected biochemical and sensory parameters as affected by the superficial inoculation of Penicillium camemberti on dry fermented sausages

An atoxigenic strain of Penicillium camemberti was superficially inoculated on fermented sausages in an attempt to improve their sensory properties. The growth of this mould on the surface of the sausages resulted in an intense proteolysis and lipolysis, which caused an increase in the concentration of free amino acids, free fatty acids (FFA) and volatile compounds. Many of these were derived from amino acid catabolism and were responsible for the "ripened flavour", i.e. branched aldehydes and the corresponding alcohols, acids and esters. The development of the fungal mycelia on the surface of the sausages also protected lipids from oxidation, resulting in both lower 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) values and lipid oxidation-derived compounds, such as aliphatic aldehydes and alcohols. The sensory analysis of superficially inoculated sausages showed clear improvements in odour and flavour and, as a consequence, in the overall quality of the sausages. Therefore, this strain is proposed as a potential starter culture for dry fermented sausage production.     

Design with shape grammars and reinforcement learning

Shape grammars are a powerful and appealing formalism for automatic shape generation in computer-based design systems. This paper presents a proposal complementing the generative power of shape grammars with reinforcement learning techniques. We use simple (naive) shape grammars capable of generating a large variety of different designs. In order to generate those designs that comply with given design requirements, the grammar is subject to a process of machine learning using reinforcement learning techniques. Based on this method, we have developed a system for architectural design, aimed at generating two-dimensional layout schemes of single-family housing units. Using relatively simple grammar rules, we learn to generate schemes that satisfy a set of requirements stated in a design guideline. Obtained results are presented and discussed.     

Influence of edible coating on quality of plum (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus salicina</Emphasis> Lindl. cv. ‘Sapphire’)

Edible coating may enhance the boundary layer resistance resulting in enhanced shelf life of fruits. Plums (Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. ‘Sapphire’) were treated with coating material based on carbohydrate (Versasheen) with sorbitol as plasticizer and stored at 20 °C and 85% RH. The influence of coating on the gas transmission rates was estimated using a carrier of 100% cellulose paper. Coating treatment reduced the transmission rate of CO₂, O₂, and H₂O. Changes in fruit weight, fruit flesh firmness, color parameters (L*, a*, and hue angle), soluble solids content, pH, titratable acidity, ethylene, CO₂, malondialdehyde (MDA), and VIS/NIR fruit reflectance spectrum were recorded in 2-day interval. Edible coating was effective in delaying the increase of pH and the loss of firmness, titratable acidity, L*, hue angle, and MDA. The incorporation of sorbitol showed beneficial effects on decreasing the weight loss, CO₂, and ethylene exchange. In the room temperature storage period, not only fruit ripening was measurable in the VIS (350–750 nm) and NIR (750–1,400 nm) wavelength ranges due to the decrease in the fruit chlorophyll absorption but also water loss, respectively. After 5-day room temperature storage the chlorophyll absorption peak in the spectra was already beyond the detection limit in all treatments, while after 3-day storage, the coating effect on the spectral intensities was feasible to separate control from coated plums.