Effects of nutrient supplementation on fermentation kinetics, H2S evolution, and aroma profile in Verdicchio DOC wine production

Different yeast nutrient additions were studied for the 2008 and 2009 vintages of Verdicchio grape juice fermentation. Addition of yeast derivatives at the beginning of fermentation and/or different amounts of diammonium phosphate at various times within the first half of fermentation were examined, with initial yeast assimilable nitrogen concentrations set at 200 and 250 mg l^?1. Supplementation with glutathione in combination with this nitrogen addition was also evaluated. Fermentation rates were monitored throughout these fermentations carried out under different nutrient conditions. H₂S production during fermentation and synthesis of volatile compounds in the finished wines were quantified; the wines also underwent sensory evaluation. The fermentation kinetics were almost exclusively influenced by the inorganic nitrogen supplementation with diammonium phosphate. H₂S evolution was more affected by assimilable nitrogen than glutathione. Diammonium phosphate significantly reduced H₂S production, with a further reduction in the presence of yeast derivative. This nitrogen supplementation yielded higher concentrations of acetate esters, and in particular of isoamyl acetate (fruity aromas), which positively influences the analytical and aroma profile of wines and results in a general reduction in 2-phenylethanol production (floral aromas). Overall results (two harvesting times and vintages) indicate that the management with diammonium phosphate and yeast derivative supplementation improves the kinetics of fermentation and provides a good tool to reduce H₂S formation and increase the analytical and sensory quality of Verdicchio wine.     

An Analytical Model to Measure the Effectiveness of Safety Management Systems: Global Safety Improve Risk Assessment (G-SIRA) Method

The ever-increasing complexity of production systems, together with the need to obtain efficient processes with limited costs, has led companies to develop custom tools for process control and management. Even for risk assessment, the traditional models often are overcome by methods that are best suited to specific needs. In this context, the aim of this paper was to propose a new model, which we call the global safety improve risk assessment (G-SIRA). This model can classify risks and identify corrective actions that allow the best risk reduction at the lowest cost. The proposed model, which is based on improvements to previous research, uses the analytic hierarchy process approach to develop a valid and simple tool for risk management. The G-SIRA method has been tested in a real-world application, i.e., it was applied to all of the processes of a textile company, and the results were compared with those obtained from the classical approach failure mode, effects, and criticality analysis. The comparison clearly showed the effectiveness of the proposed model.     

Player behavior and traffic characterization for MMORPGs: a survey

Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) are one of the most exciting and most rapidly expanding genres of online games. This survey presents state-of-the-art and current research efforts in measuring, characterizing, and modeling the player behavior and the network traffic, as well as the relationships between them. We also tabulate the measurement, modeling and analysis results regarding network traffic and player behavior found in literature, with key information regarding each dataset. Finally, we list currently confirmed claims and open research questions in the area of MMORPGs.     

A new method for computing fuzzy functional dependencies in relational database systems

In this paper, we present a new method for computing fuzzy functional dependencies between attributes in fuzzy relational database systems. The method is based on the use of fuzzy implications. A literature analysis has shown that there is no algorithm that would enable the identification of attribute relationships in fuzzy relational schemas. This fact was the motive for development a new methodology in the analysis of fuzzy functional dependencies over a given set of attributes. Solving this, not so new problem, is not only research challenge having theoretical importance, but it also has practical significance. Possible applications of the proposed methodology include GIS, data mining, information retrieval, reducing data redundancy in fuzzy relations through implementation of logical database model, estimation of missing values etc.     

Design,manufacture and geometric verification of rapid prototyped microfluidic encapsulations by computed tomography

This paper presents the dimensional verification of encapsulations used to package microfluidic devices manufactured using a 3D printer of photopolymerisable resin. This characterisation has been performed by computed tomography (CT) by comparing newly manufactured encapsulations and samples that have been subjected to test conditions. Thus, it has been possible to draw conclusions both on the deviations of the nominal geometry of the encapsulations and on how this might affect their performance. This paper presents a scheme of dimensional verification from the point clouds obtained by CT. Finally, a combined threshold and scale factor correction technique of the tomography images is shown. This method is based on the simultaneous measurement of objective and master parts with known geometry. The results reveal the improvements achievable in the accuracy, given a particular machine configuration. The conclusions facilitate the improvement of the geometric design of these devices regarding their behaviour under test conditions.     

A method for the remote sensing identification of uncontrolled landfills: formulation and validation

The identification of uncontrolled landfills is a central environmental problem in all developed and developing countries, where several illegal waste deposits exist as a result of rapid industrial growth over the past century. Remote sensing can potentially provide crucial information for the identification of contaminated sites, but surprisingly there is a marked lack of rigorously validated approaches. In this paper we introduce and validate a method that uses remotely sensed information and a geographic information system (GIS) to identify unknown landfills over large areas. The method is applied to a study area located in NE Italy (part of the Venice lagoon watershed) using IKONOS satellite data. Soil contamination effects on the radiometric properties of vegetation, calibrated using spectral signatures of stressed vegetation from known illegal landfill sites, were used to define numerous candidate sites that are most likely to host waste materials. Distributed geographical information, such as the position of the road network, the population density, and historical aerial photographs, have then been used to select the most likely contaminated sites among the candidates identified through remote sensing. The importance of the integration of GIS and remote sensing is highlighted and represents a key instrument for environmental management and for the spatially distributed characterization of possible uncontrolled landfill sites.     

Isolation and molecular characterization of antibiotic-resistant lactic acid bacteria from poultry and swine meat products

The transfer via the food chain from animals to humans of microbes that are resistant to antimicrobial agents is of increasing concern. To determine the contributions of nonpathogenic microflora to the occurrence and spread of antibiotic resistance (AR) genes in the food chain, 123 lactic acid bacteria were isolated from 29 samples of raw and processed pork and chicken meat products that had previously tested positive for one or more AR genes that encode clinically relevant ARs: tet(M), tet(O), tet(K), erm(A), erm(B), erm(C), aac (6')-Ie aph (2")-Ia, mecA, and blaZ. All of the isolates were initially tested for their AR gene profiles by PCR. The 59 isolates carrying a tet, erm, or blaZ gene were taken through molecular identification, analyzed by determination of the MIC, and subjected to genetic fingerprinting. Lactococcus garvieae was the predominant species (28 isolates), followed by Lactobacillus plantarum (11 isolates) and L. salivarius (6 isolates), whereas Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactobacillus johnsonii, L. reuteri, L. crispatus, and L. brevis were identified at lower frequencies. The tet(M) and erm(B) genes were the most frequently detected. Assessment of multiple resistances in 18 tet positive (tet+) isolates revealed that tet(M) plus erm(B) and tet(K) plus erm(B) were the most frequent AR gene patterns. Partial sequencing of the tet(M) open reading frame of three selected strains showed high sequence similarities (> 99%) with tet(M) genes previously found in human pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes and Neisseria meningitidis). Southern hybridization with plasmid profiles revealed these strains contained tet(M)-carrying plasmids.