Search results for "crop"

Prediction-Based Assembly Assistance System

2020

This paper presents the design of a prediction-based assembly assistance system for manual operations and the results obtained on the data collected from experiments of assembling a customizable product. We integrated into the proposed system a Markov predictor improved with a padding mechanism whose role is to recommend the next assembly step and to detect the worker’s errors. The predictor is trained with correct assembly patterns and tested with real assembly/manufacturing data. The proposed predictor improves the coverage and, thus, there is a significantly higher number of assembly steps which are correctly correlated with the real intentions of the workers.

Characterization of the porous structure of Chilean volcanic soils by nitrogen adsorption and mercury porosimetry

2004

Pore volume, specific surface area (SSA), and total intragranular porosity (TIP) of Chilean soils derived from volcanic materials were studied. Soil samples involving the 0-15 and 15-30 cm depth of virgin and cultivated Collipulli (Ultisol) and Diguillin (Andisol) soils at two particle size fractions (<1 mm and <2 µm) were considered. From mercury porosimetry and N2 adsorption, mainly mesopores (pore diameter, dpore, about 10 nm) were determined for <1 mm Collipulli samples. Diguillin <1 mm soil shows macroporosity with dpore from 70 nm to 7000 nm. The clay fraction of Collipulli has macropores (dpore from 2000 nm to 40000 nm) and mesopores (dpore from 3 nm to 23 nm), while for Diguillin cl…

Symbiosis between river and dry lands: phycobiont dynamics on river gravel bars

2020

AbstractRiver gravel bars are dynamic and heterogeneous habitats standing on transition between aquatic and terrestrial environment. Periodical flooding, low nutrient content, frost, missing safe sites, drought, and heat on the ground surface significantly influence life in these habitats. Mutualistic symbiosis may be a successful strategy for organisms to survive and to proliferate under harsh conditions. The lichen genus Stereocaulon was selected as a model symbiotic system among the organisms living on river gravel bars. The aim of our work was to determine effect of this dynamic environment on a phycobiont (i.e., green eukaryotic photobiont) community structure. We analysed 147 Stereoca…

Novel, automated, semi-industrial modular photobioreactor system for cultivation of demanding microalgae that produce fine chemicals - The next story…

2021

Abstract Recently, there has been increased interest in the use of microorganisms in the production of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and energy supply products, which is due to their rapid growth rate and ability to biosynthesize fine chemicals or biotransform specific xenobiotics. To achieve the desired scale of production and optimization of microbial cultures, it is necessary to design bioreactors that enable process automation, control of working parameters, reduction of microbial and chemical contaminations, and culture independence of climate conditions. In response to this need, an original, modular airlift-type photobioreactor system was designed and manufactured. This novel semit…

Detection of Southern tomato virus by molecular hybridisation

2017

Changes in total anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity in sweet cherries during frozen storage, and air-oven and infrared drying

2016

Introduction. Sweet cherries are important dietary components, based mainly on their content of antioxidant compounds related to health benefits. Different preservation procedures cause changes in the content of these compounds. Our work aimed at evaluation of changes in the total anthocyanin contents and antioxidant activities in fresh, frozen and dried sweet cherry fruits. Materials and methods. The total anthocyanin content of edible parts of sweet cherries was studied under different postharvest conditions. The total antioxidant activities were studied using total phenolic content and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. Results and discussion. We report higher amounts of phenolics…

Impact of Green Vegetables and Green Smoothies on Enamel Mineral Composition In Vitro

2019

Background: Recently, smoothies with a high vegetable content have become very popular, especially among young adults. Objectives: This in vitro study was conducted to determine the erosive potential of selected green vegetables and green smoothies on human dental enamel. Methods: A total of ten green smoothies and eight freshly mixed vegetables were chosen, and pH, calcium and oxalic acid contents were measured. The enamel specimens were obtained from wisdom teeth and incubated with 3 selected foods (spinach, parsley, or green smoothie) for 12 and 24 hours (N = 6). Control samples were incubated with a physiological salt solution. An electron probe microanalyzer (Jeol JXA 8900RL) was utili…

Seed oil extraction from red prickly pear using hexane and supercritical CO2: assessment of phenolic compound composition, antioxidant and antibacter…

2016

Investigating Opuntia species for their seed oil content is of much importance owing to their potential use for food and in cosmetic applications. These oils have an important content in unsaturated fatty acids as well as antioxidant compounds (e.g. polyphenols, vitamin E), which have been associated with the prevention of some chronic diseases. Moreover, Opuntia stricta oils possess important antimicrobial activities. For instance, the main focus of this study was to compare the effectiveness of conventional (hexane extraction) and novel (supercritical (SC)-CO2 ) extraction methods for the recovery of oil and phenolic compounds from O. stricta seeds. The oil yield of both extracts was then…

Recent advances inγ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) properties in pulses: an overview

2017

Beans, peas, and lentils are all types of pulses that are extensively used as foods around the world due to their beneficial effects on human health including their low glycaemic index, cholesterol lowering effects, ability to decrease the risk of heart diseases and their protective effects against some cancers. These health benefits are a result of their components such as bioactive proteins, dietary fibre, slowly digested starches, minerals and vitamins, and bioactive compounds. Among these bioactive compounds, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a non-proteinogenic amino acid with numerous reported health benefits (e.g. anti-diabetic and hypotensive effects, depression and anxiety reduction) is …

Lepidopteran species have a variety of defence strategies against bacterial infections

2017

The insect immune system has versatile ways of coping with microbial insults. Currently, innate immune priming has been described in several invertebrates, and the first insights into its mechanistic basis have been described. Here we studied infections with two different strains of Serratia marcescens bacteria in two different Lepidopteran hosts. The results reveal fundamental differences between the two hosts, a well-known model organism Galleria mellonella and a non-model species Arctia plantaginis. They differ in their strategies for resisting oral infections; priming their defences against a recurring sepsis; and upregulating immunity related genes as a response to the specific pathoge…