Determination of the Optimum Harvest Window for Apples Using the Non-Destructive Biospeckle Method.

Determination of the optimum harvest window plays a key role in the agro-food chain as the quality of fruit depends on the right harvesting time and appropriate storage conditions during the postharvest period. Usually, indices based on destructive measurements are used for this purpose, like the De Jager Index (PFW-1), FARS index and the most popular Streif Index. In this study, we proposed a biospeckle method for the evaluation of the optimum harvest window (OHW) of the "Ligol" and "Szampion" apple cultivars. The experiment involved eight different maturity stages, of which four were followed by long cold storage and shelf life to assist the determination of the optimum harvest window. The biospeckle activity was studied in relation to standard quality attributes (firmness, acidity, starch, soluble solids content, Streif Index) and physiological parameters (respiration and ethylene emission) of both apple cultivars. Changes of biospeckle activity (BA) over time showed moderate relationships with biochemical changes during apple maturation and ripening. The harvest date suggested by the Streif Index and postharvest quality indicators matched with characteristic decrease in BA. The ability of biospeckle method to characterize the biological state of apples was confirmed by significant correlations of BA with firmness, starch index, total soluble solids and Streif Index, as well as good match with changes in carbon dioxide and ethylene emission. However, it should be noted that correlations between variables changing over time are not as meaningful as independent observations. Also, it is a well-known property of the Pearson's correlation that its value is highly susceptible to outlier data. Due to its non-selective nature the BA reflected only the current biological state of the fruit and could be affected by many other factors. The investigations showed that the optimum harvest window for apples was indicated by the characteristic drop of BA during pre-harvest development. Despite this, at the current state of development the BA method cannot be used as an indicator alone. Due to rather poor results for prediction in OHW the BA measurements should be supported by other destructive methods to compensate its low selectivity.

Effect of Psyllium Husk Addition on the Structural and Physical Properties of Biodegradable Thermoplastic Starch Film.

The research subject was the analysis of the microstructure, barrier properties, and mechanical resistance of the psyllium husk (PH)-modified thermoplastic starch films. The tensile tests under various static loading conditions were not performed by researchers for this type of material before and are essential for a more precise assessment of the material's behavior under the conditions of its subsequent use. The film samples were manufactured by the casting method. PH addition improved starch gelatinization and caused a decrease in failure strain by 86% and an increase in failure stress by 48% compared to pure films. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results showed the formation of additional hydrogen bonds between polysaccharides in starch and PH. An increase in the number of hydrophilic groups in the modified films resulted in a faster contact angle decrease (27.4% compared to 12.8% for pure ones within the first 5 s); however, it increased the energy of water binding and surface complexity. The modified films showed the opacity at 600 nm, 43% higher than in the pure starch film, and lower transmittance, suggesting effectively improving barrier properties to UV light, a potent lipid-oxidizing agent in food systems.

Effect of Nesfatin-1 on Rat Humerus Mechanical Properties under Quasi-Static and Impact Loading Conditions.

The investigations on the response of bone tissue under different loading conditions are important from clinical and engineering points of view. In this paper, the influence of nesfatin-1 administration on rat humerus mechanical properties was analyzed. The classical three-point bending and impact tests were carried out for three rat bone groups: control (SHO), the humerus of animals under the conditions of established osteopenia (OVX), and bones of rats receiving nesfatin-1 after ovariectomy (NES). The experiments proved that the bone strength parameters measured under various mechanical loading conditions increased after the nesfatin-1 administration. The OVX bones were most susceptible to deformation and had the smallest fracture toughness. The SEM images of humerus fracture surface in this group showed that ovariectomized rats had a much looser bone structure compared to the SHO and NES females. Loosening of the bone structure was also confirmed by the densitometric and qualitative EDS analysis, showing a decrease in the OVX bones' mineral content. The samples of the NES group were characterized by the largest values of maximum force obtained under both quasi-static and impact conditions. The energies absorbed during the impact and the critical energy for fracture (from the three-point bending test) were similar for the SHO and NES groups. Statistically significant differences were observed between the mean Fi max values of all analyzed sample groups. The obtained results suggest that the impact test was more sensitive than the classical quasi-static three-point bending one. Hence, Fi max could be used as a parameter to predict bone fracture toughness.

Effect of Nitrogen Ion Implantation on the Cavitation Erosion Resistance and Cobalt-Based Solid Solution Phase Transformations of HIPed Stellite 6.

From the wide range of engineering materials traditional Stellite 6 (cobalt alloy) exhibits excellent resistance to cavitation erosion (CE). Nonetheless, the influence of ion implantation of cobalt alloys on the CE behaviour has not been completely clarified by the literature. Thus, this work investigates the effect of nitrogen ion implantation (NII) of HIPed Stellite 6 on the improvement of resistance to CE. Finally, the cobalt-rich matrix phase transformations due to both NII and cavitation load were studied. The CE resistance of stellites ion-implanted by 120 keV N+ ions two fluences: 5 × 1016 cm-2 and 1 × 1017 cm-2 were comparatively analysed with the unimplanted stellite and AISI 304 stainless steel. CE tests were conducted according to ASTM G32 with stationary specimen method. Erosion rate curves and mean depth of erosion confirm that the nitrogen-implanted HIPed Stellite 6 two times exceeds the resistance to CE than unimplanted stellite, and has almost ten times higher CE reference than stainless steel. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms that NII of HIPed Stellite 6 favours transformation of the ε(hcp) to γ(fcc) structure. Unimplanted stellite ε-rich matrix is less prone to plastic deformation than γ and consequently, increase of γ phase effectively holds carbides in cobalt matrix and prevents Cr7C3 debonding. This phenomenon elongates three times the CE incubation stage, slows erosion rate and mitigates the material loss. Metastable γ structure formed by ion implantation consumes the cavitation load for work-hardening and γ → ε martensitic transformation. In further CE stages, phases transform as for unimplanted alloy namely, the cavitation-inducted recovery process, removal of strain, dislocations resulting in increase of γ phase. The CE mechanism was investigated using a surface profilometer, atomic force microscopy, SEM-EDS and XRD. HIPed Stellite 6 wear behaviour relies on the plastic deformation of cobalt matrix, starting at Cr7C3/matrix interfaces. Once the Cr7C3 particles lose from the matrix restrain, they debond from matrix and are removed from the material. Carbides detachment creates cavitation pits which initiate cracks propagation through cobalt matrix, that leads to loss of matrix phase and as a result the CE proceeds with a detachment of massive chunk of materials.

The effect of application of digestate and agro-food industry sludges on Dystric Cambisol porosity.

The spatial arrangement and pore size distribution play an important role in accumulation and protection of exogenous organic matter (EOM) in the soil, but how different organic materials contribute to modify pore structure is poorly understood. We aimed at exploring possible changes in the complexity of the soil phase during fertilization with different doses of digestate and sludges sourced from the agro-food industry. For this purpose, the short-term effects-one year, of soil fertilization, were investigated in several sampling periods and within two depths (0-25 cm and 25-40 cm). Changes in the specific surface area (SSA), total pore volume (VMIP), total pore area (SMIP), average pore radius (RMIP) and pore size distribution (PSD) were monitored using N2 adsorption/desorption (NAD) and mercury porosimetry (MIP) methods. Our results showed that the intensity of observed changes depended on the type and dose of organic material, soil depth and sampling date. Accumulation of EOM increased with soil depth, masking a large proportion of SSA. Deeper soil layer was more susceptible to changes in the pore size distributions due to the formation of new elongated pores. We concluded that this specific structural porosity was related to the decomposition of organic matter during the formation of soil aggregates.

Prenatally administered HMB modifies the enamel surface roughness in spiny mice offspring: An atomic force microscopy study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to check the effect of the prenatally administered ß-hydroxy ß-methylbutyrate (HMB) on the development of enamel surface of the spiny mice offspring. DESIGN: The spiny mice dams were randomly assigned into three groups: control group (not supplemented with HMB) and two experimental groups in which powdered HMB was given at the daily dosage of 0.2g/kg of body weight (group I) and 0.02g/kg of body weight (group II) during the last period of gestation. Newborn pups were euthanized by CO2 inhalation. The morphology of incisor teeth was analysed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in semi-contact mode in the height, magnitude and phase domains. Height images became a basis for determination of surface roughness parameters. RESULTS: Conducted study indicated that maternal HMB administration markedly influences enamel development. Enamel of offspring's teeth in both experimental groups was characterized by significantly smaller values of indices describing surface roughness and profile. HMB supplementation influenced the calculated parameters regardless of the diet type and offspring sex, however higher dose of HMB caused stronger changes in enamel surface's physical properties and could be observed in higher intensity in the male group. CONCLUSIONS: HMB administration caused reduction in the irregularities of enamel surface, thereby possibly reducing the probability of bacteria adhesion and caries development. These observations may serve to improve nutrition and supplementation of animals and could be a lead for further research.