Processes Mapping in Cotton Culture to Traceability Creation

Traceability is a concept that arose from the need for monitoring of production processes, this concept is usually used in sectors related to food production or activities involving some kind of direct risk to people. Agribusiness in the cotton industry does not have a comprehensive infrastructure for all stages of the processes involved in production. Map and define the data to enable traceability of products is synonymous to delegate responsibilities for all involved in the production, the collection of aggregate data on cotton production is done in stages and specific pre-defined since the choice of the variety through the processing, the scope of this article specifically addresses the production of lint cotton. The paper presents a proposal based on service oriented architecture (SOA) for data integration processes in the cotton industry, this proposal provide support for the implementation of platform independent solutions.

IDM - A New Parallel Methodology to Calculate the Determinant of Matrices of the Order n, with Computational Complexity O(n)

This paper presents a new parallel methodology for calculating the determinant of matrices of the order n, with computational complexity O(n), using the Gauss-Jordan Elimination Method and Chio's Rule as references. We intend to present our step-by-step methodology using clear mathematical language, where we will demonstrate how to calculate the determinant of a matrix of the order n in an analytical format. We will also present a computational model with one sequential algorithm and one parallel algorithm using a pseudo-code.

Estudio y desarrollo de nuevas metodologías analíticas basadas en la utilización de medios micelares para la extracción y determinación de derivados fenólicos en muestras de interés medioambiental

Premio Extraordinario de Doctorado ; Premio a la Mejor Tesis Doctoral por el Área de Experimentales Premio de Investigación Viera y Clavijo (Ciencias Químicas, Física y Exactas) 2007

Caratterizzazione ed isolamento di intermedi delle reazioni di sostituzione elettrofila e nucleofila in serie aromatica

1,3,5–Tris(N,N-dialkylamino)benzene derivatives are strongly activated neutral carbon nucleophiles able to stress some reactivity aspects toward more or less activated electrophilic substrates. These very interesting electron-rich benzenes have been firstly synthesized in 1967 and extensively studied. Their supernucleophilic character permits to perform reactions in particularly mild conditions, and make them suitable for mechanistic investigations. In many reactions they permit to isolate –complexes in electrophilic aromatic reactions. The possibility to form moderately stable Wheland intermediates depends both, on the activation of the reagents and on the experimental conditions which makes slow the proton elimination in the re-aromatization process. In presence of a carbon super electrophile reagent as 4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan or 4,6-dinitrotetrazolepiridine, 1,3,5–tris(N,N-dialkylamino)benzene derivatives afford C–C coupling products which are “double σ complexes”, Wheland–like on the 1,3,5-tris(N,N-dialkylamino)benzene moiety, and Meisenheimer–like on the electrophile moiety. We named these complexes as Wheland–Meisenheimer (W-M) complexes. These complexes are moderately stable at low temperature and they were characterized by NMR spectroscopy methods. Others nucleophile reagents as 2-aminothiazole derivatives give a Wheland-Meisenheimer complex with 4,6-dinitrobenzofuroxan.

Kiwifruit bud release from dormancy: effect of exogenous cytokinins

A new formulate containing citokinins, that is commercialized as Cytokin, has been introduced as dormancy breaking agents. During a three-years study, Cytokin was applied at different concentrations and application times in two producing areas of the Emilia-Romagna region to verify its efficacy as a DBA. Cytokin application increased the bud break and showed a lateral flower thinning effect. Moreover, treated vines showed an earlier and more uniform flowering as compared to control ones. Results obtained on the productive performance revealed a constant positive effect in the fruit fresh weight at harvest. Moreover, Cytokin did not cause any phytotoxicity even at the highest concentrations. Starting from the field observation, which suggested the involvement of cytokinins in kiwifruit bud release from dormancy, 6-BA was applied in open field condition and molecular and histological analyses were carried out in kiwifruit buds collected starting from the endo dormant period up to complete bud break to compare the natural occurring situation to the one induced by exogenous cytokinin application. In details, molecular analyses were set up on to verify the expression of genes involved in the reactivation of cell cycle: cyclin D3, histone H4, cyclin-dependent kinase B, as well as of others which are known to be up regulated during bud release in other species, i.e.isopenteniltransferases (IPTs), which catalyze the first step in the CK biosynthesis, and sucrose synthase 1 and A, which are involved in the sugar supplied. Moreover, histological analyses of the cell division rate in kiwifruit bud apical meristems were performed. These analyses showed a reactivation of the cell divisions during bud release and changes in the expression level of the investigated genes.

Finite-element discretization of 3D energy-transport equations for semiconductors

In this thesis a mathematical model was derived that describes the charge and energy transport in semiconductor devices like transistors. Moreover, numerical simulations of these physical processes are performed. In order to accomplish this, methods of theoretical physics, functional analysis, numerical mathematics and computer programming are applied. After an introduction to the status quo of semiconductor device simulation methods and a brief review of historical facts up to now, the attention is shifted to the construction of a model, which serves as the basis of the subsequent derivations in the thesis. Thereby the starting point is an important equation of the theory of dilute gases. From this equation the model equations are derived and specified by means of a series expansion method. This is done in a multi-stage derivation process, which is mainly taken from a scientific paper and which does not constitute the focus of this thesis. In the following phase we specify the mathematical setting and make precise the model assumptions. Thereby we make use of methods of functional analysis. Since the equations we deal with are coupled, we are concerned with a nonstandard problem. In contrary, the theory of scalar elliptic equations is established meanwhile. Subsequently, we are preoccupied with the numerical discretization of the equations. A special finite-element method is used for the discretization. This special approach has to be done in order to make the numerical results appropriate for practical application. By a series of transformations from the discrete model we derive a system of algebraic equations that are eligible for numerical evaluation. Using self-made computer programs we solve the equations to get approximate solutions. These programs are based on new and specialized iteration procedures that are developed and thoroughly tested within the frame of this research work. Due to their importance and their novel status, they are explained and demonstrated in detail. We compare these new iterations with a standard method that is complemented by a feature to fit in the current context. A further innovation is the computation of solutions in three-dimensional domains, which are still rare. Special attention is paid to applicability of the 3D simulation tools. The programs are designed to have justifiable working complexity. The simulation results of some models of contemporary semiconductor devices are shown and detailed comments on the results are given. Eventually, we make a prospect on future development and enhancements of the models and of the algorithms that we used.

Postmortem imaging-guided biopsy as an adjuvant to minimally invasive autopsy with CT and postmortem angiography: a feasibility study

Although postmortem CT suffices for diagnosing most forms of traumatic death, the examination of natural death is, to date, very difficult and error prone. The introduction of postmortem angiography has led to improved radiologic diagnoses of natural deaths. Nevertheless, histologic changes to tissues, an important aspect in traditional examination procedures, remain obscure even with CT and CT angiography. For this reason, we examined the accuracy of a minimally invasive procedure (i.e., CT angiography combined with biopsy) in diagnosing major findings and the cause of death in natural deaths.

The nitrodibenzofuran chromophore: a new caging group for ultra-efficient photolysis in living cells

Photochemical uncaging of bio-active molecules was introduced in 1977, but since then, there has been no substantial improvement in the properties of generic caging chromophores. We have developed a new chromophore, nitrodibenzofuran (NDBF) for ultra-efficient uncaging of second messengers inside cells. Photolysis of a NDBF derivative of EGTA (caged calcium) is about 16-160 times more efficient than photolysis of the most widely used caged compounds (the quantum yield of photolysis is 0.7 and the extinction coefficient is 18,400 M(-1) cm(-1)). Ultraviolet (UV)-laser photolysis of NDBF-EGTA:Ca(2+) rapidly released Ca(2+) (rate of 20,000 s(-1)) and initiated contraction of skinned guinea pig cardiac muscle. NDBF-EGTA has a two-photon cross-section of approximately 0.6 GM and two-photon photolysis induced localized Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release from the sarcoplasmic recticulum of intact cardiac myocytes. Thus, the NDBF chromophore has great promise as a generic and photochemically efficient protecting group for both one- and two-photon uncaging in living cells.

Parallel algorithm for solving integer linear programs

Linear programs, or LPs, are often used in optimization problems, such as improving manufacturing efficiency of maximizing the yield from limited resources. The most common method for solving LPs is the Simplex Method, which will yield a solution, if one exists, but over the real numbers. From a purely numerical standpoint, it will be an optimal solution, but quite often we desire an optimal integer solution. A linear program in which the variables are also constrained to be integers is called an integer linear program or ILP. It is the focus of this report to present a parallel algorithm for solving ILPs. We discuss a serial algorithm using a breadth-first branch-and-bound search to check the feasible solution space, and then extend it into a parallel algorithm using a client-server model. In the parallel mode, the search may not be truly breadth-first, depending on the solution time for each node in the solution tree. Our search takes advantage of pruning, often resulting in super-linear improvements in solution time. Finally, we present results from sample ILPs, describe a few modifications to enhance the algorithm and improve solution time, and offer suggestions for future work.