Fish quality assessment through the application of chemico-physical, sensory and microbiological analyses

The quality of fish products is indispensably linked to the freshness of the raw material modulated by appropriate manipulation and storage conditions, specially the storage temperature after catch. The purpose of the research presented in this thesis, which was largely conducted in the context of a research project funded by Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (MIPAAF), concerned the evaluation of the freshness of farmed and wild fish species, in relation to different storage conditions, under ice (0°C) or at refrigeration temperature (4°C). Several specimens of different species, bogue (Boops boops), red mullet (Mullus barbatus), sea bream (Sparus aurata) and sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), during storage, under the different temperature conditions adopted, have been examined. The assessed control parameters were physical (texture, through the use of a dynamometer; visual quality using a computer vision system (CVS)), chemical (through footprint metabolomics 1H-NMR) and sensory (Quality Index Method (QIM). Microbiological determinations were also carried out on the species of hake (Merluccius merluccius). In general obtained results confirmed that the temperature of manipulation/conservation is a key factor in maintaining fish freshness. NMR spectroscopy showed to be able to quantify and evaluate the kinetics for unselected compounds during fish degradation, even a posteriori. This can be suitable for the development of new parameters related to quality and freshness. The development of physical methods, particularly the image analysis performed by computer vision system (CVS), for the evaluation of fish degradation, is very promising. Among CVS parameters, skin colour, presence and distribution of gill mucus, and eye shape modification evidenced a high sensibility for the estimation of fish quality loss, as a function of the adopted storage conditions. Particularly the eye concavity index detected on fish eye showed a high positive correlation with total QIM score.

The risk of musculoskeletal disorders for workers due to repetitive movements during tomato harvesting

Tomatoes are the most common crop in Italy. The production cycle requires operations in the field and factory that can cause musculoskeletal disorders due to the repetitive movements of the upper limbs of the workers employed in the sorting phase. This research aims to evaluate these risks using the OCRA (occupational repetitive actions) index method This method is based firstly on the calculation of a maximum number of recommended actions, related to the way the operation is performed, and secondly on a comparison of the number of actions effectively carried out by the upper limb with the recommended calculated value. The results of the risk evaluation for workers who manually sort tomatoes during harvest showed a risk for the workers, with an exposure index greater than 20; the OCRA index defines an index higher than 3.5 as unacceptable. The present trend of replacing manual sorting onboard a vehicle with optical sorters seems to be appropriate to reduce the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and is supported from both a financial point of view and as a quality control measure.

A BAYESIAN APPROACH TO DOSE-RESPONSE ASSESSMENT AND DRUG-DRUG INTERACTION ANALYSIS: APPLICATION TO IN VITRO STUDIES

The considerable search for synergistic agents in cancer research is motivated by the therapeutic benefits achieved by combining anti-cancer agents. Synergistic agents make it possible to reduce dosage while maintaining or enhancing a desired effect. Other favorable outcomes of synergistic agents include reduction in toxicity and minimizing or delaying drug resistance. Dose-response assessment and drug-drug interaction analysis play an important part in the drug discovery process, however analysis are often poorly done. This dissertation is an effort to notably improve dose-response assessment and drug-drug interaction analysis. The most commonly used method in published analysis is the Median-Effect Principle/Combination Index method (Chou and Talalay, 1984). The Median-Effect Principle/Combination Index method leads to inefficiency by ignoring important sources of variation inherent in dose-response data and discarding data points that do not fit the Median-Effect Principle. Previous work has shown that the conventional method yields a high rate of false positives (Boik, Boik, Newman, 2008; Hennessey, Rosner, Bast, Chen, 2010) and, in some cases, low power to detect synergy. There is a great need for improving the current methodology. We developed a Bayesian framework for dose-response modeling and drug-drug interaction analysis. First, we developed a hierarchical meta-regression dose-response model that accounts for various sources of variation and uncertainty and allows one to incorporate knowledge from prior studies into the current analysis, thus offering a more efficient and reliable inference. Second, in the case that parametric dose-response models do not fit the data, we developed a practical and flexible nonparametric regression method for meta-analysis of independently repeated dose-response experiments. Third, and lastly, we developed a method, based on Loewe additivity that allows one to quantitatively assess interaction between two agents combined at a fixed dose ratio. The proposed method makes a comprehensive and honest account of uncertainty within drug interaction assessment. Extensive simulation studies show that the novel methodology improves the screening process of effective/synergistic agents and reduces the incidence of type I error. We consider an ovarian cancer cell line study that investigates the combined effect of DNA methylation inhibitors and histone deacetylation inhibitors in human ovarian cancer cell lines. The hypothesis is that the combination of DNA methylation inhibitors and histone deacetylation inhibitors will enhance antiproliferative activity in human ovarian cancer cell lines compared to treatment with each inhibitor alone. By applying the proposed Bayesian methodology, in vitro synergy was declared for DNA methylation inhibitor, 5-AZA-2'-deoxycytidine combined with one histone deacetylation inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid or trichostatin A in the cell lines HEY and SKOV3. This suggests potential new epigenetic therapies in cell growth inhibition of ovarian cancer cells.

Cartografía de QTL asociados a la tolerancia a estrés hídrico en frijol común (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Phaseolus vulgaris L. (frijol común o judía) es una leguminosa de gran demanda para la nutrición humana y un producto agrícola muy importante. Sin embargo, la producción de frijol se ve limitada por presiones ambientales como la sequía. En México, el 85% de la cosecha de frijol se produce en la temporada de primavera-verano, principalmente en las regiones del altiplano semiárido con una precipitación anual entre 250 y 400 mm. A pesar del implemento de tecnología en el campo, los factores naturales impiden al agricultor llegar a los rendimientos deseados. El Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP), como instituto de investigación gubernamental en México, tiene como objetivo la mejora de cultivos estratégicos, uno de ellos, P. vulgaris. Los estudios en relación a la sequía se enfocan especialmente en la selección de genotipos tolerantes, los cuales son sometidos en condiciones de estrés y monitoreando parámetros como el rendimiento y peso de semilla, además de algunos indicadores tales como índice de cosecha. El resultado de estos trabajos ha sido la obtención de variedades con mayor tolerancia a la sequía, tales como Pinto Villa y Pinto Saltillo. En los últimos años se ha avanzado notablemente en el conocimiento de las bases moleculares en las respuestas de las plantas al estrés. De acuerdo a diversos estudios se ha demostrado que las plantas bajo estrés por sequía experimentan cambios en la expresión de genes involucrados en la señalización, regulación de la transcripción y la traducción, transporte de agua y la función directa en la protección celular. También se ha observado que el déficit de agua es causado por las temperaturas extremas y la alta concentración de sales, por lo que al nivel molecular, las respuestas al estrés tienen puntos de especificidad y puntos de entrecruzamiento. La sequía puede generar estreses secundarios, tales como el nutricional, oxidativo y osmótico. Sin embargo, es necesario identificar y caracterizar muchos de los componentes involucrados en las respuestas al déficit hídrico, la caracterización de estos genes permitirá tener una mejor comprensión de los mecanismos bioquímicos y fisiológicos involucrados en la tolerancia al estrés. Actualmente, con el apoyo de la biología molecular se han identificado algunos genes que otorgan ventajas para la adaptación a ambientes desfavorables. Por lo que el objetivo del presente trabajo es identificar marcadores genéticos asociados a rasgos fenotípicos con énfasis a la tolerancia a estrés hídrico en P. vulgaris. Una vez establecidos los marcadores asociados al estrés hídrico, es factible considerar su uso para la selección asistida por marcadores en líneas o variedades de frijol de interés para los mejoradores. Se evaluaron 282 familias F3:5 derivadas de la cruza entre los cultivares Pinto Villa y Pinto Saltillo. Las familias se sembraron bajo un diseño simple de látice 17x17, el experimento se llevo acabo en el ciclo primavera-verano del 2010 y 2011, y otoñoinvierno de 2010 en el Campo Experimental Bajío del INIFAP con dos repeticiones para cada tratamiento de humedad (riego completo y sequía terminal). En todos los genotipos se realizó el fenotipado (variables fenotípicas) y el genotipado a través de marcadores moleculares. Los análisis estadísticos se basaron en el análisis de componentes principales (Eigen Analysis Selection Index Method, ESIM), la asociación entre marcadores SNP y el fenotipado (paquete SNPassoc para R) y el análisis de varianza (ANOVA). Los valores ESIM mostraron que las variables de Rendimiento, Días a floración, Días a madurez fisiológica e Índice de cosecha fueron sobresalientes en sequía terminal, por lo que se sugieren tomarse en consideración para los estudios de sequía en P. vulgaris como monitores de evaluación a la resistencia. Se identificaron nueve familias sobresalieron por sus valores ESIM (PV/PS6, 22, 131, 137, 149, 154, 201, 236 y 273), además de presentar valores superiores para el rendimiento en comparación con los parentales. Estos genotipos son candidatos interesantes para realizar estudios de identificación de loci asociados con la respuesta al estrés, y como potenciales parentales en el desarrollo de nuevas variedades de frijol. En los análisis de asociación SNPassoc se identificaron 83 SNPs significativos (p<0,0003) asociados a los rasgos fenotípicos, obteniendo un total de 222 asociaciones, de las cuales predomina el modelo genético de codominancia para las variables Días a floración, Periodo reproductivo y Biomasa total. Treinta y siete SNPs se identificaron a diferentes funciones biológicas a través del análisis de anotación funcional, de los cuales 12 SNPs (9, 18, 28, 39, 61, 69, 80, 106, 115, 128, 136 y 142) sobresalen por su asociación al fenotipado, y cuya anotación funcional indica que se encuentran en genes relacionados a la tolerancia a la sequía, tales como la actividad kinasa, actividad metabólica del almidón, carbohidratos y prolina, respuesta al estrés oxidativo, así como en los genes LEA y posibles factores de transcripción. En el caso de los análisis ANOVA, se identificaron 72 asociaciones entre los SNPs y las variables fenotípicas (F< 3,94E-04). Las 72 asociaciones corresponden a 30 SNPs y 7 variables fenotípicas, de las que predomina Peso de 100 semillas y Periodo reproductivo. Para los rasgos de Rendimiento, Índice de cosecha y Días a madurez fisiológica se presentaron asociaciones con seis SNPs (17, 34, 37, 50, 93 y 107), de los cuales, a los SNP37 y SNP107 fueron identificados a la anotación biológica de protein binding. Por otro lado, los SNP106 y SNP128 asociados al Periodo reproductivo, son genes con actividad kinasa y actividad metabólica del almidón, respectivamente. Para los marcadores tipo AFLP, se identificaron 271 asociaciones (F<2,34E-04). Las asociaciones corresponden a 86 AFLPs con todas las variables fenotípicas evaluadas, de las que predomina peso de 100 semillas, Días a floración y Periodo reproductivo. Debido a que los en los AFLPs no es posible determinar su anotación biológica, se proponen como marcadores potenciales relacionados a la resistencia a la sequía en frijol. Los AFLPs candidatos requieren más estudios tales como la secuenciación de los alelos respectivos, así como la identificación de éstas secuencias en el genoma de referencia y su anotación biológica, entre otros análisis, de esta manera podríamos establecer aquellos marcadores candidatos a la validación para la selección asistida. El presente trabajo propone tanto genotipos como marcadores genéticos, que deben ser validados para ser utilizados en el programa de mejoramiento de P. vulgaris, con el objetivo de desarrollar nuevas líneas o variedades tolerantes a la sequía. ABSTRACT Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean or judia) is a legume of great demand for human consumption and an important agricultural product. However, the common bean production is limited by environmental stresses, such as drought. In Mexico, 85% of the common bean crop is produced in the spring-summer season mainly in semiarid highland regions with a rainfall between 250 and 400 mm per year. In spite of the improvement of crop technology, the natural factors hamper getting an optimal yield. The National Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock (INIFAP) is a government research institute from Mexico, whose main objective is the genetic breeding of strategic crops, like P. vulgaris L. The drought tolerance studies particularly focus on the selection of bean tolerant genotypes, which are subjected to stress conditions, by means of monitoring parameters such as yield and seed weight, plus some agronomic indicators such as harvest index. The results of these works have led to obtain cultivars with higher drought tolerance such as Pinto Villa and Pinto Saltillo. Significant achievements have been recently made in understanding the molecular basis of stress plant responses. Several studies have shown that plants under drought stress present changes in gene expression related to cell signalling, transcriptional and translational regulation, water transport and cell protection. In addition, it has been observed that the extreme temperatures and high salt concentrations can cause a water deficiency so, at the molecular level, stress responses have specific and crossover points. The drought can cause secondary stresses, such as nutritional, oxidative and osmotic stress. It is required the identification of more components involved in the response to water deficit, the characterization of these genes will allow a better understanding of the biochemical and physiological mechanisms involved in stress tolerance. Currently, with the support of molecular biology techniques, some genes that confer an advantage for the crop adaptation to unfavourable environments have been identified. The objective of this study is to identify genetic markers associated with phenotypic traits with emphasis on water stress tolerance in P. vulgaris. The establishment of molecular markers linked to drought tolerance would make possible their use for marker-assisted selection in bean breeding programs. Two hundred and eighty two F3:5 families derived from a cross between the drought resistant cultivars Pinto Villa and Pinto Saltillo were evaluated. The families were sowed under a 17x17 simple lattice design. The experiment was conducted between spring-summer seasons in 2010 and 2011, and autumn-winter seasons in 2010 at the Bajio Experimental Station of INIFAP with two treatments (full irrigation and terminal drought). All families were phenotyped and genotyped using molecular markers. Statistical analysis was based on principal component analysis (Eigen Analysis Selection Index Method, ESIM), association analysis between SNP markers and phenotype (SNPassoc package R) and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The ESIM values showed that seed yield, days to flowering, days to physiological maturity and harvest index were outstanding traits in terminal drought treatment, so they could be considered as suitable parameters for drought-tolerance evaluation in P. vulgaris. Nine outstanding families for the ESIM values were identified (PV/PS6, 22, 131, 137, 149, 154, 201, 236 and 273), in addition, these families showed higher values for seed yield compared to the parental cultivars. These families are promising candidates for studies focused on the identification of loci associated to the stress response, and as potential parental cultivars for the development of new varieties of common bean. In the SNPassoc analysis, 83 SNPs were found significantly associated (p<0.0003) with phenotypic traits, obtaining a total of 222 associations, most of which involved the traits days to flowering, reproductive period and total biomass under a codominant genetic model. The functional annotation analysis showed 37 SNPs with different biological functions, 12 of them (9, 18, 28, 39, 61, 69, 80, 106, 115, 128, 136 and 142) stand out by their association to phenotype. The functional annotation suggested a connection with genes related to drought tolerance, such as kinase activity, starch, carbohydrates and proline metabolic processes, responses to oxidative stress, as well as LEA genes and putative transcription factors. In the ANOVA analysis, 72 associations between SNPs and phenotypic traits (F<3.94E- 04) were identified. All of these associations corresponded to 30 SNPs markers and seven phenotypic traits. Weight of 100 seeds and reproductive period were the traits with more associations. Seed yield, harvest index and days to physiological maturity were associated to six SNPs (17, 34, 37, 50, 93 and 107), the SNP37 and SNP107 were identified as located in protein binding genes. The SNP106 and SNP128 were associated with the reproductive period and belonged to genes with kinase activity and genes related to starch metabolic process, respectively. In the case of AFLP markers, 271 associations (F<2.34E-04) were identified. The associations involved 86 AFLPs and all phenotypic traits, being the most frequently associated weight of 100 seeds, days to flowering and reproductive period. Even though it is not possible to perform a functional annotation for AFLP markers, they are proposed as potential markers related to drought resistance in common bean. AFLPs candidates require additional studies such as the sequencing of the respective alleles, identification of these sequences in the reference genome and gene annotation, before their use in marker assisted selection. This work, although requires further validation, proposes both genotypes and genetic markers that could be used in breeding programs of P. vulgaris in order to develop new lines or cultivars with enhanced drought-tolerance.

Big Bath and Impairment of Goodwill : A study of the European telecommunications industry

Income decreasing strategies conducted by management could be harmful for various stakeholders. One example is big bath accounting, which could be accomplished in numer- ous ways. This study focus on big baths achieved by recognising impairments of goodwill. Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine patterns of association between big bath accounting and impairment of goodwill within the telecommunication service industry in Europe. Further, this study aim at contributing to the discussion regarding utilisation of big baths through impairments of goodwill, and takes the perspective of an external stakehold- er. Delimitations - The study is restricted to European telecommunication entities comprised in STOXX Europe 600 Index. Method - This study was conducted using a hybrid of qualitative and quantitative research strategy with a deductive approach. The five indicators used to identify various big bath behaviours were inspired and derived from theory and previous research. Data from 2009 to 2015 was collected from the companies’ annual reports and websites, and analysed by the help of codification of each fulfilled indicator where 2009 merely served as a compara- tive year for 2010. By the use of a scoreboard the collected data was summarised on an ag- gregated yearly basis as the industry, not the specific companies, were analysed. Empirical findings - The results of this study suggests that big baths are executed among tele- communication companies within Europe. These are conducted simultaneously as impair- ments of goodwill are present, facilitated by earning management. A possible explanation is considered to be the room for interpretation inherent in IAS 36, enabling goodwill impair- ments to be recognised on managers’ command. Thereby an impairment could be “saved” for better or worse circumstances, or recognised when there exist an opportunity to max- imise (the manager's) wealth in the future. This study reveal the co-occurrence of goodwill impairments and big bath-indications, however a review of causal relationships are not en- abled by the limitations of the chosen method. 

An improved method to detect damage using modal strain energy based damage index

This paper presents two novel concepts to enhance the accuracy of damage detection using the Modal Strain Energy based Damage Index (MSEDI) with the presence of noise in the mode shape data. Firstly, the paper presents a sequential curve fitting technique that reduces the effect of noise on the calculation process of the MSEDI, more effectively than the two commonly used curve fitting techniques; namely, polynomial and Fourier’s series. Secondly, a probability based Generalized Damage Localization Index (GDLI) is proposed as a viable improvement to the damage detection process. The study uses a validated ABAQUS finite-element model of a reinforced concrete beam to obtain mode shape data in the undamaged and damaged states. Noise is simulated by adding three levels of random noise (1%, 3%, and 5%) to the mode shape data. Results show that damage detection is enhanced with increased number of modes and samples used with the GDLI.

A highly efficient beam propagation method for modeling step-index waveguides with tilt interface

Based on a new finite-difference scheme and Runge-Kutta method together with transparent boundary conditions (TBCs), a novel beam propagation method to model step-index waveguides with tilt interfaces is presented. The modified scheme provides an precies description of the tilt interface of the nonrectangular waveguide structure, showing a much better efficiency and accuracy comparing with the previously presented formulas.

A durability performance-index for concrete: developments in a novel test method

Implementation of both design for durability and performance-based standards and specifications are limited by the lack of rapid, simple, science based test methods for characterising the transport properties and deterioration resistance of concrete. This paper presents developments in the application of electrical property measurements as a testing methodology to evaluate the relative performance of a range of concrete mixes. The technique lends itself to in-situ monitoring thereby allowing measurements to be obtained on the as-placed concrete. Conductivity measurements are presented for concretes with and without supplementary cementitious materials (SCM’s) from demoulding up to 350 days. It is shown that electrical conductivity measurements display a continual decrease over the entire test period and attributed to pore structure refinement due to hydration and pozzolanic reaction. The term formation factor is introduced to rank concrete performance in terms of is resistance to chloride penetration.

Low complexity greedy detection method with generalized multicarrier index keying OFDM

Multicarrier Index Keying (MCIK) is a recently developed technique that modulates subcarriers but also indices of the subcarriers. In this paper a novel low-complexity detection scheme of subcarrier indices is proposed for an MCIK system and addresses a substantial reduction in complexity over the optimalmaximum likelihood (ML) detection. For the performance evaluation, a closed-form expression for the pairwise error probability (PEP) of an active subcarrier index, and a tight approximation of the average PEP of multiple subcarrier indices are derived in closed-form. The theoretical outcomes are validated usingsimulations, at a difference of less than 0.1dB. Compared to the optimal ML, the proposed detection achieves a substantial reduction in complexity with small loss in error performance (<= 0.6dB).

Conceptual development of a harmonised method for tracking change and evaluating policy in the agri-environment: The Agri-environmental Footprint Index

An aggregated farm-level index, the Agri-environmental Footprint Index (AFI), based on multiple criteria methods and representing a harmonised approach to evaluation of EU agri-environmental schemes is described. The index uses a common framework for the design and evaluation of policy that can be customised to locally relevant agri-environmental issues and circumstances. Evaluation can be strictly policy-focused, or broader and more holistic in that context-relevant assessment criteria that are not necessarily considered in the evaluated policy can nevertheless be incorporated. The Index structure is flexible, and can respond to diverse local needs. The process of Index construction is interactive, engaging farmers and other relevant stakeholders in a transparent decision-making process that can ensure acceptance of the outcome, help to forge an improved understanding of local agri-environmental priorities and potentially increase awareness of the critical role of farmers in environmental management. The structure of the AFI facilitates post-evaluation analysis of relative performance in different dimensions of the agri-environment, permitting identification of current strengths and weaknesses, and enabling future improvement in policy design. Quantification of the environmental impact of agriculture beyond the stated aims of policy using an 'unweighted' form of the AFI has potential as the basis of an ongoing system of environmental audit within a specified agricultural context. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A hazardous substance exposure prevention rating method for intervention needs assessment and effectiveness evaluation: the small business exposure index

Aims This paper describes the refinement and adaptation to small business of a previously developed method for systematically prioritizing needs for intervention on hazardous substance exposures in manufacturing worksites, and evaluating intervention effectiveness. Methods We developed a checklist containing six unique sets of yes/no variables organized in a 2 × 3 matrix of exposure potential versus exposure protection at three levels corresponding to a simplified hierarchy of controls: materials, processes, and human interface. Each of the six sets of indicator variables was reduced to a high/moderate/low rating. Ratings from the matrix were then combined to generate an exposure prevention 'Small Business Exposure Index' (SBEI) Summary score for each area. Reflecting the hierarchy of controls, material factors were weighted highest, followed by process, and then human interface. The checklist administered by an industrial hygienist during walk-through inspection (N = 149 manufacturing processes/areas in 25 small to medium-sized manufacturing worksites). One area or process per manufacturing department was assessed and rated. A second hygienist independently assessed 36 areas to evaluate inter-rater reliability. Results The SBEI Summary scores indicated that exposures were well controlled in the majority of areas assessed (58% with rating of 1 or 2 on a 6-point scale), that there was some room for improvement in roughly one-third of areas (31% of areas rated 3 or 4), and that roughly 10% of the areas assessed were urgently in need of intervention (rated as 5 or 6). Inter-rater reliability of EP ratings was good to excellent (e.g., for SBEI Summary scores, weighted kappa = 0.73, 95% CI 0.52–0.93). Conclusion The SBEI exposure prevention rating method is suitable for use in small/medium enterprises, has good discriminatory power and reliability, offers an inexpensive method for intervention needs assessment and effectiveness evaluation, and complements quantitative exposure assessment with an upstream prevention focus.