Development of Calibration Models to Predict Mean Fibre Diameter in Llama () Fleeces with Near Infrared Spectroscopy.

Llama fibre has the potential to become the most valuable textile resource in the Puna region of Argentina. In this study near infrared reflectance spectroscopy was evaluated to predict the mean fibre diameter in llama fleeces. Analyses between sets of carded and non-carded samples in combination with spectral preprocessing techniques were carried out and a total of 169 spectral signatures of llama samples in Vis and NIR ranges (400-2500 nm) were obtained.

Monitoring of Temperature in Retail Refrigerated Cabinets Applying IoT Over Open-Source Hardware and Software.

The control of refrigeration in the food chain is fundamental at all stages, with special emphasis on the retail stage. The implementation of information and communication technologies (IoT, open-source hardware and software, cloud computing, etc.) is representing a revolution in the operational paradigm of food control.

Evaluation of local approaches to obtain accurate near-infrared (NIR) equations for prediction of ingredient composition of compound feeds.

This research work investigated new methods to improve the accuracy of intact feed calibrations for the near-infrared (NIR) prediction of the ingredient composition. When NIR reflection spectroscopy, together with linear models, was used for the prediction of the ingredient composition, the results were not always acceptable. Therefore, other methods have been investigated.

Taking NIR calibrations of feed compounds from the laboratory to the process: calibration transfer between predispersive and postdispersive instruments.

In the context of current demands in the animal feed industry for controls and analyses, the use of instruments that may be applied on the process line has acquired a significant interest. A key aspect is that the calibrations developed for quality control with instruments sited in the laboratory (at-line) must be transferred to instruments that will be used in the plant itself (online). This study evaluates the standardization and the calibration transfer between a grating monochromator instrument (predispersive) designed for laboratory analysis and a diode array instrument (postdispersive) more adapted to process conditions.

Feasibility of diode-array instruments to carry near-infrared spectroscopy from laboratory to feed process control.

Near-infrared calibrations were developed for the instantaneous prediction of the chemical and ingredient composition of intact compound feeds. Two rather different instruments were compared (diode array vs grating monochromator). The grating monochromator was used in a static mode in the laboratory, whereas the diode-array instrumentbetter adapted to online analysiswas placed on a conveyor belt to simulate measurements at a feed mill plant.