Exploring Near-Infrared and Raman Spectroscopies for the Non-Destructive Estimation of Sweetness in Half Watermelons.

Watermelons are in high demand for their juicy texture and sweetness, which is linked to their soluble solids content (SSC). Traditionally, watermelons have been sold as whole fruits. However, the decline in the mean size of households and the very large size of the fruits, together with high prices, mainly at the beginning of the season, mean that supermarkets now sell them as half fruits.

In-house validation of a visible and near infrared spectroscopy non-targeted method to support panel test of virgin olive oils.

In this study, an in-house validation of Visible and Near Infrared Spectroscopy was performed to distinguish between extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and virgin olive oil (VOO). A total of 161 samples of olive oil of three different categories (EVOO, VOO and lampante (LOO)) were analysed by transflectance using a monochromator instrument. One-class models were initially developed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) Density Modelling to characterize EVOO and VOO category.

NIR Sensing Technologies for the Detection of Fraud in Nuts and Nut Products: A Review.

Food fraud is a major threat to the integrity of the nut supply chain. Strategies using a wide range of analytical techniques have been developed over the past few years to detect fraud and to assure the quality, safety, and authenticity of nut products. However, most of these techniques present the limitations of being slow and destructive and entailing a high cost per analysis.

Effects of tumour heterogeneous properties on modelling the transport of radiative particles.

Dose calculation plays a critical role in radiotherapy (RT) treatment planning, and there is a growing need to develop accurate dose deposition models that incorporate heterogeneous tumour properties. Deterministic models have demonstrated their capability in this regard, making them the focus of recent treatment planning studies as they serve as a basis for simplified models in RT treatment planning. In this study, we present a simplified deterministic model for photon transport based on the Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) as a proof-of-concept to illustrate the impact of heterogeneous tumour properties on RT treatment planning.

Prognostic value of diagnostic scales in community-acquired sepsis mortality at an emergency service. Prognosis in community-adquired sepsis.

Objectives: To asses the prognostic value of diagnostic scales in mortality of community-adquired sepsis and added value of additional parameters.

Methods: Prospective observational study of patients with community-adquired sepsis in the Emergency Room of University Hospital. The study population were patients presented in the Emergency Room with confirmed infection and practicians sepsis diagnosis.

Fraud Detection in Batches of Sweet Almonds by Portable Near-Infrared Spectral Devices.

One of the key challenges for the almond industry is how to detect the presence of bitter almonds in commercial batches of sweet almonds. The main aim of this research is to assess the potential of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) by means of using portable instruments in the industry to detect batches of sweet almonds which have been adulterated with bitter almonds. To achieve this, sweet almonds and non-sweet almonds (bitter almonds and mixtures of sweet almonds with different percentages (from 5% to 20%) of bitter almonds) were analysed using a new generation of portable spectrophotometers.

An innovative non-targeted control system based on NIR spectral information for detecting non-compliant batches of sweet almonds.

Nowadays, there is growing awareness about the need to develop new methodologies to fight against deliberate fraud. This study explored the use of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as an instantaneous, non-targeted method for detecting non-compliant products; in this case, when used to detect sweet almond batches adulterated with bitter almonds. For this purpose, we simulated the adulteration of batches by preparing four different types of mixed samples which contained 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of bitter almonds, respectively, using 90 samples of sweet almonds and 50 samples of bitter almonds.

Routine NIRS analysis methodology to predict quality and safety indexes in spinach plants during their growing season in the field.

Cultural practices and harvesting in spinach plants should be based not only on subjective indexes such as freshness and green colour, which are both related with the visual appearance of the plants, but also on objective indexes that can be quantified non-destructively. The aim of this research was to develop a methodology based on the use of near infrared spectroscopy to monitor routinely the growth process of the spinach plants in the field. Using the MicroNIR™ OnSite-W spectrophotometer, which is ideally suited for in situ analysis, 261 spinach plants were analysed.

In situ ripening stages monitoring of Lamuyo pepper using a new-generation near-infrared spectroscopy sensor.

Background: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used as a nondestructive sensor to assess the quality of freshly harvested Lamuyo peppers. One hundred and forty-four Lamuyo peppers, which were in a range of colors (green, chocolate, orange, and red) when harvested, were analyzed. In this study, the evolution of the main quality parameters during the harvest period was analyzed.

Safety and quality issues in summer squashes using handheld portable NIRS sensors for real-time decision making and for on-vine monitoring.

Background: Portable handheld near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) instruments currently present enormous advantages in terms of size, weight, and robustness. They also provide fast, precise information that can be obtained in situ, and they represent a viable option for controlling vegetable safety and quality during the growth period. The aim of this research was to evaluate three handheld portable NIRS instruments for in situ and real-time analysis of intact summer squashes.

LOCAL regression applied to a citrus multispecies library to assess chemical quality parameters using near infrared spectroscopy.

The non-destructive on-tree measurement of the chemical quality attributes of fruits belonging to the Citrus genus using rapid spectral sensors is of vital interest to citrus growers, allowing them to carry out a selective harvest of any species of Citrus fruit. With this objective, the viability of using of a handheld portable near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) instrument to predict soluble solid content (SSC), pH, titratable acidity (TA), maturity index and BrimA, in order to measure the optimum harvest time in a group made up of 608 samples belonging to the Citrus genus (378 oranges and 230 mandarins) was evaluated. For each of the parameters analysed, both non-linear regression (LOCAL algorithm) and linear regression (Modified Partial Least Squares, MPLS) strategies were designed and compared.

Identification of non-professional caregivers with high resilience using sociodemographic, care, and personal and social development variables.

Despite the importance of resilience in well-being and adaptation to the role of caregiver in non-professional caregivers, research on resilience in this population has been scarce and contradictory, and has methodological limitations. The objective of this study was to identify subgroups of caregivers with high levels of resilience based on a series of predictors including sociodemographic variables and variables related to care and personal and social development. 294 non-professional caregivers (89.

[Caregiver burden and associated factors in family caregivers in the Community of Galicia, Spain].

Introduction: Most of existing work on burden among family caregivers has methodological sample constraints. Moreover, there is contradictory information regarding sociodemographic variables, especially those related to care, clinical variables, and burden. Few studies have analysed the self-esteem and personality characteristics as correlates of burden.

Pre-harvest screening on-vine of spinach quality and safety using NIRS technology.

The study sought to perform a non-destructive and in-situ quality evaluation of spinach plants using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in order to establish its suitability for different uses once harvested. Modified partial least square (MPLS) regression models using NIR spectra of intact spinach leaves were developed for nitrate, ascorbic acid and soluble solid contents. The residual predictive deviation (RPD) values were 1.

Rapid, simultaneous, and in situ authentication and quality assessment of intact bell peppers using near-infrared spectroscopy technology.

Background: The ability of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to authenticate individual bell peppers as a function of the growing system (outdoor or greenhouse) was tested using partial least squares discriminant analysis. Bell peppers grown outdoors (130 samples) or in a greenhouse (264 samples) during the 2015 and 2016 seasons were selected for this purpose and analysed using a portable, handheld, microelectromechanical system (MEMS) instrument MicroPhazir (spectral range 1600-2400 nm), working in reflectance. Subsequently, the potential of NIR spectroscopy as a non-destructive sensor for in situ quality (dry matter and soluble solid content) measurements, was investigated.

A hybrid computational model for collective cell durotaxis.

Collective cell migration is regulated by a complex set of mechanical interactions and cellular mechanisms. Collective migration emerges from mechanisms occurring at single cell level, involving processes like contraction, polymerization and depolymerization, of cell-cell interactions and of cell-substrate adhesion. Here, we present a computational framework which simulates the dynamics of this emergent behavior conditioned by substrates with stiffness gradients.

Fast, Low-Cost and Non-Destructive Physico-Chemical Analysis of Virgin Olive Oils Using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy.

Near-Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy was used for the non-destructive assessment of physico-chemical quality parameters in olive oil. At the same time, the influence of the sample presentation mode (spinning static cup) was evaluated using two spectrophotometers with similar optical characteristics. A total of 478 olive oil samples were used to develop calibration models, testing various spectral signal pre-treatments.

Spanish validation of the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 10) with non-professional caregivers.

Objectives: Despite the importance of resilience in populations under stress, and the fact that the 10-item version Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC 10) is the shortest instrument for reliable and valid evaluation of resilience, there are no data on their psychometric properties in non-professional caregivers. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the spanish version of the CD-RISC 10 in non-professional caregivers.

Method: Independently trained assessors evaluated resilience, self-esteem, social support, emotional distress and depression in a sample of 294 caregivers (89.

Characterizing and authenticating Montilla-Moriles PDO vinegars using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) technology.

This study assessed the potential of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a non-destructive method for characterizing Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) "Vinagres de Montilla-Moriles" wine vinegars and for classifying them as a function of the manufacturing process used. Three spectrophotometers were evaluated for this purpose: two monochromator instruments (Foss NIRSystems 6500 SY-I and Foss NIRSystems 6500 SY-II; spectral range 400-2,500 nm in both cases) and a diode-array instrument (Corona 45 VIS/NIR; spectral range 380-1,700 nm). A total of 70 samples were used to predict major chemical quality parameters (total acidity, fixed acidity, volatile acidity, pH, dry extract, ash, acetoin, methanol, total polyphenols, color (tonality and intensity), and alcohol content), and to construct models for the classification of vinegars as a function of the manufacturing method used.

Optimization of NIR spectral data management for quality control of grape bunches during on-vine ripening.

NIR spectroscopy was used as a non-destructive technique for the assessment of chemical changes in the main internal quality properties of wine grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) during on-vine ripening and at harvest. A total of 363 samples from 25 white and red grape varieties were used to construct quality-prediction models based on reference data and on NIR spectral data obtained using a commercially-available diode-array spectrophotometer (380-1,700 nm).

Body mass index and long-term mortality in an elderly Mediterranean population.

Objectives: To describe the relationship of body mass index and mortality in older adults, examining the influence of sex and cardiovascular morbidity.

Methods: Sixteen-year cohort of a population sample of 1,008 people aged 65 and over. BMI mortality hazard ratios are estimated controlling for age, sex, education, physical activity, smoking, chronic conditions, and ADL (activities of daily living) disability.

Feasibility of using a miniature NIR spectrometer to measure volumic mass during alcoholic fermentation.

Volumic mass-a key component of must quality control tests during alcoholic fermentation-is of great interest to the winemaking industry. Transmitance near-infrared (NIR) spectra of 124 must samples over the range of 200-1,100-nm were obtained using a miniature spectrometer. The performance of this instrument to predict volumic mass was evaluated using partial least squares (PLS) regression and multiple linear regression (MLR).

Measurement of pesticide residues in peppers by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy.

Background: Peppers are a frequent object of food safety alerts in various member states of the European Union owing to the presence in some batches of unauthorised pesticide residues. This study assessed the viability of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for the measurement of pesticide residues in peppers. Commercially available spectrophotometers using different sample-presentation methods were evaluated for this purpose: a diode-array spectrometer for intact raw peppers and two scanning monochromators fitted with different sample-presentation accessories (transport and spinning modules) for crushed peppers and for dry extract system for infrared analysis (DESIR), respectively.

Longevity and relationships with children: the importance of the parental role.

Background: Social networks predict longevity across societies but specific mechanisms are largely unknown. The aim of this work was to examine the role of children in the longevity of elderly men and women in a cohort of community dwelling elderly people in Spain.

Methods: The data were taken from the "Aging in Leganes" cohort study with 15 years of follow-up.