The availability of portable and handheld NIR instruments on the market opens up new possibilities in meat analysis. However, there is lack of research comparing different NIR instruments for ...evaluating beef characteristics from spectra obtained directly on the meat surface. Our aim, therefore, was to build and test calibration and prediction models for predicting beef characteristics, and to compare the performances of three NIR instruments differing in size and characteristics: a transportable visible-NIR spectrometer (Vis-NIRS), a portable (NIRS), and a hand-held Micro-NIRS. Spectra were collected from 178 beef samples (Longissimus thoracis muscle) from the meat surface in the abattoir. The spectra were subjected to different mathematical pretreatments then partial least square regressions. The results showed that all instruments predicted dry matter, protein and lipids with R2VAL 0.23 to 0.70; pH and cooking loss R2VAL 0.19 to 0.25; and color R2VAL 0.35 to 0.77. Overall, the prediction performances of the three instruments were similar, although Micro-NIRS performed better in some respects.
•Use of portable spectrometers in the abattoir and meat industry on meat surface•Prediction of beef quality•Three different Vis-NIR, NIR and Micro NIR instruments were compared.•Real world application of NIRS instruments•Use of external prediction set to produce robust predictive models
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Organic products are vulnerable to fraud due to their premium price. Analytical methodology helps to manage the risk of fraud and due to the miniaturization of equipment, tests may nowadays even be ...rapidly applied on-site. The current study aimed to evaluate portable near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in combination with chemometrics to distinguish organic milk from other types of milk, and compare its performance with benchtop NIRS and fatty acid profiling by gas chromatography. The sample set included 37 organic retail milks and 50 non-organic retail milks (of which 36 conventional and 14 green ‘pasture’ milks). Partial least squares discriminant analysis was performed to build classification models and kernel density estimation (KDE) functions were calculated to generate non-parametric distributions for samples’ class probabilities. These distributions showed that portable NIRS was successful to distinguish organic milks from conventional milks, and so were benchtop NIRS and fatty acid profiling procedures. However, it was less successful when ‘pasture’ milks were considered too, since their patterns occasionally resembled those of the organic milk group. Fatty acid profiling was capable of distinguishing organic milks from both non-organic milks though, including the ‘pasture’ milks. This comparative study revealed that the classification performance of the portable NIRS for this application was similar to that of the benchtop NIRS.
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•A new method is presented for organic milk authentication by portable NIR spectroscopy.•Probability distributions offered detailed insights into classification results.•Performance of the techniques were compared by Passing-Bablok regression.•Portable and benchtop NIRS were similarly successful.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Organic C is an important control on the process of denitrification, a process that can result in the production and reduction of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). This study identified ...the influence of different low molecular weight C (LMW-C) compounds on the production of nitrous oxide (N2O) and dinitrogen (N2) and the associated role of the size and structure of the microbial community. We examined this following application of glucose, glutamine or citric acid (250 mg C kg−1 dry soil) and 15N-KNO3 (100 mg N kg−1 dry soil) to a sandy loam soil and measured the production of N2 and N2O by denitrifiers using 15N labeling techniques, changes in the bacterial community as measured by T-RFLP on 16SrDNA fragments and changes in the gene copy number of 16SrDNA, nirK, nirS and nosZ over 144 h. Addition of glucose, citric acid and glutamine all increased emissions of 15N-N2 above that found in the control (P < 0.05) while the addition of glucose and glutamine resulted in higher emissions of 14+15N-N2O (P < 0.001) than the addition of citric acid, resulting in a lower 15N-N2O to 15N-N2 ratio in the citric acid treatment. The 16SrDNA gene copy number increased after addition of citric acid and glutamine, whilst 16SrDNA showed significant shifts in community composition in all C treatments although over different time periods. The gene copy number of nosZ only significantly increased at 120 h in the glutamine treatment (P < 0.05) and nirS at 120 h in the citric acid and glutamine treatments (P < 0.05). This suggests that where C is added as a single input, differences in N2 and N2O emissions between LMW-C compounds were not caused by selection for denitrifiers but likely driven by differences in substrate use efficiency and subsequent differences in C partitioning between growth and respiration. The differing influence of the three selected C compounds on denitrification indicates the potential for lowering net N2O emissions through regulation of C compound availability.
•The effect on denitrification of 3 common rhizodeposited C compounds was studied.•Production and reduction of N2O varied between C compounds.•Denitrifier abundance increased in 2 of the 3 carbon treatments.•Substrate use efficiency drove C treatment differences in denitrification.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Japan's tourism market is facing challenges due to the impact of COVID-19 and an aging population. To address this issue, we intend to use virtual (VR) technology to provide virtual travel ...experiences for older individuals who may otherwise have difficulty traveling due to health concerns. In this preparatory experiment with young participants, we compared several virtual travel conditions using questionnaires and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology. Our findings suggest that VR glasses are more effective and popular among young people than smartphones. Both forms of virtual travel have a relaxing effect on young people. This may be because virtual travel is not particularly exciting for them. However, it may have a different effect on older individuals.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
This study examined the effects of acute normoxic and hypoxic exposure on neuromuscular and hemodynamic physiological responses performed during dynamic step muscle actions.
Thirteen recreationally ...active men (mean ± SD age: 21.2 ± 2.9 yrs) performed dynamic leg extensions unilaterally under Normoxic (FiO2 = 21 %) and Hypoxic (FiO2 = 13 %) conditions in a randomized order at 20 %, 40 %, 60 %, 80 %, and 100 % of their maximal strength. Electromyographic (EMG) amplitude, EMG frequency, (Oxygenated and Deoxygenated hemoglobin; OxyHb, DeoxyHb), Total hemoglobin (TotalHb), and skeletal muscle tissue oxygenation status (StO2) were measured from the vastus lateralis during all contractions.
There were no detectable differences in the neuromuscular responses between normoxia and hypoxia for EMG amplitude (p = 0.37–0.74) and frequency (p = 0.17–0.83). For EMG amplitude there were general increases with intensity (p < 0.01–0.03). EMG frequency remained similar from 20% to 80% and then increased at 100 % effort (p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in patterns of responses for OxyHb (p = 0.870) and TotalHb (p = 0.200) between normoxia and hypoxia. StO2 (p = 0.028) decreased and DeoxyHb (p = 0.006) increased under hypoxia compared to normoxia during dynamic step muscle actions performed in a randomized order.
Unlike fatigue, acute hypoxemia in an unfatigued state does not impact the localized neuromuscular responses, but minimally impacts the hemodynamic responses.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy occupies a specific spot across the field of bioscience and related disciplines. Its characteristics and application potential differs from infrared (IR) or Raman ...spectroscopy. This vibrational spectroscopy technique elucidates molecular information from the examined sample by measuring absorption bands resulting from overtones and combination excitations. Recent decades brought significant progress in the instrumentation (e.g., miniaturized spectrometers) and spectral analysis methods (e.g., spectral image processing and analysis, quantum chemical calculation of NIR spectra), which made notable impact on its applicability. This review aims to present NIR spectroscopy as a matured technique, yet with great potential for further advances in several directions throughout broadly understood bio-applications. Its practical value is critically assessed and compared with competing techniques. Attention is given to link the bio-application potential of NIR spectroscopy with its fundamental characteristics and principal features of NIR spectra.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
With the increasing aging population, societal challenges related to health, pension, and medical conditions in the elderly have become increasingly prominent. Hence, actively preventing and treating ...geriatric diseases, such as cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, among the elderly have become important. This study describes the results of a preliminary experiment conducted to develop training content aimed at activating the brains of the elderly. We investigated the differences in performances and changes in cerebral blood flows with respect to tasks performed in a 2D nostalgic space (a Showa-era tearoom) compared to tasks performed in a 2D modern space (a modern-day living room). Although the subjects in this preliminary experiment were young, the results of the task performed in the case of the 2D Showa-era tearoom space showed a high rate of correct responses with respect to the task and higher activation of cerebral blood flow. Based on the results of this study, future experiments will be conducted on the elderly.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Raw biochar with high pH possibly stimulated ammonia (NH3) volatilization in the agricultural soil. We hypothesized that the modified biochar (MBC) with low pH can synchronically decrease the NH3 and ...nitrous oxide (N2O) losses. We performed a two-year experiment to clarify how citric acid MBC influence the NH3 volatilization and N2O emission as well as the underlying mechanisms. Two typical paddy soils, i.e., Hydragric Anthrosol and Haplic Acrisol, receiving equal urea N with 240 kg ha−1 but varied rates of MBC with 0, 5, 10, and 20 t ha−1 (named Urea, Urea + MBC5, Urea + MBC10, and Urea + MBC20, respectively) were studied. The results showed that MBC-amended treatments effectively mitigated the NH3 volatilization from Hydragric Anthrosol and Haplic Acrisol by 29.6%–57.9% and 30.5%–62.4% in 2017, and by 16.5%–21.0% and 24.5%–35.0% in 2018, respectively, compared to Urea treatment. In addition, significantly lower N2O emissions with averaged 38.3% and 43.1% in 2017, and 51.7% and 26.7% were recorded under Hydragric Anthrosol and Haplic Acrisol, respectively, following the MBC application (P < 0.05). Increased MBC addition performed higher efficacy on mitigating NH3 volatilization, particularly in the first rice season, while this “dosage effect” was not found for N2O reduction. Lowered pH in overlying water, enhanced adsorption of NH4+-N and its nitrification rate likely contributed to the lower NH3 volatilization as result of MBC addition. The nirS and nosZ gene copies were not changed by MBC, while the nirK gene copies were decreased as result of MBC amendment by 8.3%–25.2% under Hydragric Anthrosol and by 21.8%–24.9% under Haplic Acrisol. Consequent lower ratio of nirK/(nirS + nosZ) explained the mitigation effect of MBC on N2O emission. In conclusion, the present two-year study recommends that MBC applied at a low dosage can perform positive effect on controlling the nitrogenous gas pollutants from paddy soil.
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•MBC addition synchronically mitigates the NH3 volatilization and N2O emission.•“Dosage effect” of MBC on reducing NH3 loss was found, but not for N2O emission.•Reduced pH in floodwater mainly lead to the lower NH3 loss after MBC addition.•Lower nirK/(nirS + nosZ) explained the mitigation effect of MBC on N2O emission.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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