scholarly journals Estimation of Tomato Bruising by Mechanical Impact Force Using Multivariate Analysis

HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1352-1359
Author(s):  
Jinshi Cui ◽  
Myongkyoon Yang ◽  
Daesik Son ◽  
Seongmin Park ◽  
Seong-In Cho

Fresh fruit bruising caused by mechanical impact is the most problematic effect of mechanical postharvest processing of tomatoes. The conventional postharvest process of tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum L.) handling was surveyed from harvest to shipping preparation at a farm in Toechon in the Republic of Korea. Acceleration sensors located on the harvest boxes and fruit skin showed that the most severe impact forces (>10 g) occurred while fruit was moved in and out of the harvest box. Next, multivariate analysis was used to evaluate nondestructively the susceptibility of tomatoes to bruising by developing five estimation models incorporating quality factors and the presence of bruising resulting from peak contact forces. Linear regression models, artificial neural network (ANN) regression models, and a logistic regression model were built; the primary dependent variables were the rates of weight loss and firmness loss, and impact-induced bruising. The impact force was controlled by using a pendulum, which produced four levels of impact force on tomato fruit. Increasing the relative humidity (RH) and firmness, and decreasing the temperature and degree of weight loss decreased tomato fruit bruise damage. In addition, the proposed drop–impact measurement technique, with multivariate analysis, can be used to evaluate tomato quality nondestructively.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahshid Heydari ◽  
Nahid Hashemi Madani ◽  
Zahra Emami ◽  
Alireza Khajavi ◽  
Mohammad Ghorbani ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Metabolic abnormalities are frequently seen in patients with acromegaly. However, it is not clear to what extent GH /IGF-1 contribute to the development of these abnormalities. This study aimed to explore the impact of GH/IGF-1 on different aspects of metabolic abnormalities in patients with acromegaly. Methods: This retrospective, registry-based study conducted on 102 patients with acromegaly. Prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), and dyslipidemia (DLP) at the time of diagnosis has been explored. Moreover, the impact of GH/IGF-1 on these cardio-metabolic risk factors at 3-12 months after surgery has been investigated using linear and logistic regression models.Results: At the time of diagnosis, the prevalence of cardio-metabolic risk factors was 79.17 % for DLP, 29.41% for DM, and 15% for HTN. Furthermore, each 1 ng/ml increase in the level of GH was significantly associated with 2 mg/dl increase in the level of FBS, 0.54 mmHg increase in the level of SBP, and 0.88 mmHg increase in the level of DBP. Upon multivariate analysis GH, but not IGF-1, significantly increased the odds of DM (OR; 1.17, 95% CI; 1.02-1.35, p= 0.025). Conclusions: Our findings showed at early postoperative stage, GH is significantly associated with the levels of FBS, SBP, and DBP. Moreover, GH, but not IGF-1, appears as a predictive factor for the presence of DM. However, neither GH nor IGF-1 could predict the presence of HTN, or DLP in this study.


Author(s):  
Junji Yamaguchi ◽  
Masateru Takigawa ◽  
Masahiko Goya ◽  
Claire Martin ◽  
Miki Amemiya ◽  
...  

Background & Objectives The FlexAbilityTM SE catheter has a laser-cut 8Fr 4-mm flexible tip irrigated through laser-cut kerfs with a thermocouple 0.3mm from the distal end. The TactiCathTM SE catheter has an 8Fr 3.5-mm tip and 6-irrigation port with a thermocouple 2.67mm proximal to the tip. We investigated the impact of these differences on the efficacy and safety of RF-applications. Methods RF applications at a range of powers (20W, 30W, and 40W), contact forces (5g, 15g, and 25g), and durations (10-60s) using perpendicular/parallel catheter orientation, were performed in excised porcine hearts. Lesion characteristics and incidence of steam pops were compared. Results 540 lesions were examined. The FlexAbilityTM SE catheter produced smaller lesion depths (4.0mm vs. 4.4mm, p=0.014 at 20W; 4.6mm vs. 5.6mm, p=0.015 at 30W), surface areas (22.7mm2 vs. 29.2mm2 at 20W, p=0.005; 23.2mm2 vs. 28.7mm2, p=0.009 at 30W) and volumes (126.1mm3 vs. 175.1mm3, p=0.018 at 20W; 183.2mm3 vs. 304.3mm3, p=0.002 at 30W) with perpendicular catheter placement. However, no differences were observed with parallel catheter placement. Steam-pops were significantly less frequently observed with the FlexAbilityTM SE catheter (4% vs. 22%, p<0.001) irrespective of catheter direction to the tissue. Multivariate analysis showed that use of the TactiCathTM SE catheter, power ≥40W, contact force ≥25g, RF duration >30s, parallel angle and impedance drop ≥20Ω were significantly associated with occurrence of steam-pops. Conclusions The FlexAbilityTM SE catheter reduced the risk of steam-pops, but produced smaller lesions with perpendicular catheter placement compared to the TactiCathTM SE catheter.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-133
Author(s):  
Zhen-Xin Chen ◽  
Zhi-Wei Jian ◽  
Xi-Wen Wu ◽  
Jun-Cheng Wang ◽  
Jing-Yuan Peng ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The effects of overweightness and weight loss on the development and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of overweightness and weight loss on the survival of patients with intermediate/advanced HCC receiving chemoembolization as initial treatment. Methods We examined 1,170 patients who underwent chemoembolization as initial treatment for Barcelona-Clínic Liver Cancer stages B and C HCC at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (Guangzhou, China) between December 2009 and May 2015. A baseline body mass index (BMI) of ≥23 kg/m2 was defined as overweight, and body-weight loss of ≥5.0% from baseline was defined as critical weight loss (CWL). Cox regression analysis was used to determine the association between overweightness or CWL and overall survival (OS). Results The median survival time was 16.8 (95% confidence interval, 13.9–19.7) months and 11.1 (95% confidence interval, 10.0–12.2) months in the overweight and non-overweight groups (log-rank test, P &lt; 0.001), respectively. Cox multivariate analysis identified overweightness as an independent protective prognostic factor for OS (P &lt; 0.001). Subgroup stratification analysis revealed a significant association between overweightness and survival among patients receiving further treatment (P = 0.005), but not in those not receiving further treatment (P = 0.683). Multivariate analysis showed that both overweightness and CWL were independent prognostic factors for OS among patients receiving further treatment. Conclusion Among patients with intermediate- or advanced-stage HCC initially treated with chemoembolization, overweightness was associated with longer OS. Furthermore, CWL was an independent adverse prognostic factor for OS in patients receiving additional treatment.


2011 ◽  
Vol 146 ◽  
pp. 112-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Harzallah ◽  
A. Mouftiez ◽  
S. Hariri ◽  
E. Felder ◽  
J.P. Maujean

Railway networks are subjected to more and more severe loading conditions requiring the use of steels with a high resistance to wear and good fatigue behaviour. The surveys carried out on out of use equipment, such as rails or switches, show that these equipments fail by wear after quite a long period of use, but they can fail by fatigue in a substantially shorter time. In service, crossings are submitted to rolling, impact and sliding stresses. The impact-sliding is the result of the wheel transition from rail wing to crossing nose. Very high contact forces act on the crossing nose while such wheels are passing over it. These large contact forces between wheel and crossing can cause severe damage at crossing nose and wing rail. The influence of contact parameters on the damage of the crossing alloy (Hadfield steel GX120Mn13) in comparison with rail steel (R260) was investigated by impact and impact-sliding tests. The results are described and discussed using weight loss and microhardness measurements, optical and scanning electron microscopy observations of the contact surface. Examination of the results shows large plastic deformation in surface and subsurface of samples. In comparison with impact tests, sliding produces a change in size and shape of the contact area, a higher weight loss and lower hardening. A better impact–sliding wear resistance of Hadfield steel has been confirmed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 180 ◽  
pp. 02036
Author(s):  
Jan Hujer ◽  
Miloš Müller

This paper describes investigation of the influence of the protective layer thickness on the calibration sensitivity of PVDF films sensors for the cavitation impacts measurements. The PVDF film sensor is casted into an aluminium block. The drop ball method is used for the measurement of the relation between impact force and the voltage detected on the PVDF film sensor. The calibration constants are measured for three different protective layers thicknesses. Five different ball weights for 400 mm drop height are used to reach the required impact force range. The ball positions for the evaluation of the impact force are measured with a high speed camera. The voltage signal detected on the PVDF film clamps was measured with a high speed digitizer. The measured signals are analysed in LabVIEW Signal Express.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranjan Sinha ◽  
Dashyanng Kachru ◽  
Roshni Ray Ricchetti ◽  
Simitha Singh-Rambiritch ◽  
Karthik Marimuthu Muthukumar ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND In this age of global COVID-19 pandemic, the urgency of addressing an epidemic of obesity and associated inflammatory illnesses has come to the fore. Studies have demonstrated that interactions between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and lifestyle interventions like food and exercise may vary metabolic outcomes, contributing to obesity and therapeutic response. However, there is a paucity of research relating outcomes from digital therapeutics to inclusion of genetic data in care interventions. OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe and model weight loss of subjects enrolled in a precision digital weight loss program informed by machine learning analysis of subject data, including genomic. It was hypothesized that weight loss models would exhibit better fit when incorporating genomic data than utilizing demographic and engagement variables alone. METHODS A cohort of 393 participants enrolled in Digbi Health’s personalized digital care program for 120 days was analyzed retrospectively. Care protocol included the use of subject genomic and gut microbiome data informing precision coaching by mobile app and personal coach. Two linear regression models of weight loss in this cohort (pounds lost, percentage lost) as a function of demographic and behavioral engagement variables were fit. Genomic-enhanced models were built by adding 197 SNPs from subject genomic data as predictors, then refitting, employing Lasso regression on SNPs for variable selection. Success/failure logistic regression models were also fit, with and without genomic data. RESULTS 72% of subjects in this cohort lost weight, while 17% maintained stable weight. 142 subjects lost 5% within 120 days. Models describe the impact of demographic and clinical factors, behavioral engagement, and genomic risk on weight loss. The addition of genomic predictors improved the mean squared error of weight loss models (pounds lost and percent) from 70 to 60 and 16 to 13 respectively. The logistic model improved pseudo R2 from 0.193 to 0.285. Gender, engagement and specific SNPs were significantly associated with weight loss. SNPs within genes involved in metabolic pathways that process food and regulate storage of fat were associated with weight loss in this cohort. This included rs17300539_G (insulin resistance, monounsaturated fat metabolism), rs2016520_C (BMI, waist circumference, cholesterol metabolism), and rs4074995_A (calcium-potassium transport, serum calcium levels). Models described greater average weight loss for subjects having more of these risk alleles. Notably, coaching for dietary modification was personalized to these genetic risks. CONCLUSIONS Adding genomic information in modeling outcomes of a digital precision weight loss program greatly enhanced model accuracy. Interpretable weight loss models pointed to efficacy of coaching informed by subjects’ genomic risk, accompanied by active engagement of subjects in their own success. While large-scale validation is needed, our study preliminarily supports precision dietary interventions for weight loss utilizing genetic risk, with digitally delivered recommendations alongside health-coaching to improve intervention efficacy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 145-146
Author(s):  
Tiffany Schwasinger-Schmidt ◽  
Georges Elhomsy ◽  
Fanglong Dong ◽  
Bobbie Paull-Forney

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Blaine ◽  
Jennifer McElroy ◽  
Hilary Vidair
Keyword(s):  

Obesity ◽  
2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie R. Jay ◽  
Colleen C. Gillespie ◽  
Sheira L. Schlair ◽  
Stella M. Savarimuthu ◽  
Scott E. Sherman ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 336
Author(s):  
Marko Boban ◽  
Viktor Persic ◽  
Zeljko Jovanovic ◽  
Niksa Drinkovic ◽  
Milan Milosevic ◽  
...  

<p><b>Background:</b> Current knowledge on the pervasiveness of increased nutritional risk in cardiovascular diseases is limited. Our aim was to analyze the characteristics of nutritional risk screening in patients scheduled for rehabilitation after heart surgery. Prevalence and extent of nutritional risk were studied in connection with patients' characteristics and seasonal climate effects on weight loss dynamics.</p><p><b>Methods:</b> The cohort included 65 consecutive patients with an age range of 25-84 years, 2-6 months after surgical treatment for ischemic or valvular heart disease. Nutritional risk screening was appraised using a standardized NRS-2002 questionnaire. Groups were analyzed according to a timeline of rehabilitation according to the "cold" and "warm" seasons of the moderate Mediterranean climate in Opatija, Croatia.</p><p><b>Results:</b> Increased nutritional risk scores (NRS-2002) of >3 were found in 96% of studied patients. Mean NRS-2002 of patients was 5.0 � 1.0, with a percentage weight loss history of 11.7% � 2.2% (4.6-19.0). Risk was found to be more pronounced during the warmer season, with NRS-2002 scores of 5.3 � 0.7 versus 4.8 � 1.1 (<i>P</i> = 0.136) and greater loss of weight of 13.0% � 3.2% versus 10.6% � 3% (<i>P</i> = 0.005), respectively. Increased nutritional risk correlated significantly with creatinine concentrations (rho = 0.359; <i>P</i> = 0.034 versus 0.584; <i>P</i> = 0.001, respectively). Significant discordance in correlations was found between NRS-2002 and the decrease in left ventricle systolic function (rho correlation coefficient [rho-cc] = -0.428; <i>P</i> = 0.009), the increase in glucose concentrations (cc = 0.600; <i>P</i> < 0.001), and the decrease in erythrocyte counts (cc = -0.520; <i>P</i> = 0.001) during the colder season.</p><p><b>Conclusion:</b> Increased nutritional risk was found to be frequently expressed in the course of rehabilitation after heart surgery. Although seasonal climate effects influenced the weight loss dynamics, the impact on reproducibility of NRS-2002 was clinically less important. Further studies on the connection of nutritional risk with composited end points might offer improvements in overall quality of treatment.</p>


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