The Physicochemical Characteristics of Gelam Honey and Its Outcome on the Female Reproductive Tissue of Sprague–Dawley Rats: A Preliminary Study

Gelam honey (GH) is a prized natural product synthesized from the nectar of flowers from Gelam trees (Melaleuca sp.). Gelam is an evergreen tree species that grows in tropical regions such as Malaysia. GH is a multifloral honey with proven antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the beneficial effect of GH on female reproductive tissue has yet to be substantiated. Herein, we investigated the effects of GH administration on the uterine and vaginal epithelial thickness of sexually mature Sprague–Dawley rats. Epithelia thickness could be an indicator of an atrophy manifesting as a symptom of a cardio syndrome. Rats were given oral doses of GH in four groups for 14 days; the lowest dose was 0.2 g GH/kg body weight (bw) rat/day and the highest dose was 8 g GH/kg bw rat/day. The physicochemical characteristics of GH were assessed through hydroxymethylfurfural and moisture content determination and sugar identification. GH attenuated the atrophy of the uterine and vaginal epithelia and increased the thickness of the endometrial stroma and endometrial surface endothelial layer. However, the dissonance observed in the effect of GH administration on the vaginal epithelium requires further investigation. Nevertheless, GH may have a strong potential in attenuating uterine and vaginal atrophies.

A New Method of Rice Moisture Content Determination Using Voxel Weighting-Based from Radio Tomography Images

This manuscript presents a new method to monitor and localize the moisture distribution in a rice silo based on tomography images. Because the rice grain is naturally hygroscopic, the stored grains’ quality depends on their level of moisture content. Higher moisture content leads to fibre degradation, making the grains too frail and possibly milled. If the moisture is too low, the grains become brittle and are susceptible to higher breakage. At present, the single-point measurement method is unreliable because the moisture build-up inside the silo might be distributed unevenly. In addition, this method mostly applies gravimetric analysis, which is destructive. Thus, we proposed a radio tomographic imaging (RTI) system to address these problems. Four simulated phantom profiles at different percentages of moisture content were reconstructed using Newton’s One-Step Error Reconstruction and Tikhonov Regularization algorithms. This simulation study utilized the relationship between the maximum voxel weighting of the reconstructed RTI image and the percentage of moisture content. The outcomes demonstrated promising results, in which the weighting voxel linearly increased with the percentage of moisture content, with a correlation coefficient higher than 0.95 was obtained. Therefore, the results support the possibility of using the RTI approach for monitoring and localizing the moisture distribution inside the rice silo.

CONFIDENCE ANALYSIS AND CALIBRATION OF A FC-28 SOIL MOISTURE SENSOR MOUNTED ON A MICROCONTROLLER PLATFORM

Nowadays, the global water crisis poses a great challenge to humanity and a risk to be managed by future generations. In order to use this resource consciously, it is known in the area of agricultural irrigation the need to evaluate the amount of water to be used. Among the soil moisture content determination methods, sensors, coupled to a programmable logic controller, emerge as an alternative to conventional laboratory methods, making the procedure faster and less labor intensive. In this sense, the present work aimed to evaluate the reliability and precision of a low-cost sensor to determine soil moisture content. It was concluded that the evaluated sensors did not present a known precision to estimate the level of soil moisture content. A FC-28 sensor coupled with a Arduino platform was used with three different soils (texture: low, medium and heavy), moisture ranging from 15 to 50%. The results indicated that soil texture influenced the readings, even at the same humidity. In addition, the evaluated sensors did not present replicability nor accuracy for less them 10% moisture differences. Therefore, there is need to calibrate each sensor individually. Keywords: arduino; irrigation; embedded systems. Análise de confiabilidade e calibração do sensor de umidade do solo FC-28 montado em plataforma microcontroladora RESUMO: Atualmente, a crise hídrica mundial representa um grande desafio à humanidade e um risco a ser gerenciado pelas gerações futuras. De forma a utilizar este recurso de forma consciente, estudos na área de irrigação agrícola apontam a necessidade de se estimar com precisão a quantidade de água a ser usada. Dentre os métodos de determinação da umidade do solo, os sensores, acoplados a um controlador lógico programável, surgem como uma alternativa aos métodos convencionais de laboratório, tornando o procedimento mais rápido e menos trabalhoso. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho avaliou a confiabilidade e precisão de um sensor de baixo custo para determinação da umidade do solo. Um sensor FC-28 associado à uma plataforma Arduino foi usado em três tipos diferentes de solos (texturas: leve, média e pesada), umidades variando de 15 a 50%. Concluiu-se que os sensores avaliados não apresentaram boa precisão para estimar o grau de umidade dos solos. A textura do solo influenciou diretamente as leituras dos sensores, mesmo para a mesma umidade. Além de não apresentaram replicabilidade nem precisão para diferenças menores de 15% nos valores de umidades. Portanto, é necessário calibrar cada sensor individualmente. Palavras-chave: arduino; irrigação; plataformas embarcadas.

Determination of readiness for laying based on material moisture, corresponding relative humidity, and water release

The moisture content of the subfloor has to be determined before installation to avoid damage to the floor covering. Only if readiness for layering is reached, can an installation without damage be expected in all cases. In general, three approaches exist to measure residual water content: determination of moisture content, determination of water release, or determination of the corresponding relative humidity. All three approaches are tested under laboratory conditions at eight screed types including two samples thicknesses in each case. Moisture content and water release are measured by sample weighing, the corresponding relative humidity is measured by embedded sensors. All three approaches are compared and correlated. The evaluations show only a weak correlation and, in several cases, contradicting results. Samples are considered ready for layering and not ready for layering at the same time, depending on the chosen approach. Due to these contradicting results, a general threshold for a risk of damage cannot be derived based on these measurements. Furthermore, the experiment demonstrates that the measurement of corresponding relative humidity is independent of the screed type or screed composition considered. This makes humidity measurement a potentially very promising approach for the installation of material moisture monitoring systems.

Performance Comparison of Three Density-Independent Calibration Functions for Microwave Moisture Sensing in Unshelled Peanuts during Drying

HighlightsReal-time, free-space transmission measurements of relative complex permittivity in unshelled peanuts during dryingDynamic application: temperature, density and moisture content changing during dryingThree density-independent calibration functions evaluated for accuracy in real-time moisture content determinationReal-time moisture content determination with standard error of performance (SEP) = 0.55% moisture content for all calibration functionsCalibration function most commonly used with microwave moisture sensor was determined to be most accurate; SEP = 0.448% moisture contentAbstract. A microwave moisture sensor, developed within USDA ARS, has been used to determine moisture content in unshelled peanuts during drying. Relative complex permittivities of the peanuts obtained from free-space transmission measurements at 5.8 GHz are used for the moisture determination. Due to variations in density caused by drying, it is advantageous to estimate moisture content independent of bulk density. Therefore, moisture content was estimated with three density-independent calibration functions to assess which one provided optimal accuracy. One of the functions is based on the measured attenuation and phase shift, and the other two are permittivity based (one of which is commonly used with the microwave moisture sensor). The sensor was calibrated for peanut pod moisture content determination over a temperature range of 10°C to 40°C and a moisture content range of 6.5% to 19% wet basis (w.b.). Statistical analysis showed high coefficients of determination (r2), = 0.97 for the calibration with each function. Peanut pod moisture content was determined with the sensor in real-time as peanuts dried, and estimated moisture content was compared to the reference oven drying method. While the standard error of performance (SEP) for the three functions was = 0.55% moisture content, the calibration function most commonly used with the microwave sensor was observed to be the most accurate (SEP = 0.448% moisture content). Microwave sensing is a viable solution for nondestructive, real-time determination of moisture content in peanuts in dynamic situations such as drying. Keywords: Complex permittivity, Dielectric properties, Free-space measurements, Microwave sensing, Moisture content, Peanut drying.

Microbiological Analysis, Cyanide and Moisture Content of Different Garri Samples

Three garri samples from three differents markets in Afikpo North L.G.A of Ebonyi State were collected and the microbial, moisture content and cyanide content of the samples (A, B, C) were assayed to ascertain their quality and safety. The Microbial analysis, the total plate counts were 7.9 x 105 cfu/g, 2.6 x 105 cfu/g, and 1.6 x105 cfu/g in samples A, B and C respectively. On the other hand the fungal counts were 1.6 x105 cfu/g, 0.8 x105 cfu/g and 0.2 x 105 cfu/g in samples A, B and C respectively. Staphylococcus spp was isolated from all the garri samples while streptococcus spp was isolated in samples A and B. However Escherichia coli was isolated only in sample A. The fungi isolated were Aspergillus spp in samples A and B while Penicillium spp was isolated in all samples A, B and C. Cyanide content of the samples were also determined. The values were 0.688 mg/kg, 0.750 mg/kg and 0.630 mg/kg in samples A, B, and C respectively. The moisture content determination of the garria the values of 16%, 14% and 13% in samples A, B, and C respectively. Thus, the microbial counts of the garri samples were within safe limits of the international food standard (<105 cfu/g). The cyanide contents were also within safe limits of the international standard (<IHCH/100 g). Moreover, the absence of food borne pathogens of microbiological safe.