Vector Autoregressive-Based Maximum MCUSUM Control Chart for Monitoring the Quality of White Crystal Sugar

The white crystal sugar which is widely consumed sugar has two critical to qualities, namely the index of solution colour and the level of sulphur dioxide. These quality characteristics have small mean and variability shifts, as well as autocorrelation pattern. This research aims to propose residual-based Maximum Multivariate Cumulative Sum (Max-MCUSUM) control chart, one of the single control charts to monitor small shifts of mean and variability simultaneously, for monitoring the quality of white crystal sugar. The vector autoregressive (VAR) model is utilized to model the daily solution colour index and the daily sulphur dioxide level, then the residuals are monitored using Max-MCUSUM chart. The VAR-based Max-MCUSUM chart employs bootstrap, one of the nonparametric resampling methods, to estimate the control limit. The results of white crystal sugar quality control show that the processes in the last week of August 2020 need to be improved. Monitoring the white crystal sugar data using conventional control chart leads to many false alarm signals. Furthermore, the proposed control chart is more sensitive than the residual-based MEWMA and residual-based Hotelling’s T 2 charts in case of monitoring the quality of white crystal sugar.

The effect of some solutions on the vase life of star flowers

This study was carried out on the flowers of 'Le Castel' Dahlia (starflower) cultivated in Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Agricultural Research and Application Center in 2019. The study aimed to prolong the vase life of Dahlia flowers used as cut flowers. Deionized water (control), sucrose + deionized water, thyme oil, lavender oil, carvacrol, thymol, sodium hypochlorite, and gibberellic acid were used as vase solutions. The total vase solution uptake (g/stem), daily vase solution uptake (g/day fresh weight (FW)), proportional FW (%) and vase life (day) parameters were determined based on Dahlia flowers that harvested at different harvest stages (3, 4 and 5 layers). As a result; the most extended vase life was measured in the gibberellic acid treatment (8.22 days), the highest proportional fresh weight was measured in the carvacrol in the 6th day (139.78%), the highest daily solution uptake was measured in the thyme oil in 0-2 days (11.7 g/day FW) and the highest total solution uptake was measured in the thyme oil (27.5 g/stem). It was concluded that the vase life of earlier harvested flowers was longer than of late harvested.

EXTENDING THE VASE LIFE OF CUT HYDRANGEA FLOWERS BY PRESERVATIVE SOLUTIONS

Vase life is one of the most important factors determining the marketability of cut flowers and influenced by water balance strongly. In recent years, the consumption of hydrangeas as a cut flower has gradually increased. However, the vase life of cut hydrangea flowers is short depends on wilting. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the effects of different treatments [thymol (100, 150 and 200 mgL–1), 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate (8-HQS) (200 mgL–1)], and their combination with and without 1% sucrose on the vase life, relative fresh weight, daily (solution uptake for 3 days) and total solution uptake of hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Green Shadow’) harvested freshly. Distilled water was used as the control. Compared to the control, thymol 150 mgL–1 treatment with 1% sucrose significantly increased the vase life of hydrangeas flowers in 5.80 days (from 10.7 to 16.5 days). It was also determined that same treatment increased the total solution uptake and delayed relative fresh weight loss. These results indicated that thymol treatments in combination with sucrose can be used to extend the vase life of cut hydrangea.

ITRF use for global applications and estimation of linear velocities of dense networks

<p>GNSS networks are required to continue meeting the ever-increasing demand for global positioning applications operating in a global reference frame. Meanwhile, the requirements of applications based in a local (regional) official reference frame must still be met. Using Bernese GNSS software (Dach, 2015), we can process GNSS networks in the ITRF2014 reference frame and, using Leica GNSS Spider, deliver GNSS corrections in ITRF2014, whilst continuing to serve those with local demands.  To maintain high precision of the GNSS network we perform a daily solution, which is computed based on precise orbits and following the guidelines of the EPN Analysis Centres. To ensure the daily solution runs with correct data, we maintain a database of all reference station equipment changes. Using the daily solution, we are estimating the linear velocity of reference stations within GNSS networks, and are also considering jumps due to equipment changes. The estimated velocities give the opportunity to monitor the long-term stability of the network as well as the quality of reference station coordinates. The daily solution and monitoring of GNSS networks are executed by the Leica Geosystems solution named Leica CrossCheck, which is based on Bernese GNSS software. Leica CrossCheck is capable to monitor GNSS networks of all scales. This includes the computation and monitoring of approximately 5000 GNSS reference stations worldwide, including those part of the HxGN SmartNet GNSS network.  </p><p>KEYWORDS: GNSS reference station network, Bernese GNSS 5.2, Leica CrossCheck, Leica GNSS Spider, HxGN SmartNet <br> </p><p>References: <br>Dach, R., S. Lutz, P. Walser, P. Fridez (Eds); 2015: Bernese GNSS Software Version 5.2. User manual, Astronomical Institute, Universtiy of Bern, Bern Open Publishing. DOI: 10.7892/boris.72297; ISBN: 978-3-906813-05-9.   <br> </p>

ASSESSMENT OF GEOCENTRIC DATUM OF MALAYSIA 2000 (GDM2000)

Several major earthquakes that happened nearby Malaysia for the past decades resulted in a tectonic drift of the Sunda plate. Geocentric Datum of Malaysia 2000 (GDM2000) is affected and has shifted. This paper aims to assess the consistency of GDM2000 by computing datum shift caused by tectonic movement and reference frame effect. Daily solution coordinate of Malaysia Real-Time Kinematic Network (MyRTKnet) stations in the latest reference frame i.e ITRF2014 generated and a coordinate discrepancy between the current reference frame and publish coordinate provided by Jabatan Ukur dan Pemetaan Malaysia (JUPEM) are computed. The result shows that the datum has shifted with an average of 34.6 cm and moved with an average orientation of 111.1° toward the southeast direction. Therefore, this study will contribute to giving an overview of the current status of GDM2000.

Sucrose or sucrose and caffeine differentially impact memory and anxiety-like behaviours, and alter hippocampal parvalbumin and doublecortin

Caffeinated sugar-sweetened “energy” drinks are a subset of soft drinks that are popular among young people worldwide. High sucrose diets impair cognition and alter aspects of emotional behaviour in rats, however, little is known about sucrose combined with caffeine. Rats were allocated to 2h/day 10% sucrose (Suc), 10% sucrose plus 0.04% caffeine (CafSuc) or control (water) conditions. The addition of caffeine to sucrose appeared to increase the rewarding aspect of sucrose, as the CafSuc group consumed more solution than the Suc group. After 14 days of intermittent Suc or CafSuc access, anxiety was assessed in the elevated plus maze (EPM) prior to their daily solution access, whereby CafSuc and Suc rats spent more time in the closed arms, indicative of increased anxiety. Following daily solution access, CafSuc, but not Suc, rats showed reduced anxiety-like behaviour in the open-field. Control and CafSuc rats displayed intact place and long-term object memory, while Suc showed impaired memory performance. Sucrose reduced parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the hippocampus, but no differences were observed between Control and CafSuc conditions. Parvalbumin reactivity in the basolateral amygdala did not differ between conditions. Reduced doublecortin immunoreactivity in the dentate gyrus relative to controls was seen in the CafSuc, but not Suc, treatment condition. These findings indicate that the addition of caffeine to sucrose attenuates cognitive deficits. However, the addition of caffeine to sucrose evokes anxiety-like responses under certain testing conditions, suggesting that frequent consumption of caffeinated energy drinks may promote emotional alterations and brain changes compared to standard soft drinks.