Evaluation of Minimally Processed Apples with Application of Edible Films through Biospeckle

The search for practical eating has been increasing among consumers. Thus, minimally processed （MP） foods, which are fresh, previously cut, washed, sanitized and packed products, may be covered with films so as to keep their quality, reducing the deterioration processes. This paper aimed to evaluate the quality of fresh cut apples covered and uncovered with an edible film, through conventional techniques and through biospeckle which is an alternative method of quality evaluation. That analysis was correlated to methods, such as Hunter L＊, a＊ and b＊ parameters. Total soluble solids （TSS）, total titratable acidity （TTA）, respiration rate and pH, as well as the biospeckle optical technique, were measured through the calculation of the moment of inertia （MI）. Apples were sorted into three sets： samples with sodium alginate edible film, samples with pectin edible film and control samples with no film. In optical tests, a diode laser with a wavelength of 632 nm, a digital camcorder, a computer with image processing and statistical software were used. Results showed that both edible films （alginate and pectin） presented lower MI values, indicating the decrease of the biological activity. The conservation of the products observed through the reduction of biological activity promoted by the films keeps the apple quality for a longer period of time. The biospeckle technique can be related to the intensity of the biological activity of the vegetable tissue.

Numerical model for evaluating the speckle activity and characteristics of bone tissue under the biospeckle laser system

This paper discusses and studies the composition and characteristics of biospeckle on the surface of bone tissues.We used a laser speckle device to capture biospeckle patterns from fresh pig bone tissue.Traditional speckle activity metrics were used to measure the speckle activity of ex vivo bone tissue over time.Both Gaussian and Lorentzian correlation functions were used to char-acterize the ordered and disordered motion of the bone surface,together with volume scattering,to construct the model.Using the established mathematical model of the spatio-temporal evo-lution of the biospeckle pattern,it is possible to account for the presence of volume scattering from the biospeckle of bones,quantify the ordered or disordered motions in the biological speckle activity at the current time,and assess the ability of laser speckle correlation technique to determine biological activity.

Evaluation of Maize Seeds Treated with Trichodermil? through Biospeckle

The present work aimed to study the treatment with the bioprotector Trichoderma harzianum on maize seeds immediately after treatment and during storage.Maize seeds were analyzed through germination test,vigor tests(cold test,accelerated aging and aerial length),and the viability of the treated seeds was verified through the biospeckle.Seed treatment is recommended because approximately 90%of crops intended for human and animal feeding are seed-propagated.A pathogen present in the seed results in increased diseases in the adult plant,in addition to introducing pathogens in other areas.So the seed treatment can provide better results than chemicals disease control on plants.Bioprotectors have antagonistic fungi that produce metabolites and enzymes that will avoid the proliferation of phytopathogenic fungi.Among the bioprotectors,Trichoderma spp.,used for phytosanitary control of seeds,stands out.The tests were carried out with treatment in order to evaluate the physiological potential caused by the treatment with the bioprotector.The biospeckle experimental runs were performed in parallel with the sanitation test.The germination percentages of 93.0%,87.5%,and 87.5%,respectively,showed that they were all above the minimum requirement for commercialization,which is 85%.Analyzing the vigor and sanitation tests,it was verified that the best treatment was on day zero.Among the seeds analyzed through biospeckle,using the laser speckle contrast analysis(LASCA)technique,it was possible to identify fungi activity.

Determination of the Optimum Moisture Content ofPurple Ipe （Handroanthus heptaphyllus） Seeds forBiospeckle Tests

Handroanthus heptaphyllus （botany synonymy Tabebuia heptaphylla） is considered to have very important economical,ornamental and medicinal value. It is included in the Bignoniaceae botanical family, whose multiplication is quite solely carried byseeds. Forest dispersion elements, i.e., the seeds, deserve a deep understanding on their physiological performance. The objective ofthis research work was to determine the optimum seed moisture content for laser interaction in biospeckle tests, which is based onlaser interferometry. Seeds were hydrated to the level of 69% and then divided into four subsamples, i.e., （1） seeds without teguments,（2） seeds with tegument, （3） seeds without teguments frozen at 0 ℃ and （4） seeds with teguments frozen at 0 ℃. The foursubsamples were then separated into five moisture level groups （28%, 35%, 54%, 63% and 69%） and exposed to the laser. Thebiospeckle phenomenon quantification was carried out by means of the moment of inertia （MI） approach. A positive correlationbetween MI and seed moisture content was obtained. It was also verified that seed moisture content between 28% and 54% showedbetter interaction with the laser. The results are important for the application of the biospeckle technique as a possible tool to assessthe quality of purple ipe seeds.