The application of artificial intelligence (AI) such as deep learning in the quality control of grains has the potential to assist analysts in decision making and improving procedures. Advanced technologies based on X-ray imaging provide markedly easier ways to control insect infestation of stored products, regardless of whether the quality features are visible on the surface of the grains. Here, we applied contrast enhancement algorithms based on peripheral equalization and calcification emphasis on X-ray images to improve the detection of Sitophilus zeamais in maize grains. In addition, we proposed an approach based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to identity non-infested and infested classes using three different architectures; (i) Inception-ResNet-v2, (ii) Xception and (iii) MobileNetV2. In general, the prediction models developed based on the MobileNetV2 and Xception architectures achieved higher accuracy (≥0.88) in identifying non-infested grains and grains infested by maize weevil, with a correct classification from 0.78 to 1.00 for validation and test sets. Hence, the proposed approach using enhanced radiographs has the potential to provide precise control of Sitophilus zeamais for safe human consumption of maize grains. The proposed method can automatically recognize food contaminated with hidden storage pests without manual features, which makes it more reliable for grain inspection.

Os morangos possuem curta vida útil pós-colheita devido à rápida deterioração causada por fungos, mesmo quando armazenados sob refrigeração. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar as alterações físico-químicas em morangos irradiados. Morangos (Fragaria anassa Duch.) da variedade Sweet Charles, colhidos na região de Valinhos-SP, foram irradiados um dia após a colheita em fonte de 60Co, nas doses de 0,5; 1,0; 1,5 e 2,0 kGy e controle, armazenados sob refrigeração (4 °C) por 1, 8, 15, 22 e 29 dias. Para a caracterização dos frutos foi realizada a composição química. Os frutos foram avaliados quanto aos teores de sólidos solúveis totais (°Brix), acidez total titulável, pH, pectina total e solúvel nos diferentes tempos. A irradiação não provocou alterações em nenhum dos parâmetros analisados, pois não foram verificadas diferenças entre as amostras irradiadas e a controle, já entre os períodos de armazenamento ocorreram diferenças em todos os parâmetros avaliados.Strawberries have a short postharvest life due to the rapid spoilage caused by fungal infections, even when stored under refrigeration. The present research had the objective of evaluating the physical and chemical alterations in irradiated strawberries. Strawberries (Fragaria anassa Duch.) of the Sweet Charles variety, harvested in the region of Valinhos-SP, Brazil, were irradiated one day after harvest with a source of 60Co in the doses of 0.5; 1.0; 1.5 and 2.0 kGy and control, stored under refrigeration (4 °C) for 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 days. The control sample was not submitted to irradiation. For the characterization of the fruits, the chemical composition was determined. The fruits were evaluated as to total soluble solid content (°Brix), total titrimetric acidity, pH and total and soluble pectin at the different time periods. Irradiation did not cause alterations in any of the parameters analyzed between irradiated samples and the control, but the periods of storage were responsible for the differences observed in all the parameters. It was concluded that the irradiation process did not change the amount of pectin, soluble solid content (°Brix), total titrimetric acidity and pH, but storage time had an influence on these parameters

High-gravity fermentation, used for ethanol production from sugarcane, corn, and mixed substrates, offers several benefits. Yeast, a rapidly multiplying unicellular microorganism, can be adapted for high sugar and ethanol tolerance on a lab scale. However, different substrates can enhance fermentation efficiency. Our study consisted of two experiments. In the first, we compared simple batch feeding with a fed-batch system for yeast selection in high-gravity fermentation. We ran eight cycles with increasing initial sugar contents (50 to 300 g L⁻¹). No significant differences were observed in the first seven cycles, but in the eighth, the fed-batch system showed lower glycerol and fructose contents and higher cell viability than the simple batch system. In the second experiment, we used the fed-batch system with 300 g L⁻¹ from sugarcane, corn, and mixed wort. The results showed that mixed wort produced higher ethanol contents and greater fermentation efficiency compared to corn and sugarcane as substrates. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the fed-batch system is more suitable for high-gravity fermentation on a lab scale, and the combination of sugarcane juice and corn can enhance fermentation efficiency, paving the way for integrating these substrates in industrial ethanol production.

Mesmo o Brasil sendo o maior produtor de feijão, é necessário importar para suprir a grande demanda interna, que é agravada pelas grandes perdas por infestações durante o armazenamento. Para combater estas perdas o processo de irradiação dos feijões é uma alternativa. Foram avaliadas as alterações que ocorreram em grãos de feijão preto crus e cozidos irradiados nas doses de 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 e 10kGy e avaliadas a quantidade de ferro, taninos e ácido fítico, a digestibilidade da proteína e a disponibilidade de ferro. Para o teor de ferro em grãos cozidos não houve variação (média de 118,17mg/Kg). Os teores encontrados de taninos para o cru não variaram com a intensidade radioativa, não sendo possível detecção nos cozidos. Quanto ao teor de ácido fítico, ocorreu diminuição da quantidade com aumento da irradiação nos grãos crus até dose 8kGy. A digestibilidade da proteína diminuiu nos feijões crus com o aumento da irradiação. Ocorreu crescente aumento na disponibilidade de ferro nos feijões crus irradiados (exceto na dose 8kGy), que não varia das doses 4 e 6kGy. Os resultados encontrados neste trabalho mostram que o processo de irradiação não compromete o valor nutricional do feijão preto. Even so Brazil be producer of bean, it is necessay import to supply the itern demand which is very big. The damage to swarm over during the storage occur with frequency. To battle this damages the process of irradiation of beans is an option. The modifications was evaluated in black beans crude and cooked irradiated with dosis of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10kGy and evaluated the iron quantity, tannin and phitic acid, protein digestibity and iron availability. The iron content of cooked beans was not variation (mean 118.17mg/kg). The content of tannin for crude bean was not variation with the intensity of radiation. The phitic acid content decreased its quantity with irradiation dosis increase at crude beans until dosis 8kGy. The protein digestibility decreased with the increase of irradiation dosis in crude beans. Iron availability increased with the dosis of irradiaton (Except in dosis 8kGy) and was not variation of dosis 4 and 6kGy. The results demonstrated that the nutritional value was not engaged for irradiation process of black beans

The pathogen-carrying tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, has spread from the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North and South America, and the Caribbean. This species of mosquito transmits arboviral infections, such as yellow fever, chikungunya, dengue, zika, and several encephalitides. The objective of this research was to provide a radiation dose inducing sterilization in adult male Ae. albopictus in the pupal stage. A cobalt-60 source of gamma radiation at a dose rate of 381 Gy/h was used. The pupae were irradiated with doses of 0 (control), 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 Gy. Each treatment had a total of five replications using 60 pupae. After irradiation, the different phases of Ae. albopictus development (egg, larva, pupa, and adult) in the F1 generation were observed daily. Parameters such as viability, fertility, longevity, and mortality were recorded. The results from these studies showed that a dose of 60 Gy was necessary to sterilize 100% of the male Ae. albopictus pupae.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo determinar os danos causados por Sitophilus zeamais e Sitophilus oryzae em arroz Oryza sativa, L., em alguns cultivares do Estado do Piauí: Metica-1 irrigado, Araguaia sequeiro, Diamante irrigado, Primavera sequeiro, Cica-9 irrigado, Uruçuí sequeiro, Canastra sequeiro, Paranaíba sequeiro e Caiapó, com casca e sem casca. O experimento foi conduzido em laboratório em sala climatizada com temperatura de 30 ± 2^o C e umidade relativa de 51 ± 5%. Cada tratamento constou de 4 repetições com 20 insetos e mais 200 gramas de feijão por repetição, num total de 80 insetos e 800 gramas de feijão por tratamento, e os recipientes eram pesados a cada 15 dias e os valores de perda de peso anotados isso foi feito por 6 meses. Pelos resultados obtidos observou-se que a variedade de arroz mais resistente foi Cica-9 irrigado.