title: The Coffee Roaster's Paradox

authors: Kelly, Cameron Brian Desmond

subjects: Coffee Roasting

abstract: This paper examines the engineering and application of different sensor methods to demystify the art that surrounds coffee roasting. Coffee roasting is an important step in the process of bringing coffee from green bean to cup. It is the roasting process that takes the green coffee and develops the flavours and aromas for which coffee is so valued, and it is the step that imparts the greatest added value. The sensor methods of, Online Calorimetry, Microwave Aquametry, and Raman Spectroscopy are analysed. The results are used to identify how expert coffee roasters manage to roast the perfect coffee.

text: The Coffee Roaster's Paradox This paper examines the engineering and application of different sensor methods to demystify the art that surrounds coffee roasting. Coffee roasting is an important step in the process of bringing coffee from green bean to cup. It is the roasting process that takes the green coffee and develops the flavours and aromas for which coffee is so valued, and it is the step that imparts the greatest added value. The sensor methods of, Online Calorimetry, Microwave Aquametry, and Raman Spectroscopy are analysed. The results are used to identify how expert coffee roasters manage to roast the perfect coffee.

year: 2017

title: Ecophysiology of desiccation/rehydration cycles in mosses and lichens

authors: Green, T.G. Allan

subjects: bryophyte

abstract: Although both lichens and bryophytes are all poikilohydric the groups seem to behave very differently. Bryophytes also show a clear preference for wetter areas and this seems to be a result of the different structures of the organisms. A lichen is algae (or cyanobacteria) suspended in a mycobiont with excess water often having a negative effect on photosynthesis. Bryophytes, in contrast, are true multicellular plants and can construct photosynthetic tissues that can effectively separate their photosynthetic and water storage functions. Under dry atmospheric conditions lichens and bryophytes will desiccate to low water contents and they become dormant. Ability to tolerate desiccation varies considerably both between and within the groups. Somewhat surprisingly, lichens appear to show less ability to tolerate long periods of desiccation than bryophytes, and even some vascular plants. Actual mechanisms of desiccation have been best studied in bryophytes and appear to be constitutive, no protein synthesis is required on rehydration to enable the commencement of metabolism and the necessary protection appears to be always present. Consistently high sucrose levels, for instance are reported from bryophytes. Cellular structure is often maintained when desiccated. Recovery from dryness also differs between the groups with bryophytes generally hydrating more slowly but there are large species differences. In general, rate of recovery may be related to the length of the hydrated activity period, species that hydrate and then dry rapidly, as on rock surfaces, recover rapidly. Species in habitats that remain wet for long periods once hydrated appear to recover more slowly from dryness. In addition to a photosynthetic response to light and temperature, the poikilohydric lichens and bryophytes also have a photosynthetic response to thallus water content. Starting with a dry thallus, addition of water will both increase the thallus water content and also allow photosynthesis and respiration to commence. Both processes increase almost linearly with further hydration at low water contents. Photosynthesis reaches a maximum at an optimal thallus water content (WCopt) that is strongly species dependant. In both groups this photosynthetic optimum represents full cellular turgor. At water contents above this optimum surface or external water can interfere with carbon dioxide uptake and can severely limit photosynthetic rates, especially in lichens. When thallus water contents are normalised to WCopt = 1, then the net photosynthesis (NP) response curves at water contents below WCopt are very similar for liverworts, mosses and higher plants, suggesting a common mechanism in controlling NP. It is suggested that this might be an inhibitor acting on Rubisco activity. In contrast to vascular plants both groups can carry out photosynthesis at lower, suboptimal thallus water contents and very low water potentials but the contribution that this makes to total carbon budget appears to be a major difference between the groups. Bryophytes seem to pass rapidly through this water content range when both drying and hydrating for tens of minutes are often enough. In contrast, it is now apparent that lichens are often active at low thallus water contents. They can not only hydrate from humid air alone, or from dew and fog, but can use these water sources very effectively, often achieving a major part of their annual carbon gain. Information on when the lichens and bryophytes are actually active is only recently starting to appear but, again, the groups seem to differ. Bryophytes strongly prefer wetter habitats and can be active and fully hydrated for long periods and seem to have excellent capacity to tolerate high light and UV radiation when wet. In contrast many lichens, in particular those with green algal symbionts, rarely seem to be hydrated for long periods, especially in high light conditions, and rapidly dry out. Lichens seem to be active mainly under suboptimal conditions one of which is suboptimal water content.

text: Ecophysiology of desiccation/rehydration cycles in mosses and lichens Although both lichens and bryophytes are all poikilohydric the groups seem to behave very differently. Bryophytes also show a clear preference for wetter areas and this seems to be a result of the different structures of the organisms. A lichen is algae (or cyanobacteria) suspended in a mycobiont with excess water often having a negative effect on photosynthesis. Bryophytes, in contrast, are true multicellular plants and can construct photosynthetic tissues that can effectively separate their photosynthetic and water storage functions. Under dry atmospheric conditions lichens and bryophytes will desiccate to low water contents and they become dormant. Ability to tolerate desiccation varies considerably both between and within the groups. Somewhat surprisingly, lichens appear to show less ability to tolerate long periods of desiccation than bryophytes, and even some vascular plants. Actual mechanisms of desiccation have been best studied in bryophytes and appear to be constitutive, no protein synthesis is required on rehydration to enable the commencement of metabolism and the necessary protection appears to be always present. Consistently high sucrose levels, for instance are reported from bryophytes. Cellular structure is often maintained when desiccated. Recovery from dryness also differs between the groups with bryophytes generally hydrating more slowly but there are large species differences. In general, rate of recovery may be related to the length of the hydrated activity period, species that hydrate and then dry rapidly, as on rock surfaces, recover rapidly. Species in habitats that remain wet for long periods once hydrated appear to recover more slowly from dryness. In addition to a photosynthetic response to light and temperature, the poikilohydric lichens and bryophytes also have a photosynthetic response to thallus water content. Starting with a dry thallus, addition of water will both increase the thallus water content and also allow photosynthesis and respiration to commence. Both processes increase almost linearly with further hydration at low water contents. Photosynthesis reaches a maximum at an optimal thallus water content (WCopt) that is strongly species dependant. In both groups this photosynthetic optimum represents full cellular turgor. At water contents above this optimum surface or external water can interfere with carbon dioxide uptake and can severely limit photosynthetic rates, especially in lichens. When thallus water contents are normalised to WCopt = 1, then the net photosynthesis (NP) response curves at water contents below WCopt are very similar for liverworts, mosses and higher plants, suggesting a common mechanism in controlling NP. It is suggested that this might be an inhibitor acting on Rubisco activity. In contrast to vascular plants both groups can carry out photosynthesis at lower, suboptimal thallus water contents and very low water potentials but the contribution that this makes to total carbon budget appears to be a major difference between the groups. Bryophytes seem to pass rapidly through this water content range when both drying and hydrating for tens of minutes are often enough. In contrast, it is now apparent that lichens are often active at low thallus water contents. They can not only hydrate from humid air alone, or from dew and fog, but can use these water sources very effectively, often achieving a major part of their annual carbon gain. Information on when the lichens and bryophytes are actually active is only recently starting to appear but, again, the groups seem to differ. Bryophytes strongly prefer wetter habitats and can be active and fully hydrated for long periods and seem to have excellent capacity to tolerate high light and UV radiation when wet. In contrast many lichens, in particular those with green algal symbionts, rarely seem to be hydrated for long periods, especially in high light conditions, and rapidly dry out. Lichens seem to be active mainly under suboptimal conditions one of which is suboptimal water content.

year: 2011

title: Network Analysis Reveals Unique Associations of Mindfulness and Distress with Immunity in Māori and Non-Māori New Zealanders

authors: Billot, Moana

abstract: Objectives: 
A healthy immune system is required to protect against viral infection and ensure the efficacy of vaccines. Psychological distress can threaten immune resilience, while mindfulness practices can be protective. In New Zealand, Māori experience significantly higher levels of distress compared to non-Māori. The aim of this study was to explore the role of ethnicity in the relations among immunity, depression, anxiety, stress, and mindfulness relate to each other.
Method:
Network analysis was used to explore unique relations among distress (depression, anxiety, stress), mindfulness facets, and immune status in matched (age, ranging from 19 to 88 years, sex, and self-classified socio-economic status) samples of Māori (n=195) and non-Māori (n=195) participants from New Zealand.
Results:
The networks of distress, mindfulness, and immune status were significantly different between Māori and non-Māori participants. The mindfulness facets Describe and Act with Awareness were more strongly positively linked in Māori, and Non-judge and Depression more strongly negatively linked in Māori, while Describe and Non-judge were more strongly positively linked in non-Māori. For both Māori and non-Māori, similarities included a negative link between anxiety and immune status, strong positive links between the distress variables, and positive links between the mindfulness facets of Non-judge and Act with Awareness, Observe and Non-React, and Observe and Describe.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that anxiety is strongly linked to poor immunity across both Māori and non-Māori in New Zealand while networks of mindfulness and distress also demonstrated differences unique for each of these groups. Both similarities and differences between Māori and non-Māori should be considered when developing targeted interventions to improve physical and mental health in New Zealand.
Preregistration:
This study is not preregistered.

text: Network Analysis Reveals Unique Associations of Mindfulness and Distress with Immunity in Māori and Non-Māori New Zealanders Objectives: 
A healthy immune system is required to protect against viral infection and ensure the efficacy of vaccines. Psychological distress can threaten immune resilience, while mindfulness practices can be protective. In New Zealand, Māori experience significantly higher levels of distress compared to non-Māori. The aim of this study was to explore the role of ethnicity in the relations among immunity, depression, anxiety, stress, and mindfulness relate to each other.
Method:
Network analysis was used to explore unique relations among distress (depression, anxiety, stress), mindfulness facets, and immune status in matched (age, ranging from 19 to 88 years, sex, and self-classified socio-economic status) samples of Māori (n=195) and non-Māori (n=195) participants from New Zealand.
Results:
The networks of distress, mindfulness, and immune status were significantly different between Māori and non-Māori participants. The mindfulness facets Describe and Act with Awareness were more strongly positively linked in Māori, and Non-judge and Depression more strongly negatively linked in Māori, while Describe and Non-judge were more strongly positively linked in non-Māori. For both Māori and non-Māori, similarities included a negative link between anxiety and immune status, strong positive links between the distress variables, and positive links between the mindfulness facets of Non-judge and Act with Awareness, Observe and Non-React, and Observe and Describe.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that anxiety is strongly linked to poor immunity across both Māori and non-Māori in New Zealand while networks of mindfulness and distress also demonstrated differences unique for each of these groups. Both similarities and differences between Māori and non-Māori should be considered when developing targeted interventions to improve physical and mental health in New Zealand.
Preregistration:
This study is not preregistered.

year: 2023-08-25