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Calliphoridae are widespread globally and can inhabit a variety of habitats. In this brief report, we assessed the appeal of Chrysomya rufifacies to resources that were previously inhabited by Lucilia sericata and L. cuprina, both common carrion colonizers. Two hundred adult male and female (1:1) C. rufifacies were released under controlled conditions into clear plastic cages (45 x 45 x 45 cm) with four types of substrates: beef-liver; liver with 100 third-instar larvae of L. cuprina; (III) liver containing 100 third-instar larvae of L. sericata; and liver containing 100 third-instar larvae of C. rufifacies. Each substrate was left in place for 24 hours at the end of a tube connected to the cage, where sticky traps were positioned to capture flies that might have been attracted to a specific substrate. The results indicate variations in the attraction of flies to different types of livers colonized by larvae of various species. It is suggested that flies may have specific preferences depending on the species of larvae present in the substrate. The liver without larvae was the preferred choice, while beef liver with C. rufifacies larvae was the least attractive. Results of statistical tests indicated that there is independence between attractiveness preference and the presence of C. rufifacies flies. Although there is a trend among certain levels of the variables in the correspondence analysis, these relationships are not statistically significant. However, they indicate specific patterns of association between different groups of flies and species of larvae. This study demonstrated that C. rufifacies does not show reduced attraction to any of the resources. A tetrahedron olfactometer device has been used for the first time in a behavioral study of C. rufifacies flies. This may enable future studies to enhance the understanding of fly behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, the pharmaceutical industry has shown great interest in the cultivation of aloe vera [Aloe vera (L.) Burm. F.]. In Mexico, it is grown in different states and agroecological conditions. This study aimed to characterize in situ the agro-morphological characteristics of aloe vera at two sites in the states of Puebla and Veracruz, Mexico. In the 2019 agricultural cycle, two-year-old aloe vera plants were collected in both agroecological regions during both the dry and rainy seasons. The agro-morphological variables recorded were: leaf length, width, contour, thickness and weight, useful leaf weight, residue weight, gel weight, and skin weight. The edaphic variables analyzed were: pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, texture, bulk density, total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. In addition, the altitude and average temperature and precipitation of each site were recorded. The variables were analyzed through an analysis of variance, principal components and Pearson’s correlation using the Rstudio program and the Statistical Analysis System. Significantly higher values (p≤ 0.05) were found in 60% of the agro-morphological variables of materials 1P, 2P, and 2V compared to 1V. According to the principal component analysis, the first two principal components accounted for 98.22% of the total morphological variability in the materials evaluated by site. There was a correlation between one geophysical variable, two climatic variables, two edaphic variables and morphological variables, except for leaf width. It is concluded that there is a significant relationship between the agro-morphological characteristics of aloe vera and the agroecological conditions of the site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization and the increase in world population have led to the generation of substantial volumes of laundry wastewater. In the present research work, the efficiency of Eichhornia crassipes for the treatment of wastewater from domestic laundries was studied. It was created in a system of artificial floating islands and placed in polyethylene cells with a useful volume of 20 L of capacity, a hydraulic retention time of 21 d was established. During the treatment, the parameters of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and phosphate-phosphorus ions (PO4-P) were determined. All parameters decreased significantly. The pH decreased from 9.33 to 8.29, the EC from 3,999 to 1,745 mS/cm, TDS from 2,000 to 847 mg/L, as well as the COD from 945 to 71 mg/L, and finally the PO43- ions of 202.5 to 5.7 mg/L. According to the results obtained, the system of artificial floating islands with E. crassipes is considered efficient and adequate for the removal of contaminants present in laundry wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to analyze the effects of the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus on the sensory and cognitive perception of mild and severe COVID‐19 diagnosed and recovered consumers versus healthy consumers. Three groups of 50 consumers each (healthy vs. mild and severe COVID‐19 diagnosed with 30 days after recovery) were used for the evaluation of instant coffee stimuli in concentrations: 4.40, 2.93, 2.20, 1.76, and 1.47% weight (w)/volume (v) and determine their discriminating power, emotions, and memories. Sensory tests were performed remotely. Results indicated that healthy consumers perceived higher intensities in most of the sensory attributes (with the exception of Burnt‐A, Bitter‐T, Acid‐T, and Astringent‐T attributes) compared to consumers who presented mild and severe COVID‐19. Therefore, consumers diagnosed with mild and severe COVID‐19 had a higher discrimination power in the attributes smell, basic tastes, and flavor. Healthy consumers could only discriminate two attributes that correspond to basic flavors. Consumers with mild and severe COVID‐19 diagnosis elicited the highest number of negatives emotions (such as bored, disgusted, worried, guilty, wild, and aggressive) and negative memories (disease, pain, death, hurt, obesity, conflict personal, addiction, stench poverty, and accident) than healthy consumers. It is concluded that there were no significant differences between the consumer panels for the identification of sensory attributes. However, P‐Healthy consumers perceived the highest intensities in most sensory attributes compared to those in the PCOVID19‐Mild and PCOVID19‐Severe panels. Finally, consumers diagnosed with mild or severe COVID‐19 used a higher number of emotions and memories than those of the healthy panel. Practical applications: Investigating the effects of COVID‐19 on sensory and cognitive perception can be useful for industry and researchers in the sensory field who wish to understand the effects of the disease in order to generate new protocols for the selection and training of people, as well as the possible development and innovation of new products focused on perception of consumers recovered from COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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It is indispensable for corn (Zea mays L.) plant breeding programs to select homogeneous materials, with high yield and with stable agronomic attributes; also, that they have a good adaptability in contrasting environments. The objective of the work was to evaluate the stability and genotypeenvironment interaction of the yield of 36 hard yellow corn hybrids, evaluated in seven environments of Peru, during 2016-2018, these materials were analyzed using the AMMI (additive main effects and multiplicative interaction) and SREG (site regression) models. The design used in each experiment was a 6×6 lattice with three repetitions, and the response variable was grain yield. A combined analysis of variance was performed, in which statistical differences between them (p≤ 0.05) were detected, then the Tukey mean test (p≤ 0.05) was applied, finally the AMMI and SREG models were run and the biplot graphs of each statistical model were obtained. Of the interaction between PC1 and PC2, AMMI explained 45.5% and 15.3%, respectively, and SREG with 59.8% and 12.2%, for the same components. The trilinear hybrids Dk-5005 and AG-01 outperformed the double-cross hybrids. The AMMI model detected the existing GE interaction in grain yield, and the SREG accurately grouped the assessment sites into six mega-environments. The three environments of La Molina and that of Huánuco identified the two hybrids (Dk-5005 and AG-01) with the highest grain yield (11.524 and 11.359 t ha-1, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to investigate the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique as an alternative to the ISO standard 11035 for the sensory characterization and consumer preference of coffee through External Preference Mapping (PREFMAP). The methodological context consisted in the generation of the sensory vocabulary applying the techniques ISO standard 11035 using a trained panel and AHP using an expert panel. PREFMAP was then carried out to explain the preference of coffee consumers according to the vocabularies generated. The results showed that the sensory vocabulary using AHP was similar to that obtained with ISO standard 11035 and the judgments of the panel of experts were consistent. The PREFMAP'S explained in a similar way the preference of coffee consumers. The use of the AHP technique is a new, reliable, and easy‐to‐execute alternative for the selection of sensory vocabulary for characterization and explanation of consumer preference. Practical Applications: The Analytic Hierarchy Process technique is a reliable alternative for the selection of sensory attributes. The attributes are evaluated by paired comparison and, by mathematical procedure, the weight (W) of each attribute and sensory dimension is obtained. Consistency indicators are also included to support and validate panel judgments. This new proposal can be easily implemented at an industrial and academic level for the development of different sensometric investigations that require characterizing and analyzing the preference of consumers of different foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]