Predicting oil content in ripe Macaw fruits (Acrocomia aculeata) from unripe ones by near infrared spectroscopy and PLS regression

A method for early quantification of unripe macaw fruits oil content using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and partial least squares (PLS) is presented. After harvest, the fruit takes about 30 days to reach its maximum oil accumulation. The oil content was quantified thirty days after harvest using Soxhlet extraction. PLS models were built using NIR spectra of shell obtained five days after harvest (Shell5). The Shell5 model was compared with models built using NIR spectra of the shell (Shell30) and mesocarp thirty days after harvest (Pulp30). Ordered predictors selection was used to select the most informative variables. The best models presented root mean square error of prediction and correlation coefficient of prediction of 4.87% and 0.89 for Shell5; 5.83% and 0.85 for Shell30; 4.76% and 0.92 for Pulp30. Thus, the anticipated prediction of oil content could reduce the time and costs of macaw palm quality control and storage.

[Maternal educational level: correlation with obstetric indicators]

The aim of this study was to estimate associations between level of maternal education as the dependent variable and several variables present in birth certificates under the official Brazilian Ministry of Health model. A total of 3,843 birth certificates were analyzed from Guaratinguetá, São Paulo State, for singleton hospital deliveries in 1998. Statistically significant associations were found between low maternal educational level and low birth weight, 3 or more live births, history of stillbirth, and prenatal care including up to 6 visits. No association was found between abortions and preterm delivery as described in other studies, perhaps due to insufficient information. Maternal educational level can thus be considered an obstetric marker for some risk factors for the mother and infant.