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Salt content standardization in dry-cured ham production is complex as there are many factors that influence salt uptake. The aim of this work was to study and model salt uptake as a function of salting time and the characteristics of green ham in two different ham types using a large amount of data obtained from an inline non-invasive characterization technology. The usefulness of these models to standardize the salt content of the industrial production was also evaluated. Magnetic induction technology was used to characterize lean and fatty hams in order to further model the salt uptake using different statistical methods. Salt content increased with the salting time showing an asymptotic behaviour which was lower in fatty hams. The best models were those that considered the salting time, weight, and fat content of hams as model independent variables. These models are helpful for salt content standardization within the industry and can be used to simulate process modifications and avoid the time-consuming and costly trial and error tests., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Non-invasive technologies could help to guarantee quality standards of canned tuna fish. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of bench-top (FT-NIR) and low-cost (LC-NIR) near infrared spectrometers to determine salt content and texture in canned tuna. Salt content distribution was also investigated using hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and computed tomography. Spectra were acquired on canned tuna and reference analysis performed. Partial least squares regression and discriminant analysis were used to develop salt content predictive and texture classification models. Salt content predictive errors were 0.10%, 0.22% and 0.22% for FT-NIR, LC-NIR and HSI, respectively. Salt content was not always homogeneously distributed in the can which was attributed to the salt content differences between internal and external parts of the tuna fish. Low-cost sensors could be a suitable solution to standardise the production and enable precise nutritional labelling, but more sophisticated algorithms are needed to identify textural defects., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant public health concern, often leading to long-lasting impairments in cognitive, motor and sensory functions. The rapid development of non-invasive systems has revolutionized the field of TBI rehabilitation by offering modern and effective interventions. This narrative review explores the application of non-invasive technologies, including electroencephalography (EEG), quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG), brain-computer interface (BCI), eye tracking, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in assessing TBI consequences, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), low-level laser therapy (LLLT), neurofeedback, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), transcranial alternative current stimulation (tACS) and virtual reality (VR) as therapeutic approaches for TBI rehabilitation. In pursuit of advancing TBI rehabilitation, this narrative review highlights the promising potential of non-invasive technologies. We emphasize the need for future research and clinical trials to elucidate their mechanisms of action, refine treatment protocols, and ensure their widespread adoption in TBI rehabilitation settings.

This test-retest pilot study investigated the intra-rater reliability and reproducibility of non-invasive technologies to objectively quantify morphological (colour, thickness and elasticity) and physiological (transepidermal water loss (TEWL), hydration, sebum and pH) skin properties in an aged care population. Three consecutive measurements were taken from five anatomical skin sites, with the mean of each measurement calculated. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and the standard error of measurement (SEM) were used to examine the intra-rater reliability and reproducibility of measurements. Non-invasive technologies in this study showed almost perfect reliability for ultrasound measurements of the subepidermal low echogenicity band (SLEB) (ρ = 0·95-0·99) and skin thickness (ρ = 0·95-0·99) across all sites. The ICC was substantial to almost perfect for pH (ρ = 0·76-0·88) and viscoelasticity (ρ = 0·67-0·91) across all sites. Hydration (ρ = 0·53-0·85) and skin retraction (ρ = 0·57-0·99) measurements ranged from moderate to almost perfect across all sites. TEWL and elasticity were substantial to almost perfect across four sites. Casual sebum levels and most colour parameters showed poor ICC. The use of non-invasive technologies in this study provided an objective and reliable means for quantifying ageing skin and may offer future studies a valuable option for assessing skin tear risk., (© 2016 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Flowers, flowering and fruit set are key determinants of grapevine yield. Currently, practical methods to assess the flower number per inflorescence, necessary for fruit set estimation, are time and labour demanding. This work aims at developing a simple, cheap, fast, accurate and robust machine vision methodology to be applied to RGB images taken under field conditions, to estimate the number of flowers per inflorescence automatically., Results: Ninety images of individual inflorescences of Vitis vinifera L. cultivars Tempranillo, Graciano and Carignan were acquired in the vineyard with a pocket RGB camera prior to flowering, and used to develop and test the 'flower counting' algorithm. Strong and significant relationships, with R(2) above 80% for the three cultivars were observed between actual and automated estimation of inflorescence flower numbers, with a precision exceeding 90% for all cultivars., Conclusion: The developed algorithm proved that the analysis of digital images captured by pocket cameras under uncontrolled outdoors conditions was able to automatically provide a useful estimation of the number of flowers per inflorescence of grapevines at early stages of flowering., (© 2013 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Objectives: to describe the non-invasive care technologies most frequently used by nurse midwives to relieve childbirth pain, and provide a synthesis of studies published by Brazilian nurse midwives on the use of such technologies., Methodology: a systematic literature review focusing on the non-invasive pain relief strategies used by nurse midwives in Brazil. Surveys of three databases (BDENF, CINAHL and MEDLINE) were conducted between 2002 and 2012. The inclusion criteria were: (1) full-text article available; (2) published between 2002 and 2012; (3) written by Brazilian nurse midwives, and (4) fitting the descriptors: childbirth pain; non-invasive technologies; labour; and pain relief. For purposes of analysis, the technologies mentioned were classified into four main categories of support as they relate to environment, position, tactile stimulation, and energy level., Findings: we located 21 scientific articles that met the inclusion criteria and addressed the non-invasive technologies that nurse midwives use to provide pain relief during labour. The technologies most used was: stimulation of breathing and relaxation; use of massage with essential oils; encouraging freedom to move, to walk and the free choice for vertical positioning; use of showers and baths; use of birth ball., Conclusion: Brazilian nurse midwives have made efforts to focus care during delivery on the parturient. By studying and publishing about the non-invasive care technologies they have strengthened de-medicalised knowledge, based on scientific evidence and good outcomes in pain relief during labour., Implications for Practice: the study presented ideas towards improved theoretical foundations and strategies for establishing practice consonant with humanised care., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)