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Background: Sweeteners and sweetness enhancers (S&SE) are used to replace energy yielding sugars and maintain sweet taste in a wide range of products, but controversy exists about their effects on appetite and endocrine responses in reduced or no added sugar solid foods. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the acute (1 day) and repeated (two-week daily) ingestive effects of 2 S&SE vs. sucrose formulations of biscuit with fruit filling on appetite and endocrine responses in adults with overweight and obesity. Methods: In a randomised crossover trial, 53 healthy adults (33 female, 20 male) with overweight/obesity in England and France consumed biscuits with fruit filling containing 1) sucrose, or reformulated with either 2) Stevia Rebaudioside M (StRebM) or 3) Neotame daily during three, two-week intervention periods with a two-week washout. The primary outcome was composite appetite score defined as [desire to eat + hunger + (100 − fullness) + prospective consumption]/4. Findings: Each formulation elicited a similar reduction in appetite sensations (3-h postprandial net iAUC). Postprandial insulin (2-h iAUC) was lower after Neotame (95% CI (0.093, 0.166); p < 0.001; d = −0.71) and StRebM (95% CI (0.133, 0.205); p < 0.001; d = −1.01) compared to sucrose, and glucose was lower after StRebM (95% CI (0.023, 0.171); p < 0.05; d = −0.39) but not after Neotame (95% CI (−0.007, 0.145); p = 0.074; d = −0.25) compared to sucrose. There were no differences between S&SE or sucrose formulations on ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide 1 or pancreatic polypeptide iAUCs. No clinically meaningful differences between acute vs. two-weeks of daily consumption were found. Interpretation: In conclusion, biscuits reformulated to replace sugar using StRebM or Neotame showed no differences in appetite or endocrine responses, acutely or after a two-week exposure, but can reduce postprandial insulin and glucose response in adults with overweight or obesity. Funding

Background: Sweeteners and sweetness enhancers (S&SE) are used to replace energy yielding sugars and maintain sweet taste in a wide range of products, but controversy exists about their effects on appetite and endocrine responses in reduced or no added sugar solid foods. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the acute (1 day) and repeated (two-week daily) ingestive effects of 2 S&SE vs. sucrose formulations of biscuit with fruit filling on appetite and endocrine responses in adults with overweight and obesity. Methods: In a randomised crossover trial, 53 healthy adults (33 female, 20 male) with overweight/obesity in England and France consumed biscuits with fruit filling containing 1) sucrose, or reformulated with either 2) Stevia Rebaudioside M (StRebM) or 3) Neotame daily during three, two-week intervention periods with a two-week washout. The primary outcome was composite appetite score defined as [desire to eat + hunger + (100 − fullness) + prospective consumption]/4. Findings: Each formulation elicited a similar reduction in appetite sensations (3-h postprandial net iAUC). Postprandial insulin (2-h iAUC) was lower after Neotame (95% CI (0.093, 0.166); p < 0.001; d = −0.71) and StRebM (95% CI (0.133, 0.205); p < 0.001; d = −1.01) compared to sucrose, and glucose was lower after StRebM (95% CI (0.023, 0.171); p < 0.05; d = −0.39) but not after Neotame (95% CI (−0.007, 0.145); p = 0.074; d = −0.25) compared to sucrose. There were no differences between S&SE or sucrose formulations on ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide 1 or pancreatic polypeptide iAUCs. No clinically meaningful differences between acute vs. two-weeks of daily consumption were found. Interpretation: In conclusion, biscuits reformulated to replace sugar using StRebM or Neotame showed no differences in appetite or endocrine responses, acutely or after a two-week exposure, but can reduce postprandial insulin and glucose response in adults with overweight or obesity. Funding

The study of distant galaxy groups and clusters at the peak epoch of star formation is limited by the lack of a statistically and homogeneously selected and spectroscopically confirmed sample. Recent discoveries of concentrated starburst activities in cluster cores have opened a new window to hunt for these structures based on their integrated IR luminosities. Here, we carry out a large NOEMA (NOrthern Extended Millimeter Array) program targeting a statistical sample of infrared-luminous sources associated with overdensities of massive galaxies at z > 2, the Noema formIng Cluster survEy (NICE). We present the first result from the ongoing NICE survey, a compact group at z = 3.95 in the Lockman Hole field (LH-SBC3), confirmed via four massive (M∗ ≳ 1010.5 M⊙) galaxies detected in the CO(4-3) and [CI](1-0) lines. The four CO-detected members of LH-SBC3 are distributed over a 180 kpc physical scale and the entire structure has an estimated halo mass of ~1013 M⊙ and total star formation rate of ~4000 M⊙ yr-1. In addition, the most massive galaxy hosts a radio-loud active galactic nucleus with L1.4 GHz, rest = 3.0 × 1025 W Hz-1. The discovery of LH-SBC3 demonstrates the feasibility of our method to efficiently identify high-z compact groups or cluster cores undergoing formation. The existence of these starbursting cluster cores up to z ~ 4 provides critical insights into the mass assembly history of the central massive galaxies in clusters.

Purpose: There is an increasing interest in the use of non-nutritive sweeteners to replace added sugar in food and beverage products for reasons of improving consumer health. Much work has been done to understand safety of sweeteners, but very little on sustainability. To address that gap, this study presents the results of a life cycle assessment (LCA) of production of rebaudioside A 60%, 95% pure (RA60) steviol glycoside mix from Stevia rebaudiana leaf grown in Europe.Methods: An attributional cradle-to-factory-gate life cycle assessment was conducted on growing of stevia leaves and extraction of steviol glycosides in Europe. Primary data were used from a case study supply chain. Results are reported in impact categories from the ReCiPe 2016 (H) method, with focus given to global warming potential, freshwater eutrophication, water consumption, and land use. Impacts are expressed both in terms of production mass and sweetness equivalence, a common metric for understanding high intensity sweetener potency. Sweetness equivalence of RA60 is typically 200 to 300 times that of sugar. Comparison of environmental impact is made to sugar (sucrose) produced from both cane and beets. The research is part of the EU project SWEET (sweeteners and sweetness enhancers: impact on health, obesity, safety, and sustainability).Results and discussion: Global warming potential for production of RA60 was found to be 20.25 kgCO2-eq/kgRA60 on a mass basis and 0.081 kgCO2-eq/kgSE on a sweetness equivalence basis. Field production of stevia leaves was found to be the main source of impact for most impact categories, and for all four focus categories. Extraction of the RA60 was the main source of impact for the others. Leaf processing and seedling propagation were minor contributors to life cycle impact. Removal of international transport from the supply chain reduced global warming potential by 18.8%. C

RHO guanosine triphosphatases are important eukaryotic regulators of cell differentiation and behavior. Plant ROP (RHO of plant) family members activate specific, incompletely characterized downstream signaling. The structurally simple land plant Physcomitrium patens is missing homologs of key animal and flowering plant RHO effectors but contains a single CRIB (CDC42/RAC interactive binding)-domain -contain-ing RIC (ROP-interacting CRIB-containing) protein (PpRIC). Protonemal P. patens filaments elongate based on regular division and PpROP-dependent tip growth of apical initial cells, which upon stimulation by the hor-mone auxin differentiate caulonemal characteristics. PpRIC interacts with active PpROP1, co-localizes with this protein at the plasma membrane at the tip of apical initial cells, and accumulates in the nucleus. Remark-ably, PpRIC is not required for tip growth but is targeted to the nucleus to block caulonema differentiation downstream of auxin-controlled gene expression. These observations establish functions of PpRIC in medi-ating crosstalk between ROP and auxin signaling, which contributes to the maintenance of apical initial cell identity.

RHO guanosine triphosphatases are important eukaryotic regulators of cell differentiation and behavior. Plant ROP (RHO of plant) family members activate specific, incompletely characterized downstream signaling. The structurally simple land plant Physcomitrium patens is missing homologs of key animal and flowering plant RHO effectors but contains a single CRIB (CDC42/RAC interactive binding)-domain -contain-ing RIC (ROP-interacting CRIB-containing) protein (PpRIC). Protonemal P. patens filaments elongate based on regular division and PpROP-dependent tip growth of apical initial cells, which upon stimulation by the hor-mone auxin differentiate caulonemal characteristics. PpRIC interacts with active PpROP1, co-localizes with this protein at the plasma membrane at the tip of apical initial cells, and accumulates in the nucleus. Remark-ably, PpRIC is not required for tip growth but is targeted to the nucleus to block caulonema differentiation downstream of auxin-controlled gene expression. These observations establish functions of PpRIC in medi-ating crosstalk between ROP and auxin signaling, which contributes to the maintenance of apical initial cell identity.

RHO guanosine triphosphatases are important eukaryotic regulators of cell differentiation and behavior. Plant ROP (RHO of plant) family members activate specific, incompletely characterized downstream signaling. The structurally simple land plant Physcomitrium patens is missing homologs of key animal and flowering plant RHO effectors but contains a single CRIB (CDC42/RAC interactive binding)-domain -contain-ing RIC (ROP-interacting CRIB-containing) protein (PpRIC). Protonemal P. patens filaments elongate based on regular division and PpROP-dependent tip growth of apical initial cells, which upon stimulation by the hor-mone auxin differentiate caulonemal characteristics. PpRIC interacts with active PpROP1, co-localizes with this protein at the plasma membrane at the tip of apical initial cells, and accumulates in the nucleus. Remark-ably, PpRIC is not required for tip growth but is targeted to the nucleus to block caulonema differentiation downstream of auxin-controlled gene expression. These observations establish functions of PpRIC in medi-ating crosstalk between ROP and auxin signaling, which contributes to the maintenance of apical initial cell identity.

RHO guanosine triphosphatases are important eukaryotic regulators of cell differentiation and behavior. Plant ROP (RHO of plant) family members activate specific, incompletely characterized downstream signaling. The structurally simple land plant Physcomitrium patens is missing homologs of key animal and flowering plant RHO effectors but contains a single CRIB (CDC42/RAC interactive binding)-domain -contain-ing RIC (ROP-interacting CRIB-containing) protein (PpRIC). Protonemal P. patens filaments elongate based on regular division and PpROP-dependent tip growth of apical initial cells, which upon stimulation by the hor-mone auxin differentiate caulonemal characteristics. PpRIC interacts with active PpROP1, co-localizes with this protein at the plasma membrane at the tip of apical initial cells, and accumulates in the nucleus. Remark-ably, PpRIC is not required for tip growth but is targeted to the nucleus to block caulonema differentiation downstream of auxin-controlled gene expression. These observations establish functions of PpRIC in medi-ating crosstalk between ROP and auxin signaling, which contributes to the maintenance of apical initial cell identity.

In recent years, observations have uncovered a population of massive galaxies that are invisible or very faint in deep optical/near-infrared (near-IR) surveys but brighter at longer wavelengths. However, the nature of these optically dark or faint galaxies (OFGs; one of several names given to these objects) is highly uncertain. In this work, we investigate the drivers of dust attenuation in the JWST era. In particular, we study the role of stellar mass, size, and orientation in obscuring star-forming galaxies (SFGs) at 3'., <'., z'., <'., 7.5, focusing on the question of why OFGs and similar galaxies are so faint at optical/near-IR wavelengths. We find that stellar mass is the primary proxy for dust attenuation, among the properties studied. Effective radius and axis ratio do not show a clear link with dust attenuation, with the effect of orientation being close to random. However, there is a subset of highly dust attenuated (AV'., >'., 1, typically) SFGs, of which OFGs are a specific case. For this subset, we find that the key distinctive feature is their compact size (for massive systems with log(M∗/M™ ) > 10); OFGs exhibit a 30% smaller effective radius than the average SFG at the same stellar mass and redshift. On the contrary, OFGs do not exhibit a preference for low axis ratios (i.e., edge-on disks). The results in this work show that stellar mass is the primary proxy for dust attenuation and compact stellar light profiles behind the thick dust columns obscuring typical massive SFGs.

Replacing added sugar with non-nutritive sweeteners and sweetness enhancers is of increasing interest due to the negative health effects of excess sugar consumption. Much has been done to understand health and safety of such sweetening additives, but little on their sustainability. This study, part of the Horizon 2020 SWEET project, presents results from the first life cycle assessment of the sweetness enhancer thaumatin, produced from Thaumatococcus daniellii fruit, from forests in West Africa and extracted in the United Kingdom. Thaumatin is used in formulations to increase perceived sweetness of added sugar, allowing some to be removed. Environmental impact is reported for multiple impact categories from the ReCiPe 2016 (H) method, focusing on global warming potential, land use, water consumption, and freshwater eutrophication. Impacts are expressed in terms of product mass and sweetness equivalence. Global warming potential for production of thaumatin is found to be 719.2 kgCO2-eq/kg. When thaumatin replaces 20% of added sugar, environmental impact for a given sweetness is found to reduce by an average of 19.4% across all impact categories. International transport is a major contributor to global warming potential, as is aril removal from the fruit to freshwater eutrophication and water use, and fruit foraging to land use. However, land use is identified as a key area of future research to improve uncertainty in the data. Results show that thaumatin can be used to reduce the environmental impact of providing sweet taste in food and beverage products.

Lyman-break galaxy (LBG) candidates at z greater than or similar to 10 are rapidly being identified in James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)/NIRCam observations. Due to the (redshifted) break produced by neutral hydrogen absorption of rest-frame UV photons, these sources are expected to drop out in the bluer filters while being well detected in redder filters. However, here we show that dust-enshrouded star-forming galaxies at lower redshifts (z less than or similar to 7) may also mimic the near-infrared (near-IR) colors of z > 10 LBGs, representing potential contaminants in LBG candidate samples. First, we analyze CEERS-DSFG-1, a NIRCam dropout undetected in the F115W and F150W filters but detected at longer wavelengths. Combining the JWST data with (sub)millimeter constraints, including deep NOEMA interferometric observations, we show that this source is a dusty star-forming galaxy (DSFG) at z approximate to 5.1. We also present a tentative 2.6 sigma SCUBA-2 detection at 850 mu m around a recently identified z approximate to 16 LBG candidate in the same field and show that, if the emission is real and associated with this candidate, the available photometry is consistent with a z similar to 5 dusty galaxy with strong nebular emission lines despite its blue near-IR colors. Further observations on this candidate are imperative to mitigate the low confidence of this tentative submillimeter emission and its positional uncertainty. Our analysis shows that robust (sub)millimeter detections of NIRCam dropout galaxies likely imply z similar to 4-6 redshift solutions, where the observed near-IR break would be the result of a strong rest-frame optical Balmer break combined with high dust attenuation and strong nebular line emission, rather than the rest-frame UV Lyman break. This provides evidence that DSFGs may contaminate searches for ultra-high redshift LBG candidates from JWST observations.

RHO guanosine triphosphatases are important eukaryotic regulators of cell differentiation and behavior. Plant ROP (RHO of plant) family members activate specific, incompletely characterized downstream signaling. The structurally simple land plant Physcomitrium patens is missing homologs of key animal and flowering plant RHO effectors but contains a single CRIB (CDC42/RAC interactive binding)-domain -contain-ing RIC (ROP-interacting CRIB-containing) protein (PpRIC). Protonemal P. patens filaments elongate based on regular division and PpROP-dependent tip growth of apical initial cells, which upon stimulation by the hor-mone auxin differentiate caulonemal characteristics. PpRIC interacts with active PpROP1, co-localizes with this protein at the plasma membrane at the tip of apical initial cells, and accumulates in the nucleus. Remark-ably, PpRIC is not required for tip growth but is targeted to the nucleus to block caulonema differentiation downstream of auxin-controlled gene expression. These observations establish functions of PpRIC in medi-ating crosstalk between ROP and auxin signaling, which contributes to the maintenance of apical initial cell identity.

Purpose: There is an increasing interest in the use of non-nutritive sweeteners to replace added sugar in food and beverage products for reasons of improving consumer health. Much work has been done to understand safety of sweeteners, but very little on sustainability. To address that gap, this study presents the results of a life cycle assessment (LCA) of production of rebaudioside A 60%, 95% pure (RA60) steviol glycoside mix from Stevia rebaudiana leaf grown in Europe.Methods: An attributional cradle-to-factory-gate life cycle assessment was conducted on growing of stevia leaves and extraction of steviol glycosides in Europe. Primary data were used from a case study supply chain. Results are reported in impact categories from the ReCiPe 2016 (H) method, with focus given to global warming potential, freshwater eutrophication, water consumption, and land use. Impacts are expressed both in terms of production mass and sweetness equivalence, a common metric for understanding high intensity sweetener potency. Sweetness equivalence of RA60 is typically 200 to 300 times that of sugar. Comparison of environmental impact is made to sugar (sucrose) produced from both cane and beets. The research is part of the EU project SWEET (sweeteners and sweetness enhancers: impact on health, obesity, safety, and sustainability).Results and discussion: Global warming potential for production of RA60 was found to be 20.25 kgCO2-eq/kgRA60 on a mass basis and 0.081 kgCO2-eq/kgSE on a sweetness equivalence basis. Field production of stevia leaves was found to be the main source of impact for most impact categories, and for all four focus categories. Extraction of the RA60 was the main source of impact for the others. Leaf processing and seedling propagation were minor contributors to life cycle impact. Removal of international transport from the supply chain reduced global warming potential by 18.8%. C

Lyman-break galaxy (LBG) candidates at z greater than or similar to 10 are rapidly being identified in James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)/NIRCam observations. Due to the (redshifted) break produced by neutral hydrogen absorption of rest-frame UV photons, these sources are expected to drop out in the bluer filters while being well detected in redder filters. However, here we show that dust-enshrouded star-forming galaxies at lower redshifts (z less than or similar to 7) may also mimic the near-infrared (near-IR) colors of z > 10 LBGs, representing potential contaminants in LBG candidate samples. First, we analyze CEERS-DSFG-1, a NIRCam dropout undetected in the F115W and F150W filters but detected at longer wavelengths. Combining the JWST data with (sub)millimeter constraints, including deep NOEMA interferometric observations, we show that this source is a dusty star-forming galaxy (DSFG) at z approximate to 5.1. We also present a tentative 2.6 sigma SCUBA-2 detection at 850 mu m around a recently identified z approximate to 16 LBG candidate in the same field and show that, if the emission is real and associated with this candidate, the available photometry is consistent with a z similar to 5 dusty galaxy with strong nebular emission lines despite its blue near-IR colors. Further observations on this candidate are imperative to mitigate the low confidence of this tentative submillimeter emission and its positional uncertainty. Our analysis shows that robust (sub)millimeter detections of NIRCam dropout galaxies likely imply z similar to 4-6 redshift solutions, where the observed near-IR break would be the result of a strong rest-frame optical Balmer break combined with high dust attenuation and strong nebular line emission, rather than the rest-frame UV Lyman break. This provides evidence that DSFGs may contaminate searches for ultra-high redshift LBG candidates from JWST observations.

In response to the sustainability issues that agriculture faces in advanced economies, agroecology has gained increasing relevance in scientific, political, and social debates. This has promoted discussion about transitions to agroecology, which represents a significant advancement. Accordingly, it has become a growing field of research. We reviewed the literature on and in support of farm transitions to agroecology in advanced economies in order to identify key research challenges and suggest innovative research paths. Our findings can be summarized as follows: (1) Research that supports exploration and definition of desired futures, whether based on future-oriented modeling or expert-based foresight approaches, should more explicitly include the farm level. It should stimulate the creativity and design ability of farmers and other stakeholders, and also address issues of representation and power among them. (2) Research that creates awareness and assesses farms before, during or after transition requires more holistic and dynamic assessment frameworks. These frameworks need to be more flexible to adapt to the diversity of global and local challenges. Their assessment should explicitly include uncertainty due to the feedback loops and emergent properties of transitions. (3) Research that analyzes and supports farms during transition should focus more on the dynamics of change processes by valuing what happens on the farms. Research should especially give more credence to on-farm experiments conducted by farmers and develop new tools and methods (e.g., for strategic monitoring) to support these transitions. This is the first review of scientific studies of farm transitions to agroecology. Overall, the review indicates that these transitions challenge the system boundaries, temporal horizons, and sustainability dimensions that agricultural researchers usually consider. In this context, farm transitions to agroecology require changes in the current organization and fu

Purpose: There is increasing concern about the detrimental health effects of added sugar in food and drink products. Sweeteners are seen as a viable alternative. Much work has been done on health and safety of using sweeteners as a replacement for added sugar, but very little on their sustainability. This work aims to bridge that gap with a life cycle assessment (LCA) of sucralose derived from cane sugar grown in the United States of America (USA). Methods: An attributional, cradle-to-gate LCA was conducted on sucralose production in the USA. Primary data were derived from literature for the chlorination process, and all other data from background sources. Results are reported via the ReCiPe 2016 (H) method, with focus given to land use, global warming potential (GWP), marine eutrophication, mineral resource scarcity, and water consumption. Because sucralose has a much greater perceived sweetness than sugar, impacts are expressed both in absolute terms of 1 kg mass and in relative sweetness equivalence terms to 1 kg sugar. Scenario modelling explores the sensitivity of the LCA results to change in key parameters. This research was conducted as part of the EU Horizon 2020 project SWEET (Sweeteners and sweetness enhancers: Impact on health, obesity, safety and sustainability). Results and discussion: GWP for 1 kg sucralose was calculated to be 71.83 kgCO2-eq/kg (sugar from sugarcane is 0.77 kgCO2-eq/kg). However, on a sweetness equivalence basis, GWP of sucralose reduces to 0.12 kgCO2-eq/kgSE. Production of reagents was the main contributor to impact across most impact categories. Sugar (starting material for sucralose production) was not a majority contributor to any impact category, and changing the source of sugar has little effect upon net impact (average 2.0% variation). Instead, uncertainty in reference data is a greater source of variability: reagent use optimization reduces average impact of sucralose production b

Consumption of added sugar is a cause of concern due to links with non-communicable diseases. Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) are increasingly seen as a viable alternative. Health and safety of NNSs are well studied, but not their environmental impact. In this study the environmental impact of NNSs aspartame and neotame are presented. This is the first such study attempting to quantify environmental impact of neotame. Life cycle data are derived from literature, alongside stoichiometric reaction equations and resulting heat changes. Global warming potential (GWP) of 1 kg aspartame is found to be 29.25 kgCO2-eq/kg, and 1 kg neotame to be 43.42 kgCO2-eq/kg. It is found that both NNSs have great potential to replace the sweetness of added sugar with reduced environmental impact, e.g., GWP of neotame is found to be 0.4–0.7%, and aspartame 10.5–18.4%, of an equivalent sweetness for sucrose. This study demonstrates that environmental impact of the additional resources required to make neotame from aspartame are more than offset by the increase in perceived sweetness, from 200 to 8000-times. It is shown that there are significant uncertainties related to life cycle inventory data and data derivation method. Therefore, this work further highlights the difficulties of conducting a life cycle assessment of highly refined industrial food additives and the need for good industrial collaboration in obtaining data.

Replacing added sugar with non-nutritive sweeteners and sweetness enhancers is of increasing interest due to the negative health effects of excess sugar consumption. Much has been done to understand health and safety of such sweetening additives, but little on their sustainability. This study, part of the Horizon 2020 SWEET project, presents results from the first life cycle assessment of the sweetness enhancer thaumatin, produced from Thaumatococcus daniellii fruit, from forests in West Africa and extracted in the United Kingdom. Thaumatin is used in formulations to increase perceived sweetness of added sugar, allowing some to be removed. Environmental impact is reported for multiple impact categories from the ReCiPe 2016 (H) method, focusing on global warming potential, land use, water consumption, and freshwater eutrophication. Impacts are expressed in terms of product mass and sweetness equivalence. Global warming potential for production of thaumatin is found to be 719.2 kgCO2-eq/kg. When thaumatin replaces 20% of added sugar, environmental impact for a given sweetness is found to reduce by an average of 19.4% across all impact categories. International transport is a major contributor to global warming potential, as is aril removal from the fruit to freshwater eutrophication and water use, and fruit foraging to land use. However, land use is identified as a key area of future research to improve uncertainty in the data. Results show that thaumatin can be used to reduce the environmental impact of providing sweet taste in food and beverage products.

Consumption of added sugar is a cause of concern due to links with non-communicable diseases. Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) are increasingly seen as a viable alternative. Health and safety of NNSs are well studied, but not their environmental impact. In this study the environmental impact of NNSs aspartame and neotame are presented. This is the first such study attempting to quantify environmental impact of neotame. Life cycle data are derived from literature, alongside stoichiometric reaction equations and resulting heat changes. Global warming potential (GWP) of 1 kg aspartame is found to be 29.25 kgCO2-eq/kg, and 1 kg neotame to be 43.42 kgCO2-eq/kg. It is found that both NNSs have great potential to replace the sweetness of added sugar with reduced environmental impact, e.g., GWP of neotame is found to be 0.4–0.7%, and aspartame 10.5–18.4%, of an equivalent sweetness for sucrose. This study demonstrates that environmental impact of the additional resources required to make neotame from aspartame are more than offset by the increase in perceived sweetness, from 200 to 8000-times. It is shown that there are significant uncertainties related to life cycle inventory data and data derivation method. Therefore, this work further highlights the difficulties of conducting a life cycle assessment of highly refined industrial food additives and the need for good industrial collaboration in obtaining data.

Purpose: There is increasing concern about the detrimental health effects of added sugar in food and drink products. Sweeteners are seen as a viable alternative. Much work has been done on health and safety of using sweeteners as a replacement for added sugar, but very little on their sustainability. This work aims to bridge that gap with a life cycle assessment (LCA) of sucralose derived from cane sugar grown in the United States of America (USA). Methods: An attributional, cradle-to-gate LCA was conducted on sucralose production in the USA. Primary data were derived from literature for the chlorination process, and all other data from background sources. Results are reported via the ReCiPe 2016 (H) method, with focus given to land use, global warming potential (GWP), marine eutrophication, mineral resource scarcity, and water consumption. Because sucralose has a much greater perceived sweetness than sugar, impacts are expressed both in absolute terms of 1 kg mass and in relative sweetness equivalence terms to 1 kg sugar. Scenario modelling explores the sensitivity of the LCA results to change in key parameters. This research was conducted as part of the EU Horizon 2020 project SWEET (Sweeteners and sweetness enhancers: Impact on health, obesity, safety and sustainability). Results and discussion: GWP for 1 kg sucralose was calculated to be 71.83 kgCO2-eq/kg (sugar from sugarcane is 0.77 kgCO2-eq/kg). However, on a sweetness equivalence basis, GWP of sucralose reduces to 0.12 kgCO2-eq/kgSE. Production of reagents was the main contributor to impact across most impact categories. Sugar (starting material for sucralose production) was not a majority contributor to any impact category, and changing the source of sugar has little effect upon net impact (average 2.0% variation). Instead, uncertainty in reference data is a greater source of variability: reagent use optimization reduces average impact of sucralose production b

Fondé sur le programme de japonais du ministère de l'éducation nationale en lien avec la réforme 2021 des langues vivantes, Kanji Bacchiri contient tous les éléments qui vous permettront de développer progressivement vos compétences pour atteindre le niveau A1 de l'écriture japonaise. Portant spécifiquement sur les 55 kanji du niveau A1, ce cahier d'apprentissage et d'approfondissement a été conçu pour guider et accompagner toute personne débutant le japonais (collégien, lycéen, adulte), s'initiant ou poursuivant son initiation à l'écriture japonaise. Véritable compagnon de travail, ce cahier largement illustré permet de découvrir, de mémoriser et d'apprendre à écrire et à lire les kanji de façon progressive et méthodique. Au programme : - Une introduction générale sur les origines des kanji, la naissance de l'écriture japonaise, l'importance des kanji et leur caractéristique... - 14 leçons de 4 kanji chacune comprenant, de plus, une sélection de mots de vocabulaire associés aux kanji étudiés - des exercices d'application et de révisions permettant de vérifier ses acquis en écriture et en lecture des caractères étudiés - 5 séquences de révision (4 intermédiaires et 1 générale) Les plus : - moyens mnémotechniques de mémorisation - 3 index pour une recherche ciblée - lexique japonais-français comprenant tous les mots de l'ouvrage

Fondé sur le programme de japonais du ministère de l'éducation nationale en lien avec la réforme 2021 des langues vivantes, Kanji Bacchiri contient tous les éléments qui vous permettront de développer progressivement vos compétences pour atteindre le niveau A1 de l'écriture japonaise. Portant spécifiquement sur les 55 kanji du niveau A1, ce cahier d'apprentissage et d'approfondissement a été conçu pour guider et accompagner toute personne débutant le japonais (collégien, lycéen, adulte), s'initiant ou poursuivant son initiation à l'écriture japonaise. Véritable compagnon de travail, ce cahier largement illustré permet de découvrir, de mémoriser et d'apprendre à écrire et à lire les kanji de façon progressive et méthodique. Au programme : - Une introduction générale sur les origines des kanji, la naissance de l'écriture japonaise, l'importance des kanji et leur caractéristique... - 14 leçons de 4 kanji chacune comprenant, de plus, une sélection de mots de vocabulaire associés aux kanji étudiés - des exercices d'application et de révisions permettant de vérifier ses acquis en écriture et en lecture des caractères étudiés - 5 séquences de révision (4 intermédiaires et 1 générale) Les plus : - moyens mnémotechniques de mémorisation - 3 index pour une recherche ciblée - lexique japonais-français comprenant tous les mots de l'ouvrage

Fondé sur le programme de japonais du ministère de l'éducation nationale en lien avec la réforme 2021 des langues vivantes, Kanji Bacchiri contient tous les éléments qui vous permettront de développer progressivement vos compétences pour atteindre le niveau A1 de l'écriture japonaise. Portant spécifiquement sur les 55 kanji du niveau A1, ce cahier d'apprentissage et d'approfondissement a été conçu pour guider et accompagner toute personne débutant le japonais (collégien, lycéen, adulte), s'initiant ou poursuivant son initiation à l'écriture japonaise. Véritable compagnon de travail, ce cahier largement illustré permet de découvrir, de mémoriser et d'apprendre à écrire et à lire les kanji de façon progressive et méthodique. Au programme : - Une introduction générale sur les origines des kanji, la naissance de l'écriture japonaise, l'importance des kanji et leur caractéristique... - 14 leçons de 4 kanji chacune comprenant, de plus, une sélection de mots de vocabulaire associés aux kanji étudiés - des exercices d'application et de révisions permettant de vérifier ses acquis en écriture et en lecture des caractères étudiés - 5 séquences de révision (4 intermédiaires et 1 générale) Les plus : - moyens mnémotechniques de mémorisation - 3 index pour une recherche ciblée - lexique japonais-français comprenant tous les mots de l'ouvrage

Fondé sur le programme de japonais du ministère de l'éducation nationale en lien avec la réforme 2021 des langues vivantes, Kanji Bacchiri contient tous les éléments qui vous permettront de développer progressivement vos compétences pour atteindre le niveau A1 de l'écriture japonaise. Portant spécifiquement sur les 55 kanji du niveau A1, ce cahier d'apprentissage et d'approfondissement a été conçu pour guider et accompagner toute personne débutant le japonais (collégien, lycéen, adulte), s'initiant ou poursuivant son initiation à l'écriture japonaise. Véritable compagnon de travail, ce cahier largement illustré permet de découvrir, de mémoriser et d'apprendre à écrire et à lire les kanji de façon progressive et méthodique. Au programme : - Une introduction générale sur les origines des kanji, la naissance de l'écriture japonaise, l'importance des kanji et leur caractéristique... - 14 leçons de 4 kanji chacune comprenant, de plus, une sélection de mots de vocabulaire associés aux kanji étudiés - des exercices d'application et de révisions permettant de vérifier ses acquis en écriture et en lecture des caractères étudiés - 5 séquences de révision (4 intermédiaires et 1 générale) Les plus : - moyens mnémotechniques de mémorisation - 3 index pour une recherche ciblée - lexique japonais-français comprenant tous les mots de l'ouvrage

Fondé sur le programme de japonais du ministère de l'éducation nationale en lien avec la réforme 2021 des langues vivantes, Kanji Bacchiri contient tous les éléments qui vous permettront de développer progressivement vos compétences pour atteindre le niveau A1 de l'écriture japonaise. Portant spécifiquement sur les 55 kanji du niveau A1, ce cahier d'apprentissage et d'approfondissement a été conçu pour guider et accompagner toute personne débutant le japonais (collégien, lycéen, adulte), s'initiant ou poursuivant son initiation à l'écriture japonaise. Véritable compagnon de travail, ce cahier largement illustré permet de découvrir, de mémoriser et d'apprendre à écrire et à lire les kanji de façon progressive et méthodique. Au programme : - Une introduction générale sur les origines des kanji, la naissance de l'écriture japonaise, l'importance des kanji et leur caractéristique... - 14 leçons de 4 kanji chacune comprenant, de plus, une sélection de mots de vocabulaire associés aux kanji étudiés - des exercices d'application et de révisions permettant de vérifier ses acquis en écriture et en lecture des caractères étudiés - 5 séquences de révision (4 intermédiaires et 1 générale) Les plus : - moyens mnémotechniques de mémorisation - 3 index pour une recherche ciblée - lexique japonais-français comprenant tous les mots de l'ouvrage

Fondé sur le programme de japonais du ministère de l'éducation nationale en lien avec la réforme 2021 des langues vivantes, Kanji Bacchiri contient tous les éléments qui vous permettront de développer progressivement vos compétences pour atteindre le niveau A1 de l'écriture japonaise. Portant spécifiquement sur les 55 kanji du niveau A1, ce cahier d'apprentissage et d'approfondissement a été conçu pour guider et accompagner toute personne débutant le japonais (collégien, lycéen, adulte), s'initiant ou poursuivant son initiation à l'écriture japonaise. Véritable compagnon de travail, ce cahier largement illustré permet de découvrir, de mémoriser et d'apprendre à écrire et à lire les kanji de façon progressive et méthodique. Au programme : - Une introduction générale sur les origines des kanji, la naissance de l'écriture japonaise, l'importance des kanji et leur caractéristique... - 14 leçons de 4 kanji chacune comprenant, de plus, une sélection de mots de vocabulaire associés aux kanji étudiés - des exercices d'application et de révisions permettant de vérifier ses acquis en écriture et en lecture des caractères étudiés - 5 séquences de révision (4 intermédiaires et 1 générale) Les plus : - moyens mnémotechniques de mémorisation - 3 index pour une recherche ciblée - lexique japonais-français comprenant tous les mots de l'ouvrage

Despite beneficial effects in acute heart failure, the full therapeutic potential of recombinant relaxin-2 has been hampered by its short half-life and the need for intravenous administration limiting its use to intensive care units. A multiparametric optimization of the relaxin B-chain led to the identification of single chain lipidated peptide agonists of RXFP1 like SA10SC-RLX with subcutaneous bioavailability and extended half-life. SA10SC-RLX has sub nanomolar activity on cells expressing human RXFP1 and molecular modeling associated with the study of different RXFP1 mutants was used to decipher the mechanism of SA10SC-RLX interaction with RXFP1. Telemetry was performed in rat where SA10SC-RLX was able to engage RXFP1 after subcutaneous administration without tachyphylaxis after repeated dosing. Renal blood flow was then used as a translational model to evaluate RXFP1 activation. SA10SC-RLX increased renal blood flow and decreased renal vascular resistance in rats as reported for relaxin in humans. In conclusion, SA10SC-RLX mimics relaxin activity in in vitro and in vivo models of acute RXFP1 engagement. SA10SC-RLX represents a new class of long-lasting RXFP1 agonist, suitable for once daily subcutaneous administration in patients and potentially paving the way to new treatments for chronic fibrotic and cardiovascular diseases.

Even if no systemic treatment is currently validated for unresectable hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC-CCA), tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and platinum-based chemotherapy are frequently used in clinical practice. Our study aims to describe the effectiveness of first-line systemic treatments in patients with cHCC-CCA., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

An in-depth survey was conducted by collecting information from web sources, supplemented by interviews with experts and/or bakers, to identify all the flat breads (FBs) produced in the nine Mediterranean countries involved in the FlatBreadMine Project (Croatia, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta and Spain), and to have an insight into their technical and cultural features. A database with information on 143 FB types (51 single-layered, 15 double-layered, 66 garnished, 11 fried) was established. Flours were from soft wheat (67.4%), durum wheat (13.7%), corn (8.6%), rye, sorghum, chickpea, and chestnut (together 5.2%). The raising agents were compressed yeast (55.8%), sourdough (16.7%), baking powder (9.0%), but 18.6% of FBs were unleavened. Sixteen old-style baking systems were recorded, classified into baking plates and vertical ovens (tannur and tabun). Artisanal FBs accounted for 82%, while the industrial ones for 7%. Quality schemes (national, European or global) applied to 91 FBs. Fifteen FBs were rare, prepared only for family consumption: changes in lifestyle and increasing urbanization may cause their disappearance. Actions are needed to prevent the reduction of biodiversity related to FBs. Information in the database will be useful for the selection of FBs suitable to promotional activities and technical or nutritional improvement.

Crop diversification is recognised as a central strategy towards improved productivity, delivery of ecosystem services and higher resilience of cropping systems. Crop diversification thus can help reaching the EU environmental sustainability targets. Although multiple benefits of crop diversification have been proven, the development of diversified cropping systems is still limited. In this context, a detailed analysis of barriers to crop diversification was undertaken based on the analysis of DiverIMPACTS' 25 case studies, participatory workshops and a literature review. In total, 46 barriers to crop diversification were identified. Barriers occur at different levels: at the farm level; from harvest to retail; at the market level; and in the coordination between value chain actors (Morel et al., 2020). Following-up on this exhaustive identification of barriers, DiverIMPACTS WP5's team gathered their expertise for identifying direct solutions addressing the barriers. The hereby report provides the solutions identified for the barriers to diversification at each level of the value chain and further discuss the conditions for enabling shifts towards more sustainable food systems. Chapter 1 highlights the strategic axis and concrete solutions identified for addressing each barrier2. Chapter 2 offers an identification of the actors to be involved in the implementation of each solution.

During the first decades of the 20th century, the introduction of community services, hospitals, schools, and housing in the sugar mills of the province of Tucumán created a context of containment for their laborers in which individualities were redefined in an active process, backed by affirmation of the economic and social hierarchies characteristic of the emergence of an industrial society. Within this general framework, this paper focuses specifically on the creation of social and sports clubs in company districts. From the study of these institutions where early on football occupied a privileged place, this text discusses the diffusion of this sport in the province of Tucumán at the beginning of the 20th century. The analysis considers modernity and the industrial ideal as cornerstones of the system of representations in football societies, a practice that in sugar mill life meant the integration of recreational time, sociabilities and representations of the body in economic space., Durante las primeras décadas del siglo XX, la introducción de servicios comunitarios, hospitales, escuelas y viviendas en los ingenios azucareros de la provincia de Tucumán configuró un cuadro de contención para las poblaciones fabriles en el cual las redefiniciones de las individualidades actuaron en un proceso activo, respaldado por una afirmación de las jerarquías económicas y sociales propias de la aparición de una sociedad de rasgos industriales. Inscribiéndose en ese marco general, el trabajo se enfoca específicamente en la creación de clubes sociales y deportivos en las villas obreras. A partir del estudio de estas instituciones donde el fútbol ocupó tempranamente un lugar privilegiado, el artículo trata de evidenciar los canales de difusión de este deporte en la provincia de Tucumán al principio del siglo XX. El análisis retoma la modernidad y el ideal industrial como piedra angular del sistema de representaciones vigentes en las sociedades del futbol, práctica que en el ámbito de los ingenios azucareros significó la integración del tiempo recreativo, de las sociabilidades y de las representaciones corporales en el espacio productivo.

Herbicides used in agriculture pollute water worldwide. However, several weed management alternatives can reduce herbicide applications. The understanding of interactions between agronomics and the learning and social processes that favor changes in practices on a territorial scale is still far from complete. Despite the call for systemic change approaches, most studies are still based on technology transfer. Research and extension services provide references on alternative weed management practices and promote their use among farmers. We surveyed 33 farmers in a 45 km2 tropical catchment plus five institutional extension services. We analyzed changes in weed management practices on the 33 farms belonging to three different agricultural chains: local diversified horticulture, sugarcane, and export banana. For each change, we analyzed the learning processes and the networks involved in information exchanges. First, we show that the complexity of the practices promoted by extension services limits their adoption. Second, we show that simple practices adopted by farmers are part of a slow trajectory of change involving the gradual acquisition of knowledge. A redesign of cropping systems can emerge as the result of a gradual adding of complexity in practices and/or a specific systemic change on a cropping system scale. Sharing knowledge and resources in a non-competitive way speeds up changes among farmers sharing resources and promotes the redesigning of cropping systems. Third, we show that the structure and functioning of relational networks limit changes in practices on a watershed scale. We thus recommend that innovation design should incorporate co-designing of the pathway of change, by designing a succession of simple changes rather than a complex final system only. We recommend including non-competitive resource pooling among farmers in the co-designing of innovation.

During the first decades of the 20th century, the introduction of community services, hospitals, schools, and housing in the sugar mills of the province of Tucumán created a context of containment for their laborers in which individualities were redefined in an active process, backed by affirmation of the economic and social hierarchies characteristic of the emergence of an industrial society. Within this general framework, this paper focuses specifically on the creation of social and sports clubs in company districts. From the study of these institutions where early on football occupied a privileged place, this text discusses the diffusion of this sport in the province of Tucumán at the beginning of the 20th century. The analysis considers modernity and the industrial ideal as cornerstones of the system of representations in football societies, a practice that in sugar mill life meant the integration of recreational time, sociabilities and representations of the body in economic space., Durante las primeras décadas del siglo XX, la introducción de servicios comunitarios, hospitales, escuelas y viviendas en los ingenios azucareros de la provincia de Tucumán configuró un cuadro de contención para las poblaciones fabriles en el cual las redefiniciones de las individualidades actuaron en un proceso activo, respaldado por una afirmación de las jerarquías económicas y sociales propias de la aparición de una sociedad de rasgos industriales. Inscribiéndose en ese marco general, el trabajo se enfoca específicamente en la creación de clubes sociales y deportivos en las villas obreras. A partir del estudio de estas instituciones donde el fútbol ocupó tempranamente un lugar privilegiado, el artículo trata de evidenciar los canales de difusión de este deporte en la provincia de Tucumán al principio del siglo XX. El análisis retoma la modernidad y el ideal industrial como piedra angular del sistema de representaciones vigentes en las sociedades del futbol, práctica que en el ámbito de los ingenios azucareros significó la integración del tiempo recreativo, de las sociabilidades y de las representaciones corporales en el espacio productivo.

Herbicides used in agriculture pollute water worldwide. However, several weed management alternatives can reduce herbicide applications. The understanding of interactions between agronomics and the learning and social processes that favor changes in practices on a territorial scale is still far from complete. Despite the call for systemic change approaches, most studies are still based on technology transfer. Research and extension services provide references on alternative weed management practices and promote their use among farmers. We surveyed 33 farmers in a 45 km2 tropical catchment plus five institutional extension services. We analyzed changes in weed management practices on the 33 farms belonging to three different agricultural chains: local diversified horticulture, sugarcane, and export banana. For each change, we analyzed the learning processes and the networks involved in information exchanges. First, we show that the complexity of the practices promoted by extension services limits their adoption. Second, we show that simple practices adopted by farmers are part of a slow trajectory of change involving the gradual acquisition of knowledge. A redesign of cropping systems can emerge as the result of a gradual adding of complexity in practices and/or a specific systemic change on a cropping system scale. Sharing knowledge and resources in a non-competitive way speeds up changes among farmers sharing resources and promotes the redesigning of cropping systems. Third, we show that the structure and functioning of relational networks limit changes in practices on a watershed scale. We thus recommend that innovation design should incorporate co-designing of the pathway of change, by designing a succession of simple changes rather than a complex final system only. We recommend including non-competitive resource pooling among farmers in the co-designing of innovation.

Le médecin urgentiste est souvent mal préparé aux urgences obstétricales. L'insuffisance de formation théorique et pratique, le manque d'experience et la diversité des situations cliniques aiguës présentées par les patients habituellement en bonne sané mettent volontiers mal à l'aise des praticiens par ailleurs expérimentés. Même si le travail en réseau facilite la collaboration entre spécalistes, le médecin urgentiste se trouve souvent seul au moment d'établir un diagnostic, décider des stratégies thérapeutiques et orienter une patiente en situation obtétricale urgente. URG' Obstétrique aborde de manière synthétique mais complète l'ensemble des situations d'urgence obstétricale auxquelles sont confrontés les médecins urgentistes aussi bien en situation hospitalière que pré-hospitalière. L'anatomie, l'examen de la femme enceinte, les pathologies, l'accouchement hors maternité, la prise en charge du nouveau-né mais ausi des questions techniques comme la régulation médicale, le transport et l'utillisation des médicaments sont présentés sous forme d'une centaine de fiches pratiques, constituant ainsi un livre-outil indispensable à tout praticen et urgentiste.

Le médecin urgentiste est souvent mal préparé aux urgences obstétricales. L'insuffisance de formation théorique et pratique, le manque d'experience et la diversité des situations cliniques aiguës présentées par les patients habituellement en bonne sané mettent volontiers mal à l'aise des praticiens par ailleurs expérimentés. Même si le travail en réseau facilite la collaboration entre spécalistes, le médecin urgentiste se trouve souvent seul au moment d'établir un diagnostic, décider des stratégies thérapeutiques et orienter une patiente en situation obtétricale urgente. URG' Obstétrique aborde de manière synthétique mais complète l'ensemble des situations d'urgence obstétricale auxquelles sont confrontés les médecins urgentistes aussi bien en situation hospitalière que pré-hospitalière. L'anatomie, l'examen de la femme enceinte, les pathologies, l'accouchement hors maternité, la prise en charge du nouveau-né mais ausi des questions techniques comme la régulation médicale, le transport et l'utillisation des médicaments sont présentés sous forme d'une centaine de fiches pratiques, constituant ainsi un livre-outil indispensable à tout praticen et urgentiste.

Le médecin urgentiste est souvent mal préparé aux urgences obstétricales. L'insuffisance de formation théorique et pratique, le manque d'experience et la diversité des situations cliniques aiguës présentées par les patients habituellement en bonne sané mettent volontiers mal à l'aise des praticiens par ailleurs expérimentés. Même si le travail en réseau facilite la collaboration entre spécalistes, le médecin urgentiste se trouve souvent seul au moment d'établir un diagnostic, décider des stratégies thérapeutiques et orienter une patiente en situation obtétricale urgente. URG' Obstétrique aborde de manière synthétique mais complète l'ensemble des situations d'urgence obstétricale auxquelles sont confrontés les médecins urgentistes aussi bien en situation hospitalière que pré-hospitalière. L'anatomie, l'examen de la femme enceinte, les pathologies, l'accouchement hors maternité, la prise en charge du nouveau-né mais ausi des questions techniques comme la régulation médicale, le transport et l'utillisation des médicaments sont présentés sous forme d'une centaine de fiches pratiques, constituant ainsi un livre-outil indispensable à tout praticen et urgentiste.

Le médecin urgentiste est souvent mal préparé aux urgences obstétricales. L'insuffisance de formation théorique et pratique, le manque d'experience et la diversité des situations cliniques aiguës présentées par les patients habituellement en bonne sané mettent volontiers mal à l'aise des praticiens par ailleurs expérimentés. Même si le travail en réseau facilite la collaboration entre spécalistes, le médecin urgentiste se trouve souvent seul au moment d'établir un diagnostic, décider des stratégies thérapeutiques et orienter une patiente en situation obtétricale urgente. URG' Obstétrique aborde de manière synthétique mais complète l'ensemble des situations d'urgence obstétricale auxquelles sont confrontés les médecins urgentistes aussi bien en situation hospitalière que pré-hospitalière. L'anatomie, l'examen de la femme enceinte, les pathologies, l'accouchement hors maternité, la prise en charge du nouveau-né mais ausi des questions techniques comme la régulation médicale, le transport et l'utillisation des médicaments sont présentés sous forme d'une centaine de fiches pratiques, constituant ainsi un livre-outil indispensable à tout praticen et urgentiste.

Freeze-thaw (FT) stability is often used to assess the ability of a gel to support the damage induced byfreezing; selected parameters such as drip loss, damage to structure etc can be used to assess the freezetolerance of a gel. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a very specific hydrocolloid able to trap 100 timesits weight in water; it has not been studied so far as an improver to enhance FT stability. The aim of the study was to show that the presence of a small quantity of konjac glucomannan (KGM)in potato starch suspension increased the stability of carvacrol antioxidant trapping. FT cycles wereused to accelerate the ageing of the product and to assess its stability. In addition to drip lossesdetermination, the stability of carvacrol trapping was evaluated by the quantification of carvacrol inthe syneresis liquid. Microscopic and macroscopic scales were considered with microscopy. Themoment of the addition of carvacrol and the presence of KGM both had an effect on the stability ofcarvacrol trapping and of the structure of the gel. KGM promoted amylose retrogradation but sloweddown amylopectin retrogradation. The stability of potato starch gels can be improved by the addition of a small quantity of KGM, which showed a "cryoprotectant" behaviour. New method to characterizethe micro and macrostructure from SEM images processing has also been proposed. The processing ofmicroscopy images was done using Generalized Fourier Descriptors and allowed the characterization of each sample. The carvacrol addition lowered the physical stability of the gel with larger pores and increased syneresis. On the contrary, the KGM addition increased the size of the pores but preventedthe formation of very large pores and reduced syneresis. The most stable system was obtained by theaddition of carvacrol at the end of heating, in a konjac glucomannane potato starch gel. © 2018 International Institute of Refrigeration. All rights reserved.

Freeze-thaw (FT) stability is often used to assess the ability of a gel to support the damage induced byfreezing; selected parameters such as drip loss, damage to structure etc can be used to assess the freezetolerance of a gel. Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a very specific hydrocolloid able to trap 100 timesits weight in water; it has not been studied so far as an improver to enhance FT stability. The aim of the study was to show that the presence of a small quantity of konjac glucomannan (KGM)in potato starch suspension increased the stability of carvacrol antioxidant trapping. FT cycles wereused to accelerate the ageing of the product and to assess its stability. In addition to drip lossesdetermination, the stability of carvacrol trapping was evaluated by the quantification of carvacrol inthe syneresis liquid. Microscopic and macroscopic scales were considered with microscopy. Themoment of the addition of carvacrol and the presence of KGM both had an effect on the stability ofcarvacrol trapping and of the structure of the gel. KGM promoted amylose retrogradation but sloweddown amylopectin retrogradation. The stability of potato starch gels can be improved by the addition of a small quantity of KGM, which showed a "cryoprotectant" behaviour. New method to characterizethe micro and macrostructure from SEM images processing has also been proposed. The processing ofmicroscopy images was done using Generalized Fourier Descriptors and allowed the characterization of each sample. The carvacrol addition lowered the physical stability of the gel with larger pores and increased syneresis. On the contrary, the KGM addition increased the size of the pores but preventedthe formation of very large pores and reduced syneresis. The most stable system was obtained by theaddition of carvacrol at the end of heating, in a konjac glucomannane potato starch gel. © 2018 International Institute of Refrigeration. All rights reserved.

The use of LED light sources is nowadays an attractive solution because it can easily lead to lower operating costs of artificial lighting. In the last years, the replacement of fluorescent lamps with LED tubes for lighting of workplaces have been frequently proposed. The aim of the Authors is to analyze, from techno-economic’s point of view, the fluorescent tubes replacement of a typical office building with LED tubes. Using the evaluation of the Lighting Energy Numeric Indicator has been possible to point out that the replacement of the fluorescent tubes allows a reduction in energy consumption for lighting higher than 50% with an obvious reduction in the annual operating cost. For the lamps replacement, in the case study have been estimated a simple payback time of less than 5 years. The methodological approach used by the Authors, although based on a case study, can be extended to numerous office buildings because the analyzed configurations (use and dimension of the rooms, type and features of the luminaires) can be considered significantly representative of this type of buildings. The choice of the LED sources that are suitable for the fluorescent lamps replacement must be preceded by a careful lighting analysis in order to ensure the compliance with the standards requirements.

The aim of the study was to show that the presence of a small quantity of konjac glucomannan (KGM) in potato starch suspension increased the stability of carvacrol trapping. For that purpose, several freeze-thaw cycles were used to accelerate the ageing of the product and consequently drastically destabilize the gels, and induce syneresis. The stability of carvacrol trapping was evaluated by the quantification of carvacrol in the syneresis liquid. The stability of the starch gel structure was studied at microscopic and macroscopic scale. The moment of the addition of carvacrol and the presence of KGM both had an effect on the stability of carvacrol trapping and of the structure of the gel. KGM promoted amylose retrogradation but slowed down amylopectin retrogradation. The stability of potato starch gels can be improved by the addition of a small quantity of KGM which showed a ‘cryoprotectant’ behaviour. New method to characterize the micro and macrostructure from SEM images processing has also been proposed. The processing of microscopy images was done using Generalized Fourier Descriptors and allowed the characterization of each sample. The carvacrol addition lowered the physical stability of the gel with larger pores and increased syneresis. On the contrary, the KGM addition increased the size of the pores but prevented the formation of very large pores and reduced syneresis. The most stable system was obtained by the addition of carvacrol at the end of heating, in a konjac glucomannan–potato starch gel.