Search

The Brazilian olive oil production has been growing in recent decades and largest plantations are on two different zones, from Serra da Mantiqueira (states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo) and Campanha Gaúcha (state of Rio Grande do Sul). The total planted area, in 2022, reached approximately 6500 hectares. The aim of the present study was to characterize the sensory and analytical parameters of extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) from Southwestern (Serra da Mantiqueira) and Southern (Campanha Gaúcha) Brazil regions. Twenty‐two EVOO samples were obtained from different cultivars of unlike regions. Quality parameters, oxidative stability, phenolic compounds ortho‐diphenols and fatty acids were analyzed and relationships with olive variety or region. From the chemical perspective, the EVOO exhibited all parameters within the necessary to be qualified as extra virgin, according to international standard definitions. All samples showed a good quality of sensory perceptions and a high level of polyphenols, which are varied among samples but was more intense in Campanha Gaúcha olive oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Aeronautical structures are increasingly aging, and the occurrence of unexpected loads could reduce their operability. A health and usage monitoring system would enable the continuous monitoring of the state of health of a structure and track its aging by a load monitoring system, which aims at the real‐time reconstruction of the loads acting on a structure. However, sometimes the loads and the induced strain and stress fields are difficult to be reconstructed exactly, as for complex loading due to flight maneuvers. In this work, the full strain and load fields of a structure are reconstructed by an inverse‐direct approach, leveraging on the calibration matrix approach. The latter exploits a least‐squares minimization of an error functional, defined as the comparison between measured strains in discrete positions and a numerical formulation of the same, to reconstruct an equivalent, however representative, load set. By assuming a linear relationship between strain and load through a calibration matrix, this minimization can be performed analytically, leading to a computationally very efficient algorithm that can be operated online. Once the equivalent load set is computed, the full strain field can be estimated relying on a second calibration matrix linking the external loads to the strain field of the complete structure. The method has been numerically tested with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) subjected to aerodynamic pressure loads simulating flight maneuvers. Finally, the results are experimentally validated during a ground test program on a real UAV, proving the robustness to different experimental uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport of auxin controls the rate, direction and localization of plant growth and development. The course of auxin transport is defined by the polar subcellular localization of the PIN proteins, a family of auxin efflux transporters. However, little is known about the composition and regulation of the PIN protein complex. Here, using blue‐native PAGE and quantitative mass spectrometry, we identify native PIN core transport units as homo‐ and heteromers assembled from PIN1, PIN2, PIN3, PIN4 and PIN7 subunits only. Furthermore, we show that endogenous flavonols stabilize PIN dimers to regulate auxin efflux in the same way as does the auxin transport inhibitor 1‐naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA). This inhibitory mechanism is counteracted both by the natural auxin indole‐3‐acetic acid and by phosphomimetic amino acids introduced into the PIN1 cytoplasmic domain. Our results lend mechanistic insights into an endogenous control mechanism which regulates PIN function and opens the way for a deeper understanding of the protein environment and regulation of the polar auxin transport complex. Synopsis: PIN‐FORMED (PIN) transporters regulate distribution of the phytohormone auxin in plant tissues. The current study shows that PIN core complexes are formed by PIN homo‐ and heterodimers, which are stabilized by the auxin transport inhibitor 1‐naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) and natural flavonols. Quantitative mass spectrometry identifies PIN protein homo‐ and heterodimers at the plasma membrane, with PIN1 homodimers most prevalentNPA and naturally‐occurring flavonols stabilize PIN dimersAuxin treatment or PIN1 phosphomimetic amino acid substitutions reduce formation of PIN complexesAntibody‐mediated blocking of PIN1‐PIN1 interactions renders plants less sensitive to NPA [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Fresh sprouts are healthy foods, low in fats and high in phytochemicals, but have a short shelf‐life, hence the need for processing methods that preserve their nutritional value. This work was aimed at evaluating the effect of heat‐drying (HD) and freeze‐drying (FD) on the phytochemical and fatty acid profiles of alfalfa and flax sprouts, as compared to fresh material. RESULTS: Both FD and HD reduced the phytochemical contents compared to fresh sprouts. FD better preserved phytoestrogens, phytosterols and total tocols compared to HD. However, phytoestrogen and tocol content remained quite high also in HD. The fatty acid profile was affected only by sprouts species, with higher amounts of α‐linolenic acid in flax and linoleic acid in alfalfa sprouts. CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrates that drying does not severely compromise the nutritional value of sprouts and provides a valid support for the choice of the drying method depending on the compound to be preserved, and taking into consideration the different cost of the methods. In addition, sprout powder is easy to handle and, due to its low volume, does not imply a decrease of feed consumption and energy intake, which is relevant in its use as a supplement in human and animal feeding. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The genetic transformation of plant cells is critically dependent on the availability of efficient selectable marker gene. Sulfonamides are herbicides that, by inhibiting the folic acid biosynthetic pathway, suppress the growth of untransformed cells. Sulfonamide resistance genes that were previously developed as selectable markers for plant transformation were based on the assumption that, in plants, the folic acid biosynthetic pathway resides in the chloroplast compartment. Consequently, the Sul resistance protein, a herbicide‐insensitive dihydropteroate synthase, was targeted to the chloroplast. Although these vectors produce transgenic plants, the transformation efficiencies are low compared to other markers. Here, we show that this inefficiency is due to the erroneous assumption that the folic acid pathway is located in chloroplasts. When the RbcS transit peptide was replaced by a transit peptide for protein import into mitochondria, the compartment where folic acid biosynthesis takes place in yeast, much higher resistance to sulfonamide and much higher transformation efficiencies are obtained, suggesting that current sul vectors are likely to function due to low‐level mistargeting of the resistance protein to mitochondria. We constructed a series of optimized transformation vectors and demonstrate that they produce transgenic events at very high frequency in both the seed plant tobacco and the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Co‐transformation experiments in tobacco revealed that sul is even superior to nptII, the currently most efficient selectable marker gene, and thus provides an attractive marker for the high‐throughput genetic transformation of plants and algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-wall carbon nanotubes functionalized with polyethylene glycol (SWCNT-PEG) are promising materials for biomedical applications such as diagnostic devices and controlled drug-release systems. However, several questions about their toxicological profile remain unanswered. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the action of SWCNT-PEG in Danio rerio zebrafish embryos at the molecular, physiological and morphological levels. The SWCNT used in this study were synthesized by the high-pressure carbon monoxide process, purified and then functionalized with distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine block copolymer-PEG (molecular weight 2 kDa). The characterization process was carried out with low-resolution transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and Raman spectroscopy. Individual zebrafish embryos were exposed to the SWCNT-PEG. Toxic effects occurred only at the highest concentration tested (1 ppm) and included high mortality rates, delayed hatching and decreased total larval length. For all the concentrations tested, the alkaline comet assay revealed no genotoxicity, and Raman spectroscopy measurements on the histological slices revealed no intracellular nanotubes. The results shown here demonstrate that SWCNT-PEG has low toxicity in zebrafish embryos, but more studies are needed to understand what mechanisms are involved. However, the presence of residual metals is possibly among the primary mechanisms responsible for the toxic effects observed, because the purification process was not able to remove all metal contamination, as demonstrated by the thermogravimetric analysis. More attention must be given to the toxicity of these nanomaterials before they are used in biomedical applications. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents Vitamin E supplementation has become a common procedure to promote growth and health and improve the qualitative characteristics of farm animals. It has been demonstrated to be an efficient strategy for improving their reproductive function. Germ cells are particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage and may thus require additional antioxidant protection. The aim of this review is to give a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge of the biochemistry and physiology of vitamin E; successively, the effect of this compound on the reproductive activity of rabbit buck is accurately described. In particular, this review examines studies on the effects of animal age, dose and duration of vitamin E supplementation, as well as the co-supplementation with selenium, vitamin C and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Several investigations have shown beneficial effects in bucks supplemented with vitamin E levels higher than the standard dietary requirement (50 mg/kg) particularly when the semen is stored. However, the exact dietary intake of vitamin E should be decided according to specific tissue needs for the individual vitamin E forms and the specific saturation markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous studies showed that (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate ( EGCG) inhibits signal transducer activator of transcription 1 ( STAT1) activation. Since EGCG may be a promising lead compound for new anti- STAT1 drug design, 15 synthetic catechins, characterized by the (−)-gallocatechin-3-gallate stereochemistry, were studied in the human mammary MDA- MB-231 cell line to identify the minimal structural features that preserve the anti- STAT1 activity. We demonstrate that the presence of three hydroxyl groups of B ring and one hydroxyl group in D ring is essential to preserve their inhibitory action. Moreover, a possible molecular target of these compounds in the STAT1 pathway was investigated. Our results demonstrate a direct interaction between STAT1 protein and catechins displaying anti- STAT1 activity. In particular, surface plasmon resonance ( SPR) analysis and molecular modeling indicate the presence of two putative binding sites ( a and b) with different affinity. Based on docking data, site-directed mutagenesis was performed, and interaction of the most active catechins with STAT1 was studied with SPR to test whether Gln518 on site a and His568 on site b could be important for the catechin- STAT1 interaction. Data indicate that site b has higher affinity for catechins than site a as the highest affinity constant disappears in the H568A- STAT1 mutant. Furthermore, Janus kinase 2 ( JAK2) kinase assay data suggest that the contemporary presence in vitro of STAT1 and catechins inhibits JAK2-elicited STAT1 phosphorylation. The very tight catechin- STAT1 interaction prevents STAT1 phosphorylation and represents a novel, specific and efficient molecular mechanism for the inhibition of STAT1 activation. Structured digital abstract by () [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the effect of husbandry system and season on the grass intake and egg quality in laying hens considering that characteristics of organic eggs obtained in a system with no grass in the external area are similar conventional ones. RESULTS Three hundred and sixty Ancona hens were randomly assigned to three groups: a control group (C), with the hens kept in cages under standard housing conditions; the organic group (O), with the hens kept under an organic production system (4 m2 per hen) and the organic-plus group ( OP), with the hens maintained under organic conditions but with a larger grass paddock availability (10 m2 per hen). The estimated intake of forage, carotenoids and flavonoids of the OP hens was very high as the amounts deposited in eggs, mainly in the spring season. The fatty acid composition of the yolk was significantly affected by pasture. The OP eggs showed lower concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFA) n-6 and a higher percentage of PUFA n-3. CONCLUSIONS The results showed that the grass intake was largely affected by the husbandry system and highlighted the seasonal effect of grass availability on the nutritional quality of eggs produced in organic systems. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of dietary supplementation with vitamin E, oregano, and prebiotic on fatty acids and oxidative profiles of rabbit meat (loin and hind leg) was evaluated. New Zealand white rabbits weaned at 30 days of age were fed with one of six diets until 80 days of age: standard diet including ω3 polyunsaturated fatty and conjugated linolenic acids sources (S) and five diets adding vitamin E (150 ppm, E), oregano water extract (2 g/kg feed diet, O), prebiotic (THEPAX® 1.5 g/kg feed diet, T), vitamin E plus prebiotic (TE), and oregano water extract plus prebiotic (TO), respectively. The lipid oxidative status (TBARS) showed lower values with respect to S, mainly when vitamin E was administered. In particular, all the experimental diets decreased TBARS values with respect to the control group in the loin, but no effect was found in the hind leg. In all feed samples, the amounts of fatty acid classes increased in the following order: polyunsaturated fatty acids > monounsaturated fatty acid > saturated fatty acid. The dietary supplementations did not affect the fatty acid composition of meat. The experimented diets compared to the control were not able to provide a selective increase of bioactive fatty acid in meat samples; however, the six nutritional strategies led to highly nutritional rabbit meat with an interesting value of the ω6/ω3 ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of two dietary treatments (50 as opposed to 200 mg kg-1 of α-tocopheryl acetate) on rabbit meat, cooked by different procedures (boiling, frying, roasting), was evaluated. Cooking caused an increase of *-pH, shear force, lightness, hue and chroma, and a decrease of water holding capacity. The change in nutritional value was slight but lipid oxidation was increased and the fat quality worsened. Boiled meat had the lowest nutrient retention and the highest TBARS values. Supplemental vitamin E was effective in reducing oxidative processes and increasing the amount of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids also during cooking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are promising materials for biomedical applications, especially in the field of neuroscience; therefore, it is essential to evaluate the neurotoxicity of these nanomaterials. The present work assessed the effects of single-walled CNT functionalized with polyethylene glycol (SWCNT-PEG) on the consolidation and retrieval of contextual fear memory in rats and on oxidative stress parameters in the hippocampus. SWCNT-PEG were dispersed in water at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.1 mg/mL and infused into the rat hippocampus. The infusion was completed immediately after training and 30 min before testing of a contextual fear conditioning task, resulting in exposure times of 24 h and 30 min, respectively. The results showed that a short exposure to SWCNT-PEG impaired fear memory retrieval and caused lipid peroxidation in the hippocampus. This response was transient and overcome by the mobilization of antioxidant defenses at 24 h. These effects occurred at low and intermediate but not high concentration of SWCNT-PEG, suggesting that the observed biological response may be related to the concentration-dependent increase in particle size in SWCNT-PEG dispersions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncovering fine‐grained phenotypes of live cell dynamics is pivotal for a comprehensive understanding of the heterogeneity in healthy and diseased biological processes. However, this endeavor poses significant technical challenges for unsupervised machine learning, requiring the extraction of features that not only faithfully preserve this heterogeneity but also effectively discriminate between established biological states, all while remaining interpretable. To tackle these challenges, a self‐training deep learning framework designed for fine‐grained and interpretable phenotyping is presented. This framework incorporates an unsupervised teacher model with interpretable features to facilitate feature learning in a student deep neural network (DNN). Significantly, an autoencoder‐based regularizer is designed to encourage the student DNN to maximize the heterogeneity associated with molecular perturbations. This method enables the acquisition of features with enhanced discriminatory power, while simultaneously preserving the heterogeneity associated with molecular perturbations. This study successfully delineated fine‐grained phenotypes within the heterogeneous protrusion dynamics of migrating epithelial cells, revealing specific responses to pharmacological perturbations. Remarkably, this framework adeptly captured a concise set of highly interpretable features uniquely linked to these fine‐grained phenotypes, each corresponding to specific temporal intervals crucial for their manifestation. This unique capability establishes it as a valuable tool for investigating diverse cellular dynamics and their heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phytogenic additives would be helpful to mitigate the detrimental impact of Campylobacter jejuni on broiler chickens. Objective: The experiment aimed to assess the effects of cinnamon, rosemary and oregano powder on physiological responses of broiler chickens challenged with C. jejuni from 0 to 42 days of age. Methods: A total of 192 one‐day‐old male broiler chickens were divided into 6 treatment groups. The treatments included: negative control (NC; basal diet without additives and no C. jejuni challenge), positive control (PC; basal diet with C. jejuni challenge), PC with cinnamon, rosemary or oregano powder (3 g/kg each), and PC with Erythromycin (55 mg/kg). Except for the NC group, all chicks were orally challenged with 2 × 108 CFU/mL C. jejuni daily from days 21–25. Feed intake, body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), energy efficiency ratio (EER) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were assessed during the rearing period (0–42 days). On day 42 of age, fresh excreta samples were collected from each pen to determine apparent dry matter digestibility and excreta microbiota. In addition, at the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected to evaluate blood profile and liver enzyme activities. Results: C. jejuni challenge (PC treatment) decreased BWG, EER and PER, while increasing FCR of broiler chickens (p < 0.05), whereas rosemary, oregano and Erythromycin improved these performance parameters akin to NC. PC diet showed negative effect in ileal morphology, alleviated by additives except cinnamon (p < 0.05). Dietary additives successfully reduced Campylobacter levels and increased Lactobacilli counts in the PC. Rosemary and oregano lowered plasma total cholesterol (p < 0.05). Alanine aminotransferase elevation by C. jejuni challenge in the PC group was prevented by rosemary, oregano and Erythromycin (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Oregano and rosemary alleviate the impact of C. jejuni challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxytyrosol (HT) is a polyphenol found in the olive plant (Olea europaea) that has garnered attention from the food, feed, supplement, and pharmaceutical industries. HT has evolved from basic separation and extraction to chemical and biocatalytic synthesis. The yield of HT can reach 1.93 g/L/h through chemical synthesis and 7.7 g/L/h through biocatalysis; however, both methods are subject to inherent limitations. Furthermore, the potential health benefits associated with HT have been highlighted, including its ability to act as an antioxidant, reduce inflammation, combat cancer and obesity, and exert antibacterial and antiviral effects. Its neuroprotective effects, skin protection, and wound healing capabilities are also discussed. Given these remarkable biological properties, HT stands out as one of the most extensively investigated natural phenols. This review highlights future methods and pathways for the synthesis of HT, providing insights based on its bioactivity characteristics, health benefits, and potential future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A safer alternative made of plant extracts is needed, as evidenced by the negative effects of using synthetic sunscreen. Antioxidant properties of plants with high phenolic content have been reported. The goal of this research was to ascertain the phenolic content and antioxidant characteristics of ethanolic extracts made from grape and olive leaves under various extraction settings. The extracts were subjected to both qualitative and quantitative analyses using HPLC. Soxhlet extraction with 80% ethanol (v/v) as the solvent produced a result that was satisfactory. Four components of grape leaf extract and one component of olive leaf extract were identified. Expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAEs), the total phenolic content (TPC) of the samples, as determined by using the Folin–Ciocalteu's reagent, ranged from 38.39 to 72.78 mg/g dry extract of olive and 65.918–132.7 mg/g dry extract of grape. An ethanolic extract of Salmoni (grape leaves) had the highest TPC (132 mg GAE/g), while an ethanolic extract of Zaity (olive leaves) had the lowest (72.66 ± 0.46 GAE/g). The Folin–Ciocalteu method proved the existence of antioxidants in the plant. By scavenging free radicals such as DPPH (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl), the antioxidant capacity of the plant extracts was determined. Next, the ethanolic extracts of various cultivars of grape and olive leaves were analyzed to determine their sun protection factor (SPF) value. It was 28.8 and 29.96 for grape leaf extract and olive leaf extract, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The study hypothesized that zinc supplementation would increase or preserve lean body mass in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the body composition of DMD patients before and after zinc supplementation. Materials and Methods. The study is a clinical trial comprising 21 boys diagnosed with DMD. Dietary intake parameters were evaluated before zinc supplementation. Serum zinc levels, anthropometry, and body composition were measured in three moments, four months apart. The patients received 5, 10, or 15 mg of zinc bis‐glycine supplementation according to age as an oral solution daily for four months. The sample was distributed into two groups according to serum zinc status: zinc deficiency (G1) or adequate zinc (G2). Results. There was a significant difference in lean body mass between the groups: zinc deficiency (G1) or adequate zinc (G2), at three times (p = 0.041, 0.016, and 0.009, respectively). After oral zinc supplementation, serum zinc levels were not different between groups. We did not observe differences when associating the parameters between times and groups. Conclusion. Zinc supplementation was able to maintain lean body mass and fat mass in patients with DMD with previous deficiencies. Therefore, it is necessary to have a prior screening of serum zinc levels to observe changes after supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meat, fish, and seafood are animal products that can be found in various forms in the human diet. In Western culture, there are trends to reduce meat consumption. This work was created to assess how various factors influence the fact that we like to eat meat, fish, and seafood. Exploring these relationships will contribute to our understanding of why dietary interventions for the above foods may be so difficult to implement in some groups of people. Two hundred eighty‐three people living in Poland took part in the study. An interview and olfactory tests were conducted together with assessments of food preferences from 25 types of food products. The extent to which sex, age, body mass index, tobacco addiction, and sense of smell influence 'meat, fish and seafood' consumption was assessed. Using the factor analysis, a coherent group of 'meat, fish and seafood' products was selected: beef, pork, veal, cured meats, poultry, fish dishes, and seafood. 'Meat, fish and seafood' was liked more by men, compared to women (B =.85; CI =.60, 1.10; t = 6.66, η2 =.14; p <.001), whereas other factors did not affect the preference of dishes from this group as a whole. A detailed analysis of each type of food separately showed, however, that not only is gender important, but fish is liked more by older people, and cured meats by people who identify odors more efficiently. When planning a diet change, including the products mentioned above, we should consider the sex and age of the person to whom the diet is addressed, because men declare a higher derived pleasure from eating various types of meat, fish, and seafood than women, while older people like fish more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomaterial properties and functionalities are influenced by their shape, size, and chemical composition. The importance of these parameters highlights the need for a statistically robust analysis of a large particle population, necessitating automation. This study introduces a neural network‐empowered smart scan technique that achieves a relative increase in speed compared to traditional energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX) mapping. The main advantage is that it reduces the required dose, decreasing potential damage to the sample by avoiding unnecessary exposure. It holds potential use in other multimodal scanning transmission electron microscopy or scanning‐based imaging approaches. In the first example, identifying particles in a matrix with a trained neural network reduces the acquisition time by two orders of magnitude. This acceleration enables a statistical compositional analysis of thousands of particles in less than 1 h. Similar improvements are observed for atomic resolution. The discrete positions of atoms identified by the trained network allow for selective EDX sampling at these centers, thereby identifying the atomic species of the column with much‐reduced sampling. Consequently, a lower sampling dose is required, enabling mapping of more delicate materials with high lateral resolution and at a high statistical confidence interval. Even though manual training is still required, this approach greatly benefits repetitive quality control tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of particulate matter (PM) are relevant to severe air pollution and can adversely impact human health. Maintaining healthy air quality for the residents of the Arctic region is essential to satisfy the no‐one‐left‐behind policy of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations. In this study, we installed a PM2.5 measurement system in Qaanaaq, Greenland, and obtained the first continuous PM2.5 measurements from July 20, 2022 to August 13, 2022. We observed several increased PM2.5 events; relatively high PM2.5 levels persisted from August 8, 2022. On the same day, visible black smoke emitted from the Qaanaaq dump site originated from open waste burning. By confirming less transboundary air pollution contributions from remote aerosol source regions to Qaanaaq during the measurement period using NOAA's HYSPLIT backward trajectory analysis and NASA's MERRA‐2 aerosol re‐analysis, we confirmed that the increased PM2.5 was primarily due to local open waste burning with less contributions from transboundary air pollution. However, small contributions from biomass burning outside Greenland were plausible during the early measurement period. Additionally, NOAA's HYSPLIT dispersion calculations suggested possible aerosol depositions from local open waste burning to nearby sea areas, such as Baffin Bay. Although the hourly mean PM2.5 mass concentration was not alarmingly high during the measurement period, future studies should incorporate longer‐term continuous PM2.5 measurements along with other atmospheric chemical analyses to identify possible local air pollution sources in detail to ensure clean ambient air for the future in the Arctic. Our study provides quantitative evidence of the impact of open waste burning on air quality at a study site in Greenland, which could be crucial in developing air quality policies for this region in the Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increases in chicken production are mainly due to specialised breeds. However, local breeds are of increasing importance, known for ability to adapt to the environment and unique products. Conventional poultry products contain lower levels of n-3 fatty acids (FAs) compared to those obtained from local breeds, therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the modulation of expression of genes involved in long-chain polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) biosynthesis pathways according to genetic background, diet conditions, and sex. Animals from two local breeds and a commercial line were fed different diets: control and experimental diet (10% linseed supplementation). For each breed and diet group, both sexes were reared. The RNA was extracted from 36 liver samples and sequenced by RNAseq method. Bioinformatic analysis was carried out to find differentially expressed genes from comparisons between experimental groups. Results showed low impact of diet on differentially expressed genes related to FA biosynthesis, but linseed diet increased percentage of n-3 FAs of liver. Sex and genetic background determined the differential expression of genes related to long-chain PUFA biosynthesis. Specifically, females of local breeds shared 23 up-regulated genes when compared to their respective commercial line groups. Some of the shared genes had a role in de novo triglyceride biosynthesis (MTTPL and GPAM), and in de novo FA biosynthesis (ACACA and SCD) was detected. In conclusion, local breeds are able to better adapt to a diet rich in PUFA, by triggering certain transcriptomic shifts in the liver that allow birds to process the high PUFA content provided by diet., (© 2023 The Authors. Animal Genetics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Stichting International Foundation for Animal Genetics.)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of çemen pastes prepared in different formulations on physicochemical, microbiological, and textural properties of hamburgers during refrigerated storage (4°C; 60 d). Çemen pastes were produced by using different combination doses of fenugreek seed flour, sweet red pepper, and garlic powder. As a result of çemen paste usage in hamburgers, cooking losses and dimensional shrinkage decreased, whereas moisture and fat retention ratios increased (p <.05). The hardness, gumminess, and chewiness values of hamburgers containing çemen paste were generally lower than those of control (p <.05). Çemen paste addition to hamburgers generally did not cause a difference in terms of microbial growth and moisture, fat and ash contents. Protein contents of hamburgers containing çemen paste or breadcrumbs were generally higher than that of control (p <.05). Çemen paste usage in hamburgers generally decreased the L* values and increased the b* values (p <.05). In general, addition of 3.5% or higher doses of both sweet red pepper and garlic powder caused higher a* values in hamburger patties (p <.05). Lower oxidation levels were generally observed in hamburgers containing 3% or lower doses of fenugreek seed flour and 4.5% of garlic powder in çemen paste (p <.05). It was concluded that çemen paste usage in hamburger patty processing has the potential to improve the quality characteristics and delay oxidative changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim is assess, compare, and correlate maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max.), functional capacity and quality of life in cirrhotic patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and in healthy individuals. Methods: This case–control study included 36 participants (18 patients with HCV cirrhosis and 18 healthy individuals) matched for sex and age. VO2max was assessed using ergospirometry with an incremental load test on a cycloergometer. Functional capacity was measured by a 6‐min walk test (6WT), and quality of life was assessed using the 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36). Results: Both the cirrhotic group and the control group had similar results for sex (44.4% male) and age (55.6 ± 8.31 and 55.2 ± 8.85 years, respectively). The cirrhotic group scored lower in all domains of the SF‐36, on the VO2max test (cirrhotic group 16.2 [11.6–18.6] ml/kg/min; control group 19.9 [16.28–26.9]; p = 0.007) and on the 6WT (cirrhotic group 521.5 [476.25–544.75] m; control group 618.0 [570.75–643.75] m; p = 0.0001). Correlations were found between the 6WT and the VO2max (r = 0.801, p < 0.0001) and between the 6WT and quality of life (SF‐361—functional capacity domain; r = 0.552, p = 0.018) only in the cirrhotic group. Conclusion: Patients with cirrhosis due to HCV show changes in VO2max and in functional capacity, which have a significant impact on their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After 7 days of storage, the quality of the meat packed in both systems (MAP and VAC) was satisfactory; however, after 14 and 21 days, there was a noticeable decline in quality, as evidenced by changes in the water percentage and color parameters ( L ∗ , a ∗ , and b ∗ ). However, muscles stored in the MAP1 had the highest tenderness. The results indicated that as the storage time increased (up to 21 days), the share of C14:0 (P < 0.001) and C16:0 (P < 0.001) acids in the fat of the LTL muscles decreased. Only the share of C18:0 (P = 0.001) and C20:1 (P = 0.015) acids was significantly influenced by the packaging method. The highest iodine level was found in MAP1 21 days after packaging (85.68). The ratio of n-6/n-3, PUFA/SFA, AI, and TI indexes, which indicate a higher nutritional quality of fat, varied only with storage time without being affected by the gas mixture (P > 0.05). The H/H level differed significantly with the storage time (P < 0.001), with no effect of the gas mixture (P = 0.133). After the 21-day storage period, the controlled atmosphere led to an increase in the concentration of MUFA and PUFA and a decrease in SFA, according to the study of the fatty acid profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moxidectin (MOX) is used to control helminth parasites in ruminant livestock. It is released through feces and remains in the environment for a long period. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of faeces excreted by moxidectin-treated sheep on soil biodiversity (coprophagous insects, soil microbial biomass, and activity) to establish environment-related guidelines regarding the use of MOX in sheep livestock. The study consisted of two experiments. In the first one, faeces from MOX-treated (subcutaneous dose of 0.2 mg·kg−1 body weight) and nontreated rams were placed on an animal-free pasture field, protected or not against rain, for 88 days. Then, coprophagous insects were captured, identified, and counted, and faeces degradation was evaluated by measuring dry weight and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents over time. Diptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, and Coleoptera were equally encountered in faeces from MOX-treated and nontreated animals. Faecal boluses of MOX-treated animals (with higher N content) not protected against rain degraded faster than faecal boluses of nontreated animals (with lower N content). In the second experiment, faeces from nontreated animals were amended with increasing amounts of MOX (75 to 3,000 ng·kg−1 faeces), mixed with soil samples from animal-free pasture (1.9 to 75 ng·kg−1 soil), and incubated in a greenhouse for 28 days. Increasing concentrations of MOX did not prevent the growth of cultivable bacteria, actinobacteria, or fungi in culture media. However, even the lower MOX concentration (1.9 ng·kg−1 soil) abruptly decreased soil microbial biomass, basal respiration, and N mineralization. Thus, the results indicate that faeces excreted from sheep treated with MOX under the experimental conditions of this study are not harmful to the coprophagous insects. However, adding MOX to faeces from drug-free sheep had a negative impact on soil microbial activity and biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire in power equipment has always been one of the main hazards of power equipment. Smoke detection and recognition have always been extremely important in power equipment, as they can provide early warning before a fire breaks out. Compared to relying on smoke concentration for recognition, image-based smoke recognition has the advantage of being unaffected by indoor and outdoor environments. This paper addresses the problems of limited smoke data, difficult labeling, and insufficient research on recognition algorithms in power systems. We propose using three-dimensional virtual technology to generate smoke and image masks and using environmental backgrounds such as HDR (high dynamic range imaging) lighting to realistically combine smoke and background. In addition, to address the characteristics of smoke in power equipment, a dual UNet model named DS-UNet is proposed. The model consists of a deep and a shallow network structure, which can effectively segment the details of smoke in power equipment and handle partial occlusion. Finally, DS-UNet is compared with other smoke segmentation networks with similar structures, and it demonstrates better smoke segmentation performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of dietary nonindustrial Moroccan hemp seed (HS) on the fatty acid profile, cholesterol, and tocopherol levels, in the liver of 120 Lohmann brown laying hens aged 22 weeks during 12 weeks of treatment. The hens are randomly allocated into four treatment groups, each subdivided into six replicates with five birds in each replicate. The dietary treatments consist of 0% HS (control), 10% HS, 20% HS, and 30% HS. Results indicate a substantial increase p < 0.01 in polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega 3 (n-3) and omega 6 (n-6) types, with the inclusion of HS in the diet. The n-6/n-3 ratio is significantly reduced p < 0.01 , and there is a significant reduction p < 0.01 in saturated fatty acids only for the 30% HS treatment, indicating a more favorable fatty acid composition. Cholesterol levels remain largely unaffected by HS inclusion, except for the 10% HS group, which shows a significant decrease p < 0.05 . Moreover, hepatic tocopherol levels are significantly elevated p < 0.01 in subjects receiving the HS diet, with the 30% HS group exhibiting the highest tocopherol content. In summary, incorporating HS into the diet up to 30% appears to offer promising benefits for hepatic lipid composition, particularly in terms of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, the n-6/n-3 ratio, and tocopherol levels, while having minimal impact on cholesterol levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In commercial poultry farming, respiratory diseases cause high morbidities and mortalities, begetting colossal economic losses. Without empirical evidence, early observations led to the supposition that birds in general, and poultry in particular, have weak innate and adaptive pulmonary defences and are therefore highly susceptible to injury by pathogens. Recent findings have, however, shown that birds possess notably efficient pulmonary defences that include: (i) a structurally complex three‐tiered airway arrangement with aerodynamically intricate air‐flow dynamics that provide efficient filtration of inhaled air; (ii) a specialised airway mucosal lining that comprises air‐filtering (ciliated) cells and various resident phagocytic cells such as surface and tissue macrophages, dendritic cells and lymphocytes; (iii) an exceptionally efficient mucociliary escalator system that efficiently removes trapped foreign agents; (iv) phagocytotic atrial and infundibular epithelial cells; (v) phagocytically competent surface macrophages that destroy pathogens and injurious particulates; (vi) pulmonary intravascular macrophages that protect the lung from the vascular side; and (vii) proficiently phagocytic pulmonary extravasated erythrocytes. Additionally, the avian respiratory system rapidly translocates phagocytic cells onto the respiratory surface, ostensibly from the subepithelial space and the circulatory system: the mobilised cells complement the surface macrophages in destroying foreign agents. Further studies are needed to determine whether the posited weak defence of the avian respiratory system is a global avian feature or is exclusive to poultry. This review argues that any inadequacies of pulmonary defences in poultry may have derived from exacting genetic manipulation(s) for traits such as rapid weight gain from efficient conversion of food into meat and eggs and the harsh environmental conditions and severe husbandry operations in modern poultry farming. To reduce pulmonary diseases and their severity, greater effort must be directed at establishment of optimal poultry housing conditions and use of more humane husbandry practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of gelatin coatings (2% and 4%) containing chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs; 1% and 2%), in combination with calcium‐alginate coatings (CA; 2%), on quality attributes and shelf life of chicken breast meat were evaluated at 4°C for 12 days. The results indicated that double‐active gelatin–calcium alginate coatings had significant (p <.05) effects on moisture and protein content. Incorporation of ChNPs into double gelatin‐CA coatings led to significant reduction (p <.05) in TBARS, pH, and TVB‐N values at the end of storage. The counts of total viable count (TVC), coliforms, yeasts, and molds were significantly (p <.05) lower in all coated samples, particularly in treated samples by 4% gelatin containing 2% ChNPs + 2% CA coatings (6.85, 6.78, and 5.91 log CFU/g, respectively, compared with 8.35, 8.76, and 7.71 log CFU/g in control) at the end of keeping time. The results of sensory attributes showed that the coated samples had higher overall acceptability scores compared with the untreated samples. A synergistic relationship between the concentrations of gelatin and ChNPs was observed in maintaining the quality characteristics of meat samples during storage. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the performance of double gelatin coating containing ChNPs in combination with CA coating in the storage quality improvement of chicken breast meat stored for 12 days at 4 °C to develop novel and practical coatings for meat and meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Lateral root (LR) positioning and development rely on the dynamic interplay between auxin production, transport but also inactivation. Nonetheless, how the latter affects LR organogenesis remains largely uninvestigated.Here, we systematically analyze the impact of the major auxin inactivation pathway defined by GRETCHEN HAGEN3‐type (GH3) auxin conjugating enzymes and DIOXYGENASE FOR AUXIN OXIDATION1 (DAO1) in all stages of LR development using reporters, genetics and inhibitors in Arabidopsis thaliana.Our data demonstrate that the gh3.1/2/3/4/5/6 hextuple (gh3hex) mutants display a higher LR density due to increased LR initiation and faster LR developmental progression, acting epistatically over dao1‐1. Grafting and local inhibitor applications reveal that root and shoot GH3 activities control LR formation. The faster LR development in gh3hex is associated with GH3 expression domains in and around developing LRs. The increase in LR initiation is associated with accelerated auxin response oscillations coinciding with increases in apical meristem size and LR cap cell death rates.Our research reveals how GH3‐mediated auxin inactivation attenuates LR development. Local GH3 expression in LR primordia attenuates development and emergence, whereas GH3 effects on pre‐initiation stages are indirect, by modulating meristem activities that in turn coordinate root growth with LR spacing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Sphodroxia maroccana Ley is a pest of cork oak crops that damages the roots of seedlings and can severely impair cork oak regeneration. Since the banning of carbosulfan and chlorpyriphos, which were widely used against the larvae of Sphodroxia maroccana because of their harmful impact on the environment, until now there has been no pesticide against these pests. Therefore, it is particularly urgent to develop highly effective insecticidal molecules with novel scaffolds. Isoxazolines are a class of insecticides that act on γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐gated chloride channel allosteric modulators. In this work, a green synthesis of novel 3,5‐disubstituted isoxazoline‐sulfonamide derivatives was achieved in water via ultrasound‐assisted four‐component reactions, and their insecticidal activities against fourth‐instar larvae of S. maroccana were evaluated. RESULTS: Most of the tested compounds showed insecticidal activity compared to fluralaner as positive control and commercially available insecticide. Especially, the isoxazoline‐secondary sulfonamides containing halogens (Br and Cl) on the phenyl group attached to the isoxazoline, 6g (LC50 = 0.31 mg/mL), 6j (LC50 = 0.38 mg/mL), 6k (LC50 = 0.18 mg/mL), 6L (LC50 = 0.49 mg/mL), 6m (LC50 = 0.24 mg/mL), 6q (LC50 = 0.46 mg/mL), exhibited much higher larvicidal activity than fluralaner (LC50 = 0.99 mg/mL). CONCLUSION: Novel isoxazolines containing sulfonamide moieties were designed, synthesized and confirmed by two single‐crystal structures of 4e and 6q. Their bioassay results showed significant larvicidal activity with significant morphological changes in vivo. These results will lay the foundation for the further discovery and development of isoxazoline‐sulfonamide derivatives as novel crop protection larvicides of cork oak. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a field of computer science that involves the development of programs designed to replicate human cognitive processes and the analysis of complex data. In dermatology, which is predominantly a visual‐based diagnostic field, AI has become increasingly important in improving professional processes, particularly in the diagnosis of psoriasis. In this review, we summarized current AI applications in psoriasis: (i) diagnosis, including identification, classification, lesion segmentation, lesion severity and area scoring; (ii) treatment, including prediction treatment efficiency and prediction candidate drugs; (iii) management, including e‐health and preventive medicine. Key challenges and future aspects of AI in psoriasis were also discussed, in hope of providing potential directions for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food adulteration, mislabeling, and fraud, are rising global issues. Therefore, a number of precise and reliable analytical instruments and approaches have been proposed to ensure the authenticity and accurate labeling of food and food products by confirming that the constituents of foodstuffs are of the kind and quality claimed by the seller and manufacturer. Traditional techniques (e.g., genomics‐based methods) are still in use; however, emerging approaches like mass spectrometry (MS)‐based technologies are being actively developed to supplement or supersede current methods for authentication of a variety of food commodities and products. This review provides a critical assessment of recent advances in food authentication, including MS‐based metabolomics, proteomics and other approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous enantioseparation of three commonly used chiral antifungal pesticides (diniconazole, hexaconazole, and imazalil) was first studied based on micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with hydroxypropyl-γ-CD (HP-γ-CD) as chiral selector. In this study, the importance of experimental parameters such as chiral selector type and concentration, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration, the ratio of methanol, and separation voltage in optimizing were investigated. The simultaneous enantioseparation of diniconazole, hexaconazole, and imazalil was successfully achieved in 30 mM borate buffer (pH 9.0) containing 10 mM HP-γ-CD and 20 mM SDS with methanol (8%) added as organic modifiers. The resolution of diniconazole, hexaconazole, and imazalil was 15.2, 2.12, and 2.78, respectively, and the peak efficiency (N) was over 566,825 plates/m. This study provides an alternative way to systematically separate chiral antifungal pesticides with high efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell counting and segmentation are critical tasks in biology and medicine. The traditional methods for cell counting are labor‐intensive, time‐consuming, and prone to human errors. Recently, deep learning‐based cell counting methods have become a trend, including point‐based counting methods, such as cell detection and cell density prediction, and non‐point‐based counting, such as cell number regression prediction. However, the point‐based counting method heavily relies on well‐annotated datasets, which are scarce and difficult to obtain. On the other hand, nonpoint‐based counting is less interpretable. The task of cell counting by dividing it into two subtasks is approached: cell number prediction and cell distribution prediction. To accomplish this, a deep learning network for spatial‐based super‐resolution reconstruction (SSRNet) is proposed that predicts the cell count and segments the cell distribution contour. To effectively train the model, an optimized multitask loss function (OM loss) is proposed that coordinates the training of multiple tasks. In SSRNet, a spatial‐based super‐resolution fast upsampling module (SSR‐upsampling) is proposed for feature map enhancement and one‐step upsampling, which can enlarge the deep feature map by 32 times without blurring and achieves fine‐grained detail and fast processing. SSRNet uses an optimized encoder network. Compared with the classic U‐Net, SSRNet's running memory read and write consumption is only 1/10 of that of U‐Net, and the total number of multiply and add calculations is 1/20 of that of U‐Net. Compared with the traditional sampling method, SSR‐upsampling can complete the upsampling of the entire decoder stage at one time, reducing the complexity of the network and achieving better performance. Experiments demonstrate that the method achieves state‐of‐the‐art performance in cell counting and segmentation tasks. The method achieves nonpoint‐based counting, eliminating the need for exact position annotation of each cell in the image during training. As a result, it has demonstrated excellent performance on cell counting and segmentation tasks. The code is public on GitHub (https://github.com/Roin626/SSRnet). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold‐eating rabbit is a traditional Chinese delicacy made by the process of pickling and frying. To explore the relationship between the flavor of cold‐eating rabbit and the production process, this study investigated the changes of nucleotides, free amino acids, fatty acids, and volatile flavor substances in diced, marinated for 10 min, marinated for 20 min, fried for 5 min, re‐fried for 10 min, re‐fried for 15 min, re‐fried for 20 min, seasoned and fried, and in the finished product, and analyzed the changes of flavor substances in deboned rabbit at different processing stages. Results showed that the content of 5′‐inosine monophosphate (IMP) increased significantly (p <.05), indicating that the degradation pathway mainly involved IMP. In total, 17 free amino acids were detected, the contents of which increased significantly (p <.05). In addition, 27 medium‐ and long‐chain fatty acids were detected. The total concentration of free fatty acids decreased in the fresh rabbit meat‐marinated 20 min stage (p <.05), then increased in the fried 5 min–fried 20 min stage (p <.05), and finally decreased in the fried with spices–finished stage (p <.05). Seventy‐seven volatile flavor substances were detected, and the 15‐minute frying stage was key in producing the volatile flavor substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast multi-phase processes in methane hydrate bearing samples pose a challenge for quantitative micro-computed tomography study and experiment steering due to complex tomographic data analysis involving time-consuming segmentation procedures. This is because of the sample's multi-scale structure, which changes over time, low contrast between solid and fluid materials, and the large amount of data acquired during dynamic processes. Here, a hybrid approach is proposed for the automatic segmentation of tomographic data from time-resolved imaging of methane gas-hydrate formation in sandy granular media, which includes a deep-learning 3D U-Net model. To prepare a training dataset for the 3D U-Net, a technique to automate data labeling based on sample-specific information about the mineral matrix immobility and occasional fluid movement in pores is proposed. Automatic segmentation allowed for studying properties of the hydrate growth in pores, as well as dynamic processes such as incremental flow and redistribution of pore brine. Results of the quantitative analysis showed that for typical gas-hydrate stability parameters (100 bar methane pressure, 7°C temperature) the rate of formation is slow (less than 1% per hour), after which the surface area of contact between brine and gas increases, resulting in faster formation (2.5% per hour). Hydrate growth reaches the saturation point after 11 h of the experiment. Finally, the efficacy of the proposed segmentation scheme in on-the-fly automatic data analysis and experiment steering with zooming to regions of interest is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glyphosate N‐(phosphonomethyl) glycine is a widely‐used herbicide in agriculture. The anecic earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris feeds and forages for surface plant materials meaning that this species has a unique and direct exposure to agrichemicals. At the recommended product rates, significantly (F1,44 = 8.67, p =.005) higher numbers of L. terrestris middens were found in the glyphosate treated areas of an arable crop field. Laboratory feeding assays using field aged plant materials indicated that previous glyphosate treatment was a statistically significant factor affecting earthworm L. terrestris biomass (F1,12 = 5.75, p =.03). Negligible glyphosate residues were detectable, and the field aged plant materials were encrusted with fungal hyphae. This suggests that glyphosate influences the colonisation of plant material by a litter‐fungus complex which improves the food quality to earthworms. Concentrations of epoxiconazole, a fungicide, were detected in some plant materials and may influence overall food quality to earthworms. Glyphosate treatment on fresh volunteer plant leaves (unwanted crop seedlings) was not a statistically significant factor affecting earthworm L. terrestris biomass (F1,6 = 0.16, p =.92). These results indicate fungal communities influence feeding behaviours, and plant materials are a direct source of agrichemicals to anecic earthworms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between residual α‐ and β‐punicalagin in Punica granatum L.; PPE and rosmarinic acid, carnosol, and carnosic acid in Salvia eremophila (SE) with residual nitrites, biogenic amines (cadaverine, putrescine, and histamine), N‐nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), microbial counts, lipid oxidation indices, and color values in extract‐treated sausage over 14 days of storage. Sausage containing SE + nitrite 60 ppm (SSN) showed minimum levels of the residual nitrites (13.14 mg/kg), NDMA (0.74 ± 0.05 μg/kg), and biogenic amine (histamine, 1.8 mg/kg; cadaverine, 3.7 mg/kg; and putrescine, 4.3 mg/kg) due to retarded degradation rate of 285.84–216.44 mg/kg; rosmarinic acid, 41.62–33.16 mg/kg; carnosol, and 88.70–76.73 mg/kg; carnosic acid over storage time. The first‐order kinetic model fitted well for the degradation of rosmarinic acid and carnosol acid in SSN sample. TBA value remained below the threshold limit (0.32 mg kg−1) through 14 days for SSN. Second‐order and zero‐order reaction models had the best agreement with sausages' PV and TBA values, respectively. After 2 weeks of storage, E. coli and Cl. perfringenscounts in the SN120 (sausage containing 120 ppm nitrite) and SSN were significantly lower than the other samples (p <.05), with the values 2.1 and 1.5 log cfu/g for SN120 and 2.2 and 1.6 log cfu/g for SSN formulation. Conversely, oxidation indices, residual nitrites, NDMA, and biogenic amine increased in sausage samples containing PPE extracts (SPN) owing to total degradation of α‐ and β‐punicalagin during storage. The results indicated that SE can be used as potential co‐preservative by reducing the levels of required nitrite in food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed at evaluating the impact of ultrasound‐guided (US) hookwire localization of nonpalpable cervical lymphadenopathy on operating time. Design and Methods: Retrospective case control study (January 2017 and May 2021) of 26 patients with lateral nonpalpable cervical lymphadenopathy undergoing surgery with (H+) and without (H−) per operative US‐guided hook‐wire localization. Operative time (general anesthesiology onset, hookwire placement, end of surgery) and surgery‐related adverse events data were collected. Results: Mean operative time was significantly shorter in H+ group versus H− group (26 ± 16 min vs. 43 ± 22 min) (p = 0.02). Histopathological diagnosis accuracy was 100% versus 94% (H+ vs. H−, p = 0.1). No significant between group difference in surgery‐related adverse events was reported (wound healing, p = 0.162; hematomas, p = 0.498; neoplasms removal failure, p = 1). Conclusion: US‐guided hookwire localization of lateral nonpalpable cervical lymphadenopathy allowed a significant reduction in operative time, comparable histopathological diagnosis accuracy and adverse events compared with H−. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physiological systems are subject to interindividual variation encoded by genetics. Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) operate by surveying thousands of genetic variants from a substantial number of individuals and assessing their association to a trait of interest, be it a physiological variable, a molecular phenotype (e.g. gene expression), or even a disease or condition. Through a myriad of methods, GWAS downstream analyses then explore the functional consequences of each variant and attempt to ascertain a causal relationship to the phenotype of interest, as well as to delve into its links to other traits. This type of investigation allows mechanistic insights into physiological functions, pathological disturbances and shared biological processes between traits (i.e. pleiotropy). An exciting example is the discovery of a new thyroid hormone transporter (SLC17A4) and hormone metabolising enzyme (AADAT) from a GWAS on free thyroxine levels. Therefore, GWAS have substantially contributed with insights into physiology and have been shown to be useful in unveiling the genetic control underlying complex traits and pathological conditions; they will continue to do so with global collaborations and advances in genotyping technology. Finally, the increasing number of trans‐ancestry GWAS and initiatives to include ancestry diversity in genomics will boost the power for discoveries, making them also applicable to non‐European populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extra Virgin olive oils are directly obtained from olives and their quality is influenced by the oxidative process during storage as consequence the category may be penalized. Sensory attributes are crucial parameter of olive oils quality and classifications. This study evaluated the main sensorial and volatile profile of three olive oils with high medium and low content of initial total phenolic compounds (from 'Koroneiki' Blend of varieties and 'Arbequina' respectively) including quality parameters up to 15 months of storage. Results: A significant increase of peroxide index value (around 50%) and reduction of phenolic compounds level (around 60%) were observed. The sensory attributes of sweet herbaceous almond and fruity notes decreased and the majority of volatile compounds found in all olive oils were (E)‐2‐hexenal (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol 1‐penten‐3‐one and hexanal even after 15 months. The reductions of different parameters are related to initial phenolic level and samples are classified as Virgin after seven (low phenolics) nine (medium phenolics) and 11 (high phenolics) months displaying defect of rancid in distinct intensities. Conclusions: This investigation provided detailed about Brazilian olive oils useful in a global context moreover modifications of sensory and volatile compounds profile and its evolution according to the long‐time storage were established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, the effects of replacing the total milk fat by Sacha Inchi oil (SIO) at different concentrations (1.5, 2.5 and 3.5%w/w), on the physicochemical and sensory properties of stirred yogurts were investigated. Addition of SIO did not significant affect the yogurts fermentation processing, but significantly increased the pH‐value, acidity, water holding capacity and viscosity of obtained yogurts. In comparison with control samples (yogurts with ~3.3% milk fat), SIO‐functionalised yogurts displayed higher concentrations of α‐linolenic and linoleic acids (~50% and ~33% of the total fatty acids), and lower values of saturated fatty acids, omega‐6/omega‐3 ratios and atherogenic indices. Samples with 3.5% SIO showed a sensorial acceptance above of 60%, and a peroxide value of 2.14 after 21 days of storage at 4 °C. These results indicate that SIO could be used for producing yogurts with improved fatty acid profile and physicochemical and sensory properties acceptable to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored a possible role of oxytocin (OXT) for the onset and maintenance of rabbit maternal behavior by: (a) confirming that a selective oxytocin receptor antagonist (OTA) widely used in rodents selectively binds to OXT receptors (OXTR) in the rabbit brain and (b) determining the effect of daily intracerebroventricular (icv) injections of OTA to primiparous and multiparous does from gestation day 29 to lactation day 3. OTA efficiently displaced the high affinity, selective oxytocin receptor (OXTR) radioligand, 125I‐labeled ornithine vasotocin analog (125I‐OVTA), but was much less effective at displacing the selective V1a vasopressin receptor radioligand, 125I‐labeled linear vasopressin, thus showing high affinity and selectivity of OTA for rabbit OXTR as in rodents. Further, ICV OTA injections did not modify nest‐building, latency to enter the nest box, time spent nursing or the amount of milk produced, relative to vehicle‐injected does. The percentage of mothers suckling the litter was also similar between both groups, regardless of parity. Together, our results do not support a role of OXT for the initiation or maintenance of rabbit maternal behavior. Future studies are warranted to determine if OXT participates in fine‐tuning additional aspects of the maternal ethogram, for example, circadian periodicity of nursing and nest defense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enantiomers show different behaviors in interaction with the chiral environment. Due to their identical chemical structure and their wide application in various industries, such as agriculture, medicine, pesticide, food, and so forth, their separation is of great importance. Today, the term "nano" is frequently encountered in all fields. Technology and measuring devices are moving towards miniaturization, and the usage of nanomaterials in all sectors is expanding substantially. Given that scientists have recently attempted to apply miniaturized techniques known as nano‐liquid chromatography/capillary‐liquid chromatography, which were originally accomplished in 1988, as well as the widespread usage of nanomaterials for chiral resolution (back in 1989), this comprehensive study was developed. Searching the terms "nano" and "enantiomer separation" on scientific websites such as Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science yields articles that either use miniaturized instruments or apply nanomaterials as chiral selectors with a variety of chemical and electrochemical detection techniques, which are discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the five basic tastes, umami has the advantages of making the overall taste of food more harmoniously. Although various umami substances in food have been isolated and identified, in recent years, there are limit studies on the processing technology for improving food umami. Therefore, it is necessary to explore novel efficient umami improvement technologies to meet the urgentment of the food industry. This experiment was designed to study the effect of 0.1% (w/w) sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) combined with different power (0, 120, 180, 240, and 300 W) ultrasound treatment on the taste and flavor of chicken broth. Results demonstrated that the chicken broth under the power of 120 W ultrasound treatment combined with 0.1% (w/w) NaHCO3 was the most umami, and contained the largest amount of IMP. The chicken broth under the treatment of 180 W ultrasound combined with 0.1% (w/w) NaHCO3 has better flavor and sensory evaluation as the umami improved. In summary, 180 W ultrasound combined with 0.1% (w/w) NaHCO3 pretreatment is a simple and low‐cost processing technology, which is inclined to apply in industry. Practical Applications: Compared with the traditional umami improvement method, ultrasound can significantly reduce the cost of food umami‐enhancing with the characteristics of high safety, environmental protection, low operating cost, and high instantaneous efficiency. Sodium bicarbonate is an inorganic salt. Moderate intake is beneficial to the body. It can help neutralize stomach acid and supplement sodium for the body. In this study, low‐power ultrasound combined with low‐concentration of sodium bicarbonate solution was used to cook chicken soup, and the umami taste was improved to a large extent, which provided a novel method for industrial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]