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This study examined three main possible effects (impact, storage temperature, and duration) that cause and extend the level of bruising and other quality attributes contributing to the deterioration of tomatoes. The impact threshold level required to cause bruising was conducted by subjecting tomato samples to a steel ball with a known mass from different drop heights (20, 40, and 60 cm). The samples were then divided and stored at 10 and 22 °C for 10 days for the further analysis of bruise area and any physiological, chemical, and nutritional changes at two day intervals. Six prediction models were constructed for the bruised area and other quality attribute changes of the tomato. Storage time, bruise area, weight loss, redness, total color change, color index, total soluble solids, and pigments content (lycopene and carotenoids) showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase with the increase of drop height (impact level) and storage temperature. After 10 days of storage, high drop impact and storage at 22 °C generated a higher reduction in firmness, lightness, yellowness, and hue° (color purity). Additionally, regression model findings showed the significant effect of storage duration, storage temperature, and drop height on the measured variables (bruise area, weight loss, firmness, redness, total soluble solids, and lycopene) at a 5% probability level with a determination coefficient (R2) ranging from 0.76 to 0.95. Bruising and other quality attributes could be reduced by reducing the temperature during storage. This study can help tomato transporters, handlers, and suppliers to understand the mechanism of bruising occurrence and how to reduce it.

Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT/A) injections are the first-line treatment for primary hemifacial spasms (HFS), but require frequent painful injections. Although micro-hypodermic needles are commonly used for aesthetic BoNT/A injections to lessen pain and bruising, their benefits in HFS remain unclear. To compare side effects of BoNT/A injection, specifically pain and bruising, between primary HFS patients who received injections using micro-hypodermic needles (34-G) and those using standard needles (30-G). This cross-over, double-blind, randomised controlled trial involved HFS patients who received BoNT/A injections using either a 34-G or 30-G needle at two visits 12 weeks apart. Primary outcomes, pain and bruising were assessed immediately after injection using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (Thai version, SF-MPQ). Bruise assessment was also conducted one week after each injection. Secondary outcomes involved comparing efficacy of BoNT/A between the two types of needles and assessing other complications beyond pain and bruising. 65 HFS patients (47 women and 18 men; mean age 59.46 ± 11.48 years; mean disease duration 5.86 ± 4.16 years) were included in the study. Patients who received 34-G needle injections reported significantly reduced pain, as indicated by VAS, total SF-MPQ scores, and bruise scores, compared to those who received 30-G needle injections (p < 0.001, each). There were no differences in efficacy or occurrence of other complications associated with BoNT/A between the two needle types. In HFS patients, BoNT/A injections using micro-hypodermic needles resulted in reduced pain and bruising, compared to standard needles, while maintaining similar BoNT/A benefits. • Pain and bruising from BoNT/A injections potentially reduce treatment adherence in HFS. • Micro-hypodermic needle (34-G) potentially causes less pain and bruising due to less area under the force-displacement curve. • This is the first crossover RCT evaluated pain, bruising and BoNT/A efficacy between 30-G and 34-G needle injections in HFS. • Patients with 34-G needle injections had significantly less pain and bruising compared to those with 30-G needle. • BoNT/A efficacy is not statistically significant between the two groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Montelukast is one of the commonly used drugs in asthma patients. It is prescribed along with inhalational corticosteroids. Although a relatively safe drug, there is a probability of occurrence of skin rashes and skin bruising. Authors present a case report of a 64-year-old chronic asthmatic woman, reporting widespread erythematous eruptions with mild skin bruising and generalized pruritus mostly affecting her lower abdomen and upper extremities. The rash appeared 28 days after introduction of montelukast (10 mg OD). The physician excluded other attributable factors such as trauma, autoimmune disorders such as Churg-Strauss syndrome, and food allergy. Reappearance of rashes after montelukast introduction and complete resolution of the skin rashes after discontinuing it confirms montelukast as offending drug. Naranjo causality assessment score also revealed a “certain/definite” relationship to the montelukast. Long-term safety of montelukast needs to be reviewed by prescribing physicians to prevent adverse reaction.

Undetected injury of horses sustained during road transport to slaughter is a welfare concern. This study evaluated digital infrared thermography (DT) for the detection of ante-mortem bruising in horses following transport to a slaughter plant. The sensitivity and specificity of DT for the detection of bruises following transport was evaluated. DT images were obtained from 93 horses (2–3 horses per load; 40 loads) at a Canadian federally approved slaughter plant. From an elevated platform 5 m from the horses, left and right lateral DT images, and one caudal pelvic area image were obtained from each horse. After slaughter the carcasses were examined for bruising (a visually discolored area on the carcass caused by damage to the blood vessels) and findings documented. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated for DT assessment of bruising. The prevalence of bruising on post mortem inspection was 54%. The DT approach to bruise detection at the region of interest level of 93 horses (n = 186 sides) resulted in a sensitivity of 42% and specificity of 79%. As the sensitivity was low, a more sensitive DT camera and allowing for a longer equilibration time for horses after transport may improve this approach to post transport assessment of subclinical injury.

Heterogeneous findings have been reported regarding the effects of anti-depressive drugs over platelet counts. Among antidepressant drugs, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) has been shown to reduce platelet aggregation. We report a patient with reduction in her platelets counts as well as bruising occurrence following three days of receiving sertraline. In patients with a history of bleeding, ITP or familial ITP, their psychiatric treatment and prescribing SSRI should be done with caution.

Unfortunately despite the great ranking of Iran for apple production around the world, the export potential is not suitable. It seems that one of the major causes of poor quality for Iranian apple varieties is bruising damage of this product. Therefore, in this study, some factors affecting the apple bruising were addressed. For this purpose, factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with 72 treatments, including variety factor in three levels (Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and Granny Smith), type of padding surface in four levels (Cardboard on plastic, wood, Rubber on steel and apple) and the drop height in six levels (5, 15, 25, 35, 45 and 55 cm) with four replications were considered. Moreover, the maximum allowable drop heights of apples along with bruising volume estimation models were studied. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that bruising area and volume were significantly affected by all experimental parameters at the 1% level. The comparison test revealed that Granny Smith has tougher tissues and is less prone to vulnerability. Based on the results of this study, the maximum allowable drop heights for the Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith varieties were found to be 12, 15 and 20 cm, respectively. In addition, the effect of apple variety on the dependent parameters was significant. Based on the findings of this study, the bruising due to the impact of apple and apple was lower for the moving apples compared with the stationary apples.

Abstract In spite of burgeoning global demand for avocados, meeting consumer expectations for fruit quality is an ongoing challenge. Flesh bruising and body rots (principally anthracnose) are the main postharvest quality defects of avocado fruit. Mechanical damage causes bruising more so in ripening fruit than in hard unripe fruit. As a result, current emphasis is on careful handling of avocado fruit during later supply chain stages. However, emerging evidence suggests mechanical injury to unripe avocado fruit may trigger body rot development. Fruit responses to impact injury and their possible relevance to the pathogenicity of fungi which cause anthracnose in avocado (i.e. various Colletotrichum species) are presented here. Research on impact-induced physiological and biochemical changes that occur in avocado fruit appears to be limited and contradictory. The pathogenicity of Colletotrichum spp. in avocado is influenced by tissue pH, lipoxygenase activity, and concentrations of reactive oxygen species, antifungal compounds, epicatechin and mineral nutrients. Understanding how these parameters change in response to impact is important for predicting disease development and providing appropriate postharvest handling advice to industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some commonly reported systemic features of joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS)/Ehlers-Danlos syndrome hypermobility type (EDS-HT) are absent from nosologies due to insufficient validity. The primary aim was to examine the hypothesised high prevalence and frequency of orthostatic intolerance, easy bruising, and urinary incontinence in adults with JHS/EDS-HT and secondarily to determine the association between extent of generalised joint hypermobility (GJH) and these systemic features. A cross-sectional cohort study was conducted via online recruitment of medically diagnosed JHS/EDS-HT patients. A survey collected demographic data and clinical history. A subgroup of participants underwent physical testing of GJH using the Beighton score and Lower Limb Assessment Score (LLAS). Descriptive analysis was performed on demographic data and self-reported non-musculoskeletal systemic features. Correlation of GJH scores and systemic features were performed using Spearman's rank correlation. The survey was completed by 116 individuals (95% female; 16-68 years) with 57 (93% female) also participating in the physical assessment. The most prevalent systemic feature was orthostatic intolerance (98%), followed by easy bruising and urinary incontinence (97% and 84% respectively). Of those reporting symptoms of orthostatic intolerance, easy bruising, and urinary incontinence, 58%, 40%, and 18% described them as very highly frequent respectively (frequency > 75%). No significant correlations were found between the extent of systemic features and GJH scores as measured by either the Beighton score or the LLAS. The high prevalence and frequency of the systemic features found in this study, which are omitted in diagnostic classification criteria, suggest that further research on their diagnostic accuracy is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To study the visibility of standardized inflicted bruises by using an alternate ('forensic') light source compared to a white light source.Methods: Bruises were inflicted on the flexor site of the forearm (halfway in the middle) in 76 adults, by suddenly allowing a cylindrical metal object (400g) with rounded edges to drop for 1m in a vertically positioned tube. At 0.25, 1, 2, 7 and 14days after this blunt force impact, the impact site on the forearm was photographed with a white light source and subsequently with an alternate light source at 415nm. Visibility of bruises on 170 randomized photographs was assessed on a calibrated monitor by 10 forensic medical specialists (physicians and pathologists) independently in two sessions: (1) with white light source photographs, and (2) after a mean of 11days with greyscale converted alternate light source photographs. Bruise visibility was expressed as a report mark between 1 (very bad) and 10 (excellent), or as 'no visible bruise'. To determine intra-rater agreement, 10 of 170 photographs were assessed twice (untold to the assessors). In total 3600 (180×10×2) photographs were assessed.Results: 39 of 73 (53%) participants who completed the study, developed a visible bruise (women more often than men, p<0.001). Inter-rater agreement between assessors was high (mean inter-class coefficient, ICC, for white light source 0.66 (SD 0.14) and for alternate light source ICC 0.73 (0.09)). Intra-rater agreement was excellent (mean ICC 0.88 (SD 0.09)). Mean report marks for bruise visibility, recorded independently by 10 assessors on 170 unique photographs per light source, were significantly higher with an alternate light source than with a white light source, at 1 and 2days after impact: 4.4 (SD 2.0) vs 3.8 (1.8) (p<0.01) and 4.9 (2.1) vs 4.5 (2.0) (p<0.05), respectively. However, these differences were small, as the mean difference (effect size) in report marks were 0.6 (0.5) and 0.4 (0.3), at 1 and 2days after impact, respectively. The other time points showed no statistical significant differences in report marks.Conclusions: Bruises after standardized blunt force impact were slightly better visible with an alternate light source than with a white light source after 1 and 2 days, but not after 0.25, 7 and 14 days. The value of using an alternate light source at 415nm to improve bruise visibility was limited in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child maltreatment is a serious public health concern in the United States. Young infants and children younger than 3 years are at the highest risk of being abused and can experience both acute injuries and long-term developmental, behavioral, and mental health problems. Health care providers are mandated reporters of suspected abuse but may misdiagnose potentially abusive injuries because of lack of knowledge in recognizing maltreatment. Premobile infants rarely have bruising or intraoral injuries without a reported accident or underlying systemic disease and should raise concern for abuse. It is not uncommon for an abused child to present with an injury that at first glance may seem trivial but is actually suspicious for physical abuse and later be found to have abusive fractures or head trauma. The following case presentations show the importance of recognizing sentinel injuries and red flags for maltreatment in young, premobile infants with unexplained bruises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A sorting task with images was used to uncover quality perceptions of apples. • Experts and consumers had similar quality perceptions regarding external appearance of apples. • Cross-cultural similarity in consumers’ quality perceptions was found. • Minor external defects had a negative impact on consumers’ quality perceptions. Abstract Apples, one of the most popular fruit worldwide, are globally traded and consumers benefit from hyper-competition in the industry. To remain profitable, producers must offer very high quality fruit at competitive prices. This research sought to better understand consumers’ quality perceptions. We focused on external appearance, a readily available quality cue. Insights were gained from a categorization task where participants sorted images of apples based on perceived quality. A comparison between experts’ (n = 37) and consumers’ (n = 297) quality perceptions based on external appearance revealed high similarity. Both groups considered fruit with minor defects as inferior to fruit with no external defects. The consumers, who represented four different countries (72–76 per country; loosely regarded as a proxy for the global population of apple consumers), perceived the quality of the apples very similarly. Three quality groupings were established, representing apples with high quality, minor defects and major defects, respectively. The last-mentioned grouping consisted of any apple that showed signs of rot or mold, or where there the skin had been cut. Blemishes and odd shapes were generally regarded as minor defects. Both types of defects were associated with negative hedonic expectations, which increased with the severity of the external defect. The implications for consumers’ purchase-related cognitions were clear and associated with rejecting consumption. This has associated implications for efforts to reduce food waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomatoes are one of the major fresh produce commodities consumed in the United States. Harvesting tomato fruit at a later stage of development can enhance consumer acceptance but can also increase damage due to bruising. Bruising can affect the quality of whole tomatoes by causing an unacceptable appearance and accelerating decay. Bruising may also facilitate bacterial attachment to the fruit surface and support growth of pathogens. This study evaluated the survival and/or proliferation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella on the surface of artificially bruised and unbruised tomatoes at three ripeness stages (breaker, pink, and red) and two storage temperatures (10 and 20°C). A total of 1,440 tomatoes, 720 for each organism, were analyzed. Both E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella counts declined significantly (P < 0.05) on the bruised and unbruised tomatoes over the 7-day storage period, by approximately 2.5 and 2.0 log, respectively. E. coli O157:H7 was not detected on pink tomatoes on day 7, whereas Salmonella persisted on the tomato surfaces throughout the 7-day study at all ripeness stages. Bruising had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on the survival of E. coli O157:H7 (CFU per tomato) compared with the unbruised tomatoes, in most cases. Tomatoes from the red ripeness stage showed a significant effect (P < 0.05) of bruising on Salmonella survival at both 10 and 20°C. Similar to the colony count results, the frequency (presence or absence) of inoculated tomatoes with detectable levels of inoculated bacteria decreased significantly (P < 0.05) over time. At the lower temperature, E. coli O157:H7 was recovered from significantly higher (P < 0.05) numbers of breaker and pink tomatoes, whereas there was no effect of temperature on the overall survival of E. coli O157:H7 on red tomatoes. Results from this study are essential for understanding the effects of bruising on produce safety and for producers and packers to develop mitigation strategies to control pathogenic and spoilage organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers’ perceptions of the quality of fresh produce at the point of purchase and point of consumption play an important role in decisions about what to buy, eat and discard. Apple images were used to assess the extent that defects (bruising, splitting, and crushing) attracted consumers’ visual attention as measured using eye tracking and related to choices to buy and to eat the apples. For an internal defect (internal browning and cavities) that is usually only evident after biting into the apples, images were used to determine whether consumers would discard a portion or all of the apple and to assess their perceived quality and sensory expectations using a RATA question. Eye-tracking demonstrated that damage to the exterior of apples and internal browning rapidly attracted consumers’ visual attention. Choice of apples with external defects at both point-of-purchase and point-of-consumption was low and ranging from 0% to 7% and 3.4 to 15.1%, respectively. Consumer decisions to discard apples with internal browning was nuanced in that (1) small amounts of browning did not lead to disposal, (2) when the relative area of browning reached 8.2% then 50% of consumers would throw away a portion of each apple, and (3) when browning was more severe (34.6% relative area) then 50% of the consumers indicated that they would throw away the whole apple. The presence of internal browning lowered consumers’ perceived quality and sensory expectations, as evidenced by the increase in RATA ratings of negative terms (e.g., disgusting, rotten, bruised, mealy ) and the lowered RATA ratings for the terms natural and healthy. From a perspective of reducing food waste, the results stress that strategies are needed to increase value perception of defective fruits to increase likely purchase and consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transporting vibration is a major cause of bruising damage in apples. The most previous studies about the bruising susceptibility of apple were conducted using the pendulum device and with a single impact. So their results for transport conditions are not accurate, because the effect of tissue fatigue (caused by cyclic loading) and apple mass have not been considered. In this study, using a vibration simulation of transportation, the effect of vibration parameters (frequency and acceleration) and fruit properties (mass, curvature radius and acoustical stiffness) on bruising susceptibility of Golden Delicious apple were investigated. The results showed that, increasing the vibration acceleration increases the bruising volume. Also increasing the vibration frequency decreased the bruising, but in higher frequencies (f ≥ 13 Hz), if the acceleration value is greater than 0.5 g, the fatigue phenomenon can reverse this trend and increasing the frequency will increase the bruising volume. Increasing the apple mass, at the acceleration of 0.5 g or more (a ≥ 0.5 g), increased the bruising volume and at accelerations of less than 0.5 g, reduced the bruising volume. Also results indicated that the apples with high acoustic stiffness and low curvature radius were more vulnerable. In conclusion, the results showed that to improve the handling of apple, arrangement of fruit in the box must be carried out carefully and we hope that findings of this research will help to achieve this goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In-field presorting of apples, in combination with the harvest aid function, would have advantages of cost savings in postharvest handling and storage, reduced postharvest pest and disease problems, and better inventory management, while also enhancing harvest productivity. A new apple harvest and in-field presorting prototype was developed to help apple growers achieve these potential benefits. The prototype sorts and grades fruit based on color and size, using a machine vision-based sorting system with an innovative fruit singulating and rotating design (SRD), and it handles the graded fruit in the bins using newly designed automatic bin fillers. Bruise damage by impact is a critical factor in the development of the apple harvest and in-field presorting prototype. This article reports on the major design features of the prototype and experimental evaluation of the prototype for potential bruise damage. Experiments were conducted on 'Gala' and 'Fuji' apples to evaluate bruise damage potential under both empty and partially filled bin conditions. An impact recording device (IRD) was used to measure the impact magnitude in terms of peak acceleration (G) at all critical points of the machine, including harvest conveyors, main conveyor, flat conveyor, SRD, cup conveyor, bin filler, and bins. It was found that bruise damage mainly occurred during bin filling. The number of impacts recorded for the partially filled bin was reduced by 60%, compared to that for the empty bin, indicating that the impact between apples and the wooden bin's floor was a major cause of bruising. The maximum G value for the partially filled bin was measured at 34.5, while the measured G values were less than 20 from start to the point just before the bin filler, indicating no bruise damage. Bruise evaluation showed that no more than 9% of the test apples would be downgraded from 'Extra Fancy' grade for the partially filled bin condition. Higher G values for the empty bin condition suggested the need for further improvement to the discharge of apples from the bin filler to the bin to further reduce bruise damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bruising can occur as a result of accidental or abusive trauma in children. Bruises are an early sign of child abuse and their locations on the body can be an effective delineator of abusive trauma. Since falls are often reported as false histories in abuse, the ability to predict potential bruising locations in falls could be valuable when attempting to differentiate between abuse and accident. In our study we used an anthropomorphic test device (ATD), a surrogate representing a 12 month old child, adapted with a custom developed force sensing skin to predict potential bruising locations during simulated bed falls. The sensing skin is made of custom resistive force sensors integrated into a conformable skin, adapted to fit the contours of the ATD. The sensing skin measured and displayed recorded force data on a computerized body image mapping system when sensors were activated. Simulated bed fall experiments were performed from two initial positions (FF - facing forward and FR - facing rearward) and two fall heights of 61cm (24 in) and 91cm (36 in) onto a padded carpet impact surface. Findings indicated potential bruising primarily in two planes of the ATD body. The majority of contact regions and greater forces were recorded in one plane, with fewer regions of contact and decreased force exhibited in an adjoining second plane. Additionally, no contact was recorded in the two planes opposite the impact planes. Differences in contact regions were observed for varying heights and initial position. Limitations of ATD biofidelity and soft tissue properties must be considered when interpreting these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuber tissue discolorations caused by impact (blackspot bruising) and enzymatic discoloration (ED) after tuber cutting are crucial quality traits of the cultivated potato. To understand the complex genetics of the traits, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis using diploid mapping population and diversity array technology (DArT) markers was performed. The phenotypic assessment included the complex evaluation of blackspot bruising susceptibility through two methods: rotating drum (BRD) and falling bolt (BFB) in combination with the evaluation of enzymatic discoloration. Because of observed in-practice relationship between bruising susceptibility and tuber starch content (TSC), analysis of starch content-corrected bruising susceptibility (SCB) was performed. QTLs for bruising were detected on chromosomes I, V with both test methods. The rotating drum method enabled the detection of additional QTLs on chromosomes VIII and XII. Analysis of SCB enabled the identification of the major QTL on chromosome V and two weaker QTLs on chromosomes VIII and XII, independently of starch content. The QTL for bruising detected on chromosome I overlapped with the most significant QTL for tuber starch content. This QTL was not significant for starch content-corrected bruising susceptibility, and the effect of the QTL on chromosome V was enhanced for this trait. The QTL analysis of ED revealed the contribution of seven QTLs for the trait, located on six chromosomes, including these detected for the first time: a major locus on chromosome V and minor QTLs on chromosomes VII and X, which were specific for the trait. The QTL for ED on chromosome VIII was co-localized with the marker for polyphenol oxidase (POT32). The phenotypic correlation between bruising and ED was confirmed in QTL analyses of both traits, and the QTLs detected for these traits overlapped on chromosomes I, V, and VIII. Our results should provide a basis for further studies on candidate genes affecting blackspot bruise susceptibility and enzymatic discoloration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fibrin sealant application in rhytidectomy has previously demonstrated a reduction in adverse events and drainage volume. Fibrin sealant offers multiple potential benefits including decreasing downtime, reducing complication rates, and improving patient satisfaction. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of ARTISS [fibrin sealant (human)] in external rhinoplasty.Methods: Nine healthy participants between the ages of 18 and 50 seeking external rhinoplasty completed this study. All subjects were randomized into control and treatment groups and then underwent external rhinoplasty, with only the treatment group receiving ARTISS [fibrin sealant (Human)] during surgery. Photographs were taken before surgery and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after surgery and used in a blinded assessment of recovery time and esthetic improvement with ecchymosis and satisfaction scales. Subject recovery time, downtime, and self-esteem were evaluated at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 6 months after surgery. Recovery time was determined by live assessment of edema and ecchymosis using categorical scales. Subject downtime was assessed through a 30-day patient diary and a downtime questionnaire. Subject self-esteem was evaluated with the Heatherton & Polivy State Self-Esteem Scale. The degree of technical ease with the product was determined by the treating investigator with a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale.Results: Patients treated with ARTISS intra-operatively reported significantly higher self-esteem 1 month and 6 months following external rhinoplasty. The ARTISS Easyspray™ Spray Set was rated as technically easy to administer.Conclusion: The use of ARTISS fibrin sealant in external rhinoplasties is a safe and easy method and may enhance patient self-esteem. Larger studies are warranted to either verify or challenge the validity of our findings.Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal welfare has been a priority in the U.S. slaughter industry for decades, and therefore, a particular emphasis has been placed on minimizing fear, stress, and discomfort in beef cattle as they are marketed through the pre-slaughter period. Still, stressors are an inherent component of this period, and little is known about the impact of these stressors on the welfare and meat quality of finished cattle in the U.S. The aim of the study was to track individual cattle throughout the pre-slaughter period to identify factors associated with key welfare and meat quality outcomes. Data were collected on 454 cattle in the winter and summer; most animals were black-hided (n = 286, 63.7%) and steers (n = 287, 63.2%). Pre-slaughter factors (e.g., distance traveled; truck waiting time; lairage density; lairage duration) were recorded for each study animal. Cattle welfare and meat quality indicators were measured on an individual animal basis. In lairage, cattle mobility was scored using the North American Meat Institute's 1-4 scale (i.e., normal to extremely reluctant to move). Exsanguination blood was collected from cattle and analyzed for lactate, cortisol, and creatine kinase. Carcass bruising was categorized as: no bruise, one bruise = the size of a deck of cards, one bruise > than the size of a deck of cards, and multiple bruises. Muscle pH was analyzed 32 to 36 hours postmortem. Aikake Information Criterion was used to assess multi-predictor models. Mobility and bruising were considered binary variables for analysis. Mixed effects linear and logistic regressions were used to analyze continuous and categorical variables, respectively. Longer truck waiting times increased cortisol (P = 0.04) and lactate (P = 0.02) concentrations. Similarly, longer lairage durations increased creatine kinase concentrations (P = 0.05) and the odds of carcass bruising (OR: 1.01, CI: 1.0007, 1.0122). Cattle allotted more lairage space had decreased odds of impaired mobility (OR: 0.83, CI: 0.73, 0.96). Compared with summer, winter was associated with decreased blood lactate [3.54 ± 0.22 vs. 7.22 ± 0.17 mmol/L (predicted mean ± SE); P < 0.0001] and reduced odds of impaired mobility (OR: 0.26, CI: 0.13, 0.51) and carcass bruising (OR: 0.48, CI: 0.30, 0.78). Muscle pH was not significantly impacted by any measured factor. These findings identify areas for improvement, such as reducing truck waiting times, shortening lairage duration, and providing cattle with more space in lairage. In addition, there may be opportunities for plants to modify their practices at times of the year when cattle may be the most susceptible to adverse welfare events (i.e., summer months). Likely, exposure to multiple stressors during the pre-slaughter period has a compounding effect on cattle welfare and meat quality, and the factors identified in this study are just a few of many important factors requiring further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fruit bruising detection is extremely challenging due to no or few visual symptoms. • We firstly give a comprehensive review of the latest progress of fruit bruise detection. • Eleven optical sensing technologies and nearly 160 literatures were reviewed. • It has important reference value for bruising study and new technique development. Bruising is a kind of subcutaneous tissue injury that does not involve the rupture of fresh fruit epidermis. This damage can occur at any stage from picking, storage and transportation, which can result in fruit deterioration and rejection by the market or consumer. It is, however, very challenging to detect bruising due to no or few visual symptoms. A lot of studies have carried out to establish a feasible methodology to achieve rapid, non-destructive and accurate detection of bruised fruit in the commercial real-time grading line. Scope and approach. This review focuses solely on the non-destructive detection for fruit bruising, involving qualitative and quantitative analysis (e.g., degree, time and volume of bruises), and provides a comprehensive summary of the latest advances in 11 optical non-destructive sensing techniques, covering basic principles, system composition, methods/algorithms, applications, challenges and trends. Key findings and conclusions. Optical sensing technologies, especially imaging, are suitable for bruising detection of fruit. HSI can evaluate the bruises with different of degrees and time periods. Both MRI and X-ray CT imaging can reconstruct 3D fruit for the quantitative analysis of bruise volume and the research of bruise mechanism. SIRI shows impressive depth discrimination and enhanced imaging ability for subcutaneous slight bruises. The fusion technology is valuable, but it needs further exploration. The advanced detection algorithms are crucial to the successfully implementation of technology. In practice, MSI, FI, TI, BSI, SIRI and fusion technologies are worth recommending for online bruise detection. In addition, the study about the mechanism of bruising formation and the postharvest behavior of fruit can help to reduce the bruising incidence of fresh fruit after harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of animal related factors on bruising in slaughter cattle, creatine kinase (CK) and beef quality. Three hundred and twenty one cattle from three breeds (108 Bonsmara, 130 Beefmaster and 83 Brahman) were used in this study. The animals were grouped as follows: Group 1 (16 months old), Group 2 (18 months old) and Group 3 (24 months old). At exsanguinations, blood samples for CK determination were collected using disposable vacutainer tubes. Muscularis longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) was collected 24 h after slaughter to determine the colour (L*, a*, and b*) and ultimate pH (pHu) of beef. Breed, sex and age had significant effects (p

Blueberries are prone to internal bruising damage during harvesting and postharvest handling. Accurate assessment of bruising damage improves profitability by allowing allocation of berries to appropriate product streams. The goal of this study was to develop a pulsed thermographic imaging system and explore its feasibility in non-destructively detecting bruised blueberries. In this paper, the design and construction of a pulsed thermographic imaging system was described. A total of 200 blueberry fruit samples from two southern highbush cultivars (Farthing and Meadowlark) were collected and bruising treatments were applied to half of the samples. Relevant features were extracted and were demonstrated to be significantly different between healthy and bruised fruit. Classification was performed using linear discriminant analysis, support vector machine, random forest, k-nearest-neighbors, and logistic regression classifiers. Accuracies of up to 88% and 79% were obtained for Farthing and Meadowlark berries, respectively. These results demonstrate the feasibility of pulsed thermography to discriminate between bruised and healthy blueberries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The extent that inherited bleeding disorders affect; number, size and location of bruises in young children <6 years.Design: Prospective, longitudinal, observational study.Setting: Community.Patients: 105 children with bleeding disorders, were compared with 328 without a bleeding disorder and classified by mobility: premobile (non-rolling/rolling over/sitting), early mobile (crawling/cruising) and walking and by disease severity: severe bleeding disorder factor VIII/IX/XI <1 IU/dL or type 3 von Willebrand disease.Interventions: Number, size and location of bruises recorded in each child weekly for up to 12 weeks.Outcomes: The interventions were compared between children with severe and mild/moderate bleeding disorders and those without bleeding disorders. Multiple collections for individual children were analysed by multilevel modelling.Results: Children with bleeding disorders had more and larger bruises, especially when premobile. Compared with premobile children without a bleeding disorder; the modelled ratio of means (95% CI) for number of bruises/collection was 31.82 (8.39 to 65.42) for severe bleeding disorders and 5.15 (1.23 to 11.17) for mild/moderate, and was 1.81 (1.13 to 2.23) for size of bruises. Children with bleeding disorders rarely had bruises on the ears, neck, cheeks, eyes or genitalia.Conclusions: Children with bleeding disorder have more and larger bruises at all developmental stages. The differences were greatest in premobile children. In this age group for children with unexplained bruising, it is essential that coagulation studies are done early to avoid the erroneous diagnosis of physical abuse when the child actually has a serious bleeding disorder, however a blood test compatible with a mild/moderate bleeding disorder cannot be assumed to be the cause of bruising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While child protection social workers (CPSWs) make decisions about which children with an injury need a medical examination, we do not know how they make these decisions. We aimed to ascertain the knowledge, attitudes and training of CPSWs in regards to assessing childhood bruising. Paediatricians' views on the bruising knowledge and training of CPSWs were also explored, as well as the relationship and communication between the two professions. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 39 CPSWs and 16 paediatricians across South Wales and South West England. Interviews were recorded and transcribed until data saturation was reached. Using NVivo, two independent assessors conducted a thematic analysis, identifying themes emerging from the data with group comparisons where appropriate. CPSWs lack confidence in assessing bruising with knowledge gaps regarding bruise patterns and the lack of evidence for ageing bruises. This appears to be linked to an almost complete lack of training. An important theme was that CPSWs regard the clinician's view as paramount, yet paediatricians feel that there is an over-expectation of what a child protection medical can conclude; this exemplified some of the communication issues between the professions. Evidence-based training of CPSWs is needed jointly by health and social care professionals, including an understanding of the respective roles. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages CPSWs lack confidence in assessing bruising characteristics associated with physical abuse, largely due to their lack of training., CPSWs' decisions to refer for medical examinations are strongly influenced by an exploration of history and key social factors, including chastisement strategies and the home environment., Paediatricians are unaware of CPSWs' training or knowledge, and thus have unrealistic expectations of their assessment of bruising characteristics., Communication between professionals could be improved by joint professional training in this area, providing current scientific evidence relating to bruises and an explicit explanation of the role of each in this assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bin filler, which is used for filling the fruit container or bin with apples coming from the sorting system, plays a critical role in the self-propelled apple harvest and in-field sorting (HIS) machine that is being developed in our laboratory. Two major technical challenges in developing the bin filler are limited space in the HIS machine and high throughput. A literature review showed that despite many different types of bin fillers currently available for in-field use, none of them is suitable for the HIS machine because of their large size, use of the bin rotating design concept, and high unit cost. Effort has thus been made on the development of new bin filling technology for use with the HIS machine. The new bin filler mainly consists of a mechanical system with a pinwheel design and an automatic control system. A key innovation in the mechanical system is the use of two foam rollers to catch freely falling apples, which has greatly simplified the bin filler design and also made the system compact and lower in cost. The control system is mainly composed of an onboard Arduino microcontroller and three sensors (one infrared sensor and two Hall effect sensors) to monitor and measure the status of apples filling the bin as well as the rotational speed of the pinwheel. A program was developed for the Arduino microcontroller to record and process the data from the sensors in real-time to achieve automatic control of the bin filling. Laboratory tests with 'Gala' apples demonstrated that 97% of apples that had been handled by the new bin filler were rated Extra Fancy grade, and its performance exceeded the industry's requirement for bruising damage to apples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of fruit postharvest losses and waste due to mechanical damage during handling is a major problem in the fresh produce industry. The objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of bruise damage susceptibility of pomegranates during harvesting, sorting, packaging, and transportation. A drop testing technique was used, as it was thought to be the most realistic simulation of what would actually happen to the pomegranate. Four different counterfaces, namely cardboard, rubber on steel (to simulate the rubber of a conveyor), wood, and methacrylate (to simulate retail polyethylene plastic bags) were used in the drop tests as impact surfaces. Results showed that the incidence to bruise damage of the pomegranates were affected by pomegranate cultivars, material counterfaces, and drop heights with Duncan’s Multiple Range test,p< 0.05. There was an approximately linear relationship between bruise volume and impact energy, with different gradients for each impact surface (Cardboard, rubber on steel, wood, and methacrylate showed a Pearson correlation of 0.989, 0.986, 0.990, and 0.993, respectively, with sig < 0.001). Based on the bruise threshold value (100 mm2), a critical drop height value for each impact material and pomegranate cultivar were estimated, in which average critical drop height value for cardboard counterface was greatest (24 cm) and for rubber on steel counterface was least (8 cm). The results obtained can be used by designers of packaging materials, processing plants, and handlers of fresh pomegranate fruits to reduce mechanical damage, especially those due to impact, and ensure good quality products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic aortic rupture is a common cause of sudden death compared with a car accident or fall. Often there are no particular symptoms, but there must be an increased sensitivity in relation to the mechanism of injury characteristics and findings of the chest showing mediastinal enlargement and raise the suspicion of injury. On suspicion of radiography, CT is a term angiography and digital aortografia less, is positive in approximately 3% of thoracic injured radiological mediastinal enlargement. The installation of intraluminal stent, initially and at a later stage, tends to have a first position relative to the open surgical repair, either as definitive treatment or as a bridge to open surgery and is the only hope of salvation injured with a torn the aortic isthmus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh blueberries are very susceptible to mechanical damage, which limits postharvest life and firmness. Softening and susceptibility of cultivars "Duke" and "Brigitta" to developing internal browning (IB) after mechanical impact and subsequent storage was evaluated during a 2-year study (2011/2012, 2012/2013). On each season fruit were carefully hand-picked, segregated into soft (<1.60 N), medium (1.61-1.80 N), and firm (1.81-2.00 N) categories, and then either were dropped (32 cm) onto a hard plastic surface or remained non-dropped. All fruit were kept under refrigerated storage (0°C and 85-88% relative humidity) to assess firmness loss and IB after 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days. In general, regardless of cultivar or season, high variability in fruit firmness was observed within each commercial harvest, and significant differences in IB and softening rates were found. "Duke" exhibited high softening rates, as well as high and significant r2 between firmness and IB, but little differences for dropped vs. non-dropped fruit. "Brigitta," having lesser firmness rates, exhibited almost no relationships between firmness and IB (especially for non-dropped fruit), but marked differences between dropping treatments. Firmness loss and IB development were related to firmness at harvest, soft and firm fruit being the most and least damaged, respectively. Soft fruit were characterized by greater IB development during storage along with high soluble solids/acid ratio, which could be used together with firmness to estimate harvest date and storage potential of fruit. Results of this work suggest that the differences in fruit quality traits at harvest could be related to the time that fruit stay on the plant after turning blue, soft fruit being more advanced in maturity. Finally, the observed differences between segregated categories reinforce the importance of analyzing fruit condition for each sorted group separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the detection of blueberry internal bruising focuses mostly on single hyperspectral imaging (HSI) systems. Attempts to fuse different HSI systems with complementary spectral ranges are still lacking. A push broom based HSI system and a liquid crystal tunable filter (LCTF) based HSI system with different sensing ranges and detectors were investigated to jointly detect blueberry internal bruising in the lab. The mean reflectance spectrum of each berry sample was extracted from the data obtained by two HSI systems respectively. The spectral data from the two spectroscopic techniques were analyzed separately using feature selection method, partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and support vector machine (SVM), and then fused with three data fusion strategies at the data level, feature level, and decision level. The three data fusion strategies achieved better classification results than using each HSI system alone. The decision level fusion integrating classification results from the two instruments with selected relevant features achieved more promising results, suggesting that the two HSI systems with complementary spectral ranges, combined with feature selection and data fusion strategies, could be used synergistically to improve blueberry internal bruising detection. This study was the first step in demonstrating the feasibility of the fusion of two HSI systems with complementary spectral ranges for detecting blueberry bruising, which could lead to a multispectral imaging system with a few selected wavelengths and an appropriate detector for bruising detection on the packing line.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Bruising is the most common complications that resulting from subcutaneous heparin injection. It causes the limitation of injection area, anxiety, disruption of body image, refusing treatment in patients and the reduction in patients trust in nurse. Although different methods were suggested to lessen these unwanted complications, unfortunately none of them could decrease these complications effectively. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of injection duration on the bruising size of subcutaneous heparin injection.METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 50 patients who were administered by subcutaneous heparin. They were hospitalized in the internal-surgical ward of Shahid Beheshti hospital in Babol, Iran. For each patient two methods of subcutaneous injection, 10 second injection (control method) and 30 second injection (experimental method) were tried on right and left deltoid muscle accidentally. The interval between two injections was 12 hours. Dimension of hands bruising and indurations were measured and compared using flexible, plastic ruler, 48and 60 hours after each injection.FINDINGS: The size of bruising caused by 30 second injection, was significantly less than 10 second injection (p=0.00). Mean of bruising size in 10 second injection at 48 and 60 hours after injection was14±19.7 and 12.26±14.38, respectively and in 30 second injection at 48 and 60 hours after injection was 9.78±17.55 and 8.02±12.98, respectively. Also, 48 and 60 hours after 30 second injection, absence of bruising, were significantly less than 10 second injection (p=0.03 and p=0.001, respectively). Comparison of bruising size based on sex, females significantly had more bruising than males (p=0.001). Furthermore, patients in internal wards compared to surgical wards had significantly bigger size of bruising (p=0.001). There wasn any significant relationship between age and bruising size.CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the increase in injection duration significantly reduced the bruising size. So in order to improve the quality of care and lessen the uncomfortable and stressful experiences of patients it is suggested to increase the duration of subcutaneous heparin injection to 30 seconds.

Introduction: A Morel-Lavallée lesion (MLL) is a closed degloving injury secondary to shearing forces. MLL is a rare, easily overlooked diagnosis, especially in those without recent trauma or fracture. Patients will present with ecchymosis, edema, fluctuance, and skin hypermobility or tightness. We present a case of pediatric MLL that was initially challenging to diagnose as the inciting trauma was 2 months before her diagnosis., Case Report: A 14-year-old girl presented with 5 days of left leg bruising, swelling, and pain. Two months prior, she collided with another softball player's cleat and developed a hairline fracture. Magnetic resonance imaging of the left lower extremity (LLE) showed a closed, soft-tissue degloving injury, and she was diagnosed with a MLL. Throughout her admission, she had improvement in her bruising but continued to have pain with ambulation that was somewhat alleviated with the use of a compression stocking. Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery and Interventional Radiology were consulted, and a conservative approach was recommended with 3 months of LLE compression., Conclusion: MLL typically occurs in patients in their 30-40s and rarely occurs in children. Identifying MLL in children is essential as children are more susceptible to shock and multi-organ damage from blunt trauma than adults. They are also more vulnerable to fractures and deep organ injuries. In the setting of MLL, children can quickly develop hypovolemic shock due to lower blood volumes and necrosis secondary to mass effect in the dead space. MLL should be included on the differential for children with trauma or a history of a shearing injury., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: Nil, (Copyright: © Indian Orthopaedic Research Group.)

The Agria potato tubers were grown in 2005 in cultivation regimes involving different irrigation and fertilisation levels and forms. The impact induced tuber damage was simulated dynamically by an impact pendulum test and studied with the aim to detect some relationship between the cultivation regimes and the type and extent of the damage. The usual bruising presented as black spots is in many cases masked by other mechanisms of damage, e.g. by tuber cracking and/or crushing. The highest degree of tuber cracking and at the same time the least frequent bruising were observed for tubers cultivated in the regime with irrigation and without fertilising. The bruising was more pronounced in the narrower tuber side in comparison to the wider flat side in all cultivation regimes. Some results could be compared with similar previous measurements performed on tubers from the same field experiment organised during three successive years 2003-2005. The flatter side parts of the Agria tubers are more sensitive to bruising than the more oblique ones. The bruise spot shape depends mainly on its dimension. The role of different cultivation regimes can be interpreted in this way.

Of 253 583 carcasses evaluated in period of january 2012 to december 2014, in partnership with the LAPBOV-UFPR and a slaughterhouse in the metropolitan region of Curitiba, estimated the annual loss of 45 tons of diseased meat, representing a monetary loss of R$ 309,00. The highest incidence of bruising occurred in the carcass from hindquarters region, resulting in even more significant economic losses contain the most valuable meat cuts in the market, while reducing the size, look and feel of courts as strip steak and top sirloin, reducing product quality. In relation to animal welfare, the results of the economic losses and carcass quality are reflections of inappropriate handling of animals before slaughter, and represented 10.3% of the evaluated carcasses containing at least one injury. The reflection of these values is impacting on the state economy, considering the 2014 slaughter throughout the state, the representative value of the loss would be an average of R$ 8.3 million each year. The impact is directed to the marketing of the product because consumers care about issues surrounding the quality of the products they consume, as the origin and animal welfare. The data collected in this study contributed to scale losses lesions in cattle carcasses, and it is possible to have a more humane preslaughter management, to ensure well-being of the animals, reducing the losses considerably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reducing patients’ pain is one of the main goals of providing clinical services, which requires nursing skill. As a simple technique, increasing the duration of subcutaneous heparin injection may affect the intensity of pain and bruising. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of increasing the heparin injection time on pain intensity and bruising associated with subcutaneous injection. Methods: The present quasi-experimental study consisted of 86 patients, admitted to our hospital, who were treated with subcutaneous heparin injection. A McGill pain intensity questionnaire was used to measure pain severity in a purposive sampling. All of the subjects received subcutaneous heparin twice for 10 seconds. They also were injected twice with heparin infusion, although it was for 30 seconds this time. The interval between the two injections was 24 h, and the intensity of the pain was measured after each injection. The Pearson correlation coefficient was measured, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the t-test were used to analyze the data. Results: Eighty patients received heparin. The body mass indexes were reported as 52 (60%) and 34 (40%) for subjects within the age range of 18.5-24.9 and 25-29.9, respectively. Regarding the mean of pain intensity, there was a significant difference between the 10 and 30 s injections (p ˂ 0.05). Additionally, there was a significant difference in bruising rates between the two methods 48 and 72 h after injection (p ˂ 0.05). The ANOVA test showed a significant association between gender and bruising (p = 0.001). Conclusion: According to the results, by elevating the duration of heparin injection, the severity of pain was reduced, and, therefore, the patients felt more comfortable. Trial Registration: The trial was registered at the Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR) with the TCTR identification of TCTR20160221001. Funding: This research was supported by the research cluster grant (88186-25/01/89) from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. The authors received no financial support for the authorship and/or publication of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High quality fruit are demanded by consumers across the globe. The presence of localized small necrotic areas within the flesh, which may or may not be visible at the surface of fruit (e.g., physiological disorders, bruises, rots), can negatively affect perception of fruit quality and consumers’ willingness to purchase/consume. Research on how consumers’ visual attention is drawn to different symptoms is lacking, but offers the potential to understand how defects influence consumers’ decision-making. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate consumers’ visual attention to defects in fruit and to evaluate the relationship between visual attention and rejection (i.e., decision not to re-purchase). Using apples as a case study, consumers ( n = 123) completed two experimental tasks involving eye-tracking technology. First, consumers completed a free-viewing task, which included apple images with different severities of three defects (internal browning, bruising and cavities). Second, they saw seven apple images with different degrees of bruising and indicated their future purchase intention. In the apple images without defects, consumers mainly fixated their gaze on the core and the seeds of the apple. However, as the degree of symptoms increased, consumers shifted their attention and fixated their gaze on the area affected by bruises or disorders. Consumers’ visual attention toward the defects, and their future rejection of purchases of apples, increased with the severity of the defects. Using survival analysis, the relative areas of bruising that corresponded to rejection by 25% and 50% of consumers was estimated as 2.3 ± 0.5% and 4.8 ± 0.7%, respectively. The present work suggests that attentional capture of fruit disorders can predict consumers’ rejection and contribute to setting quality standards. Such standards effectively guide the fruit industries in consumer-led innovation and development of production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need for management strategies to control dominant perennial weeds and restore seminatural communities. We compared the effects of five weed control treatments on dense Pteridium aquilinum relative to an untreated experimental control over an 8-year period with the aim of restoring acid grassland. The weed control treatments tested were as follows: cutting and bruising, both twice and thrice annually, and herbicide treatment (asulam in year 1 followed by annual spot retreatment of all emergent fronds). Pteridium aquilinum performance and plant species composition were monitored. Data were analysed using Bayesian mixed-effect models and multivariate techniques. Cutting twice and thrice yearly and the asulam treatment all reduced frond density to zero; both bruising treatments were ineffective. The plant communities in the cut and asulam-treated plots showed differences from the untreated and bruised plots; the asulam-treated plots contained more ruderal species and the cut plots were more typical of acid grassland. Acid grassland recovery was fastest in the asulam-treated plots, but the cut plots caught up after approximately 5 years. There were two important conclusions. First, an intractable weed like P. aquilinum can be eradicated and a vegetation more suited for grazing can be achieved by the continuous application of some treatments over many years. Here, success was achieved by cutting twice/thrice annually, or by a single asulam application followed by annual spot spraying of all emergent fronds for 8 years. Second, bruising, a treatment favoured by some conservation organisations, did not work and cannot be recommended. The use of long-term, continuously applied treatments might be considered for all perennial weeds with large underground root/rhizome systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children presenting multiple unexplained bruises can be an early sign of physical abuse. Bruising locations on the body can be an effective indicator of abusive versus accidental trauma. Additionally, childhood falls are often used as falsely reported events in child abuse, however, characterization of potential bruising locations associated with these falls does not exist. In our study we used a 12-month old pediatric anthropomorphic test device (ATD) adapted with a custom developed force sensing skin to predict potential bruising locations during rearward falls from standing. The surrogate bruising detection system measured and displayed recorded force data on a computerized body image mapping system when sensors were activated. Simulated rearward fall experiments were performed onto two different impact surfaces (padded carpet and linoleum tile over concrete) with two different initial positions (standing upright and posteriorly inclined) so that the ATD would fall rearward upon release. Findings indicated impact locations, and thus the potential for bruising in the posterior plane primarily within the occipital head and posterior torso regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND For health promotion and as part of natural plant protection, it might be of interest to increase the content of oleanolic acid ( OA) and ursolic acid ( UA) by biofortification in breeding programs, although the extent of the influence of genetic and environmental factors needs to be clarified. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of cultivar, sun exposure, storage, bruising and fungal infection on the OA and UA content in apple peel. RESULTS Three apple cultivars with different ripening times - 'Discovery' (early), 'Aroma' (middle) and 'Gloster' (late) - were investigated. The content of OA and UA was mainly influenced by cultivar and side subjected to sun exposure, and to a minor extent by storage and seasonal year. 'Gloster' had the highest OA and UA content of the investigated cultivars. OA and UA content on the shaded side was higher than that on the sun-exposed side in all three cultivars. Inoculation with Penicillium expansum did not have any consistent effect on OA or UA, except in a few cases where the levels decreased. CONCLUSION OA and UA content can be increased by choice of cultivar in the breeding process and to some extent by cultural practice.© 2015 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato variety Agria was cultivated in different fertilisation and/or irrigation regimes. Tuber damage after impact was studied two months after the harvest with aim to find some relation between the regime of cultivation and impact test tuber damage. It was found that tuber cracking and/or crushing belongs to the most frequent mechanisms of damage masking usual bruising in many cases. Most severe tuber cracking was observed for cultivation with irrigation and classical methods of fertilisation. On the other hand, bruising was most frequent in case without any irrigation and fertilisation and in cases used for fertilisation the pig slurry. In every cultivation regime the bruising was more pronounced in narrower tuber side in comparison to the wider flat side.

Potato tuber bruising was simulated by impact pendulum at temperature 7°C. Two varieties (Agria and Samantana) cultivated under five different regimes were tested one month and/or five months after harvest. The regimes of cultivation differ by fertilising and/or irrigation. The obtained black spots were measured carefully to obtain detailed shape and volume. The obtained results are discussed in relation to tuber anatomy (vascular ring), regime of cultivation and mean tuber density. It is shown that contrary to bruising in fruits the black spots had maximum diameter not close to the surface but close the vascular ring. The relation between spot volume and the mean tuber density seems to be variety dependent.

The paper is a continuation of the preceding research of bruising sensitivity applied to different pear varieties. This study was based on quasi-static fruit testing in compression between two plates. One part of the method is based on determining the hysteresis losses corresponding to the predetermined low level bruising. This paper contains an attempt to apply the hysteresis loss concept to dynamical impact tests, which are simpler and quicker then quasi-static ones. Moreover the impact tests are closer to the character of deformations that initiating the bruising process in real conditions. Nine pear varieties were tested quasi-statically by the method developed previously. The same varieties were tested also dynamically in a special pendulum with flat and round indentors. The results show that the dynamic test is less sensitive in determining the bruising susceptibility than the previous quasistatic one. Moreover the success of the dynamic test depends on the shape of the indentor. Acceptable results were obtained with a flat indentor in contrast to the round indentor. For the last modification of the indentor we obtained the results, from which it was practically impossible to determine the maximal value of the hysteresis losses at which no bruise spots were formed.

Pears of different varieties were compressed between two flat rigid plates in loading/unloading tests. The bruise spots appearing after room temperature incubation were analysed manually, and bruise spot volumes were determined. The main parts of the paper discuss mathematical approximation of total bruise volume versus two deformation parameters defined in previous papers: hysteresis losses and degree of elasticity. The polynomial of the second order was used for this purpose, but success of this method depends on including some part of not-bruising results in the analysis. Characteristic values of hysteresis losses and degree of elasticity were used to determine the bruise index, the integral parameter, that is suitable for classifying the tested varieties as to tissue susceptibility to low-level bruising. The variety susceptibility to bruising decreased in the following order: Elektra, Erika, Vonka, Lucasova, Dicolor, Dita, Omega, Jana, Lada, Astra, Bohemica, and Delta.