Effect of light, food additives and heat on the stability of sorghum 3-deoxyanthocyanins in model beverages.

This work aimed to evaluate the stability of sorghum 3-deoxyanthocyanins (DXA) in model beverages (pH 3.5) elaborated with crude sorghum phenolic extract, containing ascorbic acid and sulphite, under fluorescent light exposure and subjected to heat treatment. There was no significant difference in the DXA degradation during storage under light exposure (24.16%) and absence of light (20.72%). DXA degradation did not differ in the presence of ascorbic acid during storage under light exposure (23.99-25.38%) and absence of light (19.87-21.74%). The addition of sulphite caused an initial bleaching reaction, but as a reversible reaction, the anthocyanin content was higher on the last day of storage compared to the first day. There were no significant differences in total anthocyanin content of all treatments subjected to the heat treatment (80 °C for 5 and 25 min). Thus, crude DXA are very stable under light, additives and heat, and may be useful as natural food colourants

Convolutional neural network in the recognition of spatial images of sugarcane crops in the troncal region of the coast of Ecuador

This article deals with the agriculture, as part of the primary sector of the economy, includes the transformation of the natural environment through a set of actions and human intervention that allows satisfying the production mainly of food and derived raw materials. Therefore, with the high demand for products required for agricultural activity, it is necessary to implement new technologies to guarantee the quality and performance of production techniques and reduce environmental impact. In this context, precision agriculture has emerged to improve, evaluate, estimate and understand, based on the information obtained, the needs of crops. Taking into account the evolution of the methodology for processing of satellite images and the obtaining of indirect data, a classification of the characteristics of crop yield can be made. Definitely, different techniques have been applied to the processing of satellite images, but recently a current approach, both in effectiveness and speed in obtaining excellent results is the use of deep learning of the convolution of neural networks. The deep convolution of neural networks is used both in the recognition as well as in the classification of the satellite images of the sugarcane plantation in the Troncal region of the Coast of Ecuador. The experiment showed affirmative results of approximately 95% probability of recognition of crop status. © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 13th International Symposium “Intelligent Systems” (INTELS'18)

Effects of fibrolytic enzymes on ruminal fermentation and digestibility in steers fed diets with sodium bicarbonate

Effects of fibrolytic enzymes on ruminal fermentation and digestibility in steers fed diets with Sodium bicarbonate. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 38: 191-196. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (ENZ) on ruminal fermentation and disappearance in steers fed high-concentrate diets with sodium bicarbonate (SB, 3% of total diet). Six ruminally cannulated steers (450Zapotitlán15 kg) were randomly assigned to a replicate 3Zapotitlán3 Latin square. Experimental high-concentrate diets (70% concentrate DM) were as follow: control; ENZ (0.3% enzymes) and ENZ+BS (0.3% enzymes plus 3% SB). Dry matter intake, ruminal pH, ammonia N, ruminal disappearance of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber of diets were not affected by ENZ or ENZ+SB. Steers fed ENZ and ENZ+SB spent more time ruminating and resting and less time eating than steers on control diet. Ruminal pH and ammonia N concentrations in steers fed ENZ+BS were greater than in steers fed ENZ or not supplemented. There were scarce effects of fibrolytic enzymes on Ruminal disappearance and fermentation of high-concentrate diet with sodium bicarbonate for steers. Zapotitlán GSP, India

Effect of a calcified-seaweed extract as rumen buffer on ruminal disappearance and fermentation in steers

This study was conducted to evaluate the buffering effect of a calcified-seaweed extract (CSE) and its effect on ruminal disappearance and fermentation in steers. In a crossover design, 3 Holstein steers (450 15 kg body weight) fitted with permanent rumen cannula and fed diets with 30% forage and 70% concentrate were assigned to the following treatments: control (without buffer), 1% sodium bicarbonate (SB), and 0.5% CSE. Rumen pH values of steers fed CSE were higher than control and SB. However, buffers did not affect the ruminal disappearance kinetics and fermentation in steers fed diets with 30% and 70% concentrate. Further research is needed to evaluate the CSE in ruminants fed diets with a feed grain proportion greater than 70%

Effect of a calcified-seaweed extract as rumen buffer on ruminal disappearance and fermentation in steers

This study was conducted to evaluate the buffering effect of a calcified-seaweed extract (CSE) and its effect on ruminal disappearance and fermentation in steers. In a crossover design, 3 Holstein steers (450±15 kg body weight) fitted with permanent rumen cannula and fed diets with 30% forage and 70% concentrate were assigned to the following treatments: control (without buffer), 1% sodium bicarbonate (SB), and 0.5% CSE. Rumen pH values of steers fed CSE were higher than control and SB. However, buffers did not affect the ruminal disappearance kinetics and fermentation in steers fed diets with 30% and 70% concentrate. Further research is needed to evaluate the CSE in ruminants fed diets with a feed grain proportion greater than 70%

Neuropsychological alterations and neuroradiological findings in patients with post-traumatic concussion: results of a pilot study

Introduction: Mild traumatic brain injury brain injury (mTBI) has traditionally been considered to cause no significant brain damage since symptoms spontaneously remit after a few days. However, this idea is facing increasing scrutiny. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the presence of early cognitive alterations in a series of patients with mTBI and to link these findings to different markers of brain damage. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of a consecutive series of patients with mTBI who were evaluated over a 12-month period. Forty-one (3.7%) of the 1144 included patients had experienced a concussion. Patients underwent a routine clinical evaluation and a brain computed tomography (CT) scan and were also administered a standardised test for post-concussion symptoms within the first 24 h of mTBI and also 1-2 weeks later. The second assessment also included a neuropsychological test battery. The results of these studies were compared to those of a control group of 28 healthy volunteers with similar characteristics. Twenty patients underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Results: Verbal memory and learning were the cognitive functions most affected by mTBI. Seven out of the 20 patients with normal CT findings displayed structural alterations on MR images, which were compatible with diffuse axonal injury in two cases. Conclusions: Results from this pilot study suggest that early cognitive alterations and structural brain lesions affect a considerable percentage of patients with post-concussion syndrome following mTBI. Resumen: Introducción: Los traumatismos craneoencefálicos leves (TCE-L) han sido tradicionalmente considerados acontecimientos sin repercusiones cerebrales significativas, cuya sintomatología remite espontáneamente en unos días. Sin embargo, estos hechos son cada vez más cuestionados. Este estudio pretende objetivar la existencia de alteraciones cognitivas precoces en una serie de pacientes con TCE-L y relacionar los hallazgos con distintos marcadores de lesión cerebral. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo de una cohorte de pacientes con un TCE-L valorados de forma consecutiva durante 12 meses. De un total de 1.144 pacientes, se seleccionó a 41 (3,7%) que habían presentado una conmoción cerebral. Además de la valoración clínica habitual y de la práctica de una tomografía computarizada (TC) cerebral, los pacientes fueron estudiados mediante un test estandarizado para síntomas posconmocionales en las primeras 24 h después del TCE-L y al cabo de 1-2 semanas y, coincidiendo con la segunda valoración, mediante una batería neuropsicológica. Los resultados se compararon con los de un grupo de 28 voluntarios sanos de características parecidas. En 20 pacientes se practicó una resonancia magnética (RM) craneal. Resultados: En este análisis exploratorio, la memoria y el aprendizaje verbal fueron las funciones cognitivas más afectadas después del TCE-L. Siete de los 20 pacientes con TC cerebral normal presentaron alteraciones estructurales visibles por RM, que en dos casos fueron compatibles con la presencia de lesión axonal difusa. Conclusiones: Los resultados de este estudio piloto sugieren la presencia de alteraciones cognitivas precoces y lesiones cerebrales estructurales en un porcentaje no despreciable de pacientes que han presentado una conmoción cerebral recuperada después de un TCE-L. Keywords: Mild traumatic brain injury, Neuropsychological alterations, Diffuse axonal injury, Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2, Susceptibility-weighted imaging, Post-concussion syndrome, Palabras clave: Traumatismo craneoencefálico leve, Déficits neuropsicológicos, Lesión axonal difusa, Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2, Susceptibility weighted imaging, Síndrome posconmociona

Alteraciones neuropsicológicas y hallazgos neurorradiológicos en pacientes con conmoción cerebral postraumática. Resultados de un estudio piloto

Resumen: Introducción: Los traumatismos craneoencefálicos leves (TCE-L) han sido tradicionalmente considerados acontecimientos sin repercusiones cerebrales significativas, cuya sintomatología remite espontáneamente en unos días. Sin embargo, estos hechos son cada vez más cuestionados. Este estudio pretende objetivar la existencia de alteraciones cognitivas precoces en una serie de pacientes con TCE-L y relacionar los hallazgos con distintos marcadores de lesión cerebral. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo de una cohorte de pacientes con un TCE-L valorados de forma consecutiva durante 12 meses. De un total de 1.144 pacientes, se seleccionó a 41 (3,7%) que habían presentado una conmoción cerebral. Además de la valoración clínica habitual y de la práctica de una tomografía computarizada (TC) cerebral, los pacientes fueron estudiados mediante un test estandarizado para síntomas posconmocionales en las primeras 24 h después del TCE-L y al cabo de 1-2 semanas y, coincidiendo con la segunda valoración, mediante una batería neuropsicológica. Los resultados se compararon con los de un grupo de 28 voluntarios sanos de características parecidas. En 20 pacientes se practicó una resonancia magnética (RM) craneal. Resultados: En este análisis exploratorio, la memoria y el aprendizaje verbal fueron las funciones cognitivas más afectadas después del TCE-L. Siete de los 20 pacientes con TC cerebral normal presentaron alteraciones estructurales visibles por RM, que en 2 casos fueron compatibles con la presencia de lesión axonal difusa. Conclusiones: Los resultados de este estudio piloto sugieren la presencia de alteraciones cognitivas precoces y lesiones cerebrales estructurales en un porcentaje no despreciable de pacientes que han presentado una conmoción cerebral recuperada después de un TCE-L. Abstract: Introduction: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has traditionally been considered to cause no significant brain damage since symptoms spontaneously remit after a few days. However, this idea is facing increasing scrutiny. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the presence of early cognitive alterations in a series of patients with mTBI and to link these findings to different markers of brain damage. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of a consecutive series of patients with mTBI who were evaluated over a 12-month period. Forty-one (3.7%) of the 1144 included patients had experienced a concussion. Patients underwent a routine clinical evaluation and a brain computed tomography (CT) scan, and were also administered a standardised test for post-concussion symptoms within the first 24 hours of mTBI and also 1 to 2 weeks later. The second assessment also included a neuropsychological test battery. The results of these studies were compared to those of a control group of 28 healthy volunteers with similar characteristics. Twenty patients underwent an MRI scan. Results: Verbal memory and learning were the cognitive functions most affected by mTBI. Seven out of the 20 patients with normal CT findings displayed structural alterations on MR images, which were compatible with diffuse axonal injury in 2 cases. Conclusions: Results from this pilot study suggest that early cognitive alterations and structural brain lesions affect a considerable percentage of patients with post-concussion syndrome following mTBI. Palabras clave: Traumatismo craneoencefálico leve, Déficits neuropsicológicos, Lesión axonal difusa, Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2, Susceptibility weighted imaging, Síndrome posconmocional, Keywords: Mild traumatic brain injury, Neuropsychological alterations, Diffuse axonal injury, Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2, Susceptibility-weighted imaging, Post-concussion syndrom

Evaluation of teratogenicity and genotoxicity induced by kramecyne (KACY)

Kramecyne (KACY), a polymer isolated from Krameria cytisoides Cav, has anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, anti-arthritic and anti-ulcerogenic properties. As a part of standard preclinical safety tests, the present study sought to determine potential developmental toxicity (in female rats) and genotoxicity (in male mice) of KACY. Pregnant female rats were divided into six groups: the negative control (vehicle), the positive control (250 mg/kg of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)), and four experimental groups (50, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of KACY). To evaluate genotoxicity by in vivo micronuclei (MN) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) tests, male mice were divided into five groups: the negative control (vehicle), the positive control (1.5 and 2.5 mg/kg of doxorubicin for MN and SCE, respectively), and three experimental groups (50, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of KACY). All treatments were administered by oral gavage. A slight maternal toxicity was evidenced by lower weight gain for rats receiving 500 and 1000 mg/kg of KACY, but no fetal malformations were found. However, there were less live fetuses/litter and greater post-implantation loss/litter at these two doses. Manifestations of developmental toxicity were limited to a higher rate of skeletal alterations. The MN tests did not evidence genotoxicity or cytotoxicity. KACY caused a slightly but significantly increased frequency of SCE. Although KACY-treated rats had skeletal alterations, these apparently were not caused by a mechanism of genotoxicity. Furthermore, the same administration in adult male mice did not produce genotoxicity. Hence, KACY herein proved to be safe for rats during the period of organogenesis. Keywords: Kramecyne, Teratogenic study, Micronuclei, Sister chromatid exchang