Sensory profile, shelf life, and dynamics of bioactive compounds during cold storage of 17 edible flowers

In this study, 17 edible flowers (Allium ursinum L., Borago officinalis L., Calendula officinalis L., Centaurea cyanus L., Cichorium intybus L., Dianthus carthusianorum L., Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Leucanthemum vulgare (Vaill.) Lam., Paeonia officinalis L., Primula veris L., Robinia pseudoacacia L., Rosa canina L., Rosa pendulina L., Salvia pratensis L., Sambucus nigra L., Taraxacum officinale Weber, and Tropaeolum majus L.) were investigated to assess their sensory profile at harvest and their shelf life and bioactive compounds dynamics during cold storage. The emerging market of edible flowers lacks this information; thus, the characteristics and requirements of different flower species were provided. In detail, a quantitative descriptive analysis was performed by trained panelists at flower harvest, evaluating 10 sensory descriptors (intensity of sweet, sour, bitter, salt, smell, specific flower aroma, and herbaceous aroma; spiciness, chewiness, and astringency). Flower visual quality, biologically active compounds content (total polyphenols and anthocyanins), and antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS assays) were evaluated both at harvest and during storage at 4 °C for 14 days to assess their shelf life. Generally, species had a wide range of peculiar sensory and phytochemical characteristics at harvest, as well as shelf life and bioactive compounds dynamics during postharvest. A strong aroma was indicated for A. ursinum, D. carthusianorum, L. angustifolia, and L. vulgare, while B. officinalis and C. officinalis had very low values for all aroma and taste descriptors, resulting in poor sensory profiles. At harvest, P. officinalis, R. canina, and R. pendulina exhibited the highest values of polyphenols (884–1271 mg of gallic acid equivalents per 100 g) and antioxidant activity (204–274 mmol Fe2+/kg for FRAP, 132–232 and 43–58 µmol of Trolox equivalent per g for DPPH and ABTS). The species with the longest shelf life in terms of acceptable visual quality was R. pendulina (14 days), followed by R. canina (10 days). All the other species lasted seven days, except for C. intybus and T. officinale that did not reach day 3. During cold storage, the content of bioactive compounds differed, as total phenolics followed a different trend according to the species and anthocyanins remained almost unaltered for 14 days. Considering antioxidant activity, ABTS values were the least variable, varying in only four species (A. ursinum, D. carthusianorum, L. angustifolia, and P. officinalis), while both DPPH and FRAP values varied in eight species. Taken together, the knowledge of sensory profiles, phytochemical characteristics and shelf life can provide information to select suitable species for the emerging edible flower market

Influence of pain location and hand dominance on scapular kinematics and EMG activities: an exploratory study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Assessment of three-dimensional kinematics and electromyography (EMG) activities is common in patients with chronic neck pain. However, the effect of hand dominance and neck pain location on the measurement of movement and EMG characteristics is still unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of neck pain location and arm dominance on the scapular kinematics and muscle EMG activities in patients with chronic neck pain.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty subjects (10 males, 20 females; mean age (sd): 38 (11.9) years) with chronic neck pain for more than 3 months were recruited. The scapular kinematics and EMG activity of the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles were measured during the bilateral arm elevation task. The three-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to examine the effect of neck pain location and hand dominance on the measurement of kinematics and EMG muscle activities.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The movement of scapular posterior tilt was significantly influenced by arm dominance (P = 0.001) and by the interaction of arm dominance and elevation angle (P = 0.002). The movement of scapular upward/downward rotation was affected by the interaction of arm dominance and elevation angle (P = 0.02). The location of pain did not show any significant influence on the scapular movement and muscle activities.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Hand dominance could have an influence on the scapular kinematics, which should be taken into consideration when describing and comparing neuromuscular characteristics in individuals with chronic neck pain.</p

Comparative study of the effect of long-term ageing on the behaviour of bitumen and mastics with mineral fillers

This paper is based on a part of the research project carried out at the request of the German Research Foundation (DFG), under research project No. WE 1642/1-2 and LE 3649/1-2 (FOR2089).This study aims to evaluate the effect of mineral fillers on bitumen ageing. Two different bitumens and four mastics were investigated in the unaged and long-term aged states, based on different properties (consistency, rheology, fatigue resistance and ductility). Mastics stiffened less due to ageing treatment than bitumens, especially with granite filler. However, the results of the performance tests were not definitive regarding the effect of the filler. Aged bitumen showed greater fatigue resistance and higher specific energy of ductile fracture than unaged bitumen, whereas the mastics showed minor variations in the specific energy of ductile fracture with ageing treatment, which is indicative of less ageing, but the fatigue resistance decreased significantly in mastics with one of the bitumens.authorsversionpublishe

Evaluación de técnicas de tinción para la observación de bandas de crecimiento en vértebras de elasmobranquios tropicales

The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of different vertebrae staining techniques for the visualization and counting of growth bands in tropical species of batoids (Narcine leoparda, Urotrygon aspidura, Hypanus longus, Potamotrygon magdalenae) and sharks (Alopias pelagicus, Carcharhinus falciformis, Sphyrna lewini, Sphyrna corona and Mustelus lunulatus). Different cutting thicknesses and staining protocols were tested, analysing the precision and bias of each combination to identify the most accurate technique for estimating age. Vertebral sections of 0.4 mm were more suitable for batoids, except for Narcine leoparda; for this species and for all the shark species assessed, sections of 0.5 mm are recommended. Different combinations of stain and exposure time were required to achieve the best visualizations of vertebral growth band pair for the shark and ray species. Intraspecific variation occurred among vertebrae size of batoids. Our results confirm the importance of defining a suitable species-specific protocol for sectioning and staining hard structures before carrying out an age and growth study to improve the reliability of the age estimates.El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la efectividad de diferentes técnicas de tinción de vértebras en la visualización y el conteo de bandas de crecimiento en especies tropicales de batoideos (Narcine leoparda, Urotrygon aspidura, Hypanus longus, Potamotrygon magdalenae) y tiburones (Alopias pelagicus, Carcharhinus falciformis, Sphyrna lewini, Sphyrna corona y Mustelus lunulatus). Se probaron diferentes espesores de corte y protocolos de tinción, analizando la precisión y el sesgo de cada combinación para identificar la técnica más precisa para estimar la edad. Las secciones vertebrales de 0,4 mm fueron más adecuadas para batoideos, excepto para Narcine leoparda; para esta especie y para todas las especies de tiburones evaluadas, se recomiendan secciones de 0,5 mm. Se identificaron diferentes combinaciones de tinción y tiempo de exposición para lograr las mejores visualizaciones de las bandas de crecimiento vertebral en las especies de tiburones y rayas. En los batoideos se identificó variación intraespecífica de acuerdo con el tamaño de las vértebras. Nuestros resultados confirman la importancia de definir un protocolo especie-específico adecuado para cortar y teñir las estructuras duras antes de realizar un estudio de edad y crecimiento y así incrementar la confiabilidad de las estimaciones de edad

Lower Neutrino Mass Bound from SN1987A Data and Quantum Geometry

A lower bound on the light neutrino mass $m_\nu$ is derived in the framework of a geometrical interpretation of quantum mechanics. Using this model and the time of flight delay data for neutrinos coming from SN1987A, we find that the neutrino masses are bounded from below by $m_\nu\gtrsim 10^{-4}-10^{-3}$eV, in agreement with the upper bound $m_\nu\lesssim$ $({\cal O}(0.1) - {\cal O} (1))$ eV currently available. When the model is applied to photons with effective mass, we obtain a lower limit on the electron density in intergalactic space that is compatible with recent baryon density measurements.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figure

Quantum Violations of the Equivalence Principle in a Modified Schwarzschild Geometry. Neutrino Oscillations

Neutrino flavour oscillations are analyzed in a model in which particles experience an effective Schwarzschild geometry modified by maximal acceleration corrections. These imply a quantum violation of the equivalence principle. The corresponding shifts in the phase of the neutrino mass eigenstates are calculated and discussed.Comment: 10 pages. Accepted by Phys. Lett.

Radiation Bursts from Particles in the Field of Compact, Impenetrable, Astrophysical Objects

The radiation emitted by charged, scalar particles in a Schwarzschild field with maximal acceleration corrections is calculated classically and in the tree approximation of quantum field theory. In both instances the particles emit radiation that has characteristics similar to those of gamma-ray bursters.Comment: 11 pages, three figure

Maximal Acceleration Effects in Reissner-Nordstrom Space

The dynamics of a relativistic particle in a Reissner-Nordstrom background is studied using Caianiello model with maximal acceleration. The behaviour of the particle, embedded in a new effective geometry, changes with respect to the classical scenario because of the formation of repulsive potential barriers near the horizon. Black hole formation by accretion of massive particles is not therefore a viable process in the model. At the same time, the naked singularity remains largely unaffected by maximal acceleration corrections.Comment: LaTex file, 5 figures, no tables, to appear in Phys. Lett.

Quantum physics in inertial and gravitational fields

Covariant generalizations of well-known wave equations predict the existence of inertial-gravitational effects for a variety of quantum systems that range from Bose-Einstein condensates to particles in accelerators. Additional effects arise in models that incorporate Born reciprocity principle and the notion of a maximal acceleration. Some specific examples are discussed in detail.Comment: 25 pages,1 figure,to appear in "Relativity in Rotating Frame