Calcium and temperature effect on structural damage of hot air dried apple slices: Nonlinear irreversible thermodynamic approach and rehydration analysis

Mathematical models traditionally employed in fitting convective drying data do not use to report information about chemical and other physical changes different from the simple decrease in moisture content. In the present study, structural damage undergone by fresh and vacuum impregnated apple slices with different calcium lactate concentrations during convective drying at 30, 40 and 50 °C was analysed by applying equations derived from nonlinear irreversible thermodynamics to experimental data. According to the results obtained, vacuum impregnation with isotonic sucrose solution before drying at 30 °C provided maximum protection to cellular structure by promoting reversible deformations against irreversible breakages. On the contrary, cell walls strengthen with calcium had severe damaged during drying. Regarding air temperature, it was directly related both to the molar energy employed in deforming structures and the drying rate. These results were confirmed by analysing dried samples behaviour during further rehydration.Barrera Puigdollers, C.; Betoret Valls, N.; Betoret Valls, ME.; Fito Maupoey, P. (2016). Calcium and temperature effect on structural damage of hot air dried apple slices: Nonlinear irreversible thermodynamic approach and rehydration analysis. Journal of Food Engineering. 189:106-114. doi:10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2016.05.024S10611418

Study of the cheese salting process by dielectric properties at microwave frequencies

[EN] The salting process involves complex phenomena that affect the overall quality of cheese due to its effect on water activity and induced biochemical changes. The permittivity of cheese was analysed throughout the cheese salting treatment in order to relate it to water and salt transport. The salting treatment was carried out using 25% (wily) sodium chloride brine at 4 degrees C. The samples were immersed in a vessel containing the osmotic solution with continuous stirring, for 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 360, 480, 720, 900 and 1440 min. Samples were subsequently equilibrated in an isothermal chamber at 4 degrees C for 24 h. Mass, volume, surface water activity, moisture, ion content and permittivity were determined in fresh and salted samples. Permittivity was measured from 500 MHz to 20 GHz, using an openended coaxial probe connected to a Vector Network Analyser. The results showed that measurements at 20 GHz explain the water loss and water flux in the overall product. The state of the electrolytes in cheese can be followed using the ionic conductivity at 500 MHz. A coupled measurement of permittivity at 20 GHz and 500 MHz can predict the chemical species involved in the cheese salting process, and its structural changes. In conclusion, the measurement of permittivity in the microwave range can be used to monitor the salting cheese process. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.The authors acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad, Programa Estatal de I+D+i orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad AGL2016-80643-R. Author J. Velazquez-Varela thanks the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONACyT) of Mexico for its support. This paper was published under the frame of the European Social Fund, Human Resources Development Operational Programme 2007-2013, project no. POSDRU/159/1.5/S/132765.Velazquez-Varela, J.; Castro Giraldez, M.; Cuibus, L.; Tomás-Egea, JÁ.; Socaciu, C.; Fito Suñer, PJ. (2018). Study of the cheese salting process by dielectric properties at microwave frequencies. Journal of Food Engineering. 224:121-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2017.12.024S12112822

Particle release fromrefit operations in shipyards: Exposure, toxicity and environmental implications

European harbours are known to contribute to air quality degradation.While most of the literature focuses on emissions from stacks or logistics operations, ship refit and repair activities are also relevant aerosol sources in EU harbour areas. Main activities include abrasive removal of filler and spray painting with antifouling coatings/primers/topcoats. This work aimed to assess ultrafine particle (UFP) emissions from ship maintenance activities and their links with exposure, toxicity and health risks for humans and the aquatic environment. Aerosol emissions were monitored during mechanical abrasion of surface coatings under real-world operating conditions in two scenarios in the Mallorca harbour (Spain). Different types of UFPs were observed: (1) highly regular (triangular, hexagonal) engineered nanoparticles (Ti-, Zr-, Fe-based), embedded as nano-additives in the coatings, and (2) irregular, incidental particles emitted directly or formed during abrasion. Particle number concentrationsmonitored were in the range of industrial activities such as drilling or welding (up to 5 ∗ 105/cm3, mean diameters <30 nm). The chemical composition of PM4 aerosols was dominated by metallic tracers in the coatings (Ti, Al, Ba, Zn). In vitro toxicity of PM2 aerosols evidenced reduced cell viability and a moderate potential for cytotoxic effects. While best practices (exhaust ventilation, personal protective equipment, dust removal) were in place, it is unlikely that exposures and environmental release can be fully avoided at all times. Thus, it is advisable that health and safety protocols should be comprehensive to minimise exposures in all types of locations (near- andfar-field) and periods (activity and non-activity). Potential release to coastal surface waters of metallic engineered and incidental nanomaterials, as well as fine and coarse particles (in the case of settled dust), should be assessed and avoided

Optical and mechanical properties of cocona chips as affected by the drying process

[EN] The effect of the application of a pre-osmotic treatment to obtain hot air dried cocona(Solanum sessiliofurum Dunal) chips was studied. The drying kinetics and the optical andmechanical properties of cocona chips obtained by the combined method of osmotic dehy-dration and hot air drying (OD + HAD) and by only hot air drying (HAD) were compared.Samples were dried by hot air at 60&#9702;C. For the combined method, they were pre-dried toa moisture content of 75 gwater/100 g, immersed in a 55&#9702;Brix sucrose solution at 25&#9702;C for48 min. The pre-osmodehydration applied did not influence the subsequent hot air dryingkinetics, resulting in a final product with 0.055 ± 0.005 gwater/gcocona.The optical properties ofOD + HAD chips were more favorable, exhibiting a smaller color change with respect to thefresh fruit (±15 units) than the HAD samples (±23 units). On the other hand, the OD + HADchips presented more fracture peaks than HAD ones, this related with a structure with ahigher degree of crispness, a very desirable property for a chip product.The authors thank the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia for the financial support given throughout the Project ADSIDEO-COOPERACION 2010 "Adaptacion de procesos de secado para favorecer la comercializacion de super frutas de origen colombiano".Agudelo Sterling, CM.; Igual Ramo, M.; Talens Oliag, P.; Martínez Navarrete, N. (2015). Optical and mechanical properties of cocona chips as affected by the drying process. Food and Bioproducts Processing. 95:192-199. doi:10.1016/j.fbp.2015.05.009S1921999

Occupational risk of nano-biomaterials: Assessment of nano-enabled magnetite contrast agent using the BIORIMA Decision Support System

The assessment of the safety of nano-biomedical products for patients is an essential prerequisite for their market authorization. However, it is also required to ensure the safety of the workers who may be unintentionally exposed to the nano-biomaterials (NBMs) in these medical applications during their synthesis, formulation into products and end-of-life processing and also of the medical professionals (e.g., nurses, doctors, dentists) using the products for treating patients. There is only a handful of workplace risk assessments focussing on NBMs used in medical applications. Our goal is to contribute to increasing the knowledge in this area by assessing the occupational risks of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles coated with PLGA-b-PEG-COOH used as contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by applying the software-based Decision Support System (DSS) which was developed in the EU H2020 project BIORIMA. The occupational risk assessment was performed according to regulatory requirements and using state-of-the-art models for hazard and exposure assessment, which are part of the DSS. Exposure scenarios for each life cycle stage were developed using data from literature, inputs from partnering industries and results of a questionnaire distributed to healthcare professionals, i.e., physicians, nurses, technicians working with contrast agents for MRI. Exposure concentrations were obtained either from predictive exposure models or monitoring campaigns designed specifically for this study. Derived No-Effect Levels (DNELs) were calculated by means of the APROBA tool starting from in vivo hazard data from literature. The exposure estimates/measurements and the DNELs were used to perform probabilistic risk characterisation for the formulated exposure scenarios, including uncertainty analysis. The obtained results revealed negligible risks for workers along the life cycle of magnetite NBMs used as contrast agent for the diagnosis of tumour cells in all exposure scenarios except in one when risk is considered acceptable after the adoption of specific risk management measures. The study also demonstrated the added value of using the BIORIMA DSS for quantification and communication of occupational risks of nano-biomedical applications and the associated uncertainties

PACU JALUR DAN KEKELUARGAAN MASYARAKAT DESA PULAU KALIMANTING

The Pacu Jalur tradition, which is held once a year, was originally intended as an event to commemorate major Muslim holidays, such as Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Maulid Nabi, or the commemoration of the Hijri New Year. During the Dutch colonial period, the Pacu Jalur event was used as an activity to commemorate the birthday of Queen Wihelmina (Queen of the Netherlands). Usually held in November every year. However, after the independence of Indonesia, the Pacu Jalur festival was intended to celebrate the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia. Pacu Jalur are usually followed by local people, neighboring districts, and even participants from neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. The sense of kinship that exists in the people of Pulau Kalimanting Village comes from several activities carried out together, namely maelo jalur, racing practice, and pudding night

Conflictos sociales y mediación universitaria en el Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior

Este artículo expone los principales datos y conclusiones obtenidas en el Workshop realizado en el año 2016 entre la Universidad de Málaga y Leuven (Bélgica). La líneas de investigación se centra en los conflictos sociales que se producen en el ámbito universitario.El presente trabajo, trata de analizar los conflictos que se producen en el ámbito universitario relacionados con la implementación del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior y la nueva metodología docente derivada del mismo, que provocan disyuntivas sociales específicas. Estos conflictos, se hacen plausibles en la conciliación, el aprendizaje y el desarrollo del proceso educativo. Por un lado, con la asistencia obligatoria y la dedicación de tiempo que requiere al estudiante en la Universidad y de trabajo en casa. Por otro, por la situación devenida de los recortes en becas universitarias y la necesidad que impone esta reforma educativa de acreditación del B1 como lengua extranjera para la obtención del Título de Graduado. Estas circunstancias, construyen realidades relativas a los significados que el ámbito universitario tiene para las personas, e inciden en las oportunidades del alumnado en condiciones de igualdad en función de su situación social y personal. En el estudio, se analizan las causas y se definen los tipos de conflictos, así como su relación con la citada reforma

Particle release from refit operations in shipyards: Exposure, toxicity and environmental implications

European harbours are known to contribute to air quality degradation. While most of the literature focuses on emissions from stacks or logistics operations, ship refit and repair activities are also relevant aerosol sources in EU harbour areas. Main activities include abrasive removal of filler and spray painting with antifouling coatings/primers/topcoats. This work aimed to assess ultrafine particle (UFP) emissions from ship maintenance activities and their links with exposure, toxicity and health risks for humans and the aquatic environment. Aerosol emissions were monitored during mechanical abrasion of surface coatings under real-world operating conditions in two scenarios in the Mallorca harbour (Spain). Different types of UFPs were observed: (1) highly regular (triangular, hexagonal) engineered nanoparticles (Ti-, Zr-, Fe-based), embedded as nano-additives in the coatings, and (2) irregular, incidental particles emitted directly or formed during abrasion. Particle number concentrations monitored were in the range of industrial activities such as drilling or welding (up to 5 ∗ 105/cm3, mean diameters <30 nm). The chemical composition of PM4 aerosols was dominated by metallic tracers in the coatings (Ti, Al, Ba, Zn). In vitro toxicity of PM2 aerosols evidenced reduced cell viability and a moderate potential for cytotoxic effects. While best practices (exhaust ventilation, personal protective equipment, dust removal) were in place, it is unlikely that exposures and environmental release can be fully avoided at all times. Thus, it is advisable that health and safety protocols should be comprehensive to minimise exposures in all types of locations (near- and far-field) and periods (activity and non-activity). Potential release to coastal surface waters of metallic engineered and incidental nanomaterials, as well as fine and coarse particles (in the case of settled dust), should be assessed and avoided.This work was carried out in the framework of project IDEALPORT (RTI2018-098095-B-C21). It was also supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project CEX2018-000794-S) and by AGAUR (project 2017 SGR41). The authors gratefully acknowledge the extensive knowledge of harbour operations and on-site technical support provided by Global Yatching Group plc.Peer reviewe

Impact of Consuming Extra-Virgin Olive Oil or Nuts within a Mediterranean Diet on DNA Methylation in Peripheral White Blood Cells within the PREDIMED-Navarra Randomized Controlled Trial: A Role for Dietary Lipids

DNA methylation could be reversible and mouldable by environmental factors, such as dietary exposures. The objective was to analyse whether an intervention with two Mediterranean diets, one rich in extra-virgin olive oil (MedDiet + EVOO) and the other one in nuts (MedDiet + nuts), was influencing the methylation status of peripheral white blood cells (PWBCs) genes. A subset of 36 representative individuals were selected within the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED-Navarra) trial, with three intervention groups in high cardiovascular risk volunteers: MedDiet + EVOO, MedDiet + nuts, and a low-fat control group. Methylation was assessed at baseline and at five-year follow-up. Ingenuity pathway analysis showed routes with differentially methylated CpG sites (CpGs) related to intermediate metabolism, diabetes, inflammation, and signal transduction. Two CpGs were specifically selected: cg01081346–CPT1B/CHKB-CPT1B and cg17071192–GNAS/GNASAS, being associated with intermediate metabolism. Furthermore, cg01081346 was associated with PUFAs intake, showing a role for specific fatty acids on epigenetic modulation. Specific components of MedDiet, particularly nuts and EVOO, were able to induce methylation changes in several PWBCs genes. These changes may have potential benefits in health; especially those changes in genes related to intermediate metabolism, diabetes, inflammation and signal transduction, which may contribute to explain the role of MedDiet and fat quality on health outcomes