1,185 research outputs found

    Predicting quality attributes of strawberry packed under modified atmosphere throughout the cold chain

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    Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) is used commercially to extend the shelf life of strawberries. The attainment of desired gas (O2, CO2) concentrations inside MAP relies on the product respiration and the mass transfer through packaging and will affect the quality. The objective of this work is to build a mathematical model for strawberries to assess the effect of the uncertainties on headspace gas concentration and quality: 1) cold chain related temperature and relative humidity variations and 2) variability associated to product respiration and quality based on literature. Weight loss was more influenced by the cold chain storage conditions (temperature and RH) whereas spoilage had similar influence of cold chain conditions and product parameters. Waste generated in the cold chain was estimated from industrial standard weight loss and spoilage thresholds. A sensitivity analysis of the stochastic MAP model showed the influence of input parameters on the quality pointing to interventions associated to a reduction of the respiration rate (e.g. modification of packaging) and reduction of water transfer (e.g. coating) may prove more successful than other interventions to which the waste generation of this product is not so sensitive to. As a conclusion this work presents a toolbox to interpret cold chain data: 1) develop mathematical models to predict fate of quality 2) simulate cold chain conditions allowing for uncertainty 3) estimate the waste generation kinetics based in quality criteria and thresholds 4) perform a sensitivity analysis to identify most sensitive technological parameters 5) identify interventions that will affect those technological parameters. Keywords: Mathematical modelling; Coating; Variability; Sensitivity analysis; Strawberr

    Stochastics theory of log-periodic patterns

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    We introduce an analytical model based on birth-death clustering processes to help understanding the empirical log-periodic corrections to power-law scaling and the finite-time singularity as reported in several domains including rupture, earthquakes, world population and financial systems. In our stochastics theory log-periodicities are a consequence of transient clusters induced by an entropy-like term that may reflect the amount of cooperative information carried by the state of a large system of different species. The clustering completion rates for the system are assumed to be given by a simple linear death process. The singularity at t_{o} is derived in terms of birth-death clustering coefficients.Comment: LaTeX, 1 ps figure - To appear J. Phys. A: Math & Ge

    Survey Data on Energy and Fuel Use of Firms in Economic Zones in the Philippines

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    The data describe characteristics, operations, utilities, and fuels used in the production of 115 manufacturing and agro-industrial firms in Philippine special economic zones. The data include information on the firm\u27s production, sales, and schedules; electricity sources, requirements, and uses; the importance of various conventional fuels, and the firms’ fuel expenditure in their major production processes. The data also include their employee\u27s aptitude, knowledge, considerations, and opinions on alternative fuels and primary energies, and experiences in using them. The data were gathered through a series of focus group discussions (FGDs) in June 2019 and an online survey conducted in August to September 2019. The data can be used in the analysis of energy consumption and expenditure of manufacturing and agro-industrial firms in the Philippines. The respondents’ knowledge of and perceptions toward adopting alternative fuels in their firms’ production processes are useful in the analysis of future energy demand

    Alternative splicing controls teneurin-3 compact dimer formation for neuronal recognition

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    Neuronal network formation is facilitated by recognition between synaptic cell adhesion molecules at the cell surface. Alternative splicing of cell adhesion molecules provides additional specificity in forming neuronal connections. For the teneurin family of cell adhesion molecules, alternative splicing of the EGF-repeats and NHL domain controls synaptic protein-protein interactions. Here we present cryo-EM structures of the compact dimeric ectodomain of two teneurin-3 isoforms that harbour the splice insert in the EGF-repeats. This dimer is stabilised by an EGF8-ABD contact between subunits. Cryo-EM reconstructions of all four splice variants, together with SAXS and negative stain EM, reveal compacted dimers for each, with variant-specific dimeric arrangements. This results in specific trans-cellular interactions, as tested in cell clustering and stripe assays. The compact conformations provide a structural basis for teneurin homo- and heterophilic interactions. Altogether, our findings demonstrate how alternative splicing results in rearrangements of the dimeric subunits, influencing neuronal recognition and likely circuit wiring.</p

    Ticagrelor Loading on ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: Interaction With Prodromal Angina on Infarct Size and Clinical Events

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    Introduction:Ticagrelor might reduce infarct size by exerting a more potent antiplatelet effect or by promoting a potential conditioning stimulus in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Pre-infarction angina (PIA) is an effective preconditioning stimulus that reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury. Because little is known on the interaction of PIA in STEMI-patients loaded with ticagrelor, we sought to determine if patients loaded with ticagrelor had improved clinical outcomes as compared to clopidogrel and to study if it is modulated by the presence of PIA. Methods:From 1272 STEMI patients submitted to primary percutaneous coronary intervention and treated with clopidogrel or ticagrelor from January 2008 to December 2018, 826 were analyzed after propensity score matching. Infarct size was estimated using peak creatine kinase (CK) and troponin T (TnT), and clinical impact was evaluated through cumulative major cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) at 1-year follow-up. Matched patients and their interaction with PIA were analyzed. Results:Patients loaded with ticagrelor had lower peak CK [1405.50 U/L (730.25-2491.00), P < .001] and TnT [3.58 ng/mL (1.73-6.59), P < .001)], regardless of PIA. The presence of PIA was associated with lower CK (P = .030), but not TnT (P = .097). There was no interaction between ticagrelor loading and PIA (P = .788 for TnT and P = .555 for CK). There was no difference in MACCE incidence between clopidogrel or ticagrelor loading (P = .129). Cumulative survival was also similar between clopidogrel or ticagrelor, regardless of PIA (P = .103). Conclusion:Ticagrelor reduced infarct sizes independently and without a synergic effect with PIA. Despite reducing infarct size, clinical outcomes were similar across both groups.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The UMIBis funded by the Foundation of Science and Technology (FCT) Portugal (UIDB/00215/2020; UIDP/00215/2020; LA/P/0064/2020)
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