Low-Temperature drying of salted cod (Gadus morhua) assisted by high power ultrasound: Kinetics and physical properties

[EN] Low-temperature convective drying could be considered an affordable alternative to conventional freeze-drying for foodstuffs. The process intensification should be based on non-thermal technologies, such as power ultrasound. Thereby, the aim of this work was to evaluate the air-borne application of power ultrasound on the low-temperature drying of salted cod. For that purpose, drying experiments were carried out at −10, 0, 10 and 20 °C on salted cod slices at 2 m/s with (AIR + US, 20.5 kW/m3) and without ultrasonic application (AIR). In the dried-salted cod, its rehydration capacity was analyzed, as were the microstructural, textural and color changes. At every temperature tested, ultrasound application increased the drying rate; thus, an average increase of 74%was observed in the effective diffusivity. AIR+US dried samples were softer and exhibited a higher rehydration capacity than AIR ones, which was linked to the microstructural changes produced by ultrasound. In addition, color changes were induced by ultrasound application. Industrial relevance: Nowadays, low-temperature convective drying represents a promising alternative for the production of high-quality dried products. However, this technology is mostly limited by the low drying rate, which retards the dehydration process and directly increases the processing costs. Power ultrasound, a nonthermal technology, represents an interesting alternative means of improving low-temperature convective drying due to the fact that acoustic (mechanical)waves may affectwater removal during dryingwith a low heating capacity. Thereby, the ultrasonically enhanced low-temperature convective drying could constitute an affordable alternative to lyophilization (or freeze-drying), which is mainly restricted to high-quality food commodities.The authors acknowledge the financial support both from the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Ref. DPI2012-37466-C03-03) and Carmen Cambra S.L. for their technical support with the selection of the raw material. Cesar Ozuna was the recipient of a fellowship from the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for his research stay in Aalesund University College.Ozuna López, C.; Cárcel Carrión, JA.; Walde, PM.; García Pérez, JV. (2014). Low-Temperature drying of salted cod (Gadus morhua) assisted by high power ultrasound: Kinetics and physical properties. Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies. 23:146-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifset.2014.03.008S1461552

Molecular Monitoring after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation and Preemptive Rituximab Treatment of Molecular Relapse; Results from the Nordic Mantle Cell Lymphoma Studies (MCL2 and MCL3) with Median Follow-Up of 8.5 Years

The main objectives of the present study were to monitor minimal residual disease (MRD) in the bone marrow of patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) to predict clinical relapse and guide preemptive treatment with rituximab. Among the patients enrolled in 2 prospective trials by the Nordic Lymphoma Group, 183 who had completed autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and in whom an MRD marker had been obtained were included in our analysis. Fresh samples of bone marrow were analyzed for MRD by a combined standard nested and quantitative real-time PCR assay for Bcl-1/immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IgH) and clonal IgH rear-rangements. Significantly shorter progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was demonstrated for patients who were MRD positive pre-ASCT (54 patients) or in the first analysis post-ASCT (23 patients). The median PFS was only 20 months in those who were MRD-positive in the first sample post-ASCT, compared with 142 months in the MRD-negative group (PPeer reviewe

Enhancement of myeloma development mediated though myeloma cell-Th2 cell interactions after microbial antigen presentation by myeloma cells and DCs

Microbial agents are regarded as a potential cause of tumors, but their direct effects on tumors, such as myeloma, are not well studied. Our studies demonstrated that expression of HLA-DR and CD40 on the myeloma cell membrane surface is upregulated by interferon-γ and/or microbial antigens (Ags). Unlike prior studies, our study showed that Th2 cells cannot promote myeloma growth directly. However, Bacillus Calmette–Guerin Vaccine (BCGV)-specific Th2 cells stimulated by BCGV-loaded dendritic cells (DCs) promoted myeloma clonogenicity directly when the myeloma cells expressed major histocompatibility complex Class-II molecules (MHC-II) and took up BCGV Ag. B-cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl-6) protein expression and the proportion of HLA-DR+ or CD40+ cells were higher in colonies of Th2 cell-stimulated myeloma cells. Furthermore, anti-HLA-DR or neutralizing CD40 antibody could prevent this increase in Bcl-6 expression and colony number. These results indicate that microbes and microbial Ag-specific Th2 cells may directly impact the biology of myeloma and contribute to tumor progression. Activation may be limited to MHC-II+ myeloma cells that retain B cell and stem cell characteristics. Taken together, our data suggest that factors involved in microbial Ag presentation, such as DCs, Th2 cells and so on, are potential targets for myeloma therapeutic intervention

Dysregulated Recruitment of the Histone Methyltransferase EZH2 to the Class II Transactivator (CIITA) Promoter IV in Breast Cancer Cells

One mechanism frequently utilized by tumor cells to escape immune system recognition and elimination is suppression of cell surface expression of Major Histocompatibility Class II (MHC II) molecules. Expression of MHC II is regulated primarily at the level of transcription by the Class II Transactivator, CIITA, and decreased CIITA expression is observed in multiple tumor types. We investigate here contributions of epigenetic modifications to transcriptional silencing of CIITA in variants of the human breast cancer cell line MDA MB 435. Significant increases in histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation upon IFN-γ stimulation correlate with reductions in transcription factor recruitment to the interferon-γ inducible CIITA promoter, CIITApIV, and with significantly increased CIITApIV occupancy by the histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). Most compelling is evidence that decreased expression of EZH2 in MDA MB 435 variants results in significant increases in CIITA and HLA-DRA mRNA expression, even in the absence of interferon-γ stimulation, as well as increased cell surface expression of MHC II. Together, these data add mechanistic insight to prior observations of increased EZH2 expression and decreased CIITA expression in multiple tumor types

15-year follow-up of the Second Nordic Mantle Cell Lymphoma trial (MCL2) : prolonged remissions without survival plateau

In recent decades, the prognosis of Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) has been significantly improved by intensified first-line regimens containing cytarabine, rituximab and consolidation with high-dose-therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. One such strategy is the Nordic MCL2 regimen, developed by the Nordic Lymphoma Group. We here present the 15-year updated results of the Nordic MCL2 study after a median follow-up of 114years: For all patients on an intent-to-treat basis, the median overall and progression-free survival was 127 and 85years, respectively. The MCL International Prognostic Index (MIPI), biological MIPI, including Ki67 expression (MIPI-B) and the MIPI-B including mIR-18b expression (MIPI-B-miR), in particular, significantly divided patients into distinct risk groups. Despite very long response durations of the low and intermediate risk groups, we observed a continuous pattern of relapse and the survival curves never reached a plateau. In conclusion, despite half of the patients being still alive and 40% in first remission after more than 12years, we still see an excess disease-related mortality, even among patients experiencing long remissions. Even though we consider the Nordic regimen as a very good choice of regimen, we recommend inclusion in prospective studies to explore the benefit of novel agents in the frontline treatment of MCL.Peer reviewe

Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing Systems for ROV Control Systems

The use of ROVs has increased in the last decades and today advanced underwater vehicles are used in a wide array of oshore, military and scientific applications. To further improve the usefulness of ROVs modern control systems, such as DP systems, are employed to decrease the strain on the ROV operator and perform tasks faster, safer and cheaper. These control systems are implemented using computers, and as such are vulnerable to software and hardware malfunctions. To prevent these errors from occurring, and minimizing the effect of them if they do occur, thorough testing is necessary. This thesis will addresses the uses of Hardware-in-the-Loop testing of Dynamic Positioning systems and other control systems found in ROVs. The different functions of HIL testing and how it can help reduce cost and development time while improving safety compared to more traditional software testing will be discussed. The thesis also gives a short introduction to relevant topics such as Dynamic Positioning systems and how modern software implementations make control systems vulnerable.The mathematical models for ROVs, sensors and other relevant parts of a simulation system is presented, as well as the structure and characteristics of the current systems being used at NTNU.Improvements to the existing HIL system is performed, and such features as Software-in-the-Loop testing, sensor noise, umbilical forces and model uncertainty is implemented. In addition there are several improvements the user interfaces.A sea trial using the R/V Gunnerus and ROV Minerva were performed, and the results logged from the cruise are used to compare the results from simulations to real life data. This is done to evaluate how good results from a HIL simulator can be, and to predict weaknesses and suggest further improvements in the current HIL system

Quality of salted cod (Gadus morhua L.) as influenced by raw material and salt composition

Hva påvirker kvaliteten på saltfisk? Saltfiskens lukt, farge, konsistens og smak bestemmer kvaliteten. Dersom torsken blir dødsstiv samtidig med at saltet strømmer inn i fiskekjøttet, oppnår man et lavere vektutbytte, vann- og saltinnhold på sluttproduktet. Fisken bør derfor saltes etter dødsstivheten for å oppnå et høyt vektutbytte. Ønsker man å minimere proteintapet fra salteprosessen og få en høy lyshet på sluttproduktet, bør fisken derimot saltes før dødsstivheten inntrer. Økt kalsium- og magnesiuminnhold samt lav pH i saltet, gir et hvitere og mer fast ferdigprodukt samt et lavere proteintap fra prosessen. Torskefilet har et høyt innhold av flerumettede fettsyrer, og er derfor spesielt utsatt for harskning og fargeendringer ved salting. Det er påvist at torskens muskel-pH (surhet) etter slakting, har betydning for evnen til å motvirke misfarging av ferdigproduktet i nærvær av kopper. Lav muskel-pH ga større misfarging samt lavere vanninnhold i fullsaltet muskel enn høy muskel-pH før salting. Kopper og jern er metaller som naturlig forekommer i fiskekjøtt, salt og drikkevann. Kopper-ioner framskynder harskning i fullsaltet torsk og gir kraftigere gul misfarging av ferdigproduktet sammenlignet med jern. Enverdig kopper er mer harskningsfremmende enn toverdig kopper. For å unngå harskning, er det vanlig å bruke antioksidanter i framstillingsprosessen. Når mer enn 0.1% natriumaskorbat blir tilsatt saltlaken, forhindrer den kopper i å fremme harskning av torskemuskelen. Antioksidantene sitronsyre og EDTA ble også undersøkt, men kun ved lav konsentrasjon sammen med kopper i saltlaken. EDTA var en effektiv antioksidant, mens sitronsyre derimot fremmet harskning i fullsaltet torsk. Doktorgradsarbeidet ble finansiert av næringsmiddelprogrammet ved Norges forskningsråd i perioden 1997-2001

En kartlegging av samhandling og kommunikasjonen mellom kommunen og spesialisthelsetjenesten relatert til sårbehandling

Sammendrag Hensikten med denne studien er å kartlegge kommunikasjonen og samhandlingen mellom spesialist og kommunehelsetjenesten, relatert til kroniske leggsår. Studiens problemstilling er: «Gir samhandlingen og kommunikasjonen mellom spesialist- og kommunehelsetjenesten et helhetlig tilbud for pasientene, i forhold til oppfølging av kroniske leggsår?» Dette er en kvalitativ studie der det er benyttet semistrukturerte intervjuer. Det ble utført intervjuer med sykepleiere fra ulike soner hjemmetjenesten og sykehuset i samme kommune. Det ble gjort en meningsanalyse av datamaterialet fra intervjuene. Data fra intervjuene ble analysert og brukt etter metoden fra Kvale og Brinkmann (2015). Pasienter med kroniske leggsår blir i dag behandlet både av kommunal og spesialisthelsetjenesten. Forskning viser at disse pasientene ikke alltid får den helhetlige oppfølgingen de trenger for at såret deres skal leges (15). Dette er uheldig da det koster samfunnet mye penger i sårutstyr og medfører ekstra arbeid for helsevesenet (9, 18). I tillegg kommer det menneskelige lidelser når sår til denne pasientgruppen ikke blir bedre (3, 4, 15). Universitetssykehuset ønsket å finne ut av årsakene til at samhandlingen og kommunikasjonen med kommunen ikke er optimal. Noen av informantene mente at samarbeidet gikk bra, mens majoriteten hevdet at det var problematisk og rom for forbedring på flere områder. Hovedproblemstillingene som ble avdekket i studien var ulike leverandører på sårutstyr, mangel på metoder for enkel og direkte kommunikasjon, sårprosedyrer som er vanskelig å skjønne selv for fagpersonell, mangel på kontinuitet og begrensede ressurser samt krevende arbeidsforhold for hjemmetjenesten. Dette fører til at flere pasienter med kroniske leggsår ikke får et helhetlig tilbud. Det er gjennom tiltak som utveksling av telefonnummer for enklere kommunikasjon, mer internundervisning for hjemmetjenesten angående sår, begrense ansvaret for behandlingen på færre pleiere og oppslagsverk for samsvar i sårutstyr at samarbeidet mellom spesialist- og kommunehelsetjenesten kan bli mer vellykket

Effects of antioxidants on copper induced lipid oxidation during salting of cod (Gadus morhua L.)

A model system for studying lipid oxidation of salted cod muscle was used for investigating the interaction effects of including antioxidants and copper in the brine. The results showed that ascorbate might have pro-oxidative or anti-oxidative effects depending on the ascorbate and metal concentrations. Without added copper in the brine, concentrations of ascorbate ≤500 ppm had a pro-oxidative effect. With 5 ppm copper added in the brine, low concentrations of ascorbate (≤50 ppm) inhibited the formation of TBARS in the cured product. At slightly higher concentrations (100-200 ppm), the anti-oxidative properties were lost. Above 200 ppm the ascorbate reduced the oxidation level in the salt ripened product. The application of ascorbate as an antioxidant in salt curing of cod, requires the use of high concentrations (≥1000 ppm) in the brine. When similar concentrations (0.5 mM) of EDTA, citrate or ascorbate were included with 3 ppm copper in the brine, EDTA was the only antioxidant that efficiently inhibited copper-induced lipid oxidation