Fresh-Cut Fruit and Vegetables: Emerging Eco-friendly Techniques for Sanitation and Preserving Safety

The current high demand of minimally processed or fresh-cut fruit and vegetables results from the consumer’s desire for healthy, convenient, fresh, and ready-to-eat plant food-derived commodities. Fresh-cut fruits and vegetables are usually packaged under active- or passive-modified atmosphere packaging, while its shelf life must be under refrigerated conditions. The most important goal to preserve quality and safety focuses on releasing the microbial spoilage flora, since every unit operation involved will influence the final load. Sanitation in the washing step is the only unit operation able to reduce microbial load throughout the production chain. Chlorine is widely used as an efficient sanitation agent, but some disadvantages force to find eco-friendly emerging alternatives. It is necessary to deal with aspects related to sustainability because it could positively contribute to the net carbon balance besides reducing its use. Several innovative techniques seem to reach that target. However, industrial changes for replacing conventional techniques request a fine knowledge of the benefits and restrictions as well as a practical outlook. This chapter reviews the principles of emerging eco-friendly techniques for preserving quality and safety of fresh-cut products in order to meet the expected market’s demand

What did Hughes teach us about repairing surgical defects in the lower eyelid?

La reconstrucción del párpado inferior sigue siendo un reto, especialmente la reparación de defectos que abarcan más de la mitad de su superficie horizontal. El colgajo de Hughes del párpado superior ipsilateral es la técnica quirúrgica de elección para los tumores de gran tamaño del párpado inferior. Presentamos el caso de una paciente con carcinoma basocelular superficial de párpado inferior izquierdo que fue intervenida con extirpación del tumor con margen de seguridad y reparación del defecto primario mediante este colgajo. Describimos la técnica de Hughes paso a paso, sus potenciales complicaciones, así como los puntos clave en su ejecución para conseguir unos resultados satisfactorios.Lower eyelid reconstrution remains a challenge, especially the repair of defects that cover more than a half of its horizontal surface. The Hughes flap of the ipsilateral upper eyelid is the surgical technique of choice for large tumors of the lower eyelid. We present the case of a patient with superficial basal cell carcinoma of the lower left eyelid who underwent surgery with excision of the tumor with margin of safety and repair of the primary defect using this flap. We describe the Hughes technique step by step, its potential complications, as well as the key points in its execution to achieve satisfactory results

Tracing the assembly histories of galaxy clusters in the nearby universe

We have compiled a sample of 67 nearby ($z$ < 0.15) clusters of galaxies, for which on average more than 150 spectroscopic members are available, and, by applying different methods to detect substructures in their galaxy distribution, we have studied their assembly history. Our analysis confirms that substructures are present in 70% of our sample, having a significant dynamical impact in 57% of them. A classification of the assembly state of the clusters based on the dynamical significance of their substructures is proposed. In 19% of our clusters, the originally identified brightest cluster galaxy is not the central gravitationally dominant galaxy (CDG), but turns out to be either the second-rank, or the dominant galaxy of a substructure (a SDG, in our classification), or even a possible "fossil" galaxy in the periphery of the cluster. Moreover, no correlation was found in general between the projected offset of the CDG from the X-ray peak and its peculiar velocity. The comparison of the CDGs properties with the assembly states and dynamical state of the intracluster media, especially the core cooling status, suggests a complex assembly history, with clear evidence of co-evolution of the CDG and its host cluster in the innermost regions.Comment: Contains 33 pages, 12 figures, 8 tables. On the accompanying webpage ( http://www.astro.ugto.mx/recursos/HP_SCls/Top70.html ), we offer the complete set of figures describing all clusters presented in this articl

Rare Germline DICER1 Variants in Pediatric Patients With Cushing's Disease: What Is Their Role?

Context: The DICER1 syndrome is a multiple neoplasia disorder caused by germline mutations in the DICER1 gene. In DICER1 patients, aggressive congenital pituitary tumors lead to neonatal Cushing's disease (CD). The role of DICER1 in other corticotropinomas, however, remains unknown. Objective: To perform a comprehensive screening for DICER1 variants in a large cohort of CD patients, and to analyze their possible contribution to the phenotype. Design, setting, patients, and interventions: We included 192CD cases: ten young-onset (age <30 years at diagnosis) patients were studied using a next generation sequencing panel, and 182 patients (170 pediatric and 12 adults) were screened via whole-exome sequencing. In seven cases, tumor samples were analyzed by Sanger sequencing. Results: Rare germline DICER1 variants were found in seven pediatric patients with no other known disease-associated germline defects or somatic DICER1 second hits. By immunohistochemistry, DICER1 showed nuclear localization in 5/6 patients. Variant transmission from one of the parents was confirmed in 5/7 cases. One patient had a multinodular goiter; another had a family history of melanoma; no other patients had a history of neoplasms. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that DICER1 gene variants may contribute to the pathogenesis of non-syndromic corticotropinomas. Clarifying whether DICER1 loss-of-function is disease-causative or a mere disease-modifier in this setting, requires further studies.This work was supported by the Intramural Research Programs of Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and National Institute for Neurological Diseases and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, a grant from the Basque Department of Education (IT795-13), a grant from the Basque Department of Health (GV2018111082), the Merck Serono Research award from Fundacion Salud 2000 (15-EP-004) and the Jose Igea 2018 grant, sponsored by Pfizer, from Fundacion Sociedad Espanola de Endocrinologia Pediatrica (SEEP)

Neurocognitive profile of the post-COVID condition in adults in Catalonia. A mixed method prospective cohort and nested case-control study: Study Protocol

The diagnosis of the post-COVID condition is usually achieved by excluding other diseases; however, cognitive changes are often found in the post-COVID disorder. Therefore, monitoring and treating the recovery from the post-COVID condition is necessary to establish biomarkers to guide the diagnosis of symptoms, including cognitive impairment. Our study employs a prospected cohort and nested case-control design with mixed methods, including statistical analyses, interviews, and focus groups. Our main aim is to identify biomarkers (functional and structural neural changes, inflammatory and immune status, vascular and vestibular signs and symptoms) easily applied in primary care to detect cognitive changes in post-COVID cases. The results will open up a new line of research to inform diagnostic and therapeutic decisions with special considerations for cognitive impairment in the post-COVID condition

Identification and Characterization of Novel Receptor-Interacting Serine/Threonine-Protein Kinase 2 Inhibitors Using Structural Similarity Analysis.

Receptor-interacting protein kinase 2 (RIP2 or RICK, herein referred to as RIPK2) is linked to the pathogen pathway that activates nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFκB) and autophagic activation. Using molecular modeling (docking) and chemoinformatics analyses, we used the RIPK2/ponatinib crystal structure and searched in chemical databases for small molecules exerting binding interactions similar to those exerted by ponatinib. The identified RIPK2 inhibitors potently inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells by > 70% and also inhibited NFκB activity. More importantly, in vivo inhibition of intestinal and lung inflammation rodent models suggests effectiveness to resolve inflammation with low toxicity to the animals. Thus, our identified RIPK2 inhibitor may offer possible therapeutic control of inflammation in diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, cystic fibrosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and pancreatitis

Associations between eating speed, diet quality, adiposity, and cardiometabolic risk factors

Objective: To assess the associations between eating speed, adiposity, cardiometabolic risk factors, and diet quality in a cohort of Spanish preschool-children. Study design: A cross-sectional study in 1371 preschool age children (49% girls; mean age, 4.8 ± 1.0 years) from the Childhood Obesity Risk Assessment Longitudinal Study (CORALS) cohort was conducted. After exclusions, 956 participants were included in the analyses. The eating speed was estimated by summing the total minutes used in each of the 3 main meals and then categorized into slow, moderate, or fast. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were fitted to assess the β-coefficient, or OR and 95% CI, between eating speed and body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass index (FMI), blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and lipid profile. Results: Compared with participants in the slow-eating category, those in the fast-eating category had a higher prevalence risk of overweight/obesity (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.8-4.4; P < .01); larger waist circumference (β, 2.6 cm; 95% CI, 1.5-3.8 cm); and greater FMI (β, 0.3 kg/m2; 95% CI, 0.1-0.5 kg/m2), systolic blood pressure (β, 2.8 mmHg; 95% CI, 0.6-4.9 mmHg), and fasting plasma glucose levels (β, 2.7 mg/dL, 95% CI, 1.2-4.2 mg/dL) but lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet (β, −0.5 points; 95% CI, −0.9 to −0.1 points). Conclusions: Eating fast is associated with higher adiposity, certain cardiometabolic risk factors, and lower adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Further long-term and interventional studies are warranted to confirm these associations

Biochemical, physiological, and performance response of a functional watermelon juice enriched in L-citrulline during a half-marathon race

Background: Watermelon is a rich natural source of l-citrulline. This non-essential amino acid increases exercise performance. Objective: Evaluate the effect of Fashion watermelon juice enriched in l-citrulline (CWJ) (3.45 g per 500 mL) in physical performance and biochemical markers after a half-marathon race. Design: A randomised, double blind, crossover design where 2 h after drinking 500 mL of CWJ or placebo (PLA, beverage without l-citrulline) amateur male runners performed two half-marathon races. Jump height, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion were evaluated before and after the races. Moreover, muscle soreness and plasma markers of muscle damage and metabolism were evaluated for 72 h after the races. Results: Muscle soreness perception was significantly lower from 24 to 72 h after the race with CWJ beverage. Immediately after the races, runners under CWJ condition showed plasma lactate and glucose concentrations significantly lower and higher lactate dehydrogenase and l-arginine concentration than runners under PLA. A maintenance of jump heights after the races under CWJ supplementation was found, decreasing significantly with PLA. Conclusion: A single Fashion watermelon juice enriched in l-citrulline dose diminished muscle soreness perception from 24 to 72 h after the race and maintained lower concentrations of plasma lactate after an exhausting exercise.Actividad Física y Deport

The Zoning of Semi-Enclosed Bodies of Water According to the Sediment Pollution: The Bay of Algeciras as a Case Example

This paper reports a study of the occurrence and levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a bay characterised by a chronic persistent impact. A total of 55 sediment samples were taken at different depths up to 111 m in two sampling campaigns. Chemical analyses were carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The results indicate that: (1) significant spatial variations exist, (2) levels of PAHs are related more strongly to the spatial distribution of sediments than to mineralogy/granulometry, (3) the sediments are slightly-to-moderately contaminated by PAHs, and (4) these PAHs derive from pyrolytic and petrogenic sources. Through use of an innovative data classification system (proposed according to depth and spatial location of sampling points), and using factorial and cluster techniques, five zones have been differentiated depending on the contamination level and source