An Overview of Ripening Processes

The chapter aims to address an overview of the new discoveries regarding the methods of ripening processes. The chapter presents the latest methods used in fruit and vegetable ripening processes, ripening processes in the food industry, enzymatic ripening processes, and artificial ripening processes. Nowadays everyone wants all kinds of food to be available in every season. Naturally, we find fruits and vegetables in their ripening season, but in order to provide the population with fruit out of season, we import them from different countries, which are not harvested at full maturity, and different adjuvant ripening methods are used. Processed foods are also subjected to ripening processes, the most used being cheese and meat products. These foods are some of the most valued foods nowadays, they are considered luxury products with superior nutritional and taste properties. To achieve these ripening processes, enzymatic processes or artificial ripening are also involved. The purpose of using these processes is to provide consumers with fresh out-of-season food or food with a high degree of sensory and nutritional properties, and at the same time with a superior degree of quality and safety, because the safety of the consumer comes first

Euro-limpacs Deliverable 13 (Work Package 2): Review of existing information on key taxa and functional groups relevant to the eight study catchments

The main aim of this report is to review existing information on key taxa or functional groups identified in eight study catchments; River Becva (Czeck Republic), River Vechte (Netherlands/Germany), River Dinkel (Germany), River Emån (Sweden), River Lambourn (UK), River Neajlov (Romania), River Waldaist (Austria), River Lahn (Germany), River Eder (Germany), River Orco (Italy) and River Chiusella (Italy) . Data relating to the distribution in space and time of characteristics taxa (mainly macroinvertebrates) were collated and these biological data will be used in subtasks 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5. Data sources including existing literature, other ecological studies and data collected by water authorities and other organisations were evaluated. The analyses were aimed at addressing two key questions: i) What are the relations between hydrology/hydromorphology and species composition? ii) Which species or biological parameters are good indicators of change in hydrology/hydromorphological condition

General Physico-Chemical Parameters and Nutrients (summary report)

This chapter presents the longitudinal distribution of the selected physico-chemical parameters measured in the Danube River and major tributaries during JDS3 and compares with previous outcomes from both investigative and surveillance monitoring. The ecological assessment in relation to the general physico-chemical quality standards reveals that most of the sampling sites located on the Danube River belongs to either ”high” or ”good” class, except for the dammed side arm Rackeve-Soroksar and the Iron Gates reservoir area, which fall in ”moderate” class due to the oxygen depletion. ”Moderate” class is also present in several tributaries (Morava, Tisa, Velika Morava, Jantra, Russenski Lom and Arges), caused by low oxygen saturation and dissolved nutrients forms. The comparison with the results from the JDS1 and JDS2 indicates that Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorous decreased.JRC.H.1-Water Resource

General Physico-Chemical determinands and Nutrients (full report)

This chapter contains the extended discussion and dataset on the longitudinal distribution of the selected physico-chemical parameters measured in the Danube River and major tributaries during JDS3 and compares with previous outcomes from both investigative and surveillance monitoring. The ecological assessment in relation to the general physico-chemical quality standards reveals that most of the sampling sites located on the Danube River belongs to either ”high” or ”good” class, except for the dammed side arm Rackeve-Soroksar and the Iron Gates reservoir area, which fall in ”moderate” class due to the oxygen depletion. ”Moderate” class is also present in several tributaries (Morava, Tisa, Velika Morava, Jantra, Russenski Lom and Arges), caused by low oxygen saturation and dissolved nutrients forms. The comparison with the results from the JDS1 and JDS2 indicates that Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorous decreased.JRC.H.1-Water Resource

Prevention of Deficit in Neuropsychiatric Disorders through Monitoring of Arsenic and Its Derivatives as Well as Through Bioinformatics and Cheminformatics

Neuropsychiatric disorders are induced by various risk factors, including direct exposure to environmental chemicals. Arsenic exposure induces neurodegeneration and severe psychiatric disorders, but the molecular mechanisms by which brain damage is induced are not yet elucidated. Our aim is to better understand the molecular mechanisms of arsenic toxicity in the brain and to elucidate possible ways to prevent arsenic neurotoxicity, by reviewing significant experimental, bioinformatics, and cheminformatics studies. Brain damage induced by arsenic exposure is discussed taking in account: the correlation between neuropsychiatric disorders and the presence of arsenic and its derivatives in the brain; possible molecular mechanisms by which arsenic induces disturbances of cognitive and behavioral human functions; and arsenic influence during psychiatric treatments. Additionally, we present bioinformatics and cheminformatics tools used for studying brain toxicity of arsenic and its derivatives, new nanoparticles used as arsenic delivery systems into the human body, and experimental ways to prevent arsenic contamination by its removal from water. The main aim of the present paper is to correlate bioinformatics, cheminformatics, and experimental information on the molecular mechanism of cerebral damage induced by exposure to arsenic, and to elucidate more efficient methods used to reduce its toxicity in real groundwater

Insights into the impact of manure on the environmental antibiotic residues and resistance pool.

The intensive use of antibiotics in the veterinary sector, linked to the application of manure-derived amendments in agriculture, translates into increased environmental levels of chemical residues, AR bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARG). The aim of this review was to evaluate the current evidence regarding the impact of animal farming and manure application on the antibiotic resistance pool in the environment. Several studies reported correlations between the prevalence of clinically relevant ARB and the amount and classes of antibiotics used in animal farming (high resistance rates being reported for medically important antibiotics such as penicillins, tetracyclines, sulfonamides and fluoroquinolones). However, the results are difficult to compare, due to the diversity of the used antimicrobials quantification techniques and to the different amounts and types of antibiotics, exhibiting various degradation times, given in animal feed in different countries. The soils fertilized with manure-derived products harbor a higher and chronic abundance of ARB, multiple ARG and an enriched associated mobilome, which is also sometimes seen in the crops grown on the amended soils. Different manure processing techniques have various efficiencies in the removal of antibiotic residues, ARB and ARGs, but there is only a small amount of data from commercial farms. The efficiency of sludge anaerobic digestion appears to be dependent on the microbial communities composition, the ARB/ARG and operating temperature (mesophilic vs. thermophilic conditions). Composting seems to reduce or eliminate most of antibiotics residues, enteric bacteria, ARB and different representative ARG in manure more rapidly and effectively than lagoon storage. Our review highlights that despite the body of research accumulated in the last years, there are still important knowledge gaps regarding the contribution of manure to the AMR emergence, accumulation, spread and risk of human exposure in countries with high clinical resistance rates. Land microbiome before and after manure application, efficiency of different manure treatment techniques in decreasing the AMR levels in the natural environments and along the food chain must be investigated in depth, covering different geographical regions and countries and using harmonized methodologies. The support of stakeholders is required for the development of specific best practices for prudent – cautious use of antibiotics on farm animals. The use of human reserve antibiotics in veterinary medicine and of unprescribed animal antimicrobials should be stopped and the use of antibiotics on farms must be limited. This integrated approach is needed to determine the optimal conditions for the removal of antibiotic residues, ARB and ARG, to formulate specific recommendations for livestock manure treatment, storage and handling procedures and to translate them into practical on-farm management decisions, to ultimately prevent exposure of human population

The Quantification of Salivary Flow and pH and Stomatognathic System Rehabilitation Interference in Patients with Oral Diseases, Post-Radiotherapy

Xerostomia is a common complication post-radiotherapy in patients with oral cancer. The acute and long-term side effects can considerably reduce the patient’s quality of life. The aim of our study was to perform analysis of salivary flow and pH in patients after radiotherapy. Methodology: Clinical and laboratory evaluations were conducted in the 2014–2019 period; out of a total 58 subjects aged between 45 and 84, 28 individuals with oral cancer were selected from St. Spiridon Hospital, Clinic of Maxillo-facial Surgery and Oncology Hospital, Iasi post-radiotherapy. Results: Significant downsized mean values of the hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in saliva (p < 0.001) were recorded in patients after radiotherapy, pH value = 4.580 (±1.051). The mean value of resting salivary flow (MRSF) was significantly lower for the group of patients with radiotherapy (MRSF) = 0.145 mL/min. In 89.29% of cases (25 post-radiotherapy cases), in order to perform oral complex rehabilitation treatment, several endodontic and periodontal treatments were performed. A total of 78.57% of the cases received complex oral rehabilitation as mobile or hybrid prostheses or fixed solutions. Conclusion: Understanding post-radiotherapy salivary biochemic modifications in patients with oral cancer could be of critical importance, in view of related oral disorder prevention

Advances in Percutaneous Patent Foramen Ovale Closure: From the Procedure to the Echocardiographic Guidance

Percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure by traditional, double disc occluder devices was shown to be safe for patients with PFO, and more effective than prolonged medical therapy in preventing recurrent thromboembolic events. The novel suture-mediated "deviceless" PFO closure system overcomes most of the risks and limitations associated with the traditional PFO occluders, appearing to be feasible in most interatrial septum anatomies, even if data about its long-term effectiveness and safety are still lacking. The aim of the present review was to provide to the reader the state of the art about the traditional and newer techniques of PFO closure, focusing both on the procedural aspects and on the pivotal role of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in patient's selection, peri-procedural guidance, and post-interventional follow-up