Influence of an innovative, biodegradable active packaging on the quality of sunflower oil and “pesto” sauce during storage

The aim of this research was to produce an innovative, biodegradable multilayer active packaging solution, with excellent oxygen barrier properties, to extend shelf- life of oily foods. In fact, one of the main drawbacks of biodegradable films is the low barrier they offer against external agents that can thus easily accelerate the foods degradation during shelf-life. In this study, a multilayer material obtained by the adhesion of two polylactic acid (PLA) films with cold plasma application, in place of synthetic adhesives, was realized. Moreover, cold plasma treatment was employed to immobilize the oxygen scavenger agent (ascorbic acid), chosen for the activation of the packaging material. Preliminary studies on activated PLA pouches filled with sunflower oil, used as model system, were performed. Model systems were stored at 35 ◦C to accelerate oil oxidation phenomenon and analysed for PV and colour during 64 days of storage. After that, different samples of “Genovese pesto”, were tested as real food, stored at 25 and 45 ◦C and analysed for PV, water activity, rheological parameters and microbiological loads during 41 days of storage. Obtained results showed the greater ability of the new active packaging to decrease the oxidation kinetics of “pesto”, mainly when stored at 25 ◦C. Moreover, all samples packed in the activated biodegradable pouches (both sunflower oils stored at 35 ◦C and pesto stored at 25 ◦C) showed better and more stable quality characteristics, in terms of colorimetric, microbiological and textural parameters when compared with the respective control samples. Overall obtained results highlighted the potentiality of the new biodegradable material, activated with the oxygen scavenger, to be applied successfully in food industry, to extend food products shelf-life and/or maintain high quality levels during storage

Strategic Choices for Redistribution and the Veil of Ignorance: Theory and Experimental Evidence

We provide experimental evidence on the emergence of redistributive societies. Individuals first vote on redistribution by feet and then learn their productivity and invest. We vary the individuals' information about their productivities at the time when they choose a distribution rule and find that there is more redistribution behind a veil of ignorance than under full information. However, the scope of redistribution is less sensitive towards the degree of uncertainty than predicted. For all degrees of uncertainty, we find a coexistence of libertarianism and redistribution as well as incomplete sorting, so that heterogeneous redistribution communities turn out to be sustainable

Isothiocyanate synthetic analogs: biological activities, structure-activity relationships and synthetic strategies.

Sulforaphane is a natural product that is constantly under biological investigation for its unique biological properties. This naturally occurring isothiocyanate (ITC) and its analogs are the main components of cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, watercress, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, widely used as chemopreventive agents. Due to their interesting biological profiles, natural ITCs have been exploited as starting point to develop new synthetic analogs. The present mini-review briefly highlights the most important biological actions of selected new synthetic ITCs focusing on their structure-activity relationships and related synthetic strategies

Preliminary Design of a Large Solid Angle X-ray Detector with Backscattering Geometry for High-Count-Rate Applications

We introduce an optimized geometry for an X-ray detector named ASCANIO: an innovative 16-channel SDD-based spectrometer purposefully crafted for X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) imaging in synchrotron beamlines. This novel detector adopts a backscattering configuration with a tilted SDD arrangement, achieving a solid angle of 1 sr at a 8 mm sample distance with a potential Output Count Rate exceeding 20 Mcps. With a thickness of 1 mm, the SDD ensures a good absorption efficiency of 65% at 20 keV, all while maintaining an energy resolution of 150 eV at a peaking time of 100 ns thanks to a dedicated cooling system and low-noise front-end electronics

Optimization of Solid Angle and Count Rate Capability of an X-ray Detector with Backscattering Geometry

We study here an optimized geometry for an X-ray detector with hole in the center, as key component for ASCANIO: an innovative 16-channels SDD based spectrometer specifically designed for X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) imaging in synchrotron beamlines. The detector will feature a backscattering geometry with a tilted SDD layout achieving 1 sr solid angle at 8 mm sample distance and a potential Output Count Rate higher than 20 Mcps. The 1 mm thick SDD provides 65 % absorption efficiency at 20 keV while preserving a good energy resolution better than 150 eV thanks to a dedicated cooling system and a low noise front-end electronics. In this paper, the optimization of the detector geometry, in terms of solid angle vs sample distance and maximization of the Output Count Rate introducing a tilting of the SDD units, is discussed

Optimization of Solid Angle and Count Rate Capability of an X-ray Detector with Backscattering Geometry

We study here an optimized geometry for an X-ray detector with hole in the center,as key component for ASCANIO: an innovative 16-channels SDD based spectrometer specificallydesigned for X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) imaging in synchrotron beamlines. Thedetector will feature a backscattering geometry with a tilted SDD layout achieving 1 sr solidangle at 8 mm sample distance and a potential Output Count Rate higher than 20 M cps. The1 mm thick SDD provides 65 % absorption efficiency at 20 keV while preserving a good energyresolution better than 150 eV thanks to a dedicated cooling system and a low noise front-endelectronics. In this paper, the optimization of the detector geometry, in terms of solid angle vssample distance and maximization of the Output Count Rate introducing a tilting of the SDDunits, is discussed

Development of a High Count-Rate X-ray Detector with Backscattering Geometry for Synchrotron Applications

We present the development of a new 16-channel SDD-based X-ray detector with a backscattering geometry, called ASCANIO, designed for experiments in synchrotron beamlines.The main objective of this research project, supported by DESY (Germany), is to improve the quality of X-ray Fluorescence Microscopy (XFM) experiments providing a larger throughput of events. The detection module consists of four monolithic SDDs, each with four channels, and a thickness of 1 mm to provide a high absorption efficiency of 65% at 20 keV. ASCANIO is optimised to maximise photon collection by having a solid angle of 1 sr with 8 mm between the sample and the window. To ensure count-rate capabilities higher than 20 Mcps, it implements an innovative tilted SDD geometry that provides a uniform distribution of fluorescence light among channels. The low-noise analog read-out assures good energy resolution of 129 eV with 2 μs peaking time and 175 eV with 32 ns peaking time. The development of ASCANIO will contribute to the enhancement of XFM experiments by making sample analysis more detailed and faster

High Rate SDD-Based Spectrometer for Energy-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Detection

The continuous upgrades of synchrotron light sources have been pushing the development of more performing energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometers. To cope with high-brilliance X-ray beams, fluorescence detectors must increase maximum throughput and covered solid angle, keeping ultra low noise performance to attain the required high energy resolution. In this work, we report the results of the ARDESIA-16 spectrometer based on monolithic Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) array, specifically designed to fit the requirements of synchrotron applications. ARDESIA features a finger-like geometry. Experimental results of the ARDESIA detection module showed an average energy resolution at the optimum peaking time equal to 125 eV (FWHM at Mn Kα), a maximum achieved output count rate equal to 17 Mcps and an overall solid angle covered by the detector equal to 0.4 sr. Finally, we report the X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) images measured with an ARDESIA spectrometer at synchrotron beamlines, in particular ID16A at ESRF

INFLUENCE OF AN INNOVATIVE, BIODEGRADABLE MULTILAYER ACTIVE PACKAGING ON “PESTO” SAUCE CHARACTERISTICS DURING STORAGE

Active packaging is one of the emerging technologies developed as an alternative to traditional one, to maintain and increase shelf life of foods. In this study an innovative, biodegradable multilayer active packaging, with excellent oxygen barrier properties, has been realized to extend the shelf life of “Genovese pesto” sauce. The use of biodegradable material for food packaging in fact, has been very limited because these polymers have generally poor barriers against external agents and weak mechanical properties. In this study, cold plasma treatment was employed to obtain the adhesion of two layers of polylactic acid (PLA) films, in place of synthetic adhesives, and also to immobilize ascorbic acid used as an oxygen scavenger active agent. Preliminary studies were performed on activated pouches filled with sunflower oil, used as a model system, to evaluate the performances of the new PLA packaging. Packed oil samples were stored in thermal abuse conditions at 35 °C, to accelerate oil oxidation phenomenon and analysed for peroxide value and colour during 64 days of storage. Subsequently, different samples of refrigerated “pesto”, have been packed in the new biodegradable active system, stored at 25 and 45°C and analyzed for peroxide value, water activity, textural parameters and microbiological loads at 0, 8, 14, 20, 27, 34 e 41 days. Both samples (sunflower oil stored at 35°C and pesto stored at 25°C) presented lower peroxide values and maintained more stable quality characteristics, in terms of colorimetric, microbiological and textural parameters when compared with the respective control samples, during storage. Obtained results highlighted the potentiality of the new active biodegradable material, to extend food products shelf-life and maintain high quality levels during storage