Astaxanthin profiles and corresponding colour properties in Australian farmed black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) during frozen storage

The colour of commercial cooked black tiger prawns (Penaeus monodon) is a key quality requirement to ensure product is not rejected in wholesale markets. The colour, due to the carotenoid astaxanthin, can be impacted by frozen storage, but changes in colour or astaxanthin profile, during frozen storage, have not been studied in detail. Subsequently in this study, the aims were to define the astaxanthin (as cis, trans, mono-ester and di-ester forms) content, together with the colour properties, in both pleopods (legs) and abdominal segments. Changes in astaxanthin content and colour properties were further determined during frozen storage (−20°C). Total astaxanthin content was seen to decrease in all samples over time, with the rate of degradation being significantly greater (P < 0.05) in pleopods than abdomen. In both pleopods and abdomen, rate of degradation of esterified forms was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than non-esterified forms. Hue angle (increase), a* value (decrease) and L value (increase) were all seen to significantly change (P < 0.05) during storage, with changes being more prevalent in the pleopods. The pleopods are the key indicator of astaxanthin and colour loss in cooked black tiger prawns and preservation strategies are required to preserve astaxanthin and colour during frozen storage

Fully inkjet-printed two-dimensional material field-effect heterojunctions for wearable and textile electronics.

Fully printed wearable electronics based on two-dimensional (2D) material heterojunction structures also known as heterostructures, such as field-effect transistors, require robust and reproducible printed multi-layer stacks consisting of active channel, dielectric and conductive contact layers. Solution processing of graphite and other layered materials provides low-cost inks enabling printed electronic devices, for example by inkjet printing. However, the limited quality of the 2D-material inks, the complexity of the layered arrangement, and the lack of a dielectric 2D-material ink able to operate at room temperature, under strain and after several washing cycles has impeded the fabrication of electronic devices on textile with fully printed 2D heterostructures. Here we demonstrate fully inkjet-printed 2D-material active heterostructures with graphene and hexagonal-boron nitride (h-BN) inks, and use them to fabricate all inkjet-printed flexible and washable field-effect transistors on textile, reaching a field-effect mobility of ~91 cm2 V-1 s-1, at low voltage (<5 V). This enables fully inkjet-printed electronic circuits, such as reprogrammable volatile memory cells, complementary inverters and OR logic gates

Assessing fatty acid profiles of macadamia nuts

The kernel of the macadamia nut (Macadamia integrifolia and M. tetraphylla) is very high in oil, accounting for about three -quarters of their mass. In the current investigation, oil extracts from 20 breeding accessions and 14 cultivars had a range of 12.3% to 17.0% saturated fat, averaging 14.2%. Although all samples were found to be very high in "healthy" monounsaturated fats, the level of saturated fat slightly exceeds that of many other nuts that are able to make qualified health claims. The lowest saturated fat content (12.3%) corresponded to 4.6 g saturated fat/50 g kernels, which was slightly greater than the 4.0 g maximum. Despite this, potential exists to develop a reduced-saturated fat macadamia by combining characteristics found in different lines. The current trial indicates that lower total saturated fat was associated with a stronger ability to partition C16 and C18 fats to their monounsaturated fatty acids, or to elongate C16:0 to C18:0 and subsequently desaturate C18:0 to C18:1. It was also observed that the pollinizer parent is likely to have an influence on saturated fat content, although this would need to be confirmed in controlled pollination trials. Macadamia varieties generally outcross, and because the edible kernel (embryo) is formed from a pollinated ovule, it is likely any future reduced-saturated fat line would also require a reduced-saturated fat pollinizer parent

The role of rehabilitation and vitamin D supplementation on motor and psychological outcomes in poststroke patients

: Post-Stroke depression affects between 12% and 72% of patients who have suffered a stroke. The association between low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) and increased risk of depression is reported in both stroke and non-stroke patients. Similarly, high 25(OH) D levels might be associated with greater functional improvement during rehabilitation program.We wanted to investigate the effects of an intensive rehabilitation on poststroke outcomes. We wondered if the daily rehabilitation of motor and cognitive functions could also have an effect on mood and functional abilities in addition to or as an alternative to vitamin D supplementation.We conducted a 12-week, randomized trial, double blind, parallel, monocentric clinical trial of 40 patients undergoing intensive neuro-rehabilitation treatment at a specialized care facility for ischemic or hemorrhagic brain stroke. Participants were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to 1 of 2 parallel groups: in the experimental group, 2000 IU/day of oral cholecalciferol was administered; in the control group patients were not taking vitamin D supplementation. Patients underwent a text evaluation to investigate psychological and motor outcomes.Significant intra-group difference in outcomes measures was found but not between control group and experimental group. In the vitamin D group, we highlighted significant differences between T0 and T1 in calcium (P &lt; .001), vitamin D (P &lt; .001), in Montgomery Aasberg Depression Rating Scale (P = .001), and in Functional Independent Measures (P &lt; .001). In the health control group, we found a significant difference in calcium (P = .003), vitamin D (P &lt; .001), Montgomery Aasberg Depression Rating Scale (P = 0.006), in general self-efficacy (P = .009), and in Functional Independent Measures (P &lt; .001).Our results show that the beneficial effect on mood and functional recovery is mainly due to neurorehabilitation rather than vitamin D supplementation

The effects of pollen source on the fatty acid profile of Macadamia kernels

Macadamia nuts are an abundant source of the monounsaturated fats (59 %), oleic (50 %−65 %) and palmitoleic acid (12 %−30 %). As macadamia is generally an outcrossing species, this study focuses on the effect of both the maternal (seed parent) and paternal (pollen parent) genotype on the accumulation of the principal fatty acids in macadamia using a controlled 3 × 3 pollination trial. Both the seed parent and pollen parent were observed to significantly impact the fatty acid profile of macadamia nut kernels. In addition, the general combining abilities (GCA) of the parental cultivars and specific combining abilities (SCA) of parental crosses were determined, as well as identifying maternal/paternal combinations that could significantly increase palmitoleic acid and oleic acid, or decrease saturated fat concentration. These results provide evidence for the first time that pollen source has a significant impact on the fatty acid profile of macadamia kernels, and that previous reporting of the fatty acid profiles of macadamia cultivars is likely to be variable, due to the unknown genotype of pollen sources

Role of citicoline and choline in the treatment of post-stroke depression: an exploratory study

Objective: To compare selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and nootropic drugs in the reduction of anxiety and depressive symptoms in post-stroke patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with post-stroke depression that were treated with either SSRIs or nootropic drugs (i.e. citicoline or choline alphoscerate). Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Hamilton Rating Scales. Statistical associations between the use of nootropic drugs and mood disorder improvements were determined by measuring assessment scores at 6-months. Results: A total of 44 post-stroke patients with depression (aged 45-75 years) were enrolled in the study: 20 were treated with SSRIs and 24 received nootropic drugs. From baseline to follow-up, the SSRI group showed a large effect size with regard depression (success rate difference [SRD] 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.21, 0.79) and anxiety (SRD 0.49; 95% CI 0.14, 0.74), whereas the nootropic group showed a small effect size for depression (SRD 0.16; 95% CI -0.17, 0.46) and a small effect size for anxiety (SRD 0.36; 95% CI -0.03, 0.62). Conclusion: The administration of nootropic drugs could be a valid therapeutic strategy to manage post-stroke patients suffering from mild-moderate anxiety or anxious-depressive syndrome, but this requires further research

Structure–Activity Relationship, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics Properties Optimization, and <i>in Vivo</i> Studies of New Brain Penetrant Triple T‑Type Calcium Channel Blockers

Despite the availability of numerous antiepileptic drugs, 20–30% of epileptic patients are pharmacoresistant with seizures not appropriately controlled. Consequently, new strategies to address this unmet medical need are required. T-type calcium channels play a key role in neuronal excitability and burst firing, and selective triple T-type calcium channel blockers could offer a new way to treat various CNS disorders, in particular epilepsy. Herein we describe the identification of new 1,4-benzodiazepines as brain penetrant and selective triple T-type calcium channel blockers. From racemic hit <b>4</b>, optimization work led to the preparation of pyridodiazepine <b>31c</b> with improved physicochemical properties, solubility, and metabolic stability. The racemic mixture was separated by chiral preparative HPLC, and the resulting lead compound <b>(3</b><i><b>R</b></i><b>,5</b><i><b>S</b></i><b>)-31c</b> showed promising efficacy in the WAG/Rij-rat model of generalized nonconvulsive absence-like epilepsy

Structure–Activity Relationship, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics Properties Optimization, and <i>in Vivo</i> Studies of New Brain Penetrant Triple T‑Type Calcium Channel Blockers

Despite the availability of numerous antiepileptic drugs, 20–30% of epileptic patients are pharmacoresistant with seizures not appropriately controlled. Consequently, new strategies to address this unmet medical need are required. T-type calcium channels play a key role in neuronal excitability and burst firing, and selective triple T-type calcium channel blockers could offer a new way to treat various CNS disorders, in particular epilepsy. Herein we describe the identification of new 1,4-benzodiazepines as brain penetrant and selective triple T-type calcium channel blockers. From racemic hit <b>4</b>, optimization work led to the preparation of pyridodiazepine <b>31c</b> with improved physicochemical properties, solubility, and metabolic stability. The racemic mixture was separated by chiral preparative HPLC, and the resulting lead compound <b>(3</b><i><b>R</b></i><b>,5</b><i><b>S</b></i><b>)-31c</b> showed promising efficacy in the WAG/Rij-rat model of generalized nonconvulsive absence-like epilepsy