Brown rice and pulses for the development of shelf-stable and low glycemic index ready-to-eat meals

Shelf-stable low glycemic index ready-to-eat (RTE) risotto meals (in pouches) containing brown rice and pulses (recipe A = chickpeas; recipe B = lentils, and beans) were developed, stored for 12-months at room temperature, and characterized over time. RTE meals were heated in microwave (replicating home consumption procedure), and analyzed for in vitro starch digestibility, textural attributes, and consumer acceptability. Digestible starch fractions were similar in the formulations during storage, and in vivo testing demonstrated low glycemic indexes (recipe A = 43.5 ± 6.8; recipe B = 31.8 ± 6.5) for the two meals. Hardness of risotto components increased during storage and microwave heating did not fully recover textural attibutes characteristic of the fresh product. Consumers’ (50) acceptability remained high (>5.5 out of 9) until the end of storage. This study demonstrates brown rice with pulses can be used for developing stable and accepted ready-to-eat meals having low glycemic indexes

STAN: a reappraisal of its clinical usefulness

The automatic analysis of fetal ECG in labor has been introduced as an adjunct of traditional cardiotocography with the aim to improve the identification of fetuses with intrapartum hypoxia. Several randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have produced conflicting results, with the most recent randomized controlled trial not demonstrating any improvement in either neonatal outcomes or reduction in operative birth rates. The objective of this review article is to present the state of art about the use of STAN technology in labor ward

Role of prenatal magnetic resonance imaging in fetuses with isolated mild or moderate ventriculomegaly in the era of neurosonography: international multicenter study

Objectives To assess the role of fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting associated anomalies in fetuses presenting with mild or moderate isolated ventriculomegaly (VM) undergoing multiplanar ultrasound evaluation of the fetal brain. Methods This was a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study involving 15 referral fetal medicine centers in Italy, the UK and Spain. Inclusion criteria were fetuses affected by isolated mild (ventricular atrial diameter, 10.0–11.9 mm) or moderate (ventricular atrial diameter, 12.0–14.9 mm) VM on ultrasound, defined as VM with normal karyotype and no other additional central nervous system (CNS) or extra‐CNS anomalies on ultrasound, undergoing detailed assessment of the fetal brain using a multiplanar approach as suggested by the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology guidelines for the fetal neurosonogram, followed by fetal MRI. The primary outcome of the study was to report the incidence of additional CNS anomalies detected exclusively on prenatal MRI and missed on ultrasound, while the secondary aim was to estimate the incidence of additional anomalies detected exclusively after birth and missed on prenatal imaging (ultrasound and MRI). Subgroup analysis according to gestational age at MRI (< 24 vs ≥ 24 weeks), laterality of VM (unilateral vs bilateral) and severity of dilatation (mild vs moderate VM) were also performed. Results Five hundred and fifty‐six fetuses with a prenatal diagnosis of isolated mild or moderate VM on ultrasound were included in the analysis. Additional structural anomalies were detected on prenatal MRI and missed on ultrasound in 5.4% (95% CI, 3.8–7.6%) of cases. When considering the type of anomaly, supratentorial intracranial hemorrhage was detected on MRI in 26.7% of fetuses, while polymicrogyria and lissencephaly were detected in 20.0% and 13.3% of cases, respectively. Hypoplasia of the corpus callosum was detected on MRI in 6.7% of cases, while dysgenesis was detected in 3.3%. Fetuses with an associated anomaly detected only on MRI were more likely to have moderate than mild VM (60.0% vs 17.7%; P < 0.001), while there was no significant difference in the proportion of cases with bilateral VM between the two groups (P = 0.2). Logistic regression analysis showed that lower maternal body mass index (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.85 (95% CI, 0.7–0.99); P = 0.030), the presence of moderate VM (aOR, 5.8 (95% CI, 2.6–13.4); P < 0.001) and gestational age at MRI ≥ 24 weeks (aOR, 4.1 (95% CI, 1.1–15.3); P = 0.038) were associated independently with the probability of detecting an associated anomaly on MRI. Associated anomalies were detected exclusively at birth and missed on prenatal imaging in 3.8% of cases. Conclusions The incidence of an associated fetal anomaly missed on ultrasound and detected only on fetal MRI in fetuses with isolated mild or moderate VM undergoing neurosonography is lower than that reported previously. The large majority of these anomalies are difficult to detect on ultrasound. The findings from this study support the practice of MRI assessment in every fetus with a prenatal diagnosis of VM, although parents can be reassured of the low risk of an associated anomaly when VM is isolated on neurosonography

Bio-inspired choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents as electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries

The safety issues of lithium-ion batteries require the substitution of volatile and flammable organic components of the electrolyte. In this context, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) represent an interesting alternative to conventional ionic liquids as green solvents to dissolve common lithium salts. This paper explores two eutectics: i) ethylene glycol/choline chloride (EG/ChCl, 3:1 mol/mol), and ii) L-(+)-lactic acid/choline chloride (LA/ChCl, 2:1 mol/mol). The lithium salts added in both cases were LiN(CF3SO2)2 and LiPF6, both in concentration of either 0.5 M or 1 M. They still retain their liquid properties despite the addition of relatively high molar contents (up to 1.0 M) of lithium salts. The 0.5 M LiPF6/EG:ChCl electrolyte, in particular, displays ionic conductivity of 7.95 mS cm−1 at room temperature, and is thus very promising as a green and cheap electrolyte

Creating a Transnational Learning Community

This deliverable discusses the learning solutions adopted by DETECt teachers-researchers to foster the dissemination of transcultural knowledge and skills among undergraduate and graduate European students in Cultural Studies through the analysis of popular European print and screen crime narrative works. Chapter 1 discusses the problems met by the Consortium in the realization of its educational programme during the Covid-19 pandemic. After describing some of the complications faced by DETECt teachers-researchers in coordinating their institutional teaching duties with the project’s tasks in §1.1, the difficult integration of pure research and learning activities in the frame of H2020 projects is analysed in §1.2. Chapter 2 examines the impact of a few specific challenges stemming from the project’s methodological framework on our learning experimentation and describes the work done to tackle these obstacles. After motivating the choice to adopt the Wikipedia platform to experiment a coordinated transnational learning activity involving three different virtual classrooms across Europe in §2.1, we discuss the specific challenges that condition humanistic research in a multilingual and transdisciplinary environment in §2.2. Chapter 3 presents the benefits of addressing crime fiction as a subject matter in terms of transcultural learning affordances. After discussing the multiple advantages of crime fiction as a ‘learning machine’ in §3.1, we present the work in progress to elaborate a synoptic learning methodology for the study of European popular culture in §3.2. Chapter 4 describes the work done to produce a variegated set of learning materials and the associated learning activities. In particular, we illustrate the rationale and design of the learning materials that have been produced on DETECt MOODLE (§4.1) and DETECt MOOC (§4.2) and present the work done with our students to introduce them to the protocols of Wikipedia editing and videographic criticism. Chapter 5 discusses a few evidences and presents a few reflections about the challenges experienced during our learning experimentation, as a base for drafting the recommendations advanced in the attached Policy Brief on Teaching and Learning European Cultural Studies in the Digital Era. In particular the chapter discusses the transfer of research results to transnational teaching, the lack of a public European technological infrastructure for transnational learning, the role of the European Universities Alliances in the future development of transnational learning initiatives

A comprehensive approach to the bioavailability and cardiometabolic effects of the bioactive compounds present in espresso coffee and confectionery-derived coffee

Coffee is an important source of bioactive compounds, including caffeine, trigonelline, and phenolic compounds. Several studies have highlighted the preventive effects of coffee consumption on major cardiometabolic diseases, but the impact of coffee dosage on markers of cardiometabolic risk is not well understood. Moreover, the pool of coffee-derived circulating metabolites in real-life settings is unknown. This study evaluated the bioavailability and effects on recognised cardiometabolic markers of coffee bioactives, considering different levels of consumption. An innovative experimental design, including both a chronic and an acute sub-study, and a comprehensive analytical approach were used. A 3-arm, randomised, crossover trial was conducted in 21 healthy volunteers (age, 23 \ub1 2 y; BMI, 22.3 \ub1 2.5 kg/m2) (Mena et al., Trials 2017, 18, 527). Volunteers were assigned to consume 3 treatments for 4 weeks, including 1 cup of espresso coffee/day, 3 cups of espresso coffee/day, and 1 cup of espresso coffee plus 2 cocoa-based confectionary products containing-coffee twice per day. The last day of each treatment, blood and urine samples were collected at specific time points for 24 hours. Dietary intake, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, nitric oxide, inflammatory markers (IL-8, TNF\u3b1, VEGF), trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), DNA damage, DNA catabolites, and eicosanoids were assessed. The pool of coffee-derived circulating metabolites was also assessed in acute conditions. Untargeted metabolomics was performed. Energy intake did not change among treatments after 4 weeks, while significant differences were observed in the intake of saturated fatty acids and carbohydrates. The effect of different coffee dosages on the set of cardiometabolic markers assessed was negligible. Plasma and urinary pharmacokinetic profiles were evaluated for 6 caffeine metabolites, 3 trigonelline derivatives, and up to 40 phenolic metabolites. Pharmacokinetics highlighted the different \u201cwaves\u201d of circulating metabolites occurring upon repeated coffee consumption. Differences in several pharmacokinetic parameters were observed among treatments, which may support the long-term cardiometabolic benefits of certain patterns of coffee consumption. Multivariate analyses clearly differentiated treatments on the basis of the urinary metabolome. This work provided a comprehensive picture of the impact of different coffee dosages on the pool of coffee-derived circulating metabolites, the urinary metabolome, and a wide number of cardiometabolic markers. Multivariate analyses focused on inter-individual differences are ongoing to better understand the effect of coffee on cardiometabolic health