Methodological pipeline for monitoring post-harvest quality of leafy vegetables

Abstract Plants are primary source of nutrients for humans. However, the nutritional value of vegetables tends to decrease once organ and tissue sinks are detached from the plant. Minimal processing of leafy vegetables involves cutting and washing before packaging and storage. These processing procedures result in stressful conditions and post-harvest disorders senescence-related can also occur. The aim of this work is to define a methodological pipeline to evaluate the “quality” changes of fresh cut leafy vegetables over their shelf-life. At this purpose, intra-species variability has been investigated considering two varieties of Lactuca sativa (var. longifolia and capitata), showing different susceptibility to browning. Since browning mainly depends on phenol oxidation, redox parameters as well as the activity of the enzymes involved in phenol biosynthesis and oxidation have been monitored over storage time. At the same time, the metabolic changes of the lettuce leaves have been estimated as response patterns to chemical sensors. The obtained sensor outputs were predictive of browning-related biological features in a cultivar-dependent manner. The integration of the results obtained by this multivariate methodological approach allowed the identification of the most appropriate quality markers in lettuce leaves from different varieties. This methodological pipeline is proposed for the identification and subsequent monitoring of post-harvest quality of leafy vegetables

A sensor which can be varied in humidity sensitivity: a first experience paving the way to new chemical sensors?

During last decades, a number of different sensors have been developing for different analytics to detect. A key aspect of those sensors is that each of them results with a fixed particular sensitivity. Consequently, at occurrence, it is necessary to use a plurality of sensors to arrange measures with different levels of sensitivity. This work intends to investigate the possibility to obtain different sensitivity, in particular with respect to humidity, from one sensor only. To this aim we investigated the resistive flex sensor, which has been already used for other applications but, as far as we know, never investigated for its potential properties as a chemical sensor. Results demonstrated how the resistive flex sensor behaves with different sensitivity values and different sensitivity curves for different bend conditions. Copyright © 2018 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reserved

Resonant directly coupled inductors-capacitors ladder network shows a new, interesting property useful for application in the sensor field, down to micrometric dimensions

The study of ladder networks made by sequences of directly coupled inductor⁻capacitor single cells has led us to discover a new property, which may be of certain interest in the sensor field. In the case of n cells, the n-frequencies vector characterizing each node may allow for the identification of that capacitor (sensor), which has experienced a variation of its nominal value. This localization is possible independently from the observable node of the ladder network as proven by the application of the following multivariate data analysis techniques: principal component analysis and partial least square discriminant analysis. This property can be applied on a large scale down to micrometric dimensions in agreement with the technologic ability to shrink the capacitive sensor dimensions

Microsystem Nodes for Soil Monitoring via an Energy Mapping Network: A Proof-of-Concept Preliminary Study

The need for accurate information and the availability of novel tool and technological advances in agriculture have given rise to innovative autonomous systems. The aim is to monitor key parameters for optimal water and fertilizer management. A key issue in precision agriculture is the in situ monitoring of soil macronutrients. Here, a proof-of-concept study was conducted that tested two types of sensors capable of capturing both the electrochemical response of the soil and the electrical potential generated by the interaction between the soil and plants. These two sensors can be used to monitor large areas using a network approach, due to their small size and low power consumption. The voltammetric sensor (BIONOTE-L) proved to be able to characterize different soil samples. It was able, indeed, to provide a reproducible voltammetric fingerprint specific for each soil type, and to monitor the concentration of CaCl2 and NaCl in the soil. BIONOTE-L can be coupled to a device capable of capturing the energy produced by interactions between plants and soil. As a consequence, the functionality of the microsystem node when applied in a large-area monitoring network can be extended. Additional calibrations will be performed to fully characterize the instrument node, to implement the network, and to specialize it for a particular application in the field

Mission Beyond: The Acoustic Diagnostics Experiment on Board the International Space Station

Acoustic Diagnostics is an Italian Space Agency (ASI) biomedical experiment exploiting the diagnostic potential of otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) to monitor the astronauts’ hearing health on board the International Space Station (ISS). It is being performed (July 2019–April 2020) on the ISS, in the framework of the BEYOND mission, sponsored by European Space Agency (ESA). A dedicated instrument for measuring distortion product OAE (DPOAE) in a noisy environment was designed by University of Rome Tor Vergata and INAIL. Aerospace Logistics Technology Engineering Company (ALTEC) took care of the payload development, mechanical, thermal and electromagnetic tests, verification, and acceptance. Two astronauts were subjected, before leaving for their mission on the ISS, to the DPOAE test, along with a full set of audiological tests (Baseline Data Collection, BDC), especially designed at University of Roma La Sapienza and Campus Bio-Medico. An identical DPOAE apparatus was used five times on board the ISS to test the two astronauts. Finally, a post-flight BDC was performed, few days after return to Earth. Preliminary analysis demonstrated that the payload was able to record DPOAEs on board the ISS with very low instrumental noise level, despite the high noise level of the ISS environment. ASI, in the frame of its national mission of promoting and fostering the culture of space across the Country, provides access to the ISS as a laboratory in space. The utilization support services are provided, thanks to a contract, awarded by ASI, to ARGOTEC/ Telespazio (UTISS Team)

Hospitals with and without neurosurgery: a comparative study evaluating the outcome of patients with traumatic brain injury

Background: We leveraged the data of the international CREACTIVE consortium to investigate whether the outcome of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) in hospitals without on-site neurosurgical capabilities (no-NSH) would differ had the same patients been admitted to ICUs in hospitals with neurosurgical capabilities (NSH). Methods: The CREACTIVE observational study enrolled more than 8000 patients from 83 ICUs. Adult TBI patients admitted to no-NSH ICUs within 48 h of trauma were propensity-score matched 1:3 with patients admitted to NSH ICUs. The primary outcome was the 6-month extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E), while secondary outcomes were ICU and hospital mortality. Results: A total of 232 patients, less than 5% of the eligible cohort, were admitted to no-NSH ICUs. Each of them was matched to 3 NSH patients, leading to a study sample of 928 TBI patients where the no-NSH and NSH groups were well-balanced with respect to all of the variables included into the propensity score. Patients admitted to no-NSH ICUs experienced significantly higher ICU and in-hospital mortality. Compared to the matched NSH ICU admissions, their 6-month GOS-E scores showed a significantly higher prevalence of upper good recovery for cases with mild TBI and low expected mortality risk at admission, along with a progressively higher incidence of poor outcomes with increased TBI severity and mortality risk. Conclusions: In our study, centralization of TBI patients significantly impacted short- and long-term outcomes. For TBI patients admitted to no-NSH centers, our results suggest that the least critically ill can effectively be managed in centers without neurosurgical capabilities. Conversely, the most complex patients would benefit from being treated in high-volume, neuro-oriented ICUs

Albumin replacement in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have suggested the potential advantages of albumin administration in patients with severe sepsis, its efficacy has not been fully established. METHODS: In this multicenter, open-label trial, we randomly assigned 1818 patients with severe sepsis, in 100 intensive care units (ICUs), to receive either 20% albumin and crystalloid solution or crystalloid solution alone. In the albumin group, the target serum albumin concentration was 30 g per liter or more until discharge from the ICU or 28 days after randomization. The primary outcome was death from any cause at 28 days. Secondary outcomes were death from any cause at 90 days, the number of patients with organ dysfunction and the degree of dysfunction, and length of stay in the ICU and the hospital. RESULTS: During the first 7 days, patients in the albumin group, as compared with those in the crystalloid group, had a higher mean arterial pressure (P=0.03) and lower net fluid balance (P<0.001). The total daily amount of administered fluid did not differ significantly between the two groups (P=0.10). At 28 days, 285 of 895 patients (31.8%) in the albumin group and 288 of 900 (32.0%) in the crystalloid group had died (relative risk in the albumin group, 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87 to 1.14; P=0.94). At 90 days, 365 of 888 patients (41.1%) in the albumin group and 389 of 893 (43.6%) in the crystalloid group had died (relative risk, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.05; P=0.29). No significant differences in other secondary outcomes were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with severe sepsis, albumin replacement in addition to crystalloids, as compared with crystalloids alone, did not improve the rate of survival at 28 and 90 days

Albumin replacement in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock

BACKGROUND: Although previous studies have suggested the potential advantages of albumin administration in patients with severe sepsis, its efficacy has not been fully established. METHODS: In this multicenter, open-label trial, we randomly assigned 1818 patients with severe sepsis, in 100 intensive care units (ICUs), to receive either 20% albumin and crystalloid solution or crystalloid solution alone. In the albumin group, the target serum albumin concentration was 30 g per liter or more until discharge from the ICU or 28 days after randomization. The primary outcome was death from any cause at 28 days. Secondary outcomes were death from any cause at 90 days, the number of patients with organ dysfunction and the degree of dysfunction, and length of stay in the ICU and the hospital. RESULTS: During the first 7 days, patients in the albumin group, as compared with those in the crystalloid group, had a higher mean arterial pressure (P=0.03) and lower net fluid balance (P<0.001). The total daily amount of administered fluid did not differ significantly between the two groups (P=0.10). At 28 days, 285 of 895 patients (31.8%) in the albumin group and 288 of 900 (32.0%) in the crystalloid group had died (relative risk in the albumin group, 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.87 to 1.14; P=0.94). At 90 days, 365 of 888 patients (41.1%) in the albumin group and 389 of 893 (43.6%) in the crystalloid group had died (relative risk, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.05; P=0.29). No significant differences in other secondary outcomes were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with severe sepsis, albumin replacement in addition to crystalloids, as compared with crystalloids alone, did not improve the rate of survival at 28 and 90 days. (Funded by the Italian Medicines Agency; ALBIOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00707122.