Fat content and storage conditions are key factors on the partitioning and activity of carvacrol in antimicrobial packaging

The ability of carvacrol loaded polylactic acid (PLA) films to improve ground beef preservation was assessed. The mass transfer processes of carvacrol partitioning in a food packaging system between the PLA film, headspace and food product was studied. Carvacrol release was studied on packed ground beef having a fat content of 5 or 12 % at a temperature between 5 and 30 °C and a humidity between 43 and 94 % for up to 12 days. Results showed the release rate of carvacrol from the PLA film into the headspace increased with the storage temperature while the humidity in the packaging headspace had no effect on the release rate of carvacrol from the PLA film. The fat content of ground beef has a profound effect on the partitioning of carvacrol: when the system is stored at 5 °C the carvacrol absorption in the 12 % fat ground beef was about 1.3-fold compared with the carvacrol concentration observed in 5% fat ground beef. Despite this higher carvacrol absorption in the regular beef, the PLA/carvacrol films had a stronger antimicrobial effect on the lean beef suggesting that partitioning of carvacrol into the fat phase of the beef reduced its antimicrobial activity. Results highlight the importance of considering the food matrix composition in the design of antimicrobial packaging based on natural volatile components.</p

Modelling the kinetics of osmotic dehydration of mango: Optimizing process conditions and pre-treatment for health aspects

The kinetics of mass transfer and vitamin C loss in mango during osmotic dehydration (OD) were described by mathematical models. Water loss (WL) and weight reduction (WR) was modelled by Weibull's model, soluble solid gain (SSG) was better described by Peleg's model. Vitamin C loss was described by a multiresponse model incorporating both degradation and leaching processes into the OD-solution. Effects of vacuum impregnation (VI) and pectin methylesterase (PME) addition on the model parameters were evaluated. VI increases SSG indicated by a 55% lower value of k2 in the Peleg model (P < 0.05). PME addition showed no significant effect on the mass transfer kinetics. The major mechanism of vitamin C loss during OD was degradation. The pretreatments have no significant effect on degradation and leaching rate constants of vitamin C. The combination of modelling the mass transfer and vitamin C retention was shown to be valuable in optimizing the OD process design to enhance the health-promoting value of OD mango (sugar content, vitamin C) and processing time.</p

Using particle size and fat content to control the release of Allyl isothiocyanate from ground mustard seeds for its application in antimicrobial packaging

In this study an active antimicrobial packaging based on the controlled release of Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) from mustard seed was designed. The effect of fat content and particle size of ground mustard seeds on formation and release of AITC was investigated and the underlying mechanisms were highlighted. A smaller size of mustard particles resulted in more sinigrin conversion to AITC and a higher release of AITC in the headspace. The fat content has an important role on AITC release, a decreased fat content decreased AITC levels in the particles and increased the amount of AITC in the headspace. Based on the results of the sinigrin hydrolysis, the AITC surface exchange rate and the AITC fat solubility, an overall picture of the factors influencing the AITC release from the particles is proposed, which describes formation of AITC and its partitioning between the compartments of the particles and the headspace.</p

Annotation of existing databases using Semantic Web technologies:Making data more FAIR

Making data FAIR is an elaborate task. Hospitals and/or departments have to invest into technologies usually unknown and often do not have the resources to make data FAIR. Our work aims to provide a framework and tooling where users can easily make their data (more) FAIR. This framework uses RDF and OWL-based inferencing to annotate existing databases or comma-separated files. For every database, a custom ontology is build based on the database schema, which can be annotated to describe matching standardized terminologies. In this work, we describe the tooling developed, and the current implementation in an institutional datawarehouse pertaining over 3000 rectal cancer patients. We report on the performance (time) of the extraction and annotation process by the developed tooling. Furthermore, we do show that annotation of existing databases using OWL2-based reasoning is possible. Furthermore, we show that the ontology extracted from existing databases can provide a description framework to describe and annotate existing data sources. This would target mostly the “Interoperable” aspect of FAIR

Norms and T-scores for screeners of alcohol use, depression and anxiety in the population of Suriname

BackgroundThere is a considerable gap between care provision and the demand for care for common mental disorders in low-and-middle-income countries. Screening for these disorders, e.g., in primary care, will help to close this gap. However, appropriate norms and threshold values for screeners of common mental disorders are lacking.MethodsIn a survey study, we gathered data on frequently used screeners for alcohol use disorders, (AUDIT), depression, (CES-D), and anxiety disorders (GAD-7, ACQ, and BSQ) in a representative sample from Suriname, a non-Latin American Caribbean country. A stratified sampling method was used by random selection of 2,863 respondents from 5 rural and 12 urban resorts. We established descriptive statistics of all scale scores and investigated unidimensionality. Furthermore, we compared scores by gender, age-group, and education level with t-test and Mann–Whitney U tests, using a significance level of p &lt; 0.05.ResultsNorms and crosswalk tables were established for the conversion of raw scores into a common metric: T-scores. Furthermore, recommended cut-off values on the T-score metric for severity levels were compared with international cut-off values for raw scores on these screeners.DiscussionThe appropriateness of these cut-offs and the value of converting raw scores into T-scores are discussed. Cut-off values help with screening and early detection of those who are likely to have a common mental health disorder and may require treatment. Conversion of raw scores to a common metric in this study facilitates the interpretation of questionnaire results for clinicians and can improve health care provision through measurement-based care

A Knowledge graph representation of baseline characteristics for the Dutch proton therapy research registry

Cancer registries collect multisource data and provide valuable information that can lead to unique research opportunities. In the Netherlands, a registry and model-based approach (MBA) are used for the selection of patients that are eligible for proton therapy. We collected baseline characteristics including demographic, clinical, tumour and treatment information. These data were transformed into a machine readable format using the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles and resulted in a knowledge graph with baseline characteristics of proton therapy patients. With this approach, we enable the possibility of linking external data sources and optimal flexibility to easily adapt the data structure of the existing knowledge graph to the needs of the clinic

Interobserver and intraobserver reliabilities of determining the ventilatory thresholds in subjects with a lower limb amputation and able-bodied subjects during a peak exercise test on the combined arm-leg (Cruiser) ergometer

The first (VT1) and second ventilator (VT2) (anaerobic) thresholds are used to individually prescribe exercise training programs. The purpose of this research was to analyze inter- and intraobserver reliabilities of determining VT1 and VT2 in subjects with lower limb amputation (LLA) and able-bodied (AB) subjects during a peak exercise test on the arm-leg (Cruiser) ergometer. Previously published data of exercise tests on the Cruiser ergometer of subjects with LLA (n = 17) and AB subjects (n = 30) were analyzed twice by two observers. The VT1 and VT2 were determined based on ventilation plots. Differences in determining the VT1 and VT2 between the observers for the first and second analyses were analyzed. To quantify variation in measurement a variance component analysis was performed. Bland-Altmann plots were made, and limits of agreement were calculated. The number of observations in which thresholds could not be determined differed significantly between observers and analysis. Variation in VT1 between and within observers was small (0-1.6%) compared with the total variation, for both the subjects with an LLA and AB subjects. The reliability coefficient for VT1 was more than 0.75, and the limits of agreement were good. In conclusion, based on the results of this study on a population level, VT1 can be used to prescribe exercise training programs after an LLA. In the current study, the determination of VT2 was less reliable than VT1. More research is needed into the clinical application of VT1 and VT2 during a peak exercise test on the Cruiser ergometer

Day hospital versus intensive outpatient mentalization-based treatment:3-year follow-up of patients treated for borderline personality disorder in a multicentre randomized clinical trial

Abstract Background Two types of mentalization-based treatment (MBT), day hospital MBT (MBT-DH) and intensive outpatient MBT (MBT-IOP), have been shown to be effective in treating patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). This study evaluated trajectories of change in a multi-site trial of MBT-DH and MBT-IOP at 36 months after the start of treatment. Methods All 114 patients (MBT-DH n = 70, MBT-IOP n = 44) from the original multicentre trial were assessed at 24, 30 and 36 months after the start of treatment. The primary outcome was symptom severity measured with the Brief Symptom Inventory. Secondary outcome measures included borderline symptomatology, personality and interpersonal functioning, quality of life and self-harm. Data were analysed using multilevel modelling and the intention-to-treat principle. Results Patients in both MBT-DH and MBT-IOP maintained the substantial improvements made during the intensive treatment phase and showed further gains during follow-up. Across both conditions, 83% of patients improved in terms of symptom severity, and 97% improved on borderline symptomatology. No significant differences were found between MBT-DH and MBT-IOP at 36 months after the start of treatment. However, trajectories of change were different. Whereas patients in MBT-DH showed greater improvement during the intensive treatment phase, patients in MBT-IOP showed greater continuing improvement during follow-up. Conclusions Patients in both conditions showed similar large improvements over the course of 36 months, despite large differences in treatment intensity. MBT-DH and MBT-IOP were associated with different trajectories of change. Cost-effectiveness considerations and predictors of differential treatment outcome may further inform optimal treatment selection

Digital Interventions for People With Co-Occurring Depression and Problematic Alcohol Use: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aims: This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effectiveness of digital interventions addressing depressive symptoms and alcohol use simultaneously among people with co-occurring depression and problematic alcohol use.Methods: Seven databases were searched for trials evaluating digital interventions aimed at depression and alcohol use. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to pool effects on depressive symptoms and alcohol use up to 3-month and 6-month follow-up. Overall quality for every outcome was assessed with GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation).Results: The pooled effect of digital interventions compared to their comparators was in favour of digital interventions. Small but significant effects on depressive symptoms at 3-month follow-up were found (g = 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.06-0.62, P = 0.02, k = 6) and non-significant effects at 6-month follow-up (g = 0.29, 95% CI: -0.16 to 0.73, P = 0.15, k = 5). For alcohol use, the pooled effect of digital interventions was small and non-significant at 3-month follow-up (g = 0.14, 95% CI: -0.02 to 0.30, P = 0.07, k = 6) and significant at 6-month follow-up (g = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.07-0.20, P = 0.005, k = 5). Sensitivity analysis indicated the latter finding to be sensitive to statistical estimator choice. Quality of evidence was moderate, except for depressive symptoms at 6-month follow-up for which it was low.Conclusion: Based on the literature, digital interventions are effective in reducing depressive symptoms at 3-month follow-up and alcohol use at 6-month follow-up among people with comorbid depression and problematic alcohol use. More high-quality trials are needed to confirm the current findings.</p