Effect of sulphur dioxide on microbial growth in refrigerated pre-peeled potatoes packaged in plastic films

Microbial growth in pre-peeled potatoes was analysed to determine the simultaneous effect of sodium bisulphite concentration (105–219 mg kg^?1), storage temperature (4, 7 and 10°C) and gaseous permeability of the packaging plastic film (polyethylene and EVA—SARAN—EVA used in vacuum) on product storage life. Composition of the microbial flora was determined at the beginning and the end of the storage period, and the principal microorganisms causing spoilage of the product were observed to be Pseudomonas spp and Enterobacteriaceae. Lag phase duration and specific rate constants were determined for these microorganisms in samples stored at each condition. In polyethylene-packaged samples microbial growth was observed at various temperatures and SO₂ concentrations were tested. With vacuum packaging in low oxygen permeability films and residues of 100 mg SO₂ kg^?1, microbial counts were maintained in the lag phase; larger residues produced microbial inhibition at 4, 7 and 10°C.     

Understanding the Potential Role of Sirtuin 2 on Aging: Consequences of SIRT2.3 Overexpression in Senescence

Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) has been associated to aging and age-related pathologies. Specifically, an age-dependent accumulation of isoform 3 of SIRT2 in the CNS has been demonstrated; however, no study has addressed the behavioral or molecular consequences that this could have on aging. In the present study, we have designed an adeno-associated virus vector (AAV-CAG-Sirt2.3-eGFP) for the overexpression of SIRT2.3 in the hippocampus of 2 month-old SAMR1 and SAMP8 mice. Our results show that the specific overexpression of this isoform does not induce significant behavioral or molecular effects at short or long term in the control strain. Only a tendency towards a worsening in the performance in acquisition phase of the Morris Water Maze was found in SAMP8 mice, together with a significant increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokine Il-1β. These results suggest that the age-related increase of SIRT2.3 found in the brain is not responsible for induction or prevention of senescence. Nevertheless, in combination with other risk factors, it could contribute to the progression of age-related processes. Understanding the specific role of SIRT2 on aging and the underlying molecular mechanisms is essential to design new and more successful therapies for the treatment of age-related diseases.     

Dietary fibre concentrates produced from papaya by-products for agroindustrial waste valorisation

In this work, papaya agroindustrial wastes were treated with ethanol and subsequently dehydrated to produce pulp or peel dietary fibre concentrates (DFCs). Hot air convection (CV) and microwave (MW) assisted dehydration were studied. The DFCs produced were mainly composed by cell wall polymers such as cellulose, lignin, proteins and non-cellulosic carbohydrates. It was found that convective drying produced DFCs with lower uronic acid content than microwave drying. Besides, pulp DFCs dehydrated by MW presented higher values for hydration properties, compared to those reported in literature. Peel DFCs presented better antioxidant properties than those from the pulp. Use of peel tissue, as well as CV produced DFCs with higher values of glass transition temperature. The characteristics found in the DFCs allow concluding that these products may be added in a diverse range of food products, granting benefits that would normally be obtained using several additives.     

Starve to Sustain—An Ancient Syrian Landrace of Sorghum as Tool for Phosphorous Bio-Economy?

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient, playing a role in developmental and metabolic processes in plants. To understand the local and systemic responses of sorghum to inorganic phosphorus (P_i) starvation and the potential of straw and ash for reutilisation in agriculture, we compared two grain (Razinieh) and sweet (Della) sorghum varieties with respect to their morpho-physiological and molecular responses. We found that P_i starvation increased the elongation of primary roots, the formation of lateral roots, and the accumulation of anthocyanin. In Razinieh, lateral roots were promoted to a higher extent, correlated with a higher expression of SbPht1 phosphate transporters. Infrared spectra of straw from mature plants raised to maturity showed two prominent bands at 1371 and 2337 cm⁻¹, which could be assigned to P-H(H₂) stretching vibration in phosphine acid and phosphinothious acid, and their derivates, whose abundance correlated with phosphate uptake of the source plant and genotype (with a higher intensity in Razinieh). The ash generated from these straws stimulated the shoot elongation and root development of the rice seedlings, especially for the material derived from Razinieh raised under P_i starvation. In conclusion, sorghum growing on marginal lands has potential as a bio-economy alternative for mineral phosphorus recycling.     

Circulating microRNAs Signature for Predicting Response to GLP1-RA Therapy in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Pilot Study

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) represents one of the major health issues of this century. Despite the availability of an increasing number of anti-hyperglycemic drugs, a significant proportion of patients are inadequately controlled, thus highlighting the need for novel biomarkers to guide treatment selection. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs, proposed as useful diagnostic/prognostic markers. The aim of our study was to identify a miRNA signature occurring in responders to glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) therapy. We investigated the expression profile of eight T2D-associated circulating miRNAs in 26 prospectively evaluated diabetic patients in whom GLP1-RA was added to metformin. As expected, GLP1-RA treatment induced significant reductions of HbA1c and body weight, both after 6 and 12 months of therapy. Of note, baseline expression levels of the selected miRNAs revealed two distinct patient clusters: “high expressing” and “low expressing”. Interestingly, a significantly higher percentage of patients in the high expression group reached the glycemic target after 12 months of treatment. Our findings suggest that the evaluation of miRNA expression could be used to predict the likelihood of an early treatment response to GLP1-RA and to select patients in whom to start such treatment, paving the way to a personalized medicine approach.     

Graphical representation of help knowledge for intelligent tutoring systems

Today an expected facility of interactive computer systems and application programs is an extensive, well-designed, and well-written online help system. A help system frequently provides online tutorial text concerning the operation of the system or application. In the case of Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS), an embedded help system provides help with topics in the training domain. In this environment, the help system not only provides user initiated help, but also help text introduced by the embedded computer expert for the purpose of directing or correcting student actions.

Explanatory material contained in help systems is called help documentation, and is usually accessed through a “HELP” command. Identification of relevant help texts is difficult for a user, and is a special case of the general information retrieval problem.

This paper discusses methods for the retrieval of help knowledge items using graphical, on-screen, tree structures. The configuration of these “study trees” conforms to the hierarchical nature of the tutorial information being referenced. Selection of natural language terms affords initial entry to the trees. A user of the help system browses the trees directly on-screen and consults the subject help texts at will. The study tree presentation facilitates effective selection of pertinent help texts and relates the collection of help material into an integrated whole.     

Polyphosphazenes for the delivery of biopharmaceuticals

Polyphosphazenes (PPZs) are a relatively new family of polymers based on a nitrogen–phosphorous backbone where organic side groups can be grafted. The synthetic route to PPZs is highly versatile such that it is possible to add many different functionalities that change completely the physicochemical and biological properties of the polymers. For instance, PPZs can be designed with a variety of organic side groups that render these materials biodegradable and highly biocompatible. Based on these positive features, PPZs have been explored for many biomedical applications including the design of numerous advanced drug delivery systems. In this area, PPZs have been particularly investigated as materials for the formulation of biopharmaceuticals of high added value. These include protein- and polynucleotide-based medicines, applications where PPZ carriers have obtained very positive results in preclinical models. A further area of major interest for PPZs has been vaccination, where these materials have obtained excellent results in vivo as polymer adjuvants and have advanced to clinical evaluation. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48688.     

Lanthanoid geochemistry of urban atmospheric particulate matter

Relatively little is known about the lanthanoid element (La to Lu) chemistry of inhalable urban atmospheric particulate matter (PM). PM samples collected during an air sampling campaign in the Mexico City area contain lanthanoid concentrations of mostly 1-10 ng m(-3), increasing with mass where resuspension of crustal PM is important (low PM2.5/PM10), but not where fine emissions from traffic and industry dominate (high PM2.5/ PM10). Samples show anthropogenic enrichment of lighter over heavier lanthanoids, and Ce enrichment relative to La and Sm occurs in the city center (especially PM10) possibly due to PM from road vehicle catalytic converters. La is especially enriched, although many samples show low La/V values (< 0.11), suggesting the dominating influence of fuel oil combustion sources rather than refinery emissions. We use La/Sm v La/ Ce, LaCeSm, and LaCeV plots to compare Mexico City aerosols with PM from other cities. Lanthanoid aerosol geochemistry can be used not only to identify refinery pollution events, but also as a marker for different hydrocarbon combustion emissions (e.g., oil or coal power stations) on urban background atmospheric PM.     

Antimicrobial efficacy of UV radiation on Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EDL 933) in fruit juices of different absorptivities

The efficacy of UV light for inactivating E. coli (ATCC 25922) and E. coli O157:H7 (EDL 933) was examined in fruit juices (orange, apple, and multifruit) with different absorptivities under several operating conditions (liquid film thickness and agitation rate). The juices were inoculated with two bacterial concentrations (10(5) and 10(7) CFU/ml) and were treated using a UV desinfection unit at 254 nm; UV doses ranged from 0 to 6 J/cm2. The effect of the culture medium, tryptone soy agar (TSA) and sorbitol MacConkey agar (SMAC), on the recovery of E. coli strains exposed to UV radiation was also analyzed. The most suitable culture medium for recovery of E. coli strains in juices exposed to UV radiation was TSA. Values of D (radiation dose [joules per square centimeter] necessary to decrease the microbial population by 90%) obtained in all juices assessed were higher in TSA than in SMAC. In the juices analyzed, stirring of the medium exposed to UV radiation and reducing liquid film thickness (to 0.7 mm) produced the highest bactericidal effect. A linear relationship was found between the D-values obtained and the absorptivity coefficients for all the juices. The higher the absorbance of the medium, the greater the values of D required to inactivate E. coli strains by UV radiation. An equation was developed to describe the relationship of the fraction of energy absorbed by the system (absorbed energy factor [AEF]), the thickness of the film exposed to UV radiation, and the absorptivity coefficient of the juices. A linear relationship was found between D and AEF in the different juices tested.     

KSK-74: Dual Histamine H3 and Sigma-2 Receptor Ligand with Anti-Obesity Potential

Many studies involving compounds that enhance histamine release, such as histamine H₃ receptor (H₃R) antagonists, have shown efficacy in inhibiting weight gain, but none have passed clinical trials. As part of the search for H₃ receptor ligands that have additional properties, the aim of this study is to evaluate the activity in the reduction in weight gain in a rat model of excessive eating, as well as the impact on selected metabolic parameters, and the number and size of adipocytes of two new H₃R antagonists, KSK-60 and KSK-74, which also exert a significant affinity at the sigma-2 receptor. Compounds KSK-60 and KSK-74 are homologues and the elongation of the distal part of the molecule resulted in an approximate two-fold reduction in affinity at H₃R, but simultaneously an almost two-fold increase in affinity at the sigma-2 receptor. Animals fed palatable feed and receiving KSK-60 or KSK-74 both at 10 mg/kg b.w. gained significantly less weight than animals in the control obese group. Moreover, KSK-74 significantly compensated for metabolic disturbances that accompany obesity, such as an increase in plasma triglyceride, resistin, and leptin levels; improved glucose tolerance; and protected experimental animals against adipocyte hypertrophy. Furthermore, KSK-74 inhibited the development of inflammation in obesity-exposed adipose tissue. The in vivo pharmacological activity of the tested ligands appears to correlate with the affinity at the sigma-2 receptors; however, the explanation of this phenomenon requires further and extended research.