Growth,nutritional quality and safety of oysters (Crassostrea gigas) cultured in the lagoon of Venice (Italy)

Quality aspects of oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from a suspended culture in the lagoon of Venice (Valle Dogà) were examined in different seasons over a 1‐year period. Ecophysiological and commercial quality indicators (condition index, content of meat, shell and intervalvar fluid), nutritional quality parameters (proximate and mineral composition, glycogen content, fatty acid profile, cholesterol, plant sterols, fat‐soluble vitamins content) and levels of organic pollutants (polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides) were determined at different times of the year. Seasonal variations were observed in the nutrient content, with particular regard to moisture (ranging from 866.8 g kg^?1 in June to 938.8 g kg^?1 in September), protein (23.9 g kg^?1 in September to 76.6 g kg^?1 in June), ash (22.5 g kg^?1 in February to 29.5 g kg^?1 in July), lipid (3.0 g kg^?1 in September to 8.8 g kg^?1 in June) and glycogen (0.7 g kg^?1 in September to 11.5 g kg^?1 in February). In spite of this variability, the nutritional quality of the oysters was generally good, especially just before gamete release when the concentration of nutrients was at its maximum. Low levels of organochlorine chemicals were detected in the edible meat of oysters but, because only a limited number of samples were analysed, no general conclusion can be drawn on the safety of seafood from this area. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Natural-light labeling of tomatoes does not facilitate growth or penetration of Salmonella into the fruit

The survival-growth capacity of Salmonella populations on tomato epidermis labeled by a natural-light labeling system was investigated after persistent fears of such marks serving as possible entryways for the pathogenic organisms, alone and in the presence of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, a soft-rot organism. Different treatments involving natural-light labeling, fruit waxing, and a five-strain cocktail of Salmonella were applied to mature green tomato surfaces in different sequences prior to storage at 4, 12, or 25°C. Fruit was sampled every 3 days, and Salmonella was enumerated from all treatments and unlabeled fruit, which served as controls. There were no significant differences between treatments or between treatments and controls throughout. The results indicate that the cuticle and epidermal interruptions caused by natural-light labeling do not facilitate the penetration and colonization of the tomato pericarp. In a separate set of experiments, the capacity of Salmonella to penetrate tomato in the presence of a potential synergism with P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum was investigated. The addition of P. carotovorum at higher, lower, or equal population densities to Salmonella did not significantly alter the behavior of Salmonella on tomatoes stored at 25°C, regardless of natural-light labeling. The inability of P. carotovorum and Salmonella to colonize natural-light-etched surfaces of tomato fruit indicates that the use of this technology does not adversely compromise the surface of tomatoes.     

Advances in cultivar choice,hazelnut orchard management,and nut storage to enhance product quality and safety: an overview

European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is a major species of interest for nutritional use within the Betulaceae family and its nuts are widely used throughout the world in the chocolate, confectionery, and bakery industries. Recently its cultivation has been expanded in traditional producer countries and established in new places in the southern hemisphere, including Chile, South Africa, and Australia. Introducing hazelnut in new environments could reduce its productivity, lead the trees to experience eco‐physiological disorders, and expose the crop to high pressure from common and new pests and diseases. Thus, new approaches in cultivar choice guidance, in the sustainable orchard management and even in nut storage and kernel quality evaluation are urgently required to improve the hazelnut production and processing chain. The main objective of this study was to systematize the published information regarding recent findings about the cultural operations that directly influence nut and kernel quality, support varietal choice for new plantations, and list the recent advances in nut storage and in quality and safety evaluation. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Gain ripple minimisation and higher-order modes in semiconductor optical amplifiers

Theoretical results are presented about the gain ripple performance of various structures proposed to obtain true travelling-wave operation in optical semiconductor laser amplifiers. Higher-order transverse modes are shown to limit the efficiency of antireflection mechanisms, especially in the case of misaligned stripes.<>     

Technique of vascular reconstructive bench surgery in pancreas transplantation

Vascular reconstructive bench surgery has become a basic step in pancreas transplantation, in order to prevent vascular thrombosis. The Authors describe their experience, also reporting literature results.     

Nitrooxyacyl derivatives of salicylic acid: aspirin-like molecules that covalently inactivate cyclooxygenase-1

A recently described series of nitrooxyacyl derivatives of salicylic acid, displaying aspirin‐like anti‐inflammatory and platelet anti‐aggregatory properties, were evaluated for their abilities to inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX). A number of these compounds irreversibly inhibited both COX‐1 and COX‐2 isoforms when tested in isolated human platelets and monocytes. Further studies using COX‐1 expressed in human HEK293T cells showed that this inhibition mechanism is similar to that of aspirin; namely, the products are able to covalently bind to the Ser 530 residue present in the active cleft of the enzyme. Molecular modeling enabled us to rationalize this behavior. Because these products were previously found to display NO‐dependent properties in rat animal models, particularly as they decreased in vivo gastrotoxicity and induced in vitro vasodilation, they represent a new and interesting class of potential aspirin‐like antithrombotic agents worthy of further study.