Application of a Model Based on the Central Limit Theorem to Predict Growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas</Emphasis> spp. in Fish Meat

The purpose of this research was to develop an alternative approach to construct a primary model to describe microbial growth. This method was based on the use of the Central Limit Theorem to provide a link between the physiological state of individual cells and the specific growth rate of the population. The resulting model included two parameters that are not usually found in classical models: a logarithmic inflection point, which is related to the exponential phase duration, and a new parameter, alpha, ranging from 0 to 1, which can provide a quantitative measurement of the physiological state of the cells. Once the model was constructed, it was applied to both isothermal and non-isothermal growth of Pseudomonas spp. in fish meat and compared to other models commonly used in the literature. The results showed that the model accurately matched the experimental data and that detailed knowledge of this new parameter can provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms that affect bacterial growth.     

Personalized Cardio‐Metabolic Responses to an Anti‐Inflammatory Nutrition Intervention in Obese Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial

1 Scope

Chronic inflammation and hypoadiponectinemia are characteristics of obesity‐induced insulin resistance (IR). The effect of an anti‐inflammatory nutrition supplement (AINS) on IR and adiponectin biology in overweight adolescents was investigated. The secondary objective was to examine the extent to which individuals’ biomarker profiles, derived from baseline phenotypes, predicted response or not to the AINS. Additionally, the impact of DNA methylation on intervention efficacy was assessed.

2 Methods and results

Seventy overweight adolescents (13–18 years) were recruited to this randomized controlled crossover trial. Participants received an AINS (long chain n‐3 PUFA, vitamin C, α‐tocopherol, green tea extract, and lycopene) and placebo for 8 weeks each. Homeostatic model assessment (HOMA)‐IR, adiponectin, inflammatory profiles, and DNA methylation were assessed. HOMA‐IR was unchanged in the total cohort. High‐molecular‐weight (HMW) adiponectin was maintained following the AINS while it decreased over time following the placebo intervention. HOMA‐IR decreased in 40% of subjects (responders) following the AINS. Responders’ pretreatment phenotype was characterized by higher HOMA‐IR, total and LDL cholesterol, but similar BMI in comparison to nonresponders. HMW adiponectin response to the AINS was associated with bidirectional modulation of adipogenic gene methylation.

3 Conclusion

The AINS modulated adiponectin biology, an early predictor of type 2 diabetes risk, was associated with bidirectional modulation of adipogenic gene methylation in weight‐stable overweight adolescents. HOMA‐IR decreased in a sub‐cohort of adolescents with an adverse metabolic phenotype. Thus, suggesting that more stratified or personalized nutrition approaches may enhance efficacy of dietary interventions.     

Sorption isotherms and thermodynamic properties of grated Parmesan cheese

This study focuses on isotherms, isosteric heat of sorption and enthalpy–entropy mechanism of water sorption of grated Parmesan cheese at simulating conditions of storage and drying processes. Isotherms were determined by gravimetric method using different saturated salt solutions. Samples were submitted to different temperatures, and several models were used to fit experimental data, GAB and modified GAB being those which best represented experimental data in all temperature ranges. The isosteric heat of sorption was calculated by Clausius–Clapeyron equation, and higher values of integral isosteric sorption heat were verified for storage temperatures. Besides it, both conditions showed higher values of sorption heat corresponding to low water content. This phenomenon was supported by the enthalpy–entropy compensation study, which demonstrated a higher spontaneity of water sorption for storage temperatures, confirming that the lower the water content of food products is, the stronger the intermolecular bonds of water are.     

Bifurcaria bifurcata: a key macro‐alga as a source of bioactive compounds and functional ingredients

The aim of this work was to study the proximate composition and the bioactive profile of Bifurcaria bifurcata. It contains 73.31 ± 0.69% of moisture, 8.57 ± 0.11 g per 100 g dry weight (d.w.) of protein, 5.81 ± 0.14 g per 100 g d.w. of lipid content and 30.15 ± 0.00 g per 100 g d.w. of ash. The polyunsaturated fatty acids were the most abundant fatty acid (FA), accounting for 2426.56 mg per 100 g which represents 41.77% of the total FA. The methanolic fraction showed high quantity of polyphenols (220.01 ± 0.010 phloroglucinol equivalents g^?1 extract), DPPH radical reduction capacity (EC₅₀:58.82 μg mL^?1) and oxygen radical absorbent capacity (3151.35 ± 119.33 μmol Trolox equivalents g^?1 extract). The highest antimicrobial effect was observed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11.3 ± 1.5 mm) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (IC₅₀:17.07 μg mL^?1) induced by methanolic and dichloromethane fractions, respectively. Dichloromethane fraction revealed the highest antitumor activity on Caco‐2 and HepG‐2 cells. Bifurcaria bifurcata can be a promising source of bioactive compounds and functional ingredients.     

Effect of harvesting stress and storage conditions on protein degradation in fillets of farmed gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata): A differential scanning calorimetry study

A trial was undertaken to evaluate Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) as a fast analytical tool to differentiate gilthead seabream subjected to variable conditions of slaughter stress and post-mortem storage. Fish were subjected to different harvesting stress conditions: profound anaesthesia (PA, low stress) and net crowding (NC, high stress). Fish were slaughtered in an ice-salt water slurry, and subsequently stored on ice (7 days). Additional NC fish were frozen (−20 °C) and subjected to a freeze–thaw cycle. Dorsal muscle was assessed for cathepsins activity, liquid loss and DSC analysis. It is demonstrated that DSC analysis is capable of differentiating fresh, frozen and thawed-re-frozen fish, while liquid loss and cathepsin B activity are good markers to distinguish fresh from frozen fish. Harvesting stress had little effect on myosin and actin enthalpy transitions, as observed by DSC at 49 and 74 °C, respectively, but a lower ΔH actin/myosin ratio was found in PA fish, suggesting that intense exercise prior to slaughter promoted partial denaturation of muscle myosin.     

Inverse design methodology to optimize sensible thermal energy storage systems working as rectifiers

The main goal of this paper is to present a methodology to achieve the optimal design of a sensible thermal energy storage system (T3S) working as a thermal rectifier. The system was composed by the heat storage material (HSM), distributed in a set of flat parallel plates, and the working fluid, both modeled by a simplified lumped element model (LEM). The ratio of operational outlet temperature range to source temperature oscillation is defined as the designed rectifying duty. Optimization procedure combines a one‐factor‐at‐a‐time (OFAT) and line search strategies in order to find optimal T3S design that satisfies the designed rectifying duty with the minimum HSM mass. The inverse design philosophy is applied to the optimal results to generalize the T3S dynamic behavior as functions fitting curves of the number of transfer unit (NTU) and the time constant τ . These fitting curves can be used to identify T3S geometric parameters, HSM thermal properties, fluid inlet conditions, among others, which guarantee the outlet fluid temperature to be found within the operational range with the minimum HSM mass. A three step‐by‐step sequence design methodology is presented and detailed, based on design charts from the NTU and τ correlations. The proposed design methodology is able to find the optimal plate length L, plate thickness e_s , and plate distance e_f that satisfies the designed rectifying duty for three test cases. These optimal T3S designs are simulated in a computer fluid dynamics (CFD) code, with deviations below 1.5% between the designed rectifying duty and the one simulated. With the proposed approach, several design solutions or configurations can be found for T3S operating as a thermal rectifier based on NTU and τ fitting curves submitted to a sinusoidal cyclic temperature input and with constant and uniform HSM and fluid properties.