Loss Of Quality Research Articles

A Good Diagnosis Saves Lives: The Importance of Teledermatology: Case Report

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is one of the most prevalent subcutaneous mycoses, caused by melanized or pigmented fungi. Considered a tropical or subtropical disease, commonly seen in rural areas after traumatic inoculation, mostly associated with agriculture. The lesions tend to present on the limbs and follow a chronic and progressive pattern, which if left untreated or misdiagnosed can lead to loss of functionality and lower quality of life. Teledermatology (TD) has been used mainly to diagnose, monitor and treat patients at distance in neglected areas. Guatemala has a vast rural area and despite the efforts from both private and public sectors, we still cannot reach all the patients and not all the patients can reach us. We present a case report on how with the aid of teledermatology a life was changed for the good.

Overcoming fixation and permeabilization challenges in flow cytometry by optical barcoding and multi-pass acquisition.

The fixation and permeabilization of cells are essential for labeling intracellular biomarkers in flow cytometry. However, these chemical treatments often alter fragile targets, such as cell surface and fluorescent proteins (FPs), and can destroy chemically-sensitive fluorescent labels. This reduces measurement accuracy and introduces compromises into sample workflows, leading to losses in data quality. Here, we demonstrate a novel multi-pass flow cytometry approach to address this long-standing problem. Our technique utilizes individual cell barcoding with laser particles, enabling sequential analysis of the same cells with single-cell resolution maintained. Chemically-fragile protein markers and their fluorochrome conjugates are measured prior to destructive sample processing and adjoined to subsequent measurements of intracellular markers after fixation and permeabilization. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique in accurately measuring intracellular FPs and methanol-sensitive antigens and fluorophores, along with various surface and intracellular markers. This approach significantly enhances assay flexibility, enabling accurate and comprehensive cellular analysis without the constraints of conventional one-time measurement flow cytometry. This innovation paves new avenues in flow cytometry for a wide range of applications in immuno-oncology, stem cell research, and cell biology.

Real world economic evaluation of CT-FFR in patients with suspected coronary artery disease

Abstract Background Incorporation of CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) enhances the precision of Coronary CT Angiography (CCTA) to detect hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the financial consequences remain unclear. Purpose Our objective is to assess the economic implications of CT-FFR in the Dutch Healthcare system. Methods This retrospective, single-center cost effectiveness analysis includes patient data of a previously published study assessing the impact of routine CT-FFR availability on clinical management. We collected medical resource use for both diagnostic and therapeutic cardiovascular care with a follow-up duration of 1 year. Costs of CT-FFR analysis were set at €1000, its current price for Dutch hospitals. Median total costs at were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, including a sensitivity analysis in which cost estimations (without registered maximum tariffs) were increased or decreased with 10%. Results A total of 360 patients, classified as having low to intermediate risk of CAD, were enrolled in the study – 224 in the CCTA group and 136 in the CT-FFR group. In addition to undergoing more (invasive) diagnostic testing and revascularization procedures over the studied period, patients in the CCTA-group had more outpatient clinic consultations (p<0.001), presented more frequently to the emergency department (p=0.035) and spend more nights in the hospital (p=0.11). Median costs were €3.347 (IQR €1.066 – €4.862) in the CCTA-group and €1.436 (IQR €1.362 - €3.943) in the CT-FFR group (p=0.091). Increasing cost estimation with 10% revealed a median of €3.431 in the CCTA-group versus €1.479 in the CT-FFR group (p=0.078), decreasing with 10% showed median costs of €3.263 in the CCTA-group and €1.392 in the CT-FFR group (p=0.118). In our sample, CT-FFR guided care would have been significantly cheaper than CCTA-guided care at or below a market price of €770. Conclusion Despite the significant reduction in additional diagnostic testing and hospital visits in the CT-FFR group, CT-FFR guided care was not cheaper than CCTA-guided care at its current market price of €1.000. Economic cost-effectiveness would have occurred from a price of €770 per analysis. The large difference between medians suggests that the lack of significance might partially be attributed to insufficient power in this relatively small sample size. Additionally, this study did not account for costs associated with loss of productivity and quality of life. However, less additional diagnostic testing, less revascularization procedures and less hospital consultations and admissions leads to reduction in hospital resource consumption and patient burden, which is an important advantage of CT-FFR as the number of referred patients increases yearly.

Exploring changes in the distribution of health status in type 2 diabetes over time - methodological aspects for estimating years lost due to disability for Germany

Abstract Knowledge of the severity distribution (SD) of certain diseases is crucial for calculating the years lost due to disability (YLD), as the time spent with a disease is explicitly weighted on the health state level. Depending on the disease, different severity levels are considered. In most cases, the SDs vary from mild, moderate, severe to most severe. This is different in the context of diabetes, where an explicit distinction is made according to the sequelae resulting from the disease progression. In general, these include diabetic neuropathy (with foot ulcers or amputations) and (mild or moderate) vision impairments including blindness due to diabetic retinopathy. These complications cause a considerable loss of quality of life for those affected and high costs for the healthcare system. However, the progression of many of the sequelae can be avoided through (secondary) preventive measures. Estimating the degree of severity is therefore an important indicator of the population affected and in need for care. Due to a lack of data, the Global Burden of Disease Study often uses time-invariant and regionally fixed SDs. Important insights as to the temporal variance of SDs thus remain unnoticed. As part of the BURDEN 2020 pilot project in Germany, SD for diabetes-related complications were estimated from routine health insurance data for the year 2017. In a follow-up project (BURDEN 2.0), these results will also be available for the years 2017 to 2022. If there are any changes in the proportion of individual health conditions, implications can be generated from routine healthcare data of those affected. The SDs overall and according to certain sequelae will be presented over time and discussed. Also, the resulting YLD over time for type 2 diabetes will be examined, including changes in the prevalence of the disease. This makes it possible to analyse and interpret the burden of disease due to diabetes during the years 2017 to 2022.

Nuclease‐Resistant L‐DNA Tension Probes Enable Long‐Term Force Mapping of Single Cells and Cell Consortia

AbstractDNA‐based tension probes with precisely programmable force responses provide important insights into cellular mechanosensing. However, their degradability in cell culture limits their use for long‐term imaging, for instance, when cells migrate, divide, and differentiate. This is a critical limitation for providing insights into mechanobiology for these longer‐term processes. Here, we present DNA‐based tension probes that are entirely designed based on the stereoisomer of biological D‐DNA, i.e., L‐DNA. We demonstrate that L‐DNA tension probes are essentially indestructible by nucleases and provide days‐long imaging without significant loss in image quality. We also show their superiority already for short imaging times commonly used for classical D‐DNA tension probes. We showcase the potential of these resilient probes to image minute movements, and for generating long term force maps of single cells and of collectively migrating cell populations.

Mathematical modelling, energy consumption, and quality evaluation of wheat seeds subjected to intermittent drying

AbstractThis work aims to evaluate the kinetic profile of intermittent drying of wheat seeds using traditional models from the literature and the fractional calculus technique. Furthermore, it aims to verify the application of the intermittent drying process on the amount of antioxidant compounds, protein, and lipid content of the grain, in addition to energy consumption to obtain the desired final moisture content of the wheat. It was verified that the prediction of drying kinetics by Page and fraction order models were similar (modelling efficiency varying between the range of 0.917–0.995, varying the drying condition and wheat cultivar). Regarding antioxidant compounds for the three wheat cultivars, it can be seen that the higher fraction of ethanol (74.0% and 90.36%) used for extraction had greater process efficiency. Regarding the protein content in the three wheat cultivars, lower drying temperatures and intermittency periods result in lower quality losses of material (12.3% for BRS‐Atobá wheat, 9.89% for BRS‐Jacana wheat, and 18.71% for BRS‐Sanhaço wheat). In terms of lipids, it was found that the influence of temperature was greater on the lipid content than on the protein content of the material (for the best drying condition, there were percentage decreases for the best condition of 36.16% for the BRS‐Atobá wheat, 34.9% for BRS‐Jacana, and 52.2% for BRS‐Sanhaço). Regarding energy consumption during the drying process, it can be seen that the conditions used for intermittency and drying time, in addition to the sample conditions, directly impact energy consumption.

Dynamics of fermentation quality, bacterial communities, and fermentation weight loss during fermentation of sweet sorghum silage

BackgroundSweet sorghum is used mainly as an energy crop and feed crop in arid and semiarid regions, and ensiling is a satisfactory method for preserving high-quality sweet sorghum. The aim of this study was to reveal the dynamics of the fermentation quality, bacterial communities, and fermentation weight loss (FWL) of sweet sorghum silage during fermentation.MethodsSweet sorghum was harvested at the first inflorescence spikelet stage and ensiled without (CK) or with lactic acid bacterial (LAB) additives (L). After ensiling, samples were collected on days 0, 1, 3, 5, 15, 40, and 100 to assess the fermentation quality, bacterial communities, and FWL.ResultsFor CK and L, on day 1, the pH was 5.77 and 5.57, respectively, and the lactic acid (LA) was 1.30 and 2.81 g/kg dry matter (DM), respectively. Compared with CK, L had a lower pH and higher LA from days 1 to 5 (P < 0.05), a lower FWL from days 5 to 100 (P < 0.05), and a greater abundance of Lactiplantibacillus from days 1 to 15 (P < 0.05). The main bacterial genera were Leuconostoc and Weissella in CK and Lactiplantibacillus, Leuconostoc, and Weissella in L on day 1; Lactiplantibacillus in all silages from days 3 to 40; and Lactiplantibacillus and Lentilactobacillus in all silages on day 100.ConclusionsSweet sorghum silage fermented relatively slowly during the first day. Moreover, inoculation with LAB accelerated fermentation and optimized bacterial communities during the initial fermentation phase. Inoculation with LAB also reduced the silage FWL, and the LAB succession relay occurred in the silage throughout the fermentation process.

Nutrition and Physical Activity in Older Adults with CKD patients: Two Sides of the Same Coin.

Nutrition and physical activity are two major issues in the management of CKD patients who are often older, have comorbidities and are prone to malnutrition and physical inactivity, conditions that cause loss of quality of life and increase the risk of death. We performed a multidimensional assessment of nutritional status and of physical performance and activity in CKD patients on conservative therapy in order to assess the prevalence of sedentary behaviour and its relationship with body composition. 115 consecutive stable CKD patients aged 45-80 years were included in the study. They had no major skeletal, muscular or neurological disabilities. All patients underwent a multidimensional assessment of body composition, physical activity and exercise capacity. Sedentary patients, as defined by mean daily METs &lt; 1.5 were older and differed from non-sedentary patients in terms of body composition, exercise capacity and nutrient intake, even after adjusting for age. Average daily METs were positively associated with lean body mass, muscle strength, 6-MWT performance, but negatively associated with fat body mass, body mass index and waist circumference. In addition, a sedentary lifestyle may have negative effects on free fat mass, muscle strength and exercise capacity, and may increase fat body mass. Conversely, s decrease in muscle mass and/or an increase in fat mass may lead to a decrease in physical activity and exercise capacity. There is a clear association and potential interrelationship between nutritional aspects and exercise capacity in older adults with CKD: they are really the two sides of the same coin.

Status and Integrated Management of White Mango Scale on Mango (&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Mangifera indica&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; L.) in Ethiopia: A Review

Mango is attacked by many insect pests which reduce the quality and productivity of the crop. Among the insect pests attacking mango plant, white mango scale is the most devastating insect pest. White mango scale is a new insect pest and a major problem of mango production in Ethiopia. It has been determined that the white mango scale is a new, quickly increasing, and devastating insect pest of mango. It emerged as an upsetting insect pest that now harms mango output, resulting in 50 to 100% losses and forcing the plant out of production in the majority of Ethiopian mango-growing regions. Because there are fewer quarantine restrictions and easier applicability through transport agents, the insect has spread quickly across the country since it was first discovered in 2010. In a short period of time, the insect invaded nearly all of Ethiopia&amp;apos;s mango-growing regions, and the country was placed on the list of countries affected with the new white mango scale. Its polyphagous behavior and sucking the plant sap, the insect pest severely harms mango shoots, twigs, leaves, branches, and fruits, which results in significant fruit quality and quantity losses. The insect&amp;apos;s hard white scales make it difficult to control with chemical pesticides, in addition to other uncontrolled activities. Although no recognized chemical control methods for the white mango scale are successful, other management strategies for the pest include cultural, biological, chemical, and integrated pest management. White mango scale damage had an impact on the economy, society, environment, and other factors. Therefore, urgently coordinated actions against this uncontrolled white-scale dissemination and the harm it causes in Ethiopia are required.

Impact of a Topical Cosmetic Product Intended to Promote the Health and Appearance of Women’s Hair

Daily application of the topical botanical product over four weeks resulted in significant differences in hair quality and hair loss in otherwise healthy women with hair quality dissatisfaction

A Review on Nanotechnological Approaches for the Management of Stored Insect-Pests: Present Scenario and Future Prospects

Approximately 10% to 30% of the stored agricultural produce is damaged out of which 26% is due to insect-pest infestation thus seriously impacting the food security. The infestation also leads to loss of quality and thereby affecting the overall profitability. In absence of enough storage space, usually farmers dispose-off their produce immediately after harvest and thus do not get remunerative prices. For those opting for storage, physical and chemical methods are in vogue to manage the storage insect-pests. Fumigation with chemical pesticides such as methyl bromide and aluminium phosphide is a common method, though it has its own health and environmental risks. Inhalation of phosphine gas released when aluminium phosphide is used could seriously affect human animal health, sometimes leading to deaths. Thus for using these fumigants, strict supervision of government recognized experts is required. Due to their wide usage, some insect-pests have developed resistance against these molecules. Nanotechnology has created numerous new opportunities in agriculture and allied sectors. Insecticide formulations based on nanotechnology could be a viable alternative to toxic chemicals like aluminium phosphide to manage storage insect-pests. In recent years, a variety of formulations including solid nanopesticides, controlled-release formulations, nano-emulsions, and nano-suspensions have been developed possessing different modes of actions and applications. Their small size is a significant advantage because it provides higher insect-body surface area coverage and thus enhanced efficacy as compared to traditional pesticides. Aside from their small size, they are reported to be safe for non-target beneficial organisms. Nano-pesticides can thus prove as effective and eco-friendly alternatives for insect pest control in storage. However, there is a need to establish their safety on the human and animal ecosystems to rule out their ecological hazards over time. In absence of such information, nanopesticides will not be widely accepted despite their other beneficial effects. In this article, an effort is made to review the current status of nano-formulations for the management of storage-insect-pests, the research and extension gaps and ways to bridge the gaps to ensure safe use of the technology for efficient management of postharvest storage losses.

Preservative Effect of Alga Flour Extract on Frozen Horse Mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) Lipids.

The aim of this study was to investigate the preservative properties of alga Gelidium sp. flour when included in the glazing medium employed for the frozen storage (-18 °C) of horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus). Different concentrations (low, medium, and high) of an aqueous extract were tested and compared to a control water-glazing condition. Quality changes (lipid oxidation and hydrolysis, fatty acid (FA) profile, and trimethylamine (TMA) formation) were determined after 3- and 6-month storage periods. A general quality loss (lipid oxidation with hydrolysis development and TMA formation) with the frozen storage period was detected in all samples. The presence of an alga flour (AF) extract in the glazing medium led to a lower (p < 0.05) TBARS and fluorescent compound formation and to higher (p < 0.05) polyene values in frozen fish. Furthermore, a preserving effect on free fatty acids was detected in AF-treated fish. On the contrary, the AF-glazing treatment did not affect (p > 0.05) the TMA formation and the total n3/total n6 FA ratio. In general, preservative effects were found to be higher in frozen fish corresponding to the medium concentration tested. Current results show the potential of Gelidium sp. flour as a natural source of preservative hydrophilic compounds for the quality enhancement of frozen horse mackerel.

The optimal way to use geoinformation systems with graphical elements of symbols of veterinary significant objects in vector format

A significant problem in the field of standardization in the monitoring of infectious animal diseases is the lack of a system of conventional symbols of veterinary significant objects used in geoinformation technologies, in particular in digital and electronic cartography. The object of the study is the conventional signs of veterinary significant objects, which in the context of display on digital maps can be defined as "non–scalable", marked with corresponding pictograms. A systematic approach has been applied as a methodological basis for the epizootological research method. The basic graphic format of the proposed SVG symbols is used – (Scalable Vector Graphics), which is a modern generally accepted vector format. This article presents the results of cartographic display of pictograms of one of the three sets of symbols for the database – veterinary facilities for various purposes – for which the method of selecting basic signs is used. An algorithm for fixing elements of symbols of veterinary significant objects in the vector format of the SVG geoinformation system with maximum use of free software and secure information technologies is presented. Images in SVG format can be directly represented in current GIS and converted to almost any vector and raster formats without loss of image quality. The algorithm for developing a system of symbols for veterinary significant objects will be used in the Draft of the preliminary national standard in the future.

Estimation of Interferences in Magnetoencephalography (MEG) Brain Data Using Intelligent Methods for BCI-based Neurorehabilitation Applications

&lt;p&gt;Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) neurorehabilitation offers the potential to improve recovery and quality of life for stroke survivors. It aims to restore lost physical and mental abilities through motor and cognitive therapies. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) signals are a major advancement in BCI technology as they provide accurate and consistent assessments of brain activity for control and interaction applications. MEG is indispensable for recording the magnetic fields produced in the brain during motor imagery tasks due to its capability to evaluate cerebral activity with remarkable temporal resolution. However, one of the major challenges associated with MEG recording is the loss of signal quality due to physiological artifacts and ambient noise. Additionally, the head movement of the individual during the recording process can result in the introduction of artifacts into the recorded data, which can distort the spatial mapping of brain activity. This, in turn, can jeopardize the reliability and accuracy of the results obtained. This study aims to identify the most effective technique for removing artifacts from MEG signals by conducting a comparative performance analysis of prominent denoising algorithms, such as Infomax, FastICA, SOBI, and SWT. The findings conclude that Infomax is the most effective algorithm for removing physiological artifacts from a signal while maintaining the integrity and essential features of the original data. FastICA was found to be the second most effective algorithm. Infomax outperformed FastICA in Power Spectral Density (PSD) and Percentage Root mean square error Difference (PRD) measurements.&lt;/p&gt;

CaARP1/CaSGT1 Module Regulates Vegetative Growth and Defense Response of Pepper Plants against Phytophthora capsici

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) suffers severe quality and yield loss from oomycete diseases caused by Phytophthora capsici. CaSGT1 was previously determined to positively regulate the immune response of pepper plants against P. capsici, but by which mechanism remains elusive. In the present study, the potential interacting proteins of CaSGT1 were isolated from pepper using a yeast two-hybrid system, among which CaARP1 was determined to interact with CaSGT1 via bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) and microscale thermophoresis (MST) assays. CaARP1 belongs to the auxin-repressed protein family, which is well-known to function in modulating plant growth. The transcriptional and protein levels of CaARP1 were both significantly induced by infection with P. capsici. Silencing of CaARP1 promotes the vegetative growth of pepper plants and attenuates its disease resistance to P. capsici, as well as compromising the hypersensitive response-like cell death in pepper leaves induced by PcINF1, a well-characterized typical PAMP from P. capsici. Chitin-induced transient expression of CaARP1 in pepper leaves enhanced its disease resistance to P. capsici, which is amplified by CaSGT1 co-expression as a positive regulator. Taken together, our result revealed that CaARP1 plays a dual role in the pepper, negatively regulating the vegetative growth and positively regulating plant immunity against P. capsici in a manner associated with CaSGT1.

Feasibility Assessment of Rapid Response EEG in the Identification of Nonconvulsive Seizures During Military Medical Air Transport.

Traumatic brain injury often requires neurologic care and specialized equipment, not often found downrange. Nonconvulsive seizures (NCSs) and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) occur in up to 30% of patients with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury and is associated with a 39% morbidity and an 18% mortality. It remains difficult to identify at bedside because of the heterogeneous clinical manifestations. The primary diagnostic tool is an electroencephalogram (EEG) which is large, requires an external power source, and requires a specialized technician and neurologist to collect and interpret the data. Rapid response EEG (rr-EEG) is an FDA-approved device that is pocket sized and battery powered and uses a disposable 10-electrode headset. Prior studies have demonstrated the noninferiority of rr-EEG in the identification of NCSE and NCS as compared to conventional EEG in hospitals. An unanswered question is whether rr-EEG could be used in the identification of NCSE and NCS by medics. In conjunction with the Critical Care Air Transport (CCAT) team, a simulation was created and implemented on a CCAT training mission. The simulation team included a neurology resident, who oversaw the simulation, a pulmonary critical care fellow, an intensive care unit nurse, and a respiratory therapy. A survey was provided before and after the simulation. The team was expected to review the rr-EEG to make clinical decisions during ground transport, takeoff, and landing. The neurology resident monitored and recorded the team's ability to distinguish between NCS and a normal EEG. In between, the neurology resident monitored the quality of the EEG for potential interference and loss of quality. The CCAT team was able to efficiently set up the rr-EEG on a patient manikin, correctly identify visual EEG wave forms of a patient in NCS, and utilize the proprietary audio program of a simulated patient in NCS. The team reported that the device was easily set up in the environment, and the data were interpretable despite vibration, aircraft auditory and electrical noise, and the ergonomics of the aircraft medical section. This pilot study has validated a potentially revolutionary technology in medical transport. The rr-EEG technology is measurably user-friendly and will improve patient outcomes. This device and simulation can reduce time to an EEG by hours to days allowing for immediate treatment and intervention, which can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality.

Soil Microorganism Interactions under Biological Fumigations Compared with Chemical Fumigation.

Biological fumigation, a potential alternative to chemical fumigation, shows a wide range of prospective applications. In this study, we carried out biological fumigation experiments to evaluate its effect on alleviating consecutive cropping problems (CRPs) when compared with chemical fumigation. We designed five treatments, namely, CR (no treatment), LN (chemical fumigation with lime nitrogen), Ta (fumigation with marigold), Ra (fumigation with radish), and Br (fumigation with mustard), for soils for replanting eggplant and measured the crop's growth status, soil bacterial and fungal communities, and soil physicochemical properties. The results showed that the Br and Ra treatments formed similar microbial communities, while the Ta treatment formed unique microbial communities. The genera Olpidiomycota and Rozellomycota could be used as indicator species for the transformation process of soil microbial communities after the Br and Ta treatments, respectively. When compared with the CR and LN treatments, the soil's physicochemical properties were optimized under the Br treatment, and the soil organic matter content increased by 64.26% and 79.22%, respectively. Moreover, under the Br treatment, the soil's biological properties enhanced the bacterial and fungal alpha diversity, and the saprotrophic fungi increased with the depletion of pathotrophic fungi, while some specific probiotic microorganisms (such as Olpidiomycota, Microascales, Bacillus, etc.) were significantly enriched. In contrast, under the Ta treatment, soil nutrient levels decreased and the soil's biological indices deteriorated, whereas the bacterial diversity decreased and the pathogenic fungi increased. Among these three biological fumigation methods, the Br pre-treatment was the best way to alleviate the crop's CRPs and may be a good substitute for chemical fumigation in some situations. However, the Ta treatment also had some risks, such as the loss of land quality and reduced productivity.

Artefacts on magnetic resonance imaging with Osia®2 bone conduction hearing aid: A cadaver study

Objectives: Hearing implants often limit the assessment of magnetic resonance examinations due to susceptibility artefacts. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of artefacts attributed to the Osia®2 implant system in terms of utility in visualizing selected cranial structures. Methods: A BI300 implant and an OSI200 actuator were implanted into a human cadaver head in the audiologically most favourable position according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Scanning was accomplished using the institutional head and inner ear protocol with a General Electric 1.5 Tesla scanner with retained and removed implant magnet, extended with T1 and T2 weighted sequences with metal-artefact reduction (MAVRIC SL). Image quality was evaluated by three radiologists. Results: The Osia®2 produced significant artefacts in most of the series of standard imaging sequences predominantly on the ipsilateral side of the head. The majority of the artefacts were caused by the implant magnet. Even without removing the magnet, MAVRIC SL improved image quality to such an extent that it became comparable with that after magnet removal. Conclusions: The standard sequences suffer considerable quality loss due to the artefacts, attributed predominantly to the magnetic component. Metal-artefact reduction sequences are effective in obtaining sufficient-to-good quality images without surgical magnet removal.

Dual purpose of superheated steam treatment: Inactivating surface pathogens of pork belly and replacing blanching

Superheated steam (SHS) treatment is increasingly recognised as an emerging thermal sterilisation technology in food processing because of its high energy efficiency, time-saving benefits and minimal quality loss in raw materials. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of SHS treatment as a high-temperature pre-treatment approach for eliminating foodborne pathogens on the surface of pork belly and to determine its impact on nutritional quality. The SHS treatment at 180 °C and 25 kg h−1 for 50 s achieved sterilisation rates of 98.15% ± 1.70%, 96.59% ± 1.40% and 91.30% ± 2.14% for Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively, which were three times higher than those achieved by microwave (MIC) sterilisation (700 W, 20 s). Furthermore, SHS-treated pork belly exhibited the highest moisture content and lowest cooking loss, with no significant changes in pressing loss and pH values. Compared with samples treated with MIC and blanching (99 °C ± 1 °C, 2 min), those treated with SHS showed significantly lower TBARS value and protein carbonyl content, with an increasing trend in L∗ values. Meanwhile, SHS treatment not only preserved the tenderness of the pork belly to the greatest extent but also yielded the highest sensory score of 7.81 out of 9. These findings indicate the potential of SHS treatment in producing premium-quality pasteurised pork belly.

Investigating the physical characteristics and antibacterial properties of the cork back from Quercus variabilis

This study presents for the first time results on structure feature, basic physical properties, torrefaction treatment, adsorption property, component content and antimicrobial properties of the cork back from Quercus variabilis. The cork back consisted of numerous white stone cell bundles with a dense and firm texture and irregularly shaped cells exhibiting considerable deformation and wrinkles. The cork back had the average density of 0.37 g/cm3, average hardness of 91.60 HA and the average thickness was 31.44 % of the total cork thickness. The average colorimetric parameters values of L*, a*, and b* of the cork back were 21.92, 2.34, and 6.42, respectively. Increasing torrefaction temperature increased the quality loss of the cork back, decreased energy yield and volatile matter content, and increased ash and fixed carbon content. With the elevation of fixed carbon, the higher calorific value of the cork back also increased. Following high-temperature torrefaction at 300 °C, the higher calorific value of cork back was 24.00 MJ/kg which increased by 30.29 % compared to untreated cork back. The cork back powder had significant adsorption performance for methylene blue and the maximum adsorption capacity could reach 511.61 mg/g. Compared with cork，the cork back had a high content of lignin and polysaccharides, with a suberin content of only 4.07 %. The total extractives content in cork back was 7.49 %. The water extractives of the cork back exhibited the most significant inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, with the lowest inhibitory concentration recorded at 2 mg/mL. This research offers essential data for the processing and utilization of the cork back, which contributes to enhance the utilizing efficiency of cork resources.