Azo dyes, including Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow, and Carmoisine, are added to foods to provide color, but they have no value with regard to nutrition, food preservation, or health benefits. Because of ...their availability, affordability, stability, and low cost, and because they provide intense coloration to the product without contributing unwanted flavors, the food industry often prefers to use synthetic azo dyes rather than natural colorants. Food dyes have been tested by regulatory agencies responsible for guaranteeing consumer safety. Nevertheless, the safety of these colorants remains controversial; they have been associated with adverse effects, particularly due to the reduction and cleavage of the azo bond. Here, we review the features, classification, regulation, toxicity, and alternatives to the use of azo dyes in food.
•The availability, affordability, stability and safety of azo dyes make them desirable for food use.•Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow or Carmoisine are the most widely used azo dyes due to their coloring capacity.•The safety of these artificial colorants is controversial due to possible adverse and toxic effects.•Further research on these dyes is needed to provide consistent data, alternatives to their use and safety.
Nanotechnology has opened a new frontier in recent years, capable of providing new ways of controlling and structuring products with greater market value and offering significant opportunities for ...the development of innovative applications in food processing, preservation, and packaging. Macroalgae (MAG) are the major photoautotrophic group of living beings known as a potential source of secondary metabolites, namely phenolic compounds, pigments, and polysaccharides. Biosynthesis based on the abilities of MAG as "nanobiofactories" targets the use of algal secondary metabolites as reducing agents to stabilize nanoparticles (NPs). Nowadays, most of the studies are focused on the use of metal (Ag, Au) and metal-oxide (CuO, ZnO) NPs derived from algae. The eco-friendly biosynthesis of metal NPs reduces the cost and production time and increases their biocompatibility, due to the presence of bioactive compounds in MAG, making them suitable for a wide variety of applications. These compounds have been attributed to the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties responsible for their application through innovative technologies such as nanoencapsulation, nanocomposites, or biosensors in the food industry. Nevertheless, toxicity is a key factor that should be considered, so the applicable regulation needs to guarantee the safe use of metal NPs. Consequently, the aim of this review will be to compile the available information on MAG-mediated metal NPs, their biosynthesis, and potential food applications.
The compatibility between nanotechnology and macroalgae focused on food processing and packaging, understanding, and characterizing the influential factors in the biosynthesis of metallic nanoparticles using macroalgae as precursors and knowing their applicability in the food industry. Created with BioRender.com. Display omitted
•Macroalgae-based metal nanoparticles (NPs) are applied in the food industry.•Biosynthesis of NPs reduces costs and toxicity and increases their biocompatibility.•Biosynthesis factors and characterization tools help to understand NPs properties.•Major applications of NPs in food are based on antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.•Toxicity and regulations should be considered to guarantee the safe use of metal NPs.
Abstract
The contribution of cogeneration plants to a reduction in primary energy consumption will be important not only in lowering emissions to the atmosphere but also in cutting production costs ...by increasing the overall efficiency of fuel conversion to the electricity and heat used by process industries. This paper demonstrates the importance of the interactions of the utility needs of a process with the development and design of a cogeneration system to maximize fuel efficiency and achieve environmental compliance for a chemical plant. The cogeneration system in this project is based on a diesel cycle engine burning heavy fuel oil (HFO), driving an alternator and with an exhaust gas heat recovery boiler supplementary fired with either HFO or natural gas. The normal operation of the cogeneration plant is with the engine running at 95–100 per cent maximum continuous rating (MCR) with the supplementary firing of the boiler modulating to meet the process requirements for saturated steam at 10 barg. In addition to recovering waste heat from the engine exhaust gas (EEG), supplementary firing using the excess oxygen in the exhaust gas enables the process steam required by the plant to be produced without the loss of energy involved in heating combustion air. At the same time the reduced volume of oxygen available to the flame reduces peak temperature and NOx emissions, this being further enhanced by the phased combustion design of the burner. The technology demonstrated in this application is generally as used in gas turbine cogeneration cycles burning natural gas. The use of HFO in this instance necessitated the use of a reciprocating engine driven generator and the development of supplementary firing of the exhaust gases. The successful development of the technology enables this reciprocating engine based cogeneration system to be scaled up or, possibly more importantly, down utilizing HFO, natural gas or renewable derived liquid or gaseous fuels. Its implementation using spark ignition engine generators retrofitted to economic boilers may be one way general industry in the United Kingdom might meet its climate change levy (CCL) targets for energy reduction and help approach the government's carbon reduction requirements.
1. A study of the levels of glycogen and glucose, as well as the activities of glycogen phosphorylase (GPase), glycogen synthetase (GSase), fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase), phosphofructokinase ...(PFK), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), pyruvate kinase (PK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was carried out in livers of domesticated rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) of two different weights small (80 g) and large (140 g) after transfer to seawater (28 p.p.t.) for 21 days. 2. The results indicate that metabolic changes during adaptation of rainbow trout to seawater appear to occur in two stages which, in addition, appear to be size-dependent. 3. During the first stage a clear glycogenolysis (associated with an increase in GPase activity and a decrease in GSase activity) and hyperglycemia were observed both in small and large animals, being higher in the small ones. 4. A seeming increase in gluconeogenesis (as indicated by the activation of FBPase activity) was observed only in large animals. 5. The mobilization of energy reserves could be associated with the increase in energetic demand of the osmoregulatory organs. On the other hand, the second stage indicates that a successful adaptation to seawater did not occur, since the animals ceased to feed from day 7 of the experiment onwards.
Summary
The combination of fludarabine, cytarabine, idarubicin, and granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (FLAG‐Ida) is widely used in relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). We ...retrospectively analysed the results of 259 adult AML patients treated as first salvage with FLAG‐Ida or FLAG‐Ida plus Gentuzumab‐Ozogamicin (FLAGO‐Ida) of the Programa Español de Tratamientos en Hematología (PETHEMA) database, developing a prognostic score system of survival in this setting (SALFLAGE score). Overall, 221 patients received FLAG‐Ida and 38 FLAGO‐Ida; 92 were older than 60 years. The complete remission (CR)/CR with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi) rate was 51%, with 9% of induction deaths. Three covariates were associated with lower CR/CRi: high‐risk cytogenetics and t(8;21) at diagnosis, no previous allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo‐SCT) and relapse‐free interval <1 year. Allo‐SCT was performed in second CR in 60 patients (23%). The median overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort was 0·7 years, with 22% OS at 5‐years. Four independent variables were used to construct the score: cytogenetics, FLT3‐internal tandem duplication, length of relapse‐free interval and previous allo‐SCT. Using this stratification system, three groups were defined: favourable (26% of patients), intermediate (29%) and poor‐risk (45%), with an expected 5‐year OS of 52%, 26% and 7%, respectively. The SALFLAGE score discriminated a subset of patients with an acceptable long‐term outcome using FLAG‐Ida/FLAGO‐Ida regimen. The results of this retrospective analysis should be validated in independent external cohorts.
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the leading cause of acute hepatitis worldwide. The minimum criterion for diagnosis of acute infection is detection of anti‐HEV antibodies, although there are scant data on ...IgM duration. Our aim was to assess the persistence of HEV markers after acute self‐limited hepatitis E. HEV serological tests (IgM by Mikrogen and Wantai and HEV‐Ag) and HEV RNA were carried out in two cohorts: (a) patients with prior acute hepatitis E (ALT >10 x ULN plus positive IgM ± HEV RNA) currently self‐limited and (b) 50 blood donors with positive HEV RNA. Among 25 cases of prior acute hepatitis E, after a median follow‐up of 34 months, all presented undetectable HEV RNA. However, anti‐HEV IgM remained detectable in 14 (56%) by Mikrogen, 6 (24%) by Wantai and none for HEV‐Ag. Anti‐HEV IgM tested positive in 80%‐100% within the second year and 17%‐42% over 3 years later, by Wantai and Mikrogen, respectively. Among HEV RNA‐positive donors, 12 (25%) tested positive for either IgM by Mikrogen or Wantai, 9 (18%) for both and 18 (36%) for HEV‐Ag. HEV‐Ag positivity was more likely as HEV RNA was higher (14% if <2.2 log IU/mL; 64% if RNA ≥ 3.7). Overall, HEV‐Ag performed best, with a positive predictive value of 100% and diagnostic accuracy of 57%. Anti‐HEV IgM exhibited unexpectedly long persistence after a self‐limited acute hepatitis E. HEV‐Ag had the best performance and could be especially useful in settings where HEV RNA is not available.
A method for trace Cd and Pb determination in fresh fish samples by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (ETAAS) has been developed. A preconcentration step was necessary due to the low ...levels of these elements in fresh fish samples. Solid phase extraction (SPE) using ionic imprinted polymers (IIPs) as an adsorbent was selected as the preconcentration technique. The IIPs were prepared via precipitation polymerization using 2-(diethylamino) ethyl metacrilate (DEM) as a monomer and 8-hydroxyquinoline as a complexating agent. The 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and acetonitrile/toluene (3:1) mixture were used as initiator and porogen, respectively. A microwave assisted acid digestion procedure using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide was applied for sample preparation.
The experimental parameters for SPE extraction in column mode, such as pH of the digested sample, sample volume, load rate, and elution rate, have been optimized. The optimum pH for quantitative Cd and Pb retention was 8.5, and the elution was completed with 2mL of 2.0M nitric acid. Cadmium and lead concentrations in the acid extracts were determined by ETAAS using palladium and magnesium nitrates as a chemical modifier. The limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) obtained were 0.15 and 0.52μgL−1 for Cd determination, and 0.50 and 1.68μgL−1 respectively for Pb determination. Taking into account the mass of sample used and the preconcentration factor (12.5), the LODs obtained were 0.21 and 0.67ngg−1 for Cd and Pb respectively. These limits are adequate to determine Cd and Pb at levels lower than the maximum levels allowed in fresh marine products, by the European Union legislation. The optimized method was applied for Cd and Pb determination in different seafood samples, such as squid, hake, sardine, horse mackerel, grouper and gilthead bream, and it was possible to detect both metals in all samples.
•New preconcentration procedures for lead and cadmium in seafood samples•High preconcentration factor•The method showed good reproducibility and sensibility.
Ocean biogeochemistry (OBGC) models span a wide variety of complexities, including highly simplified nutrient-restoring schemes, nutrient-phytoplankton-zooplankton-detritus (NPZD) models that crudely ...represent the marine biota, models that represent a broader trophic structure by grouping organisms as plankton functional types (PFTs) based on their biogeochemical role (dynamic green ocean models) and ecosystem models that group organisms by ecological function and trait. OBGC models are now integral components of Earth system models (ESMs), but they compete for computing resources with higher resolution dynamical setups and with other components such as atmospheric chemistry and terrestrial vegetation schemes. As such, the choice of OBGC in ESMs needs to balance model complexity and realism alongside relative computing cost. Here we present an intercomparison of six OBGC models that were candidates for implementation within the next UK Earth system model (UKESM1). The models cover a large range of biological complexity (from 7 to 57 tracers) but all include representations of at least the nitrogen, carbon, alkalinity and oxygen cycles. Each OBGC model was coupled to the ocean general circulation model Nucleus for European Modelling of the Ocean (NEMO) and results from physically identical hindcast simulations were compared. Model skill was evaluated for biogeochemical metrics of global-scale bulk properties using conventional statistical techniques. The computing cost of each model was also measured in standardised tests run at two resource levels. No model is shown to consistently outperform all other models across all metrics. Nonetheless, the simpler models are broadly closer to observations across a number of fields and thus offer a high-efficiency option for ESMs that prioritise high-resolution climate dynamics. However, simpler models provide limited insight into more complex marine biogeochemical processes and ecosystem pathways, and a parallel approach of low-resolution climate dynamics and high-complexity biogeochemistry is desirable in order to provide additional insights into biogeochemistry-climate interactions.
•High standard methods including resting state functional resonance and clinical measurements.•Study conducted in Latin America with individuals of indigenous and black ancestry.•No Caucasian sample ...of schizophrenia or BD.•Results pointed to a similar pattern of brain connectivity disfunction when compared to the evidence with Caucasian and Asiatic samples of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) exhibited altered activation in several brain areas, including the prefrontal and temporal cortex; however, a less explored topic is how brain connectivity and functional disturbances occur in non-Caucasian samples of SCZ and BD. Individuals with SCZ (n=20), BD (n=21), and healthy controls (HC, n=21) from indigenous and African ethnicity were submitted to clinical screening and functional assessments. Mood, compulsive and psychotic symptoms were also correlated to network dysfunction in each group. Two distinct networks' subcomponents demonstrated significant lower global efficiency (GE) in SCZ versus HC, corresponding to left posterior dorsal attention and medial left ventral attention (VA) networks. Lower GE was found in BD versus controls in four subcomponents, including the left medial and right VA. Higher compulsion scores correlated in BD with lower GE in the left VA, whereas increased report of alcohol abuse was associated with higher GE in left default mode network. Although preliminary, differences in the activation of specific networks, notably the left hemisphere, in SCZ versus controls, and lower activation in VA areas, in BD versus controls. Results highlight default mode and salient network as relevant for the emotional processing of SCZ and BD of indigenous and black ethnicity.
Abstract: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, functional neuroimaging, ethnicity, default network
There is considerable variation in disease behavior among patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 ...(Covid-19). Genomewide association analysis may allow for the identification of potential genetic factors involved in the development of Covid-19.
We conducted a genomewide association study involving 1980 patients with Covid-19 and severe disease (defined as respiratory failure) at seven hospitals in the Italian and Spanish epicenters of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Europe. After quality control and the exclusion of population outliers, 835 patients and 1255 control participants from Italy and 775 patients and 950 control participants from Spain were included in the final analysis. In total, we analyzed 8,582,968 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and conducted a meta-analysis of the two case-control panels.
We detected cross-replicating associations with rs11385942 at locus 3p21.31 and with rs657152 at locus 9q34.2, which were significant at the genomewide level (P<5×10
) in the meta-analysis of the two case-control panels (odds ratio, 1.77; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.48 to 2.11; P = 1.15×10
; and odds ratio, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.20 to 1.47; P = 4.95×10
, respectively). At locus 3p21.31, the association signal spanned the genes
,
,
,
,
and
. The association signal at locus 9q34.2 coincided with the
blood group locus; in this cohort, a blood-group-specific analysis showed a higher risk in blood group A than in other blood groups (odds ratio, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.20 to 1.75; P = 1.48×10
) and a protective effect in blood group O as compared with other blood groups (odds ratio, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.79; P = 1.06×10
).
We identified a 3p21.31 gene cluster as a genetic susceptibility locus in patients with Covid-19 with respiratory failure and confirmed a potential involvement of the ABO blood-group system. (Funded by Stein Erik Hagen and others.).
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