Non-thermal emerging technologies in the sector of food processing have often been cited by researchers as an alternative to conventionally heat treatments for food processing in order to develop ...safe foods with minimal damage to nutritional and sensory properties. Non-thermal emerging technologies for foods processing have been widely developed in Europe and U.S.A. However, the interest in these technologies and commercialisation opportunities started catching up in Latin America. Thus, this review describes the basic principles and main effect of this technologies in the food and the recent scientific reports on its applications and potential advantages of the so-called non-thermal emerging technologies like ultrasound, high hydrostatic pressure, pulsed electric field, ionising radiation and atmospheric cold plasma, as alternative food preservation process. This review focuses on the current status in Latin America of novel non-thermal food processing technologies, highlighting the limits for scaling up to industrial level in order to be commercially successful.
•Development of emerging non-thermal technologies for food processing in Latin America•Constraints for scaling up to industrial level in order to be commercially successful are discussed.•Emerging technologies maintaining sensorial properties and nutritional value in foodstuffs•Consumer's better understanding of emerging technologies could increase their demand.
This review aims to describe the basic principles and applications of novel thermal technologies focusing on studies in Latin American countries with respect to those worldwide to define the current ...needs in research. Definitions, technical characteristics, mechanisms of bacterial inactivation, and potential applications are described, as well as the current status of these technologies and their main challenges for industrialisation. The research advances, as evidenced by the number of publications in international journals, are reviewed with special focus on publications from Latin America. The research on novel thermal emerging technologies for food processing is widely dominated by the USA. In Latin America, this research area is much smaller; however, a vast array of possible applications exists considering the diversity of products in the region, which has not yet been explored.
•Current status of novel thermal food processing are presented.•Applications of novel thermal technologies studies from Latin American are compiled.•MWH is the most studied technology, RFH, IRH and OH are a potential field of study.•In Latin America exists a great potential for new regional applications.•International collaboration is desirable to increase knowledge in Latin America.
The interrelation effect of slaughtering, drying, and defatting methods of BSFL on the oxidative quality of the derived fat was studied. Blanching and freezing were compared as slaughtering methods, ...followed by oven or freeze-drying for drying and mechanical pressing or SFE for defatting. The oxidative state and stability of the extracted fat and defatted meals were monitored immediately after their production, using peroxide value (PV) and Rancimat test, and over 24 weeks of storage. Slaughtering and drying methods had an independent effect on PV, with freezing and freeze-drying being the best methods. Mechanical pressing and SFE were comparable and superior to conventional hexane defatting. Interactions were observed between slaughtering and defatting, drying and defatting, and between all three factors. Generally, freeze-drying combined with any of the slaughtering and defatting methods resulted in the lowest PVs, with mechanical pressing being preferred. Freeze-drying plus mechanical pressing also produced the most stable fats during storage according to the evolution of PV, while the combination of blanching and SFE produced the least stable. A significant correlation was found between the PV at 24 weeks and the antioxidant activity of the fats. Contrary to storage assays, in accelerated Rancimat assays, freeze-dried samples were the least stable, which was partially attributed to the significant correlation with the acid values of the samples. Defatted meals followed a similar pattern to the extracted fat, except for worse oxidation for SFE defatting. Therefore, the different processing methods of slaughtering, drying, and defatting of BSFL differently affect lipid oxidation, with interactions between such successive steps.
The negative consequences of intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) are observed not only in the victims but also in the professionals who work in this field. Self-efficacy has been observed ...as a significant variable in the perception of work efficiency and general well-being, and in coping with work-related stress and burnout syndrome. Thus, we performed a correlational study (N = 200) to examine the mediating role of recovery experiences and emotional exhaustion in the relationship between self-efficacy and psychological well-being in these professionals. The mediating analyses revealed that self-efficacy was related to higher levels of well-being through its effects on the increase in recovery experiences and the decrease in burnout levels. These findings emphasize the need to develop intervention programs aimed at improving self-efficacy these professionals. This is necessary to improve their employment situations, increase their health, and optimize both institutional resources and the quality of the services offered.
Low muscle mass is a common condition in the critically ill population and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic significance of ...low muscle mass using computed tomography (CT) scans in COVID-19 critically ill patients. A second objective was to determine the accuracy and agreement in low muscle mass identification using diverse markers compared to CT as the gold standard.
This was a prospective cohort study of COVID-19 critically ill patients. Skeletal muscle area at the third lumbar vertebra was measured. Clinical outcomes (intensive care unit ICU and hospital length of stay LOS, tracheostomy, days on mechanical ventilation MV, and in-hospital mortality) were assessed. Phase angle, estimated fat-free mass index, calf circumference, and mid-upper arm circumference were measured as surrogate markers of muscle mass.
Eighty-six patients were included (mean age ± SD: 48.6 ± 12.9; 74% males). Patients with low muscle mass (48%) had a higher rate of tracheostomy (50 vs 20%, p = 0.01), prolonged ICU (adjusted HR 0.53, 95%CI 0.30–0.92, p = 0.024) and hospital LOS (adjusted HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.29–0.86, p = 0.014). Bedside markers of muscle mass showed poor to fair agreement and accuracy compared to CT-assessed low muscle mass.
Low muscle mass at admission was associated with prolonged length of ICU and hospital stays. Further studies are needed to establish targeted nutritional interventions to halt and correct the catabolic impact of COVID-19 in critically ill patients, based on standardized and reliable measurements of body composition.
Infidelity is a relational process common in all types of romantic relationships and has been established as one of the main causes of relationship breakdown. However, little is known about this type ...of transgression in adolescent romantic relationships, although it manifests as a fairly frequent behavior involving different motivations. Even less is known about the emotional impact of infidelity on the offending person and its association with hostile behavior and psychological well-being.
Through an experimental study (N = 301 Spanish adolescents (190 female and 111 male;
= 15.59,
= 0.69; range from 15 to 17), we sought to analyze the effect of manipulating two types of motivations for infidelity (sexual vs. emotional dissatisfaction) on negative affect, hostility, and psychological well-being.
The main results revealed that committing infidelity motivated by hypothetical sexual (vs. emotional) dissatisfaction was indirectly related to lower psychological well-being through its effects on increased negative affect and hostility.
Last but not least, we discuss these findings, highlighting the possible implications of infidelity for the psychosocial and psychosexual development of adolescents.
Severe COVID-19 elicits a hyperimmune response frequently amenable to steroids, which in turn increase the risk for opportunistic infections. COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is a ...complication known to be associated with immunomodulatory treatment. The role of cumulative steroid dose in the development of CAPA is unclear. This study evaluates the relationship between cumulative steroid dose in hospitalized individuals with COVID-19 pneumonia and the risk for CAPA.
This retrospective cohort study includes 135 hospitalized patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia at a tertiary centre in north Mexico. Patients who developed CAPA were matched by age and gender to two controls with COVID-19 pneumonia who did not develop CAPA defined and classified as possible, probable, or proven according to 2020 ECMM/ISHAM criteria. Cumulative steroid dose in dexamethasone equivalents was obtained from admission until death, discharge, or diagnosis of CAPA (whichever occurred first). The risk of CAPA by the continuous cumulative steroid dose was assessed using a logistic regression model.
Forty-five patients were diagnosed with CAPA and matched to 90 controls. Mean age was 61 ± 14 years, and 72% were male. Mean cumulative steroid dose was 66 ± 75 mg in patients without CAPA vs 195 ± 226 mg in patients with CAPA (P<0.001). The risk for CAPA increased with higher cumulative dose of steroids (OR 1.0075, 95% CI: 1.0033–1.0116).
Patients who developed CAPA had a history of higher cumulative steroid dose during hospitalization. The risk for CAPA increases ∼8% for every 10 mg of dexamethasone used.
•Magneto-conductive response was detected in carbon nanotubes decorated with platinum.•An alternating magnetic field produces a resonant Aharonov-Bohm effect in the sample.•The magneto-conductivity ...is attributed to a quantum interference through the carbon nanotubes.•Platinum nanoparticles enhanced the plasmonic activity in multiwall carbon nanotubes.
The frequency of an alternating magnetic field acting on multiwall carbon nanotubes decorated with Pt nanoparticles was identified as a change in conductance. The samples were prepared in film form using chemical vapor deposition and Pt nanoparticles were grown with acid precursors. Sample characterizations were analyzed by transmission and scanning electron microscopies. In a conductance dependent temperature measurement, the sample exhibits a non-metallic behavior. A Bode analysis shows a relocation on the controllable poles in the magneto-conductive activity. Moreover, optical nonlinearities were studied by single-beam and two-wave mixing configurations in the nanosecond regime. The optical absorbance dependent on irradiance and magnetic field was analytically described. Significant changes in two-wave mixing experiment were observed by magnetic perturbation. Sensitive magnetoplasmonic interactions by adding Pt nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes were responsible for enhancing magnetic and nonlinear optical effects. Immediate applications for scalable magnetophotonic systems in quantum sensing can be contemplated.
Thin films of ferromagnetic LTP-MnBi (Low Temperature Phase of MnBi) have been grown by magnetron sputtering onto quartz substrates. Two particular issues related to LTP-MnBi have been investigated: ...the strong influence of the growth temperature and the degradation of magnetic properties in time. The temperature dependence on the magnetic, morphological and microstructural properties has been investigated, evidencing drastic changes on the properties of MnBi with small temperature variations. By inducing a gradient of temperature during the growth, two well differentiated regions with different morphology and crystal structure have been observed in a MnBi film sample. On the other hand, aging experiments performed in a different LTP-MnBi sample has led to a notable decrease of 54% in the saturation magnetization after 6 days and a complete loss of ferromagnetic response after 4 months.
Infidelity occurs in adult romantic relationships quite often; however, little is known about this relational phenomenon in the adolescent stage, despite its being a surprisingly common behavior. ...Through a correlational study, we set out to examine how the various documented motivations to engage in an act of infidelity are associated with negative emotional responses, self-esteem, and psychological well-being. In a sample of Spanish adolescents (N = 346 Mage = 15.71, SD = 1.27; range from 13 to 19), results showed that committing an act of infidelity due to sexual or emotional dissatisfaction (vs. neglect and anger) is related to higher levels of psychological well-being by undermining negative affect, thereby increasing the levels of self-esteem. The discussion of the findings emphasizes that infidelity could favor adolescents’ personal growth, because of the need to explore new sensations and feelings that arise during this period.