Summary
This work aimed to incorporate prebiotic FOS from yacon in apple slices using vacuum impregnation (VI). Three FOS concentrations (10.3, 14.1 and 18.9 g per 100 g of dry matter (DM)), two ...temperatures (25 and 35 °C), reuse of extracts and stability of the impregnated slices were evaluated. The highest impregnation level (30.5 g per 100 g DM) was obtained at 35 °C with 14.1% FOS extract while levels of common sugars were reduced. Total phenolics and ABTS antioxidant capacity (AC) slightly decreased while ORAC AC was reduced by 55%. Reuse of the impregnation solution in successive cycles after restoring the FOS level maintained the FOS concentration and profile (GF2–GF7), sugars and phenolic antioxidants. FOS in apple slices remained stable during 4 week storage, while aw, colour and fracture point changed during storage. This work demonstrated the feasibility of yacon FOS to improve the functional properties of dehydrated apple slices.
In this research, the vacuum impregnation of apple slices with FOS extracted from the yacon root (Smallanthus sonchifolius), was studied in order to obtain a fruit snack with prebiotic characteristics. A clarified and decoloured concentrated yacon extract rich in FOS (GF2 to GF7) was obtained and the influence of temperature and FOS concentration of the yacon extract was evaluated. The highest amount of FOS in the impregnated snack was obtained using a yacon extract of 28% soluble solids and 35 °C. In addition, the FOS content remained stable for 4 weeks displaying only small changes in aw, color, pH and texture (measured as fracture point).
Electronic instabilities at the crossing of the Fermi energy with a Van Hove singularity in the density of states often lead to new phases of matter such as superconductivity, magnetism or density ...waves. However, in most materials this condition is difficult to control. In the case of single-layer graphene, the singularity is too far from the Fermi energy and hence difficult to reach with standard doping and gating techniques. Here we report the observation of low-energy Van Hove singularities in twisted graphene layers seen as two pronounced peaks in the density of states measured by scanning tunnelling spectroscopy. We demonstrate that a rotation between stacked graphene layers can generate Van Hove singularities, which can be brought arbitrarily close to the Fermi energy by varying the angle of rotation. This opens intriguing prospects for Van Hove singularity engineering of electronic phases.
This review synthesizes anatomical, anesthetic, surgical, and patient factors that may contribute to neurologic complications associated with peripheral nerve blockade. Peripheral nerves have ...anatomical features unique to a given location that may influence risk of injury. Peripheral nerve blockade-related peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is most severe with intrafascicular injection. Surgery and its associated requirements such as positioning and tourniquet have specific risks. Patients with preexisting neuropathy may be at an increased risk of postoperative neurologic dysfunction. Distinguishing potential causes of PNI require clinical assessment and investigation; a definitive diagnosis, however, is not always possible. Fortunately, most postoperative neurologic dysfunction appears to resolve with time, and the incidence of serious long-term nerve injury directly attributable to peripheral nerve blockade is relatively uncommon. Nonetheless, despite the use of ultrasound guidance, the risk of block-related PNI remains unchanged.
Since the 2008 Practice Advisory, new information has been published, furthering our understanding of the microanatomy of peripheral nerves, mechanisms of peripheral nerve injection injury, toxicity of local anesthetics, the etiology of and monitoring methods, and technologies that may decrease the risk of nerve block-related peripheral nerve injury.
Isolated, atomically thin conducting membranes of graphite, called graphene, have recently been the subject of intense research with the hope that practical applications in fields ranging from ...electronics to energy science will emerge. The atomic thinness, stability and electrical sensitivity of graphene motivated us to investigate the potential use of graphene membranes and graphene nanopores to characterize single molecules of DNA in ionic solution. Here we show that when immersed in an ionic solution, a layer of graphene becomes a new electrochemical structure that we call a trans-electrode. The trans-electrode's unique properties are the consequence of the atomic-scale proximity of its two opposing liquid-solid interfaces together with graphene's well known in-plane conductivity. We show that several trans-electrode properties are revealed by ionic conductance measurements on a graphene membrane that separates two aqueous ionic solutions. Although our membranes are only one to two atomic layers thick, we find they are remarkable ionic insulators with a very small stable conductance that depends on the ion species in solution. Electrical measurements on graphene membranes in which a single nanopore has been drilled show that the membrane's effective insulating thickness is less than one nanometre. This small effective thickness makes graphene an ideal substrate for very high resolution, high throughput nanopore-based single-molecule detectors. The sensitivity of graphene's in-plane electronic conductivity to its immediate surface environment and trans-membrane solution potentials will offer new insights into atomic surface processes and sensor development opportunities.
•Antipyrine, caffeine, carbamazepine, ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazol were completely degraded.•Solar/Fe/H2O2 and solar/Fe/S2O82− system mediated by EDDS have been compared.•Different Fe:EDDS ...ratios, initial iron species and oxidant agents have been tested.•Best ratio for solar/Fe:EDDS/H2O2 was 1:2 and 1:1 for solar/Fe:EDDS/S2O82−.
The main purpose of this pilot plant study was to compare degradation of five microcontaminants (MCs) (antipyrine, carbamazepine, caffeine, ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole at 100 μg/L) by solar photo-Fenton mediated by EDDS and solar/Fe:EDDS/S2O82−. The effects of the Fe:EDDS ratio (1:1 and 1:2), initial iron species (Fe(II) or Fe(III) at 0.1 mM) and oxidizing agent (S2O82− or H2O2 at 0.25–1.5 mM) were evaluated. The higher the S2O82− concentration, the faster MC degradation was, with S2O82− consumption always below 0.6 mM and similar degradation rates with Fe(II) and Fe(III). Under the best conditions (Fe 0.1 mM, Fe:EDDS 1:1, S2O82− 1 mM) antipyrine, carbamazepine, caffeine, ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole at 100 μg/L where 90% eliminated applying a solar energy of 2 kJ/L (13 min at 30 W/m2 solar radiation <400 nm). Therefore, S2O82− promotes lower consumption of EDDS as Fe:EDDS 1:1 was better than Fe:EDDS 1:2. In photo-Fenton-like processes at circumneutral pH, EDDS with S2O82- is an alternative to H2O2 as an oxidizing agent.
•Resting-state EEG explained 60% of the variability in second language learning.•Higher beta and gamma power predicted faster second language acquisition.•Lower delta and theta power predicted with ...faster second language acquisition.•Greater laterality of alpha and beta power predicted faster language learning.•Working memory and fluid intelligence did not predict second language learning.
Understanding the neurobiological basis of individual differences in second language acquisition (SLA) is important for research on bilingualism, learning, and neural plasticity. The current study used quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) to predict SLA in college-aged individuals. Baseline, eyes-closed resting-state qEEG was used to predict language learning rate during eight weeks of French exposure using an immersive, virtual scenario software. Individual qEEG indices predicted up to 60% of the variability in SLA, whereas behavioral indices of fluid intelligence, executive functioning, and working-memory capacity were not correlated with learning rate. Specifically, power in beta and low-gamma frequency ranges over right temporoparietal regions were strongly positively correlated with SLA. These results highlight the utility of resting-state EEG for studying the neurobiological basis of SLA in a relatively construct-free, paradigm-independent manner.
Aims
To identify different types of models used in economic evaluations of smoking cessation, analyse the quality of the included models examining their attributes and ascertain their transferability ...to a new context.
Methods
A systematic review of the literature on the economic evaluation of smoking cessation interventions published between 1996 and April 2015, identified via Medline, EMBASE, National Health Service (NHS) Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED), Health Technology Assessment (HTA). The checklist‐based quality of the included studies and transferability scores was based on the European Network of Health Economic Evaluation Databases (EURONHEED) criteria. Studies that were not in smoking cessation, not original research, not a model‐based economic evaluation, that did not consider adult population and not from a high‐income country were excluded.
Findings
Among the 64 economic evaluations included in the review, the state‐transition Markov model was the most frequently used method (n = 30/64), with quality adjusted life years (QALY) being the most frequently used outcome measure in a life‐time horizon. A small number of the included studies (13 of 64) were eligible for EURONHEED transferability checklist. The overall transferability scores ranged from 0.50 to 0.97, with an average score of 0.75. The average score per section was 0.69 (range = 0.35–0.92). The relative transferability of the studies could not be established due to a limitation present in the EURONHEED method.
Conclusion
All existing economic evaluations in smoking cessation lack in one or more key study attributes necessary to be fully transferable to a new context.
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