Samuelsenjosefsen8053
The changes of volatile composition and other quality traits of blueberry during postharvest storage were investigated. Blueberries were packaged in vented clam-shell containers, and stored at 0 °C for 0, 15 and 60 days, followed by storage at room temperature (25 °C) for up to 8 days for quality evaluation. 2D08 , pH, and total soluble solids increased by 8.42%, 8.92% and 42.9%, respectively, after 60 days of storage at 0 °C. Titratable acidity decreased 18.1% after 60 days of storage at 0 °C. The volatile change was monitored using headspace-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-TOF-MS) and off-odor was evaluated by sensory panel. Volatile compounds generally showed a downward trend during cold storage. However, the subsequent shelf life was the most remarkable period of volatile change, and was represented by the strong fluctuation of ethyl acetate and the rapid decrease of terpenoids. Extending storage from 15 to 60 days under cold condition still resulted in an acceptable odor. However, subsequent storage at higher temperature resulted in a quick deterioration in sensory acceptability. The results proved that cold storage was a reliable way to maintain the quality of blueberry, and flavor deterioration during subsequent shelf life was more fatal to the blueberry flavor.The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) experienced the worst air quality in the world for several consecutive days following the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires. With a focus on asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), this retrospective study examined the neighborhood-level risk factors for these diseases from 2011 to 2013, including household distance to hospital emergency departments (ED) and general practices (GP) and area-level socioeconomic disadvantage and demographic characteristics at a high spatial resolution. Poisson and Geographically Weighted Poisson Regression (GWR) were compared to examine the need for spatially explicit models. GWR performed significantly better, with rates of both respiratory diseases positively associated with area-level socioeconomic disadvantage. Asthma rates were positively associated with increasing distance from a hospital. Increasing distance to GP was not associated with asthma or COPD rates. These results suggest that respiratory health improvements could be made by prioritizing areas of socioeconomic disadvantage. #link# The ACT has a relatively high density of GP that is geographically well spaced. This distribution of GP could be leveraged to improve emergency response planning in the future.We explored the interrelationship between a tissue-specific alternative splicing factor muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1-α (PGC-1α), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) or Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) in C2C12 myotubes and mouse skeletal muscle to investigate a possible physiological role of MBNL1 in mitochondrial-associated apoptosis of skeletal muscle. link2 Expression level of PGC-1α and mitochondrial membrane potential evaluated by the fluorescence ratio of JC-1 aggregate to monomer in C2C12 myotubes were suppressed by knockdown of MBNL1. Conversely, the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 as well as the apoptotic index in C2C12 myotubes was increased by MBNL1 knockdown. In plantaris muscle, on the other hand, not only the minimum muscle fiber diameter but also the expression level of MBNL1 and PGC-1α in of 100-week-old mice were significantly lower than that of 10-week-old mice. Furthermore, the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 in mouse plantaris muscle was increased by aging. These results suggest that MBNL1 may play a key role in aging-associated muscle atrophy accompanied with mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis via mediating PGC-1α expression in skeletal muscle.Modulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression using drugs has been proposed to control immunity. Phytochemical investigations on Garcinia species have allowed the isolation of bioactive compounds such as polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs). PPAPs such as guttiferone J (1), display anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory activities while garcinol (4) is a histone acetyltransferases (HAT) p300 inhibitor. This study reports on the isolation, identification and biological characterization of two other PPAPs, i.e., xanthochymol (2) and guttiferone F (3) from Garcinia bancana, sharing structural analogy with guttiferone J (1) and garcinol (4). We show that PPAPs 1-4 efficiently downregulated the expression of several MHC molecules (HLA-class I, -class II, MICA/B and HLA-E) at the surface of human primary endothelial cells upon inflammation. Mechanistically, PPAPs 1-4 reduce MHC proteins by decreasing the expression and phosphorylation of the transcription factor STAT1 involved in MHC upregulation mediated by IFN-γ. Loss of STAT1 activity results from inhibition of HAT CBP/p300 activity reflected by a hypoacetylation state. The binding interactions to p300 were confirmed through molecular docking. Loss of STAT1 impairs the expression of CIITA and GATA2 but also TAP1 and Tapasin required for peptide loading and transport of MHC. Overall, we identified new PPAPs issued from Garcinia bancana with potential immunoregulatory properties.Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus considered to be a common member of the human microflora. Similar to some other opportunistic microbes, C. albicans can invade and benefit from its host when the immune status of that host is weakened. Most often this happens to immunocompromised individuals, leading to the infection of oral and vaginal mucosae or the systemic spread of the pathogen throughout the entire body. Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) occurs in up to 90 percent of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), making it the most frequent opportunistic infection for this group. Upon first signs of fungal invasion, a range of host signaling activates in order to eliminate the threat. Epithelial and myeloid type cells detect C. albicans mainly through receptor tyrosine kinases and pattern-recognition receptors. This review provides an overview of downstream signaling resulting in an adequate immune response through the activation of various transcription factors. The study discusses recent advances in research of the interleukin-17 (IL-17) producing innate cells, including natural T helper 17 (nTh17) cells, γδ T cells, invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells and type 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3) that are involved in response to oral C. albicans infections.This study investigated the effects of a 24-week combined training program (CTP) based on strength exercises and cognitive-motor tasks performed concurrently in participants with multiple sclerosis. A randomized, controlled intervention study was carried out. In total, 31 subjects with a confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (14 men and 17 women) were stratified and randomized into an intervention group (17 subjects) and a control group (14 subjects). The intervention group completed three weekly training sessions for 24 weeks, while the control group pursued their normal daily activities. In this program, cognitive-motor tasks were completed at once (dual tasking). A 3D photogrammetry connected to a selective attention system designed for dual tasking while walking was used. Ground reaction forces were measured using two force plates, one for sit-to-stand testing, while the other was used for static force measurement. Postural equilibrium was examined using a stabilometric plate based for Romberg test assessment. The 24-week training program for multiple sclerosis patients improved their static peak force by 11% (p less then 0 .05), their rate of force development by 36% (p less then 0.05), and their balance (p less then 0.05). Performance in daily activities such as walking or sitting-to-standing improved significantly in multiple sclerosis participants. CTP training was effective in reducing the dual-task costs of step length (48%) and walking velocity (54%), as compared to a matched control group.In the current outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), healthcare professionals (HCPs) have a primary role in combating the epidemic threat. HCPs are at high risk of not only contracting the infection but also spreading it unknowingly. It is of utmost importance to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) and the ability to assess the risks associated with the outbreak. A cross-sectional online survey involving physicians, pharmacists, and nurses was conducted. A 39-itemed questionnaire based on the World Health Organization (WHO)COVID-19 risk assessment tool was shared with healthcare professionals in three purposively selected key divisions of Punjab province. Out of 500 healthcare professionals, 385 responded to the survey. The majority (70%) were aged 22-29 years; 144 (37.4%) physicians, 113 (29.4%) nurses, and 128 (33.2%) pharmacists completed the survey. Overall, 94.8% of healthcare professionals scored adequately (>14) for COVID-19-related knowledge; 97.9% displayed an optimistic attitude (>42) and 94.5% had an adequate practice score (>28). Kruskal-Wallis and Jonckheere-Terpstra tests showed significant differences (p less then 0.05) in KAP and risk assessment scores among groups; physicians and nurses scored higher as compared to pharmacists. Further research and follow-up investigations on disaster management and risk assessment can help policy-makers better tackle future epidemics.Over the last two decades, piezoelectric resonant sensors based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technologies have been extensively studied as such sensors offer several unique benefits, such as small form factor, high sensitivity, low noise performance and fabrication compatibility with mainstream integrated circuit technologies. One key challenge for piezoelectric MEMS resonant sensors is enhancing their quality factors (Qs) to improve the resolution of these resonant sensors. link3 Apart from sensing applications, large values of Qs are also demanded when using piezoelectric MEMS resonators to build high-frequency oscillators and radio frequency (RF) filters due to the fact that high-Q MEMS resonators favor lowering close-to-carrier phase noise in oscillators and sharpening roll-off characteristics in RF filters. Pursuant to boosting Q, it is essential to elucidate the dominant dissipation mechanisms that set the Q of the resonator. Based upon these insights on dissipation, Q-enhancement strategies can then be designed to target and suppress the identified dominant losses. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the substantial progress that has been made during the last two decades for dissipation analysis methods and Q-enhancement strategies of piezoelectric MEMS laterally vibrating resonators.To demonstrate the anti-inflammatory activity of Aronia melanocarpa fruit extract, human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the effects of aronia bioactive fraction (ABF®), anthocyanin enriched extract from the fruit of A. melanocarpa, were evaluated. Following pretreatment with ABF® at 10-25 µg /mL, BEAS-2B cells were exposed to LPS and the expression of inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8, regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted [RANTES], IL-1β, cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2], and inducible nitric oxide synthase [iNOS]) was analyzed. In LPS-stimulated BEAS-2B cells, ABF® pretreatment significantly decreased the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, RANTES, IL-1β, and COX-2 at doses of 10 and 25 µg/mL. ABF® also attenuated the secretion of TNF- α, IL-6, IL-8, and RANTES protein, as demonstrated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot analyses revealed the decreased expression of COX-2 and iNOS following ABF® treatment.