scholarly journals Autoclaved and Extruded Legumes as a Source of Bioactive Phytochemicals: A Review

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 379
Author(s):  
Mercedes M. Pedrosa ◽  
Eva Guillamón ◽  
Claudia Arribas
Keyword(s):  
Inositol Phosphates ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Bioactive Compound ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Processing Technique ◽  
Processing Method ◽  
Industrial Processing ◽  
Pulse Type ◽  
Bioactive Phytochemicals ◽  
Traditional Processing

Legumes have been consumed since ancient times all over the world due to their easy cultivation and availability as a low-cost food. Nowadays, it is well known that pulses are also a good source of bioactive phytochemicals that play an important role in the health and well-being of humans. Pulses are mainly consumed after processing to soften cotyledons and to improve their nutritive and sensorial characteristics. However, processing affects not only their nutritive constituents, but also their bioactive compounds. The final content of phytochemicals depends on the pulse type and variety, the processing method and their parameters (mainly temperature and time), the food matrix structure and the chemical nature of each phytochemical. This review focuses on the changes produced in the bioactive-compound content of pulses processed by a traditional processing method like cooking (with or without pressure) or by an industrial processing technique like extrusion, which is widely used in the food industry to develop new food products with pulse flours as ingredients. In particular, the effect of processing methods on inositol phosphates, galactosides, protease inhibitors and phenolic-compound content is highlighted in order to ascertain their content in processed pulses or pulse-based products as a source of healthy phytochemicals.

scholarly journals A low-cost post-processing technique improves weather forecasts around the world

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy David Hewson ◽  
Fatima Maria Pillosu
Keyword(s):  
Flash Flood ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Extreme Rainfall ◽  
Processing Technique ◽  
Processing Method ◽  
Weather Type ◽  
Post Processing ◽  
Ensemble Forecasts ◽  
Weather Forecasts ◽  
Strong Focus

AbstractComputer-generated weather forecasts divide the Earth’s surface into gridboxes, each currently spanning about 400 km2, and predict one value per gridbox. If weather varies markedly within a gridbox, forecasts for specific sites inevitably fail. Here we present a statistical post-processing method for ensemble forecasts that accounts for the degree of variation within each gridbox, bias on the gridbox scale, and the weather dependence of each. When applying this post-processing, skill improves substantially across the globe; for extreme rainfall, for example, useful forecasts extend 5 days ahead, compared to less than 1 day without post-processing. Skill improvements are attributed to creation of huge calibration datasets by aggregating, globally rather than locally, forecast-observation differences wherever and whenever the observed “weather type” was similar. A strong focus on meteorological understanding also contributes. We suggest that applications for our methodology include improved flash flood warnings, physics-related insights into model weaknesses and global pointwise re-analyses.

Feasibility study of technology-enabled prevention intervention for children and families (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikki Theofanopoulou ◽  
Katherine Isbister ◽  
Julian Edbrooke-Childs ◽  
Petr Slovák
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Object A ◽  
Intervention Delivery ◽  
Parents And Children

BACKGROUND A common challenge within psychiatry and prevention science more broadly is the lack of effective, engaging, and scale-able mechanisms to deliver psycho-social interventions for children, especially beyond in-person therapeutic or school-based contexts. Although digital technology has the potential to address these issues, existing research on technology-enabled interventions for families remains limited. OBJECTIVE The aim of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of in-situ deployments of a low-cost, bespoke prototype, which has been designed to support children’s in-the-moment emotion regulation efforts. This prototype instantiates a novel intervention model that aims to address the existing limitations by delivering the intervention through an interactive object (a ‘smart toy’) sent home with the child, without any prior training necessary for either the child or their carer. This pilot study examined (i) engagement and acceptability of the device in the homes during 1 week deployments; and (ii) qualitative indicators of emotion regulation effects, as reported by parents and children. METHODS In this qualitative study, ten families (altogether 11 children aged 6-10 years) were recruited from three under-privileged communities in the UK. The RA visited participants in their homes to give children the ‘smart toy’ and conduct a semi-structured interview with at least one parent from each family. Children were given the prototype, a discovery book, and a simple digital camera to keep at home for 7-8 days, after which we interviewed each child and their parent about their experience. Thematic analysis guided the identification and organisation of common themes and patterns across the dataset. In addition, the prototypes automatically logged every interaction with the toy throughout the week-long deployments. RESULTS Across all 10 families, parents and children reported that the ‘smart toy’ was incorporated into children’s emotion regulation practices and engaged with naturally in moments children wanted to relax or calm down. Data suggests that children interacted with the toy throughout the duration of the deployment, found the experience enjoyable, and all requested to keep the toy longer. Child emotional connection to the toy—caring for its ‘well-being’—appears to have driven this strong engagement. Parents reported satisfaction with and acceptability of the toy. CONCLUSIONS This is the first known study investigation of the use of object-enabled intervention delivery to support emotion regulation in-situ. The strong engagement and qualitative indications of effects are promising – children were able to use the prototype without any training and incorporated it into their emotion regulation practices during daily challenges. Future work is needed to extend this indicative data with efficacy studies examining the psychological efficacy of the proposed intervention. More broadly, our findings suggest the potential of a technology-enabled shift in how prevention interventions are designed and delivered: empowering children and parents through ‘child-led, situated interventions’, where participants learn through actionable support directly within family life, as opposed to didactic in-person workshops and a subsequent skills application.

scholarly journals I’m No Superman: fostering physician resilience through guided group discussion of Scrubs

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Holtzclaw ◽  
Jack Ellis ◽  
Christopher Colombo
Keyword(s):  
Internal Medicine ◽  
Training Programs ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Internal Medicine Residency ◽  
Resiliency Training ◽  
High Satisfaction ◽  
Burn Out

Abstract Background Almost half of trainees experience burnout during their career. Despite the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) recommendation that training programs enact well-being curricula, there is no proven method of addressing this difficult topic. Methods We created a curriculum addressing physician resiliency and well-being, designed for an Internal Medicine Residency Program. This curriculum utilized episodes from a medical television series, Scrubs, to facilitate a monthly, 1-h faculty guided discussion group. We collected informal feedback and abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventories (aMBI) monthly and conducted a formal focus group after 6 months to gauge its effectiveness. Results The curriculum was successfully conducted for 12 months with each session averaging 18–20 residents. Residents reported high satisfaction, stating it was more enjoyable and helpful than traditional resiliency training. 19 of 24 residents (79 %) completed a baseline aMBI, and 17 of 20 residents (85 %) who attended the most recent session completed the 6-month follow-up, showing a non-significant 1-point improvement in all subsets of the aMBI. Conclusions This novel, low-cost, easily implemented curriculum addressed resiliency and burn-out in an Internal Medicine Residency. It was extremely well received and can easily be expanded to other training programs or to providers outside of training.

scholarly journals A Framework for a New Approach to Empower Users Through Low-Cost and Do-It-Yourself Assistive Technology

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 3039
Author(s):  
Thais Pousada García ◽  
Jessica Garabal-Barbeira ◽  
Patricia Porto Trillo ◽  
Olalla Vilar Figueira ◽  
Cristina Novo Díaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Do It Yourself ◽  
Principles Of Design

Background: Assistive Technology (AT) refers to “assistive products and related systems and services developed for people to maintain or improve functioning and thereby to promote well-being”. Improving the process of design and creation of assistive products is an important step towards strengthening AT provision. Purpose: (1) to present a framework for designing and creating Low-Cost AT; (2) to display the preliminary results and evidence derived from applying the framework. Methodology: First, an evidence-based process was applied to develop and conceptualize the framework. Then, a pilot project to validate the framework was carried out. The sample was formed by 11 people with disabilities. The measure instruments were specific questionnaire, several forms of the Matching Person-Technology model, the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Device Scale, and a tool to assess the usability and universal design of AT. Results: The framework integrates three phases: Identification (Design), Creation (Making the prototype), and Implementation (Outcome Measures), based on the principles of Design Thinking, and with a user-centered perspective. The preliminary results showed the coherence of the entire process and its applicability. The matching between person and device was high, representing the importance of involving the user in the design and selection of AT. Conclusions: The framework is a guide for professionals and users to apply a Low-Cost and Do-It-Yourself perspective to the provision of AT. It highlights the importance of monitoring the entire procedure and measuring the effects, by applying the outcome measures.

scholarly journals Lively Social Space, Well-Being Activity, and Urban Design: Findings From a Low-Cost Community-Led Public Space Intervention

2016 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 685-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie Anderson ◽  
Kai Ruggeri ◽  
Koen Steemers ◽  
Felicia Huppert
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Urban Design ◽  
Design Research ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Social Space ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

Empirical urban design research emphasizes the support in vitality of public space use. We examine the extent to which a public space intervention promoted liveliness and three key behaviors that enhance well-being (“connect,” “be active,” and “take notice”). The exploratory study combined directly observed behaviors with self-reported, before and after community-led physical improvements to a public space in central Manchester (the United Kingdom). Observation data ( n = 22,956) and surveys (subsample = 212) were collected over two 3-week periods. The intervention brought significant and substantial increases in liveliness of the space and well-being activities. None of these activities showed increases in a control space during the same periods. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of the research methods, and the impact of improved quality of outdoor neighborhood space on liveliness and well-being activities. The local community also played a key role in conceiving of and delivering an effective and affordable intervention. The findings have implications for researchers, policy makers, and communities alike.

Backscatter Coefficient Measurements Using a Reference Phantom to Extract Depth-Dependent Instrumentation Factors

1990 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Xin Yao ◽  
James A. Zagzebski ◽  
Ernest L. Madsen
Keyword(s):  
Attenuation Coefficient ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Reduction Method ◽  
Processing Technique ◽  
Processing Method ◽  
Backscatter Coefficient ◽  
Attenuation Coefficients ◽  
Reference Phantom ◽  
Dependent Signal ◽  
Data Reduction Method

In previous work, we demonstrated that accurate backscatter coefficient measurements are obtained with a data reduction method that explicitly accounts for experimental factors involved in recording echo data. An alternative, relative processing method for determining the backscatter coefficient and the attenuation coefficient is presented here. This method involves comparison of echo data from a sample with data recorded from a reference phantom whose backscatter and attenuation coefficients are known. A time domain processing technique is used to extract depth and frequency dependent signal ratios for the sample and the reference phantom. The attenuation coefficient and backscatter coefficient of the sample are found from these ratios. The method is tested using tissue-mimicking phantoms with known scattering and attenuation properties.

scholarly journals Traditional Processing Method of Smoked Corbicula fluminea (Etak): Case of Etak Vendor in Kelantan, Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 596 ◽  
pp. 012057
Author(s):  
Aweng Eh Rak ◽  
Ahamad Tarmizi Azizan ◽  
Mohd Rafi Yaacob ◽  
Zulhazman Hamzah ◽  
Sharifah Aisyah Syed Omar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Corbicula Fluminea ◽  
Processing Method ◽  
Traditional Processing

Methods for reducing the cost of production of commercial carp when feeding grain crops

2020 ◽  
pp. 58-67
Author(s):  
G. E. Servetnik ◽  
E. V. Pishchenko
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Fish Farming ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Planting Density ◽  
Natural Food ◽  
Pond Aquaculture ◽  
Grain Crops ◽  
Whole Wheat ◽  
Cereal Species ◽  
The Cost

Feeding is one of the main methods of intensification of agricultural fish farming. Based on FAO reports, the share of aquaculture products grown with feed is gradually increasing. In pond farms with medium and high degree of intensification, up to 80% of fish products are produced due to feeding. Moreover, in the structure of the cost of fish production, compound feeds account for up to half of the total costs, and in industrial aquaculture up to 65–70%. It is shown that it is Known that feeding and growing technology account for about 55% of the success rate of increasing fish productivity, while the genetic potential is only about 25%, and the share of veterinary and sanitary well-being of fish accounts for about 20%. In Russia and many other countries, cereals are used to reduce the cost of carp farming products, as a relatively cheap and affordable source of energy compared to granulated feed. The availability and low cost of such feed is of paramount importance in pond aquaculture and currently all cereal species are used for artificial feeding. Information about feeding carp with grain crops, as well as requirements for the quality and safety of feed is provided. It is indicated that feeding carp with whole grains is advisable if the natural food base is well developed. Traditional fish farming experience shows that feeding carp with whole wheat grain is advisable when the planting density of two-year-olds is up to 3.5 thousand / ha and mainly in August-September. Before eating fish, the grain must necessarily swell in water, otherwise it injures the intestines and is excreted from the digestive tract poorly digested.

scholarly journals Thermal Modulation of a High-Bandwidth Gas Sensor Array in Real-Time for Application on a Mobile Robot

Proceedings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (13) ◽  
pp. 858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy A. Vincent ◽  
Yuxin Xing ◽  
Marina Cole ◽  
Julian W. Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Signal Processing ◽  
Mobile Robot ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Processing Technique ◽  
Signal Processing Technique ◽  
Baseline Drift ◽  
Gas Sensor Array ◽  
Sensor Module ◽  
High Bandwidth

A new signal processing technique has been developed for resistive metal oxide (MOX) gas sensors to enable high-bandwidth measurements and enhanced selectivity at PPM levels (<50 PPM VOCs). An embedded micro-heater is thermally pulsed from 225 to 350 °C, which enables the chemical reactions in the sensor film (e.g., SnO2, WO3, NiO) to be extracted using a fast Fourier transform. Signal processing is performed in real-time using a low-cost microcontroller integrated into a sensor module. The approach enables the remove of baseline drift and is resilient to environmental temperature changes. Bench-top experimental results are presented for 50 to 200 ppm of ethanol and CO, which demonstrate our sensor system can be used within a mobile robot.

scholarly journals An Association of Quality of Life and Ageing Perceptions Among Community Dwelling Older Adults in Uganda

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy Louise -Onoria ◽  
Raymond Odokonyero ◽  
Bruno Giordani ◽  
Dickens Akena ◽  
Emmanuel Mwesiga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Social Activities ◽  
Positive Perception

Abstract Background: Uganda’s population, though, largely characterized by young people, has seen the number of people aged 60 and over grow from 686,000 twenty years ago, to 1,433,596 in 2014. Effective caring for the well-being of this population requires strategic and deliberate planning that involves quality of life (QoL) assessments. QoL assessments among the elderly are important in evaluating the efficacy of strategies, such as health interventions, welfare programs, health care, and well-being of the elderly. However, elderly in Uganda face several challenges, ranging from loneliness, poor housing, lack of social and financial support, and poor health. These may negatively affect older persons’ quality of life and consequently their perceptions and attitudes towards aging. Methods: The study was carried out in 2019 in the communities of Nansana and Busukuma town councils in Wakiso district, Uganda. The participants were 380 people 60 years and older. To establish the association between perceptions of ageing and QoL, this study utilized a locally adapted version of the Older Person’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL) and the Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (B-APQ). The OPQOL assesses three domains of QoL: Health QoL (HQoL); Social economic QoL (SQoL); and Psychosocial QoL (PQoL). The B-APQ assesses perceptions about physical age, participation in social activities, and perceptions about ability to regulate emotions as one ages. Pearson’s Chi-square tests were used to characterize the relationship between the perceptions and quality of life.Results: The majority of the respondents, 61% (95%CI 56.7-64.8), had negative perceptions towards ageing. Eighty six percent had poor HQoL, 90% poor SQoL and 83% poor PQoL. There was a significant association between good HQoL and positive perception about participation in social activities (X2 = 7.3670, P = 0.007) as well as with positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 18.1803, P<0.001). There was a significant association between good SQoL and positive perception about participation in social activities (X2 = 5.3472, P = 0.021), as well with positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 10.5128, P<0.001). A significant association between good PQoL and positive perception on regulation of emotions (X2 = 9.2414, P= 0.002).Conclusion: Positive perceptions of ageing are associated with good QoL. Directly addressing perceptions of ageing could be a low cost and effective strategy to improve the QoL of older persons in SSA

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