scholarly journals Effects of equipments and processing conditions on quality of fresh-cut produce

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 139-150
Author(s):  
Francisca Aba Ansah ◽  
Maria Luisa Amodio ◽  
Maria Lucia Valeria De Chiara ◽  
Giancarlo Colelli
Keyword(s):  
Global Market ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Processing Conditions ◽  
Minimal Processing ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fresh Cut ◽  
Precautionary Measures ◽  
Processed Products

A wide range of fresh conveniently packaged, minimally processed products are available on both local and global market in response to consumer demand for ready to eat food. Majority of these products are leafy vegetables, which are highly susceptible to quality changes during minimal processing operations (trimming, cutting, washing, drying, and packaging). Despite the available precautionary measures for maintaining quality attributes of raw and processed material, quality degradation due to minimally processing is unavoidable, also considering that a peeling, trimming and/or cutting operation is always present except than for baby leaves and small fruits. In addition, other operations as washing and drying are known to cause mechanical stresses and loss of sugars and nutrients. However, the extent to which quality is compromised depends on the produce and on the processing conditions, including equipment and their operational settings. This review aims to describe the main processing operations and equipment used, resuming the available information on their impact on final quality of fresh-cut products over storage, in order to identify areas for future research aiming to the enhancement of product quality

scholarly journals Influence of Pre-Harvest Factors on Postharvest Quality of Fresh-Cut and Baby Leafy Vegetables

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athanasios Koukounaras ◽  
Filippos Bantis ◽  
Nikolaos Karatolos ◽  
Christos Melissas ◽  
Antonios Vezyroglou
Keyword(s):  
Shelf Life ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Postharvest Quality ◽  
Leaf Position ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fresh Cut ◽  
Butterhead Lettuce ◽  
Wild Rocket

Shelf life of horticultural commodities is dependent on postharvest handling but also on a wide range of pre-harvest factors, which include genetic and environmental parameters. This study was conducted to explore the influence of cultivar, leaf position, and piece position on the leaf on visual quality of fresh-cut butterhead lettuce as well as the effect of a wide range of cultivation seasons on the postharvest quality and shelf life of baby leaves (spinach and ‘wild’ rocket). Six butterhead lettuce cultivars were used (cultivated soilless in an unheated plastic greenhouse) while the effect of leaf position on the plant (outer and inner leaves) and the piece position on the leaf (piece one close to the leaf base and piece four close to the top) were also evaluated. Baby leaves were cultivated under an unheated plastic greenhouse for winter production and under a nethouse for the rest of the growing season, with a total of five and seven sampling dates for spinach and ‘wild’ rocket respectively. The cultivar of butterhead lettuce had a significant effect on postharvest quality of fresh-cut product but more important was the piece position on the leaf. When this was closer to the base of the leaf, there was more browning on cut edges and limited shelf life for the fresh-cut lettuce. The result was associated in one tested cultivar with PAL activity, which was higher by 106% for piece one compared to piece four as an average for the whole storage period. The growing season of baby leaves had a great impact on their shelf life, with the season of mild environmental conditions achieving the highest marketability.

Comparison of rural versus urban residence for symptoms and quality of life in recurrent ovarian cancer: Baseline analysis of GOG-0259, an NRG Oncology/GOG study.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e18083-e18083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah M. Belcher ◽  
Susan M. Sereika ◽  
Zan M. Dodson ◽  
Meghan K. Mattos ◽  
Teresa Hagan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Marital Status ◽  
Recurrent Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

e18083 Background: Women with recurrent ovarian cancer (OC) experience a wide range of cancer- and treatment-related symptoms that negatively impact quality of life (QOL). Studies have reported healthcare disparities by geographic residence related to distance, time, and financial barriers to accessing high quality care. However, no studies have evaluated the impact of residence on symptoms and QOL in women with OC. Therefore, our objectives were to evaluate whether geographic residence (urban versus rural) is associated with symptoms and QOL in a sample of women with recurrent OC. Methods: The Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion conceptual framework guided analyses of baseline GOG-0259 data. We mapped zip codes to RUCA commuter codes and compared sociodemographic and clinical variables between rural and urban groups using two-sample t and chi-square tests. We used MANCOVA, adjusted for age and marital status, to test for associations between residence and symptoms (Symptom Representation Questionnaire) and QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Ovarian). Results: Rural (n = 122, 25%) and urban (n = 374, 75%) women were similar in all sociodemographic and clinical comparisons except for marital status (83% vs. 70% married, p = .003). Women reported moderate symptom severity (M = 5.5, SD = 2.3) and QOL scores similar to other OC studies (M = 108.4, SD = 19.5). In multi-variate analyses, age and marital status were both associated with symptoms; marital status was associated with QOL. Geographical residence was not associated with either symptoms or QOL. Conclusions: Counter to previous research, there were no symptom or QOL disparities based on geographic residence in this sample. Possible explanations to be explored in future research include a) cooperative group selection bias for women with good access to care regardless of geographic residence and b) protective effects of marital status on symptoms and QOL.

Caregiving for ageing parents: A literature review on the experience of adult children

2019 ◽  
pp. 096973301988171
Author(s):  
Ina Luichies ◽  
Anne Goossensen ◽  
Hanneke van der Meide
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Adult Children ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Qualitative Studies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ageing Parents

Background: More and more adults in their fifties and sixties are confronted with the need to support their ageing parents. Although many aspects of filial caregiving have been researched, a well-documented and comprehensive overview of the caregiving experience is lacking. Aim: This study aims for a better understanding of the caregiving experience of adult children by generating an overview of main themes in international research. Method: A literature review of qualitative studies, focusing on the experiences of adult children caring for their ageing parents, was performed. The electronic EBSCO databases Academic Search Premier, CINAHL and PsycINFO, and Google Scholar were searched to identify relevant qualitative studies published between 2000 and 2017. The ‘SPIDER’ eligibility criteria directed the approach. The quality of studies included was screened with the assessment sheet designed by Hawker and colleagues. The experiences reported were analysed and themes were synthesized. Ethical consideration: Ethical requirements were respected in every phase of the research process. Findings: Nineteen qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria. The quality of the relationship with the parent appears to be an important determinant of the children’s caregiving experience. Within this context, three themes were found: caregiving as an emotional rollercoaster, a normatively demanding experience and an opportunity for personal development. Discussion: Children caring for their ageing parents have to deal with a wide range of contradicting and conflicting norms and values. Implications for healthcare professionals and future research have been discussed. Conclusion: Caring for ageing parents is a continuous quest for giving the best possible care and living up to one’s personal values, within the context of the parent’s declining health. Professionals who support filial caregivers should address not only practical responsibilities but also the normative questions and moral considerations caregivers are dealing with.

Deep Learning in IoT

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-54
Author(s):  
Devika G. ◽  
Asha Gowda Karegowda
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Deep Learning ◽  
Big Data Analytics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Great Success ◽  
Sensory Data ◽  
Digital Era ◽  
New Information ◽  
Wide Range

The internet of things (IoT), big data analytics, and deep learning (DL) applications in the mechanical internet are expanding. The current digital era has various sensory devices for a wide range of fields and applications, which all generate various sensory data. DL is being applied for handling big data and has achieved great success in the IoT and other fields. The applications for data streams to discover new information, predict future insights, and make control decisions are crucial processes that make the IoT a worthy paradigm for businesses and a quality-of-life improving technology. This chapter provides a detailed account of the IoT domain, machine learning, and DL techniques and applications. The IoT that consists of DL with intelligence backgrounds is also discussed. Recent research on DL in the IoT within the big data domain is also discussed. Current challenges and potential areas for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Management of Malnutrition in Older Patients—Current Approaches, Evidence and Open Questions

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothee Volkert ◽  
Anne Marie Beck ◽  
Tommy Cederholm ◽  
Emanuele Cereda ◽  
Alfonso Cruz-Jentoft ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Geriatric Syndrome ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Conflicting Evidence ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Patient Groups ◽  
Enteral And Parenteral Nutrition

Malnutrition is widespread in older people and represents a major geriatric syndrome with multifactorial etiology and severe consequences for health outcomes and quality of life. The aim of the present paper is to describe current approaches and evidence regarding malnutrition treatment and to highlight relevant knowledge gaps that need to be addressed. Recently published guidelines of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) provide a summary of the available evidence and highlight the wide range of different measures that can be taken—from the identification and elimination of potential causes to enteral and parenteral nutrition—depending on the patient’s abilities and needs. However, more than half of the recommendations therein are based on expert consensus because of a lack of evidence, and only three are concern patient-centred outcomes. Future research should further clarify the etiology of malnutrition and identify the most relevant causes in order to prevent malnutrition. Based on limited and partly conflicting evidence and the limitations of existing studies, it remains unclear which interventions are most effective in which patient groups, and if specific situations, diseases or etiologies of malnutrition require specific approaches. Patient-relevant outcomes such as functionality and quality of life need more attention, and research methodology should be harmonised to allow for the comparability of studies.

scholarly journals Effects of long-term controlled atmosphere storage, minimal processing, and packaging on quality attributes of calçots (Allium cepa L.)

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 403-412
Author(s):  
Lorena Zudaire ◽  
Inmaculada Viñas ◽  
Maribel Abadias ◽  
Tomás Lafarga ◽  
Gloria Bobo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shelf Life ◽  
Allium Cepa ◽  
Modified Atmosphere Packaging ◽  
Vacuum Packaging ◽  
Modified Atmosphere ◽  
Controlled Atmosphere ◽  
Minimal Processing ◽  
Allium Cepa L ◽  
Fresh Cut

Calçots are the immature floral stems of the second-year onion ( Allium cepa L.) resprouts. Modified atmosphere packaging or vacuum packaging are suitable alternatives to preserve fresh-cut vegetables. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of postharvest storage time of raw vegetable stored under controlled atmosphere and used packaging system after minimal processing on the quality of fresh-cut calçots. Calçots used for minimal processing were stored under 1.0 kPa O2 + 2.0 kPa CO2 at 1 ℃ for 30 and 60 days. Fresh-cut calçots were packaged using passive modified atmosphere packaging or vacuum packaging and were stored at 4 ℃ for 15 days. Calçots stored under controlled atmosphere for 30 days presented better retention of quality and in turn, being more suitable for minimally processing. Vacuum packaging preserved the physicochemical quality of fresh-cut calçots better after 15 days. Mesophilic aerobic counts were also higher in fresh-cut calçots stored under modified atmosphere packaging, but all counts were below the recommended limits during and at the end of their shelf-life (15 days). The most suitable conservation strategy might be to store whole calçots under controlled atmosphere for 30 days and after minimally processing, packaged under vacuum in order to extend the shelf-life of fresh-cut calçots.

scholarly journals Benefits of and Best Practices for International Experiences for College Students: A Synthesis of the Literature

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 39-61
Author(s):  
Katy Lane ◽  
Theresa Murphrey
Keyword(s):  
Personal Growth ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Review Process ◽  
Program Planning ◽  
International Experience ◽  
Future Research ◽  
International Experiences ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
International Knowledge

Implementation of international experiences for students has increased. Anecdotal evidence suggests that these experiences enhance the quality of students upon graduation. However, a synthesis of literature related to the benefits of international experiences was lacking. We rooted the study’s conceptual framework in the concept of high-impact activities/experiences and related inputs, processes, and outcomes with a focus on the benefits of student participation in an international experience. Our purpose was to establish a benchmark documenting research conducted related to the benefits of an international experience and to identify research gaps. The rigorous literature review process identified 108 articles published across 55 unique publications for inclusion. Documentation of benefits was grouped into four categories: personal growth, international knowledge, cultural awareness, and additional skills. Further, the literature revealed a litany of reasons that students chose not to participate and a wide range of guidance for program planning. We conclude that research has documented specific benefits of students’ participation in international experiences; however, many of these studies are based on data collected immediately following the experience rather than longitudinal data. Our research synthesis provides a summary of benefits and program strategies for utilization by researchers in planning future research and by practitioners in planning future international experiences. Keywords: study abroad, international experience, benefit, cultural understanding, benchmark

scholarly journals 361 Quality Changes During Storage of Intact and Fresh-cut Cantaloupe Melon

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 505E-506
Author(s):  
Silvina I. Portela ◽  
Marita I. Cantwell
Keyword(s):  
Visual Quality ◽  
Subjective Quality ◽  
Quality Changes ◽  
Minimal Processing ◽  
Intrinsic Quality ◽  
Fresh Cut ◽  
Quality Measurements

Although minimal processing increases the perishability of products, largely due to microbial decay, quality changes may be similar between tissues from intact produce and fresh-cut pieces. This study compared pulp quality changes of intact cantaloupe melons and of sanitized fresh-cut pieces (1.8 x 3-cm cylinders) during storage in air at 2.5 (cv. Corona) and 5 °C (cv. Corona and Durango) for 15 days. Quality evaluations included subjective (visual quality, decay, translucency, aroma, off-odor) and objective (color, firmness, SSC) measurements. At 5 °C, visual quality of the pieces was below the limit of salability by day 15 due to decay, whereas pulp from stored melons was excellent. Pulp from intact melons did not suffer from development of translucency as did the fresh-cut pieces. At 5 °C, pulp from intact fruit had higher aroma scores than pieces, but there were no differences in off-odor scores. At 2.5 °C there were no differences in the subjective quality measurements of pulp from intact or fresh-cut pieces. Pulp from intact fruit had higher chroma (at 2.5 and 5 °C) and L* (only at 5 °C) than the pieces after 6 or 15 days, depending on the variety. There were no differences in hue between intact and fresh-cut pulp. Pulp from intact and fresh-cut pieces had similar firmness changes and SSC during storage at 2.5 and 5 °C. We conclude that pulp of intact fruit and fresh-cut pieces had similar quality up to 15 days at 2.5°C; but at 5 °C, the fresh-cut pieces lost intrinsic quality (visual quality, aroma, and color) before the pulp of intact fruit did.

scholarly journals Suitability of Borago officinalis for Minimal Processing as Fresh-Cut Produce

Horticulturae ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Miceli ◽  
Alessandra Moncada ◽  
Filippo Vetrano ◽  
Fabio D’Anna ◽  
Alessandro Miceli
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Shelf Life ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Nitrate Content ◽  
Leaf Color ◽  
Minimally Processed ◽  
Minimal Processing ◽  
Borago Officinalis ◽  
Fresh Cut

Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a wild vegetable appreciated as a folk medicine and for culinary preparations. The introduction of borage as a specialized cultivation would allow for the diversification of vegetable crops and would widen the offerings of raw and minimally processed leafy vegetables. Thus, the aim of the research was to evaluate the quality and shelf-life of fresh-cut borage stored at different temperatures. Borage plants were grown during the autumn–winter season and immediately minimally processed after harvest. Fresh-cut borage leaves packed in sealed bags were stored at 2 or 6 °C for 21 d. Weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid, nitrates, leaf color characteristics and overall quality were determined through the storage period. Borage plants were deemed suitable for minimal processing. Storage temperature significantly influenced the rate of quality loss. Borage leaves had an initial nitrate content of 329.3 mg kg−1 FW that was not affected by temperature or storage. TSS and TA were higher in leaves stored at 6 °C. TSS, TA and ascorbic acid content increased during storage. Minimally processed borage leaves stored at 2 °C had lower weight loss and leaf color modifications during storage and a longer shelf life than those stored at 6 °C, so were still marketable after 21 d of storage.

scholarly journals Accounting for modern slavery: an analysis of Australian listed company disclosures

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 836-865 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Leanne Christ ◽  
Kathyayini Kathy Rao ◽  
Roger Leonard Burritt
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Theory ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Listed Company ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Modern Slavery ◽  
Wide Range

Purpose Given the impending introduction of legislation requiring large Australian listed companies to make supply chain disclosures about modern slavery, the paper aims to reveal current voluntary practice. The purpose of this paper is to provide a benchmark for assessing the current engagement of large companies with modern slavery in Australia. Design/methodology/approach Institutional theory provides the foundation for assessing current voluntary practice in relation to modern slavery disclosures by large Australian listed companies. Content analysis is used to identify quantity and quality of modern slavery disclosures of the top 100 companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The contents of annual and standalone reports available on websites, as well as other online disclosures, are examined using terms associated with modern slavery identified from the literature. Findings Evidence gathered about modern slavery disclosures by ASX 100 companies shows information in annual and standalone reports reveal far less than other disclosures on company websites. Overall, the volume and quality of disclosures are low and, where made, narrative. A wide range of themes on modern slavery are disclosed with bribery and corruption and human rights issues dominant. Although currently in line with institutional theory, as there appear to be mimetic processes encouraging disclosure, results support the idea that legislation is needed to encourage further engagement. Research limitations/implications The paper provides a baseline of understanding about the volume and quality of modern slavery disclosures as a foundation for future research into the practices of Australian companies prior to the signalled introduction of legislation mandating reporting. It also identifies potential lines of research. The sample only examines large Australian listed companies which restricts generalisation from the results. Originality/value This is the first academic research paper to examine quantity and quality of modern slavery disclosures of large Australian companies. Results add support for the introduction of legislation by government.

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