Fruit ripening: dynamics and integrated analysis of carotenoids and anthocyanins

Background Fruits are vital food resources as they are loaded with bioactive compounds varying with different stages of ripening. As the fruit ripens, a dynamic color change is observed from green to yellow to red due to the biosynthesis of pigments like chlorophyll, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. Apart from making the fruit attractive and being a visual indicator of the ripening status, pigments add value to a ripened fruit by making them a source of nutraceuticals and industrial products. As the fruit matures, it undergoes biochemical changes which alter the pigment composition of fruits. Results The synthesis, degradation and retention pathways of fruit pigments are mediated by hormonal, genetic, and environmental factors. Manipulation of the underlying regulatory mechanisms during fruit ripening suggests ways to enhance the desired pigments in fruits by biotechnological interventions. Here we report, in-depth insight into the dynamics of a pigment change in ripening and the regulatory mechanisms in action. Conclusions This review emphasizes the role of pigments as an asset to a ripened fruit as they augment the nutritive value, antioxidant levels and the net carbon gain of fruits; pigments are a source for fruit biofortification have tremendous industrial value along with being a tool to predict the harvest. This report will be of great utility to the harvesters, traders, consumers, and natural product divisions to extract the leading nutraceutical and industrial potential of preferred pigments biosynthesized at different fruit ripening stages.

Construction of a photo-controlled fluorescent switching with diarylethene modified carbon dots

Photo-controlled fluorescent switching is of great utility in fluorescence sensors, reversible data storage, and logic circuit, based on their modifiable emission intensity and spectra. In this work, a novel photo-controlled reversible fluorescent switching system was constructed based on photochromic diarylethene (DT) molecular modified fluorescent carbon dots (CDs). The fluorescent CDs acted as fluorescent donors and the photochromic diarylethene molecular functioned as acceptors in this fluorescent switching system. The fluorescence modulation efficiency of the fluorescent switching was determined to be 97.1%. The result was attributable to Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the CDs and the diarylethene molecular. The fluorescent switching could undergo 20 cycles without significant decay.

In-situ Lu – Hf geochronology of calcite

The ability to constrain the age of calcite formation is of great utility to the Earth Science community, due to the ubiquity of calcite across a wide spectrum of geological systems. Here, we present the first in-situ laser ablation inductively coupled tandem mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS/MS) Lu–Hf ages for calcite, demonstrating geologically meaningful ages for IOCG and skarn mineralisation, carbonatite intrusion and low grade metamorphism. The analysed samples range in age between ca. 0.9 Ga and ca. 2 Ga with uncertainties between 1.4 % and 0.5 % obtained from calcite with Lu concentrations as low as ca. 0.5 ppm. The Lu–Hf system in calcite appears to be able to preserve primary precipitation ages over a significant amount of geological time, although further research is required to constrain the closure temperature. The in-situ approach allows calcite to be rapidly dated while maintaining its petrogenetic context with mineralization and other associated mineral processes. Therefore, LA-ICP-MS/MS Lu–Hf dating of calcite can be used to resolve the timing of complex mineral paragenetic sequences that are a feature of many ancient rock systems.

Hemodynamic molecular imaging of tumor-associated enzyme activity in the living brain

Molecular imaging could have great utility for detecting, classifying, and guiding treatment of brain disorders, but existing probes offer limited capability for assessing relevant physiological parameters. Here, we describe a potent approach for noninvasive mapping of cancer-associated enzyme activity using a molecular sensor that acts on the vasculature, providing a diagnostic readout via local changes in hemodynamic image contrast. The sensor is targeted at the fibroblast activation protein (FAP), an extracellular dipeptidase and clinically relevant biomarker of brain tumor biology. Optimal FAP sensor variants were identified by screening a series of prototypes for responsiveness in a cell-based bioassay. The best variant was then applied for quantitative neuroimaging of FAP activity in rats, where it reveals nanomolar-scale FAP expression by xenografted cells. The activated probe also induces robust hemodynamic contrast in nonhuman primate brain. This work thus demonstrates a potentially translatable strategy for ultrasensitive functional imaging of molecular targets in neuromedicine.

Evidence of the Involvement of a Cyclase Gene in the Biosynthesis of Ochratoxin A in Aspergillus carbonarius

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a well-known mycotoxin with wide distribution in food and feed. Fungal genome sequencing has great utility for identifying secondary metabolites gene clusters for known and novel compounds. A comparative analysis of the OTA-biosynthetic cluster in A. steynii, A. westerdijkiae, A. niger, A. carbonarius, and P. nordicum has revealed a high synteny in OTA cluster organization in five structural genes (otaA, otaB, ota, otaR1, and otaD). Moreover, a recent detailed comparative genome analysis of Aspergilli OTA producers led to the identification of a cyclase gene, otaY, located in the OTA cluster between the otaA and otaB genes, encoding for a predicted protein with high similarity to SnoaLs domain. These proteins have been shown to catalyze ring closure steps in the biosynthesis of polyketide antibiotics produced in Streptomyces. In the present study, we demonstrated an upregulation of the cyclase gene in A. carbonarius under OTA permissive conditions, consistent with the expression trends of the other OTA cluster genes and their role in OTA biosynthesis by complete gene deletion. Our results pointed out the involvement of a cyclase gene in OTA biosynthetic pathway for the first time. They represent a step forward in the understanding of the molecular basis of OTA biosynthesis in A. carbonarius.

“TO STUDY THE CLINICAL PROFILE AND UTILITY OF FIBER-OPTIC BRONCHOSCOPY IN SUSPECTED CASES OF NON RESOLVING PNEUMONIA IN IDENTIFYING ITS ETIOLOGY AT TERTIARY HEALTH CARE CENTRE”

Introduction- Non-resolving pneumonia is always a challenging clinical scenerio where Various diagnostic modalities are greatly required to reach the diagnosis. We aimed to study The role of beroptic bronchoscopy in non-resolving pneumonia along with the various comorbidities associated with the disease condition. Methodology- A prospective observative study in a tertiary care hospital was undertaken. A total of 40 patients diagnosed with non-resolving pneumonia were recruited for diagnostic beroptic bronchoscopy. Results- The overall diagnostic yield of beroptic bronchoscopy in non-resolving pneumonia was 87.5%. The causes of non-resolving pneumonia were Tuberculosis(22.5%), bacterial pneumonia(45%), malignancy(15%), fungal pneumonia(5%). 12.5% patients were undiagnosed. Patients had a signicant past history which also revealed associated comorbid conditions. Diabetes(14(33%)) and COPD(11(27.5%)) were leading comorbid conditions. Conclusion- Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy is a great utility tool in reaching the diagnosis in patients with non-resolving pneumonia.

Usefulness of a mobile app to improve performance of specialists in responding correctly to CRC screening and surveillance clinical scenarios

Background and study aims The adherence to and knowledge of physicians about colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and surveillance guidelines is still suboptimal, threatening the effectiveness of CRC screening. This study assessed the usefulness of a mobile decision support system (MDSS) to improve physician ability to recommend proper timing of and intervals for CRC screening and surveillance. Patients and methods This was a binational, single-blinded, randomized clinical trial including gastroenterologists and colorectal surgeons from Argentina and Uruguay. The specialists were invited to respond to a questionnaire with 10 CRC screening and surveillance clinical scenarios, randomized into two groups, with and without access to a dedicated app (CaPtyVa). The main outcome measure was the proportion of physicians correctly solving at least 60 % of the clinical cases according to local guidelines. Results A total of 213 physicians were included. The proportion of physicians responding correctly at least 60 % of the vignettes was higher in the app group as compared to the control group (90 % versus 56 %) (relative risk [RR] 1.6 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.34–1.91). The performance was also higher in the app group for both vignette categories: CRC screening (93 % vs 75 % RR 1.24, 95 %CI 1.01–1.40) and surveillance (85 % vs 47 % RR 1.81 95 %CI 1.46–2.22), respectively. Physicians considered the app easy to use and of great utility in daily practice. Conclusions A MDSS was shown to be a useful tool that improved specialist performance in solving CRC screening and surveillance clinical scenarios. Its implementation in daily practice may facilitate the adherence of physicians to CRC screening and surveillance guidelines.

Standardized PPP Contract in Korea and its Implications for Latin America and the Caribbean

The standardization of PPP contracts in Korea has played a key role in establishing PPP institutional frameworks in the civil law system in which there must be legal and institutional safeguards for the long-term PPP contracts. The reliability of standardized contracts is secured due to the fact that the standardized PPP contract has been prepared by the statutory PPP agency under the approval of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, an influential ministry within the government. The standardization of PPP contracts has been of great utility for both the competent authorities and private partners. The standardized contract has streamlined negotiations. The private partner was able to trust in the major risk allocation declared through the standardized contract in handling land acquisition, construction completion, operation and demand, and termination. We found out through our survey that there are similarities between Korea and LAC countries in that most LAC countries have adopted the civil law system and the countries have developed similar payment types for PPP and risk allocation principles. The experience and lessons on standardized PPP contract in Korea can be of great utility to LAC countries.

Modeling Energy Expenditure Estimation in Occupational Context by Actigraphy: A Multi Regression Mixed-Effects Model

The accurate prediction of energy requirements for healthy individuals has many useful applications. The occupational perspective has also been proven to be of great utility for improving workers’ ergonomics, safety, and health. This work proposes a statistical regression model based on actigraphy and personal characteristics to estimate energy expenditure and cross-validate the results with reference standardized methods. The model was developed by hierarchical mixed-effects regression modeling based on the multitask protocol data. Measurements combined actigraphy, indirect calorimetry, and other personal and lifestyle information from healthy individuals (n = 50) within the age of 29.8 ± 5 years old. Results showed a significant influence of the variables related to movements, heart rate and anthropometric variables of body composition for energy expenditure estimation. Overall, the proposed model showed good agreement with energy expenditure measured by indirect calorimetry and evidenced a better performance than the methods presented in the international guidelines for metabolic rate assessment proving to be a reliable alternative to normative guidelines. Furthermore, a statistically significant relationship was found between daily activity and energy expenditure, which raised the possibility of further studies including other variables, namely those related to the subject’s lifestyle.

Experience in MAPATÓN 2021: "ApuMayu" a Tool for the Analysis of Flood Risk Zones in Piura

Abstract—MAPATÓN 2021 was organized by CONIDA (Peruvian Space Agency) as part of the celebrations for the bicentennial of Peru's independence. MAPATÓN was oriented to disaster management. This work aims to transmit the experience of participation in MAPATON and communicate the results achieved. The authors participated in developing flood simulation models and analyzing SENTINEL-1 satellite images to identify areas affected by floods that occurred in 2017, 2019 and 2020. The results obtained, shown in a story map, show the great utility of this type of analysis for risk management and disaster management. Keywords—MAPATON 2021; natural disasters; Peru; disaster management; Sentinel; satellite images