L3-edge X-ray spectroscopy of rhodium and palladium compounds.

L3-edge high-energy-resolution fluorescence-detection X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra for palladium and rhodium compounds are presented, with focus on their electronic structures. The data are compared with transmission XANES spectra recorded at the K-edge. A correlation between the absorption edge energy and the metal ion oxidation state is not observed. Despite the different filling of the 4d orbitals and different local coordination, the Rh and Pd compounds show remarkably similar spectral shapes. Calculation of the density of states and of the L3-XANES data reproduce the experimental results.

PINK: a tender X-ray beamline for X-ray emission spectroscopy.

A high-flux beamline optimized for non-resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) in the tender X-ray energy range has been constructed at the BESSY II synchrotron source. The beamline utilizes a cryogenically cooled undulator that provides X-rays over the energy range 2.1 keV to 9.5 keV. This energy range provides access to XES [and in the future X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS)] studies of transition metals ranging from Ti to Cu (Kα, Kß lines) and Zr to Ag (Lα, Lß), as well as light elements including P, S, Cl, K and Ca (Kα, Kß). The beamline can be operated in two modes. In PINK mode, a multilayer monochromator (E/ΔE ≃ 30-80) provides a high photon flux (1014 photons s-1 at 6 keV and 300 mA ring current), allowing non-resonant XES measurements of dilute substances. This mode is currently available for general user operation. X-ray absorption near-edge structure and resonant XAS techniques will be available after the second stage of the PINK commissioning, when a high monochromatic mode (E/ΔE ≃ 10000-40000) will be facilitated by a double-crystal monochromator. At present, the beamline incorporates two von Hamos spectrometers, enabling time-resolved XES experiments with time scales down to 0.1 s and the possibility of two-color XES experiments. This paper describes the optical scheme of the PINK beamline and the endstation. The design of the two von Hamos dispersive spectrometers and sample environment are discussed here in detail. To illustrate, XES spectra of phosphorus complexes, KCl, TiO2 and Co3O4 measured using the PINK setup are presented.

Joint tenderness at 3 months follow-up better predicts long-term pain than baseline characteristics in early rheumatoid arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate pain course over time and to identify baseline and 3-month predictors of unacceptable pain with or without low inflammation in early RA. METHODS: A cohort of 275 patients with early RA, recruited in 2012-2016, was investigated and followed for 2 years. Pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS; 0-100 mm). Unacceptable pain was defined as VAS pain >40, and low inflammation as CRP <10 mg/l. Baseline and 3-month predictors of unacceptable pain were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: After 2 years, 32% of patients reported unacceptable pain. Among those, 81% had low inflammation. Unacceptable pain, and unacceptable pain with low inflammation, at 1 and 2 years was significantly associated with several factors at 3 months, but not at baseline. Three-month predictors of these pain states at 1 and 2 years were higher scores for pain, patient global assessment, and the health assessment questionnaire, and more extensive joint tenderness compared with the number of swollen joints. No significant associations were found for objective inflammatory measures. CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of patients had unacceptable pain with low inflammation after 2 years. Three months after diagnosis seems to be a good time-point for assessing the risk of long-term pain. The associations between patient reported outcomes and pain, and the lack of association with objective inflammatory measures, supports the uncoupling between pain and inflammation in RA. Having many tender joints, but more limited synovitis, may be predictive of long-term pain despite low inflammation in early RA.

Bilateral accessory axillary breast tissue in a premenarchal female.

A 9-year-old premenarchal female presented to pediatric dermatology with a 6-month history of periodically tender, bilateral and symmetric axillary masses. Magnetic resonance imaging and subsequent surgical excision confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral accessory axillary breast tissue. Accessory axillary breast tissue is a rare condition seen most in pubertal, pregnant and breastfeeding women. However, it can arise in pre-adolescent patients and should be added to the differential diagnosis of an axillary mass.

Coconut husk waste products valorization for fabrication of luminescent titanium dioxide NPs as powerful tool for photodecomposition and food born infection: A sustainable strategy.

Fabricating metal oxide nanoparticles has garnered much attention lately because creating safe chemicals, sustainable materials, economic processes, and renewable resources is becoming increasingly important. This research shows how TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) could be generated in an ecologically responsible way using waste coconut husk with the help of tender coconut. This extract functions as both a reducing agent and a sealing agent. The investigation of TiO2 NPs exploited ultraviolet (UV), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) methods. The germicidal properties of TiO2 NPs against food-borne pathogenic strains were studied using the agar well method. Employing Congo red pigment, the photodecomposition behavior was investigated. The TiO2 NPs produced had a crystallite size measuring 16.2 nm. The average grain size of the sample, as measured by FE-SEM inspection, falls within the range of 15 to 25 nm. Impressive anti-germ effects against food-borne germs like Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes), Gram-negative (Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli) bacteria, and fungi (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) have been proved by the sustainable fabrication of TiO2 NPs. The catalytic effectiveness of Congo red decreased by 88% after 90 min. The findings suggest that sustainable synthesis of TiO2 NPs is an effective tool for food-borne germicides and photodecomposition behaviors.

Inner ear decompression sickness after a routine dive and recompression chamber drill.

Inner ear decompression sickness (IEDCS) is an uncommon diving-related injury affecting the vestibulocochlear system, with symptoms typically including vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss, either in isolation or combination. Classically associated with deep, mixed-gas diving, more recent case series have shown that IEDCS is indeed possible after seemingly innocuous recreational dives, and there has been one previous report of IEDCS following routine hyperbaric chamber operations. The presence of right-to-left shunt (RLS), dehydration, and increases in intrathoracic pressure have been identified as risk factors for IEDCS, and previous studies have shown a predominance of vestibular rather than cochlear symptoms, with a preference for lateralization to the right side. Most importantly, rapid identification and initiation of recompression treatment are critical to preventing long-term or permanent inner ear deficits. This case of a U.S. Navy (USN) diver with previously unidentified RLS reemphasizes the potential for IEDCS following uncomplicated diving and recompression chamber operations - only the second reported instance of the latter.

Attitudes toward and management of fibromyalgia: A national survey of Saudi Arab's medical practitioners.

Widespread pain is characteristic of fibromyalgia. Patients consult different specialities, and hence, diagnosis and treatment is often delayed. To evaluate and assess the attitudes and management of fibromyalgia among medical practitioners in Saudi Arabia a cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire in November 2021. Screening demographics included age, sex, place of work, speciality, year of graduation, and practical experience. Questions about fibromyalgia (general knowledge and management, ACR criteria 2010, essential symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment) were also part of the questionnaire. There were 103 respondents, out of which 88(85.4%) have heard about fibromyalgia and 21(20.4%) had managed cases of fibromyalgia, while 32(31.1%) knew about the 2010 ACR diagnostic criteria. Commonest reported characteristics of fibromyalgia were excessive fatigue 74(71.8%), widespread pain 71(68.9%), weakness 54(52.4%), and sleep disturbance 38(36.9%). About 76(73.8% reported it is a clinical diagnosis and 75(72.6%) reported having the knowledge about the treatment of fibromyalgia. It was concluded that 88(85.4%) practitioners know fibromyalgia. However, knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia was not satisfactory.

Developments and opportunities in minimal processing and production of tender jackfruit flour.

Tender jackfruit is quite popular for culinary preparations. Technologies and value-added products of matured and ripened jackfruit are in the commercial domain, but there is a high demand to work on the processing and value addition of tender jackfruit. Especially, interventions are required for the mechanization of different post-harvest operations and to develop process protocols. Minimal processing of tender jackfruit has immense commercial potential as it can make handling easy and reduce transportation costs. Controlling the browning of cut tender jackfruit is a challenge and requires research interventions to develop a safe process protocol minimizing or avoiding the use of chemicals. Tender jackfruit powder, also called flour, is a novel product being invented to explore its possible applications in different food products. However, scientific interventions are required to develop a process protocol for tender jackfruit powder production along with the development of machines for operations like shredding and grinding. Conventional grinding operations lead to nutritional loss of jackfruit powder; hence, there is a great opportunity to develop a low-temperature grinding system for the production of quality powder. The available literature, particularly on tender jackfruit processing, has been summarized in the present paper with its critical analysis and future prospects.

A concise review on oil extraction methods, nutritional and therapeutic role of coconut products.

The coconut palm belongs to the Arecaceae family, which is distinct from other fruits, known for its versatility. Fresh coconut products are valuable for many food preparations owing to their nutritional and flavour properties. For example, tender coconut yields coconut water, a refreshing nutritious drink that provides good nutrients including electrolytes and other interesting compounds. The mature coconut meat which is rich in fat and protein, aids in coconut milk extraction and is a major component in the wet and dry process of oil extraction. Coconut milk has market potential owing to its increasing applications in food and beverage industries. Coconut is also known for its by-product namely coconut flour, which is rich in protein and dietary fiber, could be used in the preparation of functional foods. The different methods involved in the oil extraction process which helps in more efficient oil recovery were discussed briefly. The nutritional health-promoting functional role of coconut water and virgin coconut oil is highlighted in review paper.

Development of an experimental apparatus to observe ultrafast phenomena by tender X-ray absorption spectroscopy at PAL-XFEL.

Understanding the ultrafast dynamics of molecules is of fundamental importance. Time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy (TR-XAS) is a powerful spectroscopic technique for unveiling the time-dependent structural and electronic information of molecules that has been widely applied in various fields. Herein, the design and technical achievement of a newly developed experimental apparatus for TR-XAS measurements in the tender X-ray range with X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory XFEL (PAL-XFEL) are described. Femtosecond TR-XAS measurements were conducted at the Ru L3-edge of well known photosensitizer tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chloride ([Ru(bpy)3]2+) in water. The results indicate ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer from the Ru center to the ligand, which demonstrates that the newly designed setup is applicable for monitoring ultrafast reactions in the femtosecond domain.

Do tender joints in active psoriatic arthritis reflect inflammation assessed by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between clinical joint tenderness and intra- and periarticular inflammation as assessed by ultrasound and MRI in patients with active PsA and to explore if the associations differ according to patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and structural damage. METHODS: Forty-one patients with active PsA and hand involvement had 76/78 joints examined for swelling/tenderness and ultrasound and MRI of 24 and 12 finger joints, respectively. Synovitis, tenosynovitis, periarticular inflammation and erosions were assessed using OMERACT definitions and scoring systems. Correlation between imaging inflammation sum-scores (intra-and periarticular) and tender/swollen joint counts were calculated using Spearman's rho, agreement at joint level was examined using prevalence and bias adjusted kappa (PABAK). Subgroup analyses explored the influence of PROs and radiographic erosive disease on these associations. RESULTS: No significant correlations were found between tender or swollen joint counts and imaging inflammation sum-scores (rho = -0.31-0.38). In patients with higher level of overall pain, disability and lower self-reported mental health, a tendency towards negative correlations were found. At joint level, intra- and periarticular imaging inflammatory lesions had slight agreement with joint tenderness (PABAK = 0.02-0.19) and slight to moderate with swelling (PABAK = 0.16-0.54). For tender joints, agreement with imaging inflammation was even weaker in patients with either high overall pain scores, high disability scores, and/or non-erosive disease. CONCLUSION: Joint tenderness had low association with imaging signs of inflammation in PsA patients, particularly in patients with high self-reported pain, disability and low mental health, indicating that tenderness is influenced by other parameters than local inflammation.

Purchasing medicines for the public sector: Evaluation of the performance of centralised procurement in Portugal.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate centralised procurement of medicines (CPM) in Portugal. METHODS: Data were collected through different methods, including a review of the literature and (procurement) documents and an analysis of selected bids. Thirty-seven face-to-face interviews with representatives of public authorities, users (hospitals and regional health administrations), patient associations and pharmaceutical industry were held in Portugal in Q1/2020. RESULTS: CPM has contributed to improved transparency in processes and governance, to increased equity in access to medicines across the country and to lower workload for some users. The findings of the impact on medicine prices and availability are mixed. The benefits of CPM are undermined by some gaps: Lengthy, bureaucratic processes have resulted in delayed availability of medicines at the beginning of a year and in coping strategies of hospitals such as parallel individual procurements. The list of active ingredients under CPM has not been updated since 2016. The procurement agency does not routinely perform market consultations. Key performance indicators for CPM are lacking. CONCLUSIONS: Portuguese policy-makers are urged to develop an updated procurement strategy to provide guidance and clarity on the objectives of CPM, the role of the procurement agency and further authorities and key performance indicators.

Contemporary Developments and Emerging Trends in the Application of Spectroscopy Techniques: A Particular Reference to Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.).

The number of food frauds in coconut-based products is increasing due to higher consumer demands for these products. Rising health consciousness, public awareness and increased concerns about food safety and quality have made authorities and various other certifying agencies focus more on the authentication of coconut products. As the conventional techniques for determining the quality attributes of coconut are destructive and time-consuming, non-destructive testing methods which are accurate, rapid, and easy to perform with no detrimental sampling methods are currently gaining importance. Spectroscopic methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR)spectroscopy, mid-infrared (MIR)spectroscopy, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy (RS) are gaining in importance for determining the oxidative stability of coconut oil, the adulteration of oils, and the detection of harmful additives, pathogens, and toxins in coconut products and are also employed in deducing the interactions in food constituents, and microbial contaminations. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive analysis on the various spectroscopic techniques along with different chemometric approaches for the successful authentication and quality determination of coconut products. The manuscript was prepared by analyzing and compiling the articles that were collected from various databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and ScienceDirect. The spectroscopic techniques in combination with chemometrics were shown to be successful in the authentication of coconut products. RS and NMR spectroscopy techniques proved their utility and accuracy in assessing the changes in coconut oil's chemical and viscosity profile. FTIR spectroscopy was successfully utilized to analyze the oxidation levels and determine the authenticity of coconut oils. An FT-NIR-based analysis of various coconut samples confirmed the acceptable levels of accuracy in prediction. These non-destructive methods of spectroscopy offer a broad spectrum of applications in food processing industries to detect adulterants. Moreover, the combined chemometrics and spectroscopy detection method is a versatile and accurate measurement for adulterant identification.

Effect of coconut milk, tender coconut and coconut sugar on the physico-chemical and sensory attributes in ice cream.

The investigation was aimed to understand the effect of coconut milk, tender coconut pulp, tender coconut water and coconut sugar on the qualitative attributes of ice cream. Five ice cream formulations were laid out to substitute the major ingredients of ice cream such as, dairy milk and butter with coconut milk, skim milk powder with tender coconut pulp, refined sugar with coconut sugar and potable water with tender coconut water. Two of the formulations were exclusively non-dairy, third one was the standard dairy ice cream, fourth formulation was with the inclusion of coconut sugar in the standard ice cream and the fifth one was standard ice cream with tender coconut and coconut sugar. Proximate composition of the raw materials revealed that coconut milk, tender coconut pulp and coconut sugar can contribute to the solids-non-fat content in ice cream. Significant effect (p< 0.01) was observed on physico-chemical qualities of the mix and ice cream. Total solids, density and total soluble solids of the ice cream mixes were positively correlated. Density, one of the key physical parameters was ranged from 0.98 to 1.13 g/ cm3. Though coconut milk is acidic, the percent titratable values were within the limit. Non- dairy ice cream formulations obtained lower overrun (p < 0.001). There was a negative correlation between percent fat of ice cream and overrun. Crude fat and protein contents of the ice creams were ranged from 10.52-11.62 % and 3.42-4.94 % respectively. Inclusion of coconut products resulted in increased total phenolics and minerals (ash). Non-dairy formulations were preferred over dairy counterpart with respect to flavour and taste during the sensory evaluation carried out with four different age groups. Thus, the study enlightens the potential scope of utilization coconut products in ice cream industry. It also gave a lead towards developing non-dairy/ vegan delicacy on coconut. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-021-05279-y.

Impact of phenolic concentrate from tender coconut water and coconut testa on high fat cholesterol fed C57BL6 mice.

Coconut testa and tender coconut water (TCW) are by-products of coconut processing industries which are rich in natural phytonutrients, if not exploited properly it may add up to environmental pollution. In the current study, phenolic concentrate (PHE) from coconut testa and tender coconut water (TCW) concentrates were examined for their effect on high fat fed C57BL/6 mice at the level of 50 & 100 mg and 500 & 1000 mg/kg body weight respectively. Results showed increasing body weight in high fat fed animals when compared to starch fed control (ND/SFD) group. Treatment with concentrates of PHE and TCW reduced their body weight dose dependently. Lipid profile like triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL levels were significantly decreased, whereas HDL levels increased, indicating its health beneficial effect. Catalase, SOD, GPx, TBARS in tissues, analysis of OGTT, serum insulin levels, advance glycation and atherogenic protection were augmented at different levels in the treated groups. In conclusion, phenolic concentrate prepared from the coconut testa and tender coconut water concentrate revealed their hypolipidemic property which can be exploited further in the development of health foods.

Effect of thermal processing on quality of tender jackfruit in tin-free-steel cans.

Thermal processing is the most efficient and economical technique for the long-term preservation of tender jackfruit in ready-to-cook form on a commercial-scale. Although, thermal processing primarily focus on microbiological safety of the product, the associated quality changes need to be examined as it is decisive of consumer acceptance. The present study investigated the effect of two pasteurization (90 and 100 °C) and sterilization temperatures (110 and 121 °C) at different lethality on microbiological, colour, texture, ascorbic acid (AA), total flavonoid (TFC) and phenol (TPC) contents of tender jackfruit processed in tin-free-steel (TFS) cans. Time required for thermal processing was computed from respective heat penetration curve. Thermal processing improved both the TFC and TPC of tender jackfruit, while colour, texture and AA had degraded. Based on microbiological and physicochemical quality analyses, the study adjudged pasteurization at 90 °C for 19 min and sterilization at 121 °C for 8 min as the best temperature-time combination for thermal processing of tender jackfruit in TFS cans.

Comparative Multi-Omics of Tender Shoots from a Novel Evergrowing Tea Cultivar Provide Insight into the Winter Adaptation Mechanism.

Tea (Camellia sinensis [L.] O. Kuntze) tree is a perennial plant in which winter dormancy is an important biological adaptation to environmental changes. We discovered and reported a novel tea tree cultivar that can generate tender shoots in winter several years ago, but the molecular mechanism for this unique phenotype remains unknown . Here, we conducted comparative transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics along with phytohormone quantitation between the winter and spring tender shoots to investigate the physiological basis and putative regulatory mechanisms of its evergrowing character during winter. Our multi-omics study has led to the following findings. Gibberellin (GA) levels and key enzymes for GA biosynthesis and the signal transduction pathway were increased in the winter shoots, causing the ABA/GA content ratio to decrease, which might play a key regulatory role in maintaining normal growth during winter. The abundance of proteins, genes and metabolites involved in energy metabolism was all increased in winter shoots, indicating that energy is critical for continuous growth under the relatively weak-light and low-temperature environment. Abiotic resistance-related proteins and free amino acids were also increased in abundance in the winter shoots, which possibly represents an adaptation response to winter conditions. These results allowed us to hypothesize a novel molecular mechanism of adaptation for this unique tender shoot evergrowing in winter.

Reducing the thermal deformation of InSb crystal by using double-bounce HHRMs in the TPS tender X-ray absorption spectroscopy beamline.

The Taiwan Photon Source (TPS) with high brightness and energy tunability is suitable for applications in spectroscopy. The tender X-ray absorption beamline will be optimized for X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements using a bending-magnet source in a unique photon energy range (1.7-10 keV) and two crystal pairs [InSb(111) and Si(111)] separated using back-to-back double-crystal monochromators (DCMs). InSb crystals are typically used in the lower photon energy range of 1.7-3.5 keV. However, the poor thermal conductivity of InSb crystals leads to severe deformation. This factor should be considered when the monochromator is installed on a tender X-ray beamline in a storage ring with a high power density. There are many approaches to reducing the thermal load on the first crystal of a DCM. Double-bounce high harmonics rejection mirrors in front of the DCM serve not only to reduce the high-order harmonics but also to absorb considerable quantities of heat. Two coating stripes on the silicon surfaces with a variable incident angle will be key to solving the thermal load on this beamline.

Development and application of a tender X-ray ptychographic coherent diffraction imaging system on BL27SU at SPring-8.

Ptychographic coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) allows the visualization of both the structure and chemical state of materials on the nanoscale, and has been developed for use in the soft and hard X-ray regions. In this study, a ptychographic CDI system with pinhole or Fresnel zone-plate optics for use in the tender X-ray region (2-5 keV) was developed on beamline BL27SU at SPring-8, in which high-precision pinholes optimized for the tender energy range were used to obtain diffraction intensity patterns with a low background, and a temperature stabilization system was developed to reduce the drift of the sample position. A ptychography measurement of a 200 nm thick tantalum test chart was performed at an incident X-ray energy of 2.500 keV, and the phase image of the test chart was successfully reconstructed with approximately 50 nm resolution. As an application to practical materials, a sulfur polymer material was measured in the range of 2.465 to 2.500 keV including the sulfur K absorption edge, and the phase and absorption images were successfully reconstructed and the nanoscale absorption/phase spectra were derived from images at multiple energies. In 3 GeV synchrotron radiation facilities with a low-emittance storage ring, the use of the present system will allow the visualization on the nanoscale of the chemical states of various light elements that play important roles in materials science, biology and environmental science.

X-SPEC: a 70†eV to 15†keV undulator beamline for X-ray and electron spectroscopies.

X-SPEC is a high-flux spectroscopy beamline at the KIT (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) Synchrotron for electron and X-ray spectroscopy featuring a wide photon energy range. The beamline is equipped with a permanent magnet undulator with two magnetic structures of different period lengths, a focusing variable-line-space plane-grating monochromator, a double-crystal monochromator and three Kirkpatrick-Baez mirror pairs. By selectively moving these elements in or out of the beam, X-SPEC is capable of covering an energy range from 70 eV up to 15 keV. The flux of the beamline is maximized by optimizing the magnetic design of the undulator, minimizing the number of optical elements and optimizing their parameters. The beam can be focused into two experimental stations while maintaining the same spot position throughout the entire energy range. The first experimental station is optimized for measuring solid samples under ultra-high-vacuum conditions, while the second experimental station allows in situ and operando studies under ambient conditions. Measurement techniques include X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and hard X-ray PES (HAXPES), as well as X-ray emission spectroscopy (XES) and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS).