Understanding retort processing: A review.

Retort processing is a food preservation technique to address the challenge posed by Clostridium botulinum for commercial sterility of a food product to get microbiologically safe and stable products by heating. This review aims to explore the journey of retort processing, starting from its early use in single-batch canned foods and progressing to its contemporary applications with different types of containers and heating mediums. Additionally, it will delve into the adaptability of retort equipment, including its ability to operate in stationary and various agitation states, as well as its flexibility in processing speed for both single-batch and continuous operations.

Value addition of rice straw cellulose fibers as a reinforcer in packaging applications.

The potential use of agro-waste in food packaging applications is receiving remarkable attention due to its sustainable approach and biodegradable properties. As typical lignocellulosic biomass, rice straw (RS) is widely produced but is usually abandoned and burned, causing tremendous environmental concerns. The exploration of using RS as the source of biodegradable packaging materials is promising for economically converting this agricultural waste into packaging material, thereby providing a considerable solution for RS disposal and an alternative solution to synthetic plastic waste. Polymers have been infused with nanoparticles, fibers, and whiskers, along with plasticizers and cross-linkers, and fillers like nanoparticles and fibers. They have also been blended with natural extracts, essential oils, and other synthetic and natural polymers to improve RS properties. There is still much research to be done before this biopolymer can be applied at an industrial level in food packaging. In this respect, RS can be valued for packaging to add value to these underutilized residues. This review article focuses on the extraction methods and functionality of cellulose fibers and their nanostructured forms from RS and their utilization in packaging applications.

Fabrication and characterization of active nanocomposite films loaded with cellulose nanocrystals stabilized Pickering emulsion of clove bud oil.

There is a tremendous increase in the development of alternative food packaging materials which are functional, environment-friendly, and can improve the shelf-life of food products. One such possible approach is to develop biopolymer-based active films loaded with antimicrobial essential oils. In the present study, pearl millet starch (PMS) films reinforced with kudzu cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) stabilized Pickering emulsions of clove bud oil (CBO) were developed as active and sustainable packaging material. Active nanocomposite films were prepared by blending PMS with Pickering emulsions of CBO at 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 wt% conc. Using the solution casting method. Overall, active nanocomposite films displayed improved thermal, mechanical, and water barrier properties, with an optimum CBO-Pickering emulsion concentration of 1.5 %. CBO and PMS films showed strong chemical interactions, which significantly improved the mechanical resistance of the film. Further, SEM showed the appearance of micro-porous holes in the films because of partial evaporation on the cryo-fractured surface due to the vacuum condition. In addition, films exhibited antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), with a rate response from increasing CBO Pickering emulsion concentration from 0.5 to 2 %. E. coli and S. aureus exhibited an inhibition zone ranging from 10.5 to 2.15 mm and 11.2 to 22.1 mm. This study suggests that PMS starch and kudzu CNCs-based active nanocomposite films loaded with CBO-Pickering emulsions have good potential to develop active and sustainable packaging materials.

Pearl millet starch-based nanocomposite films reinforced with Kudzu cellulose nanocrystals and essential oil: Effect on functionality and biodegradability.

This paper documents the preparation of three biopolymer films: 1) pearl millet starch (PMS) films, 2) PMS films reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), and 3) PMS films reinforced with CNCs stabilized Pickering emulsion of clove bud oil (CBO) and a comparison of their mechanical and water barrier properties and biodegradation behavior in soil. Reinforcing PMS films with Kudzu CNCs/CBO significantly increased tensile strength (from 3.9 to 16.7 MPa) and Young's modulus (from 90 to 376 MPa) but reduced the elongation (54.2 to 30 %) at the break of nanocomposite films. Also, the water vapor permeability of nanocomposite films decreased (from 9.60 to 7.25 × 10-10gm-1s- 1Pa-1) with the incorporation of Kudzu CNCs/CBO. The fastest biodegradation was observed for PMS films (98% in 15 days), followed by PMS films reinforced with Kudzu CNCs (96% in 18 days), followed by PMS films reinforced with Kudzu CNCs stabilized Pickering emulsions (94% in 21 days). The morphological analysis found hyphae-like structure formation due to microbial action, which increased over time. In general, all three biopolymer films showed good biodegradation behavior, and they all degraded between 15 and 21 days, suggesting that starch-based films reinforced with Kudzu CNCs provide a technique for the production of biodegradable packaging material.

Enzymatic modification of starch: A green approach for starch applications.

Native starches are modified to overcome the shortcoming, including retrogradation, syneresis, and low water-holding potential, which limit their industrial applications. The enzymatic modification includes designing a starch with a new structure. The molecular mass, branch chain-length distribution, and amylose/amylopectin ratio can be altered by enzymatic reactions when the enzymes react with gelatinized starch. The enzymatic modification directly affects the properties of the modified starch, including in freeze-thaw stability of gels and retardation of retrogradation during storage. Various enzymatic modifications of starch have been attempted for novel applications to the food industry as food ingredients, the enhancement of product quality, and the improvement of the efficiency of food processing. This review article addresses the key enzymes used for starch modifications, their mechanism of action, functionality and discusses new challenges and opportunities for effective modification. Also, the current review will give a critical snapshot of the applications for starch modifications in food industries.

Starch-based bio-nanocomposites films reinforced with cellulosic nanocrystals extracted from Kudzu (Pueraria montana) vine.

In the current study, starch-based active nanocomposite films reinforced with cellulosic nanocrystals (CNCs) of Kudzu were developed as an alternative option to existing biodegradable plastic packaging. Firstly, Kudzu CNCs were prepared by subjecting Kudzu fibers to the processes such as depolymerization followed by bleaching, acid hydrolysis, and mechanical dispersion. Further, nanocomposite films were formulated by blending pearl millet starch (PMS) and glycerol (30%) with different Kudzu CNCs compositions (0-7 wt%) using the solution casting process. The prepared PMS/Kudzu CNCs nanocomposite films were analyzed for their morphological (SEM and TEM), thermal (TGA and DSC), structural (FTIR), mechanical (tensile strength (TS), elongation at break and young modulus), and water barrier properties. The PMS/Kudzu CNCs films possessed improved crystallinity, heat and moisture-barrier properties, TS, and young-modulus after reinforcement. The optimum reinforcer concentration of CNCs was 5%. The Kudzu CNCs reinforced starch film offers a promising candidate for developing biodegradable films.

Cutaneous Mucormycosis After Elective Outpatient Gastrocnemius Recession for Plantar Fasciitis in an Immunocompetent Host: A Case Report.

CASE: A healthy 21-year-old man underwent an elective gastrocnemius recession for plantar fasciitis. At 10 days postoperatively, he developed a severe limb-threatening cutaneous mucormycotic infection that led to multiple debridements and eventual skin grafting. CONCLUSION: Cutaneous mucormycosis is a rare but severe fungal infection. Early recognition, deep surgical biopsy for diagnosis, and aggressive treatment with frequent thorough surgical debridements and antifungal pharmacotherapy are necessary. Although mucormycosis is more frequently seen in the immunocompromised host, it can occur in the immunocompetent patient most commonly after trauma. If not aggressively treated, it can be limb and life threatening.

Nano-cellulose reinforced starch bio composite films- A review on green composites.

Plastic-based food packaging is generating a serious environmental problem by accumulating large amounts of plastic in the surroundings. Ecological and health concerns are driving research efforts for developing biodegradable films. There are few alternatives that could reduce the environmental impact; one of them is to substitute petroleum-based plastic with starch-based film. Starch has remarkable properties, including biodegradability, sustainability, abundancy, and capable of being modified or blended with other polymers. However, low mechanical strength and low water resistance restrict its application in food packaging. Nanocellulose isolated from lignocellulosic fibers has attracted tremendous interest in the field of science due to high crystallinity and mechanical strength, unique morphology along with abundancy, renewability, and biodegradability. Therefore, nano cellulose as a reinforcer proved to be a good option for fabricating biocomposites for food packaging. The current review will give a critical snapshot of the potential application of nanocellulose in food packaging and discuss new challenges and opportunities for starch biocomposites enriched with nano cellulose.

Mango seed starch: A sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to increasing industrial requirements.

During processing of mango (Mangifera indica) into beverages, squashes and jellies, by-products such as peel and kernel are generated. The higher generation volume of mango-seed makes it cheaper and readily available material for extraction of starch. The current article addresses the mango-seed as potential source of starch over the conventional sources. The starch isolation, its composition structural morphology along with the various physicochemical properties are well discussed. Various modifications for improving the functionality of mango-seed starch (MSS) are comprehensively investigated based on the previous findings. Digestibility profile and glycaemic index of MSS reflected the presence of more resistant starch compared to other conventional starches; making it suitable ingredient for managing diabetes. The structure of mango seed starch can be easily manipulated using biological, chemical and physical methods for improving its application in the foods. Possible utilization of the MSS at large scale will improve the economic viability of the mango processing industries.

Pearl millet grain as an emerging source of starch: A review on its structure, physicochemical properties, functionalization, and industrial applications.

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.) is a sustainable and underutilized starch source, constituting up to 70 % starch in its grain. Pearl millet could be used as a cheaper source of starch as compared to other cereals for developing functional foods. This review is mainly focused on isolation methods, and chemical composition of the pearl millet starch (PMS). Techno-functional characteristics such as; gelatinization, pasting properties, solubility, swelling power, and digestibility to infer wider application of the PMS critically highlighted in the review. Native starches have limited functionalitiesfor food applications due to the instability in developed pastes and gels. A number of modifications (physical, mechanical and enzymatic) have been developed to increase the functionality and to obtain desired characteristics of PMS thus improving its utilization in food applications. Further, the utilization of native as well as modified PMS is also discussed comprehensively. In addition, a number of recommendations to further improve its functionality and increase its application are also discussed.

Lentil ( Lens culinaris Medikus) Diet Affects the Gut Microbiome and Obesity Markers in Rat.

Lentil, a moderate-energy high-protein pulse crop, provides significant amounts of essential nutrients for healthy living. The objective of this study was to determine if a lentil-based diet affects food and energy intake, body weight, percent body fat, liver weight, and body plasma triacylglycerols (TGs) as well as the composition of fecal microbiota in rats. A total of 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with either a standard diet, a 3.5% high amylose corn starch diet, or a 70.8% red lentil diet for 6 weeks. By week 6, rats fed the lentil diet had significantly lower mean body weight (443 ± 47 g/rat) than those fed the control (511 ± 51 g/rat) or corn (502 ± 38 g/rat) diets. Further, mean percent body fat and TG concentration were lower, and lean body mass was higher in rats fed the lentil diet than those fed the corn diet. Fecal abundance of Actinobacteria and Bacteriodetes were greater in rats fed the lentil or corn starch diets than those fed the control diet. Fecal abundance of Firmicutes, a bacterial phylum comprising multiple pathogenic species, decreased in rats fed the lentil and high-amylose corn starch diets vs the control diet. The lentil-based diet decreased body weight, percent body fat, and plasma triacylglycerols in rats and suppressed intestinal colonization by pathogens.

The Effects of Residual Air and Viscosity on the Rate of Heat Penetration of Retort Food Simulant in Pouch When Using Static and Oscillating Motions.

The objectives of this work were to determine the effect of 3 levels of residual air and 2 different retort motions on the value of the average heating slope of the rate of heat penetration of 3 different viscosities of a food simulant in flexible retort pouches. Pouches were thermally processed in a water spray automated batch retort system using 2 different methods of motion: static and oscillating continuously at a speed of 10.5 rotations per min (RPM) with an angle of 15°. Nine residual air and viscosity combinations were processed during each experimental run: low viscosity with no residual air (LV-NRA), medium viscosity with no residual air (MV-NRA), high viscosity with no residual air (HV-NRA), low viscosity with medium residual air (LV-MRA), medium viscosity with medium residual air (MV-MRA), high viscosity with medium residual air (HV-MRA), low viscosity with high residual air (LV-HRA), medium viscosity with high residual air (MV-HRA), and high viscosity with high residual air (HV-HRA). As the amount of residual air in the pouches increased, the average heating slope value decreased in both static and oscillating motions. As the viscosity of the product increased the amount of residual air affected the average heating slope less in static and oscillating motions. Overall, the oscillating motion resulted in faster rates of heat penetration in all viscosities compared to static mode. The oscillating motion reduced processing times up to 27% compared to static mode. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This research can be applied to food manufacturers that are retorting foods in pouches. Residual air in pouches has been studied previously; however, with the development of new retort motions, more research needs to be conducted about the effect of residual air in a pouch using the different motions. Food manufacturers can use this information to optimize their amount of residual air based on their product viscosity and retort motion. This could dramatically lower processing time which would save money and increase output as well as potentially increases product quality. This research is aimed at influencing food manufacturers, process authorities, and product developers.

Biomechanical evaluation of a second generation headless compression screw for ankle arthrodesis in a cadaver model.

BACKGROUND: Many types of screws, plates, and strut grafts have been utilized for ankle arthrodesis. Biomechanical testing has shown that these constructs can have variable stiffness. More recently, headless compression screws have emerged as an evolving method of achieving compression in various applications but there is limited literature regarding ankle arthrodesis. The aim of this study was to determine the biomechanical stability provided by a second generation fully threaded headless compression screw compared to a standard headed, partially threaded cancellous screw in a cadaveric ankle arthrodesis model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty fresh frozen human cadaver specimens were subjected to simulated ankle arthrodesis with either three standard cancellous-bone screws (InFix 7.3mm) or with three headless compression screws (Acumed Acutrak 2 7.5mm). The specimens were subjected to cyclic loading and unloading at a rate of 1Hz, compression of 525 Newtons (N) and distraction of 20N for a total of 500 cycles using an electromechanical load frame (Instron). The amount of maximum distraction was recorded as well as the amount of motion that occurred through 1, 10, 50, 100, and 500 cycles. RESULTS: No significant difference (p=0.412) was seen in the amount of distraction that occurred across the fusion site for either screw. The average maximum distraction after 500 cycles was 201.9µm for the Acutrak 2 screw and 235.4µm for the InFix screw. No difference was seen throughout each cycle over time for the Acutrak 2 screw (p-value=0.988) or the InFix screw (p-value=0.991). CONCLUSION: Both the traditional InFix type screw and the second generation Acumed Acutrak headless compression screws provide adequate fixation during ankle arthrodesis under submaximal loads. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There is no demonstrable difference between traditional cannulated partially threaded screws and headless compression screws studied in this model.

Dislocated Posterior Tibial Tendon Treated With Plate Buttress Fixation in a Collegiate Gymnast: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

UNLABELLED: Dislocation of the posterior tibial tendon (PTT) is a rare pathological process that occurs most often as a result of acute trauma. The injury involves forced dorsiflexion and eversion of the foot against a contracted posterior tibialis. Diagnosis of the injury is often difficult secondary to the rarity of the injury and its similarity with other benign injuries of the medial ankle. Routine diagnostic imaging often does not reveal the injury, and advanced imaging with magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis is often required. The injury can be a result of an abnormal retromalleolar groove or a tear of the flexor retinaculum. Because nonoperative treatment frequently results in poor outcomes with continuing pain and progressive flat foot, operative treatment with repair of the flexor retinaculum with correction of the retromalleolar groove is the most described intervention. We report an acute case of PTT dislocation in a collegiate gymnast during competition and offer our technique for surgical correction in the setting of a partially torn, attenuated flexor retinaculum with plate buttressing of the PTT into its native uncorrected groove. LEVELS OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level IV: Case study.

Venous thrombosis in athletes.

Because deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can occur following orthopaedic procedures, knowledge of hereditary and acquired risk factors for DVT is essential. Hereditary forms of thrombophilia include factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A mutations, and deficiencies of antithrombin III, protein C, and protein S. Acquired risk factors include but are not limited to trauma, immobilization, and surgical procedures. In general, athletes have a low risk of venous thrombosis; however, this population is exposed to many acquired thrombogenic risk factors, including hemoconcentration, trauma, immobilization, long-distance travel, and the use of oral contraceptives. Thus, orthopaedic surgeons should consider screening athletes for thrombogenic risk factors, including history of venous thrombosis, hypercoagulable disorders, or high altitude exercise, during preparticipation physicals and preoperative examinations. If a patient is determined to be at high risk of DVT, preventive measures such as physical antithrombotic measures and/or low-molecular-weight heparin should be instituted. If an athlete develops a DVT, a risk factor assessment should be conducted along with anticoagulation treatment in accordance with the American College of Chest Physicians guidelines.

Properties of selected S-nitrosothiols compared to nitrosylated WR-1065.

WR-1065 ([N-mercaptoethyl]-1-3-diaminopropane), the active form of the aminothiol drug Ethyol/Amifostine, protects against toxicity caused by radiation, chemotherapy and endotoxin. Because WR-1065 and other thiols readily bind nitric oxide (NO), injurious conditions or therapies that induce the production or mobilization of NO could alter the effects of WR-1065. S-Nitrosothiols were prepared from various thiols by a standard method to compare properties and stability. Heteromolecular quantum correlation 2D nuclear magnetic resonance was used to characterize nitrosylated glutathione (GSH) and WR-1065; both S- and N-nitrosothiols were observed, depending on the experimental conditions. Three categories of S-nitrosothiol stability were observed: (1) highly stable, with t(1/2) > 8 h, N-acetyl-L-cysteine nitrosothiol (t(1/2) 15 h) > GSH nitrosothiol (t(1/2) 8 h); (2) intermediate stability, t(1/2) approximately 2 h, cysteamine nitrosothiol and WR-1065 nitrosothiol; and (3) low stability, t(1/2) < 1 h, cysteine nitrosothiol and Captopril nitrosothiol. Similar relative rates were observed for Hg(+2)-induced denitrosylation: WR-1065 reacted faster than GSH nitrosothiol, while GSH nitrosothiol reacted faster than N-acetyl-L-cysteine nitrosothiol. Mostly mediated by mixed-NPSH disulfide formation, the activity of the redox-sensitive cysteine protease, cathepsin H, was inhibited by the S-nitrosothiols, with WR-1065 nitrosothiol > cysteine nitrosothiol > N-acetyl-L-cysteine nitrosothiol and GSH nitrosothiol. These observations indicate that, relative to other nitrosylated non-protein thiols, the S-nitrosothiol of WR-1065 is an unstable non-protein S-nitrosothiols with a high reactive potential in the modification of protein thiols.