Composition and Functional Properties of the Edible Spear and By-Products from Asparagus officinalis L. and Their Potential Prebiotic Effect.

Asparagus is a healthy food appreciated for its organoleptic characteristics, nutritional composition and physiological properties. During its industrial processing, a large amount of by-products are generated, since only the apical part of the vegetable is considered edible and a large amount of by-products are generated that could be of nutritional interest. Therefore, the nutritional composition of the edible part and the two by-products of the plant (root and stem) was evaluated, including dietary fiber, inulin, low-molecular-weight carbohydrates, low-molecular-weight polyphenols and macromolecular polyphenols. The hydration properties, oil retention capacity, glucose retardation index and impact on bacterial growth of both probiotic bacteria and pathogenic strains were determined. All samples were high in fiber (>22 g/100 g dw), fructans (>1.5 g/100 g dw) and polyphenolic compounds (>3 g/100 g dw) and had good water-, oil- and glucose-binding capacity. In addition, they promoted the growth of probiotic strains but not pathogenic ones. The effects were more pronounced in the spear by-product samples and appear to be related to the components of dietary fiber. The results indicate that edible spear has potential beneficial effects on host health and microbiota when ingested as part of a healthy diet, while the by-products could be used as supplements and/or as natural ingredients in fiber-enriched foods that require emulsification and are intended to achieve a prebiotic effect.

Impact of donor NKG2D and MICA gene polymorphism on clinical outcomes of adult and paediatric allogeneic cord blood transplantation for malignant diseases.

OBJECTIVES: NKG2D is an activating receptor expressed by natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T cells and activation intensity varies by NKG2D expression level or nature of its ligand. An NKG2D gene polymorphism determines high (HNK1) or low (LNK1) expression. MICA is the most polymorphic NKG2D ligand and stronger effector cell activation associates with methionine rather than valine at residue 129. We investigated correlation between cord blood (CB) NKG2D and MICA genotypes and haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplant outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 267 CB HSC recipients (178 adult and 87 paediatric) who underwent transplant for malignant disease between 2007 and 2018, analysing CB graft DNA for NKG2D and MICA polymorphisms using Sanger sequencing. Multivariate analysis was used to correlate these results with transplant outcomes. RESULTS: In adult patients, LNK1 homozygous CB significantly improved 60-day neutrophil engraftment (hazard ratio (HR) 0.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4-0.9; p = .003). In paediatrics, HNK1 homozygous CB improved 60-day engraftment (HR 0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.7; p = .003), as did MICA-129 methionine+ CB grafts (HR 1.7 95% CI 1.1-2.6; p = .02). CONCLUSION: CB NKG2D and MICA genotypes potentially improve CB HSC engraftment. However, results contrast between adult and paediatric recipients and may reflect transplant procedure disparities between cohorts.

Integrated modeling of labile and glycated hemoglobin with glucose for enhanced diabetes detection and short-term monitoring.

Metabolic biomarkers, particularly glycated hemoglobin and fasting plasma glucose, are pivotal in the diagnosis and control of diabetes mellitus. Despite their importance, they exhibit limitations in assessing short-term glucose variations. In this study, we propose labile hemoglobin as an additional biomarker, providing insightful perspectives into these fluctuations. By utilizing datasets from 40,652 retrospective general participants and conducting glucose tolerance tests on 60 prospective pediatric subjects, we explored the relationship between plasma glucose and labile hemoglobin. A mathematical model was developed to encapsulate short-term glucose kinetics in the pediatric group. Applying dimensionality reduction techniques, we successfully identified participant subclusters, facilitating the differentiation between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. Intriguingly, by integrating labile hemoglobin measurements with plasma glucose values, we were able to predict the likelihood of diabetes in pediatric subjects, underscoring the potential of labile hemoglobin as a significant glycemic biomarker for diabetes research.

Perfusion education and training in Europe anno 2023.

Background: In the absence of uniform European regulations, there have been many differences in the training of perfusionists across Europe. Furthermore, there has been no uniform or single European accreditation of the profession. One of the objectives of The European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (EBCP) is to standardise and monitor training of perfusionists across Europe whilst offering support in accordance with national regulations. This goal is particularly imminent as there have been numerous newly founded National perfusion societies, particularly from Eastern European countries, which are now established members of EBCP.Purpose: In this article, we provide an updated overview or 'snapshot' of current European perfusion training programs that were accessible in 2022. Nationally acquired data refers to 2022 unless stated otherwise. The last overview of Perfusion education in Europe was reported over 15 years ago including 20 countries.Research Design: For this report thirty-two national EBCP delegates plus representatives from Austria were contacted at the beginning of 2023 to complete a pro forma questionnaire about their national perfusion training programmes. The data has been summarized in this article and five additional derived parameters were calculated.Results: We received responses from 31 countries, providing specific national training characteristics which are summarized, listed and benchmarked by country in this article.Conclusion: There have been several national and supranational initiatives towards the recognition of perfusion as a profession in Europe, however so far without success for the majority of countries. For this reason, it remains essential for EBCP, as the only European professional perfusionist body, to define education standards and competencies for perfusionists and to monitor training by accreditation of dedicated perfusion schools across Europe.

Valorization of Salicornia patula Duval-Jouve Young Shoots in Healthy and Sustainable Diets.

The revalorization of natural resources in food production is increasing, and the effect of climate change is negatively affecting the production of conventional crops. In recent years, edible halophytes have received more attention due to their ability to tolerate a wide range of salinities. Thus, the use of halophytes that require less water and are strongly adapted to high-salinity soil and coastal areas can provide sustainable agriculture in certain areas. In addition, there is growing interest in the study of the possibilities that these species offer as foods due to their excellent nutritional profile and antioxidant properties. For that reason, the exploitation of plants adapted to these areas is nowadays even more important than in the past to guarantee food security in arid or semiarid salinized territories. The available data about the nutrients and bioactive compounds composition of many non-cultivated edible vegetables traditionally used in the Mediterranean area, such as Salicornia edible young shoots, are still scarce. With the aim of improving the knowledge on their nutritional value, the present study provides new data about the content of some compounds with biological activity, such as fiber and organic acids, in eight samples of young shoots of S. patula Duval-Jouve gathered in great mainland and coastal salt marshes in Southwest and Central Spain. Results showed that this vegetable can be considered a healthy food and a very good source of dietary fiber (4.81-6.30 g/100 g fw total fiber). Its organic acid profile showed oxalic, malic, citric and succinic acids. Oxalic acid was the major one, with mean values of 0.151-1.691 g/100 g fw. From the results obtained in this study, S. patula shoots could be recommended as an alternative source of fiber for healthy and sustainable diets in the general adult population with no risk of renal disease.

Identification and Characterization of a Novel Microalgal Strain from the Antofagasta Coast Tetraselmis marina AC16-MESO (Chlorophyta) for Biotechnological Applications.

The wide rocky coastline of the Antofagasta hosts an intertidal ecosystem in which the species that inhabit it are routinely exposed to a wide range of physical and chemical conditions and have therefore evolved to tolerate extremes. In the search for new species of potential biotechnological interest with adaptations to a wide range of environmental conditions, the isolation and characterization of microalgae from these ecosystems is of great interest. Here, a new microalgal strain, Tetraselmis marina AC16-MESO, is described, which was isolated from a biofilm collected on the intertidal rocks of the Antofagasta coast (23°36'57.2″ S, 70°23'33.8″ W). In addition to the morphological characterization, 18S and ITS sequence as well as ITS-2 secondary structure analysis revealed an identity of 99.76% and 100% with the species Tetraselmis marina, respectively. The analyses of the culture characteristics and biochemical content showed similarities with other strains that are frequently used in aquaculture, such as the species Tetraselmis suecica. In addition, it is tolerant of a wide range of salinities, thus allowing its culture in water of varying quality. On the other hand, added to these characteristics, the results of the improvement of the lipid content in stressful situations of salinity observed in this study, together with other antecedents such as the potential in bioremediation already published for this strain by the same research group, present a clear example of its biotechnological plasticity. It is noteworthy that this strain, due to its characteristics, allows easy collection of its biomass by decantation and, therefore, a more cost-efficient harvesting than for other microalgal strains. Therefore, this new strain of Tetraselmis marina, first report of this species in Chile, and its morphologically, molecularly and biochemically description, presents promising characteristics for its use in biotechnology and as feed for aquaculture.

Survey of Spanish hospitals on diabetes care resources.

INTRODUCTION: The quality of diabetes care varies from region to region. The objective of this study is to analyze the characteristics of care in different hospitals in Spain through a specific survey assessing different aspects of care for both children and adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional observational voluntary survey study, sent to the heads of the Endocrinology and Pediatric Endocrinology Departments or Units in public hospitals with more than 150 beds, during the first semester of 2021. A total of 105 responses were obtained, 55.5% of the 189 requested, which corresponded to a population served of 31,782,409 people, representing almost 80% of the total population served. RESULTS: Patients with diabetes under 15 years of age are cared for by Pediatric Departments, but only 58% of them have a specific Diabetes Education Unit for children, and in 72% of the cases, there is one single nurse dedicated to these tasks, and not always full-time. Those over 15 years of age are attended by specialists in Endocrinology and Nutrition in 94.3 % of hospitals. There are Therapeutic Education Units in Diabetes in practically all hospitals (94.3%). However, Diabetes Day Hospitals exist in only 32 centres and cover 40.3% of the population, since in 22 provinces there are none. Virtual and telematic consultations, as well as retinography, are available in more than 70% of cases, but access to a Diabetic Foot Unit only in 54% of centres. Monographic technological consultations on diabetes have become widespread, but access to mental health specialists with diabetes training remains limited (24% of centres), and interdisciplinary (32%) or interlevel (12%) committees are very scarce. CONCLUSION: Diabetes care in Spain shows great variability from one region to another, and some deficiencies have been detected that affect a large part of the population, such as access to Diabetic Foot Units, as well as mental health specialists with specific training. The presence of multidisciplinary and mixed committees between levels of care remains scarce.

A Neural Network Approach to Reducing the Costs of Parameter-Setting in the Production of Polyethylene Oxide Nanofibers.

Nanofibers, which are formed by the electrospinning process, are used in a variety of applications. For this purpose, a specific diameter suited for each application is required, which is achieved by varying a set of parameters. This parameter adjustment process is empirical and works by trial and error, causing high input costs and wasting time and financial resources. In this work, an artificial neural network model is presented to predict the diameter of polyethylene nanofibers, based on the adjustment of 15 parameters. The model was trained from 105 records from data obtained from the literature and was then validated with nine nanofibers that were obtained and measured in the laboratory. The average error between the actual results was 2.29%. This result differs from those taken in an evaluation of the dataset. Therefore, the importance of increasing the dataset and the validation using independent data is highlighted.

Wild Fruits of Crataegus monogyna Jacq. and Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz: From Traditional Foods to Innovative Sources of Pigments and Antioxidant Ingredients for Food Products.

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna Jacq.) and whitebeam (Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz) are wild species traditionally used as ethnic foods in the Mediterranean area. Their red berries, and mainly the peels, may be used as ingredients due to their color (replacing other synthetic colorants) or functional properties. Some previous studies analyze all edible fruits, but there is very little literature on the composition and properties of the pulpless epidermis of the fruits of C. monogyna and no literature concerning the fruits of S. aria. Total phenolic compounds (TPC) and families of hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols, and total monomeric anthocyanins were determined in the epidermis of C. monogyna and S. aria fruits. The in vitro antioxidant capacity was also determined using QUENCHER (Quick-Easy-New-CHEap-Reproducible) methodology. Anthocyanins profiles were analyzed in hydroalcoholic extracts through HPLC/MS. C. monogyna fruits presented higher content of TPC than S. aria, with hydroxybenzoic acids (2870.6 mg GAE/100g dw) as the major family, followed by flavonols (771.4 mg QE/100 g dw) and hydroxycinnamic acids (610.3 FAE/100 g dw). Anthocyanins were found in 251.7 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/100 g dw, characterized by the content of cyanidin-O-hexoxide and peonidin-O-hexoxide. The levels of these compounds correlated with higher values of a* parameter (higher intensity of reddish color). These fruits also showed higher antioxidant capacity by Q-Folin-Ciocalteu and Q-FRAP. S. aria peels had fewer phenolic compounds, particularly anthocyanins (33.7 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/100 g dw), containing different cyanidin derivatives. From these results, new insights about the composition of the epidermis of these wild fruits are provided, and their potential as ingredients for the food industry is corroborated.

Anafilaxia à lapa: um caso clínico raro / Limpet anaphylaxis: a rare case

A lapa (Patella vulgata) é um molusco frequentemente encontrado em regiões costeiras com clima quente. A alergia alimentar à lapa é muito rara, com poucos casos descritos na literatura. Os autores descrevem um caso de anafilaxia à lapa, com evidência de reação de hipersensibilidade do tipo I, através de IgE específica positiva à lapa, tanto com métodos in vivo, como in vitro.

Limpet (Patella vulgata) is a mollusk mainly found in warm coastal regions. Limpet allergy is considered rare, and few cases can be found in the literature. We describe a clinical case of limpet anaphylaxis, including in vitro and in vivo evidence of IgE mechanism involvement.

Global DNA Methylation and Hydroxymethylation Levels in PBMCs Are Altered in RRMS Patients Treated with IFN-ß and GA-A Preliminary Study.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS) due to an autoimmune attack on axonal myelin sheaths. Epigenetics is an open research topic on MS, which has been investigated in search of biomarkers and treatment targets for this heterogeneous disease. In this study, we quantified global levels of epigenetic marks using an ELISA-like approach in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) from 52 patients with MS, treated with Interferon beta (IFN-ß) and Glatiramer Acetate (GA) or untreated, and 30 healthy controls. We performed media comparisons and correlation analyses of these epigenetic markers with clinical variables in subgroups of patients and controls. We observed that DNA methylation (5-mC) decreased in treated patients compared with untreated and healthy controls. Moreover, 5-mC and hydroxymethylation (5-hmC) correlated with clinical variables. In contrast, histone H3 and H4 acetylation did not correlate with the disease variables considered. Globally quantified epigenetic DNA marks 5-mC and 5-hmC correlate with disease and were altered with treatment. However, to date, no biomarker has been identified that can predict the potential response to therapy before treatment initiation.

Specific pattern of linguistic impairment in Parkinson's disease patients with subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment predicts dementia.

OBJECTIVE: Parkinson's disease patients with subjective cognitive decline (PD-SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) have an increased risk of dementia (PDD). Thus, the identification of early cognitive changes that can be useful predictors of PDD is a highly relevant challenge. Posterior cortically based functions, including linguistic processes, have been associated with PDD. However, investigations that have focused on linguistic functions in PD-MCI are scarce and none of them include PD-SCD patients. Our aim was to study language performance in PD-SCD and PD-MCI. Moreover, language subcomponents were considered as predictors of PDD. METHOD: Forty-six PD patients and twenty controls were evaluated with a neuropsychological protocol. Patients were classified as PD-SCD and PD-MCI. Language production and comprehension was assessed. Follow-up assessment was conducted to a mean of 7.5 years after the baseline. RESULTS: PD-MCI patients showed a poor performance in naming (actions and nouns), action generation, anaphora resolution and sentence comprehension (with and without center-embedded relative clause). PD-SCD showed a poor performance in action naming and action generation. Deficit in action naming was an independent risk factor for PDD during the follow-up. Moreover, the combination of deficit in action words and sentence comprehension without a center-embedded relative clause was associated with a greater risk. CONCLUSIONS: The results are of relevance because they suggest that a specific pattern of linguistic dysfunctions, that can be present even in the early stages of the disease, can predict future dementia, reinforcing the importance of advancing in the knowledge of linguistic dysfunctions in predementia stages of PD.

Influence of mild cognitive impairment on clinical and functional prognosis in older candidates for cardiac surgery.

Introduction: In this study, we analyzed the prognostic impact of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) prior to cardiac surgery on 12-month clinical outcomes in older patients. Method: We performed a longitudinal prospective study of 48 patients undergoing cardiac surgery and 26 neurologically healthy participants aged 65 years or older. All participants underwent a neuropsychological assessment. Functional status, quality of life and frailty were assessed in candidates for surgery. One year after surgery, 24 patients remained in the study. Results: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was diagnosed in 35% of the patients at baseline. Postsurgical changes in functionality consisted of a tendency toward impaired basic activities of daily living (BADL) in the MCI group and a statistically significant worsening in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) in women with MCI. Changes in quality of life consisted of a significant improvement in anxiety-depression in the MCI group and a tendency toward greater pain-discomfort in the non-MCI group. Cognitive status significantly declined only in the non-MCI group. Neither group showed significant changes in frailty. Relative risk analysis showed that patients with a diagnosis of MCI at baseline had a higher risk of cognitive decline at follow-up, while those without a diagnosis of MCI at baseline had a lower risk of impaired IADL. No association was found between MCI and resource use. Preoperative impairment in memory, visuospatial and executive functions was significantly associated with loss of quality of life at follow-up. Impairment of memory and visuospatial function was significantly associated with cognitive decline. Preserved memory was associated with a lower risk of impaired BADL at follow-up. Conclusion: The present study provides clue on the impact of MCI in candidates for cardiac surgery. Preoperative detection of cognitive impairment could be highly valuable to help guide pre- and post-operative management.

Stereolithography of Semiconductor Silver and Acrylic-Based Nanocomposites.

Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) attract the attention of researchers and industry because of their potential properties in widespread fields. Specifically, electrically conductive and semiconductor PNCs are gaining interest as promising materials for biomedical, optoelectronic and sensing applications, among others. Here, metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are extensively used as nanoadditives to increase the electrical conductivity of mere acrylic resin. As the in situ formation of metallic NPs within the acrylic matrix is hindered by the solubility of the NP precursors, we propose a method to increase the density of Ag NPs by using different intermediate solvents, allowing preparation of Ag/acrylic resin nanocomposites with improved electrical behaviour. We fabricated 3D structures using stereolithography (SLA) by dissolving different quantities of metal precursor (AgClO4) in methanol and in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and adding these solutions to the acrylic resin. The high density of Ag NPs obtained notably increases the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites, reaching the semiconductor regime. We analysed the effect of the auxiliary solvents during the printing process and the implications on the mechanical properties and the degree of cure of the fabricated nanocomposites. The good quality of the materials prepared by this method turn these nanocomposites into promising candidates for electronic applications.

Iatrogenias na prestação de cuidados de enfermagem: A perspetiva dos enfermeiros da área médico-cirúrgica / Iatrogenic events in nursing care: The medical-surgical nurses' perspectives / Iatrogenia en los cuidados de enfermería: La perspectiva de los enfermeros del área médico-quirúrgica

Resumo Enquadramento: A prestação de cuidados de saúde aos utentes, deve contemplar como premissas, a qualidade e segurança. No seu desrespeito enquadra-se o evento adverso, entendido como doença ou dano. Objetivo: identificar a perceção dos enfermeiros acerca das iatrogenias na prestação de cuidados de enfermagem na área médico-cirúrgica. Metodologia: Estudo qualitativo, por entrevista semiestruturada a um grupo focal de enfermeiros. Resultados: Os enfermeiros associam ao conceito de iatrogenia em enfermagem o dano que o doente sofre, decorrente das atividades sob sua responsabilidade. Como ocorrências iatrogénicas em enfermagem mais comuns relataram: as quedas/fraturas, os efeitos adversos à administração de terapêutica medicamentosa, o inadequado manuseamento de dispositivos médicos. Como fatores potenciadores emergiram as condições de trabalho inadequadas. Enumeraram-se como estratégias para a minimização destes eventos: a formação contínua, a boa comunicação e liderança, implementação e cumprimento de protocolos. Conclusão: Na perceção da amostra as iatrogenias são uma realidade, cujos fatores potenciadores vão ao encontro aos descritos na literatura científica. A formação contínua nesta área é reconhecida como um pilar para a sua prevenção.

Abstract Background: Healthcare delivered to users must be based on the premises of quality and safety. Failure to comply leads to adverse events understood as illness or harm. Objective: To identify nurses' perspectives on iatrogenic events in medical-surgical nursing care. Methodology: Qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews with a focus group of nurses. Results: Nurses associate iatrogenic events in nursing with patient harm resulting from nursing activities carried out under their responsibility. The most common nursing iatrogenic events reported were falls and fractures, drug therapy-related adverse effects, and inappropriate use of medical devices. Poor working conditions were pointed out as a potentiating factor. The following strategies were listed to minimize iatrogenic events: continuing education, good communication and leadership, implementation and protocols adherence. Conclusion: According to the sample's perspective, iatrogenic events are a reality whose potentiating factors are in line with those described in the literature. Continuing education in this area is recognized as essential for prevention.

Resumen Marco contextual: La prestación de cuidados sanitarios a los usuarios debe contemplar la calidad y la seguridad como premisas. El acontecimiento adverso, entendido como enfermedad o daño, se enmarca en su falta de respeto. Objetivo: Identificar la percepción de los enfermeros sobre la iatrogenia en la prestación de cuidados de enfermería en el área médico-quirúrgica. Metodología: Estudio cualitativo, mediante entrevista semiestructurada, a un grupo focal de enfermeros. Resultados: Los enfermeros asocian el concepto de iatrogenia en enfermería con el daño que sufre el paciente como consecuencia de las actividades de las que son responsables. Los casos de iatrogenia más comunes notificados en enfermería fueron las caídas/fracturas, los acontecimientos adversos a la administración terapéutica medicamentosa y la manipulación inadecuada de dispositivos médicos. Las condiciones de trabajo inadecuadas surgieron como factores potenciadores. Entre las estrategias para minimizar estos acontecimientos, se incluyen: formación continua, buena comunicación y liderazgo, implementación y cumplimiento de los protocolos. Conclusión: En la percepción de la muestra, la iatrogenia es una realidad cuyos factores potenciales coinciden con los descritos en la literatura científica. La formación continua en este ámbito se reconoce como un pilar para su prevención.

Applications and Pharmacological Properties of Cactus Pear (Opuntia spp.) Peel: A Review.

Nowadays, there is a growing interest in the exploitation of by-products from fruits and vegetables, generated from industrial processing or human feeding. Residues of popularly consumed fruits such as orange, lemon, banana, pomegranate, among others, have been widely described and studied; however, cactus pear (Opuntia spp.) residues, as a locally consumed product, have been forgotten. The whole fruit can be divided into the edible portion (pulp) and the non-edible portion (seeds and peel). Several studies mainly focus on the characteristics of the edible portion or in the whole fruit, ignoring by-products such as peels, which are rich in compounds such as phenols, flavonoids and dietary fiber; they have also been proposed as an alternative source of lipids, carbohydrates and natural colorants. Some uses of the peel have been reported as a food additives, food supplements, as a source of pectins and for wastewater treatment; however, there have not been any deep investigations of the characteristics and potential uses of the cactus pear peel (CPP). The aim of the present paper is to provide an overview of the current research on CPP. CPP has many bio-active compounds that may provide health benefits and may also be useful in pharmaceutical, food and manufacturing industries; however, greater research is needed in order to gain thorough knowledge of the possibilities of this by-product.

Comparison of the Material Quality of AlxIn1-xN (x-0-0.50) Films Deposited on Si(100) and Si(111) at Low Temperature by Reactive RF Sputtering.

AlxIn1-xN ternary semiconductors have attracted much interest for application in photovoltaic devices. Here, we compare the material quality of AlxIn1-xN layers deposited on Si with different crystallographic orientations, (100) and (111), via radio-frequency (RF) sputtering. To modulate their Al content, the Al RF power was varied from 0 to 225 W, whereas the In RF power and deposition temperature were fixed at 30 W and 300 °C, respectively. X-ray diffraction measurements reveal a c-axis-oriented wurtzite structure with no phase separation regardless of the Al content (x = 0-0.50), which increases with the Al power supply. The surface morphology of the AlxIn1-xN layers improves with increasing Al content (the root-mean-square roughness decreases from ≈12 to 2.5 nm), and it is similar for samples grown on both Si substrates. The amorphous layer (~2.5 nm thick) found at the interface with the substrates explains the weak influence of their orientation on the properties of the AlxIn1-xN films. Simultaneously grown AlxIn1-xN-on-sapphire samples point to a residual n-type carrier concentration in the 1020-1021 cm-3 range. The optical band gap energy of these layers evolves from 1.75 to 2.56 eV with the increase in the Al. PL measurements of AlxIn1-xN show a blue shift in the peak emission when adding the Al, as expected. We also observe an increase in the FWHM of the main peak and a decrease in the integrated emission with the Al content in room-temperature PL measurements. In general, the material quality of the AlxIn1-xN films on Si is similar for both crystallographic orientations.

Effects and mechanisms of mindfulness training and physical exercise on cognition, emotional wellbeing, and brain outcomes in chronic stroke patients: Study protocol of the MindFit project randomized controlled trial.

Background: Post-stroke cognitive and emotional complications are frequent in the chronic stages of stroke and have important implications for the functionality and quality of life of those affected and their caregivers. Strategies such as mindfulness meditation, physical exercise (PE), or computerized cognitive training (CCT) may benefit stroke patients by impacting neuroplasticity and brain health. Materials and methods: One hundred and forty-one chronic stroke patients are randomly allocated to receive mindfulness-based stress reduction + CCT (n = 47), multicomponent PE program + CCT (n = 47), or CCT alone (n = 47). Interventions consist of 12-week home-based programs five days per week. Before and after the interventions, we collect data from cognitive, psychological, and physical tests, blood and stool samples, and structural and functional brain scans. Results: The effects of the interventions on cognitive and emotional outcomes will be described in intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. We will also explore potential mediators and moderators, such as genetic, molecular, brain, demographic, and clinical factors in our per-protocol sample. Discussion: The MindFit Project is a randomized clinical trial that aims to assess the impact of mindfulness and PE combined with CCT on chronic stroke patients' cognitive and emotional wellbeing. Furthermore, our design takes a multimodal biopsychosocial approach that will generate new knowledge at multiple levels of evidence, from molecular bases to behavioral changes. Clinical trial registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04759950.

Dwarf Kiwi (Actinidia arguta Miq.), a Source of Antioxidants for a Healthy and Sustainable Diet.

The feasibility of using dwarf kiwi fruits (Actinia arguta Miq.) as a healthy and sustainable food, compared to other types of commercial kiwi fruits, was evaluated in the present study. The overall antioxidant capacity of these fruits was assessed by either extraction-dependent methods (ABTS, ORAC) or the direct method called Quick, Easy, New, CHEap, Reproducible (QUENCHER) (DPPH, FRAP, Folin-Ciocalteu), applied for the first time to analyze kiwi fruits. With this methodology, all the molecules with antioxidant capacity are measured together in a single step, even those with high molecular weight or poor solubility in aqueous extraction systems, such as antioxidant dietary fiber. The effect of kiwi extracts on physiological and induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production on IEC-6 cells was also analyzed, as well as total phenolic content (TPC) by Fast Blue BB, flavonols, hydroxycinnamic acids, and hydroxybenzoic acids. A. arguta fruits showed the highest values in all the antioxidant assays, being remarkably higher than the other kiwi species for Q-FRAP and Q-DPPH. Dwarf kiwi showed the highest potential in reducing physiological ROS and the highest values of TPC (54.57 mgGAE/g), being hydroxybenzoic acids the main phenolic family found (2.40 mgGAE/g). Therefore, dwarf kiwi fruits are a natural source of antioxidants compared to conventional kiwi fruits, being a sustainable and healthy alternative to diversify fruits in the diet.

Bioaccessibility of Macrominerals and Trace Elements from Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Farmers' Varieties.

Traditional farmers' varieties of tomato grown under extensive farming techniques are considered delicious and healthy foods and are preferred by local consumers. Tomatoes are an important component of a healthy diet, as they provide essential micronutrients, including minerals, which are vital to healthy development, disease prevention, and wellbeing. Given the considerable dietary intake of tomatoes and the scarcity of information about the bioaccessibility of inorganic constituents in this fruit, this study was carried out to evaluate the content and bioaccessibility of minerals (macro- and microelements) in tomato farmers' varieties widely cultivated in northeastern Portugal homegardens. Among the macroelements, K stood out as the most abundant mineral in the studied varieties, followed by Mg, Ca, and Na. Regarding the microelements, while the yellow tomato had higher concentrations of Fe and Cu, the round tomato had more Zn and Mn. The in vitro bioaccessibility assessment showed that, among the macroelements, Mg was more bioaccessible than Ca and K when all the tomato varieties were considered together. Among the microelements, Cu seemed to be the most bioaccessible. Although the contribution of a 100 g serving of the studied tomato farmers' varieties to the dietary reference intakes (DRIs) of minerals is relatively low, this food could contribute to reaching these mineral requirements, as it is included in the diet of most of the population, especially in Mediterranean regions.