Active antifungal packaging is a technological solution for reducing the postharvest losses of fruits and vegetables associated with phytopathogens. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) is the principal fungus that causes post-harvest avocado fruit decay. In this study, antifungal sachets filled with oregano oil-starch capsules were prepared, and their active effects were demonstrated on Hass avocado fruits. Oregano oil (31 % of carvacrol) was encapsulated with corn starch by spray drying. Tyvek sachets (4 × 4 cm) filled with 80 (T1) and 160 mg (T2) of oregano oil-starch capsules (99.35 ± 1.86 mg g − 1) were fabricated. The antifungal effects of the sachets were tested in vitro and in vivo using a humidity chamber (90–95 % relative humidity (RH)) on fruits inoculated with anthracnose. The results showed that T1 and T2 inhibited 75.21 ± 2.81 and 100 % in vitro growth of anthracnose at 25 °C for 12 days. Furthermore, Hass avocado fruits stored in a humidity chamber at 25 °C for 6 days showed that only T2 significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the area of lesion produced by artificial inoculation of Hass avocado fruits with anthracnose. On average, the lesion area in the Hass avocado fruits treated with T2 was 13.94 % smaller than that in the control fruit.
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The retirement phase is an opportunity to integrate healthy (nutrition/exercise) habits into daily life. We conducted this systematic review to assess which nutrition and exercise interventions most effectively improve body composition (fat/muscle mass), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) in persons with obesity/overweight near retirement age (ages 55–70 y). We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) of randomized controlled trials, searching 4 databases from their inception up to July 12, 2022. The NMA was based on a random effects model, pooled mean differences, standardized mean differences, their 95% confidence intervals, and correlations with multi-arm studies. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Ninety-two studies were included, 66 of which with 4957 participants could be used for the NMA. Identified interventions were clustered into 12 groups: no intervention, energy restriction (i.e., 500–1000 kcal), energy restriction plus high-protein intake (1.1–1.7 g/kg/body weight), intermittent fasting, mixed exercise (aerobic and resistance), resistance training, aerobic training, high protein plus resistance training, energy restriction plus high protein plus exercise, energy restriction plus resistance training, energy restriction plus aerobic training, and energy restriction plus mixed exercise. Intervention durations ranged from 8 wk to 6 mo. Body fat was reduced with energy restriction plus any exercise or plus high-protein intake. Energy restriction alone was less effective and tended to decrease muscle mass. Muscle mass was only significantly increased with mixed exercise. All other interventions including exercise effectively preserved muscle mass. A BMI and/or WC decrease was achieved with all interventions except aerobic training/resistance training alone or resistance training plus high protein. Overall, the most effective strategy for nearly all outcomes was combining energy restriction with resistance training or mixed exercise and high protein. Health care professionals involved in the management of persons with obesity need to be aware that an energy-restricted diet alone may contribute to sarcopenic obesity in persons near retirement age.This network meta-analysis is registered at https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ as CRD42021276465.
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Dark homogenous fungal-based layers called biofinishes and vegetable oils are keyingredients of an innovative wood protecting system. The aim of this study was todetermine which of the vegetable oils that have been used to generate biofinishes onwood will provide carbon and energy for the biofinish-inhabiting fungus Aureobasidiummelanogenum, and to determine the effect of the oil type and the amount of oil on thecell yield. Aureobasidium melanogenum was cultivated in shake flasks with differenttypes and amounts of carbon-based nutrients. Oil-related total cell and colony-formingunit growth were demonstrated in suspensions with initially 1% raw linseed,stand linseed, and olive oil. Oil-related cell growth was also demonstrated with rawlinseed oil, using an initial amount of 0.02% and an oil addition during cultivation. Nilered staining showed the accumulation of fatty acids inside cells grown in the presenceof oil. In conclusion, each tested vegetable oil was used as carbon and energysource by A. melanogenum. The results indicated that stand linseed oil provides lesscarbon and energy than olive and raw linseed oil. This research is a fundamental stepin unraveling the effects of vegetable oils on biofinish formation.
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Introduction The research group Biobased Resources & Energy (BRE) of Avans focusses on recovery of valuable building blocks from low-value solid and liquid residual streams from agriculture, households and industries. For the valorisation of these residual streams, BRE looks into different biological, chemical and mechanical processes. One of the main issues in the utilisation of residual streams is economic feasibility and the recovery of multiple resources from one residual stream. Using membrane technologies in combination with biological, chemical and/or mechanical processes could offer great opportunities. Central Research Question What is the applicability of membrane technologies for valorisation of different residual streams and is it possible to integrate membrane technology in current and new biorefining projects of research group BRE: Set-up In order to reach the goal of this postdoc, 4 research questions will be answered using literature search, experimentation and modelling: 1) What membrane methods are currently (commercially) available to enhance the results of current projects in research group BRE? 2) What are the essential technical parameters for membrane separation and how can these be optimized? 3) What is the economic impact of using membrane technology in recovery of valuable building blocks from residual streams? 4) What are the effects of using membranes instead of or complementary to currently used methods on the sustainability of valorisation of residual streams? Cooperation The postdoc and the research group BRE want to extend the contact and research cooperation with (regional) businesses and (applied) universities and support and facilitate the introduction and further development of membrane technologies in the curriculum of different Avans study programmes. This will be done via internships, minor projects (together with businesses) and development of study material for courses and trainings.
Nearly all waterborne products, such as food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, paints, biological (medical) samples, cosmetics and wood require preservation to prevent decomposition of the product due to microbial growth. Most non-food preservatives such as isothiazolinones, bronopol, and pyrithiones, are derived from oil and are increasingly more strictly regulated due to hazards such as ecotoxicity, sensibilization and development of allergies. The low legally permitted concentrations will not only become too low to realize preservation, they will also induce antimicrobial resistance. A chemical transition towards new, innovative, biobased, and eco-friendly preservatives is therefore required. Wydo NBD is dedicated to research towards sustainable ingredients for waterborne paints. For this, together with the Hanze University, non-hazardous, eco-friendly and biobased natural preservatives will be identified and further developed towards marketable products. The knowledge obtained in this project will contribute to the development of biological (paint) conservatives knowledge and improvement of current production methods of Wydo, with the potential for wider application in food and medical products. This project aims to identify natural antimicrobial additives and consists of three consecutive stages. First, an extensive, unbiased bioinformatics guided literature mining will be performed to find relationships between biological antimicrobial compounds and microbes found in paint. The most promising antimicrobials from this mining will be made available by chemical synthesis. Subsequently, the compounds will be assessed for their potential as novel natural preservatives for waterborne paints, by testing for their antimicrobial activity and stability.
Nearly all waterborne products, such as food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, paints, biological (medical) samples, cosmetics and wood require preservation to prevent decomposition of the product due to microbial growth. Most non-food preservatives such as isothiazolinones, bronopol, and pyrithiones, are derived from oil and are increasingly more strictly regulated due to hazards such as ecotoxicity, sensibilization and development of allergies. The low legally permitted concentrations will not only become too low to realize preservation, they will also induce antimicrobial resistance. A chemical transition towards new, innovative, biobased, and eco-friendly preservatives is therefore required. Wydo NBD is dedicated to research towards sustainable ingredients for waterborne paints. For this, together with the Hanze University, non-hazardous, eco-friendly and biobased natural preservatives will be identified and further developed towards marketable products. The knowledge obtained in this project will contribute to the development of biological (paint) conservatives knowledge and improvement of current production methods of Wydo, with the potential for wider application in food and medical products.This project aims to identify natural antimicrobial additives and consists of three consecutive stages. First, an extensive, unbiased bioinformatics guided literature mining will be performed to find relationships between biological antimicrobial compounds and microbes found in paint. The most promising antimicrobials from this mining will be made available by chemical synthesis. Subsequently, the compounds will be assessed for their potential as novel natural preservatives for waterborne paints, by testing for their antimicrobial activity and stability
