Monovarietal extra-virgin olive oil classification: a fusion of human sensory attributes and an electronic tongue

Olive oil quality grading is traditionally assessed by human sensory evaluation of positive and negative attributes (olfactory, gustatory, and final olfactorygustatory sensations). However, it is not guaranteed that trained panelist can correctly classify monovarietal extra-virgin olive oils according to olive cultivar. In this work, the potential application of human (sensory panelists) and artificial (electronic tongue) sensory evaluation of olive oils was studied aiming to discriminate eight single-cultivar extra-virgin olive oils. Linear discriminant, partial least square discriminant, and sparse partial least square discriminant analyses were evaluated. The best predictive classification was obtained using linear discriminant analysis with simulated annealing selection algorithm. A low-level data fusion approach (18 electronic tongue signals and nine sensory attributes) enabled 100 % leave-one-out cross-validation correct classification, improving the discrimination capability of the individual use of sensor profiles or sensory attributes (70 and 57 % leave-one-out correct classifications, respectively). So, human sensory evaluation and electronic tongue analysis may be used as complementary tools allowing successful monovarietal olive oil discrimination.This work was co-financed by FCT/MEC and FEDER under Program PT2020 (Project UID/EQU/50020/2013); by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia under the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit; and by Project POCTEP through Project RED/AGROTEC-Experimentation network and transfer for development of agricultural and agro industrial sectors between Spain and Portugal

Evaluation of cognitive deficits in patients infected with COVID-19

OBJECTIVE: COVID-19 infection can cause impairments in many cognitive areas. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cognitive functions of patients who had been infected with COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The demographic and infection-related characteristics of patients who had been infected with COVID-19 were determined. Their cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) findings were recorded. The Mini-Mental State Evaluation (MMSE). clock drawing test, forward and backward digit span tests. visual memory test. and Frontal Assessment Battery were applied to the patients. Finger agnosia and ideomotor apraxia were also determined. RESULTS: The study included 176 patients [100 female (56.8%). 76 male (43.2%), mean age 66.09 +/- 13.96 years]. About half of the patients were hospitalized for symptoms of COVID-19 infection (n=82, 46.6%). One third of these patients required intensive care (n=26. 14.8%). While 50 (45.9%) of the 109 patients diagnosed with dementia before infection were hospitalized. 32 (47.8%) of the 67 patients without a diagnosis of dementia required hospitalization (p=0.46). The most common neurological finding during COVID-19 infection was insomnia (n=36. 20.5%). The MMSE and visual memory test scores of the patients who were hospitalized for severe respiratory distress were lower than those whose treatment at home was completed (respectively 17.92 +/- 7.69/20.59 +/- 7.01, p=0.02; 2.53 +/- 1.73/3.69 +/- 2.80. p=0.01). The patients with moderate to severe cognitive impairment had significantly higher CRP levels at admission than the others (37.52 +/- 43.09/20.93 +/- 31.74, p=0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive damage in COVID-19 infection may be caused by ACE receptor density in the pial, hippocampal, and amygdala areas. In addition, the reason why people with severe dementia have a milder infection might be explained by the atrophy in these areas

Acute appendicitis caused by endometriosis: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Endometriosis is a well-recognized gynecological condition in the reproductive age group. Surgical texts present the gynecological aspects of the disease in detail, but the published literature on unexpected manifestations, such as appendiceal disease, is inadequate. The presentation to general surgeons may be atypical and pose diagnostic difficulty. Thus, a definitive diagnosis is likely to be established only by the histological examination of a specimen.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report a case of endometriosis of the appendix in a 25-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with symptoms of acute appendicitis and was treated by appendectomy, which resulted in a good outcome.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We discuss special aspects of acute appendicitis caused by endometriosis to elucidate the pathologic entity of this variant of acute appendicitis.</p

Enzyme production from food wastes using a biorefinery concept

According to Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), one-third of food produced globally for human consumption (nearly 1.3 billion tonnes) is lost along the food supply chain. In many countries food waste is currently landfilled or incinerated together with other combustible municipal wastes for possible recovery of energy. However, these two options are facing more and more economic and environmental stresses. Due to its organic- and nutrient-rich nature, theoretically food waste can be converted to valuable products (e.g. bio-products such as methane, hydrogen, ethanol, enzymes, organic acids, chemicals and fuels) through various fermentation processes. Such conversion of food waste is potentially more profitable than its conversion to animal feed or transportation fuel. Food waste valorisation has therefore gained interest, with value added bio-products such as methane, hydrogen, ethanol, enzymes, organic acids, chemicals, and fuels. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide information on the food waste situation with emphasis on Asia–Pacific countries and the state of the art food waste processing technologies to produce enzymes