Urban working groups in the IAEA's model testing programmes: overview from the MODARIA I and MODARIA II programmes.

The IAEA's model testing programmes have included a series of Working Groups concerned with modelling radioactive contamination in urban environments. These have included the Urban Working Group of Validation of Environmental Model Predictions (1988-1994), the Urban Remediation Working Group of Environmental Modelling for Radiation Safety (EMRAS) (2003-2007), the Urban Areas Working Group of EMRAS II (2009-2011), the Urban Environments Working Group of (Modelling and Data for Radiological Impact Assessments) MODARIA I (2013-2015), and most recently, the Urban Exposures Working Group of MODARIA II (2016-2019). The overarching objective of these Working Groups has been to test and improve the capabilities of computer models used to assess radioactive contamination in urban environments, including dispersion and deposition processes, short-term and long-term redistribution of contaminants following deposition events, and the effectiveness of various countermeasures and other protective actions, including remedial actions, in reducing contamination levels, human exposures, and doses to humans.

Phytochemical Profile, Biological Properties, and Food Applications of the Medicinal Plant .

, locally known as Jamun in Asia, is a fruit-bearing crop belonging to the Myrtaceae family. This study aims to summarize the most recent literature related to botany, traditional applications, phytochemical ingredients, pharmacological activities, nutrition, and potential food applications of . Traditionally, has been utilized to combat diabetes and dysentery, and it is given to females with a history of abortions.

Bioaccessibility and transepithelial transportation of cranberrybush (Viburnum opulus) phenolics: Effects of non-thermal processing and food matrix.

The present study investigated the effects of non-thermal treatments and food matrix on the bioaccessibility and transepithelial transportation of phenolics from cranberrybush. High pressure processing (HPP) was applied at 600 MPa pressure for 5 min, whereas pulsed electric field (PEF) conditions were selected as 5 (PEF5) or 15 kJ/kg (PEF15). To reveal the influence of food matrix, cranberrybush juice was blended with bovine or almond milk.

Legacy Effects of Sorption Determine the Formation Efficiency of Mineral-Associated Soil Organic Matter.

Sorption of dissolved organic matter (DOM) is one major pathway in the formation of mineral-associated organic matter (MOM), but there is little information on how previous sorption events feedback to later ones by leaving their imprint on mineral surfaces and solutions ("legacy effect"). In order to conceptualize the role of legacy effects in MOM formation, we conducted sequential sorption experiments with kaolinite and gibbsite as minerals and DOM derived from forest floor materials. The MOM formation efficiency leveled off upon repeated addition of identical DOM solutions to minerals due to the retention of highly sorptive organic molecules (primarily aromatic, nitrogen-poor, hydrogen-poor, and oxygen-rich molecules), which decreased the sorption site availability and simultaneously modified the mineral surface charge.

The Chemical Composition and Health-Promoting Effects of the Species-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Globally grown and organoleptically appreciated species are known as sources of bioactive compounds that avert the risk of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Therefore, in recent years, the genus has attracted increasing scientific attention. This is the first systematic review which focusses primarily on the nutritional composition, phytochemical profile, pharmacological properties, and disease preventative role of species.

Lactic Acid Bacteria as Antimicrobial Agents: Food Safety and Microbial Food Spoilage Prevention.

In the wake of continual foodborne disease outbreaks in recent years, it is critical to focus on strategies that protect public health and reduce the incidence of foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. Currently, there are limitations associated with conventional microbial control methods, such as the use of chemical preservatives and heat treatments. For example, such conventional treatments adversely impact the sensorial properties of food, resulting in undesirable organoleptic characteristics.

Quality of life among Syrian refugees in Germany: a cross-sectional pilot study.

Background: More than 10 million Syrians have left their homes and sought refuge in neighboring countries, including Europe, since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in March 2011, and immigration continues to this day. This cross-sectional study included Syrian refugees residing in and around Hannover, Germany. We investigated whether general socioeconomic factors (e.

Evidence on the impact of Baltic Sea ecosystems on human health and well-being: a systematic map.

Background: While the unique marine and coastal environment of the Baltic Sea provides numerous ecosystem services, its ecosystems are under pressure due to the intensification and diversification of anthropogenic uses. This present work constitutes a systematic map of the evidence of the impacts of ecosystem services and disservices on human health and well-being. The aim is to create a better understanding of the threats of unsustainable management or the benefits of sustainable management of the Baltic Sea and the impacts these may have on the health and well-being of human populations and present these findings to policy advisors.

Self-Assembled Nanoparticles Based on Block-Copolymers of Poly(2-Deoxy-2-methacrylamido-d-glucose)/Poly(-Vinyl Succinamic Acid) with Poly(-Cholesteryl Methacrylate) for Delivery of Hydrophobic Drugs.

The self-assembly of amphiphilic block-copolymers is a convenient way to obtain soft nanomaterials of different morphology and scale. In turn, the use of a biomimetic approach makes it possible to synthesize polymers with fragments similar to natural macromolecules but more resistant to biodegradation. In this study, we synthesized the novel bio-inspired amphiphilic block-copolymers consisting of poly(-methacrylamido-d-glucose) or poly(-vinyl succinamic acid) as a hydrophilic fragment and poly(-cholesteryl methacrylate) as a hydrophobic fragment.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of kaempferol 3-O-(2‴-O-sinapoyl-β-sophoroside), the key bitter compound of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) protein isolate.

Background: The use of rapeseed protein for human nutrition is primarily limited by its strong bitterness, which is why the key bitter compound, kaempferol 3-O-(2‴-O-sinapoyl-β-sophoroside), is enzymatically degraded.

Results: Mass spectrometry analyses of an extract from an untreated rapeseed protein isolate gave three signals for m/z 815 [M-H]. The predominant compound among the three compounds was confirmed as kaempferol-3-O-(2‴-O-sinapoyl-β-sophoroside).

Electrochemical Determination of Antioxidant Capacity of Traditional Homemade Fruit Vinegars Produced with Double Spontaneous Fermentation.

In the current study, the antioxidant activity of traditional homemade fruit vinegars (HMV) was estimated by measuring the rate of homogeneous redox reaction with 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical cation (ABTS) using cyclic voltammetry. The antioxidant capacity of six HMV produced using traditional methods and the physicochemical characterization were measured in different vinegar production steps throughout a double spontaneous fermentation process, i.e.

Corrigendum: Genes Involved in Stress Response and Especially in Phytoalexin Biosynthesis Are Upregulated in Four Genotypes in Response to Apple Replant Disease.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.

The Orphan Crop Accumulates the Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Jacobine in Response to Nitrogen Starvation.

is an African orphan crop that is used as a leafy vegetable and medicinal plant. Although it is of high regional importance in Sub-Saharan Africa, the plant is still mainly collected from the wild and therefore efforts are made to promote its domestication. However, in addition to beneficial properties, there was first evidence that can accumulate the highly toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) jacobine and here it was investigated, how jacobine production is controlled.

Urinary Carnosinase-1 Excretion is Associated with Urinary Carnosine Depletion and Risk of Graft Failure in Kidney Transplant Recipients: Results of the TransplantLines Cohort Study.

Carnosine affords protection against oxidative and carbonyl stress, yet high concentrations of the carnosinase-1 enzyme may limit this. We recently reported that high urinary carnosinase-1 is associated with kidney function decline and albuminuria in patients with chronic kidney disease. We prospectively investigated whether urinary carnosinase-1 is associated with a high risk for development of late graft failure in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).

Valorization and Application of Fruit and Vegetable Wastes and By-Products for Food Packaging Materials.

The important roles of food packaging are food protection and preservation during processing, transportation, and storage. Food can be altered biologically, chemically, and physically if the packaging is unsuitable or mechanically damaged. Furthermore, packaging is an important marketing and communication tool to consumers.

3D printed microfluidic lab-on-a-chip device for fiber-based dual beam optical manipulation.

3D printing of microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices enables rapid prototyping of robust and complex structures. In this work, we designed and fabricated a 3D printed lab-on-a-chip device for fiber-based dual beam optical manipulation. The final 3D printed chip offers three key features, such as (1) an optimized fiber channel design for precise alignment of optical fibers, (2) an optically clear window to visualize the trapping region, and (3) a sample channel which facilitates hydrodynamic focusing of samples.

Repair of O6-carboxymethylguanine adducts by O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in human colon epithelial cells.

The protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is able to repair the mutagenic O6-methylguanine (O6-MeG) adduct back to guanine. In this context, it may protect against colorectal cancer formation associated with N-nitroso compounds. Such compounds may be endogenously formed by nitrosylation of amino acids, which can give rise to mutagenic O6-MeG and O6-carboxymethylguanine (O6-CMG) adducts.

Retention of polyphenols and vitamin C in cranberrybush purée (Viburnum opulus) by means of non-thermal treatments.

The effects of high pressure processing (HPP; 200-600 MPa for 5 or 15 min) and pulsed electric field (PEF; 3 kV/cm, 5-15 kJ/kg) treatment on physicochemical properties (conductivity, pH and total soluble solids content), bioactive compounds (vitamin C, total phenolic (TPC), total flavonoid (TFC), total anthocyanin (TAC) and chlorogenic acid contents), antioxidant capacities (DPPH and CUPRAC assays) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity of cranberrybush purée were evaluated immediately after processing. The results were compared to an untreated purée. According to the results, conductivity increased significantly after PEF (15 kJ/kg) treatment.

Continuous optical in-line glucose monitoring and control in CHO cultures contributes to enhanced metabolic efficiency while maintaining darbepoetin alfa product quality.

Great efforts are directed towards improving productivity, consistency and quality of biopharmaceutical processes and products. One particular area is the development of new sensors for continuous monitoring of critical bioprocess parameters by using online or in-line monitoring systems. Recently, we developed a glucose biosensor applicable in single-use, in-line and long-term glucose monitoring in mammalian cell bioreactors.

Production of natural colorants by liquid fermentation with and and prospective applications.

The replacement of potentially hazardous synthetic dyes with natural dyes and pigments are of great interest for a sustainable economy. In order to obtain cost-efficient, environmentally friendly and competitive products, improvements in the cultivation and extraction of pigment-producing organisms and in dyeing processes are necessary. In our study, we were able to scale up the production of xylindein by from 3 to 70 L bioreactor cultivations.

The dignity of the human corpse in forensic medicine.

Working with the dead is a very specific kind of work. Although a dignified handling of the corpses is demanded by the legislator and by the general public, neither the legal status of the corpse is undisputed nor is it obvious what a dignified handling of the deceased should consist of. In our hypothesis generating pilot study, we asked which concrete considerations are involved in daily practice of forensic specialists.

Thermal infrared imaging based facial temperature in comparison to ear temperature during a real-driving scenario.

Motion Sickness is associated with a variety of symptoms, which differ in occurrence rate and intensity between individuals. In order to research the cause of car sickness and develop countermeasures, it is important to determine symptoms and their severity objectively. A tool for this purpose could be the assessment of physiological reactions due to motion sickness.

Hypoxia Onset in Mesenchymal Stem Cell Spheroids: Monitoring With Hypoxia Reporter Cells.

The therapeutic and differentiation potential of human mesenchymal stems cells (hMSCs) makes these cells a promising candidate for cellular therapies and tissue engineering. On the path of a successful medical application of hMSC, the cultivation of cells in a three-dimensional (3D) environment was a landmark for the transition from simple two-dimensional (2D) testing platforms to complex systems that mimic physiological conditions and can improve hMSC curative potential as well as survival after implantation. A 3D arrangement of cells can be mediated by scaffold materials where cells get entrapped in pores, or by the fabrication of spheroids, scaffold-free self-organized cell aggregates that express their own extracellular matrix.

Monokaryotic Strains with Intraspecific Variability of an Alkene Cleaving DyP-Type Peroxidase Activity as a Result of Gene Mutation and Differential Gene Expression.

The basidiomycete produced a dye-decolorizing peroxidase (PsaPOX) with alkene cleavage activity, implying potential as a biocatalyst for the fragrance and flavor industry. To increase the activity, a daughter-generation of 101 basidiospore-derived monokaryons (MK) was used. After a pre-selection according to the growth rate, the activity analysis revealed a stable intraspecific variability of the strains regarding peroxidase and alkene cleavage activity of PsaPOX.

Light-cell interactions in depth-resolved optogenetics.

Light as a tool in medical therapy and biological research has been studied extensively and its application is subject to continuous improvement. However, safe and efficient application of light-based methods in photomedicine or optogenetics requires knowledge about the optical properties of the target tissue as well as the response characteristics of the stimulated cells. Here, we used tissue phantoms and a heart-like light-sensitive cell line to investigate optogenetic stimulation through tissue layers.