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Active Pectin/Carboxymethylcellulose Composite Films for Bread Packaging
No full textInternational audienceA new active composite film intended for bread packaging is described here. The active film has the aim of prolonging bread’s shelf life while avoiding the use of nanoparticles that, with very few exceptions, are a type of material not allowed by regulatory agencies like EFSA (European Food Safety Agency) and FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) in food contact materials. Moreover, the increasing consumer demand for natural and wholesome products, possibly “clean label”, and packaged in natural, non-petroleum-based materials has been taken into consideration. Accordingly, precursor materials from renewable sources were used to prepare the active film: pectin from citrus peel (PEC) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were used as the matrix, with oleic acid (OA) as plasticizer. Moreover, the bread preservative calcium propionate (CaP) was used as the crosslinker, and also zeolite microparticles loaded with silver ions (AgZ) were added to the films as an additional antimold agent. This strategy allows us to avoid the addition to bread of the now commonly used preservatives ethanol and calcium propionate, moving the latter to the packaging. Permeance measurements revealed excellent barrier properties against O2 and CO2, while the typical high water vapor permeance of polysaccharide films was mitigated by the non-hydrophilic OA plasticizer. Moreover, the quantities of Ag+ and CaP released in bread are low and below the limits imposed by regulatory agencies. The antimold activity of the films is excellent, with Aspergillus niger, Penicillium janthinellum, and wild-type Penicillim molds reduction on bread in the 99.20–99.95% range for the films containing only CaP and in the 99.97–99.998% range for the films containing both CaP and AgZ. Finally, the rheological properties of the film-forming solutions were investigated, demonstrating their potential application as coatings on natural packaging materials for bread, such as paper
Underwater Netting Detection and Distance Estimation using Optic Flow
No full textObstacle detection and avoidance remains a major challenge for automatic underwater navigation. While there exists abundant literature on this topic, certain types of poorly defined obstacles are difficult to detect, such as underwater netting. Optic Flow is a bio-inspired optical cue widely used in land-based autonomous navigation and by autonomous aircraft. Requiring only small sensors or a monocular camera, it is a minimalist but reliable source of information. However, because of the low visibility, optical distortions and overall poor quality of optical measurements underwater, examples of underwater applications of this technique remains scarce.This study proposes an underwater netting detection algorithm called uNOWA (underwater Netting Optical floW detection Algorithm), adapted to the specifics of underwater vision. This method also estimate the distance between the camera and the net, by combining the translational optic flow with the velocity. A number of experiments have been carried out under real-life underwater conditions using different nets. The results show an effective net detection and give an estimation of the distance to the detected netting.</div
Argan Oil: A Natural Bioactive Lipid Modulating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
No full textInternational audienceNutrition is a key determinant in modulating disease risk, with numerous studies highlighting the role of antioxidants and lipids, particularly the micronutrient and fatty acid composition of natural oils and their bioactive metabolites. In this context, argan oil—a vegetable oil extracted from the kernels of Argania spinosa—has gained significant attention due to its well-balanced fatty acid profile, rich in oleic and linoleic acids, and its high levels of antioxidant compounds, including tocopherols, polyphenols, and phytosterols, particularly schottenol and spinasterol. Thanks to its unique composition, argan oil exhibits protective properties against harmful biological processes, such as oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which play a significant role in various diseases. Preclinical studies, both in vitro and in vivo, have demonstrated that argan oil reduces oxidative stress by preventing DNA damage, protein carbonylation, and lipid peroxidation, while simultaneously increasing antioxidant defenses. Furthermore, it modulates inflammatory responses by decreasing pro-inflammatory biomarkers, increasing anti-inflammatory markers, and limiting immune cell infiltration across different tissues. These antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects are thought to be linked to argan oil’s ability to regulate key signaling pathways, such as Nrf-2 and NF-κB. Although direct evidence remains limited, studies suggest that its main bioactive components—fatty acid, γ-tocopherol, ferulic acid, and campesterol—can influence these pathways, either by activating Nrf2 to boost antioxidant defenses or by inhibiting NF-κB to suppress inflammation. This review explores the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of argan oil, drawing insights from a range of scientific studies to better understand its therapeutic potential
: Edition 2025
No full textCette étude décrit l’évolution de l’offre, des informations étiquetées et de la composition nutritionnelle des produits du secteur des Apéritifs à croquer entre 2009 (T0, n= 576 couvrant 54% du marché), 2013 (T1, n=1057 couvrant 62% du marché) et 2021 (T2, n= 1576 couvrant 68% du marché). Une offre par famille de produits globalement stableL'offre par famille (19 familles étudiées) reste globalement stable en nombre de références ou en volume de ventes, entre 2013 et 2021. Néanmoins, un renouvellement important de l'offre est noté, signe d’une dynamique de mise sur le marché/retrait de produits (66% des produits 2021 correspondent à des produits ajoutés (n=1048)).Des informations étiquetées qui évoluent L'information nutritionnelle étiquetée évolue entre 2013 et 2021, à l'échelle du secteur entier : la fréquence de présence des portions indiquées diminue significativement (-12 pp), alors que celle des allégations nutritionnelles et de santé augmente significativement sur cette période (respectivement +10 pp et +3 pp).Une baisse du contenu en AGS pour une famille sur deux du secteur Parmi les évolutions significatives, seules des diminutions sont observées pour les teneurs en matières grasses, acides gras saturés et sel pour les familles de ce secteur, entre 2013 et 2021 :- Pour les matières grasses : à la baisse pour 3 familles (Arachides et graines, Soufflés et Tuiles) ;- Pour les acides gras saturés : à la baisse pour 9 familles (Arachides et graines, Choux, Cacahuètes enrobées salées, Crackers apéritif, Crêpes dentelles, Soufflés, Bretzels, Tortillas et Tuiles)- Pour le sel : à la baisse pour 4 familles (Crackers apéritif, Soufflés, Tortillas et Tuiles)Ces évolutions peuvent être liées au renouvellement de l’offre mais peuvent également traduire de potentiels efforts de reformulations par les industriels pour certaines familles.En pondérant par les parts de marché, les évolutions significatives des valeurs nutritionnelles moyennes par famille sont plus nombreuses, majoritairement à la baisse (pour les trois nutriments cités ci-dessus). A l’échelle du secteur entier, les teneurs moyennes pondérées en matières grasses, acides gras saturés et sel diminuent. Globalement, les reformulations et le renouvellement de l’offre permettent d’améliorer la qualité nutritionnelle, alors que les choix opérés par les consommateurs tendent à contrebalancer ces efforts. Près d’un tiers des produits affichant un Nutri-ScoreEn 2021, 30% des références de ce secteur apposent le Nutri-Score (n=467) et celles-ci sont très majoritairement classées C et D (respectivement 28% et 32%, soit 60% des produits porteurs du logo).Impact de l’apposition du Nutri-Score sur la composition des produits et leurs parts de marchéL’étude des valeurs nutritionnelles des produits avec et sans Nutri-Score montre que pour la plupart des couples familles/nutriments, les produits avec Nutri-Score possèdent des teneurs en nutriments comparables aux produits sans Nutri-Score. En pondérant par les parts de marché, les évolutions significatives des valeurs nutritionnelles moyennes sont plus nombreuses (de 4 à 8 familles selon le nutriment).Les produits avec Nutri-Score sont principalement mieux positionnés que les produits sans Nutri-Score selon les familles pour les matières grasses et les acides gras saturés. Pour le sel, les produits avec Nutri-Score sont mieux ou moins bien positionnés que les produits sans Nutri-Score selon les familles. De manière plus générale, à l’échelle du secteur entier, l’apposition du Nutri-Score n’a pas été associée à une évolution significative des parts de marché ni des valeurs nutritionnelles en considérant les produits présents à la fois en 2013 et 2021
Some Ethical Issues of a Potential "Quantum Internet"
No full textThe paper discusses the ethical implications of developing a "Quantum Internet," a concept based on quantum mechanics principles like entanglement and superposition. It explores the transition from quantum cryptography to quantum communications, highlighting the potential for a network of quantum computers to solve complex problems collaboratively. The text also addresses ethical considerations, questioning the necessity and societal impact of such a technological advancement. It emphasizes the importance of responsible innovation and the potential environmental consequences, suggesting a framework based on common goods to ensure equitable and sustainable access to quantum technologies. The paper underscores the need for international cooperation and ethical foresight to guide the development and governance of the Quantum Internet
Color–polarization filter array image demosaicing: linear minimum mean squared error augmented by anisotropic diffusion
No full textInternational audienceLinear minimum mean square error can be used to demosaic images from a colour-polarization filter array sensor. Despite its good performance, the reconstruction produces high-frequency artefacts. An additional refinement step could enable to enhance both the quantitative and visual quality of the demosaiced image. We propose a complete demosaicing framework, by first studying the model selection for LMMSE using cross-validation techniques, and then optimizing the anisotropic diffusion parameters. The results show that the training model converges quickly, and that the refinement step enables to reduce the edge artefacts. We also demonstrate that the proposed demosaicing method performs better compared to a dedicated Colour-Polarization Filter Array demosaicing algorithm in terms of PSNR.</div
Trace Metals in Modern Technology and Human Health: A Microbiota Perspective on Cobalt, Lithium, and Nickel
No full textInternational audienceThe human microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining host health through its considerable influence on immune function, nutrient metabolism, and overall homeostasis. While trace metals such as cobalt, lithium, and nickel are essential micronutrients at low concentrations, their increasing environmental accumulation presents emerging risks for microbial dysbiosis and related systemic health effects. This review examines the dual role of these trace metals as both beneficial nutrients and potential disruptors of microbial balance. Specifically, cobalt supports microbial diversity through its role in vitamin B12 synthesis, but excessive exposure can lead to dysbiosis. Lithium, beneficial at therapeutic concentrations by enhancing beneficial microbial populations, adversely affects gut barrier integrity by promoting inflammation and epithelial damage at higher concentrations. Similarly, nickel participates in essential enzymatic activities but promotes dysbiosis and inflammatory responses at elevated exposures. Furthermore, the growing environmental contamination by these metals poses risks to food systems and various microbial communities in the environment. Highlighting these environmental concerns, this review calls for sustainable management and multidisciplinary research to mitigate health risks to mitigate health risks associated with trace metal exposure
