Physicochemical Characterization and Antioxidant Capacity of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) in Ecuadorian Region.

The phytochemical components and antioxidant capacity of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) give it nutritional and bioactive characteristics with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties; it is exported mainly from Brazil to various places worldwide. In Ecuador, the cultivated Euterpe oleracea variety has an abundant production that has not been used or studied in depth; because of this, it is relevant to expand the study of this fruit's phytochemical and antioxidant properties. This paper presents the results of evaluating the concentration of antioxidants and antioxidant activity in different stages of maturation and geographical locations of the Açaí, for which samples obtained in the Ecuadorian provinces of Sucumbíos and Orellana have been evaluated. Antioxidant concentrations were determined with a UV/VIS spectrophotometer at 450-760 nm wavelengths. Antioxidant capacity was determined using the ABTS and FRAP methods. It was evidenced that the values of total polyphenols and total flavonoids decrease with increasing ripening; the opposite effect occurs with total anthocyanins that have a higher concentration in ripe fruits and evidencing an antioxidant capacity that decreases with ripening determined by both methods (FRAP and ABTS).

Exoskeletons: Contribution to Occupational Health and Safety.

This review aims to characterize the current landscape of exoskeletons designed to promote medical care and occupational safety in industrial settings. Extensive exploration of scientific databases spanning industries, health, and medicine informs the classification of exoskeletons according to their distinctive attributes and specific footholds on the human physique. Within the scope of this review, a comprehensive analysis is presented, contextualizing the integration of exoskeletons based on different work activities. The reviewers extracted the most relevant articles published between 2008 and 2023 from IEEE, Proquest, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and other databases. In this review, the PRISMA-ScR checklist was used, and a Cohen's kappa coefficient of 0.642 was applied, implying moderate agreement among the reviewers; 75 primary studies were extracted from a total of 344. The future of exoskeletons in contributing to occupational health and safety will depend on continued collaboration between researchers, designers, healthcare professionals, and industries. With the continued development of technologies and an increasing understanding of how these devices interact with the human body, exoskeletons will likely remain valuable for improving working conditions and safety in various work environments.