JÁCOME VILLACRÉS, MARÍA BELÉN
Preferred name
JÁCOME VILLACRÉS, MARÍA BELÉN
Main Affiliation
CIAL - Centro de Investigación de Alimentos
SF
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Item type:Publication, Deep Learning-Based Digital, Hyperspectral, and Near-Infrared (NIR) Imaging for Process-Level Quality Control in Ecuador’s Agri-Food Industry: An ISO-Aligned FrameworkEnsuring consistent quality and safety in agri-food processing is a strategic priority for firms seeking compliance with international standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 22000. Traditional inspection practices in Ecuador’s food industry remain largely destructive, labor-intensive, and subjective, limiting real-time decision-making. This study developed a non-destructive, ISO-aligned framework for process-level quality control by integrating digital (RGB) imaging for surface-level inspection, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) for internal-quality prediction (e.g., moisture, firmness, and freshness), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for compositional and authenticity analysis, and deep learning (DL) models for automated classification of ripeness, maturity, and defects. Experimental results across four flagship commodities—bananas, cacao, coffee, and shrimp—achieved classification accuracies above 88% and ROC AUC values exceeding 0.90, confirming the robustness of AI-driven, multimodal (RGB–HSI–NIRS) inspection under semi-industrial conveyor conditions. Beyond technological performance, the findings demonstrate that digital inspection reinforces ISO principles of evidence-based decision-making, conformity verification, and traceability, thereby operationalizing the Plan–Do–Check–Act (PDCA) cycle at digital speed. The study contributes theoretically by advancing the conceptualization of Quality 4.0 as a socio-technical transformation that embeds AI-driven sensing and analytics within management standards, and practically by providing a roadmap for Ecuadorian SMEs to strengthen export competitiveness through automated, real-time, and auditable quality assurance. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, Fermented Plant-Based Foods and Postbiotics for Glycemic Control—Microbial Biotransformation of Phytochemicals(MDPI AG, 2026-01-20); ; ; ; Nadya RiveraPlant-based fermented foods are increasingly promoted for glycemic control, yet their mechanisms and clinical impact remain incompletely defined. This narrative review synthesizes mechanistic, preclinical, and human data for key matrices—kimchi and other fermented vegetables, tempeh/miso/natto, and related legume ferments, kombucha and fermented teas, plant-based kefir, and cereal/pulse sourdoughs. Across these systems, microbial β-glucosidases, esterases, tannases, and phenolic-acid decarboxylases remodel polyphenols toward more bioaccessible aglycones and phenolic acids, while lactic and acetic fermentations generate organic acids, exopolysaccharides, bacterial cellulose, γ-polyglutamic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid, and bioactive peptides. We map these postbiotic signatures onto proximal mechanisms—α-amylase/α-glucosidase inhibition, viscosity-driven slowing of starch digestion, gastric emptying and incretin signaling, intestinal-barrier reinforcement, and microbiota-dependent short-chain–fatty-acid and bile-acid pathways—and their downstream effects on AMPK/Nrf2 signaling and the gut–liver axis. Animal models consistently show improved glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and hepatic steatosis under fermented vs. non-fermented diets. In humans, however, glycemic effects are modest and highly context-dependent: The most robust signal is early postprandial attenuation with γ-PGA-rich natto, strongly acidified or low-glycemic sourdough breads, and selected kombucha formulations, particularly in individuals with impaired glucose regulation. We identify major sources of heterogeneity (starters, process parameters, substrates, background diet) and safety considerations (sodium, ethanol, gastrointestinal symptoms) and propose minimum reporting standards and trial designs integrating metabolomics, microbiome, and host-omics. Overall, plant-based ferments appear best positioned as adjuncts within cardiometabolic dietary patterns and as candidates for “purpose-built” postbiotic products targeting early glycemic excursions and broader metabolic risk. - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Item type:Publication, From meal to malfunction: exploring molecular pathways, biomarkers and interventions in postprandial cardiometabolic health(Frontiers Media SA, 2025-10-29); Daniel Simancas-RacinesCardiometabolic diseases—including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease—are increasingly driven by near-continuous after-meal exposure to glucose and lipid surges that traditional fasting tests often miss. This review prioritizes human studies from 2020 to 2025 and uses earlier work only as foundational anchors; non-English reports were excluded and preclinical findings are cited solely for mechanistic context. Evidence converges on six processes that amplify risk within hours after eating: impaired insulin signaling, delayed clearance of dietary lipids, mitochondrial and oxidative stress, loss of endothelial nitric oxide, inflammasome-mediated inflammation, and microbiome–hormone interactions. Dynamic, after-meal markers and simple composites such as the triglyceride–glucose index outperform fasting measures for identifying risk and guiding care. Practical strategies to shorten the “damage window” include Mediterranean-style meals with low glycemic index swaps and unsaturated fats, earlier distribution of daily energy and early time-restricted eating, a small pre-meal protein portion, and brief post-meal walking. Fast-acting medicines—glucagon-like peptide 1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor agonists, rapid-acting insulin analogues, sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors taken before meals, and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors—further blunt peaks, while continuous glucose monitoring with algorithmic feedback enables timing-aware, person-specific adjustments. A tiered workflow—screen, stratify, and personalize—reframes prevention and treatment around after-meal physiology, with particular relevance to settings where resources are limited.