Creating Public Awareness of How Goats Are Reared and Milk Produced May Affect Consumer Acceptability

This study evaluated whether showing a video of the different ways of raising goats for milk affected consumer acceptability. Four combinations, 2 Videos (intensive [INT] and semiextensive [SEM] system) × 2 Milk Types (semiskimmed [S] and whole [W] milk), were evaluated by 70 habitual consumers of goat milk, who scored their liking and purchase intention during blind (B), expected (E), and informed (I) acceptability sessions. In the B session, consumers tasted both milk types without information. S samples were preferred over W samples. In the E session, SEM video created high expectations in terms of milk liking and purchase intent, whereas the opposite happened when showing INT video. In the I session, consumers showed a clear preference for combinations created using SEM video, regardless of milk type. W-SEM and S-INT were worse (negative disconfirmation) and better (positive disconfirmation) than expected, respectively. A complete assimilation toward expectations occurred only for S-INT. INT video adversely affected the acceptability of S samples. Concerning purchase intent, W-SEM and S-SEM were worse than expected, but the assimilation was complete only for S-SEM: SEM video increased purchase intent for S samples.     

Influence of Particle Size and Concentration on Rheological Behaviour of Reconstituted Apple Purees

This work investigates the impact of structural parameters on the rheological behaviour of apple purees. Reconstructed apple purees from 0 g/100 g up to 2.32 g/100 g of insoluble solids content and varying in particle size were prepared. Three different particle size distributions were obtained by mechanical treatment only, to modify both size and morphology of the particles without modifying the intrinsic rigidity of the cell walls. Rheological measurements showed that the insoluble solids content have a first order effect on the rheological behaviour of the suspensions: three concentrations domains were observed in both dynamic and flow measurements. A model is proposed for each domain. The existence of a weak network between particles is clearly shown over a critical concentration of insoluble solids (cell walls) depending on particle size distribution (semi-diluted domain). In a concentrated domain, particles are on close packing conditions and their apparent volume begin to shrink. Particle size and shape also play an important role on the rheological behaviour of reconstructed apple puree. Due to their irregular shape, cell clusters clog the medium at lower concentration compared to individual cells.     

Differential response to hepatic differentiation stimuli of amniotic epithelial cells isolated from four regions of the amniotic membrane

Human Amniotic Epithelial Cells (hAEC) isolated from term placenta are a promising source for regenerative medicine. However, it has long been debated whether the hAEC population consists of heterogeneous or homogeneous cells. In a previous study, we investigated the characteristics of hAEC isolated from four different regions of the amniotic membrane finding significant heterogeneity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatic differentiation capability of hAEC isolated from these four regions. Human term placentae were collected after caesarean section and hAEC were isolated from four regions of the amniotic membrane (R1-R4, according to their relative distance from the umbilical cord) and treated in hepatic differentiation conditions for 14 days. hAEC-derived hepatocyte-like cells showed marked differences in the expression of hepatic markers: R4 showed higher levels of Albumin and Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor (HNF) 4α whereas R1 expressed higher Cytochrome P450 enzymes, both at the gene and protein level. These preliminary results suggest that hAEC isolated from R1 and R4 of the amniotic membrane are more prone to hepatic differentiation. Therefore, the use of hAEC from a specific region of the amniotic membrane should be taken into consideration as it could have an impact on the outcome of therapeutic applications.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in Pacific white shrimp Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei

Five polymorphic microsatellite loci were characterized for Penaeus (Litopenaeus) vannamei. Loci were isolated using a partial Sau3A1 genomic library by the sequencing of randomly selected clones and by a biotinylated (CT)₁₀ and (GT)₁₀ probes screening procedure. The last strategy resulted in the most useful data. About 40% of the clones showed a previously reported satellite/microsatellite (PVS1), reducing the chance of finding new microsatellite regions. Whereas two of the microsatellite loci with more than 10 alleles will be useful for mating analysis in a breeding program, the others might prove useful for population genetic studies.     

Lactose-containing starburst dendrimers: influence of dendrimer generation and binding-site orientation of receptors (plant/animal lectins and immunoglobulins) on binding properties.

Starburst glycodendrimers offer the potential to serve as high-affinity ligands for clinically relevant sugar receptors. In order to define areas of application, their binding behavior towards sugar receptors with differential binding-site orientation but identical monosaccharide specificity must be evaluated. Using poly(amidoamine) starburst dendrimers of five generations, which contain the p-isothiocyanato derivative of p-aminophenyl-beta-D-lactoside as ligand group, four different types of galactoside-binding proteins were chosen for this purpose, i.e., the (AB)(2)-toxic agglutinin from mistletoe, a human immunoglobulin G fraction, the homodimeric galectin-1 with its two binding sites at opposite ends of the jelly-roll-motif-harboring protein and monomeric galectin-3. Direct solid-phase assays with surface-immobilized glycodendrimers resulted in obvious affinity enhancements by progressive core branching for the plant agglutinin and less pronounced for the antibody and galectin-1. High density of binding of galectin-3 with modest affinity increases only from the level of the 32-mer onwards points to favorable protein-protein interactions of the monomeric lectin and a spherical display of the end groups without a major share of backfolding. When the inhibitory potency of these probes was evaluated as competitor of receptor binding to an immobilized neoglycoprotein or to asialofetuin, a marked selectivity was detected. The 32- and 64-mers were second to none as inhibitors for the plant agglutinin against both ligand-exposing matrices and for galectin-1 on the matrix with a heterogeneous array of interglycoside distances even on the per-sugar basis. In contrast, a neoglycoprotein with the same end group was superior in the case of the antibody and, less pronounced, monomeric galectin-3. Intimate details of topological binding-site presentation and the ligand display on different generations of core assembly are major operative factors which determine the potential of dendrimers for applications as lectin-targeting device, as attested by these observations.     

Sterilization of Plants for Phytoremediation Studies by Bleach Treatment

Bleach treatment of plants was studied as a simple alternative to axenic tissue cultures for demonstrating phytodegradation of aqueous and gas-phase environmental contaminants. Parrotfeather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), spinach (Spinacia oleracea), and wheat (Triticum aestivum) were exposed to 0.525% NaC10 solutions for 15 s, then rinsed in deionized water. Plate counts indicated that 97 to 100% of viable bacteria were removed from parrotfeather and spinach. Transformation rates for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) by bleached and untreated parrotfeather were virtually identical. Similarly, treated and untreated spinach, wheat heads, and wheat leaves removed methyl bromide (MeBr) from air at the same rates. However, wheat root with attendant adhering soil was rendered inactive by bleach treatment. Parrotfeather roots examined by dissecting microscope and by electron microscope showed no significant damage caused by bleach treatment.     

Leishmania amazonensis exhibits phosphatidylserine-dependent procoagulant activity,a process that is counteracted by sandfly saliva

Leishmania parasites expose phosphatidylserine (PS) on their surface, a process that has been associated with regulation of host''s immune responses. In this study we demonstrate that PS exposure by metacyclic promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis favours blood coagulation. L. amazonensis accelerates in vitro coagulation of human plasma. In addition, L. amazonensis supports the assembly of the prothrombinase complex, thus promoting thrombin formation. This process was reversed by annexin V which blocks PS binding sites. During blood meal, Lutzomyia longipalpis sandfly inject saliva in the bite site, which has a series of pharmacologically active compounds that inhibit blood coagulation. Since saliva and parasites are co-injected in the host during natural transmission, we evaluated the anticoagulant properties of sandfly saliva in counteracting the procoagulant activity of L. amazonensis . Lu. longipalpis saliva reverses plasma clotting promoted by promastigotes. It also inhibits thrombin formation by the prothrombinase complex assembled either in phosphatidylcholine (PC)/PS vesicles or in L. amazonensis . Sandfly saliva inhibits factor X activation by the intrinsic tenase complex assembled on PC/PS vesicles and blocks factor Xa catalytic activity. Altogether our results show that metacyclic promastigotes of L. amazonensis are procoagulant due to PS exposure. Notably, this effect is efficiently counteracted by sandfly saliva.     

A Spatially Explicit Model of Synchronization in Fiddler Crab Waving Displays

Fiddler crabs (Uca spp., Decapoda: Ocypodidae) are commonly found forming large aggregations in intertidal zones, where they perform rhythmic waving displays with their greatly enlarged claws. While performing these displays, fiddler crabs often synchronize their behavior with neighboring males, forming the only known synchronized visual courtship displays involving reflected light and moving body parts. Despite being one of the most conspicuous aspects of fiddler crab behavior, little is known about the mechanisms underlying synchronization of male displays. In this study we develop a spatially explicit model of fiddler crab waving displays using coupled logistic map equations. We explored two alternative models in which males either direct their attention at random angles or preferentially toward neighbors. Our results indicate that synchronization is possible over a fairly large region of parameter space. Moreover, our model was capable of generating local synchronization neighborhoods, as commonly observed in fiddler crabs under natural conditions.