An electronic tongue taste evaluation : identification of goat milk adulteration with bovine milk

An electronic tongue with 36 cross-sensibility sensors was built allowing a successful recognition of the five basic taste standards, showing high sensibility to acid, salty and umami taste substances and lower performance to bitter and sweet tastes. The taste recognition capability was afterwards tested in the detection of goat milk adulteration with bovine milk, which is a problem for the dairy industry. This new methodology is an alternative to the classical analyticalmethods used to detect caprine milk adulterations with bovine milk, being a simpler, faster and economical procedure. The different signal profiles recorded by the e-tongue device together with linear discriminant analysis allowed the implementation of a model that could distinguish between rawskim milk groups (goat, cowand goat/cow) with an overall sensibility and specificity of 97% and 93%, respectively. Furthermore, cross-validation showed that the modelwas able to correct classify unknown milk samples with a sensibility and specificity of 87% and 70%, respectively. Additionally, the model robustness was confirmed since it correctly or incorrectly classified milk samples with, respectively, higher and lower probabilities than those that could be expected by chance.Financial support received from FCT, Lisbon, under research projects POCI/QUI/58706/2004 and PPCDT/QUI/58076/2004, is gratefully acknowledged

Evidence That an Interaction between EB1 and p150(Glued) Is Required for the Formation and Maintenance of a Radial Microtubule Array Anchored at the Centrosome

EB1 is a microtubule tip–associated protein that interacts with the APC tumor suppressor protein and components of the dynein/dynactin complex. We have found that the C-terminal 50 and 84 amino acids (aa) of EB1 were sufficient to mediate the interactions with APC and dynactin, respectively. EB1 formed mutually exclusive complexes with APC and dynactin, and a direct interaction between EB1 and p150(Glued) was identified. EB1-GFP deletion mutants demonstrated a role for the N-terminus in mediating the EB1-microtubule interaction, whereas C-terminal regions contributed to both its microtubule tip localization and a centrosomal localization. Cells expressing the last 84 aa of EB1 fused to GFP (EB1-C84-GFP) displayed profound defects in microtubule organization and centrosomal anchoring. EB1-C84-GFP expression severely inhibited microtubule regrowth, focusing, and anchoring in transfected cells during recovery from nocodazole treatment. The recruitment of γ-tubulin and p150(Glued) to centrosomes was also inhibited. None of these effects were seen in cells expressing the last 50 aa of EB1 fused to GFP. Furthermore, EB1-C84-GFP expression did not induce Golgi apparatus fragmentation. We propose that a functional interaction between EB1 and p150(Glued) is required for microtubule minus end anchoring at centrosomes during the assembly and maintenance of a radial microtubule array

The significance of preschool behaviour problems for adjustment in later life

‘A child is born into a world of phenomena all equal in their power to enslave. It sniffs, it sucks — it strokes its eyes over the whole uncomfortable range. Suddenly, one strikes. Why? Moments snap together like magnets, forging a chain of shackles. Why? I can trace them. I can even with time pull them apart again. But why at the start they were ever magnetized at all —just those particular moments of experience and no others — I don't know. And nor does anyone else.’ from Equus by Schaffer (1974). Quoted in Chess, S. and Thomas, A. (1984)Origins and Evolution of Behaviour Disorders: from infancy to early adult life. Brunner Mazel, NY. The discussion of the significance of preschool behaviour problems for later adjustment begins by grounding the issue in the wider theoretical framework of developmental psychology. Transactionalismis identified as a global theory which now governs our understanding of developmental processes. It is shown to have a powerful explanatory value in relation to the long‐term effects of early adjustment problems. Longitudinal studies are reviewed and the development, maintenance and conversion of early problems (or indeed their disappearance or moderation) can be identified as transactional processes. The concept of risk and resilience are of central importance; some individuals show ‘competence’ and resist adversity but establishing why is beset with methodological and conceptual problems which may obscure actual vulnerability or misconstrue risk variables. Finally, research is found to be of limited value which does not address and explore the processes and mechanisms underlying resilience. A recent review of the impact of maternal depression on children exemplifies a transactional approach to understanding behavioural problems and also addresses the demand for a description of mechanisms involved. However, the issue of risk remains a major challenge