Ultrasound for improving the preservation of chicken meat

<div><p>Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of power ultrasound on the microbiota of chicken meat. Samples were treated under the following conditions of frequency and power: 20 kHz and 27.6 W/cm2; 40 kHz and 10.3 W/cm2; 850 kHz and 24.1 W/cm 2. Microbial counts were done before the ultrasound treatment, immediately after and following 7 days of aerobic storage at 4 °C. The results indicate that high intensity ultrasound helps inhibit the growth of lactic acid, mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria present in chicken meat at the ultrasound frequency levels used in this study. The number of mesophilic bacteria decreased with the ultrasound probe at 20 kHz and 27.6 W/cm2 in relation to the treatment with higher frequency and less intensity. In conclusion, high-intensity ultrasound has a bactericidal effect. Therefore, it can be useful in the preservation of meat products and thus play an important role in the food industry.</p></div

Etude Clinique des niveaux de perturbation de la metacognition, de la cognition sociale et du contrôle exécutif dans la pathologie frontale

Recent and convergent studies in neuropsychology have suggested the importance of frontal regions to the integrity of a number of functions such as metamemory capacities, executive functions, and social skills (Theory of Mind : ToM). In this original work, following Stuss et Anderson (2004), we assume a link between disturbances of these functions. We proposed to 16 frontal patients and 20 matched healthy subjects a protocol designed to test metamemory, ToM and executive functions in order to analyze the relations between disturbances of self-awareness (metamemory) and awareness of others (ToM), and cognitive control (executive functions). Our results confirm the importance of frontal lobes on these capacities. No correlation was found between measures of metamemory, measures of ToM and executive scores. The observation of individual profiles emphasizes the existence of dissociations between self awareness and consciousness of the others, and between these two forms of metacognitive control and the executive functioning. These results confirm the importance to engage more studies combining aspects of ToM, metacognition and executive control, to better understand the organization and architecture of the functions supported by frontal lobe

Recombinant human erythropoietin in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia and prevention of transfusion requirement associated with solid tumors: A randomized, controlled study

Background: Anemia is a common side effect of anticancer chemotherapy. Blood transfusion, previously the only available treatment for chemotherapy-induced anemia, may result insome clinical or subclinical adverse effects in the recipients. Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) provides a new treatment modality for chemotherapy-induced anemia. Patients and methods: To evaluate the effect of rhEPO onthe need for blood transfusions and on hemoglobin (Hb)concentrations, 227 patients with solid tumors and chemotherapy-induced anemia were enrolled in a randomized, controlled, clinical trial. Of 189 patients evaluable for efficacy, 101 received 5000 IU rhEPO daily s.c, while 88 patients received no treatment during the 12-week controlled phase of the study. Results: The results demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in the need for blood transfusions (28% vs. 42%, P = 0.028) and in the mean volume of packed red blood cells transfused (152 ml vs. 190 ml, p = 0.044) in patients treated with rhEPO compared to untreated controls. This effect was even more pronounced in patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy (26% vs. 45%, % 0.038). During the controlled treatment phase, the median Hb values increased in the rhEPO patients while remaining unchanged in the control group. The response was seen in all tumor types. Conclusions: RhEPO administration at a dose of 5000 IU daily s.c. increases hemoglobin levels and reduces transfusionrequirements in chemotherapy-induced anemia, especially during platinum-based chemotherap

Development of a precise gravimetric geoid model for Argentina

The main aims of physical geodesy are to study the shape of the Earth, its gravity field and the geoid which is an equipotential surface closest to the mean sea level. Precise geoid determination has been an important research topic in geodesy and geophysics in the past two decades. Scientists and government agencies all around the world have made great efforts on the development of high-accuracy geoid models. These geoid models are developed not only for scientific applications, but also for other purposes such as serving for a reference surface for mapping, sea level monitoring and natural resources exploitation and management. A geoid model is required to define a national height or vertical datum. Precise geoid models have experienced an unprecedented demand due to the rapid development of GPS/GNSS technologies. Geoid models allow transforming ellipsoidal heights, which are relatively easily determined from GPS/GNSS observations, into physical heights, which are associated to the Earth&amp;rsquo;s gravity field, without the need for expensive and time-consuming spirit-levelling. Physical heights are used for mapping, engineering and civil engineering infrastructure since they indicate the flow direction of fluids, due to the fact that fluids are attracted by the gravity of the Earth rather than geometric height differences. Moreover, vertical datums have been historically based on a local mean sea level surface determined by averaging tide gauge readings over a certain period of time. However, due to the sea surface topography effect, which is mainly caused by the sea dynamics and other meteorological processes, observations from different tide gauges do not commonly coincide. Therefore, when vertical datums are separated by oceans or other bodies of water, direct methods such as spirit levelling and gravity measurements are not applicable. In this case, geoid models can be used for unifying two or more vertical datums together. This research aims to develop a new and optimal precise geoid for Argentina using all available measurements from the most state of the art technologies and the latest global geopotential models (GGMs), along with detailed digital terrain models (DTMs). The remove-compute-restore technique and the combination of an optimal GGM with 658,111 land and marine gravity observations were used for the new model determination. Several GGMs (e.g. EGM2008, GOCO05S and EIGEN-6C4) were evaluated to investigate the best GGM that fits Argentinian regional gravity field. Terrain corrections were calculated using a combination of the SRTM_v4.1 and SRTM30_Plus v10 DTMs for all gravity observations. For the regions that lacked gravity observations, the DTU13 world gravity model was utilised for filling-in the gravity voids. The residual gravity anomalies were gridded by the Kriging method and the resultant grid was applied in the Stokes&amp;rsquo; integral using the spherical multi-band FFT approach and the deterministic kernel modification proposed by Wong and Gore in 1969. The accuracy of the new geoid was assessed by comparing its geoidal undulations over 1,904 benchmarks, which have both orthometric and ellipsoidal heights. Results showed that an accuracy of better than 10 centimetres has been achieved

Role of Interaction and Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase B in Regulation of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Function by cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase A

Cystic fibrosis results from mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) and ATP-regulated chloride channel. Here, we demonstrate that nucleoside diphosphate kinase B (NDPK-B, NM23-H2) forms a functional complex with CFTR. In airway epithelia forskolin/IBMX significantly increases NDPK-B co-localisation with CFTR whereas PKA inhibitors attenuate complex formation. Furthermore, an NDPK-B derived peptide (but not its NDPK-A equivalent) disrupts the NDPK-B/CFTR complex in vitro (19-mers comprising amino acids 36-54 from NDPK-B or NDPK-A). Overlay (Far-Western) and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) analysis both demonstrate that NDPK-B binds CFTR within its first nucleotide binding domain (NBD1, CFTR amino acids 351-727). Analysis of chloride currents reflective of CFTR or outwardly rectifying chloride channels (ORCC, DIDS-sensitive) showed that the 19-mer NDPK-B peptide (but not its NDPK-A equivalent) reduced both chloride conductances. Additionally, the NDPK-B (but not NDPK-A) peptide also attenuated acetylcholine-induced intestinal short circuit currents. In silico analysis of the NBD1/NDPK-B complex reveals an extended interaction surface between the two proteins. This binding zone is also target of the 19-mer NDPK-B peptide, thus confirming its capability to disrupt NDPK-B/CFTR complex. We propose that NDPK-B forms part of the complex that controls chloride currents in epithelia

Combined loss of the BH3-only proteins Bim and Bmf restores B-cell development and function in TACI-Ig transgenic mice.

Terminal differentiation of B cells depends on two interconnected survival pathways, elicited by the B-cell receptor (BCR) and the BAFF receptor (BAFF-R), respectively. Loss of either signaling pathway arrests B-cell development. Although BCR-dependent survival depends mainly on the activation of the v-AKT murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (AKT)/PI3-kinase network, BAFF/BAFF-R-mediated survival engages non-canonical NF-κB signaling as well as MAPK/extracellular-signal regulated kinase and AKT/PI3-kinase modules to allow proper B-cell development. Plasma cell survival, however, is independent of BAFF-R and regulated by APRIL that signals NF-κB activation via alternative receptors, that is, transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI) or B-cell maturation (BCMA). All these complex signaling events are believed to secure survival by increased expression of anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) family proteins in developing and mature B cells. Curiously, how lack of BAFF- or APRIL-mediated signaling triggers B-cell apoptosis remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that two pro-apoptotic members of the 'Bcl2 homology domain 3-only' subgroup of the Bcl2 family, Bcl2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim) and Bcl2 modifying factor (Bmf), mediate apoptosis in the context of TACI-Ig overexpression that effectively neutralizes BAFF as well as APRIL. Surprisingly, although Bcl2 overexpression triggers B-cell hyperplasia exceeding the one observed in Bim(-/-)Bmf(-/-) mice, Bcl2 transgenic B cells remain susceptible to the effects of TACI-Ig expression in vivo, leading to ameliorated pathology in Vav-Bcl2 transgenic mice. Together, our findings shed new light on the molecular machinery restricting B-cell survival during development, normal homeostasis and under pathological conditions. Our data further suggest that Bcl2 antagonists might improve the potency of BAFF/APRIL-depletion strategies in B-cell-driven pathologies

High proportion of cactus species threatened with extinction

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Nature Publishing Group via the DOI in this record.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologí

Linear polarization Yb³⁺-doped fiber laser with novel innerclad structures

Results on high radiance Yb3+-doped fiber lasers with novel double innerclad structures (double-D clad and four hole) and polarized output at ≈1090 nm are presented. We have demonstrated >40% of the total output power being polarized, making the fiber laser suitable for LIDAR and second-harmonic generation (SHG) applications. It also showed a 10-nm tuning range with low (less than 10 mW) average power variations. The narrow linewidth source was pumped with a low cost, low brightness laser diode, and exhibited a relatively low slope efficiency, which gives room for improvement by using a 976-nm pump source where Yb3+ has a narrower linewidth and at least five times higher absorption

Power ultrasound effect on poultry meat microbial flora

Power ultrasound was reported as a potential tool to reduce microorganisms in food such as milk (Cameron, 2007), fruit juice (Patil et al., 2009) and poultry (Haughton et al., 2010). However, there are no specific studies about the effect of power ultrasound on the microorganisms present during deterioration of fresh chicken meat. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of power ultrasound on bacteria of chicken. The power of three ultrasound systems was measured by calorimetry method. The goal was monitoring the ultrasonic devices power to determine the levels to use in the microbiological test. 40 portions (150 g per portion) of chicken breasts were used, 10 breasts per treatment. Each chicken breast was packed in polyethylene bags and stored during 48 hours (4 ºC) to allow bacteria to adapt to the packaging and storage conditions. After 48 hours of storage, bags were opened and the breast was immersed in 200 ml of MRD (Maximum Recovery Diluent) sterile solution in a 400 ml flask, and 1 ml of MRD solution was taken. Subsequently, the ultrasound treatment was applied for 5 minutes. In the 850 kHz bath, the 200 ml of MRD were placed directly into the device after disinfected it. Immediately after, a new sample (1 ml of MRD solution) was taken, the chicken breast was packed in the bags and was stored at 4 ºC, after 7 days the bags were opened and the breast was immersed in 200 ml of MRD sterile solution and a final sample of 1 ml was taken. The control breasts were immersed in MRD sterile solution for 5 minutes and samples were taken before and after this time and after 7 days storage at 4 °C. A series of dilutions from 1:10 to 1:100 in MRD were prepared with the collected sample solution of the chicken breasts before and after treatment. On the other hand, with the samples taken after 7 days of storage dilutions were prepared as follows from 1:10 to 1:1000000 in MRD. 100 µl of each dilution were inoculated into the following culture media: mesophilic and psychrophilic bacteria in agar PCA (Plate Count Agar) and lactic acid bacteria in MRS agar (Man, Rogosa, Sharpe). The mesophilic bacteria was incubated at 25 °C for 3 days, the psychrophilic bacteria at 4 °C for 5 ± 1 days and the lactic acid bacteria was incubated at 35 °C for 5 ± 1 days. Finally the microbial counts were performed for each petri dish. The temperature difference was determined after the data was plotted. The curve slope value was considered like dT/dt. The value dT/dt was replaced in the ultrasonic power equation mentioned above, where the heat capacity of water (Cp) was considered 4.181J kg-1 °C-1 and the solvent mass (M) like 200 kg. Table 1 shows the ultrasound power of the 850 kHz bath. The device has four intensity levels, but just the three highest were measured. This device has variable intensity and is selected through amplitude percentage. In this case measured at 30%, 40% and 50% amplitude. After calculating the power intensity of the devices was one similar level was selected in each in order to compare the effect in the microbiological tests. In the 850 kHz bath was selected the III level (24.1 W) and the 30% amplitude (27.6 W) in the 20 kHz bath. However, the 40 kHz bath showed not a similar power (10.3 W) at no other level in the devices tested, however also was used in the microbiological tests. The psychrophilic bacteria show a biggest decrease after 5 minutes of sonication with the 20 kHz probe; however this positive effect is not noticed in the final count, after 7 days under refrigeration. The above can see in the Figure 1a and 1b, the first displays the plot in 5 minutes of ultrasonic treatment and the other one shows the CFU in the 7 days of storage. Both plots were adjusted to clearly see the effect of each device. During the storage of the chicken breast samples, the psychrophilic bacteria amount was similar in all the treatments (Figure 1b). Nevertheless the Figure 1a displays that besides the 20 kHz probe, the 850 kHz bath also produce a decrease in the microbial content of the chicken samples. The experiment conducted by Sams and Feria (1991) can help to explain the similarity between the treatments during storage, since it suggests that a cause of microbial growth in cooling is that ultrasound can help release nutrients from processed food and that these can be exploited by certain types of bacteria. Samples treated with the 20 and 850 kHz showed higher microbial content and it decreased during the 5 min of sonication, unlike those treated with 40 kHz which indicated that there was an increase in the content of bacteria as in the control samples. Samples control shows a big increase in the lactic acid bacteria after first 5 minutes sonication. The lactic acid bacteria did not show any decrease during sonication; however the untreated samples showed a higher growth with time than the treated one. The ultrasonic effect is evident with the 20 kHz and 850 kHz devices since the highest growth were samples treated in the 40 kHz bath, even more than the control samples. When a bacterial decrease during the ultrasonic treatment was not observed, the samples subjected to 20 kHz probe had lower growth until the end of the experiment. Ultrasonic treatment has proven be effective in controlling lactic acid bacteria (Dolatowski and Stasiak, 2002), however Cameron (2007) found that some species of lactic acid bacteria exhibit some resistance to ultrasound treatment and this resistance can also be a major cause of non-decrease effect in the samples subject at 40 kHz treatment. This is similar to the observed effect with psychrophilic bacteria, samples with the highest mesophilic load before treatment (20 kHz probe and 850 kHz bath) showed the best ultrasound effect. It has been shown that in fresh chicken mesophilic total counts decrease when subjected to power ultrasound (Haughton et al., 2010). However during storage, the effect is not obvious or permanent. Pholman et al. (1997) found that in some cases the ultrasound intensity is not sufficient; treatment alone had no significant effect on microbial growth for long periods of storage. However, they found that the content of microorganisms decreases significantly immediately after treatment. According to the results found by these authors, the initial content under control with ultrasound treatment can be explained based on the immediate effect power ultrasound. Psychrophilic and mesophilic bacteria are affected just during the sonication time, however the power ultrasound effect is not permanent and it is necessary to investigate when the antimicrobial effect ends. Lactic acid bacteria were not affected by ultrasound during the sonication time, but the ultrasound effect is permanent during refrigeration. Treatment of 20 kHz may be considered the best method to control microbial growth in fresh chicken meat. Contrarily, treatment of 40 kHz shows no effect on bacteria present on chicken breast.Table 1. Calorimetric measurements of ultrasonic power entering in the 850 kHz bath system.Intensity Level II III IVdT/dt 0.005 0.0049 0.0277 0.0299 0.0495 0.066Power (W) 4.2 4.1 23.2 25.0 41.4 55.2Average Power (W) 4.1 24.1 48.3Figure 1. Adjusted plots of psychrophilic bacteria in chicken breast, a) grown during sonication, b) grown duringrefrigeration.REFERENCESCameron, M., 2007, Impact of low-frequency high-power ultrasound on spoilage and potentially pathogenic dairy microbes, Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science desertation, Faculty of AgriSciences, University of Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch, Southafrica.Dolatowski, Z., y D. Stasiak. 2002. Bacterial contamination of meat and meat products after ultrasound treatment. Acta Sci. Pol. Technol. Aliment 1:55-65.Haughton, P., J. Lyng, D. Morgan, D. Cronin, F. Noci, S. Fanning, P. Whyte, 2010, An evaluation of the potential of high-intensity ultrasound for improving the microbial safety of poultry, Food Bioprocess Technol., DOI: 10.1007/s11947-010-0372-y.Patil, S., P. Bourke, B. Cullen, J. M. Frias, P. J. Cullen. 2009, The efects of acid adaptation on Escherichia coli inactivation using power ultrasound, J. Inoov. Food Sci. &amp; Emerg. Tech. 10(4):486-490.Pholman, F., M. Dikeman, y J. Zayas. 1997. The effect of low-intensity ultrasound treatment on shear properties, color stability and shelf-life of vacuum-packaged beef semitendinosus and biceps femoris muscles. J. Meat Sci 45:329-337.Sams, A., R. Feria, 1991, Microbial effects of ultrasonication of broiler drumstick skin, J. Food Sci. 56(1):247-248.<br/