Use of spherical salt for reducing sodium content with no change in salty perception in the development of a lamb meat burger with high-rated technological and sensory properties

Se utilizó sal esférica como estrategia para la reducción del contenido de sodio en una hamburguesa de carne de cordero con respecto a una hamburguesa control —elaborada con sal de mesa al 1,5%— con el objeto de conservar la misma percepción de gusto salado en el producto nal. La formulación de este último fue de nida mediante una serie de pruebas desarrolladas con un panel de evaluadores entrenados en percepción de gusto salado. Se determinó el contenido de sodio, la composición centesimal y el contenido graso del producto crudo y se estimaron el rendimiento y la humedad expresible. Mediante un ensayo hedónico con 112 consumidores se determinó la aceptabilidad del producto nal. Se logró desarrollar una hamburguesa con 14,75% menos de sodio y sin diferencias perceptibles en el gusto salado con respecto a la muestra control, valorada positivamente por más del 85% de los consumidores. Adicionalmente, las características tecnológicas del nuevo producto se hallaron dentro de los parámetros esperados.A spherical salt was the strategy used to reduce the sodium content in a lamb meat burger in relation to a control sample —formulated with 1.5% sodium content— in order to maintain the same salty taste perception. e nal product was de ned by a series of tests developed with a sensory panel trained for salty taste detection. Sodium content, centesimal composition and fat composition were analyzed on raw burgers. Cooking yield and expressible moisture were estimated. A hedonic test was performed with the nal product to assess overall acceptability. e developed burger contained 14.75% (w/w) less sodium than the control sample but no di erence in its salty taste and presented adequate technological features. Furthermore, the burger obtained 87.5% of positive reviews in the acceptance test.Fil: Soteras, T.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Cunzolo, Sebastian Abel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Carduza, F.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Grigioni, Gabriela Maria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Quantitative precipitation estimation over antarctica using different ze-sr relationships based on snowfall classification combining ground observations

Snow plays a crucial role in the hydrological cycle and energy budget of the Earth, and remote sensing instruments with the necessary spatial coverage, resolution, and temporal sampling are essential for snowfall monitoring. Among such instruments, ground-radars have scanning capability and a resolution that make it possible to obtain a 3D structure of precipitating systems or vertical profiles when used in profiling mode. Radars from space have a lower spatial resolution, but they provide a global view. However, radar-based quantitative estimates of solid precipitation are still a challenge due to the variability of the microphysical, geometrical, and electrical features of snow particles. Estimations of snowfall rate are usually accomplished using empirical, long-term relationships between the equivalent radar reflectivity factor (Ze) and the liquid-equivalent snowfall rate (SR). Nevertheless, very few relationships take advantage of the direct estimation of the microphysical characteristics of snowflakes. In this work, we used a K-band vertically pointing radar collocated with a laser disdrometer to develop Ze-SR relationships as a function of snow classification. The two instruments were located at the Italian Antarctic Station Mario Zucchelli. The K-band radar probes the low-level atmospheric layers, recording power spectra at 32 vertical range gates. It was set at a high vertical resolution (35 m), with the first trusted range gate at a height of only 100 m. The disdrometer was able to provide information on the particle size distribution just below the trusted radar gate. Snow particles were classified into six categories (aggregate, dendrite aggregate, plate aggregate, pristine, dendrite pristine, plate pristine). The method was applied to the snowfall events of the Antarctic summer seasons of 2018–2019 and 2019–2020, with a total of 23,566 min of precipitation, 15.3% of which was recognized as showing aggregate features, 33.3% dendrite aggregate, 7.3% plates aggregate, 12.5% pristine, 24% dendrite pristine, and 7.6% plate pristine. Applying the appropriate Ze-SR relationship in each snow category, we calculated a total of 87 mm water equivalent, differing from the total found by applying a unique Ze-SR. Our estimates were also benchmarked against a colocated Alter-shielded weighing gauge, resulting in a difference of 3% in the analyzed periods

Galacturonosyltransferase 4 silencing alters pectin composition and carbon partitioning in tomato

Pectin is a main component of the plant cell wall and is the most complex family of polysaccharides in nature. Its composition is essential for the normal growth and morphology pattern, as demonstrated by pectin-defective mutant phenotypes. Besides this basic role in plant physiology, in tomato, pectin structure contributes to very important quality traits such as fruit firmness. Sixty-seven different enzymatic activities have been suggested to be required for pectin biosynthesis, but only a few genes have been identified and studied so far. This study characterized the tomato galacturonosyltransferase (GAUT) family and performed a detailed functional study of the GAUT4 gene. The tomato genome harbours all genes orthologous to those described previously in Arabidopsis thaliana, and a transcriptional profile revealed that the GAUT4 gene was expressed at higher levels in developing organs. GAUT4-silenced tomato plants exhibited an increment in vegetative biomass associated with palisade parenchyma enlargement. Silenced fruits showed an altered pectin composition and accumulated less starch along with a reduced amount of pectin, which coincided with an increase in firmness. Moreover, the harvest index was dramatically reduced as a consequence of the reduction in the fruit weight and number. Altogether, these results suggest that, beyond its role in pectin biosynthesis, GAUT4 interferes with carbon metabolism, partitioning, and allocation. Hence, this cell-wall-related gene seems to be key in determining plant growth and fruit production in tomato

Curcuma longa Extract Exerts a Myorelaxant Effect on the Ileum and Colon in a Mouse Experimental Colitis Model, Independent of the Anti-Inflammatory Effect

Background: Curcuma has long been used as an anti-inflammatory agent in inflammatory bowel disease. Since gastrointestinal motility is impaired in inflammatory states, the aim of this work was to evaluate if Curcuma Longa had any Methods: The biological activity of Curcuma extract was evaluated against Carbachol induced contraction in isolated mice intestine. Acute and chronic colitis were induced in Balb/c mice by Dextran Sulphate Sodium administration (5% and 2.5% respectively) and either Curcuma extract (200 mg/kg/day) or placebo was thereafter administered for 7 and 21 days respectively. Spontaneous contractions and the response to Carbachol and Atropine of ileum and colon were studied after colitis induction and Curcuma administration. Results: Curcuma extract reduced the spontaneous contractions in the ileum and colon; the maximal response to Carbachol was inhibited in a non-competitive and reversible manner. Similar results were obtained in ileum and colon from Curcuma fed mice. DSS administration decreased the motility, mainly in the colon and Curcuma almost restored both the spontaneous contractions and the response to Carbachol after 14 days assumption, compared to standard diet, but a prolonged assumption of Curcuma decreased the spontaneous and Carbachol-induced contractions. Conclusions: Curcuma extract has a direct and indirect myorelaxant effect on mouse ileum and colon, independent of the anti-inflammatory effect. The indirect effect is reversible and non-competitive with the cholinergic agent. These results suggest the use of curcuma extract as a spasmolytic agent

Performance and characteristics of beef from Criollo x Angus, Hereford x Angus and Shorthorn x Angus F1 heifers finished on alfalfa pasture

En el presente trabajo se evaluó el efecto de cruzamientos sobre las características físicas y químicas de la carne bovina. Se utilizaron 24 vaquillonas Shorthorn x Angus (ShAA), Hereford x Angus (HeAA), Criollo x Angus (CrAA), de similar edad y peso las que se engordaron en pastoreo sobre alfalfa pura durante 182 días, sin restricciones al consumo voluntario. Se registró el peso vivo mensualmente, previo desbaste. Al finalizar el ensayo, las vaquillonas se faenaron en una planta frigorífica y se tomó una muestra de bife entre la 9na y 11va costilla de la media res izquierda de cada animal, sobre la que se determinaron parámetros físicos, químicos y sensoriales de la carne. El aumento de peso resultó similar entre ShAA y HeAA (p>0,10), promedio que fue superior (p0,10) en largo y ancho de bife, AOB, marmorado, GI, EGD y rendimiento de res. El cruzamiento CrAA resultó de menor rendimiento de res (p0,05) en pH, CRA, WB, mermas por cocción, L* y b*, o en parámetros sensoriales (terneza, flavor, jugosidad y contenido de tejido conectivo). El factor a* resultó menor (p0,05) sobre el perfil de ácidos grasos individuales, en los grupos de ácidos saturados, monoinsaturados, poli-insaturados, omega 3 (n-3) y omega 6 (n-6), y en las relaciones entre AGPI n6/AGPIn3 (n-6/n-3) y C18:2/C18:3. El cruzamiento ShAA tuvo el mayor (p0.10) between ShAA y HeAA and lower for CrAA compared with the other two (p0.10) in size of beef, rib eye area, marbling, intramuscular fat, back fat thickness and carcass yield. Hot carcass yield was lower (p0.10) were detected in muscle pH, water holding capacity, Warner-Bratzler shear force, cooking loss, color parameters L * and b*, and parameters between crosses. The a* factor was lower (p0.100) on concentrations of individual lipids, saturated, monounsaturated and poly-unsaturated fatty acid groups, the omega 3 and omega-6 groups, the ratios omega-6/omega-3 and C18:2/C18:3 of the longissimus dorsi intramuscular fat. Cross ShAA had the greatest (p<0.05) content of total intramuscular fatty acids, followed by HeAA and CrAA.Fil: Pordomingo, Anibal Javier. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional La Pampa-San Luis. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Anguil; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Grigioni, Gabriela Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Agroindustria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Carduza, F.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Agroindustria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: García, T.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Agroindustria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Pordomingo, Adriana Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional La Pampa-San Luis. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Anguil; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Volpi Lagreca, Gabriela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional La Pampa-San Luis. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Anguil; Argentin

Helicobacter species sequences in liver samples from patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: Only a minority of patients carrying a defined viral aetiologic agent develop cirrhosis and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the mechanism underlying the worsening is still undefined. Experimental infection by Helicobacter hepaticus in mice causes chronic hepatitis and HCC and recently, more Helicobacter species (Helicobacter spp.) have been detected in the liver of patients suffering from cholestatic diseases and HCC arising from non-cirrhotic liver. We investigated whether Helicobacter spp. sequences could be detected in the liver of patients with cirrhosis and HCC compared to subjects with metastasis to liver from colon cancer. METHODS: Twenty-three liver samples from patients operated upon for HCC superimposed on hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis and 6 from patients with resected metastases from colorectal cancer, were tested by polymerase chain reaction for presence of genomic 16S rRNA of Helicobacter genus using specific primers. DNA sequencing and cag A gene analysis were also performed. RESULTS: Genomic sequences of Helicobacter spp. were found in 17 of 20 (85%) liver samples from patients with HCC and in 2 of 6 samples from patients with liver metastasis. In three samples of the first group the result was uncertain. H pylori was revealed in 16 out of 17 positive samples and Helicobacter pullorum in the other. CONCLUSION: Helicobacter spp., carcinogenic in mice, were found at a higher frequency in the liver of patients with HCV-related cirrhosis and HCC than those in patients without primary liver disease

Assessing functional mitral regurgitation with exercise echocardiography: rationale and clinical applications

Secondary or functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) represents an increasing feature of mitral valve disease characterized by abnormal function of anatomically normal leaflets in the context of the impaired function of remodelled left ventricles. The anatomic and pathophysiological basis of FMR are briefly analyzed; in addition, the role of exercise echocardiography for the assessment of FMR is discussed in view of its relevance to clinical practice