74 research outputs found
Sensory quality of fresh lamb meat
This work evaluated the texture, aroma and flavour quality of two Spanish commercial lamb
categories: milk-fed lambs slaughtered at 10-12 kg live weight, and "ternasco" lambs slaughtered at 20-24 kg
live weight from two Spanish breeds, Lacha and Rasa Aragonesa. Texture was only affected by the breed
effect in the mealiness parameter, with lamb from the Rasa Aragonesa breed perceived mealier than lamb
from the Lacha breed. Texture quality was very influenced by the increase in live weight from 12 to 24 kg.
The "ternasco" lamb meat was found harder, mealier, more cohesive and more difficult to swallow than milkfed lamb meat. Increased live weight developed woolly aroma, woolly flavour and more intense aftertaste in
cooked lamb meat. Milk-fed lambs produced meat with a more characteristic aroma and flavour than
"ternasco" lambs. The increase of live weight from 12 to 24 kg had more influence on the lamb sensory
quality than the breed factor, and consequently each commercial category presented its own characteristic
texture, aroma and flavour."Qualité sensorielle de la viande fraîche d'agneau". On a étudié la texture, l'odeur et la flaveur de
deux categories commerciales d'agneaux en Espagne : l'agneau laiton abattu Ă 10-12 kg de poids vif et
l'agneau tipe "ternasco" abattu Ă 20-24 kg de poids vif, de deux races espagnoles, Lacha et Rasa
Aragonesa. La texture a été affectée par le facteur race sur le paramètre "farineux" ; la viande de la race
Rasa Aragonesa a été plus farineuse que la viande de la race Lacha. La texture de la viande a été très
influencée par l'augmentation du poids vif. L'agneau de type "ternasco" a été plus dur, farineux, cohésif et
difficile à avaler que l'agneau laiton. L'augmentation du poids vif a développé un odeur et une flaveur
laineuse, et un arrière-goût plus intense dans la viande cuisinée. La viande de l'agneau laiton a presenté un
odeur et une flaveur plus caracteristique que la viande d'agneau de type "ternasco". L'augmentation du poids
vif de 12 jusqu'au 24 kg de poids vif a plus d'importance sur la qualité sensorielle de la viande d'agneau que
le facteur race. En conséquence, il apparaît que chaque catégorie commerciale a présenté sa propre
texture, odeur et flaveur
Characterization of the rat Na+/nucleoside cotransporter 2 and transport of nucleoside-derived drugs using electrophysiological methods.
The Na(+)-dependent nucleoside transporter 2 (CNT2) mediates active transport of purine nucleosides and uridine as well as therapeutic nucleoside analogs. We used the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique to investigate rat CNT2 (rCNT2) transport mechanism and study the interaction of nucleoside-derived drugs with the transporter expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The kinetic parameters for sodium, natural nucleosides, and nucleoside derivatives were obtained as a function of membrane potential. For natural substrates, apparent affinity (K(0.5)) was in the low micromolar range (12-34) and was voltage independent for hyperpolarizing membrane potentials, whereas maximal current (I(max)) was voltage dependent. Uridine and 2'-deoxyuridine analogs modified at the 5-position were substrates of rCNT2. Lack of the 2'-hydroxyl group decreased affinity but increased I(max). Increase in the size and decrease in the electronegativity of the residue at the 5-position affected the interaction with the transporter by decreasing both affinity and I(max). Fludarabine and formycin B were also transported with higher I(max) than uridine and moderate affinity (102 +/- 10 and 66 +/- 6 microM, respectively). Analysis of the pre-steady-state currents revealed a half-maximal activation voltage of about -39 mV and a valence of about -0.8. K(0.5) for Na(+) was 2.3 mM at -50 mV and decreased at hyperpolarizing membrane potentials. The Hill coefficient was 1 at all voltages. Direct measurements of radiolabeled nucleoside fluxes with the charge associated showed a ratio of two positive inward charges per nucleoside, suggesting a stoichiometry of two Na(+) per nucleoside. This discrepancy in the number of Na(+) molecules that bind rCNT2 may indicate a low degree of cooperativity between the Na(+) binding sites
Investigating SSH Research and Publication Practices in Disciplinary and Institutional Contexts. A Survey-Based Comparative Approach in Two Universities
In this paper, we comparatively analyze, present and discuss the results from a survey on increasing the visibility of research achievements in the social sciences and humanities (SSH) that was carried out at the University of Vienna (Austria) and the University of Navarra (Spain) in 2016 and 2017. Covering four major topics—searching and finding literature, publishing, the visibility of research, and the assessment of research outputs—we ask the following questions: are there disciplinary differences to be identified, and how do they present themselves in the two institutional contexts? Discussing the results, we showcase how disciplinary and institutional traditions and contexts are important factors that influence research and publication practices in the SSH. Our results indicate that the practices of searching and finding literature as well as publication practices and behavior are shaped by disciplinary traditions and epistemic cultures. On the contrary, assessment and valuation of research outputs are influenced by institutional and national contexts in which SSH research is organized and carried out
Reviewing, indicating, and counting books for modern research evaluation systems
In this chapter, we focus on the specialists who have helped to improve the
conditions for book assessments in research evaluation exercises, with
empirically based data and insights supporting their greater integration. Our
review highlights the research carried out by four types of expert communities,
referred to as the monitors, the subject classifiers, the indexers and the
indicator constructionists. Many challenges lie ahead for scholars affiliated
with these communities, particularly the latter three. By acknowledging their
unique, yet interrelated roles, we show where the greatest potential is for
both quantitative and qualitative indicator advancements in book-inclusive
evaluation systems.Comment: Forthcoming in Glanzel, W., Moed, H.F., Schmoch U., Thelwall, M.
(2018). Springer Handbook of Science and Technology Indicators. Springer Some
corrections made in subsection 'Publisher prestige or quality
Enhancement of CD4 and CD8 immunity by anti-CD137 (4-1BB) monoclonal antibodies during hepatitis C vaccination with recombinant adenovirus
The induction of protective or therapeutic cellular immunity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a difficult goal. In a previous work we showed that immunization with a recombinant adenovirus encoding HCV-NS3 (RAdNS3) could partially protect mice from challenge with a vaccinia virus encoding HCV antigens. We sought to investigate whether systemic administration of an immunostimulatory monoclonal antibody directed against the lymphocyte surface molecule CD137 could enhance the immunity elicited by RAdNS3. It was found that treatment with anti-CD137 mAb after the administration of a suboptimal dose of RAdNS3 enhanced cytotoxic and T helper cell responses against HCV NS3. Importantly, the ability of RAdNS3 to induce protective immunity against challenge with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing HCV proteins was markedly augmented. Thus, combination of immunostimulatory anti-CD137 mAb with recombinant adenoviruses expressing HCV proteins might be useful in strategies of immunization against HCV
Immunomodulatory properties of carvone inhalation and Its effects on contextual fear memory in mice
A complex network of interactions exists between the immune, the olfactory, and the central nervous system (CNS). Inhalation of different fragrances can affect immunological reactions in response to an antigen but also may have effects on the CNS and cognitive activity. We performed an exploratory study of the immunomodulatory ability of a series of compounds representing each of the 10 odor categories or clusters described previously. We evaluated the impact of each particular odor on the immune response after immunization with the model antigen ovalbumin in combination with the TLR3 agonist poly I:C. We found that some odors behave as immunostimulatory agents, whereas others might be considered as potential immunosuppressant odors. Interestingly, the immunomodulatory capacity was, in some cases, strain-specific. In particular, one of the fragrances, carvone, was found to be immunostimulatory in BALB/c mice and immunosuppressive in C57BL/6J mice, facilitating or impairing viral clearance, respectively, in a model of a viral infection with a recombinant adenovirus. Importantly, inhalation of the odor improved the memory capacity in BALB/c mice in a fear-conditioning test, while it impaired this same capacity in C57BL/6J mice. The improvement in memory capacity in BALB/c was associated with higher CD3+ T cell infiltration into the hippocampus and increased local expression of mRNA coding for IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 cytokines. In contrast, the memory impairment in C57BL/6 was associated with a reduction in CD3 numbers and an increase in IFN-γ. These data suggest an association between the immunomodulatory capacity of smells and their impact on the cognitive functions of the animals. These results highlight the potential of studying odors as therapeutic agents for CNS-related diseases
Implementation of a multidisciplinary psychoeducational intervention for Parkinson's disease patients and carers in the community: study protocol
Background: Parkinson’s disease progressively limits patients at different levels and as a result family members play
a key role in their care. However, studies show lack of an integrative approach in Primary Care to respond to the
difficulties and psychosocial changes experienced by them. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of a
multidisciplinary psychoeducational intervention focusing on improving coping skills, the psychosocial adjustment
to Parkinson’s disease and the quality of life in patients and family carers in a Primary Care setting.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study with control group and mixed methods was designed to evaluate a
multidisciplinary psychoeducational intervention. Based on the study power calculations, 100 people with
Parkinson’s disease and 100 family carers will be recruited and assigned to two groups. The intervention group will
receive the ReNACE psychoeducational intervention. The control group will be given a general educational
programme. The study will be carried out in six community-based health centres. The results obtained from the
two groups will be collected for evaluation at three time points: at baseline, immediately after the intervention and
at 6 months post-intervention. The results will be measured with these instruments: the Quality of Life Scale PDQ39 for patients and the Scale of Quality of Life of Care-givers SQLC for family carers, and for all participants the
Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness scale and the Brief COPE Inventory. Focus groups will be organised with some
patients and family carers who will have received the ReNACE psychoeducational intervention and also with the
healthcare professionals involved in its development.
Discussion: An important gap exists in the knowledge and application of interventions with a psychosocial
approach for people with PD and family carers as a whole. This study will promote this comprehensive approach in
Primary Care, which will clearly contribute in the existing knowledge and could reduce the burden of PD for
patients and family carers, and also in other long-term conditions
Local delivery of optimized nanobodies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 axis with a self-amplifying RNA viral vector induces potent antitumor responses
Despite the success of immune checkpoint blockade for cancer therapy, many patients do not respond
adequately. We aimed to improve this therapy by optimizing both the antibodies and their delivery route, using
small monodomain antibodies (nanobodies) delivered locally with a self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vector based
on Semliki Forest virus (SFV). We generated nanobodies against PD-1 and PD-L1 able to inhibit both human and
mouse interactions. Incorporation of a dimerization domain reduced PD-1/PD-L1 IC50 by 8- and 40-fold for antiPD-L1 and anti-PD-1 nanobodies, respectively. SFV viral particles expressing dimeric nanobodies showed a
potent antitumor response in the MC38 model, resulting in >50% complete regressions, and showed better
therapeutic efficacy compared to vectors expressing conventional antibodies. These effects were also observed in
the B16 melanoma model. Although a short-term expression of nanobodies was observed due to the cytopathic
nature of the saRNA vector, it was enough to generate a strong proinflammatory response in tumors, increasing
infiltration of NK and CD8+ T cells. Delivery of the SFV vector expressing dimeric nanobodies by local plasmid
electroporation, which could be more easily translated to the clinic, also showed a potent antitumor effect
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