Sensory texture of date fruits as a function of physicochemical properties and its use in date classification

Eight descriptive sensory textural attributes of whole date fruit were evaluated by twenty trained panel members and correlated with sixteen physicochemical properties. All sensory parameters, except gumminess, significantly correlated (Ps<0.05) with pectin, crude fibre, and moisture content. In addition, sensory hardness, cohesiveness, elasticity, and resilience correlated significantly with length of whole fruit (P<0.05), sensory adhesiveness with glucose content (P<0.05), sensory chewiness with mass of whole fruit (P<0.05), and sensory gumminess with fructose, glucose, and total sugar content (P<0.10). Sweetness, however, correlated only with moisture content (P<0.05). CA and the biplot (i.e. including all products, their sensory texture and physicochemical attributes) generated through PCA recognized three groups of dates as hard-chewy, soft-(medium-chewy), and soft-(non-adhesive)

CO2 gasification of chars prepared from wood and forest residue

The CO2 gasification of chars prepared from Norway spruce and its forest residue was investigated in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) at slow heating rates. The volatile content of the samples was negligible; hence the gasification reaction step could be studied alone, without the disturbance of the devolatilization reactions. Six TGA experiments were carried out for each sample with three different temperature programs in 60 and 100% CO2. Linear, modulated, and constant-reaction rate (CRR) temperature programs were employed to increase the information content available for the modeling. The temperatures at half of the mass loss were lower in the CRR experiments than in the other experiments by around 120 degrees C. A relatively simple, well-known reaction kinetic equation described the experiments. The dependence on the reacted fraction as well as the dependence on the CO2, concentration were described by power functions (n-order reactions). The evaluations were also carried out by assuming a function of the reacted fraction that can mimic the various random pore/random capillary models. These attempts, however, did not result in an improved fit quality. Nearly identical activation energy values were obtained for the chars made from wood and forest residues (221 and 218 kJ/mol, respectively). Nevertheless, the forest residue char was more reactive; the temperatures at half of the mass loss showed 20-34 degrees C differences between the two chars at 10 degrees C/min heating rates. The assumption of a common activation energy, E, and a common reaction order, v, on the CO2, concentration for the two chars had only a negligible effect on the fit quality

Belief in fate and self-efficacy in road safety advertising based on guilt: An explanation based on negotiable fate

This study examines the effectiveness of using guilt in road safety advertising among young populations characterized as having high levels of belief in fate, and refutes the positive relationship between belief in fate and health message ineffectiveness, by introducing the notion of negotiable fate. This type of coping implies that when belief in fate increases, persuasion increases and this relationship operates through self-efficacy perceptions. That is, when exposed to guilt-based road safety messages, belief in fate generates self-efficacy perceptions, which motivates drivers to focus on the problem instead of denying it, leading to a higher persuasion. The current research constitutes a first empirical test of the relationships between belief in fate, self-efficacy, and compliance with guilt-based road safety communications. We also test a moderation-mediation model proving that the mediator role of self-efficacy is reinforced with the use of higher levels of guilt in the message. Results can provide guidance for non-profit organizations and public agencies on how to develop future policies to promote safe behaviors among young drivers who have high belief in fate. - 2019 Australian and New Zealand Marketing AcademyScopu

The role of Toll-like receptor 9 in gynecologic cancer

International audienceToll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) plays a major role in the fight against DNA viruses infections. Despite its antitumor properties, inappropriate activation of TLR9 during chronic inflammation may cause the activation of transcription factors inducing pro-cancerous activities. Thus, the relationship between TLR9 and cancer remains highly confrontational especially in gynecological cancers and cervical cancer induced by viruses. In this review, we focus on the beneficial and detrimental role of TLR9 in gynecological carcinogenesis. TLR9 contributes to tumor regression by inducing cytotoxic T cell response (CTL), reducing the numbers of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), the tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and the regulatory T cells (T regs). It can however, also promote tumor progression and invasiveness of cervical tissue. Therefore, the dichotomous role of TLR9 needs to be carefully investigated in the setting of neoplastic disease

New insights on the adjuvant properties of the leishmania infantum eukaryotic initiation factor

Vaccination is the most effective tool against infectious diseases. Subunit vaccines are safer compared to live-attenuated vaccines but are less immunogenic and need to be delivered with an adjuvant. Adjuvants are essential for enhancing vaccine potency by improving humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Only a limited number of adjuvants are licensed for human vaccines, and their mode of action is still not clear. Leishmania eukaryotic initiation factor (LeIF) has been described having a dual role, as a natural adjuvant and as an antigen that possesses advantageous immunomodulatory properties. In this study, we assessed the adjuvant properties of recombinant Leishmania infantum eukaryotic initiation factor (LieIF) through in vitro and in vivo assays. LieIF was intraperitoneally administered in combination with the protein antigen ovalbumin (OVA), and the widely used alum was used as a reference adjuvant. Our in vitro studies using J774A.1 macrophages showed that LieIF induced stimulatory effects as demonstrated by the enhanced surface expression of CD80 and CD86 co-stimulatory molecules and the induced production of the immune mediators NO and MIP-1α. Additionally, LieIF co-administration with OVA in an in vivo murine model induced a proinflammatory environment as demonstrated by the elevated expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and NF- κB2 genes in peritoneal exudate cells (PEC). Furthermore, PEC derived from OVA-LieIF-immunized mice exhibited elevated expression of CD80 molecule and production of NO and MIP-1α in culture supernatants. Moreover, LieIF administration in the peritoneum of mice resulted in the recruitment of neutrophils and monocytes at 24 h post-injection. Also, we showed that this immunopotentiating effect of LieIF did not depend on the induction of uric acid danger signal. These findings suggest the potential use of LieIF as adjuvant in new vaccine formulations against different infectious diseases. Copyright 2019 Olga S. Koutsoni et al. © 2019 Olga S. Koutsoni et al

Leishmania eukaryotic initiation factor (LeIF) inhibits parasite growth in murine macrophages

The leishmaniases constitute neglected global public health problems that require adequate control measures, prophylactic clinical vaccines and effective and non-toxic drug treatments. In this study, we explored the potential of Leishmania infantum eukaryotic initiation factor (LieIF), an exosomal protein, as a novel anti-infective therapeutic molecule. More specifically, we assessed the efficacy of recombinant LieIF, in combination with recombinant IFN-γ, in eliminating intracellular L. donovani parasites in an in vitro macrophage model. J774A.1 macrophages were initially treated with LieIF/ IFN-γ prior to in vitro infection with L. donovani stationary phase promastigotes (pre-infection treatment), and resistance to infection was observed 72 h after infection. J774A.1 macrophages were also treated with LieIF/IFN-γ after L. donovani infection (post-infection treatment), and resistance to infection was also observed at both time points tested (19 h and 72 h) after infection. To elucidate the LieIF/IFN-γ-induced mechanism(s) that mediate the reduction of intracellular parasite growth, we examined the generation of potent microbicidal molecules, such as nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), within infected macrophages. Furthermore, macrophages pre-treated with LieIF/IFN-γ showed a clear upregulation in macrophage inflammatory protein 1α (MIP-1α) as well as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) expression. However, significant different protein levels were not detected. In addition, macrophages pre-treated with LieIF/IFN-γ combined with anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody produced significantly lower amounts of ROS. These data suggest that during the pre-treatment state, LieIF induces intramacrophage parasite growth inhibition through the production of TNF-α, which induces microbicidal activity by stimulating NO and ROS production. The mechanisms of NO and ROS production when macrophages are treated with LieIF after infection are probably different. Overall, these results indicate that LieIF is a good candidate for use as an anti-leishmanial molecule. © 2014 Koutsoni et al

Acute neuromuscular, cognitive and physiological responses to a Japanese kickboxing competition in semi-professional fighters

BACKGROUND: Japanese kickboxing is a combat sport designed to accommodate fighters from different combat sports styles. However, the physiological profile of this discipline is unknown. Therefore, this study describes the neuromuscular, metabolic and cognitive responses to an official Japanese kickboxing (K-1) fight in 8 kickboxers. METHODS: Measurements before and after the competition involved a simple reaction time test (SRT), countermovement jump (CMJ), blood lactate (BLA) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Additionally, each participant’s volume of strikes was extracted from a match-analysis. RESULTS: CMJ height was unaffected by the fight (p = 0.230 max; p = 0.208 mean). SRT increased post-fight (p = 0.0036). Peak BLA concentration was 15.3 ± 1.6 mmol·L-1 at 2 minutes post-fight. RPE increased post-fight (p < 0.001). Match-analysis showed 86 ± 23 total blows. For rounds 1, 2, and 3, blow distribution was 32.7%, 32.6% and 34.7%, respectively. Total punches were significantly greater (p < 0.001) than knee-strikes. Total kicks were also significantly greater than knee-strikes (p = 0.002). No difference was found between numbers of punches and kicks (p = 0.952). There was a positive correlation (p = 0.029; r = 0.76) between the sum of all strikes in the first two rounds and ΔBLA. CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained here indicate that K-1 fighters need to improve tolerance to lactate accumulation to perform greater number of actions. Furthermore, the results of this study suggest that CMJ height was not sensitive to specific fatigue induced by fighting