Sensory acceptance of organic and conventional food by children in the age of 2 to 7 years

This study is initialized to find out which sensory factors might influence the acceptance of organic food by young children. 138 children aged from 2 to 7 years were recruited at the German Research Institute of Child Nutrition in Dortmund. All these children are participating in the DONALD-Study. Detailed nutrition records are available about breastfeeding and feeding of these children from birth to the age of one and further on. In a 2-year testing-period children tasted organic and conventional food in two-sided Paired Comparison Tests. In both years parents were asked a number of questions, mainly about the nutrition behaviour of their children. Sensory tests were analyzed and connected in different ways: with data of sensory profiles, nutrition records and different questionnaires

Polyacetylenes from Radix et Rhizoma Notopterygii Incisi with an Inhibitory Effect on Nitric Oxide Production In Vitro

Notopterygium roots (Qiang Huo) have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating colds, inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, and as an analgesic. The anti-inflammatory activity of the roots ofNotopterygium incisum has been evaluated by testing the inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production by inducible nitric oxide synthase. The apparent authenticity of the sample was checked by DNA sequence comparison. Using activity-guided isolation, different compounds were isolated and structurally characterized by means of NMR and mass spectroscopy. Eight polyacetylenes could be identified and were tested on their inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages using the Griess assay. Different 3-hydroxy allyl polyacetylenes exhibited significant activity (IC50: 8-acetoxyfalcarinol, 20.1 µM; falcarindiol, 9.2 µM; 9-epoxyfalcarindiol, 8.8 µM; and crithmumdiol, 23.6 µM)

Aspectos hormonais, bioquímicos e hematológicos de pré e pós parto de suínos.

bitstream/item/68283/1/DMeu-DiscoCNPSA-COM.-TEC.-45-82CNPSA-COM.-TEC.-45-82.pd

A partially sex-reversed giant kelp sheds light into the mechanisms of sexual differentiation in a UV sexual system

In UV sexual systems, sex is determined during the haploid phase of the life cycle and males have a V chromosome whereas females have a U chromosome. Previous work in the brown alga Ectocarpus revealed that the V chromosome has a dominant role in male sex determination and suggested that the female developmental programme may occur by 'default'. Here, we describe the identification of a genetically male giant kelp strain presenting phenotypic features typical of a female, despite lacking the U-specific region. The conversion to the female developmental programme is however incomplete, because gametes of this feminized male are unable to produce the sperm-attracting pheromone lamoxirene. We identify the transcriptomic patterns underlying the male and female specific developmental programmes, and show that the phenotypic feminization is associated with both feminization and de-masculinization of gene expression patterns. Importantly, the feminization phenotype was associated with dramatic downregulation of two V-specific genes including a candidate male-determining gene. Our results reveal the transcriptional changes associated with sexual differentiation in a UV system, and contribute to disentangling the role of sex-linked and autosomal gene expression in the initiation of sex-specific developmental programmes. Overall, the data presented here imply that the U-specific region is not required to initiate the female developmental programme, but is critical to produce fully functional eggs, arguing against the idea that female is the 'default' sex in this species

Real-Time Analysis of Alarm Pheromone Emission by the Pea Aphid (Acyrthosiphon Pisum) Under Predation

Upon attack by predators or parasitoids, aphids emit volatile chemical alarm signals that warn other aphids of a potential risk of predation. Release rate of the major constituent of the alarm pheromone in pea aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum), (E)-ß-farnesene (EBF), was measured for all nymphal and the adult stage as aphids were attacked individually by lacewing (Chrysoperla carnae) larvae. Volatilization of EBF from aphids under attack was quantified continuously for 60 min at 2-min intervals with a rapid gas chromatography technique (zNose™) to monitor headspace emissions. After an initial burst, EBF volatilization declined exponentially, and detectable amounts were still present after 30 min in most cases. Total emission of EBF averaged 16.33 ± 1.54 ng and ranged from 1.18 to 48.85 ng. Emission was higher in nymphs as compared to adults. No differences between pea aphid life stages were detected for their speed of alarm signal emission in response to lacewing larvae attack. This is the first time that alarm pheromone emission from single aphids has been reported

Examples of superconducting technology application: sensing and interfacing

Technological processes for the fabrication of low- and high- Tc Josephson junctions, aimed for certain applications, are described. On the one hand, the integration of low- Tc superconductor digital electronics with superconducting sensor arrays enables input signal processing with quantum limited resolution at millikelvin temperatures. We describe this mixed signal superconductor technology for analogue sensor readout and signal multiplexing for operating temperatures down to 300 mK. On the other hand, by making use of modern high- Tc Josephson junction technology, sensitive magnetometers, which require a modest cooling power, can be developed. Examples of the application of the mentioned processes are shown