Effects of Clarification and Storage on Anthocyanins and Color of Pomegranate Juice Concentrates

Whole pomegranates with rinds were processed into juice and then concentrate. Effects of cold clarification and storage temperatures (-23C, 5C, 12C and 20C) on anthocyanins (ACNs), ACN composition and color were determined. Major ACNs in pomegranate juice concentrate (PJC) were identified as cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside (47.9%), delphinidin-3,5-diglucoside (23.2%) and cyanidin-3-glucoside (18.5%). Diglucosides were more stable than monoglucosides during storage. ACN degradation and polymeric color formation were fitted to first-order reaction models. Higher storage temperatures increased the rate of ACN degradation and polymeric color formation in PJCs. Good correlation (r=-0.988) was found between ACN degradation and polymeric color formation during storage. Rate of ACN degradation and polymeric color formation were slower in the PJC obtained from unclarified juice than PJC obtained from clarified juice during storage. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on performance, carcass characteristics and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio in broilers

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on performance, carcass characteristics and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio in broilers. A total of 272 1 day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four treatment groups based on the photoperiod length (23L:1D or increasing duration of light) and light intensity (20 lux vs. a dim, reducing intensity) with four replicates. At 42 d of age, effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on performance traits were not significant. The heterophil/ lymphocyte ratio in 20 lux and dim, reducing light intensity groups were 0.30 and 0.15 (P<0.001), respectively. On the other hand, the effect of light intensity has no influence on heterophil/lymphocyte ratio. Cold and hot carcass weights and whole breast meat and wing weights were found lower in the dim, reducing light intensity group than 20 lux light intensity group. The effects of photoperiod length and light intensity on carcass characteristics were not significant, statistically. In conclusion, it can be said that body weight, feed consumption, feed convertion ratio, whole breast meat and wing weights were increased by providing the increasing photoperiod used with a 20 lux light intensity in broiler breeding

Fluorescently-labelled CPD and 6-4PP photolyases: new tools for live-cell DNA damage quantification and laser-assisted repair

UV light induces cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and pyrimidine-pyrimidone (6-4) photoproducts (6-4PPs), which can result in carcinogenesis and aging, if not properly repaired by nucleotide excision repair (NER). Assays to determine DNA damage load and repair rates are invaluable tools for fundamental and clinical NER research. However, most current assays to quantify DNA damage and repair cannot be performed in real time. To overcome this limitation, we made use of the damage recognition characteristics of CPD and 6-4PP photolyases (PLs). Fluorescently-tagged PLs efficiently recognize UVinduced DNA damage without blocking NER activity, and therefore can be used as sensitive live-cell damage sensors. Importantly, FRAP-based assays showed that PLs bind to damaged DNA in a highly sensitive and dose-dependent manner, and can be used to quantify DNA damage load and to determine repair kinetics in real time. Additionally, PLs can instantly reverse DNA damage by 405 nm laserassisted photo-reactivation during live-cell imaging, opening new possibilities to study lesion-specific NER dynamics and cellular responses to damage removal. Our results show that fluorescently-tagged PLs can be used as a versatile tool to sense, quantify and repair DNA damage, and to study NER kinetics and UV-induced DNA damage response in living cells

FACT subunit Spt16 controls UVSSA recruitment to lesion-stalled RNA Pol II and stimulates TC-NER

Transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) is a dedicated DNA repair pathway that removes transcription-blocking DNA lesions (TBLs). TC-NER is initiated by the recognition of lesion-stalled RNA Polymerase II by the joint action of the TC-NER factors Cockayne Syndrome protein A (CSA), Cockayne Syndrome protein B (CSB) and UV-Stimulated Scaffold Protein A (UVSSA). However, the exact recruitment mechanism of these factors toward TBLs remains elusive. Here, we study the recruitment mechanism of UVSSA using live-cell imaging and show that UVSSA accumulates at TBLs independent of CSA and CSB. Furthermore, using UVSSA deletion mutants, we could separate the CSA interaction function of UVSSA from its DNA damage recruitment activity, which is mediated by the UVSSA VHS and DUF2043 domains, respectively. Quantitative interaction proteomics showed that the Spt16 subunit of the histone chaperone FACT interacts with UVSSA, which is mediated by the DUF2043 domain. Spt16 is recruited to TBLs, independently of UVSSA, to stimulate UVSSA recruitment and TC-NER-mediated repair. Spt16 specifically affects UVSSA, as Spt16 depletion did not affect CSB recruitment, highlighting that different chromatin-modulating factors regulate different reaction steps of the highly orchestrated TC-NER pathway

Rare Occurrence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus CC130 with a Novel mecA Homologue in Humans in Germany

MRSA CC130 containing the mecA homologue mecALGA251 were reported from the UK and from Denmark so far from cattle and humans. Here we report on 11 MRSA CC130 among a sample of 12691 isolates of human origin collected from January 2006 until June 2011. MRSA CC130 grew insufficiently on chromogernic agar plates for detection of MRSA; the agglutination test for presence of PBP2a was negative. We designed primers for specific detection of mecALGA251 as well as for concomitant detection of both, mecLGA251 and mecA. As already described, the isolates exhibited spa-types t843, t1736, and t1773. The ccrA homologue indicated the presence SCCmecXI. When subjected to further characterization by means of a commercially available microarray the isolates were negative for sak chp, and scn, and as expected positive for hla, untruncated hlb, and hld. They furthermore contained edinB, aur, slpA, slpB, slpE. From genes coding for surface and cell wall associated products the ica-operon, cap8, clfA, clfF, ebpS, fnbA, fnbB, sdrC were detected but not cna. The isolates were negative for enterotoxin genes and tst, as well as for eta, and etb; agr-type was III

An ultrastructural study on the presence of various types of crystals in the infertile human testis

PubMedID: 4051196Testicular biopsies obtained from 23 infertile outpatients, found to be normal except for oligospermia, were investigated using a Zeiss electron microscope. Ultrastructural changes in the Sertoli cells were encountered frequently, whilst most of the spermatogenic cells were degenerative. Sertoli cells exhibited abundant microfilaments which were seen to form small clusters leading to the formation of Charcot-Böttcher crystals, whilst the Leydig cells of the same specimens revealed the presence of small microtubular arrays and numerous small sized crystals. Fusion of small sized crystals resulted in the formation of typical Reinke crystals in the Leydig cells. Crystalloid structures similar to those seen in the Sertoli cells were also observed in the cytoplasm of type-A-spermatogonia and in a number of multinucleated cells with cytoplasmic characteristics of spermatogonia and Sertoli cells. Similar crystallization processes in both Sertoli and Leydig cells imply a close relationship between crystallization processes and impairment of spermatogenesis. © 1985 Springer-Verlag

Anthocyanin and colour changes during processing of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.; Cv. Hicaznar) juice from sacs and whole fruit

The effects of clarification and pasteurisation on anthocyanins (ACNs) and the colour of pomegranate juice (PJ) produced from sacs and whole fruits were investigated. Clarification caused a loss of 4% of ACNs in juice from sacs (JFS) and a loss of 19% in juice from whole fruit (JFWF). After pasteurisation, there was an 8-14% and 13-9% loss of ACNs from unclarified and clarified JFS and JFWF samples, respectively. Polymeric colour was very high even in unclarified samples (25-29%). Compared to JFS, higher polymeric colour was formed in JFWF. HPLC analyses of PJ revealed that cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside was the major ACN, followed by cyanidin-3-glucoside and delphinidin-3-glucoside. Cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside showed higher stability to clarification and pasteurisation than cyanidin-3-glucoside in both PJ samples. Cold clarification with only gelatin is recommended for PJ. To prevent excessive ACN loss and the formation of brown colouring, PJ should be subjected to minimal heating. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

An examination of the effects of land use changes on nature conservation rulings in Çeşme peninsula, Turkey

PubMed ID: 18484188Because of their intense vegetation and the fact that they include areas of coastline, deltas situated in the vicinity of big cities are areas of great attraction for people who wish to get away from in a crowded city. However, coasts, with their fertile soil and unique flora and fauna, need to be protected. In order for the use of such areas to be planned in a sustainable way by local authorities, there is a need for detailed data about these regions. In this study, the changes in land use of the area between Topburnu and Uçburun Musa Bey Harbour on the Çeşme peninsula, which is to the immediate west of Turkey's third largest city İzmir, from 1976 up to the present day, were investigated. In the study, using aerial photographs taken in 1976, 1995 and 2000 and an IKONOS satellite image from the year 2007, the natural and cultural characteristics of the region and changes in the coastline were determined spatially. Using aerial photographs from 1976, 1995 and 2000 and an IKONOS satellite image from the year 2007, together with "1/25,000 scale Conservation-Oriented Development Plans" prepared in 1979, 1990 and 2000 by the committee for the Preservation of Natural and Cultural Entities attached to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Turkish Republic, the natural and cultural characteristics of the region and the land use changes and their connection with conservation rulings were determined spatially. In this study, spatial changes in land use over the years were compared with changing conservation rulings over the years and the emerging results have brought a new perspective to the subject in contrast to other similar studies. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008

Changes in hydrolysable and condensed tannins of pomegranate (Punica granatum L., cv. Hicaznar) juices from sacs and whole fruits during production and their relation with antioxidant activity

The effects of clarification and pasteurization on hydrolysable tannins (HTs), condensed tannins (CTs) and antioxidant activities of pomegranate juices extracted from whole fruits and sacs were investigated. Tannin contents (53-85%) and antioxidant activities (18%) in juice from whole fruits (JFWF) were found higher than those in juice from sacs (JFS). In both juice samples, clarification led to significant decreases (15-74%) in total polyphenol, HT and CT contents as well as antioxidant activities, whereas pasteurization (1-52%) led to the increases, except for the CT contents. Similar to pasteurization, HT contents also increased (r = 0.956) as the pressure and time increased during pressing. Punicalin, α-punicalagin, β-punicalagin and ellagic acid hexoside were the major HTs in pomegranate juices. Among HTs, ellagic acid hexoside was the major HT in JFWF, whereas β-punicalagin was the major one in JFS. β-punicalagin was the most susceptible HT to clarification. Strong correlations were found between antioxidant activity values with total polyphenol contents (r = 0.824-0.926), and total HTs contents (r = 0.775-0.994) and CT contents (r = 0.592-0.956). Antioxidant activity of JFWF resulted mainly from HTs (r = 0.994), while that of JFS resulted mainly from CTs (r = 0.956). © 2014 Elsevier Ltd