How Can We Measure the Prioritization of Strategies for Transitioning to a Circular Economy at Macro Level? A New Approach

This paper aims to develop and validate a questionnaire to measure the prioritization of strategies to transitioning towards a circular economy and to compare different countries. We proposed a questionnaire based on a five-level ordinal scale to evaluate the 24 strategies of the circular economy under a set of ten criteria given technical issues, as well as social, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainability. Each strategy was defined and evaluated by the participants on the same scale, who are stakeholders involved in the transition towards a circular economy. The validation was conducted by two main procedures, including semantic validation through 17 experts from five countries and statistical validation by 347 survey respondents from 25 countries. The results show that the questionnaire seems a reliable and valid tool to analyze which circular economy strategies countries, regions and cities prioritize. Few studies have been conducted to validate instruments about the circular economy; they are focused at the micro level, (industry). Studies that validate measurement instruments regarding the circular economy at the macro level are lacking. This study is the first one to validate the circular economy instrument at the macro level. It can help researchers and practitioners from public and private sectors from a variety of organizations in proposing actions to enable the transition and create performance indicators

Consumers' sensory-based cognitions of currently available and ideal plant-based food alternatives : A survey in Western, Central and Northern Europe

Sensory experiences of plant-based (PB) food alternatives play a crucial role in the acceptance and, thus, growth of this market. To facilitate improvements and to better direct the PB food product development, it is important to identify potential gaps in consumers' sensory-based cognition between currently available and their ideal version of PB food and beverage alternatives. Sensory benchmarking of PB alternatives to chicken, beef, semi-hard cheese, cream cheese, yoghurt and milk was studied via (part 1) a sensory vocabulary development and, subsequently, (part 2) an online survey (n = 416–1829) in Central, Western and Northern European countries using the rapid sensory descriptive method Rate-All-That-Apply. For the PB milk and yoghurt categories, consumers demanded only minor sensory modifications, specifically, towards a less beany and sweet taste. In addition, PB milk and yoghurt alternatives received high liking scores (7.1 and 7.0 out of 9, respectively). Lower liking scores were reported for PB semi-hard cheese alternatives (5.3 out of 9). Sensory improvements of PB semi-hard cheese alternatives should be directed towards more cheese-like, less artificial and less bland attributes. For PB beef alternatives, the products in the category should have a more umami taste and beef-like taste and odour. A more chicken-like taste, texture and odour is desired for PB chicken alternatives. A more balanced, cheesier, less artificial taste and odour is desired for cream cheese alternatives. These findings provide strategic insights to direct the product development of PB food alternatives, which constitutes a pathway for creating new market opportunities considering consumer demand and sensory preferences

Bovine Lactadherin as a Calcium-independent Imaging Agent of Phosphatidylserine Expressed on the Surface of Apoptotic HeLa Cells

Bovine lactadherin holds a stereo-specific affinity for phosphatidylserine (PS) membrane domains and binds at PS concentrations lower than the benchmark PS probe, annexin V. Accordingly, lactadherin has recognized PS exposure on preapoptotic immortalized leukemia cells at an earlier time point than has annexin V. In the present study, the cervical cancer cell line HeLa has been employed as a model system to compare the topographic distribution of PS with the two PS binding proteins as adherent cells enter the apoptotic program. HeLa cells were cultured on glass-bottom Petri dishes, and apoptosis was induced by staurosporine. Fluorescence-labeled lactadherin and/or annexin V were used to detect PS exposure by confocal microscopy. Both lactadherin and annexin V staining revealed PS localized to plasma membrane rim and blebs. In addition, lactadherin identified PS exposure on long filopodia-like extensions, whereas annexin V internalized in granule-like structures. All in all, the data further delineate the differences in PS binding patterns of lactadherin and annexin V. (J Histochem Cytochem 57:907–914, 2009