Development of a carbon-heat hybrid ethylene scrubber for fresh horticultural produce storage purposes

A scrubber to remove ethylene continuously from stored environments was developed. The device comprised a cartridge heater tightly joined to the activated carbon–1% Pd. The application of heat pulses led to an increase in ethylene oxidation and to auto-regeneration of the activated carbon. The efficacy of ethylene removal was higher with the number of heat pulses. Several combinations of exogenous ethylene concentrations and heater core temperatures (100–325 °C) of the device were assayed to determine their effectiveness in removing ethylene from the storage area. The results indicated that increasing the heater temperature led to enhanced percentages of eliminated ethylene but also increased CO₂ concentrations. This CO₂ could come from the activated carbon due to its breakthrough. Thus, temperatures ranging between 150 and 200 °C eliminated 96–99% of ethylene, with low CO₂ accumulation (0.10–0.18 kPa) and without affecting the temperature of the storage environment. Thus, this device might be a promising tool for scrubbing ethylene from storage areas for fresh horticultural produce in which ethylene can induce detrimental effects.     

Immunohistological study of the immune system cells in paraffin-embedded tissues of conventional pigs

The distribution of different cells of the immune system has been studied in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from conventionally reared healthy pigs, using immunohistological techniques. The samples collected were: lungs, tonsils, lymph nodes (mediastinal, mesenteric, inguinal and submandibular), pancreas, spleen, liver, kidney, adrenal gland, ileum and stomach. A total of six primary antibodies anti-CD3, anti-CD79alpha, Mac 387, anti-lysozyme, anti-CD45RA (3C3/9) and anti-SLA-II-DQ (BL2H5) were used with a standard avidin-biotin peroxidase (ABC) method. Anti-CD3 and anti-CD79alpha mAb-reacted, respectively with cells located in T cell areas and B cell areas. Mac 387 recognised circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes, while anti-lysozyme-stained resident macrophages in all tissues. 3C3/9 and BL2H5, were assessed in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues for the first time. 3C3/9 identified B lymphocytes, in primary follicles and mantle zones, a subpopulation of T cells, especially located in the marginal zone of the spleen and a variable number of immunoblasts, in the germinal centres. BL2H5 reacted with B cells in the mantle zones of the follicles of lymphoid tissues, with dendritic and interdigitating cells in all studied lymphoid tissues and with a variable number of resting and activated T cells in the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath (PALs), marginal zone and red pulp of the spleen. Furthermore, it stained Kupffer and perivascular macrophages in the liver. This study represents a detailed histological study of the distribution of the most important subpopulations of immune system cells in conventional, healthy pigs. In our view, these tools should be useful for future comparative studies in disease conditions.     

Left ventricular radial colour and longitudinal pulsed-wave tissue Doppler echocardiography in 39 healthy domestic pet rabbits

This paper reports radial colour and longitudinal mitral annulus pulsed-wave tissue Doppler findings in a large cohort of healthy, adult pet rabbits. Thirty-nine rabbits (22 Dwarf Lops, 14 French Lops and three Alaskans) underwent conscious echocardiography. The median age of the rabbits was 22 months and the median weight was 2.8 kg (Dwarf Lop 2.4 kg/French Lop 6.0 kg). Adequate radial colour and longitudinal pulsed-wave tissue Doppler traces were obtained in 100% and 85% of cases, respectively. Most systolic tissue Doppler parameters were significantly higher in French Lops than in Dwarf Lops. Separation of mitral inflow diastolic waves was present in 40% of cases using conventional spectral Doppler and in >60% of cases using pulsed-wave tissue Doppler which could be beneficial when evaluating diastolic function in rabbits. This study can be used as a reference for normal echocardiographic tissue Doppler values for adult rabbits undergoing conscious echocardiography in clinical practice.     

Evolution of cell recognition by viruses

Evolution of receptor specificity by viruses has several implications for viral pathogenesis, host range, virus-mediated gene targeting, and viral adaptation after organ transplantation and xenotransplantation, as well as for the emergence of viral diseases. Recent evidence suggests that minimal changes in viral genomes may trigger a shift in receptor usage for virus entry, even into the same cell type. A capacity to exploit alternative entry pathways may reflect the ancient evolutionary origins of viruses and a possible role as agents of horizontal gene transfers among cells.     

Human exposure to polychlorinated diphenyl ethers through the diet in Catalonia, Spain

Although polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PCDEs) are recognized environmental pollutants, information concerning human exposure to these organic substances is very scarce. For the present study the concentrations of PCDEs in a number of foodstuffs acquired in Catalonia, Spain, were determined. The dietary intake of PCDEs was estimated for various age groups of the general population living in this Spanish region. With the exception of fish and shellfish, PCDE concentrations were under the limit of detection in the 10 remaining food groups analyzed. For an adult (20-65 years old) male of 70 kg average body weight, the estimated total dietary intake of PCDEs was 41 ng/day. It was assumed that if a PCDE congener was below the detection limit, the concentration was equal to half of the limit of detection. The highest exposure to PCDEs through the diet corresponded to the group aged 51-65 years, whereas the lowest intake corresponded to the youngest group (4-9 years). With the exception of the group aged >65 years, PCDE intake was always higher in males than in females. The results of this study should be of interest for future assessments of time trends in human exposure to PCDEs through the diet.     

Determination of piceid and resveratrol in Spanish wines deriving from Monastrell (Vitis vinifera L.) grape variety

The presence of stilbenes in wine is becoming an important issue due to their claimed relation to a low incidence in coronary diseases and their increasing implication as cancer chemopreventive and neuroprotective agents. Total resveratrol content, quantified as glucoside and aglycone forms of resveratrol, has been determined in a survey of 45 Monastrell monovarietal Spanish red wine types (around 135 wine samples), belonging to Alicante and Bullas appellations. The average between ratio glucoside/aglycone forms of resveratrol in these wines was considerably high, ranging from 82 to 91% of resveratrol in its glycosidic form. This characteristic was observed in a high percentage of the studied wines, which were made under different winemaking procedures, and from different vintages (1995-2002). In addition, wines made using macerative fermentations with double amount of solid parts ("doble pasta") reached the highest levels of total stilbene content expressed as resveratrol equivalent, i.e., 30 mg/L (average of 18.8 mg/L). It can be concluded that high resveratrol glucoside concentration and low free isomer content can be considered characteristics of the Monastrell variety, as it happens to red wines deriving from other varieties grown at warm climates. This fact, also observed for other French and Portuguese red varieties, might play an important role in food habits involving these types of wines.     

Influence of distillation system,oak wood type,and aging time on volatile compounds of cider brandy

A study of the influence of distillation system, oak wood type, and aging time on volatile compounds of cider brandy was carried out. Acetaldehyde and acetaldehyde diethyl acetal were influenced by distillation technology, oak wood type, and maturation time. The majority ester, ethyl ethanoate, increased during aging, the highest level of this ester being detected in spirits distilled by double distillation. The alcohols of higher molecular weight were better recovered in the rectification column than in the double distillation system. Ethanoate esters decreased throughout aging of the spirits, and their degradation velocity was lower in distillates obtained from double distillation. Fatty acids and their ethyl esters presented the opposite evolution during aging, detecting an increase in ethyl esters and a decrease in their corresponding fatty acids. An increase of 1,1,3-triethoxypropane was detected during aging. French oak contributes the trans isomer of beta-methyl-gamma-octalactone and American oak contributes the cis isomer.     

Immunoassay to quantify the major peach allergen Pru p 3 in foodstuffs. Differential allergen release and stability under physiological conditions

Pru p 3 is a lipid transfer protein (LTP) that has been identified as the major peach (Prunus persica) allergen. However, little is known about the amount present in both raw and processed foodstuffs. Moreover, the in vivo release upon consumption of peach-containing foods remains unclear. We have developed a sensitive monoclonal antibody-based ELISA for Pru p 3. The method has been applied to measure the allergen levels in foodstuffs and the allergen release under different physiological conditions. A significant variability in all raw peaches and peach-containing foods tested has been detected. The allergen was extracted more efficiently at a low pH, and it was highly resistant to pepsin. This ELISA will be very useful in controlling the allergen concentration in diagnostics, in evaluating threshold levels in provocation tests, and in detecting hidden allergens in processed foods and cosmetics.     

Influence of distillation system, oak wood type, and aging time on composition of cider brandy in phenolic and furanic compounds

A control of phenolic and furanic compounds in cider brandy was carried out during maturation in oak casks, studying three technological factors: distillation (rectification column vs double distillation), oak wood type (French vs American), and aging time (32 months). Gallic acid and benzoic and cinnamic aldehydes significantly increased during maturation of cider brandies, the highest level of these phenolics being obtained when aging was conducted in French oak casks. Benzoic acids increased during aging, though furanic compounds were not influenced by the time factor. Distillation and wood factors significantly influenced furanic concentration; 5-hydroxymethylfurfural not was detected in fresh spirits and was extracted in the highest proportion in French oak. Volatile furanics, such as 5-methylfurfural, furfural, and 2-furylmethyl ketone, were influenced by the distillation factor, with the use of the double distillation system producing a higher level of these compounds. Scopoletin was the majority coumarin detected in cider brandies, the highest yield of which was obtained with the use of American oak.     

Two microsatellite markers flanking a dominant gene for resistance to soybean cust nematode race 3

The purpose of this work was to identifymicrosatellite markers linked to a gene forresistance to Heterodera glycinesIchinohe (Soybean Cyst Nematode – SCN) insoybean cultivar Hartwig. ABC₁F₂ mapping population derivedfrom a cross between Hartwig (resistant)and the Brazilian soybean line Y23(susceptible) was used. About 200microsatellite or simple sequence repeat(SSR) primer pairs were tested in a bulkedsegregant analysis (BSA). Those thatshowed clear polymorphisms were amplifiedin the BC₁F₂ population, whichhad been previously inoculated andevaluated for resistance/susceptibility toSCN Race 3. Three SSR markers linked toSCN resistance were detected in thepopulation. Two of them, Satt 038 and Satt163, flanking a dominant resistant gene(d/a = –0.90), explained 37% of thephenotypic variance. This gene was mappedat the edge of molecular linkage group G. Broad and narrow sense heritabilities wereestimated to be 50.54% and 37.73%,respectively. A selection efficiency of91.18% was obtained with the simultaneoususe of the two markers. The identified SSRmarkers will be useful tools for assistingthe selection of homozygous genotypes andfor expediting the introgression of the SCNresistance locus from cv. Hartwig tosoybean elite cultivars.