Measuring consumer response to ‘Gala’ apples treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP)

Post-harvest apple treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) was previously found to inhibit fruit ripening but also to inhibit the production of volatile compounds that contribute to apple flavor. The first objective of this study was to determine if consumers could distinguish 1-MCP treated and untreated Gala apples [Malus sylvestris L. (Mill.) var. domestica Borkh. Mansf.] following long-term storage. Chemical analysis showed 1-MCP treated fruit had reduced flavor volatiles compared to untreated fruit. Consumer difference tests showed they could distinguish between 1-MCP treated and untreated fruit. A second objective was to compare consumers’ acceptance for 1-MCP treated to untreated apples. Both 1-MCP treated and untreated apples received high overall liking scores that were not significantly different. Equal numbers of consumers indicated preference for 1-MCP treated and untreated fruit and there was no difference in purchase intent. However, subsets of consumers who eat Gala, Fuji or Red Delicious apples showed preference for untreated over 1-MCP treated fruit compared to consumers who do not eat these varieties.     

Shoot water status and ABA responses of transgenic hybrid larch Larix kaempferi x L. decidua to ectomycorrhizal fungi and osmotic stress

It has been postulated that osmotic effects on plant tissue are mediated by abscisic acid (ABA). Hybrid larch (Larix kaempferi (Lambert) Carr. x L. decidua Mill.) plantlets, transformed with the ABA-inducible wheat Em promoter associated with the Gus reporter gene, were axenically inoculated with two ectomycorrhizal fungi: Cenococcum geophilum Fr., considered tolerant to water stress, and Laccaria bicolor (Marie) Orton, considered less tolerant to drought. The mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal transgenic plantlets were subjected to osmotic stress by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG) to the culture medium. In the presence of PEG, L. bicolor and C. geophilum reduced shoot water potential and turgor potential, but increased host osmotic potential. Treatment of plantlets with PEG induced a significant increase in endogenous ABA concentrations. Laccaria bicolor and C. geophilum behaved similarly and significantly decreased the ABA response of plantlets to PEG treatment. Moreover, inoculation with either fungus regulated the ABA response of the plantlets even when the fungus was separated from the host by a cellophane sheet that prevented mycorrhiza formation. Although the wheat Em promoter was inducible in larch plantlets, it was not regulated by endogenous ABA. Induction of the wheat Em promoter in larch plantlets depended on organ type, with maximum induction in the root apex. Induction of the Em promoter was significantly decreased by mycorrhizal inoculation.     

Effects of mechanical stress in under-sized clams, Tapes philippinarum: a laboratory approach

The present study is a first attempt at evaluating the effects of repeated disturbance, such as that caused by mechanical fishing systems, on the target species, Tapes philippinarum, intensively exploited in the Lagoon of Venice (North-East Italy). In particular, in free-access fishing grounds, detrimental effects of dredging may be suffered by under-sized clams, which are disturbed by fishing tools many times throughout their lives before they are collected. Similar mechanical stress conditions are experienced by T. philippinarum in licensed areas, where they are farmed in aquaculture conditions and undergo the harmful impact of hydraulic dredging. To evaluate the effects of short-term mechanical stress, under-sized clams were subjected to experimental shaking in the laboratory, and detrimental effects on their well-being were investigated by applying the biomarker approach. Changes in physiological, biochemical and behavioural responses were evaluated by determining scope for growth, adenylate energy charge, survival in air time, reburrowing time, and shell damage level. Responses highlighted general worsening in clam condition as mechanical stress increased. Among the various measurements, survival in air and reburrowing time appeared particularly suitable as indices, their responsiveness and applicability suggesting their use in assessing mechanical stress due to dredging in field conditions.     

Microbiological Quality Assessment of Watershed Associated with Animal-Based Agriculture in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Environmental problems many times could evolve when manure-containing pathogens are distributed into an open environment with no effort made to reduce the content of pathogens or limit their movement in the environment. Wind, surface flow, and subsurface flow can all carry enough pathogens to receiving waters to exceed water quality standards. This study was conducted to assess the microbiological quality of water associated with animal-based agriculture in the sub-basin of Pinhal River located in the rural area of Concordia, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Six sampling points representing different agricultural land uses (LU1—dairy cattle; LU2—without animals; LU3—dairy + pigs + poultry + crops; LU4—pigs + poultry + crops; LU5—dairy + pigs + poultry + crops + human; and LU6—dairy+pigs+crops) along the Pinhal River sub-basin (north to south) were sampled biweekly from August 2006 to December 2008. Concentrations of fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli varied significantly (p?≤?0.05) with land use (LU), but there was no interaction effect of LU, season, and time. Water samples from the catchment area of LU1 had the highest concentration of fecal coliforms (4,479?±?597 CFU ml^?1) when compared with other catchment areas. Catchment area associated with LU2 (no animal) had the lowest concentrations of fecal coliforms (39.2?±?5.2 CFU ml^?1). With the exception of LU2 (control site), all the maximum concentrations of E. coli exceeded the single maximum allowable concentration for E. coli (100 CFU ml^?1). When LU1 was compared with other catchment areas (LU3, 50%; LU4, 67%; LU5, 58%; and LU6, 44%), it had the lowest counts (39%) of Salmonella sp. Our results suggest that spatial pattern of bacterial water quality is evident, which can be linked to the different land uses and associated practices (present or absent of animal activities). Therefore, varying responses associated with the different land uses would be critical in identifying the importance of different sources of bacteria in the catchment area and the mechanisms transferring them.     

Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic integration of danofloxacin after intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous administration to rabbits

The pharmacokinetics of danofloxacin was studied following intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of 6 mg/kg to healthy rabbits. Danofloxacin concentration were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography assay with fluorescence detection. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) assay of danofloxacin against 30 strains of Staphylococcus aureus from several European countries was performed in order to compute pharmacodynamic surrogate markers. The danofloxacin plasma concentration versus time data after i.v. administration could best be described by a two-compartment open model. The disposition of i.m. and subcutaneously administered danofloxacin was best described by a one-compartment model. The terminal half-life for i.v., i.m. and s.c. routes was 4.88, 6.70 and 8.20 h, respectively. Clearance value after i.v. dosing was 0.76 L/kg.h. After i.m. administration, the absolute bioavailability was mean (+/-SD) 102.34 +/- 5.17% and the Cmax was 1.87 mg/L. After s.c. administration, the absolute bioavailability was mean (+/-SD) 96.44 +/- 5.95% and the Cmax was 1.79 mg/L. Danofloxacin shows a favourable pharmacokinetics profile in rabbits reflected by parameters such as a long half-life and a high bioavailability. However, in consideration of the low AUC/MIC indices obtained, its use by i.m. and s.c. route against the S. aureus strains assayed in this study cannot be recommended given the risk for selection of first mutant subpopulations.     

Study of some Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains for winemaking after preadaptation at low temperatures

Low-temperature fermentations (13 degrees C) are considered to improve wine aromatic profiles. However, because the risk of stuck and sluggish fermentations is high, these fermentations are not common. The aim of this paper was to analyze the effect of different preadaptation protocols in two commercial wine strains on the fermentation and some wine parameters. Preadaptation is understood to be the process between the rehydration of active dry yeast and the inoculation. In this study, it consisted of preparing a fermentation starter (addition of yeast grown at 25 degrees C) or inocula preadapted at low temperatures (as before, but grown at a fermentation temperature of 13 or 17 degrees C). These results were compared with those of rehydrated active dry yeast, and a commercial "cryotolerant" yeast was used as a reference. General fermentation kinetic parameters, yeast imposition, nitrogen consumption, and main wine products were analyzed. The results showed that the preadaptation of a yeast could improve the fermentation performance, although this improvement was strain-dependent. Low-temperature fermentations also had some general effects: reduction of acetic acid and fusel alcohol production and increased concentrations of glycerol. When the yeast performed better in fermentation because of preadaptation, nitrogen consumption was faster and the wine's "negative" attributes (acetic acid, fusel alcohols) were significantly reduced. Thus, in some strains, preadaptation could be an effective mechanism for improving low-temperature fermentation, which also significantly reduces detrimental wine attributes.     

Composition rather than viscosity modifies the aroma compound retention of flavored stirred yogurt

The influence of thickening agents (modified starch/pectin mixture 0 and 7 g/L) and mechanical treatment (low, medium, and high) on the retention of esters (pentyl acetate and ethyl pentanoate), aldehydes (hexanal and (E)-2-hexenal), and a lactone (gamma-octalactone) in low-fat flavored stirred yogurts were investigated under equilibrium conditions. In the range studied, the thickening agent and mechanical treatment had little influence on aroma compound retention compared to the decreasing effect of increasing dairy protein concentration on aldehyde retention and the "salting out" effect of carbohydrates on esters. Moreover, experiments in dynamic mode (study of the release of hexanal when yogurts were heated) showed, in the conditions studied, that heat and mass transfer coefficients were not influenced by any of the studied factors (thickening agents and mechanical treatment). These results under static and dynamic conditions are not related to the significant decreasing effect of thickening agents on apple sensory scores associated with hexanal, observed in a previous sensory study. Thus, this sensory effect of thickening agents may be due to sensory interactions between perceptions rather than physicochemical interactions.     

A hematoxylin staining technique to locate sites of aluminum binding in aquatic plants and animals

This paper describes a modified hematoxylin staining technique that can be used to locate sites of A1 binding in freshwater plants and animals. This technique is fast, simple, and inexpensive to use. It is more reliable for organisms raised under controlled conditions, although it can be used on organisms isolated from the field. In the presence of Al, a purple stain appears which absorbs between 560 and 570 nm. This stain can be used as a live stain over the pH range of 3 to 9. The stain remains stable for at least 12 mo in alcohol-preserved specimens. Low concentrations of Fe (reddish-brown) and high concentrations of Pb (grey) and Cu (pink) can mask the reaction with Al (purple). Fluoride (10:1 molar ratio to Al), EDTA (1:1 ratio to Al), humic acid and PO₄ (1:10 ratio to Al) can prevent A1 uptake or interfere with Al-hematein binding. Based on the technique described in this paper, sites of Al binding in aquatic plants and animals include: nucleus and cell wall of the green alga Mougeotia; cell wall of the aquatic moss Leptodictyum riparium; chloride cells, tip of the penis, and hind gut of the fairy shrimp, Branchinecta paludosa; and the anal papillae of the phantom midge, Chaoborus.     

Volatile release from an emulsion: headspace and in-mouth studies

The headspace concentrations of three esters above solutions containing emulsified lipids were more resistant to dilution by a stream of gas than those above water alone. The effect was greatest for ethyl octanoate, and least for ethyl butyrate, with ethyl hexanoate showing intermediate behavior. This correlated with their solubility in the lipid fraction of the emulsion. Headspace analysis (comparing the emulsion with water) underestimated the release of the esters during consumption. The ratios observed between water and emulsion systems were different for the maximum breath concentration compared with headspace analysis. The emulsion appears to have acted as a reservoir for volatile release, counteracting the effects of sample dilution by saliva.     

A dearth of dark matter in ordinary elliptical galaxies

The kinematics of the outer parts of three intermediate-luminosity elliptical galaxies were studied with the Planetary Nebula Spectrograph. The galaxies' velocity-dispersion profiles were found to decline with the radius, and dynamical modeling of the data indicates the presence of little if any dark matter in these galaxies' halos. This unexpected result conflicts with findings in other galaxy types and poses a challenge to current galaxy formation theories.