Evaluation of the sexual dimorphism in Mangalarga Marchador horses using discriminant analysis

This study used discriminant analysis to evaluate body measures and sexual dimorphism in Mangalarga Marchador horses. Discriminant analysis is a multivariate method that generates functions to classify animals using a prior criterion. In this study a prior criterion is male or female. The study analyzed 25 linear and 11 angular measures obtained from 25 stallions and 56 mares registered with the Mangalarga Marchador Brazilian Breeders Association. Knee girth, cannon girth, chest width, chest girth, back-loin length, hip width, distance from elbow to knee, hind limb hoof length, head width, shoulder length, and body length were found to be linear measures that provided evidence of sexual dimorphism. Angular measures with evidence of sexual dimorphism were shoulder–humerus, metacarpal–phalanx, coxae–femur, and femur–tibial angles. Stallions were larger than mares for almost all linear measures, except for back-loin length, hip width, and distance from elbow to knee. Shoulder–humerus and coxal–femur angles were larger in mares, while metacarpal–phalanx and femur–tibial angles were larger in stallions. Using linear measures, two mares were classified as stallions and three stallions were classified as mares. For angular measures, two other mares were classified as stallions and three other stallions were classified as mares. The discriminant functions can be useful for the selection of horses and to avoid registration of animals not meeting the phenotypic standards of the breed association.     

Genital lesions and distribution of amastigotes in bitches naturally infected with Leishmania chagasi

Recent reports indicate that Leishmania chagasi has tropism to the male canine genital system, which is associated with shedding of the organism in the semen, supporting the hypothesis of venereal transmission. The aim of this study was to describe the lesions and assess parasite load in the genital system of bitches with canine visceral leishmaniasis (CanL). Symptomatic (n=5) and asymptomatic (n=5) bitches seropositive for CanL were randomly selected at the Center for Zoonosis Control (Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil). Five serologically negative, healthy, adult bitches also from the CZC were used as controls. Samples from genital organs (vulva, vagina, cervix, uterine body, uterine horns, uterine tubes, and ovaries), liver, and spleen were histologically evaluated and processed for immunodetection of Leishmania sp., and PCR. The most significant histological change was a mild to moderate vulvar dermatitis, characterized by a histio-plasma-lymphocytic infiltrate. This change was detected in all asymptomatic, four symptomatic, and three uninfected control bitches. In one symptomatic and one asymptomatic bitch intracytoplasmic amastigotes were observed within macrophages in the inflammatory infiltrate. Samples from all the segments of the genital tract were positive in at least one infected animal, in the absence of detectable amastigotes in the tissue. These findings support the notion that L. chagasi does not have genital tropism in the bitch, which is in contrast to our previous findings in naturally infected male intact dogs.     

Optimization of application procedure for fixation of monocationic salt onto cotton with antibacterial activity

A novel application procedure for imparting antibacterial properties onto cotton is described. The modified cotton was obtained by polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) with 1,4-diazabicyclo(2,2,2)octane monocationic salt (MS) derivative in the presence of the free radical initiators sodium bisulfite and potassium persulfate. Out of the four application protocols tested, use of an exhaustion procedure to fix MS onto cotton gave optimal results. Dyeing of the modified cotton with C.I. Direct Blue 225 did not require salt, thereby indirectly confirming fixation of the cationic MS. Antibacterial activity was completely retained after three washing cycles when tested with Klebsiella pneumoniae but to a lesser extent against Staphylococcus aureus. The mechanical properties of the modified cotton were unaltered.     

Implementation of acrylamide mitigation strategies on industrial production of French fries: challenges and pitfalls

This study evaluated various additives or process aids on the industrial production of French fries, based on their acrylamide mitigation potential and other quality parameters. The application of acetic and citric acid, calcium lactate and asparaginase was investigated on the production of frozen par-fried French fries at the beginning and end of the 2008 and 2009 potato storage season. Despite the fact that some of these treatments significantly reduced acrylamide content of the final product in preliminary laboratory experiments, their application on the industrial production of French fries did not result in additional acrylamide reductions compared to the standard product. Asparaginase was additionally tested in a production line of chilled French fries (not par-fried). Since for this product a longer enzyme-substrate contact time is allowed, a total asparagine depletion was observed for the enzyme treated fries after four days of cold storage. French fries upon final frying presented acrylamide contents below the limit of detection (12.5 μg kg?1) with no effects on the sensorial properties of the final product.     

Capability of Lactobacillus plantarum IFPL935 to catabolize flavan-3-ol compounds and complex phenolic extracts

Lactobacillus plantarum IFPL935 was incubated with individual monomeric flavan-3-ols and dimeric A- and B-type procyanidins to identify new metabolites and to determine the effect of compound structural features on bacterial growth and catabolism. Complex extracts rich in A-type proanthocyanidins and phenolic acids from cranberry were also tested. The results showed that L. plantarum IFPL935 exhibited higher resistance to nongalloylated monomeric flavan-3-ols, A-type dimeric procyanidins, and cranberry extract than to (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate and B-type dimeric procyanidins. Despite these findings, the strain was capable of rapidly degrading (-)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate, but not A- or B-type dimeric procyanidins. However, it was able to produce large changes in the phenolic profile of the cranberry extract mainly due to the catabolism of hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids. Of most relevance was the fact that L. plantarum IFPL935 cleaved the heterocyclic ring of monomeric flavan-3-ols, giving rise to 1-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(2″,4″,6″-trihydroxyphenyl)propan-2-ol, activity exhibited by only a few human intestinal bacteria.     

Glycosidically bound aroma compounds and impact odorants of four strawberry varieties

This paper reports the determination of glycosidically bound aroma compounds and the olfactometric analysis in four strawberry varieties (Fuentepina, Camarosa, Candonga and Sabrina). Different hydrolytic strategies were also studied. The results showed significant differences between acid and enzymatic hydrolysis. In general terms, the greater the duration of acid hydrolysis, the higher was the content of norisoprenoids, volatile phenols, benzenes, lactones, Furaneol, and mesifurane. A total of 51 aglycones were identified, 38 of them unreported in strawberry. Olfactometric analyses revealed that the odorants with higher modified frequencies were Furaneol, γ-decalactone, ethyl butanoate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, diacetyl, hexanoic acid, and (Z)-1,5-octadien-3-one. This last compound, described as geranium/green/pepper/lettuce (linear retention index = 1378), was identified for the first time. Differences with regard to fruity, sweet, floral, and green aroma characters were observed among varieties. In Candonga and Fuentepina, the green character overpowered the sweet. In the other two strawberry varieties sweet attributes were stronger than the rest.     

Designing Nutritious and Sustainable Biscuits Using Upcycled Fibre-Rich Ingredients Obtained by Hot Air - Microwave Drying of Orange by-Products

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Circular use of resources implies developing mild processes to transform food by-products into value-added products, without using organic solvents or extensive...     

The NS segment of H5N1 avian influenza viruses (AIV) enhances the virulence of an H7N1 AIV in chickens

Some outbreaks involving highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) of subtypes H5 and H7 were caused by avian-to-human transmissions. In nature, different influenza A viruses can reassort leading to new viruses with new characteristics. We decided to investigate the impact that the NS-segment of H5 HPAIV would have on viral pathogenicity of a classical avian H7 HPAIV in poultry, a natural host. We focussed this study based on our previous work that demonstrated that single reassortment of the NS-segment from an H5 HPAIV into an H7 HPAIV changes the ability of the virus to replicate in mammalian hosts. Our present data show that two different H7-viruses containing an NS-segment from H5–types (FPV NS GD or FPV NS VN) show an overall highly pathogenic phenotype compared with the wild type H7–virus (FPV), as characterized by higher viral shedding and earlier manifestation of clinical signs. Correlating with the latter, higher amounts of IFN-β mRNA were detected in the blood of NS-reassortant infected birds, 48 h post-infection (pi). Although lymphopenia was detected in chickens from all AIV-infected groups, also 48 h pi those animals challenged with NS-reassortant viruses showed an increase of peripheral monocyte/macrophage-like cells expressing high levels of IL-1β, as determined by flow cytometry. Taken together, these findings highlight the importance of the NS-segment in viral pathogenicity which is directly involved in triggering antiviral and pro-inflammatory cytokines found during HPAIV pathogenesis in chickens.     

Uptake and metabolism of hydroxycinnamic acids (chlorogenic, caffeic, and ferulic acids) by HepG2 cells as a model of the human liver

Hydroxycinnamic acids are antioxidant polyphenols common in the human diet, although their potential health benefits depend on their bioavailability. To study the hepatic uptake and metabolism, human hepatoma HepG2 cells were incubated for 2 and 18 h with caffeic, ferulic, and chlorogenic acids. Moderate uptake of caffeic and ferulic acids was observed versus a low absorption of chlorogenic acid, where esterification of the caffeic acid moiety markedly reduced its absorption. Methylation was the preferential pathway for caffeic acid metabolism, along with glucuronidation and sulfation, while ferulic acid generated glucuronides as the only metabolites. Ferulic acid appeared to be more slowly taken up and metabolized by HepG2 cells than caffeic acid, with 73% and 64% of the free, nonmetabolized molecules detected in the culture medium after 18 h, respectively. In conclusion, hydroxycinnamic acids can be metabolized by the liver as suggested by the results obtained using HepG2 cells as a hepatic model system.