Effect of Organic Acids on Physical-Mechanical and Antifungicidal Properties of Anchovy Protein Films

The use of active biodegradable films from renewable sources like anchovy, with the incorporation of organic acids, such as sorbic acid (SA) and benzoic acid (BA), is an alternative to decrease environmental pollution and minimize the development of fungi in foods. This study investigated the respective influences of SA and BA at 0, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.50% on the growth of Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus oryzae and on Argentine anchovy protein film properties (L*, a*, b*, tensile strength, elongation at break, solubility in water, water vapor permeability, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)). Results showed that the incorporation of SA or BA at different levels significantly increased the water vapor permeability, water solubility, and elongation at break of the films, but decreased the tensile strength and L* parameter (p < 0.05). FTIR evidenced an interaction between the BA and Argentine protein isolate. Also, the influences of the SA or BA concentration on antifungal activity was observed. The greatest effectiveness was obtained for films containing SA against R. oryzae compared to BA film treatments. In conclusion, the Argentine anchovy protein films could retain their antifungal property by incorporation of these organic acids.     

Successful drug development despite adverse preclinical findings part 2: examples

To illustrate the process of addressing adverse preclinical findings (APFs) as outlined in the first part of this review, a number of cases with unexpected APF in toxicity studies with drug candidates is discussed in this second part. The emphasis is on risk characterization, especially regarding the mode of action (MoA), and risk evaluation regarding relevance for man. While severe APFs such as retinal toxicity may turn out to be of little human relevance, minor findings particularly in early toxicity studies, such as vasculitis, may later pose a real problem. Rodents are imperfect models for endocrine APFs, non-rodents for human cardiac effects. Liver and kidney toxicities are frequent, but they can often be monitored in man and do not necessarily result in early termination of drug candidates. Novel findings such as the unusual lesions in the gastrointestinal tract and the bones presented in this review can be difficult to explain. It will be shown that well known issues such as phospholipidosis and carcinogenicity by agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The latter is of particular interest because the new PPAR α and dual α/γ agonists resulted in a change of the safety paradigm established with the older PPAR α agonists. General toxicologists and pathologists need some understanding of the principles of genotoxicity and reproductive toxicity testing. Both types of preclinical toxicities are major APF and clinical monitoring is difficult, generally leading to permanent use restrictions.     

Physicochemical,Microbiological, and Sensory Properties of Pâté Elaborated from Whitemouth Croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) Muscle

The aim of this research was to formulate a unique product, croaker pâté, and to determine its physicochemical, microbiological, and sensorial characterization. Three formulations of pâté were elaborated. The pâtés fit in the stipulated regulations for the microbiological test. Regarding the texture, the pâtés presented a significant difference (p < 0.05) among each other. In the sensorial tests, the favorite pâté of the panel was formulation 3; in the acceptance test, it had higher levels of acceptance for color, flavor, and global acceptance in comparison with commercial pâté.     

Evaluation of a flat-plate PIT tag interrogation system at Bonneville Dam

In the spring of 1996 and 1997, a prototype 400 kHz flat-plate (pass-by) passive integrated transponder tag interrogation (PIT tag) system was installed at the terminus of the downstream migrant (DSM) channel of the Bonneville Dam First Powerhouse, located on the Columbia River. The system was designed to interrogate previously PIT tagged juvenile salmonids migrating down the Columbia River without interfering with the traditional subsampling of fish passing through the facility. In addition, the design enables fish of virtually any size, and debris, to pass over the system's antennas without the port restrictions imposed by traditional pass-through PIT tag interrogation systems. We describe the fish facility in addition to the flat-plate system and its operation. The system tag reading efficiency was evaluated during 1996 and 1997 using a direct method based on the release of known numbers of tagged test fish and an indirect statistical procedure based on tagged run-at-large fish. The results showed that PIT tag reading efficiency during both years using the direct method averaged 97%, while that using the statistical procedure averaged 99% for the dual multiplexed antenna array. During the 1996 and 1997 field seasons 4371 and 14 733 fish, respectively, were recorded. Daily system functionality was monitored using stick tests (i.e., the passing of PIT tagged sticks across the antenna array).     

Ecosystem service supply and vulnerability to global change in Europe

Global change will alter the supply of ecosystem services that are vital for human well-being. To investigate ecosystem service supply during the 21st century, we used a range of ecosystem models and scenarios of climate and land-use change to conduct a Europe-wide assessment. Large changes in climate and land use typically resulted in large changes in ecosystem service supply. Some of these trends may be positive (for example, increases in forest area and productivity) or offer opportunities (for example, "surplus land" for agricultural extensification and bioenergy production). However, many changes increase vulnerability as a result of a decreasing supply of ecosystem services (for example, declining soil fertility, declining water availability, increasing risk of forest fires), especially in the Mediterranean and mountain regions.     

Climatic control of the high-latitude vegetation greening trend and Pinatubo effect

A biogeochemical model of vegetation using observed climate data predicts the high northern latitude greening trend over the past two decades observed by satellites and a marked setback in this trend after the Mount Pinatubo volcano eruption in 1991. The observed trend toward earlier spring budburst and increased maximum leaf area is produced by the model as a consequence of biogeochemical vegetation responses mainly to changes in temperature. The post-Pinatubo decline in vegetation in 1992-1993 is apparent as the effect of temporary cooling caused by the eruption. High-latitude CO(2) uptake during these years is predicted as a consequence of the differential response of heterotrophic respiration and net primary production.