Pear distillates from pear juice concentrate: effect of lees in the aromatic composition

Pear juice obtained from pear concentrate was fermented at room temperature using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (BDX, ENOFERM, France) as the fermentation microorganism. During the fermentation process, total sugars were measured. High performance liquid chromatography analyses were used to monitor the fermentation process and to characterize the pear wine. The pear wine obtained was distilled with its lees using three different equipments: a glass alembic (a glass pot still coupled to a glass column), a copper alembic, and a glass alembic with the addition of 5 g/L of copper shavings to the pot still. The same distillations were repeated with the wine without its lees (separated by decanting). Several distillation fractions were collected, up to a total of 500 mL of distillate. Gas chromatography was used to identify and quantify the volatile compounds in each fraction, and the methanol and ethanol contents. Based on these results, the heart fraction was defined. ANOVA tests were performed on the heart fractions to determine quantitative differences between some volatile compounds depending on the equipment used and the presence or absence of the wine lees. From this series of ANOVA tests, it can be concluded that the concentrations of the compounds that are considered to have a negative effect on the quality of the distillates (methanol, ethyl acetate, furfural) decrease or do not change when they are distilled in the presence of lees and in the copper alembic. In addition, the concentrations of the positive compounds (ethyl decanoate and ethyl-2-trans-4-cis-decadienoate) increase in the presence of lees for all of the equipment tested. So, it can be assumed that the distillation of pear wine with its lees in copper alembic leads to a better quality product.     

Solid foodstuff supplemented with phenolics from grape: antioxidant properties and correlation with phenolic profiles

Osmotic dehydration was assessed as an operation for supplementing a solid foodstuff (a gel was used as the model food) with grape phenolics from a concentrated red grape must to increase its antioxidant properties. The model food was processed for up to 24 h, and the osmotic pressure was adjusted by diluting the concentrated red grape must. In all conditions tested, low molecular weight phenolics (相似文献   

Badger hair in shaving brushes comes from protected Eurasian badgers

The Eurasian badger (Meles meles) is included in Appendix III of the Bern Convention and protected by national laws in many European countries. Badger hair is used to manufacture luxury shaving brushes, although it is frequently argued that the hog badger (Arctonyx collaris), which in Europe is an introduced and unprotected species, is the origin of the hair used. We applied an extraction protocol to recover DNA from the unrooted hair of shaving brushes obtained from commercial companies in The Netherlands and Spain. The tested brushes originated from The Netherlands, Spain, France, Italy and the United Kingdom where the Eurasian badger is a protected species. We sequenced 191 bp of the mitochondrial DNA control region and 170 bp of the cytochrome b gene and compared the sequences obtained with Eurasian badger and hog badger reference sequences of the same mitochondrial DNA regions obtained in our laboratory and from GenBank. Sequences obtained from four shaving brushes were clearly hog badger sequences, whereas four sequences clustered with Eurasian badger sequences of both European and Asian origins. One of the shaving brushes made of Eurasian badger was produced in France, where it is legal to capture or trade the species under certain conditions. The remaining three brushes originated from The Netherlands, where it is illegal to possess, sell, transport or use for commercial purposes dead Eurasian badgers or products derived from them.     

Activating mutations of NOTCH1 in human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Very rare cases of human T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) harbor chromosomal translocations that involve NOTCH1, a gene encoding a transmembrane receptor that regulates normal T cell development. Here, we report that more than 50% of human T-ALLs, including tumors from all major molecular oncogenic subtypes, have activating mutations that involve the extracellular heterodimerization domain and/or the C-terminal PEST domain of NOTCH1. These findings greatly expand the role of activated NOTCH1 in the molecular pathogenesis of human T-ALL and provide a strong rationale for targeted therapies that interfere with NOTCH signaling.     

Remote Sensing of Spatial and Temporal Vegetation Patterns in Two Grazing Systems

One constraint that range scientists must face in grazing studies is the lack of accurate and repeatable techniques for discriminating grazing effects from both temporal variability and spatial heterogeneity of vegetation. Both forms of variability contribute to inconsistent grazing system effects on vegetation response and forage production in semiarid ecosystems. Remote sensing may be an efficient tool for detecting differences in spatial and temporal patterns of grazing impact on vegetation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spectral data derived from satellite images as a tool for comparing grazing system impacts on spatial and temporal vegetation patterns. We evaluated the effect of two grazing systems, “Continuous” (C) and “Two-Paddocks Rest-Rotation” (TPRR), on vegetation cover from 1996 to 2006 in a semiarid ecosystem of Argentina. We compared grazing effects on vegetation cover using two indices derived from the Normalized Difference of Vegetation Index (NDVI) data from Landsat Thematic Mapper images. We observed a slight advantage in NDVI improvement for the TPRR over the C. Even though, in both grazing systems, an upward vegetation trend occurred only in areas located far from the watering points, TPRR showed higher relative vegetation cover near the watering point than C. We consider this methodology an important step for monitoring vegetation changes and making management decisions in livestock systems of semiarid regions because grazing system impacts may be compared for both spatial and temporal vegetation patterns. However, we think that the key next step is to develop procedures that discriminate between forage and nonforage components.     

A Case Study Evaluating Economic Implications of Two Grazing Strategies for Cattle Ranches in Northwest Argentina

In the Argentinean Chaco Arido region, cattle production based on cow–calf operations is the principal source of agricultural income, and rangeland is the main forage source for cattle. Traditional grazing strategy (TGS, high stocking rate and continuous grazing) is considered the main cause of current rangeland degradation. Research shows that rangeland and cattle production improvements are possible when using a conservative grazing strategy (CGS, moderate stocking rate and rest rotation grazing). The aim of this research was to compare the effects of TGS and CGS applications on economic results for a cattle ranch in the region. To achieve this objective we used an approach that included estimations of forage and cattle production, and economic results. The study period was 1972/73–1983/84. Results showed that during the study period forage production and herd size were almost doubled with CGS, but maintained with TGS. The difference in net income between CGS and TGS (in Argentinean pesos, $), increased linearly from negative (-$2.88 · ha^-1) to positive ($4.48 · ha^-1) in the first 4 yr, and then was maintained at positive values (averaging $4.48 · ha^-1). Data suggest that CGS leads to higher productivity and better economic results than TGS in the medium and long terms.En la región del Chaco Árido Argentino, la ganadería de cría es la actividad agropecuaria más difundida. Esta actividad se basa principalmente en el forraje que proporciona el pastizal nativo. La estrategia de pastoreo tradicional (EPT, consistente de alta carga animal y pastoreo continuo), se considera la causa principal del estado de degradación actual del pastizal nativo. Varios estudios han mostrado que el mejoramiento de la productividad del pastizal y del ganado es posible cuando se utiliza una estrategia de pastoreo conservativa (EPC, consistente en carga animal moderada y un pastoreo que permita descanso del pastizal en época de crecimiento). El objetivo de esta investigación fue comparar el efecto de la EPT y la EPC sobre el aspecto económico de un rancho ganadero de la región del Chaco Árido. Para lograr dicho objetivo se hizo un análisis en distintas etapas, estimación de la producción forrajera, estimación de la producción ganadera, y estimación del resultado económico. El periodo de estudio fue desde 1972/73 hasta 1983/84. Los resultados mostraron que durante el periodo de estudio la producción de forraje y el tamaño del rodeo se duplicaron para la EPC, mientras que para EPT se mantuvieron. La diferencia en el resultado económico neto entre la EPC y la EPT (en pesos Argentinos, $), se incrementó linealmente desde valores negativos (-$2.88 · ha^-1) a valores positivos ($4.48 · ha^-1) en los cuatro primeros años, para luego mantenerse en un valor promedio de $4.48 · ha^-1. Los resultados sugieren que la EPC permite obtener una productividad más alta y mejores resultados económicos que la EPT a mediano y largo plazo.     

Binderless fiberboard from steam exploded Miscanthus Sinensis: optimization of pressing and pretreatment conditions

A Miscanthus Sinensis plantation in Galicia, Spain, provided the raw material for experimental fiberboards. After harvesting, the Miscanthus stems were cleaned and chipped. The chips were steam exploded with a thermo-mechanical aqueous vapor process in a batch reactor. The resulting material was dried, slightly milled, and used to produce fiberboard with no synthetic binders. The pretreatment and the pressing conditions that optimize the physico-mechanical responses were determined. Response surface methodology with a central composite design was used. The variables studied and their respective variation ranges were: pretreatment time, 4–14 min; pressing temperature, 195–245°C; pressing pressure, 1.9–14.6 MPa. The boards obtained were very good quality (modulus of elasticity as high as 7630 MPa, modulus of rupture as high as 61 MPa, internal bond as high as 4.1 MPa, thickness swelling as low as 2.5%, and water absorption as low as 8.9%) and more than satisfied the requirements of the relevant standard specifications.     

Effects of urea on the molecules involved in the olfactory signal transduction: a preliminary study on Danio rerio

Among vertebrates, the physiologically uremic Chondrichthyes are the only class which are not presenting the ciliated olfactory receptor neurons in the olfactory neuroepithelium. The only sequenced genome for this class revealed only three olfactory receptor genes and the immunohistochemical detection of G protein alpha subunit typically coupled to the olfactory receptors (Gα_olf) failed in different species. Chronic renal disease can represent a cause of olfactory impairment in human. In this context, our present study focused on investigating potential effects of high urea concentration on the olfactory epithelium of vertebrates. Larvae of the teleost fish Danio rerio were exposed to urea in order to assess the effects on the olfactory signal transduction; in particular on both the olfactory receptors and the Gα_olf. The endocytosis of neutral red dye in the olfactory mucosa was detected in control and urea-exposed larvae. The amount of neutral red dye uptake was used as a marker of binding and internalization of the Gα_olf. The neutral red dye endocytosis was not affected by urea exposure, hence suggesting that the presence of the Gα_olf and their binding to the odorants are not affected by urea treatment, either. The presence and distribution of Gα_olf were investigated in the olfactory epithelium of control and urea-exposed larvae, using a commercial antibody. The immunoreactivity was increased after urea treatment, suggesting an effect of urea on the expression or degradation of this G protein alpha subunit.