“Highly Recommended!” The Content Characteristics and Perceived Usefulness of Online Consumer Reviews

The aim of the present study was to gain a better understanding of the content characteristics that make online consumer reviews a useful source of consumer information. To this end, we content analyzed reviews of experience and search products posted on Amazon.com (N = 400). The insights derived from this content analysis were linked with the proportion of ‘useful’ votes that reviews received from fellow consumers. The results show that content characteristics are paramount to understanding the perceived usefulness of reviews. Specifically, argumentation (density and diversity) served as a significant predictor of perceived usefulness, as did review valence although this latter effect was contingent on the type of product (search or experience) being evaluated in reviews. The presence of expertise claims appeared to be weakly related to the perceived usefulness of reviews. The broader theoretical, methodological and practical implications of these findings are discussed.     

Co-creation and user-generated content–elderly people’s user requirements

There is an increasing demand on citizens to participate in social network websites and to create and share their own user-generated content (UGC), such as photographs, videos, and blogs. So far, little is known about how elderly people respond to these new trends and master the techniques required. This paper reports on three studies that investigated elderly people’s user requirements related to consumption, sharing and co-creation of UGC in new media. The first study, conducted in Norway, identifies patterns of Internet usage, age differences, and participation in online communities and the consumption, sharing and co-creation of UGC on a macro level. The second study, conducted in Belgium, investigated the social requirements of elderly people on a group level. The third study, also conducted in Belgium, investigated user and context requirements on an individual level. The results of the first study show that the elderly rarely participate in online communities and share audio-visual UGC. However, they embrace some aspects of the new media and more often express themselves politically. The results of the second study show that the elderly are very motivated to contribute with UGC, given the right circumstances. The results of the third study show that it is important for elderly people that they be able to use the new technologies easily and identifies their worries about using them.     

Maternal fish oil supplementation in lactation: Effect on visual acuity and n−3 fatty acid content of infant erythrocytes

Studies on formula-fed infants indicate a beneficial effect of dietary DHA on visual acuity. Cross-sectional studies have shown an association between breast-milk DHA levels and visual acuity in breast-fed infants. The objective in this study was to evaluate the biochemical and functional effects of fish oil (FO) supplements in lactating mothers. In this double-blinded randomized trial, Danish mothers with habitual fish intake below the 50th percentile of the Danish National Birth Cohort were randomized to microencapsulated FO [1.3 g/d long-chain n−3 FA (n−3 LCPUFA)] or olive oil (OO). The intervention started within a week after delivery and lasted 4 mon. Mothers with habitual high fish intake and their infants were included as a reference group. Ninety-seven infants completed the trial (44 OO-group, 53 FO-group) and 47 reference infants were followed up. The primary outcome measures were: DHA content of milk samples (0, 2, and 4 mon postnatal) and of infant red blood cell (RBC) membranes (4 mon postnatal), and infant visual acuity (measured by swept visual evoked potential at 2 and 4 mon of age). FO supplementation gave rise to a threefold increase in the DHA content of the 4-mon milk samples (P<0.001). DHA in infant RBC reflected milk contents (r=0.564, P<0.001) and was increased by almost 50% (P<0.001). Infant visual acuity was not significantly different in the randomized groups but was positively associated at 4 mon with infant RBC-DHA (P=0.004, multiple regression). We concluded that maternal FO supplementation during lactation did not enhance visual acuity of the infants who completed the intervention. However, the results showed that infants with higher RBC levels of n−3 LCPUFA had a better visual acuity at 4 mon of age, suggesting that n−3 LCPUFA may influence visual maturation.     

Proteolysis of milk proteins lactosylated in model systems

Five different milk proteins (alpha-casein, beta-casein, kappa-casein, beta-lactoglobulin, and lactoferrin) and a peptide substrate were applied as substrates for the investigation of how lactosylation affected proteolysis by different proteases. After a lactosylation period of 4 days in aqueous solution, at 65 degrees C and pH 6.8 in a protein: lactose ratio of 1000 the proteins were enzymatically hydrolyzed by the three milk relevant proteases plasmin, cathepsin D, and chymosin. Lactosylation of all substrates affected hydrolysis by plasmin negatively, with the largest effect on the globular proteins. This could be explained by modification of lysine residues, being the preferred cleavage site for plasmin, but also the residue generally preferred for lactosylation. Lactosylation of the caseins and of beta-lactoglobulin did not affect subsequent cleavage by cathepsin D and chymosin significantly, but for beta-lactoglobulin, both the secondary as well as the tertiary structure were affected by lactosylation. In contrast, decreased hydrolysis by cathepsin D and chymosin was observed for lactoferrin after lactosylation. Decreased hydrolysis may be caused by a more compact tertiary structure induced by lactosylation of lactoferrin, as indicated by fluorescence spectroscopy measurements.     

Therapeutic CFTR Correction Normalizes Systemic and Lung-Specific S1P Level Alterations Associated with Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is among the main causes of death worldwide. Alterations of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling have been linked to HF as well as to target organ damage that is often associated with HF. S1P’s availability is controlled by the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), which acts as a critical bottleneck for intracellular S1P degradation. HF induces CFTR downregulation in cells, tissues and organs, including the lung. Whether CFTR alterations during HF also affect systemic and tissue-specific S1P concentrations has not been investigated. Here, we set out to study the relationship between S1P and CFTR expression in the HF lung. Mice with HF, induced by myocardial infarction, were treated with the CFTR corrector compound C18 starting ten weeks post-myocardial infarction for two consecutive weeks. CFTR expression, S1P concentrations, and immune cell frequencies were determined in vehicle- and C18-treated HF mice and sham controls using Western blotting, flow cytometry, mass spectrometry, and qPCR. HF led to decreased pulmonary CFTR expression, which was accompanied by elevated S1P concentrations and a pro-inflammatory state in the lungs. Systemically, HF associated with higher S1P plasma levels compared to sham-operated controls and presented with higher S1P receptor 1-positive immune cells in the spleen. CFTR correction with C18 attenuated the HF-associated alterations in pulmonary CFTR expression and, hence, led to lower pulmonary S1P levels, which was accompanied by reduced lung inflammation. Collectively, these data suggest an important role for the CFTR-S1P axis in HF-mediated systemic and pulmonary inflammation.     

Short communication: Application of proteomics for characterization of caseinomacropeptide isoforms before and after desialidation

Caseinomacropeptide (CMP) is an important polypeptide found in cheese whey that has various biological activities and functional properties. Because sialylations play an important role in the functional properties of CMP, the aim of the present work was to characterize CMP isoform heterogeneity in a commercial glycosylated CMP (gCMP) isolate using liquid chromatography– and gel-based proteomics before and after desialidation. Using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DGE), we observed a shift in isoelectric point (pI) after enzymatic desialidation, indicating that sialylated gCMP were located at pI 3.0 to 3.1, but desialylated gCMP had repositioned to pI 3.7 to 3.9. We used liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC-ESI/MS) for further analysis of the glycan chains of gCMP. In total, we identified 19 CMP isoforms, of which 13 were glycosylated and 6 were nonglycosylated. We also detected 3 genetic variants (A, B, and E), with up to 3 glycosylations attached per gCMP. Further, we identified up to 4 isomers, reflecting different sites of glycosylation in the peptide backbone of these isoforms. The dominating gCMP isoform of genetic variant E appeared to contain 4 N-acetyl-neuraminic acid (NeuAc) residues, whereas the dominating gCMP isoforms of variants A and B appeared to contain 2 NeuAc. The identification revealed conversions of isoforms containing different combinations of genetic variants and degrees of glycosylation, sialylation, and phosphorylation to various desialylated counter-isoforms. The content of sialylated gCMP relative to the total CMP content was 37% (wt/wt), which decreased to 1.5% after sialidase treatment, indicating 96% effectivity of the desialidation. This approach can be valuable for future functionality studies specifically addressing the importance of NeuAc.     

Wall reflection issues for optical diagnostics in fusion devices

The problem of light reflection has been raised as a high priority issue for optical diagnostics in next step fusion devices where metallic wall environment will generate significant perturbations in the diagnostics measurements. Tore Supra is a large size tokamak equipped with water-cooled stainless-steel panels used to sustain the plasma long shot radiations. These panels are highly reflective and affect significantly optical systems. In particular, we show that the infrared imaging diagnostic, which surveys the plasma facing component surface temperature for safety purposes, can give incorrect information due to reflected light coming from the bottom limiter. In the visible range, motional Stark effect and Zeff measurements experience important drifts during the plasma heating phases due to parasitic light coming from the limiter, but also from the plasma itself when the viewing lines are facing the reflecting walls. In the next step fusion devices such as ITER, the possibility to use optical measurements needs to be accessed by a modeling of the diagnostic light in its machine environment and the development of new techniques of online correction.     

Theobromine Does Not Affect Fasting and Postprandial HDL Cholesterol Efflux Capacity,While It Decreases Fasting miR‐92a Levels in Humans

Scope

Chocolate consumption lowers cardiovascular disease risk, which might be attributed to the methylxanthine theobromine. These effects may be mediated through effects on HDL‐mediated cholesterol efflux, which may be affected by microRNA (miRNA) levels in the HDL particles. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate effects of theobromine consumption on fasting and postprandial cholesterol efflux and miRNAs levels.

Methods and results

Thirty overweight and 14 obese healthy men and women participated in this randomized, double‐blind crossover study. Participants consumed 500 mg d^?1 of theobromine or placebo for 4 weeks. ABCA1‐mediated cholesterol efflux was measured using J774 macrophages. MiRNAs levels (miR‐92a, miR‐223, miR‐135a*) were quantified in apolipoprotein B‐depleted serum. Theobromine consumption did not affect fasting and postprandial cholesterol efflux. Fasting miR‐223 and miR‐135a levels were unchanged, while miR‐92a levels were decreased (?0.21; p < 0.05). The high‐fat meal increased postprandial cholesterol efflux capacity (+4.3 percentage points; p ≤ 0.001), miR‐92a (+1.21; p < 0.001), and miR‐223 (+1.79; p < 0.001) levels, while a trend was found for miR‐135a (+1.08; p = 0.06).

Conclusion

Theobromine did not improve fasting and postprandial ABCA1‐mediated cholesterol efflux capacity, but decreased fasting miR‐92a levels. High‐fat meal intake increased postprandial cholesterol efflux and the three selected miRNAs levels.