Evaluation of freshness decay of minced beef stored in high-oxygen modified atmosphere packaged at different temperatures using NIR and MIR spectroscopy

Meat freshness has been monitored by various microbiological, chemical and sensorial indices. However, these methods are slow and not suited to automation. Infrared spectroscopy is one of the most convenient analytical tools which could be used to monitor the evolution of food quality. The aim of this work was to investigate the ability of both NIR (Near Infrared) and MIR (Mid Infrared) spectroscopy to follow meat freshness decay. The minced beef was packaged in high-oxygen modified atmosphere (30% CO₂ and 70% O₂) and stored at three temperatures. Spectra were collected by Fourier-Transformation (FT)-NIR and FT-IR instruments. PCA, applied to the data, was able to discriminate samples on the basis of storage time and temperature. The modelling of PC scores versus time allowed the setting of the time of initial freshness decay for the samples (6–7 days at 4.3 °C, 2–3 days at 8.1 °C and less than 1 day at 15.5 °C).     

Validation of the performance of a GMO multiplex screening assay based on microarray detection

A new screening method for the detection and identification of GMO, based on the use of multiplex PCR followed by microarray, has been developed and is presented. The technology is based on the identification of quite ubiquitous GMO genetic target elements first amplified by PCR, followed by direct hybridisation of the amplicons on a predefined microarray (DualChip^® GMO, Eppendorf, Germany). The validation was performed within the framework of a European project (Co-Extra, contract no 007158) and in collaboration with 12 laboratories specialised in GMO detection. The present study reports the strategy and the results of an ISO complying validation of the method carried out through an inter-laboratory study. Sets of blind samples were provided consisting of DNA reference materials covering all the elements detectable by specific probes present on the array. The GMO concentrations varied from 1% down to 0.045%. In addition, a mixture of two GMO events (0.1% RRS diluted in 100% TOPAS19/2) was incorporated in the study to test the robustness of the assay in extreme conditions. Data were processed according to ISO 5725 standard. The method was evaluated with predefined performance criteria with respect to the EC CRL method acceptance criteria. The overall method performance met the acceptance criteria; in particular, the results showed that the method is suitable for the detection of the different target elements at 0.1% concentration of GMO with a 95% accuracy rate. This collaborative trial showed that the method can be considered as fit for the purpose of screening with respect to its intra- and inter-laboratory accuracy. The results demonstrated the validity of combining multiplex PCR with array detection as provided by the DualChip^® GMO (Eppendorf, Germany) for the screening of GMO. The results showed that the technology is robust, practical and suitable as a screening tool.     

In‐channel wood‐related hazards at bridges: A review

In‐channel wood is a key component in fluvial ecosystems; however, transport of in‐channel wood during floods can create hazards in urbanized areas. Among the main problems is wood accumulation at bridges, which reduces flow openings, causes blockage and inundation of nearby areas and, eventually, results in structures collapsing. Increasing awareness of the importance of the ecological role of wood in rivers calls for a compromise between the preservation of river ecosystems and management strategies for the prevention of wood‐related hazards. In recent years, knowledge related to in‐channel wood dynamics and hazards has notably increased, and a significant body of valuable information can be found in an extensive number of studies. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the most relevant advances regarding in‐channel wood‐bridge interactions. We review the factors controlling wood accumulation formation and summarize the different approaches used to analyse this process, namely, physical and numerical modelling. Finally, we conclude by highlighting the most important knowledge gaps, addressing particularly underresearched fields and stressing the remaining challenges.     

The contribution of direct energy use for livestock breeding to the greenhouse gases emissions of Cyprus

This paper presents a methodology for the estimation of the contribution of direct energy use to the greenhouse gases emissions of cattle, pig and poultry breeding in Cyprus. The energy consumption was estimated using the factors of 2034 MJ/cow, 2182 MJ/sow and 0.002797 MJ/bird. The greenhouse gases emissions for each animal species and energy source were estimated using emission factor of each greenhouse gas according to fuel type as proposed by the IPCC 2006 guidelines and for electricity according to national verified data from the Electricity Authority of Cyprus. Livestock breeding in Cyprus consumes electricity, diesel oil and LPG. The results obtained, show that the emissions from energy use in livestock breeding contribute 16% to the total agricultural energy emissions. Agricultural energy emissions contribute 0.7% to the total energy greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. The three species of animal considered contribute 3% to their total livestock breeding emissions when compared with enteric fermentation and manure management, of which 2.6% is CO₂. These results agree with the findings in available literature. The contribution of direct energy use in the greenhouse gases emissions of livestock breeding could be further examined with the influence of anaerobic digestion to the emissions.     

A Petri nets semantics for data flow networks

This work presents a truly concurrent operational semantics for nondeterministic data flow networks. We introduce a model, the df-process, which is a notion similar to that of non-sequential process for a Petri net: a df-process is defined as a mapping from an occurrence net K to a data flow net N, such that the places and the transitions of K are mapped onto the channels and the nodes of N. A df-process contains, by means of some labelling of the places, information on the value and the order in which data flow through the channels during a computation. Df-processes for a data flow network are characterized in an abstract way by a set of properties and in general a df-process corresponds to a set of computations of the network. We give a way to build the df-process corresponding to a computation incrementally at each event occurrence: a main result of the paper is that the incremental construction yields exactly the same set of df-processes as abstractly defined. We also show that df-processes are compositional. The model is intended to be used by distributed systems designers: it contains enough information to be a guideline for the designer and to be a base to develop dynamic checking tools. We outline how df-processes can be used in the design phase of a system.Research supported in part by Progetto Coordinato CNR ANATRA     

Erythroid Induction of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia K562 Cells Following Treatment with a Photoproduct Derived from the UV‐A Irradiation of 5‐Methoxypsoralen

Induction of terminal erythroid differentiation can be an efficient strategy to inhibit proliferation of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. Psoralens, well‐known photo‐chemotherapeutic agents, were found to be efficient at inducing erythroid differentiation of K562 cells, an in vitro cell line isolated from the pleural effusion of a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis. The effects of crude pre‐irradiated solutions of 5‐methoxypsoralen on erythroid differentiation of human leukemic K‐562 cells were evaluated. The major photoproduct was characterized and analyzed, and it was found to induce erythroid differentiation of K562 cells and inhibit NF‐κB/DNA interactions.     

A Novel Genetic Variant in the WFS1 Gene in a Patient with Partial Uniparental Mero-Isodisomy of Chromosome 4

Wolfram syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by optic atrophy and diabetes mellitus. Wolfram syndrome type 1 (WFS1) is caused by bi-allelic pathogenic variations in the wolframin gene. We described the first case of WFS1 due to a maternal inherited mutation with uniparental mero-isodisomy of chromosome 4. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed at 11 years of age, with negative anti-beta cells antibodies. Blood glucose control was optimal with low insulin requirement. No pathogenic variations in the most frequent gene causative of maturity-onset diabetes of the young subtypes were detected. At 17.8 years old, a rapid reduction in visual acuity occurred. Genetic testing revealed the novel homozygous variant c.1369A>G; p.Arg457Gly in the exon 8 of wolframin gene. It was detected in a heterozygous state only in the mother while the father showed a wild type sequence. In silico disease causing predictions performed by Polyphen2 classified it as “likely damaging”, while Mutation Tester and Sift suggested it was “polymorphism” and “tolerated”, respectively. High resolution SNP-array analysis was suggestive of segmental uniparental disomy on chromosome 4. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, we describe the first patient with partial uniparental mero-isodisomy of chromosome 4 carrying a novel mutation in the wolframin gene. The clinical phenotype observed in the patient and the analysis performed suggest that the genetic variant detected is pathogenetic.     

Switchable Gratings from Polymerized Nematic Emulsions

Permanent diffraction gratings can be built in polymer dispersed liquid crystals by using either photomasks or crossed laser beams, in order to modulate the light intensity across the film during the curing process. The intensity of light diffracted from these gratings can be controlled with an applied electric field. In this paper, we report our results on the formation of permanent gratings in nematic emulsions, photopolymerized through a photomask. The gratings are permanently stored and the diffraction efficiency can be modulated with an electric field. The grating structure has been investigated by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The advantages of using nematic emulsions in photopatterning are discussed.     

Improvement of Kiteplatin Efficacy by a Benzoato Pt(IV) Prodrug Suitable for Oral Administration

Kiteplatin, [PtCl₂(cis-1,4-DACH)] (DACH = diaminocyclohexane), contains an isomeric form of the oxaliplatin diamine ligand trans-1R,2R-DACH and has been proposed as a valuable drug candidate against cisplatin- and oxaliplatin-resistant tumors, in particular, colorectal cancer. To further improve the activity of kiteplatin, it has been transformed into a Pt(IV) prodrug by the addition of two benzoato groups in the axial positions. The new compound, cis,trans,cis-[PtCl₂(OBz)₂(cis-1,4-DACH)] (1; OBz = benzoate), showed cytotoxic activity at nanomolar concentration against a wide panel of human cancer cell lines. Based on these very promising results, the investigation has been extended to the in vivo activity of compound 1 in a Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLC) model and its suitability for oral administration. Compound 1 resulted to be remarkably stable in acidic conditions (pH 1.5 to mimic the stomach environment) undergoing a drop of the initial concentration to ~60% of the initial one only after 72 h incubation at 37 °C; thus resulting amenable for oral administration. Interestingly, in a murine model (2·10⁶ LLC cells implanted i.m. into the right hind leg of 8-week old male and female C57BL mice), a comparable reduction of tumor mass (~75%) was observed by administering compound 1 by oral gavage and the standard drug cisplatin by intraperitoneal injection, thus indicating that, indeed, there is the possibility of oral administration for this dibenzoato prodrug of kiteplatin. Moreover, since the mechanism of action of Pt(IV) prodrugs involves an initial activation by chemical reduction to cytotoxic Pt(II) species, the reduction of 1 by two bioreductants (ascorbic acid/sodium ascorbate and glutathione) was investigated resulting to be rather slow (not complete after 120 h incubation at 37 °C). Finally, the neurotoxicity of 1 was evaluated using an in vitro assay.