Monitoring of the quality of modified atmosphere packaged broiler chicken cuts stored in different temperature conditions: B. Biogenic amines as quality-indicating metabolites

The formation of biogenic amines was studied in broiler chicken cuts stored in modified atmosphere (MA) packages. Also, the applicability of biogenic amines for the quality control of MA-packaged broiler chicken cuts was evaluated in various constant and variable temperature schemes. It was found that temperature dependent changes took place in the concentrations of tyramine, putrescine and cadaverine. The changes in the concentrations of these amines were in accordance with the microbiological quality of broiler chicken cuts. On the basis of the results it was concluded that tyramine, putrescine and cadaverine could serve as quality indicating tools for MA-stored poultry.     

Effect of castration and testosterone in experimental models of depression in mice.

In the behavioral despair (forced swimming) test and in the tail-suspension test, long-term (30–32 days) castration significantly increased the duration of immobility in mice. Testosterone propionate (1 or 10 mg/kg/day–2 sc for 4 days), although not affecting the duration of immobility in sham-operated mice, reduced the duration of immobility in castrated mice to within normal limits. Desipramine (20 mg/kg ip) decreased the duration of immobility both in sham-operated and in castrated animals. These results indicate that castration favors an inactive behavior and that testosterone, although having no "antidepressant" effect per se, is necessary for the male animal to cope normally with adverse environmental situations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Information Equity, Public Understanding of Science, and the Biotechnology Debate

Contrary to common assumptions within the scientific community, media effects are largely long-term and indirect, coverage does not always overrepresent fringe positions, and messages are interpreted actively by audience members. Lay publics associate more risk with science and technology in their social context than with the underlying science itself, and general attitudes toward science influence the degree of risk associated with particular new developments. Biotechnology, new and highly complex, is used as a case to further explore media effects issues for science. The range of issues that surfaces when nonscientists are asked to evaluate risks is not easily influenced by the narrow, source-dominated coverage characteristic of this topic. The interests of the scientific community would be better served by news addressing the full range of ethical, social, economic, and policy issues with which the public is concerned.     

Integrated Devices for Non-Invasive Diagnostics

“Sample-in-answer-out” type integrated diagnostic devices have been widely recognized as the ultimate solution to simplify testing across healthcare systems. Such systems are equipped with advanced fluidic, mechanical, chemical, biological, and electronic components to handle patient samples without any manual steps therefore have the potential to accelerate intervention and improve patient outcomes. In this regard, the combination of integrated devices and non-invasive sampling has gained a substantial interest to further improve the comfort and safety of patients. In this Review, the pioneering developments in integrated diagnostics are covered and their potential in non-invasive sampling is discussed. The key properties of possible sample types are highlighted by addressing their relevance for the clinical practice. Last, the factors affecting the transition of integrated devices from academia to the market are identified by analyzing the technology readiness levels of selected examples and alternative remedies are explored to increase the rate of survival during this transition.     

Comparison of satellite reflectance algorithms for estimating turbidity and cyanobacterial concentrations in productive freshwaters using hyperspectral aircraft imagery and dense coincident surface observations

We analyzed 37 satellite reflectance algorithms and 321 variants for five satellites for estimating turbidity in a freshwater inland lake in Ohio using coincident real hyperspectral aircraft imagery converted to relative reflectance and dense coincident surface observations. This study is part of an effort to develop simple proxies for turbidity and algal blooms and to evaluate their performance and portability between satellite imagers for regional operational turbidity and algal bloom monitoring. Turbidity algorithms were then applied to synthetic satellite images and compared to in situ measurements of turbidity, chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), total suspended solids (TSS) and phycocyanin as an indicator of cyanobacterial/blue green algal (BGA) abundance. Several turbidity algorithms worked well with real Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI) and synthetic WorldView-2, Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3/MERIS/OLCI imagery. A simple red band algorithm for MODIS imagery and a new fluorescence line height algorithm for Landsat-8 imagery had limited performance with regard to turbidity estimation. Blue-Green Algae/Phycocyanin (BGA/PC) and Chl-a algorithms were the most widely applicable algorithms for turbidity estimation because strong co-variance of turbidity, TSS, Chl-a, and BGA made them mutual proxies in this experiment.     

Soluble polyelectrolyte complexes composed of poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(sodium methacrylate) and poly(methacryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride)

Complexation between poly(methacryloyloxyethyl trimethylammonium chloride), PMOTAC, and poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(sodium methacrylate), PEO-block-PMANa with MANa blocks with two different molecular weights has been investigated by light scattering, LS, viscosimetry and conductivity measurements. Owing to the PEO blocks the polyelectrolyte complexes are water-soluble particles. Effects of the ratio of the oppositely charged monomer units, the ionic strength of the solution, and solution pH have been studied. With the 1:1 mixing ratio stable polyelectrolyte complexes, PECs, with spherical shape were formed. When either the cationic or anionic component was in excess, charged non-stoichiometric complexes were formed. The complexes were stable also in solutions with comparatively high ionic strength, though stronger secondary aggregation was observed. By changing the solution pH the degree of dissociation of PEO-block-PMANa could be adjusted. In the vicinity of the pK_a,average of PMAA, a minimum in the particle size and a maximum in the solution conductivity were observed. In solutions with lower pH, a typical self-complexation of PEO-block-PMAA was detected. Also, unexpected interactions between PMOTAC and the self-complexes of PEO-block-PMAA were observed.     

The role of voluntary exercise in enriched rearing: A behavioral analysis.

The effects of postweaning enriched rearing and home cage voluntary wheel-running exercise in adulthood were contrasted on a comprehensive battery of tests designed to assess mnemonic, attentional, emotional, and motor functions. In a 2 × 2 factorial design, female C57BL/6 mice were housed in groups in either standard or enriched cages, which were equipped with either a running or a locked wheel. They were maintained in the corresponding housing conditions for 2 months postweaning prior to, and throughout, testing. Enriched rearing was associated with anxiogenesis, hypolocomotor activity, enhanced motor skills, retarded extinction of conditioned responding, and improved water maze performance. Exercise as such enhanced motor coordination and facilitated extinction of contextual conditioning. Evidence for an interaction between enrichment and exercise was apparent in the open field test, conditioned freezing to a tone stimulus, prepulse inhibition, and acquisition of water maze reference memory. Hence, care should be taken to control for the unique contribution of wheel-running exercise when it is included as an integral component of the enrichment procedure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation of the Accessibility of Selected Packaging by Comparison of Quantitative Measurements of the Opening Forces and Qualitative Surveys through Focus Group Studies

It can be expected that many elderly people have impaired opening capacity of food packaging bearing in mind the changes in functionality and physical strength that occur during ageing. This study determined the relation of the quantitative force required to open selected food packaging systems with findings derived from qualitative focus group studies to retrieve comprehensive information on the specific needs of seniors. The focus group studies revealed that the assessment of the ease of opening is very subjective and can vary from objective measurements. The quantitative measurement of the force required to open the ‘easy to open’ thermoformed tray resulted in considerably higher peel initiation forces of 22.50 ± 1.62 N compared to the standard tray (12.80 ± 1.93 N). However, the packaging type was still felt to be easier to open because of the enlarged tab and peeling corner, which was said to be easy to grip. Conversely, the stand‐up pouches with twist‐off caps could only be opened with difficulty because of the small caps and the difficulty in breaking seals, despite the substantially lower opening forces of 0.46 ± 0.06 Nm compared with the other torque closures. The evaluation of a package was found to be only partly dependent on the required opening force but strongly influenced by various design factors and consumer's expectations as well as experiences. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.