Rheological and microstructural characterization of WPI-stabilized O/W emulsions exhibiting time-dependent flow behavior

The rheological behavior of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions stabilized by whey protein isolate (WPI) and its relationship with the microstructural changes caused by shearing was studied. O/W emulsions (50, 55, and 60 g oil/100 g) were made using ultrasound and their rheological properties were determined by: flow curve test, constant shear rate test, and hysteresis loop test. Microstructural changes were evaluated in terms of droplet size and droplet size distribution. Emulsions containing 50 and 55 g oil/100 g showed a Newtonian behavior, whereas those with 60 g oil/100 g exhibited shear-thinning behavior. Under constant deformation, the apparent viscosity of the emulsions decreased with time. The hysteresis loop test revealed that increasing oil content increased the degree of thixotropy of the emulsions. Moreover, before and after the constant deformation test droplet size distributions did not show differences, indicating that the decrease in the apparent viscosity may be promoted by breakdown and further deformation and/or reorganization of oil droplets flocs. In turn, experimental data obtained from the constant shear rate test was fitted to a structural kinetic model. The rate constant values showed no particular trend with oil content and shear rate, implying that probably wall slip occurred at high shear rates and high oil contents.     

Environmental impact and human health risks of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in the vicinity of a new hazardous waste incinerator: a case study

The purpose of this study was to assess the environmental impact of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the vicinity of a new hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) 4 years after regular operation of the facility. A double approach was carried out. The PCDD/F congener profiles corresponding to environmental samples, soil and herbage, collected before the HWI (baseline) and 4 years after starting regular operations, as well as PCDD/F profiles of air emission samples, were compared. The potential health risks (carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic) due to PCDD/F exposure were assessed for adults and children living in the neighborhood of the facility. Human exposure to PCDD/Fs was mainly due to dietary food intake. Comparisons between the PCDD/F congener profiles corresponding to the baseline and current surveys, as well as data concerning the human health risk assessment, indicate that the HWI in question does not cause additional risks to the environment orto the population living in the vicinity of the facility.     

Cooking mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) by steam does not destroy the infectivity of Cryptosporidium parvum

The consumption of shellfish has increased considerably worldwide, with an associated increase in foodborne illnesses. Among the bivalves, the mussels are usually cooked by steam, which constitutes a typical dish in several regions. In this article, we demonstrate that this preparation is not sufficient to destroy completely the infectivity of Cryptosporidium parvum. Oocysts recovered from experimentally contaminated mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were infectious to neonatal mice after cooking. Although, to date, no official cases of cryptosporidiosis linked to shellfish consumption have been reported, we recommend that people with reduced immunity avoid this type of food because they are at high risk of being infected with Cryptosporidium spp. after eating raw or undercooked contaminated bivalves.     

Signal transduction mechanisms involved in in vitro ram sperm capacitation

We validate the chlortetracycline (CTC) technique for the evaluation of capacitation and acrosome reaction-like changes in ram sperm, carrying out a double estimation of the acrosome status after treatment with lysophosphatidylcholine, using fluorescein isocyanate (FITC)-RCA/ethidium homodimer 1 (EthD-1) and CTC/EthD-1. Highly consistent results and a positive correlation between the results of acrosome-reacted sperm evaluated with both techniques were obtained. In this study, we evaluate the effects of ram sperm capacitation of BSA, Ca(2+), NaHCO(3) and cAMP agonists and their influence on the associated protein tyrosine phosphorylation. We found a time-dependent increase in capacitation related to protein tyrosine phosphorylation, either in the absence or the presence of BSA. The addition of an increasing concentration of cholesterol to samples containing BSA did not influence results. The effect of bicarbonate was concentration-dependent, with a significantly lowered value of non-capacitated sperm in the presence 18 and 25 mM. The addition of extracellular calcium did not significantly increase either the proportion of capacitated sperm or the protein tyrosine phosphorylation signalling, although a significantly higher value of acrosome-reacted sperm was found in samples containing 4 mM Ca(2+). cAMP agonists increased capacitated sperm and protein tyrosine phosphorylation signalling. The inhibition of protein kinase A by H-89 caused a decrease in sperm capacitation. Addition of a calcium-entry blocker (Verapamil; Sigma) did not influence results, which suggests that the calcium entry blocker was unable to inhibit the calcium influx associated with capacitation in ram sperm. Our findings might benefit our understanding of the biochemical mechanisms involved in mammalian sperm capacitation and ultimately, fertility.     

Changes in quality and phenolic compounds of virgin olive oils during objectively described fruit maturation

The effect of fruit ripening on the quality of the oil extracted and on the changes in the amount of phenolic compounds was determined in two olive varieties (Olea europaea, cvs. Arbequina and Picual) in two crop seasons, characterized by showing the same mean temperature and different rainfalls. Maturation level was evaluated using six methods: Harvest date, ripening index (RI), fruit skin colour, fruit firmness, and amount of chlorophylls and carotenoids in the oil. Oil quality, evaluated using the parameters established to determine the quality level of virgin olive oils (acidity, K₂₃₂, K₂₇₀, peroxide index, and panel test), was not affected by fruit ripening or by the increase in rainfall of the season. However, the changes in oil stability and phenolic compounds in the oils extracted during fruit ripening strongly differed according to the variety, the maturity level of the fruit and the crop season tested. Fruit skin colour and firmness allowed a better discrimination at the initial maturity stages than the other methods tested.     

An Automated Single Interface Flow System for the Spectrophotometric Determination of Ethanol in Beverages Based on Schlieren Effect

A new and expeditious automated procedure for the determination of ethanol content in alcoholic beverages (distilled liquors and wine) by using a single interface flow analysis (SIFA) system with spectrophotometric detection is presented. The developed approach was simply based on refractive index gradient measurements, known as Schlieren effect, produced when acidified beverages samples were introduced in a single-line SIFA system that used deionized water as carrier (trailing) stream and a computer-controlled spectrophotometer as detector. In the implemented SIFA system, no chromogenic reagent is used, being the refractive index gradient a consequence of the mutual interdispersion of sample and carrier zones at the formed single interface, and no predefined volumes of both sample and carrier are required, which greatly simplifies system operation and optimization. The proposed methodology allowed the determination of ethanol concentrations between 4% and 24% (v/v) with good precision (RSD < 5.2%, n = 3) and a sampling frequency of about 58 h⁻¹ with consumption of 400 μl of sulfuric acid 0.5 mol l⁻¹ and 400 μl of sample per measurement. The developed procedure was applied to whisky, gin, rum, vodka, the sugar cane-based beverage “cacha?a,” and white wine, and the obtained results were in a good agreement with those provided by the reference method (RD < 5.0%). Recovery values acquired in the analysis of spiked ethanol samples (between 90.0% and 111.0% of the added amount) were also satisfactory.     

Effects of calf diet, antioxidants, packaging type and storage time on beef steak storage

The effect of basal dietary supplemented with vegetable oils plus vitamin E (sunflower, soybean, linseed and a basal diet control), type of packaging (MAP or vacuum), addition of natural antioxidant (grape seed, rosemary) and storage time (0, 7, 14 and 21 days) on lipid oxidation, color stability, vitamin E content, and total aerobic bacterial counts in steaks of Longissimus thoracis was studied. The triple interaction diet × time × packaging affected oxidative stability, redness and yellowness of the meat. TBARS values did not increase with time in vacuum-packaged samples for all dietary treatments. However, samples from MAP and control showed the highest TBARS values after 21 days of storage (0.72 mg MDA/kg of meat, P < 0.05). Both exogenous antioxidant extracts and MAP maintained low total aerobic counts in steaks until the 21st day. Calves should be fed a diet supplemented with L-VE, stored in MAP and treated with grape seed extract to extend the shelf life of their meat.     

FSH withdrawal improves developmental competence of oocytes in the bovine model

Combinations of genetic, environmental, and management factors are suspected to explain the loss in fertility observed for over 20 years in dairy cows. In some cases, IVF is used. When compared with in vivo embryo production, IVF resulted in low success rates until the FSH coasting process (FSH starvation after superstimulation) was introduced in 2002. Increased competence associated with FSH withdrawal of aspirated oocyte for in vitro maturation and IVF has not been optimized nor explained yet. The goal here was to determine and characterize the optimal oocyte competence acquisition window during the coasting period by determining blastocyst rates and follicular cohort development. Commercial milking cycling cows (n=6) were stimulated with 3 days of FSH (6×40?mg NIH Folltropin-V given at 12?h intervals) followed by a coasting period of 20, 44, 68, or 92?h. Each animal was exposed to the four conditions and served as its own control. At the scheduled time, transvaginal aspirations of immature oocytes were performed followed by IVF of half the oocytes. The outcomes were as follows: i) FSH coasting was optimal at a defined period: between 44 and 68?h of coasting; ii) The best estimated coasting duration was ～54±7?h; iii) Under these conditions, the best statistical blastocyst rate estimation was ～70%; iv) Between 44 and 68?h of coasting, follicle size group proportions were similar; v) Follicle diameter was not linearly associated with competence. In conclusion, coasting duration is critical to harvest the oocytes at the right moment of follicular differentiation.     

Transfer of Salmonella Enteritidis to four types of surfaces after cleaning procedures and cross-contamination to tomatoes

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the spread of Salmonella Enteritidis to different cutting boards (wood, triclosan-treated plastic, glass, and stainless steel) from contaminated poultry skin (5 log CFU/g) and then to tomatoes and to analyze the effect of different protocols used to clean these surfaces to control contamination. The following procedures were simulated: (1) no cleaning after handling contaminated poultry skin; (2) rinsing in running water; (3) cleaning with dish soap and mechanical scrubbing; and (4) cleaning with dish soap and mechanical scrubbing, followed by disinfection with hypochlorite. The pathogen was recovered from all surfaces following procedure 1, with counts ranging from 1.90 to 2.80 log, as well as from the tomatoes handled on it. Reduced numbers of S. Enteritidis were recovered using the other procedures, both from the surfaces and from the tomatoes. Counts were undetectable after procedure 4. From all surfaces evaluated, wood was the most difficult to clean, and stainless steel was the easiest. The use of hypochlorite as a disinfecting agent helped to reduce cross-contamination.