Fermentation and microflora of plaa-som, a thai fermented fish product prepared with different salt concentrations

Plaa-som is a Thai fermented fish product prepared from snakehead fish, salt, palm syrup and sometimes roasted rice. We studied the effects of different salt concentrations on decrease in pH and on microflora composition during fermentation. Two low-salt batches were prepared, containing 6% and 7% salt (w/w) as well as two high-salt batches, containing 9% and 11% salt. pH decreased rapidly from 6 to 4.5 in low-salt batches, whereas in high-salt batches, a slow or no decrease in pH was found. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts were isolated as the dominant microorganisms during fermentation. LAB counts increased to 10(8)-10(9) cfu g(-1) and yeast counts to 10(7)-5 x 10(7) cfu g(-1) in all batches, except in the 11% salt batch, where counts were 1-2 log lower. Phenotypic tests, ITS-PCR, carbohydrate fermentations and 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified LAB isolates as Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus alimentarius/farciminis, Weisella confusa, L. plantarum and Lactococcus garviae. The latter species was only isolated from high-salt batches. Phenotypic characteristics, ITS-PCR and carbohydrate assimilation identified 95% of the yeasts as Zygosaccharomyces rouxii. It is concluded that the fermentation of plaa-som is delayed by a salt-level of 9% due to an inhibition of LAB growth. The growth of Z. rouxii has no influence on the fermentation rate, but may contribute positively to the flavour development of the product.     

Genetic Variants in the Apoptosis Gene BCL2L1 Improve Response to Interferon-Based Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 3 Infection

Genetic variation upstream of the apoptosis pathway has been associated with outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We investigated genetic polymorphisms in the intrinsic apoptosis pathway to assess their influence on sustained virological response (SVR) to pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin (pegIFN/RBV) treatment of HCV genotypes 1 and 3 infections. We conducted a candidate gene association study in a prospective cohort of 201 chronic HCV-infected individuals undergoing treatment with pegIFN/RBV. Differences between groups were compared in logistic regression adjusted for age, HCV viral load and interleukin 28B genotypes. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the B-cell lymphoma 2-like 1 (BCL2L1) gene were significantly associated with SVR. SVR rates were significantly higher for carriers of the beneficial rs1484994 CC genotypes. In multivariate logistic regression, the rs1484994 SNP combined CC + TC genotypes were associated with a 3.4 higher odds ratio (OR) in SVR for the HCV genotype 3 (p = 0.02). The effect estimate was similar for genotype 1, but the association did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, anti-apoptotic SNPs in the BCL2L1 gene were predictive of SVR to pegIFN/RBV treatment in HCV genotypes 1 and 3 infected individuals. These SNPs may be used in prediction of SVR, but further studies are needed.     

Gender, nutrition- and climate-smart food production: Opportunities and trade-offs

Future food and nutrition security is threatened by climate change, overexploitation of natural resources and pervasive social inequalities. Promising solutions are often technology-focused and not necessarily developed considering gender and social disparities. This paper addresses issues of gender and human development opportunities and trade-offs related to promoting improved technologies for agricultural development. We examined these aspects for conservation agriculture (CA) as part of a cropping system with nutrition- and climate-smart potential. The paper is based on a literature review and field experiences from Zambia and Mexico. Findings point up situations where the promotion of CA for smallholders in developing countries may have undesired effects from gender and human development perspectives, specifically relating to drudgery, nutrition and food security, residue use, assets, mechanization and extension. The direction and magnitude of potential trade-offs depend on the local context and the specific intervention. The analysis is followed by a discussion of opportunities and pathways for mitigating the trade-offs, including gender transformative approaches; engagement with alternative or non-traditional partners with different but complementary perspectives and strengths; “smart” combinations of technologies and approaches; and policies for inclusive development.     

Cytoprotective effect of tocopherols in hepatocytes cultured with polyunsaturated fatty acids

When highly unsaturated fatty acids are added to cell cultures, it can become important to include antioxidants in the culture medium to prevent cytotoxic peroxidation. To find an optimal antioxidant for this purpose, the effect of 50 μM α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, α-tocopheryl acetate, α-tocopheryl acid succinate, or α-tocopheryl phosphate, or of 1 μMN,N′-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine, was investigated with respect to the agent's ability to prevent lactate dehydrogenase leakage in long-term rat hepatocyte cultures supplemented with 0.5 mM highly unsaturated fatty acids. Formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the cultures was also measured. α-Tocopheryl acid succinate was found to be the most effective cytoprotective compound, followed byN,N′-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine, α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol and α-tocopheryl acetate, and α-tocopheryl phosphate was without effect.     

More Than Shoot‐Em‐Up and Torture Porn: Reflective Appropriation and Meaning‐Making of Violent Media Content

Media violence research has mainly focused on aggression effects so far. But are audiences' thoughts about violent portrayals actually confined to aggressive fantasies? This study examines more complex thought processes about violent portrayals that involve reflection, meaning‐making, and truth‐seeking about violence as a fact of social reality. We conducted qualitative in‐depth interviews with 39 participants from different backgrounds, including professions at risk for exposure to violence, media professionals, and interviewees from the general population. The interviews revealed three main categories of reflective thoughts about violent media content, including thoughts about (a) the truth value, (b) the life‐world relevance, and (c) the psychological and moral implications of the violence depicted. Participants also discussed unrealistic content features that interfered with meaning‐making.     

Investigation of airflow patterns in a microclimate by particle image velocimetry (PIV)

Problems with mould growth in dwellings usually occur in bedrooms in the microclimate behind closets placed next to exterior walls with poor insulation. It is anticipated that the problems are caused by lack of airflow behind the furniture in combination with a colder surface temperature and a high moisture production. The lack of air circulation decreases the surface temperature, which can cause problems. A particle image velocimetry (PIV) investigation was performed of the airflow patterns in such a microclimate. This paper describes the experimental set-up and the results. The results indicate that the flow rates behind the furniture will increase with increased distance between the closet and the wall, and even higher airflow rates are seen when the furniture is elevated by legs.     

Humanization of mouse anti-human IL-2 receptor antibody B-B10

Mouse monoclonal anti–human IL–2 receptor antibody(BB10) inhibits EL–2–dependent human T–cellproliferation. It has been used in clinical trials in the transplantationfield and promising results are being accumulated. Mouse B–B10antibody was humanized by grafting all CDRs and some frameworkamino add residues onto human antibodies, KAS for V_H and PAYfor V_x. Nine humanized B–BlOs with differently graftedframework residues were constructed and assessed for their biologicalactivities. One of these humanized B–B10, M5, showed nearlythe same activity as the mouse B–B10. The 49th residueof V_x was demonstrated to play a crucial role in the antigen–antibodyinteraction by 3–D structure analysis with a computermodeling system.     

A comparative study of two food model systems to test the survival of Campylobacter jejuni at -18 degrees C

The survival of Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168 was tested at freezing conditions (-18 degrees C) over a period of 32 days in two food models that simulated either (i) the chicken skin surface (skin model) or (ii) the chicken juice in and around a broiler carcass (liquid model). In the skin model, cells were suspended in chicken juice or brain heart infusion broth (BHIB) and added to 4-cm2 skin pieces, which were subsequently stored at -18 degrees C. In the liquid model, cells were suspended in chicken juice or BHIB and stored at -18 degrees C. The decrease in the number of viable C. jejuni NCTC 11168 cells was slower when suspended in chicken juice than in BHIB. After freezing for 32 days, the reductions in the cell counts were 1.5 log CFU/ml in chicken juice and 3.5 log CFU/ml in BHIB. After the same time of freezing but when inoculated onto chicken skin, C. jejuni NCTC 11168 was reduced by 2.2 log units when inoculated in chicken juice and 3.2 log units when inoculated into BHIB. For both models, the major decrease occurred within the first 24 h of freezing. The results obtained in the liquid model with chicken juice were comparable to the reductions of Campylobacter observed for commercially processed chickens. The survival at -18 degrees C in the liquid model was also tested for three poultry isolates and three human clinical isolates of the serotypes 1.44, 2, and 4 complex. As observed for C. jejuni NCTC 11168, all the strains survived significantly better in chicken juice than in BHIB and were not notably influenced by serotype or origin. The findings indicate that the composition of the medium around the bacteria, rather than the chicken skin surface, is the major determining factor for the survival of C. jejuni at freezing conditions. The liquid model with chicken juice was therefore the best model system to study the freezing tolerance in Campylobacter strains.     

Biological activity of bovine milk on proliferation of human intestinal cells

To evaluate the bioactivity of bovine milk from different stages of lactation on human intestinal tissue, a human fetal small intestinal cell line was used as a model system. Milk samples representing six stages of lactation: days 1, 2-3, 6-7 and weeks 12 and 24 after parturition, 1 week before drying off, and milk-like secretion from two stages of the dry period: 7 weeks and 3-4 weeks before expected calving, were collected from 64 Holstein Friesian cows. The whey fraction of the milk or milk-like secretion was added to the culture medium in concentrations ranging from 0.078% to 10%. The growth-promoting activity of whey was measured by determining the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA for the last 24 h of the culture period. Whey fractions from all six stages of lactation stimulated growth of intestinal cells. The growth-promoting activity of colostrum or milk significantly decreased within the first week after calving. The growth-promoting activity in mature milk increased gradually during lactation to reach a level significantly higher than that obtained with colostrum. The growth-promoting activity of whey from milk-like secretion collected after drying off was lower than that of colostrum. Whey from different stages of lactation contained significantly different concentrations of TGF-beta1 (0.5-27 ng/ml) and TGF-beta2 (12-1219 ng/ml). However, neither the differences in TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2, nor the differences in IGF-I and IGF-binding proteins could fully explain the differences in growth-promoting activity of colostrums or milk from different stages of lactation, suggesting that other factors were also involved. The present study showed that bovine milk contained a number of biologically active components that affected growth and development of human intestinal tissue. The results showed that the growth-promoting activity of colostrum and milk was dependent on the stage of lactation in accordance with previous results obtained with mammary epithelial cells. The changes in growth-promoting activity with stage of lactation were probably related to changes in concentrations of several growth factors.