Milk fat composition modifies the texture and appearance of Cantal-type cheeses but not their flavor

Although the effects of cow diet on cheese sensory properties have been well documented, the putative interactions between the biochemical and microbial milk components and their respective roles in the development of the sensory properties of cheeses have yet to be explored in depth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the specific contribution of milk fat composition to the formation of cheese sensory properties. Two creams with different fat compositions were obtained from cows fed either pasture or maize silage. Cheeses were manufactured from the same skim milk (identical chemical and microbial composition) with either the pasture- or maize silage-origin pasteurized cream added. The gross composition and microbial composition of milks did not vary with cream origin. In milks and cheeses, the fatty acid (FA) profiles were modified by the origin of the cream. The concentrations of C18:0 and unsaturated FA such as cis-9 C18:1, trans-11 C18:1, C18:3n-3, total conjugated linoleic acids, and mono- and polyunsaturated FA were higher in milks and cheeses with the pasture-origin cream than in those with the maize-origin cream. In contrast, the maize milks and cheeses had higher concentrations of short- and medium-chain saturated FA, C16:0, and C18:2n-6. The level of lipolysis was 11% in the cheese rind and only 0.30% in the cheese core. The rind of pasture cheeses had a higher concentration of free C18:0 and C18:3n-3 and a lower concentration of free C14:0 and free C16:0 than the rind of maize cheeses. The levels of major microbial groups were similar in pasture and maize cheeses at different stages of ripening. The pasture cheeses had a more elastic and creamier texture, a yellower color, and a thinner rind than the maize cheeses, but the odor and aroma of cheeses were not affected by the origin of the cream, despite a few modifications in the balance of volatile compounds from FA catabolism. Based on these results, we conclude that milk fat composition modulated by cow diet had a direct role in the texture of the cheese but no effect on flavor. The high degree of lipolysis in cheese rind, along with the higher concentration of long-chain unsaturated free FA in pasture cheeses may be responsible for antimicrobial activity, which could explain differences in the appearance of cheese rind.     

Genetic Dissection of Light-Regulated Adventitious Root Induction in Arabidopsis thaliana Hypocotyls

Photomorphogenic responses of etiolated seedlings include the inhibition of hypocotyl elongation and opening of the apical hook. In addition, dark-grown seedlings respond to light by the formation of adventitious roots (AR) on the hypocotyl. How light signaling controls adventitious rooting is less well understood. Hereto, we analyzed adventitious rooting under different light conditions in wild type and photomorphogenesis mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana. Etiolation was not essential for AR formation but raised the competence to form AR under white and blue light. The blue light receptors CRY1 and PHOT1/PHOT2 are key elements contributing to the induction of AR formation in response to light. Furthermore, etiolation-controlled competence for AR formation depended on the COP9 signalosome, E3 ubiquitin ligase CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC (COP1), the COP1 interacting SUPPRESSOR OF PHYA-105 (SPA) kinase family members (SPA1,2 and 3) and Phytochrome-Interacting Factors (PIF). In contrast, ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5), suppressed AR formation. These findings provide a genetic framework that explains the high and low AR competence of Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyls that were treated with dark, and light, respectively. We propose that light-induced auxin signal dissipation generates a transient auxin maximum that explains AR induction by a dark to light switch.     

Changes in nutritional composition,enzyme activities and bioactive compounds of germinated buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculantum M.) under unchanged air and humidity conditions

The objective of this study was to investigate changes in nutritional and bioactive compounds in buckwheat seeds during germination under unchanged air and humidity conditions. The germination increased the crude protein, total lipid, reducing sugars, essential amino acids (EAA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids, but decreased the total ash, total carbohydrate and saturated fatty acids. After germinating for 48 h, the total EAA and polyunsaturated fatty acids significantly increased by 5.22% and 3.66%, respectively, as compared to those of ungerminated buckwheat. The total phenolics and flavonoids contents of both free and bound phenolic extracts of germinated buckwheat were also significantly higher than those of ungerminated buckwheat. The rutin content was found to gradually increase during germination, whereas the quercetin content was the highest in the 36 h-germinated buckwheat (0.26 mg g⁻¹ flour). Therefore, germinated buckwheat is considered as a potential material for producing healthy functional foods.     

Recent advances in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides as photoelectrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Hydrogen gas has been attracting significant interest as an emerging energy source that is clean, sustainable, and renewable. Primarily, it can be produced via photoelectrochemical (PEC) splitting of water using solar energy. Among the various catalysts employed for the photoreduction of water, two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D-TMDs) are inarguably the best candidates toward industrialization because they have extraordinary physical, optical, and electric properties, and are solution-processable at low costs. In this review, we focus on the development of 2D-TMDs and their PEC properties toward the hydrogen evolution reaction. First, the synthesis and properties of 2D materials are summarized and discussed. Next, the strategies for improving the photocatalytic activity of the 2D material-based catalysts for water splitting are thoroughly investigated. Finally, the remaining challenges and direction for the future development of 2D-TMDs in PEC catalysis-derived hydrogen evolution reaction are addressed. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Matching mechanical response for a MEMS vibratory tuning fork gyroscope

Microsystem Technologies - This paper introduces the configuration of the MEMS tuning fork gyroscope with the connecting diamond-shaped frame to achieve the anti-phase mode in the driving...     

Targeted heat treatment of additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V for controlled formation of Bi-lamellar microstructures

Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) was utilized to produce specimens in Ti-6Al-4V,which were subjected to a bi-lamellar heat treatment,which produces microstructures consisting of primary α-lamellae and a fine secondary α-phase inside the inter-lamellar β-regions.The bi-lamellar microstructure was obtained as (i)a direct bi-lamellar heat treatment from the asbuilt condition or (ii) a bi-lamellar heat treatment preceded by a β-homogenization.For the bi-lamellar treatment with β-homogenization,cooling rates in the range 1-500 K/min were applied after homogenization in β-region followed by inter-critical annealing in the α + β region at various temperatures in the range 850-950 ℃.The microstructures were characterized using various microscopical techniques.Mechanical testing with Vickers hardness indentation and tensile testing was performed.The bi-lamellar microstructure was harder when compared to a soft fully lamellar microstructure,because of the presence of fine α-platelets inside the β-lamellae.Final low temperature ageing provided an additional hardness increase by precipitation hardening of the primary α-regions.The age hardened bi-lamellar microstructure shows a similar hardness as the very fine,as-built martensitic microstructure.The bi-lamellar microstructure has more favorable mechanical properties than the as-built condition,which has high strength,but poor ductility.After the bi-lamellar heat treatment,the elongation was improved by more than 250 ％.Due to the very high strength of the as-built condition,loss of tensile strength is unavoidable,resulting in a reduction of tensile strength of～18 ％.     

Associations between the Complement System and Choroidal Neovascularization in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness affecting the elderly in the Western world. The most severe form of AMD, wet AMD (wAMD), is characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and acute vision loss. The current treatment for these patients comprises monthly intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies, but this treatment is expensive, uncomfortable for the patient, and only effective in some individuals. AMD is a complex disease that has strong associations with the complement system. All three initiating complement pathways may be relevant in CNV formation, but most evidence indicates a major role for the alternative pathway (AP) and for the terminal complement complex, as well as certain complement peptides generated upon complement activation. Since the complement system is associated with AMD and CNV, a complement inhibitor may be a therapeutic option for patients with wAMD. The aim of this review is to (i) reflect on the possible complement targets in the context of wAMD pathology, (ii) investigate the results of prior clinical trials with complement inhibitors for wAMD patients, and (iii) outline important considerations when developing a future strategy for the treatment of wAMD.     

New Strategies to Overcome Present CRISPR/Cas9 Limitations in Apple and Pear: Efficient Dechimerization and Base Editing

Despite recent progress, the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in perennial plants still has many obstacles to overcome. Our previous results with CRISPR/Cas9 in apple and pear indicated the frequent production of phenotypic and genotypic chimeras, after editing of the phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene conferring albino phenotype. Therefore, our first objective was to determine if adding an adventitious regeneration step from leaves of the primary transgenic plants (T0) would allow a reduction in chimerism. Among hundreds of adventitious buds regenerated from a variegated T0 line, 89% were homogeneous albino. Furthermore, the analysis of the target zone sequences of twelve of these regenerated lines (RT0 for “regenerated T0” lines) indicated that 99% of the RT0 alleles were predicted to produce a truncated target protein and that 67% of RT0 plants had less heterogeneous editing profiles than the T0. Base editors are CRISPR/Cas9-derived new genome-editing tools that allow precise nucleotide substitutions without double-stranded breaks. Hence, our second goal was to demonstrate the feasibility of CRISPR/Cas9 base editing in apple and pear using two easily scorable genes: acetolactate synthase—ALS (conferring resistance to chlorsulfuron) and PDS. The two guide RNAs under MdU3 and MdU6 promoters were coupled into a cytidine base editor harboring a cytidine deaminase fused to a nickase Cas9. Using this vector; we induced C-to-T DNA substitutions in the target genes; leading to discrete variation in the amino-acid sequence and generating new alleles. By co-editing ALS and PDS genes; we successfully obtained chlorsulfuron resistant and albino lines in pear. Overall; our work indicates that a regeneration step can efficiently reduce the initial chimerism and could be coupled with the application of base editing to create accurate genome edits in perennial plants.