Effect of Processing Conditions, Biochemical Properties, and Microstructure on Tofu Production from Yellow Field Peas (Pisum sativum)

Tofu, made by coagulating soy milk, is a nutritious food originating in China and is widely consumed globally. Due to allergenicity and consumer perceptions of genetically modified organisms, consumer demand for soy alternatives is increasing. In this study, tofu was made from yellow split peas (Pisum sativum). Effects of pasteurization, fat addition, and curd disruption followed by repressing were studied. Here, disruption was not a chemical disruption, rather a physical disruption of protein curds. Pasteurization alone led to increased uptake of water and nonviable tofus. Disrupted samples became firmer with pasteurization. Texture profile analysis indicated that disruption followed by pasteurization improved hardness from approximately 175 g force from the control, to approximately 325 g force for disrupted + pasteurizated samples without fat addition. A similar trend was observed for samples with fat added, where hardness increased from approximately 50 g force to approximately 75 g force. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy of the amide I region showed that an increase of β-sheet structures led to increased hardness. The shifts in β-sheet structures followed the same trends as surface hydrophobicity. Surface hydrophobicity decreased with pasteurization and increased with disruption. Molecular weight analysis showed that shear (from disruption) and heat separately degraded the proteins into smaller polypeptides exposing hydrophobic interiors. Changes to biochemical parameters, such as protein secondary structure and exposure of protein hydrophobic regions, allowed for tofu to be made from yellow field peas. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study provides critical information and a means to produce pea-based soy-free tofu.

Quality Differences in Wooden Breast Meat Marinated with Commercial Ingredients

ObjectivesWooden breast (WB) is a Pectoralis major muscle myopathy that impacts the quality of broiler breast meat, which is a current significant challenge for the poultry industry. While WB has been thoroughly researched in recent years, there has not been a resolution to this issue. Therefore, it is necessary to explore potential solutions to mitigate the undesirable characteristics of WB. The objective of this research was to evaluate differences in quality between chicken breasts classified as normal (NOR), moderately woody (MOD), and severely woody (SEV) that were marinated with control (water), traditional (sodium phosphate and salt), or clean label (potassium carbonate and salt) marinades.Materials and MethodsChicken breasts from broilers were graded NOR, MOD, SEV based on the severity of WB. Breasts were sized to 30 ± 2 mm to control variability in breast thickness. Three separate treatment marinades were applied to 40 lb batches of each WB severity 24 h postmortem. Treatments were tumbled for 30 min at 12 rpm under vacuum (20–25 mmHg). Tumble yields were measured. The breasts were individually frozen in a CO2 cabinet to –62.2°C and stored at –17.8°C. A 3 × 3 factorial structure within a randomized complete block design with 3 replications of 40 lbs (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3) were used to evaluate the impact of marinade (control, traditional, clean label) and WB severity (NOR, MOD, SEV) on tumble yields. Similarly, a 2 × 3 factorial structure was used to analyze the effect of marinade (traditional and clean label) and WB severity (NOR, MOD, SEV) on sensory attributes.ResultsWhen averaged over WB severity, the clean label marinade had a greater tumble yield (P < 0.05) than the traditional marinade. When averaged over marinade, the NOR had a greater tumble yield (P < 0.05) than the MOD and SEV treatments, which did not differ from each other (P > 0.05).Descriptive sensory results revealed that both marinated SEV were crunchier and less tender (P < 0.05) than MOD and NOR, and MOD was less tender (P < 0.05) than NOR. The clean SEV was chewier (P < 0.05) than all MOD and NOR treatments, but the traditional SEV was only chewier (P < 0.05) than the NOR. Interaction was significant (P < 0.05) for mushy, initial juiciness, and overall juiciness. These attributes differed (P < 0.05) for WB severity but not marinade treatment. When averaged over marinade, NOR was mushier than the MOD, which was mushier than the SEV, and the SEV and MOD were juicier than NOR.Consumer acceptability results indicated that clean and traditional SEV were less acceptable (P < 0.05) than MOD and traditional NOR; no difference (P > 0.05) existed between MOD and NOR for both marinades. In addition, when averaging over WB severity, the traditional marinade was preferred (P < 0.05) over the clean label marinade. Thus, differences in WB severities were more apparent in the clean label than the traditional marinade, which indicates that even though the clean label samples were tender, it may not be advisable to utilize that marinade formulation in place of traditional marinades with SEV woody breast meat.ConclusionThe use of salt and sodium phosphate or potassium carbonate in a marinade improves eating quality characteristics of MOD and SEV woody breast. However, differences remain between NOR and SEV in tenderness, gumminess and crunchiness that negatively impact the consumer acceptability of broiler breast meat.

Chronic Dyrk1 Inhibition Delays the Onset of AD-Like Pathology in 3xTg-AD Mice

There is a critical need for new treatment approaches that can slow or prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Targets that act simultaneously on multiple relevant pathways could have significant therapeutic potential. Dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (Dyrk1a) phosphorylates both amyloid precursor protein (APP) and tau. Dyrk1a is upregulated in post-mortem brains of AD patients, and such elevated expression is associated with cognitive deficits. We previously demonstrated that small molecule inhibition of Dyrk1 is well-tolerated and reduces amyloid plaques and pathological forms of tau in 3xTg-AD mice if administered after formation of these pathologies. However, while insoluble forms of hyperphosphorylated tau were reduced by Dyrk1 inhibition, overt neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) pathology remained unchanged. Herein, we specifically test the hypothesis that inhibition of Dyrk1 prior to NFT formation will delay the onset of pathology. 3xTg-AD mice were treated chronically, beginning at 6 months of age, prior to NFT pathology. Mice were dosed daily for either 3 or 6 months and amyloid and tau pathology were assessed. We show that chronic Dyrk1 inhibition reduces insoluble forms of amyloid beta peptides (Aβ) and hyper-phosphorylated tau long-term and that these reductions are associated with dramatic delay in the onset of both amyloid plaques and NFTs. In addition, we show that DYR219, a potent and selective small molecule Dyrk1 inhibitor, induces degradation of Dyrk1a protein, likely contributing to the efficacy of this small molecule approach in vivo. Collectively, these results suggest that therapeutic strategies targeting tau phosphorylation will show the greatest effect if administered very early in the pathogenesis of AD.

HIV testing uptake among the household contacts of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis index cases in eight countries

SETTING

The household contacts (HHCs) of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) index cases are at high risk of tuberculous infection and disease progression, particularly if infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV testing is important for risk assessment and clinical management.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional, multi-country study of adult MDR-TB index cases and HHCs. All adult and child HHCs were offered HIV testing if never tested or if HIV-negative >1 year previously when last tested. We measured HIV testing uptake and used logistic regression to evaluate predictors.

RESULTS

A total of 1007 HHCs of 284 index cases were enrolled in eight countries. HIV status was known at enrolment for 226 (22%) HHCs; 39 (4%) were HIV-positive. HIV testing was offered to 769 (98%) of the 781 remaining HHCs; 544 (71%) agreed to testing. Of 535 who were actually tested, 26 (5%) were HIV-infected. HIV testing uptake varied by site (median 86%, range 0-100%; P < 0.0001), and was lower in children aged <18 years than in adults (59% vs. 78%; adjusted for site P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

HIV testing of HHCs of MDR-TB index cases is feasible and high-yield, with 5% testing positive. Reasons for low test uptake among children and at specific sites-including sites with high HIV prevalence-require further study to ensure all persons at risk for HIV are aware of their status.

Staphylococcus aureus intra-mammary infection affects the expression pattern of IL-R8 in goat

IL-1R8 is a member of Interleukin-1 receptor family acting as a negative regulator of inflammation reliant on ILRs and TLRs activation. IL-1R8 role has never been evaluated in acute bacterial mastitis. We first investigated IL-1R8 sequence conservation among different species and its pattern of expression in a wide panel of organs from healthy goats. Then, modulation of IL-1R8 during natural and experimental mammary infection was evaluated and compared in blood, milk and mammary tissues from healthy and Staphylococcus aureus infected goats. IL-1R8 has a highly conserved sequence among vertebrates. Goat IL-1R8 was ubiquitously expressed in epithelial and lymphoid tissues with highest levels in pancreas. IL-1R8 was down-regulated in epithelial mammary cells following S. aureus infection. Interestingly it was up-regulated in leukocytes infiltrating the infected mammary tissues suggesting that it could represent a target of S. aureus immune evasion.

Molecular epidemiology of an outbreak of human parainfluenza virus 3 among oncology patients

A hospital outbreak of human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV-3) in haematologic oncology patients is described in 12 patients over a four-week period. Exposure histories and molecular analysis of HPIV-3 isolates suggest that both community-acquired and nosocomially transmitted infections occurred during this outbreak. Molecular analysis of HPIV-3 isolates indicated that a chain of transmission occurred among multiple patients in an oncology ward. This transmission was later determined to be associated with the movement of fomites, visitors, and activities in the unit. The infection prevention team stopped nosocomial spread of HPIV-3 through interventions including advanced cleaning procedures.

Understanding How High-Protein Bar Formulations Impact Their Mechanical and Wear Behaviors Using Response Surface Analysis

High-protein bars are popular snack items that can have significant processing issues like sticking, clogging, and cold flow. These issues are primarily problematic during formulation development because current predictive testing is reliant on highly empirical bench tests or pilot plant testing, which is expensive and time-consuming. Wear testing, which has been used in the medical field to evaluate the lifetime of soft materials used in joint replacements, may have promise in evaluating food processing ability. Wear and rheological testing were used to better understand high-protein bar processing ability. The objective of this study was to determine bench-level instrumental tests that would be able to predict processing ability for a given formulation. Two response surface designs were used for formulations of model bar systems comprising whey protein isolate (WPI), high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), and either canola oil or vegetable shortening. Ingredient formulation affected processing ability, wear behaviors, and rheological behaviors. Formulations with high ratios of WPI to HFCS and either shortening or oil exhibited good processing ability, lower wear rates, and increased elastic-type behavior, indicating that processing ability is related to formulation. The results of this study indicated that material mechanical and wear behaviors were related to processing ability; both were controlled by formulation. Because it was shown to be a good indicator of high-protein bar processing ability, wear testing of food has potential significance in benchtop testing. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Understanding of how high-protein bar formulations impact their mechanical behaviors can help streamline their formulation development and scaling from bench to industrial production. Processing ability may be predicted with a quick wear test, providing a rapid testing method that requires little sample for evaluating bar formulations.

Tests of General Relativity with GW170817

The recent discovery by Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo of a gravitational wave signal from a binary neutron star inspiral has enabled tests of general relativity (GR) with this new type of source. This source, for the first time, permits tests of strong-field dynamics of compact binaries in the presence of matter. In this Letter, we place constraints on the dipole radiation and possible deviations from GR in the post-Newtonian coefficients that govern the inspiral regime. Bounds on modified dispersion of gravitational waves are obtained; in combination with information from the observed electromagnetic counterpart we can also constrain effects due to large extra dimensions. Finally, the polarization content of the gravitational wave signal is studied. The results of all tests performed here show good agreement with GR.