Extended ageing time and temperature effects on quality of sub-primal cuts of boxed beef

[EN]Most of the information indicating ageing improves tenderness has been collected on the loin and rib-eye muscles over relatively short ageing times, assuming that all muscles will react similarly. In the present study, the effect of extended ageing times on instrumental texture (56 d) and sensory characteristics (42 d) of six different beef sub-primals [striploin (SL), inside round (IR), outside round (OR), eye of round (ER), blade eye (BE) and chuck tender (CT)] was studied. The effects of two ageing temperatures (1and 58C) were also compared. In general, ageing increased tenderness (P<0.05) of SL, BE, ER and CT sub-primals, although BE shear force increased after 42 d of ageing. On the other hand, ageing had no effect on IR tenderness (P<0.05) and resulted in a decrease in tenderness of OR (P<0.05) until day 35, with a later increase after 42 d of ageing. Increasing ageing temperature (58C) had limited effect on tenderness, but ageing time and temperature increases led to lower flavour and higher off-flavour intensity (P<0.05) of the studied sub-primals. These results suggest that cutspecific maximum ageing times and rigid adherence to temperature maximums would be of benefit to optimize postslaughter processes and meat quality

Altered expression of Alzheimer's disease-related genes in the cerebellum of autistic patients: a model for disrupted brain connectome and therapy

Autism and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are, respectively, neurodevelopmental and degenerative diseases with an increasing epidemiological burden. The AD-associated amyloid-beta precursor protein-alpha has been shown to be elevated in severe autism, leading to the 'anabolic hypothesis' of its etiology. Here we performed a focused microarray analysis of genes belonging to NOTCH and WNT signaling cascades, as well as genes related to AD and apoptosis pathways in cerebellar samples from autistic individuals, to provide further evidence for pathological relevance of these cascades for autism. By using the limma package from R and false discovery rate, we demonstrated that 31% (116 out of 374) of the genes belonging to these pathways displayed significant changes in expression (corrected P-values <0.05), with mitochondria- related genes being the most downregulated. We also found upregulation of GRIN1, the channel-forming subunit of NMDA glutamate receptors, and MAP3K1, known activator of the JNK and ERK pathways with anti-apoptotic effect. Expression of PSEN2 (presinilin 2) and APBB1 (or F65) were significantly lower when compared with control samples. Based on these results, we propose a model of NMDA glutamate receptor-mediated ERK activation of alpha-secretase activity and mitochondrial adaptation to apoptosis that may explain the early brain overgrowth and disruption of synaptic plasticity and connectome in autism. Finally, systems pharmacology analyses of the model that integrates all these genes together (NOWADA) highlighted magnesium (Mg2+) and rapamycin as most efficient drugs to target this network model in silico. Their potential therapeutic application, in the context of autism, is therefore discussed.

Un estudio del crédito a través de plataformas de internet

[ES]La presente investigación ha tenido como objetivo el estudio de las características o factores pertenecientes a los proyectos crowdfunding y su influencia, ya sea negativa o positiva, en la recaudación de fondos. En particular, de las características de los proyectos CF del tipo recompensa. Para ello, se partió de una base de datos originalmente creada por Verkami.com, de la cual se seleccionaron 208 proyectos para la muestra. Dicha muestra fue posteriormente ampliada y completada con otras variables que se consideraron podían ser influyentes. En este estudio se presentan cronológicamente varios modelos econométricos distintos, los cuales sufren cambios en la forma funcional con la intención de corregir problemas de especificación. Respecto a los resultados, encontramos una correlación positiva y significativa entre la cantidad recaudada y los patrocinadores (backers), algo por una parte lógico. Mientras que por otra parte, también resultaron ser significativas para explicar la variación en la variable dependiente, la variable cualitativa “Cine” dentro de las que hacían referencia a la tipología de los proyectos y la variable cualitativa “Madrid” dentro de las que estudiaban la influencia de la ubicación.

On some new mathematical models for infective diseases: analysis, equilibrium, positivity and vaccination controls

196 p.