Zoekresultaten

Oxidative Modifications of Proteins and Lipids of Dried Semen, Urine, and Saliva Stains as a Function of Age in Forensic Context

Knowledge of the time of deposition is pivotal in forensic investigations. Recent studies show that changes in intrinsic fluorescence over time can be used to estimate the age of body fluids. These changes have been attributed to oxidative modifications caused by protein–lipid interactions. This pilot study aims to explore the impact of these modifications on body fluid fluorescence, enhancing the protein–lipid model system for age estimation. Lipid and protein oxidation markers, including protein carbonyls, dityrosine, advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), were studied in aging semen, urine, and saliva over 21 days. Surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and fluorescence spectroscopy were applied. Successful detection of AGE, dityrosine, MDA, and HNE occurred in semen and saliva via SPRi, while only dityrosine was detected in urine. Protein carbonyls were measured in all body fluids, but only in saliva was a significant increase observed over time. Additionally, protein fluorescence loss and fluorescent oxidation product formation were assessed, showing significant decreases in semen and saliva, but not in urine. Although optimization is needed for accurate quantification, this study reveals detectable markers for protein and lipid oxidation in aging body fluids, warranting further investigation.

Analysis of the fluorescent properties of vaginal fluid upon ageing

Detection and identification of body fluids are crucial aspects of forensic investigations, aiding in crime scene reconstructions and providing important leads. Although many methods have been developed for these purposes, no method is currently in use in the forensic field that allows rapid, non-contact detection and identification of vaginal fluids directly at the crime scene. The development of such technique is mainly challenged by the complex chemistry of the constituents, which can differ between donors and exhibits changes based on woman’s menstrual cycle. The use of fluorescence spectroscopy has shown promise in this area for other biological fluids. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify specific fluorescent signatures of vaginal fluid with fluorescence spectroscopy to allow on-site identification. Additionally, the fluorescent properties were monitored over time to gain insight in the temporal changes of the fluorescent spectra of vaginal fluid. The samples were excited at wavelengths ranging from 200 to 600 nm and the induced fluorescence emission was measured from 220 to 700 nm. Excitation and emission maps (EEMs) were constructed for eight donors at seven time points after donation. Four distinctive fluorescence peaks could be identified in the EEMs, indicating the presence of proteins, fluorescent oxidation products (FOX), and an unidentified component as the dominant contributors to the fluorescence. To further asses the fluorescence characteristics of vaginal fluid, the fluorescent signatures of protein and FOX were used to monitor protein and lipid oxidation reactions over time. The results of this study provide insights into the intrinsic fluorescent properties of vaginal fluid over time which could be used for the development of a detection and identification method for vaginal fluids. Furthermore, the observed changes in fluorescence signatures over time could be utilized to establish an accurate ageing model.

Towards Onsite Age Estimation of Semen Stains Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy

The age estimation of biological traces is one of the holy grails in forensic investigations. We developed a method for the age estimation of semen stains using fluorescence spectroscopy in conjunction with a stoichiometric ageing model. The model describes the degradation and generation rate of proteins and fluorescent oxidation products (FOX) over time. The previously used fluorimeter is a large benchtop device and requires system optimization for forensic applications. In situ applications have the advantage that measurements can be performed directly at the crime scene, without additional sampling or storage steps. Therefore, a portable fiber-based fluorimeter was developed, consisting of two optimized light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and two spectrometers to allow the fluorescence protein and FOX measurements. The handheld fiber can be used without touching the traces, avoiding the destruction or contamination of the trace. In this study, we have measured the ageing kinetics of semen stains over time using both our portable fluorimeter and a laboratory benchtop fluorimeter and compared their accuracies for the age estimation of semen stains. Successful age estimation was possible up to 11 days, with a mean absolute error of 1.0 days and 0.9 days for the portable and the benchtop fluorimeters, respectively. These results demonstrate the potential of using the portable fluorimeter for in situ applications.

Molecular insights into human taste perception and umami tastants: A review

Understanding taste is key for optimizing the palatability of seaweeds and other non-animal-based foods rich in protein. The lingual papillae in the mouth hold taste buds with taste receptors for the five gustatory taste qualities. Each taste bud contains three distinct cell types, of which Type II cells carry various G protein-coupled receptors that can detect sweet, bitter, or umami tastants, while type III cells detect sour, and likely salty stimuli. Upon ligand binding, receptor-linked intracellular heterotrimeric G proteins initiate a cascade of downstream events which activate the afferent nerve fibers for taste perception in the brain. The taste of amino acids depends on the hydrophobicity, size, charge, isoelectric point, chirality of the alpha carbon, and the functional groups on their side chains. The principal umami ingredient monosodium l-glutamate, broadly known as MSG, loses umami taste upon acetylation, esterification, or methylation, but is able to form flat configurations that bind well to the umami taste receptor. Ribonucleotides such as guanosine monophosphate and inosine monophosphate strongly enhance umami taste when l-glutamate is present. Ribonucleotides bind to the outer section of the venus flytrap domain of the receptor dimer and stabilize the closed conformation. Concentrations of glutamate, aspartate, arginate, and other compounds in food products may enhance saltiness and overall flavor. Umami ingredients may help to reduce the consumption of salts and fats in the general population and increase food consumption in the elderly.

Consumer acceptance among Dutch and German students of insects in feed and food

Due to the environmental and nutritional benefits of insects, their consumption would be one of the solutions to feed the growing human population. Despite the increasing interest in the use of insects as food and feed, consumer acceptance is the major obstacle to successful implementation in Western countries and we studied the factors that influence consumer acceptance in a group of university students from Germany and the Netherlands. In this exploratory research, a survey was conducted (n = 222). Socio‐demographic and psychological factors were established from a theoretical review. In addition, we elaborated on questions regarding information on the health and environmental benefits of consuming insects. Initially, the data obtained are presented through descriptive statistics. The influence of the socio‐demographic and psychological factors, and the information on the willingness to accept insects as animal feed and human food was analyzed using correlations and multiple linear regressions. Results showed more willingness to accept insects as animal feed than in human food. The acceptance among German and Dutch students seems to be driven by issues similar to those in other European countries, such as visual aspects and knowledge about the benefits. The effect of the information on willingness constitutes an important finding of this study, especially for the use of insects in animal feed, since most of the previous studies have focused on the use of insects as human food. Our data support the need to inform and educate consumers about the environmental and health benefits of entomophagy. We conclude that effective efforts to implement entomophagy could increase the level of familiarity with the insect food and inform (or educate) consumers about its benefits. Insights from this study are useful to address studies focusing on specific segments of possible early adopters and consequently addressing communication strategies in this market segmentation.

Implications of cellular agriculture for hospitality and tourism management research: sustainable development goal perspective.