Unilever (France)

The impact of salt delivery in mouth on salt perception was investigated. It was hypothesized that fast concentration changes in the delivery to the receptor can reduce sensory adaptation, leading to an increased taste perception. Saltiness ratings were scored by a panel over time during various stimulation conditions involving relative changes in NaCl concentration of 20% and 38%. Changes in salt delivery profile had similar effect on saltiness perception when delivered either by a sipwise method or by a gustometer. The impact of concentration variations and frequency of concentration changes was further investigated with the gustometer method. Five second boosts and 2 s pulses were delivered during 3 sequential 10-s intervals, whereas the delivered total salt content was the same for all conditions. Two second pulses were found to increase saltiness perception, but only when the pulses were delivered during the first seconds of stimulation. Results suggest that the frequency, timing, and concentration differences of salt stimuli can affect saltiness. Specifically, a short and intense stimulus can increase salt perception, possibly through a reduction of adaptation.

Tristetraprolin (TTP) family proteins have anti‐inflammatory activity by binding to and destabilizing pro‐inflammatory mRNAs such as TNF mRNA, and represent a potential therapeutic target for inflammation‐related diseases. Tea has anti‐inflammatory properties but the molecular mechanism is unknown. Quantitative real‐time PCR was used to investigate the effects of green tea on the expression of TTP family genes (Zfp36/Ttp, Zfp36l1, Zfp36l2, Zfp36l3), pro‐inflammatory genes (Tnf, Gm‐csf, Cox2), and Hua, Vegfa, and Vegfb genes in rats fed a high‐fructose diet known to induce insulin resistance. TTP and ZFP36L1 mRNAs were the major forms in both liver and skeletal muscle. TTP, ZFP36L1, and ZFP36L2 mRNA levels were more abundant in the liver than muscle. GM‐CSF and ZFP36L3 mRNAs were undetectable in either tissue. Tea (1 g solid/kg diet) increased TTP mRNA levels by 50–140%, but TNF mRNA levels decreased by 30% in both tissues, and COX‐2 mRNA levels decreased by 40% in the muscle. Tea (2 g solid/kg diet) increased HuA mRNA levels by 40% in the liver, but did not affect any of the other mRNA levels in liver or muscle. These results showed that tea modulated TTP mRNA levels in rats, and that a post‐transcriptional mechanism through TTP could partially account for tea's anti‐inflammatory properties.

Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG) sensors embedded in composite insulators used for electrical high voltage applications have been studied. The study included the design of a new method for the manufacturing of composite insulators with optical fibers. The instrumented prototype insulators are intended to keep track of the mechanical and thermal stresses endured by the insulators in actual operating conditions. Optical characterization of the FBG sensors have been made using an erbium laser source and a spectrum analyzer. A 5kN strain resolution in a temperature range between -40°C and +60°C has been achieved using standard SMF-28 optical fibers.

A feature of the skin of many vertebrates is the presence of open grooves with characteristic intersecting geometric patterns. Here, we measure flows within the fine channels on the human skin surface and demonstrate that this network can act as a microfluidic device to allow the surface transport of liquids. Adapting a theory for fracture networks together with a treatment of capillary flow in a single V groove, we describe a model to account for the observed flows dependent on the groove shape, depth, and density of the grooves. This approach provides a simple framework for studying the regulation of fluid transport on the skin surface or on other similarly networked microchannels.