Energy dynamics of subyearling Chinook salmon reveal the importance of piscivory to short‐term growth during early marine residence

Variation in prey quantity and quality can influence growth and survival of marine predators, including anadromous fish that migrate from freshwater systems. The objective of this study was to examine the energy dynamics of subyearling Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) following freshwater emigration. To address this objective, a population of Chinook salmon and their marine prey were repeatedly sampled from June to September over 2 years in coastal waters off Oregon and Washington. Subyearlings from the same population were also reared under laboratory conditions. Using a bioenergetics model evaluated in the laboratory, we found that growth rate variability in the field was associated more with differences in northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) consumption and less with variation in diet energy density or ocean temperature. Highest growth rates (2.43–3.22% body weight/day) occurred in months when anchovy biomass peaked, and the timing of peak anchovy biomass varied by year. Our results support a general pattern among subyearling Chinook salmon occurring from Alaska to California that feeding rates contribute most to growth rate variability during early marine residence, although dominant prey types can differ seasonally, annually, or by ecosystem. In the northern California Current, faster growth appears to be associated with the availability of age‐0 anchovy. Identifying factors that influence the seasonal development of the prey field and regulate prey quantity and quality will improve understanding of salmon growth and survival during early marine residence.     

A landscape and policy perspective on forest conversion: Long-tailed tit (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegithalos caudatus</Emphasis>) and the allocation of deciduous forests in southern Sweden

As resources allocated specifically for conservation are limited, there is a need to ensure conservation policy initiatives lead to effective conservation outcomes. In this study, we investigated the potential conservation benefits from alternative spatial allocations of old deciduous stands to a landscape dominated by coniferous production forests owned primarily by non-industrial private forest owners. As a target species, we used the long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus), a species associated with deciduous forests and known to be sensitive to isolation. We used a previously published model based on empirical data on the occurrence of this species, to assess the probability of occurrence of the bird in a 4,000 km² area in southern Sweden for which we possess detailed spatial GIS data (kNN data) of tree species composition and age. We assessed alternative scenarios where old deciduous forest was allocated with or without respect to distance from existing old deciduous forests. Due to the long-tailed tit’s habitat requirement increasing the amount of old deciduous forests close to existing habitats was the most effective strategy. However, the potential advantages of this strategy may in fact be overturned in favor of the other scenarios if ownership structures and probable uptake rates of policy initiatives are also considered. If a policy initiative is targeted toward owners with properties in close proximity to existing suitable habitat, when compared to if all forest owners are targeted, a higher proportion of owners is needed to participate in order to achieve the same degree of habitat creation for the species. Here, we discuss the potential benefits for effective conservation policy formulation from integrating spatially explicit datasets and detailed ecological knowledge with land-ownership structures and policy uptake scenarios.     

Artificial inoculation and susceptibility of Pinus armandii to Dothistroma septosporum

Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) is a serious needle disease of conifers that primarily affects pine species (Pinus spp.). Dothistroma septosporum is one of the DNB pathogens that has a diverse range of host species excluding Pinus armandii. In 15 inoculated P. armandii seedlings, D. septosporum acervuli were observed in 43 infected needles of ten seedlings with a mean disease severity of 1.11% at 25 weeks after inoculations, demonstrating the potential of D. septosporum to cause symptoms on the needles of P. armandii via artificial inoculation. The disease severity of P. armandii was similar to the positive control, Pinus nigra (median 0.75 for P. armandii to 0.70 for P. nigra), thus, P. armandii acts under artificial conditions as a susceptible host species.     

Further manipulation by centric misdivision of the 1RS.1BL translocation in wheat

Complete chromosomes 1R and 1B were reconstructed in wheat from the centric wheat-rye translocation 1RS.1BL. Three substitutions: 1R(1A), 1R(1B), 1R(1D), and three new centric translocations: 1RS.1AL, 1RS.1BL, 1RS.1DL were produced from the reconstructed chromosome 1R. Each one of these has the same rye chromosome arm 1RS which was present in the original translocation 1RS.1BL of ‘Kavkaz’ wheat. Reconstructed chromosome 1B and a normal chromosome 1R were used to produce a new 1RS.1BL translocation. This translocation has the long arm from the original 1RS.1BL translocation of ‘Kavkaz’, but a different 1RS arm. The third generation centric translocations were mitotically stable and were normally transmitted to progeny. Misdivision frequency of the reconstructed chromosomes 1R did not change relative to normal 1R, whereas the misdivision frequency of the two reconstructed chromosomes 1B tested was significantly higher relative to normal 1B. These experiments demonstrate that repeated cycles of centric breakage and fusion do not impair the function of centromeres in wheat and rye but may change chromosome's susceptibility to misdivision. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of the distillation step on the ratios of stable isotopes of ethanol in cherry brandies

Isotope ratio mass spectrometry and site-specific natural isotope fractionation-nuclear magnetic resonance were applied to determine the overall carbon isotope ratio (delta13C) and the hydrogen isotope ratios [(D/H)I and (D/H)II] of ethanol, respectively. Ethanol was obtained by distillation of fermented cherry mash from a pot still commonly used in fruit brandy production. Analyses of distillate fractions revealed that the distillation proceeds with a fractionation of ethanol isotopologues. The inverse vapor pressure isotope effect (VPIE) observed for the carbon isotopologues is in accordance with the data reported for distillation of ethanol in spinning band columns. In contrast, the inverse VPIE for hydrogen isotopologues of ethanol observed in spinning band columns could not be confirmed. To investigate whether the observed isotope fractionations might influence the applicability of stable isotope analysis for quality and authenticity assessment of fruit brandies, the collected distillate fractions were recombined to cuts, as is common practice in commercial fruit brandy production. Taking into consideration the limits of repeatability of the method, it could be demonstrated that the isotope fractionations observed do not impair the applicability of stable isotope analysis of the carbon and hydrogen isotopes of ethanol for the authenticity assessment of cherry brandies if the cuts are placed in accordance with common distillers' practice.     

Rice bran fermented with saccharomyces boulardii generates novel metabolite profiles with bioactivity

Emerging evidence supporting chronic disease fighting properties of rice bran has advanced the development of stabilized rice bran for human use as a functional food and dietary supplement. A global and targeted metabolomic investigation of stabilized rice bran fermented with Saccharomyces boulardii was performed in three rice varieties. Metabolites from S. boulardii-fermented rice bran were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and assessed for bioactivity compared to nonfermented rice bran in normal and malignant lymphocytes. Global metabolite profiling revealed significant differences in the metabolome that led to discovery of candidate compounds modulated by S. boulardii fermentation. Fermented rice bran extracts from three rice varieties reduced growth of human B lymphomas compared to each variety's nonfermented control and revealed that fermentation differentially altered bioactive compounds. These data support that integration of global and targeted metabolite analysis can be utilized for assessing health properties of rice bran phytochemicals that are enhanced by yeast fermentation and that differ across rice varieties.     

Semicarbazide formation in azodicarbonamide-treated flour: a model study

Semicarbazide was previously found in foods that were in contact with rubber gaskets foamed at high temperatures with a blowing agent azodicarbonamide. Because azodicarbonamide is an approved flour additive in certain countries, we set out to ascertain if semicarbazide is formed during the baking process from flours containing that additive. The levels of semicarbazide in baking flour treated with azodicarbonamide and bread baked from such flours were determined by isotope dilution (13C15N2-semicarbazide) liquid chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The samples were homogenized with HCl, extracted with n-pentane, derivatized with 2-nitrobenzaldehyde, and the derivative was extracted with ethyl acetate. After solvent exchange to 10% acetonitrile in water containing 0.1% acetic acid, the samples were analyzed using a 2.1 mm x 150 mm C18 column eluted with 2 mM ammonium formate in water/methanol (40:60). Semicarbazide was formed during the dry heating of commercial azodicarbonamide-containing flours at temperatures of 150-200 degrees C reaching levels of 0.2 mg/kg. Similar levels of semicarbazide were found in the crusts of breads made from azodicarbonamide-treated flour.     

Trends in overweight by socio-economic status in Vietnam: 1992 to 2002

OBJECTIVE: To explore socio-economic factors associated with rising rates of overweight among Vietnamese adults. DESIGN: The study was based on three national surveys of socio-economic factors and health conducted over a 10-year period. The studies were: the Vietnamese Living Standard Survey 1992-1993 (11 982 participants); the Vietnamese Living Standard Survey 1997-1998 (15 975 participants); and the Vietnamese National Health Survey 2001-2002 (94 656 participants). SUBJECTS: Male and female adults >18 years old were stratified by gender, age group, area of residence, occupation, education and relative food expenditures. Overweight was defined using body mass index (BMI) > or = 25 kg m(-2). RESULTS: Overweight rates in Vietnam more than doubled between 1992 and 2002 (from 2.0 to 5.7%). Significant increases were observed for men and women, in urban and rural areas, and for all age groups. In univariate analyses, both age and higher socio-economic status were associated with higher rates of overweight. Using the most recent survey, urban populations were more likely to be overweight than rural ones (odds ratio (OR) = 1.79), white-collar workers were more likely to be overweight than manual labourers (OR = 1.95) and persons in the top level of food expenditures were more likely to be overweight than persons in the bottom level (OR = 4.96) after adjustment for other factors. Education was inversely associated with overweight after adjusting for covariates. CONCLUSION: Economic growth and improved standard of living are associated with higher rates of overweight in nations in early stages of economic development. In Vietnam, higher rates of overweight were observed among the higher income and occupation groups.     

Pathway analysis of branched-chain ester biosynthesis in apple using deuterium labeling and enantioselective gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The biosynthesis of volatile esters by Red Delicious apples was investigated by incubating fruit tissue with deuterated flavor precursors at various times after controlled atmosphere (CA) storage and measuring deuterium incorporation into branched-chain ester volatiles. 2-Methylbutyl acetate was the only volatile not significantly reduced by CA storage. Conversion of 2-methylbutanol to 2-methylbutyl acetate and of 2-methylbutanoic acid to ethyl 2-methylbutanoate and to hexyl 2-methylbutanoate was limited by the availability of 2-methylbutyl substrates but not by acetyl-CoA, ethanol, or hexanol, respectively. The enzymatic activity required for these reactions declined during CA storage. The conversion of 2-methylbutanoic acid to 2-methylbutanol was also substrate limited, but enzymic activity appeared stable in storage. Biosynthesis of both 2-methylbutanoic acid and 2-methylbutanol, from isoleucine, was severely depressed under CA storage. The reduced metabolism of isoleucine to 2-methylbutanoyl-CoA may be the primary reason for reduced branched-chain ester synthesis in CA-stored Red Delicious apples. Enantioselective gas chromatography-mass spectrometry confirmed that the chirality of (S)-2-methylbutyl acetate derives from l-isoleucine with the other enzymes in this pathway not being enantiospecific. Treatment of tissue samples with 2-methylbut-2E-enal gave only (S)-2-methylbutyl acetate, indicating that biosynthesis was not via tiglyl-CoA.