Effects of endogenous flour lipids on the quality of semisweet biscuits

Fractionation and reconstitution techniques were used to study the contribution of endogenous flour lipids to the quality of semisweet (Rich Tea-type) biscuits. Biscuit flour was defatted with chloroform and baked with bakery fat but without endogenous lipid addition. Semisweet biscuits baked from defatted flour were flatter, denser, and harder and showed collapse of gas cells during baking when compared with control biscuits. Defatted flour semisweet doughs exhibited a different rheological behavior from the control samples showing higher storage and loss moduli (G' and G' ' values), that is, high viscoelasticity. Functionality was restored when total nonstarch flour lipids were added back to defatted flour. Both the polar and nonpolar lipid fractions had positive effects in restoring flour quality, but the polar lipid fraction was of greatest benefit. Both fractions were needed for complete restoration of both biscuit quality and dough rheological characteristics.     

Estimated genetic parameters for palatability traits of steaks from Brahman cattle

Heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations were estimated from carcass and beef palatability data collected from Brahman calves (n = 504) born in central Florida from 1996 to 2000. Traits evaluated included Warner-Bratzler shear force (after 7, 14, and 21 d of aging), panel tenderness score, connective tissue amount, juiciness, flavor intensity, and off flavor (after 14 d of aging), percentages of raw and cooked lipids, and milligrams per gram of muscle calpastatin activity. Parameters were estimated using an animal model and derivative-free restricted maximum likelihood procedures. Estimated heritabilities for d 7, 14, and 21 shear force were 0.14,0.14, and 0.06, respectively, indicating that improvement in these traits by selection would be slow. Estimated heritabilities of sensory panel attributes were 0.11, 0.12, 0.05, 0.04, and 0.01 for tenderness, connective tissue amount, juiciness, flavor intensity, and off flavor, respectively. The estimated heritabilities for percentages of raw and cooked lipids, and calpastatin activity were 0.34, 0.17, and 0.07, respectively. Most of the estimated genetic correlations among palatability traits and for palatability traits with fat thickness, marbling score, and loin muscle area were consistent with other estimates from the literature. Results indicated that improvement in tenderness based on selection for favorable shear force, sensory panel tenderness, or calpastatin activity would be slow; therefore, postslaughter intervention programs should also be considered.     

Serological relationships between the cylindrical inclusion proteins of potyviruses

ABSTRACT Antisera to the cytoplasmic inclusion proteins (CIPs) of bean yellow mosaic (BYMV), clover yellow vein (ClYVV), turnip mosaic (TuMV), sweet potato feathery mottle (SPFMV), and maize dwarf mosaic (MDMV) potyviruses were used to examine the relationships between the CIPs of 18 potyviruses. The antisera to CIPs of BYMV, ClYVV, TuMV, and SPFMV cross-reacted to most or all of the purified CIPs tested in western blot assays. The MDMV CIP antiserum reacted significantly only to the MDMV and sorghum mosaic virus CIPs. Reactivity of antisera to CIPs of dicot-infecting viruses was generally higher with CIPs of other dicot-infecting than with monocot-infecting potyvirus CIPs. Analysis of amino acid sequences of the CI genes of 11 well-characterized potyviruses suggested that epitopes specific for individual potyviruses are primarily in the C-terminal domains of the CIP, whereas epitopes shared among different viruses are clustered in the N-terminal domains. The most highly conserved predicted epitope overlaps the nucleotide binding motif of the N-terminal helicase domain of the CIP. Antibodies to this domain will probably be present in antisera to any potyvirus CIP and contribute to the cross-reactivity observed. Differences in the C-terminal domains may correlate with interactions between the CIP and coat protein necessary for replication and movement.     

Effects of intake level on metabolic response to estrogenic growth promoters in beef steers

Effects of diethylstilbestrol (DES, 10 mg/d orally, Trial 1) or Synovex-S (SYN, 220 mg ear implant, Trial 2) on gain and N balance (g/d) were determined in steers that consumed 1.3, 2.7, 4.4 and 7.4 kg DM/d (Trial 1) and 1.3, 2.9, 4.3 and 6.6 kg DM/d (Trial 2). Each trial was a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square with four pairs of steers per trial (BW:322 kg, Trial 1; 278 kg Trial 2) and a control and growth promoter steer in each pair. Steers were fed a pelleted 75% concentrate diet containing 16.7% (DM basis). Each period consisted of 1 wk of intake adaptation, 5 wk of feeding and 1 wk in metabolism crates (2-d adjustment and 5-d collection). Steers were switched among DMI but not among promoter treatments. Intercept and slope, respectively, for the regression of BW gain (kg/d) on DMI (kg/d) were -.66 and .276 for control vs -.84 and .328 for DES steers and -.69 and .276 for control vs -.89 and .356 for SYN steers. Similar regression values for N balance (g/d) on DMI (kg/d) were -10.3 and 6.91 for control vs -17.2 and 9.10 for DES steers and -4.5 and 4.67 for control vs -7.6 and 5.85 for SYN steers. Across trials, slopes differed from zero (P less than .01), and promoter slopes differed from controls for gain (P less than .01) and N balance (P less than .10). During an extra period at the end of each trial, all steers were fed the high intake level for 6 wk, followed by N balance determinations the last 3 d of a 7-d fast.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

SUSCEPTIBILITY ARTIFACTS ON T2*‐WEIGHTED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE CANINE AND FELINE SPINE

The T2*‐weighted gradient recalled echo sequence is a sensitive means to detect blood degradation products. While not a routine sequence in magnetic resonance imaging of the spine in small animals, it can provide additional valuable information in select cases. The goal of this retrospective, cross‐sectional study was to describe findings when acquiring this sequence during magnetic resonance imaging examination of the spine in small animals. The University of Tennessee's veterinary radiology database was searched for dogs and cats that underwent magnetic resonance imaging for suspect spinal disease in which a T2*‐weighted gradient recalled echo sequence was acquired and susceptibility artifact was identified. The following information was recorded: signalment, clinical signs, location and appearance of susceptibility artifact, and final diagnosis. Thirty‐nine cases were included in the study. Extradural susceptibility artifacts were observed in cases of intervertebral disc herniation with or without associated hemorrhage (n = 28), extradural hemorrhage associated with spinal trauma (n = 2), hemophilia (n = 1), and in a cystic extradural mass (n = 1). Remaining lesions displaying susceptibility artifact were intramedullary and included presumptive acute noncompressive nucleus pulposus extrusion (n = 2), hematoma (n = 1), hemangiosarcoma metastasis (n = 1), intramedullary disc extrusion (n = 1), presumptive meningomyelitis (n = 1), and a mass of undetermined etiology (n = 1). Inclusion of a T2*‐weighted gradient recalled echo sequence may be helpful in spinal magnetic resonance imaging when standard imaging sequences are ambiguous or intramedullary lesions are observed.