Characterization of Pectobacterium brasiliense strains from potato and vegetables in Israel

Pectobacterium brasiliense (Pbr) infects a wide range of crops worldwide, causing potato blackleg and soft rot and vegetable soft rots. This study aimed to characterize the genetic diversity and virulence variability among 68 Pbr strains isolated from either symptomless potato progeny tubers, diseased potato plants, ware potatoes wash water, or vegetables grown in Israel, as well as strains isolated from symptomless seed tubers grown in Europe, or diseased potato plants grown in France. The collection was typed using PCR and TaqMan real-time PCR analyses, dnaX sequence analysis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and pectolytic activity. dnaX phylogeny grouped almost all strains in a common genetic clade related to Pbr, which was distinct from the other Pectobacterium species. PFGE analysis identified two main clusters, including one major group of 47 strains with 95%–100% similarity. Maceration assays on two potato cultivars showed significant differences between strains but with no correlations with the source of the strains nor the status of the host (with/without symptoms). Molecular (dnaX sequences and PFGE profiles) and phenotypic analyses (tuber maceration tests) showed that the tested Pbr strains are not a homogeneous group. Analysis of the tested Pbr strains isolated from potato and vegetables grown in fields with a history of potato cultivation suggests that seed tubers imported from Europe may be the main source for Pbr in Israel. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that describes biodiversity and population structure of P. brasiliense isolated from potato and vegetables under hot climate conditions.     

Investigations into the mode of resistance of potato tubers toFusarium roseum ‘Sambucinum’

In a histological study comparing tuber resistance of potato clone B7200-33 and susceptible variety “Russet Burbank” toFusarium roseum ‘Sambucinum’, the formation of suberin and wound periderm was found to be an important resistance mechanism. In B7200-33 tubers a continuous suberin layer was formed whereas in ‘Russet Burbank’ tubers the suberin was formed in clumps so that the pathogen easily could invade the tissue between the clumps but not through a continuous layer. Wound periderm also was formed at a more rapid rate in B7200-33 than in ‘Russet Burbank’ tubers thereby “walling off” the pathogen and reducing decay.     

Lyngbyastatins 8–10, Elastase Inhibitors with Cyclic Depsipeptide Scaffolds Isolated from the Marine Cyanobacterium Lyngbya semiplena

Investigation of an extract from the marine cyanobacterium Lyngbya semiplena, collected in Tumon Bay, Guam, led to the identification of three new cyclodepsipeptides, lyngbyastatins 8–10 (1–3). The structures of 1–3 were determined by NMR, MS, ESIMS fragmentation and chemical degradation. Compounds 1–3 are closely related to lyngbyastatins 4–7. Like the latter compounds, we found 1–3 to inhibit porcine pancreatic elastase, with IC₅₀ values of 123 nM, 210 nM and 120 nM, respectively.     

Adiposity, education and weight loss effort are independently associated with energy reporting quality in the Ontario Food Survey

OBJECTIVES: To examine the associations of adiposity, dietary restraint and other personal characteristics with energy reporting quality. DESIGN/SUBJECTS: Secondary analysis of 230 women and 158 men from the 1997/98 Ontario Food Survey. METHODS: Energy reporting quality was estimated by ratios of energy intake (EI) to both basal metabolic rate (BMR) and total energy expenditure (TEE). Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to examine energy reporting quality between two dietary recalls and in relation to body mass index (BMI) with adjustment for potential confounders. Energy reporting quality was explored across categories of age, BMI, income, education, dieting status and food insecurity through analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: From the ANOVA, energy reporting quality was associated with BMI group, age category and weight loss for men and women, as well as with education among women (P 0.05). EI:BMR and EI:TEE on the first and second 24-hour recalls were positively related (P < 0.0001 for men and women). A higher proportion of variance in energy reporting quality was explained for women than for men (R2 = 0.19 and 0.14, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Studies of diet and adiposity are probably hindered to some extent by BMI-related variation in energy reporting quality. Methods to address this issue are urgently needed if population surveys will continue to serve as the primary source of dietary intake data.     

Structuring and functionalization of dispersions containing egg yolk, plasma and granules induced by mechanical treatments

In this study, the impact of mechanical treatments on the physicochemical and emulsifying properties of hen egg yolk and its fractions plasma and granules has been assessed. Yolk, plasma, and granule dispersions at pH 4.0 and 0.75 M NaCl were subjected to rotor-stator and high-pressure pretreatments at different dynamic pressure levels: 30, 100, and 200 bar at 20 degrees C. Physicochemical characteristics (protein solubility, rheological behavior, and micro- and ultra-structures) and emulsifying properties (oil/water 60:40 emulsions: droplet size and flocculation, protein adsorption) of control dispersions and dispersions subjected to mechanical pretreatments (rotor-stator or high pressure) were compared. Homogenization at high pressures (100 and 200 bar) led to a decreased protein solubility and to an increase in apparent viscosity of yolk and plasma dispersions. These pressures certainly disrupted low-density lipoproteins (LDL) particles and generated aggregates of proteins liberated from LDL and livetins in the plasma fraction, and led to a moderated reorganization of the microstructure of granules. Despite the modifications observed in the pretreated plasma and granules dispersions, the oil droplet diameter and the bridging flocculation obtained in emulsions made with these dispersions were similar to that obtained with untreated dispersions. Results concerning interfacial protein adsorption suggested that preformed or natural aggregates at least partially persist at the oil-water interface.     

Diminishing reciprocal fairness by disrupting the right prefrontal cortex

Humans restrain self-interest with moral and social values. They are the only species known to exhibit reciprocal fairness, which implies the punishment of other individuals' unfair behaviors, even if it hurts the punisher's economic self-interest. Reciprocal fairness has been demonstrated in the Ultimatum Game, where players often reject their bargaining partner's unfair offers. Despite progress in recent years, however, little is known about how the human brain limits the impact of selfish motives and implements fair behavior. Here we show that disruption of the right, but not the left, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) by low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation substantially reduces subjects' willingness to reject their partners' intentionally unfair offers, which suggests that subjects are less able to resist the economic temptation to accept these offers. Importantly, however, subjects still judge such offers as very unfair, which indicates that the right DLPFC plays a key role in the implementation of fairness-related behaviors.     

Accuracy of computed tomography in determining lesion size in canine appendicular osteosarcoma

Multidetector contrast enhanced computed tomography with acquisition of 0.625-mm thick transverse images was used to measure the extent of appendicular osteosarcoma in 10 dogs. The measured length of tumor based on CT was compared to the true length of tumor using histopathology. There was a statistically significant association with good correlation between the true length of osteosarcoma compared to the length of intramedullary/endosteal abnormalities on CT with a mean overestimation of 1.8% (SD = 15%). There was not a statistically significant association between the true tumor length and the length of periosteal proliferation on CT with a mean overestimation of 9.7% (SD = 30.3%). There was a statistically significant association, but with poor correlation, between the true tumor length compared to the length of abnormal contrast enhancement with a mean overestimation of 9.6% (SD = 34.8%). The extent of intramedullary/endosteal CT abnormalities assessed from submillimeter transverse images may be of value in assessing patient candidacy and surgical margins for limb-sparing surgery.     

Validation of a Polar® human heart rate monitor for measuring heart rate and heart rate variability in adult dogs under stationary conditions

Heart rate variability (HRV) is considered to be a measure of autonomic regulation of cardiac activity for assessing stress and welfare in animals. Polar^® human heart rate monitors are frequently used in animal studies to measure HRV and have been validated for this use in cows, pigs, and horses. Although Polar^® monitors have been used in canine research to measure cardiac activity, we know of no studies that have tested its validity in dogs. Our objectives were as follows: (1) to collect interbeat interval (IBI) data while simultaneously using a Polar^® heart rate monitor and an electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor in awake healthy dogs under stationary conditions; (2) to compare Polar^® data with ECG data and examine whether any errors occurred in the Polar^® data; and (3) to assess the validity of these Polar^® data for recording time- and frequency-domain HRV data in dogs. IBI data from the Polar^® RS800CX monitor and a telemetric ECG monitor, the Televet 100, were recorded simultaneously for 5 continuous minutes in 10 adult beagles. The Polar^® data were compared with the ECG data to identify possible interbeat anomalies, such as those previously identified in pigs and horses. Statistical comparisons for a variety of time and frequency domain parameters (i.e., mean heart rate [ms], mean IBI [ms], R-R max [ms], R-R min [ms], standard deviation, total variance [ms²], and root mean square of successive differences) were performed. Time and frequency domain parameters from the Polar^® data were not significantly different from ECG data. The mean heart rate from the Polar^® data was 123.98 bpm (range: 101.57-138.35 bpm) and from ECG data was 123.33 bpm (range: 101.57-135.08 bpm). Bland–Altman analysis was used to measure the level of agreement between the 2 data sets. The mean difference between ECG and Polar^® data was 0.42 ms (limits of agreement: ?126.76 to 127.60 ms); more than 95% of the differences fell between these limits. We conclude that the Polar^® RS800CX digital R-R heart rate monitor is a promising instrument to reliably measure HRV in dogs under stationary conditions.