Lower weight gain and hepatic lipid content in hamsters fed high fat diets supplemented with white rice protein, brown rice protein, soy protein, and their hydrolysates

The physiological effects of the hydrolysates of white rice protein (WRP), brown rice protein (BRP), and soy protein (SP) hydrolyzed by the food grade enzyme, alcalase2.4 L, were compared to the original protein source. Male Syrian Golden hamsters were fed high-fat diets containing either 20% casein (control) or 20% extracted proteins or their hydrolysates as the protein source for 3 weeks. The brown rice protein hydrolysate (BRPH) diet group reduced weight gain 76% compared with the control. Animals fed the BRPH supplemented diet also had lower final body weight, liver weight, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), and liver cholesterol, and higher fecal fat and bile acid excretion than the control. Expression levels of hepatic genes for lipid oxidation, PPARα, ACOX1, and CPT1, were highest for hamsters fed the BRPH supplemented diet. Expression of CYP7A1, the gene regulating bile acid synthesis, was higher in all test groups. Expression of CYP51, a gene coding for an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis, was highest in the BRPH diet group. The results suggest that BRPH includes unique peptides that reduce weight gain and hepatic cholesterol synthesis.     

Serological evidence for exposure to bovine viral diarrhoea virus in sheep co-grazed with beef cattle in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Aims: To determine whether sheep that co-grazed with cattle that were suspected to be positive for bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus had serological evidence of exposure to the virus.

Methods: Eighteen commercial farms that routinely co-grazed cattle and sheep in the same paddocks were recruited through purposive sampling. The recruiting veterinarians identified nine farms with cattle herds that were known or highly suspected to be positive for BVD and nine farms that were considered to be free of BVD. Blood samples were taken from 15 ewes aged 1 year on each farm and samples were submitted to a commercial diagnostic laboratory to test for antibodies against pestiviruses using an ELISA. All samples that were positive were then tested using a virus neutralisation test (VNT)for antibodies against BVD virus.

Results: Of the 270 blood samples, 17 were positive for pestivirus antibodies by ELISA and these originated from two farms that were known or suspected to have BVD virus-positive cattle. None of the samples from the nine flocks co-grazed with cattle herds that were known or suspected to be BVD virus-negative were positive for pestivirus antibodies. Within the two positive farms, 2/15 samples from the first farm and 15/15 samples from the second farm were antibody-positive. When the 17 positive blood samples were submitted for VNT, all 15 samples from the second farm tested positive for BVD virus antibodies with the highest titre being 1:512.

Conclusions and clinical relevance: In this small sample of New Zealand sheep and beef farms with suspected BVD infection in cattle, there was evidence of pestivirus exposure in co-grazed sheep. Although we were unable to confirm the origin of the exposure in these sheep, these findings highlight that farmers who are trying to eradicate BVD from their cattle should be mindful that the infection may also be circulating in sheep, and both populations should be considered a possible risk to each other for generating transient and persistent infections. Further work is needed to estimate the true prevalence of New Zealand sheep flocks that are affected by BVD and the associated economic impacts.     

Understanding ‘resource’ conflicts in Papua New Guinea

Abstract: Papua New Guinea, with its heavy dependence on natural resources, limited economic development in the past two decades, poor record of governance and high‐profile separatist conflicts such as the Bougainville civil war, appears to be an exemplar of the ‘Resource Curse’ theory – the notion that natural resources actively undermine economic development. Using a number of examples from a range of scales, this paper argues that what appear to be ‘resource’ conflicts in Papua New Guinea are actually better conceived as conflicts around identity and social relationships. The very different conceptualisation of natural resources in most Melanesian societies – as elements of the social world as much as any external environmental sphere – means that resources become a conduit for local social and political agendas and tensions to be expressed. The nature of traditional conflict in Melanesian societies is discussed as a guide to the better management and resolution of what appear to be ‘resource’ conflicts in Papua New Guinea.     

Advances in Functional Genomics and Genetic Modification of Potato

The challenges facing potato breeding have actually changed very little over the years with resistance to pests and pathogens remaining high on the agenda together with improvements in storability, reduction in blemishes, and novelty and consistency in cooking/processing qualities. The need to expand the range of targets for potato improvement is being driven by requirements for reduced agrochemical usage and by predictions of the effects of changing climates. Thus fertiliser and water use efficiency are moving up the political agenda. Genetic variation present in germplasm collections needs to be harnessed to provide the genes and alleles required. This paper provides examples of the functional genomics tools and approaches being developed and deployed to provide new options for advancing the breeding of next generation crops. Whilst genetic modification (GM) approaches remain contentious in Europe, this paper will also provide some recent examples of the range of potential impacts that GM approaches could make. It will also consider the value of so-called intragenic or cisgenic approaches to potato genetic engineering.     

Effect of the new pyrazole carboxamide fungicide penthiopyrad on late leaf spot and stem rot of peanut

BACKGROUND: Management of early leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola Hori.), late leaf spot [Cercosporidium personatum (Berk. & MA Curtis) Deighton] and stem rot (Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.) of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in the southeastern USA is heavily dependent upon sterol biosynthesis inhibitor (SBI) and quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides. Effective new fungicides with different modes of action could improve overall disease control and extend the utility of the current fungicides. Penthiopryad is a pyrazole carboxamide fungicide being evaluated for use on peanut. Field experiments were conducted from 2004 to 2007 to determine the effect of a range of rates (0–0.36 kg AI ha^?1) of penthiopyrad on leaf spot and stem rot and the relative efficacy of penthiopyrad and current fungicide standards chlorothalonil, tebuconazole and azoxystrobin. RESULTS: Leaf spot control in plots treated with penthiopyrad at 0.20 kg AI ha^?1 or higher was similar to or better than that for the chlorothalonil standard. The incidence of stem rot for all penthiopyrad treatments was usually less than that for the tebuconazole or azoxystrobin standard treatments. Pod yields for all penthiopyrad treatments were similar to or higher than those for the respective standards. CONCLUSION: Penthiopyrad has excellent potential for management of late leaf spot and stem rot of peanut, and may complement current SBI and QoI fungicides. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Compression Deformation and Structural Relationships of Medium Grain Cooked Rice

Cooked rice quality is based on a number of factors including texture. Texture and structure of foods are closely related and aspects of the relationship can be explored by correlating compression measurements to structural observations of the compressed material. To obtain compression measurements, single cooked, milled rice grains were compressed in a texture analyzer to a specific percentage (% compression) of the original grain; the uncompressed grain is 0%. The experiment, using single grains in each case, was repeated multiple times. Compression percentages of 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70% were measured against a constant resistance force in the texture analyzer. Structures of cooked rice grains at the various compression levels were compared by brightfield and fluorescence microscopy. The outside of an uncompressed, intact, cooked rice grain is swollen and distorted while the interior has three or more odd‐shaped holes (voids). Each void is largest in the center of the grain and decreases in size toward the peripheral edges becoming fine cracks toward the outermost portion of the void. The voids tended to increase in area up to 40% compression and then decrease in area upon further compression. Percent compression versus resistance force was a curvilinear relationship. With increasing % compression, cell shapes became increasingly more rounded, although there wasn't much effect on the integrity of cell walls with increasing % compression. The degree to which grain structure changed during the various compression tests, combined with the curvilinear behavior of resistance force versus % compression, indicates that the voids and cell walls have an effect on texture.     

Plant Uptake Response to Metals and Nitrate in Simulated Uranium Mill Tailings Contaminated Groundwater

Carrots, squash, and Sudan grass were irrigated with groundwater amended with manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and uranium stock solutions to simulate a range of concentrations found at ten inactive uranium ore milling sites to determine plant tissue levels after a 90 day growth period in sand in a greenhouse. Sudan grass was also dosed with a series of nitrate concentrations. Except for squash response to uranium, all plantsshowed an increased accumulation of each metal, someto unacceptable levels, with increased metal concentration dose. Squash did not accumulate uranium at any dose tested. Increased nitrate in the irrigation water did not have a major influence on Sudan grass accumulation of any metal.     

Energy components of growth in Holstein steers fed formaldehyde- and formic acid-treated alfalfa or orchardgrass silages at equalized intakes of dry matter

Energy retention was compared in Holstein steers fed either alfalfa or orchardgrass silages for 164 d at either 65 or 90 g DM/kg.75 BW daily in a 2 x 2 factorial. Energy retention was estimated by slaughter-balance using an initial kill of eight steers at 216 kg and a final kill of eight steers per treatment at 326 kg. The ADG was not affected (P greater than .05) by silage, but steers fed alfalfa gained less (P less than .001) gut fill (they lost gut fill) and gained more (P less than .001) of the following than steers fed orchardgrass: empty body, 23%; fat, 50%; fat-free matter, 18%; protein, 16%; water, 17%; ash, 43%; gross energy, 31%; and carbon, 38%. With retained energy at 1.15 Mcal/d, retained energy was equally distributed between fat and protein. Increments of daily retained energy greater than 1.15 Mcal were deposited as 76% to fat and 24% to protein; this distribution was not affected by silage. The energy requirement for maintenance, with BW adjusted to equal gut fill, was not different (P greater than .05) at 130 kcal ME/kg.75 BW for steers fed alfalfa vs 125 for steers fed orchardgrass. Although not significant (P greater than .05), retained energy/ME intake above maintenance was 13% greater for steers fed alfalfa (.261) than for steers fed orchardgrass (.230), which supports the difference observed by calorimetry. The difference in dietary protein (25.6 vs 20.5%) did not contribute to the difference in energy retention because the differences in fat and protein retention could be explained totally by differences in daily energy deposition. The higher NDF of orchardgrass, or other fiber components, seems to be the most probable cause of its somewhat lower partial energetic efficiency relative to alfalfa.