Fatty acid composition of New Zealand green-lipped mussels, Perna canaliculus: Implications for harvesting for n-3 extracts

Marine bivalves offer a potentially important source of long-chained polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) for human health supplements. Lipid extracts from individual New Zealand green-lipped mussels (NZGLM) were analyzed as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) by gas chromatography to assess geographical and seasonal differences between large (86 ± 1 mm) male and female and small (44 ± 1 mm) mussels. PUFAs dominated in spring and summer, comprising ∼ 50% of total fatty acids. Moreover, the commercially important n-3 fatty acids, 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA) and 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) together accounted for 70-79% of total PUFAs in spring and summer. During winter there was a marked decrease in condition and total n-3 PUFAs and a concomitant increase in saturated fatty acids in mussels, suggesting they had already spawned, had increased metabolic demands and limited PUFA-rich phytoplankton as food. While total n-3 content was not significantly different, there were geographical differences in individual n-3 fatty acids. Mussels collected from the cooler waters of Stewart Island had greater levels of 20:5n-3 (EPA), while those collected in Marlborough had greater concentrations of 22:6n-3 (DHA), which was attributed mainly to differences in phytoplankton composition. Total n-3 content and the condition index varied seasonally with greater concentrations of n-3 PUFAs, especially EPA, recorded in large mussels in spring, coincident with spring diatom blooms. Total PUFA levels and condition indices remained high in summer. There was no significant difference in condition indices, total n-3 content, DHA or EPA levels between large male and female mussels. Conversely, large mussels had significantly greater amounts of n-3 PUFAs than small mussels at Marlborough Sounds, while small mussels had marginally greater total n-3 concentrations than large mussels at Stewart Island. Taken together, these results suggest that the NZGLM offers a potentially important source of n-3 PUFAs for human health supplements. Our findings suggest that optimal harvesting conditions occur in spring when mussel condition and n-3 content peak for large mussels. Although DHA and EPA levels varied geographically, total n-3 content was not significantly different between sites, which implies that harvesting mussels for n-3 extracts would be driven more by logistical considerations.     

Improvement of zein dough characteristics using dilute organic acids

The replacement of gluten in dough products poses a major challenge. Preparing zein doughs in dilute acetic acid and lactic acid, such as produced during sourdough fermentation, was investigated. Increasing acid concentrations (0.7, 1.3 and 5.4% [v/v]) increased zein extensibility and reduced the stress and related parameters. Preparation of zein-maize starch/-rice doughs in dilute organic acids improved dough properties to the extent that the doughs could hold air and be inflated into a bubble by Alveography. Further, they exhibited similar Stability (P), Distensibility and deformation energy (W) to wheat flour dough. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed an ordered linear fibril network in zein and zein-rice flour doughs prepared in the dilute acids, which became uniform with increasing acid concentration. SDS-PAGE showed that the acids did not hydrolyse or polymerise the zein. FTIR indicated that the acidic conditions slightly increased the proportion of α-helical conformation in the zein doughs, possibly as a result of deamination. This conformational change may be responsible for the considerably improved zein dough properties. Zein doughs prepared in dilute organic acids show potential as a gluten replacement in gluten-free formulations.     

Cranial teratomas in two domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus).

Teratomas are rare tumors in domestic fowl, and none have been reported in the cranial area of ducks. Clinical signs and gross and microscopic findings associated with a cranial teratoma in two domestic ducks are reported. One tumor arose within the cranial vault and was associated with neurologic signs. The other tumor was subcutaneous and invaded the parietal bone but did not extend into the brain. Both tumors were tridermic.     

Differential responses in anterior pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) content and LHβ- and α-subunit MRNA, and plasma concentrations of LH and testosterone, in bulls treated with the LH-releasing hormone agonist deslorelin

Anterior pituitary gland contents of LH and LHß- and α-subunit mRNAs, and circulating concentrations of LH and testosterone, were determined in bulls treated with the LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist deslorelin. Brahman (Bos indicus) bulls (14-month-old) were allocated to two groups and received the following: Control (n = 5), no treatment; Deslorelin (n = 4), four deslorelin implants (approximately 200 μg total deslorelin/day) for 36 d. Plasma concentrations of LH were higher in bulls treated with deslorelin on Day 1, had returned to typical levels by Day 8, and did not differ for control bulls and bulls treated with deslorelin from Day 8 to Day 29. Pituitary content of LH on Day 36 was reduced (P < 0.001) in bulls treated with deslorelin (33 ± 4 ng/mg) compared with control bulls (553 ± 142 ng/mg). Relative pituitary content of LHß-subunit mRNA was also reduced on Day 36 in bulls treated with deslorelin (Control, 0.65 ± 0.10; Deslorelin, 0.22 ± 0.04; P = 0.003). However, α-subunit mRNA relative content did not differ (Control, 0.73 ± 0.15; Deslorelin, 1.06 ± 0.12; P > 0.05). Plasma concentrations of testosterone were increased over the period of the experiment in the bulls treated with deslorelin compared with control bulls. This is the first demonstration of reduced pituitary content of LHß-subunit mRNA and LH, and unaltered content of α-subunit mRNA, in bulls treated with LHRH agonist. This was associated with apparently typical plasma concentrations of LH and elevated plasma testosterone. The anterior pituitary in bulls treated with LHRH agonist, therefore, undergoes classical desensitization and downregulation, but plasma LH and testosterone are not suppressed.     

Suspected ciliary dysfunction in Chinese Shar Pei pups with pneumonia

Chronic pneumonia was investigated in a litter of young Chinese Shar Pei in which 4 of 6 dogs were affected. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations (IgA, IgG, IgM) determined by radial immunodiffusion varied over time, but were not consistently lower in affected dogs, compared with control dogs. Two dogs that died had hydrocephalus and lymphoid depletion, in addition to severe broncho-pneumonia. Evaluation of ciliary ultrastructure in 2 affected dogs revealed random orientation of adjacent respiratory tract or oviductal cilia and a greater number of microtubular disarrangements, compared with control dogs. In vivo tracheal mucociliary clearance of 99mtechnetium macroaggregated albumin was absent in 1 dog examined. The ciliary abnormalities were suspected to have resulted in an inefficient mucociliary transport system predisposing to the development of pneumonia. Further evaluation of 1 Chinese Shar Pei revealed lymphocyte mitogenesis results that were not consistently less than those of a control dog, normal total hemolytic complement values, and normal blood neutrophil chemotaxis.     

Evaluation of detailed training data to identify risk factors for retirement because of tendon injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses

OBJECTIVE: To identify the risk factors for premature retirement because of tendon injury in a Thoroughbred racehorse population. ANIMALS: 175 Thoroughbred racehorses (cases) at the Hong Kong Jockey Club that were retired from racing because of tendon injury between 1997 and 2004 and for which the last preretirement exercise was at a fast pace were each matched with 3 control horses that were randomly selected from all uninjured horses that had galloped on the same date as that last exercise episode. PROCEDURES: Training data for all horses were examined. Conditional logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for retirement from racing attributable to tendon injury. Two multivariable conditional logistic regression models were created; each contained 8 explanatory variables. RESULTS: Compared with control horses, case horses were older at the time of import, accumulated more race distance soon after import, were more likely to have had previous official veterinary or ultrasonographic examinations, raced fewer times during their career, and were in training for a longer period and had exercised at a reduced intensity during the 180-day period preceding the last fast-paced work date. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In addition to identification of risk factors for tendon injury among racing Thoroughbreds, results have suggested that resources focused on obtaining accurate training data may be misdirected in the absence of internationally agreed criteria for incident tendon injury among racehorses. Nevertheless, changes in training intensity and findings of previous clinical examinations could be used to identify horses at risk of tendon injury-associated retirement.     

Genotype × environment interaction amongst spring barley lines grown at sites in the northern and southern hemispheres

Summary Measurements and scores for juvenile plant habit, time to ear emergence, plant height, leaf diseases and 1000 kernel weight were recorded on 123 lines of spring barley grown at Palmerston North, (40°S) New Zealand, and at Cambridge, (52°N) England. The material was grown at both sites from F₄ to F₇.For juvenile habit, time to ear emergence, plant height and 1000 kernel weight highly significant correlations were found between sites and seasons though few accounted for more than 50 per cent of the variation. There was no evidence of closer correlation between seasons within sites than between sites and seasons, and it was concluded that selection at either site should be equally effective.Analysis of yield performance over sites and seasons within sites revealed large effects due to genotypes and seasons within sites but small effect due to sites. Large interactions were found between genotypes and sites but the genotypes × seasons within sites effect was relatively small; better agreement was found in relative yields between seasons within sites than between sites, so that yield performance in one country was a poor indication of potential performance in the other country.The implications of these results for the use of a selection nursery in New Zealand are discussed.     

Job Lock in Rural versus Urban Labor Markets

While the possible negative effect of employer‐sponsored health insurance on labor mobility (job lock) has spawned substantial research, little research has considered differences in job lock between rural and urban areas. Job lock might differ in rural areas because of specific features of rural economies, in particular, the thinness of rural labor markets. This paper estimates measures of job lock for rural and urban areas. Parameter estimates suggest that it is larger in rural areas. The results also indicate that nonwage benefits such as retirement plans, paid vacation, and sick pay are more important factors in married rural workers decisions to change jobs while wages are a more important factor in the transition decisions of single urban workers.     

New device to simulate swallowing and in vivo aroma release in the throat from liquid and semiliquid food systems

This paper describes a novel device to simulate in vivo aroma release from liquids. This artificial throat simulates the act of swallowing followed by exhalation and shows aroma release curves that are similar in shape to in vivo release profiles. Liquids are poured down a tube, and a thin liquid film remains at the inner wall of the tube. Subsequently, aroma compounds release from this film into a stream of air flowing through this tube, which is analyzed by MS-Nose analysis. The effects of air flow rate, contact time with glass surface, presence of saliva, and addition of whey protein, as well as volume, concentration, temperature, and viscosity of the liquid have been studied and compared with aroma release measurements in vivo. A high level of agreement was found. These results confirm the importance of swallowing for aroma release of liquids, as mentioned in the literature, and the usefulness of the new mimicking device.     

Characterization of kafirin and zein oligomers by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of uncooked zein and kafirin fractions were performed through sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and electrophoretic profiles. Kafirins and zeins present the same oligomer and monomer compositions with the exception of a 66 kDa oligomer that is only present in kafirins. The quantitative analysis showed differences between zein and kafirin. The composition of each oligomer was established via preparative SDS-PAGE. Part of the cooked oligomers resists reduction; the presence of those oligomers could be related to the decrease on protein digestibility with the cooking process.