Preliminary study of the factors that determine nutrient composition of bean-cooking broth

Bean cooking broth or liquor is a food preparation that results from cooking beans under a number of circumstances. This preparation is the first bean-derived food provided by mothers to their children as young as two months of age. Because of this, bean cooking plays an important nutritional role that must be evaluated. The present study attempted to evaluate, through a number of experiments, the significance of cultivars, method of cooking — either under atmospheric or vapor pressure — cooking time, salt addition, soaking and grain size on bean broth content. This was established mainly by solid content, and also by protein, ash and tannin content in different experiments.The results indicated that cultivars, but mainly cooking and soaking time, cooking method, and seed size were all important factors in determining brean-broth composition, mainly of total solids. Protein and ash contents were less affected. Prolonged cooking of the bean-broth resulted in a decrease in polyphenolic content. The relative nutritional importance of the above factors should be studied further.INCAP Publication I-1511.     

Analyzing genotype by environment interaction in potato using yield-stability index

The plant breeding program of the National University of Colombia carried out 10 potato regional trials during 1998 and 1999 to evaluate 15 promising potato clones (Solanum tuberosum ssp.andigena). Genotype by environment interaction was analyzed using Kang’s methodology, which links yield performance and phenotypic stability. A MACRO was implemented using the SAS system to obtain yield-stability indices. Shukla’s variance was estimated by restricted maximum likelihood (REML), which allowed handling unbalanced data for both genotypes and replicates. In addition, a multivariate analysis methodology was developed, based on the yield-stability index. This methodology is useful when tuber yield is categorized by size and quality, which is usual in Colombian potato harvests.     

When, how and why to perform a double ballooning technique for dogs with valvular pulmonic stenosis

Pulmonic valvuloplasty is a well-established method for the treatment of valvular pulmonic stenosis in people and dogs. In dogs, pulmonic valvuloplasty has been restricted to a single balloon; however, the simultaneous use of two balloons is common in pediatric cardiology. The use of two balloons provides an alternative to the use of a single large balloon in small dogs with a pulmonic anulus size that requires a large dilation catheter and large diameter introducer. Moreover, double balloon valvuloplasty permits dilation in large dogs with large pulmonic anulus sizes for which standard dilation catheters are not available. This report outlines the materials required, describes the technique, gives the advantages and disadvantages encountered when performing percutaneous double balloon valvuloplasty and provides some ‘tips’ for a successful outcome.     

Treatment of an 18‐year‐old mare for bilateral,branchial remnant cysts

This report describes the treatment of an aged mare for bilateral, branchial remnant cysts by marsupialisation and sclerotherapy the cysts. Treatment to resolve the cysts was prolonged, but the mare had no long‐term complications.     

Stress Relaxation of Wheat Kernels and Their Relationship with Milling,Rheological, and Breadmaking Quality of Wheat

The stress relaxation behaviors of soft and bread‐type wheat kernels were studied using the generalized Maxwell model. The data showed two phases, a fast phase at short times of about 1.52–16.88 sec (τ₁ and τ₂) and a slow phase with longer times of about 81.28–793.81 sec (τ₃ and τ₄). The shorter decay of σ₁ can be explained by very weak forces that affect mainly the rheological properties. The slow decay (σ₄) located at longer relaxation times resulted from strong forces. The first derivative obtained from the stress relaxation curve of intact wheat kernels was quite similar in shape to the dough farinograms. The stress relaxation parameters showed differences in springs, relaxation times, and viscosities of bread wheat compared with soft‐type wheat kernels. The stresses σ₁ and σ₄ were correlated with wheat kernel, flour, rheological, and breadmaking properties; so especially were the elasticity of the spring (σ₀) and viscosity of the fourth Maxwell element (η₄), which were significantly correlated with all the quality properties, whereas σ₂, σ₃, η₁, and η₂ did not show correlation at all, except that η₂ was correlated with falling number and volume of CO₂.     

A chimeric recombinant crustacean hyperglycemic hormone from Litopenaeus schmitti (Burkenroad) obtained as C‐terminus fusion protein boost hemolymph glucose concentration in Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone)

To date, no hormonal treatments are available for control of shrimp reproduction and only eyestalk ablation is of practical use. The crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) is the most abundant neuropeptide of the eyestalk CHH family. It plays an important role in the regulation of hemolymph glucose levels, as its principal function, but it is also implicated in additional physiological processes such as moulting and reproduction. In the present study, the cDNA encoding Litopenaeus schmitti (Burkenroad) mature CHH was cloned into the Escherichia coli pTYB2 expression vector. Using this strategy we have obtained, for the first time, the recombinant CHH from L. schmitti with its C‐terminus fused to an intein tag. The expected fused protein of about 63 KDa was expressed in E. coli forming inclusion bodies. It was purified in a soluble form by electroelution following molecular size fractionation in sodium dodecil sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The ability of the chimeric CHH protein to elevate glucose levels in the hemolymph of the eyestalk‐ablated Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) shrimps indicates that its biological activity as hyperglycemic protein is preserved. The results provide an alternative tool to obtain soluble recombinant proteins from the CHH family of neuropeptides to get a better understanding of shrimp endocrinology.     

Status of the digestive gland and feed index in juvenile green abalone Haliotis fulgens fed rehydrated macroalgae

One of the bottlenecks in cultivating juvenile green abalone Haliotis fulgens is the lack of well‐adapted natural or formulated food for optimal growth. The goal of this study was to analyse the digestive gland structure of juvenile green abalone fed rehydrated natural feed, Ulva sp. (Chlorophyta), Eisenia arborea, Macrocystis pyrifera, Egregia menziesii (Phaeophyta) and Porphyra perforata (Rhodophyta), using histochemical techniques. Structure of the digestive gland was described, and proteoglycan granules were detected in the digestive cells. The abundance of granules was variable, depending on the feed provided to the abalone, and this was reflected in their growth. Granular content in digestive cells fed Ulva sp. was scarce, leading to low growth rate and high feed conversion ratio (FCR). Digestive cells of juveniles fed E. menziesii led to the best nutritional condition, including many proteoglycans cellular granules, best weight growth rate and a low FCR. Histochemical analysis of the digestive gland, differentiated by a modified Goldner trichrome method that included Alcian blue, was a useful tool for determining the nutritional status of farmed abalone, therefore recommended for assessing adjustments to the natural feed or formulation to meet the nutritional needs of abalone.     

How to perform combined cutting balloon and high pressure balloon valvuloplasty for dogs with subaortic stenosis

Subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) is one of the most common congenital cardiac malformations in dogs. Unfortunately, the long term success rate and survival data following either open heart surgery or catheter based intervention has been disappointing in dogs with severe subaortic stenosis. Medical therapy is currently the only standard recommended treatment option. A cutting balloon dilation catheter has been used successfully for resistant coronary artery and peripheral pulmonary arterial stenoses in humans. This catheter is unique in that it has the ability to cut, or score, the stenotic region prior to balloon dilatation of the stenosis. The use of cutting balloon valvuloplasty combined with high pressure valvuloplasty for dogs with severe subaortic stenosis has recently been reported to be a safe and feasible alternative therapeutic option. The following report describes this technique, outlines the materials required, and provides some ‘tips’ for successful percutaneous subaortic balloon valvuloplasty.