Fatty acid effect on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-beeswax edible film properties and postharvest quality of coated 'Ortanique' mandarins

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of fatty acid (FA) type and content on mechanical properties, water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability of hydroxypropyl methycellulose (HPMC)-beeswax (BW) stand-alone edible films. The effect of these films formed as coatings on the postharvest quality of 'Ortanique' mandarins was also studied. Selected FAs were stearic acid (SA), palmitic acid (PA), and oleic acid (OA), using BW/FA ratios of 1:0.5 and 1:0.2 (w/w). HPMCBW coatings reduced weight and firmness loss of 'Ortanique' mandarins, without compromising flavor quality compared to uncoated mandarins. Coatings containing OA provided the best weight loss control at both concentrations tested; however, when the BW/OA ratio was 1:0.5, the coatings increased fruit internal CO2, ethanol, and acetaldehyde contents of 'Ortanique' mandarins, therefore reducing flavor compared to the rest of the coatings studied. Although barrier and mechanical properties might be used to understand coating performance, differences observed between film oxygen permeability and coating permeability indicate that permeance should be measured on the coated fruit.     

Phenoloxidase activity of hemocyanin in whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei: conversion, characterization of catalytic properties, and role in postmortem melanosis

Latent phenoloxidase activity of hemocyanin (Hc) in whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei was assayed to determine its potential involvement in postmortem melanosis. Conversion of pure 12-mer, but not 6-mer, hemocyanin to phenoloxidase by endogenous (serine proteinases) and exogenous (SDS) effectors demonstrated the need of complex aggregation for displaying enzyme activity. Because Hc was converted to Hc-phenoloxidase (HcPO) by hemocytes extracts, the mechanism of conversion seems to be the same for polyphenoloxidases. HcPO has similar biochemical and kinetic properties as real polyphenoloxidases and uses mono- and diphenols as substrates. The kinetics of hydroxygenation of monophenols has a lag phase, typical for tyrosinases, contrary to oxidation of diphenols. Regardless of the structure of the substrate, melanin is finally formed. Because of the abundance, distribution, and resistance of Hc to freezing-thawing, involvement of Hc in black spot formation postmortem is suggested. This has important implications for commercialization of shrimp and related seafood.     

Effects of fly attack (Bactrocera oleae) on the phenolic profile and selected chemical parameters of olive oil

The phenolic fraction of virgin olive oil influences both its quality and oxidative stability. One of the principal threats of the quality of olive fruit is the olive fly ( Bactrocera oleae) as it alters the chemical composition. The attack of this olive pest has been studied in order to evaluate its influence on the quality of virgin olive oil (free acidity, peroxide value, fatty acid composition, water content, oxidative stability, phenols, and antioxidant power of phenolic fraction). The study was performed using several virgin olive oils obtained from olives with different degrees of fly infestation. They were acquired in different Italian industrial mills from the Abruzzo region. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of phenolic profiles were performed by capillary electrophoresis-diode array detection, and electrochemical evaluation of the antioxidant power of the phenolic fraction was also carried out. These analyses demonstrated that the degree of fly attack was positively correlated with free acidity ( r = 0.77, p < 0.05) and oxidized products ( r = 0.58, p < 0.05), and negatively related to the oxidative stability index ( r = -0.54, p < 0.05) and phenolic content ( r = -0.50, p < 0.05), mainly with secoiridoid compounds. However, it has been confirmed that the phenolic fraction of olive oil depends on several parameters and that a clear correlation does not exist between the percentages of fly attack and phenolic content.     

Multi-level approach for the analysis of water effects in corn flakes

The purpose of this work was to analyze the effect of water on thermal transitions, mechanical properties, and molecular mobility in corn flakes (CF), and their relationships. Commercial common (CCF) and sugar-frosted (SCF) corn flakes were studied in a water content (wc) range from 5 to 20 (% dry basis). The slope of (1)H NMR spin-spin relaxation time T 2* (determined by FID) versus temperature plot changed close to T g. Compression force showed a maximum at wc of ca. 12 and 16% (db) for SCF and CCF, respectively. (1)H NMR complemented DSC data in determining the temperature dependence of water and solid mobility, in order to assess quality of laminated corn products. The results of the present work indicate that while the compression force showed a maximum value as a function of water content, T g values determined by DSC or by spin-spin relaxation decreased progressively with increasing water content.     

Cryptosporidium infection in calves from a rural area of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Dairy calves less than 1 month of age are commonly infected with Cryptosporidium spp. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. among dairy calves or=810 oocysts/field. This study shows that Cryptosporidium spp. is one of the causes of calf neonatal diarrhoea in a rural area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The highest intensity of infection reported for the 相似文献   

Cat and dog ownership and management patterns in central Italy

Three hundred and ninety-seven randomly selected households were interviewed by telephone to determine the numbers and management of owned cats and dogs in the Teramo Province of Italy. The households were selected using stratified random sampling for each municipality; municipalities were combined into coastal, central hills and mountain regions for analysis. The interviews were completed during May and June of 2004 with a response rate of 74% (397/536). Forty-six percent of households (n=181) owned pets; 15% of all households (n=60) owned cats and 33% (n=130) owned dogs. Twenty-seven of these households (7%) owned both cats and dogs. Data were provided on 91 cats evenly divided between males and females. The median age was 3 years (range 0.2-10 years). Forty-one percent of cats (36/87) entered the household as strays. Nearly half lived entirely outside. Seventy percent (62/88) had visited a veterinarian at least once; 43% (39/91) were sterilized. About 1/3 had had a litter and all litters were considered accidental rather than planned. Age, indoor/outdoor status, veterinarian visit and region were all associated with sterilization. Age, confined to a yard, veterinary visit and region were associated with allowing the cat to roam freely. Data were provided on 182 dogs. Sixty-two percent (113/181) were male, with a median age of 4 years (range newborn to 17 years) and 40% (72/181) were purebred. Almost half were acquired as a gift. Sixty-two percent (112/180) were kept entirely outside despite the fact that 82% (147/180) were considered companions rather than working dogs. Almost all of the dogs had been to a veterinarian at least once; only 20% (n=29) were sterilized. Male dogs were significantly less likely to be sterilized than females. Almost half the dogs had had at least one litter. Seventy-six percent (137/180) of dogs knew some basic commands. Sex, source and training to sit/stay/come were significantly associated with whether the dog was sterilized. Dog size, confinement to a yard, trained to leash walk, veterinary visit and region were predictors of roaming freely. Source and trained to leash walk were associated with dog registration. For cats and dogs, education about sterilization seemed to be critically important. For dogs, factors relating to training, which may reflect the strength of the human-animal bond, were also important.     

Equine adipose-tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells and platelet concentrates: their association in vitro and in vivo

Equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are of particular interest both for basic research and for the therapeutic approach to musculoskeletal diseases in the horse. Their multilineage differentiation potential gives them the capability to contribute to the repair of tendon, ligament and bone damage. MSCs are also considered a promising therapeutic aid in allogeneic cell transplantation, since they show low immunogenicity and immunomodulating functions.Adipose tissue-derived adult equine stem cells (AdMSC) can be isolated, expanded in vitro and then inoculated into the damaged tissue, eventually in the presence of a biological scaffold. Here we report our preliminary experience with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in allogeneic cell-therapy of tendonitis in the horse. MSCs, derived from visceral adipose tissue, were grown in the presence of autologous platelet lysate and characterized for their differentiation and growth potential. Expanded AdMSC were inoculated into the damaged tendon after their dispersion in activated platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a biological scaffold that plays an important role in maintaining cells in defect sites and contributes to tissue healing. Fourteen out of sixteen treated horses showed a functional recovery and were able to return to their normal activity.     

The effect of veterinary-treated clinical mastitis and pregnancy status on culling in Swedish dairy cows

The interaction of the effects of pregnancy status and veterinary-treated clinical mastitis on culling in Swedish dairy cattle was analyzed with survival analysis. The data were from 978,780 cows with first calvings between 1988 and 1996. Four breeds (Swedish Red and White (SRB), Swedish Friesian (SLB), Swedish Polled Breed and Jersey) were included in the analysis, together with the SRB x SLB crossbreds. Length of productive life was defined as the number of days between first calving and culling or censoring (end of data collection). The model (Weibull proportional hazard) included the interaction of parity by pregnancy status by veterinary-treated clinical mastitis, peak test-day milk-yield deviation within herd-year-parity, age at first calving, year by season, region, breed, herd production level, and the random effect of herd. The effects of pregnancy status and veterinary-treated clinical mastitis were modeled as time-dependent covariates. The lactation was divided into five stages during which a veterinary-treated clinical mastitis and culling might occur and in which the pregnancy status was assumed to be known and culling could occur. Open cows had a pronounced effect on culling: they had a very high risk of being culled in all lactations, and it was even higher if they were treated for mastitis in early lactation. For pregnant cows, the later they got pregnant during the lactation, the greater their risk to be culled. The risk associated with cases of veterinary-treated clinical mastitis remained important throughout the lactation.