Correlation of Quality Parameters with the Baking Performance of Wheat Flours

The baking performance of a set of flours from 13 wheat cultivars was determined by means of two different microscale baking tests (10 g of flour each). In the micro‐rapid‐mix test the dough was mixed for a fixed time at a high speed, whereas the microbaking test used mixing to optimum dough consistency in a microfarinograph. Quality parameters such as sedimentation value, crude protein content, dough and gluten extension data, and microfarinograph data were also determined. Finally, quality‐related protein fractions (gliadins, glutenins, SDS‐soluble proteins, and glutenin macropolymer) were quantitated by extraction/HPLC methods with reversed‐phase and gel‐permeation columns. All quality parameters were correlated with the bread volumes of both baking tests. The results demonstrated that the microbaking test (adapted mixing time) was much more closely related to the quality parameters than the micro‐rapid‐mix test (fixed mixing time), which hardly showed any correlation. Among the standard quality parameters, only the crude protein content showed a medium correlation with the bread volume of the microbaking test (r = 0.71), whereas the contents of gliadins (r = 0.80), glutenins (r = 0.76), and glutenin macropolymer (r = 0.80) appeared to be suitable parameters to predict the baking performance of wheat flour. All other quality parameters were not or were only weakly correlated and unsuitable for predicting baking performance.     

低磷胁迫对小麦镉吸收的影响

为探究低磷胁迫下小麦根系生理和形态的变化及其对镉的吸收能力的影响,以Ca₃（PO₄）₂作为磷源,通过砂培试验研究了在低磷胁迫下小麦根系形态和分泌物变化特征,以及这些变化对难溶态镉（CdCO₃）的活化与吸收的影响。结果表明,在低磷处理中,小麦地下部生物量显著低于对照,降幅为27.3%（P<0.05）,根长度、根表面积和根体积均显著变小（P<0.05）。此外,低磷胁迫下小麦地上部和地下部磷含量均显著降低,降幅分别为35.4%和23.1%（P<0.05）,但是显著促进了难溶态磷的溶解（P<0.05）。同时还发现低磷胁迫显著提高了小麦植株Cd含量和Cd的总活化量,增幅分别为190.8%和82.8%（P<0.05）。低磷胁迫下培养基pH降低了0.3,同时根中草酸根和苹果酸根含量显著升高,增幅分别为1 588.1%和37.7%（P<0.05）,由此可见,低磷胁迫下小麦通过分泌质子和羧酸根促进了磷的活化,并促进了Cd的活化,进而导致小麦Cd吸收的增加。这些结果阐明了低磷胁迫影响小麦Cd吸收的机制。     

Field comparison of the interferon-gamma assay and the intradermal tuberculin test for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis

An extensive field comparison of the gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) assay and the single intradermal tuberculin test for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis was conducted in Australia. The specificity of the IFN-gamma assay was determined by testing more than 6000 cattle from tuberculosis-free herds and varied from 96.2% to 98.1%, depending on the cut-off point chosen to define a positive reactor. For the sensitivity trial, cattle from herds being de-populated because of bovine tuberculosis were examined with both assays. The sensitivity of the IFN-gamma assay was shown to be significantly higher than the single intradermal tuberculin test and varied from 76.8% to 93.6% depending on the method of interpretation. A maximum overall sensitivity of 95.2% was obtained by testing with the IFN-gamma and the tuberculin test in parallel. The superior sensitivity of the IFN-gamma assay and the ability to adjust the sensitivity of the system depending on the task involved, will provide the Australian Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign with a valuable additional test to enable it to accomplish its goals.     

Anesthetic Potency of Desflurane in the Horse: Determination of the Minimum Alveolar Concentration

Objective — To determine the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of desflurane (DES) in the horse.
Study Design — Prospective study.
Animals — Six healthy adult horses (three males and three females) weighing 370 ±16 kg and aged 9 ±2 years old.
Methods — Anesthesia was induced with DES vaporized in oxygen via a face mask connected to a large-animal, semiclosed anesthetic circle system. The horses were endotracheally intubated and positioned in right lateral recumbency. Inspired and end-tidal DES were monitored using a calibrated Ohmeda RGM 5250 multigas analyzer (Ohmeda-BOC, Spain). The MAC of desflurane that prevented gross purposeful movement in response to 60 seconds of noxious electrical stimulation of oral mucous membranes was determined.
Results — The time from the start of DES administration to lateral recumbency was 6.1 ±0.9 min. The MAC of DES in these horses was 7.6 ±0.4%. Time required for the animal to regain sternal recumbency after 98 ±4 minutes of anesthesia was 6.6 ±0.5 minutes and the time to standing was 14.3 ±2.7 minutes.
Conclusions — The MAC of desflurane in these horses was 7.6 ±0.4%. DES provided a rapid induction to, and recovery from, anesthesia.
Clinical Relevance — Desflurane offers the potential for more precise control during anesthesia, and may allow a faster and uneventful recovery. It is important to know the MAC of an inhalant to use it clinically.     

贵南县高寒草地荒漠化及其控制技术与措施

通过简述贵南县高寒干旱区草地类型、分布区域及荒漠化特征 ,从气候变化、鼠害、盲目开垦及超载过牧等自然、人为因素方面 ,分析总结了草地荒漠化引发机理 ,提出了防止草地荒漠化的对策及治理技术。     

The primary structure of wheat glutenin subunit 1Dx2 revealed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) play a key role in end-use quality of wheat. Their particular primary structure is mostly derived from DNA sequencing, which gives no information on potential post-translational modifications. This paper reveals the primary structure of HMW-GS 1Dx2 by proteomic analysis. For this purpose, HMW-GS were first isolated from wheat flour (cv. Contra). The relative molecular mass (M_r) of subunit 1Dx2 present in the HMW-GS mixture was then very accurately determined with high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry using a quadrupole-time-of-flight mass analyzer (HPLC–ESI-QTOF-MS). The obtained M_r value (87,105) differed from the value derived from its protein sequence in the NCBI database (87,007). The subunit was further purified by preparative reversed-phase HPLC and partially hydrolyzed with chymotrypsin. The resulting 1Dx2 peptides were then analyzed by HPLC–ESI-MS/MS and the MS data were compared to amino acid sequences in protein databases. The discrepancy between the calculated and the measured M_r of 1Dx2 was explained by a missing proline in the 1Dx2 amino acid sequence from the database and not by any post-translational glycosylation.