Evaluation of suitable temperature range for post‐harvest processing of mud crabs through cardiac performance

Measurements of either heartbeats or heart rate variability provide important information on metabolic changes and stress responses. In this study, we aimed to determine the suitable temperature conditions for maintaining product quality for post‐harvest processing of mud crab (Scylla serrata) through measuring cardiac performance. A bundle of implanted electrodes was used to record the electrocardiogram, from which the heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were derived to evaluate the physiological performances of the crabs under tying at different seawater temperatures. The lowest standard deviation of HR was detected at the seawater temperature of 18°C for the group of ascending temperatures and at 10°C for the group of descending temperatures. Lower HRV was detected at the range from 10 to 14°C. The results suggest that the temperature range of 14–18°C is suitable to reduce variability in heart rate and may decrease physiological stress. These conditions might help maintain the quality of live crabs during post‐harvest processing and transportation.     

Formulations of controlled atmosphere agents for packaged foods.

Four food grade additives-sodium ascorbate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate-10-hydrate, and ferrous sulfate-7-hydrate-were selected as the basic ingredients to formulate the controlled atmosphere agents which could effectively remove oxygen and release carbon dioxide. The mathematical models giving the relationships between the formulations and the responses (oxygen and carbon dioxide contents) were developed using response surface methodology (RSM). Within 8-24 h, the oxygen and carbon dioxide contents of all tested formulations could reach constant levels, in the ranges of 2-9% and 0-41%, respectively. These formulations were considered to be effective, safe, and easy to prepare and could be applied to wide varieties of food products.     

Alpha-bulnesene, a PAF inhibitor isolated from the essential oil of Pogostemon cablin

Steam distilled essential oil from the aerial parts of Pogostemon cablin was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Forty one compounds were identified of which alpha-guaiene (20.62%) and alpha-bulnesene (16.18%) were major constituents. Furthermore, fractionation of the essential oil from P. cablin guided by inhibitory activity against PAF-induced platelet aggregation led to the isolation of the sesquiterpene, alpha-bulnesene.     

北京玉米和高粱上的玉米矮花叶病毒

 北京郊区玉米和高粱上的三个汁传病毒分离物鉴定为玉米矮花叶病毒株系B (MDMV),它可被桃蚜(Myzus persicoe)由玉米传至玉米,这三个分离物不侵染约翰逊草(Sorghum halepense(L) pers)。稀释终点是10^-2-10^-3;致死温度是50-55℃;体外保毒期是1-2天。MDMV的颗拉长度是735±15毫微米,在染病高粱叶的细胞质中观察到凤轮状内含体。狗尾草(Setaria viridis(L) Beauv),马唐(Digitavia Sanguinalis(L) Scop),蟋蟀草(Eleusine indica(L) Gaertn),矛叶荩草(Arthraxan Lancelatus(Roxb) Hochst)是北京地区MDMV的天然寄主。该病毒也侵染大油芒(Spodiopogon Sibiricus Trin)。     

马铃薯晚疫病菌在水及土壤中存活期限和状态的初步观察

初步试验和观察结果表示马铃薯晚疫病菌在无定形的原生质团状态下能相当长时期地在水和土壤中保存其生活力。将病薯上的病菌接种于薯块切面上,大量繁殖后作如下处理:(1)用针将孢子囊挑入冷开水或普通自来水中,保存于20℃的温箱内。(2)将孢子囊冲洗到普通自来水中,稀释为每低倍镜视野含有60个孢子囊的悬浮液,倒入花盆内的轻松     

马铃薯块茎晚疫病腐烂的发生与防治

在青海省,馬鈴薯晚疫病引起块茎腐烂比地上部感染远为普遍和严重。例如,1960年叶面枯死率不到1％,而块茎腐烂則达10％左右。 1963年用塑料布复盖土表,并在縫隙处噴洒1％硫酸銅的隔离試驗証明,凡是地上部与地下部隔离的各处理,地下块茎均未感染晚疫病,而未隔离的地下块茎均有不同程度的感染(表1)。这說明引起块茎腐烂的病原菌是由地上部落下,     

Evaluation of clomipramine as an adjunct to behavioural therapy in the treatment of separation-related problems in dogs

Forty-nine dogs showing signs of separation-related problems were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group A (15 dogs) received a placebo twice daily; group B (17 dogs) received clomipramine at 0.5 to 1.0 mg/kg twice daily; and group C (17 dogs) received clomipramine at 1.0 to 2.0 mg/kg twice daily. All the dogs also received behavioural therapy. Their owners were required to complete questionnaires about their dog's behaviour initially, and one, four and eight weeks after the treatment with clomipramine began. Bipolar ratings scales were used to monitor the frequencies of 'general', 'attachment-related' and 'separation-related' behaviours. Kruskal-Wallis tests and Kendall Rank correlations were used to determine any initial differences between the treatment groups, and the association between the initial scores and behavioural changes after one week of treatment with clomipramine. Extended Mantel-Haenszel statistics were used to evaluate the effects of clomipramine treatment versus the placebo, and Page's test was used to assess the effectiveness of behavioural therapy on its own. There were no significant differences in the demographic characteristics of the owners of the dogs assigned to the three groups. The dogs differed slightly in age between groups, and the dogs in the two clomipramine-treated groups were reported as showing problems at a significantly earlier age than those in the placebo group. Clomipramine treatment had a sustained suppressive effect on the dogs' general activity levels, and a more modest suppressive effect on their attachment-related tendency to want much physical contact with their owners. The typical signs of separation-related behaviour problems were not significantly affected by treatment with clomipramine, but behavioural therapy on its own was highly effective in reducing behavioural problems.     

Plasma vasopressin concentrations in healthy foals from birth to 3 months of age

Background: Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has received increased attention in equine critical care but there is minimal information of AVP concentration in foals. The clinical usefulness of measuring AVP in ill foals depends on knowledge of age-related changes in AVP concentrations in healthy foals.
Hypothesis: Plasma AVP concentrations will be significantly different when measured from birth to 3 months of age in healthy foals.
Animals: Thirteen healthy university-owned foals.
Methods: Prospective, observational study. Blood was collected from healthy foals at birth and 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, and 84 days of age. Plasma was harvested and plasma AVP concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay.
Results: No statistically significant differences were detected in plasma AVP concentrations over the study period. Plasma AVP concentrations over the entire study period was 6.2 ± 2.5 pg/mL.
Conclusions and Clinical Importance: There was no age-related variation in plasma AVP concentrations detected in healthy foals from birth to 3 months of age suggesting that AVP concentrations are similar across foals of these ages.     

Modeling risk analysis for rice production due to agro-climate change in Taiwan

This study proposes a risk analysis model for the rice production due to climate change in terms of agro-climate indices (i.e., cumulative temperature anomaly, cumulative precipitation anomaly, cumulative sunlight anomaly, cumulative radiation anomaly, and E1 Niño). This risk analysis model is developed by incorporating the multivariate Monte Carlo simulation method, multivariate regression equation, and uncertainty analysis method (advanced first-order second-moment, AFOSM). The study area is composed of 15 counties/cities in Taiwan, East Asia. The data set for the model development and applicability contains 27 years of annual rice productions and agro-climate indices in addition to cultivation areas. Through the proposed risk analysis model, it can be seen that the rice production in Taiwan is especially sensitive to temperature, precipitation, and sunlight. Also, on average, improving performance by reducing insufficient rice risk can rise by 80 % when the rice production increases from 3 × 10⁴ to 3 × 10⁵ tons.