Effects of cooking on the cell walls (dietary fiber) of 'Scarlet Warren' winter squash ( Cucurbita maxima ) studied by polysaccharide linkage analysis and solid-state (13)C NMR

Cell wall polysaccharides of 'Scarlet Warren' winter squash ( Cucurbita maxima ) were investigated before and after thermal processing. Linkage analysis of polysaccharides was done by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The linkage analysis showed the cell wall polysaccharide compositions of raw and cooked squash were similar. The total pectic polysaccharides (galacturonan, rhamnogalacturonan, arabinan, and arabinogalactan) contents of the cell walls of both raw and cooked squash were 39 mol %. The amounts of pectic polysaccharides and xyloglucan in the cell walls of squash showed little alteration on heating. The cellulose content of the raw and cooked cell walls was relatively high at 47 mol %, whereas the xyloglucan content was low at 4 mol %. Solid-state (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy techniques were used to examine the molecular motion of the polysaccharides in the cell walls. The mobility of highly flexible galactan depends on the water content of the sample, but no difference was seen between raw and cooked samples. Likewise, the mobility of semimobile pectic polysaccharides was apparently unaltered by cooking. No change was detected in the rigid cellulose microfibrils on cooking.     

Earthquake-induced structures in sediments of van Norman lake, san fernando, california

The 9 February 1971 earthquake in the San Fernando Valley damaged the Lower Van Norman Dam severely enough to warrant draining the reservoir. In March 1972 the sediment deposited on the reservoir floor was examined to determine whether the 1971 earthquake had induced sediment deformation and, if so, what types. A zone of deformational structures characterized by small-scale loads and slightly recumbent folds associated with the 1971 earthquake was discovered, in addition to two older zones of load structures. Each of the zones has been tentatively correlated with an historic earthquake.     

The Spirit Rover's Athena science investigation at Gusev Crater, Mars

The Mars Exploration Rover Spirit and its Athena science payload have been used to investigate a landing site in Gusev crater. Gusev is hypothesized to be the site of a former lake, but no clear evidence for lacustrine sedimentation has been found to date. Instead, the dominant lithology is basalt, and the dominant geologic processes are impact events and eolian transport. Many rocks exhibit coatings and other characteristics that may be evidence for minor aqueous alteration. Any lacustrine sediments that may exist at this location within Gusev apparently have been buried by lavas that have undergone subsequent impact disruption.     

Isolation of St. Louis encephalitis virus from bats (Tadarida b. mexicana) in Texas

A strain of St. Louis encephalitis virus has been isolated from Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida b. mexicana) collected at the time of an outbreak of encephalitis in Texas in 1964.     

Phosphorus and molybdenum interaction effects during accumulation of molybdenum by burley tobacco 1

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to study the P and Mo interactions during uptake by burley tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L., cv. ‘Ky 14') and the effect of their interactions on plant dry matter and Mo concentration. In Experiment 1, plants were grown in an intermittently irrigated gravel culture system. The nutrient variables were Mo (0–0.63 μeq/L) and P (0 to 1.8 meq/L). Experiment 2 was conducted in soil‐sand mixtures. The soil types used were Shelbyville silt loam (Mollic Hapludalf) and Baxter silt loam (Typic Paleudalf) each containing, respectively, 36 and 368 kg P/ha by the Bray 1 soil test. Treatments consisted of four rates of P (0, 84, 168, and 336 kg/ha) and five rates of Na₂MoO₄‐2H₂O (0, 0.56, 1.12, 2.24, and 4.48 kg Mo/ha).

In gravel culture a significant synergistic Mo × P interaction occurred for dry weight, but singly the effect of P was greater than Mo. Similarly, significant positive Mo × P interactions occurred for Mo concentrations in both gravel and soil culture. As contrasted to adding no P or Mo, adding the highest levels of P and Mo together increased Mo concentrations in leaves four, five, and 10 fold, respectively, in gravel culture, Shelbyville, and Baxter soils. The rate of accumulation of Mo was much greater at plant Mo concentrations above 1 μg Mo/g tissue than below, suggesting two mechanisms of Mo × P interaction were involved.     

The absorption of molybdenum by excised tobacco (nicotiana tabacum L.) roots 1

The absorption of 99‐Mo by excised tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum L. c.v. KY‐14, roots was examined. Lowered temperature, anaerobic conditions and various inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation decreased the absorption of Mo, suggesting that the absorption of Mo was metabolism‐dependent. Similar results were obtained with the absorption of 86‐Rb. The absorption of 99‐Mo decreased exponentially with an increase in pH. The apparent Km for the absorption of Mo was 15 μM, although at high concentrations of Mo, the absorption of Mo occurs primarily by passive processes.     

Surgical removal of an abscess associated with Fusarium solani from a Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)

A cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Lepidochelys kempii, developed an abscess associated with Fusarium solani, Vibrio alginolyticus, and a Shewenalla species after receiving a bite wound to the front flipper during rehabilitation. The lesion failed to respond to medical therapy and was treated successfully with surgery. Histopathology of the excised tissue demonstrated septic heterophilic inflammation with necrosis and granulation tissue, fungal elements, and bacteria, despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Variably thick bands of dense collagenous tissue partially surrounded affected areas which might have limited drug penetration into the tissue. Postoperative healing and eventual releases were uneventful. This is the first report of surgical treatment of cutaneous Fusarium infection in a sea turtle and supports surgery as an effective treatment for a fungal abscess in a reptile.     

Efficacy of levamisole and netobimin against Haemonchus contortus in lambs in Louisiana

Efficacy of levamisole was evaluated in a suspected levamisole-resistant population of Haemonchus contortus in the Louisiana State University sheep flock. The efficacy of netobimin also was evaluated against this population of Haemonchus. In trial 1, 5 lambs naturally infected with H contortus were given 8 mg of levamisole/kg of body weight as a drench, and 5 lambs were not treated (controls). Nematode recovery after slaughter indicated 0% efficacy against H contortus. In trial 2, 30 nematode-free lambs were each given 8,300 F1 generation infective larvae of H contortus, which were derived from parent H contortus that survived 2 levamisole treatments in lambs being maintained in a nematode-free environment. Ten lambs were treated with 8 mg of levamisole/kg as a drench, 10 were treated with 20 mg of netobimin/kg as a drench, and 10 were not treated (control). Nematode recovery after slaughter revealed 62.3% and 99.8% efficacy for levamisole and netobimin, respectively, against H contortus.     

Mastitis-metritis-agalactia complex in sows: effect of the dosage of oxytocin on intramammary pressure in lactating healthy sows

The dose-response and time-response relationships between injected oxytocin and intramammary pressure were investigated in normal lactating sows. In less than 39 s after 20, 40, or 80 U of oxytocin was given (IM injection), there was a rapid initial increase in intramammary pressure (15 to 27 mm of Hg) which lasted 22 to 32 s. After this initial response, there were secondary oscillations in pressure which lasted approximately 40 minutes (20 U) and up to 60 minutes (40 or 80 U). Changes in intramammary pressure during each oscillation varied between 1 and 5 mm of Hg. Mean values for frequency and amplitude of oscillations and total work (area under the trace) were measured. Compared with response obtained after 20 U of oxytocin was given, responses obtained at the 40-U or 80-U dose level had an increased frequency (150.0% and 249.0%, respectively) and total work (36.6% and 104.4%, respectively), but not amplitude. Thus, there may be some clinical advantage in milk let-down effect when sows are given the larger doses of oxytocin (40 or 80 U). These results indicate that newborn pigs should be allowed to nurse at the same time in which oxytocin is injected.     

Differences in composition of avian bone collagen following genetic selection for resistance to osteoporosis

1. Collagen characteristics were compared in the tibiotarsus and humerus from 103 females and 38 males aged 68 to 72 weeks from the G6 generation of lines of laying hen selected for resistance or susceptibility to osteoporosis (high and low bone index (BI) lines). 2. Selection over the latest generation resulted in further divergence in the breaking strengths of humerus (from 12.3 to 21.8%) and tibia (from 22.3 to 37.3%) in hens. Males also showed line differences in bone strengths. 3. Plasma pyridinoline concentration was higher in hens in the low BI line, suggesting a greater rate of bone resorption in this line. 4. There were few differences between the lines in collagen and calcium concentrations in humerus and tibiotarsus cortical bone. 5. There were no differences between the lines in either sex in reduced immature collagen cross-link content of humerus or tibiotarsus. 6. Mature collagen cross-link content was higher in the high BI line in the male humerus but this effect was not apparent in the male tibiotarsus nor in either bone in the females. 7. Pyrrolic cross-link contents were higher in the high BI line in the female humerus and tibiotarsus and in the male tibiotarsus. 8. Over both lines combined, there were positive correlations between humeral and tibiotarsal pyrrole contents and strengths in females and between tibiotarsal pyrrole content and strength in males. 9. It is concluded that an increase in cross-linking, particularly pyrrolic cross-linking, in the collagen matrix contributes in part to the improvement in bone strength in the high BI line.