Evaluation of Bacterial Effects on Folic Acid Loss in Fortified,Nixtamalized Corn Masa Flour

Many Mexican women are deficient in folic acid. Fortification of the corn tortilla could be an effective way to help increase the folic acid levels among the Mexican population. Previous studies have shown significant folic acid losses in the masa dough as it is held before baking. This loss in folic acid could be owing to utilization by lactic acid bacteria naturally present in the masa. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of bacteria native to corn masa on the folic acid content in masa. Bacteria in dough samples from six mills in Guadalajara, Mexico, were isolated and identified. Bacterial isolates were inoculated into sterile fortified corn masa flour, which was converted to masa and held at 56°C for 0, 3, and 6 h, replicating the conditions of freshly milled masa as held before baking. All samples, including the control, showed losses of folic acid between 66 and 79% w/w in the first 3 h of incubation. Because folic acid degradation in the sterile control sample was not different than the inoculated sample results, the decline in folic acid was not owing to bacteria (mainly Streptococcus spp.) present in the masa flour but appeared to be a chemical degradation related to time and temperature.     

The effect of short day treatments on containerized Douglas-fir morphology,physiology and phenology

The effect of short day treatments (blackout) on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) container seedlings at the time of lift and following cold storage was investigated. Variables measured included height, root collar diameter (RCD), root growth capacity (RGC), photosynthetic efficiency after –18 °C freezing (PEF), and days to terminal bud break (DBB). From one to four blackout dormancy induction treatments were started on three dates (July 12, July 26, and August 10) with 10 or 20 d between multiple blackouts. Increasing the number of blackout treatments resulted in lower RCD, lower DBB in the late winter/early spring, and higher PEF in the early fall. Later blackout start dates decreased PEF in the early fall, and increased overall height and late fall RGC as compared to earlier blackout start dates. Nurseries growing Douglas-fir seedlings from coastal Pacific Northwest provenances should be aware that blackout regimes can decrease RGC in the late fall, and cause quicker dormancy release in the early spring. Coastal Douglas-fir can be lifted and planted in the early fall, when RGC and DBB are relatively high. If planting between February and April is necessary, seedlings given blackout should be cold stored in January to maintain an adequate level of dormancy, RGC and PEF.     

Characterization of urea–formaldehyde resin penetration into medium density fiberboard fibers

The amount of UF resin penetration into fibers, used for the production of medium density fiberboard (MDF), is unknown. To evaluate the relationship between resin viscosity and resin penetration depth, an experimental procedure involving confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and a Toluidine Blue O staining system was performed. The results indicate that CLSM in combination with a Toluidine Blue O staining system is a good way to characterize UF resin penetration into wood fibers. The main penetration direction is toward the fiber lumen. For wet fibers, whose moisture content is about 88%, the effect of resin viscosity with a range of 80 cps – 340 cps on penetration is very similar, with all adhesives reaching or almost reaching the fiber lumen after 60 min at room temperature. For MDF industrial samples, the highest depth of penetration of the adhesive was attained in the second dryer stage. After the second dryer stage, the resin penetration into the fiber did not increase.     

Demographics of the Canadian dairy industry from 1991 to 2011

A retrospective study of the demographics of the Canadian dairy industry was conducted using data derived from Statistics Canada’s Census of Agriculture from 1991 to 2011. This longitudinal study shows that Canada’s dairy industry has undergone considerable consolidation. From 1991 to 2011, the number of dairy producers and dairy farms decreased by 48.9% and 61.9%, respectively. Furthermore, this trend in consolidation is likely to continue; nearly half (45.8%) of all dairy producers in Canada were ≥ 50 y of age in 2011. Not only will most of these producers be retired by 2021, but younger producers will also exit the industry for other reasons. These findings mirror what is occurring in Canada’s cow-calf industry, underscoring that supply-managed sectors experience demographic consolidation similar to non-supply managed sectors. These substantial changes will have ramifications for the veterinary profession. There will be fewer but larger farms, and the services and knowledge demanded of veterinarians will change accordingly, which has implications for food animal veterinary education.     

Changes in free amino acids and sugars in potatoes due to sulfate fertilization and the effect on acrylamide formation

To examine how sulfur deprivation may affect acrylamide formation in cooked potatoes, three varieties of potato were grown under conditions of either severe sulfur deprivation or an adequate supply of sulfur. In all three varieties sulfur deprivation led to a decrease in acrylamide formation, even though the levels of sugars, which are acrylamide precursors, were higher in tubers of the sulfur-deprived plants. In one variety the concentration of free asparagine, the other precursor for acrylamide, was also higher. There was a very close correlation between the concentration of asparagine in the tubers expressed as a proportion of the total free amino acid pool and the formation of acrylamide upon cooking, whereas sugars were poorly correlated with acrylamide. In potatoes, where concentrations of sugars are usually limiting, competition between asparagine and other amino acids participating in the Maillard reaction may be a key determinant of the amount of acrylamide that is formed during processing.     

Ten-year comparison of the influence of organic and conventional crop management practices on the content of flavonoids in tomatoes

Understanding how environment, crop management, and other factors, particularly soil fertility, influence the composition and quality of food crops is necessary for the production of high-quality nutritious foods. The flavonoid aglycones quercetin and kaempferol were measured in dried tomato samples (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. Halley 3155) that had been archived over the period from 1994 to 2004 from the Long-Term Research on Agricultural Systems project (LTRAS) at the University of California-Davis, which began in 1993. Conventional and organic processing tomato production systems are part of the set of systems compared at LTRAS. Comparisons of analyses of archived samples from conventional and organic production systems demonstrated statistically higher levels (P < 0.05) of quercetin and kaempferol aglycones in organic tomatoes. Ten-year mean levels of quercetin and kaempferol in organic tomatoes [115.5 and 63.3 mg g(-1) of dry matter (DM)] were 79 and 97% higher than those in conventional tomatoes (64.6 and 32.06 mg g(-1) of DM), respectively. The levels of flavonoids increased over time in samples from organic treatments, whereas the levels of flavonoids did not vary significantly in conventional treatments. This increase corresponds not only with increasing amounts of soil organic matter accumulating in organic plots but also with reduced manure application rates once soils in the organic systems had reached equilibrium levels of organic matter. Well-quantified changes in tomato nutrients over years in organic farming systems have not been reported previously.     

Synthesis and characterization of canola oil-stearic acid-based trans-free structured lipids for possible margarine application

Incorporation of stearic acid into canola oil to produce trans-free structured lipid (SL) as a healthy alternative to partially hydrogenated fats for margarine formulation was investigated. Response surface methodology was used to study the effects of lipozyme RM IM from Rhizomucor miehei and Candida rugosa lipase isoform 1 (LIP1) and two acyl donors, stearic acid and ethyl stearate, on the incorporation. Lipozyme RM IM and ethyl stearate gave the best result. Gram quantities of SLs were synthesized using lipozyme RM IM, and the products were compared to SL made by chemical catalysis and fat from commercial margarines. After short-path distillation, the products were characterized by GC and RPHPLC-MS to obtain fatty acid and triacylglycerol profiles, 13C NMR spectrometry for regiospecific analysis, X-ray diffraction for crystal forms, and DSC for melting profile. Stearic acid was incorporated into canola oil, mainly at the sn-1,3 positions, for the lipase reaction, and no new trans fatty acids formed. Most SL products did not have adequate solid fat content or beta' crystal forms for tub margarine, although these may be suitable for light margarine formulation.     

Lupine induced "crooked calf disease" in Washington and Oregon: identification of the alkaloid profiles in Lupinus sulfureus, Lupinus leucophyllus, and Lupinus sericeus

Several lupines (Lupinus spp.) present on western U.S. rangelands contain alkaloids that are teratogenic to livestock and cause congenital birth defects in calves (crooked calf disease). Periodically, large losses of calves due to lupine-induced "crooked calf disease" occur in northern Oregon and eastern Washington state. Five lupine populations from this area representing three species (L. leucophyllus, L. sulfureus, and L. sericeus) were evaluated taxonomically and by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and the major alkaloids in each lupine species were identified. The teratogenic alkaloid anagyrine was present in both of the lupine species responsible for the high outbreaks in east-central Washington and northeastern Oregon. However, the alkaloid profiles of the two lupines identified as L. leucophyllus were dissimilar, as were the alkaloid profiles of the two lupines identified as L. sulfureus. Botanical classification is not sufficient to determine potential teratogenicity, and it must be followed by chemical characterization to determine risk to livestock.     

作物-土壤氮循环对大气CO2浓度和温度升高响应的研究进展

在地球化学元素循环中,氮素是最重要、最活跃的营养元素之一。农田生态系统中的氮素很大程度上决定农作物的产量和品质。然而,在全球气候变化背景下,随着大气CO₂浓度和温度升高,作物-土壤氮循环的变化可能显著影响农田生态系统中的作物生产。因此,研究作物-土壤氮循环对大气CO₂浓度和温度升高的响应,能够为科学合理地预测未来气候条件下,农田生态系统中作物的氮素需求,以及保障农作物产量的稳定供应提供理论依据,对于全面认识全球气候变化背景下的农田生态系统氮素循环过程及土壤可持续利用具有重要意义。本文综述了大气CO₂和温度升高对作物氮素吸收和分配,以及与氮有效性密切相关的土壤氮转化的影响,并系统总结了二者对作物-土壤氮循环过程产生的交互作用。总结以往研究发现,在大气CO₂浓度升高条件下,作物的蒸腾作用减弱,但光合作用增强,生物量加大,根系分支和根表面积增加,豆科作物的根瘤固氮能力提高,因此整体上促进作物对氮的吸收,并且增加作物向籽粒中分配氮的比例,但作物的平均氮浓度降低。此外,高CO₂浓度提高了土壤酶活性,增强了土壤有机氮矿化作用、硝化及反硝化作用,加速了土壤氮转化。升温和CO₂浓度升高对作物-土壤氮循环产生正向或负向的交互作用,主要表现在：高温和高CO₂浓度对作物的生物量、光合作用、地下部氮分配、根系分支以及根表面积具有协同促进作用,升高温度减轻了高CO₂浓度对作物蒸腾作用和作物氮浓度的抑制作用。然而,升温抑制了高CO₂浓度对作物向籽粒中氮分配、氮吸收以及产量的促进作用;升温虽然能进一步增强高CO₂浓度对土壤酶活性和有机氮矿化的促进作用,但是对于土壤硝化和反硝化作用,二者的交互作用以及相关的分子机制尚不明确。大气CO₂升高和温度升高对土壤微生物,以及微生物与作物之间的耦合关系的研究比较薄弱,特别是由微生物主导的氮循环过程及其对全球气候变化的反馈机制是未来研究的重点。本文提出利用16S rRNA、DGGE、T-RFLP、qPCR、RT-PCR技术、蛋白组学以及稳定性同位素探针原位研究技术,可以将复杂环境中微生物物种组成及其生理功能进行耦合分析,揭示大气CO₂浓度与温度对作物-土壤氮循环过程的交互作用机理,增强对气候变化下农田生态系统氮素循环响应的预测能力,为农田生态系统有效地适应气候变化提供科学的理论依据。     

An investigation of the effects of ketoprofen following rumen fistulation surgery in lactating dairy cows

Post-operative pain management following rumen surgery is not common practice. We examined the effect of providing the pain medication ketoprofen to dairy cattle following the first stage of a rumen cannulation surgery, which involves an incision in the body wall and exteriorizing and clamping the rumen. The results of this study provide clear evidence that the first stage of the surgery was painful and ketoprofen at the time of and 24 h following surgery, alleviated some, but not all, of the post-surgical pain. Pain mitigation should be included when performing flank surgery in cattle.