Fortification of Wheat Dough with Calcium and Magnesium Ions Affects Empirical Rheological Properties

This study evaluated the influence of calcium and magnesium ions on the empirical rheological properties of wheat flour to verify possible effects of these ions on processing because, in addition to their nutritional importance, they are also responsible for water hardness. Calcium (0–1.30 g/100 g) and magnesium (0–0.34 g/100 g) ions from sulfate salts were added to wheat flour, according to a central composite rotatable design. The farinograph and extensigraph properties of wheat flour and its mixtures were evaluated. The results were analyzed by response surface methodology. Calcium ions stood out for increasing water absorption, decreasing mixing stability, and producing a delayed effect on dough extensibility (reduced at 135 min). Magnesium ions influenced most flour rheological properties in a similar manner to oxidizing agents (increased dough stability, increased resistance to extension, and reduced extensibility), thus proving to be a possible replacement agent for these additives. An interaction effect of the combined calcium and magnesium ions was observed on dough development time. The results showed that effects on processing can occur when wheat flour fortification is made, and adaptations on wheat flour specifications, product formulation, and processing parameters may be required.     

A longitudinal study of gastrointestinal parasites in Canadian dairy farms. The value of an indirect Ostertagia ostertagi ELISA as a monitoring tool

The general objective of this study was to evaluate a crude Ostertagia ostertagi antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for monitoring gastrointestinal parasites in lactating dairy cattle. A longitudinal study of gastrointestinal parasites in lactating dairy cows was carried out in 38 herds in four provinces of Canada (Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan) from September 1999 to October 2000. Bulk tank milk, cow milk, serum and fecal samples were collected monthly or quarterly from all these farms. Information on herd management factors was collected by a standard questionnaire and individual cow production data were obtained from an electronic database. The overall mean optical density ratio (ODR) was 0.30 and ranged from -0.05 to 1.55. Although a clear seasonal pattern was not observed, the ODR values tended to decrease during the housing period and start increasing in the spring before the cows went out to pasture. The second and third or greater lactation cows had significantly higher ODR values compared with first lactation animals. The individual cow ODR had a very low correlation with individual squared root fecal egg counts but showed a reasonably high correlation when herd averages values were computed (r=0.73). A moderate correlation (r approximately 0.50) between the bulk tank and herd average ODR was observed. Milk yield was negatively associated with individual cow milk ODR and a quadratic effect on ODR was observed for days in milk. Twenty-eight of the herds participated in a clinical trial of eprinomectin (Ivomec Eprinex) treatment at calving. The cow level ODR values determined late in the previous lactation had a marginally significant effect (P=0.07) on treatment response, suggesting that high OD cows responded better to the anthelmintic treatment. However, because of the small sample size available in this model, more research is needed to better understand this relationship. In conclusion, the indirect ELISA using an O. ostertagi crude antigen appears useful as a technique for monitoring gastrointestinal parasite burdens in adult dairy cows and holds promise as a potential predictor of response to anthelmintic treatment.     

Factors controlling suspended sediment yield during runoff events in small headwater catchments of the Basque Country

For the first time in the Basque Country, turbidity (NTU), discharge (l/s) and precipitation (mm) have been continuously monitored in the gauging stations located at the outlet of three catchments (Aixola, Barrendiola and Añarbe) since October 2003. In this study, several data sets derived from flood events were used to develop turbidity and suspended sediment relationships for the three catchments separately, and so to estimate continuous suspended sediment concentration (SSC). Linear relationships are found in Barrendiola and Añarbe, and two curvilinear relationships for Aixola owing to changing sediment sources in the catchment. Several event (discharge, precipitation and suspended sediment concentration) and pre-event (discharge and precipitation) factors are calculated for all the events registered. With them correlation matrixes were developed for each catchment. Although some differences are found between catchments good correlation between precipitation (P), discharge (Q) and suspended sediment (SS) variables is found in general. Pre-event conditions are also well correlated with Q and SS variables in Barrendiola (higher regulation capacity) and Añarbe (larger area) but not in Aixola (“flash floods”). SSC-discharge evolutions through the events were also analysed. For Aixola four different types of hysteretic loops were observed: single lined, clockwise, counter-clockwise and eight-shaped; while for Barrendiola and Añarbe just clockwise loops were observed.     

Zinc Blotting Assay for Detection of Zinc‐Binding Prolamin in Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Grain

In plants, zinc is commonly found bound to proteins. In barley (Hordeum vulgare), major storage proteins are alcohol‐soluble prolamins known as hordeins, and some of them have the potential to bind or store zinc. ⁶⁵Zn overlay and blotting techniques have been widely used for detecting zinc‐binding protein. However, to our knowledge so far this zinc blotting assay has never been applied to detect a prolamin fraction in barley grains. A radioactive zinc (⁶⁵ZnCl₂) blotting technique was optimized to detect zinc‐binding prolamins, followed by development of an easy‐to‐follow nonradioactive colorimetric zinc blotting method with a zinc‐sensing dye, dithizone. Hordeins were extracted from mature barley grain, separated by SDS‐PAGE, blotted on a membrane, renatured, overlaid, and probed with zinc; subsequently, zinc‐binding specificity of certain proteins was detected either by autoradiography or color formation. The dithizone staining method gave similar reproducibility to the radioactive blotting. The detected zinc‐binding protein was identified as B‐hordein by Western blotting.     

Morphological and immunohistochemical characterisation of seminomas in Norwegian dogs

Background

Seminomas in the dog have traditionally been assumed to resemble human spermatocytic seminomas, based on their low malignancy and high occurrence in old individuals. However, recently published studies indicate that canine seminomas can be classified as classical and spermatocytic seminomas in a similar way as in man, and that classical seminomas comprise a substantial proportion of seminomas in the dog. These two factors both contribute to increasing the potential of canine seminoma as a relevant model for human testicular cancer. The aim of the present study was to characterise seminoma in Norwegian dogs using morphology and immunohistochemistry, and determine whether these tumours are comparable with human classical seminoma.

Methods

By applying diagnostic criteria from human pathology, 45 seminomas from the Norwegian Canine Cancer Register were examined histologically with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stains. All sections were stained immunohistochemically with antibodies against human placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) and the transmembrane receptor c-KIT.

Results

Although two of the seminomas showed immunohistochemical staining characteristics indicative of classical seminoma (PLAP+/c-KIT+), all 45 examined seminomas were morphologically consistent with spermatocytic seminoma.

Conclusions

The value of canine seminoma as a model for SE in man remains unclear. Among the 45 investigated tumours from Norwegian dogs, none were classified as classical seminoma based on morphological criteria consistent with human seminomas. Regional or breed differences in the occurrence of classical seminoma in the dog, as well as the lack of uniform diagnostic criteria, might explain the discrepancy between the findings in the current study and the results presented by other authors.     

The effect of radiological hip dysplasia and breed on survival in a prospective cohort study of four large dog breeds followed over a 10 year period

The aim of the study was to measure the effect of radiological hip and elbow dysplasia status and breed on overall survival in a cohort of four large dog breeds in Norway. Privately owned dogs of the Newfoundland (NF), Labrador Retriever (LR), Leonberger (LEO), and Irish Wolfhound (IW) breeds were followed prospectively from birth to 10 years of age. The age of death/euthanasia was registered. A total of 501 dogs from 103 litters were enrolled. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to describe breed differences in survival times. The effects of radiological hip and elbow dysplasia status as well as breed were assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model. The variables 'sex' and 'living region' were explored as potential confounders. Among LRs, 60.2% of the dogs were still alive at 10 years of age, and the corresponding figures for NFs, LEOs, and IWs were 28.8%, 16.11%, and 6.4%, respectively. Radiological hip dysplasia status and breed were found to influence overall survival. Two different time-varying effects were observed in that with the IW the hazard of death increased linearly through time, while the effect of severe radiological hip dysplasia decreased logarithmically with time. Location influenced the death hazard and dogs living in suburban areas or cities had longer mean time to death and a lower hazard compared to dogs living in the countryside. Radiological elbow dysplasia status was not found to have an effect on overall survival.     

Development of piscirickettsiosis in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) smolts after intraperitoneal and cohabitant challenge using an EM90‐like isolate: A comparative study

Piscirickettsiosis, caused by the intracellular Gram‐negative bacteria Piscirickettsia salmonis, is at present the most devastating disease in the Chilean salmon industry. The aim of this study was to analyse disease development after challenge with a P. salmonis strain (EM90‐like) under a controlled environment by comparing intraperitoneal challenge with cohabitation challenge. The P. salmonis EM90‐like isolate was cultured in a liquid medium for the challenge of 400 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts. Cumulative mortality was registered, necropsy was performed, and bacterial distribution in the tissues and histopathological changes were analysed. The results revealed a similar progression of the disease for the two different challenge models. Pathological and histopathological changes became more visible during the development of the clinical phase of the disease. Bacterial DNA was identified in all the analysed tissues indicating a systemic infection. Bacterial tropism to visceral organs was demonstrated by real‐time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. Better knowledge of disease development during P. salmonis infection may contribute to further development of challenge models that mimic the field situation during piscirickettsiosis outbreaks. The models can be used to develop and test future preventive measures against the disease.     

Comment on "The incidence of fire in Amazonian forests with implications for REDD"

Arag?o and Shimabukuro (Reports, 4 June 2010, p. 1275) reported that fires increase in agricultural frontiers even as deforestation decreases and concluded that these fires lead to unaccounted carbon emissions under the United Nations climate treaty's tropical deforestation and forest degradation component. Emissions from post-deforestation management activities are, in fact, included in these estimates--but burning of standing forests is not.