Laryngeal paralysis in immature and mature dogs as one sign of a more diffuse polyneuropathy

Six dogs with laryngeal paralysis had clinical, electrophysiologic, and pathologic evidence of a more generalized polyneuropathy. Three of the dogs were young Dalmatians, one was a young Bouvier des Flandres, and two were older, large-breed dogs. The results of this study suggest that laryngeal paralysis in dogs may frequently be one clinical sign of an underlying, more generalized polyneuropathy. Two forms of this generalized polyneuropathy may exist: an early form, as seen in young dogs with congenital or hereditary disease, and a delayed-onset form that is usually found in older dogs with so-called idiopathic laryngeal paralysis, some of which may have hypothyroidism.     

Effects of Partial and Complete Replacement of Synthetic Cryoprotectant with Carrot (Daucus carota) Concentrated Protein on Stability of Frozen Surimi

ABSTRACT

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of carrot concentrated protein (CCP) as additive on the functional and textural properties of surimi from striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) during six months of frozen storage (?20°C). The CCP (82.22% crude protein) was used as an additive either a lone or with a synthetic cryoprotectant (sucrose-sorbitol-sodium tri-polyphosphate). Control was made with synthetic cryoprotectant only. Molecular weight of CCP was found to be 36 kDa. After six months, the results revealed that up to 50% of synthetic cryoprotectants could be replaced by CCP during frozen storage of surimi. Biochemical parameters such as protein solubility, Ca²⁺ATPase activity, and gel strength decreased significantly (p < .05) during storage. Treatment T-3 (CCP 0.5% + 50% of synthetic cryoprotectant) maintained quality of protein significantly superior (p < .05) in respect to denaturation and other functional and sensory attributes compared to all the treatments. The microstructure images of surimi confirmed that addition of CCP modified the ice crystal growth during frozen storage. This study suggests that CCP can be a potential additive to protect protein from denaturation along with partial replacement of chemical cryoprotectants.     

Use of saline aquaculture wastewater to irrigate salt-tolerant Jerusalem artichoke and sunflower in semiarid coastal zones of China

In 2004 and 2005, the feasibility of agricultural use of saline aquaculture wastewater for irrigation of Jerusalem artichoke and sunflower was conducted in the Laizhou region using saline aquaculture wastewater mixed with brackish groundwater at different ratios. Six treatments with different electrical conductivities (EC) were included in the experiment: CK1 (rainfed), CK2 (irrigation with freshwater, EC of 0.02 dS m⁻¹), and saline aquaculture wastewater (EC of 39.2 dS m⁻¹) mixed with brackish groundwater (EC of 4.4 dS m⁻¹) at volumetric ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 with corresponding EC of 22.0, 16.1, 13.2, and 11.4 dS m⁻¹. Soil electrical conductivity (ECe) in the saline aquaculture wastewater irrigation treatments was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than that in the rainfed or freshwater irrigation treatments, and the maximum value occurred in the 22.0 dS m⁻¹ treatment. The sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) ranged from 4.1 to 11.7 mmol^1/2 L^−1/2 and increased with decreasing salinity of irrigation water. The biomass of Jerusalem artichoke significantly decreased (P ≤ 0.05) when irrigated with saline aquaculture wastewater compared to the rainfed or freshwater irrigation treatments; however, the effect of salinity on root biomass was much smaller than the aerial parts. Concomitantly, the highest tuber yield of Jerusalem artichoke occurred in the 11.4 dS m⁻¹ treatment, while the highest seed yield of sunflower occurred in the rainfed treatment. Additionally, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of Jerusalem artichoke were significantly higher in the 11.4 dS m⁻¹ treatment than the other treatments. This study demonstrated that properly diluted saline aquaculture wastewater can be used successfully to irrigate Jerusalem artichoke with higher economic yield and nutrient removal, but not sunflower due to the difference in salt tolerance.     

Flavonoid constituents of Chorizanthe diffusa with potential cancer chemopreventive activity

An ethyl acetate-soluble extract of Chorizanthe diffusa was found to exhibit significant antioxidant activity, as judged by scavenging stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals and inhibition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-induced free radical formation with cultured HL-60 cells. Bioassay-directed fractionation of this extract using the DPPH antioxidant assay as a monitor led to the isolation of five structurally related flavonoids (1-5), including the novel compound 5,8,3',4',5'-pentahydroxy-3, 7-dimethoxyflavone (1). Isolates 1-5 demonstrated varying degrees of antioxidant or antimutagenic activity. Two of the compounds, 5,7,3', 4'-tetrahydroxy-3-methoxyflavone (2) and quercetin (4), were subsequently found to inhibit carcinogen-induced preneoplastic lesions in a mouse mammary organ culture model. Inhibitory activity of this type is known to correlate with cancer chemopreventive effects in full-term models of tumorigenesis.     

Genetic and demographic bottleneck analysis of Indian camel breeds by microsatellite markers

The genetic and demographic bottleneck analysis of Indian camel breeds was carried out utilizing 40 microsatellite markers. Allelic polymorphism was observed at 20 loci in the Indian dromedary breeds. A total of 66 alleles were scored. The average number of alleles, expected heterozygosity and polymorphic information content were, respectively, 3.25?±?0.27, 0.56?±?0.04 and 0.49?±?0.04 in Bikaneri; 3.25?±?0.25, 0.53?±?0.03 and 0.46?±?0.03 in Jaisalmeri; 3.0?±?0.21, 0.53?±?0.04 and 0.45?±?0.03 in Kachchhi and 3.1?±?0.19, 0.51?±?0.03 and 0.44?±?0.03 in Mewari breed. Higher genetic variation was observed in most numerous Bikaneri breed. Genetic distances were least between the breed pair Bikaneri and Jaisalmeri which was closely placed with the Kachchhi breed. The Mewari camels had relatively higher genetic distance from the other three Indian dromedary breeds. The bottleneck analysis revealed the presence of genetic bottleneck in all four breeds of Indian dromedary. However, the qualitative graphical method resulted in normal L-shaped distribution of allele frequencies in Jaisalmeri breeds and shifted mode in Bikaneri, Kachchhi and Mewari breeds. The demographic bottleneck analysis revealed minimum reduction (?9.65 %) in the population of camels in Jaisalmeri breeding tract as compared to that of Bikaneri (?14.18 %), Kachchhi (?27.78 %) and Mewari (?32 %) breeding tracts. Conclusively, the genetic bottleneck analysis could explain the demographic bottleneck in the Indian dromedary populations. Therefore, appropriate conservation and improvement efforts are needed in all four dromedary breeds with immediate attention on Mewari and Kachchhi breeds. The present study is the first report in demonstrating the genetic basis of demographic bottleneck in the Indian dromedary populations.     

Hybridizing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica rapa</Emphasis> with wild crucifers <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diplotaxis erucoides</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica maurorum</Emphasis>

Two wide hybrids, Diplotaxis erucoides (2n = 14) × Brassica rapa (2n = 20) and B. maurorum (2n = 20) × B. rapa, were developed using the sequential ovary–ovule culture. Reciprocal crosses failed, possibly as a consequence of strong unilateral incompatibility. The F ₁ hybrids in each combination were completely male sterile and morphologically intermediate to the respective parents. DNA marker polymorphism and chromosome counts confirmed their hybrid nature. High frequency of bivalents in the F ₁ and the presence of trivalents/quadrivalents in the derived amphiploids suggested genomic duplications and homoeology of the parental genomes. Up to three homoeologous pairs between the D. erucoides (D^eD^e) and B. rapa (AA) genomes, and one between B. maurorum (B^mB^m) and B. rapa genomes were observed. Successful synthesis of the F ₁ hybrids and amphiploids of B. rapa with D. erucoides and B. maurorum, and allosyndetic chromosome pairing are expected to permit introgressions of desirable loci into the cultivated Brassica germplasm, especially for resistance to Alternaria brassicae and Albugo candida.     

Aluminium tolerance in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) with monogenic inheritance pattern

The objectives of this study were to determine genetics of Al tolerance and whether the Al tolerance observed is governed by the same gene. The lines ‘L‐7903’ and ‘L‐4602’ have been developed through breeding programme as Al‐tolerant lines. These lines showed maximum root regrowth and minimum accumulation of Al and callose as compared to sensitive genotypes (‘BM‐4’ and ‘L‐4147’). Al tolerance in the parents, F₁, F₂ and backcross generations was estimated using the regrowth of the primary root after staining and scoring of fluorescent signals. The F₁ hybrids responded similarly to the tolerant parents, indicating dominance of Al tolerance over sensitivity. The segregation ratios obtained for Al tolerance and sensitivity in the F₂ and backcross generations were 3 : 1 and 1 : 1, respectively. Test of allelism confirmed the same gene was conferring Al tolerance in both genotypes (‘L‐7903’ and ‘L‐4602’) as the F₁ was also tolerant and no segregation of tolerant : sensitive was recorded. These results indicated that Al tolerance is a monogenic dominant trait that can be easily transferred to agronomic bases through backcross breeding technique.     

Exchange equilibria of potassium in soils. II. Effect of farmyard manure on K-Mg exchange

Exchange behaviour of potassium versus magnesium was studied on surface soil samples of 3 Ustochrepts from a semiarid tropical region in relation to different levels of cattle farmyard manure (FYM, 0, 2.5, 5 and 10%). Magnesium saturated soil samples were equilibrated with KCl + MgCl₂ solutions having a range of equivalent ion fraction of K from 0 to 1 in the equilibrium solutions. The experimental results were analysed and interpreted, using different exchange selectivity quotients and thermodynamic parameters. Application of FYM caused a small but consistent increase in the K-preference over Mg as depicted from the normalized exchange isotherms. Standard free energy of K-Mg exchange were strongly negative (ΔGo-6.97 to ?9.47 kJ eq^?1 by Gaines and Thomas approach; ΔG'o ?10.85 to ?14.15 kJ M^?1 by Babcock and Duckart approach), suggesting a strong thermodynamic preference for K over Mg in these soils. For comparable treatments, ΔGo were about ?0.84 to ?1.25 kJ eq^?1 more negative for K-Mg, compared to K-Ca system reported earlier. ΔGo for 10% FYM treatments became more negative over the controls by 2.34, 1.40 and 0.53 kJ eq^?1 for Hissar, Panipat and Pehowa soils, respectively. All the selectivity quotients scrutinized in this investigation, viz., Gapon (K_G), Vanselow (K_v) and thermodynamic (K_N) were strongly K-saturation dependent; the dependence becoming more pronounced with the addition of FYM.     

Honeys from different floral sources as inhibitors of enzymatic browning in fruit and vegetable homogenates

Honeys from different floral sources were evaluated for their antioxidant content and for their ability to inhibit enzymatic browning in fruits and vegetables. Antioxidant contents of honeys vary widely from different floral sources, as do their abilities to protect against enzymatic browning. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity was reduced over a range of approximately 2-45% in fruit and vegetable homogenates, corresponding to a reduction in browning index by 2.5-12 units. Soy honey was particularly effective when compared to clover honey, which had a similar antioxidant content. When compared to commercial inhibitors of browning, honeys were less effective; however, in combination they added to the effectiveness of metabisulfite and ascorbic acid. Honey has great potential to be used as a natural source of antioxidants to reduce the negative effects of PPO browning in fruit and vegetable processing.