Effect of dietary chicory on boar taint

Following preliminary screening and feeding trials on farms supplying a commercial abattoir, 360 entire male pigs were used to evaluate the effects of different percentages of chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) on levels of boar taint compounds and sensory aspects in backfat. Pigs were fed 0, 3, 6 or 9% chicory in the diet, 30 pigs being sampled at 3 different times: initially to measure basal levels of skatole and androstenone and after 1 and 2 weeks on the test diets. Cooked samples of backfat were presented to a trained sensory panel for "sniff" tests. Chicory fed at 9% for 2 weeks reduced skatole levels significantly (P<0.001), with 0.55 of pigs below 0.05 μg/g, typical of levels in castrated males. Abnormal odour scores were significantly lower for pigs in this group compared with 0% pigs (P<0.001), however, androstenone concentration was significantly higher in this group after the 2 week feeding period (P<0.005). Thus, feeding 9% chicory for 2 weeks was effective in reducing backfat skatole concentrations and abnormal odour scores of cooked fat but not androstenone concentration.     

Interruption of response ofDendroctonus brevicomis to attractive pheromone by release of pheromone at several rates and spacings

The number of western pine beetles,Dendroctonus brevicomis, trapped at the center of three 90 × 90-m plots was reduced during a 16-hr period after surrounding an attractive source ofexo-brevicomin, frontalin, and myrcene with 16, 48, or 168 sources of the same attractant. Compounds were released from the center of the plot at 1 mg/16 hr/compound, and from the surrounding sources at 4–280 mg/16 hr/compound. About half of these amounts was released between 1530 hr and 1930 hr, the period of peak beetle flight. No treatment differences were apparent in reduction of catch within the range of release rates and spacings tested. When compounds were released continuously from 168 stations for 17 days, catch at the center of a plot was generally lower than catch before or after this period, but fluctuated daily. More beetles were caught on traps hung on ponderosa pines within a plot and the number of these traps catching beetles was greater when compounds were released from all stations than from only the center station. Beetles caught on traps were attracted into the plots from the surrounding forest, but appeared to be dispersed within the plot when compounds were released from many stations.D. brevicomis attacked at least 91 trees in the plots, of which 25 were killed during two summers.Coleoptera: Scolytidae.Trade names are mentioned solely for information. No endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is implied.     

On the definition and computation of rectilinear convex hulls

Recently the computation of the rectilinear convex hull of a collection of rectilinear polygons has been studied by a number of authors. From these studies three distinct definitions of rectilinear convex hulls have emerged. We examine these three definitions for point sets in general, pointing out some of their consequences, and we give optimal algorithms to compute the corresponding rectilinear convex hulls of a finite set of points in the plane.     

Psychology doctoral training in work and health.

Psychology as a profession has an opportunity and obligation to advocate for and develop healthy work environments. This will require the design and conduct of doctoral-level training in occupational health psychology. A model for training might well be based on the assumptions that there is a viable role for occupational health psychologists trained at the doctoral level for both academic and applied work settings, and that doctoral training would be based on the integration of health psychology and public health. Issues remaining to be addressed in the development of doctoral training programs include appropriate predoctoral training, academic standards, the interdisciplinary nature of faculties, and appropriate settings for training. Future directions in establishing doctoral training in occupational health psychology will best be taken in dialogue with several other professions and institutions that share a common interest in reducing leading work-related disease and injuries and promoting public health in the workplace. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Solution Blow Spinning of Food‐Grade Gelatin Nanofibers

The primary advantage of nanofibers over larger diameter fibers is the larger surface area to volume ratio. This study evaluated solution blow spinning (SBS) processing conditions for obtaining food‐grade gelatin nanofibers from mammalian and fishery byproducts, such as pork skin gelatins (PGs) and high molecular weight fish skin gelatin (HMWFG). HMWFG had a highest intact collagen structure compared to PGs. PGs with different Bloom values, solution viscosities, and surface tensions were compared with HMWFG for their ability to produce nanofibers through SBS. Only HMWFG fibers were obtained irrespective of processing conditions, which looked like fluffy cotton candy. HMWFG nanofibers had round morphologies with a narrower diameter distribution and lower average fiber diameter (AFD) under medium gelatin concentrations, medium air pressures, and medium feed rates. The highest glass transition temperature (T_g) values were obtained at medium concentrations, medium air pressure, and either high or low feed rate. The thinnest HMWFG nanofibers with an AFD of 80.1 nm and the highest T_g value of 59.0 °C could be formed by combining a concentration of 17.6% (w/v), an air pressure of 0.379 MPa, and a feed rate of 0.06 mL/min from the response surface analysis. HMWFG Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller surface area increased from 221 to 237 m²/g, indicating their potential applicability for active compound carrier.     

A close correlation in the expression patterns of Af-6 and Usp9x in Sertoli and granulosa cells of mouse testis and ovary

Usp9x, an X-linked deubiquitylating enzyme, is stage dependently expressed in the supporting cells (i.e. Sertoli cells and granulosa cells) and germ cells during mouse gametogenesis. Af-6, a cell junction protein, has been identified as a substrate of Usp9x, suggesting a possible association between Usp9x and Af-6 in spermatogenesis and oogenesis. In this study, we examined the expression pattern of Af-6 and Usp9x and their intracellular localization in testes and ovaries of mice treated with or without pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG), an FSH-like hormone. In both testes and ovaries, Af-6 expression was predominantly observed in supporting cells, as well as in steroidogenic cells, but not in any germ cells. In Sertoli cells, Af-6 was continuously expressed throughout postnatal and adult stages, where both Af-6 and Usp9x were enriched at the sites of Sertoli-Sertoli and Sertoli-spermatid junctions especially at stages XI-VI. In the granulosa cells, Af-6, as well as Usp9x, was highly expressed in primordial and primary follicles, but its expression rapidly decreased after the late-secondary follicle stage. Interestingly, in PMSG-treated mice, the expression levels of Af-6 and Usp9x were synchronously enhanced, slightly in Sertoli cells and strongly in granulosa cells of the late-secondary and Graafian follicles. Such closely correlated expression patterns between Af-6 and Usp9x clearly suggest that Af-6 may be deubiquitylated by Usp9x in both Sertoli and granulosa cells. It further suggests that the post-translational regulation of Af-6 by Usp9x may be one potential pathway to control the cell adhesion dynamics in mammalian gametogenesis.     

Chrysophanol induces necrosis through the production of ROS and alteration of ATP levels in J5 human liver cancer cells

Anthraquinone compounds have been shown to induce apoptosis in different cancer cell types. Effects of chrysophanol, an anthraquinone compound, on cancer cell death have not been well studied. The goal of this study was to examine if chrysophanol had cytotoxic effects and if such effects involved apoptosis or necrosis in J5 human liver cancer cells. Chrysophanol induced necrosis in J5 cells in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. Non‐apoptotic cell death was induced by chrysophanol in J5 cells and was characterized by caspase independence, delayed externalization of phosphatidylserine and plasma membrane disruption. Blockage of apoptotic induction by a general caspase inhibitor (z‐VAD‐fmk) failed to protect cells against chrysophanol‐induced cell death. The levels of reactive oxygen species production and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m) were also determined to assess the effects of chrysophanol. However, reductions in adenosine triphosphate levels and increases in lactate dehydrogenase activity indicated that chrysophanol stimulated necrotic cell death. In summary, human liver cancer cells treated with chrysophanol exhibited a cellular pattern associated with necrosis and not apoptosis.     

The effects of diet and breed on the volatile compounds of cooked lamb

The effect of varying the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition of lamb muscle on the formation of aroma volatiles during cooking has been examined. The meat was obtained from four groups of Suffolk and Soay lambs fed different supplementary fats: a palm-oil based control; bruised whole linseed, which increased muscle levels of α-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3); fish oil, which increased eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 n-3); and equal quantities of linseed and fish oil (fat basis). Higher quantities of lipid oxidation products were found in the aroma volatiles of lamb muscle from animals fed fish oil, compared to the control. In particular, unsaturated aldehydes, unsaturated hydrocarbons and alkylfurans increased up to fourfold. These compounds derived from the autoxidation of PUFAs during cooking. Although some of these volatiles were increased in meat from animals fed the linseed supplement, the effect was not as great as with the fish oil fed lambs. Levels of volatiles derived from the Maillard reaction, such as pyrazines and sulfur compounds, were up to four times higher in Soays than Suffolks.