The influence of grinding and sieving on the nutritive value of herringmeal for chicks

The grinding of a herringmeal may be both significantly too coarse and too fine for chicks. Particles falling between U.S. Sieve Series Nos. 16 and 50 (respective openings 1·19 and 0·297 mm) appeared to be best.     

中国大陆肺炎发病率与死亡率:1985-2008年中英文文献的系统分析

目的 肺炎是全球传染性疾病最主要的死因之一,但中国的肺炎疾病负担还知之甚少,因为很多数据资料都是以非英文文献的形式发表的.方法 系统回顾了中国大陆关于肺炎发病率与死亡率的中文和英文文献,这些研究都是具有第一手数据的研究,1985-2008年有37篇论文符合纳入标准.结果 各项研究的质量差异较大.5岁以下儿童肺炎发病率为(0.06～0.27)次/人年,肺炎死亡率为184/10万～1 223/10万人口.肺炎的发病率与死亡率随着时间稳定不变或者呈下降趋势,且农村高于城市.结论 肺炎仍然是中国儿童的主要公共卫生问题之一.肺炎发病率与死亡率估计的变化差异大.继续降低发病率与死亡率需要可靠的监测数据和新的预防措施的实施,特别是在农村等高发地区.     

Physical and antibacterial properties of edible films formulated with apple skin polyphenols

Fruit and vegetable skins have polyphenolic compounds, terpenes, and phenols with antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. These flavoring plant essential oil components are generally regarded as safe. Edible films made from fruits or vegetables containing apple skin polyphenols have the potential to be used commercially to protect food against contamination by pathogenic bacteria. The main objective of this study was to evaluate physical properties as well as antimicrobial activities against Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella enterica of apple skin polyphenols at 0% to 10% (w/w) concentrations in apple puree film-forming solutions formulated into edible films. Commercial apple skin polyphenol powder had a water activity of 0.44 and high total soluble phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity (995.3 mg chlorogenic acid/100 g and 14.4 mg Trolox/g, respectively). Antimicrobial activities of edible film containing apple skin polyphenols were determined by the overlay method. Apple edible film with apple skin polyphenols was highly effective against L. monocytogenes. The minimum concentration need to inactive L. monocytogenes was 1.5%. However, apple skin polyphenols did not show any antimicrobial effect against E. coli O157:H7 and S. enterica even at 10% level. The presence of apple skin polyphenols reduced water vapor permeability of films. Apple skin polyphenols increased elongation of films and darkened the color of films. The results of the present study show that apple skin polyphenols can be used to prepare apple-based antimicrobial edible films with good physical properties for food applications by direct contact.     

Carbohydrate composition and physico chemical properties of artisanal honeys from Madrid (Spain): occurrence of Echium sp honey

Artisanal honey samples produced in Madrid province (central Spain) were characterised from their melissopalynological analysis, carbohydrate composition and physicochemical parameters. Melissopalynological analysis showed that Echium sp pollen appeared as the dominant palynomorph in most samples. It was also observed that many honey samples were natural blends from both nectar and honeydew botanical origins. Twenty‐five carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, 16 disaccharides and seven trisaccharides) were detected and quantified. Discriminant analysis was used to describe the variability of compositional data, which was probably associated with the different honey sources analysed (honeydew, Echium sp and other nectar plants), which in turn was related to the physiographical conditions (plain or mountain) occurring in Madrid province. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Orientierende holztechnologische Untersuchungen an Pinus radiata D. Don aus Neuseeland

Informative tests according to German standards (DIN) have been made with 3 clear logs of Pinus radiata to compare the results with European softwoods. Modulus of rupture and compression strengths (density between 0.35 and 0.66 g/cm³, mean value 0.53 g/cm³) as wells as the modulus of elasticity for small, elear specimen of Radiata pine. European pine, Spruce and Silver fire were nearly the same. Swelling and shrinkage values were not worse than those of European softwoods. The length of tracheidal ray cells in specimen of heart wood were 3.4 mm in the average. Extraction for several hours with Cyclohexan showed very different resin contents over the cross section between 0.27 and 15%. The concentration of preservative in sapwood of Pinus radiata was lower than expected. Phenol resorcind adhesive bonds of non-treated and preservative treated wood showed shear strengths parallel to the grain in the range of solid wood strengths.     

Attaining and measuring physical fitness in dairy cattle

Research with dairy cows was to determine whether dairy cows in confinement are in poor physical condition, if programmed exercise improves physical fitness, and which physiological measures are most useful indicators of physical fitness. If maintenance of physiologic homeostasis when an animal is under a work load is a valid criterion of physical fitness, dairy cows in confinement are in poor physical condition, and physical fitness can be improved by programmed exercise. Walking cows at 4 km/h for a distance of 8 km daily for 5 days per wk for 8 wk prepartum improved their physical fitness. Useful hemic indicators of improved fitness were less increase in erythrocyte numbers and hemoglobin concentration and less decrease in oxygen tension, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid contents, and base excess than in poorly conditioned cattle under work load. Venous blood was satisfactory for these measurements. Also valued were heart and respiratory rates, except these rates being sensitive to extraneous disturbances may be less reliable.     

A contaminant trap as a tool for isolating and measuring the desorption resistant fraction of soil pollutants

Bioremediation of contaminated soils often leaves a desorption-resistant pollutant fraction behind in the soil, which in the present study was isolated with a combination of diffusive carrier and infinite diffusive sink. Such a diffusive sink was made by casting a composite of silicone and activated carbon into the bottom of a large glass. Field-contaminated soil samples were then suspended in a cyclodextrin solution and incubated in such glasses for the continuous trapping of PAH molecules during their release from the soil matrix. The PAH concentrations remaining in the soil were determined by exhaustive extraction and compared with a biodegradation experiment. The concentration decline in the first soil was faster in the contaminant trap than in the biodegradation experiment, but the halting of the biodegradation process before reaching the legal threshold level was well indicated by the contaminant trap. The PAH concentrations in the second soil hardly decreased in the traps at all, in good agreement with the biodegradation experiment. The PAHs in this soil appeared to be "stuck" by strong sorption. The contaminant trap proved to be a practical approach to the isolation and quantification of the desorption-resistant PAH fraction.     

A genome scan for quantitative trait locus by environment interactions for production traits

Genotype by environment interactions between milk production traits and production level have often been observed. To increase the power of quantitative trait loci (QTL) detection, QTL by environment interaction was included in QTL analyses for the milk, protein, and fat yields. The aim of the study was to detect QTL with interaction effects with the production environment. The QTL effects were modeled through random regression models for within-herd production level. All autosomes except Bos taurus autosome 6 were included in the analysis. A more detailed study of chromosome 6 is planned. For milk yield, 5 QTL were observed, 2 of which had interaction effects with production level (suggestive linkage). For protein yield, 5 QTL were observed, 3 of which had interaction effects (suggestive linkage). For fat yield, 3 QTL were observed, none of which had interaction effects with the environment (suggestive linkage). Thus, some QTL with interaction effects seemingly exist for milk yield and protein yield. For such QTL, estimated correlations between slope and intercept of the effect (close to 1 or −1) indicated that only 2 alleles were segregating. The study indicates that QTL by environment interactions exist, and that random regression models that describe the environment as herd production level can detect this interaction.     

Survey of Argentinean human plasma for ochratoxin A

The presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in human blood has been reported for many countries, especially in Europe. However, so far no report exists concerning such a presence in Argentina. The aim of this study was to assess OTA concentration in human plasma in two different areas of Buenos Aires province. OTA was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in 199 plasma samples from blood donors in Mar del Plata and 236 from General Rodríguez. Solid-phase extraction with Bakerbond® C-18 cartridge and a final purification with Ochraprep® immunoaffinity columns was employed. The limit of quantification of ochratoxin A was 0.019ngml^?1 and the confirmation of OTA was by formation of ochratoxin A methyl ester. The results showed that 63.8% of human plasma samples from Mar del Plata and 62.3% from General Rodríguez were positive for OTA, with Winsorized means of 0.15 and 0.43ngml^?1, respectively. It is important to continue the research to detect the foods responsible of the presence of OTA in plasma.