Proximate Composition, Mineral Content, and Fatty Acids of Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus, Rafinesque) for Different Seasons and Cooking Methods

The effect of conventional cooking methods and the influence of season upon proximate composition, mineral, and fatty acid profile was studied in catfish (Ictalurus punctatus, Rafinesque) fillets. Seasonal (August, December, and April purchased fillets) influences were minimal. As expected, fried catfish fillets had significantly altered (P ≤ 0.05) fatty acid profiles compared to the raw and baked fillets. All three cooking treatments resulted in significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in proximate composition and in the levels of potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron. The information presented would be useful for nutrient data banks when dietary intake of such items is of interest.     

DIET-MEDIATED INTER-COLONIAL AGGRESSION IN THE FORMOSAN SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coptotermes formosanus</Emphasis>

In most social insects, intercolonial and interspecific aggression are expressions of territoriality. In termites, cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) have been extensively studied for their role in nestmate recognition and aggressive discrimination of nonnest-mates. More recently, molecular genetic techniques have made it possible to determine relatedness between colonies and to investigate the influence of genetics on aggression. In the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus, however, the role of CHCs and genetic relatedness in inter-colony aggression has been ambiguous, suggesting the involvement of additional factors in nest-mate recognition. In this study we assess the range of aggression in this termite species and characterize the influence of genetic relatedness, CHC profiles and diet on aggression levels. We collected four colonies of C. formosanus, feeding either on bald cypress or birch, from three locations in Louisiana. Inter-colony aggression ranged from low to high. Differences in CHC profiles, as well as genetic distances between colonies determined by using microsatellite DNA markers, showed no significant correlation with aggression. However, termite diet (host tree) played a significant role in determining the level of aggression. Thus, two distantly related colonies, each feeding on different diets, showed high aggression that significantly diminished if they were fed on the same wood in the laboratory (spruce). Using headspace solid phase microextraction, we found three compounds from workers fed on birch that were absent in workers fed on spruce. Such diet-derived chemicals may be involved in the complex determination of nest-mate recognition in C. formosanus.     

Diagnostic Checking in a Flexible Nonlinear Time Series Model

This paper considers a sequence of misspecification tests for a flexible nonlinear time series model. The model is a generalization of both the smooth transition autoregressive (STAR) and the autoregressive artificial neural network (AR-ANN) models. The tests are Lagrange multiplier (LM) type tests of parameter constancy against the alternative of smoothly changing ones, of serial independence, and of constant variance of the error term against the hypothesis that the variance changes smoothly between regimes. The small sample behaviour of the proposed tests is evaluated by a Monte-Carlo study and the results show that the tests have size close to the nominal one and a good power.     

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy on postnatal brain development: The potential role of glial cells

Glial cells are crucial for maintaining central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis. They actively participate in immune responses, as well as form functional barriers, such as blood-brain barrier (BBB), which restrict the entry of pathogens and inflammatory mediators into the CNS. In general, viral infections during the gestational period can alter the embryonic and fetal environment, and the related inflammatory response may affect neurodevelopment and lead to behavioral dysfunction during later stage of life, as highlighted by our group for Zika virus infection. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) induces a cytokine storm and, during pregnancy, may be related to a more severe form of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and also to higher preterm birth rates. SARS-CoV-2 can also affect the CNS by inducing neurochemical remodeling in neural cells, which can compromise neuronal plasticity and synaptic function. However, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy on postnatal CNS, including brain development during childhood and adulthood, remains undetermined. Our group has recently highlighted the impact of COVID-19 on the expression of molecular markers associated with neuropsychiatric disorders, which are strongly related to the inflammatory response. Thus, based on these relationships, we discussed the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection either during pregnancy or in critical periods of neurodevelopment as a risk factor for neurological consequences in the offspring later in life, focusing on the potential role of glial cells. Thus, it is important to consider future and long-term public health concerns associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy.     

OPTIMAL ROBUST DESIGN OF NOVEL MATERIALS: PROBLEMS OF STABILITY AND VIBRATIONS

A numerical method for the optimal design of thin anisotropic laminates is presented, layer thicknesses and lamination angles being the design variables. An optimal solution is pursued with respect to frequency domain objectives, e.g. fundamental frequency and Euler critical load. A special feature of the method is the semi-analytical second order design sensitivity that is computed with the aid of a Rayleigh-Ritz analysis approach. A modified sequential quadratic programming scheme is then introduced, where standard quasi-Newton approximations are avoided by an exact calculation of the Hessian matrix. Furthermore, the robustness of the method with respect to scatter in material properties such as mass density and elastic moduli is assessed. A stochastic extension of the Rayleigh-Ritz approach is developed on this purpose that allows the location of those regions in the design space that are most sensitive to physical parameter randomness. This allows the use of a modified objective function that penalizes sensitive solution.     

SENSORY QUALITY OF GALA APPLES AS INFLUENCED BY CONTROLLED AND REGULAR ATMOSPHERE STORAGE

The sensory quality of Gala apples stored for up to 4 months in delayed controlled atmosphere (CA), regular atmosphere (RA), and a combination of sequential CA and RA storage (CR) was evaluated. Sensory analysis included difference and acceptance testing. Firmness, soluble solids and titratable acidity contents, and volatile flavor profiles were measured analytically. Acceptability decreased with storage time. Apples stored in RA were more acceptable than apples stored in CA or CR; the differences between storage treatment were not significant after 4 months of storage. Firmness decreased with storage time, but was not affected by storage treatment. Soluble solids and titratable acidity contents were not affected by storage treatment or time. Storage treatment, storage time, and lot had a significant effect on the volatile flavor profiles. CA storage and extended storage contributed to decreases in the content of volatile flavor compounds.     

Leaf blade anatomy and ultrastructure of six <i>Simira</i> species (Rubiaceae) from the Atlantic Rain Forest,Brazil

Simira is a predominantly woody Neotropical genus comprising 41 taxa, 16 of which occur in Brazil and eight of them in the southeastern region of Brazil. Leaf blades of Simira eliezeriana Peixoto, S. glaziovii (K. Schum.) Steyerm., S. grazielae Peixoto, S. pikia (K. Schum.) Steyerm., S. rubra (Mart.) Steyerm., S. sampaioana (Standl.) Steyerm. were collected in the southeastern region of Brazil and fixed according to usual methods for light and electron microscopy. The leaf blades show typical characteristics of the Rubiaceae family as dorsiventral mesophyll and paracytic stomata. The presence of two bundle sheaths that extend to the upper epidermal layer, prismatic crystal and crystal-sand, alkaloids in the mesophyll and the organization micromorphological of the outer periclinal wall are considered characteristics representative for the genus. This study also demonstrates some leaf blade characteristics that can be used to Simira species identification (leaf surface, domatia types, epicuticular wax types and patterns of epidermis anticlinal cell walls).     

Quantitative Determination of Ascorbic Acid in Potatoes and Potato Products by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

A simple, rapid and accurate method for the quantitative determination of ascorbic acid in potatoes and potato products has been developed. The system is based on the reverse-phase, ion-pairing concept of high-performance liquid chromatography. Sample preparation is minimal and involves a one-step extraction followed by filtration and/or centrifugation. Recoveries were near the 100% level. As low as 0.02 mcg ascorbic acid could be determined.