Genetic variation in colour stability traits of lamb cuts under two packaging systems.

Data from samples of longissmus lumborum (LL) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles from 391 lamb carcasses, which had been packaged in overwrap (OW) or high oxygen modified atmosphere packaging (MAPO2) systems and then subjected to simulated retail display, were used to estimate genetic variation for colour stability traits of lamb meat as a step in identifying a trait for genetic evaluation. Traits included the ratio of the reflectance of light at wavelengths of 630 nm and 580 nm (oxy/met) measured at a single time point at the end of the display period (day 3 under OW; day 8 under MAPO2) and the predicted time for oxy/met to reach a benchmark value. Under OW and MAPO2, the measures of meat colour stability of the LL tended to be of moderate heritability (0.09-0.29), but for the SM were of low heritability (0-0.10). Improving retail colour stability of lamb loins through selection of genetically superior animals may be better based on measurement of oxy/met.

Exploring the potential of virtual reality technology to investigate the health and well being benefits of group singing.

There is a growing body of academic research aiming to quantify and understand the associated health and well being benefits of group singing. The social interaction is known to strongly contribute to perceived improvements to mental and physical health but there are also indications that singing together elicits better well being outcomes than other community activities. This paper introduces the Vocal Interaction in an Immersive Virtual Acoustic (VIIVA) system, which allows the user to take part in a group singing activity in 360 degree virtual reality, hearing themselves in the recorded venue alongside the other singers. The VIIVA is intended to make group singing accessible to those unable to attend real community choirs but also as a tool for experimental research into the health and well being benefits of group singing. This paper describes the VIIVA system and presents a number of methodologies and applications which are discussed in relation to three ongoing research projects. Preliminary work indicates that the VIIVA system provides a promising tool with which to study the health and well being benefits of group singing, and in particular to control for the social interactions inherent in real group singing activities.

Mob size of single-bearing or twin-bearing Merino ewes at lambing may not influence lamb survival when feed-on-offer is high.

Limited research has suggested that higher lambing densities increase interference from foreign ewes at lambing which disrupts the ewe-lamb bond and compromises lamb survival. This may be particularly evident in mobs of twin-bearing ewes compared to single-bearing ewes because a greater number of lambs are born per day. Therefore, we hypothesised that; (i) decreasing the mob size of ewes at lambing has a greater impact on the survival of twin-born lambs than single-born lambs; (ii) the relationship between mob size and lamb survival can be explained by differences in the rate of interaction with foreign ewes and lambs at lambing; and (iii) ewes will utilise a limited area of the paddock at lambing and thus lambing density will be defined by the distribution of ewes in the paddock rather than the paddock area. Merino ewes were allocated into a 2×2 factorial combination of ewe pregnancy status (single- or twin-bearing) and mob size (high (n=130 ewes) or low (n=50 ewes)) on day 140 from the start of joining. Each treatment had two replicates excepting the low mob size for twins which had a third replicate. Ewes lambed at a stocking rate of 11 ewes/ha. Feed-on-offer during lambing exceeded 2400 kg dry matter (DM)/ha. Ewe-lamb behaviour was observed and dead lambs were autopsied over 11 days during the peak of lambing. The distribution of ewes in each paddock was recorded every 2 h during daylight hours by counting the number of ewes occupying 2500 m2 grids. The proportion of ewes and their newborn progeny which interacted with foreign ewes at lambing did not differ between the high and low mob sizes for single- (24.9% v. 20.8%) or twin-bearing ewes (14.3% v. 19.6%; P=0.74). Similarly, interaction with foreign lambs did not differ between the high and low mob sizes for single- (14.5% v. 25.2%) and twin-bearing ewes (34.5% v. 26.4%; P=0.44). The distribution of ewes within the paddock did not differ between treatments (P=0.95). On average, single-bearing ewes which lambed at the high and low mob sizes occupied 34% and 36% of the paddock during daylight hours, and the corresponding values for twin-bearing ewes were 40% and 43%. Survival of twin-born lambs was lower than single-born lambs (75.3% v. 87.9%; P<0.01), however, lamb survival was not influenced by mob size regardless of birth type. These results suggest that higher mob sizes may not compromise lamb survival when feed-on-offer during lambing exceeds 2400 kg DM/ha.

Supplementation of Merino ewes with vitamin E plus selenium increases α-tocopherol and selenium concentrations in plasma of the lamb but does not improve their immune function.

Vitamin E and selenium have been reported to improve immune function across a range of species. Ewes lambing on poor-quality dry pasture in autumn in Western Australia are at risk of being deficient in vitamin E and selenium at lambing thus predisposing their lambs to deficiencies and increasing the risk of infection and disease. This study tested the hypotheses that (i) supplementation of autumn-lambing ewes with vitamin E plus selenium in late gestation will increase the concentrations of vitamin E and selenium in plasma in the ewe and lamb and (ii) that the increased concentrations of vitamin E and selenium in plasma in the lambs will improve their innate and adaptive immune responses and thus survival. Pregnant Merino ewes were divided into a control group (n=58) which received no supplementation or a group supplemented with vitamin E plus selenium (n=55). On days 111, 125 and 140 of pregnancy ewes in the vitamin E plus selenium group were given 4 g all-rac-α-tocopherol acetate orally. On day 111 the ewes were also given 60 mg of selenium as barium selenate by subcutaneous injection. The concentrations of α-tocopherol and selenium were measured in ewes and/or lambs from day 111 of pregnancy to 14 weeks of age±10 days (weaning). Immune function of the lamb was assessed by analysing the numbers and phagocytic capacities of monocytes and polymorphonuclear leucocytes and plasma IgG and anti-tetanus toxoid antibody concentrations between birth and 14 weeks of age±10 days. Maternal supplementation with vitamin E plus selenium increased the concentration of α-tocopherol in plasma (1.13 v. 0.67 mg/l; P<0.001) and selenium in whole blood (0.12 v. 0.07 mg/l; P<0.01) of the ewes at lambing compared with controls. Supplementation also increased the concentration of α-tocopherol (0.14 v. 0.08 mg/l; P<0.001) and selenium (0.08 v. 0.05 mg/l; P<0.01) in lambs at birth compared with controls. There was no significant effect of supplementation on immune function or survival in the lambs.

More feed efficient sheep produce less methane and carbon dioxide when eating high-quality pellets.

The Australian sheep industry aims to increase the efficiency of sheep production by decreasing the amount of feed eaten by sheep. Also, feed intake is related to methane production, and more efficient (low residual feed intake) animals eat less than expected. So we tested the hypothesis that more efficient sheep produce less methane by investigating the genetic correlations between feed intake, residual feed intake, methane, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. Feed intake, methane, oxygen, and carbon dioxide were measured on Merino ewes at postweaning (1,866 at 223 d old), hogget (1,010 sheep at 607 d old), and adult ages (444 sheep at 1,080 d old). Sheep were fed a high-energy grower pellet ad libitum for 35 d. Individual feed intake was measured using automated feeders. Methane was measured using portable accumulation chambers up to 3 times during this feed intake period. Heritabilities and phenotypic and genotypic correlations between traits were estimated using ASReml. Oxygen (range 0.10 to 0.20) and carbon dioxide (range 0.08 to 0.28) were generally more heritable than methane (range 0.11 to 0.14). Selecting to decrease feed intake or residual feed intake will decrease methane (genetic correlation [] range 0.76 to 0.90) and carbon dioxide ( range 0.65 to 0.96). Selecting to decrease intake ( range 0.64 to 0.78) and methane ( range 0.81 to 0.86) in sheep at postweaning age would also decrease intake and methane in hoggets and adults. Furthermore, selecting for lower residual feed intake ( = 0.75) and carbon dioxide ( = 0.90) in hoggets would also decrease these traits in adults. Similarly, selecting for higher oxygen ( = 0.69) in hoggets would also increase this trait in adults. Given these results, the hypothesis that making sheep more feed efficient will decrease their methane production can be accepted. In addition, carbon dioxide is a good indicator trait for feed intake because it has the highest heritability of the gas traits measured; is cheaper, faster, and easier to measure than feed intake and has strong phenotypic and genetic correlations with feed intake. Furthermore, selection for feed intake, feed efficiency, methane, and carbon dioxide can be done early in sheep at postweaning age or hoggets. This early selection reduces the generation interval for breeding, thereby increasing response to selection.

Retail colour stability of lamb meat is influenced by breed type, muscle, packaging and iron concentration.

The longissmus lumborum (LL) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles from 391 lamb carcasses, derived from various breed types, were used to investigate the effect of animal/muscle factors, packaging type [over-wrap (OW) or high oxygen modified atmosphere packaging (MAPO2)] and duration of display on redness of meat during simulated retail display. Using statistical models the time required (in days) for redness to reach a threshold value of 3.5 (below this is unacceptable) was predicted. High levels of iron in the SM, but not LL, reduced the time for redness to reach 3.5 by 2-2.6days in MAPO2 and 0.5-0.8days in OW. The greater the proportion of Merino breed type, the shorter was the time for redness to reach the value of 3.5, an effect consistent across muscles and packaging types. In summary, breed type, packaging format, muscle and muscle iron levels had a significant impact on colour stability of sheep meat in oxygen-available packaging systems.

Effect of branched-chain fatty acids, 3-methylindole and 4-methylphenol on consumer sensory scores of grilled lamb meat.

Tenderness, flavour, overall liking and odour are important components of sheepmeat eating quality. Consumer assessment of these attributes has been made for carcasses from the Information Nucleus Flock (INF) of the Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation. The concentrations of three branched chain fatty acids, 4-methyloctanoic (MOA), 4-ethyloctanoic (EOA) and 4-methylnonanoic acids (compounds related to 'mutton flavour' in cooked sheepmeat) and 3-methylindole and 4-methylphenol (compounds related to 'pastoral' flavour) were determined for 178 fat samples taken from INF carcasses. Statistical modelling revealed that both MOA and EOA impacted on the 'Like Smell' consumer sensory score of the cooked meat product (P<0.05), with increasing concentration causing lower consumer acceptance of the product. None of the compounds though had an effect on the liking of flavour. Obviously, reducing the effect of MOA and EOA on the odour of grilled lamb will improve consumer acceptance of the cooked product but other factors affecting the eating quality also need to be considered.

Genetic map construction and QTL mapping of resistance to blackleg (Leptosphaeria maculans) disease in Australian canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars.

Genetic map construction and identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for blackleg resistance were performed for four mapping populations derived from five different canola source cultivars. Three of the populations were generated from crosses between single genotypes from the blackleg-resistant cultivars Caiman, Camberra and (AV)Sapphire and the blackleg-susceptible cultivar Westar(10). The fourth population was derived from a cross between genotypes from two blackleg resistant varieties (Rainbow and (AV)Sapphire). Different types of DNA-based markers were designed and characterised from a collection of 20,000 EST sequences generated from multiple Brassica species, including a new set of 445 EST-SSR markers of high value to the international community. Multiple molecular genetic marker systems were used to construct linkage maps with locus numbers varying between 219 and 468, and coverage ranging from 1173 to 1800 cM. The proportion of polymorphic markers assigned to map locations varied from 70 to 89% across the four populations. Publicly available simple sequence repeat markers were used to assign linkage groups to reference nomenclature, and a sub-set of mapped markers were also screened on the Tapidor x Ningyou (T x N) reference population to assist this process. QTL analysis was performed based on percentage survival at low and high disease pressure sites. Multiple QTLs were identified across the four mapping populations, accounting for 13-33% of phenotypic variance (V (p)). QTL-linked marker data are suitable for implementation in breeding for disease resistance in Australian canola cultivars. However, the likelihood of shifts in pathogen race structure across different geographical locations may have implications for the long-term durability of such associations.

Time - motion analysis of professional rugby union players during match-play.

The aim of this study was to quantify the movement patterns of various playing positions during professional rugby union match-play, such that the relative importance of aerobic and anaerobic energy pathways to performance could be estimated. Video analysis was conducted of individual players (n=29) from the Otago Highlanders during six "Super 12" representative fixtures. Each movement was coded as one of six speeds of locomotion (standing still, walking, jogging, cruising, sprinting, and utility), three states of non-running intensive exertion (rucking/mauling, tackling, and scrummaging), and three discrete activities (kicking, jumping, passing). The results indicated significant demands on all energy systems in all playing positions, yet implied a greater reliance on anaerobic glycolytic metabolism in forwards, due primarily to their regular involvement in non-running intense activities such as rucking, mauling, scrummaging, and tackling. Positional group comparisons indicated that while the greatest differences existed between forwards and backs, each positional group had its own unique demands. Front row forwards were mostly involved in activities involving gaining/retaining possession, back row forwards tended to play more of a pseudo back-line role, performing less rucking/mauling than front row forwards, yet being more involved in aspects of broken play such as sprinting and tackling. While outside backs tended to specialize in the running aspects of play, inside backs tended to show greater involvement in confrontational aspects of play such as rucking/mauling and tackling. These results suggest that rugby training and fitness testing should be tailored specifically to positional groups rather than simply differentiating between forwards and backs.

Individual and multi-environment combined analyses identify QTLs for morphogenetic and reproductive development traits in white clover (Trifolium repens L.).

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is a key component legume of temperate pasture agriculture and an important target for molecular marker-assisted plant breeding. A genetic map of white clover has been used to assess genetic control of agronomically important traits that vary in the F2(I.4RxI.5J) mapping family. Phenotypic analysis was performed for a range of vegetative morphogenesis traits (such as leaf area, internode length, plant height and plant spread) and reproductive morphogenesis and development traits (such as flowering date, floral intensity and seed yield), with both spatial and temporal replication. A multi-environment combined analysis (combined analysis) has been performed for traits assessed across multiple experimental datasets in order to identify consistent genetic effects. Quantitative trait locus (QTLs) were detected for the majority of traits, and the locations and magnitudes of QTL effects were compared between individual and combined analyses. This molecular genetic dissection of agronomic traits in white clover provides the basis for equivalent studies in more complex populations, design of marker-assisted selection strategies and comparative genetics with model legume species. Selection for QTLs derived from the combined analysis will permit robust improvement of phenotypic traits over different environments.

Serotonin transporter gene and autism: a haplotype analysis in an Irish autistic population.

The role of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) in the development of neuropsychiatric disorders has been widely investigated. Two polymorphisms, an insertion/deletion in the promoter region and a 12 repeat allele in a variable nucleotide tandem repeat (VNTR) in intron 2, drive higher expression of the 5-HTT gene. Four studies have shown nominally significant excess transmission of alleles of the 5-HTT gene in autism, while three studies have reported no excess transmission. This present study investigates the role of 5-HTT in the genetically homogenous Irish population. In all, 84 families were genotyped for five polymorphisms (three SNPs, a VNTR and an in/del). The analysis of allele transmissions using the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) was undertaken and indicated preferential transmission of the short promoter allele (TDT P-value=0.0334). Linkage disequilibrium between markers was calculated and haplotypes were assessed for excess transmission and odds ratios (ORs) to affected children. A number of haplotypes, especially those involving and surrounding SNP10, showed evidence of association. The ORs ranged from 1.2 to 2.4. The most significant haplotype associated with transmission to affected probands was the SNP10-VNTR-SNP18 haplotype (chi(2)=7.3023, P=0.0069, odds ratio=1.8). This haplotype included the 12 repeat allele of the VNTR, which is associated with increased expression and may play a subtle role in the early development of the brain in affected probands.

Screening and identification of unknown contaminants in water with liquid chromatography and quadrupole-orthogonal acceleration-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry.

In order to assess and maintain the quality of surface waters, target compound monitoring is often not sufficient. Many unknown micro-contaminants are present in water, originating in municipal, industrial or agricultural effluents. Some of these might pose a risk to drinking water production and consequently to human health. The possibilities of screening surface water and identification of these non-target water pollutants with modern data acquisition possibilities of hybrid quadrupole-orthogonal acceleration time of flight mass spectrometers (Q-TOF), such as data-dependent MS to MS/MS switching were investigated. Using model compounds, a procedure for the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) screening of water extracts was developed, enabling the detection and identification of compounds at levels < or = 0.25 microg/l in surface water. Based on the accurate mass the elemental compositions for the precursor and product ions are calculated. The calculated chemical formulae are searched against the Merck index, the NIST library, an own database containing about 2,500 water pollutants (pesticides and other contaminants) as well as a CI-CID library containing tandem MS spectra of about 100 water contaminants. The developed approach was applied for the identification of unknown compounds, present in native surface water extract. For three of these compounds, structures were proposed. Confirmation of the proposed structures with standards was beyond the scope of this study.

Intraoperative treatment planning for radioactive seed implant therapy for prostate cancer.

We describe a procedure for intraoperative treatment planning for seed implantation. One hundred seven treatment plans have been analyzed at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and affiliated hospitals. The average time for the intraoperative procedure was 1. 74 hours. No significant difference in dose coverage to the prostate or normal tissues was evident.

Structural elucidation studies of erythromycins by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry II.

Erythromycin A (EryA), sec-butyl erythromycin B (SEryB), oleandomycin (Olean) and a synthetic derivative, roxithromycin (Rox), were used to investigate the fragmentation of polyketide macrolide antibiotics by collision induced dissociation (CID) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Analyses were performed with two commercially available mass spectrometers: a Q-TOF hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight instrument and a BioApex II (4.7 Tesla) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) instrument both equipped with electrospray ionisation (ESI) sources. One of the first fragmentation processes is the loss of an H(2)O molecule from the [M+H](+) ion. EryA has three hydroxyl groups on the polyketide ring and loses three H(2)O molecules during CID. This study indicates that these facts are not necessarily related. Deuterium exchange experiments were carried out in order to isotopically label free hydroxyl groups. (18)O-exchange experiments were also carried out in order to label the carbonyl group at the 9-position. In EryA and its analogue the first H(2)O loss shifts in mass from loss of 18 Da to loss of 20 Da in deuterated solvents. For both molecules the loss also shifts in mass from loss of 18 Da to loss of 20 Da during the (18)O-exchange experiments. This suggests that the first loss of H(2)O is from the 9-position carbonyl group, indicating that this, and not the nitrogen of the amino sugar, is the site of protonation of the activated MH(+) ions. For Rox the initial loss of H(2)O is replaced by loss of the 9-position oxime group, the rest of the fragmentation sequence being the same as for EryA. For Olean, there is no H(2)O loss from the parent ion. The results have allowed the proposal of a mechanism for the first loss of H(2)O in the EryA MS/MS fragmentation.

Structural elucidation studies of erythromycins by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.

Erythromycin A (EryA) was studied by electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) with the aim of developing a methodology for the structural elucidation of novel erythromycins developed by biological synthetic methods. Skimmer dissociation along with sequential mass spectrometry studies (up to MS5) have been employed in this study. In the low-resolution MS/MS analysis of the polyketides, there are several fragment ions that are easily assigned to various neutral losses. These have all been confirmed by accurate-mass measurements. There is also a series of peaks due to ring opening and fragmentation that can only be assigned by high-resolution MSn analysis. Further experiments were performed in deuterated media (D2O/CD3OD 50%) which, along with the high-resolution MSn of erythromycin analogues, has enabled us to identify some of the steps in the ring fragmentation, particularly the loss of the polyketide starter acid. This is an essential step for determining structural alterations in the novel polyketides, but further labelling experiments and studies on more erythromycin analogues are required before the complete fragmentation pathway can be confirmed.

The reliability and characteristics of the brief syntactic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Linguistic analysis is of great potential benefit to psychiatry as a research and assessment tool, but the skill and time it demands means that it has not been widely used. This paper describes a much simplified form of syntactic analysis. METHOD: A detailed protocol for the Brief Syntactic Analysis (BSA) was written, based on earlier work by Morice and Ingram. Three psychiatrists were trained in its use, and inter-rater reliability established through independent ratings of 12 transcripts taken from a mixed group of psychiatric patients and a group of non-psychiatric controls. Concurrent reliability of the BSA against the Morice and Ingram analysis was established by comparing measures from the two methods on 16 transcripts of mixed patients. RESULTS: There were high levels of agreement between the three psychiatrists and between the BSA and the Morice and Ingram analysis, although one-way ANOVA indicated that for some variables there were small but statistically significant absolute differences between the two. The reasons for this were discussed. A principal components analysis confirmed the presence of three factors corresponding closely to the three families of linguistic variables. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that psychiatrists can be trained to use a syntactic analysis with high levels of agreement. The BSA, which takes much less time to complete, produces measures that are comparable with the original analysis from which it was derived.

Speech and language in first onset psychosis differences between people with schizophrenia, mania, and controls.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have revealed linguistic differences between diagnostic groups. This study investigates the extent to which these differences are accounted for by factors such as chronicity, or disturbances in cognition associated with acute psychosis. METHOD: Transcripts of interviews with patients suffering from RDC schizophrenia (n=38), mania (n=11) and controls (n=16) were examined using the Brief Syntactic Analysis (BSA). Patients were within two years of first onset of psychotic symptoms, and received tests of working memory and attention. RESULTS: The speech of patients with schizophrenia was syntactically less complex than that of controls. Patients with schizophrenia and mania made more errors than controls. These differences were, to some extent, related to group differences in social class, working memory and attention, although significant group differences in language persisted after the effects of covariates were removed. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms the existence of differences in the speech of psychiatric patients. Low complexity appears to be a particular feature of speech in schizophrenia, even in the earliest stages of the condition. The importance of this finding is discussed in relation to two recent theories of schizophrenia: Crow's evolutionary model, and Frith's neuro-psychological model.

Space shuttle flight (STS-45) of L8 myoblast cells results in the isolation of a nonfusing cell line variant.

Myoblast cell cultures have been widely employed in conventional (1g) studies of biological processes because characteristics of intact muscle can be readily observed in these cultured cells. We decided to investigate the effects of spaceflight on muscle by utilizing a well characterized myoblast cell line (L8 rat myoblasts) as cultured in the recently designed Space Tissue Loss Flight Module "A" (STL-A). The STL-A is a "state of the art," compact, fully contained, automated cell culture apparatus which replaces a single mid-deck locker on the Space Shuttle. The L8 cells were successfully flown in the STL-A on the Space Shuttle STS-45 mission. Upon return to earth, reculturing of these spaceflown L8 cells (L8SF) resulted in their unexpected failure to fuse and differentiate into myotubes. This inability of the L8SF cells to fuse was found to be a permanent phenotypic alteration. Scanning electron microscopic examination of L8SF cells growing at 1g on fibronectin-coated polypropylene fibers exhibited a strikingly different morphology as compared to control cells. In addition to their failure to fuse into myotubes, L8SF cells also piled up on top of each other. When assayed in fusion-promoting soft agar, L8SF cells gave rise to substantially more and larger colonies than did either preflight (L8AT) or ground control (L8GC) cells. All data to this point indicate that flying L8 rat myoblasts on the Space Shuttle for a duration of 7-10 d at subconfluent densities results in several permanent phenotypic alterations in these cells.