Minimising colonic fermentation of high fructan foods : using food processing techniques to reduce levels of fructans in onion and garlic

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional disorder of the bowel, affecting up to 15% of Australian adults. Dietary triggers need to be identified and controlled. Researchers have shown that short chain carbohydrates, fructans (high in onion and garlic) play a major role in triggering IBS symptoms. Current dietary management aims to limit the intake of fructans in the diet. Another approach may be to use simple food processing to reduce fructans in foods.Objective: To investigate if pickling will reduce fructan levels in garlic and shallots, and if pickled garlic and shallots reduce colonic fermentation, and&nbsp; abdominal symptoms in human volunteers.Design: Fructan levels of the garlic and shallots were measured using the Megazyme fructan assay. 18 volunteers (13 healthy and 5 IBS) participated in a single blinded, randomised cross over study. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive a breakfast (potato and salmon patty) that was either high (unprocessed) or low (processed/pickled) in garlic and shallots. Breath hydrogen was measured every hour over a ten hour period, and abdominal symptoms were assessed using validated questionnaires.Outcomes: Pickling over a 12 day period significantly reduced fructan levels in both garlic (p=.0.00) and shallots (p=0.00). Consumption of the low fructan breakfast resulted in significantly lower breath hydrogen (p=0.05), abdominal pain (p=0.032), and wind (p=0.04).Conclusion: Pickling results in significantly lowered fructan levels in problem foods- shallots and garlic, and lowered colonic fermentation and abdominal symptoms in both healthy and IBS volunteers. This study provides another dietary strategy for dietetic counselling of patients with IBS.<br /

Improvement of resistance to fusarium root rot through gene pyramiding in common bean

Fusarium root rot (FRR), caused by Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli , is one of the most serious root rot diseases of common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) throughout the world. Yield losses of up to 84% have been attributed to the disease. Development and deployment of resistant materials is the most feasible approach to managing the disease. The objective of this study was to estimate the number of pyramided Fusarium root rot resistance genes among the four resistant lines and determine their effectiveness in improving levels of resistance to Fusarium root rot in the susceptible bean cultivars. Crosses among four Fusarium root rot (Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli) resistant common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) were developed. They involved six inbred lines, MLB-48-89A (M48), MLB-49-89A (M49), G2333 (G2) and G685 (G6), and two susceptible cultivars, K20 and Kanyebwa, The resistant lines were used to develop a double cross (DC) population. The DC F1 and each resistant parent were crossed to each of the two susceptible cultivars to form five-parent and single crosses, respectively. Developed populations were subjected to Fusarium solani f. sp. phasoeli isolate-3 under screenhouse conditions. There were segregation ratios of 15:1 (\u3c72 = 1.89, P = 0.17), 61:3 (\u3c72 = 0.18, P = 0.67) and 249:7 (\u3c72 = 1.74, P = 0.19) indicating that two, three and four genes independently condition resistance to F. solani in lines G2 x G6, M49 x M48 and (M49 x M48) x (G2 x G6). A good fit of only four genes in the double cross compared to two in the G2 x G6 , and three genes in the M49 x M48 cross suggests that at least one parent in the G2 x G6 cross have the same or closely linked genes as a parent in the M49 x M48 cross. The F1 means of the five-parent cross (FPC) involving either susceptible parent had lower disease scores, though not significantly (P &gt; 0.05), than the single-crosses from that parent. The F2 of both FPC showed less disease than the single-cross (SC) means (P &lt; 0.05) compared to the single-cross (SC) while the F2 of both FPC had a significant negative deviation (P &lt; 0.05). The F2 frequency distributions also showed that the FPC in both Kanyebwa and K20 populations had higher proportions of resistant plants than any of the single crosses in the respective populations. The superior performance of the FPC over the SC demonstrates that combining resistance genes form different FRR resistance sources can provide a stable source of resistance than using single sources of resistance.Pourriture racinaire caus\ue9e par Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli est l\u2019une des plus dang\ue9reuses pourritures racinaires du haricot commun ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) partout dans le monde. La maladie cause des pertes de rendement jusqu\u2019\ue0 84%. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019estimer le nombre de combinaisons de g\ue8nes de r\ue9sistance \ue0 la pourriture racinaire due au Fusarium parmi 4 lign\ue9es r\ue9sistantes et d\ue9terminer leur efficacit\ue9 dans l\u2019am\ue9lioration des niveaux de r\ue9sistance \ue0 la pourriture racinaire dans les vari\ue9t\ue9s sensibles. Les croisements ont \ue9t\ue9 d\ue9velopp\ue9s parmi les 4 vari\ue9t\ue9s de haricot commun r\ue9sistantes au Fusarium. Les croisements impliquaient six lign\ue9es, MLB48-89A, MLB-49-89A, G2333 et G685, et deux vari\ue9t\ue9s sensibles, K20 et Kanyebwa. Les lign\ue9es r\ue9sistantes \ue9taient utilis\ue9es pour d\ue9velopper une population \ue0 double croisement. Les individus de la g\ue9n\ue9ration F1 du double croisement et chaque parent r\ue9sistant \ue9taient crois\ue9s \ue0 chacun des deux cultivars sensibles pour former des croisements \ue0 cinq parents et simples, respectivement. Les populations d\ue9velopp\ue9es \ue9taient soumises \ue0 l\u2019isolat3 du Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli en serre. Les rapports de s\ue9gr\ue9gation \ue9taient de 15:1 (\u3c72 = 1.89, P = 0.17), 61:3 (\u3c72 = 0.18, P = 0.67) et 249:7 (\u3c72 = 1.74, P = 0.19), montrant que deux, trois et quatre g\ue8nes conditionnent ind\ue9pendamment la r\ue9sistance au F. solani dans les lign\ue9es G2 x G6, M49 x M48 et (M49 x M48) x (G2 x G6). Une bon adjustement de quatre g\ue8nes seulement dans le double croisement compar\ue9 \ue0 deux dans le croisement G2 x G6, et trois g\ue8nes dans le croisement M49 x M48 indique qu\u2019au moins un parent dans le croisement a les m\ueames g\ue8nes ou les g\ue8nes \ue9troitement li\ue9s pour un parent dans le croisement M49 x M48. Les moyennes des F1 issues des croisements \ue0 cinq parents impliquant le parent Kanyebwa et les populations de K20 avaient des d\ue9viations n\ue9gatives non significatives (P &gt; 0.05) compar\ue9 au croisement simple. D\u2019autre part, les F2 des deux croisements \ue0 cinq parents avaient des d\ue9viations n\ue9gatives significatives (P &lt; 0.05) issues des moyennes de croisements simples, ce qui indique une s\ue9v\ue9rit\ue9 des sympt\uf4mes de la pourriture racinaire plus faible dans les croisements \ue0 cinq parents que dans les simples croisements. La fr\ue9quence des distributions des F2 montrait aussi que les croisements \ue0 cinq parents \ue0 la fois dans les populations de Kanyebwa et celles de K20 avaient des proportions des plants r\ue9sistants plus \ue9lev\ue9es que toutes celles des croisements simples dans les populations respectives

Evaluating genetic association between fusarium and pythium root rots resistances in the bean genotype RWR 719

Resistance to Fusarium root rot ( Fusarium solani f.s.p phaseoli ) has been reported in common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) sources and is usually associated with Pythium root rot resistance. Pythium root rot ( Pythium ultimum var ultimum ) resistance is controlled by a single dominant gene, marked by a SCAR marker PYAA19800 . It remains unclear whether the inheritance to resistance of these two bean root rots is genetically independent. We evaluated the association of Fusarium root rot resistance with the Pythium root rots resistance gene and/or the molecular marker PYAA19800 in genotype RWR 719. Two populations; F2 and F2:3 lines, generated from RWR 719 (resistant) 7 K132 (susceptible) were respectively screened with Fusarium solani and Pythium ultimum isolates, and root damages were scored based on the CIAT 1 \u2013 9 scale. Additionally, the F2:3 lines were screened with PYAA19800. The F2 segregation ratio deviated from a single gene model for reaction to Fusarium solani. The F2:3 lines fit the model for a single dominant gene that confers resistance to Pythium ultimum. Fusarium solani and Pythium ultimum resistances were inherited independently. There was lack of association between PYAA19800 and Fusarium solani resistance, but the PYAA19800 was strongly associated with Pythium ultimum resistance. This contradicts the assertion of linkage of the two resistances that was deduced based on the joint occurrence of both resistances in the available donor genotypes.La r\ue9sistance \ue0 la porriture racinaire par suite du Fusarium solani f.s.p Phaseoli a \ue9t\ue9 signal\ue9e dans les sources du haricot commun ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) et commun\ue9ment associ\ue9e \ue0 la r\ue9sistance de la pourriture racinaire due au Pythium . La r\ue9sistance \ue0 la pourriture racinaire due au pithium ( Pythium ultimum var ultimum ) est control\ue9e par un unique g\ue8ne dominant marqu\ue9 par un marquer SCAR PYAA19800. Il demeure incertain si l\u2019h\ue9ritage de la r\ue9sistance \ue0 ces deux types de pourriture racinaire du haricot est g\ue9n\ue9tiquement ind\ue9pendant. Nous avons \ue9valu\ue9 l\u2019association des g\ue8nes de r\ue9sistance \ue0 la pourriture racinaire due au Fusarium solani et au Pythium ultimum et/ou le marqueur mol\ue9culaire PYAA19800 dans le g\ue9notype RWR 719. Deux populations, F2 et F2:3 issues du croisement entre 719 (r\ue9sistant) 7 K132 (sensible) ont \ue9t\ue9 respectivement test\ue9es avec des isolats de Fusarium solani et Pythium ultimum, et les d\ue9g\ue2ts \ue9taient mesur\ue9s sur base de l\u2019\ue9chelle de cotation de 1 \ue0 9 du CIAT. Additionnellement, F2:3 \ue9taient test\ue9es avec PYAA19800. Le rapport de s\ue9gr\ue9gation de F2 a d\ue9vi\ue9 du mod\ue8le unique pour la r\ue9action au Fusarium solani. Les lign\ue9es F2:3 se sont adapt\ue9es au mod\ue8le de l\u2019unique g\ue8ne dominant qui conf\ue8re la r\ue9sistance au Pythium ultimum. Les r\ue9sistances au Fusarium solani et au Pythium ultimum \ue9taient ind\ue9pendamment h\ue9rit\ue9es. Il n\u2019y avait aucune association entre PYAA 19800 et la r\ue9sistance au Fusarium solani, mais le PYAA19800 \ue9tait un g\ue8ne unique dominant avec r\ue9sistance au Pythium ultimum. Ceci contr\ue9dit l\u2019assertion du lien de ces deux r\ue9sistances d\ue9duit sur base de l\u2019occurrence combin\ue9e de toutes les deux resistances dans les g\ue9notypes donneurs disponibles

Performance of a diagnostic algorithm for functional gastrointestinal disorders

Abstract Review No. AR6Ecushla C. Linedale, Antonina Mikocka-Walus, Andrew D. Vincent, Peter R. Gibson, Jane M. Andrew

GENETICS OF RESISTANCE TO GROUNDNUT ROSETTE VIRUS DISEASE

Groundnut Rosette Virus disease (GRD) has long been regarded a major limiting biotic constraint to groundnut production in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The disease is caused by a complex of three viral components that interact in a synergistic fashion resulting into severe crop losses. A study was conducted to better understand the genetics of inheritance of GRD resistance. Nineteen groundnut genotypes among which twelve F2 families populations arising from a 3x4 North Carolina II mating design, were evaluated for their percentage disease severity (PDS) and incidence (PDI). There was significant genetic variability for resistance to GRD among the materials studied with more significant additive gene action as compared to non additive. However, since specific combining ability effects were not so consistent among the F2 family populations, evaluation and testing of progenies alongside with their parents would be more meaningful and selection in the early generations would be the most effective strategy. Further, narrow sense heritability of 53% suggests that prerformance of groundnut progenies could be partly predicted by both parental and individual cross means.La rosette, une maladie virale de l\u2019arachide (GRD) a pendant longtemps \ue9t\ue9 consid\ue9r\ue9e comme une contrainte biotique majeur \ue0 la production de l\u2019arachide en Afrique Sub Saharienne (SSA). La maladie est caus\ue9e par un complexe de trois composants viraux qui interagissent de fa\ue7on synerg\ue9tique causant ainsi de pertes lourdes de la culture. Une \ue9tude \ue9tait men\ue9e afin de mieux comprendre l\u2019acquisition g\ue9n\ue9tique de la r\ue9sistance de GRD. Dix neuf g\ue9notypes d\u2019arachides parmi douze populations de famille F2 provenant de la disposition du mating 3x4 de Nord Caroline II \ue9taient \ue9valu\ue9s sur base de leur pourcentage de s\ue9verit\ue9 (PDS) et incidence maladie (PDI). Une variabilit\ue9 significative de la r\ue9sistance au GRD parmi le mat\ue9riel \ue9tudi\ue9 avec plus d\u2019 action additive significative du g\ue8ne en comparaison \ue0 la non additive. Par ailleurs, du fait que les effets de combinaison des aptitudes n\u2019\ue9taient pas consistants parmi les populations de familles F2, l\u2019\ue9valuation et le test des prog\ue9nies avec leurs parents pourraient \ueatre plus significatif et la s\ue9lection parmi les g\ue9n\ue9rations pr\ue9coces pourrait \ueatre une strat\ue9gie la plus efficace. Aussi, l\u2019heritabilit\ue9 de 53% sugg\ue8re que la performance des prog\ue9nies d\u2019arachide pourrait partiellement \ueatre pr\ue9dit par le moyen de croisements parentaux et individuals

Processing of aluminum-graphite particulate metal matrix composites by advanced shear technology

Copyright @ 2009 ASM International. This paper was published in Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance 18(9) and is made available as an electronic reprint with the permission of ASM International. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic or multiple reproduction, distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means, duplications of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of this paper are prohibited.To extend the possibilities of using aluminum/graphite composites as structural materials, a novel process is developed. The conventional methods often produce agglomerated structures exhibiting lower strength and ductility. To overcome the cohesive force of the agglomerates, a melt conditioned high-pressure die casting (MC-HPDC) process innovatively adapts the well-established, high-shear dispersive mixing action of a twin screw mechanism. The distribution of particles and properties of composites are quantitatively evaluated. The adopted rheo process significantly improved the distribution of the reinforcement in the matrix with a strong interfacial bond between the two. A good combination of improved ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and tensile elongation (e) is obtained compared with composites produced by conventional processes.EPSR

Identification of common bean genotypes with dual leaf and pod resistance to common bacterial blight disease in Uganda

Common Bacterial Blight (CBB), caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap) and Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli var. fuscans (Xapf), is a serious disease that affects common bean production worldwide. In Uganda, it is the most severe and widely occurring bacterial disease, causing significant yield losses in common bean. Although various sources of resistance have been developed around the world, none of the varieties grown in Uganda is known to be resistant. The objective of this study was to identify lines with combined leaf and pod resistance for introgression into locally adapted but susceptible Ugandan genotypes. A total of 132 common bean accessions was evaluated in a screenhouse and under field conditions, in an 11x12 alpha lattice design. Genotypes were inoculated with a local isolate in a screenhouse; while the plants were left to undergo natural infestation in field. Results indicated significant differences (P&lt;0.001) in genotypic reactions against the CBB disease, with a range of disease scores of 2.2 - 7.8 on leaves and 2.6 - 7.1 on pods (1-9 CIAT disease scale), suggesting high genetic variability among the tested germplasm. Relatively low correlation (r = 0.39) was observed between leaf and pod reactions, suggesting differential expression of CBB resistance in these two plant organs. Overall, four genotypes, NE2-14-8, NE17-14-29, NE14-09-78 and VAX3, consistently showed resistance in both screenhouse and field evaluations, leaf and pod inoculations and at all sampling stages. These genotypes were, therefore, identified for transferring CBB resistance into Ugandan susceptible market class bean varieties.Le fl\ue9trissement bact\ue9rien commun (CBB) caus\ue9 par Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Xcp) et Xanthomonas spp. var. fuscans (Xcpf) est une s\ue9rieuse maladie qui affecte, de fa\ue7on globale, la production du haricot commun. En Ouganda, elle est, de loin, la maladie bact\ue9rienne la plus s\ue9v\ue8re et vastement r\ue9pandue causant de pertes significatives au rendement du haricot commun. Malgr\ue9 que de nombreuses sources de r\ue9sistance aient \ue9t\ue9 d\ue9velopp\ue9es dans le monde, aucune des vari\ue9t\ue9s cultiv\ue9es en Ouganda n\u2019est connue \ueatre r\ue9sistante. L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait d\u2019identifier des lignes \ue0 r\ue9sistance combin\ue9e des feuilles et gousses pour son introgression dans les vari\ue9t\ue9s locales adapt\ue9es mais susceptibles. Au total, 132 accessions de haricot commun \ue9taient \ue9valu\ue9es sous serre et dans le champ dans un dispositif experimental alpha-lattice 11x12. Les g\ue9notypes \ue9taient inocul\ue9s sous serre par un isolat local pendant que l\u2019infestation \ue9tait naturelle dans le champ. Les r\ue9sultats montrent de diff\ue9rences hautement significatives dans la r\ue9action des g\ue9notypes face \ue0 la maladie CBB avec des scores variant de 2,2 \ue0 7,8 sur les feuilles et de 2.6 \ue0 7.1 sur les gousses (l\u2019\ue9chelle 1-9 de CIAT) indiquant une forte variabilt\ue9 g\ue9n\ue9tique au sein du germoplasm test\ue9. Une corr\ue9lation relativement faible (r = 0.39) \ue9tait observ\ue9e entre la r\ue9action des feuilles et celle des gousses sugg\ue9rant une expression diff\ue9rentielle de la r\ue9sistance \ue0 la maladie CBB dans ces deux organes de la plante. De fa\ue7on g\ue9n\ue9rale, quatre g\ue9notypes NE2-14-8, NE17-14-29, NE14-09-78 and VAX3 ont \ue9t\ue9, de fa\ue7on constante, r\ue9sistants aux \ue9valuations sous serre et dans le champ, aux inoculations des feuilles et des gousses et durant toute la p\ue9riode de mesure. Ces g\ue9notypes \ue9taient donc identifi\ue9s pour le transfert de la r\ue9sistance dans les vari\ue9t\ue9s locales susceptibles d\u2019Ouganda

B-cell dysregulation in Crohn's disease is partially restored with infliximab therapy

Background: B-cell depletion can improve a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases, but does not appear beneficial for patients with Crohn's disease. Objective: To elucidate the involvement of B cells in Crohn's disease, we here performed an 'in depth' analysis of intestinal and blood B-cells in this chronic inflammatory disease. Methods: Patients with Crohn's disease were recruited to study B-cell infiltrates in intestinal biopsies (n = 5), serum immunoglobulin levels and the phenotype and molecular characteristics of blood B-cell subsets (n = 21). The effects of infliximab treatment were studied in 9 patients. Results: Granulomatous tissue showed infiltrates of B lymphocytes rather than Ig-secreting plasma cells. Circulating transitional B cells and CD21low B cells were elevated. IgM memory B cells were reduced and natural effector cells showed decreased replication histories and somatic hypermutation (SHM) levels. In contrast, IgG and IgA memory B cells were normally present and their Ig gene transcripts carried increased SHM levels. The numbers of transitional and natural effector cells were normal in patients who responded clinically well to infliximab. Conclusions: B cells in patients with Crohn's disease showed signs of chronic stimulation with localization to granulomatous tissue and increased molecular maturation of IgA and IgG. Therapy with TNFα-blockers restored the defect in IgM memory B-cell generation and normalized transitional B-cell levels, making these subsets candidate markers for treatment monitoring. Together, these results suggest a chronic, aberrant B-cell response in patients with Crohn's disease, which could be targeted with new therapeutics that specifically regulate B-cell function

Coronal Diagnostics from Narrowband Images around 30.4 nm

Images taken in the band centered at 30.4 nm are routinely used to map the radiance of the He II Ly alpha line on the solar disk. That line is one of the strongest, if not the strongest, line in the EUV observed in the solar spectrum, and one of the few lines in that wavelength range providing information on the upper chromosphere or lower transition region. However, when observing the off-limb corona the contribution from the nearby Si XI 30.3 nm line can become significant. In this work we aim at estimating the relative contribution of those two lines in the solar corona around the minimum of solar activity. We combine measurements from CDS taken in August 2008 with temperature and density profiles from semiempirical models of the corona to compute the radiances of the two lines, and of other representative coronal lines (e.g., Mg X 62.5 nm, Si XII 52.1 nm). Considering both diagnosed quantities from line ratios (temperatures and densities) and line radiances in absolute units, we obtain a good overall match between observations and models. We find that the Si XI line dominates the He II line from just above the limb up to ~2 R_Sun in streamers, while its contribution to narrowband imaging in the 30.4 nm band is expected to become smaller, even negligible in the corona beyond ~2 - 3 R_Sun, the precise value being strongly dependent on the coronal temperature profile.Comment: 26 pages, 11 figures; to be published in: Solar Physic