Genetic parameters of backfat fatty acids and carcass traits in Large White pigs.

Subcutaneous fat thickness and fatty acid composition (FAC) play an important role on seasoning loss and organoleptic characteristics of seasoned hams. Dry-cured ham industry prefers meats with low contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) because these negatively affect fat firmness and ham quality, whereas consumers require higher contents in those fatty acids (FA) for their positive effect on human health. A population of 950 Italian Large White pigs from the Italian National Sib Test Selection Programme was investigated with the aim to estimate heritabilities, genetic and phenotypic correlations of backfat FAC, Semimembranosus muscle intramuscular fat (IMF) content and other carcass traits. The pigs were reared in controlled environmental condition at the same central testing station and were slaughtered at reaching 150 kg live weight. Backfat samples were collected to analyze FAC by gas chromatography. Carcass traits showed heritability levels from 0.087 for estimated carcass lean percentage to 0.361 for hot carcass weight. Heritability values of FA classes were low-to-moderate, all in the range 0.245 for n-3 PUFA to 0.264 for monounsaturated FA (MUFA). Polyunsaturated fatty acids showed a significant genetic correlation with loin thickness (0.128), backfat thickness (-0.124 for backfat measured by Fat-O-Meat'er and -0.175 for backfat measured by calibre) and IMF (-0.102). Obviously, C18:2(n-6) shows similar genetic correlations with the same traits (0.211 with loin thickness, -0.206 with backfat measured by Fat-O-Meat'er, -0.291 with backfat measured by calibre and -0.171 with IMF). Monounsaturated FA, except with the backfat measured by calibre (0.068; P<0.01), do not show genetic correlations with carcass characteristics, whereas a negative genetic correlation was found between MUFA and saturated FA (SFA; -0.339; P<0.001). These results suggest that MUFA/SFA ratio could be increased without interfering with carcass traits. The level of genetic correlations between FA and carcass traits should be taken into account in dealing with the development of selection schemes addressed to modify carcass composition and/or backfat FAC.

Effect on quanti-quality milk and mozzarella cheese characteristics with further increasing the level of dried stoned olive pomace in diet for lactating buffalo.

OBJECTIVE: Following a previous report, an experiment was conducted to determine the effect of increasing level of dried stoned olives pomaces (DSOP) in the diet of lactating buffaloes on milk and mozzarella cheese yield and characteristics. METHODS: Sixteen pluriparous buffaloes distributed into two groups were fed an isoenergetic (0.9 milk forage unit/kg) and isoprotein (149 g/kg dry matter [DM] of crude protein) diet, with or without DSOP. Each animal received 17 kg DM/d. Samples of forages and concentrates were weekly collected and used for duplicate chemical analyses. Individual milk samples from each control were analyzed for chemical and coagulating parameters and daily production of mozzarella cheese was estimated. At the end of the trial, bulk milk of each group was processed to produce mozzarella cheese and chemical (fat, protein, ash, pH) composition, fatty acids composition, carotenoids and tocopherols content were determined. A sensory test was also performed. The oxidative stability was measured on mozzarella cheese and on governing liquid. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed, neither for milk yield and body condition score, nor for milk characteristics. The fat was higher (p<0.05) in mozzarella of DSOP fed group but, saturated fatty acids were lower and unsaturated higher (p<0.01). Furthermore, lower atherogenic (p<0.01), and thrombogenic (p<0.05) indices were found in mozzarella cheese of DSOP fed group. In addition, the administration of DSOP did not affect the mozzarella cheese oxidative stability and no negative effect was found in the sensory properties. CONCLUSION: No contraindications appeared for the inclusion of DSOP in the diet of lactating buffaloes. Besides, important effects on mozzarella cheese quality were obtained, such as a modification of fat content and attributes with an increment in the mono-unsaturated. Additionally, a lower saturated/unsaturated ratio and atherogenic and thrombogenic indices suggest an improvement of dietetic and nutritional characteristics of mozzarella cheese.

Selecionismo, metáforas e práticas culturais: haverá um terceiro tipo de seleção no nível cultural? / Selectionism, metaphors and cultural practices: would there be a third kind of selection at the cultural level?

Este ensaio é uma reflexão acerca da ideia segundo a qual haveria um tipo de seleção dedicado às práticasculturais. Argumentarei que tal proposição foi subsidiada pela extensão metafórica do processo deseleção natural à dimensão cultural. Elencarei inconsistências na obra skinneriana resultantes dessaestratégia e também possíveis problemas associados ao desenvolvimento de modelos explicativos a partirde metáforas e analogias. Diante desse contexto, avaliarei a possibilidade de análise do processo deseleção de práticas culturais sem pressupor a existência de um terceiro tipo de seleção, e sem lançar mãode metáforas e analogias, a partir de proposta na qual a contingência permanece como unidade de análisecentral. Consequências possíveis da adoção dessa alternativa serão exploradas(AU)

The pollicization of the index finger in the aplasia of the thumb.

UNLABELLED: We have examined 11 patients with aplasia of the thumb and we have treated by pollicization of the index finger. We have conducted a follow up of 5 years. The total absence of the thumb may be an isolated anomaly, but it is often associated with some other congenital malformation. The absent thumb is as an autosomal dominant pathology or may be sporadic. It is frequently observed in the Holt-Oram syndrome, Fanconi's anemia, and ring D chromosome abnormalities. It is occasionally observed in the Rothmund syndrome, trisomy, thalidomide embryopathology and other congenital syndromes. An absent radius is almost always associated with an absent thumb, except in thrombocytopenia radial aplasia (Fanconi's syndrome), where the thumb is present even when the radius is absent. The treatment in most cases of the absent thumb is to perform a pollicization of the index finger. Our isolated congenital absence of the thumb patients have been treated with pollicization as described by Buck-Gramcko works well. It is a beautiful operation for the congenitally deformed, aplastic, or missing thumb. Pollicization of the index finger gives good functional and cosmetic results which are maintained. CONCLUSIONS: The total absence of the thumb in the congenitally pathology gives the hand of the patient insufficient in the functional movement and no cosmetic. So the pollicization with the second index fined gives a good reconstruction for the neo-thumb. In our five years follow-up, the 11 young patients that were treated with the pollicization, they are satisfy and use the neo-thumb like normal thumb. In congenitally absent thumbs clearly support the fact that the pollicized digit is used by most patients and is not ignored or bypassed.