The Influence of Active, Passive, and Manual Therapy Interventions for Low Back Pain on Opioid Prescription and Health Care Utilization.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore associations between the utilization of active, passive, and manual therapy interventions for low back pain (LBP) with 1-year escalation-of-care events, including opioid prescriptions, spinal injections, specialty care visits, and hospitalizations. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 4827 patients identified via the Military Health System Data Repository who received physical therapist care for LBP in 4 outpatient clinics between January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2018. One-year escalation-of-care events were evaluated based on type of physical therapist interventions (ie, active, passive, or manual therapy) received using adjusted odds ratios. RESULTS: Most patients (89.9%) received active interventions. Patients with 10% higher proportion of visits that included at least 1 passive intervention had a 3% to 6% higher likelihood of 1-year escalation-of-care events. Similarly, with 10% higher proportion of passive to active interventions used during the course of care, there was a 5% to 11% higher likelihood of 1-year escalation-of-care events. When compared to patients who received active interventions only, the likelihood of incurring 1-year escalation-of-care events was 50% to 220% higher for those who received mechanical traction and 2 or more different passive interventions, but lower by 50% for patients who received manual therapy. CONCLUSION: Greater use of passive interventions for LBP was associated with elevated odds of 1-year escalation-of-care events. In addition, the use of specific passive interventions such as mechanical traction in conjunction with active interventions resulted in suboptimal escalation-of-care events, while the use of manual therapy was associated with more favorable downstream health care outcomes. IMPACT: Physical therapists should be judicious in the use of passive interventions for the management of LBP as they are associated with greater likelihood of receiving opioid prescriptions, spinal injections, and specialty care visits.

Drop-off behaviour of Bt-resistant and Bt-susceptible Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae on Bt-cotton and non-Bt cotton plants.

The highest natural mortality rate of larval Lepidoptera in field populations occurs in the first instar, but it is highly variable. The pattern and degree of survival is not easily predicted but depends on their ability to establish on host plants. Lepidopteran larval dispersal behaviour, known as 'drop-off', happens when the host is unsuitable for larvae to settle and begin feeding. Understanding drop-off behaviour of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) with and without physiological resistance to Bt toxins on Bt and non-Bt cotton plants is an important component for resistance management strategies for this insect. We examined the drop-off behaviour of H. armigera to determine: (1) whether they move the same way or differently in response to Bt and non-Bt, and (2) could H. armigera larvae detect Bt toxin levels in cotton plants or did they move independently of toxin levels? In this study, we assessed the drop-off behaviour of Bt-resistant and Bt-susceptible H. armigera neonates on artificial diets and cotton plants with and without Bt toxin during the first 12 h after hatching. Bt-resistant and Bt-susceptible H. armigera neonates behaved differently on Bt and non-Bt substrates. The percentages of Bt-resistant larvae that dropped off Bt and non-Bt cotton plants were not significantly different. In contrast, significantly more Bt-susceptible larvae dropped off Bt cotton than non-Bt cotton plants over time. Although Bt-susceptible larvae could not detect Bt toxin, they showed preference on non-Bt toxin substrates and were more likely to drop off substrates with Bt toxin.

Lactic acid fermentation in the development of a seaweed sauerkraut-style product: Microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory evaluation.

Consumption of nutrient-rich seaweeds and fermented nondairy foods represent fast growing trends among health-minded consumers. Assessment of lacto-fermented seaweed was performed to address these trends, and to offer shelf-life extension and product diversification for fresh kelps. The objectives were to evaluate the effects of kelp species and inclusion level on fermentation kinetics, physicochemical quality, safety, shelf-life, and consumer acceptability of a seaweed sauerkraut-style product. Six formulations with different inclusion levels (25, 50, and 75%) of shredded kelp (sugar kelp, SK or winged kelp, WK) were mixed with cabbage, 2% salt, and inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum (approximately 106 CFU/g) and Leuconostoc mesenteroides (approximately 101 CFU/g). Products were processed in triplicate, fermented until a target pH of ≤4.6 was achieved, and sampled periodically for 60 days. Kelp species and inclusion level significantly affected most variables tested. The most rapid fermentation (3 days), as evidenced by pH decrease, lactic acid bacteria counts, and lactic acid levels, was noted in WK formulations. Some SK formulations took up to 14 days to achieve the target pH, and coliforms persisted to a greater extent in the SK formulations. Higher levels of kelp decreased the fermentation rate and concentration of fermentable sugars in the brine, but increased the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the sauerkrauts. Despite differences in instrumental color (L* a* b* ) and texture (shear force) among formulations, overall liking as rated by a consumer panel was not significantly affected by species or inclusion level. Results support the use of lacto-fermentation in the production of refrigeration-stable seaweed sauerkraut-style product. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Health-conscious consumers are becoming increasingly interested in plant-based diets and fermented foods, and the development of novel seaweed sauerkraut-style products can help to meet these needs. This study demonstrated the successful production of a sauerkraut-style product formulated with up to 50% farm-raised kelp. Physical, chemical, microbiological, and consumer acceptability testing established lactic acid fermentation as a viable method for shelf life extension and value addition of fresh kelps. These results provide science-based information on an alternative processing method for cultivated seaweeds and can assist the industry in product diversification efforts.

Robust dynamic community detection with applications to human brain functional networks.

While current technology permits inference of dynamic brain networks over long time periods at high temporal resolution, the detailed structure of dynamic network communities during human seizures remains poorly understood. We introduce a new methodology that addresses critical aspects unique to the analysis of dynamic functional networks inferred from noisy data. We propose a dynamic plex percolation method (DPPM) that is robust to edge noise, and yields well-defined spatiotemporal communities that span forward and backwards in time. We show in simulation that DPPM outperforms existing methods in accurately capturing certain stereotypical dynamic community behaviors in noisy situations. We then illustrate the ability of this method to track dynamic community organization during human seizures, using invasive brain voltage recordings at seizure onset. We conjecture that application of this method will yield new targets for surgical treatment of epilepsy, and more generally could provide new insights in other network neuroscience applications.

Hidden neural states underlie canary song syntax.

Coordinated skills such as speech or dance involve sequences of actions that follow syntactic rules in which transitions between elements depend on the identities and order of past actions. Canary songs consist of repeated syllables called phrases, and the ordering of these phrases follows long-range rules1 in which the choice of what to sing depends on the song structure many seconds prior. The neural substrates that support these long-range correlations are unknown. Here, using miniature head-mounted microscopes and cell-type-specific genetic tools, we observed neural activity in the premotor nucleus HVC2-4 as canaries explored various phrase sequences in their repertoire. We identified neurons that encode past transitions, extending over four phrases and spanning up to four seconds and forty syllables. These neurons preferentially encode past actions rather than future actions, can reflect more than one song history, and are active mostly during the rare phrases that involve history-dependent transitions in song. These findings demonstrate that the dynamics of HVC include 'hidden states' that are not reflected in ongoing behaviour but rather carry information about prior actions. These states provide a possible substrate for the control of syntax transitions governed by long-range rules.

In vitro screening of technical lignins to determine their potential as hay preservatives.

Our objectives were to evaluate technical lignins for their antifungal properties against 3 molds and 1 yeast causing hay spoilage, and their ability to preserve ground high-moisture alfalfa hay nutritive value in vitro. In experiment 1, 8 technical lignins and propionic acid (PRP; positive control) were tested at a dose of 40 mg/mL. The experiment had a randomized complete block design (RCBD, 4 runs) and a factorial arrangement of 3 molds × 10 additives (ADV). The effects of the ADV on yeast were evaluated separately with a RCBD. Sodium lignosulfonate (NaL) and PRP were the only treatments with 100 ± 2.8% inhibition of fungi. In experiment 2, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for selected lignins and PRP were determined. At pH 4, NaL had the lowest MIC across the molds (20-33.3 mg/mL) and magnesium lignosulfonate (MgL) for the yeast (26.7) among the lignins. However, PRP had MIC values that were several-fold lower across all fungi (1.25-3.33). In experiment 3, a RCBD (5 blocks) with a 3 (ADV; NaL, MgL, and PRP) × 4 (doses: 0, 0.5, 1, and 3% wt/wt fresh basis) factorial arrangement of treatments was used to evaluate the preservative effects of ADV in ground high-moisture alfalfa hay inoculated with a mixture of the fungi previously tested and incubated under aerobic conditions in vitro. After 15 d, relative to untreated hay (14.9), dry matter (DM) losses were lessened by doses as low as 1% for NaL (3.39) and 0.5% for PRP (0.81 ± 0.77%). The mold count was reduced in both NaL at 3% (3.92) and PRP as low as 0.5% (3.94) relative to untreated hay (7.76 ± 0.55 log cfu/fresh g). Consequently, sugars were best preserved by NaL at 3% (10.1) and PRP as low as 0.5% (10.5) versus untreated (7.99 ± 0.283% DM), while keeping neutral detergent fiber values lower in NaL (45.9) and PRP-treated (45.1) hays at the same doses, respectively, relative to untreated (49.7 ± 0.66% DM). Hay DM digestibility was increased by doses as low as 3% for NaL (67.5), 1% MgL (67.0), and 0.5% PRP (68.5) versus untreated hay (61.8 ± 0.77%). The lowest doses increasing neutral detergent fiber digestibility relative to untreated hay (23.3) were 0.5% for MgL and PRP (30.5 and 30.1, respectively) and 1% for NaL (30.7 ± 1.09% DM). Across technical lignins, NaL showed the most promise as a potential hay preservative. However, its effects were limited compared with PRP at equivalent doses. Despite not having an effect on preservation, MgL improved DM digestibility by stimulating neutral detergent fiber digestibility. This study warrants further development of NaL under field conditions.

Dose-Dependent Retention of Omega-3 Fatty Acids by Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Diptera: Stratiomyidae).

Black soldier fly larvae, Hermetia illucens (L.), are used to convert organic waste streams into insect-based animal feeds. We tested their ability to retain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from feeding substrates, which has important implications for their use in aquaculture. When supplementing a chicken feed diet with increasing concentrations of salmon oil (0-42%) over an increasing number of days (0-8), the concentrations of the three omega-3 acids in larvae increased significantly. Larval survival and biomass accumulation were not affected. Supplementing a chicken feed diet with increasing concentrations (0-14%) of Tetraselmis chui Butcher (Chlorodendrales: Chlorodendraceae) microalgae paste also significantly increased ALA and EPA contents of the harvested larvae. However, microalgae also decreased survival, harvested biomass, and individual growth of larvae feeding on the diet with the highest supplement concentration (14%). DHA was not detected in any microalgae diet or subsequent larval tissue samples. All three omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids tested in this study were accumulated in dose-dependent manner, with quadratic, and occasionally linear, equations providing the best description of the observed relationships. There were significant negative correlations between several fatty acids, indicating that they may replace one another in living larvae. Our findings confirm that black soldier fly larvae can retain ingested fatty acids and change fatty acid profiles in their tissues accordingly. However, optimizing nutrient content of harvestable larvae is likely to be more complicated than simply enriching their diets with omega-3 fatty acids.

The science of contemporary street protest: New efforts in the United States.

Since the inauguration of Donald Trump, there has been substantial and ongoing protest against the Administration. Street demonstrations are some of the most visible forms of opposition to the Administration and its policies. This article reviews the two most central methods for studying street protest on a large scale: building comprehensive event databases and conducting field surveys of participants at demonstrations. After discussing the broader development of these methods, this article provides a detailed assessment of recent and ongoing projects studying the current wave of contention. Recommendations are offered to meet major challenges, including making data publicly available in near real time, increasing the validity and reliability of event data, expanding the scope of crowd surveys, and integrating ongoing projects in a meaningful way by building new research infrastructure.

High-density microfibers as a potential optical interface to reach deep brain regions.

OBJECTIVE: Optical techniques for recording and manipulating neural activity have traditionally been constrained to superficial brain regions due to light scattering. New techniques are needed to extend optical access to large 3D volumes in deep brain areas, while retaining local connectivity. APPROACH: We have developed a method to implant bundles of hundreds or thousands of optical microfibers, each with a diameter of 8 µm. During insertion, each fiber moves independently, following a path of least resistance. The fibers achieve near total internal reflection, enabling optically interfacing with the tissue near each fiber aperture. MAIN RESULTS: At a depth of 3 mm, histology shows fibers consistently splay over 1 mm in diameter throughout the target region. Immunohistochemical staining after chronic implants reveals neurons in close proximity to the fiber tips. Models of photon fluence indicate that fibers can be used as a stimulation light source to precisely activate distinct patterns of neurons by illuminating a subset of fibers in the bundle. By recording fluorescent beads diffusing in water, we demonstrate the recording capability of the fibers. SIGNIFICANCE: Our histology, modeling and fluorescent bead recordings suggest that the optical microfibers may provide a minimally invasive, stable, bidirectional interface for recording or stimulating genetic probes in deep brain regions-a hyper-localized form of fiber photometry.

Extracting individual neural activity recorded through splayed optical microfibers.

Previously introduced bundles of hundreds or thousands of microfibers have the potential to extend optical access to deep brain regions, sampling fluorescence activity throughout a three-dimensional volume. Each fiber has a small diameter ( 8 µ m ) and follows a path of least resistance, splaying during insertion. By superimposing the fiber sensitivity profile for each fiber, we model the interface properties for a simulated neural population. Our modeling results suggest that for small ( < 200 ) bundles of fibers, each fiber will collect fluorescence from a small number of nonoverlapping neurons near the fiber apertures. As the number of fibers increases, the bundle delivers more uniform excitation power to the region, moving to a regime where fibers collect fluorescence from more neurons and there is greater overlap between neighboring fibers. Under these conditions, it becomes feasible to apply source separation to extract individual neural contributions. In addition, we demonstrate a source separation technique particularly suited to the interface. Our modeling helps establish performance expectations for this interface and provides a framework for estimating neural contributions under a range of conditions.

A fast and accurate zebra finch syllable detector.

The song of the adult male zebra finch is strikingly stereotyped. Efforts to understand motor output, pattern generation, and learning have taken advantage of this consistency by investigating the bird's ability to modify specific parts of song under external cues, and by examining timing relationships between neural activity and vocal output. Such experiments require that precise moments during song be identified in real time as the bird sings. Various syllable-detection methods exist, but many require special hardware, software, and know-how, and details on their implementation and performance are scarce. We present an accurate, versatile, and fast syllable detector that can control hardware at precisely timed moments during zebra finch song. Many moments during song can be isolated and detected with false negative and false positive rates well under 1% and 0.005% respectively. The detector can run on a stock Mac Mini with triggering delay of less than a millisecond and a jitter of σ ≈ 2 milliseconds.

A Generalist Herbivore Copes with Specialized Plant Defence: the Effects of Induction and Feeding by Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae on Intact Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicales) Plants.

Plants of the Brassicaceae are defended from feeding by generalist insects by constitutively-expressed and herbivory-induced glucosinolates (GS). We induced Arabidopsis plants 1, 16 and 24 h prior to allowing neonate larvae of the generalist Helicoverpa armigera to feed on whole plants for 72 h. These plants were subsequently retested with another group of neonates for a further 72 h. We used wild-type A. thaliana Col-0, and mutant lines lacking indolic GS, aliphatic GS or all GS. We hypothesized that larvae would not grow well on defended plants (WT) compared to those lacking GS, and would not grow well if plants had been primed or fed on for longer, due to the expected induced GS. There was survivorship on all lines suggesting H. armigera is a suitable generalist for these experiments. Larvae performed less well on wild-type and no indolic lines than on no aliphatic and no GS lines. Larvae distributed feeding damage extensively in all lines, more so on wild type and no-indolic lines. Contrary to expectations, larvae grew better on plants that had been induced for 1 to 16 h than on un-induced plants suggesting they moved to and selected less toxic plant parts within a heterogeneously defended plant. Performance declined on all lines if plants had been induced for 24 h, or had been fed upon for a further 72 h. However, contrary to expectation, individual and total GS did not increase after these two treatments. This suggests that Arabidopsis plants induce additional (not GS) defenses after longer induction periods.

An open source, wireless capable miniature microscope system.

OBJECTIVE: Fluorescence imaging through head-mounted microscopes in freely behaving animals is becoming a standard method to study neural circuit function. Flexible, open-source designs are needed to spur evolution of the method. APPROACH: We describe a miniature microscope for single-photon fluorescence imaging in freely behaving animals. The device is made from 3D printed parts and off-the-shelf components. These microscopes weigh less than 1.8 g, can be configured to image a variety of fluorophores, and can be used wirelessly or in conjunction with active commutators. Microscope control software, based in Swift for macOS, provides low-latency image processing capabilities for closed-loop, or BMI, experiments. MAIN RESULTS: Miniature microscopes were deployed in the songbird premotor region HVC (used as a proper name), in singing zebra finches. Individual neurons yield temporally precise patterns of calcium activity that are consistent over repeated renditions of song. Several cells were tracked over timescales of weeks and months, providing an opportunity to study learning related changes in HVC. SIGNIFICANCE: 3D printed miniature microscopes, composed completely of consumer grade components, are a cost-effective, modular option for head-mounting imaging. These easily constructed and customizable tools provide access to cell-type specific neural ensembles over timescales of weeks.

Unstable neurons underlie a stable learned behavior.

Motor skills can be maintained for decades, but the biological basis of this memory persistence remains largely unknown. The zebra finch, for example, sings a highly stereotyped song that is stable for years, but it is not known whether the precise neural patterns underlying song are stable or shift from day to day. Here we demonstrate that the population of projection neurons coding for song in the premotor nucleus, HVC, change from day to day. The most dramatic shifts occur over intervals of sleep. In contrast to the transient participation of excitatory neurons, ensemble measurements dominated by inhibition persist unchanged even after damage to downstream motor nerves. These observations offer a principle of motor stability: spatiotemporal patterns of inhibition can maintain a stable scaffold for motor dynamics while the population of principal neurons that directly drive behavior shift from one day to the next.

Oviposition site selection and survival of susceptible and resistant larvae of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Bt and non-Bt cotton.

In Australia Bt cotton has been planted since 1996, and has greatly improved the control of its key target Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner). There is no strong evidence that genetically modified cotton has been selected for significant physiological resistance to Bt toxin in field populations. There are many possible explanations for the lack of apparent selection that range from high compliance with the resistance management strategy for this technology to a lack of behavioral preference in key traits such as oviposition that could favor survival. To date most experiments that test oviposition of H. armigera on Bt cotton vs. conventional cotton have been done with susceptible moths. We determine the oviposition preference of a field isolated Bt resistant line of H. armigera and a susceptible counterpart when given a choice of non-Bt cotton and Bt-cotton with the same genetic background, and test whether there is any relationship between oviposition site selection (different plant structures) and the survival of the first instar larvae. Within cotton plants, our experiments consistently showed that both resistant and susceptible moths did not choose plants or plant parts that were less toxic in terms of Bt toxin on which to lay eggs. There was one exception in that susceptible moths were more likely to lay eggs on squares of Bt cotton plants than squares of non-Bt cotton. As expected, the mortality of susceptible H. armigera neonates was significantly higher on structures of Bt cotton plants than on those structures of conventional cotton, and survival was greater on flowers than on other structures of Bt cotton. This confirms opportunities for selection for resistance, and demonstrates no advantage in this respect to carrying resistance genes that might overcome the Bt toxins.

Impact of post-rigor high pressure processing on the physicochemical and microbial shelf-life of cultured red abalone (Haliotis rufescens).

High pressure processing (HPP) of post-rigor abalone at 300MPa for 10min extended the refrigerated shelf-life to four times that of unprocessed controls. Shucked abalone meats were processed at 100 or 300MPa for 5 or 10min, and stored at 2°C for 35days. Treatments were analyzed for aerobic plate count (APC), total volatile base nitrogen (TVBN), K-value, biogenic amines, color, and texture. APC did not exceed 10(6) and TVBN levels remained below 35mg/100g for 35days for the 300MPa treatments. No biogenic amines were detected in the 300MPa treatments, but putrescine and cadaverine were detected in the control and 100MPa treatments. Color and texture were not affected by HPP or storage time. These results indicate that post-rigor processing at 300MPa for 10min can significantly increase refrigerated shelf-life of abalone without affecting chemical or physical quality characteristics important to consumers.

The urticating setae of Ochrogaster lunifer, an Australian processionary caterpillar of veterinary importance.

The bag-shelter moth, Ochrogaster lunifer Herrich-Schaffer (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae), is associated with a condition called equine amnionitis and fetal loss (EAFL) on horse farms in Australia. Setal fragments from O. lunifer larvae have been identified in the placentas of experimentally aborted fetuses and their dams, and in clinical abortions. The gregarious larvae build silken nests in which large numbers cohabit over spring, summer and autumn. The final instars disperse to pupation sites in the ground where they overwinter. Field-collected O. lunifer larvae, their nests and nearby soil were examined using light and electron microscopy to identify setae likely to cause EAFL and to determine where and how many were present. Microtrichia, barbed hairs and true setae were found on the exoskeletons of the larvae. True setae matching the majority of setal fragments described from equine tissue were found on third to eighth instar larvae or exuviae. The number of true setae increased with the age of the larva; eighth instars carried around 2.0-2.5 million true setae. The exuvia of the pre-pupal instar was incorporated into the pupal chamber. The major sources of setae are likely to be nests, dispersing pre-pupal larvae and their exuviae, and pupal chambers.

Seedling ontogeny and environmental plasticity in two co-occurring shade-tolerant conifers and implications for environment-population interactions.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Seedling success is determined by evolved strategies of intrinsic genetic programming and plasticity that are regulated by extrinsic pathways. We tested the relative importance of these mechanisms in red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea Lin.), which share understory regeneration niches in northeastern North America. Although its reproductive effort is adequate, spruce has decreased in abundance, in relation to fir, in seedling and sapling populations, even in forests that have a predominance of spruce in the overstory. METHODS: To understand the factors that regulate this phenomenon and their implications for tree populations, we compared intrinsic and plastic regulation of first- and second-year seedlings under steady understory irradiance levels and in response to increases in light environment. KEY RESULTS: Both species exhibited interactions of ontogenetic patterns and plasticity in first- and second-year seedlings. Physiologically, spruce had higher photosynthetic capacity, allocation to photoprotective xanthophylls, and greater plasticity in response to light treatments. Although both species demonstrated an inability to plastically increase photosynthetic capacity in the short term, spruce benefited from greater allocation to foliage under increased irradiance. Fir showed a conservative strategy in root-shoot allocation that may better equip seedlings to withstand drought adaptations and attributes associated with greater shade tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: These attributes likely contribute to the relative success of fir seedlings in the current climate. By contrast, they indicate that spruce would be a superior competitor in cooler, moister climates, which suggests that future forest composition will be largely determined by an interaction of disturbance and moisture regimes.

Oxidative stability and consumer acceptance of fish oil fortified nutrition bars.

UNLABELLED: Oat and soy-based nutrition bars were fortified with 4 levels of fish oil (0, 6, 12, or 18 g per approximately 600 g batch), representing 0%, 20%, 40%, or 60% replacement of canola oil. The commercially available purified fish oil was not emulsified nor encapsulated, and contained tocopherols. Baked nutrition bars were evaluated for proximate composition, water activity, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic (DHA) content, and consumer acceptance using a 9-point hedonic scale. The bars were sealed in opaque bags and stored in a stability chamber at 25 °C and 50% relative humidity for 10 wk to assess oxidative stability. There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in proximate composition, water activity, or ALA levels among treatments. EPA and DHA levels were significantly (P < 0.05) different among treatments, averaging 178.1 mg/serving (20-FO), 488.3 mg/serving (40-FO), and 664.6 mg/serving (60-FO), but none changed during storage. Headspace hexanal and propanal levels decreased over time but were not significantly different among treatments until week 10. Peroxide values were not significantly different except between the control and 60-FO bars. Low values obtained for these analyses suggest negligible oxidation in the bars. Consumer acceptance scores did not differ significantly between the control and lowest fortification level (20-FO), ranging from 6.4 to 6.6 for aroma, texture, flavor, and overall acceptability. These results suggest that nonemulsified, nonencapsulated fish oil can successfully replace canola oil in intermediate moisture nutrition bars to provide EPA and DHA levels as high as 178 mg/serving without affecting consumer acceptability or oxidative stability. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Omega-3 fatty acid rich fish oil has been shown to have numerous health benefits, but there are limitations to its use in shelf-stable food products. In this study, nutrition bars were successfully fortified with nonencapsulated, nonemulsified fish oil to deliver 178 mg EPA and DHA per 35 g serving. The fortified bars were oxidatively stable over 10 wk and acceptable to consumers.

Utilization of smoked salmon trim in extruded smoked salmon jerky.

UNLABELLED: During smoked salmon processing, the dark meat along the lateral line is removed before packaging; this by-product currently has little economic value. In this study, the dark meat trim was incorporated into an extruded jerky. Three formulations were processed: 100% smoked trim, 75% : 25% smoked trim : fresh salmon fillet, and 50% : 50% smoked trim : fresh salmon blends (w/w basis). The base formulation contained salmon (approximately 83.5%), tapioca starch (8%), pregelatinized potato starch (3%), sucrose (4%), salt (1.5%), sodium nitrate (0.02%), and ascorbyl palmitate (0.02% of the lipid content). Blends were extruded in a laboratory-scale twin-screw extruder and then hot-smoked for 5 h. There were no significant differences among formulations in moisture, water activity, and pH. Protein was highest in the 50 : 50 blend jerky. Ash content was highest in the jerky made with 100% trim. Total lipids and salt were higher in the 100% trim jerky than in the 50 : 50 blend. Hot smoking did not adversely affect docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content in lipids from 100% smoked trim jerky. Servings of salmon jerky made with 75% and 100% smoked trim provided at least 500 mg of EPA and DHA. The 50 : 50 formulation had the highest Intl. Commission on Illumination (CIE) L*, a*, and b* color values. Seventy consumers rated all sensory attributes as between "like slightly" and "like moderately." With some formulation and processing refinements, lateral line trim from smoked salmon processors has potential to be incorporated into acceptable, healthful snack products. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Dark meat along the lateral line is typically discarded by smoked salmon processors. This omega-3 fatty acid rich by-product can be used to make a smoked salmon jerky that provides a convenient source of these healthful lipids for consumers.