Proteolytic activity amongst selected Saprolegnia species

Saprolegia ssp. effectively utilized the protein casein as a sole source of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur, indicating considerable proteolytic activity. In the presence of a more simple carbon source such as glucose, which was readily assimilated, catabolite repression was not observed and casein exploitation was enhanced. Free proteinase activity was not detected by a number of methods, irrespective of culture conditions. However, clearing by mycelia of skimmed milk agar or agar amended with bacteria demonstrated a close association between proteinases and hyphae, suggestive of natural immobilization of proteinases. Casein breakdown was accompanied by release of individual amino acids and ammonia. The latter, indicative of amino acid assimilation and metabolism, was also associated with an increase in pH of culture medium. Single amino acids did not support growth of Saprolegnia but in combination with other amino acids, methionine encouraged greatest biomass production. Certain groupings of amino acids affected growth in a manner which departed from that expected, as assessed by multifactorial analysis of variance, and either enhanced or reduced growth.

Caking behaviour of spray-dried milk powders:using scanning probe microscopy to study nanoscale surface properties and material composition

Spray drying is widely used to manufacture many powdered products, with the drying process parameters having significant influence over the final powder's surface properties and propensity for unwanted caking. In most cases caking experiments are performed on bulk powders, but especially in multi-component powders, it is often difficult to interpret these results, where interaction effects between particles can be complex. Here the technique of scanning probe microscopy is used to characterize the nanoscale properties of spray dried model milk powders in order to investigate the surface properties of the powders.

Milk feeding, solid feeding, and obesity risk:a review of the relationships between early life feeding practices and later adiposity

Childhood obesity is a major health issue with associated ill-health consequences during childhood and into later adolescence and adulthood. Given that eating behaviors are formed during early childhood, it is important to evaluate the relationships between early life feeding practices and later child adiposity. This review describes and evaluates recent literature exploring associations between child weight and the mode of milk feeding, the age of introducing solid foods and caregivers’ solid feeding practices. There are many inconsistencies in the literature linking early life feeding to later obesity risk and discrepancies may be related to inconsistent definitions, or a lack of control for confounding variables. This review summarizes the literature in this area and identifies the need for large scale longitudinal studies to effectively explore how early life feeding experiences may interact with each other and with nutritional provision during later childhood to predict obesity risk.

Milk for a girl and bananas for a boy:recipes and reasons for sex-preference practices in a British Internet forum

Using postings from an internet forum, this paper explores the ways in which some women try to influence the sex of a future child. The extensive reproductive work involved give an indication of the women’s commitment to being able to choose a particular sex; in this case a preference for girls rather than boys. The findings revealed stereotypical views of masculinity and femininity at the heart of the preference. The presumption of fixed gendered identities helped to frame this desire as ‘natural,’ lessen the threat to maternal identities, and reinforce the logic of ‘choice,’ and support their reproductive work practices.