Rapid changes in the vegetation of a shallow pond in Epping Forest, related to recent droughts

Over much of Britain, 1995 and 1996 have been perceived as drought years. To evaluate the impact that local climatic conditions are having upon successional changes in higher vegetation (macrophytes), Speakmans Pond in Epping Forest was surveyed and mapped in 1996. The results are related to previous vegetation surveys carried out in 1989 and 1991. In 1989 the dominant marginal vegetation was floating sweet-grass Glyceria fluitans, which also covered a major part of the main body of the pond. Other abundant species included soft rush Juncus effusus, reed mace Typha latifolia and yellow flag Iris pseudocorus. A small (central) area of open water contained bladderwort Utricularia vulgaris and white water-lily Nymphaea alba. A similar plant coverage was found in 1991, with a dominance of floating sweet-grass along the shallow eastern edge. A marked change in the pond was found during the 1996 survey of vegetation in July, when the pool was dry. The major plant cover now consisted of creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera, with isolated clumps of Yorkshire fog Holcus lanatus around the edges; both are terrestrial grasses found on land surrounding the pond. Rushes (Juncus) had increased their distribution round the margins of the pond, and the patch of yellow flag noted in 1989 and 1991 was not found in 1996. The deeper trenches were also dry, but a small patch of white water-lily remained adjacent to one of the trenches.

How resources control aggression in Drosophila

How animals use sensory information to weigh the risks vs. benefits of behavioral decisions remains poorly understood. Inter-male aggression is triggered when animals perceive both the presence of an appetitive resource, such as food or females, and of competing conspecific males. How such signals are detected and integrated to control the decision to fight is not clear. Here we use the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, to investigate the manner in which food and females promotes aggression.

In the first chapter, we explore how food controls aggression. As in many other species, food promotes aggression in flies, but it is not clear whether food increases aggression per se, or whether aggression is a secondary consequence of increased social interactions caused by aggregation of flies on food. Furthermore, nothing is known about how animals evaluate the quality and quantity of food in the context of competition. We show that food promotes aggression independently of any effect to increase the frequency of contact between males. Food increases aggression but not courtship between males, suggesting that the effect of food on aggression is specific. Next, we show that flies tune the level of aggression according to absolute amount of food rather than other parameters, such as area or concentration of food. Sucrose, a sugar molecule present in many fruits, is sufficient to promote aggression, and detection of sugar via gustatory receptor neurons is necessary for food-promoted aggression. Furthermore, we show that while food is necessary for aggression, too much food decreases aggression. Finally, we show that flies exhibit strategies consistent with a territorial strategy. These data suggest that flies use sweet-sensing gustatory information to guide their decision to fight over a limited quantity of a food resource.

Following up on the findings of the first chapter, we asked how the presence of a conspecific female resource promotes male-male aggression. In the absence of food, group-housed male flies, who normally do not fight even in the presence of food, fight in the presence of females. Unlike food, the presence of females strongly influences proximity between flies. Nevertheless, as group-housed flies do not fight even when they are in small chambers, it is unlikely that the presence of female indirectly increases aggression by first increasing proximity. Unlike food, the presence of females also leads to large increases in locomotion and in male-female courtship behaviors, suggesting that females may influence aggression as well as general arousal. Female cuticular hydrocarbons are required for this effect, as females that do not produce CH pheromones are unable to promote male-male aggression. In particular, 7,11-HD––a female-specific cuticular hydrocarbon pheromone critical for male-female courtship––is sufficient to mediate this effect when it is perfumed onto pheromone-deficient females or males. Recent studies showed that ppk23⁺ GRNs label two population of GRNs, one of which detects male cuticular hydrocarbons and another labeled by ppk23 and ppk25, which detects female cuticular hydrocarbons. I show that in particular, both of these GRNs control aggression, presumably via detection of female or male pheromones. To further investigate the ways in which these two classes of GRNs control aggression, I developed new genetic tools to independently test the male- and female-sensing GRNs. I show that ppk25-LexA and ppk25-GAL80 faithfully recapitulate the expression pattern of ppk25-GAL4 and label a subset of ppk23⁺ GRNs. These tools can be used in future studies to dissect the respective functions of male-sensing and female-sensing GRNs in male social behaviors.

Finally, in the last chapter, I discuss quantitative approaches to describe how varying quantities of food and females could control the level of aggression. Flies show an inverse-U shaped aggressive response to varying quantities of food and a flat aggressive response to varying quantities of females. I show how two simple game theoretic models, “prisoner’s dilemma” and “coordination game” could be used to describe the level of aggression we observe. These results suggest that flies may use strategic decision-making, using simple comparisons of costs and benefits.

In conclusion, male-male aggression in Drosophila is controlled by simple gustatory cues from food and females, which are detected by gustatory receptor neurons. Different quantities of resource cues lead to different levels of aggression, and flies show putative territorial behavior, suggesting that fly aggression is a highly strategic adaptive behavior. How these resource cues are integrated with male pheromone cues and give rise to this complex behavior is an interesting subject, which should keep researchers busy in the coming years.

Evolução da obesidade e do consumo alimentar de 1995 a 2005 em mulheres de 35 anos ou mais do Município do Rio de Janeiro

A presente tese engloba dois manuscritos que abordam o tema Consumo alimentar em mulheres, desenvolvidos através da análise de duas pesquisas realizadas no Município do Rio de Janeiro, em 1995 e 2005. Trata-se do primeiro estudo brasileiro de base populacional que avalia a tendência de consumo utilizando dados individuais de consumo alimentar. O grupo específico analisado: mulheres com 35 anos ou mais de idade, apresenta as maiores prevalências de obesidade. O primeiro manuscrito intitulado Ten-year increase in the prevalence of obesity among Brazilian women was associated to reduction of fat intake mainly among the less educated aborda a prevalência da obesidade e consumo de energia e macronutrientes. Os resultados indicam importante aumento da prevalência de obesidade (16% para 24%) acompanhada de aumento significativo do consumo calórico e redução da ingestão de lipídios e colesterol. Na pesquisa mais recente a associação negativa entre educação e obesidade foi de maior magnitude e a renda deixou de associar-se a prevalência de obesidade. O segundo manuscrito intitulado Mudanças no consumo de alimentos entre mulheres do Município do Rio de Janeiro, de 1995 a 2005 avaliou o consumo de alimentos, incluindo os de alta densidade energética, e grupos de alimentos nos dois momentos, incluindo a avaliação das diferenças de consumo segundo escolaridade. A análise do consumo mostrou aumento do consumo de alimentos calóricos como doces, biscoitos e lingüiça e redução de importantes grupos de alimentos como frutas, leite, feijão, raízes e tubérculos e carnes no período de dez anos. As mulheres com maior escolaridade apresentaram maior redução de consumo de carnes e frutas e não apresentaram redução de peixes e derivados do leite. Adicionalmente, participei como co-autora em um artigo, também baseado na pesquisa mais recente, que avaliou a associação entre o uso de remédios/chás para emagrecer e a concentração sérica do hormônio estimulador da tireóide (TSH), intitulado TSH levels associated with slimming pill use in a population based study of Brazilian women. Essa análise mostrou alta prevalência de uso dessas substâncias e revelaram que os teores séricos de TSH foram significativamente menores entre as usuárias de remédios/chás para emagrecer.

Cultura de tecidos e análise do potencial antioxidante de Passiflora alata Curtis

Passiflora alata Curtis, comumente conhecida como maracujá-doce, é uma das espécies do gênero Passiflora cultivadas comercialmente, sendo consumida in natura devido ao seu gosto adocicado. Ela também é utilizada em todo o mundo como ornamental e na medicina popular. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o estabelecimento de diferentes estratégias para a cultura in vitro de P. alata e a análise da produção de substâncias antioxidantes nos materiais obtidos in vitro, em comparação com as plantas in vivo. Diferentes tratamentos visando à quebra da dormência das sementes foram avaliados para a germinação in vitro ou in vivo, além da incubação das sementes sob tipos distintos de luz. Para o estabelecimento das culturas primárias, apices caulinares e segmentos nodais das plântulas derivadas da germinação in vitro foram cultivados em meio MSM . A taxa de alongamento dos brotos e o número de nós por brotos das culturas primárias foram aumentados pela adição de água de coco ao meio. Plantas derivadas dessas culturas foram utilizadas como fontes de explantes nodais, internodais e foliares. O potencial morfogênico de sementes sem tegumento foi também avaliado. Calos friáveis foram induzidos a partir de segmentos nodais e foliares na presença de PIC, e aqueles obtidos a partir de folhas em meio suplementado com PIC a 28,9 μM foram selecionados para o estabelecimento de culturas de células em suspensão. Após o desenvolvimento de diferentes estratégias in vitro para P. alata, folhas de plantas in vivo foram utilizadas para a avaliação de parâmetros que afetam a extração de substâncias antioxidante. O potencial antioxidante foi determinado pelo ensaio DPPH e o conteúdo de fenóis totais foi determinado utilizando o método Folin-Ciocalteau. Após o desenvolvimento do protocolo de extração, a atividade antioxidante dos diferentes materiais in vitro foi também avaliada. A eficiência antirradicalar variou entre os sistemas de cultura estudados, sendo diretamente proporcional ao conteúdo de fenóis totais dos extratos. Esses resultados indicam que as estratégias para cultura in vitro de P. alata desenvolvidas neste trabalho representam alternativas para a multiplicação de plantas e produção de substâncias fenólicas com ação antioxidante.

Inhibition of Protease Activity in Muscle Extracts and Surimi from Pacific Whiting, Merluccius productus, and Arrowtooth Flounder, Atheresthes stomias

Muscle extracts of Pacific whiting, Merluccius productus, and arrowtooth flounder, Atheresthes stomias, were assayed for proteolytic activity using azocasein as a substrate. Pacific whiting extracts showed maximum activity at pH 5.0-5.2 and a temperature of 50°C, while arrowtooth flounder extracts had maximum activity at pH 5.5 and 55°C. Three sources of inhibitors (potatoes, egg white, beef plasma protein) were evaluated in vitro for inhibition of protease activity. All three were found to be effective inhibitors in crude muscle extracts. Further studies utilizing these inhibitors in surimi showed that potato was equivalent to both egg white and beef plasma protein in preserving the gel forming characteristics ofheated kamaboko in both species.

A Construção da História em Serena, de Ian McEwan

Esta dissertação constitui uma reflexão sobre a situação social, política e cultural da Inglaterra na década de 70, especialmente nos anos de 1972 e 1973, como descrita no romance Serena, de Ian McEwan. O objetivo principal desta pesquisa é apresentar como o momento histórico supracitado é narrado no discurso ficcional, a partir da perspectiva da personagem Serena, em comparação com o discurso histórico, de acordo com fontes selecionadas, que narram a história da Inglaterra no contexto da Guerra Fria, dos ataques terroristas do IRA e do funcionamento do Serviço Secreto doméstico inglês, chamado MI5.

甘薯体细胞胚胎发生和原生质体培养及转化的研究

甘薯[Ipomoea batatm L.]胚性愈伤组织的诱导、生长及分化，受遗传背景、外植体来源、激素配比等多种因素的影响。以徐薯l8叶片为外植体，在Ms附加2mg／l2.4-D的培养基上，诱导、筛选出三种类型的愈伤组织（I型、Ⅱ型、IV型），虽然其来源和培养条件相同，但在外部形态、内部结构、分化途径、分化能力、同工酶酶谱、可溶性蛋白质组成以及DNA分子结构方面，都有显著差异。I型愈伤组织在Ms无激素培养基上分化出体细胞胚，其过氧化物酶及脂酶同工酶与Ⅱ型愈伤组织和lV型愈伤组织相比，酶带的数目、深浅不同，而与胚状体相类似，可以作为不回类型愈伤组织及其分化途径的生理指标。SDS-PAGE电泳分析表明：三种愈伤组织的总蛋白组成也有显著差异。I型愈伤组织与Ⅱ型愈伤组织相比，无论是酶带的数目，还是酶带的扫描高度，都占绝对优势，表明其具有相对较高的蛋白质合成代谢水平。RAPD分析表明，三种类型愈伤组织的遗传基础具有一定差异。在所用的10个随机引物中，引物G3(GAGCCCTCCA)扩增出了显著的多态性，在I型愈伤组织与胚状体中发现两个特异片段，有可能与体细胞胚胎发生过程特异相关。 以I型愈伤组织进行悬浮培养，建立了具有再生能力的胚性悬浮细胞系，并对其鲜重、干重、PCV体积、PH值等生长特性进行了测定，研究了在悬浮培养条件下，2.4-D浓度对体细胞胚胎发生的影响。在MS附加Img/12.4-D的培养基中，细胞呈园球型，细胞质浓厚，细胞核显著，分裂旺盛，转入不含2.4-D的分化培养基中，即可得到大量的游离胚状体：浓度过高（4-8mg／l）或过低（0.5mg/l），都不利于细胞的生长和分化。胞外同工酶研究发现：胞外过氧化物酶水平，随着2.4-D浓度升高、培养时间的延长、细胞生长速度的减缓而降低，随着体胚分化的开始而升高。这种变化趋势表明：2.4-D浓度、过氧化物酶及细胞的生长、分化之间，存在密切联系。蛋白质分析发现，2.4-D的浓度与细胞内可溶性蛋白质组成及含量也密切相关：在无激素培养基中的培养物，其蛋白质电泳图谱与在含有不同浓度2.4-D的培养基中的培养物相比，无论是谱带的数目还是谱带的峰值，都有深刻差异，表明在体胚分化和发育过程中，细胞内进行着旺盛的蛋白质合成代谢。 以胚性悬浮细胞为材料，进行原生质体培养。通过对游离条件的比较研究，发现采用PH值为6.0的E3酶液酶解2小时，可以得到大量具有旺盛活力的原生质体。采用液体浅层一固体平板双层培养方式进行培养，原生质体分裂旺盛，20天后形成肉眼可见的微型愈伤组织，在附加0.5mg/1 2.4-D的继代培养基中，出现根的分化，转入附加0.5mg/12.4-D和Img/16-BA的分化培养基中，有少量不定芽发生，并形成小苗，但无胚状体产生。 以来源于胚性悬浮细胞的原生质体为受体，通过与农杆菌共培养，将苏云金杆菌毒蛋白(Bt)基因导入甘薯细胞，经卡那霉素筛选，得到抗性愈伤组织，并有根的分化。经过PCR检测，证明了Bt基因在甘薯细胞染色体组中的整合。

甜樱桃果实采后生理、耐藏性及褐变机理的研究

本文以我国目前主要栽培的甜樱桃早、中、晚熟品种“红灯”、“佐藤锦”、“那翁”、“拉宾斯”和“砂蜜豆”等为试材，系统地研究了甜樱桃果实在不同O2和CO2浓度气调贮藏条件下的生理特性、风味品质和贮藏性，提出了适合于甜樱桃果实生理特性的气调指标和贮藏时间;分析了甜樱桃在不同贮藏条件下果实中乙烯、多酚氧化酶（PPO）、过氧化物酶（POD）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD） 和丙二醛（MDA）的变化情况，揭示了它们与甜樱桃果实衰老、褐变及耐贮性的关系;分析了甜樱桃果实在不同贮藏条件下乙醇、色泽、硬度、可溶性固形物、酸和维生素C等物质成分的含量变化及与果实风味品质的关系;同时，还分析了不同甜樱桃品种果皮的结构特征及与耐藏性的关系，以及不同成熟度的甜樱桃果实在气调贮藏中的生理反应和品质变化。为形成甜樱桃果实采后商业化贮藏的系列配套技术提供了理论依据。 本文的主要研究内容包括：不同CO2浓度的气调贮藏对甜樱桃果实采后生理及品质的影响;高O2或高CO2浓度处理对甜樱桃果实褐变、衰老及风味品质的影响;动态气调贮藏和非动态气调贮藏对甜樱桃生理特性、风味品质和耐藏性的影响;不同成熟度及不同品种对甜樱桃耐藏性的影响;不同药剂配合包装处理对甜樱桃果实耐藏性及品质的影响。试验结果表明： 1. 甜樱桃果实适合于较高CO2浓度的CA贮藏：与自发性气调贮藏（MAP）相比，气调贮藏（CA）更能明显地延缓果实衰老，减少腐烂和褐变，保持风味品质和延长1.5~2倍的贮藏时间。其中以较高CO2浓度的（5% O2 + 10% CO2）气调贮藏效果最好，早熟品种“红灯”的贮藏期为60天，而中、晚熟品种“最上锦”、“佐藤锦”、“那翁”、“拉宾斯”和“砂蜜豆” 的贮藏期可达80-100天。果实在25℃下的货架存放时间为2-3天，在低温条件下（3-5℃）的货架时间是6天以上。 2. 高O2浓度气调对甜樱桃果实易造成伤害：用高O2浓度（70% O2 + 0% CO2）气调贮藏甜樱桃，在短期内可以抑制果实腐烂、减少果肉中挥发性代谢产物乙醇含量，但果实中的丙二醛含量上升迅速，褐变加剧，造成高氧伤害。 3. 动态气调贮藏更有利于延长甜樱桃果实的贮藏期：与非动态气调贮藏相比，贮藏前期用较高浓度CO2（20%）处理甜樱桃果实可有效控制维生素C含量的降低，丙二醛含量上升的速率较慢，可明显减少贮藏后期果实褐变和腐烂，保持风味品质。 4. 成熟度较高的甜樱桃果实适合于气调贮藏：成熟度较高（深红色时采收）的甜樱桃果实比成熟度低（鲜红色时采收）的果实耐藏性好。 5. 果实的耐藏性与果皮结构有关：耐藏性强的品种表皮细胞较小，排列紧密，细胞壁和外层蜡脂均较厚，果肉内部的维管束螺纹排列致密，果肉的薄壁细胞也排列得比较致密。 6. MAP与生物药剂配合有利于延长甜樱桃的贮藏期：生物1号药剂与加有TBZ的低密度塑料薄膜袋包装配合使用对控制甜樱桃果实腐烂、抑制果肉乙烯和乙醇生成、保持品质特性和延长贮藏时间都很有效。 7. 膜质过氧化是造成甜樱桃果实褐变的主要因素：甜樱桃果实褐变与PPO活性关系不大，但与膜质过氧化作用的产物—丙二醛（MAD）含量变化显著相关。

大功率微波与臭氧等复合因子对大棚蔬菜根结线虫及土壤的作

虫（nematodes）是世界农业生产的一大障碍，每年给世界农业生产造成约1000亿美元的巨额损失，是世界各国一直关注的重点病害之一。线虫可以危害各种大田作物和各种温室植物，几乎所有的栽培植物都有线虫危害发生。随着人们环保意识的增强以及健康意识的觉醒，传统防治根结线虫的药物如溴甲烷等因对环境的破坏作用，或者由于高毒、使用不便、抗药性等原因而迅速退出历史舞台，研究环保高效防治线虫成为世界各国竞相发展的技术之一。本研究尝试通过物理方式防治蔬菜根结线虫，并调查了对土壤质量的影响，主要内容包括： 1. 设计制造了功率20 Kw，频率为915 MHz的大功率土壤微波处理机，并通过了田间试验; 2. 设计制造了每小时120 g臭氧产量的便携式臭氧土壤处理机，并通过了田间试验; 3. 采用4因素3水平正交法L9(34)在山东寿光蔬菜大棚进行了蔬菜根结线虫的防治试验，综合考察微波、臭氧、微波吸收剂、EM菌等不同处理水平对根结线虫和对土壤质量的影响，结果表明： 1) 大棚土壤经微波60 s照射能够显著降低甜瓜根结线虫数和根结指数（p < 0.05），盆栽试验只需处理10 s即可显著防治甜瓜根结线虫（p < 0.01）;以120 g/h臭氧浓度处理5 s也能显著降低甜瓜根结线虫的数量（p < 0.05）;田间施入5 g/m2的EM菌，能够显著降低甜瓜根结线虫的数量（p < 0.05）;盆栽试验中微波吸收剂具有降低根结线虫数量的趋势，但是不同处理水平之间差异不显著，田间试验则具有增加根结线虫的趋势，不同处理水平之间也没有显著差异。 2) 微波不同处理水平之间对甜瓜单瓜重的影响没有显著差异;以120 g/h臭氧浓度处理甜瓜能够显著增加甜瓜单瓜重（p < 0.05）;200 g/m2微波吸收剂能够显著提高甜瓜单瓜重（p < 0.05）;以5 g/m2EM菌处理土壤则显著降低甜瓜单瓜重（p < 0.05）。 3) 微波、臭氧、微波吸收剂不同处理水平对甜瓜糖度的影响没有显著差异;以3 g/m2的EM菌处理甜瓜能够显著降低甜瓜的糖度。 4) 不同因素对甜瓜硬度的影响没有显著差异。 5) 微波处理60 s能够显著提高甜瓜的果型指数（p < 0.1），臭氧、微波吸收剂、EM菌等因素不同处理水平之间对果型指数影响差异不显著。 6) EM菌5 g/m2处理浓度能够显著降低甜瓜株高（p < 0.1），微波、臭氧、微波吸收剂不同处理水平之间对株高的影响没有显著差异。 7) EM菌5 g/m2处理浓度能够显著降低甜瓜根径（p < 0.1），微波、臭氧、微波吸收剂不同处理水平之间对根径的影响没有显著差异。 8) 微波处理60 s能够显著降低表层土壤（0-5 cm）的有机质含量（p < 0.01）;以120 g/h的臭氧浓度处理，则可以显著提高10-15 cm土壤的有机质含量（p < 0.05），其它处理因素的不同水平对有机质的影响差异不显著。 9) 微波不同处理水平对土壤全氮的影响没有显著差异（p < 0.05）;120 g/h臭氧处理浓度能够显著降低表层土壤（0-5 cm）的土壤全氮量（p < 0.1）;100 g/m2微波吸收剂处理水平能够显著提高10-15 cm土壤全氮量（p < 0.05）;EM菌3 g/m2的处理水平则显著降低5-10 cm土壤全氮量（p < 0.05）。 10) 微波、微波吸收剂、EM菌不同处理水平之间对土壤全磷没有显著影响;240 g/h臭氧浓度处理5 s能够显著降低10-15 cm土层的土壤全磷含量(p < 0.05)。 11) 微波、微波吸收剂对土壤全磷没有显著影响;臭氧处理具有降低土壤有效磷的趋势，EM菌处理则有提高土壤有效磷的趋势，但是 不同处理水平之间差异不显著（p > 0.05）。 12) 微波处理对土壤EC值没有显著影响;臭氧、微波吸收剂、EM菌处理具有降低土壤EC值的趋势，但是不同处理水平之间差异不显著（p > 0.05）。 13) 微波处理30 s能够显著降低表层土壤的pH值（p < 0.05），臭氧、微波吸收剂、EM菌处理具有提高土壤pH值的趋势，但是不同处理水平之间差异不显著。

Limnology and fishery biology of the streams at Horton Plains, Sri Lanka (Ceylon)

The present study deals with the chemical, algal and faunal characteristics of the stream system at Horton Plains, the highest plains in Ceylon (altitude 2'225 m). The cultivation of seed potatoes and subsequent use of fertilizers have caused extensive silting and severe eutrophication of the stream systems. Since there are no indigenous fish, the trout Salmo gairdnerii has been introduced and it is the only fish found in these streams. The commonest fauna in the streams are crabs (Paratelphusa sp.), shrimps (Caridimr sp.), Simulium sp. and Chironomus sp. Their increase in number is probably correlated with increase in organic and detritus matter. The most important food items of the trout are the crabs living abundantly in the stream, insect larvae and terrestrial insects were also commonly found in the guts. Records of stocking and taking of trout in the Horton plains streams have shown that now less trout are taken relatively to the numbers stocked. This decrease may be possibly due to the eutrophication of the stream and also due to the possible use of pollutants in connection with the cultivation of seed potatoes.

Suitability of sodium lactate as cryoprotectant and its effect on gel forming ability and protein denaturation of croaker fish surimi during frozen storage

The effect of sodium lactate is compared with sucrose + sorbitol + sodium tri-poly phosphate as cryoprotectant on gel forming ability & protein denaturation of croaker surimi during frozen storage at -20±2°C for 90 days was evaluated. The quality of Croaker surimi with 6% (w/v) sodium lactate was examined in terms of biochemical parameters of muscle protein, thaw drip, gel strength and calcium ATPase activity :.omparing with those of surimi added with sucrose/sorbitol & without additive as control. Both the cryoprotectants minimized the negative effects of frozen storage on physico-chemical traits of myofibrillar proteins which was evident from the biochemical and sensory parameters. The residual Ca2+ ATPase activity and gel strength of surimi with sodium lactate were higher than those of control throughout 90 days of storage. Ca2+ A TPase activity and gel strength found a high positive correlation. From the results, it was found that sodium lactate was equally effective in preservation of croaker muscle protein native structure during frozen storage as the sucrose/ sorbitol and also less sweet without any risk of maillard browning.

Preparation and storage behaviour of fish protein biscuits

This paper deals with the investigations carried out on the preparation and storage characteristics of protein enriched biscuits (sweet and salt), incorporated with partially de-odourised fish protein concentrate. The product contains more than 20% protein and has storage life exceeding 6 months at room temperature (21°C to 32°C), in 400 gauge polythene bags.

A new procedure for canning of squids

A new canning procedure for squid mantles aimed at increasing the fill and retaining the sweet flavour of squids was evolved. In the new method, after blanching smaller mantles are inserted inside bigger ones to reduce voids and thus increase the fill to 56% and above as compared to 46% when packed as rings. In addition, spent blanching medium containing desirable flavour constituents of squid was modified and used as covering medium which increased the flavour of canned product.

Studies on frozen storage of cuttle fish fillets

The freezing and cold storage characteristics of cuttle fish fillets have been studied. The yield of fillets from cuttle fish was about 35% and the fillet had an average moisture content of 76.85% and fat 0.82% During storage at -20 ± 1°C for 16 months the salt soluble nitrogen of the fillets decreased from 85.1to35.36%, the non-protein nitrogen from 24.61 to 20.84% and alpha amino nitrogen from 252 to 140mg/100g. Initially the fillets were white in colour, showed signs of desiccation by 4 months storage which increased on further storage and the fillets finally became dull white with yellow discolouration inside. The firm and chewy texture of the cooked fillets changed to rubbery even though the product was slightly sweet at the end of that storage period of 16 months.

Study of physicochemical, microbial and sensory properties of surimi produced from black mouth croaker (Atrobucca nibe) at freezing condition (-18ºC)

Black mouth croaker (Atrobucca nibe) is considered as a new valuable fish stock in the Oman Sea. In this study, surimi was manufactured from nonmarket size of the fish, manually and different cryoprotectant agents were added to the surimi. Finally changes in physiochemical, microbiological and sensory quality, characteristics of the surimi and kamaboko gel samples were assessed during 6 months at freezing storage (-18ºC). Surimi samples with the addition of Iranian tragacanth gum (TG), xanthan gum (XG), chitosan (CS) and whey protein concentrate (WPC) at 1% (w/w) were prepared to evaluate their impacts as a cryoprotectant on the surimi, individually. The results showed that the whiteness and lightness indexes in all surimi samples were gradually decreased during frozen storage. This trend of decreasing was more intensity in the control sample from 61.08±0.131 to 54.21±0.067 was recorded (p<0.05). Water holding capacity (WHC) in all treatments was decreased during 6 months. The lowest WHC (g/g) was obtained in the surimi without cryoprotectants and maximum WHC was measured in Tcs and Twpc samples, respectively (p<0.05). The lowest breaking force was calculated in Txg (166.00±22.627 g) and Tc (271.50±263.16 g) during 6 months at frozen storage, respectively (p<0.05), while Twpc treatment with slight variations showed the highest breaking force (p<0.05). Also, the lowest gel strength was obtained in Txg (68.22±6.740 g.cm) after 6 month of frozen storage (p<0.05). All Kamaboko surimi gels texture profile analysis parameters decreaced with increasing shelf life. This decreasing trend in the control sample was more severe. Floding results were reduced in all samples during storage (p<0.05). The best protective results probably were obtained in WPC, chitosan and commercial cryoprotectant agents, respectively due to protein stabilization of myofibrillar proteins and the protein-protein network structure, leading to the formation of surimi gel with strong textural properties during frozen conditions. The average number of surimi polygonal structures were significantly decreased (number per mm2) and their area were significantly increased (μm2) in all treatments (p<0.05). With increasing storage time, moisture, protein contents and pH were decreaced. Maximun TVB-N index was calculated in Tc (7.93±0.400 mg/100g) and Txg (7.88±0.477), respectively (p<0.05). TBRAs index was increased in all treatments during frozen storage, while this trend was reached in maximum value in Tc (p<0.05). Sensory evaluation of the fish finger quality characteristics (color, odor, texture and overall acceptability) preapare from frozen black mouth croaker surimi was decreaced during 6 month frozen storage. After the period of frozen storage the highest quality scores were measured in Twpc, Tcs and Tcc samples, respectively (p<0.05). In this study, coliform bacteria were not found in all treatments during frozen storage. The surimi sample containing chitosan showed lower mesophilic and psychrotropic bacteria (log cfu/g) than other treatments during frozen storage (p<0.05). Salt-soluble proteins extractions of all treatments were decreased during frozen storage. This decreacing trend was highest in Tcs (45.74±0.176%) and lowest in Tc treatments after 6 month of frozen storage (29.92±0.224%) (p<0.05). Although commercial cryoprotectant agents were successful in limiting the denaturation of proteins but sugar contents were not accepted for diabetics or those who disagree with the sweet taste and high calorie food. Hence, commercial cryoprotectant agents can be replaced with whey protein concentrate and chitosan at 1% level (w/w) consider that they were showed proper protection of the surimi myofibrillar proteins during storage.