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Purpose Whole-body fat oxidation during exercise can be measured non-invasively during athlete profiling. Gaps in understanding exist in the relationships between fat oxidation during incremental fasted exercise and skeletal muscle parameters, endurance performance, and fat oxidation during prolonged fed-state exercise. Methods Seventeen endurance-trained males underwent a (i) fasted, incremental cycling test to assess peak whole-body fat oxidation (PFO), (ii) resting vastus lateralis microbiopsy, and (iii) 30-min maximal-effort cycling time-trial preceded by 2-h of fed-state moderate-intensity cycling to assess endurance performance and fed-state metabolism on separate occasions within one week. Results PFO (0.58 ± 0.28 g.min−1) was associated with vastus lateralis citrate synthase activity (69.2 ± 26.0 μmol.min−1.g−1 muscle protein, r = 0.84, 95% CI 0.58, 0.95, P

Avocado seeds account for 13% of the waste from industrial production of cold-pressed avocado oil (CPAO). Therefore, the aim of this study was to valorise avocado seeds by converting it into an extruded snack product using a friction cooker and comparing their textural and physical characteristics to extruded brown rice and malted barley ready to eat (RTE) snacks. Concentration of toxins; amygdalin and persin were compared in extruded avocado seed and fresh avocado seeds. Avocado seed extrudates were significantly lower in lateral expansion, apparent density, porosity, hardness, and crispiness compared to brown rice extrudates. Antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content (TPC) was highest in freeze-dried avocado seeds. Antioxidant capacity and TPC of avocado seed extrudates were significantly higher than brown rice and malted barley. The concentrations of both amygdalin and persin in the RTE avocado seed snack were present at non-toxic levels (2.6 × 10

Endurance athletes are frequently exposed to environmental heat stress during training. We investigated whether exposure to 33°C during training would improve endurance performance in temperate conditions and stimulate mitochondrial adaptations. Seventeen endurance‐trained males were randomly assigned to perform a 3‐week training intervention in 18°C (TEMP) or 33°C (HEAT). An incremental test and 30‐min time‐trial preceded by 2‐h low‐intensity cycling were performed in 18°C pre‐ and post‐intervention, along with a resting vastus lateralis microbiopsy. Training was matched for relative cardiovascular demand using heart rates measured at the first and second ventilatory thresholds, along with a weekly “best‐effort” interval session. Perceived training load was similar between‐groups, despite lower power outputs during training in HEAT versus TEMP (p, We observed that 3 weeks of endurance training performed in 33°C improved endurance performance in temperate conditions to a significantly greater extent than matched training performed in 18°C. We also observed a significant increase in vastus lateralis citrate synthase activity in response to training performed in 33°C, but not matched training performed in 18°C.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present organisational cultural determinants that can influence total quality management (TQM) in clinical laboratories. Design/methodology/approach This is a viewpoint paper using evidence provided by a literature research about cultural patterns using Competing Values Framework to explain the relationship between organisational culture and TQM. Findings Cultural aspects likely to enhance creativity and innovation are considered as incentives in promoting cultural transformation. TQM in the average modern clinical laboratory requires a long overdue transformational change in values, culture and attitude. Social implications Valuing people, making up an organisation, is expected to enhance TQM. Originality/value This paper provokes a shift in thinking among traditional clinical laboratory managers and results in a win-win for both staff and total quality outcomes.

The production of commercial cold pressed avocado oil (CPAO) generates large quantity of organic wastes such as pomace, seeds, peels and wastewater. During the early harvest season, for every 1000 kg of avocado fruits processed, roughly 80 kg of oil is produced and wastewater accounted for the highest proportion (500 kg). Therefore, it is important to find an alternative application for this wastewater rather than its direct disposal into landfills. Proximate analysis, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant assays were conducted on the avocado wastes. Avocado wastewater (AWW) was spray dried into powder at different temperatures from 110 °C to 160 °C, which concomitantly increased the TPC and antioxidant capacities of the AWW powder. The powder was further applied as a preservative in pork sausages and was found to be effective in preventing lipid oxidation.

To the Editor: The term antinuclear antibodies (ANA) originally referred to autoantibodies directed against nuclear antigens and antigens in the cell cytoplasm or membrane1. The presence of elevated ANA is considered as the hallmark diagnostic test for systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD). In most New Zealand (NZ) laboratories, ANA are detected by indirect immunofluorescence test (IIF) on HEp-2. However, fluorescent patterns are sometimes difficult to interpret2,3. Recent advances in autoimmune technologies have emerged for ANA testing, and laboratories in NZ are moving into acquiring the required knowledge and skills. In our laboratory, ANA screening slides are interpreted by a NOVA View automated IIF slide reader (INOVA Diagnostics Inc.), which incorporates a digital analysis image system, pattern recognition algorithms, and preset cutoff values. Problems still exist for the laboratory community to determine whether this system efficiently identifies antigens of clinical significance and whether the different automated systems have an appropriate level of pattern recognition agreement4. The extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) panel is a test performed as … Address correspondence to Dr. F. Merien, Auckland University of Technology, School of Science, 34 St Paul St., Auckland 1142, New Zealand. E-mail: fmerien{at}aut.ac.nz

We present the first complete genome of vanilla mosaic virus (VanMV). The VanMV genomic structure is consistent with that of a potyvirus, containing a single open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polyprotein of 3139 amino acids. Motif analyses indicate the polyprotein can be cleaved into the expected ten individual proteins; other recognised potyvirus motifs are also present. As expected, the VanMV genome shows high sequence similarity to the published Dasheen mosaic virus (DsMV) genome sequences; comparisons with DsMV continue to support VanMV as a vanilla infecting strain of DsMV. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that VanMV and DsMV share a common ancestor, with VanMV having the closest relationship with DsMV strains from the South Pacific.

Lettuce necrotic yellows virus (LNYV) is the type member of the genus Cytorhabdovirus, family Rhabdoviridae, and causes a severe disease of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). This virus has been described as endemic to Australia and New Zealand, with sporadic reports of a similar virus in Europe. Genetic variability studies of plant-infecting rhabdoviruses are scarce. We have extended a previous study on the variability of the LNYV nucleocapsid gene, comparing sequences from isolates sampled from both Australia and New Zealand, as well as analysing symptom expression on Nicotiana glutinosa. Phylogenetic and BEAST analyses confirm separation of LNYV isolates into two subgroups (I and II) and suggest that subgroup I is slightly older than subgroup II. No correlation was observed between isolate subgroup and disease symptoms on N. glutinosa. The origin of LNYV remains unclear; LNYV may have moved between native and weed hosts within Australia or New Zealand before infecting lettuce or may have appeared as a result of at least two incursions, with the first coinciding with the beginning of European agriculture in the region. The apparent extinction of subgroup I in Australia may have been due to less-efficient dispersal than that which has occurred for subgroup II – possibly a consequence of suboptimal interactions with plant and/or insect hosts. Introduction of subgroup II to New Zealand appears to be more recent. More-detailed epidemiological studies using molecular tools are needed to fully understand how LNYV interacts with its hosts and to determine where the virus originated.