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Prostaglandins and other eicosanoids are oxygenated metabolites of certain polyunsaturated fatty acids. These compounds are well known for their important actions in mammalian physiology and disease. Recent work has revealed the presence and biological actions of eicosanoids in insects and many other invertebrate animals. In insects, eicosanoids mediate cellular immunity to microbial and metazoan challenge. Notably, some infectious organisms secrete factors responsible for impairing host insect immune reactions by inhibiting biosynthesis of eicosanoids. Eicosanoids also act in insect reproductive biology, in ion transport physiology, and in fever response to infection as well as in protein exocytosis in tick salivary glands. Aside from ongoing actions in homeostasis, certain eicosanoid actions occur at crucial points in insect life histories, such as during infectious challenge and important events in reproduction.

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Parallel imaging is a recently developed family of techniques that take advantage of the spatial information inherent in phased-array radiofrequency coils to reduce acquisition times in magnetic resonance imaging. In parallel imaging, the number of sampled k-space lines is reduced, often by a factor of two or greater, thereby significantly shortening the acquisition time. Parallel imaging techniques have only recently become commercially available, and the wide range of clinical applications is just beginning to be explored. The potential clinical applications primarily involve reduction in acquisition time, improved spatial resolution, or a combination of the two. Improvements in image quality can be achieved by reducing the echo train lengths of fast spin-echo and single-shot fast spin-echo sequences. Parallel imaging is particularly attractive for cardiac and vascular applications and will likely prove valuable as 3-T body and cardiovascular imaging becomes part of standard clinical practice. Limitations of parallel imaging include reduced signal-to-noise ratio and reconstruction artifacts. It is important to consider these limitations when deciding when to use these techniques.

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Green beans and carrots were canned using extended blanching at 64-65°C and added calcium and/or acid. Firmer products resulted from all treatments but lowered pH was most effective. Blanched green beans were firmer with lower pectin esterification, indicating pectin methyl esterase activity. Green beans and carrots treated with calcium and/or acid and then cooked were firmer than controls. Acid exhibited a firming effect, perhaps by loosening tissue, while calcium reduced the influence of heat. Instrumental bioyield values correlated with sensory results of canned green beans; bioyield may result from a scleriformic layer. Microscopy showed firmer beans had intact middle lamellae while softer samples contained separated cells. These data suggest that the treatments rendered pectates in the middle lamella less heat labile.