Abstract: The invention relates to the use of angiogenic crystallin proteins to promote angiogenesis, wound healing and/or endothelial cell migration. Alpha A crystallin and ?B2 crystallin have particular application in these methods. The crystallins will usually be in monomeric form. Typically, truncated form(s) of ?B2 crystallin protein are utilized as can be prepared by partial hydrolysis of the protein by a protease enzyme such as elastase I. Methods for the purification of crystallin proteins from eye tissue are also described.

Abstract: The invention provides a meat stretching device. The device includes a receptacle and a flexible sleeve. The flexible sleeve is mounted within the receptacle, the flexible sleeve having a cross-section that defines an aperture to receive one or more cuts of meat. The receptacle is connectable to an air pressure device that is capable of generating a positive pressure in the receptacle to cause the flexible sleeve to constrict around and stretch the one or more cuts of meat that are received in the aperture. In one form the flexible sleeve has a first end and a second end, and a cross-section that defines an aperture, the first end being adapted to receive one or more cuts of meat and the second end being adapted to allow the one or more cuts of meat to be removed from the flexible sleeve. In this form the flexible sleeve is mounted within the receptacle such that an airtight volume is formed between the flexible sleeve and the receptacle.

Abstract: The invention provides an additive for lowering the minimum usable temperature of a biodiesel fuel or a diesel/biodiesel blend. The additive comprises at least one saccharide ester and a polymer having a comb structure. In some instances there is only one saccharide ester present. In this case the saccharide ester comprises at least one saturated ester group and at least one unsaturated ester group. In other instances, there is more than one saccharide ester is present. In these cases the additive comprises a first saccharide ester comprising at least one saturated ester group and a second saccharide ester comprising at least one unsaturated ester group.

Abstract: A method for assessing the tenderness of meat from an animal, comprising the step of testing the animal for the presence or absence of a genetic marker selected from the group consisting of: (1) an allele of the gene encoding calpastatin (CAST) associated with peak-force variation or genetic variation located other than in the CAST gene which shows allelic association with the CAST allele; and (2) an allele of the gene encoding lysyl oxidase (LOX) associated with instron compression of the semitendinosis muscle or genetic variation located other than in the LOX gene which shows allelic association with the LOX allele.

Abstract: A method for assessing a trait in a bovine animal selected from the group consisting of longissimus dorsi peak force, intramuscular fat, retail beef yield and net feed intake, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a nucleic acid from the bovine animal or carcass; (2) assaying for the occurrence of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), wherein the identification of said nucleotide occurrence as set forth herein is associated with variation in longissimus dorsi peak force, intramuscular fat deposition, retail beef yield or net feed intake.

Abstract: A method for assessing the tenderness of meat from an animal, comprising the step of testing the animal for a genetic marker in the calpain3 (CAPN3) gene associated with Warner-Bratzler peak force variation or for a genetic marker located other than in CAPN3 which shows allelic association therewith.

Abstract: A dedagging implement including a body (2), a rotor (4) supported on the body (2) for rotation about an axis and having radially outwardly projecting lobes (6) for removing dag from a carcass, a liquid supply means located on the body (2), said liquid supply means being configured to direct a flow of liquid at the lobes (6) and an air supply means located on the body (2), said air supply means being configured to direct air flow at, or in close proximity to, the lobes (6). The present invention also provides a dedagging system having a dedagging implement and a vacuum waste collection system. The dedagging implement and/or dedagging system is useful for removing dag from an animal carcass.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to isolated leucoanthocyanidin reductase LAR polypeptides of the Reductase-Epimerase-Dehydrogenase (RED) protein family, and nucleic acid molecules encoding same and their use in regulating the biosynthesis and accumulation of proanthocyanidins in plants. The invention is further directed to isolated nucleic acid molecules of plants, which encode leucoanthocyanidin reductases of the RED protein family. The isolated polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules of the present invention are useful for modifying the pasture quality of legumes, and, in particular, for producing bloat-safe forage crops, or crops having enhanced nutritional value, enhanced disease resistance or pest resistance, or enhanced malting qualities.

Abstract: An animal carcass (12) being processed on a slaughter line (8) passes through various electrical current processing stations such as immobilisation (1), low voltage electrical stimulation (2), electronic bleeding (3), nerve deactivation (4), electronic back stiffening (5), and mid voltage electrical stimulation (6). The parameters of the electrical current stimulation for each process are tailored to the characteristics of each carcass or carcass type by micro computers (11) at each station. The parameters are further tailored, typically by a master computer (9), to allow for the total contribution of side effects from electrical processing at each station, to optimise the quality of meat taken from the carcass.

Abstract: The calibration of an imaging system having a camera (20) for capturing colour data for a target object (carcass 10) includes a primary calibration to obtain a primary transform for RGB data to enable compensation for variations in the camera operation or characteristics, and a secondary calibration obtain a secondary transform to enable compensation for local lighting conditions during capture and processing of colour data for captured images to be analysed. The calculated primary transform relates the actual measured colour data to known standard colour data for the particular standard colour specimens (31). The standard colour specimens (31) are presented in an enclosure or hood (30) to the camera under controlled illumination and with extrancous or external light being excluded from illuminating the specimens. A preliminary calibration includes calibrating the primary calibration standard colour specimens and associated controlled light source against centralised laboratory standard colours.

Abstract: The invention provides a process and anal seal for sealing the anus of the carcass (10) of a slaughtered animal. The anal seal includes a plug (15) for insertion through the anus so that tissues (11) contract behind the plug, a clamp (20) movable towards the plug to clamp the tissues behind, and retaining means (40) to hold the clamp in its clamping position. The plug (15) is conical and has a back end (17) so that the clamp which is in the shape of a clamping disc (22) clamps against periphery (18) of the back end of the plug. The clamp (15) can slide on a stem (32) extending from the back end of the plug. The retaining means (40) can comprise biasing means (48) or a latch (41) to hold the clamp in its clamping position. An applicator tool (60) can mount the anal seal during insertion of the plug into the rectum and move the clamp from a retracted position to its operative clamping position.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for identifying a target section within an image of a meat section. Color data for each pixel is stored and the pixels having a predetermined color characteristic of the target section e.g. a certain red/green ratio, are discriminated. The process involves excising from a refined data set for the discriminated pixels at least one data set for a cluster of pixels representing an external image section which is adjacent to and contacting the target section but which does not form part of the target section, the excising step including analysing the shape of the refined image section represented by the refined data set to identify concavities and examining properties of links and/or properties of sub-sections formed by links to identify valid links demarcating the target section from adjacent touching external image sections. The refined data set after the excising step has been carried out is processed as the data set representing the target section of the image.