Sensory evaluation of farmed sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo)

The first attempts at applying aquacultural techniques to sharpsnoutseabream (Diplodus puntazzo) have proved very promising.One of the factors to keep in mind when analysing the viability of a speciesforindustrial farming is that of consumer acceptance of the product, a variablethat can be measured by sensory evaluation tests. To that end, 107 participantsfrom a number of work centres were assessed with hedonic sensory tests usingsharpsnout seabream samples. For reference purposes, the tasting also includedgilthead seabream samples. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnairethat included questions concerning their preferences for any one fish. Weanalysed the sensory attributes of both fish species using a hedonic scale, andalso their acceptability (disposition to purchase) to consumers. The resultsproved fairly encouraging with a view to sharpsnout seabream large-scaleproduction. All attributes tested in the sensory profile analysis werepositively rated. About 60% of the surveyed population would consider buyingsharpsnout seabream at a price similar to that of gilthead seabream (10∈),and 85% found it to be pleasing to the eye. Aside from flavour, its texture,juiciness and fat level are the most important appraisal attributes. Efforts toimprove the organoleptic characteristics of the species should focus mainly onthese attributes.     

Reduced-calorie Avocado Paste Attenuates Metabolic Factors Associated with a Hypercholesterolemic-high Fructose Diet in Rats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of reduced-calorie avocado paste on lipid serum profile, insulin sensitivity, and hepatic steatosis in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic-high fructose diet. Thirty five male Wistar rats were randomly separated in five groups: Control group (ground commercial diet); hypercholesterolemic diet plus 60 % fructose solution (HHF group); hypercholesterolemic diet plus 60 % fructose solution supplemented with avocado pulp (HHF+A group); hypercholesterolemic diet plus 60 % fructose solution supplemented with reduced-calorie avocado paste (HHF+P group); and hypercholesterolemic diet plus 60 % fructose solution supplemented with a reduced-calorie avocado paste plus fiber (HHF+FP group). The A, P, and FP were supplemented at 2 g/kg/d. The study was carried out for seven weeks. Rats belonging to the HHF group exhibited significantly (P?≤?0.05) higher total cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin levels in serum as well as lower insulin sensitivity than the control group. Supplementation with reduced-calorie avocado paste showed a significant (P?≤?0.05) decrease in total cholesterol (43.1 %), low-density lipoprotein (45.4 %), and triglycerides (32.8 %) in plasma as well as elevated insulin sensitivity compared to the HHF group. Additionally, the liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase decreased significantly in the HHF-P group (39.8 and 35.1 %, respectively). These results are likely due to biocompounds present in the reduced-calorie avocado paste, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, chlorophylls, and dietary fibre, which are capable of reducing oxidative stress. Therefore, reduced-calorie avocado paste attenuates the effects of a hypercholesterolemic-high fructose diet in rats.     

Tanjungides A and B: New Antitumoral Bromoindole Derived Compounds from Diazona cf formosa. Isolation and Total Synthesis

Tanjungides A (1) (Z isomer) and B (2) (E isomer), two novel dibrominated indole enamides, have been isolated from the tunicate Diazona cf formosa. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods including HRMS, and extensive 1D and 2D NMR. The stereochemistry of the cyclised cystine present in both compounds was determined by Marfey’s analysis after chemical degradation and hydrolysis. We also report the first total synthesis of these compounds using methyl 1H-indole-3-carboxylate as starting material and a linear sequence of 11 chemical steps. Tanjungides A and B exhibit significant cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines.     

Chronosequence of Technosols at the Peña Colorada mine in Colima,Mexico: a short-term remediation alternative

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The objective of this study was to examine the pedogenetic evolution occurring in technic hard materials from an iron mine through the characterization of a...     

Pharmacokinetics of pipemidic acid in chickens after single intravenous and oral dosings

The pharmacokinetics of pipemidic acid after 2 single doses were studied in broiler chickens. Chickens were given single IV and oral doses of 10 and 30 mg of pipemidic acid/kg of body weight. Blood samples were collected over 8 hours after each dose administration. High-pressure liquid chromatography with UV detection was used to determine concentrations in plasma of pipemidic acid. The plasma concentration-time curves after IV administration followed 2-compartment characteristics, rapid initial distribution phase, and a terminal elimination phase. The pharmacokinetic variables differed significantly between single doses of 10 and 30 mg of pipemidic acid/kg. Mean disposition variables were a half-life at alpha phase of 0.06 hours or 0.33 hours, a half-life at beta phase of 1.18 hours or 1.72 hours, a volume of distribution in the central compartment of 0.12 L/kg or 0.31 L/kg, a volume of distribution during the elimination beta phase of 1.64 L/kg or 1.05 L/kg, and a total plasma clearance of 0.97 L/h.kg or 0.41 L/h.kg, for the 10 or 30 mg/kg dose, respectively. After oral administration, the pipemidic acid plasma profile could be adequately described by a 1-compartment model. After the single oral doses of 10 and 30 mg of pipemidic acid/kg, pipemidic acid was absorbed rapidly (time to maximal concentration of 0.31 hours or 0.71 hours) and eliminated with a mean half-life of 0.86 hours or 0.61 hours, respectively. The bioavailability was 39% at 10 mg of pipemidic acid/kg and 61% at 30 mg of pipemidic acid/kg.     

Comparison of two automated spectrophotometric methods for ceruloplasmin measurement in pigs

Ceruloplasmin (Cp) determination could provide an objective measure of the health status of an animal and could be used as marker of animal health and welfare (Skinner, 2001) (Skinner, J. G., 2001. Special report. International standardization of acute phase proteins. Veterinary Clinical Pathology 30, 2-7.) but only manual methods have been reported to determine Cp concentrations in pigs (McCosker, 1961; Toussaint et al., 1995; Eckersall et al., 1996) (McCosker, P. J., 1961. Paraphenylenediamine oxidase activity and copper-levels in mammalian plasmas. Nature. 190, 887-889; Toussaint, M. J. M., Van Ederen, A. M., Gruys, E., 1995. Implication of clinical pathology in assessment of animal health and in animal production and meat inspection. Comparative Haematology International 5, 149-157; Eckersall, P. D., Saini, P. K., McComb, C., 1996. The acute phase response of acid soluble glycoprotein, alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin and C-reactive protein, in the pig. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 51, 377-385). In the present study two automated methods based on the use of two different substrates for the determination of serum ceruloplasmin in pigs were developed, evaluated and compared. Both methods showed a good precision and detection limits, with no signs of inaccuracy and could be applied to biochemical autoanalyzers usually found in clinical laboratories using only minimal amounts of serum. Additionally the behaviour of Cp in experimental and clinical situations was studied showing an increase of around two fold after turpentine administration and significantly higher values in cases of pigs with inflammatory conditions when compared with healthy pigs.     

Organic Fertilization in Traditional Mediterranean Grapevine Orchards Mediates Changes in Soil Microbial Community Structure and Enhances Soil Fertility

Soil microbial populations and their functions related to nutrient cycling contribute substantially to the regulation of soil fertility and the sustainability of agroecosystems. A field experiment was performed to assess the medium‐term effect of a mineral fertilizer and two organic fertilization systems with different nitrogen sources on the soil microbial community biomass, structure, and composition (phospholipid fatty acids, pattern, and abundance), microbial activity (basal respiration, dehydrogenase, protease, urease, β‐glucosidase, and total amount of phosphomonoesterase activities), and physical (aggregate stability) and chemical (total organic C, total N, available P and water‐soluble carbohydrates) properties in a vineyard under semiarid Mediterranean conditions after a period of 10 years. The three fertilization systems assayed were as follows: inorganic fertilization, addition of grapevine pruning with sheep manure (OPM), and addition of grapevine pruning with a legume cover crop (OPL). Both treatments, OPM and OPL, produced higher contents of total organic carbon, total N, available P, water‐soluble carbohydrates, and stable aggregates. The organic fertilization systems increased microbial biomass, shifted the structure and composition of the soil microbial community, and stimulated microbial activity, when compared with inorganic fertilization. The abundances of fungi and G+ bacteria were increased by treatments OPM and OPL, without significant differences between them. Organic and inorganic fertilization produced similar grapevine yields. The ability of the organic fertilization systems for promoting the sustainability and soil biological and chemical fertility of an agroecosystem under semiarid conditions was dependent of the organic N source. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.