Novel fibrinolytic enzyme in fermented shrimp paste, a traditional asian fermented seasoning

A novel fibrinolytic enzyme was purified from fermented shrimp paste, a popular seasoning used in Asian countries. The enzyme is a monomer with an apparent molecular weight of 18 kDa, and it is composed primarily of beta-sheet and random coils. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was determined to be DPYEEPGPCENLQVA. It is a neutral protease with an optimal activity from pH 3 to 7. No inhibition was observed with PMSF, Pepstatin A, E64, and 1,10-phenanthroline, but the enzyme was slightly inhibited by EDTA and Cu(2+). It was relatively specific to fibrin or fibrinogen as a protein substrate, yet it hydrolyzed none of the plasma proteins in the studies. In vitro, the enzyme was resistant to pepsin and trypsin digestion. It also had an anticoagulant activity measured with activated partial thrombin time and prothrombin time tests. The novel fibrinolytic enzyme derived from traditional Asian foods is useful for thrombolytic therapy. In addition, this enzyme has a significant potential for food fortification and nutraceutical applications, such that its use could effectively prevent cardiovascular diseases.     

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) as possible indicator of wartime metal and metalloid contamination in eastern Croatia (ICP-MS method)

Biomonitoring of the local population and environmental monitoring in eastern Croatia have revealed abnormalities in metal and metalloid distribution that could be related to war activities during the 1990s. The goal of this study was to determine whether there are differences in the concentrations of metals and metalloids by comparing locations of high and low-intensity combat activity; we also evaluated a possible connection between metal contamination in soil and in humans. We sampled 14 locations and measured the concentrations of 20 war related metals and metalloids (Al, As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Si, Sr, U, V and Zn). The results of principal components analysis showed two main clusters: locations Dopsin and Dalj (both characterized by high-intensity combat activity), where the concentrations of most elements (except Hg) were increased. Although the concentrations of metals and metalloids in cabbage samples collected in eastern Croatia did not exceed the maximum allowed values, the results of our study confirmed existance of environmental ‘hotspot’ with higher concentrations of war metals and metalloids. Our findings indicate that there is a possible common source and mechanism of transferring metals from the environment to the population.     

The meaning of agricultural sustainability: Evidence from a conjoint choice survey

Because of its complex, multi-dimensional nature, agricultural sustainability is most often assessed using numerous indicators, which make aggregate comparisons among different production systems difficult. In this paper we propose a methodology that could be beneficial in aggregate sustainability assessment. We apply the method of conjoint analysis to select economic, social, and ecological attributes that are perceived as important for agricultural sustainability by different stakeholders and to assess their relative impact on the overall sustainability measure. Our method presents a flexible framework which could be adopted for a variety of specific applications and allows drawing comparisons among various stakeholder groups based on how they perceive agricultural sustainability.     

柴窝堡湖高白鲑生长与移殖效应分析

2004年6月-2007年5月，采集柴窝堡湖高白鲑标本79尾，对其年龄与生长状况及高白鲑在柴窝堡湖移殖效应进行了分析。研究表明：柴窝堡湖高白鲑1龄平均逆算体长L1=11.7cm、2龄平均逆算体长L2=26.1cm；体长与体重的回归方程为W=0．013474L^309069；高白鲑在柴窝堡湖生长正常，能够形成捕捞群体，但由于柴窝堡湖现有的渔业捕捞方式，影响了高白鲑在柴窝堡湖渔业移殖效应。     

Steam-blanched highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) juice: phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity in relation to cultivar selection

High-quality standards in blueberry juice can be obtained only taking into account fruit compositional variability and its preservation along the processing chain. In this work, five highbush blueberry cultivars from the same environmental growing conditions were individually processed into juice after an initial blanching step and the influence was studied of the cultivar on juice phenolic content, distribution and relative antioxidant activity, measured as scavenging capacity on the artificial free-radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*). A chromatographic protocol was developed to separate all main phenolic compounds in berries. A total of 15 glycosylated anthocyanins, catechin, galactoside, glucoside, and rhamnoside quercetin 3-derivatives, and main benzoic and cinnamic acids were identified. The total content and relative distribution in anthocyanins, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin of each juice were dependent upon cultivar, and the total content was highly correlated (rxy=0.97) to the antioxidant capacity. A selective protective effect of berry blanching in juice processing can be observed on more labile anthocyanin compounds.