Effects of cerium oxide supplementation to laying hen diets on performance,egg quality,some antioxidant enzymes in serum and lipid oxidation in egg yolk

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary cerium oxide levels (0, 100, 200, 300 or 400 mg/kg) on the laying performance, egg quality, some blood serum parameters and egg lipid peroxidation of laying hen. In total, one hundred and twenty 22‐week‐old brown Lohman LSL laying hens were randomly assigned to five groups equally (n = 24). Each treatment was replicated six times. Dietary supplementation of cerium oxide had no significant effect on feed intake and egg weight. The addition of cerium oxide to the laying hens' feed improved feed conversion ratio and increased (p < 0.05) egg production. Quality criteria of egg for except shell breaking strength were not affected by supplementing cerium oxide. In particular, supplementation of 200 and 300 mg/kg cerium oxide to the laying hens feed led to a significant (p < 0. 01) increase in egg shell breaking strength. Calcium and phosphorus concentration of serum increased significantly (p < 0.05) with supplementation of 100 mg/kg cerium oxide to laying hen diets. It was also observed that serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration decreased significantly with supplementation of cerium oxide in diets. Inclusion of cerium oxide resulted in a significant reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values in egg yolk in this study. It can be concluded that the addition of cerium oxide had positive effects on egg production, feed conversion ratio and egg shelf life. Based on the results of this study, it could be advised to supplement laying hens feed with cerium oxide as feed additives.     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids from Senecio lorenthii.

The isolation and NMR spectra of otosenine (1) and seneciphylline (2) from Senecio lorenthii are reported.     

Synthesis of diethylamine-functionalized soybean oil

Specialty chemicals based on renewable resources are desirable commodities due to their eco-friendly nature and "green" product characteristics. These chemicals can demonstrate physical and chemical properties comparable to those of conventional petroleum-based products. Suitably functionalized amines in the triacylglycerol structure can function as an antioxidant, as well as an antiwear/antifriction agent. In addition, the amphiphilic nature of seed oils makes them an excellent candidate as base fluid. The reaction of amine and epoxidized seed oils in the presence of a catalyst almost always leads to different intra/intermolecular cross-linked products. In most cases, the triacylglycerol structure is lost due to disruption of the ester linkage. Currently, there is no reported literature describing the aminolysis of vegetable oil without cross-linking. Here the epoxy group of the epoxidized soybean oil has been selectively reacted with amines to give amine-functionalized soybean oil. The optimization procedure involved various amines and catalysts for maximum aminolysis, without cross-linking and disruption of the ester linkage. Diethylamine and ZnCl2 were found to be the best. NMR, IR, and nitrogen analysis were used to characterize the products.     

Synthesis of carbonated fatty methyl esters using supercritical carbon dioxide

The two-step syntheses of the cyclic carbonates carbonated methyl oleate (CMO) and carbonated methyl linoleate (CML) are reported. First, synthesis of epoxides through well-precedented chemical reactions of unsaturated fatty methyl esters with hydrogen peroxide and formic acid was accomplished. Next, a carbonation reaction with a simple tetrabutylammonium bromide catalyst was performed, allowing the direct incorporation of carbon dioxide into the oleochemical. These syntheses avoid the use of the environmentally unfriendly phosgene. The carbonated products are characterized by IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy and studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Also reported is the synthesis of a similar cyclic carbonate from the commercially available 2-ethylhexyl epoxy soyate. These carbonates show properties that may make them useful as petrochemical replacements or as biobased industrial product precursors.     

Preparation of soybean oil-based greases: effect of composition and structure on physical properties

Vegetable oils have significant potential as a base fluid and a substitute for mineral oil in grease formulation. Preparation of soybean oil-based lithium greases using a variety of fatty acids in the soap structure is discussed in this paper. Soy greases with lithium-fatty acid soap having C12-C18 chain lengths and different metal to fatty acid ratios were synthesized. Grease hardness was determined using a standard test method, and their oxidative stabilities were measured using pressurized differential scanning calorimetry. Results indicate that lithium soap composition, fatty acid types, and base oil content significantly affect grease hardness and oxidative stability. Lithium soaps prepared with short-chain fatty acids resulted in softer grease. Oxidative stability and other performance properties will deteriorate if oil is released from the grease matrix due to overloading of soap with base oil. Performance characteristics are largely dependent on the hardness and oxidative stability of grease used as industrial and automotive lubricant. Therefore, this paper discusses the preparation methods, optimization of soap components, and antioxidant additive for making soy-based grease.     

Effects of dietary humic acid on growth performance,haemato‐immunological and physiological responses and resistance of Rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss to Yersinia ruckeri

This study investigated the effects of dietary humic acid sodium salt on growth performance, haemato‐immunological and physiological responses, and resistance of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss to Yersinia ruckeri. The experimental fish were divided into four groups; three of them were fed with humic acid incorporated diets (0.3% H3, 0.6% H6, 1.2% H12) and an additive free basal diet served as the control. Growth performance and haematological parameters of rainbow trout were not affected by humic acid supplemented diets (p > 0.05). However, dietary humic acid especially with 0.6% incorporation significantly increased stomach pepsin, intestinal trypsin and lipase activities p < 0.05. Following 60 days of feeding trial, fish were challenged with Yersinia ruckeri for 20 days. At the end of the challenge period, significantly higher (p < 0.05) survival rates were found in the 6% humic acid group compared to all other experimental treatment. Thus humic acid might replace antibiotics in diets for rainbow trout to control yersiniosis.     

Identifying the driver of pulsating aurora

Pulsating aurora, a spectacular emission that appears as blinking of the upper atmosphere in the polar regions, is known to be excited by modulated, downward-streaming electrons. Despite its distinctive feature, identifying the driver of the electron precipitation has been a long-standing problem. Using coordinated satellite and ground-based all-sky imager observations from the THEMIS mission, we provide direct evidence that a naturally occurring electromagnetic wave, lower-band chorus, can drive pulsating aurora. Because the waves at a given equatorial location in space correlate with a single pulsating auroral patch in the upper atmosphere, our findings can also be used to constrain magnetic field models with much higher accuracy than has previously been possible.     

Deficit irrigations during soybean reproductive stages and CROPGRO-soybean simulations under semi-arid climatic conditions

This study was carried out to determine the effect of water stress on five different generative stages of soybeans and to evaluate the CROPGRO-soybean model under semi-arid climatic conditions. The study was conducted at the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Harran University research field in 2003 and 2004 growing seasons. Plants received full irrigation during vegetative stages, after which it was cut off at different reproductive stages (treatments): R_1-2, beginning of flowering and full bloom; R₃, beginning of pod; R₄, full pod; R₅, beginning of seed; and R₆, full seed. The control treatment was full irrigation throughout. Observed yields ranged from 1955 (R₆) to 3684 kg ha⁻¹ (control) in 2003, and from 1867 (R₆) to 3952 kg ha⁻¹ (control) in 2004, respectively. Generally, in both of the years any water stress imposed on soybeans in three different generative stages (R₃, R₅, and R₆) resulted in substantial yield reduction compared with full irrigation; yield reduction was greatest at the R₆ stage. Biomass and 1000 seed weight also showed significant difference. Overall, CROPGRO-soybean simulated parameters from all treatments were higher compared with observed ones. Although simulated yield results were close to measured ones, they could not track observed yield patterns. Generally, the CROPGRO-soybean simulation model failed to satisfactorily mimic observed soybean yield, biomass, and 1000 seed weight and therefore it is suggested not to be used for similar scenarios and climatic conditions.     

Feasibility of using eggplant (Solanum melongena) stalks in the production of experimental particleboard

This study examined possible feasibility of eggplant (Solanum melongena) stalks in the production of particleboard. Three-layer experimental particleboards with density of 0.53, 0.63, 0.73 and 0.78 g/cm³ were manufactured from eggplant stalks using certain ratios of urea formaldehyde (UF) and melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF) adhesives. Modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), internal bond strength (IB), thickness swelling (TS) properties of the boards were evaluated and a statistical analysis was performed in order to examine possible feasibility of these stalks in commercial particleboard manufacturing. The experimental results have shown that production of general purpose and furniture grade particleboard used in dry conditions using eggplant stalks is technically viable. The results of the study demonstrate that eggplant stalks can be an alternative raw material source for particleboard industry.