Effects of lactoferrin, phytic acid, and EDTA on oxidation in two food emulsions enriched with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids

The influence of the addition of metal chelators on oxidative stability was studied in a milk drink and in a mayonnaise system containing highly polyunsaturated lipids. Milk drinks containing 5% (w/w) of specific structured lipid were supplemented with lactoferrin (6-24 muM) and stored at 2 degrees C for up to 9 weeks. Mayonnaise samples with 16% fish oil and 64% rapeseed oil (w/w) were supplemented with either lactoferrin (8-32 muM), phytic acid (16-124 muM), or EDTA (16-64 muM) and were stored at 20 degrees C for up to 4 weeks. The effect of the metal chelators was evaluated by determination of peroxide values, secondary volatile oxidation products, and sensory analysis. Lactoferrin reduced the oxidation when added in concentrations of 12 muM in the milk drink and 8 muM in the mayonnaise, whereas it was a prooxidant at higher concentrations in both systems. In mayonnaise, EDTA was an effective metal chelator even at 16 muM, whereas phytic acid did not exert a distinct protective effect against oxidation. The differences in the equimolar effects of the metal chelators are proposed to be due to differences in their binding constants to iron and their different stabilities toward heat and low pH.     

Residential movements of top predators in Chile’s most isolated marine protected area: Implications for the conservation of the Galapagos shark,Carcharhinus galapagensis,and the yellowtail amberjack,Seriola lalandi

1. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are becoming a widely used tool for the conservation of biodiversity and for fishery management; however, most of these areas are designed without prior knowledge of the basic ecological aspects of the species that they are trying to protect.
2. This study investigated the movement of two top predators: the Galapagos shark, Carcharhinus galapagensis, and the yellowtail amberjack, Seriola lalandi, in and around the Motu Motiro Hiva Marine Park (MMHMP) using MiniPAT satellite tags to determine the effectiveness of this MPA for the protection of these species.
3. The Galapagos sharks (n = 4) spent most of their tag deployment periods inside the MMHMP. However, high intraspecific variability was observed in their movement dynamics. Daily individual maximum movements ranged from 17 to 58 km and the maximum distance from Salas y Gómez Island, the only emergent island within the MMHMP, ranged from 31 to 139 km.
4. The maximum linear distance travelled for a female juvenile Galapagos shark (152 cm total length) was 236 km, which is greater than the maximum distance previously documented for juveniles of this species (<50 km).
5. For the yellowtail amberjack (n = 1), 91% of the satellite geolocations were within the MMHMP, with a maximum daily distance travelled of 6 km. The maximum distance travelled between points was 111 km and the maximum distance from Salas y Gómez Island was 62 km.
6. All archival tagged fish spent most of their time at depths of <50 m and never left the epipelagic zone. Daytime versus night-time differences were pronounced in all individuals but showed high interindividual variability.
7. This study provides a baseline on the movement of these two top predators in the MMHMP and provides valuable insights for the creation of MPAs in the region and elsewhere.

     

Tillage system affects fertilizer-induced nitrous oxide emissions

Since the development of effective N₂O mitigation options is a key challenge for future agricultural practice, we studied the interactive effect of tillage systems on fertilizer-derived N₂O emissions and the abundance of microbial communities involved in N₂O production and reduction. Soil samples from 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depth of reduced tillage and ploughed plots were incubated with dairy slurry (SL) and manure compost (MC) in comparison with calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) and an unfertilized control (ZERO) for 42 days. N₂O and CO₂ fluxes, ammonium, nitrate, dissolved organic C, and functional gene abundances (16S rRNA gene, nirK, nirS, nosZ, bacterial and archaeal amoA) were regularly monitored. Averaged across all soil samples, N₂O emissions decreased in the order CAN and SL (CAN?=?748.8?±?206.3, SL?=?489.4?±?107.2 μg kg^?1) followed by MC (284.2?±?67.3 μg kg^?1) and ZERO (29.1?±?5.9 μg kg^?1). Highest cumulative N₂O emissions were found in 10–20 cm of the reduced tilled soil in CAN and SL. N₂O fluxes were assigned to ammonium as source in CAN and SL and correlated positively to bacterial amoA abundances. Additionally, nosZ abundances correlated negatively to N₂O fluxes in the organic fertilizer treatments. Soils showed a gradient in soil organic C, 16S rRNA, nirK, and nosZ with greater amounts in the 0–10 than 10–20 cm layer. Abundances of bacterial and archaeal amoA were higher in reduced tilled soil compared to ploughed soils. The study highlights that tillage system induced biophysicochemical stratification impacts net N₂O emissions within the soil profile according to N and C species added during fertilization.     

Physiochemical Properties of Resistant Starch and Its Enhancement Approaches in Rice

With changes in food preferences and life styles,more and more attentions have been focused on healthier food.Nowadays,resistant starch(RS)which can resist digestion in the human intestine has been recognized and accepted.High RS diet shows great benefit for the human health,and breeding high RS rice variety is a great target for realizing dietary intervention.To provide guidance for RS improvement in rice,this review summarized the unique physiochemical properties of RS and the possible approaches,i.e.genetic regulation,for enhancing RS content in rice,and proposed the potential ways to obtain rice variety with high RS content.     

Target Group Segmentation in the Horse Buyers’ Market against the Background of Equestrian Experience

Whereas in former times horses were reserved primarily for people involved in agriculture, elite equestrians or the military, nowadays equestrian sport has become an activity for people with a wide variety of backgrounds. However, as more and more people become involved with equestrian sport today, the knowledge concerning animal husbandry in general is diminishing due to an alienation from agricultural themes in modern societies. As a consequence, this development affects both riding ability and the appraisal of horses, especially with respect to the purchase of horses. In order to analyse which factors influence purchase decisions in the horse market in conjunction with equestrian experience, 739 horse riders were surveyed on their purchase behaviour in this study. Using cluster analysis, a typology was generated that provides a differentiated picture of the preferences of the various rider groups. Three clusters were distinguished: the “amateurs”, the “experienced” and the “experts”. Taking personal horse riding proficiency into account, it could be concluded that especially the “amateur” group required objective criteria for the evaluation of a horse they are considering purchasing. Alongside “measureable” qualities, such as previous showing success or the level of training of the horse, also other attributes such as the simple handling of the horse should be taken into consideration. As particularly the “amateur” group in equestrian sport is increasing in numbers, it is therefore advisable when preparing a horse for sale to align oneself to the needs of this customer segment in order to ensure an effective and targeted marketing of horses.     

Reduced growth,condition factor and body energy levels in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. during their first spring in the sea

We have investigated the feed intake and growth in autumn‐transferred Atlantic salmon (S0) during their first spring in the sea, a period of low performance in commercial production. We have compared the results with those obtained from spring‐transferred smolt (S1), in order to determine whether this reduction in performance is accompanied by changes in nutrient retention, levels of muscle fat, energy status or condition factor (CF). The practical importance of the results obtained in the small‐scale experiments was evaluated by studies performed at two commercial farms, both using S0 salmon. The feeding rate, rate of growth and degree of feed utilization were low during the first spring in sea, for both S0 and S1 smolt. In both commercial farms, the apparent feed intake in S0 was reduced by approximately 50% in the spring. This low‐performing period coincided with reduced fat and energy retention, low levels of muscle fat and poor CF. Fat retention was reduced from 44.8% (March–May) to 15.4% (May–June) in S0, whereas protein retention did not change, indicating that the energy demand was high during the first spring in sea.     

Effects of fresh and aged copper contaminations on soil microorganisms

The aim of the investigation was to compare effects of fresh and aged amendments of copper (Cu) on the active, aerobic, heterotrophic microbial biomass by respiration and potential‐nitrification measurements and on microbial‐community structure by means of phospholipid‐fatty‐acid (PLFA) analyses. An A_p horizon (10–20 cm) of a Luvisol was used for the experiments. Fresh copper amendments were carried out by spraying a CuCl₂ solution on the soil. Aged heavy‐metal amendments were achieved by mixing the control soil with monocontaminated soil derived from an abandoned site in Denmark which has been used as a wood‐preservation plant. As expected, fresh contaminations were more effective to reduce potential nitrification and respiration than aged contaminations if the total Cu concentration (Cu_t) in soils is considered. There were no differences between aged and fresh contaminations if their effects were referred to NH₄Cl‐extractable concentrations (Cu_AN). The lowest concentration reducing cumulative substrate‐induced respiration (C_R) amounted to 0.33 mg Cu_AN (kg dm)^–1. PLFA analyses revealed Cu contaminations to decrease mainly aerobic bacteria. Effects were more pronounced using the contaminated soil as an inoculum. Apparently the duration of contamination is more important to the change of microbial‐community structure than the actual availability of the contaminant.     

The Landfill of TBT Contaminated Harbour Sludge on Rinsing Fields—a Hazard for the Soil Fauna? Risk Assessment with Earthworms

Despite the cutback of the use of antifouling paints containing tributyltin (TBT), harbour sediments are still “hot spots” for organotin pollution, which is one of the most toxic substances for aquatic organisms. Harbours have to be freed constantly of suspended sediments, to guarantee unhindered shipping. The deposition of these TBT contaminated sediments on rinsing fields is supposed to comprise a minimisation of the risk potential for humans and environment. To investigate if TBT contaminated sediment might present a hazard to the existing soil fauna, a risk assessment with earthworms was performed. The original TBT contaminated sediment induced 94% mortality, compared to 2% in the uncontaminated standard Lufa soil. It was assumed that the high salinity (23 dS/m) was the reason for the mortality rather than the TBT concentration of 600 μg/kg soil (dry weight). To reduce the soil salinity, the TBT substrate was first washed with deionised water and then mixed with the uncontaminated artificial OECD soil (=TBT_mix), which resulted, however, in a lower TBT concentration (132 μg/kg soil dw.). The uncontaminated OECD reference soil resulted in high earthworm mortality (34%). Despite the reduced salinity (10 dS/m) and lower TBT concentration, the TBT_mix substrate induced high mortality rates (42%), reduced reproduction (17% compared to the control) and resulted in a significant substrate avoidance of 92%. Consequently, the landfilling of the TBT contaminated harbour sludge might (i) present a hazard to the existing soil fauna at the rinsing fields due to high salinity and the TBT contamination, and (ii) a quick recolonisation of the contaminated substrate by earthworms can not be expected.     

Volume and texture improvement of gluten-free bread using quinoa white flour

Patients suffering from coeliac disease have to avoid traditional cereals-based products and depend on the availability of gluten-free alternatives. The gluten-free bread matrix and its foam stability are strongly affected by the choice of ingredients. In this study, the impact of quinoa white flour on bread quality parameters, in particular volume, has been investigated. The pseudocereal proved to be a suitable substrate for dough aeration using yeast, since considerably more glucose and a higher activity of α-glucosidase were found in comparison to rice and corn flour. Consequently, quinoa white flour was used to replace 40–100% of the rice and corn flour in a gluten-free control recipe. As a result, quinoa white flour enhanced the specific volume by 33%, which was related to the absence of bran components and the increased α-glucosidase activity. The significance of the latter was proven by separately adding sucrose and fungal amyloglucosidase to the control recipe. Moreover, the crumb featured homogeneous and finely distributed gas bubbles and the taste was not compromised. Thus, it was possible to improve the quality of gluten-free bread by using quinoa white flour, which might be a relief for coeliac patients.