Feruloylated and nonferuloylated arabino-oligosaccharides from sugar beet pectin selectively stimulate the growth of Bifidobacterium spp. in human fecal in vitro fermentations

The side chains of the rhamnogalacturonan I fraction in sugar beet pectin are particularly rich in arabinan moieties, which may be substituted with feruloyl groups. In this work the arabinan-rich fraction resulting from sugar beet pulp based pectin production was separated by Amberlite XAD hydrophobic interaction and membrane separation into four fractions based on feruloyl substitution and arabino-oligosaccharide chain length: short-chain (DP 2-10) and long-chain (DP 7-14) feruloylated and nonferuloylated arabino-oligosaccharides, respectively. HPAEC, SEC, and MALDI-TOF/TOF analyses of the fractions confirmed the presence of singly and doubly substituted feruloylated arabino-oligosaccharides in the feruloyl-substituted fractions. In vitro microbial fermentation by human fecal samples (n = 6 healthy human volunteers) showed a selective stimulation of bifidobacteria by both the feruloylated and the nonferuloylated long-chain arabino-oligosaccharides to the same extent as the prebiotic fructo-oligosaccharides control. None of the fractions stimulated the growth of the potential pathogen Clostridium difficile in monocultures. This work provides a first report on the separation of potentially bioactive feruloylated arabino-oligosaccharides from sugar beet pulp and an initial indication of the potentially larger bifidogenic effect of relatively long-chain arabino-oligosaccharides as opposed to short-chain arabino-oligosaccharides.     

Structural ripening-related changes of the arabinan-rich pectic polysaccharides from olive pulp cell walls

In this study, the structural features and ripening-related changes that occur in the arabinan-rich pectic polysaccharides highly enmeshed in the cellulosic matrix of the olive pulp fruit were evaluated. These pectic polysaccharides, obtained from two consecutive harvests at green, cherry, and black ripening stages, account for 11-19% of the total pectic polysaccharides found in the olive pulp cell walls and were previously shown to occur as calcium chelating dimers. On the basis of the 13C NMR, (1H, 13C) gHSQC, 2D COSYPR, and (1H,13C) gHMBC carbon and proton resonances of the variously linked arabinosyl residues, we propose a tentative structure. This structure is particularly characterized by T-beta-Araf (1-->5)-linked to (1-->3,5)-Araf residues and by the occurrence of branched and linear blocks in the arabinan backbone. Methylation analysis showed that these pectic polysaccharides of black olives have more arabinan side chains, which were shorter (less (1-->5)-Araf), highly branched (more (1-->3,5)-Araf), and with shorter side chains (fewer (1-->3)-Araf) than those of green and cherry olives. Quantitative 13C NMR data indicated that these modifications involved the disappearance of the characteristic terminally linked beta-Araf residue of the arabinans. This odd feature can be used as a diagnostic tool in the evaluation of the stage of ripening of this fruit, as well as a marker for the presence of olive pulp in matrices containing pectic polysaccharides samples.     

Biochemical susceptibility of myosin in chicken myofibrils subjected to hydroxyl radical oxidizing systems

Biochemical changes of myosin in chicken myofibrils exposed to nonenzymatic, hydroxyl radical generation systems (HRGS) were investigated by means of cross-linking reaction, ATPase activity, salt solubility, and 40% saturated ammonium sulfate (AS) extractability. HRGS treatment of myofibrils caused cross-linking of myosin heavy chains (MHC) via disulfide bonding, an increase in Ca-ATPase activity, and a decrease in K-ATPase activity, suggesting that thiol groups of myosin including those at the active site were modified. The specific changes depended on the concentrations of H(2)O(2) in HRGS as well as the weight ratio of H(2)O(2) to myofibrils. On the other hand, the decrease in salt solubility or AS extractability of myosin in HRGS-treated samples proceeded slowly when compared with the cross-linking reaction of MHC, indicating that considerable amounts of myosin biopolymers remained hydrophilic in the ionic solutions. The results demonstrated that initial cross-linking of MHC occurred inside the myosin molecule, and this was followed by progressive aggregation of myosin molecules through intermolecular cross-linking. Oxidation under the current experimental condition decreased the gel-forming ability of myofibrillar proteins, which coincided with the progress of the intra- and intermolecular cross-linking reactions as well as with ATPase activity changes.     

糖用甜菜氮磷钾配方施肥效益分析

采用"3414"试验设计方案,探讨NPK配方施肥对糖用甜菜产量、含糖率和产糖量的影响,并通过肥料效应方程对NPK配合比率进行了优化与解析。结果表明,随着NPK肥施用量的增加,糖用甜菜产量、含糖率和产糖量均呈先升后降的趋势,符合肥料报酬递减律;甜菜产量和产糖量的效应为NP2O5K2O,含糖率的效应为K2OP2O5N;肥料配合比率以全肥区(N 260 kg/hm2、P2O5130 kg/hm2、K2O 130 kg/hm2)为最佳,与高N区、高P区和高K区无显著差异,且产投比相对较高,可获得最高产量47.13 t/hm2、最佳种植效益17 069.34元/hm2、最高产糖量8.108 8 t/hm2、最佳企业效益33 217.32元/hm2。     

Carbohydrates as Chemical Constituents of Biowaste Composts and their Humic and Fulvic Acids

The decomposition of organic matter of source-separated biowaste during composting was followed during 18 months. Compost samples were fractionated into three parts: (i) hot water soluble extract (HWE) (ii) bitumen fraction and (iii) humic substances (humic acids (HA) and fulvic acids (FA)). Original compost samples and the HA and FA fractions were hydrolyzed with sulfuric acid for hexoses and pentoses. Quantitative spectrophotometric and qualitative GC/MS analyses of monosaccharides as trimethylsilyl ethers of the corresponding alditols were carried out.

During composting, the amount of HA in the organic matter of the compost increased, the amounts of HWE and bitumen decreased and the amount of the FA fraction changed only a little. Carbohydrates were found to be important constituents of biowaste composts and their HA and FA fractions. Elemental analysis (C, N and H) of compost and HA samples showed an increase in the C:H ratio and in unsaturation of compounds during composting. The decrease in the C:N ratio was marginal.

The amounts of hexoses and pentoses in original compost samples and the HA and FA fractions decreased during composting. The sugar alcohols erythritol, xylitol, L-arabitol, ribitol, L-rhamnitol, L-fucitol, D-mannitol, D-glucitol and galactitol were identified in both the HA and FA fractions. 2-Deoxy-D-erythro-pentitol was identified in one HA fraction and inositol in two FA fractions. An analysis of gas chromatographic data for relative abundances showed that, in every sample except one and in every stage of composting D-glucitol was the main sugar alcohol. In general, the relative amount of D-glucitol decreased during composting, while the relative amounts of all other sugar alcohols increased.

As chemical indicators of compost maturity, carbohydrates would appear to be a important group of compounds. Most informative as a general indicator would be the ratio of the amount of HA to the amount of organic matter in the total compost samples.

According to our studies, the carbohydrates in composts are covalently bound to the structures of FA and HA. Carbohydrate determination clearly deserves more attention in the structural elucidation of FA and HA.     

Peroxidase-mediated oxidative cross-linking and its potential to modify mechanical properties in water-soluble polysaccharide extracts and cereal grain residues

Analysis of wheat bran and spent grain shows that concentrations of ferulate and diferulates offer considerable scope to modify the cross-linking of feruloylated polysaccharides and hence the mechanical properties of these residues. In solution ferulic acid (FA) can be readily polymerized by horseradish peroxidase, but when esterified to a polysaccharide, the profile of diferulates becomes restricted. This situation also exists in muro and suggests structural constraints may limit the availability of FA for cross-linking. At relatively low polysaccharide concentration, (approximately 3%), steric restrictions were apparent in gels prepared using isolated polysaccharides. Mechanical properties such as swelling also appear to be fixed at these relatively low polysaccharide concentrations. This limits the potential to modify mechanical properties in muro through oxidoreductase activity. To modify mechanical properties such treatments will need to focus on increasing the "flexibility" of the cell wall matrix and the accessibility of enzymes to the cell wall matrix.     

圆盘挖掘式甜菜联合收获机设计与试验

为了缓解中国甜菜收获装备短缺的现状,设计了一种适合国内甜菜种植模式和农艺要求的圆盘挖掘式甜菜联合收获机,并阐述了该机的总体配置及主要部件的结构。该机主要由传动系统、对行装置、挖掘装置、输送分离装置、升运装置等组成。其中,液压控制系统提高了机械的操控性及自动化程度;对行装置减少了甜菜的漏挖,实现了自动对行收获;圆盘式挖掘部件参数的优化设计有效减少了工作阻力,输送分离装置和升运装置中的杆式输送链减少了甜菜的输送损失和含杂。田间试验表明,收获机甜菜收获损失率不大于3.42%,粘土率不大于1.18%,损伤率不大于1.82%,折断率不大于1.6%,含杂率不大于4.86%,符合甜菜收获要求。该研究可为甜菜收获机械设计提供参考。     

IMPACT OF CONTINUOUS SUGAR BEET CROPPING ON POTASSIUM QUANTITY-INTENSITY PARAMETERS IN CALCAREOUS SOILS

One hundred-eighteen surface soil samples (59 samples from cultivated areas and 59 samples from virgin soils) were studied to ascertain if potassium (K) quantity-intensity (Q/I) parameters of the soils are being changed by long-term sugar beet cropping. Long-term cultivation resulted in a significant decline in the equilibrium activity ratio (AR_e ^K) values from 0.012 to 0.0047 (moles/L)^1/2 (a drop of 61%) and from 0.013 to 0.008 (a drop of 38%) in Typic calcixerpts and Typic endoaquepts, respectively. Paired t-test revealed that continuous sugar beet cultivation led to significant changes in the easily exchangeable K (ΔK₀) values from ?0.69 to ?0.28 cmol_c/kg (a rise of 59%) the Typic calcixerepts soils. The highest values for PBC^K were associated with the soil types which had the greatest clay contents and smectite clay minerals. Results suggest that continuous sugar beet cropping caused a great decline in K supplying power of the soils.     

Biodegradable composites from sugar beet pulp and poly(lactic acid)

Sugar beet pulp and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites were prepared by compression-heating. The resultant thermoplastics had a lower density, but they had tensile strength similar to that of pure PLA specimens as well as the same geometric properties. Tensile properties depended on the initial water content of sugar beet pulp and the process by which composites were manufactured. In comparison with sugar beet pulp, the composite showed improved water resistance. This can be attributed to the hydrophobic character of PLA and pulp-matrix interactions. The composite thermoplastics showed suitable properties for potential use as lightweight construction materials.     

基于三维点云的甜菜根表型参数提取与根型判别

为挑选产糖量高且适合机械化收获的甜菜根型,该文基于多视角图像序列,构建了207个基因型甜菜根的三维点云模型。基于三维点云提取了描述甜菜根形态特征的10个表型参数：最大直径、根长、凸包体积、顶投影面积、紧凑度、凸起率、凸起角、根头比、根尾比和根体渐细指数。与人工测定的最大直径和根长值进行校验,决定系数R2均在0.95以上。其中根长、凸包体积及顶投影面积与生产指标呈极显著(P<0.01)相关关系。采用稳定性较高的K-medoids聚类算法将甜菜根型分为4类,结合专家知识获取理想根构型的主要特征为根型中等长度、比例适中。采用线性判别、随机森林、支持向量机、决策树和朴素贝叶斯5种预测模型进行根型判别。结果表明5种根系判别模型预测准确率均在70.0%以上,随机森林判别准确率达到81.4%。研究结果将为培育高品质和适应机械化生产的甜菜品种提供依据。     

氮肥施用量对高产甜菜纤维根系分布及活力的影响

为了解施N肥对甜菜生长的影响规律。在田间条件下,研究了不同施N量（0、90、180、270、360 kg/hm2）对甜菜（KWS2409）纤维根系生长、分布和活力变化的影响。结果表明,施N比对照增加浅层侧根数、外层和深层纤维根干重及100 cm土层纤维根总干重,并提高各生育期侧根和主根活力。其中,100 cm土层最大纤维根干重施N 比对照增加了60.4%～168.4%,最大侧根数增加了22.7%～75.1%,且以0—20 cm和40—60 cm深的外土层及80—100 cm深的内土层纤维根系增加较大,分别比对照增加了129.6%～266.8%、71.0%～234.0%和101.5%～202.8%。主根伤流液量和侧根的活力分别比对照增加了56.2%～89.9%、23.7%～63.4%。N 180 kg/hm2处理0—100 cm土层中纤维根总量、各土层中根量最大,各生育时期主根和侧根活力最强,块根产量（82609.63 kg/hm2）和产糖量（13892.64 kg/hm2）均最高,而含糖率（16.83%）较N0处理（18.34%）略降。说明合理施N量有利于甜菜纤维根系生长和提高产糖量。     

Detection of sugar syrups in apple juice by delta(2)H per thousand and delta(13)C per thousand analysis of hexamethylenetetramine prepared from fructose

An improved procedure for determining (13)C and (2)H isotope ratios, using gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS), has been developed for identifying the addition of low cost commercial sugar syrups to apple juices and related products. Isotopic techniques are commonly used to identify the addition of low cost sugars to fruit juices and are difficult to circumvent as it is not economically viable to change the isotopic ratios of the sugars. The procedure utilizes the derivative hexamethylenetetramine, which is produced through chemical transformation of a sugar degradation product and provides position-specific (13)C and (2)H ratios that relate to the parent sugar molecule. The new procedure has advantages over methods using nitro-sugar derivatives in terms of analysis time and sensitivity. The differences between the delta(2)H per thousand and delta(13)C per thousand values of the 100 authentic apple juices and beet and cane commercial sugar syrups permit their addition to be reliably detected.     

Digestion and absorption of ferulic acid sugar esters in rat gastrointestinal tract

We estimated the absorption site and absorptivity of ferulic acid (FA) and its sugar esters, namely 5-O-feruloyl-l-arabinofuranose (FAA) and feruloyl-arabinoxylan (FAXn), in rats on the basis of their recovery in intestinal content and feces by comparing the values with those of a nonabsorbable marker, poly R-478. The results indicated that free FA was absorbed almost completely before reaching cecum. About 40% of dietary FAA was absorbed in rat foregut and 57% disappeared in the cecum. In contrast, about 67% of the FA moiety in FAXn was released and then disappeared predominantly in the hindgut. These results suggested that the existing form of FA in diets affects its absorptivity, its absorption site, and its ensuing fate in the gastrointestinal tract. Those ingested FAs esterified with saccharides; especially, polysaccharides have to transit the hindgut where FA might be released and then absorbed and/or degraded by microflora in lumen. Such microbial degradation may be an important factor affecting the bioavailability of dietary FA.     

Yield of sugar beet,soybean, corn,field bean,and wheat as affected by lime application on alkaline soils

Abstract

Environmental regulations and limited storage space compel processors to remove spent limestone and not stockpile it on site. This material is often used as a liming material to control pH on acid soils, but in some cases may have to be applied to alkaline soils. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of applying sugar beet processing lime on soils with an alkaline solum. Studies were conducted at seven sites representing four soil series. Lime was applied at rates of 0,1.4, 2.8, and 5.6 magnesium (Mg) ha^‐1. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), cora (Zea mays L.), field bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were used as test crops. Yield of sucrose and roots of sugar beet as well as yield of soybean, corn, field bean, and wheat were not affected by lime application. Manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) concentration in leaves of sugar beet and soybean, and whole field bean plants decreased with increasing lime rates. These results show this lime may be applied at rates up to 5 Mg ha^‐1 once every three years on these alkaline soils without negatively affecting the yield of sugar beet, soybean, corn, field bean, and wheat. Nutritional status of these crops should be carefully monitored after lime application.     

Aroma compounds in the production of liquid beet sugar

Samples of in-process liquid beet sugar were collected from three different parts of a beet sugar factory and a refinery. The samples were analyzed with respect to aroma compounds by means of both liquid-liquid extraction and gas-phase (headspace) extraction followed by gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) and GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The aromas of the eluted compounds were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively for the different samples. In general, earthy and sour aromas were often present in the raw juice sample, whereas caramel aromas were mainly present in the samples taken further downstream in the process. For fruity, floral, and solvent-like aromas, different parallel trends were noted. Some aromas were present only at the beginning of the process, whereas others developed toward the end of the process.     

气候变化情景下新疆棉花和甜菜需水量的变化趋势

利用改进的非参数统计检验Mann-Kendall(MK)方法进行序列趋势检验时,因考虑了时间序列自相关性的影响而使检验结果更趋严格。本文采用MK法及改进的MK法对新疆地区41站1961-2010及2015-2099年主要经济作物棉花和甜菜需水量ETc和相关气候要素的变化趋势进行了检验,探讨了序列自相关性对ETc趋势检验结果的影响,并给出了各站及全疆ETc的变化趋势。结果表明:1)当自相关阶数大于0时,应采用改进MK法判断ETc的变化趋势;2)1961-2010棉花和甜菜的ETc具有一定的相依结构,2015-2099年棉花的ETc具有非常明显的长程相关性,但2015-2099年甜菜的ETc均具有时间独立性;3)无论对于棉花还是甜菜ETc,各站点Sen斜率和线性斜率值很接近,满足极好的线性关系,表明两者在反映趋势幅度时具有高度一致性;4)ETc序列是否存在相依性对于趋势显著性有重要影响,最终的趋势检验需用MK法和改进的MK法综合判断。1961-2010和2015-2099年棉花和甜菜的ETc在多数站点呈下降趋势,但其显著性各异。ETc序列的下降说明未来新疆棉花和甜菜用水需求降低,遭受干旱的风险降低。棉花及甜菜ETc的趋势特征对于气候变化背景下干旱-半干旱区作物灌溉制度的制定和防灾抗旱有重要参考价值。     

Preparation of ferulic acid from agricultural wastes: its improved extraction and purification

Ferulic acid (FA) is a phenolic antioxidant present in plants, which is widely used in the food and cosmetic industry. In the present study, various agricultural wastes such as maize bran, rice bran, wheat bran, wheat straw, sugar cane baggasse, pineapple peels, orange peels, and pomegranate peels were screened for the presence of esterified FA (EFA). Among the sources screened, maize bran was found to contain the highest amount of EFA. Pineapple peels, orange peels, and pomegranate peels were also found to contain traces of EFA. Alkaline extraction of EFA from maize bran was carried out using 2 M NaOH. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used for optimization of EFA extraction, which resulted in a 1.3-fold increase as compared to the unoptimized conventional extraction technique. FA was analyzed by means of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Purification was carried out by adsorption chromatography using Amberlite XAD-16 followed by preparative high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). The recovery of Amberlite XAD-16 purified FA was up to 57.97% with HPLC purity 50.89%. The fold purity achieved was 1.35. After preparative HPTLC, the maximum HPLC purity obtained was 95.35% along with an increase in fold purity up to 2.53.     

甜菜品种（系）的ISSR标记数字指纹图谱构建及聚类分析

摘要：本文针对来源于荷兰的4个引进甜菜品种和国内的6个甜菜品系（其中2个为一年生野生甜菜）进行了ISSR指纹图谱构建和聚类分析研究。筛选出稳定性高且多态性好的6个引物用于试验。利用筛选的6条引物ISSR-PCR 共扩增出51个条带, 其中多态性条带百分率为86.3%. 利用该6条引物ISSR-PCR建立的指纹图谱能将试验中的全部甜菜品种都鉴定区分开。只利用2条引物L1和UBC846 扩增的8个多态性条带构建了10个甜菜品种（系）的数字指纹识别码,该数字指纹图谱能完全区分10个甜菜品种（系）,结果显示ISSR 指纹图谱能非常有效的鉴定不同的甜菜品种。利用生物软件NTSYS-pc针对10个试验甜菜品种（系）的ISSR 扩增条带进行遗传相似性聚类分析,结果显示10个甜菜品种（系）的相似系数为0.43与0.83之间,平均为0.62。利用非加权组平均法（UPGMA）进行聚类分析,结果显示10个甜菜品种（系）聚类为2个组和3个亚组。UPGMA 聚类分析能清楚的显示10个甜菜群体间的遗传关系并且聚类结果与10个甜菜群体的特性一致, 说明ISSR标记能用于甜菜不同群体间遗传距离的评估。     

Effect of Zinc applied together with compound fertilizer on yield and quality of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of zinc, added into compound fertilizer in the production process, and zinc applied together with compound fertilizer on yield and quality component of sugar beet in 2009–2010.The treatments consisted of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) (12-30-12) compound fertilizer; 2. NPK (12-30-12) compound fertilizer + zinc sulfate and NPK (10-20-20) + 1% Zn compound fertilizer. Root yield, sugar percentage, white sugar percentage (WSP), white sugar yield (WSY), alpha-amino nitrogen, sodium and potassium concentration were investigated in this study. A total of 5 kg ha^?1 zinc application on sugar beet significantly increased the yield and quality of sugar beet; the rate of increase was in the range of 4.62–6.97% in root yield, 2.09–5.75% in sugar percentage, 2.60–8.03% in WSP and 7.84–13.06% in WSY. NPK (10-20-20) + 1% Zn compound fertilizer and NPK (12-30-12) compound fertilizer + zinc applications increased the sugar beet yield and quality values in both years.     

Characterization of the surface-active components of sugar beet pectin and the hydrodynamic thickness of the adsorbed pectin layer

The fraction of sugar beet pectin (SBP) adsorbed onto limonene oil droplets during emulsification has been isolated, and its chemical and physicochemical characteristics have been determined. While the SBP sample itself was found to contain 2.67 and 1.06% protein and ferulic acid, respectively, the adsorbed fraction contained 11.10% protein and 2.16% ferulic acid. The adsorbed fraction was also found to have a higher degree of acetylation, notably at the C2 position on the galacturonic acid residues, and was also found to contain a higher proportion of neutral sugars, which are present in the ramified side chains of the pectin molecules. The thickness of the layer of SBP adsorbed onto polystyrene latex particles was studied by dynamic light scattering and was found to increase with increasing surface coverage. It was found to have a value of approximately 140 nm at plateau coverage, which closely corresponded to the hydrodynamic diameter of the pectin chains. The adsorbed layer thickness was found to be sensitive to pH and the presence of electrolyte. The thickness at a surface coverage of approximately 20 mg/m(2) in the absence of electrolyte at pH approximately 4 was 107 nm and at pH 8.8 was 70 nm, while at pH approximately 4 in the presence of 10 mM NaCl the thickness was found to be 70 nm. It was concluded that the SBP molecules form multilayers at the surface due to electrostatic interaction between the positively charged protein moieties and the galacturonic acid residues. The removal of calcium from the SBP had no effect on the adsorbed layer thickness; hence, multilayer formation due to calcium ion cross-linking was considered unlikely.