Guar foaming albumin: a low molecular mass protein with high foaming activity and foam stability isolated from guar meal

The water extract of guar meal ( Cyamopsis tetragonolobus) was examined for its foamability. Compared with egg white, the extract showed an extraordinary foam stability: no drainage after 3 h of standing in contrast to 65% drainage for egg white at the same protein concentration. The acid-precipitated protein from the extract was responsible for the high foamability and designated guar foaming albumin (GFA). The foaming activity of GFA was 20 times higher than that of egg white. GFA consisted of two subunits with molecular masses of 6 and 11 kDa linked to each other through disulfide bonds. The cleavage of disulfide bonds in GFA affected the foamability only slightly. GFA remarkably decreased the surface tension of water at low protein concentrations. Immunoblotting analysis demonstrated that GFA did not react to the antisera from allergic patients against plant food. These results suggest that GFA serves as an effective food additive in developing protein-stabilized foam.     

Assessment of cyanogenic potential,nitrate and nitrite contents,and trypsin inhibitor activity of some Nigerian legumes

Edible seeds of seven varieties of legumes commonly consumed by Nigerians in large quantities were evaluated for total protein, cyanogens, nitrate and nitrite contents, and trypsin inhibitor activity using chemical, biochemical, enzymatic, and spectrophotometric methods. All analyzed samples contained cyanogen and nitrate with levels ranging from 5.88 +/- 0.26 to 28.55 +/- 1.32 mg/100 g of DM and from 49.64 +/- 4.60 to 239.42 +/- 7.20 mg/100 g of DM, respectively. Only three of the varieties contained detectable levels of nitrite, which varied from 0.54 +/- 0.01 to 3.19 +/- 0.2 mg/100 g of DM. Trypsin inhibitor activity was detected in all of the samples, ranging from 7.75 to 100.75 micromol/min/mg of protein. Total protein content of the legumes ranged from 17.8 to 28% on a dry weight basis. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.71) between the cyanogenic potential and the nitrate content of the dry seeds. Processing reduced about 78.6-88.8% and 71.0-89.5% of total cyanogen and nitrate contents of the seeds, respectively. Following administration of 5.0-15 mg of NO3 to rats by stomach intubation, analysis of their 24, 48, and 72 h urine showed that only 40% of the administered nitrate appeared in the urine unmetabolized. Processing was shown to drastically reduce these antinutritional factors to very low levels. The health implications of these findings are discussed.     

丹江鹦鹉沟小流域土壤侵蚀和养分损失定量分析

小流域土壤侵蚀量和养分损失量的定量研究可为南水北调水源区的生态保护、水土保持和生态补偿提供重要的依据.该文在地理信息技术(geographic information system,GIS)的支持下,应用修正通用土壤流失方程(revised universal soil loss equation,RUSLE)估算了丹江鹦鹉沟流域的土壤侵蚀量和养分损失量,并进行了土壤侵蚀强度分级.结果表明,流域的年均土壤侵蚀模数为3140 t/km2,侵蚀强度为中度.其中强度侵蚀以上的土地面积占流域总面积的24.1%,侵蚀量为4573.0 t,却占年侵蚀总量的84.8%,其主要是坡度较大的坡耕地,是流域需要重点治理的区域.不同土地利用类型的土壤侵蚀量差异较大,林地、草地和农地的年均土壤侵蚀模数分别为509.7、1511.8和4606.5 t/km2.林草地年侵蚀量较小,农地土壤侵蚀量占流域总侵蚀量的95.3%.坡度每增加5°,不同土地利用的土壤侵蚀模数增加量比坡长每增加5 m的增加量要大1~2倍.研究区表土流失造成的全氮、全磷和有机质损失量分别为3.81、3.52和101.45 t,其中农地的养分损失量最为严重.流域泥沙中全氮、全磷和有机质的年均流失模数分别为1.01、0.75和38.43 t/(km2×a).该研究可为水源区水土流失和非点源污染治理以及清洁小流域建设提供科学依据.     

Purification and characterization of a trypsin inhibitor from Plathymenia foliolosa seeds

A novel trypsin inhibitor (PFTI) was isolated from Plathymenia foliolosa (Benth.) seeds by gel filtration chromatography on a Sephadex G-100, DEAE-Sepharose, and trypsin-Sepharose columns. By SDSPAGE, PFTI yielded a single band with a M(r) of 19 kDa. PFTI inhibited bovine trypsin and bovine chymotrypsin with equilibrium dissociation constants (K(i)) of 4 x 10(-8) and 1.4 x 10(-6) M, respectively. PFTI retained more than 50% of activity at up to 50 degrees C for 30 min, but there were 80 and 100% losses of activity at 60 and 70 degrees C, respectively. DTT affected the activity or stability of PFTI. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of PFTI showed a high degree of homology with various members of the Kunitz family of inhibitors. Anagasta kuehniella is found worldwide; this insect attacks stored grains and products of rice, oat, rye, corn, and wheat. The velvet bean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis) is considered the main defoliator pest of soybean in Brazil. Diatraea saccharalis, the sugar cane borer, is the major pest of sugar cane crops, and its caterpillar-feeding behavior, inside the stems, hampers control. PFTI showed significant inhibitory activity against trypsin-like proteases present in the larval midguts on A. kuehniella and D. saccharalis and could suppress the growth of larvae.     

Elimination of trypsin inhibitor activity and beany flavor in soy milk by consecutive blanching and ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) processing

Soy foods contain significant health-promoting components but also may contain beany flavor and trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA), which can cause pancreatic disease if present at a high level. Thermal processing can inactivate TIA and lipoxygenase. Ultrahigh-temperature (UHT) processing is relatively new for manufacturing soy milk. Simultaneous elimination of TIA and soy odor by UHT processing for enhancing soy milk quality has not been reported. The objective was to determine TIA in soy milk processed by traditional, steam injection, blanching, and UHT methods and to compare the products with commercial soy milk products. Soybean was soaked and blanched at 70-85 degrees C for 30 s-7.5 min. The blanched beans were made into base soy milk. The hexanal content of the base soy milk was determined by gas chromatography to determine the best conditions for further thermal processing by indirect and direct UHT methods at 135-150 degrees C for 10-50 s using the Microthermics processor. Soy milk was also made from soaked soybeans by traditional batch cooking and steaming methods. Eighteen commercial products were selected from the supermarket. Residual TIA in soy milk processed by the traditional and steam injection to 100 degrees C for 20 min was approximately 13%. Blanching could inactivate 25-50% of TIAs of the raw soy milk. The blanch conditions of 80 degrees C and 2 min were selected for UHT processing because these conditions produced blanched soy milk without hexanal, indicating a complete heat inactivation of lipoxygenases. The TIA decreased with increased temperature and time of UHT heating. The maximal trypsin inhibitor inactivation was achieved by UHT direct and indirect methods with residual activities of approximately 10%. Some commercial soy milk products contained high TIAs. The results are important to the food industry and consumers. Kinetic analysis showed that heat inactivation (denaturation) of TIA, under the continuous processing conditions of the Microthermics processor, followed first-order reaction kinetics, and the activation energy of the inactivation was 34 kJ/mol.     

Transcriptome analysis of the duodenum in Wistar rats fed a trypsin inhibitor derived from squid viscera

To investigate the effects of oral administration of a trypsin inhibitor (TI), normal Wistar rats were fed a TI derived from squid (Todarodes pacificus) for 10 weeks and gene expression profiles in the duodenum, pancreas, liver, and muscle were then analyzed using DNA microarrays. Although no significant changes could be observed in growth, food intake, tissue weight, or blood tests among the tissues tested, the duodenum showed the most remarkable changes in the global gene expression profile. Significant up-regulation of mRNAs encoding gastrin, gastrokine, cholecystokinin and somatostatin in the duodenum was validated by qPCR analysis. In gene ontology (GO) analysis of the up-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), GO terms related to keratinization and innate mucosal defense were enriched (p < 0.001) in the category of biological processes in addition to assumable terms such as regulation of secretion and response to nutrients, vesicle-mediated transport, and so forth. In the same analysis, calcium ion binding was listed at the deepest hierarchy in the category of molecular function. These results indicate that the duodenum responds to TI treatment by a wider range of physiological processes than previously assumed such as keratinocyte differentiation and innate mucosal defense, in which calcium plays a crucial role.     

Nonspecific activity of Bacillus acidopullulyticus pullulanase on debranching of guar galactomannan

Pullulanase (EC 3.2.1.41) from Bacillus acidopullulyticus could preferentially remove galactose residues from guar galactomannan (GG), a heteropolymer consisting of polymannan backbone with alternating galactose as single-residue side-chain stubs. The enzyme showed maximum activity at pH 4.5 and 45 degrees C and exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a K(m) and V(max) of 6.0 mg mL(-1) and 1820 nmol min(-1) mg(-1), respectively. The native and modified GG had a viscosity of 4800 and 3800 cps, respectively. The molecular mass of the enzyme-treated GG varied between 152 +/- 0.5 kDa, and its GLC analysis revealed a significant change in galactose-mannose content of 1:3.8, respectively, similar to that of locust bean gum (LBG). FTIR and solid-state CP-MASS (13)C NMR analyses indicated subtle changes in the conformation of modified GG because of the removal of galactose residues. Gel-strength measurements with kappa-carrageenan showed an improvement in the gelling behavior, similar to that shown by LBG. Debranching of GG by pullulanase is an alternative and inexpensive route to produce modified GG with enhanced functional properties, as a cost-effective replacement for LBG.     

包膜肥料氮释放特性及快速检测方法研究

该文采用“盆栽法”和“水浸泡法”测试了美国Scotts公司生产的Osmocote聚合物包膜肥料,结果表明该肥料氮释放规律符合线性关系,“盆栽法”得出的肥效期为118．1d,与肥料标示的肥效期（31℃）3～4个月基本一致;国际常用方法和水浸泡法得出的肥效期分别为86．4d和54．7d,有一定的误差。文中提出了“强化浸泡法”,即以80℃、1：20（w／w）的2％盐酸溶液浸泡肥料,并用搅拌器以150r／min的速度搅拌上层溶液。建立了“盆栽法”与“强化浸泡法”测试结果的相关性方程,给出了工业生产中在线检测并预测肥料释放特性的方法,为编制肥料施用说明提供参考。验证结果表明,该法与“盆栽法”相比,平均绝对误差为0．525%,平均相对误差为1．71%。     

包膜控释肥料养分释放率快速测定方法的研究

包膜控释肥料养分释放率的快速测定是控释肥质量检测和制定评价标准的关键。快速测定方法可以在较短时间内,推测和评价控释肥料的养分释放速率的快慢及释放期的长短。本研究对4种不同包膜控释肥料在25℃温度条件下的静水释放过程进行了测定,并应用100℃快速浸提化学实测法的测定结果与之拟合,找出两者相同养分释放量的时间对应关系方程,并对方程进行了检验和评价;同时,还对100℃温度条件下快速浸提液进行了电导率法(简便方法)的测定。结果表明,4种不同包膜控释肥料的相同养分释放量与时间对应关系方程的拟合度均达到极显著水平;在100℃温度条件下,快速浸提测定法能在较短的时间内准确测定包膜控释肥料的养分释放率,释放期为36～个月的包膜控释肥,在104～8.h就可初步测定出养分释放期;在25℃释放期为6个月的控释肥,100℃快速浸提测定的养分释放期的最大误差为10.d(5.6%);100℃快速浸提电导率法亦可简便快速的测定出包膜控释肥的养分释放率,其对养分释放期为6个月的包膜控释肥料预测值的最大误差为15.d(8.3%)。     

Soluble and total myrosinase activity in defatted Crambe abyssinica meal

Crambe defatted meal contains 4-6% w/w of glucosinolates, with epiprogoitrin accounting for >90% of the total. This feature limits the use of the meal as feed due to the antinutritional properties of myrosinase-glucosinolate breakdown products. In this context, myrosinase activity assumes particular importance. In this study the total and soluble myrosinase activities have been evaluated directly on defatted meals of eight Crambe abyssinica varieties. The pH-stat method, which is the most suitable for assays in heterogeneous solid-water systems, was used. The total myrosinase activity in C. abyssinica varieties, determined using epiprogoitrin as substrate, ranged from 288 to 653 units g(-1). These activity values were up to 26 times higher than those obtained using other substrates, namely, sinigrin, glucosinalbin, glucotropaeolin, progoitrin, and glucoraphenin. Crambe myrosinase is unusual in that, unlike other Brassicaceae containing a typical main glucosinolate, it does not show the same specificity toward its natural substrates.     

Organic carbon and its fractions in paddy soil as affected by different nutrient and water regimes

As an essential indicator of soil quality, soil organic carbon (SOC) and its fractions play an important role in many soil chemical, physical, and biological properties. A 4-year field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different nutrient and water regimes on paddy soil organic carbon quality by measuring the major SOC fractions. Four nutrient regimes were compared: (i) control; (ii) chemical fertilizers only (CF), (iii) combined application of chemical fertilizers with farmyard manure (FYM) (CM), and (iv) combined application of chemical fertilizers and wheat straw (CS). Two soil water regimes included continuous waterlogging (CWL) and alternate wetting and drying (AWD). The total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in paddy soil were 40–60% and 37–67% higher in the combined organic sources and chemical fertilizers treatment against the sole chemical fertilizers treatment (CF), especially under continuous waterlogging (CWL). By fractionalizing SOC, it was observed that, under the water regimes of CWL, easily oxidizable carbon (EOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and mineralizable organic carbon (MNC) in the organically treated paddy soil were significantly (P<0.05) lower, as compared with alternate wetting and drying (AWD). Especially for CM treatment, EOC, POC, LFOC, MBC, and MNC in the paddy soils under the regime of CWL were 23.5%, 32.7%, 16.3%, 56.8% and 25.1% lower than those by AWD, respectively. The proportions of EOC, POC, LFOC, MBC and MNC as a percent of TOC in the CWL were lower than those in the AWD, especially for the CM treatment. In the water regime of CWL, no significant differences were seen in the corresponding proportion of all the investigated organic fractions to soil total organic carbon (TOC) among the three fertilization treatments, whereas in the AWD, the corresponding proportions of different carbon fractions to TOC in the organic fertilizer treatments were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those in the chemical fertilizer treatment. Under continuous waterlogging, the proportion of soil water stable aggregate >250 μm (WSA) decreased by 42–45% and clay dispersion ratio (R_CD) increased by 12–38%, as compared to the water regimes of AWD, when FYM or wheat straw was incorporated into paddy soil. Correlation analysis showed that, under the water regimes of AWD, WSA was significantly and positively related to EOC, LFOC and POC with the coefficients (r) of 0.822, 0.889, 0.912 (P<0.01), respectively. R_CD was negatively correlated to EOC, LFOC and POC with the r=−0.796, −0.854, and −0.897 (P<0.01), respectively, under AWD. Under the water regimes of CWL, there were no significant (P<0.05) correlations between WSA as well as R_CD and any organic carbon fraction except POC.     

温室营养液循环检测系统中离子选择电极的数学建模与测量

针对目前设施农业中使用离子选择电极对营养液养分进行在线测量所存在的长时间测量和测量准确性问题,提出使用基于最小二乘法的“逐步拟合法”拟合钾、钙、硝态氮等离子选择电极模型,建立被测溶液浓度,电极测量电压和被测溶液温度的三维数学模型。并由此设计出营养液各养分含量的在线测量方法。以钾离子选择电极为例介绍了离子选择电极的试验测量方法、建模原理和过程。通过建模得到了钾离子选择电极的一个以温度的一次函数作为常数项和测量电压自变量的系数项、溶液浓度为应变量的函数模型。大量的实验结果表明：所建立的离子选择电极模型准确,可用于在线检测,提出的方法在工程上简洁实用,具有广泛的应用价值。     

Earthworm activity alters geogenic arsenic and soil nutrient dynamics

Environmental pollution due to arsenic (As) has been well studied and most investigations have focused on inorganic As coming from industrial areas. However, the natural rock-borne contamination of this metalloid has been underestimated and few studies focusing on annelids have addressed the question of geogenic As distribution in earthworm biogenic structures. Our study concentrated on the earthworm drilosphere and investigated the distribution of As in surface-casts and burrow-linings. In this context, we assumed that the concentration of geogenic As should differ in biogenic structures (faeces, burrow-linings) compared to non-ingested soil. To test our hypothesis, microcosms in controlled conditions were filled with soil containing 157 mg As kg^?1 from a geogenic origin. The soil was collected from a meadow in the Jura Mountains. The earthworm Aporrectodea giardi was selected because of its natural presence in the meadow and its anecic behaviour.We found that while earthworm surface-casts were enriched in carbon, nitrogen and available phosphorus compared to non-ingested soil, no enrichment was found for geogenic arsenic. The coarse sand fraction contained 3.5 times more As than silt and clay fractions but no significant difference existed between surface-casts and non-ingested soil. Iron was shown to be the main mineral bearing phase for As and predominated in the coarse sand fraction. No retention effect of organic matter on geogenic arsenic was observed. In conclusion, it appeared that geogenic As did not affect biological components and environmental aspects. These findings are particularly encouraging considering that most of the environments at an altitude of 1330 m in the Jura Mountains have exposed rocks, especially on meadows that are regularly grazed by cattle.     

Phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of milled fractions of different wheat varieties

The health-promoting effects of whole-grain consumption have been attributed in part to their unique phytochemical contents and profiles that complement those found in fruits and vegetables. Wheat is an important component of the human diet; however, little is known about the phytochemical profiles and total antioxidant activities of milled fractions of different wheat varieties. The objectives of this study were to investigate the distribution of phytochemicals (total phenolics, flavonoids, ferulic acid, and carotenoids) and to determine hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activity in milled fractions (endosperm and bran/germ) of three different wheat varieties, two of which were grown in two environments. Grain samples of each of the wheat varieties were milled into endosperm and bran/germ fractions. Each fraction was extracted and analyzed for total phenolics, ferulic acid, flavonoids, carotenoid contents, and hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activities. Total phenolic content of bran/germ fractions (2867-3120 micromol of gallic acid equiv/100 g) was 15-18-fold higher (p < 0.01) than that of respective endosperm fractions. Ferulic acid content ranged from 1005 to 1130 micromol/100 g in bran/germ fractions and from 15 to 21 micromol/100 g in the endosperm fractions. The bran/germ fraction flavonoid content was 740-940 micromol of catechin equiv/100 g. On average, bran/germ fractions of wheat had 4-fold more lutein, 12-fold more zeaxanthin, and 2-fold more beta-cryptoxanthin than the endosperm fractions. Hydrophilic antioxidant activity of bran/germ samples (7.1-16.4 micromol of vitamin C equiv/g) was 13-27-fold higher than that of the respective endosperm samples. Similarly, lipophilic antioxidant activity was 28-89-fold higher in the bran/germ fractions (1785-4669 nmol of vitamin E equiv/g). Hydrophilic antioxidant activity contribution to the total antioxidant activity (hydrophilic + lipophilic) was >80%. In whole-wheat flour, the bran/germ fraction contributed 83% of the total phenolic content, 79% of the total flavonoid content, 51% of the total lutein, 78% of the total zeaxanthin, 42% of the total beta-cryptoxanthin, 85% of the total hydrophilic antioxidant activity, and 94% of the total lipophilic antioxidant activity. Our results showed that different milled fractions of wheat have different profiles of both hydrophilic and lipophilic phytochemicals. These findings provide information necessary for evaluating contributions to good health and disease prevention from whole-wheat consumption.     

缓控释肥料养分释放特性评价及快速测定方法研究

采用水中浸提释放法和土壤恒温培养法,按照缓控释肥料行业标准(HG/T3931-2007)和欧洲标准化委员会(CEN)推荐的控释肥料评价标准,对5种缓控释肥料的氮素释放特性进行了评价。结果表明:采用25℃常温浸提法测定与100℃快速浸提法测定,后者的养分释放率加快。用100℃快速浸提法建立预测预报缓控释肥料在常温下(25℃)的释放期的回归方程(一元二次方程,相关系数大于0.98),预测值与实测值相差1～3 d。对于25℃常温浸提法测定释放期分别为66 d和84 d的塑料包膜控释复合肥(CRF)和树脂包膜控释复合肥(CRF3),用100℃电导率法预测的养分释放期分别为65 d和81 d,相对误差小于3.5%,可见电导率法也可以准确快速地预测包膜控释复合肥料的养分释放率和释放期。用初期养分释放率、平均释放率和养分释放期等参数,可用于缓控释肥料的综合评价。     

Effect of nitrification inhibitor on nutrient composition of winter wheat forage 1

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important source of forage for cattle in the southern Plains. While high in quality, wheat pasture is prone to cause thousands of cattle deaths annually from nitrate poisoning, bloat, and wheat pasture poisoning, a syndrome of unknown cause. A large portion of the stocker cattle deaths on nitrogen fertilized pastures occur from unknown causes that appear to be related to forage composition. The objectives of this study were to determine seasonal trends in nutrient composition and to determine the effect of nitrapyrin, a nitrification inhibitor, on the change in nutrient composition of wheat forage over winter. The wheat was planted the last week of August on a Pullman clay loam soil (fine, mixed, thermic Torrertic Paleustol). Clip samples were collected periodically and analyzed for nutrient composition. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium concentrations of the wheat forage varied during the season. Levels tended to be highest with the onset of growth and to decline as growth was decreased by cold weather. Nitrapyrin did not affect the concentration of any of the nutrients examined in the wheat forage. Concentration of nutrients, other than potassium, tended to be highly correlated with each other in both years of the study.