Sheep fed with banana leaf hay reduce ruminal protozoa population

A ciliate protozoa suppression can reduce methane production increasing the energy efficiency utilization by ruminants. The physicochemical characteristics of rumen fluid and the profile of the rumen protozoa populations were evaluated for sheep fed banana leaf hay in replacement of the Cynodon dactylon cv. vaqueiro hay. A total of 30 male sheep were raised in intensive system during 15 days of adaptation and 63 days of experimental period. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design that included six replicates of five treatments with replacement levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) of the grass vaquero for the banana leaf hay. Samples of fluid were collected directly from the rumen with sterile catheters. Color, odor, viscosity, and the methylene blue reduction potential (MBRP) were evaluated and pH estimated using a digital potentiometer. After decimal dilutions, counts of genus protozoa were performed in Sedgewick Rafter chambers. The averages of pH, MBRP, color, odor, and viscosity were not influenced by the inclusion of the banana leaf hay. However, the total number of protozoa and Entodinium spp. population significantly decreased at 75 and 100% inclusions of banana leaf hay as roughage.     

Intraspecific variation in growth and allocation patterns in seedlings of Pinus pinaster Ait. submitted to contrasting watering regimes: can water availability explain regional variation?

? Interpopulation variation in key functional traits of Pinus pinaster Ait. is well recognized. However, the relative importance of drought tolerance to explain this regional variation in the species remains elusive.

? Here, we raise the question whether water availability constitutes a likely driver of regional variation in biomass allocation, growth and morphological traits of ten populations that cover the distribution range of P. pinaster. We carried out an experiment where seedlings of five families per population were submitted to two contrasting watering treatments.

? The effects of water availability and population were significant for relative diameter and height growth rate, biomass allocation and number of lateral stems and dwarf shoots. Total dry mass significantly differed between watering treatments but it did not among populations. Populations could be clustered into four main groups. Root mass fraction explained most of the variation and significantly correlated to altitude but not to aridity.

? The geographical pattern of genetic variation found in morphology and biomass allocation did not translate into population differences in drought tolerance or phenotypic plasticity to water availability, indicating that water availability is not a likely driver of the regional variation observed in the studied traits of P. pinaster at the seedling stage.

     

Response of climate-growth relationships and water use efficiency to thinning in a Pinus nigra afforestation

Thinning is the main forestry measure to increase tree growth by reducing stand tree density and competition for resources. A thinning experiment was established in 1993 on a 32-year-old Pinus nigra Arn. stand in central Spain. The response of growth, climate-growth relationships and intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi) to a stand density reduction were compared between moderate thinned plots and a control plot by a combined analysis of basal area increments (BAI), and C and O stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C_c and δ¹⁸O_c). BAI in the control plot showed a decreasing trend that was avoided by thinning in the thinned plot. Thinning also partially buffered tree-ring response to climate and trees were less sensitive to precipitation although more sensitive to temperature. Δ¹³C_c in the thinned plot was not modified indicating that stomatal conductance (g) and photosynthetic capacity (A) did not change or change in the same direction. However, δ¹⁸O_c decreased in the control plot (unrelated to δ¹⁸O of precipitation) but not in the thinned plot, suggesting a relative increase of temperature and irradiance and/or a decrease of air humidity after reducing the density consistent with an increase in A, g and BAI. As WUEi did not increase in the thinned plot, faster growth in this plot was caused by higher abundance of resources per tree. The trend of WUEi in both plots indicated low-moderate CO₂-induced improvements. Thinning might be a useful adaptation measure against climate change in these plantations reducing their vulnerability to droughts. However, because WUEi was not affected, the positive growth response might be limited if droughts and warming continue and certain thresholds are exceeded.     

Genetic structuring among populations of the great egret,Ardea alba egretta,in major Brazilian wetlands

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Almond allergens: molecular characterization, detection, and clinical relevance

Almond ( Prunus dulcis ) has been widely used in all sorts of food products (bakery, pastry, snacks), mostly due to its pleasant flavor and health benefits. However, it is also classified as a potential allergenic seed known to be responsible for triggering several mild to life-threatening immune reactions in sensitized and allergic individuals. Presently, eight groups of allergenic proteins have been identified and characterized in almond, namely, PR-10 (Pru du 1), TLP (Pru du 2), prolamins (Pru du 2S albumin, Pru du 3), profilins (Pru du 4), 60sRP (Pru du 5), and cupin (Pru du 6, Pru du γ-conglutin), although only a few of them have been tested for reactivity with almond-allergic sera. To protect sensitized individuals, labeling regulations have been implemented for foods containing potential allergenic ingredients, impelling the development of adequate analytical methods. This work aims to present an updated and critical overview of the molecular characterization and clinical relevance of almond allergens, as well as review the main methodologies used to detect and quantitate food allergens with special emphasis on almond.     

Phenolic, polysaccharidic, and lipidic fractions of mushrooms from northeastern Portugal: chemical compounds with antioxidant properties

Mushrooms do not constitute a significant portion of the human diet, but their consumption continues to increase due to their functional benefits and presence of bioactive compounds. Some of those compounds can be found in the phenolic, polysaccharidic, and lipidic fractions of edible and inedible species. Herein, those fractions of five wild mushrooms (Coprinopsis atramentaria, Lactarius bertillonii, Lactarius vellereus, Rhodotus palmatus, and Xerocomus chrysenteron) from northeastern Portugal were studied for their chemical composition and antioxidant properties. Protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-coumaric, and cinnamic acids were found in the phenolic fraction; rhamnose, xylose, fucose, arabinose, fructose, glucose, manose, mannitol, sucrose, maltose, and trehalose were quantified in polysaccharidic fraction; and linoleic and stearic (only in Lactarius sp.) acids, and β- and γ-tocopherols were the main compounds in the lipidic fraction. C. atramentaria and X. chrysenteron phenolic fractions gave the highest free radical scavenging activity, reducing properties, and lipid peroxidation inhibition in brain homogenates, which is in agreement with its highest content in total phenolics. Furthermore, among the polysaccharidic fractions C. atramentaria also gave the highest antioxidant activity, which is in agreement with its highest total polysaccharides content and sugars obtained after hydrolysis.     

Simultaneous determination of four biogenic and three volatile amines in anchovy by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

A new method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of four biogenic (putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, and tyramine) and three volatile amines (trimethylamine, triethylamine, and tripropylamine) in anchovy. Separation and determination of the selected compounds were carried out by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), using an electrospray ionization source (ESI) in positive ion mode. Chromatographic separation was carried out using an aqueous solution of formic acid (0.1%) and methanol as mobile phase in gradient mode. The method was validated, and mean recoveries were evaluated at three concentration levels (75, 150, and 250 μg/kg), ranging from 70 to 110% at the three levels assayed. Intra- and interday precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), were lower than 15% and 20%, respectively. Limits of quantitation (LOQs) were 25 μg/kg for all cases, except for that of TMA, which was set at 60 μg/kg. The developed procedure was applied to determine the target compounds in anchovy samples stored during 7 days at 4 °C, observing the increasing in the concentration of these compounds at longer storage time.     

Oleuropein ameliorates acute colitis in mice

Oleuropein, the major secoiridoid in olive tree leaves, possesses a wide range of health promoting properties. It has recently been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. We have evaluated the effect of oleuropein on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental colitis in mice in order to provide insight into its mechanisms of action. Oral administration of oleuropein notably attenuated the extent and severity of acute colitis while reducing neutrophil infiltration; production of NO, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α; expression of iNOS, COX-2, and MMP-9; and the translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit to the nucleus in colon tissue. In LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages, the oleuropein metabolite, hydroxytyrosol, was shown to inhibit NO production, iNOS expression, NF-κB p65 subunit translocation, mRNA expression, and the release of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. These results suggest that the effect of oleuropein on DSS-induced colitis is associated with a decrease in the production of interleukins and expression of proteins, principally through reduction of NF-κB activation.     

Preharvest calcium sprays improve volatile emission at commercial harvest of 'Fuji Kiku-8' apples

Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) fruit intended for long-term storage are frequently harvested commercially before becoming fully ripe, often resulting in poor aroma development. Since postharvest calcium dips have proved effective for the enhancement of flavor-related volatile esters after cold storage of apples, this study was undertaken in order to assess whether preharvest calcium sprays (7 weekly applications at 1.6%, w/v, 81-123 days after full bloom) could also aid in improving this important attribute at harvest. This procedure significantly increased calcium content in treated fruit. The emission of aroma-related volatile esters by untreated and calcium-treated 'Fuji' apples was then monitored during maturation and ripening over two months prior to commercial harvest. Results indicate that most of the compounds contributing to overall flavor in ripe fruit were enhanced in response to preharvest calcium applications, suggesting that this procedure may be suitable for the improvement of fruit aroma at harvest. The emission of acetate esters was particularly favored, consistent with higher acetaldehyde contents in treated fruit. These effects arose apparently from increased pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activities, possibly leading to a better supply of alcohols and acyl CoAs for ester biosynthesis.