Kinetic model for the antiradical activity of the isolated p-catechol group in flavanone type structures using the free stable radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl as the antiradical probe

The time evolution of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH*) concentration in four solvents (methanol, ethanol, propanol, and acetonitrile) during its reduction by three flavanones containing an isolated p-catechol group (taxifolin, eriodyctiol, and fustin) as well as the time evolution of the mass spectra of the reaction mixture has been determined by spectrophotometry and liquid mass spectrometry, respectively. In alcoholic solvents the reduction curves consisted of an initial short but fast kinetics step followed by a longer slow kinetics step; in contrast, in acetonitrile the reduction curves completely lacked the slow kinetics step. From the results, a kinetic model for the reaction of reduction of the DPPH* by the isolated p-catechol group in flavanone type structures is proposed. According to this model, the p-catechol group rapidly transfers two hydrogen atoms to DPPH*, through a fast rate constant k1, yielding the corresponding o-quinone. Then, the intermediate o-quinone forms an adduct with the alcoholic solvent, through a slow rate constant k2, and regenerates the p-catechol group. The regenerated p-catechol group reduces additional DPPH* through a fast rate constant k3, yielding the corresponding o-quinone, which can form a new adduct with the solvent to regenerate the p-catechol group, and so on. From the kinetics model, two explicit kinetics equations have been derived that fit very well the experimental data points acquired from all assayed compounds in all of the experiments carried out, thus allowing an accurate determination of the corresponding rate and stoichiometric constants.     

Comparison of selection methods among and within full-sibling progenies in Urochloa humidicola

Hybridization in the Urochloa humidicola breeding programme allowed to explore the genetic variability of the apomictic sources and, thus, to obtain new sexual and apomictic parents with compatible ploidy and/or superior progenies. However, given the high variability arising from crosses, there is a need to adopt efficient selection strategies among and within progenies. The aim of this study was to compare the selection methods among U. humidicola progenies with (t-BLUP) and without (BLUP) the weighting based on prediction error and subsequent selection within progenies by individual simulated (BLUP_IS) or optimal individual BLUP. We evaluated seventy-one U. humidicola full-sib progenies from biparental crosses between nine sexual and ten apomictic parents. The experiment was set up in an incomplete block design with 64 blocks of 15 plots each, consisting of individual plants. Seven consecutive cuts were made and the traits total dry-matter, leaf dry-matter and regrowth scores were measured. Genetic variance was expressive for all traits. The selection procedure among progenies of U. humidicula based on t-BLUP proved to be more advantageous regarding the use of BLUP not weighted by the prediction error, resulting in higher selection gains, taking as reference the optimal procedure of the individual BLUP. Furthermore, the use of BLUP_IS allowed an optimized selection of hybrids, allowing the breeder to explore with variable selection intensity the genetic variability within the selected full-sib progenies based on relative genetic merit.     

Effects of Cocoa-Derived Polyphenols on Cognitive Function in Humans. Systematic Review and Analysis of Methodological Aspects

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - The effects of cocoa-derived polyphenols on cognitive functions have been analyzed through numerous studies using different interventions (doses, vehicles, time...     

Strategy to identify resistance to white mould associated with high yield for irrigated common bean in Brazil

Development of common bean cultivars with partial white mould resistance through breeding techniques has been a challenge in Brazil. As yet, lines/cultivars from breeding programmes have not been investigated for resistance; therefore, this study screened 107 lines/cultivars for their reactions to white mould in 14 preliminary trials conducted under irrigation. Thirteen resistant lines/cultivars (three of Andean origin) and six Mesoamerican cultivars (three intermediately resistant and three susceptible) were selected for further investigation. These lines/cultivars and the resistant control A195 were evaluated in six advanced trials and two straw tests to assess the effectiveness of the screening procedure. In 11 preliminary trials, screenings were performed under moderate/high or higher disease pressure. These pressures occurred in two advanced trials in which, when yields were averaged across moderate/high and high pressures, 10 Mesoamerican lines/cultivars selected for resistance yielded 14%, 23%, and 38% more than intermediately resistant cultivars, A195, and susceptible cultivars, with median disease ratings (1–9 scale) of 4.5, 5.7, 5.7, and 6.7, respectively. In the straw test, three Andean lines/cultivars (A195 included) and two susceptible cultivars in the field were among those with the highest levels of physiological resistance. Thus, field rating under high disease pressure and greenhouse rating did not correlate significantly, suggesting that field trials are critical to evaluating resistance and to identifying high-yielding beans. Therefore, lines/cultivars from breeding programmes assessed in field trials may provide a low cost and fast way to identify high-yielding bean cultivars with partial resistance to white mould in the subtropical southern hemisphere.     

Oxygen-18 enrichment of planktonic foraminifera due to gametogenic calcification below the euphotic zone

Empty shells of spinose planktonic foraminifera on the seabed are significantly enriched in oxygen-18 as compared with the shells of their living counterparts in surface waters. This enrichment is due to gametogenic calcification, which extracts calcium carbonate from deeper and colder waters as the shell sinks below the euphotic zone. JEAN-CLAUDE DUPLESSY.     

Galaxies, human eyes, and artificial neural networks

The quantitative morphological classification of galaxies is important for understanding the origin of type frequency and correlations with environment. However, galaxy morphological classification is still mainly done visually by dedicated individuals, in the spirit of Hubble's original scheme and its modifications. The rapid increase in data on galaxy images at low and high redshift calls for a re-examination of the classification schemes and for automatic methods. Here are shown results from a systematic comparison of the dispersion among human experts classifying a uniformly selected sample of more than 800 digitized galaxy images. These galaxy images were then classified by six of the authors independently. The human classifications are compared with each other and with an automatic classification by an artificial neural network, which replicates the classification by a human expert to the same degree of agreement as that between two human experts.     

Decapsulated Artemia Cysts: A Suitable Dietary Supplement for Juvenile Tench (Tinca tinca L.)

There are no specifically formulated dry foods for tench (Tinca tinca L.), which forces farmers to use diets formulated for other fish species. This has major drawbacks, such as high mortality, slow growth, and body deformities. A 120 day experiment was performed with five-month-old juvenile tench (initial mean weight: 0.388 g; total length: 31.78 mm) to evaluate decapsulated Artemia cysts as a supplement to a dry diet for other fish species. Three treatments, differing in the daily supplement, were tested: 1,800 freshly hatched nauplii, 1,800 cysts, and 300 cysts per g of tench biomass. Final survival ranged between 95.3% and 97.9%. Juvenile tench that received the supplement of 1,800 decapsulated Artemia cysts had a specific growth rate (1.28), weight (1.83 g), and total length (52.30 mm) significantly higher than those with the same amount of nauplii. The lowest supplement (300 cysts/g of fish biomass) allowed significantly lower growth and higher condition coefficient (1.40) than the rest. Animals with body deformities (1.06%) were only recorded in the groups that received the lowest cyst supplement. Results showed Artemia cysts are a suitable dietary supplement for juvenile tench, being an advantageous alternative to live nauplii.     

Production of Interesting Peptide Fractions by Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Tuna Dark Muscle By-Product Using Alcalase

ABSTRACT

A protein hydrolysate was prepared from proteins of tuna dark muscle by-product. The hydrolysis conditions (time, temperature, pH, and enzyme concentration) using Alcalase was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). The regression coefficient close to 1.0, observed during experimental and validation runs, indicated the validity of the model. The hydrolysate produced under the optimum conditions determined by RSM has a low rate of peptide fraction of molecular weight of 4–1 kDa. Meanwhile, the results obtained by hydrolysis under optimal conditions determined by a complementary study (temperature 55°C, time 60 min, 1% enzyme concentration, and pH 8.5) show that the hydrolysate produced has a height rate of the peptide fraction of molecular weight of 4–1 kDa. The amino acid composition of the protein hydrolysate prepared proved to have the potential for application as an ingredient in balanced fish diets and as a source of nitrogen in microbial growth media.     

Geographical information system (GIS) environmental models for aquaculture development in Sinaloa State,Mexico

This paper describes the use of a geographical information system (GIS) to construct environmental models for land-based aquaculture development in the State of Sinaloa, Mexico. Based on the source data, submodels were created focusing on three different themes: general environmental issues, water resources and water quality. Models enabled multicriteria and multiobjective decision making concerning site selection and location. In assessing site considerations these general models identified wider resource management options and solved conflicts of land allocation and land use between aquaculture and agriculture. Smaller-scale, more specific models enabled more detailed studies on environmental issues.     

First results of embryonic development,spawning and larval rearing of the Mediterranean spider crab Maja squinado (Herbst ) under laboratory conditions,a candidate species for a restocking program

The Mediterranean spider crab, Maja squinado, is depleted due to overfishing. The crab has virtually disappeared from areas where it was abundant, such as the Balearic Islands and the Catalan coast. Maja squinado, is economically and ecologically very valuable, and it is essential to obtain information on its biology and rearing conditions to attempt to repopulate the damaged stocks of the species in the Mediterranean basin. Herein, we describe the first successful rearing of M. squinado under laboratory conditions. Our results show that M. squinado is an excellent candidate for restocking using cultured juveniles. Two consecutive broods with a 1–4 day interbrood period were observed in the laboratory in wild‐caught females, the maximum observed duration of embryonic development of the egg mass being 32 days at 18.4 ± 0.9°C, and went through four different stages. The complete larval and first juvenile development was studied in laboratory cultures fed enriched Artemia metanauplius. At 19.6 ± 0.6°C, development from hatching to first crab moult took 17 days, and it comprised two zoeae stages and one megalopa stage. The survival rate at the different stages was monitored, and 7.13 ± 2.3% was achieved at the first crab instar.