Selective recovery of tagatose from mixtures with galactose by direct extraction with supercritical CO2 and different cosolvents

A selective fractionation method of carbohydrate mixtures of galactose/tagatose, using supercritical CO(2) and isopropanol as cosolvent, has been evaluated. Optimization was carried out using a central composite face design and considering as factors the extraction pressure (from 100 to 300 bar), the extraction temperature (from 60 to 100 degrees C), and the modifier flow rate (from 0.2 to 0.4 mL/min, which corresponded to a total cosolvent percentage ranging from 4 to 18% vol). The responses evaluated were the amount (milligrams) of tagatose and galactose extracted and their recoveries (percent). The statistical analysis of the results provided mathematical models for each response variable. The corresponding parameters were estimated by multiple linear regression, and high determination coefficients (>0.96) were obtained. The optimum conditions of the extraction process to get the maximum recovery of tagatose (37%) were 300 bar, 60 degrees C, and 0.4 mL/min of cosolvent. The predicted value was 24.37 mg of tagatose, whereas the experimental value was 26.34 mg, which is a 7% error from the predicted value. Cosolvent polarity effects on tagatose extraction from mixtures of galactose/tagatose were also studied using different alcohols and their mixtures with water. Although a remarkable increase of the amount of total carbohydrate extracted with polarity was found, selective extraction of tagatose decreased with increase of polarity of assayed cosolvents. To improve the recovery of extracted tagatose, additional experiments outside the experimental domain were carried out (300 bar, 80 degrees C, and 0.6 mL/min of isopropanol); recoveries >75% of tagatose with purity >90% were obtained.     

Effects of ignoring inbreeding in model-based accuracy for BLUP and SSGBLUP

Model-based accuracy, defined as the theoretical correlation between true and estimated breeding value, can be obtained for each individual as a function of its prediction error variance (PEV) and inbreeding coefficient F, in BLUP, GBLUP and SSGBLUP genetic evaluations. However, for computational convenience, inbreeding is often ignored in two places. First, in the computation of reliability = 1-PEV/(1 + F). Second, in the set-up, using Henderson's rules, of the inverse of the pedigree-based relationship matrix A . Both approximations have an effect in the computation of model-based accuracy and result in wrong values. In this work, first we present a reminder of the theory and extend it to SSGBLUP. Second, we quantify the error of ignoring inbreeding with real data in three scenarios: BLUP evaluation and SSGBLUP in Uruguayan dairy cattle, and BLUP evaluations in a line of rabbit closed for >40 generations with steady increase of inbreeding up to an average of 0.30. We show that ignoring inbreeding in the set-up of the A- inverse is equivalent to assume that non-inbred animals are actually inbred. This results in an increase of apparent PEV that is negligible for dairy cattle but considerable for rabbit. Ignoring inbreeding in reliability = 1-PEV/(1 + F) leads to underestimation of reliability for BLUP evaluations, and this underestimation is very large for rabbit. For SSGBLUP in dairy cattle, it leads to both underestimation and overestimation of reliability, both for genotyped and non-genotyped animals. We strongly recommend to include inbreeding both in the set-up of A- inverse and in the computation of reliability from PEVs.     

Foliar K application to rainfed wheat in a soil testing high K as an option to improve K use efficiency,grain yield and yield components

Abstract

Granular application of potassium (K) in soils testing high is generally not recommended. However, the effect of foliar K on rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under these soil conditions is largely unknown. The objective of this work was to identify the effect of K fertilizer on K use efficiency (KUE), grain yield and yield components of wheat. The data were collected until 2017 in an ongoing trial established in 2007 with eight treatments; two granular K rates (0 and 50?kg K ha^?1); two foliar N rates (0 and 3?kg N ha^?1); and two foliar K rates (0 and 3?kg K ha^?1) in a split-split plot arrangement. Treatments were applied to the same plots each season. Treatment with foliar K resulted in the highest KUE response but the effect size varied according to the accumulated precipitation during the reproductive stage. On average, KUE was enhanced in crop seasons with water constrains (<179?mm) during the growth period but the converse was true as the amount of precipitation increased. In contrast, granular K had no effect on KUE irrespective of precipitation conditions. Application of foliar K increased grain yield as compared to granular K from 2988 to 3089?kg ha^?1. This enhancement was attributed to an increased number of grains per head. Therefore, foliar K application to wheat is suitable in a soil testing high K to enhance KUE and grain yield, overall in crop seasons with water constrains.     

Pathology in Continuous Infusion Studies in Rodents and Non-Rodents and ITO (Infusion Technology Organisation)-Recommended Protocol for Tissue Sampling and Terminology for Procedure-Related Lesions

Many variables may affect the outcome of continuous infusion studies. The results largely depend on the experience of the laboratory performing these studies, the technical equipment used, the choice of blood vessels and hence the surgical technique as well the quality of pathological evaluation. The latter is of major interest due to the fact that the pathologist is not involved until necropsy in most cases, i.e. not dealing with the complicated surgical or in-life procedures of this study type. The technique of tissue sampling during necropsy and the histology processing procedures may influence the tissues presented for evaluation, hence the pathologist may be a source of misinterpretation. Therefore, ITO proposes a tissue sampling procedure and a standard nomenclature for pathological lesions for all sites and tissues in contact with the port-access and/or catheter system.     

Comparative Morphology,Development, and Function of Blood Cells in Nonmammalian Vertebrates

Much of our knowledge regarding vertebrate blood and blood cells is based on mammalian references. The critical study of nonmammalian vertebrate blood is relatively new, and comparatively few investigations have been published that focus on these animals' ontogeny and structure-function relationships of blood cells. Nonmammalian vertebrates comprise birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes, all of which have a wide range of forms and adaptations. For the clinician, a lack of basic knowledge with these species makes the evaluation of a hemogram more challenging than in mammals. This is a concise review of our current knowledge of comparative morphology that describes routine staining procedures and the development and function of blood cells in nonmammalian vertebrates.     

Furrow diking and N management for dryland wheat production in permanent raised beds

The permanent bed planting system for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production has recently received additional attention. Studies using hard red spring wheat (cultivar Nahuatl F2000) were conducted at two locations in central Mexico. The studies included the installation of three furrow diking treatments, two granular N timing treatments and three foliar N rates applied at the end of anthesis. The objective was to evaluate the effect of these factors on wheat grain yield, yield components and grain N in a wheat–maize (Zea maize L.) rotation with residues of both crops left as stubble. Results indicated that diking in alternate furrows increased both grain yield and the final number of spikes per m². The split application of N fertilizer enhanced the number of spikes per m² and grain N uptake, but the effect on grain yield was inconsistent. Similarly, grain protein increased with the foliar application of 6 kg N ha^?1, depending upon the maximum temperature within the 10 days following anthesis. The normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI) readings collected at four growth stages were generally higher for the split N application than for the basal N application at planting. Grain N uptake was associated to NDVI readings collected after anthesis.     

Multiple haemoglobins in three tilapiine species of the genus Oreochromis and in eight strains of O. niloticus (L.)

Among three tilapiine species, Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner), O mossambicus (Peters) and O. niloticus (L.), fifteen banding positions of haemoglobin were resolved using citric acid-aminopropylmorpholine pH 7.0 buffer. O. mossambicus and O. aureus displayed 7 and 8 fixed band locations, respectively, whereas eight strains of O. niloticus from Asian cultured and African wild populations showed a total of 14. Variability in the O. niloticus strains, manifested as presence or absence of haemoglobin bands, was observed in banding positions 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13 and 14. Six banding positions in O. niloticus were shared with O. mossambicus and 8 with O. aureus. A dendrogram constructed from distance coefficients between popu-lation pairs using the presence or absence data showed the close affinity among O. niloticus strains belonging to the O. niloticus niloticus subspecies. A slight separation of Kenya O. niloticus from the O. niloticus niloticus strains is consistent with its subspecific distinction as O. niloticus vulcani. Among three species, O. niloticus had a closer affinity to O. aureus than to O. mossambicus. The phylogenetic relation-ships using differences in haemoglobin patterns and the higher genetic variability of O. niloticus reflect similar results obtained from existing studies using allozymes. In general, the presence of multiple fish haemoglobins is attributed to their adaptability to haeterogeneous environments. This attribute is typical of tilapias.     

Tree Seedling Production Systems in Northern Mindanao, Philippines

This paper examines seedling production systems for small-scale forestry in northern Mindanao, particularly the constraints and opportunities to sustain the operation of smallholder nurseries. Various types of nurseries were identified to examine issues and concerns operators face, and data collected through a survey of nursery operators, discussion with government and NGO personnel, and literature review. Many smallholders in northern Mindanao have been engaged in seedling production, for farm needs and sale in local markets. The interest of smallholder to sustain seedling production depends on market demand and incentives, which translates to financial benefit on sound nursery practices and of reliable access to profitable markets. Activities that will assist smallholder nurseries to achieve full potential have been identified as: available nursery technologies to produce high quality planting materials in sufficient quantity; building farmer groups to facilitate seedling production and enhance the scale of product marketing; building partnerships with various service providers and other stakeholders to address technical, institutional, marketing and policy issues that may hamper the operation of smallholder nurseries; access to markets and market information; and provision of incentives and policy support. Associated benefits from small-scale seedling production accrue to the government, wood processors and to the public in general.     

Quantification of methane emitted by ruminants: a review of methods

The contribution of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ruminant production systems varies between countries and between regions within individual countries. The appropriate quantification of GHG emissions, specifically methane (CH₄), has raised questions about the correct reporting of GHG inventories and, perhaps more importantly, how best to mitigate CH₄ emissions. This review documents existing methods and methodologies to measure and estimate CH₄ emissions from ruminant animals and the manure produced therein over various scales and conditions. Measurements of CH₄ have frequently been conducted in research settings using classical methodologies developed for bioenergetic purposes, such as gas exchange techniques (respiration chambers, headboxes). While very precise, these techniques are limited to research settings as they are expensive, labor-intensive, and applicable only to a few animals. Head-stalls, such as the GreenFeed system, have been used to measure expired CH₄ for individual animals housed alone or in groups in confinement or grazing. This technique requires frequent animal visitation over the diurnal measurement period and an adequate number of collection days. The tracer gas technique can be used to measure CH₄ from individual animals housed outdoors, as there is a need to ensure low background concentrations. Micrometeorological techniques (e.g., open-path lasers) can measure CH₄ emissions over larger areas and many animals, but limitations exist, including the need to measure over more extended periods. Measurement of CH₄ emissions from manure depends on the type of storage, animal housing, CH₄ concentration inside and outside the boundaries of the area of interest, and ventilation rate, which is likely the variable that contributes the greatest to measurement uncertainty. For large-scale areas, aircraft, drones, and satellites have been used in association with the tracer flux method, inverse modeling, imagery, and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), but research is lagging in validating these methods. Bottom-up approaches to estimating CH₄ emissions rely on empirical or mechanistic modeling to quantify the contribution of individual sources (enteric and manure). In contrast, top-down approaches estimate the amount of CH₄ in the atmosphere using spatial and temporal models to account for transportation from an emitter to an observation point. While these two estimation approaches rarely agree, they help identify knowledge gaps and research requirements in practice.