Reviews

Ohne Zusammenfassung

---

Reviews

     

A comparison of chemical and physical methods for treating French fries to produce an acceptable microwaved product

Frozen par-fries were processed in January and February using BelRus and Russet Burbank potatoes which were obtained from the same source and held under the same storage conditions. Prior to par-frying the raw potato slices were treated chemically or physically in order to increase the amount of bound water, or to remove water. At each processing date total solids of the raw and treated tissue were determined. Par-fries were analyzed for fat content. Treated samples were microwave heated and evaluated for sensory qualities as compared to frozen par-fries heated in a conventional oven. In no cases were the microwaved fries superior to the oven-heated fries in color, flavor, or texture. Drying the blanched fries in an oven for 10 min. prior to par-frying produced a microwaved product that was quite similar to the oven-heated fries, particularly in the case of the BelRus potatoes. In all cases BelRus potatoes absorbed less fat on par-frying than did Russet Burbank potatoes.     

Using pXRF and vis-NIR spectra for predicting properties of soils developed in loess

Visible near-infrared (vis-NIR) and portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometers have been increasingly utilized for predicting soil properties worldwide. However, only a few studies have focused on splitting the predictive models by horizons to evaluate prediction performance and systematically compare prediction performance for A, B, and combined A+B horizons. Therefore, we investigated the performance of pXRF and vis-NIR spectra, as individual or combined, for predicting the clay, silt, sand, total carbon (TC), and pH of soils developed in loess, and compared their prediction performance for A, B, and A+B horizons. Soil samples (176 in A horizon and 172 in B horizon) were taken from Mollisols and Alfisols in 136 pedons in Wisconsin, USA and analyzed for clay, silt, sand, pH, and TC. The pXRF and vis-NIR spectrometers were used to measure the pXRF and vis-NIR soil spectra. Data were separated into calibration (n=244, 70%) and validation (n=104, 30%) datasets. The Savitzky-Golay filter was applied to preprocess the pXRF and vis-NIR spectra, and the first 10 principal components (PCs) were selected through principal component analysis (PCA). Five types of predictor, i.e., PCs from vis-NIR spectra, pXRF of beams at 0-40 and 0-10 keV (XRF40 and XRF10, respectively) spectra, combined XRF40 and XRF10 (XRF40+XRF10) spectra, and combined XRF40, XRF10, and vis-NIR (XRF40+XRF10+vis-NIR) spectra, were compared for predicting soil properties using a machine learning algorithm (Cubist model). A multiple linear regression (MLR) model was applied to predict clay, silt, sand, pH, and TC using pXRF elements. The results suggested that pXRF spectra had better prediction performance for clay, silt, and sand, whereas vis-NIR spectra produced better TC and pH predictions. The best prediction performance for sand (R²=0.97), silt (R²=0.95), and clay (R²=0.84) was achieved using vis-NIR+XRF40+XRF10 spectra in B horizon, whereas the best prediction performance for TC (R²=0.93) and pH (R²=0.79) was achieved using vis-NIR+XRF40+XRF10 spectra in A+B horizon. For all soil properties, the best MLR model had a lower prediction accuracy than the Cubist model. It was concluded that pXRF and vis-NIR spectra can be successfully applied for predicting clay, silt, sand, pH, and TC with high accuracy for soils developed in loess, and that spectral models should be developed for different horizons to achieve high prediction accuracy.     

Activity of feline interferon-omega after ocular or oral administration in cats as indicated by Mx protein expression in conjunctival and white blood cells

OBJECTIVE: To assess the biological response to recombinant feline interferon-omega (rFeIFN-omega) following ocular or oral administration in cats via estimation of Mx protein expression in conjunctival cells (CCs) and WBCs. ANIMALS: 10 specific pathogen-free cats. PROCEDURES: In multiple single-dose drug experiments, each cat received various concentrations of rFeIFN-omega administered topically into both eyes (50 to 10,000 U/eye) and orally (200 to 20,000 units). The same cats received saline (0.9% NaCl) solution topically and orally as control treatments. The CCs and WBCs were collected prior to treatment (day 0), on day 1, and every third or seventh day thereafter until samples yielded negative results for Mx protein. Samples were examined for Mx protein expression via immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting procedures involving murine anti-Mx protein monoclonal antibody M143. RESULTS: After topical application of 10,000 U of rFeIFN-omega/eye, CCs stained for Mx protein for a minimum of 7 days, whereas WBCs were positive for Mx protein for a minimum of 31 days. After topical application of lower concentrations, CCs did not express Mx protein, in contrast to WBCs, which stained for Mx protein at 1,000 units for at least 1 day. Following oral administration, Mx protein was expressed in WBCs at rFeIFN-omega concentrations as low as 200 units, whereas CCs did not stain for Mx protein at any concentration. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicate that Mx protein expression (a marker of the biological response to rFeIFN-omega) in CCs and WBCs of rFeIFN-omega-treated cats depends on the dose of rFeIFN-omega, site of administration, and cell type.     

Integrated control of fusarium head blight and deoxynivalenol mycotoxin in wheat

Fusarium head blight (FHB), a devastating disease that affects wheat, is caused by a complex of Fusarium species. The overall impact of Fusarium spp. in wheat production arises through the combination of FHB and mycotoxin infection of the grain harvested from infected wheat spikes. Spike infection occurs during opening of flowers and is favoured by high humidity or wet weather accompanied with warm temperatures. Available possibilities for controlling FHB include the use of cultural practices, fungicides and biological approaches. Three cultural practices are expected to be of prime importance in controlling FHB and the production of mycotoxins: soil preparation method (deep tillage), the choice of the preceding crop in the rotation and the selection of appropriate cultivar.     

Tree species could have substantial consequences on topsoil fauna: a feedback of land degradation/restoration

The characteristics of the faunal community in the soil are closely related to soil quality and function. Land degradation, which reduces vegetation cover, may affect the soil surface-active fauna because both the above ground and below ground invertebrates depend on complex plant communities. In this study, we evaluated the effect of land degradation/restoration and factors affecting soil fauna in northern Iran. The studied land uses were virgin natural forest (VNF), Alnus subcordata C.A.M. plantation (ASP), Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey plantation (QCP), Cupressus sempervirens var. horizontalis plantation (CSP) and degraded natural forest (DNF). VNF and ASP enhanced soil earthworm density (2.43 and 2.12 ind. m^?2) and dry mass (27.44 and 23.39 mg m^?2) with more ratio of epigeic. The activities of acarina (91,851.37 and 85,810.43 ind. m^?2), collembola (83,009.50 and 74,996.18 ind. m^?2) and protozoa [921.25 and 851.81 (×?10² g soil)] were increased under VNF?≈?ASP, respectively. Nematode population (650 in 100 g soil) significantly improved under VNF. In general, good quality forest floor, alkaline soil and accumulation of macro-element nutrients improved biological activities under the VNF and ASP sites, while low-quality forest floor, acidic soil, less macro-elements nutrients decreased biological activities imposed by the QCP, CSP and DNF sites. More activities of the studied soil fauna were found in autumn and spring. The findings of this study support the importance of preserving natural forests. In addition, employing N₂-fixing and suitable native broadleaved species have been proposed in a bid to rehabilitate DNFs.     

Physiological responses of irrigated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes to water stress

The recent drought in South Africa has reduced the production of both dryland and irrigated wheat. This study evaluated physiological traits of irrigated wheat genotypes in response to water stress (WS) imposed at different growth stages. A 8?×?2?×?3 [(genotypes)?×?(water treatmets; stresses and non-stressed)?×?(growth stages; tillering, flowering and grain filling)] factorial experiment based on a randomised complete block design with three replicates was conducetd. In general, the rate of photosynthesis was unaffected by WS except for genotypes LM43 at tillering and LM98 at grain filling. Stomatal conductance (SC) and transpiration rate (Tr) followed the same treand except for genotype LM35 which reduced its SC and Tr significantly at grain filling. Instantaneous waster use efficiency (IWUE) of genotype LM35 and LM57 was unaffected (p?>?0.05) by WS at tillering but at flowering stage it was affected. However, at grain filling IWUE was affected (p?<?0.05) in genotypes LM35, ML57, LM79 and LM 98. The relative water content was unaffected at tillering except for LM35 and LM47 genotypes whereas at flowering LM57, ML79, LM83 and LM98 were affected. These results indicate some degree of drought tolerance of these genotypes at different growth stages.     

Modulation of oxidative damage due to salt stress using salicylic acid in Hordeum vulgare

Oxidative status of salicylic acid (SA) treated barley (Hordeum vulgare) plants grown under saline conditions was examined in a two-year field study during 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 growing seasons. Salinity caused a marked oxidative stress which was manifested as increased concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and reduced grain yield of barley. Barley plants induced antioxidant system to tolerate salt stress, so that activities of four antioxidant enzymes: peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase were enhanced by 22%, 28%, 57% and 44% in the first and by 33%, 20%, 45% and 68% in the second year, respectively. Foliar application of SA in concentration over 0.5 mM enhanced the activities of all four antioxidant enzymes and reduced H₂O₂ content and so enhanced yield. However, higher concentrations of SA reduced grain yield in salt stressed plants in both years, which could be attributed to the negative interaction of antioxidant enzymes with higher concentrations of SA as a non-enzymatic antioxidant. Furthermore, SA is in benzoic acid group and at very higher concentrations can act as an herbicide. It was concluded that SA modulated the oxidative stress through enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes and reduced the salt-induced adverse effect thereby improving grain yield.     

Earthworm population and microbial activity temporal dynamics in a Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forest

Few studies have analyzed how tree species within a mixed natural forest affect the dynamics of soil chemical properties and soil biological activity. This study examines seasonal changes in earthworm populations and microbial respiration under several forest species (Carpinus betulus, Ulmus minor, Pterocarya fraxinifolia, Alnus glutinosa, Populus caspica and Quercus castaneifolia) in a temperate mixed forest situated in northern Iran. Soil samplings were taken under six individual tree species (n = 5) in April, June, August and October (a total of 30 trees each month) to examine seasonal variability in soil chemical properties and soil biological activity. Earthworm density/biomass varied seasonally but not significantly between tree species. Maximum values were found in spring (10.04 m^?2/16.06 mg m^?2) and autumn (9.7 m^?2/16.98 mg m^?2) and minimum in the summer (0.43 m^?2/1.26 mg m^?2). Soil microbial respiration did not differ between tree species and showed similar temporal trends in all soils under different tree species. In contrast to earthworm activity, maximum microbial activity was measured in summer (0.44 mg CO₂–C g soil^?1 day^?1) and minimum in winter (0.24 mg CO₂–C g soil^?1 day^?1). This study shows that although tree species affected soil chemical properties (pH, organic C, total N content of mineral soils), earthworm density/biomass and microbial respiration are not affected by tree species but are controlled by tree activity and climate with strong seasonal dynamics in this temperate forest.