Nutritional Effect of Flaxseeds on Cholesterol Profile and Fatty Acid Composition in Egg Yolk

This experiment investigated the effect of a supplementary dietary source (flaxseed) on egg yolk cholesterol contents and fatty acid profile. Flaxseeds at three different levels (5, 10, and 15%) were supplemented to 84 Rhode Island Red × Fayoumi cross layers during 21–24 weeks of age. The birds were divided randomly into four groups. Flaxseeds were supplemented in the diet at the level of 5% (FS‐5), 10% (FS‐10), and 15% (FS‐15), and one group served as the control (FS‐0). Cholesterol content of eggs was not significantly affected by flaxseed. The amount of monounsaturated fatty acids was significantly decreased with the increase in the flaxseed level, and the highest reduction was observed in FS‐15. The highest total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and total omega‐3 PUFA were recorded in FS‐15. These findings reflect that unsaturated healthy fatty acid content in poultry eggs can be increased with dietary supplementation of flaxseed.     

Variation in clove (Syzygium aromaticum) germplasm in the moluccan islands

Summary One hundred clove trees from a total of 34 wild and cultivated populations, mainly in the north and central Moluccas, were examined for morphological variation. Data were evaluated using cluster analysis, principal co-ordinates analysis and canonical variates analysis. Considerable morphological variation was evident and was largely attributable to between-population sources. There was more variation among wild cloves than among cultivated populations. Several of the cultivated populations were shown to be morphologically distinct. Flower bud characters were most valuable in distinguishing between populations; leaf and flower bud cluster characters were also useful. Permanent germplasm collections are needed to conserve variation.     

Quality indicators of cultured Newfoundland blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) during storage on ice: microbial growth, pH, lipid oxidation, chemical composition characteristics, and microbial fatty acid contents

To devise proper strategies to evaluate and maintain the quality of cultured blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) during storage on ice, this study examined the potential use of microbial growth, pH, lipid oxidation, and composition characteristics as quality indicators. It also evaluated the use of individual (i15:0, ai15:0, i16:0, ai16:0, i17:0, ai17:0, 17:0) and total bacterial fatty acid contents as a rapid method to examine the microbial quality of stored mussels. Linear regression analyses of the storage period of mussels vs various quality indicators indicated that the strongest correlation was between the storage period and microbial growth (r = 0.973, p < 0.0001) followed by the microbial fatty acid ai15:0 content (r = 0.903, p < 0.0001) and ash content (r = 0.819, p = 0.0002). All other correlations between the storage period and quality indicators were moderate (r = 0.500-0.700 and p < 0.05), poor (r < 0.500 and p > 0.05), or negative (r = -0.657 and p = 0.027).     

Solubility and speciation of zinc in calcareous soils

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - The objective of this study was to evaluate the formation of a probable Zn solid phase in soils. Thermodynamic solubility isotherms revealed that ZnFe2O4, Zn2SiO4...     

Development of Chemical Index as a Measure of In-Stream Water Quality in Response to Land-Use and Land Cover Changes

Water pollution in response to accelerated land-use/land cover changes has drawn concerns because of public health and environmental impacts. The study was conducted to evaluate the impact of land use/land cover changes, seasonal, and location on water quality of streams within the Wheeler Lake Watershed basin in northern Alabama. Temporal water samples from 18 sheppard streams were randomly collected in 2000 and 2001, processed and analyzed for pH, and total nitrogen (TN), dissolved (Dp), particulate (Pp) and total phosphorus (Tp), dissolved oxygen (DO) and soluble lead (Pb) concentration, employing standard methods of analysis. The data were normalized and integrated into a simple index (WQC_Index) to evaluate stream water quality. Results showed that the urban proportion of the total watershed basin had increased from 2.9 to 14.7% with an associated loss of agricultural (8.9%) and wetland (4.8%) covers from 1992 to 2000. A change in land-use/land covers in association with seasonal and location variation significantly affected stream water quality. Total nitrogen concentration in stream water had a peak during the summer at 34% above the annual mean. While both Pp and Tp concentrations peaking during the summer at 24% above the annual mean and about 25% below the annual mean during spring, the DO concentrations were 46% above the annual mean during the fall and 18 to 26% below annual mean during summer. The WQC_Index had responded very seasonal and showed significant identical trends, with 21% degradation in water quality during the summer above the annual mean and improvement during the spring at 20% above the annual mean. Upstream water had a significantly greater Pp and Tp (21 to 28%) concentration than at down- and middle streams water. Location and seasonal variations had significant interactive effects on Pp, Tp and DO concentration of stream water. Total amount of seasonal rainfall significantly accounted 99.6% of the variations in WQC_Index. Increasing seasonal mean relative humidity, air and soil temperature, evaporation and solar radiation had positive relationship with the variations in WQC_Index. Among the water quality parameters, both Pp and Tp were correlated (r ² = 0.998^?*?) to each other, and accounted for more than 80% variability of the WQC_Index. Highly significant positive linear relationship between Pp and Tp concentration suggested that 99.8% of the P in stream water is in Pp form which probably transported with sediments in surface runoff. In other words, Pp is the main pollutant responsible for degradation of stream water quality in the Wheeler lake basin. Routine measurement of either Pp or Tp concentration could be used as sensitive and early indicator of temporal changes in stream water quality even when the other parameters changed negligibly or remain unchanged.     

Geochemical Behavior of Arsenic in Kelly Lake,Ontario

The objective of this study was to investigate the geochemical behavior of As in Kelly Lake, Ontario. A total of 65 water samples were collected from August 1998 to October 1999. Concentrations of As (total, dissolved and particulate) were determined in each water sample. Thermodynamic models suggest that As interactions with Fe hydroxides could limit As concentrations in Kelly Lake water samples (by adsorption and forming arsenate minerals). It was concluded that Fe(II) arsenates (and not Fe(III) arsenate) formation/dissolution could control As concentrations in Kelly Lake. The activity of As (in terms of HAsO₄ ^2-) in the water samples was calculated from the monitoring data. The calculated activities were superimposed on the thermodynamic model of As minerals. All the calculated activity observations clustered around the Fe₃(AsO₄)₂.8H₂O(c)/Fe₄Fe₂(OH)₁₂. SO₄(c).These observation suggest that the solubility of As in Kelly Lake is controlled by the equilibrium of Fe₃(AsO₄)₂.8H₂O(c)/Fe₄Fe₂(OH)₁₂.SO₄(c), as suggested by thermodynamic solubility isotherms. The As concentration data were limited and spatial trend could not be verified in Kelly Lake water samples, although a decreasing trend in As concentrations at all depths was noticed from June to October 1999.     

Zinc alleviates growth inhibition and oxidative stress caused by cadmium in rice

A hydroponic experiment with two rice cultivars differing in cadmium (Cd) tolerance was conducted to investigate the alleviating effect of zinc (Zn) on growth inhibition and oxidative stress caused by Cd. Treatments consisted of all combinations of two Zn concentrations (0.2 and 1 μM), three Cd concentrations (0, 1, and 5 μM), and two rice cultivars (Bing 97252, Cd‐tolerant; Xiushui 63, Cd‐sensitive). Cd toxicity caused a dramatic reduction in plant height and biomass, chlorophyll concentration and photosynthetic rate, and an increase in Cd concentration in both roots and shoots, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities in shoots. The response of all these parameters was much larger for Xiushui 63 than for Bing 97252. Addition of Zn to the medium solution alleviated Cd toxicity, which was reflected in a significant increase in plant height, biomass, chlorophyll concentration, and photosynthetic rate, and a marked decrease in MDA concentration and activity of anti‐oxidative enzymes. However, it was noted that Zn increased shoot Cd concentration at higher Cd supply, probably due to the enhancement of Cd translocation from roots to shoots. Therefore, further studies are necessary to determine the effect of Zn supply on Cd translocation from vegetative organs to grains or grain Cd accumulation before Zn fertilizer is applied to Cd‐contaminated soils to alleviate Cd toxicity in rice.