Effects of must concentration techniques on wine isotopic parameters

Despite the robustness of isotopic methods applied in the field of wine control, isotopic values can be slightly influenced by enological practices. For this reason, must concentration technique effects on wine isotopic parameters were studied. The two studied concentration techniques were reverse osmosis (RO) and high-vacuum evaporation (HVE). Samples (must and extracted water) have been collected in various French vineyards. Musts were microfermented at the laboratory, and isotope parameters were determined on the obtained wine. Deuterium and carbon-13 isotope ratios were studied on distilled ethanol by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), respectively. The oxygen-18 ratio was determined on extracted and wine water using IRMS apparatus. The study showed that the RO technique has a very low effect on isotopic parameters, indicating that this concentration technique does not create any isotopic fractionation, neither at sugar level nor at water level. The effect is notable for must submitted to HVE concentration: water evaporation leads to a modification of the oxygen-18 ratio of the must and, as a consequence, ethanol deuterium concentration is also modified.     

Changes of ochratoxin A in grapes inoculated with Aspergillus carbonarius and subjected to chamber-drying under controlled conditions

The production pattern for ochratoxin A in grapes inoculated with Aspergillus carbonarius and changes in its concentration during raisining of Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Cabernet Sauvignon red grapes and Pedro Ximenez white grape were studied. Grapes were chamber-dried under controlled temperature and humidity conditions, with and without dipping pretreatments in alkaline emulsions of olive oil or ethyl oleate. Based on the results for the grapes that developed the fungus (Merlot and Pedro Ximenez), a temperature of 50 °C in the absence of dipping stopped ochratoxin A production and even degraded part of the toxin already formed. Both dipping pretreatments facilitated removal of the toxin and led to its virtually complete disappearance. However, dipping in the ethyl oleate emulsion caused substantial changes in the sensory characters of the musts obtained from the raisins, so it should be avoided to ensure the expected quality in the sweet wines elaborated from them.     

Compost suppressiveness against Fusarium oxysporum was not reduced after one-year storage under various moisture and temperature conditions

The effect of storage conditions on compost suppressiveness against fusarium wilt of melon, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (FOM) was studied in relation to the dynamics of compost microbial activity and biodegradability. For this purpose, mature suppressive compost, prepared from tomato plants and separated cow manure, was divided into four portions and stored for one year under cool/warm (12 or 28 °C) or dry/wet (15-35 or 55-65% moisture content) conditions, in four different combinations: cool-dry, warm-dry, cool-wet and warm-wet. All composts retained and even enhanced their suppressive capacity during storage, with no significant differences among them by the end of the storage period. However, significant differences were found in the dynamics of some of the measured chemical and microbial properties. The microbial activity of composts stored under wet conditions was higher than that of those stored under dry condition, which resulted in a substantial decrease in dissolved organic matter content (expressed as dissolved organic carbon; DOC) and increase in its recalcitrance to biological degradation, decrease in basal heat emission, slower response to added glucose or citric acid, and higher NO₃ concentration, indicating increased nitrification under wet conditions. The DOC significantly correlated with several microbial properties as well as with compost suppressiveness of fusarium wilt of melon seedlings, and may be regarded as a most suitable general index for compost maturity. A best-subset multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the three best predictors, namely dissolved organic carbon (DOC), basal heat, and mesophilic bacterial counts, could explain as much as 83% of the total variance in compost suppressiveness. The generally agreed association between compost maturity and suppressiveness was verified in this case. It appears that compost microbial populations might compete and interfere with the saprophytic stage of FOM conidia, between germination and host invasion. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that compost suppressiveness against fusarium wilt of melon can be maintained for at least one year under a wide range of storage conditions, without any loss of suppressive capacity. This fact has positive logistical implications for the use of suppressive composts against FOM.     

Comparative toxicity of several insecticides to eggs,larvae and adults of the Egyptian cottonworm,Spodoptera littoralis,in laboratory trials

Insecticides commonly used in cotton fields in Israel against lepidopterous pests were tested against eggs, as well as against 2nd-instar larvae and adults raised from eggs ofSpodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) collected in cotton fields in the Bet She’an Valley. Methomyl, chlorpyrifos, methidathion, monocrotophos, ethyl parathion, and methyl parathion were effective against eggs even at low doses, profenofos and phosfolan were less active, and azinphos-methyl was ineffective. The doses needed for 90% kill (LD ₉₀ ) of the 2nd-instar larvae were 8.5, 35, 280, 1300 and 3400 g a.i./1000 m ² for chlorpyrifos, methomyl, profenofos, methyl parathion and ethyl parathion, respectively; monocrotophos was inactive against 2nd-instar larvae even at relatively high doses. The LD ₉₀ of adults was reached with 16, 32, 1700 and 6100 ga.i./l000 m² of chlorpyrifos, methomyl, ethyl parathion and profenofos, respectively. Only chlorpyrifos and methomyl gave successful control of all three stages of the insect tested, at doses close to those generally used with aerial applications.     

Applying biofloc technology in the culture of juvenile of Piaractus brachypomus (Cuvier, 1818): Effects on zootechnical performance and water quality

The aim of this study was to assess the zootechnical performance and water quality of a cachama blanca (Piaractus brachypomus) culture using biofloc technology (BFT) versus a system with daily water exchange (DWE). To do this, 180 juveniles (mean initial weight: 5.40 ± 0.19 g) were distributed in 12 circular plastic tanks with stocking densities of 20 or 40 individuals m³; then, they were cultured for 91 days. BFT treatments kept a C:N ratio approximately of 15:1. Temperature, pH and oxygen were monitored daily, while the other variables were measured weekly. Most productive variables were significantly influenced by both culture system and stocking density with significantly higher values of daily weight gain, total weight gain and total length for fish kept in DWE 20. However, only minor differences were observed within the BFT system. With the exception of the toxic nitrogen compounds (NH₄⁺ and NO₂^?), all the other water quality parameters were within the acceptable ranges for the cultivation of tropical fish. Microorganisms started to settle from the first week. A total of 23 genera were present, the most outstanding of which being seven genera of ciliates and three rotifers, rhizopods and chlorophytes. In conclusion, both systems BFT and DWE are useful for increasing the production of P. brachypomus in captivity. Additionally, the BFT system can potentially be applied for growing juveniles of this specie in regions with scarce water resources.     

Activity,molecular mass and hydrolysis on baker's yeast protein of extracellular proteases from the putative probiotic bacteria Microbacterium sp. strain 8L and Exiguobacterium mexicanum strain 8N

The bacteria Microbacterium sp. 8L and Exiguobacterium mexicanum 8N are known to improve the culture of Artemia franciscana using baker's yeast as food. Using spectrophotometry, sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE), substrate‐SDS‐PAGE and pH‐stat in vitro‐digestibility assays, the activity, molecular mass and hydrolysis on baker's yeast protein of proteases from extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of the strains 8L and 8N along with the pathogenic strains Microbacterium sp. 8R and Vibrio parahaemolyticus 588 CECT (Vp) were studied. The EPSs of 8L and 8R showed one activity band, on which the serine inhibitor phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF) had no effect. The EPSs of 8N showed four bands; two were unaffected by PMSF, whereas one was affected, and the other was partially affected. The EPSs of Vp showed two bands, one partially inhibited by PMSF. No inhibitory effects from 1‐chloro‐3‐tosylamido‐7‐amino‐2‐heptanone (trypsin inhibitor) were observed in the protease bands of the studied bacteria. The EPSs of 8L and 8N showed a similar degree of hydrolysis (pH‐stat). The EPSs of 8L had the lowest Dice index of similarity of yeast protein profiles at 1 h of reaction. We conclude that the strain 8L could benefit A. franciscana by providing bacterial proteases for digestion of baker's yeast.     

Optimisation of Healthy-Lipid Content and Oxidative Stability during Oil Extraction from Squid (Illex argentinus) Viscera by Green Processing

Green extraction was applied to Argentinean shortfin squid (Illex argentinus) viscera, consisting of a wet pressing method including a drying step, mechanic pressing, centrifugation of the resulting slurry, and oil collection. To maximise the oil yield and ω3 fatty acid content and to minimise the oil damage degree, a response surface methodology (RSM) design was developed focused on the drying temperature (45–85 °C) and time (30–90 min). In general, an increase of the drying time and temperature provided an increase in the lipid yield recovery from the viscera. The strongest drying conditions showed a higher recovery than 50% when compared with the traditional chemical method. The docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acid contents in the extracted oil revealed scarce dependence on drying conditions, showing valuable ranges (149.2–166.5 and 88.7–102.4 g·kg⁻¹ oil, respectively). Furthermore, the values of free fatty acids, peroxides, conjugated dienes, and ω3/ω6 ratio did not show extensive differences by comparing oils obtained from the different drying conditions. Contrary, a polyene index (PI) decrease was detected with increasing drying time and temperature. The RSM analysis indicated that optimised drying time (41.3 min) and temperature (85 °C) conditions would lead to 74.73 g·kg⁻¹ (oil yield), 1.87 (PI), and 6.72 (peroxide value) scores, with a 0.67 desirability value.     

Structure and composition of canine urinary calculi

The chemical constituents of 171 specimens of canine urinary calculi have been analysed by infrared spectroscopy. The analysis revealed that 46 per cent of the total contained struvite as the major component; 26 per cent contained cystine; 16 per cent were found to be composed of whewellite and, or, weddellite; 8 per cent of urates; 3 per cent of calcium phosphate (apatite and, or, brushite) and 1 per cent of silica. A series of selected samples was also studied by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). This examination revealed structures similar to human stones. Potassium and complex urates containing two or more cations were commonly found in many areas of ammonium urate and sodium urate calculi. Moreover, EDAX analysis detected a calcium enriched urate in several zones of urate calculi.     

Application of a dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for evaluation of the immune status to canine parvovirus and distemper virus in adult dogs before revaccination.

A growing body of literature has been published indicating that the current practice of annual vaccination of dogs may not be beneficial and in some cases may even be harmful. A number of publications have proposed assessing the immune status of dogs before annual revaccination. In this study the usefulness of a commercially available dot-ELISA kit was evaluated to determine the duration IgG antibody titers to canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine distemper virus (CDV) in 158 dogs vaccinated at least one year ago. Overall, the percentage of dogs with protective antibody titers to both CPV and CDV was 84%. The percentage of dogs with borderline antibody titers was 11% for CPV and 10% for CDV. Four percent of the dogs had no detectable antibody to CPV and 6% had no antibody to CDV. The results reported here are in good agreement with other studies measuring IgG antibody levels. It is concluded that the kit offers veterinarians the opportunity of determining antibody titers and revaccinating only those pets whose antibody titers to specific diseases have waned.     

The interactive effect of an AM fungus and an organic amendment with regard to improving inoculum potential and the growth and nutrition of Trifolium repens in Cd-contaminated soils

Aspergillus niger-treated dry olive cake (DryOC) can be used as a soil organic amendment and the aim of this work was to study the effectiveness of this amendment and a Cd-adapted arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus in improving Trifolium repens growth and nutrition in Cd-contaminated soil. In a compartmentalized growth system, consisting of a root compartment (RC) and two hyphal compartments (HCs), we investigated the influence of the amendment on intraradical and extraradical AM fungi development. In addition, we studied the viability and infectivity of the detached extraradical mycelium in plants, designated as receptor plants, grown in the HC after removal of the RC. Both the amendment and the AM fungus increased shoot and root biomass and nodulation in both the non-contaminated and Cd-contaminated soils. The positive interaction between the microbiologically treated DryOC and the AM fungus resulted in the highest plant yield, which can be explained by enhanced nutrient acquisition and arbuscular richness as well as by the immobilisation of Cd in amended soils. However, A. niger-treated DryOC had no effect on the extraradical mycorrhizal mycelium development. Although Cd decreased AM hyphal length density, symbiotic infectivity was similar in receptor plants grown in non-contaminated and contaminated soil, thus confirming the AM fungal inoculum potential.The combination of the AM fungus and A. niger-treated DryOC increased plant tolerance to Cd in terms of plant growth and nutrition and can be regarded as an important strategy for reclaiming Cd-contaminated soils.