Characterization of the most odor-active volatiles of orange wine made from a Turkish cv. Kozan (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck)

The aroma-active compounds of cv. Turkish Kozan orange wine were analyzed by sensory and instrumental analyses. Liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane was used for extraction of volatile components. According to sensory analysis, the aromatic extract obtained by liquid-liquid extraction was representative of orange wine odor. A total of 63 compounds were identified and quantified in orange wine. The results of the gas chromatography-olfactometry analysis showed that 35 odorous compounds were detected by the panelists. Of these, 28 aroma-active compounds were identified. Alcohols followed by terpenes and esters were the most abundant aroma-active compounds of the orange wine. Among these compounds, ethyl butanoate (fruity sweet), 3-methyl-1-pentanol (roasty), linalool (floral citrusy), gamma-butyrolactone (cheesy burnt sugar), 3-(methylthio)-propanol (boiled potato, rubber), geraniol (floral citrusy), and 2-phenylethanol (floral rose) were the most important contributors to the aroma of the orange wine because they were perceived by all eight panelists.     

Heterologous expression and characterization of an N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidase from Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis IL1403

The lnbA gene of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis IL1403 encodes a polypeptide with similarity to lacto-N-biosidases and N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidases. The gene was cloned into the expression vector pET-21d and overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21* (DE3). The recombinant purified enzyme (LnbA) was a monomer with a molecular weight of approximately 37 kDa. Studies with chromogenic substrates including p-nitrophenyl N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine (pNP-GlcNAc) and p-nitrophenyl N-acetyl-β-D-galactosamine (pNP-GalNAc) showed that the enzyme had both N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase and N-acetyl-β-D-galactosaminidase activity, thus indicating that the enzyme is an N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidase. K(m) and k(cat) for pNP-GlcNAc were 2.56 mM and 26.7 s(-1), respectively, whereas kinetic parameters for pNP-GalNAc could not be determined due to the K(m) being very high (>10 mM). The optimal temperature and pH of the enzyme were 37 °C and 5.5, respectively, for both substrates. The half-life of activity at 37 °C and pH 6.0 was 53 h, but activity was completely abolished after 30 min at 50 °C, meaning that the enzyme has relatively low temperature stability. The enzyme was stable in the pH 5.5-8 range and was unstable at pH below 5.5. Studies with natural substrates showed hydrolytic activity on chito-oligosaccharides but not on colloidal chitin or chitosan. Transglycosylation products were not detected. In all, the data suggest that LnbA's role may be to degrade chito-oligosaccharides that are produced by the previously described chitinolytic system of L. lactis.     

Predicting Rice Yield Under Salinity Stress Using K/Na Ratio Variable in Plant Tissue

Estimation of yield reduction in crop caused by the salinity stress is mostly based on variations of soil electrical conductivity and the severity of water stress. Crop response curves to salinity were developed without considering ion toxicity and nutritional imbalance in the plant. The objective of this study was to explore the possibility of using the ratio of the concentration of potassium by sodium in rice leaf (leaf-K/Na) to predict yield under the salinity stress. The rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield under fresh and saline condition and the leaf-K/Na related database was created. Data were collected from consecutive three seasons of a field experiment in the Africa Rice Center experimental farm in Senegal (16° 11? N, 16° 15?W). We studied the relationship between the relative yield (Y_r), a ratio of yield under the salinity stress to the potential yield and the leaf-K/Na (x). Furthermore, we did regression analyses and F-test to determine the best fitting function. Results indicate that the exponential function [i.e. Y_r = 100 exp (-b x)] was the best fitting model with the lowest root mean square error (9.683) and the highest R² value (0.90). Example applications on independent data from published papers showed relatively good predictions, suggesting that the model can be used to predict rice yield in saline soils.     

Determining milk isolated and conjugated trans-unsaturated fatty acids using fourier transform Raman spectroscopy

The feasibility of Raman spectroscopy in combination with partial least-squares (PLS) regression for the determination of individual or grouped trans-monounsaturated fatty acids (trans-MUFA) and conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) in milk fat is demonstrated using spectra obtained at two temperature conditions: room temperature and after freezing at -80 °C. The PLS results displayed capability for direct semiroutine quantification of several individual CLA (cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 C18:2) and trans-MUFA (trans-4-15 C18:1) in minor concentrations (below 1.0 g/100 g of milk fat). Calibration models were based on reference data cross-correlation or determined by specific scattering signals in the Raman spectra. Distinct bands for trans-MUFA (1674 cm(-1)) and CLA (1653 cm(-1)) from the trans isolated and cis,trans conjugated C ═ C bonds were identified, as well as original evidence for the temperature effect (new bands, peak shifts, and higher intensities) on the Raman spectra of fatty acid methyl ester and triacylglyceride standards, are supplied.     

Treatment of Hydroponics Wastewater Using Constructed Wetlands in Winter Conditions

Hydroponics culture generates large amounts of wastewater that are highly concentrated in nitrate and phosphorus but contains almost no organic carbon. Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been proposed to treat this type of effluent, but little is known about the performance of these systems in treating hydroponic wastewater. In addition, obtaining satisfactory winter performances from CWs operated in cold climates remains a challenge, as biological pathways are often slowed down or inhibited. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of plant species (Typha sp., Phragmites australis, and Phalaris arundinacea) and the addition of organic carbon on nutrient removal in winter. The experimental setup consisted of 16 subsurface flow CW mesocosms (1 m², HRT of 3 days) fed with 30 L?d¹ of synthetic hydroponics wastewater, with half of the mesocosms fed with an additional source of organic carbon (sucrose). Carbon addition had a significant impact on nitrate and phosphate removal, with removal means of 4.9 g m^-2?d^-1 of NO₃-N and 0.5 g m^-2 d^-1 of PO₄-P. Planted mesocosms were generally more efficient than unplanted controls. Furthermore, we found significant differences among plant treatments for NO₃-N (highest removal with P. arundinacea) and COD (highest removal with P. australis/Typha sp.). Overall, planted wetlands with added organic carbon represent the best combination to treat hydroponics wastewater during the winter.     

Good quality chicks from disinfected eggs

目前,良好的清洗和消毒被广泛地认为是孵化场优化1日龄苗鸡(Day Old Chick,DOC)生产的一种措施.良好的种蛋卫生已证明可提高DOC的存活率和质量.事实上,细菌通过蛋壳侵入种蛋的强穿透能力会影响孵化质量的诸多方面,如早期胚胎死亡率、蛋黄感染、出壳前的DOC死亡率,除此之外还有第1周中苗鸡极高的死亡率和不均匀性.     

Effect of Weight Gain and Subsequent Weight Loss on Glucose Tolerance and Insulin Response in Healthy Cats

The effects of weight gain and subsequent weight loss on glucose tolerance and insulin response were evaluated in 12 healthy cats. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT) were performed at entry into the study, after a significant gain of body weight induced by feeding palatable commercial cat food ad libitum, after a significant loss of body weight induced by feeding a poorly palatable purified diet to discourage eating and promote fasting, and after recovery from fasting when body weight had returned to pre-study values and cats were eating commercial foods. A complete physical examination with measurement of body weight was performed weekly, a CBC and serum biochemistry panel were evaluated at the time of each IVGTT, and a liver biopsy specimen obtained 2 to 4 days after each IVGTT was evaluated histologically for each cat. Mean serum glucose and insulin concentrations after glucose infusion and total amount of insulin secreted during the second 60 minutes and entire 120 minutes after glucose infusion were significantly (P > .05) increased after weight gain, as compared with baseline. At the end of weight loss, cats had hepatic lipidosis and serum biochemical abnormalities consistent with feline hepatic lipidosis. There was a significant (P > .05) increase in mean serum glucose concentration and t_1/2, and a significant (P > .05) decrease in mean serum insulin concentration and the glucose disappearance coefficient (K) after glucose infusion for measurements obtained after weight loss, compared with those obtained after weight gain and at baseline. Insulin peak response, insulino-genic index, and total amount of insulin secreted during the initial 10 minutes, 20 minutes, and 60 minutes after glucose infusion were decreased markedly (P > .05), compared with measurements obtained after weight gain and at baseline. In addition, the total amount of insulin secreted for 120 minutes after glucose infusion was decreased markedly (P > .05) in measurements obtained after weight loss, compared with those obtained after weight gain. At the end of recovery, all cats were voluntarily consuming food, serum biochemical abnormalities identified after weight loss had resolved, the number and size of lipid vacuoles in hepatocytes had decreased, and results of IVGTT were similar to those obtained at baseline. These findings confirmed the reversibility of obesity-induced insulin resistance in cats, and documented initial deterioration in glucose tolerance and insulin response to glucose infusion when weight loss was caused by severe restriction of caloric intake.     

Isolation and analysis of the non-hydrolysable fraction of a forest soil and an arable soil (Lacadée, southwest France)

Recent studies have pointed to the occurrence in soil organic matter of an insoluble macromolecular fraction, resistant to drastic alkali and acid hydrolysis. This non-hydrolysable fraction may contribute to the stable carbon pool in the soil and thus be important for the global carbon budget. We have developed a method to isolate such chemically resistant components, whilst ensuring complete elimination of the hydrolysable constituents of the organic matter but avoiding the formation of insoluble compounds via Maillard-type condensation reactions. Maize leaves, material especially susceptible to artefact formation, were used for this optimization. Several of the treatments that we tested, including the Klason lignin protocol, proved unsuitable. The most suitable protocol, by progressive hydrolysis with trifluoroacetic and hydrochloric acid, revealed a non-hydrolysable fraction in maize leaves accounting for about 5% by weight of the leaves and corresponding chiefly to lignin and condensed tannins. The protocol was applied to a forest soil and to the soil from an adjacent plot cleared 35 years ago and since cropped continuously with maize. The abundance, chemical composition and sources of the non-hydrolysable fraction of these two soils were determined by a combination of spectroscopy, pyrolysis and electron microscopy. This fraction accounted for about 6% of the total organic carbon of both soils; it contains aliphatic moieties, black carbon, melanoidins and, we think, condensed tannins.