Fluorescence, browning index, and color in infant formulas during storage

Free and total fluorescent compounds, browning index, and color formation were measured in milk-based powdered infant formulas (IF) during 2 years of storage at 20 and 37 degrees C. The excitation spectra from 415 nm emission show three peaks (ex lambda1 = 270 nm, lambda2 = 325/315 nm, lambda3 = 350 nm) and from 347 nm excitation two emission peaks (415 and 520 nm), and no wavelength shifts were observed. Temperature and time of storage exert in general no significant effect on the development of fluorescence emission intensity and browning index. However, an important increase in pentodilysine was recorded-probably because of the iron and ascorbic acid contents of the samples-as well as in browning index in adapted IF. In both IF a color increase (deltaE) throughout storage was observed, this increase being greater in samples stored at 37 degrees C than in those stored at 20 degrees C. The increase in color with time fitted a linear regression model. Color appeared to be an indicator of sufficient sensitivity to measure the effect of temperature or storage time.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of manganese toxicity,tolerance, and amelioration with silicon in snapbean

Plant genotypes within species differ widely in tolerance to excess manganese (Mn) that may occur in acid soils, or in neutral or alkaline soils having poor aeration caused by imperfect drainage or compaction. However, Mn tolerance mechanisms in plants are largely unknown. Silicon (Si) is reported to detoxify Mn within plants, presumably by preventing localized accumulations of Mn associated with lesions on leaves. Because Mn is paramagnetic, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, shows promise as a tool for characterizing toxic and non‐toxic forms of Mn in tolerant and sensitive plants. The objective of our study was to use EPR to: i) determine the chemical/ physical state of Mn in Mn‐tolerant and ‐sensitive snapbean cultivars; and ii) characterize the protective effects of Si against Mn toxicity. Manganese‐sensitive Wonder Crop 2 (WC) and Mn‐tolerant Green Lord (GL) cultivars of snapbean were grown at pH 5.0, in a greenhouse, in a modified Steinberg solution containing: Mn=0.05mg.L^‐1 (optimal); Mn=1.0mgL^‐1 (toxic); Mn=1.0 mg L^‐1 plus Si=4 mg L^‐1; and Mn=0.05 mg L^‐1 plus 4 mg Si L^‐1. All trifoliate leaf samples exhibited a 6‐line EPR signal that is characteristic of hexaaquo Mn²⁺. In both cultivars, a higher EPR Mn²⁺ signal‐intensity generally correlated with lower total leaf mass, higher total Mn concentrations and more pronounced symptoms of toxicity. Tolerance to excess Mn coincided with lower Mn²⁺ signal intensity. Silicon treatments ameliorated Mn toxicity symptoms in both genotypes, decreased total leaf Mn concentrations, and decreased EPR Mn²⁺ signal intensity. Results suggest that Mn toxicity is associated with reduced electron transport and accumulation of oxidation products in leaves. Amelioration of Mn toxicity by Si is regarded as connected with a reduction in this Mn‐induced process. Results indicated that EPR spectroscopy can be useful in investigating the biochemical basis for differential Mn tolerance in plants. The EPR observations might also help plant breeders in developing Mn‐tolerant cultivars.     

Method for estimation of ocean current velocity from satellite images

Barotropic instability waves on a shear interface propagate at the average speed of the water on the two sides. Assuming the instability to be excited by tidal oscillations, the phase speed is the wavelength divided by the tidal period. If the water is at rest on one side of the shear layer the current speed on the other side can be calculated. This method, applied to the Gulf Stream beyond Cape Hatteras as seen in satellite images, gives estimates of current speed in general agreement with in situ observations.     

细胞质对普通小麦面包加工品质的影响

为探明不同胞质背景对杂种小麦面包JJD-r品质的影响,测定了4个强筋品种与4个中弱筋品种按NCⅡ设计配制的32个正反交组合及T型、K型、AL型、A型4种胞质背景的14个组合的F2籽粒的硬度、GMP含量,Zeleny沉淀值、面团流变学参数和面包体积等面包加工品质性状.结果表明:①强筋组亲本对除吸水率和评价值之外的其他面包加工品质性状均具有显著的有利于面包加工品质的普遍胞质效应;豫麦34、郑麦9023和陕优225在多个面包加工品质性状方面具有显著有利的一般胞质效应;陕优225的面包体积的一般胞质效应为14 mL,达到5%的显著水平.因此,在面包小麦育种中要注意安排强筋亲本作母本.②就面包体积而言,T型和K型不育胞质相对于A型胞质具有有利的一般胞质效应,AL型不育胞质与A型胞质相当.组合T-西农772 X AL-RI的T型不育胞质的个别胞质效应为60 mL,组合K-西农772 X T6-3的K型不育胞质的个别胞质效应为98 mL,且均达5%的显著水平.T,K和AL型不育胞质可用于面包小麦杂种优势利用.     

海西东部及环青海湖地区40多年的气候变化研究

利用1961～2004年地面观测资料,分析了海西东部及环青海湖地区年、季气候变化的特征和规律。结果表明,海西东部及环青海湖40多年来年季平均气温平均增温幅度为0．3～0．6℃,平均最低和最高气温多数季节增温具有非对称性。并且20世纪90年代四季增暖最为明显。夏季和冬季降水略有增加,而过渡季节降水变化基本呈减少趋势。年均和秋、冬、春、夏四季的气温变化倾向率均为正值．分别为0．48、0．57、0．692、0．337、0．373℃／10a。冬、夏季降水变化的倾向率为0．442、4．672mm／10a;而秋、春季了水变化的倾向率为-2．304、-0．022mm／10a。冬季降水量和累计积雪量的缓慢增加容易导致该地区地表积雪的积累,极易形成雪灾或低温冻害。春季气温升高、降水减少。干旱发生的频次将增加;秋、冬季气温上升幅度比较大．将有利于病虫害的越冬、繁殖,加重病虫害对农牧业生产的危害程度。     

黄浦江上游近自然混交林和人工纯林水源涵养功能评价

以上海黄浦江上游水源涵养林为研究对象,选择近自然混交林、香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)人工纯林和无患子(Sapindus mukorossi)人工纯林,对比了地上部分、枯落物层、土壤层三个垂直层次的持水量,综合评价了其水源涵养功能。结果表明:地上部分持水量近自然混交林与香樟纯林持平,大于无患子纯林,分别为16.36t/hm2,16.85t/hm2,12.54t/hm2;枯落物层最大持水量依次为近自然混交林(0.37t/hm2)无患子纯林(0.004t/hm2)香樟纯林(0.003t/hm2);土壤层最大持水量近自然混交林(2 657.02t/hm2)无患子纯林(2 526.81t/hm2)香樟纯林(2 474.80t/hm2)。土壤层对森林涵养水源功能的贡献最大,但同时离不开地上部分及枯落物层三者间的相互依存和影响。综合评价得到不同类型林分的总持水量为近自然混交林(2 673.73t/hm2)无患子纯林(2 539.35t/hm2)香樟纯林(2 491.65t/hm2)。由此可见,林分复杂、树种多样、林下植被丰富的近自然混交林涵养水源的能力最强,优于单一的无患子纯林,而香樟纯林最差。     

Chemical speciation of copper and manganese in solution of a copper-contaminated soil and young grapevine growth with amendment application

Copper(Cu)-based fungicide application to control foliar diseases in grapevine(Vitis vinifera L.) can increase soil Cu availability. Brazilian soils have high natural Cu and manganese(Mn) concentrations, increasing the potential for toxicity to grapevine plants. Application of amendment substances can reduce the concentrations of toxic chemical species of Cu and Mn in soil solution, especially for the soils grown with young plants. We evaluated the chemical speciation of Cu and Mn in soil soluti...     

Physical carbon‐sequestration mechanisms under special consideration of soil wettability

The protective impact of aggregation on microbial degradation through separation has been described frequently, especially for biotically formed aggregates. However, to date little information exists on the effects of organic‐matter (OM) quantity and OM quality on physical protection, i.e., reduced degradability by microorganisms caused by physical factors. In the present paper, we hypothesize that soil wettability, which is significantly influenced by OM, may act as a key factor for OM stabilization as it controls the microbial accessibility for water, nutrients, and oxygen in three‐phase systems like soil. Based on this hypothesis, the first objective is to evaluate new findings on the organization of organo‐mineral complexes at the nanoscale as one of the processes creating water‐repellent coatings on mineral surfaces. The second objective is to quantify the degree of alteration of coated surfaces with regard to water repellence. We introduce a recently developed trial that combines FTIR spectra with contact‐angle data as the link between chemical composition of OM and the physical wetting behavior of soil particles. In addition to characterizing the wetting properties of OM coatings, we discuss the implications of water‐repellent surfaces for different physical protection mechanisms of OM. For typical minerals, the OM loading on mineral surfaces is patchy, whereas OM forms nanoscaled micro‐aggregates together with metal oxides and hydroxides and with layered clay minerals. Such small aggregates may efficiently stabilize OM against microbial decomposition. However, despite the patchy structure of OM coating, we observed a relation between the chemical composition of OM and wettability. A higher hydrophobicity of the OM appears to stabilize the organic C in soil, either caused by a specific reduced biodegradability of OM or indirectly caused by increased aggregate stability. In partly saturated nonaggregated soil, the specific distribution of the pore water appears to further affect the mineralization of OM as a function of wettability. We conclude that the wettability of OM, quantified by the contact angle, links the chemical structure of OM with a bundle of physical soil properties and that reduced wettability results in the stabilization of OM in soils.     

Influence of the species and geographical location on volatile composition of Spanish oak wood (Quercus petraea Liebl. and Quercus robur L.)

The influence of the species and geographical origin on the volatile composition of wood samples from 80 Spanish oaks (55 Quercus petraea Liebl. and 25 Quercus robur L.) has been studied. Oak volatile components were isolated by simultaneous distillation-extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. cis- and trans-beta-methyl-gamma-octalactones were the main constituents, the cis stereoisomer being predominant. Other important volatile components were furfural, 5-methylfurfural, guaiacol, eugenol, vanillin, or syringaldehyde. The main differences were established between species, Quercus petraea being significantly richer in volatile compounds than Quercus robur; however, the variability found among trees was high. Differences among geographical provenances were much less important than those found between species.