Wheat Gluten Polymer Structures: The Impact of Genotype,Environment, and Processing on Their Functionality in Various Applications

For a number of applications, gluten protein polymer structures are of the highest importance in determining end‐use properties. The present article focuses on gluten protein structures in the wheat grain, genotype‐ and environment‐related changes, protein structures in various applications, and their impact on quality. Protein structures in mature wheat grain or flour are strongly related to end‐use properties, although influenced by genetic and environment interactions. Nitrogen availability during wheat development and genetically determined plant development rhythm are the most important parameters determining the gluten protein polymer structure, although temperature during plant development interacts with the impact of the mentioned parameters. Glutenin subunits are the main proteins incorporated in the gluten protein polymer in extracted wheat flour. During dough mixing, gliadins are also incorporated through disulfide‐sulfhydryl exchange reactions. Gluten protein polymer size and complexity in the mature grain and changes during dough formation are important for breadmaking quality. When using the gluten proteins to produce plastics, additional proteins are incorporated in the polymer through disulfide‐sulfhydryl exchange, sulfhydryl oxidation, β‐eliminations with lanthionine formation, and isopeptide formation. In promising materials, the protein polymer structure is changed toward β‐sheet structures of both intermolecular and extended type and a hexagonal close‐packed structure is found. Increased understanding of gluten protein polymer structures is extremely important to improve functionality and end‐use quality of wheat‐ and gluten‐based products.     

Barley forages for modern global ruminant agriculture: A review

Ruminants have evolved on forages that comprise major portions of most modern dairy and beef cattle diets. Cattle require minimum amount of effective fiber to maintain healthy rumen conditions. However, high fibre levels limits feed intake. Dietary fiber levels and physical properties contribute to such hypophagia. Forage bulkiness, particle size, lignification and rumen passage rate determine fiber quality. Barley forage (BF, Hordeum vulgare, L.) serves dairy diets where and when alfalfa or corn silages are less accessible. Being lower in protein, intermediate in soluble protein, and higher in starch and cellulose, barley silage (BS) is a suitable replacement for alfalfa silage. Barley forages have usually lower fiber levels among winter cereal crops. Barley forages may not reduce feed intake as much as other cereal crops, notably triticale and oats. Beef studies suggest superior or similar weight gain and feed efficiency by feeding BS versus wheat, triticale and oat silages. Growth response to BS appears comparable to corn silage. Reduced BS particle size reduces chewing activity in lactating cows, and even with adequate fiber intake has little effect on milk fat. Inoculants containing Lactobacillus buchneri, Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus pentosaceus, and Propionibacterium freudenreichii along with carbohydrases can lower silage pH and improve organic acids production and silage aerobic stability. Altered barley silage chop length alters chewing activity but not necessarily rumen pH. Maturity stage affects nutritional value of BF due to altered protein and fiber contents and rumen fermentation patterns. Genetic variance among BF cultivars can affect nutrient profiles and rumen digestibility. Barley forages are cost-effective entities along with alfalfa hay and silage and corn silage for environmentalist ruminants to host optimal rumen and peripheral nutrient metabolism. Adequate effective fiber with sufficient but not very high fermentable starch, and modest degradable proteins make BF a unique ingredient for the sustainable modern ruminant production.     

Preparation of extract-loaded nanocapsules from Onopordon leptolepis DC.

Sesquiterpenes have antifungal, antibacterial, and anesthetic properties. It is also thought that they prevent migraines and can be used as antibiotics and to treat malaria, but there are very few in-depth testing results available to support these claims. Nanocapsules coated by medicinal plants have many applications in drug manufacturing. Medicinal plants can be loaded on nanocapsules with the polyester triblock copolymer polyethylene glycol-polybutylene adipate-polyethylene glycol (PEG-PBA-PEG) as the shell and olive oil as the core by a process known as the polymer deposition solvent evaporation method. It has been shown that the size of nanocapsules depends on a variety of factors, such as the ratio of polymer to oil, concentration of polymers, and concentration of plant extract. In this research we attempted to prepare nanocapsules by emulsification of a mixture of onopordopicrin extracted from Onopordon leptolepis DC., polymer, acetone, and olive oil in aqueous phase without using surfactant. The nanocapsules were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and zeta potential sizer.     

Restless Legs Syndrome in shift workers: A cross sectional study on male assembly workers

Background  

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological movement disorder characterized by symptoms that follow a circadian pattern. Night and rotating shift work schedules exert adverse effects on functions of the human body by disturbing circadian rhythms, and they are known to cause sleep disturbances and insomnia. In this paper, we investigate the possible association between shift work and RLS.     

Barley grain for ruminants: A global treasure or tragedy

Barley grain (Hordeum vulgare L.) is characterized by a thick fibrous coat, a high level of β-glucans and simply-arranged starch granules. World production of barley is about 30% of that of corn. In comparison with corn, barley has more protein, methionine, lysine, cysteine and tryptophan. For ruminants, barley is the third most readily degradable cereal behind oats and wheat. Due to its more rapid starch fermentation rate compared with corn, barley also provides a more synchronous release of energy and nitrogen, thereby improving microbial nutrient assimilation. As a result, feeding barley can reduce the need for feeding protected protein sources. However, this benefit is only realized if rumen acidity is maintained within an optimal range (e.g., >5.8 to 6.0); below this range, microbial maintenance requirements and wastage increase. With a low pH, microbial endotoxines cause pro-inflammatory responses that can weaken immunity and shorten animal longevity. Thus, mismanagement in barley processing and feeding may make a tragedy from this treasure or pearl of cereal grains. Steam-rolling of barley may improve feed efficiency and post-rumen starch digestion. However, it is doubtful if such processing can improve milk production and feed intake. Due to the need to process barley less extensively than other cereals (as long as the pericarp is broken), consistent and global standards for feeding and processing barley could be feasibly established. In high-starch diets, barley feeding reduces the need for capacious small intestinal starch assimilation, subsequently reducing hindgut starch use and fecal nutrient loss. With its nutritional exclusivities underlined, barley use will be a factual art that can either matchlessly profit or harm rumen microbes, cattle production, farm economics and the environment.     

Two new coumarins from Euonymus hamiltonianus

Two new coumarins, named Euonidiol (1) and Euoniside (2) were isolated from the aerial parts of Euonymus hamiltonianus.     

Photosynthetic reaction,mineral uptake,and fruit quality of strawberry affected by different levels of macronutrients

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of three nutrient recipes containing different concentrations of macronutrients in the vegetative stage [Vegetative Nutrient Solution: (VNS-I, VNS-II, and VNS-III)] and two nutrient recipes in reproductive stage [Reproductive Nutrient Solution: (RNS-I and RNS-II)], on physiological and biochemical parameters of strawberry ‘Paros’ in a soilless system. The results indicated the significant effects of nutrient solution on the photosynthetic capacity, yield, minerals uptake and titratable acidity of strawberry fruits. In the other hand fruit total soluble solids affected by vegetative nutrient solution. The highest yield was obtained under application of lowest level of minerals. Vegetative growth including leaf number and leaf area, as well as total chlorophyll were the highest as potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), and nitrogen (N) concentrations were increased. The highest content of N and Ca²⁺ uptake were in VNS-III × RNS-I formulation. Additionally, the highest vitamin C was in VNS-I formulation. Moreover, the most firmed fruits and the highest post-harvest shelf life of fruits were produced in VNS-III × RNS-I formulation.     

Application of Zeolites for Sustainable Agriculture: a Review on Water and Nutrient Retention

Developing urbanization, water shortage, watercourse pollution, and demands for more food due to population growth require a more efficient water irrigation and fertilizer application. Retaining nutrients and water in agricultural soils brings about higher crop yields and prevents pollution of water courses. Among different solutions, zeolites, which are environmental friendly, ubiquitous, and inexpensive, have been extensively employed in agricultural activities. These minerals are considered as soil conditioners to improve soil physical and chemical properties including infiltration rate, saturated hydraulic conductivity (K _s), water holding capacity (WHC), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Natural and surface-modified zeolites can efficiently hold water and nutrients including ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), nitrate (NO₃ ^?) and phosphate (PO₄ ^3?), potassium (K⁺), and sulfate (SO₄ ^2?) in their unique porous structures. Their application as slow-release fertilizers (SRFs) are reported as well. Therefore, zeolite application can improve both water use efficiency (WUE) and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in agricultural activities and consequently can reduce the potential of surface and groundwater pollution. This review paper summarizes findings in the literature about the impact of zeolite applications on water and nutrient retention in the agriculture. Furthermore, it explores benefits and drawbacks of zeolite applications in this regard.

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Effects of Haloxylon spp. of Different Age Classes on Vegetation Cover and Soil Properties on an Arid Desert Steppe in Iran

In arid regions, afforestation has been considered as a method for ecological revival in terms of vegetation enrichment and soil amelioration. In this study, the effects of afforestation with Haloxylon spp. on vegetation cover and soil properties were measured < 3, 3, 6, and 25 years after planting in an arid desert in Iran. Soil samples were collected at two depths (0-30 and 30-60 cm) under and between shrub canopies. Afforestation succession significantly affected plant community characteristics. In total, 16 species from 8 families and 15 genera were observed along the afforestation successional gradient. Plant species richness and diversity and vegetation cover increased slowly during the succession, and reached the maximum values in the area where Haloxylon had been planted for 25 years. Soil nutrient values gradually increased during the succession, and the levels of organic matter, total nitrogen, available potassium, and available phosphorus were significantly higher under Haloxylon canopies than between them. Afforestation reduced soil pH under and between Haloxylon canopies during the succession, while soil electrical conductivity followed an opposite pattern. Haloxylon planting increased the silt content in the 0-30 cm soil layer. Our results suggest that Haloxylon establishment plays an important role in the reestablishment of desertified ecosystems in arid regions.