Effect of Sugars on Retrogradation of Waxy Maize Starch‐Sugar Extrudates

The effect of sucrose, fructose, and xylose on the retrogradation of waxy maize starch extrudates at relatively low moisture contents (20–50 g of water/ 100 g of dry solid) at 277–353 K was investigated using X‐ray diffraction and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry. The role of the sugar depended on the type of sugar and its concentration, but most importantly on the retrogradation conditions (water content and storage temperature). For the isothermal retrogradation at 313 K, fructose considerably increased the rate of retrogradation over the range of water contents investigated, and the increase was proportional to the sugar concentration. The behavior of xylose and sucrose was more complex. At 10% sugar content, both sugars enhanced starch retrogradation, while at 30% sugar content, xylose accelerated the process at <35% (mc, dsb) but decreased the rate constant when more water was present. This crossover took place at 42% mc for sucrose. Sugars enhanced the transformation of the A‐type polymorph to a so‐called pseudo‐B with an X‐ray diffractogram similar to that of B‐type starch, with the exception of the 1.6‐nm peak which was considerably depressed. The effects of these sugars on the retrogradation kinetics in variable storage temperature conditions mirrored those obtained when isothermal retrogradation was examined in the water content domain.     

Response of fingerling stinging catfish,Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch) to varying levels of dietary l‐leucine in relation to growth,feed conversion,protein utilization,leucine retention and blood parameters

Growth response of fingerling Heteropneustes fossilis (6.8 ± 0.2 g; 11.2 ± 0.3 cm) to dietary l ‐leucine levels was assessed by conducting 8‐week feeding trial in a flow‐through system (1–1.5 L min^?1) at 28 °C water temperature. Casein–gelatin‐based isonitrogenous (380 g kg^?1; crude protein) and isoenergetic [17.9 MJ kg^?1; gross energy (GE)] basal diet was supplemented with different levels of l ‐leucine to achieve desired leucine levels ranging between 10 and 22.5 g kg^?1 dry diet. Analysed values were 9.9 (Lc_9.9), 12.4 (Lc_12.4), 15.1 (Lc_15.1), 17.4 (Lc_17.4), 20.1 (Lc_20.1) and 22.4 (Lc_22.4) g leucine kg^?1 diet. Fishes were stocked randomly in quadruplicates and fed to satiation at 07:00 and 17:30 h. Maximum absolute weight gain (AWG g fish^?1), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein utilization efficiency (PUE%), leucine retention efficiency (LRE%) and haematological parameters were found in fish fed diet Lc_17.4. For precise determination of dietary leucine requirement of Singhi, AWG g fish^?1, FCR, PUE% and LRE% were subjected to broken‐line and second‐degree polynomial regression analysis. Second‐degree polynomial regression analysis fitted the data more accurately (P > 0.05) exhibiting high R² values. Hence, based on this analysis, dietary leucine requirement of fingerling H. fossilis is recommended to be 16.5 g kg^?1 of the diet, corresponding to 43.4 g kg^?1 protein for developing leucine‐balanced commercial feeds.     

Effects of dietary arginine levels on growth, feed conversion, protein productive value and carcass composition of stinging catfish fingerling Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch)

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying levels of dietary arginine on growth, feed conversion, protein productive value and carcass composition of fingerling Heteropneustes fossilis (10.11?±?0.14?cm; 5.87?±?0.07?g). Casein and gelatin-based isonitrogenous (38% crude protein) and isocaloric (14.72 kJ?g^?1 digestible energy) amino acid test diets with varying levels of l-arginine (1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, 2.00 and 2.25?g 100?g^?1 of dry diet) were fed to randomly assigned triplicate groups of fish to apparent satiation twice daily at two feeding schedules (08.00 and 17.30?h). Thermal growth coefficient (TGC; 0.86), feed conversion ratio (FCR; 1.97) and protein productive value (PPV; 0.25) were best attained by the group fed diet containing 1.75?g arginine 100?g^?1 of dry diet (D4). Carcass protein content also peaked at the above level of dietary arginine whereas carcass lipid showed consistent drop with the increase in dietary arginine level up to 1.75?g 100?g^?1 of dry diet. Second-degree polynomial regression analysis at 95% maximum and minimum response of thermal growth coefficient, feed conversion, protein productive value, carcass protein and lipid productive value against varying levels of dietary arginine yielded that dietary arginine in the range of 1.51–1.66?g 100?g^?1 of dry diet, corresponding to 3.97–4.37?g 100?g^?1 protein is adequate to optimize growth, feed conversion, protein productive value and improve carcass quality in fingerling H. fossilis.     

林草植被恢复类型对黄土团聚体稳定性和入渗特性的影响

[目的]对比不同林草植被恢复类型下黄土团聚体稳定性和入渗特性的差异,为黄土高原地区生态恢复模式的合理优化提供理论支持。[方法]以黄土区撂荒地(C₁,对照)、苜蓿地(C₂)、天然草地(C₃)、油松+侧柏混交林(L₁)、刺槐+侧柏混交林(L₂)为对象,采用萨维诺夫法和单环双水头法分别测定了水稳性团聚体组成状况、饱和导水率(K_s)。以平均质量直径(MWD)、几何直径(GMD)、颗粒分形维数(D)、破坏率(PAD)、>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体占比(M_w)和饱和导水率为评价指标,分析了不同林草植被恢复类型的土壤团聚体稳定性和入渗特性差异及其影响因素。[结果](1)0—30 cm土层范围内,C₁的GMD和MWD最低,林草植被恢复类型的GMD,MWD表现为L₁和C₃>L₂和C₂,而PAD和D则相反。(2)0—10 cm土层,L...