Rate of degradation of alpha-tocopherol,squalene, phenolics,and polyunsaturated fatty acids in olive oil during different storage conditions

Changes in the concentration of tocopherol, monophenols, o-diphenols, squalene, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in olive oil were evaluated during 1 year at various storage conditions. Samples of two different extra virgin olive oil (EOO), produced in Calabria (Italy), were stored in dark and in colorless bottles, filled up completely or to half, in order to simulate the domestic storage conditions. The extent of oxidation or photooxidation was monitored by periodic measurements of peroxide values and the rate of degradation of alpha-tocopherol, o-diphenols, squalene, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The quantitative analysis of the constituents has been performed by HPLC-DAD, HPLC-MS, and GC-MS. The main changes in the concentrations of the analyzed compounds were associated with the major oxygen level in the half-empty glass bottles. alpha-Tocopherol was the first molecule to be oxidized (-20% after 2 months, -92% after 12 months). Squalene and o-diphenols were protected in the first months by the presence of alpha-tocopherol, and their content decreased significantly only after 6 and 8 months, respectively, in the half-empty bottles. The concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids remained almost constant during 8 months for all four different storage conditions; their oxidation started when the level of the antioxidants decreased.     

Effects of Hormonal Supplementation on Nuclear Maturation and Cortical Granules Distribution of Canine Oocytes During Various Reproductive Stages

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of hCG, progesterone and oestradiol supplementation on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation of canine oocytes cultured for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Oocytes obtained from 18 healthy bitches were divided into three groups according to their reproductive status (follicular, luteal and anoestrus stages) and cultured in TCM 199 + 25 UI/ml of hCG + 1 μg/ml of progesterone + 1 μg/ml of 17‐β oestradiol or without hormonal supplementation (control) for different periods. Then, they were stained with FITC‐LCA‐Hoescht for chromatin configuration and cortical granules distribution and evaluated under an epifluorescence microscope. Culture time and the influence of different stages of the oestrous cycle were also evaluated. The present study demonstrated that there was no significant difference among the reproductive stages. With regards to culture medium, only oocytes from the supplemented medium were able to complete meiosis; however, significant difference was only noticed in the percentage of MI stage oocytes (p < 0.05) in the follicular and luteal group at 72 h of culture. Most oocytes in germinal vesicle, germinal vesicle breakdown and metaphase I stage had cortical granules distributed throughout the cytoplasm (immature pattern), irrespective of the culture period (p < 0.05). Cortical granules distributed immediately beneath the plasma membrane (mature) was only observed in metaphase II stage oocytes, but not all of them presented matured cytoplasm. Our results reveal that cortical granules distribution in canine oocytes matured in vitro did not progressed in correspondence with nuclear stage changes and are in accordance with those from other species.     

The isolation and serology of Brucella melitensis in a flock of goats in central RSA

Brucella melitensis biotype 1 was isolated in pure culture from the lungs, liver, spleen, kidney, stomach contents, abomasum and brain of an aborted caprine (Boer goat) foetus in the district of Cullinan near Pretoria. The 18 does and 1 ram in the flock of Boer goates were examined serologically by means of the complement fixation (CF) test, using Brucella abortus antigen. Six weeks later they were examined again, using B. abortus as well as B. melitensis biotype 1 antigens. No significant differences were found between the 2 CF tests using B. abortus antigen, or between the results obtained by using the B. abortus and B. melitensis antigens. Twelve goats, showing CF antibody titres, were slaughtered and examined bacteriologically. No relationship was found between the serological and bacteriological results.     

Uncoupling and inhibition properties of 3,4-seco-friedelan-3-oic acid isolated from Maytenus imbricata

3,4-Seco-friedelan-3-oic acid was isolated from Maytenus imbricata (Celastraceae). At low concentrations it inhibited non-cyclic electron transport and ATP synthesis in spinach chloroplasts, i.e., it behaved as a Hill reaction inhibitor, and at high concentrations it acts as an uncoupler by enhancing uncoupled electron transport and Mg²⁺-ATPase activity. 3,4-Seco-friedelan-3-oic acid did not inhibit PSII electron transport from DPC to DCPIP_ox and photosystem I activity, but it enhanced from TMQH₂ to MV, corroborating its action as uncoupler. It inhibits electron flow through PSII from water to sodium silicomolybdate. The whole results indicate that the 3,4-seco-friedelan-3-oic acid target is at the OEC complex enzyme, the donor side of PSII. The fluorescence decay data shows the formation of the K-band, which match this result, acting as inhibitor at the donor side of PSII and it as an uncoupler.     

Use of reflectance measurements for the early detection of N,P, Mg,and Fe deficiencies in Zea mays L.

Mineral deficiencies can seriously reduce crop yield and economic returns to farmers. Reflectance measurements may provide inexpensive and fast estimates of the mineral status of plants. This study was conducted to examine specific changes of leaf reflectance due to nutrient deficiencies. During the 1998 and 1999 growing seasons leaf scans of N‐, P‐, Mg‐, and Fe‐deficient corn plants were performed with a digital LEICA S1 PRO camera under controlled light conditions. Leaf scans were evaluated with the L*a*b*‐color system. This is a three‐dimensional system with parameter a* describing the green/red percentage and parameter b* the blue/yellow percentage of a color. L* represents the lightness of a color. The a* and b* parameters provided good prediction of N, P, Mg, and Fe status of the plants in the wavelength ranges of 380—390 nm, 430—780 nm, 516—780 nm, 516—IR, and 540—600 nm because reflectance changed specifically due to the nutrient deficiency. Analyses of water‐soluble and propanol‐soluble pigments showed no significant changes in absorbance during latent deficiency. The results indicate that reflectance measurements may provide a powerful tool for the specific detection of latent nutrient deficiencies in corn plants.     

Characterization of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown with biopesticides and deltamethrin

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physico-chemical characteristics and the post-harvest loss of mass of curly lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cv. Verônica that was grown in a protective environment with applications of biopesticides. The curly lettuce was treated by spraying with neem oil, cassava flour wastewater (manipueira), biofertiliser or the control treatment of deltamethrin. We determined the weight, circumference, dry matter, ash, crude protein, total phenols and minerals profile for the heads of lettuce. After harvesting, the lettuce was packed into opened plastic bags and kept at 5 °C for 5 days to evaluate its weight loss. No differences were observed among the treatments for the physico-chemical parameters. The lettuce that was sprayed with manipueira or biofertiliser had the greatest weight loss during storage. The achievement of similar yields with cheaper products suggests a benefit of using organic bioinsecticides.     

The geologically recent giant impact basins at Vesta's south pole

Dawn's global mapping of Vesta reveals that its observed south polar depression is composed of two overlapping giant impact features. These large basins provide exceptional windows into impact processes at planetary scales. The youngest, Rheasilvia, is 500 kilometers wide and 19 kilometers deep and finds its nearest morphologic analog among large basins on low-gravity icy satellites. Extensive ejecta deposits occur, but impact melt volume is low, exposing an unusual spiral fracture pattern that is likely related to faulting during uplift and convergence of the basin floor. Rheasilvia obliterated half of another 400-kilometer-wide impact basin, Veneneia. Both basins are unexpectedly young, roughly 1 to 2 billion years, and their formation substantially reset Vestan geology and excavated sufficient volumes of older compositionally heterogeneous crustal material to have created the Vestoids and howardite-eucrite-diogenite meteorites.     

A serological comparison of complement fixation reactions using Brucella abortus and B. melitensis antigens in B. abortus infected cattle

Brucella abortus and B. melitensis antigens were used in parallel on the National Standard Brucella abortus antiserum and on field sera coming from cattle where practically exclusively B. abortus biotypes 1 and 2 have been isolated over the last 11 years. With the National Standard serum the titres to B. melitensis were consistently lower than those to B. abortus antigen. Most were 1 dilution (twofold) lower. Although a similar trend was seen with the field sera, there were 7/346 sera which had twofold or higher titres to B. melitensis antigen. Although this may be due to the vagaries of the test it also warrants closer investigation of the animals concerned to see whether M-antigen predominant Brucella biotypes are possibly present. The use of the dual antigens could identify herds which are infected only with A-antigen predominant brucellae but would not be reliable for classifying individual animals.