Evaluation of rainfall kinetic energy and erosivity in northern Taiwan using kriging with climate characteristics

A localized rainfall kinetic energy (E) equation and an erosivity map were developed, and the suitability of the universal soil loss equation (USLE) for assessing the soil erosion of a non‐US region was investigated. After accurately measuring and gathering data regarding raindrop size using disdrometers in four northern Taiwan locations, this study investigated the drop size distribution under different conditions by categorizing the rainfall patterns to develop regression equations for estimating the unit volume‐specific kinetic energy (KE_mm) and the unit time‐specific kinetic energy (KE_time) of northern Taiwan. Climate zoning, which is not considered in currently used designs, was then implemented along with two‐stage cluster analysis to construct a rainfall erosivity (R) distribution map using the kriging model. The binary polynomial regression function of KE_time, which had the highest correlation (R² = 0.98), was suggested to estimate E in northern Taiwan. It was found that the pattern and intensity (I) of rainfall will slightly affect E. The climatic influence on the root mean square of the semivariogram was significant, which suggests that climate zoning can help estimate the rainfall erosivity (R). The outcomes were extended to estimate R in areas without rainfall stations.     

Effects of dietary supplementation of alga Haematococcus pluvialis (Flotow), synthetic astaxanthin and β-carotene on survival, growth, and pigment distribution of red devil, Cichlasoma citrinellum (Günther)

Dietary carotenoids of various types and concentration can affect the pigmentation efficiency in an ornamental fish red devil, Cichlasoma citrinellum . Astaxanthin (AX) containing alga Haematococcus pluvialis , a synthetic AX, and a synthetic β-carotene (BC) were supplemented in formulated diets at two concentrations, 80 and 160 mg kg⁻¹, resulting in six pigmented diets. Formulated diet without carotenoids supplementation served as a control. These diets were fed to the fish, for 8 weeks. Astaxanthin dominated in body carotenoids deposition. Dietary BC hardly had contribution to body AX. Control fish had much lower AX content in skin, fin and muscle than fish fed pigmented diets, but had equal AX content in liver, intestine and gonad as those fish. Dietary synthetic AX had equal efficiency in depositing AX in skin and fin as natural AX but higher efficiency in gonad than natural AX. Fish fed AX supplemented at 160 mg kg⁻¹, either natural or synthetic AX, had higher AX content in skin than fish at 80 mg kg⁻¹ but had equal AX content in fin as fish at 80 mg kg⁻¹. Disregarding the treatment effects, the overall average AX content in tissue in descending order was gonad>fin≧(intestine=skin)>liver>muscle.     

Effects of different dosages of astaxanthin on giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) challenged with Lactococcus garvieae

The effects of astaxanthin (AX) injected at 0.67 and 1.34 nmol g^?1 BW^?1 on the survival, antioxidant capacity, total haemocyte count (THC) and hepatopancreas astaxanthin content of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, challenged with Lactococcus garvieae were evaluated. AX‐injected M. rosenbergii at 1.34 nmol g^?1 BW^?1 had significantly (P≤0.05) higher survival rates. However, AX showed no significant effects on the capacity of certain antioxidant indicators (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase). This implies that L. garvieae infection suppressed the activity of the haemolymph antioxidant system of infected M. rosenbergii. This result suggests that the two different dosages used in this study could not exert significant effects on the tested antioxidant capacity of L. garvieae‐infected M. rosenbergii. On the other hand, AX‐injected M. rosenbergii at either dose showed a significant increase in the THC and hepatopancreas AX content when compared with the challenged control group. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the injected AX led to an improvement in M. rosenbergii's resistance against L. garvieae infection.     

Cu~(2+)Zn~(2+)Cd~(2+)对五种单细胞藻类光和色素含量的影响

报道了在Cu2 +Zn2 +和Cd2 +的毒害作用下 ,三角褐指藻、湛江等鞭藻、绿色巴夫藻、青岛大扁藻和小球藻等单细胞藻类中光和色素 1、色素 2和总色素的含量。三种离子以Cd的毒性最大 ,Cu次之 ,Zn最弱。色素 1对重金属毒性较敏感。在 5种藻类中 ,扁藻和巴夫藻的色素含量受毒性影响相对较小     

Evaluation of suitable temperature range for post‐harvest processing of mud crabs through cardiac performance

Measurements of either heartbeats or heart rate variability provide important information on metabolic changes and stress responses. In this study, we aimed to determine the suitable temperature conditions for maintaining product quality for post‐harvest processing of mud crab (Scylla serrata) through measuring cardiac performance. A bundle of implanted electrodes was used to record the electrocardiogram, from which the heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were derived to evaluate the physiological performances of the crabs under tying at different seawater temperatures. The lowest standard deviation of HR was detected at the seawater temperature of 18°C for the group of ascending temperatures and at 10°C for the group of descending temperatures. Lower HRV was detected at the range from 10 to 14°C. The results suggest that the temperature range of 14–18°C is suitable to reduce variability in heart rate and may decrease physiological stress. These conditions might help maintain the quality of live crabs during post‐harvest processing and transportation.     

"Lard fruit" domesticated in China

In this article the attention is drawn to the domestication of Hodgsonia macrocarpa, a melon species with oil-containing seeds. It can yield annually two and a half kilogrammes of edible oil per plant.     

Luteolin inhibits the release of glutamate in rat cerebrocortical nerve terminals

The present study investigated the effect and possible mechanism of luteolin, a food-derived flavonoid, on endogenous glutamate release in nerve terminals of rat cerebral cortex (synaptosomes). Luteolin inhibited the release of glutamate evoked by the K(+) channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), and this phenomenon was concentration-dependent. The effect of luteolin on the evoked glutamate release was prevented by the chelation of the extracellular Ca(2+) ions and by the vesicular transporter inhibitor, but was insensitive to the glutamate transporter inhibitor. Luteolin decreased the 4-AP-induced increase in [Ca(2+)](C), whereas it did not alter 4-AP-mediated depolarization. Furthermore, the effect of luteolin on evoked glutamate release was abolished by blocking the Ca(v)2.2 (N-type) and Ca(v)2.1 (P/Q-type) channels, but not by blocking the ryanodine receptors or the mitochondrial Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange. In addition, the inhibitory effect of luteolin on evoked glutamate release was prevented by the mitogen-activated/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) inhibitors. Western blot analyses showed that luteolin decreased the 4-AP-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and synapsin I, the main presynaptic target of ERK. Thus, it was concluded that luteolin inhibits glutamate release from rat cortical synaptosomes through the suppression of presynaptic voltage-dependent Ca(2+) entry and MEK/ERK signaling cascade.     

Formation and inhibition of cholesterol oxidation products during marinating of pig feet

Cholesterol oxidation products (COPs), formed during the heating of cholesterol-rich foods, have been shown to cause cancer and coronary heart disease. The objectives of this study were to develop a GC-MS method for the determination of COPs in pig feet meat, skin, and juice during marinating and to study the formation and inhibition of COPs as affected by the incorporation of soy sauce and sugar. Results showed that an HP-5MS column could provide an adequate separation of cholesterol, 5α-cholestane (internal standard), and seven COPs, including 7α-OH, 7β-OH, 5,6β-OH, 5,6α-OH, triol, 25-OH, and 7-keto, within 15 min with a temperature-programming method. Most COPs in pig feet meat were generated at a larger amount than in pig feet skin and marinating juice over a 24 h heating period at about 100 °C. The Maillard browning index rose with increasing heating time, whereas the pH showed a slight change in marinated juice. Both reducing sugar and free amino acid contributed to the formation of Maillard reaction products. The incorporation of soy sauce and crystal sugar into fresh juice was effective in inhibiting COPs formation in pig feet, skin, and juice over a 30 min preheating period.     

The immediate effects of weaning stress on the hypothalamus‐pituitary‐adrenal alteration of newly weaned piglets

This study was conducted to examine the effects of weaning stress on gene expression of specific markers in hypothalamus‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis and neuronal activity in the newly weaned piglets. Twelve 28‐days‐old, newly weaned crossbred (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc) male piglets from 6 l (2 piglets/l) were randomly categorized into two groups: (a) weaning stress: piglets were separated from their dams, relocated and mixed with the unacquainted domestic piglets for 2 hr (stress, n = 6); (b) no‐stress: piglets stayed with their dams in the farrowing house (NS; n = 6). After weaning stress, all piglets were electrically euthanized and the blood samples/HPA tissues were collected for subsequent analysis, including plasma cortisol and mRNA expression of c‐fos, c‐jun, corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH), CRH receptor 1 (CRHR‐1) and adrenocorticotropin hormone receptor (MC2R). Results: Weaning stress significantly (p < 0.05) increased the plasma cortisol level and suppressed the expression of c‐fos and CRH in hypothalamus. In addition, weaning stress enhanced the mRNA abundance of c‐jun and CRHR‐1 in the pituitary gland. No significant differences in the gene expression of MC2R and CRHR‐1 were observed in the adrenal gland between treatment groups. Taken together, HPA involved in weaning stress and CRHR‐1 and c‐jun could be potential markers to evaluate the activation of HPA axis.