Nutritional values and antioxidative activities of whole peanuts and peanut skins for ruminant feeds

This study was conducted to investigate the nutritive values of two peanut by‐products, nonstandardized whole peanuts and peanut skins, along with their effects on microbial growth and fermentation in the rumen, their roughage values, and their antioxidative activities by a digestion trial using four goats. The experimental rations were alfalfa haycube (basal ration), 85% alfalfa with 15% whole peanuts, and 70% alfalfa with 15% whole peanuts and 15% peanut skins. The ether extracts and crude protein in whole peanuts were 47% and 27% on a dry matter basis (DM) both with over 90% of digestibilities, resulting in total digestive nutrients (TDN) of 140%. Peanut skins also had a high energy value with 91% of TDN. Ruminal concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (VFA) and acetic acid decreased in the rations containing the peanut by‐products, but the NDF digestibility and ruminal microbial protein estimated from urinary purines was not altered by feeding the peanut by‐products. Plasma oxidative stress maker, malondialdehyde, tended to be lower when peanut skins were supplemented. Whole peanuts and peanut skins could be used as high‐energy and high‐protein diets for ruminants, and peanut skins would be expected as a feed having antioxidant functions.     

Effect of bovine lactoferrin feeding on lipopolysaccharide-induced metabolic and hormonal disturbances in preruminant calves

One of the biological functions of bovine lactoferrin (LF) is modulation of the host defense system, including cytokine production and immune response. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of oral administration of LF in calves on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced metabolic and hormonal changes in inflammatory response. Thirty Holstein calves at 4 day of age were given one of three oral doses of LF (0, 1, 3 g/day) for 10 days (?10 day to ?1 day). They were injected i.v. with LPS (50 ng/kg bodyweight) the day (day 0) after the end of LF treatment. Plasma samples were obtained on ?10, 0 day (immediately before LPS injection), and at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after LPS injection. Plasma tumor necrosis factor‐α concentrations at 2 h after LPS treatment were lower (P < 0.05) in LF 1 g/day‐fed claves compared with LF 0 g/day (control) calves. On day 0 there were no significant group differences in plasma LF concentration. Plasma concentration of haptoglobin in control calves was elevated by LPS injection. In LF groups, plasma haptoglobin concentrations slightly increased after LPS injection, but those levels at 6–24 h were lower (P < 0.05) than in the control group. The LF treatment inhibited (P < 0.05) the reduction of plasma ferrin concentration in calves following LPS challenge. The concentration of plasma aspartate aminotransferase in calves treated with LF was lower (P < 0.05) than in control calves at 24–96 h after LPS treatment. The concentration of plasma insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) in all groups was decreased by LPS treatment, while in the LF groups the IGF‐1 level was higher (P < 0.05) than in the control group. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and insulin concentrations in LF groups were lower (P < 0.05) than in control calves at 2 h after LPS injection. These data suggest that LF has a substantial anti‐inflammatory effect on the modulation of the host defense system in preruminant calves.     

Cross protection in mice and swine immunized with live erysipelas vaccine to challenge exposure with strains of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae of various serotypes

Mice and swine immunized subcutaneously with live vaccine prepared from acriflavine-fast attenuated Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, strain Koganei (serotype 2), were challenge exposed to virulent strains of E rhusiopathiae of various serotypes. Vaccinated mice did not die after challenge exposure to serotypes 1a, 1b, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, or N, but 20% to 30% mortality occurred in vaccinated mice challenge exposed to serotypes 10, 14, 20, or 22. Nonvaccinated control mice died after challenge exposure to all serotypes tested. Vaccinated swine challenge exposed to strain 14B (serotype 9) or strain 2179 (serotype 10) developed localized urticarial lesions at the site of intradermal exposure. Vaccinated swine challenge exposed to serotypes 1a, 1b, 2, 5, 8, 11, 12, 18, 19, or 21 did not have clinical signs of acute erysipelas. Nonvaccinated control swine developed acute generalized erysipelas or localized lesions at the site of intradermal exposure.     

Ant28 gene for proanthocyanidin synthesis encoding the R2R3 MYB domain protein (Hvmyb10) highly affects grain dormancy in barley

A number of anthocyanin- and proanthocyanidin-free mutants (ant mutants) in barley were induced and selected because of breeding interest to reduce proanthocyanidins, which could cause haze and degrade the quality of beer. Ant loci, known as anthocyanin or proanthocyanidin synthesis genes, are classified into Ant1 to Ant30 through allelism tests. However, only the Ant18 gene has been molecularly shown to encode dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR), which is involved in both anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin synthesis. In this study, an R2R3 MYB gene of barley was isolated by PCR and named Hvmyb10 due to its similarity to Tamyb10 of wheat, which is a candidate for the R-1 gene grain color regulator. The predicted amino acid sequences of Hvmyb10 showed high similarity not only to Tamyb10 but also to TT2, the proanthocyanidin regulator of Arabidopsis. Non-synonymous nucleotide substitutions in the Hvmyb10 gene were found in all six ant28 mutants tested. Mapping showed that a polymorphism in Hvmyb10 perfectly cosegregated with the ant 28 phenotype on the distal region of the long arm of chromosome 3H. These results demonstrate that ant28 encodes Hvmyb10, the R2R3 MYB domain protein that regulates proanthocyanidin accumulation in developing grains. The reduced grain dormancy of ant28 mutants compared with those of the respective wild types indicates that Hvmyb10 is a key factor in grain dormancy in barley.     

Surfactant-Assisted Sono-breakage of Wastewater Particles for Improved UV Disinfection

Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection of wastewater is adversely affected by the presence of particle-associated bacteria. Earlier studies have shown that disrupting these particles by ultrasonic cavitation can enhance the UV disinfection of wastewater. However, the use of ultrasound as a pretreatment technology for UV disinfection is hindered by its high energy demand. In this work, the addition of several organic solutes, including 1-propanol, 1-hexanol, and pentyl acetate, to promote the cavitation process and to improve the breakage of wastewater particles was examined. It was found that the enhancement in the cavitation and the breakage efficiency of particles was positively related to the hydrophobicity of surfactant. In addition, particle breakage was a function of the concentration of surfactant as well as the delivered ultrasound energy density. Sonication of wastewater samples containing small amounts of 1-hexanol (16 mM) or pentyl acetate (12 mM) increased the UV disinfection efficiency and decreased the required UV dose to achieve the disinfection target by a factor of more than 2.5.     

Determination of S-methyl-, S-propyl-, and S-propenyl-L-cysteine sulfoxides by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after tert-butyldimethylsilylation

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for the determination of S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (1), S-propyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (2), and S-propenyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (3), specific marker compounds in the genus Allium, is described. The target amino acids were converted to the tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives. The products were silylated on the amino and carboxyl groups and on an additional oxygen atom and were separated on a nonpolar capillary column. That incorporation of three tert-butyldimethylsilyl groups had occurred was verified by mass spectrometry, which gave an m/z 302 fragment as base peak (amino acid side chain eliminated ion) and m/z 436 (1), 464 (2), or 462 (3) as major peaks (tert-butyl function eliminated ion), by electron impact ionization. The detection limits for 1 and 2 under selected ion monitoring at m/z 436 (1) and m/z 464 (2), respectively, were determined to be 0.3 and 1.8 ng per injection. To clean up the analytes from the solvent extract of onion, as a representative food material, onion, the sample solution was subjected to combined solid phase extraction. The eluate from a Sep-Pak C(18) cartridge was applied to a Bond Elut SCX cartridge (H(+) form), followed by washing with 0.1 M hydrochloric acid and elution with 0.5 M ammonia. From a simulated matrix solution containing 5% sucrose, 1 and 2 were extracted quantitatively, and the detection yield was approximately 75%. The contents of 1, 2, and 3 in commercial onion were estimated to be 0.3, 3.1, and 3.0 mg, respectively, per gram of fresh weight.     

Distribution of amylose,nitrogen, and minerals in rice kernels with various characters

The distribution of chemical constituents is known not to be even within a rice kernel. To improve the eating quality of rice or to give it some special traits by adjusting the milling intensity, we investigated the distribution of amylose, nitrogen (N), and specific minerals (P, K, Mg, Ca, and Mn) in rice kernels of 11 cultivars with various characteristics cultivated under similar conditions. The distributions of these constituents were determined using flour samples prepared consecutively by abrasive milling from the outer to the inner portions of hulled rice. In all the cultivars tested, N and the minerals were found to be more abundant in the outer than in the inner portion, but amylose was rich in the inner portion. P, Mg, K, and Mn were extremely rich in the outer portion, while N and Ca were only relatively rich there. Koshihikari, which is the most popular cultivar in Japan because of its excellent eating quality, showed the highest Mg/K ratio in the outermost portion of polished rice. The color of flour samples became pure white going from outside portions toward the center of the kernel, even if the sample was from red rice or purple-black rice because only the surface of hulled rice contains pigments. These findings suggest that the outer portion contains various compounds other than starch and the inner portion contains relatively pure starch. Rice palatability and other characteristics can be improved through controlling the degree of milling using the biased distribution of chemical constituents within a rice kernel.     

Immuno-magnetic separation and agar layer methods for the isolation of freeze-injured Yersinia enterocolitica O:8 from water

To develop an effective method to isolate an injured pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica O:8 organism from environmental samples, we compared the isolation of freeze-injured and non-injured Y. enterocolitica O:8 and found that the isolation was more successful when immuno-magnetic separation (IMS) with anti-Y. enterocolitica O:8 antibody was used. Plating onto cefsulodin-irgasan-novobiocin (CIN) agar and Virulent Yersinia enterocolitica (VYE) agar by means of the agar layer method was found to be effective in isolating the injured cells. The alkali treatment which is generally used for selective detection of Yersinia organism failed to isolate freeze-injured pathogenic Y. enterocolitica O:8 cells. Recovery methods without using the alkali treatment were superior for detecting freeze-injured Y. enterocolitica O:8. Our results demonstrate that the IMS and the agar layer methods should be used to isolate injured pathogenic Yersinia organisms from environmental samples such as water.