Occurrence of naturally acetylated lignin units

This work examines the occurrence of native acetylated lignin in a large set of vascular plants, including both angiosperms and gymnosperms, by a modification of the so-called Derivatization Followed by Reductive Cleavage (DFRC) method. Acetylated lignin units were found in the milled wood lignins of all angiosperms selected for this study, including mono- and eudicotyledons, but were absent in the gymnosperms analyzed. In some plants (e.g., abaca, sisal, kenaf, or hornbeam), lignin acetylation occurred at a very high extent, exceeding 45% of the uncondensed (alkyl-aryl ether linked) syringyl lignin units. Acetylation was observed exclusively at the gamma-carbon of the lignin side chain and predominantly on syringyl units, although a predominance of acetylated guaiacyl over syringyl units was observed in some plants. In all cases, acetylation appears to occur at the monomer stage, and sinapyl and coniferyl acetates seem to behave as real lignin monomers participating in lignification.     

Evolution of toxicity upon hydrolysis of fenoxaprop-p-ethyl

Hydrolysis of fenoxaprop-p-ethyl (FE), a widely used herbicide, was studied in aqueous buffer solutions at pH ranging from 4.0 to 10.0. The degradation kinetics, strongly dependent on pH values, followed first-order kinetics. FE was relatively stable in neutral media, whereas it degraded rapidly with decreasing or increasing pH. In acidic conditions (pH = 4, 5), the benzoxazolyl-oxy-phenyl ether linkage of FE was cleaved to form ethyl 2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propanoate (EHPP) and 6-chloro-2,3-dihydrobenzoxazol-2-one (CDHB). While in basic conditions (pH = 8, 9, 10), herbicidal activity fenoxaprop-p (FA) was formed via breakdown of the ester bond of the herbicide. Both the two pathways were concurrent in neutral conditions (pH = 6, 7). Toxicity studies on Daphnia magna showed that FE was most toxic to D. magna with 48 h EC(50) of 14.3 micromol/L, followed by FA (43.8 micromol/L), CDHB (49.8 micromol/L), and EHPP (333.1 micromol/L). Mode of toxic action analysis indicated that EHPP exhibited toxicity via polar narcosis, whereas CDHB belonged to reactive acing compound. The mixture toxicity of CDHB and EHPP was nonadditive and can be predicted by a response addition model. Therefore, the evaluation of overall FE toxicity to D. magna in the aquatic systems needs to consider the degradation of FE.     

Properties of low-moisture viscoplastic materials consisting of oil droplets dispersed in a protein-carbohydrate-glycerol matrix: effect of oil concentration

The influence of oil concentration and baking on the properties of low-moisture composites consisting of oil droplets dispersed in a protein-carbohydrate-glycerol matrix was investigated. These composites were produced by blending canola oil, whey protein concentrate (WPC), corn syrup, and glycerol together using a high-speed mixer. The resulting system consisted of oil droplets dispersed in a polar matrix. Some composites were analyzed directly after preparation, while others were analyzed after being heated at 176 degrees C for 10 min to simulate baking. The "lightness" of the composites was greater before baking (higher L value), but the color was more intense after baking (higher a and b values). The lightness and color intensity of the composites decreased as the oil concentration increased, with the effects being more pronounced in the baked samples. The zeta potential of the oil droplets (measured after dilution at pH 6) was highly negative (approximately -40 mV), indicating that whey protein was adsorbed to the droplet surfaces. The mean particle diameter (measured after dilution at pH 6) increased appreciably after baking, which was attributed to droplet flocculation. The rheological properties of the unbaked and baked materials were characterized by squeezing flow viscometry, which showed that the measurements associated with consistency and yield stress increased with increasing oil concentration and with baking.     

Protein recovery from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) processing byproducts via isoelectric solubilization/precipitation and its gelation properties as affected by functional additives

Solubility of rainbow trout proteins was determined between pH 1.5 and 13.0 and various ionic strengths (IS). Minimum solubility occurred at pH 5.5; however, when IS = 0.2, the minimum solubility shifted toward more acidic pH. Isoelectric solubilization/precipitation was applied to trout processing byproducts (fish meat left over on bones, head, skin, etc.), resulting in protein recovery yields (Kjeldahl, dry basis) between 77.7% and 89.0%, depending of the pH used for solubilization and precipitation. The recovered protein contained 1.4-2.1% ash (dry basis), while the trout processing byproducts (i.e., starting material) 13.9%. Typical boneless and skinless trout fillets contain 5.5% ash, and therefore, the isoelectric solubilization/precipitation effectively removed impurities such as bones, scales, skin, etc., from the trout processing byproducts. The recovered proteins retained gel-forming ability as assessed with dynamic rheology, torsion test, and texture profile analysis (TPA). However, the recovered proteins failed to gel unless beef plasma protein (BPP) was added. Even with BPP, the recovered protein showed some proteolysis between 40 and 55 degrees C. Addition of potato starch, transglutaminase, and phosphate to the recovered proteins resulted in good texture of trout gels as confirmed by torsion test and TPA. Higher ( P < 0.05) shear stress and strain were measured for gels developed from basic pH treatments than the acidic counterparts. However, proteins recovered from acidic treatments had higher ( P < 0.05) lipid content than the basic treatments. This is probably why the gels from acidic treatments were whiter ( L* - 3 b*) ( P < 0.05) than those from the basic ones. Our study demonstrates that functional proteins can be efficiently recovered from low-value fish processing byproducts using isoelectric solubilization/precipitation and subsequently be used in value-added human foods.     

Fermentation as a bio-process to obtain functional soybean flours

The effect of fermentation on the antioxidant compounds [vitamins C and E, total phenolic compounds (TPC), and reduced glutathione (GSH)], and antioxidant capacity [superoxide anion scavenging activity (SOD-like activity), peroxyl radical-trapping capacity (PRTC), inhibition of phosphatidylcholine (PC) peroxidation, and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC)] of soybean (Glycine max cv. Merit) was studied. Fermentation was carried out in solid state in cracked seeds inoculated with Aspergillus oryzae, Rhizopus oryzae, Bacillus subtilis, and Lactobacillus plantarum and in liquid state either in cracked seeds or milled soybean flours fermented naturally by only the microorganisms present in the seeds or by inoculation with L. plantarum. Vitamin C was not detected in the studied samples. Fermentation caused a decrease in vitamin E activity, except when cracked seed was fermented with A. oryzae, R. oryzae, or B. subtilis that increased 31, 30, and 89%, respectively. Fermentation produced an increase in TPC content and did not affect or reduce the GSH content. Fermentation decreased SOD-like activity drastically, while PRTC increased except when it was carried out naturally in cracked seed. TEAC values rose sharply when soybeans were fermented with B. subtilis. Processed soybean extracts inhibited PC peroxidation in comparison with the control assay. On the basis of the results obtained, the relative contributions of vitamin E, TPC, and GSH to antioxidant capacity were calculated and results showed a very high TPC contribution and a low contribution of GSH and vitamin E activity. Optimum results for functional soybean flours were achieved when fermentation was carried out with B. subtilis inoculum.     

Monitoring biochemical changes in bacterial spore during thermal and pressure-assisted thermal processing using FT-IR spectroscopy

Pressure-assisted thermal processing (PATP) is being widely investigated for processing low acid foods. However, its microbial safety has not been well established and the mechanism of inactivation of pathogens and spores is not well understood. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to study some of the biochemical changes in bacterial spores occurring during PATP and thermal processing (TP). Spore suspensions (approximately 10(9) CFU/mL of water) of Clostridium tyrobutyricum, Bacillus sphaericus, and three strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens were treated by PATP (121 degrees C and 700 MPa) for 0, 10, 20, and 30 s and TP (121 degrees C) for 0, 10, 20, and 30 s. Treated and untreated spore suspensions were analyzed using FT-IR in the mid-infrared region (4000-800 cm(-1)). Multivariate classification models based on soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) were developed using second derivative-transformed spectra. The spores could be differentiated up to the strain level due to differences in their biochemical composition, especially dipicolinic acid (DPA) and secondary structure of proteins. During PATP changes in alpha-helix and beta-sheets of secondary protein were evident in the spectral regions 1655 and 1626 cm(-1), respectively. Infrared absorption bands from DPA (1281, 1378, 1440, and 1568 cm(-1)) decreased significantly during the initial stages of PATP, indicating release of DPA. During TP changes were evident in the bands associated with secondary proteins. DPA bands showed little or no change during TP. A correlation was found between the spore's Ca-DPA content and its resistance to PATP. FT-IR spectroscopy could classify different strains of bacterial spores and determine some of the changes occurring during spore inactivation by PATP and TP. Furthermore, this technique shows great promise for rapid screening PATP-resistant bacterial spores.     

冬播麦区Glu-1和Glu-3位点变异及1B/1R易位与小麦加工品质性状的关系

 贮藏蛋白组成是决定小麦加工品质的重要因素。本文调查了我国冬播麦区251份主栽品种和高代品系的高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基（HMW-GS）、低分子量麦谷蛋白亚基（LMW-GS）和1B/1R易位的分布状况，研究了它们与加工品质性状的关系。结果表明，品质较差的HMW-GS N、7+9、2+12和LMW-GS Glu-A3a与Glu-B3j（1B/1R易位）在冬播麦区分布较广，频率分别为39.4%、45.0%、59.8%、37.1%和44.6%。HMW-GS和LMW-GS等位变异对籽粒蛋白质含量影响较小，对SDS沉降值、和面时间与耐揉性的加性和互作效应达1%的显著水平。按位点对加工品质性状的贡献大小，Glu-D1>Glu-B3>Glu-B1>Glu-A3>Glu-A1；就单个亚基而言，Glu-A1位点，1>2*>N；Glu-B1位点，7+8>14+15>7+9；Glu-D1位点，5+10>4+12>2+12；Glu-A3位点，Glu-A3d>Glu-A3a>Glu-A3c>Glu-A3e，Glu-B3位点； Glu-B3d>Glu-B3b>Glu-B3f >Glu-B3j。1B/1R易位对SDS沉降值、和面时间和耐揉性等加工品质性状有显著负面效应。通过选择优质高低分子量麦谷蛋白亚基和淘汰1B/1R易位系，将有助于提高我国小麦的面筋质量。     

以遗传潜力推算最佳生长及经济效益的生猪饲料配方及自动化饲喂计划

饲养策略是针对整个猪群,这必然会导致自然资源的低效利用,甚至可能会扩大猪在屠宰时的个体差异。通过管理猪群均匀度做到精准饲喂有助于提高动物生产系统的效率。这个解决办法依赖于对营养供给与动物生产性能之间的精准预测、生产性能的持续监测和调节营养供给的饲喂系统。     

增加光照及其与改变源库互作对大豆产量构成因素的影响

生殖生长期间的光照强度是决定大豆产量的关键环境因素.在美国麻省和中国黑龙江两地,通过在不同时期,对不同密度的大豆群体进行增加光照和改变源库处理,研究了两地产量及产量构成因素对增加光照光变化的反应.结果表明,不同时期增加光照光处理的增产效果不同,开花初期和结荚初期增加光照最为明显,花期增加光照增加单株荚粒数,而结荚初期增加光照增加百粒重.鼓粒期增加光照处理,百粒重不同品种在不同密度条件下增产不显著,说明鼓粒期后的光照条件对大豆产量及百粒重的调节有限.在不同的光照条件下,源库在产量形成中的作用不同.在自然光照条件下,剪叶处理产量下降幅度较去荚大,即源在产量形成中更加重要些,而在花期的增加光照处理条件下,库也成为影响产量的重要因子,可见,光照条件在源库关系中起着显著的协调作用.