Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Faidherbia albida</Emphasis> (Del.) A. Chev. population in agroforestry parklands in the highlands of Northern Ethiopia: impact of conservation,environmental factors and human disturbances

Concerns about sustainable management and conservation of multipurpose trees in their habitat have led to increased number of studies on the ecological characterization of their population. Such knowledge on Faidherbia albida, the most used tree in agroforestry parklands in Ethiopia, is limited. F. albida population was characterized in and compared between two agroforests having different conservation status in Northern Ethiopia. Population structural parameters along with environmental factors and human activities were assessed in 42 randomly installed plots using a transect method. Size class distribution was used to describe and analyze the species long-term population dynamics. Adult density was almost three times higher in Zongi agroforest (19.9 ± 2.9 trees ha^?1) where the species has been conserved and managed for longer time compared to Abraha-atsbeha agroforest (7.9 ± 2.5 trees ha^?1). The same trend was observed for tree morphological parameters which were significantly higher at Zongi than Abraha-atsbeha. However, size class distributions coefficient of skewness and the median diameter indicated a declining and vulnerable population at Zongi and an increasing population at Abraha-atsbeha. Species population characteristics were influenced by environmental factors such as altitude, stone cover, erosion severity, slope, and human-related disturbances including land use, fodder harvesting, distance away from the center of the village and proximity of household to the plots. The study confirms the impact of conservation, environmental factors and human disturbances on shaping F. albida population and recommends the consideration of the trade-offs between them to design effective conservation and management strategies to sustain F. albida agroforests.     

Geographical characterization of greek virgin olive oils (cv. Koroneiki) using 1H and 31P NMR fingerprinting with canonical discriminant analysis and classification binary trees

This work deals with the prediction of the geographical origin of monovarietal virgin olive oil (cv. Koroneiki) samples from three regions of southern Greece, namely, Peloponnesus, Crete, and Zakynthos, and collected in five harvesting years (2001-2006). All samples were chemically analyzed by means of 1H and 31P NMR spectroscopy and characterized according to their content in fatty acids, phenolics, diacylglycerols, total free sterols, free acidity, and iodine number. Biostatistical analysis showed that the fruiting pattern of the olive tree complicates the geographical separation of oil samples and the selection of significant chemical compounds. In this way the inclusion of the harvesting year improved the classification of samples, but increased the dimensionality of the data. Discriminant analysis showed that the geographical prediction at the level of three regions is very high (87%) and becomes (74%) when we pass to the thinner level of six sites (Chania, Sitia, and Heraklion in Crete; Lakonia and Messinia in Peloponnesus; Zakynthos). The use of classification and binary trees made possible the construction of a geographical prediction algorithm for unknown samples in a self-improvement fashion, which can be readily extended to other varieties and areas.     

Identification,occurrence and clinical findings of canine hemoplasmas in southern Brazil

Hemoplasmas are ubiquitous pleomorphic and epicellular bacteria detected in erythrocytes in several species. In Brazil, studies on hemoplasmas have not included information on occurrence, clinical signs, and risk factors in dogs. This paper investigates the occurrence of hemoplasmas in dogs, focusing on risk factors and clinical status. Conventional PCR for the four types of canine hemoplasmas was performed in 331 blood samples collected from dogs clinically treated at a teaching veterinary hospital. Of all samples, 17/331 (5.1%) were positive for Mycoplasma haemocanis and 6/331 (1.8%) were positive for a ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum-like’ organism. Risk factors included the presence of vectors, old age, dog bite wounds, and neoplastic diseases. In the multivariate analysis, a 4.40 odds ratio in dogs with vector-borne diseases indicated risk for hemoplasmosis. There was correlation between hemoplasma infection and neoplastic disease, suggesting that neoplastic conditions are a risk factor for hemoplasma infection in dogs.     

Effects of the Consumption of Caffeinated and Decaffeinated Instant Coffee Beverages on Oxidative Stress Induced by Strenuous Exercise in Rats

Many authors attribute the antioxidant activity of brewed coffee to its caffeine content. In addition, caffeine intake has been associated with increased performance during physical exercise. This study analyzed the in vivo effects of drinking caffeinated and decaffeinated instant coffee (8%, w/v) on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity in the anterior tibialis muscles of rats subjected to intense exercise. It was observed that exercise induced lipid peroxidation (estimated using malondialdehyde) and protein oxidation (evaluated by determining the formation of carbonyl groups) in the muscle (P < 0.05). Decaffeinated instant coffee and caffeine solution did not exhibit antioxidant activity in vivo. Caffeinated instant coffee beverage intake did not induce changes in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities but was able to diminish lipid and protein oxidation in the anterior tibialis muscles of rats after exercise (P < 0.05), contributing to a reduction in the oxidative stress triggered by exercise.     

Effect of mixed maize-legume silages on milk quality and quantity from lactating smallholder dairy cows

The study investigated the effect of the following maize:legume (70:30) mixed crop silages: maize:cowpea, maize:velvet bean, and maize:lablab on milk production during the 2016 dry season. Using a 5?×?5 double Latin square design, five Holstein-Friesian crossbred cows in early lactation (30?±?15 days) and five Jersey crossbred cows in early lactation (25?±?10 days) were given the supplementary mixed crop silage diets at 0.5 kg/l of milk produced over 105 days. Commercial dairy meal and sole maize silage were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Milk yield was significantly higher (P?< 0.05) in cows given the dairy meal compared to mixed crop silages; however, milk yield was also significantly higher (P?< 0.05) for cows given the three mixed crop silages compared to cows given sole maize silage. Cows given mixed crop silages produced milk of significantly higher protein content (P?< 0.05) than those given sole maize silage. There was no significant difference (P?> 0.05) in butterfat content of milk across all the dietary treatments. The dietary cost of producing 1 l of milk was highest at 0.31USD/l for cows given commercial dairy meal and lowest for cows given maize:velvet bean and maize:cowpea silage at 0.19USD/kg. The highest dietary gross margins of 68% were observed when cows were given maize:velvet mixed silage compared to commercial dairy meal (47%) and sole maize silage (57%). The 70:30 maize:legume mixed crop silages showed the capability to increase milk quantity and quality at very low production costs in smallholder dairy schemes.     

Growth performance,carcass characteristics and meat composition of Milanino chickens fed on diets with different protein concentrations

1. Milanino is a heavy Italian chicken breed included in a conservation project of the University of Milan and is an important genetic resource for alternative production systems. This research was aimed to study the effect of the dietary protein concentration on growth, slaughter performance and meat composition in free-range reared Milanino chickens.

2. A total of 120 Milanino chickens were fed on different protein concentrations (HP = 20% CP and LP = 16% CP), reared according to a free-range system and slaughtered at 150 and 180 d of age. Growth, slaughter performance and meat (breast and thigh) composition were recorded.

3. The protein concentration of the diet did not affect the overall Milanino mean body weight recorded in the straight-run group in the whole rearing period. However, the growth rate within sex was significantly different between the dietary treatments: heavier females were found in the HP group from 125 d onwards, while no differences were recorded in male body weights. The protein concentration of the diet did not affect carcass weight data or meat composition.

4. The present results suggest the use of a low-protein diet for rearing straight-run Milanino chickens for long rearing periods. However, in females, a high-protein diet is recommended from 125 d of age onwards.

     

Changes in some antinutrients of cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) processed with ‘kanwa’ alkaline salt

The effect on several anti-nutritional factors in cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) was investigated following treatment at 100°C or 121°C with solutions (0.1% w/v) of kanwa rock salt or NaHCO₃ in distilled water. The concentration of polyphenols, calculated as tannic acid, was reduced substantially up to 67% under the alkaline conditions employed, but the reduction appeared to be greater (69–79%) at higher temperature. The loss of phytic acid was greater (27–40%) when beans were cooked in NaHCO₃ than in kanwa (11–29%). The concentration of reducing sugars was decreased in all treatment groups especially under alkaline conditions. There was no evidence for the formation of lysinoalanine in any of the samples.     

Dose and duration effect of alpha-tocopheryl acetate supplementation on chicken meat fatty acid composition, tocopherol content, and oxidative status

The effects of dietary alpha-tocopheryl acetate (alpha-TA) doses (75, 150, and 225 mg/kg) and the duration of this supplementation (0, 10, 21, 32, and 43 days prior to slaughter) on fatty acid composition, alpha-tocopherol content, and oxidative status were studied either in raw or in cooked dark chicken meat with its skin. With regard to fatty acid composition, raw meat was affected by both dietary factors. Various polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased as a result of higher alpha-TA doses, whereas these fatty acids increased with longer supplementation periods. Cooked meat showed similar trends for the duration of alpha-TA supplementation. On the other hand, alpha-tocopherol content in raw and cooked meat increased as a result of the dose and duration of alpha-TA supplementation. Formation of lipid hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid values of these meats were also influenced by these two dietary factors, and the dietary combination of 150 mg/kg of alpha-TA during the last 32 days was optimal in terms of supplementation costs and meat oxidative stability.     

Crocin bleaching assay step by step: observations and suggestions for an alternative validated protocol

Examination of the crocin bleaching assay performance and in-house validation were focused on probe and test compound characteristics, conditions for peroxyl radical generation, reaction monitoring, and expression of results. HPLC and spectrometric examination showed that any authentic commercial saffron (origin, grade) can be used for probe preparation given that (a) interferences, such as tocopherols, are removed, (b) working solution concentration is adequately adjusted, and (c) stock probe solution changes during storage are not neglected. As suggested by log P values, calculated for a great number of radical scavengers (AHs), any AH more polar than Trolox (common reference compound) can be tested in the aqueous environment of the assay. AH activities order obeyed principles of structure-activity relationships. The assay was robust toward preheating of the azo-initiator (2,2'-azobis(2-aminopropane) dihydrochloride). Reaction monitoring through periodic UV-vis spectra recording was very informative. An alternative expression of results as "percent inhibition of crocin bleaching value", % Inh = [(DeltaA(0) - DeltaA)/DeltaA(0))] x 100, is proposed for [AH]/[crocin] = 1, instead of the so far used k(rel) values. The above findings also lead to analysis cost and time reduction.