Effect of a novel edible composite coating based on gum arabic and chitosan on biochemical and physiological responses of banana fruits during cold storage

The composite effects of gum arabic (GA) (5, 10, 15, and 20%) and chitosan (CH) (1.0%) on the biochemical and physiological characteristics of banana fruits stored at 13 ± 1 °C and 80 ± 3% relative humidity (RH) for 28 days and afterward for 5 days at simulated marketing conditions (25 °C, 60% RH) were investigated. Significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences were observed for the entire GA plus CH treatments as compared to the control. However, the results showed that after 33 days of storage, the weight loss and soluble solids concentration of fruits treated with 10% GA plus 1.0% CH composite coating were 24 and 54% lower, whereas fruit firmness, total carbohydrates, and reducing sugars were 31, 59, and 40% higher than the control, respectively. Furthermore, the composite edible coating of 10% GA plus 1.0% CH delayed color development and reduced the rate of respiration and ethylene evolution during storage as compared to the control. Similarly, sensory evaluation results also proved the effectiveness of 10% GA plus 1.0% CH composite coating by maintaining the overall quality of banana fruits. Consequently, the results of scanning electron microscopy also confirmed that the fruits coated with 10% GA plus 1.0% CH composite edible coating had very fewer cracks and showed a smooth surface. These findings suggest that 10% GA plus 1.0% CH as an edible composite coating can be used commercially for extending the storage life of banana fruits for up to 33 days.     

Effect of Milk Proteins on Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Crispy Puff Snacks

Dairy proteins included sweet whey solids （SWS）, whey protein concentrate （WPC）, milk protein concentrate （MPC） or sodium caseinate （SC） at level of 10% by weight were extruded with corn, rice, oat flour and other ingredients in a twin screw extruder. The functional properties and textural of crispy balls snacks （CBS） have been studied. The results showed that different protein types were significantly affected on functional and chemical properties of extrudate. The bulk density of CBS-SC was the lowest due to the highest expansion, while CBS-WPC retained the most water in the product, whereas, the maximum value of water solubility index was obtained in the CBS-CWP. Results also showed that protein digestibility value of extrudates had higher than non-extruded products. Color analysis of CBS-SC and CBS-SWS products had the highest AE values （P ≤ 0.05）, whereas CBS-SWS was statistically higher than CBS-SC in rank. Also, it was noticed that CBS-SWS had the highest value of browning index. The hardness of all extrudates products was desirable for expanded crispy where ranged from 17.3 N to 12.18 N. Generally, MPC and SC incorporated with cereal flour had acceptable quality characteristics and improved significantly the functional and texture properties of crispy balls products.     

Growth Response of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus to Dietary L-Ascorbic Acid, L-Ascorbyl-2-Sulfate, and L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate

Abstract.— Purified diets were formulated and fed to seven groups of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloricus fingerlings for 12 weeks. Six of the formulated diets contained 5 or 50 mg/kg of ascorbic acid equivalent supplied either by L-ascorbic acid (AA), L-ascorbyl-2-sulfate (AS) or L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (APP). The seventh basal diet was ascorbate-free and served as the control. The study indicated that APP or AS was more effectively utilized as a source of vitamin C than equimolar AA in promoting growth, improving food conversion, and preventing scurvy in Nile tilapia. Fish fed the ascorbate-free diet and the diet containing 5 mg AA/kg exhibited external signs of scurvy at 10 weeks. Diets containing 5 mg/kg of ascorbic acid from AS or APP provided some growth with no overt signs of scurvy indicating that this concentration of AS and APP might be near the minimum requirements for the species. The best growth, food conversion ratio, survival rate, and ascorbic acid content in liver were obtained with the diet containing 50 mg ascorbate equivalent/kg diet from APP followed by the diet containing 50 mg ascorbate equivalent/kg diet from AS. Fish fed diets with 50 mg ascorbic acidkg diet from AS and APP gained 27.9% and 36.2% more weight, respectively, than fish fed diets with 50 mg ascorbic acidkg diet from AA. These results indicated nearly equal ascorbic acid activity from AS and APP.     

Pedotransfer function for estimation of soil-specific surface area using soil fractal dimension of improved particle-size distribution

The specific surface area (SSA) of a soil is crucial for the interface of ions and water molecules with the soil particles. Therefore, many physical and chemical properties of a soil are determined using its total SSA. Measurement of SSA is time-consuming and laborious, and its estimation using pedotransfer functions is therefore preferred. The objectives of this study were to: (1) analyze the pore–solid interface fractal dimension (D) in soils with different textures from thesouthern part of Iran using estimated improved particle-size distribution (PSD) from the soil primary particles, i.e. clay, silt and sand; (2) develop a multivariate pedotransfer function to estimate D based on PSD; and (3) develop a multivariate pedotransfer function to link the values of D to the SSA. As a result, two pedotransfer functions are presented for estimation of D and SSA. To estimate SSA, the value of D is first obtained using the presented pedotransfer function and these estimated D values are then used in another pedotransfer function to estimate SSA. The pedotransfer functions were validated and it is concluded that they are able to predict the values of D and SSA accurately.     

Effect of Gestational Age and Fetal Position on the Possibility and Accuracy of Ultrasonographic Fetal Gender Determination in Dairy Cattle

The possibility and accuracy of transrectal ultrasonographic determination of foetal gender were studied by identifying and locating the genital tubercle, scrotum or mammary gland in 15 dairy cows at 49-168 days post-breeding. Ultrasound examinations were performed weekly. Each examination was made without references to the results of the examinations in the previous weeks. At each examination, an attempt was made to view the foetus in frontal, cross-sectional, and sagittal planes. The expected foetal gender was compared with that observed at birth. Gestational age affected significantly the possibility of foetal gender determination. The possibility of foetal gender determination increased from 26.7% at day 49 to 100% at day 56 of gestation. Between days 56 and 98, foetal gender determination was possible in all cases. Thereafter, the ability to determine foetal gender decreased with development of pregnancy and was impossible in all cases by days 161 and 168. The overall accuracy of foetal gender determination was 97.3%. Foetal gender determination between days 49 and 63 depended on the location of the genital tubercle in a frontal view of the foetus. By day 70, all foetal positions could be used for foetal gender determination. However, by progress of gestation, the usefulness of frontal view for sex determination decreased, while that of cross-sectional view increased. Accordingly, the best time for foetal gender determination in dairy cattle is between days 56 and 98 of pregnancy.     

Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii in dogs in Trinidad and Tobago

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii agglutinins and to investigate the relationship between various risk factors and occurrence of toxoplasmosis in dogs in Trinidad. Of a total 250 dogs, comprising domestic, hunting and stray dogs, 80 (32.0%) were positive for T. gondii agglutinins at a titre of > or =1:32 using a latex agglutination test. Stray dogs (60.5%) had statistically significantly higher (P<0.001) seroprevalence for toxoplasmosis than hunting dogs (30.5%) and domestic dogs (25.5%). Amongst dogs whose ages were known, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis was significantly highest (P=0.037) in dogs in the >2-3 years age group compared with other age groups. Dogs that consumed home-cooked foods had a seroprevalence of 32.9% compared with those fed commercial dog foods (17.2%) and dogs fed both home-cooked and commercial foods (21.0%). However, the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05; chi(2)). The rather high prevalence of toxoplasmosis in stray dogs is a good indication of the extent of the infection in the environment.     

Scrotal enlargement in rams and bucks in Qassim region,central of Saudi Arabia: clinical and ultrasonographic findings and seroprevalence of brucellosis

The aim of this study was to clarify the causes of scrotal enlargement in rams and bucks in Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Enlarged scrotal contents of rams and bucks (n = 153) were examined by visual inspection, palpation, and ultrasonography. Blood samples were obtained and tested for Brucella sp. infection. Clinical and ultrasonographic findings showed that scrotal enlargement was mainly associated with orchitis, peri-orchitis, and epididymitis. Miscellaneous findings were scrotal hernia, scrotal hematoma, and hydrocele. The frequencies of orchitis, peri-orchitis, and epididymitis were 47.4, 21.1, and 14.1% in Awassi rams; 54.5, 21.7, and 8.7% in Najdi rams; 52.3, 20.5, and 9.1% in Ardi bucks; and 50, 16.7, and 16.7% in Damascus bucks, respectively. Orchitis was associated with no-abscess formation (23%), single-abscess formation (15.4%), and multiple-abscesses formation (61.6%). Peri-orchitis was characterized by hard consistency, atrophy of the testes, and extensive connective tissue formation. Epididymitis was observed mainly at the tail of the epididymis (82.4%) but rarely at the head (17.6%). Epididymitis was associated in many cases with abscessation (70.6%). Males with orchitis, peri-orchitis, and epididymitis were positive for Brucella melitensis and Brucella ovis in the frequency of 21.3% and 48.8%, respectively. In conclusion, scrotal enlargement in rams and bucks in Qassim region is caused mainly by inflammation of the testis and/or epididymis and associated tremendously with brucellosis seropositivity.

     

Construction of DNA vaccines encoding Eimeria acervulina cSZ-2 with chicken IL-2 and IFN-γ and their efficacy against poultry coccidiosis

The study describes vaccination experiments with highly immunogenic sporozoite E. acervulina cSZ-2 co-administered with chicken IL-2 (chIL-2) and interferon-γ (chIFN-γ) to determine their efficacies against homologue challenge. The entire coding sequence of cSZ2, chIL-2 and chIFN-γ were cloned into eukaryotic expression vector pVAX1, constructing DNA vaccines pVAX1-cSZ2, pVAX1-chIL-2, pVAX1-chIFN-γ, pVAX1-cSZ2-chIL-2 and pVAX1-cSZ2-chIFN-γ. The expression of target genes in vivo was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Chicken experiments were carried out by vaccinating chickens two times at dose rate of 100 μg intramuscularly. At 28 days of age, all chickens were inoculated orally with 1 × 10⁵ sporulated oocysts of E. acervulina except the unchallenged control group. Seven days after challenge, all chickens were weighted and slaughtered for duodenum collection. The results indicated that these DNA vaccines were successfully constructed and the antigen genes could be expressed effectively in vivo. The findings also demonstrated best synergistic effect of IL-2 with this protein which suggested that co-administration of cytokines with this antigen was a powerful method to enhance immunity by alleviating intestinal lesions, body weight loss and oocyst count imparting partial protection against homologous challenge.