Formation and evolution of monoepoxy fatty acids in thermoxidized olive and sunflower oils and quantitation in used frying oils from restaurants and fried-food outlets

The formation and evolution of monoepoxy fatty acids, arising from oleic and linoleic acids, were investigated in olive oil and conventional sunflower oil, representatives of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated oils, respectively, during thermoxidation at 180 degrees C for 5, 10, and 15 h. Six monoepoxy fatty acids, cis-9,10- and trans-9,10-epoxystearate, arising from oleic acid, and cis-9,10-, trans-9,10-, cis-12,13-, and trans-12,13-epoxyoleate, arising from linoleic acid, were analyzed by gas chromatography after oil derivatization to fatty acid methyl esters. Considerable amounts, ranging from 4.29 to 14.24 mg/g of oil in olive oil and from 5.10 to 9.44 mg/g of oil in sunflower oil, were found after the heating periods assayed. Results showed that the monoepoxides quantitated constituted a major group among the oxidized fatty acid monomers formed at high temperature. For similar levels of degradation, higher contents of the monoepoxides were found in olive oil than in sunflower oil. Ten used frying oils from restaurants and fried-food outlets in Spain were analyzed to determine the contents of the monoepoxides in real frying oil samples. Levels ranged from 3.37 to 14.42 mg/g of oil. Results show that, for similar degradation levels, the monoepoxides were more abundant in the monounsaturated oils than in the polyunsaturated oils.     

Protozoa of a rotating biological contactor treatment plant in Mexico

A protozoological analysis of the biofilm developed on the discs of an RBC unit was performed using light microscopy; the species found belonged to 2 phyla: Sarcomastigophora with 23, and Ciliophora with 30 species. All isolates were free-living with the exception of Tritrichomonas fecalis. Most abundant species were: Euglena gracilis, Paramecium multimicronucleatum, Tetrahymena pyriformis, Polytoma uvella, Didinium nasutum, Bodo caudatus, Vorticella microstoma, Cyclidium glaucoma, Sathrophilus agitatus, Antophysa vegetans, and Urothrica farcta. Ciliates predominated over the flagellates in number and diversity. According to their locomotion most abundant species were free-swimming, followed by the attached, and crawling forms. In relation to their nutrition most frequent species were bacterivorous, saprozoic, and carnivorous. Values of the saprobic index calculated for each sampling station indicated that α-mesosaprobic conditions prevailed along the contactor with a zone of overlap with polysaprobic conditions at station IV. The RBC received an influent flow that varied from 1.5 to 13.5 L s^?1 and a soluble BOD₅ which range from 46 to 170 mg L^?1. The contactor studied showed an overall BOD₅ removal of 86% and a COD removal of 74%. DO levels influenced the values obtained for the saprobic index and the kind of protozoan populations and communities present. The biological findings (indicator species of the saprobic system), clearly reflected and agreed with the physicochemical results obtained simultaneously; the results showed that the system performed efficiently.     

Nutritional potential of raw and free alpha-galactosides lupin (Lupinus albus Var. multolupa) seed flours. Effect of phytase treatment on nitrogen and mineral dialyzability

The effect of the removal of alpha-galactosides from Lupinus albus L. var. multolupa on the chemical composition of the prepared flour and the dialyzability of N, total P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Mn was studied. The extraction process caused a significant increase in total and insoluble nitrogen contents and decreased the amount of soluble protein nitrogen. However, neither these changes nor treatment with phytase seemed to considerably affect in vitro protein digestibility. Except for Ca and Cu, total mineral contents were significantly reduced by the extraction process. The process also caused a significant reduction in the dialyzability of all the minerals studied except P. The decrease in mineral dialyzability was partially counteracted by phytase treatment in amounts of 250-500 phytase units/kg of lupin flour. In the case of Fe, mineral dialyzability did not differ significantly between the two lupin flours studied with treatment with 500 phytase units/kg. Zinc dialyzability was the most efficiently improved by phytase treatment (P < 0.0001), followed by P, Fe, and Mn, and finally by Ca and Mg (P < 0.05).     

A-genome cotton as a source of genetic variability for Upland cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis>)

Since Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is known to have relatively low levels of genetic diversity, a better understanding of variation and relationships among possible sources of novel genes would be valuable. Therefore, analysis of genetic variation of the genus Gossypium, especially the diploids, which are the putative donors of the A and D genomes for the commercially important allotetraploid cottons (AADD), G. hirsutum and G. barbadense, could provide important information about the feasibility of using these genetic resources for cotton improvement. The primary objective of this study was to analyze the genetic diversity in A-genome diploid cotton species, G. herbaceum (A1) and G.␣arboreum (A2) by using microsatellite markers. Forty-one A-genome germplasm accessions were evaluated with 32 microsatellite loci. Genetic similarities between A1 and A2 ranged from 0.62 to 0.86 with a mean of 0.70. Within each A-genome species similarities ranged from 0.80 to 0.97 with a mean of 0.89 for A1 and from 0.82 to 0.98 with a mean of 0.89 for A2. A UPGMA tree and principal coordinate analysis based on genetic similarity matrices showed distinct clusters consistent with the genomic groups.     

The Effect of Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone Analog Regime and Stage of Oocyte Maturity for Induced Ovulation of Channel Catfish,Ictalurus punctatus

This study addresses rapid methods to identify mature channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, females for induced spawning with luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analog (LHRHa) and common carp pituitary extract (CPE) and the effects of stage of maturity, hormone dose, season, and cannulation before hormone injection. Hormonal intervention is the most effective method for inducing maturation and spawning in channel catfish × blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, hybrids. A total of 80 mature channel catfish were staged for maturity based on secondary sexual characteristics and 20–30 oocytes cannulated to ascertain their maturation stage based on the position of gonadal vesicle. Twenty females were randomly assigned to one of the four hormone regimes (priming + resolving dose): CPE 2 + 8 mg/kg (CPEC); LHRHa 20 + 40 µg/kg (LHRHaL); LHRHa 20 + 60 µg/kg (LHRHaM); and LHRHa 20 + 80 µg/kg (LHRHaH) and a fifth treatment consisted of 20 females selected based on apparent maturity as evidenced by external appearance were injected with CPE, 2 + 8 mg/kg without cannulation (CPEO). Two trials were conducted in early part of the spawning season and two trials in peak season. External methods to identify maturity correlated (r = 0.63) with that of “germinal vesicle position” method to identify the stage of maturity in females. Mean percent of females that ovulated, hatched, and fry produced per kg body weight did not differ (P > 0.05) among the five hormone treatments. The mean percent females that ovulated was higher (P < 0.05) for CPE‐induced females that were identified as “excellent” females based on external examination. The performance of cannulated females did not differ (P > 0.05) with that of non‐cannulated catfish. The mean egg quality of hormone‐induced females and percent of females ovulated in response to hormone treatment established a weak but significant linear relationship (Y = 3.85 + 0.008 × ovulation, r² = 0.39, P < 0.05).     

Toxicokinetic studies reveal variability in earthworm pollutant handling

A frequent characteristic of earthworms collected from contaminated sites is that they show considerable variation in measured tissue chemical concentrations. What is not certain is whether this variation results from local scale heterogeneity in soil concentrations and associated variation in exposure or rather from systematic and biologically based differences in earthworm pollutant handling. To assess patterns of earthworm chemical uptake and associated variation, accumulation was investigated in two bespoke toxicokinetic studies with the organic chemicals chlorpyrifos and fluoranthene and in a reanalysis of two published toxicokinetic studies with the metals Pb and Cd. The analysis of all data-sets highlighted extensive variation around one compartment model fits. Such consistently high variability, despite the homogenous nature of exposure within the test systems, hints at extensive biological variation in earthworms within the pathways involved in pollutant handling (uptake, metabolism, excretion) which goes beyond the simple methodological variation of a single test. The identified variation between individuals has important implications in areas such as biomarker analyses and secondary poisoning assessment. Further it indicates the presence of substantive selectable variation in pollutant handling that could support the development of pollutant tolerance in earthworms.     

Survival and feeding activity of Protaphorura armata in different composts

Effects of compost products, enriched or not-enriched with a strain of the mycoparasitic fungus Trichoderma atroviride, on the survival of the collembolan Protaphorura armata and the viability of fungal conidia after the transit through the springtail gut were investigated. The effect of compost enriched with Ca-Lignosulphonate (Ca-Ls), a low cost by-product of the acid sulphite pulping process, with lignin-like structure, on P. armata was also evaluated. All compost products enriched or not with the mycoparasitic fungus or Ca-Ls did not affect P. armata survival. No statistical differences were found in animal survival for different types of product or in enriched and not-enriched products. In addition to adults, live juveniles were also observed in all compost products. The gut content of animals, collected at the end of the survival test from compost enriched with T. atroviride, was examined under the light microscope, and in a few cases observations revealed the presence of some T. atroviride conidia. Subsequent tests carried out to study the viability of conidia after the transit through the springtail gut showed that colonies of the fungus developed from all faecal pellets produced by adult and juveniles specimens of P. armata previously fed on conidia of T. atroviride. These results suggest compatibility between Collembola and Trichoderma or Ca-Ls in the composts.     

Comparison of Pond Production Efficiency, Fatty Acid Profiles, and Contaminants in Litopenaeus vannamei Fed Organic Plant-based and Fish-meal-based Diets

Reduction or elimination of fish meal and fish oil from aquaculture diets can help to reduce the potential for contamination and dependence of the industry on pelagic fisheries while improving economic competitiveness. However, fish oil provides important omega‐3 (n‐3) fatty acids (FAs) essential to shrimp health and beneficial to humans. This study evaluated an organic, plant‐based diet formulated to replace fish meal and fish oil with plant proteins and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) produced by algal fermentation. Shrimp cultured in replicate outdoor ponds at 25/m² were fed either a diet composed of organically produced plant ingredients or a conventional commercial fish‐meal‐based feed. No significant differences were found in production parameters between the conventional fish‐meal‐based diet and the plant‐based diet (production: 4594 and 4592 kg/ha; harvest size: 18.7 and 19.2 g; survival: 93 and 88%; and feed conversion ratio: 1.4 and 1.3, respectively). At harvest, shrimp were analyzed for 147 chemical contaminants and 71 FAs. Contaminant levels were negligible for shrimp raised on both diets. The fish meal and fish oil diet provided significantly higher quantities of eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA than the plant‐based diet, and the shrimp fed the conventional diet reflected this with higher levels of these beneficial FAs in edible tissues. Differences between feeds and shrimp tissues suggest that essential n‐3 FAs may accumulate in shrimp tissues over time or that natural pond productivity may play a role in providing supplemental nutrition. Shrimp raised on the two diets and wild‐caught shrimp are clearly distinguishable by their FA profiles. Compared to alternative protein sources like beef, pork, or chicken, differences in lipid profiles of shrimp raised on either diet may be insignificant because both offer increased human health benefits.