Effect of dietary inclusion of Spirulina on production performance,nutrient digestibility and meat quality traits in post-weaning piglets

The effect of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), individually or in combination with two commercial carbohydrases, in piglet diets was assessed on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and meat quality traits. Forty post-weaned male piglets from Large White × Landrace sows crossed with Pietrain boars with an initial live weight of 12.0 ± 0.89 kg were used. Piglets were assigned to one of four dietary treatments (n = 10): cereal and soya bean meal base diet (control), base diet with 10% Spirulina (SP), SP diet supplemented with 0.005% Rovabio^® Excel AP (SP + R) and SP diet supplemented with 0.01% lysozyme (SP + L). Animals were slaughtered after a 4-week experimental period. Growth performance was negatively affected by the incorporation of Spirulina in the diets, with an average decrease of 9.1% on final weight, in comparison with control animals. Total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) of crude protein was higher (p < .05) in the control group than in other groups. In addition, lysozyme increased TTAD of crude fat and acid detergent fibre, relative to the SP and control groups, respectively. In addition, the incorporation of Spirulina, individually and supplemented with enzymes, did not impair meat quality traits. Surprisingly, no protective effect against lipid oxidation was observed with the inclusion of Spirulina in pork after 7 days of storage. This study indicates that growth performance of post-weaning piglets was impaired by the incorporation of 10% Spirulina in the diets, which is mediated by an increase in digesta viscosity and a lower protein digestibility, as a consequence of the resistance of microalga proteins to the action of endogenous peptidases. In addition, it also indicates that lysozyme, in contrast to Rovabio^® Excel AP, is efficient in the degradation of Spirulina cell wall in piglet's intestine. However, the digestion of proteins liberated by Spirulina cell wall disruption is still a challenge.     

Modeling the effect of capillary water rise in corn yield in Portugal

There are regions in Europe such as Italy, Portugal, or Holland in which capillary water rise plays an important role in crop water regimes. The objectives of this work were: to modify an existing simulation model (CERES-maize) by including a capillary rise submodel; to use it for predicting the production function of corn grown above a shallow ground water table; and to compare model prediction with experimental results in Portugal. It is assumed that the capillary rise determines the initial conditions of soil water profile within the root zone, just before the sowing day. The model was used to simulate several theoretical and experimental situations for forage corn. Simulation results showed that the production function reaches an optimal yield when the best combination of soil, air and water is obtained. Capillary rise has a negative effect on yield, at high irrigation level. At low irrigation level, the best combination of air and water was obtained when ground water table depth was about 1 m below surface. The good determination coefficient (r²=0.92) indicated that results of simulations were in good agreement with experimental results. It is concluded that upward flow from shallow water is a significant component in the irrigation water balance of corn.     

Characteristics of SO2, NO2, Soot and Benzo(a)Pyrene Concentration Variation on the Eastern Coast of the Baltic Sea

The investigation of SO₂, NO₂, soot and benzo(a)pyrene (BP) has been performed at the background station on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea since 1980. A significant decreasing trend has been observed for SO₂ and NO₂, while soot and BP concentrations were changing insignificantly. The decreasing SO₂ and NO₂ high concentrations (>10µg·m^?3) have been determined in the air masses coming from the Western and Central Europe to Lithuania since 1900. The concentration of SO₂ in a range of 0–5µg·m^?3 and the concentration of NO₂ in a range of 0–10µg·m^?3 are characteric of the background atmospheric air.     

Variation and phylogeny of the ribosomal DNA unit types and 5 S DNA inPetunia Jussieu

Summary Seven wildPetunia species including 2n = 18 species (P. parviflora Jussieu,P. linearis Hook.) and those with 2n = 14 (P. parodii Steene,P. axillaris Lam.,P. integrifolia Hook.,P. inflata R.E. Fries,P. violacea Lindl.) and tenPetunia hybrida horticultural lines were compared for polymorphisms in rDNA genes using the four restriction enzymesEcoRI,BamHI,HindIII andXhoI. All the unit types found in the lines pre-existed in the wild forms. There are two different sizes of either 11.45 or 11.6 kb./The 2n = 18 species are closely related to the 2n = 14 species, thus making thePetunia genus homogeneous. Moreover, it is likely thatP. hybrida lines originated in several kinds of crosses between these species. We constructed a dendrogram for all the 15 rDNA unit types found. Two main branches of the tree result from the presence or the absence ofHindIII sites. The main branch is divided according to variability at theEcoRI andBamHI sites. Taking into account the existence of several loci which carry one unit type only, we consider whether or not exchanges might occur between loci. Lines carrying two unit types and lines carrying three unit types support such a hypothesis.XhoI andBamHI fragments enable us to distinguish two types of 5S DNA corresponding to 2n = 18 and 2n = 14 species, respectively.P. hybrida lines and each 2n = 14 wild species carry one of the types only, that corresponds to one 5S DNA locus. The most parsimonious phylogenetic trees whatever the species chosen as the outgroup, do not fit with our knowledge ofPetunia and with taxonomy. This is likely because only few loci formed the basis of these phylogenetic constructions.     

Modified arabinoxylan-based films. Part B. Grafting of omega-3 fatty acids by oxygen plasma and electron beam irradiation

Arabinoxylans (AXs) are byproducts of the cereal milling industry. To obtain high-value products, AXs have been used as a film-forming agent. Hence, AX-based films are poor water vapor barriers. The objectives of this study were to graft omega-3 (omega3) fatty acids onto AX polymeric chains by using two new technologies: cold plasma and electron beam (EB) irradiation. Results show that the surface hydrophobicity of the modified films is higher than that of a waxy coating or a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film. In addition, FTIR spectroscopy analysis reveals vibration bands attributed to new chemical functions. Finally, a decrease in water vapor permeability (WVP) is obtained for the film treated with the alpha-linolenic acid-rich oil. This result could be explained by a better diffusion of this shorter polyunsaturated fatty acid into the AX network. Linseed oils provide better barrier properties and a higher surface hydrophobicity than oils extract from marine oils. Edible oils were chosen for edible application of these films to retard moisture transfers in stuffed biscuits.     

Nitrogenous humic fertilizers by ammoniation of humic material obtained from kraft black liquors

Humic materials obtained from kraft black liquor were ammoniated with aqueous ammonia in a stainless-steel batch reactor. The effects of different variables, viz. total acidity of the humic material, reaction temperature and ammonia concentration, on the extent of N fixation by the humic material is reported. A 2³ factorial design was used for the experiments. Results show that products containing up to 11.8 wt% total N can be obtained. The optimum operating conditions in order to obtain a high nitrogen content are: acidity 60 mL NaOH g^?1 of sample; temperature 100 °C; and aqueous ammonia concentration 8 wt%.     

Hapten synthesis for the development of a competitive inhibition enzyme-immunoassay for thiram

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the fungicide thiram. Two types of haptens were synthesized. The first type exhibits the two symmetrical N-alkyl dithiocarbamate patterns of thiram with a spacer arm linked to one of the N-methyl terminal group. The second type exhibits one of the two symmetrical N-alkyl dithiocarbamate patterns of thiram with a variable-length spacer arm linked to one sulfur atom. Polyclonal antibodies suitable for thiram detection were obtained from immunization with an hapten of the first type, while haptens of the second type were used as coating antigens to develop a competitive ELISA against thiram. The IC(50) value for thiram was estimated to be 0.24 microg/mL, with a detection limit of 0.03 microg/mL. The assay seems to be thiram-specific since no or little cross-reaction with other dithiocarbamates were observed.     

The nutrition and health transition in the North West Province of South Africa: a review of the THUSA (Transition and Health during Urbanisation of South Africans) study

OBJECTIVE: To describe how urbanisation influences the nutrition and health transition in South Africa by using data from the THUSA (Transition and Health during Urbanisation of South Africans) study. DESIGN: The THUSA study was a cross-sectional, comparative, population-based survey. SETTING: The North West Province of South Africa. SUBJECTS: In total, 1854 apparently healthy volunteers, men and women aged 15 years and older, from 37 randomly selected sites. Pregnant and lactating women, those with diagnosed chronic diseases and taking medication, with acute infections or inebriated were excluded but screened for hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Subjects were stratified into five groups representing different levels of urbanisation in rural and urban areas: namely, deep rural, farms, squatter camps, townships and towns/cities. OUTCOME MEASURES AND METHODS: Socio-economic and education profiles, dietary patterns, nutrient intakes, anthropometric and biochemical nutrition status, physical and mental health indicators, and risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) were measured using questionnaires developed or adapted and validated for this population, as well as appropriate, standardised methods for the biochemical analyses of biological samples. RESULTS: Subjects from the rural groups had lower household incomes, less formal education, were shorter and had lower body mass indices than those in the urban groups. Urban subjects consumed less maize porridge but more fruits, vegetables, animal-derived foods and fats and oils than rural subjects. Comparing women from rural group 1 with the urban group 5, the following shifts in nutrient intakes were observed: % energy from carbohydrates, 67.4 to 57.3; from fats, 23.6 to 31.8; from protein, 11.4 to 13.4 (with an increase in animal protein from 22.2 to 42.6 g day(-1)); dietary fibre, 15.8 to 17.7 g day(-1); calcium, 348 to 512 mg day(-1); iron from 8.4 to 10.4 mg day(-1); vitamin A from 573 to 1246 mug retinol equivalents day(-1); and ascorbic acid from 30 to 83 mg day(-1). Serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and plasma fibrinogen increased significantly across groups; systolic blood pressure >140 mmHg was observed in 10.4-34.8% of subjects in different groups and diabetes mellitus in 0.8-6.0% of subjects. Women in groups 1 to 5 had overweight plus obesity rates of 48, 53, 47, 61 and 61%, showing an increase with urbanisation. Subjects from group 2 (farm dwellers) showed the highest scores of psychopathology and the lowest scores of psychological well-being. The same subjects consistently showed the lowest nutrition status. CONCLUSIONS: Urbanisation of Africans in the North West Province is accompanied by an improvement in micronutrient intakes and status, but also by increases in overweight, obesity and several risk factors for NCDs. It is recommended that intervention programmes to promote nutritional health should aim to improve micronutrient status further without leading to obesity. The role of psychological strengths in preventing the adverse effects of urbanisation on health needs to be examined in more detail.