Influence of storage time and processing on chemical composition and in vitro ruminal fermentation of olive cake

Olive oil extraction generates olive cake (OC) that could be used in ruminant feeding. However, the chemical composition of OC is affected by multiple factors, being therefore highly variable. The objective of this study was to analyse the influence of storage time and further processing: crude, exhausted (subjected to a second oil extraction) and cyclone (obtained from a cyclone separator) on nutritive value of OC samples. Twelve samples (six crude and six exhausted) were obtained monthly from the same pond from 1 to 6 storage months, and nine samples (three crude, three exhausted and three cyclone) were obtained monthly from a different pond from 6 to 9 months storage. Chemical composition was analysed, and OC samples were fermented in vitro with sheep rumen fluid. Increasing storage time up to 6 months decreased sugars and total soluble polyphenols content but increased fibre content in OC. Dry matter effective degradability (DMED) decreased linearly (p < 0.001) by 35.9 and 45.5% as storage time augmented from 1 to 6 months for crude and exhausted OC, respectively. Crude OC had lower DMED values than exhausted OC (averaged values 0.255 and 0.294 g/g, respectively). Both potential production and rate of gas production were lower (p ≤ 0.018) in crude compared with exhausted OC, which was attributed to the high fat content of crude OC (≥86 g/kg dry matter). For samples stored longer than 6 months, cyclone had greater (p < 0.05) DMED than crude and exhausted OC (averaged values 0.207, 0.164 and 0.164 g/g, respectively). The results indicate that ruminal degradability of OC is reduced with advancing storage time, but only subtle changes were observed during the first two months. Cyclone showed greater degradability than crude and exhausted OC, but differences between crude and exhausted OC became negligible after five storage months.     

Effects of delayed serum separation and long-term storage on the measurement of thyroid hormones in equine blood samples

Studies were conducted to determine the effects of delaying the separation of serum from the clot and of long-term storage of serum samples on the measurement of thyroid hormones in blood from horses using a fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The measured concentrations of T3 and T4 were not affected by leaving serum on the clot for as long as 24 hours at room temperatures. Storage of serum for 19 to 22 months at -20 degrees C resulted in significant increases of measured T4, but not T3. These studies support previous work demonstrating that thyroid hormones are resistant to degradation, immunologically stable, and reasonably insensitive to potential problems of routine specimen handling when measured with an immunoassay.     

Substitution of vaccinia virus Elstree by modified vaccinia virus Ankara to test the virucidal efficacy of chemical disinfectants

After the eradication of variola in 1980, the smallpox vaccination was considered to be no longer required and was subsequently abandoned mainly because of possible adverse effects of vaccinia virus especially in first‐time vaccinees. Despite a growing number of humans without immunity against vaccinia virus, vaccinia virus Lister Elstree (VACV) is still prescribed for testing virucidal efficacy of chemical disinfectants in the guidelines of the German Veterinary Medical Society [Deutsche Veterinärmedizinische Gesellschaft (DVG)], the German Association for the Control of Virus Diseases [Deutsche Vereinigung zur Bekämpfung der Viruskrankheiten (DVV)] and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). To evaluate a possible substitution of VACV, with the attenuated modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) the virucidal efficacy of four different DVG‐listed commercially available chemical disinfectants representing different groups of chemicals was tested against these two viruses. Quantitative suspension tests and qualitative carrier tests with poplar wood and gauze were performed. Distinction of VACV and MVA was confirmed by cytopathogenic effects, such as differences in plaque morphology. No significant difference in disinfection efficacy between VACV and MVA was observed for any of the disinfectants tested. Implying that vaccinia virus poses a risk after inadvertent inoculation, our results show that MVA, which does not replicate in humans, should replace VACV in the chemical disinfectant testing guidelines.     

不同薄膜包装冷藏对扁桃主要成分变化的影响

将采后的"陕86-4"扁桃以不同厚度的PE薄膜包装后置于(0±0.5)℃温度下冷藏,定期测定扁桃的呼吸强度、含水量、粗脂肪、含糖量及蛋白质含量,测定结果表明:(1)"陕86-4"扁桃在(0±0.5)℃温度,RH 65%左右,0.03 mm PE薄膜条件贮藏效果要好于0.05 mm和0.08 mmPE薄膜,最有利于减缓生理代谢速度,延缓衰老,延长贮藏期,是较理想的贮藏方法;(2)"陕86-4"扁桃属于呼吸跃变型果实,几个处理的呼吸飘移中都有呼吸高峰的出现,0.03 mm 厚的PE薄膜能有效推迟"陕86-4"扁桃的呼吸高峰到来;(3)"陕86-4"扁桃的含水量、含糖量、粗脂肪及蛋白质含量在(0±0.5)℃温度,RH在65%左右,0.03 mm PE薄膜条件下贮藏变化较小;(4)薄膜厚度过厚会引起贮藏环境中气体成分(CO2和O2)比例不当,而导致"陕86-4"扁桃异常代谢,贮藏效果下降.     

灵武长枣贮藏期间生理变化的研究

灵武长枣在贮藏期间失水严重;呼吸跃变高峰期出现在第6天;果皮叶绿素、有机酸、可溶性固形物含量总体上呈下降趋势,而维生素 C 的含量呈上升趋势,室温(18±2)℃贮藏6 d后其商业品质迅速下降.     

花蕊成熟度及花粉贮藏条件对朝天椒杂交结实率的影响

对花蕊成熟度及花粉贮藏条件影响朝天椒杂交结实率进行了研究。试验结果表明,不同成熟度花蕊的授粉受精能力差异明显,开花前5d的过嫩花蕾基本不具备授粉受精能力,开花前4d的嫩花蕾开始具备授粉受精能力,无论雌蕊还是雄蕊均以开花当天和开花前1～2d的花蕾(朵)有较高的杂交坐果率和结籽率。朝天椒花粉的生活力与温度、空气相对湿度和贮藏时间密切相关,相对低温高湿的环境有利于延长花粉的贮藏时间,并能保持较高的杂交坐果率和结籽率。     

Storage of plug seedlings of tomato under limited fertilisation,and growth,flowering and yield after planting

We stored plug seedlings of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Momotaro) under limited fertilisation (LF) for 12 weeks, and evaluated growth and development during storage and after planting. Seedlings in the LF treatment were grown in substrate containing starter fertiliser and irrigated with water. Controls (CT) were irrigated with nutrient solution. Stem growth, leaf growth, and biomass accumulation slowed or ceased during storage of LF seedlings, while CT seedlings showed increases in these parameters. At 2 weeks after planting, the stem length of LF seedlings was shorter than that of CT seedlings, but the two seedling types had similar numbers of leaves. At harvest, LF and CT plants had similar numbers of leaves under the fruit trusses, but the trusses formed at lower heights in LF than in CT seedlings. LF and CT plants produced similar numbers of fruits and similar yields from the first to third trusses. These results indicate that tomato plug seedlings can be stored for more than 2 months under LF.     

Evaluation of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of blueberries and modelization by artificial neural networks

ABSTRACT

The study aimed at evaluating the influence of different production conditions, conservation, and extraction procedures on the total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of blueberries by DPPH and ABTS methods. The production factors considered were origin, altitude of the farm location, and age of the bushes. The conservation conditions considered were freezing as opposed to the fresh product. The extraction procedures included two different solvents and two orders of extraction. The data analysis was carried out by training artificial neural networks to model the data and extract information from the model.

The results obtained revealed that the type of extract and the order of extraction influenced the concentrations of phenolic compounds as well as the antioxidant activity of the different samples studied. Also the origin of the farms from where the blueberries were harvested significantly influence those properties, showing that the blueberries from Oliveira do Hospital had less phenolic compounds and lower antioxidant activity. Also older bushes at higher altitudes seem to produce berries richer in these properties. Regarding conservation, no influence was observed for phenols but a slight influence could be detected for antioxidant activity.     

Effect of quinoa flour on gluten-free bread batter rheology and bread quality

A new gluten-free bread formulations composed of quinoa, buckwheat, rice flour and potato starch were developed in the present study. Rheological characteristics of the bread batter with increasing amount of quinoa were determined; storage (G′) and loss modulus (G″) values were also measured for investigation of viscoelastic properties. To evaluate the quality of breads; technological and physical (bake loss %, specific volume, texture, microstructure, color), chemical (protein, moisture, ash) and sensory properties were determined. All batter formulations independent of the quinoa amount exhibited pseudoplastic behavior, and G′ values were found to be higher than G″ values in expressing the solid like characteristics of the batter. Amount of quinoa flour addition did not present significant difference on bake loss%, specific volume and protein content (p>0.05); however, 25% quinoa flour bread displayed better results with its higher sensory scores and softer texture. Quinoa and buckwheat flour mixture therefore will be a good alternative for conventional gluten-free bread formulations.     

Allelic variation in high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit Loci of Glu-1 in Japanese common wheats

Seed storage proteins of 131 Japanese Norin wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties were fractionated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to determine allelic make-up in varieties at each of three loci that control high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunits. Three alleles were identified at the Glu-A1 locus, six at the Glu-B1 locus and five at the Glu-D1 locus. Twenty-four different, major glutenin HMW subunits were identified and each contained three to five subunits and seventeen different glutenin subunit patterns were observed for 19 subunits in the 131 Japanese Norin varieties. Fourteen alleles were identified by comparison of subunit mobility with that previously found in hexaploid wheat. Japanese Norin varieties showed a specific pattern of allelic variation in glutenin HMW subunits, different from that of Chinese and other country common wheats in allelic frequency at Glu-1 loci. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.