Analysis of leaf and needle litter decomposition by differential scanning calorimetry and differential thermogravimetry

Summary Changes in the physicochemical properties of three kinds of litter (Prunus serotina leaves, Carpinus betulus leaves, and Pinus sylvestris needles) were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry and differential thermogravimetry after decomposition for 12 to 27 months under field conditions. As expected, holocellulose was always decomposed to a larger extent than the corresponding lignin components, leading to an enrichment of lignin in the residue. These lignins were more or less modified depending on the plant species. Moreover, the results suggest that energy-rich crystalline cellulose accumulates during decomposition at the expense of easier degradable amorphous cellulose and hemicelluloses. The quotient Q, from the corresponding calorimetry and thermogravimetry values, was introduced to estimate the specific energy content as a measure for the decomposition of litter components.Dedicated to the late Prof. Dr. W. Kühnelt     

高直链玉米淀粉制备抗性淀粉的技术改进及成品分析(简报)

为了进一步提高玉米淀粉转化为抗性淀粉的得率,该文以高直链玉米淀粉为原料,通过压热——冷却循环并结合酸水解处理,考察循环次数、酸种类、酸浓度与水解作用时间对抗性淀粉制备的影响,改进抗性淀粉的制备技术路线和一些条件参数,并对成品的一些性质进行表征分析。高直链玉米淀粉经过121℃压热20min——4℃冷却24h循环处理2次,再用0.1mol/L柠檬酸于室温下水解12h,抗性淀粉的得率可以达到39%;X-射线衍生图表明,所得到的成品中抗性淀粉是以B型晶体形式存在;差示扫描量热(DSC)分析显示,抗性淀粉对热稳定,只有在较高温度下才会发生相转变。     

洋槐蜜和椴树蜜结晶前后的主要物质组成和热力学性质变化研究

为实现对不同类型蜂蜜的特征和质量的科学评价，测定了不同蜜源(洋槐蜜和椴树蜜)和不同结晶状态蜂蜜的主要成分，并利用差示扫描量热技术分析了其热力学性质。结果表明：无论结晶与否，不同蜜源蜂蜜中的葡萄糖和果糖含量均差异显著。相对于椴树蜜样品，洋槐蜜样品的水分活度可能更不利于酵母菌的滋生。玻璃转化温度、放热峰峰温和放热峰焓变等热力学参数，对于区分不同的蜂蜜样品较为灵敏。蜂蜜样品的热力学性质主要受到结晶状态的影响，而与蜜源特征相关性较小。基于以上结果，及时监测蜂蜜的水分活度有助于控制微生物(尤其是酵母菌)的滋生。通过测定蜂蜜的玻璃转化温度、放热峰峰温和放热峰焓变等指标，可以预测蜂蜜的结晶程度。     

莲子热风干燥过程对其淀粉热特性及凝胶化的影响

为解决莲子干燥过程中淀粉形态结构变化造成莲子结壳、硬化,不利于干燥以及复水难、易返生问题,该文利用差示扫描量热技术(differential scanning calorimetry,DSC)对新鲜莲子以及不同热风干燥(70、80、90℃)莲子的淀粉热特性与凝胶化过程进行了研究.研究发现,莲子淀粉在低水分环境(42.2%,以质量比计)时存在2个明显的吸热峰,高水分环境(71.1%,以质量比计)时存在1个明显的吸热峰;莲子在干燥过程中不断失水,并伴随着淀粉凝胶化.方差分析(analysis of variance,ANOVA)表明,高温干燥显著影响莲子淀粉的热特性,其淀粉凝胶化温度(峰起温度To、峰顶温度Tp以及峰止温度Te)部分显著升高.相同干燥条件下,莲子淀粉糊化焓ΔH受水分显著影响,但干燥温度、升温速率对其影响不显著(P>0.01).采用Kissinger、Crane方程获得了淀粉凝胶化动力学参数(活化能Ea、指前因子Z以及反应级数n).莲子淀粉的非等温凝胶化反应可近似为一级反应,高温干燥后其Ea值出现增加,并随着水分增加呈现降低趋势.研究结果可为确定莲子高品质干燥工艺以及干莲子、莲子淀粉后续加工过程提供技术支持.     

不同体质量阶段松辽黑猪日粮能量代谢研究

对松辽黑猪3个体质量阶段(1期为24.0 kg,2期为45.0 kg,3期为62.0 kg)饲粮能量物质转化及代谢规律的影响进行了研究。每期选取松辽黑猪6头,通过开放式呼吸测热装置,进行消化代谢试验、呼吸测热和气体交换试验。结果表明:随着体质量的升高,松辽黑猪对饲料中粗纤维的消化能力显著提高(P0.05);松辽黑猪生长代谢和绝食代谢的耗O2量和CO2产生量1期显著高于2期和3期(P0.05),耗O2量2期与3期差异显著(P0.05),CO2产生量2期与3期差异不显著(P0.05);松辽黑猪蛋白沉积和脂肪沉积趋势一致,2、3期显著高于1期(P0.05)。     

Influence of a high-protein diet on energy balance in obese cats allowed ad libitum access to food

The influence of a high-protein [HP, 47% of metabolizable energy (ME)] diet on energy balance was evaluated in obese cats allowed ad libitum access to food. Energy intake, body weight, body composition, energy expenditure, and concentrations of hormones and metabolites associated with carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (glucose, insulin, free fatty acids, triglycerides and leptin) were measured in cats after consuming either a moderate protein (MP, 27% of ME) or HP diet for 4 months. Indirect respiration calorimetry showed that resting and total energy expenditure (kJ/day) adjusted for either body weight or lean body mass was increased in cats consuming the HP in relation to MP diets. However, voluntary energy intake also was increased in the HP treatment and, thus, there was no difference in body weight between animals consuming the two diets. Body composition measurements using deuterium oxide dilution showed that dietary protein content did not alter amounts of either lean body mass or fat mass. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between the two treatment groups for blood glucose, free fatty acid or leptin concentrations, although there was a trend (p = 0.054) towards an increase of serum insulin concentrations in the cats eating the HP diet. This study showed that short-term ad libitum feeding of an HP diet did not reduce food intake or promote weight loss in obese cats. However, energy expenditure was increased in the HP diet group and it is possible that this effect of HP might help promote weight loss when energy intake is restricted.     

Phospholipids and wheat gluten blends: interaction and kinetics

A model system comprising of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and isolated gluten were used help understand the positive effect of PL on bread-loaf volume. The kinetics of the effect of gluten on the thermal properties of LPC were determined using DSC. Blends of PL and 3, 6, and 10% gluten were heated from 0 to 70 °C at rates between 3 and 19 °C/min and cooled to 0 °C. The onset and peak temperatures and ΔH were recorded. The peak temperature was used to calculate the activation energy (E_a) and Z value. The transition for pure LPC vesicle formation was detectable by DSC in the presence of gluten. Gluten increased the activation energy of LPC during vesicle formation and disruption. The increase in gluten content from 3 to 6% and then to 10% had a slight effect on the activation energy value of LPC during vesicle disruption, whereas during formation a steady increase was noticed with higher gluten additions. Overall, the ΔH of the blends showed a decrease at higher heating rate. The change in the PL activation energy in the presence of gluten is indicative of a form of interaction.     

Effects of storage on the physico-chemical properties of corn tortillas prepared with glycerol and salt

Corn tortillas have a short shelf life due to increased firmness and microbial spoilage. Commercial corn tortillas use carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) to delay staling; however this gum is expensive when compared to the rest of the tortilla ingredients. Glycerol has been added to bread and wheat tortillas to increase pliability and salt has been shown to mask the flavor of glycerol in corn tortillas. The possibility to reduce staling in corn tortillas by adding glycerol/salt as an alternative to CMC was investigated by monitoring changes in physico-chemical properties during 2 weeks of storage at 25 °C. Molecular and macroscopic changes were followed using thermal and mechanical analysis. During storage an increase in amylopectin recrystallization was observed in all samples. The “freezable” water content of all tortillas decreased over the first 3–5 days of storage with an increase after 7 days, while moisture content and water activity remained constant. Glycerol/salt tortillas exhibited a sharper transition region in the DMA temperature scan suggesting a more homogenous sample. CMC tortillas were significantly stiffer than glycerol tortillas after 14 days of storage. Glycerol/salt combinations may offer at least a partial replacement for CMC since it helped control the stiffness, water homogeneity and distribution during storage.