Floor drains in processing environments harbor Listeria spp. due to continuous presence of humidity and organic substrates. Cleaning and washing activities in food-processing facilities can translocate the bacterial c...Floor drains in processing environments harbor Listeria spp. due to continuous presence of humidity and organic substrates. Cleaning and washing activities in food-processing facilities can translocate the bacterial cells from the drain to the surrounding environment, thus contaminating food products still in production. This study evaluated the potential for translocation of Listeria monocytogenes from drains to food contact surfaces in the surrounding environment using Listeria innocua as a surrogate. A 7 × 7 × 8-foot polycarbonate flexi-glass chamber with a 10-inch-diameter drain mounted on an aluminum cabinet was used. Stainless steel coupons (6.4 × 1.9 × 0.1 cm, 12 per height) were hung at 1, 3, and 5 feet inside the chamber. Four treatment sets;non-inoculated, non-treated;non-inoculated, treated;inoculated, treated;inoculated non-treated;and two subtreatments of 8 h and 48 h were performed. For the inoculated sets, meat slurry (10 gof ground beef in 900 mL water) and a four-strain cocktail of Listeria innocua at 7 - 8 log CFU/mL were used. For the treated sets, in addition, a commercial cleaner and sanitizer was applied. The drain was cleaned using a pressure hose (40 - 50 psi) after 8 h and 48 h. Coupons were then removed and enriched in listeria enrichment broth to establish if any cell translocated from the drain onto the stainless steel coupons via aerosols generated during washing. Confirmation was done using VIP Listeria rapid test kits. Results indicated translocation at all three heights ranging from 2% - 25%. Significantly higher translocation (p Listeria spp. from drains to food contact surfaces does occur and increases with increased proximity to the drain.展开更多
Malate dehydrogenase(MDH)is a widely expressed enzyme that plays a key role in plant growth,development,and stress responses.However,information on MDH genes in the soybean genome is limited.Seventeen members of the s...Malate dehydrogenase(MDH)is a widely expressed enzyme that plays a key role in plant growth,development,and stress responses.However,information on MDH genes in the soybean genome is limited.Seventeen members of the soybean MDH family were identified by genome-wide analysis,and the genes were analyzed for the presence of conserved protein motifs.The genes were divided into five clusters according to their phylogenetic relationships.The intracellular localizations of six GmMDHs were determined by confocal microscopy of Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts.Transcripts of GmMDHs were significantly increased by abiotic stress(drought,salt,and alkalinity)and hormone treatments,as shown by an analysis of cis-regulatory elements and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).The GmMDHs displayed unique expression patterns in various soybean tissues.Notably,the expression levels of a chloroplast isoform(GmMDH2)were unusually high under salt stress,presumably indicating a critical role in soybean responses to salinity.Expression of GmMDH2 in Escherichia coli showed that the recombinant enzyme has nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADP)-dependent MDH activity.The redox states of the NADP(reduced form)(NADPH)pool and antioxidant activities were shown to be modulated by GmMDH2 gene overexpression,which in turn reduced reactive oxygen species(ROS)formation in transgenic soybean,significantly enhancing the salt stress resistance.Gene-based association analysis showed that variations in GmMDH2 were strongly linked to seedling salt tolerance.A polymorphism potentially associated with salt tolerance was discovered in the promoter region of GmMDH2.These findings not only improve our understanding of the stress response mechanism by identifying and characterizing the MDH gene family throughout the soybean genome but they also identified a potential candidate gene for the future enhancement of salt tolerance in soybean.展开更多
Alcoholic liver disease(ALD)is one of the major global public health problems.Yeast extract(YE),a product prepared from yeast,has been proven to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.However,the potential ...Alcoholic liver disease(ALD)is one of the major global public health problems.Yeast extract(YE),a product prepared from yeast,has been proven to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.However,the potential role of YE in the prevention of ALD remains unclear.The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of YE on ALD and explore the underlying mechanism based on gut microbiota.The result showed that YE supplementation significantly ameliorated chronic alcohol exposure-induced liver injury in mice.In addition,YE counteracted alcohol-induced gut dysbiosis,intestinal barrier dysfunction,lipopolysaccharide(LPS)leakage-induced inflammatory response in the liver.Moreover,microbiota depletion by a broad-spectrum antibiotic was sufficient to block the protective effect of YE on ALD,indicating the contribution of gut dysbiosis modulation to the hepatoprotective role of YE.Furthermore,we demonstrated the causal relationship between gut microbiota and hepatoprotective effects of YE with the fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT)experiment.Compared with the ALD-FMT mice,gut dysbiosis,intestinal barrier dysfunction,LPS/TLR4 signaling pathway activation,and liver inflammatory response were significantly improved in the YE-FMT mice.Together,our findings highlight that dietary YE protects against ALD through gut dysbiosis correction.展开更多
Meat quality traits of four genotypes of Chinese indigenous chicken [Ninghai chicken(NC),frizzle chicken(FC),Ninghai xiang chicken(XC),and Zhenning loquat chicken(LC)] and one genotype of commercial broiler [Arbor Acr...Meat quality traits of four genotypes of Chinese indigenous chicken [Ninghai chicken(NC),frizzle chicken(FC),Ninghai xiang chicken(XC),and Zhenning loquat chicken(LC)] and one genotype of commercial broiler [Arbor Acres plus broiler(AAB)] were analyzed.The indigenous chickens were raised before the commercial chickens in order to achieve the same final processed days.Indigenous chickens of NC,FC,XC,and LC showed significantly higher inosine-5′-monophosphate(IMP) content,shorter fiber diameter,and lower shear force than those of AAB(P<0.05).In the indigenous genotypes,NC and FC had significantly shorter fiber diameters and lower shear forces than XC and LC(P<0.05),and NC and XC had a higher IMP content than FC and LC(P<0.05).Moreover,the indigenous genotype of LC significantly displayed the highest protein content(P<0.05) in the five genotypes of birds,and no significant differences of protein content were found between the other genotypes of NC,FC,XC,and AAB(P>0.05).The indigenous chickens from FC displayed the highest total lipid content in the five bird genotypes(P<0.05).Significant differences of pH,color values of L* and a*,and drip loss for the five genotypes of birds were also observed.In conclusion,there were significant differences in the meat quality traits of the bird breeds selected in this study,and the indigenous chickens,especially the NC genotype,produced better quality meat as far as the IMP content,fiber diameters,and shear forces were concerned.展开更多
Objective To investigate whether the antioxidation and the regulation on the Extracellular Regulated Protein Kinases （ERK） signaling pathway are involved in the protective effects of blueberry on central nervous sys...Objective To investigate whether the antioxidation and the regulation on the Extracellular Regulated Protein Kinases （ERK） signaling pathway are involved in the protective effects of blueberry on central nervous system. Methods 30 Senescence-accelerated mice prone 8 （SAMP8） mice were divided into three groups and treated with normal diet, blueberry extracts （200 mg/kg.bw/day） and cyaniding-3-O-galactoside （Cy-3-GAL） （50 mg/kg.bw/day） from blueberry for 8 weeks. 10 SAMR1 mice were set as control group. The capacity of spatial memory was assessed by Passive avoidance task and Morris water maze. Histological analyses on hippocampus were completed. Malondialdehyde （MDA） levels, Superoxide Dismutase （SOD） activity and the expression of ERK were detected. Results Both Cy-3-GAL and blueberry extracts were shown effective functions to relieve cellular injury, improve hippocampal neurons survival and inhibit the pyramidal cell layer damage. Cy-3-GAL and blueberry extracts also increased SOD activity and reduced MDA content in brain tissues and plasma, and increased hippocampal phosphorylated ERK （p-ERK） expression in SAMP8 mice. Further more, the passive avoidance task test showed that both the latency time and the number of errors were improved by Cy-3-GAL treatment, and the Morris Water Maze test showed significant decreases of latency were detected by Cy-3-GAL and blueberry extracts treatment on day 4. Conclusion Blueberry extracts may reverse the declines of cognitive and behavioral function in the ageing process through several pathways, including enhancing the capacity of antioxidation, altering stress signaling. Cy-3-GAL may be an important active ingredient for these biological effects.展开更多
Cuticular wax plays a major role in the growth and storage of plant fruits.The cuticular wax coating,which covers the outermost layer of a fruit’s epidermal cells,is insoluble in water.Cuticular wax is mainly compose...Cuticular wax plays a major role in the growth and storage of plant fruits.The cuticular wax coating,which covers the outermost layer of a fruit’s epidermal cells,is insoluble in water.Cuticular wax is mainly composed of very long-chain fatty acids(VLCFAs);their derivatives,including esters,primary alcohols,secondary alcohols,aldehydes,and ketones;and triterpenoids.This complex mixture of lipids is probably biosynthesized in the epidermal cells of most plants and exuded onto the surface.Cuticular wax not only makes the fruit less susceptible to microbial infection but also reduces mechanical damage to the fruit,thereby maintaining the fruit’s commodity value.To date,research has mostly focused on the changes,function,and regulation of fruit wax before harvest,while ignoring the changes and functions of wax in fruit storage.This paper reviews on the composition,structure,and metabolic regulation of cuticular wax in fruits.It also focuses on postharvest factors affecting wax composition,such as storage temperature,relative humidity(RH),gas atmosphere,and as exogenous hormones;and the effects of wax on fruit postharvest quality,including water dispersion,fruit softening,physiological disorders,and disease resistance.These summaries may be of assistance in better understanding the changes in cuticular wax in postharvest fruit and the resulting effects on fruit quality.展开更多
In this paper,tannic acid(TA)and Fe~(3+)were added to form a layer of metal-polyphenol network structure on the surface of the nanoparticles which were fabricated by zein and carbon quantum dots(CQDs)encapsulating phl...In this paper,tannic acid(TA)and Fe~(3+)were added to form a layer of metal-polyphenol network structure on the surface of the nanoparticles which were fabricated by zein and carbon quantum dots(CQDs)encapsulating phlorotannins(PTN).pH-Responsive nanoparticles were prepared successfully(zein-PTN-CQDs-Fe-~Ⅲ).Further,the formation of composite nanoparticles was confirmed by a series of characterization methods.The zeta-potential and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data proved that electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding are dominant forces to form nanoparticles.The encapsulation efficiency(EE)revealed that metal-polyphenol network structure could improve the EE of PTN.Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry experiment indicated the thermal stability of zein-PTN-CQDs-Fe~Ⅲnanoparticles increased because of metal-polyphenol network structure.The pH-responsive nanoparticles greatly increased the release rate of active substances and achieved targeted release.展开更多
The aim of this work is to analyze the particle characteristics, such as shape, roundness and size, of starches extracted from Florencia and waxy maize hybrids. The micromeritics and structural properties of the sampl...The aim of this work is to analyze the particle characteristics, such as shape, roundness and size, of starches extracted from Florencia and waxy maize hybrids. The micromeritics and structural properties of the samples were examined. The evaluation of flow properties, densification and compression behaviour of the powders was carried out. Physical parameters and swelling characteristics of tablets containing Florencia and waxy maize starch were also studied. Starch samples were compared with respect to their applicability as excipients in tablet formulation. The samples exhibited identical structure and similar particle characteristics. Maize starch extracted from the Florencia dent hybrid showed better flowability and compressibility in tableting experiments, which resulted in better mechanical tablet properties. With regard to utilization as a disintegrant, Florencia starch indicated rapid and intensive swelling and proved to act more effectively in the swelling process than waxy maize starch.展开更多
A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of age and breeds (Arsi, Borana, HF-Cross and Harar) on carcass and meat characteristics of bulls finished under similar feeding conditions. The feeding experiment was cond...A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of age and breeds (Arsi, Borana, HF-Cross and Harar) on carcass and meat characteristics of bulls finished under similar feeding conditions. The feeding experiment was conducted for 90 days at Beef farm of Haramaya University. In this experiment, 24 bulls were fed with roughage (60%) which contained grass hay and wheat straw and concentrate (40%) which contained wheat bran, noug (<i></span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">gucia</span></i> <i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">abysica</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></i>) cake, maize grain, limestone, salt and ruminant premix. The bulls were transported to Bishoftu ELFORA export abattoir for slaughter following the procedure of the abattoir. The result of the study revealed that the average slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, shrink loss, commercial dressing and true dressing percentage were 179.1 kg, 86.8 kg, 82.7 kg 4.7%, 48.8% and 78.3%, respectively. Total edible and nonedible offal were </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by breed and age. Pelvic fat was</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by breeds. Meat yield percentages of Arsi, </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Boran, Harar, and HF-crossbred were 78.1%, 77%, 72.8% and 77.2%</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> respectively. Meat yield was predicted from fat thickness and ribeye area with 61% accuracy. Arsi bulls attained the highest (78%) meat yield at early age but decreased by 0.713 rate as age of animals advanced by one digit whereas the meat yield from other breeds showed increment in meat yield percentage with the rate of 1.98, 1.1 and 0.1 for cross, Borana and Harar breed bulls, respectively as age advanced. Yield from fore shank, sirloin, top and bottom sirloin primal cuts were affected by breed. Arsi breed had higher meat bone ration than cross breed. Retailed meat yield was significantly (P < 0.001) predicted from rib area and subcutaneous fat thickness (P < 0.001) with a coefficient of determination 61%, from live animal trait and primal cuts with a coefficient of determination 89.56% and 94.78% respectively. Arsi bulls can be used for beef purpose at 2 - 3 years, as the meat percentage decreases thereafter;while bulls from Boran, cross breed and Harar breeds can be used up to 5 years of age. Meat to bone ratio indicated that HF-Crossbred was less appropriate for beef purpose than other breed bulls in this study. The rate of pH decline was not influence (P > 0.05) by age and breed in the current study.展开更多
The purpose of this study was to explore the quality of the Tibetan native hulless barley variety in depth and to evaluate the characteristics of its processing quality using ratio analysis.For this study,10 native ba...The purpose of this study was to explore the quality of the Tibetan native hulless barley variety in depth and to evaluate the characteristics of its processing quality using ratio analysis.For this study,10 native barley varieties were chosen with the detection of 24 quality indexes in order to build a system of comprehensive evaluation.The results of the factor analysis indicated that seven common factors with an eigenvalue greater than 1 were extracted,cumulatively accounting for 96.21%of the total variance.The first common factor,including ASP,GLU,SER,GLY,ARG,TYR and CYS contents,accounted for 33.82% of the variance.The second common factor,including ash,the total starch,soluble fiber,VB_(3),Cu,Mn,Na and beta-glucan contents,accounted for 19.46%of the variance.The third common factor,including the total dietary fiber,α-VE,K,Zn and glutelin.The fourth common factor,including B,Ba and prolamin,explained the barley starch character of the rheological property.The fifth common factor included crude fiber.The sixth and the seventh common factors did not account for a substantial amount of variance.According to the comprehensive evaluation model,the score consequence was as the following:Zangqing25>Pengnaigabu>Lhasa changhei>2004Qing21>Lhasa duanbai>Liangamu>Zhikonggaxia>lianmubai>Jiangreejiu>Longzihei.展开更多
The suitability of Kansas hard white winter (HWW) wheat milled at a high extraction rate for tortilla production was investigated. All of the Kansas varieties of white wheat,milled to 80% extraction,performed as well ...The suitability of Kansas hard white winter (HWW) wheat milled at a high extraction rate for tortilla production was investigated. All of the Kansas varieties of white wheat,milled to 80% extraction,performed as well as,if not better than,a standard commercial tortilla flour milled to 72% extraction when various quality factors were compared. Tortillas were made from eight wheat cultivars milled at 80% extraction: four HWW wheat cultivars included Betty,Heyne,Oro Blanco and NuWest; three hard red winter (HRW) wheat samples were Jagger and Ike grown at Hutchinson,Kansas (Ike-Hutch) and at Hays,Kansas (Ike-Hays); and one hard white spring (HWS) wheat cultivar,Idaho 377-S. Tortillas made from these flours were compared to tortillas made from one commercial tortilla-flour milled to 72% extraction from a blend of HRW wheat. Mixograph parameters,starch pasting properties,dough-handling characteristics and tortilla- making attributes of the new Kansas HWW wheat cultivars,Betty and Heyne,were superior. In summary,Kansas HWW wheat flours,milled to 80% extraction,produced tortillas which were equal to,or superior to,those made from 80%-extraction HRW wheat flours and 72%-extraction commercial tortilla flour.展开更多
Flour serves as one of the primary ingredients of cookies,which affects dough properties,physical changes during baking,and post-baking cookie properties.Two gluten-free cookie formulations were developed with the goa...Flour serves as one of the primary ingredients of cookies,which affects dough properties,physical changes during baking,and post-baking cookie properties.Two gluten-free cookie formulations were developed with the goal of use as inclusions in frozen desserts.Blonde and chocolate cookies were made with sorghum flour or all-purpose wheat flour and then evaluated for physical and chemical properties.To determine functionality in a frozen state,texture analysis was conducted on cookies at−30℃,−17°C,and 20℃,replicating various ice cream storage temperatures.To simulate the process effect of incorporating the product into a frozen dessert,cookies were crumbled mechanically,and the crumbles were separated based on size.When evaluating cookies,no significant differences(P<0.05)were observed in width(W),thickness(T),spread,and W/T ratio for flour source within formula.Blonde cookies had lower moisture contents than chocolate cookies;further,blonde cookies made from sorghum flour had less moisture than those made with wheat flour.As the cookie temperature decreased from 20℃to−17℃,cookie hardness increased,with flour type having no effect.Within formula,cookies had similar instrumental color parameters.However,blonde cookies made from sorghum flour produced more smaller-sized pieces than those made from wheat flour.The results of this study demonstrate that sorghum flour cookies have desirable properties for use as inclusions in ice cream and other frozen desserts.展开更多
Adjuvants have the potential to improve the weed control efficacy of herbicides. The synergistic effects of different types of adjuvants on clomazone and the safety of soybean were studied systematically by bioassay, ...Adjuvants have the potential to improve the weed control efficacy of herbicides. The synergistic effects of different types of adjuvants on clomazone and the safety of soybean were studied systematically by bioassay, instrumental analysis and field trial methods. The results showed that the five different types of adjuvants all differentially enhanced the herbicidal effects of clomazone;the compound adjuvant had the best synergistic effect on clomazone, and the plant control effect and the fresh weight control effect of clomazone on weeds could be increased by 24.2% and 24.11%, respectively. Through the study of the physical properties of the solution, the results showed that the adjuvants reduced the surface tension by 15.66%-33.23%, increased the expansion diameter by 11.56%-63.19%, reduced the contact angle by 8.40%-71.49%, and shortened the drying time by 3.1%-37.75%. Among the adjuvant options, the compound adjuvant exhibited the best effect, reducing the surface tension by 26.03%-33.23%, increasing the expansion diameter by 39.81%-63.19%, reducing the contact angle by 33.22%-71.49%, and shortening the drying time by 28.85%-37.75%. All the adjuvants had no significant effect on soybean plant height and yield and were safe for soybean. The reasonable development and application of adjuvants in China’s agricultural practices had good practical basis and significant value.展开更多
Hefeng 25 variety with low vitamin E content in Heilongjiang Province and Bayfield variety with high vitamin E content in Canada were crossed.A total of 144 F_(2:7) recombinant inbred lines(RILs)were used as materials...Hefeng 25 variety with low vitamin E content in Heilongjiang Province and Bayfield variety with high vitamin E content in Canada were crossed.A total of 144 F_(2:7) recombinant inbred lines(RILs)were used as materials.The genetic linkage mapping of soybean vitamin E was constructed.Soybean varieties were marker-assisted selected in the interval of refined quantitative trait locus(QTLs).QTLs were identified in α-,γ-,δ-and the total tocopherol contents of soybean seeds.Fine QTLs of soybean vitamin E content were identified in the interval between Sat_239 and Satt022 on N linkage group.It was valuable to narrow the interval by marker-assisted selection(MAS).There were seven major QTLs of vitamin E content in soybean.MAS related to vitamin E content in soybean was carried out in the intervals between Sat_239 and Satt022.Considering all the kinds of agronomic traits,six strains with high yield and good quality of vitamin E were chosen,numbered 4,54,104,114,122 and 135.展开更多
To study the effect of cultivation system （conventional and organic） on potato tuber components, 42 parameters （anti-nutritives, micro- and macro-elements and 23 metabolites） were studied in three multi-resistant ...To study the effect of cultivation system （conventional and organic） on potato tuber components, 42 parameters （anti-nutritives, micro- and macro-elements and 23 metabolites） were studied in three multi-resistant Hungarian potato varieties for three years in 2007-2009. Discriminant analysis of data proved that all investigated factors （farming technology, genotype and season/year） had significant effect on metabolites. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic （HPLC-DAD, HPLC-MS） and elemental analysis methods have been adapted to quantify the major components, i.e., steroidal alkaloids, nitrite, nitrate, sugars, amino acids and micro-elements, in potato tubers. The absolute amount and changes of tuber components were influenced differentially by the technology, genotype and season in a complex manner. Any examined component, except nitrate content, was found to be significantly higher or lower consistently in relation to the production practice （organic or conventional） during the three years trials. Under the examined circumstances, no consequent positive effect of organic fanning on the total amount of anti-nutritive components, vitamins or micro- and macro-elements of potato tubers could be proven.展开更多
The study was conducted to evaluate the fattening performance of Arsi, Borana, Harar and Holstein Friesian crossbred bulls finished under a similar feeding condition at the beef farm in Haramaya University. The averag...The study was conducted to evaluate the fattening performance of Arsi, Borana, Harar and Holstein Friesian crossbred bulls finished under a similar feeding condition at the beef farm in Haramaya University. The average daily weight gain of the four breeds ranges from 0.49 to 0.71 kg. Feed conversion efficiency also ranges from 0.11 - 0.15. Simple linear regression models were used to explore the relationship between live body weight change and change in body condition score as well as seven linear body measurements for all age groups. An average change for a unite of body condition score was equivalent to 20.3, 20.61, 22.42 and 27.78 kg for Borana, Arsi, Harar and Holstein Friesian crossbred bulls respectively. Body condition score was significantly influenced by breeds. There was a significant breed by age interaction effect on the initial body condition score of the four breeds. There was a significant and positive strong association between change in body weight and body condition score. There was a significant and strong correlation between change in body weight and change in Total topline, neck length, heart girth, flank circumference and rump length having correlation coefficients ranges from 0.57 to 0.97. A higher net profit of 7380.47 ETB per head was recorded by Borana bulls followed by Harar bulls, Arsi and Holstein Friesian crossbred with net profit of 5406.86, 5193.29 and 3384.98 ETB per head respectively. Borana bulls are more superior in weight gain and net profit. Bodyweight change could be predicted based on body condition score change during the fattening period.展开更多
Background Asthma is a common,multifactorial chronic disease with a major impact on children and adolescents.Exposure to food contaminants is one of the contributing factors to asthma.This study aims to evaluate the i...Background Asthma is a common,multifactorial chronic disease with a major impact on children and adolescents.Exposure to food contaminants is one of the contributing factors to asthma.This study aims to evaluate the intake and exposure of different contaminants and explore their association with childhood asthma.MethodsThe Childhood Asthma and Environment Research study evaluated Italian children aged 5–14 years,divided into control and asthma case groups.Dietary habits were recorded,and exposure to 11 food contaminants was estimated with the CONT11 database.The study included 428 children,264 with asthma and 164 without.ResultsThe findings of this study were consistent with those reported in other studies,indicating that exposure to nitrates and acrylamide was significantly higher in asthmatic children.The results suggest that exposure to certain contaminants could have a more pronounced effect on asthmatic children.ConclusionsThe study demonstrates the importance of tools such as CONT11 in assessing food safety.Furthermore,it reinforces the need to prevent and reduce exposure to food contaminants to minimize health risks.展开更多
Circadian rhythms are self-sustained endogenous oscillations that are found in all living organisms.In insects,circadian rhythms control a wide variety of behavioral and physiological processes,including feeding,locom...Circadian rhythms are self-sustained endogenous oscillations that are found in all living organisms.In insects,circadian rhythms control a wide variety of behavioral and physiological processes,including feeding,locomotion,mating,and metabolism.While the role of circadian rhythms in adult insects is well-understood,it is largely unexplored in larvae.This study investigates the potential for larval synchronized activity in the red flour beetle(Tribolium castaneum),a species exhibiting solitary and aggregation phases.We hypothesized that,similar to adults,larvae would exhibit a daily activity pattern governed by an endogenous circadian clock.We further predicted that the transition between the solitary and gregarious phases extends to unique temporal activity patterns.Our results revealed unique timekeeper gene expression in larvae,leading to a distinct daily rhythm characterized by nocturnal activity.Cues indicating on potential cannibalism did not change daily activity peak.However,the absence of these cues significantly reduced the proportion of rhythmic larvae and led to higher variation in peak activity,highlighting the crucial role of social interactions in shaping their rhythmicity.This study sheds light on the evolution and function of larval synchronization in group-living insects,offering novel insights into this complex behavior.展开更多
Chlorogenic acid(CGA),a phenolic acid compound found in a variety of natural plants,has strong antioxidant capacity.In this study,we aimed to investigate the effects of CGA on differentiation and lipid metabolism of 3...Chlorogenic acid(CGA),a phenolic acid compound found in a variety of natural plants,has strong antioxidant capacity.In this study,we aimed to investigate the effects of CGA on differentiation and lipid metabolism of 3T3-L1 cells,as well as its protective effect against cellular oxidative stress induced by H_(2)O_(2).We found that CGA can reduce the accumulation of intracellular ROS and attenuate the production of inflammatory cytokines TNF-αunder oxidative stress.CGA treatment significantly inhibited preadipocytes differentiation and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells.Our results suggest that CGA may regulate lipid metabolism by reducing the expression of differentiation-related genes and inhibiting triacylglyceride synthesis.The findings of this study support CGA as a potential therapeutic agent for obesity.The effects of CGA and its metabolites in vivo should be investigated to further support its application in functional foods.展开更多
Mung bean,a kind of leguminous crop loved by people,contains high nutritional values as well as medicinal properties.Mung bean fermentation by lactic acid bacteria is a meaningful attempt for development of novel func...Mung bean,a kind of leguminous crop loved by people,contains high nutritional values as well as medicinal properties.Mung bean fermentation by lactic acid bacteria is a meaningful attempt for development of novel functional foods.In this study,the effects of Lactococcus lactis RQ1066(L.lactis RQ1066)fermentation on physicochemical properties,anti-nutritional factors,antioxidant capacities,amino acids composition,and sensory evaluation of mung bean milk(MBM)were investigated.We found that L.lactis RQ1066 had the potential of utilizing MBM as the fermentation substrate,which can change amino acids composition and sensory characteristics of MBM.The protein hydrolysis degree,solubility and antioxidant capacities increased after fermentation,while the anti-nutritional factor contents were decreased.Moreover,the aroma,taste,and state of organization were higher than those of unfermented MBM.Our results illustrated that L.lactis RQ1066 fermentation can enhance physicochemical and functional properties of MBM,which provided a promising approach for the deep processing of mung bean products and the increase of the added value of mung bean.展开更多
文摘Floor drains in processing environments harbor Listeria spp. due to continuous presence of humidity and organic substrates. Cleaning and washing activities in food-processing facilities can translocate the bacterial cells from the drain to the surrounding environment, thus contaminating food products still in production. This study evaluated the potential for translocation of Listeria monocytogenes from drains to food contact surfaces in the surrounding environment using Listeria innocua as a surrogate. A 7 × 7 × 8-foot polycarbonate flexi-glass chamber with a 10-inch-diameter drain mounted on an aluminum cabinet was used. Stainless steel coupons (6.4 × 1.9 × 0.1 cm, 12 per height) were hung at 1, 3, and 5 feet inside the chamber. Four treatment sets;non-inoculated, non-treated;non-inoculated, treated;inoculated, treated;inoculated non-treated;and two subtreatments of 8 h and 48 h were performed. For the inoculated sets, meat slurry (10 gof ground beef in 900 mL water) and a four-strain cocktail of Listeria innocua at 7 - 8 log CFU/mL were used. For the treated sets, in addition, a commercial cleaner and sanitizer was applied. The drain was cleaned using a pressure hose (40 - 50 psi) after 8 h and 48 h. Coupons were then removed and enriched in listeria enrichment broth to establish if any cell translocated from the drain onto the stainless steel coupons via aerosols generated during washing. Confirmation was done using VIP Listeria rapid test kits. Results indicated translocation at all three heights ranging from 2% - 25%. Significantly higher translocation (p Listeria spp. from drains to food contact surfaces does occur and increases with increased proximity to the drain.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province,China(TD2022C003 and YQ2022C010)the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFD1201104-02-02 and2021YFF1001202)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U20A2027,31971899,32272093,and 32272072)。
文摘Malate dehydrogenase(MDH)is a widely expressed enzyme that plays a key role in plant growth,development,and stress responses.However,information on MDH genes in the soybean genome is limited.Seventeen members of the soybean MDH family were identified by genome-wide analysis,and the genes were analyzed for the presence of conserved protein motifs.The genes were divided into five clusters according to their phylogenetic relationships.The intracellular localizations of six GmMDHs were determined by confocal microscopy of Arabidopsis mesophyll protoplasts.Transcripts of GmMDHs were significantly increased by abiotic stress(drought,salt,and alkalinity)and hormone treatments,as shown by an analysis of cis-regulatory elements and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).The GmMDHs displayed unique expression patterns in various soybean tissues.Notably,the expression levels of a chloroplast isoform(GmMDH2)were unusually high under salt stress,presumably indicating a critical role in soybean responses to salinity.Expression of GmMDH2 in Escherichia coli showed that the recombinant enzyme has nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADP)-dependent MDH activity.The redox states of the NADP(reduced form)(NADPH)pool and antioxidant activities were shown to be modulated by GmMDH2 gene overexpression,which in turn reduced reactive oxygen species(ROS)formation in transgenic soybean,significantly enhancing the salt stress resistance.Gene-based association analysis showed that variations in GmMDH2 were strongly linked to seedling salt tolerance.A polymorphism potentially associated with salt tolerance was discovered in the promoter region of GmMDH2.These findings not only improve our understanding of the stress response mechanism by identifying and characterizing the MDH gene family throughout the soybean genome but they also identified a potential candidate gene for the future enhancement of salt tolerance in soybean.
基金supported by Angel Nutritech Nutrition Fund(AF2021003)。
文摘Alcoholic liver disease(ALD)is one of the major global public health problems.Yeast extract(YE),a product prepared from yeast,has been proven to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.However,the potential role of YE in the prevention of ALD remains unclear.The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of YE on ALD and explore the underlying mechanism based on gut microbiota.The result showed that YE supplementation significantly ameliorated chronic alcohol exposure-induced liver injury in mice.In addition,YE counteracted alcohol-induced gut dysbiosis,intestinal barrier dysfunction,lipopolysaccharide(LPS)leakage-induced inflammatory response in the liver.Moreover,microbiota depletion by a broad-spectrum antibiotic was sufficient to block the protective effect of YE on ALD,indicating the contribution of gut dysbiosis modulation to the hepatoprotective role of YE.Furthermore,we demonstrated the causal relationship between gut microbiota and hepatoprotective effects of YE with the fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT)experiment.Compared with the ALD-FMT mice,gut dysbiosis,intestinal barrier dysfunction,LPS/TLR4 signaling pathway activation,and liver inflammatory response were significantly improved in the YE-FMT mice.Together,our findings highlight that dietary YE protects against ALD through gut dysbiosis correction.
基金Project supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Public Technology Application Research Project(No.2012C22052)the Hangzhou Science and Technology Development Project(Nos.20120232B72and 20101032B18)the General Administration of Quality Supervision,Inspection and Quarantine of China(No.201310120)
文摘Meat quality traits of four genotypes of Chinese indigenous chicken [Ninghai chicken(NC),frizzle chicken(FC),Ninghai xiang chicken(XC),and Zhenning loquat chicken(LC)] and one genotype of commercial broiler [Arbor Acres plus broiler(AAB)] were analyzed.The indigenous chickens were raised before the commercial chickens in order to achieve the same final processed days.Indigenous chickens of NC,FC,XC,and LC showed significantly higher inosine-5′-monophosphate(IMP) content,shorter fiber diameter,and lower shear force than those of AAB(P<0.05).In the indigenous genotypes,NC and FC had significantly shorter fiber diameters and lower shear forces than XC and LC(P<0.05),and NC and XC had a higher IMP content than FC and LC(P<0.05).Moreover,the indigenous genotype of LC significantly displayed the highest protein content(P<0.05) in the five genotypes of birds,and no significant differences of protein content were found between the other genotypes of NC,FC,XC,and AAB(P>0.05).The indigenous chickens from FC displayed the highest total lipid content in the five bird genotypes(P<0.05).Significant differences of pH,color values of L* and a*,and drip loss for the five genotypes of birds were also observed.In conclusion,there were significant differences in the meat quality traits of the bird breeds selected in this study,and the indigenous chickens,especially the NC genotype,produced better quality meat as far as the IMP content,fiber diameters,and shear forces were concerned.
基金supported by the grant of National Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin(09JCYBJC12900)
文摘Objective To investigate whether the antioxidation and the regulation on the Extracellular Regulated Protein Kinases （ERK） signaling pathway are involved in the protective effects of blueberry on central nervous system. Methods 30 Senescence-accelerated mice prone 8 （SAMP8） mice were divided into three groups and treated with normal diet, blueberry extracts （200 mg/kg.bw/day） and cyaniding-3-O-galactoside （Cy-3-GAL） （50 mg/kg.bw/day） from blueberry for 8 weeks. 10 SAMR1 mice were set as control group. The capacity of spatial memory was assessed by Passive avoidance task and Morris water maze. Histological analyses on hippocampus were completed. Malondialdehyde （MDA） levels, Superoxide Dismutase （SOD） activity and the expression of ERK were detected. Results Both Cy-3-GAL and blueberry extracts were shown effective functions to relieve cellular injury, improve hippocampal neurons survival and inhibit the pyramidal cell layer damage. Cy-3-GAL and blueberry extracts also increased SOD activity and reduced MDA content in brain tissues and plasma, and increased hippocampal phosphorylated ERK （p-ERK） expression in SAMP8 mice. Further more, the passive avoidance task test showed that both the latency time and the number of errors were improved by Cy-3-GAL treatment, and the Morris Water Maze test showed significant decreases of latency were detected by Cy-3-GAL and blueberry extracts treatment on day 4. Conclusion Blueberry extracts may reverse the declines of cognitive and behavioral function in the ageing process through several pathways, including enhancing the capacity of antioxidation, altering stress signaling. Cy-3-GAL may be an important active ingredient for these biological effects.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31772042)Ramóny Cajal grant(RYC2020-030365-I)+1 种基金Xunta de Galicia for supporting the program(Excelencia-ED431F2022/01)the Key Research&Development Program of Zhejiang Province(2021C02015).
文摘Cuticular wax plays a major role in the growth and storage of plant fruits.The cuticular wax coating,which covers the outermost layer of a fruit’s epidermal cells,is insoluble in water.Cuticular wax is mainly composed of very long-chain fatty acids(VLCFAs);their derivatives,including esters,primary alcohols,secondary alcohols,aldehydes,and ketones;and triterpenoids.This complex mixture of lipids is probably biosynthesized in the epidermal cells of most plants and exuded onto the surface.Cuticular wax not only makes the fruit less susceptible to microbial infection but also reduces mechanical damage to the fruit,thereby maintaining the fruit’s commodity value.To date,research has mostly focused on the changes,function,and regulation of fruit wax before harvest,while ignoring the changes and functions of wax in fruit storage.This paper reviews on the composition,structure,and metabolic regulation of cuticular wax in fruits.It also focuses on postharvest factors affecting wax composition,such as storage temperature,relative humidity(RH),gas atmosphere,and as exogenous hormones;and the effects of wax on fruit postharvest quality,including water dispersion,fruit softening,physiological disorders,and disease resistance.These summaries may be of assistance in better understanding the changes in cuticular wax in postharvest fruit and the resulting effects on fruit quality.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFD0901106)the Wenzhou Major Science and Technology Project (ZN2021002)the Ningbo“3315 series program”for high-level talents (2020B-34-G)。
文摘In this paper,tannic acid(TA)and Fe~(3+)were added to form a layer of metal-polyphenol network structure on the surface of the nanoparticles which were fabricated by zein and carbon quantum dots(CQDs)encapsulating phlorotannins(PTN).pH-Responsive nanoparticles were prepared successfully(zein-PTN-CQDs-Fe-~Ⅲ).Further,the formation of composite nanoparticles was confirmed by a series of characterization methods.The zeta-potential and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data proved that electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding are dominant forces to form nanoparticles.The encapsulation efficiency(EE)revealed that metal-polyphenol network structure could improve the EE of PTN.Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry experiment indicated the thermal stability of zein-PTN-CQDs-Fe~Ⅲnanoparticles increased because of metal-polyphenol network structure.The pH-responsive nanoparticles greatly increased the release rate of active substances and achieved targeted release.
文摘The aim of this work is to analyze the particle characteristics, such as shape, roundness and size, of starches extracted from Florencia and waxy maize hybrids. The micromeritics and structural properties of the samples were examined. The evaluation of flow properties, densification and compression behaviour of the powders was carried out. Physical parameters and swelling characteristics of tablets containing Florencia and waxy maize starch were also studied. Starch samples were compared with respect to their applicability as excipients in tablet formulation. The samples exhibited identical structure and similar particle characteristics. Maize starch extracted from the Florencia dent hybrid showed better flowability and compressibility in tableting experiments, which resulted in better mechanical tablet properties. With regard to utilization as a disintegrant, Florencia starch indicated rapid and intensive swelling and proved to act more effectively in the swelling process than waxy maize starch.
文摘A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of age and breeds (Arsi, Borana, HF-Cross and Harar) on carcass and meat characteristics of bulls finished under similar feeding conditions. The feeding experiment was conducted for 90 days at Beef farm of Haramaya University. In this experiment, 24 bulls were fed with roughage (60%) which contained grass hay and wheat straw and concentrate (40%) which contained wheat bran, noug (<i></span><i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">gucia</span></i> <i><span style="font-family:Verdana;">abysica</span></i><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></i>) cake, maize grain, limestone, salt and ruminant premix. The bulls were transported to Bishoftu ELFORA export abattoir for slaughter following the procedure of the abattoir. The result of the study revealed that the average slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, shrink loss, commercial dressing and true dressing percentage were 179.1 kg, 86.8 kg, 82.7 kg 4.7%, 48.8% and 78.3%, respectively. Total edible and nonedible offal were </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by breed and age. Pelvic fat was</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by breeds. Meat yield percentages of Arsi, </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Boran, Harar, and HF-crossbred were 78.1%, 77%, 72.8% and 77.2%</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> respectively. Meat yield was predicted from fat thickness and ribeye area with 61% accuracy. Arsi bulls attained the highest (78%) meat yield at early age but decreased by 0.713 rate as age of animals advanced by one digit whereas the meat yield from other breeds showed increment in meat yield percentage with the rate of 1.98, 1.1 and 0.1 for cross, Borana and Harar breed bulls, respectively as age advanced. Yield from fore shank, sirloin, top and bottom sirloin primal cuts were affected by breed. Arsi breed had higher meat bone ration than cross breed. Retailed meat yield was significantly (P < 0.001) predicted from rib area and subcutaneous fat thickness (P < 0.001) with a coefficient of determination 61%, from live animal trait and primal cuts with a coefficient of determination 89.56% and 94.78% respectively. Arsi bulls can be used for beef purpose at 2 - 3 years, as the meat percentage decreases thereafter;while bulls from Boran, cross breed and Harar breeds can be used up to 5 years of age. Meat to bone ratio indicated that HF-Crossbred was less appropriate for beef purpose than other breed bulls in this study. The rate of pH decline was not influence (P > 0.05) by age and breed in the current study.
基金Supported by Chnia Agriculture Research Systemthe Scientific Research Fund of the Key Technology and Research and Development of Barley Characteristic Agricultural Products Processing(XZ201901NA04)Development and Industrialization Application of Xizang Highland Barley Baijiu(XZ202001ZY0017N)。
文摘The purpose of this study was to explore the quality of the Tibetan native hulless barley variety in depth and to evaluate the characteristics of its processing quality using ratio analysis.For this study,10 native barley varieties were chosen with the detection of 24 quality indexes in order to build a system of comprehensive evaluation.The results of the factor analysis indicated that seven common factors with an eigenvalue greater than 1 were extracted,cumulatively accounting for 96.21%of the total variance.The first common factor,including ASP,GLU,SER,GLY,ARG,TYR and CYS contents,accounted for 33.82% of the variance.The second common factor,including ash,the total starch,soluble fiber,VB_(3),Cu,Mn,Na and beta-glucan contents,accounted for 19.46%of the variance.The third common factor,including the total dietary fiber,α-VE,K,Zn and glutelin.The fourth common factor,including B,Ba and prolamin,explained the barley starch character of the rheological property.The fifth common factor included crude fiber.The sixth and the seventh common factors did not account for a substantial amount of variance.According to the comprehensive evaluation model,the score consequence was as the following:Zangqing25>Pengnaigabu>Lhasa changhei>2004Qing21>Lhasa duanbai>Liangamu>Zhikonggaxia>lianmubai>Jiangreejiu>Longzihei.
文摘The suitability of Kansas hard white winter (HWW) wheat milled at a high extraction rate for tortilla production was investigated. All of the Kansas varieties of white wheat,milled to 80% extraction,performed as well as,if not better than,a standard commercial tortilla flour milled to 72% extraction when various quality factors were compared. Tortillas were made from eight wheat cultivars milled at 80% extraction: four HWW wheat cultivars included Betty,Heyne,Oro Blanco and NuWest; three hard red winter (HRW) wheat samples were Jagger and Ike grown at Hutchinson,Kansas (Ike-Hutch) and at Hays,Kansas (Ike-Hays); and one hard white spring (HWS) wheat cultivar,Idaho 377-S. Tortillas made from these flours were compared to tortillas made from one commercial tortilla-flour milled to 72% extraction from a blend of HRW wheat. Mixograph parameters,starch pasting properties,dough-handling characteristics and tortilla- making attributes of the new Kansas HWW wheat cultivars,Betty and Heyne,were superior. In summary,Kansas HWW wheat flours,milled to 80% extraction,produced tortillas which were equal to,or superior to,those made from 80%-extraction HRW wheat flours and 72%-extraction commercial tortilla flour.
基金The authors would like to extend an expression of gratitude to the USDA for analyzing particle sizes on the two flour samples.Masters'candidate Janae Brown in the Food Science Institute at Kansas State University(Manhattan,KS,USA)assisted in taking pictures for this publication.The authors acknowledge support from the Kansas State University Research and Extension,publication number 23-087-J.Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S.Department of Agriculture.The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.This work was supported in part by the U.S.Department of Agriculture,Agricultural Research Service.
文摘Flour serves as one of the primary ingredients of cookies,which affects dough properties,physical changes during baking,and post-baking cookie properties.Two gluten-free cookie formulations were developed with the goal of use as inclusions in frozen desserts.Blonde and chocolate cookies were made with sorghum flour or all-purpose wheat flour and then evaluated for physical and chemical properties.To determine functionality in a frozen state,texture analysis was conducted on cookies at−30℃,−17°C,and 20℃,replicating various ice cream storage temperatures.To simulate the process effect of incorporating the product into a frozen dessert,cookies were crumbled mechanically,and the crumbles were separated based on size.When evaluating cookies,no significant differences(P<0.05)were observed in width(W),thickness(T),spread,and W/T ratio for flour source within formula.Blonde cookies had lower moisture contents than chocolate cookies;further,blonde cookies made from sorghum flour had less moisture than those made with wheat flour.As the cookie temperature decreased from 20℃to−17℃,cookie hardness increased,with flour type having no effect.Within formula,cookies had similar instrumental color parameters.However,blonde cookies made from sorghum flour produced more smaller-sized pieces than those made from wheat flour.The results of this study demonstrate that sorghum flour cookies have desirable properties for use as inclusions in ice cream and other frozen desserts.
基金Research and Demonstration on Comprehensive Technology of Pesticide Reduction Application (GA19B104-1)。
文摘Adjuvants have the potential to improve the weed control efficacy of herbicides. The synergistic effects of different types of adjuvants on clomazone and the safety of soybean were studied systematically by bioassay, instrumental analysis and field trial methods. The results showed that the five different types of adjuvants all differentially enhanced the herbicidal effects of clomazone;the compound adjuvant had the best synergistic effect on clomazone, and the plant control effect and the fresh weight control effect of clomazone on weeds could be increased by 24.2% and 24.11%, respectively. Through the study of the physical properties of the solution, the results showed that the adjuvants reduced the surface tension by 15.66%-33.23%, increased the expansion diameter by 11.56%-63.19%, reduced the contact angle by 8.40%-71.49%, and shortened the drying time by 3.1%-37.75%. Among the adjuvant options, the compound adjuvant exhibited the best effect, reducing the surface tension by 26.03%-33.23%, increasing the expansion diameter by 39.81%-63.19%, reducing the contact angle by 33.22%-71.49%, and shortening the drying time by 28.85%-37.75%. All the adjuvants had no significant effect on soybean plant height and yield and were safe for soybean. The reasonable development and application of adjuvants in China’s agricultural practices had good practical basis and significant value.
基金Supported by Chinese National Natural Science Foundation(31701446)。
文摘Hefeng 25 variety with low vitamin E content in Heilongjiang Province and Bayfield variety with high vitamin E content in Canada were crossed.A total of 144 F_(2:7) recombinant inbred lines(RILs)were used as materials.The genetic linkage mapping of soybean vitamin E was constructed.Soybean varieties were marker-assisted selected in the interval of refined quantitative trait locus(QTLs).QTLs were identified in α-,γ-,δ-and the total tocopherol contents of soybean seeds.Fine QTLs of soybean vitamin E content were identified in the interval between Sat_239 and Satt022 on N linkage group.It was valuable to narrow the interval by marker-assisted selection(MAS).There were seven major QTLs of vitamin E content in soybean.MAS related to vitamin E content in soybean was carried out in the intervals between Sat_239 and Satt022.Considering all the kinds of agronomic traits,six strains with high yield and good quality of vitamin E were chosen,numbered 4,54,104,114,122 and 135.
文摘To study the effect of cultivation system （conventional and organic） on potato tuber components, 42 parameters （anti-nutritives, micro- and macro-elements and 23 metabolites） were studied in three multi-resistant Hungarian potato varieties for three years in 2007-2009. Discriminant analysis of data proved that all investigated factors （farming technology, genotype and season/year） had significant effect on metabolites. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic （HPLC-DAD, HPLC-MS） and elemental analysis methods have been adapted to quantify the major components, i.e., steroidal alkaloids, nitrite, nitrate, sugars, amino acids and micro-elements, in potato tubers. The absolute amount and changes of tuber components were influenced differentially by the technology, genotype and season in a complex manner. Any examined component, except nitrate content, was found to be significantly higher or lower consistently in relation to the production practice （organic or conventional） during the three years trials. Under the examined circumstances, no consequent positive effect of organic fanning on the total amount of anti-nutritive components, vitamins or micro- and macro-elements of potato tubers could be proven.
文摘The study was conducted to evaluate the fattening performance of Arsi, Borana, Harar and Holstein Friesian crossbred bulls finished under a similar feeding condition at the beef farm in Haramaya University. The average daily weight gain of the four breeds ranges from 0.49 to 0.71 kg. Feed conversion efficiency also ranges from 0.11 - 0.15. Simple linear regression models were used to explore the relationship between live body weight change and change in body condition score as well as seven linear body measurements for all age groups. An average change for a unite of body condition score was equivalent to 20.3, 20.61, 22.42 and 27.78 kg for Borana, Arsi, Harar and Holstein Friesian crossbred bulls respectively. Body condition score was significantly influenced by breeds. There was a significant breed by age interaction effect on the initial body condition score of the four breeds. There was a significant and positive strong association between change in body weight and body condition score. There was a significant and strong correlation between change in body weight and change in Total topline, neck length, heart girth, flank circumference and rump length having correlation coefficients ranges from 0.57 to 0.97. A higher net profit of 7380.47 ETB per head was recorded by Borana bulls followed by Harar bulls, Arsi and Holstein Friesian crossbred with net profit of 5406.86, 5193.29 and 3384.98 ETB per head respectively. Borana bulls are more superior in weight gain and net profit. Bodyweight change could be predicted based on body condition score change during the fattening period.
文摘Background Asthma is a common,multifactorial chronic disease with a major impact on children and adolescents.Exposure to food contaminants is one of the contributing factors to asthma.This study aims to evaluate the intake and exposure of different contaminants and explore their association with childhood asthma.MethodsThe Childhood Asthma and Environment Research study evaluated Italian children aged 5–14 years,divided into control and asthma case groups.Dietary habits were recorded,and exposure to 11 food contaminants was estimated with the CONT11 database.The study included 428 children,264 with asthma and 164 without.ResultsThe findings of this study were consistent with those reported in other studies,indicating that exposure to nitrates and acrylamide was significantly higher in asthmatic children.The results suggest that exposure to certain contaminants could have a more pronounced effect on asthmatic children.ConclusionsThe study demonstrates the importance of tools such as CONT11 in assessing food safety.Furthermore,it reinforces the need to prevent and reduce exposure to food contaminants to minimize health risks.
文摘Circadian rhythms are self-sustained endogenous oscillations that are found in all living organisms.In insects,circadian rhythms control a wide variety of behavioral and physiological processes,including feeding,locomotion,mating,and metabolism.While the role of circadian rhythms in adult insects is well-understood,it is largely unexplored in larvae.This study investigates the potential for larval synchronized activity in the red flour beetle(Tribolium castaneum),a species exhibiting solitary and aggregation phases.We hypothesized that,similar to adults,larvae would exhibit a daily activity pattern governed by an endogenous circadian clock.We further predicted that the transition between the solitary and gregarious phases extends to unique temporal activity patterns.Our results revealed unique timekeeper gene expression in larvae,leading to a distinct daily rhythm characterized by nocturnal activity.Cues indicating on potential cannibalism did not change daily activity peak.However,the absence of these cues significantly reduced the proportion of rhythmic larvae and led to higher variation in peak activity,highlighting the crucial role of social interactions in shaping their rhythmicity.This study sheds light on the evolution and function of larval synchronization in group-living insects,offering novel insights into this complex behavior.
基金funded by the Distinguished Young Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China(JQ2020C006)Academic Backbone Plan of Northeast Agricultural University(54916912)+1 种基金Key Project of National Dairy Innovation Research Center of Inner Mongolia(2021-National Dairy Innovation Research Center-8)Characteristic Probiotics and New Fermented Food Team in Northeast Agricultural University(54940912).
文摘Chlorogenic acid(CGA),a phenolic acid compound found in a variety of natural plants,has strong antioxidant capacity.In this study,we aimed to investigate the effects of CGA on differentiation and lipid metabolism of 3T3-L1 cells,as well as its protective effect against cellular oxidative stress induced by H_(2)O_(2).We found that CGA can reduce the accumulation of intracellular ROS and attenuate the production of inflammatory cytokines TNF-αunder oxidative stress.CGA treatment significantly inhibited preadipocytes differentiation and lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells.Our results suggest that CGA may regulate lipid metabolism by reducing the expression of differentiation-related genes and inhibiting triacylglyceride synthesis.The findings of this study support CGA as a potential therapeutic agent for obesity.The effects of CGA and its metabolites in vivo should be investigated to further support its application in functional foods.
基金the Distinguished Young Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China(JQ2020C006)Characteristic Probiotics and New Fermented Food Team in Northeast Agricultural University(54940912)Academic Backbone Plan of Northeast Agricultural University(54916912).
文摘Mung bean,a kind of leguminous crop loved by people,contains high nutritional values as well as medicinal properties.Mung bean fermentation by lactic acid bacteria is a meaningful attempt for development of novel functional foods.In this study,the effects of Lactococcus lactis RQ1066(L.lactis RQ1066)fermentation on physicochemical properties,anti-nutritional factors,antioxidant capacities,amino acids composition,and sensory evaluation of mung bean milk(MBM)were investigated.We found that L.lactis RQ1066 had the potential of utilizing MBM as the fermentation substrate,which can change amino acids composition and sensory characteristics of MBM.The protein hydrolysis degree,solubility and antioxidant capacities increased after fermentation,while the anti-nutritional factor contents were decreased.Moreover,the aroma,taste,and state of organization were higher than those of unfermented MBM.Our results illustrated that L.lactis RQ1066 fermentation can enhance physicochemical and functional properties of MBM,which provided a promising approach for the deep processing of mung bean products and the increase of the added value of mung bean.
