Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Ash Content (ash + content)
Selected AbstractsRelationship between Carbon Isotope Discrimination, Mineral Content and Gas Exchange Parameters in Vegetative Organs of Wheat Grown under Three Different Water RegimesJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 3 2010L. Zhu Abstract Carbon isotope discrimination (,) has been proposed as an indirect selection criterion for transpiration efficiency and grain yield in wheat. However, because of high cost for , analysis, attempts have been made to identify alternative screening criteria. Ash content (ma) has been proposed as an alternative criterion for , in wheat and barley. A pot experiment was conducted to analyse the relationship between ,, mineral content and gas exchange parameters in seedlings and leaves of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Plants of 10 genotypes were cultivated under three different water regimes corresponding to moderate (T3), intermediate (T2) and severe drought (T1) stress obtained by maintaining soil humidity at 75 %, 55 % and 45 % of the humidity at field capacity respectively. , and ma in seedlings and leaves showed significant differences among the three water treatments. Significant positive correlations were found between , and ma in seedlings and leaves at elongation and anthesis stages in severe drought stress (T1). , was negatively associated with potassium (K) content in intermediate drought stress (T2) and positively with magnesium (Mg) content in T2 and T3 (moderate drought stress) in flag leaf at anthesis. There were negative correlations between , and single-leaf intrinsic water-use efficiency (WT) in T2 and T3 at anthesis stage. Stronger positive associations were noted between , and stomatal conductance (gs) in T1 and T2 than in T3 at anthesis. These results suggested that , is a good trait as an indirect selection criterion for genotypic improvement in transpiration efficiency, while ma is a possible alternative criterion of , in wheat vegetative organs, especially in stressed environments. Significant association was found between , and K, Mg and Ca contents that would merit being better investigated. [source] Relationship between Carbon Isotope Discrimination and Mineral Content in Wheat Grown under Three Different Water RegimesJOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 6 2008L. Zhu Abstract Carbon isotope discrimination (,) has been proposed as an indirect selection criterion for transpiration efficiency and grain yield in wheat. However, because of the high cost for , analysis, attempts have been carried out to identify alternative screening criteria. Ash content (ma) has been proposed as an alternative criterion for , in wheat and barley. A pot experiment was conducted to analyse the relationship between , and ma in flag leaf and grain. Plants of 10 genotypes were cultivated under three different water regimes corresponding to moderate, intermediate and severe drought stress obtained by maintaining soil humidity at 75 %, 55 % and 45 % of the humidity at field capacity, respectively. , and ma in flag leaf and grain showed significant differences between the moderate, intermediate and severe drought stress levels. Significant correlations were found among genotypes for , and ma in flag leaf under severe drought stress, and for , and ma in grain under intermediate and moderate drought stress. In flag leaf at anthesis, , was negatively associated to K content and positively to Mg content. At maturity, , in grain was negatively correlated with Mg and Ca contents in flag leaf and grain, respectively. These results suggested that these traits may be potentially useful traits, which could be surrogates for ,. [source] Large-scale geographical trends in fruit traits of vertebrate-dispersed temperate plantsJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2003Arndt Hampe Abstract Aim, To assess large-scale geographical trends in the character of fleshy, vertebrate-dispersed fruits. Location, Europe between central Sweden and southern Spain. Methods, Analyses of fruit of sixty-three plant species from twenty-nine families were compiled from four regional data sets. Four structural and five chemical fruit traits were analysed intraspecifically to control rigorously for phylogenetic lineage effects. Trends were examined in relation to various biological features of the considered species. Results, Contents of soluble carbohydrate and lipids decreased markedly northwards. Fruit diameter and fresh mass peaked at the wettest site, while the pulp water content remained more constant throughout the gradient than any other fruit trait. Ash content, seed number and seed mass did not change, while the nitrogen content showed conflicting trends. No relation was detected between observed variation in fruit traits and fruit type, fruit colour, ripening season, plant growth form, leaf longevity, or geographical distribution of the considered plant species. Main conclusions, Considerable intraspecific variability exists in vertebrate-dispersed fruits on large geographical scales. Climate presumably affects particularly those traits related to carbon and water gain and storage. Most research on fruit,frugivore interactions has been carried out on small spatial scales and failed to find matchings between frugivore communities and the character of fleshy fruits. I suggest that explicitly addressed large-scale surveys on the geographical variability of fruits and their disperser assemblages are needed to elucidate their spatial patterns and to determine the extent to which fleshy fruit traits are shaped by animals and/or abiotic factors. [source] Effects of Dietary Lipids on Growth and Feed Utilization of Jade Perch, Scortum barcooJOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 2 2009Li Ping Song To examine the effects of dietary lipids on the growth and feed utilization of jade perch juveniles, Scortum barcoo, diets containing 36.3% crude protein supplemented with increasing lipid levels (6, 9, 12, and 15% of the dry matter) were used to feed triplicate groups of 30 fish for 60 d. At the end of the experiment, more than 95% fish survived well from all diet groups (P > 0.05). Measurements on the weight gains and the daily specific growth rates indicated that fish fed with diets of 12 and 15% lipids exhibited higher growth rates (P < 0.05); evaluations for the feed conversion ratio and the protein efficiency ratio indicated that fish fed with 12 and 15% lipid diets used their feed and dietary proteins more efficiently (P < 0.05). The muscle lipid and dry matter contents increased dramatically in fish fed with higher dietary lipid levels (P < 0.05). The highest lipid contents were obtained from fish in the 15% lipid diet group and the highest amount of dry matters from the 12% lipid diet group. On the other hand, protein contents in fish muscles declined with increasing dietary lipid levels (P < 0.05), and the lowest values were shown in the 15% lipid diet group. Ash contents showed no significant differences from muscles of fish fed with four different diets (P > 0.05). Together, increasing lipid levels in fish diets was effective to improve fish growth, feed efficiency, and protein utilization. [source] In vitro availability of minerals of some tropical and citrus fruits as influenced by antinutritional factorsMOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH (FORMERLY NAHRUNG/FOOD), Issue 1 2004Inass O. Malik Abstract Four tropical fruits and three citrus fruits were analyzed for moisture, ash, antinutritional factors (phytate, oxalate, and polyphenols) contents, and total and available minerals. Moisture contents ranged from 6.0 to 83.17% for tropical fruits while that of citrus fruits ranged from 88.20 to 89.50%. Ash contents ranged from 2.56 to 4.50% and from 3.83 to 4.83%, for tropical and citrus fruits, respectively. All fruits contained no oxalate while phytate and polyphenols ranged from 48.1 to 134.1 mg/100 g and from 0.115 to 0.34%, respectively. For all fruits major minerals contents ranged from 7.7 to 433.3 while trace ones ranged from 0.116 to 1.91 mg/100 g. In vitro availabilities of major minerals (% of total) varied from 11.1 to 86.2% while for minor ones it ranged from 13 to 72.5%. [source] Characterization of biochar from fast pyrolysis and gasification systemsENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, Issue 3 2009Catherine E. Brewer Abstract Thermochemical processing of biomass produces a solid product containing char (mostly carbon) and ash. This char can be combusted for heat and power, gasified, activated for adsorption applications, or applied to soils as a soil amendment and carbon sequestration agent. The most advantageous use of a given char depends on its physical and chemical characteristics, although the relationship of char properties to these applications is not well understood. Chars from fast pyrolysis and gasification of switchgrass and corn stover were characterized by proximate analysis, CHNS elemental analysis, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area, particle density, higher heating value (HHV), scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence ash content analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy using a photo-acoustic detector (FTIR-PAS), and quantitative 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) using direct polarization and magic angle spinning. Chars from the same feedstocks produced under slow pyrolysis conditions, and a commercial hardwood charcoal, were also characterized. Switchgrass and corn stover chars were found to have high ash content (32,55 wt %), much of which was silica. BET surface areas were low (7,50 m2/g) and HHVs ranged from 13 to 21 kJ/kg. The aromaticities from NMR, ranging between 81 and 94%, appeared to increase with reaction time. A pronounced decrease in aromatic CH functionality between slow pyrolysis and gasification chars was observed in NMR and FTIR-PAS spectra. NMR estimates of fused aromatic ring cluster size showed fast and slow pyrolysis chars to be similar (,7,8 rings per cluster), while higher-temperature gasification char was much more condensed (,17 rings per cluster). © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2009 [source] Fly ash concrete subjected to thermal cyclic loadsFATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 5 2010M. S. KHAN ABSTRACT The present study describes the behaviour of concrete as well as fly ash concrete when subjected to varying number of high temperature heating cycles. A Concrete mix (1:2.37:2.98) with 340 kg/m3 cement and,w/cm,ratio 0.45 was prepared. Cement was replaced by varying percentages (0%, 20%, 40%, 50% and 60%) of fly ash by weight of cement. The concrete was subjected to a constant temperature of 200°C for 7, 14, 21 and 28 heating cycles. One heating cycle corresponds to 8 h heating and subsequent cooling in 24 h. Subsequently the effect of temperature on the properties of the concrete was investigated and compared with that of the properties of unheated concrete. The compressive strength of plain as well as fly ash concrete increased when it was subjected to thermal cyclic loads. Moreover, the compressive strength increased with an increase in number of heating cycles. Thermal conductivity of concrete was found to decrease with an increase in the fly ash content. [source] Flammability ranking of foliage species by factor analysis of physical and chemical pyric propertiesFIRE AND MATERIALS, Issue 6 2008Yanlong Shan Abstract In this paper, factor analysis is introduced to evaluate the flammability of 55 foliage species that may be used in China for construction of the fuel break network of forest strips with lower flammability. Six pyric parameters, i.e. air dry moisture content, absolute dry moisture content, ignition point, ash content, caloric value and extractive content, are measured and used as variables for factor analysis. The covariance analysis shows that four principal factors can be extracted to reflect the flammability in different physical and chemical senses. In terms of the contributions of the four factors to the variances and the physical significance of the relevant parameters, the four factors are, respectively, termed as ,flaming factor,' ,air dry factor,' ,ash factor' and ,absolute dry factor.' The stability of the factor analysis method is examined by a different number of samples considered, and the variation degrees of the orderings indicate that the method has high reliability to measure the total flammability of foliage species. The results of the flammability evaluation are verified by comparison with the recommended tree species in the Chinese technology standard. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Impact of past and present land-management on the C-balance of a grassland in the Swiss AlpsGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 11 2008NELE ROGIERS Abstract Grasslands cover about 40% of the ice-free global terrestrial surface, but their quantitative importance in global carbon exchange with the atmosphere is still highly uncertain, and thus their potential for carbon sequestration remains speculative. Here, we report on CO2 exchange of an extensively used mountain hay meadow and pasture in the Swiss pre-Alps on high-organic soils (7,45% C by mass) over a 3-year period (18 May 2002,20 September 2005), including the European summer 2003 heat-wave period. During all 3 years, the ecosystem was a net source of CO2 (116,256 g C m,2 yr,1). Harvests and grazing cows (mostly via C export in milk) further increased these C losses, which were estimated at 355 g C m,2 yr,1 during 2003 (95% confidence interval 257,454 g C m,2 yr,1). Although annual carbon losses varied considerably among years, the CO2 budget during summer 2003 was not very different from the other two summers. However, and much more importantly, the winter that followed the warm summer of 2003 observed a significantly higher carbon loss when there was snow (133±6 g C m,2) than under comparable conditions during the other two winters (73±5 and 70±4 g C m,2, respectively). The continued annual C losses can most likely be attributed to the long-term effects of drainage and peat exploitation that began 119 years ago, with the last significant drainage activities during the Second World War around 1940. The most realistic estimate based on depth profiles of ash content after combustion suggests that there is an 500,910 g C m,2 yr,1 loss associated with the decomposition of organic matter. Our results clearly suggest that putting efforts into preserving still existing carbon stocks may be more successful than attempts to increase sequestration rates in such high-organic mountain grassland soils. [source] Experimental study of the combustion efficiency and formation of NOx in an industrial pulverized coal combustorINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 6 2004Li ZhengQi Abstract With horizontal bias combustion burners, experiments have been carried out on a 670 t h,1, corner-fired, pulverized-coal fired boiler burning bituminous coal. At 200 MWe load, the furnace excess O2 remains stable. The different horizontal fuel biases are obtained by changing the tilt angle of all the Louvre enrichers' regulating blades. The tilt angles of the blades are 0, 15, 24, 32°; the result is that the enriching ratios of the fuel-rich primary air increase from 2.2 to 2.6 at No. 2 corner, and from 1.2 to 4.2 at No. 3 corner. The gas temperature increases in the burner region. The application of the horizontal bias combustion burners results in a reduction in NOx formation from 545.7 mg Nm,3 (O2=6%) to 287.9 mg Nm,3, and a substantial reduction in carbon in ash content from 5.24 to 2.48%. The boiler operated stably at a load of 80 MWe without auxiliary fuel oil. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Kavut, a traditional Turkish cereal product: production method and some chemical and sensorial propertiesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2006Mehmet Murat Karao Summary Kavut is a cereal-based product made from wholemeal wheat and barley flour, milk or milk powder, fat and sugar. In this study, the best processing method and formulation were investigated by analysing different formulations and processing methods for the kavut. Four different flour combinations (100% wheat without barley, 75% wheat + 25% barley, 50% wheat + 50% barley, 25% wheat + 75% barley), two shortening (butter and margarine) and three different roasting periods (1, 1.5, 2 min) at 250 °C were used in the study. Significant changes were observed in the physical and chemical properties of the cereal by heat treatment in the kavut production. Increase of barley flour in the mixture decreased protein content, softness, altered L colour values, appearance, texture, mouth-feel, and general acceptance and increased ash content, +a and the absorbance value of kavut. While the longer roasting period resulted in reduced softness and colour (L-value) of kavut, roasting period did not significantly affect the general acceptance of kavut. Kavut made from only whole wheatflour was most preferred by the panellists. [source] Comparative studies of some properties of undehulled, mechanically dehulled and manually dehulled cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2004L.) flours Summary A comparative evaluation was made of some physico-chemical and rheological characteristics of undehulled, manually dehulled and mechanically dehulled cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp. L.) flours from brown and white varieties of the legume. The flours were used to prepare steamed bean paste, ,Moinmoin', which was analysed for some sensory parameters. Dehulling and dehulling methods had no appreciable influence on the physical characteristics and proximate composition of the flours, except ash content, which was slightly higher in undehulled flour samples. Amylograph pasting characteristics of the flours showed varying trends because of dehulling method and/or presence of seed coats. ,Moinmoin' samples prepared from the flours received similar ratings for all sensory attributes, with no significant differences (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05), except for the low-rated (poorer) colour of the undehulled brown product. [source] Effect of an organic acid blend and phytase added to a rapeseed cake-containing diet on performance, intestinal morphology, caecal microflora activity and thyroid status of broiler chickensJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 1 2010S. Smulikowska Summary The experiment was carried out on 96 female broilers, allocated to eight groups of 12 birds kept in individual cages. Two basal wheat- and soyabean meal-based diets containing 150 g/kg of rapeseed expeller cake were formulated, differing in the level of P: 7.1 g/kg in diet H or 5.9 g/kg in diet L. Rapeseed cake supplied 3.15 ,mol alkenyl glucosinolates per gram of diet. The eight treatments were: basal diets only, basal diets + phytase (1000 U/kg), basal diets + organic acid blend (OA, 6 g/kg), or basal diets + both additives. Diets were fed from day 8 to 28 of life. The results showed that the lower dietary P content and OA supplementation did not significantly affect feed intake or BWG, while both increased (p < 0.001) after phytase supplementation. Tibia ash content as well as tibia ultimate strength were lower (p < 0.001) in birds fed diets L compared with diets H, and increased (p < 0.01) with phytase supplementation of diet L, while OA had no influence on either parameter. Dietary P levels and OA supplementation had no influence on the pH of gut digesta, but the pH of jejunal digesta increased following phytase supplementation (p < 0.01). Morphological measurements of the small intestinal mucosa of chicks indicated that OA added to diet L depressed villi height (p < 0.001) and crypt depth (p < 0.001); both parameters increased after phytase supplementation (p < 0.01). The lower total SCFA as well as acetic, propionic and butyric acid concentrations in caecal digesta indicated lower activity of caecal microflora in birds fed diets L compared with H. OA supplementation had no influence, while phytase supplementation increased the concentration of acetic acid in caecal digesta. Supplementation of diets with either phytase or OA increased thyroid weight by 16% (p < 0.01) and 11% (p < 0.05) respectively. The increase in thyroid weight because of phytase supplementation was greater at the lower dietary P level, and the greatest when both phytase and OA were added to the diet. [source] Dietary phytate (inositol hexaphosphate) regulates the activity of intestinal mucosa phytaseJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 5 2009E. M. Onyango Summary The role of dietary phytate (inositol hexaphosphate) in the regulation of intestinal mucosa phytase was investigated in chicks. Seven-day-old chicks were grouped by weight into six blocks of three cages with six birds per cage. Three purified diets [a chemically defined casein diet, a chemically defined casein diet plus sodium phytate (20 g/kg diet) and a chemically defined casein diet plus sodium phytate (20 g/kg diet) and microbial phytase (1000 units/kg diet)] were randomly assigned to cages within each block. Chicks were fed experimental diets from 8 to 22 days of age then killed, and duodenal mucosa and left tibia removed. Phytase activity in duodenal mucosa, growth performance and bone ash content were determined. Addition of phytate to the chemically defined casein diet reduced (p < 0.05) the Vmax of the duodenal brush border phytase, but the Km of the enzyme was not affected. Addition of phytate also reduced (p < 0.05) weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and percentage ash. Addition of microbial phytase fully restored the feed efficiency (p < 0.05), but Vmax and body weight gain were only partially restored (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it would seem that dietary phytates non-competitively inhibit intestinal mucosa phytase. [source] Effects of dietary l -tryptophan and lighting conditions on growth performance of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles reared in a recirculating water systemJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 6 2005S. E. Papoutsoglou Summary The aim of the present study was to investigate possible stressful effects on European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax reared under constant darkness (0L-24D) and to examine the possible anti-stressful effect of dietary tryptophan (TRP) supplementation. Juvenile European sea bass (initial body weight 4.23 ± 0.032 g) were reared for 10 weeks under 0L-24D and 12L-12D and fed either a commercial diet (0.47% TRP) or the same diet supplemented with L-TRP (2.47% TRP). Results showed that lighting conditions had no significant effect on fish growth, while a depressive effect by the TRP supplementation was obvious. All fish populations reared under 0L-24D exhibited reduced body protein, lipid and ash content and increased food consumption. Reduced body lipids, food consumption and nutrient utilization were observed in TRP-supplemented fed fish, along with lower liver lipids. Dietary TRP enrichment significantly lowered liver saturated and monounsaturated acids and increased poly- and highly-unsaturated fatty acids, especially in combination with 0L-24D. These changes were also considerably reflected in carcass fatty acid composition. [source] Porosity and surface characteristics of activated carbons produced from waste tyre rubberJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2002Guillermo San Miguel Abstract Waste tyre rubber has proven to be a suitable precursor for the production of high quality activated carbons. The performance of these carbons in commercial applications such as water treatment or gas purification is highly dependent on their surface characteristics. This paper presents an in-depth investigation on how production conditions may affect the yield and characteristics of activated carbons produced from tyre rubber. For this purpose, three tyre rubbers of different particle sizes were consecutively pyrolysed and then activated in a steam atmosphere at 925,°C using a laboratory-scale rotary furnace. Activation was conducted at different intervals over 80,640,min to achieve different degrees of carbon burn-off. The resulting carbons were analysed for their elemental composition, ash content and nitrogen gas adsorption characteristics. The BET and t -plot models were used to investigate various aspects of their porosity and surface area characteristics. SEM analyses were also conducted for visual examination of the carbon surface. Results show that pyrolytic chars, essentially mesoporous materials, developed a very narrow microporosity during the initial stages of the activation process (up to 15,25,wt% burn-off). Further activation resulted in the progressive enlargement of the average micropore width and a gradual development of the mesoporous structure. Total micropore volumes and BET surface areas increased continuously with the degree of activation to reach values up to 0.498,cm3g,1 and 1070,m2g,1 respectively, while external surface areas developed more rapidly at degrees of activation above 45,wt% burn-off. Results presented in this work also illustrate that carbons produced from powdered rubber developed a narrower and more extensive porosity, both in the micropore and mesopore range, than those produced from rubber of a larger particle size. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Effects of Whey Permeate-Based Medium on the Proximate Composition of Lentinus edodes in the Submerged CultureJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 6 2006Xiaojun Jeffrey Wu ABSTRACT:, Biomass production, crude water-soluble polysaccharide (WSP), ash content, mineral profile, and crude protein content were determined for Lentinus edodes mycelia grown on whey permeate (WP)-based medium with lactose content of 4.5% or defined synthetic medium, and harvested after 5, 10, 15, or 20 d of fermentation at 25 °C. Harvesting time and the type of media interact to alter the chemical content of mycelia. Mycelia grown in WP had greater (P < 0.05) WSP and ash than mycelia grown in the synthetic media. A maximum production of WSP was obtained on the 10th day (4.1 × 102± 71 mg WSP/g dried mycelia) from mycelia grown on the WP-based media. Mycelia grown on WP harvested on the 20th day had the highest value in ash content (18 ± 3%). Potassium was found to be the main constituent in the ash of mushroom mycelia, which was followed by phosphorus, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. A steady increase of ash content was only noted in mycelia grown on WP. The calcium content of WP-grown mycelia was at least 10 times higher compared to mycelia grown in the control media regardless the harvesting time. Data in this research suggested that WP was more favorable than the synthetic media in the production of WSP, which is traditionally known for their medicinal value in L. edodes. [source] Accuracy and precision of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for body composition measurements in rhesus monkeys*JOURNAL OF MEDICAL PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2001Angela Black Accuracy of body composition measurements by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was compared with direct chemical analysis in 10 adult rhesus monkeys. DXA was highly correlated (r-values >0.95) with direct analyses of body fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM) and lumbar spine bone mineral content (BMC). DXA measurements of total body BMC were not as strongly correlated (r-value=0.58) with total carcass ash content. DXA measurements of body FM, LM and lumbar spine BMC were not different from data obtained by direct analyses (P -values >0.30). In contrast, DXA determinations of total BMC (TBMC) averaged 15% less than total carcass ash measurements (P=0.002). In conclusion, this study confirms the accurate measurement of fat and lean tissue mass by DXA in rhesus monkeys. DXA also accurately measured lumbar spine BMC but underestimated total body BMC as compared with carcass ash determinations. [source] Effect of the types and concentrations of alkali on the color of cocoa liquorJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 7 2009Pablo Rodríguez Abstract BACKGROUND: The alkalization process is extensively used in the cocoa industry, but information is scarce and not easy to acquire. The goal of the study was to evaluate the effect of different types and concentrations of alkali on the color of cocoa liquor. Dried beans from Chuao (state Aragua, Venezuela) were used to produce cocoa liquors. Samples of liquors were alkalized with solutions of NaHCO3, Na2CO3 and NaOH at concentrations of 10, 20 and 30 g kg,1. RESULTS: The data showed that values of the coordinates L*, a* and b* decrease when liquors were treated with the three different types and concentrations of alkalis. Almost all samples had ,E* values above 1. The ratios b*/a* and a*/b* and the proximate composition were also modified. Crude protein, crude fat and polyphenol concentrations were decreased and the ash content augmented as concentrations of the alkalis were increased. The fatty acid and sugar profiles were also affected. These ratios were most pronounced when NaOH was used. CONCLUSION: The selection of the type or concentration of alkali is a function of the type of product to be elaborated. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Characterisation of avocado (Persea americana Mill) honeys by their physicochemical characteristicsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 13 2004Anass Terrab Abstract The quality of 12 avocado (Persea americana Mill) honeys from Spain was evaluated. Eight common physicochemical parameters were analysed, namely water content, pH, acidity (free, lactonic and total), sugar content, ash content and electrical conductivity. In addition, the honey samples were analysed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and six minerals were quantified for each honey, namely potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P) and sulphur (S). Most samples showed proper maturity considering the medium water content (mean 17.7%). The total acidity (below 50 meq kg,1 except for one sample) indicated absence of undesirable fermentation; also, the mean pH of around 4.77 is usual in this kind of honey. The values for ash content and electrical conductivity were high (0.77% and 798 µS cm,1 respectively) and typical of dark honeys. K was the predominant mineral (accounting for 73% of the total minerals quantified), followed by Na (10%). Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Microbial degradation of rice and barley straws in the sheep rumen and the donkey caecumJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 5 2003Ahoefa Agbagla-Dohnani Abstract The chemical composition, intake, digestibility, ultrastructure and microbial degradation of rice straw from Camargue were compared with barley straw. These variables were observed in two different herbivore digestive ecosystems: the sheep rumen and the donkey caecum. The two straws differed essentially in their ash content, which was three times higher in rice, owing to its silica content. Other chemical components were comparable, except a higher phenolic acids-to-lignin ratio in rice. Rice straw was better ingested than barley straw. Organic matter and neutral detergent fibre digestibilities were the same in both straws. Dry matter and cell wall disappearances could be adjusted to the exponential modelling equation with lag time, and differed between animals but not between straws. The sheep rumen had a higher extent of degradation, but the donkey caecum had a higher degradation rate. Statistical analysis revealed that cell-wall components degradation was similar in the two straws except for ferulic acid, which was more degraded in rice straw. Scanning electron microscopy showed important differences in parenchyma degradation, which was much more effective in rice. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Effects of Restricted Feeding Regimes on Growth and Feed Utilization of Juvenile Gilthead Sea Bream, Sparus aurataJOURNAL OF THE WORLD AQUACULTURE SOCIETY, Issue 2 2008Orhan Tufan Eroldo The effect of restricted feeding on growth, feed efficiency, and body composition was studied in juveniles of gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata. Juveniles (6.4 g) were stocked into 12 tanks at a density of 16 fish per tank. Four different feeding schedules were tested on triplicate groups of juvenile fish: (1) control fed for 48 d without deprivation, (2) starvation for 1 d and then refed for 2 d (S1), (3) 50% satiation for 2 d and then refed to apparent satiation for 2 d (R2), and (4) 50% satiation for 6 d and then refed to apparent satiation for another 6 d (R6). Results indicated that all fish subjected to cycled restricted feeding regimes were unable to achieve catching up with control group. The specific growth rate of fish in the control was significantly higher than those in S1, R2, and R6, which were not significantly different from each other. Protein efficiency and protein productive value were significantly higher in R2 compared to control, S1, and R6. Fish in R2 had lowest feed conversion ratio (1.12) compared to the control (1.17). Body protein composition in R6 was less than that of the control, S1, and R2, while moisture, lipid, and ash content were not significantly different compared to the control. [source] Nutrient content of some mushroom species of the genus Termitomyces consumed in CameroonMOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH (FORMERLY NAHRUNG/FOOD), Issue 3 2003Germain Kansci Abstract The nutrient content (water, lipids, proteins, ashes, crude fibres) of six mushroom species (Termitomyces le Testui, T. aurantiacus, T. schimperi, T. mammformis, T. mboudaeďna Mossebo sp. nov., and T. subclypeatus forme bisporus sp. nov.) of the genus Termitomyces from Cameroon was determined. These mushrooms have a high water content (83.3,94.3 g/100 g wet matter) and contain more lipids than species from temperate countries (2.5,5.4 g/100 g dry weight( with high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids (45.1,65.1% of total fatty acid methyl esters) and remarkable proportions of crude fibres (17.5,24.7 g/100 g dry weight). Their protein content varied between 15.1 and 19.1 g/100 g dry weight and ash content between 5.2 and 14.4. The species T. mammiformis was found particularly rich in minerals with 14.4 g ash/100 g dry material, that is up to 2.4 g/100 g fresh weight. [source] Mineral solubility of Panicum maximum with four herbaceous forage legume mixtures incubated in the rumen of N' Dama steersANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009Festus T. AJAYI ABSTRACT This study was designed to determine the mineral concentration and bioavailability of iron (Fe), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na) of mixtures of Panicum maximum (Panicum) with Lablab purpureus (Lablab), Centrosema pubescens (Centro), Stylosanthes guianensis (Stylo), and Aeschynomene histrix (Histrix) in a fistulated N'Dama steer. The solubility of minerals was determined by an in sacco method by incubating ground samples of these forages in the rumen at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. The mineral solubility characteristics of the forages were evaluated using the equation PD = a + b (1 , e,ct). The result showed that Panicum intercropped with legumes had better crude protein (CP) (av. 9.22% DM) and ash content (av. 2.22% DM) than sole Panicum which gave 7.63% DM and 1.84% DM for CP and ash contents respectively. The highest value of CP of 23.29% DM and ash content (3.96% DM) was obtained for Lablab. The mineral content values of the intercrop were higher than the sole Panicum. Higher mineral content values were obtained in the sole legumes. Iron solubility values of b and potential degradation (PD) which were 58.71% and 87.92% respectively were for Panicum/Histrix mixtures. Calcium solubility values ranged from 30.0% in Panicum to 46.0% in Panicum/Lablab mixture for b fraction. P solubility ranged from 28.0% and 46.0% for b and PD fractions in Panicum to 43.0% and 71.0% in Panicum/Centro mixture respectively. The solubility of the legumes was higher in Na for b fraction (av. 42.0%) and PD fraction (av. 60.0%). Higher values of b (av. 38.0%) and PD (av. 52.0%) were obtained for the mixtures than for sole Panicum. This study revealed that intercropping Panicum with either of the herbaceous forage legumes used for this experiment would increase the Ca, P, Na and Fe contents of the grass. [source] Estimation of dietary biotin requirement of Japanese seabass, Lateolabrax japonicus C.AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 3 2010J. LI Abstract A 9-week feeding experiment was conducted to determine the dietary biotin requirement of Japanese seabass, Lateolabrax japonicus C. Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic purified diets (Diets 1,6) containing 0, 0.01, 0.049, 0.247, 1.238 and 6.222 mg biotin kg,1 diet were fed twice daily to triplicate groups (30 fish per group) of fish (initial average weight 2.26 ± 0.03 g) in 18 fibreglass tanks (300 L) filled with 250 L of water in a flow-through system. Water flow rate through each tank was 2 L min,1. Water temperature ranged from 25.0 to 28.0 °C, salinity from 28.0 to 29.5 g L,1, pH from 8.0 to 8.1 and dissolved oxygen content was approximately 7 mg L,1 during the experiment. After the feeding experiment, fish fed Diet 1 developed severe biotin deficiency syndromes characterized by anorexia, poor growth, dark skin colour, atrophy and high mortality. Significant lower survival (73.3%) was observed in the treatment of deficient biotin. The final weight and weight gain of fish significantly increased with increasing dietary biotin up to 0.049 mg kg,1 diet (P < 0.05), and then slightly decreased. Both feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio showed a very similar change pattern to that of weight gain. Dietary treatments did not significantly affect carcass crude protein, crude lipid, moisture and ash content. However, liver biotin concentration (0,6.1 ,g g,1) significantly increased with the supplementation of dietary biotin (P < 0.05), and no tissue saturation was found within the supplementation scope of biotin. Broken-line regression analysis of weight gain showed that juvenile Japanese seabass require a minimum of 0.046 mg kg,1 biotin for maximal growth. [source] Partial replacement of fishmeal by soybean meal in diets for juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum)AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 3 2005Q.-C. ZHOU Abstract An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted in floating cages (1.5 × 1.0 × 2.0 m) to determine the potential use of defatted soybean meal (roasted and solvent-extracted) as a partial replacement of fishmeal in the isonitrogenous (approximately 450 g kg,1 CP [crude protein]) diet for juvenile cobia with an initial average weight of about 8.3 g. Diets were formulated to include 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 g kg,1 (diets D0, D10, D20, D30, D40, D50 and D60, respectively) of fishmeal protein being substituted by defatted soybean meal without methionine supplementation. The results showed that weight gain rate decreased significantly when the replacement level of fishmeal protein was increased from 400 g kg,1 to 500 g kg,1, and the D60 diet was the lowest in all groups. These results indicate that up to 400 g kg,1 of fishmeal protein can be replaced by defatted soybean meal without causing significant reduction in growth. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly affected by the replacement level of fishmeal protein being substituted by defatted soybean meal, when the replacement level of fishmeal protein was 200 g kg,1 (diet, D20), FCR was the lowest and PER was the highest. There were no significant differences in the moisture, lipid, crude protein and ash content in whole body and muscle, while lipid content in liver increased as the dietary soybean meal replacement levels increased. There were significant differences in haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cell, plasma glucose and triglyceride concentration in fish fed diets with different soybean meal replacement levels. Results of this trial indicated that the optimum level of fishmeal protein replacement with defatted soybean meal, determined by quadratic regression analysis was 189.2 g kg,1, on the basis of maximum weight gain. [source] Growth, feed utilization and body composition of African bonytongue, Heterotis niloticus, fingerlings fed diets containing various protein and lipid levelsAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 10 2010Serge-Eric Monentcham Abstract In order to evaluate the effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on the growth, feed utilization and body composition of Heterotis niloticus fingerlings, a factorial experiment with three replicates was conducted. Six experimental diets containing three crude protein levels (28%, 32% and 36%) and two crude lipid levels (6% and 13%) were tested. Heterotis niloticus (2.34 g) were fed with the diets to apparent satiation, twice a day. For 56 days, weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE) and protein retention (PR) were significantly affected by dietary protein and dietary lipid levels respectively (P<0.01). The highest WG, SGR and FE were observed for fingerlings fed the diet containing 36% protein and 6% lipid, but no significance difference was found between groups fed with the following diets: P28L13 (28% protein and 13% lipid), P32L6, P32L13 and P36L13. A significant interaction between dietary protein and lipid was observed for WG, SGR, FE and PR. The whole-body protein, lipid, moisture and ash content were not significantly affected by dietary lipid levels, but body protein and lipid content were significantly affected by dietary protein. The dietary protein-sparing effect was clearly demonstrated when the dietary energy of lipid increased from 17 to 19.6 kJ g,1 at 28% crude protein on H. niloticus. [source] Changes in the proximate composition of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) reared in the cages located on the Gulf of Antalya (Turkey's Western Mediterranean coast) during the fattening periodAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 15 2009Pinar Yerl, kaya Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the proximate composition of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) muscle reared in cages during the fattening period. Samples were taken from tunas at monthly intervals between July and October. Moisture, crude protein, crude fat and crude ash were analysed. The fat and ash contents increased, and the moisture content decreased during the fattening period. There were no significant differences in the protein content during this period. The mean protein concentration was 21% over this period. The highest levels of dry matter (40%), fat (15%) and ash (1.21%) were found in October. Baitfish (Sardina pilchardus, Sardinella aurita and Alosa fallax nilotica) were also analysed. There were no differences in the moisture, protein and fat contents between baitfish, but a lower ash content was found in sardine than in the others. The mean moisture, protein, fat and ash contents of baitfish were found to be 68.28%; 19.2%; 8.5%; and 1.4% respectively. [source] Effect of dietary protein regime during the growing period on growth performance, feed utilization and whole-body chemical composition of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 13 2009Mohsen Abdel-Tawwab Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various dietary protein regimes on growth performance, feed utilization and whole-body chemical composition of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Twenty cages (1 m3 each) were randomly allocated to a four-replicate experiment to represent five treatments (T1,T5) where fish were randomly stocked at a rate of 50 fish (1.5,2.2 g) per cage. Fish in T1,T5 fed on a 45% crude protein (CP) diet for the first 4 weeks. In T1, T2 or T3 fish fed on 45%, 35% or 25% CP diets for the last 8 weeks respectively. In T4 fish fed 35% CP diet for the second 4 weeks followed by 25% CP diet for the last 4 weeks and in T5 fish fed 25% CP diet for the second 4 weeks followed by 35% CP diet for the last 4 weeks. Diets were offered to satiation and provided manually twice a day in the morning and in the afternoon, 6 days a week. The optimum fish growth and feed utilization were obtained at T1, T2 and T4. Protein efficient ratio and apparent protein utilization were lower at T1 and T2 than those of T3,T5. On the other hand, no significant changes in energy utilization were observed among the different treatments. There were no major changes in the carcass composition except in ash content, which was higher in T3 and T5 only. This study recommended that the dietary protein regime is an important management in tilapia culture, and the protein level could be reduced from 45% to 35% then to 25% on increasing the fish size. [source] Growth efficiency, body composition, survival and haematological changes in great sturgeon (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758) juveniles fed diets supplemented with different levels of ErgosanAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 7 2009Mohammad Ali Jalali Abstract Growth performance, carcass quality, survival and haematological responses were determined when Huso huso juvenile (41.7±1.8 g) fed diets containing Ergosan (an algal product) at 0, 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 g kg,1 for 60 days. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish at 10-day intervals (1,10, 20,30 and 40,50 with non-supplemented diets and 10,20, 30,40 and 50,60 with supplemented diets). Results showed that fish fed diets containing Ergosan had significantly higher growth than the control group (P<0.05). Survival was not different among all dietary treatments (P>0.05). Food conversion ratio in the fish fed a diet containing 4.0 and 6.0 g kg,1 Ergosan was significantly better than the other treatments (P<0.05), whereas protein efficiency ratio was not different between experimental diets. Lymphocyte count in the fish fed diets containing Ergosan was higher than the other treatments. Haematocrit, haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, number of erythrocytes, total leucocytes, monocyte, eosinophil, myelocyte, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were not different between treatments. Neutrophil count in the control group was higher than the fish fed supplemented diets. Furthermore, whole body lipid, moisture and fibre were not different among dietary treatments (P>0.05) but body protein in the fish fed a diet containing Ergosan at the level of 2.0 and 4.0 g kg,1 was higher than the other treatments. Whole body ash content was higher in the control group. It was concluded that dietary administration of Ergosan can influence some growth and haematological parameters in great sturgeon, H. huso juveniles. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||