Concentrations Of Other Minerals Research Articles

Thyroid neoplasia associated with nutritional deficiency in cultured jade perch in Hong Kong.

Non-neoplastic thyroid hyperplasia is common in terrestrial animals, secondary to nutritional imbalances or other goitrogenic compounds. Thyroid hyperplasia is relatively common in teleost fish; however, malignant thyroid neoplasia is rarely reported. We diagnosed cases of thyroid neoplasia in a population of jade perch (Scortum barcoo). The 3,000 affected fish had grossly apparent, bilateral pharyngeal swellings. Histologic examination confirmed proliferative thyroid lesions ranging from hyperplasia to well-differentiated follicular cell carcinoma. In addition, the younger population of animals on the farm also had bacterial septicemia and mild Dactylogyrus sp. gill infections. Feed analysis revealed a severe deficiency of iodine and vitamin C in the homemade fish diet used on the farm. The concentrations of other minerals, such as zinc, were also on the lower end of the recommended requirements for freshwater fish. The farm was using surface water in its recirculating aquaculture system. We recommended a switch to a commercial aquaculture diet, as well as to use well water rather than surface water to avoid any contaminants, and to treat the younger fish with an antibiotic for bacterial septicemia. Our case provides evidence of progression from nutritional-associated thyroid hyperplasia to neoplasia in farmed teleost fish.

PSII-20 The Effect of Hemolysis on Vitamin A, E, and Trace Mineral Analysis in Plasma

Abstract The objective of this study was to assess the level of interference that occurs to vitamin A, E, and trace mineral analyses when plasma is subjected to hemolysis. Blood (14 mL; K3EDTA blood tubes; BD Vacutainer, Franklin Lankes, NJ) was collected from six gilts (approximately 85 kg) via jugular venipuncture. Collected whole blood (20 mL) was aliquoted equally into three test tubes. One test tube was processed with no manipulation, the second was aspirated with a 26-gauge one-half inch needle 5 times, and the third was subjected to sonification for 5 seconds (Model: GE 130PB; Cole Parmer, Vernon Hills, IL; outage = 02). Plasma was separated from red blood cells via centrifugation (2,000 x g for 10 minutes at 4°C) and stored at -80°C until time of analysis. All plasma from the samples were analyzed for vitamin A (retinol) and E (alpha-tocopherol) and trace minerals at the Iowa State University Veterinarian Diagnostic Laboratory (Ames, IA). Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure in SAS 9.4 (Statistical Analysis System, Cary, NC) with animal as the experimental unit and a fixed effect of hemolysis. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found for vitamin A, E, and trace minerals, but at varying degrees of hemolysis (Table 1). Vitamin E, calcium, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, and zinc were not different (P > 0.05) when the sample was not manipulated or aspirated with a needle but were different (P < 0.05) when the sample was subjected to sonification. Vitamin A was different (P < 0.05) when the blood was aspirated and subjected to sonification compared with no manipulation. Iron and molybdenum were different (P < 0.05) across all three degrees of hemolysis. Based on these data, hemolysis can reduce vitamin A and E and calcium concentrations while increasing detectable concentrations of other minerals in plasma.

The Biochemical, Microbiological, Antioxidant and Sensory Characterization of Fermented Skimmed Milk Drinks Supplemented with Probiotics Lacticaseibacillus casei and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus.

A variety of foods fermented with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) serve as dietary staples in many countries. The incorporation of health-promoting probiotics into fermented milk products can have profound effects on human health. Considering the health benefits of Yakult, the current study was undertaken to develop an enriched Yakult-like fermented skimmed milk drink by the addition of two probiotic strains, namely Lacticaseibacillus casei (Lc) and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (Lr). The prepared drinks were compared in terms of various parameters, including their physicochemical properties, proximate chemical composition, mineral estimation, microbial viable count, antioxidant activity, and sensory evaluation. Each strain was employed at five different concentrations, including 1% (T1), 1.5% (T2), 2% (T3), 2.5% (T4), and 3% (T5). The prepared Yakult samples were stored at 4 °C and analyzed on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 to evaluate biochemical changes. The findings revealed that the concentration of the starter culture had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) impact on the pH value and moisture and protein contents, but had no marked impact on the fat or ash content of the developed product. With the Lc strain, Yakult's moisture content ranged from 84.25 ± 0.09 to 85.65 ± 0.13%, whereas with the Lr strain, it was from 84.24 ± 0.08 to 88.75 ± 0.13%. Protein levels reached their highest values with T5 (3% concentration). The acidity of all treatments increased significantly due to fermentation and, subsequently, pH showed a downward trend (p ≤ 0.05). The total soluble solids (TSS) content decreased during storage with Lc as compared to Lr, but the presence of carbohydrates had no appreciable impact. The drink with Lc exhibited a more uniform texture and smaller pore size than Yakult with Lr. Except for the iron values, which showed an increasing trend, the contents of other minerals decreased in increasing order of the added probiotic concentration used: 1% (T1), 1.5% (T2), 2% (T3), 2.5% (T4), and 3% (T5). The highest lactobacilli viable count of 8.69 ± 0.43 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL was observed with the T1 Lr-containing drink at the end of the storage period. Regarding the storage stability of the drink, the highest value for DPPH (88.75 ± 0.13%) was found with the T1 Lc drink on day 15, while the highest values for FRAP (4.86 ± 2.80 mmol Fe2+/L), TPC (5.97 ± 0.29 mg GAE/mL), and TFC (3.59 ± 0.17 mg GAE/mL) were found with the T5 Lr drink on day 28 of storage. However, the maximum value for ABTS (3.59 ± 0.17%) was noted with the T5 Lr drink on the first day of storage. The results of this study prove that Lc and Lr can be used in dairy-based fermented products and stored at refrigerated temperatures.

A nutritional supplement containing zinc during preconception and pregnancy increases human milk zinc concentrations.

During pregnancy and lactation minerals such as zinc are required to support maternal and infant health. Zinc is involved in various cellular processes, with requirements increasing in pregnancy and lactation. In the setting of a randomized trial, we investigated the effects on human milk (HM) zinc concentrations of a micronutrient-containing supplement including zinc in the intervention (but not control) group, started preconception and taken throughout pregnancy until birth. Additionally, we characterized longitudinal changes in HM concentrations of zinc and other minerals (calcium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and sodium). HM samples were collected across 7 time points from 1 week to 12 months from lactating mothers from Singapore (n = 158) and New Zealand (n = 180). HM minerals were quantified using sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Potential intervention effects on HM mineral concentrations were assessed using linear mixed models with a repeated measures design and time-weighted area-under-the-curve analyses. Over the first 3 months of lactation, HM zinc concentrations were 11% higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (p = 0.021). Higher HM zinc concentrations were most evident at 6 weeks of lactation. The intervention had no effect on HM concentrations of other minerals, which were not differently supplemented to the control and intervention groups. Temporal changes in HM minerals over 12 months of lactation were studied in the New Zealand mothers; HM zinc and copper concentrations progressively decreased throughout 12 months, while iron, potassium, sodium, and phosphorus decreased until 6 months then plateaued. HM calcium and magnesium initially increased in early lactation and iodine remained relatively constant throughout 12 months. HM manganese and selenium fell over the initial months of lactation, with a nadir at 6 months, and increased thereafter. The contrasting patterns of changes in HM mineral concentrations during lactation may reflect different absorption needs and roles at different stages of infancy. Overall, this study indicates that HM zinc concentrations are influenced by maternal supplementation during preconception and pregnancy. Further studies are required to understand the associations between HM zinc and other minerals and both short- and long-term offspring outcomes. ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02509988, Universal Trial Number U1111-1171-8056. Registered on 16 July 2015. This is an academic-led study by the EpiGen Global Research Consortium.

Iron Biofortification of Greenhouse Cherry Tomatoes Grown in a Soilless System

Iron (Fe) biofortification is a strategy to increase the amount of iron in food crops. The goal of this work was to assess the possibility of maximizing the Fe content in cherry tomatoes grown in a soilless system. The cultivar Creativo was grown with three concentrations of Fe (as Fe-HBED) in the nutrient solution (0.022, 1, and 2 mmol L−1), and received further foliar applications of the element (as Fe-DTPA) at 0, 250, and 500 µmol L−1. The addition of 2 mmol Fe L−1 to the nutrient solution, together with foliar sprays at 500 µmol Fe L−1, induced the highest increase in fruit Fe concentration in clusters 1 and 2 (by 163% and 190%, respectively). The Fe added to the nutrient solution increased the fruit dry matter (up to +10.21%) but decreased the fruit’s fresh weight (up to −11.06%). The higher Fe concentrations provided to the crop synergistically increased the contents of other minerals (i.e., K, Mg, Na, and Zn), along with the fruit’s titratable acidity and soluble solids content, improving multiple functional and quality traits of the cherry tomatoes. These results show that Fe biofortification of cherry tomatoes can be effective to address Fe deficiency while obtaining high-quality products.

Comparative effect of zinc supplementation by hydroxy and inorganic sources on nutrient utilisation, mineral balance, growth performance and growth biomarkers in pre-ruminant calves

ABSTRACT Zinc (Zn), an important microelement in ruminant diet, plays a critical role in various enzymes, hormones and functional proteins involved in nutrient metabolism. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of zinc hydroxychloride (Zn5(OH)8Cl2·H2O [ZnOHCl] and zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) on nutrient utilisation, mineral metabolism and biomarkers pertaining to growth performance in pre-ruminant crossbred calves. Twenty-four crossbred calves [body weight (BW); 31.03 ± 4.30 kg; age 10 d] were randomly allocated to four treatment groups (n = 6), i.e. no supplementation of Zn (0 mg/kg dry matter [DM]), 80 mg/kg DM Zn as ZnSO4(ZnS-80), 40 mg/kg DM Zn as ZnOHCl (ZnH-40) and 80 mg/kg DM Zn as ZnOHCl (ZnH-80) for 90 d experimental period. Results showed that dietary Zn supplementation improved (p < 0.05) feed intake, BW, average daily gain, heart girth, body length, plasma growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor and thyroxin concentration; however, nutrient digestibility remained unaffected among the groups. Addition of Zn increased (p < 0.05) Zn retention and plasma Zn concentration without affecting retention and plasma concentration of other minerals. Retention of Zn was the highest in ZnH-80 group followed by ZnH-40, ZnS-80 and lowest in control group. Overall results of the present study indicate that regardless of sources and levels, Zn supplementation increased growth performance, plasma Zn concentration and hormones levels in pre-ruminant crossbred calves. However, supplementation of hydroxy Zn at 40 mg/kg DM had similar effect as produced by ZnSO4 or ZnOHCl at a supplementation level of 80 mg/kg DM. Therefore, from the present study it can be concluded that ZnOHCl can be used as a Zn source for pre-ruminant calves at a lower dose compared to ZnSO4.

Pasta as a Source of Minerals in the Diets of Poles; Effect of Culinary Processing of Pasta on the Content of Minerals.

Pasta is a product that requires culinary processing which can affect the content of minerals in the finished product. The study aimed to examine how cooking pasta (1) in salted water (1 teaspoon—16 g of salt per 1 litre of water) or unsalted water and (2) rinsing cooked pasta with running water affects the content of minerals. Thirty-five samples of six types of pasta were analysed. The content of minerals was determined using the ICP-OES method. Retention of minerals in the cooked pasta was calculated. Taking the culinary treatment into account, the intake of minerals with pasta was assessed for children, adolescents, and adults, and the values were compared with the recommendations for the population of Poland. The analysed culinary factors had a statistically significant influence on the content of minerals. Adding salt to water when cooking pasta significantly increased the content of Na in the product, which in turn was negatively correlated with the content of other minerals. When pasta was cooked in unsalted water, it contained less Na and more other minerals than pasta cooked in salted water. Rinsing of pasta reduced the content of all minerals. Pasta is an important source of Mg, Cu, and Mn in the diet of Poles. These ingredients are particularly important to ensure correct development and functioning of the human body. The best method of culinary treatment of pasta is cooking in unsalted water without rinsing.

Mineralogy and Permeability of Gas and Oil Dolomite Reservoirs of the Zechstein Main Dolomite Basin in the Lubiatów Deposit (Poland)

Permeability characterizes the ability of rocks to store and transport natural gas, crude oil and reservoir fluids. Permeability heterogeneity of reservoir rocks, including dolomites, results from overlapping geological and physicochemical processes. The permeability study of gas-bearing dolomites was carried out on the Lubiatów hydrocarbon deposit (Poland), located at the Ca2 carbonate platform toe-of-slope, which is a prospective area for hydrocarbon exploration in Europe. Due to the complicated rock textures and overlapping alteration processes, including secondary crystallization or dissolution of minerals, the permeability of the deposit is variable. Studies of dolomites from a depth of 3242–3380 m show high mineralogical diversity; the percentage of dolomite ranges from 79% to 95% with a variable content of other minerals: anhydrite, gypsum, quartz, fluorite, plagioclase and clay minerals. The porosity variability ranges from 4.69% to 31.21%, depending on the measurement method used. The mean permeability value is 35.27 mD, with a variation range of 0.9 to 135.6 mD. There is neither change in permeability with depth and mineral composition, nor a direct relationship between porosity and permeability.

Silicon Enhances Biomass and Grain Yield in an Ancient Crop Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter

Silicon (Si) is one of the beneficial plant mineral nutrients which is known to improve biotic and abiotic stress resilience and productivity in several crops. However, its beneficial role in underutilized or “orphan” crop such as tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] has never been studied before. In this study, we investigated the effect of Si application on tef plant performance. Plants were grown in soil with or without exogenous application of Na2SiO3 (0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 mM), and biomass and grain yield, mineral content, chlorophyll content, plant height, and expression patterns of putative Si transporter genes were studied. Silicon application significantly increased grain yield (100%) at 3.0 mM Si, and aboveground biomass yield by 45% at 5.0 mM Si, while it had no effect on plant height. The observed increase in grain yield appears to be due to enhanced stress resilience and increased total chlorophyll content. Increasing the level of Si increased shoot Si and Na content while it significantly decreased the content of other minerals including K, Ca, Mg, P, S, Fe, and Mn in the shoot, which is likely due to the use of Na containing Si amendment. A slight decrease in grain Ca, P, S, and Mn was also observed with increasing Si treatment. The increase in Si content with increasing Si levels prompted us to analyze the expression of Si transporter genes. The tef genome contains seven putative Si transporters which showed high homology with influx and efflux Lsi transporters reported in various plant species including rice. The tef Lsi homologs were deferentially expressed between tissues (roots, leaves, nodes, and inflorescences) and in response to Si, suggesting that they may play a role in Si uptake and/or translocation. Taken together, these results show that Si application improves stress resilience and yield and regulates the expression of putative Si transporter genes. However, further study is needed to determine the physiological function of the putative Si transporters, and to study the effect of field application of Si on tef productivity.

Состав проб песка юго-западных и центральных районов Прибайкалья

A study of the characteristics of the sand samples from the southwest shore of Lake Baikal has been carried out, with the purpose to find out the possibility of using the sand for the needs of the food industry. To determine the granulometric composition of the sand, a sieve analysis method has been applied, i.e. the separation of the granular mixture fractions using a set of sieves, with the further determination of the mass of each fraction and their percentage in the test substance. The sieving has been carried out by means of vibration. The X-ray analysis of the sand samples has used a Bruker D8 Advance diffractometer. The method allows determining the parameters of the crystal lattices, analyzing the phase composition of the test substance, and identifying the prevailing structures in the sample. Based on the x-ray analysis results, the crystal structure of the mineral components has been determined. The study has shown the following mineralogical composition of the sand. The prevailing mineral is quartz, its content varying from 40 to 60 percent; the content of albite and anorthoclase is 15 to 30 percent, and a small fraction is represented by dikkit and indialit (less than 5 percent). In the sand samples taken in the settlement of Angasolka, about 9 percent is represented by antophyllite. The processed results of the sieve analysis show the following. Most samples have been found to be quite homogeneous in terms of their grain composition, each sample having a predominant fraction, with the exception of the sample taken in the town of Slyudyanka, in which the particle size varies significantly. The studied sand samples can be classified as lacustrine or lake-glacial, their crystal-chemical composition being quite diverse. The study shows that the main components in the sand composition are quartz and feldspar, with a small content of other minerals being present. The granulometric analysis results show that the sand samples taken at the lakeshore in the vicinity of Slyudyanka are characterized by a large dispersion of the particle sizes, while other samples of the bulk material contain a predominant fraction. The sand from the Baikalsk area is most suitable for use in the food industry as it contains middle size fractions.

Comparative Physiological and Biochemical Changes in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Under Salt Stress and Recovery: Role of Antioxidant Defense and Glyoxalase Systems.

Salinity toxicity and the post-stress restorative process were examined to identify the salt tolerance mechanism in tomato, with a focus on the antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems. Hydroponically grown 15 day-old tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Pusa Ruby) were treated with 150 and 250 mM NaCl for 4 days and subsequently grown in nutrient solution for a further 2 days to observe the post-stress responses. Under saline conditions, plants showed osmotic stress responses that included low leaf relative water content and high proline content. Salinity induced oxidative stress by the over-accumulation of reactive oxygen species (H2O2 and O2•−) and methylglyoxal. Salinity also impaired the non-enzymatic and enzymatic components of the antioxidant defense system. On the other hand, excessive Na+ uptake induced ionic stress which resulted in a lower content of other minerals (K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+), and a reduction in photosynthetic pigment synthesis and plant growth. After 2 days in the normal nutrient solution, the plants showed improvements in antioxidant and glyoxalase system activities, followed by improvements in plant growth, water balance, and chlorophyll synthesis. The antioxidant and glyoxalase systems worked in concert to scavenge toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby reducing lipid peroxidation and membrane damage. Taken together, these findings indicate that tomato plants can tolerate salinity and show rapid post-stress recovery by enhancement of their antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems.

Effect of Ca and P supplementation on the haematological parameters and content of selected minerals in the blood of young farmed fallow deer males (Dama dama)

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of supplementation of feed rations with increased calcium and phosphorus doses on the haematological parameters and plasma zinc (Zn), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca), and iron (Fe) content as well as the body weight and the growth and development of the first antler in farmed fallow deer (Dama dama Linnaeus, 1758). The mean level of erythrocytes (RBC), haemoglobin (HGB), and haematocrit (HCT) was increased in the Ca- and P-supplemented group after the treatment period. The change was statistically significant (p < 0.05) in the case of RBC and HCT. The other haematological parameters (mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and platelet count (PLT)) were reduced. An increase in the Zn content was observed in the plasma of slaughtered animals. The concentration of other minerals (P, Mg, and Cu only in group II receiving a higher level of Ca and P in the feeding dose; Ca and Fe only in group I supplemented with a lower content of Ca and P in a nutritional dose) in blood plasma decreased slightly after the supplementation period and declined further after the slaughter. Noteworthy, there was a significant increase in the plasma Cu and Fe levels in group I in group II, respectively, in the post-supplementation period. No significant differences were observed in the body weight between the groups, but there was a beneficial effect of the higher Ca and P dose in the feed ration for the farmed fallow deer on the length of the first antler (p < 0.05). The antlers of animals in group II were on average 2.3 cm longer than in group I.

Calcium: Improved plant health and nutrition through 4R management

Calcium is an important nutrient for all crops. Soil calcium concentration and availability to crops is influenced by pH, CEC, soil type, and the concentration of other minerals in the soil. The solubility of the calcium source is important to consider when making a calcium application. The source, rate, timing, placement, and environmental conditions must be considered to implement the 4Rs for improved plant performance, yield, and crop quality. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Nutrient Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at www.certifiedcropadviser.org/education/classroom/classes/696.

Proximate Composition Based Enset Diversity Study using Multivariate Analysis in Sheka Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

The study on enset diversity based on its kocho and bulla proximate contents was done in major enset producing areas of Sheka zone in three agro-ecologies of the districts (Yaki (lowland), Andiracha (mid-land) and Masha (highland) Southwest (SW) Ethiopia with the objective to evaluate diversity study of enset based on its nutritional composition. The result of the analysis revealed that there were variations among all concerned clones. Highest dry matters were recorded in bulla of all clones though their amounts varied from 51.64 to 58%. Also ash and crude fat content also ranged between 1.41 and 0.81% of ash and 0.22 and 0.04% in fat respectively in bulla. Of macro-nutrient metals, K and Ca were found to be highest with 0.3 to 0.57% K and 0.01 to 0.28% Ca. Others such as Mg, Fe and P were very few in percent but varied in amount between ranges of trace or 0.01 to 0.06%. In kocho, also dry matter varied from 41.25 to 49.70% and its crude fiber and ash content also ranged between 1.81 to 4.77% and 1.44 to 2.5% respectively. The K and ca compositions of kocho ranged between 0.31 to.93% and 0.05 to 0.965% respectively. Contents of other minerals oscillated between 0.01 to 0.09% for P, Mg and Fe. Moreover, PCA employed for ten bulla and kocho traits were expressed by the first four PC with total variation of 76.6% in which the first two PC explained 48% of variation. Cluster analysis was allowed grouping 14 enset clones in to three clusters. Divergence analysis result also indicated as maximum distances between these clusters with D2 value of ranging from 59.26 between cluster 2 and 3 and 261.77 between cluster 1 nad 3 indicating possibility of cross breeding between landraces of different clusters. So, future research should focus on clones’ collection, conservation and molecular characterization for further breeding works.

Combustion performance of Jatropha curcas L. residues in a biomass burner with continuous feeding system

ABSTRACTCombustion of Jatropha curcas L. press cake, seed shells and shell/hull-pellets as biofuels using an automatic biomass burner was investigated for 36 h under continuous operation. Temperatures in the combustion chamber and of the flame, exhaust gas and ash were evaluated. Thermal efficiency of press cake, seed shells and shell/hull-pellets was determined to be 93.1, 95.4 and 94.1%, respectively. CO2 content in the exhaust gas was measured as 7.1, 13.3 and 11.8% vol., while the content of CO was 1.9, 4.6 and 2.8% vol., respectively. The amount of remaining ash was 13.1, 11.8 and 10.6%, respectively. In all ashes, the major nutrients for fertilizers such as potassium, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium exceeded the minimum threshold of German fertilizer regulation. A high chlorine content was detected in the ashes. Contents of other minerals (iron, titanium and manganese) and heavy metals such as nickel were found to be lower than the maximum threshold. However, the chromium content exceeded the threshold. The content of heavy metals should be reduced before utilizing the ash as fertilizer.

Safety and efficacy of bentonite as a feed additive for all animal species.

The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) received a request from the European Commission to assess the safety and efficacy of bentonite when used as a technological feed additive (substances for reduction of the contamination of feed by mycotoxins) for all animal species. The applicant, EUBA aisbl (European Bentonite Association) representing six companies, submitted to EFSA a technical dossier to support the application. The applicant proposes to use bentonite at the maximum level of 20,000 mg/kg complete feed. The additive apparently interferes with the analysis of aflatoxin B1 in feed. The safety of the additive was already evaluated by the Panel in an opinion delivered in 2012. Bentonites are safe for all animal species, the consumers and the environment when used at a maximum level of 20,000 mg/kg complete feed. The results of a new genotoxicity study reinforced the previous conclusion that smectites are non‐genotoxic. Bentonites are not skin irritants but might be mildly irritant to the eye; based on a new study submitted, the additive is not a skin sensitiser. Owing to its silica content, the additive is a hazard by inhalation for the users. The in vitro study showed that the di‐ and tri‐octahedral smectites tested can adsorb aflatoxin B1 at different concentrations and at pH 5; however, no adequate in vivo studies were available. Therefore, the Panel cannot draw conclusions on the additive's efficacy. The Panel further considers the safety and efficacy conclusions to apply equally to the di‐ and tri‐octahedral smectites under assessment. The FEEDAP Panel posted some recommendations regarding the maximum content of other minerals in the additive and the incompatibilities of the additive with other medicinal substances. The Panel also drew a remark concerning the denomination of the additive and the current regulatory definition of Bentonite.

Concentration of minerals in the hoof horny capsule of healthy and lame dairy cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mineral concentrations in the hoof horny capsule of healthy Holstein cows and cows with hoof problems associated with laminitis. Twenty-one multiparous Holstein cows with an average production of 24 L of milk/day, reared with semi-extensive nutritional management, were studied. The animals were evaluated and divided into two groups based on their locomotion score (LS, range: 0 to 4). LS greater than 2 indicated laminitis-associated lesions (lame cow group: LC), and LS = 0 indicated cows without laminitis (CWL). A sample of 30 mm2 was collected from the hoof horny capsule at the abaxial wall to evaluate the concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium. Calcium blood concentration was also evaluated. The LC group had lower magnesium concentration (P=0.008) and showed a trend (P=0.06) for lower calcium concentration compared to healthy animals (CWL), even though all animals were normocalcemic. The concentration of other minerals did not differ between the LC and CWL group. In conclusion, the magnesium concentration in the hoof horny capsule was lower in cows with lesions associated with laminitis, while phosphorus and zinc concentrations were not affected. The relationship between hoof lesions and calcium concentration requires further investigation.

Monthly Variations in the Nutritional Composition of Antarctic Krill Euphausia superba

Abstract The proximate composition and various specific components of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba , in the catch season between March and August were investigated. Frozen krill were freeze-dried and milled. The proximate composition comprised water, proteins, fats, ash, fatty acids, and amino acids, while the specific components were vitamins, minerals, nucleotides, betaine, and astaxanthin. The moisture content of the krill ranged from 77 to 80%, with the highest value in June, and the ash content was be-tween 12 and 13%. The protein content was lowest in May, and the fat content was 18–19%, with the highest value in March. The amino acid content varied according to the season: taurine and glycine were highest in August; β-alanine was higher in April and May; and arginine, ornithine, and lysine were highest in March. The unsaturated fat content was ~50% and omega-3 fatty acids were highest in June. Oil-soluble vitamins A and E were highest in March, and the water-soluble vitamin content was less than that of oil-soluble vitamins. The mineral content was highest in June, and the most abundant mineral was sodium at 235.60 mg/100 g krill. The content of other minerals was lowest (2.94 mg/100 g) in April, except for lead. The nucleotide content was highest in July, while the betaine content was highest in April and lowest in June. The astaxanthin content was highest in May and ranged from 6 to 10 ppm in other months.

Plant mineral concentrations related to foraging preferences of western lowland gorilla in Central African forest clearings.

In the Central African rain forest, mineral resources essential to organisms are distributed heterogeneously. Forest clearings, locally known as bais, attract numerous species presumably due to the mineral richness of these sites, though understanding of the factors drawing species to bais remains speculative. Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla g. gorilla) selectively feed on particular plant species and parts within bais, but studies of such feeding preferences have focused on one site. Here, we compared concentrations of minerals and macronutrients from plants gorillas consumed and those they did not in 16 bais to gain inference regarding drivers of resource selection within bais and bai use. The availability of gorilla feeding plants varied between surveyed bais, with some consumed species occurring only at a few bais. Regardless of bai specific species composition, significantly higher concentrations of Na, K, and Ca were found in consumed plants, and other trace minerals were more common in consumed plants. In contrast, macronutrients appeared to play no major role in feeding plant selectivity with consumed species often having lower concentrations than non-consumed species. We found evidence for seasonal differences in Mg and Na concentrations, but the concentrations of other minerals in consumed plants were consistent across time. These findings provide insight to the drivers of bai visitation by gorillas. The high variation in species across bais may elicit use of multiple bais, but the general increased mineral composition of consumed species across bais suggests metabolic requirements may be met through consumption of a variety of species.

Examination of a practical method for copper enrichment of euryhaline rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) as diet ofEriocheir sinensiszoea larvae

In this study, an effective method to enrich the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis with copper was developed as a feed for the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis zoea larvae. Changes in the concentrations of other minerals in rotifers were also examined when copper was added for rotifer enrichment. The ability of Chlorella to absorb waterborne copper is much higher than that of rotifers, and hence, copper was preaccumulated in Chlorella before its ingestion by rotifers. The copper content in rotifers was comparable to the dietary copper requirement of the crab larvae when the rotifers were enriched with 0.1 mg Cu g−1 Chlorella for 12 h. Further enrichment in rotifers with Cu-enriched Chlorella and lipid emulsions did not significantly change the profile of major fatty acids and mineral composition in the rotifers. Evidence shows the feasibility of copper enrichment in rotifers using microalgae that can accumulate copper. This study indicates that copper in rotifers can be enriched by feeding copper-enriched algae at a concentration of 0.1–0.2 mg Cu g−1 Chlorella. The developmental rates of E. sinensis can be improved by feeding zoea larvae with copper-enriched rotifers, but survival rates were not affected by dietary copper enrichment.