Palmitic Acid Content Research Articles

Reduced Graphene Oxide/Gold Nanoparticles Modified Screen‐Printed Electrode for the Determination of Palmitic Acid

Palm oil is one of the major oils and fats produced in the world today. The quality of palm oil is crucial to be investigated, and one of the quality indices is free fatty acid (FFA) content. Therefore, in this study, an electrochemical approach for the determination of FFA has been explored as an alternative to replace the conventional method (titration method). The electrochemical method was developed based on electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (rGO) coupled with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) deposited onto a screen‐printed carbon electrode (SPCE) via drop‐casting technique. The voltammetric behaviour of 2‐methyl‐1,4‐naphthoquinone (VK3) in the presence of palmitic acid at the modified electrode was investigated in an acetonitrile/water mixture containing lithium perchlorate (LiClO4). The electrochemical detection of palmitic acid was based on the voltammetric reduction of VK3 to form the corresponding hydroquinone which is proportional to the concentration of palmitic acid. Under optimum conditions, the developed method showed a good linear relationship towards palmitic acid in the concentration ranging from 0.192 mM to 0.833 mM with the detection limit of 0.015 mM. The exploration of the developed system is expected to achieve high sensitivity and excellent selectivity towards the determination of FFA content in palm oil.

Effects of fermented Yupingfeng on intramuscular fatty acids and ruminal microbiota in Qingyuan black goats.

Our previous work has demonstrated that Yupingfeng, a Chinese herb medicine, considered as prebiotic showed beneficial properties in poultry health and disease prevention and regulated intestinal microbiota. The effects of Yupingfeng on fatty acids related to meat flavor and ruminal microbiota are not yet known in Qingyuan black goat. In this study, we supplemented fermented (FYP) and unfermented (UYP) Yupingfeng in different combinations to 90 goats. Compared with the normal control group, FYP and UYP significantly increased the concentration of palmitic acid, octadecanoic acid, and arachidonate acid (related to meat flavor) in the longissimus dorsi muscle (p<.05). In addition, the significant upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and fatty acid translocase (CD36) was observed in the FYP and UYP groups (p<.05). In addition, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the most abundance in goat rumen. At the genus level, FYP and UYP significantly increased Ruminococcus related to fiber degradation, and Alistipes related to short-chain fatty acids production. In summary, Yupingfeng could improve fatty acids of goat meat, which is probably triggered by the increase of PPARγ and CD36, and microbial activity. Besides, FYP showed more beneficial effects than UYP, with increased flavor fatty acids and beneficial microbes.

Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant Activity and Fatty Acid Composition of Roasted Alyanak Apricot Kernel.

The oil recovery from Alyanak apricot kernel was 36.65% in control (unroasted) and increased to 43.77% in microwave-roasted kernels. The total phenolic contents in extracts from apricot kernel were between 0.06 (oven-roasted) and 0.20 mg GAE/100 g (microwave-roasted) while the antioxidant activity varied between 2.55 (oven-roasted) and 19.34% (microwave-roasted). Gallic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, (+)-catechin and 1,2-dihydroxybenzene were detected as the key phenolic constituents in apricot kernels. Gallic acid contents varied between 0.53 (control) and 1.10 mg/100 g (microwave-roasted) and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid contents were between 0.10 (control) and 0.35 mg/100 g (microwave-roasted). Among apricot oil fatty acids, palmitic acid contents ranged from 4.38 (oven-roasted) to 4.76% (microwave-roasted); oleic acid contents were between 65.73% (oven-roasted) and 66.15% (control) and linoleic acid contents varied between 26.55 (control) and 27.12% (oven-roasted).

Changes in Fatty Acid, Tocopherol and Sterol Contents of Oils Extracted from Several Vegetable Seeds.

Oil contents of seeds changed between 15.89 g/100 g (purslane) and 38.97 g/100 g (black radish). Palmitic acid contents of oil samples were found between 2.2 g/100 g (turnip) and 15.0 g/100 g (purslane). While oleic acid contents of oil samples change between 12.1% (turnip) and 69.8% (purple carrot), linoleic acid contents of oils were determined between 8.9% (black radish) and 57.0% (onion). The highest linolenic acid was found in purslane oil (26.7%). While α-tocopherol contents of oil samples range from 2.01 mg/kg (purple carrot) to 903.01 mg/kg (onion), γ-tocopherol contents of vegetable seed oils changed between 1.14 mg/kg (curly lettuce) and 557.22 mg/kg (purslane). While campesterin contents of seed oils change between 203.2 mg/kg (purple carrot) and 2808.5 mg/kg (cabbage Yalova), stosterin contents of oil samples varied from 981.5 (curly lettuce) to 4843.3 mg/kg (purslane). The highest brassicasterin and δ5-avenasterin were found in red cabbage oil (894.5 mg/kg) and purslane seed oils (971.3 mg/kg), respectively. Total sterol contents of seed oils changed between 2960.4 mg/kg (purple carrot) and 9185.1 mg/kg (purslane). According to the results, vegetable seeds have different bioactive compound such as fatty acid, tocopherol and phytosterol.

Preparation of human milk fat substitutes similar to human milk fat by enzymatic acidolysis and physical blending

In this study, a human milk fat substitute (HMFS) rich in 1-oleoyl-2-palmitoyl-3-linoleoylglycerol (OPL) was prepared by physical blending. First, OPL was enzymatically synthesized by the acidolysis of fractionated palm stearin with oleic and linoleic acids. The reaction parameters were assessed until an optimum process was achieved. Under optimum conditions, contents of OPL and sn-2 palmitic acid in the synthesized OPL product were 47.93% and 87.90%, respectively. Subsequently, a physical blending model was established for the first time to prepare the HMFS similar to human milk fat (HMF). The optimum ratio of soybean oil, rapeseed oil, coconut oil, basa catfish oil and OPL product was determined to be 11.06%:2.91%:14.41%:35.02%:36.59%. The similarity between HMFS and HMF was evaluated by “deducting score” principle and the overall score of the HMFS was 84.98. The prepared HMFS have higher similarity than commercial HMFS products and thus are potential to be used in infant formulas.

SEED YIELD AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITION IN SESAME (Sesamum indicum L.) AS AFFECTED BY SILICON APPLICATION UNDER A SEMI-ARID CLIMATE

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is a short duration, low input and highly drought tolerant conventional oilseed crop with high edible seed oil contents. This study was aimed to evaluate the response of four sesame genotypes to silicon (Si) application under a semi-arid climate. For this study, we hypothesized that Si application may improve seed yield, oil contents and fatty acid composition in sesame. The experimental design was a two factor-factorial randomized complete block, replicated four times, and the treatments were four sesame genotypes (TS-3, SG-120, SG-169 and SG-170) and three Si levels (0, 22 and 44 kg ha-1). The data was analyzed statistically with the ‘Statistics 8.1’ software. The genotype TS-3 had the highest (p£0.05) seed yield (479.1 kg ha-1), oil content (40.2%), oleic acid (41.8%), and the lowest content of palmitic acid (6.37%) and linoleic acid (38.5%). Silicon application significantly enhanced the seed yield, oil and unsaturated fatty acids (oleic and linoleic acid) contents and reduced the saturated fatty acid (palmitic and stearic acid) over control. The highest seed yield (487.8 kg ha-1), oil contents (38%), oleic acid (40.9%), linoleic acid (41.7%), as well as the lowest palmitic acid (6.49%) and stearic acid (3.66%) were recorded with the application of 44 kg Si ha-1. The seed yield of sesame genotypes followed the order TS-3&gt;SG-120&gt;SG-169&gt;SG-170.

Chemical Profile of the Stem Extract of Costus afer (Bush Cane) from Imo State in Nigeria

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the chemical profile of the stem extract of Costus afer (Bush cane).&#x0D; Methodology: Fresh stems of Costus afer were obtained from Obizi in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. The stem extract of Costus afer a medicinal important plant of the Costaceae were extracted with hot water (aqueous extraction) and proximate composition were determine through AOAC method. Fatty acids were determined through saponification and fatty acid methyl esters were thrice extracted from the mixture with redistilled n-hexane. The phytochemicals of the stem extract were determined by GC/MS analysis.&#x0D; Results: Proximate composition of stems of Costus afer showed that it contained moisture (22.15%), crude fat (1.15%), ash (4.60%), crude protein (7.72%), crude fibre (9.40%) and carbohydrate (54.98%) while its calorific value is 261.15 kcal/100 g. Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of alkaloids (70.59 mg/100 g) ranging from papaverine (44.72%) to narcotine (14.11%). Total flavonoids (28.29 mg/100 g) consisted mainly of myricetin (69.79%), quercetin (14.88%) and kaemferol (9.78%). The saponins (2.87 mg/100 mg) consisted mainly of sapogenin (39.20%), saponine (22.12%) and diosgenin (26.13%) while the glycosides (22.35 mg/100 mg) consisted mainly of costugenin (65.60%), digitoxin (18.73%), digoxin (6.28%) and salicin (4.76%). The fatty acid composition showed moderate concentrations of linolenic acid (32.27%), linoleic acid (25.90%), palmitic acid (25.48%) and low concentrations of oleic acid (7.11%) and stearic acid (6.37%). &#x0D; Conclusion: Chemical studies on Costus afer have reported the presence of alkaloids, saponins, glycosides and flavonoids as the main constituents and were confirmed by phytochemical screening. As a rich source of bioactive compound coupled with the presence of the nutrients the stem of Costus afer studied can be seen as a potential source of food, drugs, fodder and a good source of important nutrients for livestock.

Comparative Profiling of Volatile Compounds in Popular South Indian Traditional and Modern Rice Varieties by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the major cereal crops cultivated across the world, particularly in Southeast Asia with 95% of global production. The present study was aimed to evaluate the total phenolic content (TPC) and to profile all the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of eight popular traditional and two modern rice varieties cultivated in South India. Thirty-one VOCs were estimated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The identified volatile compounds in the 10 rice varieties belong to the chemical classes of fatty acids, terpenes, alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, phenols, esters, amides, and others. Interestingly, most of the identified predominant components were not identical, which indicate the latent variation among the rice varieties. Significant variations exist for fatty acids (46.9–76.2%), total terpenes (12.6–30.7%), total phenols (0.9–10.0%), total aliphatic alcohols (0.8–5.9%), total alkanes (0.5–5.1%), and total alkenes (1.0–4.9%) among the rice varieties. Of all the fatty acid compounds, palmitic acid, elaidic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid predominantly varied in the range of 11.1–33.7, 6.1–31.1, 6.0–28.0, and 0.7–15.1%, respectively. The modern varieties recorded the highest palmitic acid contents (28.7–33.7%) than the traditional varieties (11.1–20.6%). However, all the traditional varieties had higher linoleic acid (10.0–28.0%) than the modern varieties (6.0–8.5%). Traditional varieties had key phenolic compounds, stearic acid, butyric acid, and glycidyl oleate, which are absent in the modern varieties. The traditional varieties Seeraga samba and Kichilli samba had the highest azulene and oleic acid, respectively. All these indicate the higher variability for nutrients and aroma in traditional varieties. These varieties can be used as potential parents to improve the largely cultivated high-yielding varieties for the evolving nutritional market. The hierarchical cluster analysis showed three different clusters implying the distinctness of the traditional and modern varieties. This study provided a comprehensive volatile profile of traditional and modern rice as a staple food for energy as well as for aroma with nutrition.

EFFECTS OF SOWING DATE AND GENOTYPE ON OIL CONTENT AND MAIN FATTY ACID COMPOSITION IN CAMELINA [Camelina sativa L. (Crantz)

The objective of the research was to determine the effects of genotype and sowing date on oil content and composition of the main fatty acids of spring-seeded camelina. Depending on the sowing time, the change of oil content and main fatty acids such as palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic eicosenoic and erusic acid content is 26.65-33.65%, 6.04-7.08%, 2.04-3.15%, 16.63-18.84%, 24.51-25.16%, 29.57-31.69%, 14.30-15.04% and 1.10-1.86%, respectively. When the sowing time is delayed; oil content, stearic, linoleic, linolenic and erusic acid content decreased in contrast palmitic, oleic and eicosenoic acid content increased. The effect of sowing time on genotypes is important in terms of the evaluated characters. The PI-650142 genotype is more tolerant than PI-304269 genotype against the effects of environmental factors. Consequently, in case of delay of sowing time, it is extremely important to perform timely sowing, considering the changes in both oil content and fatty acids compositions. In case of delayed sowing for any reason, varieties that can tolerate the effects that may arise due to delay should be preferred. Thus, the losses that may arise can be reduced, albeit partially.

Influence of birth weight and weaning weight on performance and veal quality

Influence of birth weight and weaning weight on performance and veal quality

PSIX-34 Omega-3 fatty acids are more likely to cause C2C12 cell adipose deposition and decomposition compared with palmitic acid

Abstract It is usually considered that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) to be beneficial to health and are widely provided as a dietary supplement during pregnancy. However, the risk of n-3 PUFAs overdosage on fetal development has rarely been studied. The objective of this study is to explore the effect of different concentrations of n-3 PUFAs [docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)] and a saturated fatty acid (palmitic acid) on the differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. Oil Red O staining showed that n-3 PUFAs are more likely to cause adipogenesis. C2C12 cells were induced apoptosis when the concentration of EPA and DHA is 75µM, respectively. The expression of PPARγ gene expression in the EPA+DHA 50μM group was significantly increased, while in the palmitic acid treatment, the gene expression of AP2 (in the ≥10 μM groups) and C/EBPβ (50 μM) were significantly reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Among the lipolysis related genes, HSL increased significantly in the EPA+DHA groups (≥ 25 μM), while MGL decreased significantly in both the EPA+DHA groups (≥ 10 μM) and palmitic acid group (≥ 100 μM) (P &amp;lt; 0.05). In the EPA+DHA groups, the expression of myogenic genes Mrf4 (≥10 μM), MyoD (≥50 μM), and MyoG (≥25 μM) were significantly reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Gene expression of Myf5 decreased significantly when the concentration of palmitic acid was higher than 100 μM (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Among thermogenesis-related genes, in the EPA+DHA treatment, Prdm16 increased (≥50 μM), and UCP3 decreased significantly (≥50 μM)(P &amp;lt; 0.05). After palmitic acid administration, Prdm16 (≥50 μM) and UCP1 (≥100 μM) was significantly reduced, and UCP3 was significantly increased only in the highest concentration group (150 μM) (P &amp;lt; 0.05). In short, compared to palmitic acid, the treatment of EPA+DHA in the differentiation culture of C2C12 cells can enhance the deposition and decomposition of adipose in a lower concentration.

Effects of dietary deoiled soy lecithin supplementation on milk production and fatty acid digestibility in Holstein dairy cows

Deoiled soy lecithin is a feed additive enriched in phospholipids. Our study evaluated the effects of dietary deoiled soy lecithin supplementation on (1) milk production and composition, (2) plasma and milk fatty acid (FA) content and yield, and (3) apparent FA digestibility and absorption in lactating dairy cows fed fractionated palm fat. In a split-plot Latin square design, 16 Holstein cows (160 ± 7 days in milk; 3.6 ± 1.2 parity) were randomly allocated to a main plot receiving a corn silage and alfalfa haylage-based diet with palm fat containing either moderate (MPA) or high palmitic acid (HPA) content at 1.75% of ration dry matter (72 or 99% palmitic acid, respectively; n = 8/palm fat diet). On each palm fat diet, deoiled soy lecithin was top-dressed at 0, 0.12, 0.24, or 0.36% of ration dry matter in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Following a 14-d covariate period, lecithin supplementation spanned 14 d, with milk and blood collected during the final 3 d. Milk composition and pooled plasma markers were measured. The statistical model included the fixed effects of palm fat type, lecithin dose, period, and the interaction between palm fat type and lecithin dose. The random effect of cow nested within palm fat group was also included. Lecithin linearly decreased dry matter intake. In cows fed HPA, lecithin feeding reduced milk fat content and tended to decrease milk fat yield. Although no changes in milk yield were observed, a quadratic reduction in 3.5% fat-corrected milk was observed with increasing lecithin dose. Lecithin linearly increased energy-corrected milk efficiency in cows fed MPA. Lecithin supplementation also decreased milk urea nitrogen, relative to unsupplemented cows. The proportion of 16-carbon FA in milk fat decreased linearly with lecithin dose, whereas 18-carbon FA increased linearly. Lecithin reduced de novo FA (<16-carbon) content and tended to increase preformed FA (>16-carbon) content in a linear manner. Compared with MPA, HPA diets reduced apparent total and 16-carbon FA digestibility and absorption. Deoiled soy lecithin feeding did not modify FA digestibility or absorption. Our observations suggest that soy lecithin feeding modifies rumen digestion to reduce dry matter intake and change milk composition.

Short communication: Effects of dietary deoiled soy lecithin supplementation on circulating choline and choline metabolites, and the plasma phospholipid profile in Holstein cows fed palm fat

Dietary lecithin is a source of choline. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of dietary deoiled soy lecithin feeding on circulating choline, choline metabolites, and the plasma phospholipid profile in lactating dairy cows fed fractionated palm fatty acids. In a split-plot Latin square design, 16 Holstein cows (160 ± 7 d in milk; 3.6 ± 1.2 parity) were randomly allocated to a main plot receiving a corn silage and alfalfa haylage-based diet with palm fat containing either moderate or high palmitic acid content at 1.75% of ration dry matter (moderate and high palmitic acid containing 72 or 99% palmitic acid in fat supplement, respectively; n = 8/palm fat diet). Within each palm fat group, deoiled soy lecithin was top-dressed at 0, 0.12, 0.24, or 0.36% of ration dry matter in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 14-d experimental periods. A 14-d covariate period was used to acclimate cows to palm fat feeding without lecithin supplementation. Blood sampling occurred during the final 3 d of each experimental period. Plasma choline and choline metabolites were quantified using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Plasma phospholipids were profiled using time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Whereas no effects of treatments were detected for plasma choline or methionine, lecithin feeding increased the plasma concentrations of choline metabolites trimethylamine N-oxide and dimethylglycine (24 and 11%, respectively). Plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) concentrations increased with deoiled lecithin feeding (e.g., PC 16:0/22:6 and SM d18:1/18:3). Lecithin supplementation also increased plasma lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) concentrations (e.g., LPC 18:0) while reducing plasma phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) concentrations (e.g., PE 16:0/20:5). Although increases in microbial-derived trimethylamine N-oxide suggest gastrointestinal lecithin degradation, elevations in plasma dimethylglycine, PC, LPC, and SM suggest that choline availability was improved by lecithin feeding in cows, thus supporting enhanced endogenous phospholipid synthesis.

Metabolite biomarkers of type 2 diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundWe aimed to explore metabolite biomarkers that could be used to identify pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using systematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsFour databases, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed and Scopus were selected. A random effect model and a fixed effect model were applied to the results of forest plot analyses to determine the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for each metabolite. The SMD for every metabolite was then converted into an odds ratio to create an metabolite biomarker profile.ResultsTwenty-four independent studies reported data from 14,131 healthy individuals and 3499 patients with T2DM, and 14 included studies reported 4844 healthy controls and a total of 2139 pre-diabetes patients. In the serum and plasma of patients with T2DM, compared with the healthy participants, the concentrations of valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, tyrosine, lysine and glutamate were higher and that of glycine was lower. The concentrations of isoleucine, alanine, proline, glutamate, palmitic acid, 2-aminoadipic acid and lysine were higher and those of glycine, serine, and citrulline were lower in prediabetic patients. Metabolite biomarkers of T2DM and pre-diabetes revealed that the levels of alanine, glutamate and palmitic acid (C16:0) were significantly different in T2DM and pre-diabetes.ConclusionsQuantified multiple metabolite biomarkers may reflect the different status of pre-diabetes and T2DM, and could provide an important reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment of pre-diabetes and T2DM.

Abstract 13690: Association of Serum Fatty Acids With Age at the Onset of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Patients Aged 50 Years or Older

Introduction: There are few reports about the association of concentrations and proportions of serum fatty acids with age at the onset of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in elderly patients. Hypothesis: A higher level of saturated FA (SFA) and n-6 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) cause a younger onset of AIS, and a higher level of n-3 PUFA causes an older onset of AIS. Methods: For the retrospective cross-sectional study, we included patients aged 50 years or older who: 1) were admitted to our institution between August 2016 and July 2019 within 24 hours of AIS onset, and 2) underwent an examination of serum fatty acids. We evaluated concentrations of palmitic acid (PA) and stearic acid (SA) as SFA, oleic acid (OlA) as n-9 PUFA, linoleic acid (LiA), dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), arachidonic acid (AA) as n-6 PUFA on admission. We evaluated the concentration of alpha-linolenic acid (AlA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as n-3 PUFA on admission. We evaluated the proportion of PA, SA, OlA, LiA, DGLA, AA, AlA, EPA, and DHA on admission. Furthermore, we evaluated their correlations with age at the AIS onset. Results: Three hundred sixty-six patients met our inclusion criteria. Their median average age was 75 years. Age at the onset was negatively correlated with concentrations of PA, SA, OlA, LiA, DGLA, AA, and AlA. Age at the onset was negatively correlated with the proportion of SA, OlA, and DGLA and positively correlated with the proportion of EPA and DHA. Multiple regression analysis showed that DGLA was an independent factor for the younger onset of AIS. Multiple regression analysis showed that DHA proportion was an independent factor for the older onset and that proportions of SA and DGLA were independent factors for the younger onset of AIS. Conclusions: The higher proportion of SA (SFA) and higher concentration and proportion of DGLA (n-6 PUFA) were significantly correlated with the younger onset of AIS, and the higher proportion of DHA (n-3 PUFA) was significantly correlated with the older onset of AIS.

SO4 2-/ZrO2 as a Solid Acid for the Esterification of Palmitic Acid with Methanol: Effects of the Calcination Time and Recycle Method.

Two types of SO42–/ZrO2 solid acid catalysts with various calcination times were prepared via incipient wetness impregnation of (NH4)2SO4 to hydrothermally synthesized ZrO2 and subsequently employed to catalyze the esterification of palmitic acid with methanol. The resulting catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO) to elucidate their physicochemical properties, morphology, and deactivation mechanism. A calcination procedure is required to transform the amorphous ZrO2 into the crystal form. Both chelating and bridged bidentate SO42– coordinate with the ZrO2 surface. The calcination at 600 °C could well eliminate the water in the catalyst and a further higher temperature would accelerate the loss of SO42–. Long-time calcination also decreases the catalytic activity due to the transformation of monoclinic ZrO2 into tetragonal one and the slow leaching of SO42–. The catalytic activity increases with increasing catalyst loading amount, reaction temperature, and molar ratio of palmitic acid to methanol, while the heating temperature over 65 °C and excess methanol amount are unfavorable to the esterification reaction due to the low-boiling-point methanol and attenuation of the palmitic acid concentration. It appears that the reaction conditions of 65 °C, 6 wt % catalyst, 25:1 of methanol to palmitic acid, and 4 h reaction time are economically optimal under atmospheric pressure. The catalyst could not be well regenerated by the ultrasonic methanol washing method because of refractory organic residues. The catalyst activity could be well recovered without major activity loss by the calcination at 600 °C for 1 h. The catalyst deactivation is due to contamination by the refractory organic residues in the catalyst as well as by the leaching of SO42–, and thus both the calcination temperature and time should be strictly controlled to achieve a better catalyst lifetime.

Changes in Growth, Physiology, and Fatty Acid Profile of Rapeseed Cultivars Treated with Vermicompost Under Drought Stress

In recent years, the management of organic fertilizers and irrigation regimes has been the main topic in agricultural practices. The growth, physiological properties, and fatty acid composition of six rapeseed cultivars were assessed in a 2-year (2017–2018) field experiment using vermicompost (VC) under irrigation regimes in Karaj, Iran. Drought stress was imposed by stopping the irrigation at silique formation and flowering growth stages. The VC increased the plant height, silique number per plant, biomass, and grain yield. Drought stress at both silique formation and flowering stages decreased plant growth and yield, but increased proline concentration. Under well water condition, Zafar and Hyola4815 cultivars obtained the highest plant growth and grain yield, while RGS003 with the minimum changes in its morphological and physiological properties was identified as the most tolerant cultivar to drought stress. Zafar and Hyola4815 demonstrated the highest oil content and yield at well-watered conditions. GC/MC analysis showed that the main fatty acid composition of rapeseed cultivars was oleic acid (60.1–63.78%) followed by linoleic acid (13.94–17.73%), linolenic acid (3.85–6.67%), palmitic acid (3.71–5.18%), and ureic acid (0.15–0.23%). VC application increased palmitic acid and linoleic acid concentrations, but decreased linolenic acid content. The response of fatty acid profile to drought stress varied between the cultivars, in which the highest unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) was observed in Zafar under well-watered conditions. VC as an effective fertilizer and due to its high potential in improving soil properties and nutrient availability for plants would be advised to compensate for the decline in plant yield imposed by drought stress.

Gonococcal Adaptation to Palmitic Acid Through farAB Expression and FadD Activity Mutations Increases In Vivo Fitness in a Murine Genital Tract Infection Model.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a bacterial pathogen that colonizes mucosal epithelia that are rich in antimicrobial molecules such as long-chain fatty acids. Here we studied the mechanisms involved in palmitic acid resistance and their impact on in vivo biological fitness in a murine genital tract infection model. A stable palmitic acid-resistant derivative was obtained by serial passage with incremental palmitic acid concentrations. This derivative outcompeted its parent strain for colonization and survival in the murine infection model. Subsequent whole-genome sequencing resulted in the identification of the 3 resistance-related SNPs ihfAC5T, fadDC772T, and farAG-52T (promoter) that were verified for resistance against palmitic acid. Subsequent characterization of the associated resistance determinants showed that ihfAC5T and farAG-52T induced gene expression of the FarAB efflux pump, whereas fadDC772T increased the maximum enzyme activity of the FadD long-chain fatty acid-coenzyme A ligase. Our results highlight the mechanisms involved in gonococcal adaptation to the murine host environment.

Influence of liquid enzymes supplementation on growth performance, blood parameters and muscle fatty acids in broilers

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of liquid enzyme supplementation to drinking water on growth performance, plasma lipids and muscle fatty acids profile in broilers. Methods: One hundred and twenty one-day old broilers were divided into four groups (30 birds), each group included three replicates of 10 chicks. The first group was control without any additives supplementation in feed or water. The second, third and fourth groups were supplemented in drinking water with 2, 4, and 8 ml/ L water of Non-Starch Polysaccharides (NSP) liquid enzyme, respectively. Results: Body weight and body weight gain were increased by 8 ml/ L water liquid enzyme supplementation. Feed intake was decreased and thus, feed conversion was significantly improved. The addition of NSP liquid enzymes in water did not affect the carcass, muscle relative weights, while abdominal fat relative weight was significantly decreased by the addition of 8ml/L NSP enzymes in drinking water. Spleen weight was increased. Plasma total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were significantly decreased following the addition of 8ml/L NSP enzymes. Plasma HDL-cholesterol was significantly increased. Liver MDA and muscle palmitic acid concentration were decreased, however, alpha-linolenic acid was increased by liquid enzyme supplementation. Conclusion: It could be concluded that liquid enzyme supplementation to drinking water improved growth performance, modified plasma lipids and muscle fatty acids profile in broilers.

Aquaculture waste as food for amphipods: the case of Gammarus insensibilis in marsh ponds from southern Spain

Amphipods are emerging as an alternative food resource for fishes and cephalopods in aquaculture. Gammarus insensibilis (Stock, 1996), one of the dominant amphipods inhabiting marsh ponds in southern Spain, has been recently proposed as a promising candidate for being intensively cultured due to its adequate nutritional profile, large body size, and high natural densities. The main aim of this study was to determine whether waste products of aquaculture (such as detritus in the form of fish feces or Ulva sp.) provided an adequate diet for the amphipod in comparison to other traditional diets, such as Artemia nauplii or phytoplankton. G. insensibilis was cultured twice in tanks with 5 treatments: 4 experimental diets (detritus, Ulva sp., Artemia nauplii, and phytoplankton) were used, and one no-feed treatment. Amphipods fed with the two alternative diets, detritus and Ulva, showed promising survival higher than 40% and high concentrations of palmitic acid (16:0), oleic acid (18:1n9), arachidonic acid (20:4n6) (ARA), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n3) (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n3) (DHA). Therefore, large-scale culture of this amphipod using inexpensive diets in indoor facilities could provide a nutritious product for aquaculture. The potential development of a sustainable culture using this species in marsh ponds is also discussed in the context of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA).