Weight Basis Research Articles

Cheese whey and dairy manure anaerobic co-digestion at psychrophilic conditions: Technical and environmental evaluation

Cheese whey (CW) and dairy manure (DM) are the main residues from the dairy industry, both of which can led to significant negative environment impacts if not properly managed. However, their combined anaerobic digestion represents an opportunity to obtain bioenergy and a stabilised material as a soil improver on the farm. Biochemical potential of methane (BMP) assays were carried out at psychrophilic conditions (20 °C) to analyse the influence on biomethane production of different CW:DM mixtures (% w/w) at different of inoculum-to-substrate ratios (ISR). Based on the BMP results, a life cycle assessment (LCA) of the cheese manufacturing process was carried out considering two scenarios (i) considering the current process, where propane gas and electricity are used for cheese production (ii) the incorporation of the biogas generated in the cheese production process in the company. BMP results showed that the best mixture between CW and DM was 65:35 (weight basis) at an organic load of 0.6 gVS/L (ISR of X). The LCA showed that CW and DM anaerobic digestion allowed to reduce the cheese manufacturing carbon footprint from through the substitution of propane by the biogas produced, changing from 5.5 to 3.1 kg CO2-eq/kg cheese produced, which indicates that according to the monthly production (633.6 kg) it would stop emitting about 1519 kg CO2-eq, i.e. a saving in terms of emissions of approximately 43,6% of the total currently generated.

Nutrient and anti-nutrient composition of durum, soft and red wheat landraces: Implications for nutrition and mineral bioavailability

Morocco possesses a significant genetic diversity of wheat cultivars in the form of landraces conserved by local farmers in several regions. This study aimed to investigate the nutritional and antinutritional composition of 75 flour samples of durum, soft, and red wheat landraces cultivated in Morocco in order to determine their nutritional value. The analysis concerned the quantification of total carbohydrates, starch, lipid, fatty acids, protein, amino acids, minerals, and dietary fibers using AOAC standards, and phytic acid and polyphenols using spectrophotometric assays. The antiradical activity was evaluated using a DPPH assay based on the chelating properties of the free radicals against minerals. The bioavailability of minerals was also estimated using molar ratios. On a dry weight basis, soft wheat flour contains higher amounts of carbohydrates (80.307 ± 0.634 g/100 g), while durum (14.007 ± 0.569 g/100 g) and red (16.452 ± 0.141 g/100 g) wheat flours contain more proteins, predominantly represented by glutamic acid and leucine. The mineral analysis revealed the abundance of iron, zinc, and calcium in soft, red, and durum wheat flours. Concerning lipids, the flour samples showed relatively low concentrations with a distinct predominance of oleic, linoleic, and palmitic acids. The quantification of antinutrients revealed the richness of red wheat flour in dietary fibers (1.763 ± 0.103 g/100 g), total polyphenols (301.609 ± 0.169 μg GAE/g), and flavonoids (80.091 ± 0.121 μg QE/g), while durum and soft wheat flours contain more tannins (60.138 ± 0.751 μg CE/g) and phytic acid (9.182 ± 0.391 mg/g), respectively. The phenolic extract derived from red wheat flour demonstrated significant antiradical activity against DPPH, with an IC50 value of 121.683 ± 0.229 μg/mL. The calculated (PA:Fe), (PA:Zn), and (PA:Ca) were below the critical values, indicating a low bioavailability of iron, zinc, and calcium in the wheat flour samples. The results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the amounts of nutrients and antinutrients among the studied wheat cultivars, leading to variations in the bioavailability of their mineral contents. These quantitative differences could be used to more accurately guide dietary recommendations and develop focused strategies for optimizing the bioavailability of minerals in wheat flour-based products.

Effect of Cooking methods on Total Phenolics and Antioxidant activity of selected wild Edible plants

The objective of this assessment was to investigate how different cooking techniques, such as boiling and microwave cooking, impact the levels of total phenolics and antioxidant activity in commonly consumed plants like Perilla ocymoides, Clerodendrum colebrookeanum, Solanum gilo, Solanum kurzii, and Potentilla lineata, prevalent in the North-Eastern region of India. To measure the antioxidant properties of these plants, various methods were employed, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging ability, reducing power capacity, and the assessment of total phenolic, flavonoid, and flavonol contents. The analysis revealed that the total phenolic content (TPC) of fresh vegetables ranged from 77.47 to 797.68mg/100g (expressed as gallic acid equivalent) on a dry weight basis. The total antioxidant capacity of fresh plants, measured as the percentage of inhibition, varied between 7.62% and 83.44% for DPPH, and 12.22% to 79.46% for ABTS. Boiling emerged as the cooking method causing the greatest reduction in TPC, resulting in a decline ranging from 10.90% in P. lineata up to 25.66% in S. kurzii when calculated on a dry weight basis. Conversely, microwave cooking led to an enhancement in TPC, with an increase ranging from 2.20% to 11.80%. Furthermore, the impact of boiling on DPPH radical scavenging activities was notable, causing a decrease between 8.44% and 43.30%, and for ABTS radical scavenging activities, the reduction ranged from 10.24% to 34.45%. In contrast, microwave cooking had a positive effect on DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, increasing them by 9.39% to 46.32%, and 8.49% to 46.39%, respectively, across the studied plants. In conclusion, the results suggest that microwave cooking stands out as the optimal method for preserving and even increasing the concentration of polyphenols and antioxidants in these plants. Conversely, boiling exhibited the least desirable outcomes in terms of retaining these beneficial components.

Review of the Responses of Various Soil Amendments in Sandy Soils

The primary constraints with sandy soils are low soil organic matter content, poor nutrient availability, heavy losses of applied nutrients and lower water holding capacity. Improving the productivity of sandy soils, particularly in developing countries, could be a viable solution to food insecurity and poverty. Large extent of sandy soil is one of the major constraints for crop production in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, various soil amendments can be applied to improve the performances of cropping systems in sandy soils. Nevertheless, a comprehensive knowledge on which soil amendment would work better across different scales is not well known. To address this knowledge gap, this review was conducted using published literature. Systematic review approach was adopted, and the data were extracted from 65 highly relevant papers. The data were analyzed to calculate the percentage changes on crop yields, soil organic matter and soil carbon, in response to the applications of different soil amendments. The review highlighted the potential of several soil amendments to improve the crop performances in sandy soils. Interestingly, rice straw biochar and the municipal solid waste compost have greatly increased crop yields especially in rice at the rate of 0.9% w/w and 3% w/w in soil weight basis, respectively. Highest improvement in soil organic matter and soil carbon was observed under the applications of compost and spent grain, respectively. Therefore, rice straw biochar and compost could be evaluated to improve the productivity of sandy soils, especially in the Eastern region of Sri Lanka. Although the spent grain was promising, the availability for large scale applications may be limited in Sri Lanka. Testing of these soil amendments would require long-term experiments incorporating different crops and cropping systems. &#x0D; Keywords: Compost, Biochar, Sandy soil, Soil amendments

Development of ‘TN16‐520R1’: A drought‐tolerant soybean cultivar with glyphosate resistance

AbstractThe glyphosate‐tolerant soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] line ‘TN16‐520R1’ (Reg. no. CV‐560, PI 703273) was released as a high‐yielding cultivar by University of Tennessee Agricultural Research in 2018. TN16‐520R1 is a BC4F2 cultivar derived from the recurrent parent ‘Ellis’, with drought tolerance and a maturity group (MG) of V‐early. It has white flowers, gray pubescence, tan podwall, and a determinate growth habit. The seed has buff hila, is yellow with smooth seed coat, and contains 40% protein and 22% oil on a dry weight basis. TN16‐520R1 has good resistance to lodging and good seed quality (1.8 and 1.6, respectively, on 1–5 scale), and a seed size of 11.8 g per 100 seed. Like Ellis, TN16‐520R1 has performed competitively throughout much of the mid‐South United States over several years, with testing occurring over a 6‐year period in 100 environments. Further, TN16‐520R1 is remarkably like the recurrent parent Ellis for yield, maturity, lodging, height, protein, and oil. Also, like Ellis, TN16‐520R1 is resistant to stem canker [caused by Diaporthe phaseolorum (Cooke &amp; Ellis) Sacc. var. caulivora K.L. Athow &amp; R.M. Caldwell] and southern root‐knot nematode [Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood] and has field tolerance to frogeye leafspot [caused by Cercospora sojina (Hara)]. This combination of beneficial traits and broad adaptability make TN16‐520R1 an excellent choice as a soybean cultivar for producers or a crossing parent for breeders.

Technical feasibility of a 1000 MWe pulverized coal power plant under ammonia co-combustion conditions

Ammonia has attracted the attention as a practical way to reach carbon free power generation. Ammonia co-combustion characteristics in 1000MWe pulverized coal power plant was simulated by using Aspen Plus and evaluated under an excess air ratio of 1.0–1.2, air of 2642–3457 ton/hr, coal of 208.2–355.5 ton/hr, ammonia of 0–186.14 ton/hr and various coals. The influence of co-combustion ratios of different coals on emission characteristics and net efficiency was compared. For carbon dioxide emission reduction, the respective CO2 intensity reduction for KPU and BG was 36.44 and 37.76% in calorific value basis, 32.51 and 31.90% in weight basis. The net efficiencies of the power cycle showed a lower decrease as the fuel was supplied on the weight basis compared to the calorific value basis. Based on the obtained results, the KPU on the weight basis showed the lowest net efficiency decrement of 3.1%, but in terms of CO2 intensity reduction, BG on calorific value basis showed most drastic reduction of 37.76%. Consequently, these results showed an effective carbon reduction with ammonia co-combustion and provides a promising solution for the pulverized coal power plants to compass a meaningful reduction of carbon emissions and conservation of combustion efficiency.

Effect of different selenium sources on nutrient digestibility, performance and antioxidant status in Mecheri lambs

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different selenium sources on nutrient digestibility, performance and antioxidant status in Mecheri lambs. Mecheri lambs (30) were distributed randomly into five equal groups (Control, T1, T2, T3 and T4) with six lambs in each, on the basis of average body weight (14.1±1.1 kg). The animals in T1, T2, T3 and T4 were given sodium selenite (0.30 ppm), selenocysteine (0.30 ppm), nano selenium (0.30 ppm) and nano selenium (0.15 ppm), respectively for 120 days. The result revealed that DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NDF, ADF and NFE digestibility were significantly higher for lambs in group T2 and T3 than other groups. T3 group showed highest nitrogen intake, retention and balance. There was no difference in daily intake, faecal and urinary excretion and balance of Ca and P. There was no effect on DM intake but T3 and T4 group showed significant difference in body weight gain, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio between the experimental groups. All sources of Se showed no effect on biochemical parameters. However, T3 group showed significantly lower MDA content in blood and significantly higher activity of GSH-Px and SOD compared to other groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of Nano-Se at 0.30 ppm can be used more efficiently to improve the nutrient digestibility, growth performance and antioxidant status in Mecheri lambs.

Robust resilience enhancement strategy for gas‐electricity integrated energy system considering multiple reinforcement levels

AbstractNatural disasters are extreme events with low probability but strong destructive ability, which have a serious impact on the power system. The gas‐electricity integrated energy system is more likely to be affected by natural disasters due to its complex multi‐energy coupling characteristic. In order to improve the resilience of the gas‐electricity integrated energy system under natural disasters, this paper proposes a three‐layer defence‐attack‐defence robust resilience improvement model with the objective of minimizing the load loss in the gas‐electricity integrated energy system. Firstly, in order to cope with various levels of disaster and improve the economy of line/pipeline reinforcement in the gas‐electricity integrated energy system, a multi‐level line/pipeline reinforcement model is proposed on the basis of load weight in the upper layer. Then, information entropy is introduced to represent the impact of natural disasters in the middle layer. Based on the operation constraints of the gas‐electricity integrated energy system, the optimal allocation of the mobile electricity storage and liquefied gas storage is established in the lower layer. The three‐layer resilience improvement model is solved by the nested column and constraint generation algorithm. Finally, the case study proves the feasibility of the model and the effectiveness of the solution method.

Evaluation of iso-quinoline alkaloids by RP-HPLC-PDA in different Berberis species collected from Western Himalayan Region

The genus Berberis has high significance in Indian and other traditional systems of medicine due to the presence of iso-quinoline alkaloids. This study was conducted to record the metabolic variation in eight Berberis spp. collected from the Western Himalayan region. The RP-HPLC-PDA chromatogram separates the markers jatrorrhizine, palmatine and berberine at specific retention time, 11.45, 16.41 and 18.15 min respectively. The method was validated on linearity, precision and recovery indices as per International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) guidelines. The maximum content of berberine, palmatine and jatrorrhizine was found in Berberis asiatica (1.74% ± 0.032, 1.63% ± 0.028 and 0.264% ± 0.012, respectively) on % dry weight basis. This study will help in phyto-marker-based identification and differentiation of various Berberis species, which can be used as an alternative to the official drug Daruharidra i.e. Berberis aristata.

Exposure to the global rice trade: A comparative study of arsenic and cadmium in rice consumed in Haiti

Rice makes up nearly a quarter of dietary intake in Haiti. Rice consumption began to rapidly increase during the mid-1980s and 1990s, corresponding to policy interventions that promoted the importation and consumption of U.S.-grown rice, soon making Haiti the second largest export market for Ameri­can rice worldwide. Haitian growers also cultivate and sell local rice. Rice consumption can be a significant source of exposure to toxic metals since rice plants accumulate arsenic and cadmium from their envi­ronment. In August 2020, we collected samples of local (n=48) and imported (n=50) rice from vendor sites in the Lower Artibonite Valley region of Haiti. Cadmium and arsenic concentrat­ions were meas­ured via inductively coupled plasma mass spec­trom­e­try. Levels were compared between local versus imported commercial rice samples. For arsenic, we conducted a simulation study to esti­mate the intake of arsenic from varied quantities of local or imported rice samples on a per-body weight basis for adults and young children. We found that median concentrations were nearly two-fold higher for both arsenic and cadmium in im­ported rice (0.15 µg/g and 0.007 µg/g) compared to local rice (0.07 µg/g and 0.003 µg/g). Our simu­lation of arsenic intake through rice consumption suggests that adults of varying weights consuming 3 or more cups of imported rice per day would exceed a daily minimum risk level for toxicity. The simulation also suggests that most children con­suming 1 or more cups of local or imported rice per day would exceed a health-based arsenic intake limit. In Haiti, imported rice had an average level of arsenic twice that of locally grown product, with some imported sources exceeding the international limits recommended to protect human health. Cur­rent consumption patterns of imported rice over the long-term for children and adults may adversely impact health in Haiti. Strengthening community food systems can promote better health.

Weight-based enoxaparin thromboprophylaxis in young trauma patients: analysis of the CLOTT-1 registry

IntroductionOptimal venous thromboembolism (VTE) enoxaparin prophylaxis dosing remains elusive. Weight-based (WB) dosing safely increases anti-factor Xa levels without the need for routine monitoring but it is unclear if it leads...

Anti-rheumatic potential vis-à-vis aconitine and hypaconitine content analysis in different Aconitum spp. from Sikkim Himalayas (India).

Aconitum spp. are important medicinal plants mentioned in Ayurveda as Ativisa or Vatsanabha. The present study aims to evaluate anti-rheumatic potential in seven Aconitum species and correlation with aconitine and hypaconitine content. Anti-rheumatic potential was analyzed through in vitro xanthine oxidase inhibition, anti-inflammatory and ROS scavenging assays; and quantification of aconitine and hypaconitine with RP-HPLC method validated as per ICH guidelines. The findings reveal that A. palmatum possessed the most promising response (IC50 =12.68±0.15 μg/ml) followed by A. ferox (IC50 =12.912±1.87 μg/ml) for xanthin oxidase inhibition. We observed a wide variation in aconitine and hypaconitine content ranging from 0.018 %-1.37 % and 0.0051 %-0.077 % respectively on dry weight basis. Aconitine and hypaconitine showed moderate positive correlation (r=0.68 and 0.59 respectively) with anti-rheumatic potential. The study identifies potential alternative species of Aconitum that can help in sustainable availability of quality raw material.

The effects of dietary organic selenium on growth, body composition and hematological parameters of common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) reared in recirculating aquaculture system.

A feeding trial was conducted to examine the effects of different levels of dietary organic selenium (Se) on the growth, body composition, and hematological indices of common carp. Se element was supplemented to the basal diet at the rates of 0.0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mgkg-1. Fish were randomly stocked at a rate of 25 fish into 500L tanks in the Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) system for 10 weeks. Weight gain, final body weight, and specific growth rate were significantly higher (p<0.05) in fish fed 0.5 mgkg-1 followed by 1 and 2 mgkg-1 treatment diets fish. The lowest growth rate values were detected in fish-fed basal diets. Feed consumption of fish fed Se was not significantly different (p>0.05), also the survival rate was similar among the treatment groups. Whole-body composition showed that fish fed 1 mgkg-1 had significantly higher (p<0.05) body moisture and protein as dry weight basis. The highest fiber content was in fish fed 2 mgkg-1, but ash was significantly higher in fish fed only 0.5 mgkg-1 and fat remained unaffected. Whole-body Se concentrations were significantly (p<0.05) increased with increasing Se levels in test diets. the red blood cells and hemoglobin were significantly higher (p<0.05) in fish fed only 0.5mgkg-1 and the basal diet. The white blood cells increased in fish fed the basal and 2 mgkg-1 diet, but the lymphocyte percentage was increased (p<0.05) in fish fed basal and 0.5 mgkg-1. The study concludes that dietary Se has an overall positive effect on common carp. Growth performance, protein content in fish body, selenium deposition and some hematological parameters were observed in fish fed dietary organic selenium specifically in fish fed 0.5 and 1 mgkg-1. Therefore, inclusion of Se in the diet from 0.5 to 1 mgkg-1 would be an optimal level for common carp feed.

Development of pedotransfer functions for predicting saturated hydraulic conductivity in a Himalayan catchment: Sikkim, India

AbstractSaturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) plays a vital role in irrigation and drainage system design. Generally, Ks is estimated in the laboratory; however, it is expensive and tedious, especially in the Himalayan ranges where soil sampling is challenging due to topographical constraints. Therefore, in this study, pedotransfer functions were generated using multiple linear regression (MLR) models for the predictability of Ks in a Himalayan catchment in India. Fifty soil samples were collected and divided into two groups at a 70:30 ratio. Different soil attributes derived from 70% of samples were used for MLR generation, and attributes of the remaining 30% of samples were used for model validation. Six different MLR models constituting different independent soil attributes were generated and compared statistically. The results indicate that the MLR model comprising soil texture, bulk density, particle density, soil moisture content (MC), organic carbon content and porosity results in the highest adjusted coefficient of determination (R2; 0.93 and 0.89 during model generation and validation, respectively). Additionally, it was found that the weight basis MC ranged from 14% to 29% with a median value of 24%. These results demonstrate that simple MLR models can be used as an alternative to laborious experimental setups for Ks estimation. These findings can be used as guidelines for proper irrigation planning and design in mountainous catchments.

Biochar addition to compost heat recovery systems improves heat conversion yields

Introduction: Compost heat recovery systems (CHRS) represent an emerging technology to recover residual woody biomass from agroforestry and forestry activities and use the heat that is naturally produced during aerobic biodegradation (composting). However, a low oxygen concentration in the gas phase and self-drying and compaction of the compost body often limit efficient oxidation by microbial communities. Woodchip-derived biochar has often been proposed as a bulking agent and improver of water retention and of oxygen accessibility in the composting process, but the literature reporting its effects in the CHRS is scarce.Methods: Here, biochar (average particle size of 10 mm) was added at 10% (on weight basis) to chipped pruning residues into two bench-scale-controlled reactors (0.2 m3), operated in parallel for 57 days.Results and Discussion: The addition of 10% (w/w) biochar to the composting body increased biodegradation yields by approximately 50% and improved oxidation rates over readily biodegradable organic fractions (addition of cheese whey). Temperatures were on average 1.34°C higher, and heat extraction flux was also improved in the presence of biochar (0.3 kW/m3) versus in its absence (0.1 kW/m3). The organic matter mass balance resulted in approximately 50% higher biodegradation yield and improved oxidation rates over readily biodegradable organic fractions. Microbial analysis highlighted a higher concentration of thermophilic species and a lower concentration of well-known pathogenic and antibiotic-resistant genera in the presence of biochar.

Detection of adulteration in cold‐pressed olive oil by voltammetric analysis of alpha‐tocopherol on single‐use pencil graphite electrode

SummaryA quick, simple, environmentally friendly and cost‐effective screening approach for identifying parameters of adulteration in cold‐pressed olive oil (CPOO) was developed. The technique focused on the electrochemical examination of the peak of alpha‐tocopherol oxidation on pencil graphite electrode (PGE). Rapeseed oil (RO), sunflower oil (SO), and corn oil (CO) were added to local CPOO in varying amounts, and the mixtures were then tested by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) on PGE. Voltammetric analysis of CPOO and its artificially created mixtures with other commercial oils have demonstrated statistically significant discrimination with an ability to detect adulteration under the level of 10% on weight basis. The method's relative standard deviation (RSD) was 20%, and the α‐tocopherol in CPOO cut‐off value was 30.98 ± 12.57 nA. As far as our knowledge, no data on utilisation of voltammetric techniques for the detection of olive oil adulteration are available to date by using PGE. The results showed that the developed method is capable of detection of adulteration in natural olive oils without any pretreatment.

Phenolic profile of unripe areca nuts cultivated in various districts of Karnataka, India

AbstractBackgroundAnnual production of areca nut in Karnataka state exceeds 1.08 million tonnes, contributing 80% and 49% to Indian and global production, respectively. Areca nut (pericarp of Areca catechu L.) is found to be a rich source of valuable phenolic compounds. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were estimated in 21 unripe areca nut samples collected from the major areca nut growing regions of Karnataka state. Arecoline, a prominent alkaloid present in areca nut was estimated and phenolic profile of one areca nut sample was generated using UHPLC–MS/MS studies.ResultsA significant variability was found in TPC, TFC and arecoline content among the samples, belongs to different agroclimatic zones. Flavonoids were found to be the major phenolic compounds present in these unripe areca nut samples. The median values of TPC, TFC and arecoline were found to be 99.609 ± 0.002 mg gallic acid equivalent, 78.86 ± 0.007 mg catechin equivalent and 2.17 ± 0.13 mg/g of the sample on fresh weight basis. A positive correlation was found to exist between TPC and arecoline content in the green unripe areca nuts of 6–7 months' maturity. Through UHPLC–MS/MS studies, 61 prominent compounds have been identified.ConclusionThe TPC and TFC of areca nuts collected from different districts of Karnataka falling in various agroclimatic zones varied significantly. In general, the arecoline content found in all these samples was less than that reported elsewhere, and the variability among the samples was also found to be minimal. A positive correlation was observed between TPC and arecoline. UHPLC–MS/MS studies showed the presence of about 52 unique phenolic compounds.

Dietary supplementation of 3'-sialyllactose or 6'-sialyllactose elicits minimal influence on cognitive and brain development in growing pigs.

Sialylated human milk oligosaccharides (HMO), such as 3'-sialyllactose (3'-SL) and 6'-sialyllactose (6'-SL), are abundant throughout lactation and at much higher concentrations than are present in bovine milk or infant formulas. Previous studies have suggested that sialylated HMO may have neurocognitive benefits in early life. Recent research has focused on infant formula supplementation with key nutrients and bioactives to narrow the developmental gap between formula-fed and breastfed infants. Herein, we investigated the impact of supplemental 3'-SL or 6'-SL on cognitive and brain development at two time-points [postnatal days (PND) 33 and 61]. Two-day-old piglets (N = 75) were randomly assigned to commercial milk replacer ad libitum without or with 3'-SL or 6'-SL (added in a powdered form at a rate of 0.2673% on an as-is weight basis). Cognitive development was assessed via novel object recognition and results were not significant at both time-points (p > 0.05). Magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess structural brain development. Results varied between scan type, diet, and time-point. A main effect of diet was observed for absolute volume of white matter and 9 other regions of interest (ROI), as well as for relative volume of the pons on PND 30 (p < 0.05). Similar effects were observed on PND 58. Diffusion tensor imaging indicated minimal differences on PND 30 (p > 0.05). However, several dietary differences across the diffusion outcomes were observed on PND 58 (p < 0.05) indicating dietary impacts on brain microstructure. Minimal dietary differences were observed from myelin water fraction imaging at either time-point. Overall, sialyllactose supplementation had no effects on learning and memory as assessed by novel object recognition, but may influence temporally-dependent aspects of brain development.

Valorizing apple pomace as stabilizer of olive oil-water emulsion used for reduction of saturated fat in biscuits

The potential application of apple pomace emulsions (APEs) as saturated fat replacers in biscuits was investigated by employing olive oil/water (35/65) emulsions enriched with 12.5–20.0% apple pomace residue (AP) and exploring their rheological properties and microstructure. A selected APE (with 15% AP) was used as margarine replacer in biscuits at 50–100% substitution levels and the biscuits quality attributes were examined using a multi-instrumental analytical approach; a full-fat biscuit (30% margarine) was tested as control. Firmness and spreadability work of APE, evaluated by large deformation mechanical testing, increased with increasing AP content. The elasticity and viscosity of the control biscuit dough as determined by rheometry were higher than their reduced-fat counterparts with APE. With increasing APE substitution level, the moisture and water activity increased, and a lower biscuit color lightness was noted, whereas the thickness did not significantly differ among the tested product formulations. Moreover, fracture strength, total phenolic (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid being predominant) content and antioxidant activity were greater for the APE-fortified biscuits than the control. SPME/GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of AP-derived volatile compounds, providing pungent, rancid and fruity notes in the APE-fortified biscuits. Nevertheless, the 50% margarine substituted biscuit received acceptable ratings for flavor notes, hardness, fragility and overall acceptability upon sensory evaluation. Slower rates of lipolysis (on biscuit weight basis) were also observed for the APE-fortified biscuits using an in vitro intestinal enzymatic digestion protocol. Overall, the APE appeared as an effective solid fat substitute in biscuits that improves their nutritional characteristics, while maintaining acceptable quality attributes.

Spatial distribution and variability of soil agrochemical properties in Botevgrad valley

The paper deals with spatial analysis that evaluates the main agrochemical properties of the Botevgrad valley. The soil samples were taken along a pre-selected grid so as to cover the areas selected for research. The interpolation of the data was done according to geostatistical interpolation method and the output value is using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW). Spatial distribution is a valuable tool for determining nutrient availability and nutrient management practices to optimize crop production and minimizing environmental impacts. As a general guideline, total nitrogen content in soil is commonly found in the range of 0.1% to 0.2% on a weight basis. Soils with higher organic matter content often have higher total nitrogen levels because organic matter is a significant source of nitrogen. It’s important to note that the optimal levels of available potassium and phosphorus can vary depending on the specific soil type.