Effects of polyphenol-rich plant products from grape or hop as feed supplements on iron,zinc and copper status in piglets

Polyphenol-rich plant products as feed supplements have been shown to exert beneficial effects on feed efficiency in piglets. However, tannins as components of polyphenol-rich plant products are able to reduce the absorption of various trace elements. The present study investigated the effect of two polyphenol-rich dietary supplements, grape seed and grape marc meal extract (GME) and spent hops (SH), on iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) status in piglets supplied adequately with those trace elements. A trial with three groups of piglets which received a Control diet or the same diet supplemented with either 1% GME or 1% SH over a period of 4 weeks was performed. Concentrations of Fe, Zn and Cu in plasma, total iron binding capacity and saturation of transferrin in plasma did not differ between the three groups. Piglets fed the diet supplemented with SH showed no differences in the concentrations of Fe, Zn and Cu in the liver in comparison to the Control group. Piglets fed the diets supplemented with GME showed slightly lower concentrations of Zn and Cu in the liver than Control piglets (p < 0.05); however, concentrations of both elements remained in the physiological range. Overall, this study shows that the polyphenol-rich plant products GME and SH had marginal effect on the status of Fe, Zn and Cu in piglets.     

The induction of oxidative stress and cellular death by the drinking water disinfection by-products,dichloroacetate and trichloroacetate in J774.A1 cells

The in vitro toxicity of the drinking water disinfection by products dichloroacetate (DCA) and trichloroacetate (TCA) were studied using the J774A.1 macrophage cell line. DCA and TCA were added to cell cultures at concentrations ranging between 8-32 mM and incubated for 24, 36 and 60 h. DCA and TCA effects on cellular viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and superoxide anion (SA) production by the cells, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of the cells were determined. DCA and TCA caused time- and concentration-dependent increases in cellular death, in LDH release and production of SA by the cells. The compounds also caused modulations in SOD activities of the cells, with increases observed at the lower concentrations and/or shorter periods of incubations and suppression with the higher concentrations and/or longer periods of incubation. The results of the study indicate that DCA and TCA induce macrophage activation and that the activation is associated with cellular toxicity. Also, DCA and TCA are found to be equitoxic to J774.A1 cells.     

Studies on by-products from the industrial extraction of alginate

The content, the chemical composition and some physical-chemical properties of soluble and insoluble dietary fibres from an industrial alginate extraction by-product, flotation cellulose, were measured by two enzymatic gravimetric methods: an adaptation of the AOAC method (standard method) and a physiological method which used conditions closer to those prevailing in the digestive tract (pH, temperature, ionic strength and ionic composition). Total dietary fibres content obtained with the two methods were close (48.4–52.7; 56.3–59.8%) and about 68–95% of them were insoluble. Soluble fibre were essentially composed of uronic acids and were extracted under the simulated gastric conditions.Swelling in water and water absorption in NaCl (154 mM) of insoluble fibres with particle size between 250–500 µm were 21.9 g g^-1 and 3.6 gg^-1, respectively. The content and physical-chemical characteristics of fibres from flotation cellulose are close to those obtained from other plant and algal industrial by-products. Soluble fibre presented low intrinsic viscosity (152 ml g^-1).     

Culture of insect cells in helical ribbon impeller bioreactor

An 11-L helical ribbon impeller (HRI) bioreactor was tested for the culture of Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf-9) cells. This impeller and surface baffling ensured homogeneous mixing and high oxygen transfer through surface aeration and surface-induced babble generation. Serum-supplemented and serum-free cultures, using TNMFH and IPL/41 media, respectively, grew a similar specific growth rates(0.031 and 0.028 h(-1)) to maximum cell densities of 5.5 x 10(6)-6.0 x 10(6) cells. mL(-1) with viability exceeding 98% during exponential growth phase. Growth limitation coincided with glucose and glutamine depletion and production of significant amounts of alanine. The bioreactor was further tested under more stringent conditions by infecting a serum-free medium culture with a recombinant baculovirus. Heterologous protein production of approximately 35 mug per 10(6) cells was comparable to yields obtained in serum-free cultures grown in spinner flasks and petri dishes. Average specific oxygen up-take and carbon dioxide production rates of the serum-free culture prior to infection as measured by on-line mass spectroscopy were 0.20 mumol O(2)mu.(10(6) cells)(-1) h(-1) and 0.22 mumol CO(2) . (10(6) cells)(-1)h(-1) and increased by 30-40% during infection. Therefore, the mixing and oxygenation conditions of this bioreactor were suitable for insect cell culture and recombinant protein production, with limitation being mainly attributed to nutrient depletion and toxic by-product generation.     

Production of α-mannanase by B. subtilis from agro-industrial by-products: screening and optimization

We have demonstrated that a mixture of wheat bran (35 g l^-1), as a main substrate, and palm seed powder (10 g l^-1), as a co-substrate, is appropriate for -mannanase production by Bacillus subtilis. A 2ⁿ factorial experimental design was employed as a primary step for medium optimization. The enzyme activity titters obtained at the optimized growth condition were equivalent to about 319% of the -mannanse activity and 114% of the specific activity levels reached by a galactomannan-based culture.     

Effect of replacing ground corn and soybean meal with licuri cake on the performance,digestibility, nitrogen metabolism and ingestive behavior in lactating dairy cows

Licuri (Syagrus coronate) cake is a biodiesel by-product used in ruminant feed as a beneficial energy source for supplementation in managed pastures. The objective was to evaluate the performance, digestibility, nitrogen balance, blood metabolites, ingestive behavior and diet profitability of eight crossbred Holstein (3/4)×Gyr (5/8) multiparous cows (480±25 kg BW and 100 days milking) grazing and supplemented with licuri cake partially replacing ground corn and soybean meal in concentrate (0, 200, 400 and 600 g/kg in dry matter (DM)), distributed in an experimental duplicated 4×4 Latin square design. Licuri cake partially replacing ground corn and soybean meal increased (P<0.01) the intake and digestibility of ether extract and decreased the non-fiber carbohydrates; however, there were no influences on the intakes of DM, CP, NDF and total digestible nutrients (TDN). The digestibilities of DM, CP and NDF were not influenced by licuri cake addition. There was a decrease trend on TDN digestibility (P=0.08). Licuri cake replacing ground corn and soybean meal in concentrate did not affect the intake; fecal, urinary and mammary excretions; N balance; and triglycerides concentrations. However, the blood urea nitrogen (P=0.04) concentration decreased with the licuri cakes inclusion in cow supplementation. There was an increasing trend for serum creatinine (P=0.07). Licuri cake inclusion did not affect body condition score, production, yield, protein, lactose, total solids and solid non-fat contents of milk and Minas frescal cheese. There was a linear decrease in average daily weight gain (g/day). The milk fat concentration and cheese fat production (P<0.1) presented a linear increase with partial replacement of ground corn and soybean meal with licuri cakes. The addition of licuri cake did not alter the time spent feeding, ruminating or idling. There was an increasing trend in NDF feeding efficiency (P=0.09). The replacing of ground corn and soybean meal with licuri cake up to 600 g/kg decreased the concentrate cost by US$0.45/cow per day. Licuri cake replacing corn and soybeans (400 g/kg) in concentrate promoted a profit of US$0.07/animal per day. Licuri cake is indicated to concentrate the supplementation of dairy cows with average productions of 10 kg/day at levels up to 400 g/kg in the concentrate supplement because it provides an additional profit of US$0.07/animal per day and increased milk and Minas frescal cheese fat without negative effects on productive parameters.     

Impacts of drinking water pretreatments on the formation of nitrogenous disinfection by-products

The formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs), including both nitrogenous DBPs (N-DBPs) and carbonaceous DBPs (C-DBPs), was investigated by analyzing chlorinated water samples following the application of three pretreatment processes: (i) powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption; (ii) KMnO(4) oxidation and (iii) biological contact oxidation (BCO), coupled with conventional water treatment processes. PAC adsorption can remove effectively the precursors of chloroform (42.7%), dichloroacetonitrile (28.6%), dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm) (27.2%) and trichloronitromethane (35.7%), which were higher than that pretreated by KMnO(4) oxidation and/or BCO process. The removal efficiency of dissolved organic carbon by BCO process (76.5%)--was superior to that by PAC adsorption (69.9%) and KMnO(4) oxidation (61.4%). However, BCO increased the dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentration which caused more N-DBPs to be formed during subsequent chlorination. Soluble microbial products including numerous DON compounds were produced in the BCO process and were observed to play an essential role in the formation of DCAcAm in particular.     

Improvement of heavy metal biosorption by mycelial dead biomasses (Rhizopus arrhizus, Mucor miehei and Penicillium chrysogenum): pH control and cationic activation

Abstract: Fungal mycelial by-products from fermentation industries present a considerable affinity for soluble metal ions (e.g. Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, Ag) and could be used in biosorption processes for purification of contaminated effluents. In this work the influence of pH on sorption parameters is characterized by measuring the isotherms of five heavy metals (Ni, Zn, Cd, Ag and Pb) with Rhizopus arrhizus biomass under pH-controlled conditions. The maximum sorption capacity for lead was observed at pH 7.0 (200 mg g^-l), while silver uptake was weakly affected. The stability of metal-biosorbent complexes is regularly enhanced by pH neutralization, except for lead. A transition in sorption mechanism was observed above pH 6.0. In addition, comparison of various industrial fungal biomasses ( R. arrhizus, Mucor miehei and Penicillium chrysogenum indicated important variations in zinc-binding and buffering properties (0.24, 0.08 and 0.05 mmol g^−l, respectively). Without control, the equilibrium pH (5.8, 3.9 and 4.0) is shown to be related to the initial calcium content of the biosorbent, pH neutralization during metal adsorption increases zinc sorption in all fungi (0.57, 0.52 and 0.33 mmol g-l) but an improvement was also obtained (0.34, 0.33 and 0.10 mmol g⁻¹) by calcium saturation of the biomass before heavy metal accumulation. Breakthrough curves of fixed bed biosorbent columns demonstrated the capacity of the biosorbent process to purify zinc and lead solutions in continuous-flow systems, and confirmed the necessity for cationic activation of the biosorbent before contact with the heavy-metal solution.     

Ruminal degradability and in vitro intestinal digestibility of sunflower meal and in vitro digestibility of olive by-products supplemented with urea or sunflower meal: Comparison between goats and sheep

The in vitro digestibility of two-stage dried olive cake (TSDOC) and olive leaves (OL) unsupplemented or supplemented with increasing amounts of urea (U) or sunflower meal (SM) (0, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 g/100 g organic matter (OM) of the by-product) was determined. Chemical and amino acid composition, in vitro digestibility, in situ rumen degradability of crude protein and amino acids, and in situ–in vitro intestinal digestibility of SM CP and amino acids was determined. The in sacco rumen degradability and in vitro intestinal availability of CP and individual amino acids were also determined. Results obtained in Granadina goats and Segureña wethers were compared. SM provides arginine, glycine and aspartic and glutamic acids. The addition of increasing amounts of U or SM improved (P<0.001) the IVDMD and IVOMD of both TSDOC and OL. There was no effect (P>0.05) of the rumen inoculum origin on in vitro TSDOC digestibility. In contrast, values for OL were higher (P<0.001) for goats versus sheep. In sacco ruminal CP degradability of SM was relatively high, and similar in sheep and goats (ED=0.78 and 0.75 for sheep and goats). Individual amino acid ruminal degradability had different values, being lowest for methionine, leucine, proline, tyrosine and cysteine. Values obtained for individual amino acids differed from those of CP. Apparent intestinal digestibility of undegraded protein (AIDUP) of SM was high (0.86 and 0.98, respectively, for sheep and goats). The intestinally absorbable protein (IADP) was low (18.9 and 24.0 for sheep and goats, respectively). Results indicate that goats and sheep have the same capacity for TSDOC digestion, but goats showed a better capacity than sheep for OL utilisation. Although the amino acids supply to the intestine from SM is not important it could be a good supplement for low degradable protein feedstuffs such as TSDOC and OL.     

Studies on by-products from the industrial extraction of alginate

The chemical composition of fucans isolated from leach-water, an industrial alginate extraction by-product, was investigated. Several fractions were obtained by anion exchange and gel permeation chromatography. They all contained fucose, but differed in the uronic acid, sulfate, xylose and galactose contents. They distributed as a continuum between uronic acid rich and sulfate poor to sulfate rich and uronic acid poor molecules. Two highly sulfated fractions were studied in particularly by chemical means (methylation, carboxy reduction, desulfation, controlled acid hydrolysis) and by¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. One fraction consisted of a highly branched fucan (43.8% fucose) composed mostly of 1,2,3,4- and 1,2,4-linked fucose with some 1,4-,1,3,4- and 1,3-linkages and sulfate (23.9%) occurring on O₂ and/or O₃ and/or O₄. The other was composed mainly of fucose (31.6%), galactose (24.7%) and sulfate (23.7%). It consisted primarily of 1,6-, 1,4,6-, 1,3- and 1,3,6-linked galactose 6-and/or 4- and/or 3-sulfate on which are linked essentially terminal fucose or 1,4-linked with sulfate on O₂ and/or O₃ and/or O₄. None of these highly branched fractions contained sufficiently regular segments to yield series of homologous oligosaccharides on partial acid hydrolysis or interpretable¹³C NMR spectra.author for correspondence