农林科学最新文献

Lipids are vital precursors to beef aroma compounds, but the exact lipid molecules influencing aroma generation remain unconfirmed. This study employs gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry and absolute quantitative lipidomics to identify beef's aroma and lipid profiles and to examine lipid alterations post-thermal processing. The aim is to understand the role of lipids in aroma generation during beef's raw-to-cooked transition. Eighteen key aroma compounds were identified as significant contributors to the aroma of beef. 265 lipid molecules were quantified accurately, and we found that triglycerides containing C18:1 or C18:2 chains, such as TG(16:0_18:1_18:1), TG(16:0_18:1_18:2), TG(16:0_16:1_18:1), as well as phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine containing PC(16:1e_20:4), PC(16:0e_20:4), PC(18:2e_18:2), and PE(16:1e_20:4), played important roles in the generation of key aroma compounds in beef. C18:1, C18:2, C18:3, and C20:4 were key substrates for the formation of aroma compounds. In addition, lysophosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine containing unsaturated fatty acid chains may serve as important aroma retainers.

The inhibitory properties and underlying mechanism of chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) fumigation on the pathogen Ceratocystis fimbriata (C. fimbriata) and resultant sweetpotato black rot were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Results revealed that the ClO₂ fumigation effectively inhibited fungal growth and induced obvious morphological variation of C. fimbriata mycelia. Furthermore, the mycelial membrane suffered damage, as evidenced by a significant increase in malondialdehyde content and the leakage of protein and nucleic acid from mycelia cells, accompanied by a marked decrease in ergosterol content. Additionally, ClO₂ fumigation caused spores cell membrane damage, a notable decrease in spore viability, and induced cell apoptosis as indicated by reductions in spore germination rate, two fluorescence staining observations, and flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, the decay diameter of sweetpotato black rot lesions decreased significantly after ClO₂ fumigation, and the growth of C. fimbriata was also inhibited. These findings present a novel and effective technology for inhibiting the progression of sweetpotato black rot.

The accumulation of small doses of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) into food can cause many diseases in the human body, and it is urgent to develop efficient detection methods of H₂O₂. Herein, the hierarchical structure composite of NiCo-LDH nanosheets crosslinked NiMoO₄ nanorods was grown in situ on carbon cloth (NiMoO₄ NRs@NiCo-LDH NSs/CC) by micro-plasma assisted hydrothermal method. Thanks to the synergistic effect of three metals and (NiMoO₄ NRs@NiCo-LDH NSs/CC) provided by nanorods/nanosheets hierarchical structure, NiMoO₄ NRs@NiCo-LDH NSs/CC exposes more active sites and achieves rapid electron transfer. The H₂O₂ electrochemical sensor was constructed as the working electrode with a linear range of 1 μmol L^-1 to 9.0 mmol L^-1 and detection limit of 112 nmol L^-1. In addition, the sensor has been successfully applied to the detection of H₂O₂ in food samples, the recovery rate is 95.2%-106.62%, RSD < 4.89%.

Fermentation enhances the nutritional profile of foods and beverages like beer, wine, and fermented teas. Ginkgo biloba, long utilized for its health-enhancing properties, contains bioactive compounds like terpene trilactones and flavonoids, known for their antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. This study explores the feasibility of using dried Ginkgo biloba leaves in SCOBY-mediated fermentation to produce novel health-promoting beverages similar to kombucha. Infusions of dried Ginkgo biloba leaves with varying sugar concentrations are fermented over 21 days. Results showed that these beverages exhibited potent antioxidant properties, notably higher than tea-kombucha, attributed to increased polyphenol content. HPLC analysis identified significant levels of bioactive compounds such as catechin and apigenin. Sensory evaluation highlighted optimal acceptance of the seven-day fermented product. This research underscores the potential of Ginkgo biloba as a functional ingredient in fermented beverages, offering a healthier alternative to conventional soft drinks.

In this study, the oxidation of egg yolk lipids (EYL) by salt-induced heat and non-heat treatments was investigated for quality and flavor. The correlation between physicochemical properties, lipid oxidation and antioxidant activity was modeled using partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The results indicated that the prolonged salt-induced synergistic heat treatment produced the highest level of lipid oxidation, antioxidant activity and oil exudation, along with the lowest level of polyunsaturated fatty acid content. In addition, higher contents of pyrazines and fewer acid species were detected, which was not the case with the salt-free heat treatment. In total, 14 identical volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were produced, yet their overall flavor profiles determined by the electronic nose would remain dramatically distinguished. Therefore, heat treatment was particularly critical for lipid oxidation and the generation of aromatic compounds, implying that heat-treated EYL induced by salt is a flavor component with good antioxidant potential.

Pancreatic alpha amylase (P-AMY) is used as a biomarker of acute pancreatitis (AP) in human medicine. To our knowledge, there are no studies evaluating the usefulness of P-AMY in dogs with AP. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic value of P-AMY, currently not verified in veterinary medicine. The AP group (n = 40) consisted of dogs with AP diagnosed using clinical signs and laboratory examinations, including abnormal canine pancreatic lipase (cPL) concentration, and compatible abdominal ultrasound examination at first presentation. Evaluation of the canine AP severity (CAPS) score was performed. The control group (n = 38) was composed of normal dogs without any abnormalities in clinical findings, blood exams or diagnostic imaging. The correlation of P-AMY with cPL was confirmed by Pearson's correlation analysis (r = 0.564, p < .001). The sensitivity and specificity for the most appropriate cut-off values of P-AMY were recorded similar to the values of DGGR. The dogs with AP and CAPS ≥11 had significantly higher serum P-AMY (p = .016) contrary to DGGR lipase and cPL. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in the median P-AMY dependent on the presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (p = .001). P-AMY showed similar level of diagnostic accuracy along with sensitivity and specificity compared to DGGR lipase. In addition, P-AMY showed a significant association with CAPS score, contrary to cPL and DGGR lipase. Along with other biomarkers associated with AP, P-AMY has the potential of usefulness as a supportive diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of AP in dogs.

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an annual plant belonging to the family of Cannabaceae with several varieties characterized by different fatty acid profile, content in flavonoids, polyphenols, and cannabinoid compounds. Hemp is mostly used in livestock nutrition as oil or as protein cake, but not as inflorescences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary hemp inflorescences on milk yield and composition in grazing dairy goats. Twenty Camosciata delle Alpi goats at their 3rd parity and with a mean body weight of 45.2 ± 2.0 kg, immediately after kidding, were equally allocated into two groups (G: Grazing and GH: grazing and hemp). For three months, all goats were fed on a permanent pasture and received 700/head/day of concentrate; diet of group GH was supplemented with 20 g/head/day of hemp inflorescences. Goats' body weight did not change during the trial. Individual milk yield was daily recorded and samples collected every 20 days for chemical composition and fatty acid profile analysis. No significant differences were found for milk yield and chemical composition. Caproic (C6:0) (1.80 vs. 1.74%; p < 0.01) and lauric acids (C12:0) were significantly higher in milk of group GH (4.83 vs. 4.32%; p < 0.01) as well as linoleic (C18:2) (2.04 vs. 1.93%; p < 0.05), adrenic acid (C22:4) (0.046 vs. 0.031%, p < 0.05), omega-6/omega-3 ratio (3.17 vs. 2.93, p < 0.05) and total conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) (0.435 vs. 0.417%; p < 0.01). The results of this study suggest that the supplementation of grazing goats' diet with hemp inflorescences may enhance the milk nutritional characteristics by increasing its content of CLAs and other beneficial fatty acids.

Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and a questionnaire were used as indicators of chronic stress status and quality of life (QoL), respectively, in cats. To date, there has been limited research on the simultaneous application of both indicators in unwell cats. Our aim was to evaluate HCC and questionnaire data obtained from a healthy cat cohort (n = 61) and cat cohorts with either chronic kidney disease (CKD) (n = 78) or suspected feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) (n = 24). Furthermore, we also investigated the correlation between HCC and clinical pathological data. For this study, hair from the abdomen of cats was collected and analyzed for HCC using a commercial ELISA kit. Owners also completed a questionnaire, from which average-item-weighted-impact-scores (AWISs) were calculated. Cats with late-stage-CKD (median, HCC = 330.15 pg/mg, AWIS = -0.43) presented with a significantly higher HCC (p < 0.01) and a significantly lower AWIS (p < 0.01) than cats with early-stage-CKD (HCC = 183.56 pg/mg, AWIS = 1.08). Similarly, there were significant differences in both HCC (p < 0.001) and AWIS (p < 0.001) between cats with suspected FIP (HCC = 896.27 pg/mg, AWIS = -1.97) and healthy cats (HCC = 181.24 pg/mg, AWIS = 1.24). The degree of consistency between the HCC results and the questionnaire results reminds us that the severity of a chronic disease or the presence of a life-threatening disease can significantly increase stress and thus can affect the QoL of cats.

SARS-CoV-2's rapid global spread caused the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic in March 2020. Alongside humans, domestic dogs and cats are also susceptible to infection. However, limited reports on pet infections in Chile prompted a comprehensive study to address this knowledge gap. Between March 2021 and March 2023, the study assessed 65 pets (26 dogs and 39 cats) from 33 COVID-19+ households alongside 700 nasal swabs from animals in households with unknown COVID-19 status. Using RT-PCR, nasal, fecal, and environmental samples were analyzed for the virus. In COVID-19+ households, 6.06% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, belonging to 3 dogs, indicating human-to-pet transmission. Pets from households with unknown COVID-19 status tested negative for the virus. We obtained 2 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from animals, that belonged to Omicron BA.4.1 variant, marking the first report of pets infected with this lineage globally. Phylogenetic analysis showed these sequences clustered with human sequences collected in Chile during the same period when the BA.4.1 variant was prevalent in the country. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Chilean pets was relatively low, likely due to the country's high human vaccination rate. Our study highlights the importance of upholding and strengthening human vaccination strategies to mitigate the risk of interspecies transmission. It underscores the critical role of the One Health approach in addressing emerging zoonotic diseases, calling for further research on infection dynamics and risk factors for a comprehensive understanding.

Animal industry seeks cost-effective solutions to enhance performance and health of domestic animals. This study investigated the effects of supplementing Bacillus spp. probiotics and xylanase on 2000 one-day-old Japanese quails, randomly assigned to four treatment groups (10 replicates). The control group received no supplementation, while the others were supplemented with a Bacillus-based probiotic at 7.5 × 10⁷ cfu/kg of feed, xylanase enzyme (2,000 U/kg) alone or in combination. Quails receiving both probiotic and enzyme exhibited significantly (p < 0.01) higher weekly and overall weight gain, and lower feed conversion ratios compared to the control group. Dressing percentage was higher (p < 0.01), and mortality lower in birds supplemented with a combination of enzyme and probiotic. Antibody titres against infectious bronchitis and infectious bursal disease were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in quails receiving combined probiotic and enzyme supplementation, while titres against Newcastle disease virus were higher (p < 0.01) in groups supplemented with probiotic and enzyme individually or in combination. Additionally, digestibility was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in groups receiving combined enzyme and probiotic supplementation, with higher apparent metabolizable energy compared to the control. The populations of beneficial Lactobacillus increased, while harmful E. coli and Salmonella decreased significantly in quails supplemented with both probiotic and enzyme. In conclusion, supplementing xylanase enzyme and probiotic together in Japanese quails positively influenced growth, nutrient digestibility, immune response, and cecal microbiota.