Carcass and Pork Quality and Gut Environment of Pigs Fed a Diet Supplemented with the Bokashi Probiotic

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of probiotics on gut microbiota, on carcass and meat quality and on mineral contents in the longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle in pigs. The research was carried out with 120 hybrid pigs deriving from Naïma sows and P-76 boars. Pigs from the experimental group received the EM®Bokashi probiotic (Greendland Technologia EM®, Janowiec n/Wisłą, Poland) in their feed (containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum). The study showed that EM®Bokashi probiotic supplementation resulted in a significantly higher count of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts in the feed, a lower number of Clostridium in the mucosa and colorectal digesta as well as a lower Enterobacteriaceae count in the colorectal digesta. The research showed that carcasses of the pigs who received the EM®Bokashi probiotic had a higher lean percentage and lower fat content than the carcasses of the control fatteners. Diet supplementation with the EM®Bokashi probiotic resulted in a lower pH and technological yield (TY) and a higher drip loss and shear force at a lower protein content in LL muscle. Moreover, the administration of the probiotic to fatteners resulted in higher yellowness (b*) and saturation (C*) and higher concentrations of Na, Mg and Se in meat.

Application of Transglutaminase in Developing Cassava-based Wet Noodle for Quality and Shelf Life Improvement: A Review

Characteristic of cassava flour is relatively similar to wheat flour. Cassava flour has the potential to substitute 70-80% of wheat flour as the main ingredient for wet noodle production. Unfortunately, cassava flour has no gluten and lower protein content than wheat flour, which is important for the characteristic of a wet noodle. Therefore, transglutaminase (MTGase) is often applied in non-gluten products to improve its texture. This enzyme catalyzes the reaction between lysine and glutamine to form isopeptide cross-links. Moreover, the addition of MTGase to cassava-based wet noodle improves its texture and color. In addition, this effect gives better palatability for wet noodle. This enzyme can increase the shelf life of wet noodles and safe for our health. The present study demonstrates with patent and literature data the potential of MTGase in noodles based on cassava flour.

Morphological Traits, Kernel Composition and Sensory Evaluation of Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) Cultivars Grown in Poland

In the present study, the nut and kernel traits of six hazelnut cultivars (‘Barceloński’, ‘Kataloński’, ‘Webba Cenny’, ‘Olbrzym z Halle’, ‘Cosford’, and ‘Nottinghamski’) grown in Poland were investigated. Results showed that significant differences estimated among all six cultivars with all selected morphological traits and compositional properties. During statistical analysis the year of the study was not found to affect most of the investigated traits. The investigated cultivars showed a lower protein content (11.27–13.44%), higher carbohydrate content (16.40–21.79%) and similar fat content (58.91–63.83%) to nuts grown in a warmer climate like Turkey, Italy or Spain. The studied hazelnut varieties were large-sized with diameters greater than 20 mm. The nuts of the ‘Barceloński’, ‘Kataloński’ and ‘Olbrzym z Halle’ cultivars were characterized by the smallest diameters of nut and kernel, were the most spherical (0.85–0.95) and exhibited the largest average nut volume (4.26–4.46). Significant differences were found between the cultivars for oil content and the ratios of major fatty acids. The QDA results, estimated that other than shape, the evaluated nuts significantly differed only in the intensity of nutty flavor (4.88–5.92). The highest intensity of this attribute was found in three cultivars, ‘Nottinghamski’, ‘Cosford’, ‘Olbrzym z Halle’, whereas the lowest estimate was found in the ‘Barceloński’ cultivar, which was also slightly less sweet and more bitter. As a result, the present study showed that the investigated hazelnut kernels can be divided into two groups: ‘Nottinghamski’, ‘Cosford’, and ‘Webba Cenny’ are suitable for table consumption, while ‘Barceloński’, ‘Kataloński’, and ‘Olbrzym z Halle’ are suitable for the processing industry. The current experimental results may help to growers and breeders when choosing the cultivars for new plantations and possibilities of destinations of the produced nuts, for confectionery use or table consumption.

Chemical Characteristics Comparison of Palm Civet Coffee (Kopi Luwak) and Arabica Coffee Beans

Chemical characteristics of coffee are depended on types of coffee. Different types of coffee have the unique characteristic. Chemical components have significant effects on taste and aroma of brewing. Those characteristics are the result of volatile and nonvolatile components during roasting then affecting taste. Kopi Luwak has distinct chemical and taste from regular coffee. On previous research, Marcone (2004b) and Mahendratta et al. (2011) explained that quality improvement on Kopi Luwak is result of lower protein content and higher fat content compared to regular coffee. Lower protein content reduces bitter taste while higher fat content can increase body or feeling heavy. The aim of this research was to obtain information about chemical compound of Kopi Luwak and regular Arabica coffee. From this study, it can be analyzed that protein content of regular green coffee beans was 9.48%, and regular roasted bean was 11.3% while protein content of Kopi Luwak green bean was 8.8%, and its roasted bean was 10.12%. Further, caffeine content had been analyzed where regular coffee beans contained 0.70% and its roasted bean contained 0.61% while caffeine content of green bean from Kopi Luwak was 0.51%, and its roasted bean was 0.47%. pH valued was also observed where regular green bean was 6.7 and regular roasted bean was 6.9 while green bean of Kopi Luwak was 5.3 and its roasted bean 5.7. Moreover, sugar content of regular coffee beans was 1.9% and its roasted bean was 0.015% while sugar content of Kopi Luwak green bean was 1.6% while its roasted bean was 0.013%. Fat content of regular green coffee beans was 8.5% and its roasted bean was 11.7% while fat content of Kopi Luwak green bean was 9.3% and its roasted bean was 12.2%. Fatty acid content of regular coffee beans consisted of hexadecanoic acid with area 40.3%, Kopi Luwak bean was 44.3%, and octadecenoic content with area 2.46% while Kopi Luwak bean was 7.12%.

Biuret and Bradford Methods Suitability for Protein Quantification in Rapeseed Meal

Summary Being attractive for insects, non-genetically modified rapeseed is valuable for maintaining environmental biodiversity. Primarily, the rapeseed is an important industrial crop which is used for production of vegetable oil. Oil extraction from rapeseeds results in the generation of substantial amounts of rapeseed meal which is used either as a protein rich feed additive or as a source for preparation of protein containing ingredients for food industry. Both applications require frequent evaluation of protein content. Although Kjeldahl method is considered standard, it is not appropriate for routine evaluation of protein content in protein extracts. The aim of the study was to evaluate suitability of biuret and Bradford methods for protein quantification in rapeseed meal extracts. After consecutive triple extraction of proteins with water, 5% NaCl, 70% ethyl alcohol and 0.1 N NaOH, protein evaluation of each albumin, globulin, prolamin and glutelin extraction aliquot demonstrated overall lower protein content by Bradford method compared to biuret method. The most pronounced differences in protein content were observed with prolamin fraction where three fold higher protein concentrations in each extraction aliquot was observed when biuret method was applied for the evaluation. Comparative quantification of the total protein of each of the four fractions followed a similar trend of lower protein content evaluation by Bradford method. Overall results indicated biuret method as more suitable for protein quantification in rapeseed meal extracts which was confirmed by comparison with data obtained by Kjeldahl method.

Commercial cuts of Pantanal caiman meat according to sex

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the yield, color, and chemical composition of commercial cuts (tail, sirloin cut, back fillet, and thigh) of Pantanal caiman meat in both sexes. The yield of tail was higher than other cuts, and the yield of females (17.0%) was higher than males (15.9%). The thigh of males had lower protein content (20.8%) compared with other cuts. Females showed a higher lipid content in the tail (2.4%) and thigh (0.8%) compared with males (1.7% and 0.4%, respectively). The tail presented the greatest content of monounsaturated fatty acids (45.2%) and higher n6/n3 ratio (4.6). Although lightness was not different among cuts or between sexes, there were differences in color. Males have more yellowish meat compared with females. Thigh and back fillet were more reddish when compared to sirloin cut and tail, regardless of sex. In conclusion, female tail meat provided greater yield and lipid content than males, and this result was statistically significant. These findings can help producers and consumers alike, better understand yield, quality, and nutritional quality of Pantanal caiman meat.

DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF NAGARA BEAN (Vigna unguiculata ssp. Cylindrica) CULTIVATED IN FRESHWATER SWAMPLANDS FOR PROCESSED FOOD

Nagara bean/ catjang (Vigna unguiculata spp. Cylindrica) is a subspecies of cowpea which is widely cultivated in freshwater swamplands of Daha Utara and Daha Selatan sub-districts, Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency. Nagara bean is a plant native to South Kalimantan, but its utilization is still very low compared to other cowpeas. The aims of this study were to analyze the chemical and physical characteristics of Nagara bean in processed food compared to those of soybeans; and to analyze the development potential of Nagara bean in processed food. The methods were the production of catjang flour from skinless Nagara beans; the production of catjang flour by roasting Nagara beans; the substitution of Nagara beans with coagulated and fermented soybeans. The results showed that the flour from skinless Nagara beans contained protein (24.16%) and carbohydrate (61.62%), while the flour from roasted Nagara beans contained protein (18.42%) and carbohydrate (69.33%). When compared to soybeans, papan and arabian beans, the two types of Nagara bean, could be coagulated with a higher water content and lower protein content. When Nagara beans were fermented, the water and protein contents of fermented beans were higher than those of soybeans. It can be concluded that Nagara beans could be used in processed foods chemically. Nagara beans however absorbed water easily, so they smelled sour and unpleasant and the texture became soft.

Mental performance in 8-year-old children fed reduced protein content formula during the 1st year of life: safety analysis of a randomised clinical trial

In humans, maximum brain development occurs between the third trimester of gestation and 2 years of life. Nutrition during these critical windows of rapid brain development might be essential for later cognitive functioning and behaviour. In the last few years, trends on protein recommendations during infancy and childhood have tended to be lower than that in the past. It remains to be demonstrated that lower protein intakes among healthy infants, a part of being able to reduce obesity risk, is safe in terms of mental performance achievement. Secondary analyses of the EU CHOP, a clinical trial in which infants from five European countries were randomised to be fed a higher or a lower protein content formula during the 1st year of life. Children were assessed at the age of 8 years with a neuropsychological battery of tests that included assessments of memory (visual and verbal), attention (visual, selective, focused and sustained), visual-perceptual integration, processing speed, visual-motor coordination, verbal fluency and comprehension, impulsivity/inhibition, flexibility/shifting, working memory, reasoning, visual-spatial skills and decision making. Internalising, externalising and total behaviour problems were assessed using the Child Behaviour Checklist 4–18. Adjusted analyses considering factors that could influence neurodevelopment, such as parental education level, maternal smoking, child’s gestational age at birth and head circumference, showed no differences between feeding groups in any of the assessed neuropsychological domains and behaviour. In summary, herewith we report on the safety of lower protein content in infant formulae (closer to the content of human milk) according to long-term mental performance.

GH/STAT5 signaling during the growth period in livers of mice overexpressing GH

GH/STAT5 signaling is desensitized in the liver in adult transgenic mice overexpressing GH; however, these animals present greater body size. To assess whether the STAT5 pathway is active during the growth period in the liver in these animals, and how signaling modulators participate in this process, growing transgenic mice and normal siblings were evaluated. STAT5 does not respond to an acute GH-stimulus, but displays higher basal phosphorylation in the livers of growing GH-overexpressing mice. GH receptor and the positive modulators glucocorticoid receptor and HNF1 display greater abundance in transgenic animals, supporting the activity of STAT5. The negative modulators cytokine-induced suppressor and PTP1B are increased in GH-overexpressing mice. The suppressors SOCS2 and SOCS3 exhibit higher mRNA levels in transgenic mice but lower protein content, indicating that they are being actively degraded. Therefore, STAT5 signaling is increased in the liver in GH-transgenic mice during the growth period, with a balance between positive and negative effectors resulting in accelerated but controlled growth.