Cardiovascular oxygen transport and peripheral oxygen extraction capacity contribute to acute heat tolerance in European seabass.

This study evaluated whether different parameters describing cardiovascular function, energy metabolism, oxygen transport and oxidative stress were related to the critical thermal maximum (CT) of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and if there were differential changes in these parameters during and after heat shock in animals with different CT in order to characterize which physiological features make seabass vulnerable to heat waves. Seabass (n = 621) were tested for CT and the physiological parameters were measured in individuals with good or poor temperature tolerance before and after a heat shock (change in temperature from 15 °C to 28 °C in 1.5 h).

Effect of Bioprocessing on Techno-Functional Properties of Climate-Resilient African Crops, Sorghum and Cowpea.

Sorghum and cowpea are very compatible for intercropping in hot and dry environments, and they also have complementary nutritional compositions. Thus, the crops have the potential to improve food security in regions threatened by climate change. The aim of this study was to investigate different enzymes (carbohydrate-degrading, proteases and phytases) and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation to improve the techno-functional properties of sorghum and cowpea flours.

Functional Genomics of Fish Erythrocytes.

Fish red blood cells contain nucleus and therefore carry on active transcription throughout their life. As the steady state level of mRNA depends both on the production and breakdown of the mRNA, it is important to pay attention to sampling, cell separation, mRNA extraction, and transcript stability to conduct a comprehensive erythrocyte genomics study. In addition, particular attention should be made to tie the transcriptional changes to corresponding protein activities, as only those would impact cellular functions.

Effect of pH and temperature on fibrous structure formation of plant proteins during high-moisture extrusion processing.

This study investigated the effect of pH on fibrous structure formation (protein alignment) during high-moisture extrusion processing of gluten, rice protein, as well as pea protein concentrate, and isolate. The pH of the raw material was shifted to 5 and 7 in water suspension with an acid or base and freeze-dried, after which, conductivity, solubility, water-holding capacity, particle size, and pH were measured. The pH-shifted raw materials were extruded at various temperatures (95-160 °C) and the extrudates were analysed for protein alignment (macro and microstructure), tensile strength, free thiol groups, and cooking properties.

Copper exposure improves the upper thermal tolerance in a sex-specific manner, irrespective of fish thermal history.

Ectotherms can respond to climate change via evolutionary adaptation, usually resulting in an increase of their upper thermal tolerance. But whether such adaptation influences the phenotypic plasticity of thermal tolerance when encountering further environmental stressors is not clear yet. This is crucial to understand because organisms experience multiple stressors, besides warming climate, in their natural environment and pollution is one of those.