Spatial variability in orchards after land transformation: Consequences for precision agriculture practices.

The change from traditional to a more mechanized and technical agriculture has involved, in many cases, land transformations. This has supposed alteration of landforms and soils, with significant consequences. The effects of induced soil variability and the subsequent implications in site-specific crop management have not been sufficiently studied.

In Vitro Bioaccessibility of Colored Carotenoids in Tomato Derivatives as Affected by Ripeness Stage and the Addition of Different Types of Oil.

Unlabelled: The simultaneous effect of tomato ripeness stage (mature green, pink, and red-ripe), mechanical processing (dicing and grinding), and oil addition (coconut, sunflower, and olive oils) on the amount and bioaccessible fraction of carotenoids were evaluated. Tomato products obtained from fruits at the most advanced ripeness stage exhibited the greatest values of both concentration and bioaccessible fraction of total carotenoids and lycopene. The type of processing also exerted an important influence on carotenoids content, as well as on its bioaccessibility.

Inter-individual variability in the production of flavan-3-ol colonic metabolites: preliminary elucidation of urinary metabotypes.

Purpose: There is much information on the bioavailability of (poly)phenolic compounds following acute intake of various foods. However, there are only limited data on the effects of repeated and combined exposure to specific (poly)phenol food sources and the inter-individual variability in their bioavailability. This study evaluated the combined urinary excretion of (poly)phenols from green tea and coffee following daily consumption by healthy subjects in free-living conditions.

Improving fire season definition by optimized temporal modelling of daily human-caused ignitions.

Wildfire suppression management is usually based on fast control of all ignitions, especially in highly populated countries with pervasive values-at-risk. To minimize values-at-risk loss by improving response time of suppression resources it is necessary to anticipate ignitions, which are mainly caused by people. Previous studies have found that human-ignition patterns change spatially and temporally depending on socio-economic activities, hence, the deployment of suppression resources along the year should consider these patterns.

Evaluation of postharvest calcium treatment and biopreservation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on the quality of fresh-cut 'Conference' pears.

Background: Biological preservation with probiotic bacteria has arisen as an alternative to control the growth of foodborne pathogens on food. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of postharvest calcium application and biopreservation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on the quality and bioaccessibility of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity in fresh-cut pears.

Results: The immersion of whole pears in a calcium chloride solution did not provide added value.

Application of pulsed electric fields to tomato fruit for enhancing the bioaccessibility of carotenoids in derived products.

The application of pulsed electric fields (PEFs) to whole tomatoes is proposed as a pre-processing treatment to obtain purees with high health-related properties. Tomato fruit was subjected to different electric field strengths (0.4, 1.

Assessment of intraspecies variability in fungal growth initiation of Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin B production under static and changing temperature levels using different initial conidial inoculum levels.

Intraspecies variability in fungal growth and mycotoxin production has important implications for food safety. Using the Bioscreen C we have examined spectrophotometrically intraspecies variability of A. flavus using 10 isolates under different environments, including temperature shifts, in terms of growth and aflatoxin B (AFB) production.

A review of the mycotoxin adsorbing agents, with an emphasis on their multi-binding capacity, for animal feed decontamination.

Contamination of animal feed with mycotoxins still occurs very often, despite great efforts in preventing it. Animal feeds are contaminated, at low levels, with several mycotoxins, particularly with those produced by Aspergillus and Fusarium genera (Aflatoxin B Ochratoxin A, Zearalenone, Deoxynivalenol and Fumonisina B). In animal feed, to date, only Aflatoxin B is limited through EU regulation.

Probability models for growth and aflatoxin B production as affected by intraspecies variability in Aspergillus flavus.

The probability of growth and aflatoxin B (AFB) production of 20 isolates of Aspergillus flavus were studied using a full factorial design with eight water activity levels (0.84-0.98 a) and six temperature levels (15-40 °C).

Whither human IVF? Fertilisable oocytes selected on the basis of follicular temperature.

Bearing in mind specific parallels between cow and human ovarian physiology, as noted in the manuscript, we have measured whether the temperature in a pre-ovulatory follicle is cooler than that in adjacent tissues. Using a novel approach not requiring anaesthetics or surgical procedures, we found that follicular fluid bathing cow oocytes shortly before ovulation is cooler than the neighbouring uterine surface and cooler than deep rectal temperature (the reference body temperature in cattle). By contrast, Graafian follicles of comparable size and ultrasonic image that do not subsequently ovulate do not have a reduced antral temperature.

Hydrolysers of modified mycotoxins in maize: α-Amylase and cellulase induce an underestimation of the total aflatoxin content.

Aflatoxins are the most potent genotoxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins. To date, research has only focused on the presence of free aflatoxins in agricultural commodities. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to investigate the occurrence of possible modified aflatoxins in maize.

Prey Acceptability and Preference of Oenopia conglobata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a Candidate for Biological Control in Urban Green Areas.

is one of the most common ladybird species in urban green areas of the Mediterranean region. We have obtained data about its prey acceptability and prey preferences. In a laboratory experiment, we investigated the acceptability of seven aphid and one psyllid species as prey for this coccinellid: the aphids , , , (on white poplar, pomegranate, false acacia, black walnut, lime, and oleander, respectively), and the psyllid on Persian silk tree.

Understorey productivity in temperate grassy woodland responds to soil water availability but not to elevated [CO ].

Rising atmospheric [CO ] and associated climate change are expected to modify primary productivity across a range of ecosystems globally. Increasing aridity is predicted to reduce grassland productivity, although rising [CO ] and associated increases in plant water use efficiency may partially offset the effect of drying on growth. Difficulties arise in predicting the direction and magnitude of future changes in ecosystem productivity, due to limited field experimentation investigating climate and CO interactions.

Stability of alternariol and alternariol monomethyl ether during food processing of tomato products.

The stability of two Alternaria mycotoxins, alternariol (AOH) and alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), has been investigated during the food processing of tomato products simulating commercial processing conditions. The production stages assessed were the storage of raw fruits, fruit washing, and thermal processing. It was observed that time of storage significantly reduced the initial concentration of AOH, but only if tomatoes were stored at 35 °C.

Phytochemical composition and β-glucan content of barley genotypes from two different geographic origins for human health food production.

In the present study, 27 barley genotypes (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown in two geographic origins (Czech Republic and Spain) were analysed for their contents of β-glucan, tocols and phenolic compounds (free and bound). The samples included hulled, hull-less and coloured genotypes.

Physicochemical and Antimicrobial Characterization of Beeswax-Starch Food-Grade Nanoemulsions Incorporating Natural Antimicrobials.

Nanoemulsions are feasible delivery systems of lipophilic compounds, showing potential as edible coatings with enhanced functional properties. The aim of this work was to study the effect of emulsifier type (stearic acid (SA), Tween 80 (T80) or Tween 80/Span 60 (T80/S60)) and emulsification process (homogenization, ultrasound or microfluidization) on nanoemulsion formation based on oxidized corn starch, beeswax (BW) and natural antimicrobials (lauric arginate and natamycin). The response variables were physicochemical properties, rheological behavior, wettability and antimicrobial activity of BW-starch nanoemulsions (BW-SN).

The Silencing of Carotenoid β-Hydroxylases by RNA Interference in Different Maize Genetic Backgrounds Increases the β-Carotene Content of the Endosperm.

Maize ( L.) is a staple food in many parts of Africa, but the endosperm generally contains low levels of the pro-vitamin A carotenoid β-carotene, leading to vitamin A deficiency disease in populations relying on cereal-based diets. However, maize endosperm does accumulate high levels of other carotenoids, including zeaxanthin, which is derived from β-carotene via two hydroxylation reactions.

Efficacy of Pseudomonas graminis CPA-7 against Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes on fresh-cut pear and setting up of the conditions for its commercial application.

Pseudomonas graminis CPA-7 has been reported to control foodborne pathogens on fresh-cut apple, peach and melon. The first aim of this study was to assess its antagonistic activity against Salmonella spp. and L.

Phenol-enriched olive oils improve HDL antioxidant content in hypercholesterolemic subjects. A randomized, double-blind, cross-over, controlled trial.

At present, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function is thought to be more relevant than HDL cholesterol quantity. Consumption of olive oil phenolic compounds (PCs) has beneficial effects on HDL-related markers. Enriched food with complementary antioxidants could be a suitable option to obtain additional protective effects.

Stability of DON and DON-3-glucoside during baking as affected by the presence of food additives.

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most common mycotoxins of cereals worldwide, and its occurrence has been widely reported in raw wheat. The free mycotoxin form is not the only route of exposure; modified forms can also be present in cereal products. Deoxynivalenol-3-glucoside (DON-3-glucoside) is a common DON plant conjugate.

Puncture and drainage of the subordinate follicles at timed artificial insemination prevents the risk of twin pregnancy in dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to determine whether fluid drainage from the subordinate follicles by ovum pickup procedures prevents the risk of twin pregnancy without reducing the fertility of the cow. Lactating dairy cows with at least two follicles over 12 mm diameter located one on each ovary and selected from synchronized groups for fixed-time insemination were assigned to a Control (n = 49) or Drainage (n = 49) group. The largest follicle was considered as the dominant follicle.

From pre-ovulatory follicle palpation to the challenge of twin pregnancies: Clinical reflections following one million gynaecological examinations in dairy cows.

Based on experimental studies and extensive field-scale experience, this review offers new proposals for: (i) elevating the success of modern insemination procedures, (ii) emphasizing features of a pre-ovulatory follicle in the context of optimum insemination timing, (iii) overcoming heat stress and its consequences using physiological processes or endocrine protocols, (iv) establishing a viable pregnancy or early pregnancy loss and (v) the challenge of twin pregnancies. In conclusion, the fertility of high-yielding dairy cows can be further improved.