Chemical Composition, Fatty Acid Profile, and Lipid Quality Indices in Commercial Ripening of Cow Cheeses from Different Seasons

The aim of the study was to compare and demonstrate whether commercial rennet ripening cheeses available on the market in summer and winter differ in their chemical composition, fatty acid profile, content of cis9trans11 C18:2 (CLA) acid and other trans isomers of C18:1 and C18:2 acid and whether they are characterized by different values of lipid quality assessment indices. The experimental material consisted of rennet ripening of cheeses produced from cow’s milk available in the Polish market. The first batch contained cheeses produced in winter and purchased from the market between May and June. The second batch contained cheeses produced in summer and purchased between November and December. Chemical composition was analyzed by FoodScan apparatus. The gas chromatography (GC) method was used to determine the content of fatty acids. Results obtained in the presented study indicate that the chemical composition, content of fatty acids trans isomers, and lipid quality indices varied between summer and winter cheeses. The summer cheeses were richer sources of MUFA and PUFA compared to winter cheeses. Summer cheeses were also characterized by lower content of SFA, higher content n-3, lower n-6/n-3 ratio, and higher content of DFA. Higher contents of CLA and trans C18:1 and C18:2 were found in summer cheeses.

Canine Oral Melanoma Genomic and Transcriptomic Study Defines Two Molecular Subgroups with Different Therapeutical Targets

Mucosal melanoma (MM) is a rare, aggressive clinical cancer. Despite recent advances in genetics and treatment, the prognosis of MM remains poor. Canine MM offers a relevant spontaneous and immunocompetent model to decipher the genetic bases and explore treatments for MM. We performed an integrative genomic and transcriptomic analysis of 32 canine MM samples, which identified two molecular subgroups with a different microenvironment and structural variant (SV) content. The overexpression of genes related to the microenvironment and T-cell response was associated with tumors harboring a lower content of SVs, whereas the overexpression of pigmentation-related pathways and oncogenes, such as TERT, was associated with a high SV burden. Using whole-genome sequencing, we showed that focal amplifications characterized complex chromosomal rearrangements targeting oncogenes, such as MDM2 or CDK4, and a recurrently amplified region on canine chromosome 30. We also demonstrated that the genes TRPM7, GABPB1, and SPPL2A, located in this CFA30 region, play a role in cell proliferation, and thus, may be considered as new candidate oncogenes for human MM. Our findings suggest the existence of two MM molecular subgroups that may benefit from dedicated therapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors or targeted therapies, for both human and veterinary medicine.

Thermogravimetric Analysis and Kinetic Calculation on the Combustion Characteristics of Two Typical Shenhua Chars

Recently, a new ultra-low nitrogen combustion technology, pyrolysis and gasification coupling combustion, was proposed. The dependence on SCR or SNCR was reduced measurably with this technology. However, given the lower content of volatile matter in semi-chars, the burn-up ratio and combustion efficiency seemed to become lower. Thus, in this study, the combustion characteristics of the Shenhun and Carboniferous char were investigated under combustion conditions with the thermogravimetric method; meantime, kinetic calculation on the combustion characteristics were evaluated with Coats–Redfern method. Experiments indicated that Shenhun char showed good ignition and burnout characteristics when the pyrolysis temperature ranged from 973.15 K to1073.15 K; meanwhile, Carboniferous char showed good ignition and burnout characteristics when the pyrolysis temperature ranged from 873.15 K to 973.15 K. Besides, both the calculations and experiments indicated that Shenhun char showed better combustion characteristics than Carboniferous char.

A review of the effects of different feeding regimes of cows on milk fatty acids profile and antioxidant capacity

This bibliography review analyzes the effects of different feeding regimes of cows the nutritional and sanogenic quality of milk, with a particular emphasis on milk content in functional fatty acids and non-enzymatic lipophilic antioxidants. Thus, using suitable feeding regimes of cows, fatty acid (FA) profile of milk fats can be improved by increasing the concentration in functional FA (C18:1 trans-11, vaccenic acid; C18:3 n-3, acid linolenic and C18:2 cis-9 trans-11, isomer of conjugated linoleic acid), considered as beneficial for consumer’s health. These suitable feeding regimes of cows aim using green fodder (pastures), preserving the fodder by drying or silage, supplementing the food with fats rich FA polyunsaturated (PUFA) and ensuring an optimal ratio between volume and ration concentrates. Milk yielded from grazing cows shows a considerably higher concentration of functional FA and lipophilic antioxidants (tocopherols, retinol and carotenes) and a lower content of saturated FA compared to that yielded from cows fed in shelter with TMR (total mixed ration). Also, hay-based feed rations, mainly those containing small amounts of concentrates or those supplemented with vegetable fats, ensure a milk yield with a fatty acid profile more favorable for human health and a better oxidative stability of compared to those with feed-based rations on silage or those high in concentrates.

Magnetically Modified Biosorbent for Rapid Beryllium Elimination from the Aqueous Environment

Although both beryllium and its compounds display high toxicity, little attention has been focused on the removal of beryllium from wastewaters. In this research, magnetically modified biochar obtained from poor-quality wheat with two distinct FexOy contents was studied as a sorbent for the elimination of beryllium from an aqueous solution. The determined elimination efficiency was higher than 80% in both prepared composites, and the presence of FexOy did not affect the sorption properties. The experimental qmax values were determined to be 1.44 mg/g for original biochar and biochar with lower content of iron and 1.45 mg/g for the biochar with higher iron content. The optimum pH values favorable for sorption were determined to be 6. After the sorption procedure, the sorbent was still magnetically active enough to be removed from the solution by a magnet. Using magnetically modified sorbents proved to be an easy to apply, low-cost, and effective technique.

Composite Materials with Epoxy Matrix and Their Properties

This work was focused on studying the properties of epoxy (EP) composite materials reinforced with glass, (GF) carbon (CF) and aramid (AF) fibres. The composites were made by hand lay-up (HL) and vacuum infusion process (VIP) with 8, 10, 12 number of fabric layers. Studied were tensile strength, elongation, flexural stress, flexural strain, thermal stability, texture of surfaces, cuts, fractures of laminates and the thickness of the laminate according to the type and number of layers of fabric and the method of manufacture. Composites made by VIP achieve better mechanical properties than composites made by HL. Tensile strength was highest in composites reinforced with AF. Composite materials reinforced with GF exhibit the lowest values of tensile strength. Flexural strength was significantly the highest in CF reinforced composites followed by the laminates reinforced with GF and AF. The highest values of flexural deformation were measured in composites reinforced with AF and the lowest values of flexural deformation were measured in composites reinforced with CF. By thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was recorded weight loss of the EP matrix in the range from 290 to 480 °C and AF in range from 530 to 605 °C. By TGA was demonstrated lower content of EP matrix in the composites made by VIP, which was confirmed by comparison of thickness of the studied laminates.

Ad Blocking

In recent years, ad blocking has become a significant threat to advertising-supported content. Adblockers typically negotiate with publishers, allowing some ads to go through in return for a payment, a practice called (partial) whitelisting in the industry. Ad blocking has a direct positive effect on consumers by reducing advertising intensity. On the other hand, the practice clearly hurts publishers and reduces their incentives to invest in content quality. Lower content quality, in turn has an indirect negative effect on consumers. This paper builds an analytic model to explore the net impact of ad blocking on consumers, how it depends on various market characteristics, and how uniformly it affects consumers. The results show that under a broad set of market conditions, total consumer surplus and even total welfare decline under ad blocking. Whereas some consumers are always better off with an ad blocker, for the average consumer, the impact of quality decline is larger than that of ad reduction. The analysis highlights the detrimental role of ad blockers’ current revenue model—in which value is created for the consumers but it is captured from publishers—in decreasing quality, consumer surplus, and total welfare. Analyzing the impact of varying levels of negotiation power between the ad blocker and publisher reveals that full negotiation power is not preferred by the ad blocker. A lower negotiation power allows the ad blocker to commit to less value extraction from the publisher, thereby leading to higher content quality. Additional model extensions show that the main results are robust. In the case of multiple publishers with different levels of competition between them, the strong negative effect of ad blocking on quality holds. This paper was accepted by Juanjuan Zhang, marketing.

Changes in Proximate Chemical and Mineral Compositions of Different Sex Categories of Mutton during the Dry-Curing Process

The aim of this research was to determine the effect of sex, castration, and processing on the chemical properties of mutton in the production of kaštradina—a traditional Dalmatian dry-cured meat product. Therefore, the carcasses of 20 ewes (E), 20 rams (R), and 20 wethers (W) of the Dalmatian pramenka breed were processed by dry-curing. On the 1st, 35th, and 60th days of processing, the samples from the scapulae were taken, then the proximate chemical, NaCl, and mineral analyses were performed, and significant differences between most of the parameters were found. Unlike W, the R samples contained significantly more proteins (p < 0.01), NaCl (p < 0.05), and potassium (p < 0.05) and less fat (p < 0.05). Furthermore, compared to the W and R categories, the E category of kaštradina contained significantly more calcium (p < 0.05). The higher contents of intramuscular fat, potassium, and calcium and lower content of NaCl could positively affect the sensory (marbling, flavor, juiciness, and tenderness) and chemical (fatty acid profile) properties of kaštradina. These findings suggest that the W and E raw mutton could be a better-quality raw material for production of kaštradina than could the R, but further research is needed for a more comprehensive picture of its quality.

Eating Patterns for Convalescents Following the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Presented in the paper are three eating patterns for convalescents following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Eating pattern no. 1 involves an increased content of complete protein necessary for recovery of the immune system. Eating pattern no. 2 includes a higher content of carbohydrates and polyunsaturated fatty acids, i. e. a high energy value of the food intake, as well as a lower content of cooking salt. It enhances an anti-inflammatory effect while polyunsaturated fatty acids increase the number of T-cells, decrease the concentrations of TNF and BSF2. Eating pattern no. 3 is advisory for patients with dyspeptic disorders as a result of an acute infectious disease.

Effect of Gender on Meat Quality from Adult Obsolescent Horses

The objective of the study was to assess the influence of gender, age, and carcass weight on the properties of meat from adult horses slaughtered in Lithuania. M. pectoralis profundus of twenty-six obsolescent horses from 3 to 21 years of age were used in the experiment. Gender appeared to affect the horse meat properties. Stallions demonstrated (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) lower content of dry matter and also considerably lower (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01) intramuscular fat content compared with mares and geldings and higher (p < 0.01) cholesterol content compared with mares. The meat of stallions showed the highest pH; however, a significant (p < 0.01) difference was obtained only in comparison with mares. Meat lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) of stallions were lower (p < 0.05) compared with geldings. Meat toughness of stallions was also lower (p < 0.01) than the meat of mares and geldings. The highest (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively) proportion of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), higher (p < 0.05) and more favorable PUFA/SFA ratio, and also the highest (p < 0.05) but least favorable n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio, were detected in the muscles of stallions compared with mares and geldings. The differences in horse ages did not exhibit any effect on the properties of M. pectoralis profundus. Despite the age differences at the decline of horse life, the properties of the horse meat exhibited good quality and showed that horse meat is potentially highly beneficial to human health.