NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND SENSORY DESCRIPTION OF "ATADJON BASSAMOIS", A TRADITIONAL INFANTILE PORRIDGE BASED ON TIGERNUT (CYPERUS ESCULENTUS, L.)

Child malnutrition is still a public health problem in Côte d'Ivoire, mainly due to poor feeding practice linked to the low nutritional value of the staple foods used for child nutrition. However, the introduction of tigernut, proteins and lipids rich tuber, in the dietary habits of these children could constitute an interesting nutritional alternative to solve this problem. The objective of this work was to valorize the tigernut-based porridges for their use as complementary food in the diet of weaning children. To this end, physicochemical and organoleptic characteristics of four formulations AB1, AB4, RB2 and SB3 were studied. The atadjon formulations, especially AB1, presented the highest density in energy (95.70 Kcal/100g), protein (5.37 %), lipids (3.8 %) and the lowest contents in anti-nutrients with 2.17% in fiber, 36.6% in oxalates, 65.54% in tannin and 0% in phytates, contrary to the rice (RB2) and tigernut (SB3) control porridges. In addition, the atadjon formulations AB4 and AB1 were preferred to the control because of their sweet taste, tigernut flavor, brown color and flowability according to PCA analysis. Thus, this study indicates that these traditionally prepared porridges could be suitable for children receiving an average level of breastfeeding and three meals per day.

Total and bioavailable heavy metals in the soils of two adjacent forests

<p>The concentrations and comparisons of total and available metals Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and the metalloid As were examined in two adjacent acid forest soils in Greece under oak and beech together with the dependency of their availability. It was found that the soil in the beech plot had higher concentrations of total elements with the exception of the litter layer (L) where most metals did not differ. It is probable that the parent material of the beech soil contained some metamorphic mafic material. The surface soils for both stands were moderately enriched with Pb, Cd and As, whereas for Cr and Ni the enrichment was minimal. The concentrations of available elements (extracted with DTPA) were higher in the beech soil. The availability of most metals was affected by the pH, the organic C, the ratio of C/N and the total concentration of the metals. Through a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) analysis, it was found that 63-75% of the concentrations variance of the available metals was explained. The percentages of available metals with regard to their total concentrations in soils were higher in the beech plot in the FH layer but in the mineral layers, they did not differ apart from Pb. The concentrations of the metals in the leaves of both species in three consecutive years did not differ with the exception of Cd, the concentration of which was higher in the beech leaves.</p>

Identification of Cotton F1 Hybrids and their Parents through Molecular Marker under Salinity Stress

An experiment was carried out at Main Cotton Research Station, NAU, Surat, Gujarat, India during 2018–2020 to identify F1 hybrids and their parents through SSR marker for salinity tolerance in cotton. The four cotton parents (two salt tolerant and two salt sensitive) were crossed in a diallel fashion to obtain twelve cotton hybrids and subjected to DNA isolation and PCR amplification with SSR markers. In the present study, six SSR markers (TMB0409, DPL0094, BNL686, JESPR153, CM45 and MGHES006) were identified to be polymorphic between parents and the hybrids. The SSR primer TMB0409, DPL0094, JESPR153 and CM45 identified two fragments each from different parents in two, two, four and eight cotton hybrids, respectively, which confirmed true hybrids. Hence, the SSR molecular marker, individually or in combination can be used to distinguish and confirm the hybrid and parents in cotton with special reference to salinity. The PCA analysis revealed that BNL686–1 (248 bp) allele contributed significantly to the quantum of variation as explained by PC1. Hence, this allele is able to serve as a benchmark for ascertaining the efficient pattern of grouping between genotypes. Further, the marker CM45 amplified a fragment specific to the saline tolerant parents which was absent in sensitive parents as well as a fragment produced in sensitive parent which was absent in the tolerant parents, hence the molecular marker CM45 may associate with the salinity tolerance in cotton and can be used for salinity tolerant breeding program after confirming in a large population.

Linking Man and Nature: Relictual Forest Coenosis with Laurus nobilis L. and Celtis australis L. in Antica Lavinium, Italy

The Mediterranean basin has been a refugium for relict plant taxa and native laurophyllic forests. The Latium coasts and, especially, the Antica Lavinium site, host relict forest communities, whose natural importance is enriched by their cultural value. Here, we aim at investigating the ecological framework, cultural and historical values, and management over time, of relict communities that have Laurus nobilis and Celtis australis as their priority habitats. To achieve this, we performed vegetation surveys and we conducted statistical analyses (PCA, NMDS). Among the 45 vegetation surveys, 25 were characterized by the two target species. The PCA analysis highlighted how the L. nobilis formations and the mixed formations with C. australis present some differences but are not sufficient to describe different coenosis. The comparison among similar forests in central and southern Italy confirmed the wide coenological amplitude of L. nobilis with respect to other laurophyllic species. Antica Lavinium has an overall good preservation of laurel forest formations, but also of mixed formation with C. australis. In the area, historical, cultural, and natural characteristics mutually contributed to the development of human civilizations and plant communities, highlighting their deep linkage.

Portrait of an Etruscan Athletic Official: A Multi-Analytical Study of a Painted Terracotta Wall Panel

The Getty’s Etruscan painted terracotta wall panel, Athletic Official, recently has been speculated to be associated with a Caeretan wall panel depicting a Discobolus based on a shared iconography. To better understand the materials and techniques used to create the Getty panel and investigate its relation to extant Etruscan painted terracotta panels, a multi-analytical study was conducted, using broadband visible, IR, and UV imaging, along with scanning MA-XRF, FORS, Raman, SEM-EDS, and XRD analytical techniques. The analytical results together with PCA analysis suggest the clay support of the Getty panel is most similar in composition to that of panels from Cerveteri. A manganese black was identified in the decorative scheme; not commonly employed, this appears to be an important marker for the workshop practice in Cerveteri. Most significantly, the use of MA-XRF scanning allowed for invisible ruling lines on the Athletic Official, presumably laid down at the earliest stages of the creation of the panel, to be visualized. Taken together, the results of this study provide new insights into Caeretan workshop practice as well as provide a framework for better understanding the design and execution of Etruscan polychromy.

Avenanthramides: Unique Bioactive Substances of Oat Grain in the Context of Cultivar, Cropping System, Weather Conditions and Other Grain Parameters

Our study was focused on the evaluation of the content of a wider spectrum of eight avenanthramides (AVNs) as unique components of oat grain under the effects of four selected factors (cultivar, locality, cropping system, and year). The weather effects on changes in the AVN content and their relationship to other important parameters of oat grain were further evaluated in more detail. A sensitive UHPLC system coupled with a QExactive Orbitrap mass spectrometer was used for AVN quantification. AVNs confirmed a high variability (RDS = 72.7–113.5%), which was dominantly influenced by the locality and year factors. While most AVN types confirmed mutually high correlations (r = 0.7–0.9), their correlations with the other 10 grain parameters were lower (r ≤ 0.48). Their significant correlations (0.27–0.46) with β-D-glucan could be used in perspective in breeding programs for the synergetic increase of both parameters. PCA analysis and Spearman correlations based on individual cultivars confirmed a significant effect of June and July precipitation on the increase of Σ AVNs. However, the results also indicated that higher precipitation can generate favorable conditions for related factors, such as preharvest sprouting evoking a direct increase of AVNs synthesis in oat grain.

Research on Chinese Consumers’ Preferences and Characteristics Regarding Scalp Care Shampoo Products

This study aims to explore consumers’ preferences on different types of shampoo products among women aged 20s and 30s from Beijing and Shanghai. 100 women who have scalp troubles were selected as respondents. By conducting HUT blind test, we compared the consumers’ feedbacks on 3 scalp care shampoo products but with 3 different formulations, i.e., 2 products with silicone-free formula and 1 product containing silicone oil. We adopted quantitative methodology through the whole analysis, and evaluation results of different groups were obtained by PCA analysis. The results of the study are recapped as follows: (1) Although there is no obvious difference in consumers’ preference among different ages, there are obvious differences in different regions. (2) Beijing consumers are satisfied with the sensory efficacy of the 3 products while Shanghai consumers are less satisfied with any of them. It is speculated that Shanghai consumers have a higher expectation for scalp care products; (3) Products containing silicone oil shows higher usage satisfaction when compared with silicone- free formula. It is better to emphasize long-term efficacy for silicone-free formula when planning GTM strategy, so that it could guide consumers to achieve their post-purchase rationalization. (4) Although the tested products all have scalp care function, consumers are more concerned about the effects on the health status of the hair than the scalp care effects.

Distribution of Pesticides in Different Commonly Grown Vegetables of Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia

Gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD) is used to extract and analyse pesticides in vegetable samples collected from Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia. The limit of detection (LOD) for all pesticides was in the range of 0.03 to 4.5 ng g-1. Recoveries in cabbage, lettuce, and celery ranged from 61.8%-121%, 60-128% and 60%-114%, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) ranged 0.2-15% in cabbage, 0.5-18% in lettuce and 3-19.8% in celery. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) concentrations increased down the valley with dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) having the highest concentration at 233 µg kg-1. Organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) were found to be dispersed throughout the valley, with the highest concentration of parathion ethyl (133 µg kg-1) whereas the pyrethroid pesticides (PYRs) concentrations were comparatively less. The detection frequency in the wet season was highest (5 < - < 100 µg kg-1) for most pesticides. However, in the dry season the pesticides concentrations were higher, at < 5 µg kg-1. PCA analysis indicated that farmers were using a mixture of pesticides.

Population Structure of Nation-Wide Rice in Thailand

Background Thailand is a country with large diversity in rice varieties due to its rich and diverse ecology. In this paper, 300 rice accessions from all across Thailand were sequenced to identify SNP variants allowing for the population structure to be explored. Results The result of inferred population structure from admixture and clustering analysis illustrated strong evidence of substructure in each geographical region. The results of phylogenetic tree, PCA analysis, and machine learning on population identifying SNPs also supported the inferred population structure. Conclusion The population structure inferred in this study contains five subpopulations that tend to group individuals based on location. So, each subpopulation has unique genetic patterns, agronomic traits, as well as different environmental conditions. This study can serve as a reference point of the nation-wide population structure for supporting breeders and researchers who are interested in Thai rice.