Ameliorating effect of L-Ascorbate on protein and ascorbic acid content in different tissues of freshwater bivalve Lamellidens marginallis on exposure to lambda-cyalothrin.

Ascorbic acid is one of the important tool to indicate the alterations induced by chemicals and pollutants. Ascorbic acid, being important constituent in cellular metabolism, the interactions of the biomolecules gives proper idea of toxicant stress and its effect. In the present investigation the freshwater bivalve Lamellidens marginalis were exposed to chronic dose of lambda-cyalothrin (0.75 PPM LC50/10 values) alone and in combination with 50mg/L L-ascorbic acid for 21 days respectively. Percent protein and ascorbic acid contents in the mantle, foot, gills, digestive glands, gonad and whole soft body of bivalve, Lamellidens marginalis on lambda-cyalothrin intoxication and in combination with 50mg/L L-ascorbic acid were observed. Protein and ascorbic acid content in all soft body tissue of lambda-cyalothrin exposed bivalve, Lamellidens marginalis showed remarkable decrease as compared to control. The maximum protein and ascorbic acid content was observed in foot and lowest in digestive gland. Animal exposed to lambda-cyalothrin intoxication in combination with 50 mg/L of L-ascorbic acid showed considerable reduction in the depletion of protein and ascorbic acid levels. Fast recovery of percent protein and ascorbic acid contents was observed in presence of L-ascorbic acid than the recovery in the normal freshwater. This study indicates the protective and curative property of the L-ascorbic acid against lambda-cyalothrin induced damage. Key Words: Lamellidens marginalis, lambda-cyalothrin, protein and L-ascorbic acid

Preliminary Observations About Forage Potential of Chia

With a view towards expanding the menu of available summer forages, a study was conducted to characterize forage traits of Chia (Salvia hispanica L.). When grown in Virginia (mid-Atlantic region of the United States) during 2019 and 2020, 60-day old whole vegetative plants of both black-seeded and white-seeded Chia contained approximately 21 percent protein, 1.5 percent potassium, 2.06 percent calcium, 2.4 percent crude fat, 21.2 percent ADF, and 29.4 percent NDF. The fresh and dry biomass yields were 8310 and 814 kg ha-1, respectively. Based on forage quality values of Chia produced in other countries and other forages, it was concluded that Chia is a potential forage crop.

A Preliminary Study of Nutritional Quality of Five Drought Tolerant Millets

Seeds from greenhouse-grown plants of five food millet crops—[barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea Link.), finger millet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn.), kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.), little millet (Panicum sumatrense Roth ex Roem. & Schult.), and proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.)] contained 10.4, 5.5, 7.2, 1.3, and 17.1 percent protein; 69, 29, 239, 105, and 32 Fe (mg/100 g); and 33, 22, 23, 31, and 37 (mg/100 g) Zn, respectively. Concentrations (g/100 g) of oil in seeds varied from 1.32 for finger millet to 3.58 for little millet. The oil concentrations for barnyard, kodo, and proso millets were 1.59, 1.64, and 3.36 g/100 g, respectively. Predominant fatty acid in the oil in the seed of these millets was C18:2 followed by C18:1, and C16:0. Concentration of omega-3 fatty acid (a heart-healthy oil) was 1.06, 0.62, 1.01, 0.91, and 3.11 g/100 g in barnyard, kodo, little, proso, and finger millet, respectively. Oils from seeds of these millet crops were essentially free from concentration of anti-nutritive fatty acid C22:1 (Erucic acid). Concentrations (g/100 g) of total sugars varied from 0.96 for barnyard millet to 2.09 for finger millet. The total sugar concentrations for kodo, little, and proso millets were 1.81, 1.95, and 1.99 g/100 g, respectively. Fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, raffinose, and stachyose concentrations varied from 0.05 to 0.47, 0.44 to 0.85, 0.44 to 0.98, 0.02 to 0.33, 0.005 to 0.083, and 0.002 to 0.053, respectively for barnyard, kodo, little, proso, and finger millet, respectively. Results indicated that these millet crops have potential as sources of healthy food and it might be worthwhile to further study their production potential.

Quality Assessment of Ethnic Fermented Product Nga-Pi Traditionally Produced at Cox’s Bazar Region

Nga-pi, an ethnic fermented product traditionally produced at Cox’s Bazar region by Rakhine people is one of the popular food items of that area. To assess the quality of raw shrimp used for Nga-pi production and traditionally produced Nga-pi were collected. Some amount of the collected Nga-pi sample (from producers of both areas) were stored at refrigeration temperature (5 to 8°C) for 90 days to observe the changes in nutritive values, TVB-N and SPC during the storage. The results of proximate composition analysis for the samples showed that-the moisture content ranged from 58.29% to 61.06%, the crude protein content ranged from 25.88% to 27,12%, the crude lipid content ranged from 4.18% to 5.12% and ash content ranged from 7.30% to 8.40%. On the other hand the range for TVB-N value was found from 25.06 mg/100g to 34.02 mg/100g and SPC value from 1.69×105 CFU/g to 4.27x 106in Nga-pi samples. The result of the Nga-pi sample stored in air-tight polythene pack at refrigeration temperature (5 to 8°C) for 90 days showed that- the percent moisture, percent ash content, TVB-N value and SPC value increased but the percent protein and lipid content decreased with the progress of storage time. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 12(1&2): 83-90, 2019

CRUDE PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS OF GROWING CHICKENS UNDER NIGERIAN ENVIRONMENT

A FEEDING trial was carried out with Warren cockerels to determine the minimum crude protein requirements of growing chickens (6 - 14 Weeks) under the Nigerian (tropical) environment. Three series of diets with protein levels ranging from 13 to 22 percent were used for this study. The first series consisted of unsupplemented all-plant protein diets, the second and third series were the all-plant protein diets supplemented with methionine or methionine plus fishmeal respectively. Satisfactory growth and feed conversion efficiency were observed with increasing concentration of protein, changes in body weight being similar to the pattern observed with the baby chicks fed the same protein levels (Njike 1978a). Maximum weight gain was achieved by chicks on unsupplemented rations containing 20 and 22 percent protein and on 18 % protein diets supplemented with methionine or methionine plus fish meal. The result clearly showed that there is no advantage in supplementing grower rations with fishmeal; the most economic ration is unsupplemented 18% protein diet The performance of chicks on unsupplemented 18% protein diet or 16% protein diet supplemented with methionine or methionine plus fishmeal are comparable and are protein levels of choice for growing chickens under tropical conditions like Nigeria.

EFFECT OF WHEY ON THE QUANTITATIVE CHANGE IN RESERVE FOOD OF THE GERMINATING SEEDS

The percent starch in the germinating paddy seed was found gradually less faster due to treatment with whey than the control. Percent protein from germinating lentil seed was found to be gradually reduced with faster rate due to treatment with whey than the control. There appeared increase in soluble sugars in the endosperm of paddy during germination both in treated and control seeds. Also it was found that there is increase in total free amino acid in the cotyledons of lentils due to the treatment of whey. The decline in the amount of total soluble sugars in the endosperm of paddy after 3rd day of germination and in the cotyledon of lentil after 2nd day points out that soluble carbohydrates are more rapidly transferred to the embryo in lentil than to the paddy. Also decline in the amount of total free amino acid was observed in the endosperm of paddy after 3rd day while same on the 3rd day in lentil indicates the speed of the transfers of amino acid to the growing embryo. The unequal or varying speed might be due to the nature of seed as they belong to two unrelated group of plants.

Possible Cross-Reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 Proteins, CRM197 and Proteins in Pneumococcal Vaccines May Protect Against Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Disease and Death

Various studies indicate that vaccination, especially with pneumococcal vaccines, protects against symptomatic cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and death. This paper explores the possibility that pneumococcal vaccines in particular, but perhaps other vaccines as well, contain antigens that might be cross-reactive with SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Comparison of the glycosylation structures of SARS-CoV-2 with the polysaccharide structures of pneumococcal vaccines yielded no obvious similarities. However, while pneumococcal vaccines are primarily composed of capsular polysaccharides, some are conjugated to cross-reacting material CRM197, a modified diphtheria toxin, and all contain about three percent protein contaminants, including the pneumococcal surface proteins PsaA, PspA and probably PspC. All of these proteins have very high degrees of similarity, using very stringent criteria, with several SARS-CoV-2 proteins including the spike protein, membrane protein and replicase 1a. CRM197 is also present in Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and meningitis vaccines. Equivalent similarities were found at lower rates, or were completely absent, among the proteins in diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, and poliovirus vaccines. Notably, PspA and PspC are highly antigenic and new pneumococcal vaccines based on them are currently in human clinical trials so that their effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 disease is easily testable.

Possible Cross-Reactivity Between SARS-CoV-2 Proteins, CRM197 and Proteins in Pneumococcal Vaccines May Protect Against Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Disease and Death

Various studies indicate that vaccination, especially with pneumococcal vaccines, protects against symptomatic cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and death. This paper explores the possibility that pneumococcal vaccines in particular, but perhaps other vaccines as well, contain antigens that might be cross-reactive with SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Comparison of the glycosylation structures of SARS-CoV-2 with the polysaccharide structures of pneumococcal vaccines yielded no obvious similarities. However, while pneumococcal vaccines are primarily composed of capsular polysaccharides, some are conjugated to CRM197, a modified diphtheria toxin, and all contain about three percent protein contaminants, including the pneumococcal surface proteins PsaA, PspA and probably PspC. All of these proteins have very high degrees of similarity, using very stringent criteria, with several SARS-CoV-2 proteins including the spike protein, membrane protein and replicase 1a. CRM197 is also present in Hib and meningitis vaccines. Equivalent similarities were found at lower rates, or were completely absent, among the proteins in diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, and poliovirus vaccines. Notably, PspA and PspC are highly antigenic and new pneumococcal vaccines based on them are currently in human clinical trials so that their effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 disease is easily testable.

Indicators of Absolute and Relative Changes in Skeletal Muscle Mass during Adulthood and Ageing

This study aimed to explore the set of variables related to skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in both sexes, and to create age- and sex-related models of changes in SMM, using the most representative indicator of muscular status. Body composition was assessed in 8733 subjects (♀ = 3370 and ♂ = 5363), allocated into subsamples according to age: 18–29.9, 30–39.9, 40–49.9, 50–59.9, 60–69.9, and 70.0–79.9 years. Nine variables were used: protein mass, protein percent, protein mass index, SMM, percent of SMM, SMM index, fat-free mass, fat-free mass index, and protein/fat index. Univariate and multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA and MANOVA) were used to determine between- and within-sex difference in all variables by age. Correlation analysis established the relationship between age and muscularity variables. Principal Component Analysis extracted the variables that loaded highest in explaining muscularity, while regression analysis determined the linearity of association between the age and indicators of muscular status. Variables SMMI and PSMM were extracted as the most sensitive to age, with SMMI being gender-independent while showing the parabolic and sinusoidal form of change as function of ageing in males and females, respectively; and PSMM being sex-dependent while showing a linear trend of decrease in both sexes.

Possible Cross-Reactivity Between SARS-CoV-2 Proteins, CRM197 and Proteins in Pneumococcal Vaccines May Protect Against Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Disease and Death

Various studies indicate that vaccination, especially with pneumococcal vaccines, protects against symptomatic cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and death. This paper explores the possibility that pneumococcal vaccines in particular, but perhaps other vaccines as well, contain antigens that might be cross-reactive with SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Comparison of the glycosylation structures of SARS-CoV-2 with the polysaccharide structures of pneumococcal vaccines yielded no obvious similarities. However, while pneumococcal vaccines are primarily composed of capsular polysaccharides, some are conjugated to CRM197, a modified diphtheria toxin, and all contain about three percent protein contaminants, including the pneumococcal surface proteins PsaA, PspA and probably PspC. All of these proteins have very high degrees of similarity, using very stringent criteria, with several SARS-CoV-2 proteins including the spike protein, membrane protein and replicase 1a. CRM197 is also present in Hib and meningitis vaccines. Equivalent similarities were found at statistically significantly lower rates, or were completely absent, among the proteins in diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, and poliovirus vaccines. Notably, PspA and PspC are highly antigenic and new pneumococcal vaccines based on them are currently in human clinical trials so that their effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 disease is easily testable.