Different calcium sources on the productive performance and bone quality of meat quail

ABSTRACT: This study was developed to examine the effect of using charru mussel-, maçunim- and oyster-shell meals as calcium sources on the productive performance, carcass yield and bone parameters of meat quail. A total of 250 one-day-old non-sexed European quail were used. The birds were distributed into five treatments (calcium sources: calcitic lime, calcium carbonate, charru mussel shell meal, maçunim shell meal or oyster shell meal) in a completely randomized design with five replicates and ten birds per experimental unit. Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion were evaluated from one to 35 days. At 35 days, two birds with the average weight of the plot were slaughtered per plot and used for analysis of carcass yield and bone parameters. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion, carcass yield or tibia dry matter content, ash content and strength. The charru mussel-, maçunim- and oyster-shell meals can be used as calcium sources in the diet of European quail without affecting their productive performance, carcass yield or bone mineralization.

An in vitro study to assess bioaccessibility and bioavailability of calcium from blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) fish bone powder

The aim of this study was to determine how well calcium-rich mineral extracts derived from blue whiting fish bone powders compare with existing calcium sources (commercially available fish bone supplement, calcium carbonate and milk powder) in terms of physicochemical properties, in vitro bioaccessibility and bioavailability using simulated gastrointestinal tract treatment and a Caco-2 cell culture model. Blue whiting calcium-rich fish bone powders (A to E) were supplied by Bio-marine Ingredients Ireland (BII) and a commercial calcium-rich fish bone powder was used as the positive control F. The BII calcium-rich fish bone powders analysed through atomic emission spectrometry were shown to have similar levels of mineral content in comparison with powder F. Solubility and rheology tests were performed on the rehydrated powders. The pH of BII calcium-rich fish bone powders in water solution (10% w/v) ranged from 6.96 to 9.09 compared to control F (pH 7.33). Following simulated oral, gastric and duodenal in vitro digestion using the COST INFOGEST standardised static adult digestion method, the fish powders A, E and F showed higher values of soluble ionic calcium than rehydrated milk powder. We compared in vitro bioavailability of the powders using the Caco-2 cell line to test the effects of calcium on human colonic epithelial cells, which confirmed that calcium from blue whiting fish bone was more bioavailable than calcium from milk and calcium carbonate. These data indicate that calcium-rich blue whiting fish bone powder compares well with existing calcium sources, in terms of physicochemical properties, bioaccessibility and bioavailability.

The Thermodynamically Expensive Contribution of Three Calcium Sources to Somatic Release of Serotonin

The soma, dendrites and axon of neurons may display calcium-dependent release of transmitters and peptides. Such release is named extrasynaptic for occurring in the absence of synaptic structures. This review describes cooperative actions of three calcium sources on somatic exocytosis. Emphasis is given to the release of serotonin by the classical serotonergic leech Retzius neuron, which has allowed detailed studies of each step between excitation and exoctytosis. Trains of action potentials induce transmembrane calcium entry through L-type channels. If the frequency of action potentials is above 5 Hz, summation of calcium transients upon individual action potentials increases the intracellular calcium concentration to activate calcium–induced calcium release. The amplified calcium wave activates motochondrial ATP synthesis that fuels the transport of vesicles to the plasma membrane. Serotonin that is released activates autoreceptors coupled to phospholipase C. Production of IP3 produces release of calcium that sustains the large-scale exocytosis. The swiss-clock workings of the release machinery for somatic exocytosis has a striking disadvantage. The essential calcium-releasing endoplasmic reticulum that lays between resting vesicles and the plasma membrane becomes an obstacle for the vesicle transport. Such architecture reduces drastically the thermodynamic efficiency of the vesicle transport and elevates its energy cost..

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Soil Treatment Using Calcium Carbonate Precipitation from Cultivated and Lyophilized Bacteria in Soil’s Compaction Water

Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a bio-inspired solution where bacteria metabolize urea to precipitate. This carbonate acts as a bio-cement that bonds soil particles. The existing framework has focused mainly on applying MICP through infiltration of liquid bacterial solutions in existing soil deposits. However, this technique is inefficient in soils with high fines content and low hydraulic conductivity, and thus few studies have focused on the use of MICP in fine soils. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of MICP applied to compaction water in soils containing expansive clays and sandy silts. This approach searches for a better distribution of bacteria, nutrients, and calcium sources and is easy to apply if associated with a compaction process. In soils with expansive minerals, the effect of MICP in swelling potential was explored at laboratory and field scales. In sandy silts, the evolution of the stiffness and strength were studied at the laboratory scale. The treatment at the laboratory scale reduced the swelling potential; nevertheless, no significant effect of MICP was found in the field test. In sandy silts, the strength and stiffness increased under unsaturated conditions; however, subsequent saturation dissolved the cementation and the improvement vanished.

Response of Hybrid Tomato (Solanum lycopersiucm L) for Calcium Nutrition: Growth, Root Traits and SPAD Index

Aims: To evaluate the effect of various sources and levels of calcium fertilisation in improving the growth and SPAD index of hybrid tomato at different growth stages. Study Design: Factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with three replications. Place and Duration of Study: A field experiment was conducted in the farmer’s field at Devarayapuram village, Thondamuthur block, Coimbatore from January to April, 2021. Methodology: A field experiment was conducted with hybrid tomato (Solanum lycopersiucm L) Shivam by using various organic and inorganic calcium sources viz., calcium sulphate, calcium nitrate, calcium silicate, poultry manure and pressmud applied at different levels (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 kg Ca ha-1) in a factorial randomized block design with three replications. The growth parameters such as plant height, root length, lateral root length, root volume and SPAD index were recorded as per standard protocols at different plant growth stages. Results: A linear increase in the plant growth, root traits and SPAD index of hybrid tomato was noted by the addition of organic and inorganic sources of calcium and the highest values were observed with the application of 80 kg Ca ha-1. Higher plant height (93.8 cm), root length (16.8 cm), lateral root length (13.3 g cc-1) and SPAD index (62.0) was registered with poultry manure applied at 80 kg Ca ha-1 which was followed by pressmud applied at the same level. Skipping of calcium in the fertiliser schedule registered the lowest growth response of hybrid tomato at all the growth stages. Conclusion: Inorganic Ca fertiliser sources though improved the growth, root traits and SPAD index of hybrid tomato at different growth stages, and it was comparatively lesser than the organic sources such as poultry manure and pressmud as calcium sources. The order of better growth performance was: Poultry manure > Pressmud > Ca silicate > Ca Nitrate > Ca sulphate. The lowest values of all the growth attributes were noted with NPK control. It was concluded that application of poultry manure at 80 kg Ca ha-1 would be effective in improving the growth, root traits and SPAD index of hybrid tomato.

Comparative characterization study of plant based calcium vs synthetic calcium

Calcium is an essential mineral which supports bone health as well as serves as a major therapeutic intervention that can prevent and delay the incidence of osteoporosis.Multicellular aquatic plants like are a rich source of plant based calcium. The Characterization of Plant based calcium and Synthetic calcium sources using sophisticated analytical techniques. Plant based Calcium and Synthetic Calcium sources were subjected to instrumental analysis such as SEM, ICP-OES and XRD, and comparisons were done followed by interpretation.In this study, three different instrument techniques like SEM, ICP-OES and XRD were used for the characterization of plant based calcium and synthetic calcium. The results showed that plant based calcium were smaller crystals as compared to synthetic calcium crystals. Further, in case of XRD results, plant based calcium is shown to possess two 2θ values, whereas in case of synthetic calcium, it showed a single 2θ value. Further, Magnesium and Boron content were higher in case of plant based calcium as compared to synthetic calcium. Both Plant based and Synthetic Calcium can be distinguished using SEM, ICP-OES and XRD techniques. Outcomes of this study enlightens the probable reasons for enhanced bioavailability in case of plant based calcium sources as compared to synthetic sources.

Immobilization of Pb by organic and inorganic phosphate and calcium sources in an acidic Pb-polluted soil amended with cow manure

Background: Chemical stabilization of heavy metals in acidic soil is one of the important points in environmental pollution. Thus, this research was conducted to investigate the effect of organic and inorganic amendments on lead (Pb) immobilization in the Pb-polluted soil. Methods: Treatments were consisted of applying cow manure (0, 15, and 30 t/ha), and applying cow bone and phosphate rock (5% (W/W)) in the Pb (0, 800, and 1600 mg Pb/kg soil)-polluted soil. The plant used in this experiment was canola. After 70 days, the plants were harvested and soil and plant Pb concentration was measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Results: Applying 15 and 30 t/ha of cow manure in the Pb (1600 mg Pb/kg soil)-polluted soil significantly decreased the soil Pb concentration by 14.3 and 17.2%, respectively. For plant Pb concentration, it was increased by 11.8 and 15.1%, respectively. A significant decrease in plant Pb concentration was measured, when the soil under cultivation of the plant was amended with 5% (W/W) phosphate rock powder. For the plants grown on the soil, which was amended with 5% (W/W), the plant Pb concentration decreased by 17.6%. In addition, applying organic and inorganic amendment significantly decreased the bio-concentration factor (BCF), while the soil microbial respiration increased. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that applying 15 and 30 t/ha cow manure or calcium and phosphorus sources such as cow bone and phosphate rock powder (5% (W/W) can decrease the soil Pb availability and prevent the Pb translocation from soil to plants.