Agnieszka Sujak

Chemical composition and nutritive value of protein of the pea seeds - effect of harvesting year and variety.

Chemical Composition and Nutritive Value of Protein of the Pea Seeds - Effect of Harvesting Year and Variety We tested nutritional usability of pea seeds (Pisum sativum L.) at full maturity. Four white-flowering and 5 colour-flowering new Polish cultivars were compared. We determined proximate composition of ground seeds collected over 4 years period as well as amino acids, minerals (Ca, P, Na, K), tannins and fiber fractions (NDF, ADF, ADL). The seeds contained between 224 and 260 g·kg-1 of crude protein which was rich in Lys (6.8±0.8 g) but poor in Met+Cys (2.0±0.2 g·16 g-1 N). The amount of tannins (as tannic acid equivalent) in white-flowering cvs was 4.3±0.9 g and in colour-flowering - 7.4±2.2 g. The calculated protein nutritional values were compared against amino acid standards of human and animal nutrition and the whole egg protein. Effects of the cropping year and variety variance in respect of chemical composition of seeds were examined. Crude protein, crude oil, N-free extractives, tannins, K, amino acid content: Leu, Phe+Tyr and Ala content were influenced significantly by the cultivar, while the cropping year had a significant influence on dry matter, crude ash, crude protein, crude fibre, crude oil, N-free extractives ADF and ADL fiber fractions, content of P, Na and K, most of the amino acid levels and on nutritional values of the protein measured by means of CS and EAAI indices. Skład Chemiczny Oraz Wartości Odżywcze Białek Nasion Grochu Siewnego - Wpływ Roku Zbioru Oraz Odmiany W niniejszej pracy oceniono użyteczność żywieniową nasion grochu siewnego (Pisum sativum L.) w pełnej dojrzałości nasion. Badaniom podlegały 4 nowe odmiany biało kwitnące oraz 5 kolorowo kwitnących. Oszacowano skład podstawowy rozdrobnionych nasion zbieranych przez okres 4 lat, skład aminokwasowy, zawartość składników mineralnych (Ca, P, Ca, P), taniny oraz udział frakcji włókna (NDF, ADF, ADL). Odmiany biało kwitnące porównano z kolorowo kwitnącymi. Nasiona zawierały pomiędzy 224 a 260 g·kg-1 suchej masy białka bogatego w Lys (6.8±0.8g), ale ubogiego w Met+Cys (2.0±0.2 g·16 g-1 N). Zawartość tanin liczona jako równoważnik kwasu taninowego wynosiła 4.3±0.9 g dla nasion grochu biało kwitnącego oraz 7.4±2.2 g dla grochu kolorowo kwitnącego. Przydatność żywieniowa białka nasion grochu oceniona została poprzez oszacowanie udziału aminokwasów egzogennych (EAA), obliczenie wskaźnika aminokwasu ograniczającego (CS) oraz wskaźnika aminokwasów egzogennych (EAAI). Obliczoną wartość odżywczą białka nasion grochu porównano ze standardami żywieniowymi dla człowieka i zwierząt oraz ze standardem białka jaja kurzego. Rozpatrywano również procentowy udział wariancji roku zbioru i odmiany w odniesieniu do składu chemicznego nasion. Stwierdzono, że rok zbioru oddziaływał w większym stopniu na zawartość składników pokarmowych, niż odmiana. Odmiana miała istotny statystycznie wpływ na zawartość białka ogólnego, tłuszczu surowego, BAW, tanin, potasu, aminokwasów: Leu, Phe+Tyr, Ala, natomiast rok zbioru miał istotny wpływ na zawartość suchej masy, popiołu surowego, włókna surowego, tłuszczu surowego, BAW, frakcji włókna ADF i ADL, zawartość P, K, Na, większości aminokwasów i wartość odżywczą białka mierzoną wskaźnikami CS i EAAI.

Trace elements in eggshells of the Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) from the colony in the Roztocze Hills (South East Poland)

Concentrations of 14 trace elements (Sr, B, Al, Zn, Cu, Li, Se, Mn, Cr, As, Ni, Pb, V, Cd) in eggshells of the Grey Heron Ardea cinerea collected from the colony located in the Roztocze Hills (East Poland) were determined. The concentrations of strontium (geometric mean, 153.88mm/kg dry weight [dw]) proved to be the highest. However, they were lower than those found in eggshells of other birds. The following sequence of concentrations of four important elements was obtained in this study: Cu > Ni > Pb > Cd. This sequence of concentrations is substantially different from the one reported by other authors based on experiments on other Heron species. Interestingly, the concentrations of heavy metals obtained in this study, those of lead and copper in particular, were a dozen or so times lower than those determined in other Heron species. The only exception was the concentration of Ni. Zn concentrations (8.26 mg/kg dw) determined in this study correspond with the results obtained in other eggshell studies.

Environmental Bioindication Studies by Bayesian Network with Use of Grey Heron as Model Species

The article presents a procedure for assessing the quality of the environment, using eggshells of birds as a biomarker implemented into a Bayesian network. An environmental quality index (EQI) was proposed and calculated on the basis of local quality indicators. Experimental data on concentrations of toxic elements in grey heron (Ardea cinerea) eggshells (biomarker of river valleys) were used to determine the empirical variables (nodes) and the probability distributions on the set of these variables. A probabilistic graphical model represents a multitude of relationships between variables in a system that enables the prediction of EQI. The model presented is a useful tool for environmental quality management.

Quality of rapeseed bio-fuel waste: optical properties.

Abstract The objective of the presented work was to examine the optical properties of selected bio-fuel waste. Three independent optical methods: UV-Vis spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and chromametric measurements were applied to establish the possible quality control test for the obtained substances. The following by-products were tested: distilled glycerine, technical glycerine and matter organic non glycerine fraction from rapeseed oil bio-fuel production. The results show that analysis of UV-Vis spectra can give rapid information about the purity of distilled glycerine, while no direct information can be obtained concerning the concentration and kind of impurities. Transmission mode is more useful as compared to absorption, concerning the detection abilities of average UV-Vis spectrometers. Infrared spectroscopy can be used as a complementary method for determining impurities/admixtures in samples. Measurements of chroma give the quickest data to compare the colour of biofuel by-products obtained by different producers. The condition is, however, that the products are received through the same or similar chemical processes. The other important factor is application of well defined measuring background. All the discussed analyses are quick, cheap and non-destructive, and can help to compare the quality of products.

Effect of Electromagnetic Stimulation of Amaranth Seeds of Different Initial Moisture on the Germination Parameters and Photosynthetic Pigments Content

The influence of stimulation with He-Ne laser light, alternating magnetic field and the combination of these factors on germination parameters of amaranth seeds and on the chlorophyll and carotenoid content in seedlings was investigated. During the stimulation the amaranth seeds had a different initial moisture content. From the germination characteristics of the seeds as the function of humidity, three maxima and one minimum value of the germination parameters (the relative germination capacity NK REL, the relative maximum germination rate SK MAX REL and the maximum germination index WK MAX) were obtained. In the majority of cases, the extremities coincided with the changes in the chlorophyll and carotenoid content in the seedlings. The presented research is innovative in the field of seed biology since no similar studies have been conducted before. It is difficult to interpret the results referring to the literature on this subject. The results can be explained as follows: the observed effect must be related to the stages of the water uptake by the seeds. The three stages of the water uptake associated with the seed germination process coincide with the maximum values in the germination parameters and with the change in the photosynthetic pigment content in seedlings.

Effects of atmospheric pressure plasma jet operating with DBD on Lavatera thuringiaca L. seeds’ germination

The paper presents the results of an experiment on the effect of pre-sowing stimulation of seeds with atmospheric pressure plasma jet operating with dielectric barrier discharge (DBD plasma jet) on the process of germination of Thuringian Mallow (Lavatera thuringiaca L.). Five groups of seeds characterized by a different exposure times (1, 2, 5, 10 and 15 minutes) as well as untreated seeds—control were used. Pre-sowing plasma stimulation of seeds improved germination parameters such as: germination capacity and germination energy for all tested groups relative to control. The highest germination parameters were obtained for seeds stimulated with plasma for the exposure times of 2 and 5 min. The analysis of the contact surface angle indicated the decrease of its’ mean values upon seed stimulation while no statistical effects were observed. Analysis of the SEM scans revealed the increase in seed pattern intensity which could be attributed to removing of the surface parts of cuticle possibly covered with wax upon short time—2 and 5 min plasma treatment. Such a phenomenon can act similarly to mechanical scarification of seeds. Longer exposure of seeds to plasma resulted in affecting the deeper zone of cuticle and damage or fracture of some parts of the cuticle. Lower germination parameters of seeds upon longer exposure times to plasma may indicate mechanical damage of the seeds.

Surface tension and wetting properties of rapeseed oil to biofuel conversion by-products

Abstract This work presents a study on the surface tension, density and wetting behaviour of distilled glycerol, technical grade glycerol and the matter organic non-glycerin fraction. The research was conducted to expand the knowledge about the physical properties of wastes from the rapeseed oil biofuel production. The results show that the densities of technical grade glycerol (1.300 g cm-3) and distilled glycerol (1.267 g cm-3) did not differ and were significantly lower than the density of the matter organic non-glycerin fraction (1.579 g cm-3). Furthermore, the surface tension of distilled glycerol (49.6 mN m-1) was significantly higher than the matter organic non-glycerin fraction (32.7 mN m-1) and technical grade glycerol (29.5 mN m-1). As a result, both technical grade glycerol and the matter organic non-glycerin fraction had lower contact angles than distilled glycerol. The examined physical properties of distilled glycerol were found to be very close to that of the commercially available pure glycerol. The results suggest that technical grade glycerol may have potential application in the production of glycerol/fuel blends or biosurfactants. The presented results indicate that surface tension measurements are more useful when examining the quality of biofuel wastes than is density determination, as they allow for a more accurate analysis of the effects of impurities on the physical properties of the biofuel by-products.

OPTIMIZATION OF RICE-FIELD BEAN GLUTEN-FREE PASTA IMPROVED BY THE ADDITION OF HYDROTHERMALLY TREATED RICE FLOUR

Rice and field bean semolina was used to obtain protein- and fiber-enriched gluten-free pasta. The tests covered the effect of pre-gelatinized rice flour used as a gluten-free pasta improver. A central composite design was applied involving the water hydration level and pre-treated rice flour level. Instrumental analyses of pasta (cooking loss, water absorption capacity, texture, hydration index, pasting and thermal properties, and microstructure) were carried out to assess the impact of experimental factors. The results showed that the application of hydrothermally treated rice flour improved the cooking and textural characteristics of pasta. The optimum recipe contained 5.845 g of pre-gelatinized rice flour and 59.266 mL of water, both selected based on the desirability function approach with the value of 0.775 corresponding to the optimum pasta properties.

Trace element concentrations in livers of Common Buzzards Buteo buteo from eastern Poland

In this study, our aim was to determine the common sources of origin of 18 elements in the livers of Common Buzzards collected during the breeding season in an extensive agricultural landscape in south-east Poland with respect to age (adults and immatures) and sex (males and females). In all 34 specimens collected, the element concentrations followed the pattern of S > Na > Fe > Mg > Zn > Si > Cu > Mn > Ba > Se > B > Pb > Hg > Cd > Cr > Ni > Sr > V. Among the heavy metals examined, only the concentration of Pb was relatively high. Given the prevalence of farmland in the studied area (and the wide use of fertilizers), common use of lead-hunting ammunition and moderate concentration of Pb in fertilizers, the indirect influence of hunting ammunition ingested with food or as gastroliths was apparently responsible for the elevated levels of Pb in the livers of Common Buzzards. In our study, no significant sex-related differences were detected in the hepatic concentrations of any element. However, a significant age effect was observed for three elements, which had elevated levels in adults (Hg) and immature birds (B, Pb), and a significant age x sex interaction was found for S and Fe. These results might be explained by the importance of these elements in bone growth in immature birds (B), variable strategies of foraging between adults and immature birds (Pb), and possible intersex differences in the immature cohort in response to the presence of lead (S, Fe).