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Surveys were carried out in Moscow oblast to estimate the green forage nutritional value and the yield performance of sunflower, sweet sorghum, and corn hybrids split into different maturity groups with the comparison approach. The crop yields and chemical composition of vegetative mass of the crops listed above were determined. All the experimental silage crops are characterized by high yields of vegetative mass. In corn, for instance, it increases along with increasing the value for the condition early maturity index (FAO) from 374 centners/ha in early maturity hybrids to 486 centners/ha in medium maturity hybrid plants. The highest value for this index, comprising 491 centers/ha, was recorded in sweet sorghum. The sunflower vegetative mass made up 442 centners/ha. An increase in the plant cutting height when harvesting mid-early hybrids reduces the vegetative mass yield by 10%, while it tends to increase the green-forage energy value from 2.08 to 2.41 MJ ME. Harvesting mid-early maturity hybrids after the first frost strikes contributes to a slight increase in the nutrient content of natural feeds (from 1.87 to 2.00 MJ ME), reducing the energy concentration in dry matter from 9.74 to 9.48 MJ ME. Sweet sorghum in terms of the nutrient yield per ha and the energy concentration in the silage dry matter is not inferior to the corn. With respect to the protein yield per ha, it is characterized by the highest value for this indicator, comprising 1028 kg. However, the natural sweet-sorghum feed is inferior to the natural corn feed in terms of the energy value (1.86 MJ ME). Sunflower is different in the low green-forage nutrient content (1.53 MJ ME) and the least metabolizable energy per ha (67.6 vs. 90.9 GJ for medium-maturity corn hybrids) because of high humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulping industry generates vast amounts of bark and wastewater treatment sludges, which are combined and stored in stacks, often in the open air, prior to combustion for energy. The effects of incorporating sludge into bark on heating value and storage-related environmental impacts were investigated in laboratory and outdoors. Biological degradation was found to be higher in treatments containing 25% sludge (B75S25) and 50% sludge (B50S50) in comparison with pure bark (B100). Mean monthly dry mass loss was 2.1% (B100), 3.3% (B75S25), and 3.7% (B50S50) in the laboratory and 2.7, 4.2, and 4.8%, respectively, outdoors. Addition of sludge maintained degradation activity at low temperatures (+ 3 °C). Co-storage of sludge and bark led to loss of energy, mainly due to increased loss of biomass and increased moisture, which governed the heating value. Cumulative methane emissions were higher from the sludge-containing treatments than from pure bark, but emissions of nitrogen-containing gases (N2O and NH3) were negligible throughout. Sludge addition roughly halved the cumulative chemical oxygen demand (COD) of leachate and minimized its concentration of phosphate-P. However, larger amounts of inorganic elements were released from the sludge-containing treatments. Overall, these results indicate that finding alternative uses for the sludge fraction would be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) has been used for several applications and various roles like information gathering, monitoring data, transmitting data, etc. However, the key drawback behind this WSN is energy consumption. In WSN, some nodes have been consumed more energy because of malicious events like replication nodes. So, the replication node must be predicted in the initial stage to avoid packet drop and minimize energy consumption. So, this current research proposed a novel Whale-based Node Identity Verification (WbNIV) for detecting replication nodes in the Mobile Wireless Sensor Network. Moreover, the fitness function of the whale is used to identify each node's energy level and for exact replication node detection. Initially, the required numbers of nodes are designed then the details of a node are stored in WbNIV memory. During the monitoring and prediction process, the replication node in the WSN is identified by analyzing the details and behavior of the node. Finally, the proposed WbNIV has gained 98.89% replication node prediction accuracy, recorded the maximum packet drop as 12.8%, and reduced communication delay to 3 s, which is relatively better than the existing models. Thus, it has reduced power consumption up to 30% compared to the existing models. It has also improved the detection accuracy up to 5% than the compared models and has reduced the packet drop up to 10% compared to conventional approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to properly balancing nutritional value in accordance with the needs of a dog, estimating the microbiological quality of dog food is crucial in providing healthy and safe foods. The aim of this study was to examine the quality of dry food for adult dogs, with particular reference to: (1) evaluating the nutritional value and compliance with nutritional guidelines for dogs, (2) comparing the nutritional value of dog foods, with particular emphasis on the division into cereal and cereal-free foods, and (3) evaluating their microbiological safety. All thirty-six evaluated dry dog foods met the minimum European Pet Food Industry FEDIAF requirement for total protein and fat content. The total aerobic microbial count in the analyzed dry dog foods ranged from 2.7 × 102 to above 3.0 × 107 cfu/g. In five (14%) dog foods the presence of staphylococci was detected; however, coagulase positive Staphylococcus (CPS) was not found. Mold presence was reported in one cereal-free dog food and in six cereal foods. In none of the analyzed foods Enterobacteriaceae were found, including coliforms, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. Bacteria of the genus Listeria and Clostridium as well as yeasts were also not detected. In conclusion, the evaluated dry dog foods had varied microbiological quality. The detected number of microorganisms may have some implications for long-term consumption of contaminated food. The lack of European Commission standards regarding the permissible amounts of microorganisms in pet food may result in insufficient quality control of these products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish waste disposal is a major cause for concern for the seafood processing industries. Fish processing generates enormous quantities of waste as almost 45% of the live weight of fish is regarded as waste. Current ways of managing fish waste involves dumping in oceans, landfills, or treating them with already established strategies. Dumping these wastes without any form of treatment is far from being environmental friendly. Current utilization strategies suffer from disadvantages such as incomplete utilization of solid and liquid wastes or generation of new waste effluents that needs further processing. Therefore, there is a need to find an alternate/supplemental method of seafood utilization. Previously, we have reported the use of microwave hydrothermal carbonization (MHTC) to carbonize fish waste to hydrochar. Here, a conventional heating method such as a custom autoclave reactor is reported that could also be used to carbonize fish waste to hydrochar. Upon response surface design optimization, it was found that a maximal yield of hydrochar (~ 35%) can be achieved at a holding temperature of 180 °C and at a holding time of 120 min. We have also characterized the elemental, proximate, energy, and surface properties of hydrochar produced by conventional hydrothermal carbonization (CHTC). It was found that the quality of the hydrochar produced by MHTC is largely comparable to CHTC. This further proves that HTC could be employed to generate energy from non-lignocellulosic wastes such as fish waste while getting rid of the waste in an eco-friendly manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study is to test the effects of temperature on the early life stages of one of the most common freshwater fish species worldwide, the common carp. About 16,000 eggs coming from 3-year-old broodstock were randomly distributed into five incubators, one incubator by tested temperature (16, 18, 20, 22, and 24°C). Several parameters (survival and malformation rates, development time, morphometric parameters, and energy values) were studied at three key biological stages (hatching, emergence and first food intake). We found no significant impact of temperature on both survival and malformation rates. However, as expected, development time was three times longer at 16°C than at 24°C. At both 16 and 24°C, the consumption of the yolk sac was highest; yet larvae were smaller at 16°C and largest at 24°C. Our results suggest that the early life stages of common carp developing at 22-24°C could survive better in the wild, which is in accordance with current models that predict a small change of the distribution area of the common carp in France, but probably an extension in Northern European regions, in the next decades consequently to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ontogeny of a year class of pink and chum salmon is described for the period after the redistribution of underyearling individuals from coastal waters to deep-sea areas of the western Bering Sea in September and October, 2013. The intensity of their feeding was high; their diet included hyperiids, pteropods, and juvenile euphausiids. The metabolic costs of growth reached only 20% of the consumed food, which indicates significant energy costs for locomotion; moreover, as the body size increases, the level of metabolic functions rises at a decreasing rate, which causes the body growth to slow down and food consumption to decrease. The main items in the diet of underyearling salmon are characterized by a low content of dry matter, low lipid content, and, consequently, a low calorie content, i.e., underyearlings mainly consume protein-rich food with a low fat content. The chemical composition of the tissues almost did not differ between underyearling pink and chum salmon. Both species typically had a low fat content in their muscles. Thus, fat is not accumulated at this stage of ontogeny; all energy that is obtained with food, after being used for locomotion and metabolism, is spent for linear growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fast method has been developed for the determination of fat, proteins, carbohydrates, and energy value in baby food, infant fast food, and canteen menus, using near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy measurements and multivariate calibration methods based on partial least square regression. Reference standard methods were employed to build and validate the infrared methods for direct determination of nutrients. Coefficients of determination obtained between predicted values and reference ones for total fat, proteins, carbohydrates, and energy value were 96.7, 98.1, 98.9, and 96.5 for NIR and 91.0, 93.0, 92.0, and 84.1 for MIR, respectively, with relative root mean square error of prediction (RRMSEP) below or equal to 9 % for NIR and 16 % for MIR. Results obtained indicate that both NIR and MIR techniques have good predictive capabilities, with the NIR method being the most accurate and simple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole pod and seeds of velvet bean ( Mucuna pruriens) were included in diets for growing sheep used to validate previously estimated ME values of 9.7 MJ and 12.6 MJ for whole pod and seed respectively. Twenty-four lambs, 15 females and nine males of 18.7 ± 2.4 kg average weight, were allocated in three treatments using a completely randomized block design with eight replicates per treatment. Each group was given a diet with a ratio of 60% of Napier grass ( Pennisetum purpureum) and 40% of a supplement with the addition of 0%, 50% whole pod or 66% of M. pruriens seeds, for TI, TII and TIII respectively. Diets were formulated to meet the requirements for 100-g daily live weight gain (LWG). The total dry matter intake (836 g a d, forage + supplement), LWG (90 g a d) and feed conversion (9.66 kg DM/kg LWG) of lambs from TIII were lower ( P < 0.05) compared to 941 g, 121 g, and 7.78 kg DM/kg LWG from TII and 976 g, 132 g and 7.50 kg DM/kg LWG from TI respectively. No difference was found ( P > 0.05) between TI and TII in the three evaluated variables. The ME values of whole pod and seeds of M. pruriens used in this work were validated. It was concluded that M. pruriens can be included as a component in diets for growing sheep, as a partial replacement of conventional feedstuffs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Long- term consumption of imbalanced diets, poor in dietary fibres, resulted in the prevalence of several nutritional pathologies. However, low digestible carbohydrates (LDC) have many beneficial effects, especially on energy intake, digestive physiology, and mineral absorption. Aim of the study To determine the digestive effects of a LDC, called NUTRIOSE® FB, its metabolisable energy (ME) value, and its effects on mineral absorption in humans. Methods Ten healthy young men were fed for 31 d periods a maintenance diet supplemented with either dextrose or the LDC at a level of 100 g DM/d, in six equal doses per d according to a cross-over design. After a 20 d adaptation period, food intake was determined for 11 days using the duplicate meal method, and faeces and urine were collected for 10 d for further analyses. Results Ingestion of the LDC did not cause severe digestive disorders, except excessive gas emission, and flatulence and slight abdominal pain in some subjects for intakes above 50 g DM/d. Wet and dry stool outputs increased by 45 and 70 %, respectively (P <0.02). In vitro enzymatic digestibility of the LDC was 15 (SD 1.5) %,and 9.2 (SD 8.3) % of the LDC was excreted in faeces (P < 0.001). The ME value of the LDC was 14.1 (SD 2.3) kJ/g DM, that is 14% less than the tabulated values of sucrose and starch. Its net energy value (NEV), estimated using three prediction equations, was 8.7,8.9, and 11.4 kJ/g DM. Ingestion of the LDC significantly increased the relative apparent absorption of Mg, and Mg retention by 67 % and 31 mg/d, respectively, tended to increase Ca apparent absorption (P=0.110) and Ca retention (P = 0.059), but did not significantly alter Zn parameters. Conclusion NUTRIOSE® FB can be used as a "bulking" agent, and substituted up to 50 g/d for usual maltodextrins without causing digestive disorders in healthy subjects. It would reduce intestinal transit disorders and energy intake, and im- prove magnesium and calcium absorption and retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bandicoots, Bandicota bengalensis (Gray), tend to favour a varied diet, but the foods offered are not selected in a linear order. Unextracted flours of millet and maize, are readily accepted: only semolina is equally accepted among the forms of ground wheat. Among whole cereals, millet is preferred but equally preferred is polished rice. Rice is also markedly preferred when boiled to its dry alternative. Foods mixed with sugar or groundnut oil are similarly favoured over plain alternatives. Factors such as texture strongly influence the choice, while the effects of taste and calorific value are marked by their profound omnivory. Mean rates of consumption vary according to choice, from 5 to 10% of body weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proximate composition, energy content and physiochemical properties of Afzelia africana and Brachystegia eurycoma seeds were determined. The bulk density, reconstitutability, foam properties and emulsification properties of flour samples in water, 1% saline and 1% alkali were studied. There were no significant differences (p > or = 0.05) in the proximate composition of seeds from different agroclimatic zones. The energy content of seeds were comparable to that of other legume seeds (5.7 kcal/g for A. africana and 4.5 kcal/g for B. eurycoma seeds). Foam properties of B. eurycoma seeds were found to be better than that of A. africana seeds in terms of foam volume and stability. Emulsification properties of B. eurycoma seeds were also found to be better than A. africana seeds suggesting that B. eurycoma seeds would be more efficient in food systems requiring the formation of stable foams and emulsions. Protein solubility in alkali was found to be better than in water and in 1% saline. The bulk densities and reconstitution indices of flour samples from the two seeds were found to be similar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Zeitschrift für Ernäehrungswissenschaft is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)