Antimicrobially Active Semen Extenders Allow the Reduction of Antibiotic Use in Pig Insemination

Antibiotic use in semen extenders for livestock may contribute to the development and spreading of multi-drug resistance. Antimicrobial control in semen doses for artificial insemination of pigs is indispensable due to the relatively high storage temperature (17 °C). The objectives of this study were first, to examine whether the antimicrobial capacity differs between antibiotic-free extenders and second, to determine whether an antimicrobial active extender provides the possibility to reduce antibiotics. Antibiotic-free semen extenders Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) and Androstar Premium were inoculated at 103 to 104 CFU/mL with four pure bacterial strains isolated from boar ejaculates or a mixture thereof, and then stored for 144 h at 17 °C. Bacterial counts after aerobic culture decreased in BTS up to one log level and decreased in Androstar Premium by 2 to 3.5 log levels (p < 0.05). In semen samples from nine boars stored in the inoculated Androstar Premium extender containing half of the standard concentration of gentamicin, bacteria counts were below 101 CFU/mL. Likewise, half of the standard dose of apramycin and ampicillin was fully antimicrobially active and sperm quality was maintained. In conclusion, semen extenders with intrinsic antimicrobial activity allow a reduction in antibiotic use in pig insemination.

Description of factors decreasing egg incubation of creole hens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Objective: To describe the factors that affect the incubation of fertile eggs of Creole hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) at Mezquital Valley, Hidalgo, Mexico. Design/Methodology/Approach: 448 eggs of Creole hens were incubated in a Casser model 7622 incubator, in which the number of infertile and fertile eggs was evaluated; within the number of fertile eggs, the number of dead embryos was determined; due to dehydration or damage caused by fungi and bacteria. From the live hatched chickens, those that died due to omphalitis were recorded. Results: 272 of 448 incubated eggs were fertile; 119 of them hatched and 153 were dead embryos. While 176 were infertile. Among the dead embryos, 84 of dehydration, 69 due to fungal and bacterial infection and 11 live hatched chicks due to omphalitis. Limitations/implications: The literature review found little information on factors affecting the hatching of fertile Creole chicken eggs in backyard flocks. Findings/conclusions: Infection by fungi and bacteria increase embryonic mortality, while omphalitis increases mortality during the first days of life of the backyard Creole chickens. High storage temperature in the nest or incubator causes embryo dehydration.

Internal browning control in ‘Laetitia’ plums by modified atmosphere, management of ethylene and storage temperature

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of modified atmosphere (MA) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment on low storage temperature (1.5 °C) and 1-MCP treatment on high storage temperature (8.0 °C) on fruit quality of ‘Laetitia’ plums, mainly on internal browning. The treatments evaluated were 1.5 °C; 1-MCP (1.0 µL L-1) + 1.5 °C; MA + 1.5 °C; 1-MCP + MA + 1.5 °C; 8.0 °C; 1-MCP + 8.0 °C. Fruit were stored for 30 and 40 days, followed by three day of shelf life. For fruit stored at 1.5 °C, the treatment with 1-MCP associated to MA provided higher flesh firmness, less intense skin red color and reduced occurrence of internal browning in comparison to the fruit stored at 1.5 °C of the remaining treatments, for both periods of storage. In fruit not treated with 1-MCP and stored at 8.0 °C there was no occurrence of internal browning, despite of lower flesh firmness and more intense red color of the skin and flesh in comparison to the fruit stored at 1.5 °C. The treatment with 1-MCP in fruit stored at 8.0 °C delayed those changes of flesh firmness and red color of the skin and flesh assessed after 30 days of storage, followed by three days of shelf life. The MA, regardless of 1-MCP treatment, had fruit with higher production of acetaldehyde after 30 days of storage, and ethanol after 30 and 40 days of storage at 1.5 oC. In fruit stored at 1.5 °C without MA, the treatment with 1-MCP reduced the production of ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde and ethanol. Fruit stored at 8.0 °C, regardless of 1-MCP treatment, had the lowest production of acetaldehyde and ethanol.

Effects of Storage Time and Temperature on Antioxidants in Juice from Momordica charantia L. and Momordica charantia L. var. abbreviata Ser.

This study determined the antioxidant activities of juice from Momordica charantia L. (MC) and MC var. abbreviata Ser. (MCVAS) by analyzing 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging ability, ferric reducing power (FRP), and total phenolic content (TPC). The effects of storage time and storage temperature on these antioxidant activities were investigated. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry was conducted to identify the major components of MC and MCVAS. The results revealed that the antioxidant activity of MCVAS was better than that of MC, possibly because of richer components of MCVAS. For MC and MCVAS, the scavenging concentrations of 50% DPPH were 3.33 and 1.19 mg/mL, respectively; moreover, the FRP values were 68.93 and 118.14 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g dry weight, respectively; and the TPC values were 8.15 and 11.47 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight, respectively. The antioxidant activities of MC and MCVAS decreased with storage time. High storage temperature decreased antioxidant activity more quickly than a low temperature. In addition, MC had exhibited a faster decline in DPPH scavenging ability and FRP than MCVAS during 24-day storage, but no difference was observed in TPC.

Assessment of Passive Retrofitting Strategies to Improve the Thermal Performance of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Storage Area in Traditional Rural Olive Mills

The quality of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is strongly correlated to the fatty acid alkyl esters (FAEE) content. High storage temperature leads to degradation of positive oil attributes in the long term, while low temperature develops rancidity quickly, thus reducing the consumer’s acceptance and, therefore, the shelf life of EVOO. In Calabria, there are many traditional olive mills, yet only few are utilized nowadays. This is mainly due to the low building performance—in particular to the temperature control inside the oil storage area. This paper illustrates the thermal analysis carried out on a famous historical olive mill located in Lamezia Terme, the best agricultural land in Calabria. A thermal retrofitting assessment was conducted, and eight different passive strategies were evaluated to improve the sustainability of the buildings.

Environmental indoor thermal control of extra virgin olive oil storage room with phase change materials

The quality of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is strongly correlated to storage temperature, in fact the storage conditions (packaging material, oxygen, temperature, and light) alters not only the fatty acid alkyl esters (FAEE) of the olive oil but also other quality parameters such as peroxide, making the oil incompatible to the high quality EVOO. During storage of EVOO the polyphenols tend to decrease and compromise the dietetic and nutritional qualities and taste and produce harmful substances. The storage temperature, more than 24°C, influences quite a lot FAEE especially for long-term conservation. High storage temperature leads to degradation of oil quality in the long term while low temperature develops rancidity quickly, reducing the consumer’s demand. Low storage temperature also affects the EVOO quality but in a lesser way than high storage temperature. The present study proposes the use of a control temperature system based on the application of phase change materials (PCM) on the buildings envelope. A specific case study was considered to evaluate the effect on use of PCM. The building analysed was an olive mill building situated in Scido a small town in the province of Reggio Calabria located in southern Italy. The intervention on the EVOO storage room to improve the energy savings for temperature control was based on the insulation of the partitions and the installation of a false ceiling to limit the air volume, with a two layer panel sandwich, one of PCM and the other of a rigid polyurethane foam with a 4 cm thick metal cladding. A thermal analysis simulation, by means of DesignBuilder software, was conducted. To calculate the electric energy spent in a year to control air temperature in a range of 8- 22°C. The results were of 3590. 67 kWh/year for existing building and 2539.52 kWh/year for building with PCM, energy save of about 30%. A temperature decrease of about 3°C was measured inside the storage room without a cooling system during the hottest year period but the most important result was a thermal indoor air stabilisation in the storage room. This condition avoids a thermal fluctuation to the EVOO and it is the best storage condition.

Egg quality during storage of eggs from hens fed diets with crude palm oil

Objective. Evaluate the effect of crude palm oil (CPO) on quality traits of eggs stored various days at different temperatures. Material and Methods. A total of 240 hens, 28 weeks of age were fed diets with 30 g/kg of soybean oil (SO) or CPO. After 12 weeks, sample of eggs were stored during 0, 4, 8 and 12 days at 4, 12 and 24 °C. Egg quality traits were evaluated. Results. Egg and albumen from hens in CPO diet were heavier than those in SO (p<0.05). High storage temperature reduced egg, albumen and yolk weights, Haugh units (HU), albumen and yolk heights, pH and color (p<0.05), but increased albumen and yolk widths and albumen length (p<0.05). As storage time increased, egg weight, albumen weight and height, and yolk height, pH and colour were reduced (p<0.05). However, yolk weight and width, albumen width and length increased (p<0.05). Oil x storage time interaction (p<0.05) indicated that albumen height, HU and yellowness of yolk from hens in CPO diets were better at 12 days of storage than for hens fed SO. Conclusions. Hens in CPO diet had heavier eggs and albumen than those in SO diet. Egg quality traits decreased as temperature and days of storage increased, but, eggs from hens supplemented CPO had better quality in some traits at 12 days of storage.

Demonstrating the Instability of SiC Ohmic Contacts and Drain Terminal Metallization Schemes Aged at 300 °C

The long-term thermal stability of the drain contacts of three different commercially available SiC MOSFET devices has been determined at a storage temperature of 300 °C. Existing literature suggests that, at this temperature, the nickel silicides associated with ohmic contact creation should be stable, but this was found not to be the case. Our TEM and EDX work revealed silicide phase transformations, further silicide growth and severe thermally-driven degradation of the drain contact metallization stack on top of the silicide layers. We attribute this instability and growth of the silicides to the high storage temperature and large supply of nickel atoms available from the metal stack. The nickel atoms diffuse and decompose the original silicides to enable the formation of a new low temperature Ni32Si12 phase, and slowly decompose the SiC substrate to form additional nickel silicide.