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Objective: The experiment aimed to study the effect of dietary metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP) on laying performance, egg quality, serum routine biochemical and lipid metabolism indicators, the apparent digestibility of nutrients, and fecal microbiota of Taihe Silky Fowl (TSF) during the peak laying period. Methods: A total of 540 26-week-old TSF female fowls were randomly allocated to 9 groups with 5 replicates per group and 12 fowls per replicate. The fowls were fed with a 3×3 factorial arrangement of treatments diets (ME:10.88,11.30, or 11.72 MJ/kg; CP: 15, 16, or 17%). Results: With the increasing CP level, the egg weight (p = 0.023), egg production (p = 0.047), and egg mass (p = 0.022) enhanced, while the feed conversion rate (FCR) (p = 0.023) decreased. As the ME levels grew, the average daily feed intake (p<0.001) and FCR (p = 0.045) decreased. With enhanced ME, the triglycerides (p = 0.037), total cholesterol (p = 0.041), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.028) increased, whereas the lowdensity serum lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.039) decreased. The apparent digestibility of CP increased as the ME level increased (p = 0.029) and as the CP level decreased (p = 0.027). At the same time, the apparent digestibility of gross energy increased as the ME level increased (p = 0.018). Different levels of ME or CP changed the composition of fecal microbiota, 17% CP increased the abundance of Bifidobacterium. Conclusion: It is suggested that 10.88 MJ/kg dietary ME and 17% CP level are suitable for the nutritional requirements of TSF during the peak laying period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abalone aquaculture production is predicted to continue to increase. Nutrition and health aspect are becoming two major issues that can impede the development and economic sustainability of abalone aquaculture industries. Feeding fresh macroalgae to abalone has supply inconsistency and biosecurity issues in the culture system. The utilization of commercially formulated diets could improve abalone growth rates. However, in general, the health condition of abalone which has been fed commercially formulated feeds was lower than abalone fed fresh macroalgae diets. An abalone diet should not only need to sustain a high growth rate but also promote optimal health. The use of dried macroalgae meal as a dietary ingredient in formulated diets for abalone could potentially increase growth rate, reduce feed costs and gain the health and immunity benefits of macroalgae. This review aims to improve understanding of the potential benefits of using fresh and dried marine macroalgae as feed ingredients to provide nutritional and health improvements for abalone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the precise nutritional requirements of livestock and poultry and to make reasonable and efficient utilization of existing feed resources is an effective way to solve the problem of shortage of feed resources in China. With the continuous progress of breeding and nutrition regulation strategies, as well as the differences in feeding environment and diet composition, the nutritional requirements of modern laying hens for protein and amino acids are constantly changing. This paper reviewed the latest research results on the determination methods of protein and amino acid nutritional requirements of laying hens, the nutritional requirements of protein and amino acids and the nutritional requirements of protein and amino acids in low-protein diets in recent 5 years, aiming to provide a basis for more accurate formulation of laying hen diet and promoting the healthy development of laying hen breeding industry in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinibarbus caldwelli is mainly distributed in Fujian, Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces. It is a kind of freshwater economic fish with great development potential because of its delicious meat, certain medicinal value, strong disease resistance, easy breeding and transportation. In recent years, the demand of Spinibarbus caldwelli in the domestic market has been increasing, and the market prospect was broad, but there were some problems, such as unclear feed formula, low hatching rate of fertilized eggs and low survival rate of seedlings, etc., which restricted the large-scale breeding of Spinibarbus caldwelli. The biological characteristics of Spinibarbus caldwelli were introduced in this paper, including its morphological characters, living habits and feeding distance habits. Then, the research progress in reproductive biology (including natural reproduction, gonadal differentiation, embryonic development, artificial reproduction, secondary reproduction and interspecific hybridization) and nutriology were reviewed in order to provide reference for the cultivation of new strains (species) of Spinibarbus caldwelli, the popularization of large-scale breeding and the development of its special compound feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on agricultural fruit waste fermentation for acetic acid production have focused on understanding its nutrient requirements. The present systematic literature review aimed to assess the potential and additional nutrients necessary for optimised acetic acid production from fruit waste. Fermentation conditions and techniques employed for the alcoholic and acetous fermentation stages were also evaluated to establish their significant effects on acetic acid yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yunnan semi-fine wool (YSFW) is a recently developed dual-purpose (meat and wool) sheep breed mainly found in Yunnan Province, China. Moreover, dietary calcium is essential for animal health and productivity. The current experiment aimed to investigate the impact of dietary calcium on sheep gut metabolite profile. For this, thirty YSFW rams (male, age = 10 months, and body weight = 40.37 ± 0.49 kg) were randomized into three groups (n = 10 rams/group), followed by a completely randomized design, and the groups were allotted to one of three dietary calcium levels (Q_1 = 0.50%, Q_3 = 0.73%, and Q_5 = 0.98% on a dry basis). The rams were fed ad libitum by feeding twice a day (at 08:00 and 17:00 h/day) throughout the experimental period (44 day). On the 21st day of the experiment, fecal samples were collected from 27 rams (9/group) and untargeted metabolite profiling was performed by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography. The PCA plot showed that the Q_5 group metabolites were clustered more tightly than for Q_1 and Q_3, respectively. The tightly clustering molecules were mainly alkaloids and their derivatives, benzenoids, lignans and related compounds, lipids, nucleotides, organic acids, and nitrogenous-based derivatives. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, these molecules potentially contribute to metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, proteinaceous compounds, and the metabolism of the protein derivatives, particularly amino acids. The PLS-DA plots revealed a significant difference between the Q_1, Q_3, and Q_5 groups, suggesting that Q_5 had a clear separation across the groups. Based on the metabolomic analysis, feeding different levels of dietary calcium significantly changed the metabolomic profile of YSFW rams, which primarily entails metabolic pathways such as energy, protein, and lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the lysine requirement for tambaqui and estimate other essential amino acids (EAA) requirement based on the ideal protein concept. A total of 144 tambaqui juveniles (184.1 g ± 1.96) were randomly assigned into 18 500 L-aquaria connected to a water recirculation system. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with six treatments and three replicates. A basal control diet (52.5 g of protein kg−1 dry matter) was supplemented with six levels of synthetic lysine (9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 g kg−1 diet). Then, a dose-response trial was conducted to determine the optimal level of lysine for enhancing fish growth and nutrient utilization. Additional analyses were carried out to understand and correlate the fish responses to the dietary lysine levels, including blood chemistry analysis, enzymatic activity, and muscle development patterns. Weight gain increased until reaching 2.27 g at 17.4 g kg−1 diet lysine. Protein (25.6 g) and lysine (55.6 g) retention plateaued at 18 g kg−1 lysine. The lipid concentration declined linearly (P < 0.001, R2 = 0.81) according to the increase in dietary lysine levels. Plasma ammonia and alanine aminotransferase activity decreased as lysine levels increased (P < 0.05, R2 = 0.95, 0.84, respectively). No differences were observed for muscle morphology. Regardless the dietary lysine levels, the predominance of muscle growth was via hypertrophy. In sum, the estimated lysine requirement based on weight gain for tambaqui was 17.4 g kg−1 diet or 54.37 g kg−1 of dietary protein.

Soursop is a tropical fruit of economic importance in Mexico, however, there is scarce research on its nutrition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the foliar nutrient concentration in the vegetative state and to compare the nutritional diagnosis between the Kenworthy Balance Index (KBI) and Deviation from Optimum Percentage (DOP) in the soursop crop. The foliar concentration of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn and B presented lower values than the reference standard. It was found concordance between KBI and DOP indices for the diagnosis in 91% of the orchards; the nutrients N, P, K, Ca, Mn and B were deficient in all orchards and excessive Cu (in 33% of the orchards), Fe and Zn (in 8% of the orchards respectively). However, the diagnosis of Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn in some orchards was contradictory due their adequate ranges with the KBI and deficient with the DOP. In general, with the two indices 25% of the orchards coincide with the decreasing order of the nutrients P

Coffee intercropped with Urochloa decumbens modifies nutrient uptake, and consequently the yield and quality of coffee, by the greater release of nutrients and efficient nutrient cycling. There is little information about the increasing nutrient content in Arabica coffee plants intercropped with Urochloa decumbens. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Urochloa decumbens intercropped with two coffee cultivars (Coffea arabica L.) on the levels of macro- and micronutrients and coffee crop yield. The experiment was conducted at Embrapa Cerrados, Planaltina-DF, and was arranged in a completely randomized block design with three replications, in a factorial design. The first factor consists of two management systems: with (WB) and without (NB) Urochloa decumbens intercropped; the second factor is composed of Arabica coffee cultivars ‘IPR-103’ and ‘IPR-99’. There was no significant difference in yield of the coffee cultivars with and without Urochloa decumbens intercropped between the rows. The treatment with ‘IPR-99’ coffee cultivar intercropped with Urochloa decumbens achieved 400 kg ha−1 (8 bags) more than the other treatments. The presence of Urochloa decumbens increased leaf nutrient contents of the macronutrients Ca and Mg and micronutrients Mn and Fe. Thus, the Arabica coffee–Urochloa decumbens intercropping system is an efficiency management strategy which improves nutrient content for the main crop with consequent yield gains.

Simple Summary: Yunnan Semi-fine wool sheep is a recently developed breed of sheep in China for meat and wool production. However, the nutrient requirements of this breed are scarcely studied, especially regarding minerals. This study aims to evaluate the effects of dietary calcium levels on the growth performance, calcium utilization, and serum biochemical indexes of Yunnan semi-fine wool rams as well as to estimate their calcium requirement. Diets with calcium levels ranging from 0.73% to 0.89% can improve the growth performance and calcium utilization efficiency of rams, which could serve as baseline when formulating diets for Yunnan semi-fine wool rams. Calcium (Ca) is required for the growth and development of sheep, but the requirement of Yunnan semi-fine wool (YSW) rams remains uncovered. The current study aims to estimate the Ca requirement of growing YSW rams based on their growth performance, Ca utilization, and serum biochemical indexes. Forty-five YSW rams (10-month-olds) were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments with varying Ca levels of 0.50% (D1), 0.68% (D2), 0.73% (D3), 0.89% (D4), and 0.98% (D5). A higher value for average daily gain and a lower value for the feed conversion ratio were observed in the D3 group compared to the D5 group (p < 0.05). The dry matter intake amount changed quadratically with the increased Ca levels (p < 0.05). The levels of Ca intake, fecal Ca, and excreted Ca were significantly higher in the D5 group than those in the D1 group (p < 0.05). The apparent Ca digestibility rate and the Ca retention rate were significantly higher in the D4 group than in the D1 group (p < 0.05). The serum Ca concentration increased linearly with the incremental levels of dietary Ca (p < 0.05). The activity of alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in the D1 group than in the D2 group (p < 0.05). The serum levels of hydroxyproline, osteocalcin, and calcitonin decreased from the D1 group to the D2 group, and then significantly ascended (p < 0.05) with the dietary Ca levels from the D3 group to the D5 group. The serum parathyroid hormone content was elevated from the D1 group to the D3 group and then decreased from the D4 group to the D5 group. After calculation, the daily net Ca requirement for the maintenance of YSW rams was 0.073 g/kg of BW0.75, and the daily total Ca requirement was 0.676 g/kg of BW0.75. To optimize the growth performance and the Ca utilization of YSW rams, the recommended dietary Ca level ranges from 0.73% to 0.89% based on this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil palm is the main palm tree cultivated in the tropics, but little is understood about copper (cu) management in this crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status of copper in oil palms plants in the Eastern Amazon. The experiment was carried out in Tailândia, in the state of Pará (Brazil), using a completely randomized experimental design, with four replications and seven treatments (ages of oil palm plants: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 years). The concentration, accumulation, cycling, immobilization, export, and efficiency of copper use in the different organs of the plants were evaluated. The highest copper concentrations occurred in the palm heart in the second year, and copper accumulation (481 g ha−1) and export were highest in the eighth year of growth. Among the plant organs, the highest copper exports occurred in the bunches (69.38 g ha1). The highest proportion of copper was immobilized (326 g ha−1), while the lowest proportion of the nutrient accumulated in the export organs. Copper use efficiency increased with plant age, and efficiency was greater in the petiole and lower in the palm heart. The copper requirement increased with the age of oil palms grown in the Eastern Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fallback foods (FBF), categorized into staple and filler types, are suboptimal food sources chosen by animals in response to a scarcity of preferred food items during specific periods. Using lichens as FBF by Yunnan snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) represents a distinctive ecological adaptation and evolutionary development within nonhuman primates. This study delves into the annual dietary choices of the species to address issues, elucidate the nutritional value, and understand the ecological significance of lichens for this primate species, which resides at the highest altitudes and experiences the coldest weather among global primates. The findings reveal that the lichens consumed by the monkeys serve as the staple FBF, with Bryoria spp. and Usnea longissima being the primary dietary species. The former is the preferred choice, providing higher digestible fiber (neutral detergent fiber) levels but lower tannin, fat, ADF, and energy levels. During the dry season, lichens dominate as the monkeys' primary food and nutritional resources. In the wet season, they act as a fundamental food selection rather than an ideal dietary choice, substituting nutrients from fruits, seeds, and leaves. Compared to other Asian colobine counterparts, this species exhibits the highest lichen consumption but the lowest proportions of leaves, flowers, and seeds. This study provides valuable evidence and information for developing or amending conservation strategies and guidelines for the dietary management of captive breeding of monkeys, one of the world's critically endangered primate species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) reports that as of 2023, approximately 10 million of older Americans have osteoporosis and another 44 million have low bone density. Osteoporosis is a serious handicap for the elderly and, in particular, for estrogen-deficient postmenopausal women, as it increases the risk of debilitating bone weakness and fractures. The BHOF recommendations for prevention of osteopenia, osteoporosis and bone fractures are to perform weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises and to take recommended amounts of daily calcium and vitamin D. Methods. The purpose of this review is to describe and discuss recent evidence-based research on how to effectively utilize timing of exercise and calorie intake for stimulation of postmenopausal bone anabolism, and to provide this new information in the form of specific and actionable recommendations. Results. The five evidence-based recommendations are as follows: 1. Select an appropriate circadian time of day for exercise; 2. Increase walking speed to raise the movement momentum; 3. Eat a weight-maintenance meal one or two hours before the exercise bout; 4. Sustain the duration of walking activity (impulse) for 40 to 45 min; and 5. Repeat effective exercise stimulus 7 to 8 h after the first one to double the anabolic effect. Osteogenesis can also be increased with subthreshold mechanical loading, where needed, under several special circumstances. Conclusions. This review should provide pragmatic actionable pointers on how to utilize the idiosyncratic bone responsiveness to timing of movement and meals to prevent osteoporosis and encourage research toward a better understanding of how bone detects adequacy of a mechanical stimulus and determines duration of necessary rest to recover its sensitivity to mechanical stimulation and nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agroindustrial Science is the property of Agroindustrial Science 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.)

Yunnan semi-fine wool (YSFW) is a recently developed dual-purpose (meat and wool) sheep breed mainly found in Yunnan Province, China. Moreover, dietary calcium is essential for animal health and productivity. The current experiment aimed to investigate the impact of dietary calcium on sheep gut metabolite profile. For this, thirty YSFW rams (male, age = 10 months, and body weight = 40.37 ± 0.49 kg) were randomized into three groups (n = 10 rams/group), followed by a completely randomized design, and the groups were allotted to one of three dietary calcium levels (Q_1 = 0.50%, Q_3 = 0.73%, and Q_5 = 0.98% on a dry basis). The rams were fed ad libitum by feeding twice a day (at 08:00 and 17:00 h/day) throughout the experimental period (44 day). On the 21st day of the experiment, fecal samples were collected from 27 rams (9/group) and untargeted metabolite profiling was performed by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography. The PCA plot showed that the Q_5 group metabolites were clustered more tightly than for Q_1 and Q_3, respectively. The tightly clustering molecules were mainly alkaloids and their derivatives, benzenoids, lignans and related compounds, lipids, nucleotides, organic acids, and nitrogenous-based derivatives. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, these molecules potentially contribute to metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, proteinaceous compounds, and the metabolism of the protein derivatives, particularly amino acids. The PLS-DA plots revealed a significant difference between the Q_1, Q_3, and Q_5 groups, suggesting that Q_5 had a clear separation across the groups. Based on the metabolomic analysis, feeding different levels of dietary calcium significantly changed the metabolomic profile of YSFW rams, which primarily entails metabolic pathways such as energy, protein, and lipid metabolism.

Studies aiming alleviating the effect of drought on plants have increased, and the use of seaweed extract has been a sustainable and promising management for stress tolerance. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the role of Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract (ANE) in Inga edulis Mart. (Fabaceae) seedlings under drought and post-stress. The seedlings were cultivated under: 1) control (daily irrigation), 2) drought by water restriction – WR (irrigation suspension), 3) WR + 15 mL L−1 ANE, 4) WR + 30 mL L−1 ANE, and 5) WR + 45 mL L−1 ANE, and evaluated in two periods: i) SWD—when the seedlings showed symptoms of water deficit, and ii) REC: recovery (post-stress)—resumption of irrigation for 60 days. The application of 45 mL ANE contributed to the nitrogen content of seedlings under drought and post-stress. The order of nutritional requirement was similar for nitrogen, calcium, and magnesium, but phosphorus and potassium varied according to the evaluation periods under drought. The application of 30 and 45 mL L−1 ANE contributed in the post-stress, favoring the quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) in response to the higher nutrient content in plant tissue, reflecting on growth in the REC. ANE increased proline content during SWD and promoted an efficient recovery. The application of 30 and 45 mL ANE contributes to induction of stress tolerance in I. edulis seedlings under drought and it favors recovery of plants in the post-stress due to phenotypic plasticity, which becomes a promising management for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpacas are native to the poor, high- altitude plains of South America. As a common breeding animal in Peru and other countries, it has been introduced to more and more countries to enrich animal species due to its high- quality camel hair, high nutritional meat and milk. Due to the unique climatic environment and geographical conditions of alpaca origin, the breeding management needs to be adjusted in different introduced countries. Chinese alpaca feed was mainly roughage, which mixed with concentrate feed and supplemented with vitamins, mineral trace elements and so on. However, the nutritional requirements of alpacas varied from region to region. In order to better prepare the full- priced pellet feed for alpaca farming, the digestive system characteristics, differences among alpacas, cattle, sheep and other common ruminants and their nutritional requirements in different countries were reviewed in this paper, so as to provide a basis for the follow-up of fullpriced pellet feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation for longer than 48–72 h enteral nutrition (EN) should be started early. Because EN alone may be unable to reach the target nutritional requirement, supplemental parenteral nutrition (PN) should be administered. This study aimed at describing the daily rate of administered calories and proteins according to the expected calculated targets. The impact of calorie adequacy, deficit or excess on relevant clinical outcomes was explored. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 217 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, admitted postoperatively in intensive care unit and undergoing EN. The effective intake provided via EN, PN, oral nutritional supplements (ONS) and nonnutritional calories (NNC) was documented for a maximum of 20 days. The administered/required calorie and protein ratios (KcalA/R, ProtA/R) were calculated daily. Patients receiving 80%–100%, <80% or >100% of KcalA/R and ProtA/R were identified. The association between mean KcalA/R between days 4–7 and 30 days' mortality was explored. Results: A mean KcalA/R ratio of 92.0 ± 40.6% was ensured between days 4 and 20. During days 4–7 the 80%–100% calorie target was achieved in 26.9% of patients, whereas 44.9% were below and 28.2% over this range. EN contributed 47.1% and PN 41.2% to the total energy intake. An increase in 30‐day mortality risk was documented for patients exceeding 100% of KcalA/R ratio (adjusted‐hazard ratio [HR] 5.2; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1 –23.9; p = 0.035). Conclusions: Despite a preliminary estimate of nutritional requirement, a steady daily optimal 80%–100% KcalA/R was not ensured for all patients. EN contributed only partially to both energy and protein intakes so that PN was largely used to achieve the desired nutritional targets. Key points: In critically ill patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation, inadequate nutritional support may worsen inflammation, hypermetabolism and catabolism, and thus negatively affect the outcome.The present investigation provides new evidence in describing the daily specific contribution of all nutritional sources to total nutritional requirements in postoperative cardiac surgery patients undergoing enteral nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims Substantial proportions of patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) linked their symptoms with particular intake of foods. However, there is lack of current data regarding the intake among IBS-C patients before any dietary interventions. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the dietary adequacy among IBS-C against the standard recommended nutrient intake (RNI) and healthy controls. Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted involving IBS-C patients and healthy control subjects. A validated 126-food items frequency questionnaire was administered to all the subjects to assess their dietary intake, guided by dietitians. The calculated nutrients intake for IBS-C patients was then compared against the standard RNI and healthy controls. Results A total of 306 subjects were recruited, among which 218 were diagnosed with IBS-C and 88 were included as healthy controls. IBS-C patients had significantly lower intake of wholegrain products, fried foods, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables compared to healthy controls. The daily intake of energy, certain macronutrients, and micronutrients among IBS-C patients was significantly lower than the healthy subjects. Less than 5% of IBS-C patients and healthy subjects achieved the standard recommendation for dietary fiber. Also, various vitamin intake (B1, B2, B6, folate, B12, E, K, and potassium) among IBS-C patients did not meet the standard RNI. Conclusions Dietary intakes of IBS-C patients did not meet the recommended intake for Malaysian and showed the nutritional inadequacies compared to the control subjects. Our study highlighted the importance of dietary evaluation prior to planning strategies for dietary intervention targeting IBS-C patients.

Catastrophes such as a nuclear war would generate atmospheric soot and reduce sunlight, making it difficult to grow crops. Under such conditions, people might turn to inedible plant biomass for nutrition, but the convertibility and nutritional content of this biomass have not been rigorously analyzed. We found that if plant biomass were converted into food at 30% efficiency, 6.7 kg of biomass per day would yield adequate carbohydrates, but contain potentially toxic or insufficient levels of other nutrients for a family of four. Therefore, exploiting biomass with low mineral content for carbohydrates and consuming other sources of protein, fat, and vitamins such as edible insects/single-cell proteins and vitamin supplements could provide a balanced diet in a global catastrophic environment.

Orius sauteri (Poppius) is an important predator of many economically important insect pests. The mass rearing of O. sauteri is difficult, limiting its application in pest control. Here we assessed the nutritional quality of eggs of Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier), Agrotis ypsilon (Rottemberg), or Spodoptera litura (Fabricius), and their potential for rearing O. sauteri in the laboratory for two generations. Of species tested, S. cerealella eggs resulted in the highest survival and reproduction of O. sauteri compared to the other two lepidopteran species. Eggs of A. ypsilon were a suitable diet for the nymphal stage, which developed faster on A. ysilon eggs than those of S. cerealella eggs. Conversely, eggs of S. litura were not a suitable diet for O. sauteri, and they disrupted the development and reproduction of O. sauteri. Sitotroga cerealella eggs showed advantages in all the nutritional components evaluated. Orius sauteri fed S. litura eggs contained significantly lower protein levels than those fed on the other eggs tested. Spodoptera litura eggs significantly enhanced the CAT activity in O. sauteri, which suggests that some components from S. litura eggs harmed the development and reproduction of O. sauteri. Based on these results, we suggest using a combined diet for mass rearing of the pirate bug, feeding the nymphs and adults with A. ypsilon eggs and S. cerealella eggs, respectively. This study contributes to the discovery of artificial diets for mass rearing O. sauteri and other Orius species in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the nutritional status of hospitalized patients and the consumption of foods offered in the hospital and to assess the factors affecting their food consumption. Materials and Methods: Patients over 18, who were hospitalized in the internal medicine clinics for at least 72 hours and could take oral food, were included in the study. Patients’ anthropometric measurements, demographic characteristics, and current diseases were recorded, and NRS 2002 scores were calculated. The primary endpoint was to determine the patients’ food consumption in the hospital and the reasons for insufficient consumption. The secondary endpoint was the comparison of the results according to the NRS score. Results: A total of 200 patients participated in the study. The mean age was 66±18 years. NRS≥3 was in 48% of patients (n=96) and the body mass index of these patients was lower than patients with NRS<3 (27±5 vs. 25±5; P= 0.002). They were older (60±18 vs. 73±14; p= 0.005), and their duration of hospitalization was longer (5±3 vs. 7±7; p= 0.03). In the group with NRS≥3, the rate of receiving nutritional support was 38.5%. In the whole group, the rate of consuming less than half of the hospital food was 75% and 86.5% in those with nutritional risk. When the factors affecting the preference of hospital meals were questioned, answers varied, such as not serving the food at the appropriate temperature, sour taste of the food, inconsistency of the foods on the menu in terms of taste and content. Only 4% of patients stated that they would prefer hospital menus as their diet menu at home. Conclusion: Half of the patients hospitalized in the internal medicine clinic are at risk of malnutrition. Nutritional support is also insufficient. To reduce inadequate food consumption during hospitalization, the causes should be analyzed, and measures should be taken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Two experiments to determine the crude protein (CP) requirement of Heros severus were performed. Five isocaloric (3,200 kcal kg−1 of digestible energy) diets containing five levels of CP (28, 32, 36, 40, and 44%) were evaluated. In the first, 75 fingerlings were distributed among 15 aquaria (30 L). In the second experiment, 100 juveniles were distributed among 20 aquaria (50 L). A quadratic effect on weight gain, specific growth rate for weight and for length, feed intake, feed conversion, body proteins, body lipids, and ash content of fingerlings occurred with increasing dietary CP, with optimum values estimated at 41.86, 40.30, 40.97, 39.60, 43.55, 40.64, 37.77, and 37.50% of CP, respectively. A linear effect on protein efficiency ratio of fingerlings occurred with increasing dietary CP. A quadratic effect on weight gain, specific growth rate for weight, feed conversion, hepatosomatic index, and body lipids of the juveniles were observed with increasing dietary CP, with optimum values estimated at 37.03, 37.20, 38.40, 35.13, 38.78, and 34,74% of CP, respectively. A linear effect on feed intake, protein efficiency ratio, and viscerosomatic index of juveniles occurred with increasing dietary CP. Blood glucose and hematocrit had lower values in juveniles fed a low level of CP.

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Hortícolas is the property of Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Horticolas 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.)

The aim of this study was determine the energy and protein requirements for maintenance and gain of Nellore steers. Thirty six Nellore steers with a average weight and age of 359±13 kg and 20 months at the beginning of the trial were individually fed for 56. The steers were fed the same diet (76.43% TDN and 13.62% CP) in three levels of dry matter (DM) intake, ad libitum, 75 g DM/kg BW0.75 and 60 g DM/kg BW0.75. The initial and final body composition was estimated with the marker deuterium oxide that allowed repeated water estimate in the same animal. Deuterium in blood samples was analyzed by mass spectrometry. The effects of intake levels, comparison of intercept and slope among feeding level, and equations were evaluated by the analysis of variance, adopting P

The rise in urban population, accompanied by growing poverty and hunger, has triggered debates on the relevance of urban agriculture in addressing the challenges of food insecurity in urban centres. This article examines the effects of urban planning practice on urban agriculture (UA) in Ilorin, Nigeria, and how it has contributed to improving the resilience of the city to food shock. Adopting a cross-sectional survey design, primary and secondary data were used. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain primary data from randomly selected urban farmers. Secondary data were obtained from the publications of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the National Bureau of Statistics, and the Food and Agricultural Organization. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistical techniques. Respondents’ Agreement Index (RAI) was used to measure the variables influencing the performance of UA. Findings revealed that UA contributed 16.9% to meat/fish/egg requirements in the city; 4.5% to yam/cassava/potato requirements; 0.58% to vegetable requirements; 0.6% to fruit requirements, and 0.5% to grain requirements. RAI results indicated poor access to finance (0.93), limited land area (0.75), and lack of tenure security (0.44) as the dominant variables influencing the poor contribution of UA to food security. It is recommended that UA be integrated into urban planning and that more land for farming be provided.

In order to guarantee an adequate level of macromolecular reserves, and allow their successful transfer to the natural environment, we have studied the survival, growth and biochemical composition (carbohydrates, lipids and proteins) of the spat (initial length 3.77 ± 0.64 mm) of the mangrove oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae, fed with seven different combinations (diets) of three tropical microalgae: Chaetoceros sp. Araya strain (Ch-A), Isochrysis galbana (Ig) and Tetraselmis chui (Tc). The microalgae biochemical composition was also determined. In the indoor bioassay, each one of the seven diets was assigned three aquariums (replicates with 21 spat). In addition, three more replicates were arranged in an outdoor environment (control). After 36 days, the biochemical and biometric parameters of the juveniles in the indoor bioassay were determined, and they were transferred to the outdoor environment. The control treatment suffered considerably high mortality rates (≈80%) during this period and it was not possible to obtain further data from it for the experiment. The transferred juveniles continued to be cultured in suspension for 30 days, after which their biochemical and biometric parameters were evaluated again. During this period, samplings of the environmental variables were taken weekly. In general, within the indoor period, the greatest biometric and biochemical values were obtained in the organisms fed with one monoalgal diet (Ch-A), bialgal diets (Ch-A+Tc; Ch-A+Ig) and the trialgal diet (Ch-A+Ig+Tc), a tendency that remained in the outdoor environment. This was attributed to the balanced contribution of biomolecules previously offered by these diets. These results suggest that the juveniles made use of the energy content found in carbohydrates and lipids once they were transferred outdoors; where these energy sources were probably catabolized to compensate for the scarce availability of food (low chlorophyll a and organic seston) observed in the outdoor culture site. RESUMEN | Con el fin de garantizar un nivel adecuado de las macromoleculas energéticas, que permitan su transferencia exitosa al ambiente natural, se estudió la supervivencia, el crecimiento y la composición bioquímica (carbohidratos, lípidos y proteínas) de pre-semillas (“spat”) (talla inicial 3.77 ± 0.64 mm) de ostra de mangle Crassostrea rhizophorae, alimentada con tres microalgas tropicales: Chaetoceros sp. Cepa Araya (Ch-A), Isochrysis galbana (Ig) y Tetraselmis chui (Tc), ofertadas como dietas unialgales o mezcladas en dietas bialgales y trialgales. La composición bioquímica de las diferentes cepas de microalgas fue también determinada. En el bioensayo bajo condiciones de laboratorio (hatchery), se utilizaron tres acuarios (réplicas con 21 semillas) para cada una de las dietas. Adicionalmente tres réplicas se confinaron en el medio ambiente (control). Después de 36 días, se analizó sus contenidos bioquímicos y registraron las variables biométricas, y los juveniles se transfirieron al ambiente exterior (tres réplicas) y se cultivaron en suspensión durante 30 días. Al final del cultivo en el medioambiente se obtuvieron de nuevo sus variables bioquímicas y biométricas. Sin embargo, debido a una alta mortalidad ocurrida en lasréplicas de control (≈80%), no fue posible obtener más datos de estas últimas, después de 36 días. Durante el cultivo en el medio ambiente, se tomaron muestras semanales de las variables ambientales. En general, en el cultivo en el laboratorio, los mayores valores biométricos y bioquímicos se obtuvieron en los organismos alimentados con la dieta monoalgal (Ch-A), dietas bialgales (Ch-A + Tc y Ch-A + Ig) y la trialgal (Ch-A+Ig+Tc), una tendencia que se mantuvo en el cultivo en el medio ambiente. Lo anterior se atribuyó a la contribución equilibrada de las biomoléculas ofrecidas anteriormente por estas dietas. Estos resultados evidenciaron el uso de la energía contenida en carbohidratos y lípidos, por parte de las ostras juveniles, una vez que fueron transferidas al medio ambiente, donde estas fuentes de energía probablemente fueron catabolizadas para compensar la escasa disponibilidad de alimentos (baja Clorofila a y materia orgánica) observada en el sitio de cultivo en el medio ambiente.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of digestible lysine, at fixed amino acid ratios, in performance, blood parameters and diet digestibility of barrows from 15 to 30 kg. Fifty barrows of the Duroc breed with an average initial body weight of 14.95±3.22 kg were assigned to five treatments in a completely randomized experimental design with five replicates and of two animals per experimental unit. Treatments consisted of crude protein and lysine levels, maintaining a fixed ratio with the other digestible amino acids (8.4, 9.4, 10.4, 11.4, and 12.4 g kg–1lysine/kg of diet). The feed conversion decreased linearly according to lysine levels. The apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter and crude protein increased linearly, and the same response was observed for serum total protein and urea. The results indicate that digestible lysine level for Duroc barrows in the starter phase is 12.4 g kg–1 of diet, as it improved feed conversion ratio and apparent nutrient digestibility.

ABSTRACT Currently, feed formulations for quail are based on foreign data or data from other species; this undermines productivity with the use of excessive or deficient levels of some nutrients. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the nutritional requirement levels of calcium (Ca) and supplementation vitamin D in meat-type quail from 1 to 14 d of age. The experiment was a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement of treatments (levels of Ca: 0.42, 0.58, 0.74 and 0.90% and levels of vitamin D: 1,000, 2,000, 3,000 and 4,000 IU) with 3 replicate pens and 43 quails per pen. Weight gain increased quadratically with increased levels of Ca and vitamin D; this variable yielded estimated levels of 0.73% Ca and 2,883 IU vitamin D. There was no Ca x vitamin D interaction effect on bone variables. Bone Ca, bone phosphorus, bone ash, femoral bone strength, tibial bone strength and the femoral Seedor index increased quadratically with an increase in Ca levels. These variables yielded estimated values of 0.78, 0.71, 0.78, 0.77, 0.83, and 0.71% Ca, respectively. It is concluded that the requirements of Ca and vitamin D for the maximum weight gain of meat-type quails, in the period from one to 14 days of age, were 0.73% Ca (p=0.001) and 2,883 IU vitamin D (p=0.02), respectively.

Himachal Pradesh State encompasses total livestock population of 4.41 million in the year 2017, of which 55 % encompasses of bovine and 40.8 % encompasses of ovine population to total livestock population. District-wise trend analysis was performed from the year 2003 to 2017. The population of indigenous cattle has declined by 20.50 %, the population of crossbred cattle is increased by 20.73 % but the buffalo population was remained almost constant and the population of ovine was declined by 6.41 %.  The milk production in year 2018 accounted for 1460.33 metric tone and milk productivity 1.91, 4.72 and 3.38 kg per day from Indigenous, crossbred and buffalo respectively. The milk production increased by 2.28 %, 7.30 % and 3.85 % from indigenous cattle, crossbred cattle and buffalo respectively. The increased milk production in the state was mainly due to shift from indigenous cattle to crossbred dairy animals across state and increase in Lactating efficiency (LE). The predicted milk production in the state will be 1941 MT by 2030. The lactating efficiency of crossbreed occupied highest among the livestock in the Himachal with 51 per cent. Moreover the shift in growth rate of milk production would be in favor of crossbred rather than indigenous cattle and buffalo due to observed CAGR and LE trends in past. Therefore the favorable conditions including required infrastructure facilities such as subsidies, Higher AI centers, veterinary clinics and market access should be created for promoting crossbred cattle’s in Himachal Pradesh for the benefit and advancement of the dairy sector.

Background/Aims: Substantial proportions of patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) linked their symptoms with particular intake of foods. However, there is lack of current data regarding the intake among IBS-C patients before any dietary interventions. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the dietary adequacy among IBS-C against the standard recommended nutrient intake (RNI) and healthy controls. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted involving IBS-C patients and healthy control subjects. A validated 126-food items frequency questionnaire was administered to all the subjects to assess their dietary intake, guided by dietitians. The calculated nutrients intake for IBS-C patients was then compared against the standard RNI and healthy controls. Results: A total of 306 subjects were recruited, among which 218 were diagnosed with IBS-C and 88 were included as healthy controls. IBS-C patients had significantly lower intake of wholegrain products, fried foods, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables compared to healthy controls. The daily intake of energy, certain macronutrients, and micronutrients among IBS-C patients was significantly lower than the healthy subjects. Less than 5% of IBS-C patients and healthy subjects achieved the standard recommendation for dietary fiber. Also, various vitamin intake (B1, B2, B6, folate, B12, E, K, and potassium) among IBS-C patients did not meet the standard RNI. Conclusions: Dietary intakes of IBS-C patients did not meet the recommended intake for Malaysian and showed the nutritional inadequacies compared to the control subjects. Our study highlighted the importance of dietary evaluation prior to planning strategies for dietary intervention targeting IBS-C patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study proposes to examine the effect of dietary levels of metabolizable energy, under a fixed nutrient:calorie ratio, on the production performance; body fat and protein deposition; and carcass characteristics of free-range broilers from 1 to 84 days of age. Nine hundred unsexed chicks were allocated to six treatments in a completely randomized design with six replicates of 25 birds each. Treatments consisted of diets with varying levels of metabolizable energy (2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100 and 3200 Kcal ME/kg of diet) and a fixed proportion of nutrients relative to the energy level according to the nutritional requirements for each rearing phase. Body weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, production viability, metabolizable energy intake, protein intake, lysine intake, body fat deposition, body protein deposition and carcass characteristics were evaluated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and, later, to regression analysis. Increasing levels of metabolizable energy, coupled with a fixed nutrient:calorie ratio, reduced feed intake, increased body weight and weight gain, improved feed conversion and did not affect carcass characteristics. In conclusion, adjusting the nutrient supply according to the dietary energy level improves production performance by improving feed conversion, ensuring adequate nutrient intake and preserving fat and protein deposition in the carcass when the metabolizable energy level is raised up to 3200 Kcal/kg in all rearing stages.

This study aimed to evaluate the growth performance and fin regeneration rates of zebrafish fed with diets containing levels of vitamin C (Vit C). A basal practical diet was formulated to test six levels of Vit C supplementation (0, 75, 150, 300, 600 and 1,200 mg kg−1). A total of 504 juvenile zebrafish were distributed into thirty‐six 8‐L aquaria, constituting an experimental design with six treatments and six replicates. After 60 days of feeding, growth performance was evaluated. To analyse the regeneration rates of the caudal fin, 18 fish of each treatment were anesthetized and had part of their fins amputated. To determine the regenerated portion on Days 5, 10 and 15 postamputation, six fish of each treatment were subjected to image analysis. The average weight gain, specific growth rate, feed conversion ratio and final length were positively affected (p <.05) by Vit C supplementation. The diets with higher dietary concentrations of Vit C presented the best results regarding tissue regeneration. Based on the broken‐line regression analysis, it is concluded that the Vit C nutritional requirement for the maximum growth and tissue regeneration of zebrafish juveniles fed with practical diets for 60 days were 188.7 and 897.4 mg kg−1 diet, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Using indicator amino acid oxidation methodology, the mean dietary requirement of adult dogs for methionine (Met) was estimated to be ∼66% of the current recommended allowance. Dogs fed a diet formulated to provide the estimated mean Met requirement for 32 wk maintained plasma Met, seemingly supported by betaine oxidation.Objective: To gain a better understanding of the metabolic changes that were associated with supporting plasma Met when dogs were fed a limited Met diet over 32 wk, we analyzed plasma samples taken from that study using a data-driven metabolomics approach.Methods: Labrador retrievers (20 females/13 males; mean age: 4.9 y; range: 2.0-7.9 y) were fed semi-purified, nutritionally complete diets. After 4 wk of feeding a control diet (DL-Met; 1.37 g/1000 kcal), 17 dogs remained on this diet and 16 were transitioned to a test diet formulated to the estimated mean Met requirement (0.55 g/1000 kcal), with dietary total sulfur amino acid maintained with additional l-cystine (Cys). Dogs were individually fed diets to maintain a stable body weight at an ideal body condition score for 32 wk. Plasma samples from fasted blood collected at baseline and 8 and 32 wk were analyzed using untargeted metabolic profiling.Results: Analysis of metabolites (n = 593) confirmed our primary findings (increased Met, betaine, and dimethylglycine). Metabolite changes consistent with repartitioning choline to support Met cycling included reduced pools of lipids derived via phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase and enhanced fatty acid oxidation. Some changes were consistent with metabolomics studies reported in other species that used interventions known to extend life span (caloric- and Met-restricted diets or feeding strategy).Conclusions: Changes in the plasma metabolome were consistent with reported adaptations to support Met-dependent activities. We propose that feeding a limited-Met, high-Cys diet using the estimated mean Met requirement in adult Labrador retrievers alters regulation of the Met cycle, thereby altering metabolism, similar to interventions that extend life span. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taurine (Tau) is a free conditionally essential amino acid for most fish species that plays a significant nutritional role, mainly in carnivorous fish species. However, limited studies are still available regarding the role of Tau on pirarucu nutrition, an important Amazonian fish species. Therefore, this study used diets high in plant-based ingredients to investigate the effect of taurine (Tau) supplementation on juvenile pirarucu's growth, metabolism, and health (n = 115, Weight = 504.12 ± 19 g). Fish were fed five diets containing increasing levels of Tau: 0.95, 5.1, 9.6, 12.9, and 17.2 g/kg in a completely randomized design with three replicates per treatment. After a 60-day feeding trial, growth, hematology, blood chemistry, Tau content in muscle, carcass, and liver, antioxidant status, and immunological parameters were evaluated. The control group (0.95 g/kg Tau) showed the lowest growth. According to the segmented regression model, the recommended Tau level for maximizing the development of juvenile pirarucu was 4.49 g/kg of feed. Additionally, fish fed the lowest dietary Tau level showed the highest ROS (reactive oxygen species) concentration. Dietary Tau levels did not affect hematological parameters and blood chemistry (p > 0.05). Fish fed 9.6 g/kg of Tau showed increased catalase activity, while the control group had the worst result in NBT (nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test). Fish fed with the highest dietary Tau levels (12.9 and 17.2 g/kg) showed increased total serum immunoglobulin concentration. These results suggest that the optimal inclusion level of Tau in diets for juvenile pirarucu is 4.49 g/kg of feed and that this amino acid acts as a mitigator of oxidative stress. • Pirarucu seems to have a limited ability to synthesize taurine. • Taurine affects the antioxidant status of pirarucu. • Taurine does not affect feed intake in Pirarucu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The prevalence of children with neurological impairment (NI) presenting feeding difficulties and gastrointestinal symptoms is rising. The most recent guidelines recommend early nutritional assessment and intervention in order to prevent undernutrition and growth failure, along with the proper diagnosis and treatment of some frequent gastrointestinal symptoms, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and constipation, which can further worsen the feeding process and nutritional status. Nonetheless, the nutritional issues and growth deficits of children with NI are often considered to be of low priority or under recognised by healthcare providers. The present article proposes ten top tips that highlight the major points along the nutritional management pathway of NI children. The implementation of these tips in all healthcare settings could potentially improve patient outcomes and reduce morbidity and mortality.

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Objective: Obesity is one of the most common comorbidities of diabetes mellitus (DM) whose frequency is rapidly increasing nowadays. Although obesity caused by excessive and unbalanced nutrition often accompanies diabetes; malnutrition is another complication of diabetes. This study was conducted to investigate the frequency of malnutrition in individuals with diabetes. Method: This study is a cross-sectional study. The patients with type 2 diabetes followed up in the diabetes outpatient clinic of a university hospital between February and March 2018 were included in the study. Anthropometric measurements of the patients and "Nutritional Risk Screening-2002" (NRS-2002) scores were recorded. Results: A total of 222 (F:132 59.4%) patients were included in the study. When two groups with higher NRS (=3) and lower NRS (<3) scores less than 3 were compared, any significant difference was not detected between two groups in terms of age, waist circumference and HbA1c values. Only BMI was found to be lower in the group with malnutrition risk (p:0.030). When the patients were evaluated in terms of diabetes treatments and risk of malnutrition, any significant intergroup difference was not found (p:0.847). Conclusion: It was found that there is a risk of malnutrition in one of every seven diabetics with a high body mass index who were being followed up in the diabetes outpatient clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Male abundance in presence of female can enhance the puddling in male P. polytes. • The onset of puddling is directly regulated by variation in the temperature. • The fecundity and longevity of imago are completely unaffected by puddling. • The outcomes of present study elucidate the behavioral significance of puddling. • The results provide the empirical evidences for preexisting hypotheses on puddling. Puddling in butterflies is an essential physiological phenomenon, by which they gain mineral nutrients required for their reproductive success and flight. The preference given to the puddling by butterflies has been analysed by two hypotheses: butterflies puddle when there is a scarcity of nutritional resource in one hypothesis and competition with other males to increase their probability of mating in the other. In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to verify these hypotheses through experimental evidences in the butterfly Papilio polytes , in which only males are known to puddle. Our investigation revealed the significance of puddling as an alternative source of nutrition in the absence of nectar. However, increase in the number of males in a given vicinity with constant number of females enhances the puddling activity in males. This shows the importance of puddling as a distinct competitive behaviour by which male improves their chances of mating. Additionally, in both cases the puddling is drastically regulated by the environmental temperature. Males prefer to puddle at a temperature ranging from 26 °C to 28 °C, which is considered as optimum for puddling activity. Further, the fecundity and longevity of imago are completely unaffected by puddling activity. All these results are in good agreement with the existing hypotheses and show the behavioural significance of puddling in butterflies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments to determine the crude protein (CP) requirement of Heros severus were performed. Five isocaloric (3,200 kcal kg−1 of digestible energy) diets containing five levels of CP (28, 32, 36, 40, and 44%) were evaluated. In the first, 75 fingerlings were distributed among 15 aquaria (30 L). In the second experiment, 100 juveniles were distributed among 20 aquaria (50 L). A quadratic effect on weight gain, specific growth rate for weight and for length, feed intake, feed conversion, body proteins, body lipids, and ash content of fingerlings occurred with increasing dietary CP, with optimum values estimated at 41.86, 40.30, 40.97, 39.60, 43.55, 40.64, 37.77, and 37.50% of CP, respectively. A linear effect on protein efficiency ratio of fingerlings occurred with increasing dietary CP. A quadratic effect on weight gain, specific growth rate for weight, feed conversion, hepatosomatic index, and body lipids of the juveniles were observed with increasing dietary CP, with optimum values estimated at 37.03, 37.20, 38.40, 35.13, 38.78, and 34,74% of CP, respectively. A linear effect on feed intake, protein efficiency ratio, and viscerosomatic index of juveniles occurred with increasing dietary CP. Blood glucose and hematocrit had lower values in juveniles fed a low level of CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Annona crassiflora is a medicinal species and source of food with little information about its nutritional requirements during the initial phase. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate liming, phosphate fertilization and its interaction in A. crassiflora seedlings. The experiment was in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme with four replications in a randomized block design. The base saturations were: 8.3%, 25%, 50% and 75% and phosphorus: 0 mg dm-3, 100 mg dm-3, 200 mg dm-3 and 400 mg dm-3. The variables evaluated were biometrics, biomass and nutritional analysis. The species responded to the factors in isolation, and the increase in base saturation levels and phosphorus doses promoted significant effects for biometric variables, biomass, calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content. The saturation level promoted the best results, being 75% base saturation, while the highest phosphorus dosage was 400 mg dm-3.

The knowledge about growth and nutrient accumulation can help improve fertilizer efficiency in the production of jabuticaba seedlings, which is still carried out in an empirical way. This study aimed at determining the growth and macronutrient uptake in ‘Sabará’ jabuticaba genotypes grown in nutrient solution. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design in split plots, with four replications. In the main plots three jabuticaba genotypes (J001, J005 and J012) were cultivated in nutrient solution and six evaluation periods (at 60, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 days) in the sub-plots were evaluated. Plant height, root length, stem diameter, leaf area index and dry matter (root, stem and leaves) in each period were evaluated. The accumulation of macronutrients in different plant organs was determined, as well as the accumulation of nutrients as a function of time adjusted to the linear model. The results showed that the cultivation in nutrient solution was efficient in the production of Sabará jabuticabeira seedlings. There was no difference in macronutrient growth and absorption among jabuticaba genotypes grown in nutrient solution. ‘Sabará’ jabuticaba plants accumulated (in mg plant-1) 559 of N, 45 of P, 443 of K, 363 of Ca, 59 of Mg and 82 of S. The distribution of macronutrient accumulations in jabuticaba showed the following order: leaves > stem > roots.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate macronutrient uptake and export by transgenic corn hybrids under medium and high fertilization levels. For each fertilization level, a randomized complete block design was carried out in the summer crop season, under no-tillage and supplementary irrigation, with four cultivars and four replicates. Plants were sampled throughout the entire cycle and separated into leaves, stalk, husk, cob, and grains for the determination of dry matter mass and accumulation of macronutrients in the different growth stages. Under the high fertilization level, a greater dry matter mass and nutrient uptake were observed, but grain yield was similar to that under the medium fertilization level. The uptake of N, P, Ca, Mg, and S occurs until later in the cycle of the transgenic cultivars, which also showed lower concentrations of P, K, and S in grains, when compared to older hybrids. The differential behavior of the evaluated cultivars under different fertilization levels indicates the need of updating and improving nutritional management and fertilizer recommendations for the corn crop.

Abstract Background Despite early and ongoing dietary management with a phe-restricted diet, suboptimal neuropsychological function has been observed in PKU. The restrictive nature of the PKU diet may expose patients to sub-optimal nutritional intake and deficiencies which may impact normal brain function. A systematic review of the published literature was carried out, where possible with meta-analysis, to compare the status of nutrients (Nutrients: DHA, EPA phospholipids, selenium, vitamins B6, B12, E, C, A, D, folic acid, choline, uridine, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, iodine and cholesterol) known to be important for brain development and functioning between individuals with PKU and healthy controls. Results Of 1534 publications identified, 65 studies met the entry criteria. Significantly lower levels of DHA, EPA and cholesterol were found for PKU patients compared to healthy controls. No significant differences in zinc, vitamins B12, E and D, calcium, iron and magnesium were found between PKU patients and controls. Because of considerable heterogeneity, the meta-analyses findings for folate and selenium were not reported. Due to an insufficient number of publications (