Why are most physicochemical parameters not useful in predicting the quality of sheep milk?

The impact of microbial growth on the physicochemical parameters of sheep milk was evaluated. The total bacterial counts (TBC) showed a lag phase of 4 h and µ‐max of 0.4 log/h. After 8.4 h, the TBC reached the limit established by European Community, pH had a reduction of 0.04, acidity had an increase in 0.04%, and no changes were observed in the ethanol stability. The milk became thermally unstable after 17 h (10⁹ cfu/mL), when the pH was 5.71, acidity was 0.36%, and ethanol stability was 21.3%. These results highlighted the extreme stability of sheep milk protein and that acidity may be the best physicochemical parameters to predict the quality of sheep milk.     

Proteome changes in lamb semimembranosus muscles associated with the inclusion of sunflower cake in their diet

A diet based on sunflower cake for lambs was assayed in order to reuse biodiesel industrial by-products with the aim of reducing livestock costs and evaluating their influence on meat quality. To achieve these goals, sixteen male lambs were fed diets containing different levels of sunflower cake (control, 5%, 10% and 15%). Afterwards, their semimembranosus muscles were analysed by two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry and their functional protein association was examined using STRING. Structural and metabolic proteins in the lambs’ proteomes changed significantly according to their diet. Fifteen proteins showed significant changes caused by the inclusion of sunflower cake, and the most differentially abundant structural proteins were detected in 2-DE gels from the lambs. Differentially abundant metabolic proteins such as ENO3 (enolase 3), MDH1 (malate dehydrogenase) and ALDH1A1 (retinal dehydrogenase) have been proposed as biomarkers of quality parameters in other species.     

Ram‐air kite airfoil and reinforcements optimization for airborne wind energy applications

We present a multidisciplinary design optimization method for the profile and structural reinforcement layout of a ram‐air kite rib. The aim is to minimize the structural elastic energy and to maximize the traction power of a ram‐air kite used for airborne wind energy generation. Because of the large deformations occurring during flight, a fluid‐structure interaction (FSI) routine is included in the optimization, which determines the actual deformed rib geometry and its corresponding aerodynamic characteristics. A qualitative comparison between FSI inclusion and exclusion in the optimization is given. Discrepancies in airfoil profile and structural layout are observed.     

Accelerated reoxygenation of water bodies using hydrogen peroxide

This paper reports a laboratory study of an accelerated reoxygenation treatment of polluted water bodies, using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂): conditions such as the discharge of waters from domestic sewers or polluted storm-water resulting from intense rainfall that lead to a reduction in the level of dissolved oxygen (DO). We studied the water from rivers that make up the basin of the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas (LRF) lagoon, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. When intense rainfall coincides with discharge from sewers, the polluted water may reach LRF. This has in the past led to episodes of critical deficit in DO in the waters of the lagoon, resulting in fish kill. To study this, we carried out experiments with water samples taken from the river feeding the lagoon. To study the accelerated reoxygenation of the river waters, we used different doses of H₂O₂. We concluded that the addition of H₂O₂ to the waters of the river during polluting events can prevent the level of DO in the lagoon going below a critical value. This treatment resulted in an immediate increase in DO that lasted hours and in the sustainability of the DO above the legal limit 5.0 mg L^?1, enough to avoid fish kill.