Volume 3 (2020): Issue 2 (December 2020)

Consumption of animal proteins is increasingly contested by those who choose a vegetarian diet, but for athletes, protein quality is a key component in optimizing athletic performance. The purpose of this article is to provide a nutritional guide for the vegetarian athlete who does not have to give up nutritional preferences to achieve performance in sports, and well-informed counseling by respecting principles of biochemistry can overcome the already known deficiencies of vegetal proteins in certain amino acids. The second aim of this paper is to recommend methods to assess protein quality by consulting the recommendations of the world’s most important regulatory agency in the field of nutrition and food quality: the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In conclusion, even though vegetal proteins have a lower anabolic effect due to their low digestibility and a limited quantity of essential amino acids (especially leucine) and that amino acids of vegetal origin are more likely directed towards oxidative metabolism than towards anabolic processes, recent studies present strategies (consuming higher amounts of vegetal proteins, dietary supplements with amino acids) through which a well-planned vegetarian diet can have similar benefits to omnivorous diet regarding stimulating endogenous protein synthesis.

The paper aims to evaluate the presence and condition of vegetation by SAGA GIS. The study area covers northern coasts of Iceland including two fjords, the Eyjafjörður and the Skagafjörður, prosperous agricultural regions. The vegetation coverage in Iceland experience the impact of harsh climate, land use, livestock grazing, glacial ablation and volcanism. The data include the Landsat TM image. The methodology is based on computing raster bands for simulating Tassel Cap Transformation (wetness, greenness and brightness) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) sensitive to high biomass. The results include modelled three bands of brightness, greenness and wetness. Greenness variation shows the least values in ice-covered areas (-56.98 to -18.69). High values (-23.48 to 9.12) are in the valleys with dense vegetation, correlating with the geomorphology of the river network, the vegetation-free areas and ocean which corresponds to the peak of 30.87 to 41.19. The bell-shaped data distribution shows frequency 43.19–141.74 for vegetation indicating healthy state and canopy density. Maximal values are in ice-covered regions and glaciers (64°N-65°N). Very low values (0 to -20) show desertification and mountainous rocks. Moderate values (20-40) indicate healthy vegetation. The most frequent data: -28,17 to 11,8. The EVI shows data variations (-0.14 to 0.04). The study contributes both to the regional studies of Arctic Iceland and methodological approach of remote sensing data processing by SAGA GIS.

Although DDT has been on the ban list by the Stockholm Convention for its environmental degradation, still a wave of emerging shreds of evidence has proved its circulation in developing countries. The intensity of environmental degradation and human health problems posed by residual DDT and its metabolites become of serious ecological concern, warranting a search for novel strains with a capacity to biodegrade these environmental contaminants. A new strain of the genus Staphylococcus was isolated from pesticide-contaminated soil. The 16S rRNA and phylogenetic analyses were used to identify the isolate and the 16S rRNA partial gene sequence was deposited in the NCBI GenBank as Staphylococcus sp. strain MY 83295F. The isolate was capable of growing in up to 60 mg L⁻¹ of p,p’-DDT as the sole carbon source at an optimum pH of 6.5 and optimum temperature of 30°C within 120 h. Zn²⁺ has demonstrated a stimulatory effect on the growth of the strain in p,p’-DDT containing medium. However, Fe, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ag, and Cr ions showed inhibitory effects on the strain’s growth in the medium. The strain could be a handy tool for the bio-cleansing of residual p,p’-DDT in the contaminated environment.

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) drug known to induce hepatotoxicity when consumed in excess. Formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidation of cellular proteins and enzymes are directly involved in its toxic mechanisms. However, antioxidants can be helpful to inhibit or restrict the oxidative damage. Besides synthetic antioxidants, naturally-derived substances can be used to serve the purpose. In this paper, a thorough literature review revealed that APAP combined with food-derived natural antioxidants exhibit a protective effect against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.

The germination of seed batches of two rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) hybrids (‘Hybrirock’ and ‘Factor’) were investigated in response to priming in aqueous solutions of ascorbic acid (10 mM), L-cysteine (10 mM) and triacontanol (1 μM), respectively tap water (as control treatment). Investigations were focused on seed quality parameters, such as germination percentage, mean germination time, germination index, uniformity of germination, and seedling shoot and root growth. Germinated seeds were counted every 24 hours for a period of seven days, recording the final germination percentage (FGP), mean germination time (MGT), the coefficient of velocity of germination (CVG), germination rate index (GRI), germination index (GI), uncertanty (U), and synchrony (Z). In a separate trial fresh shoot- and root length, respectively the dry weight of the shoots and roots were also determined after a 14 day period. Germination tests were performed to examine the quality of seeds in response to different priming treatments. The results demonstrated that priming improved the germination parameters of seeds of both hybrids. Furthermore, the use of ascorbic acid, L-cysteine and triacontanol also enhanced seedling growth. The results may be used to rank seed lots by vigor, and decisions can be made regarding planting potential of each seed lot.

The aim of the research was to examine the effect of different fertilizers on the floristic composition and biomass yield of the semi-natural grassland used as hayfield near Vlăhița locality (Harghita County, Romania) in order to improve its management. In the same time the qualitative structure of the studied grassland was evaluated after the first application of the fertilizers. The vegetation survey was made before mowing, and a total of 84 plant taxa were identified. The studied plant community belongs to the association Festuco-Agrostetum capillaris Horv. 1951. From the 31 fodder species, 13 had very good or good nutritional value. The qualitative structure analysis indicates that the vegetation has developed under moderate anthropogenic pressure. Beside the Euro-Asian elements the Circumpolar and the Cosmopolite elements were well represented. Many species with high tolerance for temperature, soil pH, and soil mineral nitrogen content were registered. After the first application of fertilizers in all treated plots the biodiversity increased compared to the control plot. Fertilized plots also had a significantly higher biomass yield than the control plot. All fertilizers reduced the proportion of the species with good nutritional value from the Poaceae family. Organic fertilizer affected positively the proportion of other plant families than Poaceae and Fabaceae. Long-term experiments are necessary to evaluate the response of the vegetation on treatment with organic fertilizer in order to optimize productivity of the hayfield and sustain species richness.