bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phenology Patterns and Postfire Vegetation Regeneration in the Chiquitania Region of Bolivia Using Sentinel-2
Authors: Maillard Oswaldo , Flores-Valencia Marcio , Michme Gilka , Coronado Roger , Bachfischer Mercedes , Azurduy Huascar , Vides-Almonacid Roberto , Flores Reinaldo , Angulo Sixto , Mielich Nicolas
Published: May 2022

The natural regeneration of ecosystems impacted by fires is a high priority in Bolivia, and represents one of the country’s greatest environmental challenges. With the abundance of spatial data and access to improved technologies, it is critical to provide an effective method of analysis to evaluate changes in land use in the face of the global need to understand the dynamics of vegetation in regeneration processes. In this context, we evaluated the dynamics of natural regeneration through phenological patterns by measuring the maximal and minimal spectral thresholds at four fire-impacted sites in Chiquitania in 2019 and 2020, and compared them with unburned areas using harmonic fitted values of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR). We used two-way ANOVA test to evaluate the significant differences in the values of the profiles of NDVI and NBR indices. We quantified severity at the four study sites using the dNBR obtained from the difference between pre- and postfire NBR. Additionally, we selected 66 sampling sites to apply the Composite Burn Index (CBI) methodology. Our results indicate that NBR is the most reliable index for interannual comparisons and determining changes in the phenological pattern, which allow for the detection of postfire regeneration. Fire severity levels based on dNBR and CBI indices are reliable methodologies that allow for determining the severity and dynamics of changes in postfire regeneration levels in forested and nonforested areas.
Isolation, Identification and Characteristics of Aeromonas caviae from Diseased Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Authors: Xue Mingyang , Xiao Zidong , Li Yiqun , Jiang Nan , Liu Wenzhi , Meng Yan , Fan Yuding , Zeng Lingbing , Zhou Yong
Published: May 2022

The largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is one of the most economically valuable fish species in China. In this study, a bacterial pathogen was isolated from the internal organs of diseased M. salmoides, and the strain was named WH21406. This isolate was identified as Aeromonas caviae on the basis of its morphology, biochemical features and 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis. Four virulence genes related to pathogenicity, namely, flagella (fla), elastase (ela), haemolysin (hly) and aerolysin (aer), were detected in this isolate. The median lethal dosage (LD50) of A. caviae WH21406 for M. salmoides was calculated to be 3.46 × 105 CFU mL−1. The histopathological analysis showed obvious tissue damage in the gill, liver, kidney, spleen and gut of the diseased fish. The antibiotic susceptibility test demonstrated that strain WH21406 was highly sensitive to enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, streptomycin and amikacin. The results of this study provide a foundation for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of A. caviae infection in M. salmoides.
Basic Intersexuality (Abnormal Hermaphroditism) in the Blackmouth Catshark, Galeus melastomus, (Rafinesque, 1810), from the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: D’Iglio Claudio , Albano Marco , Famulari Sergio , Spanò Nunziacarla , Rinelli Paola , Savoca Serena , Capillo Gioele
Published: May 2022

The present paper represents the first description of abnormal hermaphroditism in Galeus melastomus (Rafinesque, 1810). The black mouth cat shark specimen, collected in summer from southern Tyrrhenian Sea at the entrance of Salerno gulf, showed a basic intersexuality characterized by the presence of male secondary and female primary sexual characters. The reproductive system has been described with an accurate morphological analysis, also including a histological assessment of oocytes. Results showed the presence of only right clasper, not exceeding the pelvic fin in length, with the absence of internal males’ sexual organs. Concerning the female primary characters, the analysis of histological assessment showed the structure of mature oocyte, confirming the maturity stage of a mature female in active extruding stage, as highlighted by the macroscopic morphological analysis. Despite in many marine organisms’ hermaphroditism is a physiological condition showed by specimens during their lifecycle, in Elasmobranchs this is considered an abnormal condition, with some exceptions. The lack of information on hermaphroditism in elasmobranchs form the Mediterranean Sea requires an increase of scientific community’s attention, improving the knowledge on the reproductive biology of this sensitive taxon. This is essential to enhance the conservation of elasmobranchs populations in the entire Mediterranean basin.
DeepOtolith v1.0: An Open-Source AI Platform for Automating Fish Age Reading from Otolith or Scale Images
Authors: Politikos Dimitris V. , Sykiniotis Nikolaos , Petasis Georgios , Dedousis Pavlos , Ordoñez Alba , Vabø Rune , Anastasopoulou Aikaterini , Moen Endre , Mytilineou Chryssi , Salberg Arnt-Børre , Chatzispyrou Archontia , Malde Ketil
Published: May 2022

Every year, marine scientists around the world read thousands of otolith or scale images to determine the age structure of commercial fish stocks. This knowledge is important for fisheries and conservation management. However, the age-reading procedure is time-consuming and costly to perform due to the specialized expertise and labor needed to identify annual growth zones in otoliths. Effective automated systems are needed to increase throughput and reduce cost. DeepOtolith is an open-source artificial intelligence (AI) platform that addresses this issue by providing a web system with a simple interface that automatically estimates fish age by combining otolith images with convolutional neural networks (CNNs), a class of deep neural networks that has been a dominant method in computer vision tasks. Users can upload otolith image data for selective fish species, and the platform returns age estimates. The estimates of multiple images can be exported to conduct conclusions or further age-related research. DeepOtolith currently contains classifiers/regressors for three fish species; however, more species will be included as related work on ageing will be tested and published soon. Herein, the architecture and functionality of the platform are presented. Current limitations and future directions are also discussed. Overall, DeepOtolith should be considered as the first step towards building a community of marine ecologists, machine learning experts, and stakeholders that will collaborate to support the conservation of fishery resources.
Model Assessment of an Open-Source Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) Simulation of a Vibration-Assisted Drilling Process
Authors: Falcone Manuel , Buss Lizoel , Fritsching Udo
Published: May 2022

Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) is a cooling and lubrication variant applied, for instance, in drilling processes. In the present approach, a new vibration-assisted drilling process is analyzed, which has considerable potential for manufacturing of extremely hard materials. Within this process, the MQL gas/liquid transport in the presence of a vibrating and rotating twist drill bit in the borehole is to be studied. Multiphase computational fluid dynamics is applied to analyze and optimize the MQL flow. However, applying conventional CFD methods with discretized continuum equations on a numerical grid is challenging in this process, as the vibrating drill bit frequently closes the gap in the borehole, where even dynamic grid application fails. The ability to use an open-source Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) meshless method to analyze the lubrication media flow is carried out to accurately and efficiently address this problem and overcome the severe limitations of conventional mesh-based methods. For a feasibility study of the method, the MQL air phase in the dynamic drill cavity is analyzed by SPH and validated against conventional CFD method results. The present study shows insufficient results of the SPH method, both in terms of solution plausibility and computational cost, for simulation of the problem at hand.
Effect of Fixation Methods on Biochemical Characteristics of Green Teas and Their Lipid-Lowering Effects in a Zebrafish Larvae Model
Authors: Li Maoyun , Guo Lulu , Zhu Ruixue , Yang Dongmei , Xiao Yue , Wu Yanping , Zhong Kai , Huang Yina , Gao Hong
Published: May 2022

Fixation is a key process contributing to different flavors of green tea and pan-fire and steam were the common fixation methods applied conventionally. In this study, pan-fired green tea (PGT) and steamed green tea (SGT) produced by different fixation methods were compared in characteristic biochemicals including volatile compounds, amino acids, catechins and alkaloids, together with evaluating their tastes and lipid-lowering effects. PGT and SGT could be distinguished clearly by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and heatmap. SGT had higher contents of volatile alcohols (44.75%) with green and floral attributes, while PGT had higher contents of volatile esters (22.63%) with fruity and sweet attributes. Results of electronic tongue analysis showed that PGT and SGT had similar taste of strong umami and sweetness, but little astringency and bitterness. In addition, amino acids were more abundant in PGT (41.47 mg/g in PGT, 33.79 mg/g in SGT), and catechins were more abundant in SGT (111.36 mg/g in PGT, 139.68 mg/mg in SGT). Zebrafish larvae high-fat model was applied to study the lipid-lowering effects of PGT and SGT. Results showed that both SGT and PGT had lipid-lowering effects, and the lipid level was decreased to 61.11 and 54.47% at concentration of 300 mg/L compared to high-fat group, respectively. Generally, different fixation methods of pan-fire and steam showed significant effects on aroma and contents of characteristic chemical compounds (amino acids and catechins) of green tea, but no effects on the taste and lipid-lowering activity.
Protective Mechanism of Polygonum perfoliatum L. Extract on Chronic Alcoholic Liver Injury Based on UHPLC-QExactive Plus Mass Spectrometry Lipidomics and MALDI-TOF/TOF Mass Spectrometry Imaging
Authors: Chen Huaguo , Peng Lei , Zhao Chao , Cai Zongwei , Zhou Xin
Published: May 2022

Polygonum perfoliatum L. has a long history of medicinal and edible applications. Studies have shown that it can significantly protect liver injury, but the mechanism is unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the protective mechanism of P. perfoliatum on chronic alcoholic liver injury from the perspective of lipid metabolism. After 8 weeks of alcohol exposure in male Wister mice, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum were significantly increased, and the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in liver were significantly decreased. Meanwhile, pathological changes of liver tissue in mice were observed by histopathology. Then, Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) QExactive Plus Mass Spectrometer lipidomics and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time -of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) mass spectrometry imaging methods were established to analyze lipid metabolism in mice. Ten different lipids were identified by statistical analysis, including Fatty Acyls, Glycerophospholipids, Prenol lipids and Sphingomyelins. After intervention with P. perfoliatum extracts at different doses (25 to 100 mg/kg), levels of AST, ALT, ALP in serum, and activities of ADH and ALDH in liver were significantly corrected. The hepatic cord structure was clear, and the liver cells were closely arranged without other obvious abnormalities. Non-target lipidomics analysis showed that P. perfoliatum extract could regulate the metabolic disorders of the 10 different lipids caused by continuous alcohol exposure. Pathway analysis suggested that the mechanism of P. perfoliatum extract on chronic alcoholic liver injury may be related to the regulation of linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid.
Quality Attributes of Refrigerated Barhi Dates Coated with Edible Chitosan Containing Natural Functional Ingredients
Authors: Ghafoor Kashif , Al-Juhaimi Fahad Y. , Babiker Elfadil E. , Mohamed Ahmed Isam A. , Shahzad Syed Ali , Alsawmahi Omer N.
Published: May 2022

Edible chitosan coatings with natural functional ingredients were used to preserve quality attributes of fresh Barhi date fruit. Fruits were coated with chitosan and/or 1 and 2% olive cake extract (OCE) or orange peel extract (OPE). Both coated and uncoated fruits were stored at 4 °C for 4 weeks. A slight decrease in the pH and increase in acidity with storage was observed. However, when chitosan was mixed with OCE or OPE, an increase in pH was observed with a concomitant decrease in acidity. The phenolic content of the samples was decreased with time. However, coating the date with OCE or OPE significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased the total phenolic with a concomitant increase in radical scavenging activity. The textural properties, particularly hardness, were better preserved in case of coated dates. The sensory evaluation data showed non-significant changes in the acceptability of the Barhi dates throughout the storage period. Chitosan-coating significantly (p ≤ 0.05) inhibited mold growth over time. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging showed difference among different coatings. According to principal component analysis (PCA), OCE and OPE were found to have protective effects on fruit quality.
Antibacterial Activity and Mechanism of Polygonum orientale L. Essential Oil against Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum
Authors: Cai Jin , Wang Shiqin , Gao Yichen , Wang Qi
Published: May 2022

Infected by Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc), the quality of Chinese cabbage could severely decline. Using chemical bactericides to control Pcc could cause food safety problems. Thus, we investigated the optimum extraction conditions, antibacterial activity, chemical compounds and antibacterial mechanism of Polygonum orientale L. essential oil (POEO) against Pcc in order to search a new way to control Pcc. The optimum extraction conditions of POEO (soaking time 2.6 h, extraction time 7.7 h and ratio of liquid to solid 10.3 mL/g) were optimized by response surface methodology. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of POEO against Pcc was 0.625 mg/mL. The control efficiency of protective activity of POEO against Pcc was 74.67~92.67%, and its curative activity was 76.00~93.00%. Then, 29 compounds were obtained by GC-MS; the prime compounds of POEO were phytol, phytone, n-pentacosane, 1-octen-3-ol and β-ionone. It was verified that, compared with control samples, POEO destroyed cell morphology. It increased surface potential, increased hydrophobicity, damaged cell walls, destroyed the integrity and permeability of cell membrane, reduced membrane potential (MP), and changed membrane protein conformation. It inhibited the activities of pyruvate kinase (PK), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase). Briefly, the results of this study demonstrate that POEO showed effective inhibitory activity against Pcc, thus POEO could have potential application in controlling Pcc.
The Antifungal Activity of Cinnamon-Litsea Combined Essential Oil against Dominant Fungal Strains of Moldy Peanut Kernels
Authors: Liu Yijun , Wang Ruolan , Zhao Lingli , Huo Shanshan , Liu Shichang , Zhang Hanxiao , Tani Akio , Lv Haoxin
Published: May 2022

The antifungal activity of cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia Presl), litsea [Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers.], clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.), thyme (Thymus mongolicus Ronn.) and citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt) essential oils (EOs) against the dominant fungi isolated from moldy peanuts was investigated in this research. Firstly, strain YQM was isolated and identified by morphological characterization and 18S rRNA gene sequence analysis to be Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus). Next, antifungal effects of single or mixed EOs on strain YQM were evaluated by the inhibition zone test. The cinnamon-litsea combined essential oil (CLCEO, Vcinnamon oil:Vlitsea oil = 3:5) displayed the best antifungal effect on strain YQM. The chemical composition of CLCEO was identified and quantified by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and results revealed that the major components of CLCEO were cinnamaldehyde and citral. Finally, the effect of EOs on the microstructure of strain YQM mycelia was observed under scanning electron microscope (SEM). The mycelia exposed to cinnamon essential oil (CEO) and litsea essential oil (LEO) were partly deformed and collapsed, while the mycelia treated with CLCEO were seriously damaged and the deformation phenomena such as shrinking, shriveling and sinking occurred. Therefore, CLCEO has great potential for using as anti-mildew agents during peanut storage.
Use of Anthracophyllum discolor and Stereum hirsutum as a Suitable Strategy for Delignification and Phenolic Removal of Olive Mill Solid Waste
Authors: Benavides Viviana , Pinto-Ibieta Fernanda , Serrano Antonio , Rubilar Olga , Ciudad Gustavo
Published: May 2022

This study evaluated the use of the white-rot fungi (WRF) Anthracophyllum discolor and Stereum hirsutum as a biological pretreatment for olive mill solid mill waste (OMSW). The WRF strains proposed were added directly to OMSW. The assays consisted of determining the need to add supplementary nutrients, an exogenous carbon source or use agitation systems, and evaluating WRF growth, enzyme activity, phenolic compound removal and lignin degradation. The highest ligninolytic enzyme activity was found at day 10, reaching 176.7 U/L of manganese-independent peroxidase (MniP) produced by A. discolor, and the highest phenolic removal (more than 80% with both strains) was reached after 24 days of incubation. The confocal laser scanning microscopy analysis (CLSM) confirmed lignin degradation through the drop in lignin relative fluorescence units (RFU) from 3967 for untreated OMSW to 235 and 221 RFU, showing a lignin relative degradation of 94.1% and 94.4% after 24 days of treatment by A. discolor and S. hirsutum, respectively. The results demonstrate for the first time that A. discolor and S. hirsutum were able to degrade lignin and remove phenolic compounds from OMSW using this as the sole substrate without adding other nutrients or using agitation systems. This work indicates that it could be possible to design an in situ pretreatment of the valorization of OMSW, avoiding complex systems or transportation. In this sense, future research under non-sterile conditions is needed to evaluate the competition of WRF with other microorganisms present in the OMSW. The main drawbacks of this work are associated with both the low reaction time and the water addition. However, OMSW is seasonal waste produced in one season per year, being stored for a long time. In terms of water addition, the necessary optimization will be addressed in future research.
Storage Stability of Conventional and High Internal Phase Emulsions Stabilized Solely by Chickpea Aquafaba
Authors: Grossi Bovi Karatay Graziele , Medeiros Theóphilo Galvão Andrêssa Maria , Dupas Hubinger Miriam
Published: May 2022

Aquafaba is a liquid residue of cooked pulses, which is generally discarded as waste. However, it is rich in proteins and, thus, can be used as a plant-based emulsifier to structure vegetable oil. This study investigates chickpea aquafaba (CA) as an agent to structure different oil phase volumes (Φ) of canola oil (CO). CO was structured in the form of conventional emulsions (EΦ65% and EΦ70%) and high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) (EΦ75%) by the one-pot homogenization method. Emulsions were evaluated for a period of 60 days at 25 °C in terms of average droplet size (11.0–15.9 µm), microscopy, rheological properties, and oil loss (<1.5%). All systems presented predominantly elastic behavior and high resistance to coalescence. EΦ75% was the most stable system throughout the 60 days of storage. This study developed an inexpensive and easy to prepare potential substitute for saturated and trans-fat in food products. Moreover, it showed a valuable utilization of an often-wasted by-product and its conversion into a food ingredient.
Research on the Potential Use of Grape Seed Flour in the Bakery Industry
Authors: Oprea Oana Bianca , Popa Mona Elena , Apostol Livia , Gaceu Liviu
Published: May 2022

Grape seeds are one of the most accessible by-products of the wine industry in large quantities (about 2.4 million t/year). Numerous researchers have shown that grape seeds have a high potential for use as a functional ingredient in the food industry due to their high content of protein, fiber, minerals, and polyphenols. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the possibilities of using grape seed flour (GSF) in the bakery industry from both chemical and rheological points of view. Research shows that grape seed flour contains about 42 times more fiber than wheat flour and approximately 9 times more calcium, 8 times more magnesium, and 2 times more potassium. To assess this potential, four samples of bread from flour mixtures with 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9% (w/w) degree of replacement with GSF were prepared, analyzed, and compared with a control sample from 100% wheat flour. From a rheological point of view, the baking qualities deteriorate: the water absorption capacity (CH) decreases from 58.2% to 55.8%, the dough stability increases from 8.50 min to 9.83 min, the α slope varies from −0.066 Nm/min to −0.104 Nm/min, the β slope increases from 0.576 Nm/min to 0.630 Nm/min, and the γ slope varies from −0.100 Nm/min to −0.198 Nm/min. The sensory analyses performed by the panel of evaluators enclosed the sensorial characteristics of the samples with 3% and 5% GSF between the two control samples made from flour types 480 and 1250. The conclusions show that the sample containing 7% and 9% are unsatisfactory from rheological and sensorial points of view and the samples with 3% and 5% can be considered a fiber source and a Cu source, respectively, and are rich in Zn.
Acrolein Promotes Aging and Oxidative Stress via the Stress Response Factor DAF-16/FOXO in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Hong Jiaqian , Song Yiming , Xie Jiayan , Xie Jianhua , Chen Yi , Li Ping , Liu Danyang , Hu Xiaobo , Yu Qiang
Published: May 2022

For this investigation, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) served, for the first time, as a model organism to evaluate the toxic effect and possible underlying mechanisms under acrolein (ACR) exposure. The results showed that ACR exposure (12.5–100 μM) shortened the lifespan of C. elegans. The reproductive capacity, body length, body width, and locomotive behavior (head thrash) of C. elegans were diminished by ACR, especially the doses of 50 and 100 μM. Furthermore, ACR significantly enhanced the endogenous ROS levels of C. elegans, inhibited the antioxidant-related enzyme activities, and affected the expression of antioxidant related genes. The increasing oxidative stress level promoted the migration of DAF-16 into the nucleus that was related to the DAF-16/FOXO pathway. It was also confirmed by the significant decrease of the lifespan-shortening trend in the daf-16 knockout mutant. In conclusion, ACR exposure induced aging and oxidative stress in C.elegans, resulting in aging-related decline and defense-related DAF-16/FOXO pathways’ activation.
Fish Hydrolysate Supplementation Prevents Stress-Induced Dysregulation of Hippocampal Proteins Relative to Mitochondrial Metabolism and the Neuronal Network in Mice
Authors: Le Faouder Julie , Arnaud Bastien , Lavigne Régis , Lucas Céline , Com Emmanuelle , Bouvret Elodie , Dinel Anne-Laure , Pineau Charles
Published: May 2022

Over the past several decades, stress has dramatically increased in occidental societies. The use of natural resources, such as fish hydrolysates, may be an attractive strategy to improve stress management. Our previous study demonstrated the anxiolytic effects of fish hydrolysate supplementation in mice exposed to acute mild stress by limiting stress-induced corticosterone release and modulating the expression of a number of stress-responsive genes. Here, we explore hippocampal protein modulation induced by fish hydrolysate supplementation in mice submitted to acute mild stress, with the aim of better elucidating the underlying mechanisms. Hippocampi from the same cohort of Balb/c mice supplemented with fish hydrolysate (300 mg·kg−1 body weight) or vehicle daily for seven days before being submitted or not to an acute mild stress protocol (four groups, n = 8/group) were subjected to label-free quantitative proteomics analysis combined with gene ontology data mining. Our results show that fish hydrolysate supplementation prevented the observed stress-induced dysregulation of proteins relative to mitochondrial pathways and the neuronal network. These findings suggest that fish hydrolysate represents an innovative strategy to prevent the adverse effects of stress and participate in stress management.
Effect of Flaking and Precooking Procedures on Antioxidant Potential of Selected Ancient Cereal and Legume Flours
Authors: Consumi Marco , Tamasi Gabriella , Bonechi Claudia , Andreassi Marco , Leone Gemma , Magnani Agnese , Rossi Claudio
Published: May 2022

Consumption of cereals (and particularly ancient cereals) is considered the base of a healthy diet, and all current dietary guidelines have cereals at the bottom of the nutrition pyramid. Together with cereals, legumes are an excellent source of nutrients and nutraceuticals. The effects of agroindustrial pretreatments (flaking and precooking processes) on the antioxidant potential of flours from ancient cereals and legumes were studied. The extraction of free hydrophilic phenolic compounds was carried out in a hydroalcoholic solvent mixture via an ultrasound-assisted process. Furthermore, the solid residue was successively hydrolyzed by an alkaline solution to extract the bound phenolic fraction. Both free and bound extracted fractions were then quantitatively characterized for total polyphenolic and flavonoid contents, and the antioxidant potential was determined by carrying out the ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging assays, expressing the results (in both cases) as the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC/ABTS and TEAC/DPPH, respectively). The samples were also extracted in organic apolar solvents (acetone or water-saturated iso-butanol) to quantitatively characterize lipophilic antioxidant compounds and pigments. A discussion on the comparison of these analytical parameters of flours obtained from raw, flaked, and precooked cereals and legumes is reported revealing that (i) phenolic compounds are mainly present in the post-hydrolysis extract (bound fraction), (ii) the precooking process significantly reduced the concentration of antioxidants, (iii) the flaking process slightly increased the phenolic content, (iv) legumes were less influenced by pretreatments, suggesting the possibility of using legumes to enrich cereal foods.
Prediction and Health Risk Assessment of Copper, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, and Nickel in Tieguanyin Tea: A Case Study from Fujian, China
Authors: Yao Qinghua , Huang Minmin , Zheng Yunyun , Chen Meizhen , Huang Chongyao , Lin Qiu
Published: May 2022

Heavy metal is widespread in food and the environment due to multiple origins, raising concerns over their persistent potential health risks. Contamination of multiple heavy metals in tea leaves is frequently reported. However, the dietary exposure risk that heavy metals in Tieguanyin tea (a famous type of oolong tea,) pose to different subpopulations has not been explored. In this study, contaminations of five heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Ni) of concern in Tieguanyin tea were monitored, then the related health risk was assessed for six different subpopulations based on tea brewing experiments and a previous consumption survey. Results show that the mean levels found were as follows: 8.18 mg/kg (Cu), 0.84 mg/kg (Pb), 0.51 mg/kg (Cr), 0.04 mg/kg (Cd), and 1.90 mg/kg (Ni), respectively, and their transfer rates during tea brewing varied within 10.2–70.4%. All estimated daily intakes of individual targeted elements via Tieguanying tea consumption were far below their corresponding tolerable limits. The adjusted hazard index value ranged from 1.1 × 10−2 to 1.7 × 10−2, indicating that exposure to these five elements via drinking Tieguanyin tea would not pose significant non-cancer risks for six subpopulations under the current consumption habit. In addition, the carcinogenic risks associated with heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and Cr) were acceptable because no total cancer risk values exceeded the 10−4 threshold. However, in order to improve consumer protection, we still suggest that considerable attention should be paid to Pb, Ni, and Cd because of their high concentration in infusion, high extraction rate, and major carcinogenic risk contribution, respectively.
Silkworm Pupae: A Functional Food with Health Benefits for Humans
Authors: Zhou Yaxi , Zhou Shiqi , Duan Hao , Wang Jing , Yan Wenjie
Published: May 2022

Silkworm pupae are insects that are beneficial to human health, not only for their high nutritional value but, more importantly, for the variety of pharmacological functions they can perform when consumed. Currently, there is a lot of interest in the pharmaceutical applications of silkworm pupae. In recent years, the biological functions of domestic silkworm pupae have gradually been identified and confirmed, especially for their beneficial effects on human health. Studies have found that silkworm pupae have positive effects on liver protection, immune enhancement, antiapoptosis, antitumour, antibacterial, regulation of blood glucose and blood lipids, and lowering of blood pressure. However, the pharmacological mechanisms and systemic safety of silkworm pupae have not been systematically evaluated. In this paper, the nutritional composition of the pupae of the domestic silkworm is first summarised. The pharmacological functions of silkworm pupae and their components are then classified, and their mechanisms of occurrence are described. In addition, we provide a preliminary evaluation of the safety of silkworm pupae, analyse their application prospects, and suggest future directions for further pharmacological function studies. The aim is to generate interest in the promotion of human health through the use of silkworm pupae.
A Structural Equation Model Demonstrating the Relationship between Food Safety Background, Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviour among Swedish Students
Authors: Marklinder Ingela , Eskhult Gustav , Ahlgren Roger , Blücher Anna , Börjesson Stina-Mina Ehn , Moazzami Madeleine , Schelin Jenny , Danielsson-Tham Marie-Louise
Published: May 2022

Traditionally, food safety knowledge has been seen as a factor in improving food safety behaviour. However, the relationship between knowledge and behavior is complex. The aim of the present study was to investigate self-reported data from 408 university students regarding food safety background, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour using Structural Equation Model (SEM) to examine the influence of different factors on food safety behaviour. The SEM was applied to four factors derived from the data: Background, Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviour. The novelty of this current investigation is the inclusion of the Background factor (genus; experience of cooking and handling different food items; experience of a food safety education course; the foremost sources of food safety knowledge). The factors were constructed from variables with sufficient factor loadings and set up in a predetermined structure confirmed to be valid in previous studies. The results, demonstrated as regression coefficients between factors, confirm that the Background factor strongly influenced Knowledge (0.842). The Knowledge factor, in turn, strongly affected Attitude (0.605), while it did not directly affect Behaviour (0.301) in the same way as Attitude. Attitude had a stronger influence on Behaviour (0.438) than Knowledge. Thus, the Attitude factor seemed to play a mediating role between Knowledge and Behaviour. This indicates that students´ attitudes towards the importance of food safety may have an impact on their food safety behavior, which should have implications for the development of food safety education. This warrants further investigation and practical development.
Effects of Hot Air Drying on Drying Kinetics and Anthocyanin Degradation of Blood-Flesh Peach
Authors: Tan Si , Miao Yiwen , Zhou Chongbing , Luo Yuping , Lin Zhiru , Xie Ruobing , Li Wenfeng
Published: May 2022

The purpose of this study was to explore the drying kinetics, effective moisture diffusivity, activation energy, color variation, and the thermal degradation properties of anthocyanins of blood-flesh peach under hot air drying for the first time. The results showed that the hot air-drying process of blood-flesh peach belongs to reduced-speed drying. The Page model could accurately predict the change of moisture ratio of blood-flesh peach. The effective moisture diffusivity during hot air drying of blood-flesh peach was in the range between 1.62 × 10−10 and 2.84 × 10−10 m2/s, and the activation energy was 25.90 kJ/mol. Fresh samples had the highest content (44.61 ± 4.76 mg/100 g) of total monomeric anthocyanins, and it decreased with the increase of drying temperature. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and delphinidin-3-O-galactoside were the main anthocyanins of blood-flesh peach as identified and quantified by UPLC-QqQ-MS. Interestingly, during the drying process, the content of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside increased at the beginning, and then decreased. However, the content of delphinidin-3-O-galactoside kept decreasing during the whole drying process. Considering the drying efficiency, fruit color and quality, 70 °C would be a suitable temperature for drying blood-flesh peach. This research will provide beneficial information for understanding the anthocyanin degradation of blood-flesh peach during drying, and guide the production of high-quality dried products.
Oxidative Stability and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Cold-Pressed Oils and Oils Mixtures
Authors: Symoniuk Edyta , Wroniak Małgorzata , Napiórkowska Katarzyna , Brzezińska Rita , Ratusz Katarzyna
Published: May 2022

The aim of the study was to analyse the chemical composition and oxidation stability of selected cold-pressed oils and oil mixtures. The oils were tested for their initial quality, fatty acid composition, total phenolic compounds, DPPH, and ABTS free radical scavenging activity. The Rancimat method was used to assess oxidative stability. The obtained results were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the influence of selected chemical properties on the oxidative stability of the oil. It has been found that different factors of oil quality influence the stability of cold-pressed oils. The highest correlation coefficient was noted between the induction time, peroxide value, and TOTOX indicator (r = 0.89). Fatty acid composition, including the percentage of SFA, MUFA, PUFA, and the ability to scavenge ABTS captions radicals, did not significantly affect the oxidative stability of the oils. Black cumin seed oil was the most resistant to the oxidation processes in the Rancimat apparatus, mainly due to the high content of phenolic compounds (384.66 mg GAE/100 g). On the other hand, linseed oil and its mixtures were the least stable. Their fatty acid composition was dominated by a polyunsaturated α-linolenic fatty acid, significantly reducing the antioxidant resistance.
Evaluation of the Quality Characteristics and Development of a Puffed-Rice Snack Enriched with Honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) Drone Pupae Powder
Authors: Cho Woo-Hee , Park Jung-Min , Kim Eun-Ji , Mohibbullah Md. , Choi Jae-Suk
Published: May 2022

Edible insect ingredients have gained importance as environmental-friendly energy sources world-wide; the honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) drone pupae has gained prominence as a nutritional material. In this study, bee drone pupae were processed under different heating and drying conditions and incorporated into a puffed-rice snack with honey. The sensory, physicochemical, nutritional and microbial qualities of drone pupae powders were tested. The deep-fried and hot-air dried powder was selected; the values of 5.54% (powder) and 2.13% (honey) were obtained on optimization with honey by response surface methodology. Subsequently, the puffed-rice snack product enriched with drone pupae powder was stored at different temperatures for 180 days. The prepared product showed a higher content of proteins, fats, amino acids, and fatty acids compared to the control. The high content of a few minerals were maintained in the processed powder and the product, whereas heavy metals were not detected. The storage test indicated acceptable sensory qualities and safety results, considering important quality parameters. Thus, drone pupae powder and the developed product can be consumed as nutritional food materials; the quality characteristics can be improved through optimal processing.
Effects of Betanin on Pasting, Rheology and Retrogradation Properties of Different Starches
Authors: Dai Taotao , He Xiaohong , Xu Jiahui , Geng Qin , Li Changhong , Sun Jian , Liu Chengmei , Chen Jun , He Xuemei
Published: May 2022

As a natural pigment with high antioxidative activity, betanin is underutilized owing to less attention. This study aimed to investigate the impact of betanin on pasting, rheology and retrogradation properties of rice, potato and pea starches. Betanin decreased the peak, trough and final viscosity of rice and potato starches, but increased those of pea starch. Rheology measurements implied that betanin had the greatest effect on the hysteresis loops and dynamic modulus of potato starch. Betanin endowed starch pastes with a vivid red appearance and maintained the color of the starch pastes during storage. XRD analysis indicated that betanin weakened the diffraction intensities and reduced the crystallinity of the retrograded starches. Meanwhile, betanin reduced the short-range ordered structure of the retrograde starches. The results of DSC analysis found that betanin significantly depressed the retrogradation enthalpy and retrogradation rate, implying that the long-term retrogradation of starches was delayed. Furthermore, the changed morphology of the retrograded starches was observed. These results suggested that betanin could be applied as an excellent colorant and inhibitor of retrogradation in foods such as bread and pastry products.
Effect of Homogenization Modified Rice Protein on the Pasting Properties of Rice Starch
Authors: Wu Jianyong , Xu Shunqian , Yan Xiaoyan , Zhang Xuan , Xu Xingfeng , Li Qian , Ye Jiangping , Liu Chengmei
Published: May 2022

Modification of plant-based protein for promoting wide applications is of interest to the food industry. Rice protein from rice residues was modified by homogenization, and its effect on pasting properties (including gelatinization and rheology) of rice starch was investigated. The results showed that homogenization could significantly decrease the particle size of rice protein and increase their water holding capacity without changing their band distribution in SDS-PAGE. With the addition of protein/homogenized proteins into rice starch decreased peak viscosity of paste. The homogenized proteins decreased breakdown and setback value when compared with that of original protein, indicating homogenized protein might have potential applications for increasing the stability and inhibiting short-term retrogradation of starch paste. The addition of protein/homogenized proteins resulted in a reduction in the viscoelasticity behavior of starch paste. These results indicate that homogenization would create a solution to alter the physicochemical properties of plant proteins, and the homogenized proteins may be a potential candidate for development of protein-rich starchy products.
Production of Innovative Essential Oil-Based Emulsion Coatings for Fungal Growth Control on Postharvest Fruits
Authors: Sadat Razavi Mahsa , Golmohammadi Abdollah , Nematollahzadeh Ali , Ghanbari Alireza , Davari Mahdi , Carullo Daniele , Farris Stefano
Published: May 2022

This work assessed the antimicrobial potential of natural essential oils (EOs) from cinnamon (CEO), zataria (ZEO), and satureja (SEO), applied natively or as coatings against Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea during both in vitro and in vivo (on apple fruits) experiments. The induced inhibitory effect towards fungal growth, as a function of both EO type and concentration (75–1200 μL/L), was preliminarily investigated to select the most suitable EO for producing bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (BCNCs)/fish gelatin (GelA)-based emulsions. CEO and ZEO exhibited the best performances against P. expansum and B. cinerea, respectively. None of the pristine EOs completely inhibited the fungal growth and “disease severity”, properly quantified via size measurements of lesions formed on fruit surfaces. As compared to pristine CEO, coating emulsions with variable CEO concentration (75–2400 µL/L) curbed lesion spreading on apples, owing to the controlled CEO release during a 21-day temporal window. The strongest effect was displayed by BCNCs/GelA-CEO emulsions at the highest CEO concentration, upon which lesions on fruit skins were barely detectable. This work demonstrated the capability of EOs embedded in BCNCs/GelA-based nanocapsules to efficiently slow down microbial spoilage on postharvest fruits, thus offering viable opportunities for developing innovative antimicrobial packaging systems.
Thermal Inactivation Kinetics and Radio Frequency Control of Aspergillus in Almond Kernels
Authors: Gao Yu , Guan Xiangyu , Wan Ailin , Cui Yuan , Kou Xiaoxi , Li Rui , Wang Shaojin
Published: May 2022

Mold infections in almonds are a safety issue during post-harvest, storage and consumption, leading to health problems for consumers and causing economic losses. The aim of this study was to isolate mold from infected almond kernels and identify it by whole genome sequence (WGS). Then, the more heat resistant mold was selected and the thermal inactivation kinetics of this mold influenced by temperature and water activity (aw) was developed. Hot air-assisted radio frequency (RF) heating was used to validate pasteurization efficacy based on the thermal inactivation kinetics of this target mold. The results showed that the two types of molds were Penicillium and Aspergillus identified by WGS. The selected Aspergillus had higher heat resistance than the Penicillium in the almond kernels. Inactivation data for the target Aspergillus fitted the Weibull model better than the first-order kinetic model. The population changes of the target Aspergillus under the given conditions could be predicted from Mafart’s modified Bigelow model. The RF treatment was effectively used for inactivating Aspergillus in almond kernels based on Mafart’s modified Bigelow model and the cumulative lethal time model.
Properties of q-Differential Equations of Higher Order and Visualization of Fractal Using q-Bernoulli Polynomials
Authors: Ryoo Cheon-Seoung , Kang Jung-Yoog
Published: May 2022

We introduce several q-differential equations of higher order which are related to q-Bernoulli polynomials and obtain a symmetric property of q-differential equations of higher order in this paper. By giving q-varying variations, we identify the shape of the approximate roots of q-Bernoulli polynomials, a solution of q-differential equations of higher order, and find several conjectures associated with them. Furthermore, based on q-Bernoulli polynomials, we create a Mandelbrot set and a Julia set to find a variety of related figures.
Dirichlet Averages of Generalized Mittag-Leffler Type Function
Authors: Kumar Dinesh , Ram Jeta , Choi Junesang
Published: May 2022

Since Gösta Magus Mittag-Leffler introduced the so-called Mittag-Leffler function in 1903 and studied its features in five subsequent notes, passing the first half of the 20th century during which the majority of scientists remained almost unaware of the function, the Mittag-Leffler function and its various extensions (referred to as Mittag-Leffler type functions) have been researched and applied to a wide range of problems in physics, biology, chemistry, and engineering. In the context of fractional calculus, Mittag-Leffler type functions have been widely studied. Since Carlson established the notion of Dirichlet average and its different variations, these averages have been explored and used in a variety of fields. This paper aims to investigate the Dirichlet and modified Dirichlet averages of the R-function (an extended Mittag-Leffler type function), which are provided in terms of Riemann-Liouville integrals and hypergeometric functions of several variables. Principal findings in this article are (possibly) applicable. This article concludes by addressing an open problem.
Finite-Time Projective Synchronization and Parameter Identification of Fractional-Order Complex Networks with Unknown External Disturbances
Authors: Wang Shuguo , Zheng Song , Cui Linxiang
Published: May 2022

This paper is devoted to exploring the finite-time projective synchronization (FTPS) of fractional-order complex dynamical networks (FOCDNs) with unknown parameters and external disturbances. Based on the stability theory of fractional-order differential systems, synchronization criteria between drive-response networks were obtained and both the uncertain parameters and external disturbances were identified or conquered simultaneously. Moreover, the upper limit of the settling-time function was obtained. Finally, a numerical example was given to verify the effectiveness of the results.
On a System of Riemann–Liouville Fractional Boundary Value Problems with ϱ-Laplacian Operators and Positive Parameters
Authors: Henderson Johnny , Luca Rodica , Tudorache Alexandru
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we study the existence and nonexistence of positive solutions of a system of Riemann–Liouville fractional differential equations with ϱ-Laplacian operators, supplemented with coupled nonlocal boundary conditions containing Riemann–Stieltjes integrals, fractional derivatives of various orders, and positive parameters. We apply the Schauder fixed point theorem in the proof of the existence result.
Series with Binomial-like Coefficients for the Investigation of Fractal Structures Associated with the Riemann Zeta Function
Authors: Belovas Igoris , Sabaliauskas Martynas , Kuzma Lukas
Published: May 2022

The paper continues the study of efficient algorithms for the computation of zeta functions over the complex plane. We aim to apply the modifications of algorithms to the investigation of underlying fractal structures associated with the Riemann zeta function. We discuss the computational complexity and numerical aspects of the implemented algorithms based on series with binomial-like coefficients.