Search Results (3,105)

Efficient and affordable plant phenotyping methods are an essential response to global climatic pressures. This study demonstrates the continued potential of consumer-grade photography to capture plant phenotypic traits in turfgrass and derive new calculations. Yet the effects of image corrections on individual calculations are often unreported. Turfgrass lysimeters were photographed over 8 weeks using a custom lightbox and consumer-grade camera. Subsequent imagery was analyzed for area of cover, color metrics, and sensitivity to image corrections. Findings were compared to active spectral reflectance data and previously reported measurements of visual quality, productivity, and water use. Results confirm that Red–Green–Blue imagery effectively measures plant treatment effects. Notable correlations were observed for corrected imagery, including between yellow fractional area with human visual quality ratings (r = −0.89), dark green color index with clipping productivity (r = 0.61), and an index combination term with water use (r = −0.60). The calculation of green fractional area correlated with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (r = 0.91), and its RED reflectance spectra (r = −0.87). A new chromatic ratio correlated with Normalized Difference Red-Edge index (r = 0.90) and its Red-Edge reflectance spectra (r = −0.74), while a new calculation correlated strongest to Near-Infrared (r = 0.90). Additionally, the combined index term significantly differentiated between the treatment effects of date, mowing height, deficit irrigation, and their interactions (p < 0.001). Sensitivity and statistical analyses of typical image file formats and corrections that included JPEG, TIFF, geometric lens distortion correction, and color correction were conducted. Findings highlight the need for more standardization in image corrections and to determine the biological relevance of the new image data calculations. Full article

The safety of sea bass is critical for the global food trade. This study evaluated the effectiveness of atmospheric cold plasma in reducing food safety risks posed by Salmonella Enteritidis and Listeria monocytogenes, which can contaminate sea bass post harvest. Cold plasma was applied to inoculated sea bass for 2 to 18 min, achieving a maximum reduction of 1.43 log CFU/g for S. Enteritidis and 0.80 log CFU/g for L. monocytogenes at 18 min. Longer treatments resulted in greater reductions; however, odor and taste quality declined to a below average quality in samples treated for 12 min or longer. Plasma treatment did not significantly alter the color, texture, or water activity (aw) of the fish. Higher levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs) were observed with increased exposure times. Cold plasma was also tested in vitro on S. Enteritidis and L. monocytogenes on agar surfaces. A 4 min treatment eliminated the initial loads of S. Enteritidis (2.71 log CFU) and L. monocytogenes (2.98 log CFU). The findings highlight the potential of cold plasma in enhancing the safety of naturally contaminated fish. Cold plasma represents a promising technology for improving food safety in the global fish trade and continues to be a significant area of research in food science. Full article

Seed germination is a complex process involving imbibition, activation and subsequent growth. In addition to re-establishing metabolic activity, water uptake helps stabilize macromolecules and biochemical reactions, resulting in radicle protrusion. Factors affecting water uptake include seed composition, water availability and seed coat permeability. Water entry sites vary with species and occur primarily through the hilum, micropyle or lens. In addition, seed size influences water uptake, where larger seeds are usually less permeable. The seed coat plays a significant role in regulating the water absorption process. Several seed coat characteristics, including color, thickness and differences in the anatomical structure, such as the presence of pores, cuticles and radicle pockets, alter water permeability. Similarly, the presence of either physical or physiological seed dormancy negatively affects water uptake. This review emphasizes that understanding seed characteristics, such as size, shape and seed coat permeability, and their relationships is essential for breeding and selecting seeds with desirable traits, as they directly influence water uptake, leading to improved germination and growth. Full article

The study was conducted to study the sustainability and enhanced nutrition gains obtained from incorporating grape skin powder (GSP) extracted from both Fetească Neagră and Rară Neagră grape varieties into yogurt. Grape skins are major leftovers from wineries, having high amounts of phenolic compounds and dietary fiber responsible for their ability to improve the characteristics of food. The research aimed to evaluate the effect of GSP addition at varying concentrations (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%) on the yogurt’s physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, color parameters, and sensory attributes. Analysis revealed that both Fetească Neagră and Rară Neagră GSP increased the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity; however, Fetească Neagră showed greater improvements, with TPC reaching 1.52 mg GAE/100 g and DPPH inhibition up to 26.63%. Although slightly lower, TPC rose to 1.43 mg GAE/100 g and DPPH inhibition increased to 18.93% with Rară Neagră enhancing these parameters conversely. Color changes were observed in fortified yogurts where lightness decreased (L*) and redness increased (a*) due to the pH-dependent anthocyanin stability. Syneresis, indicative of yogurt’s water-holding capacity, was reduced at higher concentrations of GSP from both varieties, suggesting improved textural integrity. Sensory evaluation indicated that consumers generally favored yogurts with lower concentrations of GSP. Yogurts fortified with Fetească Neagră GSP received higher overall preference, while those with Rară Neagră GSP were also well-received for their distinct flavor profiles when used at suitable levels. These results show that GSP from both types of grapes improves the nutritional value of yogurt and complies with the principles of sustainable food production through reutilizing agro-industrial waste. Full article

Traffic-related roads are an underestimated source of synthetic particles in the environment. This study investigated the impact of traffic volume on microplastic (MP) and tire wear particle (TWP) pollution in road snow. An examination was conducted in a medium-sized city situated in northeastern Poland, known for being one of the cleanest regions in the country. MPs and TWPs were found at all 54 sites, regardless of the intensity of traffic. The average concentration for all samples was 354.72 pcs/L. Statistically significant differences were found between the average values of the particle concentration on low, medium, and heavy traffic roads, amounting to 62.32 pcs/L, 335.97 pcs/L, and 792.76 pcs/L, respectively. Within all three studied groups of roads, MPs and TWPs with the smallest size, ranging from 50 to 200 μm, were prevalent. In all of the studied groups of roads, four analyzed shapes of particles were found, with irregular fragments being the most abundant form (89.23%). The most frequently recorded color among the collected samples was black (99.85%), and the least frequently recorded color was blue, constituting only 0.01%. This study suggests that snow cover on the roads may act like a temporary storage of pollutants during winter particularly in the temperate climate zone and, after thawing can significantly increase the concentration of MPs and TWPs in surface waters. Possible measures to decrease the release of MPs and TWPs into the environment in the city may include reducing the traffic volume and speed, implementing street sweeping, utilizing filtration chambers, and installing stormwater bioretention systems or settling ponds. Full article

Using plant extracts to replace traditional chemical herbicides plays an essential role in sustainable agriculture. The present work evaluated the quality of durum wheat cv Valbelice in two years (2014 and 2016) using plant aqueous extracts of sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) and mugwort (Artemisia arborescens L.) as bio-herbicides on the main quality characteristics of durum wheat. The untreated, water-treated, and chemically treated durum wheat products were also analyzed as controls. Following the official methodologies, grain commercial analyses and defects of the kernels were determined. The main chemical and technological features were determined on the wholemeal flour: proteins, dry matter, dry gluten, gluten index, colorimetric parameters, mixograph, falling number, and sedimentation test in SDS. An experimental bread-making test was performed, and the main parameters were detected on the breads: bread volume, weight, moisture, porosity, hardness, and colorimetric parameters on crumb and crust. Within the two years, grain commercial analyses of the total five treatments showed no statistically significant differences concerning test weight (range 75.47–84.33 kg/hL) and thousand kernel weight (range 26.58–35.36 kg/hL). Differently, significant differences were observed in terms of kernel defects, particularly starchy kernels, black pointed kernels, and shrunken kernels, mainly due to the year factor. Analyses on the whole-grain flours showed significant differences. This affected dry gluten content (7.35% to 16.40%) and gluten quality (gluten index from 6.44 to 45.81). Mixograph results for mixing time ranged from 1.90 min to 3.15 min, whilst a peak dough ranged from 6.83 mm to 9.85 mm, showing, in both cases, statistically significant differences between treatments. The falling number showed lower values during the first year (on average 305 s) and then increased in the second year (on average 407 s). The sedimentation test showed no statistically significant differences, ranging from 27.75 mm to 34.00 mm. Regarding the bread produced, statistically significant year-related differences were observed for the parameters loaf volume during the first year (on average 298.75 cm³) and then increased in the second year (on average 417.33 cm³). Weight range 136.85 g to 145.18 g and moisture range 32.50 g/100 g to 39.51 g/100 g. Hardness range 8.65 N to 12.75 N and porosity (range 5.00 to 8.00) were closely related to the type of treatment. Finally, the color of flour and bread appeared to be not statistically significantly affected by treatment type. From a perspective of environmental and economic sustainability, the use of plant extracts with a bio-herbicidal function could replace traditional chemical herbicides. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of plasma-activated water (PAW) combined with a chitosan–oregano essential oil (CS-OEO) coating on the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensory attributes of carp fillets during chilled storage. Fresh carp fillets were immersed in sterile deionized water, PAW, CS-OEO, and PAW+CS-OEO, respectively, and stored at 4 °C for 10 d. The results showed that plasma-activated water combined with chitosan–oregano essential oil could effectively inhibit the microbial growth in carp fillets during chilled storage. At 10 d storage, the total viable count of carp fillets treated with PAW+CS-OEO decreased by 2.87 log₁₀ CFU/g when compared to the control. The lowest pH values were found in the carp fillet samples after the PAW+CS-OEO treatment; as well, the carp fillet samples after the PAW+CS-OEO treatment showed the lowest total volatile basic nitrogen, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance values, and K values. In addition, the carp fillets in the PAW+CS-OEO treatment group showed the smallest color changes and the highest scores in sensory properties during chilled storage. This study provides a basis for the potential application of plasma-activated water combined with chitosan–oregano essential oil in the preservation of carp fillets and contributes to developing a new food packaging. Full article

A biorefinery process was developed to isolate phycobiliproteins, sulfated polysaccharides, and phenolic compounds from Palmaria palmata. The extraction process was carried out in three stages using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) integrated with different natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs). In general, PLE provided higher phycobiliprotein contents than UAE in the first step of the process. In fact, the hydrolysis product of the PLE-NaDES extracts achieved a higher antioxidant capacity than that of the UAE-NaDES extracts. Particularly, glycerol:glucose (2:1) with 50% water in combination with PLE was the most suitable NaDES to recover the highest phycobiliprotein, protein, and sulfated polysaccharide contents from Palmaria palmata in the first and second steps of the biorefinery process. Finally, a PLE-NaDES using choline chloride:glycerol (1:2) with 60% water as the NaDES was employed for the recovery of antioxidant and neuroprotective phenolic compounds from the residue of the second step, obtaining a higher total phenolic content than employing PLE with ethanol/water (70:30, v/v) as the extraction solvent. Moreover, a forced stability study revealed that the NaDESs provided a protective effect compared to the water extracts against the degradation of phycobiliproteins, preserving their color over time. This study contributes to the recovery of high-value components from an undervalued biomarine source through a sustainable biorefinery process. Full article

The production of indigo, primarily used by the denim industry, increases year by year, and is mainly of synthetic origin. The textile industry, on which its production depends, is responsible for 10% of greenhouse gases and 20% of water pollution. However, the source of this pigment/colorant, mainly based on petrochemistry, remains a key issue today. Extracting indigo from plants is becoming a popular answer and requires an understanding and evaluation of the entire process, from raw material to pigment recovery. In this study, the indigotin precursor, indoxyl, derived from the hydrolysis of O-glycosides biomass extracted in water, was oxidized to obtain the desired pigment. This step is the most sensitive, as variations have been observed during this phase. Consequently, the standardization of the oxidation process was established to determine the extract capacity to consistently produce the blue dye pigment. Partial hydrolysis of the O-glycosides, the indoxyl precursors, was identified as a factor causing this yield variability in the obtained extracts. Once the precursors were fully chemically hydrolyzed, plants harvested during summer and during a freezing period showed a similar capacity to produce indigotin, with values of 412 ± 25 ppm and 379 ± 0 ppm, respectively. This result showed that in freezing conditions, the enzymatic material was not available, resulting in the lack of indigotin formation. To address the use of oxidation in an alkaline medium, a spontaneous oxidation method was proposed. This method produced a purer indigotin pigment, with a 21.6% purity compared to 5.9% purity using air-mediated oxidation in an alkaline medium. Full article

This study aimed to optimize the osmotic dehydration process of strawberry slices by examining the effects of glycerol concentration, immersion time, and temperature on water loss and solid gain. Additionally, the study explored the use of chokeberry infusion to enhance the total phenolic content of the strawberries, thereby increasing their nutritional value. Using the Box–Behnken design and response surface methodology, the study identified optimal conditions to maximize water loss and solid gain. The findings revealed that high glycerol concentration (60% w/w) and temperature (50 °C), combined with optimal immersion times, significantly influenced water loss and solid gain. Experimental validations confirmed the model’s predictions, showing high prediction accuracy (87.37% to 87.69%) for water loss determination but moderate prediction accuracy (42.80% to 64.72%) for solid gain. The immersion of strawberry slices in a hypertonic osmotic chokeberry infusion for 170–220 min maximized the migration of natural antioxidants. Moreover, the osmotic dehydration process effectively reduced water activity and moisture content, enhancing the strawberries’ shelf stability. Furthermore, the addition of calcium chloride (CaCl₂) helped maintain the strawberries’ firmness and color during dehydration. Overall, the optimized osmotic dehydration process preserved the structural integrity and improved the nutritional profile and preservation quality of the strawberries, suitable for preparation of various fruit-based products. Full article

The use of plant-derived emulsified gel systems as fat substitutes for meat products has always been an important direction in the development of healthy foods. In this study, a composite matrix emulsion gel was prepared with soy protein isolate (SPI) and different concentrations of cassia bean gum (CG), and then the selected emulsion gel was applied to meat sausage as a fat substitute to explore its stability. Our results showed that the hardness, chewiness, viscosity, shear stress, and G′ and G″ moduli of the emulsion gel increased considerably with the cassia bean gum concentration, the thickness of the emulsion gel increased, and the pore size decreased. The gel strength of the 1.75% CG/SPI emulsion gel was the highest, which was 586.91 g. The elasticity was 0.94 mm, the masticability was 452.94 mJ, and the water-holding capacity (WHC) was 98.45%. Then, the 1.75% CG/SPI emulsion gel obtained via screening was applied as a fat substitute in meat sausage. With an increase in the substitution amount, the cooking loss, emulsification stability, pH, color difference, texture, and antioxidant activity of the meat sausage before and after freezing and thawing increased first and then decreased. The indexes of meat sausage with 50% fat replacement were not considerably different from those of full-fat meat sausage. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the application of plant-derived emulsified gel systems as fat substitutes in meat sausage. Full article

Caisson paintings are an integral part of the unique interior decoration ceiling of traditional Chinese architecture. There are a large number of Yuan Dynasty caisson paintings in the Puzhao Temple, in Hancheng, Shaanxi Province, China. These caisson paintings have exquisite patterns and rich colors, which are rare artistic treasures of the Yuan Dynasty. In the history of nearly 700 years, due to various environmental and human factors, the caisson paintings have experienced various degradation; for example, the paper of the caisson paintings is acidified, the surface is polluted, the color is faded, mottled, and it is difficult to identify. Therefore, their protection is vital. In order to ensure the scientific and targeted development of the protection scheme, this study conducted a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of the paper fibers, pigments, adhesives, wood supports, and pollutants of the caisson paintings and carried out a series of protection experiments in the field and laboratory, providing a step-by-step review of the protection treatment application for the caisson paintings. Mechanical and wet cleaning were used to remove the pollutants. The caisson painting was deacidified with a barium hydroxide ethanol solution, and the paper and pigments of the caisson painting were strengthened with water-based fluorine. Several conservation problems, such as the removal of pollutants, the deacidification of acidified paper, and the reinforcement of flaking paper and pigments, were solved. Meanwhile, good conservation and restoration results for caisson paintings were obtained. This research method of combining theory and practice has greatly improved the scientificity and success rate of conservation work. These research results provide valuable experience and reference for other caisson paintings in similar environments. Full article

Lepidium peruvianum—an edible herbaceous biennial plant distributed in the Andes—has been used for centuries as food and as a natural medicine in treating hormonal disorders, as an antidepressant, and as an anti-osteoporotic agent. The presented study aims to prove its beneficial cosmetic and chemopreventive properties by testing the antiradical, whitening, cytotoxic, and anticancer properties of differently colored phenotypes that were extracted using three solvents: methanol, water, and chloroform, with the help of the chemometric approach to provide evidence on the impact of single glucosinolanes (seven identified compounds in the HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis) on the biological activity of the total extracts. The tested extracts exhibited moderate antiradical activity, with the methanolic extract from yellow and grey maca phenotypes scavenging 49.9 ± 8.96% and 48.8% ± 0.44% of DPPH radical solution at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, respectively. Grey maca was the most active tyrosinase inhibitor, with 72.86 ± 3.42% of the enzyme activity calculated for the water extract and 75.66 ± 6.21% for the chloroform extract. The studies in cells showed no cytotoxicity towards the human keratinocyte line HaCaT in all studied extracts and a marked inhibition of cell viability towards the G361 melanoma cell line, which the presence of pent-4-enylglucosinolate, glucotropaeolin, and glucoalyssin in the samples could have caused. Given all biological activity tests combined, the three mentioned compounds were shown to be the most significant positive contributors to the results obtained, and the grey maca water extract was found to be the best source of the former compound among the tested samples. Full article

Lake Sevan in Armenia is a unique, large, alpine lake given its surface, volume, and geographic location. The lake suffered from progressing eutrophication and, since 2018, massive cyanobacterial blooms repeatedly occurred. Although the lake is comparatively intensely monitored, the feasibility to reliably detect the algal bloom events appeared to be limited by the established in situ monitoring, mostly because algal bloom dynamics are far more dynamic than the realized monitoring frequency of monthly samplings. This mismatch of monitoring frequency and ecosystem dynamics is a notorious problem in lakes, where plankton dynamics often work at relatively short time scales. Satellite-based monitoring with higher overpass frequency, e.g., by Sentinel-3 OLCI with its daily overcasts, are expected to fill this gap. The goal of our study was therefore the establishment of a fast detection of algal blooms in Lake Sevan that operates at the time scale of days instead of months. We found that algal bloom detection in Lake Sevan failed, however, when it was only based on chlorophyll due to complications with optical water properties and atmospheric corrections. Instead, we obtained good results when true-color RGB images were analyzed or a specifically designed satellite-based HAB indicator was applied. These methods provide reliable and very fast bloom detection at a scale of days. At the same time, our results indicated that there are still considerable limitations for the use of remote sensing when it comes to a fully quantitative assessment of algal dynamics in Lake Sevan. The observations made so far indicate that algal blooms are a regular feature in Lake Sevan and occur almost always when water temperatures surpass approximately 20 °C. Our satellite-based method effectively allowed for bloom detection at short time scales and identified blooms over several years where classical sampling failed to do so, simply because of the unfortunate timing of sampling dates and blooming phases. The extension of classical in situ sampling by satellite-based methods is therefore a step towards a more reliable, faster, and more cost-effective detection of algal blooms in this valuable lake. Full article

This article presents the results of a pilot study on the treatment of sludge from a water treatment plant in the city of Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan, to ensure further disposal. The main objective of the study was to compare the efficiency of sludge drying by natural and artificial methods. The qualitative characteristics of the leachate from the dewatering unit, the chemical composition of the dried sludge and the granulometric analysis of the dried sludge were also studied. The greatest reduction in moisture content was recorded for drying in natural conditions (2.1%), but this process required the longest drying time. The leachate obtained from sludge dewatering was characterized by significant contamination (e.g., turbidity—55.65 on average, color—67.7, total Fe—5.15 mg/L, total N—79.6 mg/L, COD—311 mg/L, BOD—336.15 mg/L), which indicates the need for its pretreatment before further management in the technological system of the treatment station. The content of chemical substances contained in the dry residue of the sludge was also determined, of which aluminum was 0.94–13.8 mg/kg, silicon was 50.24–146.3 mg/kg, potassium was 1.72–5.51. mg/kg, calcium was 71.8–79.1 mg/kg, iron was 2.0–7.54 mg/kg and nickel was 0.9–4.4 mg/kg. A particle size analysis of the dried sludge showed that the majority fractions were fine and very fine sand, with a total of 20.2%, and silt and clay, with a total of 78.3%. Such properties justify the rationality of considering the reuse of dried sludge as a raw material for making, for example, construction materials or soil remediation material. Full article