Search Results (1,065)

Lupinus is recognized as a nutrient-dense legume rich in protein, raw fiber, antioxidants, and unsaturated fatty acids, contributing significantly to human nutrition and health. In Ecuador, the Andean Crops and Plant Genetic Resources program of INIAP maintains a germplasm bank comprising 257 uncharacterized accessions. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional and phytochemical composition of ten promising sweet Lupin genotypes (L. mutabilis) exhibiting good agronomic characteristics, resistance and/or tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, superior grain quality and significantly reduced seed alkaloid content in experimental trails. These genotypes were compared with two accessions of L. albus and L. angustifolius used as control genotypes. Except for carbohydrate content, L. mutabilis genotypes exhibited similar or superior nutritional profiles compared to genotype controls with high protein (44.7%), fat (19.91%), and ash (4.16%) contents and reduced alkaloid concentrations, notably, two genotypes LmAnds16 and LmFRs43 with 0.04%. However, it exhibited the highest polyphenol (8.84 mg·g⁻¹) and flavonoid (0.67 mg·g⁻¹) concentrations and antioxidant activity for ABTS (19.94 µmol TE·g⁻¹) and FRAP (300.30 µmol TE·g⁻¹) on a dry weight basis (DW). These results are important for the generation of new varieties of Lupinus focused on its nutritional quality and to produce nutraceutical and functional foods. Full article

Grape marc (Vitis labrusca), a major by-product of the winemaking industry, is generated in large quantities and represents a promising source of bioactive compounds. This residue is particularly rich in phenolic metabolites associated with antioxidant activity. In this study, supercritical CO₂ extraction was investigated as a sustainable strategy for the recovery of bioactive compounds from Vitis labrusca grape marc. A 2⁴⁻¹ fractional factorial design was employed to evaluate the effects of temperature (30–60 °C), pressure (137.9–275.8 bar), ethanol concentration (0–10 wt%), and particle size (116–601 µm) on extraction yield, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity (AC). Extraction performance was strongly influenced by operating conditions, revealing a clear trade-off between recovery and selectivity. The highest extraction yield (8.3 wt%) was obtained using 10 wt% ethanol as co-solvent, whereas the highest antioxidant capacity (365.3 µmol TE/g extract) was achieved under neat CO₂ conditions. TPC values reached approximately 69 mg GAE/g extract and were significantly affected by the combined effects of temperature, particle size, and ethanol concentration. The results revealed two distinct extraction regimes: a high-recovery regime promoted by ethanol addition and a high-selectivity regime under neat CO₂ conditions. Representative extracts were further characterized by UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Ethanol-modified extraction was associated with higher relative abundance and diversity of flavonoids, stilbenes, and phenolic acids, whereas neat CO₂ extraction favored lipophilic metabolites such as oxylipins and unsaturated fatty acids. Selected operating conditions were successfully reproduced at pilot scale, supporting the scalability of the process. Overall, the results demonstrate that supercritical CO₂ extraction can be tailored to recover bioactive compounds from grape marc as extracts with distinct chemical profiles and provide a viable strategy for the valorization of Vitis labrusca winemaking residues. Full article

Fibrinolysis assessment is critical for diagnosing and managing clinical blood disorders. Currently available viscoelastic testing platforms provide an overview of global coagulation and fibrinolysis profiles but lack fibrinolysis specific assessment of a preformed clot substrate. The lack of a sensitive, standardized testing platform for fibrinolysis assessment can limit risk stratification and the management of blood disorders. We describe herein the plasma annular clot lysis assay. The assay adapts the previously standardized FITC-tagged fibrin annular clot assay to plasma obtained from healthy human donors. Plasmin at concentrations ranging from 200–800 nM was used as a direct thrombolytic to assess fibrinolysis in plasma-derived annular clots. The Maximum Fibrinolysis Rate (V_MFR), FLU200, T90, and MaxFLU were calculated via tracking of the clot digestion curve over time. V_MFR was correlated with plasma thromboelastography (TEG) parameters to compare with the global viscoelastic testing system. Additionally, plasma annular clot digestion was monitored in the presence of pentamidine to assess drug-specific effects on fibrinolysis tracking. Plasma annular clots linearly tracked fibrinolysis with increasing plasmin concentration. V_MFR across multiple tested plasmin concentrations showed a moderate to strong negative correlation (0.58–0.74) with the observed maximum amplitude from plasma TEG. In the presence of pentamidine (75 µM), the assay was sensitive to identifying differences in the V_MFR across treatment groups. Plasma annular clots provide a platform for fibrinolysis evaluation using a patient’s own plasma to assess therapeutic dosing clinically in addition to testing novel therapeutics preclinically to further understand mechanistic aspects of fibrinolysis. Full article

This study evaluated beetroot powder as a natural colorant and partial nitrite replacer in frankfurters. Five formulations were prepared: control with nitrite curing salt, T1 and T2 with 25% and 50% nitrite replacement, T3 with complete nitrite replacement, and T4 with complete nitrite replacement plus ascorbic acid. The samples were analyzed for physicochemical properties, color, water-holding capacity, cooking yield, sensory quality, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and lipid oxidation during 7 days of refrigerated storage at 2–3 °C. Beetroot powder markedly increased redness in uncooked frankfurters, with a* values rising from 13.84 in the control to 37.20 in T3 and 35.31 in T4. T2, T3, and T4 also improved cooking yield, reaching 90.19%, 90.42%, and 89.84%, respectively, compared with 85.85% in the control. T2 showed the highest total sensory score (23.3), while T3 had the lowest acceptability (19.8). During storage, T4 showed the strongest oxidative stability, with TBARS increasing from 0.23 to 1.10 mg MDA/kg, compared with 0.44 to 2.42 mg MDA/kg in T3. T4 also maintained the highest DPPH activity and total phenolic content after 7 days: 2.53 μmol TE/g and 95.68 mg GAE/kg, respectively. Beetroot powder improved color and antioxidant potential, but complete nitrite replacement required ascorbic acid to control oxidation and maintain quality. These findings support the use of beetroot powder–ascorbic acid systems in reduced-nitrite frankfurter formulations. Full article

The escalating global demand for renewable energy has positioned solar photovoltaics (PV) as a critical technology for achieving net-zero emissions. However, PV efficiency is strictly limited by thermal degradation, where elevated operating temperatures significantly reduce power output and accelerate material aging. This review systematically evaluates the integration of advanced phase change materials (PCMs) as a passive thermal management solution. We analyze the transition from material-level innovations—including nano-enhanced PCMs, 3D conductive frameworks, and shape-stabilization—to system-level hybrid architectures such as liquid—PCM, heat pipe-fin, and thermoelectric generator (TEG) integrations. Synthesis of recent empirical data (2024–2026) demonstrates that optimized PCM composites can achieve PV temperature reductions of up to 32 °C and electrical efficiency enhancements exceeding 19%. Furthermore, techno-economic assessments reveal that these systems can reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) by 5–15% and achieve energy payback times as short as 1.5 years. Finally, this paper identifies critical research gaps in long-term outdoor durability, AI-driven predictive modeling, and sustainable bio-based encapsulation, providing a strategic roadmap for the commercialization of next-generation solar thermal management systems. Full article

In the field of power management circuits (PMC) for low-power thermoelectric generators (TEG) intended for autonomous sensors, this article experimentally evaluates the alternatives commercially available. Considering their limitations in terms of minimum input voltage and power efficiency, this article also proposes and experimentally characterizes a circuit topology that combines and interconnects two different PMC alternatives so as to achieve the benefits of both. Thanks to this interconnection, the resulting circuit can operate from a low input voltage (to be precise, an open-circuit voltage of the TEG equal to 40 mV), which is really attractive for TEGs under low thermal gradients, with a satisfactory power efficiency (i.e., up to 78%). Full article

Astrocaryum murumuru Mart., an Amazonian oilseed, generates large amounts of protein-rich residual biomass after oil extraction, representing an untapped biotechnological resource. This study aimed to obtain peptide-rich hydrolysates from this biomass via enzymatic hydrolysis (Alcalase and trypsin) and evaluate their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Peptides were successfully generated and characterized by RP-HPLC and MALDI-TOF (m/z ~ 500–5000). Significant functional differentiation between enzymes was observed: Alcalase hydrolysate exhibited the highest DPPH antioxidant capacity (49.82 µmol TE/g), markedly surpassing the trypsin hydrolysate and protein concentrate. Conversely, trypsin hydrolysate displayed potent and selective antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, achieving near-complete growth inhibition (99.85%) at 5 mg/mL, with both hydrolysates showing strong growth inhibition (>92%) at 2.5 mg/mL. This is the first work that reports the use of an A. murumuru biomass to obtain bioactive peptides, and its results demonstrated that this biomass can be better explored and be an option for scientific and technological bioeconomy, generating bioinputs with sustainable applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Full article

This research evaluates the influence of extraction method, solvent, and processing time on the recovery of phenolic compounds from Eucalyptus globulus leaves and their corresponding antioxidant capacity, through approaches with reduced energy and chemical consumption. Magnetic stirring (MS), and ultrasound- (US) and microwave-assisted (MW) extraction were applied using water or low-ethanol hydroalcoholic systems. Total phenolic content (TPC; Folin–Ciocalteu method) and antioxidant activity (AA; TEAC assay), were assessed to determine the functional properties of the extracts. FT-ICR MS was used to characterize the phytochemical profile. A hydroalcoholic system combined with non-conventional techniques improved extraction efficiency compared to an aqueous system and reduced the processing time. Among the investigated MW conditions, extraction at 360 W for 30 s provided the highest TPC and AA values (252 mg GAE/g DM; 65.67 mg TE/g DM), while US provided maximum TPC of 191 mg GAE/g DM (30 min extraction). MS showed the lowest performance (77 mg GAE/g DM). Phenolic acids, flavonoids, and ellagitannins were assigned across evaluated samples, indicating that the used conditions do not influence the extracts’ qualitative composition. Overall, MW extraction enabled rapid phenolic species recovery under short processing times and low-ethanol conditions, representing a promising approach among the investigated extraction systems. Full article

This study investigates the valorization of Nephelium lappaceum (rambutan) shell, an agro-industrial byproduct, as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds through comprehensive chemical and functional characterization. Phytochemical profiles were determined using spectrophotometrics and HPLC-DAD-MS/MS, revealing a composition dominated by ellagitannins (e.g., geraniin, corilagin, chebulagic acid) and ellagic acid derivatives, alongside significant levels of total phenolics (25,982.2 mg/100 g DW) and anthocyanins. The extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 8.02 μg/mL; TEAC = 5703.92 μmol TE/g), consistent with its high phenolic content. Biological evaluation demonstrated antimicrobial activity against a broad panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains, with greater efficacy against Gram-positive species (Staphylococcus aureus, MIC = 2.5 mg/mL). The extract also showed significant antibiofilm activity, achieving up to 93% inhibition. Antitumoral assays revealed selective cytotoxicity, particularly against HeLa cells (IC₅₀ = 260 μg/mL; TI = 11.5), indicating preferential effects on tumor over non-tumor cells. Importantly, hemolytic assays confirmed low toxicity, with negligible erythrocyte membrane disruption across tested concentrations. Overall, these findings highlight rambutan shell as a rich source of phenolic bioactives with multifunctional biological properties and favorable safety profile, supporting its potential application in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical formulations within a circular economy framework. This study aligns with SDG 3 and SDG 9 by promoting the valorization of agro-industrial waste as a source of safe bioactive compounds for health-related applications. Full article

Facing the harsh offshore environment characterized by severe space constraints and continuous platform motion, this study develops an optimized rotating packed bed (RPB) for compact and robust triethylene glycol dehydration. Through integrated experimental and computational investigation, the concentric-ring rotor was identified as superior among four configurations, consistently achieving dehydration equilibrium above 80% under lean TEG conditions. CFD analysis revealed its fundamental mechanism: synergistic matching between the centrifugal force field and annular flow paths yields the most uniform liquid distribution. This enabled the establishment of a strong predictive correlation (R² = 0.935) between simulated liquid uniformity and experimental dehydration performance. Guided by flow field diagnostics, targeted structural optimizations increased dehydration equilibrium from 86.1% to 92.25% while reducing system pressure drop by 73%. Parametric studies defined an optimal operating envelope at a gas-to-liquid ratio of 60:1 and system pressure of 2 MPa, achieving peak efficiency of 96.42% with robust performance across 50–150% load variations. This work demonstrates a simulation-guided pathway for intensifying separation processes, providing a validated framework for designing marine-adapted dehydration technology. Full article

Bitter Melon Leaf Extract (BMLE) possesses potential anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties; however, conventional extraction methods restrict phytochemical yield and bioactivity. Here, we optimized extraction using High-Pressure Processing (HPP) with Box–Behnken Design (BBD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The optimized extract (O-BMLE) demonstrated significantly higher total flavonoid content (27.7 vs. 8.7 mg RE/g) and FRAP antioxidant capacity (96.5 vs. 71.2 μmol TE/g) compared to conventional BMLE. Additionally, O-BMLE exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity (A549 IC₅₀: 58.7 vs. 147 μg/mL) and selectivity (SI: 5.03 vs. 2.60) against A549, HepG2, and SKOV3 cancer cells while showing minimal effects on 3T3-L1 fibroblasts. In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, O-BMLE selectively inhibited JNK phosphorylation without affecting NF-κB phosphorylation, resulting in suppression of iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α expression as well as nitric oxide production. HPLC analysis revealed equivalent momordicine-I levels (~28 mg/g) between extracts. In contrast, HPLC-qTOF-MS profiling revealed that O-BMLE was enriched in stearidonic acid (66% increase in relative abundance), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (19.5%), monolinolenin, 6-gingerol, and pedunculoside, which are compounds linked to JNK inhibition, antioxidant activity, and cytokine suppression. These results indicate that HPP-BBD/RSM optimization selectively modifies the bitter melon leaf metabolome, thereby enhancing anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities independently of momordicine-I content alone. O-BMLE may therefore serve as a promising candidate for the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals targeting inflammation-associated cancers. Full article

This study explored the link between orchard-derived cherry quality and circular food innovation through the valorization of dried cherry pomace. Sweet cherry fruits from the cultivars Van and Stella, grown under the pedoclimatic conditions of north-eastern Romania, were evaluated for physicochemical traits, phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity, and heavy metal content. In parallel, cherry pomace obtained during juice processing of cultivar Van was freeze-dried, characterized, and incorporated into dairy-based spreadable formulations at 5% and 10% addition levels in order to assess its bioactive potential. The results showed clear cultivar-dependent differences, with Van exhibiting a superior bioactive profile, including higher total polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity than Stella. Heavy metal concentrations in fruits remained below the maximum allowable limits, while health-risk indices indicated no significant non-carcinogenic risk (HI = 3.18 × 10⁻²). The dried cherry pomace powder was characterized by high dietary fiber content (49.83 g/100 g dw), substantial total polyphenols (1046.80 mg GAE/100 g dw), anthocyanins (123.27 mg C3G/100 g dw), and antioxidant activity (21.43 μM TE/g dw). Its incorporation into dairy-based spreadable products significantly improved ash, carbohydrate, fiber, phytochemical content, and antioxidant activity, with the 10% level showing the highest functional enhancement. Sensory evaluation indicated that the 5% formulation achieved the most balanced and preferred overall sensory profile. Overall, the findings support dried cherry pomace as a valuable functional ingredient and highlight a practical circular strategy for reconnecting cherry by-products with value-added food applications. Full article

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have substantially reduced pneumococcal disease in children; however, serotype distribution varies geographically, and residual disease due to non-PCV13 serotypes persists. Biological E’s PNEUBEVAX 14^® (BE-PCV14), a WHO-prequalified 14-valent PCV, expands coverage by including serotypes 22F and 33F. As PCVs are co-administered with routine Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) vaccines, post-licensure data on safety, co-administration, and lot-to-lot consistency are essential. This multicenter phase IV study evaluated BE-PCV14 in healthy PCV-naïve infants aged 6–8 weeks across 31 sites in India. Methods: A total of 2600 infants were enrolled and vaccinated at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age; 2300 received BE-PCV14 and 300 received PCV13. All participants received concomitant DTwP-HepB-IPV-Hib and oral rotavirus vaccines per routine schedule. Safety was assessed through solicited and unsolicited adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). Immunogenicity subsets evaluated responses to co-administered vaccines and serotype-specific responses across three BE-PCV14 lots. Results: Among 2600 vaccinated infants, at least one AE occurred in 26.35% (95% CI: 24.59, 28.19) of BE-PCV14 and 24.67% (95% CI: 20.13, 29.84) of PCV13 recipients; most were mild. Injection-site pain and pyrexia were the most common events. Immune responses to co-administered vaccines were comparable between groups and met the non-inferiority criteria: lower bound of the two-sided 95% CI > −10 percentage points for seroprotection/seroconversion rate differences using the Farrington–Manning method. Lot-to-lot consistency was demonstrated, with all GMC ratios within the predefined equivalence margin (0.5–2.0). Conclusions: BE-PCV14 was well tolerated. Immune responses to co-administered routine EPI vaccines met predefined non-inferiority criteria, supporting the interpretation that BE-PCV14 did not result in clinically meaningful immune interference. Consistent immune responses across manufacturing lots further support its use in infant immunization programs. Full article

Pomegranate peel, an agro-industrial by-product, is a promising source of functional compounds. This study evaluated pomegranate peel powder (PP) as a multifunctional yogurt ingredient and assessed its effects on the phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity, physicochemical properties, color, texture, microstructure, mineral composition, storage stability, and sensory acceptability. Yogurts supplemented with 3% and 6% PP were compared with a control. PP contained 12.49 mg GAE/g dw total polyphenols, 9.16 mg CE/g dw flavonoids, 63.66 mg C3G/100 g dw anthocyanins, 17.48% dietary fiber, 341.88 mg/100 g calcium, and 140.99 mg/100 g magnesium. PP addition improved yogurt functionality in a concentration-dependent manner. The 6% formulation showed the highest total polyphenol content (9.71 mg GAE/g dw), antioxidant activity (63.67 µmol TE/g dw), dry matter (19.20 g/100 g), and dietary fiber (1.19 g/100 g). Syneresis decreased from 18.22% in the control to 12.17% and 9.22% in the 3% and 6% PP yogurts, respectively, while firmness increased from 3.85 N to 4.80 N. After 21 days of refrigerated storage, fortified yogurts retained high phytochemical and antioxidant levels. Although the 6% formulation provided greater enrichment, the 3% yogurt offered the best balance between functionality, technological performance, and sensory quality, supporting PP valorization in cleaner-label dairy products. Full article

Waste heat recovery from automotive exhaust gases represents an important strategy for improving vehicle energy efficiency. This study experimentally investigates the performance of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) system based on TEC1-12706 modules running under different cold-side cooling conditions and incorporating a Hot Rolled Steel (HRS) protective layer on the hot side. The HRS plate was used to ensure uniform heat distribution and protect the thermoelectric module against thermal shocks generated by a 250 °C heat source. Four cooling regimes were experimentally analyzed: natural convection and forced airflows equivalent to 40, 60, and 90 km/h. The results proved that increasing airflow intensity significantly improved the temperature difference across the module, from approximately 16 ± 2 °C under natural convection to nearly 40 ± 2 °C at the highest airflow velocity. Correspondingly, the steady-state voltage generated increased from approximately 0.25 ± 0.01 V to over 0.60 ± 0.01 V under an 82 Ω resistive load. The measured hot-side temperature remained below 75 °C in all experimental conditions, confirming the thermal protection capability of the HRS layer. The experimental data also revealed a near-linear relationship between voltage and temperature difference, consistent with the Seebeck effect. The proposed configuration shows the feasibility of combining thermal protection and forced convection cooling to improve the stability and electrical performance of thermoelectric waste heat recovery systems intended for low-power automotive auxiliary applications. Full article