Search Results (7)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Levilactobacillus brevis, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus strains isolated from Mihalic cheese, also known as “weeping cheese”, on fermentation kinetics, microbial viability, and textural and aromatic properties of the butter matrix. The effects of the isolates were determined on acidification kinetics (V_max, T_vmax, pH_vmax), viability proportion index (VPI), textural parameters (firmness, work of shear, stickiness, work of adhesion), and volatile aroma compounds (GC-MS) formation. This study found that the BLR sample containing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus maintained its limited viability under acidic stress conditions despite its high fermentation rate and low pH_vmax values. The BLP sample containing Lacticaseibacillus paracasei exhibited high viability due to its low acidification rate and limited pH change. Determining the chemical classes to which the aroma compounds in the BLP sample belonged revealed a composition rich in fatty acids. The BLB sample containing Levilactobacillus brevis produced a high ΔpH value and an aroma profile rich in aldehyde compounds. Examination of the macro-structural properties of the butter samples revealed that the sample containing Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, similar to the control sample (BMC), was more compact and rigid during storage. In contrast, samples containing Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and Levilactobacillus brevis had a softer/spreadable texture. These findings demonstrate the potential of lactic acid bacteria isolates from the traditional Mihalic cheese microbiota as biological catalysts for the development/improvement of texture, aroma, and sensory quality in high-fat dairy products and for the industrial production of products modified to meet consumer preferences. Full article

In this work an evaluation of Macro Stickies was performed on thirteen different cellulose-based materials through image analysis. In particular, the materials that were evaluated consisted of different types/categories of papers/products produced by the industry, namely, molded cellulose products, unbleached kraft papers, barrier papers, one recycled paper, and a laminated paper package. The Macro Stickies Evaluation was carried out using an image analysis tool developed by our research group to perform this kind of work from now on. The results indicated that eight of the processed samples revealed low/residual contents of Macro Stickies, whereas the remaining five revealed higher amounts of Macro Stickies in their surfaces. Of the eight samples showing a low/residual Macro Stickies content, five of them belonged to the unbleached kraft papers category, with an area per mass of Macro Stickies ranging from 8.60 to 29.04 mm²/kg. However, the lowest case did not belong to this category, but to the molded cellulose products category with a value of 6.10 mm²/kg. Of the five samples showing higher amounts of Macro Stickies, the worst three cases were associated to one of the barrier papers, the recycled paper and the laminated paper, with an area per mass of Macro Stickies of 28,973.42, 6998.56, and 14,058.76 mm²/kg, respectively. Macro Stickies can assume different sizes, numbers and distributions depending on the characteristics and nature of each sample, and can be a great concern in the recycling of cellulose-based materials. In this sense, the proper assessment of Macro Stickies provides valuable information for the recycling sector to classify them in the products, and to anticipate which materials might give rise to potential stickies related problems in the recycling process. Full article

This paper analyses Keynes’s 1930 prediction that technical advances would cut people’s working week to 15 h by 2030 and investigates why actual working hours are significantly higher in the United States. Elaborating on Keynes’s forecast to provide a general productivity formula while keeping its simplicity, we ran tests on macro-data from 1929 to 2019 and on estimates for 2030, demonstrating that productivity is surprisingly still insufficient to allow for a reduction in working hours across the US economy. This finding represents a substantial contribution to the literature, which has mostly explained long working hours by means of new consumer needs. Even by using microdata, we show that consumption does not explain the stickiness of working hours to the bottom. Hence, this paper combines a macroeconomic, logical-analytical approach based on historical time series with rigorously constructed time series at the microeconomic level. Finally, we also provide policies to narrow the productivity differential to Keynes’s prediction for 2030 while fostering work-life balance and sustainable growth. To understand long working hours in the US despite technical advances—this being one of our main findings—productivity remains crucial. Full article

This paper presents a three-year study concerning the effectiveness of the OSR seed treatment with the cyantraniliprole active ingredient in controlling the DBM larvae attack in autumn and four-year monitoring of the DBM flight pattern, using pheromone sticky traps. The experiment and the monitoring were conducted at the experimental field from the National Agricultural Research and Development Institute (NARDI) Fundulea in Southeast Romania. For the field assessments, each OSR sampled plant was photographed in macro mode, and then images were downloaded and magnified on the PC screen to determine the DBM larva attack. The traps were placed in the OSR crop from mid-March till December and checked twice weekly. Data from the field assessment revealed a higher pest attack on OSR plants on 11 November 2020, when the DBM larvae attack degree was 16.26% in the untreated variant and 11.24% in the variant with treated seeds. The results evidenced unusually higher activity for the diamondback moths during November 2019, 2020, and 2022; the beginning of December 2020 and 2021; and mid-December 2022. This is the first report from the Romanian scientific literature concerning higher DBM attacks at OSR plants in autumn and high moth activity during November and December. Full article

Sabellaria species are among the most important frame-builders in temperate, shallow marine areas. These polychaetes are suspension feeders able to build bioconstructions using sand and shell fragments cemented with a sticky mucous. Such feature makes these invertebrates “unusual bioconstructors”, as they do not produce calcium carbonate. Sabellaridae reefs are widespread in the Mediterranean and along the Atlantic coast of Europe, but their sedimentological aspects are still poorly known. Over short time intervals, these bioconstructions can rapidly alternate between phases of growth, stasis and destruction during different seasons. In this paper, we compare reefs of two Sabellaria species (S. alveolata—Ostia, Roma and Tyrrhenian Sea; S. spinulosa—Torre Mileto, Foggia and Adriatic Sea) found at two different sites along the Italian coast. We describe the morphology of worm tubes at the macro- and microscale. Similarities and differences are discussed based on eco-biological features and physical environmental conditions. This work shows a measurement and observation scheme for this type of bioconstructions that has been verified at both the macro- and microscale and which was shown to be useful for defining evolutionary trends of sabellarian bioconstructions. The monitoring parameters were identified and verified over a long period. Full article

Adhesive materials used by many arthropods for biological functions incorporate sticky substances and a supporting material that operate synergistically by exploiting substrate attachment and energy dissipation. While there has been much focus on the composition and properties of the sticky glues of these bio-composites, less attention has been given to the materials that support them. In particular, as these materials are primarily responsible for dissipation during adhesive pull-off, little is known of the structures that give rise to functionality, especially at the nano-scale. In this study we used tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) to analyze unstretched and stretched glowworm (Arachnocampa tasmaniensis) capture threads and revealed nano-scale features corresponding to variation in surface structure and elastic modulus near the surface of the silk. Phase images demonstrated a high resolution of viscoelastic variation and revealed mostly globular and elongated features in the material. Increased vertical orientation of 11–15 nm wide fibrillar features was observed in stretched threads. Fast Fourier transform analysis of phase images confirmed these results. Relative viscoelastic properties were also highly variable at inter- and intra-individual levels. Results of this study demonstrate the practical usefulness of TM-AFM, especially phase angle imaging, in investigating the nano-scale structures that give rise to macro-scale function of soft and highly heterogeneous materials of both natural and synthetic origins. Full article

Retail food waste represents a minor fraction of the total amount of food waste produced along the food supply chain (tenfold lower than the quantity of food disposed of by consumers at home). However, the role of retailers is crucial in shaping both the behavior of upstream food chain actors and the preferences of consumers. This paper studies the causes of food waste in retail stores and discusses potential mitigating actions based on the results of nine focus groups held in 2017 with 67 foods category managers. Participants used sticky notes to outline both the causes of in-store food waste and potential actions to address it. Sticky notes reporting 228 causes and 124 actions were collected during the study. Data were analyzed across thematic macro-categories and linked to the responsibility of supply chain actors, including managers at all store management levels. Results revealed that food category managers consider in-store operations (which include their actions and those of their subordinates) to be most responsible for retail food waste. However, when it comes to proposing actions against food waste, they believe that store managers are mainly responsible for the implementation of waste reduction actions. This study suggests that food category managers are key actors to involve in the fight against retail food waste. Greater effort should also be put towards informing and encouraging store managers to take action against food waste in supermarkets. Full article