Search Results (18)

It is known that nutrient deprivation following detachment can cause non-chilling peel pitting (NCPP) in citrus fruits when stored under a non-stressful environment and that this damage is reduced by pretreating the fruit with ethylene (ETH) (4 d, 10 µL L⁻¹). The present work investigates the effect of this pretreatment on jasmonate (JA) accumulation and transcriptional regulation in mature Navelate oranges (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) stored under non-stressful conditions. ETH increased the expression of abundant genes participating in the synthesis of cis-(+)-12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA), jasmonic acid (JA), and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). ETH also upregulated genes involved in jasmonoyl–isoleucine (JAIle) synthesis (CsJAR1) and decrease (CsCYP94B3 and CYP94C1), and CsSTA2, related to JA sulfation. The levels of these JA metabolites increased during fruit holding in ETH and after shifting them to air, with MeJA accumulation being especially remarkable. Overall, the beneficial effect of ETH on reducing NCPP appears to be related not only to this redirection of OPDA and JA metabolism towards the formation of JA derivatives but also to the regulation of JA signalling. Indeed, the repression of the receptor CsCOI1 and upregulation of various CsJAZs repressors caused by nutrient deprivation, together with the ETH-mediated induction of CsCOI1, CsTOPLESS, and abundant CsJAZs during long-term storage, suggests the occurrence of an ETH-enhanced negative transcriptional regulatory feedback loop in JA metabolism and signalling, by which the susceptibility of detached Navelate oranges to NCPP might be reduced. Full article

Food waste presents a critical environmental and economic challenge across Europe. In the Mediterranean region, the agricultural industry generates considerable quantities of citrus fruits, leading to significant byproduct waste, which remains underutilized. To help address this, this study explored the valorization of orange peel waste using non-thermal ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) and a one-factor-at-a-time experimental design to investigate the effects of nine chemical and physical UAE parameters. The goal was to identify ideal operational ranges for each parameter using several responses (bioactive compound recovery, antioxidant activity, and radical scavenging activity), thus elucidating the most influential UAE factors and their role in co-extracting various classes of natural compounds. The key findings revealed that the polarity and ionic potential of the extraction medium, tuned through ethanol:water or pH, significantly influenced both the chemical profile and bioactivity of the extracts. Notably, citric acid and citrates appeared to stabilize co-extracted compounds. Lower solid-to-liquid ratios increased yields, while particle sizes between 1400 and 710 µm enhanced phenolic recovery by approximately 150 mg/L GAE. In contrast, increases in pulse, probe diameter, immersion depth, and extraction time led to degradation of bioactive compounds, whereas the maximal amplitude improved phenolic acid recovery by up to 2-fold. Collectively, these insights provide a foundation for optimizing non-thermal UAE to valorize orange peel waste. Full article

This study aimed to develop and evaluate cosmetic textiles integrated into sportswear to enhance skin hydration and reduce the appearance of cellulite. The research involved the creation of leggings and long-sleeve shirts treated with microencapsulated natural extracts targeting moisture and anti-cellulite effects. A total of 18 healthy female volunteers participated in the wear trials with a control group and an experimental group wearing the microencapsulated garments. The participants underwent a standardized training procedure, and their skin’s moisture level and cellulite (orange peel) appearance were assessed using Tewameter measurements and thermal imaging. Additionally, dermatological clinical evaluations were performed. The results demonstrated that the microencapsulated products significantly improved skin hydration and reduced cellulite grades compared to the control group. All nine participants in the microencapsulated group displayed negative values for the appearance of orange peel skin, whereas two of the nine participants in the control group exhibited negative cellulite levels, one showed a positive value, and six showed no change at all. Statistical analyses also confirmed the efficacy of the microencapsulated garments. The study highlights the potential of cosmetic textiles in providing added value to sportswear by offering functional skin benefits during physical activity. Full article

Fruit cracking is very common in the production and cultivation of citrus, and can lead to decreases in its yield and quality. Bacteria can easily invade cracked fruit and cause mildew, accelerate the spread of diseases and pests, affect the appearance of the fruit, and reduce its economic benefits. In order to explore a method for alleviating citrus cracking, the Lane Late navel orange, which is a citrus that easily cracks, was studied via treatment with 1.0 g·L⁻¹ chelated calcium (Ca) or 50 mg·L⁻¹ gibberellin (GA₃). The fruit cracking rate, external and internal quality, active oxygen metabolism and expression levels of related genes, cell wall structure components, and metabolism-related enzyme activity and the expression levels of related genes were determined. The results showed that Ca and GA₃ treatment significantly reduced the fruit cracking rate and increased the longitudinal and transverse diameter, single-fruit weight, pulp quality, and peel quality, but had no significant effect on the internal quality of the fruit. Ca and GA₃ treatment also improved the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT), enhanced the scavenging ability for active oxygen species, and thus reduced the contents of H₂O₂ and MDA and decreased the superoxide anion production rate. At the same time, Ca and GA₃ treatment decreased the activities of protopectin-degrading enzymes (PME, PL, and PG) and cellulase (CX), prevented the degradation of pectin and cellulose in the cell wall, and increased their contents in the peel, thus improving the ductility and toughness of the peel and reducing the occurrence of cracked fruit. Ca and GA₃ treatment significantly increased the relative expression levels of antioxidase-related genes (CsSOD and CsCAT) in fruit peel and decreased the relative expression levels of CsPPO and cell wall metabolism-related genes (CsPME, CsPL, CsPG, and CsCX). In summary, this study confirmed that exogenous calcium and gibberellin can reduce the fruit cracking rate by regulating the scavenging ability for active oxygen species and the cell wall metabolism of the Lane Late navel orange at the physiological and molecular level, laying a theoretical foundation for further analysis of citrus fruit cracking mechanisms and clarifying that spraying exogenous calcium and gibberellin on the citrus fruit surface is an effective production measure for preventing and alleviating fruit cracking. In particular, gibberellin is better than exogenous calcium. Full article

The ability to objectively specify surface finish to ensure consistent visual appearance addresses a vital need in surface coating engineering. This work demonstrates how a computational framework, called surface quality and inspection descriptors (SQuID™), can be leveraged to effectively rank different grades of surface finish appearances. ISO 25178-2 areal surface metrics extracted from bandpass-filtered measurements of a set of ten visual smoothness standards taken on a coherent scanning interferometer are used to quantify different grades of powder-coated surface finish. The ability to automatically classify the standard tiles using multi-scale areal texture parameters is compared to parameters obtained from a hand-held gloss meter. The results indicate that the ten different surface finishes can be automatically classified with accuracies as low as 65% and as high as 99%, depending on the filtering and parameters used to quantify the surfaces. The highest classification accuracy is achieved using only five multi-scale topography descriptions of the surface. Full article

In this study, we compared the fruit quality and color of ‘Kiyomi’ (WT) and its mutant (MT) grafted on Ziyang xiangcheng (Cj) (WT/Cj, MT/Cj), and the MT grafted on Trifoliate orange (Pt) (MT/Pt). The differences in sugar, organic acid, flavonoids, phenols, and volatile substances of the three materials were also analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC–MS). The results showed significant differences in the appearance of WT/Cj, MT/Cj, and MT/Pt. MT/Pt, compared to WT/Cj, MT/Cj, had lower sugar, acid, phenol and flavonoid contents in the pulp. However, MT/Pt pulp was higher in vitamin C (V_C), and the peel had significantly higher total phenol and flavonoid contents. In terms of pulp, WT/Cj had the greatest diversity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 4-methyl-1-pentanol was significantly higher in MT/Cj pulp, while MT/Pt pulp had a unique octanoic acid, methyl ester. VOCs were more diverse in the peels of the three materials. β-Myrcene and valencen were significantly higher in MT/Cj peels. In contrast, 16 unique VOCs were detected in MT/Pt, and D-limonene content was significantly higher than in WT/Cj and MT/Cj. The results suggest Trifoliate orange is a suitable rootstock for MT. Full article

Food processing wastes (FPWs) are residues generated in food manufacturing, and their composition varies depending on the type of food product being manufactured. Therefore, selecting and acclimatizing seed microflora during the initiation of biogas production is crucial for optimal outcomes. The present study examined the biogas production capabilities of digested sludge-assimilating and biogas-yielding soil (DABYS) and enteric (DABYE) microflorae when used as seed cultures for biogas production from FPWs. After subculturing and feeding these microbial seeds with various FPWs, we assessed their biogas-producing abilities. The subcultures produced biogas from many FPWs, except orange peel, suggesting that the heterogeneity of the bacterial members in the seed microflora facilitates quick adaptation to FPWs. Microflorae fed with animal-derived FPWs contained several methanogenic archaeal families and produced methane. In contrast, microflorae fed with vegetable-, fruit-, and crop-derived FPWs generated hydrogen, and methanogenic archaeal populations were diminished by repeated subculturing. The subcultured microflorae appear to hydrolyze carbohydrates and protein in FPWs using cellulase, pectinase, or protease. Despite needing enhancements in biogas yield for future industrial scale-up, the DABYS and DABYE microflorae demonstrate robust adaptability to various FPWs. Full article

The conversion of waste into a valuable product is regarded as a promising alternative to relieving the burden of solid waste management and could be beneficial to the environment and humans. This study is focused on utilizing eggshell and orange peel enriched with banana starch to fabricate biofilm via the casting technique. The developed film is further characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The physical properties of films, including thickness, density, color, porosity, moisture content, water solubility, water absorption, and water vapor permeability, were also characterized. The removal efficiency of the metal ions onto film at different contact times, pH, biosorbent dosages, and initial concentration of Cd(II) were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The film’s surface was found to have a porous and rough structure with no cracks, which can enhance the target analytes interactions. EDX and XRD analyses confirmed that eggshell particles were made of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), and the appearance of the main peak at 2θ = 29.65° and 2θ = 29.49° proves the presence of calcite in eggshells. The FTIR indicated that the films contain various functional groups, such as alkane (C-H), hydroxyl (-OH), carbonyl (C=O), carbonate (CO₃²⁻), and carboxylic acid (-COOH) that can act as biosorption materials. According to the findings, the developed film exhibits a notable enhancement in its water barrier properties, thereby leading to improved adsorption capacity. The batch experiments showed that the film obtained the maximum removal percentage at pH = 8 and 6 g of biosorbent dose. Notably, the developed film could reach sorption equilibrium within 120 min at the initial concentration of 80 mg/L and remove 99.95% of Cd(II) in the aqueous solutions. This outcome presents potential opportunities for the application of these films in the food industry as both biosorbents and packaging materials. Such utilization can significantly enhance the overall quality of food products. Full article

Orange (Citrus x aurantium var sinensis) is the most widely consumed citrus fruit, and its essential oil, which is made from the peel, is the most widely used in the food, perfume, and cosmetics industries. This citrus fruit is an interspecific hybrid that would have appeared long before our era and would result from two natural crosses between mandarin and pummelo hybrids. This single initial genotype was multiplied by apomictic reproduction and diversified by mutations to produce hundreds of cultivars selected by men essentially based on phenotypic characteristics of appearance, spread of maturity, and taste. Our study aimed to assess the diversity of essential oil composition and variability in the aroma profile of 43 orange cultivars representing all morphotypes. In agreement with the mutation-based evolution of orange trees, the genetic variability tested with 10 SSR genetic markers was null. The oils from peels and leaves extracted by hydrodistillation were analyzed for composition by GC (FID) and GC/MS and for aroma profile by the CATA (Check All That Apply) method by panelists. Oil yield varied between varieties by a factor of 3 for PEO and a factor of 14 for LEO between maximum and minimum. The composition of the oils was very similar between cultivars and was mainly dominated by limonene (>90%). However, small variations were observed as well as in the aromatic profile, with some varieties clearly distinguishing themselves from the others. This low chemical diversity contrasts with the pomological diversity, suggesting that aromatic variability has never been a selection criterion in orange trees. Full article

Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF), defined as diffuse fasciitis with eosinophilia by Shulman in 1974, is a disease with unknown etiology and whose pathogenesis is still being researched. The diagnosis is based on the clinical aspects (skin induration with an “orange peel” appearance), the lab results (eosinophilia, increased inflammatory markers), the skin biopsy with the pathognomonic histopathological result, as well as the typical MRI changes. The treatment includes glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs. Due to severe refractory cases, the treatment remains a challenge. EF is still a disease with potential for further research. Full article

The ability of Aspergillus niger strains to support citric acid production using solid-state fermentation of agricultural processing coproducts was examined in this review. Citric acid has been shown to have a number of commercial applications in the food and beverage industries. The A. niger strains capable of elevated citric acid production are known to contain genetic mutations that stimulate overproduction of the organic acid likely involving citric acid cycle reactions. The agricultural processing coproducts previously examined for their ability to support citric acid production by A. niger solid-state fermentation include fruit processing wastes, sugarcane bagasse, starch vegetable processing wastes and cereal grain processing coproducts. A comparison of citric acid production by A. niger strains using solid-state fermentation demonstrated that certain agricultural processing coproducts were more effective in supporting a high level of acid synthesis. In particular, fruit processing wastes, such as apple pomace, banana peels, grape pomace and orange peels, supported high levels of citric acid by the fungal strains following solid-state fermentation. On the other hand, processing coproducts of cereal grains, such as brans and ethanol processing coproducts, supported low levels of citric acid production by the A. niger strains using solid-state fermentation. It appeared that the cereal processing coproducts provided less available sugar content to support citric acid production by the fungal strains. It was concluded that the level of citric acid produced by the A. niger strains during solid-state fermentation was dependent on the sugar content of the agricultural processing coproduct utilized. Full article

Owing to orange-peel defects, the industrial application of light alloy structural members is significantly restricted. In this study, a quasi-in situ axial tensile experiment was conducted on a 6063-T4 aluminum alloy sample. The surface morphology and microstructure evolution of the tagged area were scanned simultaneously using laser scanning confocal microscopy and electron backscattered diffraction, and the surface roughening behavior of the polycrystal aluminum alloy surface, caused by deformation, was quantitatively analyzed. As the concave–convex features at the surface appear in pairs with increasing global strain, the width of the concave features increases, whereas that of the convex features decreases gradually, resulting in the initially increasing surface roughness, which subsequently remains unchanged. During the stretching process, the small-sized grains in the 37~102 μm range show weak strain localization and the highest coordination of deformation. The deformation mode of medium-sized grains in the 114–270 μm range tends to grain deflection, and others tend to slip. Full article

In this paper the possibility of applying natural dyes on cellulose fibres were researched with respect to the impact of cotton material pre-treatment (scouring, chemical bleaching, mercerization and mordanting), using renewable sources of natural dyes (waste as a source). As mordants, metal salts of copper, aluminium and ferrum were used, and the influence on colour change as well as on fastness properties were analysed. The natural dyes were extracted from onion peel (Allium cepa L.) and pomegranate peel (Punica granatum L.). In spectrophotometric analysis performed of the plant extracts, the onion extract has peaks at 400 and 500 nm, resulting in red-orange colourations and the pomegranate extract shows a maximum at 400 nm, i.e., in the yellow region, which is characteristic of punicalin. Results show significant influence of cotton pre-treatments on colour appearance and fastness properties, caused by pre-treatments affecting the properties and structure of the cotton itself. The positive effect of mercerization on dye absorption and bonding is confirmed. For wash and light fastness properties, more satisfactory results have been obtained for yarns dyed with pomegranate peel natural dye, and the key importance of mordants for fastness properties has been confirmed. Full article

After orange processing, different by-products are generated, i.e., peels, seeds and pulps. The pulp is highly perishable, being an unstable food matrix that needs a preservation process to be stored and used again in the food production chain. Pasteurization is the technique of choice before aseptically packaging and storing under refrigerated conditions. In this study, the effect of pasteurization has been evaluated on the chemical, functional and sensorial profiles. Ash content decreased (p < 0.05) after the thermal treatment. Indeed, magnesium, calcium and zinc diminished, although copper was found to be higher (p < 0.05) in the pasteurized product. Total dietary fiber decreased (p < 0.05), but soluble dietary fiber raised (p < 0.05) due to hydrolysis caused by pasteurization. SDF:IDF ratio, hydration properties, and fat binding capacity were improved. Total soluble phenolic compounds remained similar but FRAP and DPPH scavenging activity decreased (p < 0.05) in the pasteurized by-product. Regarding the sensorial profile, pasteurization produced darkening, appearance of a cooked smell and an increase in bitterness. Therefore, pasteurization deteriorates the sensorial profile being able to change the attributes of an added-pasteurized-pulp juice; however, it is a good choice to preserve the orange pulp by-product to formulate food products different from juices or other beverages. Full article

Both benign and malignant conditions related to regional or systemic disorders could be included in the differential diagnosis of bilateral breast edema. Some of them are often unilateral, including stromal infiltration and lymphatic obstruction presented in “peau d’ orange”, which is the usual presentation of breast cancer. However, the term “idiopathic” could be included in the spectrum of diagnoses. Here, we present a woman of 78 years old who came into our breast unit with a bilateral, painless edema of the breasts (appeared one month ago). Clinical examination revealed that both breasts were swollen with widespread erythema and the appearance of an orange peel/“peau d’ orange”. On palpation, the breasts were not sensitive, and no tumor was palpable. However, clinically palpable lymph nodes were found in both axillas. Her temperature was normal. The breast edema could not be explained from her medical history nor the medications taken. Breast ultrasound, Mammography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging were non-conclusive (BI-RADS 0) and bilateral core biopsy was negative for cancer. Anti-inflammatory plus antibiotic therapy was prescribed for 10 days and at the end of treatment, regional redness and edema were disappeared and reduced, respectively. Total recovery was found one month after the initial findings. It can be concluded that bilateral breast edema is correlated to regional or systemic conditions or it is presented as an “idiopathic” disorder of unknown etiology. Full article