Search Results (639)

The aim of the research was to analyse the effect of different extraction temperatures on the colligative, hydrodynamic, and rheological properties of a water-soluble AXs fractions. The research material consisted of raw water extracts of arabinoxylans obtained from the husk at the following temperatures: 40 °C (AX40), 60 °C (AX60), 80 °C (AX80), and 100 °C (AX100). These were characterised in terms of their hydrodynamic, osmotic, and rheological properties, as well as the average molecular mass of the polysaccharide fractions. An increase in extraction temperature resulted in an increase in weight-average molecular mass, from 2190 kDa (AX40) to 3320 kDa (AX100). The values of the osmotic average molecular mass were higher than those obtained from GPC, and decreased with increasing extraction temperature. The dominance of biopolymer–biopolymer interactions was evident in the shape of the autocorrelation function, which did not disappear as the extraction temperature and concentration increased. Furthermore, the values of the second virial coefficient were negative, which is indicative of the tendency of biopolymer chains to aggregate. The rheological properties of the extracts changed from being described by a power-law model (AX40 and AX60) to being described by the full non-linear De Kee model (AX80 and AX100). Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effect of wildfire episodes on air quality in terms of particulate matter (PM) and carbonaceous compound concentration in ambient air, and to assess deviations from typical annual patterns. The sampling was performed at a rural background site near the Adriatic coast in Croatia through 2024. To better understand contributions caused by fire events, the levels of organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), black carbon (BC), pyrolytic carbon (PyrC), optical carbon (OptC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), levoglucosan (LG), mannosan (MNS), and galactosan (GA) were determined in PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 fractions (particles smaller than 10 µm and 2.5 µm, respectively). The annual mean concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 were 14 µg/m³ and 8 µg/m³, respectively. During the fire episode, the PM_2.5 mass contribution to the total PM₁₀ mass exceeded 65%. Total carbon (TC) and OC increased by a factor of 7, EC and BC by 12, PyrC by 8, and WSOC by 12. The concentration of LG reached 1.219 μg/m³ in the PM₁₀ fractions and 0.954 μg/m³ in the PM_2.5 fractions, representing a 200-fold increase during the fire episode. Meteorological data were integrated to assess atmospheric conditions during the fire episode, and the specific ratios between fire-related compounds were analyzed. Full article

Analyzing the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock in dryland areas of southern Shanxi, particularly under the influence of fertilization and mulching conditions, is crucial for enhancing soil fertility and crop productivity and understanding the SOC pool’s resilience to future climate change scenarios in the region. In a long-term experimental site located in Hongtong County, Shanxi Province, soil samples were collected from the 0–100 cm depth over a nine-year period. These samples were analyzed to evaluate the impact of five treatments: no fertilization and no mulching (CK), conventional farming practices (FP), nitrogen reduction and controlled fertilization (MF), nitrogen reduction and controlled fertilization with ridge-film furrow-sowing (RF), and nitrogen reduction and controlled fertilization with flat-film hole-sowing (FH). The average annual yield of wheat grain, SOC stock, water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), mineral-associated organic carbon (MOC), and heavy fraction organic carbon (HFOC) stocks were measured. The results revealed that the FH treatment not only significantly increased wheat grain yield but also significantly elevated the SOC stock by 23.71% at the 0–100 cm depth compared to CK. Furthermore, this treatment significantly enhanced the POC, LFOC, and MOC stocks by 106.43–292.98%, 36.93–158.73%, and 17.83–81.55%, respectively, within 0–80 cm. However, it also significantly decreased the WSOC stock by 34.32–42.81% within the same soil layer and the HFOC stock by 72.05–101.51% between the 20 and 100 cm depth. Notably, the SOC stock at the 0–100 cm depth was primarily influenced by the HFOC. Utilizing the DNDC (denitrification–decomposition) model, we found that future temperature increases are detrimental to SOC sequestration in dryland areas, whereas reduced rainfall is beneficial. The simulation results indicated that in a warmer climate, a 2 °C temperature increase would result in a SOC stock decrease of 0.77 to 1.01 t·ha⁻¹ compared to a 1 °C increase scenario. Conversely, under conditions of reduced precipitation, a 20% rainfall reduction would lead to a SOC stock increase of 1.53% to 3.42% compared to a 10% decrease scenario. In conclusion, the nitrogen reduction and controlled fertilization with flat-film hole-sowing (FH) treatment emerged as the most effective practice for increasing SOC sequestration in dryland areas by enhancing the HFOC stock. This treatment also fortified the SOC pool’s capacity to withstand future climate change, thereby serving as the optimal approach for concurrently enhancing production and fertility in this region. Full article

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are lignocellulosic residues generated from producing espresso or soluble coffee and have no commercial value. This study aimed to develop a new single-step process for extracting bioactive compounds from SCGs based on ultrasonication in an aqueous medium and simultaneously recovering the residual solid fraction, resulting in the integral utilization of the residue. This process resulted in a liquid aqueous extract (LAE) rich in bioactive compounds (caffeine: 400.1 mg/100 g; polyphenols: 800.4 mg GAE/100 g; melanoidins: 2100.2 mg/100 g) and, simultaneously, a solid multifunctional ingredient from modified spent coffee grounds (MSCGs) rich in bioactive compounds and dietary fibers (73.0 g/100 g). The liquid extract can be used as a natural ingredient for drinks or to isolate caffeine, while the solid matrix can be used to produce functional foods. This technique proved to be a promising eco-friendly alternative for the simultaneous production of two different materials from SCGs, maximizing resource efficiency, with some advantages, including short time, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness; using water as a solvent; and requiring no further purification processing. Full article

A nanoparticle formulation was generated from distiller dried grains with solubles (DDGS), and its effect on the production of anthraquinones (AQs) was evaluated on Rubia tinctorum hairy roots. The DDGS material was washed with water and ethyl acetate to remove mainly the soluble organic/inorganic molecules and reduce the fat content, respectively, followed by an alkaline treatment to remove the polysaccharides. The resulting alkaline solutions were then lyophilized and redispersed in deionized water to generate a monodispersed nanoparticulate formulation (DDGS-NP) with a hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential of 227 ± 42 nm and −53 ± 7 mV, respectively. The formulation demonstrated good colloidal stability over time, and sterilized DDGS-NPs maintained comparable physicochemical properties. The nanoparticles were enriched in protein fractions, unsaturated fatty acids, and orthophosphate anion components from DDGS, as determined by solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), organic elemental analysis (OEA), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) techniques. The DDGS-NPs were tested at different concentrations on Rubia tinctorum hairy roots, in comparison to or in combination with methyl jasmonate (MeJ), for their capacity to induce the production of AQs. All DDGS-NP concentrations increased the production of specific AQs to 7.7 (100 mg L⁻¹), 7.8 (200 mg L⁻¹), and 9.3 µmol/gFW (500 mg L⁻¹), with an extracellular AQ accumulation of 18 µM for the highest DDGS-NP concentration, in comparison with the control hairy roots (~2 µM AQ). The plant growth was not affected at any of the tested nanoparticle concentrations. Interestingly, the combination of DDGS-NPs and MeJ resulted in the highest extracellular AQ accumulation in R. tinctorum root cultures. Full article

The growing global demand for energy necessitates the efficient utilization of unconventional petroleum resources, particularly heavy oil reserves. However, extracting, transporting, and processing these resources remain challenging due to their low mobility, low API gravity, and significant concentrations of resins, asphaltenes, heteroatoms, and metals. In recent years, various in situ upgrading techniques have been explored to enhance heavy oil quality, with catalytic aquathermolysis emerging as a promising approach. The effectiveness of this process largely depends on the development of cost-effective, environmentally friendly catalysts. This study investigates the upgrading performance of water-soluble ammonium alum, (NH₄)Al(SO₄)₂·12H₂O, for an extra-heavy oil sample from the Zarafshan Depression, located along the Tajikistan–Uzbekistan border. Comprehensive analyses demonstrate that the catalyst facilitates the breakdown of heavy oil components, particularly resins and asphaltenes, into lighter fractions. As a result, oil viscosity was significantly reduced by 94%, while sulfur content decreased from 896 ppm to 312 ppm. Furthermore, thermogravimetric (TG-DTG) analysis, coupled with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), revealed that the thermal decomposition of ammonium alum produces catalytically active Al₂O₃ nanoparticles. These findings suggest that ammonium alum is a highly effective water-soluble pre-catalyst for hydrothermal upgrading, offering a viable and sustainable solution for the development of extra-heavy oil fields. Full article

This study examines the significance of thermodynamic model selection to improve predictions when modeling a wet oxidation (WO) process. WO is a promising technology for treating the highly concentrated process water stream from hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) while generating heat, due to the exothermic oxidation reactions, leading to a potential integrated HTL-WO autothermal process. However, the harsh process conditions employed fail to describe oxygen solubility accurately, leading to major deviations in predicted COD reduction, heat generation, vapor fraction, and final design. To accurately capture oxygen solubility at elevated temperatures and pressures, experimental oxygen solubility data were regressed using activity coefficient models. This yielded improved oxygen solubility predictions at 280–350 °C, more realistic vapor fractions and heat outputs, and COD reduction close to experimental values. Full article

In this study, camel milk (CM) and Gir cow milk (GCM) were fermented through cofermentation via yeast–lactic cultures, i.e., Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (M9, MTCC 25516) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (WBS2A, MG101828), and their antioxidant and antidiabetic effectiveness were studied. To optimize the growth conditions, the level of proteolysis was evaluated by exploring various inoculation levels (1.5, 2.0 and 2.5%) as well as incubation durations (0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h). Peptides were extracted and purified through 2D gel electrophoresis as well as SDS–PAGE. Water-soluble extracts (WSEs) of ultrafiltered (UF) peptide fractions were evaluated via reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) to identify the peptide segments. By applying the Peakview tool, peptide sequences obtained from liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS) were reviewed by comparison with those in the BIOPEP database. Furthermore, the elevated levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 267.4 cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are considerably lower than those in cultured CM and GCM. Protein macromolecules in CMs and GCMs have been captured via confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy both before and after fermentation. Full article

This review contains a compilation of data about the occurrence, mining, refining, and biological actions of lithium, without claiming completeness of knowledge. This should give a baseline for judging future pollutions of environmental and agricultural items and human nutrition and may show still existing gaps of screening. Emerging electromobility and use of computers leads to a steep increase in Li-based batteries, which are a source of hazardous waste unless recycled. Lack of recovery methods from effluents and sewage, however, will increase pollution with soluble Li-salts from increasing mining and waste in the future; therefore, biochemical effects of levels out of ambient range have been included. Many published data are hidden in multi-element tables, including the data of the author. Mobile fractions of soils and soil-to-plant transfer, as well as retainment in animal tissues, are low. A lot of data, starting from geology via soils, plants, water, and human nutrition, lead to a largely unknown average daily intake for men. With respect to nutrition of dairy cows, the contribution of Li from water was highest among all elements investigated, but only 4% of intake. Main sources for human nutrition are mineral water and table salt. Li is not labelled on mineral water bottles, nor table salt, which are the main sources. Though some data have been gathered, for human nutrition, the average daily intake is uncertain to estimate because some mineral waters are quite high in Li. Full article

The incorporation of solid particles as a filler to a hydrogel is a strategy to modulate its properties for specific applications, or even to introduce new functionalities to the hydrogel itself. The efficacy of such a modification depends on the filler content and its interaction with the hydrogel matrix. In drug delivery applications, solid particles can be added to hydrogels to improve drug loading capacity, enable the inclusion of poorly soluble drugs, and modulate release kinetics. This work focuses on the case of alginate (ALG)-based hydrogels, obtained following an internal gelation procedure using CaCO₃ as the Ca²⁺ source and containing a high solid volume fraction (up to 50%) of metronidazole (MTZ), a drug with low water solubility, as a potential extrusion-based drug delivery system. The impact of the hydrogel precursor composition (ALG and MTZ content) on the rheological behavior of the filled hydrogel and precursor suspension were investigated, as well as the hydrogel stability and MTZ dissolution. In the absence of solid MTZ, the precursor solutions showed a slightly shear thinning behavior, more accentuated with the increase in ALG concentration. The addition of drugs exceeding the saturation concentration in the precursor suspension resulted in a substantial increase (about one order of magnitude) in the low-shear viscosity and, for the highest MTZ loadings, a yield stress. Despite the significant changes, precursor formulations retained their extrudability, as confirmed by both numerical estimates and experimental validation. MTZ particles did not affect the crosslinking of the precursors to form the hydrogel, but they did control its viscoelastic behavior. In unfilled hydrogels, the ALG concentration controls stability (from 70 h for the lowest concentration to 650 h for the highest) upon immersion in acetate buffer at pH 4.5, determining the MTZ release/hydrogel dissolution behavior. The correlations between composition and material properties offer a basis for building predictive models for fine-tuning their composition of highly filled hydrogel systems. Full article

This study aims to determine the Blaťácké zlato cheese in vitro antioxidant activity and its correlation with specific peptides. A general physicochemical evaluation was also conducted, considering possible differences between batches. The antioxidant activity focused mainly on the nitrogen fractions with the shortest-chain peptides. Other parameters were evaluated, including color, weight, size, moisture, dry matter, and texture analysis, which included the whole cheese hardness and the texture profile analysis. The ethanol soluble (EtOH-SN) and non-protein nitrogen (NPN) fractions were selected to evaluate antioxidant activity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) methods, total phenol content (TPC), and peptide profiles. Our findings revealed significant differences between batches for NPN ABTS activity and EtOH-SN TPC. Significant differences were observed for water activity, moisture, dry matter, moisture on fat-free basis (MFFB), and pH in the central surface. DPPH and TPC showed a similar behavior, and NPN showed higher values than the EtOH-SN fraction. However, the opposite was observed for ABTS. Significant correlations were found for the biological activities with individual peaks of their corresponding HPLC peptide profiles. Finally, the principal component analysis separated the cheeses according to the batch, mainly due to specific peptides. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic lung diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide. In the treatment of these diseases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be effective. We have previously developed an excipient formulation alongside a modern manufacturing protocol, which we aim to further investigate. We have chosen two new model drugs, meloxicam (MX) and its water-soluble salt, meloxicam-potassium (MXP). The particles in dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulation were expected to have a spherical shape, fast drug release, and good aerodynamic properties. Methods: The excipients were poloxamer-188, mannitol, and leucine. The samples were prepared by spray drying, preceded by solution preparation and wet grinding. Particle size was determined by laser diffraction, shape by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), crystallinity by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), interactions by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), in vitro drug dissolution by paddle apparatus, and in vitro aerodynamic properties by Andersen cascade impactor and Spraytec^® device. Results: We achieved the proper particle size (<5 μm) and spherical shape according to laser diffraction and SEM. The XRPD showed partial amorphization. FT-IR revealed no interaction between the materials. During the in vitro dissolution tests, more than 90% of MX and MXP were released within the first 5 min. The best products exhibited an aerodynamic diameter of around 4 µm, a fine particle fraction around 50%, and an emitted fraction over 95%. The analysis by Spraytec^® supported the suitability for lung targeting. Conclusions: The developed preparation process and excipient system can be applied in the development of different drugs containing DPIs. Full article

Background: Agro-industrial by-products, such as carob and brewer’s spent grain (BSG), have gained increasing attention as sustainable feed ingredients capable of enhancing the nutritional and functional value of Tenebrio molitor larvae. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of carob and BSG supplementation of growth substrates on larval performance and the functional properties of the resulting insect meals. Methods: Seven-week-old larvae were reared for 14 days on the following three diets: control (wheat bran), wheat bran + carob (Trt1), and wheat bran + BSG (Trt2). Larval weight, substrate consumption, and survival were recorded. After processing, insect meals were analyzed for chemical composition, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity in both water- and lipid-soluble extracted fractions. Results: Both treatment groups showed significantly higher final weights than the control (Ctrl: 104.9 ± 2.69 g; Trt1: 114.8 ± 1.26 g; Trt2: 116.9 ± 1.07 g; p < 0.05). TPC was highest in the control for both fractions, and the antioxidant activity was similar between the Ctrl and Trt1 groups in the water-soluble fraction but significantly lower in the Trt2 group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of carob and BSG for sustainable insect farming, though their functional benefits may depend on the inclusion levels and their interaction with insect metabolism. Full article

Wheat bran (WB) is rich in bioactive compounds, but its incorporation into food products often negatively affects dough properties. The soluble components in WB, including polysaccharides, minerals, and proteins, exhibit significant variations across different bran layers and may dissolve and interact with flour components during food processing, affecting dough properties. This study aims to investigate the influence of aqueous extracts from different WB layers (aleurone layer, AL; non-aleurone layer, NAL) and their components on the functional properties of wheat starch and gluten. The results indicate that the AL-rich fraction yielded a higher extract content (30.6%) compared to the NAL-rich fraction (15.1%), attributable to the higher cellular content in the AL. Both the extracts and residues from AL and NAL significantly lowered the denaturation temperature of wheat gluten. The aqueous extracts reduced the storage (G′) and loss (G″) moduli of wheat gluten, primarily attributed to the effect of polysaccharide components, whereas the protein and ash fractions elevated the G′ and G″ at suitable dosages. The extracts elevated the gelatinization temperature of starch, but reduced enthalpy (ΔH). Moreover, the pasting viscosity of starch with WB extract decreased due to the combined effects of protein and ash fractions. These findings provide insights into the roles of water extracts from different WB layers and their components in modulating wheat-based product quality. This study also offers a theoretical basis for optimizing WB utilization in foods, thus providing a theoretical foundation for promoting whole-wheat foods or foods containing WB. Full article

Panax ginseng sprouts (GSs) have attracted attention as functional resources due to their short cultivation time and enriched ginsenoside content. This study aimed to evaluate the bioactivities of GSs cultivated using kelp fermentates (KF) as a nutrient solution under a smart-farming system. Ginsenoside-enriched extract (FGE), its water-soluble saponin fraction (WFGE), and 70% ethanol-soluble saponin fraction (EFGE) were analyzed for phytochemical contents and biological activities. The EFGE exhibited the highest levels of eight major ginsenosides, including Rg1, Rb1, Rc, Rg2, Rb2, Rd, Rf, and F2. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were significantly higher in KF-treated ginseng and their crude saponin fractions, with EFGE showing the highest values. WFGE and EFGE indicated strong antioxidant activity through ABTS radical scavenging assays. In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, all extracts significantly inhibited nitric oxide production and downregulated IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, and COX-2 expression. Moreover, UVB-irradiated human fibroblasts (Hs68) treated with KF-derived fractions showed increased cell viability, enhanced procollagen synthesis, and reduced MMP-1 and MMP-3 expression. These effects were associated with suppression of MAPK/AP-1 signaling. In conclusion, GSs cultivated with KF exhibit notable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-photoaging activities, suggesting their potential as natural ingredients for skin health applications. Full article