Search Results (9,785)

Pitahaya or dragon fruit is an exotic fruit native to Mesoamerica and is cultivated in several regions of the world. In recent years, pitahaya has become increasingly in demand, firstly, for its good nutritional and organoleptic qualities and, secondly, for its richness in antioxidants and bioactive compounds. Spain has opted for new tropical crops, and among them, pitahaya is one of the most planted in recent years. Most of the investigations on pitahaya were conducted with red cultivars, while the research on yellow pitahaya (Selenicereus megalanthus Haw.) is very scarce. In this review, the current knowledge about types of pitahayas, the fruit growth and ripening, the quality attributes, the postharvest storage, the use of by-products, and the health attributes were covered. Full article

Lipid metabolism plays a critical role in maintaining cellular integrity, especially within the nervous system, where lipids support neuronal structure, function, and synaptic plasticity. However, this essential metabolic pathway is highly susceptible to oxidative stress, which can lead to lipid peroxidation, a damaging process induced by reactive oxygen species. Lipid peroxidation generates by-products that disrupt many cellular functions, with a strong impact on proteostasis. In this review, we explore the role of lipid oxidation in protein folding and its associated pathological implications, with a particular focus on findings in neurodegeneration from Caenorhabditis elegans studies, an animal model that remains underutilized. Additionally, we highlight the effectiveness of different methodologies applied in this nematode to deepen our understanding of this intricate process. In the nervous system of any animal, including mammals and invertebrates, lipid oxidation can disturb the delicate balance of cellular homeostasis, leading to oxidative stress, the build-up of toxic by-products, and protein misfolding, key factors in neurodegenerative diseases. This disruption contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or Huntington’s disease. The findings from Caenorhabditis elegans studies offer valuable insights into these complex processes and highlight potential avenues for developing targeted therapies to mitigate neurodegenerative disease progression. Full article

The sustainable utilization of biomass-derived bioactives addresses the growing demand for natural health products and supports sustainable development goals by reducing reliance on synthetic chemicals in healthcare. Cannabis sativa biomass, in particular, has emerged as a valuable resource within this context. This study focuses on the hydroethanolic extract of C. sativa leaves (CSE), which exhibited significant levels of phenolic compounds contributing to robust antioxidant activity. Evaluation using potassium ferricyanide, ABTS, and DPPH methods revealed potent radical scavenging activity comparable to the Trolox standard. UPLC-MS/MS profiling identified cannabinoids as the predominant secondary metabolites in CSE, with flavonoids also present in substantial quantities. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of CSE on RAW 264.7 macrophages and IL-1β-stimulated C-20/A4 immortalized human chondrocytes, demonstrating protective effects without cytotoxic or mutagenic effects. Mechanistically, CSE reduced inflammation by inhibiting the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. In silico approaches showed the ability of CSE’s main metabolites to bind and influence MAPK and NF-κB activity, confirming in vitro evidence. Incorporating C. sativa leaf extract into a hyaluronic acid-based formulation showed biotechnological promise for treating joint inflammation. Future research should aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects and explore the potential of CSE-derived compounds in mitigating osteoarthritis progression. This approach highlights the significance of utilizing annually increasing biomass waste for sustainable bioactivity and environmental impact reduction. Full article

This work investigates the impact of rainfall on cellular communication links, leveraging smartphone-collected measurements. While existing studies primarily focus on line-of-sight (LoS) microwave propagation environments, this work explores the impact of rainfall on typical signal metrics over cellular links when the LoS path is not guaranteed. We examine both small-scale and large-scale variations in signal measurements across dry and rainy days, considering diverse locations and time windows. Through statistical and spectral analysis of a large dataset, we uncover novel insights into how rainfall influences cellular communication links. Specifically, we observe a consistent daily fluctuation pattern in key cellular metrics, such as the reference signal received quality. Additionally, spectral features of key mobile metrics show noticeable changes during rainfall events. These findings, consistent across three distinct locations, highlight the significant impact of rainfall on everyday cellular links. They also suggest that the widely available by-product signals from mobile phones could be leveraged for innovative rainfall-sensing applications. Full article

Five types of frankfurters were formulated: a control without tamarind (T0) and four samples using 5% tamarind pulp paste (PT5), seeds (ST5), peel (CT5), and a blend of all of them (PSCT5), replacing the same portion of meat. The inclusion of tamarind components led to a reduction in the moisture and protein content of the reformulated frankfurters. In terms of mineral composition, CT5 showed the highest (p < 0.05) calcium content. Additionally, ST5 and CT5 treatments demonstrated the lowest processing loss values. The pH was lower in the PT5 treatment (p < 0.05). Incorporating tamarind components reduced the lightness (L*) of the frankfurters, resulting in darker sausages. However, ST5 exhibited greater redness (a*), while higher yellowness (b*) values were observed in PT5 and CT5 treatments (p < 0.05). Texture analysis revealed no differences (p > 0.05) in hardness and chewiness between T0 and PT5; however, ST5 exhibited the highest values for these parameters (p < 0.05). No variation in the conformational order of the lipid acyl chains due to the incorporation of tamarind compounds was observed related to physical entrapment of these compounds in the frankfurter matrix. Both T0 and PT5 were well accepted by consumers, and scores higher than 7 were observed for overall acceptability and purchase intention. The study demonstrated that incorporating tamarind components, especially pulp paste (PT), is a viable alternative for replacing lean pork meat in frankfurters, improving the sustainable aspects of frankfurter production. Full article

High-temperature solid granules are by-products produced by various industrial processes and contain an obvious quantity of waste heat. Therefore, recovering their heat can not only reduce energy costs but also prevent polluting the environment, which has a significantly valuable sense of sustainable development. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology is widely used to solve challenges involving heat recovery, which can simulate the heat and mass transfer processes of the gas–solid two-phase flow. Herein, a review about the mass flow analysis methods, including the Euler–Euler and Euler–Lagrange methods, as well as heat transfer mechanisms, covering heat conduction, heat convection and heat radiation, is made. Meanwhile, the bases of numerical models, mass flow and heat transfer are also summarized. In addition, at the end of the paper, a prospect about this research field is proposed. This article not only reviews common research methods but also summarizes relevant new models and methods that have emerged in recent years. Based on existing work, it both fully demonstrates the widespread application of CFD technology in the field of recovering heat from high-temperature solid granule fields and summarizes the development trends and further utilization prospects of the technology. Full article

Porcine blood is rich in protein and has always been the focus of research. Heme-peptides prepared from porcine hemoglobin are susceptible to oxidative degeneration during preparation and storage, thus affecting their function and stability. This study evaluated the enhancement effects of L-lysine (Lys) on recovery rate, antioxidant activity, stability, and structure. The results indicated that adding 1% Lys during enzymatic hydrolysis significantly increased the recovery rate of ferrous heme and peptide content by 93.88% and 15.30% (p < 0.05), respectively, and maximally enhanced antioxidant activity by 37.85% (p < 0.05). The contents of iron, ferrous ion, and ferrous heme in the heme-peptides were significantly increased by 97.52%, 121. 97%, and 74.45% (p < 0.05), respectively. Additionally, Lys improved the resistance to pH, temperature, metal ions, pepsin, and trypsin. Meanwhile, the effects of Lys resulted in heme-peptides with a smaller particle size, higher zeta potentials, and a smoother micromorphology. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy analysis showed that Lys enhanced the conformational stability of the heme-peptides. Molecular docking further suggested that hydrogen bonding was the main driver of the connections between Lys and the heme-peptides. This study provides theoretical guidance for the efficient utilization of heme-peptides in the food industry. Full article

This study investigates the properties of Benitaka grape pomace (Vitis vinifera L.), a byproduct of the wine industry, focusing on its potential for applications in the circular economy and biorefinery processes. The analysis covers a range of physical, chemical, and structural characteristics, including the composition of proteins, moisture, lipids, ash, sugars, fiber fractions (such as neutral-detergent fiber, cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose), pH, acidity, gross energy, as well as bioactive compounds such as total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity. Advanced characterization techniques, such as nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, were employed. The results revealed an acidic pH of 4.05 and a titratable acidity of 1.25 g of tartaric acid per 100 g. The gross energy was 3764 kcal kg⁻¹, indicating high energy capacity, similar to wood chips. The pomace exhibited high hygroscopicity (31 to 50 g of moisture per 100 g), high levels of fiber, cellulose, and lignin, as well as bioactive compounds with significant values of total phenolics (5956.56 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹), flavonoids (1958.33 mg CAT 100 g⁻¹), and anthocyanins (66.92 mg C3G 100 g⁻¹). Antioxidant analysis showed promising results, with DPPH and FRAP values of 20.12 and 16.85 μmol TEAC g⁻¹ of extract, respectively. This study not only validates existing data but also provides new insights into the composition of hemicellulose and lignocellulosic phase transitions, highlighting grape pomace as a promising resource for sustainability in industry and biorefinery processes. Full article

Steam explosion (SE) is an effective lignocellulose pretreatment technology for second-generation L-lactic acid (L-LA) production. In this study, targeted to produce high-concentration L-LA from corn stover (CS), the fed-batch simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) of acidic, SE-pretreated CS was developed and demonstrated in a 5 L scale bioreactor under non-strict conditions (without detoxification and sterilization). The results indicated that the fed-batch SSF, with a simple pH control, realized a higher tolerance of the strains to the toxic by-products of hydrolysate, in comparison to the conventional sequential hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF), allowing for 153.8 g L⁻¹ of L-LA production, along with a productivity of 1.83 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹ in a system with a total of 40% (w/v) solid loading. The mass balance indicated that up to 449 kg of L-LA can be obtained from 1 t of dried CS. It exhibited obvious superiorities and laid down a solid foundation for the industrialization of second-generation L-LA production. Full article

Pistacia lentiscus L., commonly known as the mastic tree or lentisk, is a woody Mediterranean plant revered for its ecological relevance as well as for its extensive ethnobotanical heritage. Historically, the fruits and the resin of P. lentiscus have been widely utilized in traditional medicine, underscoring its important role in local healing practices. Given these properties, this study explored an innovative approach to efficiently extract anthocyanins and flavonols from P. lentiscus oilcakes utilizing ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) as an alternative to conventional solvent extraction. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) were used to identify and quantify the anthocyanins and flavonols, revealing the successful extraction of eight distinct anthocyanins and twenty flavonols. A Fractional Factorial Design (FFD) followed by a Box–Behnken design (BBD) were applied to optimize the yield of anthocyanins and flavonols. The optimal extraction conditions found were to be an extraction time of 15 min with 70% ethanol as the solvent and a liquid-to-solid ratio of 0.012 L g⁻¹, which resulted in a maximum extraction yield of 19.78 mg g⁻¹ dry extract for the Total Flavonol Content and over 25.4 mg g⁻¹ dry extract for the Total Flavonol and Anthocyanin Content. By elucidating the optimal conditions for extracting anthocyanins and flavonol glycosides, this study opens promising avenues for utilizing P. lentiscus oilcake by-products, supporting sustainable practices, and advancing the valorization of Mediterranean bio-resources for health-promoting applications. Full article

In response to increasing food waste and the necessity for sustainable resource utilization, this study evaluated the effectiveness of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae in converting a mixture of coffee and meat residues into protein-rich meal suitable for animal feed. A two-component mixture design optimized the substrate composition, followed by model validation and a comprehensive nutritional characterization of the larvae-derived protein. The larval meal contained 30–39 g of protein per 100 g (dry basis). The results indicated that increasing the meat residue content to 35% in the substrate maximized the protein yield. The optimized larval meal contained 52.9 g of protein per 100 g (dry basis) and favorable parameters such as moisture and fat, demonstrating a nutrient profile suitable for aquaculture feed. These findings suggested that Hermetia illucens larvae could convert agro-industrial by-products into high-quality protein. Coffee and meat residues served as suitable substrates for larval growth, supporting proper metabolic development and yielding a high bioconversion rate. This work contributes to the constant efforts in food waste valorization by integrating nutrient recovery processes into circular economy principles. Full article

This research aimed to investigate the potential of using alkali activation technology to valorize steel slag and bauxite residue for the production of high-performance pavement blocks. By utilizing these industrial by-products, the study seeks to reduce their environmental impact and support the development of sustainable construction materials. Lab-scale testing showed that bauxite pavers showed a decrease in mechanical strength with increasing replacement of ordinary Portland cement. Partial replacement up to 20% still exceeded 30 MPa in compressive strength. Steel slag-based pavers achieved the 30 MPa threshold required for the application with selected mix designs. Pilot-scale production-optimized formulations and standards testing, including freeze–thaw resistance, confirmed the technical viability of these products. Life cycle analysis indicated a 25–27% reduction in CO₂ emissions for slag-based tiles compared to traditional concrete tiles. Moreover, using industrial residue reduced mineral resource depletion. This study examined the properties of the resulting alkali-activated binders, their ecological benefits, and their performance compared to conventional materials. Through a comprehensive analysis of these applications, our research promotes the circular economy and the advancement of sustainable construction products. Full article

Cattle are ruminant animals that produce enteric methane (CH₄) emissions as a byproduct of their natural digestive process. U.S. beef producers have been receiving pressure to reduce production emissions. The scientific community continues to research and develop methods to reduce enteric methane emissions, but adoption of such strategies by U.S. beef producers remains unknown. We complete a review on producer adoption in the U.S. beef industry to shed light on potential factors that may impact the adoption of emissions-mitigating strategies by U.S. beef producers. After querying nine research databases, fifty-five studies were gathered and synthesized. These studies span the beef supply chain and focus on topics including feed additives, management practices, and reproductive technologies. Economic returns are a key driver of U.S. beef producer adoption decisions, with accompanying considerations for the impacts on consumer perceptions and demand. Segmentation in the U.S. beef supply chain, with animals typically changing ownership multiple times prior to slaughter, may result in challenges in tracing and verifying the adoption of climate-focused strategies. Targeting large-scale producers may be the most efficient avenue to achieving emissions reduction goals via the adoption of methane-mitigating strategies. Younger producers could additionally be a target demographic for adoption efforts. Full article

Wheat germ is a byproduct of the cereal industry that contains high levels of protein, fiber, B vitamins, minerals, and other functional microcomponents. However, so far, few applications have been found in the meat industry despite the growing interest in replacing meat with vegetable proteins. Therefore, the use of wheat germ for the production of low-fat frankfurters was considered. Five different formulations were prepared: control with pork meat and the following four to achieve 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% lean meat substitution by wheat germ. Proximal composition, color, texture, emulsion characterization, fatty acid profile, fat oxidation, and consumer acceptance were then analyzed. The results showed that the incorporation of wheat germ improved emulsion stability, decreasing significantly total expressible fluid and jelly/fat separation, although increasing the back extrusion force. In terms of the final product, the progressive substitution of meat by germ resulted in significant increases in carbohydrates, in special of fiber, and ash as well as significant decreases in moisture and total fat. Sausages made with germ were darker (L*), as well as harder, chewier, and gummier, but less cohesive and elastic. Similarly, wheat germ substitution improved the quality of the lipid profile showing higher levels of, but decreased acceptability for replacements > 25%. Substitution of meat was feasible up to 25%, a formulation for which there was hardly any significant difference with the control. Full article

Engineered light-sensitive molecules offer a sophisticated toolkit for the manipulation of biological systems with both spatial and temporal precision. Notably, artificial “caged” compounds can activate specific receptors solely in response to light exposure. However, the uncaging process can lead to the formation of potentially harmful byproducts. For example, the photochemical release of adrenaline (epinephrine) is accompanied by the formation of adrenochrome, which has neuro- and cardiotoxic effects. To investigate this effect in detail, we synthesized and compared two “caged” epinephrine analogs. The first was a classical compound featuring an ortho-nitrobenzyl protecting group attached to the amino group of epinephrine. The second analog retained the ortho-nitrobenzyl group but included an additional carbamate linker. The photolysis of both compounds was conducted under identical conditions, and the resulting products were analyzed using UV–Vis spectroscopy, chromatography, and NMR techniques. Surprisingly, while the classical compound led to the formation of adrenochrome, the carbamate-type caged epinephrine did not produce this byproduct, resulting in the clean release of the active substance. Subsequently, we assessed the novel compound in an in vitro platelet activation assay. The results demonstrated that the uncaging of epinephrine significantly enhances platelet activation, making it a valuable tool for advanced signaling studies. Full article