Antioxidant Properties of Freshly Collected Leaves of Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC

Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC, recognized by its common name of wild rocket, has a notable role within the Brassicaceae family. The leaves of this plant offer a unique flavor that enhances culinary preparations, alongside their influence on improvement in overall human well-being due to their nutrient and bioactive compound content. Wild rocket possesses a wide range of antioxidants, incorporating vitamins such as C and E, along with carotenoids, glucosinolates, and flavonoids. The objective of this study was to assess the antioxidant properties of the fresh leaves from three wild rocket hybrids: Marte F1, Venere F1, and T&T F1. Using an 80% acetone solution as the solvent, powdered plant material was subjected to a 3-h extraction period at a ratio of 1:10 (plant material/solvent). After the extraction process, the antioxidant properties of the extracts were assessed spectrophotometrically using four distinct assays: DPPH⦁, ferric reducing power (FRP), in vitro phosphomolybdenum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC). Phytochemical analyses disclosed a variation in the quencher assay results among hybrids, ranging from 5.42 to 6.19 μmol Trolox/g. Nevertheless, the statistical analysis indicated a lack of statistically significant differences among the hybrids within this specific quencher assay. Similarly, no statistically significant differences were found among the samples in relation to the TAC results. The T&T hybrid achieved the highest results in both the FRP and the CUPRAC assays (2.79 mg/g AAE and 17.73 mg/g AAE respectively). Notably, there were no statistical differences observed between the T&T and Venere hybrids. However, both the T&T and Venere hybrids exhibited statistically significant differences when compared to the Marte hybrid. The overall results showed variations among the chosen hybrids regarding their antioxidant properties, while indicating the potential of fertilization in the enhancement of the bioactive compound profile and biological activity

Goat milk powders enriched with grape pomace seed extract: Physical and techno-functional properties

This study aimed to evaluate the physical (particle size and ζ-potential) and techno-functional properties (emulsifying and foaming) of goat milk powders enriched with grape pomace seed extract (TME), as promising food ingredients in the formulation of functional food. Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies, along with advanced chemometric tools were employed as well as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for analyzing TME powders. All powders exhibited a unimodal particle size distribution and ζ-potential values more negative than −36 mV. ATR-FTIR and Raman spectroscopies combined with principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated distinct separation among skimmed goat milk (M), thermally treated skimmed goat milk (TM), and TME powders in different spectral regions (amide I, II, III, and fingerprint region). This separation resulted from the applied thermal treatment, the presence of phenolic compounds and their complexes with goat milk proteins, and the formation of Maillard reaction products. SEM analysis confirmed the different morphology and shapes of M, TM and TME powders. The 0.1% solutions of M, TM and TME exhibited good emulsifying properties (emulsion activity index and emulsion stability index) but showed poor foaming properties, except for the M sample. Solution concentrations higher than 0.1% for all samples (0.5% and 1.0%) displayed poor techno-functional properties. In summary, a schematic representation of the arrangement of casein micelles in 0.1% M, TM and TME samples, on oil/water and air/water surfaces was provided. The production of TME powders represents an innovative strategy for waste recovery in the production of functional food ingredients with good emulsifying properties

Diving into the interface-mediated Mars-van Krevelen (M−vK) characteristic of CuOx-supported CeO2 catalysts

The unique interface synergistic catalytic properties for metal oxide-supported catalysts have long been explored in several critical heterogeneous catalytic processes (e.g., CO oxidation reactions). However, interfacial synergistic catalysis is still a hitherto undescribed mechanism due to the lack of direct evidence at the atomic level. Thereinto, the CuOx-supported CeO2 (CuOx/CeO2) catalyst is a typical case. Herein, a combination study including representative theoretical calculations, in situ DRIFTS spectra and tailored molecular probe experiments supports a new carbonate-interface mediated Mars-van Krevelen (M−vK) mechanism for CO oxidation, i.e., CO molecules form carbonate intermediate species directly between spatial proximity (2.99 Å) double lattice oxygen sites with low oxygen vacancies formation energy (EformOv = 0.82 eV/0.83 eV) at the copper−ceria interface. The reaction energy barrier of this process is 0.32 eV, much lower than the 1.23 eV of the conventional M−vK mechanism. Besides, the spatial effect of double oxygen vacancies (Ov) generated by the depletion of intermediate carbonate species promotes the sustained and dynamic activation of O2, hence facilitating the efficient operation of the M−vK mechanism at low temperatures

Understanding the effect of synthesis and sintering temperature on the functional properties of barium titanate/cobalt ferrite composites

To investigate the effect of synthesis procedure and sintering temperature on the functional properties of perovskite/spinel ceramics, BaTiO3/CoFe2O4 composites were prepared by thermal decomposition, coprecipitation, and microemulsion method, and sintered at 1150°C and 1300°C. The phase composition and morphology of as-prepared powders as well as sintered ceramics were thoroughly examined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The dielectric and ferroelectric measurements were performed in detail. Generally, the samples sintered at 1300°C had better performances than those sintered at 1150°C. The composite synthesized by thermal decomposition and sintered at 1300°C stands out among other prepared BaTiO3/CoFe2O4 ceramics, owing to high stability in the wide frequency range and low leakage currents. The obtained results indicate that such composite might be successfully applied as a functional multiferroic

Analysis of the use of certified seeds оn family farms in the republic of Serbia

Seed quality, which is the basis of crop production, is one of the main factors that determines yield, product quality and production stability as a whole. According to various estimates, the use of certified seeds in the Republic of Serbia has been declining in recent years, which brings with it numerous risks in production. The aim of this paper was to analyze the state of use of certified wheat, soybean and alfalfa seeds on family agricultural farms, but also to assess that the use of certified seeds in production is related to the physical size of the farm. For the purposes of this research, data from a survey conducted in 2021 and 2022 were used, and included 2101 agricultural farms engaged in the production of wheat, soybeans and alfalfa. Farm surveys were conducted according to a specially created questionnaire, which enabled a methodical way of collecting data from respondents selected in the sampling process. Descriptive statistics methods were used for data processing, and the obtained results were presented tabularly and graphically. The results of the research showed that 62.5% of surveyed farms engaged in the production of wheat on their production areas use certified seeds of this crop and that these are mostly farms with a size of 50 to 100 ha. Certified soybean seeds are used by 52.3%, while certified alfalfa seeds are used by 75.6% of farms producing these crops, which have up to 50 ha or more than 50 ha of used agricultural land. On the other hand, only 4.4% of farms declared that they do not use certified seeds in wheat production, 11.2% of the total number of surveyed soybean producers do not use certified seeds, while 13.4% of surveyed farms base their alfalfa production on non-certified seeds. In terms of farm size, these are mainly farms with up to 10 ha, or less than 5 ha of used agricultural land. At the same time, the survey analyzed the reasons for using uncertified seeds. The high price of certified seed is a limiting factor for 61.8% of farms that produce wheat, 60.3% of soybean producers and 43.3% of surveyed farms that grow alfalfa. The second most significant limiting factor is the belief that seeds from own production of wheat (19.7%), soybeans (13.6%) and alfalfa (33.0%) are of better quality than certified seeds. From the obtained research results, it can be concluded that there is a need to educate agricultural producers about the importance of using certified seeds, which is reflected in long-term business, and not only through the analysis of one-year results, which in some seasons indicate greater savings by avoiding investments in certified seeds

Characterization of amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) microgreens juice encapsulated within inulin and maltodextrin

Amaranth microgreens represent a rich source of betalains and phenolic compounds, which show a broad range of positive effects on human health. However, these biocompounds are very sensitive and easily degraded, which often limits their application and bioaccessibility. For the above reasons, natural extracts and juices are most often encapsulated using different carriers, which protect and control the release of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to encapsulate cold-pressed amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) microgreens juice using maltodextrin (AMD) and inulin (AIN) as carriers and to investigate total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant properties (ABTS•+ and FRAP) of obtained spray-dried powders. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the encapsulation of amaranth microgreens juice. Before analysis, both powders were reconstituted in Milli-Q water (5% solutions) and analyzed using well-known spectrophotometric methods. The results are expressed in mg equivalents (gallic acid, quercetin, Trolox) per 100 g encapsulates. The obtained values for TPC and TFC for AMD were 291.7 ± 3.0 mg GAE/100 g and 291.3 ± 2.5 mg QE/100 g, while values for AIN were 356.9 ± 1.0 mg GAE/100 g and 289.6 ± 3.8 mg QE/100 g. The results of antioxidant activity were as follows: 546.3 ± 12.6 mg TE/100 g (AMD) and 745.2 ± 3.1 mg TE/100 g (AIN) for ABTS•+ and 713.3 ± 8.4 mg TE/100 g (AMD) and 905.1 ± 4.5 mg TE/100 g (AIN) for FRAP. Finally, maltodextrin and inulin can be successfully used for the encapsulation of bioactive compounds of amaranth microgreens. In addition, both powders show good antioxidant properties and can be used in the food industry as potentially novel additives or supplements

Incompatible pollen tubes in the quince style and their impact on fertilization success

Self-incompatibility presents one of the challenges in modern fruit production. It can be correlated with a lower yield of self-incompatible cultivars which also demand the planting of the pollinisers. The aim of this work was to investigate the phenomenon of incompatibility and its influence on fertilization success in quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.), using the cultivars ‘Leskovacka’, ‘Vranjska’, ‘Morava’, ‘Pazardzijska’, ‘Hemus’, ‘Asenica’, ‘Portugal’ and ‘Triumph’. Incompatible pollen tubes were determined by using fluorescence microscopy. In two types of pollination (self-pollination and open pollination) pollen tubes showed signs of incompatibility, mostly in the upper third of the style. The most common sign of incompatibility is the formation of swelling at the tip of a pollen tube. Also, sometimes twisted, bifurcated, and short and thickened pollen tubes along their entire length are formed. The incompatibility was significantly more pronounced in the self-pollination than in the open pollination variant in all tested cultivars. The highest number of incompatible pollen tubes in both pollination types was present in the cultivar ‘Pazardzijska’, while the lowest number was present in the cultivars ‘Leskovacka’ and ‘Vranjska’. The appearance of incompatibility affected the degree of fertilization in quince. The results showed that only ‘Leskovacka’ and ‘Vranjska’ are selfcompatible, while other studied cultivars (‘Morava’, ‘Pazardzijska’, ‘Hemus’, ‘Asenica’, ‘Portugal’ and ‘Triumph’) are self-incompatible. The results provide a good background for the future research of reproductive biology and also for adequate management of the quince orchards

Design of Pt-Sn-Zn Nanomaterials for Successful Methanol Electrooxidation Reaction

This work highlights the potential for the synthesis of new PtSnZn catalysts with enhanced efficiency and durability for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in low-temperature fuel cells. In this research, PtZn and PtSnZn nanoparticles deposited on high surface area Vulcan XC-72R Carbon support were c

Comparative analysis of biofortification effects on phenolic and glucosinolate profiles in Diploptaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC T&T hybrid

Wild rocket, scientifically known as Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC is a leafy green plant from the Brassicaceae family. Native to the Medditerian region, today this perennial plant is cultivated worldwide, owing to the distinctive pungent taste of its deeply lobed green leaves. Beyond their culinary uses, the leaves of wild rocket exhibit potential for pharmaceutical applications due to their rich bioactive compounds profile. These include vitamins, pigments (chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids), phenolics, and glucosinolates (GLSs), all exhibiting strong antioxidant and anti-cancer activities. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of biofortification, employing biostimulant Kelpak and two distinct foliar fertilizers (iron and potassium-enriched) in comparison to a control group, on the phenolic and glucosinolate content in the leaves of wild rocket hybrid T&T F1. Using an ultra-highperformance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) system, coupled with a quadrupole time-offlight mass spectrometry (Q-ToF-MS), a total of twenty-three plant phenolics was quantified, and the relative content of four glucosinolates was evaluated in 70% methanol extracts. Concerning the overall content of phenolic compounds, treatment involving iron application showed the highest levels at 3549.1 mg/kg of fresh weight (FW), while the control group exhibited the lowest content (2171.4 mg/kg FW). Moreover, the most prominent phenolics included quercetin-3,4'-di-O-hexoside-3'-O-(6"-sinapoyl)-hexoside (ranging from 527.2 to 651.8 mg/kg FW among groups) and 1,8-dipropoxyanthraquinone (278.3-558.5 mg/kg FW). The control and iron-enriched samples exhibited the presence of kaempferol-3,7,4'-tri-Ohexoside + HCOOH and isorhamnetin-3-O-hexoside-4'-O-gentobioside, in addition to the non-identified sinapic acid hydroxide in the Kelpak treated group. Additionally, the determination of relative GLSs content of glucosativin, glucoerucin, neoglucobrassicin, and DMB-GLS revealed that glucosativin was the dominant compound, with proportions ranging from 79.8% (Kelpak treatments) to 89.1% (iron treatments). In conclusion, selected hybrid biofortification treatments, notably through the use of iron foliar fertilizers, enhanced phenolic and glucosinolate leaf content, highlighting its potential significance in nutrition and medicine

Emotions and Food Consumption: Emotional Eating Behavior in a European Population

Emotion can reflect in the perception of food consumption. An increase in food intake during emotional and psychological conditions may have a negative impact on human health. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the associations between food consumption, emotional eating behavior, and emotional conditions such as stress, depression, loneliness, boredom eating, maintaining vigilance and alertness, and emotional food consolation. We used a Motivations for Food Choices Questionnaire (Eating Motivations, EATMOT) to determine the emotional aspects of food consumption in 9052 respondents living in 12 European countries between October 2017 and March 2018. Ordinal linear regression was used to identify the associations between the emotional eating behavior and emotional conditions such as stress, depression, loneliness, emotional consolation, and reasons to improve physical and psychological conditions. The regression models confirmed the associations between food consumption, emotional conditions, and emotional eating behavior. Associations were found between the emotional eating behavior and stress (odds ratio (OR) = 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07–1.60, p = 0.010), depressive mood (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.40–1.43, p < 0.001), loneliness (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.58–1.62, p < 0.001), boredom (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.36–1.39, p < 0.001), and emotional consolation (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.54–1.57, p < 0.001). Emotional eating was associated with an effort to improve physical and psychological conditions, such as controlling body weight (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.10–1.12, p < 0.001), keeping awake and alert (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.19–1.20, p < 0.001) and consumption to feel good (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.21–1.22, p < 0.001). In conclusion, emotions might provoke emotional eating behavior. The appropriate way to handle stress, depression, or other emotional states is important in conditions of being emotionally overwhelmed. The public should be educated on how to handle different emotional states. The focus should be moved somehow from emotional eating and the consumption of unhealthy food to healthy lifestyle practices, including regular exercise and healthy eating habits. Thus, it is necessary to halt these negative health effects on human health through public health programs