Advanced research on biological properties : a study on the activity of the Apis mellifera antioxidant system and the crystallographic and spectroscopic properties of 7-diethylamino-4-hydroxycoumarin

The search for substances that increase the immunity of bees is becoming a necessity in the era of various environmental threats and the declining immunocompetence of these insects. Therefore, we tested the biological and physicochemical properties of 7-diethylamino-4-hydroxycoumarin (7DOC). In a cage test, two groups of bees were created: a control group fed with sugar syrup and an experimental group fed with sugar syrup with the addition of 7DOC. In each group, the longevity of the bees was determined and the protein concentrations and antioxidant activities in the bees’ hemolymph were determined. The bees fed with 7DOC lived 2.7 times longer than those in the control group. The protein concentrations and activities of SOD, CAT, GPx and GST, as well as the TAC levels, were significantly higher in the hemolymph of the supplemented workers. To confirm these potent biological properties of 7DOC, the UV-Vis spectra, emission and excitation of fluorescence, synchronous spectra and finally the fluorescence lifetimes of this compound were measured using the time-correlated single photon counting method, in various environments differing in polarity and in the environment applied in bee research. This compound was shown to be sensitive to changes in solvent polarity. The spectroscopic assays were complemented with crystallographic tests of the obtained monocrystals of the aforementioned compounds, which attested to the aggregation effects observed in the spectra measurements for the selected coumarin. The research results confirm that this compound has the potential to be implemented in apiary management, which will be our application goal, but further research into apiary conditions is required

Chemometric approach to characterization of the selected grape seed oils based on their fatty acids composition and FTIR spectroscopy

Addressing the issues arising from the production and trade of low-quality foods necessitates developing new quality control methods. Cooking oils, especially those produced from the grape seeds, are an example of food products that often suffer from questionable quality due to various adulterations and low-quality fruits used for their production. Among many methods allowing for fast and efficient food quality control, the combination of experimental and advanced mathematical approaches seems most reliable. In this work a method for grape seed oils compositional characterization based on the infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and fatty acids profile is reported. Also, the relevant parameters of oils are characterized using a combination of standard techniques such as the Principal Component Analysis, k-Means, and Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) fitting parameters. Two different approaches to perform unsupervised clustering using GMM were investigated. The first approach relies on the profile of fatty acids, while the second is FT-IR spectroscopy-based. The GMM fitting parameters in both approaches were compared. The results obtained from both approaches are consistent and complementary and provide the tools to address the characterization and clustering issues in grape seed oils.O

Spectroscopic Studies of Intramolecular Proton Transfer in 2-(4-Fluorophenylamino)-5-(2,4-Dihydroxybenzeno)-1,3,4-Thiadiazole

Spectroscopic studies of the biologically active compound 2-(4-fluorophenylamino)-5-(2,4-dihydroxybenzeno)-1,3,4-thiadiazole (FABT), have been performed. Absorption studies in the UV-Vis region for FABT in polar solvents, like water or ethanol, exhibit the domination of the enol form over its keto counterpart, with a broad absorption band centered around 340 nm. In non-polar solvents such as n-heptane or heavier alkanes the 340 nm absorption band disappears and an increase of the band related to the keto form (approximately 270 nm) is observed. Fluorescence spectra (with 270 nm and 340 nm excitation energies used) show a similar dependence: for FABT in 2-propanol a peak at about 400 nm dominates over that at 330 nm while in n-heptane this relation is reversed. The solvent dependent equilibrium between the keto and enol forms is further confirmed by FTIR and Raman spectroscopies. As can be expected, this equilibrium also shows some temperature dependences. We note that the changes between the two tautomeric forms of FABT are not related to the permanent dipole moment of the solvent but rather to its dipole polarizability

Food energy, physical properties, and processing suitability of milk from cows of Polish Red Whitebacked and Simental breeds kept using low-input system

Określono wartość energetyczną, właściwości fizykochemiczne (kwasowość, gęstość), czas krzepnięcia mleka pod wpływem podpuszczki i stan dyspersji tłuszczu (udział kuleczek tłuszczowych ≤ 6 μm, 6 ÷10 μm i powyżej 10 μm) w 969 próbkach mleka pobranych od krów 3 ras – polskiej czerwonej (PC), białogrzbietej (BG) i simentalskiej (SIM) – użytkowanych w 13 gospodarstwach w niskonakładowym systemie chowu. Grupę odniesienia stanowiły 243 próbki mleka pobrane od krów rasy polskiej holsztyńsko-fryzyjskiej odmiany czarno-białej (PHF), użytkowanych w intensywnych technologiach chowu (żywienie TMR). Wykazano, że pozyskane w sezonie jesienno-zimowym mleko od 3 ras krów użytkowanych w systemie niskonakładowym miało istotnie (p ≤ 0,01) wyższą wartość energetyczną w porównaniu z mlekiem z sezonu wiosenno-letniego. W mleku krów rasy PHF różnice te były zdecydowanie niższe i statystycznie nieistotne. Największą zawartość kazeiny oznaczono w mleku krów rasy polskiej czerwonej (2,84 %) i simentalskiej (2,75 %) pozyskiwanym w sezonie jesienno-zimowym, a najmniejszą i bardzo podobną w obu sezonach – w mleku krów PHF (odpowiednio: 2,52 i 2,57 %). Średni czas koagulacji mleka 3 ras krów użytkowanych w systemie niskonakładowym w porównaniu z mlekiem krów PHF był istotnie (p ≤ 0,01) krótszy (około 4 min vs. 5 min 37 s). Mleko tych krów miało także istotnie (p ≤ 0,01) większy udział kuleczek tłuszczowych o dużych średnicach (> 10 μm), tzn. białogrzbieta – 9,82 %, simentalska – 9,22 % i polska czerwona – 9,05 %, w porównaniu z mlekiem krów rasy polskiej holsztyńsko-fryzyjskiej (7,34 %).There were determined: food energy, physical properties (acidity, density), rennet coagulation time, and dispersion state of fat (percentage rate of fatty globules ≤ 6 μm, 6-10 μm and above 10 μm) in 969 samples of milk from 3 breeds of cows: Polish Red, Whitebacked, and Simmental, which were utilized in 13 farms applying a low input system. The control group of samples consisted of 243 milk samples collected from the Polish Holstein-Friesian (PHF) cows utilized with the use of intensive husbandry technologies (TMR feeding). It was shown that the milk, produced in the autumn-winter season by the three cow breeds kept using a low input system, had a significantly (p≤0.01) higher food energy value compared to the milk produced during the spring-summer season. Those differences were definitely much lower and statistically insignificant in the cow’s milk from the PHF breed. The highest content of casein was determined in the milk from the Polish Red (2.84%) and Simmental (2.75%) cows and produced in the autumn-winter season, whereas the lowest content of casein, very similar for the two seasons (2.52 % and 2.57%, respectively) was reported in the milk from the PHF cows. A mean coagulation time of milk from the three breeds of cows utilized using a low input system was significantly (p≤0.01) shorter (ca. 4 min vs. 57 min 37 sec) compared to the milk from the PHF cows. Additionally, the milk from those cows had a significantly (p ≤ 0.01) higher percentage rate of fatty globules showing large diameters (> 10 μm), namely: Whitebacked – 9.82 %, Simmental – 9.22 %, and Polish Red – 9.05 %, in comparison to the milk from the Polish Holstein-Friesian cows (7.34 %)

Texture characteristics of raw rapeseed honey after storage at room temperature or freezing and heating up to 50°C

The effects of storing honey for 18 months at room temperature or in a freezer as well as the impact of heating it to different temperatures (30, 40 and 50°C) were studied. The rheological parameters of fresh rapeseed honey were compared to those of the non-stored and unheated samples (control). The storage temperature significantly influenced the rheological behaviour of the honey (except adhesiveness). Higher values of all textural parameters were found in frozen honey in comparison with control and room temperature samples. However, in comparison with the control samples, higher values (around twice) of the dynamic viscosity, firmness, work and adhesive force were produced by honey stored at room temperature. Thermal treatment of the honey heated at 30, 40 and 50°C influenced a continuous decrease in all of the textural properties (with the exception of the cohesive force) compared to the control samples (20°C). The average change in the texture-temperature coefficient for dynamic viscosity, firmness, work, adhesiveness and adhesive force from 20 to 50°C was similar (between 6.62 and 4.09%). Significant, very close and positive Spearmen’s rank correlations (0.894 ≤ rS ≤ 0.987) were observed for dynamic viscosity, firmness, work, adhesiveness and adhesive force. Lower correlations (0.524 ≤ rS ≤ 0.684) were found between the cohesive force and all of the other textural properties

Antimicrobial efficacy of mixtures of silver nanoparticles and polyhydric alcohols against health-promoting bacteria

In the present study, the effectiveness of a mixture of silver nanoparticles with polyhydric alcohols (glycerol, erythritol, mannitol and xylitol) against six species of healthpromoting bacteria have been examined. Synthesis of silver nanoparticles was carried out using trisodium citrate as the reducing and stabilizing agent. The nanoparticles were characterized by electronic absorption, scanning electron microscopy and powder X-ray diffraction measurements. Electronic absorption spectrum revealed high uniform of synthesized nanoparticles. Practically no aggregation was observed when nanoparticles were mixed with polyhydric alcohols, suggesting weak interaction between ingredients of the mixture. Spherical silver nanoparticles, as depicted by scanning electron microscopy, were found to have diameters in the range of 10 to 30 nm; mean diameter was 18 ± 4 nm. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the prepared samples indicated the face-centred cubic crystalline structure of the metallic silver nanoparticles. In biological study, quite interesting protective effect of polyalcohols on the growth inhibition of health-promoting bacteria by silver nanoparticles was observed. The most substantial protective effect of the tested silver nanoparticles-polyalcohol mixtures was estimated for B. bifidum, L. paraplantarum, and L. phamnosus species

Wpływ rasy i systemu żywienia krów na stan dyspersji tłuszczu mlecznego i zawartość cholesterolu

The aim of the present study was to determine the influence of the cow breed and feeding system on the fat content in milk, state of its dispersion and potential association of these parameters with the cholesterol concentration in milk. The research included 510 milk samples obtained from cows of 6 breeds, namely: Polish Holstein-Friesian of Black-White variety (PHF- -HO) – 152 and Red-White variety (PHF-RW) – 59; Simmental (SM) – 83, Jersey (JE) – 45; Polish Red (RP) – 67 and White-backed (BG) – 104. Two feeding systems were distinguished within PHF-HO, PHF-RW and SM breeds, namely traditional and TMR. Jersey cows were fed exclusively with TMR system, whereas RP and BG were fed traditionally. Investigated parameters of milk included concentrations of fat and cholesterol and proportion of milk fat globules (MFG) in certain average diameters (i.e. 10 μm). It was determined that cow breed had a significant (p≤0.01) influence on the cholesterol content in milk. Milk of JE cows was characterized by the highest content of fat (5.41%) and simultaneously the lowest content of cholesterol (14.21 mg/100 ml of milk). The highest content of cholesterol was observed in milk from cows of breeds PHF-RW (24.04 mg/100 ml of milk) and PHF-HO (21.90 mg/100 ml of milk). Milk from PHF-HO cows was characterized by the highest proportion of small MFG (60.30%), conversely to milk from JE cows (45.27%). Positive correlations were determined between the content of fat and proportion of large MFGs (r=0.21***) and between the content of cholesterol and proportion of small MFGs (r=0.27***), whereas a negative correlation was found between the content of cholesterol and proportion of large MFGs (r=–0.23***). Milk collected from animals fed with TMR system contained significantly (p≤0.01) more fat (by 0.16%) and cholesterol (by 2.18 mg/100 ml of milk) and was additionally characterized by a higher proportion of small MFGs (by 9.74%) and lower share of medium MFGs (by 10.21%).Celem pracy było określenie wpływu rasy krów i systemu żywienia na zawartość tłuszczu w mleku i stan jego dyspersji oraz ewentualne powiązanie tych parametrów z zawartością cholesterolu. Badaniami objęto 510 prób mleka pozyskanego od krów 6 ras, tzn. polskiej holsztyńsko-fryzyjskiej odmiany czarno-białej (PHF-HO) – 152 i czerwono-białej (PHF-RW) – 59, simentalskiej (SM) – 83, jersey (JE) – 45, polskiej czerwonej (RP) – 67 oraz białogrzbietej (BG) – 104. W obrębie rasy PHF-HO, PHF-RW i SM wyróżniono dwa systemy żywienia, tzn. tradycyjny i TMR. Krowy rasy JE żywione były wyłącznie systemem TMR, a RP i BG systemem tradycyjnym. Oznaczano zawartość tłuszczu i cholesterolu oraz udział kuleczek tłuszczowych w poszczególnych przedziałach wielkości (10 mm). Wykazano istotny (p≤0,01) wpływ rasy krów na zawartość cholesterolu. W mleku krów rasy JE, gdzie była najwyższa zawartość tłuszczu (5,41%), stwierdzono najniższą zawartość cholesterolu (14,21 mg/100 ml mleka). Najwyższa zawartość cholesterolu była w mleku krów rasy PHF-RW (24,04 mg/100 ml mleka) i PHF-HO (21,90 mg/100 ml). Mleko krów rasy PHF-HO miało najwyższy udział małych kuleczek tłuszczowych (60,30%), a najmniejszy – mleko rasy JE (45,27%). Wykazano dodatnie współzależności między zawartością tłuszczu a udziałem dużych kuleczek tłuszczowych (r=0,21***) i między zawartością cholesterolu a udziałem małych kuleczek tłuszczowych (r=0,27***), a ujemną (r=–0,23***) dla udziału dużych. Mleko pozyskiwane od zwierząt żywionych systemem TMR zawierało istotnie (p≤0,01) więcej tłuszczu (o 0,16%) i cholesterolu (o 2,18 mg/100 ml) oraz miało wyższy udział małych (o 9,74%), a niższy średnich (o 10,21%) kuleczek tłuszczowych

Effect of magnetic field and magnetically treated water on some morphological features and chemical composition of seedlings of sunflower (Hellanthus annuus L.)

Przeprowadzono badania wpływu zmiennego pola magnetycznego, wody uzdatnianej magnetycznie oraz połączenia obu tych czynników na masy, wysokość, zawartość Ca i K oraz wszystkich składników mineralnych siewek słonecznika dla ich początkowej fazy wzrostu trwającej 5 dni. Stymulacja magnetyczna nasion odbywała się na stanowisku badawczym dla pola magnetycznego o indukcji 30 mT, o częstości 50 Hz w czasie 15 s i 30 s. Uzdatnianie magnetyczne wody przeprowadzono na stanowisku pomiarowym, gdzie przepływała ona przez teflonową rurkę umieszczoną pomiędzy nabiegunnikami elektromagnesu prądu stałego o indukcji 150 mT. Wodę przepuszczano pomiędzy nabiegunnikami elektromagnesu 3 razy. Badania przeprowadzono w wazonach wypełnionych ziemią ogrodową, w klimatyzowanej hali wegetacyjnej bez dostępu światła dziennego, stosując jako oświetlenie światło fluorescencyjne i pobierając próbki co pięć dni w okresie 15-dniowym. Uzyskano pozytywny wpływ na masy końcowe i rozmiary roślin dla praktycznie wszystkich czynników stymulujących. Nie zaobserwowano istotnego wpływu czynników stymulujących na zawartość składników mineralnych oraz potasu i wapnia w siewkach.Studies have been conducted on the influence of a variable magnetic field, magnetically treated water and a combination of both of these factors on the final mass of seedlings, height of sunflower plants, contents of potassium and calcium as well as other nutrients in the initial phase of growth. Magnetic stimulation of seeds took place at a research magnetic field system, at induction of 30 mT, frequency of 50 Hz and durations of 15 s and 30 s. Water flowed 3 times through a teflon tube placed between direct current electromagnet pole pieces at induction of 150 mT at the measurement post. Investigations were carried out in pots filled with humus soil, in an air–conditioned greenhouse hall with no access to daylight, using fluorescent light as illumination. The samples of seedlings were taken every 5 days. A positive impact was achieved on the final mass of sunflower plants for the sam-ple in the 5-day initial phase of plant growth. No impact of the stimulation factors on the contents of potassium and calcium and other nutrients in seedlings were observed