51 research outputs found
Ekstrakt ploda morača kao potencijalni prirodni aditiv u prehrambenoj industriji
In this study, the polyphenol profile and antioxidant activity of the hydro-ethanolic extract of the fennel fruit were examined in order to investigate the possibility of its application as a potential functional food additive. Total phenols were analyzed by the method of Folin-Ciocalteu, while total flavonoids were determined by the aluminum chloride colorimetric method. The separation and quantification of phenolic compounds were performed by LC-MS/MS analysis, using a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The antioxidant capacity was determined by FRAP and DPPH assays. The high values of total phenolics and flavonoids were found, as well as high antioxidant activity which amounted to 9023.33 ± 38.19 µmol Fe(II)/l and 3.73 ± 0.04 mmol TE/l, tested by FRAP and DPPH assays, respectively. Among the identified phenolic compounds, p-hydroxybenzoic and chlorogenic acids were detected as predominant. The obtained results indicated that the hydro-ethanolic extract of the fennel fruit can be used in food industry as a potential natural antioxidant.U ovom radu određivan je sadržaj polifenola i antioksidativna aktivnost vodeno-etanolnog ekstrakta morača, sa ciljem ispitivanja mogućnosti njegove primene kao potencijalnog funkcionalnog aditiva. Ukupni fenoli su analizirani metodom po Folin-Ciocalteu, dok je ukupan sadržaj flavonoida određen kolorimetrijskom metodom primenom aluminijum hlorida. Razdvajanje i kvantifikacija fenolnih jedinjenja postignuti su upotrebom LC-MS/MS metode u režimu koji omogućava istovremeno praćenje više jonskih prelaza. Antioksidativni kapacitet je određivan primenom testova FRAP i DPPH. U testiranom ekstraktu dobijene su visoke vrednosti za ukupne fenole i flavonoide, a dobijena je i visoka vrednost antioksidativne aktivnosti, koja je iznosila 9023.33 ± 38,19 mmol Fe(II)/l i 3,73 ± 0,04 mmol TE/l, računato primenom testa FRAP odnosno testa DPPH. Među fenolnim jedinjenjima, phidroksibenzoeva i hlorogena kiselina su pronađene kao dominantne. Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju na to da se ekstrakt morača može primenjivati u prehrambenoj industriji kao potencijalni prirodni antioksidans
Report and papers with guidelines on calibration of urban flood models
Computer modelling offers a sound scientific framework for well-structured analysis and
management of urban drainage systems and flooding. Computer models are tools that are expected
to simulate the behaviour of the modelled real system with a reasonable level of accuracy.
Assurance of accurate representation of reality by a model is obtained through the model
calibration. Model calibration is an essential step in modelling. This report present concepts and
procedures for calibration and verification of urban flood models. The various stages in the
calibration process are presented sequentially. For each stage, a discussion of general concepts is
followed by descriptions of process elements. Finally, examples and experiences regarding
application of the procedures in the CORFU Barcelona Case Study are presented.
Calibration involves not only the adjustment of model parameters but also other activities such as
model structural and functional validation, data checking and preparation, sensitivity analysis and
model verification, that support and fortify the calibration process as a whole. The objective in
calibration is the minimization of differences between model simulated results and observed
measurements. This is normally achieved through a manual iterative parameter adjustment process
but automatic calibration routines are also available, and combination parameter adjustment
methods also exist. The focus of a model calibration exercise is not the same for all types of models.
But regardless of the model type, good modelling practice should involve thorough model
verification before application.
A well-calibrated model can give the assurance that, at least for a range of tested conditions, the
model behaves like the real system, and that the model is an accurate and reliable tool that may be
used for further analysis. However, calibration could also reveal that the model cannot be calibrated
and that the correctness of the model and its suitability as a tool for analysis and management of
real-world systems could not be proven.
The conceptualisation and simplification of real-world systems and associated processes in
modelling inevitably lead to errors and uncertainty. Various modelling components introduce errors
such as the input parameters, the model concept, scheme and corresponding model output, and the
observed response measurements. Ultimately, the quality of the model as quantified by how much
it deviates from reality is an aggregate of the errors that have been brought into it during the
modelling process. Thus, it is important to identify the different error sources in a model and also
account for and quantify them as part of the modelling.The work described in this publication was supported by the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme through the grant to the budget of CORFU
Collaborative Research on Flood Resilience in Urban Areas, Contract 244047
Health Impacts Model
This report presents the draft outline of the CORFU Health Impacts Model. The model consists
of assessing the risk to human health in four steps:
Hazard identification
Hazard characterisation (or dose-response assessment)
Exposure assessment
Risk characterisation
The health impacts model has four components. The first of these is the risk to human life
component, and adapts a model developed in the FLOODsite project to estimate the number
of deaths and injuries that could be caused by flooding. The next component relates to
waterborne diseases and illnesses that can be assessed by means of a Quantitative Microbial
Risk Assessment. Thirdly, the model takes account of other diseases (such as those
transmitted by vectors) and suggests the use of relative risk information to estimate the
impact of this disease. A similar approach is suggested to consider the mental health impacts
of flooding.
Finally, the report describes how the health risks could be characterised using the Disability
Adjusted Life Year (DALY).The work described in this publication was supported by the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme through the grant to the budget of CORFU
Collaborative Research on Flood Resilience in Urban Areas, Contract 244047
Reverse Monte Carlo modeling of amorphous silicon
An implementation of the Reverse Monte Carlo algorithm is presented for the
study of amorphous tetrahedral semiconductors. By taking into account a number
of constraints that describe the tetrahedral bonding geometry along with the
radial distribution function, we construct a model of amorphous silicon using
the reverse monte carlo technique. Starting from a completely random
configuration, we generate a model of amorphous silicon containing 500 atoms
closely reproducing the experimental static structure factor and bond angle
distribution and in improved agreement with electronic properties. Comparison
is made to existing Reverse Monte Carlo models, and the importance of suitable
constraints beside experimental data is stressed.Comment: 6 pages, 4 PostScript figure
A participatory hybrid decision support modelling framework for industrial symbiosis
This is the final version
p-Adic Mathematical Physics
A brief review of some selected topics in p-adic mathematical physics is
presented.Comment: 36 page
Balkans' Asteraceae Species as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds for the Pharmaceutical and Food Industry
Herbal drugs are a useful source of different bioactive compounds. Asteraceae species, as the most widespread vascular plants, can be used both as food and as medicine due to the great diversity of recorded chemical components - different phenolic compounds, terpenes, carotenoids, vitamins, alkaloids, etc. The Balkan Peninsula is characterized by great diversity of plants from Asteraceae family, including presence of rare and endemic species. In this review, results of the survey of chemical composition and biological activity, mainly focusing on antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer effects of selected Balkans' Asteraceae species were provided. In addition, information on edible plants from Asteraceae family is presented, due to growing interest for the so-called 'healthy diet' and possible application of Balkans' Asteraceae species as food of high nutritional value or as a source of functional food ingredients.This is peer-reviewed version of the following article: Kostić, A.; Janacković, P.; Kolasinac, S. M.; Dajić-Stevanović, Z. Balkans’ Asteraceae Species as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds for the Pharmaceutical and Food Industry. Chemistry & Biodiversity 2020, 17 (6). [https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202000097
Drought Impact Is Alleviated in Sugar Beets (Beta vulgaris L.) by Foliar Application of Fullerenol Nanoparticles
Over the past few years, significant efforts have been made to decrease the effects of drought stress on plant productivity and quality. We propose that fullerenol nanoparticles (FNPs, molecular formula C-60(OH)(24)) may help alleviate drought stress by serving as an additional intercellular water supply. Specifically, FNPs are able to penetrate plant leaf and root tissues, where they bind water in various cell compartments. This hydroscopic activity suggests that FNPs could be beneficial in plants. The aim of the present study was to analyse the influence of FNPs on sugar beet plants exposed to drought stress. Our results indicate that intracellular water metabolism can be modified by foliar application of FNPs in drought exposed plants. Drought stress induced a significant increase in the compatible osmolyte proline in both the leaves and roots of control plants, but not in FNP treated plants. These results indicate that FNPs could act as intracellular binders of water, creating an additional water reserve, and enabling adaptation to drought stress. Moreover, analysis of plant antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, APx and GPx), MDA and GSH content indicate that fullerenol foliar application could have some beneficial effect on alleviating oxidative effects of drought stress, depending on the concentration of nanoparticles applied. Although further studies are necessary to elucidate the biochemical impact of FNPs on plants; the present results could directly impact agricultural practice, where available water supplies are often a limiting factor in plant bioproductivity
Plant community attributes affect dry grassland orchid establishment
Several factors have been taken into account to explain the distribution of orchid species. We explored the extent to which plant community attributes affect the abundance and reproductive fitness of three orchid species (Anacamptis morio, Himantoglossum adriaticum and Ophrys sphegodes), native to dry grasslands. Structural attributes of plant community (e.g. cover and height) were assessed in ninety 4 m(2) plots scattered on three hill massifs of the Veneto Region (NE Italy). For the three target orchid species, the height of the flowering stalk, the relative ramet height and the number of flowers and fruits were recorded in 203 tagged ramets. Generalized Linear Model revealed that plant community attributes such as cover and height of the herb layer exert a negative effect on the abundance of orchid populations. Furthermore, regression models indicated that O. sphegodes and H. adriaticum reproductive fitness, determined as fruit/flower ratio, was positively affected by relative ramet height. Our results revealed that local herbaceous vegetation structure influences the cover and fruit set of target orchid species. However, there can be substantial variation in the response of different species and variation in the structural attributes of surrounding vegetation may be associated with differences in the strength of selection. In order to achieve effective results in orchid species conservation, protocols for the in situ conservation must detail the range of vegetation covers and heights at which orchid species are favoured and can produce the most effective inflorescences
Global patterns and environmental drivers of forest functional composition
Aim
To determine the relationships between the functional trait composition of forest communities and environmental gradients across scales and biomes and the role of species relative abundances in these relationships.
Location
Global.
Time period
Recent.
Major taxa studied
Trees.
Methods
We integrated species abundance records from worldwide forest inventories and associated functional traits (wood density, specific leaf area and seed mass) to obtain a data set of 99,953 to 149,285 plots (depending on the trait) spanning all forested continents. We computed community-weighted and unweighted means of trait values for each plot and related them to three broad environmental gradients and their interactions (energy availability, precipitation and soil properties) at two scales (global and biomes).
Results
Our models explained up to 60% of the variance in trait distribution. At global scale, the energy gradient had the strongest influence on traits. However, within-biome models revealed different relationships among biomes. Notably, the functional composition of tropical forests was more influenced by precipitation and soil properties than energy availability, whereas temperate forests showed the opposite pattern. Depending on the trait studied, response to gradients was more variable and proportionally weaker in boreal forests. Community unweighted means were better predicted than weighted means for almost all models.
Main conclusions
Worldwide, trees require a large amount of energy (following latitude) to produce dense wood and seeds, while leaves with large surface to weight ratios are concentrated in temperate forests. However, patterns of functional composition within-biome differ from global patterns due to biome specificities such as the presence of conifers or unique combinations of climatic and soil properties. We recommend assessing the sensitivity of tree functional traits to environmental changes in their geographic context. Furthermore, at a given site, the distribution of tree functional traits appears to be driven more by species presence than species abundance
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