Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Five White Onion (Allium cepa L.) Landraces

Five onion landraces belonging toBianca di Pompeicv., cultivated in Campania region (Italy), were characterized for their main quality parameters. The onion landraces were harvested at the end of the growth cycle corresponding to the ripening time and harvest month, respectively: February, March, April, May, and June. The total content of volatile compounds as well as the sulfur-containing compounds inAprilaticawas significantly (p≤0.05) higher than the other landraces investigated. The nutraceutical feature investigated through the total phenols, phenols profile, and antioxidant activity showed higher values for the samples harvested in spring months. High pungency values ranging from 9 to 14 μmol/g FW were found in all onion landraces investigated as enzymatically (alliinase) produced pyruvate (EPY). The organic acids profile (malic, citric, succinic, pyruvic, oxalic, ascorbic, and tartaric acids) highlighted malic and citric acids in higher amounts in all landraces. Fructose, glucose, and sucrose were found as soluble sugars and fructose was the most abundant. Generally, the results highlighted the growth temperature influence on the investigated quality parameters

Multilayer Nanocomposite Polymetric Packaging For Microwave Applications

Microwaveable packaging material should ensure good preservation of the product before cooking/ heating such as high barriers to gases and aromas and adequate control of water vapor transmission. Among the polymers used in flexible packaging, crystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate) (CPET) is characterized by good oxygen barrier properties and quite high heat stability which ensures the absence of alterations of foods flavors. CPET trays or films are suitable for Ready To Cook (RTC) products within a temperature range from -40 to + 220°C. The aim of this work was the production and characterization of nanocomposite multilayer PET films, for microwave applications, in which the nanoclay acts as a heating enhancer. Films prototypes were made by means of laboratory compounding equipment for the production of nanocomposite CPET and by a co-extrusion equipment for producing multilayer films using two different PET copolymer matrices and a modified nanoclay (Cloisite 20A) as heating enhancer. The study of morphology of nanocomposite layer by means of X-ray diffraction experiments was carried out in order to correlate the intercalation/ exfoliation degree of nanoclay with cooking performance

Impact of dealcoholization by osmotic distillation on metabolic profile, phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity of low alcoholic craft beers with different malt compositions

Beer antioxidants originate mainly from malts, classified as colored, caramel, and roasted, according to the malting process. This study aimed to characterize, in terms of phenolic antioxidants, three types of Pale Ale craft beers brewed using increasing percentage of dark malt (0, 5, and 15% Caraamber malt, called PA100, PA95, PA85, respectively) and to evaluate the impact of dealcoholization by osmotic distillation (OD) on the same antioxidants. All the alcoholic (PA, 6.2-6.8 vol %) and low alcoholic (LA-PA, 1 vol %) beers were analyzed by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity (AA): similar phenolic profiles were evidenced and 43 compounds identified or tentatively identified. Some differences were found among PA100, PA95, and PA85: PA85 was richer in free phenolic compounds (10.55 mg/L) and had a higher TPC (463.7 GAE mg/L) and AA (852.1 TE mg/L). LA-PA beers showed the same phenolic profile and similar TPC and AA compared to PA beers; however, there were some differences regarding LA-PA85 (5.91 mg/L). Dealcoholization by OD seemed to weakly affect the phenolic fraction. ESI-MS/MS infusion experiments evidenced oligosaccharides, small organic acids, and amino acids, whose presence was confirmed and quantitated by NMR: besides ethanol and other alcohols, weak to strong loss of low-molecular-weight metabolites was evidenced in LA-PA beers

Study of Heat Resistance of Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Based Oleogels by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

In the present study, the oxidative stability of extra virgin olive oil-based oleogels developed with beeswax, glycerol monostearate and ethylcellulose as gelators was determined using DSC in non-isothermal mode. Samples were heated at different heating rates (5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15 °C/min) and, by using the Ozawa-Flynn-Wall method, oxidation kinetics parameters such as activation energy, pre-exponential factor and oxidation rate constant were evaluated. The results highlighted that glycerol monostearate-based oleogels have the highest oxidative stability, followed by ethylcellulose-based oleogel. However, bulk extra virgin olive oil showed higher stability than beeswax-based oleogel, probably due to the presence in the wax of minor components with prooxidant activity

Heating Performances of Tomato-based Dressing Sauces Undergoing Moderate Electric Fields

Moderate electric fields (MEF) heating belongs to electro-assisted heating technologies. MEF involves the use of electrical alternate current, which is forced to pass through a food material, applying an electrical potential gradient up to 1000 V/cm with frequency going from 1 Hz to 1e4 Hz. In MEF assisted heating, the electrical current dissipates heat inside the food product, thus overcoming the heat transfer resistances due to convection or conduction. Tomato based dressing sauces represent a worldwide appreciated food product. Industrially heat transfer operations related to the production of such dressing sauces are based on the use of hot water or steam as heat carriers. Exploring new heating technologies able to shorten production times, can contribute the shift of food industry towards more efficient and less environmentally impacting processes. In order to assess the applicability of MEF heating to tomato-based dressing sauces, three different products were analysed. Namely, tomato sauce, tomato sauce with eggplant, tomato sauce with minced meat were considered. Tests were performed in a custom MEF system imposing an electrical potential difference from 50 V to 80 V. Given the fair even temperature distribution, a macroscopic transient energy balance was used to estimate the electrical conductivity of the considered products and, furthermore, the model of the electrical conductivity as a function of the temperature. Results showed that the investigated products are characterized by electrical conductivity in the range of 1 to 5 S/m, making these sauces keen to MEF heating treatment and opening new opportunity to exploit such heating technology in the preparation and processing of tomato-based dressing sauces

Yield, quality, antioxidants and elemental composition of peanut as affected by plant density and harvest time

With the perspective of reintroducing peanut cultivation in southern Italy about six decades after its dismissal, research was carried out with the aim to identify the best performing farming management in terms of yield and quality. In this respect, the effect of the factorial combination between four plant densities (6.1, 7.8, 10.3, and 12.1 plants m-2) and two harvest times (100 and 110 days after planting) was assessed on pod and seed yield, as well as on seed quality, antioxidant activity, and elemental composition. The later harvest time determined a 26.9% dry weight increase, but a 14.3% decrease in the number of seeds per pod. Plant density significantly influenced all the yield and growth indices except for mean seed weight. Yield and growth of each plant were best affected by the lowest plant density, whereas the opposite trend was recorded for the same parameters referred to the surface area unit. The density of 12.1 plants m-2 resulted in a 32% reduction in pods per plant compared to 6.1 plants m-2, but had the greatest effect on seed production per m2 . The leaf area index was the highest with the density of 12.1 plants m-2. The total dry weight increased by 1.7-fold from 6.1 to 12.1 plants m-2. Compared to the first harvest time, in the second one the protein content decreased by 6.8%, and total polyphenols and antioxidant activity decreased by 11.2% and 7.6%, respectively. The second harvest time led to a depletion of N, P, and Mg, by 6.8%, 6.2%, and 6.8%, respectively, and a 7.1% Ca increase. The reintroduction of peanut cultivation in southern Italy is a realistic goal, though further studies regarding the crop system management are needed

A relationship between oxytocin and anxiety of romantic attachment

The formation of social bonding is fundamental for several animals, including humans, for its relevant and obvious impact upon reproduction and, thus, survival of the species. Recent data would suggest that oxytocin might be one of the mediators of this process. Given the paucity of data on the possible involvement of oxytocin in human attachment, the present study was aimed to explore the possible relationships between the plasma levels of this neuropeptide and romantic attachment in healthy subjects. Forty-five healthy subjects who volunteered for the study, were included in the study. The romantic attachment was assessed using the Italian version of the so-called "Experiences in Close Relationships" (ECR), a self-report questionnaire for measuring this parameter in adults. The results showed that attachment anxiety and oxytocin are positively linked in romantic attachment to a statistically significant degree (r = 0.30, p = 0.04), that is, the higher the oxytocin levels the higher the score on the anxiety scale of the ECR. The authors suggest the hypothesis that this link represents one of the biological processes resulting in those rewarding emotions related to romantic attachment

TWNK in Parkinson's Disease: A Movement Disorder and Mitochondrial Disease Center Perspective Study

Background: Parkinsonian features have been described in patients harboring variants in nuclear genes encoding for proteins involved in mitochondrial DNA maintenance, such as TWNK. Objectives: The aim was to screen for TWNK variants in an Italian cohort of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and to assess the occurrence of parkinsonism in patients presenting with TWNK-related autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia (TWNK-adPEO). Methods: Genomic DNA of 263 consecutively collected PD patients who underwent diagnostic genetic testing was analyzed with a targeted custom gene panel including TWNK, as well as genes causative of monogenic PD. Genetic and clinical data of 18 TWNK-adPEO patients with parkinsonism were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Six of 263 PD patients (2%), presenting either with isolated PD (n = 4) or in combination with bilateral ptosis (n = 2), carried TWNK likely pathogenic variants. Among 18 TWNK-adPEO patients, 5 (28%) had parkinsonism. Conclusions: We show candidate TWNK variants occurring in PD without PEO. This finding will require further confirmatory studies. © 2022 Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson Movement Disorder Society

Prolungamento della shelf-life di gamberi refrigerati

Dottorato di ricerca in biotecnologie degli alimenti. 13. ciclo. Tutore Marisa Di Matteo. Coordinatore Biagio MincioneConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7, Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - Piazza Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal