Artichoke Industrial Waste in Durum Wheat Bread: Effects of Two Different Preparation and Drying Methods of Flours and Evaluation of Quality Parameters during Short Storage

'Violetto di Ramacca' is a local variety of artichoke grown in Sicily (Southern Italy), known for its purple color with green streaks. In this study, the effects of two different preparation and drying methods (method A, fresh sample oven-dried at 40 °C for 48 h then mixed and ground into flour; and B, minced and frozen sample oven-dried at 40 °C for 24 h then blended and ground into flour) for flours from different parts of the artichoke (bracts, stems, and mix), used at different percentages of integration (5, 7.5, and 10%), in combination with re-milled semolina, have been evaluated. The polyphenol contents of the flours produced with the two methods were measured. The results showed significant differences between the methods and samples, with a range from 9.09 mg GAE/g d.m. (bracts 100%, method A) to 2.62 mg/g (mix 100%, method B). The values were then lowered in the flour products with supplements ranging from 0.96 mg GAE/g (bract flour 10%, method A) to 0.11 mg GAE/g (mixed flour 7.5%, method B). As the amounts of polyphenols increased, the antioxidant activity increased, with a range that varied in the pure flour from 8.59 mg trolox eq/g d.m. (bract flour, method A) to 3.83 mg trolox eq/g d.m. (mixed flour, method B). These flours were also analyzed for color, highlighting a clear difference between methods A (greener) and B (browner). The flours thus obtained were used to produce breads, which were evaluated for their physicochemical characteristics during 4 days of storage. The results showed a reduction in volumes and heights, an increase in the percentage of integration of the artichoke flours, a greater quantity of moisture in the integrated breads, and a lower reduction in the structural characteristics during storage compared to the control breads. The TPA was conducted on the breads from T0 to T4, highlighting that, although initially more compact, the integrated breads offered less alteration of the values during storage. The aw ranged from 0.63 (mix flour 5%, method B) to 0.90 (bract flour 5%, method B). The amounts of polyphenols (from 0.57 mg GAE/g in bread with bracts at 10% (method A) to 0.13 mg GAE/g in bread with mix 5% (method B)) and the antioxidant activity (from 0.55 mg trolox eq/g d.m. in bread with bract flour 10% (method A) to 0.14% mg trolox eq/g d.m. in bread with mix flour) were also evaluated, showing a trend similar to the values obtained in the flours. Colorimetric tests highlighted a color more similar to wholemeal bread in the loaves produced with method B. Statistical factor analysis and cluster analysis were conducted for all trials

Improved resolution power of electrophoretic fractionation of DNA using a voltage gradient up and down application

The improved resolution power of electrophoretic fractionation of DNA in a wide range of molecular masses is demonstrated using an "up and down" application of voltage gradient gel electrophoresis (VGGE). This application also allows separation of different DNA fragments which are poorly fractionated in conventional electrophoresis

Intertidal ponds of Messina's beachrock faunal assemblage, evaluation of ecosystem dynamics and communities' interactions

Beachrock can be found in intertidal marine environments worldwide even though the knowledge about its ecological value in Messina's strait is still quite scarce. In this study, six tidal ponds of Messina's Beachrock were sampled from October 2016 to October 2017 to investigate the ecological status of the area, biotic and abiotic factors that can influence the faunal assemblage and the relationships among the communities inhabiting the various pools examined. A total of 13399 organisms, belonging to 5 Phyla, were identified by Visual Census. The surveyed stations showed biodiversity values and evenness that depend, above all, from the edaphic features and water exchange of the different tidal ponds. Tidal ponds characterized by a lower water exchange showed a faunal assemblage characterized by the presence of species tolerant to a wide temperature and salinity range, as Mugil cephalus, Clibanarius erythropus and Phorcus turbinatus. The pools with the most water exchange showed the highest abundance and evenness values; while the ponds characterized by hard bottom showed this feature as strong influence on the species composition. A preliminary mathematical study was also carry out to describe, qualitatively, the main mechanisms ruling the interaction between the Clibanarius erythropus and Phorcus turbinatus

Waste from Artichoke Processing Industry: Reuse in Bread-Making and Evaluation of the Physico-Chemical Characteristics of the Final Product

A relevant amount of waste is produced in the canning industry of globe artichoke. This study proposes to use flours of artichoke waste (stems and bracts) in durum wheat bread-making, replacing the re-milled durum wheat semolina at increasing levels (5, 7.5 and 10 g/100 g). No study had evaluated this type of enrichment in durum wheat bread, widespread in the same area where artichoke waste is mostly produced. The replacement had a visible effect on the flour color, increasing a* and reducing b* and L*, and this was reflected in the color of bread crumb. The water absorption determined by farinography, dough development time and dough stability increased as the level of replacement increased (up to 71.2 g/100 g, 7.3 min and 18.4 min, respectively). The mixograph peak height and mixing time increased compared to control. The alveograph W decreased, while the P/L ratio increased. The artichoke waste-enriched breads had a lower volume (as low as 1.37 cm3/g) and were harder than control, but they did not show relevant moisture losses during five days of storage. The obtained data show therefore an interesting potential of artichoke waste flours in bread-making, but further investigations are needed for achieving improved quality features