XRD Investigation of Some Thermal Degraded Starch Based Materials

The thermal degradation of some starch based materials was investigated using XRD method. The samples were obtained by thermal extrusion of mixtures of different proportions of starch, glycerol, and water. Such materials are suitable for the manufacturing of low pollutant packaging. Thermal degradation is one of the simplest ways to destroy such materials and this process is followed by structural modification of the local ordering of samples, water evaporation, crystallization, oxidation, or destruction of the chemical bonds. These modifications need to be studied in order to reduce to the minimum production of pollutant residues by burning process. XRD measurements show modification of the local ordering of the starch molecules depending on the temperature and initial composition of the samples. The molecular ordering perturbation is more pronounced in samples with low content of starch

ORGANIC TREATMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF MYCOSPHAERELLA FRAGARIAE INFECTION IN THE ECOLOGICAL CROP SYSTEM OF FRAGARIA VESCA

The damage caused by Mycosphaerella fragariae infection is one of the main foliar diseases of wild strawberries. The leaf spot disease decreases significantly the photosynthetic area and the quality of the fruits. This fungal disease caused by Mycosphaerella fragaria is an important factor that is limiting the crop production and it causes high costs due to yield losses and expensive pesticide applications. Traditionally, the main procedure for disease control in wild strawberry production depends on chemical treatments and pre-plant fumigation. Recently, alternative methods of disease control have been sought and researched, because of the increasing request for organic food. This study evaluates the effect of two organic treatments for the leaf spot disease on wild strawberry irrigated crop

The Comparative Antimicrobial Effects of Ocimum basilicum Essential Oil in a Pure Form and Exposed to an Electric Field

Abstract. Lately, essential oils have started to receive an increased attention as well from the prime consumers as from the scientific community, as people are beginning to be more interested to invest in a healthy lifestyle. Their complex composition grants them multiple effects including antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal effects, which led them to be envisioned as a valuable alternative for the extensive use of antibiotics, as bacteria started to develop resistance and become more difficult to treat. In this study we compared the antibacterial and antifungal effects of basil essential oil and basil essential oil exposed to an electric field on six bacterial strains and one strain of C. albicans. To meet our objective, we’ve used the agar diffusion method. Our results showed that basil essential oil has a mild inhibitory effect on most of the bacteria and on C. albicans. Additionally, the basil essential oil exposed to the electric field mostly kept the same profile, even though it proved that it caused a slight decrease in the values of the inhibition potential of basil essential oil, except for S. enteritidis, where it showed an increase in its antibiotic capacity

The Influence of Physical Fields (Magnetic and Electric) and LASER Exposure on the Composition and Bioactivity of Cinnamon Bark, Patchouli, and Geranium Essential Oils

In recent years, essential oils (EOs) have received increased attention from the research community, and the EOs of cinnamon, patchouli, and geranium have become highly recognized for their antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects. Due to these properties, they have become valuable and promising candidates for addressing the worldwide threat of antimicrobial resistance and other diseases. Simultaneously, studies have revealed promising new results regarding the effects of physical fields (magnetic and electric) and LASER (MEL) exposure on seed germination, plant growth, biomass accumulation, and the yield and composition of EOs. In this frame, the present study aims to investigate the influence of MEL treatments on cinnamon, patchouli, and geranium EOs, by specifically examining their composition, antimicrobial properties, and antioxidant activities. Results showed that the magnetic influence has improved the potency of patchouli EO against L. monocytogenes, S. enteritidis, and P. aeruginosa, while the antimicrobial activity of cinnamon EO against L. monocytogenes was enhanced by the electric and laser treatments. All exposures have increased the antifungal effect of geranium EO against C. albicans. The antioxidant activity was not modified by any of the treatments. These findings could potentially pave the way for a deeper understanding of the efficiency, the mechanisms of action, and the utilization of EOs, offering new insights for further exploration and application