Effect of fertilization on growth of lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.)

Received: January 29th, 2021 ; Accepted: April 10th, 2021 ; Published: April 20th, 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected], most of the global berry crop of Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. is obtained from wild berries. In recent years, however, their cultivation has become slightly more widespread, especially as demand has increased. As the commercial production of lingonberries is a completely new fruit-growing sector in Latvia, research on mineral nutrition, development of the crop production system and proper fertilizer management is critically important. The objective of this study was to elucidate the effect of different fertilizer rates on the nutrient status of lingonberry plant tissues and plant growth performance. Field experiments with the lingonberry variety ‘Runo Bielawskie’ were carried out during the 2019 and 2020 cropping season. Experimental plantations were established on an excavated peat bog in Latvia. Lingonberry plants received 4 different levels of complex and foliar fertilizers. Leaf analyses and soil (peat) testing were used as diagnostics tools to reveal nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo, B), soil pH and EC status. In general, plant growth characteristics were significantly affected by different levels of fertilizer. The results showed that the highest fertilizer rates resulted in a larger shrub diameter, the highest total number of rhizomes and shoots of a mother plant

Effect of drying technologies on bioactive compounds maintenance in pumpkin by-products

ArticleDuring the pumpkin processing large amounts of waste material as a combination of pumpkin peel, seeds and the flesh between seeds has produced. Therefore it is important to investigate the possibilities for using the pumpkin residues. The aim of this resea rch was to investigate the effect of different drying technologies on maintenance of bioactive compounds in pumpkin by - products. Two pumpkin residue products of Hubard group pumpkins were used to obtain pumpkin powder: residue products formed in the proces s of extracting industrial pumpkin purée by heating it in a heat exchanger and treating through a sieve of pulpier; residues resulting from pumpkin juice extraction process mechanically pressed from fresh, chopped pumpkins. In order to be able to choose th e most suitable drying technology pumpkin by - products were dried in the microwave - vacuum, convective (at 40, 50, 70 and 80 °C ) and freeze - drying type dryers. For all samples total carotenes, the ascorbic acid, total phenols content (TPC) and antiradical ac tivity (DPPH ̇, ABTS ̇+ ) were determined by using standard methods. The highest total carotenes content was retained in freeze - dried pumpkin powders. The most suitable drying method for obtaining pumpkin powder with the highest ascorbic acid, total phenolic content and antiradical activity is drying in convective type drying at 80 °C temperature

Changes in the nutritional value of breakfast cereals containing germinated spring grain flakes during storage

ArticleTh e aim of current research was to assess the nutritional value of breakfast cereals containing germinated spring grain flakes and its changes after 6 month storage. Three types of breakfast cereals were prepared and packaged in two types of Standup pouches – Pap50g/Alu7/Pe60 (AL), Pap40g/PELD20/PE40 (PE). For the accelerated shelf life test the samples were stored at 35 ± 2 °C and dietary fibre, protein, fat, B - group vitamins, sugars, total phenol content and DPPH, ABTS+ radical scavenging activity were dete rmined. Developed breakfast cereals have high nutritional value and all are high in fibre and thiamine. Additionally, sample S2 is source of protein, riboflavin, niacin, and S3 – is source of riboflavin and high in niacin. Comparing total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of tested samples S3 showed the highest values. Storage and selected packaging influenced stability of nutrients, and for S1 and S2 AL showed bett er results whereas for S3 – PE

Healthy ageing and home: The perspectives of very old people in five European countries

This paper reports on in-depth research, using a grounded theory approach, to examine the ways in which very old people perceive healthy ageing in the context of living alone at home within urban settings in five European countries. This qualitative study was part of a cross-national project entitled ENABLE-AGE which examined the relationship between home and healthy ageing. Interviews explored the notion of healthy ageing, the meaning and importance of home, conceptualisations of independence and autonomy and links between healthy ageing and home. Data analysis identified five ways in which older people constructed healthy ageing: home and keeping active; managing lifestyles, health and illness; balancing social life; and balancing material and financial circumstances. Older people reflected on their everyday lives at home in terms of being engaged in purposeful, meaningful action and evaluated healthy ageing in relation to the symbolic and practical affordances of the home, contextualised within constructions of their national context. The research suggests that older people perceive healthy ageing as an active achievement, created through individual, personal effort and supported through social ties despite the health, financial and social decline associated with growing older. The physicality and spatiality of home provided the context for establishing and evaluating the notion of healthy ageing, whilst the experienced relationship between home, life history and identity created a meaningful space within which healthy ageing was negotiated

Consequences of chronic diseases and other limitations associated with old age - A scoping review

Funding Information: This work supported in part by the LTC INTER COST, Evaluation of the Potential for Reducing Health and Social Expenses for Elderly People Using the Smart Environment, through the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, Czech Republic, under Project LTC18035; and in part by the project of Excellence, University of Hradec Kralove, FIM, Czech Republic (ID: 2205–2019). First author – Petra Maresova is principle investigator of LTC18035 INTER COST project, from which Petra Maresova, Ondrej Krejcar and Kamil Kuca are funded for all expenses including personal costs. Ehsan Javanmardi is funded from project of Excellence ID: 2205–2019 for personal costs. Sabina Barakovic, Jasmina Barakovic Husic and Signe Tomsone are members of COST ACTION 16226 of which also Petra Maresova and Ondrej Krejcar are paticipants, while this article also ACKnowledge this project CA16226. Funding Information: The authors would like to hereby acknowledge COST Action CA16226 for their networking support. The Indoor Living Space Improvement: Smart Habitat for the Elderly played a role of networking platform for knowledge sharing and interchanging ideas for joint research and publication, what was the base for creating this study. Based on CA16226 project LTC18035 INTER COST was proposed for national funding support of COST ACTION Framework. COST is a funding agency that helps innovation and research networks. Our Action was instrumental in connecting research programmes throughout the EU region. Their contribution has made it possible for scientists to connect with each other and share their ideas and findings. This allows for more research and better innovation. More information can be found at www.cost.eu. The authors would also like to acknowledge the Excellence 2019 internal research project, Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Publisher Copyright: © 2019 The Author(s).Background: The phenomenon of the increasing number of ageing people in the world is arguably the most significant economic, health and social challenge that we face today. Additionally, one of the major epidemiologic trends of current times is the increase in chronic and degenerative diseases. This paper tries to deliver a more up to date overview of chronic diseases and other limitations associated with old age and provide a more detailed outlook on the research that has gone into this field. Methods: First, challenges for seniors, including chronic diseases and other limitations associated with old age, are specified. Second, a review of seniors' needs and concerns is performed. Finally, solutions that can improve seniors' quality of life are discussed. Publications obtained from the following databases are used in this scoping review: Web of Science, PubMed, and Science Direct. Four independent reviewers screened the identified records and selected relevant publications published from 2010 to 2017. A total of 1916 publications were selected. In all, 52 papers were selected based on abstract content. For further processing, 21 full papers were screened." Results: The results indicate disabilities as a major problem associated with seniors' activities of daily living dependence. We founded seven categories of different conditions - psychological problems, difficulties in mobility, poor cognitive function, falls and incidents, wounds and injuries, undernutrition, and communication problems. In order to minimize ageing consequences, some areas require more attention, such as education and training; technological tools; government support and welfare systems; early diagnosis of undernutrition, cognitive impairment, and other diseases; communication solutions; mobility solutions; and social contributions. Conclusions: This scoping review supports the view on chronic diseases in old age as a complex issue. To prevent the consequences of chronic diseases and other limitations associated with old age related problems demands multicomponent interventions. Early recognition of problems leading to disability and activities of daily living (ADL) dependence should be one of essential components of such interventions.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Report on SHAFE policies, strategies and funding

The objective of Working Group (WG) 4 of the COST Action NET4Age-Friendly is to examine existing policies, advocacy, and funding opportunities and to build up relations with policy makers and funding organisations. Also, to synthesize and improve existing knowledge and models to develop from effective business and evaluation models, as well as to guarantee quality and education, proper dissemination and ensure the future of the Action. The Working Group further aims to enable capacity building to improve interdisciplinary participation, to promote knowledge exchange and to foster a cross-European interdisciplinary research capacity, to improve cooperation and co-creation with cross-sectors stakeholders and to introduce and educate students SHAFE implementation and sustainability (CB01, CB03, CB04, CB05). To enable the achievement of the objectives of Working Group 4, the Leader of the Working Group, the Chair and Vice-Chair, in close cooperation with the Science Communication Coordinator, developed a template (see annex 1) to map the current state of SHAFE policies, funding opportunities and networking in the COST member countries of the Action. On invitation, the Working Group lead received contributions from 37 countries, in a total of 85 Action members. The contributions provide an overview of the diversity of SHAFE policies and opportunities in Europe and beyond. These were not edited or revised and are a result of the main areas of expertise and knowledge of the contributors; thus, gaps in areas or content are possible and these shall be further explored in the following works and reports of this WG. But this preliminary mapping is of huge importance to proceed with the WG activities. In the following chapters, an introduction on the need of SHAFE policies is presented, followed by a summary of the main approaches to be pursued for the next period of work. The deliverable finishes with the opportunities of capacity building, networking and funding that will be relevant to undertake within the frame of Working Group 4 and the total COST Action. The total of country contributions is presented in the annex of this deliverable

Representatives of the Magnoliaceae juss. family growing upon different climatic conditions from the botanical gardens collections of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and Leathuenian university

Has been described the phenology of deciduous magnolias growing ex situ in botanical gardens of Acad. O.V Fomin SRC "Institute of Biology" National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv and the University and Latvia (Riga). 9 species, 1 variety and 3 hybrids identical for both collections of botanical gardens were selected and used for phenological observations. The studied plants were resistant to winter and summer climatic factors, were marked the parameters that determine their plasticity in less precipitation in Ukraine and Latvia, as compared to the places of their natural habitat, and expanding the use of exotic species in landscaping design of the megapolises

Environmental Barriers and Housing Accessibility Problems Over a One-Year Period in Later Life in Three European Countries

The objective of this study was to describe environmental barriers and investigate the nature of accessibility problems in housing among single-living, very old people (N = 1,150) in urban regions in three European countries (Sweden, Germany, Latvia), in a one-year perspective. A specific feature of this study is the explicit conceptual differentiation between environmental barriers and accessibility problems, underlying the presentation of the following results: Environmental barriers were very common, and in all three national samples the 20 most prevalent environmental barriers were found in 77-98% of all dwellings investigated. The magnitudes of accessibility problems were similar among the three samples and did not change over one year, while differences were indicated in the types of environmental barriers generating accessibility problems

Comparison of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of fresh and freeze-dried potatoes

ArticlePotatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) contain a wide range of compounds with health benefits, and different techniques have been developed for the determination of these compounds. Freeze-drying is a common method for the preservation and preparation of samples for the analyses of bioactive compounds, but it is well known that drying influences the composition of food products. The aim of the current study was to compare phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of fresh and freeze-dried potatoes. In the experiment 11 cultivar potatoes grown in experimental fields of the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics in 2016 were analysed. Potatoes were freeze-dried. Homogenized fresh and freeze-dried samples were extracted with an ethanol/water (80/20 w/w) solution. Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH˙) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays. The highest TPC and radical scavenging activity were determined in cultivars ‘Peru Purple’ and ‘Blue Congo’ potatoes. Freeze-drying influenced all the tested parameters but more significantly the TPC, and for certain cultivars a reduction of more than 30% was observed. A strong correlation between TPC, DPPH and ABTS in fresh and freeze-dried samples was observed, r = 0.81, r=0.93, r = 0.92, respectively. It could be concluded that the effect of freeze-drying on TPC and antioxidant activity is cultivar dependent