Foeniculum vulgare Mill. as natural conservation enhancer and health promoter by incorporation in cottage cheese

Food industry is focused on the development of novel functional foods containing health promoting natural ingredients, avoiding the potential harm of synthetic food additives. In the present work, the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel) decoction (phenolic-enriched extract) was evaluated; after chemical characterization of the extract by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS, it was used as natural ingredient in cottage cheese samples for two purposes: increase shelf life and bring bioactive properties. The incorporation of fennel-based ingredients did not altered significantly the nutritional characteristics of control cottage cheese (without fennel-based ingredients), but avoided the increase in yellowness (after 7 days of storage), and the decrease in lactose content (after 14 days of storage) observed in control samples. Control samples after 14 days of storage, were the only ones showing signs of degradation. Furthermore, the incorporation of the fennel decoction improved the antioxidant properties of cottage cheese, up to 14 days of storage. Overall, fennel decoction can be used as a natural conservation enhancer in cottage cheese, while bringing antioxidant properties to the final product.Acknowledgements The authors are grateful to project PRODER nº 46577- PlantLact for financial support and to Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for C. Caleja PhD grant (SFRH/BD/93007/2013) and L. Barros research contract. To Márcio Carocho for the collaboration in the incorporation of the fennel decoction in cottage cheese samples. The authors also thank to Ms Clarinda Paixão, from Américo Duarte Paixão Lda, for providing the plant samples.The authors are grateful to project PRODER nº 46577- PlantLact for financial support and to Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for C. Caleja PhD grant (SFRH/BD/93007/2013) and L. Barros research contract. To Márcio Carocho for the collaboration in the incorporation of the fennel decoction in cottage cheese samples. The authors also thank to Ms Clarinda Paixão, from Américo Duarte Paixão Lda, for providing the plant samples

Some fixed point theorems for generalized contractive mappings in complete metric spaces

We introduce new concepts of generalized contractive and generalized alpha-Suzuki type contractive mappings. Then, we obtain sufficient conditions for the existence of a fixed point of these classes of mappings on complete metric spaces and b-complete b-metric spaces. Our results extend the theorems of Ciric, Chatterjea, Kannan and Reich

Development of a functional dairy food: exploring bioactive and preservation effects of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.)

The antioxidant (free radical scavenging activity, reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition) and antimicrobial (against bacteria and fungi) potential of Matricaria recutita L. (chamomile) extracts obtained by decoction was demonstrated. The characterization of the extracts highlighted dicaffeoyl-2,7-anhydro-3-deoxy-2-octulopyranosonic acid (diCDOA) and luteolin-O-glucuronide as the main phenolic compounds. Extracts containing these natural ingredients were incorporated into cottage cheese, and the prepared products were compared with samples incorporated with chamomile powder and plain cottage cheese (control). Nutritional composition, colour and antioxidant activity of all samples were evaluated along storage time. Chamomile decoctions (natural bioactive ingredient) did not alter significantly the nutritional and fatty acids profiles of cottage cheese, but improved its antioxidant potential, independent of the storage time. Moreover, it increased the shelf life since only the control samples showed signs of degradation after 14 days of storage. The development of this novel functional dairy product emphasizes the bioactive and preservation potential of chamomile.The authors are grateful to project PRODER nº 46577- PlantLact for financial support and to Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for C. Caleja PhD grant (SFRH/BD/93007/2013), J.C.M. Barreira post-doctoral grant (SFRH/BPD/72802/2010) and L. Barros research contract. The authors also thank Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development for financial support (grant number 173032). The authors also thank to Ms Clarinda Paixão, from Américo Duarte Paixão Lda, for providing the plant samples

Common Fixed Point Results on Generalized Weak Compatible Mapping in Quasi-Partial b-Metric Space

[EN] The focus of this paper is to acquaint with generalized condition (B) in a quasi-partial b-metric space and to establish coincidence and common fixed point theorems for weakly compatible pairs of mapping. Additionally, with the background of quasi-partial b-metric space, the outcomes obtained are exemplified to prove the existence and uniqueness of fixed point.Gautam, P.; Sánchez Ruiz, LM.; Verma, S.; Gupta, G. (2021). Common Fixed Point Results on Generalized Weak Compatible Mapping in Quasi-Partial b-Metric Space. Journal of Mathematics. 2021:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5526801S110202

Dual-emission luminescence thermometry using LaGaO3:TM3+, Ln3+ phosphors

The first biological window (650–950 nm) is the area within the NIR spectrum able to penetrate skin more effectively than shorter wavelengths.1 The TM3+, Ln3+ activator combination has attracted attention due excitation/emission within this wavelength range.2 In this investigation, a series of La1-xGa0.99O3: Cr0.01, Ndx phosphors (where x = 0.005, 0.01, 0.02) were synthesised by conventional solid-state methods and structurally characterised by Rietveld refinement of a structural model and powder diffraction data.3 Room temperature photoluminescence was undertaken with excitation spectra of both the Cr3+ and the Nd3+ showing energy transfer to the other emission centre alongside showing the characteristic Cr3+ broadbands, and sharp Nd3+ line excitations. Emission spectra showed both the Cr3+ 2E sharp peak at 729 nm, and the Nd3+ 4I3/2 4I9/2 emission of Nd3+ ca. 890 nm. Variable temperature thermometric analysis was undertaken, with the La1-xGa0.99O3: Cr0.01, Ndx (x = 0.02) sample exhibiting the emissions from the Cr3+ and Nd3+ centres at comparable intensities. Monitoring by luminescence intensity ratio (LIR) showed Cr3+ emission being quenched slower than Nd3+ emission. The phosphor produced a relative sensitivity of ~2.0% K-1 at 300 K, high absolute sensitivity, and a temperature resolution of 0.04 K at 300 K.ICOM&IWPPP 2022 : August 29 - September 2, 2022, Belgrad

As fabricated DMLS produced 15-5PH stainless steel: effects of post-manufacture treatments

Previous investigations dealt with the effects of build orientation and allowance for machining on the fatigue strength of DMLS produced Stainless Steel 15-5 PH1. Additional studies on Maraging Steel in the “as built” condition, highlighted the heat or surface treatments that are able to enhance the fatigue strength. This work deals with an extensive experimental campaign involving as fabricated 15-5 PH1: the effects of heat treatment, machining and shot-peening. after machining have been assessed. The retrieved S-N curves have been compared by statistical methods, highlighting the beneficial effect of the post-machining peening treatment.The authors wish to acknowledge the support of European Commission through the project “Advanced design rules for optimal dynamic properties of additive manufacturing products – A_MADAM”, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 734455.Publishe