Search Results (53)

This research investigates the effects of using edible gel coatings and bio-based packaging materials on extending the shelf life of cherry tomatoes. Two edible gel coatings (guar gum and guar gum +5% of a lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck pomace extract obtained in the research laboratory) were applied on cherry tomatoes, then they were packaged in bio-based materials (cellulose tray + PLA lid). Guar gum, glycerol, sorbitol, extra virgin olive oil, and tween 20 were used in coating formulation. Uncoated tomatoes packed in bio-based materials and conventional plastic (PET trays + lid) were tested as a control. Samples were stored for 45 days at 20 °C and their quality parameters were evaluated. Coated tomatoes maintained firmness and weight, and the enriched coated samples showed a significant increase in phenol content, derived from the antioxidant extract. Samples packed in PET showed a sensory unacceptability (<4.5) after 45 days correlated with a greater decline in firmness (from 10.51 to 5.96 N) and weight loss (from 7.06 to 11.02%). Therefore, edible gel coating and bio-based packaging proved to be effective in maintaining the overall quality of cherry tomatoes for 45 days, offering a promising approach to reduce plastic polymer use and food waste. Full article

Metal cans, while boasting excellent barrier properties, raise concerns about leaching and environmental impacts. This study explored plastic trays, a potential alternative for canned food packaging. First we delved into the plastic tray’s characteristics, including its composition and permeability to oxygen and water vapor. Secondly, we conducted a comparison between the newly introduced plastic packaging and traditional metal cans, focusing on their interactions with food during the sterilization process and their effects on the quality of Tunisian pea sauce. The composition analysis revealed that the plastic tray was composed of polypropylene (PP) (with a single endothermic peak at 168 °C), while the film was found to have a mixture of PP internally and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) externally (with two endothermic peaks at 161.96 °C and 243.81 °C). Plastic trays showed good results in water vapor permeability (0.832 g/m².d) but exhibited higher oxygen permeability (190 g/m².d), raising oxidation concerns. Migration testing confirmed plastic packaging safety (<10 mg/dm²), while some simulants exceeded limits in metal cans. pH levels remained consistent between both packaging types, but varied significantly over a 28-day storage. Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen (TVBN) levels differed significantly between plastic and metal packaging, with notable variations observed over time with maximums of 0.3 mg/100 g for plastic trays and 0.17 mg/100 g for metal cans. Sensory evaluation revealed that tasters were adept at differentiating between canned pea sauce in plastic trays and metal cans (83%, 10/12), with taste and color exhibiting significant differences (p < 0.05). This underlines the impact of packaging material on canned food quality and consumer preference, with minimal influence on other sensory aspects. This data empowers manufacturers to make informed packaging decisions for a diverse range of canned foods. Full article

Heat treatment is a widely used physical technology for postharvest fruit and crops. The Chinese chestnut cultivar “Kuili” has high sugar and amylose contents, and is popular among people. However, the chestnut quality decreases quickly after harvest. In order to maintain the chestnuts’ quality during storage, this study explores five hot water treatments for chestnuts: T1 (control, no treatment), T2 (50 °C), T3 (65 °C), T4 (75 °C), and T5 (90 °C) for 45 min. T1 was dried at ambient temperature, while the other heat treatments were dried at 30 °C for 30 min. After treatment, chestnuts were placed in plastic trays, covered with a 15 μm thick PVC film, and stored at 4 °C with 70% relative humidity; they remained in the same air for 120 days. Results indicated that T3 and T4 showed slight color changes while maintaining shell and kernel firmness, and their weight loss was reduced (+5–8%), as well as their decay rate (limited to within 20%). The T3, T4, and T5 treatments (from days 60 to 120) decreased their pest survival rates to <2%. Additionally, heat treatments facilitated the accumulation of total soluble sugar and increased the expression of sugar biosynthesis-related genes. Meanwhile, T3 and T4 delayed starch reduction (they maintained relatively higher contents, from 288 to ~320 mg g⁻¹ DW) and altered some starch biosynthesis genes. Furthermore, T2, T3, and T4 exhibited higher antioxidant activity and lower hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide anions (O₂⁻) contents than T1. At the end of storage, the scores of T3 and T4 treatments were 55.1 and 52.3, and they ranked first and second among the five treatments, respectively. Therefore, these findings provide valuable insights for controlling postharvest losses in chestnuts. Full article

The cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus) faces vulnerability primarily due to unregulated fishing, resource overexploitation, and habitat degradation. Consequently, individuals maintained under human care play a pivotal role in species conservation, particularly when their welfare is prioritized. Achieving optimal welfare in aquarium settings relies heavily on effective management practices, notably environmental enrichment. However, research on the efficacy of such techniques for cownose rays remains limited. Thus, this study sought to evaluate the impact of various food enrichment items on the behavior of four individuals at the São Paulo Aquarium in Brazil. The project encompassed three phases: baseline, enrichment, and post-enrichment. Enrichment items, designed to mimic the species’ natural foraging behavior, included an ice block containing food, food hidden in vegetables fixed to structures at the bottom of the tank, a tray with substrate and food, and a perforated plastic container with food inside. Behavioral observations utilized focal sampling with instantaneous recording every minute. Results showed increased foraging activity in the post-enrichment phase, whereas swimming increased and following behaviors decreased during the enrichment phase. Additionally, foraging behaviors predominantly occurred near the aquarium bottom. Overall, findings suggest that enrichment items effectively stimulated natural behaviors in cownose rays and were very attractive to the fish, advocating for their integration into species management protocols to enhance welfare. Full article

Food packaging plays an imperative role in the food processing sector by safeguarding foods from their point of harvesting until the moment of consumption. In recent years, biopolymers have attracted the attention of the scientific community as an alternative to conventional packaging materials. Among the available biopolymer sources, a lot of the focus has been on polysaccharides due to their superior barrier properties against gases, oils, and odors and their processing versatility. Moreover, there is also a growing interest in aliphatic polyester as a potential replacement for petrochemical-based synthetic plastics. Both polysaccharides and aliphatic polyesters have gained popularity in sustainable food packaging due to their unique characteristics, including their low cost, availability, biodegradability, gas and moisture barrier properties, film-forming capabilities, excellent heat resistance, and ability to be processed into films, trays, and coatings. This review highlights the structural features, properties, and recent advancements of several vital polysaccharides, namely, starch, chitosan, cellulose, alginate, pectin, carrageenan, and aliphatic polyesters, including polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) for developing packaging materials, and their applications in the food industry. Conventional packaging and future perspectives of biopolymer-based food packaging are also comprehensively covered in this review. Full article

Nursery trays are essential agricultural tools in rice production. Plastic nursery trays pose problems such as resource waste and environmental pollution. Biomass seedling trays are an effective way to achieve sustainable agricultural development. Previous research has been conducted on biomass seedling tray molding equipment and molding process, but the impact of raw material ratio on seedling tray molding quality and seedling growth is still unclear, and the ratio combination still needs further optimization. In this study, we used slurry concentration, pulp content, adhesive content, and the ratio of straw to cow manure as variables. We selected the bowl hole molding rate and the strong seedling index as evaluation indicators, and carried out biomass seedling tray forming experiments and seedling cultivation experiments. The response surface analysis method was used to optimize the raw material ratio of biomass seedling trays from the perspectives of forming effect and seedling quality. The results show that when the slurry concentration is 30%, the pulp content is 20%, the adhesive content is 530 g, and the mass ratio of straw to cow manure is 2:1; the bowl hole molding rate is 91.03%, and the strong seedling index is 0.22, indicating good molding effect and seedling growth. The verification test results indicate that the theoretical analysis results are accurate, and the model fitting is good. These research results provide a theoretical basis for the preparation of biomass seedling trays and technical support for achieving green development in agriculture. Full article

Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) is a contact-transmitted tobamovirus affecting many tomato growing regions of the world. This study investigated the effects of different glasshouse surfaces on the survival of the virus; the efficacy of different disinfectants; and heat treatment against ToBRFV (surfaces included steel, aluminium, hard plastic, polythene, glass and concrete). A bioassay followed by ELISA was used to check virus viability. ToBRFV survived for at least 7 days on all surfaces tested and on some for at least 6 months. The virus survived for over two hours on hands and gloves. Hand washing was shown to be unreliable for the removal of the virus. Glutaraldehyde and quaternary ammonium compound disinfectants were effective at one hour on all surfaces. Some other disinfectants were effective at one hour of contact time, on all surfaces except concrete. Sodium hypochlorite was partially effective against ToBRFV, even on concrete. A 5 min soak of plastic trays in water at 90 °C was effective at denaturing ToBRFV; however, 5 min at 70 °C was not. Heating infected sap showed the thermal inactivation point to be 90 °C, confirming the hot water treatment results and showing that deactivation was due to the heat treatment and not a washing effect of the water. Full article

This report presents the development of a robotic arm for the efficient packaging of chocolates in a small-scale process. The robotic arm has a PRR (prismatic–rotational–rotational) configuration and uses a universal vacuum grip (UVG) to manipulate the chocolates with precision. Various materials and components were used, such as 3D-printed PLA parts for the mechanical elements and flexible TPU bands for optimal movement control. In terms of electronics, NEMA motors, an Arduino board, and a CNC interface were used for the precise control of the motors. The programming was conducted in Python and a graphical user interface (GUI) was created to manage the sequence of movements of the robotic arm. Key parameters, such as the accuracy in the placement of the chocolates, the grip strength, and the shape recovery ability were evaluated. The results demonstrate the successful integration of the robotic arm in the packaging process, achieving an efficient and consistent placement of the chocolates in the plastic trays. This project highlights the importance and potential of automation in the food packaging industry, by improving productivity, reducing human error, and ensuring packaging quality. The knowledge and results obtained in this project contribute to the field of robotics. Full article

Maize (Zea mays) is the most consumed food in the world. The leafhopper, Dalbulus maidis, (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) is one of the most important maize pests, and due to its direct and indirect damage, it can cause losses of up to 100%. Sampling plans are essential components for integrated pest management programs. The first two components to be determined in these plans are the sampling unit and the sampling technique. The sampling unit consists of determining the plant organ to be evaluated in the sampling and the techniques are the devices used to sample populations of pests in crops. Thus, the objective of this work was to select the unit and technique to be used in the sampling of D. maidis in maize crops. For this purpose, pest populations in plants at stages V4, V6, V8, and V10 were monitored in 16 commercial crops in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes over two years. The sample units studied were the leaves at different positions in the canopy of the plants. The techniques studied were direct counting, shaking the apex of the plants in a plastic tray and using a beating cloth. In the process of selecting the unit and technique to be used in sampling populations of pests in crops, adequate criteria must be used. These criteria include precision, representativeness, sampling time and that the use of these components in the sampling plans should not cause damage to the plants. The most suitable sampling unit for evaluating these pest populations was the whorl leaves and the best technique was the direct counting. Therefore, the unit and technique selected in this work can be used in sampling plans for D. maidis in maize crops. Full article

The present study reports on the development by thermoforming of highly sustainable trays based on a bilayer structure composed of paper substrate and a film made of a blend of partially bio-based poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA). The incorporation of the renewable succinic acid derived biopolyester blend film slightly improved the thermal resistance and tensile strength of paper, whereas its flexural ductility and puncture resistance were notably enhanced. Furthermore, in terms of barrier properties, the incorporation of this biopolymer blend film reduced the water and aroma vapor permeances of paper by two orders of magnitude, while it endowed the paper structure with intermediate oxygen barrier properties. The resultant thermoformed bilayer trays were, thereafter, originally applied to preserve non-thermally treated Italian artisanal fresh pasta, “fusilli calabresi” type, which was stored under refrigeration conditions for 3 weeks. Shelf-life evaluation showed that the application of the PBS–PBSA film on the paper substrate delayed color changes and mold growth for 1 week, as well as reduced drying of fresh pasta, resulting in acceptable physicochemical quality parameters within 9 days of storage. Lastly, overall migration studies performed with two food simulants demonstrated that the newly developed paper/PBS–PBSA trays are safe since these successfully comply with current legislation on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. Full article

(1) Background: In recent years, 3D printing has become a highly popular tool for manufacturing in various fields such as aviation, automobiles, plastics, and even medicine, including dentistry. Three-dimensional printing allows dentists to create high-precision models of teeth and jaw structure, and enables them to develop customized tools for patients’ treatment. The range of resins used in dentistry is quite large, and this branch is developing rapidly; hence, studies comparing different resins are required. The present study aimed to compare the mechanical properties of two chosen resins used in dentistry. (2) Materials and methods: Ten specimens each of two types of 3D-printable resins (BioMed Amber and IBT, developed by Formlabs) were prepared. The samples were printed on a Formlabs Form 2 3D printer according to ISO standards. Samples for the compression test were rectangular in shape (10 ± 0.2 mm × 10 ± 0.2 mm × 4 ± 0.2 mm), while the samples used for the tensile test were dumbbell shaped (75 mm long, with 10 mm end width and 2 mm thickness). Tensile and compression tests of both materials were performed in accordance with the appropriate ISO standards. (3) Results: The BioMed Amber resin was more resistant to compression and tensile forces, thus implying that the resin could withstand higher stress during stretching, pulling, or pushing. The IBT resin was less resistant to such loads, and failure of this material occurred at lower forces than those for Biomed Amber. An ANOVA test confirmed that the observed differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Based on the properties of both materials, the IBT resin could be better used as a tray for placing orthodontic brackets through an indirect bonding technique, while the BioMed Amber resin would be more useful as a surgical guide for placing dental implants and mini-implants. Further potential fields of application of the resins should be investigated. Full article

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér.) is an important commercial horticultural plant extensively used in outdoor landscaping. Seed emergence has always remained a problem in geranium due to its hard seed nature. Hence its germination and other emergence-related attributes need to be adequately tested. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the germination and seedling growth of geraniums under different types of containers. In this regard, the seeds of two varieties of geranium viz. Large FID mixed and Star mixed were planted in different types of containers. The containers included black trays plastic pots, plastic bags, and nonwoven fabric bags. The seed emergence and other germination related parameters were significantly affected by the different types of containers. However, varieties exhibited similar responses for most germination and growth characteristics. Data were collected for seed germination, mean germination time, germination index and seedling vigor index. The type of containers showed a significant impact on seedling growth and development. The taller plants with more leaves and maximum biomass production were recorded from seeds sown in nonwoven fabric type bags. The results pertaining to varieties demonstrated that Star mixed showed better emergence and vigorous seedlings in comparison with large FID mixed. The taller seedlings with maximum leaves and shoot biomass were also recorded from Star mixed grown in nonwoven fabric type bags. Based on the results, it is concluded that germanium may be raised in nonwoven fabric bags for better seed emergence and seedling growth and development. Full article

Post-harvest loss continues to be a significant problem in the food industry. Different packaging materials, designed to reduce fruit damage, are anticipated for various applications in the supply chain. Recently, stamped paper (SP) and expandable polystyrene (EPS) trays have been introduced as tomato retail packaging. Although the combination of paper trays and clear plastic are still not 100% biodegradable packaging, they are promising alternatives to the heavy utilisation of petrochemical-based polymers. This study investigated the effects of different packaging materials and storage conditions on the ‘Nema-Netta’ tomatoes’ quality attributes. The treatments consisted of a stamped paper (SP) + polyvinyl chloride (PVC), expandable polystyrene (EPS) + polyvinyl chloride (PVC), stamped paper (SP)+ flow wrap, expandable polystyrene (EPS) + flow wrap, polypropylene (PP), and unpackaged tomatoes stored at cold and ambient conditions. Firmness, physiological weight loss (PWL), pH value, titratable acidity (TA) and total sugars were evaluated at seven-day intervals, over 28 days. Temperature and relative humidity at cold storage ranged between 8–12 °C, 78–80% RH and 22–26 °C, 68–72% RH at ambient storage conditions. The packaging and storage conditions significantly affected the PWL, firmness, pH, TA and total sugars. Samples in the EPS Tray combined with the PVC wrap at cold storage maintained the quality of the tomatoes better than the other packaging. The combination of packaging and cold storage created an ideal environment for maintaining the quality of tomatoes. The relative differences between EPS Tray + PVC (non-biodegradable) and SP Tray + PVC (biodegradable) were less than 5% in multiple tests. Full article

Polypropylene (PP) plastic packaging waste consists of a variety of different plastic packaging products with a great span in rheological and mechanical behavior. Therefore, the resulting post-consumer recyclates usually show melt mass-flow rates (MFR) in the region of injection molding grades and intermediate mechanical properties. High-quality packaging applications demand a distinct property profile that is met by tailor-made PP grades and cannot be met by recyclates with intermediate performance. One such application with high market volume is high-stiffness thermoforming trays. The aim of this research was to blend intermediate-performance recyclates with a virgin PP grade to obtain compounds that fulfill the rheological and mechanical demands of this application. Three commercially available PP post-consumer recyclates were acquired and compounded with different blending ratios with a high stiffness, low MFR virgin PP grade. As the pure recyclates show different rheological properties, the blending ratios had to be adapted for each of them to fit into the MFR range of 2–4 g/10 min which is desirable for thermoforming applications. The resulting PP recyclate compounds show a distinct correlation of recyclate content with rheological and mechanical performance. However, the resulting property profile was directly dependent on the performance of the originally used recyclate. The best-performing recyclate could be used in a blending ratio of 65 m% recyclate content while adhering to both property limits, the MFR of 2–4 g/10 min and the lower bound tensile stiffness of 1500 MPa. Full article

Purpose: To evaluate the discrepancy between the diagnostic wax-up and the resulting direct veneers using different matrices. Materials and method: A total of 48 identical misaligned models, 12 wax-up models and one ‘every other tooth’ wax-up model were 3D printed. Group 1: Transparent silicone matrices with holes for the injection of the flowable composite. Group 2: The same procedure as group 1, but the first three teeth were restored using the matrix constructed from the ‘every other tooth’ wax-up model. Group 3: Transparent silicone matrices cut for each tooth and preheated resin composite. Group 4: The same procedure as group 3, but the loaded matrix was placed first in the clear plastic tray, which was used for the matrix’s fabrication. Group 5: Wax-up models (control group). Scans from the veneers were superimposed with the scans from the wax-up and compared using the Patient Monitoring software. Measurements were made at the incisal, middle and cervical third. Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn post-hoc test (p < 0.05) were used to analyze the results. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between groups 1 and 2 and the control. Group 3 was different from the control in the incisal and middle third, and group 4 was different in the cervical third. Conclusions: (1) Use of one or two matrices and the injection of flowable composite were accurate techniques. (2) Use of a matrix for each tooth combined with a pre-heated composite was the most inaccurate technique, but the use of the clear tray in combination with the matrix improved the accuracy. Full article