Search Results (337)

The decrease in bread consumption in the daily diet observed in recent years results from the growing awareness of consumers and the desire to promote a healthy lifestyle. The valorization of sugar by-products allows for the design of new food products intended for health-conscious consumers. The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of using sugar beet pulp (SBP), without and with molasses, in bakery recipes as part of a strategy promoting increased consumption of foods rich in bioactive compounds. The basic composition of SBP was examined, and wheat flour mixtures with their addition at 0, 1, 5, and 10% were prepared. The rheological properties of the dough with flour blend samples were determined using Mixolab^®. The technological quality of the bread, its nutritional value, and its antioxidant potential were assessed. The research results indicate that fortifying bread up to 5% SBP allows for obtaining products of acceptable sensory and technological quality. The bread with 5% molasses SBP (mSBP) compared to the sample with SBP without molasses (umSBP) was characterized by greater bread volume and crumb moisture, a darker color of the crumb, a more appropriate color of the crust (golden-brown), more favorable, thin-walled pores, and a fluffier crumb. Moreover, the samples enriched with mSBP contained more total polyphenols (by approx. 40%) and showed higher antioxidant activity (by approx. 50%) than the bread with umSBP. Additionally, for bread samples with 5% or more SBP added, a nutritional claim could be made that they are a “source of fiber” (i.e., at least 3 g per 100 g of product). Full article

Urban transportation systems, particularly underground interchanges, present significant challenges for sustainable and resilient urban design due to their complex road geometries and dense traffic signage. These challenges are further compounded by the interaction of diverse road users, which heightens the risk of accidents. To enhance both safety and sustainability, this study integrates advanced driving simulation techniques with machine learning models to improve driving safety and comfort in underground interchanges. By utilizing a driving simulator and 3D modeling, real-world conditions were replicated to design key traffic safety features with an emphasis on sustainability and driver well-being. Critical safety parameters, including speed, acceleration, and pedal use, were analyzed alongside comfort metrics such as lateral acceleration and steering torque. The LightGBM machine learning model was used to classify safety and comfort grades with an accuracy of 97.06%. An important ranking identified entrance signage and deceleration zones as having the greatest impact on safety and comfort, while basic road sections were less influential. These findings underscore the importance of considering visual cues, such as markings and wall color, in creating safer and more comfortable underground road systems. This study’s methodology and results offer valuable insights for urban planners and engineers aiming to design transportation systems that are both safe and aligned with sustainable urban mobility objectives. Full article

This presented research examined the wall paintings in the Church-Ossuary Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, part of the most important Rila Monastery complex in Bulgaria, painted by the painters from Mount Athos in 1795. The painting materials used to create the unique murals were studied for the first time by optical microscopy (OM), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR–FTIR), scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The vibrational and elemental analysis showed that the color palette of the paintings is composed of pigments traditional for Orthodox church wall paintings such as natural pigments, including yellow ochre, red ochre, green earth, and calcite, as well as other historical pigments of synthetic origin, including smalt, red lead, cinnabar, and verdigris. The analysis of the binders by the ATR–FTIR spectroscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis implied the use of the post-Byzantine egg tempera technique. Only the blue backgrounds in the murals were painted using a smalt-based paint mixed with a carbohydrate binder. Based on the current analysis and comparison with the successive paintings in the other churches of the Rila Monastery, it could be concluded that the technology of the painting process followed by the Athonite artists during the work in the Church-Ossuary became a point of reference for many Bulgarian icon-painters later. Full article

Ethylene is an essential indicator of fruit ripening and climacteric or non-climacteric nature. This study investigated the postharvest behavior of five Chinese bayberry cultivars ‘Biqi’, ‘Dongkui’, ‘Fenhong’, ‘Xiazhihong’, and ‘Shuijing’. The fruits were harvested mature and stored at room temperature (25 °C) and under cold storage conditions (4 °C) to investigate the dynamics of ethylene production, firmness, anthocyanin content, and cell wall polysaccharide composition, as well as basic fruit physicochemical characteristics. The results show that Chinese bayberry is a climacteric fruit with ethylene production peaking shortly after harvest, especially at room temperature. Fruit color intensified over time due to anthocyanin accumulation, particularly in the flesh core. Darker cultivars produced more ethylene, which correlated with higher anthocyanin levels. At room temperature, ‘Biqi’ (black) had the highest ethylene production (4.03 µL·kg⁻¹·h⁻¹) and anthocyanin content (0.91 mg/g FW), while ‘Shuijing’, the white cultivar, had the lowest ethylene levels (1.9 µL·kg⁻¹·h⁻¹) and anthocyanin content (0.03 mg/g FW). Firmness significantly decreased at room temperature due to the degradation of hemicellulose and insoluble pectin, whereas cold storage mitigates this effect. After 3 days at room temperature, the average of firmness decreased by 23.7% in the five cultivars, compared to 12.7% under cold storage. Total soluble solids increase during storage, enhancing sweetness, especially at room temperature, with ‘Biqi’ increasing from 9.2 to 10.9% at 4 °C. Titratable acidity slightly decreased over time: the value for ‘Biqi’ decreased from 1.2% to 0.95% at room temperature and 1.1% at 4 °C. Citric, malic, and tartaric acid generally declined at room temperature but stabilized under cold storage. Sucrose, fructose, and glucose increased or remained stable, with significant varietal differences. Our results indicate that storing Chinese bayberry at 4 °C effectively preserves its quality and extends postharvest life. These findings underscore ethylene’s key role in regulating ripening, postharvest quality, and shelf life by influencing fruit color, firmness, and overall consumer appeal. Full article

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was prepared from sugarcane bagasse (SB) in minutes using a novel microwave method. Additionally, nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N–CDs) were synthesized from SB using the same microwave technique. These materials were crosslinked with CaCl₂ to prepare antibacterial/antifungal hydrogel sensors. In this regard, both CMC@Ca and CMC@Ca-N–CDs exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (Gram negative), while only CMC@Ca-N–CDs demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive). Moreover, both materials showed antifungal activity against Candida albicans. The molecular docking study demonstrated that CMC@Ca-N–CDs showed good binding with proteins with short bond length 2.59, 2.80, and 1.97 A° for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, respectively. These binding affinities were corroborated by the observed inhibition zone diameters. Furthermore, fluorescence microscope revealed distinct imaging patterns between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as pathogenic yeast (fungi). CMC@Ca-N–CDs emitted blue light when exposed to Escherichia coli and Candida albicans (i.e., CMC@Ca-N–CDs/Escherichia coli and Candida albicans), whereas it emitted bright-red light when exposed to Staphylococcus aureus (i.e., CMC@Ca-N–CDs/Staphylococcus aureus). This disparity in the fluorescence-emitted colors is due to the difference in the cell wall of these microorganisms. Additionally, DFT calculations were conducted to substantiate the robust chemical interactions between CMC, Ca²⁺, and N–CDs. Full article

Organosilicon materials have shown potential as dehydration agents for waterlogged wooden artifacts. These materials can polymerize under normal conditions to form polymers with favorable mechanical strength, antibacterial properties, and aging resistance. However, the insolubility of most organosilicon hindered their penetration into waterlogged wood, which may lead to an unwanted cracking. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS-OH) with low viscosity and moderate reactivity for dehydrating waterlogged wooden artifacts from the Nanhai No.1 shipwreck. Four surfactants ((3–aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), alkyl polyoxyethylene ether (APEO), tri-methylstearylammonium chloride (STAC), and fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AEO)) and cosurfactant were employed to transform the two kinds of water-repellent silicone oils into eight groups of highly permeable oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions. Under the catalysis of a neutral catalyst, in situ polymerization occurred within the wood cells. Group P2-2 formulated with PDMS-OH and APEO showed the best efficiency in maintaining the dimensions of the wood during dehydration. The dehydrated wood exhibited a natural color and texture with a minimal volume shrinkage rate of 1.89%. The resulting polymer adhered uniformly to the cell walls, effectively reinforcing the wood cell structure. The weight percent gain of the wood was only 218%, and the pores of the cell lumen were well maintained for future retreatment. This method effectively controlled the sol–gel reaction process of the organosilicon and prevented damage to the wooden artifact during the dehydration process. Moreover, the dehydrated wood samples only experienced a low weight gain of 17% at 95% relative humidity (RH), indicating their great environmental stability. Full article

Primary pulmonary sarcoma and mesothelioma are rare malignancies. The review article discusses the appearance of these tumors in B-mode ultrasound (US), color Doppler ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). In particular, the article is intended to inspire the examination of thoracic wall tumors and pleural masses with the possibilities of ultrasonography and to obtain histologically evaluable material using US or CEUS-guided sampling. Full article

Color shift keying is a modulation scheme for visible light communication that uses fixtures with three or more narrow-spectral light-emitting diodes to transmit data while fulfilling the primary function of illumination. When this modulation is used indoors, the reflectivity of the walls strongly affects the inter-channel interference and illumination quality. In this paper we present an indoor channel model that takes into account multi-wavelength propagation. This model is available as an open-source Python package. The model calculates the inter-channel interference, illuminance, correlated color temperature, and color rendering index at the receiver position. The Python package includes a module for estimating the symbol error rate. To validate the model, we computed the received power at each color photodetector for four different indoor scenarios. The model demonstrated a color rendering index of less than 15 when using IEEE-based color shift keying and non-uniform illumination on a horizontal plane. The simulation determined the required luminous flux to achieve a symbol error rate of less than 10−5 when the photodetector is at the center of the indoor space and vertically below the light source. To maintain a symbol error rate less than 10−5, the luminous flux increases when the photodetector is displaced in a diagonal direction from the center of the plane. Full article

Throughout the world, chili and chili powders are spices of considerable economic importance. Rocoto (Capsicum pubescens R. & P.) is a chili pepper used in Andean cuisine. Fresh chili is perishable and therefore it is convenient to protect the capsaicin, color and other bioactive compounds through preservation methods such as encapsulation. The present study systematically evaluates the technical and environmental aspects of producing encapsulated Rocoto red chili powder using three different wall materials—maltodextrin, rice protein and rice flour—in conjunction with two drying methods, namely convection drying and vacuum drying. Our technical objectives focused on developing an encapsulated product with high heat and vibrant red color, key attributes that significantly influence consumer purchasing behavior. In addition, the study aimed to mitigate the loss of polyphenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity. After identifying the optimal conditions for each wall material and drying process, a comprehensive environmental assessment was conducted to identify the most efficient and sustainable production methods. The results demonstrate that rice flour encapsulation (20%) in conjunction with hot air drying (40 °C) represents the most efficacious method for the preservation of chili powder’s pungency. This approach resulted in a mere 24% reduction in Scoville units while maintaining the powder’s vibrant red coloration. This method not only preserved key bioactive compounds, including capsaicin, polyphenols and flavonoids, but also significantly enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the product. From an environmental perspective, this approach offers significant sustainability benefits, reducing the overall environmental impact by approximately 72% compared to vacuum drying of unencapsulated chili. The use of rice flour as an encapsulant aligns with sustainability goals, making it the most efficient option for balancing product quality and environmental performance. Full article

Sect. Tuberculata Chang in the genus Camellia (Theaceae Mirb.) is named after the “tubercle-like projections on the surface of the capsule and ovary”. Due to complex morphological variations in these taxon and insufficient field investigations, the interspecies relationships are unclear, the species’ definitions are vague, and the names are confusing. This is not conducive to the conservation and study of these species. Therefore, herein, we systematically explore the taxonomic status of five sect. Tuberculata species using morphological, pollen morphological, and molecular phylogenetic methods. The results showed that (1) the morphological characteristics of the flower, fruit, and leaves of C. anlungensis and C. leyeensis are similar. Furthermore, the pollen characteristics and pollen wall ornamentation show that there is no significant difference between the two species; (2) there are significant differences between C. acutiperulata and C. anlungensis in terms of leaf shape (elliptic vs. obovate), calyx characteristics (sepal apex pointed vs. sepal oblong), and fruit shape (subglobose folds with shallow verruculose vs. flat folds and verruculose protuberances with pronounced internal cleavage); (3) C. pyxidiacea and C. rubituberculata differ in flower color (white or light color vs. red) and fruit verrucae (obviously deeply cleft vs. shallowly uncracked); (4) a phylogenetic tree based on the chloroplast genome shows that C. anlungensis and C. leyeensis form a single clade (BS = 100%, PP = 1.0) and are on a different branch, with C. acutiperulata on clade II (BS = 100%, PP = 1.0), and C. pyxidiacea and C. rubituberculata clustered on different branches of clade I (BS = 99%, PP = 1.00). Considering the above results together, we propose that C. leyeensis should be treated as a homonym of C. anlungensis, and C. acutiperulata, C. pyxidiacea, and C. rubituberculata should be considered as separate species. Clarifying the taxonomic status of these five species not only advances our understanding of the significance and complexity of the systematic classification of the genus Camellia but also has important implications for diversity conservation and population genetics. Full article

This study quantitatively analyzes the influence of the spectral characteristics, reflectance or transmittance, of different materials on the lighting of an interior space with natural and artificial light. For this purpose, a three-dimensional simulated classroom is used, where each of the components is assigned specific materials with an associated reflectance or transmittance. Additionally, two types of lighting are available: 6500 K daylight and light from six continuous spectrum LED luminaires. The lighting is evaluated on two planes: the work plane and the corneal plane (80 cm and 120 cm from the floor, respectively). Three versions of the same classroom were analyzed by varying the walls (white, blue, and red), each with a different neutral-colored floor. Furthermore, calculations were performed in each situation considering two different types of glazing in the windows, with 20% and 88% transmittance. The photopic and melanopic lighting analysis was carried out with the ALFA calculation program to verify the necessary requirements for adequate lighting. The results show that the white classroom is the best lit, followed by the blue and finally the red, due to the reflectance characteristics of the walls and floor although slight differences among them are found. It was found that in some cases, additional auxiliary luminaires would be required for proper lighting depending on the transmittance of the glazing. This study highlights the critical role of material selection in optimizing both photopic and melanopic lighting, with practical implications for energy efficiency and occupant well-being in educational spaces. Full article

Citrus reticulata ‘Chachiensis’ is a citrus cultivar in the Rutaceae family, and its peel is commonly utilized as a raw material for Guangchenpi. This study used flavonoid extract from the peel of immature Citrus reticulata ‘Chachiensis’ (CCE) as the raw material to investigate the encapsulation ability of different wall materials (plant-based proteins, including soybean protein isolation (SPI), pea protein (PP), and zein; carbohydrates, including maltodextrin (MD), Momordica charantia polysaccharide (MCP), and gum acacia (GA); and composite wall materials of both types) on CCE. The wall material with the highest encapsulation rate was selected for the preparation of CCE microcapsules. Furthermore, the physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant capacity, bioavailability, and storage stability of the CCE microcapsules were explored. The results indicated that among all wall materials, the composite wall material PPMD had the highest encapsulation rate, which was 84.44 ± 0.34%. After encapsulation, the microcapsules tended to have a yellow color and exhibited characteristics such as system stability, low moisture content, and low hygroscopicity. In vitro antioxidant assays revealed that the encapsulation of CCE significantly increased the scavenging rates of DPPH and ABTS free radicals. In vitro gastrointestinal digestion experiments indicated that the release rate of PPMD-CCE in intestinal fluid was significantly greater than that of free CCE, ultimately reaching 85.89 ± 1.53%. Storage experiments demonstrated that after 45 days under various temperature and light conditions, the retention rate of CCE in the microcapsules was significantly greater than that of free CCE. The above findings provide new possibilities for the application of PP and plant proteins and lay a foundation for the future industrial application of CCE. Full article

A group of wall painting fragments discovered at Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa, an important Roman archeological site located in the former Roman province of Dacia (Romania), have been investigated with the aim of defining the material composition of their pictorial layers and exploring the pictorial technology used. In order to preserve the integrity of the murals and minimize sampling, an array of non- and micro-invasive techniques has been employed, including X-ray fluorescence, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging. In accordance with previous studies, the identified color palette was mainly based on iron-rich earth pigments (red and yellow ochres, green earth) and carbon-based blacks (soot/charcoal, bone black). Egyptian blue, lazurite, some lead-based pigments, and potentially indigo were also identified (in complex mixtures) on the uppermost paint layers, typically applied a secco over the a fresco background. The presence of expensive pigments and the existence of a red preparatory drawing, documented for the first time in the region, indicate that the original wall paintings had elaborate schemes and, secondly, reflect the patron’s wealth and social status. Hyperspectral imaging was able to retrieve some faded paint layers in certain cases, helping to recover lost decorative details, an indicator of a more complex polychromy compared to what we see today. The obtained results add important contributions to the limited corpus of data regarding the technical know-how of decorative polychrome painting on plaster found in Roman archeological sites in Romania. Full article

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of important regulatory factors for many biological processes in plants, have received much attention in recent years. To explore the molecular roles of lncRNAs in sweet cherry fruit ripening, we conducted widely targeted metabolome, transcriptome and lncRNA analyses of sweet cherry fruit at three ripening stages (yellow stage, pink stage, and dark red stage). The results show that the ripening of sweet cherry fruit involves substantial metabolic changes, and the rapid accumulation of anthocyanins (cyanidin 3-rutinoside, cyanidin 3-O-galactoside, and cyanidin 3-O-glucoside) is the main cause of fruit coloration. These ripening-related alterations in the metabolic profile are driven by specific enzyme genes related to the synthesis and decomposition of abscisic acid (ABA), cell wall disintegration, and anthocyanin biosynthesis, as well as transcription factor genes, such as MYBs, bHLHs, and WD40s. LncRNAs can target these ripening-related genes to form regulatory modules, incorporated into the sweet cherry fruit ripening regulatory network. Our study reveals that the lncRNA-mRNA module is an important component of the sweet cherry fruit ripening regulatory network. During sweet cherry fruit ripening, the differential expression of lncRNAs will meditate the spatio-temporal specific expression of ripening-related target genes (encoding enzymes and transcription factors related to ABA metabolism, cell wall metabolism and anthocyanin metabolism), thus driving fruit ripening. Full article

In this work, pine and birch wood were modified by graphene oxide using a single vacuum impregnation method. The research results indicate that the impregnation of wood with graphene oxide increases the crystallinity of cellulose in both pine and birch wood, and the increase in crystallinity observed in the case of birch was more significant than in the case of pine. FT-IR analyses of pine samples impregnated with graphene oxide showed changes in intensity in the absorption bands of 400–600, 700–1500 cm⁻¹, and 3200–3500 cm⁻¹ and a peak separation of 1102 cm⁻¹, which may indicate new C-O-C connections. In the case of birch, only some differences were noticed related to the vibrations of the OH group. The proposed modification also affects changes in the color of the wood surface, with earlywood containing more graphene oxide than latewood. Analysis of scanning electron microscope images revealed that graphene oxide adheres flat to the cell wall. Considering the differences in the anatomical structure of both wood species, the research showed a statistically significant difference in water absorption and retention of graphene oxide in wood cells. Graphene oxide does not block the flow of water in the wood, as evidenced by the absorbability of the working liquid at the level of 580–602 kg/m³, which corresponds to the value of pure water absorption by wood in the impregnation method using a single negative pressure. In this case, higher graphene oxide retention values were obtained for pine wood. Full article