Three-dimensional mass transfer modeling and phenolic chemistry exploration for ultrasound-assisted and microwave drying of goji berry.

Herein, goji berries were pretreated with sodium carbonate (NaCO) and then dried via ultrasound-assisted air drying or microwave drying. Water migration and phenolic chemistry of goji berries were studied under drying. A three-dimensional ellipsoid water transport model, accounting for porosity and temperature fluctuations, was established to explore the intricacies of the drying mechanism.

Pyrohydrolysis as a sample preparation method for the subsequent halogen determination: A review.

The use of pyrohydrolysis as a sample preparation method for further halogen determination is extensively discussed in this review, covering studies published in the last 30 years. This method is compatible with both organic (such as cellulose, fossil fuels, carbon nanotubes, and graphite) and inorganic (such as rocks, silicates, alumina, and nuclear fuels) matrices. It has also been used for samples with different organic matter content, such as coal, mineral supplements, and soil.

Ultrasound-Assisted Encapsulation of Phytochemicals for Food Applications: A Review.

The use of phytochemicals as natural food additives is a topic of interest for both academic and food industry communities. However, many of these substances are sensitive to environmental conditions. For this reason, encapsulation is usually performed prior to incorporation into food products.

Monitoring of carbon dioxide and equilibrium moisture content for early detection of physicochemical and morphological changes in soybeans stored in vertical silos.

In the context of grain storage, impurities and soybeans defects in soybeans can significantly impact the equilibrium moisture content. This, cause moisture migration and heating of the stored product, leading to increased respiratory activity. Furthermore, temperature measurements within stored grain mass do not provide sufficient information for effective grain quality monitoring, primarily due to the grains excellent thermal insulating properties.

Phytochemical characterization and toxicological activity attributed to the acetonic extract of South American .

The particular plant species found in southern Brazil, (Solanaceae) has only a few apparent studies examining its biological effect. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the activity of the acetone extract fraction derived from . Four compounds were identified by : eucalrobusone R, aplanoic acid B, pheophorbide A, and pheophytin A.

Thick layer drying and storage of rice grain cultivars in silo-dryer-aerator: Quality evaluation at low drying temperature.

Drying rice in a single layer in a silo-dryer-aerator allows uniform drying. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical, physicochemical, and morphological quality of rice grain cultivars (IRGA 424, BRS Pampeira, and Guri INTA) in the lower (initial time) and upper (final time) layers in a silo-dryer-aerator, employing single-layer loading at low temperatures, using the methods of near-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and multivariate statistical analysis. Drying rice in silo-dryer-aerator attenuated the moisture diffusivity in the grains, minimizing its effects on the physical, physicochemical, and morphological properties of the grains.

Evaluation of the effects of metformin on antioxidant biomarkers and mineral levels in patients with type II diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and arterial hypertension are considered serious public health problems. Several studies have shown that oxidative stress is usually related to the onset of DM and hypertension, as well their associated complications. Moreover, the levels of some minerals are closely related to the pathophysiology of these diseases.

Simultaneous hydrodynamic cavitation and glow plasma discharge for the degradation of metronidazole in drinking water.

In this study, a novel hydrodynamic cavitation unit combined with a glow plasma discharge system (HC-GPD) was proposed for the degradation of pharmaceutical compounds in drinking water. Metronidazole (MNZ), a commonly used broad-spectrum antibiotic, was selected to demonstrate the potential of the proposed system. Cavitation bubbles generated by hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) can provide a pathway for charge conduction during glow plasma discharge (GPD).

Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Harpagophytum procumbens Prevents Oxidative Stress In Vitro and Amphetamine-Induced Alterations in Mice Behavior.

Microglial activation has been associated to the physiopathology of neurodegenerative diseases, such as schizophrenia, and can occur during inflammation and oxidative stress. Pharmacological treatment is associated with severe side effects, and studies for use of plant extracts may offer alternatives with lower toxicity. Harpagophytum procumbens (HP) is a plant known for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Detection of new phytochemical compounds from (Sendtn.) Hunz: antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antibacterial activity of the hexane extract.

(Sendtn.) Hunz is a plant of the Solanaceae family from South America and there are no apparent studies reported on the biological activity of the hexane extract. The aim of this investigation was to conduct phytochemical analyses using ESI-TOF-MS, while antioxidant activities were evaluated by the following methods 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) 2,2"-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical capture (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total oxidant status (TOS).

High-power ultrasound, micronized salt, and low KCl level: An effective strategy to reduce the NaCl content of Bologna-type sausages by 50.

This study evaluated the combination of high-power ultrasound (HPU), micronized salt (MS), and low KCl levels as a strategy to produce reduced sodium Bologna-type sausages. Samples with 50% NaCl reduction were produced with regular salt (RS) or MS and 0.5% KCl.

Insights of ethyl acetate fraction from Vassobia breviflora in multidrug-resistant bacteria and cancer cells: from biological to therapeutic.

Cancer and infectious diseases are among the leading causes of death in the world. Despite the diverse array of treatments available, challenges posed by resistance, side effects, high costs, and inaccessibility persist. In the Solanaceae plant family, few studies with species relating to biological activity are known, but promising results have emerged.

Effects of cultivars and fertilization levels on the quality of rice milling: A diagnosis using near-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy.

Cultivars and fertilization levels influence rice productivity and can be associated with grain quality. Thus, it is possible to make decisions regarding the choice of cultivars and application of fertilizer levels based on the type of milling, a necessary post-harvest process that may minimize the nutrient load in the grains and result in loss in quality. This study relates the physicochemical composition and morphological quality of brown and polished milled rice grains, cultivar types, and different levels of soil fertilization using near-infrared spectroscopy analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.

Influence of culinary treatment on the concentration and on the bioavailability of cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead in seafood.

Background: Seafood present important advantages for human nutrition, but it can also accumulate high levels of toxic and potentially toxic elements. Culinary treatments could influence seafood chemical element content and element bioavailability. In this study, the influence of culinary treatments on the total concentration and on the bioavailability of Cd, Cr, Cu and Pb in shark, shrimp, squid, oyster, and scallop was assessed.

Combining In-Tip Reaction and Infrared Thermal Imaging for Fast and Portable Enthalpimetric Analysis.

In this work, the in-tip thermal infrared enthalpimetry (in-tip TIE) method is proposed for fast enthalpimetric analysis. In this method, the reactions inside the tips of a multichannel pipette were combined with temperature monitoring by an infrared camera. The filter paper was used inside the tips to retain reagents as solutions (wetted paper mode) or as solids (dried paper mode) to perform neutralization, redox, or precipitation reactions.

Microwave-Induced Combustion in Disposable Vessels: A Novel Perspective for Sample Digestion.

A novel system for sample digestion was proposed based on microwave-induced combustion in disposable vessels (MIC-DV) for trace elements determination by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). As a proof of concept, botanical samples were digested by MIC-DV for further determination of Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Sr, and Zn. The system consists of a quartz holder (a modified version of conventional MIC) placed inside disposable polypropylene (PP) vessels.

Phytochemical characterization and antimicrobial activity of Cymbopogon citratus extract for application as natural antioxidant in fresh sausage.

The development of natural additives is considered an important research topic. In this work, the use of Cymbopogon citratus (CC) extract as a natural additive for chicken sausage refrigerated was investigated. The CC extract was characterized by electrospray ionization with high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-ToF-MS) and the identified compounds were directly related to the antioxidant activity demonstrated by CC in the fresh sausage.

Use of prebiotic sources to increase probiotic viability in pectin microparticles obtained by emulsification/internal gelation followed by freeze-drying.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of hi-maize, inulin, and rice bran in the survival of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-5 in pectin microparticles obtained by internal gelation and subjected to freeze-drying. For this, the development of a matrix capable of extending Lactobacillus acidophilus viability to develop new functional foods was emphasized. Microparticle size, encapsulation efficiency, probiotic survivability after gastrointestinal simulation, and storage stability were analyzed.

Toxic and potentially toxic elements determination in cosmetics used for make-up: A critical review.

The daily use of cosmetics may expose consumers to localized skin problems and systemic effects caused by absorption of chemical elements. The requirements for suitable quality control and maximum limits for toxic and potentially toxic elements in cosmetics have attracted the attention of the scientific community and of the official institutions around the world. Maximum limits for chemical elements in some cosmetics have been set, but there are disagreements between them.

Feasibility of microwave-induced combustion combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for bromine and iodine determination in human nail.

Rationale: Bromine and iodine have important physiological functions; however, in inadequate concentration, they can also cause several physiological problems. Their mobility assessment in human organisms through biological sampling may help clarify some doubts related to metabolic routes, which are still not well elucidated. In this context, a suitable analytical method for this purpose should be developed.

The effect of enzymatic crosslinking on the viability of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus) encapsulated by complex coacervation.

Lactobacillus acidophilus were encapsulated by complex coacervation followed by transglutaminase crosslinking, aiming to improve the resistance of the microcapsules and improve the protection for probiotics. Subsequently, microcapsules were dried by freeze drying. The encapsulation efficiency, morphology, thermal resistance, gastrointestinal simulation and storage stability were analysed for wet and dry forms.

Development of nanoemulsions containing Physalis peruviana calyx extract: A study on stability and antioxidant capacity.

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the physicochemical and antioxidant stability of nanoemulsions containing a Physalis peruviana calyx extract (CPp-NE) and free extracts under different storage conditions (7 and 25 °C) and with absence or incidence of light for 120 days. The calyx extracts were prepared with ethanol 60% and characterized for later preparation of the nanoemulsions by spontaneous emulsification. The formulations presented nanometric sizes, low polydispersity index, negative zeta potential, acid pH, rutin content (11 μg·mL), and encapsulation efficiency of 85%.