Development of Alginate Composite Microparticles for Encapsulation of subsp. .

The probiotic bacterium subsp. BB-12 (BB-12) was encapsulated in two composites, alginate/agar and alginate/agar/casein. The network structure and physicochemical properties of these composites are influenced by complex interactions, including hydrogen bonding, electrostatic forces between biopolymers, calcium ions, and the encapsulated bacteria.

Trace element contaminants and endocrine status of European brown bears assessed using blood as a matrix.

Bioaccumulation of trace element contaminants with endocrine disruptive (ED) potential has been noted in European brown bears, though evidence of their effects is lacking. Generalized linear models were employed to assess circulating levels of reproductive, stress, and thyroid hormones in relation to arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and thallium (Tl) in 53 free-ranging brown bears (Ursus arctos) from two European populations (Carpathian and Dinara-Pindos). Other potential drivers of hormone variation, such as essential elements, ecological factors, physiological variables, and capture methods, were included as predictors.

Apex carnivores coping with metal(loid) pollution and oxidative stress: Biological and environmental drivers of variation in kidney of European brown bear.

Induction of oxidative stress and the associated lipid peroxidation is a prevalent mechanism through which certain metal(loid)s exert nephrotoxic effects in mammals. Research on the toxic impacts of metal(loid)s in free-ranging large mammals at high trophic positions is exceedingly rare, yet crucial for understanding environmental exposure scenarios relevant to both human and animal risk assessment. Renal cortex tissues (N = 457) of free-ranging brown bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dinara-Pindos population sampled in Croatia were analysed herein for toxic metal(loid)s and the underlying biological and environmental drivers of variation, with their time trend monitored during the 2009-2022 period.

Three inhibitory phenolic acids against common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) had a minimal effect on maize growth in vitro and in vivo.

With the increasing demand for non-chemical weed control methods, phenolic acids have shown promise due to their natural weed inhibitory potential. In this study, the inhibitory effect of ferulic acid, vanillic acid and p-coumaric acid was investigated on Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. and the selectivity of Zea mays L.

Single-strand DNA-binding protein suppresses illegitimate recombination in Escherichia coli, acting in synergy with RecQ helicase.

Single-strand DNA-binding proteins SSB/RPA are ubiquitous and essential proteins that bind ssDNA in bacteria/eukaryotes and coordinate DNA metabolic processes such as replication, repair, and recombination. SSB protects ssDNA from degradation by nucleases, while also facilitating/regulating the activity of multiple partner proteins involved in DNA processes. Using Spi assay, which detects aberrantly excised λ prophage from the E.

Ethnobotany around the Virovitica Area in NW Slavonia (Continental Croatia)-Record of Rare Edible Use of Fungus .

Slavonia is the most developed agricultural region in Croatia. With rich and fertile soils that have enabled the cultivation of a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and cereals, Slavonia has always met the food needs of its population. Today, the biocultural diversity of local varieties and semi-natural vegetation has irretrievably disappeared.

Fly ash application impacts master physicochemical pedovariables: A multilevel meta-analysis.

Fly ash (FA) is a very alkaline, hazardous waste with a potential to be recycled in amelioration of master pedovariables, notably: i) pH, drives soil biogeochemistry, ii) electrical conductivity (EC), reflects soil salinity level and overall soil health, iii) water holding capacity (WHC), determines soil hydraulic functions and iv) bulk denisity (BD), indicates soil compaction and water-air relations. We performed a multilevel meta-analysis, encompassing 30 out of 1325 screend studies, using a random effect model and non-aggregated data sets. By moderating; experimental type, FA application rate, soil type and land use, two distinct meta-analytical approaches on observed pedovariables were performed: i) uni-moderator, considering moderators separately, and ii) multi-moderator, considering moderators combined.

Varietal Susceptibility of Olive to pv. and the Antibacterial Potential of Plant-Based Agents.

Olive knot disease, caused by the bacterium pv. , causes great damage in olive orchards. While control measures of pv.

Quantifying aluminum toxicity effects on corn phenotype using advanced imaging technologies.

Soil acidity (pH <5.5) limits agricultural production due to aluminum (Al) toxicity. The primary target of Al toxicity is the plant root.

Carotenoid deposition in yolks of laying hens fed with corn diets differing in grain hardness and supplemented with rapeseed oil and emulsifier.

This study investigated the effects of supplementing diets consisting of two dent corn hybrids (soft- and hard-type) with different amounts of rapeseed oil (2, 3, and 4%) and with (0.05%) or without emulsifier (Lysoforte Extended, Kemin) on the content and deposition of carotenoids in egg yolk. The feeding trial was conducted with 216 Lohmann Brown laying hens which were by 3 located in 72 cages.

Dataset on biodiversity and agronomic performance of lentil and chickpea field trials in the Mediterranean Region.

Pulse crops have become more important in food production and consumption systems for the transition towards sustainability. We present an agroecological dataset from 304 samples from 12 legume field trials in five locations across three countries in the Mediterranean. The field trials were established in the seasons 2021/22 and 2022/23 and tested different lentil or chickpea cultivars, inoculants, intercropping and weeding regimes.

Carotenoid content and deposition efficiency in yolks of laying hens fed with dent corn hybrids differing in grain hardness and processing.

Yolk carotenoid profile reflects the hen diet when corn grain is the only source of carotenoids, but corn origin and processing may affect carotenoid utilization. In the present study, 2 commercial dent corn hybrids differing in grain hardness (soft- and hard-type) were dried at low (40°C) and high (85°C) temperature and ground through a 5- and 9-mm sieve to investigate their effects on carotenoid bioavailability in laying hens. With 3 hens per cage, 168 Lohmann Brown laying hens were allocated to 8 dietary treatments (2 hybrids × 2 drying temperatures × 2 grinding sieves) in a completely randomized design (8 treatments × 7 cages).

Folk Knowledge and Perceptions about the Use of Wild Fruits and Vegetables-Cross-Cultural Knowledge in the Pipli Pahar Reserved Forest of Okara, Pakistan.

Wild fruits and vegetables (WFVs) have been vital to local communities for centuries and make an important contribution to daily life and income. However, traditional knowledge of the use of wild fruits is at risk of being lost due to inadequate documentation. This study aimed to secure this knowledge through intermittent field visits and a semi-structured questionnaire.

Infrared Thermography of Teat in French Dairy Alpine Goats: A Promising Tool to Study Animal-Machine Interaction during Milking but Not to Detect Mastitis.

There is a need to develop tools for mastitis management in goats and to measure the effects of milking machines on teats. Infrared thermography (IRT), as shown in cows, was a good candidate for early mastitis detection and focusing on milking equipment and settings implicated in potential problems. The aim of this study was to test IRT to detect udder inflammation and the effects of mechanical milking on teats in relation to inflammation status, udder balance, and teat shape in Alpine goats.

Assessment of the radionuclide remediation potential of novel miscanthus hybrids.

There are few studies related to the radionuclide remediation options, which comply to the demands of the environmentally non-destructive physical remediation methods. So far, most of the research was conducted on the phytoremediation capacity of different energy crops, as well as the established miscanthus hybrids which involved metal and heavy metal contaminants. Hence, the objective of this research was the radioecological characterization of the examined agroecosystem, including the initial source of the radionuclides (soil) as well as different miscanthus hybrids grown on the same soil.

Taming the terminological tempest in invasion science.

Standardised terminology in science is important for clarity of interpretation and communication. In invasion science - a dynamic and rapidly evolving discipline - the proliferation of technical terminology has lacked a standardised framework for its development. The result is a convoluted and inconsistent usage of terminology, with various discrepancies in descriptions of damage and interventions.

Boosting nutritional quality of L. to resist climate change.

Introduction: More than ever, traditional agricultural practices need a shift towards more resilient, sustainable, modern and adaptable practices that benefit the health of the planet and people. Today's consumers are constantly on the lookout for novel, highly nutritious foods that have a positive impact on their overall health and well-being. Nettle (Urtica dioica L.

Global change and adaptive biosecurity: managing current and emerging Aleurocanthus woglumi threats to Europe.

Global climate changes undermine the effectiveness of 'set and forget' phytosanitary regulations. Uncertainties in future greenhouse gas emission profiles render it impossible to accurately forecast future climate, thus limiting the ability to make long-term biosecurity policy decisions. Agile adaptive biosecurity frameworks are necessary to address these climatic uncertainties and to effectively manage current and emerging threats.

Carotenoid degradation rate in milled grain of dent maize hybrids and its relationship with the grain physicochemical properties.

Carotenoids in maize grain degrade during storage, but the relationship between their stability and the physicochemical properties of the grain is unclear. Therefore, the carotenoid degradation rate in milled grain of three dent hybrids differing in grain hardness was evaluated at various temperatures (-20, 4 and 22 °C). The carotenoid degradation rate was calculated using first-order kinetics based on the content in the samples after 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 90 days of storage and related to the physicochemical properties of the grain.

How to Increase the Nutritional Quality of Stinging Nettle Through Controlled Plant Nutrition.

Research Background: As food production faces major challenges, modern agricultural practices are increasingly focused on conserving resources, reducing negative environmental impacts and sustainably producing food with a high content of health-promoting phytochemicals. During production, many factors can affect the quality and chemical composition of a final food product. Proper selection of cultivating conditions, especially a balanced nutrition, can significantly increase nutritional value and result in foods with strong biological and functional properties.

Kernel properties related to carotenoid release during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion in commercial dent maize hybrids.

The objective of study was to investigate the relationships between maize kernel properties and carotenoid release during simulated gastrointestinal digestion of 103 hybrids of dent type. Commercial maize hybrids significantly differed in kernel hardness, chemical composition and carotenoid profile. Across all hybrids, the amount of digestible individual carotenoids increased as follows: β-carotene < α-cryptoxanthin < β-cryptoxanthin < lutein < zeaxanthin.

Development of a solid phase microextraction method for the determination of nicotine in dried mushrooms.

Official control of EU market foodstuffs repeatedly reports high nicotine levels in dried wild mushrooms without any clear scientific consensus about their origin. The advised constant monitoring calls for improvements to existing methods. For this purpose, our aim was to develop a headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) method coupled to gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS) that would eliminate the need for extensive sample pre-treatment.

The influence of ripening of semi-hard goat cheese in oil on its physicochemical composition and sensory properties.

The aim of this paper was to determine the influence of ripening of semi-hard goat cheese in oil (mixture of Mljet's extra-virgin olive oil and refined sunflower oil; 50:50) on its physicochemical composition and sensory properties, as well as to determine the optimal time of immersion of the cheese in oil. Five batches of cheeses were produced, and the cheeses of the same batch were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the ripening method: (1) ripening in air (control group, treatment 1), (2) ripening in oil after 10 d of ripening in air (treatment 2), (3) ripening in oil after 20 d of ripening in air (treatment 3). Cheeses were sampled during ripening at d 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60, and physicochemical analyses were performed.