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Five types of frankfurters were formulated: a control without tamarind (T0) and four samples using 5% tamarind pulp paste (PT5), seeds (ST5), peel (CT5), and a blend of all of them (PSCT5), replacing the same portion of meat. The inclusion of tamarind components led to a reduction in the moisture and protein content of the reformulated frankfurters. In terms of mineral composition, CT5 showed the highest (p < 0.05) calcium content. Additionally, ST5 and CT5 treatments demonstrated the lowest processing loss values. The pH was lower in the PT5 treatment (p < 0.05). Incorporating tamarind components reduced the lightness (L*) of the frankfurters, resulting in darker sausages. However, ST5 exhibited greater redness (a*), while higher yellowness (b*) values were observed in PT5 and CT5 treatments (p < 0.05). Texture analysis revealed no differences (p > 0.05) in hardness and chewiness between T0 and PT5; however, ST5 exhibited the highest values for these parameters (p < 0.05). No variation in the conformational order of the lipid acyl chains due to the incorporation of tamarind compounds was observed related to physical entrapment of these compounds in the frankfurter matrix. Both T0 and PT5 were well accepted by consumers, and scores higher than 7 were observed for overall acceptability and purchase intention. The study demonstrated that incorporating tamarind components, especially pulp paste (PT), is a viable alternative for replacing lean pork meat in frankfurters, improving the sustainable aspects of frankfurter production.

Stone fruits, such as the apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), are frequently consumed. As such, a substantial volume of apricot waste is generated at each stage of the food supply chain, including harvesting, processing, packaging, warehousing, transportation, retailing, and eventual consumption. This generates tons of waste annually on a global scale. The significant amounts of phenolics present in these wastes are primarily responsible for their antioxidant capacity and the subsequent health advantages they provide. As such, apricot pulp by-products could be a valuable reservoir of bioactive compounds, such as tocopherols, polyphenolic compounds, proteins, dietary fibers, etc. Moreover, apricot kernels are also recognized for their abundance of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and tocopherols, which find utility in diverse sectors including cosmetology and the food industry. Both conventional and green methods are employed, and generally, green methods lead to higher extraction efficiency. The antimicrobial properties of apricot kernel essential oil have been widely recognized, leading to its extensive historical usage in the treatment of diverse ailments. In addition, apricot kernel oil possesses the capacity to serve as a viable resource for renewable fuels and chemicals. This review examines the potential of apricot waste as a source of bioactive compounds, as well as its utilization in diverse applications, with an emphasis on its contribution to health improvement.

Recent research has highlighted the effectiveness of starter inocula in fermentation processes. In this sense, this study examines the use of an inoculum composed of coffee pulp, mucilage broth, and microorganisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, and S. thermophilus in fermenting Castillo variety coffee. An inoculum was prepared, measuring variables such as the pH, acidity, °Brix, lactic acid bacteria, and yeast viability. Following optimization, the inoculum was evaluated in a fermentation process, evaluating the pH, °Brix, acidity, microbiological analysis, ochratoxin A, and cup quality post-drying and roasting. The findings demonstrated a significant reduction in the pH from 4.47 to 4.05 and in the °Brix from 15.8 to 8.45, indicating efficient organic acid production and sugar degradation. Acidity levels increased from 20.02 mg/g to 42.69 mg/g, while microbial viabilities remained above 107 CFUs/g, suggesting effective biomass production. The process effectively reduced the microbial load without detecting ochratoxin A. Sensory evaluations confirmed the enhanced cup quality, validating the positive impact of inoculum use in coffee fermentation. The results support the use of coffee pulp and mucilage broth as effective substrates for the growth of the evaluated microorganisms, and the application of starter cultures containing lactic acid bacteria and yeast can elevate the coffee to a specialty grade.

Polyphenols are important functional components that have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. Apple fruit is rich in polyphenols and is one of the dietary sources of polyphenols. The polyphenol components and contents of the peel and pulp of 74 Malus sieversii (Led.) Roem. and 26 Chinese Malus germplasm resources were determined using ultra-high-phase chromatography (UPLC) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). The results showed that 34 components were detected in the peel and 30 in the flesh, and that the polyphenol components and contents of the different germplasm resources were significantly different; the polyphenol content of Malus sieversii (Led.) Roem. was significantly higher than that of the other local varieties, and the polyphenol content in the peel was also higher than that in the flesh. Rutin, quercetin 3-O-arabopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside, and peonidin 3-O-galactoside were detected only in the peel. The total polyphenol content in the peel ranged from 949.76 to 5840.06 mg/kg, and the polyphenol content in the pulp ranged from 367.31 to 5123.10 mg/kg. The cluster analysis of polyphenol components and contents in peel and pulp showed that 100 Malus germplasm resources could be grouped into four categories. Principal component analysis of 34 kinds and 30 kinds of polyphenols in peel and pulp of 100 resources was performed. If the eigenvalue is greater than 1, eight and seven principal components are extracted, respectively. Five Malus resources with high polyphenol content in the peel and pulp were selected: ‘XY-77’ (peel: 5840.06 mg/kg, pulp: 5123.10 mg/kg; ‘LF-09’ (peel: 4692.63 mg/kg, pulp: 3729.79 mg/kg); ‘2012-5’ (peel: 4377.61 mg/kg, pulp: 3847.54 mg/kg); ‘29028’ (peel: 5088.05 mg/kg, pulp: 3994.61 mg/kg); and ‘11-01’ (peel: 5154.45 mg/kg, pulp: 3616.15 mg/kg). These results provide us with information regarding the polyphenol composition and content of the wild apple resources and local cultivars. The high polyphenol content resources obtained by screening can be used as raw materials for the extraction of polyphenol components and functional fruit juice processing and can also be used as parents for functional fruit creation and variety breeding.

Dentin pulp has a complex function as a major unit in maintaining the vitality of teeth. In this sense, the Wnt/β-Catenin pathway has a vital part in tooth development, maintenance, repair, and regeneration by controlling physiological activities such as growth, differentiation, and migration. This pathway consists of a network of proteins, such as Wnt signaling molecules, which interact with receptors of targeted cells and play a role in development and adult tissue homeostasis. The Wnt signals are specific spatiotemporally, suggesting its intricate mechanism in development, regulation, repair, and regeneration by the formation of tertiary dentin. This review provides an overview of the recent advances in the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway in dentin and pulp regeneration, how different proteins, molecules, and ligands influence this pathway, either upregulating or silencing it, and how it may be used in the future for clinical dentistry, in vital pulp therapy as an effective treatment for dental caries, as an alternative approach for root canal therapy, and to provide a path for therapeutic and regenerative dentistry.

The potential for grapes and wine to be tainted following vineyard exposure to wildfire smoke is well established, with recent studies suggesting hops and apples (and thus beer and cider) can be similarly affected. However, the susceptibility of other crops to ‘smoke taint’ has not yet been investigated. Smoke was applied to a selection of fruits and vegetables, as well as potted lavender plants, and their volatile phenol composition determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to evaluate their susceptibility to contamination by smoke. Volatile phenols were observed in control (unsmoked) capsicum, cherry, lavender, lemon, spinach and tomato samples, typically at ≤18 µg/kg, but 52 µg/kg of guaiacol and 83–416 µg/kg of o- and m-cresol and 4-methylsyringol were detected in tomato and lavender samples, respectively. However, significant increases in volatile phenol concentrations were observed as a consequence of smoke exposure; with the highest volatile phenol levels occurring in smoke-exposed strawberry and lavender samples. Variation in the uptake of volatile phenols by different crops was attributed to differences in their physical properties, i.e., their surface area, texture and/or cuticle composition, while the peel of banana, lemon, and to a lesser extent apple samples, mitigated the permeation of smoke-derived volatile phenols into pulp. Results provide valuable insight into the susceptibility of different crops to smoke contamination.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) used to sterilize carious dentin may irritate pulp tissues because of tissue-penetrating laser and singlet oxygen generation. This study aimed to assess the effects of aPDT on rat pulp tissues. A cavity formed in a rat maxillary first molar was treated with aPDT. The combined photosensitizer and laser irradiation conditions in the aPDT groups were as follows: methylene blue and 100 mW for 60 s, brilliant blue (BB) and 100 mW for 60 s, BB and 50 mW for 120 s, and BB and 200 mW for 30 s. Each cavity was treated with an all-in-one adhesive and filled with flowable resin. aPDT was not applied for the control. In each group, the rats were sacrificed on postoperative days 1 and 14, and thin sections of the treated teeth were prepared. Pulp tissue disorganization (PTD), inflammatory cell infiltration (ICI), and tertiary dentin formation (TDF) were evaluated. At 1-day evaluation, there were significant differences between the aPDT group and controls with respect to PTD and ICI (p < 0.01); 14 days later, almost all specimens showed tertiary dentin formation. The application of aPDT caused reversible damage to the rat pulp, while in the long term, healing occurred with the formation of tertiary dentin.

A techno-economic assessment and environmental and social sustainability assessments of novel Fischer–Tropsch (FT) biodiesel production from the wet and dry gasification of biomass-based residue streams (bark and black liquor from pulp production) for transport applications are presented. A typical French kraft pulp mill serves as the reference case and large-scale biofuel-production-process integration is explored. Relatively low greenhouse gas emission levels can be obtained for the FT biodiesel (total span: 16–83 g CO2eq/MJ in the assessed EU countries). Actual process configuration and low-carbon electricity are critical for overall performance. The site-specific social assessment indicates an overall positive social effect for local community, value chain actors, and society. Important social aspects include (i) job creation potential, (ii) economic development through job creation and new business opportunities, and (iii) health and safety for workers. For social risks, the country of implementation is important. Heat and electricity use are the key contributors to social impacts. The estimated production cost for biobased crude oil is about 13 €/GJ, and it is 14 €/GJ (0.47 €/L or 50 €/MWh) for the FT biodiesel. However, there are uncertainties, i.e., due to the low technology readiness level of the gasification technologies, especially wet gasification. However, the studied concept may provide substantial GHG reduction compared to fossil diesel at a relatively low cost.

During the production of pulp from natural raw materials, such as wood, large amounts of waste are generated. When they are reused, e.g., in agriculture, ecological requirements towards the environment must be met, and the associated risks must be known. In the framework of this study, the phytotoxicity of liquid waste generated during the industrial processing of pulp using the sulfite process was investigated. The results of semichronic toxicity tests on Lepidium sativum L. and Sinapis alba L. showed a direct effect on the growth and development of plants and proved that the undiluted samples were phytotoxic. However, the phytotoxicity of the investigated waste samples was influenced by their dilution ratio. Thus, finding the optimal solution ratio is crucial for the reuse of liquid waste. A nonphytotoxic effect on the roots of the tested plants was proven with a solution in a ratio of 1:100. In addition, the control samples diluted with a medium manifested phytotoxicity due to the activity of internal microorganisms.

In the context of the so-called lignocellulose bio-refinery, the coconut shell (S) and pulp (P) of Acrocomia aculeata (Arecaceae) are interesting agro-industrial wastes that can be used as feedstock for the production of high value-added products. The aim of this work was to evaluate these lignocellulosic residues S and P, to obtain the microcrystal (MCC) and microfiber (MFC) of cellulose, and to characterize them to propose possible applications. First, cellulose content in the raw materials was determined, being 39.69% and 45.42% for both (S and P)) respectively, respectively. Then, the purification of residues was carried out via alkaline and bleaching treatments. Next, in order to obtain MCC and MFC from the purified cellulose, a chemical treatment with HCl (for MCC) and a mechanical treatment with a blender (for MFC) were performed. The size and morphology were observed via MEB, and properties were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTG).

The aim of our contribution is to evaluate the possibilities for the biochemical utilization of paper wastes. We tested aerobic and anaerobic degradation of paper waste sludges from a plant that processes recycled paper. Testing included the assessment of phytotoxicity. We can conclude that the concentration of paper sludges did not have toxic effects on the bacterial consortium of the anaerobic or aerobic conditions. However, the leachate of paper sludges and water from sludge dewatering had a slightly negative effect on the germination of cress (Lepidium sativum L.) and lettuce (Lepidium sativum L.) seeds where the germination ranged from 83.3% to 100% but the mass yield was higher.

In recent years, a main goal of research has been to exploit waste from agribusiness industries as new sources of bioactive components, with a view to establishing a circular economy. Non-compliant avocado fruits, as well as avocado seeds and peels, are examples of promising raw materials due to their high nutritional yield and antioxidant profiles. This study aimed to recycle avocado food waste and by-products through dehydration to produce functional bread. For this purpose, dehydrated avocado was reduced to powder form, and bread was prepared with different percentages of the powder (5% and 10%) and compared with a control bread prepared with only semolina. The avocado pulp and by-products did not alter organoleptically after dehydration, and the milling did not affect the products’ color and retained the avocado aroma. The firmness of the breads enriched with avocado powder increased due to the additional fat from the avocado, and alveolation decreased. The total phenolic content of the fortified breads was in the range of 2.408–2.656 mg GAE/g, and the antiradical activity was in the range of 35.75–38.235 mmol TEAC/100 g (p < 0.0001), depending on the percentage of fortification.

This study investigated the composition of sugars, organic acids, individual and total phenolic compounds in the pulp, peel, leaves, and bark of a red-fleshed ‘Baya Marisa’ apple cultivar. As the fruit is known for its red pulp color, the study focused on comparing the profiles of primary and selected secondary metabolites in three sections along the equatorial fruit plane. The analyses were carried out using HPLC–MS system, and compositional differences were compared among fruit segments. Inner fruit segments accumulated higher levels of sorbitol and the sum of sugars and lower levels of citric acid. However, no differences in the sum of organic acids could be determined among segments. The phenolic composition differed among pulp (hydroxycinnamic acids > dihydrochalcones ≈ anthocyanins ≈ flavanols > flavonols), peel (flavanols > anthocyanins > dihydrochalcones > flavonols > hydroxycinnamic acids), leaves (flavonols > dihydrochalcones > hydroxycinnamic acids > anthocyanins), and bark (dihydrochalcones > flavonols > flavanols > anthocyanins > hydroxycinnamic acids). The greatest phenolic diversity was detected in bark (25), followed by leaves (18), peel (17) and finally, pulp (11). Three anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-O-galactoside > cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside > peonidin-3-O-galactoside) were determined in all ‘Baya Marisa’ tissues with their content highest in the peel. The innermost sections of the fruit were characterized by higher levels of dihydrochalcones and lower levels of most flavanols, flavonols and anthocyanins. These were predominant in the apple pulp nearest to the peel, with cyanidin-3-O-galactoside being the prevalent representative. Accumulation of anthocyanins in pulp is a rare trait in apples, and therefore, the distinct distribution and diversity of metabolites in this cultivar highlights its potential for high-nutrient products such as juices, apple chips or purees.

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) fruit deterioration occurs rapidly after harvest and is characterized by pericarp browning, pulp softening, and decay. In this study, we found that calcium chloride (CaCl2) treatment (5 g L−1 CaCl2 solution vacuum infiltration for 5 min) affected the cell wall component contents and cell wall-degrading enzyme activities of litchi fruit during storage at room temperature. CaCl2 treatment significantly increased the contents of Ca2+ and cellulose, while it decreased the water-soluble pectin content, and the activities of polygalacturonase, β-galactosidase, and cellulase in the litchi pericarp. Meanwhile, the treatment resulted in significantly increased contents of Ca2+, water-soluble pectin, ionic-soluble pectin, covalent-soluble pectin and hemicellulose, and upregulated activities of pectinesterase and β-galactosidase, while significantly decreasing the activities of polygalacturonase and cellulase in litchi pulp. The above results indicate that CaCl2 treatment strengthened the cell wall structure of litchi fruit. More importantly, the enzymatic browning of the pericarp, softening of the pulp, and disease incidence were delayed. The treatment had a more pronounced effect on the pericarp than on the pulp. We consider CaCl2 treatment to be a safe and effective treatment for maintaining the postharvest quality of litchi fruit.

Utilization of lignin is among the most pressing problems for biorefineries that convert lignocellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals. Recently “lignin-first” biomass fractionation has received increasing attention. In most biorefining concepts, carbohydrate portions of the biomass are separated, and their monomeric sugar components released, while the relatively chemically stable lignin rich byproduct remains underutilized. Conversely, in lignin-first processes, a one-pot fractionation and depolymerization is performed, leading to an oil rich in phenolic compounds and a cellulosic pulp. Usually, the pulp is considered as a fermentation feedstock to produce ethanol. Herein, the results of a study where various cellulosic pulps are tested for their potential to produce valuable products via pyrolysis processes, assessed via analytical pyrolysis (py-GC), are presented. Samples of herbaceous (switchgrass) and woody biomass (oak) were subjected to both an acid-catalyzed and a supported-metal-catalyzed reductive lignin-first depolymerization, and the pulps were compared. Fast pyrolysis of the pulps produced levoglucosan in yields of up to about 35 wt %. When normalized for the amount of biomass entering the entire process, performing the lignin-first reductive depolymerization resulted in 4.0–4.6 times the yield of levoglucosan than pyrolysis of raw biomass. Pulps derived from switchgrass were better feedstocks for levoglucosan production compared with pulps from oak, and pulps produced from metal-on-carbon catalyzed depolymerization produced more levoglucosan than those from acid-catalyzed depolymerization. Catalytic pyrolysis over HZSM-5 produced aromatic hydrocarbons from the pulps. In this case, the yields were similar from both feedstocks and catalyst types, suggesting that there is no advantage to lignin fractionation prior to zeolite-catalyzed catalytic pyrolysis for hydrocarbons.

Jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora) and jambolan (Syzygium cumini) fruits are rich in phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties, mostly concentrated in the peel, pulp, and seeds. Among the techniques for identifying these constituents, paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) stands out as a method of ambient ionization of samples for the direct analysis of raw materials. This study aimed to determine the chemical profiles of the peel, pulp, and seeds of jabuticaba and jambolan fruits, as well as to assess the efficiency of using different solvents (water and methanol) in obtaining metabolite fingerprints of different parts of the fruits. Overall, 63 compounds were tentatively identified in the aqueous and methanolic extracts of jabuticaba and jambolan, 28 being in the positive ionization mode and 35 in the negative ionization mode. Flavonoids (40%), followed by benzoic acid derivatives (13%), fatty acids (13%), carotenoids (6%), phenylpropanoids (6%), and tannins (5%) were the groups of substances found in greater numbers, producing different fingerprints according to the parts of the fruit and the different extracting solvents used. Therefore, compounds present in jabuticaba and jambolan reinforce the nutritional and bioactive potential attributed to these fruits, due to the potentially positive effects performed by these metabolites in human health and nutrition.

The consumption of fresh tomatoes and processed tomato products is widespread in the Mediterranean diet. This fruit is a valuable source of antioxidants and plays an important role in preventing oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate the content of antioxidants and measure the total antioxidant capacity (ABTS and DPPH assays) in the peel, pulp, and seed fractions of six tomato cultivars. Finally, some bioactive compounds and total antioxidant activity were also determined in homemade tomato purees, since such homemade production is commonplace in Southern Italy. The level of antioxidants and total antioxidant capacity in each fraction were also calculated based on their actual fresh weight in the whole tomato. The overall results indicated that the peel and seeds of all analysed tomato cultivars contribute significantly to the antioxidant charge of the fruits. Consequently, consuming tomatoes without peel and seeds results in a substantial loss of compounds beneficial for human health. Our results also showed that phenolic and lycopene content, as well as antioxidant activities in all purees are higher than in fresh tomatoes. Based on this evidence, producing homemade tomato puree is a good practice, and its consumption helps prevent oxidative stress damage.

The need for pulp and paper has risen significantly due to exponential population growth, industrialization, and urbanization. Most paper manufacturing industries use wood fibers to meet pulp and paper requirements. The shortage of fibrous wood resources and increased deforestation are linked to the excessive dependence on wood for pulp and paper production. Therefore, non-wood substitutes, including corn stalks, sugarcane bagasse, wheat, and rice straw, cotton stalks, and others, may greatly alleviate the shortage of raw materials used to make pulp and paper. Non-woody raw materials can be pulped easily using soda/soda-AQ (anthraquinone), organosolv, and bio-pulping. The use of agricultural residues can also play a pivotal role in the development of polymeric membranes separating different molecular weight cut-off molecules from a variety of feedstocks in industries. These membranes range in applications from water purification to medicinal uses. Considering that some farmers still burn agricultural residues on the fields, resulting in significant air pollution and health issues, the use of agricultural residues in paper manufacturing can eventually help these producers to get better financial outcomes from the grown crop. This paper reviews the current trends in the technological pitch of pulp and paper production from agricultural residues using different pulping methods, with an insight into the application of membranes developed from lignocellulosic materials.

Regulation of fruit ripening is one of the most important topics in postharvest storage. Effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) greatly depend on the responsiveness of fruit cultivar to this molecule. Although 1-MCP has been used in postharvest preservation of many fruit species, its effects on ripening process, including ethylene production, and softening of banana, mango, and papaya are still not very clear. In the present study, we comparatively investigated the effects of 1-MCP fumigation treatment (1 μL L−1 for 20 h) on ripening behavior and texture qualities of the three fruits during storage at 15 °C. Results showed that 1-MCP treatment not only suppressed the production but also delayed the peak points of ethylene in banana and mango. However, it only significantly delayed the emergence of peak, but didn’t suppress the production of ethylene in papaya. Meanwhile, 1-MCP treated papayas showed the lowest malondialdehyde (MDA) content, cell membrane permeability (CMP) and activities of polygalacturonase (PG) and cellulose (CX), accompanied by the highest firmness and protopectin content. Furthermore, 1-MCP treatment slowed down the changes of pulp cell structure in three kinds of fruit. Thus, the findings suggest that postharvest application of 1-MCP has potential in banana and mango fruits due to both prolonging storage-life and ensuring the texture quality, whereas it is not suitable for papaya fruit because of the abnormal softening and the poor texture.

The goal of this review is to provide an overview of the current findings on the major carotenoids and their content in pumpkin products and by-products. The content of total carotenoids and the composition of carotenoids in pumpkins depend mainly on the species and cultivar, pedoclimatic conditions, the part of the plant (pulp, peel or seed), extraction procedures and the type of solvent used for extraction. The major carotenoids identified in pumpkins were β-carotene, α-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. β-Carotene is the major carotenoid in most pumpkin species. The number and content of total carotenoids are higher when minor carotenoids and ester forms are considered. The use of carotenoids in the development of functional foods has been the topic of many versatile studies in recent years, as they add significant value to foods associated with numerous health benefits. In view of this, pumpkin and pumpkin by-products can serve as a valuable source of carotenoids.

The study investigated allogenic pulp transplantation as an innovative method of regenerative endodontic therapy. Three patients were selected for the endodontic treatment of single-root teeth, who also had a son/daughter with deciduous teeth or third molars scheduled for extraction. Receptor teeth were endodontically instrumented and irrigated using a tri-antibiotic solution. During the transplant procedures, the teeth from the son/daughter were extracted, sectioned, and the pulp was carefully removed. The harvested pulp from the donor was inserted into the root canal of the host tooth (father/mother), followed by direct pulp capping and resin composite restoration. The teeth were followed-up with for 2 years and were surveyed with computed tomography, the electric pulp vitality test, and Doppler ultrasound examination. At the 6-month follow-up, positive pulp vitality and the formation of periapical lesions were verified in cases 1 and 2. Case 3 showed remarkable periapical radiolucency before transplantation, but after 1 year, such lesions disappeared and there was positive vitality. All teeth were revascularized as determined by Doppler imaging after 2 years with no signs of endodontic/periodontal radiolucency. In conclusion, although this was a case series with only three patients and four teeth treated, it is possible to suppose that this allogenic pulp transplantation protocol could represent a potential strategy for pulp revitalization in specific endodontic cases.

‘Huahong’ is a popular apple cultivar because of its anti-browning properties and appealing aroma and flavor. It is mainly planted by grafting on dwarf interstocks in Northeast China. We investigated the different aroma profiles of apple fruits grown from six dwarf interstocks (‘CG24’, ‘SH38’, ‘SH3’, ‘MD001’, ‘Mac9’, and ‘CX5’) and from no interstocks (CK). A total of 55 VOCs were detected, including esters (25), aldehydes (14), alcohols (8), ketones (3), alkane hydroxyls (3), and acids (2). Among the VOCs, 48 were detected in the skin and 21 in the pulp. The skin of ‘Huahong’ apples had a strong sweet aroma, and the pulp was green with a subtle aroma. The dominant compounds (>5% of total content) in the skin were 2-methyl butyl acetate, hexyl 2-methyl butyrate, caproic acid butyl ester, hexanal, (Z)-2-heptene aldehyde, and 6-methyl-5-heptene-2-ketone, while in the pulp, they were 2-methyl butyl acetate, methanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, hexanol, and hexane. Compared with CK, ‘SH38’, ‘MD001’, and ‘SH3’ interstocks had increased total aroma content, and ‘CX5’ and ‘CG24’ had suppressed aroma. The effects of interstocks on aroma were mainly reflected in skin. The VOC content ranged from 3297.52 to 9895.75 µg·kg−1 in skin, and from 748.62 to 1369.21 µg·kg−1 in pulp. PCA revealed that use of interstock ‘SH38’ mainly affected esters. ‘MD001’ affected hexane and 4-pentene-1-acetate; ‘Mac9’ and ‘SH3’ affected octanoic acid-2-methyl butyl ester, hexyl butyrate, and 2-methyl-1-butanol; and ‘CX5’ and ‘CG24’ had a greater impact on isoamyl propionate and 1-pentene-3-ol. Finally, ‘SH38’ had the highest principal comprehensive score. ‘SH38’ and ‘SH3’ interstocks resulted in significantly increased apple VOC content.

In recent years there has been an extensive search for nature-based products with functional potential. All structural parts of Physalis alkekengi (bladder cherry), including fruits, pulp, and less-explored parts, such as seeds and peel, can be considered sources of functional macro- and micronutrients, bioactive compounds, such as vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and dietetic fiber. The chemical composition of all fruit structural parts (seeds, peel, and pulp) of two phenotypes of P. alkekengi were studied. The seeds were found to be a rich source of oil, yielding 14–17%, with abundant amounts of unsaturated fatty acids (over 88%) and tocopherols, or vitamin E (up to 5378 mg/kg dw; dry weight). The predominant fatty acid in the seed oils was linoleic acid, followed by oleic acid. The seeds contained most of the fruit’s protein (16–19% dw) and fiber (6–8% dw). The peel oil differed significantly from the seed oil in fatty acid and tocopherol composition. Seed cakes, the waste after oil extraction, contained arginine and aspartic acid as the main amino acids; valine, phenylalanine, threonine, and isoleucine were present in slightly higher amounts than the other essential amino acids. They were also rich in key minerals, such as K, Mg, Fe, and Zn. From the peel and pulp fractions were extracted fruit concretes, aromatic products with specific fragrance profiles, of which volatile compositions (GC-MS) were identified. The major volatiles in peel and pulp concretes were β-linalool, α-pinene, and γ-terpinene. The results from the investigation substantiated the potential of all the studied fruit structures as new sources of bioactive compounds that could be used as prospective sources in human and animal nutrition, while the aroma-active compounds in the concretes supported the plant’s potential in perfumery and cosmetics.

Traditional pear cultivars are increasingly in demand by consumers because of their excellent taste, the possibility of use in sustainable food production systems, convenience as raw materials for obtaining products of high nutritional quality, and perceived health benefits. In this study, individual sugars, organic acids, and polyphenols in the fruits of nine traditional and one commercial pear cultivar during two growing seasons were determined by HPLC. A significant influence of cultivars, growing years, and their interaction on the content of analyzed primary and secondary metabolites was determined. The commercial pear cultivar ‘Président Drouard’ and traditional cultivars ‘Dolokrahan’, ‘Budaljača’, and ‘Krakača’ had a lower content of all analyzed sugars. Overall, traditional pear cultivars had higher total polyphenols in the peel and pulp than ‘Président Drouard’, with the exception ‘Takiša’ and ‘Ahmetova’. High polyphenol content detected in ‘Budaljača’, ‘Dolokrahan’, and ‘Krakača’ shows the utilization value of traditional pear germplasm. The obtained data can serve as practical supporting data for the use of traditional pears in the neutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and food industries.

Pollution from the international dye industry continues to be a global problem. Biotechnology offers new options, including a closer look at select wood decay fungi to replace inorganic dyes. The pigments produced by a small group of soft rotting fungi are generally naphthoquinonic and remarkably stable. From this group, the dramada crystals, produced by Scytalidium cuboideum, are of particular interest. To test the application of this pigment as a natural colorant of cellulosic pulps, four different bleached pulps were selected (one hardwood, three softwood), in three different mediums (acetone, ethanol, and DI water). The pigment generated a significant change of color, but there was no significant difference in color intensity based on the solvent carrier. These preliminary results are promising as they open the door for further exploration of applications of fungal pigments in the paper industry. Once these pigments can be reliably grown, they will offer a sustainable organic alternative to polluting inorganic dyestuffs and help reduce the toxic effluent released into the soil and waterways.

Tree tomato (Solanum betaceum Cav.) is an Andean fruit crop that is grown in Ecuador. It is an exceptional source of minerals and vitamins, thus has nutraceutical properties. The objective of this research was to carry out a phytochemical characterization of a breeding population composed of 90 segregants. Pulp (including mesocarp, mucilage, seeds and placenta) was ground and sieved in order to obtain the liquid pulp to be lyophilized for the chemical analyzes. Antioxidants compounds were determined by spectrophotometry and vitamin C by reflectometry. Data were analyzed by principal components, grouping, and variance analyses; in addition, Z Score estimation was carried out to select elite individuals. There was a broad variability in the data obtained for the breeding population, polyphenol content varied from 5.11 to 16.59 mg GAE g−1, flavonoids from 1.24 to 6.70 mg cat g−1, carotenoids from 50.39 to 460.72 µg β-carotene g−1, anthocyanins from 1.06 to 240.49 mg cy-3-glu 100 g−1, antioxidant capacity from 49.51 to 312.30 µm Trolox g−1, and vitamin C from 78.29 to 420.16 mg 100 g−1. It can be concluded that tree tomato is a good source of beneficial biocompounds and has a high antioxidant capacity.

Traumatic human dental injuries involving the pulp might necessitate direct capping procedures. This clinical study aimed to analyse the histological outcomes using two different direct capping materials. Twenty patients with bilateral premolars, scheduled for orthodontic extraction, were selected. The teeth were treated either using ProRoot MTA or RetroMTA. All patients were recalled after 30 and 60 days for teeth extraction. The histopathologically stained specimens were blindly evaluated using hard tissue bridge formation, inflammatory reaction and pulpal findings criteria. Data were evaluated statistically. Results: After 60 days, only the parameter for hard tissue bridge formation showed significant difference in the ProRoot MTA group (p = 0.010), while both direct capping materials performed similarly regarding inflammatory pulp reaction and pulpal findings. Although, during the first 30 days, RetroMTA presented better results in terms of continuity, morphology, hard tissue bridge localisation, and extension/general state of the inflammatory reaction, the continuity was better at 60 days when ProRoot MTA was applied. Treatment with RetroMTA healed the pulpal tissue faster compared with ProRoot MTA but it seemed to be rather a reparative process.

The Erzincan plain is one of the richest regions in Turkey in terms of plant biodiversity. In this region, the famous grape cultivar ‘Karaerik’ has always dominated grape production due to its berry characteristics. The cultivar shows great morphological variation at clonal level. In this study, the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of peel, pulp and seed extracts of nine ‘Karaerik’ clones sampled from same location were investigated. The Folin–Ciocalteu method was used to determine the total phenolic content of peel, pulp and seed extracts of nine clones. To determine antioxidant activity, three well known assays such as DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate), FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) and TEAC (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity) were used. In addition, the correlation between total phenol content and DPPH, FRAP and TEAC was determined. Results showed that among the tissues, seed samples in berries of all clones had the highest total phenol content and antioxidant activity determined by three assays. Seed samples were followed by peel and pulp for total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Among the nine ‘Karaerik’ clones, Clone 8 had the highest total phenolic content (149 mg GAE/100 g FW) while Clone 3 had the lowest (111 mg GAE/100 g FW). Peel, pulp and seed samples of nine ‘Karaerik’ clones showed strong antioxidant activity in DPPH, FRAP and TEAC assays. In particular, grape seeds were found rich for better in phenolic compounds including gallic acid, quercetin, catechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid. Clones such as 7, 8 and 9 higher antioxidant activity may present great potential for grape breeders and the food industry as well as health-conscious consumers.

In this review, studies (n = 41) were searched in which the compounds and contents were determined for whole fig fruit, peel, leaves and pulp, the types of fig-based products were identified and their total phenols and antioxidant capacity as well as the potential uses of different extracts of fig parts were analyzed. There is a need to reduce the fruit’s environmental impacts (zero waste), and bioactive compounds from fig fruits present a high added value as functional ingredients. Focusing on fig by-products (peel, seeds, no-optimal fruits and leaves), individual compounds and/or extracts can increase the functional, nutritional and techno-functional properties of food products such as additives. A high number of phenolic compounds was found in whole fruit (n = 19), peel (n = 26), pulp (n = 24) and leaves (n = 42). Quercetin-3-O-rutioside was reported as the major individual phenolic compound in whole figs, while cyanidin-3-rutinoside, epicatechin and caftaric acid were the highest compounds in peel, pulp and leaves, respectively. A potential strategy could be the development of novel additives and/or ingredients for food industry from fig by-products. Therefore, the use and valorization of the waste material produced during fig processing should be further investigated.

Grape production has a long history in the Elazig province and surrounding vicinity and produced grapes have been used for table consumption and also processed into traditional beverages, Şıra (special non-alcoholic grape juice) and wine. In the Elazig province, the main grape cultivars are ‘Ağın Beyazı’, ‘Öküzgözü’, ‘Boğazkere’, ‘Şilfoni’, ‘Tahannebi’, and ‘Köhnü’. Among them, ‘Köhnü’ cultivar is highly preferred by consumers due to its black color and perfect berry characteristics. The cultivar has grown for centuries in different parts of Elazig and shows a great variability for most of its morphological and biochemical characteristics. In the present study, we aimed to determine morphological and biochemical traits in six ‘Köhnü’ clones sampled from Elazığ. The cluster weight of six clones was found between 334–394 g. The highest total phenolic content was observed in seeds followed by peel and pulp samples. The seed extract of Clone 2 had the highest total phenolic content at 254 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g fresh weight. The results also showed that peel, pulp, and seed samples of ‘Köhnü’ grape clones had considerable amounts of antioxidant components determined by DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), and TEAC assays and might be rich sources of natural antioxidants. Among the six ‘Köhnü’ clones, Clone 3, and Clone 6 differed from the others in respect to the highest cluster weight, the highest concentrations of total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. The results also implied that all clones could be used potentially as a readily accessible source of natural antioxidants and as a possible pharmaceutical supplement.

Stabilizers are ingredients employed to improve the technological properties of products. The food industry and consumers have recently become interested in the development of natural ingredients. In this work, the effects of hydrocolloids from butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) seeds (HBSS) as stabilizers on the physicochemical, rheological, and sensory properties of natural yogurt were examined. HBSS improved the yogurt’s physical stability and physicochemical properties, decreasing syneresis and modifying the samples’ rheological properties, improving the assessment of sensory characteristics. The samples presented shear thinning behavior characterized by a decrease in viscosity with the increase of the shear rate; nevertheless, the samples showed a two-step yield stress. HBSS is an alternative as a natural stabilizer for the development of microstructured products.

Argan pulp is an abundant byproduct from the argan oil process. It was investigated to study the feasibility of second-generation bioethanol production using, for the first time, enzymatic hydrolysis pretreatment. Argan pulp was subjected to an industrial grinding process before enzymatic hydrolysis using Viscozyme L and Celluclast 1.5 L, followed by fermentation of the resulting sugar solution by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The argan pulp, as a biomass rich on carbohydrates, presented high saccharification yields (up to 91% and 88%) and an optimal ethanol bioconversion of 44.82% and 47.16% using 30 FBGU/g and 30 U/g of Viscozyme L and Celluclast 1.5 L, respectively, at 10%w/v of argan biomass.

The Gulupa (Passiflora edulis f. edulis Sims) is an expression of South America’s tropics’ biodiversity, and a source of B vitamins and amino acids. It is a climacteric export fruit for which it is necessary to incorporate emerging technologies for its conservation and transport. This work investigated the effect of ultrasound on gulupa pulp and verified the stability of the characters of interest in the shelf life of 20 days. Six treatments and a control sample were used, evaluated in triplicate, and varied in frequency (30 and 40 kHz) with an exposure time of 10, 20, and 30 min. A statistical analysis of unidirectional variances and Dunnett’s test was used. It was found that the ultrasound treatments did not affect the pH or the titratable acidity. Soluble solid results presented a significant increase (p < 0.05) (from 13.4 to 14.8% w/v) in the antioxidant capacity (from 1.13 to 1.54 µmol Trolox Equivalent (TE)/g by the ABTS•+ (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) Cationic Radical Assay and from 3.3 to 3.7 µmol TE/g by the DPPH· (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrilhydrazil) Radical Scavenging Assay). During the shelf life, ascorbic acid was the parameter that varied most (p < 0.05). It decreased from 42.7 to 21.6 mg ascorbic acid/100 g of pulp in the control sample. However, a smaller decrease was observed (23.8–24.5 mg ascorbic acid/100 g of pulp) in the 40 kHz treatments. The smallest global color difference (ΔE) for the control was found in the 40 kHz treatment at 30 min through the entire shelf life (day 0 to 20). Ultrasound treatment offers a new strategy to improve and extend the shelf life of chilled gulupa pulp.

The manufacturing of Portland cement is responsible for a big amount of energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. Therefore, to date, it is imperative to find alternative materials to replace a major part of cement for sustainable concrete constructions. The present study forms a part of an on-going research project on the application of new cementitious matrices produced using different types of recycled materials. In particular, it focuses on the use of pulp and waste paper to partially replace Portland cement at varying percentages for producing a new lightweight mortar, frequently named papercrete. The development of this economical and eco-friendly material may permit of recycling a big amount of waste paper leading to lower housing costs with also ecological benefits. To this scope, an experimental campaign in the laboratory is carried out to characterize this new innovative material from a physical and mechanical point of view. The preliminary results of this on-going experimental campaign are illustrated and commented on in this paper. The obtained results confirm the possibility of applying this partially-recycled material as a possible alternative for strengthening existing panels of masonry.

This study was conducted to investigate the nutritive value of avocado and mango fruit wastes, and to assess the possibility of preserving the wastes into multi-nutrient blocks (MB). Both peels and a pulp:peels (PP) mixture of each fruit were analyzed for chemical composition and in vitro fermentation with goats’ ruminal fluid. Wastes had low-dry matter (DM) content (800 g/kg DM) and those from avocado high fat levels (>580 g/kg DM). Mango wastes were fermented at a greater extent and faster rate than avocado ones. The PP mixture of each fruit was included into multi-nutrient blocks (MB) formulated to have similar chemical composition. There were only subtle differences in the fermentation of MB including wastes from either avocado or mango, but fermentation of avocado-MB resulted in significantly (p ≤ 0.032) greater acetate and lower propionate proportions than mango-MB. Including the PP mixture in the formulation of MB for goats feeding is a feasible option to reduce the environmental impact of avocado and mango fruit wastes, but studies on the acceptance of the MB by goats and their stability over long-time storage periods are needed.

In this study, the effects of different fruit parts and extraction conditions on the antioxidant properties of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) fruit were investigated. Five in vitro antioxidant models and statistical analyses were performed. The results revealed that jujube peel with pulp (peel pulp) exhibited better antioxidant capacity than did seeds. Overall, jujube peel pulp extracted using 50% ethanol at 60 °C exhibited the best antioxidant capacity in terms of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (0.3 ± 0 mg/mL), 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity (0.5 ± 0 mg/mL), total phenolic content (38.3 ± 0.4 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram dry weight), total flavonoid content (43.8 ± 0.2 mg quercetin equivalent per gram dry weight), and reducing power (41.9 ± 2.2 mg ascorbic acid equivalent per gram dry weight). The results indicated that jujube peel pulp is a more potential natural antioxidant than seeds.

The main goal of this work was to measure the total alkaloid content (TALC) from pulp, peel, seed, and columella of soursop fruit (Annona muricata L.) by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and to obtain the best conditions of the UAE with the response surface methodology (RSM). We evaluated the effect of amplitude (40%, 70%, and 100%), time (5, 10, and 15 min) and pulse-cycles (0.4, 0.7, and 1 s) and compared the best UAE conditions of alkaloids with a conventional extraction (maceration). The structural characterization of the raw material with the highest TALC was developed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques [1H, 13C, heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC), heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC), and homonuclear correlation spectroscopy (COSY)]. According to the RSM, the best conditions in the UAE for extracting alkaloids varied depending on the type of plant tissue. It took 5 min with an amplitude of 70% and pulse-cycles of 1, 0.4, and 1 s, respectively, to extract the highest TALC in peel, seed, and columella while the optimal conditions for extracting the largest amount of alkaloids from the pulp were obtained at 5 min in UAE with pulse-cycles of 0.55 s and 100% amplitude. The TALC was highest in the peel (7.48 mg/g), which was followed by the seed (2.31 mg/g), the pulp (1.20 mg/g), and the columella (0.79 mg/g) and was positively correlated (R2 = 0.98–0.88) with the predicted values. In addition, the extraction alkaloids from the peel, pulp, seed, and columella using the UAE was 56.31, 5.45, 3.06, and 2.96 times higher, respectively, than the extraction by maceration. The alkaloids identified in the peel have not been reported and were nornuciferin, assimilobin, anonaine, and isolaureline. This study showed that the soursop fruit peel can be a source of alkaloids and that UAE has an important potential for extracting these compounds.

Inorganic Mg2+ and Al3+ containing layered double hydroxide (LDH) particles were synthesised in situ from aqueous solution onto chemical pulp fibers of pine (Pinus sylvestris). High super saturated (hss) solution with sodium carbonate produced LDH particles with an average diameter of 100–200 nm. Nano-size (70 nm) LDH particles were found from fibers external surface and, to a lesser degree, from the S2 cell wall after synthesis via low super saturated (lss) route. The synthesis via slow urea hydrolysis (Uhyd) yielded micron and clay sized LDH (2–5 μm) and enabled efficient fiber densification via mineralization of S2 fiber wall layer as indicated by TEM and compliance analysis. The Uhyd method decreased fiber compliance up to 50%. Reduction in the polymerisation degree of cellulose was observed with capillary viscometry. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the hybridization with LDH reduced the exothermic heat, indicating, that this material can be incorporated in flame retardant applications. Fiber charge was assessed by Fibers 2015, 3 104 adsorption expermients with methylene blue (MB) and metanil yellow (MY). Synthesis via lss route retained most of the fibres original charge and provided the highest capacity (10 μmol/g) for anionic MY, indicating cationic character of hybrid fibers. Our results suggested that mineralized fibers can be potentially used in advanced applications such as biocomposites and adsorbent materials.

Postharvest application of fungicides is commonly applied in order to reduce food loss. Prochloraz is currently the only postharvest fungicide registered in Israel and Europe in avocado fruits. Due to its unfavorable toxicological properties, prochloraz will be banned from the end of 2020 for future postharvest usage and therefore a substitute candidate is urgently warranted. Fludioxonil, a relatively safe, wide spectrum fungicide, is approved in Europe and Israel for postharvest use in various fruits, but not avocado. Hence, fludioxonil has been evaluated in the present study as a potential substitute for prochloraz in avocado. The objectives of the present study were to determine fludioxonil efficacy against common fungal infestations in avocado and distribution kinetics between peel and pulp in comparison to prochloraz. At the same concentration range (75−300 µg/L), fludioxonil was as effective as prochloraz in inhibiting postharvest decay, while in the early season cultivars, suffering mainly from stem-end rot, it exhibited a better decay control than prochloraz. Fludioxonil and prochloraz displayed negligible and undetected pulp levels, respectively, due to low peel penetrability. Taken altogether, fludioxonil was found to be a suitable candidate for replacing prochloraz as a postharvest fungicide in avocado.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of apple peel polyphenol extract (APPE) on the physicochemical and microbiological properties of probiotic yoghurt. Five concentrations of APPE were added in probiotic yoghurt as: (1) CTL, control without APPE; (2) AE1, addition of 1% APPE; (3) AE2, addition of 2% APPE; (4) AE3, addition of 3% APPE; (5) AE4, addition of 4% APPE; and (6) AE5, addition of 5% APPE. The prepared probiotic yoghurt was stored at 4 °C for 21 days and analyzed for physicochemical and microbiological properties. The initial viable count of L. bulgaricus, S. thermophilus, B. lactis and L. acidophilus were similar in all yoghurt samples at day 1. The maximum viability loss of probiotics was observed in CTL (p < 0.05). The lowest viability loss of probiotics was observed in AE5 samples (p < 0.05). The acidity, water holding capacity and viscosity were increased with the addition of APPE. No significant effects were observed on milk fat and total solid contents of probiotic yoghurt with the addition of APPE. The total phenolic contents of probiotic yoghurt increased significantly as 0.59, 0.71, 0.97, 1.18, 1.35 in AE1, AE2, AE3, AE4 and AE5, samples respectively. It was observed that AE3 and AE4 samples had better taste, flavour and colour with good texture. The survival of probiotics and antioxidant activity of the yoghurts were enhanced with the addition of APPE. In conclusion, apple peels could be successfully used as prebiotic in yoghurt with increased viable counts of probiotics.

Research, design, fabrication and results of various screen printed capacitive humidity sensors is presented in this paper. Two types of capacitive humidity sensors have been designed and fabricated via screen printing on recycled paper and cardboard, obtained from the regional paper and cardboard industry. As printing ink, commercially available silver nanoparticle-based conductive ink was used. A considerable amount of work has been devoted to the humidity measurement methods using paper as a dielectric material. Performances of different structures have been tested in a humidity chamber. Relative humidity in the chamber was varied in the range of 35%–80% relative humidity (RH) at a constant temperature of 23 °C. Parameters of interest were capacitance and conductance of each sensor material, as well as long term behaviour. Process reversibility has also been considered. The results obtained show a mainly logarithmic response of the paper sensors, with the only exception being cardboard-based sensors. Recycled paper-based sensors exhibit a change in value of three orders of magnitude, whereas cardboard-based sensors have a change in value of few 10s over the entire scope of relative humidity range (RH 35%–90%). Two different types of capacitor sensors have been investigated: lateral (comb) type sensors and modified, perforated flat plate type sensors. The objective of the present work was to identify the most important factors affecting the material performances with humidity, and to contribute to the development of a sensor system supported with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip directly on the material, for use in smart packaging applications. Therefore, the authors built a passive and a battery-supported wireless module based on SL900A smart sensory tag’s IC to achieve UHF-RFID functionality with data logging capability.

A key challenge in prevention of global warming is how to increase energy efficiency, to be able to deal with increased fossil CO2 emissions from rising energy usage. Increasing energy efficiency will decrease energy usage and is in a key role in emission mitigation. The focus is the pulp and paper industry, which is energy-intensive. Development of industrial energy efficiency has been studied before but the role of industrial transformation is still mostly unknown. The knowledge must be improved, to be able to predict future developments in the most effective way. In this research, impact of various production unit closures and start-ups on energy efficiency of the Finnish pulp and paper industry were studied utilizing statistical analysis. Results indicate that about 20% of the Finnish pulp and paper industry energy efficiency improvement between 2011 and 2017 is caused by the major structural changes. The rest, 80% of the progress, was mainly due to improved technology and more optimal operational modes. Additional findings suggest that modern mill start-ups have a significantly greater potential to reduce energy consumption than old mill closures.

Three polysaccharide-protein complexes of longan pulp (LP1-3) were isolated in this work. Their physicochemical characteristics and immunomodulatory effects on splenocytes, natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages in vitro were investigated. The carbohydrate portions of LP1-3 were principally composed of glucose, arabinose and mannose. LP3 displayed the maximal moisture absorption, and the thermal stability of LP2 was obviously higher than that of LP1 and LP3. All of them showed the characteristic polysaccharide and protein bands in the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrum. For a certain dose, all the fractions could significantly stimulate splenocyte proliferation, macrophage phagocytosis against neutral red, and NK cell cytotoxicity against YAC-1 lymphoma cell (P < 0.05). The results demonstrated that the polysaccharide-protein complexes of longan pulp have medical potential as immunotherapeutic adjuvants due to their immunomodulatory activities.

Characteristic aroma volatile compounds from different parts of cayenne pineapple were analyzed by headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The main volatile compounds were esters, terpenes, ketones and aldehydes. The number and content of aroma compounds detected in pulp were higher than those found in core. In pulp, the characteristic aroma compounds were ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl hexanoate, 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone (DMHF), decanal, ethyl 3-(methylthio)propionate, ethyl butanoate, and ethyl (E)-3-hexenoate; while in core the main compounds were ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, ethyl hexanoate and DMHF. The highest odor units were found to correspond to ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, followed by ethyl hexanoate and DMHF. The odor units found for pulp were higher than those for core.

Yan73 is a “teinturier” red wine variety cultivated in China and used in winemaking to strengthen red wine color. Here, the anthocyanin profile in both the skin and pulp of this grape variety was analyzed by HPLC-MS. The results showed that 18 anthocyanins were detected in both the skin and the pulp, and pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside, an anthocyanin compound hardly detected in most other Vitis viniferaberries, was found. However, the contents of individual anthocyanins in the skin and the pulp were significantly different. Compared with the skin, the pulp exhibited much lower ratio of 3’,5’-substituted to 3’-substituted anthocyanins and much higher ratio of methoxylation of anthocyanin B-ring to non methoxylation, and with regard to the aromatic acylated and aliphatic acylated anthocyanins, both their contents in the skin are higher than in the pulp. The findings will provide some new insight for the tissue-specific expression and regulation of the genes involving in anthocyanin biosynthesis in grape berries.

Harvested longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) fruit are susceptible to decay caused by both bacterial and fungal infections. Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a kind of mycotoxin produced by a number of fungi. In this study, OTA was extracted from longan fruit pulp by 80% methanol and then loaded on C-18 solid-phase extraction columns. The extract solution was then analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography - fluorescence detection (HPLC-FD) and an electron spray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), respectively. The HPLC-FD analysis showed that a compound similar to OTA might exist in longan fruit pulp, but further analysis by the ESI-MS method demonstrated that OTA was not present in the longan pulp, indicating that the presence of OTA in longan fruit pulp detected by the HPLC-FD analysis needed to be confirmed by the ESI-MS method.