Application of MOX Sensors to Determine the Emission of Volatile Compounds in Corn Groats as a Function of Vertical Pressure in the Silo and Moisture Content of the Bed

This study was focused on the analysis of the emission of volatile compounds as an indicator of changes in the quality degradation of corn groats with 14% and 17% moisture content (wet basis) using an electronic nose (Agrinose) at changing vertical pressure values. The corn groats were used in this study in an unconsolidated state of 0 kPa (the upper free layer of bulk material in the silo) and under a consolidation pressure of 40 kPa (approximately 3 m from the upper layer towards the bottom of the silo) and 80 kPa (approximately 6 m from the upper layer towards the bottom of the silo). The consolidation pressures corresponded to the vertical pressures acting on the layers of the bulk material bed in medium-slender and low silos. Chromatographic determinations of volatile organic compounds were performed as reference tests. The investigations confirmed the correlation of the electronic nose response with the quality degradation of the groats as a function of storage time. An important conclusion supported by the research results is that, based on the determined levels of intensity of volatile compound emission, the electronic nose is able to distinguish the individual layers of the bulk material bed undergoing different degrees of quality degradation.

Potential of Curcumin in the Management of Skin Diseases

Curcumin is a polyphenolic molecule derived from the rhizoma of Curcuma longa L. This compound has been used for centuries due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. These make it ideal for preventing and treating skin inflammation, premature skin ageing, psoriasis, and acne. Additionally, it exhibits antiviral, antimutagenic, and antifungal effects. Curcumin provides protection against skin damage caused by prolonged exposure to UVB radiation. It reduces wound healing times and improves collagen deposition. Moreover, it increases fibroblast and vascular density in wounds. This review summarizes the available information on the therapeutic effect of curcumin in treating skin diseases. The results suggest that curcumin may be an inexpensive, well-tolerated, and effective agent for treating skin diseases. However, larger clinical trials are needed to confirm these observations due to limitations in its in vivo use, such as low bioavailability after oral administration and metabolism.

Organic amendments improve salinity-induced osmotic and oxidative stress tolerance in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.)Moench)

AIMS

Salinity adversely affects okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench] plants by inducing osmotic and oxidative stresses. This study was designed to enhance salinity-induced osmotic and oxidative stress tolerance in okra plants by applying organic amendments.

METHODS

The effects of different organic amendments (municipal solid waste compost, farmyard manure (FYM) and press mud) on osmotic potential, water use efficiency, activities of antioxidant enzymes, total soluble sugar, total soluble proline, total soluble protein and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of okra plants grown under saline conditions (50 mM sodium chloride) were evaluated in a pot experiment. The organic amendments were applied each at the rate of 5% and 10% per pot or in various combinations (compost + FYM, FYM + press mud and compost + press mud each at the rate of 2.5% and 5% per pot).

RESULTS

As compared to control, high total soluble sugar (60.41), total soluble proline (33.88%) and MDA (51%) contents and increased activities of antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (83.54%), catalase (78.61%), peroxidase (53.57%] in salinity-stressed okra plants, were indicative of oxidative stress. Salinity significantly reduced the osmotic potential (41.78%) and water use efficiency (4.75%) of okra plants compared to control. Under saline conditions, 5% (farmyard manure + press mud) was the most effective treatment, which significantly improved osmotic potential (27.05%), total soluble sugar (4.20%), total soluble protein (73.62%) and total soluble proline (23.20%) contents and superoxide dismutase activity (32.41%), compared to saline soil. Application of 2.5% (FYM + press mud), 5% press mud, and 10% compost significantly reduced MDA content (27%) and improved activities of catalase (38.64%) and peroxidase (48.29%), respectively, compared to saline soil, thus facilitated to alleviate oxidative stress in okra plants.

CONCLUSIONS

Using organic amendments (municipal solid waste compost, farmyard manure and press mud) was a cost-effective approach to improve salinity-induced osmotic and oxidative stress tolerance in okra plants.

Influence of silicon nano-particles on Avena sativa L. to alleviate the biotic stress of Rhizoctonia solani

Avena sativa L. a cereal crop that is badly affected by several abiotic and biotic stresses. In the current study, silicon nanoparticles are used to mitigate the harmful effects of root rot disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn on the growth of A. sativa. In vitro (Petri plates) and in vivo (pots experiment) were performed to measure the various physiological and biochemical parameters i.e. osmotic potential, chlorophyll, proline content, growth parameters, sugar, fresh and dry weight, and disease index. Results revealed that physiological and biochemical parameters were reduced under fungal stress with silicon nanoparticles treatment as compared to the control group. Si nanoparticles helped to alleviate the negative effects caused by fungus i.e. germination percentage upto 80%, germination rate 4 n/d, radical and plumule length was 4.02 and 5.46, dry weight 0.08 g, and relative water content was (50.3%) increased. Fungus + Si treatment showed the maximum protein content, i.e. 1.2 µg/g as compared to Fungus (0.3 µg/g) treated group. The DI was maximum (78.82%) when the fungus directly attacked the target plant and DI reduced (44.2%) when the fungus was treated with Si nanoparticles. Thus, silicon nanoparticles were potentially effective against the stress of R. solani and also used to analyze the plant resistance against fungal diseases. These particles can use as silicon fertilizers, but further studies on their efficacy under field conditions and improvement in their synthesis are still needed.

Effect of the Consolidation Level on Organic Volatile Compound Emissions from Maize during Storage

The aim of this study was to determine the emission of organic volatile compounds from maize grain as a function of granularity and packing density of bulk material in conditions imitating processes occurring in silos. The study was carried out with the use of a gas chromatograph and an electronic nose, which was designed and constructed at the Institute of Agrophysics of PAS and has a matrix of eight MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) sensors. A 20-L volume of maize grain was consolidated in the INSTRON testing machine with pressures of 40 and 80 kPa. The control samples were not compacted, and the maize bed had bulk density. The analyses were carried out at a moisture content of 14% and 17% (w.b.-wet basis). The measurement system facilitated quantitative and qualitative analyses of volatile organic compounds and the intensity of their emission during 30-day storage. The study determined the profile of volatile compounds as a function of storage time and the grain bed consolidation level. The research results indicated the degree of grain degradation induced by the storage time. The highest emission of volatile compounds was recorded on the first four days, which indicated a dynamic nature of maize quality degradation. This was confirmed by the measurements performed with electrochemical sensors. In turn, the intensity of the volatile compound emission decreased in the next stage of the experiments, which showed a decline in the quality degradation dynamics. The sensor responses to the emission intensity decreased significantly at this stage. The electronic nose data on the emission of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) as well as grain moisture and bulk volume can be helpful for the determination of the quality of stored material and its suitability for consumption.

The Role of Fungal Fuel Cells in Energy Production and the Removal of Pollutants from Wastewater

Pure water, i.e., a sign of life, continuously circulates and is contaminated by different discharges. This emerging environmental problem has been attracting the attention of scientists searching for methods for the treatment of wastewater contaminated by multiple recalcitrant compounds. Various physical and chemical methods are used to degrade contaminants from water bodies. Traditional methods have certain limitations and complexities for bioenergy production, which motivates the search for new ways of sustainable bioenergy production and wastewater treatment. Biological strategies have opened new avenues to the treatment of wastewater using oxidoreductase enzymes for the degradation of pollutants. Fungal-based fuel cells (FFCs), with their catalysts, have gained considerable attention among scientists worldwide. They are a new, ecofriendly, and alternative approach to nonchemical methods due to easy handling. FFCs are efficiently used in wastewater treatment and the production of electricity for power generation. This article also highlights the construction of fungal catalytic cells and the enzymatic performance of different fungal species in energy production and the treatment of wastewater.

The Effect of In Vitro Digestion on Polyphenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Properties of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) and Sorghum-Enriched Pasta

The phenol content of sorghum is a unique feature among all cereal grains; hence this fact merits the special attention of scientists. It should be remembered that before polyphenols can be used in the body, they are modified within the digestive tract. In order to obtain more accurate data on the level and activity of tested ingredients after ingestion and digestion in the in vivo digestive tract, in vitro simulated digestion may be used. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the content of polyphenols, flavonoids, and individual phenolic acids, as well as the antiradical properties, of sorghum and sorghum-enriched pasta before and after in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion. We observed that the total content of polyphenols decreased after gastric digestion of sorghum, and slightly increased after duodenal digestion. Moreover, the flavonoid content decreased after the first stage of digestion, while antioxidant properties increased after the first stage of digestion and slightly decreased after the second stage. The digestion of polyphenolics in sorghum is completely different to that in pasta-both in varieties with, and without, the addition of sorghum. For pasta, the content of total polyphenols and flavonoids, and free radical scavenging properties, decrease after each stage of digestion.

Imidacloprid Pesticide Causes Unexpectedly Severe Bioelement Deficiencies and Imbalance in Honey Bees Even at Sublethal Doses

Pesticides impair honeybee health in many ways. Imidacloprid (IMD) is a pesticide used worldwide. No information exists on how IMD impact the bees' body bioelement balance, which is essential for bee health. We hypothesized that IMD disturbs this balance and fed the bees (in field conditions) with diets containing 0 ppb (control), 5 ppb (sublethal considered field-relevant), and 200 ppb (adverse) doses of IMD. IMD severely reduced the levels of K, Na, Ca, and Mg (electrolytic) and of Fe, Mo, Mn, Co, Cu, Ni, Se, and Zn, while those of Sn, V, and Cr (enzymatic) were increased. Levels of P, S, Ti, Al, Li, and Sr were also decreased, while only the B content (physiologically essential) was increased. The increase in Tl, Pb, and As levels (toxic) was alarming. Generally, IMD, even in sublethal doses, unexpectedly led to severe bioelement malnutrition in 69% of bioelements and to a stoichiometric mismatch in the remaining ones. This points to the IMD-dependent bioelement disturbance as another, yet unaccounted for, essential metabolic element which can interfere with apian health. Consequently, there is a need for developing methods of bioelement supplementation of the honey bee diet for better preventing bee colony decline and protecting apian health status when faced with pesticides.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of New Honey Varietals

Due to a widespread occurrence of multidrug-resistant pathogenic strains of bacteria, there is an urgent need to look for antimicrobial substances, and honey with its antimicrobial properties is a very promising substance. In this study, we examined for the first time antimicrobial properties of novel varietal honeys, i.e., plum, rapeseed, Lime, Phacelia, honeydew, sunflower, willow, and multifloral-P (Prunus spinosa L.), multifloral-AP (Acer negundo L., Prunus spinosa L.), multifloral-Sa (Salix sp.), multifloral-Br (Brassica napus L.). Their antimicrobial activity was tested against bacteria (such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus circulans, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), yeasts (such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans) and mold fungi (such as Aspergillus niger). In tested honeys, phenolic acids constituted one of the most important groups of compounds with antimicrobial properties. Our study found phenolic acids to occur in greatest amount in honeydew honey (808.05 µg GAE/g), with the highest antifungal activity aiming at A. niger. It was caffeic acid that was discovered in the greatest amount (in comparison with all phenolic acids tested). It was found in the highest amount in such honeys as phacelia-356.72 µg/g, multifloral (MSa) and multifloral (MBr)-318.9 µg/g. The highest bactericidal activity against S. aureus was found in multifloral honeys MSa and MBr. Additionally, the highest amount of syringic acid and cinnamic acid was identified in rapeseed honey. Multifloral honey (MAP) showed the highest bactericidal activity against E. coli, and multifloral honey (MSa) against S. aureus. Additionally, multifloral honey (MBr) was effective against E. coli and S. aureus. Compounds in honeys, such as lysozyme-like and phenolic acids, i.e., coumaric, caffeic, cinnamic and syringic acids, played key roles in the health-benefit properties of honeys tested in our study.

Determining the shelf life and quality changes of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) during storage using electronic nose and machine learning

The activities of alpha-amylase, beta-amylase, sucrose synthase, and invertase enzymes are under the influence of storage conditions and can affect the structure of starch, as well as the sugar content of potatoes, hence altering their quality. Storage in a warehouse is one of the most common and effective methods of storage to maintain the quality of potatoes after their harvest, while preserving their freshness and sweetness. Smart monitoring and evaluation of the quality of potatoes during the storage period could be an effective approach to improve their freshness. This study is aimed at assessing the changes in the potato quality by an electronic nose (e-nose) in terms of the sugar and carbohydrate contents. Three potato cultivars (Agria, Santé, and Sprite) were analyzed and their quality variations were separately assessed. Quality parameters (i.e. sugar and carbohydrate contents) were evaluated in six 15-day periods. The e-nose data were analyzed by means of chemometric methods, including principal component analysis (PCA), linear data analysis (LDA), support vector machine (SVM), and artificial neural network (ANN). Quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) and multivariate discrimination analysis (MDA) offer the highest accuracy and sensitivity in the classification of data. The accuracy of all methods was higher than 90%. These results could be applied to present a new approach for the assessment of the quality of stored potatoes.

Investigating Changes in pH and Soluble Solids Content of Potato during the Storage by Electronic Nose and Vis/NIR Spectroscopy

Potato is an important agricultural product, ranked as the fourth most common product in the human diet. Potato can be consumed in various forms. As customers expect safe and high-quality products, precise and rapid determination of the quality and composition of potatoes is of crucial significance. The quality of potatoes may alter during the storage period due to various phenomena. Soluble solids content (SSC) and pH are among the quality parameters experiencing alteration during the storage process. This study is thus aimed to assess the variations in SSC and pH during the storage of potatoes using an electronic nose and Vis/NIR spectroscopic techniques with the help of prediction models including partial least squares (PLS), multiple linear regression (MLR), principal component regression (PCR), support vector regression (SVR) and an artificial neural network (ANN). The variations in the SSC and pH are ascending and significant. The results also indicate that the SVR model in the electronic nose has the highest prediction accuracy for the SSC and pH (81, and 92%, respectively). The artificial neural network also managed to predict the SSC and pH at accuracies of 83 and 94%, respectively. SVR method shows the lowest accuracy in Vis/NIR spectroscopy while the PLS model exhibits the best performance in the prediction of the SSC and pH with respective precision of 89 and 93% through the median filter method. The accuracy of the ANN was 85 and 90% in the prediction of the SSC and pH, respectively.

How to Identify Roast Defects in Coffee Beans Based on the Volatile Compound Profile

The aim of this study was to detect and identify the volatile compounds in coffee that was obtained in defect roast processes versus standard roasting and to determine the type and strength of the correlations between the roast defects and the volatile compound profile in roasted coffee beans. In order to achieve this goal, the process of coffee bean roasting was set to produce an underdeveloped coffee defect, an overdeveloped coffee defect, and defectless coffee. The "Typica" variety of Arabica coffee beans was used in this study. The study material originated from a plantation that is located at an altitude of 1400-2000 m a.s.l. in Huehuetenango Department, Guatemala. The analyses were carried out with the use of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and an electronic nose. This study revealed a correlation between the identified groups of volatile compounds and the following coffee roasting parameters: the time to the first crack, the drying time, and the mean temperatures of the coffee beans and the heating air. The electronic nose helped to identify the roast defects.

Natural Substances, Probiotics, and Synthetic Agents in the Treatment and Prevention of Honeybee Nosemosis

Honeybees are important pollinators, but they are continuously exposed to a variety of fungal and bacterial diseases. One of the various diseases affecting honeybees is nosemosis caused by microsporidia from the Nosema genus. Honeybees are mainly infected through consumption of infected food or faeces containing Nosema spp. spores. Nosemosis causes damage to the middle intestine epithelium, which leads to food absorption disorders and honeybee malnutrition. Fumagillin, i.e., the antibiotic used to treat nosemosis, was withdrawn in 2016 from EU countries. Therefore, researchers have been looking for compounds of both natural and synthetic origin to fight nosemosis. Such compounds should not have a negative impact on bees but is expected to inhibit the disease. Natural compounds tested against nosemosis include, e.g., essential oils (EOs), plant extracts, propolis, and bacterial metabolites, while synthetic substances tested as anti-nosemosis agents are represented by porphyrins, vitamins, antibiotics, phenolic, ascorbic acids, and others. This publication presents an 18-year overview of various studies of a number of natural and synthetic compounds used in the treatment and prevention of nosemosis cited in PubMed, GoogleScholar, and CrossRef.

Application of MOS Gas Sensors Coupled with Chemometrics Methods to Predict the Amount of Sugar and Carbohydrates in Potatoes

Five potato varieties were studied using an electronic nose with nine MOS sensors. Parameters measured included carbohydrate content, sugar level, and the toughness of the potatoes. Routine tests were carried out while the signals for each potato were measured, simultaneously, using an electronic nose. The signals obtained indicated the concentration of various chemical components. In addition to support vector machines (SVMs that were used for the classification of the samples, chemometric methods, such as the partial least squares regression (PLSR) method, the principal component regression (PCR) method, and the multiple linear regression (MLR) method, were used to create separate regression models for sugar and carbohydrates. The predictive power of the regression models was characterized by a coefficient of determination (R²), a root-mean-square error of prediction (RMSEP), and offsets. PLSR was able to accurately model the relationship between the smells of different types of potatoes, sugar, and carbohydrates. The highest and lowest accuracy of models for predicting sugar and carbohydrates was related to Marfona potatoes and Sprite cultivar potatoes. In general, in all cultivars, the accuracy in predicting the amount of carbohydrates was somewhat better than the accuracy in predicting the amount of sugar. Moreover, the linear function had 100% accuracy for training and validation in the C-SVM method for classification of five potato groups. The electronic nose could be used as a fast and non-destructive method for detecting different potato varieties. Researchers in the food industry will find this method extremely useful in selecting the desired product and samples.

Numerical Modeling and Evaluation of PEM Used for Fuel Cell Vehicles

The present study sought to analyze a novel type of polymer membrane fuel cell to be used in vehicles. The performance of the fuel cell was evaluated by modeling the types of production-consumption heat in the anode and cathode (including half-reaction heat, activation heat, and absorption/desorption heat) and waterflood conditions. The meshing of flow channels was carried out by square cells and the governing equations were numerically discretized in the steady mode using the finite difference method followed by solving in MATLAB software. Based on the simulation results, the anodic absorption/desorption heat, anodic half-reaction heat, and cathodic activation heat are positive while the cathodic absorption/desorption heat and cathodic half-reaction heat show negative values. All heat values exhibit a decremental trend over the flow channel. Considering the effect of relative humidity, the relative humidity of the cathode showed no significant change while the anode relative humidity decreased along the flow channel. The velocity at the membrane layer was considerably lower, due to the smaller permeability coefficient of this layer compared to the gas diffusion and reactants (cathode) layers.

A Machine Learning Method for Classification and Identification of Potato Cultivars Based on the Reaction of MOS Type Sensor-Array

In response to one of the most important challenges of the century, i.e., the estimation of the food demands of a growing population, advanced technologies have been employed in agriculture. The potato has the main contribution to people’s diet worldwide. Therefore, its different aspects are worth studying. The large number of potato varieties, lack of awareness about its new cultivars among farmers to cultivate, time-consuming and inaccurate process of identifying different potato cultivars, and the significance of identifying potato cultivars and other agricultural products (in every food industry process) all necessitate new, fast, and accurate methods. The aim of this study was to use an electronic nose, along with chemometrics methods, including PCA, LDA, and ANN as fast, inexpensive, and non-destructive methods for detecting different potato cultivars. In the present study, nine sensors with the best response to VOCs were adopted. VOCs sensors were used at various VOCs concentrations (1 to 10,000 ppm) to detect different gases. The results showed that a PCA with two main components, PC1 and PC2, described 92% of the total samples’ dataset variance. In addition, the accuracy of the LDA and ANN methods were 100 and 96%, respectively.

The Efficacy of Black Chokeberry Fruits against Cardiovascular Diseases

Epidemiological studies have emphasized the association between a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and a lower frequency of occurrence of inflammatory-related disorders. Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa L.) is a valuable source of biologically active compounds that have been widely investigated for their role in health promotion and cardiovascular disease prevention. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that consumption of these fruits is associated with significant improvements in hypertension, LDL oxidation, lipid peroxidation, total plasma antioxidant capacity and dyslipidemia. The mechanisms for these beneficial effects include upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, decreased oxidative stress, and inhibition of inflammatory gene expression. Collected findings support the recommendation of such berries as an essential fruit group in a heart-healthy diet. The aim of this review was to summarize the reports on the impact of black chokeberry fruits and extracts against several cardiovascular diseases, e.g., hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, as well as to provide an analysis of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of these fruits in the abovementioned disorders.

Physical Properties, Spectroscopic, Microscopic, X-ray, and Chemometric Analysis of Starch Films Enriched with Selected Functional Additives

Biodegradable materials are used in the manufacture of packaging and compostable films and various types of medical products. They have demonstrated a large number of potential practical applications in medicine and particularly in the treatment of various cardiac, vascular, and orthopedic conditions in adults as well in children. In our research, the extrusion-cooking technique was applied to prepare thermoplastic starch (TPS), which was then utilized to obtain environmentally friendly starch-based films. Potato starch was the basic raw material exploited. Polyvinyl alcohol and keratin were used as functional additives in amounts from 0.5 to 3%, while 20% of glycerol was harnessed as a plasticizer. The processing of the thermoplastic starch employed a single screw extruder-cooker with an L/D ratio of 16. The film blowing process was carried out using a film-blowing laboratory line with L/D = 36. FTIR Spectroscopy was applied for the assignment of the prominent functional groups. The results showed that the processing efficiency of thermoplastic starch with functional additives varied depending on the level of polyvinyl alcohol and keratin addition. Moreover, the FTIR data correlated with the changes in the physical properties of the tested films. The analysis of FTIR spectra revealed several changes in the intensity of bands originating from stretching vibrations characteristic of the –OH substituent. The changes observed depended on the presence/lack of the hydrogen bonding occurring upon interactions between the starch molecules and the various additives used. In addition, notable changes were observed in bands assigned to glycoside bonds in the starch.

Antioxidation Defenses of Apis mellifera Queens and Workers Respond to Imidacloprid in Different Age-Dependent Ways: Old Queens Are Resistant, Foragers Are Not

Simple Summary

Honey bees are unique for studies on aging because queens live 40-fold longer than workers. An efficient antioxidant defense (ADS) is thought to be pivotal for longevity, but not always. How were different ADSs shaped by evolution in young and old queens and workers? Honey bees, the essential pollinators, are facing depopulation due, at least in part, to pesticides, such as imidacloprid, an oxidative stressor. Is an evolutionarily shaped ADS still useful for contemporary young and old queens/workers? Answering these questions is important for emerging oxidative-stress ecology and protecting contemporary honey bees. The ADS activity was determined in 1-day-old, 20-day-old, and 2-year-old queens and in 1-day-old and 20-day-old workers (foragers) fed without (control) or with low or high imidacloprid (in bee food). ADS was upregulated in workers with age but downregulated in queens. However, imidacloprid oxidative stress suppressed the active ADS in workers, particularly 20-day-old foragers, but not in 1-day-old queens. Unexpectedly, poor ADS activity in 2-year-old queens was highly upregulated by imidacloprid. Thus, queen and worker ADSs respond to imidacloprid in opposite ways, and old queens were still resistant, but foragers were not. This may be unfavorable for foragers dwelling in ecosystems that expose them to pesticides.

Abstract

We investigated how different antioxidant defenses (ADSs) were shaped by evolution in young/old Apis mellifera workers and queens to broaden the limited knowledge on whether ADSs are effective in contemporary pesticide environments and to complete bee oxidative-aging theory. We acquired 1-day-old, 20-day-old, and 2-year-old queens and 1-day-old and 20-day-old workers (foragers) fed 0, 5, or 200 ppb imidacloprid, a pesticide oxidative stressor. The activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase and the level of total antioxidant potential were determined in hemolymph. The ADS was upregulated in workers with age but downregulated in queens. Imidacloprid suppressed the ADS in all workers, particularly in foragers with an upregulated ADS, but it did not affect the ADS in 1-day-old queens. In contrast to foragers, the downregulated ADS of 2-year-old queens was unexpectedly highly upregulated by imidacloprid, which has not been previously shown in such old queens. The principal component analysis confirmed that queen and worker ADSs responded to imidacloprid in opposite ways, and ADS of 2-year-queens was markedly different from those of others. Thus, evolutionary shaped ADSs of older queens and workers may be of the limited use for foragers dwelling in pesticide ecosystems, but not for old queens.

Dataset of the next-generation sequencing of variable 16S rRNA from bacteria and ITS2 regions from fungi and plants derived from honeybees kept under anthropogenic landscapes

Forager Apis melliefera honeybees were collected from four localities located in Europe, i.e.: London, UK; Athens, Greece; Marchamalo, Spain and Lublin, Poland. Furthermore, from Asia we have collected A. mellifera as well as A. cerana foragers form Chiang Mai in Thailand We used next generation sequencing (NGS) to analyse the 16S rRNA bacterial gene amplicons based on the V3-V4 region and the ITS2 region from fungi and plants derived from honeybee samples. Amplicon libraries, were prepared using the 16S Metagenomic Sequencing Library Preparation, Preparing 16S Ribosomal RNA Gene Amplicons for the Illumina MiSeq System (Illumina®) protocol. NGS raw data are available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA686953. Furthermore, isolated DNA was used as the template for screening pathogens: Nosema apis, N. ceranae, N. bombi, tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi), any organism in the parasitic order Trypanosomatida, including Crithidia spp. (i.e., Crithidia mellificae), neogregarines including Mattesia and Apicystis spp. (i.e., Apicistis bombi). The presented data can be used to compare the metagenomic samples from different honeybee population all over the world. A higher load of fungi, and bacteria groups such as: Firmicutes (Lactobacillus); γ- proteobacteria, Neisseriaceae, and other unidentified bacteria was observed for Nosema cearana and neogregarines infected honeybees. Healthy honeybees had a higher load of plant pollens, and bacteria groups such as: Orbales, Gilliamella, Snodgrassella, and Enterobacteriaceae. More details can be found in research article [1] Ptaszyńska et al. 2021.

Determination of the Influence of Mechanical Properties of Capsules and Seeds on the Susceptibility to Feeding of Mononychus pubctumalbum in Endangered Plant Species Iris aphylla L. and Iris sibirica L

The aim of the study was to determine the correlation between the mechanical resistance of iris seed capsules and seeds to Mononychus punctumalbum foraging. The principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that the first main component referred to the variety type in 68%, and the second main component described the stage of the ontogenetic development of the plant in 26%. As indicated by the values of each parameter measured, all the parameters were found to exert a strong impact on the variability of the analyzed system. The occurrence of weevil infestation was also strongly but negatively correlated with seed wall thickness and capsule wall thickness. There was a correlation of seed max load and seed mass with the occurrence of the weevil. The analysis of the mechanical resistance of iris seed capsules (in June 9.28 N and September 6.27 N for I. sibirica and in June 6.59 N and September 2.94 N for I. aphylla) and seeds (in June 15.97 N and September 344.90 N for I. sibirica and in June 16.60 N and September 174.46 N for I. aphylla) showed significant differences between the terms and species. The PCA analysis revealed that the first variable was correlated with the occurrence of weevil foraging.

Amplicon Sequencing of Variable 16S rRNA from Bacteria and ITS2 Regions from Fungi and Plants, Reveals Honeybee Susceptibility to Diseases Results from Their Forage Availability under Anthropogenic Landscapes

European Apis mellifera and Asian Apis cerana honeybees are essential crop pollinators. Microbiome studies can provide complex information on health and fitness of these insects in relation to environmental changes, and plant availability. Amplicon sequencing of variable regions of the 16S rRNA from bacteria and the internally transcribed spacer (ITS) regions from fungi and plants allow identification of the metabiome. These methods provide a tool for monitoring otherwise uncultured microbes isolated from the gut of the honeybees. They also help monitor the composition of the gut fungi and, intriguingly, pollen collected by the insect. Here, we present data from amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA from bacteria and ITS2 regions from fungi and plants derived from honeybees collected at various time points from anthropogenic landscapes such as urban areas in Poland, UK, Spain, Greece, and Thailand. We have analysed microbial content of honeybee intestine as well as fungi and pollens. Furthermore, isolated DNA was used as the template for screening pathogens: Nosema apis, N. ceranae, N. bombi, tracheal mite (Acarapis woodi), any organism in the parasitic order Trypanosomatida, including Crithidia spp. (i.e., Crithidia mellificae), neogregarines including Mattesia and Apicystis spp. (i.e., Apicistis bombi). We conclude that differences between samples were mainly influenced by the bacteria, plant pollen and fungi, respectively. Moreover, honeybees feeding on a sugar based diet were more prone to fungal pathogens (Nosema ceranae) and neogregarines. In most samples Nosema sp. and neogregarines parasitized the host bee at the same time. A higher load of fungi, and bacteria groups such as Firmicutes (Lactobacillus); γ-proteobacteria, Neisseriaceae, and other unidentified bacteria was observed for Nosema ceranae and neogregarine infected honeybees. Healthy honeybees had a higher load of plant pollen, and bacteria groups such as: Orbales, Gilliamella, Snodgrassella, and Enterobacteriaceae. Finally, the period when honeybees switch to the winter generation (longer-lived forager honeybees) is the most sensitive to diet perturbations, and hence pathogen attack, for the whole beekeeping season. It is possible that evolutionary adaptation of bees fails to benefit them in the modern anthropomorphised environment.

Role of Gut Microbiota, Probiotics and Prebiotics in the Cardiovascular Diseases

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in identifying and applying new, naturally occurring molecules that promote health. Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits on the host”. Quite a few fermented products serve as the source of probiotic strains, with many factors influencing the effectiveness of probiotics, including interactions of probiotic bacteria with the host’s microbiome. Prebiotics contain no microorganisms, only substances which stimulate their growth. Prebiotics can be obtained from various sources, including breast milk, soybeans, and raw oats, however, the most popular prebiotics are the oligosaccharides contained in plants. Recent research increasingly claims that probiotics and prebiotics alleviate many disorders related to the immune system, cancer metastasis, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. However, little is known about the role of these supplements as important dietary components in preventing or treating cardiovascular disease. Still, some reports and clinical studies were conducted, offering new ways of treatment. Therefore, the aim of this review is to discuss the roles of gut microbiota, probiotics, and prebiotics interventions in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Identification of the Olfactory Profile of Rapeseed Oil as a Function of Heating Time and Ratio of Volume and Surface Area of Contact with Oxygen Using an Electronic Nose

The process of deep fat frying is the most common technological procedure applied to rapeseed oil. During heat treatment, oil loses its nutritional properties and its original consumer quality is lowered, which is often impossible to determine by organoleptic assessment. Therefore, the aim of the study was to correlate markers of the loss of the nutritional properties by rapeseed oil related to the frying time and the surface area of contact with oxygen with changes in the profile of volatile compounds. The investigations involved the process of 6-, 12-, and 18-h heating of oil with a surface-to-volume ratio (s/v ratio) of 0.378 cm⁻¹, 0.189 cm⁻¹, and 0.126 cm⁻¹. Samples were analysed to determine changes in the content of polar compounds, colour, fatty acid composition, iodine value, and total chromanol content. The results were correlated with the emission of volatile compounds determined using gas chromatography and an electronic nose. The results clearly show a positive correlation between the qualitative degradation of the oil induced by prolonged heating and the response of the electronic nose to these changes. The three volumes, the maximum reaction of the metal oxide semiconductor chemoresistors, and the content of polar compounds increased along the extended frying time.

Polyphenol Composition and Antioxidant Potential of Instant Gruels Enriched with Lycium barbarum L. Fruit

Goji fruit (Lycium barbarum L.) has been identified as a polyphenolic compound plant source of noted richness. It also contains polysaccharides, carotenoids, vitamins and minerals, fatty and organic acids. The purpose of the presented research was to produce innovative instant corn gruels with various dry goji berry contents (1, 3 and 5%), to determine the level of included polyphenolic compounds (including individual free phenolic acids) and to assess the antioxidant properties of these functional-food products. A further objective was to identify the optimum value of one of the most important production parameter, the rotational speed of the extruder's screw during gruel processing. The undertaken chromatographic analysis (LC-ESI-MS/MS) showed a wide variety of available phenolic acids. In the samples with 5% addition of fruit, eight phenolic acids were detected, whereas in the corn gruel without additives, only five were noted. The antioxidant activity, the content of free phenolic acids and the sum of polyphenols increased with increase of the functional additive. For all goji content, screw speeds of 100 and 120 rpm rather than 80 rpm resulted in higher polyphenol amounts and greater Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity, as well as higher ability to scavenge DPPH.

Friction and Shear Properties of Pine Biomass and Pellets

Knowledge on the mechanical properties of granular biomass is important for the design and efficient operation of equipment used for handling, storage, and processing. Their mechanical properties are used as a measure of material quality. In this study, the mechanical properties of granular biomass obtained from pines (sawdust, shavings, long shavings, and pellets) were determined under a moisture content range of 10–50%. The coefficient of sliding friction µ of four construction materials was determined using a 210-mm-diameter direct shear tester (Jenike’s shear box). To measure the shear resistance of the biomass materials (represented as torque T), a prototype vane tester was constructed. The characteristics of shear resistance with respect to time T(t) were determined for material samples under normal pressure p ranging from 5 to 30 kPa and a vane rotation rate of 3 rpm. Measurements were performed for five geometries of the rotor, reflecting typical deformation conditions encountered in the processing of granular biomass. The coefficient of sliding friction was found to be affected by the type of material, moisture content, and normal compressive pressure. Depending on the biomass material, the highest µ, which ranged from 0.50 to 0.62, was obtained for black steel, whereas the lowest µ, which ranged from 0.27 to 0.52, was obtained for aluminum. The lowest coefficient of sliding friction was observed for dry materials and high normal pressure. The torque T was observed to be affected by the rotor shape, material, normal pressure, and moisture content. The parameters presented provide information useful for the design of transport equipment and processing of granular wood biomass.

Identification of Volatile Organic Compounds and Their Concentrations Using a Novel Method Analysis of MOS Sensors Signal

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are natural markers useful in rapid assessment of adverse changes occurring in biological material. The use of an electronic nose seems to be a good, fast, and cheap method to determine particular VOCs. This paper presents a new method determination for VOCs and their concentration based on three sensorgram parameters: maximum of normalized sensor response, reaction time, and cleaning time measured from the end of the test to the half value of the maximum of normalized sensor response. The novelty of the method consists in the use for the first time of two parameters: reaction time and cleaning time measured from the end of the test to the half value of the maximum of normalized sensor response. The VOC sensorgrams at different VOC concentrations (26 to 3,842 ppm) were measured by an electronic nose Food Volatile Compound Analyzer (Agrinose) equipped with eight metal oxide semiconductor sensors dedicated to detect different gases. In the present studies, only six sensors that best respond to the VOCs were used. The highest responses to VOCs were obtained for two sensors-TGS2602 and AS-MLV-P2. The results showed that the dependence between the sensorgram parameters on VOC concentration was well described by a logarithmic curve in the whole range of concentrations. Detailed analysis revealed that the cleaning time increases with an increase in the number of carbon atoms in aliphatic molecules. The principal component analysis (PCA) was used to verify the utility of the new three parameters method in VOCs differentiation. The PCA analysis of these parameters showed that maximum of the normalized sensor response alone, which has been used for identification of particular VOCs so far, could not be regarded as a good parameter used for this purpose. Application of all the three parameters gave the best results in VOC identification. The research indicates that the use of three parameters of a volatile compound instead of only one parameter can allow precise determination of substances. Moreover, the results indicate that the analyzed parameters depend on the chemical structure of VOCs.

A Novel Method for Generation of a Fingerprint Using Electronic Nose on the Example of Rapeseed Spoilage

The paper presents application of a new three-parameter method for identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and creation of fingerprints based on the impregnation time (t_IM ), cleaning time (t_CL ), and maximum response ([ΔR/R]_max ) of chemically sensing sensors for detecting spoilage of agricultural commodities. The novelty of this method consists in the use of two additional parameters: an impregnation time and a cleaning time for the first time. An Agrinose built of eight metal oxide semiconductors was used for identification of loss in the rapeseed quality during a short period of storage after harvest. Principal component analysis was applied as a method of data analysis to verify the suitability of the new three-parameter method and visualization of groups of different quality of raw materials. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra for identification of the infrared bands of fungal polysaccharides and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the headspace was applied to describe volatile metabolite contents in reference to the electronic nose technique. The investigations and analyses have demonstrated that the new three-parameter method for determination of volatile compounds ([ΔR/R]_max , t_IM , t_CL ) describes the changes in VOCs more efficiently than the single-parameter approach based only on the maximum sensor response ([ΔR/R]_max ). The proposed method for generation of electronic fingerprints clearly discriminated between rapeseed samples infected with field and storage microflora. Three-parameters method can be useful for quality control in food microbiology and safety, as a rapid method of analysis and detection, including electronic nose sensor technology. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The use of the proposed method for generation of fingerprints requires no interference with the hardware of the electronic nose but necessitates modification of the software only. This facilitates implementation of the three-parameter method in available devices. This kind of methods and devices can be useful for example in storage process with active ventilation.

Changes in the bioelement content of summer and winter western honeybees (Apis mellifera) induced by Nosema ceranae infection

Proper bioelement content is crucial for the health and wellness of all organisms, including honeybees. However, the situation is more complicated in these important pollinators due to the fact that they change their physiology during winter in order to survive the relatively harsh climatic conditions. Additionally, honeybees are susceptible to many diseases such as nosemosis, which during winter can depopulate an entire colony. Here we show that summer bees have a markedly higher content of important bioelements such as: Al, Cu, P, V, (physiologically essential); Ca, K, Mg, (electrolytic); Cr, Se, Zn, (enzymatic); As, Hg, (toxic). In contrast, a markedly higher content of: Fe (physiologically essential); Mn, Ni, (enzymatic); Cd (exclusively toxic) were present in winter bees. Importantly, N. ceranae infection resulted in an increased honeybee bioelement content of: S, Sr (physiologically essential) and Pb (exclusively toxic), whereas the Nosema-free worker-bees had higher amounts of B and Si (physiologically essential). We propose that the shortages of Fe, Mn, Ni, and Na observed in Nosema-infected bees, could be the reason for the higher mortality of Nosema-infected bees throughout overwintering. In addition, a shortage of bioelements such as B and Si may be a reason for accelerated aging in foragers that is observed following N. ceranae infection. Therefore, in winter, bioelement content was more strongly affected by N. ceranae infection than during summer. We found a strong correlation between the bioelement content of bees and seasons (summer or winter) and also with Nosema infection. We conclude that the balance of bioelements in the honeybee is altered by both seasonal affects and by Nosema infection.