Tyrosinase-based nanobiosensor for environmental monitoring of hormones in river water.

This study explores the application of a tyrosinase cantilever nanobiosensor for detecting 17ß-estradiol and estrone in typical water systems. The physical-chemical parameters of water were evaluated within the Tigre River micro-basin in Erechim, RS, to determine water potability for urban populations. Water clarity, conductivity, and pH levels were essential markers, adhering to recognized standards for water quality and human consumption. The cantilever nanobiosensor demonstrated strong sensitivity and a broad linear range, with a limit of detection (<0.00051 ppb) surpassing other enzymatic biosensors and covering a range of 0.0001-100 ppb. The real water sample quality investigated in relation to contamination with 17ß-estradiol and estrone by nanobiosensor showed values below the LOD for both compounds. Recovery studies demonstrated the reliability of the nanobiosensor. Selectivity tests indicated minimal interference from structurally similar substances. This study validates the nanobiosensor's potential for environmental monitoring and hormone detection, aligning with standard practices.

Iron supplementation does not aggravate impaired glucose tolerance and sugar overload-induced genotoxicity in rats.

High sugar intake is a major risk factor for metabolic disorders. Genotoxicity is an important factor in diabetes onset, and iron (Fe) may be an aggravating element. However, this relationship is still poorly established. Thus, this study evaluated whether Fe supplementation could aggravate obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, and sugar overload-induced genotoxicity in rats. A total of 24 rats were treated with different diets: standard diet (SD, n = 8), invert sugar overload (320 g/L, HSD, n = 8), or Fe plus invert sugar overload (2.56 mg/L of Fe2+, Fe-HSD, n = 8) for four months. After treatment, the Fe-HSD group showed no excessive weight gain or impaired glucose tolerance. DNA damage in blood, as assessed by comet assay, gradually increased in HSD during treatment (p < 0.001), whereas Fe-HSD showed a nonlinear increase in DNA damage. Moreover, Fe-HSD presented 0.6-fold more DNA damage compared with SD (p = 0.0055) in the 1st month of treatment. At months 2 and 3, results show a ≥ 1.4-fold increase in HSD and Fe-HSD DNA damage, respectively, compared with SD (p < 0.01). At the end of the experiment, only HSD DNA damage differed from SD (1.5-fold more, p = 0.0196). Fe supplementation did not aggravate the invert sugar-induced DNA damage (p > 0.05). In the pancreas, results showed no differences in DNA damage. Mutagenicity, evaluated by micronucleus testing, was not observed regardless of treatment (p = 0.428). Fe supplementation, in the evaluated concentration, did not aggravate weight gain, impaired glucose tolerance, and sugar overload-induced genotoxicity in rats.

Bioactive Compounds from Artichoke and Application Potential.

Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus, known as the artichoke, originated in the Mediterranean region and is now cultivated in several countries. The artichoke has leaves, a stem, and a head, also called a floral capitulum, covered with green and pointed bracts. It is rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, inulin, coumarins, terpenes, dietary fibre, enzymes, polysaccharides, minerals and vitamins, and therefore has a wide range of uses, including in the food industry, medicine and biofuels. Several studies have shown that artichokes have properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, hypocholesterolaemic, anti-HIV, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective and lipid-lowering effects. The aim of this study is to provide a literature review on the phytochemical composition, bioactivity and applications, focusing on the methods of extraction, purification and concentration of enzymes present in artichoke.

Malolactic fermentation of lactic acid bacteria isolated from southern Brazilian red wine.

The objective was to isolate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from southern Brazil's wines and investigate their potential as starter cultures for malolactic fermentation (MLF) in Merlot (ME) and Cabernet Sauvignon (CS) wines through the fermentative capacity. The LAB were isolated from CS, ME, and Pinot Noir (PN) wines in the 2016 and 2017 harvests and evaluated for morphological (color and shape of the colonies), genetic, fermentative (increase in pH, acidity reduction, preservation of anthocyanins, decarboxylation of L-malic acid, yield of L-lactic acid, and content of reduced sugars), and sensory characteristics. Four strains were identified as Oenococcus oeni [CS(16)3B1, ME(16)1A1, ME(17)26, and PN(17)65], one as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum [PN(17)75], and one as Paucilactobacillus suebicus [CS(17)5]. Isolates were evaluated in the MLF and compared to a commercial strain (O. oeni), as well as a control (without inoculation and spontaneous MLF), and standard (without MLF). CS(16)3B1 and ME(17)26 isolates finished the MLF for CS and ME wines, respectively, after 35 days, similar to the commercial strain, and CS(17)5 and ME(16)1A1 isolates ended the MLF in 45 days. In the sensory analysis, ME wines with isolated strains received better scores for flavor and overall quality than the control. Compared to the commercial strain, CS(16)3B1 isolate obtained the highest scores for buttery flavor and taste persistence. CS(17)5 isolate received the higher scores for a fruity flavor and overall quality and the lowest for a buttery flavor. The native LAB displayed MLF potential, regardless of the year and grape species from which they were isolated.

Combination of chemical coagulation and membrane-based separation for dairy wastewater treatment.

An important factor resulted from the ascension of the milk and milk-based by-products production is many effluents directly released into the environment. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the combination of the chemical coagulation, with ferric chloride as a coagulant, and the membrane separation processes (MSP) and reverse osmosis (RO) processes in the treatment of effluents from a powdered milk dairy industry. To evaluate the effectiveness of the integration of these mechanisms, the characterization of the effluents was carried out through Total Nitrogen (Ntotal), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), color, pH, and turbidity analysis. Regarding the treatments with ferric chloride, the Ntotal removal was up to 55.7% (concentration of 1.2 g L- 1) and the color up to 50% (0.7 g L- 1). For the MSP and RO treatments, the color removal was up to 100% (1st RO), turbidity up to 100% (1st RO), COD up to 98.7% (3rd RO), and TOC up to 96.7% (3rd RO). Finally, the integration of the chemical coagulation and MSP processes was efficient for the treatment of dairy industry wastewater and provides the return of water in appropriate characteristics according to legislation.

Technological characteristics of tofu from soybean coagulated with cardoon flower extract.

The objective of the present study was to develop tofu with soybean-water soluble extract coagulated with cardoon flower (F1) and magnesium chloride (MgCl2, F2). The produced tofu was characterized in terms of physical, chemical, microbiological, and sensory properties during 14 days of storage. The yield of F1 was higher (p < 0.05) (195 g/100 soybean seeds) than F2 (162 g/100 soybean seeds). F1 presented higher moisture, protein, acidity, syneresis, and lipids when compared with F2, and a reduction of these contents during the storage. F1 presented lower hardness, stickiness, springiness, and cohesiveness compared with F2. The acceptability of F1 showed a score of 6.00 and F2 of 4.68, and the purchase intention was 3.22 for F1 and 2.23 for F2. This study recommended the use of cardoon flower at 35% level as it has great potential as a coagulant for the elaboration of tofu with higher yield, and acceptability and reasonable purchasing intention.

Heavy metals detection in river water with cantilever nanobiosensor.

Heavy metals can be highly toxic depending on the dose and the chemical form. In this context, sensing devices such as nanobiosensors have been presented as a promising tool to monitor contaminants at micro and nanoscale. In this work, cantilever nanobiosensors with phosphatase alkaline were developed and applied to detect heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Cd, Zn, Co, and Al) in river water. The nanobiosensor surface was functionalized by the self-assembled monolayers (SAM) technique using 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid, N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC) and N- hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), and phosphatase alkaline enzyme. The sensing layer deposited on the cantilever surface presented a uniform morphology, at nanoscale, with 80 nm of thickness. The nanobiosensor showed a detection limit in the ppb range and high sensitivity, with a stability of fifteen days. The developed cantilever nanobiosensor is a simple tool, suitable for the direct detection of contaminants in river water.

Tools for detecting insect semiochemicals: a review.

Semiochemicals are chemical compounds that are released by many species as a means of intra- and interspecific communication. Insects have extremely advanced olfactory systems; indeed, they rely on smell when performing many of their main behaviors, such as oviposition, breeding, prey location, and defense. This characteristic of insects implies that semiochemicals could be used for various applications, including in agriculture, where they could be employed along with other tools to control pest insects. The aim of this review is to present the main techniques used and the state of the art in the detection of semiochemicals, focusing on pheromones. In addition to the traditional methods of identifying semiochemicals, such as gas chromatography coupled to a high-resolution detection mode (e.g., flame ionization (FID), electron capture (ECD), photoionization (PID), or mass spectrometry (MS)), other tools are addressed in this review, including sensors and biosensors. While these new technologies may be used under laboratory conditions to improve or complement technologies that are already being used, they are mainly intended for use as new agricultural tools for detecting and controlling pest insects in the field.

Development and Structural Behaviour of Soybean Gelato.

The aim of this study is to elaborate and evaluate structural characteristics of soybean gelato by varying the content of soybean protein concentrate (2.95 to 17.05%) and vegetable fat (7.95 to 22.05%) using experimental design. The replacement of milk by hydrosoluble extract and soybean protein concentrate presented itself as an alternative to gelato production with unique characteristics, especially in terms of protein, solubility, viscosity, melting point, overrun and acceptability. The addition of up to 5% (m/V) protein concentrate, 14% (by volume) soybean hydrosoluble extract, and 15% (by mass) vegetable fat to gelato formulations resulted in better structural characteristics, with viscosity ranging from 0.45-0.70 Pa∙s at 10 °C, a non-Newtonian behaviour and protein stability (total protein content 8.44% and solubility 41%). Soybean gelato structural analysis using X-ray diffraction revealed 15° and 35° diffraction angles at 2Θ, characterizing the crystalline part of the product. The thermal analyses showed four bands of mass loss in the temperature range of 40-600 °C, characterizing loss of moisture, decomposition of the soy protein and the fat/emulsifier of the formulations. Thus, the soybean gelato is an innovative product, lactose and milk protein-free with outstanding characteristics for the general public, mainly, for the populations with intolerance to such components.

Cantilever nanobiosensor using tyrosinase to detect atrazine in liquid medium.

The aim of this study was to develop a cantilever nanobiosensor for atrazine detection in liquid medium by immobilising the biological recognition element (tyrosinase vegetal extract) on its surface with self-assembled monolayers using gold, 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid, 1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl] carbodiimide hydrochloride/n-hydroxysuccinimide. Cantilever nanobiosensors presented a surface compression tension increase when atrazine concentrations were increased, with a limit of detection and limit of quantification of 7.754 ppb (parts per billion) and 22.792 ppb, respectively. From the voltage results obtained, the evaluation of atrazine contamination in river and drinking water were very close to those of the reference sample and ultrapure water, demonstrating the ability of the cantilever nanobiosensor to distinguish different water samples and different concentrations of atrazine. Cantilever nanosensor surface functionalization was characterised by combining polarisation modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy and indicating film thickness in nanometric scale (80.2 ± 0.4 nm). Thus, the cantilever nanobiosensor developed for this study using low cost tyrosinase vegetal extract was adequate for atrazine detection, a potential tool in the environmental field.

Successive membrane separation processes simplify concentration of lipases produced by Aspergillus niger by solid-state fermentation.

In this study, we developed a simplified method for producing, separating, and concentrating lipases derived from solid-state fermentation of agro-industrial residues by filamentous fungi. First, we used Aspergillus niger to produce lipases with hydrolytic activity. We analyzed the separation and concentration of enzymes using membrane separation processes. The sequential use of microfiltration and ultrafiltration processes made it possible to obtain concentrates with enzymatic activities much higher than those in the initial extract. The permeate flux was higher than 60 L/m2 h during microfiltration using 20- and 0.45-µm membranes and during ultrafiltration using 100- and 50-kDa membranes, where fouling was reversible during the filtration steps, thereby indicating that the fouling may be removed by cleaning processes. These results demonstrate the feasibility of lipase production using A. niger by solid-state fermentation of agro-industrial residues, followed by successive tangential filtration with membranes, which simplify the separation and concentration steps that are typically required in downstream processes.

Active starch biopolymeric packaging film for sausages embedded with essential oil of Syzygium aromaticum.

Starch polymer matrices were developed with the incorporation of 1% clove essential oil (EO) (Syzygium aromaticum) aiming for use as active packaging for sausages. At the concentration of 1% EO in the polymer matrix, it showed exponential behavior with respect to oil release over 30 days, with faster release in the beginning and a tendency towards a reduction in release velocity over time. The presence of OE in the biofilm led to significant differences versus the control in terms of aroma and flavor parameters. It was found that EO had an antioxidant effect in sausages with a significant difference between treatments with respect to TBA (thiobarbituric acid) values at the end of a 15 day period of refrigerated storage. There were no significant variations in pH and Aw among treatments during the evaluated period. A significant negative correlation (-0.78) between brightness (L*) and the lipid oxidation of the products was observed.

Continuous flow electrocoagulation in the treatment of wastewater from dairy industries.

Dairy industry wastewater contains high levels of organic matter, consisting mainly of fat, protein and products of their partial microbial decomposition. In the present study, the use of continuous electrocoagulation is proposed for the primary treatment of dairy wastewater. The electrochemical treatment was carried out in a continuous flow cell with aluminum electrodes. The influence of the voltage, the distance between the electrodes and the hydraulic residence time (HRT) on the process performance was assessed, by measuring the removal of color, turbidity, total organic carbon (TOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The optimum voltage, distance between the electrodes and HRT were 10 V, 1 cm and 90 min, respectively, yielding a current density of 13.3 A.m(-2). Under these conditions, removal of color, turbidity, TOC and COD were 94%, 93%, 65% and 69%, respectively, after a steady state was reached in the continuous flow reactor.

Control of Penicillium sp. on the Surface of Italian Salami Using Essential Oils.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the in vitro effects of rosemary, salvia, oregano and clove oils at volume fractions of 1000, 750, 500, 250, 100, 50, 26, 10 and 5 µL/mL (100, 75, 50, 25, 10, 5, 3, 1 and 0.5%) on the growth of contaminating fungi in salami. The in vitro effect of the oils against fungal growth was indicated by zones of inhibition. Rosemary oil showed an inhibition zone of 9.6 mm only at the maximal volume fraction (1000 µL/mL). Salvia oil showed inhibition zones of 12.2, 11.2 and 10.5 mm only at the three highest fractions tested. Based on the inhibition zones, clove oil at 125 and 250 µL/mL, oregano oil at 250 and 500 µL/mL and a mixture (1:1 by volume) of the two oils at 100 µL/mL were selected to be applied to the surface of salamis. A significant reduction of fungal growth in all of the oil-treated samples was confirmed by visual inspection. A sensory analysis revealed that the samples treated with 125 µL/mL of clove oil or 100 µL/mL of a mixture of oregano and clove oil showed no significant flavour differences compared with the control. Carvacrol and eugenol were the principal compounds in oregano and clove oils, respectively, and were most likely responsible for the antifungal activity.

Esterification of fatty acids by Penicillium crustosum lipase in a membrane reactor.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the performance of a membrane reactor system for esterification of oleic acid and butyric acid with ethanol by Penicillium crustosum lipase using polyethersulfone membranes with molecular weight cut-offs of 30, 60 and 100 kDa at pressures up to 200 kPa. RESULTS: The confinement of lipase with 60 and 100 kDa membranes showed the best results. The esterification of butyric acid in the membrane reactor and with free lipase showed higher conversions than those obtained with oleic acid, since the system operated with oleic acid was more subject to fouling and thus could not be run for repeated cycles. CONCLUSION: The confinement of lipase from P. crustosum in a membrane reactor was possible, resulting in the satisfactory conversion of butyric acid to ethyl butyrate with the possibility of reuse of the immobilized enzyme.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction and concentration of phenolic compounds from jabuticaba sabará (Plinia peruviana (Poir.) Govaerts) peel by nanofiltration membrane.

Jabuticaba peel, rich in antioxidants, offering health benefits. In this study, the extraction of phenolic compounds from jabuticaba peel using ultrasound-assisted (UA) and their subsequent concentration by nanofiltration (NF) employing a polyamide 200 Da membrane was evaluated. The UA extractions were conducted using the Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) 22 methodology, with independent variables extraction time (11.55 to 138 min) and temperature (16.87 to 53.3 °C), and fixed variables mass to ethanol solution concentration at pH 1.0 (1:25 g/mL), granulometry (1 mm), and ultrasonic power (52.8 W). The maximum concentrations obtained were 700.94 mg CE/100 g for anthocyanins, 945.21 mg QE/100 g for flavonoids, 133.19 mg GAE/g for phenols, and an antioxidant activity IC50 of 24.36 µg/mL. Key phenolic compounds identified included cyanidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-glucoside, and various acids like syringic and gallic. NF successfully concentrated these compounds, enhancing their yield by up to 45%. UA and NF integrate for sustainable extraction.

Differentiating True and False Cinnamon: Exploring Multiple Approaches for Discrimination.

This study presents a comprehensive literature review that investigates the distinctions between true and false cinnamon. Given the intricate compositions of essential oils (EOs), various discrimination approaches were explored to ensure quality, safety, and authenticity, thereby establishing consumer confidence. Through the utilization of physical-chemical and instrumental analyses, the purity of EOs was evaluated via qualitative and quantitative assessments, enabling the identification of constituents or compounds within the oils. Consequently, a diverse array of techniques has been documented, encompassing organoleptic, physical, chemical, and instrumental methodologies, such as spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. Electronic noses (e-noses) exhibit significant potential for identifying cinnamon adulteration, presenting a rapid, non-destructive, and cost-effective approach. Leveraging their capability to detect and analyze volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles, e-noses can contribute to ensuring authenticity and quality in the food and fragrance industries. Continued research and development efforts in this domain will assuredly augment the capacities of this promising avenue, which is the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms in conjunction with spectroscopic data to combat cinnamon adulteration.

Recent updates to microbial production and recovery of polyhydroxyalkanoates.

The increasing use of synthetic polymers and their disposal has raised concern due to their adverse effects on the environment. Thus, other sustainable alternatives to synthetic plastics have been sought, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which are promising microbial polyesters, mainly due to their compostable nature, biocompatibility, thermostability, and resilience, making this biopolymer acceptable in several applications in the global market. The large-scale production of PHAs by microorganisms is still limited by the high cost of production compared to conventional plastics. This review reports some strategies mentioned in the literature aimed at production and recovery, paving the way for the bio-based economy. For this, some aspects of PHAs are addressed, such as synthesis, production systems, process control using by-products from industries, and advances and challenges in the downstream. The bioplastics properties made them a prime candidate for food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industrial applications. With this paper, it is possible to see that biodegradable polymers are promising materials, mainly for reducing the pollution produced by polymers derived from petroleum.

Association between the use of muscle-building supplements and DNA damage in resistance training practitioners.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the relationship between the supplements used for sport and safety, especially regarding the induction of genotoxicity. Therefore, more knowledge about a DNA damage possibly caused using sport supplements is necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between the use of muscle-building supplements and DNA damage in resistance training practitioners. METHODS: Muscle-building supplements were classified into three categories based on evidence of efficacy and safety: Strong Evidence to Support Efficacy and Apparently Safe (SESEAS); Limited or Mixed Evidence to Support Efficacy (LMESE), and Little to No Evidence to Support Efficacy and/or Safety (LNESES). DNA damage was evaluated by the comet assay (DNA damage index and frequency) and buccal micronucleus by the cytome assay (micronuclei and nuclear buds). In the sequence, the adjusted analysis of covariance was performed. This study included 307 individuals ages 37.99 ± 13.95 y (52.1% men), of which 157 consumed supplements. RESULTS: The results of the comet assay revealed that participants who used supplements had higher DNA damage indexes (P = 0.018) and damage frequency (P = 0.045) than those who reported using no supplements. Moreover, the comet assay also indicated that the participants who used supplements classified into the SESEAS category presented the highest DNA damage index (P = 0.025) and frequency (P = 0.044) compared with those who used no supplements. However, we found no significant difference in the micronuclei and nuclear buds in the evaluated groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Supplement use is not associated with permanent damage, suggesting that SESEAS supplements are safe for consumption.

Evaluation of packaging systems with O2-absorbers on quality of minimally processed soybean sprouts.

This study evaluated the influence of O2-absorbing sachets into different packages polyethylene terephthalate (PET - E1), low density polyethylene (LDPE - E2), and PET/LDPE (E3) on the quality of minimally processed soybean sprouts (MP-sprouts). The MP-sprouts were stored up to 12 days and characterized for physicochemical, microbiological and sensory attributes. The O2-absorbing sachet showed changes during exposure to the environment by the formation of amorphous iron hydroxide, which was observed by the analysis of functional groups and XRD. The packaging used in the study showed high transmittance and clarity, and low Haze, being a good feature for storing the MP product. All packaging systems showed an increase in the volume of absorbed oxygen (cm3) up to 9 days of storage. The physic-chemical characteristics of the MP-sprouts stored for 12 days were preserved in the different packages, showing no difference regarding the use of the O2-absorbing sachet. The O2-absorbing sachet not influenced the quality of MP-sprouts during the stored (12 days). The best visual aspect was observed in PET package (with and without O2-absorbing sachet) being classified as excellent, without color change. The MP-sprouts also fulfilled the microbiological quality standards and presented 75.11% acceptability and 72.40% purchase intention.