Biological Value Research Articles

STORAGE WASTE OF ASPARAGUS AS A VALUABLE SOURCE OF PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS

Summary. Waste from the fruit and vegetable industry dominates on the food waste market. With a tendency of increasing consumers’ interest in healthy food and growing consumption of fruits and vegetables, according to forecasts of analysts, the share of this waste will constantly increase. Therefore, nowadays the search for effective solutions of fruit and vegetable waste use, e.g. to obtain biologically active compounds, is extremely timely. Amount of waste during processing and storage of asparagus can reach up to 50%. However, these disposed residuals are rich in polyphenolic compounds, which are characterized by high biological value and can provide additional income. This work provides evaluation of phenolic compounds’ content in the waste generated during commercial processing of asparagus, at the stages of preparation for storage and after storage. Two varieties of Asparagus were studied, namely, varieties Prius F1 and Rosalie F1. It was established that the amount of phenolic compounds in asparagus waste reaches 67.73-74.77 mg×100g-1FW depending on the variety. Despite the differences in color, the studied varieties of asparagus did not differ significantly in terms of polyphenolic compounds’ total content. In the asparagus waste, content of phenolic compounds was estimated to be only 20-27% lower than in whole spears. Significant differences in the amount of polyphenolic compounds in asparagus waste produced during commercial processing before and after storage were not recorded. Asparagus waste of both studied varieties Prius F1 and Rosalie F1 thus may become a valuable source for obtaining polyphenolic compounds of high biological activity.

Research on the Infiltration of Scientific Spirit in High School Biology Teaching Under the Background of Curriculum Ideology and Politics

Curriculum thinking and politics is an exploration of moral education reform and a strategic measure to carry out the fundamental task of cultivating people. High school is a key period for students to form correct values. In addition to ideological and political courses, other courses also need to play the function of educating people, and take courses as the carrier to provide value guidance to students in the process of knowledge imparting and ability training. High school biology is a fundamental course in natural sciences and an important carrier for cultivating students’ scientific literacy. However, through questionnaire surveys and interviews at internship schools, it was found that the infiltration of scientific spirit into high school biology teaching is not ideal. Teachers have insufficient understanding of ideological and political education in the curriculum, and they cannot fully tap into educational materials in textbooks. The methods for infiltrating scientific spirit are relatively single, making it difficult to balance ideological and political infiltration with knowledge teaching. This article selects the scientific spirit as an ideological and political element based on the needs of national development and the characteristics of the discipline, and permeates it into biology teaching. Finally, the teaching effectiveness is evaluated through various methods. The aim is to enrich the theoretical research of thinking and politics in senior biology curriculum, and to provide teaching reference for teachers to cultivate students’ scientific spirit in biology teaching. After conducting questionnaire surveys and interviews with students and teachers, the following conclusions were drawn: firstly, although the teachers and students of the school have a limited understanding of ideological and political education in the curriculum, most of them support the integration of ideological and political education into biology teaching. Secondly, some teachers still place more emphasis on imparting knowledge in their teaching and have not fully utilized the educational value of biology. The implementation of ideological and political education in biology teaching is not ideal. Thirdly, overall, the penetration of scientific spirit in biology teaching is not satisfactory and needs further strengthening. In summary, teachers need to strengthen their exploration of textbooks and deepen their understanding of teaching design in their daily teaching process, in order to continuously improve their ideological and political education for students and fully leverage the educational value of biology. Integrating scientific spirit into biology teaching is not only in line with the ideological and political concepts of the curriculum, but also in line with the core competencies of the discipline, which can better leverage the educational value of biology.

Using an enzyme preparation and vitamin C to increase the meat productivity of broiler chickens

Purpose: to study the effect of vitamin C and MEK Feedbest®VGPro when introduced into the compound feed of broiler chickens with excessive background of heavy metals on the indices of meat productivity, food and biological value, ecological safety of their meat.Materials and methods. The objects of the study were meat chickens of the ROSS-508 cross. At the age of one day, 4 groups of 100 birds each were formed from them in accordance with the principle of analog groups. In the composition of the used recipes of complete compound feed in all three age periods of growing, the main grain and protein ingredients were represented by locally produced feed: corn, wheat, peas and rapeseed meal. Growing of experimental broilers for meat was completed at the age of 42 days and their control slaughter was carried out, for which 5 birds were selected from each group. The concentration of salts of heavy metals was determined in the samples of feed and meat of the experimental birds.Results. The experiment substantiated the feasibility of combined introduction of MEC Feedbest®VGPro at a rate of 100 g/t of feed and vitamin C at a rate of 500 g/t of feed into diets with excessive content of heavy metal salts. Compared to the control analogues, broilers of the 3rd experimental group showed a reliable (p<0,05) decrease in fat by 0,26 % and a simultaneous increase in dry matter, protein and the value of the protein-quality indicator in the pectoral muscle samples. Combined additions of the tested preparations contributed to a decrease in the concentration of zinc by 63,17 % (p<0,05), cadmium by 61,11 % (p<0,05) and lead by 62,34 % (p<0,05) in poultry meat samples from the 3rd experimental group, compared to the control. Moreover, in the meat samples of broilers of the 3rd experimental group, the maximum permissible concentrations of none of these elements were exceeded.

Effect of Processing Methods on Amino Acid and Fatty Acid Composition of Parkia biglobosa Seeds

Parkia biglobosa (PB) is among the various underexploited nutritious plants. A comparative study was conducted on the effect processing PB has on the amino and fatty acid composition. Fermented (FPB), defatted (DPB), and protein isolates (PI) samples were prepared from Parkia biglobosa seeds using various processing methods, and evaluated using standard analytical protocols. The PI showed the highest significant total non-essential amino acids, essential amino acids, and conditionally essential amino acids when compared with FPB and DPB. In addition, the PI showed the highest significant (p < 0.05) total neutral amino acids, basic amino acids, total aromatic amino acids, and the lowest percentage cystine ratio of total sulphur amino acids and total amino acids in comparison with FPB and DPB. The PI also showed a better-predicted protein efficient ratio, essential amino acid index, biological value, protein content, and nutritional index than FPB and DPB. Furthermore, PI amino acid composition was compared favourably with the reference scores for a whole hen’s egg, preschool child, and provisional scoring pattern. Arginine and histidine values of PI were higher than the recommended values. The FPB (42.29%) showed the highest polyunsaturated fatty acids compared with the DPB (41.94%) and PI (26.7%). The dominant saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids were stearic acid (15.1 DPB), linoleic acid (42.29 DPB), and oleic acid (14.05 PI). The DPB (1.84) showed a better polyunsaturated to saturated (P:S) ratio than FPB (1.74) and PI (0.91). The results revealed that the processing methods improved the relative amino acid composition, whereas the fatty acid composition improved in DPB. Therefore, PI could serve as an alternative in the formulation of complementary foods.

Enhanced Oligopeptide and Free Tryptophan Release from Chickpea and Lentil Proteins: A Comparative Study of Enzymatic Modification with Bromelain, Ficin, and Papain

Plant-based foods offer a sustainable alternative to meet the growing protein demand. Legumes are the most promising of these, as they contain relatively high concentrations of protein, low digestible starch, and dietary fiber, as well as them possibly featuring low levels of fat. Enzymatically modified legume proteins provide us with tempting perspectives in terms of enhancing foods’ biological values. However, their bioavailability and digestibility are generally less sufficient than that of proteins of animal origin, which may be improved by well-tailored enzyme modification. In this study, the efficacy of three plant-based proteases (bromelain, ficin, and papain) were evaluated at two distinct concentrations (2.5% and 10%) and three hydrolysis durations (1, 2, and 12 h) when transforming chickpea and lentil proteins. The degree of hydrolysis (DH), peptide profiles, and free amino acid content were analyzed to determine the efficiency of each enzyme. Results showed significant variations in DH, which was influenced by enzyme type, concentration, and hydrolysis duration. Papain exhibited the highest DH, particularly at a 10% concentration, reaching 27.8% efficiency in chickpea and 34.8% in lentils after 12 h. Bromelain and ficin were proven to be less effective, with ficin showing the least hydrolytic activity. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed substantial protein degradation, especially subsequent to papain treatment, pointing out that most proteins were cleaved into smaller peptides. SEC-HPLC indicated a predominant release of peptides within the 200–1000 Da range, suggesting enhanced bioavailability. Papain and bromelain treatments resulted in a significant release of oligopeptides and dipeptides. UHPLC analysis highlighted a marked post-hydrolysis increase in total free amino acids, with arginine, leucine, and lysine being the most abundant ones. Notably, tryptophan, being undetectable in untreated samples, was released in measurable amounts post-hydrolysis. These findings demonstrate papain’s superior performance in protein hydrolysis and its potential in producing bioactive peptides, highlighting its applicability in food processing and the development of both nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Unveiling the nutritional treasure trove: A comparative analysis of two Azolla species for potential food applications

The study investigates the nutritional potential of Azolla pinnata and Azolla caroliniana for its food applications. Nutritional evaluation revealed it as a valuable source of major and minor nutrients. Both species exhibited an abundance of vitamins as well as essential macro and micro mineral components. The essential amino acid profile ranged from 41.96% to 42.91%, and non-essential amino acids comprising of 57.1–58.02%. Fatty acid analysis indicated a significant amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (26.96% - 28.06%) and Monounsaturated fatty acids were present in the range of 8.34–8.81%. The ω3:ω6 ratio favored a healthy balance in both species indicating a ratio of 4:1. Protein quality indices showed encouraging values with regard to Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER), Essential Amino Acid Index (EAAI), Nutritional Index (NI), Biological Value (BV), and Chemical Score (CS) for both species. Findings suggested Azolla species as promising candidate for its food applications. A balanced and varied diet is essential for human health, and to meet this, Azolla can be explored as a complementary source of nutrient along with other major dietary sources.

Impact of storage period on hatching egg quality, extra-embryonic structures, embryo morphometry, hatchability, and Rosa 1 chick quality

Storage duration affects the biological value of hatching eggs. The study evaluated the composition and characteristics of hatching eggs from Rosa 1 hens, the morphometric traits of embryos and chicks, and hatching results based on storage time. A total of 1200 hatching eggs were divided into three groups: NS (control, non-stored), S4 (stored up to day 4), and S7 (stored up to day 7). Storage conditions were 17°C and approx. 60% relative humidity. Each group’s egg quality was measured for 30 eggs. Weight loss during storage was monitored. Lysozyme activity and viscosity were analyzed from fresh eggs and incubated eggs on days 7 and 14, using thin and thick albumen or amniotic fluid. Embryo morphometry was measured on days 7, 10, 14, and 18, and post-hatching results and the quality of one-day-old chicks were assessed. Eggs stored for 7 days (S7) had higher (P<0.05) weight loss compared to the NS group. The proportions of eggshell and yolk increased (P<0.05) after storage, and the yolk index decreased. Vitelline membrane strength was lower (P<0.001) in the S4 and S7 groups than in the NS group. The lowest (P<0.05) pH levels of thin, thick albumen and yolk were observed in the NS group. Lysozyme activity increased (P<0.001) in the thin albumen of eggs in the NS and S4 groups and the thick albumen from the NS group than in others. On day 7 of incubation, group S7 showed higher (P<0.05) lysozyme activity in thick albumen, with no activity in amniotic fluid. By day 14, lysozyme activity increased (P<0.001) in group S7’s thick albumen and S4 and S7 groups’ amniotic fluid. Viscosity was highest (P<0.05) in fresh eggs’ thin and thick albumen from group S7, but on day 7, thick albumen viscosity was lowest. On day 14, amniotic fluid viscosity was higher (P=0.009) in group S4 than in NS. Seven-day-old embryos in group S7 had lower (P=0.004) weight than others. Eye diameter in S7 embryos was also smaller on days 7 and 18. On day 10, NS group embryos had shorter body diagonal lengths. Storage up to 7 days adversely affected hatching efficiency. Storage affected the navel area of one-day-old chicks, with the highest neck length in male chicks from group S4 and the lowest in females from group S4. It is concluded that egg storage at 17°C and 60% relative humidity could be limited to 4 days to maintain hatchability and qualitative features.

Whole Blood Transcriptome Analysis in Dairy Ewes Fed a Dietary Grape Pomace Supplementation

The present study aims to evaluate the effect of a dietary supplementation with 10% grape pomace (GP) on the whole blood transcriptome of lactating ewes. By applying a log2FC higher than 0.5 or lower than −0.5 and a false discovery rate (FDR) &lt;0.05, the down-regulation of genes coding for plexin C1, ethanolamine kinase 1, tax1-binding protein 1, transmembrane 9 superfamily member 2, and Beclin-1 was observed in animals that received the dietary supplementation. This aspect was also accompanied by a reduction in the blood activity of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9; p &lt; 0.05), a gelatinase commonly involved in both acute and chronic pathological events. The ELISA test on other factors involved in inflammatory processes, interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), as well as in the antioxidant response, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT), did not reveal any significant changes (p &gt; 0.05). Overall, the introduction of GP in the diet of ewes gave indications of greater efficacy in preserving animal welfare, with interesting cues regarding the valorization of a by-product with a high biological value.

Revealing the effect of hydrothermal processing of legumes on the accumulation of dry matter in aquafaba

Legumes are an affordable source of vegetable protein, fiber, and vitamins, and due to their high nutritional and biological value, they are widely used in the nutrition of various categories of consumers. The main methods of processing legumes include hydromechanical and hydrothermal treatment, which is aimed at achieving culinary readiness of boiled legumes. Studying the parameters of the specified technological process for the accumulation of dry substances in aquafaba could make it possible to influence the composition and properties of this liquid, which would provide opportunities for its use in the food industry. The influence of hydrothermal processing of leguminous grains on the accumulation of dry matter in aquafaba, as well as the kinetics of moisture content of various types of leguminous grains, have been experimentally investigated, which made it possible to determine the rational parameters of hydromechanical and hydrothermal processing of chickpeas, beans, peas, lentils, with the preparation of boiled leguminous grains and aquafaba. It was determined that during hydromechanical processing intensive moisture absorption occurs in the first hours and reaches up to 80 % of the initial mass, after which the intensity of water absorption decreases somewhat. Rational technological parameters of hydrothermal processing of leguminous grains by two methods, basic (cooking at a temperature of 99±1 °С) and under pressure (cooking in a pressure cooker at a temperature of 120±1 °С) were established in the relationship "achieving the readiness of legumes – the content of dry substances in aquafaba". The use of the above-mentioned techniques for hydrothermal processing of leguminous grains make it possible to obtain the content of dry substances in aquafaba in the range of 2.8–4.8 % for cooking by the main technique and 3.9–7.0 % under pressure cooking conditions. To understand the processes regarding the influence of hydrothermal processing of legume grains on the accumulation of dry substances, the Peleg model was used. The experimental data could be used to substantiate parameters for the technological process to produce foods based on legumes

A preliminary study on the degradation of AFB1 by Tenebrio molitor, Rhizopus oryzae and Trichoderma reesei

Abstract Recently, genus Aspergillus, a fungus capable of producing aflatoxins, secondary highly toxic metabolites, has spread to new areas. These areas became suitable habitats due to the recent climate changes. The use of aflatoxin-contaminated crops is a cause of great concern in guaranteeing food safety and is responsible for major economic losses along the supply chain. For this reason, several strategies have been investigated to utilize these contaminated products as a possible food or feed resource by reducing or eliminating their aflatoxin content, but with limited relevant success. The presented study was aimed to evaluate a combination of biological processes to use aflatoxin B1 contaminated crops for their reintroduction into the production chain. The high tolerance to AFB1 and the apparent lack of accumulation in yellow mealworm larvae, reared on wheat bran substrates, spiked with increasing AFB1 concentration (0, 125, 250, 500 μg/kg) to obtain proteins of high biological value. Subsequently, the aflatoxin-degrading capacity of Rhizopus oryzae and Trichoderma reesei was applied to insect breeding waste (frass) in a fermentation process to ensure further utilization of biohazardous frass as soil conditioner. Individually, each process proven to be able to reduce the AFB1 present by about 80%, while the combination of the two approaches ensured the total degradation of aflatoxin B1-contaminated substrate and frass, which resulted in the possible production of biomass, that could be used for the feed and agricultural industry.

Increasing the productivity of oil flax in the Central Non-Black Earth region

Oil fl ax is a valuable oil crop with a wide range of applications, the raw materials of which are used in the food, technical, chemical, pharmaceutical industries and feed production. In terms of metabolism energy content, fl ax seed surpasses the grain of legumes, cereals and oilseeds. Due to the combination of high energy nutritional value and a large content of useful organic elements, fl ax has a unique biological value. In terms of amino acid composition, fl ax seed is similar to soy protein, but it contains less lysine than soy. Flaxseed presscake obtained during oil production is the most valuable among other types of presscake. Adding waste from fl ax seeds to presscake and meal for young livestock is a proven and good preventive measure that allows reducing the use of expensive synthetic drugs. The purpose of the research was to study the possibility of increasing the productivity of oil fl ax in the Central Non-Black Earth region. Under the conditions of the Central part of the Non-Chernozem zone, on sod-podzolic heavy loamy soils, in multifactorial field experiments, comprehensive studies were carried out on the effect of various techniques (previous crop, use of microfertilizers, level of mineral nutrition, chemical measures of weed control) included in the cultivation technology to obtain diff erent levels of the planned yield of oil flax. It was found that for agricultural production it is possible to recommend the use of winter wheat in crop rotation as a predecessor for oil fl ax, application of mineral fertilizer at the rate of N175P20K65, calculated to obtain the planned yield of 2.5 t/ha, treatment of crops with a mixture of herbicides Hacker, VRG, 80 g/ha + Gerbitox, VRK, 0.8 l/ha, microfertilizer Micropolidoc Plus at a dose of 0.5 l/ha in the “herringbone” phase when the fl ax plants are 8–10 cm tall.

Floral fortification: Post-harvest strategies for enhancing flower longevity

Due to their perishable nature, the floriculture industry faces significant challenges in preserving the freshness and quality of cut flowers post-harvest. Traditional preservation methods are often inadequate for maintaining flowers' aesthetic and biological value during storage and transport. This review explores the innovative application of nanotechnology in extending the shelf life of cut flowers. Nanoparticles, such as silver and zinc oxide, exhibit unique properties that effectively delay senescence and reduce microbial growth. By examining recent advances and case studies, this review highlights how nanomaterials can enhance water uptake, improve resistance to ethylene, and maintain turgidity in various floral species. Integrating these nanotechnologies promises to revolutionize post-harvest handling, offering significant improvements in flower quality and economic returns for the floriculture sector.

Toxicokinetic model of the pyrethroid pesticide lambda-cyhalothrin, main exposure route and dose reconstruction predictions in agricultural workers.

A toxicokinetic model of the pyrethroid insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) was developed to relate absorbed doses to urinary cis-3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-en-1-yl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (CFMP) metabolite levels used as a biomarker of exposure. The model then served to reconstruct absorbed doses in agricultural workers and their probability of exceeding the EFSA Acceptable occupational Exposure Level (AOEL). The toxicokinetic model was able to reproduce the temporal profiles of CFMP in the urine of operators spraying pesticides using the optimized model parameters (adjusted to human volunteer data). Modeling also showed that simulation of an inadvertent oral exposure mainly was the exposure scenario giving the best fit to CFMP urinary time-course data in applicators. With the dermal model parameters optimized from data in volunteers, simulation of a dermal exposure in applicators did not allow to reproduce the observed peak excretions and urinary metabolite levels; extremely high applied dermal doses would be required but still simulated dermal penetration rate would remain too slow. Simulation of an inhalation exposure allowed to reproduce the observed time-courses, but with unrealistic air concentrations. For applicators with the highest urinary concentrations, there was a probability of exceeding the AOEL at some points during the biomonitoring period [>50% probability of exceeding for 27% of 24-h samples]; for non-applicator workers the probability of exceeding the AOEL value was very low [corresponding value of 5%]. Furthermore, the median [95% CI] estimates of 10 000 Monte Carlo simulations led to a biological reference value corresponding to the AOEL of 116 [113-119] ng/kg bw/d and 7.5 [7.3-7.7] μg/L. Overall, 7% of applicators and 1% of workers performing weeding and strawberry picking had a probability of exceeding this biological reference value. As a next step, it would be interesting to apply these methods to multiple exposure to various contaminants.

Associations of different genotypes with the meat productivity of sheep

Identification of the potential to increasthe agricultural production of farm animals has become possible through the use of genomic selection methods. It is advisable to improve breeding and pedigree qualities of local breeds, since these have the best adaptability to the features of the natural and geographical conditions in a given area. He controlled slaughter of animals with different genotypes allowed us to determine their meat qualities, such as biological value, slaughter yield and slaughter weight. The ratio of slaughter weight and pre‐slaughter weight gives the slaughter yield in percent.PCR (polyamino acid chain reaction) using specific synthesised sets of oligonucleotides in the genotyping of experimental sheep populations was carried out in order to study the allelic variants of the CAST and GH genes.When studying the indices characterising body weight in sheep which have different genotypes, significant increases in the indices could be observed before the periods of driving to summer pastures (17.2 kg) and during lambing (25.8 kg). The lowest indices were noted during driving both from winter pastures to summer pastures and from summer pastures to winter pastures (30.5 kg).In the period before driving, the live weight index was higher in the CASTMM genotype by 5.8 %; upon arrival in the mountains the difference was 6.1 %; during lambing — 4.7 %; before leaving for winter pastures — 8.4 % and upon arrival at winter pastures — 9.5 %.

Application of whey protein microparticulates in the production of ice cream and other dairy products

The aim of this paper is to systemize data on the use of whey protein microparticulates (WPMP) in production of ice cream and other dairy products. Information about the essence of the microparticulation process and methods for WPMP production is given. Data on the composition and physico-chemical properties of liquid and dry WPMP are presented. An effect of sizes of WPMP particles on quality characteristics of products made with their use is described. The majority of the analyzed studies indicate that the diameter of particles is 1.0–2.5 µm. However, contradictory data were obtained for this indicator — if the results of all studies are taken into consideration, a size of conglomerates can be 0.5 to 12 µm. These sizes are comparable with parameters of fat globules, which allow receptors of the human oral cavity to perceive them identically. Due to this, WPMP can be used as an imitator of milk fat. It is noted that the microparticulation process enables producing WPMP with targeted functional properties, namely, with particular characteristics by indicators “solubility”, “water holding capacity”, “gel formation”, “emulsifying and foam forming properties”. Information about the specific features of using and dosing WPMP in fermented milk products, such yogurt, kefir, curd cheese and cheese, is given. A special attention is paid to the results of the investigation of using WPMP in ice cream. It is noted that most often scientists used WPMP to make up for the sensation of fatness in defatted and nonfat dairy products. The ability of WPMP to increase the biological value of food products is highlighted. It has been concluded that WPMP enables formation of soft and elastic structure in low-fat dairy products, intensification of milky color and restriction of ice crystal growth in frozen desserts by binding and equally distributing moisture. The data were obtained about the clinical investigation of an effect of ice cream with WPMP on the health of children and adults. The negative effect of WPMP on the indicators of clinical analyses of humans and their health was not revealed.

P10.24.B PREDICTION OF PCFDNA LEVELS, PROGRESSION-FREE SURVIVAL, AND OVERALL SURVIVAL THROUGH MACHINE-LEARNING MODELS BASED ON MRI-DERIVED RADIOMIC FEATURES IN PATIENTS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED GLIOBLASTOMA

Abstract BACKGROUND Circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) is a promising tool for monitoring patients with high-grade gliomas (HGGs) in addition to follow-up with conventional (cMRI) and advanced MRI (aMRI), which harbors an enormous amount of quantitative subvisual data that can be used to build models predicting disease behavior. Examining the relationship between ccfDNA levels and quantitative features extracted from cMRI and aMRI gives further insight into this novel biomarker, aiming to combine the biological value of ccfDNA and the spatial resolution of image biomarkers to improve HGGs monitoring. MATERIAL AND METHODS Features were extracted from each T1 post-contrast and FLAIR images by using the FLAIR hyperintensity and enhancement automatic segmentation tool (Pyradiomics software, v2.2.0). The radiomic dataset underwent Z-score normalization, feature reduction, and feature selection. Highly correlated features were excluded using a threshold of 0.9 person-correlation-coefficient. The ‘F_regression’ function was used to select the most important features concerning the ccfDNA concentration, Overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). This dataset was used as input for four machine learning models: Linear Regression (LR), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Random Forest (RF), and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). Hyperparameter tuning was performed at the first training iteration of each model using a 4-fold cross-validation GridSearchCV and model-specific parameters. The train-test strategy involved randomizing datasets into 80% training and 20% testing subsets across 100 iterations, ensuring robustness and reducing biases. RMSE values of each run were averaged based on sample test frequencies. Root means square error (RMSE) was used to assess the model’s performance. RESULTS 405 features were successfully extracted from T1 post-contrast and FLAIR images from both tumoral masks. A total of 287 were found to be highly correlated and, therefore, removed from the dataset. The ‘F_regression’ with a 90-percentile threshold separates 12 features divided into 3 shapes features relative to FLAIR segmentation, 6 features relative to the T1 post-contrast image, and 3 features for the FLAIR image. The SVR achieves the best RMSE performances when compared to other models when predicting the ccfDNA concentration, reaching an RMSE of 8.58. An analogous strategy was used for the models built to predict PFS and OS reaching an RMSE of 5.89 and 6.77, respectively. CONCLUSION Machine-learning models based on radiomic features combined with clinical variables are valuable tools for predicting OS and PFS in HGGs’ patients. The radiomic signature provides additional information compared to the tumoral volume to forecast ccfDNA levels. Combining both techniques could provide more precise assessment of disease status.

Proteomic Analysis of the Major Alkali-Soluble Inca Peanut (Plukenetia volubilis) Proteins.

Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) oil press-cake (SIPC) represents a new source of proteins of high biological value, with promissory food applications. However, knowledge of these proteins remains limited. In this study, a Sacha Inchi protein concentrate (SPC) was extracted from the SIPC, and proteomic analysis was performed to identify the major alkaline-soluble proteins. The electrophoretic profile highlighted the efficacy of alkaline pH and moderate temperature to extract the major proteins, from which a group of proteins, not previously reported, were registered. LC-MS/MS analyses produced abundant high-quality fragmentation spectra. Utilizing the Euphorbiaceae database (DB), 226 proteins were identified, with numerous well-assigned spectra remaining unidentified. PEAKS Studio v11.5 software generated 1819 high-quality de novo peptides. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD052665. Gene ontology (GO) classification allowed the identification of sequenced proteins associated with biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components in the seed. Consequently, the principal alkali-soluble proteins from SPC were characterized through derived functional analysis, covering 24 seed-storage-, 27 defense-, and 12 carbohydrate- and lipid-metabolism-related proteins, crucial for human nutrition due to their sulfur-containing amino acids, antioxidant properties, and oil yields, respectively. This research makes a significant contribution to the current understanding of the Sacha Inchi proteome and offers valuable insights for its potential applications in the food industry.

Controlled release and biological properties of prochitosomes loaded with Arthrospira derived peptides: Membrane stability, chemical, morphological and structural monitoring

In this study, the effects of chitosan-coating on maintaining the integrity and stability of the membrane, structural, and morphological changes, and the release of loaded peptides inside nanoliposomes during various in vitro release, thermal, freeze-thaw, shear, and dehydration (spray-drying) tensions were evaluated. Among different peptidic fractions (100, 30, and 10 kDa), the Arthrospira derived PF-30 kDa showed a higher nutritional and biological value. PF-30kDa was loaded successfully (EE ~ 90 %) inside nanoliposomes (NLs) and its stabilization was done with chitosan coating (0.1–0.8 %). Nanochitosomes (NCs-0.4 %) had more structural stability (size, EE, and biological activity) at different temperatures, freeze-thaw tension, and digestive system. The placement of peptides in the vesicle structure was confirmed by FTIR analysis. Also, the changes in the morphological states, agglomeration, or destruction of the liposome membrane (SEM, AFM, and TEM) were evaluated before and after the tensions. Membrane coating led to the transformation of freeze-dried liposomes (FD-NLs) from thin, porous, and fragile layers to thick plates, rough and resistant structures (FD-NCs). These characteristics led to maintaining physical stability, homogeneity, zeta potential, and EE of nanoparticles (freeze and spray-dried) after reconstitution. The results of this study will effectively contribute to the production of solidified delivery systems with long-term durability, bioavailability, and biological activity of loaded nutrients and drugs.

Bellevalia pseudolongipes Plant: Comprehensive Analysis of the Elemental Composition and Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents

Bellevalia pseudolongipes is a recently described plant species, whose mineral and biochemical composition have not yet been reported. Thus, this study examined the mineral composition and total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the B. pseudolongipes plant. Elemental analysis revealed that the plant contained high levels of calcium (22379.556 ± 025 ppm) and potassium (19721.157 ± 005 ppm). Phenolic compound analysis demonstrated a high total phenolic content (0.24 ± 0.004 mg gallic acid equivalent/g sample), thus highlighting the antioxidant capacity of the plant. Additionally, the assessment of flavonoid content (0.043 ± 0.001 mg catechin equivalent/100 g sample) indicated the potential use of the B. pseudolongipes plant as a source of antioxidants. These findings underscore B. pseudolongipes as a valuable natural resource for human health because it is rich in antioxidants, minerals, and phenolic compounds, while also providing a crucial foundation for researchers interested in exploring its pharmacological, medical, and industrial potential. The results of this study contribute to our understanding of the biological and health values of plants, thereby providing support for the development of products that are derived from natural sources and innovative solutions that contribute to human health.

Exploring the Biological Value of Red Grape Skin: Its Incorporation and Impact on Yogurt Quality.

The study was conducted to study the sustainability and enhanced nutrition gains obtained from incorporating grape skin powder (GSP) extracted from both Fetească Neagră and Rară Neagră grape varieties into yogurt. Grape skins are major leftovers from wineries, having high amounts of phenolic compounds and dietary fiber responsible for their ability to improve the characteristics of food. The research aimed to evaluate the effect of GSP addition at varying concentrations (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%) on the yogurt's physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity, color parameters, and sensory attributes. Analysis revealed that both Fetească Neagră and Rară Neagră GSP increased the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity; however, Fetească Neagră showed greater improvements, with TPC reaching 1.52 mg GAE/100 g and DPPH inhibition up to 26.63%. Although slightly lower, TPC rose to 1.43 mg GAE/100 g and DPPH inhibition increased to 18.93% with Rară Neagră enhancing these parameters conversely. Color changes were observed in fortified yogurts where lightness decreased (L*) and redness increased (a*) due to the pH-dependent anthocyanin stability. Syneresis, indicative of yogurt's water-holding capacity, was reduced at higher concentrations of GSP from both varieties, suggesting improved textural integrity. Sensory evaluation indicated that consumers generally favored yogurts with lower concentrations of GSP. Yogurts fortified with Fetească Neagră GSP received higher overall preference, while those with Rară Neagră GSP were also well-received for their distinct flavor profiles when used at suitable levels. These results show that GSP from both types of grapes improves the nutritional value of yogurt and complies with the principles of sustainable food production through reutilizing agro-industrial waste.