Green Grape Research Articles

Rice starch-agar composite film decorated with green synthesized silver nanoparticles with superior properties

In this study glycerol-plasticized rice starch/agar-based eco-friendly composite film incorporated with Ocimum tenuiflorum and Murraya koenigii mixed leave extract (15 % v/v) and green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of concentration 1 mM were fabricated and evaluated the physical, mechanical, structural, antimicrobial and biodegradable properties. Sustainable packaging ought to lessen its ecological footprint and its effect on the environment. Boiled rice water, typically regarded as waste, is one of the best sources of starch. We used this boiled rice water to prepare the film directly. The aqueous leaf extract was also used for the synthesis of AgNPs via a simple, cost-effective and green approach. TEM analysis revealed an average particle size of 11.46 nm. Integration of the plant extract and AgNPs into the film matrix introduces antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) bacteria along with enhanced mechanical and barrier properties. SEM images displayed uniform and smooth surface of the films. The film containing AgNPs has the highest tensile strength of 11.4 ± 0.91 MPa with 56.8 ± 4.51 % elongation and the lowest water vapor permeability and water solubility (17.32 ± 2.20 %). This reveals that the prepared films can be employed as a promising, environmentally benign food packaging material to prolong the shelf life of the food. However, an increase in the concentration of AgNPs up to 2 mM, does not cause any significant improvements to the film’s overall properties. The fabricated films were utilized for wrapping green grapes, which show a reduction in weight loss and browning indicating the expansion of shelf life up to 12 days.

Silver nanoparticle-functionalized covalent organic frameworks for the inhibition of foodborne pathogenic bacteria and their application in green grape preservation

Foodborne pathogens continue to pose a significant threat to human health. This study aims to enhance the antimicrobial activity of low-dose silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against foodborne pathogens and use the enhanced AgNPs to preserve green grapes. A chemical delivery carrier for covalent organic frameworks (COFs) impregnated with AgNPs was developed. We investigated the bacteriostatic properties (minimum bacteriostatic concentration, bacteriostatic growth curve), the mechanism of action of the bacteriostatic agent, and the performance of the bacteriostatic film. The bacteriostatic preservation rate of the AgNPs@COFs composite on green grapes was evaluated. The minimum bacteriostatic concentration of the AgNPs@COFs composite was 10 μg/mL, and the bacteriostatic rate varied between 94.01 % and 98.77 %. The developed antibacterial AgNPs@COFs composite has potential applications in food packaging and preservation.

Quantifying Soluble Glucose in Selected Fruits from West Bengal's (India) Local Markets to Enhance Dietary Knowledge

Introduction/Objective: A fruit, the soft, pulpy part of a flowering plant, is abundant in essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds. It provides macronutrients such as carbohydrates and energy while being low in protein and lipids. Health authorities advocate a minimum daily intake of five servings of fruits and vegetables for a balanced diet. Fruits contain simple sugars such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose, which are essential for regulating blood sugar levels and supporting brain function. However, excessive sugar consumption can be harmful in certain health conditions. This highlights the importance of accurately estimating glucose content in fruits for the field of nutrition science. Methods: In this study, a total of 42 fruit samples from 20 groups were collected from local markets in West Bengal, India, to measure glucose levels using the GOD-POD method. Results: Results revealed the top five fruits highest in glucose: green grapes (54.12 ± 5.82 mg/g), java apple (green jamrul: 47.25 ± 8.23 mg/g), red grapes (44.75 ± 5.23 mg/g), Zahedi dates (43.88 ± 3.25 mg/g), and Medjool dates (43.48 ± 3.87 mg/g). Conversely, the five fruits lowest in glucose were Indian gooseberry (amla: 0.84 ± 0.21 mg/g), Bengal currant (koromcha: 1.24 ± 0.15 mg/g), gondhoraj lemon (2.62 ± 0.25 mg/g), himsagar mango (3.46 ± 0.81 mg/g), and pearafuli mango (5.5 ± 0.52 mg/g). Conclusion: This study aims to contribute to the development of a comprehensive database on fruit glucose content. Fruits with lower glucose levels are beneficial for diabetic patients, obese individuals, and others, whereas those with higher glucose levels are not recommended for dia-betics but are suitable for athletes and malnourished individuals.

Incorporation of Silver Nanoparticles for Improvement of Antibacterial and Fruit Preservation Properties of Pectin/Carboxymethyl Cellulose Packaging Film Derived from Grapefruit Peels

AbstractThe study focuses on enhancing the antibacterial properties of packaging films derived from Pectin and Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) by incorporating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Pectin and CMC were sourced from grapefruit peels to utilize agricultural by‐products and introduce sustainable alternatives to petroleum‐based packaging films. A comprehensive characterization of the films was conducted to assess their morphology, functionality, and physical/mechanical attributes. The Pectin/CMC/AgNPs composite exhibits superior mechanical properties, achieving a peak tensile strength of 33.01 MPa and an elongation at a break of 22.93 %. The antibacterial efficacy against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) strains of Pectin/CMC and Pectin/CMC/AgNPs films was examined. In addition, the preservation efficacy of green grapes using those films was evaluated over 10 days, focusing on maintaining grape weight, organic acid, and vitamin C content. Results demonstrate that all films possess notable mechanical durability, with the Pectin/CMC/AgNPs film demonstrating superior antibacterial activity. Green grapes preserved with the Pectin/CMC/AgNPs film exhibit the highest fruit weight retention, and the highest maintenance in acid, and vitamin C content, underscoring the remarkable enhancement achieved by incorporating AgNPs.

The Effect of Green Grape Extract on Serum Triglyceride Levels in Rats

The Effect of Green Grape Extract on Serum Triglyceride Levels in Rats

Harmonization of Trading Partners Between Indonesia–Italy: Empirical Calculations of Selected Agricultural Commodities

Initially, exports were perceived as the prestige and dignity of a nation. However, in terms of terminology, the essence of export flows is complementarity between countries, where each party has advantages, competition and excess production of a particular product to offer. The orientation of this study is to examine the relationship between tobacco exports, coffee exports, and wine exports to GDP growth in Italy–Indonesia. There are key variables which are divided into two case studies including tobacco export volume, FoB on tobacco exports, coffee export volume, FoB on coffee exports, green grape export volume, CIF on green grape exports, red wine export volume, CIF on red wine exports, GDP share of agriculture in Indonesia and Italy. The fundamental difference in wine exports from the two is that Indonesia uses green grapes and for Italy it uses red wine. The method is set through a panel data regression approach and samples for the 2013–2021. The econometric results explain that tobacco exports and coffee exports have a significant effect on the GDP share of agriculture in Indonesia–Italy. Likewise, CIF on exports of green grapes and red wines which have a significant effect on the GDP share of agriculture in both nations. These findings inspire more urgent implications for the topic of agricultural commodity exports and become an integrated whole.

Cryogenic Pretreatment Enhances Drying Rates in Whole Berries.

The impact of cryogenic pretreatments on drying performance was studied in blueberries, seabuckthorn fruits and green grapes. The fruits were immersed in liquid nitrogen in 2 min freezing/thawing cycles (one to five). Untreated samples were used as the control. Drying experiments were carried out on treated and non-treated berries at 50 °C and 1 m/s (hot-air-drying), 50 °C and 25″ Hg vacuum (vacuum-drying), 30 mTorr total pressure and 25 °C shelf temperature (freeze-drying). The weight loss evolution of the foodstuffs was measured as a function of time. Microscopic (SEM and optical) determinations of the epicarp were performed. A visual inspection was performed and color changes and volume reductions were assessed before and after dehydration. The thickness of the berries' epicarp decreased between 20 and 50% (depending on the fruit) after 3-5 immersions in liquid N2. The drying kinetics was accelerated significantly for the three tested drying processes (i.e., drying time decreased from 48 to 16 h for blueberry freeze-drying). The best quality of dried berries was observed for pretreated blueberries after freeze-drying, keeping their volume, shape and color after the process. This work shows that "tailor-made" dried berry products with desired properties can be achieved and drying performance can be improved by the application of ultra-low temperature pretreatments.

Impacts of Soil Management and Sustainable Plant Protection Strategies on Soil Biodiversity in a Sangiovese Vineyard

Vine growing is one of the most economically important sectors of Mediterranean agriculture, but its cultivation practices are highly detrimental to the environment and the associated biota. The application of both natural products inducing endogenous plant defense mechanisms and natural soil management systems represents a potential solution for the preservation and improvement of soil health and biodiversity. The Life Green Grapes project aimed at evaluating the effects of different natural and sustainable vine protection strategies and soil management on vineyard edaphic communities. Soil TOC, TN, C:N ratio, CaCO3 content and pH were measured. Microbial communities (bacteria and fungi) were characterized through NGS, while nematodes and microarthropods were isolated and identified. Obtained data highlighted a relationshipbetween bacteria, fungi and nematodes with soil chemistry, and an effect of the different soil management on the single and total edaphic communities. Network analysis evidenced a positive effect of the application of sustainable soil managements on the relationships among the different investigated soil trophic levels, suggesting that more natural soil managements allow a better interaction between soil organisms. In conclusion, this work confirms the importance of the application of sustainable and natural soil management practices in agricultural ecosystems, with the aim of conserving and improving soil biodiversity.

Effects of verjus acidification on muscat canelli grape juice and wines

Our study aimed to investigate the use of verjus (green grape juice) as an acidifying agentfor improving the overall acid profile and balance of wine, lowering the pH and alcohol content and creating a sustainable winemaking practice that can be utilised in warm grape-growing regions, such as Texas, where pH levels range from 3.5 to over 4.0 in white juice and wine. Muscat Canelli wines were produced using two different treatments for pH and acidity balance. Verjus was produced by pressing under-ripe grapes resulting from crop thinning practices and added at two different rates of 2 % and 11 % to juice obtained from ripe grapes prior to fermentation. For all the wines produced, pH, titratable acidity (expressed as g/L Tartaric Acid), alcohol, glucose-fructose, l-malic acid, tartaric acid, potassium, polyphenols were analysed, and preference testing was performed via consumer sensory panels. Results obtained indicate that verjus can be used to balance pH and acidity as well as lower alcohol content. Consumer preference ranking indicated no significant differences between any of the treatments, while acidity rankings correctly distinguished the wines according to their acid levels. This work shows that the use of verjus as a pre-fermentation acidification agent could be a potential tool for winemaking to help mitigate the negative effects associated with climate change.

Advancing Food Preservation: Sustainable Green-AgNPs Bionanocomposites in Paper-Starch Flexible Packaging for Prolonged Shelf Life.

In the pursuit of enhancing food packaging, nanotechnology, particularly green silver nanoparticles (G-AgNPs), have gained prominence for its remarkable antimicrobial properties with high potential for food shelf-life extension. Our study aims to develop corn starch-based coating materials reinforced with G-AgNPs. The mechanical properties were examined using a uniaxial tensile tester, revealing that starch coated with the highest G-AgNPs concentration (12.75 ppm) exhibited UTS of 87.6 MPa compared to 48.48 MPa of control paper, a significant (p < 0.02) 65% increase. The assessment of the WVP showcased a statistical reduction in permeability by up to 8% with the incorporation of the hydrophobic layer. Furthermore, antibacterial properties were assessed following ISO 22196:2011, demonstrating a strong and concentration-dependent activity of G-AgNPs against E. coli. All samples successfully disintegrated in both simulated environments (soil and seawater), including samples presenting G-AgNPs. In the food trial analysis, the presence of starch and G-AgNPs significantly reduced weight loss after 6 days, with cherry tomatoes decreasing by 8.59% and green grapes by 6.77% only. The results of this study contribute to the advancement of environmentally friendly packaging materials, aligning with the UN sustainable development goals of reducing food waste and promoting sustainability.

Support farmers: sustainability claims that influence moral satisfaction and purchase intention

PropósitoEste artículo evalúa las respuestas de los consumidores a los argumentos de sostenibilidad en una fruta. Se comparan los efectos de este factor en la satisfacción moral y la intención de compra de los consumidores con respecto a 12 argumentos de sostenibilidad.Diseño/metodología/enfoqueSe realizó un experimento de modelo mixto con siete frutas (guayaba, piña, manzana roja, manzana verde, uva roja, uva verde y aguacate) para evaluar los efectos de los 12 argumentos de sostenibilidad sobre la intención de compra a través de la satisfacción moral, en relación con una condición de control.HallazgosLos resultados muestran que las afirmaciones de apoyo a los agricultores locales son las que más influyen en los consumidores. Las afirmaciones relativas a la producción de los agricultores locales afectan positivamente a la satisfacción moral y a la intención de compra.Implicaciones prácticasEste trabajo adopta un enfoque de la sostenibilidad basado en el comportamiento del consumidor, lo que permite a las organizaciones considerar los resultados del comportamiento del consumidor que podrían afectar a sus inversiones estratégicas y a su compromiso con la responsabilidad social.OriginalidadLos estudios relacionados con la alimentación no han arrojado resultados consistentes respecto a la relevancia que los argumentos de sostenibilidad tienen para los consumidores. Este estudio difiere de los anteriores, ya que se centra en la fruta, un producto importante por cuestiones de sostenibilidad social y medioambiental. Este estudio demuestra que, en el caso de la fruta, los argumentos de sostenibilidad son significativas para los consumidores jóvenes a través del efecto mediador de la satisfacción moral. Así, el efecto de los argumentos se predice por el significado que estos tienen para el consumidor.

СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ ЗАДАЧИ НАУЧНЫХ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЙ В ОБЛАСТИ ВИНОДЕЛИЯ

The article presents the results of research activities for 2023 of the Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russian National Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking Magarach of the RAS in the field of winemaking, carried out in accordance with the Program of Fundamental Scientific Research in the Russian Federation for the long term (2021-2030). The methodology of wine quality management with ecostatus has been created, aimed at revealing the individual characteristics of wines caused by natural factors and reducing the risks of negative effects on humans. Promising yeast strains have been identified: Steinberg, Champanskaya G-14, ShM-30, Novocimlyanskaya 3 with a description of their taxonomic affiliation, morphological and physiological-biochemical properties. Two strains of O. oeni active acid-reducing agents are recommended for practical use. The application of technology for the production of young sparkling wines of Crimean autochthonous grape The article presents the results of research activities for 2023 of the Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russian National Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking Magarach of the RAS in the field of winemaking, carried out in accordance with the Program of Fundamental Scientific Research in the Russian Federation for the long term (2021-2030). The methodology of wine quality management with ecostatus has been created, aimed at revealing the individual characteristics of wines caused by natural factors and reducing the risks of negative effects on humans. Promising yeast strains have been identified: Steinberg, Champanskaya G-14, ShM-30, Novocimlyanskaya 3 with a description of their taxonomic affiliation, morphological and physiological-biochemical properties. Two strains of O. oeni active acid-reducing agents are recommended for practical use. The application of technology for the production of young sparkling wines of Crimean autochthonous grape varieties: Kokur belyi, Sary Pandas, Soldaiya and Kefesiya is justified. The system of criteria indicators for assessing the quality of grapes for the production of high-quality cognac distillates and cognacs is substantiated. A working collection of 63 natural strains of lactic acid bacteria has been formed. The optimal technological factors of the process of single-stage extraction by infusing with a food water-alcohol solution of green grape shoots of the Vitis vinifera, Vitis abrusca species have been established, allowing to increase the yield of total polyphenols by at least 2.6 times for the production of functional products. The most optimal technological modes of cold treatment of dry and fortified wine materials have been established to substantiate the constructive solution of an energy-saving installation for the purpose of cold treatment of wine materials based on the study of the main factors affecting the mass transfer process of potassium bitartrate crystallization. The obtained results of research work contribute to improving the quality of domestic wine products and expanding its production, including winemaking with ecological and geographical statuses, the production of domestic cognac and grape processing products of a functional orientation. The introduction of scientific developments into production will increase the competitiveness of domestic wine products, accelerate import substitution and ensure the country's food independence.

Cadmium, Nickel and Zinc Concentration in Some Common Fruits Samples Collected from Different Super Shops Located in Dhaka City and Probable Health Risk Assessment

Heavy metals concentration in fruits samples collected from different super shops were determined by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry and potential health risk from the consumption of these fruits was estimated. Mean concentration of Cd, Ni and Zn in the studied fruits samples (Fuji Apple, Green Apple, Red Grape, Green Grape, Pear, Malta and Pomegranate) were within the range of 0.00 to 0.15, 0.17 to 10.78, 3.44 to 19.88 mg/kg for Agora; 0.00 to 0.20, 0.00 to 42.75, 3.20 to 13.40 mg/ kg for Meena Bazaar and 0.00 to 0.15, 0.60 to 18.65, 4.31 to 17.68 mg/kg of dry weight, for Swapno, respectively. Cadmium concentration was the highest in Fuji Apple and Red Grape (0.15 mg/kg) samples, which was higher than MAC value by FAO/ WHO, collected from Swapno. The highest Nickel concentration (42.75 mg/kg) was found in Green Grape, collected from Meena Bazaar, which was 53.44 times higher than MAC value according to FAO/WHO. Mean concentration of metals were found above the maximum allowable limit in most of the fruits though mean Average Daily Intake (ADI) values were below the PMTDI value for all fruits. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) values for all metals were below 1.00 which signifies that these fruits were not carcenogenic but continuous consumption of some of high metals containing fruits sold in the market is imposing threat to food security

Productivity and Brix value of Green Grapes (Vitis vinifera L var. Muscat Saint Vallier) at Different Location and Pruning Time in Buleleng Bali

Bali is one of the grape-producing regions in Indonesia, and grape cultivation is carried out in the North Bali area of Buleleng Regency. Grape growers in Bali began to plant other grape varieties, namely green grapes (Vitis vinifera L. var. Muscat Saint Vallier). This grape variety originates from France and grows successfully in the tropics. Currently, there needs to be more information about the yield potential and quality of green grape varieties. This study aims to determine the productivity and quality of green grapes at several harvest periods and locations. The research was conducted from January 2021 to September 2022 at three sub-district locations: Gerokgak, Kalisada, and Seririt. The research was conducted at six locations, namely Gerokgak 1, Gerokgak 2, Gerokgak 3, Kalisada 1, Kalisada 2, and Seririt. Data collection was carried out during three pruning to harvest periods: January–March, April–June, and July–September. Harvest period and planting location show a significant influence on green grape productivity. Observations on grape productivity in different years showed no significant results, and there was no interaction between location and harvest period. The harvest period for two consecutive years shows that the July–September harvest period gives the best yields. The quality of the yield of green grapes shown in the fruit obrix at both locations at different harvest periods shows that the obrix of this variety remains the same.

Phytogenic One-pot Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of Novel Mono Benzylated Resveratrol Hybrid Molecule Using Extracted Resveratrol from Green Grape Peels: In Silico ADMET Study and In Vitro Antitumor Activities Against Breast Cancer Cells

Background: Despite the development of numerous customized techniques for treating breast cancer, cancer patients' clinical results revealed adverse consequences in addition to chemotherapeutic drug resistance. Hence, finding therapeutic compounds with little or no side effects becomes essential in the fight against cancer. Resveratrol, a naturally occurring non-flavonoid polyphenol present in plants as a phytoalexin, is a promising therapeutic agent that has garnered the interest of several researchers due to its prodigious pharmacological and biological activities, but its unfavourable pharmacokinetic properties complicated its clinical studies. Along with several structural modifications, substitutions, etc., that have already been reported, this is the first time that a novel resveratrol analogue comprising an aromatic hetero moiety (ResD1) was synthesized using resveratrol isolated from grape (Vitis vinifera) peels as a precursor. Methods: ResD1 was synthesized by one-pot reaction using extracted and isolated resveratrol from grape peels. Structure confirmation of the isolated resveratrol and synthesized resveratrol derivative was elucidated by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, FTIR, and LC-MS. In silico molecular docking and ADMET study of ResD1 were carried out using AutoDock 4.2 and ADMETLab 2.0. ResD1 was evaluated for in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and CAXII gene expression as per the standard methods. Results: In silico molecular docking results revealed that ResD1 is capable of attaching to the ERα (estrogen receptor alpha) protein via hydrogen and hydrophobic bonds and has -7.12 kcal/mol as docking score. The novel derivative (IC50 = 42.8 µg/ml) exhibited better radical scavenging ability than ascorbic acid (control). The antimicrobial activities exemplify that it can induce microbial cell death for all the strains at higher concentrations. MTT assay results portrayed the potent antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 cell lines (IC50 = 155.2 µg/ml) and non-cytotoxicity for MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Moreover, the synthesized resveratrol derivative induced ROS (reactive oxygen species) levels in MCF-7 cells, indicating cytotoxicity. CAXII gene expression study showed that it downregulated the CAXII genes. Conclusion: This study serves as an example of how a newly proposed resveratrol analogue might be utilized as a viable pharmacophore for specifically targeting the ER alpha protein which will be beneficial in investigating a fresh batch of effective resveratrol mimics as prospective anticancer agents.

The Potential of Green Grape (Vitis vinifera L) Extract on Paraoxonase-3 Serum Levels in Rats were Given High Cholesterol Diet

Grapes are rich in bioactive molecules that can act as antioxidants, antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer. Paraoxonase (PON) is an enzyme that can combine with HDL and function as an antioxidant that can protect LDL and HDL from lipid peroxidation which can prevent atherosclerosis. We used a high-cholesterol diet given to Wistar Rats to find out the effect of green grape extract (GGE) on the production of PON3 serum levels in rats. GGE was made using the maceration method. Serum PON3 levels were measured using the ELISA method and measured at 450 nm. The results showed that the highest PON3 serum levels were found in the rat group which was given a GGE dose of 500 mg/200 g BW/day (AH2), followed by levels in rats given GGE at a concentration of 250 mg/200 g BW/day (AH1). Tamhane’s test showed that there was a difference between rats that were only given a high-cholesterol diet (DTK) and AH1, AH2, and rats that were fed a standard diet (DS) with AH1 and AH2. However, no difference was found between AH1 and AH2. The higher the dose of GGE given, the higher the serum PON3 level. Further research can better analyze the active compounds in GGE in increasing serum PON3 levels.

A study on Shine-Muscat grape detection at maturity based on deep learning

The efficient detection of grapes is a crucial technology for fruit-picking robots. To better identify grapes from branch shading that is similar to the fruit color and improve the detection accuracy of green grapes due to cluster adhesion, this study proposes a Shine-Muscat Grape Detection Model (S-MGDM) based on improved YOLOv3 for the ripening stage. DenseNet is fused in the backbone feature extraction network to extract richer underlying grape information; depth-separable convolution, CBAM, and SPPNet are added in the multi-scale detection module to increase the perceptual field of grape targets and reduce the model computation; meanwhile, PANet is combined with FPN to promote inter-network information flow and iteratively extract grape features. In addition, the CIOU regression loss function is used and the prior frame size is modified by the k-means algorithm to improve the accuracy of detection. The improved detection model achieves an AP value of 96.73% and an F1 value of 91% on the test set, which are 3.87% and 3% higher than the original network model, respectively; the average detection speed under GPU reaches 26.95 frames/s, which is 6.49 frames/s higher than the original model. The comparison results with several mainstream detection algorithms such as SSD and YOLO series show that the method has excellent detection accuracy and good real-time performance, which is an important reference value for the problem of accurate identification of Shine-Muscat grapes at maturity.

The Fox Marble

The Fox Marble Catherine Kim (bio) It’s nothing so profound, reads her message to me as I wait beneath themantle where her portrait stands, merely the ghost of my affections on your fingers, which you take insideyour mouth in remembrance of me. Capture this dream in a marble, moonstruck in a kiss, and behold the creatures of the earth and the memory of salt, which is my warmth forever trapped in the teeth of your thumb, and do not mind the empty sky, which is the surface of the marble from inside it. Won’t you wait for me my thousand days of hunger for you? [End Page 50] From the overlook, Yeou could see the stretch of the village below her, from the paddy fields by the base of the mountain to the bus terminal at its furthest reach. With a finger outstretched towards the vanishing point, she could trace the road as it split from the highway and flowed into the village, winding around the homes, the crop fields, the greenhouses, and the livestock pens, past the irrigation pond and up the slope towards her perch. She couldn’t see the asphalt turn to gravel, or the gravel turn to dirt, as the path up the mountain was swallowed by the canopy near the terraced gravesites. The branch she had fashioned into a walking stick had snapped during her climb, and chestnut burrs clung to the fabric of her shoes and her pant legs. Above her, the daylight poured through the heated colors of the leaves that still clung to the trees surrounding the burial mound. The sun fled over the crown of the mountain, a white-hot nimbus illuminating the monument on its peak. The clouds bent the sky into a dome, as if sometime during her ascent the heavens had collapsed around the earth and shrunk it inside an orb, or as if Yeou herself had grown into a giant who still thought herself an ordinary girl, tall enough to behold the curvature that was the boundary between this world and all that lay beyond it. Having come here in the wake of her beloved Nabi’s passing, with thoughts of her stuck in Yeou’s throat, Yeou was not surprised by how the horizon circumscribed the sights around her, only by the way the limitations of the world had now become visible to the naked eye. Yeou leaned against her father’s burial mound so that her head lay on the soft earth and the wildflowers tickled the back of her neck. She shut her eyes to blot out the strange geometry. She felt the wind haunting her lips; she heard it move through the leaves. She felt the kiss of the butterfly’s feet as it perched on her nose; she heard the crunch of the grass under her father’s shoes as he stepped out from behind the mound. She felt the weight of his hand as he ran his fingers through her hair and the pollen displaced by the butterfly’s wings as it flew away. She had meant to come with a rake, she said, to pick up the leaves, and a bill hook to cut away the overgrowth that threatened to shroud the path up to the clearing. But she’d forgotten to pack the garden tools and the plastic bags and the basket with containers of grilled fish and green grapes and a bottle of plum wine inside it. Instead, she found [End Page 51] herself climbing up the mountain with nothing but the holes in her memory. Now that she was here, Yeou might prick her fingers prying the burrs from her clothes, then pull the weeds that were choking the crown of her father’s burial mound. It was the least she could do, having neglected him for so long. She leaned against her father, pressing her temple to his shoulder, and breathed in the smoke that fled from his lips. Through the holes in her memory, he said, she might remember another’s memories in turn. Long ago, buckled into a window seat on a bus headed to Seoul, the promise of...

Green grape marc biosorbents preparation for mercury removal in aqueous media

In this study, grape marc waste from Negroamaro (a South of Italy vine variety) winery production was used to prepare biosorbents for Hg(II) removal in aqueous media. A green approach was used to develop a proper biosorbent through two different grape marc washing procedures. In particular, the common chloridric acid and the greener citric acid were evaluated. The biosorbent prepared using citric acid as a washing agent (GM-CA) gave similar results to the biosorbent washed with HCl (GM-HCl) with a maximum adsorption capacity of 36.39 mg g-1. Isothermal studies revealed heterogeneous physical adsorption of Hg(II) on the biosorbents. Moreover, FTIR analysis of the grape marc-based biosorbent without and with Hg(II) confirmed ionic interactions in the biosorbent that fit with a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Furthermore, no significant adsorption on the biosorbent was observed when two other heavy metals, copper(II) and nickel(II), previously studied for similar sorbents, were considered. Finally, the reusability of GM-CA biosorbent was also demonstrated over three cycles. Thus, the green preparation approach used in this work can be considered suitable for developing grape marc-based biosorbents.

Targeting apoptosis in MCF-7 and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells by saponifiable fractions from green and black Vitis vinifera seed oil

Grape seed (GS) oil is one of the potential functional foods. For the first time, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of GS oil saponifiable (Sap)-fraction from black (BSap) and green (GSap) grapes on MCF-7 cells and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in mice. The fatty acid composition of BSap and GSap was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Approximately twelve distinct fatty acids were detected in BSap and eleven in GSap. BSap showed a greater cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells than GSap did by inducing apoptosis and reducing inflammation, while both grape fractions had superior potency to 5-FU. Furthermore, BSap massively boosted apoptosis and lowered redox potential (Eh) and CD44+ cells in EAC cells of EAC-bearing mice more than GSap, and both fractions were more efficient than 5-FU. Blood tests and liver histopathology revealed significant improvement in EAC-induced pathological alterations with these fractions. The in silico analysis implied the competitive inhibitory impacts of the most abundant fatty acid composites in BSap and GSap on cancer-metastasis-associated proteases (cathepsin B and MMP9). Also, this analysis predicted that the apoptotic action of these Sap fractions is independent of the 5ˈAMP-activated protein kinase. Therefore, grape Sap-fraction, especially BSap, may be a useful agent for cancer prevention.