High Moisture Research Articles

Treatment of Leachate Obtained in Leiras de Compostagem de Remos de Alimentos (Composting of Food Remains) by Anaerobic Biodigestion Followed by Oxygenation: a Case Study in the Federal District

Objective: During the composting process of organic waste, the leachate from the degrading windrows requires treatment processes due to its significant load of polluting substances. Frequently, the approach adopted to treat leachate involves a combination of different processes. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a biological treatment system, consisting of anaerobic digestion followed by oxygenation, applied to leachate from a composting company of organic waste obtained from residential and commercial kitchens located in the Federal District. The outlined hypothesis is that anaerobic treatment followed by oxygenation, with the material studied and under the experimental conditions, allows for the attainment of material with characteristics that permit its discharge into water bodies, according to CONAMA Resolution No. 430/2011, which complements and amends Resolution No. 357/2005. Method: The leachate was collected from the windrows through pipes and directed to a physical treatment system composed of a sand and grease trap. After that, it was pumped into two anaerobic reactors operating in sequence, with a total retention time of 15 days. The material was then directed to a waterproof masonry tank with natural and forced aeration. Samples were taken before and after the treatment of the leachate for the determination of electrical conductivity, temperature, pH, chemical and biochemical oxygen demands, total dissolved solids, total and volatile solids, total nitrogen, N-NH4+, N-NO3-, N-NO2-, total alkalinity, total phosphorus, thermotolerant coliforms, and Salmonella. Results and Discussion: The absence of Salmonella was observed in both the samples obtained before and after the treatment. Reductions in electrical conductivity (7.6%), temperature (16.2%), total alkalinity (23.0%), chemical oxygen demand (42.3%), biochemical oxygen demand (45.5%), total nitrogen (9.3%), N-NH4+ (18.4%), total phosphorus (30.1%), total solids (16.9%), total dissolved solids (14.0%), volatile solids (21.5%), and thermotolerant coliforms (99.9%) were observed after treatment. On the other hand, increases in pH (12.3%), N-NO3- (30.4%), and N-NO2- (14.4%) were noted. However, the material treated under the experimental conditions adopted did not meet the environmental discharge requirements established by Brazilian legislation (CONAMA Resolution 430/2011), especially for the parameters biochemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen, N-NH4+, total phosphorus, N-NO₃⁻, N-NO₂⁻, and thermotolerant coliforms. Research Implications: The volume of organic waste collected and treated by composting has been increasing in recent years in Brazil, especially due to legal requirements at state (district) and municipal levels. Since organic waste generally has high moisture content, a large volume of leachate from the windrows is produced and can become a significant source of environmental contamination. Biological treatments such as anaerobic digestion followed by aeration can be an important tool to prevent this contamination, but chemical and biochemical parameters, as well as conditions like retention time, need to be evaluated to verify the efficiency of treatment systems.

Study on the effect pattern of moisture on the oxidized combustion of ventilation air methane

AbstractVentilation air methane (VAM) is one of the main greenhouse gas sources. Owing to the characteristics of low concentration of ventilation air methane and high moisture content, we build an experimental platform and take the oxidative combustion temperature and methane conversion rate as the research indexes, and the systematic research finds that the inhibitory effect of moisture on the oxidative combustion of ultra‐low concentration of methane (<1%) is a nonlinear polynomial law. In the meantime, we constructed OH(H2O)n+CH4 and studied its reaction potential energy surface using quantum chemical calculations, which used the most significant primitive reaction of methane combustion, OH+CH4→H2O+CH3, as the theoretical basis. We found that as moisture content increased, so did its reaction energy barrier, making the reactants more stable, strengthening the three‐body collision effect, and reducing the number of free radicals, all of which hindered the methane chain reaction. The study aimed to validate the experimental finding that moisture inhibits the oxidative combustion of ventilation air methane by examining the internal mechanism of methane oxidation. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A Comparison of the Impacts of Different Drying Methods on the Volatile Organic Compounds in Ginseng

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) is a valuable plant resource which has been used for centuries as both food and traditional Chinese medicine. It is popular in health research and markets globally. Fresh ginseng has a high moisture content and is prone to mold and rot, reducing its nutritional value without proper preservation. Drying treatments are effective for maintaining the beneficial properties of ginseng post-harvest. In this study, we investigated the effects of natural air drying (ND), hot-air drying (HAD), vacuum drying (VD), microwave vacuum drying (MVD), and vacuum freeze drying (VFD) on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ginseng. The results showed that the MVD time was the shortest, followed by the VFD, VD, and HAD times, whereas the ND time was the longest, but the VFD is the most beneficial to the appearance and color retention of ginseng. A total of 72 VOCs were obtained and 68 VOCs were identified using the five drying methods based on gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) technology, including 23 aldehydes, 19 alkenes, 10 alcohols, 10 ketones, 4 esters, 1 furan, and 1 pyrazine, and the ND method was the best for retaining VOCs. GC-IMS fingerprints, principal component analysis (PCA), Euclidean distance analysis, partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and cluster analysis (CA) can distinguish ginseng from different drying methods. A total of 29 VOCs can be used as the main characteristic markers of different drying methods in ginseng. Overall, our findings provide scientific theoretical guidance for optimizing ginseng’s drying methods, aromatic health effects, and flavor quality research.

Sugarcane bagasse derived biochar potential to improve soil structure and water availability in texturally different soils

Low organic matter content is one of the main constraints in arid and semiarid regions. This constraint and its negative influences on soils and plant growth may be alleviated by biochar (BC). Furthermore, improving soil physical and hydraulic attributes by application of biochar has received increased attention. Therefore, in the present study, the effects of sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar on the structural stability, water availability, and pore-size distribution (PSD) of three texturally different calcareous soils collected from different agro-climatologically regions were examined during a long-term experiment. Low and high-temperature biochars, produced in a muffle furnace by the traditional slow pyrolysis method at 300 °C (BC300) and 600 °C (BC600) were evaluated. Pots (15 kg) were filled with three different silty-clay Inceptisols (SCInc), silty-clay-loam Alfisols (SCLAlf), and loam Aridisols (LArid) soils mixed with 0 (control), 1, 2, and 3 w/w% of BC300 and BC600 during 540 days of incubation. The high energy moisture characteristic (HEMC) data was modeled using a modified van Genuchten function to quantify aggregate stability through stability ratio (SR) and structural stability index (SSI). The plant available water (PAW), least limiting water range (LLWR), and integral water capacity (IWC) were calculated with two matric suctions (h) of 330 cm for field capacity (FC) and 15,000 cm for permanent wilting point (PWP). Then the integral energy (EI) values were calculated (EIIWC). Results indicated that the incorporation of 3 w/w% biochar significantly (p < 0.01) increased SR (35 to 100%) and SSI (21 to 28%) indices in all three soils. Biochar significantly increased modal suction (MS) in LArid soils (5 to 158%); whereas, decreased MS of the other soils (3 to 43%). MS, SR, and SSI of BC300 and BC600-treated soils were not significantly different. PAW, LLWR, and IWC significantly decreased in the SCInc (18 to 61%, 8 to 44%, and 6 to 35%) and SCLAlf (8 to 44%, 18 to 35%, and 20 to 47%) soils and increased in LArid (4 to 54%, 3 to 61%, and 24 to 111%) soil with increasing biochar doses. There were no changes in EIIWC in biochar-treated LArid soil where PAW, LLWR, and IWC increased. Biochar increased EIIWC across the studied soil from 1% to 3.38 folds, thereby increasing the gradient of water potential to absorb the available water. Soil and soil-biochar mixtures exhibited heterogeneous and multimodal pore-size distribution (PSD). Biochar promoted the PSD peaks related to water-transmitting pores in SCInc and SCLAlf soils while decreased in LArid soil. In conclusion, results indicated that among the applied levels of biochar, the application of 3 w/w% biochar is suggested as a suitable way to improve soil physical behavior and structural stability.

Cinética de secagem e qualidade fisiológica de sementes de jiló

ABSTRACT The drying process is paramount for maintaining seed quality, where the temperature during this process directly influences germination and vigor, especially for vegetable species harvested with high moisture content. This research aimed to determine and model the drying curves of S. aethiopicum (cultivar Tinguá-verde-claro) seeds at temperatures of 35, 38, 41, and 44 ºC, as well as to evaluate the physiological quality of the seeds after drying. A completely randomized design was used, with four drying temperatures (35, 38, 41, and 44 ºC) and four replicates. Nine mathematical models were fitted using the non-linear regression analysis by the Gauss-Newton method, and the goodness of fit was assessed based on the magnitude of the coefficient of determination (R2), chi-square test (χ2), relative mean error (P), and estimated mean error (SE). Seed quality was evaluated by germination test (G), electrical conductivity (EC), and accelerated aging (AA). The Modified Midilli model best represents the drying curves of S. aethiopicum seeds at the studied temperatures. Seeds with higher germination and vigor, meaning lower electrical conductivity values and higher germination rates after accelerated aging, are achieved through drying at 35 and 38 ºC.

High-efficiency co-liquefaction of brominated epoxy resin and low rank coal in supercritical water: Waste recycling and products upgrading

With the acceleration of upgrading electronic information products, a large amount of electronic waste was generated. Brominated epoxy resins (BERs) are the main nonmetallic components of e-waste. The recycling of BERs has attracted people's attention due to their potential environmental risks. Low rank coal is difficult to efficiently utilize due to its high moisture content, oxygen content and low calorific value. This study developed an efficient co-liquefaction strategy for BERs and low rank coal by supercritical water (SCW) process. Under optimized conditions (temperature of 425 ℃, reaction time of 60min, solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:10g/mL, and BERs-coal mass ratio of 1:4g/g), the total conversion efficiency of co-liquefaction reached 56.76%. When the temperature was 325 - 425 °C, there was a positive synergistic effect between BERs and low rank coal co-liquefaction, and the highest synergy efficiency of 11.13% was reached at 400 °C. The introduction of BERs could significantly reduce the oxygenated compounds and the heteroatomic compounds in the liquefied oil products, improving the quality of oil products. The co-liquefaction promoted the production of phenolic chemicals and inhibited the cross-linking reaction of the decomposition products from low rank coal, and realized the synchronous conversion of BERs and low rank coal. The C-Br bond in the residue was significantly weakened after co-liquefaction. The oil products did not contain brominated organic compounds, also demonstrating the potential of the co-liquefaction process for debromination of BERs.

Tailoring enzyme modified starch through high-moisture extrusion: Unraveling structure-property relationships

The conventional method of producing enzyme modified starch (ES) involves using a dilute starch suspension, which necessitated substantial heat expenditure for drying the product and resulted in significant energy waste. Improved extrusion cooking technology (IECT) could extrude materials under high moisture, and it is a new physical modification technology. A comprehensive investigation was undertaken to produce enzyme modified starch (ES) with varying dextrose equivalent (DE) using IECT. The study systematically explored the effects of different screw speeds on the resulting IECT-ES properties. And principal component analysis and artificial neural network analysis were used to explore the correlation between data and the synaptic weight relationships. Results indicated that Maltese cross of IECT-ES disappeared, the R1047/1022 and R995/1022 decreased to 0.7305 and 0.9012 respectively, the full width at half maximum at 480 cm−1 increased to 26.81 %, light transmittance increased to 21.20 % and DE value rose to 14.19 % at 300 rpm. The properties evolution of IECT-ES was closely related to changes in structure and conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of IECT as an alternative method for producing enzyme modified starch. The findings provide valuable insights into more energy-efficient starch modification processes.

Exploring the Potential of Nyonya Kuih Residues as the Substrate for Yeast Cell Protein Production

Nyonya kuih, a popular Malaysian traditional cuisine that have short shelf life due to their high moisture and fat contents. The unsold kuihs usually ended up as food residue. Thus, kuih talam(KT) and kuih lapis (KL), two varieties of Nyonya kuih were chosen as the investigative substrates to explore the recycling potential of this food residue. Initially, the effect of fat content on the enzymatic hydrolysability of the residues to release fermentable sugar was investigated. The efficiency of lipase-pretreatment (LP), polyvinylpyrrolidone-post-treatment (PVP) and their combination in lipid removal was determined. Then, the potential of the resulting glucose-rich hydrolysates for Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cell biomass production was assessed, with molasses as the positive control. Results indicated that combined LP and PVP (LP-PVP) significantly (p&lt;0.05) reduced crude fat content, while increasing the total sugar content of KT and KL hydrolysates by approximately 3.4 and 26.3 times, respectively. Yeast cell biomass produced from KT and KL hydrolysates were increased by 23% and 39%, respectively after LP-PVP treatment. Despite the yeast cells’ yield (by dry cell weight) from molasses fermentation being 19% and 11% higher than those from KT and KL hydrolysates, respectively, KT and KL hydrolysates were proven superior due to the significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) crude protein content in yeast cell produced from both hydrolysates. Further study is needed to enhance yeast cell yield from the fermentation of KT and KL hydrolysates, thereby improving the overall protein yield from the fermentation process. This study provides new insight into a novel food residue recycle strategy, promoting sustainable food production aligned with SDG 12.

Advances in Cold-Climate-Responsive Building Envelope Design: A Comprehensive Review

Extreme low temperatures, heavy snowfall, ice accumulation, limited daylight, and increased energy consumption in cold climates present significant challenges but also offer opportunities for improving building efficiency. Advanced materials and technologies in climate-responsive envelopes can enhance sustainability, reduce carbon footprints and operational costs, and improve thermal comfort under these environmental conditions. This literature review combines theoretical aspects of building performance in cold climates with a summary of current and critical applications in building envelope design, identifying research gaps and proposing future research directions. It has been shown that various BIPV systems require further climate-based studies to optimize solar energy yield. For example, integrating PV layers and PCM within DSFs can reduce cooling loads, but more research is needed on PCM transition temperatures and ventilation strategies in cold climates. A notable research gap exists in building-integrated vegetative systems, particularly regarding soil thickness, irrigation, hygrothermal performance, and snow accumulation. Despite excellent winter performance in buildings incorporating CLT components, they face increased cooling energy consumption and potential overheating in summer. Additionally, the high initial moisture content in CLT raises the risk of mold growth, especially when covered with vapor-tight layers. The design examples in this paper emphasize the need for further investigation to achieve sustainable, low-carbon, energy-efficient envelope designs for cold climates.

Ultrasonic Lifting and High Frequency Lifting Procedures a Study on the Effects of Moisture, Pigmentation, Sebum, and Wrinkle Improvement through

This study was intended to study the effects of improving skin moisture, pigmentation, sebum, and wrinkles using ultrasonic and high-frequency devices and to help develop the aesthetic industry. The study received final approval (YSUIRB-202304-HR-124-02) from the Research Ethics Committee (IRB) on July 20, 2023, taking into account the ethical issues of the study subjects. This study investigated the theoretical background through previous studies related to skin structure, ultrasound, and high-frequency devices, and SPSS 22.0 was used to verify homogeneity and to find out the difference in effectiveness. Women in their 30s to 50s living in Busan were selected as those with no skin history or skin disease, and those with less UV exposure in daily life, and 14 women in their 30s to 50s who met the criteria for selecting the study subjects were finally selected, and the following results were obtained. As a result of the study using ultrasonic waves, moisture and pigmentation were significant, but not in sebum and wrinkles. As a result of the study using high frequency, moisture and pigmentation were significant, but not in sebum and wrinkles. The interaction effect between ultrasonic waves and high frequency was not significant.

In-Vivo and In-Vitro Investigation of Germination Rate of Buried Sclerotia, and Variability in Carpogenic Germination Among Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Isolates

The sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum serve as a primary inoculum source for initiating infections. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of environmental factors on sclerotial germination under field conditions by establishing sclerotia depots to monitor apothecia appearance over four consecutive years. Additionally, the effects of soil moisture content (25%, 50%, 75%, and 95%), air temperature (10 °C/10 °C, 14 °C/10 °C, and 18 °C/10 °C), and light conditions (white and UV light) on sclerotial germination and apothecial formation were investigated under controlled conditions with a 17 h day/7 h night regime. Furthermore, variability in carpogenic germination among S. sclerotiorum isolates was examined. From 2021 to 2024, significant differences were observed in both the sclerotia germination rate and timing of germination within the season. High soil moisture, particularly prolonged wetness, and soil temperatures between 10 and 14 °C were key factors for apothecial formation under field conditions. Under controlled conditions, higher soil moisture levels (75% and 95%) accelerated sclerotial germination, with sclerotia incubated at 14 °C/10 °C germinating earlier after 38 days than those at 10 °C/10 °C or 18 °C/10 °C. Additionally, the type of light significantly affected apothecial formation, which was observed only in treatments exposed to a combination of white and UV light. Furthermore, significant variations were also found in the duration until sclerotia of different S. sclerotiorum isolates produced the first stipe and the first apothecium, indicating that the genetic characteristics of each isolate affect carpogenic germination.

Phase-Changeable Metafabric Enables Dynamic Subambient Humidity and Thermal Regulation.

A promising approach to prevent heat- and cold-related illnesses is the integration of zero-energy input control technology into personal thermal management (PTM) systems while reducing energy consumption. However, achieving optimal wearing comfort while maintaining subambient metabolic temperatures using thermally regulating materials without an energy supply remains challenging. In this study, we provide a simple and reliable methodology to produce a phase-changeable metafabric made of thermoplastic polyurethane and phase change capsule (PCC) particles with high moisture permeability and thermal comfort. This approach skillfully incorporates spray-formed PCC particles into a three-dimensional nanofibrous aggregate, forming a stable self-entangled network structure in a single step through simultaneous humidity-assisted electrospraying and electrospinning processes. Additionally, the metafabric demonstrates prominent water resistance and superhydrophobicity, which are attributed to the integration of PCC particles and nanofibers, resulting in the formation of a microporous/nanoporous structure resembling the surface of a lotus leaf. As a result, the phase-changeable metafabric shows an active and passive thermal control performance, with a water vapor transmittance rate of 13.1 kg m-2 d-1 and a phase change enthalpy of 115.05 J g-1 even after 100 thermal cycles. Furthermore, it displays excellent waterproofing capability, characterized by a water contact angle of 158.7° and the ability to withstand a high hydrostatic pressure of 87 kPa. In addition, the metafabric exhibits a good mechanical performance, boasting a tensile strength of 10.5 MPa. Overall, the proposed economical metafabric is an exemplary candidate material for next-generation PTM systems.

Отглеждане на соя при висока почвена влажност

The aim of this work is to study the biological and economic effect of growing soybeans at high soil moisture. The experiment is two-year and was conducted in the experimental field of AU - Plovdiv in 2009 and 2010. The variants are: 1) No irrigation, 2) Irrigation at 80% FC (field capacity), 3) Irrigation at 90% FC. When maintaining higher pre-irrigation moisture, the number of irrigation applications increases by an average of 3, and irrigation rates decrease by between 22 and 53%. The duration of the irrigation period increases by ten days. According to the results, the maintenance of high soil moisture for soybean is unjustified from a biological point of view, since the increase in the productive potential of the plants is not realized in reality. It can be considered that regardless of the irrigation method, the pre-irrigation humidity should be no higher than 80% FC for the soil layer 0-60 cm. When maintaining high soil moisture (above 90% FC), production costs increase by an average of 11%, without increasing the cost price and hardly affecting the net income, and the results for this indicator are not unidirectional.

Innovative Materials in Architecture and Construction: Magnesite Panels

Magnesite panels studied herein, are characterized by high fire resistance, moisture resistance, strength, sound insulation and environmental properties. The relevance is due to the modern trends in sustainable development, imposing high demands on building materials and products. Preference is given to those products or technologies that can potentially be marked as eco-friendly.Purpose: The purpose of this work is to study magnesite panels, an innovative building material, to determine their performance characteristics, including fire resistance, moisture resistance, strength and environmental friendliness. The paper analyzes their effectiveness in comparison with other building materials.Methodology/approach: The paper analyzes the properties of panels made of magnesium oxide as the most environmentally friendly and safe innovative building material. Their advantages are assessed through a comparative analysis of the physical and mechanical properties of magnesium oxide panels with other available building panels (gypsum panels, oriented strand panels).Research findings: It is found that magnesite panels are an environmentally friendly and universal material in architecture and construction. It is shown that magnesite panels are superior to other building panels in the selected parameters, but are more expensive.

Yield, silage quality, and feeding preference of late‐summer sown pearl millet (Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone) in Southern Kyushu

AbstractBackgroundPearl millet is characterized by its high dry matter (DM) yields with a high moisture content, which makes it difficult to process as silage.MethodsPearl millet was sown in mid‐September for 3 years to examine its growth, DM yields in early December, and decrease in DM percentage after frost exposure. The crop was processed as round‐bale silage to assess silage quality and preference by breeding beef cattle.ResultsPlants reached a height of 160–200 cm, with heading tiller percentages of 50%–70% in early December. With frost exposure, DM percentage increased in leaves and panicles, followed by stems, reaching over 40%, 1 month after exposure. These increases were positively correlated with cumulative frost exposure. After frost exposure, in vitro DM digestibility and crude protein content declined while acid detergent fiber content increased. Repeated cafeteria feeding experiments showed a reduced preference for either pearl millet silage or Italian ryegrass hay. The silage showed moderate acidity at pH 4.73–5.40, with lactic acid at 0.58%–1.62% DM, acetic acid at 0.03%–0.10% DM, and negligible butyric acid, indicating a satisfactory quality.ConclusionsIn Southern Kyushu, pearl millet sown in late summer can be processed into low‐moisture round‐bale silage in January, the year following sowing.

DNA profiling, nutritional value and phytochemical investigation of Cissus rotundifolia Lam. growing in Yemen

Cissus rotundifolia Lam. (Vitaceae) is a wild plant that is commonly used as food and medicine. There are limited studies on the phytochemical composition of this plant. So, this study aims to investigate C. rotundifolia growing in Yemen phytochemically. HPLC analysis of C. rotundifolia aerial parts led to the identification and quantification of four compounds (isoorientin, quercetrin, quercetin, and linarin), among which isoorientin and quercetrin were the major. Proximate analysis showed high fibre content and low moisture content, whereas the nutritional values showed a high carbohydrate content which gave rise to higher nutritional value (266.39 Kcal.). Potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and vitamin E were present in high concentrations. Investigation of the methylene chloride and n-butanol fractions lead to the isolation of seven compounds: β-sitosterol, magnificol, β-sitosterol-glucoside, quercetin, quercetrin, isoorientin, and linarin. This is the first report on isolating these compounds from the investigated plant.

Chemical Composition of Acid Soluble Collagen (ASC) Isolated from Indonesia Local “Kacang” Goat Skin (&lt;i&gt;Capra aegagrus hocus&lt;/i&gt;)

Collagen from the local "Kacang” goat skin is a natural raw material in the halal food industry in Indonesia. This study aims to isolate acid-soluble collagen (ASC) from “Kacang” goat skin and characterize its chemical properties. The collagen was derived from one-year-old goat skin and cured in acid condition for 48 hours at 4°C to eliminate meats, fat, and hair. The cleaned skins were treated at 1:10 (w/v) of 0.1 M NaOH for 0, 24, and 48 h at 4°C. It was then neutralized in distilled water and extracted with 0.5 M acetic acid at a 1:10 (w/v) ratio for 24, 48, and 72 h at 4°C. The yield of ASC was 21%, characterized by chemical composition, soluble protein, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and protein molecular weight. The chemical composition of ASC was 11.15% (moisture), 9.04% (protein), 0.98% (fat), and 0.052% (ash). ASC has the highest collagen solubility in NaCl 5% at pH 2. ASC also has thermal stability with a low profile pattern of molecular weight. In conclusion, “Kacang” goat skin from Indonesia might be used to make a value-added product because it has a high moisture content and low fat level.

Oven-Dried Cupuaçu and Bacuri Fruit Pulps as Amazonian Food Resources

The Amazon is one of the largest and most diverse biomes on the planet. Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. ex Spreng.) Schum) and bacuri (Platonia insignis Mart.) are Amazonian fruit species appreciated for their sensory characteristics and promising availability of bioactive compounds. However, high moisture levels (&gt;80%) make these pulps susceptible to deterioration during storage. In this study, the oven-drying process was monitored to produce dry and more stable pulps. The process was monitored at 40 °C, 55 °C and 70 °C, and the bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity were determined as quality indicators. In general, drying at 70 °C for 340 min produced dried cupuaçu and bacuri pulps with high levels of total phenolic compounds: 288 and 652 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g, respectively. The hygroscopic evaluation suggested that both of the dried pulps should be stored at a relative humidity of &lt;40% to avoid rapid water adsorption and it is advised to carry out the oven-drying process until up to 12% moisture is reached for cupuaçu and 9% for bacuri to avoid unnecessary energy consumption. Thus, this study expands the potential of bacuri and cupuaçu pulps for application in food industries, contributing to the economic and social development of the Amazon region.

Detection of morphometric indicators of the soil surface of a grape plantation using spectral bands of satellite images

Introduction. Soils play an important role in the approximately 30-year period of operation of a grape planting, influencing plant growth, their yield and the quality of the grapes. In this study, the morphometric parameters of the surface soil layer of a grape plantation were studied using spectral channels of satellite images.Methodology. The methodology included the use of a “random forest” algorithm to classify soil cover using spectral channels and normalized satellite image indices and analyze the main physicochemical properties of soils. Accuracy was assessed using RMSD and confidence intervals calculated via bootstrapping.Results. The study revealed significant differences in the spectral reflectivity of different site options, which was due to carbonate content, humidity levels and the amount of humus. Areas with high carbonate and moisture content showed higher standard deviation values in the spectral channels. Studying the spectral characteristics of the soil surface makes it possible to effectively classify different areas based on remote sensing data. Analysis of combinations of spectral channels revealed an optimal set of three channels (B12, B11, B8A) with a minimum standard deviation when classifying an image into six soil variants of areas. For classification, a composition of five normalized indices can also be used, but in this case the calculation time increases significantly with a larger standard deviation and a larger confidence interval range. Using machine learning, six distinct soil surface types were segmented, demonstrating the complexity of the field›s soil mosaic. These results are critical for improving vineyard management and productivity

The Potential of Dehydrated Geniotrigona thoracica Stingless Bee Honey against Metabolic Syndrome in Rats Induced by a High-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet

Background/Objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is diagnosed when at least three out of five key risk factors are present: obesity, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, high triglycerides (TG) and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL). MS is often associated with chronic low-grade inflammation. Recent studies have shown that raw stingless bee honey (SBH) can alleviate MS risk factors. However, the high moisture content in raw SBH predisposes it to fermentation, which can degrade its quality. Therefore, dehydrating SBH is necessary to prevent the fermentation process. This study aimed to compare the effects of dehydrated (DeGT) and raw (RGT) SBH from Geniotrigona thoracica species on high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet (HCHF)-induced MS in rats. Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control (C), HCHF-induced MS without treatment (MS), HCHF-induced MS treated with DeGT (MS+DeGT) and HCHF-induced MS treated with RGT (MS+RGT). Group C received standard rat chow, while the other groups were fed with HCHF diet for 16 weeks. In the final eight weeks, two HCHF-induced groups received their respective SBH treatments. Results: Both DeGT and RGT treatments reduced energy intake, fat mass, high blood pressure, inflammatory (tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)) and obesity (the leptin/adiponectin (L/A) ratio, corticosterone, 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type-1 (11βHSD1)) markers, as well as prevented histomorphometry changes (prevented adipocyte hypertrophy, increased the Bowman’s space area and glomerular atrophy). Additionally, DeGT increased serum HDL levels, while RGT reduced serum TG, leptin and other inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)), as well as hepatosteatosis. Conclusions: While DeGT demonstrates potential as a preventive agent for MS, RGT exhibited more pronounced anti-MS effects in this study.