Water Availability Research Articles

Current Review: Alginate in the Food Applications

Due to global development and increased public awareness of food’s effects on health, demands for innovative and healthy products have risen. Biodegradable and environmentally friendly polymer usage in modern food products is a promising approach to reduce the negative health and environmental effects of synthetic chemicals. Also, desirable features such as flavor, texture, shelf-life, storage condition, water holding capacity, a decrease in water activity, and an oil absorption of fried food have been improved by many polysaccharides. One of the important polymers, which is applied in the food industry, is alginate. Alginates are a safe and widely used compound in various industries, especially the food industry, which has led to innovative methods for for the improvement of this industry. Currently, different applications of alginate in stable emulsions and nano-capsules in food applications are due to the crosslinking properties of alginate with divalent cations, such as calcium ions, which have been studied recently. The main aim of this review is to take a closer look at alginate properties and applications in the food industry.

Optimising height-growth predicts trait responses to water availability and other environmental drivers.

Future changes in climate, together with rising atmospheric , may reorganise the functional composition of ecosystems. Without long-term historical data, predicting how traits will respond to environmental conditions-in particular, water availability-remains a challenge. While eco-evolutionary optimality theory (EEO) can provide insight into how plants adapt to their environment, EEO approaches to date have been formulated on the assumption that plants maximise carbon gain, which omits the important role of tissue construction and size in determining growth rates and fitness. Here, we show how an expanded optimisation framework, focussed on individual growth rate, enables us to explain shifts in four key traits: leaf mass per area, sapwood area to leaf area ratio (Huber value), wood density and sapwood-specific conductivity in response to soil moisture, atmospheric aridity, and light availability. In particular, we predict that as conditions become increasingly dry, height-growth optimising traits shift from resource-acquisitive strategies to resource-conservative strategies, consistent with empirical responses across current environmental gradients of rainfall. These findings can explain both the shift in traits and turnover of species along existing environmental gradients and changing future conditionsand highlight the importance of both carbon assimilation and tissue construction in shaping the functional composition of vegetation across climates.

Lessons from Extremophiles: Functional Adaptations and Genomic Innovations across the Eukaryotic Tree of Life.

From hydrothermal vents, to glaciers, to deserts, research in extreme environments has reshaped our understanding of how and where life can persist. Contained within the genomes of extremophilic organisms are the blueprints for a toolkit to tackle the multitude of challenges of survival in inhospitable environments. As new sequencing technologies have rapidly developed, so too has our understanding of the molecular and genomic mechanisms that have facilitated the success of extremophiles. Although eukaryotic extremophiles remain relatively understudied compared to bacteria and archaea, an increasing number of studies have begun to leverage 'omics tools to shed light on eukaryotic life in harsh conditions. In this perspective paper, we highlight a diverse breadth of research on extremophilic lineages across the eukaryotic tree of life, from microbes to macrobes, that are collectively reshaping our understanding of molecular innovations at life's extremes. These studies are not only advancing our understanding of evolution and biological processes but are also offering a valuable roadmap on how emerging technologies can be applied to identify cellular mechanisms of adaptation to cope with life in stressful conditions, including high and low temperatures, limited water availability, and heavy metal habitats. We shed light on patterns of molecular and organismal adaptation across the eukaryotic tree of life and discuss a few promising research directions, including investigations into the role of horizontal gene transfer in eukaryotic extremophiles and the importance of increasing phylogenetic diversity of model systems.

Comparative growth kinetics of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica on dehydrated enoki and wood ear mushrooms during rehydration and storage

Specialty mushrooms have been implicated in foodborne illness outbreaks in the U.S. in recent years. These mushrooms are available to consumers in both their fresh and dried states. Dehydrating mushrooms is a convenient way to increase shelf life. The dehydration process results in a lowered water activity (aw) of the commodity, creating an environment where both spoilage and pathogenic bacteria cannot proliferate. Prior to food preparation and consumption, these mushrooms are typically rehydrated and possibly stored for later use which could lead to increased levels of pathogens. This study examined the survival and growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica on dehydrated enoki and wood ear mushrooms during rehydration and subsequent storage. Mushrooms were heat dehydrated, inoculated at 3 log CFU/g, and rehydrated at either 5 or 25°C for 2 h. Rehydrated mushrooms were stored at 5, 10, or 25°C for up to 14 d. L. monocytogenes and S. enterica survived on enoki and wood ear mushroom types during rehydration at 5 and 25°C, with populations often <2.39 log CFU/g. During subsequent storage, no growth was observed on wood ear mushrooms, regardless of the rehydration or storage temperature, with populations remaining <2.39 log CFU/g for both pathogens. When stored at 5°C, no growth was observed for either pathogen on enoki mushrooms. During storage at 10 and 25°C, pathogen growth rates and populations after 14 d were generally significantly higher on the enoki mushrooms rehydrated at 25°C; the highest growth rate (3.56 ± 0.75 log CFU/g/d) and population (9.48 ± 0.62 log CFU/g) after 14 d for either pathogen was observed by S. enterica at 25°C storage temperature. Results indicate a marked difference in pathogen survival and proliferation on the two specialty mushrooms examined in this study and highlight the need for individual product assessments. Data can be used to assist in informing guidelines for time and temperature control for the safety of rehydrated mushrooms.

The Impact of Drying Methods on the Quality of Blanched Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) Larvae

The growing world population necessitates the implementation of appropriate processing technologies for edible insects. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of distinct drying techniques, including convective drying at 70 °C (70CD) and 90 °C (90CD) and freeze-drying (FD), on the drying kinetics, physical characteristics (water activity, color), chemical characteristics (chemical composition, amino acid profile, oil properties, total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity, mineral composition, FTIR), and presence of hazards (allergens, microorganisms) of blanched yellow mealworm larvae. The freeze-drying process results in greater lightness and reduced moisture content and water activity. The study demonstrated that the freeze-dried insects exhibited lower contents of protein and essential amino acids as compared to the convective-dried insects. The lowest content of total polyphenols was found in the freeze-dried yellow mealworm larvae; however, the highest antioxidant activity was determined for those insects. Although the oil isolated from the freeze-dried insects exhibited the lowest acid and peroxide values, it proved to have the lowest PUFA content and oxidative stability. All the samples met the microbiological criteria for dried insects. The results of the study demonstrate that a high temperature during the CD method does not result in the anticipated undesirable changes. It appears that freeze-drying is not the optimal method for preserving the nutritional value of insects, particularly with regard to the quality of protein and oil.

Modelling the availability of water, energy, and food resources in transboundary river basins to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 2, 6, and 7

The Water-Energy-Food Nexus (WEFN) has gained international attention as an approach for managing water more holistically, building on the progress made by the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach. However, modelling the availability of water, energy, and food and their interconnections is complex, with major barriers that include the availability of both data and modelling platforms capable of assessing the interconnected systems of the WEFN. There have been attempts to model resource availability in each sector generally, but few attempts to consider the WEFN in complex transboundary basins, especially considering Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here, a water, energy, and food availability model was developed using a combination of remotely sensed, national government reported, and global datasets. The model explores the complex interactions between the physical availability and production of water, energy, and food for several subbasins representing different states. Results showed the potential impacts of socioeconomic development, population changes and transboundary cooperation on resources. Transboundary cooperation in the case study Ma Basin in Southeast Asia, under existing resources and operations could improve monthly food security and reduce coal power operations using excess hydropower in the basin during the dry season. These findings show that transboundary cooperation improves access to energy and food, whilst potentially reducing demands for water. Furthermore, the research has highlighted ways in which transboundary cooperation can further assist in attaining SDGs 12 and 13 on responsible production and climate action, respectively. The modelling framework is easily transferable and can support similar analysis in other basins, contributing to global attainment of several SDGs.

Activated carbon based TiO2 nanocomposites (TiO2@AC) used simultaneous adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation for the efficient removal of Rhodamine-B (Rh–B)

The availability of fresh water is limited compared to its huge consumption. Conversely, certain industries like dyes, textiles, paper, and tanning not only consume vast quantities of fresh water, but also generate significant amounts of wastewater that poses severe threats to living organisms. The present investigation focuses on the degradation of Rhodamine-B (Rh–B) as a model pollutant by using the nanocomposite based on waste scrap tire-derived activated carbon (AC) and titanium dioxide (TiO2). These nanostructures were fabricated using wet chemistry techniques. Analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the morphology of the structures remained largely unchanged even with a concentration of 6 mg of AC. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed the successful fabrication of rutile and anatase phases of TiO2@AC nanocomposite. The XPS results confirmed the presence of AC and TiO2 in the composite. Furthermore, the optical band gap of the nanocomposites decreased up to 17.17 % and 34.57 % through direct and indirect methods respectively, owing to the varying quantity of AC used. The narrowing of optical band gap and the increased surface oxygen vacancies were caused by the successive addition of AC during the synthesis of nanocomposites. This resulted in the efficient degradation of Rhodamine-B (Rh–B) using adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation. The findings demonstrate a significant influence of AC on the TiO2 catalyst in the removal of Rh–B dye. The maximum efficiency of dye removal, reaching up to 99.14 %, was achieved with the highest concentration of AC, thus demonstrating almost complete elimination of Rh–B dye. The findings suggest that the use of waste scrap tires can be effectively applied to design efficient photocatalysts for addressing the wastewater management issues.

Relationship among micro-pollutants, economic growth, renewable energy, nanotechnology and ecological foot prints of China: evidence from panel data analysis.

An important concern is the availability of clean drinking water, which is an essential need for human survival. This issue arises due to the existence of hazardous micropollutants originating from various emission sources. Nanotechnology aids in the mitigation of micropollutants by assimilating and counteracting their effects, hence diminishing their influence on water and other ecosystems. The study investigates the relationship between nanotechnological progress, the adoption of renewable energy, environmental consequences, and economic growth in China, using the Environmental Kuznets Curve theory as a conceptual framework. The study employs panel cointegration tests to analyze structural breaks from 2000 to 2020. Nanotechnology is expected to reduce environmental degradation and the presence of micro-pollutants by increasing the use of renewable energy and promoting energy conservation. Nanotechnology is crucial for mitigating micro-pollutants and advancing sustainable development in this specific context. However, the literature also highlights the harmful consequences of nanoparticle emissions caused by nanotechnology on human and environmental health for a long duration, requiring more examination. This research is the first empirical inquiry into the relationship between improvements in nanotechnology, the use of renewable energy, economic growth, and ecological effect, all within the context of the Environmental Kuznets Curve theory. The results confirm the successful incorporation of all components with a focus on long-term outcomes. The findings suggest that the EKC hypothesis is relevant in China. In China, advancements in nanotechnology have a moderating effect on environmental degradation. The use of renewable energy sources in China enhances environmental circumstances. Given the offered empirical evidence, it is advisable for the government to have a leading role in the development of innovative nanotechnologies that have low emissions of nanoparticles. By using this approach, it will be possible to encourage the conservation of energy and the use of renewable sources in a more secure way, hence improving the effectiveness of sustainable development initiatives.

Geographic body size variation of a Plateau anuran: evidence supporting the water availability and hibernation hypotheses

Geographic body size variation of a Plateau anuran: evidence supporting the water availability and hibernation hypotheses

The influence of biophysical characteristics on elephant space use in an African savanna

Understanding the influence of biophysical variables on spatial distribution and seasonal locations of elephants is valuable inter alia in understanding their movement patterns, and the carrying capacity to optimise the conservation of their habitats. Furthermore, understanding elephant distribution in time and space is beneficial for predicting locations for tourist viewing and determining potential areas of human–wildlife conflicts. In this study, we examined the environmental drivers of seasonal variations in elephant ranges and movement using telemetry data. Using the elephant tracking data and biophysical characteristics, the Adaptive-Local Convex Hull (a-LoCoH) and the Maximum Entropy Modelling (MaxEnt) algorithm were adopted to determine their potential locations and distribution in a protected area. The jackknife approach was used to assess the environmental factors influencing seasonal elephant movements based on collar data from ten individual elephants tracked between December 2015 and April 2018. The performance of the elephant distribution models for the two seasons was assessed using the area under the curve from the receiver operating characteristic based on a 30% test holdout data. Results showed that the core a-LoCoH home of elephants was larger in the dry than wet season (Wilcoxon signed-rank test; W = 3, Z = 2.4973, p < 0.012). However, no noticeable differences were observed (Wilcoxon signed-rank test; W = 10, Z = 1.7838, p < 0.07) between the dry and wet season for the total (90%) a-LoCoH ranges. The MaxEnt modelling results showed that distance to the artificial water holes was the most influential variable in predicting the potential elephant spatial distribution in both wet and dry seasons, while the normalised difference vegetation index, a proxy for forage availability, was more influential in the dry season in predicting elephant distribution. The study concludes that seasonal elephant space use is mostly influenced by water availability in both seasons, while forage availability and variability influence elephant distribution more strongly in the dry than wet season. The study provides valuable insight into the biophysical characteristics of elephant home ranges. This is useful for the sustainable management of elephants and their habitats.

Unfolding the dynamics of ecosystems undergoing alternating wet-dry transitional states.

A significant fraction of Earth's ecosystems undergoes periodic wet-dry alternating transitional states. These globally distributed water-driven transitional ecosystems, such as intermittent rivers and coastal shorelines, have traditionally been studied as two distinct entities, whereas they constitute a single, interconnected meta-ecosystem. This has resulted in a poor conceptual and empirical understanding of water-driven transitional ecosystems. Here, we develop a conceptual framework that places the temporal availability of water as the core driver of biodiversity and functional patterns of transitional ecosystems at the global scale. Biological covers (e.g., aquatic biofilms and biocrusts) serve as an excellent model system thriving in both aquatic and terrestrial states, where their succession underscores the intricate interplay between these two states. The duration, frequency, and rate of change of wet-dry cycles impose distinct plausible scenarios where different types of biological covers can occur depending on their desiccation/hydration resistance traits. This implies that the distinct eco-evolutionary potential of biological covers, represented by their trait profiles, would support different functions while maintaining similar multifunctionality levels. By embracing multiple alternating transitional states as interconnected entities, our approach can help to better understand and manage global change impacts on biodiversity and multifunctionality in water-driven transitional ecosystems, while providing new avenues for interdisciplinary studies.

Drying and rewetting affect the chemical speciation and bioavailability of soil phosphorus in a hyper-arid desert ecosystem

Climate change is expected to alter the frequency and intensity of drying and rewetting cycles, impacting water availability and consequently soil nutrient availability. However, the effects of these fluctuations on the chemical speciation and bioavailability of phosphorus (P) in soil with or without desert species remain uncertain. We conducted a pot experiment involving bare soil and two desert species (Alhagi sparsifolia and Calligonum mongolicum) to determine the short-term impacts of drought (no water supply), drying-rewetting-1 (D-RW1, high frequency of low water amounts), and drying-rewetting-2 (D-RW2, low frequency of high-water amounts) treatments on soil Hedley-P pools, plant P concentration and biomass accumulation. Results demonstrated that the presence of plants significantly increased soil labile-P and organic P (Po) concentrations by 60–150% and 1–68%, respectively, compared to bare soil. Both D-RW1 and D-RW2 treatments significantly increased soil dissolved organic carbon concentration by 2–35% relative to the drought treatment. Moreover, soil resin-P and NaHCO3-Pi concentrations under Alhagi sparsifolia in D-RW1 treatment significantly increased by 31% and 75%, respectively, when compared to the drought treatment, with NaHCO3-Po and NaOH-Po concentrations under D-RW2 treatment rising by 14% and 32%, respectively. Furthermore, D-RW2 treatment significantly increased leaf P concentration and biomass compared to D-RW1 and drought treatments. Overall, compared to drought treatment, frequent low-intensity drying-rewetting cycles enhanced soil Pi turnover, whereas infrequent high-intensity drying-rewetting cycles increased Po turnover and P bioavailability. These findings will inform better water management strategies for desertification restoration in hyper-arid desert ecosystems.

Effects of atmospheric CO2 concentration on transpiration and leaf elongation responses to drought in Triticum aestivum, Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinacea.

Leaf elongation is vital for Poaceae species' productivity, influenced by atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]) and climate-induced water availability changes. Although [CO2] mitigates the effects of drought on reducing transpiration per unit leaf area, it also increases total leaf area and water use. These complex interactions associated with leaf growth pose challenges in anticipating climate change effects. This study aims to assess [CO2] effects on leaf growth response to drought in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). Plants were cultivated in growth chambers with [CO2] at 200 or 800ppm. At leaf six to seven unfolding, half of the plants were subjected to severe drought treatment. Leaf elongation rate (LER) was measured daily, whereas plant transpiration was continuously recorded gravimetrically. Additionally, water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content along with water and osmotic potentials in the leaf growing zone were measured at drought onset, mid-drought and leaf growth cessation. Elevated [CO2] mitigated drought impacts on LER and delayed growth cessation across species. A positive correlation between LER and soil relative water content (SRWC) was observed. At the same SRWC, perennial grasses exhibited a higher LER with elevated [CO2], likely due to enhanced stomatal regulation. Despite stomatal closure and WSC accumulation, CO2 did not influence nighttime water potential or osmotic potential. The marked increase in leaf area across species resulted in similar (wheat and tall fescue) or higher (ryegrass) total water use by the experiment's end, under both watered and unwatered conditions. In conclusion, elevated [CO2] mitigates the adverse effects of drought on leaf elongation in three Poaceae species, due to its impact on plant transpiration. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into CO2 and drought interactions that may help anticipate plant responses to climate change.

Impact of vermicompost addition on water availability of differently textured soils

Impact of vermicompost addition on water availability of differently textured soils

Bifunctional Electrolyte Additive Ammonium Persulfate for high-performance Aqueous Zinc-ion batteries

The main issues encountered in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) include corrosion and passivation of the zinc anode, electrolyte decomposition leading to hydrogen evolution, and dissolution consumption of cathode materials. This study proposes the use of ammonium persulfate (APS) as an electrolyte additive to enhance battery performance. The addition of APS not only adjusts the solvation structure of Zn2+, reduces water activity, but also allows NH4+ ions to preferentially adsorb onto the surface of the zinc electrode, forming a protective layer and achieving dendrite-free zinc anodes. Results indicate that the inclusion of APS additive in the electrolyte can increase the specific capacity of zinc-ion batteries from 321 mAh g-1 to 418 mAh g-1. Additionally, batteries with APS exhibit superior stability. Under low current density, the battery lifespan can reach 2100 hours and a coulombic efficiency can up to 99.6%. This study delves into the design of multifunctional electrolyte additives and provides valuable insights for the development of practical ZIBs.

Pore-scale behaviors of CO2 hydrate formation and dissociation in the presence of swelling clay: implication for geologic carbon sequestration

Hydrate-based CO2 sequestration (HBCS) under seafloor with huge storage capacity and long-term mechanical stability is attractive for large-scale carbon reduction. However, as representative geochemical constituents of marine sediments, swelling clay minerals still play ambiguous roles in hydrate phase transition and sedimentary structure stability. In this study, pore-scale behaviors of hydrate deposition and reservoir structure evolution in the presence of montmorillonite (MMT), a representative swelling clay, was investigated using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LNMR) technique. Total inter-particle interaction energy of 195.4 KbT ensured the dispersion of clay in 0.5 wt% MMT system, which facilitated homogeneous hydrate formation by providing nucleation sites and surface electric fields, improving hydrate conversion from 78.2% to 89.6%. Weak water activity caused by strong water absorption of swelling clay resulted in a 14.4% reduction in CO2 storage capacity of high-concentration (10.0 wt%) MMT reservoir. Hydrate phase transition accompanied by the migration of MMT particles and liquid water synergistically contributed to sedimentary structure evolution. Migration of MMT-rich fluid with high viscosity could cause irreversible geologic damages by exacerbating sedimentary skeleton deformation. This work reveals the interaction between swelling clay and CO2 hydrate at microscopic scale, providing new perspectives for effective implementation of CO2 geologic sequestration in marine sediments.

Hubungan Faktor Predisposisi dan Enabling Kepala Keluarga Dengan Perilaku Penggunaan Jamban Sehat di Dusun Aster Desa Piru Kabupaten Seram Bagian Barat Provinsi Maluku

Healthy latrines are an important sanitation facility that aims to maintain environmental health and improve public health in general. However, in Aster Hamlet ownership of healthy latrines is still low. Of the 345 families in Aster Hamlet, only 73 have healthy toilets, leaving 272 other families who do not. The habit of defecating into the river is a common practice there, considering that most of the houses are located near the river The aim was to identify factors related to the behavior of using healthy toilets in Aster Hamlet. This research used a cross-sectional design. The research population was 345 heads of families. The research sample was taken from 73 heads of families who had healthy latrines using total sampling technique. The analysis carried out included univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis to gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence healthy latrine use behavior. The results showed that all the variables studied, namely knowledge (p = 0.003), attitudes (p = 0.000), facilities and infrastructure (p = 0.002), and water availability (p = 0.000), had a significant relationship with latrine use behavior. Healthy. In particular, the most related variable is water availability, with the highest Exp(B) value of 2.505. This shows the importance of the water availability factor in influencing the behavior of using healthy latrines in Aster Hamlet, Village

Antimicrobial impact of a propolis/PVA/chitosan composite and its prospective application against methicillin resistance bacterial infection

Seriously damaged skin could be infected by methicillin-resistant bacteria, which delays restoration. Propolis has bioactivity linked with its minor components, such as antimicrobials and antioxidants. Active sites in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS) can enhance the nano-loading of natural extracts with activity amelioration. Korean propolis extract (KPE) loading to a nanocomposite possibly enhances its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory potency. Composites were formed using two PVA/CS structures (1:1; 2:1), and their skin-application appropriateness was determined by mechanical properties, moisture content, water activity, and color. The composite of PVA/CS (1:1) was more practicable for KPE-loading. Increasing KPE concentrations (50, 100, 150, and 200 ng/mL) alters composite bioactivity measured by Fourier transmission infrared (FT-IR). Antibacterial potency of 200 ng KPE/mL was the most effective concentration, followed by 150 ng KPE/mL, against Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium perfringens. The composite activity was measured as minimum inhibition (MIC) and minimum bacterial concentrations (MBC). At 200 ng KPE/mL, MIC and MBC against MRSA were 14.93 ± 1.21 and 20.21 ± 1.97 mg composite/mL, respectively. Significant inhibition was also recorded for antibiofilm formation, where MRSA growth was not detected after 4 hours of time intervals to the stainless-steel coupon. Compared to planktonic bacteria, the formed barrier of PVA/CS restrained the biofilm matrix formation and supported KPE antimicrobial. The impact of inhibition against biofilm formation depends on two parallel mechanisms (PVA barrier with hydrogen bonds, besides nano-KPE particle penetration into bacterial cells). The KPE-composite application to rats’ wounds shows significantly reduced MRSA infection. The results demonstrate the capability of KPE composite in reducing infection, healing correctly, and restoring hair. The wound swabbed test emphasizes this capacity, in which bacterial growth rate restriction was evaluated using a plate count assay. The results recommended 150 ng KPE/mL loading into CS/PVA (1:1) as an effective anti-pathogenic treatment, particularly against the MRSA infection of wounds.

Effect of Different Types of Emulsifiers on the Physical Characteristics and Fat Bloom Stability of Dark Chocolate with Cocoa Butter Alternatives

An emulsifier is incorporated to delay the fat bloom formation and improve the overall quality of dark chocolate. This study aims to investigate the effects of different emulsifiers on the physical properties and stability of fat bloom in dark chocolate with cocoa butter alternatives (CBAs). Dark chocolate formulations were prepared containing different emulsifiers like lecithin, glycerol monostearate and a combination of both with CBAs like cocoa butter substitute (CBS) and cocoa butter replacer (CBR). Physical property analyses included hardness, snap texture, melting behaviour, pH, and water activity. The whiteness index was used to measure fat maturity. The results showed that the addition of lecithin, CBS, and CBR decreased the hardness value. Meanwhile, samples of chocolate formulation with the addition of glycerol monostearate (CB+GMS), and chocolate formulation with the addition of lecithin and glycerol monostearate (CB+2E), increased the hardness and snap texture. Besides, CBR increased the peak temperature, and emulsifiers increased the peak temperature in samples with CB and CBR while decreasing the melting enthalpy. Furthermore, the addition of CBA and emulsifiers improved the stability of the fat bloom. Therefore, mixed emulsifiers, which have favourable physical properties and higher fat bloom stability, are ideal for use in chocolate production. CBAs have the potential for practical application in chocolate production to improve fat bloom stability.

The Influence of Pomace Powder of Musky Squash on the Characteristics of Foamy Confectionery Products during Storage

This paper analyzes the possibility of using pomace powder of musky squash (PPMS, 10–30% of the formulation) for the manufacture of foamy confectionery products based on Jerusalem artichoke syrup, which is a natural substitute for sugar syrup used in the food industry. The content of biologically active compounds (polyphenols, carotenoids) as well as the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of pumpkin powder were evaluated. Sensory analysis was applied to measure the degree of product acceptance and the analysis revealed that the optimal amount of PPMS accepted by the tasters was 15%. The addition of PPMS increased pH and free water retention, color, and lightness intensification. During the storage period (40 days), the hardness and gumminess showed an essential increase and the cohesion of the samples gradually decreased. The addition of PPMS led to the improvement of textural parameters, thus contributing to the extension of the shelf life of products by 10 days, compared to the control sample. Mutual information analysis was applied to determine the influence of PPMS concentration and storage time of foamy confectionery products on mean total score, mean sensory profile score, moisture content, water activity, antioxidant activity, hardness, cohesiveness, and gumminess. The results of this research indicate that the use of pumpkin pulp in the manufacture of foamy confectionery products can significantly increase their biological value and sensory characteristics and ensure an extension of the products’ shelf life.