1,720,959 research outputs found
A strategy to implement the circular economy paradigm using okara extracts fractions and biochemical approach in agri-tech innovation
Full text linkThe significant environmental and economic impacts of waste and byproducts from food chains are well-documented. However, these byproducts still contain numerous valuable molecules with potential applications and bioactivities in various fields. Moreover, the environmental impact and economic aspects related to the usage of agri-food by-products and food waste represent a cornerstone in advancing the circular economy [1]. Okara, a byproduct from soy, Glycine max, generated from soymilk production, is gaining attention due to its abundance and the numerous possible applications in the agri-food sector. This work focused on the fractionation of okara proteins through green, sustainable, water-based extraction processes [2] and the enzymatic production of peptides. We tested different peptide fractions for their potential inhibitory capacity against pathogenic fungi (i.e. Fusarium graminearum) and bio-stimulatory activities tested on plant systems. Fractionating waste is crucial for a comprehensive analysis and a deep understanding of the activities of the single peptide obtained through enzymatic digestion. This approach facilitates comprehensive investigations into residual proteins' molecular and biochemical properties and valuable compounds, which can be studied using both in vitro and in vivo methodologies
The biochemistry for the valorization of agri food waste and by-products: the case of Okara for sustainable AgriTech Applications in Circular Economy
Full text linkFood chains play a significant environmental and economic role for their consequences regarding the large amounts of waste and byproducts produced. Recently, the monetization of matrices obtained from agrifoods wastes has been a crucial step forward for the circular economy concept. Biochemically, such byproducts are very interesting because of their content in proteins, peptides, and other highvalue molecules like polyphenols. Therefore, these matrices will have high biotechnological potential for different fields and applications. Okara, the byproduct of soy (Glycine max) [1], has garnered agro and biotechnological interest because of its versatility,
sustainability, and abundance [2]. In the present work, we developed different approaches for the recovery and purification of Okara’s peptides, which will be valorized
for their agrotechnological potential (e.g. biodefense activity). Sustainable extraction methodologies and hydrolytic enzymes were used to overcome the matrix effects that hinder extraction yields. Biochemical methodologies including sequencing and spectroscopy were used for the molecular characterizations of the peptides purified in the different fractions. The selected fractions were tested with different in vivo systems to assess their biological activities
How sustainable is sustainability? Recovery of bioactives from food processing waste
Full text linkThe modern agri-food industry, crucial for global nutrition, generates significant by-products often considered waste, posing economic and environmental challenges. By-products are secondary products unintentionally obtained from the manufacturing process, while waste refers to inefficient activities that add no value. Waste is generated throughout the entire food lifecycle, from production to distribution. They are frequently incinerated or sent to landfills, causing air, water, and soil pollution. Agri-food waste can alternatively be used as animal feed, yet both waste and by-products contain valuable molecules for scientific research and sustainable solutions in a circular economy. Agri-food by-products contain compounds for biostimulation, green pesticides, and nutrition, requiring chemical-physical treatments to realize their potential. Therefore, revalorization of agri-food waste biomass creates high-value products and addresses waste accumulation, underscoring the importance of economical evaluation in this process.
Despite studies on pure isolated bioactive compounds, significant gaps persist in understanding their interactions with matrices, influenced by their supramolecular characteristics, which affect their behavior during isolation. Matrix effects impede the exploration of biological activities such as biodefense or biostimulation, stemming from molecular changes that occur during processing. Overcoming these challenges requires innovative biochemical strategies and enzymatic treatments.
The recovery of bioactives from food processing waste highlights critical challenges for the agri-food sector. Private and public companies in nutraceuticals, food packaging, and agriculture stand to benefit significantly from these innovations. Crucially, EU policies play a pivotal role in managing food waste and by-products, advancing a sustainable circular economy by reducing waste and optimizing resource efficiency
Overcoming Matrix Effects in protein extraction to valorize the potential of agri- food by-products
Full text linkFood chains generate a high volume of waste and byproducts, that have a relevant environmental and economic impact. In this context, the valorization of agri-food-derived matrices represents a milestone in the circular economy philosophy, enabling in-depth studies of the molecular characteristics of residual proteins that could be tested through in vitro/in vivo approaches. However, the search for biological activities (e.g., biodefense or biostimulant) is strongly hampered by matrix effects due to macromolecular conformational changes and interactions occurring during food processing. Overcoming these challenges involves the application of diverse biochemical strategies, rooted in the chemical features of macro and micro- constituents, along with enzymatic treatments. These strategic approaches enable extensive characterizations of selected polypeptides or the utilization of “omic” methods.
In this work, we present some examples of strategies used for the molecular characterization of two by-products from food industry, namely okara from soybean and seeds from tomatoes.
Our findings will allow the knowledge-based potential exploitation of these molecules obtained with innovative and mild technologies. Private and public companies operating in the nutraceutical, food packaging and agricultural fields and oriented to the implementation of new commercial applications may benefit from this approach.
This study was carried out within the Agritech National Research Center and received funding from the European Union Next-GenerationEU (PIANO NAZIONALE DI RIPRESA E RESILIENZA (PNRR) – MISSIONE 4 COMPONENTE 2,INVESTIMENTO 1.4 – D.D. 1032 17/06/2022, CN00000022)
Matrix effect : a challenge to enhance the bioavailability of functional bioactive compounds derived from okara, the byproduct of soymilk production
Full text linkThe rising interest towards sustainable food production has led to the exploitation of byproducts. Despite the fact they are considered wastes, byproducts are still containing a high quantity of nutrients and bioactive compounds. In the last few years, the effects of these molecules on health and food processing have been deeply explored. However, the “matrix effect” exerted by the supramolecular organization hasn’t aroused the same interest. Highly processed byproducts present this structural reorganization that could affect the release of compounds during their digestion, absorption and function on the target.
This work aims to release the protein fraction and other interesting molecules from okara using several extraction methods to overcome the matrix effect. Okara, the soymilk processing byproduct, has a protein content representing about 30% of its dry weight and it is largely produced generating an environmental and economic problem. Different approaches have been performed to increase the bioavailability and bioactivity of functional components. The fractions obtained in this way have been tested on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (CaCo2). In particular, cytotoxicity activity has been analyzed by testing different concentrations. Also, the protective effects on cell inflammation have been studied on cells, and the amount of IL1β expressed has been measured. Since the expression levels of NFκB mirror the expression of chemokine IL8, the expression of IL8 was quantified by qRT-PCR to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of peptides. The study has shown that each treatment has a different impact on the release of compounds, which also influences their bioactivity.
Acknowlegments: This study was carried out within the Agritech National Research Center and received funding from the European Union NextGenerationEU (PIANO NAZIONALE DI RIPRESA E RESILIENZA (PNRR) – MISSIONE 4 COMPONENTE 2, INVESTIMENTO 1.4 – D.D. 1032 17/06/2022, CN00000022)
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
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