Search Results (1,975)

Consumers are increasingly attracted to innovative, gourmand, and sustainable food products. This has led to a growing interest in flavored olive oils through co-milling processing. This study explores the production and characterization of flavored olive oils obtained by co-milling olives with orange pomace, black pepper, and hemp seeds, aiming to enhance their sensory and compositional properties while promoting sustainability through the valorization of agri-food by-products. The flavored olive oils and their control samples were analyzed for free acidity, tocopherols, phenolic compounds, volatiles, and sensory profiles. The flavored oils exhibited an acceptable hydrolytic state and peculiar sensory notes, depending on the ingredients used, as well as enhanced compositional qualities. This research highlights the potential of using oranges and hemp by-products in flavored oil production, offering an innovative approach to reducing food waste, with the possibility of future industrial applications. Full article

This study assessed the potential of dried Cayenne pepper (CP; Capsicum annuum L.) as a natural additive to rice bran oil (RBO), grape seed oil (GSO), and virgin olive oil (OO). Key analyses included peroxide and acid values, oxidative stability (Rancimat method), the composition of fatty acids (FAs) (GC-FID method), antioxidant activity (AA; DPPH method), and antimicrobial properties (disc diffusion method). Capsaicin and the dihydrocapsaicin contents in CP were quantified (HPLC-DAD method) as 1499.37 ± 3.64 and 1449.04 ± 5.14 mg/kg DW, respectively. Oleic acid (C18:1cis n9) dominated in OO (69.70%), OO-CP (69.73%), and RBO-CP (38.97%), while linoleic acid (C18:2cis n6) prevailed in RBO (41.34%), GSO (57.93%), and GSO-CP (58.03%). The addition of CP influenced the FA profile, particularly linoleic acid in OO and RBO, and all FAs in GSO. Peroxide and acid values increased significantly in RBO and GSO upon CP addition, but induction times remained unaffected. The strongest AA (77.00 ± 0.13%) was observed in OO-CP. Cayenne pepper significantly enhanced the antioxidant profiles of all oils compared to the counterparts. However, the antimicrobial activity was weak (≤5.0 mm inhibition zones) against tested microorganisms. These findings support CP as a functional additive for enhancing the nutritional and functional properties of gourmet oils, while highlighting the need for further optimization to improve stability and bioactivity. Full article

Human hair, commonly considered a discarded organic waste, is a keratin-rich material with remarkable potential for sustainable agriculture as an innovative resource. This study systematically explored the potential of non-composted human hair hydrolysates as eco-friendly and nutrient-rich liquid fertilizers, emphasizing their ability to enhance agricultural sustainability and mitigate organic waste accumulation. Eight distinct hydrolysates prepared with alkaline solutions were evaluated for their effects on plant growth using red-hot chili pepper (Capsicum frutescens) as the primary model under greenhouse conditions. The present study introduces a novel approach by employing an advanced digital image analysis technique to quantitatively assess 37 distinct plant growth parameters, providing an unprecedented depth of understanding regarding the impact of liquid human hair hydrolysates on plant development. Additionally, the integration of pilot-scale field trials and multi-species evaluations highlights the broader applicability and scalability of these hydrolysates as sustainable fertilizers. Collectively, these features establish this research as a pioneering contribution to sustainable agriculture and bio-waste management. The top-performing hydrolysates (KCaMgN, KMgN, KCaN) demonstrated significant enhancements in plant growth metrics, with fresh weight reaching up to 3210 mg, projected leaf area of approximately 132 cm², and crown diameter of 20.91 cm for the best-performing formulations, outperforming a commercial organomineral fertilizer by 20–46% in overall growth performance. Furthermore, observational studies on various species (such as bird of paradise flower (Strelitzia reginae), avocado (Persea americana), lemon (Citrus limon L.), Mazafati date (Phoenix dactylifera L.), and red mini conical hot pepper (Capsicum annuum var. conoides) and field trials on long sweet green peppers (Capsicum annuum) confirmed the broad applicability of these hydrolysates. Toxicity assessments using shortfin molly fish (Poecilia sphenops) validated the environmental safety of plants cultivated with hydrolysates. These findings highlight that human hair hydrolysates offer a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers, contributing to waste management efforts while enhancing agricultural productivity. Full article

Pepper golden mosaic virus (PepGMV) is a bipartite begomovirus of pepper and tomato from North America. In ‘Anaheim’ pepper plants PepGMV-Mo strain (Mo) causes systemic yellow foliar mosaic symptoms, while PepGMV-D strain (D) causes distortion of 1st–6th expanding leaves, and asymptomatic infection of subsequently developing leaves, like other known ‘recovery’ phenotypes. Infections established with DNA-A Mo and D components expressing red-shifted green fluorescent protein in place of coat protein and in situ hybridization, showed PepGMV-Mo localized to phloem and mesophyll cells, while -D was mesophyll restricted. Alignment of PepGMV-Mo and -D DNA-B components revealed three indels upstream of the BC1 gene that encodes the movement protein (MP). To determine if this non-coding region (*BC1) D-strain MP putative promoter contributed to ‘recovery’, plants were inoculated with chimeric DNA-B Mo/D components harboring reciprocally exchanged *BC1, and wild-type DNA-A Mo and D components. Symptoms were reminiscent but not identical to wild-type -Mo or -D infection, respectively, suggesting ‘recovery’ cannot be attributed solely to the *BC1. Both BC1 and D*BC1 were targeted by post-transcriptional gene silencing; however, ‘recovered’ leaves accumulated fewer transcripts and 21–24 nt vsiRNAs. Thus, inefficient in planta movement of PepGMV-D is associated with a non-pepper-adapted ‘defective’ BC1 that facilitates hyper-efficient PTGS, leading to BC1 transcript degradation that in turn limits virus spread, thereby recapitulating disease ‘tolerance’. Full article

Background: Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a widely cultivated vegetable crop worldwide, with its rich fruit colors providing unique visual traits and economic value. This study investigated the genetic basis of the immature green fruit color by constructing a F₂ segregating population derived from a cross between yellow fruit C20 and green fruit C62 parent lines. Methods: Bulked segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq) was performed to identify genomic regions associated with fruit color. Candidate genes were pinpointed through functional annotation and genetic variation analysis, supported by SNP markers, genotype analysis, and transcriptome profiling. Results: Two genomic regions associated with fruit color were identified on chromosomes 1 (14.55–20.85 Mb) and 10 (10.15–22.85 Mb), corresponding to previously reported loci pc1 and pc10.1. Two chlorophyll synthesis-related genes, CaAPRR2 and CaGLK2, were identified as candidate regulators of fruit color. Mutations in these genes include a premature stop codon in both CaGLK2 and CaAPRR2. The mutation of CaAPRR2 and CaGLK2 jointly regulate the yellow fruit trait in pepper, with CaGLK2 being the major gene and CaAPRR2 being the minor gene. Transcriptome analysis showed that the expression levels of the two genes increased during the green ripening stage of the parent fruits, with higher expression levels of CaGLK2. Conclusions: This study identifies CaGLK2 and CaAPRR2 as key regulators of immature green fruit color in pepper, with CaGLK2 playing a predominant role. These findings provide a theoretical foundation and data support for elucidating the molecular regulatory mechanisms of fruit color and advancing marker-assisted breeding in pepper. Full article

Sichuan pepper plays a vital role in enhancing the flavor of hotpot. However, the specific flavor compounds involved are still unclear. In this study, the key aroma components of Sichuan pepper tallow hotpot were explored. Six aroma attributes were evaluated by quantitative descriptive sensory analysis (QDA). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified 56 compounds. Among them, a total of 27 aroma-active compounds were identified by gas chromatography–olfactometry (GC-O) and aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). Sixteen aroma-active compounds were determined using odor activity values (OAVs) ≥ 1. Linalool, linalyl acetate, D-limonene, sabinene, β-myrcene, eucalyptol, α-terpineol, terpinen-4-ol, acetic acid, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, (E)-2-heptenal, and others were identified as the key aroma compounds. Chemometrics analysis indicated that the aroma of green Sichuan pepper tallow hotpot was green, and the aroma of different red Sichuan pepper tallow hotpots varied significantly. The research results serve as a foundation for the quality control and production of the hotpot industry. Full article

Image denoising is crucial for correcting distortions caused by environmental factors and technical limitations. We propose a novel and highly robust encoder–decoder network (HREDN) for effectively removing mixed salt-and-pepper and Gaussian noise from digital images. HREDN integrates a multi-scale feature enhancement block in the encoder, allowing the network to capture features at various scales and handle complex noise patterns more effectively. To mitigate information loss during encoding, skip connections transfer essential feature maps from the encoder to the decoder, preserving structural details. However, skip connections can also propagate redundant information. To address this, we incorporate attention gates within the skip connections, ensuring that only relevant features are passed to the decoding layers. We evaluate the robustness of the proposed method across facial, medical, and remote sensing domains. The experimental results demonstrate that HREDN excels in preserving edge details and structural features in denoised images, outperforming state-of-the-art techniques in both qualitative and quantitative measures. Statistical analysis further highlights the model’s ability to effectively remove noise in diverse, complex scenarios with images of varying resolutions across multiple domains. Full article

Pepper is an important vegetable and economic crop, and the MYB family is one of the most numerous transcription factor families in plants, extensively participating in various biological processes such as plant growth, development, and stress resistance. In this study, CcMYB330 is identified as a differentially expressed gene in the pepper fruit, and CcMYB330 is expressed with higher expression levels in the placenta and pericarp at different development stages of pepper fruit. Analysis of the promoter cis-elements revealed that this gene contains not only core elements but also environmental factor response elements and plant hormone response elements. The silencing of CcMYB330 could reduce the capsaicinoid accumulation in pepper fruit, while the overexpression of CcMYB330 could increase capsaicinoid accumulation. Additionally, silencing or overexpressing CcMYB330 could regulate the expression of structural genes involved in capsaicinoid biosynthesis. In addition, through yeast one-hybrid experiments, we identified an interaction between CcMYB330 and the capsaicinoid biosynthesis structural gene CcPAL. Further evidence from EMSA experiments and dual luciferase assays confirmed that CcMYB330 can bind to the cis-element ACCAACAACCAAA in the CcPAL promoter. These results indicate that CcMYB330 may regulate the synthesis of capsaicinoids by modulating structural genes in the capsaicinoid biosynthesis pathway, providing new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of capsaicinoid synthesis. Full article

This study aims to explore the effect of using black pepper essential oil (BPEO) to produce a healthier chicken pâté. Four different formulations were produced: a control formulation without back pepper and three with increasing BPEO contents. To test the effect of using BPEO, physiochemical analyses were performed at two different moments, 8 and 21 days after production. Microbiological analyses were performed 2, 9, 16, and 23 days after production. Sensory analysis to evaluate the pleasantness of the pâtés to consumers was performed 21 days after production. Finally, total phenol and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity were evaluated. Results show no significant physicochemical differences. Pâtés with no BPEO or black garlic were the most pleasant, but 0.3 or 0.5% of BPEO were not significantly less appreciated, while 1% of the EO caused a decrease in taste and global appreciation. The higher the BPEO content, the higher the phenol content, antioxidant (with an increase from 1.58 to 2.27 mg eq. Fe II/g of sample, in the Control at T23 and V3 at T23, respectively), and microbial activity (with total mesophiles count reduction from 5.91 to 5.21 log CFU/g sample in V3 from T9 to T16). The use of 1% of BPEO showed a significant effect on the reduction in mesophile counts for at least two weeks. These results highlight the potential for optimizing BPEO or black garlic content to ensure both consumer acceptance and enhanced functional properties. While further analysis will help pinpoint the best formulation, the current findings are a promising step towards achieving an optimal balance. Full article

In response to the typical fault issues encountered during the operation of marine diesel engines, a fault diagnosis method based on a convolutional neural network (CNN), a temporal convolutional network (TCN), and the attention mechanism (ATTENTION) is proposed, referred to as CNN-TCN–ATTENTION. This method successfully addresses the issue of insufficient feature extraction in previous fault diagnosis algorithms. The CNN is employed to capture the local features of diesel engine faults; the TCN is employed to explore the correlations and temporal dependencies in sequential data, further obtaining global features; and the attention mechanism is introduced to assign different weights to the features, ultimately achieving intelligent fault diagnosis for marine diesel engines. The results of the experiments demonstrate that the CNN-TCN–ATTENTION-based model achieves an accuracy of 100%, showing superior performance compared to the individual CNN, TCN, and CNN-TCN methods. Compared with commonly used algorithms such as Transformer, long short-term memory (LSTM), Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), and Deep Belief Network (DBN), the proposed method demonstrates significantly higher accuracy. Furthermore, the model maintains an accuracy of over 90% in noise environments such as random noise, Gaussian noise, and salt-and-pepper noise, demonstrating strong diagnostic performance, generalization capability, and noise robustness. This provides a theoretical basis for its practical application in the fault diagnosis of marine diesel engines. Full article

Background/Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is often accompanied by mental health complications, including anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. Recent research suggested that capsaicin, the active component of chili peppers, may influence mental health. This study aimed to determine the effect of dietary capsaicin on mental disorders in a type 1 diabetes (T1D) mouse model, while also exploring the potential involvement of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Methods: We induced T1D in mice using streptozotocin (STZ) and administered a diet supplemented with 0.005% capsaicin for five weeks. Behavioral assessments, including the open field test (OFT), tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST), elevated plus maze (EPM) test, and Morris water maze (MWM) test, were conducted to evaluate depressive and anxiety-like behaviors as well as cognitive function. Targeted and untargeted metabolomics analyses were performed to assess neurotransmitter levels in the hippocampus and serum metabolites, while 16S rRNA sequencing was utilized to analyze gut microbiota composition. Intestinal barriers were determined using western blot detection of the tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin. Results: Dietary capsaicin exacerbated anxiety and depressive-like behaviors along with cognitive declines in T1D mice. Capsaicin reduced gut microbiota diversity and levels of beneficial bacteria, while broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment further intensified anxiety and depression behaviors. Metabolomic analysis indicated that capsaicin disrupted metabolic pathways related to tryptophan and phenylalanine, leading to decreased neuroprotective metabolites, such as kynurenic acid, hippurate, and butyric acid. Additionally, capsaicin diminished the expression of ZO-1 and occludin, indicating increased intestinal permeability. Conclusions: Dietary capsaicin aggravates gut microbiota and metabolic disturbances in diabetic mice, thereby worsening anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. Full article

Due to its central role in pain, inflammation, and related disorders, the Transient Receptor Potential (TPR) Vanilloid Type-1 (TRPV1) ion channel represents an attractive target for the development of novel antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory agents. Capsaicin, the natural component of chili peppers, is one of the most investigated agonists of this receptor. Several modifications of its structure have been attempted, aiming at finding TRPV1 agonists with improved characteristics, but, to date, no capsaicin-derived agents have reached the market. Based on our previous knowledge of the design and synthesis of TRPV1 agonists, in this paper we propose two small series of indole-2-carboxamides as novel and selective agonists for this ion channel. The newly developed compounds have been structurally characterized and tested in vitro for their ability to modulate TRPV1, in terms of efficacy, potency (EC₅₀), and desensitization (IC₅₀) properties. For the most promising derivatives, selectivity over the TRP ankyrin-1 (TRPA1) channel has been reported. From our study, compound 6g arose as a promising candidate for further evaluation, also in correlation with its in silico-predicted drug-like properties. Full article

Background and Objectives: The utilization of non-metallic pedicle screws and rods has become a favored approach in the management of spinal tumors. An abundance of metal artifacts improves postoperative imaging and allows for precise radiation treatment planning. Under certain conditions, a vertebral body replacement (VBR) is necessary in addition to dorsal fixation. For a long time, VBR hardware was available as titanium implants only. Recently, other non-titanium products were introduced into the market. This study compares radiotherapy planning after VBR with titanium and non-titanium materials. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study in a single academic center setting. VBR was performed for thoracic spinal metastatic disease. Radiation plan quality was evaluated according to the criteria of the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements, based on postoperative CT imaging. Results: Six patients with dorsal fixation and VBR were included, half of which were treated with titanium VBR and the other half with a minimum metallic implant. In addition, patients received different dorsal fixation hardware. No difference was found in terms of radiation plan quality. With non-titanium materials, visual demarcation during radiation planning was superior. Conclusions: This is the first study in the field to comprehensively compare radiation treatment planning after VBR using different materials. With minimum metallic implants, radiotherapy planning is equal in terms of planning but superior in terms of visual demarcation in comparison to standard titanium VBR, potentially enabling more precise radiotherapy approaches. Full article

Pepper (Capsicum spp.) is an important global vegetable and spice, with fruit color being a key determinant of its commercial quality. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying pepper fruit color are still not fully understood. This study focuses on the MADS-RIPENING INHIBITOR (MADS-RIN), a MADS-box transcription factor that regulates various aspects of fruit ripening, including pigmentation. We identified CaRIN, a homolog of tomato’s SlRIN, whose expression is closely associated with fruit ripening in pepper. Silencing CaRIN through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) resulted in increased chlorophyll and chlorophyll a content, reduced carotenoid accumulation, and uneven fruit coloration. Integrative analysis of the RNA-seq and DAP-seq data identified 77 target genes regulated by CaRIN, which was involved in processes such as chlorophyll metabolism and plant hormone signaling. Yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) and dual-luciferase (LUC) assays demonstrated that CaRIN directly bound to the promoter of CaLhcb-P4, repressing its expression. Downregulation of CaLhcb-P4 in pepper fruits via VIGS accelerated chlorophyll degradation. Additionally, CaRIN indirectly regulated multiple genes associated with chlorophyll and carotenoid metabolism, sugar transport, and cell wall degradation. These findings provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms of chlorophyll degradation during pepper fruit ripening, offering a foundation for further research and potential genetic improvement strategies. Full article

Introduction: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common malignant skin tumor. While rarely fatal, it can cause local tissue damage. Part I of the review summarizes the dermoscopic features of BCC and the diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy in the diagnosis of BCC. Methods: A search of the PubMed database was performed for studies reporting on the diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopy or dermoscopic findings in BCC, either pigmented or non-pigmented, located anywhere on the body, of any histopathologic subtype, size and at any age of onset. Results: BCC was found to present with a wide range of dermoscopic features, including white structures (shiny white lines, shiny white areas, rosettes), yellow structures (milia-like cysts, yellow lobular-like structures), multiple aggregated yellow-white globules (MAY globules), blue structures (blue ovoid nests), vascular structures (arborizing vessels, short fine telangiectasias), multiple small erosions/ulcerations, features of regression (pepper-like structures, white scar-like areas) and pigmented structures (spoke-wheel areas, maple leaf-like areas (MLLAs), blue/gray dots). Dermoscopy showed a sensitivity of 67.6–98.6% and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 85.9–97% in identifying BCC. The physician’s experience and training improve the accuracy, however, BCCs on the trunk and extremities, particularly of superficial subtypes, may still constitute a challenge. Conclusions: Dermoscopy, especially when performed by a trained physician, increases the accuracy of early BCC detection. Full article