This study aimed to improve the color removal of talodora syrup by using sodium metabisulfite and ammonium persulphate, which have a very important effect in the bleaching process. The behavior of the materials used at different concentrations on Brix and the pH of the syrup was studied, as well as the color removal efficiency. Experiments were carried out at Hawamdia sugar refinery factory, Giza Governorate, in the General Administration for Quality and Control, during September and October 2022. The results showed that the rate of decolorization of the samples increased with the increase the concentration of the additives. The best color removal of the syrup is 60.4% when using Sodium metabisulfite at a concentration of 550 ppm on the processed syrup. While the best color removal of the syrup was 35.2% when ammonium persulphate at a concentration of 800 ppm was added to outlet syrup of talodora when compared to color of outlet syrup of talodora. On the other hand, it became clear that the removal color of the syrup when adding the material at the same concentration to the treated syrup was 70.2%, when compared to the color of the syrup inlet talodora. Through the results obtained, it was clear that ammonium persulfate was better than sodium meta sulfite of its effect on removing the color of syrup.

Two grapefruits juices from white and pink cultivars were studied to evaluate some physical properties, chemical, antioxidantive components, antioxidant activity, as well as, minerals and some vitamins.

Allergic diseases, derived from the dysregulation of immune tolerance mechanisms, have been 
rising in the last two decades. Recently, increasing evidence has shown that probiotic-derived 
polysaccharide capsules exhibit a protective effect against allergic diseases, involving regulation 
of Th1/Th2 balance, induction of differentiation of T regulatory cells and activation of dendritic 
cells (DCs). DCs have a central role in controlling the immune response through their interaction 
with gut microbiota via their pattern recognition receptors, including Toll-like receptors and C-type￾lectin receptors. This review discusses the effects and critical mechanism of probiotic-derived 
polysaccharide capsules in regulating the immune system to alleviate allergic diseases. We first 
describe the development of immune response in allergic diseases and recent relevant findings. 
Particular emphasis is placed on the effects of probiotic-derived polysaccharide capsules on allergic 
immune response. Then, we discuss the underlying mechanism of the impact of probiotic-derived 
polysaccharide capsules on DCs-mediated immune tolerance induction.

Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) is an effective way to control blood glucose in
diabetic patients. Tenebrio (T.) molitor is an edible insect containing abundant protein. T. molitor protein￾derived peptides can suppress the DPP-4 activity. However, the amino acid sequence and binding
mechanism of these DPP-4 inhibitory peptides remain unclear. This study used the flavourzyme for
T. molitor protein hydrolysis, identified the released peptides with DPP-4 inhibitory effect, and inves￾tigated the binding interactions of these peptides with DPP-4. The results showed that flavourzyme
efficiently hydrolyzed the T. molitor protein, as demonstrated by the high degree of hydrolysis, dis￾appearance of protein bands in SDS-PAGE, and changes to protein structure. The 4-h flavourzyme
hydrolysates showed a good inhibitory effect on DPP-4 (IC50 value of 1.64 mg/mL). The fragment of
1000–3000 Da accounted for 10.39% of the total peptides, but showed the strongest inhibitory effect on
DPP-4. The peptides LPDQWDWR and APPDGGFWEWGD were identified from this fraction, and
their IC50 values against DPP-4 were 0.15 and 1.03 mg/mL, respectively. Molecular docking showed
that these two peptides interacted with the DPP-4 active site via hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic
interactions, salt bridge formation, π-cation interactions, and π-π stacking. Our findings indicated
that T. molitor protein-derived peptides could be used as natural DPP-4 inhibitors.

The antifungal effect of metabolites produced by a new strain of Lactiplantibacillus (Lpb.)
plantarum LPP703, isolated from naturally fermented yak yogurt, was investigated. The results
showed that Lpb. plantarum LPP703 significantly inhibited four fungal species, including Penicillium
sp., Rhizopus delemar, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger. The metabolites produced after 20 h
of Lpb. plantarum LPP703 fermentation showed the highest antifungal activity against Penicillium sp.
Compared with the control group, the Lpb. plantarum LPP703 metabolites-treated Penicillium sp.
spores were stained red by propidium iodide, indicating that the cell membrane of the fungal
spores was damaged. Moreover, the antifungal effect of the Lpb. plantarum LPP703 metabolites on
Penicillium sp. was not changed after heating or treatment with various proteases, but showed a sharp
decrease when the pH value was regulated to 5.0 or above. The oleamide, trans-cinnamic acid, and
citric acid were the three most abundant in the Lpb. plantarum LPP703 metabolites. Molecular docking
predicated that the oleamide interacted with the active site of lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase (CYP51,
a crucial enzyme for fungal membrane integrity) through hydrogen bonds and had the lowest docking
score, representing the strongest binding affinity to CYP51. Taken together, the metabolites from a
new strain of Lpb. plantarum, LPP703, had potent antifungal activity against Penicillium sp., which
might be associated with the damage of the active ingredient to fungal membrane integrity. This
study indicated that Lpb. plantarum LPP703 and its metabolites might act as biological control agents
to prevent fungal growth in the food industry.

Green waste-derived compost (GWC) is a valuable soil amendment for improving soil organic matter and decreasing waste products and potential pollutants. The study was carried out to evaluate the effect of GWC application on the yield and quality of sugar beet under deficit irrigation conditions using different irrigation systems. A field experiment was conducted using the commercial sugar beet variety Gazelle in sandy soil. Two doses (0 and 14 t ha⁻¹) of GWC were applied to the soil. Three water deficiency levels (60, 80 and 100% of the soil field capacity) under either drip and sprinkler irrigation systems were applied. The application of 14 ton ha⁻¹ of GWC resulted in the highest root and recoverable sugar yields, especially under the well-irrigated conditions under drip irrigation. Sugar beet root biofortification and juice quality were also significantly improved under drip irrigation in response to the application of 14 ton ha⁻¹ of GWC by increasing sucrose content, quality index (Qz)% and recoverable sugar (RS)%. The application of GWC under drip irrigation enhanced water use efficiency for root (WUE_RY) and recoverable sugar yields (WUE_RSY), in particular under drip irrigation and water deficit conditions (60% of the soil field capacity). The soil physicochemical properties were significantly improved in response to the application of GWC. GWC application promoted the yield and biofortification of sugar beet by improving the soil physiochemical properties, and nutrient mobilization and uptake. The application of GWC is essential for sustainable sugar beet production and efficient irrigation water use in sandy soils.

GIGANTEA (GI) encodes a component of the circadian clock core oscillator and has been identified as a regulatory pathway of the circadian rhythm and photoperiodic flowering in model plants. However, the regulatory pathway of GI affecting flowering time is unknown in maize. Here, we identified that the zmgi2 mutant flowered earlier than the wild type under long day (LD) conditions, whereas the difference in flowering time was not apparent under short day (SD) conditions. The 24 h optimal expression of the gene in the stem apex meristems (SAM) appeared at 9 h after dawn under LD conditions and at 11 h after dawn under SD conditions. DAP-Seq and RNA-Seq further revealed that ZmGI2 delays flowering by directly binding to the upstream regions of ZmVOZs, ZmZCN8 and ZmFPF1 to repress the expression of these genes and by directly binding to the upstream regions of ZmARR11, ZmDOF and ZmUBC11 to promote the expression of these genes. The genetic and biochemical evidence suggests a model for the potential role of ZmGI2 in regulating the flowering time-dependent photoperiodic pathway. This study provides novel insights into the function of ZmGIs in maize and further demonstrates their potential importance for floral transition. These results contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks of GI transcription factors in regulating flowering time in maiz

Carbon nanodots (CNDs)-embedded pullulan (PUL) nanofibers were developed and successfully applied for sulfathiazole (STZ) removal from wastewater streams for the first time. The CNDs were incorporated into PUL at 0.0%, 1.0%, 2.0%, and 3.0% (w/w) to produce M1, M2, M3, and M4 nanofibers (PUL-NFs), respectively. The produced PUL-NFs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and applied for STZ removal from aqueous solutions through pH, kinetics, and equilibrium batch sorption trials. A pH range of 4.0–6.0 was observed to be optimal for maximum STZ removal. Pseudo-second order, intraparticle diffusion, and Elovich models were suitably fitted to kinetics adsorption data (R 2 = 0.82–0.99), whereas Dubinin–Radushkevich, Freundlich, and Langmuir isotherms were fitted to equilibrium adsorption data (R 2 = 0.88–0.99). STZ adsorption capacity of PUL-NFs improved as the amount of embedded CNDs increased. Maximum STZ adsorption capacities of the synthesized PUL-NFs were in the order of: M4 > M3 > M2 > M1 (133.68, 124.27, 93.09, and 35.04 mg g−1 , respectively). Lewis acid–base reaction and π-π electron donor–acceptor interactions were the key STZ removal mechanisms under an acidic environment, whereas H-bonding and diffusion were key under a basic environment. Therefore, CNDs-embedded PUL-NFs could be employed as an environmentally friendly, efficient, and non-toxic adsorbent to remove STZ from wastewater streams.

Sources and levels of heavy metals (HMs) in soil and dust of urban and suburban areas in Riyadh (industrial city) and Mahad AD’Dahab (mining area) cities in Saudi Arabia were reported in this study. Additionally, the concentrations of HMs in different soil particle size fractions (> 250, 63–250 and < 63 µm) were reported. Pollution extent, and ecological and human health risks associated with collected soil and dust samples were explored. Contamination levels of HMs were higher in dust as compared to soil samples at all sites. The average integrated potential ecological risk in dust samples of urban area of Mahad AD’Dahab was 139, and thus characterized as a very-high-risk criterion. Enrichment factor (EF), correlation analyses, and principal component analysis showed that aluminum (Al), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), titanium (Ti), and zinc (Zn) had mainly the lithogenic occurrence (EF < 2). However, Zn, copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) in Riyadh, and cadmium (Cd), Cu, Zn, and Pb in the Mahad AD’Dahab were affected by industrial and mining activities, respectively, that were of anthropogenic origins (EF > 2). The hazard index values of dust and soil (< 63 µm) samples in both urban and suburban areas in Mahad AD’Dahab were > 1, suggesting non-carcinogenic risk. Therefore, the dust and soil samples from the mined area of Mahad AD’Dahab had a higher pollution levels, as well as ecological and human health risks than those from Riyadh. Hence, the pollution of such residential environments with HMs (especially Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb) needs to be monitored.