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The post-harvest management of fruit is crucial to preventing its decay and loss. Generally, edible coatings are applied to fruit to avoid decay and microbial contamination. We have used ultrasonication to synthesize TiO2 and Pennisetum glaucum residue-derived biosilica embedded in gum arabic nanocomposite. The SiO2/TiO2/gum arabic nanocomposite morphological and crystalline features were investigated using a scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffractometer, respectively. The SiO2/TiO2/gum arabic cytocompatibility was assessed using cell viability and microscopic assay. The SEM images revealed that 70–90 nm biosilica and 70–100 nm TiO2 nanostructures were present on the gum arabic. According to MTT assay and microscopic examination results, SiO2/TiO2/gum arabic do not inhibit cell viability and modulate cellular structural features; it inferred that SiO2/TiO2/gum arabic possess good cytocompatibility on human mesenchymal stem cells even up to 400 µg/mL. The date fruits were immersed in SiO2/TiO2/gum arabic-based coating mixtures and stored at 6 °C for 4 weeks. When date fruits were examined during storage, it was found that the applied coatings contributed to maintaining physicochemical features (e.g., color and texture). These findings suggest that the SiO2/TiO2/gum arabic-based coating can be applied to extend the shelf life of dates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dates are widely consumed in Indonesia, especially during the Ramadan season. This study aims to identify innovative marketing strategies, understand date consumption patterns, and find obstacles that prevent dates from becoming a routine consumption option outside of Ramazan. The mixed-methods approach is employed, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods to gain a comprehensive understanding of consumer behavior, motivation, and preferences related to date consumers. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis with the assistance of NVivo software to organize the data and identify key themes. The results from 235 respondents highlight key demographic and behavioral insights. Additionally, date type and quality are key factors in customer recommendations, indicating that sellers should balance traditional marketing with catering to younger generations by creating products aligned with healthy lifestyle trends and culinary innovation. 3Kurma can demonstrate the product's versatility and premium quality. Pop-up events at malls, markets, or popular local spots in Jakarta can be a highly effective marketing strategy to build brand awareness, create a sensory experience, and engage directly with their target audience in a unique and memorable way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The non-stress test (NST) is one of the pregnancy screening tests used to measure fetal well-being. Any factors that can increase the reactivity or reduce the time to reach reactivity in the NST test are beneficial. This study aimed to investigate the effect of pregnant mothers’ consumption of bananas and dates on the reactivity of the non-reactive fetus NST test. Methods: One hundred sixty pregnant women with 37 weeks of pregnancy and more referred for fetus electrocardiography to the midwifery clinic of Hajar hospital in Shahrekord were randomly assigned into 4 groups, including group 1 (one banana and 500 cc water), group 2 (7 dates and 500 cc water), group 3 (25 g glucose and 500 cc water) and group 4 or control group (500 cc water). Before and one hour after the intervention, NST and the mother’s blood sugar were recorded. Data was analyzed by SPSS software. Results: There were no significant differences between the gender of the fetus, blood glucose level, mean age of the mother, and mean gestational age in the studied groups at baseline (P > 0.05). The abundance of non-reactive results in bananas plus water, dates plus water, glucose plus water, and water groups were 6 (15%), 11 (27.5%), 11 (27.5%), and 13 (32.5%), respectively. Based on the chi-square test, the frequency of reactive and non-reactive results in the studied groups showed no significant difference (P = 0.315). Conclusion: According to the study results, consuming bananas before the NST test does not affect NST results, and blood glucose did not change in the groups before and after the intervention.

Recently essential oils (EOs) encapsulation is experiencing growing applications in agricultural and agri-food sector. Encapsulation is reported as safe environmental technology leading to a reduction of conventional insecticides use. This study concerns the assessment of fumigant toxicity and persistence of Rosmarinus officinalis EO encapsulated in two cyclodextrins β-CD and HP-β-CD against larvae of the date moth, Ectomyelois ceratoniae. The retention capacity, encapsulation efficacy, loading capacity and release behavior of the two inclusion complexes were investigated. Results showed that two studied CDs had in important retention capacity. Additionally, the encapsulation within CDs delayed the release of rosemary EO bioactive components; which explains the effectiveness of the encapsulated rosemary EO in CDs against E. ceratoniae fifth instars larvae. Furthermore, the encapsulation in the two CDs improved the persistence of the insecticidal toxicity. This study supports the use of cyclodextrins, mainly HP-β-CD, in the date industry for the control of insect pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadra cautella is a serious insect pest of stored figs and dates. The irradiation sensitivity of different development stages of C. cautella and large-scale testing of the proposed irradiation quarantine doses (50–500 Gy), were investigated. The impact of a PI dose of 400 Gy on the physiochemical and microbiological quality of dry dates (Bartamoda cv.) stored at room temperature was also investigated. An irradiation dose of 100 Gy prevented egg hatching in the F1 generation when 1–3 days old eggs were irradiated. Irradiation doses of 200 and 300 Gy prevented adult emergence when 2 nd and 4 th instar larvae were irradiated. When the pupae stage was irradiated, an irradiation dose of 400 Gy prevented the hatchability of F1 generation, indicating that this stage was the most radio-tolerant. The results of large-scale testing of the proposed phytosanitary irradiation dose (400 Gy) applied to 18, 0000 pupae resulted in no reproduction (zero hatching of F1 generation). There were no significant differences in the physiochemical properties of stored dates during the storage period at room temperature. Stable ESR signal intensity was recorded for 6 months in all parts of the irradiated fruits, and the intensity was highest in the kernel. The PI dose of 400 Gy also slightly reduced all microorganisms' counts. In conclusion, the dose level of 400 Gy stopped the reproduction potential of C. cautella. and they maintained the quality characteristics of dry date Bartamoda fruits during storage at room temperature for 6 months in tightly closed packages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted to determine the effect of chemical, organic, and combined fertilization on the fruit yield of the Mejhoul date palm variety in Northwestern of Mexico. The variables measured were polar diameter, equatorial diameter of the fruit, roundness index, number of clusters, number of leaves per palm, number of leaves per cluster, fruits with separated skin, dried fruits and commercial yield. The design used was complete randomized blocks with five replicates, where each palm tree was the experimental unit. The results indicate that chemical fertilization 262N-138P2O5-540K2O alone or in combination with compost application (three or six tons per hectare) increases polar and equatorial diameter, promoting the oval growth of dates. Fruits with separated skin continue to occur regardless of the origin of the fertilizers. The number of fruits increases with chemical fertilization, but the total yield of dates remains consistent across the treatments evaluated. In conclusion, date palms respond favorably to the combination of chemical and organic fertilization, but date yields did not increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is recognized as one of humanity's earliest cultivated plants, having served as a food source for over 6000 years. It holds a prominent status as the most favoured fruit in the Middle East and North Africa. Date fruit has a long history of consumption and traditional medicinal use. Whether eaten fresh or dried, dates offer a rich source of energy due to their exceptional nutritional content and extended shelf life. They provide an economical means of obtaining essential nutrients including carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and dietary fibers. Furthermore, date fruit exhibits a diverse range of pharmacological effects including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anticancer, antihyperlipidemic and many more. It is also beneficial in disorders of paralysis, sexual debility, fever etc. Date palm fruits offer a natural and safe alternative or complement to synthetic drugs in managing numerous health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dates maintain prime importance as sources of income and as symbols of cultural heritage in Saudi Arabia. Ephestia cautella (Walker) is one of the most important insects that attack stored dates. In an effort to safeguard small-scale producers, temperatures of 5 °C (representing typical house refrigerator temperatures), − 14 °C (representing in-house freezer temperatures), and − 25 °C (representing temperatures in small factory freezers) were applied to samples of dates previously infested with E. cautella larvae. Exposure periods of 1, 12, 48, 120, and 240 h were considered to assess the effectiveness of freezing temperatures against stored product insect pests. The temperature of − 25 °C proved to be the most effective, resulting in 100% mortality across all stages after just 1 h of exposure. At 5 °C, the pupal stage exhibited the highest tolerance, with only a mean mortality of 11% after 240 h of exposure. Conversely, at the same temperature, mean mortalities of 89% and 97% were recorded for eggs and larvae, respectively. However, when larvae were placed inside the dates, the mean mortality was only 65% after 240 h at 5 °C, complete larval mortality was achieved in 12 h at − 14 °C and 1 h at − 25 °C. This information can guide strategies for managing E. cautella in storage facilities with limited available resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suitable growing media and optimum time are considered the basic requirements to get the maximum yield and high profit for their direct and significant impact on seedlings quality and productivity of trees later. This experiment was carried out to explore the effect of different growing media (GM): sandy soil 100% (GM1); sandy soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (2:1:1) (GM2) by volume; sandy soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (1:2:1) (GM3); loamy soil: sandy soil: vermicompost (2:1: 1) (GM4); loamy soil: sandy soil: vermicompost (1:2:1) (GM5); loamy soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (2:1:1) (GM6) and loamy soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (1:2:1) (GM7). Pecan nut seeds were planted on three different dates viz., 10th December, 20th December and 1st February at 20 days interval in polythene bags (60 × 25 cm) after soaking in water for 48 hours. The results obtained from this study showed that the maximum germination percentage, number of leaves/seedling, leaf area, stem diameter, stem fresh and dry weight, root length and root fresh and dry weight were recorded when the pecan nut seed was planted on 10th December in the growing media combination (GM3) contained sandy soil: cocopeat: vermicompost (1:2:1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appraised for being one of the oldest staple nutritive foods mainly in the Arabian Peninsula, the date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera L.), is a crop native to the subtropical and tropical regions of Southern Asia and Africa. Different parts of the date tree have been extensively studied for their nutritional and therapeutic properties. Despite an array of publications on the date tree, there has been no attempt to compile in a single study the traditional uses, nutritive value, phytochemical profile, the medicinal properties as well as the potential of the different plant parts as a functional food. Therefore, this review endeavors to systematically review the scientific literature to highlight the traditional uses of date fruit and parts around the world, the nutritional profile of several parts and the medicinal properties. A total of 215 studies was retrieved (traditional uses (n = 26), nutritional (n = 52), and medicinal (n = 84)). Scientific articles were further categorized as in vitro (n = 33), in vivo (n = 35), and clinical (n = 16) evidences. Date seeds were found to be effective against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Aqueous date pollen was used to manage hormonal problems and boost fertility. Palm leaves showed anti-hyperglycemic effects via inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Unlike previous studies, this study highlighted the functional roles of all the plant parts of the palm tree and provided insights into the various mechanism of action of their bioactive compounds. Although scientific shreds of evidence have been growing over the years, there is still a dearth of studies concerning the clinical validation of the date fruit and other plant parts to provide strong evidence on their medicinal uses. In conclusion, P. dactylifera can be regarded as a potent medicinal plant with prophylactic potential and should be further explored to alleviate the burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High blood pressure is a condition where systolic blood pressure is more than 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure is more than 90 mmHg. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of giving roselle flower decoction combined with honey and dates on blood pressure in hypertensive patients. The type of research was an experimental study with a randomized group design (RGD) divided into 4 treatment groups: the control group was given a leaflet, treatment group 1 was given 10 g of roselle, treatment group 2 was given 30 g of roselle, and treatment group 3 was given 50 g of roselle. Administered for 7 days with 1 time per day. The number of respondents was 28 people with a purposive sampling technique. The research instrument used a digital blood pressure monitor, 24-hour recall form, statistical analysis used ANOVA and Duncan's further test. The results showed that there were significant differences from the four treatments, with post-systolic p<0.000 and post-diastolic p<0.004, it can be concluded that each treatment group after the intervention had significant differences. The best result was treatment 3 with a roselle dose of 50 g.There is an effect of giving roselle flower decoction combined with honey and dates on blood pressure in hypertensive patients in the working area of the Telaga Dewa Community Health Center, Bengkulu City. Further research is needed on dose modification and duration of administration for maximum BP reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dates are essential fruits loaded with vital nutrients that keep bones healthy and prevent bone-related disorders. Approximately 8.46 million tons of different types of dates are cultivated and produced annually around the globe. There are more than 400 types of dates that are time-consuming and expensive to produce. Classifying them using conventional methods is labor-intensive, and this is one of the biggest problems for the date industry. Dataset fruit classification plays a vital role in the food industry. Dates can be classified from a luxury class to a less quality class. Accordingly, the food industry needs an automotive date fruit classifier that can work in food factories. This study proposes a pioneering method to classify date fruit that relies on extracting features from the texture of dates using Scattering Wavelet Transformation (SWT). The SWT yields in numeric coefficients were found to be immune to the deformation of invariants. This feature set trains an ensemble classifier that combines a voting mechanism to eliminate overfitting. The ensemble classifier consists of a random forest, a support vector machine classifier, and a logistic regression hyper-learner. Our novel approach was tested on two benchmarked datasets. The first data set scored F1 between 0.95 and 1.0 at the same time. The second dataset registered F1 between 0.96 and 1.0 in each of the 20 date classes. Some dates are close to each other in texture, resulting in high false positives or recall, causing a lower F1 score accuracy degree. The novelty of this approach comes from the featured representative of each date class, relying on the texture of the fruit as a discriminative feature, not on the fruit shape or color, which may not be robust enough as distinguishable features, especially in date classes that are close to each other in shape. Doi: 10.28991/HIJ-2024-05-02-010 Full Text: PDF

The study summarizes mistakes or inaccuracies in the dating of some legal regulations regarding surnames in the territory of today’s Czech Republic. These are the regulations on the immutability of surnames (1770), on the inheritance of surnames (1786) and on the binding form of surnames (1886). In the specialist onomastic literature, we can come across other dates which are, however, incorrect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yogurt based on mung bean juice is good to consume because it is low in fat and lactose. Sukkari dates have the potential to be used as a natural sweetener because they contain simple sugars that are easily digested by the body. In addition, there is an antioxidant content that can fight free radicals. This study aims to determine the physico-chemical properties of mung bean yogurt. Dependent variables include pH value, viscosity, moisture content, ash content, fat content, protein content, carbohydrate content, total sugar content, and antioxidants. Independent variables include the type of bacterial starter (S1: Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus; S2: Biokul Plain) and sweetener variations (K1; K2; K3). The study used a Complete Randomized Design (RAL) with a statistical test of Two Ways ANOVA and a post hoc test of Tukey. The results showed that the type of bacterial starter and the variety of sweeteners had a significant effect on the physico-chemical properties of yogurt. The highest pH and viscosity values in the S2K3 sample were 4.67 and 3.18 m. Pas; the highest water content in the S1K1 sample was 86.5 %; the highest ash content and fat content in the S2K3 sample were 0.66 % and 4.82 %; the highest protein content, carbohydrate content (by different), and total sugar content in the S1K3 sample were 2.35 %, 10.11 %, and 9.78 %; and the highest antioxidant in the S2K3 sample with an AAI value of 1.54.

Many studies state that most cases of malnourished children, such as stunting, experience a lack of calories and protein. So that one of the focuses is to improve the nutritional status of children, especially by making food preparations from ingredients that are high in calories and protein, and of course those that are of interest to children in terms of taste and shape. Egg shells are an alternative food ingredient that is rich in protein and calcium. In addition, dates and honey produce a natural sweet taste, and have high nutritional value. The purpose of this activity is to provide alternative snacks for children in the form of eggshell cookies, a combination of dates and honey. The method starting with making egg shell cookies a combination of dates and honey (Ceria), and determining the right recipe for these biscuits, in terms of taste and shape. Then tested the nutritional composition (calories, carbohydrates, protein, fat, sugar, and fiber). Furthermore, the cookies were distributed to partners, namely mothers who have children aged 6 months to 9 years and health cadres in the Kedungmundu Village, Semarang. The result for this research was Ceookies “Ceria” with the ingredients of eggshell flour, wheat flour, cornstarch, dates, honey, and egg yolks. The nutritional composition produced in 100 grams of cookies produces 511 kcal calories, 63,7 grams of carbohydrates, 0,83 grams of protein, 28,3 grams of fat, 49,5 grams of fiber, and 7 grams of sugar. Ceria cookies (egg shell combination of dates and honey) can be given as an alternative food supplement for children, with the appropriate nutritional composition and using natural ingredients without artificial sweeteners or preservatives.

The aim of this text is to investigate the effects of temperature, time, volume/mass ratio, and enzyme volume on various properties of date juice extracted from the ''Bournow'' cultivar, and to optimize the extraction process to maximize the levels of free amino acids, total polyphenols, vitamin C, and pH. The extraction technique was used to obtain date juice for use in the beverage industry from the ''Bournow'' cultivar. The effects of temperature, time, volume/mass ratio, and enzyme volume on free amino acid, total polyphenols, vitamin C, and pH levels were then investigated using a design centered on four parameters. All multivariate polynomial models of second degree with interactions were discovered and validated. To optimize responses, multiresponse optimization was utilized. The center composite design (CCD) determined the following response ranges: 4.21 to 5.62 pH; 45 to 126.66 mg/L vitamin C; 2.7 to 6.87 g GA/100 g total polyphenols; and 429.94 to 615.55 mg/L free amino acids. The selected factors had varying effects on the pH, vitamin C, total polyphenols, and free amino acid responses, with simple, quadratic, and interaction contributions leading to significant increases or decreases. Multi-response optimization, the objective of which was to maximize all responses besides pH in order to produce an abundant juice, resulted in the following compromise: 95 °C temperature; 10 min duration; 2:1 water/pulp ratio; and 0.5 ml of pectinase. The optimal values simulated yielded the following respective maxima: pH is 4.13; vitamin C is 116.5 mg/L; total polyphenols are 6.25 g GA/100 g; and free amino acids are 587.88 mg/L. This study successfully optimized the extraction technique for obtaining date juice from the ''Bournow'' cultivar. The results provide valuable insights for the beverage industry. Future prospects include further research on the sensory properties and shelf life of date juice, as well as exploring its potential applications in other food and beverage products.

Date production farms account for 10% of total income in the agricultural sector. Although Saudi exports of dates reach many countries, they are still of lower quantity compared to the size of their production. This study investigates the possibility of expanding external marketing of date exports by increasing the marketing efficiency of the existing market, which is expected to lead to increased returns. Therefore, this research uses the gravity model to identify the most critical factors affecting Saudi date exports to Middle Eastern countries. The results indicated the positivity of the per capita GDP in Saudi Arabia, the common border in influencing the increase in date exports, and the opposite effect of membership in the Gulf Cooperation Organization (GCC). In estimating the potential and expected trade capabilities with the Middle Eastern countries, the study results show that the actual value of date exports to the countries of the Middle East represents about 83.37% of its expected potential date trade, and it is possible to increase the export value by 16.63%, or USD 12.75 million. The study provides recommendations to improve date trade further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underutilized dates are considered as a socioeconomically important fruit for local and global communities, such as Degla-Beida, a common date fruit variety. The aim of this research was to elucidate, for the first time, the efficiency of UV-C light treatment (over different irradiation durations 5, 10, 20, and 40 min) in the enhancement of soluble carbohydrates and phenolic compounds, and to evaluate its effect on the antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, the content of dietary fiber was analyzed: insoluble dietary fiber (11.89 g/100 g); soluble dietary fiber (5.15 g/100 g); and total dietary fiber (17.06 g/100 g). The techno-functional properties were also determined: swelling capacity (3.94 mL/g); oil holding capacity (7.38 g/g); water holding capacity (9.30 g/g); and bulk density (1.81 g/mL). All were carried out to study the potential of exploiting this underutilized fruit for other applications as for feed or food. The results suggest that UV-C technology changes minimally the total water-soluble carbohydrate content; however, this preservation technology can affect the availability of different soluble carbohydrates depending on the irradiation time (IT), increasing the high molecular weight polysaccharides with IT up to 20 min, and some oligosaccharides with IT up to 5 min. The polyphenolic content determined by HPLC-QTOF was increased when the samples were submitted to UV-C reaching the maximum at 20 min (111.62 mg/100 g) and then to decrease in those submitted to IT of 40 min (12.05 mg/100 g). Regarding antioxidant capacity in the UV-C treated samples, FRAP decreased and EC50 on DPPH increased when IT was increased, while ORAC was hardly maintained. In addition, considering UV-C radiation associated with preservation and the studied date fruit as a rich source of dietary fiber with adequate techno-functional properties, this study presents valuable information for its potential use as a new food ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruits, garden plants, and agricultural crops grown in Poland exhibit wide variations in their sensitivity to frost, particularly in early spring. In the case of frost, generally, the yield and quality are reduced, and sometimes, entire plants can be destroyed. This article characterizes the occurrence of ground frosts (at 5 cm agl) and air frosts (at 200 cm agl) in Poland gathered from 52 meteorological stations affiliated with IMGW-PIB between 1971 and 2020. To assess the real risk of frost to plants, the variability of this phenomenon was analyzed per thermal growing season (defined as air temperature >5 °C), rather than in traditional calendar terms as presented in most studies. In the climatic conditions of Poland, the growing season is characterized by a reported 28 days with ground frost and 13.3 days with air frost, approximately. In spring, the last ground frost disappears, on average, on a country scale, on May 14, and air frost on April 27. In turn, in autumn, the first ground frost is recorded, on average, on 1 October and air frost on 14 October. On the basis of the selected characteristics of frost and the growing season, four areas of potential risk of ground and air frost in the growing season, as well as in spring, were determined with the use of cluster analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A milk drink flavored with date syrup produced at a lab scale level was evaluated. The production process of date syrup involves a sequence of essential unit operations, commencing with the extraction, filtration, and concentration processes from two cultivars: Sukkary and Khlass. Date syrup was then mixed with cow's and camel's milk at four percentages to form a nutritious, natural, sweet, and energy-rich milk drink. The sensory, physical, and chemical characteristics of the milk drinks flavored with date syrup were examined. The objective of this work was to measure the physiochemical properties of date fruits and milk drinks flavored with date syrup, and then to evaluate the physical properties of milk drinks utilizing non-destructive visible–near-infrared spectra (VIS-NIR). The study assessed the characteristics of the milk drink enhanced with date syrup by employing VIS-NIR spectra and utilizing a partial least-square regression (PLSR) and artificial neural network (ANN) analysis. The VIS-NIR spectra proved to be highly effective in estimating the physiochemical attributes of the flavored milk drink. The ANN model outperformed the PLSR model in this context. RMSECV is considered a more reliable indicator of a model's future predictive performance compared to RMSEC, and the R2 value ranged between 0.946 and 0.989. Consequently, non-destructive VIS-NIR technology demonstrates significant promise for accurately predicting and contributing to the entire production process of the product's properties examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exporting to any country is an important factor in generating income and providing foreign exchange by increasing those exports. The purpose of the study is to determine the feasibility of production and export of dates to Iraq and to use the Box-Jenkins methodology to predict date exports to Iraq for the years 1990-2025 based on time series. They were represented by the number of dates exported to Iraq in the years 1990-2019. Statistical means and methods were used to study the nature of the time series, where it was noted that there is a clear fluctuation in the quantity of exports. The researchers concluded, through the use of the Box-Jenkins methodology, that the appropriate model for predicting the amount of date exports is the ARIMA model (2,2,1) among a group of models that does not have the best values through the criteria adopted for selection. As well as the model (1,0,0) to predict the production quantities of dates. The study concluded to continue to support the agricultural sector, especially production Dates, because Iraq is characterized by different types, as well as the increase in exports, which is an important part in achieving agricultural economic development, as well as the adoption of economic policies that help encourage exports by supporting producers, which achieves returns on the trade balance and foreign currency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four distinctive traditions, viz., Anarta tradition, Micaceous Red Ware tradition, Padri tradition and Pre Prabhas tradition, have been recognized in the modern state of Gujarat. Different scholars have called these cultures local chalcolithic, pre-Harappan and Early Harappan. On the other hand, sites belonging to the Early, Mature and Late Harappan periods in Gujarat are found in Kachchh, North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Southern Gujarat. The regional variation of mature Harappan cultural material in Gujarat has been termed Sorath Harappan (Possehl & Herman 1990). The Prabhas culture is the least studied and understood culture within Gujarat's protohistoric cultures. The Pre-Prabhas phase coincides with the Early Harappan period, the Prabhas phase coincides with the Sorath Harappan phase and the Late Prabhas with the Late Harappan phase. This paper deals with the Period II and III ceramics from the excavation of Z.D. Ansari and M.K. Dhavalikar, which has not been published so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current levels of added sugars in processed foods impact dental health and contribute to a range of chronic non-communicable diseases, such as overweight, obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. This review presents sugars and sweeteners used in food processing, the current possibility to replace added sugars, and highlights the benefits of using dates as a new natural, nutritious and healthy alternative to synthetic and non-nutritive sweeteners. In the context of environmental sustainability, palm groves afford a propitious habitat for a diverse array of animal species and assume a pivotal social role by contributing to the provisioning of sustenance and livelihoods for local communities. The available literature shows the date as an alternative to added sugars due to its composition in macro and micronutrients, especially in bioactive components (fiber, polyphenols and minerals). Therefore, dates are presented as a health promoter and a preventative for certain diseases with the consequent added value. The use of damaged or unmarketable dates, due to its limited shelf life, can reduce losses and improve the sustainability of date palm cultivation. This review shows the potential use dates, date by-products and second quality dates as sugar substitutes in the production of sweet and healthier foods, in line with broader sustainability objectives and circular economy principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The consumption of isolated soy protein (ISP) is well known for its beneficial effect on muscle recovery. However, the effect of its combination with maltodextrin, honey, or dates has never been investigated. This study sought to determine the best combination of ISP and different types of carbohydrates for muscle fatigue recovery in the exercise-induced fatigue rat model. Methods: After 3 days of adaptation, 24 9-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: the maltodextrin supplementation (control) group, the maltodextrin and ISP (P1) group, the honey and ISP (P2) group, and the dates and ISP (P3) group. Each group included six rats for the 1-week experiment. Before the experimental period, baseline values of body weight and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were recorded for each group. Throughout the study, all rats performed the swimming test until exhaustion every 2 days. Following supplementation, LDH levels were measured three times: immediately after exercise, 3 h later, and 7 days later. Results: The results showed that the mean LDH of the P2 group was significantly decreased after 3 h (63%) and 7 days (66%) of supplementation (p = 0.05) compared with the other groups. Conclusion: Ingestion of ISP combined with honey after exercise improves muscle recovery in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Evidence from the scientific community suggests that high levels of added sugar consumption contribute to the global epidemics of glucose intolerance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The study aims to develop a local traditional food product (Kleicha) with healthy ingredients and to take advantage of the most productive crops in Saudi Arabia, namely dates, where Khalas date powder and molasses will be manufactured as an alternative to sugar in the Kleicha product. Six Kleicha samples with different fillings were manufactured as follows: Kleicha filled with sugar filling (KS), Kleicha with Khalas date powder filling (KD), Kleicha filled with Khalas date molasses filling (KM), Kleicha filled with sugar and Khalas date powder (1:1) filling (KSD), Kleicha filled with sugar and Khalas date molasses (1:1) filling (KSM), and Kleicha filled with Khalas date powder and Khalas date molasses (1:1) filling (KDM). In order to evaluate the prepared Kleicha samples, the proximate chemical composition, mineral content, phytochemical content and their antioxidant activities, sugar profiles using HPLC, in vitro glycemic index, glycemic load, and sensory evaluation were investigated. The results indicated that KM had the highest moisture content, while the KS sample had the lowest content. KD and KM had significantly higher ash contents compared with the other Kleicha samples. The protein and fat contents did not differ significantly. KD, KSD, and KDM demonstrated a significantly higher dietary fiber content than the other Kleicha samples. KS had the highest value of available carbohydrates. Regarding mineral content, the KDM sample had the highest K, Na, Ca, and P contents, while KD and KM had the highest Mg, Fe, and Mn contents. The Cu content indicated that KM had the highest content, representing a 25% increase compared with KS. Similarly, the Zn content in KM and KSD was significantly higher than in the other Kleicha samples. Replacing sucrose with Khalas date or molasses significantly changed the sucrose, glucose, and fructose contents. The phenolic content in KD, KM, and KDM was higher compared with KS, KSM, and KSD. Furthermore, the oxidative activity increased associatively with the addition of Khalas date powder and molasses. The percentage of sucrose decreased in KD and KDM. There was no significant difference in the general acceptance rate between the control sample and the other samples containing Khalas date powder, Khalas date molasses, and sugar or their mixture. In conclusion, it is possible to replace the sugar in the filling of the Kleicha with Khalas date powder and molasses or their mixture as it increases the health benefits; scaling up is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immature dates with low commercial viability are rich in bioactive compounds and have potential for value addition. The present study aimed at utilizing date paste from immature dates to develop a natural and high antioxidant fruit snack for health food markets. Pectin was added at different concentrations (1–4%) to improve the quality of formulated date bars. Increasing the pectin levels increased the hardness of formulated bars while decreased moisture content and water activity, without affecting color and nutritional properties. Developed bars showed high mineral content and phytochemical constituents as confirmed using Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) analysis. The microstructure of date bars was consistent with the texture values. Based on desirable sensory and textural properties, date bars formulated with addition of 4% pectin was selected for product development and evaluation of shelf life under room (25 ± 2 °C) and refrigerated (4 ± 2 °C) conditions. Significant (p < 0.05) variation was noticed in moisture content of formulated date bar during storage at both temperatures. Total and reducing sugars and bioactive constituents decreased, while water activity, titarable acidity, hardness of texture, and yeast and mould count increased significantly with advancement of storage period, irrespective of storage temperatures. Except moisture, the extent of quality changes was rapid at room temperature. Developed product showed high organoleptic acceptability as well as microbial safety up to 30 days at room temperature and 50 days under refrigeration. Valorization of immature dates can provide dual benefit of producing healthy phytonutrient–rich snack product along with date waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longer process times in conventional drying methods can be improved by using rapid technologies. Infrared drying is one of these faster methods. Consumer awareness on health and wellness products has increased and boosted with Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, the consumption trend of snack products formulated with natural ingredients has increased. It is estimated that this trend will continue to rise. In accordance with this, fruit leather production from dates was done by infrared drying and the effect of cooking time on drying behavior was investigated. Firstly, dates were washed and seeds were removed, then water was added at a ratio of 1:2.5 (dates:water), and cooked for 30, 45 and 60 min. Samples were pressed and dried at 10 mm thickness. Drying curves showed first-order drying kinetics and effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) of fruit leathers were found as 1.53×10-9, 1.70×10-9 and 1.74×10-9 m²/s for 30, 45 and 60 min of cooking time, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term forecasting of the ice regime at the Dnipro Cascade Reservoirs is very important, first of all, for the operation of hydroelectric power stations. In addition, such forecasts also ensure the work of other sectors of the economy, namely shipping, fisheries, municipal engineering, etc. At present, the Department for hydrological forecasting of the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center uses techniques developedin the middle and in thesecond half of the 20th century to compile long-term forecasts and advices about the ice regimeof water bodies of Ukraine. These techniqueswere developed only for rivers;for reservoirs,they are currently lacking. The main objective of our research is to develop methods for long-term forecasting of ice break-up and disappearance at the Dnipro Cascade Reservoirs by teleconnection indicators. The research was based on the recordsfor 35 water gauges located on 6 reservoirs of the Dnipro Cascade, including the destroyed Kakhovka reservoir. The dates of the ice break-up and disappearance were used for the period from the beginning of observations at each water gauge to 2020. Moreover, the teleconnection indicators were used, namely 34 atmospheric indices, sea surface temperature indices, teleconnection indices and patterns determined by the National Weather Service (NWS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of United States of America (NOAA USA). Methods of the long-term forecasting of the ice break-up and disappearance at the reservoirs of the Dnipro Cascade have been developed by searching for the best correlation or regression relationship between dates and teleconnection indicators. The probable of accepted errorsof the developed methods are in the range of 62—71 %, which corresponds to satisfactory method quality that makes it possible to recommend them for use.

New method has been applied recently in our Laboratories to distinguish between irradiated and non-irradiated dates. The method depends on the measurement of color intensity and viscosity values for dates sugar water extracts for five different stages of treatments. Doses of (0 .5, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.5 kGy) were applied. A considerable increase and decrease of irradiated and non-irradiated dates in color intensity and viscosity values were found between the stages; the results obtained showed that there is a significant increase and decrease in the values of irradiated dates Samples at stages 3, 4 and 5 as compared to non-irradiated Samples (control). At stage 3 the results showed a drop in color intensity of the solution sample from 8701 (control) to 1009 at dose of 1.00 kGy, the results also showed an increase in color intensity (Stage 4) from 2046 (control) to 2712 as the doses increased from 0.50 to 1.50 (kGy), while the results of the viscosity at stage 5 showed a significant increase from 5.605 (Control) to 7.914 as the doses increased from 0.50 to 1.50 (KGy).The method appears to be promising to discriminate irradiated from non-irradiated dates. Further developments are needed for this method to increase its accuracy and reliability in measuring the actual dose used in the treatment.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the chemical and microbial properties of date syrup during different stages of production line from the raw material to the final product. The amounts of total soluble solids, pH, acidity, total and reducing sugars, polyphenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and microbial count were measured and the type of microorganisms was determined based on phenotypic characteristics in different stages of production. The obtained results showed that during the stages of juice clarification and concentration, pH gradually decreased and acidity, total sugar, reducing sugar and total solid matter increased and reached their maximum in the syrup. Comparison of traditional syrup with factory produced syrup indicated more pH and acidity, total and reducing sugar, total soluble solid, polyphenolic compounds and lower antioxidant activity for traditional syrup compared to the produced one. In general, the content of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity gradually decreased in different stages of production, so that date syrup (279 mg of gallic acid per 100 grams of sample and 33%) indicated higher content of polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity than dates (388 mg of gallic acid per 100 g of sample and 57%). The results of the microbial test revealed the lowest microbial load for the produced syrup compared to dates and different syrups. However, the presence of B. licheniformis in the syrup makes the product sour, in this regard finding a suitable solution to increase the shelf life of the product seems necessary. The traditional syrup showed a lower microbial load than the produced syrup, although B. licheniformis was observed in the traditional syrup despite the high heat treatment. Based on the obtained results, the date syrup was free of coliforms, which indicates maintaining the hygienic principles of manufacture during the production line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snack bar is a ready-to-serve and nutrient-dense snack, making this product popular among people with a modern and practical lifestyle. The raw material for making snack bars in general is soy flour added with dried fruit. Along with the development of science and technology, efforts can be made to improve the quality and nutritional content of snack bar products. Tempe is a processed soybean product that has a higher nutritional content and quality than pure soybeans. Dates are one of the fruits that are abundantly available and have a complete nutritional composition. As an effort to improve the quality and nutritional content, research was conducted on the substitution of tempeh and the addition of dates in the manufacture of soy flourbased snack bars. Quantitative research using the experimental method using a completely randomized design (CRD), 3x2 factorial design resulted in 6 treatment formulas. Formula 4 with 30% tempeh substitution and 40% addition of dates became the best product based on the results of statistical analysis of product organoleptic assessment using a two-way ANOVA and DMRT follow-up test involving 50 panelists. The nutritional content test was carried out on formula 4 with the result that every 100 grams of product contained 19% protein and 4.62 mg of iron. The best snack bar formula per serving size of 15 g has a higher protein content than the three comparison products. Existing snack bars using soy flour as raw material are known to have a lower protein content compared to snack bars made from soybean flour substituted with tempeh. Likewise, the protein content in tempehbased snack bars in the previous study and the USDA peanutbased snack bars still had lower protein content. In this regard, the combination of soy flour and tempeh in the manufacture of snack bars can increase the protein content of the product. In addition, the iron content of snack bars in this study was higher than USDA product 1980811. This is related to the composition of one of the raw materials for its manufacture, namely dates, which are known to be rich in iron minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Dates are recognized as a rich source of nutrients, so they are considered a complementary food element positioning them as functional food for athletes. Energy balls are nutritious snack foods that people, individuals and athletes enjoy. They are a source of natural sugars, fibers and proteins that are nutritionally balanced. Food supplements consist of protein, fats, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. Objective: enrichment some food products, especially energy-rich balls for athletes that made from dates as a main component for it. Materials and Methods: Date fruits from five cultivars (Dekel Nour, Barhi, zahdi, khlas, sukari) were collected from the orchards of Baghdad Governorate. The fruits were cleaned and dried in an oven at a temperature of 45 ℃ until dryn, then the fruits were ground by means of a grinder. The ground forms were kept in sealed glass containers at a laboratory temperature of 20-25 ℃ until use. Results: Variability in contents was observed across the different cultivars, with the highest percentage of total sugars, amounting to 86.70%, being recorded in Barhi dates. Conversely, the lowest sugar percentage was found in date meat, measuring at 69.20%. The fruits recorded the highest moisture percentage with a value of 30.01%. The mineral composition showed that P was the predominant mineral, followed in descending order by Mg, Ca, and proteins. The protein content ranged from 2.14 to 3.20%, while crude fat ranged from (0.15 - 0.44) %. Moisture content in date varieties with early ripening time was between low and high values of 10% to 30%. The comprehensive nutritional profile encompassed minerals and numerous vitamins, most notably B vitamins. Carbohydrates constitute 70% of the date's composition, including fructose and glucose. Additionally, dates are rich in calcium, magnesium, selenium, copper, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, sulfur, cobalt, fluorine, andmanganese. Lately, interest in dates has increased because of their health importance, catalyzing the development of food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate factors influencing purchasing of dates in Saudi Arabia and its market segmentation. Principal components analysis (PCA) and clustering were used on the data obtained by interviewing a sample of 280 people. The main findings indicated two major principal components (PCs) explaining consumer behaviour: marketing accounted for 51.7% of the population’s information and gender and job determine 20.83%. Clustering provided three groups of consumers: (1) poor or unemployed women interested in the lowest price, (2) wealthy women interested in marketing motivation and (3) less wealthy women interested in price promotion. The study recommended a pink marketing strategy for wealthy women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Providing information about the nutritional composition of underutilized edible fruits and their products can increase the willingness to consume this kind of food as potential remedy to malnutrition. Objective: This study was aimed to determine the nutrient and antinutrient compositions and sensory attributes of jams produced from date fruit. Methods: The matured fresh and dried date fruits were processed into jams by boiling with lemon. Nutrients and antinutrient contents of the date fruits and produced jams were evaluated using standard methods of analysis and results compared with commercial jams as control. Results: The result showed that dried date fruit contains moisture (13.10 ± 0.10 g/100g), protein (4.38 ± 0.01 g/100g), crude lipid(1.00 ± 0.10 g/100g), crude fiber (0.40 ± 0.10 g/100g), ash (1.50 ± 0.01 g/100g)and rich in carbohydrate(79.62 ± 0.01 mg/100g). Its vitamin contents were vitamin C(8.28 ± 0.00 mg/100g), A (1.69 ± 0.71 mg/100g), and B3 (1.03 ± 0.00 mg/100g). Mineral composition was Fe (2.68 ± 0.00 mg/100g), P (73.10 ± 0.01 mg/100g) and Ca(63.31 ± 0.00 mg/100g). Dried date jam showed appreciable amount (P<0.05)of crude lipid (0.60 ± 0.10 g/100g), carbohydrate (32.79± 0.01 g/100g), ash (0.25 ± 0.10 g/100g), crude fibre (0.20 ± 0.01 g/100g)and micronutrient (vitamin C, Fe and Ca) contents compared with the raw fruit and the strawberry jam used as control. The result obtained for the anti nutritional factors showed a reduction (P<0.05) in tannin (0.90-0.09mg/100g) and oxalate (3.19 - 3.05±0.02mg/100) compared with dried fruit. However, the commercial jams (apricot and strawberry) were rated highest (albeit, P>0.05) in all sensory parameters and acceptability investigated. Conclusion: Date fruit and their jams can serve to supplement the nutrients provided by other staples due to their nutritional quality and therefore should be promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to evaluate the biological activities and physicochemical characterization of the Algerian prickly pear and two varieties of dates (Mech-Degla and Frezza). The phenolic content of these fruits was determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Then, antioxidant activities were studied using two different methods. The antimicrobial activities of the fruit were tested against four bacterial strains and two fungi and then compared to commercial antibiotics. Mech-Degla extract showed a strong antibacterial and antifungal inhibitory effect evaluated against S. aureus, Streptococcus spp, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, G. capitatum, and Candida spp. While Frezza date extract and prickly pear showed a weak effect against some bacterial strains, they had no inhibitory effect on fungi. The antimicrobial activity of Mech-Degla is superior to amikacin, ampicillin, and gentamicin. The Frezza variety had the highest antioxidant capacity, followed by Mech-Degla and the low iron reduction capacity is related to prickly pears. The tested fruits had high levels of polyphenols and flavonoids. This study confirms those species' antioxidant activity and antimicrobial properties and the critical effect of natural antibiotics com-pared to synthetic ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Synthetic insecticides are the most useful tools for preventing losses caused by insect pest's infestation during storage. However, the use of pesticides should be limited because of the development of insect resistance and their adverse effects on human health and environment. In the last decades, natural insecticidal products, principally essential oils (EOs) and their active components, exhibited potential alternatives for pest control. Nevertheless, due to their volatile nature, encapsulation could be considered as the most appropriate solution. Therefore, this work aims to investigate the fumigant ability of inclusion complexes of Rosmarinus officinalis EO and its major constituents (1,8‐cineole, α‐pinene and camphor) with 2‐hydroxypropyl‐beta‐cyclodextrin (HP‐β‐CD) against Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Pyralidae) larvae. RESULTS: The encapsulation within HP‐β‐CD reduced greatly the release rate of the encapsulated molecules. Therefore, free compounds were more toxic than those encapsulated. Moreover, results revealed that encapsulated volatiles exhibited interesting insecticidal toxicity towards E. ceratoniae larvae. In fact, after 30 days mortality rates were 53.85, 94.23, 3.85 and 42.31% for α‐pinene, 1,8‐cineole, camphor and EO, respectively, encapsulated within HP‐β‐CD. In addition, results showed also that 1,8‐cineole free and encapsulated was more effective toward E. ceratoniae larvae than the other tested volatiles. Additionally, the HP‐β‐CD/volatiles complexes exhibited best persistence compared to the volatiles components. The half‐life of the encapsulated α‐pinene, 1,8‐cineole, camphor and EO (7.83, 8.75, 6.87 and 11.20 days) was significantly longer than that of the free ones (3.46, 5.02, 3.38 and 5.58 days). CONCLUSION: These results sustain the utility of R. officinalis EO and its main components encapsulated in CDs as treatment to stored‐date commodities. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dates are considered as highly nutritious and healthy food. It is a rich source of DF including pectin, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The present study aims to fraction and characterize dates’ insoluble fibers to reach a better understanding of dates’ constituents. Two fractions (light and dark) were isolated from dates’ flesh together with skin fibers and their chemical and functional properties were determined. Light fiber was the major fraction in the extracted insoluble fiber; 76.22% and 59.83% in Khalas and Fard, respectively. The skin yield from 100 g dates was about 4.08 ± 0.1 g and 2.34 ± 0.04 g for Fard and Khalas varieties, respectively. The dark fiber was significantly (10 times) denser than light fiber. Water holding capacity (WHC) and oil holding capacity were significantly higher in light fiber compared to the other extracted dates’ fiber fractions as well as many reported results for other plants. TPC (bound) for the individual fiber fractions was in the range 5.12–19.87 mg GAE/100 g fiber while TFC (bound) was in the range 34.16–158.52 mg QE/100 g fiber. Using HPLC-PDA, 16 phenolic compounds were identified in dates’ fiber fractions. Protocatechuic acid (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid) was significantly the highest phenolic acid in all the fiber fraction, catechin was the highest flavonoid in light and dark fiber; whereas, rutin was the highest flavonoid in skin fiber. FTIR results demonstrated that dark fiber had more lignin than light and skin fiber, while sugar profile by GC–MS revealed more heterogeneity in light fibers compared to skin and dark fibers.

In Morocco, many dates varieties are produced and marketed, including local and imported dates, mainly Deglet Nour variety. The present study aimed to evaluate microbiological contamination on ten varieties of dates from four different production areas in Morocco, from the date market of Marrakech, and from the imported Deglet Nour variety, and to show effects of harvesting and post-harvest practices on the microbiological quality of dates. Physicochemical data presented that the pH of studied varieties varies between 5 and 6 and water activity from 0.28 to 0.62. Microbiological analysis displayed that samples from Tata region presented the highest microbial spoilage with Total Viable Counts (TVC) ranging from 4.2 log CFU.g−1 to 2.6 log CFU.g−1 and yeast/moulds reaching 2.99 log CFU.g−1. Deglet Nour dates imported from Algeria, and Tunisia were less contaminated (TVC