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Steelmaking processes consume a lot of energy and materials, therefore researchers are constantly looking for new ways of reducing the consumption of resources in the production processes. The main purpose of the article is to present abiotic resource depletion the in steel production in the case of integrated steelmaking route in Poland and its role in life cycle assessment. There are different methods of life cycle assessment for abiotic resources, the use of which affects the quality of the obtained information. The article presents some results of life cycle assessment of abiotic depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of the study was to evaluate material and energy flow analysis (MEFA) of steel production. The application of umberto universal software to devise MEFA for the steel production was presented. The material and energy flow analysis of steel production includes a range of technologies through each unit process in integrated steelmaking route in Poland. Modelling MEFA helps a high level of technology to be reached through the effective use of resources and energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), magnetic and dielectric studies were performed for flux grown PbFe1/2Nb1/2O3 (PFN) single crystals. The core level XPS spectra show that the Pb, Nb and O ions exist in one valence state while Fe ions in two Fe2+ and Fe3+ states. Temperature dependences of magnetic susceptibility reveals maximum at 10 K (ZFC) and anomaly at TN = 156 K related to AFM-PM transition. Dielectric and pyroelectric studies point to two ferroelectric phase transitions at 356 K and 376 K. The influence of appearance of the Fe2+ state on magnetic and semiconductor properties of PFN is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The XPS examination of GdCa4O(BO3)3 revealed that the chemical composition of the crystals grown by the Czochralski method using of the sol–gel GdCOB nanopowder as a starting material have the stoichiometric composition and the smallest carbon contamination in comparison with crystals grown from oxides. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The praseodymium-aluminium perovskite–praseodymium oxide, PrAlO3–Pr2O3, and praseodymium-aluminium perovskite–praseodymium hexaluminate, PrAlO3–PrAl11O18, eutectics have been recently obtained by the micro-pulling down method. The aim of this work was determination of the chemical composition and electronic structure examination of the above-mentioned eutectics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The electronic structure measurements of three LSAT single crystals, annealed in hydrogen atmosphere at 900–1400 °C for 1 or 4 h, slowly or rapidly cooled were performed. The existence of core level peak satellites at the lower binding energy site were found. These satellites may be related to the defect states. The crystal annealed at 1400 °C and slowly cooled has the smallest low binding energy satellites. For La 3d, besides the satellites at lower binding energy (SII), the satellites (SI) at higher binding energy to the main peak (M) were detected. It was found that the area peak ratio IM/ISI of the La 3d states is not sensitive to the annealing, polishing or treatment with HCl and HNO3:HF of the wafer surfaces. Contrary to that, the area peak ratio IM/ISII depends on such treatment. The XPS results show that the treatment of the surface with HNO3:HF increases the roughness of the surface which confirmed the AFM results and showed that the surface chemical composition changes with processing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The main goal of the study was the assessment of the water scarcity in steel production in integrated steelmaking route in Poland. The main goal of Water footprint (WF) is quantifying and mapping of direct and indirect water use in life cycle of product or technology. In the paper Water Scarcity Indicators (WSI) for steel production and unit processes in integrated steelmaking route was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The chemical compositions of the cone, middle and end part of the [110] NdGaO3 single crystal were obtained by the XPS method. Significantly increased concentration of the carbon contamination in the outer sectors of the crystal may indicate existence of defects and migration of the carbon inwards. The O 1s lines revealed a complicated structure sensitive to the oxygen deficiency. The EPD results confirmed a bigger imperfection of the outer parts of the crystal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to study the chemical composition and electronic structure of the YVO4:Tm,Yb crystals. The measurements revealed reduction of V5+ to the lower oxidation state due to high melting temperature and the growing of crystal at the nitrogen atmosphere which caused formation of oxygen vacancies. The inhomogenous distribution of dopants was found from the XPS studies and confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The global overproduction of apples is associated with large amounts of post-production waste, for which new forms of utilization should be sought. Therefore, we aimed to enrich wheat pasta with apple pomace in various percentages (10, 20, 30 and 50%). The content of total polyphenols, individual polyphenols (using UPLC-PDA-MS/MS methods) and dietary fibre, chemical composition and physical properties of the resulting pasta were determined. The addition of apple pomace to pasta resulted in increased levels of pro-health compounds: total polyphenols, phenolic acids, quercetin derivatives, flavon-3-ols and dihydrochalcones as well as dietary fibre. Decreases in hardness and maximum cutting energy were also observed in pasta supplemented with apple pomace compared to control pasta. Water absorption capacity was not influenced by the addition of apple pomace, with the exception of pasta made with 50% apple pomace.

The post-production leftovers after the pressing of apple juice are a rich source of health-promoting compounds, which could be used in the food industry for the manufacture of dietary foods, applicable also for people with celiac disease. This raw material is currently little used, and the cost of its disposal is considerable. Therefore, an attempt was made to enrich gluten-free cookies with different proportions of apple pomace. The content of individual polyphenols determined by the UPLC-PDA-MS/MS method, basic chemical composition, physical properties of cookies with 15%, 30%, 45%, and 60% apple pomace, were evaluated. It was found that apple pomace in gluten-free cookies caused an increase in the content of phenolic acids, quercetin derivatives, flavan-3-ols and dihydrochalcones. An elevation in protein, fat, and minerals was also observed. The growing share of apple pomace caused a significant increase in the content of total fiber, soluble, and insoluble fractions, but resulted in an increase in the hardness and darkening of the cookies while reducing their volume.

With the continued digitization of the energy sector, the problem of sunken scholarly data investments and forgone opportunities of harvesting existing data is exacerbating. It compounds the problem that the reproduction of knowledge is incomplete, impeding the transparency of science-based targets for the choices made in the energy transition. The FAIR data guiding principles are widely acknowledged as a way forward, but their operationalization is yet to be agreed upon within different research domains. We comprehensively test FAIR data practices in the low carbon energy research domain. 80 databases representative for data needed to support the low carbon energy transition are screened. Automated and manual tests are used to document the state-of-the art and provide insights on bottlenecks from the human and machine perspectives. We propose action items for overcoming the problem with FAIR energy data and suggest how to prioritize activities., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Extrusion is an industrial technology allowing utilization of fruit-based off-products, rich in bioactive and prohealth compounds, in the production of gluten-free snacks. The use of up to 20% fruit waste (apple waste) in the production of such snacks results in significant increases of polyphenols and flavonoids, as well as individual phenolic acids: chlorogenic (36 times) and cryptochlorogenic (4 times). UPLC-PDA-MS/MS method allowed to observe huge increases in phloridzin (25 times), epicatechin (8 times), catechin (up to 6 times), and the end procyanidin (almost 3 times) in corn snacks. The most suitable addition level was 20% because it resulted in the highest increases in the abovementioned compounds and dietary fiber, which provided high antioxidant potential of corn-apple snacks. Therefore, the production of such snacks could be recommended on industrial scale as they have the best organoleptic properties., Competing Interests: The authors of the article declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Dorota Gumul et al.)

The effect of mineral nutrition on the accumulation of the main health beneficial compounds in carrots, the carotenoid pigments, remains ambiguous; here, a model-based approach was applied to reveal which compounds are responsible for the variation in carotenoid content in carrot cells in vitro. For this purpose, carotenoid-rich callus was cultured on either BI (modified Gamborg B5) or R (modified Murashige and Skoog MS) mineral media or on modified media obtained by exchanging compounds between BI and R. Callus growing on the BI medium had abundant carotene crystals in the cells and a dark orange color in contrast to pale orange callus with sparse crystals on the R medium. The carotenoid content, determined by HPLC and spectrophotometrically after two months of culture, was 5.3 higher on the BI medium. The replacement of media components revealed that only the N concentration and the NO 3 :NH 4 ratio affected carotenoid accumulation. Either the increase of N amount above 27 mM or decrease of NO 3 :NH 4 ratio below 12 resulted in the repression of carotenoid accumulation. An adverse effect of the increased NH 4 + level on callus growth was additionally found. Somatic embryos were formed regardless of the level of N supplied. Changes to other media components, i.e., macroelements other than N, microelements, vitamins, growth regulators, and sucrose had no effect on callus growth and carotenoid accumulation. The results obtained from this model system expand the range of factors, such as N availability, composition of N salts, and ratio of nitrate to ammonium N form, that may affect the regulation of carotenoid metabolism.

Recent data indicate that modifications to carotenoid biosynthesis pathway in plants alter the expression of genes affecting chemical composition of the cell wall. Phytoene synthase (PSY) is a rate limiting factor of carotenoid biosynthesis and it may exhibit species-specific and organ-specific roles determined by the presence of psy paralogous genes, the importance of which often remains unrevealed. Thus, the aim of this work was to elaborate the roles of two psy paralogs in a model system and to reveal biochemical changes in the cell wall of psy knockout mutants. For this purpose, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR associated (Cas9) proteins (CRISPR/Cas9) vectors were introduced to carotenoid-rich carrot ( Daucus carota ) callus cells in order to induce mutations in the psy1 and psy2 genes. Gene sequencing, expression analysis, and carotenoid content analysis revealed that the psy2 gene is critical for carotenoid biosynthesis in this model and its knockout blocks carotenogenesis. The psy2 knockout also decreased the expression of the psy1 paralog. Immunohistochemical staining of the psy2 mutant cells showed altered composition of arabinogalactan proteins, pectins, and extensins in the mutant cell walls. In particular, low-methylesterified pectins were abundantly present in the cell walls of carotenoid-rich callus in contrast to the carotenoid-free psy2 mutant. Transmission electron microscopy revealed altered plastid transition to amyloplasts instead of chromoplasts. The results demonstrate for the first time that the inhibited biosynthesis of carotenoids triggers the cell wall remodelling.

Gluten-free products based on starch and hydrocolloids are deficient in nutrients and do not contain pro-health substances. Therefore, they should be enriched in raw materials naturally rich in antioxidants, especially if they are intended for celiac patients, prone to high oxidative stress. Apart from the traditionally used pseudo-cereals, seeds, vegetables and fruits, innovative substrates such as the by-product (especially in Poland) dry apple pomace could be applied. The study material consisted of gluten-free bread enriched with apple pomace. The content of individual polyphenols, the content of total polyphenol and flavonoids, and also the antioxidant potential of the bread were determined by the UPLC-PDA-MS/MS methods. It was observed that apple pomace was a natural concentrate of bioactive substances from the group of polyphenols. In summary, gluten-free bread with 5% content of apple pomace showed the highest organoleptic scores and contained high levels of phenolic compounds. The values of total phenolic content, and the amounts of flavonoids, phenolic acids and phloridzin in this bread were 2.5, 8, 4 and 21 times higher in comparison to control.