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Wild bilberry, blackcurrant and blackberry fruit pomaces obtained after industrial juice processing were extracted in water, 1% citric acid, 40%, 60% and 80% (v/v) aqueous ethanol using two extraction methods: maceration and ultrasound-assisted extraction. The total phenolics content (TPC), total anthocyanins content (TAC), and DPPH radical scavenging activity (RSA) were quantified in the extracts. TPC was about 2.3-3.2 times higher in ethanolic extracts as compared with the water extracts. The extracts made in 60% aqueous ethanol showed the highest values of TPC, TAC and RSA irrespective of extraction method and pomace matrix while water and 1% aqueous citric acid were very little effective in recovering anthocyanins and phenolic compounds. Bilberry pomace extracts made in 60% ethanol using maceration presented the highest TAC (585.21 mg CGE/L), TPC (3381.82 mg GAE/L) and RSA (2.05 mmol Trolox/l). The results showed that bilberry, blackcurrant and blackberry fruit pomaces can be a valuable source of bioactive compounds to be used in food supplements and functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Falcons are keystone species that maintain ecosystem structures, functions, and services. With the help of phylogenetic comparative methods, climatic data, and species distribution modeling, we investigated how European falcon climatic niches have changed over evolutionary time. Convergent evolution and niche divergence have played an important role in the evolutionary history of these species, with speciation being influenced by climatic niche differentiation, more prevalent in the last 4 million years, with the main climatic niche shifts occurring between closely related falcon species. By integrating species distribution modeling techniques, phylogenetic comparative methods, and climatic data, we analyzed how European falcon climatic niches have changed over evolutionary time in order to understand their tempo and mode of evolution and gain phylogenetic insights related to the ecological context of falcon evolution. For this purpose, we tested the relative contributions of niche conservatism, convergent evolution, and divergent evolution in the evolutionary history of this group of species in Europe. The occupation of climatic niche spaces by falcon species in Europe was not similar, considering that their climatic niche evolution was characterized by heterotachy, especially after ca. 4 Mya. Our results indicate that convergent evolution and niche divergence played an important role in the evolutionary history of these species, with no significant evidence of closely related species retaining their fundamental niche over time (phylogenetic niche conservatism). In most analyses, less closely related falcon species occupied similar climatic environments. We found that speciation in the European genus Falco was influenced by climatic niche differentiation, more prevalent in the last 4 million years, with the main climatic niche shifts occurring between closely related falcon species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are affected primarily by air pollution. This is generated by the accumulation in the atmospheric air of gaseous chemical compounds or solid particles in the form of powder, which are then deposited on the ground. The gaseouse pollutants result from industrial activities, such as the sulphur compounds (SO2, SO3, H2S, carbon sulphide), nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2) and carbon (CO and CO2). The impact of air pollution can cause severe damages to the plants located near industrial areas, especially because the most Romanian thermal power plants were built in a period when their operation impact on the environment was undervalued, and the constraints related to the environmental protection were relatively few. The pollutants enter plants through stomata causing a reduction of metabolic processes. The study has been conducted during 2010-2012 in Craiova City, in the area of the powerplant CET I – Isalnita, on 15 species both annual and perenae from spontaneous plants in the influence area. The observations were particularly conducted for the following purposes: identification of the inflicted organs (leafs, bodies, branches); percentage of the organs inflicted; the pollutant implied; to answer what kind of pollutant is implied; to classify the species with regard to their sensibility to the studied pollutants, respectevily: NO2, SO2, PM10. The main result of this study are: the main pollutants, which affects the vegetation are SO2, NO2 and particulate matter, this pollutants affecting more the leafs than the bodies of the plants, the number of individuals affected varies between 15-70 %; the following species can be considered as bioindicator: Pinus nigra, Urtica dioica, Phaseolus vulgaris.

This study aimed to investigate the nutritional and antioxidant composition of dried wild bilberry, blackcurrant, and blackberry pomaces by evaluating the proximate content, titratable acidity, color, total phenolics, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins content, and antioxidant activity. In addition, fatty acid and polyphenolic profiles were assessed using chromatographic methods. Higher fiber, fat, and mineral contents were found in blackberry as compared with bilberry and blackcurrant pomaces. The fatty acid profile revealed high concentrations of monounsaturated (16.7–18.7%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (72.3–77.4%). The lowest n−6/n−3 ratio was found in bilberry pomace (0.90) followed by blackcurrant (1.28) and blackberry pomaces (4.26). Bilberry pomace showed the highest total phenolic (36.7 mg GAE/g dw) and total anthocyanin content (28.35 mg CGE/g dw). The phenolic profile of the bilberry pomace was dominated by ellagic acid and catechin while in blackberry and blackcurrant pomaces the major phenolic compounds were epigallocatechin and catechin, respectively. High levels of procyanidins B1 have been also quantified in bilberry and blackcurrant pomaces. Due to their healthy lipid profile and richness in antioxidant compounds, berry pomaces are good candidates as food ingredients for enhancing the functionality of food products and for contributing to the sustainability of the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we aimed to perform qualitative analysis of two raw materials of vegetables widely used in the food industry, namely: peas and tomatoes, with special importance both in terms of nutritional and availability throughout the year. In this respect, it was proceeded to the qualitative evaluation which consisted of sensory analysis of of peas and tomatoes as well as determination of some qualitative parameters of the canned content by jar (determination of moisture, salt content, soluble substance and titratable acidity). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the air quality is to apply in practice the national policy of environmental protection through: promoting economic activity of appropriate technologies for retention of the pollutants at source; source management to reduce air emissions to the lowest levels in order to not exceed the regenerative capacity of the atmosphere, and the use of fuels of low-sterile. The study was undertaken in the period 2006-2008 in Craiova city and targeted air pollution in major areas of concern, namely urban area, traffic area, and two industrial areas. There were monitored a number of pollutants with modern specialized equipment, such as NOx, PM10, BTX, SO2, O3, CO, NO2. Following the systematic data on environmental quality in the Craiova area we have established that: the emissions of nitrogen oxides have two trends: at the major industrial stations, the concentrations decrease, and at the representative stations of the traffic, the levels increase, witnessing the transfer of pollution from the industry to traffic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study we have monitored particulate matters in different locations in the city of Craiova and Preajba area. We have considered necessary to establish this theme due to the intense traffic, the rehabilitation and modification of public water systems, sewage system and gas network from the over ground and underground passage, and the two CETs from Craiova municipality, which are sources of particulate matter emissions. The measurements carried out reveal a significant content of particulate matters in the Electro Bridge and Km 0 Craiova (urban background), CET I (industrial) and insignificant in the Preajba area. There were recorded daily average and maximum values, as well as hourly values, which were compared with the limit values set by Order 592/2002, there were observed exceedances up to 200% from the maximum value allowable [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]