The 2020 quarantine demonstrated that online food purchase has become one of the main protagonists of the pandemic. The present study valued the Internet as a mediator between producers and consumers with the power to create new demand for Romanian traditional food during the COVID-19 crisis. Authors aimed at carrying out an exploratory research about the online purchase of traditional foods (TFs). Within this context, the study, firstly, outlines the meaning of traditional foods in the Romanian consumers’ minds and, secondly, it identifies the variables that can predict the preference for the online purchase of TFs during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey was carried out to investigate the Romanian consumers’ perceptions (n = 223) of TFs and online purchase of TFs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Binary logistic regression tested the relationship between the preference for the online purchase of TFS (vs. in-store) and seven perceived characteristics of TFs. Results show that the preference for the online purchase of TFs during the COVID-19 pandemic can be predicted by five variables—“TFs taste”; “Effect of TFs consumption on health during the COVID-19 pandemic”; “Effect of online TFs purchase on health during the COVID-19 pandemic”; “How cheap/expensive is to buy TFS online during the COVID-19 pandemic”; and “Easiness to purchase TFS online during the COVID-19 pandemic”. It was concluded that TFs have to claim their place within this digitized landscape by finding the balance between old and new, between preferences for foods taste passed through generations and new life lifestyles at 5G speed.

In this study, the nutritional potential of some hazelnut varieties from the spontaneous flora of Romania was analyzed as a means to increase the sustainability of the local production. The chemical composition from hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.) from spontaneous flora was determined in terms of mineral substances, protein, as well as essential and non-essential amino acids. The eight amino acids investigated had the following average values: Arg—0.68 g/100 g, Phe—0.415 g/100 g, Ser—0.277 g/100 g, Glu—0.188 g/100 g, Asp—0.133 g/100 g, Pro—0.038 g/100 g, and Lys—0.031 g/100 g. The average values of metal content were in the ranges: 88.39–146.98 µg·g⁻¹ (Fe); 96.93–123.23 µg·g⁻¹(Zn); 46.68–100.38 µg·g⁻¹ (Cu); 26.00–87.78 µg·g⁻¹ (Mn); 4.87–32.19 µg·g⁻¹ (Ni); 1.87–2.84 µg·g⁻¹ (Cr); and 1.29–1.86 µg·g⁻¹ (Cd). Crude protein content values were in the range 16.33–22.31%. In order to harness this nutritional potential, the variety with superior quality indices was included, in the form of flour, in biscuit-type baked goods that were characterized from nutritional and sensory points of view. The results showed that the content of polyphenols increased with the addition of hazelnut flour, as did the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Background: Loss of normal function is an inevitable effect of aging. Several factors contribute to the aging process, including cellular senescence and oxidative stress. Methods: We investigate how Arthrospira platensis Nanoparticles (NSP) protect against aging injury induced by d-galactose (D-gal) in the rat. So, we subcutaneously (S/C) injected D-gal at 200 mg/kg BW to see if Arthrospira platensis Nanoparticles (NSP) might protect against the oxidative changes generated by D-gal. NSP (0.5 mg/kg body weight once daily by gastric gavage) was given to all groups apart from the control and D-gal groups. The d-gal + NSP group was supplemented with 200 mg of D-gal per kg BW once a day and NSP 0.5 mg/kg BW given orally for 45 days. Biochemical, mRNA expression, and histological investigations of brain tissues were used to evaluate the oxidative alterations caused by d-gal and the protective role of NSP. Results: Our data demonstrated that d-gal was causing significant reductions in relative brain and body weight with increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and redox oxygen species (ROS) levels and increases in serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and creatine phosphokinase isoenzyme BB (CPK-BB) with marked decreases in the level of antioxidant enzyme activity in the brain and acetylcholinesterase activity augmented with a phosphorylated H2A histone family member X (γ-H2AX) level increased. The D-gal group had considerably higher phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (P38MAPK) and C-Jun N-terminal (JNK) kinases. The d-gal administration stimulates the apoptotic gene expression by downregulating the brain superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2). The NSP administration saved these parameters in the direction of the control. The brain histopathologic and immunohistochemistry analysis findings support our findings on NSP’s protective role. Conclusion: The NSP may be a promising natural protective compound that can prevent aging and preserve health.

This study sought to determine the effects of foliar fertilization (FF) on both the quantity and quality of maize grains using principal component analysis (PCA). This chemometric approach enabled the selection of the best foliar treatment model for enhancing maize yield and quality. The results were analyzed via PCA, providing valuable insights into identifying the FF recipe with the greatest influence on maize grain production and quality. These field experiments were run during the time period 2020–2022 in the university’s experimental field. Seven experimental variants with three repetitions were tested, including a control group and various FF formulations labeled V1 through V7, each with different chemical compositions. FF applications were conducted during specific vegetative phases of the maize, respectively, in stages 15–16 BBCH (5–6 unfolded leaves) and 20–22 BBCH (10–12 unfolded leaves), with application rates varying from 2 to 6 Lha¹ according to the product’s chemical properties. The application of FF treatments positively impacted both the production and quality of maize grains, as evidenced by specific quality indices such as moisture, protein, lipid, carbohydrate, fiber, and mineral content.

The aim of the paper is to assess the impact of Foliar Fertilizations (FF) on the yield and quality of sunflower seeds. This research was carried out in the agricultural years of 2019–2021 in the experimental field of the university. The method of planting in the field was carried out in subdivided plots with three repetitions and six fertilization options. The experimental variants were as follows: Control (Mt), V1—FF 10:10:10+ME (microelements), V2—FF 8:10:0+8B (Boron)+ME, V3—FF 15:0:0+2S (Sulfur)+1B+ME, V4—FF 15:0:0+4B+ME, and V5—FF 8:8:8+ME. FF treatments were carried out in the vegetation phases specific to the sunflower crop. These varied from 2–6 L ha⁻¹, depending on the chemical composition of the product. The application of treatments with FF to the sunflower culture positively influenced both production and its quality expressed by specific quality indices, namely the content of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, fibers, and minerals. The results were discussed not only in view of classical statistics but also using the Principal Components Analysis (PCA), which allows a more complex evaluation of the effects of foliar treatments on the production and quality of sunflower seeds.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), a global health concern, is highly prevalent among adults. Presently, there are limited therapeutic options to restore kidney function. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of breast milk mesenchymal stem cells (Br-MSCs) and their derived exosomes in CKD. Eighty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of six groups, including control, nephropathy, nephropathy + conditioned media (CM), nephropathy + Br-MSCs, nephropathy + Br-MSCs derived exosomes (Br-MSCs-EXOs), and nephropathy + Br-MSCs + Br-MSCs-EXOs. Before administration, Br-MSCs and Br-MSCs-EXOs were isolated, identified, and labeled with PKH-26. SOX2, Nanog, and OCT3/4 expression levels in Br-MSCs and miR-29b, miR-181, and Let-7b in both Br-MSCs and Br-MSCs-EXOs were assayed. Twelve weeks after transplantation, renal function tests, oxidative stress, expression of the long non-coding RNA SNHG-7, autophagy, fibrosis, and expression of profibrotic miR-34a and antifibrotic miR-29b, miR-181, and Let-7b were measured in renal tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis for renal Beclin-1, LC3-II, and P62, Masson trichome staining, and histopathological examination of kidney tissues were also performed. The results showed that Br-MSCs expressed SOX2, Nanog, and OCT3/4, while both Br-MSCs and Br-MSCs-EXOs expressed antifibrotic miR-181, miR-29b, and Let-7b, with higher expression levels in exosomes than in Br-MSCs. Interestingly, the administration of Br-MSCs + EXOs, EXOs, and Br-MSCs improved renal function tests, reduced renal oxidative stress, upregulated the renal expression of SNHG-7, AMPK, ULK-1, Beclin-1, LC3, miR-29b, miR-181, Let-7b, and Smad-7, downregulated the renal expression of miR-34a, AKT, mTOR, P62, TGF-β, Smad-3, and Coli-1, and ameliorated renal pathology. Thus, Br-MSCs and/or their derived exosomes appear to reduce adenine-induced renal damage by secreting antifibrotic microRNAs and potentiate renal autophagy by modulating SNHG-7 expression.