Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench, belonging to the Asteraceae family, is known in traditional medicine for its diuretic, choleretic, and anti-inflammatory properties. This review focuses on the superiority of Helichrysum arenarium (sandy everlasting) over other known plants as a source of active pharmacological compounds used in complementary medicine to prevent digestive and hepatobiliary illnesses. Because the species exists both in spontaneous flora and in crops, this article highlights the development of a controlled culture of H. arenarium, following the reproducible quality of the plant as a biological material. The diversity of phytocompounds, especially well-characterized flavonoid extracts, and the differences between extraction procedures are discussed. Antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal activities against human pathogens proved by different plant extracts and their mechanisms of action are analyzed. This study aims to contribute to the insufficient knowledge regarding the effects of Helichrysum species and to reveal that their extracts can be a valuable source for new active pharmaceutical ingredients.

The aim of the research was to determine to what extent the farinograph and alveograph parameters correlate with each other, and with the physical-chemical parameters, frequently used in the evaluation of wheat flours quality. Thus, 81 samples of wheat flours were analyzed. We found a better correlation of alveographic parameters, such as Extensibility and Mechanical Work (r²varied between 0.48-0.51), with Protein content and Gluten content of flours, compared to farinographic parameters: Development time and Stability (r²varied between 0.25-0.35). A poor correlation between farinographicand alveographic parameters was observed, the maximum value of the determination coefficient being r²=0.40, between Stability and Mechanical Work. The factorial analysis led to the highlight of four principal components. The first principal component was strongly correlated with the Protein content (including Gluten) of flours, with most farinographic (except for Water absorptin) and alveographic parameters (Mechanical work, W and Extensibility index, G). This component appears to express the tolerance of flours to the mechanical stress, exerted in the dough phase and their ability to preserve the own viscosity under mechanical stress conditions. The second principal component is related to the dough resistance to deformation, as expressed by the alveographic parameters Resistance and the P/L ratio. Principal components three and four were strongly correlated with flours ash (extraction degree) and amilolytic activity.

Ethyl carbamate, a genotoxic chemical contaminant present in fermented alcoholic beverages and foods, is formed from naturally occurring substances in these beverages and foods. Studies have shown that the content of ethyl carbamate can increase significantly during product storage and maturation, especially if favorable conditions are present. Higher levels of ethyl carbamate have been associated with distilled alcoholic beverages, mainly obtained from stone fruits. Ethyl carbamate content is lower in fermented foods, such as bread, yogurt, and fermented sauces. EC formation occurs through several different pathways in food systems. A primary pathway involves select compounds reacting with ethanol (EtOH); therefore, the majority of the research has focused on the occurrence of EC in alcoholic beverages Due to health risks, some countries have imposed legal limits on carbamate content in alcoholic beverages.

In the frame of the FP7 project FORBIOPLAST, several new polymeric materials were developed whose main novelty was the use of wood fibers as component in composites. Prepared prototypes for agriculture applications were: tomato yarn, plant pots and slow release fertilizers matrices. Main objectives of this study were to evaluate newly produced materials in the agriculture applications. The tomato yarns were tested according to the standards, they were used as support for growth of different horticultural plants both in greenhouses and traditional farming, and its handling at installation and performance during plant growth was evaluated. Yarns made of PLA/Ecoflex-wood based composites show physical-mechanical properties, which compare favorably with traditional plastics used for plant fastening. Round design yarn with composition (PLA:Ecoflex 20:80):Rettenmaier 70:30% was the most suitable material because of its good handling and the wide range of plants (even for heavy plants) it may support. Biodegradable transplanting pots were used for transplanting of plants in open field after a certain growing period in controlled climatic conditions and during the experiments no structure change was noticed after 187 days of usage. The fertilizer sticks were used in plants grown in different soil types and its influence in plants development and fertilizers delivering process but also the influence in microbial biodiversity and microorganisms relevant for soil fertility were evaluated. In general, the amount and diversity of microorganisms increase in the presence of slow-release fertilizers in comparison to levels found in soils amended with liquid fertilizer or with water. The effect of fertilizer on microbial community greatly depends on type of soil and the presence of plant on it. The new starch-wood fertilizer developed in this research promotes growth of microorganisms that are beneficial for soil fertility, such as nitrifying, nitrogen-fixers and phosphate-solubilizers. The increase of wood in starch/wood based fertilizer causes a stimulus in nitrifying bacteria and phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms

The use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in vegetable species is one of the technological procedures applied to improve the spectral composition of light in protected areas, as well as to stimulate plant growth, obtaining high values of production and increasing resistance to conditions of culture. The biological material represented by tomato seedlings, from varieties with nutritional value and with high ecological plasticity, was studied in terms of characterizing the effects of applying the treatment using light fields emitted by blue, red and white LEDs, by analysis physiological parameters, such as: photosynthesis intensity (μmols CO₂m^-2s ^-1), transpiration intensity (mmoles H₂O m^-2s ^-1), stomatal conductance (mols H₂O m^-2s ^-1) and intercellular carbon dioxide (mmol CO₂ mol^-1 air). In this study, the estimation of the amount of total chlorophyll (mg m^-2), was also investigated. The determinations of the physiological parameters were performed in 3 series, and the recorded results were statistically analysed, by expressing the significance of the differences between the control and the studied tomato varieties being studied. Thus, after the treatment period, applied in 23 days (Series II), with monochrome LEDs, at the level of the stomatal conductance parameter, statistically assured values were registered for the plants in the ‘L-75’ line exposed to White LED and for those in the ‘L-76’ line exposed to the Blue LED. The analysis of the results from the investigation of the physiological parameters at the level of the leaves from the experimental samples indicated that after 35 days (Series III), from the application of the treatments of 30 minutes/day, with White LED light, they ensured the plants tomatoes from the ‘L-76’ line, distinctly significantly positive values, compared to those of the control plants, at the intensity of photosynthesis and the internal concentration of CO₂.

Paulownia ssp., in its places of origin, has been cultivated for over 2600 years and used as protection curtains against sand storms or floods, studies of how this species was exploited only fifty years ago in time what genetic research has only been affected in the last thirty years. The fundamental purpose of experimentation was to check the influence of different technological links (planting density and fertilization scheme), not only on the weight of the wood and the technological characteristics of the wood obtained, but also on the total biomass accumulation. The objectives of the research were: a) stems diameter increase, measured at 100 cm height from the soil surface, maintaining the harvest variant at 4 years; b) increasing of biomass accumulation. In all experimental variants, it is noted that the plants recorded higher values of the different variables analyzed (diameter at the base, normal diameter and total height), when the fertilization factor also intervenes. In the same way, when a higher fertilization was applied, higher values of the dendrometric indicators are obtained compared to the experimental variants that did not benefit from the supplementation of nutrients, suggesting that the most important risk factor in Paulownia plantations is the planting density and the fertilization element.