Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effects of Almonds on Facial Wrinkles and Pigmentation
Background: Almonds have long been studied as a rich source of fatty acids, phytochemical polyphenols and antioxidants such as vitamin E. A recent study compared almond supplementations to a calorie-matched intervention for 16 weeks, yielding statistically significant improvement in wrinkle severity in postmenopausal women with Fitzpatrick skin types I and II that received almonds. This […]
Nutshells as Efficient Biosorbents to Remove Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury from Contaminated Solutions
The release of potentially toxic elements into the environment, and their effects on aquatic ecosystems still present a real threat. To avoid such contamination, the use of biological sorbents as an alternative to conventional and expensive water remediation techniques has been proposed. The present study evaluated the potential of 0.5 g L-1 of peanut, hazelnut, […]
Evaluation of Sticky Traps for Monitoring Scolothrips sexmaculatus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and Stethorus punctum (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) as Predators of Spider Mites in California Almonds
Changes in almond production practices have caused sixspotted thrips, Scolothrips sexmaculatus Pergande, and the coccinellid beetle, Stethorus punctum LeConte, to replace phytoseiid mites as the dominant predators of spider mites in California almonds. We conducted a series of field studies to evaluate nine commercially available adhesive traps for S. sexmaculatus and S. punctum and found […]
Evaluation of pruning wound protection products for the management of almond canker diseases in California
Almond trunk and branch canker diseases constitute a major cause of tree mortality in California. Numerous fungal pathogens have been associated with these canker diseases and pruning wounds act as major infection courts. Prior to this study, there were no products registered in California for the management of these diseases. In this study, fungicidal products […]
Phosphorus fertilization induces nectar secretion for honeybee visitations and cross-pollination of almond trees
Precise phosphorus (P) application requires a mechanistic understanding of mineral effects on crops' biology and physiology. Photosynthates assimilation, metabolism, and transport require phosphorylation, and we postulated that P is critical for the bloom and fruit-set of almond trees that rely on stored carbohydrate reserves. Hence, we studied the growth-physiology and carbohydrate dynamics in two-year-old almond […]
Developmental transcriptome profiling uncovered carbon signaling genes associated with almond fruit drop
Almond is one of the most featured nut crops owing to its high nutritional value. However, due to three different waves of flower and fruitlet drop, fruit drop is a major concern for growers. In this study, we carried out a time-course transcriptome analysis to investigate gene expression differences between normal and abnormal fruitlet development. […]
The association between left ventricular hypertrophy and consumption of nuts, including peanuts, pine nuts, and almonds
Background and aims: Studies have reported that nut consumption is potentially beneficial in preventing cardiovascular disease. However, data are insufficient regarding the association between nut consumption and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Methods and results: In the Kangbuk Samsung Health Study, the participants were 34,617 men and 12,257 women who completed a food-frequency questionnaire for nut consumption and […]
Exploring the potential of NIRS technology for the in situ prediction of amygdalin content and classification by bitterness of in-shell and shelled intact almonds
Amygdalin is a cyanogenic compound found in almonds which gives them their bitter taste. For the almond industry, it is important to prevent the presence of bitter almonds in batches of sweet almond that can affect their commercialization and even consumer safety. This study sought to ascertain the viability of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), as […]
The effects of foods on LDL cholesterol levels: A systematic review of the accumulated evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials
Aims: To systematically evaluate the evidence regarding the effects of foods on LDL cholesterol levels and to compare the findings with current guidelines. Data Synthesis: From inception through June 2019, we searched PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for guidelines, systematic reviews, and RCTs (for coffee intake […]
Analysis of E.U. Rapid Alert System (RASFF) Notifications for Aflatoxins in Exported U.S. Food and Feed Products for 2010-2019
The most common, toxic, and carcinogenic mycotoxins found in human food and animal feed are the aflatoxins (AFs). The United States is a leading exporter of various nuts, with a marketing value of $9.1 billion in 2019; the European Union countries are the major importers of U.S. nuts. In the past few years, border rejections […]