Redomesticating almond to meet emerging food safety needs.

Almond is a desirable and high-quality food source where the presence of nut allergens and a vulnerability to aflatoxin and Salmonella contamination represent threats to consumer safety. In 2019, over 1 billion kg. of almonds, representing over 80% of the world total, were produced in California from a relatively few varieties with a very narrow […]

Study protocol for a 9-month randomised controlled trial assessing the effects of almonds versus carbohydrate-rich snack foods on weight loss and weight maintenance.

Introduction: Epidemiological studies indicate an inverse association between nut consumption and body mass index (BMI). However, clinical trials evaluating the effects of nut consumption compared with a nut-free diet on adiposity have reported mixed findings with some studies reporting greater weight loss and others reporting no weight change. This paper describes the rationale and detailed protocol […]

Snacking on Whole Almonds for Six Weeks Increases Heart Rate Variability during Mental Stress in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Cardiac autonomic regulation can be indirectly measured by heart rate variability (HRV). Low HRV, which can be induced by mental stress, is a predictor of risk of sudden cardiac death. Few studies have investigated cause-and-effect relationships between diet and HRV. Nut consumption is associated with CVD risk reduction, but the impact on HRV, particularly in […]

Almond byproduct composition impacts the rearing of black soldier fly larvae and quality of the spent substrate as a soil amendment.

Background: Insect biomass is a sustainable alternative to traditional animal feeds, particularly when insects are produced on low-value high-volume agricultural by-products. Seven samples of almond by-product (hulls and shells) were obtained from processors in California and investigated for larvae production. Experiments were completed with and without larvae and spent substrate samples were assessed for their potential […]

Removal of hydrogen sulfide from biogas using activated carbon synthesized from different locally available biomass wastes-a case study from Palestine.

The main aim of this study was to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from biogas by adsorption using synthesized activated carbon prepared using locally available biomass. The effect of the type of precursors, impregnation reagent and bed height was studied in continuous reactors. Three types of biomass wastes (almond shells, eucalyptus and coffee grains) were collected, […]

Turrón Coproducts as Source of Bioactive Compounds: Assessment of Chemical, Physico-Chemical, Techno-Functional and Antioxidant Properties.

The goals of this research were determined the proximate composition, physico-chemical, techno-functional properties, the polyphenolic profile, the organic acids and sugar content and the antioxidant capacities of flours obtained from almonds skins var. comuna (ASFC) and var. fritz (ASFF) coproducts produced in Turrón industry. The chemical composition and physico-chemical properties (pH, water activity and color) were determined. […]

Almond Skin Extracts and Chlorogenic Acid Delay Chronological Aging and Enhanced Oxidative Stress Response in Yeast.

Almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A.Webb) is one of the largest nut crops in the world. Recently, phenolic compounds, mostly stored in almond skin, have been associated with much of the health-promoting behavior associated with their intake. The almond skin enriched fraction obtained from cold-pressed oil residues of the endemic Moroccan Beldi ecotypes is particularly rich in chlorogenic acid. […]

Solid state 13C-NMR methodology for the cellulose composition studies of the shells of Prunus dulcis and their derived cellulosic materials.

Lignocellulosic fibers and microcellulose have been obtained by simple alkaline treatment from softwood almond shells. In particular, the Prunus dulcis Miller (D.A.) Webb. was considered as a agro industrial waste largely available in southern Italy. The materials before and after purification have been characterized by 13C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy methodology. A proper data analysis provided […]

Bioreactors for brine denitrification produced during polluted groundwater desalination in fertigation areas of SE Spain: batch assays for substrate selection.

Increasing knowledge of nitrate removal using denitrifying bioreactors has illustrated the usefulness of this management practice for treating discharge water from agricultural land uses. The objective of this study was to assess the viability of almond shell, chopped carob, olive bone, and citrus woodchip as carbon media for denitrification of brine with high nitrate load […]