In the Mediterranean zone semi-natural vegetation and diverse mountain-cropping systems have been converted into monocultures with low tree densities, leaving the soil unprotected. Soil loss and runoff over a three-year period were monitored in hillside erosion plots (35% slope and 144 m 2 in area) with almond (Prunus amygdalus) trees under three soil-management systems: no-tillage with sage (S...

Renewable energy sources are developed worldwide, owing to high oil prices and in order to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The objective of this research was to study the feasibility of biodiesel production from mountain almond (Prunus Scoparia) oil using ultrasonic system and optimization of the process using Artificial Bees Colony (ABC) Algorithm. The results showed that by increasing the mol...

The almond, which is a member of the Rosaceae family, is the fruit of the almond tree (Prunus dulcis). It has a hard endocarp that contains a seed covered by a rough, brownish skin. Unlike other prunoid fruits, which have an edible mesocarp and an outer skin known as the epicarp, the almond fruit has an epicarp and a mesocarp that are diffi cult to separate and have no nutritional or commercial...

BACKGROUND The identity of allergenic almond proteins is incomplete. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to characterize patient IgE reactivity to a recombinant and corresponding native almond allergen. METHODS An almond cDNA library was screened with sera from patients with allergy for IgE binding proteins. Two reactive clones were sequenced, and 1 was expressed. The expressed recombinant allergen...

This experiment investigated the role of context in the expression of conditioned flavour preferences. Rats were trained on a mixture of almond and sucrose and were then given intermixed exposures to almond in one context (Context A) and to sucrose in a second context (Context S). Finally, choice tests were given in both contexts, with one group given almond-versus-water tests and the other alm...

Almond kernels contain phytochemicals and nutrients that potentially have positive health benefits in relation to heart disease, diabetes and obesity. One important mechanism associated with these benefits is an imposed limit on bioaccessibility (release) of nutrients, such as lipids, from almond tissue during mastication and digestion. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of food st...

BACKGROUND Almond processing has been shown to differentially impact metabolizable energy; however, the effect of food form on the gastrointestinal microbiota is under-investigated. OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess the interrelationship of almond consumption and processing on the gastrointestinal microbiota. DESIGN A controlled-feeding, randomized, five-period, crossover study with washouts bet...

In the present study, chemical composition and in situ rumen dry matter degradability (DMD) of some tree species (cherry, apricot and almond tree leaves) were determined. Crude protein (CP) concentration varied from 6.76% for almond tree to 2.76% for cherry tree, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF), from 29.2, 20.8% for apricot tree to 20.8 and 15.8% for almond tree lea...

An improved colorimetric method for determination of cyanide content in bitter almond oil was developed. The optimal determination parameters were as follows: volume ratio of hydrochloric acid to bitter almond oil (v/v), 1.5:1; holding time for hydrolysis, 120 min; and volume ratio of distillation solution to bitter almond oil (v/v), 8:1. Analytical results showed that the relative standard dev...