Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brasov. Series II: Forestry • Wood Industry • Agricultural Food Engineering

Nutritional Profile and Sensory Acceptability of Sprouted Cowpea Flour Fortified Kokoro (Maize-Based Snack)

T. Aruna, O.A. Osunrinade, A.O. Raji, M. Sani, P.I. Olarinde, O.A. Dauda — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Kokoro is a widely enjoyed traditional Nigerian snack made from deep-fried, fermented maize. It is popular among both adults and children, but is known for its low protein and micronutrient content. In this study, Kokoro samples were prepared using a mixture of white maize and sprouted cowpea flour at varying proportions: 100% maize (UFK); 95% maize, 5% sprouted cowpea (FKA); 90% maize, 10% sprouted cowpea (FKB); 85% maize, 15% sprouted cowpea (FKC) and 80% maize, 20% sprouted cowpea (FKD). The proximate composition, mineral content, vitamin A levels, and amino acid profile of both fortified (with sprouted cowpea flour) and unfortified kokoro samples were evaluated using standard methods. The data collected were analysed using SPSS. Crude protein, crude fibre, ash, fat, and moisture contents ranged from 10.05-15.11%, 2.04-2.72%, 1.67-2.47%, 10.68-18.68%, and 3.25- 3.65%, respectively, while carbohydrate declined from 72.30-57.86%. The results showed that the inclusion of sprouted cowpea flour significantly enhanced the nutritional value of the fortified kokoro samples. The mineral and vitamin A contents of the fortified kokoro were significantly higher compared to the control sample. Additionally, the amino acid profile analysis revealed that fortification with sprouted cowpea flour significantly improved the amino acid composition of the fortified kokoro samples. Sample FKD had the highest proximate, mineral, and vitamin contents, while FKA was the most preferred kokoro sample by the panellists. Fortification of kokoro with sprouted cowpea flour significantly improved its nutritional value, with higher and better chemical and amino acid compositions compared to the unfortified sample.

Improving Gluten-Free Bread Production with Tapioca and Corn Flour: Physicochemical Insights

B. Budianto, A. Saryani, R.M. Putri, T.R. Naufalia — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Gluten-free bread production remains limited in the commercial market, mainly due to technical issues such as dough fragility and product weight loss during processing. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties of tapioca and corn flour as alternative raw materials for gluten-free bread formulation, and to assess their feasibility in large-scale production. The research utilized a comparative experimental design involving three flour samples: pure tapioca flour, pure corn flour, and a 1:1 blend of both. The physicochemical properties were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to observe starch and gluten granules, while protein content, water absorption capacity, and starch liquefaction numbers were quantified using standard AOAC methods. Results indicated that production without mechanical pulling or pressure yielded better texture and structure. A significant linear correlation (p < 0.01) was observed between gluten and protein content, as well as water absorption capacity. Additionally, starch content varied significantly across samples (p < 0.05) and strongly influenced liquefaction and hydration behavior (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that the appropriate physicochemical profiling of low-gluten flours supports the feasibility of consistent gluten-free bread production on a larger industrial scale.

Evaluation of Technical, Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Moth Bean (Vigna aconitifolia L.) Pod Coat Powder for Food and Industrial Applications

P. Chauhan, A. Mohite, N. Sharma — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Moth bean is an agricultural staple crop that has been used as food, fodder, and green manure, along with its by-products like stem, husk, and pod coat. These by-products are an excellent source of high nutritional value, which can be used to supplement the diet. Moth bean pod coat was dried using a Recirculating tray dryer (MRTD), a Tray dryer (MTD), and a Through flow dryer (MTFD) at 40°C (T1) and 45°C (T2) to determine the best drying method and temperature combination for the preparation of dried pod coat powder. The dried pod coats were ground to obtain powdered samples for assessment of engineering, physicochemical, and functional properties at 3, 6, and 9% moisture contents (on dry basis). The pod coat powder samples displayed significant differences in engineering properties and physicochemical properties. The sample with 3% moisture content dried at 40°C(T1) using MRTD resulted in better engineering properties and phytochemical properties like bulk density (114.6 kg/m3), tap density (128.2 kg/m3), polyphenol content (17.21 mg GAE g-1), flavonoid content (6.31 mg CAE g-1) in comparison to other powder samples. The samples of tray drying (MTD)and through-flow drying methods showed decreasing trends of nutrient retention and powder properties. The results for proximate composition were found close to each other for all drying methods, but differed slightly in the case of fibre content. The tray drying sample (MTD) has crude 17.31% fibre content compared to other dried sample. The presence of a good amount of viable minerals in the dried samples is reflected by a high ash content of 3-4% in MRTDT1 powder at 3% moisture content. Overall, the results obtained indicated that moth bean pod coat powder with a 3% moisture content dried by recirculatory dryer at 40°C showed the best results and has potential to be used as a raw material for food applications.

Physical Characteristics and Modelling of Sour Cherry Fruit by Geometric Features

O. Vasylyshyna, S. PoltoretskyI, V. Didur, V. Voitsekhivskyi — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Sour cherry is one of the most common and the most ancient fruit crops in the world due to the availability of anthocyanins and flavonoids in its composition, which explain its healing and tonic properties. Along with this, in view of the development of the technical mechanization and automation processes at the enterprises, it becomes expedient to do research aimed at studying some technical characteristics of fruit and their interdependence. It has been found out that sour cherry fruits of different varieties, namely Griot Podbielski, Alfa, Zhadana, Elehantna, Optymistka, Pamiat Artemenko, Chance, Lutovka, Shpanka, have a length and thickness 10 mm, a width – 20 mm, fruit weight – 4.7 g. On average, by varieties of sour cherry fruits have: diameter – 19.5−19.6 mm, projected area – 303.8−320.17 mm2, surface area −120.67 mm2, sphericity – 100.9, aspect ratio – 1.04; fruit volume − 4036 mm3. The peeling and lengthening index is 0.95 and 0.97. Specific heat capacity amounts to 3.77−3.79 kJ/kg°С, heat conductivity – 0.56−0.57 kJ/mˑc°С, when the content of dry soluble substances is equal to 15.8% and that of titrated acids is 1.7%, рН – 4.1 units, density – 2.7 kg/cm2 and the light transmittance coefficient is 37.8%. The results of the evaluation of the physical-chemical factors of different sour cherry varieties make it possible to identify the characteristic indicators and their specific features when choosing the equipment for processing companies. The mathematical models to predict sour cherry quality were devised based on the physical indicators.

Investigating and Planning Ecotourism Area Focused on Forest Villagers Via the Analytical Hierarchy Process

N. Eser, E. Bilici — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Ecotourism has emerged as an alternative form of tourism that brings together urban dwellers and forest villagers, while also promoting the sustainability of forest resources. This study aimed to identify the key factors influencing ecotourism in forest villages and to determine the most suitable areas based on these factors. Giresun province served as the study area, where we collected data through interviews with stakeholders and industry professionals. The collected data were analysed using the SPSS23 program and the AHP analysis, which resulted in the identification of influential factors and the mapping of suitable ecotourism areas using ArcGIS 10.8. As a result of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests, it was observed that the data showed a normal distribution and there was a significant relationship between the variables (p > 0,05). The findings from the interviews revealed that ecotourism can serve as a significant source of income and be pursued as a full-time occupation. Furthermore, it was determined that 50 forest villages in Giresun are situated within the most suitable ecotourism area. Based on the comprehensive analyses conducted, this study will establish an economically viable access road to the forest village, facilitating optimal land-use planning in the designated areas.

Accuracy and Time Efficiency of ForestScanner App when Measuring Plot-Level DBH under Diverse Forest Ecosystems

G.O. Forkuo, B. Vass, A. Forika, N. Kaakkurivaara, T. Kaakkurivaara, S.A. Borz — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Accurate and efficient measurement of tree diameter at breast height (DBH) is essential for forest inventory and management. While traditional methods are time-consuming, new smartphone-based LiDAR applications like ForestScanner promise rapid, cost-effective solutions. However, their performance across diverse forest ecosystems requires thorough evaluation. This study aimed to assess the accuracy and time efficiency of the ForestScanner app for plot-level DBH measurements compared to manual caliper methods under varied growing conditions in Romania. One hundred circular plots (approx. 300 m² each) were established in forests near Brașov City, encompassing diverse forest tree species, ages, topographies, and understory conditions. DBH of 987 trees was measured manually with calipers and digitally using the ForestScanner app on a LiDAR-equipped iPhone. Time consumption for plot establishment, manual DBH, and app-based DBH measurements was recorded. Accuracy was assessed using bias, mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean squared error (RMSE), with heteroskedasticity checked via Breusch-Pagan and White tests. ForestScanner showed a negligible overall bias (-0.003 cm), but MAE reached 3.66 cm when all measurements were included. Occlusion by vegetation or nearby trees significantly impacted the app’s accuracy; for non-obstructed trees (n = 824), bias was +0.26 cm with an MAE of 2.07 cm. Manual DBH measurement averaged 14 seconds/tree, while ForestScanner averaged 16 seconds/tree. Plot establishment time and measurement time were influenced by tree density. ForestScanner offers a user-friendly, free tool for DBH measurement and tree mapping, but its accuracy may be affected by occlusion. On the other hand, the app comes equipped with several useful features, such as documenting the plots by LiDAR point clouds, real-time DBH measurement, and data storage, while returning comparable time efficiencies. Future work should focus on more diverse forest types to refine its practical application in forestry.

Two Decades of Expansion: Population Dynamics and Spatial Distribution of the Golden Jackal in Romania between 2004-2025

D.C. Popovici, O. Ionescu, G. Ionescu, D. Hardalau — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The golden jackal (Canis aureus) has undergone rapid and widespread expansion across Europe over the past two decades, with Romania emerging as a key region for both population growth and territorial colonization. This study examines the spatial distribution and population dynamics of the species in Romania between 2004 and 2025, based on official data collected from more than 2,100 hunting grounds. Using descriptive statistics, Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) analysis, and GIS-based mapping, the research reveals a 31.65-fold population increase, from 1,291 individuals in 2004 to 40,861 in 2025, corresponding to a CAGR of 17.7%. The findings highlight the golden jackal’s expansion from Danube-bordering counties to widespread presence across Romania’s plain and hilly regions, reaching the northern national borders. As the species increasingly interacts with wildlife and forest managers through its predation behaviour, with farmers through livestock depredation, and with public health systems due to its role in disease transmission, there is an urgent need to understand how to manage its growth and promote coexistence. This study underscores the jackal’s reproductive and dispersal capacity and emphasizes the necessity of implementing adaptive management strategies without delay.

The Surface Roughness of Wood After Hard Wax Oil Treatment

Krasimira Atanasova — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The article presents a study on the surface roughness change of spruce (Picea abies Karst.), aspen (Popolus tremula L.), beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), and European oak (Quercus robur L.) after treatment with commercial hard wax oil. For the spruce specimens, measurements were also made after a water permeability test, according to CSN EN 927–5:2007, as well as after 72 hours of drying. Before coating application, the surfaces were sanded with P120-grain sandpaper. The second layer of coating was applied without intermediate sanding. A contact surface roughness tester model SJ-210 and a standard Gaussian filter were used for roughness evaluation. It was found that after the application and solidification of hard wax oil, the treated surfaces were less rough but with increased heterogeneity. The substrate properties (structure, density, and hardness) had a major impact on the investigated parameter values and changes. The beech wood roughness changed to the greatest extent. The most significant change was observed in the parameter RSm (119 - 35%). The coating was also found to impart form stability to the treated surfaces without being watertight. No grain raising was found.

Assessment of Quality Parameters of Finger-Jointed Timber Products: A Review

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Wood is a renewable natural resource used in diverse sectors. Wood processing operations generate a substantial quantity of residues which possess higher potential of alternative uses. Finger-jointing, a method which connects two small pieces of timber together, is identified as a sound technique to minimize wastage. In the present context, where deforestation continues to threaten the existing timber resources, the finger-joint technique has gained higher recognition as a viable tool for the sustainable utilization of wood. With the increasing demand and decreasing volume of high-grade timber material, finger-jointing has become an industry with great economic benefits, and finger-joint technology will boost the increased utilization of timber materials. The outcomes of this review paper will therefore improve the quality of finger-jointed products through the generated technical information and thereby enhance the finger-jointing industry in practice.

Natural Antifungal Agents from Pangium edule and Pinus merkusii for the Wood-Decaying Fungus Schizophyllum Commune

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The demand for wood from community and plantation forests has increased as an alternative to natural forests. However, these fast-growing woods are often vulnerable to biodeterioration by wood-decaying fungi. Enhancing their durability through eco-friendly preservation methods is therefore essential. This study evaluated the antifungal efficacy of extracts from the leaves and seed shells of Pangium edule and from the leaves and fruits of Pinus merkusii against the wood-decaying fungus Schizophyllum commune at concentrations below 25 ppm. The extracts were tested at four concentration levels (5, 10, 15, and 20 ppm; w/v, mg extract per litre of agar) using the poisoned food technique on malt extract agar (MEA) medium. All extracts exhibited strong inhibitory activity, with the seed shell extract of P. edule achieving 100% inhibition (Antifungal Activity Index, AFA = 100%) across all concentrations. The fruit extract of P. merkusii produced AFA values ranging from 96% to 98%, while the leaf extracts from both species demonstrated slightly lower but still very strong activity (AFA > 80%). Notably, none of the treatments allowed complete fungal colony development compared to the control group. These findings suggest that both P. edule and P. merkusii extracts exhibit strong antifungal potential against S. commune in vitro. Further studies involving standardised wood-block decay tests are necessary to confirm their applicability as natural wood preservatives in practical use.