bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Interplay between O2 Availability, Growth Rates, and the Transcriptome of Yarrowia lipolytica
Authors: Kerssemakers Abraham A. J. , Øzmerih Süleyman , Sin Gürkan , Sudarsan Suresh
Published: January 2023

Industrial-sized fermenters differ from the laboratory environment in which bioprocess development initially took place. One of the issues that can lead to reduced productivity on a large scale or even early termination of the process is the presence of bioreactor heterogeneities. This work proposes and adopts a design–build–test–learn-type workflow that estimates the substrate, oxygen, and resulting growth heterogeneities through a compartmental modelling approach and maps Yarrowia lipolytica-specific behavior in this relevant range of conditions. The results indicate that at a growth rate of 0.1 h−1, the largest simulated volume (90 m3) reached partial oxygen limitation. Throughout the fed-batch, the cells experienced dissolved oxygen values from 0 to 75% and grew at rates of 0 to 0.2 h−1. These simulated large-scale conditions were tested in small-scale cultivations, which elucidated a transcriptome with a strong downregulation of various transporter and central carbon metabolism genes during oxygen limitation. The relation between oxygen availability and differential gene expression was dynamic and did not show a simple on–off behavior. This indicates that Y. lipolytica can differentiate between different available oxygen concentrations and adjust its transcription accordingly. The workflow presented can be used for Y. lipolytica-based strain engineering, thereby accelerating bioprocess development.
Using Metaheuristics (SA-MCSDN) Optimized for Multi-Controller Placement in Software-Defined Networking
Authors: Radam Neamah S. , Al-Janabi Sufyan T. Faraj , Jasim Khalid Sh.
Published: January 2023

The multi-controller placement problem (MCPP) represents one of the most challenging issues in software-defined networks (SDNs). High-efficiency and scalable optimized solutions can be achieved for a given position in such networks, thereby enhancing various aspects of programmability, configuration, and construction. In this paper, we propose a model called simulated annealing for multi-controllers in SDN (SA-MCSDN) to solve the problem of placing multiple controllers in appropriate locations by considering estimated distances and distribution times among the controllers, as well as between controllers and switches (C2S). We simulated the proposed mathematical model using Network Simulator NS3 in the Linux Ubuntu environment to extract the performance results. We then compared the results of this single-solution algorithm with those obtained by our previously proposed multi-solution harmony search particle swarm optimization (HS-PSO) algorithm. The results reveal interesting aspects of each type of solution. We found that the proposed model works better than previously proposed models, according to some of the metrics upon which the network relies to achieve optimal performance. The metrics considered in this work are propagation delay, round-trip time (RTT), matrix of time session (TS), average delay, reliability, throughput, cost, and fitness value. The simulation results presented herein reveal that the proposed model achieves high reliability and satisfactory throughput with a short access time standard, addressing the issues of scalability and flexibility and achieving high performance to support network efficiency.
Text Mining Approach for Trend Tracking in Scientific Research: A Case Study on Forest Fire
Authors: Eroglu Yunus
Published: January 2023

Scientific studies are increasing day by day with the development of technology. Today, more than 171 billion academic records are made available to researchers via the Web of Science database, which is frequently followed by the scientific community, and is where records of articles, proceedings, and books in many different fields are kept. More than 40 thousand studies are reached when a search is made for research on forest fires in the relevant database. It is unfeasible to examine and read so many publications and understand what topics are important in the relevant field, what is trending, or whether there is a difference between the subjects studied based on years and/or regions/countries. The most effective and scientific method of deriving information from such large and unstructured data is text mining. In this study, text mining is used to reveal where the research on forest fires in the Web of Science database concentrates, which study topics have emerged, how an issue’s level of importance changes over the years, and which topics different countries focus on. Therefore, the abstracts of approximately 32 thousand articles published in English were collected and analyzed based on the country of the authors and the published years. Over 600 words in the abstracts were indexed for each article and their importance was calculated according to inverse document frequency. A size reduction was made to determine the main concepts of the articles by using the singular value decomposition and a total of 29 different concepts were found. Among these, important concepts can be mentioned such as damage to vegetation and species affected, post-fire actions, fire management, and post-fire structural changes. Considering all the articles, studies on soil, fuel (biofuel), treatment, emissions, and species were found to be important. The results we have obtained in this study are by no means a summary of the research carried out in the field; they do, however, allow statistical due diligence concerning, for example, which subjects are important in the relevant field, the determination of increasing and decreasing trending topics, which countries attach importance to in the same research, and so on. Thus, it will function as be a guide in terms of the direction, timing, and budget allocation of research plans in a specific area in the future.
Effects of Fasting on Intermediary Metabolism Enzymes in the Liver and Muscle of Rainbow Trout
Authors: Fernández-Muela Montserrat , Bermejo-Poza Rubén , Cabezas Almudena , Pérez Concepción , González de Chavarri Elisabet , Díaz María Teresa , Torrent Fernando , Villarroel Morris , De la Fuente Jesús
Published: January 2023

Fish can go through periods of feed deprivation, either due to natural causes influenced by temperature or management techniques in animal production, affecting their energy metabolism differently, depending on the duration of fasting in days and water temperature. This study showed the effect of different days of fasting before slaughter in rainbow trout by analyzing the intermediary metabolic enzymes in the muscle and liver. For this purpose, a non-fasting group was compared with trout that fasted for 5, 10, and 20 days (55, 107, and 200 degree days (°C d), respectively). A first phase of increased activity of enzymes involved in glycolysis was observed, increasing hexokinase enzyme activity in muscle and pyruvate kinase enzyme activity in muscle and liver. As the fasting days progressed, enzymes involved in the gluconeogenic and glycogenolytic pathways in the liver such as lactate dehydrogenase and glycogen phosphorylase increased their activity regarding the no fasted group. After 20 days of fasting (200 °C d), lipogenic and protein related enzyme activity depletion was observed, leading to significant changes in energy metabolism. Therefore, prolonged fasting with high degree days duration may compromise the energy supply for the vital development of rainbow trout.
A New Laboratory Scale Olive Oil Extraction Method with Comparative Characterization of Phenolic and Fatty Acid Composition
Authors: Ferro Miguel D. , Cabrita Maria João , Herrera José M. , Duarte Maria F.
Published: January 2023

The establishment of operation protocols for olive oil (OO) extraction at non-industrial scale is crucial for research purposes. Thus, the present study proposes a simple and cost-effective method for OO extraction at the laboratory scale (LS) level. To validate the proposed methodology, industrial OO extraction (IS) was performed in parallel, using the same cultivars ‘Galega vulgar’ (GV), ‘Cobrançosa’ (COB) and ‘Arbequina’ (ARB) collected from the same orchards, within the same period. Obtained results showed highest extractability for COB and ARB, of about 53%, while GAL showed 50%. All produced OO showed values lower than the regulated limits for the physicochemical parameters (acidity, K232, K268 and ΔK), classifying them as extra virgin OO (EVOO). Highest total phenolic content was observed for COB, with no significant differences (p-value > 0.05) between extraction methods. Regarding fatty acid composition, oleic acid (C18:1) showed the lowest percentage for ARB, with about 66% and 68%, for LS and IS, respectively, and the highest for GV with about 72% for both LS and IS. Furthermore, all samples from both extraction methods were compared to the European Community Regulation, with fatty acid composition within the regulated levels for EVOO. This work showed promising results regarding extraction yields and OO extractability, as well as its quality parameters.
Effect of Germination on the Nutritional Properties, Phytic Acid Content, and Phytase Activity of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd)
Authors: Maldonado-Alvarado Pedro , Pavón-Vargas Darío Javier , Abarca-Robles Juan , Valencia-Chamorro Silvia , Haros Claudia Monika
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of desaponification, soaking, germination, and refrigerated storage on the phytase activity, phytic acid content, and nutritional properties of three varieties of quinoa: white, red, and black. Desaponification and soaking reduced the number of minerals and the nutritional content. Germination of the seeds was carried out in the desaponified samples. The nutritional values, phytase activity, and phytic acid content of quinoa were measured after 6 h of soaking and then at 4 and 7 days during germination plus 7 days of refrigerated storage (4 °C). Germination increased the fibre and protein content as well as the iron, zinc, and calcium content. Germination significantly increased the phytase activity in all varieties and decreased the phytic acid content. The phytic acid content decreased during germination from 32 to 74%. Refrigerated storage had no significant effect on most of the factors studied. Germination boosts nutritional content and phytase activity while decreasing phytic acid content. Germination can be a simple method to reduce phytic acid in quinoa and may also improve the nutritional quality of this pseudocereal with the potential for use in functional foods and vegetarian diets.
Effect of Partial Meat Replacement by Hibiscus sabdariffa By-Product and Pleurotus djamor Powder on the Quality of Beef Patties
Authors: Bermúdez Roberto , Rangel-Vargas Esmeralda , Lorenzo José M. , Rodríguez José A. , Munekata Paulo E. S. , Teixeira Alfredo , Pateiro Mirian , Romero Leticia , Santos Eva M.
Published: January 2023

The effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa (roselle; Hs) by-product (2–5%) and Pleurotus djamor (pink oyster; Pd) powder (5–7.5%) as meat replacers on the physicochemical and sensorial properties of beef patties were analyzed. The addition of these non-meat ingredients significantly decreased moisture and increased fiber content, and did not affect the protein level of the product. The antioxidant effect of the roselle by-product was limited, while Pleurotus djamor favored the oxidation processes. The samples supplemented with roselle by-product and mushroom powder presented significantly lower microbial counts (total viable counts, enterobacteria, and Pseudomonas) than control, but texture and sensorial parameters were significantly affected. The patties darkened due to the presence of the Hibiscus by-product, while the color of the samples containing 5% Pleurotus djamor was hardly modified. These samples, together with the control samples, were the most sensorially appreciated. The addition of these ingredients provoked a decrease in texture parameters, being less pronounced in the samples with only 2% of roselle by-product. In spite of the good antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Hibiscus by-products, its inclusion in meat should be moderate (2–2.5%) to avoid consumer rejection when Pleurotus djamor is also included in the formulation.
Application of the Luminescent luxCDABE Gene for the Rapid Screening of Antibacterial Substances Targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Peng Yue , Wang Qian , Zhu Kaixiang , Ding Wu
Published: January 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a typical Gram-negative bacterium that can cause the spoilage of catered food products. Using a luminescent reporter gene (luxCDABE), this study sought to construct a cell-based biosensor (PAO1-CE) to rapidly screen antibacterial substances against P. aeruginosa. A total of six antibiotics belonging to five categories were used as the model test substances. The results of the bioluminescence detection method were verified using traditional antibacterial research assessments. The correlation coefficient of the regression equation fitting the data generated using this method was greater than 0.98, supporting the credibility of this approach. Additionally, the EC50 of each of the antibiotics assessed in this study was lower than the 1/2 MIC determined by conventional means. All six of the antibiotics caused varying degrees of damage to the cell membrane and cell wall of P. aeruginosa. Importantly, this novel method helped shorten the time necessary for active-compound detection and could be used for high-throughput detection, which would also help improve the detection efficiency. The application of this method towards the discovery of novel antibacterial compounds targeting P. aeruginosa holds substantial promise for greatly improving the efficiency of compound discovery.
Optimization and Molecular Mechanism of Novel α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Peptides Derived from Camellia Seed Cake through Enzymatic Hydrolysis
Authors: Zhang Yuanping , Wu Fenghua , He Zhiping , Fang Xuezhi , Liu Xingquan
Published: January 2023

In recent years, food-derived hypoglycemic peptides have received a lot of attention in the study of active peptides, but their anti-diabetic mechanism of action is not yet clear. In this study, camellia seed cake protein (CSCP) was used to prepare active peptides with α-glucosidase inhibition. The optimization of the preparation of camellia seed cake protein hydrolyzed peptides (CSCPH) was conducted via response surface methodology (RSM) using a protamex with α-glucosidase inhibition as an indicator. The optimal hydrolysis conditions were pH 7.11, 4300 U/g enzyme concentration, 50 °C hydrolysis temperature, and 3.95 h hydrolysis time. Under these conditions, the α-glucosidase inhibition rate of CSCPH was 58.70% (IC50 8.442 ± 0.33 mg/mL). The peptides with high α-glucosidase inhibitory activity were isolated from CSCPH by ultrafiltration and Sephadex G25. Leu-Leu-Val-Leu-Tyr-Tyr-Glu-Tyr (LLVLYYEY) and Leu-Leu-Leu-Leu-Pro-Ser-Tyr-Ser-Glu-Phe (LLLLPSYSEF) were identified and synthesized for the first time by Liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis and virtual screening with IC50 values of 0.33 and 1.11 mM, respectively. Lineweaver-Burk analysis and molecular docking demonstrated that LLVLYYEY was a non-competitive inhibitor of α-glucosidase, whereas LLLLPSYSEF inhibited α-glucosidase, which displayed a mixed inhibition mechanism. The study suggests the possibility of using peptides from Camellia seed cake as hypoglycaemic compounds for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.
Quality and Shelf-Life Evaluation of Fresh Beef Stored in Smart Packaging
Authors: Dirpan Andi , Hidayat Serli Hatul
Published: January 2023

Beef is a perishable food product susceptible to deterioration due to microbial growth. Therefore, this study aimed to ascertain how active and intelligent packaging performs by tracking the change in the quality of fresh beef stored at low temperatures. The intelligent packaging method employed indicators with solutions of Bromo Phenol Blue (BPB) and Phenol Red (PR) to monitor the change in beef quality. Additionally, active packaging used garlic extract with various concentrations at 0%, 15%, and 20% to maintain the quality of beef packaged at 10 °C temperatures. The findings illustrated that a packaging indicator label can be implemented to monitor the change in the quality of fresh beef stored at 10 °C temperatures. This was signified by a change in the indicator color from dark yellow to orange and red, fading to purple. Meanwhile, observations on active packaging demonstrated that 15% and 20% of garlic extract were the most effective approaches for preserving beef quality. The correlation level of indicator label color analysis and the effectiveness of active packaging with all beef spoilage metrics demonstrated a positive correlation in preserving quality and identifying the degree of beef damage. Therefore, these active and intelligent packaging indicators can be applied to monitor and retain the quality of packaged beef.
Influences of Particle Size and Addition Level on the Rheological Properties and Water Mobility of Purple Sweet Potato Dough
Authors: Hu Han , Zhou Xiangyu , Zhang Yuxin , Zhou Wenhua , Zhang Lin
Published: January 2023

This paper investigated the effects of different particle sizes and addition levels of purple sweet potato flour (PSPF) on the rheological properties and moisture states of wheat dough. There was deterioration in the pasting and mixing properties of the dough, due to the addition of PSPF (0~20% substitution), which was reduced by decreasing the particle size of the PSPF (260~59 μm). Dynamic rheology results showed that PSPF enhanced the elasticity of the dough, providing it solid-like processability. PSPF promoted the binding of gluten proteins and starch in the dough, resulting in a denser microstructure. Differential scanning calorimetry and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance showed that PSPF converted immobilized water and freezable water to bound water and non-freezable water in the dough, making the dough more stable, and that the reduction in PSPF particle size facilitated these processes. Our results provide evidence for the great application potential of purple sweet potatoes for use in flour-based products.
Juices and By-Products of Red-Fleshed Sweet Oranges: Assessment of Bioactive and Nutritional Compounds
Authors: Zacarías-Garcia Jaime , Carlos Guiselle , Gil José-Vicente , Navarro José Luís , Zacarías Lorenzo , Rodrigo María-Jesús
Published: January 2023

The content of nutrients and bioactive compounds, and antioxidant capacity were assessed in the juices from two red-fleshed oranges, Cara Cara and Kirkwood, and compared with that of a standard Navel orange. Two juice extraction procedures, hand-squeezing and industrial, and two treatments, pasteurization (85 °C/30 s) and high-pressure homogenization (HPH, 150 MPa/55 °C/1 min), were evaluated. For most of the nutrients and bioactive compounds, the hand and industrial juice squeezing rendered similar extraction efficiency. Individual composition of carotenoids in the juices were differentially affected by the extraction procedure and the treatments, but the red-fleshed orange juices contained between 3- to 6-times higher total carotenoids than the standard Navel juices, being phytoene and phytofluene the main carotenoids. The industrial and treated juices of both red-fleshed oranges contained 20–30% higher amounts of tocopherols but about 20% lower levels of vitamin C than Navel juices. Navel juices exhibited higher hydrophilic antioxidant capacity, while the red-fleshed orange juices showed an improved lipophilic antioxidant capacity. The main distinctive characteristic of the industrial juice by-product of the red-fleshed oranges was a higher content of carotenoids (×10) and singlet oxygen antioxidant capacity (×1.5–2) than the Navel by-product.
Changing Food Consumption Pattern and Influencing Factors in Bangladesh
Authors: Jia Mengmeng , Zhen Lin , Yang Wanni , Wang Shuang
Published: January 2023

Food consumption is an important bridge between human beings and the natural ecosystem. The change in food consumption quantity and quality can reflect the relationship between them. This study aims to explore food consumption characteristics and the drivers of food consumption patterns in Bangladesh with a fragile ecology and polluted environment. This research selected food consumption in Bangladesh as the object, food consumption data were obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the data of influencing factors mainly were acquired from the World Bank. The following results were conducted: The total and per capita food consumption showed increase as a whole, but per capita food consumption experienced decline in the middle of the research period. Food consumption patterns were divided into three types: the first type of cereal–sugar–aquatic with low food consumption quantity and few kinds of food from 1961 to 1971, the second type of cereal–sugar–oil–aquatic with increasing food consumption quantity and food kinds from 1972 to 1997, and the third type of cereal–aquatic–tuber–sugar–fruit–vegetable–meat with increasing food consumption quantity and more various kinds of food from 1998 to 2020. The characteristics of food consumption in different periods were influenced by a series of factors. The influence of economic factors was higher than other factors, relatively. According to this study, the characteristics of food consumption patterns and the relationship between food consumption and influencing factors can provide a scientific reference for the adjustment policy makers taking local food demand and natural resources conservation into consideration to achieve a sustainable development.
Rapid Food Authentication Using a Portable Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy System
Authors: Wu Xi , Shin Sungho , Gondhalekar Carmen , Patsekin Valery , Bae Euiwon , Robinson J. Paul , Rajwa Bartek
Published: January 2023

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an atomic-emission spectroscopy technique that employs a focused laser beam to produce microplasma. Although LIBS was designed for applications in the field of materials science, it has lately been proposed as a method for the compositional analysis of agricultural goods. We deployed commercial handheld LIBS equipment to illustrate the performance of this promising optical technology in the context of food authentication, as the growing incidence of food fraud necessitates the development of novel portable methods for detection. We focused on regional agricultural commodities such as European Alpine-style cheeses, coffee, spices, balsamic vinegar, and vanilla extracts. Liquid examples, including seven balsamic vinegar products and six representatives of vanilla extract, were measured on a nitrocellulose membrane. No sample preparation was required for solid foods, which consisted of seven brands of coffee beans, sixteen varieties of Alpine-style cheeses, and eight different spices. The pre-processed and standardized LIBS spectra were used to train and test the elastic net-regularized multinomial classifier. The performance of the portable and benchtop LIBS systems was compared and described. The results indicate that field-deployable, portable LIBS devices provide a robust, accurate, and simple-to-use platform for agricultural product verification that requires minimal sample preparation, if any.
Predicting the Glycemic Index of Biscuits Using Static In Vitro Digestion Protocols
Authors: Peng Xingguang , Liu Hongsheng , Li Xuying , Wang Huaibin , Zhang Kejia , Li Shuangqi , Bao Xianyang , Zou Wei , Yu Wenwen
Published: January 2023

In vitro digestion methods that can accurately predict the estimated GI (eGI) values of complex carbohydrate foods, including biscuits, are worth exploring. In the current study, standard commercial biscuits with varied clinical GI values between 9~30 were digested using both the INFOGEST and single-enzyme digestion protocols. The digestion kinetic parameters were acquired through mathematical fitting by mathematical kinetics models. The results showed that compared with the INFOGEST protocol, the AUR180 deduced from digesting using either porcine pancreatin or α-amylase showed the best potential in predicting the eGI values. Accordingly, mathematical equations were established based on the relations between the AUR180 and the GI values. When digesting using porcine pancreatin, GI= 1.834 + 0.009 ×AUCR180 (R2= 0.952), and when digesting using only α-amylase, GI= 6.101 + 0.009 ×AUCR180 (R2=0.902). The AUR180 represents the area under the curve of the reducing-sugar content normalized to the total carbohydrates versus the digestion time in 180 min. The in vitro method presented enabled the rapid and accurate prediction of the eGI values of biscuits, and the validity of the formula was verified by another batch of biscuits with a known GI, and the error rate of most samples was less than 30%.
Effect of Yogurt Enrichment with Wood Tannin during Shelf Life: Focus on Physicochemical, Microbiological, and Sensory Characteristics
Authors: Zadeh Negin Seif , Tedesco Martina , Basso Sofia , Ghirardello Daniela , Giovando Samuele , Battaglia Michele , Zeppa Giuseppe
Published: January 2023

Six food-grade tannins obtained from different woods were used as a source of polyphenolic compounds at two concentrations (0.5% and 1% w/w) in yogurt formulations and monitored during 3 weeks of storage. Yogurt containing tannins showed significantly higher total phenolic content (+200%), antioxidant activity (+400%), and syneresis (+100%) than control. These changes were higher with fortification at 1%. Tannin origin also significantly influenced the yogurt composition and yogurt obtained from a Turkish gall showed higher values of total phenolic content (4 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant activity (17 μM Trolox/g). Yogurt color was evaluated by CIELab parameters, and their values were influenced by tannin origin and concentration. The addition of tannins did not significantly affect the number of lactic acid bacteria. Yogurt with a lower amount of tannins (0.5% w/w) received higher consumer acceptability but significant differences in preferences were due to tannin origin. In particular, yogurt added with tannin obtained from Quebracho wood at 1% w/w showed higher consumer preference. The obtained results would provide an opportunity for dairy producers to develop a novel dairy food with high nutritional quality.
Impact of Nitrite Supplementation on Bioactive Peptides during Sausage Processing
Authors: Zang Rongyu , Yu Qunli , Guo Zonglin
Published: January 2023

The goal of this investigation was to examine the impact of nitrite supplementation on the concentration, antioxidant properties, and species of antioxidant peptides in fermented sausages. The polypeptide concentration in nitrite-supplemented sausages was markedly elevated during sausage processing compared to the blank control (p < 0.05). Moreover, nitrite supplementation in fermented sausages markedly enhanced the DPPH, as well as the ABTS, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide anion free radical scavenging abilities (FRSA) of polypeptides (p < 0.05). The ferrous ion chelating ability was also significantly enhanced (p < 0.05). Based on the liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) analysis of the sausage, LPGGGHGDL, TKYRVP, FLKMN, SAGNPN, GLAGA, LPGGGT, DLEE, GKFNV, GLAGA, AEEEYPDL, HCNKKYRSEM, TSNRYHSYPWG, and other polypeptides exhibited antioxidant properties. Moreover, the number of species of antioxidant polypeptides in the nitrite-supplemented sausage was greater in comparison to the controls. Based on this evidence, it may be concluded that nitrite supplementation positively modulated antioxidant polypeptide formation in fermented sausages, thereby providing strong evidence that nitrite supplementation significantly enhances sausage quality.
Mechanistic Insights of Polyphenolic Compounds from Rosemary Bound to Their Protein Targets Obtained by Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Free-Energy Calculations
Authors: Lešnik Samo , Jukič Marko , Bren Urban
Published: January 2023

Rosemary represents an important medicinal plant that has been attributed with various health-promoting properties, especially antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic activities. Carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmanol, as well as the phenolic acid ester rosmarinic acid, are the main compounds responsible for these actions. In our earlier research, we carried out an inverse molecular docking at the proteome scale to determine possible protein targets of the mentioned compounds. Here, we subjected the previously identified ligand–protein complexes with HIV-1 protease, K-RAS, and factor X to molecular dynamics simulations coupled with free-energy calculations. We observed that carnosic acid and rosmanol act as viable binders of the HIV-1 protease. In addition, carnosol represents a potential binder of the oncogene protein K-RAS. On the other hand, rosmarinic acid was characterized as a weak binder of factor X. We also emphasized the importance of water-mediated hydrogen-bond networks in stabilizing the binding conformation of the studied polyphenols, as well as in mechanistically explaining their promiscuous nature.
Are Citric Acid-Iron II Complexes True Chelates or Just Physical Mixtures and How to Prove This?
Authors: Mattar Ghadeer , Haddarah Amira , Haddad Joseph , Pujola Montserrat , Sepulcre Francesc
Published: January 2023

Although mineral chelates are widely produced to be used as food fortifiers, the proof that these complexes are chelates is still missing. In our present work, iron II complexes using citric acid in different ratios are produced, and the occurrence of chelation is investigated along with its behavior according to a molar ratio between the ligand and the mineral. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) were used for a non-structural characterization of these complexes. In contrast to published work, our findings show that the chelation of citric acid is achieved in the liquid form and at a low pH and that the molar ratio is very important in setting the direction of the reaction, either toward chelation or dimer formation. The ratio citric acid:iron 1:4 seems to be the most convenient ratio in which no free citric acid remains in the solution, while the 1:3 ratio behaves differently, requiring further investigations by such techniques as extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS), among others, in order to deeply identify the structural organization occurring in this ratio. NIR, extensively used in industries, proved to be very useful in the demonstration and characterization of chelates. These findings are particularly advantageous for pharmaceutical and food industries in offering an innovative competent fortifying agent to be used in combatting iron deficiency.
A Broad-Spectrum Phage Endolysin (LysCP28) Able to Remove Biofilms and Inactivate Clostridium perfringens Strains
Authors: Lu Rui , Liu Banhong , Wu Liting , Bao Hongduo , García Pilar , Wang Yongjuan , Zhou Yan , Zhang Hui
Published: January 2023

Clostridium perfringens is a gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium capable of producing four major toxins which cause disease symptoms and pathogenesis in humans and animals. C. perfringens strains carrying enterotoxins can cause food poisoning in humans and are associated with meat consumption. An endolysin, named LysCP28, is encoded by orf28 from C. perfringens bacteriophage BG3P. This protein has an N-terminal glycosyl–hydrolase domain (lysozyme) and a C-terminal SH3 domain. Purified LysCP28 (38.8 kDa) exhibited a broad spectrum of lytic activity against C. perfringens strains (77 of 96 or 80.21%), including A, B, C, and D types, isolated from different sources. Moreover, LysCP28 (10 μg/mL) showed high antimicrobial activity and was able to lyse 2 × 107 CFU/mL C. perfringens ATCC 13124 and C. perfringens J21 (animal origin) within 2 h. Necessary due to this pathogenic bacterium’s ability to form biofilms, LysCP28 (18.7 μg/mL) was successfully evaluated as an antibiofilm agent in both biofilm removal and formation inhibition. Finally, to confirm the efficacy of LysCP28 in a food matrix, duck meat was contaminated with C. perfringens and treated with endolysin (100 µg/mL and 50 µg/mL), which reduced viable bacteria by 3.2 and 3.08 units-log, respectively, in 48 h at 4 °C. Overall, the endolysin LysCP28 could potentially be used as a biopreservative to reduce C. perfringens contamination during food processing.
Risk of Crop Yield Reduction in China under 1.5 °C and 2 °C Global Warming from CMIP6 Models
Authors: Wang Feiyu , Zhan Chesheng , Zou Lei
Published: January 2023

Warmer temperatures significantly influence crop yields, which are a critical determinant of food supply and human well-being. In this study, a probabilistic approach based on bivariate copula models was used to investigate the dependence (described by joint distribution) between crop yield and growing season temperature (TGS) in the major producing provinces of China for three staple crops (i.e., rice, wheat, and maize). Based on the outputs of 12 models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 5–8.5, the probability of yield reduction under 1.5 °C and 2 °C global warming was estimated, which has great implications for agricultural risk management. Results showed that yield response to TGS varied with crop and region, with the most vulnerable being rice in Sichuan, wheat in Sichuan and Gansu, and maize in Shandong, Liaoning, Jilin, Nei Mongol, Shanxi, and Hebei. Among the selected five copulas, Archimedean/elliptical copulas were more suitable to describe the joint distribution between TGS and yield in most rice-/maize-producing provinces. The probability of yield reduction was greater in vulnerable provinces than in non-vulnerable provinces, with maize facing a higher risk of warming-driven yield loss than rice and wheat. Compared to the 1.5 °C global warming, an additional 0.5 °C warming would increase the yield loss risk in vulnerable provinces by 2–17%, 1–16%, and 3–17% for rice, wheat, and maize, respectively. The copula-based model proved to be an effective tool to provide probabilistic estimates of yield reduction due to warming and can be applied to other crops and regions. The results of this study demonstrated the importance of keeping global warming within 1.5 °C to mitigate the yield loss risk and optimize agricultural decision-making in vulnerable regions.
Effects of Amylopectins from Five Different Sources on Disulfide Bond Formation in Alkali-Soluble Glutenin
Authors: Zhou Yu , Zhao Jinjin , Guo Junjie , Lian Xijun , Wang Huaiwen
Published: January 2023

Wheat, maize, cassava, mung bean and sweet potato starches have often been added to dough systems to improve their hardness. However, inconsistent effects of these starches on the dough quality have been reported, especially in refrigerated dough. The disulfide bond contents of alkali-soluble glutenin (ASG) have direct effects on the hardness of dough. In this paper, the disulfide bond contents of ASG were determined. ASG was mixed and retrograded with five kinds of amylopectins from the above-mentioned botanical sources, and a possible pathway of disulfide bond formation in ASGs by amylopectin addition was proposed through molecular weight, chain length distribution, FT-IR, 13C solid-state NMR and XRD analyses. The results showed that when wheat, maize, cassava, mung bean and sweet potato amylopectins were mixed with ASG, the disulfide bond contents of alkali-soluble glutenin increased from 0.04 to 0.31, 0.24, 0.08, 0.18 and 0.29 μmol/g, respectively. However, after cold storage, they changed to 0.55, 0.16, 0.26, 0.07 and 0.19 μmol/g, respectively. The addition of wheat amylopectin promoted the most significant disulfide bond formation of ASG. Hydroxyproline only existed in the wheat amylopectin, indicating that it had an important effect on the disulfide bond formation of ASG. Glutathione disulfides were present, as mung bean and sweet potato amylopectin were mixed with ASG, and they were reduced during cold storage. Positive/negative correlations between the peak intensity of the angles at 2θ = 20°/23° and the disulfide bond contents of ASG existed. The high content of hydroxyproline could be used as a marker for breeding high-quality wheat.
The Role of Propolis as a Natural Product with Potential Gastric Cancer Treatment Properties: A Systematic Review
Authors: Rivera-Yañez Nelly , Ruiz-Hurtado Porfirio Alonso , Rivera-Yañez Claudia Rebeca , Arciniega-Martínez Ivonne Maciel , Yepez-Ortega Mariazell , Mendoza-Arroyo Belén , Rebollar-Ruíz Xóchitl Abril , Méndez-Cruz Adolfo René , Reséndiz-Albor Aldo Arturo , Nieto-Yañez Oscar
Published: January 2023

Gastric cancer is one of the most common, aggressive, and invasive types of malignant neoplasia. It ranks fifth for incidence and fourth for prevalence worldwide. Products of natural origin, such as propolis, have been assessed for use as new complementary therapies to combat cancer. Propolis is a bee product with antiproliferative and anticancer properties. The concentrations and types of secondary metabolites contained in propolis mainly vary according to the geographical region, the season of the year, and the species of bees that make it. The present study is a systematic review of the main articles related to the effects of propolis against gastric cancer published between 2011 and 2021 in the PubMed and Science Direct databases. Of 1305 articles published, only eight studies were selected; among their principal characteristics was the use of in vitro analysis with cell lines from gastric adenocarcinoma and in vivo murine models of the application of propolis treatments. These studies suggest that propolis arrests the cell cycle and inhibits proliferation, prevents the release of oxidizing agents, and promotes apoptosis. In vivo assays showed that propolis decreased the number of tumors by regulating the cell cycle and the expression of proteins related to apoptosis.
Detoxification of Fumonisins by Three Novel Transaminases with Diverse Enzymatic Characteristics Coupled with Carboxylesterase
Authors: Wang Yue , Sun Junhao , Zhang Mengwei , Pan Kungang , Liu Tianhui , Zhang Tongcun , Luo Xuegang , Zhao Junqi , Li Zhongyuan
Published: January 2023

Fumonisin (FB) is one of the most common mycotoxins contaminating feed and food, causing severe public health threat to human and animals worldwide. Until now, only several transaminases were found to reduce FB toxicity, thus, more fumonisin detoxification transaminases with excellent catalytic properties required urgent exploration for complex application conditions. Herein, through gene mining and enzymatic characterization, three novel fumonisin detoxification transaminases—FumTSTA, FumUPTA, FumPHTA—were identified, sharing only 61–74% sequence identity with reported fumonisin detoxification transaminases. Moreover, the recombinant proteins shared diverse pH reaction ranges, good pH stability and thermostability, and the recombinant protein yields were also improved by condition optimum. Furthermore, the final products were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. This study provides ideal candidates for fumonisin detoxification and meets diverse required demands in food and feed industries.
Development and Verification of a Poultry Management Tool to Quantify Salmonella from Live to Final Product Utilizing RT-PCR
Authors: Applegate Savannah , Englishbey April , Stephens Tyler , Sanchez-Plata Marcos
Published: January 2023

The United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) does not maintain a zero-tolerance policy for Salmonella in poultry and poultry products, despite being a known food safety hazard throughout the poultry industry. In 2016, USDA FSIS established performance standards for a 52-week moving window with the maximum acceptable percent positive for comminuted turkey (325 g sample) at 13.5% (7 of 52 samples). Based upon FSIS verification sampling results from one 52-week moving window, the Salmonella prevalence for each poultry establishment in category 1 (below limit), 2 (meeting limit), or 3 (exceeding limit) are published for public viewing. Moreover, many poultry producers continue to have post-intervention samples test positive. Therefore, the use of quantification would be more valuable to determine the efficacy of process control interventions, corrective actions, and final product Log CFU/g of Salmonella to make rapid, within shift, food safety decisions. Therefore, the objectives of these studies are to develop, verify, and validate a rapid and reliable quantification method utilizing RT-PCR to enumerate Salmonella in the poultry industry from flock to final product and to utilize the method in an application study. BAX® System SalQuant® is an application of the BAX® System Real-Time PCR Assay for Salmonella to enumerate low levels of Salmonella with shortened enrichment times. Curve development encompassed inoculating poultry matrix samples at four levels with an ATCC strain of Salmonella, with three biological replicates per inoculation level, and five technical replicates being run on the BAX® System for various timepoints, gathering the data, and creating a linear-fit equation. A linear-fit equation was provided for each timepoint. The ideal timepoint, based on the statistical parameters surrounding the equation (R2 > 0.80, Log RMSE < 0.60, and enumerable range 0.00 to 4.00 Log CFU/mL (g)) that most accurately estimate Salmonella compared to most probable number (MPN), was chosen to be utilized for further studies.
Transformation of Seafood Side-Streams and Residuals into Valuable Products
Authors: Siddiqui Shahida Anusha , Schulte Henning , Pleissner Daniel , Schönfelder Stephanie , Kvangarsnes Kristine , Dauksas Egidijus , Rustad Turid , Cropotova Janna , Heinz Volker , Smetana Sergiy
Published: January 2023

Seafood processing creates enormous amounts of side-streams. This review deals with the use of seafood side-streams for transformation into valuable products and identifies suitable approaches for making use of it for different purposes. Starting at the stage of catching fish to its selling point, many of the fish parts, such as head, skin, tail, fillet cut-offs, and the viscera, are wasted. These parts are rich in proteins, enzymes, healthy fatty acids such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated ones, gelatin, and collagen. The valuable biochemical composition makes it worth discussing paths through which seafood side-streams can be turned into valuable products. Drawbacks, as well as challenges of different aquacultures, demonstrate the importance of using the various side-streams to produce valuable compounds to improve economic performance efficiency and sustainability of aquaculture. In this review, conventional and novel utilization approaches, as well as a combination of both, have been identified, which will lead to the development of sustainable production chains and the emergence of new bio-based products in the future.
Agaricus bisporus Polysaccharides Ameliorates Behavioural Deficits in D-Galactose-Induced Aging Mice: Mediated by Gut Microbiota
Authors: Duan Hui , Li Jinwei , Fan Liuping
Published: January 2023

White button mushroom polysaccharide (WMP) has various health-promoting functions. However, whether these functions are mediated by gut microbiota has not been well explored. Therefore, this study evaluated the anti-aging capacity of WMP and its effects on the diversity and composition of gut microbiota in D-galactose-induced aging mice. WMP significantly improved locomotor activity and the spatial and recognition memory of the aging mice. It also alleviated oxidative stress and decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the brain. Moreover, WMP increased α-diversity, the short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) level and the abundance of beneficial genera, such as Bacteroides and Parabacteroides. Moreover, its effect on Bacteroides at the species level was further determined, and the enrichments of B. acidifaciens, B. sartorii and B. stercorirosoris were found. A PICRUSt analysis revealed that WMP had a greater impact on the metabolism of carbon, fatty acid and amino acid, as well as the MAPK and PPAR signaling pathway. In addition, there was a strong correlation between the behavioral improvements and changes in SCFA levels and the abundance of Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, Mucispirillum and Desulfovibrio and Helicobacter. Therefore, WMP might be suitable as a functional foods to prevent or delay aging via the directed enrichment of specific species in Bacteroides.
Identification and Analysis of Metabolites That Contribute to the Formation of Distinctive Flavour Components of Laoxianghuang
Authors: Chen Xi , Lin Liangjing , Cai Huitian , Gao Xiangyang
Published: January 2023

In addition to volatile compounds, metabolites also have a great effect on the flavour of food. Fresh finger citron cannot be eaten directly because of its spicy and bitter taste, so it is made into a preserved fruit product known as Laoxianghuang (LXH). To investigate the metabolites that have an effect on the flavour of LXH, untargeted metabolomics was performed using an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and the metabolites of the Laoxianghuang samples from different locations in the Chaoshan area were compared and analysed. A total of 756 metabolites were identified and distinct differences were revealed among the different Laoxianghuang samples. A total of 33 differential metabolites with the most significant changes were screened through further multivariate analytical steps, and each group of samples had unique metabolites. For instance, pomolic acid had the highest content in the JG sample, while L-glycyl-L-isoleucine was rich in the QS sample. Moreover, flavonoid metabolites made the greatest contribution to the unique flavour of Laoxianghuang. The metabolic pathways involved are the biosynthetic pathways of flavonoids, isoflavonoids, flavones, and flavonols. This study can provide some creative information for distinguishing the quality differences of Laoxianghuang from the perspective of metabolites and offer preliminary theoretical support to characterise the formation of flavour substances in Laoxianghuang.
Multi-Wavelength and Multi-Messenger Studies Using the Next-Generation Event Horizon Telescope
Authors: Lico Rocco , Jorstad Svetlana G. , Marscher Alan P. , Gómez Jose L. , Liodakis Ioannis , Dahale Rohan , Alberdi Antxon , Gold Roman , Traianou Efthalia , Toscano Teresa , Foschi Marianna
Published: January 2023

The next-generation Event Horizon Telescope (ngEHT) will provide us with the best opportunity to investigate supermassive black holes (SMBHs) at the highest possible resolution and sensitivity. With respect to the existing Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) array, the ngEHT will provide increased sensitivity and uv-coverage (with the addition of new stations), wider frequency coverage (from 86 GHz to 345 GHz and higher), finer resolution (<15 micro-arcseconds), and better monitoring capabilities. The ngEHT will offer a unique opportunity to deeply investigate the physics around SMBHs, such as the disk-jet connection, the mechanisms responsible for high-energy photon and neutrino events, and the role of magnetic fields in shaping relativistic jets, as well as the nature of binary SMBH systems. In this white paper we describe some ngEHT science cases in the context of multi-wavelength studies and synergies.
Genetics and Genomics of Melanoma: Current Progress and Future Directions
Authors: Quek Camelia
Published: January 2023

Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that develops in the skin’s pigment cells, known as melanocytes, and can spread via blood and the lymphatic system to nearby tissues or distant organs in the body [...]