bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Toolkit for Effective and Successive Genome Engineering of Escherichia coli
Authors: Arab Bahareh , Westbrook Adam , Moo-Young Murray , Chou Chih-Hsiung Perry
Published: December 2022

The bacterium Escherichia coli has been well-justified as an effective workhorse for industrial applications. In this study, we developed a toolkit for flexible genome engineering of this microorganism, including site-specific insertion of heterologous genes and inactivation of endogenous genes, such that bacterial hosts can be effectively engineered for biomanufacturing. We first constructed a base strain by genomic implementation of the cas9 and λRed recombineering genes. Then, we constructed plasmids for expressing gRNA, DNA cargo, and the Vibrio cholerae Tn6677 transposon and type I-F CRISPR-Cas machinery. Genomic insertion of a DNA cargo up to 5.5 kb was conducted using a transposon-associated CRISPR-Cas system, whereas gene inactivation was mediated by a classic CRISPR-Cas9 system coupled with λRed recombineering. With this toolkit, we can exploit the synergistic functions of CRISPR-Cas, λRed recombineering, and Tn6677 transposon for successive genomic manipulations. As a demonstration, we used the developed toolkit to derive a plasmid-free strain for heterologous production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) by genomic knock-in and knockout of several key genes with high editing efficiencies.
Development of Cost-Effective, Ecofriendly Selenium Nanoparticle-Functionalized Cotton Fabric for Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity
Authors: Mirza Kainat , Naaz Farha , Ahmad Tokeer , Manzoor Nikhat , Sardar Meryam
Published: December 2022

In the present study, selenium nanoparticles were synthesized in situ on alkali-activated cotton fabric using guava leaf extract as a reducing agent. The synthesis was monitored by a change in color of fabric from white to light brick red. The UV-DRS analysis confirms the coating of Se NPs on cotton. The XRD, FT-IR, and SEM-EDX characterization techniques were used to analyze the nanoparticles on cotton fabric. The peak at 788 cm−1 in FT-IR confirms the formation of Se NPs on cotton fabric. The XRD analysis confirms that the average crystallite size of as-prepared nanoparticle is ~17 nm. SEM-EDX analysis shows the successful coating of Se NPs on coated fabric. ICP-OES studies confirm 3.65 mg/g of selenium nanoparticles were present on the fabric. The Se-coated-30 showed a larger zone of inhibition against Gram-positive S. aureus (32 mm) compared to Gram-negative strains of E. coli (16 mm) and K. pneumoniae (26 mm). The fabric was also tested against the fungi C. glabrata (45 mm), C. tropicalis (35 mm), and C. albicans (35 mm) and results indicate it is more effective against fungal compared to bacterial strains. The coated fabric inhibits biofilm formation of C. albicans (99%), S. aureus (78%), and E. coli (58%). The results demonstrated excellent antibacterial, antifungal, and antibiofilm activities of the Se-coated-30. The prepared fabric has the potential to be used in medicinal applications and is both ecofriendly and cost effective.
Biosurfactant Production from the Biodegradation of n-Paraffins, Isoprenoids and Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Crude Petroleum by Yarrowia lipolytica IMUFRJ 50682
Authors: Ferreira Tatiana Felix , Martins Fernanda Faria , Cayres Caroline Alves , Amaral Priscilla F. F. , Azevedo Débora de Almeida , Coelho Maria Alice Zarur
Published: December 2022

Yarrowia lipolytica is a unique, strictly aerobic yeast with the ability to degrade efficiently hydrophobic substrates. In the present work, we evaluated the degrading potential of Yarrowia lipolytica IMUFRJ 50682, isolated from tropical estuarine water in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), and the possible biomolecules produced during this process. To investigate which crude oil compounds are degraded by Y. lipolytica IMUFRJ 50682, this microorganism was grown in a medium containing Marlim petroleum (19 °API, American Petroleum Institute gravity) at 28 °C and 160 rpm for 5 days. The residual petroleum was submitted to gas chromatograph-mass spectrometric analysis (GC-MS). The chromatographic fingerprints of the residual petroleum were compared with the abiotic control test incubated in the same conditions. Y. lipolytica assimilates high molecular weight hydrocarbons, such as n-alkanes (C11-C19), isoprenoids (pristane and phytane), aromatics with two or three aromatics rings (naphthalene, methylnaphthalenes, dimethylnaphthalenes, trimethylnaphthalenes, phenanthrene, methylphenanthrenes, dimethylphenanthrenes, anthracene). This strain was also capable of consuming more complex hydrocarbons, such as tricyclic terpanes. During this biodegradation, the emulsification index of the culture medium increased significantly, showing that biosurfactant molecules can be produced from this process. Therefore, Y. lipolytica IMUFRJ 50682 showed to be a potential crude oil degrading yeast, which can be used for bioremediation processes and simultaneously produce bioproducts of commercial interest.
Effects of Fermentation on the Apparent Metabolizable Energy and Standardized Ileal Digestibility of Amino Acids in Soybean Meal Fed to Broiler Chickens
Authors: Li Yang , Li Shuzhen , Li Chong , Chang Wenhuan , Cai Huiyi , Liu Guohua
Published: December 2022

Two experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) in fermented soybean meal (FSBM) are greater than those in soybean meal (SBM). FSBM was produced by fermenting SBM with a mixture of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The fermentation process decreased trypsin inhibitor and crude fiber levels by 67.80% and 7.56%, while it increased the total amino acid content by 2.56%. In the first experiment, a substitution method was used to determine the AME and nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn) of SBM and FSBM. A corn-SBM basal diet and two test diets consisting of 70% of the basal diet plus 30% SBM or FSBM were formulated. The results show that fermentation did not have an effect on the AME and AMEn concentrations of SBM (p > 0.05); the respective AME and AMEn values were 10.29 and 10.62 MJ/kg (DM basis) and 9.09 and 9.23 MJ/kg for SBM and FSBM. In the second experiment, a nitrogen-free diet was formulated to measure the endogenous AA flow, and the other two semi-purified diets containing SBM or FSBM as the sole source of AA were formulated. The results show that the AID and SID of isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, valine, cysteine, tyrosine, and aspartic acid were greater in FSBM than in SBM (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the fermentation of SBM by a mixture of B. amyloliquefaciens, L. acidophilus, and S. cerevisiae can improve its nutritional values and is a promising protein resource for broiler production.
NewSQL Databases Assessment: CockroachDB, MariaDB Xpand, and VoltDB
Authors: Pina Eduardo , Sá Filipe , Bernardino Jorge
Published: December 2022

Background: Relational databases have been a prevalent technology for decades, using SQL (Structured Query Language) to manage data. However, the emergence of new technologies, such as the web and the cloud, has brought the requirement to handle more complex data. NewSQL is the latest technology that incorporates the ability to scale and ensures the availability of NoSQL (Not Only SQL) without losing the ACID properties (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) associated with relational databases. Methods: We evaluated CockroachDB, MariaDB Xpand, and VoltDB with OSSpal methodology and experimentally using the Star Schema Benchmark (SSB). The scalability and performance capabilities of each database were assessed. Results: Applying the OSSpal methodology, the results showed that MariaDB Xpand outperformed CockroachDB and VoltDB. On the other hand, we concluded that with Star Schema Benchmark, CockroachDB had better scalability, while VoltDB had a faster query execution time. Conclusions: CockroachDB and VoltDB are the best performing databases in terms of scalability and performance.
Characterization of the Gut Microbiota of Mackerel Icefish, Champsocephalus gunnari
Authors: Song Hokyung , Lee Seungyeon , Han Dong-Won , Kim Jin-Hyoung
Published: December 2022

The gut microbiome of Antarctic fish species has rarely been studied due to difficulties in obtaining samples. The mackerel icefish, Champsocephalus gunnari, primary feeds on krill and is one of the key species in the food web of the Southern Ocean. In this study, we characterized the gut microbiota of C. gunnari by sequencing the V3–V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene based on the Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform. We collected three types of samples: (1) whole intestine, (2) intestinal wall, and (3) intestinal content. The results showed no significant difference in the alpha diversity between different sample types. However, the microbial community composition of intestinal wall samples was distinct from other sample types. The relative abundance of Photobacterium was higher in intestinal content compared with the walls, which could be due to their chitinolytic activity. In contrast, potential pathogens such as Escherichia, Shigella, and Pseudomonas relatively more abundant in the intestinal wall compared with the intestinal contents. Unlike the gut microbiome of other marine fish species, Vibrio and Lactobacillus were nearly absent in the gut microbiome of C. gunnari. Functional gene profile of the gut microbiome predicted by PICRUSt2 showed higher relative abundance of genes related to biodegradation of nutrients in intestinal content. In contrast, the relative abundance of genes related to biosynthesis of important metabolites, such as menaquinols, was higher in intestinal wall. The difference in the microbial community structure of intestinal wall and intestinal content found in our study supports niche separation in the gut environment and emphasizes the importance of collecting intestinal wall samples in addition to intestinal content samples to understand the full picture of gut microbiome. This is the first time that the gut microbiome of mackerel icefish has been characterized using next-generation sequencing.
What Do We Need to Do? The Sustainable Development of Chinese Marine Fisheries: A Legal Perspective
Authors: Fu Ben-Chao , Liu Hao
Published: December 2022

Both the nation with rich marine fishery resources and the nation importing marine fishery resources are increasingly attending to the sustainable growth of marine biodiversity and the balanced governance of fisheries. Nevertheless, Chinese marine fisheries have achieved progressively sustainable development from a legal perspective. Initially, the present paper outlines the legal relationship between sustainable development theory and marine fisheries, discusses the current circumstances of Chinese marine fisheries, and reviews Chinese legal regimens governing marine fisheries. Given this context, the paper explores and analyzes the legal issues (legislation, law enforcement, and administrative management) concerning the sustainable development of Chinese marine fisheries. These significant matters are then discussed to advance a potential approach to enhancing the legal systems governing Chinese marine fisheries and ameliorating the sustainable development of such fisheries. The results will serve as a reference to help lawmakers, decision-makers, and practitioners.
Phenolic-Degrading Enzymes: Effect on Haze Active Phenols and Chill Haze in India Pale Ale Beer
Authors: Benucci Ilaria , Mazzocchi Caterina , Lombardelli Claudio , Esti Marco
Published: December 2022

The development of green and sustainable biotechnological approaches for preventing chill haze formation is currently under investigation. In this preliminary study, laccase and tannase (pure or combined) were applied as phenolic-degrading enzymes during two crucial brewing steps (i. post-mashing and ii. before the yeast inoculum). In post-mashing and irrespective of the dosage applied (100 μL/L or 1 mL/L), tannase-based treatment ensured the complete removal of haze active (HA) phenols, which was proved by the full prevention of chill haze (about 1 EBC vs. 22 EBC in the control sample). Before yeast inoculum for the alcoholic fermentation, the removal of haze active phenols and the prevention of chill haze were both tannase-dosage-dependent (15 and 2 EBC for the lowest and the highest dosages, respectively) although they failed to completely break down the HA phenols. This biotechnological approach did not significantly affect the chromatic properties of treated beer.
Chloroform Fraction of Prasiola japonica Ethanolic Extract Alleviates UPM 1648a-Induced Lung Injury by Suppressing NF-κB Signaling
Authors: Park Sang Hee , Kim Ji Hye , Song Minkyung , Lee Hwa Pyoung , Yoon Ji Hye , Kim Dong Seon , Jang Seok Gu , Kim Dong Sam , Cho Jae Youl
Published: December 2022

Prasiola japonica is an edible alga, and the ethanol extract of P. japonica (Pj-EE) possesses various biological activities. Interestingly, in a recent study, we observed the potent anti-inflammatory activity of the chloroform fraction of Pj-EE (Pj-EE-CF). Thus, to extend the application of Pj-EE-CF, we further studied its effects on lung injury. To establish an experimental model of lung injury, we nasally administered urban particulate matter UPM 1648a (50 mg/kg) to mice. In addition, BEAS-2B cells were treated with 300 μg/mL of UPM 1648a for in vitro analysis. Intranasal administration of UPM 1648a increased lung injury score, macrophage infiltration, and upregulation of the inflammatory enzyme inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lung tissues. On the other hand, oral administration of Pj-EE-CF (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) alleviated these pathological features as assessed by lung wet/dry ratio, lung injury score, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) protein amount in the lung tissues up to 70%, 95%, and 99%, respectively. In addition, Pj-EE-CF down-regulated the release of inflammatory cytokines, interleukins (ILs), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ elevated by UPM 1648a in the lung tissues and lung BALF up to 95%. According to Western blot and luciferase assay, Pj-EE-CF (100 mg/kg in vivo or 50 and 100 μg/mL in vitro) significantly reduced the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signal activated by UPM 1648a. Finally, UPM 1648a increased cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in BEAS-2B cells, while Pj-EE-CF reduced them. These results suggest that Pj-EE-CF alleviates UPM 1648a-induced lung damage via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and by suppressing NF-κB signaling. In conclusion, these observations imply that Pj-EE-CF could be a practical component of food supplements to mitigate air pollution-derived lung damage.
Effects of Storage and Roasting Condition on the Antioxidant Activity of Soybeans with Different Colors of Seed Coat
Authors: Koriyama Takako , Teranaka Kiriko , Tsuchida Mitose , Kasai Midori
Published: December 2022

The DPPH radical scavenging activity and ORAC value of soybeans (yellow soybean, blue soybean, and black soybean) were increased by roasting at above 190 °C. Concerning raw beans, black soybeans with the darkest seed coat color had the strongest antioxidant activity, indicating the effect of the coat pigment. However, the degree of increased antioxidant activity by roasting was almost similar regardless of seed coat color, suggesting that coat color is independent of the increased antioxidant activity. Concerning aged beans stored at 37 °C/75% RH for 60 days, the antioxidant activity increased in yellow soybean and decreased in blue and black soybean compared to before storage. Conversely, when roasted at 190 °C for 20 min, the DPPH values of all the aged beans were significantly increased. Other analyses of roasted beans with and without seed coat showed that changes in the components of cotyledons during storage may have contributed to the increased antioxidant activity of aged beans, regardless of seed coat color. These results revealed that roasting effectively improves the antioxidant activity of aged soybeans, regardless of seed coat color. We concluded that roasting is recommended for antioxidant properties, particularly regarding the effective use of aged beans.
Current Advantages in the Application of Microencapsulation in Functional Bread Development
Authors: Tolve Roberta , Bianchi Federico , Lomuscio Elisabetta , Sportiello Lucia , Simonato Barbara
Published: December 2022

Bread is one of the most widely embraced food products and is highly accepted by consumers. Despite being rich in complex carbohydrates (i.e., starch), bread is generally poor in other micro- and macronutrients. Rising consumer demand for healthier food has resulted in the growth of studies focused on bread fortification with bioactive ingredients (i.e., vitamins, prebiotics, and vegetable extracts). However, the baking process leads to the reduction (or even lessening) of the added substance. In addition, the direct inclusion of bioactive compounds and additives in bread has other limitations, such as adverse effects on sensory characteristics and undesirable interaction with other food ingredients. Encapsulation allows for overcoming these drawbacks and at the same time improves the overall quality and shelf-life of bread by controlling the release, protection, and uniform distribution of these compounds. In the last ten years, several studies have shown that including micro/nano-encapsulated bioactive substances instead of free compounds allows for the enrichment or fortification of bread, which can be achieved without negatively impacting its physicochemical and textural properties. This review aims to identify and highlight useful applications in the production of new functional bread through encapsulation technology, summarizing the heath benefit and the effect of microcapsule inclusion in dough and bread from a technological and sensory point of view.
Characterization of the Orange Juice Powder Co-Product for Its Valorization as a Food Ingredient
Authors: Martínez-Navarrete Nuria , García-Martínez Eva , Camacho María del Mar
Published: December 2022

The citrus juice industry produces a large amount of fiber-rich waste and other bioactive compounds of great interest for their potential health benefits. This study focuses on the valorization of the co-product resulting from the extraction of orange juice to offer it as a versatile, healthy, high-quality, and stable natural food ingredient in powder form. To this end, the vitamin C (VC) content (ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acid, AA and DHAA), major flavonoids (hesperidin and narirutin, HES and NAT), and techno-functional properties (angle of repose, AoR; hygroscopicity and wettability; density and porosity; mean particle size, MPS; water retention capacity, WRC; oil holding capacity, ORC; emulsifying and foaming capacity, EC and FC; and emulsion and foam stability, ES and FS) have been characterized. In addition, considering that dehydrated foods with high sugar content require the incorporation of high molecular weight biopolymers for their physical stabilization, the influence of starch modified with octenyl succinic acid (OSA) and gum Arabic (GA) on these properties has been studied. The results obtained confirm the high quality of this co-product to be offered as a powdered food ingredient with nutraceutical potential. The addition of the studied biopolymers is recommended as it does not modify the flowability of the powder and favors both the encapsulation of the bioactive compounds, especially in the presence of GA, and the rehydration capacity.
Micronization Effects on Structural, Functional, and Antioxidant Properties of Wheat Bran
Authors: Lai Sitong , Chen Zhenjia , Zhang Yanqing , Li Guang , Wang Yuanmeng , Cui Qingliang
Published: December 2022

To explore the effect of micronization on the structural, functional, and antioxidant properties of wheat bran, wheat bran with mean particle size (D50) of 46.08, 34.29, 26.51, 26.35, and 26.05 μm were prepared by using an ultrafine pulverizer under different rolling frequencies (0, 6, 9, 12, and 15 times). The main chemical components and structural, functional, and antioxidant properties of the wheat bran were compared and a correlation analysis was conducted. As the D50 of the wheat bran decreased from 46.08 μm to 26.05 μm, the micromorphology exhibited the destruction of the bundle structure, which is formed by starch and fiber, during which the starch particles peeled off, the fiber fragments destructed, and some of the slim fiber fragments attached to the surfaces of the starch granules. According to the X-ray diffraction pattern, part of the crystalline structure was transformed into an amorphous structure and the crystallization index decreased from 13.08% to 3.95%. According to the near-infrared spectrum, more active groups, such as the hydroxyl group, were exposed; however, no new groups were generated. These structural changes accordingly caused changes in the chemical components, functional properties, and antioxidant properties of the wheat bran. Specifically, the protein, total phenols, total flavonoids, and fatty acid content increased by 6.72%, 23.47%, 19.07%, and 172.88%, respectively. The lipase activity, antioxidant activity in vitro (DPPH• scavenging activity, ABTS+• scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power), and the water-holding, cholesterol-adsorption, sodium nitrite-adsorption, and cation-exchange capacities, were enhanced to some extent. The oil-holding capacity decreased from 3.01 g/g to 1.32 g/g. The swelling capacity decreased first and then increased and the swelling capacity of the wheat bran with a D50 of 34.29 μm was the lowest (3.62 mL/g). Therefore, the micronization could be used as a pretreatment method to improve the functional and antioxidant properties of wheat bran; however, the optimal particle size of wheat bran is based on the function of the product.
Cow’s Milk in Human Nutrition and the Emergence of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives
Authors: Antunes I. C. , Bexiga R. , Pinto C. , Roseiro L. C. , Quaresma M. A. G.
Published: December 2022

Cow’s milk is considered a complete food, providing high-quality protein and essential micronutrients, including vitamins and minerals. For medical reasons or as a lifestyle choice, consumers are replacing cow’s milk with plant-based milk alternatives (PBMA); some perceive them as healthier alternatives to cow’s milk due to their low saturated fatty acid content and no cholesterol content. However, the nutritional composition of PBMA is quite variable between different types and even within, which makes a comparison with cow’s milk a complex issue. Furthermore, the consumption of PBMA has been associated with the development of some diseases in infants and children. Meanwhile, the consumption of cow’s milk in human health is a controversial issue since it has been associated with a favorable effect in some diseases (such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s) and a negative effect in others (such as prostate cancer risk and Parkinson’s disease); while in some diseases, there is no consensus in the cow’s milk consumption effect. The aim of this review is to make a nutritional comparison of cow’s milk with PBMA and to clarify the potential health issues related to their consumption.
Recent Advances in Postharvest Irradiation Preservation Technology of Edible Fungi: A Review
Authors: Zhong Yuanyuan , Dong Shuting , Cui Yuan , Dong Xiaobo , Xu Huaide , Li Mei
Published: December 2022

Edible fungi have high edible, medicinal and economic value. Rapid development of the edible fungi industry can meet people’s consumption demands. However, due to lack of suitable preservation technology after harvest, edible fungi are susceptible to mechanical damage, microbial infection, and discoloration, which could affect the quality and shelf life of fresh edible fungi. Many techniques have been developed to extend the postharvest storage time of fresh edible fungi and irradiation technology has been proven to be one of the potential technologies. This review summarizes the internal and external factors affecting the postharvest quality deterioration of edible fungi, introduces the types of irradiation preservation technology and describes comprehensive advances in the effects of irradiation on shelf life, microbiology, organoleptic qualities, nutritional qualities (proteins, fats, sugars and vitamins) and enzymatic activities of edible fungi from different regions and of different species worldwide. This review uncovers that the postharvest quality decay of edible fungi is a complex process. The irradiation preservation of edible fungi is affected not only by the edible fungus itself and the storage environment but also by the radiation type, radiation dose and radiation source conditions. Future studies need to consider the combined application of irradiation and other novel technologies to further improve the preservation effect of edible fungi, in particular in the area of irradiation’s influence on the flavor of edible fungus.
Composition-Based Risk Estimation of Mycotoxins in Dry Dog Foods
Authors: Geicu Ovidiu Ionut , Bilteanu Liviu , Stanca Loredana , Ionescu Petcu Adriana , Iordache Florin , Pisoschi Aurelia Magdalena , Serban Andreea Iren
Published: December 2022

The risk of mycotoxins co-occurrence in extrusion-produced dry foods increases due to their composition based on various grains and vegetables. This study aimed to validate a risk estimation for the association between ingredients and the ELISA-detected levels of DON, FUM, ZEA, AFs, T2, and OTA in 34 dry dog food products. The main ingredients were corn, beet, and oil of different origins (of equal frequency, 79.41%), rice (67.6%), and wheat (50%). DON and FUM had the strongest positive correlation (0.635, p = 0.001). The presence of corn in the sample composition increased the median DON and ZEA levels, respectively, by 99.45 μg/kg and 65.64 μg/kg, p = 0.011. In addition to DON and ZEA levels, integral corn presence increased the FUM median levels by 886.61 μg/kg, p = 0.005. For corn gluten flour-containing samples, DON, FUM, and ZEA median differences still existed, and OTA levels also differed by 1.99 μg/kg, p < 0.001. Corn gluten flour presence was strongly associated with DON levels > 403.06 μg/kg (OR = 38.4, RR = 9.90, p = 0.002), FUM levels > 1097.56 μg/kg (OR = 5.56, RR = 1.45, p = 0.048), ZEA levels > 136.88 μg/kg (OR = 23.00, RR = 3.09, p = 0.002), and OTA levels > 3.93 μg/kg (OR = 24.00, RR = 3.09, p = 0.002). Our results suggest that some ingredients or combinations should be avoided due to their risk of increasing mycotoxin levels.
A Risk–Benefit Analysis of First Nation’s Traditional Smoked Fish Processing
Authors: Kitts David D. , Pratap-Singh Anubhav , Singh Anika , Chen Xiumin , Wang Siyun
Published: December 2022

First Nations (FN) communities have traditionally used smoke to preserve fish for food security purposes. In this study, an assessment of chemical and microbiological food safety, together with nutritional quality, was conducted on fish preserved using traditional smoke processing. High-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) residues accounted for only 0.6% of the total PAH in traditionally fully smoked salmon, and Benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) was not detected in the FN smoked or commercial smoked fish, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the solvent extracts derived from smoked fish towards Listeria innocua was very low but detectable. The practice of using full and half-smoked processing for fish reduced all of the fatty acid concentrations and also minimized the further loss of essential omega-3 fatty acids to a greater extent than non-smoked fish during storage (p < 0.05). This finding corresponded to lower (p < 0.05) lipid oxidation in smoked fish. We conclude that the benefits of reducing lipid oxidation and retaining essential fatty acids during storage, together with a potentially significant reduction in Listeria contamination, are notable benefits of traditional smoke processing. Although B(a)P was not detected in FN smoked fish, attention should be given to controlling the temperature and smoking period applied during this processing to minimize potential long-term risks associated with PAH exposure.
Climate Performance, Environmental Toxins and Nutrient Density of the Underutilized Norwegian Orange-Footed Sea Cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa)
Authors: Langdal Andreas , Eilertsen Karl-Erik , Kjellevold Marian , Heimstad Eldbjørg S. , Jensen Ida-Johanne , Elvevoll Edel O.
Published: December 2022

Low trophic species are often mentioned as additional food sources to achieve broader and more sustainable utilisation of the ocean. The aim of this study was to map the food potential of Norwegian orange-footed sea cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa). C. frondosa contained 7% protein, 1% lipids with a high proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and a variety of micronutrients. The nutrient density scores (NDS) of C. frondosa were above average compared towards daily recommended intakes (DRI) for men and women (age 31–60) but below when capped at 100% of DRI. The concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and trace elements were in general low, except for inorganic arsenic (iAs) (0.73 mg per kg) which exceeded the limits deemed safe by food authorities. However, the small number of samples analysed for iAs lowers the ability to draw a firm conclusion. The carbon footprint from a value chain with a dredge fishery, processing in Norway and retail in Asia was assessed to 8 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq.) per kg C. frondosa, the fishery causing 90%. Although, C. frondosa has some nutritional benefits, the carbon footprint or possible content of iAs may restrict the consumption.
Jabuticaba (Plinia sp.) Peel as a Source of Pectin: Characterization and Effect of Different Extraction Methods
Authors: Resende Laís M. , Franca Adriana S.
Published: December 2022

The peel of jabuticaba, a small fruit native to Brazil, has been shown to be a potential source of antioxidants and soluble dietary fibers. In this study, flours prepared from these peels were evaluated as a source of pectin. Different extraction methods were employed: ultrasound (US) extraction followed by low temperature heating (40 °C); in a microwave (MW) without (method 1) or with cellulase (method 2) or hemicellulase (method 3); or in a water bath (method 4). Pectin yields ranged from approximately 18% for methods 1 and 4 up to 22% for enzyme-assisted extractions (methods 2 and 3). Methods that did not employ enzymes resulted in low amounts of methoxyl pectins, as opposed to high amounts of methoxyl pectins obtained after enzyme treatment. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) and ellagic acid were the main phenolic compounds found in jabuticaba peel pectins, with higher C3G levels obtained with enzyme-free extraction (methods 1 and 4). All pectins from jabuticaba peel presented a reddish tone, good emulsifying properties and high swelling capacity. The pectin extracted using US+MW+cellulase (method 2) presented better emulsifying performance (higher values of emulsifying activity and emulsion stability), more effective than commercially available citrus pectin.
Effects of Intergenerational Care Behavior on Residents’ Nutrition Intake—Descriptive Statistical Analysis of Rural China Survey 2010–2014
Authors: Zhang Huaquan , Yang Fan , Ankrah Twumasi Martinson , Chandio Abbas Ali , Sargani Ghulam Raza
Published: December 2022

Nutritional status plays an indispensable role in enhancing human capital and preventing the return to poverty. In the context of the three-child policy and the aging society in China, intergenerational care will inevitably become a core component of family support. Thus, this paper evaluates the impacts of intergenerational care behavior on nutritional intake in Chinese rural residents from the perspective of household consumption. The study’s data is from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) (2010–2014), and, the fixed effect model and analyses are applied to achieve the study’s objective. The results reveal that rural residents with intergenerational family care behavior have significantly higher food diversity. Thus, Chinese rural residents with intergenerational care consumed 22.4% more food. A possible mechanism is that intergenerational care improves young mothers’ labor participation and income, thus optimizing their dietary structure. Moreover, there was heterogeneity concerning the nutrition intake among rural residents in different geographic and family net income groups. Finally, the robust check is consistent with the baseline regression results. In summary, governments should fully affirm the elderly contribution to families to give full play to the elderly family benefit maximization.
Combined Effects of BEIIb and SSIIa Alleles on Amylose Contents, Starch Fine Structures and Physicochemical Properties of Indica Rice
Authors: Hu Yaqi , Zhang Yanni , Yu Shouwu , Deng Guofu , Dai Gaoxing , Bao Jinsong
Published: December 2022

Starch branching enzyme IIb (BEIIb) and soluble starch synthase IIa (SSIIa) play important roles in starch biosynthesis in cereals. Deficiency in the BEIIb gene produces the amylose extender (ae) mutant rice strain with increased amylose content (AC) and changes in the amylopectin structure. The SSIIa gene is responsible for the genetic control of gelatinization temperature (GT). The combined effects of BEIIb and SSIIa alleles on the AC, fine structures, and physicochemical properties of starches from 12 rice accessions including 10 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) and their two parents were examined in this study. Under the active BEIIb background, starches with the SSIIa-GC allele showed a higher GT than those with the SSIIa-TT allele, resulting from a lower proportion of A chain and a larger proportion of B1 chains in the amylopectin of SSIIa-GC. However, starch with the BEIIb mutant allele (be2b) in combination with any SSIIa genotype displayed more amylose long chains, higher amylose content, B2 and B3 chains, and molecular order, but smaller relative crystallinity and proportion of amylopectin A and B1 chains than those with BEIIb, leading to a higher GT and lower paste viscosities. These results suggest that BEIIb is more important in determining the structural and physicochemical properties than SSIIa. These results provide additional insights into the structure-function relationship in indica rice rather than that in japonica rice and are useful for breeding rice with high amylose content and high resistant starch.
Variation of Major Chemical Composition in Seed-Propagated Population of Wild Cocoa Tea Plant Camellia ptilophylla Chang
Authors: Zheng Xin-Qiang , Dong Shu-Ling , Li Ze-Yu , Lu Jian-Liang , Ye Jian-Hui , Tao Shi-Ke , Hu Yan-Ping , Liang Yue-Rong
Published: December 2022

Excessive intake of high-caffeine tea will induce health-related risk. Therefore, breeding and cultivating tea cultivars with less caffeine is a feasible way to control daily caffeine intake. Cocoa tea (Camellia ptilophylla Chang) is a wild tea plant which grows leaves with little or no caffeine. However, the vegetative propagation of cocoa tea plants is difficult due to challenges with rooting. Whether natural seeds collected from wild cocoa tea plants can be used to produce less-caffeinated tea remains unknown, because research on the separation of traits among the seed progeny population is lacking. The present study was set to investigate the variation of caffeine and other chemical compositions in seed-propagated plant individuals using colorimetric and HPLC methods. It shows that there were great differences in chemical composition among the seed-propagated population of wild cocoa tea plants, among which some individuals possessed caffeine contents as high as those of normal cultivated tea cultivars (C. sinensis), suggesting that the naturally seed-propagated cocoa tea seedlings are not suitable for directly cultivating leaf materials to produce low-caffeine tea. Therefore, the cocoa tea plants used for harvesting seeds for growing low-caffeine tea plants should be isolated in order to prevent their hybridization with normal cultivated C. sinensis plants. Interestingly, the leaves of cocoa tea seedlings contained high levels of gallocatechin gallate (GCG) and would be a good source of leaf materials for extracting more stable antioxidant, because GCG is a more stable antioxidant than epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the dominant component of catechins in normal cultivated tea cultivars. Some plant individuals which contained low levels of caffeine along with high levels of amino acids and medium levels of catechins, are considered to be promising for further screening of less-caffeinated green tea cultivars.
Evolution of Free Amino Acids, Histamine and Volatile Compounds in the Italian Anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus L.) Sauce at Different Ripening Times
Authors: Corona Onofrio , Cinquanta Luciano , Li Citra Caterina , Mazza Francesca , Ferrantelli Vincenzo , Cammilleri Gaetano , Marconi Emanuele , Cuomo Francesca , Messia Maria Cristina
Published: December 2022

In this study, the evolution of the safety, nutritional, and volatile profile of a traditional Italian anchovy sauce with protected designation of origin (PDO), called “colatura di alici di Cetara”, is investigated after 12, 24, and 48 months of aging in wooden barrels. Some physicochemical parameters, free amino acids, volatile compounds, and histamine contents were evaluated during the aging of the samples. Glutamate, which together with aspartate is responsible for the umami taste, was the predominant free amino acid in the tested fish sauce, with a significant increase during the 48 months of maturation. The total amino acid content of the anchovy sauce increased from 24 to 48 months of aging. The histamine content decreased significantly from 12 to 48 months of ripening. This point is particularly interesting for the sauce safety and confirms the importance of the maturation time of at least 9 months reported in the disciplinary of production. A total of 44 volatile compounds were found in the anchovy sauce samples, of which the largest class was acids, mainly isovaleric acid. The results show that prolonged maturation improves the safety, nutritional, and volatile components of the seasoning “colatura di alici”.
Structural and Fractal Analysis of Soil Cracks Due to the Roots of Setaria Viridis
Authors: Tang Yuchen , Yang Binbin , Zhao Xiaoming , Yang Changde
Published: December 2022

Soil surfaces form complex crack networks as a result of water loss and shrinkage. A crack network destroys the integrity of the soil and becomes the main factor affecting rainfall infiltration, slope instability and soil integrity. In this paper, a soil fracture network is quantified using fractal characteristics and fractal dimensions, and the soil fracture network is identified and calculated using digital image processing technology. The fracture network of silty clay with different setaria viridis root content is studied during the process of evaporation. Saturated mud is prepared by taking soil samples and collecting setaria viridis roots. The content of setaria viridis roots in each saturated mud sample is 0 g, 0.1 g, 0.2 g and 0.3 g. In the artificial climate environment simulation system, thin-layer root soil is dried by controlling the temperature and humidity to simulate dry climate conditions. During the test, the crack development process is recorded using a digital camera. The results show that when the root content is 0, 0.1 g, 0.2 g and 0.3 g, the water content values when a fissure is generated are 35.2%, 41.2%, 42% and 46.4%, and the initial fractal dimension values are 1.100, 1.106, 1.112 and 1.115, respectively. The fractal dimension value increases rapidly in the early stage of fissure generation, and it reaches the maximum value when the water content reaches 13.66%, 15.2%, 15.66% and 17.98%, respectively. According to the change law of the fractal dimension, the fractal dimension increases rapidly following the initial appearance of the fracture, and, with a continuous reduction in water content in the later stage, the fracture characteristics gradually stabilize, and the change rate of the fractal dimension becomes slow.
Evaluation of a Candidate Site in the Tibetan Plateau towards the Next Generation Event Horizon Telescope
Authors: Yu Wei , Lu Ru-Sen , Shen Zhi-Qiang , Weintroub Jonathan
Published: December 2022

In order to enhance the imaging capabilities of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) and capture the first black hole movies, the next-generation EHT (ngEHT) team is building new stations. Most stations of the EHT and ngEHT project are located in the Western Hemisphere, leaving a large vacancy in the Eastern Hemisphere. Located in the center of the Eastern Hemisphere, the Tibetan Plateau is believed to have excellent sites for (sub)millimeter astronomical radio observations. Building a telescope here could help to fill this vacancy. In this study, we evaluated the meteorological conditions of a candidate site (Shigatse, hereafter SG) with good astronomical infrastructure for this telescope. The evaluation results show that the precipitable water vapor (PWV) values of the SG site are lower than 4 mm during winter and spring, comparable to those of some existing EHT stations, and the zenith transmittances at 230 GHz and 345 GHz during March and April are excellent. We simulated VLBI observations of Sgr A* and M87 based on the conditions of the SG site and those of other existing/planned (sub)millimeter telescopes with mutual visibility at 230 GHz. The results demonstrated that images of Sgr A* and M87 could be well reconstructed, indicating that the SG site is a good candidate for future EHT/ngEHT observations.
Development of Functional Hybrid Polymers and Gel Materials for Sustainable Membrane-Based Water Treatment Technology: How to Combine Greener and Cleaner Approaches
Authors: Rando Giulia , Sfameni Silvia , Plutino Maria Rosaria
Published: December 2022

Water quality and disposability are among the main challenges that governments and societies will outside during the next years due to their close relationship to population growth and urbanization and their direct influence on the environment and socio-economic development. Potable water suitable for human consumption is a key resource that, unfortunately, is strongly limited by anthropogenic pollution and climate change. In this regard, new groups of compounds, referred to as emerging contaminants, represent a risk to human health and living species; they have already been identified in water bodies as a result of increased industrialization. Pesticides, cosmetics, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, organic dyes, and other man-made chemicals indispensable for modern society are among the emerging pollutants of difficult remediation by traditional methods of wastewater treatment. However, the majority of the currently used waste management and remediation techniques require significant amounts of energy and chemicals, which can themselves be sources of secondary pollution. Therefore, this review reported newly advanced, efficient, and sustainable techniques and approaches for water purification. In particular, new advancements in sustainable membrane-based filtration technologies are discussed, together with their modification through a rational safe-by-design to modulate their hydrophilicity, porosity, surface characteristics, and adsorption performances. Thus, their preparation by the use of biopolymer-based gels is described, as well as their blending with functional cross-linkers or nanofillers or by advanced and innovative approaches, such as electrospinning.
Functional Aerogels Composed of Regenerated Cellulose and Tungsten Oxide for UV Detection and Seawater Desalination
Authors: Tang Yanjin , Lai Yuhan , Gao Ruiqin , Chen Yuxuan , Xiong Kexin , Ye Juan , Zheng Qi , Fang Zhenxing , Pang Guangsheng , Lee Hoo-Jeong
Published: December 2022

Functional aerogels composed of regenerated cellulose and tungsten oxide were fabricated by implanting tungsten-oxide nanodots into regenerated cellulose fiber. This superfast photochromic property benefitted from the small size and even distribution of tungsten oxide, which was caused by the confinement effect of the regenerated cellulose fiber. The composite was characterized using XRD and TEM to illustrate the successful loading of tungsten oxide. The composite turned from pale white to bright blue under ambient solar irradiation in five seconds. The evidence of solar absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) demonstrated the fast photochromic nature of the composite and its mechanism. Furthermore, carbon fiber filled with preferential growth tungsten-oxide nanorods was obtained by annealing the photochromic composite in a N2 atmosphere. This annealed product exhibited good absorption across the whole solar spectrum and revealed an excellent photothermal conversion performance. The water evaporation rate reached 1.75 kg m−2 h−1 under one sun illumination, which is 4.4 times higher than that of pure water. The photothermal conversion efficiency was 85%, which shows its potential application prospects in seawater desalination.
Physicochemical Properties and Cookie-Making Performance as Fat Replacer of Wax-Based Rice Bran Oil Oleogels
Authors: Pang Min , Kang Shengmei , Liu Lin , Ma Tengfei , Zheng Zhi , Cao Lili
Published: December 2022

Reducing the intake of trans and saturated fatty acids is a trend in healthy eating. In this study, the oleogels were prepared from rice bran oil (RBO), candle wax (CDW), beeswax (BW), rice bran wax (RBW), and carnauba wax (CRW), respectively, and the results based on their physicochemical properties and crystal structures at critical concentrations, 6 wt.%, 8 wt.%, and 10 wt.%, were determined to further investigate the oleogels as a shortening substitute in cookie recipes. Oleogel has a smooth, spreadable β′ crystal shape which creates excellent sensory properties and improves the texture, but also has some economic benefits. A comparison between the oleogels formed at critical concentrations and those with improved mass fractions was performed in several analyses such as PLM and texture, and the oleogels with higher mass fractions had a greater hardness and stickiness and denser crystal structures. This study was used to optimize the cookie recipe by partially replacing shortening with oleogel and preparing the cookies according to the 0:1, 3:7, 1:1, 7:3, 1:0 oleogel shortening mixture, respectively. Based on the results of the textural analysis, a colorimetric and sensory evaluation of the optimized formulation of oleogels in cookies, it was evident that BW and RBW oleogels have more potential to replace shortening in cookies than CDW and CRW oleogels. In particular, oleogels with a concentration of 6 wt.% RBW (RBW-6) and at a 7:3 (oleogel:shortening) shortening replacement exhibited a hardness and crispness of 15.75 N and 97.73 g, respectively, with an L* value of 66.66 and a sensory score of 22.32 ± 0.09. The value for the color perception difference (dE) between the cookies and the control group was −3.73, which allowed us to obtain a good product with a quality and characteristics similar to shortening. This supports the feasibility of new solid fats to replace traditional plastic fats in baked goods.