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Mercury ions (Hg 2+ ) are highly toxic heavy metals that are commonly found in natural environments. Owning to their non-biodegradability and accumulation in the food chain, the precise detection of trace amounts of Hg 2+ is essential for preventing chronic accumulation and ensuring food safety. In this study, we present a dual-mode paper sensor for simultaneous colorimetric and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) detection of Hg 2+ in tea, achieving ultrasensitive, rapid, and on-site screening. 4-Mercaptopyridine (4-MPY) was effectively chemisorbed onto the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), acting as a signal probe for colorimetric methods. Moreover, it can produce plasmonic hot spots for SERS by interacting with the pyridine ring. To enhance the signal intensity of both colorimetry and SERS, a silver shell is in-situ grown on the surface of AuNPs captured on the paper sensor by reduction of Ag + , achieving signal amplification. The visual limit of detection (LOD) for the colorimetric biosensor is 2.5 pM, while the LOD of SERS is 0.48 pM with this dual-mode paper sensor. The sensitivity of both the colorimetric method and SERS was improved by approximately 200 and 500 times, respectively, with the designed signal amplification strategy. The system allows for multiple parallel screening of the same sample, ensuring accurate results without any false-positive or false-negative. This study provides a valuable platform for the accurate detection of various other heavy metal ions and provides effective strategies for improving the performance of colorimetric methods., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Developing a non-toxic, cost-effective, and user-friendly indicator for detecting milk freshness and spoilage, with potential applications in smart packaging, presents a significant challenge. In this study, we extracted natural anthocyanins (ACNs) from Jaman (Syzgium cumini) and incorporated it in to filter paper. The presence of ACNs in the extract was confirmed through UPLC-MS/MS analysis. To enhance stability and prevent leaching, the ACNs-loaded filter paper was coated with 1 % chitosan (CH). The sensor strips were thoroughly characterized using FTIR, contact angle measurements, XRD, and FE-SEM. These strips displayed a distinct and quantifiable color change from red to colorless to yellow across different pH levels. Additionally, in real-time milk spoilage detection, the sensor transitioned from light purple to colorless. The strips demonstrated reproducibility and stability, even under high temperatures and extreme pH conditions. These findings suggest that the ACNs-loaded sensor strips hold promise for use as smart packaging materials., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The accurate monitoring of sulfide ion concentrations is vital for ensuring food safety, but current detection methods are often cumbersome and confined to laboratories. This study introduces an innovative paper-based colorimetric sensor that leverages the peroxidase-like activity of cobalt tetrasulfonate phthalocyanine (CoTsPc) for rapid, sensitive, and selective sulfide ion quantification. The underlying mechanism relies on the interaction between cobalt and sulfide ions, modulating the catalytic efficiency of CoTsPc and triggering a visible color change when 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and hydrogen peroxide are present. By controlling solvent evaporation, the reaction kinetics are standardized, enabling reproducible and accurate colorimetric measurements. Experimental results show that adding sulfide ions to the TMB-H₂O₂ reaction system causes a gradual decrease in color intensity on the paper substrate. This change verifies effectiveness of the sensor, highlighting its potential for reliable sulfide ion detection in food safety applications, while providing a simple and portable alternative to conventional methods., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Given the significant and potential fatal implications of glyphosate (GLY) residues on human health and the integrity of ecosystems, their presence has garnered substantial global concern and scrutiny. Herein, we introduced a pioneering colorimetric sensing platform, the first of its kind, based on ternary metal-organic frameworks (ZnCo-ZIFs@MIL-101(Fe)). This innovative platform enabled ultra-sensitive, affordable, portable and rapid on-site detection of GLY. This platform achieved a wider linear range for GLY of 0.02-40 μg/mL with an exhibiting remarkable detection limit of 1 ng/mL, which was attributed to the electronic hybridization of the Fe 3+ , Co 2+ , and Zn 2+ metal centers of ZnCo-ZIFs@MIL-101(Fe), significantly enhancing the composite's catalytic performance. The assay was successfully employed to detect GLY in food and herb samples. Moreover, to meet the demand of in-field detection for GLY, a smartphone detection method based on ZnCo-ZIFs@MIL-101(Fe) with visual, intelligent, and portable features was fabricated. This detection concentration range of GLY was 0-1 μg/mL, and the limit of smartphone detection was 23 ng/mL. Furthermore, this sensor seamlessly integrated with smartphones and paper-based microfluidic chips (μPADs), which constructed a portable test strips-smartphone sensing platform for facilitating real-time and on-site visual quantitative detection of GLY. The detection concentration range was 0-1 μg/mL, and the limit was calculated as low as 75 ng/mL. The assay was highly adaptable in practical applications. In summary, our study paved a novel pathway for the design and utilization of multi-metal MOF nanozymes in on-site pesticide monitoring., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The increasing prevalence of arsenic (As 3+ ) in water and its health impacts necessitate advanced detection methods. Similarly, monitoring L-Cysteine, a vital thiol-containing amino acid, is crucial for assessing physiological processes and disorders. This study presents a novel method for detecting As 3+ and L-Cysteine in food samples using 4-amino-3-(D-galactopentitol-1-yl)-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole (AMTPP) functionalized silver nanoparticles (AMTPP-AgNPs) by UV/Vis spectrophotometric method and smartphone-assisted inkjet-printed paper-based sensors. AMTPP-AgNPs, synthesized through a detailed process, show exceptional selectivity and sensitivity to As 3+ and L-Cysteine, undisturbed by other metal ions and amino acids. Characterization techniques like FTIR, DLS, Zeta Potential, AFM, and SEM detailed their morphological and interaction properties. Optimizing detection parameters, such as response time, pH, and temperature, improved sensitivity and achieved low detection limits. The limits of detection (LODs) were 0.0052 μM for L-cysteine and 0.0092 μM for As 3+ , as calculated using UV-Vis spectrophotometric methods. The method also demonstrated high recovery rates in spiked meat and corn samples. This research offers a cost-effective, rapid method for on-site food analysis, significantly aiding environmental and public health monitoring., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The nanozyme-based colorimetric sensor shows promise for rapid pesticide detection but struggles with non-specific enzyme inhibition. This study developed a portable paper-based sensor for detecting the propiconazole (PC) pesticide using Fe@PCN-224 nanocubes (NCs). Characterization confirmed the successful synthesis of Fe@PCN-224 NCs, which displayed peroxidase-like activity. The specific interaction between PC's triazole ring and the Fe active site inhibited their activity, enabling selective detection with a limit of 8 × 10 -9  mol L -1 and a linear range of 0.03 × 10 -6 to 0.90 × 10 -6  mol L -1 . Kinetic studies revealed a Michaelis-Menten constants (K m ) of 0.68 × 10 -3  mol L -1 for TMB, indicating higher affinity in Fe@PCN-224 NCs. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis revealed the production of •OH, 1 O 2 , O 2 • - during the catalytic reactions. By integrating smartphone technology, this portable sensor achieved recoveries from vegetable samples between 94.6 % and 109.2 %, demonstrating its potential as an accurate, cost-effective analytical tool for food safety and advancing nanozyme applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

A novel approach combing a fluorescent microfluidic paper strip with a portable smartphone-based sensing platform is developed for rapid and sensitive detection of omethoate pesticide. The detection mechanism of the microfluidic paper strip is based on the fluorescence quenching of graphene oxide (GO) toward the cyanine 3 (Cy3)-labeled aptamer (Cy3-APT). Upon exposure to omethoate, the Cy3-APT detaches from the surface of GO, resulting in considerable fluorescence recovery, which can be visualized through the smartphone-based sensing platform. The images are analyzed through a self-developed app embedded with a pretrained convolutional neural network model, achieving a high regression coefficient of 0.9964 at an omethoate concentration range of 0-750 nM. The smartphone-based platform enables rapid on-site detection of omethoate pesticide in real samples within 10 min, with results comparable to those obtained using standard methods. In short, the proposed microfluidic paper-based fluorescent sensor combined with the smartphone-based sensing platform enhances the detection performance toward organophosphorus pesticides., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this study was to develop and validate a novel microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD pH ) for determining the pH levels in foods. Anthocyanins from red cabbage aqueous extract (RCAE) were used as its analytical sensor. Whatman No. 1 filter paper was the most suitable for the device due to its porosity and fiber organization, which allows for maximum color intensity and minimal color heterogeneity of the RCAE in the detection zone of the μPAD pH . To ensure the color stability of the RCAE for commercial use of the μPAD pH , gum arabic was added. The geometric design of the μPAD pH , including the channel length and separation zone diameter, was systematically optimized using colored food. The validation showed that the μPAD pH did not differ from the pH meter when analyzing natural foods. However, certain additives in processed foods were found to increase the pH values., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Carbaryl is a broad-spectrum carbamate fungicide that may pose a threat to ecosystems and human health. To prevent and control the harm caused by excessive application of carbaryl, a full-dimensional divergence effect SERS sensor has been constructed. Biodegradable paper chips were used as sensor substrates. ZIF-8 with structural flexibility was grown in situ on carbon paper. A rough silver layer with surface like metal etching was clad outside the ZIF-8. Artificial antibody (AAB) with accurate grasping ability was polymerized on the surface of ZIF-8@Ag paper substrate. Au@Ag CSNPs were decorated on the AAB to provide abundant "hot spots". Every functional material layer works together to form a gap and tip region with superior plasmon resonance. The proposed SERS sensor realizes the rapid and accurate on-site screening and localization of carbaryl in food with good correlation responded in the range of 0.01-20 μg·mL -1 and a low detection limit of 5.72 × 10 -‍3 ‌ μg·mL -1 ., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Lateral flow assays (LFAs) have found extensive applications in food safety and quality monitoring. Now, smartphone technology is redefining how tests are conducted at the point of use. At the same time, quick response (QR) codes enhance digital connectivity for information transmission, data collection, and response linkage. Here, we present a versatile QR code conversion strategy for LFAs that streamlines detection and response workflows, ensuring high user-friendliness and minimal operational requirements for on-site food safety detection. It combines visual cues from test and control zones with QR code generation into a multifunctional smartphone-based scanning and detection system. The proposed QR-coded LFA utilizes low-cost filter paper instead of nitrocellulose membrane and exhibits its applicability and flexibility in sandwich/competitive/multiplexed formats and various scenarios. As a demonstration, the QR-coded LFA, coupled with a companion mobile application, was applied to simultaneously determine tetracycline in food samples and perform the QR code functions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The susceptibility of walnut lipids to deterioration constitutes challenges for industry development, and the oxylipins formed during this process remain to be explored. This study employed lipidomics to reveal the dynamic evolution of lipid characteristics and identify oxidation markers from oxylipins in walnuts during accelerated storage. Glycerophospholipid (GP) content continuously declined in the initial and severe deterioration stages. The accumulation of diglycerides and partial lysophospholipids characterized initial deterioration. Triglycerides were prone to direct oxidation, while GPs tended to be first hydrolyzed. GP metabolism especially phosphatidylethanolamine degradation triggered walnut deterioration. Moreover, ten oxylipins derived from linoleic acids were identified in walnuts. Trans-EKODE-(E)-Ib, 13-HODE, 9-HODE, and 9(S),12(S),13(S)-TriHOME were screened as oxidation markers. The cellular structure exhibited the cell membrane and oil body membrane rupture during deterioration. Potential mechanisms of lipid deterioration were proposed, providing a scientific basis and guidance in optimizing quality control strategies and assessing practical deterioration degrees of walnuts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No competing financial interests or personal relationships have been disclosed by the authors that could have impacted the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Highly sensitive monitoring of pesticides has garnered attention for food safety. Here, a ratiometric fluorescent probe (AG-CDs-Al 3+ /CdTe QDs) was fabricated for specific and sensitive sensing of glyphosate. Surface modifications revealed the chelation-enhanced fluorescence process between the surface -OH of AG-CDs and Al 3+ . Positively charged green-emission AG-CDs-Al 3+ assembled with negatively charged red-emission CdTe QDs, and photoinduced electron transfer (PET) occurred from CdTe QDs to AG CDs-Al 3+ . Glyphosate specifically coordinated with Al 3+ , causing remarkable variations in F 500 /F 630 (linear range, 0.2-4.0 μM; detection limit, 5.7 nM) and a distinguishable green-yellow-red color change on the paper platform (linear range, 0.5-8.0 μM; detection limit, 26 nM). Furthermore, for real sample analysis, the sensor has the advantages of fast response (5 min), excellent accuracy (spiked recoveries, 95.0-105.0 %), high precision (relative standard deviation, < 3.33 %), and superior specificity, which endowed the designed sensing platform with great potential practicality in the field of food analysis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A novel fluorescent probe was fabricated using fluorescein-based ionic liquids (ILs) to effectively achieve rapid and accurate detection of Hg 2+ and CH 3 Hg + in food. A probe developed by addition of modified fluorescein into the functionalised ILs presented a promising sensitivity toward Hg 2+ and CH 3 Hg + at concentrations of 0.4 and 60 nM, respectively. In addition, the novel probe could achieve visual and timely detection of Hg 2+ and CH 3 Hg + by the naked eyes at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 μM, respectively. The probe could also overcome the interference of potential ions and common organic ligands and detect Hg 2+ and CH 3 Hg + in real food samples, such as green tea and liquor. The probe could be converted into a paper-based sensor to visually detect Hg 2+ and CH 3 Hg + at levels as low as 10 nM., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Compared to lard-based shortenings, diacylglycerol (DAG)-based shortenings have demonstrated beneficial effects, such as lowering blood lipids, and reducing postprandial blood glucose levels. In this study, different chain-length DAG oils were blended with lower melting point peanut oil DAG oil (PO-DAG-oil). The blend ratios for the three types of DAG-based shortenings were determined based on the solid fat content (SFC) of lard. Subsequently, 1 % of various emulsifiers were added, and the crystallization properties, rheological and textural characteristics, polymorphism, microstructure, water-absorbing capacity, and plasticity of the four shortening systems were examined. The emulsifiers found to be suitable for lard shortening, long chain fatty acid DAG (LCD-shortening), medium chain fatty acid DAG (MCD-shortening), and medium and long chain fatty acid DAG (MLCD-shortening) were Span60, PGFE, PGFE, and MAG, respectively. Cakes baked using DAG-based shortenings exhibited superior textural properties compared to those made with lard-based shortenings, supporting the application of high-melting-point DAG oils in shortening formulations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study was conducted primarily to develop an environment-friendly food packaging boasting several advantages, including good water vapor barrier, UV resistance, antimicrobial activity, non-leachability, and polymer miscibility. Initially, the starch-based antimicrobial agent (OCSI) was synthesized through a simple esterification reaction between oxidized corn starch (OCS) and indoleacetic acid (IAA). Subsequently, OCSI was further blended separately with environmentally-friendly materials (PVA, PBAT, PCL), and a series of environment-friendly packaging films were successfully prepared. The resulting films exhibited desirable thermal stability and 100 % barrier against both UV-A and UV-B rays. Moreover, the films presented effective barriers against water vapor, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. Meanwhile, the films could significantly inhibit the deterioration of fresh fruits and prolong shelf life, considerably expanding their utilization in safe packaging. The environment-friendly packaging not only realized the sustainable utilization of green polymers, but also offered novel insights into the exploration of sustainable packaging., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Accurate on-site analysis of food quality is of great significance for ensuring public health. Among them, ascorbic acid (AA) is an essential micronutrient widely used as an additive in juices and drugs to improve food quality and human health. In this work, we developed food-grade Fe-β-Cyclodextrin(Fe-β-CD) nanozymes based on inexpensive and readily available β-cyclodextrin and iron ions for the detection of AA. Fe-β-CD confirmed excellent peroxidase-like activity and oxidized colorless 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to oxide TMB. AA could inhibit the oxidation reaction and cause blue to fade. Based on the above principles, Fe-β-CD nanozymes exhibited a low detection limit (3.4 μM) for detecting AA, with a wide linear range (10-300 μM). This method had been successfully used for the detection of AA in fruits and vitamin C tablets, and the results were consistent with the specified values. More importantly, an integrated smartphone-assisted Fe-β-CD@test strip colorimetric application platform constructed by one-pot method, the test strip also had better stability, and could be combined with smartphones to achieve convenient AA detection without using any instruments, which showed enormous potential for rapid and low-cost colorimetric detection of AA., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The impact of native grape microbiota on wine identity is not completely elucidated. In this work, we explored this issue using microbial communities prepared from V. vinifera (Malbec) and V. labrusca (Isabella) grapes as starters for the fermentation of Malbec grape juice. Analyses of early-stage reconstituted homologous and heterologous fermentations revealed that each Vitis-specific microbial starter influenced the volatile profiles of the resulting fermented grape juice. Changes in the relative abundance of the three main non-Saccharomyces yeast species identified (Hanseniaspora uvarum, Hanseniaspora opuntiae, and Starmerella bacillaris) were observed throughout these fermentations, which could explain the differences in their volatile profiles. Growth parameters determined for yeast isolates from these species, obtained from the Isabella and Malbec microbiotas, showed no growth differences in either Malbec or Isabella grape juices. Our findings support the notion that Vitis-specific microbial communities play a critical role in shaping the identity of grape juice fermentations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Dinotefuran (DNF) residue in foods is harmful to human health, hence, it is significant to detect it. Herein, a composite of β-‍‍cyclodextrin/activated mung bean-derived carbon (β-CD/AMBC-3) was prepared and used to modify GCE. Then a DNF imprinted copolymer (MIP) film of thionine and catechol was electrodeposited. The AMBC-‍3 had plentiful pores, excellent conductivity, and high catalytic activity, beneficial for β-CD immobilization and signal amplification; the MIP and β-CD could cooperate to improve recognition capability. In addition, the poly(thionine) could act as an internal-reference probe for ratiometric detection, calibrating the effects of condition fluctuation during detection. Thus, the resulted sensor displayed high reproducibility, selectivity, and sensitivity. It showed linear response to DNF over the range of 0.05 ‍μM-10 μM, with a detection limit of 0.016 ‍μM (S/N = 3) and sensitivity of 550.6 μA mM -1  cm -2 . Its practicability was validated by determining DNF in real samples, with recoveries of 92.0 %-102 %., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, muskmelon plant and fruit were sequentially sprayed with 8 mM phenylalanine (Phe) four times during fruit development. The effect of preharvest Phe spraying on chilling injury (CI) of harvested muskmelons was assessed and the mechanism involved was investigated. We found that Phe spray activated NADPH oxidase (NOX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR), and increased glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (AsA) levels during fruit chilling. The spray increased endogenous Phe, total phenolic and flavonoid content, and DPPH and ABTS + scavenging capacity. In addition, the spray decreased O 2 .- production rate, H 2 O 2 levels, cell membrane permeability and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and significantly reduced CI index in fruit, which was 16.5 %, 16.6 %, 13.5 %, 20.2 % and 26.5 % lower than the control after 28 d, respectively. In conclusion, Phe spraying alleviates CI in harvested muskmelons by maintaining ROS homeostasis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH), including saturated (MOSH) and aromatic (MOAH) hydrocarbons, are contaminants of petrogenic origin. On-line high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) - gas chromatography (GC) - flame ionization detector (FID) was used for determining MOH in olive oils (OOs) and olive pomace oils (OPOs) at different stages of the refining process and in samples from the Italian market. Deodorization reduced contamination by about 30 %, resulting in a significant reduction of endogenous n-alkanes generally up to n-C 31 . Comprehensive GC coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometry (MS) allowed investigating the effect of bleaching on a sample of OPO naturally contaminated with alkylated PAHs, demonstrating the removal capacity of this refining step on potentially carcinogenic genotoxic compounds derived from MOH contamination. OOs from the market contained on average 33.1 mg/kg of MOSH n-C 10 - 50 and 3.3 mg/kg of MOAH, while OPOs contained on average 160.7 and 36.1 mg/kg of MOSH and MOAH, respectively., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The unstable structure of Pickering emulsion caused the fast release of active substance from active packaging and failure food preservation. Herein, a novel in-situ condensation strategy was proposed to construct sustained released chitosan (CS)-based active packaging film, in which the soybean separation protein (SPI)-carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) emulsion (SCCE) containing tea tree essential oil (TTO) was physically incorporated into CS matrix. Originating from the strong electrostatic interaction of negatively charged SPI-CMC emulsion and positively charged CS matrix, a robust shell was in-situ formed on the outermost layer and served as armor to boost the structural stability of emulsion. The optimized SCCE 3 has a homogeneous texture even after long-term storage (14 day) and under extreme conditions (high and low temperature, strong acid and alkali environment). The lifespan of packaged pork can be effectively extended at least 6 days. Our findings provided a new perspective for structurally robust and sustained-release food packaging films., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Soybean crude oils (SCO) were detected by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high-definition mass spectrometry (UPLC-HDMS) for discovering novel compounds. Numerous chromatographic peaks in ESI + and ESI - modes showed that SCO was rich in numerous compounds. A total of 215 potential compounds with accurate mass-to-charge ratio, MSMS spectrum and CCS value were detected in SCOs. Among them, 105 compounds (47 known and 58 novel compounds) were identified and other 110 compounds weren't identified. Compared to peanut, sesame and olive oils, 65 compounds (genistein, foeniculoside X, 5,7-Dimethoxyflavone) were only detected in SCO; the types of fatty acids (32) and flavonoids (8) were higher in SCO. SCO was rich in fatty acids, fatty acid amides, flavonoids, stigmasterol, tocopherol, and soybean phospholipids. Overall, numerous novel and unique compounds with biological functions were first found in SCOs by UPLC/HDMS. Our results suggested the higher potential nutritional value of soybean oil., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a common female reproductive disorder, with oxidative damage playing a significant role in its development. Studies had demonstrated the beneficial antioxidant, anti-aging, and other biological properties of swim bladder collagen (peptide). In this study, acid extraction, water extraction, and enzymatic hydrolysis methods were used to extract collagen (peptide) from sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) swim bladder, all of which exhibited significant antioxidant activity. Moreover, the effects observed in POF mice were enhanced, including an increasing in the number of growing ovarian follicles, regulation of serum hormone levels, and alterations in signaling pathways, as evidenced by the up-regulation of Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Protein Kinase B (PI3K/Akt) and B cell lymphoma-2/ Bcl-associated x protein (Bcl-2/Bax) pathways, alongside the down-regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway. Sturgeon swim bladder collagen (peptide) could protect against cyclophosphamide-induced POF in mice, which could be very beneficial in the future advancement of health products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the effects of various dry milling methods (blade mill (BLM), stone mill (SM), hammer mill (HM), and burr mill (BM)) at different milling severities on pinto bean flour properties, influencing the starch isolation process and isolated starch characteristics. BLM and HM produced fine flours (<180 μm) with lower starch damage (<1 %) compared to SM and BM. The starch isolation yield and efficiency increased with a reduction in flour particle size. The highest isolation yield (38 %) and efficiency (85 %) were observed from flours of BLM at 5 min. The milling-induced changes in the starch properties of the flour also altered the characteristics of starch isolated from the flour. The gelatinization and pasting properties of flour were affected by the presence of non-starch components, and starch damage while in isolated starch, they were affected only by starch damage that occurred during milling. Both the flour and isolated starch exhibited changes in crystallinity based on particle size. The water and oil holding capacities were not significantly affected by milling., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation can modify the antioxidant capacity of food. This study investigates the impact and mechanisms of various LAB strains (Lactobacillus plantarum NCU116, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCU402, and Lactobacillus casei NCU215) fermentation on the antioxidant properties of mango juice. LAB strains inoculation enhanced the antioxidant activity of mango juice, with metabolomics showing increased in polyphenols and decreased in vitamins and carotenoids, indicating polyphenols as the main contributors. Quantification of polyphenols (free and bound forms) revealed that fermentation decreased bound gallic acid levels while increasing free pyrogallol and 1,2,3,4,6-O-pentagalloylglucose, which mainly contributed to the rise in antioxidant capacity in mango juice. L. acidophilus NCU402 had the highest increase in 1,2,3,4,6-O-pentagalloylglucose (from 918.07 to 1750 μg/10 g), whereas L. casei NCU215 facilitated the greatest release of bound gallic acid (49.29 to 11.77 μg/10 g). Bound polyphenol release may be linked to pectin degradation, with lower galacturonic acid and increased pectinase activity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The β-1,6-glucans from Lentinus edodes have a variety of biological activities. However, the research on extraction and separation of β-1,6-glucans from L. edodes is limited and the yield is low. In the present study, we obtained the high-yield and -purity β-1,6-glucans (ALEPA) from L. edodes by using a sequential extraction and separation process, which is simple and suitable for industrialization. ALEPA significantly promoted the proliferation of splenic T lymphocytes and enhanced the phagocytosis activity of peritoneal macrophages in vivo. 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that ALEPA significantly increased the α diversity of gut microbiota and upregulated the relative abundances of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacterial species. Consistently, the SCFAs in the cecum of mice were upregulated. On a mechanical level, we found that the immunomodulatory effect of ALEPA depended on gut microbiota. Collectively, ALEPA is a promising functional food ingredient that regulates gut microbiota and enhances immune function., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Phenolic compounds are popular in screening novel hypoglycemic agents, but the impact of oxidative degradation on the determination of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and bioavailability is unclear. Here we showed 12 phenolic compounds structure-dependently degraded during standard simulated digestion, while in physiological hypoxia their retention rates were all over 87.89 %. This enhancement of digestive stability resulted in the biggest drop of 31.72 % in IC 50 against α-glucosidase and a significant increase in bioavailability. Enzyme kinetic and multi-spectroscopic analysis confirmed oxygen weakened the affinity of compounds to α-glucosidase, but the mechanisms were not changed. Moreover, a two-chamber culture system was designed to meet conflicting demands for oxygen between epithelium and cavity, and better α-glucosidase inhibitory activities (51.61 % maximum reduction in glucose production) and absorption rates (up to 1.10 % from undetectable) were obtained than those of uncontrolled oxygen. Hence, the oxygen level should be monitored to assess the activities of phenolic compounds in vitro., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Polyphenols are well-known for their antioxidant properties, but their prooxidative activity remain less understood. This study quantitatively examined the formation of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) during the autooxidation of nine different polyphenols in model systems, investigating how it impacts protein oxidation and protein-polyphenol covalent adduct formation. Polyphenols (4 mM) generated H 2 O 2 in the range of 0.2-242 μM, depending on type of polyphenol, incubation time, temperature, and pH, but no clear relationship between polyphenol structure and H 2 O 2 production was observed. The presence of free amino acids and proteins (bovine serum albumin and β-lactoglobulin) inhibited H 2 O 2 formation, with Cys completely scavenging H 2 O 2 . Met was highly susceptible to oxidation with a 25-75% loss, forming methionine sulfoxide through a two-electron oxidation pathway. Trp and Tyr were oxidized to produce dioxindolyl-ʟ-alanine, kynurenine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, N'-formylkynurenine, and 5-hydroxytryptophan in the nmol/mol-mmol/mol amino acid range. Furthermore, autoxidation of polyphenols resulted in >177 distinct amino acid/protein-polyphenol adducts as identified using LC-Orbitrap-MS/MS analysis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

This study used hydrothermal extraction to obtain gelatin from tuna processing by-products. After treatment, the yield (w/w dry weight) of gelatin from skins and bones were 70.22 ± 2.07 % and 28 ± 3.03 %, respectively. Enzymatic hydrolysis using alkaline protease and pancreatin converted the gelatins into peptides, with the content of oligopeptide up to 87.67 ± 1.44 %. The tuna bone gelatin peptides exhibiting higher scavenging abilities against hydroxyl radicals (·OH - ), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH·), and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) compared to tuna skin gelatin peptides. Gelatin peptides were chelated with CaCl 2 at 50 °C for 60 min, pH 8.0, and a 1:2 peptide-to‑calcium ratio, achieving a maximum calcium binding capacity of 56.70 ± 1.67 %. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the participation of amino and carboxyl groups in the reaction. These findings provide technical and theoretical support for the development of calcium-chelated gelatin peptides., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Glycine, serine, and γ-aminobutyric acid are effective scavengers of reactive carbonyl species and should inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). However, here we found that amino acids unexpectedly increased the intensity of fluorescent AGEs in biscuits. This study aimed to elucidate these contradictory findings and highlight concerns regarding the determination of fluorescent AGEs in foods. In gliadin-methylglyoxal (MGO) glycation model, amino acids were found to induce formaldehyde formation from MGO. Thereafter, formaldehyde and MGO reacted with the amino acids to generate imidazole salts. The imidazole salts exhibited broad fluorescence range, overlapping with the fluorescence range used to determine fluorescent AGEs in foods, thus resulting in an apparent increase in fluorescent AGEs content after amino acid addition. Since amino acids are ubiquitous in food materials, the formation of imidazole salts during food processing may result in an overestimation of fluorescent AGEs in foods., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

This study systematically evaluated the color-enhancing effects of different co-pigmented molecules (amino acids, peptides, flavonoids and phenolic acids) with cranberry anthocyanins under different environmental conditions (light, dark, high temperature and ascorbic acid) and their potential mechanisms by various means, such as degradation kinetics, color stability, H NMR spectroscopy, and structural simulation analyses. The results showed that the introduction of co-pigments induced a strong color-enhancing effect and bathochromic shift, inhibited the degradation of anthocyanins (9.34 % ∼ 45.00 %), and prolonged the half-life of anthocyanins (14.33 % ∼ 104.56 %). Among them, catechin, ferulic acid and tryptophan, by virtue of their large molecular planes, flexible side chains and abundant substituents, altered the core structure of anthocyanins and the electron cloud density of H atoms on the acylated molecules, which significantly enhanced their stability upon binding to anthocyanins. In addition, molecular docking simulations revealed an interaction mode between co-pigments and anthocyanins dominated by hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking interactions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mycoprotein (MYC) has unique mycelial properties that make it suitable for mimicking meat fibers. However, the irregular structure of mycelium creates challenges in achieving fiber alignment in meat alternatives. This study explored 3D printing technology to align MYC fibers by formulating inks with various proportions of egg white proteins (EWP) (4 %, 5 %, 6 %, 7 %) and assessing their printing performance. Results showed that extrusion-based 3D printing enabled MYC fiber alignment. The addition of EWP resulted in a nonlinear viscoelastic state in the mixed ink, and increased intra-ring strains to restrict the mobility of the moisture, likely due to hydrogen bonding between mycelial and EWP. Post-printing, the MYC-EWP matrix formed a more ordered mycelial structure. After heating, the 6 % EWP formulation exhibited improved water retention, hardness, chewiness, and other textural properties, making it comparable to beef. This study highlights the potential of 3D printing technology to enhance fiber formation in MYC-based meat alternatives., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared in to the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, the flavor of egg whites was significantly improved by lactic acid fermentation, and the metabolic networks of metabolites, volatile compounds, and enzymes were established using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, metabolomic, and proteomic. Results indicate that among ten types of common lactic acid bacteria, Streptococcus thermophilus endowed egg white with the most pleasant flavor through increasing aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, esters, terpenoids, and aromatic compounds. Amino acid catabolism was the predominant pathway for generating most aldehydes, alcohols, acids, and esters. The changes in the organic acids and derivatives (mainly amino acids, peptides, and analogues) concentration during fermentation are attributed to the hydrolysis of egg white proteins by proteinases and peptidases, and the regulation of enzymes involved in amino acid biosynthesis and other reactions. This study provides a valuable reference for future investigations focusing on regulating the flavor release of egg whites., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The production of high-quality gluten-free whole-millet cakes presents significant challenges to the food industry. This research examined the impact of chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) on the structural properties and shelf life of whole-millet cakes. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that hydrogen bonding between COS and millet starch reduced the relative crystallinity of the cakes. Increased concentrations of COS were associated with a reduction in free water migration within the system, thereby enhancing water retention capacity. A suitable concentration of COS contributed to a more continuous protein network structure, preserving the internal integrity of the cakes. At a COS concentration of 0.8 %, minimal changes were observed in color, hardness, springiness, and moisture loss during storage. Furthermore, the incorporation of COS extended the shelf-life of the cakes by 3-6 days. These findings suggest that COS enhances the quality and storage stability of gluten-free food products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the impact of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) on gluten aggregation and dough rheology at different mixing stages, using wheat lines with deletions at the Glu-B1 locus. Dough rheology was analyzed across varying mixing levels, while the multiscale structure and composition of gluten were systematically characterized. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations under increased pressure (10 bar) provided detailed insights into the structural dynamics of different HMW-GSs. The results showed that optimum mixing promoted gluten aggregation, enhancing viscoelasticity, while over-mixing led to disaggregation. HMW-GS deletions, particularly of Bx7, significantly hindered gluten aggregation under optimum mixing, limiting stable disulfide bonds, intermolecular β-sheet formation, and hydrophobic interactions essential for tertiary structure. Conversely, HMW-GS deletions facilitated disaggregation during over-mixing, with Bx7 deletion having a stronger impact. Molecular dynamics simulations further illustrated Bx7's role, showing its more hydrophobic and flexible structure compared to By8, supporting the experimental observation that Bx7 deletion affects gluten network integrity more markedly. These findings underscore the critical role of HMW-GS in modulating gluten aggregation, providing a molecular basis for targeted HMW-GS manipulation in wheat breeding to enhance dough functionality and improve processing stability across various mixing conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To address the challenge of preserving fresh chestnuts, chitosan (CS), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), nisin (N), and sodium alginate (SA) were utilized in the preparation of a bilayer edible film named CS-HPMC-N/SA, which was compared to the monolayer films CS-HPMC and CS-HPMC-N. In comparison to the CS-HPMC film, the CS-HPMC-N and CS-HPMC-N/SA films exhibited increased water vapor permeability (WVP), oxygen permeability, and thickness, while transparency, tensile strength (TS), and elongation at break (EAB) were reduced. The bilayer film CS-HPMC-N/SA showed higher WVP, transparency, thickness, and EAB, but lower TS than the monolayer film CS-HPMC-N. The chestnuts coated with CS-HPMC-N/SA showed lower respiratory intensity and decay rate compared to those coated with CS-HPMC and CS-HPMC-N. These results suggested that the bilayer film CS-HPMC-N/SA, containing nisin, has potential as an edible material for preserving fresh chestnuts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Food synthetic biology is garnering increasing attention for its potential to generate bioactive components. His-tag is one of the most popular tags used in food synthetic biology. Herein, His-tag, His-tagged proteins, and His-tagged peptides were adopted as the model targets, and a commonly used biosensor was developed to monitor His-tagged food biomolecules, using split aptamers as specific recognition probes and nanozyme as the transduction element. A strategy to generate high-affinity split aptamers was proposed, obtaining a pair of split aptamers for His-tag (K d  = 132 nM). AuNPs-mannan oligosaccharide nanozyme was fabricated and combined with the split aptamers to develop the biosensor. The functional mechanism of the probes and the nanozyme was revealed. The biosensor demonstrated good sensitivity, selectivity, and practicability when analyzing synthetic His-tagged proteins and peptides in real-world samples, with a limit of detection of 12.44 nM. The strategies provide robust reference for developing analytical methods for synthetic biomolecules., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: The authors declare that the content related to the generation of aptamer probes has been authorized by China Patent No. ZL202210658986.6. Apart from this, there are no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Phenolic compounds, one of the most crucial lipid concomitants in rapeseed, have garnered heighten attention due to their numerous health benefits. Therefore, efficiently characterizing the phenolic profile of rapeseed is paramount for discerning their potential bioactivities. This study employed untargeted metabolomics in conjunction with molecular networking to trace the phenolic composition across three rapeseed genotypes. A total of 117 phenolic compounds were identified in rapeseed by mass spectrometry under positive and negative ionization modes, including 36 flavonoids, 23 coumarins, 12 phenolic acids, 10 lignans, 4 stilbenes, 4 diarylheptanes, 1 tannin, and several other phenolic constituents. Biochemical analyses revealed that Brassica napus rapeseed typically exhibited the highest total phenolic content and total flavonoid content as well as the strongest antioxidant capacity among three rapeseed genotypes. Through correlation analysis, 17 potential antioxidant phenolic compounds were tentatively screened from rapeseed, supporting the development and utilization of natural antioxidants from rapeseed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Chicken breast products exhibit a rough texture and poor taste owing to the special fibrous tissue structure of chicken breast. Thus, adapting the taste of processed chicken breast products is pivotal to improving consumer satisfaction. Therefore, we used CaCl 2 and acyl-modified ovalbumin (AOVA) in a concerted effort to improve the gelation properties of chicken breast myofibrillar protein (MP). The investigation of molecular interactions and microstructure revealed the mechanism behind the changes in the physicochemical properties of the prepared gel. Molecular docking showed that AOVA enhanced the gel structure of MP through hydrogen bonding and salt bridges. The investigation results indicated that 0.30 mol/L CaCl 2 facilitated the unfolding of AOVA-MP molecules, increasing the number of disulphide bonds and hydrophobic interactions, as well as conferring better hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and chewing properties to the AOVA-MP gel with a denser and more homogeneous gel network structure. This study provides new insights into the quality improvement in chicken breast mince products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The contamination of apple juice by Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris (A. acidoterrestris) can cause significant economic losses. Therefore, developing a rapid and sensitive method for detecting A. acidoterrestris is necessary. To address this issue, this study prepared magnetosome-monoclonal antibodies immunomagnetic microspheres (IMMs) as capture probes to enrich A. acidoterrestris (IMMs-Aa) and monoclonal antibodies-quantum dots (mAb-CdTeQDs) as detection probes for detecting A. acidoterrestris. The obtained IMMs-Aa-mAb-CdTeQDs "sandwich" structure was used to detect A. acidoterrestris based on the fluorescence intensity. The strategy presented a good linear correlation (y = 1048× + 1891, R 2  = 0.995) between the fluorescence intensity and the concentration of A. acidoterrestris (10 1 -10 5  CFU/mL) with a low detection limit of 25.4 CFU/mL within 50 min. The recovery rate of this strategy in spiked apple juice ranged from 88.16 % to 107.03 %. Thus, this study established an efficient and highly sensitive magnetic capture-enrichment-separation-detection method for A. acidoterrestris., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

There is a lack of research on the effects of amino acid starch interaction on the functional properties of products during Ultra-high pressure (UHP) processing. The functional properties of rice starch with the addition of Glu, Ala and Lys were studied under UHP processing. At 400 MPa, all amino acids reduced G' and weakened the gel strength, and the gel strength order was as follows: Control > Ala > Glu > Lys. At 500 MPa, Glu increased G' and G″, and enhanced the strength of the gel, but the addition of Lys had the opposite effects, the gel strength order was as follows: Glu > Ala > Control > Lys. With the increased of treatment pressure and time, the G' and G″ of all samples treated at 500 MPa decreased, and the gel strength weakened. This study will expand the application scope of rice starch as food gelling agents and functional food., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Due to the existence of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) in the environment and their potential hazards to ecosystems and human health, this study aimed to develop a novel adsorbent of OPs using multifunctional carriers and surface molecular imprinting technology (SMIT). SiO 2 -COOH served as a carrier, and molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) constituted a shell, creating a core-shell structured adsorbent. SMIT facilitated rapid and efficient binding between the target molecules and the imprinted cavities. The multifunctional SiO 2 -COOH enhanced the adsorbent's adsorption capacity, improved its mechanical stability, and strengthened the binding with the MIPs. The adsorbent demonstrated excellent specificity and reusability, achieving an adsorption capacity of 54.4 mg/g and the imprinting factor of 2.94. The relative recovery rate in actual sample detection ranged from 95.1% to 108.7%. This study provides a simple and effective method for detecting hazardous factors in environment protection and food safety fields, with significant scientific value and practical application potential., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Phycobiliproteins of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis, known as Spirulina, are protein-chromophore complexes which are used by the organism to capture light energy. Allophycocyanin and C-phycocyanin are prominent in providing a natural source of blue food coloring. An unresolved issue remains the rapid loss of the native conformation of the pigment, leading to altered color with changing pH. This study investigates color changes on a quantum mechanics scale. A model was established to predict color shifts upon environmental changes, while proposing a mechanism to elucidate pH-dependent chromophore dynamics. On average, the model predicts a hypsochromic shift of 34 nm, in close alignment with the experimentally determined 36 nm. Results show several key non-covalent interactions governing the dynamics of the pyrrole rings of allophycocyanin, particularly influenced by solvents and pH. Particularly noteworthy are the hydrogen bonds with arginine (R 86) and aspartic acid (D 87), contributing to the distinctive optical absorption properties. These findings aid in pigment selection and the targeting of specific phycocyanin regions for stabilization, reducing the dependence on artificial food colors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Ozone (O 3 ) treatment is an environmentally friendly fruit sterilization strategy. However, the low O 3 utilization rate and long-term oxidation lead to O 3 waste and fruit damage, respectively. Herein, a sterilization system based on the synergy of O 3 micro-nano bubbles (OMNB) and spontaneously polarized ceramic (SPC) was developed to piezoelectrically catalyze ozonolysis for efficient fruit sterilization. OMNB/SPC showed excellent sterilizing activity with 7 lg CFU/mL of E. coli and S. aureus inactivation within 20 min, together with significantly improved fruit quality in Kyoho grapes preservation. The excellent sterilizing performance of OMNB/SPC is attributed to that the piezoelectric SPC (d 33  = 103.4 pm/V) formed a strong polarized electric field and rich reactive oxygen species (ROS) under OMNB collapse resulting in O 3 absorption/decomposition. The electric field and rich ROS caused membranes in-situ electroporation and irreversible inactivation to the microorganisms on fruits successively. This system is important for more efficient long-term preservation of fruits., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This research aimed to investigate the levels of N ε -carboxymethyllysine (CML) and N ε -carboxyethyllysine (CEL) in precooked pork (100 °C, 10 min) as affected by storage (0 °C, 0-11 d) and subsequent reheating (100 °C, 5 min). A longer storage duration led to more CML (average increased: 69-128 %) and CEL (average increased: 11-44 %) in precooked pork, while the reheating resulted in average increases of 86 % CML and 32 % CEL compared to their initial levels in precooked pork. However, the storage duration did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect CML/CEL formation in precooked pork during the subsequent reheating. The levels of CML/CEL and glyoxal/methylglyoxal had no obvious relationship, but CML formation was linked to lipid oxidation in precooked or reheated pork. The accumulation of CML and CEL in precooked meat produced during the initial precooking, storage, and reheating implies the necessity to control their generation in these products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Developing nutty plant-based yogurt (NPBY) with desired texture and sensory properties has been challenging. This study sought to investigate the effects of Tremella fuciformis polysaccharides (TFPS) on the physicochemical, textural, rheological, and microstructural properties of NPBY. The introduction of TFPS enhanced the accumulation of organic acids, water holding capacity, and antioxidant activity. The firmness of NPBY with 0.85 % TFPS increased from 187.77 × 10 -3  N to 259.90 × 10 -3  N, with significant enhancements in elastic modulus (G', G'') and apparent viscosity. Furthermore, the introduction of 0.85 % TFPS significantly improved liking scores in sensory evaluations. Microstructural analysis revealed that TFPS promoted the formation of proteins and oil body clusters, resulting in a more compact gel network. The synergetic effects of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions were identified as primary driving forces for NPBY gel formation. This study provides valuable insights into the role of natural polysaccharides in strengthening plant-based yogurt gel., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Douchi is traditional Chinese condiment. In this study, electronic sense, GC-IMS and metabolomics were combined to analyse the changes in flavour profiles and metabolites of Yangjiang douchi at different fermentation stages. The results showed that umami was the primary taste characteristic of douchi. Aldehydes, esters, and ketones representing the predominant flavour compounds. Metabolomic analysis identified 13 compounds as key differential metabolites, which were mainly enriched in the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway in lipid metabolism. The correlation analysis indicated that heptanal, hexanal, phenyl acetaldehyde, benzene acetaldehyde and abhexone may be the key aroma substances during fermentation. The major free fatty acids that may act as key flavour precursors are palmitic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid. This study provides a scientific basis for the industrial regulation of Yangjiang douchi fermentation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Herein, we prepared a new aerogel-based preservation pad using soy hull nanocellulose (SHNC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), whey protein isolate (WPI), and cinnamon essential oil (CEO) as raw materials. The physicochemicals of the aerogel preservation pads were studied, and their effects on beef preservation were evaluated. The results showed that the aerogel monomers were crosslinked by hydrogen, ester bonds, and electrostatic interactions in the aerogels, and there were three-dimensional pores in the aerogels. Meanwhile, SHNC/PVA/WPI/CEO-3 (aerogel prepared using 2 g of SHNC) exhibited excellent mechanical properties (elongation: 251 %; tensile strength: 33.97 MPa) and super-high absorption performance. Additionally, the aerogel displayed excellent antioxidant and antibacterial properties (83.74 %). The preservation experiment showed that, at 4 °C, the aerogel preservation pad inhibited the growth and reproduction of bacteria on the surface of beef, inhibited lipid oxidation, effectively preserved the color of beef, and extended the shelf life of beef from 4 to 12 days., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The acidophilic and heat-resistant traits of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris (A. acidoterrestris) present a formidable challenge to fruit juices production safety. To address the limitations of conventional thermal sterilization, a novel bacterial capture device MPDEL has been developed. This innovative device utilizes dopamine-coated magnetic nanoparticles that are covalently linked with lysozyme, enabling efficient and rapid capture of A. acidoterrestris in acidic juices, followed by facile magnetic-controlled separation for subsequent removal. Lysozyme not only recognizes and directional anchors the bacterial surface, but facilitates the adhesion of polydopamine to the bacterial surface. Benefiting from the abundant binding sites and rapid adsorption kinetics, this un-thermal treatment completely removes 10 4  CFU/mL of A. acidoterrestris from the juice within a span of 20 min. The MPDEL exhibits high capture performance, negligible cytotoxicity and no discernable impact on juice quality, offering a novel option for the removal of A. acidoterrestris from fruit juices., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated the antioxidant potential of Bene hull methanolic extract (BHME) in mitigating lipid oxidation in vegetable oils across four systems (oil-in-water emulsions and bulk oils, both with and without Fe +2 ). The BHME's free radical-scavenging assay and ferric reducing abilities were compared with natural (α-tocopherol, CEX) and synthetic (BHT) antioxidants. The research analyzed different BHME concentrations (0, 400, 800, and 1600 ppm) and evaluated the effects of storage time on lipid oxidation, monitored through Peroxide Value (PV) and Carbonyl Value (CV) measurements. An array of statistical analyses, including ANOVA and a robust Support Vector Machine (SVM) model were employed to predict oxidation dynamics. The findings revealed that BHME demonstrated significant antioxidant activity, comparable to BHT, with both showing similar IC50 values (7.59 μg/ml and 7.45 μg/ml, respectively. In emulsions, PV increased 2.5 times at 800 ppm and 13 times at 1600 ppm compared to bulk oils. The presence of Fe +2 led to a 40 % higher PV in emulsions. CV values rose by 35 and 56 units at 800 and 1600 ppm, respectively, and increased six fold over the storage period. The SVM model showed high predictive accuracy, with R 2 values exceeding 0.97. Response surface graphs indicated that storage time had a more pronounced effect on PV and CV than antioxidant concentration. This study highlights BHME's potential as an effective natural antioxidant, particularly in bulk oils, and demonstrates the utility of SVM for analyzing lipid oxidation. These findings provide valuable insights for improving the oxidative stability and shelf life of lipid-based food products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)