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The combined application of ultrasound (US) and plasma microbubble (PMB) is a promising technology against glioblastoma (GBM). Here, we determined the effects of US and PMB (alone and combined) on U‐251 MG GBM and A431 epidermoid carcinoma spheroids under different conditions. The synergistic treatment of US‐ and PMB‐induced tumor sphere cell death in a time‐, dose‐, treatment frequency‐, and reactive oxygen species dependent manner, while multiple treatments augmented this effect. Synergistic treatments significantly reduced three‐dimensional GBM spheroid regrowth and cell proliferation while inducing cytotoxicity, spheroid shrinkage, and damage to the tumor microenvironment. PMB‐induced cytotoxicity throughout the tumor sphere, likely via long‐lived reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (H2O2, NO2−, and NO3−) and other reactive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystallization control can be improved through real‐time monitoring technologies. Here, a workflow is demonstrated on rapid batch cooling crystallization of L‐glutamic acid. First, in situ images were generated using video microscopy sensors and analyzed, by employing a single, rapid macro code to extract particle data descriptors. A binning procedure (over time) was performed, where every data point represented the counts of particles within a specific size or shape range per 100 images. This binning method was found more informative in tracking of the populations compared to whole image averages or individual particle datapoints. This study provides a step‐by‐step guide towards improving mechanistic modeling, control via feedback, automation, and continuous manufacturing for Industry 4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of cold plasma as a food processing aid has been demonstrated for a range of processes and products. The potential applications of plasma technology are extensive and include microbial decontamination, pest control, toxin elimination, food and package functionalisation and many others. However, studies reported to date have principally been at laboratory scale. This paper discusses the status and challenges of transferring the technology to the industry. The major challenges discussed for adoption of atmospheric plasma as a food processing tool by industry are (1) demonstration of product/process specific efficacies; (2) development of process compatible technology designs and scale‐up; (3) effective process control and validation; (4) regulatory approval; and (5) consumer acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Existing models for drug discovery and development against glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) have limitations. • We review advances in 3D systems that promise more accurate therapeutic models. • Development of 3D cultures that can model the GBM tumor microenvironment is discussed. • We describe advanced 3D systems such as organoids, 3D and 4D bioprinting, and cancer stem cells. • We identify gaps to bridge in existing 3D systems to accelerate drug discovery. This review focuses on recent advances in 3D culture systems that promise more accurate therapeutic models of the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumor microenvironment (TME), such as the unique anatomical, cellular, and molecular features evident in human GBM. The key components of a GBM TME are outlined, including microbiomes, vasculature, extracellular matrix (ECM), infiltrating parenchymal and peripheral immune cells and molecules, and chemical gradients. 3D culture systems are evaluated against 2D culture systems and in vivo animal models. The main 3D culture techniques available are compared, with an emphasis on identifying key gaps in knowledge for the development of suitable platforms to accurately model the intricate components of the GBM TME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fructooligosaccharides ( FOS) are among the main carbohydrates with prebiotic activity, and they are the most applied functional carbohydrate ingredient in the food industry. FOS are known to hydrolyse when subjected to thermal processing, thus partially losing its functional properties. In this study, we evaluate whether three nonthermal technologies are suitable for processing FOS regarding its stability after processing. FOS were subjected to ultrasound, high-pressure processing ( HPP) and atmospheric cold plasma ( ACP). The FOS solution, 70 g L−1, was set at a concentration recommended for human intake. The treatments were carried out at operating conditions usually used for microbial inactivation in foods ( HPP at 450 MPa for 5 min; US at 600-1200 W L−1 for 5 min; ACP at 70 kV for 15-60 s). NMR and HPLC analysis of the FOS components showed that ACP, ultrasound and HPP have not induced any significant change on FOS concentration (<2.0%) nor on the degree of polymerisation of the FOS (<3.3%). Contrarily to what is reported for thermal treatments, these nonthermal technologies were considered suitable for FOS processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models can help bridge the gap between in vitro cell cultures and in vivo responses by more accurately simulating the natural in vivo environment, shape, tissue stiffness, stressors, gradients and cellular response while avoiding the costs and ethical concerns associated with animal models. The inclusion of the third dimension in 3D cell culture influences the spatial organization of cell surface receptors that interact with other cells and imposes physical restrictions on cells in compared to Two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures. Spheroids' distinctive cyto-architecture mimics in vivo cellular structure, gene expression, metabolism, proliferation, oxygenation, nutrition absorption, waste excretion, and drug uptake while preserving cell–extracellular matrix (ECM) connections and communication, hence influencing molecular processes and cellular phenotypes. This protocol describes the in vitro generation of tumourspheroids using the low attachment plate, hanging drop plate, and cellusponge natural scaffold based methods. The expected results from these protocols confirmed the ability of all these methods to create uniform tumourspheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In advancing aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) toward commercial viability, vanadium (V)‐based cathodes are pivotal, offering broad redox ranges, and compatibility with water's electrochemical limits. Despite their great potentials, V‐based cathodes face challenges in transitioning from lab to commercialization. Defect engineering is exploited as a pivotal technique that endows the cathodes with unexpected physical and chemical properties to break the intrinsic bottleneck and, in turn, enhance their electrochemical performances. This review delves into the role of defect engineering on V‐based materials, underscoring its potential in mitigating the critical challenges. It starts by encapsulating the current characteristics of V‐based cathodes in AZIBs. Research efforts related to various defects, such as oxygen vacancies, cation vacancies, cationic doping, anionic doping, water intercalation, and lattice disorders/amorphization, are then rationalized and discussed. The fabrication and characterization techniques of defect engineering are also summarized. By integrating the conclusions from existing works and tailoring defect engineering strategies, a few perspectives are provided for systematically employing defect engineering to pave the way for a more efficient transition of these promising materials from laboratory breakthroughs to commercially viable energy storage solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) as an emerging nonthermal technology holds great potential in food sterilization and biopolymer modification. The antibacterial effect of CAP on spoilage fungi and its effects on physicochemical and nutritional properties in yam flour were both studied. The results show that CAP treatment for 5–20 min achieved a microbial reduction of Fusarium moniliforme ranging from 0.56 to 2.40 log10 CFU/g at day 0 and 1.50 to 3.73 log10 CFU/g at day 9. The inactivation efficiency was increased with the CAP treatment time and storage time. For the physicochemical properties, CAP caused surface corrosion and formed aggregations on the surface of flour granules, as well as enhanced the absorption of carboxyl or carbonyl peak at 1730 cm−1. The swelling power, starch solubility, and pasting viscosity of Chinese yam flour were increased after CAP treatment, while the endothermic enthalpy was decreased possibly due to the disruption of the amorphous and crystalline structure of starch granules. A distinct color change was observed in CAP-treated Chinese yam flour, which became more bright and less yellow. The results of nutritional properties demonstrate that CAP caused a redistribution of dietary fiber components from insoluble to soluble fractions and changed the amino acid composition in Chinese yam flour. The SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed that CAP treatment could degrade or depolymerize the macromolecular proteins into small molecular subunits. Thus, CAP can be a promising technology to modify the physicochemical and nutritional properties of Chinese yam flour and ensure its microbial safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a pin‐to‐plate cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) on U‐251 MG three‐dimensional (3D) glioblastoma spheroids under different conditions. 3D tumorspheres showed higher resistance to the CAP treatment compared to 2D monolayer cells. A single CAP treatment was able to induce cytotoxicity, while multiple CAP treatments augmented this effect. CAP was also able to induce cytotoxicity throughout the tumoursphere, and we identified that reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays a major role, while H2O2 plays a partial role in CAP‐induced cytotoxicity in tumourspheres. We conclude that ROS‐dependent cytotoxicity is induced uniformly throughout glioblastoma and epidermoid tumourspheres by direct CAP treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold plasma as a promising method to boost food safety and improve shelf life has triggered a huge amount of innovative scientific inquiry. The current study evaluates the effect of air plasma surface barrier discharge (SBD) treatment on the inactivation of Aspergillus niger spores for saffron stigma post packaging. The induced effects of the process on the physicochemical properties of the product are assessed. To identify the decontamination agents and plasma-produced reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, optical emission spectroscopy, ozone, and NOx measurements were used. The influence of plasma treatment on the surface morphology, antioxidant activity, color, flavor, odor, nitrate, and ammonium content of samples was determined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry, colorimetry, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and ion chromatography (IC), respectively. The results showed that increased treatment time increased the germination period for Aspergillus niger conidia with spore growth ceasing after 2 min of plasma exposure. The antioxidant inhibition percentage of control and 2-min plasma-treated samples was 23.386 and 25.861, respectively. FESEM images showed this remote plasma treatment method did not etch the cell wall of saffron strands. The results of HPLC and IC analysis indicated that plasma treatment had no obvious effect on the main chemical compounds of saffron. The findings point to the potential of SBD plasma processing for packaged saffron with no detrimental effects on the vital components responsible for odor, flavor, color, antioxidant activity, and morphology. The SBD plasma offers a rapid and low-cost solution for saffron sanitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold atmospheric plasma offers significant potential as a nonthermal decontamination tool for food and medical applications. We present results of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma induced in a gas confined by a polymer package. The resultant discharge and contained afterglow are found to have a strong antimicrobial effect. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Solution pH is a significant parameter that affects the electrical characteristics of gas–liquid discharges and thus potentially produces different plasma chemistries for different plasma-engineered applications. In this study, the discharge characteristics and long-lived aqueous reactive species under different initial pH conditions were investigated. It was found that the discharge contained three phases in one pulse cycle, which occurred at the pulse rising edge, the falling edge, and between the rising and falling edges. The discharge intensity and average power at an initial solution pH of 7.0 are much lower than those obtained at an initial solution pH of 5.0 and 9.0. In contrast, the density ratio of N2 (C3Πu, v = 1)/N2 (C3Πu, v = 0) is much higher under neutral solution conditions, indicating that the relatively high vibrational energy was obtained in the gas–liquid discharge plasma. Concentrations of aqueous species H2O2, NO2–, and NO3– are higher at the initial pH of 9.0, indicating that different plasma intensities and chemical compositions (H+ and OH–) are involved in their generation and consumption processes. This study provides insights into understanding and controlling the characteristics of the gas–liquid discharge under different solution conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uniform and stable reactivity of atmospheric pressure plasmas is a prerequisite for most applications in fields ranging from materials' surface processing, environment protection, to energy conversion. Dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) are among the most promising plasmas to satisfy these requirements. However, the unpredictable and uncontrollable transitions between discharge modes, the limited understanding of the DBD ignition and extinction processes, and the complexity of plasma chemistries and reactions with admixture gases restrict their adoption in industry. Here, we report a practically relevant and elegant solution based on using customized nanosecond (ns) pulse excitation and precise addition of oxygen to an Ar flow. The effects of ns pulses and oxygen on the uniformity and reactivity of the DBD are investigated via quantifying the gap voltage Ug and the discharge current Ig from the current–voltage measurements and quantitative discharge imaging. The electron density, ne, is estimated with Ug and Ig. With increasing Ug, more electron avalanches are ignited and overlap, which facilitate ne, Te, and discharge uniformity, while high Ug induces excessive electrons generated with high ionization rates, resulting in the distortion of the space electric field and reduced stability and uniformity. A small amount of added oxygen favors the production of electrons. Overdosed oxygen molecules capture electrons causing a drop in ne and Te and couple with the effect of the electrical field resulting in the filamentary discharges or complete plasma extinction. The mechanism of the effects of ns pulses and oxygen addition on the uniformity and reactivity of plasmas is based on the electrical measurements and discharge image analysis and is cross-validated by optical emission spectra measurements and the ratio of the Ar intensities' calculations as indicators of the variation in ne and Te. The results in this work contribute to the realization and controllability of uniform, stable, and reactive plasmas at atmospheric pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the effect of non-thermal plasma (NTP) on the total viable count and lipid oxidation of two common sushi products: nigiri and hosomaki. Sushi samples were treated with NTP using a dielectric barrier discharge system with 70 and 80 kV of potential differences for 5 min. The samples were stored at 4 °C for 11 days and analysed for total aerobic count, moisture and protein content, TBA index and fatty acids composition. Although the effect of NTP on the total aerobic counts was not statistically significant, a tendency in log reduction could be observed, with 1–1.5 log cfu/g reduction. Moisture and protein content, as well as fatty acids composition of sushi was not affected by the treatment. The TBA index of treated samples increased significantly by 0.4–1.5 mg/kg, with hosomaki reaching higher TBA index than nigiri. Although NTP in the studied conditions can, to a limited degree, increase the microbiological quality of the sushi samples, it also increases the oxidation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of three different chamber designs: co-linear, Steinmetz and parallel-plate, for radio frequency electric field (RFEF) processing of liquid foods was evaluated and compared. The study was conducted via a computational model that predicted the electric field, flow, and temperature distribution in those three chambers. The parallel-plate, in spite of having the highest electric field peaks, exhibited not only the most uniform electric field distribution inside the treatment zone but also the most homogenously distributed velocity profile along with the lowest temperature increase and energy consumption. The model was validated by comparing the predicted and experimentally measured outlet temperatures. Experiments of E. coli inactivation were performed in all three chambers at a volumetrically averaged electric field strength of 13.2 kV cm −1 , a treatment time of 500 μs and outlet temperatures in the range of 20–50 °C showing equal inactivation given the uncertainties of microbial population quantification methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio frequency electric field (RFEF) is an emerging non-thermal food processing technology that is alternative to pulsed electric fields (PEF). A novel Steinmetz treatment chamber design, that increases homogeneity of the electric field distribution, has been proposed and constructed. The design was performed and evaluated via Multiphysics modelling. The model was validated by comparison with experimental measurements of outlet temperature, power consumption and current. Inactivation studies showed the influence of electric field intensity, temperature, and treatment time on the inactivation of Escherichia coli in saline water with electrical conductivities between 0.02 and 0.1 S m − 1 . A maximum inactivation of 3.6 log CFU mL − 1 was obtained at 26.5 kV cm − 1 , 45 °C and 900 μs treatment time. An energy demand of 63 kJ kg − 1 is required for 1 log reduction, when processing at 25 °C, for foods having 0.1 S m − 1 conductivity at 20 °C, but energy consumption increases with the electrical conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, different non-thermal and thermal technologies have been developed for food processing. However, in many cases, it is not clear which experimental parameters must be reported to guarantee the experiments' reproducibility and provide the food industry a straightforward way to scale-up these technologies. Since reproducibility is one of the most important science features, the current work aims to improve the reproducibility of studies on emerging technologies for food processing by providing guidelines on reporting treatment conditions of thermal and non-thermal technologies. Infrared heating, microwave heating, ohmic heating and radiofrequency heating are addressed as advanced thermal technologies and isostatic high pressure, ultra-high-pressure homogenization sterilization, high-pressure homogenization, microfluidization, irradiation, plasma technologies, power ultrasound, pressure change technology, pulsed electric fields, pulsed light and supercritical CO2 are approached as non-thermal technologies. Finally, growing points and perspectives are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable ammonia synthesis under mild conditions that relies on renewable energy sources and feedstocks is globally sought to replace the current Haber–Bosch process. Electricity-driven plasma catalysis is receiving increasing attention as a sustainable technology for the efficient synthesis of ammonia. However, the current implementation of nonthermal plasma technology still faces several hurdles, particularly the extensive usage of energy-intensive H2, low energy efficiency and the lack of understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the plasma catalysis process. Here we propose a green chemical pathway of plasma catalysis from nitrogen and water for sustainable ammonia production. In order to understand the different characteristics of the N2/H2O plasma system and seek further improvements in ammonia synthesis, detailed plasma kinetics modelling is presented in comparison with the N2/H2 system at atmospheric pressure. The model includes both electron and vibrational kinetics and updated surface reactions adapted from DFT calculation results on the SiO2 surface. The facile dissociative adsorption of H2O and the Eley–Rideal mechanisms are demonstrated to be important to enable efficient NH3 production as the experimental observation. The model reproduced the measured trends of ammonia production on the different concentrations of H2O input and power density with reasonable accuracy and provided an explanation of the critical influence of temperature and catalyst packing in the N2/H2O system in comparison to the N2/H2 system in relation to the quenching effect of H2O by vibrational–translational relaxation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer on Earth, which is synthesized by plants, bacteria, and animals, with source-dependent properties. Cellulose containing β-1,4-linked D-glucoses further assembles into hierarchical structures in microfibrils, which can be processed to nanocellulose with length or width in the nanoscale after a variety of pretreatments including enzymatic hydrolysis, TEMPO-oxidation, and carboxymethylation. Nanocellulose can be mainly categorized into cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) produced by acid hydrolysis, cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) prepared by refining, homogenization, microfluidization, sonification, ball milling, and the aqueous counter collision (ACC) method, and bacterial cellulose (BC) biosynthesized by the Acetobacter species. Due to nontoxicity, good biodegradability and biocompatibility, high aspect ratio, low thermal expansion coefficient, excellent mechanical strength, and unique optical properties, nanocellulose is utilized to develop various cellulose nanocomposites through solution casting, Layer-by-Layer (LBL) assembly, extrusion, coating, gel-forming, spray drying, electrostatic spinning, adsorption, nanoemulsion, and other techniques, and has been widely used as food packaging material with excellent barrier and mechanical properties, antibacterial activity, and stimuli-responsive performance to improve the food quality and shelf life. Under the driving force of the increasing green food packaging market, nanocellulose production has gradually developed from lab-scale to pilot- or even industrial-scale, mainly in Europe, Africa, and Asia, though developing cost-effective preparation techniques and precisely tuning the physicochemical properties are key to the commercialization. We expect this review to summarise the recent literature in the nanocellulose-based food packaging field and provide the readers with the state-of-the-art of this research area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since first identified in 1879, plasma, the fourth state of matter, has been developed and utilised in many fields. Nonthermal atmospheric plasma, also known as cold plasma, can be applied to liquids, where plasma reactive species such as reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen species and their effects can be retained and mediated through plasma-activated liquids (PAL). In the medical field, PAL is considered promising for wound treatment, sterilisation and cancer therapy due to its rich and relatively long-lived reactive species components. This study sought to identify any potential antagonistic effect between antioxidative intracellularly accumulated platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) and PAL. We found that PAL can significantly reduce the viability of glioblastoma U-251MG cells. This did not involve measurable ROS influx but instead lead to lipid damage on the plasma membrane of cells exposed to PAL. Although the intracellular antioxidative PtNPs showed no protective effect against PAL, this study contributes to further understanding of principle cell killing routes of PAL and discovery of potential PAL-related therapy and methods to inhibit side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate whether sonoporation of cancer cells using ultrasound (US) technology could enhance the anticancer effects of cold atmospheric plasma. US‐induced transient sonoporation of cancer cells with little to no cytotoxicity observed on the cell lines tested. Synergistic effects of US were observed when combined with both direct and indirect cold atmospheric plasma. These cytotoxic effects were dependent on reactive species production. To the best of our knowledge that is the first time that the effects of those two nonthermal technologies were evaluated in cancer cells, demonstrating a promising combined strategy for cancer therapies, particularly for those with penetration limitations, such as glioblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of plasma and ozone treatments on the quality of orange juice was evaluated. The juice was directly and indirectly exposed to a plasma field at 70 kV for different treatment times: 15, 30, 45 and 60 s. For ozone processing, different loads (0.057, 0.128 and 0.230 mg/O 3 mL of juice) were evaluated. After the treatments, the oligosaccharides were quantified by HPLC. The juice pH, color, total phenolic content and total antioxidant activity were also determined. Both processes promoted a partial degradation of the oligosaccharides in the juice. However, the juice maintained an enough amount of oligosaccharides to be classified as a prebiotic food. The phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of the treated samples was also well preserved as the pH and color. Thus, atmospheric cold plasma and ozone are suitable non-thermal alternatives for prebiotic orange juice treatment. Industrial relevance Consumers are looking for safe food products with high quality. Thus, the food industry is currently considering non-thermal processes as an alternative to reduce the nutrient loss in processed foods. Despite atmospheric cold plasma and ozone are technologies already evaluated as an efficient non-thermal alternative for pathogens inactivation in orange juice, no previous studies on their effects on the oligosaccharides in functional fruit juice was published. This study is of industrial relevance because it demonstrates that after plasma and ozone treatment the overall quality of prebiotic orange juice was preserved and the product maintained its functional appeal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial biofilms and bacteria internalised in produce tissue may reduce the effectiveness of decontamination methods. In this study, the inactivation efficacy of in-package atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) afterglow was investigated against Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli in the forms of planktonic cultures, biofilms formed on lettuce and associated bacteria internalised in lettuce tissue. Prepared lettuce broth (3%) was inoculated with bacteria resulting in a final concentration of ~ 7.0 log 10 CFU/ml. For biofilm formation and internalisation, lettuce pieces (5 × 5 cm) were dip-inoculated in bacterial suspension of ~ 7.0 log 10 CFU/ml for 2 h and further incubated for 0, 24 and 48 h at either 4 °C or room temperature (~ 22 °C) in combination with light/dark photoperiod or at 4 °C under dark conditions. Inoculated samples were sealed inside a rigid polypropylene container and indirectly exposed (i.e. placed outside plasma discharge) to a high voltage (80 kV RMS ) air ACP with subsequent storage for 24 h at 4 °C. ACP treatment for 30 s reduced planktonic populations of Salmonella , L . monocytogenes and E . coli suspended in lettuce broth to undetectable levels. Depending on storage conditions, bacterial type and age of biofilm, 300 s of treatment resulted in reduction of biofilm populations on lettuce by a maximum of 5 log 10 CFU/sample. Scanning electron and confocal laser microscopy pointed to the incidence of bacterial internalisation and biofilm formation, which influenced the inactivation efficacy of ACP. Measured intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) revealed that the presence of organic matter in the bacterial suspension might present a protective effect against the action of ROS on bacterial cells. This study demonstrated that high voltage in-package ACP could be a potential technology to overcome bacterial challenges associated with food produce. However, the existence of biofilms and internalised bacteria should be considered for further optimisation of ACP treatment parameters in order to achieve an effective control of the realistic challenges posed by foodborne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial food contamination can be caused by bacteria, viruses or protozoa at different stages during food processing and storage. The resulting foodborne disease in humans are common and can be severe, especially in children, the elderly or immunocompromised persons. Several viruses have been recognised to account for a large proportion of foodborne illnesses, including human norovirus (HNoV) and hepatitis A virus (HAV). Disinfection methods are needed in all areas of the food processing environment and cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has emerged as a new technology with antimicrobial activity. CAP is generated by applying an electric field to a gas causing the formation of many active species including reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. This review evaluates the available data on CAP as a potential use for the inactivation of foodborne viruses, including studies using surrogates. We demonstrate the different types of CAP delivery for virus inactivation, including direct and indirect treatments using dielectric barrier discharges (DBD), atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJ) and plasma-activated water (PAW). The effect of particular CAP species and the resulting mode of action is also discussed. CAP can successfully inactivate foodborne viruses and its potential as a non-toxic, residue-free sanitation system for fresh foods makes it highly attractive to the industry. However, the lack of standard devices or protocols makes it difficult to meaningfully translate findings. Thus, we propose future research steps that are necessary for upscaling, dose standardisation and following translation to the industry in the near future. • Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) can successfully inactivate foodborne viruses. • Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are important for viral inactivation. • Non-toxic, residue-free sanitation system is highly attractive to the food industry. • Standardisation of devices and treatment protocols is necessary for upscaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of plasma‐activated water (PAW) generated by two novel plasma reactors against pathogenic foodborne illness organisms. Methods and results: The antimicrobial efficacy of PAW produced by a bubble spark discharge (BSD) reactor and a dielectric barrier discharge‐diffuser (DBDD) reactor operating at atmospheric conditions with air, multiple discharge frequencies and Milli‐Q and tap water, was investigated with model organisms Listeria innocua and Escherichia coli in situ. Optimal conditions were subsequently employed for pathogenic bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli and Salmonella enterica. DBDD‐PAW reduced more than 6‐log of bacteria within 1 min. The BSD‐PAW, while attaining high log reduction, was less effective. Analysis of physicochemical properties revealed that BSD‐PAW had a greater variety of reactive species than DBDD‐PAW. Scavenger assays designed to specifically sequester reactive species demonstrated a critical role of superoxide, particularly in DBDD‐PAW. Conclusions: DBDD‐PAW demonstrated rapid antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria, with superoxide the critical reactive species. Significance and impact of study: This study demonstrates the potential of DBDD‐PAW produced using tap water and air as a feasible and cost‐effective option for antimicrobial applications, including food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the increasing demand for fertilizers to support the global food supply, as well as the high-energy consumption and environmental concerns caused by industrial nitrogen fixation (i.e., Haber–Bosch process), there is a critical need to develop and integrate more sustainable, green-chemistry-based processes of nitrogen fixation. As a prominently electrified Power-to-X (where X stands for chemicals, fuels, and other high-value products) approach, non-thermal plasmas generated by the spark and gliding arc discharges are highly promising to meet the required criteria, especially when the power and the electrified chemical reactions are precisely dosed and timed using nanosecond repetitively pulsed plasmas. However, the underlying mechanism for NOx formation in plasmas is a stumbling block for further green chemistry process developments. Here, a nanosecond pulsed spark discharge based on a plate-to-plate configuration was developed for sustainable nitrogen fixation at ambient conditions. Outstanding energy efficiency of 4–11 g kW h−1 and a concentration of 960–10 900 ppm for NOx formation were obtained with the varied airflow rates ranging from 40 to 340 mL min−1. Using the optical emission spectroscopy and the chemical kinetics model, we found that the key intermediate species involved in NOx reaction pathways strongly depend on the plasma parameters and species residence time in spark discharges. It is revealed that more than 50% of the generated NO originate from the chain reactions of O and N radicals with vibrationally excited N2 and O2 molecules (O + N2(υ) → NO + N and N + O2(υ) → NO + O). Most NO2 molecules are formed by further oxidation of NO species (NO + O → NO2). The presence of O and N spectral lines at the post-discharge stage further confirmed the important role of free-radical-chain reactions. These results provide new insights into sustainable and decentralized NOx production, and deeper understanding of the plasma-based green chemistry will guide the optimization and practical applications of the plasma-based power-to-chemical nitrogen fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New and sustainable food processing platforms are urgently needed to address global food safety and preservation challenges. Nonthermal plasma discharges generated within the food packaging, referred to as the in-package plasma, is a highly promising approach. The in-package plasma technique is very effective for bacterial and sporal sterilization with limited thermal and adverse effects on food quality while requiring low energy inputs and no added potentially hazardous food preservatives. This review provides insights into the fundamental mechanisms of food preservation based on the in-package plasma in diverse processing configurations and packaging gas chemistries. The current and emerging state-of-the-art in-package plasma-based food applications and the prevailing microbiological inactivation mechanisms are critically examined. The potential effects on various nutritional, quality attributes and chemical safety of different food products during shelf life are discussed. In-package plasma technology can be utilized to ensure microbial safety, maintain nutritional quality, and prevent cross-contamination of food products. Studies have shown that the in-package plasma effectively inactivates pathogenic microorganisms and inhibits their growth while preserving the quality of fresh and minimally processed foods during shelf life. To overcome the common limitations of current in-package plasma methods arising due to oxidation of lipids and potential packaging material modification by the reactive species, using oxygen-reduced atmospheres in combination with advanced biopolymer materials for plasma packaging are envisaged. Finally, recommendations and directions for future studies and applications are outlined to address the scientific and engineering challenges of this promising food preservation technology. • Critical analysis of recent progress in in-package plasmas for food preservation. • Fundamental physics and chemistry of cold plasmas within food packages. • Evaluation of plasma reactors and processes for in-package food treatment. • Mechanisms of microbial inactivation and food preservation by plasmas. • Outlook for the development of in-package plasma technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of non-thermal atmospheric plasma was examined against the activity of Pseudomonas -secreted proteases in milk. UHT milk samples were inoculated with crude extract of Pseudomonas -secreted proteases and treated in atmospheric plasma discharge system. Evaluation of the progress in protein hydrolysis of plasma-treated and non-treated milk samples revealed that the degree of hydrolysis was lower in plasma-treated milk samples. The longer the plasma treatment time, the lower the degree of hydrolysis during storage. Furthermore, plasma-induced changes in milk proteins and volatile compounds were also evaluated. Caseins, whey proteins, aldehydes, ketones, free fatty acids and hydrocarbons were all affected by plasma discharge. The amount of increase or decrease in these components was dependent on the duration of plasma treatment. Overall, this method is a promising approach that could be used to inactivate bacterial hydrolytic enzymes in milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large gap pin‐to‐plate, atmospheric‐pressure plasma reactor is demonstrated as means of in vitro study of plasma species interactions with cell cultures. By employing optical emission and optical absorption spectroscopy, we report that the pin‐to‐pate plasma array had an optimal discharge frequency for cell death of 1000 Hz in ambient air for the target cancer cell line, human glioblastoma multiform (U‐251MG). The detected plasma chemistry contained reactive oxygen and nitrogen species including OH, N2, N2+ and O3. We show that by varying the plasma discharge frequency, the plasma chemistry can be tailored to contain up to 8.85 times higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as a factor increase of up to 2.86 for levels of reactive nitrogen species (RNS). At higher frequencies, ROS are more dominant than RNS, which allows for a more dynamic and controlled environment for sample study without modifying the inducer gas conditions. When used for treatment of culture media and cell cultures, variation of the plasma discharge frequency over the range 1000–2500 Hz demonstrated a clear dependence of the responses, with the highest cytotoxic responses observed for 1000 Hz. We propose that the reactor offers a means of studying plasma–cell interactions and possible cofactors such as pro‐drugs and nanoparticles for a large volume of samples and conditions due to the use of well plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a green oxidant widely used in various fields, from water treatment to rocket propellant. Currently, H2O2 is predominantly manufactured via the anthraquinone process, which requires large infrastructure investments and high energy consumption. In this study, an argon plasma-catalytic bubble process was designed to generate underwater plasma bubbles for efficient delivery of reactive species for H2O2 synthesis, using only water as a reactant and solar radiation as the renewable energy source. The process demonstrates unprecedented energy efficiency by employing a plasma-bubble catalytic reactor capable of operation in two discharge modes, i.e., glow and spark discharges, and using dual reactors within a single AC-circuit to mitigate energy losses around the ground electrode. The results suggest that the principal route of H2O2 generation is from the combination of dissolved ˙OH radicals at the plasma–liquid interface (PLI) of the forming bubbles. The dissolution of H2O2 formed in the gas phase also contributes to aqueous H2O2 generation, especially when employing humid argon. By employing a secondary reactor to utilise the lost energy around the low-voltage electrode and integrating a strongly interfacial-coupled 2D-TiO2/2D-g-C3N4 photocatalyst in the glow discharge area, the achieved H2O2 production rate and energy efficiency of the system are 164.6 mg h−1 and 9.0 g kW h−1, respectively. This study provides new insights for sustainable and decentralised H2O2 production, and the proposed strategy can be further developed as a stand-alone or auxiliary technology in green and sustainable chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A plasma's working gas is a significant factor affecting their discharge characteristics and the induced chemistries during plasma–water interactions. However, the effects on the discharge mode and discharge stability have not been fully investigated. This study focuses on the discharge mode transition and stability with nitrogen and oxygen gases. Compared with the oxygen discharge, the nitrogen discharge remained stable over a larger voltage range and long duration time. A diffuse mode discharge had better stability and lower plasma activity for both nitrogen and oxygen gases, whereas a transient spark mode in nitrogen and filament mode in oxygen had lower stability but a higher plasma activity. This study improves the understanding of the physicochemical processes of plasma–water interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cold plasma was used to modify photoanodes of the SnO 2 based DSSCs. • Plasma removes hydrocarbonated and oxocarbonated species from photoanode surfaces. • N 2 plasma converts Sn into higher oxidation states and reduces oxygen vacancies. • Remarkable efficiency increasement of ~410% was achieved. Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are an attractive third-generation photovoltaic technology particularly promising for operation under diffuse and lower light conditions. However, high costs of the precious metals used for sensitizing dyes and low charge generation capability parameters limit the utility of DSSCs in comparison to conventional silicon solar cells. In this study, tin oxide (SnO 2) photoelectrodes are treated with non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasmas to enhance photovoltaic performance. The effects of nitrogen and argon plasma surface treatment of photoanodes on the efficiency enhancement of DSSCs are systematically investigated by fabricating solar cells using pristine SnO 2 and plasma-treated photoanodes. Solar cells made with Eosin Y sensitized pristine SnO 2 photoanode exhibited a short circuit current density (J SC) of 1.03 mA cm−2 and an overall power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.30% whereas solar cells made with nitrogen plasma treated photoanode exhibited a J SC of 6.20 mA cm−2 and an overall PCE of 1.53% (4 times enhancement) under the same illumination of 100 mW cm−2 (AM 1.5). The efficiency of the solar cells fabricated with Ar plasma treated SnO 2 photoanodes also showed an enhanced power conversion efficiency. Further characterizations revealed that the surface plasma treatments increased the surface roughness of the photoanodes. Plasma treatment led to the incorporation of nitrogen species and removal of surface impurities resulting in an increase in dye adsorption in the photoanode and hence the enhancement in the efficiency of the DSSC. This study demonstrated a one-pot treatment method for efficiency enhancement which could be used in various applications such as photovoltaic, catalytic and energy generation applications including DSSCs, thin-film solar cells, perovskite solar cells, gas sensing, bio-sensing, supercapacitors, Li-ion batteries and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we demonstrate that atmospheric air plasma bubbles are an effective, energy‐efficient, residue‐free alternative to current decontamination techniques. Five to fifteen minutes of plasma‐bubble treatments of inoculated chicken skin led to a significant reduction in colony‐forming units (CFUs). We show that the activation efficiency is dependent on the plasma discharge frequency, with a higher one (2,000 Hz) leading to a higher CFU reduction (1.4 log) as compared with a lower (0.3 log) reduction at 1,000 Hz. Scanning electron microscopy pictures of treated bacteria reveal damage to the cells. An evaluation of the physicochemical properties of the generated plasma‐activated water revealed an increase in conductivity and in ozone, nitrite, nitrate, hydroxyl, and peroxide concentrations with higher frequencies, all contributing to the observed antimicrobial effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma-enabled liquefaction (PEL) is an emerging technology to transform renewable biomass into value-added fuels and chemicals through the plasma-induced highly-reactive chemical reactions. However, biomass dramatically ranges in the feedstock content in terms of hemicelluloses, cellulose, lignin, and ash, strongly affecting the liquefaction performance. Here, we performed the liquefaction of three typical lignocellulosic materials (sawdust, corncob and rice straw) with different feedstock contents in a PEL system. The influence of the catalyst content and the reaction time on the degradation of each biomass was investigated to understand the effect of the feedstock content on liquefaction yield. The results confirmed that the chemical contents of the lignocellulosic biomass especially the amount of lignin and ash significantly affected the liquefaction yield, the quality of liquid products and the distributions of the chemicals obtained. Compared with the PEL performance of corncob and rice straw, the higher energy yield (liquid fuels) was achieved in the PEL of sawdust, owing to higher content of lignin and less ash inside. Moreover, possible reaction pathways of lignocellulose biomass liquefaction were deduced based on the chemical analysis. Overall, this work demonstrated that the proposed PEL strategy could be a promising approach for rapid biomass conversion with high energy efficiencies. • Fast liquefaction of biomass was performed in a low temperature plasma reactor. • Corncob was completely liquefied in 3 min during the plasma liquefaction process. • Distribution of liquid products of different biomass were symmetrically analysed. • Higher lignin content in the feedstock resulted in higher energy yield. • Higher liquefaction rate and energy efficiency were achieved in the PEL process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• LIBS quantification of calcium in liquid infant formula. • Use of a rotatory wheel for liquid surface analysis through formation of thin films. • Linear regression with PLS successfully developed. • Calcium contents were predicted with good accuracy. The present work illustrates the potential of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the direct analysis of liquid food products. The aim of the experiment was to predict calcium content in ready-to-feed infant formula. The analysis was performed by a LIBS system coupled to a liquid sample chamber with a rotatory wheel that presents the liquid to the laser beam as a thin film. Multivariate analysis with partial least squares regression (PLSR) was performed to correlate LIBS spectral data to reference calcium contents. The obtained PLSR model exhibited a good fit and linearity, as indicated by the coefficients of determination for calibration (R c 2) and cross-validation (R cv 2), with values of 0.96 and 0.89, respectively. The robustness of the calibration model was assessed by external validation showing a root-mean-square error of prediction of 6.45 mg 100 mL−1. These results demonstrated the potential of LIBS for real-time analysis of liquid food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial decontamination during the thawing process would offer an effective intervention step to ensure food safety. In this study, plasma-activated water (PAW) and slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) are proposed as the thawing media to assure microbiological safety and retain quality attributes of beef. Compared to the conventional air thawing (AT) and water thawing (WT), PAW thawing (PT) and SAEW thawing (ST) were found to efficiently inactivate the total bacteria, fungi and yeast in beef by 0.83 – 1.76 logs. In addition, PT and ST did not pose any detrimental effect on the physicochemical and sensory quality attributes of beef compared with AT, WT and microwave thawing (MT). The oxidation of lipid and proteins and the structure of proteins in beef was better retarded by PT and ST. PAW and SAEW as active thawing media provided thawed beef with higher microbial safety and maintained quality attributes compared with conventional thawing methods. • PAW and SAEW were used as active beef thawing media. • PAW and SAEW effectively reduced the microbial loads of beef during thawing. • PAW resulted in non-detective levels of pathogens- S. aureus and Salmonella in beef. • PAW and SAEW retarded lipid oxidation of beef during thawing. • PAW and SAEW did not induce detrimental effects due to protein oxidation or changes on muscle micro-structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) treatment is an emerging food technology for product safety and quality retention, shelf-life extension and sustainable processing. The activated chemical species of ACP can act rapidly against microorganisms without leaving chemical residues on food surfaces. The main objective of this study was to investigate the efficiency and mechanisms of inactivation of fungal spores and biofilms by ACP and to understand the effects of gas-mediated versus liquid-mediated mode of application against important fungal contaminants. Aspergillus flavus was selected as the model microorganism. A. flavus spores were exposed to either gas plasma (GP) or plasma activated water (PAW), whereas gas plasma alone was used to treat A. flavus biofilms. This study demonstrated that both GP and PAW treatment independently resulted in a significant decrease of A. flavus metabolic activity and spore counts with maximal reductions of 2.2 and 0.6 log10 units for GP and PAW, respectively. The characterization of the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in PAW and the spore suspensions indicated that the concentration of secondary reactive species was an important factor influencing the antimicrobial activity of the treatment. The biofilm study showed that GP had detrimental effects on biofilm structure, however, the initial inoculum concentration prior to biofilm formation can be a crucial factor influencing the fungicidal effects of ACP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) enhances uptake and accumulation of nanoparticles and promotes synergistic cytotoxicity against cancer cells. However, the mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we investigate the enhanced uptake of theranostic nanomaterials by CAP. Numerical modelling of the uptake of gold nanoparticle into U373MG Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells predicts that CAP may introduce a new uptake route. We demonstrate that cell membrane repair pathways play the main role in this stimulated new uptake route, following non-toxic doses of dielectric barrier discharge CAP. CAP treatment induces cellular membrane damage, mainly via lipid peroxidation as a result of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Membranes rich in peroxidised lipids are then trafficked into cells via membrane repairing endocytosis. We confirm that the enhanced uptake of nanomaterials is clathrin-dependent using chemical inhibitors and silencing of gene expression. Therefore, CAP-stimulated membrane repair increases endocytosis and accelerates the uptake of gold nanoparticles into U373MG cells after CAP treatment. We demonstrate the utility of CAP to model membrane oxidative damage in cells and characterise a previously unreported mechanism of membrane repair to trigger nanomaterial uptake. This knowledge will underpin the development of new delivery strategies for theranostic nanoparticles into cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homogeneous penetration of atmospheric pressure uniform air plasma (APUAP) into thin gaps is highly warranted for multipurpose processing of materials. Here, we report APUAP generation in a 7 mm discharge gap with ambient air as the working gas, well beyond the presently maximum achievable 4 mm. Driven by a short pulse high voltage power, a 7 mm wide and 60 mm long uniform air plasma sheet is generated. The discharge is robust and the uniformity is not affected by the complex and variable components of ambient air, as is the case for most plasma discharges in air. Ultrafast photography shows that, different from previous reports, the discharge initiates in the whole air gap simultaneously and brightens quickly with the fast rise of the pulsed voltage. The generation of uniform plasma is mainly attributed to the high density of seed electrons and the reduced number density of molecules in air. Moreover, the achievable gas temperature of up to 1300 K indicates that this type of plasma is suitable for processing of a broad range of materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was investigated to determine magnesium (Mg) content in infant formula powder. To predict Mg content in the range established by the Codex Alimentarius, a partial least squares regression (PLSR) model was developed using a calibration data set (n = 30) based on full cross-validation and validated using an independent validation data set (n = 21). The prediction model performance was evaluated using the regression coefficients of determination (R cv 2 = 0.94 and R p 2 = 0.85) with the root mean square errors on cross-validation and prediction (RMSECV = 60 mg kg−1 and RMSEP = 80 mg kg−1). The limit of detection (150 mg kg−1) was also calculated. In addition, LIBS successfully predicted the Mg content distributed within a pellet. This study demonstrated that LIBS is suitable as a rapid reagent-free method for the quantification of Mg in powdered infant formula and can provide spatial information with acceptable accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An emulsion containing clove, oregano and cinnamon compound EOs was developed. • The physicochemical properties of the compound EO emulsion were characterized. • The emulsion had excellent post-storage stability and antioxidant activity. • The emulsion performed good anti-bacterial/biofilm by inducing quick cell damages. Natural essential oils (EOs), especially those combining different individual EOs (also termed composite EOs) with enhanced performance, are becoming healthy, market-sought food preservatives/additives. This study aims to provide insights into the challenge regarding EOs processing due to their low solubility and the elusive mechanism under the enhanced bio-reactivity of composite EOs. A unique oil/water interacting network was created by phase-inversion processing, which enhances EO solubilization and emulsification to form composite EO formulations (EOFs) containing ordinary cinnamon, oregano and clove EOs. These EOFs mainly contained cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol and eugenol and exhibited excellent post-storage stability. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability of EOFs (at 15.880 μL/mL) was > 88%, and the Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) was 1.8 mM FeSO 4 ·7H 2 O. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of EOFs against E. coli and S. aureus was ∼7.940 μL/mL. The EOFs could cause quick deterioration of bacterial structures, demonstrating high efficacy in bacteria-killing and anti-biofilm formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Fix N 2 as aqueous nitrates and nitrites from air plasma with underwater bubbles. • Enhance nitrogen oxidation catalytic activity by a structured TiO 2 catalyst. • Gaseous NO x surface adsorption and reactions from catalyst characterizations. • Critical intermediate species and chemical pathways from plasma chemical modelling. Current industrial nitrogen fixation technology is unsustainable and has adverse environmental effects due to its reliance on fossil fuels. Using electricity-driven non-thermal plasma catalysis to fix nitrogen into NO 3 − is a promising solution, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study integrates a structured catalyst into a plasma column with a water-electrode bubble reactor that can fix nitrogen at ambient pressure and temperature with a 93% selectivity to NO 3 − with excellent catalytic stability. Characterizations of the catalyst and in situ plasma diagnostics indicate that the enhanced production of nitrate ions is due to abundant chemisorbed oxidized nitrogens species originating from NO and NO 2 produced by the air plasma. The plasma chemistry model combined with DFT simulations demonstrates the role of structured TiO 2 supported by 5% graphene oxide (GO) to improve NO x surface association while minimizing NO x backwards dissociation. The modelling results suggest the critical role of NO 3(ad) in enhancing NO x production predominantly in the form of N 2 O 5 molecule in the gas phase, resulting in efficient NO 3 − (aq) production as a final product in water. The study offers novel findings on plasma-catalyzed nitrogen fixation, advancing its potential for clean energy and eco-friendly chemical production through plasma-based power-to-chemical processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, plasma-activated water (PAW) was prepared by discharge below the surface of sterile distilled water. In addition to physicochemical properties, the bactericidal effect and mechanism of action of PAW were studied using Escherichia coli as the target microorganism. The plasma treatment would cause an increase in the redox potential (ORP), electrical conductivity (EC), NO 3 − and NO 2 − content, and a decrease in the pH of the water. At the same time, the sterilization effect of PAW on E. coli was progressively stronger with both discharge and immersion time, up to a maximum of 4.25 log CFU/mL. In addition, the EC, NO 3 − and NO 2 − content, as well as the bactericidal efficacy of PAW decreased with increasing storage time. The properties and bactericidal effects did not change significantly after PAW thawing (p > 0.05). Finally, proteomics techniques were used to identify and classify the differential proteins before and after PAW treatment. PAW treatment induced a stress response in E. coli. Differential expression proteins of biological processes including the metabolism of phosphorus-containing compounds and the cellular response to stimuli, as well as various binding-related and membrane structure-related, were induced. [Display omitted] • The effects of plasma discharge time on the properties of PAW were studied. • The stability of PAW was investigated. • Bactericidal mechanism of PAW against E. coli was explored by proteomics technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Front Cover: The cold plasma‐based inner‐surface decontamination is of particular relevance to biofouling of pipelines, both industrial and clinical. A helium porous plasma jet based on gas diffuser was designed, with the aim of decontaminating inner surfaces of relevant contaminated structures. The porous plasma jet operates with discharge modes in ambient air and inside vessels. Its decontamination capacity is demonstrated by inactivation efficacy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm as a well characterised biofilm model. Further details can be found in the article by Peng Lu, Dana Ziuzina, Patrick J. Cullen, and Paula Bourke (e1800055). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a helium porous plasma jet based on gas diffuser, designed with the aim of decontaminating inner surfaces of contaminated structures, e.g., pipes. The porous plasma jet operates with three discharge modes in ambient air and inside a vessel. Its decontamination capacity is demonstrated by evaluating the inactivation efficacy of biofilm form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, adherent to inner surface of a glass vial. Plasma treatments for 5 min with filament mode and double region helium discharge mode reduced bacterial numbers by 2.4 and 2.5 Log10 CFU/ml. Plasma treatment with double region air‐like discharge mode was the most effective, reducing bacterial cells by 4.5 Log10 CFU/ml, which demonstrates porous plasma jet could provide an efficient approach for inner surface decontamination. A helium porous plasma jet has been presented. With the proper discharge mode, it significantly inactivates Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm adherent to the inner surface of a glass vial by greater than 4 Log10 CFU/ml. The porous plasma jet presented can provide an efficient alternative for the inner surface sterilization in relevant sectors, such as medical device, food and pharmacy industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was employed to predict the sodium content of infant formula (IF) over the range 0.5–4 mg Na g −1 . Calibration models were built using partial least squares regression (PLS), correlating the LIBS spectral data with reference Na content quantified by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The main aim of this study was to demonstrate the ability of LIBS as a rapid tool for quantifying sodium in IF, but also to explore strategies concerning the acquisition and pre-processing of LIBS spectra. A range of different pre-processing techniques, measuring depths (repetition of laser shots) and accumulations were conducted and evaluated in terms of PLS performance. The best calibration model was developed using the third-layer spectra normalised by the H I 656.29 nm emission line, yielding a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) of 0.93, and root-mean-square errors (RMSE) of 0.37 and 0.13 mg g −1 for cross-validation and validation, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The effect of two novel technologies, also in combination, on germination and growth of soybeans has been investigated. On one side, ultrasound treatment of the seeds increased water uptake without altering the morphology and the wettability of the seed coat, but also induced slight chemical modifications of the outer part of the seed. Plasma-activated water (PAW), obtained from treating water with non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma in air, increased the rate of germination and subsequent plant growth. Different combinations of these two technologies were tested in order to study their interaction and to identify an optimum treatment process. Industrial relevance A great urgency in crop management is to enhance sustainability. The aim is to achieve a cheap and eco-friendly production process reducing the wide current use of energy, irrigation water, chemicals and pesticides. Soybeans is a legume whose worldwide production is increasing in the last years therefore a higher efficiency and sustainability in its cultivation is obviously very appealing. Cold plasma and Ultrasound technologies are well-known in the industrial scenario and their applications in crop production are recently drawing attention; the potential of combining these two powerful techniques is clearly very promising. Highlights • PAW has increasing concentration of NO 3 −, NO 2 −, H 2 O 2 and acidity with treatment time. • US induces changes on surface chemistry and water permeability. • US and PAW, alone or synergistically, increase the germination rate. • PAW treated for 1 min results in faster growth of plants in soil both on NTS or US. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]