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The traditional stir-fry process before pressing is crucial to manufacture Hainan camellia oil. To assess the effects of the stir-fry process on Hainan camellia oil, six samples across different stir-fry stages were analyzed. The stir-fry process modified odors, volatile metabolite profiles, and human health-promoting functions of Hainan camellia oil. Totally, 350 volatile metabolites were detected, and heterocyclic compounds were revealed as the main contributors of strong aroma. Potential indicators for monitoring the stir-fry degree were established. Eight key aroma volatile metabolites were identified, including three new ones (1-octen-3-one, 2,3-butanedione, and vanillin). Lipids degradation and the Millard reaction are probably the main pathways for aroma generation. Over-stir-fry treatment diminished the contents of some important volatile metabolites but increased the risk of arising burnt odor. Our work offered insights into the effects of the stir-fry process and over-stir-fry treatment on Hainan camellia oil, which is meaningful for improving the hot-pressing technique.

IntroductionCitrus hybrids with Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf. introgression have gained interest due to their tolerance to Huanglongbing (HLB), a devastating disease for Florida citrus agriculture. While these hybrids inherit disease tolerance from P. trifoliata, they sometimes also suffer from undesirable off-flavors.MethodsA selection of thirteen genotypes were harvested over the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons. Their juices were evaluated by a trained sensory panel and were comprehensively analyzed for their chemical makeup, including soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), volatiles, flavonoids and limonoids.Results & discussionOverall, along with the commercial orange cultivars ‘Valencia’ and ‘Hamlin’, the HLB-tolerant Poncirus hybrid ‘US SunDragon,’ and the mandarin hybrids Sugar Belle®, FF-5-51-2, and ‘US Superna’ had positive citrus flavor quality. Esters, some sesquiterpenes, along with flavonoids, eriocitrin and quercetin-3-(3R-glucosylrutinoside), were positively correlated with orange flavor while β-ionone and eucalyptol were highly abundant in the mandarins. The flavonoid linarin, was more abundant in Poncirus hybrids with off-flavors than in the Poncirus hybrid ‘US SunDragon’, having high orange flavor. Two mandarin hybrids, FF-5-6-36 and FTP-6-32-67, were not bitter at harvest, but the juice exhibited delayed bitterness after storage at -20°C, which was associated with significant increases of limonin, nomilin, naringenin, and prunin. Interestingly, during freezer storage, a newly identified flavonoid in citrus, tricin-C-hexoside, increased dramatically across all of the genotypes. The identification of disease-tolerant hybrids with satisfactory flavor quality at juicing as well as after storage where delayed bitterness may develop, has great significance for future breeding efforts for fresh fruit or for use in stand-alone juice/juice blends.

Abstract The E/S (exposed/susceptible) ratio is analyzed in the SEIR model. The ratio plays a key role in understanding epidemic dynamics during the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone and Guinea. The maximum value of the ratio occurs immediately before or after the time-dependent reproduction number (R t ) equals 1, depending on the initial susceptible population (S(0)). It is demonstrated that transmission rate curves corresponding to various incubation periods intersect at a single point referred to as the Cross Point (CP). At this point, the E/S ratio reaches an extremum, signifying a critical shift in transmission dynamics and aligning with the time when R t approaches 1. By plotting transmission rate curves, β(t), for any two arbitrary incubation periods and tracking their intersections, we can trace CP over time. CP serves as an indicator of epidemic status, especially when R t is close to 1. It provides a practical means of monitoring epidemics without prior knowledge of the incubation period. Through a case study, we estimate the transmission rate and reproduction number, identifying CP and R t = 1 while examining the E/S ratio across various values of S(0).

The discovery of an inhibitor for acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4), a protein involved in the process of cell injury through ferroptosis, has the potential to ameliorate cell damage. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential of berberine (BBR) as an inhibitor of ACSL4 in order to suppress endothelial ferroptosis and provide protection against atherosclerosis. An atherosclerosis model was created in ApoE-/- mice by feeding a high fat diet for 16 weeks. Additionally, a mouse model with endothelium-specific overexpression of ACSL4 was established. BBR was administered orally to assess its potential therapeutic effects on atherosclerosis. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) to simulate atherosclerotic endothelial damage in vitro. The interaction between ACSL4 and BBR has been confirmed, with BBR playing a role in inhibiting erastin-induced ferroptosis by regulating ACSL4. Additionally, BBR has been found to inhibit lipid deposition, plaque formation, and collagen deposition in the aorta, thereby delaying the progression of atherosclerosis. It also restored the abnormal expression of ferroptosis-related proteins in atherosclerotic vascular endothelial cells both in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, BBR, acting as an ACSL4 inhibitor, can improve atherosclerosis by inhibiting ferroptosis in endothelial cells. This highlights the potential of targeted inhibition of vascular endothelial ACSL4 as a strategy for treating atherosclerosis, with BBR being a candidate for this purpose.

We investigated the host status of harvest-ready green Persian lime, Citrus x latifolia Tan. (Rutaceae), to Oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis [Hendel]) and Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata [Wiedemann]) (Diptera: Tephritidae) using laboratory and field studies. In forced-infestation small cage exposures (using 25 × 25 × 25 cm screened cages with 50 gravid females) and large olfactometer cage tests (using 2.9 × 2.9 × 2.5 m walk-in screened cages with 100 gravid females), punctured limes were infested by Oriental fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly at low rates compared to papaya controls, whereas undamaged intact fruit was not infested. Field collection and packing of 45,958 commercial export-grade fruit and subsequent incubation to look for natural infestation resulted in no emergence of fruit flies. Forced infestation studies in the field using sleeve cages to enclose fruit with a high density of fruit flies (50 gravid females) on the tree also showed no infestation. Commercial export-grade Persian lime fruit should be considered a conditional nonhost for Oriental fruit fly and Mediterranean fruit fly.

Abstract The authors show a PM motor drive with the maximum speed of 170,000 r/min for a super‐high‐speed centrifugal air compressor, which is used in high‐altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Conventional turbochargers used in high‐altitude UAV are usually driven by the exhaust of the engine in the fuel cell system; however, the exhaust is composed of vapour and water drop, which can't drive a mechanical turbocharger effectively. In this circumstance, a super‐high‐speed electric centrifugal compressor becomes attractive to boost the air pressure and improve overall efficiency. A wide‐speed‐adaptive sliding mode observer (WSA‐SMO) is adopted to realise the super‐high‐speed sensorless control. A super‐high‐speed motor drive system is developed based on the WSA‐SMO. The current waveform at 170,000 r/min is shown to prove the steady state performance. The acceleration curves and start/stop curves are shown to demonstrate the excellent dynamic performances.

Abstract Pseudorabies virus (PRV) can infect multiple hosts and lead to fatal encephalitis. There is a significant increase in the number of microglia in the brain of animals infected with PRV. However, whether and how microglia contribute to central nervous system damage in PRV infection remain unknown. In the present study, we elucidated that PRV infection can cause more severe inflammatory cell infiltration, thicker and more numerous vessel sleeve walls, and more severe inflammatory responses in the brains of natural hosts (pigs) than in those of nonnatural hosts (mice). In a mice infection model, activated microglia restricted viral replication in the early stage of infection. Acute neuroinflammation caused by microglia hyperactivation at late-stage of infection. Furthermore, in vitro experiments revealed that microglia restricted viral replication and decreased viral infectivity. This may be associated with the phagocytic ability of microglia because we observed a significant increase in the expression of the membrane receptor TREM2 in microglia, which is closely related to phagocytosis, we observed that depletion of microglia exacerbated neurological symptoms, blood–brain barrier breakdown, and peripheral lymphocyte infiltration. Taken together, we revealed the dual role of microglia in protecting the host and neurons from PRV infection.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the primary inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) and causes a serious threat to human public health around the world. Currently, there are no proven safe and effective treatment options to treat UC. Fraxetin (Fxt) is a widely recognized antioxidant and anti-inflammatory legume derived from ash bark. In the present study, we investigated the protective effect and mechanism of Fxt on UC. Our results showed that Fxt significantly attenuated the body weight, colon length reduction, tissue damage, and disease activity index induced by dextran sodium sulphate (DSS). Moreover, the DSS-induced activation of the NF-κB pathway and NLRP3 inflammasomes was inhibited, and the inflammatory response was reduced. Fxt restored gut barrier function by increasing the number of goblet cells and the levels of tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and occludin). In addition, Fxt can alter the intestinal microbiota by enhancing the diversity of the microbiota, increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria and inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria. These results revealed that Fxt alleviates DSS-induced colitis by modulating the inflammatory response, enhancing epithelial barrier integrity and regulating the gut microbiota. This study may provide a scientific basis for the potential therapeutic effect of Fxt in the prevention of colitis and other related diseases.

A two-dimensional sand tank model was designed to investigate the water distribution and sediment clogging of the Yellow River water during the seepage recharge process of the piedmont sand gravel channel in the North China Plain. Due to the high permeability of the sand gravel medium, only infiltration deep runoff (IDR) and surface runoff (SR) occurred in the sand tank experiment. The increase in water released did not improve the effective recharge. The IDR accounted for 65–85% of the water released. After clogging appeared, the value decreased to 15–30%. More than 96% of suspended solids were deposited in the surface and upper areas of the sand tank, among which the sand gravel surface covered by the thin clay layer formed by suspended particles was the main cause of the change in the distribution of IDR and SR. A rubber dam can promote the conversion of high velocity SR to low velocity lateral shallow runoff (LSR) by 25–30% while increasing the deposition mass of suspended particles in the sand tank. The rationality of the sand tank model was verified by the numerical model, and the fitting degree between the simulated and the measured results was greater than 0.9. HIGHLIGHTS Only infiltration deep runoff and surface runoff appear during recharging of the piedmont sand gravel channel.; The suspended solids concentration and the medium infiltration capacity have a major effect on water and sediment movement processes in the recharging.; The rubber dam built on the riverbed surface can promote the conversion of surface runoff to lateral shallow runoff.;

The quality of two kiwifruit varieties [Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa, ‘Hayward’ (green-fleshed), and Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis, ‘Zesy002’ (gold-fleshed)] was determined after X-ray irradiation at doses suitable for disinfestation of quarantine pests. Fruit were treated with irradiation doses of 0, 200, 400, 600, or 800 Gy and stored for 14 days at 2 °C. Irradiation did not affect soluble solids content, respiration rate, or taste. Minimal softening occurred to ‘Zesy002’ treated with irradiation doses of 400 or 800 Gy. No visible radiation injury, scald, or discoloration was observed. Irradiation treatment of kiwifruit at doses ≤800 Gy would ensure visual, compositional, and sensory quality while providing quarantine security.

Beverage mixtures based on pineapple juice (80–100%), with varying concentrations of turmeric (0–20%) and ginger (0–20%) juice were developed. The pineapple juice alone exhibited a total soluble solid (TSS) content of 15.90–16.03 °Brix. The total polyphenols content (TPC) varied between 0.32 and 1.79 mg GAE/mL, and the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition was between 40.56% and 86.19% and correlated with the TPC and curcumin and other curcuminoids. The formulations with a high pulp content showed a significantly higher TPC and greater DPPH inhibition than those with a low pulp content. Turmeric and ginger with a high amount of pulp had a higher abundance of volatile compounds. Significant differences were observed by the panelists in the taste and mouthfeel attributes and the low-pulp juices were associated with increased palatability due to the better mouthfeel, higher sweetness, and decreased bitterness, pepperiness, pulpiness, and spiciness. The pineapple juice mixtures with 10% turmeric juice and 10% or less ginger juice were most preferred by sensory panelists.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is an important economic crop grown widely in tropical and subtropical regions. Guava exhibits fast ripening and senescence as a climacteric fruit, causing a short shelf life and quality deterioration. Chitosan–essential oil nanoemulsions can be an edible coating used to improve postharvest quality attributes. In this study, chitosan was mixed with carvacrol to generate a nano-emulsoid solution containing 0.1 and 0.2% (v/v) carvacrol, using a sonic dismembrator. Guava fruit were coated with the above emulsion and postharvest quality parameters were measured during storage at 20 ± 1 °C and RH = 80 ± 5% for 8 days. The result illustrated that the particle size of the chitosan–carvacrol emulsions was nanoscale, and their high stability was demonstrated by the zeta potential and polydispersity index. Chitosan coating (2%, w/v, 310–375 kDa) containing 0.2% (v/v) carvacrol maintained postharvest quality compared to chitosan alone, with higher firmness, soluble solid content, total acid, and total phenol content, and lower weight loss and pericarp browning. The collective data were further verified by principal component analysis. A chitosan coating containing carvacrol can reduce postharvest losses. It can be applied as an effective strategy to improve postharvest fruit quality.

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a valuable economic crop that is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions but has a short storage and shelf life. Exploring effective strategies to improve the postharvest quality of papaya is important. This study explored the effect of humidity-triggered controlled-release 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) sheets on the postharvest quality of papaya fruit. ‘Rainbow’ papayas underwent cold storage at 10 ± 0.5 °C, RH 85% ± 2% for 14 days, and then were transferred to 20 ± 0.5 °C, RH 85% ± 2% for 10 days to simulate shelf life. The 1-MCP sheets were cut into different sizes and placed in storage containers in advance to create corresponding concentrations at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 ppm. Results showed that 1-MCP treatment inhibited fruit softening, and reduced weight loss and peel color deterioration without causing any physiological disorders. The 1.0–2.0 ppm 1-MCP-treated fruit received the highest score for papaya flavor and sweetness respectively and the lowest score for off-flavor. The humidity-triggered controlled-release 1-MCP sheets are effective and convenient, and they can serve as an important tool for regulating postharvest papaya ripening with economic benefits.

Virtual water trade in a region is affected by both nature and by humans. To study the contribution of human activities on virtual water trade quantitatively, an innovative method of quantitative comparison and analysis is put forward. At first, climates are adjusted into a unified standard. Then the impacts of increment and reduction of foreign water are studied. Additionally, the impacts of water management policy are studied according to the comparable water quotas. Results show that with the development of the economy, an N-shaped trend and inverted U-shaped trend exist with regard to the net exports of agricultural and industrial virtual water, respectively. The net imports of virtual water have beneficial effects to water environments in water deficient areas, while net exports have negative effects. In 1997, the net exports of agricultural and industrial virtual water reduced by 20.13% and 49.67% respectively due to the cut-off of the Yellow River channel compared with that under average Yellow River water diversion. In 2017, they increased by 1.32% and 41.99% respectively because of the South-to-North Water Transfer (SNWT) project and reduced by 10.01% and 20.39% respectively under the effects of the most stringent water management policy. HIGHLIGHTS Impact of human activities on virtual water trades are analyzed quantitatively.; Net exports of virtual water are harmful to the ecological environment.; Increment of foreign water accelerates the net export of virtual water.;

To study the influences of sand and gravel layer and groundwater velocity of Yufuhe River on atrazine migration, adsorption-desorption and sand column experiments were carried out. Results show that the adsorption capacity of montmorillonite, raw sand and washed sand to atrazine sequentially weakens. In different media, the time for atrazine concentrations to peak in washed sand with montmorillonite (WSM), raw sand and washed sand is 60, 135 and 105 minutes respectively, and the peak concentration accounts for 84, 90 and 95% of the initial concentrations. Under different flow rates, the peak time in washed sand at flow rates of 100, 150 and 200 mL/min is 135, 105 and 75 minutes, and the peak time in WSM is 90, 60 and 45 minutes, respectively. Results from this study indicate that increasing flow velocity and suspended colloids concentrations can promote the migration of atrazine in aquifers, while the presence of clay minerals in sand and gravel layers can reduce atrazine migration. Thus, during Yellow River water recharging, the sand and gravel layer of Yufuhe River is helpful to protect the aquifer, but the colloids-associated migration of atrazine can contaminate groundwater in underlying karst aquifer. HIGHLIGHTS Migrations of atrazine in porous media are related to clay minerals and colloids.; Sand and gravel layer can retard the atrazine migration during managed aquifer recharge (MAR).; Increasing groundwater velocity would accelerate atrazine migration.; This study is significant to maintain the long-term operation of the MAR.;

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) (Sapinadeae) fruit, a nutritional staple in Hawaii, exhibits desiccation and physiological browning soon after harvest, and methods to prolong shelf life may be commercially advantageous. In this study, freshly harvested fruit were treated with pectin coatings with or without trans-cinnamaldehyde (TCIN) and stored at 10 °C or 20 °C (room temperature) to evaluate postharvest quality attributes. Control fruit were treated with deionized water only. To find the best formulation of the coatings, three concentrations of TCIN were incorporated into a pectin solution to get 0.05% TCIN, 0.1% TCIN, and 0.2% TCIN coatings. At 0, 2, 4, and 6 days postharvest, fruit stored at 20 °C were evaluated for weight loss, firmness, pericarp browning, sugar, acid, and taste. The results showed that the 0.1% TCIN coating exhibited significantly lower weight loss than both control and the 0.2% TCIN coating through the entire storage time at 20 °C. The 0.1% TCIN coating–treated fruit were significantly firmer than control after 4 days of storage at 20 °C. The 0.1% TCIN coating also significantly reduced the pericarp browning over the control. Therefore, we selected 0.1% TCIN coating for fruit storage at 10 °C for up to 15 days. At 10 °C, the control fruit showed significantly higher pericarp browning than all TCIN-containing coated fruit. The 0.1% TCIN-treated fruit showed a significantly higher overall quality value than control fruit. The results indicate that the 0.1% TCIN coating may extend the commercial shelf life of rambutans and other perishable fruits. By extending shelf life, this coating can reduce postharvest losses and facilitate expanded fruit exports in Hawaii.

Beverage mixtures based on pineapple (Ananas comosus) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) juice as a ready-to-drink product were developed, and their physicochemical, nutritional, and sensory properties were evaluated. Four different concentrations of turmeric juice (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% (v/v)) were added to pineapple juice to make turmeric-fortified pineapple (TFP) juice samples. Pineapple juice without turmeric was the control. The L*, a*, b*, titratable acidity (TA), total antioxidant capacity, and %DPPH scavenging values, as well as the concentrations of the phenolic compounds curcumin and demethoxycurcumin, were significantly increased with increasing turmeric concentration. Thirty volatile compounds were detected in the mixed juice samples with turmeric. Most of the turmeric-specific compounds, including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and turmerones, were detected in the TFP juice samples. While the antioxidant activity of the juice samples increased with increasing turmeric concentration, the pineapple juice fortified with 10% turmeric (10%T) had the best overall quality as determined by panelists. Greater concentrations of turmeric were associated with decreased palatability due to reduced mouthfeel and sweetness and increased aftertaste and sourness. These results suggest that the 10%T juice could be developed into a commercial functional beverage with increased overall flavor and nutritional quality.

Enterococcus faecalis is a potential animal and human pathogen. Improper use of antibiotics encourages resistance. Bacteriophages and their derivatives are promising for treating drug-resistant bacterial infections. In this study, phylogenetic and electron microscopy analyses of phage vB_EfaS_WH1 (WH1) isolated from chicken feces revealed it to be a novel phage in the family Siphoviridae. WH1 showed good pH stability (4–11), temperature tolerance (4–60 °C), and broad E. faecalis host range (60% of isolates). Genome sequencing revealed a 56,357 bp double-stranded DNA genome with a G+C content of 39.21%. WH1 effectively destroyed E. faecalis EF01 biofilms, even at low concentrations. When WH1 was applied at 1 × 105 to 1 × 109 PFU/g to chicken breast samples stored at 4 °C, surface growing E. faecalis were appreciably eradicated after 24 h. The phage WH1 showed good antibacterial activity, which could be used as a potential biocontrol agent to reduce the formation of E. faecalis biofilm, and could also be used as an alternative for the control of E. faecalis in chicken products.

Fresh-cut mango (Mangifera indica) slices and chunks garner an exotic image and are highly appreciated for their unique flavor and nutritional value. However, processors tend to use firm unripe mangoes to achieve shelf life of 10 to 14 days, which compromises eating quality. The post-processing life of ripe fresh-cut mangoes is limited by tissue softening, translucency, and browning. The current study was undertaken to investigate whether edible coatings can extend the shelf life of fresh-cut mangoes processed at an eating-ripe stage. Three edible coatings, carboxymethylcellulose (1% w/v), aloe (Aloe vera) powder (2% w/v), and whey protein isolate (2% w/v), supplemented with calcium ascorbate 2% w/v (firming agent) and the antioxidants citric acid (0.8% w/v) and acetyl-N-cysteine (0.4% w/v), were used. The mixture of antibrowning agents, whether applied alone or with the edible coatings, was the most effective at reducing slice browning up to 10 and 11 days at 5 °C for ‘Tommy Atkins’ and ‘Kent’, respectively. In general, there were no differences in firmness and flavor among the three edible coatings. Calcium ascorbate alone did not suppress browning consistently, whereas citric acid appeared to be the ingredient having the greatest antibrowning effect on slice quality. Citric acid can easily be used by processors of fresh-cut mangoes to prevent browning.

In ovo vaccination is an attractive immunization strategy for the poultry industry. However, although most live Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine strains, such as LaSota and V4, can be used after hatching, they are pathogenic to chicken embryos when administered in ovo. We have previously reported that NDV strain TS09-C is a safe in ovo vaccine in specific-pathogen-free and commercial chicken embryos because it is attenuated in chicken embryos. However, the molecular basis of its attenuation is poorly understood. In this study, we firstly evaluated the safety of chimeric NDV strains after exchanging genes between strains TS09-C and LaSota as in ovo vaccines, and demonstrated that the attenuation of NDV in chicken embryos was dependent upon the origin of the fusion (F) protein. Next, by comparing the F protein sequences of TS09-C strain with those of LaSota and V4 strain, the R115 in cleavage site and F379 were found to be unique to TS09-C strain. The mutant viruses were generated by substituting one or two amino acids at position 115 and 379 in the F protein, and their safety as in ovo vaccine was evaluated. Mutation in residue 379 did not affect the viral embryonic pathogenicity. While the mutant virus rTS-2B (R115G mutation based on the backbone of TS09-C strain) with two basic amino acids in F cleavage site, was pathogenic to chicken embryos and similar with rLaSota in its tissue tropism, differing markedly from rTS09-C with three basic amino acids in F cleavage site. Together, these findings indicate that the F protein cleavage site containing three basic amino acids is the crucial determinant of the attenuation of TS09-C in chicken embryos. This study extends our understanding of the pathogenicity of NDV in chicken embryos and should expedite the development of in ovo vaccines against NDV.

Carnauba wax nano and micro-sized emulsions and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose coatings, alone or combined with ginger essential oils (GEO) were applied on papayas and evaluated under several storage conditions. In a first experiment, storage parameters were: 6 days at 22 °C, and 9 days at 13 °C followed by 5 days at 22 °C. In a second experiment, storage was: 5 days at 22 °C, and 10 days at 16 °C followed by 3 days at 22 °C. Coating effects were dependent on storage conditions. While fruits were in cold storage, there were few changes; however, at 22 °C, the differences between coatings became more evident. Nanoemulsions maintained papaya quality during storage by retarding firmness loss, color changes, and reducing respiration rates, resulting in delayed ripening. GEO exhibited some positive effect on fungal disease control. Nanoemulsion-based coatings improved shelf life by reducing weight loss, color development, and slowing ripening of papaya fruit.

Coatings are generally applied to fruit as microemulsions, but nanoemulsions are still experimental. ‘Nova’ mandarins (Citrus reticulata) were coated with shellac or carnauba (Copernica cerifera) microemulsions or an experimental carnauba nanoemulsion; these were compared with an uncoated control during storage for 7 days at 20 °C. Coatings were also tested on ‘Unique’ tangors (C. reticulata × C. sinensis) stored for 14 days at 10 °C followed by a simulated marketing period of 7 days at 20 °C. Fruit quality evaluations included weight loss, gloss, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), pH, SS/TA ratio, internal CO2, O2, fruit juice ethanol, and other aroma volatile content. Sensory visual shine and tangerine (C. reticulata) flavor rank tests after storage were conducted, followed by an off-flavor rating. The carnauba waxes resulted in less weight loss compared with the uncoated control and shellac coating during both experiments. There were no differences in gloss measurements of ‘Nova’ mandarins; however, shellac-coated fruit ranked highest for shine in a sensory test. For ‘Unique’ tangors, initially, shellac showed the highest gloss (shine) measurement; however, at the end of storage, the nanoemulsion exhibited the highest gloss, although it was not different from that of the microemulsion. Similarly, after storage, the nanoemulsion ranked highest for visual shine, although it was not different from that of the microemulsion. There were only minor differences in SS, TA, pH, and SS/TA among treatments. The internal CO2 gas concentration and juice ethanol content generally increased and internal O2 decreased during storage. The highest levels of CO2 and ethanol were found for the shellac treatment, as was the lowest O2, indicating anaerobic respiration. There were only minor differences among the other coating treatments; however, they were only sometimes different from those of the control, which generally had the highest O2, lowest CO2, and lowest ethanol. Shellac and the carnauba microemulsion also altered the volatile profile more than the control and the nanoemulsion did, especially for ‘Unique’ tangors. For ‘Unique’ tangors, the control and nanoemulsion ranked highest for tangerine flavor and had the least off-flavor at the end of storage. Among the coatings tested, the carnauba emulsions demonstrated less water loss, imparted more sustainable gloss, and caused less ethanol production than shellac, with the nanoemulsion exhibiting higher gloss measurements, less modifications of the atmosphere and volatile profile, and, consequently, better flavor compared with the microemulsion.

Susceptibility to mechanical injury and fast decay rates are currently two main problems of litchi fruit after harvesting. To achieve better postharvest management of litchi fruit, this study aimed to find an effective method of litchi fruit supervision during the circulation process that included mechanical injury detection and storage quality detection. For mechanical injury detection, injury-free litchis without any treatment and litchis with mild and severe mechanical injuries were dropped from 80 and 110 cm high, respectively. The electronic nose (E-nose) response, total soluble solid (TSS), and titratable acidity (TA) of samples were tested on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 after injury at room temperature. For storage quality detection, normal litchis were stored in a cold environment. The E-nose response, TSS, and TA of samples were tested on storage days 0, 3, 6, 10, 15, 19, and 24. The experimental results showed that mechanical injury not only accelerated pericarp browning but also accelerated flavor (TA and TSS) loss. The browning index quickly increased during storage, and the TSS and TA of defect-free litchis changed only barely at room temperature and during cold environment storage. After feature extraction, mechanical injury of litchi can be well-detected by E-nose from day 1 to day 4 after injury. The best mechanical injury detection time of litchi fruit is at day 4 after injury under room temperature storage conditions. After singular sensor elimination and comprehensive feature extraction, the storage time and browning degree, but not TSS and TA, of litchi fruit can be detected by E-nose. E-nose data preprocessing should differ according to the litchi variety and detection target.

Numerous studies demonstrated that winter melons (Benincasa hispida) have a long storage life at 20°C without quality and flavor degradation in fruit. However, fruit for processing are frequently handled under refrigerated conditions or exposed to a warehouse without air conditioning. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate whether a short high- and low-temperature storage of fruit, prior to processing, changes the flavor and nutritional profiles of winter melon juice. Weight loss of 1.71% was recorded subsequent to 20 days of 10°C storage, with 5.15% weight loss at 30°C. Sugar content significantly decreased during storage at 10°C and 30°C, while the soluble solids content slightly increased. Several specific phenolic compounds were detected, and the total concentration of phenolics increased over the storage time at both temperatures. The concentration of sulfur compounds, as well as hexanal and total volatiles that are principally responsible for off-flavor reduced significantly during storage and the reduction was greater at 10°C than at 30°C. The results indicate that preprocessing fruit storage at 10 or 30°C for 20 days will not harm the quality and flavor of winter melon juice. However, longer storage time caused water-soaked spots at 10°C and dry rot at 30°C.

Florida orange trees have been affected by huanglongbing (HLB) for more than a decade. To alleviate disease-caused tree decline, maintain fruit productivity, and reduce disease transmission, enhanced foliar spray programs combining vector control and nutritional supplementation have been applied to healthy and diseased trees. The aim of this research was to discover if the various foliar sprays affect fruit peel oil chemical components. In this study, “Valencia” orange trees, with or without HLB (HLB±), were treated with the grower standard program (control, C) or one of four proprietary enhanced foliar spray programs (N1, N2, N3, and N4) over 16 months. Compared with HLB−, HLB+ samples had lower concentrations of typical peel oil components, including valencene, octanal, and decanal, and were abundant in oxidative/dehydrogenated terpenes, such as carvone and limonene oxide. However, limonene, the dominant component, was not affected by any treatment. Control and three out of four enhanced foliar spray programs, N2, N3, and N4, had very little influence on the chemical profiles of both HLB− and HLB+ samples, while N1 treatment greatly altered the chemical profile of HLB+ samples, resulting in peel oil similar to that of HLB− samples.

Huanglongbing (HLB) is one of the most devastating diseases of citrus, which is associated with Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las) in the United States. To date, no effective antimicrobial compound is commercially available to control the disease. In this study, we investigated the effects of different antimicrobial chemicals with suitable surfactants on HLB-affected matured citrus trees with emphasis on the fruit yield and quality. Each treatment was applied three times in a 2-week interval during the spring flush period, one time in summer and three times during the autumn flushing period. We extensively examined different parameters such as pathogenic index, disease index, tree canopy, fruit yield, quality, and nutritional status. The results showed that among the treatments, penicillin (PEN) with surfactant was most effective in suppressing Las titer in infected citrus trees, followed by Fosetyl-Al (ALI), Carvacrol (CARV), and Validamycin (VA). Fruit quality analysis revealed that PEN treatment increased the soluble solids content (SSC), whereas Oxytetracycline (OXY) treatment significantly reduced titratable acidity (TA) level and increased the SSC/TA ratio compared to the control. Nutrient analysis showed increased N and Zn levels in ALI and PEN treatments, and OXY treatment increased leaf P, K, S, and Mg levels compared to untreated control. Furthermore, B, Ca, Cu, Fe, and Mn in leaves were reduced in all chemical treatments than that of the untreated control. These findings revealed that some of the chemical treatments were able to suppress Las pathogen, enhance nutritional status in leaves, and improve tree growth and fruit quality of HLB-affected trees.

Tea-oil Camellia is one of the four woody oil crops in the world and has high ecological, economic and medicinal values. However, there are great differences in the classification and merging of tea-oil Camellia Sect. Oleifera species, which brings difficulties to the innovative utilization and production of tea-oil Camellia resources. Here, ISSR, SRAP and chloroplast sequence markers were analyzed in 18 populations of tea-oil Camellia Sect. Oleifera species to explore their phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity. The results showed that their genetic diversity were low, with mean H and π values of 0.16 and 0.00140, respectively. There was high among-population genetic differentiation, with ISSR and SRAP markers showing an Fst of 0.38 and a high Nm of 1.77 and cpDNA markers showing an Fst of 0.65 and a low Nm of 0.27. The C. gauchowensis, C. vietnamensis and Hainan Island populations formed a single group, showing the closest relationships, and supported being the same species for them with the unifying name C. drupifera and classifying the resources on Hainan Island as C. drupifera. The tea-oil Camellia resources of Hainan Island should be classified as a special ecological type or variety of C. drupifera. However, cpDNA marker-based STRUCTURE analysis showed that the genetic components of the C. osmantha population formed an independent, homozygous cluster; hence, C. osmantha should be a new species in Sect. Oleifera. The C. oleifera var. monosperma and C. oleifera populations clustered into two distinct clades, and the C. oleifera var. monosperma populations formed an independent cluster, accounting for more than 99.00% of its genetic composition; however, the C. oleifera populations contained multiple different cluster components, indicating that C. oleifera var. monosperma significantly differs from C. oleifera and should be considered the independent species C. meiocarpa. Haplotype analysis revealed no rapid expansion in the tested populations, and the haplotypes of C. oleifera, C. meiocarpa and C. osmantha evolved from those of C. drupifera. Our results support the phylogenetic classification of Camellia subgenera, which is highly significant for breeding and production in tea-oil Camellia.

In order to get the excitation forces of the vehicle powertrain, a six-degree-of-freedom model of the powertrain mounting system is established. Two different identification methods are presented. Through the test of mount dynamic response, the powertrain excitations identified through these two methods are compared. The results show that the powertrain excitations identified through two methods are basically the same, since the mount accelerations at the body side are really small. The identified excitation is verified by comparing the deformation of torque strut. The robustness analysis of the mount acceleration phase affecting the identification results is also proposed. Improving the accuracy of phase in test input is helpful to improve the accuracy of identification results.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the use of a controlled-release carvacrol powder to delay storage decay and maintain the safety of blueberries. The controlled-release carvacrol powder was a microcapsule of carvacrol (11% (w/w) active carvacrol) surrounded by a pectin/sodium alginate matrix. The microcapsules were packed in an air-permeable pouch, and then attached to the top of a clamshell filled with blueberries. The blueberries, inoculated with Escherichia coli or Colletotrichum acutatum, or non-inoculated control, were monitored for microbial growth and quality for 10 days at 10 °C and 5 days at 20 °C. Three treatments were compared: controlled-release microencapsulated carvacrol, non-encapsulated carvacrol, and control. The results showed that both the microencapsulated carvacrol and the non-encapsulated carvacrol treatments significantly reduced the populations of yeast and mold, and of E. coli and mesophilic aerobic bacteria. The microencapsulated carvacrol treated berries retained better quality due to significantly lower weight loss than control after 10 days at 10 °C. Sensory panelists found that the microencapsulated carvacrol berries had significantly higher overall blueberry flavor and lower discernible off-flavor in comparison with the non-encapsulated treatment after 3 days at 20 °C. The fruit internal quality, including total soluble solids content (SSC), and titratable acidity (TA), was not significantly affected by any treatment. These results indicate that pectin/sodium alginate controlled-release microencapsulated carvacrol can be used for the preservation of blueberries or other small fruit.

Background: Banana (Musa spp.) is an important staple food, economic crop, and nutritional fruit worldwide. Conventional breeding has been seriously hampered by their long generation time, polyploidy, and sterility of most cultivated varieties. Establishment of an efficient regeneration and transformation system for banana is critical to its genetic improvement and functional genomics. Results: In this study, a vigorous and repeatable transformation system for banana using direct organogenesis was developed. The greatest number of shoots per explant for all five Musa varieties was obtained using Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 8.9 μM benzylaminopurine and 9.1 μM thidiazuron. One immature male flower could regenerate 380–456, 310–372, 200–240, 130–156, and 100–130 well-developed shoots in only 240–270 d for Gongjiao, Red banana, Rose banana, Baxi, and Xinglongnaijiao, respectively. Longitudinal sections of buds were transformed through particle bombardment combined with Agrobacterium-mediated transformation using a promoterless β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene; the highest transformation efficiency was 9.81% in regenerated Gongjiao plantlets in an optimized selection medium. Transgenic plants were confirmed by a histochemical assay of GUS, polymerase chain reaction, and Southern blot. Conclusions: Our robust transformation platform successfully generated hundreds of transgenic plants. Such a platform will facilitate molecular breeding and functional genomics of banana.

Different species of Zingiberaceae are very similar in appearance, which brings some obstacles in the accurate identification of species. Here, we assembled and analyzed the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of Zingiber zerumbet. The cp genome of Z. zerumbet is 169,183 bp in length, which contains a pair of inverted repeated (IR) regions of 37,480 bp, a large single copy (LSC) region of 86,709 bp, and a small single copy (SSC) region of 7,515 bp. The genome contains a total of 138 genes, including 92 protein-coding genes, 38 transfer RNA genes, and eight ribosomal RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis exhibited that the cp genome sequence could distinguish Z. zerumbet from other species. This study is beneficial to the germplasm identification and utilization of Z. zerumbet.

A two-dimensional sand tank experiment was designed to explore the mechanism of water distribution and silt clogging of Yellow River water whilst replenishing groundwater in ‘open window’ reach of the piedmont river and strong seepage area consisting of a gravel and karst layer from top to bottom. Water released through the reach was divided into surface, pore and fracture karst water, of which karst water was an effective recharge from the surface water. A reasonable released water plan is necessary in recharging to avoid invalid recharge. The karst water accounted for 60–70% of the amount of water released before clogging, and this value was reduced to approximately 10–20% whilst a thin clay layer formed from suspended particles on the surface layer of the medium after clogging. The removal rate of suspended solids along vertical and lateral directions in the medium can reach over 96%. The retained amount of suspended particles was mainly distributed on the surface and upper layer region of the medium. A rubber dam can improve effective infiltration whilst promoting suspended solid deposition in the medium. The fitting degree of the numerical simulation and measured results was above 0.9, which proves the reliability of the sand tank model results.

The objectives of this research were to microencapsulate tangeretin, and to evaluate the basic characteristics of the microcapsule products. Tangeretin is a polymethoxyflavone (PMF) which has been revealed to possess various health benefits and is abundant in tangerine and other citrus peels. Microencapsulation technology is widely employed in the food and pharmaceutical industries to exploit functional ingredients, cells, and enzymes. Spray drying is a frequently applied microencapsulation method because of its low cost and technical requirements. In this research, tangeretin dissolved at different concentrations in bergamot oil was microencapsulated in a citrus pectin/sodium alginate matrix. The resulting microcapsule powder showed promising physical and structural properties. The retention efficiency of tangeretin was greater at a concentration of 2.0% (98.92%) than at 0.2% (71.05%), probably due to the higher temperature of the emulsion during the homogenizing and spray-drying processes. Encapsulation efficiency was reduced with increased concentration of tangeretin. Our results indicate that tangeretin could be successfully encapsulated within a citrus pectin/sodium alginate matrix using bergamot oil as a carrier.

C-repeat binding factor- (CBF-) dependent signaling pathway is proposed to be a key responder to low temperature stress in plant. Jasmonates (JAs), the endogenous signal molecules in plant, participate in plant defense against (a)biotic stresses; however, the mechanism has not been fully clarified so far. With the progress made in JAs biopathway, signal transduction, and their relationship with CBF-dependent signaling pathway, our knowledge of the roles of the CBF-dependent signaling pathway in JAs-mediated improvement of chilling tolerance accumulates. In this review, we firstly briefly review the chilling injury (CI) characteristics of postharvest horticultural commodities, then introduce the biopathway and signal transduction of JAs, subsequently summarize the roles of the CBF-dependent signaling pathway under low temperature stress, and finally describe the linkage between JAs signal transduction and the CBF-dependent signaling pathway.

The objective of this study was to find an intelligent and fast method to detect the type, blended ratio, and mixed ratio of ancient Pu’er tea, which is significant in maintaining order in the Pu’er tea industry. An electronic nose (E-nose) and a visible near infrared spectrometer (VIS/NIR spectrometer) were applied for tea sampling. Feature extraction was conducted using both the traditional method and a convolutional neural network (CNN) technique. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and partial least square regression (PLSR) were applied for pattern recognition. After sampling while using the traditional method, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed that the mean differential value of each sensor should be selected as the optimal feature extraction method for E-nose data, and raw data comparison results showed that 19 peak/valley values and two slope values were extracted. While the format of E-nose data was in accord with the input format for CNN, the VIS/NIR spectrometer data required matrixing to meet the format requirements. The LDA and PLSR analysis results showed that CNN has superior detection ability, being able to acquire more local features than the traditional method, but it has the risk of mixing in redundant information, which can act to reduce the detection ability. Multi-source information fusion (E-nose and VIS/NIR spectrometer fusion) can collect more features from different angles to improve the detection ability, but it also contains the risk of adding redundant information, which reduces the detection ability. For practical detection, the type of Pu’er tea should be recognizable using a VIS/NIR spectrometer and the traditional feature extraction method. The blended ratio of Pu’er tea should also be identifiable by using a VIS/NIR spectrometer with traditional feature extraction. Multi-source information fusion with traditional feature extraction should be used if the accuracy requirement is extremely high; otherwise, a VIS/NIR spectrometer with traditional feature extraction is preferred.

The effect of wall roughness with different lubricant film thicknesses on the characteristics of adhered fuel films of diesel-n-butanol blending fuels after spray impingement has been investigated. Four steel plates with different types of roughness (root mean square height-Sq) that were coated with different lubricant film thicknesses (hl) were used as impinged walls. The experimental conditions included dry walls (hl = 0), semi-wetted walls (SWW) with different thin oil films (0 < hl/Sq < 1), and fully wetted walls (FWW) with a thick lubricant film (hl > Sq). The results indicate that the adhered fuel mass ratio (ε) of blended fuel with 25% n-butanol (B25) was higher than that of blended fuel with 15% n-butanol (B15) under the same conditions. ε increased with an increase in Sq on the dry walls, but, under SWW conditions, it decreased with an increase in oil film thickness. The fuel film morphology was almost unaffected by the change in Sq, but the results implied that the roughness parameter-Skewness (Ssk) exerted a greater impact. The mean thickness ha and accumulated diameter Dl of the adhered fuel film increased with an increase in hl, but, under FWW conditions, the effect of the roughness on the adhered film’s features was insignificant.

The objective of this study was to detect and monitor the flavor of tomatoes, as impacted by different postharvest handlings, including chilling storage (CS) and blanching treatment (BT). CS tomatoes were stored in a refrigerator at 5 °C and tested at storage day 0, 3, and 7. BT tomatoes were dipped in 50 or 100 °C water for 1 min, and tested immediately. The taste, mouth feel, and aroma of tomatoes were evaluated by testing the total soluble solid content (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), ratio of TSS and TA (TSS/TA), firmness, and electronic nose (E-nose) response to tomatoes. The experimental results showed that the CS can prevent taste and firmness loss to a certain extent, but the sensory results indicated that CS accelerated flavor loss due to the TSS/TA of CS tomatoes increasing slower than control. The taste and firmness of tomatoes were impacted slightly by 50 °C BT, and were significantly impacted by 100 °C BT. Based on physicochemical parameters, different postharvest handling treatments for tomatoes could not be classified except for the 100 °C BT treated tomatoes, which were significantly impacted in terms of taste and mouth feel. The E-nose is an efficient way to detect differences in postharvest handling treatments for tomatoes, and indicated significant aroma changes for CS and BT treated tomato fruit. The classification of tomatoes after different postharvest handling treatments, based on comprehensive flavor (physicochemical parameters and E-nose combined data), is better than that based on single physicochemical parameters or E-nose, and the comprehensive flavor of 100 °C BT tomatoes changed the most. Even so, the tomato flavor change during postharvest handlings is suggested to be detected and monitored by single E-nose data. The E-nose has also been proved as a feasible way to predict the TSS and firmness of tomato fruit rather than TA or TSS/TA, during the postharvest handing process.

Introduction: Citrus hybrids with Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf. introgression have gained interest due to their tolerance to Huanglongbing (HLB), a devastating disease for Florida citrus agriculture. While these hybrids inherit disease tolerance from P. trifoliata, they sometimes also suffer from undesirable off-flavors. Methods: A selection of thirteen genotypes were harvested over the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons. Their juices were evaluated by a trained sensory panel and were comprehensively analyzed for their chemical makeup, including soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), volatiles, flavonoids and limonoids. Results & discussion: Overall, along with the commercial orange cultivars 'Valencia' and 'Hamlin', the HLB-tolerant Poncirus hybrid 'US SunDragon,' and the mandarin hybrids Sugar Belle¬, FF-5-51-2, and 'US Superna' had positive citrus flavor quality. Esters, some sesquiterpenes, along with flavonoids, eriocitrin and quercetin-3-(3R-glucosylrutinoside), were positively correlated with orange flavor while b-ionone and eucalyptol were highly abundant in the mandarins. The flavonoid linarin, was more abundant in Poncirus hybrids with off-flavors than in the Poncirus hybrid 'US SunDragon', having high orange flavor. Two mandarin hybrids, FF-5-6-36 and FTP-6-32-67, were not bitter at harvest, but the juice exhibited delayed bitterness after storage at -20°C, which was associated with significant increases of limonin, nomilin, naringenin, and prunin. Interestingly, during freezer storage, a newly identified flavonoid in citrus, tricin-C-hexoside, increased dramatically across all of the genotypes. The identification of diseasetolerant hybrids with satisfactory flavor quality at juicing as well as after storage where delayed bitterness may develop, has great significance for future breeding efforts for fresh fruit or for use in stand-alone juice/juice blends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of Persian (Tahiti) lime (Citrus latifolia Tan.) fruit was determined following coating with carnauba wax and X-ray irradiation at doses suitable for disinfestation of quarantine pests. Fruit with or without carnauba wax coating were treated with irradiation doses of 0, 150, 300, or 450 Gy, and stored for 14 days at 13 °C and 6 days at 20 °C to simulate commercial transportation and marketing conditions from Hawaii to the continental United States. The fruit color, weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS) content, and titratable acidity (TA) were analyzed at 7, 14, and 14 + 6 days post irradiation. Wax coating significantly delayed fruit peel discoloration, and reduced fruit weight loss by more than 7% compared with the unwaxed controls. Irradiation did not affect ΔE of the peel for coated fruit at day 14 + 6. Irradiation with or without coating did not affect ΔE of flesh color, weight loss, TSS content, or TA. Wax coating combined with irradiation treatment of limes at doses ≤450 Gy ensured marketable visual quality and chemical composition while providing quarantine security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea-oil Camellia, a prominently woody oil crop, serves as a crucial source of edible oil, protein feed, and industrial raw materials. Notably, C. Oleifera and C. meiocarpa yield higher oil production and larger cultivation areas than other Tea-oil Camellia species. However, the taxonomy and phylogenetic relationship between these species remains elusive, complicating their commercial application. Here, we sequenced and analyzed the complete chloroplast genomes of these two species, compared them with related Camellia species, and developed chloroplast DNA markers to distinguish between them. The chloroplast genome of C. Oleifera was 157,009 bp (HZP) and C. meiocarpa was 156,549 bp (CKX) and 156,512 bp (XG) in length. Comparative analysis indicated that distinct differences in the chloroplast genome between HZP and CKX (or XG) than between CKX and XG. The repetitive sequences and interspecific variations among them showed that the differences in the number and distribution in CKX and XG were smaller than those in HZP. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. meiocarpa was not closely related to C. oleifera. A total of 56 pairs of primers were developed to test the polymorphism among them. After PCR and sequencing verification, variations were detected in the target sequences of 17 primers. The data derived from the chloroplast genomes and the newly developed markers are invaluable for understanding the phylogenetic relationships and assessing the genetic diversity of tea-oil Camellia germplasm resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]