Search Results (6,292)

The growing demand for dairy-free functional foods has created a need for fruit-based products that simultaneously provide probiotics, prebiotics, and bioactive compounds. This study evaluated seven high-fruit synbiotic-designed sorbets prepared with raspberries, strawberries, haskap berries, apples, or plums, and two variants with blackcurrants, containing 45–55% fruit, 3% inulin, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v added at two inoculum levels. Sucrose was added to the mixture, and in one variant of the blackcurrant, it was replaced with erythritol, which can affect, among other things, the sweetness, hardness, melting point, mouthfeel, and freezing point of frozen desserts. Erythritol was used to evaluate the effect on these characteristics in one variant. The addition of one and two probiotic capsules to each sorbet was also compared. The viability of the probiotics (as LAB) before and after freezing, physicochemical composition, color, hardness, melting, aeration, antioxidant properties, consumer acceptance, and purchase intention were assessed using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. After freezing, the number of viable cells remained at approximately 7.05–7.18 log CFU/g in the single-capsule variants and 7.45–7.51 log CFU/g in the two-capsule variants, confirming the high immediate viability of the probiotic cells. The fruit type and its content in the matrix significantly differentiated acidity, sugars, color, hardness, degree of growth, melting properties, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, antioxidant activity, and sensory quality. The dark berry sorbets showed a particularly high content of bioactive compounds. Consumer responses varied significantly between formulations, with taste, texture, and consistency demonstrating the strongest associations with overall acceptance. The results demonstrate that fruit sorbets can serve as practical, dairy-free carriers for Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v and inulin, while retaining fruit-specific functional and sensory properties. Full article

Stress-resistant rice varieties are valuable for sustainable production and rice-based food development. Six rice varieties selected for salt alkali tolerance or low cadmium accumulation were characterized for starch composition, multiscale structure, physicochemical properties, rheological behavior, and in vitro digestibility. Rice flours contained 78.11% to 83.51% starch, 12.67% to 18.12% amylose, and 5.23% to 7.50% protein. All starches exhibited A-type crystallinity but showed varietal differences in granule morphology, particle size, molecular organization, thermal behavior, pasting properties, freeze–thaw stability, paste clarity, and rheological characteristics. Rapidly digestible starch ranged from 60.44% to 72.79%, slowly digestible starch ranged from 22.40% to 33.75%, and resistant starch ranged from 4.46% to 10.59%. Jingliangyou 3261 exhibited the highest resistant starch content, whereas Xinjiang aromatic rice combined the highest slowly digestible starch content with the lowest rapidly digestible starch content and the highest paste clarity. Ningjing 48 and Xinjiang aromatic rice also showed favorable freeze–thaw stability, highlighting distinct varietal profiles for targeted rice food applications. These findings provide preliminary information for further evaluation of these varieties under practical cooking and food-processing conditions. Full article

Intensive poultry farming produces substantial volumes of chicken manure that require effective and hygienic management. This study investigated a composite inoculant formulated with four microorganisms: Kocuria rosea  ACCC 10488, Bacillus subtilis ACCC 60364, Trichoderma longibrachiatum ACCC 32584, and Lactobacillus plantarum ACCC 11118. This study investigated a composite inoculant formulated with four microorganisms obtained from the Agricultural Culture Collection of China (ACCC): Kocuria rosea ACCC 10488, Bacillus subtilis ACCC 60364, Trichoderma longibrachiatum ACCC 32584, and Lactobacillus plantarum ACCC 11118. Its performance was examined both without amendment and after addition of plant-derived bulking materials. The experiment included five treatments: untreated chicken manure (T1), the bulking-agent mixture without microbial addition (T2), a commercial inoculant combined with the same bulking materials (T3), the newly prepared inoculant without bulking agents (T4), and the newly prepared inoculant combined with the bulking mixture (T5). Three independent 50-kg piles were prepared for every treatment. Temperature was recorded for 45 days; physicochemical characteristics, odor indicators, nutrient concentrations, enzyme activities, seed-bioassay responses, and Ascaris egg mortality were evaluated over the initial 15 days. T5 reached 74 °C on days 5 and 10 and remained above 50 °C through day 30 at the plotted observation points. On day 15, this treatment had lower measured levels of odorous compounds, greater concentrations of available phosphorus and potassium, a 99% germination index, and complete mortality of the assayed Ascaris eggs. Collectively, T5 showed favorable changes across several indicators of early composting performance under the conditions tested. The study did not examine microbial community structure, persistence of the introduced strains, functional genes, whole-pile nutrient mass balances, or longer-term agronomic performance. Consequently, the data neither establish synergistic interactions among the component strains nor identify specific nutrient-transformation pathways. Full article

This study investigated the effects of high-pressure processing (HPP) on the physicochemical and functional properties of pea protein isolate (PPI). PPI was HPP-treated at 0.1 (control), 400, and 500 MPa, and its protein solubility, oil-holding capacity (OHC), surface hydrophobicity (H₀), ζ-potential, and emulsion droplet size (D_4,3) were evaluated. Results showed that HPP significantly improved protein solubility, reaching 38.61% at 400 MPa compared with 12.45% in the untreated PPI powder. OHC and H₀ of PPI also increased after HPP, suggesting its enhanced interaction with oil and exposure of hydrophobic residues. Emulsions stabilized with HPP-treated PPI exhibited smaller droplet sizes and higher absolute ζ-potential values, suggesting improved initial emulsifying properties. The enhancement in functional properties may be associated with changes in surface hydrophobicity and charge characteristics, potentially reflecting pressure-induced conformational rearrangements. However, a slight decrease in solubility and surface hydrophobicity was observed at 500 MPa, which may be associated with pressure-induced protein aggregation. Overall, HPP effectively modified PPI surface characteristics, leading to improved emulsifying and functional performance, highlighting its potential application in food formulations requiring good protein dispersibility and emulsifying properties. Full article

Bottom slag (BS), a coal combustion by-product, is an underutilized aluminosilicate resource with potential for alkali activation. In this study, the physicochemical characteristics of BS, including its chemical composition, mineralogy, morphology, and activity index, were systematically evaluated, and ground BS was blended with ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) to prepare alkali-activated binders. The effects of BS content on mechanical properties, reaction products, and microstructural evolution were investigated using compressive strength tests and multi-scale characterization techniques. The results showed that BS contains abundant amorphous aluminosilicate phases with low residual carbon and exhibits considerable latent cementitious activity despite its relatively low intrinsic reactivity. The mechanical performance of the binders was strongly governed by precursor composition. Incorporating 20–40 wt.% BS achieved the optimum balance between precursor reactivity and strength development, whereas higher BS contents significantly inhibited alkali activation reaction because of the dilution of reactive glassy phases. Strength development was closely associated with the formation of C-(A)-S-H and N-A-S-H gels and the development of a dense microstructure. These results demonstrate that the synergistic activation of BS and GGBFS provides an effective route for producing low-carbon alkali-activated binders while enabling the high-value utilization of coal-fired BS. Full article

The global economy is confronted by two parallel grand challenges: the unsustainable accumulation of plastic waste and the escalating demand for high-performance, sustainable energy storage technologies. This perspective operates at the nexus of these challenges and establishes a conceptual roadmap for upcycling post-consumer plastics into functional battery components. In particular, the potential of four widely available waste polymers, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), is examined for the fabrication of nanofibrous separator membranes through electrospinning. The distinct physicochemical characteristics of these polymers are analyzed in relation to key separator requirements, including porosity, electrolyte wettability, thermal stability, and ionic transport. Because studies employing waste-derived polymers remain limited, relevant research based on commercial polymers and alternative membrane fabrication approaches is also discussed to provide broader insight into structure-property-performance relationships. Environmental aspects related to recycling pathways, solvent systems, and life cycle considerations are also evaluated. Finally, major challenges such as feedstock variability, limited electrochemical validation, and scale-up limitations are identified, and future research directions are proposed. By integrating plastic waste upcycling with separator engineering, this perspective outlines a pathway toward circular and sustainable materials for next-generation energy storage systems. Full article

Postbiotic and paraprobiotic preparations are increasingly investigated as non-viable microbial-derived components for topical formulation development, offering an alternative to systems containing live microorganisms. However, their physicochemical and biological performance may depend strongly on the polymeric carrier, and direct comparisons of postbiotic and paraprobiotic fractions derived from the same microbial source in different gel matrices remain limited. This study aimed to develop and comparatively evaluate Carbopol^®- and chitosan-based pharmabiotic gel-serums containing Lacticaseibacillus casei-derived postbiotic (PB) and paraprobiotic (PPB) fractions. The formulations were characterized in terms of macroscopic appearance, pH, spreadability, and rheological behavior, and their antimicrobial activity, effects on preformed biofilm biomass, and DPPH radical-scavenging activity were evaluated. Blank Carbopol^® and chitosan formulations and free PB and PPB fractions were included as controls to distinguish formulation-matrix-associated effects from those observed for the complete formulations. The developed gel-serums exhibited homogeneous initial macroscopic characteristics, pH values ranging from 4.22 to 5.66, and pseudoplastic shear-thinning behavior. Among the PB-containing systems, CA-CS-PB exhibited pronounced antimicrobial activity, with inhibition-zone diameters of 18.00 mm against Candida albicans and 19.93 mm against Candida krusei, and MIC values of 1156 μg/mL against both species. CA-CS-PB also reduced preformed Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm biomass by 92.89% and 87.63%, respectively, and exhibited the highest DPPH radical-scavenging activity (73.50%). Among the PPB-containing systems, CA-C-PPB produced reductions of 94.63% and 93.71% in preformed S. aureus and P. aeruginosa biofilm biomass, respectively. Blank formulations also exhibited measurable biological responses, indicating that the activities of the complete formulations should be interpreted as formulation-level effects rather than being attributed exclusively to the incorporated PB or PPB fractions. Because PB and PPB were incorporated at different concentrations (5% and 1% w/w, respectively), these findings should not be interpreted as an equivalent-dose comparison of their intrinsic biological potency. Overall, the findings demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating L. casei-derived PB and PPB fractions into different polymeric gel-serum systems and highlight the influence of both the pharmabiotic fraction and carrier matrix on formulation performance. These results support further investigation of these systems as topical formulation platforms; however, storage stability, release behavior, compositional characterization, and skin-relevant safety and performance require further evaluation before dermocosmetic or dermatological applicability can be established. Full article

Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage produced using SCOBY and is recognized for its potential health-promoting properties. This study investigated the effects of fermentation substrate and the geographic origin of the SCOBY culture on the microbiological, physicochemical, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of Kombucha and Kombucha-like beverages produced from black tea, milk, and rice. A 72 h fermentation period was selected to enable a direct comparison of SCOBY performance across the different substrates. Tea- and milk-based substrates supported greater microbial growth, with total viable counts reaching approximately 6.0–8.0 log CFU/mL, whereas the rice-based beverage showed limited microbial development. The Polish SCOBY culture produced greater acidification, with pH values ranging from approximately 3.66 to 4.36, and exhibited stronger antibacterial activity, particularly against Escherichia coli, which was the most susceptible of the tested strains. HPLC analysis revealed distinct organic acid profiles among the fermented beverages. Tea-based Kombucha contained substantial amounts of acetic, lactic, and gluconic acids and exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. Total phenolic content was positively correlated with antioxidant capacity. In contrast, the rice-based beverage showed the lowest antioxidant activity. Significant differences in microbial growth and metabolite profiles were also observed between the Polish and Italian SCOBY cultures, indicating that culture origin influenced the fermentation pathways and the resulting properties of the beverages. Overall, the findings confirm the suitability of black tea as a substrate for Kombucha fermentation. They also indicate that alternative fermentation substrates, such as milk and rice, may be used to develop fermented beverages with distinct functional characteristics, although their antioxidant potential may be lower than that of tea-based Kombucha. Full article

Mechanical activation (MA), an intensive milling process capable of inducing physicochemical changes in solid materials, was applied to a vanadiferous titanomagnetite (VTM) originating from the Lac Doré Complex, Chibougamau, QC, Canada. The objective of this study was to investigate the structural and microstructural evolution of VTM under intensive milling conditions and the associated changes in particle characteristics, with particular emphasis on X-ray diffraction (XRD) peak intensity and broadening, microstrain, phase composition, particle size, and specific surface area. Mechanical activation was investigated by varying three milling parameters: milling time (5 g powder, 10 Hz, variable milling time), ball-to-powder ratio (variable powder mass, 10 Hz, 15 min), and milling frequency (5 g powder, variable frequency, 15 min). The XRD results reveal significant changes in the diffraction pattern of chamosite, including variations in peak intensity and pronounced peak broadening under the more intensive milling conditions of 5 g powder, 15 Hz, and 15 min. In contrast, the diffraction peaks associated with ilmenite and magnetite became more pronounced, while the calculated microstrain increased. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed substantial changes in particle morphology following mechanical activation. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis further demonstrated an increase in specific surface area with increasing milling frequency, while laser diffraction measurements revealed systematic variations in particle-size distribution among the three experimental series. Overall, the results demonstrate that mechanical activation produces measurable modifications to the mineralogical, structural, microstructural, and particle characteristics of Lac Doré VTM. These findings provide a basis for further investigation of the relationship between milling-induced structural changes, VTM reactivity, and subsequent metal-extraction performance. Full article

Despite being usually discarded, agro-industrial by-products are rich in bioactive and nutritional compounds and can be redirected into new foods or food packaging. This study evaluated the nutritional composition of cardoon leaves (Cynara cardunculus L.), an agro-industrial by-product, and assessed the impact of the drying process on those characteristics. Furthermore, extracts of the dried leaves and dried leaves combined with lemon peel were incorporated into whey protein-based films at concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% (w/v). Their physical, barrier, mechanical, and thermal properties were also analysed. When compared on a dry weight (DW) basis, the dry leaves maintained a stable nutritional profile with no significant degradation of key components, presenting with high carbohydrates (15.4 ± 1.1 g/100 g), moderate protein (21.2 ± 0.4 g/100 g), and low fat (2.0 ± 0.1 g/100 g). The leaves were also a good source of dietary fibres (43.9 ± 1.8 g/100 g) and minerals (13.7 ± 0.2 g/100 g of ash). Incorporating the extracts altered the films’ physicochemical properties, reducing their water vapour permeability up to 4.05 ± 0.26 10⁻¹⁰ g/s.m.Pa, while their tensile strength decreased from 0.34 ± 0.06 to 0.23 ± 0.01 MPa depending on the formulation, and their elongation at break decreased by up to 6.58 ± 0.70%. In contrast, Young’s modulus increased by up to 0.11 ± 0.03 MPa, indicating higher rigidity. This behaviour may be attributed to the interactions between the phenolic compounds and the whey protein matrix, which restricted polymer chain mobility and increased film rigidity while reducing matrix cohesion and flexibility. The results demonstrate that while the extracts enhanced the barrier properties of the films, they reduced the mechanical properties. Overall, the results suggest that cardoon by-products have potential applications in active food packaging, contributing to the development of bio-based materials within a circular economy framework. Full article

Recalcitrant azo dyes in textile wastewater are a significant environmental concern due to their persistence and potential impacts on human and ecosystem health. Heterogeneous Fenton-like processes offer a promising approach for their removal, although catalyst performance depends strongly on the physicochemical characteristics of the active material. This study investigated Fe-functionalized silicon oxide (Fe-SiO) catalysts for sodium percarbonate (SPC)-activated removal of Reactive Orange 84 (RO84). The catalysts were prepared using silicon oxide supports with and without thermochemical pretreatment and different amounts of Fe during synthesis. Their structural, morphological, and elemental characteristics were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), complemented by textural analysis. Increasing the amount of Fe used during synthesis shifted removal from adsorption-influenced to oxidation-associated, as reflected in the kinetic behavior. Thermochemical pretreatment promoted more homogeneous Fe dispersion and reduced aggregation in the S2 series, consistent with its higher catalytic response under several evaluated conditions. The PFO model empirically described the observed removal kinetics. Overall, the Fe-SiO materials showed potential for SPC-assisted RO84 removal under the evaluated conditions. Full article

Coal-fired power generation remains a major source of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, and metal–organic framework-74 (MOF-74) materials offer high adsorption capacity but rely on costly 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalic acid linkers that limit scalability. This study synthesized bimetallic Zn_0.75Mg_0.25-MOF-74 using terephthalic acid (TPA) as a cheaper alternative linker and evaluated the effect of synthesis reaction temperature (89–160 °C) and time (5–55.5 h) on its physicochemical properties for carbon capture. Samples were prepared solvothermally and characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDS, and N₂ (77 K) and CO₂ (293 K) adsorption analysis. FTIR confirmed metal–ligand coordination; XRD verified crystalline MOF-74 formation, and SEM showed well-defined rod-like morphology at 100 °C, 12 h and 125 °C, 30 h. Direct CO₂ adsorption on the 125 °C, 30 h sample yielded a Type I isotherm characteristic of micropore filling, with an uptake of 0.31 mmol/g at ~1 bar and 0.072 mmol/g at flue-gas-relevant conditions (~0.135 bar). Its CO₂-derived BET surface area (60.10 m²/g) and Dubinin–Astakhov micropore area (131.69 m²/g) far exceeded N₂-derived values, confirming ultra-micropores accessible to CO₂ but not to N₂ at 77 K. TPA therefore yields a stable, microporous CO₂-adsorbing framework, trading some capacity for lower cost and scalability. Future investigations should systematically evaluate long-term cycling stability and adsorption performance under mixed-gas operating conditions. Full article

Ageing is a key post-mortem process affecting beef quality; however, alternative fat-coating methods remain insufficiently understood. This study compared wet ageing (WA), dry ageing (DA), butter ageing (BA), and tallow ageing (TA) in terms of their effects on physicochemical, technological, and sensory characteristics. Longissimus lumborum muscles from Fleckvieh heifers were aged for 50 days under controlled conditions: WA samples were vacuum-packed, DA samples were stored bone-in, and BA and TA samples were coated with butter or rendered tallow. Instrumental quality analyses and descriptive sensory evaluation by a trained panel were performed. Ageing significantly improved tenderness in all treatments, reducing the Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF) from 55.8 N in fresh meat to 35.1–39.9 N after 50 days of ageing. However, tenderness did not differ significantly among the ageing methods. Meanwhile, pH increased and myofibrillar fragmentation progressed during ageing. The BA and TA samples exhibited higher scores for sour and atypical sensory notes. DA samples were also perceived as juicier than the other treatments. Overall, although all methods produced acceptable tenderness, conventional ageing, particularly dry ageing, provided superior sensory quality. Utilising butter or tallow coating during beef ageing did not enhance flavour development, and may negatively affect sensory profiles. Full article

Usutu virus is an emerging mosquito-borne flavivirus with an expanding geographic distribution and increasing public health relevance, yet no licensed vaccine is currently available. This study used an integrated reverse vaccinology strategy to identify conserved immunogenic regions from the Envelope protein and NS5 protein, and construct a multi-epitope vaccine. Following sequential computational screening, the retained T-cell and B-cell epitopes satisfied the predefined selection criteria, while selected T-cell epitopes achieved an estimated 96.41% global population coverage. The final vaccine consisted of 240 amino acids and incorporated an adjuvant together with peptide linkers. Computational characterization indicated favorable physicochemical features and a refined three-dimensional model with improved stereochemical characteristics. Receptor-binding analyses predicted favorable interactions with TLR2 and TLR4, producing weighted docking scores of −1326.1 and −1230.2, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulation further characterized the temporal behavior of the vaccine–TLR2 complex, while MM-GBSA analysis yielded an estimated binding energy of −74.78 kcal/mol. C-ImmSim predicted enhanced humoral and cellular immune-response patterns following repeated antigen administration, including increased simulated antibody levels and changes in immune-cell populations. All findings in this study are based on in silico analyses and represent computational predictions rather than experimentally confirmed results. Further experimental validation is required to verify the predicted properties, immunogenicity, and protective potential of the proposed vaccine candidate. Full article

Salmon skin, a high-volume by-product of seafood processing, offers a circular-bioeconomy route to sustainable, value-added ingredients. This study aimed to generate low-molecular-weight collagen peptides (LMWCPs) from salmon skin using a stepwise enzymatic process and to evaluate their safety and pro-extracellular-matrix (ECM) activity in human BJ fibroblasts. LMWCPs were produced by sequential hydrolysis (alcalase/papain, then collagenase) and characterized as low-molecular-weight peptide preparations with a mean dispersed particle diameter of approximately 117 nm. LMWCPs display negatively charged peptide dispersions with a mass centered around ~1 kDa. Cytocompatibility (MTT) showed no toxicity up to 1.5 mg/mL over 48 h. Gene expression by reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) revealed a robust, dose-dependent ECM response: collagen type I alpha 1 chain (COL1A1) increased by approximately 7-fold, with additional rises of 5–6-fold in versican (VCAN) levels and modest increases in elastin (ELN) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). These findings provide an exploratory process-to-phenotype link between the two-step hydrolysis process, physicochemical characteristics of the resulting LMWCPs, and changes in ECM-related gene expression in BJ fibroblasts. Overall, this study demonstrates that salmon skin LMWCPs were cytocompatible within the tested concentration range and modulated several ECM-related genes, providing a preliminary basis for future protein-level, functional, and translational evaluation. Full article