Search Results (243)

Protective cultures are an increasingly industrially relevant biopreservation tool for meat and meat products, responding to simultaneous demands for microbiological safety, extended shelf life, and reduced reliance on synthetic preservatives within clean-label frameworks. This review summarizes current advances in protective cultures applied to meat systems, with emphasis on technological functions, efficacy boundaries, and safety-related due diligence. We discuss the dominant inhibitory mechanisms of lactic acid bacteria and related protective taxa—acidification, competitive exclusion, and antimicrobial metabolites (including bacteriocins)—and highlight why performance is strongly strain- and matrix-dependent under realistic storage conditions. Practical applications are reviewed across raw meats (spoilage delay under refrigeration and vacuum/MAP) and processed or ready-to-eat products, where post-processing surface application emerges as a critical control point for limiting Listeria monocytogenes outgrowth during chilled storage. Key implementation constraints include technological compatibility and sensory neutrality, which are influenced by product buffering capacity, salt content, available fermentable substrates, packaging atmosphere, and temperature. From a safety perspective, we synthesize evidence on antimicrobial resistance in food-associated cultures and outline contemporary qualification strategies combining phenotypic susceptibility testing with genome-based screening to exclude acquired and potentially transferable resistance determinants. Overall, protective cultures should be viewed as a targeted hurdle integrated into holistic preservation systems rather than a standalone substitute for hygiene and process control. Full article

Microseismic monitoring is extensively applied in hydraulic fracturing and mineral extraction, with accurate event localization being a critical component. Recently, deep learning approaches have shown promise for microseismic event localization; however, most of these supervised methods depend on large, labeled datasets, which are costly and challenging to acquire. To mitigate this issue, we propose a semi-supervised approach based on a residual convolutional autoencoder (RCAE) for automated microseismic localization, designed to leverage limited labeled data effectively and improve source localization accuracy even with small sample sizes. Our method employs pre-training by masking and reconstructing unlabeled seismic records, while integrating residual connections within the encoder to enhance feature extraction from seismic signals. This enables high localization accuracy with minimal labeled data, resulting in significant cost savings. Experimental results indicate that our method surpasses purely supervised approaches on both a 2D salt dome model and a 3D homogeneous half-space model, validating its effectiveness in microseismic localization. Further comparisons with baseline models highlight the method’s advantages, providing an innovative solution for improving cost-efficiency in practical applications. Full article

Instant noodles have become a staple convenience food worldwide, with rising consumption particularly among younger, busier populations. This study investigates consumer perceptions, health concerns, consumption habits, and purchasing behaviors related to pre-packaged noodles in Kosovo. A structured questionnaire was administered to 400 participants, exploring attitudes toward health impacts, ingredient awareness, product preferences, and purchasing motivations. Findings revealed mixed perceptions of noodle healthiness, with older and more educated individuals significantly more likely to view them as unhealthy (p < 0.001). Although most respondents expressed concern about ingredients such as fat, calories, and salt, awareness of additives like monosodium glutamate (MSG) remained low (p < 0.001), indicating a gap in consumer knowledge. Consumption patterns varied notably by age, gender, income, and health status. Younger and lower-income groups consumed noodles more frequently (p < 0.001), often driven by time constraints rather than taste or nutritional value. One-third of participants reported a sense of addiction, strongly linked to both frequency and portion size. When purchasing, consumers prioritized label clarity, origin, and natural ingredients over sensory appeal, and advertising exerted only a moderate influence on choices. These results suggest that while practical needs drive consumption, health concerns and demographic factors strongly shape perceptions and behavior. Efforts to reduce unhealthy consumption should focus on clearer labeling, accessible nutrition education, and promoting healthier, convenient alternatives. Full article

This study aimed to characterize the physicochemical and functional properties of bovine milk from four districts (Acraquia, Ahuaycha, Pampas, and Daniel Hernández) of the Pampas Valley, Tayacaja province, Huancavelica (Peru), and assess its geographical traceability using vibrational spectroscopy and chemometric tools. Milk samples were analyzed for composition (fat, protein, lactose, salts), fatty acid profile, total phenolic compounds (TPC), antioxidant capacity (AC), and spectral features using mid-infrared (MIR) and Raman spectroscopy. The results revealed significant compositional differences among localities, particularly in fat, protein, and salt content, with Daniel Hernández milk showing higher nutritional density. The fatty acid profile, although statistically similar across districts, highlighted a favorable nutritional composition dominated by oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids. TPC and AC values were homogeneous among districts, reflecting similar feeding and management practices. Molecular vibration analysis via MIR and Raman spectroscopy allowed for the identification of key biochemical differences, particularly in lipid and carbohydrate regions. SIMCA classification models, based on MIR spectral data, successfully discriminated samples by origin with Inter-Class Distance (ICD) values exceeding 3, confirming statistically significant separation. Discriminating power plots revealed that proteins (amide I), lactose (C–O, C–C), and lipid-associated bands (C=O, CH₂) were major contributors to class differentiation. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of combining spectroscopic and chemometric approaches to trace the geographical origin of milk and provide scientific support for potential quality labeling systems. This methodology contributes to ensuring product authenticity, promoting regional value-added dairy production, and supporting sustainable rural development in high-Andean ecosystems. Full article

This study evaluates fermented raw-dried pork snacks enriched with plant-based functional ingredients—lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus), rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis), rosehip (Rosa canina), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), and a hemp-derived CBD oil (Cannabis sativa)—produced from pork, with addition of cow sour whey and salt. We use “human grade” descriptively (compliance with human-food hygiene/microbiological requirements; no AAFCO/labeling claim). Functional enrichment modulated viscoelasticity (G′, G″), texture, water activity, density, and color. CBD oil softened the structure, increasing chewability and springiness, whereas TPA metrics were analyzed only for variants within the instrument range (control, CBD, rosehip). All variants reached a_w < 0.90 and tested negative for Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in 25 g. Safety inferences are limited to a_w- and pathogen-based criteria. Sea buckthorn showed the highest a_w, while rosehip displayed the highest total viable counts (~10⁸ CFU/g); microbiological results are reported descriptively without inferential statistics. Density was the highest for lion’s mane and rosehip. Proximate composition varied (e.g., higher protein with rosemary oil; higher fat/moisture with sea buckthorn) but was assessed by FoodScan™ 2 as screening-level data. Overall, selected botanicals enabled targeted structure–texture modulation without breaching predefined safety targets under the tested conditions. Full article

Wetlands, among the most productive ecosystems on Earth, shelter a diversity of species and help maintain ecological balance. However, they are witnessing growing anthropogenic and climatic threats, which underscores the need for regular and long-term monitoring. This study presents a systematic review of 121 peer-reviewed articles published between January 2015 and 30 April 2025 that applied machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) for wetland mapping and bird-habitat monitoring. Despite rising interest, applications remain fragmented, especially for avian habitats; only 39 studies considered birds, and fewer explicitly framed wetlands as bird habitats. Following PRISMA 2020 and the SPIDER framework, we compare data sources, classification methods, validation practices, geographic focus, and wetland types. ML is predominant overall, with random forest the most common baseline, while DL (e.g., U-Net and Transformer variants) is underused relative to its broader land cover adoption. Where reported, DL shows a modest but consistent accuracy over ML for complex wetland mapping; this accuracy improves when fusing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical data. Validation still relies mainly on overall accuracy (OA) and Kappa coefficient ($\kappa$), with limited class-wise metrics. Salt marshes and mangroves dominate thematically, and China geographically, whereas peatlands, urban marshes, tundra, and many regions (e.g., Africa and South America) remain underrepresented. Multi-source fusion is beneficial yet not routine; The combination of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and DL is promising for fine-scale avian micro-habitats but constrained by disturbance and labeling costs. We then conclude with actionable recommendations to enable more robust and scalable monitoring. This review can be considered as the first comparative synthesis of ML/DL methods applied to wetland mapping and bird-habitat monitoring, and highlights the need for more diverse, transferable, and ecologically/socially integrated AI applications in wetland and bird-habitat monitoring. Full article

The extensive application of fungicides in citrus packinghouses to mitigate economic losses has resulted in the emergence of fungicide-resistant biotypes of Penicillium spp. Furthermore, many countries have implemented strict monitoring of fungicide residues to protect consumer health and the ecosystem. Maximum residue limits (MRLs) have been established in accordance with Codex Alimentarius standards, which present challenges for exports, as exceeding MRLs may restrict market access. This study aimed to identify fungicide-resistant strains of Penicillium spp. in a Moroccan citrus packinghouse and to assess the efficacy of GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) salts as eco-friendly alternatives for controlling these resistant strains through in vitro and in vivo tests. A total of 31 Penicillium isolates, labeled H₁ to H₃₁, were collected; 10 were identified as P. digitatum and 21 were identified as P. italicum. Resistance to thiabendazole (61.3%) and imazalil (58.1%) was notable, with some isolates showing dual resistance. In vitro, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, and sodium tetraborate salts were highly effective at inhibiting the mycelial growth of resistant isolates, at a concentration of 0.3% (p < 0.0001). In vivo tests on ‘Nadorcott’ fruits demonstrated that 2% and 4% salt solutions effectively prevented the development of green and blue molds caused by Penicillium spp. and showed strong curative effects, resulting in nearly 100% inhibition of most fungal isolates. Additionally, preventive salt treatments increased the accumulation of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, while in fruits treated with sodium benzoate, chitinase and peroxidase activities were significantly enhanced. Full article

Background/Objectives: In Japan, well-balanced meals composed of staple grains, protein-rich main dishes, and vegetable sides are recommended. However, issues such as infrequent breakfast consumption and poor vegetable intake persist. Obesity and non-communicable disease (NCD) rates from age 40 have also begun rising. Therefore, we investigated the structural associations between healthy diets and weight control for NCD prevention, including the potential associations with rice consumption and eating out/home meal replacement use in middle-aged Japanese individuals. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey based on data from 577 respondents to the 2016 Hyogo Diet Survey, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, aged 40–59 years. A healthy diet was defined as including at least two well-balanced meals daily, eating breakfast regularly, and eating five or more vegetable dishes daily. A hypothetical model included factors associated with healthy diets and maintaining a healthy weight (energy, salt, fat, and sugar intake; using nutritional fact labels; and regular exercise), and the frequencies of rice consumption and eating out/home-meal replacement. A simultaneous multi-population analysis by sex was performed. Results: Simultaneous multi-population analysis showed acceptable goodness-of-fit. Maintaining appropriate weight and eating rice were positively associated with healthy diet scores in both sexes. However, for men, using home meal replacements was negatively associated. Conclusions: Among middle-aged Japanese in Hyogo Prefecture, weight control for NCD prevention and rice consumption were linked to healthy diets. In men, using home meal replacements was associated with worse diet quality. Full article

Plant-based burgers (covering 29 products from 18 different brands) commercialized on the Spanish market during the first semester of 2025 were analyzed based on the information provided on their labels. Most of the products (28) had between 11 and 26 ingredients, with a median of 16.0 (mean of 18.5). One product included 42 ingredients. Soy was the main source of protein (72% of the products), and olive and sunflower oils were the main fat sources (54 and 51% of the products, respectively). The median protein content was 11.0% (mean of 13.0%), with 80% of the burgers falling within the range of 5–16%. The median fat content was 9.7% (mean of 10.0%), with 80% of the products ranging from 5.8% to 13.3%. The proportion of carbohydrates exceeded 10% in 83% of the products, and the fiber content was higher than 2.9% in most of the products (75%). The median salt content was 1.2% (mean of 1.2%), and a low percentage of products used additives in their formulations. These results show that decreasing the number of ingredients and the amount of fat and salt remain challenges that need to be addressed in these types of products. Full article

Background: Foods containing nutraceuticals from the mineral element group are being developed to compensate for the problem of deficiency in billions of people around the world. This research focuses on essential elements of patented cereal-based mixtures to complement the deficiencies of these elements and, at the same time, assesses their safety in terms of toxic elements in the human diet. Methods: The mineral and trace element contents in the mixtures were determined using the ICP-MS method with a subsequent evaluation of the contributions of the mixtures to the essential and toxic reference values based on dietary intakes and exposures for adults at 60, 80 and 100 kg of adult body weight and a portion size of 50 g. The potential health risk was evaluated using a metal pollution index. Results: The concentrations of minerals and trace elements in the cereal-based mixtures analyzed were as follows: K (up to 4150 µg/g) ≥ P > Mg > Ca > Na > Fe > Zn > Mn > Cu > Al > Ba (up to 4.40 µg/g) > Sr (up to 480 ng/g) ≥ Ti ≥ Ni > Ce ≥ Co > As ≥ Cs > Ag ≥ Li > Se > Be > Cr > Tl > Pb ≥ Hg > Ho > Cd > Sn (up to 1.12 ng/g). The mixtures contribute significantly to the reference values for Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, and P for adults. Individual dietary exposure values of toxic elements for adults weighing 60 kg decrease in this order: Al (10.1 µg/kg bw/day) > Ni (362 ng/kg bw/day) > As ≥ Pb > Ag > Hg > Cd > and Sn (0.93 ng/kg bw/day). Conclusions: In terms of Regulation (EU) No 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on nutrition and health claims made on foods, the cereal-based mixtures could be labelled “source of” Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, and P when their contributions to the reference values exceeded 15%; in addition, “low sodium/salt” or “very low sodium/salt” can be applied. The mixtures contribute insignificantly to the toxic reference values of Al, Sn, Hg, Cd, Ni, and Ag, and the exposure values of Pb for developmental neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and cardiovascular effects were considered safe. Regarding the metal pollution index of mixtures, there is no concern for potential health effects. Cereal-based mixtures are suitable for use in the food industry as a potential source of beneficial micronutrients for the human diet, although bioaccessible studies should not be neglected. Full article

Different composites of manganese oxides (Mn_xO_y) containing sodium (Na) and silver (Ag) were synthesized by the molten salt method with various MnSO₄·H₂O/NaNO₃ (M/N) molar ratios (between 0.3 and 1), and different AgNO₃ and NaOH amounts, obtaining two groups of materials: without the addition of AgNO₃ (labeled as M/N) and with AgNO₃ (labeled as M/N-A). As for the M/N group, the system with the lowest M/N ratio yielded the highest specific capacitance (160.5 F ${\mathrm{g}}^{-1}$), attributed to the formation of Mn₃O₄ and sodium birnessite. In the M/N-A group, the 1 M/N-0.5A system, produced with M/N ratio of 1 and addition of 0.5 g of AgNO₃, exhibited the highest specific capacitance (229.1 F ${\mathrm{g}}^{-1}$), associated with the presence of Mn₂O₃, silver hollandite, and metallic Ag. This enhancement is attributed to the synergistic effects of Na⁺ and Ag⁺ ions, which improve charge transfer kinetics and electrochemical performance. It was demonstrated that decreasing the MnSO₄·H₂O/NaNO₃ ratio in the M/N group and increasing AgNO₃ content in the M/N-A group enhances the electrochemically active surface area. Galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques confirmed that the 1 M/N-0.5A system exhibited the best performance, characterized by high energy retention, stable cycling behavior, and low capacitance dispersion, indicating its strong potential as an active material for pseudocapacitor applications. Full article

This work reports a label-free analytical strategy based on protein-induced modulation of salt crystallization patterns upon drying. This method relies on the consistent observation that protein-containing saline samples produce distinct salt deposition morphologies compared to protein-free controls. The work first demonstrates the concept of this phenomenon and characterizes the structural features of the resulting salt patterns. Then, systematic experiments with different solution compositions, substrates, surface coatings, and protein types confirm the generality of this differential deposition behavior and its dependence on total protein concentration. Two complementary measurement approaches are evaluated: a custom laser-scattering setup for optical attenuation measurements and a digital image analysis method based on pixel intensity distributions. Both strategies enable quantitative protein detection in simple (casein) and complex (human serum) samples, offering good correlations between signal and concentration and detection limits in the range of 2–18 µg·mL⁻¹ for digital image analysis and 162–205 µg·mL⁻¹ for optical attenuation measurements. These findings introduce an appealing paradigm for protein quantification exploiting drying-mediated crystallization phenomena, with potential for simple and label-free bioanalytical assays. Full article

A fluorescent sandwich assay was devised to quantify CK-MB. In a typical immunoassay, antibodies bind to the target, and the detected signal is quantified according to the target’s concentration. We innovated a unique fluorescence assay known as the “enzyme-linked aptamer assay” (ELAA) by substituting antibodies with a pair of high-affinity aptamers labelled with biotin, namely apt. A1 and apt. A2. Avidin-labelled ALP binds to biotin-labelled aptamers, hydrolyzing its substrate, 2-phosphoascorbic acid trisodium salt, resulting in the formation of ascorbic acid. The catalytic hydrolysate functions as a reducing agent, causing the deterioration of MoS₂ nanosheets. This results in the transformation of MoS₂ nanosheets into nanoribbons, leading to the release of quenched AGQDs. The reestablishment of fluorescence is triggered by Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) between the MoS₂ nanoribbons and AGQDs, enhancing the sensitivity of disease biomarker detection. The working range for detection falls between 2.5 nM and 160 nM, and the limit of detection (LOD) for CK-MB is verified at 0.20 nM. Full article

This review contains a compilation of data about the occurrence, mining, refining, and biological actions of lithium, without claiming completeness of knowledge. This should give a baseline for judging future pollutions of environmental and agricultural items and human nutrition and may show still existing gaps of screening. Emerging electromobility and use of computers leads to a steep increase in Li-based batteries, which are a source of hazardous waste unless recycled. Lack of recovery methods from effluents and sewage, however, will increase pollution with soluble Li-salts from increasing mining and waste in the future; therefore, biochemical effects of levels out of ambient range have been included. Many published data are hidden in multi-element tables, including the data of the author. Mobile fractions of soils and soil-to-plant transfer, as well as retainment in animal tissues, are low. A lot of data, starting from geology via soils, plants, water, and human nutrition, lead to a largely unknown average daily intake for men. With respect to nutrition of dairy cows, the contribution of Li from water was highest among all elements investigated, but only 4% of intake. Main sources for human nutrition are mineral water and table salt. Li is not labelled on mineral water bottles, nor table salt, which are the main sources. Though some data have been gathered, for human nutrition, the average daily intake is uncertain to estimate because some mineral waters are quite high in Li. Full article

This study investigated the synergistic effects of ultra-high pressure (UHP) and egg white protein (EWP) on the gel properties of sodium-reduced shrimp surimi. A Box–Behnken design targeting UHP pressure (200–400 MPa), duration (10–20 min), and EWP/myofibrillar protein (MP) ratio (1:9–5:5) was implemented to optimize gel strength, water holding capacity (WHC), and whiteness. Optimal conditions (290 MPa/15 min/EWP:MP = 3:5) yielded the following validated improvements, versus conventional processing: 282.27 g·mm gel strength, 14.90% WHC enhancement, and 16.63% reduced cooking loss. Texture profile analysis demonstrated superior elasticity in composite gels. Magnetic resonance imaging and scanning electron microscopy revealed a denser microstructure with enhanced water-binding capacity, corroborated by the rheological evidence of strengthened viscoelasticity. UHP promotes the partial expansion of MP, exposing hydrophobic groups and sulfhydryl groups, thereby enhancing intermolecular interactions. It also promotes the expansion of EWP, enabling the formation of disulfide bonds between molecules and facilitating the formation of network structures. These findings propose a scalable strategy for developing clean-label salt-reduced aquatic surimi products. Full article