A storage period of 50 days at 0°C was implemented for 21 varieties of apricots originating from distinct regions in China, preceding their arrangement on shelves at 25°C. A study assessed the storage quality, chilling injury, reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidant capabilities, and quantities of bioactive substances in the apricots. The results of low-temperature storage experiments on 21 apricot varieties identified two groups differentiated by chilling tolerance—one group exhibiting tolerance and the other lacking it. Shelf life was compromised for eleven apricot varieties, including the Xiangbai and Yunbai, due to severe chilling injury after cold storage. In the 11 apricot varieties susceptible to chilling stress, the levels of superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide escalated considerably after 50 days of storage at 0°C, surpassing those in the 10 chilling-resistant varieties. During storage, the activities of ROS-scavenging enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase, were markedly lowered in 11 chilling-sensitive apricot varieties. The amounts of bioactive substances, represented by ascorbic acid, total phenols, carotenoids, and total flavonoids, capable of neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS), also suffered a substantial decline. Among ten apricot varieties, Akeximixi and Suanmao served as prime examples of those less susceptible to chilling injury, as their production and removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS) remained unaffected, thereby avoiding the damaging effects of ROS accumulation within the fruit. Additionally, the ten distinct apricot varieties resilient to chilling during storage displayed greater sugar and acid quantities post-harvest. To foster chilling tolerance in the fruits, this resource can supply the energy needed for physiological metabolic processes during cold storage and the carbon structures necessary for secondary metabolic pathways. The study, integrating cluster analysis results with the geographical distribution of 21 fruit types, demonstrated a correlation: apricot varieties exhibiting chilling tolerance during storage are entirely confined to China's northwestern region, where extreme daily temperature fluctuations and abrupt climate changes are frequent. To summarize, ensuring the proper regulation of ROS production and elimination during cold storage is paramount for maintaining the storage quality of apricots. Furthermore, apricots possessing higher initial levels of glycolic acid and bioactive compounds exhibit a reduced vulnerability to chilling injury.
A problem with the meat, known as wooden breast myopathy (WBM), can affect the pectoralis major muscles (PMs) of fast-growing broiler chickens. PMs suffering from escalating WBM severity displayed a range of varying meat characteristics. Normal PMs (NOR), mild WBM-affected PMs (MIL), moderate WBM-affected PMs (MOD), and severe WBM-affected PMs (SEV) were chosen as the raw materials. BAI1 Samples of connective tissue and fibrillar collagen were subjected to sodium hydroxide immersion, Masson trichrome staining, and electron microscopy to determine their structural and organizational features. Via the shear force of sodium hydroxide-treated samples, the mechanical strength of the intramuscular connective tissue was examined. Differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were applied in characterizing both the thermal properties and the secondary structure observed in connective tissue. For evaluating the physicochemical properties of proteins, including particle size, molecular weight, surface hydrophobicity, and intrinsic fluorescence, the obtained connective tissue was dissolved in a sodium hydroxide solution. Employing a zeta potential instrument, the particle size was quantified. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis provided a means of analyzing the molecular weight. Spectroscopy techniques were employed to quantify surface hydrophobicity and intrinsic fluorescence. Histological examination of WBM-affected PMs, especially those exhibiting severe fibrosis, including blood vessels, demonstrated macrophage infiltration, myodegeneration, necrosis, regeneration, and thickening of the perimysial connective tissue. In perimysial layers, NOR demonstrated an average collagen fibril diameter of 3661 nanometers. In contrast, WBM treatment led to a substantial increase in average diameter, reaching 6973 nanometers in the SEV samples. A substantial augmentation in molecular weight distribution was evident, with particular peaks at 270 kDa, 180-270 kDa, 110-180 kDa, 95-100 kDa, and a fraction below 15 kDa. Molecular cytogenetics Concomitantly with increasing WBM severity, connective tissue exhibited thickening, denser collagen fibril packing, augmented mechanical strength and thermal properties, and larger particle size, increased surface hydrophobicity, and enhanced intrinsic protein fluorescence.
Panax notoginseng, scientifically known as P., plays a crucial role in East Asian herbalism. The exceptional medicinal and food-related qualities of notoginseng are noteworthy. While possessing a distinctive origin label, P. notoginseng has become a victim of fraudulent practices, the result of people misrepresenting or hiding its true origin. An untargeted nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics study was conducted to discriminate the origins of Panax notoginseng, sourced from four primary Chinese producing areas. Employing NMR spectral analysis, researchers identified and quantified fifty-two components, including saccharides, amino acids, saponins, organic acids, and alcohols, before further screening for area-specific geographical identification components. The hypoglycemic and cardioprotective effects of Yunnan P. notoginseng were attributed to its substantial levels of acetic acid, dopamine, and serine; in contrast, Sichuan P. notoginseng, characterized by a high concentration of fumarate, presented greater benefit for nervous system disorders. In P. notoginseng specimens from both Guizhou and Tibet, there were significant amounts of malic acid, notoginsenoside R1, and amino acids. The geographical origins of P. notoginseng can be readily determined using our findings, which are also suitable for nutritional guidelines for human consumption.
To ascertain the tangible effect of foodborne illness stemming from catering services, we surveyed caterers with and without prior hygiene infractions, scrutinizing their staffing, food handling protocols, and their link to microbial levels within the food and preparation areas. Past lapses in food safety adherence did not have a negative impact on the present execution of food safety protocols, nor on the quality of the food's microbial population. Instead of penalizing operators who deviate from standards, we propose alternative approaches to improve food safety, along with the policy implications arising from such strategies.
Sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA-Na2), inorganic salts with a 'Generally Recognized as Safe' (GRAS) status, offer substantial advantages in controlling a wide array of postharvest pathogens in fruits and vegetables. Our study examined the median effective concentration (EC50) of Na2SiO3 (0.06%, 0.05%, 0.07%, and 0.08%) and EDTA-Na2 (0.11%, 0.08%, 0.5%, and 0.07%) against the postharvest citrus pathogens Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, Geotrichum citri-aurantii, and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. At the EC50 concentration, Na2SiO3 and EDTA-Na2 treatments exhibited a decrease in spore germination rates, a visible breakdown of the spore cell membrane structure, and a considerable increase in lipid droplet (LD) content in the four types of postharvest pathogens. Additionally, both treatments, at EC50, caused a substantial decrease in disease occurrence for P. italicum (by 60% and 93335%, respectively) and G. citri-aurantii (by 50% and 7667%, respectively) relative to the control. Na2SiO3 and EDTA-Na2 treatments demonstrably reduced the severity of disease caused by the four pathogens, with no noticeable change observed in the quality of the citrus fruit as compared to the control. Consequently, sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA-Na2) offer a promising strategy for managing postharvest diseases in citrus fruits.
Raw shellfish and other raw seafood are often carriers of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a foodborne pathogen that has a wide distribution in the marine environment. Consuming raw or undercooked seafood tainted with Vibrio parahaemolyticus can lead to severe gastrointestinal distress in individuals. The low-temperature tolerance of Vibrio spp. is a significant attribute. Long-term survival within frozen seafoods, achieved by microorganisms adopting a viable but non-culturable state (VBNC), may contribute to a previously underestimated risk of food contamination and infection. Seventy-seven frozen bivalve mollusks (comprising 35 mussels and 42 clams) were analyzed in this investigation for the detection and quantification of live Vibrio parahaemolyticus, employing standard cultivation techniques. VBNC forms were identified and measured using a refined protocol combining Propidium Monoazide (PMA) and Quantitative PCR (qPCR). Examination of all samples via the standard culture methods produced no evidence of V. parahaemolyticus, failing both detection and enumeration procedures. A substantial 117% of the samples (9 out of 77) contained VBNC forms, exhibiting CFU/g values spanning from 167 to 229. VBNC forms were detected exclusively in clam samples. Frozen bivalve mollusks could possibly contain VBNC V. parahaemolyticus, as indicated by the results of this study. A more rigorous risk evaluation of frozen seafood concerning the prevalence of VBNC V. parahaemolyticus necessitates further data collection.
The immunomodulatory capacity of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) secreted by Streptococcus thermophilus has not been extensively researched. medical mycology No comparative studies exist on the functional characteristics of EPSs produced by streptococci in differing food environments. In order to evaluate their immune-modulating effects in porcine intestinal epithelial cells, EPSs from S. thermophilus SBC8781 were isolated, identified, and characterized after fermentation of soy milk (EPS-s) or cow milk (EPS-m) in this study.