Expression, characterization and antibacterial effects of two endolysins as novel biocontrol agents against Pseudomonas oleovorans in foods.

Enhancement of ultrasound treatment on the structural and gelation properties of large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) roe protein isolate.

Advances in high-performance alginate hydrogels: properties, performance enhancement strategies, and their applications in the food industry

Extraction and modification methods of hemicellulose, modified structure-activity relationship, and applications of modified hemicellulose in the food industry.

Nanomaterials in the food industry: applications and potential health risks.

Abstract - The contamination of wastewater by heavy metals has been become a very serious global environmental problem, mainly due to rapid industrialization, fast urban expansion, and more intensive agricultural practice. These persistent and non‑biodegradable metals, such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and nickel (Ni), are easily to bioaccumulate and biomagnify, causing high risk to both ecological systems and human healths. Their complex physicochemical property, speciation behavior and mobility in aquatic system makes the removal process more complicated, especially under different pH and redox condition and also in present of many competing ions. Conventional treatment technologies like chemical precipitation, ion exchange, membrane filtration, and electrochemical method are widely using; however, they are facing many limitations, for example producing too much sludge, having very high operation cost, serious problem of membrane fouling, and low efficiency when heavy metal exist in trace concentration. All of this is showing the needs for developing more advanced solutions. In the last years, more attentions was focused on nanomaterials, bio‑derived adsorbent and hybrid intelligent system because of their higher surface areas, better selectivity and possibility of regeneration. Metal oxide nanoparticle, magnetic nanocomposite, biochar‑based material and functionalized biopolymer have been show superior adsorption capacity and removal efficiency for many type of heavy metals. New emerging technologies, such as photocatalysis, electrocoagulation, microbial fuel cell, membrane bioreactor and AI‑assisted optimization, are also improving treatment performance and overall sustainability. Mechanistic understandings by adsorption isotherm, kinetic model and thermodynamic evaluation is very important for optimize system design and for scaling‑up from lab to real application. Even though a lot of progress has been done, many challenge are remain, especially about validation in real wastewater, removal of many metals at the same time, long‑term stability of material, toxicity assessment of nanomaterials, and pilot‑scale application in industry. Future perspective is pointing to the development of smart multifunctional material, better integration into circular economy concept, strategy for resource recovery, adoption of Industry 4.0 technology, and stronger regulatory framework, which together will promoting more sustainable and cost‑effective heavy metal remediation system soon. Keywords: Heavy metal removal; Wastewater treatment; Nanomaterials; Bio adsorbents; Magnetic nanocomposites; Adsorption mechanisms; Photocatalysis; Electrocoagulation; Artificial intelligence optimization; Sustainability.

The main motivation for this research was the development of new materials for application in the construction industry as eco‐friendly isolation materials. These materials should be coherent with the circular economy approach, especially based on industrial by‐products. The article's aim is a synthesis and investigation of foamed geopolymers for building applications. The lightweight geopolymer was synthesized using coal shale from the Wieczorek coal mining and perohydroxide as a foaming agent. The additive, the crystalline nanocellulose, is in the amount of 0.5 % by weight as applied to part of the samples. The materials (reference material and composite with nanoadditive) were characterized, including density, mechanical and thermal properties, water absorption, and resistance to aggressive environments. Also, the microstructure of the obtained materials was investigated (x‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy). However, the provided works show the possibility of synthesis of the foamed geopolymers from industrial by‐products and applying them for isolation purposes in the construction industry. The obtained results also show the negative influence of nanocellulose on the properties of foamed material, including increasing density, decreasing mechanical properties, and increasing thermal coefficient.

Participation Report on Brazilian Congress on Vacuum Applications in Industry and Science 2025 (CBrAVIC 2025)

In response to the growing need for sustainable and safe postharvest strategies, plant essential oils have emerged as promising natural alternatives to synthetic fungicides. Mango (Mangifera indica L.), as a vital tropical fruit, suffers significant postharvest losses due to anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. This study investigated the antifungal efficacy of oregano essential oil (OEO) against C. gloeosporioides and its regulatory effects on the postharvest quality of mango fruit. The potent antifungal activity of OEO is demonstrated by its low MIC (0.005%) and MFC (0.01%) against C. gloeosporioides. The antifungal mechanism was primarily attributed to the disruption of plasma membrane integrity of C. gloeosporioides, as indicated by increased propidium iodide uptake, elevated extracellular conductivity, and leakage of cellular proteins. The OEO treatment inhibited peel color transformation, reduced weight loss, maintained firmness, and slowed the increase in the soluble solids content to acidity ratio. Furthermore, OEO enhanced the fruit's antioxidant capacity by sustaining higher superoxide dismutase activity and suppressing the activities of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase, leading to a marked reduction in malondialdehyde accumulation. These findings comprehensively demonstrate the dual functionality of OEO as a direct fungicidal agent and a systemic physiological regulator that delays senescence and preserves mango quality. This study underscores the potential of OEO as a sustainable alternative for integrated postharvest management of mango anthracnose, offering insights for its practical application in the fruit industry.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper was to investigates value addition activities of palm oil supply chain in Kigoma region, Tanzania. A case research design was adopted in which questionnaire and interview was used to collect data from 130 respondents. The study findings revealed that main actors in Kigoma palm oil supply chain are farmers (46%) followed by processors (38.2%) and traders while non-governments (6.3%) and government agents (9.1%) being the minority. Seed production, nursery, cultivation and harvesting are main upstream (production) supply chain activities. At Midstream (Processing), main activities include processing of crude palm/kernel oil by refining, fractionating and distilling into marketable forms which are suitable for manufacturing food and non-food products. While in downstream activities includes marketing of food and non-food products from refined and crude palm and kernel oil. Study further revealed that palm oil sub-sector create employment, increase income, promote other sector development and improve living standard of majority farmers in Kigoma Region. Though several challenges like shortage of capital among small farmers in Kigoma, unreliable local and international market, poor infrastructure network in Kigoma rural areas and low level of technological application in palm industry as main constrains. The study recommended that government support is more required for enhance capacity building among small farmers, invest in research and development, improve Infrastructure Network and increase support to farmers through its agents like SIDO, TBS, TFDA, financial institutions, ministry of industry and other public institutions.

ABSTRACT This paper explores the under examined relationship between circular economy ( CE ) practices and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) in the service industry, analyzing the mediating role of employee socially responsible behaviors (ESRBs) and the moderating influence of social value orientation (SVO). While CE has gained attention in the manufacturing industry, its application in the service industry, particularly in the hospitality and healthcare sector, remains underexplored, predominantly in developing economies. Moreover, the mechanisms through which CE practices influence employee behaviors are not well understood. To address these gaps, we draw on social exchange theory to hypothesize that CE practices positively influence OCBs, mediated by ESRBs, with SVO moderating these relationships. Data were collected from 315 employees from the hospitality and the healthcare sector in Ghana using a simple random sampling. Structural equation modeling (AMOS 23.0) was employed to test the hypotheses. From the findings, CE practices positively influence OCBs ( β = 0.196; p value < 0.01) with ESRBs mediating the relationship between CE and OCBs ( β = 0.139; 95% CI = [0.058, 0.215]). SVO also moderates these ( β = 0.041; p value < 0.05). This study is novel in introducing ESRBs as a mediator between CE and OCBs, revealing how employee behavior shifts through sustainability efforts. Practically, it guides hospitality and healthcare managers to design CE initiatives that encourage employee participation in recycling, energy‐saving, and resource‐efficient practices that foster OCBs.

The limited stability of anthocyanins restricts their application in the food industry, necessitating encapsulation to prevent degradation. This study fabricated an anthocyanin-rich acidic water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) emulsion system stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). Anthocyanins extracted from the by-product peels of 'France' Prunus domestica L. were incorporated into the inner aqueous phase (W1). The internal phase (W1/O) ratio was increased to 40% (w/w) to enhance anthocyanin loading capacity. CNCs were sonicated to reduce their size and improve their interfacial properties, thereby enhancing the emulsifying capacity. Sonicated CNCs combined with whey protein isolate (WPI) significantly improved double emulsion performance compared to the non-sonicated CNCs-WPI system: (1) reduced D43 from 8.50 µm to 4.35 µm; (2) elevated ζ-potential from 7.49 ± 0.99 mV to 10.07 ± 1.50 mV; and (3) improved encapsulation efficiency from 52.96 ± 2.60% to 83.39 ± 0.96%. Furthermore, encapsulated anthocyanins exhibited significantly enhanced thermal stability compared to free anthocyanins, with the half-life at 50 °C increasing from 14.72 ± 0.35 h to 70.37 ± 0.51 h. This study demonstrates that modifying nanoparticle interfacial properties provides valuable insights for designing stable emulsions and enhancing anthocyanin stability.

In the recent years, interest in obtaining and studying surfactants synthesized from natural raw materials, has been increased. Flaxseed oil, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, is a significant object of study in this field. The synthesis and analysis of the properties of amides derived from linseed oil are important for understanding their potential applications in industry. Previously published studies claimed that the amidation of linseed oil fatty acids is possible only with the use of diethanolamine. However, new research has shown that in addition to diethanolamine, diethylamine can also be successfully used for this process. This discovery opens new prospects for the synthesis of fatty acid amides of linseed oil and expands the possibilities of research in this area.

The mechanosensory lateral line system, found in all fishes, detects water movement and pressure fields and mediates crucial behaviors in aquatic environments. Neuromast sensory organs, the functional units of the system, exhibit diversity in shape and size among species, but structure-function relationships that could explain this impressive diversity have not been explored. Here, we employ a fluid-structure interaction-based computational model that uses the shape and size of the base of the cupula (the gelatinous cap covering the neuromast) as a proxy for neuromast shape and size. Simulations showed that sensitivity of the cupula (bending response to defined water flows) varies with its shape and size, direction of water flow relative to the major axis of the cupula, as well as with cupula height and material properties (elastic modulus). Sensitivity varied among cupulae with shapes known among superficial neuromasts and canal neuromasts within narrow and widened canals. In addition, predictions made by the model for the sorts of changes in neuromast morphology known to occur during ontogeny predict complex changes in neuromast sensitivity through developmental time. In using variation in cupula responses to flow as a proxy for neuromast responses, this work has revealed an unexplored aspect of adaptive functional evolution in the lateral line system with the potential to inspire the development of biomimetic sensors and robots with applications in industry, medicine, and environmental monitoring and exploration.

Hybrid nanocomposites based on Aluminum 6061 (Al 6061) reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) emerge as promising materials due to their ability to achieve simultaneous improvements in strength, thermal stability, and tribological performance. This study examines the structure–property relationships of CNT–Al2O3 nano-reinforced hybrid Al 6061, with particular emphasis on microstructural evolution and mechanical properties. The nanocomposites are fabricated via a powder metallurgy route, which enables optimized dispersion and homogeneous distribution of CNTs and Al2O3 within the aluminum matrix. Microstructural characteristics, interfacial bonding, and grain refinement are systematically analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Mechanical characterization demonstrates a marked enhancement in mechanical properties compared to Al 6061. The observed property improvements are attributed to synergistic strengthening mechanisms, including effective load transfer from the matrix to Al2O3 particles, CNT-induced grain refinement, and increased resistance to dislocation motion. These results establish a direct correlation between microstructural features and mechanical performance, highlighting the potential of CNT–Al2O3 reinforced Al 6061 hybrid nanocomposites for lightweight, high-strength applications in aerospace, automotive, and structural engineering industries.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have gained increasing attention across food, biomedical, environmental, and many industrial fields due to their antimicrobial properties, chemical stability, and favorable physicochemical characteristics. In parallel, enzyme immobilization on nanostructured supports has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance enzyme stability, reusability, and functional performance in biosensing and biocatalytic systems. This mini-review summarizes recent advances in the synthesis of ZnO-NPs, with emphasis on green and biogenic approaches, and examines their integration with enzymes to form ZnO-enzyme hybrid systems. Key enzyme classes, immobilization strategies, and representative applications in food quality monitoring, biosensing, and food-processing-related biocatalysis are discussed. The novelty of this article is its comprehensive and application-oriented perspective. Unlike previous reviews that primarily addressed either ZnO nanoparticle synthesis or generic enzyme immobilization, this manuscript critically integrates strategies across the full value chain, from material preparation to functional application. In addition, the review critically evaluates toxicity, migration, safety, and regulatory considerations associated with ZnO-NPs, highlighting existing knowledge gaps and the need for standardized assessment frameworks. Despite promising proof-of-concept studies, challenges related to nanoparticle reproducibility, enzyme leaching, and long-term safety remain, underscoring the need for integrated and application-oriented research to enable safe and effective implementation of ZnO-enzyme hybrid technologies in many different sectors.