Commercial Products Research Articles

Phenolic and amino acid profiles, and antioxidant properties of third generation snack foods adding Citrus mitis by-products and milk powder: impact of extrusion processing and microwave-heating “Impact of processing on obtaining healthy snacks”

Currently, there is a high consumption of snack foods worldwide, suggesting the improvement of their nutritional/nutraceutical properties by adding raw materials rich in bioactive compounds. This work aimed to study the impact of the processing stages on phenolic and amino acid profiles and the antioxidant properties of extruded snack foods by adding Citrus mitis by-products and milk powder. The color parameter C*, phytochemical, and antioxidant properties of four formulations were evaluated in the processing stages: unprocessed mixture (PS1), extruded pellets (PS2), and microwave-expanded products (PS3). The statistical analysis was performed using an unifactorial design with three levels (PS1, PS2, and PS3), evaluating four formulations (F1–F4) and a commercial product (COM). The mean values of the response variables were compared using the Fisher test (p ≤ 0.05). Color parameter C* increased in PS3 concerning the PS2 and PS1 processing stages. Total flavonoid content (TFC), hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (HRSA), and inhibition of human LDL oxidation (ILDLox) decreased in PS2 regarding PS1. Likewise, TFC decreased in PS3 regarding PS2, whereas HRSA and ILDLox increased. PS3 exhibited higher TFC, HRSA, and ILDLox values in all formulations regarding commercial snack foods. Sixteen phenolic acids, nine flavonoids, and a hydroxy acid were identified in free and bound extracts by UPLC coupled to ESI-MS. The amino acid profile was affected by processing, and Lysine showed the lowest stability. The microwave-expanded snack foods had acceptable sensory properties evaluated by consumers, and adding raw materials rich in phytochemical compounds and high-quality proteins enhanced their nutraceutical/nutritional properties.

Experimental demonstration of polarization-based decoy-state BB84 quantum key distribution utilizing a single laser and a single detector

As quantum key distribution progresses into commercial products and services, there is growing interest in technological solutions that improve performance and/or reduce costs. We present an experimental demonstration of the polarization-based three-level decoy-state BB84 quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol, at a clock frequency of 50 MHz, that relies on fewer resources at the receiver and increases robustness to side-channel attacks for both the transmitter and receiver. A single-laser source and cascade of electro-optic modulators provide the four polarization states, while a photonic recombiner with time-multiplexed inputs enables detection with a single detector.

Developmental Immunotoxicity Study of Tris(chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) in Hsd:Sprague Dawley® SD® Rats Exposed Through Dosed Feed.

Tris(Chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) is a member of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) used commonly as a replacement for polybrominated diphenyl ethers in consumer and commercial products. Flame retardants have been shown to modulate immune function in vivo and in vitro and there is evidence that at least some related compounds such as organophosphate pesticides can cause developmental immunotoxicity. Developmental immunotoxicology studies were conducted by administering 0, 2500, 5000 or 10000 ppm TCPP in feed to pregnant Hsd: Sprague Dawley® SD® rats from gestation day (GD) 6 through weaning on postnatal day (PND) 28. Feed exposure to TCPP was continued in the F1 offspring until terminal euthanasia at approximately 16-21 weeks of age when assessments for developmental immunotoxicity were conducted. Innate, humoral, and cell mediated immune function were assessed in the F1 adults. The antibody forming cells (AFC) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was reduced in male and female F1 rats in the 10000 ppm treatment group but coincided with reduced bodyweights. The AFC response was also significantly reduced in male rats exposed to 5000 ppm where only moderate effects on bodyweights occurred. TCPP exposure affected baseline T-cell proliferation without stimulation; however, the relevance of this change for immunotoxicity risk is unknown. TCPP exposure did not affect cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity. Only minor and inconsistent treatment related effects on hematology, innate NK cell function, and immune cell population distributions in the spleen were observed. Taken together, these data indicate that TCPP has the potential to impact humoral immune responses following developmental exposure.

Pilot-Scale Production of Sericin-Derived Oligopeptides (SDOs) from Yellow Silk Cocoons: Peptide Characterization and Specifications

Our previous research demonstrated the health benefits of sericin-derived oligopeptides (SDOs) from yellow silk cocoons, particularly their hypoglycemic and antihypertensive properties. This study aims to produce SDOs at a pilot scale, preparing them for large commercial production as a novel food ingredient, and investigates the impact of scale-up on their characteristics and specifications. We compared the productivity of SDOs generated from 25 L and 300 L batches via the hydrolysis of sericin using 5% Neutrase (E/S) at 50 °C for 4 h. The 300 L production scale outperformed the 25 L scale, achieving a hydrolysis degree (DH) of 8.63%, a solid recovery rate of 94.35%, and enhanced inhibitory actions for dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). The characterization of peptides was carried out in ultrafiltered SDOs. Peptides < 3 kDa demonstrated optimal enzyme inhibition and were then fractionated by size exclusion chromatography into nine distinct fractions. Of the nine fractions, F1, F8, and F9 had significant enzyme inhibitory activity. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed 32 unique peptide sequences, with YPDLPYH exhibiting significant dual inhibitory effects on both DPP-IV (IC50 1.35 mM) and ACE (IC50 18.10 μM). The maximum residue limit (MRL) for trace metals, pesticide residues, and microbiological contamination in SDOs complies with food regulations. SDOs exhibited stability at 4, 25, and 45 °C for six months, based on their physical characteristics and biological activity. Considering their investigated characteristics, SDOs could be manufactured at a pilot capacity and used as a functional food component in commercial applications designed to improve metabolic health.

A Ketone Synthesis via Cu(I)-Catalyzed Regioselective Coupling of 2-Pyridylthioesters with Grignard Reagents: In Quest of Straightforward Access to Pharmaceuticals.

For commercial production of SGLT2 inhibitors, cryogenic conditions (-78 °C) were required at the key C-glycosidation step, which has restricted their supply to the world market. To address the challenge, reported herein is a new synthetic method based on a new ketone synthesis by means of copper(I)-catalyzed coupling of 2-pyridylthioesters with Grignard reagents. The facile transformation from the ketones to the final APIs was realized under mild conditions due to the use of readily cleavable acetyl protecting groups.

Degradation and ultrastructural changes of resin-based pit and fissure sealants under simulated chewing conditions

BackgroundResin-based pit and fissure sealants, used to prevent dental caries, can experience abrasive wear. This study aimed to assess the abrasive wear of experimental pit and fissure sealants (DIF) compared with the other commercial pit and fissure sealants by measuring surface roughness, volume loss, and ultrastructure after chewing simulation at different time points.MethodsSpecimens were divided into five groups (n = 10): Clinpro™(CP), Teethmate™ White (TW), Teethmate™ Natural (TN), experimental sealant (DIF), and Filtek™ Supreme Flowable Restorative (FC). They underwent chewing simulation with 120,000, 240,000, and 360,000 strokes. Surface roughness and volume loss were measured with a profilometer, and ultrastructures were assessed using scanning electron microscope (SEM).ResultsAll specimens showed a significant increase in surface roughness after chewing simulation. FC had the highest roughness (p < 0.001) whereas DIF did not differ from other groups (p > 0.05). All materials experienced significant volume loss. Sealant types and chewing cycles affected volume loss, with CP showing the highest and TW the lowest (p < 0.001). SEM analysis revealed worn areas with circular or oval shapes, with CP and TN having larger diameters and TW the smallest.ConclusionsDIF showed acceptable surface roughness and wear resistance compared to other commercial products after chewing simulation.

In vitro fermentation characteristics of dietary fibers using fecal inoculum from dogs consuming commercial or grain kefir.

Traditional grain kefir is produced from the fermentation of milk with yeast- and bacteria-containing cultures. To maintain consistency and adhere to food safety guidelines, commercial kefir products are based on starter bacterial cultures. Bacterial profiles of starter vs. grain kefirs differ, and their influence on health effects is unknown. Our objectives were to determine the in vitro fermentation characteristics of common dietary fibers using fecal inoculum from dogs supplemented with kefir or kefir bacterial culture as inoculum. Healthy adult dogs were allotted to one of 3 treatments and supplemented for 14 d (n=4/treatment): 1) 2% reduced-fat milk treated with lactase (CNTL), 2) starter kefir (S-Kefir), or 3) grain kefir (G-Kefir). After 14 d, fresh fecal samples were collected and frozen in a 20% glycerol solution. For the in vitro experiment, fecal samples were thawed, diluted in an anaerobic diluting solution, and used to inoculate tubes containing semi-defined medium and either cellulose (CEL), pectin (PC), beet pulp (BP), or chicory pulp (CP). Tubes were incubated for 0, 6, 12, or 18h, with short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), pH, and microbiota measured at each time point. A second in vitro experiment was conducted using similar methods and measurements, but with S-Kefir and G-Kefir as inoculum sources. Effects of treatment (inoculum), time, and treatment*time interactions within fiber source were analyzed statistically using Mixed Models and repeated measures, with P<0.05 being significant. Using fecal inoculum, BP and PC were rapidly fermented, leading to large pH reductions, SCFA increases, and microbiota shifts. pH change was of greater (P<0.05) magnitude (PC) and higher (P<0.05) kinetic rate (CP) when using feces from dogs fed S-Kefir or G-Kefir than controls. Butyrate increases were greater (P<0.05) in tubes inoculated with G-Kefir feces than in S-Kefir or control feces. When PC and BP were fermented, tubes with S-Kefir feces had greater (P<0.05) acetate, propionate, and total SCFA increases than G-Kefir or control feces. Fermentations were slower when using kefir cultures as inoculum, but some differences were noted. Bacterial beta diversity and relative abundances shifted over time within each substrate and were unique to inoculum source. Our data suggest that the activity of kefir bacterial populations differs, and that kefir consumption changes the abundance and activity of the fecal microbiota of dogs, justifying in vivo investigation.

An investigation of hydraulic fracturing initiation and location of hydraulic fracture in preforated oil shale formations.

Horizontal well fracturing technology enables the commercial production of low-permeability reservoirs, with perforation fracturing technology serving as a critical component of multistage fracturing for horizontal wells. However, the presence of the horizontal wellbore and the perforation borehole significantly complicates the distribution of the local stress field. The extension behavior of hydraulic fractures cannot be accurately described. The mechanisms of initiation and extension of fractures resulting from perforation fracturing require further investigation. By employing the principle of superposition and considering the effects of far-field stress, fluid pressure within the wellbore, filtration loss of fracturing fluid, and temperature variations, the distribution of the stress field around the perforation has been elucidated. A theoretical model for calculating hydraulic fracture initiation pressure and location was developed based on the stress distribution pattern and the established rock damage criterion for various rock types. The accuracy of this theoretical model was validated through real triaxial hydraulic fracturing experiments. A combination of theoretical calculations and perforation fracturing experiments revealed that the fracture initiation location for perforation fracturing occurs at the intersection of the perforation borehole and the horizontal wellbore. Moreover, a comprehensive fracturing calculation guideline was proposed for varying fracturing conditions by comparing the theoretical and experimental values of fracture initiation pressure. The findings presented in this paper are anticipated to enhance the prediction of hydraulic fracture initiation pressures and locations in perforation fracturing.

Improved Recombinant Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Production via Molecular Evolution of the Viral Rep Protein

In the dynamic field of gene therapy, recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) have become leading viral vectors due to their safety, long-term expression, and wide-ranging cell and tissue tropism. With numerous FDA approvals and commercial products underscoring their potential, there is a critical need for efficient production processes to achieve high vector titers and quality. A major challenge in rAAV production is the efficient packaging of the genome into the viral capsid, with empty or partially filled capsids often representing over 90% of the produced material. To tackle this issue, we engineered the replication and packaging proteins of an AAV (Rep) to boost their functionality and improve vector titers. We subjected a complex Rep library derived from the AAV serotypes 1–13 to directed evolution in an AAV producer cell line. After each round of selection, single clones were analyzed, showing enrichment of specific hybrid Rep domains. Comparative analysis of these selected clones revealed considerable differences in their ability to package AAV2-based viral genomes, with hybrid Rep proteins achieving up to a 2.5-fold increase in packaging efficiency compared to their parental counterparts. These results suggest that optimizing rep gene variants through directed evolution is an effective strategy to enhance rAAV production efficiency.

Fermentation of sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima): exploring the potential of the kelp’s native microbiota as starter culture and the microbiological food safety of fermented products

This study investigated the use of native microbiota from the sugar kelp Saccharina latissima in the form of fermented kelp fluid (FKF) from a spontaneous anaerobic fermentation process as a starter culture (SC) for the fermentation of freshly harvested biomass of the same species. Rapid (&amp;lt;48 h) acidification (pH &amp;lt; 4.3) was achieved for S. latissima inoculated with FKF, at a fermentation temperature of 21°C. Kelp inoculated with a commercial strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (Lp, positive control) reached a similar pH level after 5 days, while kelp with no SC (negative control) did not reach a pH level below 4.3 within 9 days. The microbiota of the FKF-SC as well as the FKF-inoculated S. latissima samples was dominated by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) identified as L. plantarum. The SC in these samples successfully converted mannitol into lactic acid as the main fermentation product. In contrast, a higher production of acetic acid and ethanol was measured in the negative control samples than in other groups; this reflects a different microbial profile, including marine bacteria which could not be identified by MALDI-TOF biotyping. Challenge trials of S. latissima samples from experimental and commercial fermentation processes with Bacillus cereus did not result in the growth of this food pathogen, even at pH levels within a viable range for this species (pH &amp;gt; 4.3). These preliminary results provide a foundation for further isolation of suitable SCs for kelp fermentation in commercial production and for assessing the food safety of fermented kelp. Efficient and safe fermentation processes will increase sustainability in kelp production and enable a broader use of kelp ingredients in food applications.

Neem and Gliricidia Plant Leaf Extracts Improve Yield and Quality of Leaf Mustard by Managing Insect Pests’ Abundance Without Harming Beneficial Insects and Some Sensory Attributes

Production and consumption of vegetable crops has seen a sharp increase in the recent past owing to an increasing recognition of their nutraceutical benefits. In tandem, there has been unwarranted application of agrochemicals such as insecticides to enhance productivity and vegetable quality, at the cost of human health, and fundamental environmental and ecosystem functions and services. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of neem and gliricidia botanical extracts in managing harmful insect pest populations in leaf mustard. Our results report that neem and gliricidia plant extracts enhance the yield and quality of leaf mustard by reducing the prevalence and feeding activity of harmful insect pests in a manner similar to synthetic insecticides. Some of the key insect pests reduced were Lipaphis erysimi, Pieris oleracea, Phyllotreta Cruciferae, Melanoplus sanguinipes, and Murgantia histrionica. However, compared to synthetic insecticides, neem and gliricidia plant extracts were able to preserve beneficial insects such as the Coccinellidae spp., Trichogramma minutum, Araneae spp., Lepidoptera spp., and Blattodea spp. Furthermore, plant extracts did not significantly alter sensory attributes, especially taste and odor, whereas the visual appearance of leaf mustard was greater in plants sprayed with neem and synthetic insecticides. Physiologically, plant extracts were also able to significantly lower leaf membrane damage as shown through the electrolyte leakage assay. Therefore, these plant extracts represent promising pesticidal plant materials and botanically active substances that can be leveraged to develop environmentally friendly commercial pest management products.

Technological approaches for commercial production of functional food through fish farming: Opportunities and challenges

Functional foods and nutraceuticals have gained attention as a result of the emergence of several human health disorders, including abdominal, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegeneration. The components of functional foods influence the physiological system, which enhances human health and fights against illness. The global consumption of fish and fish products has increased in recent years, driven by the presence of omega-3 fatty acids, oligosaccharides, glucosamine, vitamins A, D, and E, as well as minerals such as magnesium, potassium, copper, sulfur, zinc, iodine, and proteins. It is widely acknowledged that functional food ingredients are important for promoting health, lowering the risk of disease, and lowering medical expenses. Fish farming has emerged as a source of novel functional ingredients from marine resources for functional food as well as for therapeutics. The review paper will also cover various technological approaches such as CRISPR-Cas9 mediated gene editing, zinc finger nucleases, and TALENs for enhanced production of bioactive compounds from genetically modified fishes for commercial production of functional food as well as nutraceuticals. Keywords: Fish farming, Zinc finger nuclease, CRISPR/Cas9, Functional food, Nutraceuticals, Omega-3 fatty acids

Carbon Dioxide Recycling into Fuels and Valuable Chemicals

The present review proposes an approach for remediation of atmosphere pollution by carbon dioxide. The global economic growth nowadays requires extensive energy consumption. Energy is produced traditionally by combustion of carbon containing fuels, resulting in the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. These emissions of released CO2 lead to the greenhouse effect on the atmosphere with subsequent impact on the global climate. Remediation of this harmful effect requires reduction in CO2 emissions. In addition to improving the efficiency of energy consumption, this reduction can be also accomplished by the recycling of carbon dioxide into fuels and useful commodities. This conversion of CO2 into fuels and commercial products leads to multiple benefits such as reduction in carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, production of value-added goods, thus reducing oil consumption and associated pollutions of the environment. This review summarizes the efforts to remove, or at least to remediate, the release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by its conversion to value-added products prior to discharging. Some of these products are urea, methanol, formic acid, some polymers of practical importance, light hydrocarbons and methane. The recent achievements in chemical catalysis, electrochemistry, bioelectrochemistry and photocatalysis are considered. Discussion on the feasibility of the considered methods compared to the traditional technologies is made. It is concluded that although production of value-added chemicals by carbon dioxide recycling is not yet competitive, it seems promising in the future when its economic feasibility will become a reality.

Biocontrol Potential of Trichoderma spp. Against Phytophthora ramorum

Phytophthora ramorum, the cause of Sudden Oak Death and related diseases, threatens over 130 tree and shrub species. We evaluated the biocontrol potential of isolates from nine Trichoderma species against P. ramorum using growth-rate studies, dual-culture assays, and culture-filtrate assays. Results showed significant variation in Trichoderma growth rates and biocontrol potential. Some isolates exhibited rapid growth, effective overgrowth, and lethal effects against P. ramorum and produced potent antagonistic metabolites. Faster growth rates only partially correlated with biocontrol efficacy, indicating that factors beyond growth, such as metabolite production, play significant roles. Notably, isolates of T. koningii, T. viride, and the commercial product SoilGard™ (T. virens) showed promising efficacy. We calculated a combined biocontrol variable to rank isolates based on vigour and efficacy to aid in identifying promising candidates. Our findings support the use of Trichoderma spp. as biocontrol agents against P. ramorum and underscore the need for a multifaceted approach to selecting and optimizing isolates. Our evaluation demonstrated the importance of using different assays to assess specific mechanisms of action of biocontrol candidates. Future research should further explore these interactions to enhance the sustainable management of P. ramorum.

Discovering the Potential of Cannabidiol for Cosmeceutical Development at the Cellular Level

Backgrounds: Cannabidiol (CBD) has been used for the development of extensive cosmeceutical commercial products. However, the safety and unclear bioactivity of CBD are still concerns and need to be examined to assess the impact of CBD on skin cells through cosmeceutical applications, particularly its impact on anti-aging and wound healing activities. Methods: In our study, the cytotoxicity of CBD was investigated on keratinocytes and fibroblasts in short-term and long-term treatments using a sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay and a clonogenic assay, respectively. Next, the antioxidant, anti-aging, and wound healing bioactivities of CBD were assessed. Then, we investigated the expression of the related genes. Results: Our results show that CBD at low concentrations (0.625–2.5 µg/mL) was not toxic to cells in the short-term treatment and significantly enhanced the growth of keratinocytes and fibroblasts under long-term exposure. Furthermore, CBD exhibited promising cellular bioactivities, including antioxidant and anti-aging activities in keratinocytes and fibroblasts, and it enhanced wound healing in skin cells. Moreover, CBD has affected the expression of skin regenerative genes in fibroblasts via TGF-β, VEGF, and NF-κB expression. In addition, CBD promoted CO1A2 expression, which is related to collagen production. Conclusions: Altogether, our findings confirm the promising potential of CBD, showing that it can be applied in various topical cosmeceutical products. However, further studies, including in vivo studies and clinical trials, should be conducted to confirm the safety and long-term effectiveness of CBD on the skin.

Electrospinning Using AC Electric Fields.

Electrospinning is increasingly used as a staple technology for the fabrication of nano- and micro-fibers of different materials. Most processes utilize direct current (DC) electrospinning, and a multitude of DC-electrospinning tools ranging from research to commercial production systems is currently available. Yet, there are numerous studies performed on electrospinning techniques utilizing non-DC, periodic electric fields, or alternating current (AC) electrospinning. Those studies demonstrate the strong potential of AC-electrospinning for the sustainable production of various nanofibrous materials and structures. Although tremendous progress is achieved in the development of AC-electrospinning over the last 10years, this technique remains uncommon. This paper reviews the AC-electrospinning concepts, instrumentation, and technology. The main focus of this review is the most studied, "electric wind" driven AC-electrospinning technique tentatively named alternating field electrospinning (AFES). The latter term emphasizes the role of the AC electric field's confinement to the fiber-generating electrode and the absence of a counter electrode in such an electrospinning system. The synopses of AFES process parameters, fiber-generating spinneret designs, benefits and obstacles, advancements in AC electrospun nano/micro-fibrous materials/structures and their applications are given, and future directions are discussed.

Plant Stem Cells in Cosmetic Industry

It is interesting to note that some of the most lucrative commercial products available today are derived from plant cell cultures. Apple, grape, ginger, rice, and other plant stem cells have been successfully and extensively utilized in cosmetic preparations all over the world. The advantages of plant cell suspensions over field-grown complete plants, which exhibit developmental stages of growth, plant age, and organ-specific differences, include sustainability, lack of pesticide residues, and independence from climate fluctuations. The procedure of extracting and purifying physiologically active compounds from plant cell cultures is significantly streamlined because of the possibility that these chemicals may be released into the intercellular gaps or wasted media through the cell walls and membrane. Upon downstream processing from the cells, the released chemicals exhibit minimal losses and a high degree of purity. Overall, the practical interest is in creating high-quality, sustainable, and innovative skincare solutions that meet both consumer needs and environmental concerns while driving the cosmetic industry toward more advanced biotechnological approaches. Our review intends to show the advantages of plant stem cells in cosmetic preparations.

Membrane transport engineering for efficient yeast biomanufacturing.

Yeast strains have been widely recognized as useful cell factories for biomanufacturing. To improve production efficiency, their biosynthetic pathways and regulatory strategies have been continuously optimized. However, commercial production using yeasts is still limited by low product yield and high production cost. Accumulating evidences have demonstrated the importance of metabolite transport processes in addressing these challenges. Engineering yeast membrane transporters for transporting precursors, substrates, intermediates, products and toxic inhibitors has been successful. In addition, membrane properties are also important for metabolite production. Here we propose membrane transport engineering (MTE) to integrate manipulation of both membrane transporters and membrane properties. We emphasize that systematic optimization of both transporters and membrane lipid bilayers benefits production efficiency. We also envision the potential of artificial intelligence and automation process in MTE for economic and sustainable bioproduction using yeast cell factories.

Evaluating the Growth of Staphylococcus aureus During Slow Cooking of Beef and Turkey Formulations from 10°C to 54.4°C for an Extended Time.

USDA FSIS recommends meat dwell ≤6h during cooking from 10 to 54.4°C to limit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and prevent its production of heat-stable enterotoxins. This study evaluated the growth of S. aureus in irradiated beef and turkey formulations with no antimicrobial, lactate-diacetate (2.5% w/w), or vinegar (1.98% w/w). Individual experimental units consisting of a 5g portion of meat in a plastic bag were inoculated with 3 log CFU/g of S. aureus and then spread thin within the bag. Units were heated from 10 to 54.4°C in 9.3h in a water bath, representing a process deviation case in a commercial establishment. S. aureus populations were enumerated on Baird-Parker agar plates from five inoculated units before cooking, and three units each at 4.5, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, and 9.3h. Likewise, two uninoculated units each were evaluated at 0, 6, and 9.3h to verify the absence of competition from background microflora. Data from three trials were reported as mean±SD. Beef formulations had pH, moisture, and salt content of 6.41±0.25, 74.1±0.5%, and 0.6±0.1%, respectively, whereas turkey had 6.74±0.08, 76.4±0.6%, and 0.6±0.1%, representing the most optimum condition for growth present in the commercial products. Maximum growth of 1.1±0.2 (p<0.05), 0.9±0.3 (p<0.05), and 0.2±0.1 (p>0.05) log CFU/g was observed by the 6thh in beef with no antimicrobial, lactate diacetate, and vinegar, respectively, and 1.6±0.2 (p<0.05), 1.3±0.3 (p<0.05), and 0.5±0.3 (p>0.05) log CFU/g in the turkey formulations also by the 6thh. The counts declined thereafter (p<0.05) in all formulations, reaching below the inoculation level by 9.3h. In comparison, UW Therm 2.0 and DMRI Staphtox Predictor, after adjusting for their temperature limitations per USDA FSIS guidelines, estimated a 4.2 and 3.3 log increase, respectively, in beef with no antimicrobial, and 4.3 and 3.7 log increase in turkey. The models provide fail-safe but overly conservative predictions of S. aureus growth in beef and turkey.

A sensitive and selective amperometric determination of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid on Mo2Ti2AlC3 MXene precursor-modified electrode.

Various commercial and industrial products widely use highly toxic eight-carbon-chain perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), posing a significant threat to the health of living organisms. In this study, the electrochemical detection of PFOS was achieved by developing a carbon paste electrode (CPE) using the Mo2Ti2AlC3 MAX phase. Mo2Ti2AlC3 was synthesized and directly used to construct the CPE. The electrochemical performance of the prepared sensor was tested using various electrochemical techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and amperometric titration. The developed electrochemical sensor exhibited two linear ranges from 0.001 to 0.09μM and from 1.1 to 62.6μM, with a detection limit of 0.04nM. The sensor demonstrated high sensitivity, measuring 145.1μAμM-1cm-2, and a response time of 5s for PFOS quantification at a working potential of 0.3V. Additionally, the sensor demonstrated outstanding resistance to typical interfering chemicals. The applicability and reliability of the developed sensor for PFOS determination were further tested in real samples, yielding recoveries in the range of 92.6-108.2%, with relative standard deviation (RSD) values between 1.8% and 3.7%. The Mo2Ti2AlC3 MAX phase-based electrochemical sensor is simple, rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective, making it a promising approach for the quantification of PFOS in environmental water and soil samples.