Untreated Control Samples Research Articles

Capture and Protection of Environmental DNA in a Metal‐Organic Framework

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is released by organisms into their surroundings, enabling non‐invasive species detection and biodiversity assessments without the need for direct observation. However, collection poses challenges due to the generally low abundance of eDNA and the presence of degradation agents, including enzymes, UV radiation, and microorganisms, rendering samples unstable. Active filtration, which is frequently used to capture eDNA in water, can be time‐consuming and cumbersome in field conditions. Herein, a filter‐free one‐pot procedure for capturing eDNA with the metal‐organic framework (MOF), zeolitic imidazolate framework 8 (ZIF‐8), is examined. The method is evaluated on 15 mL water samples from diverse sources (aquarium, river, and sea). ZIF‐8 forms in all with high capture efficiency (>98%) using spiked salmon DNA to represent eDNA. The DNA is resistant to degradation by endonucleases and UV light. In addition, it remains stable over time as a species‐specific salmon quantitative polymerase chain reaction detected genomic DNA in all samples captured with the MOF to a maximum of 28 days at 37 °C while the untreated control samples were below the assay detection limit by day 6. These results highlight the efficacy of ZIF‐8 capture in overcoming challenges associated with the preservation of eDNA obtained from aquatic environments.

Cold plasma treatment for E. coli inactivation and characterization for fresh food safety

Cold plasma is an emerging non-thermal technology for food pathogen inactivation and material surface modification. This technology was demonstrated ecofriendly and convenient with free of chemicals in food processes. The presenting study was to investigate the effectiveness of reactive species generated in cold plasma treated water (CPTW) for inactivating microbes through oxidative stress. The physical properties of CPTW created by electric discharges of O2/N2 were characterized. The potential of CPTW for fresh food applications was evaluated. The research results revealed that the pH values of CPTW significantly decreased from pH 7.4 to 3.4 and the electrical conductivity of CPTW increased from 78 to 162 mS/cm when treatment time increased from 10 to 240 s at the discharge frequency of 2000 Hz. It's demonstrated that the CPTW was able to significantly inactivate E. coli TOP 10 in water. The substantial reduction in E. coli TOP 10 cells increased from 1.6 to 8 log at a frequency of 2000 Hz when the treatment times changed from 10 to 240 s. It's also verified that the CPTW significantly reduced the bacterial load and extended the shelf life of the strawberries up to 30 days without compromising their quality compared to untreated control samples. This information is useful for the design of effective cold plasma processes in food engineering applications. Further research is necessary to explore the full potential of cold plasma technology in enhancing food safety and quality in the future.

Foliar applications of phenylalanine and prohexadione calcium for managing tannin content in cold-hardy hybrid grape cultivars

Cold-hardy hybrid grape cultivars have low tannin content compared to Vitis vinifera cultivars, which leads to unbalanced red wines and therefore low-quality wines. Viticultural practices, such as nitrogen fertilisation and the use of plant growth regulators, have shown to be effective interventions to modify tannin content in V. vinifera cultivars and may be effective with cold-hardy hybrids. Foliar applications of phenylalanine (Phe, 100 mg/L) and prohexadione calcium (ProCa, 50 mg/L) were applied separately and in combination (ProCa+Phe) to Marquette grapevines grown in Iowa, USA in 2022 and 2023. Treatments were assigned following a split-plot design. Berry weight, diameter, seeds per berry, tannin content, and iron-reactive phenolics content of skins and seeds were analysed at five phenological time points. Samples from treated vines were compared to untreated control samples using a random-intercepts linear regression model. Overall, the effect of year was more impactful than the individual effects of treatments due to differences in temperature and rainfall during berry development. However, skin and seed tannin and IRP were significantly affected by the Year2023:ProCa interaction at 3 weeks post fruit set and véraison, respectively, suggesting ProCa treatment may be more effective with multiple applications in consecutive years. Low application rate may be a reason for limited treatment effectiveness and further work on dose response may demonstrate foliar sprays of Phe and ProCa to be effective tools at managing phenolics content in Marquette grapes.

Solution-Induced surface modification and secondary grains growth for high-performance and stable perovskite solar cells

Enhancing the quality of perovskite layer and refining the interface between the perovskite layer and the hole transport layer (HTL) represent pivotal strategies for optimizing the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). We accomplished this by employing a solution isopropanol (IPA), capable of selectively dissolving residual unreacted methylammonium and formamidine salts on the perovskite surface while preserving the integrity of lead iodide. Through control of the immersion time, we facilitated secondary crystal growth on the top of perovskite film. The resultant treated film exhibited a markedly suitable bandgap position and a diminished presence of residual trips. The IPA-treated sample led to a noteworthy photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.34 %, compared to 21.46 % efficiency for untreated control sample. Furthermore, under sustained illumination at AM 1.5G with 25 % relative humidity, the uncovered IPA-treated sample retained an impressive 92 % of their initial efficiency after 1000 h. Further scrutiny revealed that this solution-based treatment effectively passivated trips, enhanced perovskite film quality, established novel built-in electric fields, and mitigated charge carrier recombination. This work provides a simple perovskite film treatment approach that does not require complex molecular engineering and can be applied not only to PSCs but also to other perovskite optoelectronic devices.

Pulsed electric field effect on acrylamide reduction and quality attributes of continuous-style Lamoka potato chips

Potato chips are a popular snack, well-liked because of their texture-flavor combination. Potato chips are made by frying slices of potato in vegetable oil to achieve a crispy texture. Frying potato slices initiates the Maillard reaction, resulting in chemical changes that enhance taste, color, and texture, but also undesired acrylamides, which are suspected carcinogens. The application of pulsed electric field (PEF) technology is commonly used in French fry processing operations to prolong cutting blade sharpness and reduce waste, energy consumption, and water usage. Despite these attributes, PEF systems have not yet gained widespread adoption by potato chip producers. In the current study, Lamoka potatoes were PEF-treated prior to continuous frying into potato chips. The effect of specific energy at 0.75 kJ/kg (Low-PEF) and 1.5 kJ/kg (High-PEF) and electric field strength of 1 kV/cm, frequency of 24 kV, and pulse width of 6 μs versus untreated (control) samples was studied, then batches of 250 g of slices were fried at 170 °C or 185 °C for two frying times to obtain potato chips with acrylamide levels below the California Proposition 65 limit (275 ng/g). The Lamoka potato chip product quality metrics that were assessed include moisture, fat, reducing sugars, asparagine, acrylamide, chip color, and texture. PEF treatment of Lamoka potatoes resulted in chips fried in 10 % less time, lower oil content by 8 %, and a decrease of reducing sugars by 19.2 %, asparagine by 42.0 %, and acrylamide by 28.9 %. The PEF fried chips were lighter in color but maintained textural attributes compared to continuous frying cooking. The process of frying potato slices at 170 °C for 150 s with High-PEF yielded potato chips with acrylamide content below the California Proposition 65 limit; which speaks to the health implications for consumers and the quality and safety of these chips.

Flash heating process for efficient meat preservation

Maintaining food safety and quality is critical for public health and food security. Conventional food preservation methods, such as pasteurization and dehydration, often change the overall organoleptic quality of the food products. Herein, we demonstrate a method that affects only a thin surface layer of the food, using beef as a model. In this method, Joule heating is generated by applying high electric power to a carbon substrate in <1 s, which causes a transient increase of the substrate temperature to > ~2000 K. The beef surface in direct contact with the heating substrate is subjected to ultra-high temperature flash heating, leading to the formation of a microbe-inactivated, dehydrated layer of ~100 µm in thickness. Aerobic mesophilic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, yeast and mold on the treated samples are inactivated to a level below the detection limit and remained low during room temperature storage of 5 days. Meanwhile, the product quality, including visual appearance, texture, and nutrient level of the beef, remains mostly unchanged. In contrast, microorganisms grow rapidly on the untreated control samples, along with a rapid deterioration of the meat quality. This method might serve as a promising preservation technology for securing food safety and quality.

The Optimization of the Steam-Heat-Treated Process of Rattan (Calamus simplicifolius) Based on the Response Surface Analysis and Its Chemical Changes

The objective of this study is to investigate the impacts of steam heat treatment parameters (e.g., temperature, time, and pressure) on the impact toughness of rattan (Calamus simplicifolius). The Box–Behnken design response surface analysis was employed to optimize the steam heat treatment parameters. Impact toughness was selected as the evaluation index, with single-factor tests conducted as a baseline for comparison. Changes in chemical composition, cellulose crystallinity, and pyrolysis properties were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, Thermogravimetry–Fourier transform infrared (TG-FTIR) spectra, and wet-chemistry methods for both untreated control samples and the heat-treated samples. The results show that a 1 h steam heat treatment at 160 °C under 0.1 MPa pressure has the optimal process parameters for the rattan. The achieved impact toughness value closely matches the predicted value at 71.29 kJ/m2. After the steam heat treatment, hemicellulose and cellulose contents decrease, whereas relative lignin content increases significantly, leading to improved toughness characteristics in Calamus simplicifolius samples. The TG results indicate that maximum weight loss occurs at temperatures of 352 °C, 354 °C, and 361 °C, respectively, for three different samples. This suggests that the thermal stability is enhanced as a result of the heat treatment. These findings will help optimize the heat treatments of the rattan material.

The Relationship Between Cervical Headgear Treatment And Maxillary Third Molar Space: A Retrospective Controlled Study

Introduction: The effect of headgear on the space available for the eruption of upper third molars needed further investigation. Only a few studies looked at the after-treatment effect of headgear on that space, and none have evaluated the long-term effect after the average age of third molar eruption. Therefore, this retrospective study evaluated the short and long-term effects of cervical headgear on the space and eruption of the maxillary third molars and their long-term eruption status. Materials and Methods: Records of Class II cases treated with cervical headgear were collected at the following time points: (T1) before treatment, (T2) after treatment, and (T3) taken at least 4 years after T2. An untreated control sample was collected from the Bolton-Brush study records. They were matched for age at each time point and malocclusion. Lateral cephalograms were used to measure the distance from the distal surface of the maxillary first molar (U6) to the pterygoid vertical plane (PTV). The third molar status at T3 was categorized into five groups: impacted, extracted, erupted, congenitally missing, and formation stage. Thirty-three cases were included in the cervical headgear group and 19 in the control group. Results: The position of U6 changed significantly between the headgear and control group at T2 but was similar at T3. In the headgear group, the U6 was significantly distalized (3.3 ±2.9 mm) between T1 and T2 (P=0.006), however, there was a significant relapse of 5.9 (±4.6) mm between T2 and T3 (P&lt;0.001). In the control group, the distance between U6 and PTV increased significantly from T1 to T2 (4.8 ±4.4mm) with minimal change from T2 to T3 (1.5 ±4.8mm). There was no significant relationship between headgear use and third molar status (p=0.108). Conclusion: Headgear caused a temporary decrease in the U6-PTV distance that was recovered later. This decrease was not observed in the control group. Using cervical headgear to correct Class II malocclusion does not increase the risk of upper third molar impaction.

Thermosonication Processing of Purple Onion Juice (Allium cepa L.): Anticancer, Antibacterial, Antihypertensive, and Antidiabetic Effects

Onion (Allium cepa L.) juice is an important product used in gastronomy and food formulations. The first objective of this study was to optimize the content of bioactive compounds in purple onion juice (POJ) after the thermosonication process using response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) application models. Second, the anticancer, antibacterial, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic effects of POJ obtained after thermal pasteurization (P-POJ) or thermosonication (TS-POJ) were investigated after obtaining the ANN and RSM analysis reports. The optimization process for TS-POJ was carried out at 44 °C, for 13 min, with a 68% amplitude. The findings demonstrated that the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition level was greater in TS-POJ samples than in the untreated control (C-POJ) sample (p &gt; 0.05). C-POJ, TS-POJ, and P-POJ exhibited the inhibition of cell proliferation in vitro in a dose-dependent manner in lung (A549), cervical (HeLa), and colon cancer cells following 24 h incubation. Thermosonication or thermal pasteurization did not markedly affect the cell proliferation of the examined cancer cells compared to the untreated control group. While no antibacterial effect was observed with low concentrations of samples, they showed an antibacterial effect at pure concentrations (100%). The thermosonication treatment for processing purple onion juice was successful in this study’s results.

Colour, nutritional composition and antioxidant properties of dehydrated carrot (Daucus carota var. sativus) using solar drying techniques and pretreatments

Carrot is a seasonal perishable tuberous root vegetable which presents a preservation challenge owing to its elevated moisture content. Recently, carrot processing has received more attention because of its many health-promoting qualities and the reduction of postharvest losses in a cost-effective safe way. This study was designed to sort out the effective solar drying technique including pre-treatment that would retain the color and quality characteristics of dehydrated carrot. Carrot slices were subjected to dry using open sun drying (D1), solar drying long chimney (D2), solar drying short chimney (D3) and box solar drying (D4) techniques with the pretreatments of ascorbic acid 1 % (C3), citric acid 5 % (C4), potassium metabisulfite 1 % (C5) and potassium sodium tartrate 0.3 % (C6) before drying. Drying characteristics, nutritional attributes, phytochemicals and antioxidant of the dehydrated carrot samples were compared with the fresh sample and untreated (control) sample. Results showed that D4 was a good drying method to preserve nutritional quality with good appearance. Among the pretreatments, C5 and C4 resulted improved nutritional quality retention, enhanced visual acceptability and enriched antioxidant activities. PCA (Principal Component Analysis) and correlation matrix revealed that D4 with C5 retained the maximum amount of vitamin, minerals, total phenolic content, antioxidant and admirable dehydrated carrot color by inactivating enzymatic reaction. Therefore, box solar drying with potassium metabisulfite pretreatment would be very promising for functional carrot drying retaining acceptable color and nutrition composition.

BIOMARKERS OF LIPID AND PROTEIN OXIDATION IN THE MUSCLE TISSUE OF RAINBOW TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS WALBAUM) TREATED IN VITRO WITH ROOT AND STEM EXTRACTS OF GREATER CELANDINE (CHELIDONIUM MAJUS L.)

The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the oxidative stress biomarkers [TBARS, carbonyl derivatives of oxidative modification of proteins (OMP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC)] in the muscle tissue of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum) after in vitro incubation with the root and stem extracts derived from greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L., CM) (at final concentrations of 5 and 2.5 mg/mL) collected in South Park in Słupsk in the Pomeranian Province (northern part of Poland). The current study demonstrated the increase in TBARS levels after in vitro incubation of rainbow trout muscle tissue with stem and root extracts of CM at a final concentration of 5 mg∙mL-1 compared to untreated control samples. There was a statistically significant increase in TBARS levels compared to controls. We obtained similar results after in vitro incubation with root and stem extracts of CM at a final concentration of 2.5 mg∙mL-1 with rainbow trout muscle tissue, where we also observed a statistically non-significant increase in TBARS levels. There was a decrease in the levels of aldehydic derivatives and ketonic derivatives of OMP in muscle tissue after incubation with extracts from roots and stems of CM at final concentrations of 5 mg∙mL-1 compared to untreated controls. There was a decrease in the levels of aldehydic and ketonic derivatives of OMP in muscle tissue after incubation with extracts from roots and stems of CM at final concentrations of 2.5 mg∙mL-1 compared to untreated controls. TAC levels in rainbow trout muscle tissue after in vitro incubation with extracts of CM roots and stems at final concentrations of 5 and 2.5 mg∙mL-1 were not statistically significantly increased. The present study investigated the antioxidant potential of CM. Extracts from CM roots and stems exert their activity by inhibiting protein damage.

НА МОДЕЛІ КРОВІ ЛЮДИНИ ЧИСТОТІЛУ ВЕЛИКОГО (CHELIDONIUM MAJUS L.)IN VITROАНТИОКСИДАНТНА АКТИВНІСТЬ ЕКСТРАКТІВ ЛИСТЯ ТА СТЕБЛАТкаченко Г.,Тюпова Т., Літовка А., Лукаш О.,Кургалюк Н.total antioxidant capacityKeywords:ChelidoniummajusL.,root and stemextracts, blood samples, lipid peroxidation,CM extracts.samples. Thisstudy provides new insights into the understanding of the antioxidant properties ofsamples with root extracts of CM (at a final dose of 2.5 mg/mL) compared to untreated controlwas a

НА МОДЕЛІ КРОВІ ЛЮДИНИ ЧИСТОТІЛУ ВЕЛИКОГО (CHELIDONIUM MAJUS L.)IN VITROАНТИОКСИДАНТНА АКТИВНІСТЬ ЕКСТРАКТІВ ЛИСТЯ ТА СТЕБЛАТкаченко Г.,Тюпова Т., Літовка А., Лукаш О.,Кургалюк Н.total antioxidant capacityKeywords:ChelidoniummajusL.,root and stemextracts, blood samples, lipid peroxidation,CM extracts.samples. Thisstudy provides new insights into the understanding of the antioxidant properties ofsamples with root extracts of CM (at a final dose of 2.5 mg/mL) compared to untreated controlwas a

Effect of Copper Sulfate Induction on Phyllanthus tenellus Roxb. Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Content

Aims: Plants need an appropriate amount of nutrients such as copper for growth and development. However, excess of copper may interrupt plant development and cause stress that led to biochemical compounds being synthesized. The influence of a high copper sulfate concentration on phenolic and flavonoid content in Phyllanthus tenellus plants was investigated.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted in a government compound at MARDI Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia (2° 59' 31.7292'' N 101° 41' 56.706'' E), from April 2021 to Jun 2021.&#x0D; Methodology: The experiment was conducted using a vertical column planting system under a side-netted rain shelter. The plants were subjected to 0.5 M copper sulfate sprayed after 60 days of planting and harvested 0.5, 1.5, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after sprayed for further analysis. Total phenolic content was calculated as mg gallic acid equivalent and total flavonoid content was measured as quercetin equivalent.&#x0D; Results: Highest total phenolic and flavonoid content was detected after 0.5 hours of copper sulfate application and started to decrease towards 24 hours after sprayed. Treated samples showed a 1.18-fold increase in total phenolic content and 1.4-fold increase in total flavonoid content compared to control untreated samples after 0.5 hours of sprayed. Control samples showed stability in both total phenolic and flavonoid content throughout the harvesting periods. Phenolic is the major secondary metabolites in Phyllanthus tenellus plants.&#x0D; Conclusion: Data revealed that the application of 0.5 M copper sulfate is able to enhance total phenolic and flavonoid content in Phyllanthus tenellus plants. The study suggested that the optimum harvesting time is 0.5 hours after copper sulfate application.

Improved statistical methods for estimating infestation rates in quarantine research when hosts are naturally infested.

Trading partners often require phytosanitary or quarantine treatments for fresh horticultural produce to ensure no economically important pest species are moved with the imported product. When developing such treatments, it is essential that the level of treatment efficacy can be determined. This is often based on the mortality of the total number of target pests exposed to treatment, but in naturally infested products this number is not always known. In such cases, the infestation rate and subsequently an estimate of the number of pests are obtained directly from a set of untreated control samples of the host product. The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat has provided 2 formulas for these situations that place an interval around the point estimate obtained from the control samples to obtain an estimate of the infestation rate. However, these formulas do not allow a confidence level to be assigned to the estimate, and there are concerns with the assumptions regarding the distribution and the measure of variability used in the formulas. In this article, we propose 2 alternative formulas. We propose that the lower one-sided confidence limit should be applied to all infestation datasets that are approximately normally distributed. As infestation data are sometimes skewed, it is proposed the lower one-sided modified Cox confidence limit is applied to data approximately log-normal distributed. These well-recognized formulas are compared to the formulas recommended by the IPPC and applied to 3 datasets involving natural infestation.

Anticancer Studies of Newly Synthesized Thiazole Derivatives: Synthesis, Characterization, Biological Activity, and Molecular Docking

Thiazole and its derivatives have received a lot of attention from researchers due to its wide biological, pharmacological, and anticancer properties. A novel series of 2-[2-[4-Hydroxy-3-substituted benzylidene hydrazinyl]-thiazole-4[5H]-ones (4a–c) and acetoxy derivative (5) were synthesized via using thiosemicarbazones (2a–c). The structure of the thiazole derivatives (4a–c) and 5 in these compounds was confirmed by spectroscopic techniques (IR and NMR), as well as elemental investigations. The synthesized derivatives biological activity was assessed based on their capacity to suppress the growth of the cancer cell lines MCF-7 and HepG2, as well as to halt the cell cycle and trigger apoptosis. Among the synthesized thiazole derivatives, compound 4c was found the most active derivative, with inhibitory concentrations IC50 = 2.57 ± 0.16 and 7.26 ± 0.44 µM in MCF-7 and HepG2, respectively, compared to Staurosporine as the standard drug with IC50 6.77 ± 0.41 and 8.4 ± 0.51 µM, respectively. Additionally, compound 4c blocked vesicular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), according to our results (IC50 = 0.15 µM), compared to Sorafenib (IC50 = 0.059 µM) as the standard drug. Moreover, compound 4c induced cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase, increasing the percentage and accumulation of cancer cells (DNA content) in the pre-G1 phase by 37.36% in MCF-7 cancer cells compared to untreated MCF-7 cells at 2.02%. Also, compound 4c increased the percentage of early and late apoptosis from 0.51% and 0.29%, respectively, in the case of the MCF-7 untreated control sample to 22.39% and 9.51%, respectively, in the MCF-7 treated sample. Furthermore, molecular docking studies of compounds 4a–c and 5 were conducted with four key proteins (aromatase, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)) that stimulate the growth, proliferation, and development of cancer cells. Compound 4c exhibited good docking scores with a promising and potential binding affinity toward the active site of selected docked proteins. According to these results, compound 4c showed efficient cytotoxic activity against the tested cancer cells.

Improving the performance of recycled concrete by biodeposition of biogenic silica as a surface coating

This study addresses the challenges of sustainability and the implementation of a circular economy in the construction and maintenance of concrete structures used in clean-water applications. Specifically, it examines the use of an innovative surface treatment based on a biofilm comprising diatom biosilica deposition as a waterproofing agent and surface pore sealant to improve the longevity of recycled concrete. To this end biofilm-treated and untreated (control) samples of a concrete mix containing 50% recycled aggregates were subject to four performance tests directed at assessing the durability of concrete structures under environmental conditions: resistance to carbonation, freeze–thaw durability, resistance to water penetration, and electrical resistivity as an indicator of the corrosion resistance of concrete. In addition, the protective biofilm was characterised using SEM. Results suggest that the biogenic silica surface treatment significantly improves the durability of recycled concrete, in particular, for treated compared to untreated samples there was a 56 % reduction of the carbonation front, 26% lower mass loss in freeze–thaw cycles, 57% reduction in the water penetration front under pressure, and 44% higher electrical resistivity. Together these findings confirm that the biofilm used in this study constitutes an effective treatment to improve the properties of recycled concrete and ensure its durability, particularly when used in the construction of structures in contact with constant water fluctuations.

Effects of cold atmospheric plasma pre-treatment on maintaining the quality of ready-to-eat drunken red shrimp (Solenocera crassicornis) stored at chilled conditions

This present study investigated the effect of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) pre-treatment on the quality of ready-to-eat drunken red shrimp (Solenocera crassicornis) during chilled storage. The shrimp were pre-treated with the CAP at 40 kV and 36 kH for 100 s in a plasma generating equipment before the drunken treatment and compared with an untreated control sample. The results showed that the CAP pre-treatment significantly inhibited the total viable count (TVC) values, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content, and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity of the drunken shrimp compared to the control treatment. Furthermore, the CAP pre-treatment also significantly maintained the myofibrillar protein (MP) content, texture properties, and a more stable histological structure of muscle fibers compared to the control. High-throughput sequencing results confirmed that the CAP pre-treatment significantly reduced the diversity and abundance of several bacteria in the shrimp. Gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) analysis detected that the CAP pre-treatment effectively maintained the stability of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These findings provide valuable theoretical support for the processing and storage of drunken shrimp.

Enhancement of physicochemical stability and reduction in enzyme and microbial activity of apple juice by hydrodynamic cavitation processing

Conventional thermally processed apple juices are nutritionally depleted because the heat sensitivity degrades the bioactive compounds that comprise them. This study proposed a non-thermal technique, hydrodynamic cavitation (HC), to preserve the nutritional content and prevent the loss of bioactive components in apple juice. In addition, the effect of hydrodynamic cavitation on the physicochemical, nutrition, and enzyme inactivation of freshly expressed apple juice has been studied. The design expert software has been used for process optimization, while fuzzy logic was applied for sensory. Hydrodynamic cavitation has been used on freshly extracted apple juice with inlet pressure in the range of (34.47–103.421 kPa) for a treatment time of (0–30 min). The apple juice was treated thermally at 90 °C for 2.5 min to compare the cavitation results. The settling of particles in the cavitation sample was 7%, which was lower than the heat-treated sample (10%) and untreated control sample (39%) and had a noticeable effect on the cloud value and stability of the apple juice. The HC treatment reduces the particle size of fresh apple juice from 8934.09 nm to 1112 nm, resulting in a homogenizing effect, a decrease in viscosity, and improved juice stability. Hydrodynamic cavitation reduced the antioxidant activity from 0.4987 mg GAE mL−1 (control) to 0.3951 mg GAE mL−1 yet retained better activity than the heat-treated apple juice (0.3489 ± 0.34 mg GAE mL−1) with microbial log reduction of 0.9 at 103.42 kPa treated for 30 min. After 15 days of storage at 4 °C, HC-treated juice had higher quality features and nutrient retention than heat-treated apple juice.

Combined addition of L-carnitine and L-proline improves cryopreservation of dairy goat semen

Cryopreservation of semen renders artificial insemination easier and cheaper compared to use of fresh semen. However, the cellular oxidative stress, toxicity of cryoprotectants, and osmotic imbalance may lead to a decline in semen quality and fertilization ability during the process of cryopreservation. L-carnitine and L-proline have been demonstrated to possess effective antioxidant properties in cryopreservation, with the latter also exhibiting excellent permeability and thus being utilized as a permeable cryoprotectant in the field. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of LC and LP on cryopreservation of semen of dairy goats. After thawing, sperm motility, membrane integrity, and acrosome integrity rate of cryopreserved semen treated with LC (50 mM) were significantly higher compared to the untreated control samples. Based on this premise, we conducted experiments to assess the cryoprotective efficacy of different concentrations of LP. The findings demonstrated that the inclusion of 50 mM LP resulted in improved sperm motility compared to other concentrations. Furthermore, the levels of damaging reactive oxygen species and the malonyldialdehyde marker for oxidative stress were significantly lower in goat semen treated with these concentrations of LC and LP compared to semen exposed to other treatments. Semen treated with LC and LP also exhibited good fertilization ability during both in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination. Thus, LC (50 mM) and LP (50 mM) improve cryoprotection of dairy goat sperm which suggests that addition of these compounds will be highly beneficial to the development of dairy goat breeding.

P-745 Follicular fluid exposure may activate gene expression in mature human sperm before fertilization

Abstract Study question Does follicular fluid (FF) exposure shape human sperm RNA content and are these changes acquired through genomic or nongenomic manner? Summary answer FF exposure altered sperm RNA content potentially via activation of sperm RNA transcription machinery and caused selective intake of FF RNA transcripts in sperm. What is known already Mature sperm have been widely recognized as transcriptionally inert. Therefore, sperm RNAs have been regarded as the sole remnants of the gene expression process that occurs during spermatogenesis. Supporting this view, most sperm histones are replaced by protamines in developing spermatids to enable tighter packaging of the genetic material, which should prevent mature sperm cells to express their genes. However, in humans, approximately 15% of the sperm DNA remains associated with histones, raising the possibility that these genome regions could be available for de novo RNA transcription under an appropriate stimulus. Study design, size, duration Fresh, mature sperm were divided into three aliquots. One aliquot was used as an untreated control sample, the second and third aliquots were treated with either PureSperm® Wash (SW) solution or an FF pool of five females for three hours. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data was collected from FF and sperm samples. Results were complemented with Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing (ChIP-seq) data from human mature sperm (GEO: GSE15690 and GSE49624) and nascent RNA capture followed by PCR. Participants/materials, setting, methods All male and female participants were of reproductive age, non-smoking, healthy individuals who reported no history of infertility. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) were identified based on RNA-seq data (adjusted p-value &amp;lt; 0.05, logFC &amp;lt; |0.75|). The histone status of the genomic loci of DEGs was evaluated using ChIP-seq data. DEGs were also subjected to Gene Ontology analysis. Activated RNA transcription was confirmed by the Click-iT™ Nascent RNA Capture kit and PCR. Main results and the role of chance RNA-seq showed 193 DEGs between untreated and FF-treated samples of which 30 genes were upregulated and 163 were downregulated. Furthermore, 18 DEGs were detected between SW- and FF-treated sperm of which 17 genes were upregulated and one downregulated. Finally, 137 DEGs (all downregulated) were found between untreated and SW-treated samples. Among upregulated genes, chemokine-signaling, ion transport, and steroidogenesis-related biological functions were enriched whereas RNA processing, translation, and protein targeting-related biological processes were enriched among downregulated genes (untreated vs. FF-treated). ChIP-seq data revealed that 93% of upregulated DEGs are located within histone-bound chromatin and most of them bear both active and inactive histone markers. Finally, we confirmed that the upregulation of at least two genes (CXCL3 and CXCL8) resulted from active RNA transcription by sperm, whereas the upregulation of IGF2 was due to the selective internalization of mRNA from FF. Additionally, we identified 1396 protein-coding mRNAs present in human FF that were associated with gene expression-related biological processes such as the regulation of transcription, processing of RNA subtypes, and translation. Limitations, reasons for caution Due to the limited sample size, the generalizability of our results should be validated in the future. Furthermore, molecular mechanisms behind observed nascent RNA production needs to be clarified in more detail, including potential FF-mediated remodeling of sperm histone markers involved in the activation of gene expression. Wider implications of the findings Our findings demonstrate that FF exposure changes sperm RNA content, which seems to be partly caused by the active transcription of mature sperm, which has been widely believed to be non-existent. Therefore, our results can have many important implications for a deeper understanding of fertilization, early embryogenesis, and infertility. Trial registration number Not applicaple