Vol. 2 No. 2 (2024)

Charge exchange collision (CXC) is well known in solar and space plasmas. In this work, we present how the CXC between N₂⁺ and N₂ can be exploited to overcome major challenges in cold plasma food processing (CPFP). CPFP is an emerging application of glow discharge plasmas for physicochemical modifications to achieve shelf-life enhancement, preservation, surface activation for germination, antimicrobial treatment, surface cleaning, etc. The commercial application of CPFP is in its infancy and it faces two major challenges. The first challenge is the difficulty in generating the desired active species for the required modification, and the second is the very high processing cost. In this paper, with the help of numerical modeling for nitrogen discharge, we show that the CXC between N₂⁺ and N₂ can be utilized to generate active species selectively, enhance energy efficiency, and possibly eliminate the processing gas cost. The modeling is followed by experimental demonstration and validation of the proposed concept. This work may lead to a new direction of transdisciplinary research towards the commercial application of CPFP.

Malnutrition is a major public health concern and a major contributor to the worldwide burden of illness and mortality among children, with lower and middle-income countries bearing the heaviest burden. The current study aimed to determine the relationship of nutritional status (severe acute malnutrition, moderate acute malnutrition, stunting, wasting, overweight, and underweight) with feeding practices (e.g., colostrum feeding, breastfeeding type and frequency, and infant age when milk consumption was stopped) and acute illnesses (pneumonia, acute gastroenteritis, and upper respiratory tract infection) among six months or younger. A cross-sectional study design and purposive sampling were used to enroll 300 mothers and their seriously unwell among six months or younger infants. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, employing descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. The outcome of the study showed a higher prevalence of stunting (67.33%) than those of wasting (10%) and overweight (4.66%). Also, the findings showed ceasing milk consumption after 3–6 months can increase the risk of moderate acute malnutrition (odd ratio = 2.37, confidence interval = 1.04–5.39), with female infants having a lower risk of severe acute malnutrition, stunting, and being underweight, while upper respiratory tract infection can increase the risk of severe acute malnutrition in infants. Based on the findings, early nursing and exclusive breastfeeding for six months, followed by safe complementary foods, are recommended to improve newborn nutritional status.

AIM: The physicochemical properties of polysaccharides and changes in the glycoside composition under different processing conditions of Rehmannia glutinosa were studied. METHODS: High-pressure processing temperature, processing time, processing frequency, and thickness of fresh Rehmannia glutinosa slices were taken as factors, and the contents of polysaccharides, catalpol, and rehmannioside D were taken as evaluation indexes. The physicochemical properties and the inhibition of α-glucosidase were characterized via ion chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and environmental scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: The parameter values for the highest polysaccharide content were as follows: processing temperature of 110 ℃, processing time of 4 h, processing frequency of 2 times, and slice thickness of 1.0–1.5 cm. The parameter values for the highest α-glucosidase inhibition rate were as follows: processing temperature of 120 ℃ and processing time of 2 h. The surface morphology of polysaccharides from Rehmannia glutinosa showed irregular fragments, and glucose and galactose were dominant. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of polysaccharides from processed Rehmannia glutinosa reached 60% at a low concentration of 0.05 mg/mL.

Patulin (PAT) is a prevalent mycotoxin frequently found in fruit and its derivatives, such as apple, pear, and juices. Despite worldwide attempts to diminish the levels of PAT at every stage of the fruit production process, its contamination rate remains high. This mycotoxin is worrisome due to its potential adverse impacts on human health. Eating PAT-contaminated fruit can lead to acute and chronic health issues. It is established, by the Joint FAO/WHO, a maximum tolerable daily intake for PAT at 0.4 µg/kg/day. Therefore, monitoring for PAT contamination is essential for the safe consumption of fruits and fruit-related products such as juices, purees, ciders, jams, marmalades, vinegar, and dried fruits. PAT has physiochemical properties that enable its survival in cold, hypoxic, acidic, or high-temperature conditions. Ideally, detoxification procedures should aim to reduce the level of toxins to safe levels whilst preserving the nutritional and palatable values of the treated commodity. There are several physical, chemical, and biological techniques available for PAT detoxification. However, while physical and chemical methods can remove PAT, they may also lower the nutrient quality and organoleptic properties of the food. Biological detoxification is an effective, environmentally friendly, easy, and cost-effective method, as established by existing research. It has proven efficacy in food safety research and regulatory compliance programs. Probiotics have been studied for their potential to reduce PAT in foods via different mechanisms (such as adsorption, degradation, and transformation), as well as all their health-beneficial effects. In this review, the reduction of PAT in fruit-based products using probiotics or potential probiotics is widely discussed.