Infrared guided smart food formulation: an innovative spectral reconstruction strategy to develop anticipated and constant apple puree products

An innovative chemometric method was developed to exploit visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy to guide food formulation to reach the anticipated and constant quality of final products. First, a total of 671 spectral variables related to the puree quality characteristics were identified by spectral variable selection methods. Second, the concentration profiles from multivariate curve resolution-alternative least squares (MCR-ALS) made it possible to reconstruct the identified spectral variables of formulated purees. Partial least square based on the reconstructed Vis-NIR spectral variables was evidenced to predict the final puree quality, such as a* values (RPD = 3.30), total sugars (RPD = 2.64), titratable acidity (RPD = 2.55) and malic acid (RPD = 2.67), based only on the spectral data of composed puree cultivars. These results open the possibility of controlling puree formulation: a multiparameter optimization of the color and taste of final puree products can be obtained using only the Vis-NIR spectral data of single-cultivar purees

New Insight Regarding the Relationship Between Enantioselective Toxicity Difference and Enantiomeric Toxicity Interaction from Chiral Ionic Liquids

Chirality is an important property of molecules. The study of biological activity and toxicity of chiral molecules has important theoretical and practical significance for toxicology, pharmacology, and environmental science. The toxicological significance of chiral ionic liquids (ILs) has not been well revealed. In the present study, the enantiomeric joint toxicities of four pairs of chiral ILs 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium lactate to Allivibrio fischeri were systematically investigated by using a comprehensive approach including the co-toxicity coefficient (CTC) integrated with confidence interval (CI) method (CTCICI), concentration-response curve (CRC), and isobole analysis. The direct equipartition ray (EquRay) design was used to design five binary mixtures of enantiomers according to molar ratios of 1:5, 2:4, 3:3, 4:2, and 5:1. The toxicities of chiral ILs and their mixtures were determined using the microplate toxicity analysis (MTA) method. Concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA) were used as the additive reference models to construct the predicted CRC and isobole of mixtures. On the whole, there was an enantioselective toxicity difference between [BMIM]D-Lac and [BMIM]L-Lac, and [HMIM]D-Lac and [HMIM]L-Lac, while no enantioselective toxicity difference was observed for [EMIM]D-Lac and [EMIM]L-Lac, and [OMIM]D-Lac and [OMIM]L-Lac. Thereinto, the enantiomer mixtures of [BMIM]D-Lac and [BMIM]L-Lac, and [HMIM]D-Lac and [HMIM]L-Lac presented antagonistic action, and the enantiomer mixtures of [EMIM]D-Lac and [EMIM]L-Lac, and [OMIM]D-Lac and [OMIM]L-Lac overall presented additive action. Moreover, the greatest antagonistic toxicity interaction occurred at the equimolar ratio of enantiomers. Based on these results, we proposed two hypotheses, (1) chiral molecules with enantioselective toxicity difference tended to produce toxicity interactions, (2) the highest or lowest toxicity was usually at the equimolar ratio and its adjacent ratio for the enantiomer mixture. These hypotheses will need to be further validated by other enantiomer mixtures

Alkaline humic acid fertilizer alters the distribution, availability, and translocation of cadmium and zinc in the acidic soil–Sauropus androgynus system

Humic acids (HA) are a popular soil additive to reduce metal availability, but they have the drawbacks of reduced effectiveness over time and a significant reduction in soil pH. An alkaline humic acid fertilizer (AHAF) combining alkaline additives with HA was developed to overcome such drawbacks. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different AHAF application rates on the physicochemical properties, bioavailability, accumulation, and translocation of Cd and Zn heavy metals in Sauropus androgynus grown in acidic soil. Based on our results, the 100AF (100% AHAF) treatment significantly increased soil pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and organic matter content (OM) after one year of application. Compared with the control treatment (CK), the application of different rates of AHAF resulted in a 37.1–40.3% decrease in soil exchangeable Cd fractions (Exc-Cd) and an increase in the humic acid-bound Cd fractions (HA-Cd) Fe- and Mn-oxide-bound Cd fractions (OX-Cd), and organic matter-bound Cd fractions (OM-Cd) by 9.5–64.6%, 24.8–45.1%, and 158.8–191.2%, respectively (P  Stems > Branches > Roots > Edible branches; (Zn) Roots > Stems > Leaves > Branches > Edible branches. The transfer factors (TFs) of Cd and Zn in S. androgynus were classified as follows: TF2 > TF1 > TF3 > TF4. Thus, S. androgynus stems, and roots had a strong ability to transport Cd and Zn to the leaves. Compared with CK, the 100AF treatment significantly increased the BCFs for Zn in all plant parts (except BCFedible branches). In contrast, it significantly decreased all BCFs and TFs for Cd and the TF4 for Zn, effectively reducing Cd and Zn accumulation in the edible branches of S. androgynus. Soil pH, CEC, OM, and HA-M fraction were highly and significantly negatively correlated with Cd and Zn content in edible branches (P < 0.001). Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the soil HA-M fraction was the key contributing factor for Zn accumulation and translocation in S. androgynus. Moreover, based on our findings, the absorption, uptake, and translocation of Cd and Zn were mainly determined by metal speciation and the pH in the soil. Moreover, the competitive antagonistic mechanisms between Zn and Cd absorption also affected their accumulation in S. androgynus. Thus, AHAF can be used as a soil amendment to sustainably improve acidic soils and effectively reduce Cd and Zn accumulation in edible branches of S. androgynus