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Over the past decades, food quality and safety have seriously been disturbing public health. Traditional monitoring methods of food-quality evaluation have been time consuming and laborious. In recent years, visible/near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (Vis/NIR-HSI)—as a nondestructive, high-efficiency, and rapid method—has become one of the strongest tools for food evaluation. Using this tool involves an analysis process that includes obtaining high-quality data and training models. Although recent works have mainly focused on the development and optimization of models—ignoring the importance of high-quality data acquisition—this paper reviews the precautionary measures taken in the form of the operational steps that are followed in the process of acquiring food-related information. This includes the spectral mode selection, sample, waveband range, ROI extraction, spectra parameters, data processing, and focuses on finding solutions to problems such as large curvature and specular reflection. The application and selection of the quality parameters of different food items were introduced in their assessment. Finally, based on the above summary, an updated overview of the application of Vis/NIR-HSI have been presented and some viewpoints and directions for future research have also been provided. Highlights: It discusses the impact of high-quality data on the assessment results of visible/near-infrared hype-rspectral imaging. It proposes solutions for the problems arising from food forms, such as large curvature and specul-ar reflection. Enriched with the development direction on food quality assessment. It introduces how the selection of quality parameters to evaluate food quality is done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Crocetin is a bioactive ingredient in saffron, derived from the Crocus sativus stigmas of the Iridaceae family. As a chemically carotenoid derivative, crocetin exhibites effects like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, etc. However, the protective effect of crocetin on glaucoma and its mechanism remains unclear. The current study assesed the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of crocetin on retinal neurons in glaucoma rats which were induced by 0.3% carbomer injection into the anterior chamber. Methods and results: The pathological structures on the retina and optic nerve were observed and examined by H&E staining and transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 of the retina and the expression of a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the primary visual cortex (PVC). Western blot was carried out to detect the expression of PI3K, Akt, and NF-κB in the retina. It was found that crocetin ameliorated the pathological changes of the retina and ON and reduced the number of apoptotic retinal ganglion cells. Immunohistochemical staining showed that crocetin could decrease the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and increase the contents of BDNF. Western blot showed that crocetin was found to suppress the expression of PI3K, Akt, and NF-κB. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study have indicated that crocetin showes neuroprotective effects on retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma rats and inhibits retinal dysfunction. Meanwhile, crocetin exerted an anti-inflammatory effect to protect the retina by inhibiting the expression of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. This work provides substantial evidence that crocetin may be a potential drug for the treatment of glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pt-free composite counter electrode (CE) composed of La2O3 was successfully synthesized by a simple pyrolysis of Lanthanum acetate hydrate (La(CH3COO)3·xH2O) in a high-temperature solid phase. Furthermore, three proportion composite catalysts of La2O3@MWCNTs based on La2O3 and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared and characterized as Pt-free catalysts for CE in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The morphology and structure of La2O3@MWCNT composites were determined by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The electrochemical performance of La2O3@MWCNT composite catalysts for CEs was determined by photocurrent-voltage measurements, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Tafel polarization. The experimental results showed that the power conversion efficiencies of 5.20, 5.12, and 4.70% were obtained for La2O3: MWCNTs with mass ratios of 5:1, 3:1, and 1:1 as counter electrode towards the reduction of I3−/I− ions respectively in the encapsulation of DSSC batteries, which were higher than that of MWCNTs (3.94%) and La2O3 (0.77%) electrode under the similar conditions. The enhanced electrode performance was attributed to relatively larger surface area and higher conductivity of La2O3@MWCNT composite catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One kind of potentially biodegradable cationic sorbent, which bears hydroxyl groups of phosphoric acid as its functional groups, with high sorption capacity of copper was prepared by thermochemically esterifying phosphoric acid (PA) onto soybean hull. Sorption of Cu(II) from aqueous solution onto modified soybean hull (MSH) was investigated in a batch system. The sorption experiments were performed under various conditions such as different initial pH, copper concentration, MSH dosage, and contact time. The maximum copper sorption was obtained when initial solution pH≥3.5. The isothermal data of copper sorption fitted the Langmuir model and the sorption process could be described by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The maximum sorption capacity (Q m ) of MSH for Cu(II) was 31.55 mg/g. For 100 mg/ l of Cu(II) solution, a sorption ratio above 91% could be achieved by 5.0 g/ l of MSH. The equilibrium of Cu(II) sorption was reached within 50 min. The foreign cation and chelator in Cu(II) solution caused decline of Cu(II) sorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]