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In this study, we established a new methodology for preparing 5-nucleotidase (5-NT) with the aim of enhancing our understanding of its enzyme activity and laying a basis for regulating the content of umami-enhancing nucleotides in pork. 5-NT was prepared with Sephadex gel filtration and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and its enzymatic properties and catalytic activity were evaluated. The results show that the molecular weight of the prepared 5-NT was 57 kDa, the optimal catalytic temperature was 40 °C, and the optimal pH was 8. Zn2+, and sucrose showed inhibitory effects on the activity of 5-NT, while K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, glucose, fructose, and trehalose promoted the activity of the studied compound. The prepared 5-NT exhibited higher catalytic activity and selectivity against IMP compared with its commercial counterpart, while its catalytic activity against XMP was not significant (p > 0.05). In brief, we established a new methodology for preparing 5-NT, enhancing our understanding of its enzyme activity and providing a solid basis for regulating the content of umami-enhancing nucleotides in pork through the control of endogenous 5-NT activity.

ABSTRACT Fried pork rind, a processed pork by‐product, is popular as a snack globally, prized for its distinctive flavor and crisp texture achieved through frying. Although various studies have examined processing factors such as thickness, moisture content, and brine concentration, there is a scarcity of research addressing the effect of frying temperature on the quality of fried pork rinds. In the present study, the effects of varying hot air drying times (12, 18, and 24 h at 50°C), traditional deep‐fat frying temperatures (180°C, 195°C, and 210°C), and frying durations (3, 4, and 5 min) on the oil content, moisture content, breaking force, color, puffing ratio, and microstructural appearance of pork rinds were evaluated. The results revealed a significant correlation between frying temperature and time with the oil content of the pork rinds. The oil content and puffing ratio peaked at approximately 195°C. Moreover, the breaking force of the pork rinds decreased with increased frying time at 180°C, while the opposite trend was observed at 210°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the quality characteristics of reducednitrite boiled pork sausages (BPSs) with paprika oleoresin solution (POS) to compensate for the reduced sodium nitrite (NaNO2). Methods: POS was prepared by diluting paprika oleoresin with sunflower seed oil at a ratio of 1:20. BPSs were subjected to four different treatments: reference (REF), BPS added with 150 ppm NaNO2; control (CTL), BPS added with 37.5 ppm NaNO2; treatment 1 (TRT1), BPS added with 37.5 ppm NaNO2 and 0.1% POS; treatment 2 (TRT2), BPS added with 75 ppm NaNO2 and 0.1% POS). Results: The pH values of CTL were lower than those of other treatments. The a* values of TRT1 were higher than those of CTL, and those of REF were lower than those of TRT1 and TRT2. The b* values of TRT1 and TRT2 were higher than those of REF and CTL. The total plate counts of CTL were the highest among all treatments, and Enterobacteriaceae counts of CTL and TRT1 on the 14th day were higher than those of REF and TRT2. Conclusion: The combination of 75 ppm NaNO2 and 0.1% POS to BPS during storage had an antimicrobial effect similar to that of adding 150 ppm NaNO2. Thus, POS can be used to reduce the use of NaNO2 in meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potency of butylated hydroxytoluene and black pepper extract (BPE) as additives was explored. BPE was produced through upscale of desirability from 72 to 91.9%, yielding sixty-three bio-compounds. Next, control (0% antioxidant), vitamin E, and BPE groups were formed, each replicated five times in a Completely Randomized Design. Meat physico-chemical and fatty acid (FA) indices, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and microbial profile were evaluated [day (d) 0, 5, and 10]. Results indicate BPE had lower (p < 0.05) pH (5.85) and least cooking loss (19.30%). BPE had reduced (p < 0.05) saturated FA (SFA) of 2.18 but higher poly unsaturated FA (PUFA)—13.17; UFA (18.82), PUFA: SFA (6.05), and omega 6 (7.69). Also, BPE had lowest (p < 0.05) MDA on d 5 (2.16) and 10 (3.45) of storage (4 °C), while coliform was not seen (p < 0.05) on BPE-incorporated samples on d 0 and 5. BPE contains bio-compounds that are effective and safe for meat storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Meeting the demands of a growing and increasingly affluent population necessitates a deeper understanding of the environmental and economic implications of production. This implication is most relevant in key production sectors including agriculture and livestock. This article is intended to provide an understanding of the influence of methods of assessing land-use change (LUC) with respect to minimizing both the global warming potential (GWP) and the monetary costs of pig feed formulation. Methods: Feed mixtures intended for slaughter pigs were generated for minimal cost and GWP impacts by applying four differing LUC assessment methods. The objective function was the Danish slaughter pig feed unit, minimized for cost in Danish crowns (DKK), with GWP impacts constrained in multiple steps. Attributional LCA methodology was applied using the Agri-footprint 6.3 database, with GWP impacts calculated excluding land use changes, including direct land-use changes and including the carbon opportunity cost. Analyses of the functional relationship between the optimal cost and the GWP impact were conducted, followed by a comparative LCA of the cost of comparable feed mixture by applying two sets of functional units: 100 slaughter pig feed units and 1 kg of pig live weight. Results and discussion: A similar relationship between cost and GWP impact was observed across all methods, although variability of GWP impact magnitude depending on method was observed. Reducing at an equivalent cost, GWP reduction ranged from 5.6 to 27% based on the pig feed functional unit, and 2.4 to 13% based on the pig live weight functional unit. Optimizing feed mixtures for GWP impacts resulted in significantly increased contributions to other impact categories, including a 56% increase in terrestrial ecotoxicity. Despite the increased contributions to other impact categories, all optimized feed mixtures achieved a reduction in endpoint indicators and single score. Endpoint reductions to the feed unit were 2.3–25% for ecosystem damage, 7.4–15% for human health, and 6.0–16% based on a single score value. Conclusions: The findings emphasize the key importance of addressing LUC when optimizing the GWP of agri-food production. Suggestions are provided for areas of improvement in future optimization studies applying a dietary unit as the objective function, including additional midpoint impact categories and/or extended optimization covering whole areas of protection. The findings suggest that GWP impacts may be reduced at no additional cost if included or embedded in the pig feed formulation procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the portability of dried pork tendons for consumption, this study investigated the effects of different puffing temperatures (190 °C - 250 °C) and times (1-7 min) on the quality and flavor of pork tendons. As the temperature and time increased, the expansion ratio of pork tendons exhibited a gradual increase. The microstructure of the puffed pork tendons exhibited a uniform porous structure at 230 °C and 250 °C for 6 min. However, further puffing treatment destroyed the spatial structure. GC-IMS identified 68 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and a total of 16 key VOCs including 2-trans-4-trans-decadienal were screened by GC-MS. Nonanal, 1-octen-3-ol, 2-amylfuran and 2-ethylfuran proved to have a significant effect on the flavor of the puffed pork tendon. The combined puffing performance and flavor analysis revealed that puffing at 230 °C for 6 min was the preferred parameter for puffed pork tendons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Pork production constitutes a significant portion of global meat production, with projections indicating a substantial increase in global pork consumption by 2032. Pig welfare is important not only for the pigs themselves but also for the volume of pork produced. To address the challenge of continuous and accurate daily monitoring of pig movement on farms, this paper further explores pig movement monitoring methods by combining image deep learning and unsupervised clustering algorithms. Continuous movement monitoring helps quickly identify pig abnormalities, enabling immediate action to enhance pig welfare. However, continuous and precise monitoring of daily pig movement on farms remains challenging. We present an approach to automatically and precisely monitor the movement of group-housed pigs. The instance segmentation model YOLOv8m-seg was applied to detect the presence of pigs. We then applied a spatial moment algorithm to quantitatively summarize each detected pig's contour as a corresponding center point. The agglomerative clustering (AC) algorithm was subsequently used to gather the pig center points of a single frame into one point representing the group-housed pigs' position, and the movement volume was obtained by calculating the displacements of the clustered group-housed pigs' center points of consecutive frames. We employed the method to monitor the movement of group-housed pigs from April to July 2023; more than 1500 h of top-down pig videos were recorded by a surveillance camera. The F1 scores of the trained YOLOv8m-seg model during training were greater than 90% across most confidence levels, and the model achieved an mAP50-95 of 0.96. The AC algorithm performs with an average extraction time of less than 1 millisecond; this method can run efficiently on commodity hardware. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a major cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, often associated with meat consumption and meat processing. Research on NTS infection and circulating serovars in meat value chains in Uganda is limited. We aimed to establish NTS prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and risk factors among slaughterhouse workers, and to identify potentially zoonotic serovars in the pork value chain. Material and methods: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey, collecting 364 stool samples from livestock slaughterhouse workers and 1,535 samples from the pork value chain: mesenteric lymph nodes, fecal samples, swabs of carcass splitting floor, cleaning water, meat handlers hand swabs, carcass swabs, raw pork, cooked pork, and mixed raw vegetables. Samples were cultured for isolation of NTS, and subsequently serotyped according to White-Kauffmann-Le Minor scheme. Antimicrobial resistance profiles were determined using tube microdilution and Sensititre® EUVSEC3® plates. Semi-structured questionnaires with 35 questions were used to collect data on demographics, work related risk factors and activities outside the slaughterhouse. Results and discussion: Overall NTS prevalence was 19.2% (365/1899). Proportions at slaughter were; 46.7% in floor swabs, 30.5% in carcass swabs, 20.5% in pig faeces, 19.2% in mesenteric lymph nodes, 18.4% in hand swabs, 9.5% in water and 5.2% in slaughterhouse workers. At retail, proportions were 33.8% in pork chopping surface, 33.1% in raw pork, 18.9% in hand swabs, 4.0% in cooked pork and 0.7% in vegetables. Sixty-one serovars were identified, with significant overlap between humans and the pork value chain. Overall, zoonotic S. Zanzibar, monophasic serovars of S. subspecies salamae (II) and subspecies enterica (I), S. Typhimurium and S. Newport, were the most prevalent. S. Typhimurium was predominant in humans and exhibited multi-drug resistance. NTS infection was significantly associated with eating, drinking, or smoking while working (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 0.67-2.90%, p = 0.004). The detected NTS serovars in slaughterhouse workers could be a potential indicator of circulating serovars in the general population. The persistent presence of NTS along the pork value chain highlights occurrence of cross-contamination and the potential for transmission to consumers and slaughterhouse workers. This emphasizes the need to reduce Salmonella prevalence on pig farms and improve hygiene and pork handling practices at slaughter and retail points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modernization of pig production has led to increasingly larger populations of pigs. This dynamic allows for accelerated production and ensures a steady pork supply but also facilitates the spread of infections. PCV2 is a ubiquitous virus and can cause PCV2-associated diseases, depending on production practices. This study aimed to evaluate the conditions of pig production in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, and correlate them with PCV2. A total of 4207 serum samples from 80 farms were analyzed. Epidemiological data were collected and used to investigate factors associated with PCV2 detection. A relative frequency of approximately 30% was detected, primarily in grower pigs maintained on multisite farms. Several production practices, particularly biosecurity measures, were associated with PCV2 on the analyzed farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Over the past four decades, major changes have occurred in Australia's pork industry, affecting productivity and environmental performance. Aims: This study determined long-term changes in greenhouse gas and key resource use efficiency indicators. Methods: Life cycle assessment was used to determine impacts at decadal intervals between 1980 and 2010, and are presented alongside results for 2020 and 2022. Key results: Over 42 years since 1980, greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and direct land use change (dLUC), fell by 74% from 11.7 to 3.0 kg CO2-e/kg liveweight. Land use and dLUC emissions declined by 92%. Fossil energy use decreased from 35 to 13 MJ/kg liveweight between 1980 and 2022. Freshwater consumption and water stress fell from 506 L and 671 L H2O-e in 1980 to 52 L and 43 L H2O-e/kg liveweight in 2022, respectively. Land occupation decreased by 42% from 22 m2/kg liveweight in 1980 to 13 m2/kg liveweight in 2022. Over the analysis period, emissions per kilogram of liveweight fell by an average of 1.8% per year, land use and dLUC emissions by 2.2%, greenhouse gas including land use and dLUC emissions by 1.9%, fossil energy use by 1.5%, and freshwater consumption, stress, and land occupation by 2.1%, 2.2%, and 1%, respectively. Between 2010 and 2020, uptake of covered anaerobic ponds resulted in an annual rate of improvement in emissions (excl. land use and dLUC) of 2.9%, however, the rate of improvement fell to 1.4% between 2020 and 2022. Conclusions: Long-term improvements were principally driven by improved herd productivity and feed production systems, and changes in housing and manure management. Herd and system efficiencies led to better feed conversion ratio, resulting in lower feed requirements, reduced manure production and lower feed wastage, which reduced manure greenhouse gas emissions. Concurrently, reduced tillage, higher yields, and a decrease in the proportion of irrigation water used for grain production resulted in lower impacts of feed grains. Implications: Ongoing changes and improvements in production efficiency have resulted in large gains in environmental performance in the Australian pork industry but new strategies will also be needed to maintain these trends into the future. Long-term production efficiency gains and changes to production have significantly improved the environmental performance of Australian pork over time. This study was a long-term trends analysis of Australian pork between 1980 and 2022 and found that greenhouse gas emissions and freshwater consumption fell by 74% and 90% over the analysis period. Although novel low carbon production systems were identified, the rate of environmental improvement was found to have slowed since 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a case of processing X‐ray computed tomography (CT) data for pork scans using chemometric latent space modeling. The distribution of voxel intensities is shown to exemplify a multivariate, multi‐collinear signal mixture. While this concept is not novel, it is revisited here from a chemometric perspective. To extract meaningful information from such multivariate signals, latent space modeling based on partial least squares (PLS) is an ideal solution. Furthermore, a robust PLS approach is even more effective for latent space modeling, as it can extract latent spaces unaffected by outliers, thereby enhancing predictive modeling. As an example, lean meat percentage is predicted using X‐ray CT data and robust PLS regression. This method is applicable to X‐ray CT quantification analysis, particularly in cases where unclear, erroneous, and outlying observations are suspected in the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a pretreatment method based on a magnetic capture probe for the rapid isolation and enrichment of bacteria from raw pork was developed. The chitosan immobilized Fe3O4@MIL‐100(Fe) was prepared as a capture probe for total bacterial counts through the electrostatic interaction of positively charged chitosan and the negatively charged substances on the surface of bacteria. The interference of matrix in pork samples on this method was studied and removed by differential centrifugation. The results showed the capture probe had a great selectivity binding and magnetic separation properties for the tested six common bacteria in pork. Under the optimal conditions, the capture efficiency of the bacteria (105 CFU mL−1) from pork surface samples was all above 90%. The capture efficiency of the bacteria in a homogenate system was greatly decreased due to the interference of sarcoplasmic protein and myofibrillar protein in pork. The matrix effect was mitigated by a differential centrifugation method, and the capture efficiency of all six bacteria was >80%. The developed magnetic separation method took 40 min and showed good isolation and enrichment properties of bacteria. Thus, the proposed method is expected to provide a simple, convenient, and time‐saving pretreatment method for the detection of total bacterial counts in pork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex composition of braised pork, including lean meat, pigskin, and fat, makes it difficult for sensory evaluation of its texture properties. This study investigated the correlation between sensory texture attributes and physicochemical properties to achieve an objective and comprehensive evaluation of the texture of braised pork. Sensory analysis demonstrated that the overall texture acceptability of braised pork was significantly and negatively influenced by sensory texture attributes (including sensory hardness, chewiness, and toughness), while it was positively impacted by sensory adhesiveness, softness, and juiciness. Shear force and texture profile analysis (TPA) variables, reflecting mastication behavior, were used to characterize the textural properties of braised pork. They were closely related to water distribution, with a higher proportion of immobilized water (P21), indicating a higher water holding capacity and a more tender texture. Correlation analysis between sensory texture attributes and physicochemical properties through partial least squares regression further revealed significant associations between shear force, TPA variables, and sensory texture attributes. Moreover, the proportion of immobilized water (P21) significantly and negatively affected sensory hardness and chewiness, whereas the proportion of free water (P22) significantly influenced sensory toughness. Sensory texture attributes could be well predicted by the physicochemical properties by projecting test samples onto calibration models established by known samples. Therefore, a combination of sensory and instrumental measures can reliably reflect the texture properties of braised pork. Practical Application: The combination of sensory and instrumental methods is an effective strategy to accurately and objectively evaluate the texture properties of braised pork, which overcomes the limitations caused by the complexity of the composition and texture traits of braised pork. The accurate evaluation and standardization of texture properties is an important premise for the repeatable and stable cooking of traditional braised pork. Furthermore, this research method and findings can also be applied to guide the procedural optimization of smart appliances (e.g., induction cookers) for cooking braised pork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Persistent bacteria are subset of cells capable of surviving bactericidal treatments longer. They originate in response to environmental stressors and show a longer lag phase compared to the rest of the population they are part of. Impact of persistent cells on food safety and role of common food preservation techniques in their formation are still unclear. This study aims to investigate whether osmotic stress induces formation of persistent cells in Listeria monocytogenes capable of resisting longer during cooking cycle of pork sausages. Lag‐phase duration at single‐cell level of a strain grown in 6%‐NaCl broth using image processing software was first investigated. Then, trend of the strain inactivation curve was evaluated in experimentally contaminated pork sausages cooked at 65 °C for 11 min. Results showed that salt triggers the formation of persistent cells characterised by a longer lag phase and increased heat resistance, posing a concern especially for ready‐to‐eat foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionsIntracranial aneurysms (IAs) pose a significant threat to morbidity and mortality, yet their etiology remains inadequately comprehended. The present study employs Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the relationship among dietary elements with IAs, encompassing unruptured intracranial aneurysms (uIA) as well as aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).The current study employed a double-sample MR test utilizing genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data from the IEU and IAs’ meta-analysis to investigate the genetically predicted consumption levels of various dietary factors using GWAS data. Causation was assessed by techniques of MR-Egger, weighted mode, and median, as well as IVW. To guarantee the accuracy of the results, pleiotropy and heterogeneity evaluations were also carried out.The findings of the study indicate a positive correlation between the intake of alcohol, lamb/mutton, and pork with the risk of IAs (IVW all p < 0.05). Conversely, a negative correlation was observed regarding dried fruit consumption and the risk of aSAH (IVW p < 0.05). There was only scant evidence supporting the association between alcohol intake frequency and an elevated risk of uIA (IVW method p < 0.05). The MR analysis outcomes were authenticated by the MR-PRESSO method and were deemed reliable. Furthermore, sensitivity calculations, such as pleiotropy and homogeneity test, leave-one-out evaluation, and funnel charts, validated the robustness of the results.The findings suggest that reducing alcohol, lamb/mutton, and pork intake, and increasing dried fruit intake may be potential strategies for the prevention of IAs and aSAH. Additional research is necessary to validate these outcomes and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Foodborne diseases are a serious public health concern, and food-producing animals are a major source of contamination. Methods: The present study analysed Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. isolated from faecal samples of 100 fattening pigs and from 52 samples of pork meat. Results: The results showed that the majority of the analysed meat samples were considered satisfactory in terms of microbiological quality (92.3% for E. coli and 94.2% for Salmonella spp.). Salmonella spp. was identified in 5.8% of the meat samples, whereas E. coli was detected in 89.5% of all samples (69.2% in meat and 100% in faecal samples). Furthermore, 1.9% of the faecal samples contained Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli and 3.9% contained enterotoxigenic E. coli. All sequenced isolates presented virulence genes for extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli. Moreover, 75.0% of E. coli isolates from meat and 71.8% from faeces samples showed antibiotic resistance, with 40.7% and 51.4%, respectively, being multidrug-resistant (MDR). The most prevalent resistances were to tetracycline, ampicillin, and sulfamethoxazole, and one E. coli isolate showed resistance to extended-spectrum β-lactamase. Conclusions: This study highlights the role of pigs as a potential source of human contamination and the importance of a One Health approach to ensure food safety and to promote public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of frozen pork is adversely affected upon thawing. In this study, the influence of various thawing methods for frozen pork, including cold water (18 °C), room temperature (18 °C), and refrigeration (4 °C) thawing, on physicochemical and nutrient substances were examined. The pork samples (a Chinese local breed: Anqing six-end-white pigs), which were thawed through the above conditions, were compared with controls (fresh porcine longissimus dorsi). Analyses were carried out to determine porcine longissimus dorsi shear force, pH value, crude protein content, antioxidant capacity, amino acid content, and fatty acid content. The results indicated that the shear force, pH value, crude protein content, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) content of the porcine longissimus dorsi muscle significantly decreased via the three thawing methods compared with the control group (p < 0.05). However, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, intramuscular fat content, inosinate and cholesterol content, essential amino acid content, and umami amino acid proportion in the cold thawing group were not significantly different from the control group (p > 0.05), but there were significant differences between the other two groups. The MDA content of the air thawing and hydrostatic thawing groups significantly increased compared with the control group (p < 0.05), with it being 42.6% and 50.8% higher than the control group, respectively. In addition, the monounsaturated fatty acid content in the pork subjected to the three thawing methods significantly increased compared with the control group (p < 0.05), and the monounsaturated fatty acid content after cold thawing and hydrostatic thawing increased by 18.2% and 21.6%, respectively. In conclusion, refrigeration had less influence on the quality of the Anqing six-end-white pork and was the most suitable thawing method. This study provides a theoretical reference for frozen pork preservation for improving food quality and availing its economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prolonged consumption of animal-derived foods containing high levels of lincomycin (LIN) residues can adversely impact human health. Therefore, it is essential to develop specific antibodies and immunoassay methods for LIN. This study utilized computational chemistry to predict the efficacy of LIN haptens prior to chemical synthesis, with subsequent confirmation obtained through an immunization experiment. A hybridoma cell line named LIN/1B11 was established, which is specific to LIN. The optimized indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) method exhibited high specificity for detecting LIN residues, with an IC50 value of 0.57 ± 0.03 µg/kg. The method effectively detected LIN residues in pork and milk samples, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) ranging from 0.81 to 1.20 µg/kg and a limit of quantification (LOQ) ranging from 2.09 to 2.29 µg/kg, with recovery rates between 81.9% and 108.8%. This study offers a valuable tool for identifying LIN residues in animal-derived food products. Furthermore, the efficient hapten prediction method presented herein improves antibody preparation efficiency and provides a simple method for researchers in screening haptens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the impact of incorporating Bougainvillea spectabilis powder into ham formulation as a potential color replacement for nitrites was evaluated. Three drying methods were proposed to preserve the antioxidant properties of bougainvillea: foam-mat drying, air drying, and oven drying. Antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP) assays revealed that the presence of bougainvillea powders enhanced the antioxidant properties and maintained the stability of the ham over 8 weeks of storage at 4 °C. In addition, total polyphenolic content and presence of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were evaluated and showed higher and lower scores, respectively, in the samples with the incorporation of bougainvillea compared to the control samples, suggesting their potential to replace nitrite salts by providing natural antioxidant protection. Sensorial analysis also revealed no significant differences in sensory attributes in hams with 0.1% bougainvillea powder compared to nitrite samples. The incorporation of the bougainvillea powders in the ham formulation improved the sensorial attributes and consumer overall acceptance even after 8-week cold storage at 4 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributive politics—or pork barreling—is prevalent across many political systems. It aims to influence the vote by directing discretionary spending to constituencies and/or groups of voters that are important for their re‐election. We term this the objective dimension to pork barreling. However, we argue that for pork barreling to deliver rewards, voters must also be aware that they are gaining a special benefit from government—the subjective dimension. Using a unique Australian dataset that matches spending on electoral areas with a large scale national survey that asked voters if their area had received special benefits, we clarify the mechanisms behind pork barreling. Our results show that about one in five voters believed that their electorate had received additional benefits. Objectively, spending was disproportionately directed to government‐held seats. Despite this largesse, we find that pork barreling had little or no effect on the vote in the 2022 Australian election. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is a growing demand for ready-to-eat, prepared, high-quality, preservative-free products. However, the shelf-life of these products is often so short that a relatively high percentage of these products cannot be sold and end up as food waste. In this study, pork loin with different marinades (paprika and herbs) was treated with different high hydrostatic pressures (0 MPa, 300 MPa, 450 MPa and 600 MPa) and a bioactive component (piperine) and then the quality of the meat was examined after 0, 4, 8, 12 and 14 days of cold storage. Changes were monitored using color, pH, texture and microbiological analyses. Both pressure, piperine enrichment, storage time and the interactions of different factors had a significant effect on the quality of the loin samples with different marinades. Due to the denaturation of myoglobin, meat slices were less red and lighter after HHP treatment. The addition of piperine reduced this lightness. The pH increased with increasing pressure and decreased with storage time. HHP treatment significantly increased meat hardness, with samples treated at 600 MPa being 19% harder than those treated at 450 MPa. Microbiological results indicated that HHP at 450 MPa and 600 MPa effectively reduced anaerobic total live plate counts, ensuring satisfactory sensory and microbiological quality throughout storage. Piperine fortification also resulted in a more favorable microbiological status during storage without any perceptible change in quality properties during storage. These findings underscore the effectiveness of HHP and piperine enrichment in enhancing the safety and quality of marinated meats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pork has an important role in the lives of the people of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), both as a source of animal protein and in cultural and social contexts. Traditional processed products such as Sui Wu'u from Bajawa are examples of pork preservation that has been passed down from generation to generation through the practice of local wisdom. The preservation process using natural ingredients such as cornstarch and salt not only extends the shelf life, but also improves the sensory quality as well as maintains the microbiological and physicochemical qualities of the meat. The addition of cornmeal which is rich in antioxidants and fiber and salt as natural preservatives, helps inhibit the growth of pathogenic microbes and maintains the taste of the product. Nonetheless, the curing process needs to pay attention to various factors such as raw materials, curing methods, and storage temperatures to ensure the quality and safety of the final product. The purpose of this study was to determine the organoleptic quality, at oxidation and total bacteria in sui wu'u. The design used was a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 3 treatments 4 replicates of the addition of corn flour consisting of P1 = 500 g, P2 = 1000 g, P3 = 1,500 g. The parameter measured were: organoleptic quality (color, aroma, taste, and tenderness), fat oxidation and total bacteria. The data of organoleptics were analysed witk Kuakall-Wallis test whereas fat oxidation and total bacteria were analyzed with ANOVA. The results showed that organoleptic quality (color, aroma, taste, and tenderness) and total bacteri were same (P>0.05) whereas fat oxidation decreased as the level of corn starch increased. It can be concluded that given corn starch coulg retard the fat oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The "Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score" (DIAAS) method measures protein quality in human foods. Animal‐based products generally have high protein quality, but DIAAS values for some pork products are not available. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to determine standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) and DIAAS values for pork products, including three types of pork cuts, Italian hams, and sausages, and to test the hypothesis that all pork products have DIAAS equal to or greater than 100. Results: The mean SID of the indispensable AA in all pork products was above 90% and indicated excellent digestibility. For children from 6 months to 3 years old and individuals older than 3 years, prosciutto had greater (p < 0.05) DIAAS than all other pork products. Tenderloin and Coppa had greater (p < 0.05) DIAAS than back ribs, shoulder butt, chorizo, and bratwurst. There were no limiting AA in any of the pork products (DIAAS >100) with the exception that sulfur AA (SAA: methionine + cysteine) were limiting in chorizo for children from 6 months to 3 years old (DIAAS = 99). Conclusion: With the exception of chorizo for children less than 3 years old, all pork products have "excellent" protein quality for individuals older than 6 months of age, with DIAAS greater than 100. Pork proteins can, therefore, complement proteins with low quality to produce a meal that is adequate in all AA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ultrasonic freezing (UF) delayed MP functional deterioration. • UF improved the quality of dumpling during frozen storage compared to IF and AF. • UF samples exhibited greater solubility than IF and AF samples. • UF samples had superior protein thermal stability compared to IF and AF samples. The effects of air freezing (AF), immersion freezing (IF), and ultrasonic freezing (UF) on the oxidation, aggregation, and functional properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) in pork dumpling filling during frozen storage were investigated. The findings demonstrated that, compared to AF and IF treatments, UF treatment had higher total and reactive sulfhydryl content, solubility, and absolute zeta potential. Conversely, it exhibited lower values in carbonyl content, dityrosine content, turbidity, and particle size within the same storage time (p < 0.05). SDS-PAGE revealed that UF treatment delayed the oxidation and excessive aggregation of MP during frozen storage. Moreover, samples treated with UF at 180 days (d) displayed similar functional and qualitative characteristics to those treated with IF at 90 d or AF at 60 d, as per the hierarchical cluster analysis findings. In conclusion, UF effectively delayed the oxidation, aggregation, and loss of functional properties of MP in pork dumpling filling during frozen storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Searching for new alternatives to commercialize pork from entire male pigs that could be affected by a boar taint sensory defect would be adequate. In this study, two different marinade mixtures (additives, salt, white wine plus different spices for mixture 1 and 2) were injected into pork loin pieces from castrated (C1 and C2) and entire male pigs (E1 and E2) with a high boar taint level (5.51 µg.g−1 AND and 0.73 µg.g−1 SKA) to evaluate their effect on the physicochemical and sensory quality of pork, and to assess their boar taint masking properties. To achieve this, physicochemical and sensory analyses with trained panellists were carried out. Marinated meat showed some differences in colour and a reduction in cooking losses. Mixture 2 achieved the best boar taint masking effect, due to spices content mainly nutmeg and ginger, and other ingredients such as white wine. In conclusion, marinating pork from entire male pigs can contribute to achieving an acceptable quality standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The USDA Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) is a federal estimate of a healthy diet at lowest cost for US population groups defined by gender and age. The present goal was to develop a version of the TFP that was more tailored to the observed dietary patterns of self-identified Hispanic participants in NHANES 2013–16. Analyses used the same national food prices and nutrient composition data as the TFP 2021. Diet quality was measured using the Healthy Eating Index 2015. The new Hispanic TFP (H-TFP) was cost-neutral with respect to TFP 2021 and fixed at $186/week for a family of four. Two H-TFP models were created using a quadratic programming (QP) algorithm. Fresh pork was modeled separately from other red meats. Hispanic NHANES participants were younger, had lower education and incomes, but had similar or higher HEI 2015 scores than non-Hispanics. Their diet included more pulses, beans, fruit, 100% juice, grain-based dishes, and soups, but less pizza, coffee, candy, and desserts. The H-TFP market basket featured more pork, whole grains, 100% fruit juice, and cheese. The second TFP model showed that pork could replace both poultry and red meat, while satisfying all nutrient needs. A vegetarian H-TFP proved infeasible for most age–gender groups. Healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant food plans can be developed for US population subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology / Zhongguo Shipin Xuebao is the property of Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science & Technology Periodical Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The storage duration of fresh meat products is a contributing factor leading to increased waste and loss at the retail counter. Losses of fresh pork can be linked to packaging methods that do not protect the attributes of color, taste, and odors consumers use in determining wholesome meat. Boneless pork loins (N = 63) were fabricated into 2.54-cm-thick chops and assigned to one of three vacuum treatments (VacA, VacB, VacC) or a fourth polyvinyl chloride overwrap (PVC) treatment to assess objective fresh color, cook loss, Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF), and lipid oxidation. Pork chops (n = 882) were evaluated at 5-day intervals (D 0, 5, 10, 15) in a randomized complete block design. Pork chop surface color was lighter (L*; p < 0.0001) when stored in a vacuum compared to PVC-packaged loin chops, regardless of storage duration. Redness (a*) values were greater (p < 0.0001) for loin chops stored in PVC than all other vacuum packaging treatments throughout the entire 15-day display period. Relative values for chroma on PVC-packaged loin chops were greater (p < 0.0001) throughout the simulated retail display period. An interaction of day and packaging treatment (p < 0.0343) occurred for WBSF. Lipid oxidation for pork chops packaged using PVC was significantly greater (p < 0.0001) from Day 10 through the completion of the storage period. Results indicate that vacuum packaging limits the deterioration of fresh pork loin chops, whereas traditional overwrapping expedites the color and lipid oxidation during refrigerated storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pork supply prediction is a challenging task of significant importance for pig producers and administrators, as it aids decision-making and maintains the pork supply–demand balance. Previous studies failed to consider impact factors like the month-age transfer principle of pigs, epidemic factors, and the simultaneous import and export volumes of pork, leading to the absence of a quantitative prediction model for pork supply. In this background, we proposed a novel quantitative prediction model of pork supply that incorporates pork production and pork import/export volumes. First, a prediction model for pork production that takes into account the month-age transfer principle of pigs and epidemic factors was presented, along with a recursive model of the pig-herd system. A novel method based on a modified self-organizing migrating algorithm (MSOMA) was proposed for calculating the quantity of monthly newly retained sows (NRS). Furthermore, the pork-production prediction model considered the epidemic factor as a random disturbance term (RDT), and a prediction method based on MSOMA and a back-propagation neural network (MSOMA-BPNN) was introduced to predict such disturbance terms. Second, the proposed MSOMA-BPNN was employed to predict pork import and export volumes. The pork supply was subsequently determined based on the predicted pork production, as well as the pork import and export volumes. The proposed pork supply prediction model was applied to forecast China's pork supply from 2010 to 2023. The results validate the high effectiveness and reliability of the proposed model, providing valuable insights for decision makers. The empirical results demonstrate that the proposed model is a promising and effective tool for predicting the pork supply. To our knowledge, this is a novel tool for pork supply prediction, considering the pig-herd system and pork import and export volumes from a systemic perspective. These features allow for consideration of the scientific formulation of a pig production plan, the establishment of early warning mechanisms to deal with epidemic situations and emergencies, and the regulation of pork supply and demand balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to research the effect of different preservatives on quality and shelf life of fresh chilled meat stored at 4 °C for 12 days. This study used tea polyphenols (0.2%) and hydrogen peroxide (1.27 g/L) to treat chilled pork and measured its pH, TVB-N, TBARS, the total viable bacteria count (TVC) and sensory score. The results showed that the treatments with tea polyphenols and hydrogen peroxide significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the growth of TVC on fresh chilled pork. The TVC of sample treated with tea polyphenols and hydrogen peroxide increased from initial value 3.2 to 6.0 log CFU/g after 10 and 12 days, respectively. It was also found in pH, TVB-N, TBARS and sensory measurement that the tea polyphenols and hydrogen peroxide treatment could extend the storage period of chilled meat as well as hydrogen peroxide was slightly better than tea polyphenols. It could be suggested that both tea polyphenols and hydrogen peroxide treatment has great potential to extend the shelf life of fresh chilled pork.

The use of pork obtained from intensively growing hybrid animals as the main raw material in meat processing, in particular sausage production, is accompanied by undesirable variability of consumer characteristics of sausage products and a decrease in the economic indicators of enterprise performance. The main technological disadvantages of processed pork are reduced water-binding capacity and significant loss of meat fluid, which in practice is usually compensated by the increased use of food additives and non-meat ingredients. The aim of the study was to assess the possibility of targeted improvement of the technological properties of minced pork using a proteolytic enzyme of animal origin. Model samples of minced meat were developed and cured for 24 hours at a temperature of 4 °C. The following control samples were used: minced meat with the addition of 2% edible salt and minced meat with the addition of 2% edible salt and 0.2% sodium bicarbonate. Moreover, 0.0001% chymotrypsin was added to the test samples containing similar curing ingredients. During electrophoretic study, in samples with the enzyme, an increase in low-molecular fractions (20 kDa, 15 kDa and lower) was observed, which indicated the manifestation of proteolytic activity of chymotrypsin in model systems. Enzymatic treatment led to an increase in pH and water-binding capacity. Cooking loss was reduced by 3 to 6 times, compared to Control 1. After cooking, histological studies of model systems showed that the test samples subjected to enzymatic treatment were characterized by a denser arrangement of structural elements, less pronounced cellular components of muscle tissue and the presence of glutin formed as a result of protein breakdown, filling the microcapillaries. Thus, the use of an enzyme preparation provides an opportunity for targeted improvement of the technological properties of pork obtained from intensively growing hybrid animals.

The significance of pork meat quality extends far beyond mere consumer satisfaction, encompassing crucial aspects such as health and nutrition, economic impact, reputation and branding, food safety, and sustainability within the global food system. Influenced by a multitude of factors, each playing a pivotal role in shaping its sensory attributes and consumer appeal, pork meat quality stands as a cornerstone of the meat industry. Thus, understanding these factors are imperative for ensuring consistent high-quality pork production, aligning with consumer preferences, and elevating overall satisfaction levels. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the diverse factors affecting pork meat quality, including genetic characteristics, rearing systems, feed composition, gender differences, pre-slaughter handling, and meat aging processes.

Pork consumption has risen significantly in many emerging nations, with producers using various systems to meet demand. However, the profitability of these systems remains largely unexplored. Therefore, the drivers of profitability of pig production systems in Northern Uganda were examined. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire through a cross-sectional survey of 240 randomly selected pig farmers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis, and ordinary least squares model. Results revealed that the cost of initial stock (p < 0.1), cost of feed (p < 0.05), cost of vaccines (p < 0.01), output (p < 0.05), and quantity of feed (p < 0.05) were drivers of profitability in the farrow-to-finish pig production system. Further, profitability in the farrow-to-weaner pig production system was influenced by access to credit (p < 0.1), household size (p < 0.1), access to extension service (p < 0.01), and cost of initial stock (p < 0.05). In the weaner-to-slaughter pig production system, drivers of profitability included access to extension service (p < 0.1), cost of feed (p < 0.1), cost of vaccines (p < 0.05), and cost of initial stock (p < 0.05). Researchers recommend that the government arrange sufficient capacity-building initiatives and training, particularly on the farrow-to-weaner pig production system to increase the output and profitability of this production system. Further, the government and non-governmental organizations should make inputs such as vaccines, drugs, and breeding stock available to pig farmers at competitive market prices to enable farmers to make price-responsive decisions.

Background: Growing studies have indicated an association between dietary factors and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, whether these associations refer to a causal relationship and the potential mechanism by which dietary factors affect GERD is still unclear. Methods: A two-step mendelian randomization analysis was performed to obtain causal estimates of dietary factors, blood lipids on GERD. Independent genetic variants associated with 13 kinds of dietary factors and 5 kinds of blood lipids at the genome-wide significance level were selected as instrumental variables. The summary statistics for GERD were obtained from European Bioinformatics Institute, including 129,080 cases and 473,524 controls. Inverse variance weighted was utilized as the main statistical method. MR-Egger intercept test, Cochran's Q test, and leave-one-out analysis were performed to evaluate possible heterogeneity and pleiotropy. And the potential reverse causality was assessed using Steiger filtering. Results: The results of the inverse variance weighted method indicated that genetically predicted total pork intake (OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.21–5.58, p = 0.0143), total bread intake (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.46–0.99, p = 0.0497), total cereal intake (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.31–0.56, p = 2.98E-06), and total cheese intake (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.27–0.61, p = 1.06E-05) were associated with the risk of GERD. Multivariable Mendelian randomization analysis also revealed a negative association between total cereal intake, total cheese intake and the risk of GERD, but the effect of total pork intake and total bread intake on GERD disappeared after adjustment of smoking, alcohol consumption, use of calcium channel blockers, BMI, physical activity levels, and biological sex (age adjusted). Furthermore, the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is negatively correlated with total cheese intake, which mediates the impact of total cheese intake on GERD. The proportion mediated by LDL-C is 2.27% (95%CI: 1.57%, 4.09%). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that an increase in total cereal intake and total cheese intake will decrease the risk of GERD. Additionally, LDL-C mediates the causal effect of total cheese intake on GERD. These results provide new insights into the role of dietary factors and blood lipids in GERD, which is beneficial for disease prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the realm of food safety, the accumulation and potential health risks posed by persistent residues of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, which degrade slowly in the environment, have prompted the urgent development of efficient and sensitive detection methods. Addressing this challenge, nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were synthesized through a high-temperature hydrothermal method using citric acid and urea as sources. Utilizing these N-CQDs, a sensor incorporating molecularly imprinted polymers was developed through a sol–gel process with sulfadiazine (SDZ) as the template molecule. This involved using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and tetraethyl orthosilicate as the monomer and cross-linker, respectively. The resulting sensor exhibited a linear detection range of 0 to 30 µmol/L and a notably low detection limit of 0.04 µmol/L. Further testing on actual pork samples revealed recovery rates between 95.10 and 108.30% and a relative standard deviation below 2.0%, emphasizing its high sensitivity and selectivity. This advancement not only enhances SDZ detection capabilities, but also paves the way for broader applications in food safety monitoring, setting a solid foundation for future developments in sensor technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the pork spoilage potential of Pseudomonas fragi and the antibacterial mechanism of garlic essential oil, P. fragi was isolated from chilled pork under aerobic storage conditions and tested its spoilage capacity. The isolates with strong spoilage capacity were selected for further investigation. The antibacterial activity of garlic essential oil against the selected strains was evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and plotting the bacterial growth curve. Furthermore, the antibacterial mechanism was investigated by scanning electron microscopic (SEM) observation as well as measuring cell membrane permeability, bacterial motility and metabolic activity. The results showed that P. fragi could cause pork spoilage. Garlic essential oil exhibited a strong inhibitory effect against P. fragi derived from pork, with a MIC of 0.125 μL/mL. Garlic essential oil could disrupt the normal structural morphology of P. fragi, enhance the permeability of the cell membrane, and inhibit bacterial metabolic activity and mobility. The results from this study can provide a theoretical foundation for the application of garlic essential oil as a natural food preservative.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of sous-vide on the thermal inactivation rules of Listeria monocytogenes in different matrix， the thermal inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes in different substrates at different temperatures was studied.MethodsFive lyophiliZed L. monocytogenes strains were inoculated into saline， MH broth， vacuum packed lean pork and streaky pork. The survival rates were evaluated at 55， 60， and 63 ℃. The decimal reduction time （D-value） and temperature dependence （Z-value） were determined for each strain in each matrix.ResultsThe D value and Z value of Listeria monocytogenes in pork were higher than those in normal saline and MH broth， the difference was statistically significant （P

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of low-frequency alternating magnetic field assisted freezing (LF-MFF, –18 ℃) for different periods (12, 24, 36 and 48 h) on the quality of pork using fresh meat and conventional refrigerator freezing (–18 ℃, 36 h) as controls. The changes in the freezing rate, water-holding capacity, tenderness, color, pH, water migration and rheological properties of meat samples subjected to different freezing treatments were analyzed. The results indicated that compared with conventional refrigerator freezing, LF-MFF treatment at a magnetic intensity of 3 mT exhibited higher freezing rates and significantly improved pork quality (P < 0.05); among all freezing treatments, LF-MFF for 36–48 h improved the water-holding capacity, color and tenderness of pork (P < 0.05), thus maintaining better physicochemical properties. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) results showed that the proportion of immobilized water was significantly increased and the proportion of free water was decreased after 36–48 h LF-MFF when compared with conventional refrigerator freezing (P < 0.05). Furthermore, dynamic rheological results suggested that the samples subjected to LF-MFF for 36–48 h had higher G’ values and lower degrees of protein denaturation, indicating the formation of protein gels with better viscoelasticity. The Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the changes in physicochemical properties and moisture migration of pork after different freezing treatments were significantly correlated. Therefore, LF-MFF for 36–48 h could be the optimal freezing treatment for pork, which could maintain the physicochemical properties of pork, reduce moisture migration and inhibit protein denaturation, thereby improving the quality of frozen pork.

Cooking methods could have a great influence on the flavour of food, to investigate the effect of cooking methods on the aroma of pork, this study used electronic nose combined with gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) for multivariate statistical analyses of the volatile compounds in pork under different cooking methods. GC-IMS was used to characterise 100 volatile compounds (including monomers and dimers) of pork under different cooking methods. Finally, a stable model was established using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. Results showed that, the cooking method is crucial for the formation of pork flavour compounds. Pork cooked by oven roasting and air fryer methods contained characteristic volatile compounds such as ethyl (E)-2-hexenoate, 1-octen-3-ol, (Z)-4-decenal, 3-nonen-2-one, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, propyl butyrate, furazanone, and dipentenyl-M, as compared to the two cooking methods of steaming and boiling. The air fryer method pork contained higher levels of (E)-ethyl 2-hexenoate, 1-octen-3-ol, (Z)-4-decenal, and 3-nonen-2-one than the oven-roasted pork. Valeraldehyde and ethyl acetate were labelled as characteristic volatile substance compounds for both steamed and boiled cooking styles, and the results from the electronic nose sensor showed that the RPCA model was effective in identifying volatile substances in pork for each cooking style. The results of the study revealed the effects of different cooking methods on the volatile components of pork and found that the aromas of air fryer preparation and oven roasting were more similar, providing some reference for the cooking and processing of pork.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the relationship between perceived sensory attributes and measurable instrumental properties is crucial for replicating the distinct textures of meat in plant‐based meat analogs. In this study, plant‐based patties composed of textured vegetable protein (TVP) and 10%, 20% and 30% TVPs were substituted with fibers from sweet potato stem (SPS), and their instrumental texture and sensory properties were evaluated. RESULTS: Samples with 20% SPS showed hardness, cohesiveness and chewiness, which are the mechanical indicators most similar to those of meat. A descriptive sensory analysis by ten trained participants indicated that the SPS‐supplemented meat analog patties exhibited characteristics similar to pork patties in terms of firmness, toughness, cohesiveness and smoothness compared to the TVP‐only sample. A strong positive correlation between instrumental hardness and sensory firmness was observed (P < 0.01); however, cohesiveness, springiness and chewiness did not show any correlation between instrumental and sensory analyses. Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF) values showed positive correlations with sensory cohesiveness, chewiness, toughness, fibrousness, moistness, firmness and springiness (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated the feasibility of physically treated fibers from SPS as a partial substitute for TVP in developing meat analogs. Additionally, this study suggested that instrumental hardness and WBSF measurements can be sound parameters for representing sensory texture characteristics while further developing plant‐based meat analogs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a near‐field focused metasurface design method for microwave hyperthermia. Utilizing full‐wave electromagnetic simulation, a novel dual‐layer metasurface unit with the following characteristics is developed: transmission efficiency higher than −1 dB, adjustable transmission phase from 0° to 360°, and insensitivity to the polarization and incident angle of the incoming wave. Leveraging phase compensation theory, the units at different positions in the array to achieve near‐field focusing functionality is meticulously designed. To further optimize transmission efficiency, the transmission phase of the central unit of the metasurface to 76° is tuned. When applying this near‐field focused metasurface to microwave hyperthermia, the electromagnetic and thermal effects in biological tissues is conducted simulations and experiments to analyzed. The results demonstrate that the proposed metasurface can effectively focus microwave energy, achieving efficient microwave transmission in pork tissue and generating localized high temperatures in the target area. This research introduces new design concepts and implementation strategies for the development of microwave hyperthermia technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Emergent crises can have a catastrophic impact on regional economic systems. The concurrent outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) and the COVID-19 pandemic have severely affected Macau's pork industry, making it an interesting case study for analyzing the effects of simultaneous emergent crises on food prices. Methods: The study utilized a comprehensive dataset spanning from March 30, 2018, to April 15, 2022. The analysis employed the Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) method to decompose the pork price data into high-frequency, low-frequency, and trend components, while the Bai-Perron test pinpointed key events and regulatory interventions affecting pork prices. Results: The findings revealed that short-term market fluctuations had a limited impact on pork price dynamics, with primary drivers being longterm and low-frequency emergencies. The Bai-Perron test identified four significant emergencies or regulatory policies as critical turning points, segmenting the price series into five distinct phases. The results highlight the importance of considering long-cycle emergencies when assessing their impact on food prices and underline the need for more resilient agricultural supply chains. Discussion: The study provides insights into how compounded emergent crisis threats impact market behavior and offers policy recommendations for enhancing market stability. Recommendations include strengthening cross-regional epidemic control, investing in vaccine research, optimizing cold chain logistics, updating legal frameworks, and improving emergency preparedness. The implications of these findings are relevant for similar regions facing concurrent health and economic crises, contributing to a better understanding of crisis management and market stability maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)