New food safety challenges of viral contamination from a global perspective: Conventional,emerging, and novel methods of viral control

Food- and waterborne viruses, such as human norovirus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, rotaviruses, astroviruses, adenoviruses, and enteroviruses, are major contributors to all foodborne illnesses. Their small size, structure, and ability to clump and attach to inanimate surfaces make viruses challenging to reduce or eliminate, especially in the presence of inorganic or organic soils. Besides traditional wet and dry methods of disinfection using chemicals and heat, emerging physical nonthermal decontamination techniques (irradiation, ultraviolet, pulsed light, high hydrostatic pressure, cold atmospheric plasma, and pulsed electric field), novel virucidal surfaces, and bioactive compounds are examined for their potential to inactivate viruses on the surfaces of foods or food contact surfaces (tools, equipment, hands, etc.). Every disinfection technique is discussed based on its efficiency against viruses, specific advantages and disadvantages, and limitations. Structure, genomic organization, and molecular biology of different virus strains are reviewed, as they are key in determining these techniques effectiveness in controlling all or specific foodborne viruses. Selecting suitable viral decontamination techniques requires that their antiviral mechanism of action and ability to reduce virus infectivity must be taken into consideration. Furthermore, details about critical treatments parameters essential to control foodborne viruses in a food production environment are discussed, as they are also determinative in defining best disinfection and hygiene practices preventing viral infection after consuming a food product.     

The formed surface characteristics of SiCf/SiC composite in the nanosecond pulsed laser ablation

For the advantages of high-temperature resistance, corrosion resistance and ultra-high hardness, SiC_f/SiC composite is becoming a preferred material for manufacturing aero-engine parts. However, the anisotropy and heterogeneity bring great challenges to the processing technology. In this study, a nanosecond pulsed laser is applied to process SiC_f/SiC composite, where the influence of the scanning speed and laser scanning direction to the SiC fibers on the morphology of ablated grooves is investigated. The surface characteristics after ablation and the involved chemical reaction of SiC_f/SiC are explored. The results show that the increased laser scanning speed, accompanied by the decreasing spot overlap rate, leads to the less accumulation of energy on the material surface, so the ablation effect drops. In addition, for the anisotropy of the SiC_f/SiC material, the obtained surface characteristics are closely dependent on the laser scanning direction to the SiC fibers, resulting in different groove morphology. The element composition and phase analysis of the machined surface indicate that the main deposited product is SiO₂ and the carbon substance. The results can provide preliminary technical support for controlling the machining quality of ceramic matrix composites.     

某福利院一起肠炎沙门菌食源性疾病的调查分析

目的 对某福利院一起肠炎沙门菌食源性疾病进行调查和溯源,为研究相关食源性疾病提供参考。方法采用流行病学、食品卫生学和脉冲场凝胶电泳(PFGE)同源性分析等方法,分析本次食源性疾病事件。结果 确认本次事件中病例23名,患病率5.65%(23/407)；现场采集病例肛拭子15份和厨房工作人员肛拭子3份、留样菜品3份、水果2份以及冰棒1份,其中从11份病例肛拭子中检出肠炎沙门菌,PFGE结果显示11株肠炎沙门菌的DNA条带图谱相似性为96.4%,聚类分析为同一型,结合流行病学调查,初步判断菌株来自同一克隆系。结论 综合流行病学、食品卫生学和实验室检测结果,确定为一起肠炎沙门菌引起的食源性疾病,福利院应加强对特殊人群的饮食安全管理,制定相应的食源性疾病突发事件应急处理预案,防止此类事故再发生。     

Improving water retention of chicken breast meats by CaCl2 combined with pulsed electric fields

Frozen poultry meat is the most widely consumed animal-based food. However, water loss often leads to quality loss of poultry meat. Therefore, the present study sought to investigate the combined effect of calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and pulsed electric fields (PEF) treatment on chicken breast meats and the mechanisms underlying protein degradation. The results showed that the synergistic effect was superior to the single treatment. Compared with the untreated group, the combination of CaCl₂ and PEF increased water holding capacity of chicken breast meats by 16.61% and decreased cooking loss by 28.93%. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) results indicated that the synergistic treatment promoted water molecules' binding capacity in myofibrils of poultry meat, which exhibited higher immobilised water. Additionally, the combination of CaCl₂ and PEF led to increased degradation of proteins of high-molecular weight and surface hydrophobicity of myofibrillar protein. Furthermore, the extension of the protein molecule and microenvironmental changes promoted interaction between protein and water. In conclusion, the synergistic treatment of CaCl₂ and PEF enhanced water retention and improved physicochemical properties of the myofibrillar protein in chicken breast meats.     

市售婴幼儿米粉中克罗诺杆菌的分子分型和耐药分析

为了解婴幼儿配方米粉中克罗诺杆菌的污染情况、分子分型特征及耐药性情况，采集广西区内市售6个厂家和品牌不同配方的婴幼儿米粉进行克罗诺杆菌分离及fusA基因的扩增、测序和MLST数据库比对分析。并应用脉冲场凝胶电泳（PFGE）对菌株进行分型鉴定及微量肉汤稀释法测定分离株对8种常见抗生素的最小抑菌浓度（Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations，MICs）。采集的268份婴幼儿米粉共分离到32株克罗诺杆菌，检出率为11.94%，菌株鉴定结果显示32株分离株包括22株C.sakazakii、6株C.malonaticus、3株C.dublinensis和1株C.muytjensii。不同添加成分的婴幼儿配方米粉污染情况差异明显，其中添加淮莲和果蔬的米粉污染率最高为17.78%和15.38%。PFGE分析显示32个菌株共分成32种不同的分子型，相似度为61.20%~92.30%，所有分离株对环丙沙星、庆大霉素和头孢噻肟都敏感，部分菌株（6.25%~43.75%）对氯霉素、四环素、甲氧苄啶/磺胺甲基异恶唑、头孢西丁和萘啶酸表现为中等敏感，有2个菌株对氯霉素表现为抗性。结果表明市售婴幼儿配方米粉中存在一定的克罗诺杆菌污染，尤其是添加营养成分的米粉。婴幼儿配方米粉中克罗诺杆菌污染来源广泛，部分菌株对一些抗菌药表现为中等敏感甚至是抗性，提示克罗诺杆菌对抗菌药的敏感性呈现减弱的趋势。     

Experimental investigation on the plasma morphology of ablative pulsed plasma thruster with tongue-shaped and flared electrodes

Ablative pulsed plasma thrusters(APPTs) are considered as an attractive propulsion option for station-keeping and drag makeup purposes for mass-and power-limited satellites. In order to understand the physical mechanism of APPTs, high-speed camera and optical emission spectroscopy are utilized to investigate the plasma characteristics including the spatial distribution and composition between the electrodes. The plume images and spectra at different times and positions are experimentally recorded, and the spatial distribution, composition, and trajectory of plasmas can be concluded through analyzing them. With the increase of the distance from the ablation surface, two clusters of plasmas near the anode and cathode meet downstream,and the species and density of plasmas tend to be uniform.     

Pure CuBi2O4 Photoelectrodes with Increased Stability by Rapid Thermal Processing of Bi2O3/CuO Grown by Pulsed Laser Deposition

A new method for enhancing the charge separation and photo‐electrochemical stability of CuBi₂O₄ photoelectrodes by sequentially depositing Bi₂O₃ and CuO layers on fluorine‐doped tin oxide substrates with pulsed laser deposition (PLD), followed by rapid thermal processing (RTP), resulting in phase‐pure, highly crystalline films after 10 min at 650 °C, is reported. Conventional furnace annealing of similar films for 72 h at 500 °C do not result in phase‐pure CuBi₂O₄. The combined PLD and RTP approach allow excellent control of the Bi:Cu stoichiometry and results in photoelectrodes with superior electronic properties compared to photoelectrodes fabricated through spray pyrolysis. The low photocurrents of the CuBi₂O₄ photocathodes fabricated through PLD/RTP in this study are primarily attributed to their low specific surface area, lack of CuO impurities, and limited, slow charge transport in the undoped films. Bare (without protection layers) CuBi₂O₄ photoelectrodes made with PLD/RTP shows a photocurrent decrease of only 26% after 5 h, which represents the highest stability reported to date for this material. The PLD/RTP fabrication approach offers new possibilities of fabricating complex metal oxides photoelectrodes with a high degree of crystallinity and good electronic properties at higher temperatures than the thermal stability of glass‐based transparent conductive substrates would allow.     

Stabilizing temperature-capacitance dependence of (Sr,Pb, Bi)TiO3-Bi4Ti3O12 solutions for energy storage

(1-x)Sr_0.7Pb_0.15Bi_0.1TiO₃-xBi₄Ti₃O₁₂ ((1-x)SPBT-xBIT, x = 0-0.125) bulk ceramics were developed and calcined via the solid-state method, aimed at the application of pulsed power capacitors. The phase structures, temperature stability, hysteresis loop, and discharge properties were systematically investigated. Considering both the temperature stability and dielectric properties, 0.925SPBT-0.075BIT bulk ceramics with a capacitance variation satisfying the X7R specification were developed for pulsed power capacitors. The energy storage density was 0.252 J/cm³, and the ceramics showed high temperature stability at 80 kV/cm. The discharge current waveforms of the 0.925SPBT-0.075BIT ceramics were recorded. A high discharge power density of approximately 1.01 × 10⁸ W/kg with an 8 Ω load resistor and short discharge period of 84 ns were achieved at 50 kV/cm. The good temperature stability properties and high power density show that the 0.925SPBT-0.075BIT ceramics are well suited for pulsed power capacitors with a wide temperature range.     

Contribution of metal vapor mass at periphery part of pulsed arc to electromagnetic force in weld pool

The arc welding has been used in various welding methods because it is inexpensive and high in strength after welding. However, it is a problem that accidents such as collapse of the bridge occur because of the welding defects. The welding of low cost and high productivity is required without the welding defects. The pulsed TIG welding is inexpensive and capable of high‐quality welding. The electromagnetic force contributing to penetration changes because the transient response of arc temperature and iron vapor generated from anode occurs. However, the analysis of pulsed TIG welding with metal vapor has been elucidated only metal vapor concentration near anode with transient phenomenon and heat flux. Thus, the theoretical elucidation of penetration depth with control factor has not been researched. In this paper, the contribution of metal vapor mass at the periphery part of pulsed arc to the electromagnetic force in the weld pool is elucidated. As a result, the iron vapor mass at periphery part decreased with increasing the frequency. The iron vapor was stagnated at axial center within one cycle. The electromagnetic force to the penetration depth direction in weld pool increased at axial center. Therefore, the metal vapor mass at periphery part plays an important role for the electromagnetic force increment at axial center.