Effects of Different Parameters of Electrostatic Field on Removal of Ethylene in Fruit and Vegetable Storage Environment

[Objectives]The effects of different parameters of electrostatic field on the removal of ethylene from fruit and vegetable storage environment were studied. [Methods]The high voltage electrostatic field technology was used to simulate the removal of ethylene from fruit and vegetable storages, and its influencing factors were tested and analyzed. [Results] The removal effect of needle-plate electrodes was better than that of needle electrodes. The removal effect of ethylene at high voltage was better than that at low voltage. The length of gas chamber was positively correlated with the time required for ethylene removal. Increasing the voltage could produce more ozone, thus improving the removal effect of ethylene. [Conclusions] This study provides theoretical basis and technical support for the use of high-voltage electrostatic field to remove ethylene in controlled atmosphere storages.

Problems and Countermeasures of Fruit and Vegetable Logistics Distribution Development in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

The logistics transportation and distribution of fruits and vegetables has become one of the important links for people to obtain food,and it is also an important direction and emerging challenge in the logistics industry.As the social economy and transportation develop,the consumption ability of residents has been improved,and the high demand for fruits and vegetables has promoted the transportation of fruits and vegetables to meet the development conditions of the future fruit and vegetable industry.The study of fruit and vegetable logistics distribution can improve the efficiency of fruit and vegetable distribution,improve the construction of fruit and vegetable distribution system,and also meet the needs of people for different kinds of fruits and vegetables.Taking Guangxi fruit and vegetable distribution as an example,through empirical investigation,this paper studies the existing problems in the development of logistics distribution in the fruit and vegetable distribution industry,and puts forward corresponding measures and countermeasures according to the problems,so as to innovate the fruit and vegetable distribution mode in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Analysis on Status quo and Future Development of Fruit and Vegetable Protreatment

Pretreatment on vegetable and fruit is a key chain of drying process. The research analyzed mechanisms and applications of different pretreatments such as blanching, freezing, liquid glucose pretreatment, NaCI dipping, and high-voltage elec- tric field, and proposed the development prospect.

Study on the Potential of China’s Fruit and Vegetable Products Export to the RCEP Partners

China is one of the world’s major exporters of fruit and vegetable products,and the expansion of fruit and vegetable exports is important for increasing agricultural income.Based on time-varying stochastic frontier gravity model and trade inefficiency model,this paper empirically analyzes the influencing factors and trade efficiency of China’s fruit and vegetable products export to RCEP partners from 2001 to 2019.The results show that China’s GDP per capita,the population of importing countries,and common language conditions have positive effects on China’s fruit and vegetable products export to RCEP partners.GDP per capita of importing countries,the population of China,and geographical distance between trading parties hinder trade in fruit and vegetable products.The presence of trade inefficiencies constrains China’s fruit and vegetable products export to RCEP partners,with liner shipping connectivity and trade freedom having a positive relationship with export efficiency of fruit and vegetable products.Variable trade costs and fixed trade costs have a negative relationship with export efficiency of fruit and vegetable products,which hinder trade in fruit and vegetable products,while financial freedom and free trade agreements have no significant impact on export efficiency of fruit and vegetable products.

Promising real-time fruit and vegetable quality detection technologies applicable to manipulator picking process

In recent years,worldwide research on fruit and vegetable quality detection technology includes machine vision,spectroscopy,acoustic vibration,tactile sensors,etc.These technologies have also been gradually applied to fruit and vegetable grading and sorting lines in recent years,greatly improving the income of farmers.There have been numerous reviews of these techniques.Most of the published research on fruit and vegetable quality detection technology is still carried out in the laboratory.The emphases have been on quality feature extraction,model establishment and experimental verification.The successful application in the fruit and vegetable sorting production line proves that these studies have high application potential and value,and we look forward to the performance of these sensing technologies in the fruit and vegetable picking field.Therefore,in this paper,based on the future highly automated fruit and vegetable picking mode,we will focus on three kinds of fruit and vegetable quality detection technologies including machine vision,tactile sensor and spectroscopy,to provide some reference for future research.Since there are currently limited cases of detecting quality during the fruit and vegetable picking,experiments performed on prototypes of manipulator,or devices such as Nanocilia sensors,portable spectrometers,etc.,which are compact and convenient to mount on manipulator will be reviewed.Several tables and mosaics showing the performance of the three technologies in the detection of fruit and vegetable quality over the past five years have been listed.The performance of each sensing technology was relatively satisfactory in the laboratory in general.However,in the picking scenario,there are still many challenges to be solved.Different from industrial environments,agricultural scenarios are complex and changeable.Fragile and vulnerable agricultural products pose another challenge.The development of portable devices and nanomaterials have become important breakthroughs.Optical and tactile detection methods,as well as the integration of different quality detection methods,are expected to be the trends of research and development.

Kaempferol and its derivatives:Biological activities and therapeutic potential

Kaempferol,a natural plant-origin flavonoid,exhibits therapeutic anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,anticancer,antidiabetic,and neuroprotective properties.Kaempferol acts within several distinct mechanisms like apoptotic induction in cancer cells,enzymatic inhibition,signalling pathway inhibition,and downregulation in cell viability during the G2/M phase of cell division.This review summarizes the therapeutic effects of kaempferol against several health ailments.The recent progress on kaempferol obtained from fruits and vegetables as an antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,anticancer,antidiabetic,and neuroprotective agent and its mechanisms of action are also discussed.In addition,kaempferol has been reported to be present in wastes and byproducts from post-fruit and vegetable processing.Thus,a paradigm shift towards valorizing fruits and vegetable industrial wastes/byproducts to obtain bioactive kaempferol can support the circular economy pillar for generating wealth from waste and for finding a sustainable alternative source.

Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of arterial hypertension in China:A prospective cohort study

Background:Population-based epidemiological evidence regarding the association between fruit and vegetable intake and the incidence of hypertension is inconsistent.This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the association between fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of new-onset hypertension.Methods:Based on the project of Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China(China-PAR),58,981 Chinese adults without hypertension at baseline were included.Information on fruit and vegetable intake was collected using a food-frequency questionnaire.Cox proportional hazards models were performed to estimate the hazard ratios(HRs)and 95%confidence intervals(CIs)of incident hypertension.Results:During 640,795 person-years of follow-up,21,008 new cases of hypertension were recorded.Compared with participants in the lowest quintile(Q1)of total fruit and vegetable(TFV)intake,the HRs(95%CIs)of incident hypertension were 0.90(0.86-0.95),0.85(0.81-0.90),0.82(0.78-0.86),and 0.83(0.78-0.88)for the Q2 to Q5 group(ptrend<0.001),respectively.In further analyses categorizing participants according to the recommended intake level(500 g/day),we found that increasing the intake of TFV,even though it was still insufficient for the recommendation,also had a protective effect against the incident hypertension.When considering the intake of fruit or vegetable separately,we found similar trends as the TFV intake.Conclusion:These results suggest that a higher intake of fruit and vegetable is beneficial for preventing hypertension in Chinese adults.

Design and Performance of a Controlled Environment Mini-chamber for Measuring Produce Quality Deterioration

To minimize losses between harvest and retail display, a system is needed to track temperature and RH exposure of fresh produce and predict its quality at each step of the distribution chain. With accurate models, such system could （1） identify problematic situations before losses occur; （2） become a management tool for decision makers; and （3） help quantify the real impact of individual inappropriate conditions. A project was initiated to develop models required for such a decision system. Because the data required to develop models were not available for most fruit and vegetables, a series of storage trials was planned for measuring changes in physiological and microbial quality, and development of physiological disorders and/or diseases, as a function of time, temperature and RH. To meet this objective, controlled environment mini-chambers were designed, built and instrumented for measuring the effect of traceable environmental conditions encountered during storage and transportation of fresh horticultural produce of similar size and shape as tomato. Detailed design and performance evaluation of these mini-chambers are presented.

Screening and Properties of Functional Probiotics for Apple Fermentation

[Objectives]To screen functional probiotics for apple fermentation and study their probiotic properties.[Methods]A total of 35 strains were screened from traditional fermented foods in different regions.After primary screening,re-screening and research on growth characteristics,two characteristic strains,CTCF-LC1(LC1,with strong acid production ability)and CTCF-LT1(LT1,with strong adaptability),were obtained.[Results]The results of physiological and biochemical identification and 16S DNA-based identification show that LC1 is Lactobacillus casei and LT1 is Lactobacillus reuteri.Their fermentation performance in apple juice was tested,and it was found that the two strains grew well in the fermentation broth,and the total number of colonies could reach 10^(9) cfu/mL.The final pH value of LC1 fermentation broth dropped below 3.5,and the total acid content exceeded 12 g/L.The pH of LT1 fermentation broth dropped to 3.9,and the total acid content also exceeded 6 g/L.In the study on the antioxidation property of apple juice,it was found that after high temperature and high pressure steam sterilization,the DPPH free radical scavenging rate of apple juice extract increased by 35.8%,and potassium ferricyanide reduction capability increased by 68%.After fermentation by LC1 and LT1,the potassium ferricyanide reducing power of apple juice was increased by 42.9%.[Conclusions]This has a good application prospect in the development of fruit and vegetable juice fermented beverages.

Effects of mixture ratio on anaerobic co-digestion with fruit and vegetable waste and food waste of China

The biochemical methane potentials for typical fruit and vegetable waste （FVW） and food waste （FW） from a northern China city were investigated, which were 0.30, 0.56 m3 CH4/kgVS （volatile solids） with biodegradabilities of 59.3% and 83.6%, respectively. Individual anaerobic digestion testes of FVW and FW were conducted at the organic loading rate （OLR） of 3 kg VS/（m3-day） using a lab-scale continuous stirred-tank reactor at 35°C. FVW could be digested stably with the biogas production rate of 2.17 ma/（m3-day） and methane production yield of 0.42 m3 CH4/kg VS. However, anaerobic digestion process for FW was failed due to acids accumulation. The effects of FVW： FW ratio on co-digestion stability and performance were further investigated at the same OLR. At FVW and FW mixing ratios of 2：1 and 1：1, the performance and operation of the digester were maintained stable, with no accumulation of volatile fatty acids （VFA） and ammonia. Changing the feed to a higher FW content in a ratio of FVW to FW 1：2, resulted in an increase in VFAs concentration to 1100-1200 rag/L, and the methanogenesis was slightly inhibited. At the optimum mixture ratio 1：1 for co-digestion of FVW with FW, the methane production yield was 0.49 m3 CH4/kg VS, and the volatile solids and soluble chemical oxygen demand （sCOD） removal efficiencies were 74.9% and 96.1%, respectively.

Analysis of Raw Materials Components of Dry Composite Mixes for Production Food Concentrates

Background:The simplest and most convenient food technology is the using of dry composite mixtures.They have a lot of advantages.Dry composite mixtures,which would completely be the basis for the production of personalized food concentrates,are not represented.The development of such dry composite mixtures is actual and of scientific and practical interest.The purpose of this research is the selection and justification of local import-substituting raw materials components for dry composite mixtures used as the basis for the production of food concentrates.As the objects of research,the raw materials components of the starch,fruit and vegetable,industry were selected.The work uses currently accepted standard research methods for organoleptic and physic-chemical parameters of raw materials components.The research was carried out within of the project“Theoretical Substantiation of Production Technology and the Development of Import-Substituting Food Products of Functional Purpose Based on Dry Composite Mixtures”,funded by the Belarusian Republican Foundation for Basic Research.Based on the researches,it was found out that in the composition of dry composite mixtures for the production of food concentrates it is expedient to use the following raw materials:potato starch,extruded corn starch,dried carrots,dried beets,dried topinambur and dried apples in chopped form.

Effects of lemon-tomato juice consumption on crystal formation in the urine of patients with calcium oxalate stones:A randomized crossover clinical trial

Background:Dietary supplementation with citrate-containing juices may serve as an effective alternative to potassium citrate therapy for preventing calcium oxalate stone recurrence.This study was performed to evaluate whether consumption of lemon-tomato juice can decrease the tendency for stone formation in the urine of calcium oxalate stone formers.Materials and methods:The study was conducted as a prospective interventional randomized crossover clinical trial with a repeated-measures design.Twenty-two patients with calcium oxalate stones and no metabolic abnormalities in the urine treated with lithotripsy at a tertiary care center from August 2017 to July 2018 were recruited.After a 14-hour overnight fasting,urine samples were collected after the patients consumed either milk only or milk and lemon-tomato juice.Their urine was tested for multiple parameters,including urine pH,specific gravity,calcium-creatinine ratio,and supersaturation with sodium oxalate,followed by optical density measurement via spectrophotometry.Results:There were no significant differences in the background characteristics between the 2 groups.The optical density of the urine samples obtained after consumption of milk only was significantly higher than that after consumption of milk and lemon-tomato juice(mean=0.131 for milk only vs.0.053 for milk and lemon-tomato juice,p<0.001).The urine calcium-creatinine ratio was similar between the groups(mean=0.141 for milk only vs.0.076 for milk and lemon-tomato juice,p=0.019).Conclusions:The addition of lemon-tomato juice as a source of citrate in the diet significantly decreases the established risk factors for calcium oxalate stone formation in patients.This study was prospectively registered at CTRI under number CTRI/2017/04/008312 on April 7,2017.

Anaerobic digestion in mesophilic and room temperature conditions: Digestion performance and soil-borne pathogen survival

Tomato plant waste（TPW） was used as the feedstock of a batch anaerobic reactor to evaluate the effect of anaerobic digestion on Ralstonia solanacearum and Phytophthora capsici survival. Batch experiments were carried out for TS（total solid） concentrations of 2%, 4% and 6% respectively, at mesophilic（37 ± 1°C） and room（20–25°C） temperatures. Results showed that higher digestion performance was achieved under mesophilic digestion temperature and lower TS concentration conditions. The biogas production ranged from 71 to 416 L/kg VS（volatile solids）. The inactivation of anaerobic digestion tended to increase as digestion performance improved. The maximum log copies reduction of R. solanacearum and P. capsici detected by quantitative PCR（polymerase chain reaction） were 3.80 and 4.08 respectively in reactors with 4% TS concentration at mesophilic temperatures. However, both in mesophilic and room temperature conditions, the lowest reduction of R. solanacearum was found in the reactors with 6% TS concentration, which possessed the highest VFA（volatile fatty acid） concentration. These findings indicated that simple accumulation of VFAs failed to restrain R. solanacearum effectively, although the VFAs were considered poisonous. P. capsici was nearly completely dead under all conditions. Based on the digestion performance and the pathogen survival rate, a model was established to evaluate the digestate biosafety.