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High-pressure processing (HPP) of donor human milk (DM) minimally impacts the concentration and bioactivity of some important bioactive proteins including lactoferrin, and bile salt-stimulated lipase (BSSL) compared to Holder pasteurization (HoP), yet the impact of HPP and subsequent digestion on the full array of proteins detectable by proteomics remains unclear. We investigated how HPP impacts undigested proteins in DM post-processing and across digestion by proteomic analysis. Each pool of milk (n = 3) remained raw, or was treated by HPP (500 MPa, 10 min) or HoP (62.5 °C, 30 min), and underwent dynamic in vitro digestion simulating the preterm infant. In the meal, major proteins were minimally changed post-processing. HPP-treated milk proteins better resisted proximal digestion (except for immunoglobulins, jejunum 180 min) and the extent of undigested proteins after gastric digestion of major proteins in HPP-treated milk was more similar to raw (e.g., BSSL, lactoferrin, macrophage-receptor-1, CD14, complement-c3/c4, xanthine dehydrogenase) than HoP.

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In this study, non-thermal plasma (NTP) was employed to modify the Cu/TiO2 adsorbent to efficiently purify H2S in low-temperature and micro-oxygen environments. The effects of Cu loading amounts and atmospheres of NTP treatment on the adsorption-oxidation performance of the adsorbents were investigated. The NTP modification successfully boosted the H2S removal capacity to varying degrees, and the optimized adsorbent treated by air plasma (Cu/TiO2-Air) attained the best H2S breakthrough capacity of 113.29 mg H2S/gadsorbent, which was almost 5 times higher than that of the adsorbent without NTP modification. Further studies demonstrated that the superior performance of Cu/TiO2-Air was attributed to increased mesoporous volume, more exposure of active sites (CuO) and functional groups (amino groups and hydroxyl groups), enhanced Ti-O-Cu interaction, and the favorable ratio of active oxygen species. Additionally, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicated the main reason for the deactivation was the consumption of the active components (CuO) and the agglomeration of reaction products (CuS and SO42-) occupying the active sites on the surface and the inner pores of the adsorbents.

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Sludge solubilization is known as a rate-limiting step of anaerobic digestion. Although radio frequency (RF) has been applied for sludge pretreatment due to its similar thermal effect as microwave, the potential non-thermal effects of RF treatment remain controversial. In this study, we demonstrate that RF pretreatment enhances the solubilization and lysis of sludge by 8.02%∼19.69% through both thermal and non-thermal mechanisms with less energy input. Scanning electron microscope images provide direct evidence that RF-induced microcurrents penetrated bacterial cells, leading to the release of intracellular substances through formed pores. Additionally, the non-thermal effect of RF treatment which could weaken the cell protection and accelerate the lysis rate involves the disruption of binding forces between extracellular polymeric substances and microbial cells. On average, the utilization of RF at a frequency of 27.12 MHz demonstrates its efficacy as a sludge pretreatment technique, as evidenced by a 13.39% reduction in energy consumption and a 16.9% improvement in treatment performance compared to CH. The findings of this study elucidate the possible mechanism of RF treatment of sludge and could establish a theoretical basis for the practical application of RF treatment in sludge management.

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BACKGROUND: Plasma is a collection of active particles generated by dissociating molecules and ionizing atoms through applying high energy to a gas, such as high-sound heating or electrical shock. Recently, many reports have been published on the effectiveness of non-thermal atmospheric pressure gas discharge plasma (NTAPP) on living organisms. Furthermore, we have reported on the promotion of bone and tendon repair by NTAPP irradiation. We hypothesized that irradiation of NTAPP would promote the repair of the tendon-bone junction in a rotator cuff repair. This study investigated the effect of NTAPP irradiation on the healing process of the tendon-bone junction. METHODS: Among 36 Japanese white rabbits, the infraspinatus tendon was detached from the humeral insertion site. A 3.2 mm bone tunnel was then created at the original insertion site of the infraspinatus muscle. The left shoulder was irradiated with NTAPP at a distance of 1 cm from the bone tunnel for 5 minutes (plasma-treated group), while the right shoulder was not irradiated (control group). The rabbits were sacrificed at 2, 4, and 8 weeks postoperatively, and six of each were used for histological evaluation. Mechanical tests were also performed on six specimens each at 4 and 8 weeks. RESULTS: Histological evaluation showed that at 4 weeks, the histological tendon to bone maturing score was 6.8±1.3 in the plasma-treated group and 4.8±1.6 in the control group (p<0.01); at 8 weeks it was 9.0±1.0 in the plasma-treated group and 5.2±1.1 in the control group (p<0.01). Fibrocartilage formation and new bone formation were observed at both 4 and 8 weeks. In the mechanical test, the plasma-treated group had 75.0 ± 18.9 N in ultimate load to failure at 8 weeks. In the control group, it was 51.1±7.9 N. (p=0.04) CONCLUSION: The repair of the rotator cuff at the tendon-bone junction was significantly improved at 4 and 8 weeks by irradiation with NTAPP.

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Non-thermal plasma (NTP) is an emerging technology with extensive applications in biomedicine, including treatment of abnormal pigmentation. However, very few studies have investigated how plasma induces anti-melanogenesis. Here, liquid plasma was prepared by treating an NTP jet with helium and oxygen (as carrier gases) for 15 min in serum-free culture media. In the zebrafish model, pigmentation ratio was observed with or without liquid plasma. The anti-melanogenic effect of liquid plasma was evaluated in human melanocytes by assessing the expression of melanogenesis-related genes using western blotting, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemistry. Liquid plasma reduced pigmentation in the zebrafish model and inhibited melanin synthesis in primary human melanocytes. Intracellular reactive oxygen species levels decreased and Nrf2 expression increased in liquid plasma-treated melanocytes. Liquid plasma affected microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase mRNA and protein levels, tyrosinase activity, and melanin content. Considering the role of Wnt/ß-catenin and PI3K/Akt pathways in melanogenesis, the effect of liquid plasma on this pathway was determined; liquid plasma decreased active ß-catenin, LEF1/TCF4, MITF, and tyrosinase levels in a time-dependent manner and inhibited the nuclear translocation of ß-catenin. This inhibition subsequently suppressed melanogenesis by downregulating MITF and tyrosinase. These results suggest that liquid plasma may be used for treating pigmentary disorders.

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LED technology has emerged as a promising non-thermal preservation method for highly perishable muscle foods like meat and fish. Muscle foods are most susceptible to spoilage due to their high moisture content and nutrient density, which create an ideal environment for microbial growth, chemical oxidation, and enzymatic activity, which negatively alter their quality. LED treatment offers an effective solution by significantly reducing microbial loads and extending shelf life without adversely affecting sensory and nutritional properties. Specific wavelengths of LED light induce microbial inactivation through mechanisms like DNA damage, lipid oxidation, and protein alteration. Studies have shown that LED treatment can preserve the fresh-like quality of muscle foods by mitigating common spoilage processes. The advantages of LED technology include its non-thermal nature, ability to integrate with other preservation methods, and controllability in terms of intensity and wavelength. This enables for tailored applications based on food type and spoilage risks. As consumer demand grows for safe, chemical-free food options, LED technology addresses this need while enhancing food safety and quality. Further research is encouraged to optimize LED applications in various muscle food preservation contexts. With its exceptional ability to produce DNA damage in bacteria, inactivate enzymes, and malfunction biological activities, LED could serve as an inexpensive processing intervention to safeguard the quality of meat and seafood products. This review underscores the potential of LED technology as a promising alternative to traditional preservation methods for decontamination of muscle food.

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Breast milk is the main source of nutrition during early life, but both infant formulas (Ifs; up to 12 months) and baby foods (BFs; up to 3 years) are also important for providing essential nutrients. The infant food industry rigorously controls for potential physical, biological, and chemical hazards. Although thermal treatments are commonly used to ensure food safety in IFs and BFs, they can negatively affect sensory qualities, reduce thermosensitive nutrients, and lead to chemical contaminant formation. To address these challenges, non-thermal processing technologies such as high-pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, radio frequency, and ultrasound offer efficient pathogen destruction similar to traditional thermal methods, while reducing the production of key process-induced toxicants such as furan and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF). These alternative thermal processes aim to overcome the drawbacks of traditional methods while retaining their advantages. This review paper highlights the growing global demand for healthy, sustainable foods, driving food manufacturers to adopt innovative and efficient processing techniques for both IFs and BFs. Based on various studies reviewed for this work, the application of these novel technologies appears to reduce thermal processing intensity, resulting in products with enhanced sensory properties, comparable shelf life, and improved visual appeal compared to conventionally processed products.

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Recently, as the concept of pet food that satisfies both nutritional needs and the five senses has evolved, so too has the demand for effective pet food non-thermal sterilization methods. Prominent non-thermal technologies include high-pressure processing, plasma, and radiation, which are favored for their ability to preserve nutrients, avoid residues, and minimize compositional changes, thereby maintaining quality and sensory properties. However, to assess their effectiveness on pet food, it is essential to optimize operational parameters such as pressure levels, plasma intensity, radiation dosage, and temperature. Further studies are needed to evaluate microbial sterilization efficacy and sensory attributes. This exploration is expected to lay the groundwork for preventing zoonotic diseases and improving the production of high-quality pet food.

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Low voltage electrostatic field (LVEF), a novel non-thermal processing technology, shows promise for food preservation. However, the absence of clear definition and quantification of the core concept "low voltage" obstructs the effective application of LVEF. This study assessed the efficiency of various LVEF intensities (100, 200, 300 V) on cherry tomato preservation, revealing significant differences in preservation efficiency. Compared to the control, samples treated with different intensities showed varied reductions in weight loss (6.26-25.45 %), firmness changes (5.17-28.91 %), and decay incidence (47.91-70.89 %). Quantitative analysis elucidated that the differential preservation efficiency may arise from a dose-response relationship between electric field strength and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content， identifying an optimal H2O2 content range of 21.18-27.01 mmol kg-1 for the effective preservation of cherry tomatoes under LVEF. These findings highlight the importance of precise LVEF intensity control for effective food preservation and offer insights for developing optimal LVEF treatment intensities for diverse produce.

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This study evaluated the impact of thermal, ultrasonication, and UV treatment on the structural and functional properties of whey proteins from donkey milk (DWP). Whey proteins exhibited notable stability in non-heat-treated environments, while their structural and functional characteristics were notably impacted by excessive heat treatment. The application of high-temperature long-time thermal treatment (HTLT) resulted in a decrease in fluorescence intensity, foaming and emulsification stability, and considerable damage to the active components of the proteins. Specifically, the preservation of lysozyme activity was only 23%, and lactoferrin and immunoglobulin G exhibited a significant loss of 70% and 77%, respectively. Non-thermal treatment methods showed superior efficacy in preserving the active components in whey proteins compared with heat treatment. Ultrasonic treatment has demonstrated a notable capability in diminishing protein particle size and turbidity, and UV treatment has been observed to have the ability to oxidize internal disulfide bonds within proteins, consequently augmenting the presence of free sulfhydryl groups, which were beneficial to foaming and emulsification stability. This study not only offers a scientific basis for the processing and application of DWP but also serves as a guide to produce dairy products, aiding in the development of dairy products tailored to specific health functions.

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Practical and energy-efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion to value-added and fuel-graded products and transitioning from fossil fuels are promising ways to cope with climate change and to enable the circular economy. The carbon circular economy aims to capture, utilize, and minimize CO2 emissions as much as possible. To cope with the thermodynamic stability and highly endothermic nature of CO2 conversion via conventional thermochemical process, the potential application of non-thermal plasma (NTP) with the catalyst, i.e., the hybrid plasma catalysis process to achieve the synergistic effects, in most cases, seems to promise alternatives under non-equilibrium conditions. This review focuses on the NTP fundamentals and comparison with conventional technologies. A critical review has been conducted on the CO2 reduction with water (H2O), methane (CH4) reduction with CO2 to syngas (CO + H2), CO2 dissociation to carbon monoxide (CO), CO2 hydrogenation, CO2 conversion to organic acids, and one-step CO2-CH4 reforming to the liquid chemicals. Finally, future challenges are discussed comprehensively, indicating that plasma catalysis has immense investigative areas.

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This comprehensive review critically examines the current state of research on the biological effects of millimeter-wave (MMW) therapy and its potential implications for disease treatment. By investigating both the thermal and non-thermal impacts of MMWs, we elucidate cellular-level alterations, including changes in ion channels and signaling pathways. Our analysis encompasses MMW's therapeutic prospects in oncology, such as inducing apoptosis, managing pain, and modulating immunity through cytokine regulation and immune cell activation. By employing a rigorous methodology involving an extensive database search and stringent inclusion criteria, we emphasize the need for standardized protocols to enhance the reliability of future research. Although MMWs exhibit promising therapeutic potential, our findings highlight the urgent need for further elucidation of non-thermal mechanisms and rigorous safety assessments, considering the intricate nature of MMW interactions and inconsistent study outcomes. This review underscores the importance of focused research on the biological mechanisms of MMWs and the identification of optimal frequencies to fully harness their therapeutic capabilities. However, we acknowledge the challenges of variable study quality and the necessity for advanced quality control measures to ensure the reproducibility and comparability of future investigations. In conclusion, while MMW therapy holds promise as a novel therapeutic modality, further research is imperative to unravel its complex biological effects, establish safety profiles, and optimize treatment protocols before widespread clinical application.

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Air pollution is a long-standing environmental challenge as well an important economic subject. Hydrogen sulfide is one the major pollutants in the industrial releases. This review focuses on the thermochemical treatment of hydrogen sulfide based on the most recent works to date regarding its removal. By analyzing fundamental steps in chemical reaction engineering, some useful factors are emphasized since they are often neglected in scientific studies, catalysts design and process scale-up. From processing side, the fluid flow conditions including velocity, H2S concentration, relative humidity, temperature and pressure strongly influence the kinetic behavior and so the catalytic performance of the H2S removal reactor. From material side, the catalyst properties including nature, porosity, pore types, size, sites distribution and layer structuration largely influence the removal performance via among others the accessibility to catalytic sites, pores connection and mass transfer resistance. Plasma-assisted catalytic removal of H2S combines many novelties in comparison with a classical thermo-catalytic process. From patents review, we can see that main concerns are about electrodes mounting, reactor lifetime and modular design to solve the problems in the industrial practice. We attempt to provide for scientists, engineers and industrialists a guidance on the design of catalysts and processes for H2S removal which could be applied in laboratorial studies and industrial processes as well.

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In this study, we investigate the influence of cold-plasma-induced enhanced performance and efficiency of SAPO-34 membranes in the separation of CO2 and CH4 mixtures. Placing the herein presented research in a broader context, we aim to address the question of whether cold plasma can significantly impact the membrane performance. We subjected SAPO-34 membranes to plasma mild disturbances and analyzed their performance in separating CO2 and CH4. Our findings reveal a notable enhancement in membrane efficiency and sustained performance when exposed to cold plasma. The pulsed plasma separation displayed improved structural integrity, and the experimental results indicated that the linear structure of CO2 facilitates the distortion of electron clouds in response to the electric field, a property known as polarizability, which aids in effective separation. Plausible mechanistic insight indicated that the intermolecular forces facilitated an integral role in SAPO-34 membranes exhibiting strong electrostatic interactions. In conclusion, our research highlights the potential of cold plasma as a promising technique for improving the performance of SAPO-34 membranes in gas mixtures at atmospheric pressures, providing valuable insights for optimizing membrane technology in carbon capture and gas separation applications.

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Contamination of the environment with toxic metals such as cadmium or lead is a worldwide issue. The accumulator of metals Cannabis sativa L. has potential to be utilized in phytoremediation, which is an environmentally friendly way of soil decontamination. Novel non-thermal plasma-based technologies may be a helpful tool in this process. Plasma activated water (PAW), prepared by contact of gaseous plasma with water, contains reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, which enhance the growth of plants. In this study, C. sativa was grown in a short-term toxicity test in a medium which consisted of plasma activated water prepared by dielectric barrier discharge with liquid electrode and different concentrations of cadmium or lead. Application of PAW on heavy metal contaminated C. sativa resulted in increased growth under Pb contamination as was determined by ecotoxicology tests. Furthermore, the PAW influence on the bioaccumulation of these metals as well as the influence on the nutrient composition of plants was studied primarily by applying Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The LIBS elemental maps show that C. sativa accumulates heavy metals mainly in the roots. The results present a new proof-of-concept in which PAW could be used to improve the growth of plants in heavy metal contaminated environment, while LIBS can be implemented to study the phytoremediation efficiency.

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Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has been employed as a therapy against both acute and chronic skin lesions, contaminated or not, and has effects on angiogenesis and reepithelialization promoting healing. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a CAP jet associated with pharmacological treatment described by the 2015 AAHA/AAFP pain management guidelines and the 2022 WSAVA guidelines for the recognition, assessment, and treatment of pain, on the healing of chronic skin lesions caused by a pruritic reaction resulting from post-surgical neuropathic pain. To this end, a single CAP application was performed on a feline patient with a 6 months old recurrent contaminated cervical skin lesions along with administration of ketamine (10 µg/kg/min) following the prescription of prednisone (1 mg/kg, SID, 6 days), gabapentin (8 mg/kg, BID, 60 days) and amitriptyline (0.5 mg /kg, SID, 60 days). A single application of plasma associated with an NMDA antagonist, anti-inflammatory steroid, tricyclic antidepressant and gabapentinoid thus provided a significant improvement in the macroscopic appearance of the lesion within 10 days, and the owner reported the cessation of intense itching within the first four hours after treatment and a consequent improvement in the animal's quality of life. The medical treatment was finished almost a year since the writing of this paper, without clinical or reported recurrent signs of the condition. Therefore, we observed that single dose CAP application associated with ketamine, gabapentin, amitriptyline and prednisone leads to significant healing of chronically infected skin lesions resulting from post-surgical neuropathic pain.

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The role of peroxiredoxin 1 (PRDX1), a crucial enzyme that reduces reactive oxygen and nitrogen species levels in HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, in the regulation of HCC cell stemness under oxidative stress and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the therapeutic potential of non-thermal plasma in targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) in HCC, focusing on the mechanisms of resistance to oxidative stress and the role of PRDX1. By simulating oxidative stress conditions using the plasma-activated medium, we found that a reduction in PRDX1 levels resulted in a considerable increase in HepG2 cell apoptosis, suggesting that PRDX1 plays a key role in oxidative stress defense mechanisms in CSCs. Furthermore, we found that HepG2 cells had higher spheroid formation capability and increased levels of stem cell markers (CD133, c-Myc, and OCT-4), indicating strong stemness. Interestingly, PRDX1 expression was notably higher in HepG2 cells than in other HCC cell types such as Hep3B and Huh7 cells, whereas the expression levels of other PRDX family proteins (PRDX 2-6) were relatively consistent. The inhibition of PRDX1 expression and peroxidase activity by conoidin A resulted in markedly reduced stemness traits and increased cell death rate. Furthermore, in a xenograft mouse model, PRDX1 downregulation considerably inhibited the formation of solid tumors after plasma-activated medium (PAM) treatment. These findings underscore the critical role of PRDX 1 in regulating stemness and apoptosis in HCC cells under oxidative stress, highlighting PRDX1 as a promising therapeutic target for NTP-based treatment in HCC.

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Reducing the initial bacteria number from meat and extending its shelf life are crucial factors for ensuring product safety and enhancing economic benefits for enterprises. Currently, controlling enzyme activity and the microbial survival environment is a common approach to reducing the rate of deterioration in raw meat materials, thereby achieving the goal of bacteria reduction during storage and preservation. This review summarizes the commonly used technologies for reducing bacteria in meat, including slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW), organic acids, ozone (O3), ultrasound, irradiation, ultraviolet (UV), cold plasma, high-pressure processing (HPP), and biological bacterial reduction agents. This review outlines the mechanisms and main features of these technologies for reducing bacteria in meat processing. Additionally, it discusses the status of these technologies in meat storage and preservation applications while analyzing associated problems and proposing solutions. The aim is to provide valuable references for research on meat preservation technology.

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The frozen fruit sector has experienced significant growth due to improved product quality as well as the advantage of long-term preservation. However, freezing alone does not eliminate foodborne viruses, a major public health concern and considerable economic burden. One promising disinfecting treatment is pulsed light, shown previously to inactivate hepatitis A virus (HAV) and murine norovirus-1 (MNV-1) on the surface of fresh berries. Viral loads were reduced by 1-2 log, with minor visual quality deterioration observed. In this study, an FDA-compliant pulsed light treatment (11.52 J/cm2) was applied to frozen fruits and berries. Infectious MNV-1 and HAV titers were reduced by 1-2 log on most frozen fruits. A noteworthy finding was that reductions of both viruses on cranberries exceeded 3.5 log cycles. Although pulsed light caused a measurable rise in temperature on the product surface, no visible physical changes (e.g., color) were observed, and the fruit pieces were still frozen after treatment. Although the reduction of infectious titer by pulsed light alone was not large (1-2 log), considering the low amount of virus typically found on fruit, it may be beneficial in the frozen fruit sector. It would be easy to combine with other treatments, and synergic interactions might increase virus inactivation.

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