Defining, collecting, and sharing perishable disaster data.

Researchers across disciplines have long sought to collect 'perishable data' in the context of disasters. Yet, this data type is neither consistently defined nor discussed in specific detail in the literature. To address this gap, this paper defines perishable data and provides guidance on ways to improve both how it is collected and shared. Here, perishable data is conceptualised as highly transient data that may degrade in quality, be irrevocably altered, or be permanently lost if not gathered soon after it is generated. Perishable data may include ephemeral information that must be collected to characterise pre-existing hazardous conditions, near-miss events, actual disasters, and longer-term recovery processes. This data may need to be gathered at multiple points in time across varying geographic scales to accurately characterise exposure, susceptibility to harm, or coping capacity. The paper considers ethical and logistical challenges and discusses opportunities to advance equitable perishable data collection and dissemination.

A View on the Chemical and Biological Attributes of Five Edible Fruits after Finishing Their Shelf Life: Studies on Caco-2 Cells.

We studied five common perishable fruits in terms of their polyphenols dynamic, minerals distribution, scavenger activity and the effects of 50% ethanolic extracts on the viability of Caco-2 cells in vitro, over a period of time between T = 0 and T = 5/7 days, typically the end of their shelf life. Altogether, there were few changes found, consisting of either an increase or a decrease in their chemical and biological attributes. A slow decrease was found in the antioxidant activity in apricot (-11%), plum (-6%) and strawberry (-4%) extracts, while cherry and green seedless table grape extracts gained 7% and 2% antioxidant potency, respectively; IC50 values ranged from 1.67 to 5.93 µg GAE/µL test extract. The cytotoxicity MTS assay at 24 h revealed the ability of all 50% ethanol fruit extracts to inhibit the Caco-2 cell viability; the inhibitory effects ranged from 49% to 83% and were measured at 28 µg GAE for strawberry extracts/EES, from 22 µg to 45 µg GAE for cherry extracts/EEC, from 7.58 to 15.16 µg GAE for apricot extracts/EEA, from 12.50 to 25.70 µg GAE for plum extracts/EEP and from 21.51 to 28.68 µg GAE for green table grape extracts/EEG. The MTS anti-proliferative assay (72 h) also revealed a stimulatory potency upon the Caco-2 viability, from 34% (EEA, EEG) and 48% (EEC) to 350% (EES) and 690% (EEP); therefore fruit juices can influence intestinal tumorigenesis in humans.

Biomass-derived nanoparticles reinforced chitosan films: as high barrier active packaging for extending the shelf life of highly perishable food.

This study emphasizes the potential of biomass-derived nanoparticles such as nanocellulose (NC), nanohemicellulose (NHC), and nanolignin (NL) as reinforcements in chitosan (C) films to produce a higher barrier active packaging film. The incorporation of NC, NHC, and NL (1.5%) significantly improves the mechanical, water, and UV barrier properties of the chitosan film (P < 0.0001). Additionally, NHC and NL reinforcement significantly enhance antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The physicochemical, sensory, and microbiological properties of fresh meat packed in chitosan films with 1.5% nanoparticles, as well as a commercial LDPE film, were assessed when stored at 4 °C for up to 18 days. C-NHC and C-NL packaging films preserved the quality of meat until the 18th day, whereas the meat packed in the LDPE film spoiled entirely on the sixth day. In conclusion, chitosan films with biomass-derived nanoparticles could be an excellent packaging material for highly perishable food, such as fresh meat, with an extended shelf life. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05896-9.

Research on Real-Time Robust Optimization of Perishable Supply-Chain Systems Based on Digital Twins.

Aiming at the real-time robust optimization problem of perishable supply-chain systems in complex environments, a real-time robust optimization scheme based on supply-chain digital twins is proposed. Firstly, based on the quantitative logical relationship between production and sales of single-chain series supply-chain system products, the state space equation of the supply-chain system with logical characteristics, structural characteristics, and quantitative characteristics was constructed, and twin data were introduced to construct the digital twins of supply chains based on the state-space equation. Secondly, the perishable supply-chain system in complex environments was regarded as an uncertain closed-loop system from the perspective of the state space equation, and then a robust H∞ controller design strategy was proposed, and the supply-chain digital twins was used to update and correct the relevant parameters of the supply-chain system in real-time, to implement the real-time robust optimization based on the supply-chain digital twins. Finally, the simulation experiment was carried out with a cake supply-chain production as an example. The experimental results show that the real-time updating of relevant parameters through the digital twins can help enterprise managers to formulate reasonable management plans, effectively avoid the shortage problem of enterprises in the cake supply-chain system, and reduce the maximum inventory movement standard deviation of each link by 12.65%, 6.50%, and 14.87%, and the maximum production movement standard deviation by 70.21%, 56.84%, and 45.19%.

Physicochemical properties and risk assessment of perishable waste primary products.

Fertilization has become one of the most important ways to recycle perishable waste. In order to reveal the effect of the nutrient of the perishable waste primary products on the market and the possible impact of their application, 136 perishable waste primary products were sampled in nine cities in Zhejiang province, China. The result shows that these products have high nutrient content (average nutrient content was 5.00%). However, the conductivity (7.19 mS/cm) total soluble salt content (12.07%), and grease content (5.99%) were too high. The excessive salt and grease may cause harm to soil and crops, and become the main limiting factors for the fertilizer utilization of perishable waste. Heavy metal content of most of the samples met current commercial organic fertilizer standards, except that lead and chromium content of some samples exceeded the limit standard. Toluene, ethylbenzene, m & p-xylene were generally detected in the samples. These toxic and harmful substances have brought risks to the safe use of perishable waste into fertilizers.

An optimization framework for COVID-19 vaccine allocation and inventory management: A case study.

As the novel coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc globally, governments have implemented massive vaccination programs to tackle it. However, since the pandemic's emergence moves beyond the second year, some issues have stymied vaccination programs, including vaccine hesitancy, vaccine distribution inequality, new strains of the virus, and a possibility that the virus enters a stage of a requirement for cyclical vaccination. These challenges highlight the need for an appropriate mass COVID-19 vaccination program. Therefore, we attempt to address this problem by developing a bi-objective integrated vaccine allocation and inventory management framework. The goal is to minimize the system costs while maximizing the vaccination service level. Several important factors, such as multiple types of vaccines, the vaccines' perishability concept, demand uncertainty, and motivational strategy, have been addressed using dynamic planning. Besides that, the model development mechanism is carried out to be compatible and applicable to the current general vaccination program policies, forcing few strategic changes. Then, a case study concerning the vaccination program of the city of Mashhad in Iran is applied to the model. The results demonstrated significant advantages in total cost, vaccine shortage, and wastage compared to the current policy. Finally, the Lagrangian relaxation method is implemented on the model to strengthen further its capacity to handle larger-scale problems.

Biodegradable active packaging: Components, preparation, and applications in the preservation of postharvest perishable fruits and vegetables.

The consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is restricted by the susceptibility of fresh produce to deterioration caused by postharvest physiological and metabolic activities. Developing efficient preservation strategies is thus among the most important scientific issues to be urgently addressed in the field of food science. The incorporation of active agents into a polymer matrix to prepare biodegradable active packaging is being increasingly explored to mitigate the postharvest spoilage of fruits and vegetables during storage. This paper reviews the composition of biodegradable polymers and the methods used to prepare biodegradable active packaging. In addition, the interactions between bioactive ingredients and biodegradable polymers that can lead to plasticizing or cross-linking effects are summarized. Furthermore, the applications of biodegradable active (i.e., antibacterial, antioxidant, ethylene removing, barrier, and modified atmosphere) packaging in the preservation of fruits and vegetables are illustrated. These films may increase sensory acceptability, improve quality, and prolong the shelf life of postharvest products. Finally, the challenges and trends of biodegradable active packaging in the preservation of fruits and vegetables are discussed. This review aims to provide new ideas and insights for developing novel biodegradable active packaging materials and their practical application in the preservation of postharvest fruits and vegetables.

Migration and transformation of main components during perishable waste bio-drying process.

Bio-drying can significantly reduce the moisture content of waste. The factors, functional microorganisms, and the transformation of main components were investigated during bio-drying of perishable waste. This study provides a scientific basis for the improvement of the bio-drying process and the necessity for secondary pollutant control. Reaction temperature and microbial biomass were main factors during the bio-drying process. The ideal bio-drying conditions included an initial temperature above 20 °C, intermittent ventilation, and appropriate microbial inoculation. The main microorganisms included Alcaligenes, Aquamicrobium, and Brevundimonas. From each gram of the carbonaceous, nitrogenous, sulfur-containing compounds, and phosphorus-containing substances in the perishable waste, approximately 0.74 g, 0.66 g, 0.40 g, and 0.94 g, respectively, were transferred as gas-phase products; consisting mainly of ammonia and volatile organic compounds: 2-heptanone, dimethyl heptanone, and benzene. In the leachate, the respective amounts of the carbonaceous, nitrogenous, sulfur-containing compounds, and phosphorus-containing substances were 3.20 × 10-3 g, 4.08 × 10-3 g, 0.33 g, and 9.52 × 10-3 g, while those of the residual substances remaining in solid were 0.26 g, 0.33 g, 0.28 g, and 0.05 g.

The aquaculture supply chain in the time of covid-19 pandemic: Vulnerability, resilience, solutions and priorities at the global scale.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has had severe, unpredictable and synchronous impacts on all levels of perishable food supply chains (PFSC), across multiple sectors and spatial scales. Aquaculture plays a vital and rapidly expanding role in food security, in some cases overtaking wild caught fisheries in the production of high-quality animal protein in this PFSC. We performed a rapid global assessment to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related emerging control measures on the aquaculture supply chain. Socio-economic effects of the pandemic were analysed by surveying the perceptions of stakeholders, who were asked to describe potential supply-side disruption, vulnerabilities and resilience patterns along the production pipeline with four main supply chain components: a) hatchery, b) production/processing, c) distribution/logistics and d) market. We also assessed different farming strategies, comparing land- vs. sea-based systems; extensive vs. intensive methods; and with and without integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, IMTA. In addition to evaluating levels and sources of economic distress, interviewees were asked to identify mitigation solutions adopted at local / internal (i.e., farm-site) scales, and to express their preference on national / external scale mitigation measures among a set of a priori options. Survey responses identified the potential causes of disruption, ripple effects, sources of food insecurity, and socio-economic conflicts. They also pointed to various levels of mitigation strategies. The collated evidence represents a first baseline useful to address future disaster-driven responses, to reinforce the resilience of the sector and to facilitate the design reconstruction plans and mitigation measures, such as financial aid strategies.

Interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy digraph-matrix approach with PERMAN algorithm for measuring COVID-19 impact on perishable food supply chain.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has prompted a substantial shrinkage in various businesses worldwide, the perishable food sector being one of the worst hits. Henceforth, this manuscript intends to analyse the impact of COVID-19 on perishable food supply chains (PFSCs) of developed and developing countries. For this, the study presents the analysis in two steps. In the first step, the study illuminates the particular factors that frame unique sorts of supply chain (SC) disturbances in PFSC. Secondly, the study proposes a unique interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy set (IVIFS)-based graph theory and matrix approach (GTMA) to analyse the COVID-19 impact index value. In addition to this, the PERMAN algorithm is used to calculate the permanent function. The study has revealed that developing nations should focus more on their technological and infrastructural factors to improve the condition of PFSC during the pandemic. This study's results can be deployed by decision-makers to forestall the operative and long-haul consequences of COVID-19, or any other disruptions to the PFSC, and make plans to overcome the impact. The significance of this manuscript is that the prominent factors degrading the performance of PFSC amidst the pandemic have been highlighted, with their respective impact on developed and developing nations compared. Moreover, a neoteric comprehensive integration of IVIFS-GTMA technique along with the PERMAN algorithm has been utilised in this manuscript. This particular study is inimitable as it supplements existing literature by providing analytical support to the relationship among various factors impacting the PFSC amidst the pandemic.

Food provision among food relief agencies in rural Australia, and perceived barriers and enablers to provide healthy food.

OBJECTIVE: Food insecurity affects 4-14% of Australians, and up to 82% of vulnerable groups. Food relief agencies commonly provide food parcels or food vouchers. Little research has been undertaken on food relief agencies within rural Australia. This study determined the type of food assistance provided by rural food relief agencies, and barriers and enablers to provide healthy food. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study, using telephone questionnaires with qualitative and quantitative aspects. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. SETTING: Rural New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Representatives of 10 food relief agencies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Types of food assistance and food provided, and the barriers and enablers to provide healthy food to clients. RESULT: Most agencies provided food hampers and perishable and non-perishable food. Rural food relief agencies had a greater capacity to provide non-perishable compared to perishable food. Grains, breads and cereals, and canned fruit and vegetables were most popular. Nine key themes emerged including 'Ability to purchase and provide healthy food', 'Ability to regulate food purchased or chosen by clients', 'Financial constraints of the agency' and 'Lack of storage'. CONCLUSION: There are many variables to consider in order to understand the capacity of rural food relief agencies to provide healthy food. There are also opportunities for food relief agencies to appraise current practices and make changes. Initiatives to improve storage facilities and food availability are key and include networking with local businesses, community organisations and government. Rural food relief agency clients could benefit from accessing food literacy and health programs like FoodREDi, OzHarvest NEST and SecondBite Fresh NED.

Utilizing Radiofrequency Identification Technology to Improve Safety and Management of Blood Bank Supply Chains.

INTRODUCTION: The importance of efficiency in the supply chain of perishable products, such as the blood products used in transfusion services, cannot be overstated. Many problems can occur, such as the outdating of products, inventory management issues, patient misidentification, and mistransfusion. The purpose of this article was to identify the benefits and barriers associated with radiofrequency identification (RFID) usage in improving the blood bank supply chain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The methodology for this study was a qualitative literature review following a systematic approach. The review was limited to sources published from 2000 to 2014 in the English language. Sixty-five sources were found, and 56 were used in this research study. RESULTS: According to the finding of the present study, there are numerous benefits and barriers to RFID utilization in blood bank supply chains. RFID technology offers several benefits with regard to blood bank product management, including decreased transfusion errors, reduction of product loss, and more efficient inventory management. Barriers to RFID implementation include the cost associated with system implementation and patient privacy issues. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of an RFID system can be a significant investment. However, when observing the positive impact that such systems may have on transfusion safety and inventory management, the cost associated with RFID systems can easily be justified. RFID in blood bank inventory management is vital to ensuring efficient product inventory management and positive patient outcomes.

Negative impacts of perishable waste biochar to Escherichia coli and exploring potential damage factors.

Agricultural application of pyrolysis­carbonized perishable wastes can target reduction treatment and resource utilization of the wastes. However, potential undesirable impact has rarely been assessed. In this study, the adverse effect of perishable waste biochars (PWB) from different pyrolysis temperatures on Escherichia coli (E. coli) was explored and the potential risk factors were further analyzed. The results showed that PWBs pyrolyzed at 350, 500, and 650 °C inhibited the growth of E. coli, and PWB pyrolyzed at 500 °C showed the most inhibition. The exposure to PWB damaged the antioxidative system, as revealed by the concentration-dependent increasing of intracellular ROS. In addition, the toxicity at the gene level in terms of cell division and growth inhibition, the damage of cell membrane, antioxidant system disturbance, and DNA damage occurred, resulting in loss of the cell rules of morphology and eventual death. According to our results, the inhibitory effect on the growth of E. coli was mainly caused by PWB solids, accounting for >70 %. The membrane disruption and oxidative damage of E. coli by PWB were possibly induced by the direct physical interaction between cell and char particles. The growth of E. coli can be partly influenced by PWB extraction solutions that varied between PWB types, due to the differences in pH, released DOC and the production of extracellular ∙OH. The exploration of these potential hazards could provide new insights into the fate and toxicity of PWB in the environment and help guide the safe and sustainable applications for PWB.

Green fabrication of modified lignin/zeolite/chitosan-based composite membranes for preservation of perishable foods.

Chitosan, as a kind of naturally occurring green and degradable material for the preservation of perishable foods, was investigated in this study with the objective of enhancing its preservation performances. Herein, lignin was modified using the solvent fractionation method (modified lignin, ML, including ML1-ML3), while natural clinoptilolite zeolite was modified using the alkali modification method (modified clinoptilolite zeolite, MCZ, including MCZ1-MCZ5). After optimizing the conditions, it was discovered that incorporating both ML3 and MCZ3 into pure chitosan-based membranes might be conducive to fabricate chitosan-based composite membranes for the preservation of perishable foods. As-prepared composite membranes possessed better visible light transmittance, antioxidant activity, and carbon dioxide/oxygen selectivity, resulting in improved preservation effects on the model perishable foods such as bananas, cherry tomatoes, and cheeses. These findings might indicate promising applications for chitosan-based composite membranes with modified lignin and zeolite in the field of eco-friendly degradable materials for the preservation of perishable foods.

Chitosan-gallic acid conjugate edible coating film for perishable fruits.

Approximately 30 % of global agricultural land is used to produce food that is ultimately lost or wasted, making it imperative to explore strategies for mitigating this waste. This study explored the potential of chitosan (CS) derivatives as edible coatings to extend food shelf life. Although soluble CS derivatives such as glycol CS are suitable coatings, their antimicrobial properties often diminish with increased solubility. To address this issue, gallic acid (GA), a polyphenol, was conjugated with CS using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) chemistry to create edible coating solutions. The resulting CS-GA films exhibited remarkable solubility, mechanical strength, UV-blocking properties, and superior antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Furthermore, these films exhibited a high affinity for hydrophobic fruit surfaces while also facilitating easy washing, making them an alternative for consumers who are averse to film-coated products. The CS-GA-coated fruits exhibited minimal surface spoilage, decreased mass loss, and increased firmness. Therefore, these CS-GA conjugate coatings hold significant potential as eco-friendly, edible, and washable food packaging coatings.

Development of ultra-thin poly(L-lactic acid)-based films integrating toughness, barrier properties, and gas selectivity: Towards gas-permeation controllable green food packaging.

High costs and low performance have constrained the application of bio-based materials in food packaging. Herein, a series of ultra-thin poly(L-lactic acid-iconic acid N-diol) (P(LA-NI)) copolymer films were developed using a "one-step" polycondensation process with integrated toughness, barrier properties, gas selectivity, and quality control features. The massive branched structure and gg conformers in P(LA-NI) act as "internal chain expansion" and "internal plasticization". Meanwhile, P(LA-NI) contains numerous polar groups and unique nanoscale microphase structures to realize excellent CO2, O2 barrier, CO2/O2 selectivity, anti-fogging, and UV shielding functions. The atmosphere within the package spontaneously achieves the desirable low O2 and high CO2 levels when packaging button mushrooms with high respiratory metabolism. Eventually, the shelf life of button mushrooms reached 24 days, >3-fold extended. This PLLA-based film meets "dual carbon" and "food safety" goals and has vast potential for fresh food preservation.

Application of ultrasound technology for the effective management of waste from fruit and vegetable.

Food waste presents a continuous challenge for the food industry, leading to environmental pollution and economic issues. A substantial amount of waste, including by-products from fruits and vegetables, non-edible food items, and other waste materials, is produced throughout the food supply chain, from production to consumption. Recycling and valorizing waste from perishable goods is emerging as a key multidisciplinary approach within the circular bio-economy framework. This waste, rich in raw by-products, can be repurposed as a natural source of ingredients. Researchers increasingly focus on biomass valorization to extract and use components that add significant value. Traditional methods for extracting these bio-compounds typically require the use of solvents and are time-consuming, underscoring the need for innovative techniques like ultrasound (US) extraction. Wastes from the processing of fruits and vegetables in the food industry can be used to develop functional foods and edible coatings, offering protection against various environmental factors. This comprehensive review paper discusses the valorization of waste from perishable items like fruits and vegetables using US technology, not only to extract valuable components from waste but also to treat wastewater in the beverage industry. It also covers the application of biomolecules recovered from this process in the development of functional foods and packaging.

Citrus oil gland and cuticular wax inspired multifunctional gelatin film of OSA-starch nanoparticles-based nanoemulsions for preserving perishable fruit.

Inspired by the citrus oil gland and cuticular wax, a multifunctional material that stably and continuously released the carvacrol and provided physical defenses was developed to address issues of fresh-cut fruits to microbial infestation and moisture loss. The results confirmed that low molecular weight and loose structure of starch nanoparticles prepared by the ultrasound-assisted Fenton system were preferable for octenyl succinic anhydride modification compared to native starch, achieving a higher degree of substitution (increased by 18.59 %), utilizing in preparing nanoemulsions (NEs) for encapsulating carvacrol (at 5 % level: 81.58 %). Furthermore, the NEs-based gelatin (G) film improved with surface hydrophobic modification by myristic acid (MA) successfully replicated the citrus oil gland and cuticular wax, providing superior antioxidant (enhanced by 3-4 times) and antimicrobial properties (95.99 % and 84.97 % against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli respectively), as well as the exceptional UV shielding (nearly 0 transmittance in the UV region), mechanical (72 % increase in tensile strength), and hydrophobic (WCA 133.63°). Moreover, the 5%NE-G@MA film inhibited foodborne microbial growth (reduced by 50 %) and water loss (controlled below 15 %), extending the shelf life of fresh-cut navel orange and kiwi. Thus, the multifunctional film was a potential shield for preserving perishable fresh-cut products.

Tracking perishable foods in the supply chain using chain of things technology.

Modern food supply chains are intrinsically sophisticated due to their multi-participant and multi-echelon structure, which are challenging to handle high turbulent business environment. The development of Perishable Food Supply Chains (PFSC) has to be strong enough to manage any type of disruptions in the food industry. At the same time, the food processing industry must also take responsibility for the social and environmental consequences of their deeds. This has further led to performance deterioration and intensified design complexity. Recently, digitalization and Blockchain technology (BCT) have brought unfathomed rebellions in PFSC. Despite the potential and market hype, the application of BCT to track the perishable products and status of in-transit shipments is still a challengingtask for the food industry due to privacy and security issues, restricted transactional and scalability performance, deficiency of industry standards and managerial abilities, etc. However, integrating the BCT with the eventual benefits of the Internet of Things (IoT) (i.e., Chain of Things (CoT)) increases the performance of good traceability in any supply chain. The proposed CoT-based Track and Trace system (CoT-TTS) employs a set of IoT devices, BCT, and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). The performance of CoT-TTS is evaluated through a case study using an EOSIO platform. The effectiveness of the proposed system is evaluated in terms of depth, breadth, access, and precision of the transactions.

Edible nano-encapsulated cinnamon essential oil hybrid wax coatings for enhancing apple safety against food borne pathogens.

Post-harvest losses of fruits due to decay and concerns regarding microbial food safety are significant within the produce processing industry. Additionally, maintaining the quality of exported commodities to distant countries continues to pose a challenge. To address these issues, the application of bioactive compounds, such as essential oils, has gained recognition as a means to extend shelf life by acting as antimicrobials. Herein, we have undertaken an innovative approach by nano-encapsulating cinnamon-bark essential oil using whey protein concentrate and imbibing nano-encapsulates into food-grade wax commonly applied on produce surfaces. We have comprehensively examined the physical, chemical, and antimicrobial properties of this hybrid wax to evaluate its efficacy in combatting the various foodborne pathogens that frequently trouble producers and handlers in the post-harvest processing industry. The coatings as applied demonstrated a static contact angle of 85 ± 1.6°, and advancing and receding contact angles of 90 ± 1.1° and 53.0 ± 1.6°, respectively, resembling the wetting properties of natural waxes on apples. Nanoencapsulation significantly delayed the release of essential oil, increasing the half-life by 61 h compared to its unencapsulated counterparts. This delay correlated with statistically significant reductions (p = 0.05) in bacterial populations providing both immediate and delayed (up to 72 h) antibacterial effects as well as expanded fungal growth inhibition zones compared to existing wax technologies, demonstrating promising applicability for high-quality fruit storage and export. The utilization of this advanced produce wax coating technology offers considerable potential for bolstering food safety and providing enhanced protection against bacteria and fungi for produce commodities.