Green extraction and purification of chondroitin sulfate from jumbo squid cartilage by a novel procedure combined with enzyme, ultrasound and hollow fiber dialysis.

Chondroitin sulfate (ChS) from marine sources is gaining attention. The purpose of this study was to extract ChS from jumbo squid cartilage (Dosidicus gigas) using ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction (UAEE). An ultrasound with protease assistance, including either alcalase, papain or Protin NY100 was used to extract ChS. The results showed that alcalase had the best extraction efficiency. The response surface methodology was employed to evaluate the relationship between extraction conditions and extraction yield of ChS. The ridge max analysis revealed a maximum extraction yield of 11.9 mg ml- 1 with an extraction temperature of 59.40 °C, an extraction time of 24.01 min, a pH of 8.25, and an alcalase concentration of 3.60%. Compared to ethanol precipitation, purification using a hollow fiber dialyzer (HFD) had a higher extraction yield of 62.72% and purity of 85.96%. The structure characteristics of ChS were identified using FTIR, 1 H-NMR, and 13 C-NMR to confirm that the purified ChS structure was present in the form of chondroitin-4-sulfate and chondroitin-6-sulfate. The results of this study provide a green and efficient process for extraction and purification of ChS and are essential for the use of ChS for the development and production of nutrient food products or pharmaceuticals. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05701-7.

Inactivating Salmonella Enteritidis on shell eggs by using ozone microbubble water.

The major pathogen associated with eggs is Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) and chlorine washing is the most widely used for sanitization. Microbubble, a novel technique and able to operate in large quantity, has been presented to be an alternative method. Thus, microbubble water combining with ozone (OMB) was applied to disinfect S. Enteritidis spiked on shells at 107 cells per egg. OMB was generated by injecting ozone into a Nikuni microbubble system, then delivered into 10 L of water. After 5, 10, or 20 min of activation time, the eggs were placed into OMB and washed for 30 or 60 s. The controls involved unwashed, water washing, ozone only, and microbubble only (MB). The highest reduction, 5.19 log CFU/egg, was achieved by the combination of 20-min activation and 60-s washing, which was used for following tests of large water quantities. Comparing with the unwashed control, 4.32, 3.73 and 3.07 log CFU/egg reductions were achieved in 25, 80, and 100 L of water, respectively. The other system, Calpeda, with higher motor power was tested in 100 L and obtained a reduction of 4.15 log CFU/egg. The average diameter of bubbles generated by Nikuni and Calpeda pump systems were 29.05 and 36.50 µm, respectively, which both were within the microbubble definition of ISO. Much lower reductions, around 1-2 log10 CFU/egg, were shown with the treatments of ozone only and MB by the same operative parameters. After 15-day storage at ambient temperature, the OMB-treated eggs showed similar sensory quality with the unwashed ones. This is the first study demonstrating that OMB effectively inactivates S. Enteritidis on shell eggs in large quantity of water and does not diminished the sensory characteristics of eggs. Furthermore, bacterial population was under the detection limit in the OMB-treated water.

Development of novel green methods for preparation of lead-free preserved pidan (duck egg).

Pidan, a pickled duck egg, is a traditional Chinese cuisine and generally produced by soaking in metal ion containing strong alkaline solution such as NaOH solution. However, nowadays consumers possess negative perception for using strong alkali in food processing. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to determine the potential of incinerated eggshell powder and alkaline electrolyzed oxidized (EO) water for pidan production rather than harmful NaOH use. This study aims to obtain the optimal physicochemical and sensory qualities of pidan. Various dosing (1-5%) of the incinerated eggshell powder solution or alkaline EO water was used as a basic pickling solution. Duck eggs were pickled at 25-27 °C for 15-30 days with 3 days of an observation interval. Actual commercial process commonly undergoes for 14 days of ripening, after 25 days of picking process with incinerated eggshell powder or EO water. Results showed that physicochemical and sensory attributes of pidan obtained by incinerated eggshell powder solution and alkaline EO water were not significantly different (P < 0.05) from the commercial product. This study reports a cost-effective and green alternative method for pidan processing by replacing costly NaOH without compromising their physico-chemical and sensory attributes.

Development and shelf life stability of new products for Pacific saury (Cololabis saira).

Pacific saury is a primarily wild-caught fish in Taiwan and contains high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Therefore, its consumption is encouraged by Taiwanese government due to its high nutrition values and affordable price. In this study, four products, Minced saury with pork, Minced saury with XO sauce, Crispy dried saury, and Saury roll with roe, were developed. Optimization of the processing and ingredients were determined by a group of expert panelists, then by a large group of regular consumers. Total bacterial count, coliform, Escherichia coli, volatile base nitrogen, water content, and water activity were analyzed for shelf-life stability. In addition, the indexes of oil oxidation such as acid values, peroxide, and thiobarbituric acid were determined for the oil quality of products. Compositions of fatty acids and fragrant compounds were also analyzed. All microbial, physicochemical, and oil oxidation indexes of the products complied with the official regulations and industrial standards of Taiwan. Composition of fragrant compounds closely related with sensory characteristics and PUFAs composition were not degraded by the processing and storage. A new brand name, Hsiung-Chou, and the logo were established and the products were contracted to manufacturers for commercial production. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05432-1.

Chemical decontamination of foods using non-thermal plasma-activated water.

The presence of chemical contaminants in foods and agricultural products is one of the major safety issues worldwide, posing a serious concern to human health. Nonthermal plasma (NTP) containing richly reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) has been trialed as a potential decontamination method. Yet, this technology comes with multiple downsides, including adverse effects on the quality of treated foods and limited exposure to entire surfaces on samples with hard-to-reach spots, further hindering real-life applications. Therefore, plasma-activated water (PAW) has been recently developed to facilitate the interactions between RONS and contaminant molecules in the liquid phase, allowing a whole surface treatment with efficient chemical degradation. Here, we review the recent advances in PAW utilized as a chemical decontamination agent in foods. The reaction mechanisms and the main RONS contributors involved in the PAW-assisted removal of chemical contaminants are briefly outlined. Also, the comprehensive effects of these treatments on food qualities (chemical and physical characteristics) and toxicological evaluation of PAW (in vitro and in vivo) are thoroughly discussed. Ultimately, we identified some current challenges and provided relevant suggestions, which can further promote PAW research for real-life applications in the future.

Mapping of Research in the Field of Forest Therapy-Related Issues: A Bibliometric Analysis for 2007-2021.

Exposure to forest environments promotes human health. The number of relevant studies in this area has increased rapidly. However, an overall review of relevant analyses from the perspectives of bibliometrics and visualization is lacking. A scientometric analysis of 2,545 publications from 2007 to 2021 via the Web of Science database was conducted to identify the knowledge structure and frontiers objectively. The publications were subsequently analyzed in terms of the distribution of journals and countries, citation bursts, major subject areas, and evolutionary stages. The findings showed that the knowledge foundation of forest therapy was multidisciplinary with most published in the fields of environmental sciences and ecology but lacking input from social disciplines. The research hotspots evolved from the early focus on individual benefits obtained from nature to increasing attention on human well-being at the social-ecological scale. More rigorous experiments with strict randomized controlled trials and blinding are needed to accommodate the trend of forest therapy toward non-pharmacological treatments. According to Shneider's four-stage theory, forest therapy research is in the third stage of the scientific research process. More future studies utilizing novel technologies and decision-making frameworks to solve practical issues are needed for introducing health into policies and promoting human well-being.

High-Entropy Borides under Extreme Environment of Pressures and Temperatures.

The high-entropy transition metal borides containing a random distribution of five or more constituent metallic elements offer novel opportunities in designing materials that show crystalline phase stability, high strength, and thermal oxidation resistance under extreme conditions. We present a comprehensive theoretical and experimental investigation of prototypical high-entropy boride (HEB) materials such as (Hf, Mo, Nb, Ta, Ti)B2 and (Hf, Mo, Nb, Ta, Zr)B2 under extreme environments of pressures and temperatures. The theoretical tools include modeling elastic properties by special quasi-random structures that predict a bulk modulus of 288 GPa and a shear modulus of 215 GPa at ambient conditions. HEB samples were synthesized under high pressures and high temperatures and studied to 9.5 GPa and 2273 K in a large-volume pressure cell. The thermal equation of state measurement yielded a bulk modulus of 276 GPa, in excellent agreement with theory. The measured compressive yield strength by radial X-ray diffraction technique in a diamond anvil cell was 28 GPa at a pressure of 65 GPa, which is a significant fraction of the shear modulus at high pressures. The high compressive strength and phase stability of this material under high pressures and high temperatures make it an ideal candidate for application as a structural material in nuclear and aerospace fields.

Reduction of pesticide residues in Chrysanthemum morifolium by nonthermal plasma-activated water and impact on its quality.

This study investigated the efficiency of plasma-activated water (PAW) on the reduction of pesticides, namely, metribuzin and metobromuron, and the effect of PAW treatment on the quality of fresh chrysanthemums. The reduction efficiencies reached 74.3% for metribuzin and 38.2% for metobromuron after 240 s of PAW treatment. Compared with reverse osmosis (RO) water, PAW achieved significantly higher pesticide reductions because of its higher acidity, enhanced oxidizing ability, and increased formation of reactive species. Moreover, when compared with metobromuron, metribuzin was reduced more efficiently irrespective of the RO water or PAW treatments because of its higher water solubility, lower log octanol-water partition coefficient, and more oxidizable chemical structure. Additionally, the PAW treatment did not cause adverse changes to the chrysanthemums' color, total flavonoid content, radical scavenging, or metal chelating activities, but it did cause a slight decrease in the chrysanthemums' aroma compounds and total reducing power. This study successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of PAW for reducing pesticides in herbal flowers like chrysanthemums and reveals PAW's promising potential to treat foods with non-smooth surfaces.

Experimental and Computational Studies of Compression and Deformation Behavior of Hafnium Diboride to 208 GPa.

The compression behavior of the hexagonal AlB2 phase of Hafnium Diboride (HfB2) was studied in a diamond anvil cell to a pressure of 208 GPa by axial X-ray diffraction employing platinum as an internal pressure standard. The deformation behavior of HfB2 was studied by radial X-ray diffraction technique to 50 GPa, which allows for measurement of maximum differential stress or compressive yield strength at high pressures. The hydrostatic compression curve deduced from radial X-ray diffraction measurements yielded an ambient-pressure volume V0 = 29.73 Å3/atom and a bulk modulus K0 = 282 GPa. Density functional theory calculations showed ambient-pressure volume V0 = 29.84 Å3/atom and bulk modulus K0 = 262 GPa, which are in good agreement with the hydrostatic experimental values. The measured compressive yield strength approaches 3% of the shear modulus at a pressure of 50 GPa. The theoretical strain-stress calculation shows a maximum shear stress τmax~39 GPa along the (1-10) [110] direction of the hexagonal lattice of HfB2, which thereby can be an incompressible high strength material for extreme-environment applications.

First-principles study of strain effect on the thermoelectric properties of LaP and LaAs.

Rare-earth monopnictides have attracted much attention due to their unusual electronic and topological properties for potential device applications. Here, we study rock-salt structured lanthanum monopnictides LaX (X = P, As) by density functional theory (DFT) simulations. We show systematically that a meta-GGA functional combined with scissor correction can efficiently and accurately compute the electronic structures on a fine DFT k-grid, which is necessary for converging thermoelectric calculations. We also show that strain engineering can effectively improve the thermoelectric performance. Under the optimal conditions of 2% isotropic tensile strain and carrier concentration n = 3 × 1020 cm-3, LaP at a temperature of 1200 K can achieve a figure of merit ZT value >2, which is enhanced by 90% compared to the unstrained value. With carrier doping and strain engineering, lanthanum monopnictides thereby could be promising high-temperature thermoelectric materials.

The application of a novel non-thermal plasma device with double rotary plasma jets for inactivation of Salmonella Enteritidis on shell eggs and its effects on sensory properties.

Consumer awareness and distaste towards both bacterial and chemical contaminations on food items have been increasing in recent years. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) is a cutting-edge technology which has been shown to effectively inactivate bacteria on the treated foods. Although the general NTP with a single plasma jet is appropriate for the continuous operation process, it suffers limitations due to its smaller scanning area. Here, a novel NTP device with a double rotary nozzle jet system was utilized, which could treat an area instead of a point. The shell eggs inoculated with Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis (SE) were placed on a moving platform under the double rotary nozzle jet system. The efficacy of the NTP treatment on microbial decontamination was evaluated by testing a total of 26 combinations of operating parameters consisting of various plasma power (150, 180, 210 W), argon flow rate (10, 15, 20 slm), repetition of the moving platform (4, 6, 8 times), and speed of the moving platform (5, 10 mm/s). Although significantly higher SE reduction (p < 0.05) was achieved with higher power, more repetitions, larger argon flow rates, and lower speed of the platform, these parameters induced significant alterations in the sensory properties of the treated eggs. By comprehensively considering the bacterial reductions, egg quality, and sensory properties, NTP treatment with combination T (180 W-15 slm-6 times-10 mm/s) was determined to be the optimal parameter, which achieved >4 log CFU/egg of SE reduction and significantly better sensory properties than commercially washed eggs (p < 0.05). Additionally, SEM analysis revealed that NTP treatment with combination T resulted in less damage to egg cuticles compared to commercially washed eggs. This novel NTP device offers an efficient antibacterial activity under shorter exposure time (30 s), smaller argon flow rate (15 slm), and lower power (180 W) without adversely affecting the overall quality of the treated eggs. Therefore, this NTP device equipped with the double rotary jet system possesses a potential solution for future industrial applications.

Nonthermal plasma-activated water: A comprehensive review of this new tool for enhanced food safety and quality.

Nonthermal plasma (NTP) is an advanced technology that has gained extensive attention because of its capacity for decontaminating food from both biological and chemical sources. Plasma-activated water (PAW), a product of NTP's reaction with water containing a rich diversity of highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), is now being considered as the primary reactive chemical component in food decontamination. Despite exciting developments in this field recently, at present there is no comprehensive review specifically focusing on the comprehensive effects of PAW on food safety and quality. Although PAW applications in biological decontamination have been extensively evaluated, a complete analysis of the most recent developments in PAW technology (e.g., PAW combined with other treatments, and PAW applications in chemical degradation and as curing agents) is nevertheless lacking. Therefore, this review focuses on PAW applications for enhanced food safety (both biological and chemical safeties) according to the latest studies. Further, the subsequent effects on food quality (chemical, physical, and sensory properties) are discussed in detail. In addition, several recent trends of PAW developments, such as curing agents, thawing media, preservation of aquatic products, and the synergistic effects of PAW in combination with other traditional treatments, are also presented. Finally, this review outlines several limitations presented by PAW treatment, suggesting several future research directions and challenges that may hinder the translation of these technologies into real-life applications.

The Antibacterial Efficacy and Mechanism of Plasma-Activated Water Against Salmonella Enteritidis (ATCC 13076) on Shell Eggs.

Eggs are one of the most commonly consumed food items. Currently, chlorine washing is the most common method used to sanitize shell eggs. However, chlorine could react with organic matters to form a potential carcinogen, trihalomethanes, which can have a negative impact on human health. Plasma-activated water (PAW) has been demonstrated to inactivate microorganisms effectively without compromising the sensory qualities of shell eggs. For this study, various amounts (250, 500, 750, or 1000 mL) of PAW were generated by using one or two plasma jet(s) at 60 watts for 20 min with an air flow rate at 6 or 10 standard liters per minute (slm). After being inoculated with 7.0 log CFU Salmonella Enteritidis, one shell egg was placed into PAW for 30, 60, or 90 s with 1 or 2 acting plasma jet(s). When 2 plasma jets were used in a large amount of water (1000 mL), populations of S. Enteritidis were reduced from 7.92 log CFU/egg to 2.84 CFU/egg after 60 s of treatment. In addition, concentrations of ozone, hydrogen peroxide, nitrate, and nitrite in the PAW were correlated with the levels of antibacterial efficacy. The highest concentrations of ozone (1.22 ppm) and nitrate (55.5 ppm) were obtained with a larger water amount and lower air flow rate. High oxidation reduction potential (ORP) and low pH values were obtained with longer activation time, more plasma jet, and a lower air flow rate. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analyses demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) were generated in the PAW. The observation under the scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that bacterial cells were swollen, or even erupted after treatment with PAW. These results indicate that the bacterial cells lost control of cell permeability after the PAW treatment. This study shows that PAW is effective against S. Enteritidis on shell eggs in a large amount of water. Ozone, nitrate, and ROS could be the main causes for the inactivation of bacterial cells.

Electronic structure and anisotropic compression of Os2B3 to 358 GPa.

High pressure study on ultra-hard transition-metal boride Os2B3 was carried out in a diamond anvil cell under isothermal and non-hydrostatic compression with platinum as an x-ray pressure standard. The ambient-pressure hexagonal phase of Os2B3 is found to be stable with a volume compression V/V 0 = 0.670 ± 0.009 at the maximum pressure of 358 ± 7 GPa. Anisotropic compression behavior is observed in Os2B3 to the highest pressure, with the c-axis being the least compressible. The measured equation of state using the 3rd-order Birch-Murnaghan fit reveals a bulk modulus K 0 = 397 GPa and its first pressure derivative [Formula: see text] = 4.0. The experimental lattice parameters and bulk modulus at ambient conditions also agree well with our density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations within an error margin of ∼1%. DFT results indicate that Os2B3 becomes more ductile under compression, with a strong anisotropy in the axial bulk modulus persisting to the highest pressure. DFT further enables the studies of charge distribution and electronic structure at high pressure. The pressure-enhanced electron density and repulsion along the Os and B bonds result in a high incompressibility along the crystal c-axis. Our work helps to elucidate the fundamental properties of Os2B3 under ultrahigh pressure for potential applications in extreme environments.

Experimental and Computational Studies on Superhard Material Rhenium Diboride under Ultrahigh Pressures.

An emerging class of superhard materials for extreme environment applications are compounds formed by heavy transition metals with light elements. In this work, ultrahigh pressure experiments on transition metal rhenium diboride (ReB2) were carried out in a diamond anvil cell under isothermal and non-hydrostatic compression. Two independent high-pressure experiments were carried out on ReB2 for the first time up to a pressure of 241 GPa (volume compression V/V0 = 0.731 ± 0.004), with platinum as an internal pressure standard in X-ray diffraction studies. The hexagonal phase of ReB2 was stable under highest pressure, and the anisotropy between the a-axis and c-axis compression increases with pressure to 241 GPa. The measured equation of state (EOS) above the yield stress of ReB2 is well represented by the bulk modulus K0 = 364 GPa and its first pressure derivative K0´ = 3.53. Corresponding density-functional-theory (DFT) simulations of the EOS and elastic constants agreed well with the experimental data. DFT results indicated that ReB2 becomes more ductile with enhanced tendency towards metallic bonding under compression. The DFT results also showed strong crystal anisotropy up to the maximum pressure under study. The pressure-enhanced electron density distribution along the Re and B bond direction renders the material highly incompressible along the c-axis. Our study helps to establish the fundamental basis for anisotropic compression of ReB2 under ultrahigh pressures.

The Optimization of Plasma-Activated Water Treatments to Inactivate Salmonella Enteritidis (ATCC 13076) on Shell Eggs.

Egg is a regularly consumed food item. Currently, chlorinated water washing is the most common practice used to disinfect eggs, but this process has a negative environmental impact. A new physical technique, plasma-activated water (PAW), has been demonstrated to possess effective antibacterial activities without long-term chemical residue. In this study, air PAW was used to inactivate Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis on shell eggs. Different combinations of activation parameters, including water sources (reverse osmotic (RO) water, tap water), power (40 W, 50 W, 60 W) and activation time (10 min, 20 min, 30 min), were evaluated. The oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and pH values of each combination were measured, and their antibacterial activity was tested in a bacterial suspension. Higher antibacterial activities, higher ORP values, and lower pH values were obtained with higher power, longer activation time, and lower water hardness. The antibacterial activities of PAW decreased rapidly by increasing the storage time both at room and refrigeration temperatures. Afterwards, RO water was pre-activated for 20 min at 60 W, and then the eggs inoculated with S. enteritidis were placed into PAW for 30 s, 60 s, 90 s, or 120 s with a plasma on-site treatment in the water. More than a 4 log reduction was obtained with 60-s and 120-s treatments. The results showed that the freshness indexes of the eggs treated with PAW were similar to those of the untreated controls and better than those of the eggs treated with commercial processes. In addition, observation under a scanning electron microscope also showed less surface damage of the cuticle on the PAW-treated eggs than on the commercially treated eggs. The results of this study indicate that PAW could be an effective antibacterial agent with less damage to the freshness of shell eggs than commercial methods.

Using Dicyclopentadiene-Derived Polyarylates as Epoxy Curing Agents To Achieve High T g and Low Dielectric Epoxy Thermosets.

To achieve high-T g and low-dielectric epoxy thermosets, four dicyclopentadiene-derived polyarylates (26-P, 26-M, 236-P, and 236-M) were prepared from 2,6-dimethyl (or 2,3,6-trimethyl) phenol-dicyclopentadiene adduct with terephthaloyl (or isophthaloyl) chloride by high-temperature solution polymerization. The resulting polyarylates, exhibiting active ester linkages (Ph-O-(C=O)-) are found to be reactive toward a commercial dicyclopentadiene phenol epoxy (HP7200) in the presence of some lone-pair electron-containing compounds. Five compounds including 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), imidazole, 2-methylimidazole, triphenylphosphine, and triphenylimidazole have been evaluated as a catalyst for the curing reactions. We found that DMAP, with the smallest pK b among them, is the best catalyst according to differential scanning calorimetry, infrared, and thermal analyses. The thermal and dielectric properties of the polyarylate/HP7200 thermosets are evaluated. We found that they exhibit a high T g characteristic (e.g., T g is 238 °C for DMAP-catalyzed, 236-P/HP7200 thermoset). Furthermore, because of the hydrophobic methyl and cycloaliphatic moieties, and the secondary hydroxyl-free structure, polyarylate/HP7200 thermosets show a relative low-dielectric constant of around 2.75 U. The detailed structure-properties relationship is discussed in this work.

The effect of vacuum packaging on histamine changes of milkfish sticks at various storage temperatures.

The effects of polyethylene packaging (PEP) (in air) and vacuum packaging (VP) on the histamine related quality of milkfish sticks stored at different temperatures (-20°C, 4°C, 15°C, and 25°C) were studied. The results showed that the aerobic plate count (APC), pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN), and histamine contents increased as storage time increased when the PEP and VP samples were stored at 25°C. At below 15°C, the APC, TVBN, pH, and histamine levels in PEP and VP samples were retarded, but the VP samples had considerably lower levels of APC, TVBN, and histamine than PEP samples. Once the frozen fish samples stored at -20°C for 2 months were thawed and stored at 25°C, VP retarded the increase of histamine in milkfish sticks as compared to PEP. In summary, this result suggested the milkfish sticks packed with VP and stored below 4°C could prevent deterioration of product quality and extend shelf-life.

Evaluation of the prebiotic effects of citrus pectin hydrolysate.

Citrus pectin enzyme hydrolysate (PEH) of different hydrolysis time intervals (6 hours, PEH-6; 12 hours, PEH-12; 24 hours, PEH-24; or 48 hours, PEH-48) or concentrations (1%, 2%, and 4%) was tested for its growth stimulation effect on two probiotics, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Higher monosaccharide concentrations and smaller molecular weights of PEHs were obtained by prolonging the hydrolysis time. In addition, higher PEH concentrations resulted in significantly higher (p < 0.05) probiotic populations, pH reduction, and increase in total titratable acidity than the glucose-free MRS negative control. Furthermore, significantly higher populations in the low pH environment and longer survival time in nonfat milk (p < 0.05) were observed when the two probiotics were incubated in media supplemented with 2% PEH-24, than in glucose and the negative control. In comparison with other prebiotics, addition of 2% PEH-24 resulted in a more significant increase in the probiotic population (p < 0.05) than in the commercial prebiotics. This study demonstrated that PEH derived from citrus pectin could be an effective prebiotic to enhance the growth, fermentation, acid tolerance, and survival in nonfat milk for the tested probiotics.

Effects of Short Forest Bathing Program on Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Mood States in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals.

The present study investigated changes in autonomic nervous system activity and emotions after a short (2 h) forest bathing program in the Xitou Nature Education Area (XNEA), Taiwan. One hundred and twenty-eight (60.0 ± 7.44 years) middle-aged and elderly participants were recruited. Physiological responses, pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate variability (HRV), and psychological indices were measured before and after the program. We observed that pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower after the program, which indicated physiological benefits from stress recovery. The Profile of Mood States negative mood subscale scores of "tension-anxiety", "anger-hostility", "fatigue-inertia", "depression-dejection", and "confusion-bewilderment" were significantly lower, whereas the positive mood subscale score of "vigor-activity" was higher. Furthermore, participants exhibited significantly lower anxiety levels according to the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. However, changes in sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activity were nonsignificant. Our study determined that the short forest bathing program is a promising therapeutic method for enhancing heart rate and blood pressure functions as well as an effective psychological relaxation strategy for middle-aged and elderly individuals.