Versatile PVA/SG (polyvinyl alcohol/sodium glycinate) hydrogel sensors have been successfully developed using SG and PVA as cost-efficient and biocompatible starting materials. The mechanical properties significantly increase with increasing F–T (freezing–thawing) times and SG content in the PVA/SG hydrogel. The strengthened mechanical properties mainly result from the abundant hydrogen bond interactions of PVA with SG and the enhanced hydrogen bond crosslinking density endowed by F–T cycles and increased SG content. Moreover, the PVA/SG hydrogel shows excellent electrical conductivity (4.85 S m⁻¹), realizing the excellent combination of high mechanical properties and electrical conductivity. Interestingly, as well as wonderful cytocompatibility, the hydrogel displays excellent swelling resistance and water tolerance, and the mechanical properties remain almost unchanged after immersion in water for 6 months. Most importantly, the hydrogel has high strain sensitivity with a gauge factor of 1.76, stable signal repetition monitoring, very good elasticity, fatigue resistance and recovery, and thus can be assembled into flexible sensors to monitor bending changes in human Knuckles, wrists and knees, and also be used to simulate manual control of a mobile phone screen for writing text. This study provides valuable information for the design and construction of wearable hydrogel sensors with high performance for practical applications.

The aim of this study was to devise a method to protect Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) from bacterial-disease-induced damage during storage. Thus, the potential of rhapontigenin as a quorum sensing (QS) inhibitor against Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (P. carotovorum) was evaluated. The QS inhibitory effects of rhapontigenin were confirmed by significant inhibition of the production of violacein in Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 (C. violaceum, CV026). The inhibitory effects of rhapontigenin on the motility, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, biofilm formation and virulence–exoenzyme synthesis of P. carotovorum were investigated. Acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) were quantified using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). The inhibitory effects of rhapontigenin on the development of biofilms were observed using fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A direct-inoculation assay was performed to investigate the QS inhibitory effects of rhapontigenin on P. carotovorum in Chinese cabbage and lettuce. Our results demonstrated that rhapontigenin exhibited significant inhibition (p < 0.05) of the motility, EPS production, biofilm formation, virulence–exoenzyme synthesis and AHL production of P. carotovorum. Additionally, the result of the direct-inoculation assay revealed that rhapontigenin might provide vegetables with significant shelf-life extension and prevent quality loss by controlling the spread of soft-rot symptoms. Consequently, the study provided a significant insight into the potential of rhapontigenin as a QS inhibitor against P. carotovorum.

Having a comprehensive knowledge of phase equilibrium is advantageous for industrial simulation and design of chemical processes. For further acquisition of primary data to facilitate the separation and purification of waste oil biodiesel systems, a liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) tank is deployed for the ternary system of waste oil biodiesel + methanol + glycerin, thereby enhancing the precision and efficiency of the process. The phase equilibrium system was constructed under the influence of atmospheric pressure at precise temperatures of 303.15 K, 313.15 K, and 323.15 K. The equilibrium components of each substance were analyzed by employing high-temperature gas chromatography, a sophisticated analytical method that enables the identification and quantification of individual components of a sample. Moreover, the ternary liquid–liquid equilibrium data were correlated by implementing the NRTL and UNIQUAC activity coefficient models. Subsequently, the binary interaction parameters of the ternary system were derived by conducting regression analysis. The experimental data demonstrated that the presence of lower methanol content in the system resulted in nearly immiscible biodiesel and glycerol phases, which ultimately facilitated the separation of biodiesel and glycerol. Conversely, with the increase in methanol content, the mutual solubility of biodiesel and glycerol was observed to increase gradually. The results showed that the calculated values of the NRTL and UNIQUAC models aligned well with the experimental values. The root-mean-square deviations of the NRTL and UNIQUAC models at 313.15 K were 2.76% and 3.56%, respectively.

An excellent hydrogel sensor with synergistic anti-damage, anti-freezing, and anti-drying properties, cancer-killing ability and biocompatibility has been successfully constructed via a superhydrogen-bond network strategy.

Over the past decade, Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics have been extensively utilized in the food industry for the research and development of new products but have failed to establish a strong foothold in quality control and the assessment of food items. To bridge this gap, we introduce a novel application of Raman spectroscopy capable of swiftly identifying free fatty acids (FFAs) in cooking oil and quantifying adulteration. This advanced method was validated using camellia oil, a highly esteemed cooking oil in China and various Asian countries known for its nutritional richness and diverse culinary applications. With its growing popularity among high-end food consumers in Asia, camellia oil has increasingly become a target for adulteration, causing dissatisfaction among both consumers and genuine producers. In this study, we employed Raman spectroscopy to characterize the FFA profiles of cooking oil samples, complemented by principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) for sample categorization and adulteration detection in camellia oil. By segregating camellia oil from other vegetable oils and differentiating genuine from adulterated samples using the partial least squares (PLS) method, we achieved a high determination coefficient (R²) of over 0.98 and a low root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of less than 1.45%. These findings offer a robust predictive model for rapid camellia oil adulteration assessment, potentially augmenting traditional qualitative tests and streamlining sampling procedures in the food industry.

Camellia oil, rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, squalene, tocopherols, and polyphenols, is highly valued for its nutritional benefits. However, its high market value and regional variations have led to frequent adulteration, highlighting the need for rapid, non-destructive methods for authentication, geographical traceability, and quality assessment. This study employed portable Raman spectroscopy combined with Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) and Multivariate Curve Resolution–Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) to differentiate camellia oil from other edible oils and evaluate its thermal and photo-oxidative stability. PLS-DA, based on VIP-selected spectral variables, effectively distinguished camellia oil, with Raman bands near 1250 cm⁻¹ and 1650 cm⁻¹ contributing significantly. A unique peak at 1525 cm⁻¹, observed in samples from Gongcheng, Guangxi, was associated with carotenoids and served as a potential marker for geographical traceability. MCR-ALS modeling revealed significant reductions in the 1650 cm⁻¹ and 1525 cm⁻¹ peaks when temperatures exceeded 150 °C, indicating degradation of unsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids. Under UV exposure, the 1525 cm⁻¹ peak declined sharply and nearly disappeared after 24 h, suggesting rapid carotenoid degradation via photooxidation. Extended UV treatment also affected the 1650 cm⁻¹ peak and led to oxidative product accumulation. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of integrating Raman spectroscopy with chemometric analysis for efficient oil classification, traceability, and stability monitoring, offering a valuable tool for food quality control and market supervision.