Ultrasound-induced structural remodeling modulates salt-moisture coupled mass transfer and quality improvement during low-temperature braising of chicken breast: A multiscale analysis.
Oct 2026· Food Research International· Vol 242 Pt 5, pp.
120187
· 0 citations· 50 references
Medicine
Abstract
This study established a multiscale analytical framework to systematically investigate the mass transfer behavior of NaCl and moisture in chicken breast during ultrasonic-assisted low-temperature braising, as well as the regulatory mechanisms impacting quality evolution. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that ultrasound treatment significantly enhanced NaCl migration during processing, with the NaCl content reaching 1.83 g/100 g after treatment at 600 W for 150 min, representing a 29.8% increase compared with the control. The effective diffusion coefficient (Deff) calculated using Fick's second law increased to (5.69-6.37) × 10-9 m2/s under ultrasonic treatments. Low-field magnetic resonance imaging (LF-MRI) combined with image binarization revealed that ultrasound promoted the penetration of NaCl toward the sample center and improved moisture distribution. The proportion of immobilized water (P21) reached 96.39% at 450 W for 30 min. At the microscopic level, haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analyses revealed that ultrasound treatment generated microchannels, reducing mass transfer resistance. The resulting spongy structure enhanced moisture retention capacity. COMSOL Multiphysics simulations visualized the spatial and temporal evolution of NaCl and moisture migration, with strong agreement between predicted and experimental values (R2 > 0.97). Moderate ultrasonic treatment (300-450 W) achieved a favorable balance between enhanced salt uptake and reduced moisture loss, resulting in improved texture properties, including decreased shear force and hardness. The study established a correlation framework of "ultrasound transfer-structure response-quality improvement", providing insights into the precise control and quality improvement of novel thermally processed meat products using ultrasound treatment.
Tomato is a structurally complex plant-based matrix whose functional properties are governed by a hierarchical organisation that extends from the molecular to the macroscopic scale. Non-thermal technologies such as ultrasound (US) and pulsed electric fields (PEF) have emerged as sustainable strategies to modulate food structure while preserving or enhancing functionality. This mini-review examines recent advances in US- and PEF-assisted processing of tomato systems through a unified multiscale framework. Although both technologies improve extraction efficiency and process sustainability, they operate through fundamentally different mechanisms. US primarily induces mechanical disruption of cell walls, middle lamella structures, and tissue architecture through acoustic cavitation, whereas PEF predominantly targets cellular membranes through electroporation, increasing permeability while largely preserving the structural integrity of the cell wall network. These structural modifications propagate from the molecular and cellular scales to the macroscopic level, ultimately influencing texture, mass transfer, and bioactive recovery. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that ultrasound can trigger physiological and stress-related responses in living tomato tissues, expanding its applications beyond conventional processing. Finally, future progress in optimising sustainable tomato systems will depend on predictive multiscale models that can integrate these structural, biochemical, and physiological responses.
This study examined the influence of quinoa protein modified by high-pressure homogenization (HQP) on the gelation behavior, water mobility, rheological attributes, and microstructure of chicken breast batters. Cooking yield and gel strength of batter gels increased progressively from 88.93% and 859.56 g to 95.35% and 1467.34 g, respectively, with elevated HQP supplements. Concurrently, L⁎ and a⁎ values dropped gradually, whereas the b⁎ value elevated evidently (P < 0.05). Textural indicators all displayed an ascending-descending trend, reaching optimal values at 12% HQP incorporation. Rheological assessment demonstrated that HQP markedly enhanced the G' value throughout thermal and frequency scan analyses. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) data indicated that HQP significantly elevated the immobilized water fraction while concomitantly reduced the free water proportion. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated a marked decline in α-helix fraction paired with elevated β-sheet formation. SEM imaging confirmed that HQP supplementation facilitated the formation of a smoother and more compact gel architecture. Collectively, HQP demonstrates strong potential as a functional ingredient for enhancing emulsified chicken systems.
Yanyan Zhao, Xin Yao, Qi-Zhao Han et al.· Food Chemistry: X· 0 citations
This study examines the small-strain shear modulus (
G
max
) and water retention behavior of unsaturated sand–silt mixtures with a focus on the effects of fines content (FC), mean net stress (
p
n
), and hydraulic hysteresis. A comprehensive experimental program was conducted, incorporating saturated and unsaturated bender element tests, soil water retention curve measurements, and scanning electron microscope imaging. The tests were performed on compacted specimens of Firuzkooh No. 161 silica sand mixed with varying silt contents (0-100%) as fines under
p
n
of 50, 100, and 200 kPa along both drying and wetting paths. Two unsaturated triaxial systems equipped with bender elements and a hanging water column controlled matric suction (
ψ
) via axis translation and water head control techniques. The results revealed significant changes in soil structure and hydromechanical behavior with increasing FC. In contrast to other soil mixtures, clean sand exhibited distinct hydraulic and mechanical behaviors, with
G
max
demonstrating a nonmonotonic variation with
ψ
. As FC increased, a pronounced reduction in
G
max
emerged at FC of 20%, at which point the soil structure began to transform from a fines-in-sand to a sand-in-fines structure. Notably, the impact of hydraulic hysteresis became increasingly prominent with FC: for mixtures with 10%–100% FC,
G
max
during wetting was higher than during drying at the same
ψ
levels, whereas an opposite trend was observed for clean sand. Additionally, for sand specimens, the suction stress concept effectively described the variation of
G
max
with
ψ
, while for sand–silt mixtures (10%–100% FC), an extended framework incorporating the equivalent void ratio into a double hardening mechanism concept was adopted. The consistency between experimental observations and theoretical interpretations suggested that these concepts could provide a robust basis for predicting
G
max
behavior in unsaturated sand–silt mixtures.
B. Sadollahzadeh, S. Haeri, Ali Khosravi· Journal of Geotechnical and...· 0 citations
Individual and combined effects of thermal treatment and zinc borate (ZB) addition were studied relative to the mechanical properties and water resistance of oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) wood-plastic composites (WPCs). Wood flour was thermally treated at 150 °C for 120 min under saturated steam before composite manufacturing. Flexural, tensile, impact, and water resistance properties were evaluated, and the data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA (p < 0.05). Thermal treatment increased the flexural strength from 57.2 MPa to 75.0 MPa, while the combined treatment produced the highest impact strength (7.56 J/m). Zinc borate-containing composites exhibited lower maximum water absorption (2.8 to 3.0%) than the control (8.6%), despite showing higher moisture diffusion coefficients. This indicated that the diffusion rate and equilibrium moisture uptake were driven by different mechanisms. SEM observations revealed that the combined treatment produced a more cohesive fracture morphology, although these changes were not accompanied by improved flexural or tensile strength. Overall, thermal treatment and zinc borate affected the performance characteristics through distinct mechanisms, providing an effective approach for improving the moisture resistance and durability of wood-plastic composites.
S. K. Hosseinihashemi, Farhad Arwi̇nfar, Nadir Ayrilmis· BioResources· 0 citations
This study compared the effects of ultrasonic (US) and ultra-high pressure (UHP) treatments at varying intensities on the multi-scale structure and physicochemical properties of goat liver protein (GLP), and evaluated their potential to enhance emulsified pork sausage quality. US treatment at two selected durations (600 W, 20 kHz, 2 and 15 min) induced different structural and functional responses in GLP, including partial protein unfolding, exposure of sulfhydryl and hydrophobic groups, and moderate oxidation. UHP treatment elicited distinct pressure-level-dependent differences in volumetric compression and conformational rearrangement between the selected pressure levels. Moderate UHP improved water retention, heating stability, and gel network formation, whereas extreme pressure caused excessive aggregation, leading to less favorable instrumental texture parameters and electronic-nose response patterns. Comparative analysis revealed that US primarily enhanced dynamic structure-function coupling, while UHP optimized structural stability and processing performance. These findings elucidate distinct mechanistic pathways for US and UHP in protein modification and provide guidance for non-thermal strategies to improve protein functionality and meat product quality.
Xiangxi Yan, Jiamin Shen, Changyu Zhou et al.· International Journal of Bio...· 0 citations
Thermal conductivity is a critical parameter that determines the thermal response, atomization efficiency, and release behavior of natural porous composites in heating-type aerosol generators. Although moisture and glycerol significantly affect the pore structure and heat transfer pathways of natural porous media, their coupling regulation mechanism at the molecular scale remains unclear. Based on the actual chemical components of natural porous composites (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin), a multi-component molecular model was established in this study. Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted under 36 working conditions with varying moisture content (0%–20%) and glycerol content (0%–20%). The results reveal that moisture serves as the dominant factor, which monotonically increases thermal conductivity by constructing continuous heat conduction pathways, with a maximum increment of 208.6%. Glycerol plays a secondary role: moderate addition reduces interfacial thermal resistance, while excessive addition induces molecular agglomeration and intensifies phonon scattering. Under dry conditions, the thermal conductivity presents a unimodal variation trend, and the optimal glycerol content ranges from 8% to 16%. A prominent synergistic enhancement effect exists between moisture and glycerol. When both contents reach 20%, the thermal conductivity peaks at 0.6185 W/(m·K). This study clarifies the heat transfer mechanism of natural porous composites applied in heating-type aerosol generators at the molecular scale, providing theoretical guidance for matrix formula design, aerosol additive optimization and thermal response performance regulation.
Quan Zhang, N. Gao· Journal of Physics, Conferen...· 0 citations