Securing a stable food supply and achieving sustainable agricultural production are essential for mitigating future food insecurity. Soil metabolomics is a promising tool for capturing soil status, which is a critical issue for future sustainable food security. This study aims to provide deeper insights into the status of soybean-grown fields under varying soil conditions over three years by employing comprehensive soil volatile organic compound (VOC) profiling, also known as soil volatilomics. Profiling identified approximately 200 peaks in agricultural fields. The soil of soybean-presented plots exhibited markedly higher VOC levels than those of non-soybean plots during the flowering season. Pentanoic acid, 2,2,4-trimethyl-3-carboxyisopropyl, isobutyl ester, a discriminative soil VOC, was identified through multivariate data analysis as a distinctively present VOC in fields with or without soybean plants during the flowering period. Soil VOC profiles exhibited strong correlations with soil-related omics datasets (soil ionome, microbiome, metabolome, and physics) and no significant correlations with root microbiome and rhizosphere chemicals. These findings indicate that soil VOC profiles could serve as a valuable indicator for assessing soil status, thereby supporting efforts to ensure future global food security.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are representative indoor air pollutants that negatively affect the human body owing to their toxicity. One of the most promising methods for VOC removal is photocatalytic degradation using TiO2. In this study, the addition of carbon black (CB) and heavy metal nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated to improve the efficiency of a TiO2-based photocatalytic VOC decomposition system combined with ultrasonic atomization and ultraviolet irradiation, as described previously. The addition of CB and Ag NPs significantly improved the degradation efficiency. A comparison with other heavy metal nanoparticles and their respective roles are discussed.

Acting as the most abundant and widely distributed volatile secondary metabolites in plants, terpenoids play crucial roles in diverse physiological regulations and metabolic processes. Terpene synthases play a decisive role in determining the composition and diversity of terpenoids. Though the regulation of terpene synthases has been extensively investigated across various plant species, limited studies have focused on the upstream transcriptional regulation of terpene synthases. In this study, we have identified linalool as the predominant volatile compound that is released gradually from Freesia hybrida flowers throughout flower blooming. In the context of the transcriptome, a typical MYB transcription factor, FhMYB108, was screened based on homologous gene comparison. FhMYB108 is capable of regulating the expression of FhTPS1, and both their expression levels showed gradual increase during flower opening. Moreover, FhMYB108 exerts a stimulatory effect on the transcription of Arabidopsis thaliana AtTPS14, while no significant increase in AtTPS14 expression is observed upon the stabilization of FhMYB108 in A. thaliana. The highly expressed AtMYC2 in A. thaliana could interact with FhMYB108 to suppress the activation of AtTPS14 by FhMYB108. The present study not only elucidates the regulatory mechanism underlying linalool synthesis but also discovers the synergistic effect of MYB and bHLH transcription factors in governing the biosynthesis of volatile terpenoids.

In the process of murder investigation, it is of great significance to find the discarded and buried human remains accurately. The main methods of searching for human remains include human visual search, aerial detection, geophysical technology, remote imaging technology and canine olfactory search technique. Canine olfactory search for human remains is a recognized time-effective and non-invasive search method, making dogs the most valuable search tool in forensic investigation. By systematically reviewing and summarizing relevant literature, and based on the theory of volatile organic compound produced by the decomposition of human remains, this paper explores the basic principle of the canine olfactory search technique for human remains. This paper also reviews the application of training canine search technique for human remains in forensic investigation by using human blood, tissue, cadaver putrefying fluid and odor substitutes as sniffing sources. The application prospect of canine olfactory search for human remains was prospected from the perspectives of detection of volatile organic compound during cadaver decay, development of odor substitutes and adsorption devices, and technology tactics used in canine training and use, to provide references for the relevant research of canine olfactory search for human remains in China.
命案侦查过程中，准确找到被丢弃、掩埋的人体遗骸至关重要。寻找人体遗骸的方法主要有人类的视觉搜索、空中探测、地球物理技术、远程成像技术以及犬类嗅觉搜索技术等。犬类嗅觉搜索人体遗骸技术是一种公认的具有时效性的非侵入性搜索方法，是法医调查中最有价值的搜索工具。本文通过系统查阅和总结相关文献资料，以人体遗骸分解产生的挥发性有机化合物为理论基础，探寻犬类嗅觉搜索人体遗骸技术的基本原理，对以人类血迹、人体组织、尸体腐败液、气味替代物作为嗅源训练犬类搜索人体遗骸技术在法医调查中的使用进行综述，从尸体腐败过程中挥发性有机化合物的检测、气味替代物和吸附装置的研发、犬类训练与使用的技战法等角度展望犬类嗅觉搜索人体遗骸技术的应用前景，以期为我国犬类嗅觉搜索人体遗骸技术的相关研究提供参考。.

Here we present the UCI Fluxtron, a cost-effective multi-enclosure dynamic gas exchange system that provides an adequate level of control of the experimental conditions for investigating biosphere-atmosphere exchange of trace gases. We focus on the hardware and software used to monitor, control, and record the air flows, temperatures, and valve switching, and on the software that processes the collected data to calculate the exchange flux of trace gases. We provide the detailed list of commercial materials used and also the software code developed for the Fluxtron, so that similar dynamic enclosure systems can be quickly adopted by interested researchers. Furthermore, the two software components -Fluxtron Control and Fluxtron Process- work independently of each other, thus being highly adaptable for other experimental designs. Beyond plants, the same experimental setup can be applied to the study of trace gas exchange by animals, microbes, soil, or any materials that can be enclosed in a suitable container.

Consumer spray products (CSPs) are widely used in daily life, yet it is challenging to find products that fully disclose all components posing health risks. Existing studies primarily focus on product components or VOC quantities emitted during use. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the VOC concentrations emitted by CSPs at varying distances. 47 CSPs available in the Korean market were selected, spanning three spray groups: antiseptics/insecticides (11), aromatic deodorants (16), and coating/polishing agents (20). VOC in air samples were collected using Tenax TA tube at a distance of 1 and 3 m from the sprayed CSPs and then analyzed by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system. Discrepancies were found between labeled and actual product components. Aromatic deodorants exhibited the highest total VOCs (TVOCs), while antiseptic/insecticide sprays exhibited the lowest. In the antiseptic/insecticide group and coating/polishing agent group, benzene as a propellant had a maximum concentration (30.9 ± 25.6 ppb), and as trigger, its concentration was 33.7 ± 30.7 ppb. Quantitative analysis using advanced analytical instruments only explained 26.1 ± 20.4% of toluene-equivalent TVOCs, suggesting the presence of additional substances. Concentrations varied by distance due to substance volatility and usage. Maintaining a distance of at least 1 m from CSPs is recommended.

In this study, the flavor characteristics and physicochemical properties of salted egg yolk (SEY) under different cooking methods (steaming/baking/microwaving) were investigated. The microwave-treated SEY exhibited the highest levels of salt content, cooking loss, lightness, and b* value, as well as the highest content of flavor amino acids. A total of 31, 27, and 29 volatile compounds were detected after steaming, baking, and microwave treatments, respectively, covering 10 chemical families. The partial least squares discriminant analysis confirmed that 21 compounds, including octanol, pyrazine, 2-pentyl-furan, and 1-octen-3-ol, were the key volatile compounds affecting the classification of SEY aroma. The electronic nose revealed a sharp distinction in the overall flavor profile of SEY with varying heat treatments. However, no dramatic differences were observed in terms of fatty acid composition. Microwave treatment was identified as presenting a promising approach for enhancing the aroma profile of SEY. These findings contribute novel insights into flavor evaluation and the development of egg products as ingredients for thermal processing.

Preservation of the breath sample integrity during storage and transport is one of the biggest challenges in off-line exhaled breath gas analysis. In this context, adsorbent tubes are frequently used as storage containers for use with analytical methods employing gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. The key objective of this short communication is to provide data on the recovery of selected breath volatiles from Tenax®TA adsorbent tubes that were stored at -80 °C for up to 90 d. For this purpose, an Owlstone Medical\'s ReCIVA®Breath Sampler was used for exhaled breath collection. The following fifteen compounds, selected to cover a range of chemical properties, were monitored for their stability: isoprene, n-heptane, n-nonane, toluene, p-cymene, allyl methyl sulfide, 1-(methylthio)-propane, 1-(methylthio)-1-propene,α-pinene, DL-limonene,β-pinene,γ-terpinene, 2-pentanone, acetoin and 2,3 butanedione. All compounds, but one (acetoin), were found to be stable during the first 4 weeks of storage (recovery within ± 2 × RSD). Furthermore, n-nonane was stable during the whole of the investigated period.

Metal-oxide-based gas sensors are extensively utilized across various domains due to their cost-effectiveness, facile fabrication, and compatibility with microelectronic technologies. The copper (Cu)-based multifunctional polymer-enhanced sensor (CuMPES) represents a notably tailored design for non-invasive environmental monitoring, particularly for detecting diverse gases with a low concentration. In this investigation, the Cu-CuO/PEDOT nanocomposite was synthesized via a straightforward chemical oxidation and vapor-phase polymerization. Comprehensive characterizations employing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and micro Raman elucidated the composition, morphology, and crystal structure of this nanocomposite. Gas-sensing assessments of this CuMPES based on Cu-CuO/PEDOT revealed that the response current of the microneedle-type CuMPES surpassed that of the pure Cu microsensor by nearly threefold. The electrical conductivity and surface reactivity are enhanced by poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) polymerized on the CuO-coated surface, resulting in an enhanced sensor performance with an ultra-fast response/recovery of 0.3/0.5 s.

β-Carboline heterocyclic amines (β-CHAs), known for their synergistic neurotoxic and carcinogenic effects, are predominantly produced by humans through cigarette smoke and food and are found particularly in meats cooked at high temperatures. Few studies have explored the differences in the mechanisms of accumulation of β-CHAs in smoked meat and meat processed at high temperatures. In this research, the concentration of β-CHAs in smoked meats prepared using a variety of wood materials was measured using LCMS/MS. Additionally, key volatile organic compound markers associated with β-CHAs accumulation in smoke were identified through GCMS and multivariate statistical analysis and subsequently confirmed in a chemical simulation system. Three types of strainers, each with a distinct aperture size, were used to assess the efficacy of particle filtration in reducing β-CHAs levels in smoked meat. The findings indicated that smoke exposure indeed increases the β-CHAs content of meat. However, only the strainer capable of filtering PM2.5-sized particles reduced the amount of β-CHAs present compared to the control group. In contrast, strainers with larger pore sizes facilitated excessive accumulation of β-CHAs. The presence of aldehydes such as 1 H-pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde, 5-methylfurfural, benzaldehyde, furfural, and nonanal exhibited a positive correlation with the accumulation of β-CHAs. Conversely, phenolic compounds, including 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, 2-methoxy-5-methylphenol, p-cresol, phenol, 2-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)-, (Z)-, phenol, 3-ethyl-, and phenol, 4-ethyl-2-methoxy-, showed a negative correlation. Thus, filters made from chelated carbonyl trap materials both chemically and physically disrupt the buildup of β-CHAs in smoked meats. The use of this approach will not only improve the quality of these products but will also contribute to decreasing the amount of inhalation pollutants released into the environment.