Fish freshness easily monitored with a new sensor

American Chemical Society

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This new sensor determined exactly how fresh a piece of fish was within two minutes.

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Credit: Adapted from ACS Sensors 2025, DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.5c01637

To see if a fish is fresh, people recommend looking at its eyes and gills or giving it a sniff. But a more accurate check for food quality and safety is to look for compounds that form when decomposition starts. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Sensors have developed a simple, effective electronic device that quickly measures one of these compounds. The prototype sensor can determine how fresh a fish is in less than two minutes.

For fish, signs of spoilage (cloudy eyes, bruised gills, foul or fishy odors) might take hours or even days to appear. In contrast, compounds such as hypoxanthine (HX) start forming almost immediately after death because nucleic acids and other molecules begin to break down. Therefore, researchers consider the level of HX a more reliable “freshness indicator” for both whole fish and individual fillets.

Currently, measuring HX requires time-consuming processes and specialized laboratory equipment. So, to make HX monitoring simpler and portable, Nicolas Voelcker, Azadeh Nilghaz, Muamer Dervisevic and colleagues created a microneedle-based freshness sensor. While microneedles are typically used in products for drug delivery or skincare, here they serve to boost the device’s sensitivity.

To build the sensor, the team created a four-by-four microneedle array and coated it with specialized gold nanoparticles and an enzyme that breaks down HX. The sensor is pressed into the surface of a piece of fish and anchored by the microneedles. As the enzyme breaks down HX, the electric potential within the fish changes, and the sensor measures and interprets these changes.

The researchers validated the sensor’s performance with salmon steaks cut into small pieces and left to spoil for up to 48 hours at room temperature. The sensor detected concentrations of HX down to less than 500 parts per billion, which is a level consistent with fish samples considered to be “very fresh.” Results were returned in around 100 seconds. Additionally, the new sensor’s sensitivity was comparable to that of a commercially available laboratory-based testing kit. Though further development is needed before the sensor will be available for use as a portable food safety tool, the researchers say that this demonstration shows its potential for real-time food-quality monitoring.

The authors acknowledge funding from the Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship Scheme. They are in the process of filing a patent on this technology.

The paper’s abstract will be available on Dec. 3 at 8 a.m. Eastern time here: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acssensors.5c01637

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The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1876 and chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is committed to improving all lives through the transforming power of chemistry. Its mission is to advance scientific knowledge, empower a global community and champion scientific integrity, and its vision is a world built on science. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, e-books and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Registered journalists can subscribe to the ACS journalist news portal on EurekAlert! to access embargoed and public science press releases. For media inquiries, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Note: ACS does not conduct research but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies.

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Journal

ACS Sensors

DOI

10.1021/acssensors.5c01637 

Article Title

Enhancing Food Safety with Microneedle-Based Biosensors: Real-Time Monitoring of Fish Freshness

Article Publication Date

3-Dec-2025

 

Antibiotics could trigger immune response through gut microbiome metabolites

American Chemical Society

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The microbes inside our bodies not only help break down food but also impact our health. Yet their precise influence is not always understood, especially in the presence of prescription drugs. Now, researchers in ACS Central Science report how one of the most abundant gut bacteria responds to tetracyclines, a class of commonly prescribed antibiotics. Newly characterized signals released by the bacterium could aid the host’s immune response, inhibit pathogens and restructure the gut microbiome.

“We previously showed that exogenous molecules can trigger production of otherwise ‘hidden’ metabolites in marine- and soil-dwelling microbes,” says Mohammad Seyedsayamdost, the corresponding author of the study. “Our goal here was to extend this analysis to human microbiota and examine their responses to FDA-approved drugs.”

Every day, medical professionals across the country prescribe drug treatments for a variety of ailments. Although these drugs may have their desired effect, there is also the possibility that they impact the microbes that keep us healthy. Antibiotics, for example, often inactivate not only offending microbes but also beneficial gut bacteria. Scientists have proposed the idea that consuming pharmaceuticals could also alter microbial metabolism, changing the compounds that bacteria release into the body and impacting human health. To study this, Seyedsayamdost and colleagues exposed separate cultures of the prominent gut microbe Bacteroides dorei to hundreds of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs — such as antihistamines, hypertension drugs, anticancer agents and antibiotics — and looked for metabolic changes compared to untreated bacterial cultures.

After incubating B. dorei with and without pharmaceuticals, the researchers isolated and identified compounds the bacterium secreted. Among the various drugs tested, low doses of tetracycline antibiotics had the strongest effect on bacterial cultures, inducing the microbes to produce two types of new compounds: doreamides, named in this study, and N-acyladenosines. Further testing showed that both compounds trigger human immune cells to produce proteins called pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can help respond to infections. The doreamides also induced production of host antimicrobial peptides that inhibited the growth of several bacterial strains, including pathogenic ones, but not the growth of B. dorei.

The experiments demonstrated a secondary effect of antibiotic treatment beyond inactivating microbes directly. Low-dose tetracyclines caused B. dorei to produce compounds that stimulate the immune system and induce immune cells to generate antimicrobial peptides, which could alter the microbial balance in the human gut. These findings set the stage for animal studies to explore possible therapeutic properties of the doreamides.

The authors acknowledge funding from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the National Institutes of Health, the MacArthur Foundation, the Simons Foundation, the National Research Foundation of Korea, and the Edward C. Taylor 3rd Year Fellowship in Chemistry.

The paper’s abstract will be available on Dec. 3 at 8 a.m. Eastern time here: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acscentsci.5c00969

###

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1876 and chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is committed to improving all lives through the transforming power of chemistry. Its mission is to advance scientific knowledge, empower a global community and champion scientific integrity, and its vision is a world built on science. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, e-books and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Registered journalists can subscribe to the ACS journalist news portal on EurekAlert! to access embargoed and public science press releases. For media inquiries, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Note: ACS does not conduct research but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies.

Follow us: Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram

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Journal

ACS Central Science

DOI

10.1021/acscentsci.5c00969 

Article Title

Tetracycline Antibiotics Induce Biosynthesis of Pro-inflammatory Metabolites in the Immunobiotic Bacteroides dorei

Article Publication Date

3-Dec-2025

 

A new study finds high-narcissism CEOs pursue more acquisitions in response to strong firm performance

Strategic Management Society

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Managers’ narcissistic tendencies may fundamentally affect whether a company makes risky or safe moves as a response to the firm’s above-aspiration performance, according to a new study published in Strategic Management Journal. In a study that helps to clarify prior conflicting research, the researchers find evidence that high-narcissism CEOs respond to above-aspiration performance with more acquisitions, while low-narcissism CEOs avoid acquisitions.

The study authors — Korcan Kavusan of Erasmus University, Daniel Z. Mack of Singapore Management University, Matthew P. Mount of Deakin University, and Gokhan Ertug of Singapore Management University — were motivated to determine why firms sometimes make major moves, such as acquisitions, even when their performance exceeds expectations. Existing scholarly literature was inconsistent, suggesting there was a missing piece of the puzzle.

“Some studies suggest that success discourages change because there is no need to fix what is working,” Kavusan says, “while others argue that it encourages change by providing extra resources and managerial discretion.”

But management research has also suggested that firm actions are often shaped by the personal goals of managers — and narcissism in particular is often linked to strong personal ambitions. As such, the team chose to study whether narcissistic leaders are especially inclined to pursue acquisitions, especially when firm performance is strong and they have the discretion to act.

Using data from publicly listed U.S. manufacturing firms in the S&P 1500, the researchers explored whether high-performing firms make more acquisitions when led by narcissistic CEOs and fewer when led by less narcissistic executives. In addition to data on acquisition activity, they also collected indicators of CEO narcissism established in prior research, along with firms’ performance relative to their aspirations over time. Through statistical analysis, they indeed confirmed their hypothesis that firms led by more narcissistic CEOs tend to pursue more acquisitions when performance is high, and firms led by CEOs without strong narcissistic tendencies make fewer acquisitions.

“While acquisitions are often pursued to gain new resources, expand capabilities, and accelerate growth, many fail to achieve their intended goals and instead erode shareholder value,” Kavusan says. “Our findings show that these decisions are not always guided purely by organizational motives, as they should be in an ideal world, but can also be influenced by the personal ambitions of top executives.”

For boards, investors, and managers, the study emphasizes the need to better understand the personal drivers of those advocating for an acquisition: If stakeholders can ensure that acquisition decisions are aligned with a firm’s real needs and capabilities — not just a leader’s personal ambitions — they can increase the chances that the acquisitions create value.

To read the full context of the study and its methods, access the full paper available in the Strategic Management Journal.

About the Strategic Management Society

The Strategic Management Society (SMS) is the leading global member organization fostering and supporting rigorous and practice-engaged strategic management research. SMS enjoys the support of 3,000 members, representing more than 1,100 institutions and companies in more than 70 countries. SMS publishes three leading academic journals in partnership with Wiley: Strategic Management Journal, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, and Global Strategy Journal. These journals publish top-quality work applicable to researchers and practitioners with complementary access for all SMS Members. The SMS Explorer offers the latest insights and takeaways from the SMS Journals for business practitioners, consultants, and academics.

Click here to subscribe to the monthly SMS Explorer newsletter.

Click here to learn more about the programs and opportunities SMS has to offer.

---

Journal

Strategic Management Journal

DOI

10.1002/smj.70009 

Article Title

High flying adored: How CEO narcissism influences firms' responses to above-aspiration performance with risky organizational change

 

A new study finds high-narcissism CEOs pursue more acquisitions in response to strong firm performance

Strategic Management Society

FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

Managers’ narcissistic tendencies may fundamentally affect whether a company makes risky or safe moves as a response to the firm’s above-aspiration performance, according to a new study published in Strategic Management Journal. In a study that helps to clarify prior conflicting research, the researchers find evidence that high-narcissism CEOs respond to above-aspiration performance with more acquisitions, while low-narcissism CEOs avoid acquisitions.

The study authors — Korcan Kavusan of Erasmus University, Daniel Z. Mack of Singapore Management University, Matthew P. Mount of Deakin University, and Gokhan Ertug of Singapore Management University — were motivated to determine why firms sometimes make major moves, such as acquisitions, even when their performance exceeds expectations. Existing scholarly literature was inconsistent, suggesting there was a missing piece of the puzzle.

“Some studies suggest that success discourages change because there is no need to fix what is working,” Kavusan says, “while others argue that it encourages change by providing extra resources and managerial discretion.”

But management research has also suggested that firm actions are often shaped by the personal goals of managers — and narcissism in particular is often linked to strong personal ambitions. As such, the team chose to study whether narcissistic leaders are especially inclined to pursue acquisitions, especially when firm performance is strong and they have the discretion to act.

Using data from publicly listed U.S. manufacturing firms in the S&P 1500, the researchers explored whether high-performing firms make more acquisitions when led by narcissistic CEOs and fewer when led by less narcissistic executives. In addition to data on acquisition activity, they also collected indicators of CEO narcissism established in prior research, along with firms’ performance relative to their aspirations over time. Through statistical analysis, they indeed confirmed their hypothesis that firms led by more narcissistic CEOs tend to pursue more acquisitions when performance is high, and firms led by CEOs without strong narcissistic tendencies make fewer acquisitions.

“While acquisitions are often pursued to gain new resources, expand capabilities, and accelerate growth, many fail to achieve their intended goals and instead erode shareholder value,” Kavusan says. “Our findings show that these decisions are not always guided purely by organizational motives, as they should be in an ideal world, but can also be influenced by the personal ambitions of top executives.”

For boards, investors, and managers, the study emphasizes the need to better understand the personal drivers of those advocating for an acquisition: If stakeholders can ensure that acquisition decisions are aligned with a firm’s real needs and capabilities — not just a leader’s personal ambitions — they can increase the chances that the acquisitions create value.

To read the full context of the study and its methods, access the full paper available in the Strategic Management Journal.

About the Strategic Management Society

The Strategic Management Society (SMS) is the leading global member organization fostering and supporting rigorous and practice-engaged strategic management research. SMS enjoys the support of 3,000 members, representing more than 1,100 institutions and companies in more than 70 countries. SMS publishes three leading academic journals in partnership with Wiley: Strategic Management Journal, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, and Global Strategy Journal. These journals publish top-quality work applicable to researchers and practitioners with complementary access for all SMS Members. The SMS Explorer offers the latest insights and takeaways from the SMS Journals for business practitioners, consultants, and academics.

Click here to subscribe to the monthly SMS Explorer newsletter.

Click here to learn more about the programs and opportunities SMS has to offer.

---

Journal

Strategic Management Journal

DOI

10.1002/smj.70009 

Article Title

High flying adored: How CEO narcissism influences firms' responses to above-aspiration performance with risky organizational change