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A recent trend in the preparation of carbon dots, optically unique nanomaterials, revolves around the use of readily-available, low-cost natural resources as precursors and their multipurpose applications. In this work, a hydrothermal method for preparing biocompatible carbon dots from radish was developed. The carbon dots were then tested for sensing of Cu 2+ and acetic acid vapor. The carbon dots exhibited blue emission under UV illumination with, a quantum yield of 15%. The fluorescence emission was selectively quenched when Cu 2+ ions were added, giving a detection limit of 0.16 μM. A paper-based fluorescent sensor was fabricated and shown to sense Cu 2+ with a limit of detection of 6.8 μM. The carbon dots were able to determine the Cu 2+ concentration in real water samples, with excellent recovery and reliability. The carbon dots were also used as the sensing material in an optical electronic nose, and tested for real-time detection of acetic acid vapor. Using principal component analysis, different ratios of acetic acid to methanol in solution were successfully identified with a detection limit of 15.5%. The acetic acid concentration in a real vinegar sample was also accurately determined. Our results demonstrated that label-free carbon dots derived from readily available radish can be simply used as versatile probes, giving them potential uses in multipurpose sensing applications., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Influence of operational variables in the EFB pulping [acetic acid (60-95%), hydrochloric acid (0.10-0.25%) and time (60-180 min)], on the yield, drainability or beating grade, Kappa number, lignin and viscosity of pulps was studied. By using a factorial design, equations were obtained that reproduced the experimental results for the dependent variables with errors less than 9-18%. These equations can be used to find the suitable conditions, so that operating with not too high values of operating variables (with minor costs of operation and capital) pulps with acceptable properties could be obtained: operating with 86.25% acetic acid, 0.25% hydrochloric acid and 120 min time, produced pulps with 46.56% yield, 15.9 °SR drainability, 36.3 Kappa number, 10.3% lignin and 303 mL/g viscosity, values all of them close to the optimal predicted., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Miscanthus x giganteus bark samples subjected to fractionation by the Acetosolv process under optimal conditions were bleached using hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid in aqueous media under alkaline conditions. The influence of the main operational variables in the bleaching of Acetosolv pulps of M. x giganteus (i.e. hydrogen peroxide concentration, 3-7%; temperature, 55-75 degrees C; pH 9-11), obtained after treatments, have been assessed on pulp yield, kappa number, viscosity and brightness of bleached pulps. For this purpose, a rotatable and orthogonal second-order factorial design of experiments was used, in order to identify the optimum operating conditions. The obtained empirical mathematical models demonstrate that, in general, the bleaching was efficient, achieving pulps with kappa numbers below 10. The chemical composition and physicochemical properties of the bleached pulps fulfilled the requirements for forthcoming bleaching stages. Moreover, an alkaline extraction stage to eliminate saponifiable groups of Acetosolv pulps was studied, as well as the necessity of use chelating agents in the stage with hydrogen peroxide.

Fractionation of wheat straw was investigated using an atmospheric acetic acid process. Under the typical conditions of 90% (v/v) aqueous AcOH, 4% H(2)SO(4) (w/w, on straw), ratio of liquor to straw (L/S) 10 (v/w), pulping temperature 105 degrees C, and pulping time 3h, wheat straw was fractionated to pulp (cellulose), lignin and monosaccharides mainly from hemicellulose with yields of approximately 50%, 15% and 35%, respectively. Acetic acid pulp from the straw had an acceptable strength for paper and could be bleached to a high brightness over 85% with a short bleaching sequence. Acetic acid pulp was also a potential feedstock for fuels and chemicals. The acetic acid process separated pentose and hexose in wheat straw to a large extent. Most of the pentose (xylan) was dissolved, whereas the hexose (glucan) remained in the pulp. Approximately 30% of carbohydrates in wheat straw were hydrolyzed to monosaccharides during acetic acid pulping, of which xylose accounted for 70% and glucose for 12%. The acetic acid lignin from wheat straw showed relatively lower molecular weight and fusibility, which made the lignin a promising raw material for many products, such as adhesive and molded products.

Two types of pure cellulose, Avicel PH-101 and Whatman filter paper, were treated with an acid-chlorite delignification procedure in the presence of varying amounts of incorporated lignin, and the molecular weight distributions and degrees of polymerization (DP) of derivatized cellulose were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Avicel samples with 0% added lignin showed a DP reduction of nearly 5% during acid-chlorite delignification, compared to a 1% drop in DP with 30% added lignin. Lignin-free filter paper samples showed a DP reduction of nearly 35% after hollocellulose delignification. This drop in DP was reduced to less than 12% for samples which contained 30% lignin. Thus, the presence of lignin in biomass samples minimized the DP reduction of cellulose due to acid catalyzed cleavage during acid-chlorite delignification., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The chemical decompositions of beta-alaninediacetic acid (ADA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) were studied in a pilot-plant flow-through system simulating alkaline (pH 10-11) hydrogen peroxide bleaching environments. The amount of hydrogen peroxide decomposition was evaluated, and the distribution calculation was performed. Under the conditions investigated, ADA was more degradable than DTPA (average residual 71% vs 94%). The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide was not dependent on the chelate; the residual percent of hydrogen peroxide was 40 in both cases.

In order to address the issue of low amino acid retention in the production of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) through hydrothermal pretreatment at high temperatures, a novel approach combining low temperature acid hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis was employed. This innovative method not only allows for the production of amino acid-rich XOS, but also yields a valuable byproduct known as humic-like acid (HLA) from vinegar residue (VR). Under the optimal pretreatment conditions (89 °C, 6 h, 1.2 % sulfuric acid), the yield of XOS was 19.88 %. Furthermore, the hydrolyzate extracted from the acid pretreated VR had a content of 2.65 g/L amino acids (corresponding to the retention rate of 82.0 %), and the HLA yield of the sample was 10.51 %. Comprehensive analyses, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, total acidic functional group, and nuclear magnetic resonance were employed to examine the structure and composition of the produced HLA, indicating that it was similar to that of natural commercial humic acid (CHA) extracted from minerals. Through this innovative approach, the production of amino acid-rich XOS and HLA from VR offers a sustainable solution that not only addresses the issue of low amino acid retention but also maximizes the potential of VR as a valuable resource., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (VA-LLME) based on hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDES) was used to efficiently and sustainably extract five phenolic acids and tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) from Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV). The VA-LLME technique was employed to investigate the extraction mechanism of HDES with the best extraction performance for the target compounds using a conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS). An artificial neural network combined with a genetic algorithm (ANN-GA) was developed to optimize the extraction conditions based on single-factor and response surface methodology, while also analyzing the interactive effects on the phenolic acids and TMP in the extracted solution during the extraction phase. The optimized conditions were determined, and the greenness of the procedure was evaluated using an analytical greenness metric, indicating that this technique can serve as a green alternative for the determination of phenolic acids and TMP in SAV., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Gut dysbiosis is a characteristic feature of obesity and targeting gut microbiota presents a promising approach to attenuate obesity. Euglena gracilis polysaccharide (EGP) has emerged as a potential prebiotic capable of promoting health-beneficial bacteria. However, its effects on the gut dysbiosis of obese individuals remain unclear. This study investigated the impacts of EGP on gut microbiota from both non-obese and obese individuals using an in vitro fermentation model. Results showed that EGP significantly altered the gut microbiota composition and metabolism. Specifically, EGP improved the relative abundance of Paeniclostridium, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and Paraclostridium of the non-obese individuals and Providencia, Enterococcus and Bacteroides of the obese individuals. Metabolomics results showed EGP significantly altered the lipid metabolism especially in the obese group with enriched bile secretion and cholesterol metabolism pathways. Noting that acetic acid was significantly increased in both groups, these acetic acid favorable microbiota from non-obese individuals was collected with acetic acid supplementation. Transplantation of these acetic acid-induced microbiota (AAiM) notably improved the richness and diversity of fecal microbiota of the obese individuals, enhancing the growth of probiotics like Bacteroides and Bifidobacterium. Consequently, AAiM significantly restructured macronutrients (including amino acids, carbohydrates and lipids) metabolism of the gut microbiota from obese individuals. Altogether, this study underscores the potential of EGP and acetic acid favorable microbiota in manipulating obesity-associated gut dysbiosis via acetic acid production., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Demineralization of the chemically treated pig shoulder bone in hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, and acetic acid was monitored by ATR-FTIR, Raman, and LIBS spectroscopies and SEM-EDX technique. SEM-EDX analysis showed reduced calcium and phosphorus content after the treatment with acids and erosion of the overall morphology of the bone compared to the sample kept in water. Alterations in bone structure during the 14-day-long immersion in acid solutions indicated significant chemical changes in the obtained spectra. Fourier deconvolution applied in the amide I (1700-1600 cm -1 ), phosphate (900-1200 cm -1 ), and carbonate (500-650 cm -1 ) region indicated the presence of different components in the bone sample, depending on the environment and acid concentration, providing information about the composition. Parameters such as mineral-to-matrix ratio, crystallinity index, and carbonate-to-phosphate ratio were calculated and compared using ATR-FTIR and Raman data. These parameters were also correlated with calcium ionic-to-atomic and phosphorous-to-carbon line intensities obtained from LIBS spectra. Calcium and phosphorus atomic contents obtained by SEM-EDX analysis were in agreement with LIBS data. The results suggested that an increase in acid concentration has primarily affected the phosphate band's intensity and structure, as the phosphate content was more susceptible to demineralization. Hydrochloric acid was proven to be a more powerful demineralization agent than hydrofluoric and acetic acids. The results of this study could be further applied to the investigation of the bone remains at the crime scene, especially when their removal is attempted by immersion in acid solutions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Dusan Dimic reports financial support was provided by Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) constitutes a significant health concern because it promotes infectious mastitis in dairy animals and poses a hazard risk to humans. Controlling MRSA infections is a growing challenge on a global scale because of the bacteria's toxicity and its capacity to develop multidrug resistance (MDR). Combating against MDR bacteria and the spread of infectious diseases needs natural antibacterial alternatives to minimize the economic losses of mastitis. The average treatment cost in Egypt was highlighted. The antibacterial effect of apple cider vinegar (ACV) against MDR-MRSA isolates was evaluated, also the study aimed at profiling antimicrobial resistance genes in MRSA isolates. The incidence of mastitis in cows was more than in buffaloes, and the average total treatment cost was estimated at 82 million EGP from 2016 to 2021 (around 14 million EGP annually). Of the 22 S. aureus isolates (20 %), of which (59.1 % were from cows and 40.9 % from buffaloes), 19 (86.4 %) were confirmed as MRSA. All MRSA isolates exhibited resistance to clindamycin (94.7 %), then both ampicillin and doxycycline (84.2 %), and ampicillin and sulbactam, erythromycin and Fosfomycin (each, 78.9 %). Vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin can be used to treat MRSA. The prevalence of MDR was significantly high, with 94.7 % of the cases having multiple antimicrobial resistance (MAR) indices ranging from 0.25 to 0.75. All MRSA isolates tested positive for mecA, 89.5 % for the blaZ gene, 84.2 % for tetM, and 73.4 % for ermB. In vitro, the antibacterial properties of ACV were demonstrated to be superior by our results which demonstrate a zone of inhibition with diameters ranging from 20 to 40 mm detected by Agar well diffusion technique and MIC's (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) ranging from 2 to 4 μg/ml. Some isolates possess MBC (Minimal Bactericidal Concentration) values at the same MIC. This research proposes the potential of ACV to act as a promising antibacterial alternative against MRSA. This can help minimize the health problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and improve the efficiency of dairy farms. Further studies are recommended to determine the proper dosage for field administration., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Acetic acid (HAc) pretreatment has been widely used for the production of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), requiring harsh reaction conditions because XOS are intermediates during the xylan degradation process. This complexity makes the pretreatment process difficult to regulate. In this study, a pH-controlled HAc pretreatment using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was proposed to enhance the yield of XOS and to reduce its degree of polymerization (DP) from corncobs (CC). By employing this method (0.3 M-2.7), 49.7 % of XOS with DP 2-6 was obtained, alongside a notable increase in the fraction of XOS with DP 2-4 (10.1 g/L). This performance significantly surpassed that of the HAc alone (0.3 M). Moreover, the glucose yield from CC via pH-controlled HAc pretreatment was as high as 93.1 % after 72-h enzymatic hydrolysis. These results suggested that the pH-controlled HAc pretreatment could be a promising strategy for the coproduction of low-DP XOS and fermentable sugars., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Acetobacter is one of the main species producing fruit vinegar and its tolerance mechanism to citric acid has not been fully studied. This limits fruit vinegar production from high-citric-acid fruits, which are excellent materials for fruit vinegar production. This study analyzed the metabolic differences between two strains of A. tropicalis with different citric acid tolerances using non-targeted metabolomics. Differential metabolites and metabolic pathways analysis showed that the enhanced amino acid metabolism significantly improved the citric acid tolerance of A. tropicalis and the deamination of amino acids may also play a role. In addition, the up-regulated phosphatidylcholine (PC) and N-heptanoylhonoserine lactone indicated decreased membrane permeability and enhanced quorum sensing (QS), respectively. The analysis of the interaction between pathways and metabolites indicated that Gln, Cys, and Tyr contribute to improving citric acid tolerance, which was also confirmed by the exogenous addition. After adding the amino acids, the down-regulated qdh, up-regulated ggt, and improved glutathione reductase (GR) activity in J-2736 indicated that glutathione metabolism played an important role in resisting citric acid, and cellular antioxidant capacity was increased. This study provides a theoretical basis for efficient fruit vinegar production from citric-acid-type fruits., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Acetic acid is a promising alternative to antibiotics for topical applications, particularly burn wounds, however its site specificity and retention are impaired by poor material properties. In this study, acetic acid was investigated as both the gelling agent and antimicrobial active in alginate fluid gels. The formed microstructure was found to be directly dependent on acetic acid concentration, leading to highly tuneable material properties. At clinically relevant concentrations of 2.5-5 % acetic acid, the fluid gels were elastically dominated at rest, with viscosities up to 7 orders of magnitude greater than acetic acid alone. These material properties imparted long term surface retention and microparticle barrier function, not seen with either acetic acid or alginate solutions. Most notably, sprayability was enhanced simultaneously with the increased viscosity and elasticity due to the introduction of a discretised microstructure, leading to a remarkable tenfold increase in spray coverage. Formulation was found not to inhibit antimicrobial activity, despite the less acidic pH, with common burn wound pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa being equally susceptible to the fluid gels as to acetic acid solutions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Richard Moakes & Liam Grover has patent #WO2021250422A3 issued to University of Birmingham. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Fruits are excellent sources of substrate for various fermented products, including fruit vinegars, which are typically produced by submerged fermentation. Some evidence suggests that fruit vinegar consumption can alleviate certain disorders, including hyperlipidemia, inflammation, and hyperglycemia. Fruit vinegars also have bacteriostatic and antihypertensive actions. Recent studies also suggest that apple vinegar may offer benefits in treating insulin resistance, osteoporosis, and certain neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease; it may also support weight loss. Recent studies in animal and human models have considerably broadened our understanding of the biological properties of not only fruit vinegars but also oxymels, i.e., mixtures of vinegar and honey or sugar. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge regarding vinegars and oxymels, with a special emphasis on their chemical composition and the mechanisms behind their biological activity and pro-health potential. The multidirectional effects of fruit vinegars and oxymels result from the synergy of different chemical compounds, including organic acids (mainly acetic acid), phenolic compounds, vitamins, minerals, and fermentation products. However, more studies are needed to understand the interactions between all the different components, not only the phenolic compounds and organic acids. In addition, more research is needed on their mechanisms of action. Although no serious side effects have been noted to date, further studies with large sample sizes are needed to understand the possible side effects of long-term fruit vinegar and oxymel use.

Mei (Prunus mume) is a highly nutritious fruit whose value is often underutilized due to its perishable nature and challenges in post-maturation storage. This study evaluated the changes and correlations among quality, volatile flavor compounds (VFCs), and microorganisms in Mei vinegar (MV) during acetic acid fermentation (AAF) and low temperature clarification (LTC) using various clarifiers. The results indicated that AAF enhanced the bioactive components and antioxidant capacity of MV. A total of 73 VFCs were identified, comprising 9 alcohols, 28 esters, 5 aldehydes, 18 acids, 4 phenols, 1 ketone, 5 alkanes, and 3 others. Among these, the number and relative content of esters and acids exhibited dominance both in AAF and LTC. Firmicutes and Pediococcus were predominant at the phylum and genus levels, respectively. After 1 d of AAF, the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Pediococcus increased significantly, while LTC reduced their abundance. Among the 20 stable VFCs in MV, most esters and alcohols showed positive correlations with the top 10 bacteria at the phylum and genus levels, while certain acids were negatively correlated with these bacteria. Therefore, these findings offer valuable insights for the development of MV, the selection of clarifiers, and offer a theoretical basis for improving MV quality and flavor., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hepatic fibrosis, a chronic pathological condition resulting from various forms of persistent liver injury, in the later stage, it can evolve into cirrhosis and even liver cancer. Curcumae Rhizoma (CR), traditionally recognized for its properties in line qi break blood, eliminate accumulation and relieve pain. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principles, vinegar-processing enhances CR's ability to enter the liver meridian and act on the blood level, potentially augmenting its therapeutic effects on hepatic diseases. Therefore, vinegar-processed Curcumae Rhizoma (VCR) is frequently employed in treating liver fibrosis and related hepatic conditions. However, the underlying mechanisms of vinegar processing in enhancing its therapeutic efficacy remain unclear., Methods: The anti-liver fibrosis effects of CR and VCR were verified at individual and cellular levels. Subsequently, HPLC-Q-TOFMS and pharmacokinetic analysis were utilized to elucidate the potential bioactive substances underlying the enhanced anti-fibrotic efficacy of VCR. Building upon these findings, network pharmacology and metabolomics were integrated to screen for key effect components and regulatory pathways. Finally, the mechanisms of action were further analyzed and validated at the tissue and cellular levels through Western blotting (WB) and molecular docking studies., Results: Both CR and VCR exhibited therapeutic effects against hepatic fibrosis, with VCR demonstrating enhanced efficacy after vinegar processing. 6 sesquiterpenes including furanodiene and curdione, showed significant alterations in plasma exposure and hepatic distribution post-processing. VCR significantly improved pathological liver conditions, lipid accumulation, and fibrosis severity. Additionally, VCR markedly reduced the expression of α-SMA in the liver and attenuated the elevations in liver function markers such as ALT and AST. Combined network pharmacology, metabolomics, and hepatic tissue WB analysis revealed that the reduced phosphorylation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is a critical mechanism in VCR's anti-fibrotic effects. Experiments on LX-2 cells demonstrated that four sesquiterpenes, including furanodiene and curdione, effectively inhibited the proliferation of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Furanodiene, in particular, promoted apoptosis in activated HSCs by reducing phosphorylation levels of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway proteins, increasing BAX expression, and activating downstream caspase-3 to achieve the effect of anti-liver fibrosis., Conclusion: Vinegar-processing significantly increases the plasma exposure and hepatic distribution of components such as furanodiene in VCR, enhancing anti-fibrotic efficacy by downregulating the phosphorylation levels of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and promoting HSC apoptosis. This study provides a comprehensive explanation of the vinegar-processing mechanism and its role in enhancing the anti-fibrotic effects of VCR, offering insights for its clinical application in liver fibrosis treatment and reference for the mechanistic study of other vinegar-processed herbal medicines., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by its incurable nature and undefined etiology, which is often accompanied by a high prevalence of comorbid depression. The gut-brain axis has emerged as a promising treatment target in recent years., Purpose: This study aimed to investigate how vinegar-processed Schisandra Chinensis (VSC) enhances therapeutic effects on depressive behavior in chronic UC mice., Methods: A chronic UC model was induced in mice using dextran sulfate sodium. The therapeutic effects of both raw and vinegar-processed Schisandra Chinensis on UC and associated depressive symptoms were assessed. Colonic mucosal damage was evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Alcian blue staining. The integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and synaptic structures was visualized via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to quantify inflammatory cytokine levels in the colon, serum, and brain, while western blotting was performed for protein expression analysis. Additionally, metagenomic analysis was conducted to investigate gut microbiota composition. Nissl staining and immunofluorescence were used to assess hippocampal neuronal damage, and behavioral assessments including the morris water maze, open field test, forced swimming test and tail suspension test, were implemented to evaluate depressive states. Serum metabolites were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS., Results: Both raw and vinegar-processed Schisandra Chinensis significantly upregulated aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), inhibited NF-κB p-p65 activation, and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine. These treatments also enhanced the expression of tight junction proteins, restored colonic mucosal and BBB integrity, alleviated damage to hippocampal neurons, and improved synaptic structure. Behavioral assessments indicated that VSC was particularly effective in ameliorating depressive-like behaviors in chronic UC mice. In the gut, both treatments reshaped the gut microbial composition, restoring the relative abundance of Duncaniella, Candidatus_Amulumruptor, Alistipes, Parabacteroides, Lachnospiraceae_bacterium, uncultured_Bacteroides_sp., Candidatus_Amulumruptor_caecigallinarius, with VSC showing more pronounced effects. Serum metabolomics revealed an increase in tryptophan levels and a decrease in kynurenine and xanthurenic acid levels with VSC, indicating that tryptophan metabolism shifted from the kynurenine pathway to the 5-HT or indole pathway. However, this phenomenon did not occur with Schisandra Chinensis (SC)., Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the disruption of tryptophan metabolic balance served as a biological mechanism underlying the occurrence of depressive behaviors induced by UC. The application of SC following vinegar processing enhanced its regulatory effects on gut microbiota and tryptophan metabolism. This findings provided a new insight for the clinical management of gut-brain comorbidities., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

In this study, molecular dynamics simulation was used to predict the molecular diffusion coefficient of acetic acid and acetone in water, toluene, and benzene. The results showed that COMPASS was the best force field to optimize the atoms and structure of molecules, and the results were compared with experimental equations. The Arrhenius behavior of the molecular diffusion coefficient was investigated at three temperatures. The extraction of acetic acid and acetone from water was investigated using two solvents, toluene, and benzene, with and without SiO 2 nanoparticles. The relative concentration change diagram was drawn for three cases without and with SiO 2 nanoparticles. To quantitatively examine the results, extraction efficiency, selectivity, and distribution coefficient were calculated. The extraction efficiency of acetone from water by benzene in the absence of silica nanoparticles was 65.748 %, this value in the presence of SiO 2 nanoparticles with a concentration of 0.2231 wt% was 72.45 % due to the Brownian motion of the nanoparticles, which increased the mass transfer and as a result, the extraction efficiency. With the further increase of nanoparticles up to 1.7573 wt%, the extraction efficiency decreased to 61.276 %, which can be attributed to the accumulation of silica nanoparticles and the decrease in the free movement of nanoparticles., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The quality of the grains during the fumigation process can significantly affect the flavour and nutritional value of Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV). Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) was used to monitor the extent of fumigated grains, and it was combined with chemometrics to quantitatively predict three key physicochemical constituents: moisture content (MC), total acid (TA) and amino acid nitrogen (AAN). The noise reduction effects of five spectral preprocessing methods were compared, followed by the screening of optimal wavelengths using competitive adaptive reweighted sampling. Support vector machine classification was employed to establish a model for discriminating fumigated grains, and the best recognition accuracy reached 100%. Furthermore, the results of partial least squares regression slightly outperformed support vector machine regression, with correlation coefficient for prediction (Rp) of 0.9697, 0.9716, and 0.9098 for MC, TA, and AAN, respectively. The study demonstrates that HSI can be employed for rapid non-destructive monitoring and quality assessment of the fumigation process in SAV., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Sichuan shai vinegar (SSV) is an acidic condiment with a long history and unique flavor. Aging is an important production process that determines the unique flavor of shai vinegar. This study compared the differences in physicochemical properties, volatile flavor, and non-volatile flavor substances between the constant temperature aging and natural aging methods of SSV Cupei. The results showed that the total acid and amino acid nitrogen content in naturally aged vinegar was higher than that in constant temperature aged vinegar. Furthermore, 20 different volatile flavor substances and 65 different non-volatile flavor substances were obtained after 21 and 25 days of constant temperature aging and 1, 3, and 5 years of natural aging SSV samples. This indicates that the temperature environment during natural aging was more moderate, allowing acidic compounds to form and stably exist in the aging environment. Correlation analysis further demonstrated that there were more differentiated non-volatile substances significantly related to the Maillard reaction under constant temperature aging condition and related to antioxidant activity under natural aging condition. The results of this study provide a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics and applications of the two aging methods of SSV and guide strategy for factories in the selection of aging methods., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Composting faces challenges with nitrogen (N) losses through ammonia (NH 3 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions. In this study, wood vinegar (WV) and biochar (BC) were applied individually or combined into wheat straw and chicken manure composting. Results showed that BC and WV reduced NH 3 volatilizations by 22-23 % individually, but their combined application achieved a 59 % reduction. However, this combination increased N 2 O emissions by 174 %. The BC + WV treatment improved compost quality, evidenced by increased total N content by 22 % and enhanced the biological index, promoting additional dissolved organic matter production. Overall, BC and WV applications improved compost quality, reduced gaseous N losses, and supported the re-utilization of agricultural residues. The combined use of BC and WV significantly enhances compost quality and reduces NH 3 emissions, offering a promising solution for sustainable agricultural residue management., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

In this study, to address the issue of solvent selection in the chemical modification of starch, a method was developed for the efficient esterification of waxy maize starch (WMS) using an acidic deep eutectic solvent composed of choline chloride and acetic acid (CCHAc-ADES). The impact of different mass fractions of CCHAc-ADES on the degree of substitution and reaction efficiency of lauric acid starch esters was explored. It was found that under the conditions of 70 wt% CCHAc-ADES, starch esters with the highest degree of substitution of 0.161 were successfully prepared, achieving an esterification efficiency of 79.63 %. 13 C and 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and gel permeation chromatography revealed that CCHAc-ADES acted within the surface voids of WMS particles without seriously damaging the WMS structure, making it a favorable solvent for chemical modification of WMS. By monitoring changes in the morphology, relative crystallinity, particle size, and hydrophobicity of esterified WMS in CCHAc-ADES, the formation mechanism of lauric acid starch esters was inferred, primarily related to the competitive hydrogen bonding of CCHAc-ADES with WMS. The method proposed in this study allows for the preparation of long-chain fatty acid starch esters without the use of any additional chemicals or enzymes, offering significant guidance for the application of deep eutectic solvents in green synthesis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The aim of this work is to investigate the assembly of foxtail millet prolamin (FP) with chitosan hydrochloride (CHC) and carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (CMCD) in acetic acid aqueous solutions. The proportion of acetic acid has a positive impact on the disintegration of FP. With the use of 91.0 % (v/v) acetic acid, FP forms smaller particles of approximately 45 nm (naked FP particles) and 220 nm (FP - CHC - CMCD hybrid particles). In the case of using 61.5 % (v/v) acetic acid, the microstructures of bare FP particles and 570 nm composite FP nanoparticles (NPs) are looser, about 485 nm. Acetic acid inhibits the noncovalent bonds, including the hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding and electrostatic attractions between FP and polysaccharides. Therefore, 3.8 % (v/v) acetic acid can nucleate FP to form more compact FP hybrid particles for delivering curcumin (Cur) with higher encapsulation efficiency, storage stability and release performance, and improve the antibacterial and anticancer activity of Cur., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aims to elucidate the structure, physicochemical properties, and potential behavior of vinegar melanoidins (VM) during digestion and intestinal microbial fermentation in vitro. Our findings revealed that VM mainly consisted of carbohydrates. The particle size (166.46 ± 10.06 nm) of VM was significantly larger than that of model melanoidins (MM, 20.69 ± 0.05 nm). VM exhibited stability in vitro digestion process. However, the carbohydrate contents and Mw were reduced. Total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant capacity and SCFAs were significantly increased after colonic fermentation. TPC and TFC were 79.48 ± 9.52 mg GAE/g DW and 0.422 ± 0.024 mg RE/g DW at 48 h. In addition, VM exhibited intestinal modulatory effects on the microbiota by promoting an increase in beneficial bacteria including Firmicutes and Bifidobacterium. Collectively, these results suggest that VM as a potential prebiotic can be applied in the field of functional food., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (LF-NMR) can be a valid tool in food fingerprint analyses to detect commercial frauds. Thus, the work aims at exploring the potential of LF-NMR, coupled with chemometrics, in discriminating authentic white wine vinegars from products adulterated with alcohol vinegars (i.e., 5-25% v/v adulteration levels). The monodimensional spectra and transverse relaxation times (T2) of 88 samples, including 32 authentic vinegars and 56 adulterated samples, were collected. Three different spectral regions were investigated (i.e., 3.75-0.90, 3.75-2.00, and 1.50-0.90 ppm) and, for each, fifteen variables were selected from the pretreated monodimensional spectra. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) on monodimensional spectra in the range 3.75-0.90 ppm gave 100% correct classification of authentic and adulterated vinegars in prediction, whereas LDA models developed with acetic acid or water T2 failed. In conclusion, LF-NMR spectra can be effectively used to detect, in a rapid and non-destructive way, white wine vinegar adulteration with alcohol vinegar., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Acetic acid fermentation product made from isomalto-oligosaccharide as the main raw material is composed of isomalto-oligosaccharide and acetic acid. In this paper, we have shown that the fermentation product enhanced the expression of disease resistance genes in rice, and that its main functional component was acetic acid. It has been reported so far that acetic acid enhances the jasmonic acid signaling pathway, while the role of isomalto-oligosaccharide in plant defense signaling remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated the possibility that isomalto-oligosaccharide shifted part of the jasmonic acid signaling pathway, which is enhanced by acetic acid, to the salicylic acid signaling pathway, which is the other major defense pathway. Furthermore, glucose, a constituent monosaccharide of isomalto-oligosaccharide, and a disaccharide maltose had little effect on the signaling pathway, but a trisaccharide maltotriose tended to have a similar effect to isomalto-oligosaccharide on the defense signaling pathway., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry.)

Traditional vinegars are naturally produced from sugar- or starch-containing raw materials, through alcoholic fermentation followed by acetic fermentation. Fermentation is a spontaneous and complex process involving interactions between various microorganisms. In this study, we produced vinegar using traditional methods from six fruits: rosehip, pear, fig, wild pear, apple, and plum. Bacteria that produce bacterial cellulose (BC) were isolated from these vinegars and identified. In addition, we investigated the properties of BC produced from these bacteria. The strains isolated from vinegars were identified as Gluconobacter oxydans strain MG2022, Acetobacter tropicalis strain MG2022, Acetobacter fabarum strain MG2022, Komagataeibacter saccharivorans strain MG2022, K. saccharivorans strain EG2022, and Acetobacter lovaniensis strain OD2022. In total, 0.83-2.04 g/L BC was produced and the bacterial strain isolated from pear vinegar yielded the most BC. BC produced by the bacterial strain isolated from wild pear vinegar had the highest thermal stability and crystallinity (87.44 %). Overall, this study shows that different fruits contain different BC-producing bacteria in their natural flora and vinegars obtained from fruits can be used in BC production. Also, different BC-producing bacteria can be isolated from different vinegars, and BC produced by these bacteria might have different properties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The author declares no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The gap between serious soil heavy metals pollution and inefficient soil remediation threatens human health. This study proposed a method to improve the phytoremediation efficiency using bamboo vinegar (BV) solution and the potential mechanism was discussed. The results demonstrated that the application of BV increases the content of cadmium (Cd) in vacuole and cell wall hemicellulose 2 in leaves of Perilla frutescens. Simultaneously, it enhanced enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in leaves. Therefore, this process alleviated the damage of Cd to functional tissues of Perilla frutescens, thus improving the tolerance of plants to Cd. Moreover, the BV application reduced the Cd content bound by root cell wall pectin fractions and insoluble phosphate, subsequently improving the ability of oxalic acids to carry Cd to the aerial parts. Consequently, the aerial parts obtained a larger amount of Cd enrichment. Overall, the Transfer Factor of Cd from roots to stems and enrichment of Cd in Perilla frutescens were maximally increased by 57.70 % and 54.03 % with the application of 50-fold and 300-fold diluted BV under 2 mg·L -1 Cd stress, respectively. The results can provide a theoretical basis for the promotion of phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil treatment technology., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Acetic acid is the key organic substance used to verify the authenticity of vinegar. A new method for precisely determining acetic acid δD CH3 in vinegar via gas chromatography -pyrolytic-stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-P-IRMS) was established. The δD CH3 values were obtained via calibration with a series of standards. The optimised method demonstrated a repeatability standard deviation within 3 ‰. The standard deviation of accuracy of the new method compared with that of the SNIF-NMR method was within 2.6 ‰. The synthetic acetic acid δD CH3 values was -136.7 ‰ ± 29.6 ‰, and the δD CH3 value of acetic acid in vinegar was -414.9 ‰ ± 40.5 ‰, with significant isotopic distribution characteristics. This methodology serves as a supplementary method for measuring the δD CH3 value of acetic acid in vinegar. It has advantages over other methods in terms of time, sensitivity and operability. And provides a new idea for solving the problem of analyzing substances in the presence of exchangeable groups., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study explored the potential application of plasma coupling ionic liquid on disintegration of waste activated sludge and enhanced production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in anaerobic fermentation. Under optimal conditions (dosage of ionic liquid [Emim]OTf = 0.1 g/g VSS (volatile suspended solids) and discharge power of dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBD) = 75.2 W), the [Emim]OTf/DBD pretreatment increased SCFA production by 302 % and acetic acid ratio by 53 % compared to the control. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the [Emim]OTf/DBD combination motivated the generation of various reactive species (such as H 2 O 2 , O 3 , •OH, 1 O 2 , ONOO - , and •O 2 - ) and enhanced the utilization of physical energies (such as heat). The coupling effects of [Emim]OTf/DBD synergistically improved the disintegration of sludge and biodegradability of dissolved organic matter, promoting the sludge anaerobic fermentation process. Moreover, the [Emim]OTf/DBD pretreatment enriched hydrolysis and SCFAs-forming bacteria while inhibiting SCFAs-consuming bacteria. The net effect was pronounced expression of genes encoding key enzymes (such as alpha-glucosidase, endoglucanase, beta-glucosidase, l-lactate/D-lactate dehydrogenase, and butyrate kinase) involved in the SCFA-producing pathway, enhancing the production of SCFAs from sludge anaerobic fermentation. In addition, [Emim]OTf/DBD pretreatment facilitated sludge dewatering and heavy metal removal. Therefore, [Emim]OTf/DBD pretreatment is a promising approach to advancing sludge reduction, recyclability, and valuable resource recovery., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Biofilms are highly resistant to disinfectants and antimicrobials and are known as the primary source of food contamination. Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) have an excellent ability to form biofilm. This study aimed to evaluate the antibiofilm activity of ozonated water (O), acetic acid (AA), and lactic acid (LA), individually and sequentially, against biofilms of S. Typhimurium and S. aureus formed on the polystyrene surfaces. The antibiofilm effects of the treatments were evaluated using crystal violet staining and the viable count determination methods. In the staining method, the highest percentage of biofilm mass reduction was induced by successive use of ozonated water and acetic acid (O-AA), which reduced S. aureus biofilm mass by 44.36%. The sequential use of ozonated water and lactic acid (O-LA) could decrease S. Typhimurium biofilm mass by 57.26%. According to the viable count method, the most effective treatment was the sequential use of ozonated water and lactic acid (O-LA), which reduced S. aureus and S. Typhimurium biofilms by 1.76 and 4.06 log, respectively. It was concluded that the sequential use of ozonated water and organic acids can be considered a practical and environmentally friendly approach to control biofilms., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Lignocellulosic material is a leading carbon source for economically viable biotechnological processes; however, compounds such furfural and acetic acid exhibit toxicity to yeasts. Nonetheless, research about the molecular mechanism of furfural and acetic acid toxicity is still scarce in yeasts like Scheffersomyces stipitis. Thus, this study aims to elucidate the impact of furfural and acetic acid on S. stipitis regarding bioenergetic and fermentation parameters. Here, we provide evidence that furfural and acetic acid induce a delay in cell growth and extend the lag phase. The mitochondrial membrane potential decreased in all treatments with no significant differences between inhibitors or concentrations. Interestingly, reactive oxygen species increased when the inhibitor concentrations were from 0.1 to 0.3 % (v/v). The glycolytic flux was not significantly (p > 0.05) altered by acetic acid, but furfural caused different effects. Ethanol production decreased significantly (4.32 g·L -1 in furfural and 5.06 g·L -1 in acetic acid) compared to the control (26.3 g·L -1 ). In contrast, biomass levels were not significantly different in most treatments compared to the control. This study enhances our understanding of the effects of furfural and acetic acid at the mitochondrial level in a pentose-fermenting yeast like S. stipitis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The presence of antinutrients and undesirable flavours in kidney bean flour poses challenges to consumer acceptance. Although extrusion can mitigate antinutrients to some extent, its impact on reducing beany flavour in bean flour remains underexplored. This study investigated the effects of injecting acetic acid or sodium carbonate solutions at three concentration levels (0.05, 0.1, 0.15 mol/L), in conjunction with three temperature profiles (40/60/80/80/90, 40/60/80/90/110, 50/70/90/110/130 °C) and two feed moisture levels (25, 30 %), on the removal of antinutrients (condensed tannins, trypsin inhibitor activity, phytic acid, raffinose family oligosaccharides) and reduction of volatile compounds that contribute to beany flavour in whole kidney bean flour. The results showed that all concentrations of acetic acid and sodium carbonate solutions effectively reduced condensed tannins compared to water, especially at 130 °C extrusion temperature. Introducing acetic acid and sodium carbonate solutions at a concentration of 0.15 mol/L led to 72 and 90 % reduction of total raffinose family oligosaccharide content, respectively, in contrast to the 17 % reduction observed with water alone. The incorporation of sodium carbonate solution reduced the total volatile compounds by 45-58 % as compared with water (23-33 %) and acetic acid (11-27 %). This reduction was primarily due to the reduction of aldehydes, alcohols, and aromatic hydrocarbons. These results indicate that injecting sodium carbonate solution during extrusion can effectively reduce antinutrients and beany flavour compounds in kidney bean flour., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Studies of classical microbiology rely on the average behaviour of large cell populations without considering that clonal bacterial populations may bifurcate into phenotypic distinct sub-populations by random switching mechanisms.Listeria monocytogenes exposure to sublethal stresses may induce different physiological states that co-exist (i.e., sublethal injury or dormancy) and present variable resuscitation capacity. Exposures to peracetic acid (PAA; 10-30 ppm; for 3 h), acetic acid and hydrochloric acid (AA and HCl; pH 3.0-2.5; for 5 h) at 20 °C were used to induce different physiological states in L. monocytogenes, Scott A strain. After stress exposure, colony growth of single cells was monitored, on Tryptic Soy Agar supplemented with 0.6 % Yeast Extract, using time-lapse microscopy, at 37 °C. Images were acquired every 5 min and were analyzed using BaSCA framework. Most of the obtained growth curves of the colonies were fitted to the model of Baranyi and Roberts for the estimation of lag time (λ) and maximum specific growth rate (μ max ), except the ones obtained after exposure to AA pH 2.7 and 2.5 that were fitted to the Trilinear model. The data of λ and μ max that followed a multivariate normal distribution were used to predict growth variability using Monte Carlo simulations. Outgrowth kinetics after treatment with AA (pH 2.7 and 2.5; for 5 h at 20 °C), PAA (30 ppm; for 3 h at 20 °C) revealed that these stress conditions increase the skewness of the variability distributions to the right, meaning that the variability in lag times increases in favour of longer outgrowth. Exposures to AA pH 2.5 and 30 ppm PAA resulted in two distinct subpopulations per generation with different growth dynamics. This switching mechanism may have evolved as a survival strategy for L. monocytogenes cells, maximizing the chances of survival. Simulation of microbial growth showed that heterogeneity in growth dynamics is increased when cells are recovering from exposure to sublethal stresses (i.e. PAA and acidic conditions) that may induce injury or dormancy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The anaerobic digestion (AD) process has become significant for its capability to convert organic wastewater into biogas, a valuable energy source. Excessive acetic acid accumulation in the anaerobic digester can inhibit methanogens, ultimately leading to the deterioration of process performance. Herein, the effect of magnetite particles (MP) as an enhancer on the methanogenic degradation of highly-concentrated acetate (6 g COD/L) was examined through long-term sequential AD batch tests. Bioreactors with (AM) and without (AO) MP were compared. AO experienced inhibition and its methane production rate (q m ) converged to 0.45 L CH 4 /g VSS/d after 10 sequential batches (AO10, the 10th batch in a series of the sequential batch tests conducted using bioreactors without MP addition). In contrast, AM achieved 3-425% higher q m through the sequential batches, indicating that MP could counteract the inhibition caused by the highly-concentrated acetate. MP addition to inhibited bioreactors (AO10) successfully restored them, achieving q m of 1.53 L CH 4 /g VSS/d, 3.4 times increase from AO10 after 8 days lag time, validating its potential as a recovery strategy for inhibited digesters with acetate accumulation. AM exhibited higher microbial populations (1.8-3.8 times) and intracellular activity (9.3 times) compared to AO. MP enriched Methanosaeta, Peptoclostridium, Paraclostridium, OPB41, and genes related to direct interspecies electron transfer and acetate oxidation, potentially driving the improvement of q m through MP-mediated methanogenesis. These findings demonstrated the potential of MP supplementation as an effective strategy to accelerate acetate-utilizing methanogenesis and restore an inhibited anaerobic digester with high acetate accumulation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The dried root of Bupleurum marginatum var. stenophyllum (H. Wolff) R.H. Shan & Y. Li (BM), which has been used as a Bupleuri radix in Guizhou Province and is listed in the 2003 edition of the Guizhou Quality Standard for Traditional Chinese Medicines and Ethnic Materia Medica, is effective at dispersing the liver and relieving depression and often used in the form of raw or vinegar-processed product (VBM). However, the potential depression-relieving components of BM are unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the potential antidepressant constituents of BM and investigate the effect of vinegar processing on these components. The antidepressant effect and mechanism of BM and VBM were investigated in depressed mice and BV2 cells, respectively. The pharmacodynamic constituents were screened through serum pharmacochemistry, which combined the results of metabolomics analysis of BM and VBM, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) content determination, and verification of the antidepressant effect and mechanism of differential components of SSb 2 to clarify the connotation of vinegar processing. Our results demonstrated that BM can exert a significant antidepressant effect by inhibiting microglia polarization and that this effect was enhanced after vinegar processing. Thirty-eight components were identified in the BM, 13 of which were blood-absorbable, mainly saponins, and defined as potential antidepressant components of the BM. The contents of 17 components-6 of which were absorbed into the blood-changed considerably after processing. It was finally determined that vinegar processing can enhance the antidepressant effect of BM by increasing the contents of SSb 1 and SSb 2 . SSb 2 exerts this effect via the samemechanism as BM. In conclusion, in this study we clarified the antidepressant effects and potential active components of BM and examined the mechanism of vinegar processing. These findings lay a foundation for the future research on the antidepressant effects of BM as well as for the complete development and application of BM's ethnomedicinal resources., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The 2021 FSIS Stabilization Guidelines for Meat and Poultry Products (Appendix B) Option 1.2 limits Phase 1 cooling from 48.8 to 26.7 °C in uncured meats to 1 h. However, this time restriction is impractical to achieve in large-diameter whole-muscle products. The objective of this study was to compare the inhibitory effect of commercial dry vinegars (DVs) and cultured sugar-vinegar blends (CSVs) on Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus in uncured beef and poultry products during extended cooling. Treatments (beef: 72-73% moisture, pH 6.2-6.3, 0.85-0.95% NaCl; turkey: 76-77% moisture, pH 6.5-6.7, 1.3-1.6% NaCl) included Controls without antimicrobials, and four DV and four CSV, each tested at 0.75 and 1.25%. Batches were inoculated with 2.5-log C. perfringens or B. cereus spores, vacuum-packaged, and cooked to 73 °C. Packages were cooled from 48.8 to 27 °C (Phase 1) in 3, 4, or 5 h; Phase 2 (27-12.8 °C) and Phase 3 (12.8-4 °C) were standardized for 5-h cooling each. Pathogens were enumerated on selective agar in triplicate samples assayed at precook, postcook, and at the end of Phase 1, 2, and 3 cooling. Experiments were conducted twice. B. cereus did not grow (<0.5-log increase) in any treatment when Phase 1 cooling was extended to 5 h. C. perfringens grew rapidly (2.5 to >4.5 log) in Control treatments when Phase 1 cooling was extended to ≥3 h. All 1.25% DV ingredients limited C. perfringens growth to ≤1-log when Phase 1 cooling was extended to 3 h but supported a >1-log increase when Phase 1 cooling was extended to 5 h. All 1.25% CSV inhibited growth under 3-h Phase 1 cooling; 1.25% CSV-A and ≥0.75% CSV-D inhibited growth in turkey during 5-h Phase 1 cooling, but inhibition with 1.25% CSV-C was inconsistent in beef. This study revealed that formulating uncured meats with 1.25% DV or certain CSV can extend Phase 1 cooling to 3 h. Although all ingredients inhibited growth when used at 0.75% or greater compared to a control, greater variability of inhibition was observed among CSV than for DV., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: “Kathleen A. Glass reports financial support was provided by Foundation and Meat and Poultry Research and Education. Kathleen A. Glass reports a relationship with ConAgra Brands Inc. that includes: consulting or advisory and travel reimbursement. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper”., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study demonstrates the substantial role of bicarbonate within a zero-valent iron (ZVI) system in hydrogen evolution, demonstrating that heightened concentration levels notably enhance hydrogen output. The acetic acid performance production of seven different inocula was examined when exposed to ZVI and CO 2 as the sole carbon source, separately. Along the seven inocula, river and constructed wetland sludges show the highest production rates at 300 mg/L day -1 and 269 mg/L day -1 , respectively. Acetobacterium levels significantly rose in CO 2 -enriched environments, particularly in river and wetland sludges. Moreover, bacteria attached to ZVI showed accelerated hydrogen consumption and acetic acid production compared to their freely suspended or ZVI-detached counterparts when hydrogen was primarily added externally. This study highlighted the positive effect of high concentrations of soluble CO₂, which acted both as a reactant with ZVI for hydrogen production and as a substrate for homoacetogens, leading to high acetic acid generation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We describe a microwave-assisted, methanol and acetic acid-free, inexpensive method for rapid staining of SDS-PAGE proteins. Only citric acid, benzoic acid, and Coomassie brilliant blue G-250 (CBG) were used. Microwave irradiation reduced the detection duration, and proteins in a clear background were visualized within 30 min of destaining, after 2 min of fixing and 12 min of staining. By using this protocol, comparable band intensities were obtained to the conventional methanol/acetic acid method., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abundant renewable resource lignocellulosic biomass possesses tremendous potential for green biomanufacturing, while its efficient utilization by Yarrowia lipolytica, an attractive biochemical production host, is restricted since the presence of inhibitors furfural and acetic acid in lignocellulosic hydrolysate. Given deficient understanding of inherent interactions between inhibitors and cellular metabolism, sufficiently mining relevant genes is necessary. Herein, 14 novel gene targets were discovered using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats interference library in Y. lipolytica, achieving tolerance to 0.35 % (v/v) acetic acid (the highest concentration reported in Y. lipolytica), 4.8 mM furfural, or a combination of 2.4 mM furfural and 0.15 % (v/v) acetic acid. The tolerance mechanism might involve improvement of cell division and decrease of reactive oxygen species level. Transcriptional repression of effective gene targets still enabled tolerance when xylose was a carbon source. This work forms a robust foundation for improving microbial tolerance to lignocellulose-derived inhibitors and revealing underlying mechanism., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Hainan dregs vinegar (HNDV) is a traditional fermented food in China that is renowned for its unique flavor. HNDV is one of the most popular vinegars in Southeast Asia. However, research on the microorganisms and characteristic metabolites specific to HNDV is lacking. This study investigated the changes in microbial succession, volatile flavor compounds and characteristic non-volatile flavor compounds during HNDV fermentation based on metagenomics and metabolomics. The predominant microbial genera were Lactococcus, Limosilactobacillus, Lactiplantibacillus, and Saccharomyces. Unlike traditional vinegar, l-lactic acid was identified as the primary organic acid in HNDV. Noteworthy flavor compounds specific to HNDV included 3-methylthiopropanol and dl-phenylalanine. Significant associations were observed between six predominant microorganisms and six characteristic volatile flavor compounds, as well as seven characteristic non-volatile flavor compounds. The present results contribute to the development of starter cultures and the enhancement of HNDV quality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)