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Recycling of paper sludge waste is crucial for establishing a sustainable green industry. This waste contains valuable sugars that can be converted into important chemicals such as ethanol, poly hydroxybutyrate, and lactic acid. However, the main challenge in obtaining sugars in high yield from paper sludge is the high crystallinity of cellulose, which hinders hydrolysis. To address this, pretreatment using phosphoric acid was optimized using response surface methodology to facilitate cellulose hydrolysis with minimal energy and chemicals. The created prediction model using the response surface method considered factors such as acid concentration (ranging from 60% to 85%), consistency (ranging from 4% to 10%), temperature (ranging from 25°C to 80°C), and time (ranging from 0.5 to 4 h). The results revealed that the model's significant factors affecting the yield were acid concentration, reaction time, temperature, and the product of acid concentration and temperature, while the model's significant factors affecting the crystallinity were the consistency, the temperature, and their product. The results showed that the optimum conditions for pretreatment were using an acid concentration of 64%, temperature of 25°C, consistency of 10%, and time of 30 min. The hydrolysis of the conditionally pretreated paper sludge resulted in a weight loss of 42%, compared to only 18% weight loss in non-pretreated paper sludge. Furthermore, the optimized conditions led to low levels of furfurals and acetic acid, which are undesirable by-products that can interfere with sugar fermentation. The total sugar obtained under the optimized conditions was 0.43 g glucose/g sample (10.46 g/L), while the contents of methyl furfural, furfural, and acetic acid were 21.65, 235.7, and 4.57 mg/L, respectively. This study demonstrates the potential of phosphoric acid for pretreatment and hydrolysis of paper sludge, enabling efficient saccharification and the production of sugars with minimal undesired by-products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Paper mulberry is a promising alternative fodder source due to its high protein and the abundance of active components. However, paper mulberry often faces susceptibility to contamination during silage fermentation, and there is a need to improve the quality of silage fermentation of paper mulberry through exotic additives. Sea buckthorn pomace (BP) is a feed additive containing antimicrobial and antioxidant substances that help to enhance silage fermentation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of BP and Lactiplantibacillus as additives on silage fermentation and bacterial community of paper mulberry. Results: The results showed that BP and Lactiplantibacillus significantly reduced the pH and ammonium nitrogen content of paper mulberry silage (P < 0.05) and significantly increased the content of lactic acid and acetic acid (P < 0.05), resulting in more residual water-soluble carbohydrate and crude protein contents and less fiber content relative to the control. The key microorganisms in paper mulberry silage fermentation are Lactiplantibacillus pentosus and Weissella cibaria. Among these, Lactiplantibacillus favored a rapid increase in Lactiplantibacillus pentosus abundance during the pre-silage fermentation period, whereas BP favored the promotion of Lactiplantibacillus pentosus growth, resulting in higher contents of lactic and acetic acid than those of the control. Conclusions: Simultaneously adding Lactiplantibacillus and BP can effectively improve the quality of paper mulberry silage and increase the abundance of beneficial microorganisms in paper mulberry silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on laser inspection photography and control variable method, the development formula of indandione was systematically studied, the formulations were optimised, the influence of adding glacial acetic acid and chlorine salt to the formula on the development effect of fingermarks was further studied. The results showed that the optimal formula was formula: 0.25 g indandione, 225 mL ethyl acetate, 225 mL petroleum ether, 25 mL ice acetic acid, 25 mL storage solution (0.2 g zinc chloride, 30 mL ethanol), and suitable for domestic climate environment, which had a good effect on the porous objects of fresh and within 20 d of the aged left fingermarks; fingermark fluorescence was significantly enhanced. The ex-perimental results provide a method to follow for optimizing the formulation of indandione fingerprint de-velopment, realizing the colorimetric and fluorescence dual-mode development of sweat latent fingermarks on porous objects. But attention should be paid to the characteristics of the porous object and the control of the amount of glacial acetic acid and the type of chlorine salt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs) can occur through contaminated food contact materials (FCMs), which may pose significant health risks. This study investigated the presence and migration characteristics of 26 OPEs in 60 plastic and paper-based food contact materials sourced from markets and online retailers. Migration experiments were conducted using three food simulants: 4% acetic acid, 10% ethanol, and 95% ethanol. Thirteen OPEs were identified in the packaging samples, with triphenyl phosphate and tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate being the most frequently detected, averaging 95.8 ng/g and 73.3 ng/g, respectively. During migration simulations, 11 OPEs were found to migrate into the food simulants, with migration concentrations ranging from 9.22 to 150 ng/cm². The health impact was assessed using hazard index and maximum cumulative ratio methods. Triphenylphosphine oxide, triisobutyl phosphate, and butylphenyl diphenyl phosphate contributed the most to the overall hazard among the 11 compounds. However, the overall risk of OPE exposure to humans was determined to be low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Biochar promoted the in-situ enrichment of Lactiplantibacillus. • Biochar elevated acetic acid yields to 37 % during early fermentation. • The sucrose-biochar combination increased lactic acid content by 15 %. • The sucrose-biochar synergy reduced CH 4 by 24.15 % in vitro rumen tests. • Biochar is a favorable strategy for anaerobic fermentation of paper mulberry. This study investigated biochar effects, either alone or combined with sucrose, on fermentation quality, microbial communities, and in vitro rumen digestion of anaerobic fermented paper mulberry. The biochar alkaline functional groups bind to lactic acid, reducing acid inhibition and promoting Lactiplantibacillus proliferation. Owing to the low sugar content of paper mulberry, lactic acid bacteria in the biochar group primarily underwent heterofermentation, resulting in the lowest lactic and highest acetic acid contents. Treated with sucrose-loaded biochar, the increased substrate supported homofermentation, leading to the highest lactic and lowest acetic acid contents, with a 15.0 % increase in lactic acid and a 22.2 % decrease in ammoniacal nitrogen compared with the control after 75 days. In vitro rumen tests showed that the biochar-sucrose group had the highest dry matter degradation rate (45.9 %) and a 24.2 % reduction in methane emissions. Concludingly, sucrose-loaded biochar is recommended as effective for lactic acid production under anaerobic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has attracted a lot of attention due to its complexity and direct effect on human health. Indoor settings in libraries entail various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) linked to the aging and degradation of print material. The effect of the storage environment on paper life expectancy was investigated by targeting the VOC emissions of old and new books using headspace solid phase micro extraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS) analysis. "Sniffing" of book degradation markers showed both ubiquitously and infrequently occurring VOCs. Old book "degradomics" revealed mostly alcohols (57%) and ethers (12%), whereas new books resulted mainly to ketones (40%) and aldehydes (21%). Chemometric processing of the results with principal component analysis (PCA) corroborated our initial observations and was able to discriminate the books by age into three groups: very old books (from the 1600 s to mid-1700), old books (from the 1800s to the early 1900s), and modern books (from the mid-twentieth century onwards) based on their gaseous markers. The measured mean concentrations of selected VOCs (acetic acid, furfural, benzene, and toluene) were below the respective guidelines set for similar places (i.e. museums). The applied non-invasive, green analytical methodology (HS-SPME-GC/MS) can assist librarians, stakeholders, and researchers to evaluate the IAQ, as well as the degree of degradation, and take the appropriate measures for book restoration and monitoring protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infestations of head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis) continue to be a major public health concern. There have been instances of lice developing resistance to traditional chemical pediculicides. Therefore, there is a critical need to identify new and effective alternatives. The purpose of this study was to use a filter paper contact bioassay to determine the toxicity of three plant extracts (Azadirachta indica, Nigella sativa, and Sesamum indicum) on head lice, both alone and in combination with iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe O Nps), at a concentration of 20 3 4 mg L-1. The pediculicidal activity of A. indica oil was 88% at 3 µl/cm2, whereas that of acetic acid solution (white vinegar) was 81% within 12 h, both without nanoparticles. With the addition of iron oxide nanoparticles, the toxicity was significantly amplified, and within 6-12 hours, A. indica and acetic acid killed all lice. When exposed to Fe O nanoparticles, N. sativa died after 12 h. When 3 4 exposed to Fe O nanoparticles, S. indicum exhibited moderate toxicity (35% 3 4 mortality) compared with its harmless effects. Within 12 h, A. indica eradicated all lice at a concentration of 6 µl/cm2, whereas an acetic acid solution resulted in 82% mortality. A. indica mixed with Fe O nanoparticles, caused complete death within 3 4 1h and with acetic acid within 6h. N. sativa exhibited a death rate of 72% when exposed to Fe O nanoparticles at 12 h. These results show that formulations based 3 4 on iron oxide nanoparticles, combined with A. indica and acetic acid, have great promise as pediculicidal agents to fight head lice infestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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&#95;Amulumruptor, Alistipes, Parabacteroides, Lachnospiraceae&#95;bacterium, uncultured&#95;Bacteroides&#95;sp., Candidatus&#95;Amulumruptor&#95;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.)

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.)

Copyright of Journal of Synthetic Crystals is the property of Journal of Synthetic Crystals Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, we explored the eco‐friendly synthesis of photoluminescent CCDs employing a direct one‐step pyrolysis process, utilizing natural Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis as the precursor material and studied their analgesic effect in mice. The synthesized carbon dots underwent comprehensive characterization through a range of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. These included UV‐Vis, FTIR, fluorescence spectroscopy and HR‐TEM, DLS instruments. HR‐TEM results exhibited the presence of homogenous spherical‐shaped C‐dots of about 3.3 nm without aggregates. Furthermore, the prepared CCDs were studied for their in vivo analgesic effect in mice by performing tail‐immersion, hot plate and acetic acid writhing tests. Also, an MTT assay was performed to assess the in vitro cytotoxicity of CCDs against L929 cells. In vitro cytotoxicity studies revealed that L929 cells exhibited higher cell viability when treated with prepared CCDs. The cellular uptake studies revealed the phase contrast images of MG‐63 cells at wavelength 488 nm clearly depicted the aggregation of green, fluorescent CCDs within the cells while leaving nuclei unobscured. In addition, to the best of our understanding, the results presented in this paper showed that CCDs exhibited an important analgesic effect and enhanced anti‐nociceptive activity, which may be due to stimulation of the opioidergic system. Consequently, CCDs appear to be a viable analgesic alternative for traditional analgesic candidates in pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of great significance to realize the carbonation of Ca/Mg minerals in the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag. In this paper, the BOF slag was treated with hydrochloric acid and acetic acid, and the carbon dioxide storage test was carried out. The sample of the BOF slag was treated with acetic acid, in which the content of calcium, magnesium, and silicon accounted for 45.44%, 8.23%, and 6.83%, respectively, and has a BET surface area of 52 m2/g. The thermodynamic analysis results were that the BOF slag can react with carbon dioxide at room temperature to form carbonate. However, better kinetic conditions were needed to obtain the maximum carbon dioxide absorption capacity. The amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the sample at 25–900 °C was measured. The results showed that in the range of 50–400 °C, the largest amount of carbon dioxide was absorbed by the sample treated with acetic acid, and the absorption amount was between 2.6 and 4.1 mmol/g. In the range of 500–800 °C, the largest amount of carbon dioxide absorbed was lime treated with acetic acid and hydrochloric acid, and the absorption was between 4.2 and 6.0 mmol/g. In the 800–900 °C range, the largest amount of carbon dioxide was absorbed, and the absorption was between 6.0 and 6.9 mmol/g via the samples treated with acetic acid and hydrochloric acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that fluoridated reagents for oil and water resistance are harmful to the human bodies and the environment. Consequently, the developments of nontoxic, environmentally friendly, fluorine‐free and degradable materials have received increasing attentions. Here, we introduce a novel method for fabricating a hydrophobic and oleophobic paper‐based packaging material through the application of chitosan/carnauba wax emulsions. These emulsions were prepared via high‐shear homogenization, blending melted carnauba wax with chitosan in acetic acid aqueous solutions. The stable chitosan/carnauba wax emulsion with particle size of 430 nm was prepared at the chitosan concentration of 1.5 wt%, the carnauba wax concentration of 8 wt% and temperature of 85 °C. After 10 g/m2 of chitosan/carnauba wax emulsion was applied to the paper surface, the oil and water resistance of the paper was significantly improved. The experimental results of kit rating value, oil contact angle, Cobb60 value and water contact angle were 9.5 ± 0.6, 86.6 ± 2.1°, 8.90 ± 1.62 g/m2 and 123.5 ± 2.6°, respectively. The application of chitosan/carnauba wax emulsion coating on papers provided a significantly lower water vapour transmission rate (WVTR, 78.45 ± 18.92 g/m2·24 h) and oxygen transmission rate (OTR, 94.26 ± 20.21 g/m2·24 h) as compared to the original paper, which met the needs of strawberry packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.)

ABSTRACT Designed to meet the specific needs of the printing industry exhaust gas emissions, this paper proposes a method for the degradation of gaseous acetic acid ester organics that is environmentally friendly, safe, and simple to use: micro-nano cavitation technology. In the process of using micro-nano cavitation technology to degrade acetic acid ester organics, the products in the degradation process were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass (GC-MS) spectrometry, and the degradation pathways of acetic acid ester organics were identified. Under high temperatures and high pressure caused by cavitation collapse, the C-C bond and C-O bond on the main chain of organic matter are cleaved to form low molecular products. Low-molecular intermediate products are continuously produced as the reaction advances, and these intermediate products are further oxidized and decomposed into carbon dioxide and water. Besides, the factors that influence the degradation rate of acetic acid ester organics were investigated. Based on the experimental data, acetic acid esters can degrade with the greatest efficiency when their initial concentration is 200 ± 50 mg/m 3 and their treatment time is 20∼30 min. Moreover, the experiment was optimized using the response surface method. The results suggested that for an initial concentration of 155.544 mg/m 3 and a reaction time of 21.961 min, the best degradation rate was 0.251 min -1 . Micro-nano cavitation technology is a novel and promising technology for the degradation of volatile organic compounds, with a wide range of practical applications.

Objectives: Fruit vinegar is one of the most famous fruit byproducts worldwide with several unique properties. There are two types of fruit vinegar, artisanal and industrial, for consumers to choose from. This review aims to assess for the first time the phytochemistry of fruit vinegar and its anti-inflammatory effects., Method: The present work was conducted based on a literature search that selected the relevant papers from indexed databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, MDPI, PubMed, Hindawi, and Web of Science. We used numerous terms to assure a good search in different databases, including fruit vinegar, phytochemistry, bioavailability and bioaccessibility, and anti-inflammatory effect. All articles were selected based on their relevance, quality, and problematic treatment., Results: Literature data have shown that vinegar has a long medicinal history and has been widely used by different civilizations, due to its richness in bioactive molecules, vinegar plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of various inflammatory diseases, including atopic dermatitis, mastitis, asthma, arthritis, acute pancreatitis, and colitis. Fruit vinegar consumption benefit is highly dependent on its chemical composition, especially organic acids and antioxidants, which can act as nutraceuticals., Conclusion: Fruit vinegar has a rich chemical composition, including organic acids that can be transformed in the digestive system into compounds that play an important role in health-promoting features such as anti-inflammatory effects throughout the control of intestinal microbiota and pro-inflammatory cytokine production., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Tehran University of Medical Sciences.)

Photoreforming is a clean photocatalytic technology for simultaneous plastic waste degradation and hydrogen fuel production, but there are still limited active and stable catalysts for this process. This work introduces the brookite polymorph of TiO 2 as an active photocatalyst for photoreforming with an activity higher than anatase and rutile polymorphs for both hydrogen production and plastic degradation. Commercial brookite successfully converts polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic to acetic acid under light. The high activity of brookite is attributed to good charge separation, slow decay and moderate electron trap energy, which lead to a higher generation of hydrogen and hydroxyl radicals and accordingly enhanced photo-oxidation of PET plastic. These results introduce brookite as a stable and active catalyst for the photoconversion of water contaminated with microplastics to value-added organic compounds and hydrogen., 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.)

There are complex and diverse substances in traditional vinegars, some of which have been identified as biologically active factors, but the variety of functional compounds is currently restricted. In this study, it was aimed to determine the bioactive compounds in 10 typical functional vinegars. The findings shown that total flavonoids (0.21-7.19 mg rutin equivalent/mL), total phenolics (0.36-3.20 mg gallic acid equivalent/mL), and antioxidant activities (DPPH: 3.17-47.63 mmol trolox equivalent/L, ABTS: 6.85-178.29 mmol trolox equivalent/L) varied among different functional vinegars. In addition, the concentrations of the polysaccharides (1.17-44.87 mg glucose equivalent/mL) and total saponins (0.67-12.46 mg oleanic acid equivalent/mL) were determined, which might play key role for the function of tested vinegars. A total of 8 organic acids, 7 polyphenol compounds and 124 volatile compounds were measured and tentatively identified. The protocatechuic acid (4.81-485.72 mg/L), chlorogenic acid (2.69-7.52 mg/L), and epicatechin (1.18-97.42 mg/L) were important polyphenol compounds in the functional vinegars. Redundancy analysis indicated that tartaric acid, oxalic acid and chlorogenic acid were significantly positively correlated with antioxidant capacity. Various physiologically active ingredients including cyclo (Pro-Leu), cyclo (Phe-Pro), cyclo (Phe-Val), cyclo (Pro-Val), 1-monopalmitin and 1-eicosanol were firstly detected in functional vinegars. Principle component analysis revealed that volatiles profile of bergamot Monascus aromatic vinegar and Hengshun honey vinegar exhibited distinctive differences from other eight vinegar samples. Moreover, the partial least squares regression analysis demonstrated that 11 volatile compounds were positively correlated with the antioxidant activity of vinegars, which suggested these compounds might be important functional substances in tested vinegars. This study explored several new functionally active compounds in different functional vinegars, which could widen the knowledge of bioactive factor in vinegars and provide new ideas for further development of functional vinegar beverages., 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.)

Vinegar is renowned for its benefits to human health due to the presence of antioxidants and bioactive components. Firstly, this study optimized the production conditions of ultrasound-treated strawberry vinegar (UT-SV), known for its high consumer appeal. The sensory properties of UT-SV were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) to create the most appreciated strawberry vinegar. Secondly, various quality parameters of conventional strawberry vinegar (C-SV), UT-SV, and thermally pasteurized strawberry vinegar (P-SV) samples were compared. RSM was employed to craft the best strawberry vinegar based on consumers ratings of UT-SV. Sensory characteristics, bioactive values, phenolic contents, and organic acid contents of C-SV, UT-SV, and P-SV samples were assessed. Through optimization, the ultrasound parameters of the independent variables were determined as 5.3 min and 65.5 % amplitude. The RSM modeling levels exhibited high agreement with pungent sensation at 98.06 %, aromatic intensity at 98.98 %, gustatory impression at 99.17 %, and general appreciation at 99.26 %, respectively. Bioactive components in UT-SV samples increased after ultrasound treatment compared to C-SV and P-SV samples. Additionally, the amount of malic acid, lactic acid, and oxalic acid increased after ultrasound treatment compared to C-SV samples. Ultimately, UT-SV with high organoleptic properties was achieved. The ultrasound treatment positively impacted the bioactive values, phenolic and organic acid content, leading to the development of a new and healthy product., 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 B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bioactive macromolecule mining is important for the functional chemome analysis of traditional Chinese vinegar. In this study, we isolated and characterized carbohydrate-containing macromolecules from Shanxi aged vinegar (CCMSAV) and evaluated their immunomodulatory activity. The isolation process involved ethanol precipitation, deproteinization, decolorization, and DEAE-650 M column chromatography, resulting in the acquisition of four sub-fractions. All sub-fractions exhibited a molecular weight range of 6.92 to 16.71 kDa and were composed of 10 types of monosaccharides. Comparative analysis of these sub-fractions with two melanoidins exhibited similarities in elemental composition, spectral signature, and pyrolytic characteristics. Immunological assays confirmed the significantly enhanced cell viability, phagocytic activity, and secretion of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 in RAW264.7 cells by all four sub-fractions. Further investigation of the immunomodulatory mechanism revealed that SAV-RP70-X, the most potent purified sub-fraction, enhanced aerobic glycolysis in macrophages and activated Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4, mannose receptor (MR), scavenger receptor (SR), and the dendritic cell-associated C-type lectin-1 receptor (Dectin-1). Furthermore, the activation of macrophages was associated with the MyD88/PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. Methylation analysis revealed that 1,4-Xylp was the most abundant glycosidic linkage in SAV-RP70-X., 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.)

The esterification reactions, which lead to esters with a big diversity of uses across numerous industries, is one of the most important reactions in organic synthesis. Within these esterification reactions, a variety of strategies have been used to improve conversion, reaction rate, and equilibrium. This paper investigated the effects of the audio frequency electric fields on the esterification reactions of acetic acid with C4-C8 branched aliphatic alcohols. The aim of these studies was to synthesize a few acetic acid esters in an environmentally and friendly manner utilizing a new method. The only raw materials used were acetic acid, C4-C8 branched aliphatic alcohols and an audio frequency electric field acting as an accelerator. In order to determine the efficacy of the suggested approach, these esters were also synthesized without applying the audio frequency electric field. Analysis using gas chromatography technique revealed that the audio frequency electric field significantly increased esterification yields. The highest yields of ester were obtained for 2-octyl acetate, exhibiting a notable increase in comparison to the synthesis that did not employ the application of an audio frequency electric field as an enhancer of the reaction rate. The proposed new method, as well as the employing of raw materials of natural origin, allows the production of esters in an environmentally friendly manner and with reduced costs. These esters can be used without any restrictions in a variety of industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the optimal growth stage and additives for producing high quality millet silage through two experiments. Experiment 1: Whole-plant millet from the same field and under uniform management was harvested at the heading, sizing, milking, dough, and full-maturity stages. Then, it was chopped into 2–3 cm segments, vacuum-sealed in plastic bags without any further treatment, stored at 20 °C, and opened after 60 days. The results indicated that the dough stage had the highest water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and crude protein (CP) contents. The lactic acid (LA) and acetic acid (AA) contents during the dough and maturity stages were significantly higher than other stages, with the lowest pH observed during the dough stage. Experiment 2: The whole-plant millet was harvested at the dough stage. It was then chopped into 2–3 cm segments using a forage chopper, mixed thoroughly, and subjected to different treatments—inoculation with 106 CFU/g FM of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP), adding of 1% FM sucrose (S), and a combination of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and sucrose (MIX)—with a control group (CK) receiving an equivalent amount of water. The MIX treatment significantly enhanced the WSC content compared to other treatments (p < 0.05), and both the LP and MIX treatments showed superior LA and AA contents and lactic acid bacteria counts. These additives significantly altered the bacterial community, shifting dominance from Proteobacteria in the CK and raw materials to Firmicutes. Klebsiella dominated the CK group but was significantly reduced in the additive treatments, where Lentilactobacillus became the dominant genus. Therefore, we recommend harvesting millet at the dough stage and adding a mixture of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and sugar to improve fermentation quality and aerobic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]