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Morocco's management of agri-food waste presents serious environmental problems that threaten natural environment and human health. It has become crucial to use more effective technologies, like composting or anaerobic digestion, for recycling food waste in order to address this problem. Such technologies must to not only provide solutions but also provide beneficial outcomes. Therefore, conducting comparative studies to identify the most effective technologies is crucial. The present study aims to examine the potential of converting this waste into a high-quality biofertilizer by comparing between the aerobic and anaerobic bioconversion with the use of a fungal inoculum in order to enhance the quality and time of the biological process. Additionally, the study examines the effect of using a single type of waste or a variety of wastes on the quality of the biofertilizer produced. A fungus known for its capacity to accelerate biotransformation, Aspergillus niger, was added to a mixture of fish, vegetable, and poultry wastes. In a 20-day process, the impact of waste formulation on nutritional and hygienic potential was assessed based on biofertilization standards. According to the results, a combination of all three waste types with a tiny excess of poultry waste was the best mixture for biofertilization. Regardless of the bioconversion mechanism employed, this mixture was proven to be effective and secure. Anaerobic digestion product had a higher potential for biofertilization than aerobic biotransformation product, according to fertilization tests on tomato crops. Therefore, choosing the most appropriate method of bioconversion is essential to produce a high-quality biofertilizer that can enhance plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish biologists have long assumed a link between intestinal length and diet, and relative gut length or Zihler's index are often used to classify species into trophic groups. This has been done for specific fish taxa or specific ecosystems, but not for a global fish dataset. Here, we assess these relationships across a dataset of 468 fish species (254 marine, 191 freshwater, and 23 that occupy both habitats) in relation to body mass and fish length. Herbivores had significantly relatively stouter bodies and longer intestines than omni- and faunivores. Among faunivores, corallivores had longer intestines than invertivores, with piscivores having the shortest. There were no detectable differences between herbivore groups, possibly due to insufficient understanding of herbivorous fish diets. We propose that reasons for long intestines in fish include (i) difficult-to-digest items that require a symbiotic microbiome, and (ii) the dilution of easily digestible compounds with indigestible material (e.g., sand, wood, exoskeleton). Intestinal indices differed significantly between dietary groups, but there was substantial group overlap. Counter-intuitively, in the largest dataset, marine species had significantly shorter intestines than freshwater fish. These results put fish together with mammals as vertebrate taxa with clear convergence in intestine length in association with trophic level, in contrast to reptiles and birds, even if the peculiar feeding ecology of herbivorous fish is probably more varied than that of mammalian herbivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the difficulty of digesting coffee husk (CH) and water hyacinth (WH) due to the lignin content, the present study investigated the influence of feedstock mixing ratios on the co-digestion performance of CH and WH with food waste (FW) at 38 ± 1 °C and its kinetics. Food waste was considered as co-substrate due to its ease of digestion. Batch experiments were conducted using CH/WH/FW ratios (100:0:0, 0:100:0, 35:35:30, 30:30:40, 25:25:50, 20:20:60, and 0:0:100 w/w) with total solids (TS) content of about 9.5% (w/v). The results indicated that the addition of FW significantly enhanced WH and CH digestion performance, with the maximum biogas yield of 572.60 ± 2.30 mL/gVS, best synergistic effect of 1.5, highest biodegradability of 89.22%, and a biodegradation rate of 57.82% obtained at a mix ratio of 25:25:50, which was improved by 179.71% compared to CH mono-digestion. In addition, the organic conversion efficiency of TS and volatile solids reached 69.86 and 81.48%, respectively. Conversely, CH mono-digestion yielded the lowest biogas yield of 204.71 ± 10.74 mL/g VS, highlighting its unfeasibility. The modified logistic equation showed the best fit to the experimental data. The optimum CH/WH/FW ratio of 25:25:50 demonstrated the highest biogas yield and methane content at 66.30 ± 0.76%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yeast and fibrolytic enzymes serve as additives incorporated into the nutrition of ruminants to regulate rumen fermentation and increase the digestibility of fiber, thereby enhancing the efficiency of rumen fermentation. Two experiments were conducted to assess the impact of five diets: a control diet without additives, diets with yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) or exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE), and diets with a blend of 0.7yeast + 0.3EFE or 0.7EFE + 0.3Yeast (based on recommended levels in g/kg of total DM). In the first experiment, 40 five-month-old Santa Ines lambs (mean weight 25.0 ± 1.3 kg) were distributed in a completely randomized design (5 treatments and 8 lambs) for 81 days to evaluate performance, ingestive behaviour, and serum metabolites. In the second experiment, 25 Santa Ines male lambs weighing 25.7 ± 4.1 kg were housed in metabolic cages, in a randomized design with 5 treatments and 5 lambs, evaluating digestibility, nitrogen balance, and rumen pH. EFE supplementation increased intakes of dry matter (DM), total digestible nutrients (TDN), and apNDF (mean of 38.1, 5.26, and 27%, respectively) compared to yeast or the 0.7yeast-0.3EFE blend. Feed conversion was most efficient (mean of 27.1%) in lambs fed Yeast, 0.7EFE + 0.3yeast, and the control diet. Lambs fed 0.7yeast + 0.3EFE spent less time eating (mean of 16.5%) and more time idling (mean of 10.75%), whereas EFE-fed lambs spent more time eating (mean of 19.73%), and 0.7EFE + 0.3yeast-fed lambs spent more time ruminating (mean of 20.14%). Control group lambs chewed and ruminated less (means of 24.64 and 17.21%, respectively) compared to other treatments. Lambs on the 0.7yeast + 0.3EFE blend had higher eating and rumination efficiency rates for DM and apNDF (mean of 19.11 and 17.95%, respectively) compared to other additive treatments or individual additives. They also exhibited lower (means 7.59 g/d) urinary N excretion, with improved N retention (mean 3185 g/d) compared to the control group. There were significant effects on serum albumin and cholesterol concentrations, with the 0.7yeast + 0.3EFE blend showing higher albumin (mean 4.08 g/dL) levels, while diets without additives and yeast-EFE blends had higher cholesterol (mean of 62.51 g/dL) concentrations. Including Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast along with 0.7 yeast + 0.3 EFE blend is recommended when feeding similar lamb diets to those used herein because it improves the efficiency of intake, rumination of DM and NDF, and nitrogen utilization without affecting the lamb performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration of various potentially toxic metals (Pb, Cd, As, Ni, Zn, and Cr) in street dust samples collected from Mehran city, Iran, was analyzed. The samples were obtained during normal traffic conditions, NTT, prior to the Arbaeen ceremony, as well as after the pilgrims' return, which corresponds to high traffic time, HTT. Street dust samples were analyzed for HM content using ICP-OES, following acid digestion. The subsequent evaluation of the data involved the application of the geo-accumulation index, enrichment factor, and potential ecological risk index (PER) and health risk assessment. The findings demonstrate a notable increase in the levels of HMs during HTT compared to the NTT. The highest enrichment values for Pb and Cd were observed in Mehran Street dust during the HTT. The mean of PER for all sampling points increased to 138.24, indicating a moderate-potential ecological risk at this time. Based on the health risk assessment, it was found that the hazard index for all samples was below one. The incremental lifetime cancer risk was below 10−6. This indicates that the exposed population is not exposed to substantial health risks. Despite the heavy traffic caused by the Arbaeen ceremony in this area and the high enrichment of HMs, along with potential ecological risks, no significant health risks were observed for individuals exposed to street dust. However, it is important to note that the continuation of this trend, in the absence of proper traffic management, could lead to significant environmental and health problems in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the effects of gallic tannic acid (GTA) supplementation on the growth performance, intestinal digestive enzymes, morphology and microbial composition of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The basal diet (CK) was supplemented with 5 g/kg (TL), 10 g/kg (TM) and 20 g/kg (TH) for 6 weeks. Compared with the CK group, adding GTA (10 g/kg) significantly increased the weight gain rate (WG%), specific growth rate (SGR%) and body condition factor ratio (CF) of common carp (p < 0.05) and reduced the fish feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05). GTA supplementation significantly increased digestive enzyme activity, including amylase (Ams), protease (Prt) and lipase (Lps) (p < 0.05). Supplementing GTA can also enhance the innate immunity of common carp by reducing the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (Alt), aspartate aminotransferase (Ast), malondialdehyde (Mda), and increasing catalase (Cat), total superoxide dismutase (Khorshidi, Paknejad, Sodagar, Hajimoradloo, & Shekarabi) levels (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the intestinal barrier is improved. Increases in villus length, goblet cell number, and occludin a (oclna) gene expression levels were observed. RT‒PCR results showed that GTA increasedthe expression levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (igf1) and interleukin 4 (il4) and reduce the expression levels interleukin 6 (il6) mRNA in the fish intestine (p < 0.05). Adding GTA to the diet significantly increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria Gemmobacter, Shinella and Actinobacteriota_unclassified, indirectly increased the activity of digestive enzymes and promoted the growth of fish. KEGG analysis shows that 10 g/kg of GTA can significantly enhance the lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and amino acid metabolism pathways of the intestinal microbiota in fish (p < 0.05), thereby positively affecting the enhancement of intestinal digestive enzymes. These results indicated that adding GTA to feed can effectively improve the growth performance of common carp by promoting intestinal health. We strongly recommend GTA at a concentration of 10 g/kg as a beneficial dietary supplement for common carp farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass energy is a type of renewable energy and animal waste is one of the main resources for its production. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of raw material type (cow and chicken manure) and the type of reactor (digester) on the biogas produced by measuring the amount of methane in the product. Three types of digester (metal, simple PVC, and PVC with leachate rotation) with the same volume (10 L) were prepared. Equipment was installed on the digesters to measure the pH and volume of produced gas. The experiments were carried out in controlled temperature conditions (28–30 °C) and in two stages. The first experiment was to load the digesters with cow excrement, and the second experiment was to load the digesters with chicken excrement. In both experiments, the digesters were fed with 1.5 kg of animal manure and water with a ratio of 1:1. During a period of 60 days, the volume of biogas and methane produced was measured and recorded. The results showed that the amount of biogas produced from chicken waste is more than the amount obtained from cow waste. However, the amount of methane produced using cow excrement was more than that of chicken excrement. Also, the performance of PVC digester with leachate rotation was better than the other two digesters, which could be due to the mixing of raw materials in this type of digester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The critical value of rock failure is determined by irreversible deformation (inelastic deformation, damage, and other internal dissipation) processes and external conditions before rock failure. Nevertheless, a thorough explanation of the mechanism causing cracks in rock material has not yet been provided. The strain energy theory is applied in this work to assess the initiation of rock cracks and investigate the relationship between energy digestion and rock strength. Firstly, the uniaxial compression test was conducted on sandstone samples under quasi-static loading conditions and the results of energy evolution, non-linear cumulative digestion, and stored ultimate energy were obtained. Then, a novel algorithm for assessing the initiation of rock cracks has been put forth. The concept of energy digestion index (EDI), which is the ratio of digested energy over the external loading energy, has been developed to characterize the energy absorption capacity of rock material. The result shows a relationship between the maximum growth rate of energy digestion and the increasing rate of variable elasticity modulus and crack initiation. The mechanical characteristics and peak strength of the rock material are negatively correlated with the EDI. By monitoring the digested energy status, an evaluation of the residual strength is introduced based on the relationships, which will initiate further research into in-situ monitoring and failure prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a maintenance scheduling model for digester banks. Digester banks are network-connected assets that lie on the critical path of the Bayer process, a chemical refinement process that converts bauxite ore into alumina. The banks require different maintenance activities at different due times. Furthermore, the maintenance schedule is subject to production-related constraints and resource limitations. Given the complexity of scheduling maintenance for large fleets of digester banks, a continuous-time, mixed-integer linear program is formulated to find the cost-minimising maintenance schedule that satisfies all required constraints. A solution approach that employs lazy constraints and Benders decomposition is proposed to solve the model. Unlike generic implementations of Benders decomposition, we show that the subproblems can be solved explicitly using a specialist algorithm. We solve the scheduling model for realistic scenarios involving two Bayer refineries based in Western Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of a new nanomaterial in the feed chain requires a risk assessment that involves in vitro gastrointestinal digestions to predict its degradation and oral exposure to nanoparticles. In this study, a nanosilver-based material was incorporated into pig and chicken feed as a growth-promoting additive and subjected to the corresponding in vitro gastrointestinal digestions. An inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) analytical platform was used to obtain information about the silver released in the different digestion phases. It included conventional ICP-MS for total silver determination, but also single particle ICP-MS and coupling to hydrodynamic chromatography for detection of dissolved and particulate silver. The bioaccessible fraction in the intestinal phase accounted for 8–13% of the total silver, mainly in the form of dissolved Ag(I) species, with less than 0.1% as silver-containing particles. Despite the additive behaving differently in pig and chicken digestions, the feed matrix played a relevant role in the fate of the silver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic compounds are a group of non-essential dietary compounds that are widely recognized for their beneficial health effects, primarily due to their bioactive properties. These compounds which found in a variety of plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, and grains are known to possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties. However, the health effects of these compounds depend on their bioaccessibility and bioavailability. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of probiotics for promoting human health. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a yeast with potential probiotic properties and beneficial health effects. Biosorption of phenolic compounds on Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell walls improves their bioaccessibility. This characteristic has also allowed the use of this yeast as a biosorbent in the biosorption process due to its low cost, safety, and easy availability. S. cerevisiae enhances the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds as a delivery system under in vitro digestion conditions. The reason for this phenomenon is the protective effects of yeast on various phenolic compounds under digestion conditions. This article shows the role of S. cerevisiae yeast on the bioaccessibility of various phenolic compounds and contributes to our understanding of the potential impact of yeasts in human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microfibrillated cellulose applications are vast and continue to grow across science disciplines. This growth increases exposures, including ingestion scenarios. Previous studies have shown that conventional cellulose is safe for consumption, while other studies indicate that microfibrillated cellulose has similar physicochemical properties to conventional cellulose. This new study compared microfibrillated cellulose with conventional cellulose after two simulated digestions to confirm that degradation patterns are the same between microfibrillated and conventional cellulose materials. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry results show that the conventional and microfibrillated cellulose spectra are strikingly similar for cellulase digestion and simulated human gastrointestinal digestion. No glucose, cellobiose, or other sugar monomers or dimers were seen in the standardized simulated gastrointestinal digestion, indicating that the degradation of sugars is not taking place. Further studies, which include the role of the gut microbiome, are needed to ensure the safety of the consumption of microfibrillated cellulose and to develop new microfibrillated materials. The data presented here demonstrates an efficient method to understand cellulose materials' degradation patterns using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminium (Al) is the third most common element in the Earth's crust and occurs naturally in drinking water and agricultural products, and humans are consequently exposed to the element from dietary sources. A tolerable weekly intake of 1 mg/kg has been established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA); however, no maximum levels for aluminium in foodstuffs have so far been established in the European Union (EU) legislation. Official food control requires validated methods for the determination of aluminium. Acid digestion assisted by microwaves is the main sample preparation technique used for the determination of aluminium, usually in combination with atomic spectrometry for quantification. In the present study, different parameters in the digestion step were investigated including test portion, digestion temperature, the reagent used and duration of the digestion to assess the aluminium extraction. The presented work is following up on an observation from a proficiency test (PT) on trace elements (including aluminium) in cocoa powder organised in 2020 by the European Union Reference Laboratory for metals and nitrogenous compounds in feed and food (EURL-MN), where the participant results for aluminium showed an unexpectedly large variation. In addition to the PT material, different certified reference materials were included in the present study, and the results highlighted that the temperature and reagent used are the most critical parameters to obtain a satisfactory sample digestion prior to aluminium determination. Based on the obtained results, it is recommended to digest food samples with a mix of ultrapure water and nitric acid for 25 min at a temperature of at least 240 °C with a mix of HNO3 and H2O to achieve satisfactory microwave-assisted digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The effects of germination pretreatments on fenugreek seeds were analyzed by employing an ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent (UAE-DES) extraction process. The germinated and UAE-DES extracted fenugreek sample of day 3 (GFE3) was found to be the most effective based on the results of flavonoid contents, antioxidant properties, and antibacterial potential. The results of HPLC-DAD analysis also suggested GFE3 as an effective pretreatment with the highest extraction yields of kaempferol (5.33 ± 0.26 mg/gm d.w.), rutin (9.06 ± 0.44 mg/gm d.w.) and quercetin (25.69 ± 0.44 mg/gm d.w.) among all treatments. The results of simulated digestion showed that a major portion of flavonoid contents were lost during gastric digestion due to poor stability values and a maximum TFC release of 60.23% was recorded after intestinal digestion for GFE3. Subsequently, GFE3 exhibited good inhibition properties against α-amylase (86.53 ± 4.24%), α-glucosidase (95.67 ± 4.68%) and pancreatic lipase enzymes (82.73 ± 4.05%). Hence, GFE3 can be used as a potential pretreatment for enhanced antioxidant activity and improved glycemic, lipid and digestive responses, which can be further used in food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) plays an important role in the field of gene therapy and viral vaccines, especially as an oncolytic virus. However, the mass production of HSV-1 viral vectors remains a challenge in the industry. In this study, a microcarrier-mediated serum-reduced medium culture was used to improve the bioprocess of HSV-1 production and increase HSV-1 yields. The composition of the culture media, which included a basal medium, serum concentration, and glutamine additive, was optimized. The process was successfully conducted in a 1 L bioreactor, and virus production was threefold greater than that of conventional processes with a 10% serum medium. The bead-to-bead transfer process was also developed to further increase scalability. In spinner flasks, the detachment rate increased from 49.4 to 80.6% when combined agitation was performed during digestion; the overall recovery proportion increased from 37.9 to 71.1% after the operational steps were optimized. Specifically, microcarrier loss was reduced during aspiration and transfer, and microcarriers and detached cells were separated with filters. Comparable cell growth was achieved with the baseline process using 2D culture as the inoculum by exchanging the subculture medium. To increase virus production after bead-to-bead transfer, critical parameters, including shear stress during digestion, TrypLE and EDTA concentrations in the subculture, and the CCI, were identified from 47 parameters via correlation analysis and principal component analysis. The optimized bead-to-bead transfer process achieved an average of 90.4% overall recovery and comparable virus production compared to that of the baseline process. This study is the first to report the optimization of HSV-1 production in Vero cells cultured on microcarriers in serum-reduced medium after bead-to-bead transfer. Key points: • An HSV-1 production process was developed that involves culturing in serum-reduced medium, and this process achieved threefold greater virus production than that of traditional processes. • An indirect bead-to-bead transfer process was developed with over 90% recovery yield in bioreactors. • HSV-1 production after bead-to-bead transfer was optimized and was comparable to that achieved with 2D culture as inoculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A long-term feeding trial (90 days) was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with lavender oil (LO) on the growth performance, innate immunity, antioxidant status, and histomorphometry of different organs of juvenile European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Four groups in triplicate were fed increasing levels of LO (0, 1, 2, and 3 kg−1 diet, expressed as F0, F1, F2, and F3, respectively). Fish weighing 76.87 ± 0.14 g/fish were stocked in 1000-L tanks at an initial stocking density of 25 fish. The results revealed that growth performance and feed utilization indices were significantly improved in the LO-treated groups compared to the control, with the highest values in favor of the F2 group. According to the polynomial second-order regression, the optimal dietary level of LO averaged 2.15–2.24 g/kg diet. Whole body protein and digestive enzyme activities were increased with increasing LO supplementation levels up to 2 mL kg−1. Fish-fed F2 diet exhibited a significant decrease in serum liver function enzymes. A considerable increase in total protein, albumin, and total immunoglobulin was reported in LO-supplemented groups over the control. Dietary LO significantly modulated antioxidant status by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities and decreasing malondialdehyde levels. Microscopic investigation of the gills, liver, and mid-intestine revealed that LO-treated fish had healthier histological features, with normal gill lamella and hepatocytes, and a positive effect of LO on intestinal villi length and goblet cell count. The LO could be used as a dietary supplement in the diet of seabass at the recommended level of 2 g kg−1 to improve growth, feed conversion, physiological status, and organ histomorphometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the optimal DL-methionyl-DL-methionine (AQUAVI® Met-Met) supplementation for the red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii (initial body weight: 6.45 ± 0.12 g) fed plant-based diets. Seven diets were formulated, including a positive control with 50.0 g kg−1 fishmeal (PC), a negative control with 77.6 g kg−1 peanut meal replacing 50.0 g kg−1 fishmeal (NC), and five experimental diets supplemented with 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00, and 4.00 g kg−1 Met-Met. The analyzed Met-Met levels of the seven diets were 0.06 (PC), 0.10 (NC), 0.27 (M0.27), 0.46 (M0.46), 1.00 (M1.00), 1.99 (M1.99), and 4.10 g kg−1 (M4.10), respectively. After a 6-week feeding, crayfish fed the NC diet had lower growth performance, protein deposition, digestive enzyme activities, and antioxidant capacity than those fed the PC diet (P < 0.05). With the increasing Met-Met level to 1.00 g kg−1 in NC diet, the weight gain rate; specific growth rate; protein deposition rate; the activities of protease, lipase, and amylase in hepatopancreas and intestine; total antioxidant capacity; catalase and superoxide dismutase activities; and S-adenosyl homocysteine contents showed significant improvement (P < 0.05). This means the supplementation of 1.00 g kg−1 Met-Met in the non-fishmeal diet could alleviate the negative effects caused by all-plant protein formulation. Based on the broken-line regression analysis of weight gain rate and protein deposition rate in red swamp crayfish, the optimal levels of Met-Met in an all-plant protein diet were 0.90 and 0.95 g kg−1, and the levels of the total sulfur amino acid were 11.61 and 11.67 g kg−1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to elucidate the vital meaning and strategic role that nutrition holds in Claude Bernard's "biological philosophy", in the sense Auguste Comte gave to this expression, i.e. the theoretical part of biology. I propose that Bernard's nutritive perspective on life should be thought of as an "interfield" object, following Holmes' category. Not only does nutrition bridge disciplines like physiology and organic chemistry, as well as levels of inquiry ranging from special physiology to the organism's total level, including the cell and protoplasm, but it also forms the genetic and structural foundation for Bernard's two fundamental axioms in general physiology: the necessary complementarity of destruction and creation (1) and the uniformity of this physiological law across all life forms, be it plants or animals (2). Because Bernard's nutritive theory is a major pivot for the re-ordering of life and its characterization, I argue that it must be located and understood in the scientific and metaphysical context of his time, of which he claims to be the heir and challenger—what I propose to characterize as the "epistemic space" of nutrition, on the background of which Bernard builds his own "logic". I then set out this logic of nutrition, focusing on three interrelated bernardian theses: the establishment of the theory of indirect nutrition as the basis for the notion of "milieu intérieur"; the enduring conception of nutrition as a continuous generation; the emphasis on nutrition as a way of reshaping the form/matter relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapes present recognized beneficial effects on human health due to their polyphenolic composition. The grape overproduction together with the wine sales down and the world socioeconomic situation makes the wine grape valorization a promising strategy to give an added-value to this natural product. The objective of the present work was to study the influence of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on antioxidant capacity and polyphenolic profile of skin and seed extracts of different grape varieties (Tempranillo, Graciano, Maturana tinta and Hondarrabi zuri). After in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, total phenolic content (TPC) of seed polyphenolic extracts decreased significantly for all the varieties. The highest decrease was for Tempranillo going from 108 ± 9 to 50 ± 3 mg / g dry matter (dm). This variety also showed the highest decrease of 90% in antioxidant capacity. However, for all the skin polyphenolic extracts there was an increase in TPC. The highest variation was also for Tempranillo. It varied from 10.1 ± 0.8 to 55.1 ± 0.9 mg / g dm. Among red varieties Tempranillo skin polyphenolic extract showed the lowest undigested anthocyanin content but the highest bioaccessibility index (BI) of 77%. For flavanols, flavonols and procyanidins the seed polyphenolic extracts showed a BI at the intestinal phase between 11% for (+)-epicatechin gallate to 130% procyanidin A2. The results of this study suggest that grape skin extracts and grape seed extracts are a reliable source of bioaccessible antioxidant polyphenols, to be used for the development of antioxidant supplements with specific functionalities depending on the grape variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of harvest year and period on the total polyphenol (TP), radical scavenging activity (RSA), total flavonoid (TF) and ascorbic acid (AA) contents of fresh tea leaves were investigated. Extraction of polyphenols from the tea leaf was optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM). The effect of the independent variables ((solvent concentration, extraction time and solid to solvent (S/S) ratio)) on TP and RSA was studied using Box-Behnken design (BBD). The results showed that extraction parameters selected were significant in the extraction procedure regarding TP and RSA (p < 0.05). The optimum extraction conditions were obtained as 1/60.86 of S/S ratio, 84.65% of ethanol concentration and the extraction time of 50 min. As a result of the extraction of tea leaves under optimum conditions, the TP, RSA and TF contents of the leaves harvested in September in 2020 were found to be higher. In addition, the individual phenolic compounds of these leaves were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was detected the most (57.52 mg/g DM). After in-vitro digestion of the same samples, TP and RSA values ​​were significantly decreased, mostly at intestinal stage (p < 0.05), and the bioaccessibility of the polyphenols was determined as 48.98%. As a result of AA analysis by HPLC of the, the highest contents for 2019 and 2020 were observed in the leaves harvested in May (41.92 mg/100 g DM) and those in July (38.55 mg/100 g DM), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Routine analysis of inorganic analytes in whole water samples from rivers (unfiltered river water) is rarely reported in scientific publications. However, this sample type is valuable and often used in long-term monitoring, regulation, and catchment element budgets, as it includes the dissolved, colloidal, and particulate fraction in one sample type. Preservation measures are not needed and solid–liquid partitioning can be disregarded, which simplifies automated sampling and storage procedures. In this study, we provide several digestion protocols for whole water samples from rivers and the subsequent multi-element analysis of 67 major, minor, and trace elements: Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, U. In the absence of whole water reference materials for inorganic analytes, we introduce simulated whole water samples by suspending sediment reference materials as quality control measures. The applicability for improved routine water quality monitoring was successfully tested on samples from different rivers revealing variations of the element fingerprints over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable in-vitro digestion models that are able to successfully replicate the conditions found in the human gastrointestinal tract are key to assess the fate and efficiency of new formulations aimed for oral consumption. However, current in-vitro models either lack the capability to replicate crucial dynamics of digestion or require large volumes of sample/reagents, which can be scarce when working with nanomaterials under development. Here, we propose a miniaturised digestion system, a digestion-chip, based on incubation chambers integrated on a polymethylmethacrylate device. The digestion-chip incorporates key dynamic features of human digestion, such as gradual acidification and gradual addition of enzymes and simulated fluids in the gastric phase, and controlled gastric emptying, while maintaining low complexity and using small volumes of sample and reagents. In addition, the new approach integrates real-time automated closed-loop control of two key parameters, pH and temperature, during the two main phases of digestion (gastric and intestinal) with an accuracy down to ± 0.1 °C and ± 0.2 pH points. The experimental results demonstrate that the digestion-chip successfully replicates the gold standard static digestion INFOGEST protocol and that the semi-dynamic digestion kinetics can be reliably fitted to a first kinetic order model. These devices can be easily adapted to dynamic features in an automated, sensorised, and inexpensive platform and will enable reliable, low-cost and efficient assessment of the bioaccessibility of new and expensive drugs, bioactive ingredients or nanoengineered materials aimed for oral consumption, thereby avoiding unnecessary animal testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the drawbacks of conventional methods for the digestion of total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) in water, a novel ozone-based photoactivated synergistic oxidative digestion device based on a high-voltage discharge ozone generator with an oxygen source and a jacketed bubbling reactor was presented. The effects of reaction temperature, reaction time, ozone flow, initial pH of solution, common inorganic anions (Cl–, , ), and total nitrogen on the digestion efficiency were investigated. Combining the improved ammonium molybdate spectrophotometric method, proposed the new determination method for TDP and verified its performance within the range of 0.1–2.0 mg/L. Results showed that this method has good linearity (R2 = 0.9997), precision (0.40%), accuracy (–0.50%), and a low limit of detection (0.0042 mg/L) under the optimized digestion process conditions (reaction temperature of 40°C, reaction time of 20 min, ozone flow of 0.6 L/min, initial pH of 5). This method provides a promising approach for routine analysis or online monitoring of TDP in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic ecosystems serve as the primary reservoir for microplastics entering the environment. The assessment of the microplastics content in natural waters and sediments is a pressing task, the resolution of which is essential for evaluating the degree of pollution of water bodies, identifying sources of contamination, and assessing potential risks to aquatic inhabitants. Currently, there is no universal analytical approach to separating microplastics from natural waters and sediments for subsequent identification. This review summarizes information on the methods for sampling microplastics from natural waters and sediments and sample preparation techniques, including size- and density-based particle separation methods, as well as digestion-based methods relying on the digestion of samples to remove natural organic matter. Additionally, it outlines the classification of microplastics and provides general insights into their prevalence in aquatic ecosystems and potential toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study provides a comparison between four acid digestion techniques and the control procedure for 210Po determinations by alpha spectrometry on peat bog samples. The results on 210Po activities indicate that method I yielded results similar to the reference values with a positive variance of 0.5%, while method II had a significant positive deviation of 2.1%. Methods III and IV had negative deviations from the reference value. The results suggest that method II reduces the digestion time by 94%, while providing similar 210Po activity results and 209Po yield to the control method, being more suitable for fast determinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Prebiotics are defined as substances which selectively promote beneficial gut microbes leading to a health benefit for the host. Limited trials have been carried out investigating their effect on the microbiota composition of individuals afflicted by functional constipation with equivocal outcomes. In a 21-day randomised, controlled clinical trial involving 61 adults with functional constipation, a prebiotic formulation with partially hydrolysed guar gum and acacia gum as its main ingredients, significantly increased complete spontaneous bowel motions in the treatment group. This follow-up exploratory analysis investigated whether the prebiotic was associated with changes to the composition, richness, and diversity of the faecal microbiota. Methods: Participants provided a faecal specimen at baseline and on day 21 of the intervention period. Whole genome metagenomic shotgun sequencing comprehensively assessed taxonomic and functional composition of the microbiota. Results: Linear mixed effects regression models adjusted for potential confounders showed a significant reduction in species richness of 28.15 species (95% CI − 49.86, − 6.43) and Shannon diversity of 0.29 units (95% CI − 0.56, − 0.02) over the trial period in the prebiotic group. These changes were not observed in the control group, and functional composition was unchanged in both groups. Conclusion: In adults with functional constipation, the intake of a prebiotic formulation was associated with a decline of species richness and Shannon diversity. Further research regarding the associations between prebiotics and the composition and function of the gut microbiota is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus Pu-erh tea is a post-fermented tea that has both the flavor of citrus peel and the bioactive substances in tea, which may have many potential health activities. To investigate the effect of the intake citrus-Pu-erh tea before, with, and after meals on lipid digestion, the in vitro simulated digestion experiments in this study were conducted to elucidate the effects of citrus Pu-erh tea extracts (CPTE) intake timing on triglyceride (TG) lipolysis. The results showed that compared to simultaneous administration of CPTE and TG, CPTE intake before or after TG lipolysis decreased the released free fatty acids (FFA) by 8.87 ± 1.91% and 4.85 ± 1.13%. Further, the correlation analysis was carried on to search for the potential lipase inhibitors in CPTE, the result showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the content of total polyphenols (hesperidin and theabrownins) and the inhibition rate of released FFA. In vitro lipase inhibition assays indicated that the possible lipase inhibitors were hesperidin (IC50 = 29.67 ± 2.83 μg/mL) and theabrownins (IC50 = 22.16 ± 1.64 μg/mL). Moreover, CPTE intake before or after butter lipolysis increased the inhibition of released FFA by 7.70 ± 1.49% and 4.33 ± 1.18%. These results indicated that CPTE intake before or after meals may effectively reduce the digestion of fat in the small intestine, thereby alleviating the obesity problem that may be caused by excessive lipid absorption. These findings provide a healthier way of tea intake for individuals with obesity and those who are potentially obese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beach-cast seaweed has recently garnered attention for its nutrient-rich composition, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. This study focuses on the phenolic content and antioxidant potential of five Australian beach-cast seaweed species during in vitro digestion and colonic fermentation. The bioaccessibility of the selected phenolic compounds was estimated and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production was determined. Cystophora sp., showed a notable increase in phenolic content (23.1 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant capacity (0.42 mg CE/g) during the intestinal and gastric phases of in vitro digestion. Durvillaea sp. demonstrated a significant release of flavonoids (0.35 mg QE/g), while Phyllosphora comosa released high levels of tannins (0.72 mg CE/g) during the intestinal phase. During colonic fermentation, P. comosa released the highest levels of phenolic compounds (4.3 mg GAE/g) after 2 h, followed by an increase in flavonoids (0.15 mg QE/g), tannins (0.07 mg CE/g), and antioxidant activity (DPPH: 0.12 mg TE/g; FRAP: 0.61 mg TE/g) after 4 h. Moreover, P. comosa released a considerable amount of phenolic compounds during both in vitro digestion and colonic fermentation. All species consistently released phenolic compounds throughout the study. Phloroglucinol, gallic acid, and protocatechuic acid were identified as the most bioaccessible phenolic compounds in all five Australian beach-cast seaweeds in the in vitro digestion. Nevertheless, compound levels declined during the colonic fermentation phase due to decomposition and fermentation by gut microbiota. With regard to SCFAs, P. comosa displayed elevated levels of acetic (0.51 mmol/L) and propionic acid (0.36 mmol/L) at 2 h, while Durvillaea sp. showed increased butyric (0.42 mmol/L) and valeric (0.26 mmol/L) production acid after 8 h. These findings suggest that seaweed such as Cystophora sp., Durvillaea sp., and P. comosa are promising candidates for food fortification or nutraceutical applications, given their rich phenolic content and antioxidant properties that potentially offer gut health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gabirobeira fruits are known for their rich nutrient content and bioactive phytochemical compounds that contribute to significant biological activities. Despite these attributes, the antioxidant potential and stability of phenolic compounds in gabiroba by-products after digestion have yet to be studied. The objective of this work was to evaluate the physical-chemical composition, antibacterial activity, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects, as well as the in vitro digestibility of total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of powder and extract from gabiroba to valorize these byproducts. The gabiroba powder had low moisture, high carbohydrate and fiber content. The extraction using 80% ethanol demonstrated higher antioxidant, antibacterial, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibition activities compared to the 12% ethanol and water extracts. Catechin and ferulic acid were the major phenolic compounds identified by HPLC-DAD. After digestion, both the powder and the gabiroba extract exhibited a bioaccessibility of more than 30% for total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity during the gastric phase. However, the dry ethanol extract displayed higher total phenolic compounds after both the gastric and intestinal phases compared to the flour. Processing gabiroba into powder and extract is a promising approach to fully utilize this seasonal fruit, minimize waste, concentrate health-beneficial compounds, and valorize a by-product for use as a functional ingredient and raw material within the food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research examined the ability of each treatment to recover a known quantity of particles and the impact on identifying polymer type using a microscope. By conducting extensive research on the changes induced in the chemical structures and morphologies of microplastics (MPs) there is potential for enhancing the detection and analysis of MPs by incorporating pre-treatment methods in the future. When treating environmental matrices with high organic content, chemical digestion treatment is required to get rid of microplastics and release particles. This type of treatment involves using a range of chemical agents, including acids, bases, and oxidizing agents. Unfortunately, there has been limited research into the chemical resistance of various types of microplastics to these substances. To address this issue, a study was conducted to examine the chemical resistance of four species of microplastics high-density polyethylene (HD-PE), low-density polyethylene (LD-PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), potassium hydroxide (KOH), nitric acid (HNO3) and acetic acid (CH3COOH). The results showed that acidic and alkaline substances were the most destructive to microplastics, while oxidative reagents resulted in fewer changes to plastic properties. These findings provide valuable insights into the properties of MPs and their response to strong acids, bases and oxidizing agents, which can serve as a reference for future studies on MP pre-treatment. In addition, used as a guideline to update current protocols and ensure that microplastics can be treated without causing damage. Highlights: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different chemical digestion protocols, including acidic, oxidative, and alkaline reagents, on the physical and chemical properties of microplastics. Before processing and analyzing samples, it is critical to assess chemical digestion protocols to ensure that microplastics are recovered optimally. Based on the observations of different types of microplastics and methods tested, oxidative digestion at room temperature (20–23 °C) appears to be the most appropriate for digestion, but it can be destructive over an extended period. Selective processing conditions that eliminate certain materials may result in incomplete assessments of the occurrence, types, sources, and impacts of microplastics. The properties related to digestion can vary depending on the polymer type, so further research is needed on the specific polymer types relevant to each study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parasite Entamoeba histolytica is the cause of amoebic dysentery and liver abscess in humans. On the protozoan cell surface, a variety of glycosylated molecules are involved in the interaction with the environment, such as attachment to the colonic mucus. One of these molecules is the lipopeptidophosphoglycan (LPPG), a complex surface component with antigenic properties. Its structure is only partly known, it is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-linked glycoprotein with a large amount of O-glycosylation. To date, the sequence of a core protein has not been identified. In this study, we further investigated this complex surface molecule aided by the availability of the monoclonal antibody EH5, which had been raised in our laboratory. We studied the extraction of LPPG in various solvent mixtures and discovered that 2-butanol saturated water was simple and superior to other solvents used in the past. The isolated LPPG was subjected to treatment with several proteases and the Ser/Thr specific cleavage agent scandium (III) trifluoromethanesulfonate (scandium triflate). The products were probed with antibody EH5 and the blots showed that the LPPG preparation was largely resistant to standard proteases, but could be cleaved by the scandium compound. These observations could point to the existence of a Ser- or Thr-rich core protein structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jicama and mulberry leaves are well-known to exhibit various health benefits due to their high phytochemicals content. In this study, hypoglycemic potential of jicama (JE) and mulberry leaf (MLE) extracts was investigated. Compound profile of both JE and MLE were determined using UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. Then, the effect of simulated in-vitro digestion on total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total reducing sugar content (TRS) and α-amylase inhibition activity (AIA) of JE and MLE were determined. Next, JE and MLE were mixed with cooked white and brown rice, respectively at a ratio of 1:5 (extract: rice). Lastly, the mixture was subjected to simulated in-vitro digestion. TPC, TFC and TRS released from the rice after digestion were measured. Results of the study suggested that TPC, TFC and AIA of MLE were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than JE. AIA of both extracts was reduced significantly after intestinal digestion. Results of Pearson correlation analysis suggested that AIA of JE was correlated to its TPC (r = 0.875, p < 0.01), whereas AIA of MLE was correlated to both TPC (r = 0.693, p < 0.01) and TFC (r = 0.885, p < 0.05). However, TRS of JE was increased by 2.6 folds after intestinal digestion. TRS of JE after intestinal digestion was 11 folds higher than MLE. Compared to JE, MLE was more efficient in reducing TRS released upon rice digestion. Besides, TRS released after brown rice digestion was significantly lower than white rice (p < 0.05). Although JE did not effectively reduce TRS released upon rice digestion, combination of JE with white rice significantly increased TPC and TFC after digestion. This study suggests that combined MLE in a brown rice diet potentially prevents postprandial blood glucose spike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa protein is increasingly being used a source of plant protein in the food industry because of its high nutrient value, good digestibility, and gluten-free nature. However, its widespread application in the food industry is currently restricted due to its poor water solubility and limited functionality. Controlled enzymatic hydrolysis can improve the functional attributes of plant proteins. Consequently, the objective of this study was to produce bioactive peptides from quinoa protein by enzymatic hydrolysis. The suitability of five commercial proteases were assessed for this purpose: alcalase, compound protease, neutral protease, flavourzyme, and papain. The antioxidant activity and digestion properties of the peptides produced were analyzed. Alcalase was the most efficient enzyme for treating quinoa protein, as it produced the highest degree of hydrolysis, nitrogen recovery rate, and antioxidant activity. Amino acid analysis indicated that quinoa peptides contained all the essential amino acids required for human nutrition, as well as a high level of hydrophobic amino acids, which may provide strong antioxidant activity. In vitro digestion analysis showed that the quinoa peptides exhibited strong resistance to hydrolysis in the stomach but were hydrolyzed in the small intestine. After simulated gastrointestinal digestion, the peptides still exhibited high antioxidant activity. This study therefore suggests that bioactive peptides derived from quinoa protein could be utilized as bioactive ingredients to formulate functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blomia tropicalis is an allergen-producing mite in the human environment in tropical regions. The microbiome of B. tropicalis was described using the barcode sequencing region of V4 16S rDNA and genome assemblage. Mixta mediterraneensis, previously isolated from human skin swabs, was identified as a B. tropicalis gut symbiont based on genome assembly. The microbiome contains two bacteria, Staphylococcus and M. mediterraneensis. The number of M. mediterraneensis 16S DNA copies was 106 per mite and 109 per feces in the rearing chamber based on qPCR quantification. The profile of this bacterium reached 50% of reads in the mite gut and feces. Genomic analyses revealed that the bacterium has several metabolic pathways that suggest metabolic cooperation with the mite host in vitamin and amino acid synthesis, nitrogen recycling, and antimicrobial defense. Lysozyme is present in the symbiotic bacterium but absent in the mite. The B. tropicalis microbiome contained Staphylococcus, which accelerates mite population growth. Mites can digest Staphylococcus by using specific enzymes with hydrolytic functions against bacterial cell walls (chitinases and cathepsin D), leading to endocytosis of bacteria and their degradation in lysosomes and phagosomes. Gene expression analysis of B. tropicalis indicated that phagocytosis was mediated by the PI3-kinase/Akt pathway interacting with the invasins produced by M. mediterraneensis. Moreover, the symbiont had metabolic pathways that allowed it to recycle the mite metabolic waste product guanine, known as a mite attractant. The mite host symbiont enhances mite aggregation in the feces, and the fecal–oral transmission route is excepted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current strategies for non-target food screening focus mainly on known hazardous chemicals (adulterants, residues, contaminants, packaging migrants, etc.) instead of bioactive constituents in general and exclude the biological effect detection. To widen the perspective, a more proactive non-target effect-directed strategy is introduced to complement food safety in order to detect not only known but also unknown bioactive compounds. The developed 10-dimensional hyphenation included on-surface digestion (1D), planar chromatographic separation (2D), visualization using white light (3D), UV light (4D), fluorescence light (5D), effect-directed assay analysis (6D), heart-cut zone elution to an orthogonal reversed phase column chromatography including online desalting (7D) with subsequent diode array detection (8D), high-resolution mass spectrometry (9D), and fragmentation (10D). Metabolism, i.e., intestinal digestion of each sample, was simulated and integrated on the same adsorbent surface to study any changes in the compound profiles. As proof of principle, nine convenience tomato products and a freshly prepared tomato soup were screened via five different planar assays in a non-targeted mode. Non-digested and digested samples were compared side by side. In their effect-directed profiles, 14 bioactive compounds from classes of lipids, plant hormones, spices, and pesticides were identified. In particular, bioactive compounds coming from the lipid class were increased by gastrointestinal digestion, while spices and pesticides remained unaffected. With regard to food safety, the determination of the two dinitrophenol herbicides dinoterb and dinoseb in highly processed tomato products should be given special attention. The hyphenation covered a broad analyte spectrum and showed robust and reliable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper pretreatment of organic residues prior to anaerobic digestion (AD) can maximize global biogas production from varying sources without increasing the amount of digestate, contributing to global decarbonization goals. However, the efficiency of pretreatments applied on varying organic streams is poorly assessed. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis on AD studies to evaluate the efficiencies of pretreatments with respect to biogas production measured as methane yield. Based on 1374 observations our analysis shows that pretreatment efficiency is dependent on substrate chemical dominance. Grouping substrates by chemical composition e.g., lignocellulosic-, protein- and lipid-rich dominance helps to highlight the appropriate choice of pretreatment that supports maximum substrate degradation and more efficient conversion to biogas. Methane yield can undergo an impactful increase compared to untreated controls if proper pretreatment of substrates of a given chemical dominance is applied. Non-significant or even adverse effects on AD are, however, observed when the substrate chemical dominance is disregarded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intestinal microbiota interacts with the host and plays an important role in the immune response, digestive physiology, and regulation of body functions. In addition, it is also well documented that the intestinal microbiota of aquatic animals are closely related to their growth rate. However, whether it resulted in different sizes of crayfish in the rice-crayfish coculture model remained vague. Here, we analyzed the intestinal microbiota characteristics of crayfish of three sizes in the same typical rice-crayfish coculture field by high-throughput sequencing technology combined with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme activity, investigating the relationship between intestinal microbiota in crayfish and water and sediments. The results showed that the dominant intestinal microbiota of crayfish was significantly different between the large size group (BS), normal size group (NS), and small size group (SS), where Bacteroides and Candidatus_Bacilloplasma contributed to the growth of crayfish by facilitating food digestion through cellulolysis, which might be one of the potential factors affecting the difference in sizes. Follow-up experiments confirmed that the activity of lipase (LPS) and protease was higher in BS, and the relative expression of development-related genes, including alpha-amylase (α-AMY), myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2a (MEF2a), glutathione reductase (GR), chitinase (CHI), and ecdysone receptor (EcR), in BS was significantly higher than that in SS. These findings revealed the intestinal microbiota characteristics of crayfish of different sizes and their potential impact on growth, which is valuable for managing and manipulating the intestinal microbiota in crayfish to achieve high productivity in practice. Key points: • Significant differences in the dominant microflora of BS, NS, and SS in crayfish. • Cellulolysis might be a potential factor affecting different sizes in crayfish. • Adding Bacteroides and Candidatus_Bacilloplasma helped the growth of crayfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the sources of renewable energies, ethanol is produced from lignocellulosic compounds and food waste during the fermentation process. In the present study, the capability of electronic nose (e-nose) system and machine learning approaches was evaluated of classification/prediction of bioethanol production and sensor responses as real-time monitoring. For this purpose, rice and wheat residual were conducted by acid-ultrasound, thermal-acid hydrolysis, and plasma technology, respectively. Then, the prepared substance was poured into both a pneumatic anaerobic digester (PAD) and a mechanical anaerobic digester (MAD). The fermentation process lasted for 20 days and data were acquired every five days. The output of each reactor was examined after the distillation stage. For this purpose, the output bioethanol was injected into an e-nose with an arrangement of 13 sensors, and the feature of the produced bioethanol was investigated by gas sensors. The response of the sensors was predicted and identified by chemometric methods. Moreover, the optimal responses with time and type of digester were investigated by RSM (Response Surface Methodology). The obtained results indicated that given the significance coefficient, the gas sensors MQ135, MQ2, MQ7, MQ9, TGS2620, and TGS822 had the highest rate of detection. Moreover, the obtained results showed that the PAD generated different gas compounds within the produced bioethanol when compared with the MAD. In addition, all chemometric methods had high accuracy for classification and prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic interactions between symbiotic fungi and insects, as well as between entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and insects, are significant biological events. Numerous studies have focused on the ecological, molecular, and metabolic effects of EPF highlighting their potential in insect pest management. However, limited research has been conducted on the metabolic regulation and interactions of fungal (whether symbionts or associated fungi) metabolites with their insect hosts, in comparison with EPF. This review aims to expose the importance of fungal metabolites in various metabolic pathways of the host, including both nutritional processes (carbohydrate, vitamin, nucleotide, and lipid metabolism, uric acid recycling) and non-nutritional aspects (degradation of myco and plant toxins produced by pathogenic fungi and plants, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites such as antimicrobial compounds, fungal-derived molecules inducing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and synthesis of pheromones or semiochemicals), thereby promoting host fitness. This review highlights the need for further studies on symbiotic and associated fungi and their metabolites in order to unveil and understand their interactions with host metabolic pathways, which still remain largely unknown. Such studies will advance our knowledge with regard to integrating the beneficial properties of symbiotic and insect associated fungi to the diets of beneficial insects like honeybees, silkworms, mealworms, and black soldier flies (BSFs), thus leveraging their nutraceutical value to enhance fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic is indispensable in today's everyday life, but it is one of the biggest problems humanity is facing in the twenty-first century. Global plastic production reached 4.9 billion tons in 2015 and by 2025, 11 billion tons of plastics are expected to end up in the environment. Microplastic particles (MPs) were originally defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, originating from primary and secondary sources. Primary sources of MPs are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) particles in cosmetic and medical products. Secondary sources of MPs come from physical, chemical, and biological processes that lead to the fragmentation of plastic waste. More studies have focused on the effects and risks of MPs, and less attention has been paid to removal methods. Plastic takes 100 years to completely decompose. Scientific studies have shown that some types of worms can absorb and decompose MPs in just a few weeks. Researchers believe that this discovery can be an important tool in the human war against plastics; Substances whose presence in nature has serious risks for humans and compensatory damages Inevitability affects the environment. This review summarizes current chemical removal technologies of MPs.Then most of the current literature on the potential of earthworms to reduce MPs was collected. The advantages and disadvantages of various methods are summarized, and they are also compared, which can help more researchers choose the appropriate research method. The results of this research can open new doors to the global fight against plastic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to optimize the extraction process and investigate the impact of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on phenolic compounds, including total polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins, present in dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), and their corresponding antioxidant activity. To optimize the quantity of extracted phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activity, a centered composite experimental design was employed, with solvent concentration and maceration time as the optimized factors. The study also examines the effect of digestion and colonic fermentation on the antioxidant activity and phenolic compound content of dandelion, using in vitro static simulation of INFOGEST gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation, respectively. Spectrophotometric methods were used to determine the total polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin contents of the plant. The evaluation of antioxidant activity was carried out using the DPPH and ABTS methods. Results indicated that the optimal contents of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins were 13.6311 mg GAE/g, 10.8377 mg QE/g, and 7.584 mg EAT/g, respectively. The DPPH and ABTS methods recorded minimum IC50 values of 0.0892 mg/mL and 0.15 mg/mL, respectively. The study revealed that the salivary, gastric, and intestinal phases of digestion and in vitro colonic fermentation cause a decrease in total polyphenols and tannins but increase the flavonoid content, which initially rises during the oral phase, decreases during the gastric and intestinal phases, and increases again during in vitro colonic fermentation. The evaluation of antioxidant activity by the DPPH method shows that the dandelion extract exhibits strong antioxidant activity, which decreases during the oral phase, but gradually increases after the gastric, intestinal, and fecal fermentation phases. However, there was no significant difference in antioxidant capacity between the digested and undigested plant samples for the ABTS method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starches resistant to digestion have been widely used in the food and pharmaceutical applications to develop new products. These starches are naturally not present in maize flour or only in minimal amount. The aim of the present study was therefore to enzymatically modify maize flour in order to increase the yield of resistant starch in corn flour. Previously in our research article, we reported a 16-fold increase in yield of resistant type III starch by amylase hydrolysis. As an extension of that work and to investigate the action of debranching enzymes and their role in production of resistant starch, pullulanase was included in the current study. This increase the yield of resistant starch by a factor of 20-folds under optimized conditions using pullulanase. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis showed the transformation of the granular amorphous structure of the starch into a dense network of crystalline form. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed an increased amylose content, while 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR indicated a debranching pattern of pullulanase-treated starch. The radical scavenging test and reducing power illustrate a significant increase in the antioxidant activity of maize flour after pullulanase treatment. In addition, enzymatically modified resistant starch showed slow digestibility and improved ability to complex with iodine, proving it to be a safe capping material for the site-specific delivery of active, sensitive drugs to the colon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive utilization of antibiotics in the field of animal husbandry gives rise to various concerns pertaining to the environment and human health. Here, we demonstrate that the administration of tetracycline impedes blood meal digestion in the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis. Tissue sectioning, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, and transcriptome sequencing of the midgut were employed to elucidate the mechanism underlying tetracycline toxicity. The treatment group consisted of engorged female ticks that were subjected to tetracycline microinjections (75 µg per tick), whereas the control group received sterile water injections. On days 2 and 4 following the injections, the tick body weight changes were assessed and the midguts were dissected and processed. Change in tick body weight in tetracycline-treated group was less than in the control group. In tetracycline-treated ticks, midgut epithelial cells were loosely connected and blood meal digestion was impaired compared to the control group. There was no significant change in midgut bacterial diversity after tetracycline treatment. On day 2 following treatment, the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella was significantly decreased, whereas the relative abundance of Allorhizobium was significantly increased compared to the control group. On day 4 following treatment, the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella, Allorhizobium, Ochrobactrum, and Acidibacter decreased significantly, whereas the relative abundance of Paraburkholderia and Pelomonas increased significantly. Tetracycline treatment also affected midgut gene expression, producing a cumulative effect wherein the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mostly down-regulated. KEGG enrichment pathway analysis revealed that on day 2 the up-regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in 21 pathways, including apoptosis and phagosome. Comparatively, the down-regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in 26 pathways, including N-glycan biosynthesis, lysosome, and autophagy. In contrast, on day 4 the up-regulated DEGs were significantly enriched in 10 pathways including aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, ribosome biogenesis, RNA transport, and DNA replication, whereas the down-regulated differential genes were significantly enriched in 11 pathways including lysosome, peroxisome, N-glycan biosynthesis, and fatty acid synthesis. This indicates that tetracycline injection inhibited blood meal digestion by affecting midgut digestive cells, gut flora diversity, and gene expression. These findings could contribute to tick control by inhibiting blood meal digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although ground-baiting related nutrient loading has been widely studied, we do not know what proportion of these nutrients release into the water column, affecting primary production directly. We conducted short-term (24-h, 5-day) experiments at wide temperature range, in presence and absence of fish using fish meal-based (FM-GB) and plant-based groundbait (PB-GB), to assess the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fluxes from GB into the water column. Nitrogen release from unconsumed FM-GB was negligible in the first 3 days, then increased abruptly, releasing 32% of its total N content by the fifth day. In contrast, PB-GB acted as temporary sink for inorganic N forms. Considerable (18–21%) inorganic P release was observed in both GB types in the first twelve hours. Consumed GBs induced considerable inorganic N release and its rate increased with temperature. Particulate forms predominated the released N in PB-GB, suggesting impaired digestion. Phosphorus—dominated by particulate forms—release was similar or lower than in unconsumed GB. Based on our results, excessive use of GB—when high amount of it remains unconsumed—can enhance eutrophication in P-limited ecosystems. Although less digestible GBs may have less abrupt effect on the primary production, undigested nutrients remain unavailable for removal through fish harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have evaluated the impact of environmental exposure to neurotoxic metals on developmental delays (DDs). However, comprehensive understanding regarding the associations between parental and postnatal exposure to metal mixtures and the occurrence of DDs in offspring is limited. In this study, we assessed the relationships between parental and postnatal exposure to three metals (arsenic [As], cadmium [Cd], and lead [Pb], levels of which were measured in toenails) and suspected DDs (SDDs) in preschool children within a Taiwanese longitudinal birth cohort. In total between 2017 and 2021, 154 pairs of parents and their children under the age of 6 years were recruited, and 462 toenail samples and 154 completed questionnaires were collected. Metal concentrations in toenails were quantified using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry after acid digestion of the toenails. We applied multivariable logistic regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression to evaluate the overall effect and to identify key components of the metal mixture that were associated with the SDD risk. Higher concentrations of As, Cd, and Pb were found in the toenails of the parents of children with SDDs compared with the toenails of the parents of children without SDDs. Our examination of the combined effects of exposure to the metal mixture revealed that As concentration in the father's toenail and Cd concentration in the mother's toenail were positively correlated with the risk of SDDs in their offspring. Notably, the effect of exposure to the metal mixture on the risk of SDDs was stronger in boys than in girls. Our findings suggest that parents taking measures to minimize their exposure to metals might enhance their children's developmental outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals content in tires affects the safety of soil and agricultural products. The digestion method is a pretreatment for determining heavy metals in tire samples, and will affect the efficiency and accuracy of the heavy metal determination. The microwave digestion process and reagents for tire samples are not currently standardized. Therefore, this study attempts to provide an appropriate method of resolution for scholars. All digestion processes were performed in Mars One. We tested 15 different acid mixtures to determine the best reagent type and dose and then investigated the effect of maximum temperature, holding time, and sample grams on the degree of digestion. In summary, the best condition to digest the tire sample was a mixture of 3 ml HNO3 and 7 ml H2SO4, taking 0.1 (± 0.0005) g tire sample, at the maximum digestion temperature of 220 °C for 25 min. The experimental conclusion will provide a reliable experimental method for scientists using MARS One to study heavy metals in tires. At the same time, researchers using the MARS series can also find valuable references in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tag-free protein modification has received considerable attention in the field of chemical biology owing to the versatility and simplicity of the reaction sequence. In 2021, a novel tag-free enzymatic modification of antibodies utilizing lipoate ligase A (LplA) was reported to reveal its potential in the production of site-specific antibody conjugates. Primary peptide mapping analysis revealed the biased site specificity of antibodies modified by LplA; however, quantitative analysis remains challenging because of the complicated heterogeneity derived from biased selective modification. In an effort to further understand the site occupancy of LplA-modified antibodies, this study employed numerous unconventional techniques and strategies. Optimization of HPLC conditions and utilization of enzymes such as trypsin, Glu-C, and chymotrypsin significantly increased sequence data coverage. The transition from traditional spectral counting to a more accurate peak area–based label-free quantification helped better analyze peptide modification levels. The results obtained indicate that LplA-induced modifications are specific lysines, particularly the light chain Lys188/190 site, which have an increased modification rate compared to chemically induced modifications. This study not only contributes to the understanding of peptide modification, but also presents an improved methodology that promises to stimulate further research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradability of conventional plastic packaging specimens made from PP and PET, that were produced with novel prodegradant additives, was investigated during biological waste treatment processes. The additives were merchandised to foster the degradation of commodity plastics by enzymatic or by abiotic processes. Four different plastic packaging specimens and two different additives were evaluated for their biodegradability during anaerobic and aerobic waste treatment conditions. Aerobic treatment was investigated in laboratory rotting tests, simulating conditions during composting in a plant according to the Austrian state-of-the-art, while anaerobic treatment was investigated in laboratory digestion reactors. The study shows that only the PET specimens showed a loss of mass of ca. 6.5%, during 50 days of digestion at 52 °C. None of the specimens degraded during the aerobic rotting process. None of the materials fragmented into microplastic particles of sizes > 1 mm under the investigated conditions. However, FTIR analysis revealed the oxidation in the case of PP specimens, which indicated a mediated oxidation process during composting, independent of the merchandised mechanism of predegradation. Under anaerobic conditions, the plastic specimens containing reactors produced more biogas within the first 20 days of digestion, that did not originate from an observable degradation of the plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We sought to investigate the effects of gastrointestinal nutrition therapy on gastrointestinal microbial digestion and barrier defense markers in elderly patients with diabetes. Methods: A total of 120 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled at our hospital between January 2020 and December 2022. The participants in this study were randomly allocated into either the nutritional group (n = 60) who underwent gastrointestinal nutrition therapy or the control group (n = 60) who underwent conventional T2DM diet management for a period of 12 weeks. Clinical data, as well as small intestinal permeability measured by the lactulose-mannitol urine test, plasma circulating IL-6 and zonulin levels measured by ELISA, and expressions of ZO-1 and Claudin-3 in blood analyzed through Western blotting were collected. Results: The nutrition group demonstrated a higher proportion of patients achieving HbA1c < 7% compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the nutrition group exhibited a greater reduction in fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The concentrations of formate-tetrahydrofolate ligase and acetic CoA transferase were significantly increased in the nutrition group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Fecal analysis revealed higher levels of acetic acid and butyric acid in the nutrition group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The ratio of lactulose to mannitol was higher in the nutrition group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the nutrition group showed lower levels of IL-6 and zonulin compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Personalized gastrointestinal nutrition therapy was found to enhance the production of short-chain fatty acids and preserve intestinal permeability, leading to improved gastrointestinal microbial digestion and barrier defense in elderly patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]