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The importance of renewable and environmentally acceptable materials in the construction industry is increasing. Wood is one of the most important construction materials and its use in building applications has further expanded in recent decades, mainly due to the development of modern composites, firstly glue lam, OSB (Oriented Strand Board), LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) and a considerable breakthrough was later achieved with the development of cross-laminated timber. In order to enable even more extensive and reliable use of wood in outdoor applications, factors affecting a wood’s service life need to be understood. It is well known that fungal degradation of wood is predominantly affected by temperature and wood moisture content. In order to elucidate the influence of these two factors, long-term monitoring of temperature, relative humidity and moisture content at the newly-built Annex of the Department of Wood Science and Technology was carried out. The Annex is designed from CLT composites and glue-lam beams and was finished in December 2015. The results clearly show that microclimatic conditions in the monitored building in the first years of use are far below the limit required for fungal decay or mould growth.

Aims The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of bread as substrate for γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) biosynthesis, establishing a valorization strategy for surplus bread, repurposing it within the food chain. Methods and Results Surplus bread was fermented by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to produce GABA. Pediococcus pentosaceus F01, Levilactobacillus brevis MRS4, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum H64 and C48 were selected among 33 LAB strains for the ability to synthesize GABA. Four fermentation experiments were set up using surplus bread as such, added of amylolytic and proteolytic enzymes, modifying the pH or mixed with wheat bran. Enzyme-treated slurries led to the release of glucose (up to 20 mg g−1) and free amino acid, whereas the addition of wheat bran (30% of bread weight) yielded the highest GABA content (circa 800 mg kg−1 of dry weight) and was the most suitable substrate for LAB growth. The selected slurry was ultimately used as an ingredient in bread making causing an increase in free amino acids. Conclusions Besides the high GABA concentration (148 mg kg−1 dough), the experimental bread developed in this study was characterized by good nutritional properties, highlighting the efficacy of tailored bioprocessing technologies as means to mitigate food wastage. Significance and Impact of Study Our results represent a proof of concept of effective strategies to repurpose food industry side streams.

International audience; The cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis, spirulina, is a source of pigments such as phycobiliprotein, phycocyanin. Phycocyanin is used in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. The different steps involved in extraction and purification of this protein can alter the final properties. In this review, the stability of phycocyanin (pH, temperature, and light) is discussed, considering the physicochemical parameters of kinetic modeling. The optimal working pH range for phycocyanin is between 5.5 and 6.0 and it remains stable up to 45 °C; however, exposure to relatively high temperatures or acidic pH decreases its half-life and increases the degradation kinetic constant. Phycobiliproteins are sensitive to light and preservatives such as mono- and di-saccharides, citric acid, or sodium chloride appear to be effective stabilizing agents. Encapsulation within nano- or micro-structured materials such as nanofibers, microparticles, or nanoparticles, can also preserve or enhance its stability.

In August 2016, tomato plants grown during a hot, wet summer with heavy soil flooding, displaying symptoms of wilting, dead plant, root rot with crown and stem rot, at Beni Suef and Fayoum governorates were examined. A number of 16 fungal isolates were isolated from tomato plants displaying the above symptoms. These isolates were classified as belonging to six species, namely: Alternaria solani, Chaetomium globosum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium spp. and Rhizoctonia solani. Isolates of Pythium spp. were prevalent and were found to be more pathogenic than the other fungal isolates. This species causes damping-off, root rot, sudden death, stem rot and fruit rot. The pathogen was identified as Pythium aphanidermatum based on morphological, cultural, and molecular characteristics. Biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were produced using the F. oxysporum strain and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The size of these spherical particles ranged from 10 to 30 nm. In vitro, biogenic AgNPs showed antifungal activity against P. aphanidermatum. In greenhouse and field experiments, AgNPs treatment significantly reduced the incidence of dead tomato plants due to root rot caused by P. aphanidermatum compared to the control. All of the investigated treatments were effective and the treatment of root dipping plus soil drenching was the most effective. To the best of our knowledge, this study describes P. aphanidermatum on tomato in Egypt for the first time. Also, biogenic AgNPs could be used for controlling root rot disease caused by this pathogen.

Graphical Abstract

BACKGROUND: Inadequate scaffolding performance hinders the clinical application of the biodegradable zinc alloy stents. OBJECTIVE: In this study we propose a novel stent with the tenon-and-mortise structure to improve its scaffolding performance. METHODS: 3D models of stents were established in Pro/E. Based on the biodegradable zinc alloy material and two numerical simulation experiments were performed in ABAQUS. Firstly, the novel stent could be compressed to a small-closed ring by a crimp shell and can form a tenon-and-mortise structure after expanded by a balloon. Finally, 0.35 MPa was applied to the crimp shell to test the scaffolding performance of the novel stent and meanwhile compare it with an ordinary stent. RESULTS: Results showed that the novel stent decreased the recoiling ratio by 70.7% compared with the ordinary stent, indicating the novel structure improved the scaffolding performance of the biodegradable zinc alloy stent. CONCLUSION: This study proposes a novel design that is expected to improve the scaffolding performance of biodegradable stents.

Researches on the biocompatibility of dental biomaterials has become a hotspot. As a new subject, metabolomics has unique advantages in research of material compatibility. This paper aims to utilize 1H-NMR method to analyze and evaluate the biocompatibility of 3 common dental biomaterials (Titanium, Hydroxyapatite-calcium phosphate bioceramics and Poly-methyl-methacrylate). We utilize 1H-NMR method to analyze extracellular small molecular metabolites of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts cultivated on 3 dental biomaterials above. Metabolite path is visualized using metPA network software to identify different characteristic metabolites, with the same software biocompatibility of these materials is also evaluated. The metabolic profiles of the 3 experimental groups are clearly distinguished from the control group. 25 characteristic metabolites are identified that could distinguish the metabolic profiles from experimental groups, many of which are mapped to pathway processes. Amino acid metabolism, glucose metabolism, and Lipid metabolism are correlated with the biocompatibility of these materials. Conclusions: 1H-NMR method is a method to analyze and evaluate the biocompatibility of dental biomaterials.

Abstract: Bacteriophages are considered as a potential alternative to fight pathogenic bacteria during the antibiotic resistance era. With their high specificity, they are widely used in various applications: medicine, food industry, agriculture, animal farms, biotechnology, diagnosis, etc. Many techniques have been designed by different researchers for phage isolation, purification, and amplification, each of which has strengths and weaknesses. However, all aim at having a reasonably pure phage sample that can be further characterized. Phages can be characterized based on their physiological, morphological or inactivation tests. Microscopy, in particular, opened a wide gate, not only for visualizing phage morphological structure, but also for monitoring biochemistry and behavior. Meanwhile, computational analysis of phage genomes provides more details about phage history, lifestyle, and the potential for toxigenic or lysogenic conversion, which translate to safety in biocontrol and phage therapy applications. This review article summarizes phage application pipelines at different levels, and addresses specific restrictions and knowledge gaps in the field. Recently developed computational approaches, which are used in phage genome analysis, are critically assessed. We hope that this assessment provides researchers with useful insights for the selection of suitable approaches for phage-related research aims and applications.

A method to increase the thromboresistance of the biospecific antiproteinase hemosorbent was suggested based on simultaneous immobilization of duck egg ovomucoid and blood anticoagulant—heparin or hirudin—in the bulk of polyacrylamide hydrogel. It was demonstrated that modification of the hemosorbent with hirudin resulted in a significant increase of its compatibility with blood with simultaneous preservation of high capacity with regards to serine proteinases.

Alternative food sources are garnering increasing interest owing to overpopulation and environmental stresses. Edible insects are a promising alternative protein source. In this study, we evaluated the effect of pH and NaCl concentration on the quality and technical properties of extracted Protaetia brevitarsis protein. Nine different solutions were used to extract edible insect protein (pH 1, 4, 7, 10, and 14 and 0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 M NaCl). The pH of the extracted protein increased with increasing pH (1.12±0.02 to 12.81±0.03) and decreasing NaCl concentration (6.52±0.02 to 6.89±0.01). Colour difference increased when deviating from neutral pH and 0 M NaCl. Further, surface hydrophobicity (μg) and solubility (mg/ml) of the protein decreased at pH 1 (12.25±1.39 μg and 0.74±0.08 mg/ml) and 14 (20.62±1.48 μg and 0.18±0.02 mg/ml) compared with pH 7 (71.81±1.76 μg and 1.26±0.22 mg/ml). Higher pH and NaCl concentrations yielded higher thermal stability. Foaming capacity was the highest at 0.5 (110.5±0.71%) and 1 M (100.5±10.61%) NaCl, and pH 14 (122.5±3.54%), followed by that at pH 1 (72.50±3.54%), although with low stability. Furthermore, emulsifying capacity and stability of the protein increased when deviating from pH 4. Therefore, the protein of P. brevitarsis had high functionality when extracted at highly alkaline conditions using NaCl.

Кровотеча смертельно небезпечна. Проведення екстреного, ефективного гемостазу є основним завданням при наданні допомоги як у мирному житті, так і в період військових конфліктів. Тому догоспітальна гемостатична допомога повинна надаватися в найкоротший термін. Ефективний гемостатичний матеріал повинен бути доступним в екстреній ситуації, легко наноситися і надійно контролювати кровотечу з великих судин. Таким рішенням може стати вітчизняний гемостатичний бинт на нетканій основі з хітозаном Revul®, який відповідає всім вимогам, що висуваються до даних матеріалів. Гемостатика на основі хітозану при зупинці масивних кровотеч відноситься до першої медичної допомоги за класифікацією НАТО. Тому гемостатичний бинт на хімічній основі (хітозан та ін.), згідно з інструкціями з догляду за пораненими на тактичному рівні (ТССС — Tactical Combat Casualty Саrе, 2009 р.), керівництвом з інтенсивної терапії при травмі на догоспітальному етапі в районі бойових дій (BATLS — Battlefild Advanced Trauma Life Support), включений у сучасну аптечку стандарту НАТО як обов’язковий компонент.

Diseases with a significant loss of neurons, structurally and functionally are termed as neurodegenerative diseases. Due to the present therapeutic interventions and progressive nature of diseases, a variety of side effects have risen up, thus leading the patients to go for an alternative medication. The role of medicinal plants in such cases has been beneficial because of their exhibition via different cellular and molecular mechanisms. Alleviation in inflammatory responses, suppression of the functionary aspect of pro-inflammatory cytokines like a tumor, improvement in antioxidative properties is among few neuroprotective mechanisms of traditional plants. Variation in transcription and transduction pathways plays a vital role in the preventive measures of plants in such diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases are generally caused by the depletion of proteins, oxidative and inflammatory stress, environmental changes and so on, with aging being the most important cause. Natural compounds can be used in order to treat neurodegenerative diseases Medicinal plants such as Ginseng, Withania somnifera, Bacopa monnieri, Ginkgo biloba, etc. are some of the medicinal plants for the prevention of neurological symptoms. This review deals with the use of different medicinal plants for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

Background Population growth, climate change, and food shortage have led to increased demand for alternate sources of lipids to meet our food and energy needs. Oleaginous microorganisms such as yeasts, bacteria, microalgae, fungi, and thraustochytrids are good resources for producing lipids. Scope and approach Many factors affect the amount and composition of lipid accumulation in microorganisms, such as genetic makeup and environmental conditions during growth, such as carbon and nitrogen sources, pH, temperature, and exposure to natural light in growing media. Food biotechnology advances such as improvements in fermentation technology, genetic and metabolic engineering of oleaginous microorganisms, and the use of low-cost carbon sources, such as food and agricultural waste materials, make lipid production using microbial sources more feasible. Key findings and conclusions Microbial lipid production has some unique benefits for the production of specialty fats and oils, including cocoa butter equivalents, polyunsaturated fatty acid oils and biosurfactants. Moreover, microbial oil production has advantages over plant and marine oils, including lower cultivation costs and the ability to engineer oil structure and thus functionality using genetic modification. Microbial oils production allows for the production of more sustainable and safer oils, without pesticides, herbicides or heavy metals, year-round with a small footprint and without the need for land.

Larvae of Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm; YM) are an alternative to conventional animal protein as food and feed thanks to their high nutritional value and low environmental impact for production. Since some studies have reported high water activity (aw) with different microbial contamination levels, blanching and drying can be employed to reduce microbial load, enzymatic activity, moisture content, and water activity, ensuring safety and preserving YM for longer periods. This study applied rinsing or blanching followed by vacuum- or multiflash drying, aiming to preserve YM by reducing aw and the microbial load, enabling its use as food and feed. The processing impact on YM colour was evaluated, and they were also subjected to an Escherichia coli contaminated wheat bran to perform a challenge test to evaluate the effectiveness of the decontamination. Drying curves were determined for each situation. Multiflash drying procedure was faster than vacuum drying for reducing YM moisture. Additionally, blanched samples required a shorter period to reach the targeted water activity (0.2-0.3) than rinsed samples. Blanching plus vacuum drying reduced more than 5 log E. coli load in YM in the challenge test. Vacuum drying preserved YM brightness the most. In conclusion, this study showed that drying could provide shelf-stable YM. Besides, only 15 s of blanching before drying gives better brightness and leads to a greater microbial reduction after a relatively short drying time.

In this work, a novel mathematical model for the description of the osmotic behavior during the cryopreservation of human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) from Umbilical Cord Blood (UCB) is proposed. In cryopreservation, the two-parameter formalism of perfect osmometer behavior is typically adopted and preferred due to its simplicity: cell volume osmotic excursions are described as due only to the passive trans-membrane transport of water and permeant solutes such as cryoprotectant agents (CPAs); intracellular solutes, responsible of the isotonic osmolality, are assumed to be impermeant. The application of the two-parameter model fails to capture the osmotic response of hMSCs whenever a swelling phase is involved, as demonstrated by the authors. To overcome this limitation, the imperfect osmometer behavior of hMSCs is successfully modelled herein by improving the two-parameter formalism through the coupling of osmosis with cell mechanics and cell membrane Surface Area Regulation (SAR): now the transmembrane permeation of solutes (ions/salt) during the swelling phase through the temporary opening of mechanosensitive channels is allowed. This way cells can reach an equilibrium volume different from the initial isotonic one, when isotonic conditions are re-established after contact with impermeant or permeant solutes, such as sucrose or dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO), respectively. The sequential best-fit procedure adopted to adjust model parameters is reported herein along with model validation through full predictions.

Ergothioneine is a naturally occurring antioxidant that has shown potential in ameliorating neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated the potential of the Crabtree-negative, oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica as an alternative host for ergothioneine production. We expressed the biosynthetic enzymes EGT1 from Neurospora crassa and EGT2 from Claviceps purpurea to obtain 158 mg/L of ergothioneine in small-scale cultivation, with an additional copy of each gene improving the titer to 205 mg/L. The effect of phosphate limitation on ergothioneine production was studied, and finally, a phosphate-limited fed-batch fermentation in 1 L bioreactors yielded 1.63 ± 0.04 g/L ergothioneine in 220 hours, corresponding to an overall volumetric productivity of 7.41 mg L-1 h-1 , showing that Yarrowia lipolytica is a promising host for ergothioneine production.

BACKGROUND: The major component of lemongrass by weight is dietary fibre (DF), but no literature has been reported on its DF components and fermentation products when ingested. OBJECTIVE: This study analysed DF components of lemongrass, investigated the potential of the major product from total DF (TDF) fermentation to inhibit α-amylase and HMG-CoA reductase, key enzymes of diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia, respectively, and determined the serum glucose- and cholesterol-lowering potential of TDF in an animal model. METHODS: Lemongrass DF components were analysed, TDF was fermented in vitro; the major fermentation product was isolated for enzyme inhibitory assays; and postprandial blood glucose- and cholesterol-lowering potential of TDF was determined in Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS: TDF in lemongrass was 65.7 g/100g and soluble DF, 2.8 g/100 g. Significant amount of propionate (10.9 mM/g TDF) was produced after TDF fermentation; propionate inhibited 20.4% α-amylase activity, and 13.1 % HMG-CoA reductase activity in vitro. TDF further exhibited antihyperglycemic and cholesterol-lowering potential in an animal model. CONCLUSIONS: DF from lemongrass was shown to reduce hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia in an animal model, through mild inhibition of α-amylase and HMG-CoA reductase. Thus, lemongrass DF may have a significant role in mitigating the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia.

Background Food fermentation has been practiced since prehistoric times and developed over the years with modification in substrates, processes and technologies. It is carried out by microbial cultures with techniques such as back slopping and enrichment, enhancing the organoleptic property, nutrient availability and storage life of food and in many cases contributing beneficial microbes to the diet of the consumer. Scope and approach The microorganisms involved in fermentation greatly vary according to the food product. One of the major groups of microbes used in traditional and industrial fermentation of cereals includes the lactic acid bacteria, many of which are known to have probiotic characteristics followed by yeast and mould. While dairy fermented foods have received attention as a source of probiotic microbes, those in non-dairy foods especially millets and cereal mixtures have not been documented. Traditional fermented foods of animal origin as well as other plant foods such as pulse, fruits and vegetables are also discussed. The review examines the presumptive probiotic bacteria found in non-dairy fermented foods around the globe. Key findings and conclusions This review is an attempt to collate the scientific progress with respect to probiotics in millet fermented foods, particularly of Africa and Asia. India has the largest documented number of fermented foods followed by Korea especially made with cereals. These fermented foods containing presumptive probiotic microorganisms may serve as probiotic supplements that are affordable as opposed to expensive probiotic formulations.

This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and mineral contents of dried extract of Averrhoa bilimbi and its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Dried extracts leaves powder of A. bilimbi were analysed for its physicochemical properties and mineral compositions. The antioxidant and antibacterial capacities of extracts were determined by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and the disc diffusion method respectively. The functional groups from active compounds were identified by Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR). Physicochemical characteristics of A. bilimbi dried extracts, including pH and total acids dissolved in water and ethanol solvents, showed negligible differences. The dried leaves powder of A. bilimbi was rich in carbohydrate, protein, and ash contents. It also exhibited essential minerals in which potassium was the highest content. Compared to water, ethanol extract showed more scavenging property against DPPH (82.82 mg GAE/ g DW) and gave a more inhibitory effect on the growth of Salmonella sp., Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The FTIR spectra showed phenolic compounds might be associated with the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of this extract. A. Bilimbi leaves are promising a source for the development of functional food to prevent diseases related to stress oxidative and bacterial infections.

Renewable biofuel has a great potential in replacing the conventional transportation fuels as well as aiding the current issue of climate change and global warming. In the present scenario, tremendous initiatives have been implemented to encourage large-scale biofuel production and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the information on the current biofuel status specifically in Canada and where it lacks in biofuel production, tax rebate and policies in comparison with other countries is limited. In this sense, the current work focuses on the liquid biofuel status, recent advancements and evaluation of programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in coming years. Additionally, the role of private and government programs in scaling up the projects is elaborated using several examples of successful as well as failed attempts to commercialize biofuels. Moreover, the Canadian government regulations and policies for greenhouse gas mitigation, and biofuel blending policies are also briefly described. In summary, future aspects and suggestions to further increase biofuel production are portrayed in this review.

This study was conducted to compare the correlations between free radical antioxidant activity and anti-wrinkling activity. Areca nut was extracted using various concentrations of ethanol (0, 40, 80, and 100%) and methanol (0, 40, 80, and 100%) at 100 °C for 90 min. The ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Areca nut were evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity, including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), FRAP, DPPH, ABTS, and superoxide anion radical scavenging activity (SRSA), and anti-wrinkling activity (collagenase inhibition and elastase inhibition). In addition, the antioxidant activities were correlated with collagenase inhibition. The antioxidant activities of the extracts exhibited little correlation (R=0.008-0.0760) with TPC, TFC, and TAC; however, significant correlation (R=0.825-0.891) was shown with collagenase inhibition. The 40% and 80% EtOH extracts showed the highest levels of antioxidant activities, and also had the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents. The antioxidant activities of the 80% EtOH extracts was greater than that of other extracts. These results indicate that the collagenase inhibition effects of Areca nut extracts may be due to free radical antioxidant activities, and the optimal extraction condition was 80% EtOH.

Strain engineering and bioprocessing strategies were applied for biobased production of porphobilinogen (PBG) using Escherichia coli as the cell factory. The non-native Shemin/C4 pathway was first implemented by heterologous expression of hemA from Rhodopseudomonas spheroids to supply carbon flux from the natural tricarboxylic acid (TCA) pathways for PBG biosynthesis via succinyl-CoA. Metabolic strategies were then applied for carbon flux direction from the TCA pathways to the C4 pathway. To promote PBG stability and accumulation, Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats interference (CRISPRi) was applied to repress hemC expression and, therefore, reduce carbon flowthrough toward porphyrin biosynthesis with minimal impact to cell physiology. To further enhance PBG biosynthesis and accumulation under the hemC-repressed genetic background, we further heterologously expressed native E. coli hemB. Using these engineered E. coli strains for bioreactor cultivation based on ~ 30 g L−1 glycerol, we achieved high PBG titers up to 209 mg L−1, representing 1.73% of the theoretical PBG yield, with improved PBG stability and accumulation. Potential biochemical, genetic, and metabolic factors limiting PBG production were systematically identified for characterization. Graphical Abstract

Due to their versatility and the high biomass yield produced, cultivation of phototrophic organisms is an increasingly important field. In general, open ponds are chosen to do it because of economic reasons; however, this strategy has several drawbacks such as poor control of culture conditions and a considerable risk of contamination. On the other hand, photobioreactors are an attractive choice to perform cultivation of phototrophic organisms, many times in a large scale and an efficient way. Furthermore, photobioreactors are being increasingly used in bioprocesses to obtain valuable chemical products. In this review, we briefly describe different photobioreactor set-ups, including some of the recent designs, and their characteristics. Additionally, we discuss the current challenges and advantages that each different type of photobioreactor presents, their applicability in biocatalysis and some modern modeling tools that can be applied to further enhance a certain process.

Pectinase, a group of pectin degrading enzymes, is one of the most influential industrial enzymes, helpful in producing a wide variety of products with good qualities. These enzymes are biocatalysts and are highly specific, non-toxic, sustainable, and eco-friendly. Consequently, both pectin and pectinase are crucially essential biomolecules with extensive applicatory perception in the biotechnological sector. The market demand and application of pectinases in new sectors are continuously increasing. However, due to the high cost of the substrate used for the growth of microbes, the production of pectinase using microorganisms is limited. Therefore, low-cost or no-cost substrates, such as various agricultural biomasses, are emphasized in producing pectinases. The importance and implications of pectinases are rising in diverse areas, including bioethanol production, extraction of DNA, and protoplast isolation from a plant. Therefore, this review briefly describes the structure of pectin, types and source of pectinases, substrates and strategies used for pectinases production, and emphasizes diverse potential applications of pectinases. The review also has included a list of pectinases producing microbes and alternative substrates for commercial production of pectinase applicable in pectinase-based industrial technology. Key points • Pectinase applications are continuously expanding. • Organic wastes can be used as low-cost sources of pectin. • Utilization of wastes helps to reduce pollution.

Vine shoots (Vitis vinifera L.) constitute an abundant lignocellulosic source which is frequently underutilised. Alkaline and acidic pretreatments (with and without washing steps) were compared and optimised to release fermentable sugars from vine shoots. An acidic pretreatment using 1.72% H2SO4 at 134 °C for 17 min (with 10% w/w solid biomass), followed by an enzymatic hydrolysis, offered the most cost-effective results, releasing 40.21 g/L sugars. Three thermotolerant strains, namely, Bacillus coagulans DSM 2314, Geobacillus stearothermophilus DSM 2313, and G. stearothermophilus DSM 494, were assessed to produce lactic acid from vine-shoot hydrolysates under aerobic and non-sterile conditions, without the need of detoxification steps. In addition, wine lees were satisfactorily employed as nitrogen sources for the fermentation, providing similar results to yeast extract and being the only nutrient added to vine-shoot hydrolysates. Under optimal conditions, B. coagulans DSM 2314 produced 29.21 ± 0.23 g/L lactic acid in 24 h, with a sugar consumption of 98.74 ± 0.07% and a yield of 96.38 ± 0.76%, when supplemented with red wine lees. The purity of the isomer L( +) reached 97.59 ± 1.35% of the total lactic acid produced. Although G. stearothermophilus was able to transform the hexoses from vine-shoot hydrolysates into lactic acid, it proved to be inefficient for metabolising pentoses, thus obtaining lower lactic acid values (16–18 g/L).

Microalgae can produce industrially relevantmetabolites using atmospheric CO2 and sunlight as carbon and energy sources, respectively. Developing molecular tools for high-throughputgenome engineering could accelerate the generation oftailored strains with improved traits. To this end, we developed a genome editing strategy based on Cas12a ribonucleoprotein (RNPs) and homology-directed repair (HDR) to generate scarlessand markerless mutants of the microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica. We also developed an episomal plasmid-based Cas12a system forefficiently introducing indels at the target site. Additionally, weexploited the ability of Cas12a to process an associated CRISPRarray to perform multiplexed genome engineering. We efficientlytargeted three sites in the host genome in a singletransformation,thereby making a major step toward high-throughput genome engineering in microalgae. Furthermore, a CRISPR interference(CRISPRi) tool based on Cas9 and Cas12a was developed for effective downregulation of target genes. We observed up to 85%reduction in the transcript levels upon performing CRISPRi with dCas9 in N. oceanica. Overall, these developments substantiallyaccelerate genome engineering efforts in N. oceanica and potentially provide a general toolbox for improving othermicroalgal strains.

Introduction. The article provides a review of technologies for membrane fractionation of various hydrolyzed food substrates in membrane bioreactors (MBR). In food industry, MBRs are popular in functional food production, especially in the processing of whey, which is a very promising raw material due to its physicochemical composition. Study objects and methods. The research was based on a direct validated analysis of scientific publications and featured domestic and foreign experience in MBR hydrolysis of protein raw material. Results and discussion. The MBR hydrolysis of proteins combines various biocatalytic and membrane processes. This technology makes it possible to intensify the biocatalysis, optimize the use of the enzyme preparation, and regulate the molecular composition of hydrolysis products. The paper reviews MBRs based on batch or continuous stirring, gradient dilution, ceramic capillary, immobilized enzyme, etc. Immobilized enzymes reduce losses that occur during the production of fractionated peptides. Continuous MBRs are the most economically profitable type, as they are based on the difference in molecular weight between the enzyme and the hydrolysis products. Conclusion. Continuous stirred tank membrane reactors have obvious advantages over other whey processing reactors. They provide prompt separation of hydrolysates with the required biological activity and make it possible to reuse enzymes.

Introduction. Grape pomace is the most important by-product of winemaking that can be used as an additional raw material. There is a need for an optimal storage technology so that pomace can be further processed to obtain new types of products. We aimed to study the effect of grape pomace treatment on its microflora. Study objects and methods. We identified and quantified microflora on the fresh and one-month-stored pomace samples from white and red grape varieties. The samples were exposed to conventional drying at 60–65°C, infrared drying at 60–65°C, as well as sulfitation with sulfur dioxide and sodium metabisulfite. Results and discussion. The pomace microflora can be considered a microbial community. Almost all the samples stored for one month in an open area contained Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts, higher concentrations of filmy yeasts of the Candida, Pichia, Hansenula, Hanseniaspora/Kloeckera, and Torulaspora genera, as well as conidia of Mucor, Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium molds. Prevalent bacteria included acetic acid (mainly Acetobacter aceti) and lactic acid (Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc) bacteria. These microorganisms significantly changed concentrations of volatile and non-volatile components, decreasing total polysaccharides, phenolic compounds, and anthocyanins 1.7–1.9, 3.7–4.0, and 4.0–4.5 times, respectively. The contents of micromycetes and bacteria in the one-month-stored samples were significantly higher than in the fresh pomace. Predrying and sulfitation decreased bacterial contamination, but to a lesser extent compared to micromycetes. Conclusion. Long-term storage spoiled pomace, leading to significant changes in its chemical composition. Sulfitation reduced microorganism growth during storage, but did not provide long-term preservation (over a month), while pre-drying at 60–65°C promoted longer storage.

While nepetalactone, the active ingredient in catnip, is a potent insect repellent, its low in planta accumulation limits its commercial viability as an alternative repellent. Here we describe a platform for de novo nepetalactone production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, enabling sustainable and scalable production. Nepetalactone production required introduction of eight exogenous genes including the cytochrome P450 geraniol-8-hydroxylase, which represented the bottleneck of the heterologous pathway. Combinatorial assessment of geraniol-8-hydroxylase and cytochrome P450 reductase variants, as well as copy-number variations were used to overcome this bottleneck. We found that several reductases improved hydroxylation activity, with a higher geraniol-8-hydroxylase ratio further increasing 8-hydroxygeraniol titers. Another roadblock was the accumulation of an unwanted metabolite that implied inefficient channeling of carbon through the pathway. With the native yeast old yellow enzymes previously shown to use monoterpene intermediates as substrates, both homologs were deleted. These deletions increased 8-hydroxygeraniol yield, resulting in a final de novo accumulation of 3.10 mg/L/OD600 of nepetalactone from simple sugar in microtiter plates. Our pathway optimization will aid in the development of high yielding monoterpene S. cerevisiae strains.

Fungal pre-treatment and fermentation could improve nutritional value of wet corn distillers’ grains and solubles (WDGS), soybean hull (SH), and their blend in swine and poultry diets, which can potentially increase revenues for corn-ethanol and soybean processing industries while reducing feed cost in swine and poultry production systems. This study evaluated the effectiveness of pre-treatment of SH, WDGS, and their mixture by Trichoderma reesei and fermentation by Aspergillus oryzae to improve the nutritional profile and digestibility of these ingredients. T. reesei produced cellulase and xylanase, resulting in structural carbohydrates reduction by 69.2% while concentrating amino acids from 6.8% to 11% in SH. Fermentation with A. oryzae degraded phytate by over 50% and improved in vitro digestibility of amino acids in WDGS and its mixture with SH. Fermenting T. reesei pre-treated SH by A. oryzae showed higher in vitro dry matter digestibility than non-fermented substrate. Moreover, the proportion of key amino acids (arginine, threonine, methionine, and lysine) in both T. reesei and A. oryzae fermented substrates were significantly improved. The results demonstrated the feasibility of combining T. reesei and A. oryzae in improving feeding value of WDGS and SH for potential use as feed ingredients for monogastric animals.

In recent years, attention to m icrobial dehalogenase has continually increased due to its potential application, both in bioremediation and in the biosynthesis of fine chemicals. Many microbial recombinant strains carrying dehalogenase gene have been developed, particularly to increase the dehalogenase production and its quality. In this study, we aimed to find the optimum condition for the production of active haloacid dehalogenase by E. coli BL21 (DE3) harboring recombinant plasmid pET- bcfd1 that carried haloacid dehalogenase gene from Bacillus cereus IndB1 local strain. This would be examined by assessing the ability of whole cell life culture to degrade monochloroacetic acid (MCA) and quantifying the chloride ion released into the medium. Several variables were evaluated to find this optimal condition. We found that the best condition for MCA biodegradation using this recombinant clone was at 0.2 mM MCA, 10 μM of isopropyl β -D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), 6 hours of pre-induction incubation at 37 o C with shaking, 2 hours IPTG induction at 30 o C with shaking, at pH 7 in Luria Bertani (LB) liquid medium without NaCl, which produced about 0.056 mM chloride ions. Inducer concentration, pre-induction incubation time and temperature, as well as induction time and temperature were apparent to be associated with the expression of the protein, while the MCA concentration and the pH of the medium influenced the ability of the recombinant E. coli BL21 (DE3)/pET- bcfd1 to grow in toxic environment. Our findings laid the foundation for exploration of dehalogenases from local Bacillus strains through genetic engineering for MCA biodegradation

Introduction. A disadvantage of the ancestral method (la méthode ancestrale), which is widely used in the production of sparkling wine, is that it is difficult to control fermentation. We aimed to identify the optimal yeast race for obtaining high-quality young sparkling wines with varietal aroma without yeast tones. Study objects and methods. Our study objects were base and young sparkling wines from Cabernet-Sauvignon prepared on various yeast races. Organic acids, sugars, and ethanol contents were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Phenolic and coloring substances were measured by colorimetric method. Foaming properties were determined by air barbotage of a wine sample in a measuring cylinder; sparkling properties, by measuring the CO2 desorption rate; CO2 content, by volumetric method; viscosity, with a viscometer. Sensory evaluation was carried out according to standard methods. Results and discussion. The wines produced on the Odesskiy Chernyi-SD13 yeast race received the highest tasting scores of 7.82 and 9.05 points for base wine and young sparkling wines, respectively. They contained larger amounts of phenolic substances (1103 mg/dm3) and coloring agents (275 mg/dm3) and had higher color intensity (1.614). The panelists rated them highly on their complex varietal aroma and harmonious, velvety flavor, as well as their foaming and sparkling properties. This yeast race ensured intensive fermentation of sugars and a great amount of bound CO2 (up to 24.93%). Conclusion. The Odesskiy Chernyi-SD13 yeast race is optimal for making base and young sparkling wines by the bottle method. This technology can be used to produce high-quality sparkling wines in the crop year by large and small enterprises.

The present study numerically investigates the airflow and heat transfer characteristics in a conventional refrigerated container (CRC), and an improved refrigerated container (IRC) loaded with cargoes by modeling the refrigeration unit and the cargoes in the container as porous media. The IRC design is based on a previous study by the current authors, where the airflow in the refrigerated container was enhanced by improving the refrigeration unit design. The airflow inside the refrigerated container is simulated by using the fan pressure jump boundary conditions at the location of the evaporator fans in the refrigeration unit. The CRC and IRC are simulated for three fan pressure jump conditions of 50 Pa, 100 Pa, and 150 Pa. Initially, the airflow and heat transfer results under 50 Pa fan pressure jump condition are compared for CRC and IRC to estimate the enhanced heat transfer in IRC. Then, the behavior of the heat transfer characteristics in CRC and IRC under increasing fan pressure jump conditions is studied by comparing the results of CRC and IRC under the three fan pressure jump conditions. Results show that the heat transfer and the temperature homogeneity of the cargoes in IRC are significantly improved due to the enhanced airflow by the improved design of the refrigeration unit in IRC.

Introduction. The present research featured the effect of carbonyls, phenols, furans, fatty alcohols, ethers, and other chemical compounds on the sensory properties of cognac distillates of different ages. The research objective was to identify additional criteria of sensory evaluation by measuring the effect of various compounds on perception intensity. Study objects and methods. The study featured cognac samples of different ages. The experiment involved standard methods, including high-performance liquid and gas chromatography and a mathematical analysis based on Microsoft software. Results and discussion. The content of fatty alcohols, ethers, and carbonyl compounds that formed as a result of fermentation demonstrated little change during the aging period in oak casks. A longer extraction increased the content of phenolic and furan compounds and sugars. The content of terpene compounds decreased due to their high lability. The study revealed the effect of organic compounds on taste descriptors. The article introduces multivariate equations that calculate the dependences of the descriptor intensity on the content of organic compounds. A correlation and regression analysis revealed that phenolic compounds had a significant effect on the taste formation of cognac samples, depending on the aging time. Conclusion. Organic compounds proved to affect the taste profiles of cognac samples of different ages, as well as sensory evaluation descriptors.

A sound or a noise that accompanies wood machining processes is introduced by the tool rotation itself, by the friction of moving machine parts, or by wood-tool interaction. The sounds generated during machining with a circular saw could be analysed in order to monitor and possibly control the cutting process. Applying altered cutting parameters while cutting beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.), which is the most common wood species in the Republic of Serbia, caused acoustic emissions that could be analysed throughout corresponding spectra. As shown in previous studies, altering the cutting parameters, e.g., the feed speed and tool override, resulted in variations in power consumption, surface roughness, and acoustic emission (or acoustic pressure). The aim of this paper was to provide a possible correlation between the applied cutting parameters and the acoustic emission spectra with respect to consumed power and the state of the machined surface. Along with acoustic emissions, the power consumption and surface roughness data were also acquired in order to make a possible relationship. By associating the idle circular saw acoustic spectra with background noise and comparing them with those obtained during machining, it was possible to indicate spectrum areas of particular interest for further analysis.

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T19:46:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2022-01-01 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Academy of Finland We investigated whether highly available organic residues in Brazil can be used as substrates for the production of the oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, instead of the conventional cultivation using the eucalyptus sawdust substrate. We assessed the mushroom yield on 13 substrates, of which 12 were formulated with different concentrations of organic residues and one with pure eucalyptus sawdust, and verified whether the raw material used in the substrate formula and the concentration of such alternative residues influenced their biological efficiencies. Substrates containing eucalyptus bark resulted in higher mushroom yield than those containing eucalyptus sawdust, which generally resulted in similar mushroom yield to the remaining formulas. Moreover, the raw material and the concentration of each residue affected the biological efficiency of the substrates. We show that the conventional substrate for P. ostreatus can be replaced by substrates easily accessible to producers without loss in productivity. Furthermore, that the concentration of these mixtures affects the mushroom productivity and should be considered when formulating the growth medium. Graduate Program in Agriculture – Energy in Agriculture School of Agricultural Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Department of Microbiology University of Helsinki Graduate Program in Biological Sciences (Botany) Institute of Biosciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Department of Biodiversity Laboratory of Phenology Institute of Biosciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Graduate Program in Agriculture – Energy in Agriculture School of Agricultural Sciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Graduate Program in Biological Sciences (Botany) Institute of Biosciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) Department of Biodiversity Laboratory of Phenology Institute of Biosciences São Paulo State University (UNESP) CAPES: 001 Academy of Finland: 308284

The replacement of conventional protein supply has been studied in the context of continuous population growth and the consequent environmental problems. Among protein substitutes, edible insects have gained relevance due to their high breeding efficiency. This study was conducted to estimate the effect of the partial replacement of porcine myofibril protein (pork protein; PP) with protein extracted from Protaetia brevitarsis (insect protein; IP) in protein-containing solutions and gels. The protein concentration was regulated at 30 and 1 mg/ml for gels and solutions, respectively, and the replacement percentages were increased by 20%. Gels containing IP showed a lower viscosity and thermal stability; the texture and surface of the gels were negatively impacted as the replacement percentage increased. Therefore, heating is not an appropriate method to induce the gelation of IP containing solutions. However, the replacement of PP with IP increased the foam capacity and emulsion capacity in solutions. In conclusion, we show that the partial replacement of PP with IP positively impacts on protein solutions but impairs their gelation.

Background: Astaxanthin is a natural active substance with a plurality of biological activities, such as anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory and anti-cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. However, there is less research on the effects of astaxanthin on obesity. Astaxanthin with different structural forms affect the corresponding biological activity. Objective: The study aimed to compare Astaxanthin-octanoic acid diester (C8-AST) and Free Astaxanthin (F-AST) to explore the effect on lipogenesis in vitro. Methods: 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured under astaxanthin treatment. Cell proliferation and differentiation were evaluated by MTT assay and oil red O staining, respectively. The synthesis of metabolic mechanism of intracellular fatty acids and triglycerides was examined by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: C8-AST and F-AST had no effect on adipocyte proliferation at low concentration, but inhibited adipocyte differentiation. The treatment of astaxanthin could inhibit the expression of PPARγ, C/EBPα and SREBP-1c in adipocytes, up-regulate the expression of Wnt10b, LRP6, FZ in Wnt/ β-catenin signaling pathway and increase the β-catenin entry into nucleus, suggesting that the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling was involved in axtaxanthin-regulated lipogenesis. Notably, inhibition effect of lipogenesis on C8-AST was better than F-AST overall. Conclusion: At the cellular level, both two kinds of astaxanthins inhibit the synthesis of intracellular fatty acids and triglycerides. Notably, the inhibition effect of C8-AST is better than F-AST overall.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of pneumonia, mostly in children less than five years and elderly people. Although the Pneumoniae Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPV) and Pneumonia Conjugate Vaccines (PCV) are the efficient pneumococcal vaccine in adults and children, the serotype replacement of S. pneumoniae strains causes the reduction in the efficacy of PPV and PCV vaccines. Epitope-based vaccines are a promising alternative to the present capsular antigen vaccines. Methods: In this study, we evaluated cellular and humoral immune responses induced by our novel designed multi-epitope vaccine in BALB/c mice. CD8+ Cytolytic T Lymphocytes (CTLs) epitopes were selected from PspA and CbpA antigens, and CD4+ Helper T Lymphocytes (HTLs) epitopes were chosen from PhtD and PiuA antigens. PorB, the TLR2 agonist, as an adjuvant, was employed to increase the immunogenicity of the vaccine. Results and Conclusion: The high levels of specific anti-peptide vaccine IgG and an increase in the level of IgG2 in the vaccinated group demonstrated our vaccine could elicit robust antibody production. The significant increase in IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, and decrease in IL-10 showed that the designed vaccine could be proposed as the efficient preventative pneumococcal vaccine in the mouse model.

Background: Molecular biology tools, such as the detection of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), have been considered to assist in the management of ovarian stimulation protocols. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of two polymorphisms, the Asn680Ser polymorphism of the FSHR gene, and the FSH β subunit (FSHβ) gene polymorphism -211 G>T, in a Greek population of women undergoing IVF/ICSI program in our center. In addition, a control group of fertile women was studied to verify whether there are differences in the genotype distribution between fertile and infertile population for both polymorphisms, as the FSHβ gene polymorphism -211 G>T is studied for the first time in the Greek population. Results : The FSH β-211 G>T polymorphism, studied for the first time in the infertile Greek population, appears to be quite rare. When studying the two polymorphisms separately, statistically significant differences were obtained that concerned the LH levels. Discussion: According to the combination analysis of the two polymorphisms by the number of alleles, women with 2-3 polymorphic alleles needed more days of stimulation, but there were no differences in pregnancy rates. Conclusion: This molecular genetic study helps to elucidate whether the polygenic combination of the Asn680Ser and FSH β subunit -211 G>T gene polymorphisms is of additive value in the prediction of ovarian response to exogenous gonadotropins.

The purpose of this work is to develop an integrated imaging approach to characterize without labeling at the sub-cellular level the formation of lipid body droplets (LBs) in microalgae undergoing nitrogen starvation. First conventional optical microscopy approaches, gas chromatography, and turbidimetry measurements allowed to monitor the biomass and the total lipid content in the oleaginous microalgae Parachlorella kesslerii during the starvation process. Then a local analysis of the LBs was proposed using an innovative infrared nanospectroscopy technique called atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR). This label-free technique assessed the formation of LBs and allowed to look into the LB composition thanks to the acquisition of local infrared spectra. Last correlative measurements using fluorescence microscopy and AFM-IR were performed to investigate the subcellular reorganization of LB and the chloroplasts.

Background Due to the increasing trend in consumer habits to use healthy food products with low fat content, reduction of oil uptake during different frying processes is necessary. Recent studies have clearly revealed that microstructural changes occurred during frying operations significantly impact oil uptake. These variations are assessed for better comprehension of the mechanisms involved in oil absorption of fried products to minimize oil uptake without sacrificing organoleptic and textural properties of the foods. Different strategies such as state-of-the-art computational simulations based on numerical analysis of simultaneous momentum, heat and mass transfer modeling during frying have been attempted by several researchers to better control the process. Scope and approach This review paper presents a comprehensive and up-to-date review of microstructure variations covering all existing methods of frying operations comprising deep-fat frying, vacuum frying, hot-air frying, non-fat frying and microwave frying together with post-frying treatments and process modeling of frying. Key findings and conclusions Oil uptake can be controlled during frying by proper process design regarding different products and frying operations. Textural and organoleptic characteristics of fried foods are affected by applying various frying processes. Microstructural changes and post-frying treatments influence oil uptake during frying. In addition, suitable design and optimization of frying using process modeling is important to produce fried food products with high quality.

Identifying the factors and mechanisms that regulate metabolism under normal and diseased states requires methods to quantify metabolic fluxes of live tissues within their physiological milieu. A number of recent developments have expanded the reach and depth of isotope-based in vivo flux analysis, which have in turn challenged existing dogmas in metabolism research. First, minimally invasive techniques of intravenous isotope infusion and sampling have advanced in vivo metabolic tracer studies in animal models and human subjects. Second, recent breakthroughs in analytical instrumentation have expanded the scope of isotope labeling measurements and reduced sample volume requirements. Third, innovative modeling approaches and publicly available software tools have facilitated rigorous analysis of sophisticated experimental designs involving multiple tracers and expansive metabolomics datasets. These developments have enabled comprehensive in vivo quantification of metabolic fluxes in specific tissues and have set the stage for integrated multi-tissue flux assays.

The importance of bioimaging and biosensing has been clear with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to viral detection, detection of tumors, glucose levels, and microbes is necessary for improved disease treatment and prevention. Bionanoparticles, such as extracellular vesicles and protein nanoparticles, are ideal platforms for biosensing and bioimaging applications because of their propensity for high density surface functionalization and large loading capacity. Scaffolding large numbers of sensing modules and detection modules onto bionanoparticles allows for enhanced analyte affinity and specificity as well as signal amplification for highly sensitive detection even at low analyte concentrations. Here we demonstrate the potential of bionanoparticles for bioimaging and biosensing by highlighting recent examples in literature that utilize protein nanoparticles and extracellular vesicles to generate highly sensitive detection devices with impressive signal amplification.

Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) have been widely used in the laboratory separation and purification of antibiotics. However, its large-scale application is limited due to the difficulty in the recovery of the phase-forming polymers. In this study, we aimed to develop a thermo-pH responsive recyclable ATPS using thermo-responsive polymer EO30PO70 and pH-responsive polymer PADB5.22 for lincomycin partition. This ATPS can rapidly form two-phase interface in less than 5 min and can sustainably be reused. The phase separation mechanism was studied by low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and surface tension. The effects of polymer concentration, lincomycin content, pH, temperature and salts type and concentrations on lincomycin partition were investigated. The 25 % (w/v) EO30PO70/4.5 % (w/v) PADB5.22 ATPS showed good partitioning at room temperature for lincomycin fermentation broth in the presence of 80 mM LiCl at pH 9.1, with a partition coefficient of 5.94 and extraction recovery of 94.68 %. In addition, the recycling of the two polymers showed a high efficiency, with 95.51 % and 96.18 % recoveries of EO30PO70 and PADB5.22 after four cycles, respectively. This recyclable ATPS has a promising industrial application in the separation and purification of antibiotics.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of repeated batch fermentation of cocultured Saccharomyces bayanus Y4 and Torulaspora delbrueckii Y7 on the quality of greengage wine. The acidity, as well as citric acid and L-malic acid content, decreased significantly with the batches. The citric acid content of the single culture in each batch was 58.59, 26.27, and 8.45 g/L, respectively. Additionally, the ester content increased with the batches. The respective values were 1627.93, 2249.46, and 2491.17 μg/L for the prophase of coculture. However, volatile content in the fresh wine of Y4 yeast in each batch was high. Ketone and terpene contents in the first batch of coculture significantly increased from 31.64 to 95.60 μg/L and 58.58–95.13 μg/L, respectively. Furthermore, a significant difference was observed between the microbial communities fermented using single culture and coculture. The change in fungal community diversity for coculture pattern was higher than that in the mash-inoculated single strain, which decreased the abundance of dominant fungi. Pichia, Stropharia, Suillus, Malassezia, Trichoderma, Faecalibacterium, and Butyricicoccus were associated with esters, terpenes, phenylethyl alcohol, and β-ionone. Our study provides a new avenue to improve the flavour and quality of wine brewed using a characteristic fruit.

Chemotherapy of hybrid-drugs has become one of the widely used therapies for the prevention of cancers with promising clinical results. This study aimed to create compostable polymeric nanoparticles (PPNPs) for the codelivery of capsaicin (CAPS) and biotin (BT) and to examine the anticancer activity of the drug delivery mechanism (CAPS/BT@PPNPs) against in vitro and in vivo gastric cancer cells. Because of the insufficiency of double antitumor drugs BT and CAPS compressed in polymer-based bio-degradable nanoparticles, the encapsulation of BT and CAPS antitumor drugs co-loaded with polyethylene glycol and polylactidecoglycolide nanoparticles (PPNPs) is effective. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was utilized to investigate the structure of BT@PPNPs, CAPS@PPNPs, and BT/CAPS@PPNPs, as well as their shape and size. Human gastric carcinoma cell lines, such as SGC-791 and NCI-N87, were also induced to apoptosis in vitro by BT/CAPS@PPNPs. Morphologies and cell death were observed using bio-chemical staining methods, AO/EB (acridine orange/ethidium bromide) and Hoechst. Flow cytometry in dual staining was also used to confirm the mechanistic investigations of apoptosis. Overall, this dual drug delivery strategy suggests that BT/CAPS@PPNPs could be used as a new method to increase the efficacy of gastric therapeutics.