Efficacy of Bacillus subtilis probiotic in preventing necrotic enteritis in broilers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Probiotics can enhance broiler chicken health by improving intestinal microbiota, potentially replacing antibiotics. They protect against bacterial diseases like necrotic enteritis (NE) in poultry. Understanding their role is crucial for managing bacterial diseases, including NE. This study conducted a meta-analysis to assess the effects of Bacillus subtilis probiotic supplementation on feed conversion ratio (FCR), NE lesion score, and mortality. Additionally, a systematic review analysed gut microbiota changes in broilers challenged with Clostridium perfringens with or without the probiotic supplementation. Effect sizes from the studies were estimated in terms of standardized mean difference (SMD). Random effect models were fitted to estimate the pooled effect size and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the pooled effect size between the control [probiotic-free + C. perfringens] and the treatment [Bacillus subtilis supplemented + C. perfringens] groups. Overall variance was computed by heterogeneity (Q). The meta-analysis showed that Bacillus subtilis probiotic supplementation significantly improved FCR and reduced NE lesion score but had no effect on mortality rates. The estimated overall effects of probiotic supplementation on FCR, NE lesion score and mortality percentage in terms of SMD were -0.91 (CI = -1.34, -0.49; P < 0.001*); -0.67 (CI = -1.11, -0.22; P = 0.006*), and -0.32 (CI = -0.70, 0.06; P = 0.08), respectively. Heterogeneity analysis indicated significant variations across studies for FCR (Q = 69.66; P < 0.001*) and NE lesion score (Q = 42.35; P < 0.001*) while heterogeneity was not significant for mortality (Q = 2.72; P = 0.74). Bacillus subtilis probiotic supplementation enriched specific gut microbiota including Streptococcus, Butyricicoccus, Faecalibacterium, and Ruminococcus. These microbiotas were found to upregulate expression of various genes such as TJ proteins occluding, ZO-1, junctional adhesion 2 (JAM2), interferon gamma, IL12-ß and transforming growth factor-ß4. Moreover, downregulated mucin-2 expression was involved in restoring the intestinal physical barrier, reducing intestinal inflammation, and recovering the physiological functions of damaged intestines. These findings highlight the potential benefits of probiotic supplementation in poultry management, particularly in combating bacterial diseases and promoting intestinal health.

Use of Chicken Embryo Model in Toxicity Studies of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Nanoparticles.

Lab animals such as mice and rats are widely used in toxicity research of food additive and pharmaceutics, despite the well-recognized research limitation such as the inability to simulate human neurological diseases, faster absorption of chemicals, big variations among species, and high cost when using a large number of animals. The Society of Toxicology's guidance now focuses on minimizing discomfort and distress of lab animals, finding alternative ways to reduce animal number, replacing animals with in vitro models, and complying to the animal welfare policies. The chicken embryonic model can be a better alternative to mice and rats because of its abundant availability and cost-effectiveness. It can be studied in both laboratory and natural environment, with easy manipulation in ovo or in vivo. The objective of this review paper is to evaluate the use of chicken embryonic model in toxicity evaluation for endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and nanoparticles (NPs) by different end points to determine more comprehensive toxic responses. The end points include chicken embryonic mortality and hatchability, developmental malformation analysis, hormonal imbalance, physiological changes in endocrine organs, and antiangiogenesis. Major research methodologies using chicken embryos are also summarized to demonstrate their versatile practice and valuable application in modern toxicity evaluation of EDCs and NPs.

The impact of differential lignin S/G ratios on mutagenicity and chicken embryonic toxicity.

Lignin and lignin-based materials have received considerable attention in various fields due to their promise as sustainable feedstocks. Guaiacol (G) and syringol (S) are two primary monolignols that occur in different ratios for different plant species. As methoxyphenols, G and S have been targeted as atmospheric pollutants and their acute toxicity examined. However, there is a rare understanding of the toxicological properties on other endpoints and mixture effects of these monolignols. To fill this knowledge gap, our study investigated the impact of different S/G ratios (0.5, 1, and 2) and three lignin depolymerization samples from poplar, pine, and miscanthus species on mutagenicity and developmental toxicity. A multitiered method consisted of in silico simulation, in vitro Ames test, and in vivo chicken embryonic assay was employed. In the Ames test, syringol showed a sign of mutagenicity, whereas guaiacol did not, which agreed with the T.E.S.T. simulation. For three S and G mixture and lignin monomers, mutagenic activity was related to the proportion of syringol. In addition, both S and G showed developmental toxicity in the chicken embryonic assay and T.E.S.T. simulation, and guaiacol had a severe effect on lipid peroxidation. A similar trend and comparable developmental toxicity levels were detected for S and G mixtures and the three lignin depolymerized monomers. This study provides data and insights on the differential toxicity of varying S/G ratios for some important building blocks for bio-based materials.

Quantitative proteomics identifies FOLR1 to drive sorafenib resistance via activating autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Sorafenib is commonly used to treat advanced human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, clinical efficacy has been limited by drug resistance. In this study, we used label-free quantitative proteomic analysis to systematically investigate the underlying mechanisms of sorafenib resistance in HCC cells. A total of 1709 proteins were confidently quantified. Among them, 89 were differentially expressed and highly enriched in the processes of cell-cell adhesion, negative regulation of apoptosis, response to drug and metabolic processes involving in sorafenib resistance. Notably, folate receptor α (FOLR1) was found to be significantly upregulated in resistant HCC cells. In addition, in vitro studies showed that overexpression of FOLR1 decreased the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib, whereas siRNA-directed knockdown of FOLR1 increased the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib. Immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry analysis suggested a strong link between FOLR1 and autophagy-related proteins. Further biological experiments found that FOLR1-related sorafenib resistance was accompanied by the activation of autophagy, whereas inhibition of autophagy significantly reduced FOLR1-induced cell resistance. These results suggest the driving role of FOLR1 in HCC resistance to sorafenib, which may be exerted through FOLR1-induced autophagy. Therefore, this study may provide new insights into understanding the mechanism of sorafenib resistance.

Impacts of food contact chemicals on human health: a consensus statement.

Food packaging is of high societal value because it conserves and protects food, makes food transportable and conveys information to consumers. It is also relevant for marketing, which is of economic significance. Other types of food contact articles, such as storage containers, processing equipment and filling lines, are also important for food production and food supply. Food contact articles are made up of one or multiple different food contact materials and consist of food contact chemicals. However, food contact chemicals transfer from all types of food contact materials and articles into food and, consequently, are taken up by humans. Here we highlight topics of concern based on scientific findings showing that food contact materials and articles are a relevant exposure pathway for known hazardous substances as well as for a plethora of toxicologically uncharacterized chemicals, both intentionally and non-intentionally added. We describe areas of certainty, like the fact that chemicals migrate from food contact articles into food, and uncertainty, for example unidentified chemicals migrating into food. Current safety assessment of food contact chemicals is ineffective at protecting human health. In addition, society is striving for waste reduction with a focus on food packaging. As a result, solutions are being developed toward reuse, recycling or alternative (non-plastic) materials. However, the critical aspect of chemical safety is often ignored. Developing solutions for improving the safety of food contact chemicals and for tackling the circular economy must include current scientific knowledge. This cannot be done in isolation but must include all relevant experts and stakeholders. Therefore, we provide an overview of areas of concern and related activities that will improve the safety of food contact articles and support a circular economy. Our aim is to initiate a broader discussion involving scientists with relevant expertise but not currently working on food contact materials, and decision makers and influencers addressing single-use food packaging due to environmental concerns. Ultimately, we aim to support science-based decision making in the interest of improving public health. Notably, reducing exposure to hazardous food contact chemicals contributes to the prevention of associated chronic diseases in the human population.

Physicochemical properties improvement and structural changes of bamboo shoots (Phyllostachys praecox f. Prevernalis) dietary fiber modified by subcritical water and high pressure homogenization: a comparative study.

In presented study, the effects of subcritical water (SW) and high pressure homogenization (HPH) treatments on the physicochemical and structural characteristics of dietary fibers (DFs) from bamboo shoots (Phyllostachys praecox f. Prevernalis) were investigated. The soluble dietary fiber (SDF) content was dramatically increased in SW and HPH treated DFs. Compared with HPH, SW modification enhanced higher physicochemical properties including water holding capacity (WHC), oil holding capacity (OHC) and swelling capacity (SC) of DFs. The abilities of DFs to absorb cholesterol and nitrite ions were both greatly increased after treatments. The results of Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) showed that the structure of DFs were changed by SW and HPH. In conclusion, SW treatment showed better effects on improvement of physicochemical properties of bamboo shoot DFs than that of HPH, and the modified DFs could be a potential new functional foods or food additives.

Tracing and Characterizing the Development of Transplanted Female Germline Stem Cells In Vivo.

It has long been believed that most female mammalian species lose the ability to generate oocytes in postnatal ovaries. Recent evidence has demonstrated the isolation and culture of female germline stem cells (FGSCs) from adult mice and humans. However, the process and mechanisms of FGSC differentiation in vivo following transplantation have not yet been studied. Here, we isolated and characterized FGSCs from a single EGFP-transgenic mouse, and traced the development and behavior of transplanted FGSCs (F-TFs) in vivo. Comparisons of folliculogenesis between recipients with FGSC transplantation and wild-type (WT) mice were performed by single follicle RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). Results showed that FGSCs exhibited a homing ability and began to differentiate into early-stage oocytes only when they reached the edge of the ovarian cortex. The F-TFs restored function of premature ovarian failure (gdf9iCre; PtenloxP/loxP genotype) and generated offspring. Furthermore, results demonstrated that the developmental mechanisms of follicles derived from F-TFs were similar to that of WT follicles. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified two potential sub-networks and core genes that played a critical role in follicular development. These findings provide a theoretical basis and lay a technology platform for specific or personalized medical treatment of ovarian failure or other ovarian diseases.

The impact of pulsed light on decontamination, quality, and bacterial attachment of fresh raspberries.

Raspberries have served as vehicles for transmission of foodborne pathogens through fecal-oral route and have resulted in 11 outbreaks in the United States from 1983 through 2013. However, because of its dedicated structures and perishability, water based sanitizer washing cannot be used for raspberry decontamination. As a non-thermal technique, pulsed light (PL) may have the potential to maintain both safety and quality of fresh raspberries. The first objective of our study was to investigate Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7 inactivation efficacy of pulsed light (PL) on fresh raspberries during 10 days storage at 4 °C. The qualities of raspberries after PL treatment, including color, texture, total phenolic content (TPC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), total bacteria count (TBC) as well as total yeast and mold count (TYMC), have also been evaluated during the 10 days storage. Compared with the untreated control, all the PL treatments (5 s, 15 s and 30 s) maintained lower pathogen survival population during 10 days refrigerated storage. At day 10, all PL treated raspberries maintained significantly lower TBC and TYMC than the control. Although PL treatment for 30 s (with fluence of 28.2 J/cm(2)) reduced most Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 right after treatment, by 4.5 and 3.9 log 10 CFU/g respectively, it failed to maintain its advantage during storage. In addition, color and texture of these raspberries changed negatively after 10 days storage. PL 30 s provided the lowest TBC and TYMC at day 0, but failed to maintain its advantage during storage. To consider both safety and quality of fresh raspberries as well as the treatment feasibility, 5 s PL treatment with fluence of 5.0 J/cm(2) was recommended for decontamination. The second objective was to study attachment of bacteria as well as decontamination effect of PL on raspberries. Under the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), PL showed severe damage to the cell membrane on smooth surface. Surface structure of raspberries affected the attachment of bacterial cells and the surface roughness provided protection for pathogenic bacteria. Our research demonstrated for the first time that successful PL processing of raspberries should be evaluated for its impacts on both produce safety and quality during the storage. PL with fluence of 5.0 J/cm(2) maintained both safety and quality of fresh raspberries during the refrigerated storage.

Production of fat-1 transgenic rats using a post-natal female germline stem cell line.

Germline stem cell lines possess the abilities of self-renewal and differentiation, and have been established from both mouse and human ovaries. Here, we established a new female germline stem cell (FGSC) line from post-natal rats by immunomagnetic sorting for Fragilis, which showed a normal karyotype, high telomerase activity, and a consistent gene expression pattern of primordial germ cells after 1 year of culture. Using an in vitro differentiation system, the FGSC line could differentiate into oocytes. After liposome-based transfection with green fluorescent protein (GFP) or fat-1 vectors, the FGSCs were transplanted into the ovaries of infertile rats. The transplanted FGSCs underwent oogenesis, and the rats produced offspring carrying the GFP or fat-1 transgene after mating with wild-type male rats. The efficiency of gene transfer was 27.86-28.00%, and 2 months was needed to produce transgenic rats. These findings have implications in biomedical research and potential applications in biotechnology.

Perspectives: Light Control of Magnetism and Device Development.

Accurately controlling magnetic and spin states presents a significant challenge in spintronics, especially as demands for higher data storage density and increased processing speeds grow. Approaches such as light control are gradually supplanting traditional magnetic field methods. Traditionally, the modulation of magnetism was predominantly achieved through polarized light with the help of ultrafast light technologies. With the growing demand for energy efficiency and multifunctionality in spintronic devices, integrating photovoltaic materials into magnetoelectric systems has introduced more physical effects. This development suggests that sunlight will play an increasingly pivotal role in manipulating spin orientation in the future. This review introduces and concludes the influence of various light types on magnetism, exploring mechanisms such as magneto-optical (MO) effects, light-induced magnetic phase transitions, and spin photovoltaic effects. This review briefly summarizes recent advancements in the light control of magnetism, especially sunlight, and their potential applications, providing an optimistic perspective on future research directions in this area.

Developmental toxicity and estrogenic activity of antimicrobial phenolic-branched fatty acids using in silico simulations and in vivo and in vitro bioassay.

Due to the growing safety and environmental concerns associated with biocides, phenolic-soy branched chain fatty acids (phenolic-soy BCFAs) are synthesized as new bio-based antimicrobial agents. Safety evaluation is essential before the wide adoption of these new antimicrobial products. This study was initiated to evaluate the safety of four phenolic-soy BCFAs (with phenol, thymol, carvacrol, or creosote branches). Methyl-branched iso-oleic acid, phenol, and creosote were included in the study as controls. In silico toxicity simulation tools predicted that the phenolic BCFAs had much higher toxicities to aquatic organisms than free phenolics did, while the opposite was predicted for rats. The developmental toxicity of four phenolic-soy BCFAs was assessed using an in vivo chicken embryonic assay. Results showed that creosote-soy BCFA had much lower mortality rates than creosote at the same dosages. Additionally, creosote-soy BCFA and methyl-branched iso-oleic acid induced minimal estrogenic activity in the concentration range of 10 nM - 1 µM. Carvacrol-soy BCFA treatments significantly increased (p < 0.05) oxidative stress levels with higher thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in the livers of chicken embryos. Altogether, the phenolic-soy BCFAs, especially creosote-soy BCFA, reported in this study are potentially promising and safer bio-based antimicrobial products.

Lignin-derivable alternatives to bisphenol A with potentially undetectable estrogenic activity and minimal developmental toxicity.

Lignin-derivable bisguaiacols/bissyringols are viable alternatives to commercial bisphenols; however, many bisguaiacols/bissyringols (e.g., bisguaiacol F [BGF]) have unsubstituted bridging carbons between the aromatic rings, making them more structurally similar to bisphenol F (BPF) than bisphenol A (BPA) - both of which are suspected endocrine disruptors. Herein, we investigated the estrogenic activity (EA) and developmental toxicity of dimethyl-substituted bridging carbon-based lignin-derivable bisphenols (bisguaiacol A [BGA] and bissyringol A [BSA]). Notably, BSA showed undetectable EA at seven test concentrations (from 10-12 M to 10-6 M) in the MCF-7 cell proliferation assay, whereas BPA had detectable EA at five concentrations (from 10-10 M to 10-6 M). In silico results indicated that BSA had the lowest binding affinity with estrogen receptors. Moreover, in vivo chicken embryonic assay results revealed that lignin-derivable monomers had minimal developmental toxicity vs. BPA at environmentally relevant test concentrations (8.7-116 µg/kg). Additionally, all lignin-derivable compounds showed significantly lower expression fold changes (from ∼1.81 to ∼4.41) in chicken fetal liver tests for an estrogen-response gene (apolipoprotein II) in comparison to BPA (fold change of ∼11.51), which was indicative of significantly reduced estrogenic response. Altogether, the methoxy substituents on lignin-derivable bisphenols appeared to be a positive factor in reducing the EA of BPA alternatives.

[Risk factors of elbow stiffness after open reduction and internal fixation of intercondylar fracture of humerus].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors of elbow stiffness after open reduction and internal fixation of intercondylar fracture of humerus. METHODS: From March 2015 to February 2019, 120 patients with humeral intercondylar fractures were treated with open fixation including 59 males and 61 females, aged from 25 to 77 years with an average of(53.5±3.2) years. According to the occurrence of elbow stiffness after operation, 120 patients were divided into stiffness group(37 cases) and control group(83 cases). The related factors of elbow stiffness were analyzed by single factor analysis, and the risk of elbow stiffness after internal fixation of humeral intercondylar fracture was analyzed by logistic regression factor. RESULTS: There were 37 cases of elbow stiffness(stiff group), and 83 cases had no elbow stiffness(control group). The incidence of joint stiffness was 30.83%. There were significant differences between the stiffness group and the control group in age, injury energy, fracture to operation time, AO classification of fracture, open injury and postoperative premature or hyperactivity. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age>50 years old, high energy injury, AO classification of fracture, open fracture and postoperative premature or hyperactivity were risk factors for elbow stiffness after internal fixation of humeral intercondylar fracture. The postoperative mobility and Mayo elbow performance score(MEPS) scores of the postoperative stiffness group were lower than those of the non-stiffness group with statistical significance(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in postoperative mobility and MEPS scores between flexion stiffness and rotation stiffness after humeral intercondylar fracture(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: In view of the risk factors of elbow stiffness after internal fixation of humeral intercondylar fracture, reasonable operation plan and rehabilitation strategy should be formulated before operation to minimize the incidence of elbow stiffness.

Changes of physicochemical properties and bioactivities of resveratrol-loaded core-shell biopolymer nanoparticles during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion.

Resveratrol loaded nanoparticles (nano-resveratrol) containing a zein core surrounded by surfactant (Tween-NPs) or carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS-NPs) shell were fabricated with different particle sizes, surface charges and colloidal stabilities. Changes of physicochemical properties for the two nano-resveratrols, as well as their antioxidant potentials and cytotoxicity were investigated during a static in vitro gastrointestinal tract (GIT) digestion. Results showed that the Tween-NPs had a much higher bioaccessibility (84.1 ± 19.2%) than that of CMCS-NPs (36.6 ± 4.2%) after the GIT digestion, which was expected due to the steric barrier of the CMCS coating. Both nano-resveratrols could sustained their antioxidant activities after digestion. However, the Tween-NPs had a significantly higher cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells than CMCS-NPs and free resveratrol, while a reduction in cytotoxicity of Tween-NPs was observed after the digestion. The bioactivities results were well correlated with the physicochemical properties and dissolution of resveratrol under environmental stress.

Efficient production of hydroxymethyl-2-furfurylamine by chemoenzymatic cascade catalysis of bread waste in a sustainable approach.

In this study, efficient and sustainable conversion of waste bread (WB) to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furoamine (HMFA) was achieved in a cascade reaction in betaine:malonic acid (B:MA) - water. 5-HMF (30.3 wt% yield) was synthesized from WB (40.0 g/L) in B:MA - water (B:MA, 18 wt%) in 45 min at 190 °C. By using the newly created recombinant E. coli HNILGD-AlaDH cells expressing L-alanine dehydrogenase (AlaDH) and ω-transaminase mutant HNILGD as biocatalyst, the WB-valorized 5-HMF was biologically aminated into HMFA in a high yield (92.1%) at 35 °C for 12 h through in situ removal of the amino transfer by-products of the amine donor, greatly reducing amine donor dosage (from D-Ala/5-HMF = 16/1 to D-Ala/5-HMF = 2/1, mol/mol) and improving the productivity of HMFA (0.282 g HMFA per g WB). This two-step chemical-enzymatic cascade reaction strategy with B:MA and HNILGD-AlaDH whole-cell provides a new idea for the chemoenzymatic synthesis of valuable furan chemicals from waste biomass.

Transformation of bread waste into 2,5-furandimethanol via an efficient chemoenzymatic approach in a benign reaction system.

Via combination catalysis with deep eutectic solvent lactic acid:betaine (chemocatalyst) and HMFOMUT cell (biocatalyst: E. coli HMFOMUT whole-cell), one-pot manufacture of 2,5-furandimethanol from waste bioresource was constructed in a chemoenzymatic approach. With bread waste (50 g/L) as substrate, the 5-hydroxymethylfuran yield reached 44.2 Cmol% (based on bread waste) by lactic acid:betaine (15 wt%) at 180 °C for 15 min. With glucose as co-substrate, HMFOMUT could transform 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (150 mM) to 2,5-furandimethanol (84.5 % yield) after 1 day at 37 °C and pH 7.0. In lactic acid:betaine-H2O, HMFOMUT effectively converted bread-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural into 2,5-furandimethanol in a productivity of 700 kg 2,5-furandimethanol per kg 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (230 kg 2,5-furandimethanol per kg bread). In an eco-friendly lactic acid:betaine system, an effective one-pot chemoenzymatic strategy was firstly developed to convert bread waste into 2,5-furandimethanol, which would reduce the operation cost and has potential application value for valorizing waste food bioresource into value-added furan.

A novel cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-based deep eutectic solvent pretreatment of rice husk to efficiently enhance its enzymatic hydrolysis.

Deep eutectic solvent (DES) has caught widely attention of researchers in biomass pretreatment. As a highly efficient surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was expected to be used for synthesizing new DESs with additional functions in pretreatment. In this work, an efficient pretreatment method using a mixture of CTAB and lactic acid (LA) as a novel functional DES was established to improve enzymatic digestion efficiency of rice husk (RH). The results showed that DES CTAB:LA effectively removed lignin (51.5%) and xylan (79.9%) and the enzymatic hydrolysis activity of CTAB:LA-treated RH was 5 times that of RH. Then, a series of characterization demonstrated that a substantial accessibility increased, a hydrophobicity and lignin surface area decreased, and great surface morphology alternation were observed on the treated RH, which explained the increase in enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency. Overall, the discovery of more functional DESs might be motivated and biorefinery pretreatment processes might be greatly promoted.

Reduced genotoxicity of lignin-derivable replacements to bisphenol A studied using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo methods.

Bisguaiacols, lignin-derivable bisphenols, are considered promising and possibly safer alternatives to bisphenol A (BPA), but comprehensive toxicity investigations are needed to ensure safety. Most toxicity studies of BPA and its analogues have focused on potential estrogenic activity, and only limited toxicological data are available on other toxicity aspects, such as genotoxicity at low exposure levels. In this study, the genotoxicity of six lignin-derivable bisguaiacols with varying regioisomer contents and degrees of methoxy substitution was investigated using a multi-tiered method, consisting of in silico simulations, in vitro Ames tests, and in vivo comet tests. The toxicity estimation software tool, an application that predicts toxicity of chemicals using quantitative structure-activity relationships, calculated that the majority of the lignin-derivable bisguaiacols were non-mutagenic. These results were supported by Ames tests using five tester strains (TA98, TA100, TA102, TA1535, and TA1537) at concentrations ranging from 0.5 pmol/plate to 5 nmol/plate. The potential genotoxicity of bisguaiacols was further evaluated using in vivo comet testing in fetal chicken livers, and in addition to the standard alkaline comet assay, the formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase enzyme-modified comet assay was employed to investigate oxidative DNA damage in the liver samples. The oxidative stress analyses indicated that the majority of lignin-derivable analogues showed no signs of mutagenicity (mutagenic index < 1.5) or genotoxicity, in comparison to BPA and bisphenol F, likely due to the methoxy groups on the lignin-derivable aromatics. These findings reinforce the potential of lignin-derivable bisphenols as safer alternatives to BPA.

Enhancing enzymatic saccharification of sunflower straw through optimal tartaric acid hydrothermal pretreatment.

Sunflower straw, a usually neglected and abundant agricultural waste, has great potential for contributing to environmental protection realizing its high-value of valorization if utilizing properly. Because hemicellulose contains amorphous polysaccharide chains, relatively mild organic acid pretreatment can effectively reduce its resistance. Through hydrothermal pretreatment, sunflower straw was pretreated in tartaric acid (1 wt%) at 180 °C for 60 min to enhance its reducing sugar recovery. After tartaric acid-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment, 39.9% of lignin and 90.2% of xylan were eliminated. The reducing sugar recovery increased threefold, while the solution could be effectively reused for four cycles. The properties of more porous surface, improved accessibility, and decreased surface lignin area of sunflower straw were observed through various characterizations, which explained the improved saccharide recovery and provided a basis for the mechanism of tartaric acid-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment. Overall, this tartaric acid hydrothermal pretreatment strategy greatly provided new impetus for the biomass refinery.

Use of high hydrostatic pressure to inactivate Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica internalized within and adhered to preharvest contaminated green onions.

Green onions grown in soil and hydroponic medium contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella were found to take up the pathogens in their roots, bulbs, stems, and leaves. Pressure treatment at 400 to 500 MPa for 2 min at 20 to 40°C eliminated both pathogens that were internalized within green onions during plant growth.