Development of dye-sensitized solar cells using pigment extracts produced by Talaromyces atroroseus GH2.

The identification of more efficient, clean, secure, and competitive energy supply is necessary to align with the needs of sustainable devices. For this reason, a study for developing innovative dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on microbial pigments is reported starting from Talaromyces atroroseus GH2. The fungus was cultivated by fermentation and the extracellular pigment extract was characterized by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analyses. The most abundant compound among the 22 azaphilone-type pigments identified was represented by PP-O. The device's behavior was investigated in relation to electrolyte and pH for verifying the stability on time and the photovoltaic performance. Devices obtained were characterized by UV-vis measurements to verify the absorbance intensity and transmittance percentage. Moreover, photovoltaic parameters through photo-electrochemical measurements (I-V curves) and impedance characteristics by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) were determined. The best microbial device showed a short-circuit current density (Jsc) of 0.69 mA/cm2, an open-circuit photo-voltage (Voc) of 0.27 V and a Fill Factor (FF) of 0.60. Furthermore, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device was 0.11%. Thus, the present study demonstrated the potential of microbial origin pigments for developing DSSCs.

Agroindustrial and food processing residues valorization for solid-state fermentation processes: A case for optimizing the co-production of hydrolytic enzymes.

In the pursuit of sustainability, managing agro-industrial and food processing residues (AFR) efficiently is crucial. This study proposes a systematic approach to convert AFR into valuable products via solid-state fermentation (SSF). Using fungal enzyme production as a case study, this adaptable methodology suits any SSF bioprocess. Initially, AFR's physicochemical properties were evaluated to assess their feasible use as carbon sources and solid matrices for SSF. Then, five strains were screened for their capability to produce enzymes (Xylanase, X; pectinase, P; cellulase, C). Apple pomace (AP) and brewery spent grain (BSG) with Aspergillus sp. (strain G5) were selected. Subsequent steps involved a two-phase statistical approach, identifying critical factors and optimizing them. Process conditions were screened using a Plackett-Burman design, narrowing critical variables to three (BSG/AP, pH, humidity). Response Surface Methodology (Central Composite Design) further optimized these factors for co-synthesis of X, P, and C. The humidity had the most significant effect on the three responses. The optimum conditions depended on each enzyme and were further validated to maximize either X, P or C. The obtained extracts were used for pectin extraction from orange peels. The extract containing primarily xylanase (X = 582.39, P = 22.86, C = 26.10 U mL-1) showed major pectin yield recovery (12.33 ± 0.53%) and it was obtained using the optimal settings of BSG/AP (81/19), humidity (50.40%), and pH (4.58). The findings will enable adjusting process conditions to obtain enzymatic cocktails with a tailored composition for specific applications.

Modeling of Particulate Pollutants Using a Memory-Based Recurrent Neural Network Implemented on an FPGA.

The present work describes the training and subsequent implementation on an FPGA board of an LSTM neural network for the modeling and prediction of the exceedances of criteria pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5). Understanding the behavior of pollutants and assessing air quality in specific geographical regions is crucial. Overexposure to these pollutants can cause harm to both natural ecosystems and living organisms, including humans. Therefore, it is essential to develop a solution that can accurately evaluate pollution levels. One potential approach is to implement a modified LSTM neural network on an FPGA board. This implementation obtained an 11% improvement compared to the original LSTM network, demonstrating that the proposed architecture is able to maintain its functionality despite reducing the number of neurons in its initial layers. It shows the feasibility of integrating a prediction network into a limited system such as an FPGA board, but easily coupled to a different system. Importantly, this implementation does not compromise the prediction accuracy for both 24 h and 72 h time frames, highlighting an opportunity for further enhancement and refinement.

Scale-up and fed-batch cultivation strategy for the enhanced co-production of microbial lipids and carotenoids using renewable waste feedstock.

Agro-industrial by-product valorization as a feedstock for the bioproduction of high-value products has demonstrated a feasible alternative to handle the environmental impact of waste. Oleaginous yeasts are promising cell factories for the industrial production of lipids and carotenoids. Since oleaginous yeasts are aerobic microorganisms, studying the volumetric mass transfer (kLa) could facilitate the scale-up and operation of bioreactors to grant the industrial availability of biocompounds. Scale-up experiments were performed to assess the simultaneous production of lipids and carotenoids using the yeast Sporobolomyces roseus CFGU-S005 and comparing the yields in batch and fed-batch mode cultivation using agro-waste hydrolysate in a 7 L bench-top bioreactor. The results indicate that oxygen availability in the fermentation affected the simultaneous production of metabolites. The highest production of lipids (3.4 g/L) was attained using the kLa value of 22.44 h-1, while higher carotenoid accumulation of 2.58 mg/L resulted when agitation speed was increased to 350 rpm (kLa 32.16 h-1). The adapted fed-batch mode in the fermentation increased the production yields two times. The fatty acid profile was affected according to supplied aeration and after the fed-batch cultivation mode. This study showed the scale-up potential of the bioprocess using the strain S. roseus in the obtention of microbial oil and carotenoids by the valorization of agro-industrial byproducts as a carbon source.

Microbial Carotenoid Synthesis Optimization in Goat Cheese Whey Using the Robust Taguchi Method: A Sustainable Approach to Help Tackle Vitamin A Deficiency.

The work describes the carotenoid synthesis process by Rhodotorula glutinis P4M422 using an agro-industrial waste as the substrate, seeking a biorefinery platform approach for waste utilization to produce high-value molecules. A culture medium based on goat milk whey (GMW) was optimized via the Taguchi method (L9 array). Four factors (ethanol, carbon and nitrogen source, and pH) were evaluated at three levels. The carbon and nitrogen composition were the factors dominating the process performance. Optimized conditions were validated (Urea, 0.3% w/v; pH, 4.5; ethanol, 10% v/v; glucose, 6.0%), and the carotenoid production (4075 µg/L) was almost 200% higher than when using the un-optimized process (2058 µg/L). Provitamin A carotenoids torulene, ß-carotene, and γ-carotene (different proportions) were produced under all conditions. The hydrolyzed goat milk whey showed promising expectations as a low-cost source for carotenoid production by Rhodotorula glutinis P4M422. The results are important for the innovative sustainable production of carotenoid-rich matrices for different purposes (nutrition, health promotion, color) and industries (foods, nutricosmetics, nutraceuticals, feeds), notably to help to combat vitamin A deficiency.

Evaluating the Impact of Policy and Programming on Female-Victim Intimate Partner Homicide at the County Level in Florida.

Legal and social service interventions aim to mitigate intimate partner violence (IPV) and keep IPV from becoming lethal. Accordingly, this study examines the impact of policies and programs on female-victim intimate partner homicide (FVIPH) rates across the 67 counties of the state of Florida. It focuses on community coordinated response efforts, batterer intervention programs, local domestic violence (DV) ordinances, DV fatality review teams, and DV shelter programs. Results indicate that community coordinated response efforts are associated with decreasing FVIPH rates. Discussions of findings, limitations, and implications are provided accordingly.

Process performance improvement for the simultaneous production of ligninolytic enzymes in solid culture using agricultural wastes through the Taguchi method.

Despite a large amount of published research on the production of ligninolytic enzymes, the latter are not yet being applied to combat environmental pollution. No cost-effective process has been developed to date. This study describes an improvement of the solid-state fermentation procedure for the production of ligninolytic enzymes via Phanerochaete chrysosporium ATX by applying the Taguchi method and using an agro-industrial waste as substrate. The production of lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and laccase (Lac) were simultaneously increased within a packed-bed column. The factors and levels studied were humidity (A: 60, 70, 80%), inoculum concentration (B: 7.5, 10.0, 12.5 × 105 spores/mL), packed density (C: 0.14, 0.16, 0.18 g/mL), and time (D: 6, 8, 10 days). The results showed that humidity was the factor with a higher effect upon LiP and Lac's production, while time was for MnP. Humidity exerted the greatest influence on the global desirability of the process. Improved conditions (A, 60%; B, 1.0 × 106 spores/mL; C, 0.17 g/mL; D, 8 days) were further validated: the results revealed an overall desirability increase of 237% over the unoptimized process. Process performance was likewise maintained at a higher scale (1:10). The results contribute to establishing a cost-effective bioprocess to produce ligninolytic enzymes by reducing the cost associated with raw materials and purification steps.

Opinions on a Firearm Prohibition Policy That Targets Intimate Partner Violence.

Firearms and intimate partner violence form a nexus of dangerousness and lethality. But, some policies aim to separate the two phenomena. The present study aims to fill a gap in the literature focusing on opinions toward a firearm prohibition for persons with injunctions for protection in effect against them by analyzing data from a convenience sample of 290 undergraduate students at a large research university in Florida, United States. Overall, any agreement with the policy was high. Multivariate analyses indicated that females/women and gender identity minorities, together, tended to express more agreement with firearm prohibition than males/men. Multivariate analysis also showed that participants who experienced sexual violence also displayed more agreement with the prohibition when compared to individuals who did not experience sexual violence victimization. "Lower" severity sexual violence victimization had the strongest relationship with policy opinions. Possible explanations for the gender difference in opinions include the implications of hegemonic masculinity and power differentials among genders. A possible explanation for the relationship between sexual violence victimization and policy opinions includes empathy. Policy implications and directions for future research include investigating the potential relationship gap in firearm prohibitions within Florida, engaging college men to change the conceptions around firearms through educational intervention, harnessing the tech-savvy power that college students have to generate awareness of policies, and considering interconnections among opinions, polyvictimization, and firearm policies.

Enzymatic Processes Triggered by PEF for Astaxanthin Extraction From Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of pulsed electric fields (PEF) to improve the extraction of the lipid-soluble astaxanthin from fresh biomass of a wild-type (CECT 11028) and mutant (ATCC 74219) Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous strain using ethanol as solvent. Inactivation and propidium uptake studies revealed that inactivation is a good index for estimated the proportion of irreversible permeabilized cells when inactivation is higher than 70% in the two strains. Ethanol was ineffective for extracting carotenoids from the PEF-treated cells (20 kV/cm, 135 µs) of the two strains. However, after aqueous incubation of PEF-treated X. dendrorhous ATCC 74219 cells for 12 h, up to 2.4 ± 0.05 mg/g dried weight (d.w.) of carotenoids were extracted in ethanol. From total carotenoid extracted, around 84% corresponded to all-trans astaxanthin. The detection and quantification of esterase activity in the supernatant and the relationship between the percentage of esterase activity quantified and the amount of carotenoids extracted indicate that the extraction of astaxanthin was mediated by enzymatic esterase activity triggered by PEF during incubation. On the other hand, the formation of a large lipid globule into the cytoplasm of PEF-treated X. dendrorhous CECT 11028 cells during aqueous incubation prevented carotenoid extraction. The process developed in this investigation represents a more sustainable and greener method that those previously used for extracting astaxanthin from yeast.

Synthetic dyes biodegradation by fungal ligninolytic enzymes: Process optimization, metabolites evaluation and toxicity assessment.

This work aimed to provide information that contributes to establishing environmental-friendly methods for synthetic dyes' degradation. The potential decolorization capacity of the crude enzymatic extract produced by Phanerochaete chrysosporium CDBB 686 using corncob as a substrate was evaluated on seven different dyes. Critical variables affecting the in-vitro decolorization process were further evaluated and results were compared with an in-vivo decolorization system. Decolorization with enzymatic extracts presented advantages over the in-vivo system (higher or similar decolorization within a shorter period). Under improved in-vitro process conditions, the dyes with higher decolorization were: Congo red (41.84 %), Poly R-478 (56.86 %), Methyl green (69.79 %). Attempts were made to confirm the transformation of the dyes after the in-vitro process as well as to establish a molecular basis for interpreting changes in toxicity along with the degradation process. In-vitro degradation products of Methyl green presented a toxicity reduction compared with the original dye; however, increased toxicity was found for Congo red degradation products when compared with the original dyes. Thus, for future applications, it is crucial to evaluate the mechanisms of biodegradation of each target synthetic dye as well as the toxicity of the products obtained after enzymatic oxidation.

Biotechnological approaches for the production of natural colorants by Talaromyces/Penicillium: A review.

There has been an increased interest in replacing synthetic colorants by colorants obtained from natural sources, especially microbial pigments. Monascus pigments have been used as natural colorings and food additives in Asia for centuries but have raised toxicity issues. Recently, Talaromyces/Penicillium species have been recognized as potential strains to produce natural pigments similar to those produced by Monascus species. To date, it has not been published a literature compilation about the research and development activity of Talaromyces/Penicillium pigments. Developing a new bioprocess requires several steps, from an initial concept to a practical and feasible application. Industrial applications of fungal pigments will depend on: (i) characterization of the molecules to assure a safe consumption, (ii) stability of the pigments to the processing conditions required by the products where they will be incorporated, (iii) optimizing process conditions to achieve high yields, iv) implementing an efficient product recovery and (v) scale-up of the bioprocess. The above aspects have been reviewed in detail to evaluate the feasibility of reaching a commercial scale of the pigments produced by Talaromyces/Penicillium. Finally, the biological activities of the pigments and their potential applications are discussed.

Application of thermosonication for Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) juice processing: Impact on the functional properties and the main bioactive polysaccharides.

The impact of thermosonication on the functional properties and the main polysaccharides from Aloe vera was investigated. Thermal processing was used for comparison purposes. Acemannan was the predominant polysaccharide in Aloe vera juice followed by pectins. Interestingly, thermosonication promoted a minor degradation of the acetylated mannose from acemannan than thermal processing. On the other hand, the degree of methylesterification of pectins was slightly reduced as a consequence of thermosonication. Further, swelling and fat adsorption capacities were improved by thermosonication. Thus, the highest values for swelling (>150 mL/g AIR) and for fat adsorption capacity (∼120 g oil/g AIR) were observed when thermosonication was performed at 50 °C for 6 min. Moreover, high inactivation of L. plantarum (∼75%) was observed when thermosonication was carried out at 50 °C for 9 min. Interestingly, thermosonication promoted a similar color change (ΔE = 7.7) to the modification observed during pasteurization carried out at 75 °C for 15 min (ΔE = 8.2 ±â€¯0.9). Overall, these results suggested that thermosonication could be a good alternative to thermal procedures of Aloe vera juice, since not only caused minor degradation of bioactive polysaccharides but was also able to improve functional properties.

Rapid physicochemical characterization of innovative fucoidan/fructan powders by ATR-FTIR.

Functional food has been highly demanded lately because of its benefits in counteracting diseases. Fucoidan and agave fructan are ingredients that enhance the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut (prebiotics). This mixture has great potential to develop innovative products but it has never been explored before. Because of fucoidan is more expensive than agave fructan, the innovative proposed mixture is vulnerable to adulteration. This research was aimed to assess the accuracy of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance (ATR-FTIR) coupled with chemometrics to identify and predict concentration of both polysaccharides in powder mixtures (0-100%). Absorption bands at 1240-1255 and 836-840 cm-1 were attributed to fucoidan and a strong peak at ~ 936 cm-1 confirmed the fructan presence. Peak areas were best fitted into linear models ( R adj 2  ≥ 0.92, RMSE ≤ 3.54%). This achievement may be useful to certificate ingredients contained in fucoidan-fructan mixtures, preventing adulteration.

Selection of best conditions of inoculum preparation for optimum performance of the pigment production process by Talaromyces spp. using the Taguchi method.

Process optimisation techniques increasingly need to be used early on in research and development of processes for new ingredients. There are different approaches and this article illustrates the main issues at stake with a method that is an industry best practice, the Taguchi method, suggesting a procedure to assess the potential impact of its drawbacks. The Taguchi method has been widely used in various industrial sectors because it minimises the experimental requirements to define an optimum region of operation, which is particularly relevant when minimising variability is a target. However, it also has drawbacks, especially the intricate confoundings generated by the experimental designs used. This work reports a process optimisation of the synthesis of red pigments by a fungal strain, Talaromyces spp. using the Taguchi methodology and proposes an approach to assess from validation trials whether the conclusions can be accepted with confidence. The work focused on optimising the inoculum characteristics, and the studied factors were spore age and concentration, agitation speed and incubation time. It was concluded that spore age was the most important factor for both responses, with optimum results at 5 days old, with the best other conditions being spores concentration, 100,000 (spores/mL); agitation, 200 rpm; and incubation time, 84 h. The interactive effects can be considered negligible and therefore this is an example where a simple experimental design approach was successful in speedily indicating conditions able to increase pigment production by 63% compared to an average choice of settings. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:621-632, 2017.

Effect of ohmic heating processing conditions on color stability of fungal pigments.

The aim of this work was to analyze the effect of ohmic heating processing conditions on the color stability of a red pigment extract produced by Penicillium purpurogenum GH2 suspended in a buffer solution (pH 6) and in a beverage model system (pH 4). Color stability of pigmented extract was evaluated in the range of 60-90 ℃. The degradation pattern of pigments was well described by the first-order (fractional conversion) and Bigelow model. Degradation rate constants ranged between 0.009 and 0.088 min-1 in systems evaluated. Significant differences in the rate constant values of the ohmic heating-treated samples in comparison with conventional thermal treatment suggested a possible effect of the oscillating electric field generated during ohmic heating. The thermodynamic analysis also indicated differences in the color degradation mechanism during ohmic heating specifically when the pigment was suspended in the beverage model system. In general, red pigments produced by P. purpurogenum GH2 presented good thermal stability under the range of the evaluated experimental conditions, showing potential future applications in pasteurized food matrices using ohmic heating treatment.

Perstraction of Intracellular Pigments through Submerged Fermentation of Talaromyces spp. in a Surfactant Rich Media: A Novel Approach for Enhanced Pigment Recovery.

A high percentage of the pigments produced by Talaromyces spp. remains inside the cell, which could lead to a high product concentration inhibition. To overcome this issue an extractive fermentation process, perstraction, was suggested, which involves the extraction of the intracellular products out of the cell by using a two-phase system during the fermentation. The present work studied the effect of various surfactants on secretion of intracellular pigments produced by Talaromyces spp. in submerged fermentation. Surfactants used were: non-ionic surfactants (Tween 80, Span 20 and Triton X-100) and a polyethylene glycerol polymer 8000, at different concentrations (5, 20, 35 g/L). The highest extracellular pigment yield (16 OD500nm) was reached using Triton X-100 (35 g/L), which was 44% higher than the control (no surfactant added). The effect of addition time of the selected surfactant was further studied. The highest extracellular pigment concentration (22 OD500nm) was achieved when the surfactant was added at 120 h of fermentation. Kinetics of extracellular and intracellular pigments were examined. Total pigment at the end of the fermentation using Triton X-100 was 27.7% higher than the control, confirming that the use of surfactants partially alleviated the product inhibition during the pigment production culture.

Assessment of the Dyeing Properties of the Pigments Produced by Talaromyces spp.

The high production yields of pigments by Talaromyces spp. and their high thermal stability have implied that industrial application interests may emerge in the food and textile industries, as they both involve subjecting the colourants to high temperatures. The present study aimed to assess the potential application of the pigments produced by Talaromyces spp. in the textile area by studying their dyeing properties. Dyeing studies were performed on wool. The dyeing process consisted of three stages: scouring, mordanting, and dyeing. Two different mordants (alum, A; ferric chloride, F) were tested at different concentrations on fabric weight (A: 5, 10, 15%; F: 10, 20, 30%). The mordanting process had a significant effect on the final colour of the dyed fabrics obtained. The values of dyeing rate constant (k), half-time of dyeing (t1/2), and sorption kinetics behaviour were evaluated and discussed. The obtained results showed that pigments produced by Talaromyces spp. could serve as a source for the natural dyeing of wool textiles.

Dissonant health transition in the states of Mexico, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013.

BACKGROUND: Child and maternal health outcomes have notably improved in Mexico since 1990, whereas rising adult mortality rates defy traditional epidemiological transition models in which decreased death rates occur across all ages. These trends suggest Mexico is experiencing a more complex, dissonant health transition than historically observed. Enduring inequalities between states further emphasise the need for more detailed health assessments over time. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2013 (GBD 2013) provides the comprehensive, comparable framework through which such national and subnational analyses can occur. This study offers a state-level quantification of disease burden and risk factor attribution in Mexico for the first time. METHODS: We extracted data from GBD 2013 to assess mortality, causes of death, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and healthy life expectancy (HALE) in Mexico and its 32 states, along with eight comparator countries in the Americas. States were grouped by Marginalisation Index scores to compare subnational burden along a socioeconomic dimension. We split extracted data by state and applied GBD methods to generate estimates of burden, and attributable burden due to behavioural, metabolic, and environmental or occupational risks. We present results for 306 causes, 2337 sequelae, and 79 risk factors. FINDINGS: From 1990 to 2013, life expectancy from birth in Mexico increased by 3·4 years (95% uncertainty interval 3·1-3·8), from 72·1 years (71·8-72·3) to 75·5 years (75·3-75·7), and these gains were more pronounced in states with high marginalisation. Nationally, age-standardised death rates fell 13·3% (11·9-14·6%) since 1990, but state-level reductions for all-cause mortality varied and gaps between life expectancy and years lived in full health, as measured by HALE, widened in several states. Progress in women's life expectancy exceeded that of men, in whom negligible improvements were observed since 2000. For many states, this trend corresponded with rising YLL rates from interpersonal violence and chronic kidney disease. Nationally, age-standardised YLL rates for diarrhoeal diseases and protein-energy malnutrition markedly decreased, ranking Mexico well above comparator countries. However, amid Mexico's progress against communicable diseases, chronic kidney disease burden rapidly climbed, with age-standardised YLL and DALY rates increasing more than 130% by 2013. For women, DALY rates from breast cancer also increased since 1990, rising 12·1% (4·6-23·1%). In 2013, the leading five causes of DALYs were diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, chronic kidney disease, low back and neck pain, and depressive disorders; the latter three were not among the leading five causes in 1990, further underscoring Mexico's rapid epidemiological transition. Leading risk factors for disease burden in 1990, such as undernutrition, were replaced by high fasting plasma glucose and high body-mass index by 2013. Attributable burden due to dietary risks also increased, accounting for more than 10% of DALYs in 2013. INTERPRETATION: Mexico achieved sizeable reductions in burden due to several causes, such as diarrhoeal diseases, and risks factors, such as undernutrition and poor sanitation, which were mainly associated with maternal and child health interventions. Yet rising adult mortality rates from chronic kidney disease, diabetes, cirrhosis, and, since 2000, interpersonal violence drove deteriorating health outcomes, particularly in men. Although state inequalities from communicable diseases narrowed over time, non-communicable diseases and injury burdens varied markedly at local levels. The dissonance with which Mexico and its 32 states are experiencing epidemiological transitions might strain health-system responsiveness and performance, which stresses the importance of timely, evidence-informed health policies and programmes linked to the health needs of each state. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública.

Strategies to enhance the production of photosynthetic pigments and lipids in chlorophycae species.

Microalgae are a major natural source for a vast array of valuable compounds as lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, pigments among others. Despite many applications, only a few species of microalgae are cultured commercially because of poorly developed of cultivation process. Nowadays some strategies of culture have been used for enhancing biomass and value compounds yield. The most strategies applied to microalgae are classified into two groups: nutrimental and physical. The nutrimental are considered as change in media composition as nitrogen and phosphorous limitation and changes in carbon source, while physical are described as manipulation in operational conditions and external factors such as application of high-light intensities, medium salinity and electromagnetic fields. The exposition to electromagnetic field is a promising technique that can improve the pigments and biomass yield in microalgae culture. Therefore, is important to describe the advantages and applications of the overall process. The aim of this review was to describe the main culture strategies used to improve the photosynthetic and lipids content in chlorophyceae species.