Acetic Research Articles

Optimizing callus formation in the endangered medicinal tree Hydnocarpus macrocarpa using phytohormone

Hydnocarpus macrocarpa (Flacourtiaceae) is one of the endemic and endangered medicinal tree, was selected to investigate the influence of plant growth regulators on callus formation. H. macrocarpa is majorly distributed at low and medium elevations of the Southern Western Ghats. The seeds of this plant are used for the treatment of ulcers, biliousness, leprosy and epilepsy. An experiment was carried out with two different methods. In the first method Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with cytokinin alone or combined with auxin (2–4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid; Naphthalene acetic acid; Indole acetic acid; Indole butyric acid and Gibberellic acid) at different concentrations (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 µM) were used; in the seond method, MS medium supplemented with coconut endosperm (Solid and liquid) extract (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 %) with Aloe vera jelly extract at different concentrations (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 %) in combination and separately were used. Among the different treatments, good callus proliferation was obtained using MS medium supplemented with Benzylaminopurine and in combination with Naphthalene acetic acid and 2–4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (3 µM and 4 µM). But the best callus proliferation, shoot tip proliferation; auxiliary root and shoot formation were observed in MS medium supplemented with Aloe vera jelly extract in combination with coconut endosperm extract. The natural growth regulators supplemented with the media gave a positive response for plant growth. The results showed that the natural growth regulators, such as coconut endosperm and Aloe vera jelly extracts were found to be more efficient than the synthetic growth regulators (auxin and cytokinin). The presence of Indole acetic acid and Indole butyric acid in both Aloe vera jelly extracts and coconut endosperm were confirmed by High performance liquid chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis.

Biowaste management by hydrothermal carbonization and anaerobic co-digestion: Synergistic effects and comparative metagenomic analysis

The feasibility of anaerobic co-digestion in semicontinuous mode of two major urban biowaste, food waste (FW) and garden and park waste (GPW) (75 % FW and 25 % GPW) as well as the co-digestion of FW with the process water originated from the hydrothermal carbonization of GPW (95 % FW and 5 % process water), both on a COD basis, has been assessed. The effect of varying organic loading rate (OLR) from 1.5 to 3.5 g COD/L·d on methane yield, gross energy recovery, and microbiome population was evaluated. For comparison, anaerobic digestion of FW was also conducted to determine the best strategy for sustainable biowaste management. This study showed an optimal OLR of 2.5 g COD/L·d. Acetic and propionic acid content increased as OLR raised for each condition studied, while methane yield decreased at the highest OLR tested indicating overloading of the system. The anaerobic co-digestion of FW and process water showed a 10 % increase on methane production compared to anaerobic digestion of FW (324 vs. 294 mL CH4 STP/L·d). Moreover, it enhances the process due to a greater abundance and diversity of hydrolytic and acidogenic bacteria belonging to Bacterioidota, Firmicutes, and Chloroflexi phyla, as well as promotes the hydrogenotrophic pathway under higher propionic concentrations which is not usually favoured for methane production. The integration of hydrothermal carbonization of GPW with the anaerobic co-digestion of 95 % FW and 5 % of process water results in the highest potential energy recovery and could be a good strategy for sustainable management of urban biowaste.

Use of a hydrotalcite isopropanol dispersion for deacidification and preservation of cellulose cultural heritage objects - Preliminary study

Preservation of cellulose cultural objects, particularly books, is a field of research with about 100 years of history. The most dangerous in terms of their lifespan is the use of acidic wood-based paper which represents a problem in both quality and durability. Acid hydrolysis of polymeric cellulose chains is a key factor responsible for loss of visual appearance quality and mechanical strength. Sulphate and aluminium ions together with generated formic, acetic, and other higher carboxylic acids accelerate the rate of degradation catalytically as well as autocatalytically. Alkaline species (alkali and alkali earth hydrogen carbonates, oxides, organocompounds, and amines) suppress the degradation processes. This paper refers to the utilisation of hydrotalcites (HT, MgxAl2(OH)2x+4CO3, x > 6) as deacidifying agents in a non-halogenated low toxic carrier – isopropanol. Preparation of an HT dispersion, its characterisation, and application to (acidic) test paper are described. Due to its ion exchange and neutralization capabilities, HT increased pH of test papers from about 4 to at least 6. Similarly to the action of HT as antacids, it is possible to suppose the neutralizing capability in deacidifying of aged-acid papers, even at pH lower than 7. A higher increase of pH was achieved only with extremely high loadings of HT; 16 g / m2 allowed to reach a surface pH value equal to 7.8. Both the optical properties and mechanical strength of treated samples were improved at loadings up to 3 g / m2.

Electrochemical C(sp3)−H Functionalization Using Acetic Acid as a Hydrogen Atom Transfer Reagent

AbstractIn this study, we developed a novel electrochemical protocol that enables the functionalization of inherently inert C(sp3)−H bonds. In this protocol, one‐electron oxidation of acetic acid was used to successfully generate methyl radical, which cleaves the benzylic C(sp3)−H bonds of the substrates via a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process, and further reaction with the formed species yields the targeted C(sp3)−H functionalized products. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of the use of acetic acid in a HAT process. Notably the reaction has environment‐friendly and fine atom economy nature: the reaction is driven by the electrochemical conditions in the absence of expensive or hazardous reagents, producing only gaseous small molecules, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane, as side products.

The Fermentation Quality, Antioxidant Activity, and Bacterial Community of Mulberry Leaf Silage with Pediococcus, Bacillus, and Wheat Bran

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different strains and wheat bran on the fermentation quality, antioxidant activity, and bacterial community of mulberry leaf silage. Mulberry leaves were ensiled with Pediococcus acidilactici and Pediococcus pentosaceus (A), Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformi (DK), and Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformi (AK). Each treatment was supplemented with 10% wheat bran (fresh matter basis), and the strains were added in equal proportions for 7 days. The results indicated that the DK and AK groups exhibited higher dry matter (DM) content compared to the A group (p < 0.05). The A group (37.25 mg/g DM) and AK group (34.47 mg/g DM) demonstrated higher lactic acid content and lower pH (<4.40). Furthermore, the DK group had a significantly higher acetic acid content compared to the AK group (p < 0.05). Additionally, both the A and AK groups exhibited lower levels of ammonia-N content than the DK group (p < 0.05). The number of yeasts, molds, and coliform bacteria were low in mulberry leaf silage. Moreover, the antioxidant activity in the fermentation groups increased, with higher relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, Lactococcus and Lactobacillus, in the AK group. In summary, the AK group was observed to enhance fermentation quality and antioxidant capacity, leading to the establishment of a favorable microbial community composition.

Investigation of the Effect of Indolyl Acetic Acid and Naphthenic Acid on the Root Development of Olive Cuttings

The influence of growth factors on the development of callus and roots in the biennial cuttings of the olive plants were investigated in a comparative manner. The experiments were conducted in the greenhouse of the Absheron Experimental Station. One-year and two-year cuttings of the olive plant were taken as the object of the study. Growth agents (indolyl acetic acid and Na+-salt of naphthenic acid) were used to influence the rapid rooting of shoots. During the conducted experiments, different results were obtained in different options. In comparison with the control variant, the positive effect of indolyl acetic acid and Na+-salt of naphthenic acid on olive cuttings were observed. According to the conducted studies, it was found that the rooting of the cuttings was accelerated as a result of the effect of growth substances. The number of rooting and callus was higher in two-year cuttings than in one-year cuttings. Thus, 49 out of 60 (81%) two-year cuttings were rooted by using of indolyl acetic acid, and 50 were rooted (83%) when callus was exposed to the Na+-salt of naphthenic acid, in 9 were observed having callus, only in 1 wasn’t observed development. The Na+-salt of Naphthenic acid had a better effect on rooting and the number of calluses among growth substances. As a result, it was determined that for the rapid development of the olive plant, cuttings should be taken from healthy and well-nourished trees and Naphthenic acid Na+-salt should be kept for a specified time (12 hours) and concentration (0.005%)

NOVEL SYNTHETIC INVESTIGATION IN THE FIELD OF INDOLO[2,3-B]QUINOXALINE RING CONTAINING TETRACYCLIC AND PENTACYCLIC HETEROCYCLES

A series of seven new indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline ring containing compounds were efficiently synthesized in three different pathways. In the first case, the relevant pentacyclic systems (3,4) were received by the condensation reaction between 7-acetyl-1,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrrolo[3,2-f]indole-2,3-dione and o-phenylenediamine in glacial acetic acid. In the second case, tetracyclic indolo[2,3-b]qui-no¬xa¬li¬ne derivatives (7, 8a-d) were synthesised by a one-pot approach using Pd-catalyzed Sonogashira-hagihara C-C cross-coupling reaction between various terminal acetylenes and 9-iodo-6H-indo¬lo¬[2,3-b]quinoxaline in presence of various Pd catalysts. The third pathway is based on the Cu-catalyzed modified Ullmann protocol. The appropriate indolo-quinoxaline derivative (9) was successfully syn¬the¬sized by arylamination, using benzylamine (as a nucleophile) and 6-benzyl-9-iodo-6H-indolo[2,3-b]qui¬no¬xaline as an aryl halide. The reaction was performed in DMF in the presence of CuI.

Power-efficient mass transfer of a novel pulsating multi-packed bed liquid - liquid extractor

This paper presents the development and performance evaluation of a new pulsating packed bed contactor designed for optimized diffusion-controlled liquid-liquid operations. Targeting applications like aromatics separation in petroleum, phenol removal from wastewater, and heat-sensitive material extraction (e.g., antibiotics), the contactor offers substantial advantages over traditional mechanical systems – notably, lower power consumption for equivalent production rates. Using the widely studied extraction of acetic acid from toluene-acetic acid by water as a model system, this work comprehensively investigates the factors impacting mass transfer within the pulsating contactor. Key variables explored include physical properties of the feed solution, oscillation frequency and amplitude, initial concentration of solute, flow rates, bed height, packing diameter, and bed spacing. Results reveal a significant enhancement in mass transfer with increasing frequency, amplitude, initial concentration, continuous phase flow rate, and dispersed phase flow rate. Interestingly, while increasing bed height initially improves mass transfer up to a specific point, further height increase exhibits a diminishing return. Packing sphere diameter shows minimal impact, while bed spacing has a negligible effect. A novel dimensionless equation effectively correlates the pulsating multi-packed bed data for broader applicability. To assess economic viability, the study also measures the mechanical power consumption under various operating conditions. Finally, diverse potential applications across pharmaceuticals, chemicals, biochemicals, petroleum, and nuclear fuel reprocessing are highlighted, showcasing the broad utility of this innovative mass transfer technology.

Sustainable Processes and Physico-Chemical Characterization of Artisanal Spontaneous Gluten Free Sourdough (Quinoa, Amaranth and Brown Rice) Compared to Wheat Sourdough

The industry predominantly depends on synthetic or artificial additives, occasionally permitting the inclusion of natural molecules sourced from plants or replicated from their original counterparts. The production of bakery products increasingly uses sourdough to improve the quality of bread or to obtain “clean label” products (free of artificial additives). The additive production sector contributes to this concern through the synthesis of potentially harmful compounds, the utilization of hazardous chemicals and solvents, the management of resulting by-products, and reliance on non-renewable resources for manufacturing. One percent of the world’s population suffers from celiac disease. Celiac disease is treated by excluding gluten from the diet. Most gluten-free bakery products have low nutritional and sensory quality. Therefore, sourdough is being used to replace chemical yeast to improve the sensory and nutritional quality and increase the shelf life of gluten-free bakery products. Three gluten-free sourdoughs were prepared with different flours: brown rice, quinoa and amaranth, in order to compare them with traditional sourdough (wheat) and optimize the most suitable temperature for the conservation of sourdoughs. Physicochemical analysis (pH, titratable acidity and color), antioxidant activity (FRAP, ORAC and ABTS), total phenolic compound content (Folin–Ciocalteu), total aflatoxin content, lactic and acetic acid content and microbiological analysis (mold and yeast content and bacterial and fungal composition (microbiota composition)) were carried out during the elaboration process and at different storage temperatures. A higher microbiological quantity of molds and yeasts (7.97 log CFU/mL), non-Saccharomyces yeasts (7.78 log CFU/mL) and lactic acid bacteria (8.10 log CFU/mL) and fungal composition were observed in the amaranth sourdough. The wheat sourdough obtained a higher total content of phenolic compounds (33.03 mg GAE g−1) and antioxidant capacity in ABTS and FRAP, but the quinoa sourdough had the highest ORAC content. In addition, it was observed that the adequate temperature for the conservation of the doughs is 25 °C, due to the predominance of Lactobacillus spp. and Pediococcus spp. bacteria in the sourdough. Therefore, pseudocereal sourdoughs (quinoa and amaranth) could be an alternative to incorporate into the preparation of gluten-free bread, since their microbial composition, physicochemical composition, antioxidant activity and total phenolic compounds would contribute to gluten-free bread and thus produce health benefits for people with celiac disease.

Specific Organic Loading Rate Control for Improving Fermentative Hydrogen Production

Inhibiting homoacetogens is one of the main challenges in fermentative hydrogen production because these hydrogen consumers have similar growth features to hydrogen producers. Homoacetogens have been related to the excessive accumulation of biomass in fermentative reactors. Therefore, a suitable food/microorganism ratio has the potential to minimize the homoacetogenic activity. In this work, the specific organic loading rate (SOLR) was controlled in two fermentative fixed-bed up-flow reactors through scheduled biomass discharges. Reactors were differentiated by the bed arrangement, namely, packed and structured conformation. The SOLR decay along the time in both reactors was previously simulated according to the literature data. The volume and volatile suspended solids (VSS) concentration of discharges was estimated from the first discharge, and then additional discharges were planned. Biomass discharges removed 21% of the total biomass produced in the reactors, maintaining SOLR values of 3.0 ± 0.4 and 3.9 ± 0.5 g sucrose g−1 VSS d−1 in the packed-bed and structured-bed reactors, respectively. Such a control of the SOLR enabled continuous and stable hydrogen production at 2.2 ± 0.2 L H2 L−1 d−1 in the packed-bed reactor and 1.0 ± 0.3 L H2 L−1 d−1 in the structured-bed one. Controlling biomass was demonstrated to be a suitable strategy for keeping the continuous hydrogen production, although the fermentative activity was impaired in the structured-bed reactor. The homoacetogenic was partially inhibited, accounting for no more than 30% of the total acetic acid produced in the reactor. Overall, the high amount of attached biomass in the packed-bed reactor provided more robustness to the system, offsetting the periodic suspended biomass losses via the planned discharges. Better characterizing both the VSS composition (aiming to differentiate cells from polymeric substances) and the bed hydrodynamics could be useful to optimize the online SOLR control.

Dynamics of Water-Soluble Metals in Soil Moistened with Citrus Wastewaters Depends on Soil Reaction and Organic Acids

The demand for water for civil and industrial use is diminishing the availability of such a valuable environmental resource for agricultural purposes. Thus, for the next generation, it is imperative to find alternative water sources for crop irrigation. The citrus agroindustry utilizes a large amount of water for processing fruit (e.g., essential oil extraction, fruit washing). Wastewaters produced by citrus industry (CWWs) are rich in organic matter and mineral nutrients, thus making them potentially usable for crop irrigation. Conversely, due to their high content of organic acids and low pH, they may increase the availability of soluble metals, in the form of both plant nutrients and contaminants. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CWWs on the dynamics of soil water-soluble metals and pH. To this end, CWWs from the processing of lemons, oranges, and tangerines at three different doses were used. CWWs were analyzed to investigate type and amount of organic acids. Soil water-soluble metals (Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cd) and pH were determined at days 1, 3, 7, 21, and 28 after the addition of CWWs. Citric, ascorbic, oxalic, tartaric, acetic, and malic acids were found in CWWs, with citric acid being two orders of magnitude more concentrated than the other acids. After the addition of CWWs, soil pH promptly decreased from 7.2 to at least 5.3 depending on the type and concentration of CWWs. Concurrently, the concentration of almost all investigated metals sharply increased within 7 days after the addition of CWWs. Then, it decreased, reaching values similar to that of the control. The increase in metals availability as a consequence of pH decrease was ascribed to different causes: the exchange reaction between H+ and cations adsorbed onto colloid surfaces, the addition of organic matter by CWWs that stimulated microbial activity, and the quantity and type of organic acids added via CWWs. In conclusion, the obtained results suggest that the use of citrus wastewater for irrigation purposes could be a valid solution, with them being rich in plant nutrients and easily mobilized elements such as Ca, Mg, K, and Na. Further research is needed to refine the understanding of the impact of CWWs in the long term and to develop targeted strategies for managing industrial wastewater in agriculture.

Impaired Osteogenesis in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells with Acetaldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 Mutations.

Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is the second enzyme involved in the breakdown of acetaldehyde into acetic acid during the process of alcohol metabolism. Roughly 40% of East Asians carry one or two ALDH2*2 alleles, and the presence of ALDH2 genetic mutations in individuals may affect the bone remodeling cycle owing to accumulation of acetaldehyde in the body. In this study, we investigated the effects of ALDH2 mutations on bone remodeling. In this study, we examined the effects of ALDH2 polymorphisms on in vitro osteogensis using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). We differentiated wild-type (ALDH2*1/*1-) and ALDH2*1/*2-genotyped hiPSCs into osteoblasts (OBs) and confirmed their OB characteristics. Acetaldehyde was administered to confirm the impact caused by the mutation during OB differentiation. Calcium deposits formed during osteogenesis were significantly decreased in ALDH2*1/*2 OBs. The expression of osteogenic markers were also decreased in acetaldehyde-treated OBs differentiated from the ALDH2*1/*2 hiPSCs. Furthermore, the impact of ALDH2 polymorphism and acetaldehyde-induced stress on inflammatory factors such as 4-hydroxynonenal and tumor necrosis factor α was confirmed. Our findings suggest that individuals with ALDH2 deficiency may face challenges in acetaldehyde breakdown, rendering them susceptible to disturbances in normal bone remodeling therefore, caution should be exercised regarding alcohol consumption. In this proof-of-concept study, we were able to suggest these findings as a result of a disease-in-a-dish concept using hiPSCs derived from individuals bearing a certain mutation. This study also shows the potential of patient-derived hiPSCs for disease modeling with a specific condition.

Photoreforming Light Alcohols for Value‐Added Resources: A Mini Review

Hydrogen gas as a clean energy source, it is a promising alternative to fossil fuels. Therefore, people are actively seeking effective ways to produce hydrogen to cope with the imminent global energy shortage. However, the current production of hydrogen relies on the catalytic reforming of fossil fuels, inducing inevitable environmental pollution. Alternatively, photocatalysis for produce hydrogen gas from reforming alcohols is a promising approach. Especially, other value‐added hydrocarbon products, such as acetone, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, etc., can also be produced during the photoreforming process of alcohols. Meanwhile, reducing the production of COx, making it an environmentally friendly conversion process. Outstandingly, TiO2 and its derivative are excellent photocatalysts. Among them, TiO2 cocatalyzed with noble metal can easily increase the H2 evolution rate to the mmol g−1 h−1 scale. Among the light alcohols isopropyl alcohol has fewer side reactions, methanol and ethanol have higher reaction rate, but they require to reduce the by‐product COx. In this review, the recent developments in this field are summarized; various studies regarding H2 evolution rate, illumination condition, quantum efficiency, etc., are compared; and the development prospects of this field, with the hope of sparking widespread research interest, are proposed.

Acetic Fermentation of Cagaita Pulp: Technological and Chemical Characteristics

The Brazilian Cerrado region has a rich plant diversity, with fruits that have peculiar and unique sensory characteristics. For these reasons, using these fruits for biotechnological production is a promising alternative, mainly to protect this biome from deforestation and degradation. The production of fermented acetic acid is an option to add value to native fruits and offer the market beverages with better nutritional quality and bioactive compounds. This work aimed to characterize fruits and to develop cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) acetic fermented beverage. The fruits were subjected to physical-chemical analyses in the first part. Subsequently, different treatments for fermentation were tested using two types of enzymes (amylase and pectinase), two subspecies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast (UFLA CA11 and thermoresistant LNF Angel), and the chaptalization of the must with sucrose (16 °Brix). Alcoholic fermentation was carried out in an incubator with temperature control at 34 ± 1 °C. The pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, alcohol content, and density of the fermented products were monitored daily. The chaptalized must with amylase addition and thermoresistant yeast had the best performance during alcoholic fermentation, demonstrating that thermoresistant yeast is an economically advantageous and efficient alternative for the cagaita juice fermentation process. Subsequently, acetic fermentation was carried out using the slow method. Heat-resistant yeast without added enzymes was used to produce cagaita acetic fermented beverages within the parameters of the Brazilian legislation. Furthermore, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in the final product were observed. The work demonstrated the possibility of using cagaita fruits in biotechnological processes to produce new food products.

Simple, fast, and simultaneous determination of orthophosphate, pyrophosphate, and tripolyphosphate by capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection.

This work describes a novel analytical method using capillary electrophoresis (CE) with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) for simultaneous, simple, and rapid determination of three inorganic phosphates (orthophosphate, pyrophosphate, and tripolyphosphate) widely used as food additives and in pharmaceutical formulations. A background electrolyte composed of 0.5mol L-1 acetic acid provided fast separation (around 3.0min) and good separation efficiency and peak resolution. Linearity in the concentration range of 10-500mg L-1 was confirmed by the coefficients of determination (R2) higher than 0.99. The limits of detection varied from 0.41 to 0.58mg L-1. The accuracy of the proposed method was assessed by recovery tests conducted at three concentration levels in tap water samples, food, and personal hygiene products. Recovery values varying from 81% to 118% were achieved, indicating an acceptable accuracy. The proposed CE-C4D successfully determined the three inorganic phosphates in the analyzed samples.

Evidence of the Relationship between the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and the Potential Exposure of White Wines to Atypical Aging (ATA).

Atypical aging (ATA) is a well-known wine defect that leads to unacceptable off-odors of wet mop, soap, waxy, furniture varnish, and dish rag. The main compound that is responsible for these undesired scents, 2-aminoacetophenone (AAP), results from the oxidative degradation of 3-indole acetic acid. This study aimed to investigate different technological factors for a possible effect on the oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC) and ATA development in white wine. Oxygenation during fermentation did not result in a significant effect on the development of ORAC or ATA development. Instead, the addition of ascorbic acid after vinification led to increased ORAC and decreased AAP formation. The first evidence of a tendency toward a correlation between ORAC and potential ATA development was found, with r = 0.365. This study showed the potential of the ORAC assay for an early assessment of the possible formation of ATA during wine storage.

Psychometric properties of a modified health belief model for cervical cancer and visual inspection with acetic acid among healthcare professionals in Ethiopia.

Evidence supports that the Health Belief Model (HBM) can explain and predicts certain health behaviors, including participation in cervical cancer (CC) screening. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a modified HBM for CC and visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) in female healthcare professionals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020. Psychometric properties related to CC and VIA were tested using 42-item modified HBM self-administered questionnaire and a cross-sectional study design with simple random sampling. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett's sphericity test indicated that data sampling adequacy for exploratory factor analysis was 0.792 (χ2 = 3189.95, df = 351, p < .001). Items with cross-loading and factor loadings ≥ 0.5 were retained. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to determine model fit. The final analysis included 194 women, (mean age 30±4.34). Twelve items with ≤ 0.5 were removed and 30 retained items loaded into 6 factors; (benefits of VIA, perceived seriousness of CC, barrier (fear of negative outcome), self-efficacy, susceptibility to CC, and barriers (health system delivery)) explained 65% of the total variance. Cronbach's alpha for the total instrument was 0.8 and reliability for the 6 subscales was 0.76-0.92. Composite reliability and average variance extracted indicated good internal consistency and convergent validity. CFA identified 6 additional items to be removed with high residual covariance. The final 24 items of the modified HBM had an acceptable model fit (goodness-of-fit index (GFI) = 0.861, adjusted GFI = 0.823, comparative fit index = 0.937, root mean square error of approximation = 0.059). The modified HBM for CC and VIA with 24 items had adequate psychometric properties and may be used by Ethiopian healthcare professionals for research or clinical purposes. To support external validity the updated 24 items tool is suggested for application in further study in different populations in Ethiopia.

Exploring the synergistic effects of indole acetic acid (IAA) and compost in the phytostabilization of nickel (Ni) in cauliflower rhizosphere

Heavy metals (HMs) contamination, owing to their potential links to various chronic diseases, poses a global threat to agriculture, environment, and human health. Nickel (Ni) is an essential element however, at higher concentration, it is highly phytotoxic, and affects major plant functions. Beneficial roles of plant growth regulators (PGRs) and organic amendments in mitigating the adverse impacts of HM on plant growth has gained the attention of scientific community worldwide. Here, we performed a greenhouse study to investigate the effect of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA @ 10− 5 M) and compost (1% w/w) individually and in combination in sustaining cauliflower growth and yield under Ni stress. In our results, combined application proved significantly better than individual applications in alleviating the adverse effects of Ni on cauliflower as it increased various plant attributes such as plant height (49%), root length (76%), curd height and diameter (68 and 134%), leaf area (75%), transpiration rate (36%), stomatal conductance (104%), water use efficiency (143%), flavonoid and phenolic contents (212 and 133%), soluble sugars and protein contents (202 and 199%), SPAD value (78%), chlorophyll ‘a and b’ (219 and 208%), carotenoid (335%), and NPK uptake (191, 79 and 92%) as compared to the control. Co-application of IAA and compost reduced Ni-induced electrolyte leakage (64%) and improved the antioxidant activities, including APX (55%), CAT (30%), SOD (43%), POD (55%), while reducing MDA and H2O2 contents (77 and 52%) compared to the control. The combined application also reduced Ni uptake in roots, shoots, and curd by 51, 78 and 72% respectively along with an increased relative production index (78%) as compared to the control. Hence, synergistic application of IAA and compost can mitigate Ni induced adverse impacts on cauliflower growth by immobilizing it in the soil.

Ziyuglycoside II attenuated OVX mice bone loss via inflammatory responses and regulation of gut microbiota and SCFAs

Background and purposeOsteoporosis (OP) is a frequent clinical problem for the elderly. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has achieved beneficial results in the treatment of OP. Ziyuglycoside II (ZGS II) is a major active compound of Sanguisorba officinalis L. that has shown anti-inflammation and antioxidation properties, but little information concerning its anti-OP potential is available. Our research aims to investigate the mechanism of ZGS II in ameliorating bone loss by inflammatory responses and regulation of gut microbiota and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. MethodsWe predicted the mode of ZGS II action on OP through network pharmacology and molecular docking, and an OVX mouse model was employed to validate its anti-OP efficacy. Then we analyzed its impact on bone microstructure, the levels of inflammatory cytokines and pain mediators in serum, inflammation in colon, intestinal barrier, gut microbiota composition and SCFAs in feces. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified 55 intersecting targets of ZGS II related to OP. Of these, we predicted IGF1 may be the core target, which was successfully docked with ZGS II and showed excellent binding ability. Our in vivo results showed that ZGS II alleviated bone loss in OVX mice, attenuated systemic inflammation, enhanced intestinal barrier, reduced the pain threshold, modulated the abundance of gut microbiota involving norank_f__Muribaculaceae and Dubosiella, and increased the content of acetic acid and propanoic acid in SCFAs. ConclusionsOur data indicated that ZGS II attenuated bone loss in OVX mice by relieving inflammation and regulating gut microbiota and SCFAs.

Whole genome sequencing analysis of Komagataeibacter nataicola reveals its potential in food waste valorisation for cellulose production.

Komagataeibacter nataicola (K. nataicola) is a gram-negative acetic acid bacterium that produces natural bacterial cellulose (BC) as a fermentation product under acidic conditions. The goal of this work was to study the complete genome of K. nataicola and gain insight into the functional genes in K. nataicola that are responsible for BC synthesis in acidic environments. The pure culture of K. nataicola was obtained from yeast-glucose-calcium carbonate (YGC) agar, followed by genomic DNA extraction, and subjected to whole genome sequencing on a Nanopore flongle flow cell. The genome of K. nataicola consists of a 3,767,936bp chromosome with six contigs and 4,557 protein coding sequences. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree and average nucleotide identity analysis confirmed that the bacterial isolate was K. nataicola. The gene annotation via RAST server discovered the presence of cellulose synthase, along with three genes associated with lactate utilization and eight genes involved in lactate fermentation that could potentially contribute to the increase in acid concentration during BC synthesis. A more comprehensive genome study of K. nataicola may shed light into biological pathway in BC productivity as well as benefit the analysis of metabolites generated and understanding of biological and chemical interactions in BC production later.