Low Concentrations Of Ethanol Research Articles

Conformations of a highly expressed Z19 α-zein studied with AlphaFold2 and MD simulations.

α-zeins are amphiphilic maize seed storage proteins with material properties suitable for a multitude of applications e.g., in renewable plastics, foods, therapeutics and additive manufacturing (3D-printing). To exploit their full potential, molecular-level insights are essential. The difficulties in experimental atomic-resolution characterization of α-zeins have resulted in a diversity of published molecular models. However, deep-learning α-zein models are largely unexplored. Therefore, this work studies an AlphaFold2 (AF2) model of a highly expressed α-zein using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The sequence of the α-zein cZ19C2 gave a loosely packed AF2 model with 7 α-helical segments connected by turns/loops. Compact tertiary structure was limited to a C-terminal bundle of three α-helices, each showing notable agreement with a published consensus sequence. Aiming to chart possible α-zein conformations in practically relevant solvents, rather than the native solid-state, the AF2 model was subjected to MD simulations in water/ethanol mixtures with varying ethanol concentrations. Despite giving structurally diverse endpoints, the simulations showed several patterns: In water and low ethanol concentrations, the model rapidly formed compact globular structures, largely preserving the C-terminal bundle. At ≥ 50 mol% ethanol, extended conformations prevailed, consistent with previous SAXS studies. Tertiary structure was partially stabilized in water and low ethanol concentrations, but was disrupted in ≥ 50 mol% ethanol. Aggregated results indicated minor increases in helicity with ethanol concentration. β-sheet content was consistently low (∼1%) across all conditions. Beyond structural dynamics, the rapid formation of branched α-zein aggregates in aqueous environments was highlighted. Furthermore, aqueous simulations revealed favorable interactions between the protein and the crosslinking agent glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). The proximity of GMA epoxide carbons and side chain hydroxyl oxygens simultaneously suggested accessible reactive sites in compact α-zein conformations and pre-reaction geometries for methacrylation. The findings may assist in expanding the applications of these technologically significant proteins, e.g., by guiding chemical modifications.

A study of the migration behavior of formaldehyde in different concentrations of ethanol in paper food materials.

To ensure the safety of food contact materials, a liquid chromatography method was established to determine the migration of formaldehyde in paper packaging with various food simulants (10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 95% ethanol by volume) and to investigate the migration behavior of formaldehyde after various durations and with various materials. The results showed that the method has good linearity with a correlation coefficient of R2 > 0.9990, a detection limit of 0.0011 ~ 0.0027mg L-1, and a spiked recovery of 89.7 ~ 103.2% in the range of formaldehyde determination; the migration of formaldehyde in all six paper contact materials showed a trend of gradual increase with time until equilibrium was reached. At the same time and temperature, the migration of formaldehyde in paper packaging was the highest in low-concentration ethanol. With the same food simulants and materials, the maximum migration of formaldehyde in printed materials was greater than that in nonprinted materials; with different materials and the same food simulant, the thickness value was higher, with the use of water-based ink as a printing material, and the maximum migration value of formaldehyde by offset printing technology was low.

Manufacturing process of liposomal Formation: A coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation

A method of producing liposomes has been previously developed using a continuous manufacturing technology that involves a co-axial turbulent jet in co-flow. In this study, coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CG-MD) simulations were used to gain a deeper understanding of how the self-assembly process of liposomes is affected by the material attributes (such as the concentration of ethanol) and the process parameters (such as temperature), while also providing detailed information on a nano-scale molecular level. Specifically, the CG-MD simulations yield a comprehensive internal view of the structure and formation mechanisms of liposomes containing DPPC, DPPG, and cholesterol molecules. The importance of this work is that structural details on the molecular level are proposed, and such detail is not possible to obtain through experimental studies alone. The assessment of structural properties, including the area per lipid, diffusion coefficient, and order parameters, indicated that a thicker bilayer was observed at higher ethanol concentrations, while a thinner bilayer was present at higher temperatures. These conditions led to more water penetrating the interior of the bilayer and an unstable structure, as indicated by a larger contact area between lipids and water, and a higher coefficient of lipid lateral diffusion. However, stable liposomes were found through these evaluations at lower ethanol concentrations and/or lower process temperatures. Furthermore, the CG-MD model was further compared and validated with experimental and computational data including liposomal bilayer thickness and area per lipid measurements.

Role of L-PGDS in Light Alcohol Consumption-Induced Cerebral Angiogenesis in Male Mice

Ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of death and permanent disability. Promoting cerebral angiogenesis before or after ischemic stroke reduces ischemic brain damage and improves functional recovery. Alcohol is one of the most commonly consumed chemical substances. Light alcohol consumption (LAC) reduces the incidence and improves the prognosis of ischemic stroke. Recently, we found that LAC promotes cerebral angiogenesis under basal conditions and following ischemic stroke. In addition, LAC upregulates lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase (L-PGDS), the principal PGH2 isomerase mainly expressed in the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. Therefore, we determined the role of L-PGDS in LAC-induced cerebral angiogenesis. In in vitro studies, low-concentration ethanol significantly upregulated L-PGDS and increased angiogenic capability (tube formation, migration, and proliferation) in cultured C57BL/6J mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells (MBMVECs). AT-56, a selective L-PGDS inhibitor, abolished the increased angiogenic capability. In in vivo studies, 8-week gavage feeding with low-dose ethanol significantly upregulated L-PGDS and increased vessel density and vessel branches in the cerebral cortex and subcortical area under physiological conditions and following ischemic stroke in C57BL/6J male mice. AT-56 and endothelial cell-specific L-PGDS conditional knockout did not affect vessel density and vessel branches of the cerebral cortex and subcortical area in water-fed control mice but alleviated the proangiogenic effect in low-dose ethanol-fed mice under basal conditions and following ischemic stroke. Therefore, our findings suggest that L-PGDS may be crucial in LAC-induced cerebral angiogenesis. NIH 2R01AA023610. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Impact of immature coffee fruits and water addition during spontaneous fermentation process: Chemical composition and sensory profile

BackgroundCoffee fermentation process influences the final coffee composition and the sensory aspects which define the quality of the beverage. In this study, coffee fruits underwent spontaneous self-induced anaerobic fermentation using samples with two percentages of immature fruits in submerged and solid-state processing. The effects on the physicochemical composition and sensory quality of coffees were evaluated. ResultsThe two percentages of immature fruits corresponded to 11.0 and 0.3% of unripe fruits. The percentage of immature fruits significantly altered the initial content of sugars (sucrose, glucose, and fructose), ash, and titratable acidity. The water addition during the fermentative process did not significantly influence final moisture, proteins, citric acid, and propionic acid concentrations. Compared to the solid-state, the submerged process gave rise to coffees with lower concentrations of ethanol, glycerol, ash, lipids, succinic, and acetic acids. Coffee fermented with 0.3% of immature fruits showed higher lactic acid production in submerged fermentation (67.44 mg/g), and higher concentrations of ethanol (42.84 mg/g) and glycerol (1.68 mg/g) in solid-state fermentation. All coffees produced were classified as specialty coffees with a score above 84 points. However, the submerged fermented coffee with 11% immature fruit stood out with notes of caramel, brown sugar, honey, orange, lemon, floral, nut, yellow and red fruits. ConclusionsThis study confirmed that spontaneous fermentation can be used to produce specialty coffees. Differentiation in sensory attributes can be achieved through the addition of water and varying the percentage of green fruits during the fermentation process. Up to 11% of immature fruits did not compromise coffee quality.How to cite: Ferreira LJC, Casé IN, Bertarini PLL, et al. Impact of immature coffee fruits and water addition during spontaneous fermentation process: Chemical composition and sensory profile. Electron J Biotechnol 2024;69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2024.04.001.

Facile synthesis of oxygen vacancies mediated Co3O4 by Mn doping for high-performance ethanol sensing

The detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at extremely low concentrations holds significant importance in industry and daily life. In this study, Mn-doped Co3O4 materials with a mesoporous structure and oxygen vacancies were synthesized through manual grinding and calcination treatment. The structural characterization measurements showed that Mn doping restrained the crystal growth of the cobaltous oxides which was beneficial for the mesoporous structure, and appropriate oxygen vacancies. The 0.2Mn–Co3O4 sensor operated at the optimum operating temperature of 260 °C, showed a higher response (32.0) to 30 ppm ethanol, which was about 5.81 times as much as that of the pure Co3O4 (5.5). Additionally, to ethanol the 0.2Mn–Co3O4 sensor manifested ultra-low detection limit (11.6 ppb), fast response/recovery time (25/15 s) and superior stability. These exceptional performances may be attributed to the synergistic effect of mesoporous structure formation and appropriate oxygen vacancy concentration. Consequently, the Mn-doped Co3O4 sensor has great potential for detecting low-concentration ethanol in practical applications.

Long‐term evaluation of hydrocarbon degradation rates within the source zone under natural and enhanced attenuation for site closure purposes

AbstractDespite addressing the cleanup of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination plumes in groundwater, challenges with site closure persist due to the ongoing long‐term contaminant release from source zones. Thus, source zone monitoring even in the presence of residual light nonaqueous‐phase liquid (LNAPL) is mandated by many countries' regulatory agencies before site closure. In this study, four independent controlled‐release sites, each containing a particular fraction of ethanol in gasoline, that is, 10%, 24%, 25%, and 85% (v/v), were subjected to monitored natural attenuation (MNA) alone (E24 and E85), and with nitrate (E25) and sulfate (E10) biostimulation at the vicinity of the source zone. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the longest controlled gasohol release monitoring study performed to date at the source zone for site closure (nearly 18 years of monitoring). Both natural source zone depletion and biostimulation were found to reduce benzene concentrations to acceptable remediation target levels according to environmental regulatory councils. Benzene biodegradation rates (λs) were one order of magnitude higher than those reported in the literature for diluted concentrations in groundwater plumes. The decay rate of benzene varied between 0.45 and 1.75/year and was strongly influenced by the mass of ethanol. Compared to biostimulation with nitrate (half‐life of 1.52 years), MNA alone resulted in faster benzene removal rates (half‐life of 0.96 years). Anaerobic biostimulation with sulfate had negligible effects on benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (o‐, m‐, and p‐xylene [BTEX]) biodegradation compared to natural attenuation alone. The highest ethanol concentration (E85) led to faster benzene removal (with a half‐life of 0.40 years), which was even higher than MNA under lower ethanol concentrations (E24). Benzene half‐life was 2.2‐fold slower in the site with the lowest ethanol (E10) compared to E85, indicating that the negative effects of ethanol on BTEX biodegradation appeared to be short‐lived and may need to be re‐evaluated over the long term. Benzene decay rates were approximately six times slower in the source zone than the rates obtained for groundwater plumes, emphasizing the importance of targeting the LNAPL after plume retreat. The study's findings can assist practitioners in better predicting the lines of evidence for BTEX bioremediation and remediation cleanup times at a lower cost in the presence of ethanol, as well as providing guidance for determining whether biostimulation is necessary to expedite source zone remediation for site closure.

Porphyromonas gingivalis Strain W83 Infection Induces Liver Injury in Experimental Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease (ALD) in Mice

The liver plays a vital role in the defense against infections. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a dominant etiologic oral bacterium implicated in periodontal disease (PD), has been associated with various systemic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the influence of P. gingivalis on alcohol-associated liver diseases (ALD). Mice were fed a Lieber–DeCarli liquid diet containing 5% ethanol for 10 days after an initial adaptation period on a diet with lower ethanol content for 7 days. Two days before tissue sample collection, the mice were administered P. gingivalis strain W83 (Pg) through intraperitoneal injection (IP). Pair-fed mice with Pg infection (PF+Pg) exhibited an activated immune response to combat infections. However, alcohol-fed mice with Pg infection (AF+Pg) showed liver injury with noticeable abscess lesions and elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Additionally, these mice displayed liver infiltration of inflammatory monocytes and significant downregulation of proinflammatory cytokine gene expression levels; and AF+Pg mice also demonstrated increased intrahepatic neutrophil infiltration, as confirmed by chloroacetate esterase (CAE) staining, along with elevated gene expression levels of neutrophil cytosol factor 1 (Ncf1), neutrophilic inflammation driver lipocalin 2 (Lcn2), and complement component C5a receptor 1 (C5ar1), which are associated with neutrophilic inflammation. Interestingly, compared to PF+Pg mice, the livers of AF+Pg mice exhibited downregulation of gene expression levels of NADPH oxidase 2 (Cybb), the leukocyte adhesion molecule Cd18, and the Toll-like receptor adaptor Myd88. Consequently, impaired clearance of P. gingivalis and other bacteria in the liver, increased susceptibility to infections, and inflammation-associated hepatic necrotic cell death were observed in AF+Pg mice, which is likely to have facilitated immune cell infiltration and contributed to liver injury. Furthermore, in addition to the Srebf1/Fasn pathway induced by alcohol feeding, Pg infection also activated carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP) in AF+Pg mice. In summary, this study demonstrates that P. gingivalis infection, acting as a “second hit”, induces dysfunction of immune response and impairs the clearance of bacteria and infections in alcohol-sensitized livers. This process drives the development of liver injury.

Purification, characterization of a plant esterase from red kidney bean and its feasibility for pesticide residue analysis in foods

Plant-derived esterase is a promising alternative enzyme source for pesticide residue analysis. The present study aimed to obtain purified red kidney bean esterase (RKBE), investigate its biochemical properties and application potential in pesticide residue assay. RKBE was extracted and purified by simple aqueous two-phase extraction combined with dextran gel filtration chromatography, with specific activity of 11.845 U/mg and purification fold of 18.952. SDS-PAGE revealed that RKBE has a molecular weight of 33 kDa. Preliminary structural characterization showed the amino acid sequence of RKBE was similar to that of α/β-hydrolase (ESW18998) derived from Phaseolus vulgaris with 19.5% sequence coverage, and the relative contents of β-sheet, β-turn, α-helix, and random coil were 22.69%, 24.19%, 30.12%, and 23.00%, respectively. The optimal pH and temperature of RKBE were 6.5 and 40 °C. Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, and low concentrations of methanol and ethanol stimulated the enzyme activity. The half-life was 138.6 days at −20 °C. Kinetic studies showed that RKBE exhibited a high affinity and catalytic activity towards 1-naphthyl acetate, with a Km of 0.277 mM and a Kcat/Km of 0.455 s−1 mM−1. Enzyme-specific inhibition assay indicated RKBE to be a carboxylesterase. Finally, pesticide susceptibility experiments confirmed that organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides exerted inhibitory effects on RKBE catalytic activity. For methamidophos, methomyl, dichlorvos, and carbaryl, the limit of detection (IC10) values in cabbage were 0.0031, 0.0045, 0.001, and 0.0065 mg/kg, respectively, suggesting that RKBE can serve as a new, widely available and cost-effective enzyme source for pesticide residual assay in foods.

Cell disruption of Chlorella sp. and Ecklonia maxima biomass for bioethanol production using Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The demand for bioethanol has increased over the years due to the high costs of fossil fuels, which have been associated with environmental deterioration, leading to the need for cheaper and cleaner biofuel sources. To address this issue, this study investigated micro (Chlorella sp.) and macroalgal (Ecklonia maxima) biomass cell disruption for subsequent bioethanol production using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Different biomass concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, 3.75 and 5%w/v were prepared, and cell disrupted using ultrasonication and steam extraction for 10, 20, 30 and 40 mins. The samples were analysed for reducing sugar concentrations where the steam-extracted samples produced the highest reducing sugars of 8980 mg/L and 1800 mg/L for Chlorella sp. and E. maxima biomasses respectively. The extracts from ultrasonication and steam extraction were fermented for a period of 96 h where the steam-extracted extracts produced the highest ethanol concentrations from Chlorella sp. and E. maxima biomasses, at the maximum ethanol concentrations of 7 300 mg/L and 689.2 mg/L respectively. The findings of this paper showed that steam extraction is a preferred biomass pretreatment method since its extracts yielded higher ethanol concentrations while the ultrasonicated extracts produced lower ethanol concentrations.

An on-chip microarray platform for material-temperature optimization and gas discrimination

The demand for gases detection has promoted extensive research into gas sensors. Sensor arrays can be used as electronic olfaction units for complex gas detection and identification. However, the gas sensing properties are affected by various factors. The multi-dimensional nature of those interactions is crucial for creating a sensor array with diverse responses, but it is also challenging to fabricate an array considering all these parameters, particularly in miniaturization. In this paper, we present a framework that can take multiple factors into consideration and help to fabricate an optimal array for gas identification. 32 sensors including different MOS materials (SnO2, In2O3, WO3), morphologies (microsphere, nanoparticle, nanoflake), doped/loaded metals (Pd, Pt, Ce, Ru, Rb), and operational temperatures (250℃∼370℃) are discussed. A material-temperature-analyte-response database was then established by storing their response characteristics towards low ppm concentrations of ammonia, ethyl acetate, toluene, methanol, ethanol, and acetone. An optimized array was then constructed out of 10,518,300 possible combinations of materials and operational temperatures. Results showed improvements in discrimination ability and the optimized array integrated into the chip can provide vector signals with high selectivity, completely recognizing all the 6 target gases and even for their multi-component mixture after linear discriminant analysis transformation.

Wide-range ethanol sensor based on a spray-deposited nanostructured ZnO and Sn–doped ZnO films

This study compares the performance of a highly sensitive ethanol sensor incorporating a zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructured film with that of (1–3) % tin-doped zinc oxide (Sn–ZnO) nanostructured films across a wide range of ethanol concentrations from 0.5 to 400 ppm. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the polycrystalline structure of Sn–ZnO films, with a significant (002) plane orientation. Notably, Sn doping reduces the optical bandgap from 3.28 eV (ZnO) to 2.41 eV (3% Sn–ZnO). Ethanol vapor sensing experiments reveal that the 2% Sn–ZnO film operates at a lower temperature of 220 °C compared to the ZnO film (290 °C). Particularly, the 2% Sn–ZnO film exhibits rapid and strong responses to low ethanol concentrations (0.5–100 ppm) at this temperature. Response values of 2.22 ± 0.01 and 17.66 ± 0.08 with response times of 11 ± 1 and 15 ± 1 s are achieved at ethanol concentrations of 0.5 and 400 ppm, respectively. Conversely, the ZnO film performs better at higher ethanol concentrations (150–400 ppm). These findings advance gas sensing mechanisms in ZnO and Sn–ZnO films, with implications for future advancements in gas sensor technology.

Application of ethanol alleviates heat damage to leaf growth and yield in tomato.

Chemical priming has emerged as a promising area in agricultural research. Our previous studies have demonstrated that pretreatment with a low concentration of ethanol enhances abiotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis and cassava. Here, we show that ethanol treatment induces heat stress tolerance in tomato (Solanum lycopersicon L.) plants. Seedlings of the tomato cultivar 'Micro-Tom' were pretreated with ethanol solution and then subjected to heat stress. The survival rates of the ethanol-pretreated plants were significantly higher than those of the water-treated control plants. Similarly, the fruit numbers of the ethanol-pretreated plants were greater than those of the water-treated ones. Transcriptome analysis identified sets of genes that were differentially expressed in shoots and roots of seedlings and in mature green fruits of ethanol-pretreated plants compared with those in water-treated plants. Gene ontology analysis using these genes showed that stress-related gene ontology terms were found in the set of ethanol-induced genes. Metabolome analysis revealed that the contents of a wide range of metabolites differed between water- and ethanol-treated samples. They included sugars such as trehalose, sucrose, glucose, and fructose. From our results, we speculate that ethanol-induced heat stress tolerance in tomato is mainly the result of increased expression of stress-related genes encoding late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, reactive oxygen species (ROS) elimination enzymes, and activated gluconeogenesis. Our results will be useful for establishing ethanol-based chemical priming technology to reduce heat stress damage in crops, especially in Solanaceae.

Particle Size Effect on Optical and Gas-Sensing Properties of La0.67Ca0.2Ba0.13Fe0.97M0.03O3 (M = Ti4+, Mn3+, and Cr3+) Compounds

In the present work, the morphological, optical, and gas-sensing properties of La0.67Ca0.2Ba0.13Fe0.97M0.03O3 (M = Ti, Cr, and Mn) nano-powders prepared via the auto-combustion route, were investigated. TEM images prove the nanoscale particle size of all the samples. Optical studies confirm the semiconductor behavior of the studied materials. The response of the prepared nano-powders towards the presence of two gas-reducing agents (ethanol and acetone) was investigated. From the resistance ratio under air and gas, it was possible to determine the response to different gases and deduce that La0.67Ca0.2Ba0.13Fe0.97Ti0.03O3 presents the highest responses to ethanol and acetone. Likewise, we deduced that the prepared materials were able to detect low concentrations of ethanol and acetone gases.

Stability of Cytoplasmic Membrane of Escherichia coli Bacteria in Aqueous and Ethanolic Environment.

The mechanism of action of any antibacterial agent or disinfectant depends largely on their interaction with the bacterial membrane. Herein, we use the SPICA (surface property fitting coarse graining) force-field and develop a coarse-grained (CG) model for the structure of the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and its interaction with water and ethanol. We elucidate the impact of different concentrations of ethanol on the cytoplasmic membrane bilayers and vesicles of E. coli using the CG molecular dynamics (CG MD) simulations. Our modeling approach first focuses on the parametrization of the required force-field for POPG lipid and its interaction with water, ethanol, and POPE lipid. Subsequently, the structural stability of the E. coli bacterial membrane in the presence of high and low concentrations of ethanol is delineated. Both flat bilayers as well as vesicles of E. coli membrane were considered for the CG MD. Our results reveal that, at low ethanol concentrations (<30 mol %), the size of the E. coli vesicles increases with discernible deformations in their shapes. Because of ethanol-induced interdigitation, thinning of the E. coli vesicular membrane is also observed. However, at higher ethanol concentrations (>30 mol %), the integrity of the vesicles is lost because of deteriorating invasion of ethanol molecules into the vesicle bilayer and significant weakening of lipid-lipid interactions. At higher ethanol concentrations (40 and 70 mol %), both the multivesicle and single-vesicle bacterial membranes exhibit a similar rupturing pattern wherein the extraction of lipids from the membrane and formation of aggregates of the component lipids are observed. These aggregates consist of polar head groups of 3-5 POPE/POPG lipids with intertwined nonpolar tails.

Ethanol Induces Blood Brain Barrier Dysfunction in Healthy and Familial Alzheimer’s Blood Brain Barrier Models

Background/Objective:&#x0D; The blood brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective semipermeable membrane between the blood and brain. Active efflux transporters such as PGP, MRP-1, and BCRP and localized tight junction proteins ensure barrier integrity. Interestingly, both alcohol consumption and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) suppress barrier functions independently. Furthermore, alcohol use can lead to or worsened neurodegenerative disorders, including AD. In this study, human stem-cell derived healthy and AD BBB models with near in vivo properties are used to investigate the effects of alcohol on critical BBB properties such as barrier tightness and efflux transporter activity.&#x0D; Methods:&#x0D; Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from healthy (IMR90) and Familial Alzheimer’s (APP, PSEN1, PSEN2) cell lines were differentiated into brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs). BMECs were treated with varying ethanol concentrations (5, 25, 50, and 100 mM) for one hour. Following ethanol treatment several barrier properties were assessed: trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER), sodium fluorescein permeability, tight junction localization, and efflux transporter activity.&#x0D; Results:&#x0D; Moderate to severe ethanol concentrations (25 mM and 50 mM) reduced TEER and delocalized tight junctions in healthy and AD-derived BMECs, indicating a disruption in barrier integrity. AD-derived BMEC cell lines also show an increased susceptibility to ethanol-induced barrier dysregulation at lower concentrations of ethanol (5 mM). Interestingly, our preliminary data shows that ethanol exposure seems to reduce BCRP efflux transporter activity in APP and PSEN1 AD cell lines.&#x0D; Conclusion and Scientific Impact and Implications:&#x0D; This study is novel in elucidating the enhanced disruption of BBB properties in familial AD-derived BMEC cell lines following ethanol exposure and provides insight into the potential harm of alcohol consumption in the development and/or exacerbation of BBB dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. Further studies will also unveil the possibility of ethanol-induced reduction of BCRP efflux transporter activity in APP and PSEN1 AD.

Selecting autochthonous lactic acid bacteria for co-inoculation in Chinese bayberry wine production: Stress response, starter cultures application and volatilomic study

This study focused on isolating and characterising autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from spontaneously fermented Chinese bayberry (CB) and their potential application in CB wine fermentation in co-inoculation with yeast starter cultures. Numerous LAB, including Lactiplantibacillus (Lp.) plantarum (9), Limosilactobacillus (Lb.) fermentum (6), Lactococcus (Lc.) lactis (3), Enterococcus (Ec.) hirae (1), Leuconostoc (Le.) mesenteroides (1), and Weissella (Ws.) cibaria (1), were isolated and identified. The isolated strains Lp. plantarum ZFM710 and ZFM715, together with Lb. fermentum ZFM720 and ZFM722, adapted well to unfavourable fermentation environment, including ethanol, osmolality, and acidity stresses, were selected for producing CB wine by co-inoculation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. During fermentation, the presence of LAB promoted the development of S. cerevisiae, while the population dynamics of LAB in different groups at different stages showed strain-specific differences. Fermentation trials involving LAB yielded a lower ethanol concentration except for Lp. plantarum ZFM715. Compared to the pure S. cerevisiae fermented sample, the addition of LAB led to a clear modulation in organic acid composition. Lb. fermentum strains in co-fermentation led to significant decreases in each classified group of aroma compounds, while Lp. plantarum ZFM715 significantly increased the complexity and intensity of aroma compounds, as well as the intensities of fruity and floral notes. The study selects interesting strains for the design of starter cultures for use in CB wine production, underlining the interest in the selection of autochthonous LAB in fruit wines, with the aim of improving the adaptation of bacteria to specific environmental conditions and shaping the unique traits of the finished products.

The fermentation conditions of low alcoholic three-leaved (Cayratia trifolia (L.) Domin) cider using Saccharomyces cerevisiae HG1.3

Three-leaved Cayratia, a perennial climber, is widely distributed in India, Asia, Africa, and Australia. In Vietnam, it is found in the Mekong Delta with a specific aroma, dark purple berries, and contains an abundant source of bioactive compounds (yellow waxy oil, steroids/terpenoids, flavonoids, and tannins) in whole plants. Taking advantage of the raw source might enhance various fermented juice drinks and increase income for denizens. The initial parameters were pH 3, 4, and 5 with the total soluble solids (TSS) of 18, 20, 22, and 24 °Bx, respectively, to determine the appropriate Cayratia cider making condition. The yeast concentration (0.1, 0.15, 0.2, and 0.25% [w/v], respectively) and fermentation time (24, 48, and 72 h, respectively) at room temperature (28 ± 2°C) were also surveyed. Thereafter, the final product was analyzed for the sensory quality and microbiological and chemical criteria. The fresh Cayratia juice has a pH of 3.2 and 6 °Bx, and the juice recovery efficiency was 74%, equivalent to 0.74 L/kg of the fruit juice amount after squeezing. The low alcoholic juice has 4.62% v/v ethanol content which meets the Vietnam National Standard (TCVN 3215:79, and QCVN 6-2: 2010/BYT) after 72 h of fermentation time. The TSS of 22 °Bx, pH value of 4, and yeast concentration of 0.2% (w/v) are appropriate initial conditions for Cayratia juice with low ethanol content. Cayratia cider with 4.6% (v/v) ethanol content was produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae HG 1.3 at room temperature 28 ± 2°C with initial TSS of 22 °Bx, pH 4, and inoculation yeast rate of 0.2% w/v. The quality analysis meets Vietnamese standards for food consumption.

Comparison of ancestral and traditional methods for elaborating sparkling wines

This work compares the ancestral method for elaborating sparkling wines with the most widely used traditional method. Ancestral method is a single fermentation procedure in which the fermenting grape must is bottled before the end of alcoholic fermentation whereas traditional method involves a second fermentation of a base wine inside a bottle. Macabeo grapes were used to elaborate a traditional sparkling wine and two ancestral sparkling wines, one with a low yeast population and one with a high yeast population. The findings indicate that ancestral sparkling wines have lower ethanol content and can be elaborated using lower sulphur dioxide levels. In general, ancestral sparkling wines showed similar protein concentration, higher polysaccharide content, similar or better foamability (HM) than the traditional sparkling wine., No differences were found in the foam stability (HS). In addition, the sensory analysis indicated that ancestral sparkling wines have smaller bubble size, lower CO2 aggressivity, they seemed to have longer ageing time and were scored better than the traditional sparkling wine. These results therefore indicate that the ancestral method is of great interest for the elaboration of high-quality sparkling wines.

Formulation and Evaluation of Transdermal Patches Containing BGP-15.

BGP-15 is an active ingredient with many advantages, e.g., beneficial cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory effects. The transdermal administration of BGP-15 has great potential, which has not been investigated yet, despite the fact that it is a non-invasive and safe form of treatment. The aim of our study was to formulate transdermal patches containing BGP-15 and optimize the production with the Box-Behnken design of experiment. The most optimal formulation was further combined with penetration enhancers to improve bioavailability of the active ingredient, and the in vitro drug release and in vitro permeation of BGP-15 from the patches were investigated. FTIR spectra of BGP-15, the formulations and the components were also studied. The most optimal formulation based on the tested parameters was dried for 24 h, with 67% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) content and low ethanol content. The selected penetration enhancer excipients were not cytotoxic on HaCaT cells. The FTIR measurements and SEM photography proved the compatibility of the active substance and the vehicle; BGP-15 was present in the polymer matrix in dissolved form. The bioavailability of BGP-15 was most significantly enhanced by the combination of Transcutol and Labrasol. The in vitro permeation study confirmed that the formulated patches successfully enabled the transdermal administration of BGP-15.