Malate Research Articles

A metabolomics study on carcinogenesis of ground-glass nodules.

This study aimed to identify differential metabolites and key metabolic pathways between lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tissues and normal lung (NL) tissues using metabolomics techniques, to discover potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of lung cancer. Forty-five patients with primary ground-glass nodules (GGN) identified on computed tomography imaging and who were willing to undergo surgery at Shanghai General Hospital from December 2021 to December 2022 were recruited to the study. All participants underwent video thoracoscopy surgery with segmental or wedge resection of the lung. Tissue samples for pathological examination were collected from the site of ground-glass nodules (GGN) lesion and 3 cm away from the lesion (NL). The pathology results were 35 lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cases (13 invasive adenocarcinoma, 14 minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, and eight adenocarcinoma in situ), 10 benign samples, and 45 NL tissues. For the untargeted metabolomics technique, 25 LUAD samples were assigned as the case group and 30 NL tissues as the control group. For the targeted metabolomics technique, ten LUAD samples were assigned as the case group and 15 NL tissues as the control group. Samples were analyzed by untargeted and targeted metabolomics, with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry detection used as part of the experimental procedure. Untargeted metabolomics revealed 164 differential metabolites between the case and control groups, comprising 110 up regulations and 54 down regulations. The main metabolic differences found by the untargeted method were organic acids and their derivatives. Targeted metabolomics revealed 77 differential metabolites between the case and control groups, comprising 69 up regulations and eight down regulations. The main metabolic changes found by the targeted method were fatty acids, amino acids, and organic acids. The levels of organic acids such as lactic acid, fumaric acid, and malic acid were significantly increased in LUAD tissue compared to NL. Specifically, an increased level of L-lactic acid was found by both untargeted (variable importance in projection [VIP] = 1.332, fold-change [FC] = 1.678, q = 0.000) and targeted metabolomics (VIP = 1.240, FC = 1.451, q = 0.043). Targeted metabolomics also revealed increased levels of fumaric acid (VIP = 1.481, FC = 1.764, q = 0.106) and L-malic acid (VIP = 1.376, FC = 1.562, q = 0.012). Most of the 20 differential fatty acids identified were downregulated, including dodecanoic acid (VIP = 1.416, FC = 0.378, q = 0.043) and tridecane acid (VIP = 0.880, FC = 0.780, q = 0.106). Furthermore, increased levels of differential amino acids were found in LUAD samples. Lung cancer is a complex and heterogeneous disease with diverse genetic alterations. The study of metabolic profiles is a promising research field in this cancer type. Targeted and untargeted metabolomics revealed significant differences in metabolites between LUAD and NL tissues, including elevated levels of organic acids, decreased levels of fatty acids, and increased levels of amino acids. These metabolic features provide valuable insights into LUAD pathogenesis and can potentially serve as biomarkers for prognosis and therapy response.

Integrated small RNA, transcriptome and physiological approaches provide insight into Taxodium hybrid 'Zhongshanshan' roots in acclimation to prolonged flooding.

Although Taxodium hybrid 'Zhongshanshan' 406 (Taxodium mucronatum Tenore×Taxodium distichum; Taxodium 406) is an extremely flooding-tolerant woody plant, the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying acclimation of its roots to long-term flooding remain largely unknown. Thus, we exposed saplings of Taxodium 406 to either non-flooding (control) or flooding for 2months. Flooding resulted in reduced root biomass, which is in line with lower concentrations of citrate, α-ketoglutaric acid, fumaric acid, malic acid and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in Taxodium 406 roots. Flooding led to elevated activities of pyruvate decarboxylase, alcohol dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase, which is consistent with higher lactate concentration in the roots of Taxodium 406. Flooding brought about stimulated activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase and elevated reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration and GSH/oxidized glutathione, which is in agreement with reduced concentrations of O2- and H2O2 in Taxodium 406 roots. The levels of starch, soluble protein, indole-3-acetic acid, gibberellin A4 and jasmonate were decreased, whereas the concentrations of glucose, total non-structural carbohydrates, most amino acids and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) were improved in the roots of flooding-treated Taxodium 406. Underlying these changes in growth and physiological characteristics, 12,420 mRNAs and 42 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed, and 886 miRNA-mRNA pairs were identified in the roots of flooding-exposed Taxodium 406. For instance, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase 8 (ACS8) was a target of Th-miR162-3p and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase 4 (ACO4) was a target of Th-miR166i, and the downregulation of Th-miR162-3p and Th-miR166i results in the upregulation of ACS8 and ACO4, probably bringing about higher ACC content in flooding-treated roots. Overall, these results indicate that differentially expressed mRNA and miRNAs are involved in regulating tricarboxylic acid cycle, ATP production, fermentation, and metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids and phytohormones, as well as reactive oxygen species detoxification of Taxodium 406 roots. These processes play pivotal roles in acclimation to flooding stress. These results will improve our understanding of the molecular and physiological bases underlying woody plant flooding acclimation and provide valuable insights into breeding-flooding tolerant trees.

Effect of Seed Spaceflight Storage on Tomato Fruit Quality and Peel/Pulp Mineral and Antioxidant Distribution

The spaceflight storage of seeds is known to cause mutations affecting both their quality and the mature plants originating from them. To study the effects of space stress, tomato seeds of two cultivars (Lotus and Autumn rhapsody) were subjected to half a year of storage at the International Space Station (ISS), and then, sown in a greenhouse to produce tomato fruits. The space-treated plants gave smaller fruits with a stable total yield not significantly different from that of the control plants. Space-treated tomatoes showed significantly higher levels of dry matter, dietary fiber, monosaccharides and citric and malic acids and lower values of oxalic acid compared to the control plants. The pulp of space-treated fruits had 1.44–1.70 times lower levels of carotenoids, while their peel contained a 1.27–1.90 times higher pigment amount compared to the control plants. No significant changes in the total antioxidant activity (AOA), photosynthetic pigments and phenolic (TP) and proline content were recorded in the fruits due to seed spaceflight storage. Contrarily, space-treated tomatoes showed decreased levels of Ca, Sr and Mo and increased Se both in the fruit pulp and peel. The concentration of Fe and especially Pb was lower in space-treated fruit pulp. Positive correlations between Se and dry matter, Ca and Sr, Ca and Co, Ca and Fe, and Cr and carotenoids, and negative correlations between Se and Mo, Se and K, and Mo and dry matter were recorded. The results indicate that seed stress caused by long-term spaceflight affects both the biochemical characteristics and mineral composition of tomato fruits and causes the peel/pulp redistribution of carotenoids as well as macro- and micro-elements, improving Se accumulation levels in the fruit peel.

Combined use of XP-Endo Finisher and different chelating agents on the smear layer

ABSTRACT Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of XP-Endo Finisher (XPF) in conjunction with three different chelating agents, namely, 0.2% chitosan nanoparticles (CNP), 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and 7% maleic acid (MA) on residual debris and smear layer on the root canal walls of the mandibular premolars. Materials and Methods: Eighty extracted human mandibular premolars were used in the study. Canals were prepared using an XP-Endo Shaper, and the final finishing was done with an XPF file. Teeth were randomly divided into four experimental groups based on chelating agents, Group I (XPF + 0.2% CNP), Group II (XPF + 17% EDTA), Group III (XPF + MA), and Group IV XPF + 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) (control group). Teeth were longitudinally split and prepared for scanning electron microscopy analysis. For comparing the smear layer and debris score between groups, the Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA was used, followed by the post hoc Bonferroni test. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Group I (XPF + 0.2% CNP) gave the best results (P = 0.001) in all the thirds of root canal, followed by Group II (XPF + 17% EDTA) with P = 0.001. Group III (XPF + MA) showed results similar to that of the control group (XPF + NaOCl) with P = 0.001. There was a significant difference in the scores between Group I (XPF + CNP) and the other three groups. Conclusion: In all three-thirds of a root canal, the use of XPF + 0.2% CNP performed best at removing the smear layer. This was followed by XPF + 17% EDTA and XPF + 7% MA. For all groups, smear layer removal was less efficient in the apical third.

Leaching of Nickel and Cobalt from a Mixed Nickel-Cobalt Hydroxide Precipitate Using Organic Acids

Nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) are strategic metals that have found applications in a wide range of metallurgical and industrial uses. In this study, the dissolution of a mixed nickel–cobalt hydroxide precipitate using organic acids (citric, oxalic, and malic acid) was investigated. Citric acid was found to be the best leaching agent yielding the following dissolution rates: 91.2% Ni, 86.8% Co, and 90.8% Mn. Oxalic acid resulted in low dissolution, which is likely due to the formation of insoluble metal oxalates. The impact of acid concentration, leaching time, and temperature on metal dissolution was systematically examined. The optimal dissolution conditions were identified as 0.5 M citric acid at 30 °C for 30 min, utilizing a 1/20 solid/liquid ratio and a stirring speed of 400 revolutions per minute (rpm). The attempt to use oxidants, such as potassium permanganate (KMnO4) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), to achieve selective dissolution in an organic acid environment was not successful, which was different from that in the sulfuric acid case. As for the leaching kinetics in the organic acids, it seems that the leaching of Ni correlates with the Shrinking Core Model, specifically regarding porous-layer diffusion control. Based on the experimental results, the activation energy for the leaching of Ni was estimated to be 3.1 kJ/mol.

Effect and Mechanism of Root Characteristics of Different Rice Varieties on Methane Emissions

Methane (CH4), which is an important component of the greenhouse gases from paddy ecosystems, is a major contributor to climate change. CH4 emissions from paddy ecosystems are closely related to the rice root system; however, how the rice root system affects CH4 emissions remains unclear. We conducted a field experiment in 2023 at the Heping Irrigation District Rice Irrigation Experiment Station in Qing’an County, Heilongjiang Province. The field experiment used five local rice varieties with similar fertility periods to observe rice root morphology and physiology indexes, CH4 emission fluxes, and cumulative CH4 emissions. A structural equation model (SEM) was established to investigate the effects of root characteristics on the CH4 emissions from rice and understand the potential mechanisms of these effects. The results showed that the seasonal patterns of CH4 emission fluxes were similar in different rice varieties, and that, during the tillering to heading–flowering stages, the cumulative CH4 emissions accounted for 89.8–92.6% of the total cumulative CH4 emissions of rice. Significant negative correlations were observed between CH4 emission fluxes and root volume, root dry weight, root oxidation activity (ROA), and root radial oxygen loss (ROL) (r = −0.839, −0.885, −0.401 and −0.934, p < 0.05), while there were significant positive correlations between root diameter; malic acid, citric acid, and succinic acid contents; and CH4 emission fluxes (r = 0.407, 0.753, 0.797, and 0.685, p < 0.05). The SEM showed that CH4 emission fluxes were directly influenced by ROL and organic acid contents, while the other root indicators had indirect effects by modulating ROL and organic acid contents. ROL and root volume had the largest total effect, indicating that ROL and root volume were the most significant root physiological and morphological indicators affecting CH4 emission fluxes. This study provides theoretical support and reference data for achieving sustainable agricultural development in the black soil region of Northeast China.

In vivo and in vitro insights into the anti-hyperuricemic effects of sacha inchi (plukenetia volubilis l.) leaves extract rich in polyphenols

Sacha inchi (SI, Plukenetia volubilis L.) is a South American oleaginous crop with multiple health benefits and has been traditionally used to treat various ailments due to its bioactive ingredients such as polyphenols and flavonoids. In this study, a variety of compounds including three flavonoids (epigallocatechin, luteolin-3′,7-di-O-glucoside and cosmosiin), two polyphenols (gallic acid and 4-hydroxycoumarin) and three organic acids (malic acid, citric acid and 2-isopropylmalic acid) were firstly identified by UHPLC-QQQ-MS. Subsequently, in vitro results show that SI leaf aqueous extract (SILE) exhibit potential to lower uric acid (UA) by affecting mRNA levels of UA synthases (XO and HGPRT) with neglectable impacts on cell viability of liver cells (L02). In vivo experiments further suggest that SILE can effectively reduce the levels of serum UA and renal inflammatory cytokines (Il-1β, Il-6 and Tnf-α), and improve renal function indicators (serum Cr and BUN), thereby repairing kidney injury in both acute and chronic hyperuricemic (HUA) animal models. In addition, SILE also improve UA metabolism by inhibiting UA biosynthesis and reabsorption and promoting UA excretion. 1H NMR-based metabolomics reveals that SILE effectively regulate the levels of glucose, amino acid, purine and pyrimidine that are involved in UA metabolic pathway in kidney of HUA mice. These findings demonstrate that SILE rich in polyphenols and flavonoids has a great potential for HUA treatment by inhibiting xanthine oxidase activity and improving UA metabolism.

Effect of pretreatment methods on the selective leaching of rare earth elements from NdFeB permanent magnets using deep eutectic solvents

In this study, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were employed as environmentally friendly alternatives of inorganic acid to selectively leach REEs from waste NdFeB magnets. Three DESs were tested, effective for light REE leaching, and preliminary experiments were conducted to study the selective leaching of REEs, using synthetic materials, Nd2O3, Fe, Fe3O4, and Fe2O3. The findings suggest that neodymium and iron should exist as Nd2O3 and Fe2O3, respectively, for selective leaching. To enhance the selective leaching of the NdFeB magnet, three pretreatment methods were applied: oxidative roasting, NaOH digestion, and NaOH digestion-oxidative roasting. During the oxidative roasting, NdFeO3 was formed, and it hindered REE leaching, achieving the highest REE leaching efficiency of 22.5% in the guanidine hydrochloride (GUC)-lactic acid (LA) DES. To counteract NdFeO3 formation, the NaOH digestion was introduced, yielding Nd(OH)3 and Fe3O4. These were then converted to Nd2O3 and Fe2O3 through oxidative roasting. With the NaOH-digested product, selective REE leaching was achieved solely with the ethylene glycol (EG)-maleic acid (MA) DES, while it was feasible in all three DESs with the NaOH digestion-oxidative roasting. The EG-MA DES displayed the highest selectivity, with a leaching efficiency of 97.3% Nd and 0.8% Fe. Additionally, the solvent could be reused at least twice, and the leaching efficiencies of 97% for Nd and 0.7% for Fe were maintained. This selective leaching technique benefits from using environmentally friendly solvents compared to the traditional inorganic acid leaching and demonstrates high REE selectivity and solvent reusability, suggesting a novel method for REE recovery via DESs.

Synthesis, Computational Study, and In Vitro α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Action of 1,3,4-Thiadiazole Derivatives of 3-Aminopyridin-2(1H)-ones.

This article reports on the synthesis of nine promising new 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives based on 3-aminopyridones, containing various acidic linkers. The synthesis was carried out by cyclizing the corresponding thiohydrazides 4a-c and anhydrides of glutaric, maleic, and phthalic acids upon heating in acetic acid solution. The conducted bio-screening of the synthesized new 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives containing different acidic linkers (butanoic, acrylic, and benzoic acids) showed that they have significant inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase (up to 95.0%), which is 1.9 times higher than the value for the reference drug acarbose (49.5%). Moreover, one of the 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives with a benzoic acid linker-2-(5-((6-Methyl-2-oxo-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-1,2-dihydropyridin-3-yl)carbamoyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)benzoic acid (9'b)-showed an IC50 value of 3.66 mM, nearly 3.7 times lower than that of acarbose (IC50 = 13.88 mM). High inhibitory activity was also shown by 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives with a butanoic acid linker (compounds 7b, 7c)-with IC50 values of 6.70 and 8.42 mM, respectively. A correlation between the structure of the compounds and their activity was also established. The results of molecular docking correlated well with the bioanalytical data. In particular, the presence of a butanoic acid linker and a benzoic fragment in compounds 7b, 7c, and 9b increased their binding affinity with selected target proteins compared to other derivatives 3-6 (a-c). Calculations according to Lipinski's rule of five also showed that the synthesized compounds 7b, 7c, and 9b fully comply with Ro5 and meet all criteria for good permeability and acceptable oral bioavailability of potential drugs. These positive bioanalytical results will stimulate further in-depth studies, including in vivo models.

Perturbations in the earthworm metabolite profile during a two-week exposure to metformin

Metformin is among the most prescribed pharmaceuticals in many countries, and as a result has shown up in biosolids derived from municipal wastewater treatment that are destined for land application. In humans taking metformin, the effects include reduced glucose uptake in the intestine, a reduction in gluconeogenesis, increased oxidation of fatty acids, and reduced fatty acid synthesis. The effects of metformin on soil-dwelling organisms are not well understood. This study tested the effects of metformin exposure (0, 10, 40, 160, 640 μg g−1) on the earthworm (E. fetida) at four time points (6 h, 2 d, 7 d, and 14 d) using GC-MS to reveal sub-lethal effects and elucidate potential modes of action for metformin. There were no mortalities observed, and earthworms exposed to the highest concentrations (160 and 640 μg g−1) gained weight relative to the control on days 7 and 14. Significant reductions on day 7 were observed for glucose and malic acid (consistent with a reduction in gluconeogenesis), and for palmitic and margaric acid (consistent with increased oxidation and reduced synthesis of fatty acids). Lactic acid ranked first and second among canonicals 1 and 2 respectively and led to significant differences in discriminant scores across concentration and time. Metabolite levels increased to equal or greater than the control on day 14, likely caused by reduced exposure as metformin is reported to be readily transformed by microorganisms under aerobic conditions. The observations were consistent with the known effects of metformin in humans, and suggests that a similar mode of action exists in earthworms.

Enhancing Phytoextraction Potential of Brassica napus for Contaminated Dredged Sediment Using Nitrogen Fertilizers and Organic Acids.

Dredged sediment contaminated with heavy metals can be remediated through phytoremediation. The main challenge in phytoremediation is the limited availability of heavy metals for plant uptake, particularly in multi-contaminated soil or sediment. This study aimed to assess the effect of the nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate (AN), ammonium sulfate (AS), and urea (UR)), organic acids (oxalic (OA) and malic (MA) acids), and their combined addition to sediment on enhancing the bioavailability and phytoremediation efficiency of heavy metals. The sediment dredged from Begej Canal (Serbia) had high levels of Cr, Cd, Cu, and Pb and was used in pot experiments to cultivate energy crop rapeseed (Brassica napus), which is known for its tolerance to heavy metals. The highest accumulation and translocation of Cu, Cd, and Pb were observed in the treatment with AN at a dose of 150 mg N/kg (AN150), in which shoot biomass was also the highest. The application of OA and MA increased heavy metal uptake but resulted in the lowest biomass production. A combination of MA with N fertilizers showed high uptake and accumulation of Cr and Cu.

Bio-fabrication of silver nanoparticles using Commelina erecta, L.: a mechanistic approach on synthesis, optimization, antibacterial, and antioxidant potential.

The ongoing exploration of economical, sustainable, and environment-friendly methods for synthesizing monodisperse colloidal metal nanoparticles is growing day by day due to their potential application in various fields. The use of plant derivatives in nanoparticle synthesis and their suitability as sustainable catalysts have emerged as significant areas of research. In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using an aqueous extract obtained from the commonly found weed Commelina erecta, L. Extensive study is conducted to optimize various synthesis parameters such as pH, reducing agent concentration, silver nitrate concentration, and temperature. The plant extract utilized in the synthesis process contained variety of antioxidants, including malic acid, phenol, benzoic acid, and catechol, which played a crucial role in both reduction and capping during the synthesis process, thereby making them suitable for biomedical applications. The optimized synthesis process yielded silver nanoparticles with a particle size of 16.2 ± 3.1nm. These nanoparticles exhibited excellent stability and demonstrated remarkable antibacterial activity compared to the standard antibacterial agent, streptomycin. In addition, the silver nanoparticles displayed promising antioxidant activity attributed to the presence of antioxidant functional groups on their surface. This study reports, for the first time, the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using antioxidant compounds present in C. erecta, L. plant extract. The antioxidant compounds identified through GC-MS belong to phenols, phenolic acids, and carboxylic acid groups. Furthermore, the exceptional antimicrobial and antioxidant properties exhibited by the synthesized silver nanoparticles offer new possibilities for their potential applications.

Metabolomic profiling reveals biomarkers for diverse flesh colors in jelly fungi (Auricularia cornea)

Auricularia cornea has garnered attention due to its nutrition, culinary applications, and promising commercial prospects. However, there is little information available regarding the metabolic profiling of various colors strains. In this study, 642 metabolites across 64 classes were identified by LC-MS/MS to understand the metabolic variations between white, pink and dark brown strains. Notably, prenol lipids, carboxylic acids and fatty acyls accounted for 46.8 % of the total. Comparative analysis revealed 17 shared differential metabolites (DMs) among them. ACP vs ACW exhibited 17 unique metabolites, including d-arginine and maleic acid, etc. ACP vs ACB showed 5 unique metabolites, with only PS(18:1(9Z)/0:0) demonstrating up-regulation. ACB vs ACW showed 8 unique metabolites, including 4-hydroxymandelic acid and 5′-methylthioadenosine, etc. KEGG enrichment analysis highlighted pathway variations, and MetPA analysis identified key-pathways influencing DMs accumulation in A. cornea. This pioneering metabolomics study offers insights into A. cornea metabolic profiling, potential applications, and guides further research.

Comparison of the sugar and organic acid components of seventeen table grape varieties produced in Ankara (Türkiye): a study over two consecutive seasons.

Sugars and organic acids not only have a significant impact on taste balance and sensory acceptance by consumers but also play a crucial role in the chemical equilibrium of grape juices and wines. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify the content and composition of sugars and organic acids in 17 grape varieties over two consecutive years using high-performance liquid chromatography. The variability in all the parameters studied was strongly influenced by both the grape cultivars and specific years (p ≤ 0.05). In grape berries, the primary sugars identified were fructose and glucose, which ranged from 6.50 to 11.10 g/L and from 5.83 to 12.12 g/L, respectively, over the two years. However, sucrose was not detected in any of the grape varieties examined. For the two respective years, the highest titratable acidity (TA) was found in Tekirdağ Çekirdeksizi (TeCe) (0.89 and 0.90 g/L), while the lowest was detected in Victoria (Vi) (0.48 and 0.51 g/L). Total soluble solids (TSS) peaked in Horoz Karası (HoKA) (21.90 °Brix), whereas it reached its lowest point in Big Perlon (BiPe) (14.1 °Brix). The tartaric acid content in the grape berries, ranging from 1.48 to 10.33 g/L for the two years, exhibited similar characteristics to malic acid, which ranged from 1.09 to 9.62 g/L and from 1.03 to 9.68 g/L for the two respective years. The succinic, malic, tartaric, citric, and oxalic acid contents were notably higher in the Kyoho (Ky) variety than in the other varieties. When examining the dendrogram of the contents of organic acid and sugar for similarities, it was evident that 16 out of the 17 grape varieties had a high degree of similarity, except for Alphonse Lavallée (AlLa) and HoKa. The similarity levels among the varieties ranged from 99.49% to 72.36%. The highest similarity (99.49%) was observed between the AlLa and Barış (Ba) varieties. The lowest similarity was observed among the AlLa, HoKa, and Ky varieties. In summary, this study underscores that certain table grape varieties grown in Ankara exhibit significant variations in valuable organic acids and sugars, which are associated with potential health benefits when considering human consumption.

Polyurethane Foam Chemical Recycling: Fast Acidolysis with Maleic Acid and Full Recovery of Polyol.

Chemical recycling of polyurethane (PU) waste is essential to displace the need for virgin polyol production and enable sustainable PU production. Currently, less than 20% of PU waste is downcycled through rebinding to lower value products than the original PU. Chemical recycling of PU waste often requires significant input of materials like solvents and slow reaction rates. Here, we report the fast (<10 min) and solvent-free acidolysis of a model toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-based flexible polyurethane foam (PUF) at <200 °C using maleic acid (MA) with a recovery of recycled polyol (repolyol) in 95% isolated yield. After workup (hydrolysis of repolyl ester and separations), the repolyol exhibits favorable physical properties that are comparable to the virgin polyol; these include 54.1 mg KOH/g OH number and 624 cSt viscosity. Overall, 80% by weight of the input PUF is isolated into two clean-cut fractions containing the repolyol and toluene diamine (TDA). Finally, end-of-life (EOL) mattress PUF waste is recycled successfully with high recovery of repolyol using MA acidolysis. The solvent-free and fast acidolysis with MA demonstrated in this work with both model and EOL PUF provides a potential pathway for sustainable and closed-loop PU production.

Control of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes inoculated in beetroot or watermelon juice by combined treatments with organic acid or lemon (Citrus limon) extract and mild heat.

The study aimed to evaluate the synergistic interaction of organic acids (OAAs) or lemon extract (LE) plus mild heat (MH; 55°C) against Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes inoculated in beetroot and watermelon juices. A mixed culture cocktail of E. coli O157:H7, S. Typhimurium or L. monocytogenes was inoculated in beetroot or watermelon juice, followed by treatments with MH, citric acid MH, malic acid MH, tartaric acid MH, and LE MH. Approximately 2.0-log reductions in the number of E. coli O157:H7, S. Typhimurium, and L. monocytogenes were observed when these bacteria were heated in juices at 55°C for 5min. A combination of 1.0% OAAs or 20% LE and MH (55°C) for 5min resulted in an additional log-reduction in the count of E. coli O157:H7, S. Typhimurium, and L. monocytogenes by 2.2-5.0, 4.5-5.0, and 1.5-5.0, respectively.

Exploration of Choline Chloride Based Type II and Type III Deep Eutectic Solvents: A Computational and Experimental Approach

AbstractDeep eutectic solvents (DESs) of choline chloride with citric acid (CACC), Maleic acid (MACC) and Magnesium chloride hexahydrate (MAGCC) were synthesized in 1 : 1 molar ratio and investigated experimentally and computationally. For the computational study, density functional theory (DFT) calculation with B3LYP/6‐31 (+, +) G (d,p) level of theory for MACC and CACC and at B3LYP/SDD basis set for MAGCC was employed and the FT‐IR spectroscopy was used for experimental evaluation. For understanding the orientation of bonds and hydrogen bonding present in DESs geometrically optimized structures were used. Through frontier molecular orbital (FMO) theory and HOMO−LUMO values and various quantum chemical parameters, viz., ionization potential (IP), electron affinities (EA), electro negativity (χ), chemical potential (μ), global softness (σ) and hardness (η), electrophilicity index (ω) were calculated for all DESs. These computational values made it clear that MAGCC is the most stable among the three DESs due to the high value of global hardness (η) (3.291 eV) and HOMO−LUMO energy gap (Egap) (6.582 eV) and lowest value of softness (σ) (0.152 eV), CACC shows the moderate values (η=2.452, Egap=4.905 and σ=0.204 eV). While MACC is found to be the least stable and most reactive among three DESs with values of η, Egap and σ, 1.970, 3.940 and 0.254 eV, respectively. Furthermore, MESP analysis gives an idea about the electrophilic and nucleophilic surface region of DESs. This study will give valuable information for a better understanding of DESs and the applicability of computational calculations in the future.

A novel CeO2 nanowire catalyst prepared by the freeze-drying method with significantly improved catalytic performance for toluene oxidation

A wire like CeO2 catalyst (CeO2-w) was obtained after the calcination of the precursor at 400 °C, which was prepared by the freeze-drying method for the first time. It shows good performance for catalytic oxidation of toluene with T90 of 220 °C, which is much better than the CeO2 catalysts with other structures prepared by the different methods. The good performance of CeO2-w is due to the bigger pore volume, more active oxygen species, more oxygen vacancies, better low temperature reducibility, higher surface area normalized reaction rates and lower Ea value. Additionally, the CeO2-w catalyst exhibits good water resistance and catalyst stability. In situ DRIFTS indicates the catalytic oxidation of toluene on CeO2-w undergoes the progress of toluene → benzaldehyde → benzoic acid → maleic acid → CO2 and H2O. This work affords a new idea to prepare high active CeO2 nanowire catalysts for catalytic oxidation of toluene, and open an efficient way for the construction of CeO2 based composite catalysts for VOCs degradation.

Effect of chitosan coating and drying on quality of Bombay duck (Harpodon nehereus)

Bombay duck (Harpadon nehereus) is one of the most abundant and preferable marine species in the Maharashtra and Gujrat regions. While Bombay duck is mostly consumed in dried form, the major problems associated with traditionally sun-dried Bombay duck are contamination by insects or pests; uneven drying which leads to spoilage; and poor quality of the end product. Chitosan and its derivatives are used as an edible coating in food applications due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial actions. In the present work, the effect of chitosan coating and drying on the quality of Bombay duck was studied. Five different samples were prepared as follows: (i) control (without any treatment); (ii) dip-treated in 1% acetic acid (AA); (iii) dip-treated in 0.5% chitosan dissolved in 1% acetic acid (CAA); (iv) dip-treated in 1% malic acid (MA); and (v) dip-treated in 0.5% chitosan dissolved in 1% malic acid (CMA). All samples were dried at 50°C. When biochemical, microbiological, and sensory analyses were assessed for four months, results indicated the sample coated with chitosan pre-dissolved in either acetic acid or malic acid had lower TVB-N (86.5 - 115.25 mg/100 g) and TPC (5.3 - 5.5 log10 CFU/g) than the control (TVB = 163 mg/100 g; TPC = 7.4 log10 CFU/g); a similar trend was also observed for TBA values. Even though the microbial analysis revealed that TPC crossed the limit of acceptability (5.2 log10 CFU/g) by the second month in the control, AA, CAA, MA, and CMA levels were acceptable up to three months. Sensory analysis showed that the overall acceptability score was higher for sample coated with chitosan. These results suggested that chitosan coating and drying could improve the quality of dried Bombay duck.

Unlocking the potentials of Ustilago trichophora for up-cycling polyurethane-derived monomer 1,4-butanediol.

Plastic usage by microbes as a carbon source is a promising strategy to increase the recycling quota. 1,4-butanediol (BDO) is a common monomer derived from polyesters and polyurethanes. In this study, Ustilago trichophora was found to be an efficient cell-factory to valorize BDO. To investigate product formation by U. trichophora, we refined the traditional ion exclusion liquid chromatography method by examining eluent, eluent concentrations, oven temperatures, and organic modifiers to make the chromatography compatible with mass spectrometry. An LC-UV/RI-MS2 method is presented here to identify and quantify extracellular metabolites in the cell cultures. With this method, we successfully identified that U. trichophora secreted malic acid, succinic acid, erythritol, and mannitol into the culture medium. Adaptive laboratory evolution followed by medium optimization significantly improved U. trichophora growth on BDO and especially malic acid production. Overall, the carbon yield on the BDO substrate was approximately 33% malic acid. This study marks the first report of a Ustilaginaceae fungus capable of converting BDO into versatile chemical building blocks. Since U. trichophora is not genetically engineered, it is a promising microbial host to produce malic acid from BDO, thereby contributing to the development of the envisaged sustainable bioeconomy.