Fermentation

We evaluated the algicidal properties of Bacillus Ba3 fermentation broth combined with clay for harmful algae bloom (HAB) control through in situ enclosure experiments in Suao Bay, China. It was indicated by the results that the combination significantly reduced HAB abundance, turbidity and phosphorous in water without affecting zooplankton and small fish. The treatment achieved 99.8% (Phase 1) and 100% (Phase 2, with sediment) removal rates for harmful dinoflagellates, primarily Prorocentrum donghaiense and Karenia mikimotoi, while demonstrating high taxonomic selectivity, allowing beneficial diatom populations such as Chaetoceros spp. to remain resilient. This synergy is attributed to clay acting as a physical carrier that brings adsorbed algicidal metabolites into direct, prolonged contact with algal membranes. This method shows promise for prolonged dinoflagellate control and may offer an economical and environmentally sound approach to HABs. More research is needed to establish its action on a wider scale in marine environments.

The roots of Panax ginseng are well known for their bioactive properties, while its berries have recently attracted attention for their pharmacological potential. This study investigated whether fermentation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum enhances the antioxidant properties of ginseng roots and berries and their protective effects against oxidative stress in vitro. Fermentation significantly increased total polyphenol, flavonoid, and saponin contents and promoted the conversion of major ginsenosides (ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Rb1, and ginsenoside Rb2), which are relatively less bioavailable, into minor ginsenosides (ginsenoside Rh1, ginsenoside Rg2, and ginsenoside Rg3) with enhanced biological activity and bioavailability. Fermented extracts exhibited higher radical-scavenging activities in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays than non-fermented extracts. In tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-stimulated Chang liver cells, fermented extracts reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, inhibited lipid peroxidation, restored the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio, and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). These results demonstrate that L. plantarum-mediated fermentation effectively enhances the antioxidant and cytoprotective potential of ginseng roots and berries, supporting their application as functional food ingredients.

Scaling up microalgae cultivation is key to commercial viability. Over the past two decades, the market value of microalgae has expanded exponentially, driven by their applications in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and animal feed industries. High-value compounds such as omega-3 fatty acids, proteins, and pigments are in strong demand. However, supply remains constrained by suboptimal cultivation practices and high harvesting costs. Despite decades of progress in process modeling, control, and optimization, industrial adoption is still limited by dynamic cultivation conditions influenced by weather variability, biological adaptation, and integration challenges. Technical barriers, including limited data accuracy, modest control performance, and the fragility of low-cost devices, further restrict optimization efforts. In response, we examined recent advances in control, optimization, and automated machine learning applied to microalgae cultivation. We propose an automated architecture built on a closed-loop supervisory layer that embeds machine learning within the control loop, enabling real-time monitoring, prediction, and adaptive actuation. This approach aligns with real-time optimization and distributed control system practices, integrating system identification, controller optimization, fault diagnosis and tolerance, and perception to achieve autonomous, uncertainty-aware operation.