Search Results (344)

Chrome tanning of fish skins generates hazardous effluents and carcinogenic Cr(VI) residues; chromium-free routes to valorize collagen-rich by-products from aquaculture and coastal fisheries are therefore needed. We report a 12-stage ecological protocol employing acetic acid/NaCl pickling, Acacia mearnsii tannin, A. podalyriifolia retanning, mashed-papaya enzymatic bating, and cinnamon as antimicrobial/odor adjunct, scaled from bench to pilot using exclusively locally sourced inputs, for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Patagonian flounder (Paralichthys patagonicus). Three trained operators evaluated macroscopic quality against five predefined criteria adapted from SATRA and ISO 3376 grading conventions, providing a structured feasibility baseline that does not substitute for the standardized instrumental testing designated as priority future work. Both species achieved satisfactory grain stability, complete tannin penetration, pliable handle, and cinnamon-dominant odor without residual amines; dark-brown coloration is a recognized practical limitation for fashion applications. In silico molecular docking (GNINA v1.0) was used to explore the mechanistic plausibility of each ecological substitution, generating testable hypotheses rather than definitive mechanistic conclusions: the multidentate polyphenol proxy (PGG) exhibited consistently superior collagen engagement over the flavanol monomer across both collagen constructs and all three scoring metrics (1CAG: Vina affinity −5.51 ± 0.13 vs. −3.54 ± 0.35 kcal/mol; CNNscore 0.874 ± 0.009 vs. 0.771 ± 0.010; 7CWK: Vina affinity −6.98 ± 1.43 vs. −4.37 ± 0.16 kcal/mol; CNNscore 0.858 ± 0.024 vs. 0.635 ± 0.094). Dipeptide probes were reproducibly accommodated in the papain catalytic cleft, with the closest configuration reaching 3.997 Å from the catalytic nucleophile (OCS25-SG). Trans-cinnamaldehyde occupied the quorum-sensing pocket with reproducible placement (CNNscore 0.718 ± 0.034) but without score-based selectivity over structural decoys, a result interpreted as hypothesis-generating for future microbiological validation. The protocol is reproducible from bench to pilot and generalizable across two species with distinct dermal architectures. Quantitative physical-mechanical testing (shrinkage temperature, tensile strength, elongation, tear load), CIELab colorimetric analysis, and effluent characterization (COD, BOD₅, total phenolics) are designated as priorities for future validation. Full article

Reducing sodium in poultry products often compromises texture and water-holding capacity. This study investigated the interactive effects of shiitake (Lentinula edodes) mushroom extract (SME) and ultrasound (US) on mitigating these defects in reduced-sodium chicken breast. A standard 2.0% NaCl brine served as the control, while reduced-sodium formulations contained 1.4% NaCl supplemented with 0.2% or 0.6% KCl. SME (0.4–1.2%) and probe US (20 kHz, 300 W, 15 min) were applied. Independently, SME increased brine uptake (15% at 1.2% SME), while US accelerated chloride diffusion (~30%) via microstructural disruption. The synergistic treatment combining 0.8% SME with US was identified as the statistical optimum. Simple effect analysis confirmed this combination significantly reduced cooking loss (p < 0.01) and restored comprehensive textural attributes to levels comparable with the 2.0% NaCl control. As confirmed by LF-NMR and microstructural analysis (H&E staining), these macroscopic improvements were highly correlated with optimized immobilized water (P₂₁) proportions and myofibrillar protein-matrix stabilization. Ultimately, this strategy provides a functional and microstructural basis for developing sodium-reduced poultry without compromising critical quality attributes. Full article

The critical role of lithium in powering the new energy economy necessitates prioritizing efficient extraction methods. This study investigates a novel zeolitic imidazolate frame work (ZIF-8)-coated manganese-based lithium-ion sieve (LIS) for enhanced lithium recovery. The precursor of LIS, Li_1.6Mn_1.6O_4, was synthesized via the hydrothermal method, followed by acid pickling to obtain the spinel lithium-ion sieve H_1.6Mn_1.6O₄. The material was then immersed in a 2-methylimidazole/Zn(NO₃)₂ solution, undergoing ultrasonic-assisted hydrothermal growth to form H_1.6Mn_1.6O₄@ZIF-8 composites. Under optimized conditions (30 °C, pH = 11, 24 h), the composite demonstrated superior lithium extraction performance compared to single-phase adsorbents, reaching 26.62 mg/g in the solution with 250 mg/L Li⁺. The adsorption capacity of the composite increased with Li⁺ concentration and reaction time. The adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and were dominated by chemisorption. The H_1.6Mn_1.6O₄@ZIF-8 composite exhibited an enhanced Li⁺ partition coefficient K_d of 118.3 in a mixed solution containing ions such as Li⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺, each with a concentration of 250 mg/L (pH = 12); good structural stability with manganese dissolution of 1.6%; and a capacity retention of approximately 79.5% after five cycles (C_Li⁺ = 250 mg/L). Full article

Organic coatings are used as one of the most effective strategies for the corrosion protection of metals. Nowadays, due to environmental regulations, the use of water-based coatings has become essential compared to solvent-based ones. However, their application to magnesium alloys remains largely unexplored due to their high reactivity with water. In the present work, a phosphate-functionalized waterborne binder is applied to AZ31B magnesium alloy. The surface has been modified by four different pre-treatments, respectively: (i) mechanical grinding, (ii) pickling, (iii) conventional conversion treatment, and (iv) a novel conversion treatment based on layered double hydroxides (LDH). The most promising pre-treatments are selected to explore their synergy with a biobased waterborne binder, containing CeO₂ nanoparticles as a corrosion inhibitor. The morphology and composition of the different systems are studied, prior to and after corrosion tests in NaCl solution, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Results obtained by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in NaCl solution have revealed not only that LDH performs better than the conventional conversion treatment but also the synergy between LDH pre-treatment and CeO₂ nanoparticles when two organic layers are used. Full article

Emergency situations can cause sudden food shortages, which emphasize the need for preventive measures to ensure food security. The aim of this study was to determine the Slovenian population’s awareness of the official national recommendation for a 30-day emergency food supply, assess the adequacy of households’ food supplies, and identify factors influencing their quantity. An online survey was conducted among 815 Slovenian residents aged 18 to 89. The results showed that 81.0% were not aware of the national recommendations. Of the recommended foods, sugar, salt, cooking oil, jam, and pickled beet were most frequently stored, while rusks, water, canned meat sauces, bars, and dried yeast were least frequently stored. Only 17.0% of respondents had a sufficient supply of food to sustain their household members for a month or more, and only 19.1% had a supply of beverages for three days or more. Factors influencing the quantity of food supply included self-sufficiency assessment, knowledge of national recommendations, type of residence, region, household size, and number of children. This case study can serve more broadly as a basis for designing strategies to raise public awareness of the importance of emergency food supplies in improving food security during times of crisis. Full article

This study aims to investigate the effects of three lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactiplantibacillus pentosus and Limosilactobacillus fermentum, isolated from traditional pickles in Guizhou, on the fermentation process and microbial community dynamics of ensiled whole-plant maize, soybean, and their mixtures. The results revealed that compared to the CK group, the lactic acid levels of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactiplantibacillus pentosus were significantly increased in the treatment groups (p < 0.05), resulting in a faster pH reduction, along with decreases in ammonia nitrogen (AN) and butyric acid (BA) content. In contrast, the Limosilactobacillus fermentum treatment (p < 0.05) promoted acetic acid (AA) production and inhibited the growth of harmful microbiota in soybean silage. Notably, inoculation with all LAB strains enhanced the aerobic stability of maize silage by promoting the proliferation of Lactiplantibacillus during the later stages of fermentation, thereby sustaining a low pH and mitigating the depletion of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC). Furthermore, all treatments accelerated silage fermentation by enhancing the LAB population and competing with yeast and Escherichia coli for available nutrients in mixed silage. These findings indicate that three LAB strains, when used as microbial additives, demonstrated potential to improve silage quality in the Karst region. Full article

Limosilactobacillus fermentum is a versatile heterofermentative lactic acid bacterium with significant potential to enhance the nutritional, functional, and sensory properties of plant-based foods. This review examines the biotechnological mechanisms and industrial applications of L. fermentum in fruit and vegetable fermentations, with particular emphasis on its strain-specific metabolic and technological traits. It synthesizes current knowledge on its taxonomic reclassification, key metabolic pathways, and strain-dependent capacity to biotransform phenolic compounds and mitigate anti-nutritional factors. Applications in vegetable fermentation include traditional products such as kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, and fermented peppers, whereas fruit-based applications include berry juices, tropical fruits, and stone fruits. This review highlights the strain-dependent production of value-added bioactive metabolites, including γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), mannitol, and exopolysaccharides, and the demonstrated improvements in antioxidant capacity and mineral bioavailability through strategies such as selenium biofortification. Furthermore, industrial optimization strategies, such as starter culture development, process parameter optimization, and co-culture or sequential fermentation, have been evaluated. Current challenges and future perspectives for scaling up L. fermentum-based technologies are discussed, emphasizing the need for targeted strain selection, a deeper mechanistic understanding of metabolic regulation, and the standardization of industrial processes. Overall, this review provides a consolidated foundation for researchers and industry professionals aiming to harness selected L. fermentum strains to develop functional fermented foods with improved quality and health benefits. Full article

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a metabolic disorder that can easily lead to gout or kidney disease, and it is believed that it can be treated effectively using probiotics. This study evaluated the safety, probiotic, and functional properties of Wickerhamomyces anomalus YFJ252, isolated from pickled vegetables, including its in vitro inhibitory activity against xanthine oxidase (XO) and in vivo uric acid-lowering activity in mice, using virulence factor screening, plate counting, and colorimetric assays. Meanwhile, the potential anti-HUA mechanism was also investigated using untargeted metabolomics and whole-genome analysis. The results show that YFJ252 is non-hemolytic and does not produce DNase, gelatinase, or biogenic amine. It has potential probiotic properties: 85.83% DPPH radical scavenging, 39.94% α-amylase inhibition, 35.32% α-glucosidase inhibition, 20.73% anti-inflammatory ability, and 84.15% XO inhibition capacity. Animal experiments indicated that early intake of YFJ252 could maintain serum uric acid levels at 165.08 μmol/L (p < 0.05), lower than the HUA group (212.19 μmol/L), and significantly decrease creatinine and urea nitrogen levels (p < 0.05). The hypothetical anti-HUA potential of YFJ252 might be due to the production of antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and XO-inhibitory metabolites during growth, as well as a purine-degrading pathway that the strain inherited. This study provides a theoretical basis for using W. anomalus YFJ252 as a food ingredient with preventive effects against HUA. Full article

Spices and pickled vegetables play a central role in everyday cuisine in China, contributing to flavor, food preservation, and dietary continuity, yet their ethnobotanical diversity and use patterns remain insufficiently documented in urbanizing regions. This study aimed to document the diversity, utilization forms, and cultural importance of spice plants and species used for pickled products in Youjiang District, Baise city, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southern China. Ethnobotanical data were collected in 2025 through field surveys conducted in traditional markets, local households, and local restaurants. Semi-structured interviews, informal conversations, and participant observation were carried out with 40 informants selected using snowball sampling to capture practical knowledge related to culinary use, fermentation, and trade. The cultural importance of recorded species was evaluated using the Use Value (UV) index. A total of 68 plant taxa belonging to 55 genera and 27 families were documented. Zingiberaceae and Apiaceae were the most species-rich families, with native and introduced species nearly equally represented. Herbs dominated the recorded growth forms, while fruits, leaves, and roots were the most frequently used plant parts. Dried use was the predominant form, followed by fresh use and pickled products. Sixty species were used as spices and 13 species as pickled vegetables, with several taxa exhibiting multifunctional use. Species with the highest UVs, including Allium sativum, A. cepa, A. fistulosum, and Houttuynia cordata, were characterized by frequent daily use. These findings highlight the role of ethnobotanical knowledge in sustaining culturally embedded and resilient urban food systems. Full article

Surface roughness is a quality-critical attribute in industrial zinc phosphating, directly affecting sealing performance, coating uniformity, dimensional tolerances, and first-pass production yield in automotive pretreatment lines. While the chemical mechanisms of phosphate coating formation are well understood, the translation of this knowledge into statistically defensible, production-scale prioritization of bath chemistry control levers under real manufacturing constraints remains limited, particularly with respect to surface roughness stability and its environmental implications. This study investigates surface roughness control in a fully operational industrial zinc phosphating line by systematically evaluating the effects of pickling acid chemistry (H₂SO₄ versus H₃PO₄), dissolved ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) levels in pickling and phosphating baths, and nitrate accelerator dosage. A Taguchi L16 (2⁴) experimental design was implemented under real manufacturing constraints. Surface roughness (Rz) was measured in accordance with ISO 4287 and analyzed using a general linear model supported by partial effect size estimation (ηp²) and bootstrap confidence intervals. This approach enables statistically robust ranking of dominant and secondary control parameters, rather than qualitative trend confirmation alone. The robustness of statistically identified trends was independently verified using paired measurements from 25 production components, while scanning electron microscopy provided qualitative mechanistic support. The results demonstrate that pickling acid chemistry and nitrate accelerator dosage are the dominant control parameters governing surface roughness stability, whereas Fe²⁺ concentration does not act as a primary independent driver within the defined Fe²⁺ concentration ranges investigated in this study, but contributes through interaction-dependent mechanisms. Phosphoric acid pickling combined with nitrate acceleration consistently yields lower and more stable roughness values. In addition, roughness-related nonconformities were translated into product carbon footprint outcomes using an ISO 14067–aligned, gate-to-gate framework with Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis, explicitly quantifying the carbon footprint penalties associated with quality-driven rework and external return logistics under industrial production conditions. Full article

Recently, increasing attention has been paid to the application of sulfonic acids as alternative materials for the pickling process. The aim of the present study was to investigate the action of pickling with p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate on derma’s collagen and the influence of this action on subsequent processes and properties of chromed and crust leather. The application of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate in the pickling process led to a similar effect on collagen compared with conventional process. The solutions after experimental pickling contained lower amounts of total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, and chlorides. The chrome tanning process is improved after the pickling with p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate: the exhaustion of chromium compounds reaches 98%, while after conventional pickling, it is only 68.7%; accordingly, lower amounts of basic chromium sulfate can be used for chrome tanning to achieve the same chromium content in the wet blue leather. The crust leather produced after experimental pickling has properties close to the conventional one. Full article

Staphylococcus aureus biofilms represent a critical healthcare challenge, driving chronic infections and antimicrobial resistance. This study investigates the anti-staphylococcal efficacy of two Lactiplantibacillus strains isolated from traditional Bulgarian pickled vegetables (turshiya): L. plantarum IZITR_24 and L. paraplantarum IZITR_13. Combining whole genome sequencing (WGS) with functional assays, we established a robust genotype-to-phenotype framework to characterize their antimicrobial arsenal. Based on WGS, we identified conserved plantaricin (plnJK, plnEF) clusters in both isolates, with IZITR_13 additionally carrying genes for pediocin and enterolysin A—alongside the confirmed absence of virulence factors. Reconstituted lyophilized cell-free supernatants (LCFSs) were evaluated in dose–response microtiter assays to determine the minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Both strains demonstrated clear, dose-dependent inhibitory activity against the S. aureus growth and biofilm formation. Microscopy (SEM/CLSM) confirmed significant biofilm disruption and cell membrane permeabilization. The observed consistency between genome-inferred capacity and phenotypes highlights the strong predictive value of a genome-first screening approach for selecting bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB). These findings position IZITR_24 and IZITR_13 as promising postbiotic producers with potent antibiofilm activity against S. aureus. By utilizing their stable postbiotic products rather than relying on live colonization, this study proposes a targeted, antibiotic-sparing strategy to combat persistent staphylococcal biofilms. Full article

Background/Objectives: Equol, a gut microbial metabolite of the soy isoflavone, daidzein, is associated with estrogenic activity and potential benefits for women’s health. While equol production depends on individual gut microbial composition, its dietary and clinical correlates in young women remain incompletely characterized. This study explored the relationship between urinary equol production, dietary habits, and premenstrual symptom severity in healthy university-aged women. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 41 Japanese women, aged 19–20 years. Urinary equol was measured using a validated liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method, following enzymatic hydrolysis. Participants were classified as either equol producers or non-producers, based on urinary concentration thresholds. Dietary intake was evaluated using a dietary questionnaire focused on soy products and dietary fiber sources. Premenstrual symptoms were assessed using a standardized Japanese questionnaire for premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Results: Twelve percent of participants were classified as equol producers. Compared with non-producers, equol producers reported higher consumption of pumpkin, soybean sprouts, and green tea. Among non-producers, higher consumption of certain vegetables and fiber-rich foods, including broccoli, pickled radish, konjac, and konjac jelly, was associated with greater premenstrual symptom severity, whereas such associations were not observed among equol producers. The analytical method demonstrated high sensitivity and reproducibility for urinary equol measurement. Conclusions: These findings suggest that equol production status may be associated with distinct dietary patterns and with differences in the relationship between food intake and premenstrual symptom severity in young women. Although the cross-sectional design and limited sample size preclude causal inference, these findings suggest that urinary equol is a promising candidate biomarker for future research on diet-related modulation of premenstrual symptoms. Full article

The processing of ginger-processed Pinellia ternata (Zhejiang) has long relied on empirical judgment, lacking objective and real-time monitoring methods. This study introduces an intelligent framework that combines a multi-frequency electronic tongue with chemometric modeling—including principal component analysis–discrimination index (PCA–DI) and wrapper-based support vector machine (SVM) classification—for dynamic process monitoring. Taste-response signals were systematically collected from key processing, water-leaching, and pickling stages. PCA–DI analysis demonstrated clear separability among seven key processing nodes (DI = 93.77%). Notably, samples from days 2 and 3 of water-leaching showed high similarity, suggesting an optimal soaking duration, while a marked transition on pickling day 6 indicated a critical transformation point. The wrapper–SVM models achieved high classification accuracies of 95.51% for key nodes, 100% for water-leaching, and 89.32% for pickling. These findings demonstrate that integrating electronic tongue sensing with machine learning effectively captures dynamic quality variations, offering a robust and objective strategy for the standardization and optimization of traditional medicine processing. Full article

In this study, the characterization of some bioactive content of exopolysaccharide (EPS) extracted from Pediococcus ethanolidurans isolated with Smilax excelsa L. from conventionally produced pickles were investigated. Background: Although this study is the main study involving the characterization of EPS obtained from Pediococcus ethanolidurans, it is important because it has determined a natural polysaccharide that can be used in different fields in the industry. According to the obtained results, sugar analysis by GC-MS revealed that EPS consisted of glucose (7.59%), mannose (41.96%), fructose (16.98%), arabinose (3.15%) and rhamnose (30.30%). From the thermal behavior determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), it was concluded that it should not be heated close to 250 °C. At the same time, according to the thermogram obtained as a result of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, it was found to have a crystalline structure. EPS, which reached 73.844% efficiency, showed antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, while 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) scavenging activity was detected at 0.24 mM. It also has remarkable results, seen in cytotoxicity analysis against healthy HT-29 cells, demonstrating that it has proliferative activity as high as %125 In short, Pediococcus ethanolidurans was found to be a novel EPS producer with impressive properties. Full article