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There is world-wide generation of food waste daily in significant amounts, leading to depletion of natural resources and deteriorating air quality. One-third of global food produced is wasted laterally with the food value chain. Carbon footprint is an efficient way of communicating the issues related to climate change and the necessity of changing behavior. Valorization or utilization of food wastes helps in resolving issues related to environment pollution. Reduction in the carbon footprint throughout the chain of food supply makes the whole process eco-friendly. Prevailing food waste disposal systems focus on their economic and environmental viability and are putting efforts into using food waste as a resource input to agriculture. Effective and advanced waste management systems are adopted to deal with massive waste production so as to fill the gap between the production and management of waste disposal. Food waste biorefineries are a sustainable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective approach for the production of platform chemicals, biofuels, and other bio-based materials. These materials not only provide sustainable resources for producing various chemicals and materials but have the potential to reduce this huge environmental burden significantly. In this regard, technological advancement has occurred in past few years that has proven suitable for tackling this problem.

The present study evaluated the potential biological activities of rhizospheric fungi isolated from the Achanakmar Biosphere Reserve, India. Fungus, Talaromyces purpureogenus isolate-ABRF2 from the soil of the Achanakmar biosphere was characterized by using morphological, biochemical and molecular techniques. Fungus was screened for the production of secondary metabolites using a specific medium. The metabolites were extracted using a suitable solvent and each fraction was subsequently evaluated for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiproliferative and anti-aging properties. The ethanolic extract depicted the highest antioxidant activity with 83%, 79%, 80% and 74% as assessed by ferric reducing power, 2,2-diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2′-azino-bis3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic and phosphomolybdenum assays, respectively. Similarly, ethanolic extracts depicted marked antimicrobial activity as compared with standard antibiotics and antifungal agents as well as demonstrated significant antiproliferative property against a panel of mammalian cancer cell lines. Furthermore, different fractions of the purified ethanolic extract obtained using adsorption column chromatography were evaluated for antiproliferative property and identification of an active metabolite in the purified fraction using gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques yielded 3-methyl-4-oxo-pentanoic acid. Thus, the present study suggests that the active metabolite 3-methyl-4-oxo-pentanoic acid extracted from Talaromyces purpureogenus isolate-ABRF2 has a potential antiproliferative, anti-aging, and antimicrobial therapeutic properties that will be further evaluated using in vivo studies in future.

Background The fabrication of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) through green chemistry is an emerging area in the field of medical nanotechnology. Ag-NPs were fabricated by enzymatic reduction of AgNO 3 using two lignin-degrading fungus Aspergillus flavus (AfAg-NPs) and Emericella nidulans (EnAg-NPs). The prepared Ag-NPs were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques. Antibacterial activity of prepared Ag-NPs was demonstrated against selected Gram negative ( Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram positive ( Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria in the term of minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and susceptibility constant (Z). The synergistic antibacterial activity of Ag-NPs with four conventional antibiotics was also determined by the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) using the checkerboard microdilution method. The antibiofilm potential of Ag-NPs was also tested. Results The plasmon surface resonance of biosynthesized Ag-NPs shows its characteristic peaks at UV and visible region (~450 and 280 nm). Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) analysis confirms the nature of the capping agents as protein (enzyme) and indicates the role of protein (enzyme) in reduction of silver ions. The average particle size and charge of synthesized Ag-NPs was ~100 nm and ~−20 mV, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and TEM analysis confirmed the purity, shape, and size (quasi-spherical, hexagonal, and triangular) of Ag-NPs. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) data validate the biological synthesis of Ag-NPs. Low MBC and high susceptibility constant indicate the high antimicrobial strength of biosynthesized Ag-NPs. The antibacterial analysis demonstrates the synergistic antimicrobial activity of Ag-NPs with antibiotics. This study also shows that biosynthesized Ag-NPs have ability to inhibit the biofilm formation by 80–90 %. Conclusion The Aspergillus flavus and Emericella nidulans -mediated biosynthesized Ag-NPs have significant antimicrobial activity and demonstrate synergistic effect in combination with antibiotics. It suggests that nanoparticles can be effectively used in combination with antibiotics to improve the efficacy of antibiotics against pathogenic microbes. The substantial antibiofilm efficiency of biosynthesized Ag-NPs would also be helpful against sensitive and multidrug-resistant strains.

Biodegradable carboxymethylated lignin–tetra ethoxysilane (TEOS) nanocomposites (CML–T) were synthesized using lignin extracted from rice straw (RS) followed by surface modification through carboxymethylation. Composites were characterized by UV-spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and particle size distribution (PSD). The average diameter (D 50 ) of the CML–T composite particles was observed in the range of 160–560 nm. XRD spectra and SEM micrographs confirmed the high degree of crystallinity (peaks located at lower angle, 2 θ  = 12 and 22.0°) and porous nature of nanocomposites with increasing concentrations of TEOS. The composite exhibited nickel (Ni 2+ ) and cadmium (Cd 2+ ) adsorption up to 70.72 and 81.79 %, respectively in AAS analysis. The CML–T composite was investigated to assess their future applications as wound dressings and antimicrobial and packaging agents. Based on the antimicrobial properties and potential to remediate toxic heavy metals, the composites are proposed to be used for wastewater treatments, as packaging materials and for preparation of biofilters for environmental protection. Graphical abstract Graphical representation of electrostatic interaction between negatively charged carboxymethylated lignin-TEOS nanocomposite and positively charged metal ions

Background The aim of the present investigation was to develop Acacia lignin-gelatin (LG) blended films using glycerol as plasticizer and to establish correlation between lignin contents and structure, thermal and mechanical properties of the film. Acacia lignin extracted by alkali method was used for the preparation of LG blended films by solution casting method. Results Solubility and swelling tests of the films concluded that the lignin incorporation reduced water affinity of film. Lignin incorporation produces a noticeable plasticizing effect on the blended film, showing optimum values for film incorporated with 20 and 30 % (w/v) lignin, as deduced from their mechanical and thermal properties. Lignin blended film had lower glass transition temperatures ( T g ) as compared to control gelatin. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of films suggested that lignin interacts with gelatin by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction consequently creating conformational changes. Atomic force microscopic (AFM) study displays smooth surface of synthesized films. Light barrier properties of film revealed that the lignin addition improved barrier properties against UV light in the range of 280–350 nm. Furthermore, the lowest scavenging activity was observed in LG-E (111.10 µg/ml) trailed by LG-D (249.29 µg/ml) and LG-C (259.53 µg/ml). Conclusions The LG films showed improved light barrier and antioxidant properties with low cytotoxicity, displaying great potential in food packaging and coating for preventing ultraviolet induced lipid oxidation with an extended biomedical applications. Graphical abstract Schematic representation for the preparation of lignin-gelatin film

Phenolic compounds (PCs) are abundant throughout the plant kingdom, which occurs in inexpensive resources, such as waste from food processing industries and agriculture activities. This has increased their extraction and subsequent utilization during the past few years. Natural phenolic compounds (Flavonoids and non-flavonoids) have grown more appealing from a technical standpoint, in addition to their usage in pharmaceuticals or as an additive in nutraceuticals, they also have potential in polymer technology. PCs have health-promoting qualities that can be attributed to their strong antioxidant activity and free radicals scavenging activity. These antioxidant properties protect against the action of oxidative species and are linked to the lower incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative conditions. The extraction of phenols from food processing wastes has been studied using a variety of extraction procedures, most of which rely on the usage of organic solvents. Furthermore, there is currently a growing demand for environmentally friendly and affordable methods that produce polyphenol extracts with slightly harmful impacts on the environment. The employment of greener technologies like microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), deep eutectic solvent (DES) extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), subcritical water extraction (SBWE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and enzymatic extraction processes are examined in detail in this review which focuses on contemporary novel and feasible techniques for recovering useful PCs from food processing wastes. Further, how the greener extraction of PCs from food waste and its application in different industries can be integrated into a circular bioeconomy is also summarized.

Background To evaluate the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction (OD) in the Indian population and to establish olfactory dysfunction as a screening tool in COVID-19-positive patients. Data was collected using a questionnaire from laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients. The patient’s demographic and clinical details were analyzed to calculate the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction, general symptoms like fever, cough, malaise, diarrhea, along with the sinonasal symptoms. All the symptoms were self-reported, and no objective tests were carried out. Results Out of 646 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection, olfactory dysfunction was self-reported by 465 (72%) patients and gustatory dysfunction (GD) was seen in 406 (62.8%) patients. The affected males (416) were proportionately more than females (230), with the mean age of our study population being 39.47 ± 13.85 (range 18–85 years). The most common symptoms were myalgia ( n  = 494, 76.5%), cough ( n  = 471, 72.9%), and fever ( n  = 444, 68.7%). Out of 465 patients with olfactory dysfunction, only 108 (23.2%) reported nasal obstruction. Five hundred thirty-three (82.5%) RT-PCR-positive patients did not give a history of smoking; however, co-morbidity was reported by 163 patients, of which 117 were found to have olfactory dysfunction. One hundred seventy (26.3%) patients gave a positive contact history. 13.6% reported olfactory dysfunction as their first symptom. A positive association was seen between olfactory dysfunction and gustatory dysfunction Conclusions Our study demonstrates a high prevalence of 72% in the Indian population. We recommend that anosmia be used as a screening tool to identify mild to moderate cases of COVID-19.

This book comprehensively reviews current pest management practices and explores novel integrated pest management strategies in Brassica oilseed crops. It is essential reading for pest management practitioners and researchers working on pest management in canola and other Brassica crops worldwide.Canola, mustard, camelina and crambe are the most important oilseed crops in the world. Canola is the second largest oilseed crop in the world providing 13% of the world's supply. Seeds of these species commonly contain 40% or more oil and produce meals with 35 to 40% protein. However, its production has declined significantly in recent years due to insect pest problems. The canola pest complexes are responsible for high insecticide applications on canola. Many growers rely on calendar-based spraying schedules for insecticide applications. The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella and flea beetles Phyllotreta spp. (P. cruciferae and P. striolata)cause serious damage to canola. In the Northern Great Plains, USA, for instance, P. xylostella is now recorded everywhere that canola is grown. Severe damage to canola plants can be caused by overwintering populations of flea beetles feeding on newly emerged seedlings. Cabbage seed pod weevil (Ceutorhynchus obstrictus), swede midge (Contarinia nasturtii), and tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) are also severe pests on canola. Minor pests include aphids (cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae and turnip aphid, Hyadaphis erysimi) and grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes.This book:· is the only single compiled source of information on integrated management of canola and other Brassica oilseed pests· presents the biology and management of all the major and minor pests of Brassica oilseed crops· is an essential source of information for applied entomologists, crop protection researchers, extension agents and stakeholders