Can decarboxylation of carboxylic acids be effected by bases other than soda lime? What about other bases such as Group 1 or Group 2 hydroxides? Does it have to do something with the mechanism?

I don't understand the mechanism either:



What is NaOH supposed to with the acetate ion? I thought the acetate ion would be produced when NaOH reacted with acetic acid after which the reaction would proceed as follows:
Decarboxylation can be effected by pretty much any base strong enough to produce the anion plus a high enough temperature. I've used DBU to effect an aromatic decarboxylation.
The role of the $\ce{NaOH}$ is this reaction is to capture the $\ce{CO2}$ as sodium carbonate.