Search Results (30,107)

Understanding the hydrochemical characteristics and formation mechanisms of rivers in the Huxi Catchment is essential for water resource conservation, as these rivers serve as the primary water source for Taihu Lake. A total of 14 surface water samples were collected from the rivers in Huxi catchment, and the concentrations of seven major ions—namely, ${\mathrm{N}\mathrm{a}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{K}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{a}}^{2+}$, ${\mathrm{M}\mathrm{g}}^{2+}$, ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{l}}^{-}$, ${\mathrm{S}\mathrm{O}}_4^{2-}$, and ${\mathrm{H}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_3^{-}$—were determined. Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF), Absolute Principal Component Score–Multiple Linear Regression (APCS-MLR), and the Principal Component Analysis-based Endmember Mixing Model (PCA-EMM) were employed to quantify the contributions of anthropogenic activities. While APCS-MLR can only identify the impacts of human activities, PMF and PCA-EMM can further distinguish between agricultural activities and wastewater discharge. Significant positive correlations were observed between the PMF and PCA-EMM results, but PMF overestimated the contribution of anthropogenic impacts. PCA-EMM showed that the natural background accounted for 63%, while human activities contributed 37% (domestic sewage 23%, agricultural activities 14%). By integrating ion composition data from representative sources, PCA-EMM overcomes the limitations of traditional methods that lack source verification and provides robust methodological support for the source apportionment of water chemistry. Full article

HIV-1 protease (PR) is an essential enzyme in the viral life cycle and a primary target of antiretroviral therapies, particularly protease inhibitors (PIs). Understanding the dynamics of viral evolution and the factors governing the emergence or loss of resistance-associated mutations is critical for improving PI efficacy and managing drug resistance in HIV/AIDS treatment. In this study, we investigated the impact of three natural HIV-1 polymorphisms (T12A, L63Q, and H69N), whose prevalence varies depending on treatment status and viral subtype, on the structural stability and conformational dynamics of PR using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Three independent 500 ns MD simulations were performed for the native protease and each mutant system. Although none of the mutations disrupts the overall structural integrity of HIV-1 PR, they induce mutation-specific alterations in flexibility and residue interactions. In particular, T12A and H69N exhibit increased structural deviations, especially in the flap regions, along with enhanced conformational fluctuations. In contrast, the L63Q mutation shows a slight reduction in flap flexibility compared to both the native protease and the other mutants. Consistently, the fraction of time spent in open-flap conformations is higher for T12A and H69N and lower for L63Q relative to the native system. Moreover, mutations in the Fulcrum (T12A) and Cantilever (L63Q and H69N) regions do not disrupt the long-range network of correlated motions observed in the native protease, both inter- and intra-monomer, but instead increase the extent of correlated and anti-correlated motions in other regions of PR. Full article

Recently, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have gained significant attention as a bioactive material for replacing petrochemical plastics. PHAs can be produced by microorganisms growing on sludge substrates. In this study, fish-processing wastewater was investigated as an alternative substrate for PHA production using Bacillus cereus. Wastewater dilution, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio modification, and the addition of fish oil as a lipidic substrate were examined, and bacterial growth and biopolymer production were optimized. First, wastewater was diluted (25–100%) and examined. The 50% dilution treatment was selected, yielding a CDM of 0.426 g/L and a PHA content of 6.69%. In subsequent steps, the effects of wastewater fermentation and bacterial adaptation prior to the main production processes were investigated. According to the results, the 50% and 100% fermented treatments exhibited higher CDM values (0.970–1.022 g/L) compared to the non-fermented treatments. Cultures inoculated with adapted bacteria showed superior performance (CDM: 1.455 g/L, PHA: 0.499 g/L, PHA content: 34.63%) relative to non-adapted treatments. The effect of the carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio was also optimized by supplementing two carbon sources: glucose and crude fish oil. The optimal treatment T1 (effluent + 0.6 g/L glucose) had a CDM of 1.32 g/L and a PHA content of 0.215 g/L. Treatment 1, which consisted solely of effluent and fish oil, exhibited higher values (CDM: 1.12 g/L, PHA: 0.65 g/L) and was therefore considered the cost-effective treatment. Subsequently, a scale-up process was conducted in a 4 L bioreactor over 300 h under semi-continuous, long-term cultivation. The optimal harvesting time for the biopolymer was achieved during the fourth cycle (180–240 h). The produced biopolymer was characterized using FTIR, NMR, TGA, DSC, SEM, and XRD analyses, confirming the production of a copolymer, specifically poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate). This study used wastewater from the fish industry for the production of biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates. Full article

Deammonification, which is based on partial nitritation and anammox (PN/A), is a well-established sidestream treatment for nitrogen removal. However, transferring deammonification to mainstream wastewater treatment remains challenging due to low temperatures, the need to retain slow-growing anammox bacteria (AnAOB), and their competition for nitrite with nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) and heterotrophic denitrifiers. This work investigates cubic polyurethane foam carriers to promote growth and retention of AnAOB. A moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) and an integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) reactor were compared over a three-year experimental period at lab-scale. The feasibility of the biofilm carriers for deammonification was first evaluated under sidestream conditions, followed by a stepwise transition to mainstream operational conditions. The impact of operational parameters, including dissolved oxygen concentration, pH value, and aeration strategy, was evaluated with respect to the activity of aerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), NOB, and AnAOB, as well as nitrogen removal rates. Deammonification reached nitrogen removal rates of 0.04–0.12 kg N m⁻³ d⁻¹ (IFAS reactor) and 0.02–0.28 kg N m⁻³ d⁻¹ (MBBR) at subphases with reactor bulk concentrations above 60 mg NH₄-N L⁻¹. Highest nitrogen removal degrees of 77 ± 6% (IFAS) and 76 ± 5% (MBBR) were achieved at reactor bulk concentrations of 96 mg NH₄ L⁻¹ and 97 mg NH₄ L⁻¹, respectively. Lower concentrations triggered NOB activity in both reactors, leading to an increase in nitrate concentration up to 22 mg NO₃-N L⁻¹. AOB and AnAOB activities were on average 6-fold higher on the carriers compared to suspended biomass throughout all experimental phases, demonstrating the feasibility of using cubic polyurethane foam carriers for deammonification. This was also confirmed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) measurements. Median nitrogen removal rates over all experimental phases of 0.07 kg N m⁻³ d⁻¹ for the IFAS reactor and 0.05 kg N m⁻³ d⁻¹ for the MBBR were achieved, which are comparable to conventional activated sludge systems performing nitrogen removal via nitrification–denitrification. While at lower nitrogen concentrations, the IFAS reactor yielded superior nitrogen removal rates, peak nitrogen removal rates of 0.28 kg N m⁻³ d⁻¹ were measured in the MBBR configuration. However, controlling NOB activity at lower temperatures and concentrations remains a challenge in MBBR and IFAS configurations. In our study, in the IFAS reactor NOB activities were visible on fewer days than in MBBR. At mainstream-like conditions, higher nitrogen removal rates of IFAS (0.09–0.12 kg N m⁻³ d⁻¹) were achieved compared to the MBBR (0.06–0.09 kg N m⁻³ d⁻¹). This demonstrates the advantage of the IFAS reactor in treating mainstream wastewater via deammonification. As an autotrophic nitrogen removal process, the implementation of deammonification in the mainstream of municipal wastewater treatment plants enables enhanced recovery of biogas from sewage organic matter. The latter would otherwise be consumed during the conventional nitrification-denitrification pathway. Consequently, the overall energy balance for wastewater treatment can be improved, contributing to a more environmentally sustainable process. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of Nypa fruticans fruit pellet supplementation combined with different CP levels on rumen fermentation characteristics and CH₄ production using an in vitro gas production technique. A 3 × 4 factorial arrangement was used, consisting of three CP levels (12, 14, and 16%) and four levels of Nypa fruticans fruit pellet supplementation (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% of substrate dry matter), with incubation run included as a random effect in the statistical model. Rumen fluid from Thai native beef cattle was incubated under anaerobic conditions. Gas production kinetics, ruminal pH, ammonia–nitrogen (NH₃–N), protozoal populations, digestibility, volatile fatty acids (VFA), and CH₄ production were determined. Significant interactions between CP level and Nypa fruticans fruit pellet supplementation were observed for gas production kinetics. Ruminal pH was influenced by CP level at 24 h, while NH₃–N increased with higher CP levels but decreased with increasing supplementation. Protozoal populations were reduced by Nypa fruticans fruit pellets. Methane production was affected by CP level, Nypa fruticans fruit pellet supplementation, and their interaction. A clearer reduction was observed at 24 h, particularly at higher supplementation levels. At 24 h of incubation, total VFA, propionate, and butyrate concentrations increased with supplementation, whereas no clear effects were observed at 12 h. In vitro dry matter digestibility was affected at 24 h (p < 0.05), but no effect was observed at 48 h, while organic matter digestibility remained unchanged. In conclusion, Nypa fruticans fruit pellets, in combination with CP level, modified rumen fermentation patterns and were associated with lower CH₄ production under in vitro conditions, without negatively affecting digestibility. These findings suggest potential for further in vivo evaluation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Rebamipide is a gastroprotective agent with poor aqueous solubility and rapid gastrointestinal clearance, leading to reduced therapeutic efficiency. This study aimed to enhance the solubility, mucoadhesion, and sustained oral delivery of Rebamipide through the development of a deep eutectic mixture (DEM)-based bioadhesive controlled-release granule formulation. Methods: In silico hydrogen-bonding interactions between Rebamipide, malonic acid, and urea were analyzed using CCDC tools. A thermodynamically stable DEM (1:3:1) was prepared and incorporated into bioadhesive granules using chitosan and HPMC. Physicochemical characterization was conducted using FTIR, DSC, TGA, and PXRD. Solubility, in vitro dissolution, ex vivo mucoadhesion (sheep gastric mucosa), and in vivo gastric retention (BaSO₄-loaded granules in rats) were evaluated. Results: The optimized DEM significantly enhanced Rebamipide solubility (10.08 mg/mL vs. 0.045 mg/mL). Solid-state analyses confirmed hydrogen-bond formation and reduced crystallinity. DEM granules exhibited sustained drug release over 24 h (99.7 ± 0.8%) with improved dissolution efficiency compared to the marketed tablet (Mucosta®, 100 mg; T₅₀%: 5.03 h vs. 0.82 h). Kinetic modeling indicated non-Fickian anomalous transport (n = 0.47). The bioadhesive force of DEM granules (0.29 ± 0.02 N) was significantly higher than that of the pure drug and physical mixture. In vivo radiographic studies confirmed prolonged gastric retention. Conclusions: The DEM-based bioadhesive granule system effectively improves solubility, dissolution rate, mucoadhesion, and gastric retention of Rebamipide. This approach represents a promising platform for once-daily gastroretentive oral delivery, pending further pharmacokinetic evaluation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Copeptin, a marker of endogenous stress, has been used for the early detection of non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in combination with conventional cardiac troponin. However, its incremental diagnostic value, when combined with high-sensitivity troponin, is not well defined. This study seeks to assess the diagnostic performance for NSTEMI of a Dual Marker Strategy (DMS) [copeptin and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT)] measured upon presentation to the Emergency Department (ED) and compare it to the hs-cTnT 0h/1h and 0h/2h algorithms recommended by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled 102 patients presenting to the ED with chest pain of <6 h duration; patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were excluded. Copeptin and hs-cTnT were measured upon patient presentation (time 0 h, DMS) in the whole cohort. hs-cTnT was subsequently repeated either at 1 h (n = 51) or 2 h (n = 51). The diagnostic performance of the DMS, assessed in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and negative (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV), was compared to that of the ESC-recommended hs-cTnT algorithms 0h/1h and 0h/2h for NSTEMI. Results: Of the total population, 59.8% were men, with a mean age of 57.7 ± 18.4 years; 8.8% of the patients were eventually di agnosed with NSTEMI. The DMS (cut-offs: copeptin < 10 pmol/L and hs-cTnT < 14 ng/L) demonstrated a sensitivity of 88.9% (95% CI: 51.75–99.72) and an NPV of 98.5% (90.94–99.76). On the other hand, the hs-cTnT 0h/1h algorithm showed a sensitivity of 60% (14.66–94.73) and an NPV of 95.6% (88.06–98.45), while the hs-cTnT 0h/2h algorithm exhibited a sensitivity of 75% (19.41–99.37) and an NPV of 95.8% (85.22–98.93). In ROC analysis, copeptin yielded an AUC of 0.702 (p = 0.046) and hs-cTnT at 0h showed an AUC of 0.736 (p = 0.02), whereas their combination demonstrated an AUC of 0.730 (p = 0.023) for the detection of NSTEMI. Conclusions: The copeptin/hs-cTnT DMS has comparable diagnostic performance to the hs-cTnT 0h/1h and 0h/2h algorithms for the early rule-out of NSTEMI. Full article

The efficient capture of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (Cl-VOCs) represents a significant challenge in environmental protection and sustainable chemical engineering. In this study, a functional deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of tetrabutylphosphonium bromide ([P₄₄₄₄][Br]) and levulinic acid (LEV) at a 1:2 molar ratio was prepared, and its absorption performance toward two typical Cl-VOCs, namely dichloromethane (DCM) and chloroform (TCM), was evaluated using this DES as a recyclable absorbent. Based on COSMO-SAC model predictions and experimental validation, the [P₄₄₄₄][Br]–LEV (1:2) system was identified as the preferred candidate. Under mild conditions (10 °C, N₂ flow rate of 100 mL/min), the saturated absorption capacities of this DES reached 1521.71 mg/g and 1620.30 mg/g for DCM and TCM, respectively. The absorbent exhibited favorable regeneration stability over five consecutive absorption–desorption cycles, retaining over 90% of its initial absorption efficiency. Mechanistic studies, including proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) , DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry), TGA (Thermogravimetric Analysis) and quantum chemical calculations , including electrostatic potential (ESP), independent gradient model (IGM), and reduced density gradient (RDG), demonstrated that the absorption process was dominated by physical interactions such as hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, with no chemical reactions involved. At the laboratory scale, this DES system showed excellent Cl-VOCs absorption performance, providing a useful reference for the rational design of high-efficiency VOC absorbents. Full article

Uterine microbiome homeostasis and antioxidant capacity are critical for sow fertility. While high-fiber diets and N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) individually enhance sow fertility, their synergistic effects on the antioxidant status, microbiota, metabolites, and transcriptome remain unclear. Here, sows were assigned to the low-fiber (3.73%) or high-fiber (7.46% crude fiber) group, each without or with 0.05% NCG, throughout the 114-day gestation. Sex hormones and antioxidants in serum were detected. Multi-omics approaches were employed to investigate the impact of a high-fiber diet supplemented with NCG (H + N) on uterine microbiota, metabolites, and gene expression profiles. The study revealed that H + N significantly increased total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) level in serum. Metagenomic analysis revealed an increased abundance of Clostridium disporicum in the uterine microbiota. Plasma metabolomics identified hydroxylysine as a key metabolite mediating this effect, and this metabolite was positively correlated with elevated abundance of Clostridium disporicum. Subsequent transcriptomic profiling revealed activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, closely linked to improved T-AOC level. Overall, these findings demonstrated that H + N could modulate the uterine microbiota (specifically Clostridium disporicum), increase hydroxylysine production, and activate the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. These effects further enhanced hormonal activity and antioxidant capacity, ultimately improving sow reproductive efficiency. Full article

Human parainfluenza virus type 4 (hPIV4) remains poorly characterized compared with other hPIV serotypes and information on its genomic diversity is particularly limited for Russia and Eastern Europe. In this study, we report the first complete genome sequences of hPIV4 isolates from Russia and place them in the context of global hPIV4 genetic diversity. Eight hPIV4 viruses were isolated in cell culture from respiratory samples collected from hospitalized children in Saint Petersburg between 2017/2018 and 2023/2024. Complete viral genomes were recovered using a metagenomic whole-genome amplification approach based on SMART-9N technology. Phylogenetic analysis of 178 complete hPIV4 genomes showed clear separation into hPIV4a (n = 132) and hPIV4b (n = 46) subtypes. Based on genetic distance approach, hPIV4a formed two major clusters, with the dominant cluster B subdivided into four subclusters (B1–B4); and subcluster B4 further resolved into four genetic lineages. All Russian isolates belonged to the subcluster B4 and were distributed among multiple co-circulating lineages. In contrast, hPIV4b genomes segregated into three distinct clusters, reflecting structured genetic diversity within the subtype. Collectively, this study provides, to the best of our knowledge, the first p-distance-based framework for hPIV4 whole-genome classification and contributes new complete genome sequences for an underrepresented region. Full article

Growing concerns over food security and greenhouse gas emissions present a dual challenge, as mitigation strategies for one often intensify the other. Nitrification inhibitors (NIs) have emerged as a promising approach to simultaneously reduce nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and enhance crop productivity. However, their effectiveness is highly dependent on environmental conditions. To systematically evaluate the environmental controls and the economic trade-offs associated with NI application, this study presents a systematic data synthesis of 196 peer-reviewed articles, assessing the performance of three widely used NIs: dicyandiamide (DCD), 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP), and nitrapyrin. The analysis quantifies the influence of key environmental factors (e.g., temperature, soil pH, soil moisture, and soil organic carbon) on NI biodegradability, nitrogen dynamics, and N₂O emissions. The results indicate that soil organic carbon has a limited effect on NI performance, whereas temperature emerges as the dominant controlling factor. Among the NIs evaluated, DCD and DMPP demonstrate the highest mitigation efficiencies, achieving N₂O emission rates as low as 10⁻⁶ and 10⁻⁵ kg ha⁻¹ d⁻¹, respectively. An integrated economic analysis further evaluates the cost-effectiveness of NI application across major cropping systems, including corn, rice, and wheat. The findings show that DMPP and nitrapyrin applications yield the highest net economic returns in corn and rice systems (up to 860 USD and 880 USD, respectively), while wheat systems without NI application remain less profitable (approximately 330 USD). Ultimately, this study demonstrates that the practical viability of NIs depends heavily on balancing input costs with crop-specific yield gains, rather than environmental benefits alone. While NIs offer substantial greenhouse gas mitigation potential, their widespread adoption requires careful, site-specific economic evaluation to ensure that yield improvements sufficiently offset the added application costs to achieve truly sustainable agricultural practices. Full article

The widespread presence of ciprofloxacin (CIP) in aquatic environments threatens ecological and public health, yet conventional treatment processes fail to remove such persistent contaminants. Conventional solvothermal synthesis of Bi-doped g-C₃N₄ photocatalysts involves complicated procedures and low productivity. Herein, we employ a single-step, template-free and solvent-free green calcination method to construct Bi³⁺-modified g-C₃N₄ with strong Bi-N coordination interactions. A series of Bi/g-C₃N₄ photocatalysts with Bi-doping mass ratios of 0.09–0.34 wt% was prepared, and the structure–performance relationship as well as the surface–interface reaction mechanism for ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation were systematically elucidated. Experimental results confirm that Bi³⁺ incorporates into the lattice via Bi-N coordination bonds with nitrogen in the g-C₃N₄ framework, which narrows the band gap, suppresses photogenerated carrier recombination, and constructs a loose porous morphology beneficial for increasing specific surface area and active sites. Under optimal conditions, 15Bi/g-C₃N₄ achieves 97.6% degradation of 15 mg L⁻¹ CIP within 90 min, which is 13.7% higher than that of pristine g-C₃N₄. The effects of catalyst dosage, initial pH, CIP concentration, common coexisting ions, and different real water matrices on the degradation performance were systematically investigated. Radical quenching experiments combined with ESR characterization confirm that h⁺ is the dominant reactive species responsible for CIP degradation. This green, simple and scalable method yields uniform products, and the resulting materials exhibit high efficiency, economic feasibility and environmental safety, demonstrating promising potential for antibiotic wastewater treatment. Full article

Hydrogen refueling stations (HRSs) are a critical enabling infrastructure for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), yet their deployment in dense metropolitan areas often faces a dual challenge: limited travel-time accessibility for users and low public acceptance driven by perceived safety risks. This study develops an integrated, city-scale framework to quantify HRS accessibility and resident acceptance and to identify expansion priorities for Seoul, South Korea. We combine (i) an online perception survey of 1000 adult residents (October 2024) capturing environmental awareness, perceived safety, siting preferences, and willingness-to-travel distance; (ii) spatial demand data on FCEV registrations by administrative dong (n = 2443 vehicles, 2022); and (iii) network-based travel-time analysis using the Seoul road network and the current HRS supply (n = 10, 2024). Accessibility is evaluated under three travel-time thresholds (10, 15, and 20 min), with service-area delineation and demand-weighted underserved-area diagnosis. Candidate expansion sites are generated and screened using operational and regulatory constraints (e.g., site area and proximity to protected facilities), followed by a p-median location-allocation optimization to select five additional sites that minimize demand-weighted travel impedance. Results indicate that, under the 20 min threshold (7.7 km at an average operating speed of 23.1 km/h), 50 of 425 dongs (11.8%) and 244 of 2443 FCEVs (10.0%) are outside the baseline service coverage. After adding five sites (total n = 15), underserved dongs decrease to 5 (1.2%) and underserved FCEVs to 26 (1.1%) for the 20 min threshold, with consistent improvements across shorter thresholds. Survey responses further reveal that only 12.5% of respondents perceive HRSs as safe, while 46.5% report a maximum willingness-to-travel distance of up to 5 km, underscoring the need for both accessibility enhancement and risk-aware communication. The proposed workflow offers a transparent, reproducible approach to support equitable and risk-informed HRS planning by jointly considering network accessibility, demand distribution, and social acceptance, thereby contributing to sustainable urban mobility, low-carbon transport transition, and socially acceptable hydrogen infrastructure deployment. Beyond local accessibility improvement, the study is framed in the broader context of sustainability, as equitable and socially acceptable hydrogen refueling infrastructure can support low-carbon urban transport transitions and more resilient metropolitan energy-mobility systems. Full article

In recent years, bacteria-based self-healing has emerged as a promising bioengineering strategy to address the self-repair of cracks in cement-based materials, which represent one of the persistent durability challenges. This approach relies on microbiologically induced calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) precipitation (MICP), in which metabolically active bacteria promote CaCO₃ formation of crystals that can heal cracks and restore material integrity. This study compares the self-healing potential of a natural (N-) alkaline soil Bacillus licheniformis strain with a UV-strain (phenotypic mutant) generated through controlled UV exposure followed by adaptive evolution. Both strains were evaluated under conditions relevant to cementitious environments. The UV-strain exhibited enhanced ureolytic performance, reaching urease activity of 0.32 U/mg compared to 0.24 U/mg in the N-strain. This translated into improved biomineralization, with CaCO₃ precipitation reaching 2.37 mg versus 2.23 mg/100 mL in the N-strain. Additionally, the UV-strain showed increased cell hydrophobicity and aggregation, indicating improved nucleation potential and surface-mediated mineral deposition. Multivariate analysis confirmed strong correlations between ureolytic metabolism, alkalization, and mineral formation, while artificial neural network (ANN) modeling (MLP 6-10-14) successfully predicted biomineralization-related parameters with high accuracy (R² > 0.90 for urease activity, NH₄⁺, ΔpH, and CaCO₃). The results demonstrate that UV-induced phenotypic adaptation can enhance biomineralization efficiency with minor trade-offs in physiological robustness. For the first time, that controlled UV-induced phenotypic adaptation can be used as a targeted strategy to enhance biomineralization efficiency in B. licheniformis, while maintaining functional stability under cement-relevant conditions. These findings provide a novel framework for tailoring bacterial performance in self-healing systems for construction biotechnology. Full article

In line with circular economy principles, raw spent yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) waste (YMs) was transformed into a high-value aminated adsorbent (AYMs) for the removal of anionic dyes, namely Reactive Black 5 (RB5) and Reactive Yellow 84 (RY84). The modification involved a two-step process using epichlorohydrin and aqueous ammonia, and the adsorbents were characterized via FTIR, BET, C/N elemental analysis, and pH_PZC. Batch experiments evaluated pH effects, kinetics (PFO, PSO, and intraparticle diffusion), and equilibrium isotherm analysis (single- and dual-site Langmuir models and Freundlich models). The results confirmed successful functionalization of the biomass with amino groups, shifting the point of zero charge (pH_PZC) from 4.74 (YMs) to 8.73 (AYMs). The optimal adsorption pH was 2.0 for YMs and 3.0 for AYMs. Kinetic data were best described by the pseudo-second-order model, while equilibrium data followed the dual-site Langmuir model, indicating energetic heterogeneity of the AYMs surface. The maximum adsorption capacity of AYMs reached 62.81 mg·g⁻¹ for RB5 and 61.78 mg·g⁻¹ for RY84, representing a fivefold and threefold increase over the YMs, respectively. These findings demonstrate that AYMs is a high-performance, sustainable alternative to commercial activated carbons, providing a scalable waste-to-value solution for industrial effluent treatment. Full article