Search Results (824)

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare malignancy of the biliary tree with increasing global incidence and mortality and limited therapeutic options. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) metabolism exhibits enhanced glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, and glutamine utilization. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of targeting glutaminolysis in iCCA, identifying glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH)—which converts glutamate to α-ketoglutarate—as a key metabolic hub. We evaluated the effects of pomegranate waste extract (PWE), a by-product of industrial pomegranate juice production, on cell viability, proliferation, migration, ATP production, and extracellular acidification in CCLP1 cells, an established iCCA model. Our results are consistent with an altered cellular energy metabolism. We further assessed GDH enzymatic activity, expression, and transcriptional regulation in the presence or absence of PWE and its major components, punicalagin and ellagic acid. GDH expression was downregulated by PWE in a dose-dependent manner through inhibition of NF-κB signaling, revealing a new mechanistic link between NF-κB and GDH. In addition, GDH enzymatic activity was dose-dependently inhibited by PWE, as well as punicalagin and ellagic acid. Notably, punicalagin was identified as a novel competitive inhibitor of GDH. Overall, these findings provide the first evidence that modulation of glutaminolysis through GDH targeting impairs iCCA cell growth and metabolism, supporting GDH as a promising metabolic target. This study highlights pomegranate-derived compounds as potential leads for the development of adjunctive or preventive strategies in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Full article

Citric acid (CA) necessitates the investigation of the environmental footprint from its production. This study compared three recovery technologies at different readiness levels, industrial calcium hydrogen salt precipitation–ion exchange (CHP-IE), pilot-scale solvent extraction (SE), and laboratory-scale bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED), to evaluate the life cycle environmental impacts of CA production when employing each recovery technology. SE and BMED were selected as emerging alternatives, as both are potential candidates to offer environmental or economic advantages over CHP-IE. By modeling the continuous improvement in the key production parameters as cumulative production experience increases, technological learning curves capture the efficiency gains that occur as technologies mature. This study pioneers an integrated ex-ante LCA framework that couples technological learning curves with energy transition scenarios to prospectively compare emerging CA recovery technologies against an industrialized process. Currently, CHP-IE shows the highest profit of 1078 CNY/t CA and the lowest global warming potential (GWP) of 1.79 t CO₂ eq/t CA, with the latter advantage projected to persist until 2030. By 2050, under deep decarbonization, BMED becomes the lowest-carbon option with 0.78 t CO₂ eq/t CA. Furthermore, with maize as the primary raw material, improved cultivation models in Northeast China reduce the environmental impacts of CA production by approximately 3% in acidification potential (AP) and eutrophication potential (EP), while diversified cropping systems in North China yield reductions of over 50% in these two categories. This paper provides an approach of comprehensive evaluation, supporting technology selection and green supply chain development in the CA industry. Full article

Refractories are advanced ceramics essential for high-temperature operations in the steel, glass, cement, and power sectors. In response to growing sustainability requirements, life cycle assessment (LCA) is increasingly applied to quantify and mitigate their environmental impacts. However, current refractory-related LCA research remains limited by the scarcity of comprehensive inventories and the lack of systematic evaluation of uncertainties affecting results and ecodesign strategies. This study addresses these gaps by presenting the first published LCAs of tabular alumina, white fused alumina, and fused cast high-alumina block production, thereby expanding the environmental knowledge base across alumina products. The analysis shows that uncertainties in characterization models can significantly influence impact-category prioritization, underscoring the need for robust interpretation frameworks. Differences in category criticality across methodological levels and LCIA methods are examined, highlighting the suitability of the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) approach for refractory applications due to its explicit consideration of model uncertainty and comprehensive coverage of impact categories. Results indicate that alumina products significantly contribute to climate change, fossil resource depletion, particulate matter formation, acidification, freshwater eutrophication, and non-cancer human toxicity. Energy supply constitutes the main environmental hotspot, both through its direct consumption and its indirect contribution during raw material preparation. Red mud disposal is also a major contributor to impacts associated with calcined alumina production. Based on these insights, improvement strategies are proposed, demonstrating the value of LCA as an ecodesign tool. Scenario analysis for fused cast high-alumina block further quantifies the potential for impact reduction under varying operational conditions. Full article

Fermented foods are produced through controlled microbial activity and are valued for their extended shelf life, sensory attributes, and potential health benefits. This study examined the effects of production methods on microbial ecology by comparing microbial community structure, Shannon diversity, and pH changes in traditional and commercially produced Korean fermented foods. Cabbage and radish kimchi were fermented for four weeks to assess microbial succession and physicochemical changes, and additional fermented foods, including soy sauce, soybean paste, pepper paste, fruit vinegar, yogurt, and aged kimchi, were compared according to production method. Microbial communities were analyzed using amplicon sequencing targeting the V3–V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Traditionally produced cabbage kimchi exhibited high microbial diversity at the early fermentation stage, initially dominated by Weissella and Leuconostoc, followed by a gradual shift toward lactic acid bacteria dominance at later stages. In contrast, commercially produced cabbage kimchi maintained a simplified microbial community dominated by a limited number of lactic acid bacteria throughout fermentation. Radish kimchi showed production-method-dependent patterns, with the rapid dominance of lactic acid bacteria during traditional fermentation and partial recovery of microbial diversity during commercial fermentation. Shannon diversity was consistently higher in traditionally produced kimchi during fermentation. In contrast, commercially produced kimchi exhibited more rapid acidification. Across other fermented foods, traditionally produced soy-based products exhibited complex microbial communities dominated by Bacillus spp., whereas commercially produced products were characterized by yeast-dominant profiles. Fruit vinegar and yogurt showed low microbial diversity regardless of the production method. These findings demonstrate the importance of production strategies in shaping microbial ecology, fermentation dynamics, and resulting product characteristics across various Korean fermented foods. Full article

Background: Candida albicans is the most clinically significant opportunistic fungal pathogen, and the growing resistance to conventional antifungals, particularly azoles and echinocandins, highlights the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Although lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have shown inhibitory potential against C. albicans, the relative contributions of live probiotics, heat-inactivated postbiotics, and cell-free supernatants (CFSs) have rarely been compared in parallel under physiologically relevant conditions against a clinical oral isolate. Results: This study systematically evaluated the antifungal activity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299V, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus ATCC 11842, and Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 using co-culture assays, minimum inhibitory concentration tests, agar well diffusion assays, and optical microscopy. L. plantarum achieved the strongest inhibitory effect in co-culture, reducing C. albicans viability by 2.39 log₁₀ CFU/mL after 24 h, correlating with the greatest acidification of the culture medium. Methods: CFS from L. acidophilus inhibited fungal growth by 79.01% at native pH, declining to 28.35% upon neutralization to pH 7, confirming that antifungal efficacy is largely pH-dependent and driven by undissociated organic acids. At probiotic concentrations of 1 × 10⁹ CFU/mL, all strains completely suppressed fungal growth. Heat-inactivated postbiotics exhibited up to 95.14% inhibition in MIC assays; however, microscopic analysis revealed coaggregation between postbiotic and fungal cells, which likely interfered with optical density measurements. Conclusions: These findings establish that LAB-mediated antifungal activity is multifactorial and assay-dependent, and highlight the importance of distinguishing between probiotic, postbiotic, and CFS effects when developing LAB-based antifungal strategies. Full article

Rice husk, which accounts for approximately 22% of global rice production, is often disposed of by open field burning, causing significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollution. Converting rice husk into biochar via pyrolysis offers a sustainable waste management and climate mitigation pathway; however, the environmental performance of biochar production is highly sensitive to the energy source used. Hence, this study presents a gate-to-gate life cycle assessment of biochar production from rice husk via slow pyrolysis at 500 °C under three energy supply scenarios: grid electricity, biomass combustion, and photovoltaic solar energy. Using the ReCiPe 2016 methodology, environmental impacts were evaluated across four categories such as Global Warming Potential (GWP), Human Toxicity Potential (HTP), Acidification Potential (AP), and Abiotic Depletion Potential (ADP), with all process parameters held constant except the energy source. The results demonstrate that energy supply is the dominant determinant of environmental performance and the photovoltaic solar-assisted biochar production route showed superior performance across all categories, with gross production impacts for 1 ton biochar of 24.0 kg CO₂-eq (GWP), 5.6 kg 1,4-DCB-eq (HTP), 0.09 kg SO₂-eq (AP), and 259.9 MJ (ADP), representing 48-165-fold improvements over grid electricity. When accounting for carbon sequestration (2800 kg CO₂-eq per ton biochar), all scenarios achieved net negative GWP, ranging from −2776.0 kg CO₂-eq (solar PV) to −1562.5 kg CO₂-eq (grid electricity), representing 78% variation attributable to energy source. Contribution analysis revealed pyrolysis heating accounts for 95.6% of environmental impacts, with no trade-offs among impact categories. The findings recommend photovoltaic solar energy for new biochar facilities, biomass combustion for co-located agricultural operations, and avoidance of grid electricity unless grids achieve substantial decarbonization. Full article

The rising demand for plant-based, lactose-free functional beverages amid gut health concerns positions finger millet (FM, Eleusine coracana) as a promising substrate. This study assessed sprouting and fermentation inoculum effect: dairy starters (Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus) or backslopping with commercial Mageu on microbial growth, fermentation dynamics, nutrition, antioxidants, color, and texture of FM beverages. Microbial growth increased modestly over 48 h OD₆₀₀ = 0.169–0.201, peaking in non-sprouted FM with dairy starters (ND) at OD600 = 0.201). ND showed the fastest pH decline (ΔpH = 2.19), while sprouted FM with dairy starters (SD) or backslopping (SB) had controlled acidification. Total titratable acidity increased from 0.14 to 0.66%, with the highest total soluble solids in sprouted substrates (SD = 11.26 °Brix; SB = 10.97 °Brix). Proximate analysis revealed SB had high crude fiber (2.86%) and SD highest protein (4.02%). Sprouted beverages excelled in minerals (SB Ca = 27.00 mg/100 g; SD Ca = 25.75 mg/100 g), while ND or non-sprouted FM fermented spontaneously (NS) had high Fe (4.31%, 2.65%) and K (48.08%, 38.32%). ND showed peak antioxidants: phenolics 10.54 µg/mL, DPPH 87.80%, FRAP 21.24 µM Fe²⁺/g, ABTS 79.09%. Sprouted beverages displayed distinct color (L* = 37.67–39.65, C* = 25.94–27.03) versus commercial Mageu (L* = 57.89, C* = 14.50) and favorable texture (firmness 12.78–13.40 g, secondary peak force ~−7.2 g). Controlled fermentation of sprouted FM yields nutrient-dense, antioxidant-rich, vegetarian beverages with superior attributes, affirming its functional potential. Full article

Magnesium is an essential macronutrient for both plants and humans. However, its availability in agricultural systems and dietary intake has been declining, raising concerns about crop productivity and nutritional security. In plants, magnesium plays a critical role in photosynthesis, enzyme activation, carbohydrate transport, and overall metabolic regulation, while in humans it is required for numerous biochemical processes related to energy metabolism, cardiovascular function, and disease prevention. Long-term studies have reported a 20–30% decrease in magnesium concentrations in fruits and vegetables worldwide, potentially contributing to widespread magnesium deficiency. Soil factors such as acidification, nutrient imbalance, and intensive agricultural practices further limit magnesium availability along the soil–plant–human continuum. This review summarizes the biological importance of magnesium in plants and humans, evaluates the occurrence and causes of magnesium deficiency, and discusses current strategies for improving magnesium nutrition through agronomic and genetic biofortification. It considers even fertilizer management, nano-fertilizers, and alternative magnesium sources such as serpentinite. The review highlights biofortification as a cost-effective and sustainable strategy to enhance crop magnesium concentration and mitigate global magnesium deficiency while emphasizing the need for further research on bioavailability, environmental safety, and long-term agricultural sustainability. Full article

New Zealand’s kiwifruit and apple industries generate substantial quantities of organic residues during thinning and harvest, much of which is composted or disposed of in landfills due to logistical constraints. This study evaluates the potential of these residues as feedstock for biomethane production via anaerobic digestion (AD), followed by hydrogen generation through steam methane reforming (SMR). Two feedstock mixtures were examined: a 50:50 kiwifruit–apple blend and a 40:40:20 kiwifruit–apple–potato mixture, designed to mitigate acidification. Cow manure served as a cost-effective inoculum. Physicochemical analysis confirmed high moisture and volatile solids content, indicating strong biodegradability, although low nitrogen content suggests the need for co-digestion in full scale systems. Biomethane potential (BMP) tests yielded up to 45 mL CH₄/gVS at an ISR of 4, corresponding to 46.5% carbon conversion. Scaling to an annual waste volume of 476 t suggests a potential biomethane yield of approximately 18,000 m³. SMR simulations demonstrated technical feasibility, with methane conversion increasing from 46% under baseline conditions to >85% under optimized steam to carbon ratios and residence times. Hydrogen yields of ~7600 m³/year were estimated. This study provides a practical foundation for valorizing fruit waste into renewable biomethane and hydrogen, supporting New Zealand’s circular economy and decarbonization goals. Full article

The corrosion behavior of hot-press-formed (HPF) B-pillar components fabricated from Al–Si-coated boron steel was investigated with an emphasis on the forming-induced crack morphology. The specimens were extracted from the inner and outer surfaces of the top, flat, and radius regions. Microstructural characteristics and coating cracks were examined using optical microscopy, as well as field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) in combination with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and corrosion behavior was evaluated using cyclic corrosion immersion and potentiodynamic polarization tests in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl aqueous solution. The Al–Si coating exhibited a multilayered structure composed of alternating Al- and Fe-rich layers. The crack morphology strongly depended on the local stress state: wide macrocracks were mainly formed on the outer surface of the radius region under tensile deformation, whereas the narrow microcracks predominated on the inner surface subjected to compressive deformation. Cyclic corrosion immersion tests showed that the corrosion propagated preferentially along the coating cracks and was more severe on the inner surfaces, where narrow microcracks promoted aggressive crevice corrosion owing to chloride ion accumulation and local acidification. By contrast, wider macrocracks on the outer surface mitigated crevice corrosion by allowing electrolyte exchange. Potentiodynamic polarization tests indicated similar corrosion rates for all regions; however, the outer radius region exhibited a relatively noble corrosion potential owing to oxide film formation on the locally exposed substrate areas. These results demonstrate that the crack morphology induced by curved forming is a key factor governing the corrosion behavior of HPF B-pillar components. Full article

The incorporation of probiotic bacteria into active packaging systems represents an innovative strategy to enhance food preservation while delivering health benefits to consumers. This review discusses the selection criteria for probiotic strains focusing on their resistance to environmental stressors, antimicrobial activity, and viability in different food matrices and their integration into edible films and coatings. Polysaccharides, proteins, and hydrocolloids are widely used as biopolymeric matrices due to their biocompatibility and functional properties. The efficiency of probiotic packaging largely depends on three factors: the choice of strain, the encapsulation technique (such as spray drying, emulsification, or electrospinning), and the properties of the matrix material. These packaging systems demonstrate strong antimicrobial activity through multiple mechanisms, including bacteriocin production, competition for adhesion sites, and acidification. Applications in dairy, meat, fish, and fresh produce reveal the potential of these technologies to delay spoilage, reduce pathogenic microorganisms, inhibit lipid oxidation, and maintain nutritional and sensory qualities. Moreover, studies emphasize that combining probiotics with prebiotic compounds can improve both microbial stability and functional performance. Despite promising results, challenges remain regarding the industrial scalability and long-term stability of these systems under varied storage conditions. Future research should focus on optimizing formulation parameters, expanding applications across diverse food categories, and integrating smart packaging technologies. Altogether, probiotic-based edible packaging aligns with current demands for sustainable, health-oriented food solutions. Full article

Fungal transformation is increasingly recognized as an important process influencing metal solubilization and immobilization in soil environments. In this study, a fungal strain (PTW4) isolated from mining-contaminated soil was molecularly identified as Aspergillus aculeatus. The strain was evaluated for its ability to solubilize and transform several heavy metal oxides, including ZnO, Pb₃O₄, Cu₂O, and MoO₃. PTW4 produced consistent halo formation across all tested oxides, accompanied by progressive acidification of the culture medium, suggesting organic acid-mediated solubilization. Characterization of extracellular precipitates by SEM-EDS and XRD indicated mineral phases consistent with oxalate-associated biominerals, including zinc oxalate dihydrate (ZnC₂O₄·2H₂O), lead oxalate (PbC₂O₄), and copper oxalate hydrate (CuC₂O₄·xH₂O). These minerals represent low-solubility phases that may reduce metal mobility in the surrounding environment. In contrast, molybdenum did not precipitate under the experimental conditions, suggesting metal-specific constraints in fungal biomineralization processes. Although organic acid production was not directly quantified, identification of oxalate mineral phases supports an oxalate-associated mineralization mechanism. Overall, the results provide evidence for heavy metal solubilization and selective extracellular precipitation consistent with oxalate biomineral formation by A. aculeatus PTW4, highlighting its potential relevance to fungal-mediated bioremediation and selective bioleaching processes. Full article

Growing concern over soil degradation and the demand for sustainable solutions have driven research into remediation technologies. This study aimed to evaluate the morphological, physiological, and phytochemical responses of Larrea cuneifolia, Bulnesia retama, Plectrocarpa tetracantha, and Neltuma flexuosa seedlings exposed to mining waste contaminated soil during early developmental stages. Plants were cultivated for 90 days in soils amended with increasing concentrations of mining waste. Higher waste proportions resulted in a dose-dependent increase in metal(loid)s concentrations and soil acidification. All species survived in soils containing up to 1572.6 mg kg⁻¹ As, 25.6 mg kg⁻¹ Cu, 33.0 mg kg⁻¹ Cd, and 742.6 mg kg⁻¹ Zn. Metal(loid)s accumulation occurred predominantly in roots, reaching 1895.1 mg kg⁻¹ Zn in P. tetracantha and 2223.2 mg kg⁻¹ As in B. retama. The presence of metal(loid)s in leaf and stem tissues was confirmed by SEM-EDX analysis. Elevated MDA levels, combined with low POX and APX activities, indicated a limited antioxidant response. Additionally, the abundance of yeast and bacterial colonies increased across all soil treatments associated with the studied native species. These results demonstrate remarkable tolerance of native species to multi-metal contamination and underscore their potential for cost-effective, nature-based strategies to restore mining-impacted soils in arid regions. Full article

Elevated nutrient inputs exacerbate the conflict between the advancement of fruit production and environmental sustainability. Quantifying the emission-reduction potential of fruit production systems, predicting environmental impacts, and identifying key orchard management practices are critical to promoting the sustainability of fruit production. However, predictive models for orchard environmental impact are primarily based on machine-learning approaches and fail to adopt an efficiency-oriented perspective to quantify emission reductions in orchards with high yields and high partial factor productivity of nitrogen fertilizer (PFP-N). Therefore, this study adopts life-cycle assessment, a deep-learning predictive model, and a slack-based measure (SBM)-undesirable model to evaluate and forecast the environmental impacts of orchards, which encompasses global warming potential (GWP), reactive nitrogen losses (Nr), acidification potential (AP), and eutrophication potential (EP), while also identifying the mitigation potential of orchards. In addition, local sensitivity analysis reveals the extent to which each input variable affects the model predictions. The results indicated that the emission-reduction potential for the high yield and high PFP-N group was quantified as 53.31%, 52.28%, 50.54%, and 52.65% for GWP, Nr, AP, and EP, respectively. The application amount of nitrogen fertilizer is the largest contributing factor among the four environmental impacts (GWP, Nr, AP and EP). These findings are helpful for assessing and predicting environmental impacts, quantifying emission-reduction potential, and determining the relative importance of agricultural input factors associated with environmental impacts, thereby providing potential theoretical support for promoting sustainable orchard development. Full article

Greenhouse aquaculture is an increasingly advanced practice in shrimp farming. This study employs Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to systematically evaluate the economic and environmental performance of greenhouse shrimp farming. Research data were collected from field surveys and enterprise production records to analyze the construction and farming processes of the aquaculture facilities. LCC analysis revealed that the life cycle cost was 3.56 USD kg⁻¹ shrimp. The construction cost of the greenhouse was 4.58 USD m⁻², with steel pipes and film materials being the dominant cost components. The total farming cost per cultivation cycle reached USD 3510.76 per greenhouse, of which feed (30.54%) and land rent (15.86%) were the primary expenses. This model achieved a net profit of USD 5.31 per m² per cycle and a cost-profit ratio of 60.47%, values which are significantly higher than those reported for the Indoor Super-Intensive Culture (ISIC) model. LCA results demonstrated that the environmental impact per kilogram of shrimp produced via greenhouse aquaculture was characterized by a global warming potential (GWP) of 3.279 kg CO₂ eq, an acidification potential (AP) of 0.369 kg SO₂ eq, and a eutrophication potential (EP) of 0.212 kg PO₄ equation Furthermore, the abiotic depletion potential (ADP) and human toxicity potential (HTP) were relatively low, at 0.002 kg Sb eq and 0.093 kg 1,4-DCB eq per kilogram of shrimp, respectively. The construction phase had the highest greenhouse gas emissions (GWP 1940.00 kg CO₂ eq), mainly due to the consumption of steel (steel pipes accounting for 71.6% of CO₂ emissions) and polymer materials. During the farming phase, the primary emissions per kilogram of shrimp produced were GWP (3.23 kg CO₂ eq), AP (0.27 kg SO₂ eq), and EP (0.212 kg PO₄ eq). The findings indicate that this greenhouse model possesses considerable advantages in balancing economic output and risk management, rendering it suitable for promotion in appropriate regions. Further reductions in cost and environmental impact can be achieved by optimizing building material selection, implementing precision feeding strategies, and improving the energy utilization structure. These measures will enhance the economic and environmental benefits of greenhouse shrimp farming and promote the green development of the entire aquaculture industry. Full article