Search Results (1,635)

Elevated atmospheric CO₂ (eCO₂) is commonly treated as a photosynthetic substrate, yet in horticultural crops it also alters carbon status and signaling processes associated with stress resilience and quality-related metabolism. Tea (Camellia sinensis) is particularly valuable because young-shoot metabolites are closely related to carbon–nitrogen balance and defense. This review develops an evidence-based framework linking guard-cell CO₂ sensing and photosynthetic carbon influx with soluble-sugar and starch pools and candidate signaling through hexokinase (HXK), trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P), SNF1-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1), and target of rapamycin (TOR). These crosstalk pionts intersect with phytohormone networks: abscisic acid (ABA)–Ca²⁺–reactive oxygen species (ROS)–nitric oxide (NO) signaling contributes to stomatal and water-stress responses; salicylic acid (SA)–NO promotes eCO₂-induced flavonoid biosynthesis; jasmonic acid (JA)–ethylene contributes to activate defense and volatile metabolism; and auxin–ethylene influences growth and defense. Nitrogen availability and sink strength may determine whether additional carbon supports assimilation and quality metabolism or promotes carbohydrate feedback and photosynthetic acclimation. We relate these pathways to catechins, theanine, caffeine, and aroma volatiles while distinguishing tea-supported relationships from mechanisms derived mainly from model plants. Finally, we propose cumulative CO₂ enrichment above baseline (Δppm·h) as a treatment-reporting descriptor and hypothesis-generating variable integrating enrichment magnitude and duration. Its biological relevance should be tested across nitrogen supply, genotype, developmental stage, and stress context using time-based gas exchange, stomatal phenotyping, hormone profiling, carbon–nitrogen flux analysis, and multi-omics. This model presents sugar–phytohormone crosstalk as a candidate regulatory junction linking carbon enrichment with stress responses and quality-related metabolism in tea plants. Full article

Owing to high surface inertness and insufficient active sites, traditional carbons cannot anchor and disperse metal species evenly, restricting catalytic activity. Via polymer precursor design, the components, functional groups and pore architecture can be tailored molecularly and preserved upon carbonization, thus regulating carbon microstructure, surface properties and active centers efficiently. This work focuses on the synthesis and structural tuning of polystyrene-based precursors using a three-step procedure of pre-crosslinking, Friedel-Crafts hypercrosslinking, and activation. The materials possess abundant mesopores ranging from 7 to 30 nm, which serve as an ideal platform for the efficient anchoring of metal ions and mass transfer during the subsequent carbonization and functionalization processes. Based on the strong adsorption and exchange ability of sulfonic acid groups, transition metal ions such as Co, Ni and Fe were uniformly doped on the surface of nanoparticles and carbonized at 300–600 °C in an air atmosphere to realize the conversion of the polymer skeleton to a carbon matrix and the in situ formation of metal species into oxide nanoparticles. At the application performance level, the prepared Co/Ni bimetallic-carbon-doped material exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity in the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction. The overpotential is only 0.3478 V at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻². After 50 cycles of cyclic voltammetry, the voltage fluctuation is only 0.026 V. Full article

The study aimed to determine the effects of pre-freezing storage duration and packaging conditions on the quality of the longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle from Holstein-Friesian × Belgian Blue crossbred bulls. The samples were stored for seven or 14 days under vacuum and MA (40% CO₂ + 60% N₂ or 30% CO₂ + 70% Ar). Next, the samples were frozen and stored for six months. Color parameters, fatty acid profile (saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, SFAs and UFAs, respectively), the nutritional value of intramuscular fat, lipid oxidation, sensory properties, and shear force values were analyzed. Pre-freezing packaging conditions had no significant effect on color parameters. The samples stored for 14 days had lower redness and shear force values, and those stored for seven days had higher chroma values and lower values of the hue angle. The samples stored in MA composed of 40% CO₂ + 60% N₂ had a higher proportion of UFAs, a higher UFA/SFA ratio, and higher TBARS values. Flavor intensity was higher in the samples stored in MA composed of 30% CO₂ + 70% Ar. Pre-freezing storage duration and packaging conditions may selectively affect the physicochemical and sensory properties of beef after thawing. Full article

This paper presents the results of lithium extraction from a lithium-containing precipitate obtained by the sulfation roasting of rare-metal production tailings, leaching of the sulfate roast product, and subsequent precipitation. Unlike the conventional sulfuric acid process, in the present study, lithium is chemisorbed from the solution obtained after leaching the sulfate calcine onto freshly precipitated aluminum hydroxide, which is subsequently calcined, followed by lithium desorption (aqueous leaching). During the preparation of the precipitate for the formation of the freshly precipitated aluminum hydroxide sorbent, the aluminum impurity naturally present in the solution was utilized, while the lithium to be recovered was present in the solution in the form of a sulfate compound. Data were obtained on the leaching (desorption) of lithium from freshly precipitated precipitates in which lithium was present in the form of a sulfate compound. Aqueous leaching was investigated for the precipitate in the wet state, after drying at 105 °C, and after calcination at 275–350 °C under atmospheric pressure in a thermostatic cell at 30 °C, as well as under autoclave conditions at 200 °C. The results showed that calcination significantly enhanced lithium extraction, while autoclave leaching further improved recovery. The effects of the solid-to-liquid (S:L) ratio, leaching time, and temperature on lithium extraction from the calcined precipitate were evaluated. The optimum conditions were aqueous leaching of the precipitate calcined at 275–350 °C with an S:L ratio of 1:10–1:15, a leaching time of 0.5–1 h, and a temperature of 55–98 °C. Autoclave leaching was also effective for precipitates dried at 105 °C and calcined at 350 °C. Under the optimum conditions, lithium extraction reached 92–96% during atmospheric leaching and approximately 98–100% under autoclave conditions. Concentration of the lithium-bearing solution produced a lithium-containing carbonate precipitate with 1.43 wt.% Li, corresponding to 3.07 wt.% Li₂O. Full article

This study investigated fermentation-mediated antifungal activity across different legume matrices and their potential for extending the shelf life of legume-based bakery products. Chickpea, lentil, pea, and grass pea flours were fermented using selected lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. Water/salt-soluble fractions from fermented doughs were screened against bakery spoilage fungi, revealing marked substrate- and starter-dependent antifungal activity. The most promising formulations were incorporated into focaccia-type flatbreads and evaluated for 60 days under CO₂/N₂ modified atmosphere packaging at pilot scale. Compared with their non-fermented counterparts, grass pea fermented with Levilactobacillus brevis AM7 maintained mold populations below the detection limit (<2 Log CFU g⁻¹) throughout storage, with visible mold detected in 5% of packages at day 60. Pea fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 1A7 maintained mold populations below the detection limit up to day 45, with approximately 3% of packages showing visible mold at day 60. These two formulations showed the strongest antifungal performance among the fermented legume formulations, approaching the protection provided by the calcium propionate-containing wheat control, which showed the highest level of fungal protection. Fermentation partially mitigated the increase in hardness throughout storage, particularly in grass pea-based flatbreads. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of substrate–starter combinations in determining the antifungal performance of fermented legume ingredients and demonstrate their potential, when combined with modified atmosphere packaging, to improve the microbiological stability and shelf-life performance of selected legume-based flatbreads. Full article

Percolation leaching of limonite Ni laterite ore (1.42% Ni, 0.07% Co, 27.16% Fe) with sulfuric acid, citric acid, and their mixture was studied at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 25 °C. Experiments were carried out in columns (diameter 50 mm, height 500 mm, ore weight 1.5 kg) as a laboratory model of heap leaching. The combined H₂SO₄ + C₆H₈O₇ system (10 + 10 g/L) showed a considerable enhancement in Ni extraction. After 21 days, Ni extraction reached 73%, compared with 52% for H₂SO₄ and 42% for citric acid at the same total reagent concentration. In an extended experiment (42 days), the maximum extraction of Ni reached ~83%, while that of Co was ~60%. Differences in the behavior of Ni and Co were revealed. Sulfuric acid is more effective for Ni, while citric acid is more effective for Co, due to differences in these metal species in the ore. Among the tested acid ratios, 10 + 10 g/L provided the best balance for the simultaneous extraction of Ni and Co. Full article

Salicylic acid (SA) is an endogenous phytohormone involved in stress signaling, yet its efficacy under commercial orchard conditions remains insufficiently tested. This multi-season study evaluated foliar SA (72.4 µM) on gas exchange, midday xylem water potential (Ψ_x), leaf temperature, water-use efficiency (WUE), and fruit quality in two sweet cherry cultivars (Prunus avium L. cv. Lapins and cv. Santina) across three consecutive seasons (2019/20–2021/22) in Pencahue, Maule Region, Chile. Generalized Linear Mixed Models applied to all 109 physiological date × variable comparisons, with joint correction for multiple testing (Benjamini–Hochberg FDR and Bonferroni), identified a single robust treatment effect: a less negative (higher) midday Ψ_x under SA in cv. Santina on 16 January 2021 (−0.65 vs. −0.80 MPa in Control; adjusted p = 0.020), i.e., a more favorable plant water status. No comparison involving net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, or WUE remained significant after correction, and fruit quality was unaffected in both cultivars. Principal Component Analysis separated a gas-exchange axis from a WUE axis, with the largest Control–SA centroid displacement in the same season as the confirmed Ψ_x effect. Because SA is expected to act as a stress-conditioned elicitor—that is, to be effective mainly under high atmospheric demand (VPD) or a pronounced water deficit—the season in which the single confirmed effect appeared constitutes a direct test of that expectation. Contrary to this, the effect occurred in the mildest rather than in the most demanding season, arguing against a simple high-VPD timing rule and supporting cultivar- and season-specific rather than universal expectations for SA in orchard water management. These conclusions apply to the single concentration tested (72.4 µM) under fully irrigated commercial management in one orchard and should not be extrapolated to higher application rates or to water-limited conditions. Full article

Background/objectives: Febuxostat (FBXT), a xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitor, is a urate-lowering drug commonly used to treat gout. XO is also a promising therapeutic target for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to improve the efficacy and safety of FBXT repurposed for the treatment of IBD. Methods: FBXT was conjugated with the acidic amino acids aspartic acid (Asp) and glutamic acid (Glu) via amide linkages to yield the colon-specific conjugates FBXT-Asp and FBXT-Glu. Results: The results revealed that amino acid conjugation decreased the distribution coefficient of FBXT from 1.451 to −1.217 for FBXT-Asp and −0.859 for FBXT-Glu. In parallel, conjugation retarded FBXT transport across the small intestinal wall, with a more pronounced effect observed with Glu conjugation than with Asp conjugation. The conjugates were converted to FBXT in cecal contents under a nitrogen atmosphere while remaining intact in pH 1.2 buffer and small intestinal contents. The cecal conversion percentages at 8 and 24 h were 7.1% and 22%, respectively, for FBXT-Asp and 17% and 54.8%, respectively, for FBXT-Glu. Consistent with these in vitro results, oral gavage of FBXT-Glu resulted in greater FBXT accumulation in the rat cecum than that observed with free FBXT. In rats with 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced colitis, oral gavage of FBXT-Glu at a dose equivalent to 20 mg of FBXT ameliorated colonic damage and inflammation. This effect was more potent than that of FBXT at the same dose or sulfasalazine (SSZ), a currently used anti-IBD drug. Additionally, FBXT-Glu did not produce detectable blood levels of FBXT, whereas FBXT was detected at concentrations of up to 6.7 μM at 2 h after oral gavage of FBXT at the corresponding dose. Conclusions: FBXT-Glu may serve as an anti-colitis agent with therapeutic and toxicological advantages over FBXT and could be a viable alternative to SSZ. Full article

Additive manufacturing (AM) using fused filament fabrication (FFF) offers a responsive solution to maritime supply chain delays through on-demand, shipboard component fabrication. However, the operational reliability of non-structural polylactic acid (PLA) assets over extended lifecycles remains critical. This paper investigates the 6-month atmospheric degradation behavior of FFF-printed PLA components across varying infill densities (33%, 66%, and 100%). Utilizing non-destructive parallel-plate dielectric spectroscopy across an alternating current spectrum (1 kHz to 20 kHz), experimental results reveal that the decay in the relative dielectric constant (ε_r) is most prominent at the 1 kHz window—dropping from 3.70 to 3.63 for solid structures. At higher frequencies (10–20 kHz), this aging signature is heavily attenuated due to polymer dipole immobilization, causing the dielectric response to converge toward a baseline polarization value. To map these state transitions, a multi-variable surface linear regression framework with an ordinary least squares metric was implemented. The bilinear model successfully captures the coupled density–frequency interaction, achieving a Coefficient of Determination (R²) of 0.8619 and a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.00199 month⁻¹, providing a quantitative screening tool for decentralized maritime digital inventories. Full article

Although the term “topical skin booster” has gained significant traction in Korean aesthetic medicine, the category remains loosely defined and often disconnected from established principles of transdermal pharmacology. To address this ambiguity, we critically reviewed the mechanistic foundations and clinical evidence surrounding these formulations, using the 500 Da permeability heuristic as an initial physicochemical screening framework rather than an absolute cutoff. We assessed key delivery platforms, including microneedling, ablative fractional lasers, radiofrequency microneedling, and cold atmospheric plasma. The available evidence indicates that macromolecular actives such as hyaluronic acid and polydeoxyribonucleotides generally face substantial barriers to passive penetration, whereas small-molecule agents have a stronger physicochemical rationale for topical use. We propose a hypothesis-generating “signal-and-support” framework for biologically plausible multi-ingredient formulation design. The field remains constrained by inconsistent, claim-specific verification of cutaneous exposure and dermal delivery, particularly for macromolecular actives. More rigorous target-compartment pharmacokinetic and target-engagement studies are needed to distinguish mechanistic plausibility from verified dermal delivery and clinical benefit. Full article

Premature failure of industrial lead–acid batteries can arise not only from conventional aging but also from atypical environmental exposure that changes the chemistry and morphology of corrosion products. This study presents a focused post mortem investigation of three industrial flooded lead–acid batteries that underwent premature failure shortly after building renovation, despite differing in manufacturer, nominal capacity, operational target, and service time. Corrosion products collected from electrolytes, bridges, and terminals were examined by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and complementary electrochemical testing of lead-based alloys in sulfuric acid. Raman spectra indicated mixtures of α- and β-PbO₂, PbSO₄, and trace PbS, whereas XRD identified the dominant crystalline phases as PbO₂ polymorphs, PbO, PbSO₄, and Pb₃O₄. The absence of a strong PbS signal in XRD is consistent with its low amount, poor crystallinity, and surface-localized occurrence. SEM images showed loose corrosion products rather than a dense protective layer. The combined evidence indicates an atypical, sulfide-associated corrosion pattern. External H₂S exposure is considered as one possible source of sulfur-containing species; however, no atmospheric H₂S measurements, renovation-material analyses, or controlled exposure tests were performed. Full article

Fresh fruits are highly perishable products whose acceptance depends not only on external appearance and firmness, but also on the preservation of taste and aroma. This review addresses the relationship between active packaging and the maintenance of fruit sensory quality, with special emphasis on the volatilome as a dynamic marker of aroma integrity. The first part examines how taste and aroma are formed during ripening through the interaction of sugars, organic acids, phenolics, amino acids, and a wide range of volatile compounds, including fatty-acid-derived esters and aldehydes, terpenoids, carotenoid-derived norisoprenoids, phenylpropanoids, sulfur-containing compounds, and glycosidically bound precursors. It then analyzes how these traits deteriorate during packaged shelf life through temperature effects, refrigerated and room-temperature storage, microbial and enzymatic activity, mechanical damage, and packaging-atmosphere imbalance, showing that visual and sensory shelf life do not necessarily decline together. The second part reviews how active packaging can preserve—or unintentionally distort—this volatilome, covering modified-atmosphere and gas-regulating systems, antimicrobial and ethylene-managing systems based on released essential oils, sulfur dioxide and ethanol emitters, oxygen and carbon dioxide regulators, moisture absorbers, multi-active combinations, and packaging-adjacent edible coatings. A recurring principle emerges: every active function is double-edged, as an intervention that delays spoilage or senescence may itself add exogenous notes or trigger fermentative off-flavors unless it is tuned to a sensory compatibility threshold. The packaging material is also decisive, since paper and cardboard buffer humidity and interact weakly with aroma compounds, whereas high-barrier polymers sustain a modified atmosphere but can scalp esters and terpenes; conversely, releasing volatiles compatible with the native aroma can act as an aroma-positive strategy that restores characteristic notes. Active packaging should therefore be evaluated not only by conventional quality parameters, but also by headspace gas evolution, sugar/acid balance, odor-active volatiles, off-flavor markers, and sensory validation, together with consumer acceptance, odor-threshold relevance, migration and safety considerations, and kinetic matching between active-agent release, fruit respiration, and flavor evolution. Full article

High-temperature rubber–metal sliding in internal mixers involves filler-network evolution, third-body generation and transfer-film formation. In this work, a reaction-assisted GO/CNT/ZDMA/SiO₂ network was constructed through in situ formation of zinc dimethacrylate from ZnO/methacrylic acid, TESPT-mediated silanization of silica, and GO/CNT sheet-tube hybrid architecture. The key scientific contribution is the separation of mean friction from metal-wear suppression: the best wear resistance was obtained when the network maintained a continuous rubber/carbon-rich transfer film, not when the mean friction coefficient was lowest. At 3 phr GO with 3 phr CNT (C4), filler dispersion was more uniform, hard agglomerate release was suppressed, and metal wear volume reached 1.63 × 10⁶ μm³ with a volume-loss rate of 8.92%. Excessive GO promoted stacking and secondary agglomeration, increasing third-body supply, transfer-film rupture and metal exposure. Because no inert-atmosphere, pH, XPS, Raman, electrochemical or residue-concentration tests were performed, chemical assistance is treated as a possible secondary contribution after film rupture rather than as a proven independent mechanism. The results identify transfer-film continuity and friction fluctuation as practical screening indicators for reactive rubber–metal contacts. Full article

Urban snow can serve as a passive sampler of atmospheric inputs during a defined accumulation period. This data descriptor presents georeferenced chemical element concentrations in snow collected during two discrete six-day accumulation events in Jelgava City, Latvia: 4–10 January 2024 and 16–22 February 2025. A fixed network of 59 urban monitoring sites and one rural reference site was sampled, with three independent field replicates collected and analysed separately at each location. After melting, the samples were acidified with 1% (v/v) HNO₃ for 72 h and filtered through Whatman Grade 541 filter paper with a normal 22 µm particle-retention rating. The reported values therefore represent an operationally defined acid-leachable filtrate fraction rather than total or conventionally dissolved concentrations. Al, Si, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Cd, Ba, W, and Pb were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Two separate Mendeley Data records each contain one year-specific Excel workbook. The 2024 workbook retains left-censored results as “<0.05” or “<0.01”. In the revised 2025 workbook, results below element-specific LoDs are reported as “<LoD”; 334 of 2520 replicate results (13.3%) are left-censored. Direct comparisons of substantially censored elements require appropriate censored-data methods. The datasets support event-specific spatial assessment and cautious comparison between the two monitoring events, but they do not represent seasonal or annual conditions and cannot be used to calculate deposition loads or fluxes without snow-water-equivalent data. Potential uses include identifying locations with elevated element concentrations during each monitoring period and integration with meteorological, traffic, and land-use data. Full article

The Qinghai–Xizang (Formerly Tibet) Plateau, known as the Roof of the World, is an important ecological security barrier for Asia and globally; its natural environment is fragile and challenging to repair after destruction. Prior to the 21st century, waste management in China primarily relied on unregulated direct dumping. To investigate the environmental impacts of open dumpsites in high-altitude regions, this study focused on a representative dumpsite in the northern Xizang region. The aim was to characterize the occurrence and distribution patterns of heavy metals (HMs) in its surrounding soil, conduct source apportionment, and perform comprehensive risk assessment. The results showed low levels of mercury (Hg) and excessive levels of all other HMs. In addition, all HMs had the highest content in the residual fraction and the lowest content in the weak-acid fraction, which is less bioavailable. The Absolute Principal Component Score–Multiple Linear Regression (APCS-MLR) and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) results showed that the dumpsite contributed the most to cadmium (Cd); agricultural sources contributed the most to zinc (Zn); Hg mainly came from atmospheric transport and traffic sources; Pb was mainly derived from traffic and natural sources; and copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and arsenic (As) mainly came from the dumpsite and natural sources. In addition, this research found that this dumpsite poses a relatively high HM risk to human health; oral and respiratory routes are the main non-carcinogenic routes, As and Cr contribute more to the adult and child groups, and As contributes the most to carcinogenic risk. The calculation results of the pollution assessment method indicate that the pollution of the natural environment from this dumpsite is at a low level, and immediate remediation measures are urgently needed to achieve site decontamination. Full article