Search Results (436)

As a vital post-translational modification of potato tuber proteins, N-glycosylation directly regulates protein structural stability, biological activity and processing properties. N-glycome profiles of tuber storage proteins exhibit cultivar-specific characteristics, but the differential glycosylation across potato germplasms has not been fully elucidated. In this work, the major tuber patatin glycoprotein was purified from three potato cultivars as research material to investigate their N-glycosylation features and inter-cultivar variations. N-glycans were released via nonreductive chemical cleavage and derivatized with PMP, followed by qualitative and quantitative profiling using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-UV-MS/MS). In total, 11, 6 and 3 distinct N-glycan structures were identified from the three tested cultivars. Two novel glycan structures, Man₃XylGlcNAc₂ and Man₄XylGlcNAc₂, were identified in this study. The relative abundances of Man₃XylFucGlcNAc₂ and Man₃XylGlcNAc₂ exhibited highly significant inter-cultivar differences (p < 0.01). Notably, patatin carried unique N-glycans modified with exclusive α1,3-fucosylation, and overall glycan composition and relative abundance varied markedly across the three cultivars. This study systematically elucidates the effects of potato cultivar germplasm on patatin N-glycosylation and analyzes the unique glycosylation signatures of patatin from the three varieties. The obtained glycomic dataset provides fundamental theoretical support for germplasm screening, functional modification of potato storage proteins, and the optimization of potato deep-processing. Full article

The present study explores the impact of UV-B radiation on biochemical traits and phenolic profile of in vitro cultures (IC) and micropropagated plants (MP) of Lavandula viridis L’Hér and Thymus lotocephalus G. López and R. Morales. Two UV-B treatments were applied: a single 4 h exposure (UV-B 1) and repeated exposure over four consecutive days (UV-B 4). Additionally, the potential of phenolic-rich extracts loaded into alginate-based hydrogels for dye removal was also evaluated. UV-B exposure triggered oxidative stress in both species, particularly in MP, increasing hydrogen peroxide levels and lipid peroxidation, and affecting chlorophyll and carotenoid content. Both species responded by accumulating soluble sugars and phenolic compounds as a defense mechanism. Rosmarinic acid, the predominant phenolic compound, increased significantly under UV-B radiation in IC and MP. IC showed higher concentrations after UV-B 1 exposure, with L. viridis reaching 50.1 mg/g and T. lotocephalus 32.3 mg/g, increases of 16% and 41%, respectively, over the control. Polyphenol-loaded hydrogels showed high methylene blue adsorption efficiency, highlighting their potential as eco-friendly materials for wastewater treatment and environmental remediation. Optimal adsorption conditions were determined using Box–Behnken design and Response Surface Methodology, demonstrating the applicability of these natural hydrogels as sustainable and efficient materials for dye removal from contaminated wastewater. Full article

Forest fires pose a serious threat to forest ecosystems, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and sustainable socioeconomic development. Timely and accurate detection is essential for effective early warning and emergency response. However, existing deep learning-based methods often face challenges in balancing detection accuracy and computational efficiency under UAV-assisted forestry monitoring scenarios. This study proposes YOLO-MR, a compact and efficient forest fire detection framework based on YOLOv8n for UAV-assisted intelligent forestry monitoring. The proposed method incorporates a multi-scale deep dilated spatial pyramid fast pooling module, GhostConv, an improved ReC2f module, and an additional P2 detection layer, as well as PIoUv2 loss, enabling more effective multi-scale feature representation and improved target localization. Evaluation using the public M4SFWD dataset together with the self-constructed UFFD dataset verifies the effectiveness and generalization capability of YOLO-MR. Compared against YOLOv8n, the proposed YOLO-MR delivers increases of 1.3%, 2.1%, 1.3%, and 2.1% for Precision, Recall, mAP50, and mAP50-90, respectively, on the M4SFWD dataset, with corresponding gains of 0.9%, 1.8%, 1.8%, and 2.5% on the UFFD dataset. Meanwhile, the proposed model requires only 2.85 M parameters, which is 5.3% fewer than the baseline, demonstrating improved parameter efficiency. The experimental results demonstrate that YOLO-MR provides an effective trade-off between detection performance and computational efficiency, offering a promising solution for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-assisted forest fire monitoring and early warning. By enabling timely wildfire detection with a compact and efficient architecture, the proposed framework supports sustainable intelligent forestry monitoring, contributes to ecosystem protection and disaster prevention, and promotes sustainable forest management. Full article

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a disruptive photovoltaic technology for aerospace and extreme environment applications, driven by their substantial power-to-weight ratio and mechanical flexibility. However, continuous operation under harsh conditions, characterized by the AM0 spectrum, deep vacuum, extreme thermal cycling, and ionizing radiation, exposes the fundamental thermodynamic instability of traditional organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites. This comprehensive review systematically synthesizes 131 recent studies to provide a holistic framework for designing ultrastable, radiation-hardened PSCs. We critically examine the underlying degradation mechanisms, including vacuum-induced volatile desorption, UV-triggered halide segregation, and thermomechanical fracture at buried interfaces. To overcome these critical barriers, we highlight advanced engineering strategies: the transition to all-inorganic CsPbX₃ and lead-free double/chalcogenide perovskites (e.g., Cs₂SnI₆, CaHfS₃), the implementation of dopant-free inorganic transport layers coupled with self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) for cascade band alignment, and the integration of polymeric scaffolds for fracture energy toughening. Furthermore, we emphasize the imperative shift toward solvent-free vacuum deposition techniques (ALD, PLD). A distinctive focus of this review is the integration of Artificial Intelligence; specifically, we evaluate Deep Learning architectures, such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, for predictive State of Health (SOH) monitoring, underscoring the vital transition from simulated to empirical datasets. Finally, coupled with Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA), this review outlines a strategic roadmap for the commercialization and deployment of autonomous, self-diagnosing photovoltaic platforms in next-generation satellite and deep-space missions. Full article

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV), particularly UVA radiation, is a primary driver of photoaging due to its deep dermal penetration, which triggers DNA damage, collagen degradation, and immune suppression. Chebulinic acid (CA), a polyphenolic compound from Terminalia chebula, exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties against UVB-induced skin damage. However, its large molecular weight hinders transdermal delivery and the TAT_47–57 peptide (core of HIV-1 TAT) enables rapid transmembrane transport. Large particles with double-layer membrane structure and a diameter exceeding 1000 nm were obtained during the separation of plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PELNs), which are not considered as PELNs (50–500 nm), after a mixture with TAT anchored to the surface of engineered artificial vesicles (EAVs) and extrusion causes membrane fusion, employed as novel nanocarriers to overcome the difficulty in skin penetration by leveraging their lipid bilayer structure and surface membrane-anchored TAT for efficient epidermal fusion and intercellular penetration. Furthermore, CA-loaded TAT-ePELNs demonstrate significant efficacy in mitigating UVA-induced photoaging. Collectively, this study expands the anti-UVR damage application spectrum of CA from UVB to UVA exposure and establishes a green, efficient, and biosafe strategy for transdermal drug delivery by utilization of non-PELNs generated during the preparation process of PELNs. Full article

This study establishes a unified electrochemical–optical framework to elucidate adsorption-controlled charge transfer and electronic excitation at platinum–electrolyte interfaces modified by biomolecules and metal nanoparticles. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy with Tauc analysis were used to probe transformations induced by vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and silver nanoparticles (nAg) in Na₂SO₄ aqueous electrolytes. In the supporting electrolyte, platinum behaves as a blocking capacitive interface with nearly symmetric anodic–cathodic charges, high charge-transfer resistance (R_ct ≈ 3.14 kΩ·cm²), low double-layer capacitance (C_dl ≈ 4.0 × 10⁻⁵ F·cm⁻²), and deep-UV transitions (E_low ≥ 3.8 eV), confirming the electrochemical inertness of sulfate media. Vitamin B6 molecules interact with the electrode surface and modify the structure of the electrical double layer at the platinum/electrolyte interface, restructuring the double layer, increasing C_dl (≈1.2 × 10⁻⁴ F·cm⁻²), decreasing R_ct (≈0.23 kΩ·cm²), and generating irreversible surface-confined anodic processes. Tauc plots yield two transitions (E_low ≈ 2.9 eV; E_high ≈ 4.1 eV), attributed to molecular states and weak charge-transfer interactions. The results suggest electronic interactions between the silver nanoparticles and the adsorbed vitamin B6 molecules at the electrode interface. Strong electronic interactions between vitamin B6 and nAg yields ultralow R_ct (≈58 Ω·cm²), enhanced pseudocapacitance (C_dl ≈ 2.9 × 10⁻⁴ F·cm⁻²), and red-shifted transitions (E_low ≈ 2.2 eV; E_high ≈ 3.7 eV). These results show that adsorption-induced electronic coupling governs interfacial kinetics and optical excitation pathways. Full article

Nanofibrous materials based on chitosan (CS) have attracted considerable attention for advanced wound management due to their excellent biocompatibility and their suitability as drug delivery systems for wound healing applications. Additional surface modification may improve their interaction with the wound environment and influence tissue repair mechanisms. TMC/CS nanofibers were fabricated via electrospinning and subsequently processed into three formulations: unloaded fibers (NCC), norfloxacin-loaded fibers (NCX), and norfloxacin-loaded fibers modified with 2-formylphenylboronic acid (NCXA). The resulting materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Their therapeutic performance was evaluated in a standardized deep dermal burn model in Wistar rats, with Vaseline gauze and silver sulfadiazine serving as reference treatments. Wound healing progression was assessed through macroscopic examination, histopathological analysis, immunohistochemical evaluation of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17, VEGF, VCAM, and CD163 expression, and systemic IL-8 determination. Physicochemical characterization confirmed homogeneous nanofiber formation, efficient incorporation of norfloxacin, and successful surface modification. All electrospun formulations promoted improved healing outcomes compared with the untreated control group. Among them, the norfloxacin-loaded nanofiber formulation demonstrated the most pronounced wound-healing effect, characterized by faster re-epithelialization, attenuation of inflammatory mediators during later healing stages, and superior tissue architecture restoration. Conversely, the 2-formylphenylboronic acid-modified norfloxacin-loaded fiber formulation maintained a more persistent inflammatory state and exhibited a slower transition into the remodeling phase. Trimethyl chitosan-based nanofibers loaded with norfloxacin show strong potential as multifunctional wound dressing platforms capable of controlled drug release. The findings indicate that formulation composition plays a critical role in regulating inflammation and tissue regeneration, underscoring the need for continued refinement of chitosan-derived nanosystems for burn wound therapy. Full article

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major environmental risk associated with skin cancer, premature skin aging, and ocular damage. In the context of climate variability, changes in cloud cover and ozone-layer dynamics increase the need for reliable short-term UV forecasting systems in highly exposed urban areas. This study proposes a comparative forecasting framework for UV radiation intensity in Lima, Peru, using more than 827,000 records from a meteorological station. Statistical models, recurrent deep learning architectures, and hybrid neural models were evaluated under a unified protocol including 5 min aggregation, daytime filtering, a fixed 60 min forecasting horizon, chronological train–test partitioning, temporal cross-validation, statistical significance testing, and quantitative residual diagnostics. The results show that recurrent and hybrid deep learning models substantially outperformed traditional statistical approaches. Hybrid Model 2 achieved the best holdout performance, obtaining the lowest RMSE and the highest R² value. Statistical testing confirmed its superiority over classical forecasting models. Residual diagnostics showed limited systematic bias, although extreme UV radiation peaks remained the principal source of forecasting uncertainty. These findings provide a reproducible artificial intelligence framework for short-term UV radiation forecasting and support intelligent early warning systems for public health protection, environmental monitoring, and climate resilience, contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 13 on Climate Action. Full article

Induced-junction silicon photodiodes based on SiO₂/SiN_x surface passivation are attractive for high-accuracy radiometry, but their use in the deep ultraviolet is limited by UV-induced degradation of the dielectric stack. In this work, we investigate the degradation of SiO₂/SiN_x-passivated p-type silicon photodiodes under UV irradiation and evaluate strategies for improving stability through shallow implanted junctions and oxide processing. Capacitance–voltage measurements on MIS capacitors and lifetime measurements on symmetrically passivated wafers show that UV exposure causes a rapid reduction in effective dielectric charge and carrier lifetime, followed by saturation at higher dose, consistent with filling of a finite population of electrically active trap states. Induced-junction photodiodes exhibit rapid photocurrent loss at 222 nm and, in some cases, eventual collapse, indicating that the remaining effective dielectric charge is insufficient to sustain the induced junction. To maintain junction functionality after UV exposure, shallow As- and Sb-implanted junctions are employed, resulting in an initial reduction during 222 nm exposure followed by stabilization at around 80–85% of the initial value up to the highest tested dose of 200 J/cm². Further improvement is achieved by stripping and regrowing the implanted screen oxide before SiN_x deposition, yielding nearly unchanged photocurrent after prolonged 222 nm exposure up to ca. 500 J/cm². These results show that UV stability can be substantially improved by reducing device dependence on dielectric-induced inversion and by improving post-implantation interfacial oxide quality. Full article

Prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) generates substantial agro-industrial by-products, such as press cake, seed, and oil, that remain underexploited despite their recognized phytochemical richness. This study reports the systematic optimization, characterization, and bioactivity profiling of flavonoid-rich extracts recovered from these three matrices. A Box–Behnken design (BBD) coupled with response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of total flavonoid content (TFC) from press cake using a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES: fructose–glycerol–sorbitol–water and FGSH), selected through an initial screening of fifteen solvent systems. The quadratic polynomial model showed excellent fit (R² = 0.9852; R²adj = 0.9687; MAPE = 1.31%; Durbin–Watson = 1.857), and optimal extraction conditions were established at 37.6 min extraction time, 35.6% ultrasonic power, and 29.4 °C, yielding a maximum predicted TFC of 54.78 ± 0.49 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/mL. HPLC-DAD analysis of the press cake extract revealed five isorhamnetin derivatives as the dominant flavonoids, with isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside (23.18 ± 0.12 mg/g DW) and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside (13.80 ± 0.28 mg/g DW) as the most abundant. Comprehensive bioactivity assessment demonstrated significant antioxidant capacities (CUPRAC: 191.35 ± 3.22 µM AAE; ORAC: 184.44 ± 3.44 µM TE; DPPH: 103.47 ± 9.98 µM TE for press cake extract), potent in cellulo ROS/RNS suppression in a yeast UV-stress model (85.9 ± 1.0% inhibition for press cake), and differential tyrosinase inhibition across fractions (press cake: 32.8%; seed: 57.5%; oil: 83.8%), highlighting the oil as a potent anti-melanogenic ingredient. In silico safety prediction (ProTox-II/pkCSM) confirmed the favorable toxicity profiles of all identified isorhamnetin derivatives (LD₅₀ > 5000 mg/kg; Toxicity Class V). These results collectively position Opuntia ficus-indica by-products as high-value natural sources of bioactive flavonoids with applications in cosmetic, nutraceutical, and dermatological formulations. Full article

Lactose is widely used as a pharmaceutical excipient, yet little is known about how its physicochemical behavior may be influenced by pretreatment history and weak environmental magnetic conditions. In this pilot study, we investigated oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) and UV absorbance of 0.2% aqueous lactose solutions prepared from lactose powders with different pretreatment histories: Active water, Native water, and untreated control. Samples were exposed for 30 min to three static magnetic field conditions: weak geomagnetic field (~4 µT), ambient geomagnetic field (~30 µT), and elevated static field (~750 µT). UV/VIS spectroscopy was performed in the 200–400 nm range, with particular focus on the deep-UV absorption maximum near 200 nm. The strongest differentiation between pretreated samples and control occurred under weak geomagnetic conditions. In this weak-field regime, pretreated lactose solutions showed higher ORP values and a same-direction trend toward increased UV absorbance near 200 nm relative to untreated lactose. Across all samples, both ORP and UV absorbance decreased with increasing magnetic field strength, indicating a consistent field-dependent shift in the overall physicochemical state of the lactose solutions, particularly in redox balance and deep-UV optical response. The same-direction changes in ORP and increased 200 nm absorbance at the group level suggests that weak-field conditions may influence oxidation-related processes, potentially including the formation or stabilization of lactose oxidation products such as lactobionic acid. These findings indicate that lactose-containing aqueous systems may be sensitive to both pretreatment history and low-intensity magnetic environments, with potential implications for pharmaceutical formulation stability, quality control, and biotechnological reproducibility. Full article

Mass–balance discrepancies exist between estimated land-based inputs and observed marine plastic inventories. While current global mass–balance models predominantly treat the open ocean as a passive terminal sink, they overlook the rapid expansion of offshore and deep-sea industrial frontiers. This review identifies offshore and deep-sea activities as active, in situ emission nodes of microplastics (MPs). Through a bibliometric analysis and numerical descriptions of studies, we document that direct offshore emissions are underrepresented in the current literature. By synthesizing these limited quantitative data, preliminary metrics indicate localized MP enrichment signals and elevated biological exposure near specific offshore infrastructures. Furthermore, plastics released directly into the marine environment bypass terrestrial weathering, undergoing distinct multiscale aging pathways governed by the complex interplay of wave-induced physical fragmentation bounded by critical size thresholds, UV-driven chemical photo-oxidation, and biological interactions. We conclude that refining global plastic budgets supports moving toward an integrated ocean-industrial framework. However, the synthesis remains constrained by data scarcity and high methodological heterogeneity across different environmental matrices. Future strategies must prioritize standardized in situ flux quantification and the incorporation of MP emission risks into offshore Environmental Impact Assessments. Full article

Curcuminoids from Curcuma longa L. (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin) are attractive bioactives yet constrained by low water solubility and chemical instability. Herein, we introduce a Supramolecular Deep Eutectic Solvent (SupraDES) as a “Janus” green platform, combining extraction and stabilization with a subsequent solvent-to-material strategy. Eight NaDES/SupraDES formulations based on choline chloride (ChCl) or betaine with glycerol (Gly) or citric acid (CitA), with/without β-cyclodextrin (βCD), were assessed. The extinction coefficients of the most promising solvents were extrapolated at 425 nm for the UV–vis quantification of curcuminoids, to determine extraction performance. The SupraDES ChCl:Gly:βCD gave the best performance during the first solvent screening, improving at the same time the bioactive stability (after 30-day, 47.5% loss vs. 62.8% of ChCl:Gly alone). Subsequent microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) optimization identified 80 °C as the optimal process temperature, with near-equilibrium reached within 15 min (3139.4 µgCurc/gEXT). Peleg modelling (R² = 0.997) indicated a fast extraction rate and limited benefit from longer residence times. Finally, the curcuminoid-loaded SupraDES was incorporated into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) networks crosslinked with CitA and 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF); thermal analysis confirmed the formation of a stable crosslinked structure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a βCD-based SupraDES acting as a Janus platform that couples supramolecular extraction of lipophilic bioactives with their direct incorporation into bio-based polymeric materials, exemplifying an integrated green chemistry approach aligned with circular bioeconomy principles. Full article

Raw lacquer, a natural polymer derived from the bast of lacquer trees (Toxicodendron vernicifluum), is renowned as the “King of Coatings” due to its exceptional film-forming properties, abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. However, its inherent limitations—including stringent drying conditions, slow curing rates, deep coloration, and difficult application—have severely restricted its modernization and widespread adoption. This review systematically summarizes recent research advances in the modification and application of raw lacquer, focusing on four major modification strategies: (1) Nanocomposite modification—incorporating functional nanofillers such as Al₂O₃, cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), polydopamine (PDA) melanin-like nanoparticles, and SiO₂ to significantly enhance film hardness, compactness, UV-aging resistance, and drying kinetics. (2) Chemical structure modification—employing molecular design strategies including aminoanthraquinone grafting, tung oil blending, water-based emulsification, and terpene/allyl group functionalization to improve hydrophobicity, flexibility, fast-drying properties, and achieve dual photo/oxygen curing. (3) Biomass synergistic composites—utilizing natural polymers such as chitosan and lignin, along with bio-inspired adhesion mechanisms (e.g., PDA), to confer advanced functionalities including antibacterial and antifouling properties. (4) Curing behavior regulation—precisely controlling drying kinetics through inorganic salt ion microenvironment engineering, nonionic surfactants, and salicylaldehyde Schiff base-based driers. Building upon these foundations, this review further expands on the emerging high-value applications of modified lacquer in preventive conservation of cultural heritage, advanced functional coatings (anti-corrosion, super-hydrophobicity, flame retardancy), biomedical materials (hemostasis, antibacterial activity, drug-controlled release, water treatment adsorption), and intelligent responsive flexible electronics. Finally, addressing challenges including weak fundamental research, bottlenecks in green industrialization, and lack of standardization, future development directions are proposed encompassing interdisciplinary innovation, sustainable modification strategies, integration of multifunctional intelligent systems, and big data-driven research paradigms, aiming to provide theoretical guidance and technical references for the high-value utilization and modernization of lacquer resources. Full article

The Huanggangliang area in Inner Mongolia is a major fluorite and polymetallic ore district in China. Its skarn-type deposit yields rare color-change fluorite, yet the coloration and photochromic mechanisms remain poorly studied. Five faceted samples were characterized by conventional gemological tests, EDXRF, UV-Vis, Raman, PL, TL, and FTIR to determine their composition, spectral features, and defects. The results indicate two distinct color-forming mechanisms. Group I is dominated by f-f transitions of rare-earth elements with color-center synergy, showing a strong gray-blue to blue-violet color change and a characteristic absorption peak at ~580 nm in the UV-Vis spectrum. Group II is dominated by high-concentration irradiated color centers. Its deep blue-violet color and weak color change are attributed to colloidal induced by long-term endogenous α, β, and γ irradiation from radioactive Th. The lack of additional Raman peaks and a broad UV-Vis absorption peak at ~595 nm, along with multiple UV color-center peaks, weak fluorescence, and thermoluminescence, all confirm the presence of high-concentration electron traps. This study establishes the composition–spectrum–color relationship, reveals the control of ore-fluid evolution on mechanism differentiation, and provides a scientific basis for identifying and analyzing color-change fluorite. Full article