Search Results (66,710)

Hevea brasiliensis (H. brasiliensis) is the principal source of natural rubber, but its productivity is severely threatened by powdery mildew caused by the biotrophic fungus Erysiphe quercicola (E. quercicola). Although circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as key regulators in plant stress responses, their functions in H. brasiliensis immunity remain largely unexplored. Here, we aimed to systematically characterize circRNAs involved in the early immune response of H. brasiliensis to E. quercicola. Transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatic analyses identified 52 and 177 differentially expressed circRNAs (HbcircRNAs) at 1 and 3 days post-inoculation, respectively. Twelve HbcircRNAs with significant expression changes were validated, and nine were confirmed as true circRNAs. Functional assays using spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) in H. brasiliensis leaves and heterologous overexpression in the Arabidopsis thaliana eds1 mutant, which is susceptible to E. quercicola, revealed that HbcircARF3, HbcircSCSA1, and HbcircARFGAP8, together with their homologous linear counterparts (HbLinearRNAs), exert distinct regulatory effects on disease resistance. Silencing of these HbcircRNAs enhanced host immunity, whereas overexpression increased susceptibility. Pathway analyses suggested their involvement in auxin signaling, mitochondrial energy metabolism and vesicle trafficking. Collectively, our findings uncover the differential regulatory roles of circular and linear RNAs in the H. brasiliensis–E. quercicola interaction, providing mechanistic insights and potential molecular targets for breeding disease-resistant H. brasiliensis. Full article

Background: Research on green-synthesized nanomaterials (GSNs) for environmental remediation is growing rapidly, yet data remains fragmented in non-interoperable formats. Methods: We present OntoNanoMat, a comprehensive semantic resource consisting of a modular OWL 2 DL ontology and a curated dataset of two illustrative case studies serving as proof-of-concept demonstrations. The data was structured into five thematic modules: Identification, Synthesis, Mechanism, Performance, and Provenance. Results: The dataset is provided in three interoperable formats: CSV, JSON, and Turtle (RDF) and is validated through SHACL shapes to ensure structural integrity and FAIR compliance. Conclusions: OntoNanoMat provides a FAIR-compliant (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) foundation for future machine learning applications and knowledge graph integration in sustainable nanotechnology. Full article

This study presents a novel, integrated membrane–resin hybrid platform for the high-efficiency purification of N-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid, NANA) from complex microbial fermentation broths. By synergistically combining four sequential stages—ceramic microfiltration (50 nm), ultrafiltration (3 kDa), nanofiltration (150 Da), and dual-resin purification (macroporous adsorption + cation-exchange)—the process achieves stepwise removal of cells, proteins, pigments, monovalent salts, and divalent metal ions without using organic solvents or high-salt buffers. Critically, each stage demonstrates high target recovery: 76.2% (CM), 67.3% (UF), and 77.5% (NF), with near-quantitative retention (>95%) during resin treatment due to NANA’s low hydrophobicity and electrostatic repulsion at pH 6.8. Following optimised acidification crystallisation (acetic acid dosage = 3 × concentrate volume; sialic acid concentrate concentration = 333.49 g/L), the final product reaches 97.9% purity with a crystalline yield of 78.6%. This scalable, green purification strategy eliminates major bottlenecks in downstream processing and enables industrial-scale production of pharmaceutical-grade sialic acid, with broad applicability to other high-value acidic biomolecules. Full article

Animal-assisted services (AASs) are increasingly integrated into healthcare, education, and social support settings. However, empirical evidence on the emotional well-being of participating dogs remains limited. This study investigates how dog, session, handler, and client factors influence dogs’ affective states during animal-assisted activities (AAAs), education (AAE), coaching (AAC), and therapy (AAT). A total of 837 sessions involving 63 dogs and 30 handlers were observed, with behavioural scoring and statistical analyses used to analyse the data. Principal Component Analysis then identified key affective components, including playfulness, comfort, anxiety, and uncertainty, which explained 45–61% of the variance. Session circumstances, as well as the characteristics of handlers, clients, and individual dogs—including age, experience, and gender—significantly influenced dogs’ responses. Specifically, older dogs were less playful but more settled, while experience was linked to positive affect in AAAs and AAT, but not in AAC. Female dogs demonstrated increased uncertainty and arousal in AAAs and AAE. The impact of session length varied by context. In AAC, unfamiliar handlers increased tension. Additionally, younger clients were associated with heightened uncertainty or tension in dogs across AAAs, AAC, and AAE. In light of these findings, optimising dog welfare requires matching dogs to suitable roles, attentive session planning, and managing workload. Full article

This study investigates the spatial implications of formal environmental regulation for urban green development by separating command-and-control tools from market incentive-based approaches and analyzing a 280-city panel dataset from China spanning 2012–2024. A spatial Durbin model is employed to assess the spillover effects of these regulatory tools on GTFP. The estimation results show that command-and-control regulation exerts a significant negative spillover effect on neighboring cities and is also associated with a reduction in local GTFP. In contrast, market-based regulation generates positive spillovers that benefit surrounding cities and is linked to improvements in both local and nearby GTFP. Regional heterogeneity analysis shows that command-and-control regulation produces negative but insignificant spillovers in the eastern and western regions and positive yet insignificant effects in the central and northeastern regions, whereas market-based regulation generates significant positive spillovers across all regions. Mediation analysis suggests that industrial relocation has a significant suppression effect in the relationship between CER and GTFP. When the carbon emissions trading scheme is used as a proxy for market-based regulation, the policy initially appears to suppress GTFP, although its effect tends to become positive over time. Informal environmental regulation is found to enhance local GTFP and to generate favorable spillovers for neighboring cities. Taken together, these findings suggest that policymakers should place greater emphasis on market-based and informal regulatory approaches, while encouraging firms and the public to play a more active role in advancing urban green development. Full article

China’s carbon neutrality plan centers on a carbon trading policy system integrating market economy, guidance, regulation, command-and-control, and fiscal measures into an inter-domain synergy. Based on the system science methodology, by leveraging the gray system evaluation method and the multiple regression model, a carbon neutrality policy analysis system has been formed. This paper constructs a policy synergy model to examine its role in achieving net-zero goals. This article measures the policy synergy and effectiveness of China’s carbon neutrality goals in different years through policy evaluation theory and coupling models. Results show China’s net carbon emissions have passed through three cycles—rapid rise, gradual growth, and slow decline—while policy synergy peaked in 2011, 2014, and 2016, aligning with changes in emission growth rates. The significance of this discovery indicates the pulse effect of China’s green policies. In key starting years such as the 12th and 13th Five-Year Plans, China has invested a significant amount of green policy resources. Synergy levels vary by measure: When applying market economy tools, the deterrent effect of command-and-control should be reduced; command-and-control should be paired only with regulation; fiscal measures should be balanced against guidance to avoid counteracting effects. Internal equilibrium between measures is crucial, with mandatory and flexible tools configured separately to maximize policy effectiveness for net-zero emissions. This study expands the quantitative research on policy coordination and effectiveness analysis. At the same time, it provides policy-level guidance and optimization for the realization of the carbon neutrality goal, avoiding the waste and redundancy of policy resources Full article

This study investigated rice bran and green Khao Dawk Mali 105 (KDML 105) rice grains as alternative protein sources for plant-based yogurt. However, there is a lack of systematic investigation on the application of enzyme-extracted proteins from green KDML 105 rice and rice bran in fermented yogurt systems. Proteins were obtained via enzyme-assisted extraction to enhance yield and bioactive compound release prior to formulation. Physicochemical, compositional, rheological, bioactive, and sensory properties were evaluated. Yogurts by green rice protein extract (GRE) and green rice bran protein extract (GBE) formed softer gel networks than soy yogurt, exhibiting lower water-holding capacity and higher syneresis, reflecting differences in protein aggregation during fermentation. Nevertheless, green rice (GR) and green rice bran (GB) yogurts contained significantly higher protein levels (1.93–2.47-fold) than the control. They also demonstrated enhanced bioactive properties, with increased total phenolic content (1.07–1.51-fold), total flavonoid content (2.10–4.35-fold), DPPH radical scavenging activity (1.07–1.16-fold), and FRAP values (1.46–1.98-fold). Sensory evaluation indicated good acceptability, particularly for GR formulations, which achieved a mean score of 7 with favorable texture and flavor attributes. These findings highlight the technological feasibility of utilizing green rice and rice bran proteins as primary ingredients in rice-based fermented yogurt alternatives with improved bioactive functionality. Full article

Fungal pigments have gained attention as eco-friendly and versatile materials for green nanotechnology because of their varied chemical structures, inherent redox properties, and strong metal ion-binding capabilities. These pigments, such as polyketides, azaphilones, melanins, and carotenoids, can function simultaneously as reducing, capping, and surface-functionalizing agents, facilitating the environmentally friendly production of metallic nanoparticles without the use of harmful chemicals. This review provides a critical overview of recent progress in the production, extraction, and application of fungal pigments for nanoparticle synthesis, focusing on the mechanistic roles of pigment functional groups in metal ion reduction, nanoparticle nucleation, growth, and stabilization. The impact of pigment chemistry and reaction conditions on the nanoparticle size, shape, crystallinity, and colloidal stability was thoroughly examined. Additionally, this review highlights the emerging biomedical, environmental, and industrial applications of pigment-mediated nanoparticles, emphasizing their biocompatibility and functional adaptability. Key challenges, such as variability in pigment yield and composition, limited mechanistic validation, lack of standardized synthesis protocols, and insufficient toxicity assessment, are critically analyzed in this review. Finally, future directions are outlined, emphasizing the importance of process optimization, omics-guided pigment discovery, and comprehensive safety evaluations as crucial steps toward the scalable and reliable use of fungal pigment-mediated nanoparticle synthesis in sustainable nanotechnology. Full article

This study evaluates the performance of six feature selection methods (BORUTA, LASSO, RFE, XGBoost, FSM, and SEV) and five predictive modelling techniques (ANN, MARS, RST, SRT, and SVM) for the spatial estimation of municipal waste accumulation rates across 79 districts in the Slovak Republic. Using a 2022 cross-sectional dataset comprising 45 socio-economic and demographic variables, the study focuses on spatial prediction for unseen districts rather than temporal forecasting. Feature selection results indicate that BORUTA, RFE, and XGBoost consistently identify key predictors, notably the share of three-person households, the density of transport and warehousing companies, and average monthly wages. Model robustness was ensured through repeated random sub-sampling (30 iterations, 70/30 split) and validated using the Friedman test with Nemenyi post hoc comparisons (α = 0.05). The highest accuracy was achieved by MARS and ANN models coupled with SEV selection (MAE ≈ 28–30 kg/(person·year), MAPE ≈ 6%, R² > 0.88), and by SVM with XGBoost (MAE ≈ 30 kg/(person·year), R² ≈ 0.90). Reducing the predictor set from ten to five resulted in only minor performance degradation (MAPE increase < 1 pp), confirming the effectiveness of dimensionality reduction. The proposed approach enables accurate, computationally efficient waste generation estimation, thereby supporting regional planning and evidence-based policy development. In a broader context, the findings contribute to the implementation of the European Green Deal and circular economy objectives by providing tools for spatially targeted waste management strategies, directly aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Full article

Membrane structure sports stadiums, characterized by high strength, high formability, and distinctive architectural expression, represent an emerging direction in contemporary sports architecture. This study investigates how perceived relative advantage, green value, perceived gain, and social influence affect consumers’ intentions to experience and consume in membrane structure sports stadiums, with particular attention to the mediating role of perceived usefulness. Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) as the theoretical framework, questionnaire data were collected and empirically tested using structural equation modeling. The results indicate that perceived relative advantage, green value, perceived gain, and social influence have significant positive effects on experience and consumption intention, and that perceived usefulness plays a significant mediating role in these relationships. The study clarifies the mechanisms through which these factors shape intention in the context of membrane structure sports stadiums and offers theoretical and empirical support for their promotion and development. Full article

Achieving sustainable maritime transport requires comprehensive understanding of port-related emissions and evidence-based mitigation strategies. Maritime shipping significantly contributes to air pollution in port cities, threatening environmental sustainability and public health, yet comprehensive emission inventories remain scarce for major ports in developing economies. This study presents the first bottom-up emission inventory for Ambarlı Port, Turkey’s largest container port, utilizing AIS data from Global Fishing Watch for calendar year 2025. Emissions of CO₂, NO_x, SO₂, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, CO, and NMVOC were quantified using EMEP/EEA activity-based methodology with IMO Tier II emission factors and vessel type-specific load factors (75% for passenger, 45% for cargo) from ENTEC guidelines. Non-commercial vessels (tugs, service craft, fishing vessels) and lay-up vessels exceeding six months continuous berthing were excluded to focus on active commercial shipping operations, resulting in a validated dataset of 10,267 port visits from commercial cargo, passenger, and bunker vessels. Annual emissions from active commercial vessels totaled 404,766 tonnes CO₂, 8487 tonnes NO_x, 6724 tonnes SO₂, 914 tonnes PM₁₀, and 849 tonnes PM_2.5. Passenger vessels dominated the inventory (93.3% of CO₂) due to high auxiliary power demands for hotel services and elevated load factors, while cargo vessels contributed 6.5% despite representing 61.4% of port visits. Turkish-flagged vessels accounted for the majority of domestic ferry traffic. These findings provide baseline data for air quality management in the Istanbul metropolitan area and support policy development regarding shore power implementation, with particular emphasis on reducing emissions from passenger vessels with extended berth times. From a policy perspective, prioritized shore power investment at passenger ferry terminals emerges as the most cost-effective emission reduction strategy, with potential to eliminate over 90% of port-related air pollutant emissions through public-private partnership models. Full article

In this study, Chinese medicinal herbs were evaluated as potential antibiotic substitutes for Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). Forty-five herbs were initially screened for antibacterial activity against Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, and Shigella flexneri. Nine herbs exhibiting broad-spectrum inhibitory effects were selected and subjected to microbial fermentation, after which their antibacterial activities were reassessed and applied as dietary supplements in feeding trials. The results showed that fermentation altered the antibacterial activities of several herbs and enhanced their overall functional performance. Dietary supplementation with fermented Chinese herbal medicine did not adversely affect feed utilization but significantly improved hematological parameters, liver and kidney function indicators, antioxidant capacity, and nonspecific immune responses. Furthermore, turtles fed fermented herbal diets exhibited higher survival rates following bacterial challenge. Intestinal microbiota analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that fermented herbal supplementation modulated microbial community structure by reducing potential pathogens and increasing beneficial bacterial taxa associated with intestinal health. These findings suggest that microbial fermentation effectively enhances the biological efficacy of Chinese medicinal herbs. Fermented herbal feed additives represent a promising green alternative to antibiotics for soft-shelled turtle aquaculture. The global ban on prophylactic antibiotics drives the need for safe, effective feed alternatives. Microbial fermentation of Chinese herbs (FCM) is proposed to enhance efficacy and detoxification, but its comprehensive effects in aquaculture require deeper investigation. This study evaluated compound unfermented (CM) and fermented (FCM) Chinese herbal supplements on the Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). Initial screening showed fermentation generally enhanced the antibacterial activity of the herbs against common enteric pathogens (S. enteritidis, E. coli, S. flexneri). Results indicated that the FCM diet significantly improved physiological status, leading to higher red blood cell counts, better liver/kidney function (reduced ALT/AST, UREA), and stronger immune/antioxidant responses (increased Lysozyme and T-AOC) compared to CM or control diets. Critically, the FCM group achieved the highest survival rates across all single and combined pathogen challenges, demonstrating superior protective efficacy. Furthermore, FCM effectively modulated the gut microbiota, enriching beneficial fermentative bacteria. In conclusion, microbial fermentation significantly amplifies the health-promoting and protective benefits of Chinese herbal supplements in soft-shelled turtles, positioning FCM as a promising green alternative for disease control in aquaculture. Full article

The development of sustainable alternatives to fossil-based feedstocks is a global priority in light of climate change and resource depletion. Seaweeds, particularly green seaweeds, represent promising candidates for biorefinery applications due to their rapid growth, high carbohydrate content, and non-competition with arable land. In this study, the feasibility of lactic acid production from acid hydrolysates of the green seaweed Ulva pertusa was systematically investigated. Proximate composition analysis revealed that dried Ulva pertusa contained 52.3% carbohydrates, highlighting its suitability as a fermentation substrate. Acid hydrolysis with dilute sulfuric acid released 23.8 g of fermentable monosaccharides per 100 g of biomass, with L-rhamnose and D-glucose as the predominant sugars. Fermentation experiments were conducted using five Lactobacillus strains (L. casei, L. plantarum, L. brevis, L. salivarius, and L. rhamnosus). Among these, L. rhamnosus and L. salivarius achieved the highest lactic acid yields (0.66 g g⁻¹), followed by L. plantarum (0.63 g g⁻¹), whereas L. casei and L. brevis exhibited comparatively lower yields (0.46 and 0.39 g g⁻¹, respectively). Time-course analysis demonstrated that the superior strains reached maximum productivity within 9 h, significantly faster than typical lignocellulosic feedstocks such as corn stover, which require extensive pretreatment and longer fermentation times. Furthermore, the mineral-rich composition of Ulva pertusa (notably Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺) provided intrinsic nutrients that supported microbial growth, thereby reducing the requirement for external supplementation. Comparative evaluation with lignocellulosic hydrolysates confirmed that Ulva pertusa offers higher efficiency, faster kinetics, and lower process complexity. To our knowledge, this work represents the first comprehensive assessment of multiple Lactobacillus strains for lactic acid production from Ulva pertusa hydrolysates. The findings highlight the unique advantages of green seaweeds as a sustainable biomass resource and contribute to the advancement of marine biomass-based biorefineries. Future studies should focus on improving the utilization of non-fermentable sugars, optimizing fermentation strategies, and evaluating techno-economic feasibility on an industrial scale. Full article

Waterborne two-component (2K) coatings are attractive for spray-applied wood finishing because crosslinking can provide durable films while reducing VOC emissions; however, practical use is often limited by short post-mixing workability, viscosity drift after activation, and restricted film-forming feasibility under ambient conditions. This study established a stepwise formulation strategy by sequentially screening emulsion Tg distribution, neutralizer–pH conditions, methacrylic acid (MAA) content, hardener type, and rheology packages. Increasing shell Tg progressively raised minimum film-forming temperature, whereas gel time increased sharply beyond an intermediate range, defining a practical trade-off between ambient film formation and post-mixing workability. Neutralizer identity strongly affected the gel time–pH response, and a practical condition around pH 6.6 was selected for subsequent screening. Increasing MAA reduced particle size but also increased viscosity and, above 3 wt%, caused pronounced foaming after activation. Hardener screening showed that film-forming viability had to be satisfied before viscosity stability could be used for ranking; an HDI/IPDI-based hardener gave the lowest viscosity drift among the film-forming candidates. Final validation showed stable appearance and largely unchanged film properties from 0 to 7 h after mixing, with the first measurable deviations appearing at 8 h. Full article

The spatiotemporal dynamics of the Air Quality Index (AQI) and its response to vegetation regulation require further investigation. Using multi-source data from 2020 in Shandong Province, China, this study analyzed the effects of vegetation greenness (NDVI, LAI, EVI), ecological efficiency (Net Primary Productivity, NPP), and landscape structure on AQI within 3 km grids. Monthly correlation analyses revealed that AQI peaks in January (125.09), June (99.01), and December (105.81). PM_2.5, O₃, and PM₁₀ were the primary pollutants in winter, summer, and spring/autumn, respectively. Vegetation showed a significant purifying effect from June to September. NPP (r = −0.83) was more effective in mitigating air pollution than greenness-related indices (r = −0.48). Pollution mitigation was enhanced by vegetation patches with complex shapes and dispersed configurations. During the non-growing season, the vegetation alleviating effect weakened considerably, and a decoupling between greenness and ecological efficiency occurred. This decoupling was associated with a stronger positive correlation between population density and AQI. The findings highlight the importance of seasonal vegetation dynamics and landscape optimization for regional air quality management. Full article