Search Results (18,249)

This study aimed to identify the optimal concentration of seaweed extract (SE) for enhancing growth, photosynthetic traits, antioxidant activity, and bioactive compound accumulation in Thai basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plants cultivated in a fully controlled plant factory. Basil plants were foliar-sprayed twice weekly with five SE concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 mL·L⁻¹), while untreated plants served as controls. After 28 days of transplanting, plant growth parameters, photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll pigments, antioxidant activity, and the concentrations of phenolic acids and rosmarinic acid (RA) were analyzed. Moderate SE concentrations (1.0–2.0 mL·L⁻¹) significantly enhanced plant growth, chlorophyll a, carotenoid levels, DPPH radical scavenging, and total flavonoid content relative to control. The 2.0 mL·L⁻¹ treatment produced the highest total phenolic content (1.88-fold increase over the control) and was associated with elevated benzoic acid, rutin, quercetin, and kaempferol, along with reduced trans-cinnamic acid, indicating activation of the phenylpropanoid pathway. Moreover, all SE treatments significantly increased RA accumulation. These findings demonstrate that SE is an effective, sustainable biostimulant for Thai basil, with 2.0 mL·L⁻¹ as the optimal concentration for maximizing growth and phytochemical production. Full article

Sesame seed oil is a bioactive-rich lipid source, notable for lignans, tocopherols, and unsaturated fatty acids that underpin its antioxidant and cardioprotective properties. This study optimized two innovative, non-thermal extraction techniques—pulsed electric field (PEF) and ultrasound bath-assisted extraction (UBAE)—to maximize yield and preserve oil quality for functional food applications. A blocked definitive screening design combined with response surface methodology modeled the effects of energy power (X₁, 60–100%), liquid-to-solid ratio (X₂, 10–20 mL/g), and extraction time (X₃, 10–30 min) on fat content, DPPH antiradical activity, and oxidative stability indices (Conjugated Dienes, CDs/Conjugated Trienes, CTs). UBAE achieved the highest fat yield—59.0% at low energy (60%), high X₂ (20 mL/g), and short X₃ (10 min)—while PEF maximized DPPH to 36.0 μmol TEAC/kg oil at high energy (100%), moderate X₂ (17 mL/g), and short X₃ (10 min). CDs were minimized to 19.78 mmol/kg (UBAE, 60%, 10 mL/g, 10 min) and CTs to 3.34 mmol/kg (UBAE, 60%, 12 mL/g, 10 min). Partial least squares analysis identified X₂ and X₃ as the most influential variables (VIP > 0.8), with energy–time interplay (X₁ × X₃) being critical for antioxidant capacity. Compared to cold-pressing and Soxhlet extraction, PEF and cold-pressing retained higher antioxidant activity (~19 μmol TEAC/kg) and oxidative stability (TBARS ≤ 0.30 mmol MDAE/kg), while Soxhlet—though yielding 55.65% fat—showed the poorest quality profile (Totox value > 560). Both non-thermal techniques can deliver bioactive-rich sesame oil with lower oxidative degradation, supporting their application in functional foods aimed at improving dietary antioxidant intake and mitigating lipid oxidation burden. PEF at high energy/short time and UBAE at low energy/short time present complementary, scalable options for producing high-value edible oils aligned with human health priorities. As a limitation, we did not directly quantify lignans or tocopherols in this study, and future work will address their measurement and bioaccessibility. Full article

The current investigation utilized stem nodes from pre-established aseptic lines of Mussaenda pubescens as explants to optimize an efficient in vitro propagation protocol and investigated the effect of different light qualities (white, red, blue, and green) on metabolite accumulation in micropropagated plantlets. The findings demonstrated that the optimal medium for shoot proliferation was Murashige and Skoog basal medium supplemented with 6-Benzylaminopurine 2.0 mg·L⁻¹ and α-naphthaleneacetic acid 0.2 mg·L⁻¹, achieving a multiplication coefficient of 12.2 after 30 days. Rooting was more effective on Murashige and Skoog basal medium containing α-naphthaleneacetic acid 0.1 mg·L⁻¹ and activated charcoal 1 g·L⁻¹, resulting in a 100% rooting rate. During acclimatization, a substrate mixture of perlite:vermiculite: peat soil (1:1:1) promoted vigorous root development with a 100% survival rate at post-transplantation. Light quality significantly influenced plant morphology: red light stimulated stem elongation, while blue light increased biomass accumulation. Broad-target metabolomics revealed distinct metabolite profiles under different light spectra, with differentially accumulated metabolites primarily belonging to terpenoids, organic acids, lipids, and flavonoids. Specifically, red light enhanced the levels of terpenoids and lipids; blue light promoted the synthesis of specific triterpenoid saponins and lipids; while green light increased the content of certain terpenes and broadly upregulated a wide spectrum of lipids. This work provides a robust framework for the commercial micropropagation of Mussaenda pubescens and elucidates the strategic use of light quality to enhance the production of its valuable medicinal metabolites, including terpenoids and lipids. Full article

Additive manufacturing is driving a significant change in industry, extending beyond prototyping to the inclusion of printed parts in final designs. Stereolithography (SLA) is a polymerization technique valued for producing highly detailed parts with smooth surface finishes. This study presents a hybrid intelligent framework for modeling and optimizing the SLA 3D printer process’s parameters for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) photopolymer parts. The nonlinear relationships between the process’s parameters (Orientation, Lifting Speed, Lifting Distance, Exposure Time) and multiple performance characteristics (ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, modulus of elasticity, Shore D hardness, and surface roughness), which represent complex relationships, were investigated. A Taguchi design of the experiment with an L18 orthogonal array was employed as an efficient experimental design. A novel hybrid fuzzy logic–Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, ARGOS (Adaptive Rule Generation with Optimized Structure), was developed to automatically generate high-accuracy Mamdani-type fuzzy inference systems (FISs) from experimental data. The algorithm starts by customizing Modified Learn From Example (MLFE) to create an initial FIS. Subsequently, the generated FIS is tuned using PSO to develop and enhance predictive accuracy. The ARGOS models provided excellent performances, achieving correlation coefficients (R²) exceeding 0.9999 for all five output responses. Once the FISs were tuned, a multi-objective optimization was carried out based on the weighted sum method. This step helped to identify a well-balanced set of parameters that optimizes the key qualities of the printed parts, ensuring that the results are not just mathematically ideal, but also genuinely helpful for real-world manufacturing. The results showed that the proposed hybrid approach is a robust and highly accurate method for the modeling and multi-objective optimization of the SLA 3D process. Full article

Ginko (Ginkgo biloba L.) is a widely distributed ornamental tree that produces large quantities of leaves annually, turning golden yellow in autumn due to chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid retention. While green ginkgo leaves and standardized extracts have been extensively studied, senescent and naturally fallen leaves remain only scarcely investigated, despite representing a substantial biomass resource. In this study, we analyzed yellow ginkgo leaves collected directly from trees and those naturally shed at four time points during autumn. We determined pigment composition, total polyphenols, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and the concentrations of five major biflavonoids. Chlorophylls decreased progressively in tree-collected leaves, whereas carotenoid levels remained stable or slightly elevated. Polyphenolic compounds were more abundant in fallen leaves. Biflavonoid profiling revealed the presence of amentoflavone, bilobetin, ginkgetin, isoginkgetin, and sciadopitysin, with sciadopitysin as the most abundant. Total biflavonoid content reached up to 8 mg/g dw, with higher levels in fallen leaves compared to those collected from the tree. These findings highlight yellow ginkgo leaves, particularly fallen ones, as a sustainable and non-invasive source of pharmacologically relevant biflavonoids. However, further research is needed to optimize eco-friendly extraction strategies and to evaluate safety aspects. Full article

The analysis of cationic surfactants with high selectivity is a source of great research interest. In this study, the absorption spectra of tetra-sulphonated metal phthalocyanine (coordinated by iron, zinc, cobalt, and nickel) in the presence of cationic surfactants in complete aqueous solutions were investigated. Interestingly, the absorption spectra of tetra-sulphonated nickel phthalocyanine (NiS₄Pc) exhibits a remarkable response to the cationic surfactants compared with other water-soluble metal phthalocyanines. Further investigation has yielded important findings that cationic surfactants with carbon chains containing twelve or more carbons cause distinct spectral responses, and the response behaviors are highly similar, showing a typical structure–activity relationship. Studies on the mechanism of response indicate that the spectral behavior could be attributed to the dramatic binding effects of structure-matched cationic surfactants on the self-association equilibrium of nickel phthalocyanine. Based on the above findings, we applied NiS₄Pc as a directly responsive optical probe for the quantitative analysis of long carbon chain cationic surfactants. Due to the high degree of similarity in optical responding, this method can be used to determine the single cationic surfactant and the total cationic surfactants. It is worth mentioning that NiS₄Pc is a water-soluble optical probe that can be used in a complete aqueous phase. Therefore, this method is not only selective but also easy and fast to operate, without the need for organic solvents. Under optimized conditions, the average calibration curve equation of the method is y = 1.66 − 0.0173 x, r = 0.9987, with a limit of detection of 3 × 10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹. This method has been applied to the determination of real samples, for which we obtained satisfactory results. We not only describe the establishment of a new method for the direct quantitative analysis of cationic surfactants but also propose a new strategy for obtaining phthalocyanine-based optical probes in this study, which explored the novel application of phthalocyanine compounds in analytical sciences. Full article

Early plant disease detection is crucial for sustainable crop production and food security. Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici, poses a major threat to wheat and barley. This study evaluates the feasibility of using hyperspectral imaging and machine learning for early detection of stem rust and examines the cross-crop transferability of diagnostic models. Hyperspectral datasets of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were collected under controlled conditions, before visible symptoms appeared. Multi-stage preprocessing, including spectral normalization and standardization, was applied to enhance data quality. Feature engineering focused on spectral curve morphology using first-order derivatives, categorical transformations, and extrema-based descriptors. Models based on Support Vector Machines, Logistic Regression, and Light Gradient Boosting Machine were optimized through Bayesian search. The best-performing feature set achieved F1-scores up to 0.962 on wheat and 0.94 on barley. Cross-crop transferability was evaluated using zero-shot cross-domain validation. High model transferability was confirmed, with F1 > 0.94 and minimal false negatives (<2%), indicating the universality of spectral patterns of stem rust. Experiments were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions; therefore, direct field transferability may be limited. These findings demonstrate that hyperspectral imaging with robust preprocessing and feature engineering enables early diagnostics of rust diseases in cereal crops. Full article

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has created unprecedented global health challenges, necessitating rapid and reliable diagnostic strategies. The spike (S) protein, particularly its S1 subunit, plays a critical role in viral entry, making it a prime biomarker for early detection. In this study, we present a disposable, low-cost, and portable electrochemical biosensor employing specifically optimized aptamers (Optimers) for SARS-CoV-2 S1 recognition. The sensing approach is based on aptamer–protein complex formation in solution, followed by immobilization onto pencil graphite electrodes (PGEs). The key parameters, including aptamer concentration, interaction time, redox probe concentration, and immobilization time, were systematically optimized by performing electrochemical measurement in redox probe solution containing ferri/ferrocyanide using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique.Under optimized conditions, the biosensor achieved an ultralow detection limit of 18.80 ag/mL with a wide linear range (10⁻¹–10⁴ fg/mL) in buffer. Importantly, the sensor exhibited excellent selectivity against hemagglutinin antigen and MERS-CoV-S1 protein, while maintaining high performance in artificial saliva with a detection limit of 14.42 ag/mL. Furthermore, its integration with a smartphone-connected portable potentiostat underscores strong potential for point-of-care use. To our knowledge, this is the first voltammetric biosensor utilizing optimized aptamers (Optimers) specific to SARS-CoV-2 S1 on disposable PGEs, providing a robust and field-deployable platform for early COVID-19 diagnostics. Full article

Timely reporting of microbiological results is critical for clinical decision-making, particularly in pediatric hospitals where delays can significantly impact outcomes. Despite advances in laboratory automation, workflow inefficiencies and resistance to change remain barriers to improvement in Latin America. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of implementing a Kaizen-based change management strategy on reducing turnaround time (TAT) in the microbiology laboratory of Hospital Roberto del Río, Santiago, Chile. We conducted a prospective, pre–post intervention study focusing on blood culture processing. The baseline period (July 2022) included 961 cultures processed with the BacT/ALERT^® 3D system. A Kaizen/LEAN intervention was designed, comprising workflow redesign, staff training, and installation of the BACT/ALERT^® Virtuo^® (bioMerieux, Marcy l’Etoile, France) continuous-loading blood culture system. The intervention engaged all technical and professional staff in a five-day Kaizen immersion, followed by eight months of monitoring. Outcomes were assessed by comparing TAT for positive blood cultures before and after implementation (June 2023, 496 samples). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test, with p < 0.05 considered significant. The intervention achieved a median reduction in TAT from 68.22 h (IQR 56.14–88.59) pre-intervention to 51.52 h (IQR 41.17–66.57) post-intervention, corresponding to a 24.48% improvement (p < 0.001), surpassing the 20% target. Time to preliminary Gram reporting also decreased, and workflow standardization enhanced staff productivity and culture validation frequency. Implementation of Kaizen principles in a pediatric microbiology laboratory significantly reduced blood culture TAT and improved workflow efficiency. Beyond technological upgrades, active staff engagement and structured change management were key to success. These findings support the applicability of Kaizen-based interventions to optimize laboratory performance in resource-constrained public healthcare systems. Full article

Textile industries release dyes into wastewater, and when present above certain levels, these dyes pose serious risks because of their high toxicity. This study investigates the removal of Sunset Yellow (SY) and Methylene Violet (MV) dyes from wastewater using chitosan (CS) and polysilicate acid (pSi) in the structure of aluminum-based coagulants, resulting in hybrid formulations (CS@Al, Al/pSi, and CS@Al/pSi). Among the various treatment methods that have been applied for the removal of dyes, the coagulation/flocculation process was chosen in the present study, as it is a cheap and effective method. Coagulation performance was optimized for pH, coagulant dosage, temperature and mixing time. The Al/pSi coagulant achieved nearly complete SY removal (98.8%) at 25 mg/L dosage and pH 3.0. MV removal in single-dye solutions was limited, with Al/pSi achieving only 26.6% removal at pH 3.0. However, in mixed-dye systems (SY/MV), synergistic interactions increased MV removal up to 94.4% and SY removal to 100%. Hybrid CS@Al/pSi showed lower SY removal (36.4%) for SY at 50 mg/L but provided stable floc formation, particularly in mixtures of anionic and cationic dyes. Application to real textile wastewater confirmed the high efficiency of the optimized coagulants, particularly with Al/pSi_20,A and AlCl₃, indicating their potential for industrial wastewater treatment. SEM, EDS, XRD, and FTIR analyses revealed structural consolidation, increased surface area, and successful dye adsorption, explaining the high removal efficiency. Full article

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Proteus mirabilis poses a significant threat in porcine farming and public health, highlighting the need for alternative biocontrol agents. This study aimed to isolate and characterize a lytic bacteriophage with therapeutic potential against MDR P. mirabilis. Using the clinical MDR P. mirabilis strain Pm 07 as host, a bacteriophage, vB_Pmc_P-07 (P-07), was successfully isolated from fecal and sewage samples via an enrichment protocol. Phage P-07 forms plaques surrounded by a distinct translucent “halo,” suggesting the production of depolymerase. It achieved high titers of up to 1.40 × 10⁸ PFU/mL and exhibited a narrow host range, high stability across a broad range of temperatures (40–60 °C) and pH (4–12), as well as considerable anti-biofilm activity. An optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.001 was determined. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a linear double-stranded DNA genome of 58,582 bp with a GC content of 46.91%, encoding 63 open reading frames. Crucially, no virulence or antibiotic resistance genes were detected, supporting its safety profile. Phylogenetic analysis classified P-07 within the Casjensviridae family, closely related to phages PM87 and pPM01. These findings indicate that phage P-07 is a novel, safe, and effective lytic phage with strong potential as a biocontrol agent against biofilm-forming MDR P. mirabilis in swine. Full article

Celery (Apium graveolens L.) is a widely cultivated leafy vegetable of significant agronomic and nutritional importance. Owing to its high nutritional value, global demand for celery has steadily increased. However, under natural cultivation conditions, uncontrolled light exposure often prolongs the seedling stage and impairs celery growth quality. Improving the nutritional quality of celery through artificial regulation of the light environment has therefore become an important research focus. This work aimed to elucidate the impact of varying light–dark cycles on the growth characteristics and nutritional attributes of celery. Six light–dark cycle treatments (4 h/2 h, 8 h/4 h, 16 h/8 h, 24 h/12 h, 32 h/16 h, and 40 h/20 h) were applied, using ‘Oster Ziyu Xiangqin’ as the plant material under a constant light intensity of 400 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹. The results revealed that the 24 h/12 h light–dark treatment significantly enhanced plant height, total fresh weight, and root vigor and showed superior performance in photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. The 32 h/16 h treatment significantly enhanced the accumulation of soluble sugars, proteins, total phenolic compounds, and flavonoids, as well as the activities of antioxidant enzymes, while reducing nitrate-nitrogen levels. In conclusion, the 24 h/12 h light–dark cycle was most conducive to the growth and photosynthetic performance of celery, whereas the 32 h/16 h treatment optimally enhanced its nutritional quality and antioxidant capacity. Full article

In the context of carbon neutrality, ammonia-coal co-firing is considered an effective way to reduce emissions from coal-fired units. This paper takes a 125 MW tangential combustion boiler as the research object and combines CFD and CHEMKIN models to study the effects of ammonia injection position (L1–L3) and blending ratio (0–30%) on combustion characteristics and NO generation. The results indicate that L1 (same-layer premixed injection) can form a continuous and stable flame structure and maintain low NO emissions. L2 (fuel-staged configuration) shows the highest burnout rate and strong denitration potential under high mixing conditions, while L3 has an unstable flow field and the worst combustion structure. NO emissions show a typical “first rise and then fall” trend with the blending ratio. L1 performs optimally in the range of 15–20%, and L2 peaks at 20%. Mechanism analysis indicates that R430 is the main NO generation reaction, while R15 and R427 dominate the NO reduction process. The synergistic reaction between NH_x free radicals and coke can effectively inhibit the formation of NO and improve combustion efficiency. Full article

The effective design and operation of hydraulic structures, particularly open channel spillways, are crucial for water resource management and flood risk reduction in dams. A clear understanding of flow properties, such as velocity fluctuations and discharge, across various depths is essential for optimizing performance. In this study, experimental analysis and numerical simulation using FLOW-3D were combined to investigate the hydraulic parameters of a scaled model of the Romaine IV spillway located in Quebec, Canada. Measurements focused on flow properties, including velocity fluctuations at various discharge rates in specific flow depths, at selected points along the spillway. The numerical model was assessed by reproducing experimental geometry, initial water levels, and boundary conditions, and through sensitivity analyses to ensure accurate flow representation. Comparisons of flow rates of 180, 240, and 340 L/s showed that while simulations with the renormalized group (RNG) turbulence model reliably predicted average velocities, they underestimated maximum values and overestimated minimum values, especially at higher discharges. The results highlight the difficulty of accurately capturing velocity extremes in turbulent flows and the need for further model refinement. This was evident from the 60% discrepancy in minimum velocities observed at the channel center. Despite these discrepancies, the study advances our understanding of spillway performance and identifies avenues to improve the accuracy of numerical modeling in hydraulic engineering. Full article

Bioreduction is an effective method to reduce Cr(VI) for bioremediation. In this study, a hexavalent chromium-reducing bacterium with salt tolerant abilities, Acinetobacter ZQ-1, was isolated, which could efficiently reduce Cr(VI) under a wide range of pH (6.0–9.0), temperatures (28–42 °C) and coexisting heavy metals (Mn²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Fe³⁺). It is worth mentioning that the strain ZQ-1 could reduce Cr(VI) containing 15% (w/v) NaCl, showing strong salt tolerance. Under optimal culture conditions, strain ZQ-1 was able to completely reduce 50 mg/L of Cr(VI) in 24 h. The metabolic data of ZQ-1 showed that salt stress significantly altered the composition of metabolites, in which the accumulation of compatible solutes such as Arginine, Leucine, Lysine and Proline contributed to the alleviation of high salt stress for strain ZQ-1. Meanwhile, the increased content of alginate and betaine also helped to maintain the normal function of strain ZQ-1 in a high-salt environment. This is of great significance for the development, utilization and mechanism of action of salt-tolerant hexavalent chromium-reducing bacteria in the future. Full article