Search Results (1,310)

The degradation of Calcisols in the arid regions of Central Asia constrains sustainable agricultural production because of low organic matter content, poor aggregate stability, nutrient limitations, and increasing climatic stress. This study evaluated a rhizosphere engineering approach based on the native plant growth-promoting bacterium Pseudomonas veronii Ps-S/Sh-1503/2022 for the rehabilitation of degraded Calcisols. Four-year field experiments (2022–2025) using Sorghum bicolor assessed plant growth, rhizosphere microbial indicators, physiological responses, pathogen suppression, crop productivity, and implementation feasibility through economic and environmental assessments. Inoculation with P. veronii increased root depth by 45%, improved aboveground biomass, increased the ratio of culturable bacteria to Fusarium spp. from 6.1 to 10.3, and reduced Fusarium abundance by 29.4%. Structural equation modeling suggested that trophic support (42.1%), aggregate stabilization (27.4%), biocontrol (23.3%), and defense-related responses (7.2%) were the principal pathways associated with soil rehabilitation. Economic assessment indicated that the combined inoculation and mineral fertilization treatment provided the highest profitability, while environmental assessment estimated potential reductions in mineral fertilizer use and greenhouse gas emissions. These findings suggest that rhizosphere engineering using a native P. veronii strain represents a promising, economically viable, and climate-smart approach for improving the biological functioning of degraded Calcisols and supporting sustainable agricultural production. Full article

Microorganism inoculants are becoming increasingly essential in sustainable agriculture because they improve nutrient availability, promote plant growth, inhibit disease, and increase crop tolerance to environmental stresses. Nonetheless, their field performance is frequently hampered by poor storage survival, low rhizosphere establishment, and susceptibility to harsh climatic conditions. Encapsulation technologies provide an effective solution by encapsulating microbial cells in a biodegradable matrix, extending shelf life, increasing vitality, and allowing for controlled release in the soil. This review focuses on four agriculturally significant microorganisms: Azotobacter chroococcum, Azospirillum brasilense, Pseudomonas brassicacearum, and Trichoderma harzianum. Their modes of action, including nitrogen fixation, phytohormone synthesis, pathogen inhibition, and stimulation of plant defense responses, are reviewed alongside recent advances in encapsulation strategies. Alginate-based formulations and proposed potential multi-species microbial consortia are discussed as promising strategies for improving inoculant performance. However, the successful development of multifunctional potential microbial formulations requires further investigation of microbial compatibility, formulation stability, synchronized release behaviour, and long-term storage performance before broad agricultural implementation can be achieved. Full article

The study presents an integrated assessment of water quality in wadis of the Bizerte Lagoon catchment (Northern Tunisia), using benthic diatom assemblages. Seasonal sampling was conducted between winter 2023 and winter 2024 in three wadis exposed to varying anthropogenic pressures. In each wadi, upstream and downstream stations were surveyed to assess spatial variability. Diatom assemblages showed clear responses to both environmental gradient and seasonal variation. Pollution-tolerant taxa, particularly Navicula veneta, Gomphonema parvulum, and Nitzschia inconspicua, were mainly recorded during winter in downstream stations of wadis most impacted by nutrient enrichment and organic pollution. halophilic and marine-related taxa, including Gyrosigma kuetzingii, Navicula salinarum, Navicula simulata, Halamphora coffeaeformis and Haslea ostrearia, dominated during warmer seasons in the high-conductivity wadi. Pollution-sensitive taxa, such as Encyonema minutum, Cymbella affinis and Gomphonema affine, were restricted to the least disturbed wadi. Diatom-based indices confirmed the predominance of hypertrophic conditions in all wadis and revealed a clear gradient of environmental degradation, with ecological status ranging from moderate to poor and bad quality. These findings highlight the strong potential of benthic diatoms and their ecological indices as valuable tools for monitoring eutrophication and salinization gradients in Mediterranean coastal wadis, although their adaptation and calibration to Tunisian freshwater ecosystems still require further validation. Full article

Coastal sandy ecosystems face compounded abiotic stresses, including nutrient-poor soils, strong winds, and salt spray, making vegetation restoration highly challenging. Plant functional traits are key indicators of adaptive strategies under environmental stress, yet systematic studies on leaf, twig, and root functional traits of bamboo stands under different silvicultural regimes in coastal sandy land remain scarce. This study examined six stand types on Dongshan Island, Fujian Province: monospecific stands of Bambusa oldhamii Munro, Phyllostachys nidularia f. farcata Wen, and Bambusa tuldoides ‘Swolleninternode’, and their corresponding mixed stands with Casuarina equisetifolia L. (bamboo-to-C. equisetifolia ratio 7:3). Eighteen morphological and structural indices spanning three organ categories, leaf morphology (leaf area, specific leaf area [SLA], leaf tissue density [LTD], etc.), twig structure (wood density, dry matter content, etc.), and root morphology (specific root length [SRL], specific root surface area [SRA], root tissue density [RTD], etc.), were measured and analysed using Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA). Results: (1) Coefficients of variation (CV) for leaf and twig traits ranged from 11.29% to 74.61%; leaf area (CV = 74.61%) and twig wood density (CV = 71.91%) were most variable, indicating high phenotypic plasticity of bamboo in coastal sandy environments. (2) Twig wood density in monospecific stands of B. oldhamii (0.346 g cm⁻³) was significantly higher than in all other stands (p < 0.05), reflecting a conservative water-transport strategy; mixed stands of B. oldhamii had significantly higher SRL and SRA than other stands (p < 0.05), indicating stronger root resource-acquisition capacity. (3) PCA revealed that leaf area, leaf volume, SLA, LTD, SRL, average root diameter, total root volume, total root surface area, and twig wood density (TWD) were the key traits distinguishing stands under different silvicultural regimes; monospecific stands scored higher overall than mixed stands, reflecting superior leaf, twig, and root functional coordination. Different silvicultural regimes significantly shape the functional adaptive strategies of bamboo in coastal sandy land. Bamboo plants integrate leaf, twig, and root traits in a coordinated, resource-conservative manner to withstand coastal stresses. These findings provide a theoretical basis for bamboo species selection and mixed-stand configuration in coastal shelterbelt management. Full article

Oral cancer, predominantly represented by oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), remains a major global health burden due to its aggressive clinical behavior, high recurrence rates, and limited improvement in survival over recent decades. Despite advances in treatment modalities, patient outcomes remain poor largely due to late diagnosis, therapeutic resistance, and profound tumor heterogeneity. In particular, metabolic reprogramming has emerged as a central hallmark of oral carcinogenesis, enabling tumor cells to adapt to hypoxic and nutrient-deprived microenvironments while promoting proliferation, invasion, and treatment resistance. Traditional experimental models, including two-dimensional cell cultures and in vivo animal models, have provided important mechanistic insights. However, they fail to fully recapitulate the metabolic, structural, and cellular complexity of human tumors. Consequently, there is growing interest in more physiologically relevant platforms, such as three-dimensional spheroids, organoids, and patient-derived models, which better preserve tumor architecture and microenvironmental interactions. In parallel, multi-omics approaches are increasingly being integrated to dissect the molecular and metabolic complexity of oral cancer at unprecedented resolutions, while nanotechnology-based systems are emerging as promising tools for targeted drug delivery and improved therapeutic precision. This review discusses experimental models in oral cancer research, focusing on their ability to capture metabolic alterations and tumor heterogeneity. We further highlight their translational potential together with multi-omics integration and nanotechnology-based strategies for improving biomarker discovery, therapeutic stratification, and the development of more effective treatment approaches. Full article

Arid sandy soils are characterized by poor water retention, low nutrient availability, and limited productivity, posing major constraints to sustainable date palm cultivation under increasing water scarcity. A three-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the combined effects of bentonite (BN), humic substances (HS), and Bacillus polymyxa (BP) under three irrigation regimes (70, 85, and 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc)) on soil hydro-physical properties, nutrient uptake, and fruit quality of ‘Siwi’ date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Twelve treatment combinations (3 irrigation regimes × 4 soil amendment treatments) were evaluated over three consecutive growing seasons. The integrated application of BN, HS, and BP significantly improved soil hydro-physical properties by increasing field capacity and plant-available water while reducing bulk density. These improvements were associated with enhanced leaf N, P, and K concentrations and greater accumulation of total soluble solids, total and reducing sugars, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and β-carotene compared with the untreated control. The combined application of BN (12 kg palm⁻¹) + HS (1 L palm⁻¹) + BP (28 mL palm⁻¹) produced the most favorable overall responses. Moderate deficit irrigation (85% ETc) provided the best balance between fruit quality and water conservation, maintaining superior fruit biochemical quality while reducing irrigation water use by approximately 15% compared with full irrigation. Multivariate analyses further supported these findings by revealing strong positive associations among soil water availability, nutrient status, sugars, and antioxidant-related compounds, while climatic variables were closely associated with seasonal variation in fruit biochemical characteristics. Overall, the integrated application of bentonite, humic substances, and B. polymyxa under 85% ETc irrigation represents an effective management strategy for improving soil performance, enhancing fruit nutritional quality, and increasing water-use irrigation efficiency in sandy soils under arid conditions. Full article

The Murmansk Region (the Russian Arctic) faces severe environmental degradation due to heavy metal (HM) pollution from copper–nickel smelting, resulting in vast industrial barrens with elevated concentrations of copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni). Conventional phytostabilization methods are often ineffective or costly, necessitating alternative bioremediation strategies. This study evaluates the potential of microalgae and cyanobacteria for revegetating HM-contaminated substrates. Six strains of Nostoc-like morphotypes and three green microalgae were tested for Cu²⁺ tolerance (0.5–15 mg/L). While most strains exhibited growth inhibition at ≥3 mg/L Cu²⁺, Atlanticothrix sp. KPABG-154445, isolated from Tolbachik Volcano, showed positive growth at 2 mg/L Cu²⁺ under the tested conditions and recovering metabolic activity post-exposure. In sorption experiments, non-viable biomass achieved 68% Cu²⁺ removal at 2 mg/L, outperforming actively growing cultures. A microcosm experiment using copper-spiked nepheline slime (simulating mining waste) revealed Atlanticothrix sp. KPABG-154445’s ability to colonize nutrient-poor substrates, forming biocrusts covering 42% of the surface within one month, even under Cu²⁺ contamination (10 mg/kg). These findings highlight cyanobacteria, particularly strains such as KPABG-154445, as promising agents for the bioremediation of Arctic industrial barrens, leveraging their dual capacity for heavy metal tolerance and biocrust formation. Full article

As the main byproduct of edible mushroom processing, mushroom stems are often discarded due to their rough texture and poor palatability, resulting in resource waste. However, as a ruminant animal, sika deer has good fiber digestion ability, providing the possibility for the resource utilization of mushroom stems. This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with Lentinus edodes stem powder (LESP) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical parameters, immune responses, and gut microbiota composition in sika deer fawns. A total of 120 weaned fawns (120 ± 10 days old; 35.0 ± 1.0 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments, receiving a basal diet supplemented with 0% (control), 2.5% (LE1), 5% (LE2), or 7.5% (LE3) LESP for 35 days. Growth performance did not differ significantly among treatments (p > 0.05). However, apparent digestibility of ether extract and crude protein was significantly higher in the LE1 group (p < 0.05), while LE3 exhibited reduced digestibility of organic matter, ether extract, and crude protein (p < 0.05). Serum total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) levels increased with LESP inclusion, with the highest values observed in LE3 (p < 0.05). Serum glucose (GLU) decreased dose-dependently (p < 0.05). Immunoglobulin A (IgA), G (IgG), and M (IgM) concentrations were significantly elevated in LE2 and LE3 groups (p < 0.05). Gut microbiota analysis revealed that Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla. LE3 supplementation altered beta diversity and reduced microbial evenness. At the genus level, LE2 and LE3 increased the abundance of beneficial taxa such as Planomicrobium and Psychrobacter, while decreasing Ruminococcus and Clostridiaceae_Clostridium. In conclusion, adding 5% LESP to the diet can increase the digestibility of nutrients, enhance humoral immunity, and regulate the composition of the gut microbiota. This study promotes the transformation of mushroom stems from agricultural waste into functional feed additives, which helps reduce breeding costs, improve animal health, and provide a practical path for the coordinated and sustainable development of the edible mushroom industry and animal husbandry. Full article

Wheat is a major staple crop, and improving its productivity and grain quality is essential to meet rising global food demand. Biostimulants have attracted growing interest because they can enhance nutrient use efficiency, improve tolerance to environmental stresses, and support crop performance without acting as conventional fertilizers, yet a focused synthesis of their effects on wheat remains limited. Following a systematic search of Scopus and Web of Science (2000–2026), this review synthesizes 52 primary studies on microbial and non-microbial biostimulants in common and durum wheat, addressing grain yield, nutritional quality, and resilience to drought, salinity, heavy metals, and temperature extremes. Across studies, 88% reported significant positive effects and none reported a consistent negative effect; grain yield increases ranged from +6% to +123%, with parallel improvements in grain protein and micronutrient biofortification, notably zinc and iron. Microbial biostimulants, especially bacteria and microbial consortia, produced the largest but most variable gains, whereas non-microbial products gave more moderate and consistent responses. Benefits were greatest under low nitrogen, drought, and saline conditions and in nutrient-poor soils, and were modulated by wheat genotype and product dose. Biostimulants are promising tools for sustainable wheat production, though standardized field trials and reporting are still needed. Full article

Unrinsed surimi production has emerged as a sustainable alternative to conventional rinsed surimi due to its substantial water savings, reduced nutrient loss, and lower environmental footprint. However, poor gel strength and water-holding capacity remain major bottlenecks limiting its industrial application. This study investigated the effects of κ-carrageenan (κ-CG) on the rheological properties, textural characteristics, water distribution, intermolecular interactions, and microstructure of unrinsed surimi gels. The results showed that κ-CG enhanced gel properties in a concentration-dependent manner. At 0.75% κ-CG, gel strength increased to 47.0 g·cm (a 2.2-fold increase vs. control), water holding capacity (WHC) reached 97.9%, and cooking loss decreased to 4.0%. In contrast, at 1.0% κ-CG, gel strength and hardness further increased, but WHC declined slightly. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed that κ-CG promoted the conversion of free water to immobilized water, with the relative peak area of T₂₂ (immobilized water) increasing from 85.9% to 88.9% at 0.75% κ-CG. Protein solubility measurements indicated that hydrophobic interactions and disulfide bonds appeared to be the major contributors stabilizing the gel network. FTIR revealed enhanced hydrogen bonding via an O–H red shift and intensification with κ-CG, and amide I deconvolution showed that 0.75% κ-CG maximized β-sheet content while reducing α-helix, indicating ordered protein reorganization during heating. Quantitative SEM analysis further verified that 0.75% κ-CG produced the densest protein network with the maximum fractal dimension and minimum lacunarity, alongside reduced average pore area and porosity. These findings demonstrate that κ-CG at an appropriate level effectively improves the gel properties of unrinsed tilapia surimi by strengthening intermolecular interactions and optimizing water distribution, offering a practical approach for developing high-quality surimi products. Full article

Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench is a European native species typically associated with dry, sunny, sandy, and nutrient-poor habitats. In European herbal practice, preparations from H. arenarium inflorescences are traditionally used for the symptomatic relief of digestive complaints. Polyphenolic constituents, particularly flavonoid and chalcone derivatives, are among the most characteristic compounds detected in the inflorescences. Intensive harvesting and degradation of natural habitats have increased pressure on wild populations. Since H. arenarium is legally protected in many countries, biotechnological approaches for plant biomass production represent a promising alternative. In the present study, shoot and callus cultures were established, and detailed extract profiling was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detection and electrospray ionization multistage mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS³). Cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, anti-collagenase, and anti-hyaluronidase activities were also evaluated. In vitro-derived materials were compared with inflorescences and shoots of the maternal plant. The analyzed materials showed pronounced tissue-dependent metabolic differentiation. The highest callus growth rate was observed for the Ha-C-1 line, which also accumulated the highest levels of chlorogenic acid (25.80 ± 3.09 mg/g dry extract) and isochlorogenic acid A (55.83 ± 13.78 mg/g dry extract). Apigenin was detected in the inflorescence extract, reaching 3.55 ± 1.42 mg/g dry extract. The extracts did not markedly affect HaCaT viability at 15.63–500 µg/mL, while the strongest bioactivities were observed for inflorescence and maternal plant extracts. Full article

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are increasingly consumed worldwide, and higher consumption has been linked to higher risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This study examined the nutritional composition and quality, energy density, and hyperpalatability of UPFs available in the Italian food market according to their literature-derived NCD-risk categories. Products were classified into main food groups and subgroups and further categorized according to reported associations with NCD risk: positive, negative, or no reported association. Differences between the main food groups were analyzed in RStudio using non-parametric tests, with results summarized using medians and interquartile ranges. A total of 13,025 UPF products were included in the analysis. UPFs showed substantial variation in nutritional composition, nutritional quality, nutrients-of-concern levels, energy density, and hyperpalatability across the main food groups and literature-derived NCD-risk categories. Snacks represented the largest UPF group and showed the most consistently unfavorable profile, including high median energy, carbohydrate, saturated fat, and sugar contents, a high proportion of Nutri-Score D and E products, and the highest proportion of medium- and high-energy-density products. Overall, 64.3% of UPFs were classified as Nutri-Score D or E, indicating generally lower nutritional quality. However, unfavorable nutritional characteristics were not limited to UPF subgroups reportedly associated with increased NCD risk; some subgroups reportedly associated with lower or no reported NCD risk also contained products with poor nutritional quality, high energy density, or hyperpalatable profiles. These findings suggest that UPFs are not nutritionally uniform and that assessment of UPF-related health relevance should consider food group, subgroup, nutrient profile, energy density, and hyperpalatability in addition to processing classification. Full article

Background: Adolescents in low- and middle-income countries face a disproportionate burden of dietary inadequacy, yet evidence on the determinants of overall diet quality remains scarce. This study assessed the prevalence of macro- and micronutrient inadequate intake and identified factors associated with dietary adequacy among adolescents in rural Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adolescents using multistage cluster sampling. Dietary intake was assessed through a single 24-h dietary recall; nutrient adequacy was determined using age-and sex-specific Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) standards, including Estimated Average Requirements (EARs), Adequate Intakes (AIs), Estimated Energy Requirements (EERs), and Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDRs), as appropriate. Overall dietary adequacy was quantified using the Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR), calculated as the unweighted mean of nutrient adequacy ratios for fourteen nutrients, including protein, fiber, calcium, iron, zinc, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins A, B6, C, D, E, and folate, scaled from 0 to 100. Multivariable linear regression incorporating survey weights and clustering was used to identify independent predictors of MAR using STATA. Results: A total of 1132 adolescents were included. Most of the energy was derived from carbohydrates, and a high proportion of adolescents had energy intakes below age- and sex-specific Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) values, while very high levels of inadequacies were observed for protein, fiber, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin A. The mean MAR score was 54.04 ± 16.51, indicating overall poor dietary adequacy. In multivariable analysis, male sex (β = 3.26; 95% CI: 1.76, 4.75), belonging to the richest wealth quintile (β = 5.81; 95% CI: 1.76, 9.86), always eating between meals (β = 6.70; 95% CI: 3.93, 9.47), and use of bar soap for handwashing (β = 4.97; 95% CI: 2.00, 7.94) were significantly associated with higher dietary adequacy. Adolescents who were underweight (β = −2.40; 95% CI: −4.81, −0.11) and those with moderate physical activity levels (β = −3.96; 95% CI: −7.62, −0.29) had significantly lower dietary adequacy scores. Conclusions: Dietary inadequacy among rural adolescents in Pakistan was highly prevalent and was associated with socioeconomic, behavioral, and nutritional factors. These findings highlight the need for interventions that address food insecurity, promote equitable food distribution, and strengthen nutrition education to support adolescent health and nutrition. However, these findings should be interpreted in light of the cross-sectional design and the use of a single 24-h dietary recall, which may not reflect habitual dietary intake. Full article

Re-establishing native plant communities is critical for restoring post-mine influenced sites. A major challenge is that mining activity can result in poor soil quality that is not conducive to plant growth. Various soil amendments can provide organic material and nutrients that assist plant growth. Biosolids, treated solids recovered from municipal wastewater, can be used as a soil amendment to improve soil quality of mine-influenced landscapes and provide the nutrients for plant growth. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine an appropriate rate of biosolid application to promote the colonization of native plants and (2) to determine the effects of the biosolids on soil properties. In 2021, a field study was devised that tested four biosolid application rates (0, 125, 250, and 375 dry Mg/ha). The site was located in a mining area in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada, with six replicates per experimental combination. This study demonstrated that biosolids significantly increased the productivity and diversity of the plant community. Biosolids reduced soil pH and increased soil organic matter, carbon and nitrogen concentrations. Receiving soils were either similar to or marginally high in arsenic (As) and molybdenum (Mo). In contrast, biosolids tended to significantly increase Cu levels compared to the control soils. Higher rates of biosolids did not lead to significantly higher plant productivity or diversity than the lower rates. The results of this study suggest that biosolids may significantly help restore sustainable grassland ecosystems in post-mining environments even at a lower application rate of 125 dry Mg/ha. Full article

Sandy desert ecosystems of Central Asia are highly vulnerable to climate change, land degradation, and increasing anthropogenic pressure, yet the soil conditions supporting native desert vegetation remain insufficiently characterized. This study investigates soil development and physicochemical properties under the canopy of Calligonum aphyllum across different geomorphological conditions in the southern Balkhash region of Kazakhstan. Field investigations were conducted within the Ili River delta, where nine soil profiles were described across three geomorphological settings. Soil samples were analyzed using standard soil analytical methods to assess particle-size composition, soil organic matter, nutrient availability, carbonate content, salinity, and sodicity indicators. The studied soils were predominantly sandy, with sand fractions ranging from 88 to 96% and very low clay content, resulting in weak horizon differentiation, high permeability, and limited water-retention capacity. Soil organic matter and total nitrogen contents were consistently low across all sites. Available phosphorus decreased with depth, particularly in carbonate-enriched horizons, whereas exchangeable potassium remained comparatively high. Total salinity was low, with chloride–sulfate and calcium–sodium dominance, and no evidence of sodicity was observed based on SAR values. Clear differences among geomorphological settings were identified, including relatively homogeneous sandy substrates, dust-enriched semi-stabilized sands, and actively reworked aeolian ridges. The results indicate that C. aphyllum can persist under nutrient-poor, coarse-textured sandy conditions and is associated with surface root concentration, local substrate stabilization, and early soil-profile differentiation. These findings highlight the ecological importance of C. aphyllum in sandy desert habitats and provide site-specific soil information relevant to vegetation-based restoration and sustainable land management in arid regions of Central Asia. Full article