Search Results (4,211)

The geochemistry of the fatty acids in the modern sediments in the Northern South Yellow Sea is still poorly studied, and studies on the geochemistry of the fatty acids in relatively long-core sediment samples are lacking. Thus, the fatty acids in the core sediments in the Northern South Yellow Sea were separated and identified to study their components and distribution characteristics, and the sources of organic matter and the early diagenetic evolution of the fatty acids in the sediments were discussed. The results show that saturated straight-chain fatty acids (methyl ester) have the highest content in the core sediments in the Northern South Yellow Sea, which account for 83.89% of the total fatty acids (methyl ester). nC_16:0 is dominant, accounting for 30.48% of the n-saturated fatty acids (methyl ester). Unsaturated fatty acids (methyl ester) account for 7.59% of the total fatty acids (methyl ester). Binary unsaturated fatty acids (methyl ester) can only be detected in some samples, which are low in content and dominated by C_18:2. Based on the components and distribution of the fatty acids (methyl ester) in the core sediments in the Northern South Yellow Sea, combined with the characteristics of other lipid biomarker compounds, the actual geological background, and previous research results, it is considered that the sources of organic matter in the core sediments are marine–terrestrial mixed materials, with terrestrial materials dominating. The fatty acids’ (methyl ester) CPI, the relative content of short-chain saturated fatty acids (methyl ester), and the unsaturated fatty acids (methyl ester) in the core sediments show non-obvious variation as the burial depth increases, reflecting that the fatty acids in the core sediments are strongly degraded at the early diagenetic stage, and this degradation is controlled by various complicated factors. Full article

This study aims to evaluate eco-innovative solutions in the fertilizer industry that allow for waste valorization in the context of a resource-efficient circular economy. A comprehensive reuse strategy was developed for low-rank peat and post-cultivation horticultural mineral wool, involving the extraction of valuable humic substances from peat and residual nutrients from used mineral wool, followed by the use of both post-extraction residues to produce organic–mineral substrates. The resulting products/semifinished products were characterized in terms of their composition and properties, which met the requirements necessary to obtain the admission of this type of product to the market in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development of 18 June 2008 on the implementation of certain provisions of the Act on fertilizers and fertilization (Journal of Laws No 119, item 765). Elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, and solid-state CP-MAS ¹³C NMR spectroscopy suggest that post-extraction peat has a relatively condensed structure with a high C content (47.4%) and a reduced O/C atomic ratio and is rich in alkyl-like matter (63.2%) but devoid of some functional groups in favor of extracted fulvic acids. Therefore, it remains a valuable organic biowaste, which, in combination with post-extraction waste mineral wool in a ratio of 60:40 and possibly the addition of mineral nutrients, allows us to obtain a completely new substrate with a bulk density of 264 g/m³, a salinity of 7.8 g/dm³ and a pH of 5.3, with an appropriate content of heavy metals and with no impurities, meeting the requirements of this type of product. A liquid fertilizer based on an extract containing previously recovered nutrients also meets the criteria in terms of quality and content of impurities and can potentially be used as a fertilizing product suitable for agricultural crops. This study demonstrates a feasible pathway for transforming specific waste streams into valuable agricultural inputs, contributing to environmental protection and sustainable production. The production of a new liquid fertilizer using nutrients recovered from post-cultivation mineral wool and the preparation of an organic–mineral substrate using post-extraction solid residue is a rational strategy for recycling hard-to-biodegrade end-of-life products. Full article

Soil salinization is a major constraint to global crop productivity, highlighting the need to identify salt tolerance genes and their molecular mechanisms. Here, we integrated mRNA and miRNA profile analyses to investigate the molecular basis of salt tolerance of an elite Brassica napus cultivar S268. Time-course RNA-seq analysis revealed dynamic transcriptional reprogramming under 215 mM NaCl stress, with 212 core genes significantly enriched in organic acid degradation and glyoxylate/dicarboxylate metabolism pathways. Combined with weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and RT-qPCR validation, five candidate genes (WRKY6, WRKY70, NHX1, AVP1, and NAC072) were identified as the regulators of salt tolerance in rapeseed. Haplotype analysis based on association mapping showed that NAC072, ABI5, and NHX1 exhibited two major haplotypes that were significantly associated with salt tolerance variation under salt stress in rapeseed. Integrated miRNA-mRNA analysis and RT-qPCR identified three regulatory miRNA-mRNA pairs (bna-miR160a/BnaA03.BAG1, novel-miR-126/BnaA08.TPS9, and novel-miR-70/BnaA07.AHA1) that might be involved in S268 salt tolerance. These results provide novel insights into the post-transcriptional regulation of salt tolerance in B. napus, offering potential targets for genetic improvement. Full article

Rose hips are rich in polyphenols, making them a promising ingredient for the development of functional fruit-based beverages. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) extraction treatment on rose hip (RH) pulp to enhance the extraction of polyphenols, carotenoids, and volatile compounds. Additionally, this study examined the impact of adding rose hip berries during different stages of carbohydrate fermentation on the resulting phenolic and aroma profiles. A control wort and four experimental formulations were prepared. Rose hip pulp—treated or untreated with PEF—was added either during fermentation or beforehand, and the volatiles produced were analyzed using GC-MS (in triplicate). Fermentation was carried out over 10 days at 20 °C using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Torulaspora delbrueckii. At a 10:1 ratio, all beverage samples were subjected to physicochemical testing and HPLC analysis for polyphenols, organic acids, and carotenoids, as well as GC-MS analysis for aroma compounds. The results demonstrated that the use of PEF-treated rose hips significantly improved phenolic compound extraction. Moreover, the PEF treatment enhanced the aroma profile of the beverage, contributing to a more complex and appealing sensory experience. This research highlights the rich polyphenol content of rose hips and the potential of PEF-treated fruit as a natural ingredient to improve both the functional and sensory qualities of fruit-based beverages. Their application opens new possibilities for the development of innovative, health-promoting drinks in the brewing industry. Full article

Biopolymers and bio-based plastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS), are recognized as environmentally friendly materials and are widely used, especially in the packaging industry. The purpose of this study was to assess the degradation of PLA- and PBS-based formulations in the forms of granules and films under controlled composting conditions at a laboratory scale. Biodegradation tests of bio-based materials were conducted under controlled aerobic conditions, following the standard EVS-EN ISO 14855-1:2012. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed using a high-resolution Zeiss Ultra 55 scanning electron microscope to analyze the samples. After the six-month laboratory-scale composting experiment, it was observed that the PLA-based materials degraded by 47.46–98.34%, while the PBS-based materials exhibited a final degradation degree of 34.15–80.36%. Additionally, the PLA-based compounds displayed a variable total organic carbon (TOC) content ranging from 38% to 56%. In contrast, the PBS-based compounds exhibited a more consistent TOC content, with a narrow range from 53% to 54%. These findings demonstrate that bioplastics can contribute to reducing plastic waste through controlled composting, but their degradation efficiency depends on the material composition and environmental conditions. Future efforts should optimize bioplastic formulations and composting systems while developing supportive policies for wider adoption. Full article

Silicon has a striking similarity to carbon and is found in plant cells. However, there is no specific role that has been assigned to silicon in the life cycle of plants. The amount of silicon in plant cells is species specific and can reach levels comparable to macronutrients. Silicon is used extensively in artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and the digital revolution, and thus can serve as an informational molecule such as nucleic acids. The diverse potential of silicon to bond with different chemical species is analogous to carbon; thus, it can serve as a structural candidate similar to proteins. The discovery of large amounts of silicon on Mars and the moon, along with the recent development of enzyme that can incorporate silicon into organic molecules, has propelled the theory of creating silicon-based life. The bacterial cytochrome has been modified through directed evolution such that it could cleave silicon–carbon bonds in organo-silicon compounds. This consolidates the idea of utilizing silicon in biomolecules. In this article, the potential of silicon-based life forms has been hypothesized, along with the reasoning that autotrophic virus-like particles could be used to investigate such potential. Such investigations in the field of synthetic biology and astrobiology will have corollary benefits for Earth in the areas of medicine, sustainable agriculture, and environmental sustainability. Full article

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are central to food, feed, and health biotechnology, yet their genomes have long resisted rapid, precise manipulation. This review charts the evolution of LAB genome-editing strategies from labor-intensive RecA-dependent double-crossovers to state-of-the-art CRISPR and CRISPR-associated transposase systems. Native homologous recombination, transposon mutagenesis, and phage-derived recombineering opened the door to targeted gene disruption, but low efficiencies and marker footprints limited throughput. Recent phage RecT/RecE-mediated recombineering and CRISPR/Cas counter-selection now enable scar-less point edits, seamless deletions, and multi-kilobase insertions at efficiencies approaching model organisms. Endogenous Cas9 systems, dCas-based CRISPR interference, and CRISPR-guided transposases further extend the toolbox, allowing multiplex knockouts, precise single-base mutations, conditional knockdowns, and payloads up to 10 kb. The remaining hurdles include strain-specific barriers, reliance on selection markers for large edits, and the limited host-range of recombinases. Nevertheless, convergence of phage enzymes, CRISPR counter-selection and high-throughput oligo recombineering is rapidly transforming LAB into versatile chassis for cell-factory and therapeutic applications. Full article

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of different types of sourdough (I to IV), developed with a specific starter culture (including Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Levilactobacillus brevis, and Candida famata), on bread fermentation performance and shelf-life. Real-time tracking of multiple parameters (pH, dough rising, ethanol release, and total titratable acidity) was monitored by a smart fermentation oven. The impact of the different treatments on the lactic acid, acetic acid, and ethanol content of the breads were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography analysis. In addition, the bio-preservation capacity of the breads contaminated with fungi was analyzed. The results show that liquid sourdough (D3: Type 2) and backslopped sourdough (D4: Type 3) increased significantly (p < 0.05) in dough rise, dough acidification (lower pH, higher titratable acidity), production of organic acids (lactic and acetic), and presented the optimal fermentation quotient. These findings were substantiated by chemometric analysis, which successfully clustered the starters based on performance and revealed a strong positive correlation between acetic acid production and dough-rise, highlighting the superior heterofermentative profile of D3 and D4. These types of sourdough also stood out for their antifungal capacity, preventing the visible growth of Aspergillus niger and Penicillium commune for up to 10 days after inoculation. Full article

This study synthesizes and comparatively investigates two squaric acid-based phthalocyanine-like dyes, SNF and its long-chain alkylated derivative LNF, to systematically elucidate the influence of peripheral hydrophobic groups on their third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. The NLO characteristics were comprehensively characterized using femtosecond Z-scan and I-scan techniques at both 800 nm and 900 nm. Both dyes exhibited strong saturable absorption (SA), confirming their potential as saturable absorbers. Critically, the comparative analysis revealed that SNF exhibits a significantly greater nonlinear absorption coefficient (β) compared to LNF under identical conditions. For instance, at 800 nm, the β of SNF was approximately 3–5 times larger than that of LNF. This result conclusively demonstrates that the introduction of long hydrophobic alkyl chains attenuates the NLO response. Furthermore, I-scan measurements revealed excellent SA performance, with high modulation depths (e.g., LNF: 43.0% at 900 nm) and low saturation intensities. This work not only clarifies the structure–property relationship in these D-A-D dyes but also presents a clear strategy for modulating the NLO properties of organic chromophores for applications in near-infrared pulsed lasers. Full article

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a global health epidemic with rising prevalence within Asian populations, particularly amongst individuals with high visceral adiposity and ectopic organ fat, the so-called Thin-Outside, Fat-Inside phenotype. Metabolomic and microbiome shifts may herald T2D onset, presenting potential biomarkers and mechanistic insight into metabolic dysregulation. However, multi-omics datasets across ethnicities remain limited. Methods: We performed cross-sectional multi-omics analyses on 171 adults (99 Asian Chinese, 72 European Caucasian) from the New Zealand-based TOFI_Asia cohort at 4-years follow-up. Paired plasma and faecal samples were analysed using untargeted metabolomic profiling (polar/lipid fractions) and shotgun metagenomic sequencing, respectively. Sparse multi-block partial least squares regression and discriminant analysis (DIABLO) unveiled signatures associated with ethnicity, glycaemic status, and sex. Results: Ethnicity-based DIABLO modelling achieved a balanced error rate of 0.22, correctly classifying 76.54% of test samples. Polar metabolites had the highest discriminatory power (AUC = 0.96), with trigonelline enriched in European Caucasians and carnitine in Asian Chinese. Lipid profiles highlighted ethnicity-specific signatures: Asian Chinese showed enrichment of polyunsaturated triglycerides (TG.16:0_18:2_22:6, TG.18:1_18:2_22:6) and ether-linked phospholipids, while European Caucasians exhibited higher levels of saturated species (TG.16:0_16:0_14:1, TG.15:0_15:0_17:1). The bacteria Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, Erysipelatoclostridium ramosum, and Enterocloster bolteae characterised Asian Chinese participants, while Oscillibacter sp. and Clostridium innocuum characterised European Caucasians. Cross-omic correlations highlighted negative correlations of Phocaeicola vulgatus with amino acids (r = −0.84 to −0.76), while E. ramosum and C. innocuum positively correlated with long-chain triglycerides (r = 0.55–0.62). Conclusions: Ethnicity drove robust multi-omic differentiation, revealing distinctive metabolic and microbial profiles potentially underlying the differential T2D risk between Asian Chinese and European Caucasians. Full article

Urban expansion fragments once-contiguous forest patches, generating pronounced edge gradients that modulate soil physicochemical properties and biodiversity. We quantified how fragmentation reshaped the soil microbiome continuum and its implications for soil carbon storage in a temperate urban mixed deciduous forest. A total of 18 plots were considered in this study, with six plots for each fragment type. Intact interior forest (F), internal forest path fragment (IF), and external forest path fragment (EF) soils were sampled at 0–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm depths and profiled through phospholipid-derived fatty acid (PLFA) chemotyping and amino sugar proxies for living microbiome and microbial-derived necromass assessment, respectively. Carbon fractionation was performed through the chemical oxidation method. Diversity indices (Shannon–Wiener, Pielou evenness, Margalef richness, and Simpson dominance) were calculated based on the determined fatty acids derived from the phospholipid fraction. The microbial biomass ranged from 85.1 to 214.6 nmol g⁻¹ dry soil, with the surface layers of F exhibiting the highest values (p < 0.01). Shannon diversity declined systematically from F > IF > EF. The microbial necromass varied from 11.3 to 23.2 g⋅kg⁻¹. Fragmentation intensified the stratification of carbon pools, with organic carbon decreasing by approximately 14% from F to EF. Our results show that EFs possess a declining microbiome continuum that weakens their carbon sequestration capacity in urban forests. Full article

The increasing demand for fresh fruits and vegetables has been accompanied by a rise in foodborne illness outbreaks linked to fresh produce. Traditional antimicrobial washing treatments, such as chlorine and peroxyacetic acid, have limitations in efficacy and pose environmental and worker health concerns. This study evaluated the effectiveness of organic acids (citric, malic, and lactic acid) and power ultrasound, individually and in combination, for the reduction in Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes on four fresh produce types: romaine lettuce, cucumber, tomato, and strawberry. Produce samples were inoculated with bacterial cocktails at 8–9 log CFU/unit and treated with organic acids at 2 or 5% for 2 or 5 min, with or without power ultrasound (40 kHz). Results showed that pathogen reductions varied based on the produce matrix with smoother surfaces such as tomato, exhibiting greater reductions than rougher surfaces (e.g., romaine lettuce and strawberry). Lactic and malic acids were the most effective treatments, with 5% lactic acid achieving a reduction of >5 log CFU/unit for S. enterica and 4.53 ± 0.71 log CFU/unit for L. monocytogenes on tomatoes. The combination of organic acids and power ultrasound demonstrated synergistic effects, further enhancing pathogen reduction by <1.87 log CFU/unit. For example, S. enterica on cucumbers was reduced by an additional 1.87 log CFU/unit when treated with 2% malic acid and power ultrasound for 2 min compared to malic acid alone. Similarly, L. monocytogenes on strawberries was further reduced by 1.84 log CFU/unit when treated with 5% malic acid and power ultrasound for 2 min. These findings suggest that organic acids, particularly malic and lactic acids, combined with power ultrasound, may serve as an effective hurdle technology for enhancing the microbial safety of fresh produce. Future research can include validating these treatments in an industrial processing environment. Full article

Based on the limited hepatic hydroxylation efficiency of dietary VD3 in teleosts and the superior bioavailability of its metabolite, 25(OH)D3, this study investigated the regulatory mechanisms of dietary 25(OH)D3 supplementation in yellow catfish—an economically significant species lacking prior nutritional data on this metabolite. A total of 360 fish were divided into three groups—control (basal diet), VD3 (2500 IU/kg VD3), and 25(OH)D3 (2500 IU/kg 25(OH)D3)—and fed for 8 weeks. Compared to the control, both supplemented groups showed elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) activities, alongside reduced malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. The 25(OH)D3 group exhibited higher T-AOC and CAT activities and lower TNF-α than the VD3 group. Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses identified 65 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) and 3515 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Enrichment analysis indicated that the DEMs (e.g., indole compounds, organic acids, aldosterone, L-kynurenine) and DEGs (pgd, mthfr, nsdhl, nox5, prdx2, mpx, itih2, itih3, eprs1) that were highly and significantly expressed in the 25(OH)D3 group were primarily associated with antioxidant defense and inflammatory responses. Dietary 25(OH)D3 was more effective than VD3 in promoting antioxidant capacity and modulating inflammation in yellow catfish. Full article

The Junggar Basin contains a large amount of coal resources and is an important coal production base in China. The coal seam in Zhundong coalfield has a large single-layer thickness and high content of inertinite, but large particle Fe-sulphide minerals are associated with coal seams in some mining areas. A series of economic and environmental problems caused by the combustion of large-grained Fe-sulphide minerals in coal have seriously affected the economic, clean and efficient utilization of coal. In this paper, the ultra-thick coal seam of the Xishanyao formation in the Yihua open-pit mine of the Zhundong coalfield is taken as the research object. Through the analysis of coal quality, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer test of major elements in coal, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry test of trace elements, SEM-Raman identification of Fe-sulphide minerals in coal and LA-MC-ICP-MS test of sulfur isotope of marcasite, the coal quality characteristics, main and trace element characteristics, macro and micro occurrence characteristics of Fe-sulphide minerals and sulfur isotope characteristics of marcasite in the ultra-thick coal seam of the Xishanyao formation are tested. On this basis, the occurrence state and genesis of large particle Fe-sulphide minerals in the ultra-thick coal seam of the Xishanyao formation are clarified. The main results and understandings are as follows: (1) the occurrence state of Fe-sulphide minerals in extremely thick coal seams is clarified. The Fe-sulphide minerals in the extremely thick coal seam are mainly marcasite, and concentrated in the YH-2, YH-3, YH-8, YH-9, YH-14, YH-15 and YH-16 horizons. Macroscopically, Fe-sulphide minerals mainly occur in three forms: thin film Fe-sulphide minerals, nodular Fe-sulphide minerals, and disseminated Fe-sulphide minerals. Microscopically, they mainly occur in four forms: flake, block, spearhead, and crack filling. (2) The difference in sulfur isotope of marcasite was discussed, and the formation period of marcasite was preliminarily divided. The overall variation range of the δ³⁴S value of marcasite is wide, and the extreme values are quite different. The polyflake marcasite was formed in the early stage of diagenesis and the δ³⁴S value was negative, while the fissure filling marcasite was formed in the late stage of diagenesis and the δ³⁴S value was positive. (3) The coal quality characteristics of the thick coal seam were analyzed. The organic components in the thick coal seam are mainly inertinite, and the inorganic components are mainly clay minerals and marcasite. (4) The difference between the element content in the thick coal seam of the Zhundong coalfield and the average element content of Chinese coal was compared. The major element oxides in the thick coal seam are mainly CaO and MgO, followed by SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃ and Na₂O. Li, Ga, Ba, U and Th are enriched in trace elements. (5) The coal-accumulating environment characteristics of the extremely thick coal seam are revealed. The whole thick coal seam is formed in an acidic oxidation environment, and the horizon with Fe-sulphide minerals is in an acidic reduction environment. The acidic reduction environment is conducive to the formation of marcasite and is not conducive to the formation of pyrite. (6) There are many matrix vitrinite, inertinite content, clay content, and terrigenous debris in the extremely thick coal seam. The good supply of peat swamp, suitable reduction environment and pH value, as well as groundwater leaching and infiltration, together cause the occurrence of large-grained Fe-sulphide minerals in the extremely thick coal seam of the Xishanyao formation in the Zhundong coalfield. Full article

The demand for anion exchange membranes (AEMs) is growing due to their applications in water electrolysis, CO₂ reduction conversion and fuel cells, as well as water treatment, driven by the increasing energy demand and the need for a sustainable future. However, current AEMs still face challenges, such as insufficient permeability and stability in strongly acidic or alkaline media, which limit their durability and the sustainability of membrane fabrication. In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS) biopolymers are selected for membrane preparation. Zinc oxide (ZnO) and porous organic polymer (POP) nanoparticles are also introduced within the PVA-CS polymer blends to make mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) with increased OH⁻ transport sites. The membranes are characterized based on typical properties for AEM applications, such as thickness, water uptake, KOH uptake, Cl⁻ and OH⁻ permeability and ion exchange capacity (IEC). The OH⁻ transport of the PVA-CS blend is increased by at least 94.2% compared with commercial membranes. The incorporation of non-porous ZnO and porous POP nanoparticles into the polymer blend does not compromise the OH⁻ transport properties. On the contrary, ZnO nanoparticles enhance the membrane’s water retention capacity, provide basic surface sites that facilitate hydroxide ion conduction and reinforce the mechanical and thermal stability. In parallel, POPs introduce a highly porous architecture that increases the internal surface area and promotes the formation of continuous hydrated pathways, essential to efficient OH⁻ mobility. Furthermore, the presence of POPs also contributes to reinforcing the mechanical integrity of the membrane. Thus, PVA-CS bio-based membranes are a promising alternative to conventional ion exchange membranes for various applications. Full article