Search Results (16,677)

This study investigates the potential for recovering valuable minerals from feldspar tailings generated during industrial processing and commonly discarded as waste, causing both economic losses and environmental concerns. A hydrocyclone overflow sample obtained from a feldspar processing plant in the Muğla region of Türkiye was characterized and evaluated for the production of a marketable feldspar concentrate by flotation. Bulk and selective reverse flotation tests were performed using Denver and TK Lab flotation cells incorporating different impeller–stator configurations to evaluate the combined effects of reagent chemistry, flotation cell hydrodynamics, and bubble characteristics on flotation performance. The Sauter mean bubble diameter (d₃₂) was measured under both two-phase and three-phase conditions to characterize bubble size. Compared with the conventional plant reagent scheme (Derna-7 and Der A4), the sequential flotation scheme employing sulfonate collectors (R801–R825) for Fe–Ti-bearing minerals followed by the amine collector DAHC for mica significantly improved impurity rejection. The highest concentrate quality was achieved in the TK Lab Cell, producing a feldspar concentrate containing as low as 0.49% Fe₂O₃ while maintaining a total alkali content of 9.57%, satisfying the Fe₂O₃ requirement for second-grade ceramic applications. Despite producing larger bubbles than the Denver Cell, the TK Lab Cell exhibited superior rejection of Fe–Ti-bearing minerals. The consistently larger bubbles generated by the TK Lab Cell, irrespective of the reagent scheme employed, indicate that the different impeller–stator configurations played a key role in governing bubble generation and gas dispersion, while reagent chemistry primarily modified bubble characteristics within the hydrodynamic environment established by each flotation cell. The results demonstrate that flotation performance is governed by the combined effects of reagent chemistry, flotation cell hydrodynamics, and bubble characteristics, providing new insights into the sustainable valorization of feldspar processing tailings. Full article

The HAK/KUP/KT family represents a major group of plant potassium transporters involved in K⁺ uptake, ion homeostasis and stress responses. However, the accession-level diversity of HAK/KUP/KT genes in Brassica napus remains insufficiently characterized. In this study, we performed a pan-family analysis of HAK/KUP/KT genes across eight B. napus accessions. A total of 269 annotated HAK/KUP/KT family members were identified and classified into core, soft-core, dispensable and private orthogroups based on their representation across the analyzed genome annotations. Phylogenetic analysis grouped these proteins into four major clades together with reference HAK/KUP/KT members from Arabidopsis thaliana and rice. Ka/Ks analysis indicated that HAK/KUP/KT orthogroups were predominantly under purifying selection, while accession-variable orthogroups showed greater variation in sequence conservation. Gene structure, conserved domain, motif and predicted promoter cis-element analyses revealed conserved transporter-related protein features together with orthogroup-level structural and sequence variation. Expression profiling using the ZS11 BnIR dataset further revealed tissue-, hormone- and stress-responsive expression patterns among ZS11 HAK/KUP/KT genes. By integrating expression features, predicted promoter information, evolutionary characteristics, published salt GWAS context and BnVIR haplotype–phenotype information, BnaA08T0085800ZS was prioritized as a candidate locus located near salt-associated variation. This study provides a pan-genome perspective on HAK/KUP/KT family diversity in B. napus and establishes a framework for prioritizing candidate genes for future functional investigation. Full article

Oligosaccharides are plant immune elicitors with recognized roles in seed germination, root development and stress regulation. However, most studies have focused on single oligosaccharides or the independent effects of rhizosphere microorganisms. The coordinated regulation of plant physiological networks and microbial communities by oligosaccharide-based seed coatings remains poorly understood, especially for xanthan oligosaccharides. Here, using wheat root transcriptomics, rhizosphere 16S rRNA sequencing, and physiological assays, we found that a xanthan oligosaccharide composite seed coating significantly improved germination potential, germination rate and seedling vigor. It promoted root and shoot growth under field conditions, optimized the balance of auxin, gibberellin and abscisic acid, activated endosperm hydrolytic enzymes and accelerated nutrient mobilization. Transcriptomics revealed stage-specific regulation of membrane lipid metabolism, hormone signaling, antioxidant defense, carbon/nitrogen metabolism and ABC transporters. Microbiome analysis showed selective enrichment of beneficial genera (Devosia, Paenarthrobacter, Citricoccus), which were positively associated with root nitrogen metabolism and MAPK signaling. Collectively, the coating promoted wheat growth and was associated with stress-related physiological and molecular responses; however, direct stress-challenge and functional-validation experiments are required to verify stress-tolerance mechanisms. Full article

Background/Objectives: Allium atroviolaceum Boiss. is a functional food rich in phenolic compounds; however, the contribution of different plant organs to its bioactivity remains insufficiently understood. Methods: An integrated approach combining UHPLC-QTOF-IMS based metabolite profiling, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental antioxidant assays was employed. Results: Metabolite profiling revealed that the flowers were rich in anthocyanins and flavonoids; leaves in flavonol glycosides; bulbs in flavonoids, phenolics, and lipids; and flower stalks in flavonoid glycosides and sterols. Interestingly, flowers exhibited the strongest antioxidant scavenging activity, with the lowest IC₅₀ values of 3.08 ± 0.21 µg/mL and 89 ± 2.8 µg/mL in the DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. They also showed the highest FRAP response at 2 mg/mL (1.367 ± 0.010 at 2 mg/mL). Moreover, flower stalks were particularly effective in limiting lipid oxidation, displaying the greatest activity in the β-carotene bleaching assay, with an IC₅₀ value of 14.75 ± 0.29 µg/mL. Network-based target prioritization highlighted several oxidative stress/inflammation-associated proteins, including EGFR, HRAS, TGFB1, BCL2, JUN, TNF, TP53, MAPK1, and PTGS2. Additionally, Caffeoyl pinoresinol showed the strongest predicted interaction with PTGS2 and was therefore selected as a candidate ligand for further computational evaluation. Conclusions: A. atroviolaceum exhibits organ-specific phytochemical diversity and potent antioxidant activity mediated through multiple molecular targets. The in silico analyses identified candidate compound–target associations related to oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways, but these findings remain predictive and require biochemical and cell-based validation. Full article

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex cluster of interconnected metabolic abnormalities, including central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, chronic inflammation, and impaired glucose metabolism, which collectively increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Although current therapeutic strategies, including lifestyle interventions and pharmacological treatments, can be effective in managing specific MetS components, the multifactorial nature of this condition continues to encourage the search for complementary approaches and novel bioactive compounds. Salt-tolerant plants (STPs), particularly halophytes, survive under adverse saline and oxidative stress conditions through specialized physiological and biochemical adaptations, including the production of diverse secondary metabolites such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, sterols, terpenoids and polysaccharides. Several of these compounds have been associated with health-promoting properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, lipid-modulating and cardioprotective effects. This review provides an integrated and critical overview of the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and bioactivities of STPs with potential relevance to MetS and its associated conditions, namely chronic inflammation, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, dyslipidemia and obesity. The review first introduces the main features of MetS and the relevance of STPs as bioresources, followed by a synthesis of ethnomedicinal uses related to MetS-associated disorders. It then discusses in vitro and in vivo evidence for selected species, extracts and compounds, including reported bioactive metabolites and proposed mechanisms of action when available. Finally, the most promising species, extracts and metabolites are highlighted, together with current limitations and future research needs regarding efficacy, safety, bioavailability, standardization and clinical relevance. Full article

Product Shezi (PS) is a polyherbal African traditional medicine (ATM) formulated from six known South African medicinal plants and is used for treating cutaneous wounds. However, its ethnopharmacological properties have not been scientifically validated. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities of PS in vitro. Aqueous and methanolic extracts were prepared and qualitatively screened for phytochemical constituents. Cytotoxicity in fibroblasts and macrophages was assessed using an ATP-based viability assay. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and a hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced oxidative stress model. Anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages were measured using the Griess reagent system, a human prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) ELISA, and a bovine serum albumin (BSA) anti-denaturation assay. Antimicrobial activity was assessed by twofold serial broth microdilution, agar well diffusion, and a crystal violet biofilm assay. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids, and steroids. PS exhibited IC₁₀ values of 3 and 10 μg/mL in fibroblasts and macrophages, respectively. PS (1–5 μg/mL) showed 70% DPPH scavenging potential and potent H₂O₂ cytoprotection (p < 0.001). Nitric oxide inhibition was non-significant (p > 0.05) whilst PGE₂ decreased significantly (p < 0.05) compared to LPS-stimulated cells. BSA denaturation was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis were the only microorganisms susceptible to PS (MIC 650–5000 μg/mL) with low SI (SI ≈ 0.05–0.06), while others were resistant. PS showed no antibiofilm activity (crystal-violet assay). Overall, PS demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and selective antibacterial effects against planktonic bacteria in vitro. However, further optimization of extraction methods, detailed mechanistic studies, and in vivo investigations are warranted to substantiate therapeutic relevance. Full article

Nuclear receptors (NRs) of the NR1J1 group have been described in aquatic invertebrates and proposed as the evolutionary counterparts of vertebrate NR1I receptors, known for their role in xenobiotic-sensing and detoxification. In bivalves, previous studies have shown that NR1J1 activity and gene expression are modulated by pharmaceuticals, toxins, natural compounds, and algal extracts. However, their functional properties and diversification remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the function and evolution of NR1J1 receptors in the bivalves Mytilus galloprovincialis and Ruditapes decussatus. We first identified four nr1j1 paralogs in R. decussatus and then integrated phylogenetic analysis, domain identity comparisons, tissue distribution profiling, and luciferase-based transactivation assays to characterize NR1J1 paralogs from both species. The receptors displayed distinct but partially overlapping transactivation profiles in response to confirmed ligands of NR1I and NR1H receptors, natural compounds, plant extracts, and fish bile, indicating paralog- and species-specific differences in ligand responsiveness. Allocholic acid emerged as the most consistent agonist across paralogs, whereas curcumin, carnosic acid, and Ptychopetalum olacoides extract showed more selective response patterns. Tissue profiling revealed broad but non-uniform expression of nr1j1 paralogs across bivalve tissues. Together, these findings underscore that bivalve NR1J1 receptors constitute a functionally diversified chemical-sensing system and provide a framework for future studies addressing ligand-dependent regulation and detoxification pathways. Full article

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable polymer suitable for selective laser sintering, yet the atomic-level sintering mechanisms of plant-fiber-reinforced PLA remain largely unclear. Here, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the sintering behavior and interfacial interactions of cotton stalk cellulose/PLA nanocomposites with cellulose contents of 0–20 wt%. The nanoparticle coalescence proceeds through three sequential stages: initial van der Waals-driven contact, thermally activated neck formation, and isothermal interfacial densification. Cellulose content exerts a non-monotonic effect on interfacial bonding. At 15 wt% cellulose, an optimal, continuous hydrogen-bond network forms between cellulose hydroxyls and PLA carbonyls, maximizing interfacial adhesion while simultaneously suppressing unfavorable dipole stacking among PLA chains. At this critical loading, cellulose acts as a rigid scaffold that directs PLA chain extension and directional migration across the sintering neck, as evidenced by atomic displacement and radius-of-gyration analyses. In contrast, excess cellulose (20 wt%) induces self-aggregation, which disrupts interfacial continuity and hinders long-range chain diffusion. These results identify 15 wt% as the optimal cellulose content for achieving enhanced interfacial bonding and chain mobility, providing atomistic criteria for the formulation design of cellulose/PLA composite powders for selective laser sintering processing. Full article

Close-to-nature silviculture, based on natural regeneration, provides a suitable framework for the use of wildlings (naturally regenerated seedlings), enabling their direct collection and transplantation. Wildlings are a promising tool for small-scale forestry, difficult terrain, post-disturbance restoration and assisted range expansion, although their establishment success remains insufficiently understood under varying site and physiological conditions. This study evaluated survival and temporal dynamics of vitality of wildlings of Norway spruce, silver fir, and European beech planted in six experimental forest gaps in a temperate Alpine forest (Pohorje Mountains, Slovenia). A total of 162 wildlings were monitored across 12 repeated assessments between 2018 and 2025, combining data on survival, vitality, morphology and environmental conditions. Survival differed strongly among species, with Norway spruce showing the highest survival (59.3%), followed by European beech (50.0%), while silver fir showed markedly lower survival (20.4%). Initial vitality emerged as the primary determinant of survival, whereas the influence of morphological traits was species-specific. Longitudinal analyses revealed contrasting vitality trajectories among species. Norway spruce exhibited a gradual decline consistent with cumulative stress effects, silver fir showed a strongly non-linear, threshold-like decline, and European beech demonstrated improving vitality over time, indicating progressive acclimation to local conditions. Structural traits such as crown development and root collar diameter were important predictors in Norway spruce, growth performance was dominant predictor in silver fir, and crown-related traits were most important in European beech. Models based on truncated trajectories improved model fit while maintaining consistent results, supporting the robustness of these patterns. The results indicate that early establishment acts as a critical filtering stage and suggest that differences in initial wildling quality, phenological status at planting, and biotic stress may contribute to variation in survival among species. In particular, the low survival of silver fir may partly reflect phenological differences associated with elevational transfer. These findings suggest that successful application of wildlings in assisted range expansion and climate-adaptive forest management requires not only appropriate species selection but also careful consideration of seedling quality, planting phenology, and microsite conditions. Full article

Common gene mapping approaches mainly include QTL-mapping, BSA-seq (QTL-seq) and GWAS. BSA-seq is designed to facilitate the mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) in a cost-effective and high-efficiency manner. In order to accommodate the diverse species-specific traits and population genetic architectures, researchers have developed a series of tailored BSA methodologies. In this study, using six wild rices (Oryza rufipogon) as donors and the elite cultivated rice Youzhan 8 (YZ8) as the recipient, we constructed a BC₄F₈ population through hybridization and backcrossing. These six wild rice introgression lines together constitute a nested association mapping (NAM) population. Upon genotyping 1819 lines of the NAM population for the Sd1 gene, we found that among lines harboring the 383 bp deletion, 98.5–99.3% exhibited a low plant height (LP) phenotype, whereas 0.7–1.5% showed a high plant height (HP) phenotype. Based on this phenotypic segregation, we selected a total of 20 HP lines and 20 LP lines from six BC₄F₈ populations to form the H-bulk and L-bulk, respectively. Using BSA-seq, we identified a total of 33 significantly associated candidate intervals. One candidate interval located on chromosome 1 contains D18, a previously reported gene that regulates plant height. Furthermore, we preliminarily identified two major candidate genomic regions on chromosome 8 (4.60–5.76 Mb and 7.29–7.33 Mb). Integrating RNA-seq data, CAFRI-Rice online functional prediction and RT-qPCR validation, two key candidate genes, LOC_Os08g09900 and LOC_Os08g09000, were selected for subsequent functional characterization. The results of this study indicate that the NAM-BSA technology has great potential to detect QTL associated with complex traits, which can provide a novel technical strategy for the genetic dissection of complex traits in rice. Full article

Brassica napus L. is one of the most important oil crops in the world, and improving its nitrogen efficiency is a key strategy for enhancing low-nitrogen tolerance and increasing yield. Ammonium transporters (AMTs) play critical roles in NH₄⁺ transport in plants and significantly influence nitrogen use efficiency and yield. To identify promising candidate AMT genes for rapeseed improvement, this study systematically analyzed the evolution and expression of AMT genes across the Archaeplastida plants, especially in Brassica species of the U’s triangle. A total of 368 AMT genes were identified from 35 Archaeplastida species, including 180 AMT1 and 188 AMT2 homologs. Gene duplication analysis revealed that small-scale duplication (SSD) was the primary mechanism driving gene expansion from aquatic algae to angiosperms in both AMT1 and AMT2 families, which were under the influence of purifying selection. In the U’s triangle, allopolyploidization, particularly whole-genome duplication (WGD), was the primary mechanism for AMT expansion, accompanied by gene loss. Expression profiling indicated that most BnAMTs respond to hormonal and low-nitrogen signals and exhibit tissue-specific expression patterns. Notably, four candidate genes (BnAMT1;5, BnAMT1;12, BnAMT2;2, BnAMT2;4) exhibited high expression levels and responsiveness to low-nitrogen stress. Haplotype analysis further linked specific polymorphisms in BnAMT1;5 and BnAMT2;2 to variations in plant height and yield. Collectively, these findings elucidate the evolutionary processes and regulatory mechanisms of AMTs, laying a foundation for enhancing nitrogen utilization efficiency in B. napus and other crops. Full article

Cadmium (Cd) is absorbed by plants and bioaccumulated in their tissues, and its ingestion may cause adverse effects on human health. However, information on the relationship between soil moisture and Cd bioaccumulation in cocoa-growing soils remains limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different irrigation volumes (50, 75, 100, and 125%) on Cd bioaccumulation and biomass production in two cocoa genotypes (EET-103 and CCN-51), as well as on soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC), in two soils from El Oro and Guayas, Ecuador. A split-plot design was used with three factors: A (soils), B (genotypes), and C (irrigation). The variables evaluated included plant height, stem diameter, shoot and root dry biomass, Cd absorption, translocation, and bioaccumulation, as well as soil pH and EC. The highest dry matter production and Cd bioaccumulation were observed in genotype EET-103 grown in El Oro soil and in genotype CCN-51 grown in Guayas soil. A higher irrigation volume (125%) increased the pH of El Oro soil and reduced Cd bioaccumulation by 38.48%, whereas pH decreased in Guayas soil under the same irrigation condition. In El Oro soil, pH and EC showed an inversely proportional relationship. These results suggest that irrigation management and the selection of cocoa genotypes with lower affinity for Cd may be useful strategies to reduce Cd bioaccumulation in cocoa plants. Full article

Adenium obesum (Forssk.) Roem. & Schult (desert rose) is one of the most popular ornamental species cultivated in residential gardens and as a potted plant for balconies and verandas in Brazil. However, Neocosmospora keratoplastica has recently been identified as one of the causal agents of rot disease in this species. Therefore, this study evaluated the antifungal potential of Ocimum tenuiflorum L. essential oil (EO) as a preventive and curative treatment against this pathogen, while assessing its phytotoxicity and selectivity toward beneficial fungi. The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation and chemically characterized. In vitro mycelial growth inhibition assays, in vivo evaluations on A. obesum seedlings, and selectivity tests against Trichoderma asperellum were performed. In addition, in silico molecular docking analyses were conducted to investigate the interaction of the major EO constituents with fungal target proteins. Eugenol (47.04%) and 1,8-cineole (29.47%) were identified as the predominant compounds in the EO. Mycelial growth inhibition reached a maximum of 59% at 100 μL mL⁻¹, but strong phytotoxicity was evident; while a concentration of 50 μL mL⁻¹ yielded an 18% inhibition rate representing an approximately three-fold greater effect than that of thiophanate methyl (7.68%) at the recommended dose, with a slight phytotoxicity. The lowest Area Under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) was recorded when the EO was applied preventively, and intermediate concentrations were selective toward T. asperellum. Molecular docking analyses indicated that eugenol and 1,8-cineole exhibited greater affinity for CYP51A than for α/β-tubulin, whereas dehydroaromadendrane and α-copaene showed the strongest interactions with these target proteins. Overall, O. tenuiflorum EO exhibits promising potential as a preventive treatment against N. keratoplastica in desert rose, while preserving beneficial fungi at moderate concentrations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Early detection of breast cancer (BC) substantially improves outcomes, with a 5-year survival rate of 99% for early-stage disease. Risk-based screening, which tailors recommendations according to individual clinical, personal, and lifestyle factors, is a promising strategy to enhance early detection. However, previous studies have reported inconsistent evidence of association with BC risk for several modifiable lifestyle factors including premenopausal adiposity, sedentary behaviour, oral contraceptive use. To address these uncertainties, we investigated the association between clinical, personal, and modifiable lifestyle factors and BC risk in the Prevention, Imaging, Network, Knowledge (P.I.N.K.) project. P.I.N.K. generated real-world evidence by integrating clinical data with information collected through a structured questionnaire evaluating the associations between BC and clinical, personal, and lifestyle factors in 27,123 Italian women aged ≥ 40 years, who underwent integrated breast imaging diagnostics. Methods: Characteristics of women with and without BC were compared. Adjusted logistic regression, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), and Random Forest models were applied to identify relevant predictors. Variables selected by at least two methods were included in a multivariate logistic regression model, with BC diagnosis as the outcome. Results: Accordingly with previous studies a consistent association was found for high breast density, late menopause, overweight, abdominal adiposity, cardiovascular-cerebrovascular and oncological comorbidities and smoking. Greater consumption of plant-based foods, lower intake of red and processed meat, and regular physical activity were associated with lower odds of BC as well. Conversely, an unexpected inverse association was assessed for menstrual irregularities, hyperlipidaemia, and oral contraceptive use. Conclusions: The integration of multiple sources of information both clinical and self-reported data collected directly from women adds to the growing evidence on the role of modifiable lifestyle factors in BC risk in supporting more targeted prevention strategies. Future prospective studies should further investigate the long-term effects of lifetime physical activity trajectories, different oral contraceptive formulations, and detailed reproductive history, including menstrual cycle characteristics and menopausal timing, to refine individualized BC risk prediction. Full article

The shoots of the Stevia rebaudiana plant have been identified as a significant source of biologically active compounds. Of these, phenolic compounds and steviol glycosides are of particular significance. The present study explores the effect of diverse in vitro culture systems (i.e., agar-gelled medium, static liquid medium, liquid medium with orbital agitation, and liquid medium with glass beads) on the accumulation of these compounds in stevia shoots. The results demonstrated that the presence of agitated liquid media led to a substantial augmentation in the accumulation of total soluble phenolic compounds (2.4-fold), total soluble hydroxycinnamic acids (1.9-fold), and total soluble flavonoids (1.6-fold) in comparison to shoots cultivated on agar-gelled media (control). The antioxidant capacity determined on shoots exhibited a comparable trend, with increases of 1.9-fold (DPPH assay) and 2.2-fold (FRAP assay) relative to the control. However, the highest accumulation of steviol glycosides was observed in the glass bead system, with increases of 1.4-fold compared to the control and more than 8-fold relative to liquid culture systems. These findings suggest that the biosynthetic pathways leading to phenolics and steviol glycosides are differentially sensitive to the culture system employed, thereby enabling the selection of the stevia shoot cultivation system based on the targeted metabolites. Full article