Search Results (4,147)

Almonds (Prunus dulcis; family Rosaceae) contain 18–25% protein (dry weight). They are an important plant-based protein source in dairy alternatives and other functional foods. The hard and dense nature of almond kernels and the localization of proteins with lipid bodies in the cotyledons of almond seeds make it challenging to recover protein from the seed efficiently and preserve its function. Therefore, this review evaluates the influence of pretreatments, including blanching, grinding, and defatting, on almond protein recovery and functionality, and compares conventional and emerging technologies for almond protein. Traditional protein extraction techniques such as alkaline extraction–isoelectric precipitation (AE–IEP), aqueous extraction, and salt extraction provide moderate-to-high protein yields, but harsh processing conditions denature the proteins, decrease solubility, and cause functional properties to be lost. On the other hand, emerging protein extraction technologies (including enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction (EAE) ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), high-pressure processing (HPP), and pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment) improve protein recovery, resulting in protein extract with superior functional properties and reduced allergenicity. However, their application in industry remain challenging. This review reveals that pretreatment approaches and conditions/parameters significantly influence protein extraction efficiency and the functional and structural properties of almonds, and that no single method is universally optimal. This review concludes that controlled enzymatic hydrolysis combined with physical pretreatment may be the best approach for producing high-value-added almond protein ingredients with specific techno-functional properties for use in plant-based beverages, hypoallergenic products, or nutraceuticals. More research is needed to develop an efficient, applicable, sustainable and eco-friendly almond protein extraction process, optimizing processing conditions to achieve high protein recovery while retaining desirable functional properties, and reduce operating costs. Full article

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop is a perennial plant of the family Asteraceae that is mainly distributed in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Despite being widely recognized as an invasive weed in agriculture, most of the scientific evidence shows its significant phytochemical and pharmacological importance. In the present review article, a comprehensive summary of the available literature on C. arvense’s botanical properties, phytochemical composition, biological activities, standardization potential, and future therapeutic prospects has been carefully provided. This plant has been used traditionally for the treatment of inflammation, infections, bleeding disorders, and liver-related disorders. Phytochemical investigations showed the presence of many bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, triterpenes, sterols, tannins, glycosides, and volatile compounds. Among the reported biological activities, antioxidants and antimicrobial properties are the most studied activities. In addition, anticancer, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities have also been investigated. The environmental adaptability, rapid growth, and extensive root system of C. arvense highlight its potential for development as a sustainable medicinal and industrial crop. However, there are critical research gaps present in phytochemical standardization, toxicity assessment, pharmacokinetics, and clinical validation, warranting further comprehensive studies. Full article

Chemical agents have long been used to control plant diseases, but their effects on the environment and lack of alignment with sustainable development goals are making them gradually unsuitable. One trend in green agriculture is the use of Bacillus species for the biocontrol of plant diseases. Due to their vast metabolic and genetic diversity, Bacillus spp. can contribute significantly to the soil ecosystem, while also enhancing plant resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. Bacillus spp. are widely used in the agrobiotech industry due to their multi-functional versatility and are well-known for protecting plants from numerous plant diseases. In this review, we discussed the diversity and functions of antimicrobial compounds (AMCs) produced by Bacillus spp., along with their roles in plant growth promotion (PGP), and immunity. Furthermore, we highlighted the potential of Bacillus spp. as biopesticides in host plants, ways to enhance their biocontrol efficacy, and also addressed their possibility to cause disease in host plants. Considering the beneficial impacts of Bacillus spp. on PGP and pathogen biocontrol and their disease-causing capability, we discussed the possible solutions for a safe development of Bacillus-based biocontrol agent (BCA). Collectively, these insights can guide the selection of Bacillus strains with broad-spectrum or target-specific activity against pathogens, ensuring minimal adverse effects on the host. Full article

Soybean is a critical economic, oil and industrial raw material crop, yet its production is often hindered by pathogen infection and pesticide residues. This study explored the synergistic effects of Rhizophagus intraradices and mycorrhizal helper bacteria (MHB) on AMF colonization, AMF spore density, total number of bacterial colonies, soybean growth, root rot disease index, and carbendazim residues. Hydroponic and pot experiments were conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) with five biological replicates per treatment; after 30 days of growth, three replicates were randomly selected for all measurements. Results showed that inoculation with microbial agents, particularly co-inoculation, increased soybean biomass, reduced disease index, and decreased carbendazim residues. In the hydroponic experiment, co-inoculation increased plant height, aboveground fresh weight, and underground dry weight by 64.28%, 78.13%, and 109.09%, respectively, and decreased carbendazim residues by 71.84% relative to the carbendazim-alone group. In the pot experiment, co-inoculation reduced carbendazim residues by 81.25% and root rot disease index by 45.56% compared with the carbendazim-alone group. Correlation analysis showed a strong positive correlation (p < 0.001) between carbendazim degradation in hydroponic and pot systems, indicating stable degradation function across environments. Co-inoculation of R. intraradices and MHB synergistically promotes soybean growth, suppresses root rot, and reduces carbendazim residues, providing a theoretical basis for developing functional microbial inoculants for safe and green soybean production. Full article

Background: Symbiotic fungi play essential roles throughout the entire cycle of orchid plants, including seed germination, seedling development, and maturation. Dendrobium officinale Kimura & Migo (Orchidaceae) (D. officinale) is a rare and highly valued traditional Chinese medicinal herb. Currently, artificial breeding using tissue culture technology is widely adopted and essential in the Dendrobium industry; however, this approach may impair or disrupt the plant’s ability to establish and maintain symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi. Methods: In this study, the fungal endophyte community (FEC) in the roots of D. officinale cultivated under four different modes was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Correlation analyses were also carried out to examine the relationships between bioactive compounds and the FEC. Results: (1) The FEC in D. officinale roots was dominated by Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, with significant differences in abundance, diversity, and community structure among cultivation modes; (2) the FEC under greenhouse cultivation differed significantly from those under tree epiphytic cultivation in terms of fungal nutritional types and dominant taxa; (3) six major mycorrhizal fungal taxa were identified in Dendrobium roots, although non-mycorrhizal fungi accounted for approximately 97% of the community; and (4) polysaccharide content in Dendrobium stems was positively correlated with certain root fugal endophytes (Exophiala, alaromyces, Pseudodactylaria, and Fellomyces). Conclusions: This study provides a foundation for understating the growth of D. officinale under different cultivation modes and highlights the relationship between bioactive compound accumulation and fungal endophyte communities. Full article

Garlic, a significant global specialty economic crop, is currently facing severe challenges from labor shortages and escalating production costs. Achieving full-process mechanized production is the core approach to ensuring sustainable industrial development and enhancing international competitiveness. This paper systematically reviews the research progress and application status of mechanized equipment throughout the entire crop cycle of garlic production, including seeding, field management, harvesting, and post-harvest processing and sorting. The study reveals that garlic equipment is undergoing a profound transformation from traditional mechanization to “opto-electro-mechanical integration” and intelligence. In the seeding phase, breakthroughs have been made in pneumatic precision seed-metering and machine vision-based clove bud orientation technologies, significantly improving the quality of upright planting. In field management, precise variable-rate application and targeted weeding have been preliminary realized through plant protection Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) downwash airflow field simulation (CFD) and deep learning-based image segmentation. In the harvesting phase, relying on 3D Discrete Element Method (3D-DEM) soil-cutting simulation and adaptive profile root-trimming technology, the industry is accelerating the transition from inefficient segmented harvesting to low-damage combined harvesting. In the post-harvest phase, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and multi-label convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been utilized to achieve high-speed non-destructive detection of internal and external quality. However, industry still faces critical bottlenecks such as the insufficient integration of machinery and agronomy, poor robustness of intelligent perception algorithms in complex environments, and high damage rates of core soil-engaging components. Future research should focus on lightweight algorithm deployment, digital twin-driven virtual prototyping, and the construction of regional standardized machinery–agronomy systems, aiming to build an efficient and universal intelligent production closed-loop for garlic. Full article

Non-indigenous or alien macroalgae are increasingly recognized as ecological threats, sources of raw material, and reservoirs of bioactive compounds for industry and agriculture. This review analyses the valorization potential of this biomass, focusing on their antifungal and elicitor activities against phytopathogenic fungi, particularly Mediterranean (De Bary) Whetzel, 1945. The literature published since 2020 was retrieved from Scopus using targeted keyword combinations. Three major topics were examined: (i) invasive and beach-cast macroalgal and their ecological context, (ii) antifungal and elicitor properties of macroalgal extracts, and (iii) the use of deep eutectic solvents (DES) for the green extraction of bioactive compounds. Species such as Asparagopsis armata, Rugulopteryx okamurae, and Sargassum muticum have shown promising antifungal and elicitor effects, frequently associated with phenolic compounds and polysaccharides. Extracts from these algae can inhibit the growth of fungi or activate plant defense pathways, providing environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Moreover, DES and natural DES (NADES) offer tunable, biodegradable solvents capable of efficiently extracting these bioactive molecules while reducing the environmental impact associated with conventional organic solvents. Overall, the valorization of this biomass represents a sustainable strategy that simultaneously mitigates ecological and economic impacts and contributes to the development of sustainable inputs in agriculture. Full article

Bioeconomy is an important concept of economic development, supported at the highest political levels. However, its successful implementation calls for action within local markets. This study, therefore, examined the market readiness to engage in bioeconomy growth and emerging value chains in Italy, Slovenia, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Austria. The objectives were to assess the market readiness for placing novel bioproducts based on by-products and waste from primary production and agri-food processing sectors, and to evaluate the economics of their production. Specific goals were to estimate the availability of by-products and waste used for making new products, evaluate the main directions and trends in the use of by-products and waste, analyse the main barriers and restrictions to by-product and waste supplies to new enterprises and innovative applications, and make an economic assessment of the market entry of innovative products and their development. The study showed that the oil industry, with a high residue potential, was most often chosen to market new products. Other sectors where value chains can be created or modified are the fruit, winery, grain and milling, wood, hemp, and vegetable industries. PESTEL analysis demonstrated that economic factors, at both national and global levels, are the most common barriers to supplying by-products and waste to new business entities. Technological factors also significantly impede the delivery of by-products and waste to such new enterprises and their processing into novel products. In contrast, social conditions are the main factors stimulating supply of by-products and waste to such new plants. The results provide a preliminary insight into the Central European market and its enormous development potential, which is already implicated in the context of growing bioeconomy. Full article

Protein–protein interactions (PPIs) represent one of the major factors determining structure, function and quality in food products, especially in the case of industrial processing. Within complex food matrices, the structural and physical behavior of food components is controlled by PPIs that determine aggregation behavior, network formation, phase stability, and structural integrity and are thus directly related to the stability of the final product and how well a product may perform during a process. Recent developments in analytical techniques have facilitated the elucidation of PPIs and their application in activity-induced structural changes, in particular during thermal, non-thermal, enzymatic, and mechanical processes. In lieu of providing an exhaustive summary, this review synthesizes research evidence and findings related to measuring PPIs from main food systems, namely dairy, meat, cereal and plant-based products. The impact of different processing methods on PPIs and related quality characteristics including structure, stability and functional activity is critically assessed. Knowledge gaps and methodological limitations (in particular concerning laboratory scale industrial processes) are highlighted. By combining mechanistic considerations with practical performance considerations, this review allows us to rationalize the improvement of food processing strategies and to develop protein-based foods with better quality and performance stability. Full article

This study investigates asphalt mixture workability using a high-capacity torque-based device under semi-industrial laboratory conditions. Unlike conventional laboratory-scale mixers, the proposed system accommodates batch sizes up to 15 kg, enabling more realistic simulation of plant and field mixing conditions. Torque response was monitored during the mixing of conventional, warm-mix, and RAP-containing asphalt mixtures. Predictive models were developed using stepwise regression to relate torque to mixture parameters, including temperature, RAP content, and binder type. Results indicate that RAP significantly increases mixing torque, while elevated temperatures reduce resistance to mixing. Although the developed models demonstrated moderate to good explanatory power (R² = 0.63–0.77), they provide useful comparative insights into asphalt mixture workability rather than absolute predictions. The proposed torque-based methodology offers a practical framework for workability assessment and quality control of asphalt mixtures beyond traditional laboratory scales. Full article

This paper highlights the eco-efficiency of a sustainable digital solution to support decision-making in resolving the problem of sudden production drops and associated energy waste in industrial power plants, especially those operating with a steam turbomachine. The solution involves a multi-interface digital dashboard that generates insightful visual reports and gives proactive alerting to the decision-makers about potential underperformances to ensure resource optimization. For the studied use case, it involves the development of three interfaces of the dashboard, so as to perform the sustainable monitoring of a thermoelectric power plant based on the Rankine–Hirn cycle as follows: the first interface is about real-time monitoring of thirty-two key physical parameters equipped with a notification system. The second interface displays the historical trends of all the plant variables, in order to help in detecting incipient abnormal deviations before they impact environmental efficiency. Lastly, the third platform covers a predictive model using the XGBoost algorithmic method to forecast the future behavior of the electrical power as the target variable of the power plant. The XGBoost method was selected after a comparative assessment which also included the algorithms of Random Forest Regressor (RFR) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU). As a final step, this solution was later tested in a simulation environment built under the “Node-Red” platform, through an industrial decision scenario. The concrete findings validate the framework’s sustainability metrics, demonstrating the ability of the solution to help in preserving, for each production cycle of two years, up to 7.6 GWh of electrical energy that would otherwise be wasted, which translates into a potential cost-saving exceeding 633,247.9 USD, as well as an ecological impact by preventing the emission of 4628 tons of CO₂. Full article

Juglone (5-hydroxynaphthoquinone) is a naturally occurring naphthoquinone broadly present in Juglans species and selected taxa of other plant families. Owing to its redox-active structure, it exhibits a wide range of biological effects, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activity. Despite increasing interest in its potential applications, research on juglone remains dispersed, particularly with regard to extraction strategies, analytical approaches, and the relationship between composition and biological activity. This review provides an integrated overview of juglone, focusing on its natural occurrence, modern extraction techniques, analytical determination, and reported biological properties. Special attention is given to emerging green extraction approaches and challenges related to process standardization and reproducibility. The paper also highlights current limitations in linking phytochemical composition with biological effects and outlines future directions for improving the reliability and applicability of juglone-based systems. By combining chemical, analytical, and application-oriented perspectives, this paper offers a concise framework for further research and supports the development of safe, efficient, and sustainable strategies for the utilization of juglone in various industrial sectors. Full article

Fusarium mycotoxins pose a major challenge for agriculture and the food industry due to their frequent occurrence in cereals. In addition to conventional mycotoxins, modified mycotoxins, including the subgroup of masked mycotoxins, are receiving increasing attention. These compounds are formed through plant defence mechanisms, food processing or biological transformations and are often undetectable using conventional analytical methods. Due to their potential reactivation in the digestive system of humans and animals, masked mycotoxins represent a hidden threat to food safety. This article examines the mechanisms of formation of modified mycotoxins, their occurrence in the food chain and their potential health risks. Particular emphasis is placed on the analytical methods required for their detection, including advanced chromatographic and spectrometric techniques. Understanding modified mycotoxins is crucial for the development of more effective control and prevention strategies. Improved agronomic practices, proper storage and advances in detection methods are essential to reduce exposure to these compounds and ensure food safety. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on modified mycotoxins and underlines the need for further scientific research and regulatory guidance to protect consumer health and maintain confidence in the food industry. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a perovskite/silicon (PVSK/Si) tandem photovoltaic technology. The study evaluates the environmental impact considering an application in a hypothetical PV plant. This analysis uses laboratory-scale data projected onto industrial-scale conditions, with a focus on a theoretical utility-scale photovoltaic plant located in Italy. Three electrode configurations, Au, Au/ITO, and MoOx/ITO, are assessed to identify environmental hotspots and optimize material and energy use. Among these options, MoOx/ITO produces lower environmental impacts, especially in terms of climate change (4.54 g CO₂-eq/cm² compared with 5.54 g CO₂-eq/cm² generated by Au electrode cell) and resource consumption (PVSK cell with MoOx/ITO electrode: 3.23 × 10^−f5 g Sb-eq/cm², and PVSK cell with Au electrode: 5.24 × 10⁻⁵ g Sb-eq/cm²), due to the absence of gold use. The study finally compares environmental impacts of a photovoltaic system employing tandem-cell modules with those of a system based on heterojunction (HJT) modules, highlighting the advantages of higher efficiency and reduced land consumption at equal installed capacity, leading to a 25% reduction in impacts in the land-use category. These findings support the strategic development of tandem modules for future large-scale deployment in the photovoltaic energy sector. Full article

3D scene understanding in industrial environments is crucial for effective operation and maintenance (O&M) and asset monitoring. However, accurate asset detection and localisation face significant challenges due to asset diversity and scene complexity in these environments. Existing learning-based methods rely heavily on labelled training datasets, which are limited for industrial settings due to asset variability and intricate geometries. To address these challenges, this paper presents a novel framework for industrial asset detection and localisation without requiring labelled training datasets, using only point cloud data. Experimental results demonstrate the competitive performance of the proposed framework, achieving an average precision at 25% intersection over union (AP25) of 48.13% and an AP50 of 34.98%, significantly outperforming state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods. This framework can be employed to generate 3D digital models of brownfield industrial plants that lack up-to-date spatial information, serving as a foundational spatial layer for the development of digital twins within industrial environments. Full article