Search Results (8,329)

Astaxanthin, derived from Haematococcus pluvialis, is a potent antioxidant with significant therapeutic potential. However, its large-scale commercialization is hindered by the “thick-wall challenge”, a phenomenon where the stress conditions required for astaxanthin accumulation also trigger the formation of resistant secondary cell walls. This challenge complicates extraction and reduces bioaccessibility, thereby increasing production costs. Recent advancements have focused on uncoupling astaxanthin biosynthesis from cell wall reinforcement, utilizing metabolic engineering and strain selection to reduce wall formation while maintaining high yields. Furthermore, green extraction techniques, such as electrotechnologies and ionic liquids, are being explored to improve efficiency and environmental sustainability. This review synthesizes these innovations, including biorefinery systems that maximize biomass valorization, and discusses emerging clinical applications. We highlight the challenges in bridging the gap between laboratory successes and clinical translation, and suggest future directions for resolving the thick-wall challenge, advancing astaxanthin production, and expanding its therapeutic uses in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. Full article

Background: Black spot disease severely constrains Chinese cabbage production. Methods: To elucidate the defence mechanisms underlying this response, transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles were analysed in leaves of the Chinese cabbage line 904B at 24 h post-inoculation (hpi) with Alternaria brassicicola. In parallel, gene silencing and overexpression were conducted for BraPBL, an RLCK family member in Chinese cabbage. Results: The Chinese cabbage line 904B exhibited marked suppression of cytokinin and auxin signalling, coupled with enhanced expression of genes involved in ethylene and jasmonic acid signalling. Multiple secondary metabolites exhibited differential changes, specifically the sterol compound 4,4-dimethyl-5alpha-cholest-7-en-3beta-ol was significantly upregulated in the treatment group. These metabolites were primarily enriched in the indole alkaloid metabolism and glycerolipid metabolism pathways. Concurrently, BraPBL exhibits increasing expression with prolonged infection. BraPBL overexpression enhances resistance to black spot disease, whereas silencing reduces resistance. Subcellular localization confirmed BraPBL at the plasma membrane. Overexpression of BraPBL upregulates the reactive oxygen species-related gene RBOH and the signal transduction-related gene MEKK1, whilst simultaneously activating the JA pathway. Conclusions: Overall, 904B activates defence-related hormones while suppressing growth and development-related hormones during early infection. Secondary metabolites, particularly the sterol compound 4,4-dimethyl-5alpha-cholest-7-en-3beta-ol, play key roles in defence, and BraPBL functions as a black spot disease–related defence gene in Chinese cabbage. Full article

Copper is a strategic raw material and an important component in electric motors, widely used across industries because of its excellent conductivity and recyclability. It plays an important role in the transformation from fossil fuel-based systems to green, electrified systems. However, substantial material losses continue throughout the lifecycle of electric motors, even with copper’s intrinsic capacity for circularity. Also, copper’s increasing demand, which is driven by the emergence of electric vehicles, industrial electrification, and renewable energy infrastructure, poses questions regarding its sustainable supply. The recovery of secondary copper sources from end-of-life (EoL) products is becoming more and more important in this context. However, it is still difficult to achieve circularity of copper, especially from industrial electric motors. This study investigates the challenges of closing the loop for copper during the lifecycle of motors in industrial applications. Based on an examination of EoL strategies, material flow insights, and practical investigation, the research pinpoints significant inefficiencies in the current processes. The widespread use of scraping as an approach of end-of-life management is one significant issue. Most of the electric motors are not built to separate their components, which makes both mechanical and manual disassembly difficult. The quality of recovered copper is thus compromised by the dominance of mixed metal shredding methods in the recycling step. This study highlights the need for systemic changes in addition to technical solutions to address copper circularity issues. It requires a focus on circularity in designing, giving disassembly and metal recovery a priority. This study focuses on circularity and its technological challenges in a value chain of copper. It not only identifies different processes such as supply chain disconnections and design constraints, but it also suggests workable solutions to close the copper flow loop in the electric motor sector. Copper quality and recovery is ultimately a problem involving design, technology, and cooperation, in addition to resources. This study supports the transition to a more sustainable and circular electric motor industry by offering a basis for directing such changes in industry practices and prospective EU regulations. Full article

Background: The current rise in multidrug-resistant pathogens highlights the urgent need for the discovery of novel antibacterial agents with potential clinical applications. A considerable proportion of these developed resistances may be attributable to the intrinsic response of bacteria to antibiotic-induced stress conditions in the environment. Consequently, the identification and characterization of genetic alterations in physiological processes in response to antibiotics represent promising strategies for the discovery and characterization of naturally produced novel antibacterial agents. This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of an antimicrobial active isolate Actinomadura coerulea derived from a meerkat fecal sample. Methods: The production of secondary metabolites that potentially compromise bacterial cell wall integrity was confirmed by the induction of promoter activity in whole-cell biosensors in which an antibiotic-inducible promoter was fused to the luciferase cassette. During plate-based biosensor assays, we identified naturally resistant Bacillus subtilis colonies growing in the zone of inhibition around A. coerulea colonies. After these successive rounds of selection, highly resistant spontaneous B. subtilis mutants had evolved that were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Results: Non-silent mutations were identified in pssA, which encodes a phosphatidylserine synthase; mdtR, as a gene for the repressor of multidrug resistance proteins, and yhbD, whose function is still unknown. A new cinnamycin-like molecule, coerumycin, was discovered based on the physiological role of PssA and comprehensive genomic analysis of A. coerulea. Additional experiments with cell extracts containing coerumycin as well as the cinnamycin-like compound duramycin confirmed that the interaction between coerumycin and the bacterial cell envelope is inhibited by a loss-of-function mutation in pssA. Conclusion: Our approach demonstrates that combining the exploration of niche habitats for actinomycetes with whole-cell biosensor screening and characterization of natural resistance development provides a promising strategy for identifying novel antibiotics. Full article

The species Inula helenium belongs to the genus Inula (Asteraceae) and exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used in respiratory and skin diseases. Its bioactivity is attributed to its eudesmanolide components, mainly to alantolactone and isoalantolactone. These components were isolated in high purity from the plant’s dried roots, either via multiple column chromatography separations or via repeated recrystallization. Two more eudesmanolides structurally similar to their parent compounds were isolated, namely 11,13-dihydro-alantolactone and 11,13-dihydro-isoalantolactone. The secondary metabolites and their derivatives were characterized in detail, for the first time, via NMR spectroscopy, GC-MS, and HRMS. Synthetic modification of the natural component structure was considered necessary for structure–activity relationship studies and biological tests. Thus, each compound was converted to its nitrile and then to the corresponding acid, or to its azide derivative and then corresponding amine. Antioxidant studies were conducted on the parent compounds, their derivatives, and the methanolic and hexane plant extracts using the DPPH radical method. The study revealed a strong antioxidant capacity of the methanolic extract. Acaricidal studies of both natural products and synthetic analogs against Varroa destructor and the comparison of their activity with the parent natural product costic acid, as well as one of its synthetic congeners, indicated that the “from nature to synthesis and vice versa” approach led to active compounds as well as to meaningful conclusions regarding the “pharmacophore” groups in the structural framework of the acaricides. Full article

Chlorinated solvents such as vinyl chloride (VC) and trichloroethylene (TCE) represent a persistent threat to groundwater-derived drinking-water supplies, including riverbank filtration well fields in alluvial aquifers. This work presents a laboratory-scale evaluation of an electrochemical barrier concept for targeted VC and TCE removal performed using synthetic groundwater representative of a riverbank filtration setting in the Danube River basin. Experiments were conducted in a covered batch reactor equipped with Ti/IrO₂–RuO₂ mixed-metal-oxide anodes and Ti cathodes, systematically varying current intensity (10–60 mA), treatment time (0–60 min), active anode surface area (12–48 cm²), and inter-electrode distance (0.5–2.5 cm). At 60 mA, VC and TCE removals of 97% and 95%, respectively, were achieved within 20 min, while prolonged treatment to 60 min increased removal to about 99% for VC and 98.5% for TCE. Multivariate analysis (PCA) and correlation assessment identified applied current as the dominant control parameter, particularly for TCE removal, whereas electrode configuration and spacing played secondary roles within the investigated range. For the most cost-effective treatments meeting Serbian drinking-water criteria, estimated electricity costs were 0.39 €/m³ for VC and 0.10 €/m³ for TCE. Overall, the results demonstrate the technical feasibility and promising cost-effectiveness of electrochemical barriers as a proactive measure to protect riverbank filtration systems from future VC and TCE contamination n urban environments, while highlighting the need for follow-up studies on by-product formation and long-term performance. Full article

In this work a comprehensive analysis of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as a pivotal technology for addressing global energy challenges while minimizing carbon emissions is presented. The study examines SMRs’ technical characteristics, economic considerations, and technological maturity, with particular emphasis on their potential as polygeneration systems. SMRs, representing evolutionary advancements of nuclear fission technology, offer near-term deployability, enhanced safety features, and modular economic benefits through factory fabrication and standardized production. The analysis specifically focuses on the competitiveness of SMRs in electricity, hydrogen and large-scale water desalination production. Through parametric optimization using complementary algorithms, the study rigorously quantifies SMR competitiveness by calculating the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH), and Levelized Cost of Water (LCOW) across varying capacity ranges (50–600 MWe) and capital costs (3000–8000 US$/kW). The results demonstrate that capital cost minimization is the primary factor for achieving cost-competitiveness, with economies of scale providing secondary benefits. The findings indicate that SMRs can achieve competitive LCOE values within the 40–100 US$/MWh range for electricity markets, while hydrogen production costs range from 3.33 to 11.68 US$/kg and desalination costs from 0.40 to 0.98 US$/m³, positioning SMRs as economically viable solutions for integrated energy–water–hydrogen systems. Full article

Background: The management of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) has centered around controlling blood pressure in order to prevent hematoma expansion (HE). Rate-pressure product (RPP) has emerged as a hemodynamic marker that accounts for heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP), both of which are crucial in modifying shear stress to the vasculature. We hypothesized that RPP in the pre-hospital hyperacute phase is positively associated with initial hematoma volume and HE. Methods: We analyzed 263 patients with primary ICH from the Field Administration of Stroke Therapy-Magnesium (FAST-MAG) study with initial and interval neuroimaging. RPP was calculated as the product of HR and SBP in pre-hospital and pre-treatment phases, stratified into quintiles. HE was defined by volume expansion of >6 mL or >33% from baseline volume on repeat neuroimaging performed within 48 h of the first scan. The primary outcome was the initial hematoma volume by quintiles of hyperacute RPP. The secondary outcome was the occurrence of HE across RPP quintiles. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the degree to which RPP affects HE. Results: Of the 263 patients analyzed, 116 (44%) had HE. The proportion of patients with HE or the initial hematoma volume was not statistically significant across RPP quintiles overall. HE was significantly more common in female patients or patients on anticoagulation. Conclusions: Elevated RPP was not associated with increased initial hematoma volume or subsequent HE in the hyperacute period after spontaneous ICH. Future research is necessary to determine the clinical importance of RPP as a biomarker in the clinical outcome of ICH. Full article

Evidence on the environmental and socio-economic harms linked to plastic pollution has prompted major governance responses, including the 2019 Basel Convention amendments on plastic waste and the start of negotiations on a global plastics treaty in 2022. In parallel, many jurisdictions have introduced minimum recycled-content requirements to curb virgin-material demand and strengthen circularity in plastics. Yet trade statistics show that plastic scrap is only a small fraction of cross-border flows of secondary (recyclable) materials. Policy debates are also increasingly focused on non-plastic alternatives for packaging and other uses, but these substitutes can carry substantial upstream and downstream burdens that may match or exceed plastics depending on production pathways and end-of-life management. This article contrasts global trade patterns for secondary plastics, textiles, paper, and ferrous metals, and highlights how governance frameworks have centered disproportionately on plastics. We argue that the momentum from plastic-waste controls and recycled-content mandates should be used to build more systemic policies that also cover other material streams; otherwise, interventions may simply displace impacts to substitute materials and weaken circular-economy objectives. Full article

Marine-derived fungi have become a vital resource for the discovery of novel secondary metabolites with diverse structures and significant biological activities. This study focuses on a systematic chemical investigation of the sponge-associated fungus Talaromyces stipitatus HF05001, leading to the isolation and identification of 20 compounds, including one new marine ketal natural product (Compound 17, Talarobispiral A). These compounds were structurally elucidated using comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS. All isolates were screened for their anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenic properties. Among them, compound 4 (Secalonic acid D, SAD), 7 (Sch 725680) and 16 (bacillisporins C) demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory potential by markedly suppressing nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Notably, compound 4 showed superior inhibitory effect, with an IC₅₀ value of 0.22 μM. Additionally, compound 4 exhibited the strongest dose-dependent inhibition of lipid droplet accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. These findings highlight the dual therapeutic potential of metabolites from Talaromyces stipitatus, identifying promising lead compounds for the development of novel treatments for inflammatory and metabolic disorders. Full article

Research for sustainable viticulture practices has fostered interest in ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation as non-chemical tool for vineyard pathogen control; however, little information is available on their potential elicitation of berry metabolites. This two-year study investigated the impact of supplementary in-field UV-C applications, in addition to the vineyard sanitary protocols, on berry composition in Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines. In both experimental years, vegetative, yield, and berry technological parameters were determined at harvest, but they were not altered by UV-C treatments. Significantly higher concentrations of berry secondary metabolites were measured at harvest trough GC-MS and HPLC. UV-C treated vines had higher berry anthocyanins, particularly tri-hydroxylated forms (malvidin, delphinidin, petunidin), and flavonol concentrations (quercetin, myricetin derivatives), improving the potential for wine color stability and copigmentation. Glycosylated berry aroma compounds were also increased in UV-C vines, particularly some monoterpenes (geraniol, nerol, citronellol), C₁₃-norisoprenoids (β-damascenone, β-ionone, 3-oxo-α-ionol), and volatile phenols (eugenol, 4-vinyl-guaiacol). These results highlighted the potential of UV-C in-field applications, in addition to pest management control, to increase grape quality traits by modulating berry phenolic and aroma profile without affecting productivity. Full article

Spent garnet (SG) wastes are generated in significant quantities by several industrial activities, including abrasive waterjet cutting (AWJ), abrasive blasting, and filtration and powdered media applications. These wastes represent a promising secondary raw material for the production of sustainable construction materials, particularly green mortars and concretes, through their partial replacement of natural sand in cementitious systems. Such applications are relevant to both hydraulically setting inorganic binders (cement-based materials) and alkali-activated cementitious materials (AACMs). The valorization of SG wastes offers multiple benefits, notably a dual environmental advantage: reducing the consumption of natural aggregates and diverting industrial waste from disposal by integrating it into a new life cycle as a value-added by-product. Additional potential advantages include reduced production costs and possible improvements in the overall performance of mortars and concretes. Despite these benefits, the use of SG as an aggregate replacement remains insufficiently explored, with existing studies providing only preliminary and fragmented evidence of its feasibility. This paper presents an overview of a comprehensive four-year research program investigating SG wastes derived from single-cycle AWJ processes and their incorporation into conventional mortars as partial fine aggregate replacement in cement-based construction composites. The validation stage of the performance assessment expands the range of SG sources by including new sampling from the original suppliers, enabling verification of the repeatability and reproducibility of earlier findings. A broad set of physical, mechanical, and durability properties—particularly resistance to freeze–thaw cycles—is evaluated to achieve a robust and comprehensive material characterization. These results are further correlated with chemical and microstructural analyses, providing critical insights to support the technological transfer of SG-based construction materials to industrial applications with reduced carbon footprint. Full article

Identified-hadron production (p, ${\pi }^{\pm }$, $K^{\pm }$) in ${\pi }^{+}+\mathrm{Be}$ at $p_{\mathrm{lab}}=60\mathrm{GeV}/c$ ($\sqrt{s}\simeq 10.6\mathrm{GeV}$) is investigated using Pythia 8.315 (Monash tune) with the Angantyr extension. Differential multiplicities $d^{2}n/\left(dpd\theta \right)$ are confronted with NA61/SHINE measurements across standard $\theta$ bins. Within the fluctuating-radii Double-Strikman (DS) scheme, two unsuppressed opacity mappings are compared to quantify systematics. In addition, a minimal extension is introduced: a flat, post-classification, channel-wise acceptance applied after ND/SD/DD/EL tagging. It acts on primary and secondary $\pi N$ pairs, keeps hadronization fixed (Lund string), and leaves the internal event generation of each admitted subcollision unchanged. Opacity-mapping variations alone induce only percent-level differences and do not resolve the soft/forward tensions. By contrast, the flat acceptance—interpretable as a reduced effective ND weight—improves agreement across species and angles. It hardens the forward ${\pi }^{+}$ spectra and lowers large-$\theta$ yields, produces milder charge-asymmetric changes for ${\pi }^{-}$ consistent with the weaker leading feed, suppresses proton yields at all angles (with a residual $\sim 30\%$ forward high-p deficit), and improves $K^{\pm }$, with a stronger effect for $K^{+}$ than $K^{-}$. These results show that a geometry-blind reweighting of the subcollision mixture suffices to capture the main NA61/SHINE trends for ${\pi }^{+}+\mathrm{Be}$ at SPS energies without modifying hadronization. The approach provides a controlled baseline for subsequent, channel-balanced refinements and broader ${\pi }^{+}A$ tuning. Full article

There are a vast number of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against biological components; however, the number for natural products is less than 50. MAbs against ginsenosides, i.e., dammarane triterpene glycosides contained in ginseng, were prepared to develop an Eastern blotting method that can estimate the number of bound sugars and pharmacological activity. Meanwhile, as a method for producing ginsenoside Rg3, which is used as an anti-cancer drug, an affinity column for ginsenoside Rb1 was prepared to isolate the raw material ginsenoside Rb1 in a single step, and a method for obtaining ginsenoside Rg3 through fermentation was proposed. A unique MAb capable of detecting all solasodine glycosides contained in Solanum plants was created to prepare an affinity column capable of isolating solasodine glycosides from S. khasianum fruit in a single step. The single-chain variable fragment gene was induced from the MAb against solasodine glycoside and introduced into the hairy root system of S. khasianum, thereby increasing the solasodine glycoside content more than twofold. As a result, we recognized that this method can be used to breed plants with higher concentrations of plant secondary metabolites like solasodine glycosides. The above results collectively demonstrate that solasodine glycoside can be isolated from S. khasianum in high yields and that this compound enables the production of steroids in high yields through a one-step chemical reaction. Full article

Fermentation remains central to food manufacturing and to the bio-based production of organic acids, solvents, and functional metabolites. This review integrates the biochemical pathways, key microorganisms, and application space of five major industrial fermentations—alcoholic, acetic, butyric, lactic, and propionic. We summarize the principal metabolic routes (EMP/ED glycolysis; oxidative ethanol metabolism; butyrate-forming pathways; and the Wood–Werkman, acrylate, and 1,2-propanediol routes to propionate) and relate them to the dominant microbial groups involved, including yeasts, acetic acid bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, clostridia, and propionibacteria. We highlight how the resulting metabolite spectra—ethanol, acetic acid, butyrate, lactate, propionate, and associated secondary metabolites—underpin product quality and safety in fermented foods and beverages and enable the industrial synthesis of platform chemicals, polymers, and biofuels. Finally, we discuss current challenges and opportunities for sustainable fermentation, including waste stream valorization, process intensification, and the integration of systems biology and metabolic engineering within circular economy frameworks. Full article