Search Results (15,796)

Sustainable revalorization of agave bagasse, a lignocellulosic residue from mezcal production, is essential for environmental management. This study evaluated its potential as a substrate for the in vitro cultivation of the wild edible mushroom Pleurotus agaves. Characterization revealed a robust lignocellulosic matrix (70.9–75.87% NDF, 42.05–51.18% ADF and 10% lignin) and significant antioxidant potential, particularly in A. marmorata, which also exhibited higher total reducing sugars (11.94 mg/mL). This provides an energetic advantage for initial mycelial growth. Substrate microstructure was analyzed via microscopy (CLSM/SEM) before and after thermal pretreatment (55 °C). The IE-2038 strain was tested in five formulations: straw (P-55), bagasse (B-55), and straw–bagasse mixtures at 50–50%, 25–75%, and 75–25%. Mycelial growth rates indicated that PB-55 and pB-55 exhibited the fastest fungal colonization (8.2 mm/day and 8.3 mm/day). Microstructural analysis revealed significant damage to the polymeric organization of the bagasse, caused by mezcal production techniques and thermal treatment. This damage made lignin and cellulose more accessible for P. agaves. This synergy is supported by the adaptation of P. agaves to agave stalks. These findings confirm the capacity of bagasse as a sustainably bioprocessed substrate for edible mushroom cultivation, providing an effective alternative for the revalorization of agro-industrial residues that contribute to the circular economy. Full article

Temporal reasoning in dynamic, data-intensive environments increasingly demands expressive yet tractable logical frameworks. Traditional approaches often rely on negation to express absence or contradiction. In such contexts, negation-as-failure is commonly used to infer negative information from the lack of positive evidence. However, for open and distributed systems such as IoT networks and the Semantic Web, negation-as-failure semantics become unreliable due to incomplete and asynchronous data. This has led to growing interest in negation-free fragments of temporal rule-based systems, which preserve monotonicity and enable scalable reasoning. This paper investigates the expressive power of negation-free Metric Temporal Logic (MTL), a temporal logic framework designed for rule-based reasoning over time. We show that the “always” operators ⊞ and ⊟, often treated as syntactic sugar for combinations of other temporal constructs, can be eliminated using “once”, “since” and “until” operators. Remarkably, even the “once” operators can be removed, yielding a fragment based solely on “until” and “since”. These results challenge the assumption that negation is necessary for expressing universal temporal constraints and reveal a robust fragment capable of capturing both existential and invariant temporal patterns. Furthermore, the results induce a reduction in the syntax of MTL, which, in turn, can provide benefits for both theoretical study as well as for implementation efforts. Full article

High-temperature (HT) stress during flowering causes male sterility and yield loss in soybean. MYB transcription factors are key regulators under abiotic stress, yet their function and mechanism in regulating male fertility under HT stress in soybean are not fully understood. In this study, a MYB transcription factor GmMYB21a in soybean was identified. GmMYB21a was induced by HT stress in soybean restorer line and was specifically expressed in pollen. Through overexpression and knockout experiments, we demonstrated that GmMYB21a positively regulated pollen viability and germination under HT stress. Overexpression of GmMYB21a significantly enhanced these traits in restorer line, whereas knockout plants exhibited the opposite effect. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that GmMYB21a overexpression upregulated numerous stress-responsive genes, particularly those involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and sugar metabolism. In addition, molecular experiments confirmed that GmMYB21a bound to the promoter of flavonoid synthesis gene GmCHI2-A and promoted its expression. In summary, our research indicated GmMYB21a enhanced the HT-tolerance of male fertility in soybean restorer line through reactive oxygen species scavenging and flavonoid synthesis. This study aims to elucidate the thermotolerance mechanism in soybean male fertility and identify genetic resources for breeding HT-tolerant restorer lines. Full article

Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is an important vegetable resource in the food industry, generating substantial amounts of by-products during cultivation and distribution. Despite their richness in functional components, these by-products are largely underutilized. Accordingly, there is increasing interest in their valorization as functional food ingredients. This study evaluated the functional potential of radish by-products removed prior to distribution by applying cellulase pretreatment and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum fermentation individually or in combination. Radish samples were separated into leaf blade, stem, and taproot tissues and processed as untreated control, enzyme-treated, fermented, and enzyme-treated and fermented (EF) groups. The EF treatment significantly increased reducing sugar content, total polyphenols, and total flavonoids across all tissues, with the most pronounced enhancement observed in leaf by-products. In antioxidant assays, EF samples showed decreased IC₅₀ values in DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays and increased FRAP values, indicating superior antioxidant capacity. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, EF-treated leaf extracts effectively suppressed nitric oxide and intracellular ROS production without cytotoxicity and exhibited the highest GSH/GSSG ratio, suggesting improved cellular redox balance. In contrast, interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion varied depending on tissue type and processing condition, indicating that antioxidant enhancement does not necessarily correspond to uniform cytokine regulation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that enzymatic pretreatment combined with lactic acid fermentation serves as an effective strategy to enhance the antioxidant and cell-protective properties of radish by-products, supporting their potential use as value-added functional food ingredients. Full article

Premium coffee depends on high-quality beans, influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and postharvest factors. This review summarizes the mechanisms underlying coffee bean quality, with an emphasis on the genetic differences between Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, as well as the integrated roles of environmental conditions, agronomic practices, including nutrient and shade management, and postharvest processing technologies. The allotetraploid genome of C. arabica is influenced by homoeologous exchanges and subgenome-biased expression (such as decreased DXMT activity that reduces caffeine), which contribute to its complex flavor profile. Key lipid metabolism genes, particularly FADS2, play a critical role in regulating lipid metabolism. The effects of altitude (1600–2000 m) and shade influence various metabolic pathways. Cooler temperatures promote sugar accumulation, while excessive shading hinders carbon assimilation and the development of flavor precursors. Postharvest processing significantly influences flavor, where microbial or enzymatic treatments enhance sensory attributes. In addition, methods like natural, washed, or honey processing modulate various nonvolatile compounds, impacting lipid emulsification and aroma retention. Multi-omics analyses suggest that MYB proteins play a key role in regulating pathways involved in caffeine, chlorogenic acids, and terpenes. Effective hermetic packaging prevents oxidation, thereby preserving freshness. Overall, superior coffee quality stems from synergistic interactions across genetic, ecological, agronomic, and processing factors, highlighting the need for the development of an integrated strategy to support the sustainable production of premium coffee. Full article

Background/Objectives: Maternal diet during pregnancy may influence neonatal outcomes, but dietary behaviours are socially patterned and were measured differently across cohorts. We therefore evaluated whether cohort-specific, partially harmonized maternal dietary patterns were associated with adverse birth outcomes after accounting for maternal and socioeconomic characteristics in two Italian birth cohorts. Methods: We analyzed 3234 mother–infant dyads from Piccolipiù (2011–2015) and 1564 from MAMI-MED (2020–ongoing). Maternal diet was captured by cohort-specific food questionnaires and grouped into food categories. Principal component analysis identified dietary patterns; pattern scores were categorized into tertiles and combined into five joint-adherence profiles. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (OR) for preterm birth (PTB, <37 weeks), low birth weight (LBW, ≤2500 g), macrosomia (≥4000 g), and small/large for gestational age (SGA/LGA), with progressive adjustment for maternal age, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), education, employment, and (Piccolipiù) income. Results: Two comparable patterns emerged in both cohorts: Western (processed foods, fried items, snacks/sweets, sugar-sweetened beverages) and Prudent (fruit, vegetables, fish, whole grains/yogurt). Western adherence was more common among younger women and those with disadvantage, whereas Prudent adherence tracked higher education, employment and income. After full adjustment, dietary profiles were not consistently associated with PTB, SGA or LGA in either cohort. In Piccolipiù, preferential Prudent adherence was associated with lower odds of LBW (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.24–0.92) and higher odds of macrosomia (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.06–2.30). Across cohorts, higher pre-pregnancy BMI predicted macrosomia/LGA, while lower education increased the probability of PTB and LBW. Conclusions: Across two Italian birth cohorts, maternal dietary patterns were socially stratified, whereas pre-pregnancy BMI and maternal education were more consistently associated with birth outcomes than dietary-pattern adherence per se. Full article

The extensive cultivation scale of sugar beet seedlings has resulted in the necessity for accurate identification and monitoring of the seedling count, a task which has become crucial and highly challenging in the sugar industry. However, sugar beet seedlings in UAV aerial photography scenarios are mostly small targets with complex backgrounds. Existing general detection models not only have insufficient detection accuracy, but also struggle to balance computational efficiency and resource consumption. To meet the practical needs of field monitoring, this paper proposes the LDH-RTDETR, a sugar beet seedling detection model that balances high accuracy and light weight. This model uses LSNet for feature extraction to reduce size, adds a deformable attention (DAttention) module to capture fine-grained seedling features, and adopts HS-FPN to improve multi-scale feature fusion in the neck network. Experimental results show that the improved model significantly outperforms the original RT-DETR model, with a 3.6% increase in accuracy, a 2.1% increase in mAP50, a recall rate of 86.0%, and a final model size of only 43.3 MB, thus achieving an effective balance between accuracy and model size. This study’s improved model offers an efficient solution for large-area identification and counting of sugar beet seedlings, and is highly significant for advancing the automation of sugar crop field management and agricultural digital transformation. Full article

Saline-alkali stress restricts crop yield by disrupting nutrient and water uptake, ionic balance, and oxidative homeostasis. Although myo-inositol enhances tolerance to abiotic stress, its role in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) under saline-alkali conditions remains unclear. To investigate the effects of exogenous myo-inositol on sugar beet growth under saline-alkali soils, a pot experiment was conducted using six myo-inositol concentrations (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 g L⁻¹). Myo-inositol significantly influenced plant performance in a concentration-dependent manner. The 0.6 g L⁻¹ treatment produced the highest shoot and root fresh and dry weights, nearly doubling shoot biomass compared with the control. Shoot N and P contents increased markedly at 0.6 g L⁻¹, while their concentrations remained relatively stable, indicating biomass-driven nutrient accumulation. Myo-inositol reduced Na accumulation while maintaining stable K, Ca, and Mg concentrations, thereby improving ionic balance. Antioxidant capacity was enhanced, with superoxide dismutase and catalase activities significantly elevated. Root total length and surface area increased substantially, whereas specific root length and surface area decreased, suggesting improved root morphological development. Soil alkaline phosphatase activity was also stimulated at higher myo-inositol treatments. Overall, moderate myo-inositol application (with regression analysis indicating an optimum of approximately 0.56 g L⁻¹) improved sugar beet growth through enhanced nutrient acquisition, ionic balance, antioxidant capacity, and root development, offering practical insights for its use as a growth regulator in saline-alkali crop production. Full article

Background: Mechanistic evidence increasingly implicates fructose exposures as contributors to the development and exacerbation of asthma and other atopic diseases. Proposed mechanisms include gut dysbiosis, impaired epithelial barrier integrity in the gut and airways, metabolic endotoxemia, and amplification of type 2 immune responses. However, epidemiologic findings linking fructose intake with asthma and atopic disorders remain heterogeneous. Objective: To conduct a review of epidemiologic studies evaluating associations between dietary fructose-containing exposures and atopic outcomes in pediatric populations. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed and Embase identified cohort, case-control, cross-sectional, and randomized feeding studies assessing fructose exposure in relation to asthma and atopic outcomes in pediatric populations. Eligibility screening, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment were conducted by one reviewer and confirmed by the other. Results: Seventeen epidemiologic studies met criteria. Multiple cohorts (e.g., BRISA, PIAMA) reported modest to moderate associations between higher sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake and pediatric asthma or “asthma traits.” Cross-sectional analyses from NHANES and the National Children’s Study showed stronger associations, with greater fructose exposures linked to two- to five-fold higher odds of asthma. High fructose beverage consumption demonstrated the most consistent positive associations. Large ISAAC-based studies reported largely null findings, reflecting broad dietary exposure categories and limited specificity for fructose-rich beverages. Evidence for rhinitis, eczema, and sensitization was directionally consistent. Conclusions: Despite heterogeneity, the convergence of mechanistic plausibility with epidemiologic signals supports a potential contributory role of high fructose exposure in pediatric atopic disease. More rigorous longitudinal studies with biomarker-based exposure assessment are needed to refine causal inference. Full article

Background/Objectives: Malignant transformation of hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) represents a clinically significant yet incompletely understood process. Although the pathological and clinical characteristics of HCA have been extensively described, its spatial molecular heterogeneity and spatially organized molecular variation at the tissue level remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to establish a spatially integrated multi-omics workflow and to delineate spatially organized molecular variation across histologically defined regions from adenoma to carcinoma. Methods: A sequential dual-layer matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) workflow was developed to acquire small-molecule metabolomic and N-glycan spatial data from the same formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue section. Four rare HCA specimens containing focal carcinoma transformation were included in this study. Pixel-level clustering, region-based co-localization analysis, and diffusion pseudotime modeling were applied to characterize spatial metabolic and N-glycan patterns across normal liver tissue (NL), hepatocellular adenoma (HCA), and carcinoma-transformed regions within adenoma (HCA-HCC). Results: Small-molecule MSI revealed spatial metabolic stratification within HCA, with variation observed in nucleotide-related, lipid-related, sulfur-related, and sugar nucleotide–associated metabolites. Pseudotime analysis revealed a spatial ordering of samples across NL, HCA, and HCA-HCC regions, showing differences in antioxidant-associated metabolites, lipid-related features, and bile acid-related metabolites across regions. N-glycan MSI identified independent glycosylation niches, with increasing structural complexity and enrichment of highly branched glycans in carcinoma-transformed regions. Integration of metabolomic and glycomic data suggested spatially associated patterns between metabolite features and glycan structures across regions. Conclusions: This study provides spatially resolved evidence of spatially organized patterns of molecular variation across histologically defined regions of HCA. The identified metabolic and N-glycan gradients provide insights into spatial molecular organization during malignant transformation of hepatocellular adenoma. Full article

Severe browning often occurs in Multivitamin Iron Oral Solution during storage, which directly leads to the decline of product quality. To clarify the main mechanism of browning in this preparation, the contents of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and carbohydrates, as well as the relevant characteristic parameters such as color and fluorescence, were determined at different storage times in this study. Subsequently, four reaction models, namely sucrose-lysine, sucrose-citric acid, sucrose-niacin, and sucrose-folic acid, were constructed according to the formulation of the preparation to systematically investigate the effects of each system on browning. The results showed that the sucrose-lysine model was the main color-forming reaction system of the preparation. Citric acid could significantly promote the hydrolysis of sucrose to produce two reducing sugars, glucose and fructose, which not only provided sufficient substrates for the Maillard reaction (MR), but also led to the massive accumulation of 5-HMF. Further analysis revealed that heating temperature and heating time were significantly positively correlated with the contents of 5-HMF, browning index (BI), color density (CD), and reducing sugars in the solution, while significantly negatively correlated with sucrose content (p < 0.05). Two fractions, P1 and P2, were isolated by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Among them, P1 with a molecular weight of 61,660 Da was identified as the key fluorescent color-forming component, whose ultraviolet and fluorescence characteristics were basically consistent with those of Multivitamin Iron Oral Solution. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) analysis confirmed that P1 contained characteristic fragments of conjugated unsaturated structure, which was the key chromophore responsible for its fluorescence properties. In summary, this study explored the main browning mechanism of Multivitamin Iron Oral Solution. It was found that after citric acid catalyzed the hydrolysis of sucrose, the generated reducing sugars underwent Maillard reaction with lysine to produce fluorescent color-forming substances, and heat treatment significantly aggravated the browning process. The results of this study not only provide a solid theoretical basis for optimizing the preparation process and improving the storage stability of Multivitamin Iron Oral Solution, but also offer an important reference for the research on the browning mechanism and stability of other sugar-containing liquid preparations. Full article

The large-scale production of microbial bioplastics remains limited by high production costs, reliance on refined substrates, and inefficient utilization of agro-industrial residues. Although sugarcane bagasse has been explored as a carbon source for polyhydroxyalkanoate production, studies have predominantly focused on poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), with limited reports on copolymer synthesis from pentose-rich lignocellulosic streams. In this study, a newly isolated Bacillus sp. HLI02 was employed for the biosynthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), using pentosan-rich sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate as an inexpensive and sustainable carbon source. Fermentation parameters were systematically optimized at different pH and temperature, and the strain demonstrated efficient conversion of xylose-rich hydrolysate into PHBV without the requirement for external nutrient supplementation. Under optimized conditions (pH 7.0, 37 °C, and C/N ratio of 40), a maximum PHBV yield of 2 g/L, corresponding to 59.5% of cell dry weight, was achieved. Structural and compositional analyses using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed successful PHBV copolymer formation with well-defined structural characteristics. Thermal analysis revealed a decomposition temperature of 166 °C, indicating good thermal stability. The produced PHBV further exhibited favourable biocompatibility and biodegradability, supporting its potential applicability in sustainable packaging and related sectors. This work demonstrates the effective conversion of hemicellulosic sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate into PHBV using a newly isolated Bacillus strain, highlighting an underexplored route for copolymer production from agro-waste–derived C5 sugars. By integrating low-cost feedstock utilization with process optimization and comprehensive polymer characterization, this study contributes to the development of economically viable and sustainable bio-based polymer production strategies. Full article

The ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranate cultivar is highly valued for its organoleptic properties, yet it often suffers from inadequate fruit pigmentation, reducing its commercial competitiveness. This study, carried out in a mature commercial orchard located in Spain (Alicante), evaluated the impact of preharvest applications of sorbitol at different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1% in 2023, and 2.5 and 5% in 2024) and three application periods: S1 (nine applications from fruit set), S2 (six applications from seed hardening), and S3 (three applications at the onset of colour change) over two consecutive growing seasons (2023 and 2024). Treatments were applied via foliar spraying from the time of fruit set until the onset of external colour change. The results showed that sorbitol acted as an effective metabolic ‘vector’, significantly increasing fruit weight and total yield, particularly at concentrations of 1 and 5%. Furthermore, sorbitol treatments enhanced fruit firmness by stabilizing cell wall structures and significantly improved exocarp red pigmentation by reducing the hue angle. While the highest doses (1, 2.5, and 5%) enhanced biomass accumulation, they also triggered a potential negative feedback loop in sugar sensing that could interfere with secondary metabolism at excessive thresholds. These findings suggest that preharvest sorbitol applications, particularly at concentrations between 1 and 5% starting from early application period (S1), serve as an effective strategy for improving yield and external pigmentation in ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranate fruit. Full article

The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines introduce an important shift in public health nutrition, emphasizing minimally processed foods, higher protein intake, greater inclusion of full-fat dairy, and a food-based advice centered on “real food” consumption. While several of these recommendations align with accumulating evidence, particularly the discouragement of ultra-processed foods and added sugars, substantial concerns remain regarding their internal coherence, population-level applicability, risk of misinterpretation, as well as environmental footprint. This critical narrative review evaluates whether the scope, emphasis, and framing of the new guideline components are proportionate to the strength, consistency, and context of the underlying evidence. Using a novel framework that distinguishes between nutritional adequacy, optimization, and therapeutic application, we assess the scientific coherence of key recommendations. A structured literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science focusing on systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials and large prospective cohort studies relevant to the updated guidelines. Particular attention is given to protein and saturated fat intakes, carbohydrate restriction in chronic disease, and the balance between simplification and scientific precision. Overall, the new guidelines represent a positive shift toward food-based recommendations; however, clearer differentiation between population-level guidance and context-specific interventions is required to preserve scientific rigor, reduce misinterpretation, and enhance public health relevance. Full article

Primula vulgaris possesses considerable edible, medicinal, and ornamental value. It is widely applied in food and pharmaceutical development and, as an early-spring flowering plant, is used in landscaping. However, its range of applications and scope are significantly limited due to its inability to withstand high temperatures. This study aimed to investigate the heat tolerance of P. vulgaris under natural high temperatures during summer, identify the most heat-resistant varieties, and determine the optimal conditions for summer outdoor cultivation. Eight P. vulgaris varieties were selected and placed under forest shade with three different shading rates during the summer high-temperature period. Additionally, the heat damage index and the following six physiological indicators were measured: malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, and relative conductivity. Furthermore, a correlation analysis of the physiological indicators was conducted, and a heat tolerance evaluation was performed using the membership function method. Simultaneously, qRT-PCR was employed to analyze the expression patterns of three heat stress-related genes (PvHSP70, PvNCED6, and PvHSF24) across the different cultivars and experimental sites. Under heat stress conditions, leaf area was found to be positively and highly significantly correlated with stomatal density (p < 0.01). The heat damage index, MDA content, and relative conductivity increased significantly with prolonged stress, and they showed highly significant positive correlations. SOD activity, soluble sugar content, and soluble protein content increased to resist heat damage, while POD activity exhibited no consistent trend. Highly significant positive correlations were observed among protective enzyme activities and osmotic regulatory substances. After a comprehensive evaluation, the eight varieties were ranked according to heat tolerance as follows: “Early Punas Yellow” > “Danova Red” > “Middle Punas Rose Red” > “Middle Punas Blue” > “Middle Punas Red” > “Danova Rose White” > “Middle Punas Crimson” > “Middle Punas Scarlet”. Conclusions: “Early Punas Yellow”, “Danova Red”, and “Middle Punas Rose Red” demonstrated strong heat tolerance. In addition, the expression of PvHSP70 and PvHSF24 was significantly upregulated in heat-tolerant cultivars, while that of PvNCED6 showed a sustained increasing trend with rising temperatures. The results of a three-way ANOVA suggested that P. vulgaris exhibited different regulatory patterns among various traits under natural high-temperature stress. Morphological and integrative damage-related indicators, including leaf area, stomatal density, and the heat damage index, all presented significant “site × time” interaction effects. Meanwhile, some physiological regulatory indicators displayed more complex and inconsistent response patterns. These findings further confirm that a dense forest understory grassland is an ideal environment for the summer outdoor cultivation of P. vulgaris. Full article