Abstract Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have emerged as highly promising multifunctional nanomaterials for next-generation optoelectronic applications, offering tunable fluorescence, high biocompatibility, and sustainable synthesis routes. In this review, we explore recent advances in CQD-based fluorescent biosensors, emphasizing their potential in real-time pollutant detection, bioimaging, and green energy solutions. We analyze the underlying photophysical mechanisms, including quantum confinement, surface functionalization, and heteroatom doping, that govern fluorescence modulation. Importantly, the review highlights eco-friendly synthesis techniques and the integration of CQDs in optoelectronic architectures such as photodetectors, photocatalytic systems, and hybrid sensors. By coupling photonic and electronic responses within a single material platform, CQDs offer a pathway toward energy-efficient, neuromorphic-inspired sensing and processing. We conclude by identifying future directions for enhancing the multifunctionality, spectral selectivity, and device-level integration of CQDs, positioning them as sustainable alternatives in two-dimensional (2D) optoelectronic systems.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Taslima Nasrin, Md. Atiq Rahman, Most. Arfin
et al.
Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) are nutrient-rich specialty fruits with a short shelf life due to microbial spoilage, softening, darkening, and moisture loss. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of edible coatings in extending shelf life and maintaining fruit quality. Freshly ripened, randomly selected strawberries were coated with 1.5% chitosan, 1.5% chitosan+1% CaCl₂, Aloe vera gel (AVG), and AVG+1% CaCl₂, along with an uncoated control. Each treatment was replicated 3 times with 25 samples per replicate, followed by air drying. The coated strawberries were stored in sterilized polypropylene containers under standard refrigerated conditions (4±1°C; 50±5% relative humidity) for 9 days. The application of edible coatings significantly (p<0.05) reduced respiration rates (by 25 to 34%) and microbial load (by 41 to 62%), helping to preserve fruit color, moisture content, ascorbic acid, firmness, and overall acceptability. The effect was more pronounced in strawberries coated with AVG and AVG+1% CaCl₂ coatings on strawberries throughout storage period. Uncoated strawberries had an acceptability score of 4.0, while all coated fruits scored above 5, showing a significant improvement by 20 to 37%. Strawberries treated with AVG, with or without CaCl₂, maintained the highest acceptability score of 5.5, outperforming all other coatings. These findings suggest that Aloe Vera -based coatings are particularly effective in extending the shelf life and preserving the quality of strawberries during refrigerated storage.
Ivona Veličković, Stevan Samardžić, Marina T. Milenković
et al.
Reducing agricultural waste through reuse has become one of the most important strategies to minimise impact on the environment—an emerging global issue. Sunflower ranks fourth in the world in the production of vegetable oilseeds and therefore generates large amounts of agricultural waste. The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition and bioactivity of sunflower crop residues in order to open up new opportunities for waste management. TPC and TFC were determined spectrophotometrically, while the dominant compounds were identified by LC-DAD-ESI-MS as <i>ent</i>-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (KA) and 6Ac-7OH-dimethylchromone (DMC). Both compounds were present in higher concentrations in the ethyl acetate fraction (245.5 and 16.8 mg/g, respectively) than in the ethanol extract. None of the tested samples showed antimicrobial effects in the microdilution test. DMC showed remarkable antioxidant activity by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and TRC in vitro assays, while both compounds proved to be promising enzyme inhibitory agents, being particularly efficient in inhibiting anti-neurodegenerative enzymes (IC<sub>50</sub> values of DMC and KA were 1.20/1.37 mg/mL and 1.44/1.63 mg/mL for AChE/BChE, respectively) and tyrosinase. The results presented indicate that sunflower crop residues are a good candidate for the extraction of bioactive compounds with potential application in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Abstract Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) plant, among the most widely grown worldwide crops, faces a formidable foe: salinity which impedes its growth. In this regard, an experiment was stated to evaluate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation and exogenous proline (100 ppm) application on the growth and metabolic constituents of chickpea plants under salt stress (200 mM) conditions. Six treatments were tested: control, NaCl, proline, NaCl + proline, AMF, and NaCl + AMF. All growth indicators, leaf water content (8.0%), chlorophyll content (53.0%) and membrane stability index (36.8%) showed a decrease in plants subjected to salinity stress while an increase in membrane lipid peroxidation (72.9%) was noted as versus the control plants; however, proline-applied and AMF-colonized plants showed the reverse responses. A discernible rise in total phenols (49.1 and 35.6%), flavonoids (66.5 and 38.5%) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (7.1 and 4.7%) was observed with AMF and proline application under salt stress. The most obvious result is the role of AMF in strengthening the contents of soil easily (70.0%) and total glomalin (78.3%) and root acid (26.5%) and alkaline (41.8%) phosphatases. These results demonstrate that AMF and proline improve physiological and biochemical performance of chickpea under salt stress, with AMF showing the strongest benefits. Importantly, the application of AMF or proline offers a practical and eco-friendly strategy to mitigate salinity stress in chickpea cultivation, supporting sustainable crop production in salt-affected soils.
Abstract Fragaria iinumae, a diploid progenitor species of octoploid strawberries, likely occupies a basal position within the genus Fragaria. In this study, we report a near-complete genome assembly of F. iinumae v2.0, totaling 241.14 Mb with a contig N50 of 33.31 Mb. We identified 14 telomeric and 7 centromeric regions across its seven chromosomes. Compared to previous assemblies, F. iinumae v2.0 demonstrates substantial improvements in both genome continuity (gaps reduced from 29 to 0) and annotation completeness, including the annotation of 4,144 new genes and 395 new gene clusters. Notably, several large structural variants were identified between the F. iinumae v1.0 and F. iinumae v2.0 genomes, with most gaps in the v1.0 assembly overlapping with structural variant breakpoints. Additionally, we found a significant expansion of telomeric repeats in the B subgenome of octoploid strawberries compared to F. iinumae. Interestingly, two telomeres consistently exhibited low repeat abundance in both the diploid and octoploid B subgenomes, suggesting significant contraction early in the evolution of F. iinumae. Furthermore, through multiple lines of genomic evidence—including phylogenetic analyses, genetic distance matrices, a burst of LTR insertions, and the distribution of NLR resistance genes, we conclude that F. iinumae may represent an early-diverging lineage within the strawberry genus. This updated assembly provides a crucial genomic resource for understanding of the origin and structural dynamics of the strawberry genus and facilitates further exploration of genome-wide consequences of polyploidy.
N. S. O. Sousa, E. S. Souza, E. S. M. Canto
et al.
Abstract This review article explores the potential of fermentations in the Amazon region as catalysts for economic and social development. It highlights the rich cultural and gastronomic diversity of the Amazon, focusing on indigenous fermented products. Two main products, tucupi and caxiri, are discussed in detail, emphasizing their significance in local cuisine and culture. The review examines the challenges and opportunities for industrial applications of these products, as well as their potential for social technology initiatives, particularly in the context of family farming. The sustainable production of native fermented products in the Amazon is seen as a means to preserve biodiversity, empower local communities, and promote cultural heritage. The article concludes that both industrial and social technologies have complementary roles in promoting economic growth, cultural preservation, and the well-being of the Amazon region, making it a promising hub for innovative and sustainable fermented food products on a global scale.
Santhiti Vadthanarat, Bhavesh Raghoonundon, Saisamorn Lumyong
et al.
A new genus, Rostrupomyces is established to accommodate Xerocomus sisongkhramensis based on multiple protein-coding genes (atp6, cox3, tef1, and rpb2) analyses of a wide taxon sampling of Boletaceae. In our phylogeny, the new genus was sister to Rubinosporus in subfamily Xerocomoideae, phylogenetically distant from Xerocomus, which was highly supported as sister to Phylloporus in the same subfamily Xerocomoideae. Rostrupomyces is different from other genera in Boletaceae by the following combination of characters: rugulose to subrugulose pileus surface, white pores when young becoming pale yellow in age, subscabrous stipe surface scattered with granulose squamules, white basal mycelium, unchanging color in any parts, yellowish brown spore print, and broadly ellipsoid to ellipsoid, smooth basidiospores. In addition, Hemileccinum inferius, also from subfamily Xerocomoideae, is newly described. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the new genus and new species are presented.
Meloidogyne javanica and Ralstonia solanacearum are the highly specialized soil-born plant parasites with economic importance causing root-knot and bacterial wilt diseases in tomatoes, respectively. The occurrence and intensity of the bacterial wilt escalated in the presence of root-knot nematodes and R. solanacearum concurrently detected in different vegetable crops. Sampling and preparation of leaf extract were done to investigate the activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POX) enzymes at 24, 48, 72, and 120 hours post-inoculation (hpi) of tomato plants with R. solanacearum and M. javanica. The enzyme activity was measured at each time interval. The CAT and SOD enzymes exhibited maximum activity levels at 120 and 48 hpi in the nematode treatment, respectively. Meanwhile, the levels of POX enzyme peaked at 48 and 72 hpi in the nematode and nematode-bacterium treatments, respectively. Pathogen stress eventually led to a decrease in the SOD and POX enzymes 120 hours after inoculation and a significant increase in CAT during nematode-bacterium treatment. The results revealed apparent enzyme activity variations in tomato plants infected with both pathogens at different time intervals after inoculation.
Oscar Estrella, Hernan Luis Castillo Garcia, Fernando Javier Rengel Jimenez
et al.
El presente trabajo de investigación refiere a la “Prospección geológica para calizas en el sector Zambi, ubicado en la parroquia Zambi, cantón Catamayo, provincia de Loja”, abarcando una extensión de 40 hectáreas consideradas como prioritarias y necesarias para la investigación, en la búsqueda inicial de zonas de acumulación de carbonatos de calcio, determinando sus propiedades tanto físicas como químicas que presentan estos depósitos y analizar su posible aplicación en actividades industriales. Una vez obtenida la información bibliográfica mediante trabajo de oficina, se realizó la primera visita al polígono de estudio, posterior a ello se desarrolló el levantamiento fotogramétrico por percepción remota a escala 1:1000, curvas principales cada 5 metros y curvas secundarias cada 1 metro, el mismo que se utilizó de base para realizar el levantamiento geológico a la misma escala, mediante descripción de afloramientos y calicatas en donde se evidenció tres tipos de litologías correspondientes a calizas, lutitas y cuarcitas. Una vez identificadas las rocas, se tomó muestras en diferentes puntos del área de estudio y se realizó ensayos físicos como el cálculo de peso específico, peso aparente y porosidad; ensayos químicos correspondientes a difracción de rayos X, fluorescencia de rayos X y pureza de carbonatos. Estos análisis determinaron el porcentaje de CaCo3 que existe en las calizas, siendo este compuesto el de mayor importancia con un valor promedio de 77,56% CaCo3 clasificándola como una caliza impura margosa; así mismo se identificó elementos como el AlO, SIO, PO, S, KO, CaO y FeO, los cuales según sus porcentajes de concentración en las muestras, permitieron conocer el uso industrial de las calizas con el cálculo del índice hidráulico, obteniendo como resultado que su aprovechamiento es para matriz de cemento portland. Se argumenta que esta roca está relacionada directamente con la industria cementera o industria de la construcción.
<i>Berberis vulgaris</i> L. is currently widely studied for its antioxidant and chemopreventive properties, especially with regard to the beneficial properties of its fruits. Although the bark and roots have been well known and used in traditional medicine since ancient times, little is known about the other parts of this plant. The aim of the research was to determine the antioxidant and LOX inhibitory activity effects of extracts obtained from the leaves, fruits, and stems. Another aim of the work was to carry out the quantitative and qualitative analysis of phenolic acids, flavonoid aglycones, and flavonoid glycosides. The extracts were obtained with the use of ASE (accelerated solvent extraction). The total content of polyphenols was determined and was found to vary depending on the organ, with the highest amount of polyphenols found in the leaf extracts. The free radical scavenging activity of the extracts was determined spectrophotometrically in relation to the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical, with results ranging from 63.9 mgTE/g for the leaves to 65.2 mgTE/g for the stem. Antioxidant activity was also assessed using the ABTS test. The lowest value was recorded for the barberry fruit (117.9 mg TE/g), and the highest level was found for the barberry leaves (140.5 mgTE/g). The oxygen radical absorbance capacity test (ORAC) showed the lowest value for the stem (167.7 mgTE/g) and the highest level for the leaves (267.8 mgTE/g). The range of the percentage inhibition of LOX was determined as well. The percentage inhibition of the enzyme was positively correlated with the sum of the flavonoids, TPC, TFC, and the content of selected flavonoids. Phenolic acids, flavonoid aglycones, and flavonoid glycosides were determined qualitatively and quantitatively in individual parts of <i>Berberis vulgaris</i> L. The content of phenolic acids, flavonoid aglycones, and flavonoid glycosides was determined with the LC-MS/MS method. The following phenolic acids were quantitatively and qualitatively identified in individual parts of <i>Berberis vulgaris</i> L.: gallic acid, 3-caffeoylquinic acid, protocatechuic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, and caffeic acid. The flavonoid glycosides determined were: eleutheroside E, Eriodictyol-7-glucopyranoside, rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitin, luteoloside, narcissoside, naringenin-7-glucoside, isorhamnetin-3-glucoside, afzeline, and quercitrin. Flavonoid aglycones such as catechin, luteolin, quercetin, and eriodictyol were also determined qualitatively and quantitatively.
After maturity, seed vigor irreversibly decreases. Understanding the underlying mechanism is important to germplasm preservation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play vital regulatory roles in plants. However, little is known about how miRNAs regulate seed aging. Here, elm (<i>Ulmus pumila</i> L.) seeds of three aging stages were subjected to a multi-omics analysis including transcriptome, small RNAome and degradome, to find regulators of seed aging. In the small RNAome, 119 miRNAs were identified, including 111 conservative miRNAs and eight novel miRNAs specific to elm seeds, named upu-miRn1-8. A total of 4900 differentially expressed genes, 22 differentially expressed miRNAs, and 528 miRNA-target pairs were identified during seed ageing. The target genes were mainly involved in the processing of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum, metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction, and spliceosome. The expression of several DEGs and miRNAs were verified by qRT-PCR. The degradome data showed the exact degradation sites of upu-miR399a on <i>ABCG25</i>, and upu-miR414a on <i>GIF1</i>, etc. The dual-luciferase assay verified the negative regulation of upu-miR399a on <i>ABCG25</i> and upu-miR414a on <i>GIF1</i> in tobacco leaves. This study outlined the regulation network of mRNA, miRNA and miRNA-target genes during seed aging, which is helpful in integrating the regulation mechanisms of seed vigor at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels.
<i>Pedicularis kansuensis</i> is an indicator species of grassland degradation. Its population expansion dramatically impacts the production and service function of the grassland ecosystem, but the effects and mechanisms of the expansion are still unclear. In order to understand the ecological effects of <i>P. kansuensis</i>, three <i>P. kansuensis</i> patches of different densities were selected in an alpine grassland, and species diversity indexes, biomasses, soil physicochemical properties, and the mechanism among them were analyzed. The results showed that <i>P. kansuensis</i> expansion increased the richness index, the Shannon–Wiener index significantly, and the aboveground biomass ratio (ABR) of the Weed group (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but reduced the total biomass of the community and the ABR of the Gramineae and Cyperaceae decreased insignificantly (<i>p</i> > 0.05); soil moisture, soil AOC, and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>·N decreased significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while soil pH and total soil nutrients did not change significantly, and available phosphorus (AP) decreased at first and then increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The structural equation model (SEM) showed that <i>P. kansuensis</i> expansion had a significant positive effect on the community richness index, and a significant negative effect followed on the soil AOC from the increase of the index; the increase of pH had a significant negative effect on the soil AOC, NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>·N, and AP. It indicated that <i>P. kansuensis</i> expansion resulted in the increase of species richness, the ABR of the Weed group, and the community’s water demand, which promoted the over-utilization of soil available nutrients in turn, and finally caused the decline of soil quality. This study elucidated a possible mechanism of poisonous weeds expansion, and provided a scientific and theoretical basis for grassland management.
<i>Eucommia ulmoides</i> Oliver (EUO), an economic tree grown specifically in China, is widely used in various fields. To satisfy the requirements of industrial development, superior varieties need to be selected for different uses. However, there is no unified standard for breeders to reference. In this study, leaf-related traits were classified by a probability grading method. The results indicated there were significant differences between different planting models for the studied traits, and the traits in the Arbor forest model showed more abundant variation. Compared with genotype, the planting model accounted for relatively bigger variance, indicating that the standard should be divided according to planting models. Furthermore, the optimum planting model for different traits would be obtained by analyzing the variation range. Association analyses were conducted among traits to select the crucial evaluation indexes. The indexes were divided into three grades in different planting models. The evaluation system on leaf-related traits of EUO germplasm was established preliminarily, which considered planting models and stability across years for the first time. It can be treated as a reference to identify and evaluate EUO germplasm resources. Additionally, the study served as an example for the classification of quantitative traits in other economically important perennial plants.
Se estudiaron los cambios en la composición diaria de la fracción de nitrógeno soluble en la savia sangrante de Vitis vinifera L. cv. Criolla grande. Los compuestos con un alto contenido de nitrógeno (por ejemplo, asparagina, glutamina, arginina) se habían añadido previamente a la savia mediante inoculación directa en el xilema. Se encontró que la glutamina era el principal compuesto de la fracción de nitrógeno soluble en la savia sangrante recogida durante los primeros tres días. A partir del día siguiente, sin embargo, el ácido glutámico resultó ser el compuesto soluble en nitrógeno dominante de las muestras diarias. La concentración de glutamina y los niveles de nitrógeno soluble total dieron resultados correlacionados.
Los patrones de nitrógeno soluble total y los de los aminoácidos en condiciones variables estaban estrechamente correlacionados, con la excepción de la arginina, donde se observaron ligeras diferencias. No se encontró paralelismo cuando se comparó el porcentaje de nitrógeno proporcionado como glutamina, asparagina y arginina con el porcentaje del contenido de nitrógeno correspondiente a estos mismos compuestos en el primer día de muestreo de savia sangrante.
Se discute desde un punto de vista metabólico la implicación de los compuestos nitrogenados añadidos, en relación con el retraso observado en el crecimiento de las yemas durante una quincena después del brote.
Valeria Andrea Cianchino, Laura Silvina Favier, Claudia Alicia Ortega
et al.
Abstract In popular medicine Silybum marianum is used as a hepatoprotective agent. Silymarin is the major constituent. The present work deals with the formulation and evaluation of S. marianum tablets from ethanolic extract by direct compression. The ethanolic extract was obtained from seeds by soxhlet extraction. Two pharmaceutical formulations were prepared using fluid extract as an active principle, and Aeroperl® 300 Pharma as a carrier. In order to improve flow ability and compressibility, co-processed excipients MicroceLac® 100 and FlowLac® 90 were employed. Pre-compression and post-compression parameters were evaluated according to USP 34-NF 29. Besides, silymarin was determined by NMR spectral data. Both formulations showed excellent rheological properties and the best biopharmaceutical parameters were observed in F2 (S. marianum ethanolic extract, aeroperl® 300 Pharma, flowLac® 90, glycolate starch and magnesium stearate) in terms of the friability (0.82 %) and the disintegration time (8.05 min).
We report draft genome sequence of Haloterrigena turkmenica strain WANU15, isolated from Soda Lake. The draft genome size is 2,950,899 bp with a G + C content of 64% and contains 49 RNA sequence. The genome sequence can be accessed at DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank under the accession no. LKCV00000000. Keywords: Soda Lake, Haloterrigena turkmenica, Carboxylesterase, Carboxylase, Xylose isomerase, Whole genome sequencing
Samanta Oliveira Silva, Francisco Junior Simões Calaça, Adda Daniela Lima Figueiredo
Convolvulaceae é uma família de plantas vasculares predominantemente herbáceas, que ocorre no Cerrado brasileiro. As folhas destas plantas são inteiras ou partidas, dispostas alternadamente, seu caule é escandente, substituindo as gavinhas. A espécie Operculina macrocarpa (L.) Urb. apresenta folhas partidas, pilosas, com margem ondulada, nervuras palmatipartidas, com ápice acuminado e base sagitada. Objetiva-se obter conhecimento morfoanatômico das folhas adultas de O. macrocarpa para sua devida caracterização e identificação da espécie. As folhas adultas de Operculina macrocarpa foram coletas para caracterização anatômica. Os cortes histológicos preparados manualmente foram fotografados sob microscópio óptico. Suas folhas adultas possuem epiderme unisseriada, com fina camada de cutícula na superficie abaxial. Apresentam estômatos nas duas faces da epiderme (anfiestomáticas), com maior incidência na superfície abaxial. Observa-se a presença de uma grande quantidade de tricomas tectores e glandulares nas duas faces da epiderme. O mesofilo apresenta de duas a três camadas de parênquima, havendo a ocorrência de drusas e cistólitos, possui parênquima lacunoso denso e clorofilado, com a presença de canais esquizógenos próximos aos feixes vasculares. Verificamos que as características supracitadas identificam padrões de plantas adaptadas a ambientes xéricos.