Search Results (361)

A derivatisation-free HPLC–MS/MS method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of selenium- and sulphur-containing amino acids in soybean leaves, and applied to a 3 × 3 factorial hydroponic experiment probing selenium–sulphur metabolic interactions. The method resolves five biologically informative analytes (Cys₂, SeCys₂, MeSeCys, Met, SeMet) within 1.5 min through multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of the free fraction was jointly optimised for both analyte classes by the response-surface methodology; enzymatic hydrolysis of the extraction residue recovered the protein-bound fraction on the same platform. Limits of detection ranged from 0.036 to 0.556 µg L⁻¹, intra-day relative standard deviations were below 5%, and spike recoveries fell between 92.3 and 117.4%. Free SeAA and SAA pools were negatively correlated across the nine treatments (R² = 0.83), consistent with competitive Se–S assimilation, whereas bound pools were positively correlated (R² = 0.89), reflecting proportional protein-level incorporation. A regime of 1–5 mM of sulphate with 20 µM of selenite yielded the highest bound organo-Se with near-normal growth, providing leaf-level evidence that may inform future seed-focused studies aimed at Se-enriched soy-protein ingredient development. Full article

The production of white-skin-macerated wines without sulphur dioxide (SO₂) has increased in recent years, although it presents challenges such as uncontrolled alcoholic fermentation (AF) or malolactic fermentation (MLF) and the production of undesirable compounds. Fumaric acid (FA) is being explored as an alternative to SO₂ due to its antimicrobial and acidifying properties. This study evaluated the effects of vinification type (white skin contact vs. conventional white wine) and different treatments: (i) control without additives, (ii) 0.6 g/L FA, and (iii) 40 mg/L SO₂. After AF, MLF was conducted under three conditions: spontaneous fermentation and two inoculated trials with 10⁶ cells/mL of Oenococcus oeni, one without lees and one with 1 g/L lees from AF. Yeast and lactic acid bacteria dynamics during AF were monitored, along with chemical composition, colour, and sensory characteristics of the wines. Results revealed that the development of AF and final wine compositions were influenced by the vinification type and treatment. During MLF, residual FA from the AF was able to delay its progress but was not sufficient to completely inhibit it. The sensory analysis did not reveal significant differences between treatments. Fumaric acid is a viable alternative to SO₂ for managing MLF in high-pH white wines (including those with skin maceration), allowing for lower SO₂ concentrations and enhanced freshness without impacting sensory quality. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the leaching of nutrients and pathogens following the surface application of pH-modified slurry on sandy soil. Three slurry pH modification strategies—mineral and biological acidification (pH 5) and alkalinization (pH 9.5)—were tested using mineral acids or bases, paper-industry by-products, or combinations of additives. We hypothesized that: (i) acidification increases nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) leaching through nutrient solubilization, and (ii) effective sanitization reduces the risk of pathogen leaching. A 24-day column leaching experiment was conducted with slurry applied at 240 kg N ha⁻¹ and four weekly irrigation events. Results indicated that nitrate (NO₃⁻) leaching accounted for less than 15% of the total nitrogen applied; however, acidified slurry significantly increased ammonium (NH₄⁺) leaching by 72%. The combination of H₂SO₄ with sucrose reduced NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ leaching, although P leaching exceeded 35% of the total P applied. Sulphur (S) concentrations in leachates ranged from 42.3 to 112.8 mg S kg⁻¹ soil, particularly in treatments involving H₂SO₄ or SO₄²⁻—rich additives such as spent acid. Faecal coliform leaching declined throughout the study, with acidified slurry consistently maintaining levels below the threshold for irrigation water (<100 MPN/100 mL). Regarding nutrient leaching, pH-modified slurry may present a higher risk of N, P and S leaching compared to untreated slurry, which could also be interpreted as an increase in plant nutrient availability. Full article

Consumer interest in low-SO₂ white wines is increasing; however, such approaches may reduce compositional and sensory predictability. This study evaluates how three fermentation strategies—SO₂ addition and Saccharomyces cerevisiae ES181 inoculation (SO₂Sc), spontaneous fermentation (NoSO₂-Spont), and inoculation with S. cerevisiae ES181 without SO₂ addition (NoSO₂Sc)—shape the chemical profile, polyphenolic composition, colour, microbiological status, and sensory perception of ‘Solaris’ wines relative to the must (reference). A single batch of ‘Solaris’ must (one press run) was split into three variants and fermented under identical temperature conditions (12 ± 0.5 °C), followed by cool ageing and natural sedimentation prior to bottling. Basic oenological parameters, selected fermentation by-products, viable yeast counts, CIE Lab colour, targeted polyphenolics (phenolic acids, flavonols, flavan-3-ols, and stilbenes), PCA of by-products, and blind sensory evaluation were assessed. The NoSO₂-Spont variant showed reduced fermentation completeness (higher residual sugars and lower ethanol) and the highest volatile acidity, together with elevated glycerol and several higher alcohols, and received the lowest sensory ratings. The SO₂Sc variant yielded the most controlled outcome, with the lowest volatile acidity, the brightest colour (higher L*, lower b*), and the highest sensory acceptance. The NoSO₂Sc variant produced intermediate sensory scores and a higher total phenolic content; however, volatile acidity remained high and viable yeast counts were the greatest, indicating increased susceptibility to microbiological activity during extended pre-bottling handling. Overall, the SO₂Sc strategy provides the greatest chemical stability and sensory acceptance, whereas low-SO₂ regimes require a hurdle approach (oxygen control, residual sugar management, hygiene, and stabilisation) to limit spoilage development and post-bottling refermentation. Full article

Cuproptosis represents a novel form of programmed cell death that relies on copper ions and targets the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid cycle, offering fresh avenues for tumor therapy. Elesclomol, as a highly efficient small-molecule copper ion carrier, transports copper ions into mitochondria. Under the action of ferredoxin-1 (FDX1), it induces abnormal aggregation of lipoylated proteins and loss of iron–sulphur clusters, thereby generating protein toxicity stress and killing tumor cells. Furthermore, elesclomol effectively remodels the tumor immune microenvironment by promoting dendritic cell maturation and CD8⁺ T cell infiltration, demonstrating synergistic effects with immune checkpoint blockade therapies. However, tumor cells can develop resistance mechanisms through metabolic reprogramming via hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-driven reductive pathway, which partially limits the drug’s clinical efficacy. Addressing this limitation, combination therapies integrating elesclomol with targeted agents such as ferroptosis inducers or chemotherapeutic drugs have demonstrated significant antitumor advantages. Future research must urgently leverage the selection of precise biomarkers and the development of novel intelligent nanodelivery systems to further advance the safe and efficient clinical translation of elesclomol. Full article

Artisanal cheese quality relies on a complex microbiota. The generalized use of commercial starter cultures has been associated with reduced microbial diversity, fueling interest in using indigenous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as adjunct cultures. This study aimed to evaluate Ligilactobacillus salivarius SP36 as a starter or adjunct culture in ripened cheeses. Culture-based and culture-independent analyses were performed, together with the assessment of some physico-chemical parameters (pH, water activity, and color), including the profile of volatile compounds. All cheeses were microbiologically safe according to current EU legislation. The pH of the cheese made only with the SP36 strain was higher than those of the cheeses manufactured with a commercial starter (with or without strain SP36). L. salivarius SP36 modulated the aroma profile by increasing ethyl esters, alcohols, ketones, organic acids and sulphur compounds. LAB dominated all cheeses, with the highest microbial diversity in the cheese produced without the commercial starter. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei isolates were obtained from all cheeses. Overall, L. salivarius SP36 seems a promising adjunct for mature cheeses, while autochthonous L. plantarum and L. paracasei isolates represent promising candidates for starter or adjunct cultures. Full article

Despite their vital physiological roles, oxidative imbalance caused by reactive oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, and chlorine species damages essential body macromolecules such as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids through oxidative stress. This stress is strongly associated with cancer, inflammation, neurological and cardiovascular disorders, and other chronic human diseases. Therefore, antioxidants, natural or synthetic, that counteract oxidative damage are important, with increasing interest in their use within the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. However, due to toxicity concerns with the synthetic variants, natural antioxidants are increasingly preferred. Extremophile-derived antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutases, catalases, peroxidases, carotenoids, and melanin, are of renewed interest due to their remarkable stability, robustness, and potency under extreme conditions of temperature, pH, and salinity. These make them better than many mesophile-derived antioxidants and excellent candidates for cost-effective biotechnological, research, and industrial processes that require high operational efficiency. This review summarises key classes of selected enzymatic and pigment antioxidants, their mechanisms of action, and their industrial relevance, with a focus on extremophilic microalgae, bacteria, and fungi. The benefits of extremophilic antioxidants are discussed alongside their current applications and existing challenges, including the need to develop efficient delivery systems, scalability issues, and limited characterisation. Full article

Over the past five decades, cereal production has increased largely through fertilizer-driven yield gains to meet rising global food demand. Sulphur (S) is an essential macronutrient required for plant growth and development, although its role in crop production has often been underemphasized compared with other major nutrients. Unintentional sulfur accumulation from atmospheric deposition has traditionally been sufficient for most crops, but recent trends indicate a steady decline in soil sulfur levels worldwide. This decline is largely attributable to reductions in atmospheric sulfur deposition, the widespread use of sulfur-free high-NPK fertilizers, and increased sulfur uptake by high-yielding crop varieties. Despite increasing yield losses associated with sulfur deficiency, sulfur fertilization remains inadequately adopted in many crop production systems. In cereals, sulfur deficiency not only reduces growth and yield but also alters the synthesis of sulfur-containing amino acids and storage proteins, thereby weakening grain processing, baking, and nutritional quality. Additionally, sulfur deficiency in cereal grains has emerged as a notable health concern. Nevertheless, sulfur fertilization alone may not effectively mitigate these challenges, as optimal sulfur uptake, distribution, and assimilation depend on precise synchronization with plant developmental stages through complex physiological processes. Further research on the genetic regulation of these physiological mechanisms is critical to enhancing sulfur use efficiency and sustaining cereal crop production systems in the coming years. Full article

This study evaluates the environmental footprint of producing a polymer flocculant synthesised from phenol–formaldehyde resin waste (novolak T) at a quarter-technical scale, with electricity supply assumed from photovoltaic (PV) generation. A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment was performed in SimaPro Developer v9.4 using the Environmental Footprint (EF) 3.0 method and ecoinvent datasets. The functional unit was 100 kg of the sodium salt of the sulfonic derivative of novolak T. The characterization results indicate a climate change impact of 170.1 kg CO₂ eq and an acidification impact of 5.99 mol H⁺ eq per functional unit. Hotspot analysis shows that process chemicals dominate most impact categories: sulphuric acid production drives acidification and several air-emission-related categories, while sodium carbonate is a major contributor to toxicity- and eutrophication-related indicators. In contrast, electricity has a marginal contribution across categories. Recycling of novolak waste provides a strong compensatory credit, leading to net negative results in selected categories, including resource use and fossils (−5.02 × 10³ MJ). Overall, the results indicate that improving the upstream supply chains and the consumption of process reagents are the primary levers for reducing the environmental footprint of this waste-derived flocculant. Full article

Sulphur, a major by-product of the oil and gas industry, has emerged as a promising construction material in both sulphur concrete (SC) and sulphur-extended asphalt (SEA) applications. This review examines the development, properties, and uses of these sulphur-based construction materials over a century by following PRISMA guidelines for systematic literature selection. A bibliometric analysis highlights a surge in research activity over the last two decades. The key advantages of sulphur concrete include rapid strength gain (achieving ~50 MPa within 1–2 days) and exceptional chemical durability in extreme environments. Sulphur-bound materials exhibit high corrosion resistance, low water permeability, and full recyclability upon reheating. Challenges such as thermal shrinkage-induced brittleness and temperature sensitivity have been mitigated by using polymer-modified sulphur and mix design optimisation. Sulphur-extended asphalts benefit from increased stiffness, stability, and cost savings compared to conventional mixtures. Enhanced performance has been observed at sulphur replacement levels of 20–40% in asphalt binders. The review also summarises mixed formulations, mechanical properties, durability metrics, and innovative applications ranging from acid-resistant industrial structures to sustainable pavement materials and even extraterrestrial construction. The environmental benefits, such as up to 40% GHG reduction and complete recyclability of sulphur-based concretes, align with circular economy goals. Future research directions include improving ductility, advancing 3D printing techniques, and field validation of long-term performance. Overall, sulphur by-products can be transformed into valuable construction materials that address waste management and infrastructure durability. Full article

A simple mechanical polishing treatment of commercial solid-gold electrodes (SGEs) can renew the active gold surface, reduce manufacturing-related grooves, and markedly improve the repeatability of geometric-area estimation and the analytical performance in stripping voltammetry. The work focuses on the accurate determination of the geometric area of a SGE by two voltammetric techniques. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) at different scan rates, referred to as the Randles–Ševčik equation, and voltage scans at different electrode rotation rates, based on the Levich equation, were performed. The geometric area of the SGE was also evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Commercial SGEs show grooves on their surface, derived from the fabrication processes. The effects of these grooves on the voltammetric response were investigated. The measurements were carried out on the SGE both as received from the manufacturer and after a reduction in the grooves height by a drastic mechanical treatment. After the treatment, the estimated area values were lower and more precise (3.05 ± 0.02 mm²). Moreover, the reduction in the grooves’ height affected the area estimations in contrast with the meaning of the geometric area, as intended by the Randles–Ševčik and Levich equations. Furthermore, the gold exposed surface was measured by CV in sulphuric acid. Finally, the SGE was tested for the detection of Hg in a NaCl solution by anodic stripping voltammetry: the repeatability of the response improved after the mechanical treatment, confirming the usefulness of this step before electrode usage. Full article

Despite reductions in sulphur and nitrogen emissions, lakes and streams in Europe and North America have shown only partial recovery from acidification. This study aims to assess the chemical and biological recovery of the upper stretch of the Litavka River, currently on of the most acidic stream in the Czech Republic. Water composition and macroinvertebrates were studied for 1999, 2010, and 2021, along with long-term data on hydrology and climate. Over these 22 years, concentrations of SO₄²⁻, base cations, conductivity, and toxic Al forms (Al_i) significantly decreased, but pH only increased from 4.2 to 4.3. Biological recovery was most evident during 1999–2010, with an increase in the number of taxa and the appearance of less acid-tolerant taxa such as stonefly Diura bicaudata and caddisfly Rhyacophila sp., mainly associated with decreased Al_i toxicity. Subsequently, however, despite continued chemical improvement, macroinvertebrate diversity decreased, and sensitive taxa were again absent in 2021. Average annual temperature increased by 2.4 °C over the past 50 years (1970–2020) while precipitation remained unchanged, resulting in significant aridification of the regional climate. We attribute the lack of biological recovery in 2021 to climate-related changes, including more frequent dry periods and floods. Although partial biological recovery of the river followed chemical recovery, the increasing frequency of hydrological extremes has likely become the main limiting factor. Full article

As diets shift towards more plant-based patterns, nutrients mainly supplied by animal-sourced foods are receiving greater attention. Among these are sulphur-containing amino acids (SCAAs) such as taurine, methionine, and cysteine. These compounds play important roles in neuroprotection, antioxidant defence, and cellular signalling; functions that are closely linked to cognitive health. This systematic review examined the effects of SCAA supplementation on cognitive performance in randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Eight RCTs involving 244 healthy participants met the inclusion criteria. All trials focused exclusively on taurine; no studies were found that tested methionine or cysteine. Each used an acute, single-dose design, assessing key cognitive domains and mood outcomes. Overall, acute doses of taurine (typically 1–3 g, up to ~50 mg/kg) produced, at best, small and inconsistent improvements in cognitive function. Most cognitive outcomes showed no effect. Trials that combined taurine with caffeine showed more reliable performance benefits, but they did not isolate taurine’s independent effects. Similarly, any positive effects on mood or well-being were minor, inconsistent, and typically observed only under specific conditions, such as when taurine was combined with caffeine, exercise, or sleep deprivation. Importantly, none of the studies measured participants’ habitual diets, baseline SCAA status, or specifically recruited individuals with low intake of animal-source foods. This means the cognitive effects of reduced SCAA intake in plant-based diets remain unknown. Current evidence from acute taurine trials provides limited support for short-term benefits to cognition or mood. Longer-term, well-designed studies are urgently needed. These should assess habitual diet and baseline SCAA status and focus on populations with lower animal-derived food intake. Only then can we determine whether lower SCAA availability in plant-based diets represents a nutritional ‘green gap’ with implications for brain health. Full article

Winemakers have to deal with enzymatic browning caused by a grape polyphenol oxidase called tyrosinase. Due to the problems related to sulphur dioxide and its use in winemaking, oenologists need alternative and effective treatments for inhibiting enzymatic browning. This research studies ascorbic acid, glutathione (pure and in the form of a specific inactivated dry yeast rich in glutathione), and bioprotection by a selected strain of Metschnikowia pulcherrima as alternatives to SO₂ for preventing enzymatic browning, following a methodology developed in previous works. All the studied treatments resulted in a significant reduction in enzymatic browning. More specifically, all treatments significantly reduced the Vmax of the apparent tyrosinase activity, indicating their potential to protect against enzymatic browning and thus allowing for a reduction in the doses of SO₂ added to the wine. Full article

The reduction or elimination of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) in winemaking represents a major technological and sustainability challenge due to the central antimicrobial and antioxidant roles of this additive. This study evaluated the technological feasibility and chemical stability of a no-added-SO₂ vinification protocol applied under controlled winery conditions over four consecutive vintages, compared with a conventional sulphite-based protocol. The no-added-SO₂ protocol integrated closed-circuit operations, controlled inert gas management, temperature-regulated fermentation, strict hygiene practices, the addition of grape seed extracts as alternative antioxidant agents, and real-time monitoring of CO₂ production and O₂ availability via a smart tank. Across all vintages, wines produced using the no-added-SO₂ protocol showed regular alcoholic and malolactic fermentations and volatile acidity values consistently below the sensory perception threshold (1.2 g/L). Total SO₂ levels ranged between 0.3 and 86 mg/L and free SO₂ ranged between 0.4 and 16 mg/L, attributable exclusively to endogenous yeast production. Multivariate analysis confirmed that vintage was the dominant factor affecting most compositional parameters, particularly phenolic and anthocyanin profiles, whereas sulphur dioxide management represented a secondary but clearly identifiable source of variability. These findings indicate that sulphur dioxide-free vinification is technically feasible when supported by precise process control and continuous real-time monitoring. Rather than a universal replacement for conventional sulphite management, the no-added-SO₂ protocol should be regarded as a complementary and technologically contingent tool for sustainable SO₂ reduction within a precision oenology framework. Full article