Search Results (2,045)

Recently, researchers have been focused on the recycling as well as transforming of bio-waste streams into a valuable resource. Banana peels are promising for such application, due to their wide availability. In this context, the integration of banana peel-derived biochar with environmentally benign magnetite has significantly broadened its potential applications as a solar photocatalyst compared to the conventional photocatalysts. The materials are mixed in varied proportions of Ban-Char500-Mag@-(0:1), Ban-Char500@Mag-(1:1) and Ban-Char500@Mag-(2:1) and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) augmented with dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Such modification is leading to an improvement in its application as a solar photocatalyst using the photochemical solar collector facility. The study discusses the factors controlling acetaminophen removal from aqueous effluent within 30 min of solar illumination time. Furthermore, the highlighted optimum parameters are pH 3.0, using 10 mg/L of the Ban-Char500@Mag-(1:1) catalyst and 100 mg/L of the hydrogen peroxide as a Fenton combination system for removing a complete acetaminophen from wastewater (100% oxidation). Also, the temperature influence in the oxidation system is studied and the high temperature is unfavorable, which verifies that the reaction is exothermic in nature. The catalyst is signified as a sustainable (recoverable, recyclable and reusable) substance, and showed a 72% removal even though it was in the six cyclic uses. Further, the kinetic study is assessed, and the experimental results revealed the oxidation process is following the first-order kinetic reaction. Also, the kinetic–thermodynamic parameters of activation are investigated and it is confirmed that the oxidation is exothermic and non-spontaneous in nature. Full article

The green macroalgae Ulva Linnaeus, 1753, also known as sea lettuce, is one of the most ecologically and economically significant algal genera. Its representatives occur in marine, brackish, and freshwater environments worldwide and show high adaptability, rapid growth, and marked biochemical diversity. These traits support their ecological roles in nutrient cycling, primary productivity, and habitat provision, and they also explain their growing relevance to the blue bioeconomy. This review summarizes current knowledge of Ulva biodiversity, taxonomy, and physiology, and evaluates applications in food, feed, bioremediation, biofuel, pharmaceuticals, and biomaterials. Particular attention is given to molecular approaches that resolve taxonomic difficulties and to biochemical profiles that determine nutritional value and industrial potential. This review also considers risks and limitations. Ulva species can act as hyperaccumulators of heavy metals, microplastics, and organic pollutants, which creates safety concerns for food and feed uses and highlights the necessity of strict monitoring and quality control. Technical and economic barriers restrict large-scale use in energy and material production. By presenting both opportunities and constraints, this review stresses the dual role of Ulva as a promising bioresource and a potential ecological risk. Future research must integrate molecular genetics, physiology, and applied studies to support sustainable utilization and ensure safe contributions of Ulva to biodiversity assessment, environmental management, and bioeconomic development. Full article

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) exhibits all-day and all-weather capabilities, granting it significant application in remote sensing. However, interpreting SAR images requires extensive expertise, making SAR-to-optical remote sensing image translation a crucial research direction. While conditional generative adversarial networks (CGANs) have demonstrated exceptional performance in image translation tasks, their massive number of parameters pose substantial challenges. Therefore, this paper proposes ILF-BDSNet, a compressed network for SAR-to-optical image translation. Specifically, first, standard convolutions in the feature-transformation module of the teacher network are replaced with depthwise separable convolutions to construct the student network, and a dual-resolution collaborative discriminator based on PatchGAN is proposed. Next, knowledge distillation based on intermediate-layer features and channel pruning via weight sharing are designed to train the student network. Then, the bio-inspired dynamic search of channel configuration (BDSCC) algorithm is proposed to efficiently select the optimal subnet. Meanwhile, the pixel-semantic dual-domain alignment loss function is designed. The feature-matching loss within this function establishes an alignment mechanism based on intermediate-layer features from the discriminator. Extensive experiments demonstrate the superiority of ILF-BDSNet, which significantly reduces number of parameters and computational complexity while still generating high-quality optical images, providing an efficient solution for SAR image translation in resource-constrained environments. Full article

In this study, we propose an architectural model for path optimization in cluster order picking within warehouse robotics, utilizing a hybrid approach that combines symbolic control and metaheuristic techniques. Among the optimization strategies, we incorporate bio-inspired metaheuristic algorithms such as the Walrus Optimization Algorithm (WOA), Puma Optimization Algorithm (POA), and Flying Foxes Algorithm (FFA), which are grounded in behavioral models observed in nature. We consider large-scale warehouse robotic systems, partitioned into clusters. To manage shared resources between clusters, the set of clusters is first formulated as a symbolic control design task within a discrete synthesis framework. Subsequently, the desired control goals are integrated into the model, encoded using parallel synchronous dataflow languages; the resulting controller, derived using our safety-focused and optimization-based synthesis approach, serves as the manager for the cluster. Safety objectives address the rigid system behaviors, while optimization objectives focus on minimizing the traveled path of the warehouse robots through the constructed cost function. The metaheuristic algorithms contribute at this stage, drawing inspiration from real-world animal behaviors, such as walruses’ cooperative movement and foraging, pumas’ territorial hunting strategies, and flying foxes’ echolocation-based navigation. These nature-inspired processes allow for effective solution space exploration and contribute to improving the quality of cluster-level path optimization. Our hybrid approach, integrating symbolic control and metaheuristic techniques, demonstrates significantly higher performance advantage over existing solutions, with experimental data verifying the practical effectiveness of our approach. Our proposed algorithm achieves up to 3.01% shorter intra-cluster paths compared to the metaheuristic algorithms, with an average improvement of 1.2%. For the entire warehouse, it provides up to 2.05% shorter paths on average, and even in the worst case, outperforms competing metaheuristic methods by 0.28%, demonstrating its consistent effectiveness in path optimization. Full article

In this study, we used liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) combined with multivariate statistical analysis to conduct comprehensive qualitative and quantitative profiling of amino acids and their derivatives in wild Ophiocordyceps sinensis (O. sinensis) samples from Naqu (NQ) and Xiaojin (XJ), cultivated O. sinensis (RG), and Bailing Capsules (BL). The objective was to systematically characterize amino acid metabolism and assess its correlation with antioxidant functionality. A total of 82 amino acids and their derivatives were identified. XJ had the highest essential amino acids, while BL had significantly lower content (except lysine) (p < 0.05). Antioxidant assays revealed that NQ and XJ samples exhibited superior antioxidant activity in 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, and this activity showed a correlation to the contents of bioactive components such as total phenols (TPS), total polysaccharide (TPE), and total flavonoids (TF). Further pathway analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) suggested that arginine and proline metabolism, aromatic amino acid biosynthesis, and tryptophan metabolism may be critical pathways that could underpin regional differences in O. sinensis quality, while variation in tyrosine metabolism may account for differences in antioxidant activity. This study provides a systematic comparison of amino acid profiles and antioxidant capacities across O. sinensis and its substitutes, offering a robust theoretical foundation for the development and functional evaluation of these bioresources. Full article

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) has emerged as a promising bio-electrochemical technology for sustainable CO₂ conversion into valuable organic compounds since it uses living electroactive microbes to directly convert CO₂ into value-added products. This review synthesizes advancements in MES from 2010 to 2025, focusing on the electrode materials, microbial communities, reactor engineering, performance trends, techno-economic evaluations, and future challenges, especially on the results reported between 2020 and 2025, thus highlighting that MES technology is now a technology to be reckoned with in the spectrum of biofuel technology production. While the current productivity and scalability of microbial electrochemical systems (MESs) remain limited compared to conventional CO₂ conversion technologies, MES offers distinct advantages, including process simplicity, as it operates under ambient conditions without the need for high pressures or temperatures; modularity, allowing reactors to be stacked or scaled incrementally to match varying throughput requirements; and seamless integration with circular economy strategies, enabling the direct valorization of waste streams, wastewater, or renewable electricity into valuable multi-carbon products. These features position MES as a promising platform for sustainable and adaptable CO₂ utilization, particularly in decentralized or resource-constrained settings. Recent innovations in electrode materials, such as conductive polymers and metal–organic frameworks, have enhanced electron transfer efficiency and microbial attachment, leading to improved MES performance. The development of diverse microbial consortia has expanded the range of products achievable through MES, with studies highlighting the importance of microbial interactions and metabolic pathways in product formation. Advancements in reactor design, including continuous-flow systems and membrane-less configurations, have addressed scalability issues, enhancing mass transfer and system stability. Performance metrics, such as the current densities and product yields, have improved due to exceptionally high product selectivity and surface-area-normalized production compared to abiotic systems, demonstrating the potential of MES for industrial applications. Techno-economic analyses indicate that while MES offers promising economic prospects, challenges related to cost-effective electrode materials and system integration remain. Future research should focus on optimizing microbial communities, developing advanced electrode materials, and designing scalable reactors to overcome the existing limitations. Addressing these challenges will be crucial for the commercialization of MES as a viable technology for sustainable chemical production. Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) offers a novel route to biofuels by directly converting CO₂ and renewable electricity into energy carriers, bypassing the costly biomass feedstocks required in conventional pathways. With advances in electrode materials, reactor engineering, and microbial performance, MES could achieve cost-competitive, carbon-neutral fuels, positioning it as a critical complement to future biofuel technologies. Full article

Bamboo (subfamily Bambusoideae, Poaceae) ranks among the fastest-growing plants on Earth, achieving up to 1 m day⁻¹, significantly faster than other fast growing woody plant such as Eucalyptus (up to 0.6 m day⁻¹) and Populus (up to 0.5 m day⁻¹). Native to Asia, South America and Africa, and cultivated on approximately 37 million ha worldwide, bamboo delivers multifaceted environmental, social, and economic benefits. Historically central to construction, handicrafts, paper and cuisine, bamboo has evolved into a high-value cash crop and green innovation platform. Its rapid renewability allows multiple harvests of young shoots in fast-growing species such as Phyllostachys edulis and Dendrocalamus asper. Its high tensile strength, flexibility, and ecological adaptability make it suitable for applications in bioenergy (bioethanol, biogas, biochar), advanced materials (engineered composites, textiles, activated carbon), and biotechnology (fermentable sugars, prebiotics, biochemicals). Bamboo shoots and leaves provide essential nutrients, antioxidants and bioactive compounds with documented health and pharmaceutical potential. With a global market value exceeding USD 41 billion, bamboo demand continues to grow in response to the call for sustainable materials. Ecologically, bamboo sequesters up to 259 t C ha⁻¹, stabilizes soil, enhances agroforestry systems and enables phytoremediation of degraded lands. Nonetheless, challenges persist, including species- and age-dependent mechanical variability; vulnerability to decay and pests; flammability; lack of standardized harvesting and engineering codes; and environmental impacts of certain processing methods. This review traces bamboo’s trajectory from a traditional resource to a strategic bioresource aligned with Industry 5.0, underscores its role in low-emission, circular bioeconomies and identifies pathways for optimized cultivation, green processing technologies and integration into carbon-credit frameworks. By addressing these challenges through innovation and policy support, bamboo can underpin resilient, human-centric economies and drive sustainable development. Full article

Background/Objectives: The basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factor family regulates plant development, metabolism, and stress responses. Yet, its genome-wide composition remains unexplored in Lilium bakerianum var. rubrum (LBVR), an ornamental lily valued for its floral traits. This study aimed to identify, classify, and profile the bHLH family in LBVR using full-length transcriptomic resources. Methods: PacBio HiFi full-length transcriptome sequencing was combined with Illumina RNA-seq for accurate structural annotation and expression quantification. Candidate bHLHs were identified by iTAK and HMMER-Pfam, and their physicochemical properties, secondary structures, motifs, and phylogenetic positions were examined. Expression patterns were analyzed across four floral stages (bud, initial bloom, full bloom, and late bloom). Results: A total of 113 high-confidence bHLH genes were identified, with ~90% successfully annotated. The proteins displayed variation in molecular weight, isoelectric point, structural features, and motif composition. Phylogenetic analysis placed them into 13 clades consistent with Arabidopsis subfamilies, revealing lineage-specific expansions and contractions. Expression profiling showed that 95 genes were active in at least one stage, with two transcriptional waves: a strong bud-to-initial-bloom activation and a secondary wave spanning anthesis. Seventeen genes were expressed exclusively at the bud stage, suggesting roles in early floral-organ initiation and pigmentation. Conclusions: This work provides the first genome-wide characterization of bHLHs in LBVR. The integrated sequencing approach generated a robust catalogue and developmental expression map, offering candidates for functional studies and resources for breeding in lilies. Full article

Microalgae cultivation is often limited by the high cost and inefficiency of harvesting, making it a major barrier to large-scale resource recovery. Traditional methods such as centrifugation or chemical flocculation are expensive and environmentally unsustainable. As a biological alternative, filamentous fungi can form pellets or hyphal networks that entrap microalgae cells via bio-flocculation, facilitating easier separation from the culture medium. This study aimed to optimize culture conditions for fungal pellet formation and develop effective microalgae–fungal composites for improved harvesting. Fungal isolates including Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus, A. flavus, and unidentified strains were screened for their pelleting capacity and nutrient removal efficiency. Through OVAT analysis, key factors such as pH, agitation speed, carbon source, and C:N ratio were found to significantly influence pellet formation. One isolate (FP) showed strong potential, forming pellets under stationary conditions and performing best at neutral to alkaline pH. Molecular analysis identified FP as a fungal consortium containing members of Ascomycota, Mucoromycota, Basidiomycota, and Rozellomycota. When applied to cocoa pulp wastewater, the microalgae–fungi composites outperformed monocultures in reducing NH₄⁺-N, COD, and PO₄³⁻-P. Interestingly, microalgae delayed fungal sporulation. These findings highlight the potential of fungal consortia in enhancing both microalgae harvesting and wastewater bioremediation. Full article

For its rapid growth, high yield, and broad adaptability, Arundo donax is widely used in various applications, yielding considerable economic and ecological benefits. However, widespread cultivation is challenging because A. donax can only be propagated asexually. In this study, a tissue culture method was developed using the clustered bud proliferation pathway. The explant type, disinfection method, induction medium, proliferation medium, and rooting medium were optimized to efficiently harvest high-quality A. donax seedlings. Using axillary buds with whole cane fragments as the most suitable explants, they were first sterilized with 75% alcohol for 30 s and then disinfected with 0.1% mercuric chloride for 5 min. 97.8% of explants could successfully form clustered buds on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and 1.0 mg/L 3-indolebutyric acid (IBA). Each individual bud achieved efficient propagation with a proliferation coefficient as high as 33.3 on MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/L 6-BA and 1.0 mg/L IBA. In addition, all buds were capable of rooting on 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The resultant rooted seedlings survived and developed into plantlets, averaging 44.84 cm in height and 2.54 mm in thickness, following a 30-day acclimation period. This protocol provides a robust foundation for the large-scale, high-quality propagation of A. donax, supporting its broader application in ecological restoration and bioresource industries. Full article

Bioplastics are gaining attention as eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics, with Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate (PBAT) emerging as a promising biodegradable substitute for polyethylene (PE) in food packaging. Commercial PBAT is often blended with other plastics or bio-based fillers to improve mechanical properties and reduce costs, though these additives can influence its environmental footprint. Therefore, this study quantifies the environmental impacts of producing PBAT resin blends reinforced with common inorganic fillers and compares end-of-life (EoL) performance against PE. While prior studies have largely assessed virgin PBAT or PBAT/Polylactic Acid (PLA) systems, systematic LCA of commercial-style PBAT blends with inorganic fillers and screening LCA level for comparisons of composting vs. landfill remain limited. The contributions of this study are to: (i) map gate-to-gate environmental hotspots for PBAT-blend conversion, (ii) provide a screening gate-to-grave comparison of PBAT composting vs. PE landfill using ReCiPe 2016 and IPCC GWP100 methods, and (iii) discuss theoretical implications for material substitution in the context of EoL strategies. The results indicated that producing 1 kg of PBAT blend generated a single score impact of 921 mPt with Human Health and Resource categories contributing similarly, and a GWP of 8.64 kg CO₂-eq, dominated by mixing and drying processes. EoL screening showed PBAT composting offered clear advantages over landfilling PE, yielding −53.9 mPt and 11.35 kg CO₂-eq savings, effectively offsetting production emissions. In contrast, landfilling PE resulted in 288.8 mPt and 2.2 kg CO₂-eq emissions. Sensitivity analysis further demonstrated that a 30% reduction in electricity use could decrease impacts by up to 10%, underscoring the importance of energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy adoption for sustainable PBAT development. Full article

Starch extracted from the domestically cultivated Scala potato variety was explored as a renewable resource for the formulation of biodegradable thermoplastic starch (TPS)/polylactic acid (PLA) blends intended for environmentally friendly food packaging applications. The isolated starch underwent comprehensive physicochemical and structural characterization to assess its suitability for polymer processing. TPS derived from Scala starch was compounded with PLA, both with and without citric acid (CA) as a green compatibilizer to enhance phase compatibility. The resulting polymer blends were systematically analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance (FTIR–ATR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to evaluate thermal and structural properties. Mechanical performance, water vapor permeability (WVP), water absorption (WA), and biodegradability in soil over 56 days were also assessed. The incorporation of citric acid improved phase miscibility, leading to enhanced structural uniformity, thermal stability, mechanical strength, and barrier efficiency. Bio-degradation tests confirmed the environmental compatibility of the developed blends. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of Scala-based TPS/PLA systems, particularly those modified with citric acid, as viable candidates for sustainable food packaging, while highlighting the importance of further formulation optimization to balance functional and biodegradative performance. Full article

Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) is the oxidation product of soybean oil with hydrogen peroxide and either acetic or formic acid obtained by converting the double bonds into epoxy groups, which is non-toxic and of higher chemical reactivity. Oxidized soybean oil (ESO) has gained significant attention as a renewable and environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based epoxy resins. Derived from soybean oil through epoxidation of its unsaturated fatty acids, ESO offers a bio-based platform with inherent flexibility, low toxicity, and excellent chemical resistance. When used as a reactive diluent or primary component in epoxy formulations, ESO enhances the sustainability profile of coatings, adhesives, and composite materials. This study explores the mechanical properties of ESO-based epoxy systems, with particular attention to formulation strategies, crosslinking agents, and performance trade-offs compared to conventional epoxies. The incorporation of ESO not only reduces the reliance on fossil resources but also imparts tunable thermal and mechanical properties, making it suitable for a range of industrial and eco-friendly applications. The results underscore the potential of ESO as a viable component in next-generation green materials, contributing to circular economy and low-impact manufacturing. For the application of these materials in pultrusion and FW technologies, the Taguchi method is used to determine the most influential process parameters. Full article

Wheat bran (WB) is a very abundant residual biomass, resulting from wheat processing. Although it can be used as feed without further processing, the utilization of WB as a bioresource of high valued-added chemicals would require task-specific treatments. In this context, the present work aimed to used two newly reported deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for the effective organosolv treatment of WB to achieve a high-performance polyphenol recovery. One of the DESs used was alkaline, composed of glycerol and sodium carbonate (GL-SCar), and the other one was acidic, composed of glycerol and oxalic acid (GL-OA), and the treatments carried out were evaluated based on severity. Further optimization with a response surface methodology showed that treatment with GL-SCar could afford a maximum total polyphenol yield of 24.30 ± 2.34 mg ferulic acid equivalents per g of dry WB mass, the optimal settings being t = 172 min and T = 90 °C. Likewise, the GL-OA treatment yielded 23.21 ± 3.82 mg ferulic acid equivalents per g of dry WB mass, with the corresponding optimal conditions being t = 180 min and T = 90 °C. The examination of the polyphenolic profile of the extracts obtained revealed important differences in the composition, as the extract obtained with GL-SCar treatment was dominated by ferulic acid, whereas the extract produced with GL-OA treatment was enriched in a ferulate derivative, previously identified as a ferulate pentose ester. However, both treatments were shown to liberate only part of the bound phenolics, as judged by comparison with a reference alkaline hydrolysis. The difference in composition most probably defined the antioxidant effects of the extracts, with the GL-OA extract displaying more powerful antiradical and ferric-reducing power activity, despite the significantly lower polyphenolic concentration. The evidence that emerged from this investigation pointed to both DESs as solvents with high potency in polyphenol recovery from WB, yet further improvements are required to maximize yield. Moreover, it was shown that, due to their different nature (alkaline/acidic), both DESs could be suitably tuned for delivering extracts enriched in different phytochemicals. Full article

The development of efficient and reliable trajectory-planning strategies for swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is an increasingly important area of research, with applications in surveillance, search and rescue, smart agriculture, defence operations, and communication networks. This article provides a comprehensive and critical review of the various techniques available for UAV swarm trajectory planning, which can be broadly categorised into three main groups: traditional algorithms, biologically inspired metaheuristics, and modern artificial intelligence (AI)-based methods. The study examines cutting-edge research, comparing key aspects of trajectory planning, including computational efficiency, scalability, inter-UAV coordination, energy consumption, and robustness in uncertain environments. The strengths and weaknesses of these algorithms are discussed in detail, particularly in the context of collision avoidance, adaptive decision making, and the balance between centralised and decentralised control. Additionally, the review highlights hybrid frameworks that combine the global optimisation power of bio-inspired algorithms with the real-time adaptability of AI-based approaches, aiming to achieve an effective exploration–exploitation trade-off in multi-agent environments. Lastly, the article addresses the major challenges in UAV swarm trajectory planning, including multidimensional trajectory spaces, nonlinear dynamics, and real-time adaptation. It also identifies promising directions for future research. This study serves as a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and system designers working to develop UAV swarms for real-world, integrated, intelligent, and autonomous missions. Full article