Search Results (8,241)

Starch synthesis is critical for crop yield and quality and is regulated and coordinated by a series of key enzymes encoded by starch synthesis-related genes (SSRGs). Although this process is well characterized in many crops, the genomic location and expression patterns of SSRGs in wheat remain unclear. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis and identified 78 SSRGs in wheat, classified into the AGPase, SSS, GBSS, SBE, and DBE subfamilies. SSRGs within each subfamily showed conserved motifs and domain organization. RNA-seq analysis indicated that most SSRGs are expressed during early grain development. We further examined genetic variation in SSRGs across wheat and its progenitors using re-sequencing data. Diploid wheat showed greater genetic differentiation and diversity than tetraploid and hexaploid wheat. Five SSRGs exhibited significant haplotype differences between emmer wheat and common wheat; emmer wheat displayed diverse haplotypes, whereas common wheat showed a single dominant haplotype. Finally, starch characteristics differed between emmer wheat and common wheat in amylose content and thermodynamic properties, while viscosity, crystal structure, and morphology were largely similar. Overall, this study systematically characterizes SSRGs in wheat and provides insights for improving starch quality. Full article

Solution electrospinning (SES) and melt electrowriting (MEW) are complementary fiber-based fabrication platforms extensively investigated in tissue engineering. SES generates fibers typically ranging from the nanometer to the low-micrometer scale, producing fibrous networks that mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM) and support key cellular functions. MEW, by contrast, operates solvent-free and enables precise, layer-by-layer deposition of microfibers with well-controlled geometry, conferring the mechanical integrity and open-pore architecture that SES constructs inherently lack. Despite growing interest, the body of peer-reviewed literature reporting original hybrid SES–MEW fabrication and biological outcome data remains limited, with no comprehensive cross-tissue synthesis available to date. This narrative review examines the current state of SES–MEW hybrid strategies across five tissue engineering targets selected for their clinical relevance: skin, vascular grafts, bone, cartilage, cardiac valves, and skeletal muscle. For each application, the architectural rationale, the fabrication approach, and the in vitro and in vivo biological outcomes are discussed in an integrated manner, with attention to how the spatial organization of nano- and microfibers translates into tissue-specific functional responses. A comparative analysis across tissue types highlights both the versatility of hybrid constructs and their persistent limitations, including suture retention values that remain below clinically accepted thresholds in vascular applications, incomplete cellular infiltration through dense nanofibrous layers, and the absence of validated, reproducible scale-up protocols compatible with clinical-grade manufacturing. The review concludes by identifying the most critical open questions in the field, encompassing process standardization, regulatory classification, and the emerging role of machine learning in closed-loop MEW process optimization. This work aims to provide an evidence-based perspective on the current state of hybrid SES–MEW scaffold engineering and the key translational gaps limiting clinical application. Full article

DNA methylation constitutes a primary layer of epigenetic regulation in plants, operating across three sequence contexts (CG, CHG, and CHH) through distinct enzymatic pathways. Over the past fifteen years, accumulating evidence has shown that DNA methylation varies substantially among individuals and populations of wild plants, sometimes independently of underlying genetic polymorphism. This variation can influence gene expression, transposable element activity, and phenotypic traits relevant to ecological adaptation. Population epigenetics, the study of methylation variation at the population scale, has matured from initial surveys using methylation-sensitive amplified fragment length polymorphism (MS-AFLP) into a discipline increasingly reliant on reduced-representation bisulfite sequencing (epiGBS, bsRADseq), whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS), enzymatic methyl-seq (EM-seq), and direct long-read detection by nanopore sequencing. These methodological advances are opening population epigenetics to non-model organisms across the full breadth of the plant phylogeny, from angiosperms and gymnosperms to ferns and bryophytes. We cover (i) the molecular machinery underlying plant DNA methylation, including the debated status of N6-methyladenine (6mA); (ii) empirical evidence for natural epigenetic variation in plant populations, spanning clonal, invasive, and outcrossing species; (iii) the methodological toolkit available for population-scale methylation profiling, with emphasis on approaches suitable for non-model taxa; and (iv) the ecological and evolutionary significance of population epigenetic variation, including transgenerational inheritance, stress memory, epigenetic clocks, conservation applications, and the emerging integration of epigenetics into the extended evolutionary synthesis. We identify critical knowledge gaps, particularly the near-complete absence of population-level epigenetic data for bryophytes, ferns, and lycophytes, and outline priorities for future research. Full article

Achieving selective SO₂ capture at low pressures is pivotal and challenging for possible flue gas desulfurization and air pollution control. In this study, we synthesized a series of ionic covalent organic frameworks (iCOFs) with β-ketoenamine linkages and sulfonic acid groups using a solvothermal method. TpPa-SO₃H and TpBD-(SO₃H)₂ show a higher SO₂ uptake of 4.46 and 5.24 mmol g⁻¹ than TpPa-1 (4.24 mmol g⁻¹) at 1 bar and 298 K, respectively, due to the combination of the good SO₂ affinity of the polar sulfonic acid groups, higher pore volumes, and the good stability of β-ketoenamine COFs. TpBD-(SO₃H)₂ captured 2.83 mmol g⁻¹ of SO₂ at 0.1 bar and 298 K, which is 1.6 times higher than TpPa-1 (1.82 mmol g⁻¹) under the same conditions. Notably, the IAST SO₂/CO₂ selectivity of TpBD-(SO₃H)₂ and TpPa-1 are 61 and 51, respectively, reflecting the impact of the incorporated SO₃H groups’ higher affinity toward SO₂. Notably, the multicomponent gas mixture breakthrough experiments confirm that TpBD-(SO₃H)₂ displays longer breakthrough time than TpPa-1 (987 vs. 311 min g⁻¹). These β-ketoenamine iCOFs demonstrate nearly complete retention of crystallinity and porosity after exposure to dry or humid SO₂. This work demonstrates that iCOFs are promising adsorbents for SO₂ capture due to their high capacity, stability, and affinity for SO₂ at low pressure. Full article

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have become the cornerstone of nucleic acid delivery platforms, particularly in RNA-based vaccines and therapeutics. However, the conventional methods of LNP production, which are primarily reliant on microfluidic mixing of aqueous and organic solvent phases, pose limitations in terms of mRNA stability, residual organic contamination, scalability, cost, and environmental impact. These limitations prompted a renewed search for non-conventional strategies with the promise of improving mRNA-LNP encapsulation approaches. These emerging approaches aim to address key bottlenecks, including mRNA hydrolysis-driven degradation, high production losses, and complex downstream purification. Moreover, the ability to decouple LNP synthesis from mRNA encapsulation could enable streamlined, modular manufacturing workflows and customizable payload delivery, including single- or multiple-mRNA payloads, thereby expanding the therapeutic scope of LNPs. This review offers an early insight into the design principles and scalability potential of emerging non-conventional LNP encapsulation approaches, including solvent-free and microfluidics-free methodologies, and pre-built LNP workflows. We also examine trends in emerging LNP encapsulation tools, including high-shear mixing, sonication, membrane contraction, and other approaches. Finally, we extrapolate the suitability of the methods for scale-up approaches and their economic implications based on the process information. Full article

Photovoltaic technologies represent an increasingly relevant alternative for developing renewable energy sources, particularly those based on light-harvesting materials such as perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), which have achieved efficiencies of 27.3% and 13.0%, respectively. In this context, phenothiazine (PTZ) has attracted considerable interest as a structural block due to its outstanding structural and photophysical properties, which also represent low production costs and reduced environmental impact. This review presents recent advances in the design and development of phenothiazine-based organic materials for photovoltaic applications, analyzing the main synthetic routes for obtaining this nucleus, as well as the fundamental aspects related to the operation of solar cells, including relevant device parameters. Furthermore, several studies focused on the synthesis, characterization, and performance of new phenothiazine-derived molecules used in photovoltaic devices are also examined. Finally, the most relevant conclusions are discussed, and future perspectives for the use of these materials in solar technologies are proposed. Full article

Ceramides are central bioactive sphingolipids that regulate diverse cellular processes, including membrane organization, energy metabolism, and stress signaling. Emerging evidence has implicated that ceramide dysregulation is associated with the onset and progression of heart failure. This review introduces the understanding of ceramide metabolism, focusing on its biosynthesis, and functional roles in cardiomyocytes. In addition, the contribution of systemic ceramides derived from circulating lipoproteins and peripheral tissues to cardiovascular risk is also discussed. In parallel, it is highlighted that cardiomyocyte-intrinsic ceramide synthesis plays physiological and pathological roles in the heart. Particularly, excessive ceramide accumulation is detrimental for cardiac function, through multiple mechanisms, such as lipotoxic effects, mitochondrial impairment, inflammation, and cell death. The current review discusses the potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting ceramide metabolism, as well as the open questions about ceramide association with heart disease. Full article

Silicon is increasingly applied in agriculture to improve plant productivity under both abiotic and biotic stress constraints. Nevertheless, its mechanisms of action are often studied separately at the soil, plant, or microbiome levels, limiting a comprehensive understanding of its overall impact on agroecosystem functioning. This review proposes an integrated perspective of the soil–plant–microbiome continuum, linking silicon chemistry in soil solutions with the effects of silicon amendments on soil properties and the processes of uptake, transport, and deposition in the plants. We show that silicon bioavailability depends on maintaining a pool of dissolved silicon dominated by orthosilicic acid, regulated by mineral weathering, adsorption–desorption dynamics, polymerization, pH, iron and aluminum oxides, and organic matter. In soils, silicon inputs can improve structure, modulate acidity and cation exchange balances, influence nutrient availability, and reduce the mobility of certain metals. They may also affect enzymatic activities and microbial community composition. In plants, silicon uptake and transport, mediated by specific transporters, contribute to tissue silicification, the maintenance of leaf architecture, and the regulation of water, ionic, and redox homeostasis. These processes provide a basis for enhanced tolerance to drought, salinity, and metal toxicity, as well as biotic stress caused by pathogens and pests. Finally, we discuss key limitations to the agronomic application of silicon, including the diagnosis of the silicic status of soils, the choice of source and mode of application, and the genotypic variability of acquisition, as well as the need for multi-site tests and more robust mechanistic validations. This synthesis provides a coherent mechanistic framework to better define the conditions under which silicon can serve as a reliable tool for sustainable crop management under climate change. Full article

Uranium exploration in southeastern Mongolia remains constrained by fragmented Soviet-era datasets and limited modern synthesis. This study addresses the problem of integrating historical geological records with contemporary exploration methods to evaluate uranium mineralization potential. A comprehensive GIS-based database was compiled from Soviet reports legally acquired from the Mineral Resources Authority of Mongolia and expanded with geological, geophysical, and drilling data collected between 2006 and 2011. Methodological advances included remote sensing detection of anomalous radioactivity in arid environments, stratigraphic modeling, and hydrogeochemical surveys. The dataset encompasses more than 1100 radioactive anomalies and approximately 300 mineralized zones, with emphasis on the Han Bogd granite massif, Ail Bayan coal deposit, Suujin Tal structural system, Zuunbayan depression, and Naarst structural complex. Results indicate that most anomalous zones are sub-economic, commonly associated with organic-rich facies such as coal seams, while the continuity of mineralized bodies remains uncertain. Nevertheless, the dual consideration of granitic source terrains and coal-bearing sedimentary traps provides new insights into uranium mobility and deposition. The significance of this work lies in its systematic integration of historical and modern data, offering a refined geological framework and highlighting key areas for future investigation, thereby contributing to ongoing discussions on sedimentary uranium resources in Mongolia. Results indicate that most anomalous zones are sub-economic, commonly associated with organic-rich facies such as coal seams, while the continuity of mineralized bodies remains uncertain. Importantly, the study highlights granitic intrusions and volcanic complexes as the primary uranium sources, with coal-bearing and sedimentary basins acting as secondary depositional environments. The dual consideration of source terrains and depositional traps provides new insights into uranium mobility and deposition. Full article

Urban tourism is frequently promoted as a driver of regeneration, competitiveness, and local economic growth. However, its expansion increasingly generates overtourism, environmental degradation, social inequality, gentrification pressures, and cultural commodification in densely populated cities. Although existing tourism research has examined these challenges from managerial, planning, and sustainability perspectives, less attention has been paid to their ethical foundations. This conceptual paper addresses that gap by developing an integrated ethical framework for sustainable urban tourism through a structured, theory-driven synthesis of literature in environmental ethics, social justice theory, virtue ethics, and urban tourism studies. The paper makes three main contributions: it reframes urban tourism growth as a moral and normative issue rather than merely an economic one; it organizes the key ethical dilemmas of urban tourism as interconnected outcomes of growth-oriented development; and it links ethical principles to stakeholder responsibilities and desired governance outcomes. The proposed framework positions tourists, businesses, and policymakers as moral agents and identifies ecological integrity, social equity, and cultural protection as core criteria for evaluating tourism development. As a conceptual study, however, the framework remains theoretical and requires future empirical application and testing across different urban contexts. Full article

Photosynthesis, the main energy source for life on Earth, confronts escalating challenges of high-light–high-temperature stress (HLHT). Our previous study identified a mutation in ATP synthase, F₁-α-C252Y, that significantly enhances the HLHT tolerance of Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (Sye7942), although the underlying mechanism remains obscure. In this study, we found that this mutation led to elevated levels of the b subunit of F_o, F₁ subunits, and the ATP synthase within cells, without affecting ATP synthetic activity, indicating improved intracellular ATP synthesis activity. Additionally, the mutation altered the transcriptome of Sye7942, impacting the expression of genes involved in crucial processes, such as the electron transport chain, carbon fixation, and regulatory factors, which are crucial for cyanobacteria’s adaptation to stresses. Correspondingly, the mutant exhibited enhanced photosynthesis, accelerated growth, and increased glycogen under HLHT conditions, showing improved adaptation. The higher intracellular ATP synthesis activity, along with enhanced photosynthetic activity, suggests increased ATP production in the mutant under HLHT. Enhancing ATP production and remodeling the cellular transcriptome appear to be key strategies employed by the C252Y mutation for Sye7942 acclimating to HLHT. These findings provide valuable insights for enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and stress resilience in cyanobacteria and other photosynthetic organisms facing HLHT challenges. Full article

As a novel organic semiconductor derived from biomass, hydrothermal carbonation carbon (HTCC) usually exhibits an amorphous structure due to its well-recognized formation pathway based on 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which impedes charge transfer and consequently restricts the photocatalytic activity. Herein, we report a crystalline HTCC photocatalyst produced via an unusual synthesis route applied to cellulose in the presence of an oxidant. Notably, the crystalline structure of cellulose was retained and became highly aromatized during the process, leading to significantly enhanced charge transfer efficiency and an increased density of active sites. Moreover, unlike other reported HTCC photocatalysis, the highly active hydrogen radicals (H•) were identified as the dominant active species governing photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction over crystalline HTCC. As a result, this crystalline HTCC exhibited dramatically enhanced photocatalytic removal efficiencies of Cr(VI) and microcystin-LR (MC-LR) due to the highly efficient charge transfer, abundant active sites as well as highly active hydrogen radicals. Full article

Corn processing waste represents an abundant, renewable, and low-cost lignocellulosic resource with considerable potential for environmental remediation applications. Large quantities of residues generated during corn processing, including cobs, husks, bran, and other by-products, are produced annually and can be utilized directly as native biomass or converted through thermochemical processes into hydrochars and biochars. This systematic review provides a comparative analysis of native corn processing biomass, hydrochars produced via hydrothermal carbonization, and biochars obtained through pyrolysis, with a focus on their potential as adsorbents for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from soil and water systems. Particular attention is given to the influence of thermochemical conversion processes on the physicochemical properties of the materials, including surface chemistry, porosity, functional groups, and structural characteristics, which govern adsorption mechanisms such as ion exchange, electrostatic interactions, surface complexation, hydrogen bonding, and π–π interactions. Furthermore, the advantages and limitations of each material type are discussed, together with key environmental and techno-economic considerations related to their production and practical application, including indicative production costs (USD per kg of adsorbent) and cost–performance relationships in terms of adsorption capacity. By linking biomass conversion processes, material properties, and adsorption performance, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of corn processing waste valorization and to support the development of sustainable adsorbent materials for soil and water remediation. A total of 36 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis following PRISMA guidelines. Full article

Cancer remains a major global health challenge, characterized by abnormal cell growth and metastasis. Current limitations of conventional therapies, particularly non-specific toxicity harming healthy cells, highlight the need for more targeted approaches. Nanotechnology offers a revolutionary solution, utilizing nanoparticles (NPs) for precise drug delivery to tumor sites while minimizing off-target effects. These nanometer-scale particles enable superior binding to cancer cell membranes, the tumor microenvironment, or nuclear receptors, facilitating significantly higher local concentrations of therapeutic agents. NPs, synthesized via physical, chemical, or biological methods, are categorized as organic (organic material-based) or inorganic (metallic particle-based). Key delivery mechanisms include the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect and Active Transport and Retention (ATR). This review specifically examines NP applications for the most prevalent cancers in the US (2025): breast, prostate, and lung. Gold and magnetic NPs show significant promise for early breast cancer detection. For lung cancer, polymeric NPs like PCL, PLA, and PLGA are effective carriers for peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids. BIND-014, a docetaxel-loaded NP formulation, represents an emerging strategy for prostate cancer. Clinically established examples include liposomal doxorubicin and albumin-bound paclitaxel. We comprehensively discuss the synthesis methods, delivery mechanisms, and the current landscape of NPs in research and clinical trials for these cancers. This analysis underscores the potential of nanotechnology to provide more effective and targeted therapeutic options for cancer patients in the future. A distinctive feature of this review is its comparative cancer-specific analysis of NP platforms in breast, prostate, and lung cancers. Unlike previous generalized reviews, this work integrates synthesis strategies, delivery mechanisms, translational challenges, and clinically relevant formulations to provide a bench-to-bedside perspective on the future of nanomedicine in oncology. Full article

Proteomic research in the genus Vitis has progressed from early biochemical studies of soluble proteins to high-resolution, quantitative analyses encompassing all major organs and derived products. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of advances in grapevine and wine proteomics. In leaves, studies have revealed extensive remodeling of photosynthetic, antioxidant, and defense pathways under biotic (e.g., Plasmopara viticola, Erysiphe necator, Xylella fastidiosa, Candidatus Phytoplasma vitis) and abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, heat, light). Bud proteomics elucidated hormonal regulation and mechanisms of dormancy release, while root studies identified nitrate-dependent metabolic shifts and adaptive protein networks. Cell culture models enabled controlled investigation of elicitor responses, stilbene biosynthesis, and temperature-induced proteome changes. In berries, proteomics clarified developmental transitions from fruit set to ripening, emphasizing proteins related to secondary metabolism, vacuolar transport, and stress tolerance. Comparative analyses across cultivars and environments identified biomarkers linked to aroma, color, and texture. The wine proteome revealed selective persistence of grape-derived proteins (e.g., thaumatin-like proteins, chitinases) and yeast peptides influencing stability and sensory properties, while Botrytis cinerea infection significantly alters this balance by degrading PR proteins and introducing fungal enzymes. Altogether, the Vitis proteome emerges as a dynamic, multifunctional system crucial for understanding plant adaptation, enological quality, and biomarker discovery. Full article