Ageing is a complex biological process that gradually alters cellular function and patterns of protein interaction. Standard network-based measures such as degree, betweenness and clustering coefficient are widely used in protein–protein interaction networks (PPINs), but these metrics may overlook subtle changes within local neighbourhoods. This study applies Local Persistent Homology (LPH) to characterise age-related differences in the local topology of PPINs, providing structural information that is not captured through global or node-level analyses. For each protein, a level 2 ego network is constructed and its and features are summarised using persistence diagrams (PDs). The Wasserstein distance between PDs from adult and elderly networks is then computed to quantify topological variation across age groups. The Wasserstein distance for each protein was compared with its degree, betweenness, and local clustering coefficient to examine how local topological structure relates to standard centrality measures. Proteins with many topological components tend to exhibit higher degree and betweenness but lower clustering, while proteins in simpler neighbourhoods show longer average persistence and more stable structural patterns. By integrating LPH results with gene-disease association data, 25 proteins with notable age-related topological differences are identified, including several associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Overall, LPH deepens the analysis of PPIN architecture by exposing subtle, age-linked structural patterns that remain undetected using network centralities.

The large-scale synthesis of β-lactam antibiotics, particularly cephalosporins, relies heavily on the industrial production of recombinant cephalosporin acylase (CCA). This study aimed to identify the most suitable Escherichia coli host strain for CCA production. The selected strain was then used for optimizing medium components and culture conditions using an autoinduction medium in shaking flask fermentation. Initially, three E. coli strains were evaluated: BL21(DE3), BL21(DE3) RIPL, and B(DE3) Origami, to determine the most efficient host for recombinant CCA expression. Among the tested conditions, the autoinduction medium proved particularly effective, contributing to a significant improvement in enzyme yield and serving as the basis for subsequent optimization experiments. To identify the key factors influencing CCA production, a Plackett-Burman design was employed to screen medium components and fermentation parameters, with E. coli BL21(DE3) as the most optimal expression host. The significant variables were then optimized using a Central Composite Design, which resulted in a maximum enzyme activity of 53.3 U/mL under the following conditions: 0.78 g/L glucose monohydrate, 1.12 g/L glycerol, 6.21 mL/L trace elements, and an enzyme expression time of 19.48 h. The optimized conditions led to a 3.8-fold increase in CCA activity compared to unoptimized conditions. These findings provide valuable insights into efficient recombinant CCA production and have important implications for its industrial application in antibiotic synthesis.

East Kalimantan is one of the central areas for the development of Siamese oranges (Citrus nobilis) in eastern Indonesia. However, diplodia stem rot disease caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromaecauses low productivity. Alternative control of those pathogens using indigenous antagonist bacteria is environmentally friendly. This study aims to analyse the diversity of rhizosphere bacteria in citrus plants in dry land and swamps from East Kalimantan and evaluate their potential to inhibit the growth of L. theobromae in vitro. The research consisted of rhizosphere bacteria isolation, analysis of bacterial diversity, potency assay of each isolate to inhibit the growth of L. theobromae, and identification of potential bacteria isolates based on 16S rDNA similarity. The results showed that 17 isolates of non-pathogenic rhizosphere bacteria, three of which, namely T4, T13, and T14, have the highest potency to inhibit the growth of L. theobromae. Among those isolates, the T13 bacterial isolate had the highest potency to inhibit that pathogenic fungus at logarithmic and stationary growth phases. Isolate T4, based on 16S rDNA sequence similarity, was identified as Bacillus subtilis, while T13 and T14 were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Zerumbone (ZER) is a sesquiterpenoid compound derived from the rhizome of Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith, also known as Lempoyang ginger. Evidence suggests that ZER may help manage cognitive disorders. Its unique chemical structure and effects on the central nervous system make it a promising candidate for treating neurodegenerative diseases. This review analyzes nine preclinical studies, including six rodent and three cell-based models, which demonstrate ZER’s neuroprotective properties. The studies show that ZER has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, with six out of nine reporting increased antioxidant enzyme activity. Other mechanisms include cholinesterase inhibition, stimulation of neural stem cell proliferation, and regulation of key signalling pathways. ZER’s lipophilic nature allows it to cross the blood–brain barrier and act within the central nervous system. In all six animal studies, ZER improved behavioral and cognitive outcomes in models of Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, scopolamine-induced amnesia, and age-related cognitive decline. These results support further development of ZER as a natural therapeutic for neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive impairment. However, additional research, especially well-designed clinical trials, is needed to confirm its safety and efficacy in humans.

Surface characteristics and performance of adsorbent materials are vital for understanding CO2 sorption. This study utilizes unexploited coal from a power plant, demonstrating its potential as an effective CO2 adsorbent through proximate, ultimate analyses and iodine number evaluations. BET analysis showed that mesopores consistently exhibited higher volumes than micropores in all samples, with the 'CMC' sample showing the greatest mesopore volume at over 0.3 cm³/g. Surface chemical functional groups and pore structure significantly influence the performance of activated carbon in adsorption processes. In this research, coal-based activated carbon served as a precursor, highlighting the effects of oxygen incorporation into the precursor structure to create new oxygen-containing sites on the surface. These groups were further examined by calcination in a nitrogen atmosphere. The oxygenation process was conducted at varying temperatures - 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 °C - with subsequent calcination at 900 °C. The highest functional group activity occurred at 500 °C, transitioning from hydroxyl to carboxyl groups. High-temperature calcination at 900 °C facilitated the formation of nitrogen-carboxyl bonds, enhancing the micropore volume and CO2 adsorption capacity. The calcined samples demonstrated extended breakthrough times, indicating improved adsorption efficacy. Overall, this study confirms that targeted oxygenation and calcination enhance the functional group composition and pore structure of coal-based activated carbon, albeit with a modest increase in adsorption capacity due to low volatile content.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) mycobacteria are considered a major challenge in tuberculosis treatment, creating an urgent need for novel antimycobacterial drugs. Actinobacteria, known for their ability to produce bioactive compounds, are considered promising sources for new drug discovery. In this study, 87 actinobacteria isolates were successfully obtained from five samples collected in a karst cave on Sumba Island, Indonesia. The isolates were screened for antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis wild-type (WT-M.smeg), rifampicin-resistant (RIFR-M.smeg), isoniazid-resistant (INHR-M.smeg), and multidrug-resistant (MDR-M.smeg) strains. Sixteen extracts were found to inhibit WT-M.smeg, with three extracts from isolates KRST 02-20, KRST 03-10, and KRST 05-08 showing potent activity against all resistant strains (≥95% growth inhibition). The extract of isolate KRST 03-10 was observed to exhibit the most significant inhibition, with IC50 values of 9.63 µg/mL (WT-M.smeg), 29.64 µg/mL (RIFR-M.smeg), 10.89 µg/mL (INHR-M.smeg), and 27.76 µg/mL (MDR-M.smeg). Molecular identification showed that this isolate has the highest similarity (98.91%) with Streptomyces cinereoruber NBRC 12756. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol as a compound with potential antituberculosis activity, while liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) detected nocardamine, L-α-palmitin, erucamide, and 2-anisic acid, all known for their antimicrobial activity. An unidentified compound, NP-011220 (C11H18O2), was also detected in high relative abundance. Further research is needed to evaluate the activity of the most promising isolate, KRST 03-10, against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and to purify its active compounds.

Aloi aluminium AA7075-T6 yang dikenali dengan nisbah kekuatan-ke-berat yang tinggi, merupakan bahan yang ideal untuk banyak industri seperti aeroangkasa dan kejuruteraan struktur. Walau bagaimanapun, prestasi mekanikalnya sangat sensitif terhadap pendedahan haba dan amalan rawatan haba yang tidak tekal merentasi industri telah menghasilkan hasil prestasi yang berbeza-beza. Walaupun berkepentingan, terdapat data empirik yang terhad yang secara sistematik menghubungkan parameter rawatan haba tertentu dengan sifat mekanikal yang terhasil. Penyelidikan ini menangani jurang ini dengan mengkaji kesan pendedahan haba selepas rawatan pada 425 °C, 450 °C dan 475 °C untuk tempoh 30 minit dan 60 minit. Ujian mekanikal menunjukkan bahawa kekuatan tegangan menurun daripada 600 MPa dalam keadaan T6 kepada serendah 377 MPa selepas rawatan pada 425 °C selama 60 minit. Begitu juga, kekuatan hasil menurun daripada 540 MPa kepada 199 MPa di bawah keadaan yang sama. Kekerasan menurun daripada kira-kira 91 HRB dalam keadaan tidak dirawat kepada 55 HRB selepas pendedahan yang berpanjangan. Sebaliknya, pemanjangan bertambah baik daripada 13.2% dalam keadaan asal kepada maksimum 22.5%, menunjukkan peningkatan kemuluran. Modulus Young kekal stabil pada kira-kira 16.3-17.3 GPa merentasi semua keadaan rawatan haba. Keputusan ini menunjukkan kepentingan rawatan haba terkawal untuk mengekalkan kekuatan sambil meningkatkan kemuluran, memberikan pemahaman yang berguna untuk mengoptimumkan AA7075 dalam aplikasi yang mencabar.

The demand for bioactive compounds derived from plants has been steadily increasing. Alongside traditional solid-liquid extraction, ultrasonic extraction has emerged as a technique to enhance the recovery of bioactive compounds. Guarana seeds grown in Malaysia may exhibit distinct nutrient profiles compared to those from other regions due to environmental factors such as location, temperature, and climate. This study aims to determine the exhaustive extraction time for conventional and ultrasonic methods by evaluating the total phenolic content of guarana seeds using Peleg's mathematical model and Solver. Additionally, proximate analysis, heavy metal analysis (via ICP-MS), and caffeine content determination (via HPLC) were performed. The results indicate that ultrasonic extraction significantly reduced extraction time (1.30 ± 0.027 h) compared to conventional extraction (35.07 ± 8.036 h) (p<0.05). Although this shorter extraction time enhances processing efficiency, it was associated with slightly lower yields of certain bioactive compounds such as caffeine. However, shorter extraction times resulted in a lower reaction rate and reduced yield. Proximate analysis showed that guarana seed extract is a poor source of protein (0.6%) but contains high moisture content (97.9%). The extract also showed low levels of ash (<0.1%), fat (<0.1%), and carbohydrates (1.5%). ICP-MS analysis confirmed that the concentrations of heavy metals, including arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and antimony (Sb), were within the safe limits set by the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) (1 mg/kg for As, 2 mg/kg for Pb, 0.05 mg/kg for Hg, 1 mg/kg for Cd, and 1 mg/kg for Sb). Specifically, conventional extraction yielded 0.456 mg/kg As, 0.046 mg/kg Pb, 0.043 mg/kg Hg, 0.010 mg/kg Cd, and 0.005 mg/kg Sb, while ultrasonic extraction yielded 0.369 mg/kg As, 0.026 mg/kg Pb, 0.022 mg/kg Hg, 0.006 mg/kg Cd, and 0.003 mg/kg Sb. Caffeine content was 23% higher in extracts obtained using the conventional method (4.75 ± 0.001%, w/w) compared to ultrasonic extraction (3.65 ± 0.002%, w/w) (p<0.05) in powdery dried seed. Despite this, ultrasonic extraction was identified as the more efficient method due to its shorter extraction time and sufficient yield of bioactive compounds, supporting its use for future guarana-based applications. Overall, guarana seeds are a safe and nutrient-rich source with potential applications in the food industry for the commercial development of guarana-based products.

Efficient encapsulation of iron is crucial to enhance its stability, maintain functionality, and ensure cost-effective application in food systems. In this study, a novel encapsulation matrix combining hydrolyzed glucomannan and maltodextrin was developed to produce spray-dried iron particles with improved physicochemical properties. The effects of drying temperature (60-90 °C), glucomannan concentration (1-3%), and iron content (20-30 mg/g matrix) were systematically evaluated. Increasing these parameters significantly enhanced water-particle interactions, resulting in higher solubility, swelling capacity, and wettability. The best-performing formulation - 30 mg iron/g matrix, 3% hydrolyzed glucomannan, and 30% maltodextrin - achieved an encapsulation efficiency of 98.4%. Morphological and structural analyses showed that the particles contained uniformly distributed iron, had reduced particle size, and exhibited superior thermal stability. These characteristics not only contribute to improved storage stability but also facilitate rapid dispersion in aqueous systems, enhancing bioavailability potential. Overall, this work demonstrates the effectiveness of hydrolyzed glucomannan-maltodextrin blends as encapsulation matrices for producing stable, functional iron powders. The approach offers a promising, energy-efficient strategy for food fortification, with potential applications in addressing iron deficiency through more effective and consumer-friendly delivery systems.

Penyelidikan ini dijalankan untuk mengkaji kesan kadar aliran gas nitrogen terhadap morfologi, sifat kimia dan prestasi penjerapan CO2 komposit ZSM-5/a-CNx. Kepingan ZSM-5 disediakan melalui teknik tekanan sepaksi, seterusnya filem nipis a-CNx dimendapkan di atasnya dengan ubahan nisbah kadar aliran gas CH4:N2 pada 50:30, 50:40, 50:50 dan 50:60 sccm untuk menghasilkan sampel komposit ZSM-5/a-CNx. Mikrograf FESEM menunjukkan ciri morfologi ZSM-5 yang berbucu tajam dan berongga masih terpelihara selepas proses pemadatan, manakala permukaan komposit berubah kepada tekstur yang lebih homogen akibat pemendapan filem nipis a-CNx. Analisis data BET memperlihatkan penurunan luas permukaan khusus dan isi padu liang bersaiz mikro akibat penutupan sebahagian liang akibat proses pemendapan filem nipis a-CNx. Namun begitu, isi padu liang kumulatif kekal hampir tidak berubah dan menandakan pemendapan filem nipis berjaya mengekalkan sebahagian besar struktur liang ZSM-5. Analisis data FTIR mengesahkan penghasilan komposit ZSM-5/a-CNx melalui kehadiran ikatan C-H, C=C, C=N dan C-N. Analisis data TPD pula menunjukkan kapasiti penjerapan CO2 tertinggi (212.04 cm3/g) oleh sampel komposit ZSM-5/a-CNx yang disediakan pada kadar aliran N2 30 sccm, iaitu peningkatan sebanyak 12.46% berbanding ZSM-5 asli. Keputusan kajian ini mendapati bahawa jenis dan konfigurasi kumpulan berfungsi nitrogen memainkan peranan yang lebih penting berbanding jumlah kandungan nitrogen secara keseluruhan. Dalam kajian ini, kumpulan berfungsi C=N didapati berupaya menyediakan tapak bes yang kuat bagi meningkatkan prestasi penjerapan CO2 secara kimia, sekali gus menekankan potensi komposit ZSM-5/a-CNx dalam pembangunan bahan penjerap karbon yang lebih cekap.