Ethylene and propylene serve as the basic platform chemicals in the chemical industry. Research on their production has garnered significant interest. One of them is the dehydrogenation of light alkanes with the oxidative promotion of CO2. This process can simultaneously produce light olefins and achieve resource utilization of CO2. Pt-based catalysts, extensively used in the direct dehydrogenation of light alkanes, are expected to show activity potential in the CO2 oxidative dehydrogenation (CO2-ODH) of light alkanes. However, research on Pt-based catalysts for CO2-ODH of light alkanes remains limited, and no systematic review has been reported yet. Here, the advancements in Pt-based catalysts for the CO2-ODH of ethane and propane are reviewed, including (i) reaction mechanisms, (ii) rational design strategies for efficient and stable Pt-based catalysts, and (iii) emerging reaction processes and optimization methods. Perspectives on fundamental challenges and future research are proposed. Among them, machine learning-guided design of Pt-based catalysts will be an important research direction in the future.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry toxins have led to problems such as drug resistance in target pests, thereby attracting considerable attention. β-type anti-idiotypic antibody (anti-Id) has been demonstrated to possess characteristics that mimic the structure and activity of antigens, providing a theoretical foundation for designing novel insecticidal genetically engineered antibodies (GEAbs) with similar insecticidal function to Cry toxins. In this study, we innovatively devised an 'idiotype monoclonal antibody (imAb)&dual-receptors'-based screening strategy to rapidly isolate insecticidal simulants (β-type anti-I-GEAbs) of the Cry1Ah toxin against Plutella xylostella (P. xylostella) from the constructed phage display single-chain variable fragment (scFv) library. The β-type anti-I-GEAb (3A5) was isolated from a Cry1Ah-imAb F(ab)2 fragment immunized rabbit phage scFv library. Subsequently, a mutant (3A5-m6) with binding activity increased 55.58%↑, was captured from the mutagenesis library targeted at the VL/VH-CDR1/CDR3 regions of the 3A5-parent. The lethal virulence of the 3A5-m6 against P. xylostella increased by 29.60% compared with that of the 3A5-parent. The lethal virulence of the 3A5-m6 and 3A5-parent reached 48.55% and 37.46% of that of the Cry1Ah toxin against P. xylostella, respectively. The hotspot amino acids involved in the interactions between 3A5-m6 and the P. xylostella midgut receptor Px-ALP were located within VL-CDR1 (D31/Y32/N34). Regarding the Px-CAD-TBR, the hotspot amino acids were located within VL-CDR1 (D31/Y32), VH-CDR1 (Y158), and VH-CDR3 (Y226), respectively. This study demonstrates an efficient directional-design strategy for screening novel anti- idiotypic insecticidal antibodies that simulate CryAh toxin against P. xylostella, which broadens feasible paths for the green control of agricultural pests. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the bioactive compounds, health benefits, and production processes of two globally popular stimulant beverages: coffee and matcha. Both beverages are rich in bioactive compounds such as caffeine, polyphenols, and amino acids, which contribute to their stimulating, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. Coffee, with its long history and widespread cultural significance, is primarily known for its caffeine content, which enhances alertness and cognitive function. Matcha, a finely ground green tea powder, contains higher concentrations of catechins, theanine, and caffeine, offering unique health benefits such as improved brain function, antioxidant activity, and potential anti-cancer properties. This review systematically compares the production and processing steps of coffee and matcha, highlighting the impact of these processes on their bioactive components and health benefits. Additionally, the review explores the applications of coffee and matcha in the food industry, emphasizing their roles as flavor enhancers, colorants, and functional ingredients in various food products. Despite the extensive research on coffee, studies on matcha remain limited, necessitating further investigation into its health effects and potential applications. This review employs bibliometric analysis (2021-2025) and comparatively assesses coffee and matcha within a multidimensional competence framework, covering production and processing, bioactive components, health effects, and food industry applications, providing insights into their unique properties and supporting their future development in the food and health industries. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Sorghum bicolor and Sorghum halepense can readily hybridize, creating difficulty in identification. No genetic tools exist to accurately distinguish S. bicolor, S. halepense, and their hybrids. Detecting hybridization is essential to monitor crop-to-weed introgression. This study utilizes a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the internal transcribed spacer region between S. bicolor and S. halepense. This SNP was utilized in Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) assay to identify S. bicolor, S. halepense, and their hybrids. KASP assays were successful in accurately differentiating between S. bicolor, S. halepense, and their hybrids. The KASP assay performed as well as Oxford Nanopore sequencing for measuring SNP frequency and thus is a perfect proxy for genotyping. Greenhouse crosses confirmed crop-to-weed introgression, with S. halepense being more receptive to interspecific pollen. Known and unknown samples assayed displayed misidentification in germplasm lines and significant hybrid frequency in naturally occurring biotypes. Synteny analyses revealed duplications of the ITS region in S. halepense. We developed a novel KASP assay targeting a conserved SNP that accurately distinguishes between S. bicolor, S. halepense, and their hybrids. This assay was validated through Oxford Nanopore sequencing, greenhouse crosses, and diverse germplasm and natural collections. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The parasitoid wasp Fopius arisanus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a solitary egg endoparasitoid of tephritid fruit flies. In this study, we identified the volatile released from the tree-attached mangoes without damage and with oviposition by the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis) in field conditions, and investigated their roles in mediating foraging behavior of this parasitoid species. Ten volatile compounds released by mangoes elicited electrogram responses in antennae or ovipositors of F. arisanus. Among them, α-pinene, d-limonene, β-myrcene, (E)-β-ocimene and ethyl (E)-4-decenoate, individually as well as in a blend attracted female wasps. Likewise, β-myrcene, 3-carene, (E)-β-ocimene, terpinolene and ethyl (E)-4-decenoate, individually, and in a blend attracted male wasps. For female F. arisanus, the blend and ethyl (E)-4-decenoate are primarily detected through their antennae, whereas d-limonene and β-myrcene are mainly perceived via ovipositors. (E)-β-Ocimene appears to be detected by either the antennae or ovipositor, whereas α-pinene is sensed through both organs. Significantly more female individuals landed on the oviposition substrate treated with Blend 3 compared to the paraffin oil control, and the number of wasps exhibiting oviposition behavior was significantly higher in the treatment group during specific time intervals. The oviposition-induced blend of mango volatiles [α-pinene, d-limonene, β-myrcene, (E)-β-ocimene and ethyl (E)-4-decenoate] mediates the foraging behavior of female F. arisanus, and serves as a targeted attractant to enhance its field performance against Tephritidae species. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Methyl eugenol (ME) is widely used in the male annihilation technique (MAT) for controlling Bactrocera dorsalis. However, the emergence of ME non-responsive males in the field may threaten MAT efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive performance of ME non-responsive males to better understand their potential impact on control strategies. We assessed mating competitiveness among four male groups, including ME-responsive and ME non-responsive strains under different ME treatments. Females preferred ME-exposed and ME-fed males, with significantly longer mating durations and higher fecundity observed in the ME-exposed group. However, the highest hatching rate was found in the ME-deprived group. ME non-responsive males showed comparable mating and reproductive performance to ME-fed males. Our findings demonstrate that ME non-responsive males retain reproductive capacity comparable to ME-fed males and may persist in the field under MAT pressure. While ME exposure enhances male competitiveness, excessive field concentrations may inadvertently benefit males without trap entry. These insights highlight potential limitations of ME-based MAT and suggest the need to reassess its long-term efficacy in B. dorsalis management. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

With the growing impacts of salinity and climate change on agricultural systems, developing innovative and resilient solutions has become crucial to meet these challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the tolerance of blue panicgrass (Panicum antidotale Retz.), an alternative forage crop, to increased levels of irrigation water salinity. Six salinity levels (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 dS m-1) were tested in a completely randomized design under controlled environment. Our findings revealed that P. antidotale maintained stable biomass production up to 10 dS m-1, with a subsequent decline of 44% at 20 dS m-1 and 65% at 25 dS m-1. At 25 dS m-1, hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde evels increased significantly by 21% and 98%, respectively, compared to the control. In addition, there was a substantial decrease in stomatal conductance (-55% starting at 10 dS m-1), chlorophyll content (-25% starting at 20 dS m-1) and relative water content (-15% starting at 20 dS m-1), leading to a 53% decrease in the photosynthesis performance index (i.e. PIABS) under 25 dS m-1 compared to the control. Moreover, sodium accumulation significantly increased with salinity treatment, particularly in roots, whereas potassium levels remained unchanged, suggesting ion exclusion as tolerance mechanism. Additionally, the K/Na ratio in shoots was ten-fold higher than in roots. Overall, the results of the present study demonstrate the salt tolerance of blue panicgrass, highlighting its potential as a superior forage crop in saline environments, and emphasize the need for field-based research to develop strategies that maintain high productivity and quality on marginal lands. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Occurrence and spatial distribution of emerging organic contaminants in the coastal and deep Red Sea sediments utilizing liquid chromatography tandem high resolution mass spectrometry.

The escalating prevalence of lifestyle- and aged-related conditions, including diabetes, chronic inflammation, and cardiovascular disorders, underscores the urgent need for natural therapies. Such alternatives should offer reduced side effects compared to conventional pharmaceuticals while playing a proactive role in disease prevention. Red wine production generates grape pomace, a by-product rich in valuable yet unstable anthocyanins. Encapsulation by electrospinning can protect these compounds. This study aimed to encapsulate grape pomace extract (5%, 10%, and 15%, w/w) into electrospun ultrafine zein fibers and to evaluate the in vitro biological activities, including antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Encapsulated grape pomace extract demonstrated antioxidant activity, showing the ability to capture hydroxyl and nitric oxide free radicals. It exhibited an antihyperglycemic effect by inhibiting carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase. Anti-inflammatory activity was observed through the inhibition of thermal protein denaturation. The evaluated activities were concentration-dependent, with fibers containing 15% (w/w) extract showing the highest in vitro bioactivity. Our findings suggest that grape pomace extract encapsulated in ultrafine zein fibers is a promising new formulation for natural medicine. This potential extends to being integrated into functional foods, offering a dual application for health promotion and potential uses in food and pharmaceutical products. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

With increasing resistance to traditional fungicides and growing environmental concerns, it is crucial to develop novel succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors to enhance disease management and support sustainable agriculture. This study systematically designed and synthesized a series of nicotinohydrazides bearing a biphenyl fragment, evaluating their antifungal activity against six plant pathogenic fungi. The results demonstrated that their fungicidal spectrum significantly surpasses boscalid and carbendazim. Utilizing a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling strategy, combined with diazotization-reduction and dehydration condensation reactions, we successfully synthesized 35 target compounds (F1-F18, G1-G17). Antifungal assays revealed that most compounds exhibited more than 80% inhibition against the tested fungi at a concentration of 20 mg/L, particularly compound F17, which showed a half-maximal effective concentrations value ranging from 0.33 to 2.77 mg/L and achieved an efficacy of 89.94% against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on canola leaves at a concentration of 200 mg/L. Mechanistic investigations indicated that F17 exerts its antifungal effects through multiple mechanisms, including the inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase, disruption of cell membranes and induction of oxidative damage. Toxicity predictions and cytotoxicity assays assessed the safety of this series of compounds. Density functional theory and molecular electrostatic potential analyses elucidated the reasons for the high activity of F17. Nicotinohydrazide derivatives exhibit a broader spectrum of antifungal activity than traditional inhibitors, and their multiple mechanisms of action provide a theoretical basis for further structural optimization and the design of novel agrochemicals. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Abstract Piezoresistive wearable sensors are a widely studied topic today. Research into flexible wearable sensors has attracted interest as the Internet of Things continues to advance. Designing and producing these sensors using the biomimetic method that imitates structures in nature makes it possible to create much more sensitive and cost‐effective sensors. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)‐based sensors, which stand out in terms of flexibility and durability, are among the main areas where smart wearable sensor technologies work. In this study, flexible piezoresistive sensors inspired by Cyprinus carpio scales were produced. For this purpose, sensor bases were first produced by transferring the symmetric patterns of carp scales onto PDMS polymer. Then, PEDOT: PSS conductive polymers were deposited on the PDMS molds with the patterns of Cyprinus carpio scales using the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method. The sensors were created by optimizing the conductivity of PDMS molds with PEDOT: PSS and investigating their electrical characterizations under sinusoidal mechanical triggers using a tensile test system. Three‐dimensional structures with gradient symmetry in fish scales enhance sensor response and recovery times, achieving 40 and 39 ms, respectively, even at voltages below 0.05 V. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

As the demand for eco-friendly food packaging rises, biodegradable electrospun fiber membranes have attracted wide attention. However, existing single-component membranes face limitations such as insufficient mechanical properties, unstable functional release, and weak antioxidant/antibacterial activity. This work innovatively created a polylactic acid (PLA)/gelatin/ethyl cellulose ternary electrospun fiber membrane (PEG) by encasing low-cost citric acid (CA) and vitamin E/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (VE/HP-β-CD) complexes to enhance functionality and stability. Scanning electron microscopy showed satisfactory compatibility with uniform, defect-free fibers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction confirmed the successful encapsulation of VE in HP-β-CD, and interactions with the polymer matrix altered the crystalline structure. Thermal analysis revealed enhanced thermal stability, with the decomposition temperature increasing from 340 to 349 °C. As CA and VE/HP-β-CD content increased, the membrane's contact angle decreased, elastic modulus rose (from 18.3 to 60.7 MPa), and elongation at break improved (from 53.8% to 103.7%). Functional tests showed slow continuous release of VE within 200 h, 73.9% DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging, and increased antibacterial activity. Both MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and live/dead assays showed >90% viability for PEG films. In strawberry preservation, the membrane extended its shelf life by 8 days, improving quality. These results demonstrate that the combined encapsulation of CA and VE/HP-β-CD and their interactions with the matrix successfully optimized the material structure, properties, and functionality, offering a sustainable direction for developing eco-friendly, functional packaging materials. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

The quality and commercial value of black tea are significantly influenced by its geographical origin. Traditional traceability methods for black tea are often time-consuming, complex, and inefficient. This study proposes a novel method for the rapid geographical origin traceability of black tea by integrating an electronic tongue (ET) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combined with an improved Transformer-graph fusion network (MSTNet). First, taste and spectral image fingerprints of black tea samples are collected by using ET and HSI systems, respectively. To address the complexity and redundancy of ET signals, a composite exponential weighting strategy is employed to optimize the feature representation, followed by a multi-scale parallel fusion Transformer (MPFT) to extract temporal features from ET signals. Meanwhile, given the inherent high dimensionality within HSI images, principal component analysis (PCA) is applied to select informative components, after which a spatial-enhanced Swin Transformer (SEST) is used to capture spatial features from HSI images. Subsequently, a novel graph network is proposed to achieve multi-source feature fusion and classification. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method achieves superior recognition performance, with a classification accuracy of 99.07%. This study provides a novel method for black tea origin traceability, which offers broad application prospects for the traceability detection of other food industries. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

In winter wheat, low nitrogen (N) and zinc efficiency limits production. Although combined application boosts yield and grain zinc, the underlying mechanisms and optimal rates remain unclear. This study aims to uncover these mechanisms and identify the best management strategy. Applying N at 240 kg ha-1 significantly enhanced post-anthesis glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate synthase (GOGAT) activities in flag leaves compared to 180 kg ha-1, promoting pre-anthesis N translocation and post-anthesis N accumulation. This extended the grain-filling period by 0.8-1.44 days, increased the maximum grain-filling rate by 3.11-12.30% and boosted yield by 6-8% through improvements in spike number, grains per spike and thousand-kernel weight. Grain Zn concentration and Zn use efficiency increased by 12-21% and 35%, respectively, but N uptake and utilization efficiency declined. Foliar Zn application at anthesis (2.4 kg ha-1) further enhanced GS and GOGAT activities during grain filling, increased post-anthesis N accumulation and improved the grain-filling rate by 0.63-9.96%. This raised thousand-kernel weight by 0.70-10.97% and yield by 0.71-5.78%. Grain Zn concentration reached 40.59-41.12 mg kg-1, whereas N uptake efficiency and partial factor productivity of N increased by 1.94-11.61% and 0.71-5.78%. Correlation analysis indicated strong associations of yield with grain N accumulation, post-anthesis GS/GOGAT activities and N partial factor productivity, whereas grain Zn concentration correlated with Zn use efficiency and post-anthesis N metabolism. The combination of N at 240 kg ha-1 and foliar Zn at 2.4 kg ha-1 during anthesis optimized post-anthesis N metabolism, prolonged grain filling and synergistically improved yield, grain Zn content and NZn efficiency. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Abstract Developing synthetic bone scaffolds that simultaneously meet mechanical, structural and biological requirements for load‐bearing applications remains a major challenge in bone tissue engineering. Traditional fabrication routes often suffer from poor phase control, limited bioactivity or complex multi‐step processes. In this study, we present a scalable one‐shot synthesis strategy for fabricating nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) reinforced polyurethane scaffolds tailored for bone repair. A series of ester‐based polyester polyols were synthesized by reacting succinic acid with 1,4‐butanediol (BDO) and diethylene glycol (DEG) at varying ratios and molecular weights. Among them, PB 75 DES300 (75:25 BDO:DEG, ca 300 g mol −1 ) emerged as the optimal formulation, combining mechanical strength, thermal stability and processability. Incorporation of nHA during polyester synthesis promoted uniform nanoparticle dispersion and enhanced scaffold architecture. At 1.5 wt% nHA, the scaffold achieved a 31% increase in compressive modulus and marked improvement in microphase separation, while maintaining high porosity. SEM and swelling analyses confirmed improved pore regularity and water absorption, and human mesenchymal stem cell culture demonstrated significantly enhanced cell adhesion. These results highlight the dual role of nHA as both a mechanical reinforcer and a bioactive agent. The proposed one‐pot method enables precise control over scaffold structure and composition, offering a robust and clinically relevant platform for bone regeneration. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Grape is regarded as a functional food because it contains glucose, fructose, and high content of phenolic compounds. The effect of foliar application of selenium (Se) is limited by the leaf absorption barrier and photooxidation loss of grapes. In contrast, soil application may provide a stable Se pool for root absorption, but its effect on Se morphology and nutritional value of grapes is not clear. In this study, grapes were used as the research object. Through field experiments, different concentrations of Se fertilizer spraying treatments were set up to study the effect of soil Se on improving grape quality and organic Se forms, as well as the effect of Se on nutrient elements and heavy metals. The results showed that total Se (165.6-480.3 μg kg -1) was accumulated in a dose-dependent manner, while selenoformic acid (Se-Met, 4.14%), selenocysteine (SeCys2, 1.13%) and methyl selenocysteine (Se-MeSeCys, 0.97%) constituted the key organic forms. Soil Se application can effectively improve the Se enrichment ability of grapes. Moreover, the biofortification of Se in soil has a dual role, significantly increasing nutrient elements (Ca, Zn, Mo) and effectively reducing the accumulation of heavy metals (As, Pb). © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Accurate characterization of spray droplet size distribution is critical for optimizing pesticide application from unmanned aerial spraying systems (UASSs), as it governs deposition efficiency and off-target drift. However, conventional methods like water-sensitive paper (WSP) are prone to inaccuracies from droplet spread and coalescence, while in-flight laser diffraction is impractical for field-wide measurements under turbulent downwash conditions. This study developed and validated an image-processing-based liquid immersion method using silicone oil as the collection medium. A custom test apparatus was used to collect droplets from a UASS, and high-resolution images were analyzed to determine droplet size distributions. The method's performance was compared against WSP and photographic paper (PP) and validated against a laboratory-standard laser diffraction instrument. Across five nominal droplet-size settings, SO-based Dv50 estimates showed a clear empirical association with laser diffraction and exhibited lower variability than WSP and PP. Droplet-size uniformity across the spray-width transect was higher for SO (CV 10-12%) than for WSP (16-22%) and PP (22-32%). In high-deposition regions where paper-based collectors tended to show inflated droplet sizes due to overlap/oversaturation, the SO method provided more consistent estimates. The proposed SO liquid-immersion workflow offers a practical, cost-effective, and field-deployable option for characterizing UASS spray quality under realistic downwash airflow. This capability can support evidence-based optimization of nozzle settings and flight parameters to improve targeting performance while mitigating off-target drift. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Molecular mechanism of SmERF B3-4 in regulating lignin biosynthesis by modulating Sm4CL11 in Salix matsudana.

Black spot disease is a significant disease during the growth period of pear trees. The species and pathogenicity of Alternaria fungi causing black spot disease in Anhui Province are still unclear. In this study, through phylogenetic analysis of multi-gene tandem sequences, pathogens causing pear black spot disease (PBS) in Anhui Province were identified, primarily Alternaria alternata, Alternaria gaisen and Alternaria tenuissima, with A. alternata being the dominant species (41.18%). The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) density of Alt a1 was much higher than that of other genes, and the codon bias was affected by both natural selection and mutation. The codon bias and the amino acid ratio of Alt a1 in A. alternata and A. gaisen were highly consistent, and A. tenuissima was quite different from them. The pathogenicity of A. alternata was significantly negatively correlated with the daily mycelia growth rate, dry weight of mycelia and alternariol production, and significantly positively correlated with tenuazonic acid (TeA) and tentoxin production. TeA might be the main virulence factor in the pathogenic process of A. alternata. This study presents novel ideas for classifying Alternaria fungi and provides a theoretical basis for establishing prevention and control technologies for PBS control and toxin reduction. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

In this study, a previously optimized pneumatic spray delivery (PSD)-based solid set canopy delivery system (SSCDS) was compared with an airblast sprayer (grower control [GC]) for the delivery of fungicides in the management of powdery mildew (Erysiphe necator) in vineyards. For 2023 and 2024 growing seasons, spray coverage was quantified for each application date and treatment. Visual disease severity on clusters and leaves was assessed five times per season. The accumulated area under the disease progression curve (AUDPC) was developed from these ratings. Over two seasons, spray coverage for PSD-SSCDS treatment ranged from 16.7% to 32.7%, whereas GC achieved coverage between 39.9% and 62.9%. The average difference in maximum cluster and foliar disease severity between GC and PSD-SSCDS was 5.5% and 14.2%, respectively. Despite lower spray coverage in PSD-SSCDS, the accumulated AUDPC for cluster disease severity was similar to GC treatments in both growing seasons. However, foliar disease severity differed significantly, with GC showing less disease than PSD-SSCDS. These study findings indicate that optimal emitter selection is crucial for achieving enhanced spray performance and effective disease control using the PSD-SSCDS technology in vineyards. Both fungicide spray treatments effectively protected clusters from powdery mildew, indicating PSD-SSCDS as an emergent alternative spray technology. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.