Plant Oils Research Articles

Nitrogen requirements of canola (Brassica napus L.) at sustained deficit irrigation levels in central Free State, South Africa

In South Africa canola (Brassica napus L.) is cultivated in rotation with wheat under winter rainfall in the Western Cape province. Expansion of the crop to the other eight provinces is propagated to reduce a shortage of locally produced plant oils. At the same time, canola may serve as a rotational crop for wheat in these summer rainfall provinces. In central Free State, agronomic information for canola production is lacking. An experiment with a line source sprinkler irrigation system was therefore conducted to establish the influence of water application levels (175, 233, 295, 351 and 420 mm) in combination with nitrogen (N) application rates (0, 70, 140, 210 and 280 kg ha−1) on the branches, pods and seeds per canola plant. The biomass and seed yields of canola were also measured, allowing calculation of harvest indices. All six variables were strongly influenced by the interaction of water and N applications. An optimal seed yield of 2.907 kg ha−1 was estimated with a 351 mm water application and a 280 kg ha−1 N application. This resulted in a water use efficiency of 8.28 kg seed ha−1 mm−1 water and a nitrogen use efficiency of 10.38 kg seed kg−1 N.

Influence of Dietary Fatty Acids on Fish Sperm Tolerance to Cryopreservation

ABSTRACTTo meet growing fish demand, aquaculture must develop sustainable, cost‐effective, and high‐performance fish feed formulations for industry advancement. Plant‐based lipids are a viable alternative to forage fish ingredients in finfish diets. However, most plant‐derived lipids lack long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC‐PUFA) like EPA and DHA, which are nutritionally essential for fish. This review summarizes recent findings on the nutritional aspects of fish brood stock and sperm quality, emphasizing the effects of fatty acids on reproductive outcomes. Studies indicate that substituting fish oil with plant oils alters the fatty acid profiles in fish tissues and gametes, potentially compromising sperm quality, cryopreservation success, and progeny viability. Sperm membrane lipids, including EPA, DHA, and ARA, are vital for motility and fertilization rates post‐thaw. Additionally, cryopreservation has been linked to molecular and epigenetic alterations in sperm, which may negatively affect offspring quality. The role of mRNA and noncoding RNA in regulating sperm function and embryonic development is well known, and thus any damage to these molecules as a consequence of cryopreservation might induce long‐term effects on offspring. Proteomic analyses reveal that cryopreservation can lead to significant protein loss in sperm, diminishing their functional and fertilization capabilities. Optimizing cryoprotectant protocols and freezing techniques is crucial to reduce damage, while dietary fatty acids play a key role in preserving sperm quality during cryopreservation stress. Further research with omic technologies is crucial to fully understand sperm tolerance to cryopreservation, which will improve reproductive outcomes and enhance sustainability and quality in aquaculture.

Evolution Characteristics and Typical Pollution Episodes of PM2.5 and O3 Complex Pollution in Bozhou City from 2017 to 2022

In China, atmospheric pollution exhibits a complex pattern, with simultaneous exceedances of fine particulate matter （PM2.5） and ozone （O3） levels becoming evident. To understand the complex pollution characteristics and evolution patterns of PM2.5 and O3 in Bozhou City, various methods such as weather classification, analysis of typical pollution processes, and investigation of precursor sources were employed to explore the pollution and variations of PM2.5 and O3 in Bozhou City from 2017 to 2022 and subsequently analyze their causes and precursor sources. The results indicated that： ① PM2.5-O3 complex pollution in Bozhou City mostly occurred under high-pressure weather conditions, with daytime high temperatures and low humidity promoting the formation of O3 pollution, whereas nighttime high humidity and atmospheric oxidative conditions promoted the generation of secondary components such as nitrates and ammonium salts in PM2.5. ② During the pollution process, PM2.5 in Bozhou City mainly originated from biomass burning, secondary generation, traffic pollution, coal combustion, and dust sources. Volatile organic compounds （VOCs） primarily emerged from plant sources, traffic pollution, oil and gas evaporation, solvent use, fossil fuel combustion, residential emissions, and industrial emissions. Biomass burning and traffic pollution made significant contributions to the pollution process. ③ Analysis of air mass trajectories and regional pollution situations indicated that the overlay of northern and southern air masses, along with local generation, were the main causes of the PM2.5-O3 complex pollution in Bozhou from October 18th to 27th, 2022.

Recyclability of Zinc Palmitate-Based Composites in Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Production from Oil Feedstocks at Varied Acidity.

Zinc hydroxide nitrate (Zn5) is one of the layered metal hydroxide materials, which has been extensively reported as an effective bifunctional catalyst for biodiesel production from acidic oils. This report gives a comprehensive summary of the reactivity of Zn5 in the methanolysis of various oil feedstocks, plant oils, free fatty acids, and other acidic oils. Notably, as evidenced by this work, Zn5 is highly effective in converting acidic oils [palmitic acid/palm oil (PO)] to fatty acid methyl ester (FAME or biodiesel) at high yields ranging from 80 to 95%, withstanding acid content up to 10% without soap formation. The high FAME yields result from complex methanolysis and hydrolysis processes, e.g., transesterification of triglycerides in the PO, esterification of palmitic acid, and hydrolysis of the triglycerides. Despite this, Zn5 is nonrecyclable because it is unstable in the reaction media and transforms into zinc hydroxide nitrate/zinc palmitate (Zn5/ZnP) composites. The Zn5/ZnP composites were suitable for use in FAME production from PO at 100 °C for 2 h by using a methanol-to-oil molar ratio of 30:1, yielding high FAME yields of 97 and 70.7% in the first and fourth cycles, respectively. This study added better insight into how to effectively produce FAME from oil feedstocks of varying acidity by using zinc layered hydroxide- or zinc carboxylate-based materials.

Comparative analysis of transcriptome in oil biosynthesis between seeds and non-seed tissues of Symplocos paniculata fruit.

The Symplocos paniculata, a woody oil plant, has garnered attention for its oil-rich fruit, which exhibits potential for both oil production and ecological restoration endeavors, thereby presenting substantial developmental value. However, the comprehension of the distinctive oil biosynthesis and deposition strategies within the fruit's various compartments, coupled with the tissue-specific biosynthetic pathways yielding optimal fatty acid profiles, remains in its infancy. This investigation was designed to delineate the tissue specificity of oil biosynthetic disparities and to elucidate the molecular underpinnings within the fruit mesocarp and seeds of S. paniculata, employing lipidomic and transcriptomic analyses. The results revealed that oil biosynthesis within the fruit mesocarp commences approximately 40 days prior to that within the seeds, with a concomitant higher lipid content observed in the mesocarp, reaching 43% as opposed to 30% in the seeds. The fruit mesocarp was found to be enriched with palmitic acid (C16:0) and exhibited a harmonious ratio of saturated, monounsaturated, to polyunsaturated fatty acids (SFA: MUFA: PUFA=1:1:1), in stark contrast to the seed oil, which is predominantly composed of unsaturated fatty acids, accounting for 90% of its total FA content. Microstructural assessments have unveiled divergent oil deposition modalities; the fruit mesocarp oils are predominantly sequestered within oil cells (OC) and a spectrum of lipid droplets (LD), whereas the seeds predominantly harbor uniformly-sized LD. The expression patterns of pivotal genes implicated in oil biosynthesis were observed to be markedly contingent upon the tissue type and developmental stage. Notably, the light-responsive fatty acid synthase (FAS) gene demonstrated preferential transcription within the fruit mesocarp. In contrast, genes pivotal for carbon chain elongation, such as 3-ketoacyl-ACP synthase II (KASII) and fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase A (FATA), and desaturation, typified by Stearoyl-ACP desaturase (SAD) and Fatty Acid Desaturase (FAD), were noted to be more robustly transcribed within the seeds. Furthermore, isoenzyme gene families integral to the assembly of triacylglycerol (TAG), including long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases (LACSs), glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferases (GPATs), and lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferases (LPATs), exhibited pronounced tissue specificity. This research endeavors to clarify the molecular regulatory mechanisms that oversee oil biosynthesis within both seed and non-seed tissues of oilseed-bearing plants with entire fruits. Collectively, these findings lay the groundwork and offer technical scaffolding for future targeted cultivation of woody oil plants, with the ultimate aim of augmenting fruit oil yield and refining FA compositions.

Essential Oils of Some Potential Medicinal Plants and their Wound Healing Activities.

The wound has been recognised as a deep cut or tearing of the epidermis, which is also referred to as trauma and harm to the body tissues. Healing of wounds requires a coordinated series of cellular processes, including cell attraction, proliferation, differentiation, and angiogenesis. These processes involve interactions between various cells, such as macrophages, endothelial cells, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, growth hormones, and proteases. The outcome of wounds can be fatal if not treated properly, resulting in chronic wounds, chronic pain, and even death. Wound healing is replacing missing tissue with tissue repairs and regeneration. Some local variables are the presence of tissue maceration, foreign objects, biofilm, hypoxia, ischemia, and wound infection. Sustained growth factor delivery, siRNA delivery, micro-RNA targeting, and stem cell therapy are all emerging possible therapeutic approaches for wound healing. Traditional approaches, such as Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani medicines, are also being used for treatment. The therapeutic application of nanoformulations in wound infections has shown various beneficial effects. Several herbal medicines, especially essential oils have shown potential wound healing activities, such as lavender, tea tree, sesame, olive, etc. Various nanoparticles and their nanoformulations have been explored in wound healing therapy. The present review article highlights several aspects of essential oils for wound healing activity through a novel drug delivery system. Further, some patents on wound healing through herbal medicine have been listed.

ANALISIS HASIL PENGUJIAN ALAT DESTILASI MINYAK SEREH DENGAN KAPASITAS 10 KG

Lemongrass is one type of essential oil plant, which is considered to have developed. From the distillation of its leaves, lemongrass oil is obtained which is known in the world of trade as Citronella Oil. Currently, the development of essential oils is a major concern for the Indonesian government. Of the various raw materials for making Essential Oils, one of the essential oil raw materials in Indonesia that is good to be developed is Lemongrass. The purpose of this study was to obtain essential oils through the Extraction and Distillation process, obtaining Yield percentage and Water Content. Based on the results of the test and observation, the essential oil produced has physical and chemical characteristics that are in accordance with the requirements. The characteristics of lemongrass essential oil produce essential oils with a specific gravity of 0.86 mg/L.

Bio-Based Phase Change Materials for Sustainable Development.

The increasing global population has intensified the demand for energy and food, leading to significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from both sectors. To mitigate these impacts and achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), passive thermal storage methods, particularly using phase change materials (PCMs), have become crucial for enhancing energy efficiency and reducing GHG emissions across various industries. This paper discusses the state of the art of bio-based phase change materials (bio-PCMs), derived from animal fats and plant oils as sustainable alternatives to traditional paraffin-based PCMs, while addressing the challenges of developing bio-PCMs with suitable phase change properties for practical applications. A comprehensive process is proposed to convert bacon fats to bio-PCMs, which offer advantages such as non-toxicity, availability, cost-effectiveness, and stability, aligning with multiple SDGs. The synthesis process involves hydrolysis to break down fat molecules obtained from the extracted lipid, followed by three additional independent processes to further tune the phase change properties of PCMs. The esterification significantly decreases the phase transition temperatures while slightly improving latent heat; the UV-crosslinking moderately raises both the phase transition temperature and latent heat; the crystallization remarkably increases the both. The future research and guidelines are discussed to develop the large scale manufacturing with cost effectiveness, to optimize synthesis process by multiscale modeling, and to improve thermal conductivity and latent heat capacities at the same time.

Application of STPA for Comprehensive Risk Analysis of Naphtha Explosion Hazards

Chemical accidents always result in significant losses due to the flammable, explosive, and toxic characteristics of hazardous chemicals. Analysis of process safety parameters is an effective way to prevent hazardous chemical accidents and reduce losses. System-theoretic process analysis (STPA) is a newer hazard analysis technique that is based on systems theory. It has been shown to be effective in identifying hazards in other industries, but its application in oil and gas plants is still rare and limited due to systems complexities and other challenges. This paper aims to apply the STPA method to a complex system “column C-63” at the Skikda RA1K refinery to prevent the explosion scenario of naphtha. The results show that STPA was able to identify the root causes of the explosion scenario, which is important for preventing chemical risks.

Edible plant oils modulate gut microbiota during their health-promoting effects: a review.

Edible plant oils are widely used in cooking, cosmetics, health supplement capsules, and other industries, due to their various health-promoting effects. There is increasing evidence that edible plant oils can modulate gut microbiota during their health-promoting effects in animal experiments and cohort or clinical studies. However, the information concerning the gut microbiota modulation of edible plant oils during their health-promoting effects is scattered. In this article, the research progress on gut microbiota modulation of edible plant oils (especially camellia oil, olive oil, and flaxseed oil) is summarized. Meanwhile, a summary on correlations between modulated gut microbiota and changed biochemical indexes is provided. The alterations of edible plant oils on gut microbiota-derived metabolites and the correlations between altered metabolites and modulated gut microbiota as well as changed biochemical indexes are reviewed. Furthermore, the prospects for gut microbiota modulation of edible plant oils during their health-promoting effects are put forward. Existing literature has shown that edible plant oils could modulate gut microbiota during their health-promoting effects, and some differential gut microbiota biomarkers were gained. Some similarities and differences existed while the oils exhibited health-promoting actions. Dosage and treatment time have influences on gut microbiota modulation of edible plant oils. Different edible plant oils exhibited different behaviors in modulating gut microbiota, and edible plant oils were mostly different in modulating gut microbiota compared to edible animal oils. Moreover, the modulated gut microbiota was significantly correlated with the changed biochemical indexes. Furthermore, edible plant oils altered SCFAs and other gut microbiota-derived metabolites. The altered metabolites were obviously correlated with the modulated gut microbiota and changed biochemical indexes. This review is helpful to the future research and application of edible plant oils in health-promoting effects from the perspective of gut microbiota.

Strategic Use of Vegetable Oil for Mass Production of 5-Hydroxyvalerate-Containing Polyhydroxyalkanoate from δ-Valerolactone by Engineered Cupriavidus necator.

Although efforts have been undertaken to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) with various monomers, the low yield of PHAs because of complex metabolic pathways and inhibitory substrates remains a major hurdle in their analyses and applications. Therefore, we investigated the feasibility of mass production of PHAs containing 5-hydroxyvalerate (5HV) using δ-valerolactone (DVL) without any pretreatment along with the addition of plant oil to achieve enough biomass. We identified that PhaCBP-M-CPF4, a PHA synthase, was capable of incorporating 5HV monomers and that C. necator PHB-4 harboring phaCBP-M-CPF4 synthesized poly(3HB-co-3HHx-co-5HV) in the presence of bean oil and DVL. In fed-batch fermentation, the supply of bean oil resulted in the synthesis of 49 g/L of poly(3HB-co-3.7 mol% 3HHx-co-5.3 mol%5HV) from 66 g/L of biomass. Thermophysical studies showed that 3HHx was effective in increasing the elongation, whereas 5HV was effective in decreasing the melting point. The contact angles of poly(3HB-co-3HHx-co-5HV) and poly(3HB-co-3HHx) were 109 and 98°, respectively. In addition, the analysis of microbial degradation confirmed that poly(3HB-co-3HHx-co-5HV) degraded more slowly (82% over 7 days) compared to poly(3HB-co-3HHx) (100% over 5 days). Overall, the oil-based fermentation strategy helped produce more PHA, and the mass production of novel PHAs could provide more opportunities to study polymer properties.

An in-depth study of anthocyanin synthesis in the exocarp of virescens and nigrescens oil palm: metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis.

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is a very important tropical woody oil plant with high commercial and ornamental value. The exocarp of the oil palm fruit is rich in anthocyanosides and proanthocyanidins, which not only give it a bright colour, but also mark the maturity of the fruit. The study of the dynamic change pattern of anthocyanoside content and important anthocyanoside metabolism-related regulatory genes during oil palm ripening is conducive to the improvement of the ornamental value of oil palm and the determination of the optimal harvesting period of the fruits. We analyzed the virescens oil palm (AS) and nigrescens oil palm (AT) at 95 days (AS1, AT1), 125 days (AS2, AT2) and 185 days (AS3, AT3) after pollination were used as experimental materials for determining the changes in the total amount of anthocyanins as well as their metabolomics and transcriptomics studies by using the LC-MS/MS technique and RNA-Seq technique. The results showed that the total anthocyanin content decreased significantly from AS1 (119µg/g) to AS3 (23µg/g), and from AT1 (1302µg/g) to AT3 (170µg/g), indicating a clear decreasing trend during fruit development. Among them, the higher flavonoids in AS and AT included anthocyanins such as peonidin-3-O-rutinoside (H35), pelargonidin-3-O-rutinoside (H21), and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (H7), as well as condensed tannins such as procyanidin B2 (H47), procyanidin C1 (H49), and procyanidin B3 (H48). Notably, nine genes involved in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway exhibited up-regulated expression during the pre-development stage of oil palm fruits, particularly during the AS1 and AT1 periods. These genes include: Chalcone synthase (CHS; LOC105036364); Flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H; LOC105054663); Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR; LOC105040724, LOC105048473); Anthocyanidin synthase (ANS; LOC105035842), UDP-glucose: flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT; LOC105039612); Flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase (F3'5'H; LOC105036086, LOC105044124, LOC105045493). In contrast, five genes demonstrated up-regulated expression as the fruits developed, specifically during the AS3 and AT3 periods. These genes include: Chalcone synthase (CHS; LOC105036921, LOC105035716); Chalcone isomerase (CHI; LOC105045978); UDP-glucose: flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT; LOC105046326); Flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase (F3'H; LOC105036086). Most of differentially expressed genes exhibited up-regulation during the early stages of fruit development, which may contribute to the elevated anthocyanin content observed in oil palm fruits of both types during the pre-developmental period. Furthermore, the expression levels of most genes were found to be higher in the AT fruit type compared to the AS fruit type, suggesting that the differential expression of these genes may be a key factor underlying the differences in anthocyanoside production in the exocarp of oil palm fruits from these two fruit types. The findings of this study provide a theoretical foundation for the identification and characterization of genes involved in anthocyanin synthesis in oil palm fruits, as well as the development of novel variations using molecular biology approaches.

Cinnamon and Eucalyptus Extracts: A Promising Natural Approach for Durable Mosquito-Repellent Fabrics with Multifunctionality.

Mosquitoes are highly important carriers of diseases, such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and various other life-threatening illnesses. Traditionally, many chemicals, such as plant extracts, oils, and smoke, have been employed for the purpose of repelling mosquitoes. Various plants possess essential oils and chemicals that have been proven to be good insect repellents and are commonly regarded as weeds. The present study focused on the development of eco-friendly, nonhazardous mosquito-repellent fabrics using cinnamon and eucalyptus extracts. First, eucalyptus and cinnamon extracts were produced separately using ethanol and water as solvents with and without heating. Forty-eight different fabric samples were prepared by applying these extracts at three levels of process application temperature. A steam dye bath sampling machine was utilized to execute the extraction application process on fabric samples. The mosquito repellency performances of all of the samples were evaluated using the cage test method. The cage test revealed that all of the samples of eucalyptus and cinnamon extract-applied fabrics showed mosquito repellency performance at some level. However, the fabric samples treated with the heated extract of eucalyptus ethanol (EE-H) at 60 °C showed the best results in terms of mosquito repellency (85.56%) among all combinations. In addition to repellency, the impact of washing durability, UV shielding, and antibacterial performance was also evaluated. This research demonstrated a new method for creating a fabric that repels mosquitoes and has effective antibacterial properties as well as promising ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating. This fabric protects the wearer from the significant health risks posed by mosquitoes and harmful UV radiation while also maintaining its cleanliness. Moreover, the utilization and implementation of plant-derived coatings on textiles contribute to the advancement of sustainable methods (SDG 9 and SDG 12) in the chemical processing industry of textiles, ultimately leading to a reduction in their environmental footprint.

Nutritional and potential health benefits of chufa oil, olive oil, and anhydrous milk fat against gallstone disease in a C57BL/6N mouse model.

Dietary lipids play a major role in many diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases. Recently, the health value of plant oils, particularly heart health, has been recognized. Despite these facts, limited information is available on the potential nutritional and anti-arteriolosclerosis effects of chufa oil, olive oil, and anhydrous milk fat in C57BL/6N mice. In the present study, the effects of olive oil (OO), chufa oil (CO), and anhydrous milk fat (AMF) on 4-week-old C57BL/6N male mice, a model for studies of diet-induced atherosclerosis, were investigated. The AIN-93G-based diet was supplemented with 15% of either OO, CO, or AMF. The final mixture of the diets contained 15% fat, approximately 1.25% cholesterol, and 0.5% sodium cholate. The data obtained showed that most mice had gallstone disease. The highest percentage of the gallstones formed were found in AMF groups (approximately 85.7% of the mice). However, the lowest one was found in the chufa oil group (42.9%), followed by the olive oil group (57.1%). Although the mice's food intake significantly differed, their body weights did not change during the feeding period. The diet supplemented with CO resulted in a significant reduction in serum cholesterol compared with the other groups. Livers from the CO-fed group showed higher triglyceride levels than those from the AMF group. No significant differences were found in atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic valve between the groups. Collectively, our results show no deleterious nutritional effects of the fats used on C57BL/6N mice fed cholesterol-rich diets. Chufa oil improved cholesterol metabolism and atherogenic index in mice. However, the major issue is the formation of gallstones in all mice, which is most prominent in AMF, followed by olive oil and chufa oil diets.

Synthetic vs. natural antimicrobial agents for safer textiles: a comparative review.

Textiles in all forms act as carriers in transmitting pathogens and provide a medium of microbial growth, especially in those fabrics which are used in sports, medical and innerwear clothing. More attention towards hygiene and personal healthcare made it a necessity to develop pathogen-free textiles. Synthetic and natural antimicrobial compositions are used to control and reduce microbial activity by killing or inhibiting microbial growth on textiles. Synthetic metallic nanoparticles of Ag, Zn, Cu Ti and Ga are the most commonly and recently used advanced nanocomposites. Synthetic organic materials such as triclosan, quaternary ammonium compounds, polyhexamethylene biguanide, and N-halamines have proven antimicrobial activity. Carbon quantum dots are one of the advanced nanomaterials prepared from different kinds of organic carbon material with photoluminescence efficiency also work efficiently in antimicrobial textiles. A greener approach for producing natural antimicrobial textiles has gained significant importance and demand for personal care due to their less toxic effects on health and the environment In comparison to synthetic. The naturally existing materials including extracts and essential oils of plants have significant applications for antimicrobial textiles. Additionally, a number of animal extracts are also used as antimicrobial agents include chitosan, alginate, collagen hydrolysate to prepare naturally treated antimicrobial textiles. This review focuses on the comparative performance of antimicrobial fabrics between synthetic and natural materials. Textiles with synthetic substances cause health and environmental concerns whereas textiles treated with natural compositions are more safe and eco-friendly. Finally, it is concluded that textiles modified with natural antimicrobial compositions may be a better alternative and option as functional textiles.

Effect of Press Cake-Based Particles on Quality and Stability of Plant Oil Emulsions.

Palm fat has uniquely optimal melting characteristics that are difficult to replace in products such as baked goods and chocolate-based items. This study investigates the efficacy of using Pickering emulsions derived from Swiss plant oils and their micromilled press cakes. Emulsification was carried out at both the lab and pilot scales using sunflower- and rapeseed-based recipes, with and without additional surfactants, for both oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions. The resulting emulsions were measured for viscosity and short- and long-term stability and linked to the properties of the raw materials. The results indicated that the contact angle, size, and macronutrient composition of the particles significantly impact emulsion quality, though differences in oil pressing methods might predominate these effects. The combination of particles and surfactants demonstrated a clear advantage with respect to interface stabilisation, with a suggested link between the wax content of the oil and particles and the resulting emulsion quality and stability.

De novo assembly of Idesia polycarpa transcriptome and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis candidate genes Mining and functional Identification

Unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) in lipids are the key to nutraceutical oil applications, with various potential applications in nutraceutical functional foods and pharmaceutical industries. In Idesia polycarpa (Salicaceae), more than 80 % of UFA have been found in the fruits; yet, the underlying genetic mechanism remains poorly understood. Due to the lack of theoretical research on the genes related to lipid biosynthesis and the complete genetic transformation system of I. polycarpa fruit, the selection and breeding of I. polycarpa, an excellent oil tree, has been severely restricted. In-depth understanding of the molecular mechanism and gene function of lipid biosynthesis of I. polycarpa fruit is therefore of great significance for the development of I. polycarpa resources. This is not only conducive to the genetic improvement of I. polycarpa by molecular breeding technologies but can also provide a reference for the study of the gene functions of other oil plants. In this study, the FA accumulation patterns of I. polycarpa fruits during 8 growth periods were analysed. Fruit from two developmental periods with different UFA levels were analysed for RNA sequencing by an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 HiSeq platform. De novo transcriptome assembly presented 115,350 unigenes and 4382 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional annotation in the KEGG pathway and combined with DEG data revealed candidate genes potentially involved in UFA biosynthesis. Expression analysis of q-PCR of IpDGAT2, IpGPAT, IpKASII, IpSAD, IpFAD2, IpFAD3 and IpFAD8 suggested that these genes are highly involved in UFA biosynthesis. Full-length candidate genes were cloned and analysed by bioinformatic tools, and function analysis of IpSAD and IpFAD3 showed that these genes regulated the products of linoleic acid metabolism. This study provides a foundation for UFA biosynthesis in Idesia polycarpa, facilitating its genetic breeding in the future.

The influence of planting density on the oil and fatty acids content of soybean in hydroponic and soil conditions of the Ararat Valley

Background: Plant seed oils are major renewable resources from nature that can be used in multiple applications. Oils and fats are a vital component of human diets. About 1/3 of the daily energy requirements of a healthy diet come from fats. Each branch of the food industry has its own demands for the fatty acid composition of seed oils. High amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids are a requirement of healthy diets. However, food manufacturers need highly saturated fatty acids because they need oil that is resistant to high temperatures and oxidation. Soybean oil is second only behind palm oil as the most commercially abundant plant oil globally. Soybean has been recognized for its agricultural importance and their various positive effects on human health. Objective: to identify the quantitative changes of soybean fatty acids depending on the planting density and growing conditions in the Ararat Valley of Armenia. Methods: Soybean was grown in hydroponic and soil conditions of the Ararat Valley. The seeds were sown in the middle of April. Experiments were carried out in hydroponic equipment and soil with different planting densities (30, 50, 70 and 90 plants/m2). The oil content was measured by using the pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance method. The composition of fatty acids in seed oil was analyzed by chromatographic method on "Chromatec Crystal 5000" GC. Results: Oil content ranged from 19.6% to 24.4% in all variants. The maximum content was registered in soil with 30 plant/m2 planting density. Linoleic acid content ranged from 46.35 to 51.28% of the total fatty acid content, regardless of planting density and growing media. The content of linolenic acid ranged from 4.13 to 5.11% in all variants. The maximum content of ω-3 and the minimal content of ω-9 was recorded in hydroponics at 30 plants/m2 planting density. The highest percentage of stearic acid was observed in the soil variant with a planting density of 30 plants/m2. Interestingly, the variants did not differ in the total content of the 5 main fatty acids (98.84-98.95%). Growing medium had no significant effect on the total saturated fatty acids content; in all variants it ranged from 14.29% to 14.83%. Total unsaturated fatty acids content ranged from 85.2% to 85.7%. The hydroponic variant with a planting density of 30 plants/m2 had the lowest ratio of ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acids (10:1). Conclusion: Planting density and growing media had a significant influence on the content of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Under hydroponic conditions the lowest content of monounsaturated and the highest content of polyunsaturated fatty acids were observed at the lowest planting density (30 plants/m2), which can be used as a functional food for daily consumption. Keywords: Glycine max (L.) Merr., soilless culture, ω-3, ω-6, ω-9, saturated acids.

Nickel Nanoparticles to Enhance Heavy Crude Oil Recovery in Sudan Oil Plant

الهدف الأساسي لهذة الدراسة هو تحضير جسيمات النيكل النانوية باستخدام الطرق الكيميائية وذلك بإضافة كيميات مختلفة من الهيدرازين كمنتج للالكترونات بنسب مختلفة في وجود هيدروكسيد الصوديوم كمذيب وذلك لتحسين جودة النفط السوداني بانقاص اللزوجة وذيادة المركبات الخفيفة التي تساعد على الاشتعال. تم تشخيص جسيمات النيكل النانوية باستخدام الاشعة السينية المشتتة و المجهر الالكترونى النفاذ فائق الدقة. ـ أظهرت النتائج بان جسيمات النيكل النانوية التي تم تحضيرها نقية وكان متوسط حجم الجسيمات في المدى بين 50 الى 90 نانومتر مع اختلاف حجم الاشكال البلورية اعتمادا على كمية الهيدرزين المختلفة. وجد ان جسيمات النيكل الننوية المحضرة فعالة لانقاص اللزوجة بنسبة 51% من المستوى 7128 الى 3495 على مقياس اللزوجة بضبط درجة الحرارة الى 80 درجة مئوية وبجانب اخر نقصت الكثافة من 0.9514 الى 0.9416 على مقياس الكثافة بحانب زيادة المركبات الخفيفة التي تساعد على الاشتعال من 17.04 الى 18.59 بحوالي 9 %.

Legacy ICS Cybersecurity Assessment Using Hybrid Threat Modeling—An Oil and Gas Sector Case Study

As security breaches are increasingly widely reported in today’s culture, cybersecurity is gaining attention on a global scale. Threat modeling methods (TMM) are a proactive security practice that is essential for pinpointing risks and limiting their impact. This paper proposes a hybrid threat modeling framework based on system-centric, attacker-centric, and risk-centric approaches to identify threats in Operational Technology (OT) applications. OT is made up of software and hardware used to manage, secure, and control industrial control systems (ICS), and its environments include factories, power plants, oil and gas refineries, and pipelines. To visualize the “big picture” of its infrastructure risk profile and improve understanding of the full attack surface, the proposed framework builds on several threat modeling methodologies: PASTA modeling, STRIDE, and attack tree components. Nevertheless, the continuity and stability of vital infrastructure will continue to depend heavily on legacy equipment. Thus, protecting the availability, security, and safety of industrial environments and vital infrastructure from cyberattacks requires operational technology (OT) cybersecurity. The feasibility of the proposed approach is illustrated with a case study from a real oil and gas production plant control system where numerous significant cyberattacks in recent years have targeted OT networks more frequently as hackers realized the possibility of disruption due to insufficient OT security, particularly for outdated systems. The proposed framework achieved better results in detecting threats and severity in the design of the case study system, helping to increase security and support cybersecurity assessment of legacy control systems.