Sustainable Strategies Research Articles

Electron-withdrawing effect of polyoxometalates in Cu(I)-based metal–organic frameworks for enhanced azide-alkyne “click” reaction

Boosting the nucleophilicity of Cu(I) sites is an essential strategy to enhance the efficiency of Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. In this work, a Lindquist-type polyoxometalate (POM)-based metal–organic framework, [CuI4(W6O19)2(L)]·2H2O (NEAU-1), was synthesized via an in-situ solvothermal method. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction results reveal that NEAU-1 exhibits a sandwich structure, with POMs intercalated between the two-dimensional layers formed by resorcin[4]arene ligands and Cu(I) ions. NEAU-1 possesses abundant Cu(I) active sites and high chemical stability, making it an effective heterogeneous catalyst for the CuAAC reaction. More importantly, the presence of POMs effectively reduces the electron cloud density around Cu(I) sites, significantly lowering the energy barrier for the formation of copper-acetylide compounds and facilitating subsequent nucleophilic reactions. The synergistic catalytic effect of POMs and Cu(I) can achieve a conversion rate of over 99 % for benzyl azide and phenylacetylene within 40 min. This work presents a sustainable molecular-level strategy to enhance the activity of the CuAAC reaction.

Sustainable Tourism Logistics Management Strategies: A Case Study of Pathum Thani Province, Thailand

Sustainable Tourism Logistics Management Strategies: A Case Study of Pathum Thani Province, Thailand

Strategies for Green Supply Chain for Agriculture Equipment Manufacturing Industries: Perspective of Blockchain- IoT Integrated Architecture

In order to protect the environment, manufacturing sectors have begun implementing a green supply chain (GSC) strategy. Governments are enacting increasingly stringent environmental regulations; consequently, industries must reduce the environmental impact of their supply chains. Our research investigates the barriers to implementing a GSC in the agriculture equipment manufacturing industries (AEMI). This research aims to discover and prioritize the barriers that impede the implementation of sustainable supply chain strategies in the AEMI. Through an in-depth literature review, contributions from experts, and empirical analysis, seventy-one barriers are identified across ten categories. The top barrier in each category is determined using the Delphi approach. The Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (F-TOPSIS) method creates an exhaustive framework that evaluates and ranks these barriers. The top five barriers are the lack of an environmental partnership with buyers and suppliers, the design complexity when reusing or recycling old goods or products, carbon emissions, paint shop emissions, lack of environmental education and training professionals that lack the necessary skills and less manpower available for the greening supply chain. This framework facilitates decision-makers to organize resources and create effective strategies for overcoming identified barriers. In addition, we proposed a blockchain IoT integrated architecture and strategies. This integrated architecture and strategies will help to mitigate all GSC barriers. It also increases the supply chain's transparency, traceability and effectiveness, fostering sustainability practices and reducing environmental impacts. Blockchain and IoT facilitate real-time data collaboration, computerized transactions and the implementation of smart contracts, thereby enhancing cooperation, trust and collaboration among stakeholders. Implementing GSC practices enables manufacturers to reduce waste and increase productivity, thereby saving funds. In addition, adopting sustainable practices improves these industries' reputation and brand image among environmentally conscious customers, investors and other stakeholders.

Morphometric analysis and LULC change dynamics of Nayar watershed for the sustainable watershed management

The morphometric analysis of the watersheds is essential for the conservation of natural resources, including soil, water, and vegetation. The Morphometric analysis defines the linear, areal and relief aspects of the watershed. It involves the comprehensive analysis of various factors such as drainage network, surface water flow, and other topographical features. The aim of this study is to develop a sustainable watershed management strategy for the Nayar watershed based on morphometry and Land Use Land Cover (LULC) change dynamics. The Nayar watershed has a total area of 1956.33 km2. The multispectral satellite imagery, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data, and Survey of India (SOI) Toposheets were used for understanding the topographical and morphological characteristics along with the LULC change dynamics. The findings of this research conclude that the Nayar watershed has parallel and dendritic drainage patterns with high relief. According to the LULC change dynamics, the Nayar watershed's area change comprising 57.60 km2 and 57.15 km2, are from Agricultural Land to Wasteland and from Forest Cover to Wasteland, respectively. This shift in the hilly region will increase the risks of landslides and erosion. Furthermore, the change of 110.03 km2 area of Forest Cover to Agricultural Land raises further challenges due to loss of natural vegetation in long run. In summary the change in LULC of Nayar watershed is vulnerable to risk of natural calamities like landslide, erosion. This work would be helpful to many experts and decision-makers for sustainable watershed management and natural resource management.

Sustainable Digital Transformation Roadmaps for SMEs: A Systematic Literature Review

Sustainable digital transformation in SMEs not only simplifies operations and increases efficiency but also fosters innovation, facilitates data-driven decision-making, and minimizes negative environmental and social impacts, paving the way for a sustainable competitive advantage in the digital age. However, SMEs still face significant barriers to implementing this transformation. In addition to limited financial resources, a critical obstacle is the lack of specific and comprehensible roadmaps. Thus, this paper aims to analyze existing roadmaps for sustainable digital transformation in SMEs. A systematic literature review was conducted using the PRISMA and Methodi Ordinatio methods, with data collection and analysis performed using the NVivo 12 and VOSviewer software (version 1.6.20). Content analysis was used to assess how these papers align with the study’s context. The analysis identified whether the roadmaps address aspects related to the triple bottom line (TBL), their specificity to SMEs, the principles of digital transformation they incorporate, and the aspect of digital maturity. The findings indicate that none of the current literature provides a fully developed roadmap for sustainable digital transformation in SMEs. Consequently, future studies are suggested to develop a comprehensive roadmap that addresses these issues. Finally, this study highlights the main gaps and opportunities in each studied roadmap and formulates 14 research questions divided into six categories for future investigation. Addressing these questions can help close the current gaps in the literature and provide SMEs with robust, adaptable, and sustainable digital transformation strategies.

Evaluation of Trend Models Performance and Forecasting Onion Production: A Comparative Study

Onions, a significant spice crop in Bangladesh, frequently experience price surges due to an imbalance between demand and supply, compelling the government to import onions. The volatility of the onion market in Bangladesh and the measures needed to stabilize the situation require intensive policy attention. Therefore, this study was carried out to forecast the onion production over time and to evaluate the efficacy of various trend models. The secondary data was collected from the Food and Agriculture Organization's Statistical Database (FAOSTAT) from 1972 to 2022. The autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was used to predict the onion production over time. Additionally, metrics such as modified and the coefficient of determination were used to evaluate the effectiveness of eight trend models comprehensively. The findings indicate that the cubic model is superior to others since it has larger and adjusted values. The models' accuracy is also determined utilizing mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and mean absolute deviation (MAD) metrics. The cubic trend model exhibits lower MAPE and MAD values of 29.43% and 80638.67, respectively. Therefore, it is concluded that the ARIMA (2, 2, 2) model is the best model for forecasting the annual production of onion in Bangladesh. A five-year trend analysis spanning from 2023-2027 indicates an upward trend. Such a result offers a critical insight for stakeholders and policymakers in formulating sustainable onion production strategies. J Bangladesh Agril Univ 22(3): 386-395, 2024

The application of the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) as a multi-criteria analysis tool for road risk assessment: Algeria as a case study

In response to the escalating road safety challenges and the persistent increase in traffic accidents, it is imperative to adopt an integrated approach to address this multifaceted issue effectively. The main objective of this research is to classify or identify high-risk areas by studying the impact of the most significant factors contributing to road accidents. The methodology is based on a hierarchical model of three levels, including the essential factors that increase road risk. Subsequently, a fuzzy hierarchy process (FAHP) is conducted using a fuzzy scale to evaluate and analyse the most influential factors to determine the risk level for each road segment. This approach has been applied to the motorway in Algeria, specifically in the Mascara region, where the road was divided into 83 sections of 100 metres. The study's results revealed that factors related to infrastructure and those associated with drivers had the most significant impact, while environmental factors had less influence on road safety. The studied area exhibited risk levels ranging from moderate to low. The current state analysis of the roads (open to traffic) allows for the evaluation of factors that heighten road risks, this comprehensive evaluation is instrumental in formulating sustainable road safety strategies to mitigate future traffic accidents.

Sensor array and color-coded test paper tongue based on multivariate cross-responsive AIEgen functionalized bimetallic lanthanide infinite coordination polymers: Toward smart identification and systematic analysis of antibiotics

Building and improving the monitoring technology system for newly emerging contaminants with a positive attitude is the first step to enhance governance capacity, which is in good accordance with the requirements of worldwide sustainable development strategy nowadays. With the urgent needs of smart identification and simultaneous detection of multiple antibiotics co-existing in the aquatic system in mind, we intentionally synthesized the aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) functionalized bimetallic lanthanide infinite coordination polymers (TPE-TS@Tb/Eu-AMP ICPs) series. The intrinsic physical and chemical properties of target antibiotics (flumequine, four kinds of tetracyclines, and sulfadiazine) triggered the complex chemical recognition reactions of TPE-TS@Tb/Eu-AMP ICPs series to give birth to multivariate cross-responses. Based on these theoretical-oriented sensing elements and rationally selected smart statistical tools, the “lab-on-TPE-TS@Tb/Eu-AMP ICPs” antibiotic sensor array is established with superior analytical performance. Moreover, the unique optical dominance of TPE-TS@Tb/Eu-AMP ICPs series on solid substrate enabled the subsequent exploitation of test paper tongue (TPT) with simultaneously altered RGB values as elements. Being further coded by the excitation modulation on commercial dark box UV-lamp, even promoted analytical behaviors of the TPT can be realized for the first time. With the aid of the smartphone, robust pattern recognition and accurate systematic analysis of antibiotics in the actual environmental samples were achieved by our sensor array and color-coded TPT, which may provide important scientific supports and technical reserves for the antibiotic control actions in future.

Tenebrio molitor (Mealworm) protein as a sustainable dietary strategy to improve health span in D-galactose-induced aged mice

Aging is an irreversible and continuous biological process involving intricate and interconnected mechanisms. The present work is focused on unravelling the anti-aging mechanisms of mealworm protein and protein-enriched fruit bar and vegetable soup in D-galactose-induced aged mice. Mealworm protein and enriched products significantly enhanced body weight, organ indices, and gut health. Behavioral assessments reflected enhanced neuroprotective effects. Mealworm protein and its enriched products demonstrated protective effects through anti-inflammatory activity with the highest reduction of TNFα (17.1 %), IL-6 (55.5 %), and IL-1β (75.1 %) levels and upregulated the anti-inflammatory marker (IL-4). Gene expression studies confirmed the induction of anti-aging effects by promoting metabolism, reducing cellular senescence, and enhancing anti-oxidant enzyme activity. The treatments extended telomere lengths by 3–4 times, further affirming the potential anti-aging efficacy of mealworm protein and its enriched products. Mealworm protein demonstrated positive effects on weight gain, anti-inflammatory responses, and telomere length; while fruit and vegetable products enhanced antioxidant activity, and positively influenced gut health. Further, a synergistic effect was observed by combining them, which resulted in improved overall anti-aging effect. The present work provides valuable insights into the multifaceted anti-aging mechanisms associated with mealworm protein and enriched products, highlighting their potential as functional foods with significant health-promoting effects.

Effects of soil composition and curing conditions on the strength and durability of Cr3+-crosslinked biopolymer-soil composites

Stabilized soil composites incorporating Cr3+-crosslinked xanthan gum (CrXG), a self-stiffening cation-crosslinked biopolymer, have recently emerged as sustainable construction materials for earthen structures. However, the influence of curing conditions and soil composition in altering the mechanical properties of CrXG–soil composites has so far received limited attention. This study investigates the effects of fine contents and curing conditions on the time-dependent strength development and durability of CrXG-soil composites. CrXG-soil composites, ranging from poorly graded sand to clayey silty sand, are subjected to unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and durability tests under various curing conditions, including wet, submerged, and dry conditions. Microscopic structural changes are characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that the UCS of CrXG-soil composite increases nonlinearly, reaching up to 4.8 times the initial wet UCS after 28 days of curing, closely aligning with predictions from a hyperbolic model. Notably, CrXG-soil compositions with a clay-sand mixture (CSM) containing 15 % fine content (CSM15) demonstrated consistent strength parameters across all curing conditions in UCS tests. CSM15 also maintains a 90 % of durability index after eight dry-wet cycles and a dry UCS of 300 kPa after 130 days of atmospheric weathering. Microscopic-scale analysis confirms the stable agglomeration of CrXG-clay matrices between sand grains, with the peak wavelength of the major functional group remaining constant, even under multiple cycles. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of CrXG–soil composites, offering valuable insights into optimizing soil compositions and enhancing the technical feasibility of applying these composites as a sustainable surface protection strategy for earthen structures, such as levees and road slopes.

Phosphorus/boron-containing, flame-retardant polyurethane elastomers with great mechanical, shape-memory, and recycling performances

Based on sustainable development strategy and practical application requirement, it is crucial to develop high-strength, recyclable, and flame-retardant polyurethane (PU) elastomers. Hence, a flame-retardant, reprocessable, high-performance polyurethane elastomer (PU-DP 1–7) with dynamic boronic ester bonds and phosphorus-containing groups was well-designed and prepared. The chemical structure of PU-DP 1–7 was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). PU-DP 1–7 shows a transmittance of about 60 % at the wavelength of 900 nm, and phosphorus and boron elements are evenly distributed within its surface, confirming the formation of uniform cross-linking network. The inclusion of phosphorus-and boron-containing groups endows PU-DP 1–7 with a vertical combustion (UL-94) V-0 rating, indicative of desired flame retardancy. In addition, PU-DP 1–7 exhibits a tensile strength of 42.7 MPa and an elongation at break of 616.9 %, with high adhesion strengths towards various substrates due to abundant hydrogen bonds within its network. Furthermore, the dynamic borate ester bonds endow PU-DP 1–7 with superior physical recycling and shape-memory properties. After hot-pressing at 130 °C, the reformed PU-DP 1–7 film shows an 83.6 % recovery efficiency in terms of elongation at break. This work presents an integrated strategy to create flame-retardant, recyclable polyurethane elastomers with great mechanical and shape-memory performances by introducing phosphorus-containing segments and dynamic boronic ester bonds.

Decadal changes in microplastic accumulation in freshwater sediments: Evaluating influencing factors

Microplastics are small plastic particles with sizes ranging between 1 μm and 5 mm. Microplastics can originate from macro plastics and degrade to a smaller size or be produced directly by manufacturers. Few studies have examined microplastic contamination in freshwater sediment cores to estimate changes in microplastic contamination over time. We present the results of a study that examined sediment cores from four watersheds, Kiskiminetas River, Blacklick Creek, Raystown Lake, and Darby Creek, in Pennsylvania, USA to reveal the history of microplastic accumulation and factors that contribute to microplastic distribution. The abundance and morphology of microplastics varied over time and between these four locations. The highest microplastic abundance was found in Raystown Lake, ranging from 704 to 5397 particles kg−1 with fiber as the dominant microplastic type, while Darby Creek (0–3000 particles kg−1), Kiskiminetas River (0–448 particles kg−1), and Blacklick Creek (0–156 particles kg−1) had lower microplastic concentration. Moreover, Darby Creek had the most diverse microplastic morphology and a trend of decreasing concentration with depth. Although the Darby Creek watershed has the most developed area and highest population density, it did not have the highest microplastic concentration. Averaged over the four cores, microplastic abundance increased as global plastics production increased from the 1950s–2010s. Our findings provide insights into the fate and transport of microplastic contamination in freshwater environments, which is vital to establishing sustainable mitigation strategies.

Shotgun metagenomic analysis reveals the diversity of PHA producer bacterial community and PHA synthase gene in Addis Ababa municipal solid waste disposal area ‘Qoshe’

BackgroundPolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are naturally produced biopolymers with significant scientific and biotechnological potential. This study aimed to investigate the diversity of the PHA-producing bacterial community and PhaC genes in soil samples collected from a municipal solid waste disposal site known as “Qoshe” in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, using a shotgun metagenomics approach. The SqueezeMeta pipeline was used to analyze the microbial community in the waste samples. A CD search against the TIGRFAM protein family database was performed to identify the complete-length multidomain sequences of PhaC genes and classify them into their respective classes. Statistical analysis and data visualization were performed using RStudio with R version 4.2.3.ResultsThe findings of this study suggest that known and unknown taxa likely contribute to the phaC genes of municipal solid waste. Taxonomic profiling of the metagenomic data revealed that the majority of the PHA-producing taxa belonged to the phylum Proteobacteria (80%), followed by Actinomycetota (16.5%). Furthermore, this study identified Thiomonas and unclassified Mycobacterium as the main contributors to class I PhaC genes. Class II PhaC genes are predominantly associated with the Pseudomonadaceae family, followed by unclassified Hyphomicrobials and Acidimicrobiales. Class III PhaC genes are abundantly related to the Methylococcaceae family, specifically the Methylocaldum genus. The analysis of PhaC gene sequences revealed high level of diversity, with a significant proportion of putative PhaC genes exhibiting low sequence identity with each other and PhaC gene in the database. Notably, the sequence variation observed within the same PhaC gene classes suggests the potential presence of previously unidentified PhaC gene variants.ConclusionsOverall, this research improves our understanding of the diversity of PHA-producing taxa and PhaC genes in municipal solid waste environments, providing opportunities for sustainable PHA production and waste management strategies. However, additional studies, including the isolation and characterization of specific strains, are necessary to confirm the PHA production capabilities of these strains and explore their biotechnological potential.

Mixed methods evaluation of a low-carbohydrate high-fat nutrition education program for women from underserved communities in South Africa

South Africa faces a dual burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and communicable diseases, exacerbated by the high consumption of processed foods. The Eat Better South Africa (EBSA) program implements community-based low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) interventions to address these issues. This study evaluated the impact of EBSA’s 6-week program on the metabolic health and well-being of 32 women from underserved communities. It assessed outcomes before, immediately after, and six months post-intervention (n=21). Quantitative findings showed significant improvements in key health markers. After six months, participants experienced an average weight loss of 5.6 kg (+- 5.5), a BMI reduction of 2 kg/m2, and a waist circumference decrease of 6.6 cm. Blood pressure dropped by 10.7 mmHg on average, and fasting glucose levels decreased significantly. Reductions were also observed in triglycerides and HbA1c, indicating better glycemic control. Liver function markers (GGT, ALT) and inflammation markers (CRP) improved as well. Qualitative analysis highlighted several key themes: participants were motivated by a desire to improve their health and lose weight but faced challenges such as social pressures, community violence, and scepticism about the diet's affordability and sustainability. Despite these barriers, positive experiences like increased energy and better hunger control were reported. Participants expressed the need for ongoing support to maintain these changes, both from the program and from their community. These findings suggest that LCHF diets can effectively manage metabolic conditions, but long-term adherence is challenged by socio-economic factors. The study highlights the importance of community-based interventions and highlights the need for further research to develop sustainable health strategies in low-income settings.

Strategic dynamics of local governments in regional collaborative governance: An evolutionary game theory analysis of haze pollution response in the Fen-Wei Plain, China

Regional collaborative governance has become a key strategy for environmental protection, especially in reducing transboundary pollution transfer. This study, set against the backdrop of environmental governance in China's Fen-Wei Plain, employs evolutionary game theory to deeply analyze the strategic choices of local governments in managing haze pollution. We developed a model incorporating 14 key variables to systematically explore the emission reduction strategies of local governments under various policy environments. Through numerical simulations, we not only validate the effectiveness of the model but also focuses on how incentives and punishments from the central government influence the stability of local governments adopting a “strict enforcement” strategy. We find that appropriate incentives from the central government can significantly enhance the tendency of local governments to choose a “strict enforcement” strategy for emission reduction. Under certain conditions, whether adopting “strict enforcement” or “superficial enforcement,” both can lead to an Evolutionarily Stable Strategy (ESS). Moreover, the intensity of rewards and penalties from the central government and the benefits of collaborative governance by local governments are key factors determining the stability of strategies. Our findings underscore the importance of establishing performance-oriented incentive mechanisms, refining reward and punishment measures, and focusing on sustainable and adaptable governance strategies. The strategic recommendations provided by this study offer important guidance for balancing incentives and punishments, thereby stimulating local government enthusiasm for governance, which supports high-quality environmental protection and sustainable development goals.

Synthesis and insecticidal assessment of nitrogenous heterocycles derived from 2-pyridone derivative against Culex pipiens L. Larvae

This study reports the synthesis of a novel 1,6-diamino-4-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile (1) and its subsequent functionalization to yield a library of diverse heterocycles (2-10). The nucleophilicity of compound 1 was exploited to react with various electrophiles to afford a range of structurally enriched derivatives. The structures of all synthesized heterocycles were confirmed by elemental analysis and spectroscopic techniques as (FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and mass spectroscopy). Bioassays revealed significant larvicidal activity against mosquito larvae (Culex pipiens L.) for compounds 1-4, 6, 7 and 9. In silico docking studies suggest a potential mode of action through acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, potentially explaining the observed larvicidal effect. Additionally, interactions with other neuroreceptors were predicted. Finally, analyzing of the structure activity relationship (SAR) of the novel constructed heterocycles gives us a lot of interesting promising results for developing novel and sustainable mosquito control strategies.

Capillary rise quantification improves irrigation performance in pear orchards

The shallow water table in Río Negro and Neuquén valley causes a capillary rise (CR) that modifies the water content in soil profile. Therefore, irrigation performance is expected to be affected by the capillary water input into the root zone. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CR on surface irrigation performance during 2020-2021 growing season in a pear orchard. In a Bartlett pear orchard planted in 2003, three irrigation moments were evaluated, and irrigation sheets were calculated to obtain efficiency. Water table level (WTL) was measured monthly in an open aquifer piezometer. CR was calculated with the software UPFLOW. Soil water content was measured with a Frequency Domain Reflectometry (FDR) sensor at: 0.20 m, 0.40 m, and 0.60 m. Water use efficiency (WUE) and water productivity were calculated using pear crop yield and the irrigation sheets applied and the crop water demand, respectively. WTL was shallower in spring than in the rest of the season. The mean depth fluctuated between 0.70-1.20 m during spring, affecting irrigation performance. Data of FDR deepest sensor showed an increase of soil moisture due to CR. Capillary contribution negatively affects irrigation efficiency if it is not included in the water balance. Irrigation schedules can be re-arranged considering soil moisture and CR. In this way, the necessary water sheets could be applied in each crop development stage adjusted to water demand. Improving irrigation performance and WUE enables a sustainable water management strategy in pear production.

Boosting Tumor Apoptosis and Ferroptosis with Multienzyme Mimetic Au Single‐Atom Nanozymes Engaged in Cascade Catalysis

AbstractNanozyme‐based catalytic therapy has garnered much attention in cancer treatment for converting endogenous substrates into reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induce oxidative stress damage in tumors. However, the effectiveness of nanozymes is hindered by the limited availability of these endogenous substrates in the tumor microenvironment. To address this, a novel gold‐based single‐atom nanozyme (AuSAN), glucose oxidase (GOx, G), and lactate oxidase (LOx, L) are meticulously engineered into a highly ordered biomimetic composite nanozyme M/GLB@AuSAN, forming an interconnected cascade catalysis that catalyzes the carbon sources of tumor into ROS as a sustained antitumor strategy. The loaded GOx and LOx aerobically catalyze glucose and lactate to produce H2O2, which is then rapidly converted into ·OH, O2•−, and O2 by AuSAN. The generated O2 serves as a positive feedback substrate for further GOx‐ and LOx‐mediated aerobic catalysis, significantly amplifying cascade catalysis, and thereby enhancing ROS accumulation. The abundant intracellular ROS and scarce carbon sources effectively exacerbate protein phosphorylation, lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial damage, ultimately provoking tumor apoptosis and ferroptosis in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the integrated design of GOx/LOx/AuSAN provides a promising strategy to combine multiple enzymatic activities, deplete carbon sources, and enhance ROS production, resulting in the suppression of melanoma progression.

Microbial diversity and biogeography across gastrointestinal tracts of Takifugu pufferfish revealed by full-length 16S amplicon sequencing

Fish, which are vital for both aquatic ecosystem functionality and global food supply, rely heavily on their gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota for the digestion that underpins their growth and health. Takifugu pufferfish, which are an example of species evolved through adaptive radiation, possess a GIT that is specialized for antipredator defense and gluttonous feeding behaviors, offering a unique model to explore the effects of GIT compartmentalization and host genetics on gut microbial communities. Here we compiled 78 full and partial-length 16S rRNA amplicon datasets across three anteroposteriorly distinct intestinal sites in a cohort of cohabitating artificial hybrid and purebred Takifugu pufferfishes. Our findings reveal a compositional and functional biogeography of pufferfish gut microbiota along the GIT and between host genetics. Additionally, the differential abundance of specific amplicon sequence variants and their correlation with host genetic backgrounds and intestinal sections highlight the role of environmental filtering in shaping microbial communities, with certain bacterial taxa exhibiting strong preferences for particular intestinal sites or genetic backgrounds, suggesting potential localized adaptation or functional specialization. This study enhances our understanding of the intricate interplay between host genetics, gut anatomy, and microbiota in fish, underscoring the importance of detailed microbial profiling in conservation efforts and aquaculture practices, and emphasizing the necessity of integrating full-length 16S rRNA sequencing with partial-length datasets to comprehensively understand microbial diversity and function, paving the way for improved fish health management and sustainable aquaculture strategies.

Pseudomonas produce various metabolites displaying herbicide activity against broomrape

Pseudomonads are well-known for their plant growth-promoting properties and biocontrol capabilities against microbial pathogens. Recently, their potential to protect crops from parasitic plants has garnered attention. This study investigates the potential of different Pseudomonas strains to inhibit broomrape growth and to protect host plants against weed infestation.Four Pseudomonas strains, two P. fluorescens JV391D17 and JV391D10, one P. chlororaphis JV395B and one P. ogarae F113 were cultivated using various carbon sources, including fructose, pyruvate, fumarate, and malate, to enhance the diversity of potential Orobanche growth inhibition (OGI)-specialized metabolites produced by Pseudomonas strains. Both global and targeted metabolomic approaches were utilized to identify specific OGI metabolites.Both carbon sources and Pseudomonas genetic diversity significantly influenced the production of OGI metabolites. P. chlororaphis JV395B and P. ogarae F113 produced unique OGI metabolites belonging to different chemical families, such as hydroxyphenazines and phloroglucinol compounds, respectively. Additionally, metabolomic analyses identified an unannotated potential OGI ion, M375T65. This ion was produced by all Pseudomonas strains but was found to be over-accumulated in JV395B, which likely explains its superior OGI activity. Then, greenhouse experiments were performed to evaluate the biocontrol efficacy of selected strains: they showed the efficacy of these strains, particularly JV395B, in reducing broomrape infestation in rapeseed.These findings suggest that certain Pseudomonas strains, through their metabolite production, can offer a sustainable biocontrol strategy against parasitic plants. This biocontrol activity can be optimized by environmental factors, such as carbon amendments. Ultimately, this approach presents a promising alternative to chemical herbicides.