Biorefining of rice husks into sustainable nanoparticles for reinforced polyvinyl alcohol composites

This study evaluated the immobilization of an invertase from Bacillus tequilensis, isolated from the fruit of the peach palm, on silica gel (SG) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), aiming at its application in sucrose hydrolysis for invert sugar production. Immobilization was performed at 30 °C and pH 5.5 using glutaraldehyde-functionalized supports. Immobilization yield (IY), recovered activity (RA), kinetic parameters, and pH, thermal, storage, and operational stabilities were evaluated. IY values reached 72% (SG) and 77% (PHB), with RA of 35% and 67%, respectively. Both immobilized derivatives exhibited improved storage stability compared to the soluble enzyme. The SG-immobilized invertase demonstrated enhanced thermostability and higher fructose production and retained over 50% of its activity after three reuse cycles. In contrast, the PHB derivative showed greater substrate affinity. These results demonstrate that the B. tequilensis invertase immobilized on SG is a promising and stable biocatalyst derived from the Amazonian biodiversity, suitable for sustainable invert sugar production.

In December 2022, Singapore implemented mandatory Nutri-Grade front-of-pack labels for beverages. Using household scanner data (April 2019-March 2024), we evaluated changes in sugar purchases and product formulation. Households reduced sugar purchases by 3.1 grams per day (-18%), and purchases of unhealthy beverages fell 44%. Reformulation and reassortment lowered sugar content by 1.16 grams per 100 milliliters (-21%) but increased sweetener and lactose use. Higher-income and nutritionally literate households showed larger reductions. Findings support mandatory labeling but highlight equity concerns and supplier substitution risks. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print May 14, 2026:e1-e5. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308476).

Sugar crops, including but not limited to sugarcane, sugar beet, sweet sorghum and stevia, are major sources of sugar production in the world. However, conventional breeding approaches, limited by long breeding cycles, low efficiency and restricted capacity to improve complex traits in sugar crops, are increasingly insufficient to address the challenges posed by climate change and the demands of sustainable agriculture. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in biotechnology and molecular breeding that have transformed sugar crop improvement. Recently, high-throughput sequencing technologies have generated extensive multi-omics resources. Concurrently, numerous functional genes and genetic elements with substantial breeding potential have been identified and cloned, offering precise targets for the key agronomic traits in sugar crops. Marker-assisted selection has been successfully implemented to enhance disease resistance, while genomic selection has demonstrated well for the evaluation and selection of complex quantitative traits. Importantly, genetic transformation systems have enabled precise manipulation of target genes and facilitated the creation of novel germplasm. In the future, the integration of multi-omics data, artificial intelligence, high-throughput phenotyping and precision genome editing into an intelligent breeding framework will be essential for achieving breeding by design and developing climate-adaptive and smart cultivars. Ultimately, these technological innovations will expand the role of sugar crops beyond traditional sugar production, positioning them as a central platform for sustainable biomanufacturing and providing critical support for global sugar security, energy transition and the development of the bioeconomy.

The His-ELP-intein tag, containing His-tag, intein, and elastin-like polypeptide (ELP), and the ELP-intein tag, containing intein and ELP, were designed to fuse with bifunctional xylanase/feruloyl esterase XynII-Fae to generate recombinant proteins His-ELP-intein-XynII-Fae and ELP-intein-XynII-Fae, respectively. XynII-Fae was purified via nonchromatographic strategies and covalently cross-linked onto the surface of Bacillus subtilis 168 trpC2 spores, yielding Sp-G-XynII-Fae. Compared with the free enzyme, Sp-G-XynII-Fae exhibited enhanced stability and catalytic performance. Additionally, Sp-G-XynII-Fae showed remarkable reusability and storage stability. It maintained 67%-73% of its initial activity after 10 reuse cycles and retained approximately 60% residual activity after storage at 4 °C for 35 days. Furthermore, Sp-G-XynII-Fae showed outstanding catalytic activity in the hydrolysis of delignified corn stover, wheat straw, and sugarcane bagasse, effectively releasing ferulic acid and reducing sugars. These results highlight the great potential of Sp-G-XynII-Fae for applications in agriculture, food technology, biosciences, and related industries.

Chloroplast genome analyses provide critical insights into plant genetic diversity, evolution, and responses to abiotic stress. In Beta vulgaris L., a major crop contributing approximately 20% of global sugar production, breeding efforts have focused on improving root and sugar yield, including the introgression of traits from wild relatives such as Beta maritima for resistance to Rhizomania, Cercospora leaf spot, and nematodes. Haploid and doubled haploid technologies have further accelerated the development of homozygous lines for hybrid seed production. In this study, chloroplast genomes from ten cultivated and wild Beta genotypes were analyzed to elucidate their structural and functional features. All genomes displayed a typical quadripartite structure with conserved gene content and organization, encoding 113 unique genes related to photosynthesis, ribosomal RNA, and tRNA. Comparative analyses revealed conserved codon usage and identified polymorphisms, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and simple sequence repeats (SSRs), which serve as valuable genetic markers. SSR analysis detected 44-53 loci per genome, predominantly mononucleotide A/T repeats, while SNP analysis identified 333A/G transitions and 306-309C/T transitions across Beta species. Promoter analysis of photosystem genes further revealed a conserved regulatory architecture characterized by plastid-encoded RNA polymerase (PEP) - 10/-35 motifs and nuclear-encoded RNA polymerase (NEP) YRTA-type elements (TATA, TGTA, and CATA). Despite overall conservation, minor SNPs, particularly in B. corolliflora, were observed within promoter regions, indicating subtle regulatory variation. The coexistence of conserved PEP and NEP elements with limited polymorphism suggests a finely tuned transcriptional system that supports stable photosynthetic gene expression while allowing adaptive responses to environmental stress.

The global food system is undergoing a profound transformation, with significant implications for human health and environmental sustainability. Systematic analysis of dietary evolution and its environmental effects is essential for sustainable food system development. Existing research, however, typically emphasized short-term dynamics or isolated environmental factors, neglecting a thorough analysis of the long-term, multidimensional effects of dietary transformation on water, land, and carbon resources. This study constructed a long-term dataset from 1987 to 2023 on the evolution of dietary patterns in China and their associated environmental effects, based on data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China. The dataset established a framework that links diet to water use, land requirement, and carbon emissions. It covers nine food categories: cereals, vegetables, fruits, oilseeds, sugar, eggs, milk, meat, and aquatic products. The dataset comprised long-term time series, multidimensional characteristics, and granularity, providing essential data to support the development of sustainable dietary transition strategies tailored to China's national conditions and to optimize regional resource allocation.

The sugar industry faces significant challenges in achieving high purity and maximizing yield during production, particularly in the crucial clarification stage. Effective clarifying agents are essential for this process. Activated carbon has emerged as a highly suitable adsorbent for removing impurities from sugarcane juice, due to its strong adsorption capacity. This study focuses on preparing nano activated carbon (NAC) derived from mixed fruit peels for clarifying sugarcane juice. Using Design-Expert software, we optimized the experimental parameters for NAC production, determining the optimal conditions: carbonization at 410 °C for 100 min with an acid impregnation ratio of 1. Under these conditions, the resulting NAC achieved a yield of 74.86%, a fixed carbon content of 89.25 ± 0.38%, and a specific surface area of 650.87 ± 0.26 m2 g-1. Characterization by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the NAC had an average particle size of 24.46 nm, with a predominant particle size distribution between 20 and 30 nm. The optimization of NAC for cane juice clarification yielded impressive results under optimal conditions: a NAC dose of 0.01%, pH of 4, temperature of 90 °C, duration of 20 min, and agitation speed of 100 rpm, resulting in a turbidity reduction to 1760.6 NTU, a settling rate of 0.09 cm min-1, a mud volume of 6.66 mL per 100 mL, and a color removal efficiency of 97.4%. Additionally, we examined the physicochemical properties of the NAC, the juice posttreatment, and the final sugar product. The findings demonstrate that NAC synthesized from mixed fruit peels exhibits a high carbon yield and a high specific surface area, highlighting its potential as an effective biosorption material. The synthesized NAC demonstrated excellent clarification efficiency, making it an advantageous clarifying agent for sugarcane juice processing and sulfur-free sugar production. This research has significant implications for waste management, particularly in reducing landfill pollution, while also contributing to the development of value-added products that enhance bioresource management.

DNAzyme-protease cascade amplified triple-modal biosensing platform with machine learning integration for specific monitoring of plant pathogens.

IntroductionThe African sugarcane stalk borer (Eldana saccharina) is a major insect pest of sugarcane in Sub-Saharan Africa. Because its larvae reside inside sugarcane stalks, conventional measures are less effective. Poorly managed infestations can reduce sugar production by up to 18% from damage caused by a single larva. Limited knowledge on the genetic diversity and population structure of E. saccharina, has curtailed insights into developing breeding-based pest management strategies including host resistance.MethodSamples of Eldana saccharina were collected from three altitude-defined agroecological zones in Tanzania. A mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) region was amplified, sequenced, and analyzed to assess genetic diversity, population structure, and phylogenetic relationships among populations.ResultsTwelve unique haplotypes were identified. Observed haplotype diversity was high in the high altitude (Hd=0.64) and medium (Hd=1.00) populations, and moderate in the low-altitude populations (Hd=0.57), although these estimates should be interpreted cautiously due to the small sample size used. Overall genetic differentiation across populations was significant (χ² = 38, P = 0.017). Pairwise comparison showed significant differentiation between high and low altitude populations (FST = 0.35, P = 0.004) and between medium and low altitude populations (FST = 0.21, P = 0.01), whereas differentiation between high and medium altitude populations was low and not significant (FST = 0.1, P = 0.12) A significant positive Tajima’s D value in the low-altitude (2.5, P = 0.01), may indicate possible population contraction or selection, although this inference is provisional due to limited sample size. The presence of geographically structured and zone-specific haplotypes was observed, suggesting preliminary altitude-associated genetic differentiations.DiscussionE. saccharina populations in Tanzania showed substantial mitochondrial genetic diversity and altitude-associated population structure. These findings suggest preliminary basis for considering population variation in the design of locally relevant monitoring, host-resistance breeding, and other targeted pest management strategies.

Systematic identification and functional insights into IGT family members involved in leaf angle regulation and abiotic stress response in sugarcane.

Sugar demand is rising with population growth, and although sugar production increased from 2018 to 2022, it has not met national demand. To boost national sugar production, proper fertilizer management is crucial. By calculating and applying compound fertilizer formulations tailored to the specific needs of sugarcane, fertilization efficiency, productivity, and sugar yield can be enhanced. This research aimed to evaluate the performance of morphological characteristics of ratoon sugarcane in response to NPK nutrient management using specific fertilizer formulations. The field study was conducted in Sleman, Special Region of Yogyakarta, from September 2023 to December 2024. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three treatments, consisting of NPKSZn (15-15-15-9-0.2) at 400 kg ha⁻¹ + ZA (21N-24S) at 600 kg ha⁻¹ (control); NPKS (14-9-18-4) at 1000 kg ha⁻¹ (Formulation 1); and NPK (23-7-14) at 1000 kg ha⁻¹ (Formulation 2), and four blocks as replications. The collected data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at a 5% significance level, followed by the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at α = 5% to determine the most effective fertilizer formulation. The results showed that the application of these fertilizer formulations significantly affected stalk diameter, millable cane yield and brix content. These findings highlight the importance of synchronized vegetative phase fertilization to optimize ratoon cane growth and support sustainable sugarcane production in Inceptisol soils.

Lignocellulosic sugar production relies on pretreatments that improve enzymatic digestibility without excessive loss of recoverable solids and carbohydrates. This study benchmarks autohydrolysis, dilute-acid (H2SO4), and alkaline (NaOH) pretreatments of kenaf core and introduces a retention-aware interpretation framework based on two complementary composition descriptors for cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin: a relative composition ratio (R) that captures enrichment/depletion in the recovered solid and an absolute retention index (AR) that incorporates solid recovery to quantify true feedstock-basis retention. Glucose release was evaluated using paired yield bases (recovered-solid and raw-feedstock) together with solid yield and cellulose conversion to decouple digestibility from composition-driven enrichment effects. Across routes, recovered-solid-basis glucose yield reached 38.8% (autohydrolysis) and 37.6% (dilute acid) at moderate solid yields, whereas alkaline pretreatment combined higher recovery (up to 72.4%) with moderate-to-high digestibility (13.6-37.6%). Raw-feedstock-basis glucose yield ranged from 1.20-23.30% (autohydrolysis), 1.30-19.70% (dilute acid), and 8.70-18.00% (alkaline), showing that mass loss can offset apparent gains in digestibility. Route-resolved LOESS trends and quadratic response surfaces identify hemicellulose depletion as the most consistent predictor of glucose release, while lignin enrichment is not transferable across chemistries; AR-based lignin retention becomes a graded separator primarily under alkaline conditions. The results support routine paired reporting of R/AR metrics with solid yield, yield basis, and cellulose conversion for defensible cross-route comparison.

This study investigates the performance enhancement of a sugarcane bagasse-fired steam power plant at the Metehara Sugar Factory in Ethiopia by integrating flue-gas-assisted biomass drying. The primary objective is to evaluate how reducing the high as-received moisture content (~ 46%) of bagasse improves fuel quality and overall plant performance. A thermodynamic model of the existing simple Rankine cycle was developed using Engineering Equation Solver (EES) with IAPWS-IF97 water-steam properties. The model was applied to assess plant performance under two operating conditions: a base case using as-received bagasse and an upgraded case incorporating flue gas-assisted drying. Key operating parameters, including turbine inlet pressure (2MPa) and condenser pressure (95kPa), were maintained constant, while turbine inlet temperature varied based on combustion conditions. In the base case, the plant generates 9.03MW of net power with a thermal efficiency of 22.56%. With the integration of flue gas-assisted drying, the reduction in moisture content increases the lower heating value and combustion temperature, leading to improved steam conditions. As a result, net power output increases to 16.61MW, and thermal efficiency improves to 27.35%, representing an efficiency gain of 4.8 percentage points without additional fuel input. The results demonstrate that utilizing waste heat from boiler exhaust gases for biomass drying significantly enhances energy recovery and power generation capacity. This approach provides a practical and low-cost solution for improving the performance of biomass-fired power plants and supports more efficient utilization of available energy resources in the sugar industry.

Seaweed bioactive extraction generates de-extracted residual solids that remain carbohydrate-rich but are often underutilized. This study developed an integrated valorization route for Gracilaria fisheri spent biomass to produce fermentable sugars for β-carotene production by Rhodotorula paludigena CM33. Reducing sugar production was optimized using response surface methodology (Box–Behnken design) by varying reaction time, sulfuric acid concentration, and biomass loading at 90 °C. The predicted optimum (47.39 min, 2.50% (w/v) H2SO4, and 7.13% (w/v) biomass) yielded 22.41 g/L reducing sugars and was validated experimentally at 22.22 ± 0.19 g/L, indicating that the model reliably predicted reducing sugar production. The optimized condition was scaled up in a 22 L bioreactor with sequential acid hydrolysis followed by enzyme-assisted hydrolysis, increasing reducing sugars from ~30 to ~40 g/L. FTIR and SEM analyses indicated progressive modification of the carbohydrate matrix across processing stages. Batch cultivation of R. paludigena on the hydrolysate showed that ammonium sulfate supplementation significantly increased biomass, whereas β-carotene titers were not significantly different. Repeated-batch operation on non-supplemented hydrolysate sustained production over four cycles with β-carotene titers of 13.75–17.27 mg/L, demonstrating the operational feasibility of the hydrolysate-based system. Overall, this work demonstrates a practical seaweed biorefinery approach to upgrade G. fisheri spent biomass into sugars and carotenoid-rich yeast biomass.

The sugar industry generates large volumes of filter cake, whose inadequate disposal causes significant environmental impacts, especially through greenhouse gas emissions. However, this by-product has a high content of essential nutrients and considerable energy potential that has not yet been fully utilized, due to technical limitations and the limited implementation of valorization technologies. This literature review analyzed the production, management, and sustainable utilization alternatives for filter cake based on the examination of 39 specialized scientific sources. The information was collected through a systematic and analytical review of literature indexed in international databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, SciELO, and Web of Science. Publications from 2020 to 2025 were prioritized. The studies addressed physicochemical properties, agronomic applications, and valorization strategies, such as composting, biofertilizers, and energy recovery, providing a basis for sustainable management.

Cadmium (Cd), being a heavy metal, causes myriad clinical problems if exposed to the environment through food or drinking water or through inhalation. The river Churni of West Bengal is highly contaminated with heavy metals, particularly Cd, due to the disposal of waste materials from paint, sugar, and textile industries. People residing in the catchment area of the river are using the river water for drinking, cooking, and household work, and, therefore, are exposed to high levels of Cd throughout the years. Evaluation of biomarkers in chronic Cd-induced health hazards. A total of 105 study participants were recruited to evaluate chronic Cd-exposure-induced biomarkers. Among them, 50 were from the Cd-exposed population, and 55 were from the unexposed control. Cadmium concentration was measured by Graphite Furnace AAS in drinking and cooking water samples, and the biological samples (blood, urine) collected from every participant. The extent of oxidative DNA damage, protein carbonylation, plasma nitrate, and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was measured in people and found to be significantly higher in the Cd-exposed population in comparison to the unexposed control. Expression of the metallothionein (MT) gene and protein has also been studied in both populations, with significantly higher MT gene expression observed in the Cd-exposed population. Evaluation of cell death using the comet assay and acridine orange/propidium iodide staining revealed significantly higher comet tail moment and apoptosis in isolated lymphocytes from exposed participants. Thus, it can be concluded that Cd exposure is associated with oxidative damage and health risk. Cadmium-induced oxidative damage and MT gene expression in the exposed population can serve as a biomarker. This cross-sectional study demonstrates that Cd-induced oxidative damage and MT gene expression can serve as biomarkers in a chronically exposed population. In the future, protein carbonylation, oxidative DNA damage, and MT gene expression may serve as biomarkers of Cd exposure-induced health hazards for diagnostic purposes. Graphical abstract showing the effects of Cd on the human body by food chain contamination.

Integrated waste management through vermicomposting combined with biochar amendments represents an innovative approach for sustainable resource recovery. This study evaluated the effects of sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBB) at 0%, 5%, and 10% application rates on Eisenia fetida performance and vermicompost quality during preincubation-vermicomposting of sewage sludge and press-mud mixtures. The 10% SBB treatment significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced earthworm biomass (72.3% increase) and cocoon production (24.8 ± 1.8 per earthworm vs. 12.3 ± 1.2 in control). Lignocellulosic degradation improved substantially, achieving 22.6%, 10.7%, and 38.8% degradation for cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, respectively. Macronutrient concentrations increased significantly: TN by 38.4%, TP by 15%, and TK by 21.4% compared to initial mixtures. Moreover, total heavy metal concentrations decreased significantly during vermicomposting, with reductions of 8.1-8.7% for Pb, 5.3-7.6% for Cd, and 3.0-4.8% for Cr, with reduced bioavailability factors indicating enhanced metal stabilization. The final vermicompost exhibited optimal maturity indices, including a C:N ratio of 15.4 ± 0.2 and improved electrical conductivity. Results demonstrate that 10% sugarcane bagasse biochar amendment facilitates efficient concurrent management of sewage sludge and sugarcane industrial wastes while producing high-quality organic fertilizer with enhanced nutrient content, reduced heavy metal bioavailability, and accelerated stabilization for sustainable agricultural/horticultural applications.

Background: Sugarcane is a vital sugar and bio-energy crop with rich in genetic diversity and holds immense potential for agricultural advancements. Leveraging this diversity, sugarcane breeding focuses on enhancing yield and sucrose quality, ensuring improved productivity and sustainability for both the sugar and bio-energy industries. Methods: The experimental material consists of thirty sugarcane genotypes which were evaluated to assess genetic variability based on seventeen morphological and quality traits. The study was conducted using a randomized block design with three replications at the research farm of the Regional Research Station, Kaul, Kaithal, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, during the spring season of 2022-2023. Result: The analysis of variance showed that the mean sum of squares due to genotypes was highly significant for all the characters studied, indicating adequate genetic variability in all thirty genotypes. Higher estimates of PCV than the corresponding GCV reveal that the environment has a minor influence on several traits. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as a percent of the mean was observed for CCS (t/ha), cane yield, number of tillers at 120 DAP, number of shoots at 240 DAP and single cane weight. This underscores the importance of additive gene action, suggesting that selection for these characters would be effective for future breeding programs to improve yield and quality traits in sugarcane.

Abstract This article explores the interplay between business elites and the Argentine state in shaping social policy from the late nineteenth century until 1943, focusing on the sugar industry in Jujuy. It asks why sugar industrialists introduced welfare measures in their mills during the 1930s and what social conditions shaped their choices. We argue that limited assistance initiatives, introduced following the Great Depression, allowed mill owners to justify tariff protection while reinforcing their dominance over workers and curbing union influence. These measures, rooted in the sugar elites’ control of provincial politics and sustained intervention in the state apparatus, exemplify early forms of private–public cooperation in welfare provision. By tracing the evolution of state–business interaction in social provision, the article demonstrates how local industries shaped welfare regimes before the rise of Peronism, offering new insights into the diversity of policy responses and social realities in Argentina and Latin America.