Lignin represents a promising and sustainable feedstock for the production of high-value products. However, its heterogeneity and recalcitrance pose a big challenge for efficient depolymerization and upcycling. This review highlights recent advances in microbial lignin valorization, focusing on three key steps: lignin depolymerization, metabolism of lignin-derived aromatic compounds, and valorization to target products. Recent progress in lignin depolymerization is enabling the discovery and optimization of more efficient and broadly specific ligninolytic enzymes, and highlights the critical role of auxiliary enzymes and quinone redox cycling in supporting ligninolytic activity. New catabolic mechanisms, transport systems, and transcriptional regulation networks for both dimeric and monomeric lignin-derived substrates expand our understanding of biological funneling pathways, and they offer valuable tools for designing more efficient microbial biocatalysts and biosensors. Emerging metabolic engineering and adaptive laboratory evolution strategies for creating robust microbial chassis capable of producing diverse value-added products from lignin-derived feedstocks are discussed.

Comparative ecotoxicity of a reduced graphene-polypropylene nanocomposite and its components to the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber (Crustacea).

Utilization of Paragonix LIVERguard® donor organ transport system for static hypothermic preservation of a multivisceral allograft

Pyrite addition drives sulfur cycling for efficient sulfamethoxazole removal and detoxification in sulfur-based constructed wetlands.

Design analysis of neutron source based on low energy cyclotron used for small-scale accelerator-driven system.

Personalised incentives for demand management of congested public transport systems: A reverse-engineering approach and application

ABSTRACT Climate change is a ‘super wicked problem’ intricately linked to social inequality, with the most marginalised populations both contributing least to emissions and bearing the brunt of climate impacts. While these groups arguably have the most to gain from climate action, many climate policies risk exacerbating inequality, particularly when they place a disproportionate burden on low-income communities. This paper explores the tension between climate mitigation and social equity, with a particular focus on sustainable transport. Drawing on qualitative case study data from a pan-European project that examined the impact of car-reduction policies on socioeconomically disadvantaged urban neighbourhoods, the analysis focuses on a policy aimed at improving the public transport system in a Swedish city. Despite focusing on a seemingly equitable ‘pull’ measure, significant citizen resistance emerged. Through interviews with residents and policymakers, this paper examines how perceptions of justice shaped perceptions of the policy. Applying a mobility justice perspective to the findings reveals a disconnect between policymakers’ assumptions and residents’ lived experiences – highlighting the importance of procedural justice and meaningful public participation and underscoring the complexities of designing climate policies that are both environmentally effective and socially just.

Arsenate [As(V)] is a highly toxic metalloid widely present in the environment. This review compiles present overview of As(V) effects on plants and possible mitigation strategies encompassing recent literature. Arsenate [As(V)] is a highly toxic metalloid widely present in the environment. It significantly reduces plant yield and is detrimental to human health. Due to its chemical similarity to phosphate, As(V) is readily taken up by plants through the phosphate transport system. Studies have shown that As(V) toxicity affects plants at various levels, from molecular to whole-plant scale. Though the interaction of As(V) with plant metabolism has been compiled in earlier studies a decade ago, a recent and focused synthesis of literature devoted specifically to arsenate As(V) interaction with plants and its impacts has still not been compiled. This review, therefore, presents an up-to-date overview of As(V) effects on plants and possible mitigation strategies encompassing recent literature. From studies, it is clear that As(V) stress involves a complex signaling network comprising intrinsically interconnected systems such as transporters, genes, antioxidants, phytohormones, gasotransmitters, etc. that regulate As(V) tolerance and plant productivity. Therefore, these components represent promising targets for engineering As(V)-resistant crop plants with higher productivity and minimal arsenic accumulation in edible parts of vegetables, fruits, and cereals. Further, a deeper understanding of these processes will be fundamental for stabilizing plant productivity, ensuring food safety, and reducing environmental arsenic contamination effectively.

Background. The renal glucose threshold (RGT) is traditionally regarded as a passive consequence of sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (SGLT2) saturation in the proximal tubules of the nephron. However, this explanation addresses only the molecular mechanism, leaving unanswered the fundamental physiological question: why did evolution set this threshold precisely at 8–10 mmol/L? We propose that the answer lies not in the limitations of transport systems, but in the active protection of osmotic homeostasis and cellular hydration. Objective. To propose a new conceptual model of the RGT based on the priority of protecting cellular hydration over preserving glucose as an energy substrate, and to demonstrate the pathophysiological relationship between glycaemic regulation and water-electrolyte metabolism in diabetes mellitus. Methods. A narrative review of current literature on renal physiology, osmoregulation, molecular biology of glucose transporters, and clinical diabetology was conducted. The search was performed in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Results. The RGT (8–10 mmol/L) mathematically corresponds to the upper limit of normal plasma osmolality (295 mOsm/kg). Glucosuria is a physiologically programmed protective mechanism that prevents critical hyperosmolality and protects cells from osmotic stress. In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the adaptive increase in maximum tubular glucose reabsorption (Tm_G) and RGT is a pathological phenomenon contributing to chronic hyperglycaemia and cellular dehydration. SGLT2 inhibitors restore the physiological threshold and the protective mechanism of glucosuria. Studies of the osmoregulatory function of the kidneys during the development of experimental diabetes mellitus confirm impairment of urinary osmotic concentration already at the early stages of the disease (Olenovych et al., 2020; Olenovych & Zukow, 2022; Olenovych et al., 2025). Conclusions. The RGT is an evolutionarily formed mechanism for the protection of cellular hydration. Understanding this principle opens new perspectives for interpreting the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus and the mechanisms of action of modern glucose-lowering drugs

Cronobacter sakazakii is a major pathogen that contaminates infant milk powder, which usually attaches to abiotic surfaces in the form of biofilms and causes diseases. However, few in-depth studies have been conducted on the properties of biofilms formed on different abiotic surfaces. Therefore, this study explored the characteristics of biofilm formation by C. sakazakii on commonly used food contact surfaces, including stainless steel (SS), glass (GS), poly(phenylene sulfone) resin (PPSU), and soft silicone (SSI), with a focus on the biofilm formation ability and the biofilms' functional, structural, and compositional properties. Correlation analysis was used to confirm the leading factors affecting C. sakazakii biofilm formation, including surface hardness and stiffness, cell length, and extracellular nucleic acid content. Finally, proteomic analysis revealed menaquinone biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, SOS response, and transport systems as being crucial for C. sakazakii biofilm formation. This study provides valuable insights for a deeper understanding of the bacterium's biofilm formation.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common type of lung cancer and seriously threatens the lives of many people worldwide. The difficulty in early diagnosis of lung cancer has always been a difficulty in lung cancer treatment, and basic leucine zipper nuclear factor 1 (BLZF1) has been shown to promote the occurrence and development of various cancers. This study used 505 LUAD patients in TCGA (TCGA dataset) and 60 LUAD patients in Yunnan Cancer Hospital (Clinical dataset) as research subjects to explore the role of BLZF1 in LUAD. The study found that the expression levels of mRNA and protein of the BLZF1 gene in cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in para-cancer tissues in the TCGA dataset and clinical dataset (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis found that the AUC value of BLZF1 was 0.759 (95% CI = 0.7049-0.8140, P < 0.0001) in the TCGA dataset, and the AUC value was 0.9985 (95% CI = 0.9954-1.0000, P < 0.0001) in the clinical dataset. Moreover, the BLZF1 gene expression level in the two data sets was significantly correlated with the patient's T stage, and survival analysis showed that high BLZF1 gene expression levels were associated with decreased recurrence-free survival (RFS) (HR = 1.510, 95% Cl = 1.095-2.083, P = 0.012) and overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.472, 95% Cl = 1.099-1.973, P = 0.010). Protein-protein interaction (PPI) and enrichment analysis showed that the BLZF1 gene was closely associated with biological processes such as Golgi function, vesicle transport and cell membrane system maintenance. The expression correlation of BLZF1 with glycolysis-related genes indicated that BLZF1 may play a role in LUAD by participating in the sugar metabolism pathway. In addition, this study downregulated the expression of BLZF1 by small interfering RNA (si-BLZF1), and downregulation of BLZF1 expression significantly inhibited the proliferation, cloning, migration and invasion of LUAD cells. Therefore, BLZF1 may be involved in the occurrence and development of lung adenocarcinoma, which can be a potential diagnostic biomarker in clinical practice.

In-and-out signals for the root vascular tissue development.

Sponges are the only metazoans capable of making silica skeletons through incorporation of silicic acid (dSi) from seawater, which is polymerized using silicifying proteins. Uptake involves functional cooperation between aquaglyceroporin channels (gAQP) and arsenite efflux pumps (ArsB), a dSi transport system that, surprisingly, also functions in plants. Compared to plants, the silicon selectivity filter of sponge gAQPs is shown here to have replaced hydrophilic residues with hydrophobic ones, reducing water permeation during silicon transport. Phylogenetic analyses of 201 gAQP and 161 ArsB sequences reveal that these transporters, having prokaryotic origins, were already present in ancestral sponges, preceding the emergence of silicifying proteins and fossilized silica skeletons. Through Hexactinellida diversification, the functional interdependence of gAQP and ArsB transporters shaped a remarkable coevolution via synchronized gene duplications. This coevolution was disrupted in Demospongiae, because Heteroscleromorpha demosponges acquired, via horizontal gene transfer, a microbial gAQP that partially displaced ancestral gAQPs. This acquisition and that of an autapomorphic silicifying protein (silicatein) coincided with an exceptional diversification in Heteroscleromorpha. In contrast, sponge lineages that never developed silicifying proteins (Keratosa, Verongimorpha, Calcarea) or acquired them post-Cambrian (Homoscleromorpha, Chondrilla) lost gAQP genes while retaining ArsB homologs, implying selection against a passive dSi influx for sponges lacking dSi polymerization machinery. Thus, the ability to precipitate dSi—ie forming skeleton—likely arose as an adaptive response in early askeletal sponges to the damaging, high dSi concentrations of Precambrian oceans. The evolutionary history of dSi transporters and the fossil record support that such adaptation evolved independently four times within Porifera.

This study examined the impact of Fuel Subsidy Removal and Exchange Rate Unification on Academic Productivity in Northwest Geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The conducted in selected Federal Universities and Polytechnics in the states of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano and Sokoto States administered questionnaire on a sample of 368 academics. Both ANOVA and independent sample-test were employed to test the impact of fuel subsidy removal in sample productivity, productivity declines and resilience to the effects of the policy. The findings revealed that research and publication activities are notably affected by the policy changes where articles in lead journals (mean = 2.93) and conference paper publications (mean = 2.63) show decline, reflecting the rising costs of publication fees, conference registration, and international travel. Additionally, on-going research activities recorded a lower mean of 2.33, indicating that many research projects may be delayed or abandoned. Furthermore, purchase of research materials, chemicals, and reagents recorded a high mean of 3.07, indicating strong agreement that increased costs have hindered such activities. This is as community service activities recorded a mean of 2.77, suggesting that academics’ engagement beyond the campus has declined due to financial and mobility constraints. The study therefore, recommends among other things that, Federal Government employ targeted Transportation and Energy Support for Academics through the introduction of subsidized staff transport systems to mitigate the mobility challenges of fuel subsidy removal. While, management in tertiary institution in the area of study should, prioritized investment in alternative and renewable energy sources on campuses to reduce dependence on costly generators. Keywords: Academics, Productivity, Fuel Subsidy Removal

The transition to electric buses involves a shift in public transport systems, requiring changes to the role of public transport authorities (PTAs). This study analyses how PTAs' role as planners and procurers of public transport is impacted by electrification, employing a sustainability transition perspective. Through thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 25 interviewees involved in eight public procurements, both qualitative and quantitative changes were identified. The findings show that the organisational model influences how electrification changes the role and responsibilities of PTAs, as new technology alters established procurement logics and the reinterpretation of procurement principles. Additionally, this transition necessitates changes in long-term strategic planning, including adjustments in ownership structures and the distribution of responsibilities. The emergence and assessment of new questions and phenomena, for example, regarding battery production and sustainability, further change the role of the PTA. The rapid pace of this technological change challenges PTAs' ability to proactively manage developments, creating a dynamic where PTAs both take on new responsibilities and react to market changes. This study highlights the emerging tensions between PTAs' procurement principles and long-term planning objectives, calling attention to the need for a balanced approach to manage their evolving assignments effectively in the face of new technology.

Estuaries supply a critical habitat to many ecologically and commercially valuable fish species, providing safety and food availability during the larval and juvenile stages. However, dissolved oxygen is naturally dynamic in these systems, varying from complete anoxia to hyperoxia. In some species, the larval stage may be particularly vulnerable to low-oxygen stress due to incomplete development of oxygen transport systems, high metabolic cost associated with early feeding and a narrow aerobic scope to support additional activity. Increasing seawater temperatures further increase oxygen demand in poikilothermic species and are amplified in shallow inshore habitats. In teleost fish, estuarine hypoxia and warming may lead to recruitment bottlenecks at the larval stage, which often requires a narrower range of environmental conditions than juveniles or adults. Here, we compared the physiological oxygen supply capacity (α) and aerobic scope of late-larval and early-juvenile common snook Centropomus undecimalis (Bloch 1792), a coastal marine species found in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and western Atlantic from Florida to Brazil. We hypothesized that larvae would be more hypoxia sensitive than juveniles but instead found that routine and maximum metabolic rates scaled similarly with body mass, resulting in size independence of factorial aerobic scope and critical oxygen partial pressure between life stages. The α value matched maximum demand across the transition from larval to juvenile stages, suggesting that C. undecimalis can effectively regulate the supply of oxygen from the environment to their tissues as early as 17 days post hatching. Additionally, C. undecimalis exhibited a Pcmax value of 18.63 kPa, indicating that their full aerobic potential can be met only at oxygen pressures near air saturation. Although this is the expected Pcmax based on their previously reported prevalence in surface waters, this may lead to reduced habitat availability as estuarine deoxygenation worsens in the Gulf of Mexico.

Size-dependent regulation of iron transport and nitrogen metabolism by nanoscale zero-valent iron in heterotrophic nitrifying-aerobic denitrifying bacteria.

Understanding and controlling the dynamic interactions between fluid flows and solid materials and structures-a field known as fluid-structure interaction-is central not only to established disciplines such as aerospace and naval engineering, but also to emerging technologies such as energy harvesting, soft robotics, and biomedical devices. In recent years, the advent of metamaterials has provided exciting opportunities to rethink and redesign fluid-structure interactions. The idea of engineering the internal structure of materials that interface with fluid flows opens a new horizon for the precise and effective manipulation and control of coupled fluidic, acoustic, and elastodynamic responses. This review focuses on this relatively unexplored interdisciplinary theme with broad technological significance. Salient potential applications, such as fuel consumption in transport systems, efficiency of renewable energy extraction, noise mitigation, and resilience against structural fatigue, depend on controlling interactions among flow, acoustic, and vibration mechanisms. Flow control, for example, which spans a wealth of regimes such as laminar, transitional, turbulent, and unsteady separated flows, is strongly influenced by fluid-structure interaction. This review surveys and discusses conceptual frameworks that describe the interplay between fluids and elastic solids, with a focus on contemporary and emerging concepts. The paper is organised into three main sections: flow-structure and fluid-phonon interactions, flow and acoustic interactions with metamaterials, and exotic metamaterial concepts with potential impact on fluid-structure interaction. It concludes with perspectives on current challenges and future directions in this rapidly expanding area of research.

The aim of the article is to analyse the problems and propose modern methods and technologies to increase the efficiency of operational management of international road haulage in the West-East direction, taking into account the specifics of Kazakhstan. The study used methods of analysing transport chain management systems, developing a database on the reliability of carriers, implementing contract management systems, and also studied technologies for improving monitoring and optimising logistics processes. The study identified key problems hindering the effective management of international road haulage in the West-East direction. Key challenges include a lack of information regarding carrier reliability, the complexity of accounting for numerous contractual terms and ensuring the necessary quality of transport services. It has been established that the use of modern information technologies, such as transport and warehouse management systems, significantly improves the efficiency of logistics processes. The implementation of Global Positioning System (GPS) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies allows for enhanced operational monitoring and vehicle management. Analytics and artificial intelligence facilitate route optimisation and inventory management. Furthermore, the transition to environmentally friendly modes of transport and the harmonisation of international standards contribute to reduced costs and improved service quality. As a result, the comprehensive application of modern methods and technologies significantly enhances the efficiency of operational management in road haulage.

Small islands in developing countries often face infrastructural limitations, environmental fragility, and heavy economic dependence on tourism, making smart and sustainable innovation crucial. This study investigates what international tourists value in a destination to perceive it as a “smart island,” applying the smart city paradigm to the context of small island developing countries. A structured survey was conducted with 420 international tourists from diverse nationalities, using a five-point Likert scale to assess the importance of smart tourism attributes. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, t-tests, and regression analyses were performed to identify significant predictors of overall satisfaction with smart tourism experiences. This study provides empirical evidence that international tourists primarily perceive destination smartness through core digital and infrastructural features rather than advanced technological sophistication. Real-time information systems emerged as the strongest predictor of perceived smartness, followed by free Wi-Fi access, sustainability-related technologies, and smart transport systems. The findings further reveal that demographic and cultural factors influence technology preferences, while immersive tools such as augmented reality play a secondary role. Overall, the results indicate that, in Small Island Developing Countries, smart tourism should be understood as a strategic approach to improving accessibility, connectivity, sustainability, and destination resilience rather than merely adopting high-end technologies.