Volume 21 Issue 3

Inulinases (β-fructanohydrolases) are hydrolyzing enzymes with an extensive range of industrial applications such as synthesis of fructose syrup, bioethanol, and certain chemicals, such as citric acid, lactic acid. In this work, extracellular inulinase was produced from Candida tropicalis NRRL-Y-1552 using a stationary culture technique (ScT) with molasses as the basal fermentation medium. The highest enzyme production (15.08 U/mL) was obtained at 30 °C, pH 4.5, 100 mL molasses, and 48 h incubation. Initially the enzyme activity was not encouraging (6.3 U/mL) but after optimizations, the enzyme production significantly increased (20.4 U/mL, P ≤ 0.05). The enzyme yield was 69.1%. The size and age of inoculum (1.5 mL, 12 h old) was optimized for maximum production of enzyme. The exo-inulinase production data was subjected to artificial neutral network (ANN) to create a reliable association between the predicted and experimental outcomes. Decision tree techniques were used to forecast the validation of the model. The model’s performance was significantly improved by the ANN’s linear coefficient correlation value. The significance of the study lies in investigating ANN model of static-culture exo-inulinase synthesis enabled by C tropicalis NRRL-Y-1552 using blackstrap sugarcane molasses, making the process ecofriendly and economically feasible for scale up studies.

Berberis species are valuable wild plants widely distributed in Türkiye and other regions. They are known for their nutritional, medicinal, and ecological importance. Despite their significance, molecular studies on Berberis are limited, particularly regarding the use of SCoT markers. In the present study, the genetic diversity of selected Berberis populations was investigated using both ISSR and SCoT molecular markers. A total of 51 scorable bands were obtained with ISSR markers, 41 of which were polymorphic, resulting in a polymorphism rate of 80.4%. SCoT markers produced an average of 6.2 bands per primer, with 5.3 polymorphic bands and a polymorphism of 86.4%, indicating a higher sensitivity in detecting genetic variation. Genetic similarity values ranged from 0.39 to 0.84 for ISSR and 0.32 to 0.89 for SCoT markers. These results were compared with previous studies on Berberis and other plant species, confirming the robustness of the applied markers. Notably, this study represents the first application of SCoT primers in Berberis, demonstrating their effectiveness in resolving genetic relationships and detecting polymorphism. The findings provide a valuable molecular basis for conservation strategies, germplasm management and future breeding programs, while also contributing to a better understanding of genetic structure and diversity within the genus. Overall, the combined use of ISSR and SCoT markers offers a reliable approach for molecular characterization and supports the sustainable utilization of Berberis genetic resources.

It is usually stated that sessile oak wood has the same properties as pedunculate oak wood. However, in practice, sessile oak wood can be distinguished from pedunculate oak wood by appearance, quality, and machinability. The aim of the research was to compare cutting power and surface roughness, as machinability parameters, when milling sessile oak and pedunculate oak wood and to determine the effect of cutting depth and feed speed on the oak wood machinability. Radially sawn samples were milled in the longitudinal (90°-0°) cutting direction with three different cutting depths and at three feed speeds. During milling, the active electrical power and the machined surface profile were measured. The surface roughness parameters R_a, R_q, and R_z were determined according ISO 4287 (1997). The average cutting power and roughness parameters are higher when milling sessile oak than pedunculate oak wood. ANOVA showed that wood species, cutting depth, and feed speed had a statistically significant effect on cutting power and surface roughness parameters with exception of effect of cutting depth on the parameter R_z. The differences in machinability parameters between sessile and pedunculate oak wood when milling at the same feed speed and cutting depth were not sufficiently pronounced to be detected by post hoc analyses.

As modern work intensifies and working hours become stretched, the development of office chairs that support extended sitting periods and alleviate musculoskeletal fatigue presents a significant challenge. In response, this study aimed to optimize ergonomic support to meet the demands of a sedentary office environment. Initially, a combination of semi-structured interviews and field studies were conducted to collect data on symptoms of discomfort, posture patterns, pain points, and anticipated functionalities during extended sitting. The qualitative information was converted into metrics for evaluation. Following this, quantitative scores were obtained using an IPA scale, and the DEMATEL technique was utilized to examine causal relationships and the magnitude of influence between indicators, facilitating the computation of comprehensive impact weights. Based on these evaluations, a design scheme was formulated and validated via virtual simulation in JACK software. Results indicate the importance of prioritizing ergonomic adaptability, material properties, safety, ease of adjustment, and structural stability in the design of sedentary office chairs. Significantly, the key elements for enhancing comfort during prolonged sitting were identified as the active adaptation of lumbar support and the maintenance of posture stability.

Salinity stress is a major environmental constraint that adversely affects plant growth and their productivity. In this work, ternary selenium/copper oxide/zinc oxide nanocomposite (Se/CuO/ZnO NCs; TSCZ NCs) were synthesized for the first time using aqueous leaf extract of Urtica urens and evaluated for their ability to alleviate salinity stress in Eruca sativa plants. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using TEM, SAED, EDX, and XRD analyses, which confirmed the formation of predominantly spherical crystalline nanoparticles (average size of 58.71 ± 3.58 nm) and distinct elemental composition of Se, CuO, and ZnO. A pot experiment was conducted under normal and saline conditions (100 mM NaCl) using different concentrations of TSCZ NCs (up to 200 ppm). Salinity stress significantly reduced shoot and root growth, photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrate and protein contents, while increasing proline accumulation, antioxidant enzyme activities, and lipid peroxidation. Foliar application of TSCZ NCs partially mitigated these adverse effects, particularly at 100 ppm. The nanoparticles also modulated antioxidant defense enzymes in treated plants. In addition, TSCZ NCs exhibited strong antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay, reaching 89.4% scavenging at 1000 µg/mL, and demonstrated low cytotoxicity toward Vero normal cell lines. These findings suggest that Se/CuO/ZnO NCs may represent a promising nano-enabled strategy for improving salinity tolerance in plants.

An ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent was used to extract flavonoids from Rosa davurica Pall., followed by purification on macroporous resin; the separation and purification conditions were optimized. A total of 26 different flavonoid components were identified using ultraviolet spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activity of purified flavonoids was significantly improved, as it not only exhibited excellent scavenging efficiency against DPPH radicals,·OH radicals, O^2- radicals, and ABTS⁺ radicals, but also possessed strong total reducing power. Moreover, its antioxidant activity showed a clear positive correlation with concentration. This study provided a scientific basis for the comprehensive utilization of Rosa davurica Pall.

Echinacea angustifolia, which is traditionally used for immune support and infection-related disorders, contains phenolic bioactive compounds. However, variation in phenolic recovery via extraction methods limits its standardization. This study compares ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂), and Soxhlet extraction to determine the method that best enriches active constituents and elucidates their biological effects. Leaf extracts were prepared and analyzed for antimicrobial activity (agar diffusion and broth microdilution), antioxidant capacity (DPPH), and cytotoxicity assays against Caco-2 cells (MTT assay). High performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis revealed ellagic acid as the dominant phenolic compound, with UAE yielding the highest content (387 µg/mL; 19,3 µg/g), surpassing scCO₂ and Soxhlet extracts (81.4 and 81.6 µg/mL, respectively). Extract from UAE also exhibited the strongest biological performance, showing the highest inhibition against Bacillus subtilis (22.90 ± 0.10 mm), the lowest MIC against Staphylococcus aureus (7.8 µg/mL), the strongest antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 6.1 µg/mL), and the greatest cytotoxicity against Caco-2 cells (IC₅₀ = 76.38 ± 0.32 µg/mL). Docking studies showed favorable binding of ellagic acid (S = −6.578 kcal/mol), while DFT confirmed its structural stability and reactivity. This study links ellagic acid enrichment in the extract to bioactivity and computational analysis.

Rapid urbanization and industrialization have led to a substantial increase in sewage sludge production at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). WWTP sludge poses significant challenges for municipalities, not only due to the environmental damage caused by existing disposal methods, but also due to energy consumption in storage, drying, and incineration processes, as well as transportation costs. Integrating Thermal Hydrolysis Process (THP) technology into municipal WWTPs offers a sustainable solution by enhancing waste management efficiency and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), while simultaneously yielding eco-friendly byproducts. This study evaluates the characteristics of sludge generated at the Seyhan WWTP in Adana, Turkey—which currently processes approximately 100 tons of sludge daily—with operational projections extending to 2025. The findings indicate that by 2025, THP technology is projected to emit approximately 12,957 kgCO₂eq/ton of GHG, achieving a nine-fold greater emission reduction compared to traditional incineration. Furthermore, the implementation of THP is expected to generate an additional 54 m³/h of biogas and reduce annual dewatered sludge volume by 4,886 tons, resulting in approximately $122,150 in annual operational savings.