Search Results (7,594)

Heavy metals can accumulate and migrate in soil environments and can negatively affect crops and consumers. Because an increased incidence of chronic diseases can be observed, food security has become a high-priority concern. In the present work, we evaluate the impact of heavy metals on bioactive compounds and elemental content from onions. Plants were grown in the absence and presence of various concentrations of heavy metal salts (Pb, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni and Cd). The influence of heavy metal salts on onions was evaluated by analyzing the content of bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, and elemental content. The variation of assimilatory pigments, total polyphenols content, and antioxidant capacity increased or decreased depending on the heavy metal added to the soil as well as on the amount added. Regarding the amount of bioactive compounds, it increased between 6.79 and 34.39% or decreased between 4.68 and 62.42%. The content of ten elements in plants was reported, as well as elemental mutual correlation and correlation of element content with biologically active compounds and antioxidant capacity. Full article

The ancient Roman town of Turris Libisonis was located on the northern coast of Sardinia and was known in the past as an important naval port. Located in the Gulf of Asinara, it was a Roman colony from the 1st century BCE and became one of the richest towns on the island. Among the archaeological finds in the area, the cippus exhibited in the Antiquarium Turritano is of great interest for its well-preserved traces of polychromy. The artefact dates back to the early Imperial Age and could have had a funerary or votive function. The artefact was first examined using a portable and non-invasive protocol involving multi-band imaging (MBI), portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF), portable FT-IR in external reflectance mode (ER FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy. After this initial examination, a few microfragments were collected and investigated by optical microscopy (OM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy in ATR mode (ATR FT-IR) and micro-ATR mode (μATR FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) to improve our knowledge and characterize the materials and to determine their provenience. The results contribute to a better understanding of the provenance of materials and shed light on pigments on stone and their use outside the Italian peninsula and, in particular, Roman Sardinia. Full article

Paper-based cultural relics inevitably face a variety of diseases such as acidification, yellowing, and strength loss during long-term preservation, where weakly alkaline inorganic materials play an important role in their deacidification treatments. In this work, by simply adjusting the supersaturation of crystal growing solution without the use of any organic additives, one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) weakly alkaline materials—magnesium carbonate hydrates (MCHs)—were controllably synthesized. It is worth noting that the coatings of 1D/2D MCHs not only cause little change in chromatic aberration and water wettability, but also ensure their safety for alkali-sensitive pigments. Meanwhile, the deacidification, anti-aging, strength-enhancing, and flame-retardant effects of these materials have been tested on ancient book papers, all of which achieved good protective effects. In contrast, 1D MCH materials brought about significant enhancement in both mechanical strengths and flame-retardant effects, and the related effects were investigated. Based on this facile micromorphology control strategy, more low-dimensional nanomaterials are expected to be synthesized by design for the protection of paper-based relics, which will expand our knowledge on functional deacidification and protection mechanisms. Full article

Pigments are chemical compounds that impart color through mechanisms such as absorption, reflection, and refraction. While traditional natural pigments are derived from plant and insect tissues, microorganisms, including bacteria, yeasts, algae, and filamentous fungi, have emerged as promising sources for pigment production. In this study, we focused on pigment production by 20 Streptomyces isolates from our in-house actinobacteria strain collection, sourced from the Guaviare and Arauca Rivers in Colombia. The isolates were identified via 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the bioactivities—including antioxidant, antibacterial, and cytotoxic properties—of their extracts obtained across four different culture media were assessed. Promising pigmented hydroalcoholic extracts demonstrating these bioactivities were further analyzed using LC-MS, leading to the annotation of a variety of pigment-related compounds. This study revealed that culture media significantly influenced both pigment production and bioactivity outcomes. Notably, anthraquinones, phenazines, and naphthoquinones were predominant pigment classes associated with cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities, while carotenoids were linked to antioxidant effects. For instance, S. murinus 4C171 produced various compounds exhibiting both cytotoxic and antioxidant activities. These findings highlighted a growth medium-dependent effect, as pigment production, coloration, and bioactivity outcomes were influenced by growth media. These results demonstrate the significant potential of Streptomyces isolates as sources of bioactive pigments for diverse applications. Full article

This study systematically investigated the formulation optimization, performance evaluation, and practical application of epoxy-based composite materials for colored asphalt pavement. By conducting comprehensive experiments, we optimized the composition of epoxy-based composites, verifying their excellent bonding performance, good heat resistance, and UV aging resistance under various temperature conditions. The key optimized component ratios were determined as a 1:1 blend of Type I and Type II epoxy resins, 30 phr of curing agent, 10 phr of toughening agent, 5 phr of diluent, 10% filler, 12% flame retardant, and 10% pigment. At the recommended dosage of 2.0 kg/m² of epoxy binder, the composite structure exhibited the best reinforcement effect, improving low-temperature performance significantly. Compared to ordinary asphalt mixtures, the colored pavement composite structure showed superior mechanical strength, deformation capacity, high-temperature stability (dynamic stability approximately three times higher), and water stability (TSR values up to 95.5%). Furthermore, its fatigue life decay rate was significantly lower, with fatigue limit loading frequencies more than three times those of ordinary asphalt mixtures, demonstrating excellent fatigue resistance. This study provides strong technical support and a theoretical basis for the development and practical application of colored asphalt pavement. Full article

The olive tree is well adapted to the Mediterranean climate, but how orchards based on intensive practices will respond to increasing drought is unknown. This study aimed to determine if the application of a commercial biostimulant improves olive tolerance to drought. Potted plants (cultivars Arbequina and Galega) were pre-treated with an extract of Ascophyllum nodosum (four applications, 200 mL of 0.50 g/L extract per plant), and were then well irrigated (100% field capacity) or exposed to water deficit (50% field capacity) for 69 days. Plant height, photosynthesis, water status, pigments, lipophilic compounds, and the expression of stress protective genes (OeDHN1—protective proteins’ dehydrin; OePIP1.1—aquaporin; and OeHSP18.3—heat shock proteins) were analyzed. Water deficit negatively affected olive physiology, but the biostimulant mitigated these damages through the modulation of molecular and physiological processes according to the cultivar and irrigation. A. nodosum benefits were more expressive under water deficit, particularly in Galega, promoting height (increase of 15%) and photosynthesis (increase of 34%), modulating the stomatal aperture through the regulation of OePIP1.1 expression, and keeping OeDHN1 and OeHSP18.3 upregulated to strengthen stress protection. In both cultivars, biostimulant promoted carbohydrate accumulation and intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE). Under good irrigation, biostimulant increased energy availability and iWUE in Galega. These data highlight the potential of this biostimulant to improve olive performance, providing higher tolerance to overcome climate change scenarios. The use of this biostimulant can improve the establishment of younger olive trees in the field, strengthen the plant’s capacity to withstand field stresses, and lead to higher growth and crop productivity. Full article

This work presents the development of a macro X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) scanner system for in situ analysis of paintings. The instrument was developed to operate using continuous acquisitions, where the module with the X-ray tube and detector moves at a constant speed, dynamically collecting spectra for each pixel of the artwork. Another possible configuration for the instrument is static acquisitions, where the module with the X-ray tube and detector remains stationary to acquire spectra for each pixel. The work also includes the analytical characterization of the system, which incorporates a 1.00 mm collimator that allows for a resolution of 1.76 mm. Additionally, the study presents the results of the analysis of two Brazilian paintings using this instrument. The elemental maps obtained enabled the characterization of the pigments used in the creation of the artworks and materials used in restoration processes. Full article

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an ancient fruit crop that has been cultivated worldwide and is known for its attractive appearance and functional metabolites. Fruit color is an important index of fruit quality, but the color formation pattern in the peel of evergreen pomegranate and the relevant molecular mechanism is still unknown. In this study, the contents of pigments including anthocyanins, carotenoids, and chlorophyll in the peel of ‘Danruo No. 1’ pomegranate fruit during three developmental stages were measured, and RNA-seq was conducted to screen key genes regulating fruit color formation. The results show that pomegranate fruit turned from green to red during development, with a dramatic increase in a* value, indicating redness and anthocyanins concentration, and a decrease of chlorophyll content. Moreover, carotenoids exhibited a decrease–increase accumulation pattern. Through RNA-seq, totals of 30, 18, and 17 structural genes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis, carotenoid biosynthesis and chlorophyll metabolism were identified from differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively. Transcription factors (TFs) such as MYB, bHLH, WRKY and AP2/ERF were identified as key candidates regulating pigment metabolism by K-means analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The results provide an insight into the theory of peel color formation in evergreen pomegranate fruit. Full article

Carotenoids are vital organic pigments that determine the color of flowers, roots, and fruits in plants, imparting them yellow, orange, and red hues. This study comprehensively analyzes carotenoid accumulation in different tissues of the Brassica rapa mutant “YB1”, which exhibits altered flower and root colors. Integrating physiological and biochemical assessments, transcriptome profiling, and quantitative metabolomics, we examined carotenoid accumulation in the flowers, roots, stems, and seeds of YB1 throughout its growth and development. The results indicated that carotenoids continued to accumulate in the roots and stems of YBI, especially in its cortex, throughout plant growth and development; however, the carotenoid levels in the petals decreased with progression of the flowering stage. In total, 54 carotenoid compounds were identified across tissues, with 30 being unique metabolites. Their levels correlated with the expression pattern of 22 differentially expressed genes related to carotenoid biosynthesis and degradation. Tissue-specific genes, including CCD8 and NCED in flowers and ZEP in the roots and stems, were identified as key regulators of color variations in different plant parts. Additionally, we identified genes in the seeds that regulated the conversion of carotenoids to abscisic acid. In conclusion, this study offers valuable insights into the regulation of carotenoid metabolism in B. rapa, which can guide the selection and breeding of carotenoid-rich varieties. Full article

The olive fruit is a drupe whose development and ripening takes several months from flowering to full maturation. During this period, several biochemical and physiological changes occur that affect the skin color, texture, composition, and size of the mesocarp. The final result is a fruit rich in fatty acids, phenolic compounds, tocopherols, pigments, sterols, terpenoids, and other compounds of nutritional interest. In this work, a transcriptomic analysis was performed using flowers (T0) and mesocarp tissue at seven different stages during olive fruit development and ripening (T1–T7) of the ‘Picual’ cultivar. A total of 1755 genes overexpressed at any time with respect to the flowering stage were further analyzed. These genes were grouped into eight clusters based on their expression profile. The gene enrichment analysis revealed the most relevant biological process of every cluster. Highlighting the important role of hormones at very early stages of fruit development (T1, Cluster 1), whereas genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis were relevant throughout the fruit developmental process. Hence, genes coding for different fatty acid desaturase (SAD, FAD2, FAD3, FAD4, FAD5, FAD6, and FAD7) enzymes received special attention. In particular, 26 genes coding for different fatty acid desaturase enzymes were identified in the ‘Picual’ genome, contributing to the improvement of the genome annotation. The expression pattern of these genes during fruit development corroborated their role in determining fatty acid composition. Full article

Diagnosing atypical pigmented facial lesions (aPFLs) is a challenging topic for dermatologists. Accurate diagnosis of these lesions is crucial for effective patient management, especially in dermatology, where visual assessment plays a central role. Incorrect diagnoses can result in mismanagement, delays in appropriate interventions, and potential harm. AI, however, holds the potential to enhance diagnostic accuracy and provide reliable support to clinicians. This work aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of machine learning (logistic regression of lesion features and patient metadata) and deep learning (CNN analysis of images) models in dermoscopy diagnosis and the management of aPFLs. This study involved the analysis of 1197 dermoscopic images of facial lesions excised due to suspicious and histologically confirmed malignancy, classified into seven classes (lentigo maligna—LM; lentigo maligna melanoma—LMM; atypical nevi—AN; pigmented actinic keratosis—PAK; solar lentigo—SL; seborrheic keratosis—SK; and seborrheic lichenoid keratosis—SLK). Image samples were collected through the Integrated Dermoscopy Score (iDScore) project. The statistical analysis of the dataset shows that the patients mean age was 65.5 ± 14.2, and the gender was equally distributed (580 males—48.5%; 617 females—51.5%). A total of 41.7% of the sample constituted malignant lesions (LM and LMM). Meanwhile, the benign lesions were mainly PAK (19.3%), followed by SL (22.2%), AN (10.4%), SK (4.0%), and SLK (2.3%). The lesions were mainly localised in the cheek and nose areas. A stratified analysis of the assessment provided by the enrolled dermatologists was also performed, resulting in 2445 evaluations of the 1197 images (2.1 evaluations per image on average). The physicians demonstrated higher accuracy in differentiating between malignant and benign lesions (71.2%) than in distinguishing between the seven specific diagnoses across all the images (42.9%). The logistic regression model obtained a precision of 39.1%, a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 33.9%, and an accuracy of 53.6% on the test set, while the CNN model showed lower sensitivity (58.2%) and higher precision (47.0%), specificity (90.8%), and accuracy (59.5%) for melanoma diagnosis. This research demonstrates how AI can enhance the diagnostic accuracy in complex dermatological cases like aPFLs by integrating AI models with clinical data and evaluating different diagnostic approaches, paving the way for more precise and scalable AI applications in dermatology, showing their critical role in improving patient management and the outcomes in dermatology. Full article

The aim of this study was to obtain extracts of anthocyanin pigments from red and purple-fleshed potato juices characterized by stable color. For this purpose, potato juices were pasteurized at different temperatures or fruit and vegetable concentrates were added to them. Color stability tests of the obtained pigments were carried out in model pH and temperature conditions and after adding to natural yogurt. Both the pasteurization process and the addition of fruit and vegetable concentrates to the potato juices positively affected their color and its stability in time. However, the pasteurization of the potato juices had a negative effect on the content of biologically active compounds, in contrast to the juices stabilized with the addition of fruit and vegetable concentrates. Anthocyanin pigments from red-fleshed potato juices were more stable than those isolated from the purple-fleshed potato juices. The results of model tests of the anthocyanin pigment concentrates from the colored-flesh potatoes and natural yoghurts with their addition confirmed the high stability of the tested concentrates. Full article

Monascus species are capable of producing various active metabolites, including monacolin K (MK) and pigments. Studies have shown that the overexpression of the mok I gene from the MK synthesis gene cluster in Monascus species can significantly increase MK production; however, the molecular mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study focused on the mok I gene of Monascus pilosus to construct overexpression strains of the mok I gene, resulting in high-yield MK production. Sixteen positive transformants were obtained, seven of which produced 9.63% to 41.39% more MK than the original strain, with no citrinin detected in any of the transformants. The qRT-PCR results revealed that the expression levels of mok I in the transformed strains TI-13, TI-24, and TI-25 increased by more than 50% compared to the original strain at various fermentation times, with the highest increase being 10.9-fold. Furthermore, multi-omics techniques were used to analyze the molecular mechanisms underlying enhanced MK production in transformed strains. The results indicated that mok I overexpression may enhance MK synthesis in M. pilosus by regulating the expression of key genes (such as MAO, HPD, ACX, and PLC) and the synthesis levels of key metabolites (such as delta-tocopherol and alpha-linolenic acid) in pathways linked to the biosynthesis of cofactors, the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, tyrosine metabolism, ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. These findings provide a theoretical basis for further study of the metabolic regulation of MK in Monascus species and for effectively enhancing their MK production. Full article

Proper crop management requires rapid detection methods for abiotic and biotic stresses to ensure plant health and yield. Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an emerging economically and environmentally sustainable crop capable of yielding high biomass. Nitrogen deficiency significantly reduces hemp plant growth, affecting photosynthetic capacity and ultimately decreasing yield. When symptoms of nitrogen deficiency are visible to humans, there is often already lost yield. A real-time, non-destructive detection method, such as Raman spectroscopy, is therefore critical to identify nitrogen deficiency in living hemp plant tissue for fast, precise crop remediation. A two-part experiment was conducted to investigate portable Raman spectroscopy as a viable hemp nitrogen deficiency detection method and to compare the technique’s predictive ability against a handheld SPAD (chlorophyll index) meter. Raman spectra and SPAD readings were used to train separate nitrogen deficiency discrimination models. Raman scans displayed characteristic spectral markers indicative of nitrogen deficiency corresponding to vibrational modes of carotenoids, essential pigments for photosynthesis. The Raman-based model consistently predicted nitrogen deficiency in hemp prior to the onset of visible stress symptoms across both experiments, while SPAD only differentiated nitrogen deficiency in the second experiment when the stress was more pronounced. Our findings add to the repertoire of plant stresses that hand-held Raman spectroscopy can detect by demonstrating the ability to provide assessments of nitrogen deficiency. This method can be implemented at the point of cultivation, allowing for timely interventions and efficient resource use. Full article

Background/Objectives: Understanding and predicting human pigmentation traits is crucial for individual identification. Genome-wide association studies have revealed numerous pigmentation-associated SNPs, indicating genetic overlap among pigmentation traits and offering the potential to develop predictive models without the need for analyzing large numbers of SNPs. Methods: In this study, we assessed the performance of the HIrisPlex-S system, which predicts eye, hair, and skin color, on 412 individuals from the Spanish population. Model performance was calculated using metrics including accuracy, area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value. Results: Our results showed high prediction accuracies (70% to 97%) for blue and brown eyes, brown hair, and intermediate skin. However, challenges arose with the remaining categories. The model had difficulty distinguishing between intermediate eye colors and similar shades of hair and exhibited a significant percentage of individuals with incorrectly predicted dark and pale skin, emphasizing the importance of careful interpretation of final predictions. Future studies considering quantitative pigmentation may achieve more accurate predictions by not relying on categories. Furthermore, our findings suggested that not all previously established SNPs showed a significant association with pigmentation in our population. For instance, the number of markers used for eye color prediction could be reduced to four while still maintaining reasonable predictive accuracy within our population. Conclusions: Overall, our results suggest that it may be possible to reduce the number of SNPs used in some cases without compromising accuracy. However, further validation in larger and more diverse populations is essential to draw firm conclusions and make broader generalizations. Full article