Histidine Containing Minimalistic‐Peptide‐Based Nanostructured Hydrogel for Multiple Enzyme‐Mimicking Catalytic Activities

Abstract The exceptional catalytic prowess of native enzymes is inherited from their ability to fold into distinctive arrangements with appropriate positioning of the amino acid constituents. Thanks to their selective and efficacious catalytic competence, enzymes play a critical role in industry and academic research. Yet their practical implementations are substantially impeded because of their low stability, complicated recovery, and expensive and exhaustive production. Peptide hydrogels with organized assemblies not only structurally recapitulate enzymes but also offer additional advantages, including excellent reusability and easy separation due to their semisolid nature. Herein, a minimalistic dipeptide, comprising catalytically active histidine is conceived that produces a nanostructured hydrogel with excellent hydrolase mimicking aptitude. The gelation and substrate binding mechanisms are deciphered from molecular dynamics simulations. Furthermore, metal ion cofactors are incorporated into the peptide hydrogel to mimic metalloenzymes. The peptide/Zn 2+ hydrogel catalyzed the hydrolysis of CO 2 , substantiating its ability to mimic the active center of carbonic anhydrase. Likewise, the peptide/Cu 2 ⁺ hydrogel, imitating the active center of laccase, catalyzed the oxidation of toxic phenolic compounds and biologically relevant catecholamines. This work exemplifies the utilization of a single hydrogel for versatile catalytic ability, leading to its potential applications in the chemical industry, environmental remediation, and biomedical research.

Impact of Groundnut Oil/Candelilla Wax Oleogel Replacement on Physicochemical Properties of Whole Wheat Pasta

Abstract The current study investigates replacing water (2.5–15%) in whole wheat pasta with groundnut oil/candelilla wax (GNO/CW) oleogel. To assess the impact of incorporating GNO/CW oleogel at varied concentrations, both uncooked and cooked pasta samples are physicochemically characterized. The water absorption capacity of oleogel‐containing cooked pasta samples is found to be lower. Microscopic analysis of the surface of pasta samples (uncooked and cooked) exhibits considerable changes in their topology as the composition varied. Black patches on the cooked pasta samples are observed when the GNO/CW oleogel replacement is on the higher side (10% and 15% replacement), implying the formation of starch–lipid complexes. FTIR analysis is performed to analyze the changes in functional groups and molecular bonds. There are no major changes in the water and the starch regions of pasta samples (uncooked and cooked). The addition of GNO/CW oleogel in the pasta samples enhances their stiffness. Additionally, the pasta samples exhibit viscoelastic properties. Therefore, the incorporation of GNO/CW oleogel into the whole wheat pasta dough can change the physicochemical properties of both uncooked and cooked pasta samples.

Genome‐wide association mapping reveals novel genes and genomic regions controlling root‐lesion nematode resistance in chickpea mini core collection

Abstract Root‐lesion nematodes (RLN) pose a significant threat to chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) by damaging the root system and causing up to 25% economic losses due to reduced yield. Worldwide commercially grown chickpea varieties lack significant genetic resistance to RLN, necessitating the identification of genetic variants contributing to natural resistance. This study identifies genomic loci responsible for resistance to the RLN, Pratylenchus thornei Sher & Allen, in chickpea by utilizing high‐quality single nucleotide polymorphisms from whole‐genome sequencing data of 202 chickpea accessions. Phenotypic evaluations of the genetically diverse set of chickpea accessions in India and Australia revealed a wide range of responses from resistant to susceptible. Genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) employing Fixed and Random Model Circulating Probability Unification (FarmCPU) and Bayesian‐Information and Linkage‐Disequilibrium Iteratively Nested Keyway (BLINK) models identified 44 marker‐trait associations distributed across all chromosomes except Ca1. Crucially, genomic regions on Ca2 and Ca5 consistently display significant associations across locations. Of 25 candidate genes identified, five genes were putatively involved in RLN resistance response (glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase, heat shock proteins, MYB‐like DNA‐binding protein, zinc finger FYVE protein and pathogenesis‐related thaumatin‐like protein). One notably identified gene ( Ca_10016 ) presents four haplotypes, where haplotypes 1–3 confer moderate susceptibility, and haplotype 4 contributes to high susceptibility to RLN. This information provides potential targets for marker development to enhance breeding for RLN resistance in chickpea. Additionally, five potential resistant genotypes (ICC3512, ICC8855, ICC5337, ICC8950, and ICC6537) to P. thornei were identified based on their performance at a specific location. The study's significance lies in its comprehensive approach, integrating multiple‐location phenotypic evaluations, advanced GWAS models, and functional genomics to unravel the genetic basis of P. thornei resistance. The identified genomic regions, candidate genes, and haplotypes offer valuable insights for breeding strategies, paving the way for developing chickpea varieties resilient to P. thornei attack.

Confinement‐Induced Enhanced Dye Degradation Using 5,7‐Dichloro‐8‐Hydroxyquinoline within a Cu‐BTC Metal‐Organic Framework

The improvement of the property after hybridization of a Metal‐Organic Framework (MOF) remains a significant protocol toward the achievement of real field applicability. In this regard, 5,7‐Dichloro‐8‐Hydroxy Quinoline (DClHQ) is incorporated into benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxylic acid(BTC) coordinated Cu‐MOF (Cu‐BTC) to synthesize DClHQ@Cu‐BTC catalyst, and its efficiency is investigated in the degradation of methylene blue. The photo‐responsive quinoline‐based molecule is introduced at varying concentrations (5, 15, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 mM) to optimize its catalytic performance. Among the prepared samples, DClHQ@Cu‐BTC (25 mM) exhibits the lowest bandgap, enabling enhanced photocatalytic activity. The catalyst demonstrates an impressive 96% MB degradation efficiency within 3 h; with the highest efficiency observed at neutral pH 7. Furthermore, the material retains its stability for up to four degradation cycles, confirming its reusability. The pristine Cu‐BTC and its composite facilitates dye degradation through a Z‐scheme charge transfer mechanism, where synergistic charge transfer promotes the formation of reactive oxygen species, accelerating the degradation process. This study highlights the potential of DClHQ@Cu‐BTC as an efficient and stable catalyst for wastewater treatment applications.

MHD natural convection of ternary nanofluid in a porous medium incorporating stratification and radiation

Abstract This study explores the impact of thermal stratification on the magnetohydrodynamic flow of ethylene glycol and water‐based nano, hybrid, and ternary nanofluids past a vertically stretching cylinder within a porous medium. The ternary nanofluid, composed of silver ( Ag $\rm Ag$ ), cobalt ferrite (CoFe 2 O 4 $\rm CoFe_2O_4$ ), and zinc oxide ( ZnO $\rm ZnO$ ) nanoparticles, demonstrates superior thermal conductivity, heat transfer efficiency, and stability compared to conventional, and hybrid nanofluids. Governing equations are transformed into nonlinear ordinary differential equations using similarity variables and solved numerically via the 3‐stage Lobatto IIIa method in MATLAB. The novelty of this work lies in its focus on the combined influence of stratification, radiation, and natural convection on the flow characteristics of a ternary nanofluid in a porous medium, a topic largely unexplored in prior studies. The study reveals enhanced heat transfer rates and higher absolute skin friction for the ternary nanofluid, showcasing its potential for advanced thermal management applications. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing cooling systems, electronic devices, and other technologies reliant on efficient heat dissipation.

Green's function approach for wave propagation due to a point source in piezoelectric fiber‐reinforced composite with complex fluid loading

Abstract This study investigates the propagation of Love waves through a composite structure comprising a piezoelectric fiber‐reinforced composite (PFRC) layer resting on a heterogeneous elastic substrate, influenced by a point source. The structure is considered fluid‐loaded, and the study's primary aim is to explore how fluid loading affects Love wave propagation. The fluid is modeled as a complex medium exhibiting Maxwell and Kelvin–Voigt viscoelastic behavior. Using Fourier transform techniques, Green's function, and suitable boundary conditions, the dispersion relation is derived and validated against existing results. The dispersion relation is complex, with the real part representing the frequency curve and the imaginary part representing the attenuation curve of the Love wave. The study further explores the effects of fluid viscosity, PFRC volume fraction, and initial stress on phase velocity and attenuation with the help of graphical illustrations.

Hygroflex: A Prototype of a Water-Responsive Facade System with an Innovative Integration of Timber and Biopolymer

Singlet-doublet fermionic dark matter in gauge theory of baryons

Bottom quark energy loss and hadronization with B+ and $$ {\textrm{B}}_{\textrm{s}}^0 $$ nuclear modification factors using pp and PbPb collisions at $$ \sqrt{s_{\textrm{NN}}} $$ = 5.02 TeV

First observation of strange baryon enhancement with effective energy in pp collisions at the LHC