Constructed wetland (CW) is a critical ecological engineering for wastewater treatment and improvement of water quality. Nitrogen (N) removal is one of the vital functions of CWs during operation, and N treatment in CWs is mainly affected by aquatic plants and denitrification carried out by microbes. However, due to their low efficiency and instability in N removal, further applications of CWs are limited. The review provides a view of two basic characteristics of aquatic plants, radial oxygen loss (ROL) and root exudates, and their coupled effect on denitrification processes in CWs. First, the role of aquatic plants in denitrification is presented. The individual roles of ROL and root exudates in regulating denitrification, as well as their interaction in this process, have been discussed. Also, the limitation of conventional techniques to reveal interaction between the plant and the microbes has been highlighted. Further research on coupling regulatory mechanisms of ROL and root exudates may be conducted to develop an optimal wetland design and improve biological N removal. This review offers new insights and directions for improving N removal in CWs by utilizing the synergistic effects of plant ROL and root exudates.

Strawberry preservation remains a critical challenge due to rapid postharvest microbial spoilage. This study investigated the preservative efficacy of Cinnamomum cassia and Punica granatum peel aqueous extracts, prepared via spray drying, on strawberries over 5 days of storage, with a specific focus on their regulatory impact on the fruit surface microbiome. Preservation tests demonstrated that the C. cassia extract was more effective in reducing visible mold development. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the C. cassia treatment reshaped microbial community structures, decreasing the relative abundance of spoilage-associated bacteria and the primary pathogenic fungus Botrytis (94.37%), while enriching potentially beneficial or antagonistic genera such as Sphingobium (28.72%), Sphingomonas (9.52%), and Cladosporium (0.62%). Using a probability threshold of 0.7, 121 compounds were identified as potential active candidates from a library of 675 C. cassia constituents. These compounds predominantly have a molecular weight between 100 and 250 and are characterized by prevalent functional groups including alkene (49.60%), hydroxyl (38.80%), and benzene rings (36.40%). In vitro antibacterial assays confirmed the inhibitory activity of vanillin and its isomers, validating the reliability of the computational predictions. These findings suggest that the preservative mechanism of C. cassia is likely mediated by the collective action of a multi-component matrix that modulates the microecological balance on the fruit surface, rather than the isolated effect of a single compound. This integrated approach provides an effective framework for developing plant-derived preservation strategies by combining microbiome dynamics with machine learning.

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are widely used for wastewater treatment but can also serve as significant sources of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas. Balancing efficient nitrogen removal with N₂O mitigation remains a critical challenge for sustainable wastewater management. This review systematically elucidates the key microbial mechanisms underlying N₂O emissions in CWs and summarizes corresponding mitigation strategies. Mechanistically, N₂O production is primarily driven by hydroxylamine oxidation and nitrifier denitrification mediated by ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms, as well as incomplete heterotrophic denitrification resulting from electron-donor limitation. These pathways are tightly regulated by spatiotemporal redox gradients, carbon-to-nitrogen ratios, and influent strength conditions. To address these emissions, this review synthesizes mitigation strategies from an engineering perspective. Optimization of operational parameters, such as intermittent aeration and water-level regulation, together with the application of novel functional substrates, such as biochar and iron-carbon micro-electrolysis, can effectively facilitate electron transfer and improve micro-redox conditions. Furthermore, optimized plant species selection and community design, along with emerging low-carbon biological nitrogen removal processes, such as autotrophic denitrification and partial denitrification coupled with anammox, offer promising approaches for substantial emission reduction. Overall, this review provides practical guidance for designing efficient, low-carbon CWs toward carbon neutrality.

Existing anti-aging drugs are often limited by toxicity and resistance. In contrast, natural substances derived from food resources, edible plants, and agricultural by-products offer advantages such as low toxicity and suitability for dietary intake. Utilizing these resources aligns with sustainable development goals by promoting the valorization of food waste and functional food development; however, their complex composition makes traditional discovery inefficient and resource-intensive. Machine learning (ML) provides a powerful, sustainable in silico solution. By analyzing vast datasets, computational models can rapidly screen thousands of candidates, significantly reducing the chemical waste and time associated with traditional wet-lab screening. This review focuses on the current status of food-derived anti-aging bioactives and the emerging ML-based perspectives in this field. Key natural compounds and plant extracts are discussed, highlighting their dietary origins and mechanisms. Furthermore, we explore how advanced algorithms accelerate the identification of novel bioactives. Importantly, we address current translational gaps, including the need for explainable AI, ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) prediction, and the standardization of complex mixtures. Overcoming these bottlenecks is essential for the sustainable development of effective, food-based anti-aging ingredients.

Corn bran is a major by-product of corn starch processing. Due to its high cellulose and hemicellulose contents and relatively low lignin abundance, it represents a promising feedstock for biorefineries. However, efficiently deconstructing corn bran cell wall to maximize fermentable sugar yield while minimizing inhibitor formation remains a challenge due to the complex cross-linked structure of its lignocellulosic matrix that hinders substrate accessibility and prone to side reactions during deconstruction. This study systematically evaluated various pretreatment strategies and identified dilute sulfuric acid as the optimal method to maximize hemicellulose dissolution and total sugar recovery while maintaining low levels of refractory phenolic inhibitors (1.03 g/L, far lower than alkaline and sulfite-based pretreatment). Under optimal conditions (0.80% v/v sulfuric acid, 129 °C, and 23 min), the hemicellulose dissolution rate reached 99.58%, with a pentose yield of 0.38 g/g corn bran and hexose yield of 0.16 g/g corn bran. Subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis of the solid residue (20 FPU/g initial dry weight cellulase) further released hexose-rich sugars. The integrated process achieved a significant total reducing sugar yield of 0.79 g/g corn bran. These findings demonstrate an effective pathway for the high-value utilization of corn bran and provide a scalable process strategy applicable to other lignocellulosic agricultural wastes for sustainable bioenergy production.