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Natural fiber‐reinforced composites have emerged as a promising alternative in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, construction, and civil engineering, owing to their eco‐friendly nature and favorable mechanical properties. However, challenges such as low thermal stability and high moisture absorption limit their widespread use. To overcome these limitations, surface modifications such as mercerization, benzoylation, silane treatment, and acetylation have been extensively explored. Hybrid composites (HCs), combining natural and synthetic fibers, offer a compelling solution by harnessing the unique properties of both materials. This review comprehensively examines the types of fibers and polymers utilized in HCs, along with various chemical treatments to enhance their properties. Additionally, a detailed analysis of different manufacturing processes for HCs is provided, including hand lay‐up, vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding, autoclave molding, injection molding, and compression molding. Furthermore, this review highlights recent advancements in HCs and their applications. Significant outcomes include a deeper understanding of the synergistic effects between natural and synthetic fibers, improved mechanical and thermal properties, and enhanced applications in diverse industries. The potential of HCs as a sustainable and high‐performance material solution emphasizes the importance of ongoing research and innovation in this field to overcome existing challenges and unlock new possibilities for composite engineering. Highlights Surface modifications such as mercerization, benzoylation, and silane treatment enhance the properties of natural fibers in composite materials. Hybrid composites (HCs) offer unique advantages by combining natural and synthetic fibers, including improved thermal, mechanical, and damping properties. Various chemical treatments and manufacturing processes contribute to enhancing the properties and applications of HCs. Recent advancements in HCs have led to an improved understanding and utilization of composite engineering across multiple industries. The review discusses challenges, opportunities, and future prospects for HCs, emphasizing the need for ongoing research and innovation in this field. Natural fiber‐reinforced hybrid composites are emerging as eco‐friendly alternatives in different industrial applications for their favorable mechanical and thermal properties.

Metabolic regulation of histone marks is associated with diverse biological processes through dynamically modulating chromatin structure and functions. Here we report the identification and characterization of a histone mark, lysine benzoylation (K bz ). Our study identifies 22 K bz sites on histones from HepG2 and RAW cells. This type of histone mark can be stimulated by sodium benzoate (SB), an FDA-approved drug and a widely used chemical food preservative, via generation of benzoyl CoA. By ChIP-seq and RNA-seq analysis, we demonstrate that histone K bz marks are associated with gene expression and have physiological relevance distinct from histone acetylation. In addition, we demonstrate that SIRT2, a NAD + -dependent protein deacetylase, removes histone K bz both in vitro and in vivo. This study therefore reveals a new type of histone marks with potential physiological relevance and identifies possible non-canonical functions of a widely used chemical food preservative. Histone marks regulate chromatin structure and function. Here the authors identify and characterize lysine benzoylation, a histone mark that can be modulated by sodium benzoate, a widely used chemical food preservative, associated with specific regulation of gene expression.

Increased environmental concerns and global warming have diverted effort all over the world to focus on renewable and sustainable resources for the next generation of composite products due to their recyclability, renewability, cost effectiveness, and satisfactory mechanical performance. Bio/natural fibers which are environment friendly materials employed as reinforcement have led to developing a biocomposite for reduction in greenhouse emission and carbon footprints. However, biofibers are also having some limitations that need to be addressed including poor compatibility between the reinforcing fiber matrices, high moisture absorption, swelling, poor chemical and fire resistance, and high dispersion of mechanical properties. A lot of research has been performed on physical and mechanical properties of natural fiber composite. Properties of such novel composite mainly depend on adhesion between fiber and matrices. Consequently, poor adhesion, high moisture absorption, and swelling lead to formation of crack in both the matrix and fiber. Therefore, numerous techniques have been tried till date to modify both fiber surfaces to enhance their adhesion and reduce their water absorption. This review article provides comprehensive information about effect of various surface modification techniques that include alkaline, silane, acetylation, permanganate, peroxide, benzoylation, acrylonitrile grafting, maleic anhydride grafted, acrylation, and isocyanate. In addition, the effects of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin of biofibers are also reported. This review concluded that chemical treatment of biofibers with 5% NaOH concentration improves the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of the resulting composites compared to untreated fiber composites.

This research was performed to evaluate the mechanical and thermal properties of sugar palm fiber (SPF)- and kenaf fiber (KF)-reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites. Sugar palm/kenaf was successfully treated by benzoylation treatment. The hybridized bio-composites (PP/SPF/KF) were fabricated with overall 10 weight percentage (wt%) relatively with three different fibers ratios between sugar palm-treated and kenaf-treated (7:3, 5:5, 3:7) and vice versa. The investigations of thermal stability were then carried out by using diffraction scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). The result of a flammability test showed that the treated hybrid composite (PP/SPF/KF) was the specimen that exhibited the best flammability properties, having the lowest average burning rate of 28 mm/min. The stiffness storage modulus (E’), loss modulus (E”), and damping factor (Tan δ) were examined by using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The hybrid composite with the best ratio (PP/SPF/KF), T-SP5K5, showed a loss modulus (E”) of 86.2 MPa and a damping factor of 0.058. In addition, thermomechanical analysis (TMA) of the studies of the dimension coefficient (µm) against temperature were successfully recorded, with T-SP5K5 achieving the highest dimensional coefficient of 30.11 µm at 105 °C.

It is extremely difficult to achieve a rapid and efficient modification of natural polysaccharides, due to the intrinsic strong hydrogen bonding networks and the slow mass transfer process during the reaction process. Herein, we found a fascinating anion-tunnel transmission phenomenon in the imidazolium-based ionic liquids with carboxylate anions. A novel click esterification of natural polysaccharides thus was demonstrated under a catalyst-free condition within a very short reaction time of 15 min at 0-80°C. Such a super-rapid and highly efficient modification strategy is available for various polysaccharides (cellulose, starch, inulin, pullulan, dextran, and xylan), different esterification reactions (acetification, propionation, benzoylation, and cyclohexyl formylation), and high concentrations, claiming a revolutionary potential in polysaccharide chemistry industries.

Lysine benzoylation (Kbz) is a recently discovered post-translational modification associated with active transcription. However, the proteins for maintaining and interpreting Kbz and the physiological roles of Kbz remain elusive. Here, we systematically characterize writer, eraser, and reader proteins of histone Kbz in S. cerevisiae using proteomic, biochemical, and structural approaches. Our study identifies 27 Kbz sites on yeast histones that can be regulated by cellular metabolic states. The Spt-Ada-Gcn5 acetyltransferase (SAGA) complex and NAD + -dependent histone deacetylase Hst2 could function as the writer and eraser of histone Kbz, respectively. Crystal structures of Hst2 complexes reveal the molecular basis for Kbz recognition and catalysis by Hst2. In addition, we demonstrate that a subset of YEATS domains and bromodomains serve as Kbz readers, and structural analyses reveal how YEATS and bromodomains recognize Kbz marks. Moreover, the proteome-wide screening of Kbz-modified proteins identifies 207 Kbz sites on 149 non-histone proteins enriched in ribosome biogenesis, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and rRNA processing pathways. Our studies identify regulatory elements for the Kbz pathway and provide a framework for dissecting the biological functions of lysine benzoylation. Lysine benzoylation (Kbz) is a recently discovered histone modification. Here, the authors characterize writers, erasers and readers of histone Kbz in S. cerevisiae and identify non-histone proteins bearing Kbz, laying foundations to dissect the roles of Kbz in diverse cellular processes.

Studies on the use of natural fibers as replacement to man-made fiber in fiber-reinforced composites have increased and opened up further industrial possibilities. Natural fibers have the advantages of low density, low cost, and biodegradability. However, the main disadvantages of natural fibers in composites are the poor compatibility between fiber and matrix and the relative high moisture sorption. Therefore, chemical treatments are considered in modifying the fiber surface properties. In this paper, the different chemical modifications on natural fibers for use in natural fiber-reinforced composites are reviewed. Chemical treatments including alkali, silane, acetylation, benzoylation, acrylation, maleated coupling agents, isocyanates, permanganate and others are discussed. The chemical treatment of fiber aimed at improving the adhesion between the fiber surface and the polymer matrix may not only modify the fiber surface but also increase fiber strength. Water absorption of composites is reduced and their mechanical properties are improved.

PoDPBT, an O‐benzoyltransferase belonging to the BAHD family, can catalyze the benzoylation of 8‐debenzoylpaeoniflorin to paeoniflorin. PoDPBT is the first enzyme demonstrated to be involved in the modification stage of paeoniflorin biosynthesis. DFGGG, a new DFGWG‐like motif, was revealed in the BAHD family. The transcriptome database provides a resource for further investigation of other enzyme genes involved in paeoniflorin biosynthesis.

This research is focused on the physical, mechanical, morphological, elemental, and crystallographic properties of untreated, chemically treated, and emulsion-coated sisal fibers. Physical properties, such as diameter and water absorption, were investigated, while mechanical properties, including tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus of elasticity, were assessed. The findings indicate a significant enhancement in tensile strength (up to 96.7%) and elastic modulus values (up to 214.43%) after chemical treatment, accompanied by a decrease in elongation at break (up to 56.8%). Interestingly, emulsion coating reduced the tensile strength and elastic modulus values, with a marginal increase in elongation at break for treated fibers. The fibers subjected to benzoylation exhibited the highest tensile strength and elastic modulus, followed by alkali-treated fibers. This trend was consistent for emulsion-coated fibers as well. The study outcomes were substantiated by examining the morphological, elemental, and crystallographic aspects of untreated and treated/coated fibers, indicating their suitability for diverse engineering applications.

The widening importance of carbohydrate derivatives as unrivaled potential antimicrobial and therapeutic drugs has attracted attentionto the synthesis of mannopyranoside derivatives. In the present study, regioselective 3-bromobenzoylation of methyl α-D-mannopyranoside (1) was carried out using the direct method and gave the corresponding 6-O-(3-bromobenzoyl) derivative (2) in excellent yield. A number of 2,3,4-tri-O-acyl derivatives (3–10) of this 6-substitution product using a wide variety of acylating agents were also prepared in order to obtain newer derivatives of synthetic and biological importance. The chemical structures of the newly synthesized compounds were ascertained by analyzing their physicochemical, elemental, and spectroscopic data. Additionally, the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) of these acylated products was studiedfor quantitatively identifying crystalline compounds.Therefore, due to the importance of carbohydrates, it might be useful to develop a good method for the synthesis of carbohydrate-based drugs of the current global situation for health and disease