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The use of edible insect protein in food products is contingent on their biological effects. Conventional protein extraction methods are not only time‐consuming and costly but also energy‐intensive. There is a need for alternative techniques that maintain the bioactivities of insect proteins and are environmentally sustainable. This study compares the health functionality of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larvae) concentrates obtained by conventional methods—alkali and salt (MS) extraction—and nonconventional methods—enzyme (ME) and screw press (MP)—to enhance their applicability despite lower protein concentration. Overall, MP exhibited the highest essential amino acids content, whereas ME showed the highest in vitro digestibility, total phenolic contents, and antioxidant capacities among all the concentrates. ME also had a significant cell proliferative capacity at concentrations ≥500 µg/mL. MS significantly inhibited tumor necrosis factor‐alpha and interleukin‐1beta secretion in lipopolysaccharide‐treated Hep3B cells compared to other samples. As for anti‐hyperglycemia effects, treatment with MS and ME for 2 and 5 min significantly increased the p‐Akt/Akt ratio (MS, 1.34‐ and 1.61‐fold; ME, 2.26‐ and 2.70‐fold, respectively). In conclusion, enzyme treatment enhanced nutritional value and antioxidant capacity, whereas salt treatment potentially contributed to anti‐inflammatory and anti‐hyperglycemia activities. Hybrid extraction techniques combining conventional and nonconventional methods are suggested based on target applications, considering health benefits, environmental impact, costs, and efficiencies. Practical Application: Four mealworm protein extraction methods (alkali/salt/enzyme/screw press) were compared for their nutritional and biological properties. Alkali extraction enhanced protein content, enzyme treatment improved nutritional value and antioxidant capacity, and salt‐assisted extraction exhibited immunomodulatory effects in vitro. Notably, enzyme and salt treatments produced protein concentrates with significant antidiabetic and anti‐hyperglycemic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the role of the CXCR5 and TLR4 signaling pathways in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The researchers found that the up-regulation of CXCR5 and CXCL13 or CXCR5 and TLR4 in lung tumor tissues was associated with gene sets related to cancer, lung fibrosis, VEGF, chemokine, cytokine, and TLR signaling pathways. They also discovered that the CXCR5-CXCL13 axis is functionally linked to TLR4 signaling through activation of NF-κB, suggesting its potential as a target for therapeutic agents. The study provides valuable insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying lung cancer progression and highlights the significance of the CXCR5-TLR4 signaling network in this process. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Free fatty acid receptors (FFARs) and toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize microbial metabolites and conserved microbial products, respectively, and are functionally implicated in inflammation and cancer. However, whether the crosstalk between FFARs and TLRs affects lung cancer progression has never been addressed. Methods: We analyzed the association between FFARs and TLRs using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) lung cancer data and our cohort of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient data (n = 42), and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed. For the functional analysis, we generated FFAR2-knockout (FFAR2KO) A549 and FFAR2KO H1299 human lung cancer cells and performed biochemical mechanistic studies and cancer progression assays, including migration, invasion, and colony-formation assays, in response to TLR stimulation. Results: The clinical TCGA data showed a significant down-regulation of FFAR2, but not FFAR1, FFAR3, and FFAR4, in lung cancer, and a negative correlation with TLR2 and TLR3. Notably, GSEA showed significant enrichment in gene sets related to the cancer module, the innate signaling pathway, and the cytokine-chemokine signaling pathway in FFAR2DownTLR2UpTLR3Up lung tumor tissues (LTTs) vs. FFAR2upTLR2DownTLR3Down LTTs. Functionally, treatment with propionate (an agonist of FFAR2) significantly inhibited human A549 or H1299 lung cancer migration, invasion, and colony formation induced by TLR2 or TLR3 through the attenuation of the cAMP-AMPK-TAK1 signaling axis for the activation of NF-κB. Moreover, FFAR2KO A549 and FFAR2KO H1299 human lung cancer cells showed marked increases in cell migration, invasion, and colony formation in response to TLR2 or TLR3 stimulation, accompanied by elevations in NF-κB activation, cAMP levels, and the production of C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL)2, interleukin (IL)-6, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 cytokines. Conclusion: Our results suggest that FFAR2 signaling antagonized TLR2- and TLR3-induced lung cancer progression via the suppression of the cAMP-AMPK-TAK1 signaling axis for the activation of NF-κB, and its agonist might be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the climate change including an increase in the average global temperatures, and abnormal weather events such as frequent and severe heatwaves are emerging as a worldwide ecological concern due to their impacts on plant vegetation and crop productivity. In this review, the molecular processes of plants in response to heat stress—from the sensing of heat stress, the subsequent molecular cascades associated with the activation of heat shock factors and their primary targets (heat shock proteins), to the cellular responses—have been summarized with an emphasis on the classification and functions of heat shock proteins. Vegetables contain many essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibers that provide many critical health benefits to humans. The adverse effects of heat stress on vegetable growth can be alleviated by developing vegetable crops with enhanced thermotolerance with the aid of various genetic tools. To achieve this goal, a solid understanding of the molecular and/or cellular mechanisms underlying various responses of vegetables to high temperature is imperative. Therefore, efforts to identify heat stress-responsive genes including those that code for heat shock factors and heat shock proteins, their functional roles in vegetable crops, and also their application to developing vegetables tolerant to heat stress are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's era of active personal protections against airborne respiratory disease, general interest in the multiphase flow physics underlying face masks is greater than ever. The exhalation valves, installed on some masks to mitigate the breathing resistance, have also received more attention. However, the current certification protocol of evaluating airflow leakage only when suction pressure is applied is insufficient to capture practical aspects (particle penetration or leakage). Here, we experimentally measure two-phase flow across valve-type masks under conditions mimicking actual breathing. During exhalation, a high-speed jet through the valve accelerates the transmission of particles from inside while reasonable protection from external pollutants is achieved during inhalation, which supports the warnings from various public health officials. Based on the mechanism of particle penetration found here, we hope a novel design that both achieves high-efficiency shielding and facilitates easy breathing can be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of genome-editing technology has allowed manipulation of DNA sequences in genomes to precisely remove or replace specific sequences in organisms resulting in targeted mutations. In plants, genome editing is an attractive method to alter gene functions to generate improved crop varieties. Genome editing is thought to be simple to use and has a lower risk of off-target effects compared to classical mutation breeding. Furthermore, genome-editing technology tools can also be applied directly to crops that contain complex genomes and/or are not easily bred using traditional methods. Currently, highly versatile genome-editing tools for precise and predictable editing of almost any locus in the plant genome make it possible to extend the range of application, including functional genomics research and molecular crop breeding. Vegetables are essential nutrient sources for humans and provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber to diets, thereby contributing to human health. In this review, we provide an overview of the brief history of genome-editing technologies and the components of genome-editing tool boxes, and illustrate basic modes of operation in representative systems. We describe the current and potential practical application of genome editing for the development of improved nutritious vegetables and present several case studies demonstrating the potential of the technology. Finally, we highlight future directions and challenges in applying genome-editing systems to vegetable crops for research and product development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern agriculture has become heavily dependent on chemical fertilizers, which have caused environmental pollution and the loss of soil fertility and sustainability. Microalgae and plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) have been identified as alternatives to chemical fertilizers for improving soil fertility. This is because of their biofertilizing properties, through the production of bioactive compounds (e.g., phytohormones, amino acids, and carotenoids) and their ability to inhibit plant pathogens. Although treatment based on a single species of microalgae or bacteria is commonly used in agriculture, there is growing experimental evidence suggesting that a symbiotic relationship between microalgae and bacteria synergistically affects each other's physiological and metabolomic processes. Moreover, the co-culture/combination treatment of microalgae and bacteria is considered a promising approach in biotechnology for wastewater treatment and efficient biomass production, based on the advantage of the resulting synergistic effects. However, much remains unexplored regarding the microalgal–bacterial interactions for agricultural applications. In this review, we summarize the effects of microalgae and PGPB as biofertilizing agents on vegetable cultivation. Furthermore, we present the potential of the microalgae–PGPB co-culture/combination system for the environmentally compatible production of vegetables with improved quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf angle and grain size are important agronomic traits affecting rice productivity directly and/or indirectly through modulating crop architecture. OsBC1, as a typical bHLH transcription factor, is one of the components comprising a complex formed with LO9-177 and OsBUL1 contributing to modulation of rice leaf inclination and grain size. In the current study, two homologues of OsBC1, OsBCL1 and OsBCL2 were functionally characterized by expressing them under the control of OsBUL1 promoter, which is preferentially expressed in the lamina joint and the spikelet of rice. Increased leaf angle and grain length with elongated cells in the lamina joint and the grain hull were observed in transgenic rice containing much greater gibberellin A3 (GA3) levels than WT, demonstrating that both OsBCL1 and OsBCL2 are positive regulators of cell elongation at least partially through increased GA biosynthesis. Moreover, the cell elongation was likely due to cell expansion rather than cell division based on the related gene expression and, the cell elongation-promoting activities of OsBCL1 and OsBCL2 were functional in a dicot species, Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Mn3O4 nanoparticles were immobilized at the surface of polystyrene particles using surfactant. [•] Surface coverage of PS particles with Mn3O4 was controlled by varying the concentration of manganese salt in reaction medium. [•] Extent of surface coverage of PS by Mn3O4 increased with more amount of manganese salt. [•] The composites having the largest surface area showed the highest catalytic efficiency for degradation of methylene blue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]