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Developing efficient water splitting electrocatalysts plays a critical role in lowering the energy cost for hydrogen production, which requires accurate evaluation of the catalytic performance especially under industrially relevant conditions. In this work, we design a two-chamber electrolyzer testing system simulating practical water electrolyzer system to enable catalytic performance evaluation under industrially relevant conditions. A one-step electrodeposition method is used to synthesize binary and ternary Ni alloy HER catalysts and the catalytic electrodes are screened and optimized with the two-chamber electrolyzer testing system. A voltage of 1.64 V without iR compensation at a current density of 200 mA/cm2 is obtained with continuous operation for 70 h. Different HER activity trend is observed from conventional three-electrode experiments with low-concentration alkaline electrolytes at room temperature and the two-chamber electrolyzer measurements, further supporting the importance of catalytic performance evaluation under industrially relevant conditions. The electrodeposition synthesis method is further used to prepare large-area catalytic electrodes over 400 cm2 with good uniformity. • Ni-alloy HER catalysts are characterized under industrially relevant conditions with a home-build electrolyzer system. • Electrolyzer with an electrodeposited NiMo HER catalyst exhibits a remarkably low voltage of 1.64 V at 200 mA/cm2. • Different activity trends of HER catalysts are observed under industrially relevant conditions and three-electrode tests. • Ni-alloy catalysts with an active area over 400 cm2 are successfully synthesized with excellent performance uniformity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspect category sentiment analysis has attracted increasing attention because of its outstanding performance in mining the fine-grained sentiment expression of users. In recent years, a new aspect category and sentiment pair extraction (ASPE) task has been proposed to simultaneously extract aspect categories and sentiment pairs. Most existing research works are designed in a two step pipeline, that is, they first perform aspect category detection, and subsequently conduct aspect category sentiment analysis. However, the pipeline method can clearly lead to error propagation from previous step. In this work, we propose a new framework for multiple perspective attention based on double BiLSTM with a novel joint strategy for ASPE to alleviate the accumulation of errors in the pipeline method. The experimental results on benchmark datasets SemEval and BDCI-2018 demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in terms of both accuracy and explainability for the ASPE task. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone modelling evaluation is important for monitoring idiopathic condylar resorption (ICR) progress. To compare condylar modelling in ICR patients treated with or without stabilisation splints (SSs). Eighty‐four condyles from 84 ICR patients were studied: 42 received SS therapy (SS group); 42 received conventional therapy (control group). Cone‐beam computed tomography images at diagnosis (T0) and after at least 6 months (T1) were used for three‐dimensional reconstruction. Volume differences between T0 and T1 (δV) were used to evaluate the amount of modelling. Percentage of growth area (PCT) was used to assess the condylar surface growth tendency. No significant change in condylar volume was found in the SS group, whereas that in the control group was significantly decreased at T1 (P <.0001). The amount of modelling differed among condylar subregions within the SS group: among 6 subregions (P =.0137), between anterior and posterior regions (P =.0336) and between lateral, intermediate and medial regions (P =.0275). Control group condylar subregions showed no significant differences in the amount of modelling. The anabolic modelling tendency of the total condylar surface in the SS group was greater than that in the control group (P =.0251); however, there were no statistical differences in PCTs among condylar subregions in either group. SS therapy effectively reduced further bone destruction and promoted condylar modelling. Three‐dimensional morphological analysis is a novel method that can accurately evaluate the amount of bone modelling and growth tendency in ICR patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self‐charging power systems (SCPSs) are envisioned as promising solutions for emerging electronics to mitigate the increasing global concern about battery waste. However, present SCPSs suffer from large form factors, unscalable fabrication, and material complexity. Herein, a type of highly stable, eco‐friendly conductive inks based on poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) are developed for direct ink writing of multiple components in the SCPSs, including electrodes for miniaturized spacer‐free triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and microsupercapacitors (MSCs), and interconnects. The principle of "one ink, multiple functions" enables to almost fully print the entire SCPSs on the same paper substrate in a monolithic manner without post‐integration. The monolithic fabrication significantly improves the upscaling capability for manufacturing and reduces the form factor of the entire SCPSs (a small footprint area of ≈2 cm × 3 cm and thickness of ≈1 mm). After pressing/releasing the TENGs for ≈79000 cycles, the 3‐cell series‐connected MSC array can be charged to 1.6 V while the 6‐cell array to 3.0 V. On‐paper SCPSs are promising to serve as lightweight, thin, sustainable, and low‐cost power supplies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encouraging clinical results using immune checkpoint therapies to target the PD-1 axis in a variety of cancer types have paved the way for new immune therapy trials in brain tumor patients. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate expression of the PD-1 pathway ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, remain poorly understood. To address this, we explored the cell-intrinsic mechanisms of constitutive PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression in brain tumors. PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression was assessed by flow cytometry and qRT-PCR in brain tumor cell lines and patient tumor-derived brain tumor-initiating cells (BTICs). Immunologic effects of PD-L2 overexpression were evaluated by IFN-γ ELISPOT. CD274 and PDCD1LG2 cis-regulatory regions were cloned from genomic DNA and assessed in full or by mutating and/or deleting regulatory elements by luciferase assays. Correlations between clinical responses and PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression status were evaluated in TCGA datasets in LGG and GBM patients. We found that a subset of brain tumor cell lines and BTICs expressed high constitutive levels of PD-L1 and PD-L2 and that PD-L2 overexpression inhibited neoantigen specific T cell IFN-γ production. Characterization of novel cis-regulatory regions in CD274 and PDCD1LG2 lead us to identify that GATA2 is sufficient to drive PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression and is necessary for PD-L2 expression. Importantly, in TCGA datasets, PD-L2 correlated with worse clinical outcomes in glioma patients.. By perturbing GATA2 biology, targeted therapies may be useful to decrease inhibitory effects of PD-L2 in the microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Elimination of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) inevitably induces insulin resistance (IR), aggravating inflammation- and oxidative stress-related disorders. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this study, we identified miR-17 as an important regulator of IR by targeting GLUT4. MiR-17 expression was found significantly elevated in skeletal tissues of rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), along with marked downregulation of GLUT4 protein level. Luciferase reporter gene assay demonstrated a direct interaction between miR-17 and the 3'untranslated region of GLUT4 mRNA. Correlation analyses (Spearman, Pearson, and Kendall) revealed that miR-17 level was negatively correlated with GLUT4 expression. Additionally, loss- and gain-of-function analyses showed that overexpression of miR-17 impaired glucose metabolism in L6 rat skeletal muscle cell line. In contrast, knockdown of endogenous miR-17 ameliorated glucose metabolism, accompanied by elevation of GLUT4 protein level. These findings unraveled a novel mechanism for IR that involves repression of GLUT4 by miR-17 and suggested miR-17 as a potential molecular target for the development of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of T2DM. Highlights • MiR-17 is the most up-regulated skeletal-enriched miRNA in T2DM rats. • GLUT4 is a direct target gene of miR-17 and a critical regulator of glucose metabolism. • The miR-17/GLUT4 axis is, at least in part, responsible for insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lignin-derived inhibition on cellulase is the most critical bottleneck that must be addressed when converting lignocellulosic biomass through the sugar-platform process. Herein, a novel modified cellulase with high activity, great stability and excellent lignin-resistant ability was synthesized by chemical modification using hydrophilic and negatively charged polyethylene glycol (PEG) derivatives including HO-PEG-COOH and HOOC-PEG-COOH. Both modifications obviously increased the cellulase activity, with 37% (HO-PEG-COOH modification) and 53% (HOOC-PEG-COOH modification) increase, respectively. In addition, the stabilities of both modified cellulases were significantly enhanced, seeing from their much higher activities at all selected temperatures and pH values. The modification resulted in a movement of tryptophan residues to the exterior of enzyme, allowing the substrate chains to be more easily recruited and thus initiating the hydrolysis. The compactness of secondary structure for enzyme was improved, especially, the α-helix content was increased which requires strong hydrogen bonding to generate it, thus enhancing the stability. High hydrophilicity, negative charge and compactness of enzyme conferred modified cellulase good ability to resist lignin adsorption and destruction, thus improving the enzymatic hydrolysis of corn stover. [Display omitted] • Cellulase activity is significantly improved by up to 52% after chemical modification. • The migration of Trp residues allows the hydrolysis to be more easily initiated. • High compactness gives modified cellulase great stability and low level of damage by lignin. • High hydrophilicity and negative charge of modified cellulase prevent lignin adsorption. • The novel modified cellulase exhibits promising potential in converting corn stover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with excellent photoluminescence (PL) properties from biomass is a hot research topic. Herein, nitrogen-doped CQDs (N-CQDs) from lignin (C-source) using diethylenetriamine (DETA) as an N-source were synthesized via a facile, green, and large-scale solvothermal approach. The as-synthesized N-CQDs in ethanol (N-CQDs-ET) exhibit unique structures with abundant N-doping (~7.2%), rich functional groups (especially C O and pyrrolic-N), high degree of graphitization, and uniform particle size (~5.0 nm). The N-CQDs-ET have excellent QL properties with high quantum yield, superior fluorescence stability, and long fluorescence lifetime, all of which are much better than N-CQDs obtained from a traditional hydrothermal process. The N-CQDs-ET display excellent sensitivity for Fe3+ and Co2+ detection with a good linear correlation ranging from 0.27 to 250 μM and 0.45–500 μM, respectively. In addition, the N-CQDs-ET exhibit excellent biocompatibility and multicolored cell imaging ability, showing great potential applications in biosensors. [Display omitted] • Lignin derived N-CQDs are efficiently produced via ethanol solvothermal approach. • N-CQDs produced in ethanol have excellent QL properties due to unique structures. • N-CQDs produced in ethanol have better QL properties than those in hot water. • The N-CQDs-ET sample displays excellent sensitivity for Fe3+ and Co2+ detection. • N-CQDs-ET sample has great biocompatibility and cell multicolored imaging ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we investigated the activity and modes of action of cajanin stilbene acid (CSA) and its derivatives in terms of cytotoxicity, gene expression profile, and transcription factor activity. XTT assays on MCF7 cells were performed upon treatment with CSA or derivatives. After the determination of IC values, gene expression profiling was performed with Agilent microarray experiments. Deregulated genes were determined with Chipster software, pathway and functional analyses were performed with Ingenuity pathway software. In order to identify the potential upstream regulators, MatInspector software was used to perform transcription factor binding motif search in the promoter regions of the deregulated genes. Molecular docking on MYC/MAX complex and reporter cell line experiments were performed to validate the MYC inhibitory activity of CSA and its derivatives. Two known MYC inhibitors: 10058-F4 and 10074-G5 were used as positive control. All compounds showed cytotoxicities in the micromolar range. Microarray analyses pointed to cell cycle, DNA damage, and DNA repair as mainly affected cellular functions. Promoter motif analysis of the deregulated genes further supported the microarray gene expression analysis results emphasizing the relevance of transcription factors regulating cell cycle and proliferation, with MYC as being the most pronounced one. Luciferase-based reporter cell line experiments and molecular docking studies yielded supportive results emphasizing the inhibitory activity of CSA and its derivatives on MYC. CSA and its derivatives are shown to be promising anticancer compounds with low toxicity. They inhibit MYC activity comparable to 10058-F4 and 10074-G5. Further studies are warranted to analyze the therapeutic applicability of these compounds in more detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antiestrogenic therapy is a mainstay for estrogen receptor (ERα)-positive breast cancer. Due to the development of resistance to established antihormones such as tamoxifen, novel compounds are required. The low abundant cajanin stilbene acid (CSA) recently isolated by us from Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan) has structural similarities with estrogen. We analyzed the cytotoxic and anticancer activity of CSA in ERα-positive and -negative human breast cancer cells in vitro, in vivo and in silico. CSA exerts anticancer and antiestrogenic activities towards ERα-positive breast cancer, and it showed cytotoxicity towards tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cells, implying that CSA may be active against tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells. CSA showed low cytotoxicity in ERα-negative breast tumor cells as expected. Comparable cytotoxicity was observed towards p53 negative MCF-7 cells, implying that CSA is effective independent of the p53 status. Xenografted MCF-7 cells in nude mice were better inhibited by CSA than by cyclophosphamide. Testing of 8 primary cell cultures derived from human breast cancer biopsies showed that cell cultures from ER-positive tumors were more sensitive than from ER-negative ones. Dose-dependent decrease in ERα protein levels was observed upon CSA treatment. Synergistic effect with tamoxifen was observed in terms of increased p53 protein level. CSA affected pathways related to p53, cancer and cell proliferation. Gene promoter analyses supported the ERα regulation. CSA bound to the same site as 17β-estradiol and tamoxifen on ERα. In conclusion, CSA exerts its anticancer effects in ERα-positive breast cancer cells by binding and inhibiting ERα. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stance detection can help gain different perspectives into important events, e.g., whether people are in favor of or against certain claim. Most previous work use sentiment information to assist in stance detection. However, they do not consider the critical opinion-towards information, i.e. whether the opinions are aimed at target or other objects. In this work, we incorporate opinion-towards information into a multi-task learning model to facilitate our proposed model for better understanding the sentiment information, which effectively improves the performance of stance detection. In particular, we have constructed a novel label relation matrix which constrains two auxiliary tasks in multi-task learning: (1) sentiment classification, and (2) opinion-towards classification. Our extensive experimental results on three publicly available benchmark datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. In addition, we show the importance of opinion-towards information for stance detection through ablation study and visualization analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives from o-phenylene diamine and substituted aromatic aldehyde catalyzed by ionic liquid under microwave irradiation was reported. The synthesis conditions were first optimized by single factor experiments. Then, a central composite design combined with response surface methodology was used to study the most effective factors. Optimal conditions were synthesis time 1 h, the reactant/catalyst molar ratio 1:1:0.200, the temperature 50 °C and the microwave power 500 W. Under optimized conditions, the yields of benzimidazole derivatives were 78.55-97.66 %. This method offered the outstanding advantages, such as faster reaction rate, higher yields, recyclable catalyst, environmental friendliness, and simple workup procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resveratrol, a natural polyphenolic compound, is abundantly found in plant foods and has been extensively studied for its anti-cancer properties. Given the important role of CSCs (Cancer Stem Cells) in breast tumorigenesis and progression, it is worth investigating the effects of resveratrol on CSCs. The article is an attempt to investigate the effects of resveratrol on breast CSCs. Resveratrol significantly inhibits the proliferation of BCSCs (breast cancer stem-like cells) isolated from MCF-7 and SUM159, and decreased the percentage of BCSCs population, consequently reduced the size and number of mammospheres in non-adherent spherical clusters. Accordingly, the injection of resveratrol (100 mg/kg/d) in NOD/SCID (nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient) mice effectively inhibited the growth of xenograft tumors and reduced BCSC population in tumor cells. After the reimplantation of primary tumor cells into the secondary mice for 30 d, all 6 control inoculations produced tumors, while tumor cells derived from resveratrol-treated mice only caused 1 tumor of 6 inoculations. Further studies by TEM (Transmission electron microscopy) analysis, GFP-LC3-II puncta formation assay and western blot for LC3-II, Beclin1 and Atg 7, showed that resveratrol induces autophagy in BCSCs. Moreover, resveratrol suppresses Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in BCSCs; over-expression of β-catenin by transfecting the plasmid markedly reduced resveratrol-induced cytotoxicity and autophagy in BCSCs. Our findings indicated that resveratrol inhibits BCSCs and induces autophagy via suppressing Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harvesting renewable mechanical energy is envisioned as a promising and sustainable way for power generation. Many recent mechanical energy harvesters are able to produce instantaneous (pulsed) electricity with a high peak voltage of over 100 V. However, directly storing such irregular high‐voltage pulse electricity remains a great challenge. The use of extra power management components can boost storage efficiency but increase system complexity. Here utilizing the conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS, high‐rate metal‐free micro‐supercapacitor (MSC) arrays are successfully fabricated for direct high‐efficiency storage of high‐voltage pulse electricity. Within an area of 2.4 × 3.4 cm2 on various paper substrates, large‐scale MSC arrays (comprising up to 100 cells) can be printed to deliver a working voltage window of 160 V at an ultrahigh scan rate up to 30 V s−1. The ultrahigh rate capability enables the MSC arrays to quickly capture and efficiently store the high‐voltage (≈150 V) pulse electricity produced by a droplet‐based electricity generator at a high efficiency of 62%, significantly higher than that (<2%) of the batteries or capacitors demonstrated in the literature. Moreover, the compact and metal‐free features make these MSC arrays excellent candidates for sustainable high‐performance energy storage in self‐charging power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A supramolecular solvent (SUPRAS)-based sample preparation method was proposed for the determination of lignans in Schisandra chinensis (S. chinensis) fruit. The optimal conditions were: proportion of hexafluoroisopropanol in SUPRAS: 35% (v/v), solid-to-liquid ratio: 20:1 mg/mL, and vortex time: 30 s. Additionally, simple, rapid, and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry and multiple reaction monitoring was employed to simultaneously quantify seven lignans in S. chinensis. The validation showed that the linearity from 0.01 to 20.83 µg/mL was excellent (all R2 ≥ 0.99). The lowest limits of quantification were from 0.14 to 17.79 ng/mL. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the intra-day retention time and peak area were from 0.12% to 0.21% and 2.35% to 6.41%. The RSD of retention time and peak area for the inter-day precision ranged from 0.17% to 0.32% and 3.83% to 7.39%. The average recoveries (80.21%–114.53%) demonstrated good accuracy for all analytes. The developed procedure was employed to determine lignans in processed and raw S. chinensis fruit. The lignans were concentrated in the seeds and the wine-processed material had the highest content. This study provides a reference for the analysis of S. chinensis fruit for lignans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green extraction of the active lignans from Schisandra chinensis has received considerable attention due to their promising applications in the biomedical field. In this study, microwave‐assisted deep eutectic solvent method was used to simultaneously extract five lignans: Schizandrol A, Schizandrol B, Schisantherin A, Schisandrin A and Schizandrin B. The extraction parameters were optimized according to the calculated comprehensive score obtained from the analytic hierarchy process combined with the entropy weight method. The optimal extraction conditions were that the molar ratio of choline chloride and glycolic acid is 4:1, water content is 30% (V/V), solid–liquid ratio is 1:20 (Wg:VmL), extraction time is 20 min, and extraction temperature is 70°C, under which the extraction rate of the five lignans were 10.89, 8.616, 4.019, 4.893, and 5.318 mg/g. These results confirmed that our extraction method is efficient and feasible for green extraction of lignans from S. chinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green synthesis of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) by using the plant extract is a very important strategy to gain efficient antimicrobial agents with strong antimicrobial activity and low toxicity. In this study, jujube seed extract (JSE) is utilized to green synthesis of AgNPs by both hydrothermal process and solution‐based approaches. UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra confirm that jujube seed extract functionalized Ag nanoparticles are formed by both approaches and jujube seed extract covered on the surface of Ag nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicate that the JSE‐AgNPs are spherical with the average diameter of 17.7 and 14.2 nm for the hydrothermal process and solution‐based approaches, respectively. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) results indicate that the JSE‐AgNPs prepared by both approaches have face‐centered cubic crystal structure. The antimicrobial activity test reveals that minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of JSE‐AgNPs by the solution‐based method are 62.5, 125, and 62.5 µg mL−1 against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, respectively. These results imply that the JSE‐AgNPs have potential to be developed as efficient antimicrobial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a highly lethal tumor that often develops resistance to targeted therapy. It is shown that Tank‐binding kinase 1 (TBK1) phosphorylates AGO2 at S417 (pS417‐AGO2), which promotes NSCLC progression by increasing the formation of microRNA‐induced silencing complex (miRISC). High levels of pS417‐AGO2 in clinical NSCLC specimens are positively associated with poor prognosis. Interestingly, the treatment with EGFR inhibitor Gefitinib can significantly induce pS417‐AGO2, thereby increasing the formation and activity of oncogenic miRISC, which may contribute to NSCLC resistance to Gefitinib. Based on these, two therapeutic strategies is developed. One is jointly to antagonize multiple oncogenic miRNAs highly expressed in NSCLC and use TBK1 inhibitor Amlexanox reducing the formation of oncogenic miRISC. Another approach is to combine Gefitinib with Amlexanox to inhibit the progression of Gefitinib‐resistant NSCLC. This findings reveal a novel mechanism of oncogenic miRISC regulation by TBK1‐mediated pS417‐AGO2 and suggest potential therapeutic approaches for NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) are vital environmental concerns due to their low biodegradability and long-term persistence. Catalytic combustion technology is one of the more commonly used technologies for the treatment of CVOCs. Catalysts with high low-temperature activity, superior selectivity of non-toxic products, and resistance to chlorine poisoning are desirable. Here we adopted a plasma treatment method to synthesize a tin-doped titania loaded with ruthenium dioxide (RuO2) catalyst, possessing enhanced activity (T90%, the temperature at which 90% of dichloromethane (DCM) is decomposed, is 262 °C) compared to the catalyst prepared by the conventional calcination method. As revealed by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction, the high surface area of the tin-doped titania catalyst and the enhanced dispersion and surface oxidation of RuO2 induced by plasma treatment were found to be the main factors determining excellent catalytic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Cyanobacteria have an inherited advantage in phosphonate phytoremediation. However, studies on phosphonate metabolism in cyanobacteria are rare and mostly focus on physiology and ecology. Here, C‐P lyase gene cluster regulation in an undomesticated thermophilic Synechococcus OS‐B′ was examined in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, a unicellular cyanobacterial model. Phylogenetic and cluster synteny analysis of C‐P lyase genes revealed a closer relationship between Syn OS‐B′ and Thermus thermophilus, than with other cyanobacteria. Pho boxes were identified in the 5′‐end‐flanking region of the C‐P lyase gene cluster, through which the downstream gene expression was regulated in a phosphate concentration‐dependent manner. Unexpectedly, the phosphate concentration that thoroughly inhibited Pho boxes was almost two orders of magnitude higher than that of any natural or anthropogenic wastewater reported so far. The Pho boxes mediated regulation was achieved through the Pho regulon two‐component system, and the absence of either SphS or SphR ablated the cell's ability to sense ambient phosphate changes. The three tandems of Pho boxes maintained inequivalent roles, of which the third tandem was not essential; however, it played a role in adjusting Pho boxes response in both positive and negative manner under phosphorus limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms play an important role in plant growth and development. In particular, endophytic fungi is one of the important kinds of microorganisms and has a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship with host plants. Endophytic fungi have many substantial benefits to host plants, especially for woody plants, such as accelerating plant growth, enhancing stress resistance, promoting nutrient absorption, resisting pathogens and etc. However, the effects of endophytic fungi on the growth and development of woody plants have not been systematically summarized. In this review, the functions of endophytic fungi for the growth and development of woody plants have been mainly reviewed, including regulating plant growth (e.g., flowering, root elongation, etc.) by producing nutrients and plant hormones, and improving plant disease, insect resistance and heavy metal resistance by producing secondary metabolites. In addition, the diversity of endophytic fungi could improve the ability of woody plants to adapt to adverse environment. The components produced by endophytic fungi have excellent potential for the growth and development of woody plants. This review has systematically discussed the potential regulation mechanism of endophytic fungi regulating the growth and development of woody plants, it would be of great significance for the development and utilization of endophytic fungi resource from woody plants for the protection of forest resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their atomically dispersed active centers, single‐atom nanozymes (SAzymes) have unparalleled advantages in cancer catalytic therapy. Here, loaded with chlorin e6 (Ce6), a hydrothermally mass‐produced bimetallic silicate‐based nanoplatforms with atomically dispersed manganese/gadolinium (Mn/Gd) dual sites and oxygen vacancies (OVs) (PMnSAGMSNs‐V@Ce6) is constructed for tumor glutathione (GSH)‐triggered chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and O2‐alleviated photodynamic therapy. The band gaps of silica are significantly reduced from 2.78 to 1.88 eV by doping with metal ions, which enables it to be excited by a 650 nm laser to produce electron‐hole pairs, thereby facilitating the generation of reactive oxygen species. The Gd sites can modulate the local electrons of the atom‐catalyzed Mn sites, which contribute to the generation of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Tumor GSH‐triggered Mn2+ release can convert endogenous H2O2 to •OH and realize GSH‐depletion‐enhanced CDT. Significantly, the hydrothermally generated OVs can not only capture Mn and Gd atoms to form atomic sites but also can elongate and weaken the O‐O bonds of H2O2, thereby improving the efficacy of Fenton reactions. The degraded Mn2+/Gd3+ ions can be used as tumor‐specific magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. All the experimental results demonstrate the great potential of PMnSAGMSNs‐V@Ce6 as cancer theranostic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lateral wall fractures represent crucial risk factors for postoperative internal fixation failure in intertrochanteric femoral fractures. However, no consensus exists on the type of lateral wall fracture requiring interventional management. This study aimed to investigate the effect of residual lateral wall volume on the postoperative stability of intertrochanteric femur fractures with associated lateral wall fractures, providing valuable reference for the clinical management of the lateral wall. Methods: Eleven bone defect models of intertrochanteric femur fractures with varying residual lateral wall volumes were constructed using finite element analysis. These models were fixed with proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA). Simulations of von Mises stress and displacement distribution of the PFNA and femur during normal walking were conducted. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the correlation between volume and the maximum von Mises stresses and displacements of the PFNA and femur. Results: In all 11 models, the maximum von Mises stress and displacement of the helical blade, intramedullary nail, and femur occurred at the same locations. As residual lateral wall volume increased, the maximum von Mises stress and displacement of the helical blade, intramedullary nail, and maximum femoral displacement gradually decreased. However, the overall trend of the maximum femoral von Mises stress gradually decreased. At 70% retention of the residual lateral wall volume, there was a more pronounced change in the value of the maximum stress change of the helical blade and the intramedullary nail. Statistical analysis, including the Shapiro–Wilk test and Pearson correlation analysis, demonstrated a significant negative correlation between volume and the maximum von Mises stress and displacement of the helical blade, intramedullary nail, and femur. Linear regression analysis further confirmed this significant negative correlation. Conclusion: Finite element analysis of the residual lateral wall revealed a significant correlation between volume and the postoperative stability of intertrochanteric femur fractures. A volume of 70% may serve as the threshold for stabilizing the residual lateral wall. Volume emerges as a novel index for evaluating the strength of the residual lateral walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microRNAs, which are small RNAs of 18–25 nt in length, act as key regulatory factors in posttranscriptional gene expression during plant growth and development. However, little is known about their regulatory roles in response to stressful environments in birch (Betula platyphylla). Here, we characterized and further explored miRNAs from osmotic- and salt-stressed birch. Our analysis revealed a total of 190 microRNA (miRNA) sequences, which were classified into 180 conserved miRNAs and 10 predicted novel miRNAs based on sequence homology. Furthermore, we identified Bp-miR408a under osmotic and salt stress and elucidated its role in osmotic and salt stress responses in birch. Notably, under osmotic and salt stress, Bp-miR408a contributed to osmotic and salt tolerance sensitivity by mediating various physiological changes, such as increases in reactive oxygen species accumulation, osmoregulatory substance contents and Na+ accumulation. Additionally, molecular analysis provided evidence of the in vivo targeting of BpBCP1 (blue copper protein) transcripts by Bp-miR408a. The overexpression of BpBCP1 in birch enhanced osmotic and salt tolerance by increasing the antioxidant enzyme activity, maintaining cellular ion homeostasis and decreasing lipid peroxidation and cell death. Thus, we reveal a Bp-miR408a – BpBCP1 regulatory module that mediates osmotic and salt stress responses in birch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Aluminium (Al) toxicity decreases crop production in acid soils in general, but many crops have evolved complex mechanisms to resist it. However, our current understanding of how plants cope with Al stress and perform Al resistance is still at the initial stage. In this study, the citrate transporter CcMATE35 was identified to be involved in Al stress response. The release of citrate was increased substantially in CcMATE35 over‐expression (OE) lines under Al stress, indicating enhanced Al resistance. It was demonstrated that transcription factor CcNFYB3 regulated the expression of CcMATE35, promoting the release of citrate from roots to increase Al resistance in pigeon pea. We also found that a Long noncoding RNA Targeting Citrate Synthase (CcLTCS) is involved in Al resistance in pigeon pea. Compared with controls, overexpression of CcLTCS elevated the expression level of the Citrate Synthase gene (CcCS), leading to increases in root citrate level and citrate release, which forms another module to regulate Al resistance in pigeon pea. Simultaneous overexpression of CcNFYB3 and CcLTCS further increased Al resistance. Taken together, these findings suggest that the two modules, CcNFYB3‐CcMATE35 and CcLTCS‐CcCS, jointly regulate the efflux and synthesis of citrate and may play an important role in enhancing the resistance of pigeon pea under Al stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Glycine‐rich RNA‐binding proteins (GRPs) have been implicated in the responses of plants to environmental stresses, but the function of GRP genes involved in salt stress and the underlying mechanism remain unclear. In this study, we identified BpGRP1 (glycine‐rich RNA‐binding protein), a Betula platyphylla gene that is induced under salt stress. The physiological and molecular responses to salt tolerance were investigated in both BpGRP1‐overexpressing and suppressed conditions. BpGRF3 (growth‐regulating factor 3) was identified as a regulatory factor upstream of BpGRP1. We demonstrated that overexpression of BpGRF3 significantly increased the salt tolerance of birch, whereas the grf3‐1 mutant exhibited the opposite effect. Further analysis revealed that BpGRF3 and its interaction partner, BpSHMT, function upstream of BpGRP1. We demonstrated that BpmiR396c, as an upstream regulator of BpGRF3, could negatively regulate salt tolerance in birch. Furthermore, we uncovered evidence showing that the BpmiR396c/BpGRF3 regulatory module functions in mediating the salt response by regulating the associated physiological pathways. Our results indicate that BpmiR396c regulates the expression of BpGRF3, which plays a role in salt tolerance by targeting BpGRP1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: As a multifunctional hormone‐like molecule, melatonin exhibits a pleiotropic role in plant salt stress tolerance. While actin cytoskeleton is essential to plant tolerance to salt stress, it is unclear if and how actin cytoskeleton participates in the melatonin‐mediated alleviation of plant salt stress. Here, we report that melatonin alleviates salt stress damage in pigeon pea by activating a kinase‐like protein, which interacts with an actin‐depolymerizing factor. Cajanus cajan Actin‐Depolymerizing Factor 9 (CcADF9) has the function of severing actin filaments and is highly expressed under salt stress. The CcADF9 overexpression lines (CcADF9‐OE) showed a reduction of transgenic root length and an increased sensitivity to salt stress. By using CcADF9 as a bait to screen an Y2H library, we identified actin depolymerizing factor‐related phosphokinase 1 (ARP1), a novel protein kinase that interacts with CcADF9. CcARP1, induced by melatonin, promotes salt resistance of pigeon pea through phosphorylating CcADF9, inhibiting its severing activity. The CcARP1 overexpression lines (CcARP1‐OE) displayed an increased transgenic root length and resistance to salt stress, whereas CcARP1 RNA interference lines (CcARP1‐RNAi) presented the opposite phenotype. Altogether, our findings reveal that melatonin‐induced CcARP1 maintains F‐actin dynamics balance by phosphorylating CcADF9, thereby promoting root growth and enhancing salt tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the CIPK family, the CBL-interacting protein kinases have shown crucial roles in hormone signaling transduction, and response to abiotic stress in plant developmental processes. The CIPK family is characterized by conserved NAF/FISL (Asn-Ala-Phe) and PPI (protein-phosphatase interaction) domains in the C-terminus. However, little data has been reported about the CIPK family in apple. A total of 34 MdCIPK genes were identified from the apple genome in this study and were later divided into two groups according to the CIPK domains, characterized by gene structure and chromosomal distribution, and then mapped onto 17 chromosomes. All MdCIPK genes were expressed in the four apple tissues (leaf, root, flower, and fruit). In addition, the MdCIPK gene expression profile showed that five members among them revealed enhanced expression during the pollen tube growth stages. The MdCIPK4 was the most expressive during the entire fruit development stages. Under stress conditions 21 MdCIPK genes transcript levels were up-regulated in response to fungal and salt treatments. This suggested the possible features of these genes’ response to stresses in apples. Our findings provide a new insight about the roles of CIPK genes in apples, which could contribute to the cloning and functional analysis of CIPK genes in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum (Mo)‐based nanozymes have been attracting increasingly extensive attention in photocatalytic antitumor field due to their versatile physicochemical properties, whereas the limited light capture rate and high recombination rate of photogenerated carriers seriously impedes their further development. Herein, MoO3‐starring silica nanozymes with hyaluronic acid modification (HMMSNs@HA) are innovated by hydrogenation to simultaneously achieve oxygen vacancies (OVs) engineering and tumor adaptive accumulation for the second near‐infrared (NIR‐II, 1064 nm) light‐potentiated thermal‐catalytic therapy. The hydrogenation‐regulated OVs can narrow the band gap of HMMSNs from 2.66 to 1.16 eV, achieving optimal optical absorption in NIR‐II region. Additionally, HMMSNs hold high separation efficacy of electron‐hole pairs to facilitate the generation of reactive oxygen species under laser irradiation. Significantly, HMMSNs@HA are stable in tumor microenvironment, while can degrade in normal physiological conditions, thereby offering tumor‐adaptive accumulation. Synchrotron radiation‐based extended X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy reveals that OVs enabling the Mo4+ and Mo5+ formation, which can react with tumor endogenous H2O2 to produce hydroxyl radicals. Furthermore, OVs‐induced localized surface plasmon resonance effect endows the nanozymes with photothermal conversion efficacy of 32.3%, which affords NIR‐II‐excited photonic hyperthermia‐enhances catalytic therapy. All the experimental results demonstrate the high safety and superiorities of HMMSNs@HA for NIR‐II‐initiate therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a natural phenolic compound extracted from the Labiatae family and is a natural antioxidant. In this study, walnut oil added with RA was treated with different ultraviolet radiations, and stabilization effects in terms of the same conditions (0.2 mg/g) were compared with synthetic antioxidant (BHT). In order to compare the effectiveness of three UV treatments, different lab tests were conducted, namely, the acid value, peroxide value, iodine value, anisidine value, DPPH free radical scavenging rate, and malondialdehyde content. The enhanced UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C radiation intensities have increased the oxidation stability of RA-added walnut oil, of which UV-B has the greatest influence on the oxidative stability of walnut oil. When both RA and BHT were added at 0.2 mg/g, the antioxidant effect of RA is superior to the general antioxidant BHT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses how residents can safely access shelters from their buildings. Firstly, we investigated Xiaying Village, a typical community with severe buildings damage at the epicentre of the Ms5.0 magnitude earthquake in Tonghai that occurred on August 13, 2018, and found that the injured residents when escaping resulted from the damage to masonry buildings. Secondly, a probabilistic approach combining response spectrum and allowable maximum acceleration is proposed to estimate the damage risk of masonry buildings with inadequate seismic performance in old communities. Thirdly, three models are proposed to assess the risk of the escape path, which include all scenarios of the escape of residents to shelters. Finally, an accessibility analysis of the paths that residents may choose to escape to the shelter is presented. The results of the community escape case study in the Tonghai earthquake show that the probabilistic approach to estimating the escape risk is feasible, and the number of damaged buildings in the escape path dictates the accessibility of residents to the shelter. The proposed method is important for guiding old community residents to escape when a strong earthquake strikes, and it is an effective way to improve community disaster resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, proanthocyanidins-functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposites were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. The prepared Fe3O4 nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD), physical property measurement system (PPMS), particle size analyzer, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). FTIR results indicated that the obtained products were coated with proanthocyanidins. The SEM and TEM results, as well as particle size distribution analysis, revealed that the obtained products were spherical particles with average diameter of 3 2 8. 6 2 ± 2 6. 7 5 nm. XRD and PPMS characterization confirmed that the Fe3O4 nanoparticles have a cubic spinel structure with magnetic properties. The performance of the Fe3O4 nanocomposites for removing organic dyes in an aqueous solution was investigated. The synthesized products were found to be effective on removing various organic dyes, such as Methylene blue (MB), neutral red (NR) and Rhodamine B (RhB), indicating their considerable potential as efficient dyes adsorbents for wastewater treatment. Proanthocyanidins-functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposites were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. The obtained Fe3O4 nanocomposites can efficiently remove the organic dyes in an aqueous solution. Proanthocyanidins-functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanocomposites had the potential to be developed as efficient dyes adsorbents for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MYB transcription factor (TF) is one of the largest superfamilies that play a vital role in multiple plant biological processes. However, the MYB family has not been comprehensively identified and functionally verified in Cajanus cajan, which is the sixth most important legume crop. Here, 170 CcR2R3‐MYBs were identified and divided into 43 functional subgroups. Segmental and tandem duplications and alternative splicing events were found and promoted the expansion of the CcR2R3‐MYB gene family. Functional prediction results showed that CcR2R3‐MYBs were mainly involved in secondary metabolism, cell fate and identity, developmental processes, and responses to abiotic stress. Cis‐acting element analysis of promoters revealed that stress response elements were widespread in the above four functional branches, further suggesting CcR2R3‐MYBs were extensively involved in abiotic stress response. The transcriptome data and qRT‐PCR results indicated that most of the CcR2R3‐MYB genes responded to various stresses, of which the expression of CcMYB107 was significantly induced by drought stress. Overexpression of CcMYB107 enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity and increased proline and lignin accumulation, thus improving the drought resistance of C. cajan. Furthermore, Overexpression of CcMYB107 up‐regulated the expression of stress‐related genes and lignin biosynthesis genes after drought stress. Our findings established a strong foundation for the investigation of biological function of CcR2R3‐MYB TFs in C. cajan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Novel catalysts for CVOCs removal present excellent low-temperature activity and high chlorine resistance. • WO x loading affects the surface species morphology while polymer structure at 10% loading shows the best performance. • The RuO 2 -WO x /Sn 0.2 Ti 0.8 O 2 catalysts exhibit highly stable activity in both dry and wet conditions. • Experimental and computational results prove WO 2 Cl 2 to be the main species for tungsten loss on chlorine poisoned catalysts. • The removal performance of CB, TCE and DCM by the cordierite catalyst is validated. The development of catalysts with high activity, selectivity, and durability is crucial for the catalytic oxidation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs). Although acid-modified supports are widely used in catalysis to improve the catalytic activity at low temperature, the acid sites are easily deactivated by Cl poisoning, and the poisoning mechanism remains unclear. Here, a series of RuO 2 -WO x /Sn 0.2 Ti 0.8 O 2 catalysts were synthesized for dichloromethane (DCM) catalytic oxidation. Spectroscopic characterizations revealed that the loading amount of tungsten oxide highly affects the structure of the surface species and, consequently, the low-temperature catalytic activity. SEM, XRD and DFT calculations elucidated that the loss of tungsten species in the form of WO 2 Cl 2 is the main reason for the catalyst deactivation. By loading RuO 2 , the loss of tungsten species could be effectively avoided via the Deacon reaction. The cordierite catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic activity for the oxidation of different types of CVOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, monoethanolamine (MEA) was applied as a solvent for the extraction of polyphenols from lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) pomace. In addition to solvent extraction an in situ DES could be formed with the secondary metabolites to obtain higher extraction yield. FT-IR, DSC, and TGA were used to validate MEA-based in situ DESs with reference compound. And the reusability of the solvent system still reached about 70.2% after the fifth cycles. The Box-Behnken experimental design method was used to determine the extraction efficiency under optimal conditions in practical applications, and the highest extraction yields of polyphenols increased 1.06–1.21 folds higher than that of traditional solvents. In addition, the extraction mechanism was studied using density functional theory. In summary, this study proposed a green and sustainable strategy to replace traditional solvents for targeted extraction of polyphenols from plants. [Display omitted] • Fully utilize polyphenol resources in by-products of Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. • Improve extraction efficiency by forming in-situ DESs with polyphenols in pomace. • The solvent can be recovered by bubbling CO 2 , and it can be used for 5 cycles. • The extraction method mentioned in this paper has never been reported. • Clarify the extraction mechanism by density functional theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Tb 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ phosphors were successfully synthesized by a precipitation method. The pure Tb 3 Al 5 O 12 phase was obtained in the synthesized Tb 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ phosphors after heat treatments at 500 °C in air for 3 h. The excitation spectra of Tb 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ phosphors include excitation bands corresponding to Tb 3+ and Ce 3+ ions. Under the excitation at 455 nm, Tb 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ phosphors show emission band at around 553 nm. The critical doping concentration of Ce 3+ in Tb 3 Al 5 O 12 is 6mol%, which shows the highest emission intensity. White light-emitting diodes were fabricated by combining InGaN-based blue light-emitting diodes with Tb 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ and Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ phosphors. The Tb 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ based white light-emitting diode shows a lower color temperature than that of Y 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ based white light-emitting diode. The experimental results clearly indicate that the prepared Tb 3 Al 5 O 12 :Ce 3+ has potential applications in white light emitting diodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flavonoids are important secondary metabolites in the plant growth and development process. As a medicinal plant, pigeon pea is rich in secondary metabolites. As a flavonoid, there are few studies on the regulation mechanism of naringenin in plant stress resistance. In our study, we found that naringenin can increase the pigeon pea's ability to tolerate salt and influence the changes that occur in flavonoids including naringenin, genistein and biochanin A. We analyzed the transcriptome data after 1 mM naringenin treatment, and identified a total of 13083 differentially expressed genes. By analyzing the metabolic pathways of these differentially expressed genes, we found that these differentially expressed genes were enriched in the metabolic pathways of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism and so on. We focused on the analysis of flavonoid biosynthesis related pathways. Among them, the expression levels of enzyme genes CcIFS , CcCHI and CcCHS in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway had considerably higher expression levels. By counting the number of transcription factors and the binding sites on the promoter of the enzyme gene, we screened the transcription factors CcMYB62 and CcbHLH35 related to flavonoid metabolism. Among them, CcMYB6 2 has a higher expression level than the others. The hairy root transgene showed that CcMYB62 could induce the upregulation of CcCHI , and promote the accumulation of naringenin, genistein and biochanin A. Our study revealed the molecular mechanism of naringenin regulating flavonoid biosynthesis under salt stress in pigeon pea, and provided an idea for the role of flavonoids in plant resistance to abiotic stresses. • Naringenin enhanced the salt tolerance of pigeon pea. • Naringenin can induce the accumulation of downstream secondary metabolites. • Naringenin induced significant upregulation of CcCHS , CcCHI and CcIFS. • Revealing the potential regulation between CcMYB62 and flavonoid biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supramolecular cross-linked porous lignin based poly (acrylic acid) [LBPAA] was lab-synthesized by copolymerizing lignin grafted N, N'-methylene-bisacrylamide (LM) and acrylic acid. LBPAA successfully acted as a water retention agent with salt resistance and biodegradation for agricultural applications. Lignin was found to improve its swelling behaviors with higher water retention, fast swelling and de-swelling rates. The salt tolerance was stronger in the case of LBPAA (60 PAA/40 LM) [60 wt% PAA/40 wt% LM], i.e., 145.79 g·g −1 higher than PAA at 0.09 mM KCl solution. The effect of ion charges on the LBPAA swelling ratio was greater than that of ionic radius. The weight loss of LBPAA (60 PAA/40 LM) was 5.47%, 4.96%, and 4.56% in the soil of Tangshan, Harbin, and Sian, respectively. The soil moisture content and clay content were observed to decrease gradually with increasing the burial time. The biodegradation test of LBPAA (60 PAA/40 LM) composite exhibited different bacterial colony forming units (CFU), the soil of Tangshan was 2.0 × 10 3 CFU·g −1 soil, 7.0 × 10 3 CFU·g −1 soil for Harbin, and 6.10 × 10 4 CFU·g −1 soil for Sian. However, the organic matter contents in the soils did not have significant changes (Tangshan 6.21 mg·g −1 , Harbin 0.61 mg·g −1 , and Sian 0.405 mg·g −1 ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Castanea mollissima is an outstanding species that represents a valuable natural resource for the global populations. • Castanea mollissima shells were highlighted as remarkable sources of functional ingredients with promising applications in food and nutraceutical fields. • The botanical characteristics, nutritional compositions, biological activities and processing technology of the whole chestnut were critically evaluated. • Investigations on quality evaluation and sustainable utilization of Castanea mollissima are expected. Castanea mollissima BL. is an outstanding species that represents a valuable woody food resource due to consumers' salient beliefs in the health benefits of chestnut consumption. Besides chestnut kernel, the discarded shells of chestnut were highlighted as remarkable sources of functional ingredients with promising applications in food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and industrial raw materials, mainly as natural antioxidants and effective prebiotics. Phytochemical studies reported not only antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, but also anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic and neuroprotective activities. This review aims to summarize the botanical characteristics, nutritional compositions, biological activities and comprehensive utilization of the whole C. mollissima , emphasizing the value of sustainable use in the recovery of bioactive compounds and their potential applications in food and other industries. It will provide a reference for the further development of C. mollissima in the field of multi-functional food and will inspiring investigations on the comprehensive utilization of chestnut and their by-products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root extracts and root exudates from the Taxus chinensis var. mairei had significant promote effects on growth of Camptoteca acuminata seedlings. Four taxane chemicals, cephalomannine, 10-deacetylbacatin III, paclitaxel and 7-Epi-10-deacetyl-paclitaxel, were isolated from T. chinensis var. mairei root extracts and their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis. The chemicals were detected in T. chinensis var. mairei root exudates, rhizosphere soils, and their concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 5.90 μg/g. At an approximate concentration determined in T. chinensis var. mairei root exudates, all four chemicals significantly promoted the growth of C. acuminata seedlings. Therefore, four chemicals from T. chinensis var. mairei root exudates may act as allelochemicals accelerating growth of C. acuminata seedling. There were significant relationships between growth of C. acuminata seedlings, soil properties, enzyme activities and microbial community under allelochemicals' application. The results provide a reference for in-depth understanding of C. acuminata and T. chinensis var. mairei interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single‐atom nanozymes (SAzymes) can effectively mimic the metal active centers of natural enzymes at the atomic level owing to their atomically dispersed active sites, thereby maximizing atom utilization efficiency and density of active sites. Hence, SAzymes can be considered the most promising candidates to replace natural enzymes. Herein, a PEGylated mesoporous Mn‐based single‐atom nanozyme (PmMn/SAE) employing a coordination‐assisted polymerization pyrolysis strategy that uses polydopamine for photothermal‐augmented nanocatalytic therapy is designed. PmMn/SAE exhibits excellent multiple enzymatic performance, including catalase‐like, oxidase‐like, and peroxidase (POD)‐like performance, due to the atomically dispersed Mn active species. As a result, PmMn/SAE not only catalyzes the decomposition of endogenous H2O2 to generate O2 for relieving hypoxia inside the tumor but also transfers electrons to O2 to produce superoxide radicals to kill tumor cells. Meanwhile, PmMn/SAE is able to trigger Fenton‐like reactions to generate highly toxic hydroxyl radicals to induce cancer cell apoptosis. The POD‐like catalytic mechanism of mMn/SAE is revealed using experimental results and density functional theory. Furthermor, PmMn/SAE shows good photothermal conversion efficiency (η = 22.1%) in the second near‐infrared region (1064 nm). Both the in vitro and in vivo experimental results indicate that PmMn/SAE can effectively kill cancer cells through photothermal‐enhanced catalytic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melatonin improves plant resistance to multiple stresses by participating in the biosynthesis of metabolites. Flavonoids are an important family of plant secondary metabolites and are widely recognized to be involved in resistance; however, the crosstalk between melatonin and flavonoid is largely unknown. We found that the resistance of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) to salt, drought, and heat stresses were significantly enhanced by pre-treatment with melatonin. Combined transcriptome and LC-ESI-MS/MS metabolomics analyses showed that melatonin significantly induced the enrichment of flavonoids and mediated the reprogramming of biosynthetic pathway genes. The highest fold-increase in expression in response to melatonin treatment was observed for the CcF3´H family, which encodes an enzyme that catalyses the biosynthesis of luteolin, and the transcription factor CcPCL1 directly bonded to the CcF3´H-5 promoter to enhance its expression. In addition, salt stress also induced the expression of CcPCL1 and CcF3´H-5 , and their overexpression in transgenic plants greatly enhanced salt tolerance by promoting the biosynthesis of luteolin. Overall, our results indicated that pre-treatment of pigeon pea with melatonin promoted luteolin biosynthesis through the CcPCL1 and CcF3´H-5 pathways, resulting in salt tolerance. Our study shows that melatonin enhances plant tolerance to multiple stresses by mediating flavonoid biosynthesis, providing new avenues for studying the crosstalk between melatonin and flavonoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to evaluate the chemical extraction, chemical composition, and antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the total flavonoids in Willow Buds (TFW). We investigated the optimal extraction of TFW using response surface methodology (RSM). Chemical compounds were analyzed using Q-Orbitrap LC–MS/MS. The DPPH radical scavenging capacity, hydroxy radical inhibitory ability, and superoxide anion radical inhibitory ability were explored to determine the antioxidant properties of flavonoid extractions. The antibacterial effect was assessed via minimal inhibitory concentration. The results demonstrated that the optimal extraction conditions were an ethanol concentration of 50%, a time of 35 min, and a liquid/material ratio of 70:1 mL/g. Under these conditions, the yield of TFW was 7.57%. Eight flavonoids, a phenolic glycoside, and an alkaloid were enriched in the Willow Buds. The TFW exhibited significant antioxidant activity, with IC50 values of 0.18-0.24 mg/mL and antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. TFW may be explored as potential and natural compounds in food and pharmacological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A microdialysis-HPLC was applied in detecting allelochemicals for the first time. • An in-situ detected method without damaging rhizosphere structure was established. • Detection limits were 1.23 µg/g for five phenolic acids. Microdialysis is an important technology in the field of medicine, and with the popularization and development of microdialysis technology, it has been gradually applied to the field of ecology. In this study, microdialysis-HPLC as a new and environmentally friendly in situ technique was developed and applied for the first time to detect phenolic acid allelochemicals in Rehmannia glutinosa rhizosphere. A response surface analysis (RSM) was used to optimize the microdialysis in situ based on the Box–Behnken design (BBD) experiment. The optimum dialysis conditions were obtained as follows: the perfusion solution was a NaCl solution of 200 mmol/L with pH 4, and the dialysis temperature was 37 °C. Under these conditions, the content of phenolic acids in the rhizosphere 10, 20 and 30 cm away from the root was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) detection combined with the standard curve of phenolic acid addition. Compared to traditional methods, microdialysis-HPLC is a simple and environmentally friendly method for the in situ detection of phenolic acids in rhizosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a 'superfruit', the sour and astringent flavor of lingonberries seriously limits consumer acceptance and unravelling the intrinsic link between specific flavor and chemical constituents is urgent. This study proposed a comparative qualitative and quantitative analysis for flavor and functional phytochemicals in lingonberry fruits based on UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). After systematic MRM parameters optimization, the developed method showed good precision (RSD < 4.4%) and recovery (99.89 ∼ 105.21%) within 6 min. The results revealed the distribution of 18 flavor and functional components of lingonberries during different ripening periods. In addition, it was surprisingly found that citric acid (7.94–15.58 mg/g DW) and (+)-catechin (0.52–4.13 mg/g DW) were the components contributing to the sour and astringent flavor of lingonberries, cyanidin-3- O -galactoside (0.48–4.17 mg/g DW) was the primary component affecting color, and benzoic acid (3.67–19.45 mg/g DW) was the typical functional component. Furthermore, biosynthetic gene transcript levels showed positive correlations with the chemical composition metabolic profile in lingonberry fruits at different ripening stages. In conclusion, this work provided a rapid and sensitive analysis and the dynamic changes of flavor and functional phytochemicals for quality control, optimal harvesting time and application of lingonberry fruits. [Display omitted] • Quality control analysis of lingonberry fruits based on UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS method. • The main chemical components of flavor and function were revealed and compared. • The gene expression levels clarified the metabolite profiles during ripening. • This study provided the basic of application on lingonberry fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinolenic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid present only in Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc seed oil. In order to solve the structural instability problem of polyunsaturated fatty acids, pinolenic acid of P. koraiensis seed oil was effectively isolated and purified by the integrated strategy of ethyl esterification followed by urea inclusion for the first time. Under the optimal conditions after the Box-Benhnken Design experimental, ethyl pinolenate with high purity 94.95% could be obtained, and the average content of PNAEE can still reach 86.18%. Then ethyl pinolenate was characterized by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared, and Nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, results showed that ethyl pinolenate was successfully prepared. In addition, the hypolipidemic activity of ethyl pinolenate had been tested in vivo and showed that ethyl pinolenate had obvious hypolipidemic activity. The new strategy for high purity ethyl pinolenate production from P. koraiensis seed oil possesses great potential in food healthy field in the future. Diagram 1. The schematic synthesis process of PNAEE and its hypolipidemic activity evaluation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]