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To investigate the effects of discharge plasma on Agropyron mongolicum seeds, various treatments including direct exposure to discharge plasma, combined treatment with discharge plasma and plasma-activated water (PAW) were applied to the seeds. The changes in germination rate, MDA content, and volatile compound levels of Agropyron mongolicum seeds after different treatments were examined. The results showed that the direct effect of plasma had no significant effect on the MDA content or germination rate of Agropyron mongolicum seeds due to the limited penetration depth. However, the combined effect of plasma and activated water could cause active nitrogen and oxygen particles to enter the seeds and cause oxidative stress damage. After 18 h of combined treatment, the MDA content increased significantly, and the germination rate decreased to below the semilethal dose, which was 33.44 %. After plasma treatment, 55 volatile compounds, mainly alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, were identified from the seeds of Agropyron mongolicum. Due to the oxidation and modification of the plasma, the content of most aldehydes increased with increasing reaction time. After screening, 13 volatile organic compounds could be used as potential markers to distinguish between different treatment methods. These results reveal the mechanism underlying the biological effects of plasma treatment on Agropyron mongolicum seeds. [Display omitted] • PAW treatment can reduce the seed germination rate by half compared to the control group (CK). • The MDA content of the seeds treated with PAW was significantly higher than that of the CK. • Seed survival rate is linearly correlated with volatile compounds. • The changes of volatile substances in seeds after plasma treatment and the related mechanism were revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effects of plasma-activated water (PAW) on gene expression, the combined treatment of PAW and discharge plasma on Astragalus adsurgens Pall seeds were performed, and then the gene expression of seedlings after treatmentwas analyzed at the molecular level. A needle array-plate dielectric-barrier discharge plasma was used to treat Astragalus adsurgens Pall seeds for 1, 2, and 3 h, and PAW was prepared at the same time to cultivate seeds. When the treatment time was 3 h, the survival rate of Plasma + PAW seedlings was only 9.2% of that of the CK. The Astragalus adsurgens Pall seedlings were analyzed using reactive oxygen species (ROS) and RNA-Seq. The ROS content of the seedlings in treatment group was significantly higher than that in the CK after 3 days of culture, that PAW cultivated can cause oxidative stress damage to Astragalus adsurgens Pall. The enzyme activity of the treated plant increased and the metabolic rate was accelerated. It helped to regulate the growth process of plants and improve the yield and quality of crops. This study discussed the gene expression of plasma and PAW induced Astragalus adsurgens Pall at the molecular level, and provided experimental data support for plasma and PAW treatment and selection of Astragalus adsurgens Pall. [Display omitted] • Cultivation with PAW can make Astragalus adsurgens Pall median lethal dose. • The ROS content of seedlings inoculated for 3 days was significantly higher than CK. • Treatment groups had a large number of up or down regulated gene expression. • This study is of great significance to the breeding of A. adsurgens Pall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Serum amyloid P component (SAP) is a member of pentraxins. Previous studies indicate that SAP exists in human atherosclerotic aortic intima and the plasma SAP levels are associated with cardiovascular disease. In this study, we characterized SAP in normal and atherosclerotic intima, investigated the source of SAP in atherosclerotic lesions, and assessed the effect of SAP on HDL function. Immunohistochemical staining and electroimmunoassay indicated that SAP is not present in normal aortic intima which excludes the possibility that SAP non-specifically deposits in aortic intima via its binding to microfibrils. Notably, SAP levels are correlated with the severity of atherosclerotic lesions. Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and Western blot analysis revealed that SAP exists in atherosclerotic lesions in multiple forms. Soluble SAP accumulates in the lesions as decamer in free or bound forms via ligand-binding to its ligand(s). Insoluble SAP accumulates in the lesions in covalent-bound forms conjugated to collagen/collagen-like substances via disulfide (–S–S–) bonds. In situ hybridization and RT-PCR analysis revealed that SAP is generated in atherosclerotic lesions, at least partly, by macrophages and smooth muscle cells in neointima. Functional analysis demonstrated that SAP associated with HDL promotes SR-BI-dependent cholesterol efflux and lipid-free SAP enhances ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that SAP is specifically accumulated and expressed in atherosclerotic lesions. SAP may be involved in cholesterol clearance through its role in promoting cholesterol efflux. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To explore the feasibility of using cold plasma as a mutagenesis breeding technology for forage crops, in this study we used the Medicago sativa L. cultivar, Zhongcao No. 3, as the experimental material. The effects of plasma treatments on Medicago sativa L. were analyzed through the use of plasma and activated water. Treatments with plasma and activated water inhibited plant height but promoted root growth. By creating a closed environment, adding a dielectric barrier plate, and combining these two treatment methods, the greatest impact can be had on the growth of Medicago sativa L. seeds. After treatment, the plant heights were approximately half those of the control group, and the root lengths were approximately 1.6 times those of the control group. Through emission spectroscopy, it was found that active particles such as O, NO 2 , and N 2 * were present and could be considered to have produced plasma-activated water through contact with the water surface, thus affecting the survival and growth of the seeds. Whole-genome resequencing (WGRS) was performed on the wild-type and selected mutants after treatment, with an average sequencing depth of 115.93×, an average genome alignment rate of 91.72 %, and an average genome coverage rate of 91.85 %. Various types of mutations were detected and annotated. After filtering, 7,822,324 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms) sites, 2,161,917 indel sites, 200,544 SV sites, 238 CNV (copy number variation) sites. The SNPs, indels (insertions/deletions), and SVs (structural variations) were mainly heterozygous, with heterozygosity rates of 87.13 %, 92.16 %, and 83.49 %, respectively. The CNVs were dominated by low copy numbers, accounting for 53.77 %. These results indicate that plasma treatment has significant effects on plant growth and genome of Medicago sativa L. [Display omitted] • The experimental material is the earliest and largest and most important forage grass cultivated in the world - Medicago sativa L. • Mutagenesis breeding uses a combination of physical and chemical mutagenesis to carry out mutagenesis. • In previous literature and research, but the use of plasma in biological mutagenesis breeding is still a new technology, and there are few relevant reports. • After mutagenesis treatment, the plant traits changed significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma-activated water (PAW) thawing and traditional water thawing were used to study the thawing characteristics and physicochemical properties of beef, and infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and other technologies were used as detection methods. The activation times of plasma-activated water (PAW) were 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 min, respectively. The results showed that, compared with traditional water thawing, the PAW thawing treatment could reduce the total number of bacteria in the meat by 0.5 log, and the medium itself had a more significant bactericidal effect of up to 1.7–2.6 log, and had no adverse effect on the color or pH of the beef. Moreover, PAW maintained the stability of beef fiber, improved the water-holding capacity, inhibited lipid oxidation, and reduced the loss of soluble substances such as proteins. Therefore, PAW thawing is a promising beef thawing technology that provides practical guidance and methods for the wider application of PAW in the field of beef thawing. The thawing characteristics and physicochemical properties of beef by plasma-activated water (PAW) were investigated. It was found that PAW had a positive effect on decontamination bacteria, improving the water-holding capacity of beef, inhibiting lipid oxidation and maintaining the fiber structure of beef. The potential application of PAW in the thawing of frozen meat products was highlighted. • Beef thawed with plasma-activated water (PAW) has higher water-holding capacity. • Beef thawed with PAW has lower lipid oxidation. • PAW has good decontamination ability, and can destroy 70–80% of bacteria. • Beef thawed with PAW had a more intact fiber structure for 30 min at 25 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim is to find better pretreatment method to improve the drying speed of goji berry under electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying process. The drying characteristics and microstructure of goji berry using different pretreatment methods under EHD drying process were investigated. The results showed that the drying rate after pretreatment was significantly higher than those of non-pretreated goji berry, and the different pretreatment methods had different effects on the drying characteristics of goji berry in an EHD drying system. The effects of different pretreatment methods on effective moisture diffusion coefficient were listed in descending order as follows: KOH > NaOH > Na 2 CO 3 > ultrasonic > sucrose ester. The pretreatment has a great influence on the rehydration rate, specific energy consumption and microstructure of goji berry dried by EHD. Two index sequence analysis of infrared spectroscopy during goji berries drying process were established. The difference among five pretreatment methods was analyzed. • Different pretreatments combined with EHD drying significantly improved the drying rate of goji berries. • The two index sequence analysis of FTIR was investigated during goji berries drying process. • The pretreatment significantly affects characteristics, quality and microstructure of goji berry dried by EHD. • The difference among five pretreatment methods of goji berry was analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]