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Deltamethrin (DEL), a commonly used pyrethroid pesticide, results in higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in aquatic animals, which consequently unbalance the redox state. Phlorizin (PHL) is a flavonoid and a natural product promising to prevent or reduce pesticide-induced oxidative stress. Artemia is a micro-crustacean widely used in marine hatcheries and an experimental aquatic organism for environmental toxicology research. This research aimed to evaluate the toxicity of DEL on Artemia and the antioxidative effect of PHL against the toxicity. Results show that 0.08-mg/mL PHL exerted its antioxidative effects on hatching percentage of the cysts in 24-h incubation and on body length and survival rate of Artemia in 12-d culture. After 12-d culture, 12-, 24-, and 36-h DEL exposure showed significant drops in SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px enzyme activities, and significant increases in ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in Artemia (P<0.05). On the contrary, 0.08-mg/mL PHL application improved the enzyme activities and decreased the ROS and MDA levels (P<0.05). Moreover, 0.08-mg/mL PHL significantly increased mRNA expression levels of Cu/Zn SOD, CAT, GST, HO-1, NQO1, and Nrf2, and decreased mRNA expression level of Keap1 in the DEL-exposed Artemia (P<0.05). Therefore, DEL is toxic to Artemia, while PHL alleviates DEL-induced oxidative damage by possibly regulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. This study provided a theoretical basis for PHL to reduce pesticide-induced toxicity in aquatic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional Chinese medicines such as hyperoside-rich Acanthopanax senticosus and Crataegus pinnatifida have been confirmed to exhibit anti-oxidative stress properties. Hyperoside, the main ingredient of numerous antioxidant herbs, may have the ability to postpone the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. This study investigates the possible therapeutic mechanism of hyperoside as a natural antioxidant against Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Caenorhabditis elegans and PC12 cells. Specifically, hyperoside reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and Aβ42-induced neurotoxicity in C. elegans worms. Meanwhile, hyperoside reduced ROS production and increased mitochondrial membrane potentialin Aβ42-induced PC12 cells, which possibly due to the increase of antioxidant enzymes activity and the diminution of malondialdehyde levels. Hoechst 33,342 staining and flow cytometry analysis results suggested that hyperoside reverses cell apoptosis. Network pharmacology predicts potentially relevant hyperoside targets and pathways in AD therapy. As anticipated, hyperoside reversed Aβ42-stimulated downregulation of the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2/HO-1. The PI3K inhibitor LY294002 partially abolished the protective capability of hyperoside. The results of molecular docking further indicated that the PI3K/Akt pathways may be involved in the protection of Aβ42-induced PC12 cells by hyperoside treatment. The study provides theoretical information for research and development of hyperoside as an antioxidant dietary supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics pollution is an urgent public health issue. Biochar is a kind of promising composite for removal antibiotic in aqueous environment. In this study, a novel magnetic graphoxide/biochar composite (mGO/TBC) was synthesized by simple impregnation method and used as an efficient and recyclable persulfate (PS) activator for degradation and removal of sulfonamides (SAs) and quinolones (QNs) antibiotics. Based on the synergism pre-adsorption and degradation between graphoxide and biochar, the removal rates of mGO/TBC on sarafloxacin hydrochloride, sulfadimethoxine, sulfapyridine, sulfadoxine, sulfamonomethoxine, sulfachloropyridazine, enrofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin were increased above 95%. Moreover, the mGO/TBC could be reused at least seven times after degradation-recovery cycles. Quenching experiment and ESR analysis proved that 1O2, •OH, and SO4•− from mGO/TBC/PS system were the primary oxidation active species to degrade SAs and QNs. It is a promising substrate for antibiotic bioremediation with good application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile and efficient oxidation of alcohol by Fe2+ activating persulfate was performed and a homogeneous/biphasic reaction switch strategy was proposed to regulate the oxidation process. Na2S2O8 and FeSO4 were employed as the oxidant and the source of activator Fe(II), respectively. Fe2+ efficiently excited persulfate, endowing persulfate with powerful oxidation activity. Benefited from this, the oxidation of benzylic primary alcohols and cyclic secondary alcohols could proceed to give the corresponding aldehydes or ketones with good yields (85.2–98.5%) under the optimal conditions of 60 °C, 1.5 mol equivalent Na2S2O8 and 0.3 mol equivalent Fe2+ to substrate in a water/dichloroethane biphase system. Moreover, the primary alcohols were one-step oxidized into carboxylic acids with high selectivity by raising reaction temperature, increasing the amount of oxidant and switching from biphasic reaction to the water/MeCN homogeneous phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel absorbents were synthesized for the first time by banana and pomegranate peels using diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) modification to eliminate Cd(II) and Ni(II) of sewage. The DTPA-modified peels performed significantly higher adsorption capacity than unmodified materials. The maximum adsorption capacities of DTPA-modified banana/pomegranate peel were 46.729/46.296 mg/g for Cd(II), and 29.240/16.611 mg/g for Ni(II). Adsorption isotherm and kinetics models were simulated to determine their removal efficiency and potential for recovery of these two heavy metals. As the results, the adsorption reached equilibrium within 5 min and was well described by the pseudo-second order model and Langmuir isotherm. The surface morphology analysis of the synthetic materials by Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, implied that ion exchange, complexation, and physical adsorption may together contribute to Cd(II) and Ni(II) loading on DTPA-modified peels. This study demonstrates the feasibility of waste peels as cost-efficient bio-absorbents to remove Cd(II) and Ni(II) in sewage systems, and discovers potential adsorption mechanism of efficiency improvements after DTPA modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monascus yellow pigments (MYPs), as food colorants, are of great interest to the food industry, because of their beneficial biological activities. In this study, a comparative metabolomics strategy revealed the metabolic regulatory mechanism of MYP overproduction, comparing ammonium chloride with peptone as nitrogen sources. Metabolomics-based multivariate regression modeling showed that metabolic biomarkers/modules, such as glucose, lactate, and the pentose phosphate (PP) pathway, were closely associated with the biosynthesis of MYPs. Exogenous addition of glucose increased production of MYPs, whereas lactate reduced it. Inhibition of the PP pathway with dehydroepiandrosterone decreased MYP production, while increasing the shunting production of orange and red pigments. All these treatments significantly changed the expression profiles of the pigment biosynthetic gene cluster and the mycelial morphology. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of elucidating the mechanism of MYP biosynthesis by comprehensive metabolomics analysis, as well as discovering potential engineering targets of efficiency improvements to commercial MYP production. Key points: • Comparative metabolomics revealed the biomarkers/modules of MYP production. • A rational exogenously adding strategy was implemented to regulate MYP synthesis. • Expression profiles of gene cluster and mycelial morphology were characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In order to elucidate the antibacterial activity and mechanism of S. alboflavus TD-1 active metabolites, the minimal inhibitory concentration of R. solanacearum and other effects on cell wall, cell membrane, nucleic acid, protein and cell morphology were studied. Besides, based on LCMS-IT-TOF, the active metabolites of S. alboflavus TD-1 were preliminarily analyzed. Results: In this study, We found that the active metabolites had obvious inhibitory effect on R. solanacearum, and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of R. solanacearum was 3.125 mg/mL. And the treatment of 10 mg/mL active metabolites can increase the permeability of R. solanacearum membranes, destroy the cell wall integrity, inhibit the synthesis of bacterial nucleic acids and proteins, and cause leakage of bacterial nucleic acids and proteins, obstruct the normal expression of proteins and destroy their bacterial morphology. At the same time, We speculated the molecular weights corresponding to the six compounds were 618, 615, 615, 615, 646, 646, respectively among the active metabolites, and it was found that were highly unstable. Conclusions: The active metabolites produced by S. alboflavus TD-1 liquid fermentation contain components that can significant inhibitory effects on R. solanacearum. It had the potential to develop biocontrol agents against bacterial wilt and be a kind potential sources for the preparation of functional anti-pathogenic microbial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—The paper notes the interest of the population in bakery products with various functional additives instead of traditional wheat bread. It presents a method for preparing bread fortified with crushed safflower seeds, which was developed according to the following recipe: wheat flour (564 g), safflower seeds (60 g), salt (10 g), pressed yeast (54 g), vegetable oil (13 g), sugar (35 g), and drinking water (284 g). Whole-ground safflower seeds are a nontraditional vegetable additive—a source of high-grade vegetable protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids (including linoleic and linolenic acids), dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The effect of the whole-ground safflower seed additive to texture properties was studied. The water absorption capacity of the experimental sample was found to be 7% lower than that of the control (without safflower), which is explained by the hydrophobicity of the whole-ground safflower seed additive due to the high fat content. A change in the rheological parameters of the experimental sample due to the chemical composition of the introduced additive was revealed. During the experiment, the organoleptic and physicochemical parameters of bread were studied. The experimental samples had a smooth, crack-free surface, uniform porosity and light-yellow color in the fracture, and taste and smell peculiar to this type of product, which had a pleasant, delicate flavor and aroma of the additive. A slight increase in the indicators of porosity, acidity, shape stability and humidity compared with the control sample was noted. The technological scheme of production and the recipe of bread with the addition of whole-ground safflower seeds were worked out; the optimal technological parameters of production were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aspergillus flavus is a saprophytic fungus that contaminates crops with carcinogenic aflatoxin. In the present work, the antifungal effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from Streptomyces alboflavus TD-1 against A. flavus were investigated. VOCs from 8-day-old wheat bran culture of S. alboflavus TD-1 displayed strong inhibitory effects against mycelial growth, sporulation, and conidial germination of A. flavus. Severely misshapen conidia and hyphae of A. flavus were observed by scanning electron microscopy after exposure to VOCs for 6 and 12 h, respectively. Rhodamine 123 staining of mitochondria indicated that mitochondria may be a legitimate antifungal target of the VOCs from S. alboflavus TD-1. Furthermore, the VOCs effectively inhibited aflatoxin B1 production by downregulating genes involved in aflatoxin biosynthesis. Dimethyl trisulfide and benzenamine may play important roles in the suppression of A. flavus growth and production of aflatoxin. The results indicate that VOCs from S. alboflavus TD-1 have tremendous potential to be developed as a useful bio-pesticide for controlling A. flavus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing highly active catalysts to promote the electrocatalytic glucose oxidation (EGO) is a crucial demand for non-enzymatic glucose sensing. Herein, we reported the use of nitrogen and sulfur co-doped graphene (NSG) as a novel support material for anchoring CuO nanoparticles and obtained CuO/NSG was employed as an efficient EGO catalyst for non-enzymatic glucose sensing. The results showed that the NSG endowed the CuO/NSG with large surface area, increased structural defects, improved conductivity, and strong covalent coupling between NSG and CuO. Owing to the significant contribution of NSG and the synergistic effect of NSG and CuO, the CuO/NSG exhibited a remarkably higher EGO activity than CuO and CuO/reduced graphene oxide. The CuO/NSG-based sensor displayed excellent glucose sensing performances with a considerably low detection limit of 0.07 μM. These findings elucidate that the NSG is a promising support material for non-enzymatic glucose detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amperometric determination of chemical oxygen demand (COD) reported by Quan Xie's group (Electrochem Commun 9:2281, ), was a rapid, green and simple COD evaluation method. This work focused on testing and verifying this method by using a home-made boron-doped diamond (BDD) film as anode and optimizing the experiment conditions. The BDD thin film electrode was employed as anode and the electrochemical process was run with different experimental parameters including counter electrode, electrode gap, applied potential, electrolyte pH, and temperature. Standard samples were determined in the optimum conditions, a linear range of 19.2-11,600 mg l COD and a low detection limit of 0.192 mg l COD were well established with the present approach. The COD value of the simulated organic wastewater determined by this method agreed well with the standard dichromate method, and it showed good accuracy, stability, and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that defined a set of transformation associated genes whose up-regulation has implications for understanding Src kinase mediated transformation. Role of Src kinase in the development and progression of human colon cancer; Details on the index of transformation; Correlation between gene expression patterns and transformation indices.

Presents an abstract for the article on the identification of c-myc target genes using a rat cDNA microarray.

Presents an abstract for the article on the use of the rat gene index to examine gene expression patterns from Src-transformed rat fibroblasts.