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Flexible electrodes have attracted the interest of a wide range of people because they can monitor human health signals like ECG, EMG and EEG as wearable devices. However, PDMS-based membrane electrodes have the problem of difficulty in depositing metal layers, while fabric electrodes have high contact impedance. Furthermore, the widely used Ag/AgCl electrodes have the shortcomings of skin inflammation or skin irritation. Therefore, we fabricate a skin-like electrical conductive electrode via electroless silver plating on the surface of regenerated cellulose membrane, in which the cellulose membrane is obtained by the dissolution of cotton fiber with green solvent ionic liquid [Bmim]Cl. The as-prepared biocompatible electrode with low skin-electrode contact impedance can be used as a dry electrode for a long-term period of use. The impedance at 700 Hz is only 8 kΩ/cm2, and the conductivity can reach 252 s/cm. After 5 hours of wear, the skin contact impedance of the electrode was only 10 kΩ/cm2 under 700 Hz(when AgNO3 was used at a concentration of 0.20 mol/L). Importantly, the electrodes not only provide a stable and clear ECG signal, but also offer a high level of comfort and low impedance, when used for long-term health monitoring.

Background During the manufacturing and storage, nutrients in infant formulae are sensitive to oxidative degradation and are prone to form unpleasant smells followed by a reduction in bioaccessibility. Therefore, it is possible to prepare microcapsules by embedding functional ingredients in a homogeneous or heterogeneous matrix. Currently, microcapsules used as carriers in dairy are a relatively promising technology. Scope and approach The differences of nutrients in infant formulae and breast milk, and challenges in the fortification of functional ingredients in infant formulae are reviewed. Then we summarize delivery systems that have been used or could potentially be applied to encapsulate the functional ingredients for infant formulae, such as casein, ethyl cellulose, maltodextrin, whey protein, and Maillard reaction products. Besides, the application of liposomes in the food field and the feasibility of liposomes to deliver nutrients in infant formulae are discussed. Key findings and conclusions Nowadays, microcapsules have shown broad application prospects in food science and nutrition. In particular, liposomes, as biocompatible and biodegradable delivery systems, encapsulate essential nutrients for infants, such as lactoferrin, vitamins, and functional lipids. Despite the relative improvements toward the extension of liposome application, additional efforts for its application in infant formulae must be attempted. For the practical application of liposomes in infant formulae, higher quality wall materials with reasonable price should be developed, and their biological assessment including safety and bioaccessibility, should be performed in the future.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is known as a complex genetic disease characterized by genetic and environmental factors. The imbalanced intestinal flora and intestinal mucosal barrier are considered to be related to T2DM. Curcumin has been proved to affect the progression of T2DM. T2DM animal was established by low-dose streptozotocin intraperitoneal injection combined with high-fat diet (HFD) feeding. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and transfer electron microscopy (TEM) were used to observe morphological changes of intestinal tissues of T2DM rats. Insulin and glucose tolerance tests were performed to investigate the influence of curcumin on blood glucose. Curcumin significantly improved the intestinal integrity, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in diabetic rats. The metabolic endotoxemia induced by HFD in diabetic rats was inhibited remarkably. Curcumin reversed gut microbiota dysbiosis in diabetic rats caused by HFD. We demonstrated that curcumin could protect intestinal mucosal barrier, improve insulin resistance and reduce blood glucose in diabetic rats. This study might provide experimental evidence for the prevention and treatment in T2DM.

Our previous studies have shown that the nutritional properties of peanut meal after fermentation are markedly improved. In this study, in order to facilitate the further utilisation of peanut meal, we investigated the effects of its fermentation extract by Bacillus natto (FE) on cognitive ability, antioxidant activity of brain and protein expression of hippocampus of ageing rats induced by d-galactose. Seventy-two female sd rats aged 4–5 months were randomly divided into six groups: normal control group, ageing model group, FE low-dose group, FE medium-dose group, FE high-dose group and vitamin E positive control group. Morris water maze (MWM) test was performed to evaluate their effects on learning and memory ability in ageing rats. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of brain, HE staining and the expression of γ-aminobutyric acid receptor 1 (GABABR1) and N-methyl-d-aspartic acid 2B receptor in the hippocampus of rats were measured. The results show that FE supplementation can effectively alleviate the decrease of thymus index induced by ageing, decrease the escape latency of MWM by 66·06 %, brain MDA by 28·04 %, hippocampus GABABR1 expression by 7·98 % and increase brain SOD by 63·54 % in ageing model rats. This study provides evidence for its anti-ageing effects and is a research basis for potential nutritional benefits of underutilised food by-products.

Background Poly(D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles have potential applications as a vaccine adjuvant and delivery system due to its unique advantages as biodegradability and biocompatibility. Experimental We fabricated cationic solid lipid nanoparticles using PLGA and dimethyl-dioctadecyl-ammonium bromide (DDAB), followed by loading of model antigen OVA (antigen ovalbumin, OVA257-264) to form an OVA@DDAB/PLGA nano-vaccine. And we investigated the intracellular signaling pathway in dendritic cells in vitro and antigen transport pathway and immune response in vivo mediated by an OVA@DDAB/PLGA nano-vaccine. Results In vitro experiments revealed that the antigen uptake of BMDCs after nanovaccine incubation was two times higher than pure OVA or OVA@Al at 12 h. The BMDCs were well activated by p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, the nano-vaccine induced antigen escape from lysosome into cytoplasm with 10 times increased cross-presentation activity than those of OVA or OVA@Al. Regarding the transport of antigen into draining lymph nodes (LNs), the nano-vaccine could rapidly transfer antigen to LNs by passive lymphatic drainage and active DC transport. The antigen+ cells in inguinal/popliteal LNs for the nano-vaccine were increased over two folds comparing to OVA@Al and OVA at 12 h. Moreover, the antigen of nano-vaccine stayed in LNs for over 7 days, germinal center formation over two folds higher than those of OVA@Al and OVA. After immunization, the nano-vaccine induced a much higher ratio of IgG2c/IgG1 than OVA@Al. It also effectively activated CD4+ T, CD8+ T and B cells for immune memory with a strong cellular response. Conclusion These results indicated that DDAB/PLGA NP was a potent platform to improve vaccine immunogenicity by p38 signaling pathway in BMDCs, enhancing transport of antigens to LNs, and higher immunity response. Graphical Abstract

We recently showed that inhibition of hypoxia-induced factor-1α (HIF-1α) decreased acute ischemic stroke-induced blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage. However, factors that induce the upregulation of HIF-1α expression remain unclear. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase played a critical role in reperfusion-induced BBB damage after stroke. However, the role of NADPH oxidase in BBB injury during the acute ischemia stage remains unclear. This study is aimed at investigating the role of NADPH oxidase in BBB injury and the expression of HIF-1α after acute ischemic stroke. A sutured middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was used to mimic ischemic stroke in rats. Our results show that the inhibition of NADPH oxidase by apocynin can significantly reduce the BBB damage caused by 2 h ischemic stroke accompanied by reducing the degradation of tight junction protein occludin. In addition, treatment with apocynin significantly decreased the upregulation of HIF-1α induced by 2 h MCAO. More importantly, apocynin could also inhibit the MMP-2 upregulation. Of note, HIF-1α was not colocalized with a bigger blood vessel. Taken together, our results showed that inhibition of NADPH oxidase-mediated HIF-1α upregulation reduced BBB damage accompanied by downregulating MMP-2 expression and occludin degradation after 2 h ischemia stroke. These results explored the mechanism of BBB damage after acute ischemic stroke and may help reduce the associated cerebral hemorrhage transformation after thrombolysis and endovascular treatment after ischemic stroke.

Ultra-light electromagnetic (EM) wave absorbers with strong absorption bandwidth are highly desired in reducing EM pollution. Herein, a series of nanocomposites with ZnO nanoparticles decorated nanoscale reduced graphene oxide (NRGO) were synthesized via a simple and efficient hydrothermal process. The characterizations reveal that NRGO with layered structure possesses intensive folds and the ZnO nanoparticles are well attached on the surface of NRGO. The EM parameters demonstrate that the EM wave absorption properties of ZnO/NRGO nanocomposite are closely related to the amount of NRGO. The minimum reflection loss (RL) values of ZnO/NRGO-10, ZnO/NRGO-15 and ZnO/NRGO-20 are − 44.4 dB with a thickness of 4.5 mm, − 39.6 dB with a thickness of 2.5 mm and − 18.8 dB with a thickness of 2.0 mm, respectively. The largest effective absorption bandwidths of ZnO/NRGO-10, ZnO/NRGO-15 and ZnO/NRGO-20 are 5.5 GHz at 2.5 mm, 5.2 GHz at 2.5 mm and 5.5 GHz at 2.0 mm, respectively. These outstanding EM wave absorption properties resulting from the multiple reflection, various polarization relaxation processes and synergistic effects between ZnO and NRGO. It is believed that as-synthesized ZnO/NRGO nanocomposite could be used as promising EM wave absorber.

The present work reports the construction of polypyrrole (PPy) hydrogels directly with the as-synthesized PPy nanotubes (PPy-NTs) through infiltration of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) solutions. This method avoids the time-consuming purification of the in-situ formed conducting hydrogels and provides a facile way to incorporate nanostructured conducting polymers evenly into the hydrogel matrix. PPy-NTs/PVA/PAA hydrogels with dual cross-linking networks were prepared through multiple freeze-thawing cycles followed by coordination with iron (III) ions. The tensile and compression strength of the hydrogels are ca. 54 kPa and 160 kPa, respectively. The PPy-NTs/PVA/PAA hydrogel was mainly electronic conducting dominated, and it showed the highest conductivity of ca. 0.04 S/cm after swollen in 0.2 M HCl (with 2wt% of PPy-NTs). Benefited from the high aspect ratio and high conductivity of PPy nanotubes, it is probable to mediate the PPy content and the integrity of the electronic conducting pathways to develop high-performance hydrogel materials used as strain sensors.

Oligosaccharides are one of the major bioactive components in Codonopsis pilosula. The present study was to investigate the protective effect of C. pilosula oligosaccharides (CPO) on d-galactose (D...

Electrocardiography is one of the most significant technologies for detecting cardiovascular diseases. Nowadays, the problems of various electrodes still meet a great challenge. Herein, we design a low cost, environmentally friendly and flexible conductive electrode using cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol as a substrate assembled with conductive polymer polythiophene by in situ oxidative polymerization, and the green solvent 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride as a crosslinking agent. The polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose/PEDOT:PSS(PCPP) composite electrode has excellent features of flexibility, low skin contact impedance and comfortable contact with skin. When the load of EDOT reaches 15 wt%, the electrode is stable and can clearly monitor the characteristic wave of ECG signals. Therefore, based on cellulosic biopolymer and conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS, an environmentally friendly, flexible and stable PCPP composite electrode is obtained and can be a promising candidate applied in the fields of energy storage and ECG sensing.

Herein, binary CuS/BTO and ternary CuS/Ag/BTO composite photocatalysts have been fabricated by anchoring CuS and Ag nanoparticles onto BaTiO3 (BTO) polyhedra. The as-prepared composite photocatalysts were characterized by means of the techniques of transmission/scanning electron microscopy, x-ray powder diffraction, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Transient photocurrent and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements suggest that the ternary 5%CuS/(1%Ag/BTO) composite possesses the highest separation efficiency of electron/hole pairs. The photodegradation experiments were conducted by using simulated sunlight as the light source to decompose Rhodamine B in water solution. The 5%CuS/(1%Ag/BTO) and 5%CuS/BTO composites are demonstrated to have the highest and second highest photodegradation activity, respectively. As compared with that of bare BaTiO3 and CuS, the photoactivity of 5%CuS/(1%Ag/BTO) is increased to 3.3 and 2.0 times, respectively. The electron/hole separation mechanism and the role of localized surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles in the dye photodegradaton were systematically investigated.

Upcycle of waste fabrics has been a promising project since it can reduce textile pollution and provide a prospect to waste management. In this work, a multiple recyclable transparent functional film was fabricated through ionic liquid (IL) assisted regeneration process with a higher yield of 90.40 %, compared with other polymer regeneration process using IL. Fourier Transfer Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis Spectrophotometer, as well as tensile strength test were carried out to explore the performance of the regenerated jute film. This transparent renewable jute film can be made into many functional materials, like packaging materials, electrically conductive films or information storage devices. Furthermore, it can be dissolved in IL and regenerate new films for multiple cycles, which can still maintain a relatively high transparency and a considerable mechanical property. Compared to other fabric recycle process, the solvent and production both can be effectively recycled, which can be considered as a green and sustainable tool to manage waste fabrics.

Electrochemical degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and its metabolite acetyl-sulfamethoxazole (Ac-SMX) by Ti/SnO2-Sb/Er-PbO2 were investigated. Results indicated that the electrochemical degradation of SMX and Ac-SMX followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The rate constants of SMX and Ac-SMX were 0.268 and 0.072 min-1 at optimal current density of 10 and 14 mA/cm2, respectively. Transformation products of SMX and Ac-SMX were identified and the possible degradation pathways, including the cleavage of S-N bond, opening ring of isoxazole and nitration of amino group, were proposed. Total organic carbon removal of SMX was nearly 63.2% after 3 h electrochemical degradation. 22.4% nitrogen of SMX was transformed to NO3-, and 98.8% sulfur of SMX was released as SO42-. According to quantitative structure-activity relationship model, toxicities of SMX and Ac-SMX to aquatic organisms significantly decreased after electrochemical degradation. Electric energy consumption for 90% SMX and Ac-SMX degradation was determined to be 0.58-8.97 and 6.88-44.19 Wh/L at different experimental conditions, respectively. Compared with parent compound SMX, the metabolite Ac-SMX is more refractory and toxic, which emphasizes the importance of taking its metabolites into account when investigating the disposal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater.

In this study, a series of liquid crystal copolyurethanes based on mesogenic biphenyl diol and two aromatic biphenyl diisocyanate were synthesized via polyaddition method. Chemical structure of the...

In this study, wholly aromatic phosphorus-containing thermotropic liquid crystal polymers (TLCP) derived from 6-hydroxy-2-naphthenic acid (HNA), terephthalic acid (TA) and 10-(2,5-Dihydroxypheny)-1...

In this study, three novel main-chain liquid-crystal polyurethanes based on mesogenic diol 4,4ʹ-bis(6-hydroxyhexoxy)biphenyl (BP6), azo diol 4,4ʹ-bis(6-hydroxyhexyloxy)-azobenzene (BHHAB) and 4,4ʹ-...

To enhance the solubility of polyanilines (PANI), polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) was introduced into the polymerization synthesis of PANI with various proportions. The structure and properties of the modified PANIs were characterized by 1H NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, ultraviolet-visible spectrum, etc. It was found that the obtained PANIs doped with PILs were soluble in various organic solvents such as N,N-dimethyl formamide and acetonitrile. Compared with the pure PANI, the PANIs doped by PILs showed remarkable solubility and their chemical structure and conductivity kept integrated.

AIM To screen a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strain for good adaption in alfalfa ensiling and to evaluate its effects on alfalfa ensiling. METHODS AND RESULTS Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) strain ZZU203 was selected due to its superior ability to acidify structural carbohydrate metabolite and alfalfa powder. Alfalfa was ensiled with LP FG1 (from a commercial inoculant), LP ZZU203, or a no-additive control (CK) for 60 d. The two silages with LP additives significantly (P

The synthesis and modification of high performance thermotropic liquid crystal polyesters (TLCP) are still being investigated due to their excellent properties. In this study modification o...

A series of phosphorus-doped hard carbon (PHC-Ts) was fabricated by directly annealing a phosphoric acid solidified epoxy resin over a wide temperature range to study the evolution of P-containing groups and the microstructure with increasing temperature, and to evaluate the Na-storage performance. A correlation between them has been well established. As the carbonization temperature increases, the P-containing groups undergo a transition from P–O and P–C bonds to higher active P–P bonds with a non-monotonic decrease in the interlayer distance. The high number of active P-containing groups and large interlayer distances provide more active sites and fast ion transmission channels, which jointly contribute to the excellent electrochemical performance. The obtained PHC-700 electrodes have the largest interlayer distance and highest total activity with many P–C bonds, showing a high capacity of 379.3 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, a superb rate capability of 158.1 mA h g−1 at 5.0 A g−1, and a long-term cycling stability without the loss of capacity after 6500 cycles at 5.0 A g−1.

Myocardial dysfunction accompanied by severe sepsis could significantly increase the mortality rate of septic patients. This study investigated the effects and the potential mechanisms of sevoflurane preconditioning on septic myocardial dysfunction, which was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS; from Escherichia coli O55:B5; 18 mg/kg) in mice. Results indicated that 1 hour after the administration, LPS induced a significant increase in cell-surface Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), cytoplasmic IKKα protein expression, and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) protein (P0.05), which was attenuated by preconditioning with sevoflurane. Two hours after the administration, inhalation of sevoflurane significantly reduced the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-10 (P0.05). Twelve hours after administration, LPS caused pathological damage to the heart and elevated the serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase-MB (P0.05). Echocardiography indicated that sevoflurane preconditioning significantly improved systolic and diastolic function. The inhalation of sevoflurane inhibited increases in myeloperoxidase (MPO), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), TNF-α, and IL-1β levels (P0.05) induced by endotoxemia, whereas IL-6 release was facilitated. Sevoflurane attenuated the myocardial levels of nitric oxide (P0.05) without an apparent influence on malondialdehyde (MDA) or superoxide dismutase (P0.05). In conclusion, our study indicates that exposure to 2% sevoflurane before LPS challenge is protective against myocardial dysfunction. Sevoflurane preconditioning may attenuate neutrophil infiltration and the release of inflammatory mediators during endotoxemia.

Autophagy plays key roles in the development of acute pancreatitis (AP) and the regulation of impaired autophagy has therapeutic potential. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether pharmacological inhibition of autophagy could ameliorate AP in mice and examine the underlying mechanisms. In current study, by imaging-based high-throughput screening, a novel spautin-1 derivative spautin-A41 was identified as a potent autophagy inhibitor. Mice treated with spautin-A41 were resistant to the cerulein-induced elevation of serum pancreatic enzyme activities and pancreatic apoptosis. Mechanistically, spautin-A41 effectively reduced the expression levels of Class III phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3) kinase complexes and subsequently ameliorated pancreatitis by inhibiting the formation of autophagosome. Therefore, pharmacological inhibition of autophagy by spautin-A41 may serve as new target for treating or lessening the severity of AP.

Electrochemical degradation of sunscreen agent benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and its metabolite 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-OH-BP) was investigated by using a Ti/SnO2-Sb/Ce-PbO2 anode. Results showed that the degradation of BP-3 and 4-OH-BP followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the rate constants were 0.083 and 0.113 min-1 at a current density of 25 mA cm-2, respectively. The electrochemical degradation of BP-3 and 4-OH-BP was efficient over a wide range of pH values, and the degradation was obviously accelerated in the presence of Cl-. Degradation intermediates were identified during the electrochemical process, and the degradation pathways, mainly including hydroxylation, carbonyl group broken from aromatic ring, benzene ring opening and carboxylation, were proposed. Quantitative structure-activity relationship model indicated that the potential risks of BP-3 and 4-OH-BP to fish, daphnia and green algae were decreased with the increase of reaction time. The energy consumption for the degradation of 90% BP-3 and 4-OH-BP was 3.3-62.1 and 3.6-79.5 Wh L-1, respectively. The results illustrate that the electrochemical technique with Ti/SnO2-Sb/Ce-PbO2 anode is expected to be an effective way for removing BP-3 and its metabolite 4-OH-BP from wastewater.

In this research, the effects of drying method, storage temperature, and color protector glucose on anthocyanin preservation in the Lycium ruthenicum Murr. fruit were studied. Compared with hot-air drying, vacuum freeze-drying preserved about 5.8-fold more anthocyanins. The half-life of anthocyanins in the freeze-dried fruit samples with glucose was 3.6 days, 1.8 days, and 1.7 days at 4 °C, 20 °C, and 37 °C, respectively. On the other hand, the half-life values without glucose addition were 2.2 days, 2.3 days, and 2.1 days at each temperature, respectively, indicating that glucose protected anthocyanins at low temperature. The composition and contents of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins in the freeze-dried Lycium ruthenicum Murr., stored for 20 days, were investigated with a HPLC-MS/MS setup. It was found that most anthocyanidins in Lycium ruthenicum Murr. are linked with coumaroyl glucose to form anthocyanins, while glycosylated and acetyl-glycosylated anthocyanins were also detected. Five anthocyanidins were detected: delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, malvidin, and peonidin, and delphinidin accounts for about half of the total amount of anthocyanidins. It is much more economic to conserve anthocyanins in situ with freeze-drying methods and to store the fruits at low temperatures with glucose.

The Xanthomonas outer protein C2 (XopC2) family of bacterial effectors is widely found in plant pathogens and Legionella species. However, the biochemical activity and host targets of these effectors remain enigmatic. Here we show that ectopic expression of XopC2 promotes jasmonate signaling and stomatal opening in transgenic rice plants, which are more susceptible to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola infection. Guided by these phenotypes, we discover that XopC2 represents a family of atypical kinases that specifically phosphorylate OSK1, a universal adaptor protein of the Skp1-Cullin-F-box ubiquitin ligase complexes. Intriguingly, OSK1 phosphorylation at Ser53 by XopC2 exclusively increases the binding affinity of OSK1 to the jasmonate receptor OsCOI1b, and specifically enhances the ubiquitination and degradation of JAZ transcription repressors and plant disease susceptibility through inhibiting stomatal immunity. These results define XopC2 as a prototypic member of a family of pathogenic effector kinases and highlight a smart molecular mechanism to activate jasmonate signaling., XopC2 effectors are present in many plant bacterial pathogens. Here the authors show that XopC2 has kinase activity and enhances disease susceptibility by phosphorylating the OSK1 protein, which increases its interaction with the jasmonate receptor COI1b to promote JA signaling and stomatal opening.

Background Skeletal muscle growth and development are closely associated with the quantity and quality of pork production. We performed a transcriptomic analysis of 12 Longissimus dorsi muscle samples from Tibetan piglets at four postnatal stages of 0, 14, 30, and 60 days using RNA sequencing. Results According to the pairwise comparisons between the libraries of the muscle samples at the four postnatal stages, a total of 4115 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in terms of |log2(fold change)| ≥ 1 and an adjusted P value Conclusions This study revealed GO terms and pathways that could affect the postnatal muscle growth and development in piglets. In addition, this study provides crucial information concerning the molecular mechanisms of muscle growth and development as well as an overview of the piglet transcriptome dynamics throughout the postnatal period in terms of growth and development.

Skin-like electronics on human skin can be operated in real-time and in a non-invasive manner for ECG biosensors. Conductive hydrogels possessing high electrical conductivity, soft and moisturizing properties, have great potential in this field. Herein, we propose to use polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as the skeleton of the hydrogel, the polyethylene-3,4-dioxythiophene:sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) mixture is evenly dispersed among it to form a continuous and interconnected conductive pathway. The prepared conductive hydrogels have an electrical conductivity of 75 S m−1 with high water content (above 80 %) and mechanical properties, leading to sufficiently soft and moisturizing, and can take place of traditionally high-cost Ag/AgCl electrodes. Importantly, these conductive hydrogels are similar to human tissues and can form a naturally seamless interface between the human body and the ECG biosensor device, promoting the high response of obtained electronic signals with low impedance. Therefore, these functionalized conductive hydrogels show excellent application prospects in ECG biosensors.

Lactic acid bacteria are a kind of microorganisms that can ferment carbohydrates to produce lactic acid, and are currently widely used in the fermented food industry. In recent years, with the excellent role of lactic acid bacteria in the food industry and probiotic functions, their microbial metabolic characteristics have also attracted more attention. Lactic acid bacteria can decompose macromolecular substances in food, including degradation of indigestible polysaccharides and transformation of undesirable flavor substances. Meanwhile, they can also produce a variety of products including short-chain fatty acids, amines, bacteriocins, vitamins and exopolysaccharides during metabolism. Based on the above-mentioned metabolic characteristics, lactic acid bacteria have shown a variety of expanded applications in the food industry. On the one hand, they are used to improve the flavor of fermented foods, increase the nutrition of foods, reduce harmful substances, increase shelf life, and so on. On the other hand, they can be used as probiotics to promote health in the body. This article reviews and prospects the important metabolites in the expanded application of lactic acid bacteria from the perspective of bioengineering and biotechnology.

In this study, aromatic–aliphatic thermotropic copolyesters derived from p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxycinnamic acid (HCA), terephthalic acid and polyethylene glycol (PEG) with different ...

In this study, we investigated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation in C57BL/6J mice by using behavioral tests, immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot. We found that LPS treatment leads to sickness behavior and cognitive impairment in mice as shown in the Morris water maze and passive avoidance test, and these effects were accompanied by microglia activation (labeled by ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1, IBA-1) and neuronal cell loss (labeled by microtubule-associated protein 2, MAP-2) in the hippocampus. The levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the serum and brain homogenates were reduced by the LPS treatment, while the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) were increased. In addition, LPS promoted the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the brain homogenates. The Western blot analysis showed that the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway was activated in the LPS groups. Furthermore, VIPER, which is a TLR-4-specific inhibitory peptide, prevented the LPS-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. These data suggest that LPS induced cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation via microglia activation by activating the NF-kB signaling pathway; furthermore, we compared the time points, doses, methods and outcomes of LPS administration between intraperitoneal and intracerebroventricular injections of LPS in LPS-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment, and these data may provide additional insight for researchers performing neuroinflammation research.

A rapid optosensing detection method for tryptamine (TRY) based on one-pot surface-imprinting synthesis methods has been developed. The optosensor consists of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) based on carbon dots (CNs)-embedded covalent-organic frameworks (COFs). The principle of operation depends on adsorbents providing a large number of accessible recognition sites with high affinity and specificity, to achieve both a rapid uptake of and high capacity for TRY. After removing the template molecules, the desired molecular cavities were selected and fixed in a distinct manner to provide a defined chemical microenvironment for the reversible binding of the TRY target molecules. The optosensing system relied on the linear relationship between the fluorescence intensity of the TRY-imprinted polymers and the concentration of TRY in the range of 0.025–0.4 mg kg−1with a detection limit of 7 μg kg−1. The system was used for efficiently detecting TRY in meat samples with recovery values from 91.42% to 119.80%.

In this study, polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) was synthesized and used in the wet spinning of calcium alginate (CaAlg) fiber. PIL was used as an intermediate to coat graphene with outer layer of CaAlg fiber to obtain conductive core-sheath CaAlg/Graphene (CaAlg/G-PIL) fibers. This proposed blend enhances the properties of the fiber due to the π-π and cation-π interactions between PIL and graphene, and the electrostatic interactions between PIL and CaAlg. The composition and chemical structure of the composite fibers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The properties and applications of the composite fibers were characterized by tensile test and a series of electrical conductivity tests. The results show that the modification of PIL realizes non-covalent combination of CaAlg fiber with graphene, improving the electrical conductivity of the fiber.

Although histamine inhibitors have been used in the motility-associated vertigo, the link between histamine and sleep deprivation (SD)-induced vertigo has not been clearly demonstrated. The histamine plasma levels were assayed in the SD volunteers before SD and 24 h after SD. Pinnacle's automated sleep deprivation system was used to establish the female C57BL/6 mice SD model. Histidine decarboxylase inhibitor 4-bromo-3-hydroxybenzoic acid (BHOA), and antihistamine diphenhydramine (DPHM) were injected intraperitoneally to test their effects on SD-induced vertigo. Rotarod tests and vestibular scores 24 and 48 h post SD were utilized to assay the vestibular function. Western blot was used to determine the expression of histidine decarboxylase (HDC) in the vestibular, and PowerChrom was utilized to quantify the concentrations of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) histamine. SD increased plasma concentration of histamine in humans. Upregulated HDC in the vestibular and increased CSF concentration of histamine can be detected in the SD mice, indicating vestibular dysfunction which can be ameliorated by both BHOA and DPHM. Histamine signaling inhibition may ameliorate SD-induced vertigo, and histamine can be considered as a potential treatment target.

The separation of active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is of great significance in determining the efficacy of TCM as well as the pharmacological study of active ingredients, improving the scope of application of TCM and the efficiency of disease prevention and treatment. In the current study, we have successfully synthesized a core-shell structure magnetic microsphere Fe3O4-COF for the separation of α-asarone and β-asarone in the combined decoction of Acorous Tatarinowii Rhizoma (ATR) and Polygalae Radix (PR). The successful synthesis of Fe3O4-COF was demonstrated chemically and morphologically by using five characterizations such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Extraction conditions were investigated and optimized, including adsorbent dosage, adsorption time, sample pH value, elution solvent, elution time and volume of elution solution. Under the optimal experimental conditions, we got a low limit of detection (LOD) of α-asarone and β-asarone were 0.0379 μg/ml and 0.0432 μg/ml, and the relative standard deviations (RSD) were less than 2.3%. And the number and intensity of impurity peaks in the chromatogram after extraction of complex samples were significantly reduced and the good recoveries were still maintained after multiple extractions of complex samples, which showd satisfied specific adsorption and excellent resistance to matrix interference. The successful establishment of this method will provide a new direction for the separation and analysis of active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine.

Two water-soluble polysaccharides named CPP1a and CPP1c were isolated from C. pilosula Nannf. var. modesta L.T.Shen by hot-water extraction and purified by graded alcohol precipitation and DEAE-52 cellulose column. The structure of CPP1c with higher yield has been characterized while its antitumor activities has not been elucidated. In this study, we firstly analyzed the chemical structure of CPP1a. The results of instrumental analysis combined with chemical analysis showed that CPP1a was composed of →1)- β‑ l ‑Rhap‑(4→, →1)- β‑Arap‑(5→, →1)- β‑ d ‑GalpA‑(4→, →1)- β‑ d ‑Galp‑(6→, terminal‑β‑ d ‑Glcp in a molar ratio of 1:12:1:10:3 and its relative and absolute molecular weight were 1.01 × 105 Da and 1.03 × 105 Da respectively. Further, the cytotoxicity assay indicated that CPP1a and CPP1c were more sensitive to HepG2 cells than cervical carcinoma Hela cells and gastric carcinoma MKN45 cells. Both of CPP1a and CPP1c could influence cell morphology, inhibit the migration and induce apoptosis by affecting the G2/M phase of HepG2 cells. Preliminary mechanism studies confirmed that CPP1a and CPP1c could induce apoptosis through up-regulating the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and activating caspase-3. According to previous research, we might speculate that the reason for the stronger cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic effect of CPP1c than that of CPP1a can be attributed to its high uronic acid content.

The mixed inheritance model involving major genes and polygenes was used to analyze the inheritance of radish flowering time trait in the B1, B2, F1, and F2 generations. Our results showed that flowering time was regulated by two additive-dominant-epistatic major genes and additive-dominant-epistatic polygenes (E-0 model). The major gene heritability estimated for the B1, B2, and F2 generations was 70.48%, 82.80%, and 86.90%, respectively, while the polygene heritability estimated was 0.00, 12.58%, and 8.19%, respectively. These results suggested that the flowering time of radish was regulated by major genes, with polygenes playing only a minor role. In practice, high heritability of major genes is favorable for an efficient selection of B2 and F2 generations during radish breeding. Six hundred twenty-six SSR markers were screened between late-bolting bulk and the early bolting bulk from F2 population. A marker RSS0119 associated to the flowering time trait was obtained, which revealed a high correlation with the flowering time in the F2 population as well as in 59 radish inbred lines (83.61% and 61.02%, respectively). Our findings will be useful for breeding late-bolting varieties.

We synthesise a novel poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) and develop a procedure that allows the phase transfer of graphene oxides (GO) from water to organic solvent, retaining graphene oxide liquid crystal (GOLC) phase in various organic solvents, especially non-polar organic solvents. PIL ([PEP-MIM]DBS) is exploited in this procedure as a noncovalent functional material that is capable of transporting GO from aqueous to non-polar organic phase. PILs can decorate GO noncovalently and keep GO nano-sheets exfoliated in solid-state PILs/GO hybrids, which can well redisperse in organic solvents without any agglomeration. This expands the number of known solvents which can support GOLC phase to dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, and a number of other non-polar organic solvents, many of which were not known to afford GOLC phase prior to this report, such as dichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, dichloroethane and tetrachloroethane.

The primary objective of the current study was to compare the pharmacokinetic (PK) of florfenicol (FFL) in pulmonary epithelial lining fluid and the plasma in swine. The second objectives were to evaluate the effect of anesthesia with ketamine and propofol on the PK of FFL in plasma. Bronchoaveolar lavage was utilized for quantification of PELF volume and the urea dilution method was used to determine the concentration of FFL in PELF. FFL was administered intramuscularly (IM) to swine in a single dose of 20mg/kg body weight. The main PK parameters of FFL in plasma and PELF were as follows: the area under the concentration-time curve, maximal drug concentration, elimination half-life and mean residence time were 69.45±4.36 vs 85.03±9.26μg·hr/ml, 4.65±0.34 vs 5.94±0.86μg/ml, 9.87±1.70 vs 10.69±1.60hr and 12.75±0.35 vs 14.46±1.26hr, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the PK profiles of FFL for the anesthetized and unanesthetized pigs. This study suggest that (i) FFL penetrated rapidly into the pulmonary and the drug concentration decay faster in plasma than in the pulmonary, (ii) the PK profile of FFL in swine was not interfered after administration of anesthetic agent. RESUMO O objetivo primário desse estudo foi comparar a farmacocinética de florfenicol (FFL) em fluido epitelial pulmonar à farmacocinética (PK) de FFL em plasma suíno. O segundo objetivo foi avaliar o efeito de anestesia com ketamina e propofol no PK de FFL em plasma. Lavagem broncoalveolar foi utilizada para quantificar volume de fluido epitelial pulmonar (PELF) e método de diluição de uréia para determinar FFL em PELF. Injeção de FFL foi administrada intramuscular a suínos em dose única de 20mg/kg de peso corporal. Os principais parâmetros de PK em FFL em plasma e PELF foram os seguintes: a área sob a curva de concentração-tempo, concentração máxima da droga, eliminação de meia-vida e média de tempo de permanência foram 69,45±4,36 vs 85,03±9,26μg·hr/ml, 4,65±0,34 vs 5,94±0,86μg/ml, 9,87±1,70 vs 10,69±1,60hr e 12,75±0,35 vs 14,46±1,26hr, respectivamente. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os perfis de PK de FFL para os porcos anestesiados e não anestesiados. Esse estudo sugere que (i) FFL penetrou rapidamente no pulmão e concentração da droga sofre queda mais veloz em plasma que líquido pulmonar, (ii) o perfil de PK de FFL em suínos não modificou após administração de agente anestésico.

Materials can suffer from different damages in actual application. Consequently, diversified failure modes can be caused, while different failures may have unalike repairing effect. Thereupon, it is quite important of exploring the effect of failure modes on the repairing behavior of self-healing materials. Herein, a kind of thermoplastic polyurethane containing Diels-Alder bonds (PU-DA) has been synthesized successfully. Based on the dual actions of thermo-reversible Diels-Alder reaction and molecular movement, the as-prepared polyurethane exhibits excellent self-healing performance. The repairing behavior of polyurethanes with different failure modes has been investigated both qualitatively and quantitatively. Results show that polyurethanes with various cracks can be repaired. However, PU-DA film with shallower crack exhibits a high healing efficiency as compared to that with deeper crack at the similar heat treatment. Meanwhile, polyurethane has multiple healing capability and cracks can be caused and repaired repeatedly. Additionally, PU-DA fragments can recombine together as a whole even after destroyed by tearing, indicating PU-DA also exhibits outstanding reprocessing capability. The research can lay foundation for realizing the favorable repairing of various failure modes, and further promote self-healing materials and technology applied into practice.

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is a widely used, cool-season turf grass and is relatively sensitive to water stress. Melatonin has been reported to improve abiotic stress tolerance in many plants. In this study, we demonstrated that, although shoot height and fresh weight of tall fescue seedlings were significantly reduced by drought stress, they were increased by melatonin pre-treatment compared with control plants. Chemical analyses showed that tall fescue seedlings pre-treated with melatonin exhibited decreased levels of reactive oxygen species, electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde, but higher levels of antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, and peroxidase) and total chlorophyll content, compared with untreated seedlings. Leaf water loss was also partially mitigated and leaf water content increased by melatonin application, resulting in improved plant growth under drought stress. Moreover, root growth of tall fescue seedlings was promoted by melatonin under osmotic stress. The results show that drought tolerance was improved in cool-season tall fescue by application of exogenous melatonin. Therefore, melatonin may potentially be used as a protectant for plants against the deleterious effects of drought or water-deficit stress.

SummaryCholesterol-lowering interventions are employed widely and safely to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol may have complex and opposing effects on immunity. We lowered serum cholesterol to clinically relevant levels in mice and evaluated the final adaptive immune response. Mice treated with oral ezetimibe exhibited enhanced antitumor immunity against syngeneic cancers in a CD8+ lymphocyte-dependent manner, produced immunity that was transferrable through lymphocytes, and enhanced central CD8+ T cell memory. In both mice and patients undergoing prostatectomy, lowering serum cholesterol inhibited mTORC2 signaling in lymphocytes and increased infiltration of CD8+ lymphocytes into prostate tumors. Lymphocyte-specific mTORC2 knockout mice demonstrated enhanced CD8+ lymphocyte function and antitumor capacity. In a prospective clinical trial, cholesterol-lowering intervention prior to prostatectomy decreased the proliferation of normal prostate and low-grade adenocarcinomas. Here, we show that lowering serum cholesterol may be an effective strategy to decrease signaling through mTORC2 and enhance antitumor CD8+ T cell memory.

Investigation of the protective effect of chrysanthemum extract in ischemic strokes patients is among the challenging issues with the traditional hospital system in general and smart technology-based hospitals in particular. In this study, we have evaluated the protective effect of chrysanthemum extract on patients with ischemic stroke by detecting the severity of stroke, neuronal indexes, and oxidative stress biomarkers. For this purpose, forty-six patients with ischemic stroke were randomly divided into the control group (n = 30) and chrysanthemum group (n = 30). The control group received standard stroke treatment, and the chrysanthemum group was treated with chrysanthemum extract 400 mg/day (200 mg/day, twice/day) on the basis of standard treatment. The groups were compared the effect of saffron capsules using the National Institute of Health Stoke Scale (NIHSS), serum neuron specific enolase (NSE), S100, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), malondialdehyde (MDA), Su-peroxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC ) levels, at the time of first day and fourth day after treatment. On the first day after treatment, there was no significant difference in the NIHSS score, serum NSE, S100, BDNF, MDA, SOD, and TAC levels between the chrysanthemum group and the control group ( P > 0.05 ). On the fourth day after treatment, the NIHSS, serum NSE, S100, and MDA levels were significantly reduced in the chrysanthemum group compared to the control group, while the BDNF, SOD, and TAC levels were higher ( P < 0.05 ). In addition, compared to the levels on the first day, the NIHSS, serum NSE, S100, and MDA levels were significantly reduced, and the BDNF, SOD, and TAC levels were increased in the chrysanthemum group on the fourth day ( P < 0.05 ). Chrysanthemum extract has the effects of scavenging oxygen free radicals and antioxidation and has a neuroprotective effect on ischemic stroke patients.

Salinity and drought conditions commonly result in osmotic and oxidative stresses, while salinity additionally causes ionic stress. In this study, we identified specific genes regulated by osmotic and ionic stresses in five Arabidopsis ecotypes. Shahdara (SHA) and C24 ecotypes were more tolerant to salt and drought stresses at the seedling growth stage, as evidenced by lower water loss rate, lower electrolyte leakage, and higher survival rate when compared to the other three ecotypes under drought and salinity conditions. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that 3700 and 2242 genes were differentially regulated by salt and osmotic stresses, respectively. Totally 78.1% of upregulated and 62.0% of downregulated genes by osmotic stress were also commonly regulated by salt stress. Gene ontology term enrichment analysis showed that auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid, cytokinin, and gibberellic acid pathways were regulated by the osmotic stress, while IAA, jasmonic acid, and ethylene pathways were changed by the ionic stress. The nutrient and water uptake pathways were regulated by both the osmotic and ionic stresses, whereas ion transportation and kinase pathways were modulated by the ionic stress. Additionally, we characterized bHLH61 as a negative regulator in response to salt and drought stresses. This study provided new clues of plant responses to salt and drought stresses.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a critical regulator of seed development and germination. β-glucosidases (BGs) have been suggested to be contributors to increased ABA content because they catalyze the hydrolysis of ABA-glucose ester to release free ABA. However, whether BGs are involved in seed development is unclear. In this study, a candidate gene, ClBG1, in watermelon was selected for targeted mutagenesis via the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Seed size and weight were significantly reduced in the Clbg1-mutant watermelon lines, which was mainly attributed to decreased cell number resulting from decreased ABA levels. A transcriptome analysis showed that the expression of 1015 and 1429 unique genes was changed 10 and 18 days after pollination (DAP), respectively. Cytoskeleton- and cell cycle-related genes were enriched in the differentially expressed genes of wild type and Clbg1-mutant lines during seed development. Moreover, the expression of genes in the major signaling pathways of seed size control was also changed. In addition, seed germination was promoted in the Clbg1-mutant lines due to decreased ABA content. These results indicate that ClBG1 may be critical for watermelon seed size regulation and germination mainly through the modulation of ABA content and thereby the transcriptional regulation of cytoskeleton-, cell cycle- and signaling-related genes. Our results lay a foundation for dissecting the molecular mechanisms of controlling watermelon seed size, a key agricultural trait of significant economic importance.

A new composite adsorbent (AMP@MOF-76(Sm)) grafted ammonium molybdophosphate onto MOF-76(Sm) was synthesized via a solvothermal method and well-characterized by SEM-EDS, particle size analysis, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, TG, FT-IR, XRD and XPS analysis. The adsorption behaviors of Rb+ and Cs+ on synthesized AMP@MOF-76(Sm) were investigated depending on the parameters of solution pH, ionic strength, contact time, ion concentration and temperature. The adsorbent can adsorb Rb+ and Cs+ from the solution when the solution pH ranged from 4.0 to 10.0 and the coexisted ion (Na+) has little effect on the adsorption amounts of both Rb+ and Cs+. The adsorption kinetic data fitted well with pseudo-second order kinetic models. The adsorption equilibrium of Rb+ and Cs+ on AMP@MOF-76(Sm) is better explained by the Langmuir isotherm model and the maximum adsorption amounts for Rb+ and Cs+ are 0.490 ​mmol ​g−1 and 0.434 ​mmol ​g−1, respectively. Furthermore, the AMP@MOF-76(Sm) could be easily reused at least four times using 3.0 ​mmol ​L−1 ammonia nitrate as the eluent. The mechanism of the adsorption of Rb+ and Cs+ is proposed to be a combination of electrostatic attraction and ion exchange mechanism.

Electrochemical degradation of triclosan in human urine was firstly studied by using Ti/SnO2–Sb/PbO2 anode doped with rare-earth elements. The results indicated that the Ti/SnO2–Sb/Gd-PbO2 anode demonstrated the best performance with the degradation rate constants being 0.095 min−1 in fresh urine and 0.045 min−1 in hydrolyzed urine at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. The electrochemical degradation was improved in the presence of phosphate and chloride, while the degradation was obviously inhibited by urea, bicarbonate and ammonia. Degradation mechanism mainly involved ether-bond cleavage, hydroxylation, cyclization, dehydrogenation and carboxylation. Quantitative structure-activity relationship model showed that ecological risks of cyclization products to fish, daphnid and green algae was higher than the parent compound, implying that the potential risks to aquatic organism should not be ignored before triclosan mineralized completely. Energy consumption for 90% triclosan degradation ranged from 4.5 to 47.8 Wh L−1, and the consumption increased along with the hydrolysis of urine. The results indicate that electrochemical oxidation is a feasible and energy-saving technique to effectively remove triclosan from human urine.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text, Background: Although the efficacy of antihypertensive drugs has been well established for primary hypertension, their effectiveness is always limited by side effects and poor compliance. Heat-sensitive moxibustion is an innovative acupoint stimulation therapy that is promising as a community health care intervention for hypertension. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the pragmatic effectiveness and safety of heat-sensitive moxibustion self-administration by patients in the community with primary hypertension. Methods: This study will adopt a multi-center, pragmatic, nonrandomized design. Six hundred patients with primary hypertension will be recruited from 4 communities. Each patient will choose to either receive heat-sensitive moxibustion self-administration + original antihypertensive drugs or maintain their original antihypertensive drugs without heat-sensitive moxibustion for 1 year. Expected outcomes: The primary outcome will be changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressures and the percentage changes in the doses of antihypertensive drugs. The secondary outcomes will be changes in quality of life assessed by a validated patient-reported outcome scale and the levels of fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, urinary albumin, and serum creatinine. The proportion of patients with poor compliance with the heat-sensitive moxibustion regimen will also be evaluated as a secondary outcome. The safety of heat-sensitive moxibustion will be considered by analyzing the incidence of all and serious adverse events and their correlation with heat-sensitive moxibustion. Discussion: The findings of this study will provide pragmatic evidence for heat-sensitive moxibustion self-administration in patients in the community with primary hypertension and may also establish an ethical basis for further randomized controlled trials. Trial registration: The protocol of this trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov at May 11, 2020 (No. NCT04381520).

Codonopsis pilosula is an edible traditional Chinese medicine and has good immunomodulatory activities. Oligosaccharides were the important components of C. pilosula. This study focused on the extraction, separation, structural analysis and immunomodulatory activity of the oligosaccharides from C. pilosula (CPO). The yield of CPO was 14.3% and the sugar content was 92.7%. Structural analysis revealed that the monosaccharide composition of CPO was fructose and glucose and its average degree of polymerization (DP) was 2 (DP = 1–7). Moreover, CPO could promote the proliferation of RAW264.7 cells, enhance phagocytosis capability and increase the secretion of TNF-α, NO and IL-6 by triggering the MAPKs signaling pathway. These results showed that CPO was an important immunomodulatory component of C. pilosula and would be a potential immunopotentiator in functional foods and pharmaceuticals.

A plasmonic biomimetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PBELISA) method was developed for ultrasensitive and on-site visual detection of bisphenol A (BPA). The PBELISA was an enzyme-linked immunoassay using molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) film as biomimetic antibody combined with catalase (CAT)-mediated growth of plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). With the BPA concentration increased, a distinguished color change was observed from colorless to blue and then red. Therefore, the proposed method could be employed with naked-eye observation to detect BPA with visual limit of detection (LOD) of 40 pg/mL. For quantitative analysis, this method also exhibited a good dynamic linear response to the logarithmic BPA concentrations ranged from 10 pg/mL to 1.024 × 104 pg/mL with a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.9922 and LOD of 6.20 pg/mL. The recovery rates in tap water, milk and orange juice ranged from 91.83% to 107.39%. In brief, the developed PBELISA method is sensitive, cost-effective and easy-to-use for BPA detection.