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Background: To explore the vitamin D status with its demographic and lifestyle factors including dietary, supplementation, and physical activity in 0–5 years old children. Methods: This was a large population‐based cross‐sectional multicentre study in which the children were recruited from 12 Children's Health Care Centers by a stratified cluster random‐sampling method in 10 cities in Jiangsu Province, China. Results: A total number of 5289 children were investigated. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 30.1%. The concentration of 25 hydroxyvitamin D was 64.0 (46.3–83.0) nmol mL−1 after adjustment for covariates. Children with higher risk of vitamin D deficiency were more likely to be at older age, girls, survey conducted in spring, location in southern Jiangsu province, residence in urban, outdoor activity < 2 h day−1 (all p < 0.05). Moreover, those with lower risk were more likely to be the number of parity ≥ 2 times, vitamin D supplementation from birth to 6 months, the initial time of vitamin D supplementation after birth ≤ 1 months, vitamin D and calcium supplementation in the last 3 months, and dose of vitamin D supplementation > 400 IU day−1 (all p < 0.05). Children with preferences for sweets, meat consumption > 150.0 g day−1, milk consumption < 250 mL day−1, time of sleeping < 10 h day−1 had higher risks of vitamin D deficiency. However, these relationships were affected by demographics. Conclusions: Vitamin D status during the first five years of life was suboptimal and was associated with demographic and lifestyle determinants including milk, meat, sweets, vitamin D and calcium supplementation, sleeping and outdoor activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coating has been used as a practical method to ensure the physiochemical properties and reduce the chemical hazard of fried foods. Methyl cellulose (MC) was used as a coating material to pretreat Chinese fried dough cake (CFDC) before frying. The results showed that the water content, hardness and L* value of the 1% MC coated sample were 31.67%, 848.54 g and 51.62, respectively, at the seventh day at 25 °C. Coating contents 1% MC could reduce the oil content, hardness, and extent of browning and improve the physiochemical properties of CFDC on 7 days of storage. Coating contents 1% MC also reduced the acid value, peroxide value, p‐anisidine value, malondialdehyde content, 4‐hydroxy‐2‐(E)‐hexenal content, 4‐hydroxy‐2‐(E)‐nonenal content, acrylamide content and glycidyl ester content in CFDC on 7 days of storage. Our work contributes to the control of the oil content and chemical hazards for fried food during storage by applying an edible coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) is an ideal biomaterial for the bone repair because of its biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this study, 0 mol%, 5 mol%, 15 mol% and 30%mol bivalent manganese ion (Mn2+) doped β-TCP (Mn-TCP) powders were synthesized by a sol-gel method. The amount of the dopants significantly influences the crystallinity and the parameters related with structure of β-TCP, such as the lattice parameters and crystallite dimensions. The particle size and the particle distribution of doped β-TCP powers were evaluated as well. Meanwhile, the as-synthesized powders were consolidated by sintering at 1000 °C in muffle furnace for 5 h to get Mn-TCP porous material and the degradation experiment was carried out in Simulated Body Fluid (SBF) solution for 28 days. Then, Mn-TCP porous material were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Significantly, there were bone-like apatite materials deposited on the surface of bone-like porous materials. With the increasing doping amount of Mn2+, the newly formed apatite-like materials decreased, while the crystallinity increased significantly. Besides, pH results showed that alkaline environment was more favorable for the formation of sedimentary materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, a substantial volume of effluents containing diverse organic contaminants, encompassing organic dyes and agrochemicals, has been discharged into aquatic ecosystems, precipitating pronounced ecological perturbations, thus manifesting as a critical concern. Photocatalytic degradation technology has emerged as a robust and efficacious approach for the remediation of aqueous contaminants. Herein, the TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 /MMT composites were synthesized via typical hydrothermal and calcination procedures and applied to the degradation of hazardous dye methylene blue (MB). The TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 /MMT hybrid demonstrated a pronounced photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 87.2% for the hazardous methylene blue (MB) when exposed to visible-light for 120-minutes timeframe. This efficiency was approximately 3.69 times greater than the degradation rate observed with pristine TiO 2. This substantial enhancement is attributed to the synergistic interplay between the TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 Schottky junction and montmorillonite-induced charge repulsion, which, in concert, bolster the charge transfer capabilities of the photocatalyst while simultaneously suppressing the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. This study not only presents an alternative material for the effective degradation of organic dyes but also holds promise for advanced applications in wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] • The synthesis of novel TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 /MMT composites via typical hydrothermal and calcination methods. • All the composites correspond to mesoporous materials due to their pore size distribution range of 2-20 nm. • TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 /MMT composites shows efficient photocatalytic degradation towards organic dye MB. • TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 /MMT composites catalyst degradation rate was ∼3.69 times greater than the pristine TiO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycidyl ester (GE) has attracted worldwide attention due to its potential harm to human health. The GE in edible oil forms during the deodorization process of the oil refining, where antioxidants are used to inhibit its formation. To replace unsafe conventional synthetic antioxidants with natural antioxidants, sesame oil (SO) was used to inhibit the formation of GE in corn oil (CO), palm oil (PO), and rice bran oil (RO) during the deodorization process. The results showed that the content of GE in SO, CO, PO and RO followed the decreasing order of RO (1395.88 μg/kg) > PO (376.84 μg/kg) > CO (303.24 μg/kg) > SO (133.19 μg/kg). The concentration of diacylglycerol (DAG) in SO, CO, PO and RO followed the decreasing order of RO (11.64%) > PO (7.56%) > CO (4.11%) > SO (2.59%). The content of GE in oil could be affected by at least three factors: (i) unsaturated fatty acids could promote the formation of GE in oil; (ii) antioxidants in oil could inhibit the formation of GE by scavenging free radicals; and (iii) DAG, as a precursor, could lead to the formation of GE. This result suggested that SO could inhibit the formation of GE in CO, PO and RO. This indicated that when SO was added at 50%, its inhibitory effect was equivalent to that of tert-butylhydroquinone added at 0.02%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Polythiophene cross-linked AuNPs imprinting recognition sites were applied to ECL. • The constructed MICELS has recognition and quenching effects on benzo(a)pyrene. • High sensitivity MICELS for benzo(a)pyrene with a low LOD value. • The proposed MICELS has been applied to detect benzo(a)pyrene in edible oil. A novel quench molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor (MIECLS) based on a covalent organic framework composite (COF-300-Au) with enhanced electrochemiluminescence (ECL) signal from CsPbBr 3 quantum dots and cross-linked 3-thiopheneacetic acid functionalized AuNPs (3-TAA@AuNPs) was developed for the detection of the environmental pollutant benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). A composite material constructed of COF-300-Au with a large specific surface area served as the sensor's support substrate, providing more CsPbBr 3 and imprint recognition sites. Electropolymerization was then employed to form an AuNPs three-dimensional imprinting layer with polythiophene cross-linked using BaP as a template and 3-TAA@AuNPs as a functional monomer. A specific cross-linked imprinting recognition effect was recorded on BaP along with the quenching effect of quinones. The density functional theory (DFT) evaluation of the binding mechanism between 3-TAA@AuNPs and BaP revealed powerful MIECLS toward the detection of BaP at concentrations ranging from 10−14 to 10−5M, with a detection limit of as low as 4.1 × 10−15 M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pectic oligosaccharides (POS) are gaining increasing recognition as a novel kind of prebiotics. Here, a new multipurpose amphiphilic POS was synthesized by coupling pectinase-mediated depolymerization of citrus pectin with lipase-catalyzed alkyl succinylation. Structural characterization by thin-layer chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance, and transmission electron microscopy showed that POS obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis consisted mainly of octamers and hexamers and was subsequently hydrophobically functionalized by reaction with alkylsuccinic anhydrides of various alkyl chain lengths to develop amphiphilic properties. Emulsions stabilized by pectin and alkylsuccinylated POS were assessed by analysis of droplet size distribution, zeta potential, and confocal fluorescence microscopy. The results showed that POS-derived amphiphiles POS-SA12 and POS-SA22 (alkyl C12 and C22) formed stable nanoemulsions with mean particle size of <200 nm and a narrow polydispersity index of <0.20, compared to pectin-based microemulsions (>1100 nm in size and >0.8 polydispersity index). Differences were largely ascribed to the well-balanced hydrophobicity of the introduced alkyl group and the hydrophilicity of the carboxyl groups in the molecular structure of POS-SA12. Our study introduces a green synthetic approach for the production of a novel POS-derived amphiphile with prebiotic and emulsifying properties showing excellent performance in stabilizing oil/water emulsions and other extensive applications. [Display omitted] • A novel POS-based amphiphile is synthesized by coupling enzymatic hydrolysis and alkylsuccinylation. • POS from pectinase-catalyzed hydrolysis consists mainly of octamer and hexamer. • Alkylsuccinylation endows POS with amphiphilic property to be emulsifier and stabilizer. • POS-SA12/-SA22 are equipped with well-balanced amphiphilicity and additive carboxyl group. • POS-SA12/-SA22 solely enables a uniform O/W nanoemulsion of <200 nm and PDI <0.2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: DgD27 was cloned from D. grandiflorum for the first time and played an important role in shoot branching of chrysanthemum. Abstract: Shoot branching plays an important role in determining plant architecture. D27 was previously proven to be involved in the strigolactone biosynthetic pathway in rice, Arabidopsis, and Medicago. To investigate the role of D27 in shoot branching of chrysanthemum, we isolated the D27 homolog DgD27. Functional analysis showed that DgD27 was a plastid-localized protein that restored the phenotype of Arabidopsis d27- 1. Gene expression analysis revealed that DgD27 was expressed at the highest levels in stem, and was up-regulated by exogenous auxin. Decapitation could down-regulate DgD27 expression, but this effect could be restored by exogenous auxin. DgD27 expression was significantly down-regulated by dark treatment in axillary buds. In addition, DgD27 transcripts produced rapid responses in shoots and roots under conditions of phosphate absence, but only mild variation in responses in buds, stems, and roots with low nitrogen treatment. DgBRC1 transcripts also showed the same response in buds under low nitrogen conditions. Under phosphate deficiency, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) levels increased, zeatin riboside levels decreased, and abscisic acid (ABA) levels increased in the shoot, while both IAA and ABA levels increased in the shoot under low nitrogen treatments. Gibberellin acid levels were unaffected by phosphate deficiency and low nitrogen treatments. Taken together, these results demonstrated the diverse roles of DgD27 in response to physiological controls in chrysanthemum shoot branching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Atkin - 1 , the only Kinesin-1 member of Arabidopsis thaliana , plays a role during female gametogenesis through regulation of nuclear division cycles. Abstract: Kinesins are microtubule-dependent motor proteins found in eukaryotic organisms. They constitute a superfamily that can be further classified into at least 14 families. In the Kinesin-1 family, members from animal and fungi play roles in long-distance transport of organelles and vesicles. Although Kinesin-1-like sequences have been identified in higher plants, little is known about their function in plant cells, other than in a recently identified Kinesin-1-like protein in a rice pollen semi-sterile mutant. In this study, the gene encoding the only Kinesin-1 member in Arabidopsis, AtKin- 1 was found to be specifically expressed in ovules and anthers. AtKin- 1 loss-of-function mutants showed substantially aborted ovules in siliques, and this finding was supported by complementation testing. Reciprocal crossing between mutant and wild-type plants indicated that a defect in AtKin- 1 results in partially aborted megagametophytes, with no observable effects on pollen fertility. Further observation of ovule development in the mutant pistils indicated that the enlargement of the megaspore was blocked and nuclear division arrested at the one-nucleate stage during embryo sac formation. Our data suggest that AtKin- 1 plays a role in the nuclear division cycles during megagametogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fat products experienced undesirable microstructural property changes due to the temperatures during transportation and storage. In this study, the lipid composition and solid fat content (SFC) of two model palm oil-based shortenings, which are denoted as shortening A (melting point of 35.1°C) and shortening B (melting point of 51.2°C), were evaluated, and their crystallization behavior and polymorphism during storage at various temperatures (−10 °C to 30 °C) was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and polarized light microscopy (PLM). The fractal dimension ( D) was calculated to qualify the change in the crystal network during storage. The aggregation of high-melting triacylglycerols (TAGs) nanostructure and the formation of the most stable β polymorph were observed in shortening at higher temperatures (≥0 °C) during storage. At the same temperature, the intensity of β crystals in the two samples increased as the storage time increased, and this trend was obvious at high temperatures (≥10 °C). In addition, the intensity of the β crystals in the two samples gradually increased as the temperature increased, and the size of the crystalline particles became larger. The crystal size in shortening A was larger than that in shortening B at high temperatures (≥10 °C). The crystal network of shortening B was denser than that of shortening A. The D value reached a maximum at 10 °C and 30 °C for shortening A and B, respectively. These findings have important implications on the storage stability and functional properties of palm oil-based shortenings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Hydroxyl radical promotes three pathways for carboxymethyllysine formation. [•] Lipid induces hydroxyl radical in Maillard reaction model system. [•] Lipid promotes carboxymethyllysine formation by inducing hydroxyl radical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• MDA formation during frying different food matrix in vegetable oil was explored. • MDA could be easily absorbed into fried foods but the contents varied. • MDA was mainly located in the inner part of FF whereas the surface in FCBM. • Model system revealed MDA was preferred to be absorbed in FCBM than FF. • Existence of distinct MDA migration mechanism in different food matrix was proposed. Vegetable oils are increasingly replacing animal fats in diets, but malondialdehyde (MDA), a peroxidation product of these oils, has been regarded as toxic; this necessitated investigation of MDA formation during consumption. This study investigated MDA formation in four vegetable oils during frying French fries (FF) and fried chicken breast meat (FCBM) at 180 °C for 7 h. Results showed that MDA contents were lower in oils used for frying foods than in control oils, mainly because MDA was incorporated into the foods. MDA content was lower in FF, but higher in FCBM, due to the different food components. Model oil and food system analyses yielded similar results. MDA bound the hydrophobic helical structure in starch-based FF, but was exhibited greater reactivity with nucleophilic groups in protein-based FCBM, resulting in stronger interaction with FCBM than with FF. Our results indicated the existence of distinct mechanisms underlying MDA migration in different food matrixes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This multicenter study aimed to evaluate the association between volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) in a Chinese population. Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and Agatston score (AS) were used to measure vBMD and AAC, respectively, in 3457 participants during 2013–2017. The association between vBMD and AAC was assessed using multivariate regression analysis, adjusted for age, residence, education, body mass index, and other cardiovascular risk factors. The mean age of women and men was 61.4 and 62.7 years, respectively. In total, 30.4% of women and 37.7% of men were found to have AAC. After full adjustment, higher vBMD was associated with lower AAC score (β , −0.095; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.167 to −0.024; P = 0.0087) and lower AAC prevalence (odds ratio [OR], 0.873; 95% CI, 0.824 to 0.924; P < 0.0001) in men. Inverse trends were also observed in the association of vBMD quartile with AAC severity (lowest vs highest quartile; β = 0.235; 95% CI, 0.011 to 0.459; P trend < 0.0001) and AAC prevalence (lowest vs highest quartile; OR = 1.329; 95% CI, 1.087 to 1.625; P trend < 0.0001) in men. However, no significant result was obtained in women, except for the association between quartiles of vBMD and AAC score. In our study, vBMD was inversely associated with AAC among men independent of age and shared risk factors. However, the association was not significant among women. • The prevalence and severity of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is low in the Chinese population. • Volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) is independently associated with AAC in men. • The association between vBMD and AAC is not significant in women. • The significant association between vBMD and moderate-to-severe AAC in women should be explored further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to investigate the mechanism of the effect of intrinsic and non-intrinsic protein content on the stability of oil bodies (OBs) emulsion gels. We employed small amplitude oscillation shear (SAOS) and large amplitude oscillation shear (LAOS) to measure the linear and nonlinear rheological properties of the OBs emulsion gels. The SAOS test indicated that an increase in non-intrinsic protein content weakened the interaction between OBs, decreasing their storage modulus (G'). The LAOS test demonstrated that the increase in non-intrinsic protein content affected the structural recombination and destruction behavior of OBs emulsion gels under large strains. Overall, the content of non-intrinsic protein during the extraction process is a crucial factor affecting the stability of OBs emulsion gels. These findings provide insights into the potential strategies for improving oil extraction efficiency and offer a foundation for further investigation into the functional properties of OBs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Conflict of interest statement We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work, there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled: Investigating viscoelastic properties and structural stability mechanisms of oil bodies emulsion gels: role of non-intrinsic protein., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The common presence of glycidyl esters (GEs) in refined vegetable oils has been a concern for food safety. The present study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of three carotenoids derived from Haematococcus pluvialis microalga on GE formation in both rice oil and a chemical model during heating. The addition of astaxanthin (AS), lutein (LU), and β-carotene (CA) at 0.6 mg/g in rice oil can reduce GE formation by 65.0%, 57.1%, and 57.5%, respectively, which are significantly higher than those achieved by common antioxidants such as l-ascorbyl palmitate (39.0%), α-tocopherol (18.5%), tert -butyl hydroquinone (42.7%), and quercetin (26.2%). UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis showed that two new compounds, that is, propylene glycol monoester and diester of palmitic acid, were formed in the CA-added chemical model, which provided direct experimental evidence for the inhibition of antioxidants including AS, LU, and CA against GE formation not only by indirect antioxidative action but also by direct radical reactions to competitively prevent the formation of cyclic acyloxonium intermediates. Furthermore, it was interestingly found that only AS could react with the GEs. The adduct of AS with GEs, astaxanthin-3-O-propanetriol esters, was preliminarily identified using Q-TOF-MS/MS in the heated AS-GE model, suggesting that reacting with GEs might represent another distinct mechanism of AS to eliminate GEs.

Chiral carbon nanohoops with both high fluorescence quantum yield and large luminescence dissymmetry factor are essential to the development of circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) materials. Herein, the rational design and synthesis of a series of highly fluorescent chiral carbon nanohoops TP-[8-13]CPPs via symmetry breaking with a chiral triptycene motif is reported. Theoretical calculations revealed that breaking the symmetry of nanohoops causes a unique size-dependent localization in the highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs) and the lowest unoccupied molecular obtitals (LUMOs) as the increasing of sizes, which is sharply different from those of [n]cycloparaphenylenes. Photophysical investigations demonstrated that TP-[n]CPPs display size-dependent emissions with high fluorescence quantum yields up to 92.9% for TP-[13]CPP, which is the highest value among the reported chiral conjugated carbon nanohoops. The high fluorescence quantum yields are presumably attributed to both the unique acyclic, and radial conjugations and high radiative transition rates, which are further supported by theoretical investigations. Chiroptical studies revealed that chiral TP-[n]CPPs exhibit bright CPL with CPL brightness up to 100.5 M -1  cm -1 for TP-[11]CPP due to the high fluorescence quantum yield. Importantly, the investigations revealed the intrigued size-dependent properties of TP-[n]CPPs with regards to (chir)optical properties, which follow a nice linear relationship versus 1/n. Such a nice linear relationship is not observed in other reported conjugated nanohoops including CPPs., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Although fruitful achievements have been explored about job burnout, little is known about burnout in the field of social interaction among college students. To address this limitation, this study defined the concept of Social Burnout and developed a measurement tool for it. The study adopted the method of combining qualitative research with quantitative research. After the qualitative study, we gathered examples of social burnout and finished item writing. Using convenient sampling and theoretical sampling methods, six different samples were recruited for reliability and validity testing. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed the scale's two-factor structure: emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Cronbach's alpha measured the internal consistency of the social burnout scale (SBS), which was excellent (Cronbach's alpha of emotional exhaustion = 0.94; depersonalization = 0.82; the overall = 0.92). Susequently, the method of calculating AVE and CR evaluated the scale's convergent and discriminant validity, which were relatively good (AVE of emotional exhaustion = 0.60, depersonalization = 0.59; CR of emotional exhaustion = 0.93, depersonalization = 0.81). Then, regression analysis verified the nomological network and criterion-related validity ( r = -0.30, p < 0.01; r = -0.39, p < 0.01; β = -0.25, p < 0.01). The SBS was shown to be a reliable and appropriate measure for assessing students' social burnout. Furthermore, the SBS is recommended for use in academic research and by healthcare professionals to measure students' social distress. Further validation studies of this scale are needed in other cultural contexts., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wang, Liu, Chen, Liao and Liu.)

We presented the construction of the ring-in-ring and Russian doll complexes on the basis of triptycene-derived carbon nanoring (TP-[12]CPP), which not only acts as a host for pillar[5]arene (P5A) but also serves as an energy donor for building Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) systems. We also demonstrated that their hierarchical assembly processes could be efficiently monitored in real time using FRET. NMR, UV-vis and fluorescence, and mass spectroscopy analyses confirmed the successful encapsulation of the guests P5A/P5A-An by TP-[12]CPP, facilitated by C-H···π and ···π interactions, resulting in the formation of a distinct ring-in-ring complex with a binding constant of K a = 2.23 × 10 4 M -1 . The encapsulated P5A/P5A-An can further reverse its role to be a host for binding energy acceptors to form Russian doll complexes, as evidenced by the occurrence of FRET and mass spectroscopy analyses. The apparent binding constant of the Russian doll complexes was up to 3.6 × 10 4 M -1 , thereby suggesting an enhanced synergistic effect. Importantly, the Russian doll complexes exhibited both intriguing one-step and sequential FRET dependent on the subcomponent P5A/P5A-An during hierarchical assembly, reminiscent of the structure and energy transfer of the light-harvesting system presented in purple bacteria., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Key Message: Strigolactone has the potential to influence hormone metabolism, in addition to having a role in inhibiting axillary bud elongation, which could be regulated by the expression of phytohormones-related genes. The elongation of axillary buds affects the economic benefits of tobacco. In this study, it was investigated the effect of strigolactone (SL) on the elongation of tobacco axillary buds and its endogenous hormone metabolism and related gene expression by applying the artificial analog of SL, GR24, and an inhibitor of SL synthesis, TIS-108, to the axillary buds. The results showed that the elongation of axillary buds was significantly inhibited by GR24 on day 2 and day 9. Ultra-high-performance liquid-chromatography-mass spectrometry results further showed that SL significantly affected the metabolism of endogenous plant hormones, altering both their levels and the ratios between each endogenous hormone. Particularly, the levels of auxin (IAA), trans-zeatin-riboside (tZR), N6-(∆ 2 -isopentenyl) adenine (iP), gibberellin A 4 (GA 4 ), jasmonic acid (JA), and jasmonoyl isoleucine (JA-Ile) were decreased after GR24 treatment on day 9, but the levels of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and gibberellin A 1 (GA 1 ) were significantly increased. Further analysis of endogenous hormonal balance revealed that after the treatment with GR24 on day 9, the ratio of IAA to cytokinin (CTK) was markedly increased, but the ratios of IAA to abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), ACC, JAs, and, GAs were notably decreased. In addition, according to RNA-seq analysis, multiple differentially expressed genes were found, such as GH3.1, AUX/IAA, SUAR20, IPT, CKX1, GA2ox1, ACO3, ERF1, PR1, and HCT, which may play critical roles in the biosynthesis, deactivation, signaling pathway of phytohormones, and the biosynthesis of flavonoids to regulate the elongation of axillary buds in tobacco. This work lays the certain theoretical foundation for the application of SL in regulating the elongation of axillary buds of tobacco., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Resin-based friction materials (RBFMs) strengthened by polyether ether ketone (PEEK) fiber were designed and prepared in this study. Specimens incorporating PEEK fiber of 2-8 wt.% were fabricated based on wet granulation, and then the effects of the PEEK fiber content on the mechanical and tribological properties of RBFMs were systematically investigated. The results showed that PEEK fiber can sense the braking temperature and then effectively regulate the comprehensive properties of RBFMs. The specimen incorporating 6 wt.% PEEK fiber obtained the optimal comprehensive performance with a stable friction coefficient (COF), excellent fade resistance and recovery properties, and better wear resistance. The worn surface was inspected using a scanning electron microscope. After the friction-wear test, the specimen with 6 wt.% PEEK fiber presented a number of primary and secondary plateaus and a reduced number of pits with wear debris on the worn surface. The study indicated that PEEK fiber could not only enhance the mechanical and tribological properties of RBFMs at low temperatures because of their high strength and self-lubrication but also adhere to wear debris to reduce abrasive wear at high temperatures; furthermore, the adhered wear debris could form a secondary plateau under normal pressure, which could alleviate abrasion.

The size of plant lateral organs is determined by well-coordinated cell proliferation and cell expansion. Here, we report that miR159, an evolutionarily conserved microRNA, plays an essential role in regulating cell division in rose (Rosa hybrida) petals by modulating cytokinin catabolism. We uncover that Cytokinin Oxidase/Dehydrogenase6 (CKX6) is a target of miR159 in petals. Knocking down miR159 levels results in the accumulation of CKX6 transcripts and earlier cytokinin clearance, leading to a shortened cell division period and smaller petals. Conversely, knocking down CKX6 causes cytokinin accumulation and a prolonged developmental cell division period, mimicking the effects of exogenous cytokinin application. MYB73, a R2R3-type MYB transcription repressor, recruits a co-repressor (TOPLESS) and a histone deacetylase (HDA19) to form a suppression complex, which regulates MIR159 expression by modulating histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation levels at the MIR159 promoter. Our work sheds light on mechanisms for ensuring the correct timing of the exit from the cell division phase and thus organ size regulation by controlling cytokinin catabolism., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This study examined how the self-assembly mechanisms of β-sitosterol-based oleogels influenced the release of volatile compounds. Microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements showed that the three β-sitosterol-based oleogels (β-sitosterol + γ-oryzanol oleogels (SO), β-sitosterol + lecithin oleogels (SL) and β-sitosterol + monostearate oleogels (SM)) had significant differences in their microstructures, which were formed via different self-assembly mechanisms. SO exhibited the highest oil binding capacity (OBC), complex modulus (G*) and apparent viscosity. Dynamic and static headspace analyses suggested that network structure of β-sitosterol-based oleogels affected the release of volatile components. SO showed the strongest retention effect, followed by SL and SM. The release of volatile compounds mainly related to structural strength and compositions of oleogels. These results indicated that β-sitosterol-based oleogels formed with different self-assembly mechanisms have the potential to serve as effective delivery systems for controlling the release of volatile compounds., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

As promising cocoa butter (CB) alternatives, oleogels have the potential to prevent fat blooms of chocolate. We aimed to explore possible reasons for the bloom resistance of oleogels by investigating the crystallization behavior of CB-oleogel blends, including crystallization kinetics, thermodynamic properties, crystal polymorphism, and oil distribution. Oleogels structured by monoglyceric stearate (MO), β-sitosterol/lecithin (SLO), and ethylcellulose (EO) were selected as representative oleogels with various structuring-mechanisms. Crystallization kinetic results showed that the crystallization dimension of CB-oleogel increased with the oleogel proportion (from one-dimensional to multi-dimensional), confirming that CB crystallization was inhibited. The presence of liquid oil and oleogelators in oleogels may increase the free energy barrier for CB crystallization. The proton mobility of liquid oil in CB-MO was lower because MO was more tightly bound to CB. The crystallization mechanism of the CB-oleogel suggested that the inhibitory effect of oleogels on CB crystallization delayed the polymorphic transition, thereby improving the bloom stability of chocolate., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The presence of various harmful substances in food is significantly risky to human health. Therefore, simple, rapid, and selective food hazard analysis tools have become a focus of sensing research. At present, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have attracted more and more attention because of their easy preparation and high selectivity. Due to their simple preparation, low cost, large specific surface area, and high conductivity, carbon nanomaterial can be used as sensing substrate carriers. Therefore, the combination of carbon nanomaterial with MIPs has attracted great attention. This paper summarizes the development, composition, and preparation methods of MIPs, as well as the latest research progress in carbon nanomaterials for the detection of various food hazards using sensors. In addition, the practical applications of carbon nanomaterial-based MIP sensors, their current challenges and future trends, and the ongoing efforts devoted to developing new and efficient carbon nanomaterial-based MIP sensing platforms are also introduced., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Construction of macrocyclic hosts with a novel structure and excellent property has emerged as an intriguing undertaking for the past few years. Here, we reported the synthesis of shape-persistent triptycene-derived pillar[6]arene ( TP[6] ). The single crystal structure analysis revealed that the macrocyclic molecule adopts a hexagonal structure, featuring a helical and electron-rich cavity capable of encapsulating electron-deficient guests. In order to obtain chiral TP[6] from an enantiomerically pure triptycene building block, an efficient resolution of chiral triptycene was successfully developed through introducing chiral auxiliaries into triptycene skeletons. The 1 H NMR and isothermal titration calorimetry investigations demonstrated that chiral TP[6] exhibited enantioselectivity toward four pairs of chiral guests containing a trimethylamino group, implying a significant promising application in area of enantioselective recognition.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate manual subtraction computed tomography angiography (MS-CTA) to further confirm the distribution and classification of LCA (left colic artery) ascending/descending branches, then observe the postoperative blood flow path to illustrate how the above branches evolved to postoperative blood path., Material and Methods: 89 patients with distal sigmoid and rectal cancer were referred in our observation and underwent MS-CTA between June 2020 and March 2022. We classified the distribution of LCA and confirmed whether there exists AMCA (accessory middle colic artery). Then we planned blood flow path based on the classification of LCA branches before operation. High ligation was applied in regular radical surgery. During operation, we carefully protect the bifurcation of ascending and descending LCA. Then we compared the planned blood flow path with the actual postoperative blood flow path to verify the mechanism we proposed previously., Results: Of 89 patients, 82 cases met our criteria, we summarized 6 distribution pattens of LCA ascending and descending branches. These preoperative pattens are consistent with the inspection during operation. The postoperative blood flow path of 6 pattens is evolved from the above adjacent anastomotic branches and is consistent with the planned blood flow path. We also found 2 cases with IMA stenosis and 1 case with SMA stenosis under pathological condition, and their compensatory blood flow path is in accordance with our theory. The rate of the anastomotic leakage in our study group is relatively low (7.3%)., Conclusion: MS-CTA could confirm the distribution of LCA and AMCA, display accurate postoperative blood reconstruction path after IMA high ligation, and it further verified the mechanism we proposed previously, which is the proximal anastomotic branches forming new blood flow path from high-pressure area to the low-pressure area. This mechanism might be helpful for performing accurate laparoscopic sigmoid and rectal cancer surgery., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Resin-based friction materials (RBFM) are widely used in the fields of automobiles, agriculture machinery and engineering machinery, and they are vital for safe and stable operation. In this paper, polymer ether ketone (PEEK) fibers were added to RBFM to enhance its tribological properties. Specimens were fabricated by wet granulation and hot-pressing. The relationship between intelligent reinforcement PEEK fibers and tribological behaviors was investigated by a JF150F-II constant-speed tester according to GB/T 5763-2008, and the worn surface morphology was observed using an EVO-18 scanning electron microscope. The results showed that PEEK fibers can efficiently enhance the tribological properties of RBFM. A specimen with 6 ωt% PEEK fibers obtained the optimal tribological performance, the fade ratio was -6.2%, which was much higher than that of the specimen without the addition of PEEK fibers, the recovery ratio was 108.59% and the wear rate was the lowest, which was 1.497 × 10 -7 cm 3 /(Nm) -1 . The reason for the enhancing tribological performance was that, on the one hand, PEEK fibers have a high strength and modulus which can enhance the specimens at lower temperatures; on the other hand, molten PEEK at high temperatures can also promote the formation of secondary plateaus, which are beneficial for friction. The results in this paper can lay a foundation for future studies on intelligent RBFM.

Single-unit monomer insertion (SUMI) has become an important strategy for the synthesis of sequence-controlled vinyl polymers due to its strong versatility and high efficiency. However, all reported SUMI processes are based on a free-radical mechanism, resulting in a limited number of monomer types being applicable to SUMI or a limited number of sequences of structural units that SUMI can synthesize. Herein, we developed a novel SUMI based on a cationic mechanism (cSUMI), which operates through a degenerative (similar to radical SUMI) but cationic chain transfer process. By optimizing the chain transfer agent (CTA) and monomer pairs, a high-efficiency cSUMI was achieved for vinyl ether and styrene monomers. Based on this reaction, a range of discrete oligomers containing vinyl ether and styrene moieties, and even α-/ω-end and in-chain sequence-regulated polymers were synthesized, most of which cannot be achieved by radical SUMI. In addition, we explored the application of these sequence-regulated polymers in the preparation of miktoarm star polymers, delivery of photosensitizers, and solubilization of fluorescence probes. The development of SUMI with a new mechanism will certainly broaden the scope of structures and sequences in precise vinyl-based polymers.

Evidence on the association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and obesity during the first 5 years of life is limited in China. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between weight, weight for age z score (ZWAZ), weight for length/height z score (ZWHZ), and body mass index for age z score (ZBMI) and 25(OH)D. This was a large population-based cross-sectional multicenter study in which the children aged 0-5 years were recruited from 12 children's healthcare centers by a stratified cluster random-sampling method in 10 cities of the Jiangsu province, China. The 25(OH)D concentration was determined by ELISA. A total of 5289 children were investigated. For 0-71 months children with obesity and nonobesity, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 36.0% and 29.8%, and the 25(OH)D level was 59.8 and 64.0 nmol/L, respectively, and there were all significant difference. Compared with children with nonobesity, children with obesity had higher risk of vitamin D deficiency (OR [95% CI]: 1.33 [1.02, 1.72], p  < .05), and had lower 25(OH)D level (β = -3.84, 95% CI = -7.58, -0.09, p  < .05). The results for children aged 24-71 months were similar to those for children aged 0-71 months. However, no significant difference was observed in children aged 0-23 months. Vitamin D deficiency was observed in children with greater adiposity during the first 5 years of life. However, the results mainly came from those in the age group of 2 to 5 years instead of the first 2 years in their lives., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the study reported in this article., (© 2022 The Authors. Food Science & Nutrition published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Increasing eutrophication and climate change have led to heavy cyanobacterial blooms in water diversion sources (e.g., lakes, reservoirs), which can potentially cause algae-bearing water to spread to downstream to an urban river network via diversion channels. Defining the extent of cyanobacterial blooms in an urban river network has become a novel concern in urban river management. In this paper, we investigated the physicochemical and algae community characteristics of a small, closed, urban river network, JiangXinZhou (JXZ), in the Lake Taihu basin. We propose a novel indicator, resource use efficiency (RUE), for defining the extent of cyanobacterial blooms in JXZ, whose recreational drinking water comes entirely from outside diversion sources. The results show that the JXZ's aquatic habitat conditions (mean water temperature, total nitrogen concentration, total phosphorus concentration, and nitrogen to phosphorus ratio) are highly suitable for the proliferation of cyanobacterial biomass during the high-water period. The RUE was used for calculation and shows a strong relationship with algae density, which means that it can be used as an index to define the degree of urban river cyanobacterial blooms. The findings indicate that the risk of cyanobacterial bloom is absent when the RUE is less than 46.81; blooms appear in the water bodies when the RUE reaches up to 106.68. This work provides theoretical support for the sustainable use of regional water resources., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Aims: To examine the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in China and in key subpopulations, and to estimate the population-level risks attributable to 12 common modifiable risk factors for each outcome., Methods and Results: In this prospective cohort of 47 262 middle-aged participants from 115 urban and rural communities in 12 provinces of China, it was examined how CVD incidence and mortality rates varied by sex, by urban-rural area, and by region. In participants without prior CVD, population-attributable fractions (PAFs) for CVD and for death related to 12 common modifiable risk factors were assessed: four metabolic risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, abdominal obesity, and lipids), four behavioural risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, diet quality, and physical activity), education, depression, grip strength, and household air pollution. The mean age of the cohort was 51.1 years. 58.2% were female, 49.2% were from urban areas, and 59.6% were from the eastern region of China. The median follow-up duration was 11.9 years. The CVD was the leading cause of death in China (36%). The rates of CVD and death were 8.35 and 5.33 per 1000 person-years, respectively, with higher rates in men compared with women and in rural compared with urban areas. Death rates were higher in the central and western regions of China compared with the eastern region. The modifiable risk factors studied collectively contributed to 59% of the PAF for CVD and 56% of the PAF for death in China. Metabolic risk factors accounted for the largest proportion of CVD (PAF of 41.7%), and hypertension was the most important risk factor (25.0%), followed by low education (10.2%), high non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (7.8%), and abdominal obesity (6.9%). The largest risk factors for death were hypertension (10.8%), low education (10.5%), poor diet (8.3%), tobacco use (7.5%), and household air pollution (6.1%)., Conclusion: Both CVD and mortality are higher in men compared with women, and in rural compared with urban areas. Large reductions in CVD could potentially be achieved by controlling metabolic risk factors and improving education. Lowering mortality rates will require strategies addressing a broader range of risk factors., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The growing awareness of the adverse health effects of trans-fats and saturated fats are driving researchers to seek healthy alternatives. A promising strategy to structure liquid oil, called oleogelation, has been a subject of great interest. In the development of oleogels, highly unsaturated oils can be structured through different gelation mechanisms by varying structuring agents (e.g., polymeric or low molecular weight oleogelators). Due to their potential to reduce saturated fat in food products while also providing solid texture without changing the oil's chemical composition and nutritional values, oleogels have been introduced into various products (meat, spread, and confectionary) as alternatives to traditional solid fats. However, the shortcomings of oleogels cannot be ignored, such as the softer texture and the poorer plasticity than traditional solid fat. As the physicochemical properties and functionalities of oleogels are highly dependent on their composition and structuring mechanism, it is possible to obtain a product with desirable functionality by choosing a suitable oleogelator or oil phase. Thus, comprehensive and detailed knowledge regarding the role of oleoglarors, oil phase, and oleogelation mechanism on oleogelation is needed. This review primarily focuses on published information within the last decades addressing how the composition and oleogelation mechanism affect the structure and functionality of oleogels and oleogel-based products. The factors affecting the oil gelation are summarized concerning three aspects: (i) oleogelator (chemical composition and molecular structure); (ii) oil phase (TAG composition and minor component); and (iii) oleogelation mechanism. Finally, the future perspectives toward oleogels are highlighted. This review aims to deepen the understanding of oleogelation and the rational design of oleogel-based products., (© 2022 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

Objective: We aimed to test the effects of pharmacist intervention on the community control of hypertension through a comparative randomized controlled trial., Methods: We recruited adult hypertensive patients with comorbidity or confusion with medication (n=636) from 2 community health centers in Zunyi, China. They were randomly and equally divided into 2 groups. Both groups received the usual care and participated in the community systematic management program of hypertension. Participants in the intervention group were given interventions from pharmacists, including a monthly review of medications, patient education, and medication adjustment advice to medical doctors over 6 months. Participants' blood pressure was assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Participants' knowledge and medication adherence were measured using a questionnaire before and after the trial., Results: Compared to the control group (n=298), a significantly higher percentage of participants in the intervention group (n=290) had their blood pressure under control 3 months (46.9% vs. 38.3%, P =.034) and 6 months (60.7% vs. 40.9%, P <.001) after the interventions. Difference-in-differences analyses showed that the pharmacist intervention resulted in an increase in knowledge scores by 12.55 points ( P <.001), a decrease in systolic blood pressure by 6.65 mmHg ( P =.001), and a decrease in diastolic blood pressure by 7.26 mmHg ( P <.001) compared to the controls after adjustment for variations in potential confounding factors. The odds of participants passing the hypertension knowledge tests in the intervention group was 4.45 times those in the control group ( P <.001). Similarly, it was found that the intervention group had higher odds of not needing any medication adjustments (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=2.75, P <.001) and having their blood pressure under control (AOR=2.18, P =.002) compared to the control group., Conclusion: It is evident that pharmacist intervention has significant short-term effects on improving the knowledge and medication adherence of hypertensive patients, as well as timely medication adjustments from medical doctors, resulting in lowered blood pressure and an increased control rate. Further studies should explore the long-term sustainability of the effects of community pharmacist intervention., (© Li et al.)

Despite the fact that unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB) has become a theoretical topic in the academic field and the fruitful achievements have been explored in the past decade, organizational researches have largely assumed that UPB is an active and voluntary behavior from the perspective of organizational identity and social exchange. In this paper, the authors argue that previous researches have traditionally considered only a very narrow subset of UPB, focusing almost exclusively on extreme voluntary cases which are not reflective of typical UPB. Instead of being primarily voluntary, some typical UPB can be compulsory in nature. We suggest a different look at UPB by contrasting to the so-called "voluntary" activities via compulsory mechanisms in the workplace. Mostly, we are interested in exploring and validating a measurement tool for this behavior. Based on self-determination theory, we argue that such behaviors are a substantial deviation from the original meaning of UPB and thus should be recognized and studied separately. Using six samples, the authors demonstrate the construct validity, reliability, and acceptable psychometric properties of the compulsory UPB scales. Future directions in UPB research are discussed., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wang, Shi, Liu and Zhou.)

The improvement of cognitive function following bariatric surgery has been highlighted, yet its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Finding the improved brain glucose uptake of patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), duodenum-jejunum bypass (DJB), and sham surgery (Sham) were performed on obese and diabetic Wistar rats, and intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog liraglutide (Lira), antagonist exendin-(9-39) (Exe-9), and the viral-mediated GLP-1 receptor ( Glp-1r ) knockdown (KD) were applied on both groups to elucidate the role of GLP-1 in mediating cognitive function and brain glucose uptake assessed with the Morris water maze (MWM) and positron emission tomography (PET). Insulin and GLP-1 in serum and cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) were measured, and the expression of glucose uptake-related proteins including glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1), GLUT-4, phospho-Akt substrate of 160kDa (pAS160), AS160, Rab10, Myosin-Va as well as the c-fos marker in the brain were examined. Along with augmented glucose homeostasis following DJB, central GLP-1 was correlated with the improved cognitive function and ameliorated brain glucose uptake, which was further confirmed by the enhancive role of Lira on both groups whereas the Exe-9 and Glp-1r KD were opposite. Known to activate insulin-signaling pathways, central GLP-1 contributes to improved cognitive function and brain glucose uptake after DJB. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The improvement of cognitive function following bariatric surgery has been highlighted while its mechanisms remain elusive. The brain glucose uptake of patients was improved after RYGB, and the DJB and sham surgery performed on obese and diabetic Wistar rats revealed that the elevated central GLP-1 contributes to the dramatic improvement of cognitive function, brain glucose uptake, transport, glucose sensing, and neuronal activation.

Vitamin C (VC)-loaded oleogel (VCOG) with corn oil and monoglyceride stearate was used to replace lipid phase of margarine completely. The oxidative stability of VCOG was evaluated at 60±1°C in a lightproof oven for 18 days and the result showed that VCOG peroxide (> 6 days) and p-anisidine value (> 4 days) was significantly lower than that of bulk oil and VC-free oleogel (p < 0.05). Then, the margarine containing 79.70% VCOG (VCOGM) was in comparison with four commercial butter in sensory and physical characteristic. Results showed that firmness, solid fat content and trans fatty acid of VCOGM were in the lowest values while unsaturated fatty acid and adhesiveness of VCOGM was in the highest values. Furthermore, VCOGM presented the similar springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, score appearance, texture, taste and overall impression to some/all commercial butters selected in this research (p > 0.05). These results implied that VC-loaded oleogel was an excellent alternative of lipid phase in margarine which confirmed by 55% "definitely buy" and 25% "try once-then decide".

Abstract: Fat-related diseases and chemical hazards produced during the frying process pose a major threat to human health. Coatings have been used as a practical method to reduce the amount of oil and chemical hazards associated with fried foods. Methyl cellulose (MC) and soy protein isolate were used as coating materials to pretreat Chinese fried dough cake (CFDC) before frying. The 1.5% MC concentration was the best choice for coating to simultaneously lower oil and chemical hazards in CFDC. The CFDC prepared using 1.5% MC had 11.3% oil, 73.70 μg/kg acrylamide, 0.15 mg KOH/100 kg acid, 8.54 mmol/kg peroxide, p-anisidine value of 6.36, 0.36 μg/g malondialdehyde, 0.13 μg/g 4-hydroxy-2-(E)-hexenal (HHE), 0.51 μg/g 4-hydroxy-2-(E)-nonenal (HNE), and 4,272 μg/kg glycidyl ester. In contrast, the uncoated CFDC had 19.2% oil, 117.55 μg/kg acrylamide, 0.25 mg KOH/100 kg acid, 14.40 mmol/kg peroxide, p-anisidine value of 9.76, 0.63 μg/g malondialdehyde, 0.23 μg/g HHE, 0.86 μg/g HNE, and 5,758 μg/kg glycidyl ester. MC and soy protein isolate enhanced the oil barrier of the coating film, which effectively reduced the heat transfer coefficients, oil transfer, oil oxidation, and chemical hazards in the CFDC. Our work on this edible coating contributes to methods for control of oil and chemical hazards in fried foods., (Copyright ©, International Association for Food Protection.)

Background: Due to the complexity of anatomical relationship between superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and left colic artery (LCA), there is no unified anatomical concept of "Riolan's arch." There is no consensus as to tie off the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) at its origin or just below the origin of the left colic artery during radical surgery of sigmoid colon and rectal cancers. The aim of the study is to investigate the anatomy of shortcut anastomotic branches (adjacent branches) of SMA at splenic flexure and to explore how the shortcut pathway (Riolan's arch) was formed, as the compensation of anastomotic branches between MCA and LCA under pathological conditions and the reconstruction and the mechanism of pathological Riolan's arch after high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery., Methods: Between January 2018 and May 2020, patients with colorectal cancer who underwent CTA before surgery were enrolled in the study. The anatomy of shortcut anastomotic branch of SMA and LCA was investigated by volume rendering technique (VR) and maximum-intensity projection (MIP). GE's small vessel extraction technology (selected VR) was used to directly display these shortcut anastomotic branches on a map and to establish their three-dimensional anatomical classification. Then, we used the axonometric drawing to make the model more exact. Next, combining with some cases of pathological Riolan's arch and basing on hydrodynamic principle, we speculate the mechanism of collateral circulation. Finally, based on the retrospective study of high ligation cases and combined principles of fluid mechanics, we show how these shortcut anastomotic branches evolved into Riolan's arch., Results: We report the classification of the ascending branch of LCA (which approaches the splenic flexure) and the left branch of MCA, display these shortcut anastomotic branches on a map, and establish their three-dimensional anatomical classification. We found that Riolan's arch is a shortcut pathway for the compensation of anastomotic branches, between MCA and LCA under pathological conditions, and that the formation mechanism of shortcut path accords with the principle of hydrodynamics., Conclusions: Our results show the mechanism of pathological Riolan's arch formation and provide new anatomic thinking for the battle between high and low ligation of IMA in colorectal cancer surgery., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wang, Shu, Ouyang, Wang, Sun and Liu.)

Objective: Data on obesity in relation to bone mineral density(BMD) in infants and preschool children were sparse in China. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between body mass index (BMI) and BMD., Subjects and Methods: This was a large population-based multicenter study in which the representative children aged 0-5 years were recruited from 13 Children's Health Care Centers by a stratified cluster random-sampling method in Jiangsu Province, China. BMD was measured by using quantitative ultrasound. The association of BMD with BMI and obesity were evaluated using multiple linear regression and logistic regression analysis taking into account the effects of confounders. The relations between age, weight, height, BMI and BMD were analyzed by using Pearson's correlation and further tested using partial correlation in the additive model., Results: A total of 5,289 children (2786 boys and 2503 girls) were recruited. The BMD was positively linear relation with age, length/height, and was inversely linear relation with BMI (r=0.711, P<0.001; r=0.727, P<0.001; r=-0.318, P<0.001, respectively). The BMD gradually increased when the weight was in the range within 21.2kg, but started to gain slowlyand even decreased when the weight was over 21.2kg. After adjusting for confounders, compared with control group, children with obesityhad higher odds of low BMD (OR 95%CI: 2.73 (1.57, 4.76), P<0.001), the speed of sound (SOS)value in children with obesity was lower 47.45 (β=-47.45, 95%CI=-85.07, -9.83, P=0.013)., Conclusions: Adiposity was not advantageous for bone mineral density in 0-5-year-old Chinese children., (Copyright © 2020 Asia Oceania Association for the Study of Obesity. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A novel series of lysine-based ampholytic amphiphiles, with alkylsuccinic anhydrides of varying chain lengths as hydrophobic acylating agents, were synthesized in medium to high yield (50.23-90.15%) based on a facile, catalyst-free method in water medium; and structurally confirmed by mass spectrometry (MS), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy, and 1 H/ 13 C nuclear magnetic resonances (NMR) analysis. The resulting compounds were subjected to pH-dependent amphiphilic property, ferrous ion chelating, DPPH antioxidant capacity, and cytotoxicity analyses. Results showed that CMC values decrease, γ value increase, and emulsion stability increase with the increase of medium pH, suggesting that the surface activity of synthetic compounds at air/water and oil/water interface under neutral and alkaline conditions was remarkably higher than that under acidic condition. Lauryl O-acylated malic lysine (compound 4b) presented excellent foaming ability close to commercial detergent sodium dodecyl sulphate; dodecyl succinic lysine (compound 4a) afforded highly stable o/w nanoemulsion. Moreover, compound 4b displayed comparable ferrous ion chelating property to lysine and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) antioxidative capacity similar to a commercial food ingredient, diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and di-glycerides (DATEM), indicating its multi-faceted functionalities. A cytotoxicity study of compounds 3b &4b showed that they were non-toxic. Thus, these novel ampholytic amphiphiles may find multi-purpose applications in food, detergent, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industry., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This research investigated the effects of Fe 3+ and antioxidants on the formation of glycidyl esters (GEs) and the free radical mediated mechanisms involving the recognition of cyclic acyloxonium free radical intermediate (CAFRI) for GE formation in both the plant oil model (palm oil, camellia oil, soybean oil, and linseed oil) system and the chemical model (dipalmitin and methyl linoleate) system heated at 200 °C. Results show that Fe 3+ can promote the formation of GEs, which can be inhibited by antioxidants in plant oil during high-temperature exposure. Based on the monitoring of cyclic acyloxonium and ester carbonyl group by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the promotion of Fe 3+ and the inhibition of antioxidants (tert-butylhydroquinone and α-tocopherol) for GE formation occurred not only through lipid oxidation but also through directly affecting the formation of cyclic acyloxonium intermediate. Additionally, a quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry measurement was conducted to identify the presence of radical adduct captured by 5,5-dimethylpyrroline N-oxide, which provided strong evidence for the formation of CAFRI. Thus, one possible influencing mechanism can be that free radical generated in lipid oxidation may be transferred to dipalmitin and promote CAFRI formation. Fe 3+ can catalyze free radical generation while antioxidants can scavenge free radical, and therefore they also can directly affect CAFRI formation.

Bud dormancy in perennial plants is indispensable to survival over winter and to regrowth and development in the following year. However, the molecular pathways of endo-dormancy induction, maintenance, and release are still unclear, especially in fruit crops. To identify genes with roles in regulating endo-dormancy, 30 MIKC(C)-type MADS-box genes were identified in the pear genome and characterized. The 30 genes were analysed to determine their phylogenetic relationships with homologous genes, genome locations, gene structure, tissue-specific transcript profiles, and transcriptional patterns during flower bud dormancy in 'Suli' pear (Pyrus pyrifolia white pear group). The roles in regulating bud dormancy varied among the MIKC gene family members. Yeast one-hybrid and transient assays showed that PpCBF enhanced PpDAM1 and PpDAM3 transcriptional activity during the induction of dormancy, probably by binding to the C-repeat/DRE binding site, while DAM proteins inhibited the transcriptional activity of PpFT2 during dormancy release. In the small RNA-seq analysis, 185 conserved, 24 less-conserved, and 32 pear-specific miRNAs with distinct expression patterns during bud dormancy were identified. Joint analyses of miRNAs and MIKC genes together with degradome data showed that miR6390 targeted PpDAM transcripts and degraded them to release PpFT2. Our data show that cross-talk among PpCBF, PpDAM, PpFT2, and miR6390 played important roles in regulating endo-dormancy. A model for the molecular mechanism of dormancy transition is proposed: short-term chilling in autumn activates the accumulation of CBF, which directly promotes DAM expression; DAM subsequently inhibits FT expression to induce endo-dormancy, and miR6390 degrades DAM genes to release endo-dormancy., (© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.)

The molecular mechanism underlying cancer invasiveness and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains elusive. Here we reported a strong correlation of the levels of neuregulin receptor degradation protein-1 (Nrdp1) and matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP7) in CRC from the patients. We then used a human CRC line, Caco-2, to study the underlying molecular basis. We found that Nrdp1 inhibited the phosphorylation of ErB3, a key player in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in Caco-2 cells, which is required for activation of MMP7 to promote cell invasion. Our findings thus reveal Nrdp1, EGFR signaling, and MMP7 as promising therapeutic targets for preventing the metastasis of CRC.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules that are endogenous regulators of gene expression. miRNAs play a crucial role in cells via degradation of target mRNAs or by inhibition of target protein translation. In the present study, 186 new potentially conserved pear miRNAs belonging to 37 families were identified. The length of mature miRNAs ranged from 19 to 24 nt, and most of the miRNAs (154 out of 186) were 21 nt in length. The length of pre-miRNAs in pear was also found to vary from 62 to 282 nt with an average of 105 ± 43 nt. The potential miRNAs belonged to 29 clusters involving 20 different miRNA families. Using these potential miRNAs, we further scoured of the pear genome and found 326 potential target genes, which included transcription factors, stress responsive genes, and the genes involved in transmembrane transport and signal transduction. Gene ontology analysis of these potential targets suggested that 47 biological processes were potentially regulated by miRNAs, including oxidation-reduction, stress response, transport, etc. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the identified miRNAs were found in 15 metabolism networks which were related to starch and sucrose metabolism, and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, among others. Our study will help in the further understanding of the essential role of miRNAs in growth and development and stress response of pear.

N(ε)-carboxymethyllysine (CML) is commonly found in food, and is considered as a potential hazard to human health. However, the effect of lipids on CML formation in Maillard reaction is still not clarified. In this study, the content of diet-derived CML and its key intermediates, epsilon-fructoselysine (FL) and glyoxal (GO), is determined with high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrum (HPLC-MS) in model system containing lipid compounds. According to the results, hydroxyl radical (OH) induced by Fenton reagent can promote the three pathways of CML formation. Moreover, in the Maillard reaction system, linoleic acid (Lin), oleic acid (Ole) and glycerol trioleate (Tri) can induce more OH·, which promotes CML formation. Their level of promoting CML formation is in the order of Ole>Lin>Tri. On the contrary, glycerol (Gly) can scavenge OH·, which inhibit the CML formation. Finally, it is proved that FL content and GO content decreases with heating time in model system, while CML content increases with heating time. Thus, it is concluded that in the Maillard reaction system lipids can induce more OH·, which promotes the conversion from FL and GO to CML. Our research may contribute to the development of inhibitory methods for diet-derived CML by scavenging OH·., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Kinesin is an ATP-driven microtubule motor protein that plays important roles in control of microtubule dynamics, intracellular transport, cell division and signal transduction. The kinesin superfamily is composed of numerous members that are classified into 14 subfamilies. Animal kinesins have been well characterized. In contrast, plant kinesins have not yet to be characterized adequately. Here, a novel plant-specific kinesin gene, GhKCH2, has been cloned from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibers and biochemically identified by prokaryotic expression, affinity purification, ATPase activity assay and microtubule-binding analysis. The putative motor domain of GhKCH2, M396-734 corresponding to amino acids Q396-N734 was fused with 6xHis-tag, soluble-expressed in E. coli and affinity-purified in a large amount. The biochemical analysis demonstrated that the basal ATPase activity of M396-734 is not activated by Ca2+, but stimulated 30-fold max by microtubules. The enzymatic activation is microtubule-concentration-dependent, and the concentration of microtubules that corresponds to half-maximum activation was about 11 microM, much higher than that of other kinesins reported. The cosedimentation assay indicated that M396-734 could bind to microtubules in vitro whenever the nucleotide AMP-PNP is present or absent. As a plant-specific microtubule-dependent kinesin with a lower microtubule-affinity and a nucleotide-independent microtubule-binding ability, cotton GhKCH2 might be involved in the function of microtubules during the deposition of cellulose microfibrils in fibers or the formation of cell wall.

Kinesins, as a kind of microtubule-based motor proteins, have a conserved microtubule-binding site in their motor domain. Here we report that two homologous kinesins in Arabidopsis thaliana, KatB and KatC, contain a second microtubule-binding site in their tail domains. The prokaryotic-expressed N-terminal tail domain of the KatC heavy chain can bind to microtubules in an ATP-insensitive manner. To identify the precise region responsible for the binding, a serious of truncated KatC cDNAs encoding KatC N-terminal regions in different lengths, KatC1-128, KatC1-86, KatC1-73 and KatC1-63, fused to Histidine-tags, were expressed in E. coli and affinity-purified. Microtubule cosedimentation assays show that the site at amino acid residues 74-86 in KatC is important for microtubulebinding. By similarity, we obtained three different lengths of KatB N-terminal regions, KatB1-384, KatB1-77, and KatB1-63, and analyzed their microtubule-binding ability. Cosedimentation assays indicate that the KatB tail domain can also bind to microtubules at the same site as and in a similar manner to KatC. Fluorescence microscopic observations show that the microtubule-binding site at the tail domain of KatB or KatC can induce microtubules bundling only when the stalk domain is present. Through pull-down assays, we show that KatB1-385 and KatC1-394 are able to interact specifically with themselves and with each other in vitro. These findings are significant for identifying a previously uncharacterized microtubule-binding site in the two kinesin proteins, KatB and KatC, and the functional relations between them.

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family consists of 22 widely expressed regulatory polypeptides and controls a broad spectrum of cellular processes. Accumulating data show that FGF9 plays important roles both in embryogenesis and in adult tissue homeostasis. Ablation of Fgf9 alleles leads to lethality at the neonatal stage mainly due to malformations of the lung, as well as causing male-to-female sex reversal. To circumvent the neonatal lethality resulting from disruption of the Fgf9 gene, which hinders further characterization of the role of FGF9 in adult tissue function and homeostasis, we generated an Fgf9 conditional null allele for spatiotemporal- and tissue-specific disruption of Fgf9. Using gene targeting in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, we introduced two loxP sites flanking exon 1 in the Fgf9 allele, which encodes 93 amino acid residues at the N-terminal of FGF9. Our results indicate that the Fgf9 conditional null allele is a true conditional null that encodes wildtype activity and reverts to a null allele after recombination mediated by the Cre recombinase., ((c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)