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The unique structural of anthocyanins makes them vulnerable to degradation within food processing environments. Proteins commonly coexist with polyphenols in natural food matrices on a non-covalent and covalent basis, serving to stabilize protection for polyphenols. Here, three natural pea-extracted proteins, including albumin, vicilin, and legumin were bound to cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), and binding modes, conjugate structures and functions were characterized. Isothermal titration calorimetry showed a strongly exothermic interaction between C3G and proteins. The results of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the C3G-quinone (C3GQ) formed by C3G oxidation established covalent cross-links with C–S and C–N in the amino acid residues of proteins, and could form more large molecular weight aggregates at an addition amount of 1 mM. The free sulfhydryl and amino contents of the three protein conjugates decreased with the addition of C3GQ. Due to the presence of 4–5 times more sulfhydryl groups in albumin as compared to globulin, albumin showed a 20% higher binding capacity for C3GQ than globulin. This consequently led to the highest antioxidant activity in the C3GQ-albumin conjugate. In contrast to native pea proteins, the introduction of covalent modifications induces changes in the secondary structure of the pea proteins. Specifically, the structure of albumin tends to exhibit increased orderliness, while the molecular flexibility of globular proteins was augmented. Thus, the conjugates have enhanced thermal stability. Our results affirmed that the stability of C3G can be more effectively improved through designing it to covalently interact with proteins relative to non-covalent interactions. This study aimed at offering novel theoretical underpinnings for the functional utilization of C3G and pea proteins in the food industry. [Display omitted] • Quinone-mediated covalent 2 S/7 S/11 S-cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3GQ) were prepared. • Main covalent bonds that contribute to the conjugate were C–N and C–S. • The binding preference order for C3GQ was 2 S > 11 S > 7 S. • Covalent binding generated new polyphenol binding sites on pea proteins. • Antioxidant and thermal stability of conjugates were superior to natural pea protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hierarchically porous benzene-bridged organosilica nanoparticles (HPBONs) are successfully synthesized by an outside-in hydrothermal self-transformation method. Insets are the models of benzene, ethane, and thioether-bridged organosilica nanoparticles to illustrate the diverse structural transformation process via the hydrothermal treatment, respectively. [Display omitted] Herein, a feasible outside-in hydrothermal self-transformation strategy is presented to fabricate hierarchically porous benzene-bridged organosilica nanoparticles (HPBONs), and detailed mechanistic investigations were performed to study the formation of hierarchically porous nanostructures. The obtained HPBONs consisted of a mesoporous core (2.3 nm) and a large mesoporous flocculent shell (12.6 nm), which corresponded to an overall diameter of ∼ 200 nm and good water dispersibility, respectively. Owing to the unique hierarchically porous structure and high surface area (877 m2/g), HPBONs showed a high coloading capacity for the hydrophilic drug doxorubicin (DOX) and the hydrophobic photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) (355 µg/mg, 38 µg/mg, respectively) and acid-responsive DOX drug release (42.62%), leading to precise chemo-photodynamic therapy in vitro , as the cytotoxicity assay revealed 70% killing of breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. This research provides a new method to construct hierarchically porous organosilica-based nanodelivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluoride sensing has been an interesting and vital problem owing to the negative influences of fluoride in the human body when taken in excessive amounts. Herein, we report the diketopyrrolopyrrole boronate ester as a potential chemosensor for fluorescent analysis and selective detection of fluoride ion. Quantitative analysis demonstrates that the emission peaks increases step-by-step at 592 and 641 nm in proportion with the increase of fluoride equivalents. Simultaneously, the color change is rapid and from sky blue to pink. The limit of detection is 1.58 × 10−5 M of fluoride anion, indicating a lower limit than the requirement of the World Health Organization. Furthermore, freshly cleaned test papers show an excellent selectivity at a low cost and the color change is similar to the results in solution. In addition, the morphology and the recognition mechanism have also been proposed. The results show that the diketopyrrolopyrrole boronate ester can be effective as a novel fluorescent and colorimetric sensor for fluoride, which opens the opportunity for the design and synthesis of new smart materials and sensors with precisely controlling fluorescence enhancement. Image 1 • The chemosensor shows a precisely controlling fluorescence enhancement. • The color change is high-contrast from sky blue to pink fastly. • Freshly cleaned test papers display an excellent selectivity at a low cost. • The limit of detection is 1.58 × 10−5 M of fluoride anion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbamazepine (CBZ) with piperine, the active ingredient in black pepper, which is omnipresent in food and may be potentially used for epilepsy control owing to its anticonvulsant effects, can be coadministered to epileptic patients. Since piperine has previously demonstrated its inhibition of the CYP3A-mediated metabolism of CBZ to carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide (CBZE), the present study aimed to investigate the impact of piperine on CBZ pharmacokinetics (PKs) in rats and pharmacodynamics in zebrafish and mouse acute seizure models. Plasma and brain PKs were studied in rats after a single-dose or 2-week combined oral administration of piperine (3.5/35 mg/kg, q.d.) and CBZ (40 mg/kg, t.i.d.) by blood sampling and brain microdialysis. Although no PK change was noticed after a single coadministration, significantly decreased plasma and brain concentrations of CBZ and CBZE with inhibited rat liver Cyp3a2 were demonstrated after long-term combined administration. Our developed compartmental model for the PK characterization of CBZ and CBZE in the blood and brain further estimated that coadministration with high-dose piperine could lead to decreases of 26%, 35%, and 38% in bioavailability, metabolism, and brain uptake of CBZ, respectively. Regardless of the PK changes, a limited impact on the antiepileptic effect of CBZ was found after the coadministration of CBZ and piperine in the tested seizure models. In conclusion, single-dose cotreatment of CBZ and piperine did not result in any significant PK or pharmacodynamic interactions, whereas their long-term cotreatment could lead to inhibited liver metabolism and the markedly reduced systemic and brain exposure of CBZ and CBZE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: SARS-CoV-2, which has brought a huge negative impact on the world since the end of 2019, is reported to invade cells using the spike (S) protein to bind to angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2) receptors on human cells while the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) is the key protease that activates the S protein, which greatly facilitates the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into target cells. In our previous study, it was observed that the positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids in saliva was higher in male and the elderly COVID-19 patients, suggesting that the susceptibility of oral tissues to SARS-CoV-2 may be related to gender and age. This research aimed to further investigate the SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility in oral tissues and influencing factors from the perspective of ACE2 and TMPRSS2, which were two proteins closely associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.Methods: Immunofluorescence was used to find the localization of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in oral mucosal tissues. Transcriptomic sequencing data of several datasets were then collected to analysis the relationship between the expressions of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 with the age and gender of patients. Furthermore, oral tissues from patients with different ages and genders were collected. Immunohistochemistry staining, qRT-PCR and western blot were performed to explore the relationship between expression levels of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and patient age as well as gender.Results: The results showed that the two proteins were able to be co-expressed in the epithelial cells of oral tissues, and their expression levels were higher in the relatively elderly group than those in relatively younger group. Male oral epithelial cells exhibited higher level of TMPRSS2.Conclusions: Our findings comprehensively confirmed the existence of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in oral tissues and clarify the relationship between the expression levels with human age and gender for the first time, providing evidence for possible entry routes of SARS-CoV-2 and the influencing factors of SARS-CoV-2 colonization in oral cavity. Thus, the oral mucosa might be at potential risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2, especially in male or elderly patients. Using saliva to detect the nucleic acids of SARS-CoV-2 may be more accurate for elder male COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulase has the biggest contribution to the high production costs of lignocellulose bioconversion and the substantial decrease of its production cost is the key to the commercialization of lignocellulosic biorefineries. Trichoderma reesei has the most robust cellulase among the candidates, which therefore is widely used for cellulase production in industry. This is not because of the size of its cellulase gene pool but its prodigious cargo of cellulase productivity. Still, T. reesei cellulase falls far short of perfection in real-world applications, especially for the composition. This review summarized the biotechnological advances in engineering T. reesei for enhanced cellulase production. Meanwhile, we proposed innovative ideas of systematically optimizing cellulase composition at the transcriptional level and improving cellulase production at the regulation level. Efficient genome editing is essential to achieving that target. Thus, the developments of the tools of multiple gene manipulations were discussed in detail here. This review provides ideas and/or inspirations to the future researches on T. reesei cellulase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of radially polarized odd‐Pearcey Gaussian beam (RPOPGB) whose paraxial propagation in free space is studied analytically and numerically, is introduced. Intriguingly, the energy of RPOPGBs is found to auto‐focus several times with the Gaussian beam waist radius increasing to some certain extents. Furthermore, RPOPGBs exhibit a special transversal intensity distribution that has an optical trap in the center. During the propagation, at first the RPOPGBs' two main lobes auto‐focus toward the center with side lobes, and then the two main lobes separate after the end of auto‐focusing. The Poynting vectors prove that the energy variation of the lobes maintains excellent central symmetry throughout the propagation. In addition, the fractional vortices are observed from the angular momentum and phase. These findings will be of potential use to particle capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the transmission properties of super-Gaussian pulses at a moving temporal boundary. The incident spectrum of super-Gaussian pulses, determined by different shape parameters, affects the reflected and transmitted pulse energy and the sidelobes distribution after crossing the temporal boundary. When the incident pulse is an initial unchirped super-Gaussian pulse or a super-Gaussian pulse with a small chirp parameter, the reflected pulse energy increases and the transmitted pulse energy decreases as the incident pulse shape parameter increases. When the incident pulse with a initial chirp and | C | ≥ 2 , the incident pulse spectrum mainlobe energy increases as the shape parameter increases, resulting in reflected pulse energy decreases and transmitted pulse energy increases. This study also discusses the pulse splitting occurs in the anomalous dispersion region. The super-Gaussian pulse sidelobes can theoretically be removed by creating two temporal boundaries. • Sidelobes distribution change after a super-Gaussian crosses a temporal boundary. • Adjusting the shape parameter concentrates the refracted energy of the chirped pulse. • Super-Gaussian pulse sidelobes can be removed by creating two temporal boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic–inorganic hybrid phase–transition molecular materials have attracted increasing attention due to their excellent properties of combining inorganic and organic components. However, few research has been conducted on rare‐earth–based bimetallic organic–inorganic hybrids. Here, we successfully constructed a series of rare–earth–based organic–inorganic hybrid multifunctional materials, (C6H14N2)2EuX(NO3)6O2 (X=Na, K, Rb), with reversible phase transition, switchable dielectric, photoluminescence and semiconductor properties. Specifically, the phase‐transition temperature of three compounds are determined to be 364, 405 and 440 K, respectively. By the confinement effect caused by the variation of alkali metal elements in the two–dimensional structure, the phase transition temperature is successfully increased by 76 K. Meanwhile, the solid–state photoluminescence of three compounds displays bright red light at room temperature. Additionally, the bandgaps of three compounds are determined to be 3.21, 3.53 and 3.32 eV, respectively. It is expected that the strategy of alkali metal substitution proposed in this work will provide new thoughts for the design of multifunctional organic‐inorganic hybrid crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new type of structured electron beam is introduced, which is the electron Airy tornado wave (eATW) with the characteristics of abrupt auto‐focusing and rotation property in free space. It is also found that the eATWs propagate periodically in a magnetic field, and their patterns of intensity distributions show the time‐like axial symmetry about a half‐period point in a period of time. Furthermore, the influence of the magnetic field's magnitude and direction on eATWs with different parameters has also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents data from a phase 1 study on the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of selumetinib in Chinese pediatric and adult patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and inoperable plexiform neurofibromas (PN). The study found that selumetinib was well-tolerated, with most adverse events being mild. No unexpected trends or serious adverse events were observed, and no patients stopped treatment due to adverse events. The document also provides information on the adverse events experienced by patients receiving selumetinib, as well as the pharmacokinetics of the medication. Additionally, the document summarizes a study on the efficacy and safety of selumetinib in adults with NF1-PN in China. The study found promising efficacy and improvements in quality of life, but caution should be exercised when interpreting the efficacy data as it was a secondary endpoint. The study concluded that selumetinib has an acceptable benefit-risk profile and may address the medical needs of patients with NF1-PN in China. The study was funded by AstraZeneca and Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: Skeletal mandibular hypoplasia (SMH), a common type of developmental deformities, results in impaired aesthetics of facial profile, occlusal dysfunction and poor life quality. In this study, BMAL1 deficiency leads to SMH formation, and we aim to investigate the mechanism by which BMAL1 deficiency induces SMH. Materials and methods: Circadian rhythm‐disordered mouse models were constructed by placing animals in a jet lag schedule of 6‐h light advance every 7 days for 4 or 8 weeks. The OPG expression was evaluated by histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. The mechanism by which BMAL1 affects OPG expression was investigated by chromatin immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. The phenotypes caused by BMAL1 knockout can be rescued by exogenous supplementation with OPG. Results: We demonstrate that the expressions of BMAL1 and OPG decreased in SMH patients. Circadian rhythm‐disordered mice and Bmal1−/− mice exhibited decreased expression of OPG, reduced bone mass and bone size of mandibles. Our results revealed that BMAL1 bound directly to the Opg promoter and upregulated its expression, thus inhibiting osteoclast differentiation. BMAL1 deficiency increased osteoclast differentiation by downregulating OPG expression. In vitro, the enhancement effect of osteoclast differentiation caused by BMAL1 knockdown was significantly reversed by exogenous supplementation with OPG. Importantly, bone loss caused by BMAL1 knockout can be partially reversed by injecting OPG Intraperitoneally. Conclusions: These results indicate that the circadian clock plays a critical role in the growth and development of mandible by regulating OPG expression, and present a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent SMH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The circadian clock generally exists in mammals, and clock genes are expressed in a circadian rhythm. • Recently many studies have revealed that the circadian clock regulates the immune response. • There is a bi-directional relationship between inflammatory response and the circadian clock. • This work may provide a new direction for the discovery of circadian rhythm targets that may be used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The circadian clock is a complex cellular mechanism that controls a series of physiological processes, including inflammation. It can directly interact physically with the components of the key inflammatory pathway. Similarly, inflammation can also lead to circadian rhythm disorders, which may further amplify the inflammatory response and aggravate tissue damage. This review offers a structured overview that focusses on the core proteins of the circadian clock and their interactions with inflammatory players, and provides a potential mechanism for the pathological rhythms observed under inflammatory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ultrasonic treatment decreased molecular weight and viscosity of AX. • WUAX induced single arrangement of gluten protein structure. • Increasing ultrasonic duration alleviated the destructive effect of AX on gluten. • Increased AX content aggravated the weakening of gluten network. This study aims to the effect of arabinoxylan (AX) on gluten quality. Ultrasonic treatment is utilized to degrade water unextractable arabinoxylans (WUAX) from wheat bran, which obtains three molecular weights of AX. The results indicate that the shear viscosity and particle size of AX were decreased and the ζ-potential was increased after ultrasonic treatment. Analysis of the gluten shows that the free SH of gluten with 6% WUAX, SAX10, and SAX30 (ultrasound duration for 10 min and 30 min) was increased by 51.9%, 48.1%, and 17.0%, respectively, whereas the free SH of 2% SAX30-gluten was increased by 19.8%. Furthermore, WUAX impaired the viscoelasticity properties of gluten, while SAX30 improved the viscoelasticity of gluten. WUAX induced the open, fragile, and discontinuous structure of gluten. On the contrary, SAX30 promoted the formation of the compact and regular gluten structure. Overall, ultrasonic as a non-chemical treatment could be used to improve the quality of whole-wheat foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between Thioguanine (6-TG) and human serum albumin (HSA) under simulative physiological conditions was studied using fluorescence spectroscopy in combination with UV absorption and molecular modeling method. A strong fluorescence quenching reaction of 6-TG to HSA was observed and the quenching mechanism was suggested as static quenching according to the Stern–Volmer equation. The binding constants ( K ) at different temperatures as well as thermodynamic parameters, enthalpy change (Δ H ) and entropy change (Δ S ), were calculated according to relevant fluorescent data and thermodynamic equation. It was indicated that the hydrophobic interaction was a predominant intermolecular force in order to stabilize the copolymer, which was in agreement with the results of molecular modeling study. In addition, the binding distance between 6-TG and the tryptophan residue of HSA was studied according to Föster’s non-radiative energy transfer theory and the effects of common ions on the binding constant of 6-TG-HSA copolymer were also discussed at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When substantial numbers of consumers claim to be “green”, firms face the choice of whether to develop green products which are more environmental than their traditional counterparts. In many cases, consumers may differ in their willingness-to-pay for the green products that firms should determine which segment to sell the green products to. This paper examines the role of costs, consumer’s green segmentation, and competition in firm’s green production decisions. We find that the cost conditions for green production is relaxed in competition cases compared with the monopolist case. Under competition, the traditional firm would possibly to defend his market share via decreasing the traditional product’s price, which leading to an equilibrium that green products are sold to green segment solely. And we show that in some cases, both traditional and green firms can benefit from a large green segment ratio and consumer’s premium differentiation.Big data contains huge value through which we can better understand consumers. Based on big data technologies development, consumers can be accurate segmented with improved indexes of green premium and segment ratio, thus these conclusions can provide guidance to green production in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Comorbidity is the rule rather than the exception for childhood and adolescent onset mental disorders, but we cannot predict its occurrence and do not know the neural mechanisms underlying comorbidity. We investigate if the effects of comorbid internalizing and externalizing disorders on anatomical differences represent a simple aggregate of the effects on each disorder and if these comorbidity-associated cortical surface differences relate to a distinct genetic underpinning. Methods: We studied the cortical surface area (SA) and thickness (CT) of 11,878 preadolescents (9–10 years) from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development Study. Linear mixed models were implemented in comparative and association analyses among internalizing (dysthymia, major depressive disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, agoraphobia, panic disorder, specific phobia, separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder), externalizing (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder) diagnostic groups, a group with comorbidity of the two and a healthy control group. Genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) and cell type specificity analysis were performed on 4468 unrelated European participants from this cohort. Results: Smaller cortical surface area but higher thickness was noted across patient groups when compared to controls. Children with comorbid internalizing and externalizing disorders had more pronounced areal reduction than those without comorbidity, indicating an additive burden. In contrast, cortical thickness had a non-linear effect with comorbidity: the comorbid group had no significant CT differences, while those patient groups without comorbidity had significantly higher thickness compare to healthy controls. Distinct biological pathways were implicated in regional SA and CT differences. Specifically, CT differences were associated with immune-related processes implicating astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, while SA-related differences related mainly to inhibitory neurons. Conclusion: The emergence of comorbidity across distinct clusters of psychopathology is unlikely to be due to a simple additive neurobiological effect alone. Distinct developmental risk moderated by immune-related adaptation processes, with unique genetic and cell-specific factors, may contribute to underlying SA and CT differences. Children with the highest risk but lowest resilience, both captured in their developmental morphometry, may develop a comorbid illness pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malocclusion is one of the three major diseases, the incidence of which could reach 56% of the imperiled oral and systemic health in the world today. Orthodontics is still the primary method to solve the problem. However, it is clear that many orthodontic complications are associated with courses of long-term therapy. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy could be used as a popular way to shorten the course of orthodontic treatment by nearly 26% to 40%. In this review, the efficacy in cells and animals, mechanisms, relevant cytokines and signaling, clinical trials and applications, and the future developments of PBM therapy in orthodontics were evaluated to demonstrate its validity. Simultaneously, based on orthodontic mechanisms and present findings, the mechanisms of acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) caused by PBM therapy were explored in relation to four aspects, including blood vessels, inflammatory response, collagen and fibers, and mineralized tissues. Also, the cooperative effects and clinical translation of PBM therapy in orthodontics have been explored in a growing numbers of studies. Up to now, PBM therapy has been gaining popularity for its non-invasive nature, easy operation, and painless procedures. However, the validity and exact mechanism of PBM therapy as an adjuvant treatment in orthodontics have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this review summarizes the efficacy of PBM therapy on the acceleration of OTM comprehensively from various aspects and was designed to provide an evidence-based platform for the research and development of light-related orthodontic tooth movement acceleration devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although adipose stem cell-conditioned medium (ASC-CM) has demonstrated the effect of promoting the cutaneous wound healing, the mechanism for this response on the effector cells (e.g., dermal fibroblasts) during the process remains to be determined. In this study, we aim to investigate the types and contents of cytokines in ASC-CM and the effects of some kinds of common cytokines in ASC-CM, such as EGF, PDGF-AA, VEGF, and bFGF, on dermal fibroblasts proliferation and migration in wound healing process. Results showed that these four cytokines had high concentrations in ASC-CM. The migration of skin fibroblasts could be significantly stimulated by VEGF, bFGF, and PDGF-AA, and the proliferation could be significantly stimulated by bFGF and EGF in ASC-CM. Additionally, ASC-CM had more obvious promoting effect on fibroblasts proliferation and migration than single cytokine. These observations suggested that ASC-CM played an important role in the cutaneous injury partly by the synergistic actions of several cytokines in promoting dermal fibroblasts proliferation and migration, and ASC-CM was more adaptive than each single cytokine to be applied in promoting the wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The present study compared the effect of various modification methods on emulsifying properties and emulsion stabilising properties of the pea protein isolate (PPI) and investigated the possible mechanism of emulsion stability from the perspectives of interfacial and rheological properties. The PPI was modified by physical extrusion (EPPI), chemical phosphorylation (PPPI), and synergistic extrusion and phosphorylation (EPPPI); natural PPI was used as a control. The results revealed that the adsorption energy of modified PPI at the O/W interface was reduced, and the viscoelasticity of the interfacial film of modified PPI was increased, suggesting that modified PPI could have better adsorption at the O/W interface. The emulsions by modified PPI had higher electrostatic repulsion, smaller particle size, and more uniform particle size distribution. Moreover, the emulsions by modified PPI promoted the formation of the spatial network structure by increasing the viscosity and extending the linear viscoelastic zone. These results showed that EPPI, PPPI, and EPPPI could improve PPI's emulsifying and emulsion‐stabilising properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PD105, a PI3Kδ inhibitor, is a candidate for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. This study aims to identify the metabolic profiling in vitro and in vivo by UHPLC-Q-Exactive Plus-MS. The in vitro metabolism of PD105 was studied by mouse liver microsomes and hepatocytes, while the in vivo metabolic profiling was obtained from mouse plasma, urine, and faeces. A total of 20 metabolites were tentatively identified based on accurate mass, fragment pathways, and characteristic fragment ions, including 4 in vitro and 20 in vivo. The proposed metabolic pathways of PD105 showed that there were 18 phase I metabolites and 2 phase II metabolites. The phase I metabolic pathways included oxidation, hydration, desaturation and oxidative dechlorination, while the phase II metabolic reactions were mainly methylation and arginine conjugation. Among them, oxidation was the main metabolic pathway of PD105. The comprehensive metabolic profiling contributed to further elucidation of pharmacological action and mechanism of PD105. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley leaves (BLs) naturally contained abundant phenolics, most of which are hardly completely released from food matrix during gastrointestinal digestion. Superfine grinding (SFG) and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) are generally used to treat the functional plants due to their effectiveness to cell wall-breaking and improvement of nutraceutical bioavailability. Thus, this study investigated the synergistic effects of SFG and HHP (100, 300, 500 MPa/20 min) on the bioaccessbility of typical phenolics in BLs during the simulated in-vitro digestion. The results demonstrated that the highest bioaccessbility (40.98%) was found in the ultrafine sample with HHP at 500 MPa. CLSM and SEM confirmed SFG led to microstructurally rapture of BLs. Moreover, the recovery index of ABTS radical scavenging activity and FRAP of HHP-treated ultrafine and fine BLs samples maximumly increased by 53.62% and 9.61%, respectively. This study is expecting to provide the theoretical basis to improve the consumer acceptance of BLs. • Superfine grinding (SFG) and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) were used on barley leaves (BLs). • BLs phenolic extractability was clearly improved through synergistic effects of SFG and HHP. • The decrease of BLs particle sizes further improved the effects of HHP treatment. • SFG and HHP treatment increased the antioxidant activities of ultrafine and fine BLs. • SFG and HHP treatment increased the bioaccessbility of BLs phenolics through in vitro digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chrysosplenium is the main component of a variety of Tibetan prescription preparations. Nevertheless, there are few chemical reports for different species of Chrysosplenium , which should be further explored. To this end, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/electrostatic field orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q Exactive Orbitrap HRMS) and high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) were first integrated to qualitatively analyse the chemical characteristics of Chrysosplenium nudicaule , Chrysosplenium carnosum , Chrysosplenium sikangense , Chrysosplenium griffithii , Chrysosplenium absconditicapsulum , Chrysosplenium forrestii and Chrysosplenium axillare. As a result, a total of 40 compounds were identified or tentatively identified from these 7 species of Chrysosplenium , including 21 flavonoids, 3 triterpenoids and a variety of alkaloids, organic acids and anthraquinones, etc. Among them, 6 compounds were detected for the first time, and 8 compounds are common components in all 7 species of Chrysosplenium. In the specific chromatogram, 4 characteristic peaks, namely Riboflavin, 5,4′-dihydroxy-3,6,3′-trimethoxyflavin-7-O-β- D -glucoside, 5,7,3′-trihydroxy-6,4′,5′-trimethoxyflavone and Chrysosplenetin, were selected to evaluate the similarities of 17 batches of Chrysosplenium samples, which ranged from 0.770 to 0.994. The established method is simple, feasible and accurate, and was proven to be suitable for characterizing the chemical compositions of Chrysosplenium from different species and evaluating their similarities by specific chromatogram analysis to clarify the rationality of using Chrysosplenium from different species in clinical medication, which provides experimental data for further quality evaluation of Chrysosplenium. [Display omitted] • An UPLC-Q Exactive Orbitrap HRMS method for chemical profile illustration of Chrysosplenium. • 40 compounds were unambiguously or tentatively identified. • An HPLC-DAD method for specific chromatogram and qualitative analysis. • 17 batches samples were analyzed by the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Genetic architecture controlling grain lutein content of common wheat was investigated through an integration of genome-wide association study (GWAS) and linkage analysis. Putative candidate genes involved in carotenoid metabolism and regulation were identified, which provide a basis for gene cloning and development of nutrient-enriched wheat varieties through molecular breeding. Lutein, known as 'the eye vitamin', is an important component of wheat nutritional and end-use quality. However, the genetic manipulation of grain lutein content (LUC) in common wheat has not previously been well studied. Here, quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with the LUC measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were first identified by integrating a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and linkage mapping. A Chinese wheat mini-core collection (MCC) of 262 accessions and a doubled haploid (DH) population derived from Jinchun 7 and L1219 were genotyped using the 90K SNP array. A total of 124 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) on all 21 wheat chromosomes except for 1A, 4D, and 5B that formed 58 QTL were detected. Among them, six stable QTL were identified on chromosomes 2AL, 2DS, 3BL, 3DL, 7AL, and 7BS. Meanwhile, three of the ten QTL identified in the DH population, QLuc.5A.1 and QLuc.5A.2 on chromosome 5AL and QLuc.6A.2 on 6AS, were stable and independently explained 5.58–10.86% of the phenotypic variation. The QLuc.6A.2 region colocalized with two MTAs identified by GWAS. Moreover, 71 carotenoid metabolism-related candidate genes were identified, and the allelic effects were analyzed in the MCC panel based on the 90K array. Results revealed that the genes CYP97A3 (Chr. 6B) and CCD1 (Chr. 5A) were significantly associated with LUC. Additionally, the gene PSY3 (QLuc.5A.1) and several candidate genes involved in the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathways colocalized with stable QTL regions. The present study provides potential targets for future functional gene exploration and molecular breeding in common wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac fibrosis is a significant global health problem associated with almost all types of heart disease. Extensive cardiac fibrosis reduces tissue compliance and contributes to adverse outcomes, such as cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and even heart failure. It is mainly associated with pathological myocardial remodeling, characterized by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in cardiac parenchymal tissues. In recent years, a growing body of evidence demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) have a crucial role in the pathological development of cardiac fibrosis. More than sixty miRNAs have been associated with the progression of cardiac fibrosis. In this review, we summarized potential miRNAs and miRNAs-related regulatory mechanisms for cardiac fibrosis and discussed the potential clinical application of miRNAs in cardiac fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The expression of a variety of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target genes in gastric cancer is dysregulated and affects the progression of gastric cancer but has not been fully clarified, while bioinformatics is expected to become a method to reveal the relationship and function between them. Thus, through a variety of bioinformatics analyses and experiments, we confirmed that miR-137-3p played a tumor-suppressive role in gastric cancer, and its target gene COL5A1 could reversely sponge miR-137-3p to relieve its targeted inhibition of FSTL1, which may promote the progression of gastric cancer by affecting immune infiltration. These results may provide new ideas for the treatment and future research of gastric cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and their target genes have been shown to play an important role in gastric cancer but have not been fully clarified. Therefore, our goal was to identify the key miRNA–mRNA regulatory network in gastric cancer by utilizing a variety of bioinformatics analyses and experiments. A total of 242 miRNAs and 1080 genes were screened from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), respectively. Then, survival-related differentially expressed miRNAs and their differentially expressed target genes were screened. Twenty hub genes were identified from their protein–protein interaction network. After weighted gene co-expression network analysis was conducted, we selected miR-137-3p and its target gene, COL5A1, for further research. We found that miR-137-3p was significantly downregulated and that overexpression of miR-137-3p suppressed the proliferation, invasion, and migration of gastric cancer cells. Furthermore, we found that its target gene, COL5A1, could regulate the expression of another hub gene, FSTL1, by sponging miR-137-3p, which was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assays. Knockdown of COL5A1 inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of gastric cancer cells, which could be rescued by the miR-137-3p inhibitor or overexpression of FSTL1. Ultimately, bioinformatics analyses showed that the expression of FSTL1 was highly correlated with immune infiltration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain hardness (HI) is a key trait for wheat milling and end-use quality. Puroindoline genes (PINs) are the major genes responsible for grain hardness, but other QTLs also contribute to the trait. Therefore, it is essential to identify loci associated with the HI and allelic variations of PINs in wheat. In the present study, 287 accessions from Shanxi province representing 70 years of wheat breeding were grown in one rainfed and two irrigated conditions to study grain hardness. Genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was performed using the 15 K array, and the variability of PIN alleles was investigated. Among the accessions, hard wheat was most common. The broad-sense heritability (H2) among the three environments was 99.5%, suggesting HI was mainly affected by heredity. GWAS identified nine significant marker–trait associations (MTAs), including that PINs, which explained 7.03% to 17.70% of phenotypic variation. Four MTAs on chromosome 2A, 2B, 5A, and 7A were novel loci. As for diversity of PINs, a total of 11 PINs haplotypes were detected, composed of 12 allelic variations of the PIN gene. The most frequent haplotypes were Pina-D1a/Pinb-D1b (43.9%) and Pina-Dla/Pinb-D1p (18.8%), and both the frequency of Pina-D1a/Pinb-D1b and the HI value increased with breeding years were related to local dietary habits probably. A novel double deletion allele of the PINs haplotype was found in Donghei1206. These results will be useful not only in understanding of the genetics of the HI but also in breeding for improved grain texture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: With the levodopa threshold effect for dyskinesia observed, threshold dosage of levodopa was identified in the general Parkinson's disease (PD) population. While early-onset PD (EOPD) and late-onset PD (LOPD) differ in the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations, threshold dosage of levodopa for individualized treatment remains unestablished. The objective of this study was to propose threshold dosage of levodopa in EOPD and LOPD patients, respectively. Methods: Data on demographic and clinical and treatment measures were collected in 539 PD patients. Patients were divided into different onset groups using 50 as the cut-off age. We used univariable and multivariable analysis to screen for risk factors for dyskinesia. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the levodopa threshold dosages for dyskinesia. Results: The prevalence of dyskinesia was 47.7% (53/111) in the EOPD group and 24.1% (103/428) in the LOPD group. Risk factors identified for dyskinesia include high levodopa daily dose and levodopa responsiveness for EOPD patients and high levodopa daily dose, long levodopa treatment duration, low body weight, use of entacapone, and high Hoehn–Yahr stage in off state for LOPD patients. The daily levodopa threshold dosages were 400 mg or 5.9 mg/kg for EOPD and 450 mg or 7.2 mg/kg for LOPD. Conclusion: EOPD patients had lower levodopa threshold dosage comparing with LOPD patients. Treatment of EOPD requires stricter levodopa dose control to delay the onset of dyskinesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid cancer (TC) is prone to recurrence, and biomarkers for predicting progression-free interval (PFI) are poorly explored. The study investigates the predictive value and underlying biological mechanisms of lncRNA CDKN2B-AS1 in TC. Combining RNA-seq and survival data, we identified that CDKN2B-AS1 was upregulated in TC samples and could be an excellent prognostic indicator. To exclude confounding factors, we divided patients into different subgroups using median CDKN2B-AS1 expression, and the effects of CDKN2B-AS1 on PFI and clinical features were explored in different clinical subgroups. Meanwhile, ssGSEA and ESTIMATE algorithms revealed that CDKN2B-AS1 overexpression may suggest the active state of the immune microenvironment. On the other hand, enrichment analysis also proved the potential influence of CDKN2B-AS1 on immune regulation in TC. Finally, we created a CDKN2B-AS1, microRNAs, and TFs network and discovered a new biomarker (CDKN2B-AS1) that might be employed as a therapeutic target in TC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of the combinations of Waxy (Wx) and starch branching enzyme IIb (BEIIb) alleles on starch fine structure and functional properties in indica rice cultivars. The results showed that be2b mutant starches with BEIIb deficiency had higher amylose content, shorter amylose long chains, a higher proportion of amylopectin long chains and molecular order, but a lower proportion of amylopectin short chains and relative crystallinity, resulting in higher gelatinization temperature but lower enthalpy and paste viscosity. Compared with the rice lines carrying Wx b allele, Wx a allele contributed to relatively higher amylose content, longer amylopectin chains, less short-range ordered structure and lower relative crystallinity, leading to a little lower gelatinization enthalpy. This study provides new insight into structure-function relations among rice lines with different allele combinations of starch synthesis related genes, which is a useful strategy for rice quality breeding. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to clarify the species differences of metabolic stability of E28 in liver microsomes, and to study metabolic phenotypes of E28 in human liver microsomes by chemical inhibition method. The metabolites in plasma, urine, and faeces samples from mice received caudal vein intravenous were detected and identified by UHPLC–HRMS, and the tissue distribution was studied after oral administration. E28 was metabolised rapidly in liver microsomes of each species with a short half-live T1/2 and a moderate clearance, except for rats. The metabolic properties of E28 were similar in human and mouse liver microsomes. Data from metabolic phenotype studies indicated that CYP2D6, CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 were the main metabolic enzymes participating in the metabolism of E28. The main metabolic pathways implicated include oxidation, methylation, amide hydrolysis, acetylation, glucuronide conjugation. Tissue distribution studies showed that E28 could be detected in all organs and tissues after oral administration, with the highest level in the stomach and the lowest in the brain. In bone marrow cells, the concentration of E28 in all sample points were consistently higher than its half inhibitory concentration against MV4-11 tumour cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sensitive and selective ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS-MS) method for the determination of apremilast in beagle dog plasma has been developed and successfully validated in the current study. Clopidogrel was employed as an internal standard (IS), and liquid-liquid extraction by tert-butylmethyl ether was used for sample preparation. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a UPLC BEH Shield RP18 column (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) with 5 mM ammonium formate water and 5 mM ammonium formate methanol as the mobile phase with gradient elution. Calibration plots were linear in the range of 2–3000 ng/mL for apremilast in beagle dog plasma. Mean recoveries of apremilast in beagle dogs plasma ranged from 87.4% to 97.4%. The intrarun and interrun precision was less than 6% and 9%, respectively, with the accuracy between 92.4% and 101.1%. The method has also been successfully applied in the pharmacokinetics study of apremilast. The mean t1/2Z was 5.41 h for 30 mg·day−1 for beagle dogs after oral administration. The AUC0-t increased linearly from 3.51 to 1802.13 μ g L − 1 ∗ h after administration of single doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel eco-friendly flotation agent was proposed. • LCPs showed a good harvesting performance (97.14%) of C. vulgaris. • PARAFAC was employed to investigate the mechanism of flocs formation. • LCA of 5 microalgae harvesting methods were conducted. • Eco-friendliness of LCPs was affirmed through GWP analysis. This study proposed an innovative approach using lipid-cored particles (LCPs) aimed at addressing the efficiency, cost, and environmental impact challenges in microalgae harvesting. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and chitosan (CS) were used to modify LCPs and to optimize efficiency and investigate the mechanisms of harvesting with Chlorella vulgaris. Results showed that a maximum harvesting efficiency of 97.14 % was achieved using CS-LCPs. Zeta potential and microscopic images revealed the presence of embedded CS-LCPs within microalgal flocs. Fractal dimension data suggested looser aggregates of CS-LCPs and Chlorella vulgaris , corroborated by Excitation-emission matrices (EEM) analysis further confirmation the presence of bridging networks. Moreover, life cycle assessment of five harvesting methods pointed freshwater ecotoxicity potential (FEP) and terrestrial ecotoxicity potential (TEP) as major environmental impacts, mainly from flocculant use, carrier production, and electricity consumption. Notably, LCPs showed the lowest global warming potential (GWP) at 1.54 kg CO 2 eq, offering a viable, low-carbon, cost-effective harvesting alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The main components of star anise extract (SAE) were trans -anethole, estragole and linalool. • Trans-anethole and estragole inhibit Penicillium and Aspergillus niger , while linalool only inhibits Aspergillus niger. • SAE exerts antifungal effect by damaging cell membranes of Penicillium and Aspergillus niger. • SAE can extend the shelf life of bread by up to 6 days. Because star anise is underutilized in the baking sector and the antifungal targets are unclear, this study aimed to investigate the antifungal effect and mechanism of star anise extract (SAE) on spoilage fungi in bread. SAE was prepared by ethanol extraction and 31 substances were identified by GC-MS, among which trans -anethole (62.62%), estragole (7.82%) and linalool (4.66%) were the major components. The antifungal activity of SAE and the three main components against Penicillium roqueforti and Aspergillus niger were determined by using the Oxford cup method and the sesqui-dilution method. The inhibition zones were 9.88 mm and 15.09 mm, while the minimum inhibitory concentrations were 125.00 μL/mL and 31.25 μL/mL. Trans-anethole and estragole both showed antifungal activity against Penicillium roqueforti and Aspergillus niger , while linalool only showed antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger. Propidium iodide and fluorescein diacetate staining analysis, leakage of cellular components (nucleic acids and proteins) and rise in ergosterol content indicated that SAE disrupted the integrity and permeability of the cell membrane. Malondialdehyde was increased after SAE treatment, indicating that SAE caused lipid peroxidation in the cell membrane, further confirming that it disrupted the cell membrane. At the same time, SAE interacted with membrane proteins and altered their conformation, resulting in cell membrane dysfunction. Finally, the shelf life test showed that SAE extended the shelf life of the bread by up to 6 days. In general, this study highlights the antifungal effect of SAE against Penicillium roqueforti and Aspergillus niger , which indicated that SAE can be used as an antifungal agent to extend the shelf life of bread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental disorders (MD), such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment, are very common during pregnancy and predispose to adverse pregnancy outcomes; however, the underlying mechanisms are still under intense investigation. Although the most common RNA modification in epigenetics, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has been widely studied, its role in MD has not been investigated. Here, we observed that fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) are downregulated in the hippocampus of pregnant rats with MD induced by fear stress and demonstrated that FTO participates in and regulates MD induced by fear stress. In addition, we identified four genes with anomalous modifications and expression (double aberrant genes) that were directly regulated by FTO, namely Angpt2, Fgf10, Rpl21, and Adcy7. Furthermore, we found that these genes might induce MD by regulating the PI3K/Akt and Rap1 signaling pathways. It appears that FTO-mediated m6A modification is a key regulatory mechanism in MD caused by fear stress during pregnancy. • This study firstly reports a special pattern of m6A modification mediated by FTO in the hippocampus of pregnant MD rats. • Downregulation of FTO in the hippocampus induce MD symptoms and lead to an increase of m6A levels in pregnant rats. • Four key double aberrant genes under the regulation of FTO-mediated m6A modification were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-transplantation of endothelial cells (ECs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is an important strategy for repairing complex and large bone defects. However, the ways in which ECs and MSCs interact remain to be fully clarified. We found that forward ephrinB2/Ephs signaling from hBMSCs to hUVECs promoted the tube formation of hUVECs by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Reverse ephrinB2/Ephs signaling from hUVECs to hBMSCs promoted the proliferation and maintenance of hBMSCs self-renewal via upregulation of OCT4, SOX2, and YAP1. Subcutaneous co-transplantation of ECs and MSCs in nude mice confirmed that forward ephrinB2/Ephs signaling could increase the cross-sectional area of blood vessels in the transplanted area, and reverse ephrinB2/Ephs signaling could maintain the self-renewal of transplanted hBMSCs in vivo . Based on these results, ephrinB2/Ephs bidirectional juxtacrine regulation between ECs and MSCs plays a pivotal role in improving the healing of bone defects by promoting angiogenesis and achieving a sufficient number of MSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An UPLC-MS/MS method was developed to measure plasma concentrations of FM. • The method exhibited good linearity, precision, accuracy, recovery and low matrix effects for FM in rat and dog plasma. • The pharmacokinetic study revealed high systemic exposure, long half-life, high bioavailability, and no drug accumulation after multiple administrations of FM in rats and dogs. • The UPLC-MS/MS method developed in this study provides a foundation for preclinical pharmacokinetic studies of FM and a reference for clinical pharmacokinetic studies. Flonoltinib Maleate (FM) is a novel selective inhibitor of Janus kinase 2/FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (JAK2/FLT3). In this study, we developed an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method to measure the plasma concentrations of FM in rats and dogs for pharmacokinetic studies. For chromatographic separation, we used a BEH C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 μm particle size) in HPLC. The mobile phase A consisted of a water solution containing 0.1% formic acid (FA) and 2 mM NH 4 OAc, mixed with acetonitrile (ACN) (V:V = 95:5). The mobile phase B was a water solution containing 0.1% FA and 2 mM NH 4 OAc, mixed with ACN (V:V = 5:95), which was used for gradient elution. We used multiple reactive ion detection (MRM) mode and electrospray ionization positive (ESI+) mode for quantitative analysis. The standard curve was linear in the concentration range of 0.5 to 500 ng/ml in rat and dog plasma. The intra-batch and inter-batch precision (RSD%) of FM in rat and dog plasma was less than 15%. The intra-batch and inter-batch accuracy was 88.3–106.5% and 92.0–100.6% in rats, and 94.7–106.6% and 95.3–103.8% in dogs, respectively. The RSD (%) of matrix factors (MF) normalized to the internal standard (IS) of FM in rat and dog plasma was ≤5.6% and ≤3.0%, respectively. The extraction recovery and carryover were considered acceptable. When the sample concentration was higher than the upper limit of quantitation (ULOQ), the 10-fold dilution was reliable within the limits of acceptability. The UPLC-MS/MS method developed in this study was successfully applied in measuring the pharmacokinetic parameters of FM in rats and dogs after intravenous and oral administration, laying a foundation for the preclinical pharmacokinetic study of FM and providing a reference for clinical pharmacokinetic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Framework Mn can be substituted by Cu2+ over ZSM-5 in the synthesis process. • Mn/Cu cosubstitution can significantly enhance the redox ability of ZSM-5. • Mn-Cu-HZ(1:1) has a super catalytic oxidation activity for hexane. • Skeleton Cu2+ and MnOx nanoclusters improve the catalytic activity cooperatively. A series of Mn/Cu cosubstituted ZSM-5 (Zeolite Socony Mobil–5) with different Mn/Cu molar ratios were synthesized by a one-step heteronuclear substitution hydrothermal method. Singly substituted Mn- and Cu-ZSM-5 compounds were also prepared. The catalytic oxidation performance of hexane and the catalyst surface physicochemical properties over each catalyst were investigated to determine the reaction activity, the main influencing factors and the mechanism for hexane oxidation. Part of the framework Mn of ZSM-5 was substituted by Cu2+ during Mn/Cu cosubstitution, facilitating the generation of isolated and/or framework Cu2+ and extraframework ultrafine hollow spherical MnOx nanoclusters, and increasing the low-temperature reducibility and the amount and transfer capacity of superficial lattice oxygen. Mn-Cu-HZ(1:1) with an appropriate Mn/Cu cosubstitution ratio exhibited the best catalytic oxidation performance, mainly because it has the most superficial lattice oxygens, a relatively high transfer capacity, the highest low-temperature reducibility and suitable acidity. Synergetic catalysis could occur between isolated and/or framework Cu2+ and ultrafine MnOx nanoclusters via a Mars-Van Krevelen (MvK) mechanism. A reaction route for hexane oxidation over Mn-Cu-HZ(1:1) was proposed based on the in situ DRIFTS and GC–MS results. This work provides new insights into the design of VOC degradation catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aminated hollow mesoporous organosilica spheres with a three-layer structure are successfully synthesized for the first time and can support a large number of gold nanoparticles. [Display omitted] • atHMOSs with amino groups were synthesized by a sol–gel method and a subsequent hydrothermal treatment procedure. • The prepared atHMOSs exhibited well-defined three-layered hollow structure and uniform mesopores. • The amino group in atHMOS gives it the ability to load large amounts of gold nanoparticles. Hollow mesoporous spheres with hierarchical structure and functional groups were considerably interest in separation, catalysis, and biomedicine. In this work, aminated three-layered hollow mesoporous organosilica spheres (atHMOSs) are synthesized for the first time by successively co-assembling multiple organosilanes with surfactant and a subsequent hydrothermal treatment procedure. Electron microscopy shows that the prepared atHMOSs have a well-defined three-layered hollow structure with a monodisperse diameter (440 nm) and a uniform mesopores (4.1 nm). Importantly, owing to the doped amino groups successfully, the atHMOSs can effectively coordinate with gold ions, and thus gold nanoparticles loaded in atHMOSs are further prepared after reducing the adsorbed gold ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Twenty-one phenolics and two non-phenolic compounds were detected by UPLC Q-TOF-MS. • One phenolic amide and eight ferulic acid oligomers were preliminarily identified. • Boiling and roasting improved the extractability and antioxidant activity of phenolics. • Boiling and roasting also promoted the bioaccessibility of phenolics. This study investigated the effects of two thermal treatments (boiling and roasting) on highland barley (HB) phenolics and their bioaccessibilities (in-vitro). The UPLC Q-TOF-MS system was utilized to identify the individual phenolic compounds in HB. Twenty-one phenolics and two non-phenolic compounds were identified in HB, and the fundamental phenolics in HB were flavanols and phenolic acids. Both boiling and roasting improved free and bound phenolics' extractability and antioxidant activity by loosening the grain matrix. In-vitro simulated digestion showed that thermal-treated HB had higher bioaccessibility of phenolics than raw samples, and the boiled samples had higher bioaccessibility (36.3%) of phenolics than those of roasted samples (22.75%). Therefore, boiling and roasting could be used as non-chemical treatments to improve whole grain's phenolic content and their bioaccessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel oxynitride glass–ceramics with tremendously improved quantum yield and adjustable color coordinates were prepared with the conventional melt-and-quench method and subsequent annealing heat treatment. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 and Y 20 N 4 Si 12 O 48 crystalline phases were homogenously precipitated in the glass matrix. The optical absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectrum measurements showed that a large portion of Eu 3 + ions were reduced into Eu 2 + which were crystallized into CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 phase during the heat treatment by substituting Ca 2 + ions in them. Emission spectra evidently show that Eu 2 + and Eu 3 + ions were preferentially incorporated in CaAl 2 Si 2 O 8 and Y 20 N 4 Si 12 O 48 crystalline phases, respectively. This assignment was further supported by cation ionic radii and local charge balances, as well as defect chemistry considerations. The total emission intensity including both Eu 2 + and Eu 3 + ions was enhanced with increasing the annealing temperature, due to the conversion of Eu 3 + to Eu 2 + and the enhanced quantum efficiency of Eu 3 + in the crystalline phase as compared to the glass matrix. As a result, the quantum yields (QYs) of the glass–ceramics were also enhanced significantly from 2.07% (the precursor glass) up to 43.33% (the maximum of the glass–ceramics). The emission ratio of Eu 2 + /Eu 3 + changed from < 1.0 to > 4.0, which led this novel glass–ceramics with adjustable color coordinates ranging from red to blue controlled by varying the annealing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning valence-based responses to favorable and unfavorable options requires judgments of the relative value of the options, a process necessary for species survival. We found, using engineered mice, that circuit connectivity and function of the striosome compartment of the striatum are critical for this type of learning. Calcium imaging during valence-based learning exhibited a selective correlation between learning and striosomal but not matrix signals. This striosomal activity encoded discrimination learning and was correlated with task engagement, which, in turn, could be regulated by chemogenetic excitation and inhibition. Striosomal function during discrimination learning was disturbed with aging and severely so in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. Anatomical and functional connectivity of parvalbumin-positive, putative fast-spiking interneurons (FSIs) to striatal projection neurons was enhanced in striosomes compared with matrix in mice that learned. Computational modeling of these findings suggests that FSIs can modulate the striosomal signal-to-noise ratio, crucial for discrimination and learning. • Striosomal, not matrix, striatal activity is shaped with valence-based learning • Striosomal, not matrix, DREADD manipulation opposingly modulates task engagement • Striosome-selective circuit decline occurs during aging and in mouse model of HD • Interneuron-striosome connectivity modulates SNR, and this increases with learning Friedman et al. find that specialized regions of the striatum, a key part of the brain's movement and motivation control system, are essential for learning about the values of good and bad outcomes of decisions. The learning signals in striosomes scale according to subjective value and are vulnerable to decline with aging and in neurodegenerative disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of rhGH and vitamin D has been suggested as a potential therapeutic approach for children with GHD. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the impact of recombinant human growth hormone plus vitamin D on development and lipid metabolism in children with growth hormone deficiency. A total of 198 children treated in our hospital from December 2011 to December 2021 were recruited. The study assessed development-related indices, lipid metabolism indices, growth factor indices, thyroid indices, and adverse reactions. After treatment, the development-related indices of children in both groups improved ( P  < 0.05), but the experimental group showed significantly better HtSDS and annual height growth rate ( P  < 0.05). Moreover, the experimental group had lower levels of TG, T-CHO, and LDL-C versus the observation group ( P  < 0.05), while no significant difference was observed in HDL-C levels between the two groups before and after treatment ( P  > 0.05). Moreover, patients receiving recombinant human growth hormone plus vitamin D had significantly higher IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels than those receiving recombinant human growth hormone alone ( P  < 0.05). The T3, T4, and TSH levels of children in both groups increased after treatment ( P  < 0.05). The incidence of adverse events did not significantly differ between the two groups ( P  > 0.05). In conclusion, our findings suggest that recombinant human growth hormone plus vitamin D effectively improves the development and lipid metabolism of children with growth hormone deficiency. Additionally, it increases growth factor levels without compromising thyroid function or increasing the risk of adverse drug reactions.

Feeding behavior is a fundamental activity for insects, which is essential for their growth, development and reproduction. The regulation of their feeding behavior is a complicated process influenced by a variety of factors, including external stimuli and internal physiological signals. The current review introduces the signaling pathways in brain, gut and fat body involved in insect feeding behavior, and provides a series of target genes for developing RNA pesticides. Additionally, this review summaries the current challenges for the identification and application of functional genes involved in feeding behavior, and finally proposes the future research direction. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Introduction: Steamed bread (SB) is a daily food in many countries in the world, but the relationship between HMW-GS and the quality of SB remain unclear., Methods: This study investigated the effects of 12 subunit combinations on the characteristics of SB, including volume, physical properties, and sensory evaluation, combined with the microstructure and dough rheological properties., Results: The locus effect results showed, volume and physical properties of SB were Glu-D1 > Glu-B1 > Glu-A1 , while sensory scores Glu-B1 > Glu-D1 > Glu-A1 . According to individual subunit effects, subunit 1 at Glu-A1 locus, 7+8 and 7+9 subunits at Glu-B1 locus, and 2+10 and 5+12 subunits at Glu-D1 locus were significantly superior to other subunits in physical indices like volume, chewiness, glueyness, and sensory scores, and were less affected by moisture. The effect of subunits combination is mainly affected by subunits, and the combination of superior subunits tends to make SB quality better. The subunit combinations (1, 7+8, 5+12), (N, 7+9, 2+10) and (1, 7+9, 5+12) had better physical properties indexes, sensory scores, dense, uniform and delicate micro-pore structure, and smaller thickness wall., Discussion: The results showed that protein content, wet gluten content and stability time were the main factors affecting the volume and physical properties of SB. The protein content, wet gluten content and stability time of flour in 7+8, 7+9, 2+10 and 5+12 subunits were higher. Therefore, the quality of SB containing these subunits was found better., 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 Zhao, Wang, Zhao, Qiao, Wu, Hao, Ge, Feng and Zheng.)