High acidity organic waste degradation and the potential to bioremediation of heavy metals in soil by an acid-tolerant Serratia sp.

Highly acidic citrus pomace (CP) is a byproduct of Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae production and causes significant environmental damage. In this study, a newly isolated acid-tolerant strain of Serratia sp. JS-043 was used to treat CP and evaluate the effect of reduced acid citrus pomace (RACP) in passivating heavy metals.

Molecular mechanisms of selenite reduction by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BSe: An integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis.

The reduction of selenite [Se(Ⅳ)] by microorganisms is a green and efficient detoxification strategy. We found that Se(Ⅳ) inhibited exopolysaccharide and protein secretion by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BSe and compromised cell integrity. In this study, L.

Amide-containing neoepitopes: the key factor in the preparation of hapten-specific antibodies and a strategy to overcome.

For a long time, people have suffered from uncertainty, complexity, and a low success rate in generating and screening antibodies against small molecules, which have become the core bottlenecks of immunochemistry. Here, the influence of antigen preparation on antibody generation was investigated at both molecular and submolecular levels. Neoepitopes (amide-containing neoepitopes) formed in the preparation of complete antigens are one of the most important factors limiting the efficiency of generating hapten-specific antibodies, which was verified by different haptens, carrier proteins, and conjugation conditions.

Covalent organic nanospheres as a fiber coating for solid-phase microextraction of genotoxic impurities followed by analysis using GC-MS.

Covalent organic nanospheres (CONs) were explored as a fiber coating for solid-phase microextraction of genotoxic impurities (GTIs) from active ingredients (AIs). CONs were synthesized by an easy solution-phase procedure at 25 °C. The obtained nanospheres exhibited a high specific surface area, good thermostability, high acid and alkali resistance, and favorable crystallinity and porosity.

Analysis of dietary exposure and risk assessment of pesticide residues in roots and rhizomes of Chinese herbs.

Medicine food homologous (MFH) plants provide therapeutic and health care effects through diet. Thus, a risk assessment system for hazardous ingredient residues is urgently required to ensure their safe use. In this study, the pesticide contamination of six root and rhizome Chinese herbs, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Panacis Quinquefolii Radix, Pseudostellariae Radix, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Codonopsis Radix, and Glehniae Radix, and the risks associated with their intake were investigated.

Development of a Matrix Sublimation Device with Controllable Crystallization Temperature for MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging.

The size and distribution of matrix crystals deposited on the surface of a tissue section play a key role in the performance of MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI). In this study, uniform distribution and a restricted size of matrix crystals were achieved via a homemade matrix sublimation device with controllable crystallization temperature. The crystallization temperature was stably controlled at a subzero temperature, and homogeneous matrix crystals with diameters <0.

In-situ exfoliation of graphitic carbon nitride with metal-organic framework via a sonication-assisted approach for dispersive solid-phase extraction of perfluorinated compounds in drinking water samples.

Monitoring the levels of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in the environment is of vital importance, owing to their sustained environmental presence, extensive distribution, and associated health risks. The development of cost-effective and efficient sorbents for the establishment of sensitive analytical methods is critical for achieving trace-level detection. In this study, a graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN)-based sorbent is synthesized by a facile sonication-assisted method exfoliated by zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) in situ.

Metabolomic approach for rapid differentiation of Fritillaria bulbs by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and multivariate statistical analysis.

The bulbs of Fritillaria have been used for centuries as food and medicinal products in many Asian countries. Different Fritillaria species have distinct pharmacological effects despite of their similar appearances. Effective differentiation of Fritillaria species can avoid adulteration and is crucial to its clinical uses.

Quick and convenient construction of lambda-cyhalothrin antigen for the generation of specific antibody.

Lambda-cyhalothrin is a pyrethroid widely used in crop, fruit and vegetable production, but has potential health threats to human. Immunoassay is a cheap, rapid and facile method to detect lambda-cyhalothrin, yet wide application of this method still requires improvement in the construction of antigen. In this study, we developed a one-step lambda-cyhalothrin hapten synthesis that transformed the cyanide group in lambda-cyhalothrin to amide.

Dietary exposure and risk assessment of short-chain chlorinated paraffins in supermarket fresh products in Jinan, China.

Dietary intake is the major route for the exposure of residents to short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs). SCCPs are classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by the Stockholm Convention since May 2017. This study assessed the general population's dietary exposure to SCCPs through supermarket products.

Core-shell hollow spheres of type C@MoS for use in surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry of small molecules.

Mesoporous carbon hollow spheres coated with MoS (C@MoS) were synthesized to obtain a material with large specific surface area, fast electron transfer efficiency and good water dispersibility. The composite material was applied as a matrix for the analysis of small molecules by surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SALDI-TOF MS). The use of a core-shell C@MoS matrix strongly reduces matrix background interferences and increases signal intensity in the analysis of sulfonamides antibiotics (SAs), cationic dyes, emodin, as well as estrogen and amino acids.

In situ analysis of oxytetracycline tablets based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging.

Rationale: A thorough understanding of the content and distribution of active ingredients in pharmaceuticals is essential for drug efficacy and safety. Technological advancements in mass spectrometry imaging present an opportunity for methodological innovation by providing qualification and quantification analysis, as well as spatial information, in the same assay, which has great potential for applications in the rapid analysis and quality control of drugs.

Methods: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) was employed to directly analyze oxytetracycline tablets in order to map the distribution of the active constituent within the whole tablet.

Principles of Inter-Amino-Acid Recognition Revealed by Binding Energies between Homogeneous Oligopeptides.

We have determined the interaction strengths of the common naturally occurring amino acids using a complete binding affinity matrix of 20 × 20 pairs of homo-octapeptides consisting of the 20 common amino acids between stationary and mobile states. We used a bead-based fluorescence assay for these measurements. The results provide a basis for analyzing specificity, polymorphisms, and selectivity of inter-amino-acid interactions.

Anti-tumor activity of nanomicelles encapsulating CXCR4 peptide antagonist E5.

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, and metastasis is the main attribute to cancer death. CXCR4 and its natural ligand CXCL12 have been known to play a critical role in tumorigenesis, angiogenesis and metastasis. Therefore, designing a new CXCR4 antagonist to prevent tumor metastasis will be of great significance.

Aromatic-interaction-mediated inhibition of β-amyloid assembly structures and cytotoxicity.

Abnormal aggregation of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide plays an important role in the onset and progress of Alzheimer's disease (AD); hence, targeting Aβ aggregation is considered as an effective therapeutic strategy. Here, we studied the aromatic-interaction-mediated inhibitory effect of oligomeric polypeptides (K8Y8, K4Y8, K8W8) on Aβ42 fibrillization process. The polypeptides containing lysine as well as representative aromatic amino acids of tryptophan or tyrosine were found to greatly suppress the aggregation as evaluated by thioflavin T assay.

Dual-affinity peptide mediated inter-protein recognition.

We present for the first time an enhanced interaction affinity between an abundant soluble protein (human serum albumin) and a membrane protein (chemokine receptor 4) mediated by a dual-affinity peptide E5.

Self-assembled NIR nanovesicles for long-term photoacoustic imaging in vivo.

We report a supramolecular approach for the preparation of photostable NIR nanovesicles based on a cyanine dye derivative as a photoacoustic (PA) contrast agent for high-performance nano-imaging.

Inhibition of β-amyloid peptide self-assembly and cytotoxicity by poly(LVFF-co-β-amino ester).

The β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide plays an important role in the onset and progress of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, studies on inhibiting fibril formation and thus neurotoxicity of Aβ could be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of AD. We report a convenient synthetic approach for one-pot preparation of poly-(β-amino ester) copolymerized with the GGLVFF peptide, which is based on the frequently used inhibitor LVFF.

A novel three-dimensional CdII metal-organic framework based on [Cd6(malonate)6] metallomacrocycles with zeolite SOD (sodalite) topology: poly[ammine-μ3-malonato-cadmium(II)].

A novel Cd(II) metal-organic framework, [Cd(C(3)H(2)O(4))(NH(3))](n), was synthesized by liquid diffusion conducted in the presence of ammonia. The Cd(II) atom has seven-coordinate O(6)N pentagonal-bipyramidal geometry. Six Cd(II) centers are joined by six malonate ligands to form an S(6)-symmetric [Cd(6)(malonate)(6)] metallomacrocycle, which is further extended through a side-on chelating malonate ligand to form a three-dimensional network.