Experimental-design-based optimization of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-negative-ion chemical ionization-mass spectrometry for the determination of pyrethroids in agricultural products and drinks.

Pyrethroids are synthetic chemicals that account for 16% of the international insecticide market and have been shown to be of varying toxicity to different species. There are various methods available for detecting pyrethroids in agricultural products, but these products must be pre-treated to remove interference from the food matrix, such as through dispersion liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME). This study employed two experimental design methods to optimize the continuous and discontinuous experimental parameters of DLLME and investigated whether DLLME combined with GC-NICI-MS is effective for detecting pyrethroids in agricultural products.

The ecdysone-induced bZIP transcription factor MafB establishes a positive feedback loop to enhance vitellogenesis and reproduction in the mosquito.

Female mosquitoes require a vertebrate blood meal to activate reproduction, transmitting numerous devastating human diseases. Vitellogenesis is a central event of female reproduction that involves the massive production of vitellogenin (Vg) in the fat body and the maturation of ovaries. This process is controlled by the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E); however, its molecular regulatory basis remains not completely understood.

How Advanced are Nanocarriers for Effective Subretinal Injection?

Subretinal injection (SR injection) is a commonly used method of ocular drug delivery and has been mainly applied for the treatment of neovascular age-associated macular degeneration (nAMD) and sub-macular hemorrhage (SMH) caused by nAMD, as well as various types of hereditary retinopathies (IRD) such as Stargardt's disease (STGD), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and a series of fundus diseases such as Leber's congenital dark haze (LCA), choroidal defects, etc. The commonly used carriers of SR injection are mainly divided into viral and non-viral vectors. Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA), choroidal agenesis, and a series of other fundus diseases are also commonly treated using SR injection.

Half substitution of mineral N with fish protein hydrolysate enhancing microbial residue C and N storage and climate benefits under high straw residue return.

The widespread utilization of straw return was a popular practice straw disposal for highly intensive agriculture in China, which has brought about some negative impacts such as less time for straw complete biodegradation, aggravation of greenhouse gas evolution, and lower efficient of carbon accumulation. It was urgent to find an eco-friendly N-rich organic fertilizer instead of mineral N as activator to solve the above problems and lead a carbon accumulation in long tern management. Besides, microbial necromass was considered as a crucial contributor to persistent soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pool.

Identification of organic constituents on atmospheric particulate matter in the East Asian background air of free troposphere by GC×GC-TOFMS.

The presence of organic compounds on the particulate matter (PM) or aerosols can arise from the condensation of gaseous organic compounds on the existing aerosols, or from organic precursors to form secondary organic aerosols (SOA) through photochemistry. The objective of this study is to characterize organic constituents on aerosols relevant to their emission sources and the key compounds revealing the evolution of aerosols with the use of a novel analytical technique. A time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) coupled with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) was developed using a flow type of modulator instead of a thermal type as a prelude to field applications without the need for cryogen.

Ganoderic Acid A Mitigates Inflammatory Bowel Disease through Modulation of AhR Activity by Microbial Tryptophan Metabolism.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is a complex gastrointestinal condition influenced by genetic, microbial, and environmental factors, among which the gut microbiota plays a crucial role and has emerged as a potential therapeutic target. Ganoderic acid A (GAA), which is a lanostane triterpenoid compound derived from edible mushroom , has demonstrated the ability to modulate gut dysbiosis. Thus, we investigated the impact of GAA on IBD using a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model.

Ophthalmic Artery Morphology and Hemodynamics Associated with White Matter Hyperintensity.

To investigate morphological and hemodynamic characteristics of the ophthalmic artery (OA) in patients with white matter hyperintensity (WMH), and the association of the presence and severity of WMH with OA characteristics. This cross-sectional study included 44 eyes of 25 patients with WMH and 38 eyes of 19 controls. The Fazekas scale was adopted as criteria for evaluating the severity of white matter hyperintensities.

Spatiotemporal characterization of PM, O, and trace gases associated with East Asian continental outflows via drone sounding.

East Asian continental outflows with PM, O, and other species may determine the baseline conditions and affect the air quality in downwind areas via long-range transport (LRT). To gain insight into the impact and spatiotemporal characteristics of airborne pollutants in East Asian continental outflows, a versatile multicopter drone sounding platform was used to simultaneously observe PM, O, CO, and meteorological variables (temperature, specific humidity, pressure, and wind vector) above the northern tip of Taiwan, Cape Fuiguei, which often encounters continental outflows during winter monsoon periods. By coordinating hourly high-spatial-resolution profiles provided by drone soundings, WRF/CMAQ model air quality predictions, HYSPLIT-simulated backward trajectories, and MERRA-2 reanalysis data, we analyzed two prominent phenomena of airborne pollutants in continental outflows to better understand their physical/chemical characteristics.

[Transcriptome data mining combined with clinical and animal experiments for identification of syndrome element marker genes during entire course of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head].

A research strategy combining transcriptome data mining and experimental verification was adopted to identify the marker genes characterizing the syndrome elements of phlegm, stasis, and deficiency in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head(SONFH). Firstly, the common differentially expressed gene sets of SONFH with the syndromes of phlegm-stasis obstructing collaterals, vessel obstruction, and liver-kidney deficiency were obtained from the clinical transcriptomic analysis of a previous study. The differential expression trend analysis and functional gene mining were then employed to predict the candidate marker gene sets representing phlegm, stasis, and deficiency.

Modulation of fried spring roll wrapper quality upon treatment of batter with maltogenic amylase, transglutaminase and bromelain.

Background: Fried foods are favored for their unique crispiness, golden color and flavor, but they also face great challenge because of their high oil content, high calories and the existence of compounds such as acrylamide and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Long-term consumption of fried foods may adversely affect health. Therefore, it is necessary to explore fried foods with lower oil contents and a high quality to meet the demand.

Effect of PCI on ophthalmic artery hemodynamics in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Purpose: We aimed to explore the effects of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on the ophthalmic artery (OA) hemodynamics in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: A total of 73 participants (Group0: healthy controls, Group1: Patients with ACS underwent PCI < 3 months, Group2: Patients with ACS underwent PCI ≥ 3 months) were enrolled. Computed tomographic angiography images were used to construct three-dimensional models of participants' OAs.

A CTL - Lys immune function maintains insect metamorphosis by preventing gut bacterial dysbiosis and limiting opportunistic infections.

Background: Gut bacteria are beneficial to the host, many of which must be passed on to host offspring. During metamorphosis, the midgut of holometabolous insects undergoes histolysis and remodeling, and thus risks losing gut bacteria. Strategies employed by holometabolous insects to minimize this risk are obscure.

Forecast of peak infection and estimate of excess deaths in COVID-19 transmission and prevalence in Taiyuan City, 2022 to 2023.

In this paper, with the method of epidemic dynamics, we assess the spread and prevalence of COVID-19 after the policy adjustment of prevention and control measure in December 2022 in Taiyuan City in China, and estimate the excess population deaths caused by COVID-19. Based on the transmission mechanism of COVID-19 among individuals, a dynamic model with heterogeneous contacts is established to describe the change of control measures and the population's social behavior in Taiyuan city. The model is verified and simulated by basing on reported case data from November 8th to December 5th, 2022 in Taiyuan city and the statistical data of the questionnaire survey from December 1st to 23rd, 2022 in Neijiang city.

Ozone containment through selective mitigation measures on precursors of volatile organic compounds.

Abatement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) ozone reduction is usually carried out by reducing the total amount of VOCs without considering reactivity between different species. This study incorporates the concept of maximum incremental reactivity (MIR) and speciation profiles into the industrial emission inventory of Taiwan to target organic species from industrial sources with the greatest ozone formation potentials (OFPs). These high OFP sources/species are then mitigated to assess the O reduction amount (ΔO) with Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling under VOC-limited conditions.

Effects of posterior staphyloma on choroidal structure in myopic adults: a retrospective study.

Background: Studies on the choroid of myopic eyes with posterior staphyloma have shown that choroidal thickness decreased. This retrospective study further analysed the effects of posterior scleral staphyloma on choroidal blood vessels and matrix components compared to non-pathological myopia.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ninety-one eyes were divided into pathological (posterior staphyloma) and non-pathological myopia.

Comparison of Ophthalmic Artery Morphological Characteristics and Retinal Vessel Diameter for Identifying Ocular Ischemic Syndrome.

Purpose: To investigate the morphological characteristics of the ophthalmic artery (OA) and retinal vessels in ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS) and to compare their ability to identify OIS.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 21 patients with unilateral OIS and 17 controls matched for age, sex, degree of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis, and cerebral collateral patency. This study used a three-dimensional reconstruction based on computed tomographic angiography to measure the morphological characteristics of the OA and the ICA.

Sesquiterpene coumarins from Ferula sinkiangensis and their anti-pancreatic cancer effects.

Eight previously unreported sesquiterpene coumarins, namely (+)- and (-)-ferulasinkian A (1), (-)-fukanefuromarin M (2), (±)-ferulasinkian C (3), (±)-ferulasinkian D (4), ferulasinkian E (5), ferulasinkian F (7), and ferulasinkian G (8), together with two known compounds, (+)-fukanefuromarin M (2) and 7-hydroxyferprenin (6), have been isolated from the roots of Ferula sinkiangensis (Umbelliferae). The structures of all compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, along with ECD calculations and optical rotation calculations. Compounds 1-6 are dimers consisting of a chain sesquiterpene and a coumarin with an oxygen-containing six-membered ring connected from coumarin C-3 and C-4.

Biogenesis, Composition and Potential Therapeutic Applications of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived Exosomes in Various Diseases.

Exosomes are nanovesicles with a wide range of chemical compositions used in many different applications. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSCs-EXOs) are spherical vesicles that have been shown to mediate tissue regeneration in a variety of diseases, including neurological, autoimmune and inflammatory, cancer, ischemic heart disease, lung injury, and liver fibrosis. They can modulate the immune response by interacting with immune effector cells due to the presence of anti-inflammatory compounds and are involved in intercellular communication through various types of cargo.

Using drone soundings to study the impacts and compositions of plumes from a gigantic coal-fired power plant.

The immense impacts of coal-fired power plant plumes on the atmospheric environment have caused great concern linked to climate and health issues. However, studies on the field observations of aerial plumes are relatively limited, mainly due to the lack of suitable plume observation tools and techniques. In this study, we use a multicopter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sounding technique to study the influences of the aerial plumes of the world's fourth-largest coal-fired power plant on the atmospheric physical/chemical conditions and air quality.

An entomopathogenic fungus exploits its host humoral antibacterial immunity to minimize bacterial competition in the hemolymph.

Background: The insect hemolymph (blood-equivalent fluid), composed of a large number of hemocytes (blood cells) and a variety of soluble immune effectors, is hostile for pathogens including fungi. In order to survive in the insect hemocoel (body cavity), the entomopathogenic fungus (EPF) has evolved two classical coping strategies, namely evasion and suppression of the host immune reactions. However, it remains unclear whether EPF has other ways of coping with host immunity.

"UV-Driven Self-Cleaning" Magnetic Molecularly Imprinted Absorbents Coupled with LTP-MS and LC-TQ-MS for Rapid High-Throughput Screening and Quantification of Organophosphorus Pesticides in Agro-products.

Organophosphorus magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (OMMIPs) with high adsorption capacities (13.5-83.8 mg g) and good applicability were developed for efficient extraction and pre-concentration of multiple organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) from foodstuffs.

Integrated ground and vertical measurement techniques to characterize overhead atmosphere: Case studies of local versus transboundary pollution.

Much attention has been found to the long-range transport (LRT) of air pollutants and their adverse effects on downwind air qualities resulting from the Chinese haze, which frequently occurs in association with winter monsoon. This study integrates ground-based measurements, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and model simulations to characterize the meteorological, chemical, and particulate matter (PM) properties comprehensively for the events that were LRT or local pollution (LP) dominated in northern Taiwan during the wintertime of 2017. During the two types of episodes, various approaches were made to investigate the vertical mixing conditions and PM properties with UAV flights.