An AIE fungal vacuole membrane probe toward species differentiation, vacuole formation visualization, and targeted photodynamic therapy.

Vacuoles are unique organelles of fungi. The development of probes targeting the vacuoles membrane will enable visualization of physiological processes and precise diagnosis and therapy. Herein, a zwitterionic molecule, MXF-R, comprising of an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) photosensitizing unit and an antibiotic moxifloxacin, was found capable of specifically imaging vacuole membrane and using for targeted antifungal therapy.

HS-SPME combined with GC-MS and GC-O for characterization of key aroma-active compounds in fruity and grassy peppers ( Jacq.).

Pepper ( spp.) is highly popular due to its unique flavor. However, there was limited research on the primary volatiles that influence the different flavors of fresh peppers.

An enhanced bioactive chitosan-modified microemulsion for mucosal healing of ulcerative colitis.

The intestinal mucus layer plays a crucial role in the systemic absorption of drugs. While penetration through this layer traditionally constitutes a pivotal phase in drug absorption, the approach for treating ulcerative colitis (UC) shifts towards facilitating the direct delivery of drugs to the colon. In this study, we engineered a chitosan-modified microemulsion encapsulated nobiletin (NOB-CS-ME) characterized by small particle dimensions and positive charge specifically, designed to enable targeted delivery.

Separation and characterization of sweet compounds in Baijiu by molecular distillation combined with molecular sensory science.

Sweetness is a crucial taste component in Baijiu. However, comprehensive research on the sweetness of Baijiu remains limited, and traditional methods for flavor analysis are not well-suited for identifying the sweet compounds. To address this, a multi-stage molecular distillation method, combined with molecular sensory science, was developed to more effectively and scientifically analyze the key sweet compounds in Baijiu.

Remediation of antimony and arsenic in co-contaminated soil by electrolytic manganese residue-biochar composite: Effects, mechanisms, and microbial response.

Antimony (Sb) mining and smelting activities caused Sb and arsenic (As) pollution in the soil, posing a threat to the ecosystem and human health. To remediate Sb and As in co-contaminated soil and realize the resource utilization of typical industrial solid waste, electrolytic manganese residue (EMR)-biochar composite (EB) was prepared from EMR and distillers grains by a facile one-step pyrolysis method. The immobilization effect of EB on Sb and As in soil was studied using a column leaching experiment.

Keystone taxa drive the synchronous production of methane and refractory dissolved organic matter in inland waters.

The production of both methane (CH) and refractory dissolved organic matter (RDOM) depends on microbial consortia in inland waters, and it is unclear yet the link of these two processes and the underlying microbial regulation mechanisms. Therefore, a large-scale survey was conducted in China's inland waters, with the measurement of CH concentrations, DOM chemical composition, microbial community composition, and relative environmental parameters mainly by chromatographic, optical, mass spectrometric, and high-throughput sequencing analyses, to clarify the abovementioned questions. Here, we found a synchronous production of CH and RDOM linked by microbial consortia in inland waters.

Identification of BMVC-8C3O as a novel Pks13 inhibitor with anti-tuberculosis activity.

Given the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), there is an urgent demand in developing novel anti-TB medications with highly effective, safe, and utilize innovative mechanisms of action. Blocking the mycolic acid synthesis pathway is well-established to be a significant strategy in developing anti-TB drugs, and Pks13 was identified as a crucial enzyme in this process. Importantly, the modes of action of recognized Pks13 inhibitors differ from traditional anti-TB medications, highlighting Pks13 as a potential and promising target in drug development within TB treatment.

A Double-edged Sword: Evolutionary Novelty along Deep-time Diversity Oscillation in An Iconic Group of Predatory Insects (Neuroptera: Mantispoidea).

Evolutionary novelties are commonly identified as drivers of lineage diversification, with key innovations potentially triggering adaptive radiation. Nevertheless, testing hypotheses on the role of evolutionary novelties in promoting diversification through deep time has proven challenging. Here we unravel the role of the raptorial appendages, with evolutionary novelties for predation, in the macroevolution of a predatory insect lineage, the Superfamily Mantispoidea (mantidflies, beaded lacewings, thorny lacewings, and dipteromantispids), based on a new dated phylogeny and quantitative evolutionary analyses on modern and fossil species.

Effects of Perillaldehyde and Polyamines on Defense Mechanisms of Sweet Potatoes against .

Sweet potato () serves as a significant food and economic crop worldwide. However, its production and safety are jeopardized by black rot, a disease caused by . Although polyamines (PAs) are common biological growth factors, their function in the storage of fruits and vegetables remains poorly understood.

Bio-organic fertilizer affects secondary cell wall biosynthesis of Dendrocalamus farinosus by inhibiting the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway.

Bamboo, as a timber plant, holds significant environmental and economic value. Dendrocalamus farinosus is particularly valuable as it serves both as a source of bamboo shoots and timber, offering high yield, strong disease resistance, and superior fiber quality. Our previous study demonstrated that bio-organic fertilizers promoted the growth of D.

Risk prediction of ischemic heart disease using plasma proteomics, conventional risk factors and polygenic scores in Chinese and European adults.

Plasma proteomics could enhance risk prediction for multiple diseases beyond conventional risk factors or polygenic scores (PS). To assess utility of proteomics for risk prediction of ischemic heart disease (IHD) compared with conventional risk factors and PS in Chinese and European populations. A nested case-cohort study measured plasma levels of 2923 proteins using Olink Explore panel in ~ 4000 Chinese adults (1976 incident IHD cases and 2001 sub-cohort controls).

Designing and evaluating a novel blood-brain barrier in vitro model of teleost for reproducing alterations in brain infecting.

A new blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vitro model of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was successfully established by co-culture with brain microvascular endothelial cell line TVEC-01 and brain astrocyte cell line TA-02 of tilapia. Experiments with the expression levels of BBB-related genes, TEER value detection and 4-h water-leaking test have shown that the BBB in vitro model has an excellent barrier effect. In bacterial penetration experiments, the pathogenic strain of Streptococcus agalactiae was able to pass through the BBB in vitro model and initiate a series of immune responses, among which TA-02 contributed to the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and TVEC-01 contributed to the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines, providing an excellent research tool and theoretical basis for further study of meningitis.

The influence of pH on the liquid-phase transformation of phenolic compounds driven by nitrite photolysis: Implications for characteristics, products and cytotoxicity.

The aqueous-phase conversion of phenolic compounds (PhCs) driven by nitrite photolysis has been recognized as a significant source of secondary brown carbon (BrC). However, the influence of pH on the conversion kinetics and product distribution of PhCs remains unclear. In this study, three representative PhCs with varying functional groups were selected to examine their aqueous-phase conversion kinetics in the presence of nitrite under different pH conditions and simulated sunlight conditions.

The RALF1 peptide-FERONIA complex phosphorylates the endosomal sorting protein FREE1 to attenuate abscisic acid signaling.

The receptor-like kinase FERONIA (FER), together with its ligand rapid alkalinization factor 1 (RALF1) peptide, plays a crucial role in regulating stress responses, including its involvement in modulating abscisic acid (ABA) signaling. FER has been shown to activate ABA insensitive 2 in the cytoplasm, leading to the suppression of ABA signaling. However, its regulation of nucleus events in the ABA response remains unclear.

Micelle-like Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery and Magnetically Enhanced Tumor Chemotherapy.

Using the coordination bonds between transition metal atoms and electron-rich functional groups, we synthesized two kinds of micelle-like nanoparticles. Using magnetic FeO as the core, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) brushes were grafted via activators regenerated by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET-ATRP), which formed micelle-like magnetic nanoparticles FeO/PAA-PMMA with a hydrophobic outer layer and FeO/PMMA-PAA with a hydrophilic outer layer. Both the micelle-like nanoparticles had amphiphilic properties and can be used to load hydrophilic or hydrophobic drugs.

Spatiotemporal recruitment of the ubiquitin-specific protease USP8 directs endosome maturation.

The spatiotemporal transition of small GTPase Rab5 to Rab7 is crucial for early-to-late endosome maturation, yet the precise mechanism governing Rab5-to-Rab7 switching remains elusive. USP8, a ubiquitin-specific protease, plays a prominent role in the endosomal sorting of a wide range of transmembrane receptors and is a promising target in cancer therapy. Here, we identified that USP8 is recruited to Rab5-positive carriers by Rabex5, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for Rab5.

Advancing High-Performance Memristors Enabled by Position-Controlled Grain Boundaries in Controllably Grown Star-Shaped MoS.

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides are highly promising platforms for memristive switching devices that seamlessly integrate computation and memory. Grain boundaries (GBs), an important micro-nanoscale structure, hold tremendous potential in memristors, but their role remains unclear due to their random distribution, which hinders fabrication. Herein, we present a novel chemical vapor deposition approach to synthesize star-shaped MoS nanoflakes with precisely positioned GBs.