Nontargeted metabolomics and enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant activities for chemical and biological characterization of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) extracts.

The chemical and biologically active characterization of jujube samples (fruits, cores, and leaves) were carried out by the integrated nontargeted metabolomics and bioassay. Firstly, collision cross-section values of active compounds in jujubes were determined by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Then, a multidimensional statistical analysis that contained principal component analysis, partial least squares-discriminant analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis was employed to effectively cluster different tissues and types of jujubes, making identification more scientific.

The Dissolution Behavior of Feldspar Minerals in Various Low-Molecular-Weight Organic Acids.

Feldspar is a high-abundance mineral in the earth's crust, and its natural weathering and dissolution processes are an important phenomenon on the earth's surface. This study focused on the dissolution behavior of silicon (Si) and aluminum (Al) in feldspar minerals (microcline and albite) when exposed to low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs). Various analytical techniques, including atomic absorption spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, were employed to investigate these processes.

Preparation of Anorthite/Mullite In Situ and Phase Transformation in Porcelain.

A high sintering temperature is required to acquire excellent performance in the production of porcelain but results in high fuel consumption. To prepare the porcelain with outstanding performance at a lower temperature, a self-produced additive containing calcium (CaK) was added into a three-component system of kaolinite-feldspar-quartz. XRD and SEM were used to characterize the samples.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Motivation, Involvement, and Behavior of Cyclists in Taiwan.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread all over the world and has impacted tourism globally, with countries taking various measures such as travel restrictions, border closures, lockdowns, or quarantines to contain the virus. Tourists' motivation has also been affected by COVID-19, but so far, the literature has not yet discussed their concern over COVID-19 as well as the relationships among their motivation, involvement, and behavior intention. Therefore, this study fills the gap in the literature by taking cycling tourism as an example to understand the involvement of tourists concerning COVID-19 and presents the depth and breadth of its effects upon tourism.

Rapid stacking of amino acids in soybean and Dendrobium officinale by on-capillary sandwich derivatization in capillary electrophoresis.

An online sandwich derivatization and stacking strategy using capillary electrophoresis was developed and successfully applied to the preconcentration of multi-amino acids in two functional food samples. Amino acids were derived with 4-Chloro-7-nitro-1, 2, 3-benzoxadiazole (NBD-Cl) to make the new compounds with chromophore in the stacking process, then the derivatives were stacked by on-column sample preconcentration and detected at 475 nm UV wavelength. The novel sandwich injection sequence was amino acids, NBD-Cl, and amino acids separately.

Simultaneous capture of hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds from complex plants by biosurfactant-assisted mechanical amorphous dispersion extraction.

A biosurfactant-assisted mechanical amorphous dispersion extraction (BA-MADE) procedure was established for the simultaneous capture of hydrophilic phenolic acids and hydrophobic tanshinones from Salvia miltiorrhiza. Single-factor experiments and the response surface methodology were used to optimize and analyze the crucial parameters for the method, such as the type and amount of amorphous-dispersion extractants, grinding time, extraction time and solid-to-liquid ratio. The optimized parameter values for the BA-MADE process were 407.

The two-phase amphiphilic preconcentration based on surfactants to enrich phenolic compounds from diluted plant extracts and rat urine by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

A novel technology by two-phase amphiphilic preconcentration based on surfactants was established for enriching phenolic compounds by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). The cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) was combined with the anionic analytes that existed in the sample solution before injection. The boundary was formed between CTAC and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in the background solution when the sample solution was injected into the capillary, where the analytes bound inside micelles were released due to the stronger electrostatic force between SDS and CTAC.

Optimization of mechanically assisted coamorphous dispersion extraction of hydrophobic compounds from plant tea (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) using water.

This study aimed to establish a novel mechanically assisted coamorphous dispersion extraction (MADE) method for the extraction of hydrophobic compounds (hesperidin, nobiletin and tangeretin) from Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium using water. The surface morphology, particle size distributions, phase states and functional groups of the coground product surface were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The parameters affecting the efficiency of extraction method were optimized by single-factor experiments and response surface methodology.

Two-step micelle-to-solvent stacking of arsenic species from foods in permanently coated tubing for capillary electrophoresis.

An effective and sensitive two-step stacking of arsenic species by electrokinetic injection and micelle-to-solvent stacking (MSS) using zwitterionic surfactant 3-(N,N-dimethylpalmitylammonio) propane sulfonate was successfully developed in a co-electro-osmotic flow (co-EOF) capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). The fused silica capillaries were coated with 1% hexadimethrine bromide solution to satisfy the condition of the same EOF direction between the test anions and capillary. The background solution was 100 mM borax buffer (pH 9.

Boron nitride nanosheet-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion microextraction of alkaloids from lotus plumule by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet detection and ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

A boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS)-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion method was established to microextract alkaloids from medicinal plants. The target compounds were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet detection and ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. During the experimental process, several important parameters, including the type of dispersant, the amount of dispersant, the grinding time, and the type of elution solvent, were optimized.

Cucurbituril and zwitterionic surfactant-based matrix solid-phase dispersion microextraction to simultaneously determine terpenoids from Radix Curcumae.

A rapid, efficient, and environmentally friendly matrix solid-phase dispersion microextraction was established to determine and quantify terpenoids in Radix Curcumae using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector. Various parameters affecting the extraction were investigated in detail, such as the grinding time, amount of adsorbent, type and concentration of elution solvent, and pH. The optimization of single-factor and response surface methodology was performed to confirm the best conditions in this procedure.

Management of elbow dysfunction associated with giant cell tumor of the distal humerus: achieving oncologic safety and good function by a combined reconstruction.

Background: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the functional outcomes and oncologic results of elbow salvage surgery using arthrolysis combined with ligament repair and external fixation for reconstruction of the elbow after tumor excision and autografting.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 6 patients with elbow dysfunction associated with giant cell tumor of the distal humerus. All patients were treated with our combined protocol.

Management of elbow stiffness after postoperative treatment of terrible triad elbow injury: maintaining mobility and stability using a combined protocol.

Purposes: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of our protocol that include the restoration of mobility using open release combined with external fixation and stability using ligament repair, to determine the optimal timing of surgery, and to investigate whether resection and replacement of the radial head are associated with different outcomes.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with elbow stiffness after operation of terrible triad injury of the elbow were treated with our protocol. We assessed the optimal timing of the operation by comparing outcomes between the early treatment group and the delayed treatment group.

[The Properties of an Infrared Hybrid Single Beam Spectrum].

A hybrid single beam spectrum ø(α)=αø(b1)+(1-α)ø(b2)=αø0e(-Kb1)+(1-α)ø0e(-Kb2) is introduced as the combination of two single beam spectra ø(b1) and ø(b2) from the same sample but with different pathlengths (b(1) and b(2)), where α(0＜α＜1) is the hybrid coefficient. The intensity of hybrid spectrum ø(α) can be controlled easily to the desired point by simply choosing an appropriate α. The experimental results showed that hybrid spectrum ø(α) is very nearly identical to ø(b)=ø(0)e-K(b(2)-αb(2)+αb(b)) under appropriate conditions, namely ø(α)≈ø(b) , where ø(b) is the single beam spectrum of the real sample with the pathlength of b(2)-αb(2)+αb(1).

In vivo regeneration of renal vessels post whole decellularized kidneys transplantation.

Nearly 50 million patients in China live with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and only about 4000 patients may receive kidney transplantation. The purpose of this study was to investigate regeneration of renal vessels post whole decellularized kidneys transplantation in vivo. We decellularized kidneys of donor rats by perfusing a detergent through the abdominal aorta, yielding feasible extracellular matrix, confirmed for acellularity before transplantation.

A tripeptide (NSK) inhibits Japanese encephalitis virus infection in vitro and in vivo.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a major pathogen that can cause acute viral encephalitis in both humans and animals. Domain III of the viral envelope protein (EDIII) is involved in binding to host cell receptor(s) to facilitate virus entry. Our previous study showed that the loop3 peptide of EDIII possesses antiviral activity against JEV infection.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus induces autophagy to promote virus replication.

An increasing number of studies demonstrate that autophagy, an intrinsic mechanism that can degrade cytoplasmic components, is involved in the infection processes of a variety of pathogens. It can be hijacked by various viruses to facilitate their replication. In this study, we found that PRRSV infection significantly increases the number of double- or single-membrane vesicles in the cytoplasm of host cells in ultrastructural analysis.

Role of lipid rafts in porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection in MARC-145 cells.

Lipid rafts play an important role in the life cycle of many viruses. Cholesterol is a critical structural component of lipid rafts. Although the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has restricted cell tropism for cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage, a non-macrophage cell MARC-145 was susceptible to PRRSV because of the expression of virus receptor CD163 on the cell surface, therefore MARC-145 cells is used as model cell for PRRSV studies.

PhosphoPOINT: a comprehensive human kinase interactome and phospho-protein database.

Motivation: To fully understand how a protein kinase regulates biological processes, it is imperative to first identify its substrate(s) and interacting protein(s). However, of the 518 known human serine/threonine/tyrosine kinases, 35% of these have known substrates, while 14% of the kinases have identified substrate recognition motifs. In contrast, 85% of the kinases have protein-protein interaction (PPI) datasets, raising the possibility that we might reveal potential kinase-substrate pairs from these PPIs.