Bicomponent Electrospinning of PVDF-Based Nanofiber Membranes for Air Filtration and Oil-Water Separation.

Particulate matter (PM) and water pollution have posed serious hazards to human health. Nanofiber membranes (NFMs) have emerged as promising candidates for the elimination of PMs and the separation of oil-water mixtures. In this study, a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF)-based nanofiber membrane with an average diameter of approximately 150 nm was prepared via a double-nozzle electrospinning technology, demonstrating high-efficiency PM filtration and oil-water separation.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering as a potential strategy for wearable flexible sensing and point-of-care testing non-invasive medical diagnosis.

As a powerful and effective analytical tool, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has attracted considerable research interest in the fields of wearable flexible sensing and non-invasive point-of-care testing (POCT) medical diagnosis. In this mini-review, we briefly summarize the design strategy, the development progress of wearable SERS sensors and its applications in this field. We present SERS substrate analysis of material design requirements for wearable sensors and highlight the benefits of novel plasmonic particle-in-cavity (PIC)-based nanostructures for flexible SERS sensors, as well as the unique interfacial adhesion effect and excellent mechanical properties of natural silk fibroin (SF) derived from natural cocoons, indicating promising futures for applications in the field of flexible electronic, optical, and electrical sensors.

Transcription factor SGF1 is critical for the neurodevelopment in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

FoxA transcription factors play vital roles in regulating the expression of organ-specific genes. BmSGF1, the sole FoxA family member in Bombyx mori, is required for development of the silk gland. However, the function of BmSGF1 in development of the nervous system in the silkworm remains unknown.

A polysaccharide extract of mulberry leaf ameliorates hepatic glucose metabolism and insulin signaling in rats with type 2 diabetes induced by high fat-diet and streptozotocin.

Mulberry leaf is a traditional medicine used to treat diabetes in the clinic. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanisms by which mulberry leaf polysaccharide (MLPII), improves hepatic glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in rats with type 2 diabetes induced by high fat and streptozotocin (STZ). MLPII was administered for 6 weeks after establishment of type 2 diabetes in Wistar rats.

Evolutionarily conserved repulsive guidance role of slit in the silkworm Bombyx mori.

Axon guidance molecule Slit is critical for the axon repulsion in neural tissues, which is evolutionarily conserved from planarians to humans. However, the function of Slit in the silkworm Bombyx mori was unknown. Here we showed that the structure of Bombyx mori Slit (BmSlit) was different from that in most other species in its C-terminal sequence.

Anti-diabetic effect of mulberry leaf polysaccharide by inhibiting pancreatic islet cell apoptosis and ameliorating insulin secretory capacity in diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a clinically complex disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia with metabolic disturbances. In this study, we investigated the effect of mulberry leaf polysaccharide (MLPII) on pancreatic islet cell apoptosis and insulin secretory function in diabetic rats induced by a high fat diet and streptozotocin. Our results showed that MLPII treatment inhibited pancreatic islet cell apoptosis and ameliorated insulin secretory capacity of pancreatic β-cells in diabetic rats.

[Progress in the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes].

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia and disturbances of carbohydrate and fat metabolism resulted from an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin and insulin resistance. Recent studies indicate that oxidative stress may have a central role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Currently, the diagnosis of body oxidative stress level mainly depends on the detection of oxidative stress markers including reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and lipid peroxide in clinical and experimental studies with methods combining physical and chemical means.

Media optimization for laccase production by Trichoderma harzianum ZF-2 using response surface methodology.

Trichoderma harzianum ZF-2 producing laccase was isolated from decaying samples from Shandong, China, and showed dye decolorization activities. The objective of this study was to optimize its culture conditions using a statistical analysis of its laccase production. The interactions between different fermentation parameters for laccase production were characterized using a Plackett-Burman design and the response surface methodology.

[Control effect and bacteriostasis of mulberry endophytic bacterium Burkholderia cepacia Lu10-1 on silkworm septicemia].

A laboratory test was conducted to study the control effect and bacteriostasis of antagonistic bacterium Burkholderia cepacia Lu10-1 isolated from mulberry on silkworm septicemia, aimed to develop a new microbial pesticide to control silkworm diseases. The supernatant of Lu10-1 zymotic fluid achieved 41.2% control efficiency and 24.

Alternative splicing of the antitrypsin gene in the silkworm, Bombyx mori.

Alternative splicing plays an important role in expanding protein diversity. In the present study, different splice variants of the antitrypsin gene (sw-AT) in the silkworm were identified by bioinformatics analyses using expressed sequence tags and genomic information. Four splice variants were obtained by RT-PCR with suitably designed primers, confirmed by sequencing, and designated as sw-AT-1, sw-AT-2, sw-AT-3, and sw-AT-4.

Colonization of Morus alba L. by the plant-growth-promoting and antagonistic bacterium Burkholderia cepacia strain Lu10-1.

Background: Anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum dematium, is a serious threat to the production and quality of mulberry leaves in susceptible varieties. Control of the disease has been a major problem in mulberry cultivation. Some strains of Burkholderia cepacia were reported to be useful antagonists of plant pests and could increase the yields of several crop plants.

Shotgun proteomic analysis of mulberry dwarf phytoplasma.

Background: Mulberry dwarf (MD), which is caused by phytoplasma, is one of the most serious infectious diseases of mulberry. Phytoplasmas have been associated with diseases in several hundred plant species. The inability to culture phytoplasmas in vitro has hindered their characterization at the molecular level.

Comparative proteomic analysis provides new insights into mulberry dwarf responses in mulberry (Morus alba L.).

Mulberry dwarf (MD) is a serious infectious disease of mulberry caused by phytoplasma. Infection with MD phytoplasma results in stress phenotypes of yellowing, phyllody, stunting, proliferation, and witches' broom. Physiological and biochemical analysis has shown that infection with MD phytoplasma causes an increase in soluble carbohydrate and starch content, and a decrease in the net photosynthesis rate, carboxylation efficiency, and pigment content of leaves.

[Identification and colonization of an antagonistic endophytic Burkholderia cepacia Lu10-1 isolated from mulberry].

Objective: To identify and colonize an antagonistic bacterium, Lu10-1, isolated from the healthy mulberry.

Methods: Strain Lu10-1 was identified based on the analysis of its 16S rRNA gene sequence homology, the physiological and biochemical characteristics, and the recA gene sequence comparison. A spontaneous Lu10-1 mutant tolerant to rifampicin and ampicillin were isolated by gradually increasing the concentration of the two antibiotics.

Biological control against bacterial wilt and colonization of mulberry by an endophytic Bacillus subtilis strain.

Forty-five bacterial isolates were collected from surface-sterilized leaves of mulberry (Morus alba L.). By screening their antagonistic activities against Ralstonia solanacearum in vitro, four isolates showed a remarkable inhibitory effect.

[Identification of white muscardin silkworms by infrared spectroscopy].

The infrared spectra of the ethanol extracts of well-living silkworms and white muscardin silkworms of different seasons and breeds were analyzed by means of the sequential analysis in which two indexes, i. e. common peak ratio and variant peak ratio, were applied.