Effect of Moisture Content of Fresh Pecans on Mechanical Shelling Efficiency, Nutritional Features, and Packaging Method.

Fresh pecans are increasingly popular for their sweet taste and high nutritional value. To facilitate their commercialization, it is crucial to screen the proper moisture content for efficient mechanical shelling while retaining nutritional quality and finding a reasonable packaging method for storage. This study compared the mechanical shelling efficiencies of fresh pecans with different moisture contents via a standardized evaluation system used by the U.

Power-free knee rehabilitation robot for home-based isokinetic training.

Robot-assisted isokinetic training has been widely adopted for knee rehabilitation. However, existing rehabilitation facilities are often heavy, bulky, and extremely energy-consuming, which limits the rehabilitation opportunities only at designated hospitals. In this study, we introduce a highly integrated and lightweight (52 kg) knee rehabilitation robot that can provide home-based isokinetic training without external power.

An explainable machine learning-based prediction model for sarcopenia in elderly Chinese people with knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Sarcopenia is an age-related progressive skeletal muscle disease that leads to loss of muscle mass and function, resulting in adverse health outcomes such as falls, functional decline, and death. Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common chronic degenerative joint disease among elderly individuals who causes joint pain and functional impairment. These two conditions often coexist in elderly individuals and are closely related.

Deciphering the Pharmacological Mechanism of Compound Purpura Decoction in Treating Henoch-Schonlein Purpura by Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Experimental Validation.

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is an immunoglobulin A (IgA)-mediated systemic vasculitis that frequently develops in children. Compound purpura decoction (CPD), a classical herbal combination, exerts favourable effects on the clinical symptoms and prognosis of HSP; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Firstly, HPLC analysis identified five bioactive components in CPD, including protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, mangiferin, baicalin, and buddleoside, with concentrations of 0.

Applications of piezoelectric biomaterials in dental treatments: A review of recent advancements and future prospects.

Piezoelectric biomaterials have attracted considerable attention in dental medicine due to their unique ability to convert mechanical force into electricity and catalyze reactions. These materials demonstrate biocompatibility, high bioactivity, and stability, making them suitable for applications such as tissue regeneration, caries prevention, and periodontal disease treatment. Despite their significant potential, the clinical application of these materials in treating oral diseases remains limited, facing numerous challenges in clinical translation.

Electroacupuncture alleviates zymosan-induced colorectal hypersensitivity.

Objective: this study to investigate the mechanism underlying the electroacupuncture (EA) alleviates colorectal hypersensitivity, a feature of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Methods: The colorectal hypersensitivity model was established by treating mice with zymosan. Electrophysiological techniques, Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the changes of the sensitive state of the colorectum and the response in spinal ganglion and spinal cord after acupuncture intervention.

Reduction of DNA Topoisomerase Top2 Reprograms the Epigenetic Landscape and Extends Health and Life Span Across Species.

DNA topoisomerases are essential molecular machines that manage DNA topology in the cell and play important roles in DNA replication and transcription. We found that knocking down the enzyme topoisomerase Top2 or its mammalian homolog TOP2B increases the lifespan of S. cerevisiae, C.

Characterization of pecan, hickory, and walnut phospholipids and the comparable effects of pecan phospholipids with soy phospholipids on scopolamine-induced dementia in mice.

Nuts are famous and popular for their ability to nourish the brain. The effects of nuts differ depending on their phospholipid compositions, but unfortunately, studies on phospholipids in nuts are lacking. Therefore, the phospholipid compositions of pecan, hickory, and walnut, which are all from the Juglandaceae family, were analyzed and compared for the first time in this study.

Active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine inhibit NOD-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome: a novel strategy for preventing and treating heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) has emerged as a significant global public health challenge owing to its high rates of morbidity and mortality. Activation of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is regarded as a pivotal factor in the onset and progression of HF. Therefore, inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome may represent a promising therapeutic approach for preventing and treating HF.

Synthesis of the polymethoxyflavones nobiletin, tangeretin, isosinensetin, and gardenin A-D.

We present a practical synthesis of 2'-hydroxy-3',4',5',6'-tetramethoxyacetophenone, a multi-substituted benzene derivative, CuCl-catalyzed Ullmann-type coupling reaction with MeONa. 2'-Hydroxy-3',4',5',6'-tetramethoxyacetophenone is the key intermediate for the total synthesis of various polymethoxyflavones. Subsequently, nobiletin, tangeretin, and gardenin A-D, are synthesized from this intermediate.

Exploring the effect of chlorogenic acid on oxidative stress and autophagy in dry eye mice via the AMPK/ULK1 pathway.

Dry eye disease (DED) is closely associated with oxidative stress (OS); its high prevalence and the limitations of current treatments highlight the need for highly effective antioxidants. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) can upregulate the activity of antioxidant enzymes, hinder the process of lipid peroxidation, and exert potent antioxidant effects. In this study, we established an OS-induced DED mouse model to investigate the protective effect and mechanism of CGA against OS-induced DED.

Chemical exchange saturation transfer MRI for neurodegenerative diseases: an update on clinical and preclinical studies.

Chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging is an advanced imaging technique that enables the detection of compounds at low concentrations with high sensitivity and spatial resolution and has been extensively studied for diagnosing malignancy and stroke. In recent years, the emerging exploration of chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging for detecting pathological changes in neurodegenerative diseases has opened up new possibilities for early detection and repetitive scans without ionizing radiation. This review serves as an overview of chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging with detailed information on contrast mechanisms and processing methods and summarizes recent developments in both clinical and preclinical studies of chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Huntington's disease.

Empowering Stroke Survivors: developing a patient version of guidelines to facilitate patient rehabilitation nursing of stroke patients with limb dysfunction in China.

Objective: To develop a patient version of guidelines (PVG) for rehabilitation nursing (RN) in stroke patients with limb dysfunction, aiming to enhance patients' awareness, self-management skills, and adherence to rehabilitation programs.

Methods: This guideline was developed based on the cultural and healthcare context of China, and was guided on the Minimum standards for the Development Process, Content and Governance of Patient-Directed Knowledge Tools and the PVG tool book of the Guidelines International Network. The guideline was constructed through a normative process involving clarifying priority questions, assessing and integrating evidence, detailing and contextualizing recommendations, and evaluating the prototype of PVG.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis involved in decabromodiphenyl ether-induced bone homeostasis disorder through inflammaging.

BDE-209 has a causal relationship with adverse health outcomes. However, research on its effect on bone homeostasis is relatively lacking. This study examined the relationship between BDE-209 exposure and bone health, as well as the underlying mechanisms, using both in vitro and in vivo models.

Community-specific cell death sustains bacterial expansion under phosphorus starvation.

Colony expansion is important for establishing territories. It is unclear to what extent bacteria can maintain colony expansion under nutrient limitation. Here, we found that Escherichia coli biofilms could maintain steady expansion for an extended period of time under severe phosphorus limitation.

Mechanistic insights into the regression of atherosclerotic plaques.

Atherosclerosis is a major contributor to cardiovascular diseases and mortality globally. The progression of atherosclerotic disease results in the expansion of plaques and the development of necrotic cores. Subsequent plaque rupture can lead to thrombosis, occluding blood vessels, and end-organ ischemia with consequential ischemic injury.

Human toxicity of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their derivatives: A comprehensive review.

Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been pervasively used as an additive flame retardant in various fields. The nature of environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential toxicity attracted attention worldwide and became a threat to both the ecosystem and human health. Originally, PBDEs are produced in chemical factories.

Pulmonary Flora-Derived Lipopolysaccharide Mediates Lung-Brain Axis through Activating Microglia Involved in Polystyrene Microplastic-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction.

Microplastics (MPs) have been detected in the atmospheric and the human respiratory system, indicating that the respiratory tract is a significant exposure route for MPs. However, the effect of inhaled MPs on cognitive function has not been adequately studied. Here, a C57BL/6 J mouse model of inhalation exposure to polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs, 5 µm, 60 d) is established by intratracheal instillation.

Advanced Camera-Based Scoliosis Screening via Deep Learning Detection and Fusion of Trunk, Limb, and Skeleton Features.

Scoliosis significantly impacts quality of life, highlighting the need for effective early scoliosis screening (SS) and intervention. However, current SS methods often involve physical contact, undressing, or radiation exposure. This study introduces an innovative, non-invasive SS approach utilizing a monocular RGB camera that eliminates the need for undressing, sensor attachment, and radiation exposure.

Accelerating brain three-dimensional T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery using artificial intelligence-assisted compressed sensing: a comparison study with parallel imaging.

Background: Shortening the acquisition time of brain three-dimensional T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (3D T2 FLAIR) by using acceleration techniques has the potential to reduce motion artifacts in images and facilitate clinical application. This study aimed to assess the image quality of brain 3D T2 FLAIR accelerated by artificial intelligence-assisted compressed sensing (ACS) in comparison to 3D T2 FLAIR accelerated by parallel imaging (PI).

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 102 consecutive participants, including both healthy individuals and those with suspected brain diseases, were recruited and underwent both ACS- and PI-3D T2 FLAIR scans with a 3.