Fruit quality evaluation of different mulberry varieties.

Introduction: The quality of fruits has long been a key focus for breeders, and the development of scientifically sound and reasonable methods for evaluating fruit quality is of great significance in selecting superior cultivars. The mulberry tree, as a plant resource that serves both medicinal and dietary purposes, contains rich nutritional components and various bioactive compounds. These include properties such as immune enhancement, lipid-lowering effects, and anti-tumor activities.

Plant growth strategies and microbial contributions to ecosystem nitrogen retention along a soil acidification gradient.

Nitrogen (N) retention is a critical ecosystem function associated with sustainable N supply. Lack of experimental evidence limits our understanding of how grassland N retention can vary with soil acidification. A N-labeling experiment was conducted for 2 years to quantify N retention by soil pathways and plant functional groups across a soil-acidification gradient in a meadow.

Autophagy-Targeted Therapy for Pulmonary Inflammation by 2D MX (M = W, Nb; X = S, Se) Nanosheets.

For biomedical applications, two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D TMDCs) are often combined with other elements or functionalized with specific surface ligands, while their intrinsic biological activities are not yet fully understood. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory potential of four unmodified 2D TMDCs, including WS, WSe, NbS, and NbSe nanosheets, in LPS-activated MH-S cells in vitro and in a mouse model of pulmonary inflammation in vivo. Despite their varying compositions, these 2D TMDCs exhibited comparable anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-activated MH-S cells.

Fluorescence-enhanced detection of sulfide ions through tuning the structure-activity relationship of gold nanoclusters.

The concentration of S is a vital environmental indicator for evaluating the quality of source water, surface water, and wastewater, and it has a significant impact on biological systems, particularly human health. Therefore, it is crucial to detect S selectively and sensitively. In this study, we developed a simple and rapid one-pot method to prepare a gold nanocluster (BSA-AuNCs) probe for fluorescence-enhanced detection of S toxemia and analyzed the morphological characteristics of BSA-AuNCs and its complex with S using various characterization techniques.

Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A causes reproductive damage in F1 male rabbits due to inflammation and oxidative stress.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is used extensively in producing industrial chemicals such as plastic products, resin, and paper coatings. Concerns have been expressed regarding its possible detrimental consequences, especially on the reproductive system of mammals. Despite extensive study in this domain, there has been no targeted examination of the impact of BPA on F1 generation rabbits.

Wheat straw-based carboxymethyl cellulose and glycerol films enriched with polymalate: Characterization and application in grape preservation.

The shelf-life of grapes is reduced due to infection by various pathogens and mechanical damage, which consequently limits their availability on the market and results huge economic losses. Active packaging films are expected to overcome this problem. In this study, packaging films (CMC-Gly-PMA) were developed using wheat straw-based carboxymethyl cellulose (2 %), glycerol (30 % w/w of CMC) and polymalate (0.

Molecular Epidemiology and Genetic Evolution of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus in Northern China During 2021-2023.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), an important pathogen affecting the pig industry, is an RNA virus with high genetic diversity. In this study, 12,299 clinical samples were collected from northern China during 2021-2023 to investigate the molecular epidemiological characteristics and genetic evolution of PRRSV. All samples were screened using qRT-PCR and further analyzed through gene and whole-genome sequencing.

Brief Warm and Aldo-Keto Reductase Family Contribute to Cold Adaptation of .

not only damages plant leaves directly but also causes a sooty blotch due to the honeydew secreted by the nymphs and adults. This pest is widespread and seems to be spreading from low latitude to higher latitude areas where winters are typically colder, indicating an increase in its cold tolerance. Changes in temperature help insects to anticipate the arrival of winter, allowing them to take defensive measures in advance.

Identification of Novel 58-5p and Interaction and Effects on Apoptosis of Ovine Ovarian Granulosa Cell.

High concentrations of prolactin (PRL)-induced ovine ovarian granulosa cell (GCs) apoptosis and could aggravate the induced effect. However, the molecular mechanisms that -induced GC apoptosis and repressed steroid hormone secretion remain unclear. In this study, GCs in the P group (GCs with high PRL concentration: 500 ng/mL PRL) and P-10 group (GCs with 500 ng/mL PRL infected by lentiviruses carrying overexpressed sequences of ) were collected for whole-transcriptome analysis.

Effects of Combined Application of Biogas Slurry and Chemical Fertilizers on Silage Corn, Soil Nutrients, and Microorganisms.

In the greenhouse of the Chinese Academy of Sciences located on Huaizhong Road in Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, five fertilization treatment levels were established. These consisted of no fertilization (CK), conventional chemical fertilizer (with 100% chemical fertilizer application), and biogas slurry substitution treatments for chemical fertilizers (replacing 30%, 60%, and 100% of the chemical fertilizer nitrogen with biogas slurry nitrogen). Soil nutrient determination methods and high-throughput sequencing were employed to elucidate the correlative relationship between soil nutrients and microbial community metabolism.

Validation of a Portable Ionized Calcium Detection Device and Changes in the Ionized-to-Total-Calcium Ratio in the Blood of Postpartum Holstein Cows.

The calcium requirements of dairy cows increase dramatically soon after calving, and many cows have subclinical hypocalcemia, adversely affecting health and performance. Traditional laboratory tests for calcium are complex and not easily adapted to rapid point-of-care applications. The objectives were to evaluate a portable iCa testing device, Horiba LAQUAtwin Ca-11C, for measuring ionized calcium (iCa) in the whole blood of dairy cows and to investigate the iCa-to-total-calcium (tCa) ratio in blood collected from dairy cows within 9 days after calving.

PLGA co-loaded Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharide and Mn as an adjuvant to induce potent immunity.

Developing a novel and potent adjuvant with excellent biocompatibility for immune response augmentation is crucial for enhancing vaccine efficacy. Here, we prepared a stable PLGA nanoparticle by encapsulating MnCl/Salvia miltiorrhiza polysaccharide (MS-PLGA) and employed it as an adjuvant in the model antigen OVA (MS-PLGA-OVA) to elicit potent immunity. The biological experiments indicated that the MS-PLGA-OVA could effectively recruit APCs to the injection site and provoke long-term antibodies.

Construction of novel hyper-crosslinked polymers with adjustable hydrophilicity for efficient extraction of nitroimidazoles.

To effectively control food safety risks caused by nitroimidazoles (NDZs), a sensitive detection method was established on the basis of a newly-developed solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbent named as Phl-TBM that is a porous polymer prepared by crosslinking natural phloretin with (2,4,6-tris(bromomethyl)mesitylene. The Phl-TBM presented outstanding NDZs adsorption capacity, which can be ascribed to its well-developed porosity and multiple hydrogen bonding sites. With Phl-TBM as SPE sorbent, NDZs were successfully isolated and enriched from lake water, Basa fish, and beef before being assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector.

Preparation of halloysite nanotube-based monolithic column for small molecules and protein analysis.

s: This study aimed to prepare a new separation medium, silane coupling agent KH570- modified halloysite nanotube (MPS-HNT) monolithic column, with excellent separation performance for small molecular compounds and macromolecular proteins. This was prepared using the principle of redox polymerization with modified HNTs as monomers. The optimal monomer proportion was obtained by optimizing the ratio of monomer, cross-linker, and pore-forming agent, which was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption, and mercury intrusion.

Distribution characteristics and pollution assessment of heavy metals in typical black soil profiles of Haicheng city, Liaoning province, China.

In order to understand the spatial distribution, influencing factors, pollution level and sources of heavy metals in black soil profiles in Northeast China, black soil profile samples were collected from five sampling points in Haicheng City, Liaoning Province, with the deepest profile depth of 50m. The contents of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) in soil at different depths were analyzed, and the distribution characteristics and influencing factors of heavy metals in black soil profiles were analyzed. The pollution level of heavy metals in soil was evaluated based on the geo-accumulation index method and enrichment factor method, and the sources of heavy metals in soil were analyzed based on principal component analysis.

Bioactive Steroids with Structural Diversity from the South China Sea Soft Coral sp. and Sponge sp.

A chemical investigation of the soft coral sp. and the sponge sp. from the South China Sea led to the isolation of five steroids, including two new compounds ( and ) and one known natural product ().

Wheat Leaf Rust Effector Pt48115 Localized in the Chloroplasts and Suppressed Wheat Immunity.

Wheat leaf rust caused by () is a prevalent disease worldwide, seriously threatening wheat production. acquires nutrients from host cells via haustoria and secretes effector proteins to modify and regulate the expression of host disease resistance genes, thereby facilitating pathogen growth and reproduction. The study of effector proteins is of great significance for clarifying the pathogenic mechanisms of and effective control of leaf rust.

Harnessing Genetic Resistance in Maize and Integrated Rust Management Strategies to Combat Southern Corn Rust.

Southern corn rust (SCR) caused by Underw. has recently emerged as a focal point of study because of its extensive distribution, significant damage, and high prevalence in maize growing areas such as the United States, Canada, and China. is an obligate biotrophic fungal pathogen that cannot be cultured in vitro or genetically modified, thus complicating the study of the molecular bases of its pathogenicity.

Genetic Tendency Analysis and Comprehensive Antioxidant Activity Evaluation of Leaves and Flowers of Loquat F Generation.

Loquat leaves, flowers, and other organs contain abundant antioxidant substances, which have wide applications in medicine, health, and food industries. This study aims to provide theoretical guidance for loquat hybrid parent and combination selection and a basis for high-quality loquat strain screening and development. For comprehensive antioxidant profiling, we used "Ninghaibai" and "Oobusa" loquat and their F generation as experimental materials to determine the total phenol, flavonoid, DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP content in the leaves and flowers of 56 strains.

Design and Validation of a Biomimetic Leg-Claw Mechanism Capable of Perching and Grasping for Multirotor Drones.

Multirotor drones are widely used in fields such as environmental monitoring, agricultural inspection, and package delivery, but they still face numerous challenges in durability and aerial operation capabilities. To address these issues, this paper presents a biomimetic leg-claw mechanism (LCM) inspired by the biomechanics of birds. The claw of the LCM adopts a bistable gripper design that can rapidly close through external impact or actively close via the coordination of internal mechanisms.

Synergistic defecation effects of subsp. BL-99 and fructooligosaccharide by modulating gut microbiota.

Introduction: Synbiotics have revealed the possibility of improving constipation through gut microbiota. The synergistic efficacy of subsp. lactis BL-99 (BL-99) and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on constipation have not been investigated.

Comparative study on organoleptic properties and volatile organic compounds in turmeric, turmeric essential oil, and by-products using E-nose, HS-GC-IMS, and HS-GC-MS.

The properties, applications, and in vitro bioactivities of turmeric, turmeric essential oil (TEO), and turmeric essential oil by-products (TEO-BP) were evaluated using sensory analysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS), and electronic nose techniques. A total of 62 and 66 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), primarily terpenoids and sesquiterpenoids, were identified by GC-MS and GC-IMS, respectively. Distillation temperature, particularly at 90 °C, significantly influenced the color and organoleptic properties of TEO, with variations in VOC profiles driving these differences.

Effects of unsaturated C18 fatty acids on "glucose-glutathione" Maillard reaction: Comparison and formation pathways of initial stage and meaty flavor compounds.

To explore the effect of oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid on "glucose-glutathione" Maillard reaction initial stage and meaty flavor compounds formation pathways, glutathione-Amadori compound was synthesized, and identified by Q/TOF and NMR. Depending on the concentration of glutathione and glutathione-Amadori compound quantified by UPLC-MS/MS, the unsaturated C18 fat acids inhibited glutathione Amadori compound formation or accelerated degradation, and oleic acid inhibited most markedly. The results showed that 65 volatile compounds were detected by GC-MS-O in four model systems.

Light signal regulates endoreduplication and tomato fruit expansion through the SlPIF1a-SlTLFP8-SlCDKB2 module.

Light serves as an energy source for cell division and expansion during fruit development. Cell expansion significantly influences fruit size and is closely linked to endoreduplication, a unique cell cycle variation characterized by DNA replication without cytokinesis. Paradoxically, under conditions of ample photosynthates, light signaling suppresses cell expansion.

Research on the spatial-temporal distribution of three-dimensional carbon footprint in different urban agglomerations in China.

This study expands the original two-dimensional carbon footprint model into a three-dimensional model form. Introduce two indicators of carbon footprint depth (CF) and size (CF) to form a three-dimensional carbon footprint model (CF), which is used to respectively represent the occupation and consumption of natural capital reserves by human activities' carbon emissions. Based on the 3D carbon footprint model, this paper calculated the CF, CF, and CF for four different urban agglomerations of China (BTH, YRD, PRD, and CY) spanning from 2000 to 2017.