Synthesis and Structure of Porphyrin(2.1.2.1) Bows.

A new series of porphyrin(2.1.2.

Shrimp structure as a test bed for ordinal pattern measures.

Identifying complex periodic windows surrounded by chaos in the two or higher dimensional parameter space of certain dynamical systems is a challenging task for time series analysis based on complex network approaches. This holds particularly true for the case of shrimp structures, where different bifurcations occur when crossing different domain boundaries. The corresponding dynamics often exhibit either period-doubling when crossing the inner boundaries or, respectively, intermittency for outer boundaries.

Spectral analysis of the impact of various polysaccharides on the entrapment of curcumin by whey protein isolate.

This study employed spectroscopic methods to investigate the interactions between whey protein isolate/polysaccharide (WPI/PS) complexes and curcumin. The UV-visible absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra indicated effective binding of curcumin to WPI and its complexes with chitosan (CS), carrageenan (CAR) and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). This binding significantly increased the UV-visible absorption intensity of curcumin, with its maximum fluorescence emission peak shifting from 552 nm to 510 nm.

Facet-engineered NaNbO cubes with exposed (101) plane for enhanced lithium-ion storage.

Density functional theory (DFT) predicts superior lithium-ion diffusion the (101) plane of NaNbO. Experimental results confirm that despite a reduction in surface area, 6 μm NaNbO cubes with more (101) plane exposure exhibit enhanced Li storage, underscoring the significance of crystal facet engineering.

Collective Effect in Hierarchical Porous MOFs Combining Single Atoms and Nanoparticles for Enhanced CO Photoreduction to CO.

Reasonable construction of atomically accurate photocatalysts is the key to building efficient photocatalytic systems. Herein, we propose a collective effects strategy that enables the consolidation of both cobalt single atoms (Co) and nickel nanoparticles (Ni) in hierarchical porous MOFs for the foundational features for the preparation of high-performance photocatalysts. Among them, the optimal sample Co/Al-bpydc/Ni achieved a CO generation rate of 12.

Effect of Dielectric Layer on Miniaturized Patch Antenna Sensor.

Miniature patch antenna sensors have great potential in the field of structural health monitoring for crack propagation detection due to their small size and high sensitivity. A primary research focus has been achieving efficient miniaturization, with the performance of the dielectric layer playing a pivotal role. Studies have demonstrated that increasing the relative dielectric constant (ε) of the dielectric layer can reduce antenna size, but higher dielectric losses (tanδ) can lower radiation efficiency.

Recent Advances of Small Extracellular Vesicles for the Regulation and Function of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a heterogeneous cell population in the tumor microenvironment (TME) that critically affect cancer progression. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) act as information messengers by transmitting a wide spectrum of biological molecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolites, from donor cells to recipient cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that CAFs play important roles in tumor progression by regulating tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, therapeutic resistance, and metabolism via sEVs.

Iron Porphyrin-Based Composites for Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reactions.

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the most critical reactions in energy conversion systems, and it facilitates the efficient conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy, which is necessary for modern technology. Developing efficient and cost-effective catalysts for ORRs is crucial for advancing and effectively applying renewable energy technologies such as fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and electrochemical sensors. In recent years, iron porphyrin-based composites have emerged as ideal catalysts for facilitating effective ORRs due to their unique structural characteristics, abundance, advances in synthesis, and excellent catalytic properties, which mimic natural enzymatic systems.

Research on Lettuce Canopy Image Processing Method Based on Hyperspectral Imaging Technology.

For accurate segmentation of lettuce canopy images, dealing with uneven illumination and background interference, hyperspectral imaging technology was applied to capture images of lettuce from the rosette to nodule stages. The spectral ratio method was used to select the characteristic wavelengths, and the characteristic wavelength images were denoised and image fused before being processed by filtering and threshold segmentation. To verify the accuracy of this segmentation method, the manual segmentation method and the segmentation method used in this study were compared, and the area overlap degree (AOM) and misclassification rate (ME) were used as criteria to evaluate the segmentation results.

Development of a Tandem Mass Spectral Library for the Detection of Triterpenoids in Plant Metabolome Based on Reference Standards.

Plant triterpenoids represent a diverse group of secondary metabolites and are thought to be valuable for therapeutic applications. For drug development, lead optimization, better knowledge of biological pathways, and high-throughput detection of secondary metabolites in plant extracts are crucial. This paper describes a qualitative method for the rapid and accurate identification of various triterpenoids in plant extracts using the LC-HR-ESI-MS/MS tool in combination with the data-dependent acquisition (DD) approach.

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells derived-exosomes alleviate LPS-induced cervical inflammation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Objective: Patients with chronic cervicitis are known to have an increased risk of infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), which is the primary cause of cervical cancer. Inhibition of cervical inflammation may reduce the risk of cervical cancer. This study investigated how human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hucMSC-Ex) attenuated the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cervical inflammation.

Layer-dependent Schottky contact at TaX-BY (X = S, Se, Te; Y = P, As, Sb) van der Waals interfaces.

The mechanical, thermal and dynamical stabilities, electronic structure, contact type, and height of the barrier at the interface of TaX (X = S, Se, Te) and BY (Y = P, As, Sb) metal-semiconductor (MS) contact are investigated first principles calculations. Binding energies, mechanical properties, phonon spectra and molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations confirm the stabilities of these systems. TaX-BY (X = S, Se, Te; Y = P, As, Sb) MS van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) are found to be metal with a Schottky contact at the interface.

Enzymatic and structural properties of a novel oxalate decarboxylase BsOxdC from Bacillus safensis and its potential pH-dependent catalytic mechanism.

Oxalate decarboxylase converts oxalate to formate and CO without requiring organic cofactors, making it biotechnologically relevant for applications in food, agriculture, and diagnostics. Its activity is highly dependent on pH; however, the pH-dependent catalytic mechanism remains poorly understood. This study identified a novel oxalate decarboxylase, BsOxdC, from Bacillus safensis and investigated its catalytic properties through heterologous expression and enzymatic assays.

Soluble TREM2 drives triple-negative breast cancer progression via activation of the AKT pathway.

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) plays a key role in immune regulation, particularly within tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), TREM2 TAMs have been shown to modulate the tumor microenvironment, but the role of its soluble form: soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2), produced through proteolytic cleavage, remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of sTREM2 on TNBC progression.

Innovative quantum dots-based SERS for ultrasensitive reporting of contaminants in food: Fundamental concepts and practical implementations.

Food contamination poses serious health risks, compelling the discovery of new methods to guarantee regulatory compliance and build consumer conviction. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) has come into sight as a sophisticated approach for the ultrasensitive discovery of toxins in food and water, proposing non-destructive, quick, and precise analysis. Instantaneously, quantum dots (QDs) are astonishing nanomaterials, characterized by distinctive attributes such as quantum confinement and optical photostability.

Stability and performance investigation using different electrode configurations and electrolyte compositions in an oxyhydrogen gas generator.

This study aimed to develop an efficient HHO generator with higher gas production, enhanced electrodes, and stable current density. For HHO generator stack fabrication, 15 plates of 304L stainless steel were utilized, accompanied with a 4 mm rubber separator to maintain the gap between electrodes. Each plate in the stack was connected a separate wire through lug spot welding, enabling the assembly of different configurations for testing.

Intestinal mucus barrier: A potential therapeutic target for IBD.

Intestinal mucus, a viscoelastic medium with mucin2 (MUC2) as its main component, covers the surface of intestinal epithelial cells and protects the intestine from invasion, forming the first barrier of the intestinal tract. Unlike the small intestine, where the mucus layer is a single layer, the colonic mucus layer can be divided into a sterile inner layer and an outer layer with bacterial colonization. Many of the substances in the mucus layer have beneficial effects on the intestinal epithelium, but the mucus layer is often affected by a variety of factors, mainly microbiological, dietary, and immunological.

Lignin-based cryogels for advancing sustainable crop production via enhanced nutrient accessibility and growth efficiency.

Sustainable lignin-based materials are becoming increasingly valuable in agriculture, where climate change and nutrient deficiencies threaten crop productivity. We developed lignin-derived cryogels using waste biomass to improve soil nutrients, seed germination, water retention, and photosynthetic pigment levels. These cryogels were synthesized with gum Arabic (GA), keratin (K), and N-vinylpyrrolidone at lignin concentrations of 0.

Enzyme-Catalyzed Dynamic Kinetic Resolution for the Asymmetric Synthesis of 2,3-Dihydrobenzofuran Esters and Evaluation of Their Anti-inflammatory Activity.

Utilizing enzymes as biocatalysts, an alternative strategy has been developed for the highly enantioselective synthesis of chiral 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (2,3-DHB) esters via the dynamic kinetic resolution of 2,3-dihydro-3-benzofuranols, which are generated from an intramolecular Aldol reaction. This protocol provides easy access to a series of 2,3-DHB ester derivatives, prodrugs, and allows for functional group transformations. Biological evaluation also indicates that some of the products exhibit potent anti-inflammatory activity.

Authenticating vintage in white tea: Appearance-taste-aroma-based three-in-one non-invasive anticipation.

To safeguard the legal rights of tea enterprises and promote sustainable development in the tea industry, this study proposes a rapid, non-destructive method for authenticating white tea vintages based on the hypothesis that the appearance, taste and aroma cannot be simultaneously replicated in counterfeit teas. Using visible-near infrared hyperspectral imaging, this three-in-one appearance-taste-aroma method was applied to Bai Mudan white tea, produced from the Jinggu Dabai Tea cultivar harvested in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Hyperspectral imaging captured appearance data from dry samples of different vintages, with preprocessing using multiplicative scatter correction (MSC) and standard normal variate (SNV).

Simple-easy electrochemical sensing mode assisted with integrative carbon-based gel electrolyte for in-situ monitoring of plant hormone indole acetic acid.

Developing a pragmatic pattern for timely learning crop growth information is significant in promoting high-quality agricultural production. Herein, an electrochemical sensing mode is designed for in-situ monitoring plant hormone (indole acetic acid as a typical example). To simplify the available electrochemical procedure with separate division of sensing interface decoration and liquid electrolyte addition, a bi-functional electrolyte, with superior quality of electron conduction and ion mass transfer, is built by exploiting the excellent conductivity of carbon-based nanostructures and the dynamic redox cycle between phenols and metal ions, endowed with the integration between conductive medium and semi-solid electrolyte.

Improved performance in 0D/2D mixed dimensional homojunction MoSphotodetectors by enhancing light absorption.

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS) possesses excellent potential for applications in the field of optoelectronic detection. However, the atomic-level thickness of the monolayer MoSleads to weak light absorption and a restricted absorption spectrum. The performance of monolayer MoSdevices has reached a bottleneck.

Salicylic Acid Mitigates Cadmium Stress in Wheat: Experimental Insights Into Growth and Biochemical Parameters.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of salicylic acid (SA) on wheat subjected to cadmium (Cd) stress. The experiments were conducted during the winter season of 2022-2023 (November to February) at the University of the Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan. The study involved four wheat varieties: Akbar-2019, Galaxy-2013, Ujala-16, and Chakwal-86.

Cold plasma reengineers peanut protein isolate: Unveiling changes in functionality, rheology, and structure.

This study investigates the effects of cold plasma (CP) treatment on peanut protein isolate (PPI), focusing on functionality, rheology, and structural modifications across various treatment times (0, 90, 180, 270, 360, and 450 s) and voltages (120, 140, and 160 kV). Key findings include a significant increase in solubility from 9.99 mg/mL to 15.

Accumulation of phenolic in fresh-cut lotus roots induced by thermosonication: Regulation of phenylpropanoid pathway and reactive oxygen species metabolism.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of thermosonication (TS) on the phenolic accumulation of fresh-cut lotus roots (FCLs) in the context of the phenylpropanoid pathway and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. The potential regulatory effects of phenolic synthesis triggered by ROS signaling molecules during TS treatment were determined. Results showed that TS treatment significantly activated the activities of key enzymes associated with phenylpropanoid metabolism in FCLs, resulting in an increase in the total phenolic content (TPC), including gallic acid, epicatechin and rutin, consequently enhancing the antioxidant capacity.