Evaporation Dynamics of Deionized Water Droplets on Hydrophobic Leaves.

Self-cleaning applications based on bionic surface designs requires an in-depth understanding of unique and complex wetting and evaporation processes of sessile droplets on natural biosurfaces. To this end, hydrophobic bamboo and Kalanchoe blossfeldiana leaves are excellent candidates for self-cleaning applications, but various properties, such as the heat and mass transfer processes during evaporation, remain unknown. Here, the dynamics of contact angle, radius, and heat and mass transfer during evaporation of sessile droplets on bamboo and Kalanchoe blossfeldiana leaves with roughness in the range 2.

Pyrrolopyrrole Cyanine Aggregates with Amplified Superoxide Radical Generation, GSH Depletion, and Photothermal Action for Hypoxic Cancer Phototherapy.

The elevated glutathione (GSH) level and hypoxia in tumor cells are two key obstacles to realizing the high performance of phototherapy. Herein, the electron-donating rotors are introduced to wings of electron-withdrawing pyrrolopyrrole cyanine (PPCy) to form donor-acceptor-donor structure -aggregates for amplified superoxide radical generation, GSH depletion, and photothermal action for hypoxic cancer phototherapy to tackle this challenge. Three PPCy photosensitizers (PPCy-H, PPCy-Br, and PPCy-TPE) produce hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and superoxide radicals (O) in hypoxia tumors exclusively as well as excellent photothermal performances under light irradiation.

Population Pharmacokinetics of Enrofloxacin in Ctenopharyngodon idella Based on the Sparse Sampling Method and a Nonlinear Mixed Effect Model Following Intravenous and Oral Administration.

The objective of this study was to implement population pharmacokinetic (PPK) of enrofloxacin (EF) in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) after a single oral administration and a single intravenous administration based on a nonlinear mixed effect model. The plasma samples collected by the sparse sampling method were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescent detector. The initial pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were evaluated by reference search and the calculation of a naïve pooled method.

MaGA20ox2f, an OsSD1 homolog, regulates flowering time and fruit yield in banana.

Unlabelled: Previous studies illustrated that two banana GA20 oxidase2 (MaGA20ox2) genes, and , are implicated in controlling banana growth and development; however, the biological function of each gene remains unknown. Ma04g15900 protein (termed MaGA20ox2f in this article) is the closest homolog to the Rice SD1 (encoded by 'green revolution gene', ) in the banana genome. The expression of is confined to leaves, peduncles, fruit peels, and pulp.

Regulatory Roles of Quercetin in Alleviating Fructose-Induced Hepatic Steatosis: Targeting Gut Microbiota and Inflammatory Metabolites.

While fructose is a key dietary component, concerns have been raised about its potential risks to the liver. This study aimed to assess quercetin's protective effects against fructose-induced mouse hepatic steatosis. Thirty-two male C57BL/6J mice were randomly allocated into four groups: control, high fructose diet (HFrD), HFrD supplemented with low-dose quercetin (HFrD+LQ), and HFrD supplemented with high-dose quercetin (HFrD+HQ).

Hyaluronic acid/silk fibroin nanoparticles loaded with methotrexate for topical treatment of psoriasis.

Systemic administration of methotrexate (MTX), widely regarded as one of the most effective treatments for psoriasis, poses significant challenges due to its high toxicity, limited solubility, and potential for adverse effects. Consequently, developing a topical form of MTX may offer a safer and more effective strategy for psoriasis management. Silk fibroin (SF), a protein-based biomacromolecule, has shown considerable promise as a nanocarrier for sustained and targeted drug delivery, owing to its exceptional physicochemical and biological properties.

Circadian rhythms of microbial communities and their role in regulating nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in the rhizosphere of tea plants.

The circadian clock mediates metabolic functions of plants and rhythmically shapes structure and function of microbial communities in the rhizosphere. However, it is unclear how the circadian rhythm of plant hosts regulates changes in rhizosphere bacterial and fungal communities and nutrient cycles. In the present study, we measured diel changes in the rhizosphere of bacterial and fungal communities, and in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycling in 20-year-old tea plantations.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutation provides a new insight into resveratrol biosynthesis by causing a metabolic pathway shift from flavonoids to stilbenoids in cells.

Resveratrol is an important phytoalexin that adapts to and responds to stressful conditions and plays various roles in health and medical therapies. However, it is only found in a limited number of plant species in low concentrations, which hinders its development and utilization. Chalcone synthase (CHS) and stilbene synthase (STS) catalyze the same substrates to produce flavonoids and resveratrol, respectively.

Design and synthesis of coumarin-based amphoteric antimicrobials with biofilm interference and immunoregulation effects.

Bacterial infections pose a threat to human and animal health, and the formation of biofilm exacerbates the microbial threat. New antimicrobial agents to address this challenge are much needed. In this study, several new amphoteric compounds derived from the natural product coumarin were designed and synthesized by mimicking the structure and function of antimicrobial peptides.

A complete chloroplast genome of S. S. Lai 2004 (Crassulaceae: Crassuloideae).

We determined the complete chloroplast genome sequence of S. S. Lai 2004.

Photodynamic bactericidal nanomaterials in food packaging: From principle to application.

Compared to traditional preservatives, photodynamic inactivation (PDI) offers a promising bactericidal approach due to its nontoxic nature and low propensity for microbial resistance. In this paper, we initially investigate the principles and antibacterial mechanisms underlying PDI. We then review factors influencing PDI's germicidal efficacy in food preservation.

Gibberellin-3 induced dormancy and suppression of flower bud formation in pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus).

Background: Flowering is a complex, finely regulated process involving multiple phytohormones and transcription factors. However, flowering regulation in pitaya (Hylocereus polyrhizus) remains largely unexamined. This study addresses this gap by investigating gibberellin-3 (GA3) effects on flower bud (FB) development in pitaya.

Preparation of a biodegradable packaging film by konjac glucomannan/sodium alginate reinforced with nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots from crayfish shell for crayfish meat preservation.

The development of biomass material is an important approach to alleviating the excessive using of plastic packaging, by which the product could be more environmentally friendly and lower toxicity. In this study, we developed a biodegradable photodynamic antibacterial food packaging film using nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) synthesized from crayfish shells, combined with konjac glucomannan (KGM) and sodium alginate (SA). Casting method was used to prepare the composite film and results indicated that incorporation of N-CQDs significantly enhanced the mechanical and barrier properties of the film by reducing the number of micropores.

Comparative genomics analysis of the reason for C heavy-ion irradiation in improving FeO nanoparticle yield of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.

The FeO nanoparticle synthesized by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans have a broad practical value, while the low yield limits their commercial application. Herein, we employed a C heavy-ion beam to induce mutagenesis of A. ferrooxidans BYM and successfully screened a mutant BYMT-200 with a 1.

Exploring the metabolic patterns and response mechanisms of bile acids during fasting: A study with poultry as an example.

Fasting is beneficial to alleviate fatty liver, lose weight and improve reproductive function. However, previous studies have shown that, during fasting, disorders of bile acid metabolism were strongly associated with intestinal inflammation. The physiological and biochemical parameters and gene expression of multiple tissues of chickens at every critical time node were measured by ELISA and qPCR.

Construction and controlled flavor release of high internal phase emulsion stabilized by pH-driven-assembled soy peptide nanoparticles.

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of pH-driven assembled soy peptide nanoparticle (SPN) to prepare high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) containing sweet orange essential oil (SOEO), and the effects of SPN concentration and oil phase fraction on the formation, stability and flavor release characteristics were investigated. Results showed that stable HIPEs with excellent self-supporting state were successfully fabricated at relative high SPN concentrations (0.5-3.

Accelerating electron transfer reduces CH and CO emissions in paddy soil.

As an accelerated electron transfer device, the influence of microbial electrochemical snorkel (MES) on soil greenhouse gas production remains unclear. Electron transport is the key to methane production and denitrification. We found that the NO amount of the MES treatment was comparable to the control however the cumulative CO and CH emissions were reduced by 50% and 41%, respectively.

Cross-Shaped Heat Tensor Network for Morphometric Analysis Using Zebrafish Larvae Feature Keypoints.

Deep learning-based morphometric analysis of zebrafish is widely utilized for non-destructively identifying abnormalities and diagnosing diseases. However, obtaining discriminative and continuous organ category decision boundaries poses a significant challenge by directly observing zebrafish larvae from the outside. To address this issue, this study simplifies the organ areas to polygons and focuses solely on the endpoint positioning.

Reason's Triumph over Passion? Chinese Adults' Attention to Information on Ultra-Processed Foods' Fat and Sodium Contents in Nutrition Facts Tables.

Background: It is common for consumers to purchase ultra-processed foods that are perceived to have health risks, and this phenomenon is rarely explained in the existing literature from the perspective of consumers' responses to the intuitive marketing of flavor labels and the packaging.

Methods: This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap and investigated the attention of 920 participants aged 18~59 across China toward fat and sodium content information for six ultra-processed foods (pastry foods, quick-frozen foods, dessert foods, puffed foods, beverages, and sauces) presented in nutrition facts tables based on the theoretical analysis framework for purchasing decisions on ultra-processed foods by using the binary logit model.

Results: It was found that the respondent' s attention to fat and sodium content information was positively influenced by health risk perception levels and levels of knowledge about fat and sodium but negatively influenced by the interaction term between flavor labels (or the packaging) that stimulated the purchase desire and health risk perception levels (or levels of knowledge about fat and sodium).

Association of Mucin-Degrading Gut Microbiota and Dietary Patterns with Colonic Transit Time in Constipation: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: The relationship between gut microbiota composition, lifestyles, and colonic transit time (CTT) remains poorly understood. This study investigated associations among gut microbiota profiles, diet, lifestyles, and CTT in individuals with subjective constipation.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from our randomized clinical trial, examining gut microbiota composition, CTT, and dietary intake in baseline and final assessments of 94 participants with subjective constipation.

Rice Bran Consumption Improves Lipid Profiles: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Dyslipidemia, a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), significantly contributes to global morbidity and mortality. Rice bran, rich in bioactive compounds such as γ-oryzanol and tocotrienols, has demonstrated promising lipid-modulating effects.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of rice bran on lipid profiles, including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and identify factors influencing its efficacy across different populations and intervention conditions.

L11 and LR: Ameliorate Obesity via AMPK Pathway.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to find the potential mechanism of two Lactobacillus ( L11 and LR) on ameliorating obesity, including lipid metabolism and gut microbiota. The two isolates have been studied to have good characterization in vitro, but in vivo studies in modulating lipid metabolism and gut microbiota were not studied.

Methods: In this study, mice with HFD supplemented with L11 or LR exhibited slower obesity progression, including reduced weight gain, abdominal fat accumulation, liver damage, inflammation, and adipose lesions.

Metabolomics Unveiled the Accumulation Characteristics of Taste Compounds During the Development and Maturation of Litchi Fruit.

Litchi is one of the ancient fruits that originated in China, renowned for its high nutrition and rich flavor, and Xianjinfeng (XJF) stands as one of the most notable varieties in terms of its flavor. Investigating the metabolic changes in taste compounds during fruit development offers deeper insights into the formation patterns of fruit quality. In this study, we conducted extensive metabonomic research on the accumulation patterns of taste compounds (carbohydrates, organic acids, and amino acids) across three developmental stages of XJF litchi.

Development and Assessment of a Color-Variable Chlorine Dioxide Slow-Releasing Card for Litchi Preservation.

Chlorine dioxide (ClO) gas has attracted considerable attention due to its safety and efficiency. In this study, we successfully developed a color-variable ClO slow-releasing card for postharvest litchi. The optimal ClO slow-releasing card was prepared as follows: Card A was soaked in 2.