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Summary Many biotic or abiotic factors such as CPPU (N‐(2‐chloro‐pyridin‐4‐yl)‐N′‐phenylurea), a growth regulator of numerous crops, can induce bitterness in cucurbits. In melon, cucurbitacin B is the major compound leading to bitterness. However, the molecular mechanism underlying CuB biosynthesis in response to different conditions remains unclear. Here, we identified a set of genes involved in CPPU‐induced CuB biosynthesis in melon fruit and proposed CmBr gene as the major regulator. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, we confirmed CmBr's role in regulating CuB biosynthesis under CPPU treatment. We further discovered a CPPU‐induced MYB‐related transcription factor, CmRSM1, which specifically binds to the Myb motif within the CmBr promoter and activates its expression. Moreover, we developed an introgression line by introducing the mutated Cmbr gene into an elite variety and eliminated CPPU‐induced bitterness, demonstrating its potential application in breeding. This study offers a valuable tool for breeding high‐quality non‐bitter melon varieties and provides new insights into the regulation of secondary metabolites under environmental stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is a serious mental disorder and the most prevalent cause of disability and suicide worldwide. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) can lead to a significant acceleration of depression development. Quercetin (Que) is a flavonoid compound with a wide range of pharmacological effects. Recent studies have shown that quercetin can improve CUMS‐induced depression‐like behavior, but the mechanism of its improvement is still unclear. α2δ‐1 is a regulatory subunit of voltage‐gated calcium channel, which can interact with N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) to form a complex. Objective: In this study, we found that Que could inhibit the increase of α2δ‐1 and NMDAR expression in rat hypothalamus induced by CUMS. In pain, chronic hypertension and other studies have shown that α2δ‐1 interacts with the NMDAR to form a complex, which subsequently affects the expression level of NMDAR. Consequently, the present study aimed to investigate the antidepressant effect of Que in vivo and in vitro and to explore its mechanism of action in terms of the interaction between α2δ‐1 and NMDAR. Methods: Rats were randomly exposed to two stressors every day for 4 weeks to establish a CUMS rat model, then sucrose preference test (SPT), forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), and open field test (OFT) were performed to detect the behavior of CUMS rats, so as to evaluate whether the CUMS rat model was successfully established and the improvement effect of Que on CUMS‐induced depression‐like behavior in rats. Experimental techniques such as serum enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, Western blot, and co‐immunoprecipitation, as well as in vitro experiments, were used to investigate the mechanisms by which Que exerts its antidepressant effects. Results: Behavioral and ELISA test results showed that Que could produce a reduction in the excitability of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in CUMS rats and lead to significant improvements in their depressive behavior. Western blot, immunofluorescence, and co‐immunoprecipitation experiments showed that Que produced a decrease in NMDAR1 and α2δ‐1 expression levels and interfered with α2δ‐1 and NMDAR1 binding. In addition, the neural regulation mechanism of Que on antidepressant effect in PC12 cells knocked out α2δ‐1 gene was further verified. Cellular experiments demonstrated that Que led to a reversal of up‐regulation of NMDAR1 and α2δ‐1 expression levels in corticosterone‐injured PC12 cells, while Que had no effects on NMDAR1 expression in PC12 cells with the α2δ‐1 gene knockout. Conclusions: Que has a good antidepressant effect and can significantly improve the depression‐like behavior caused by CUMS. It exerts antidepressant effects by inhibiting the expression level of α2δ‐1, interfering with the interaction between α2δ‐1 and NMDAR, and then reducing the excitability of the HPA axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fatigue life and cutting performance of conical pick is essential for the roadheader machine in the excavation engineering. In rock breaking process, the rock structural conditions has a certain influence on the rock breaking and rock damage with roadheader breaking rock. Established the simulation model of conical pick cutting jointed rock to investigate the influence of the rock joint, rock bedding and confining pressure on the cutting performance and fatigue life of conical pick and rock damage. And the MATLAB is applied to solve the difficulty of rock damage statistical analysis. The research results indicated that the cutting force decreases with the rock joint length increasing, the cutting force increases first and decreases with the rock bedding angle increasing, however, the cutting force decreases first and then increases with the confining pressure increasing. The rock damage has a great relationship with the rock joint, rock bedding and confining pressure. The rock damage increases first and decreases then with the rock joint increasing and the rock bedding angle increasing. However, the influence of confining pressure on rock damage is contrary. Meanwhile, the rock fracture volume is positively correlated with damage value. The research results indicated that the rock structural parameters have an obvious influence on conical pick cutting performance and rock damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the metal–support interactions over Ni/CeO 2 –ZrO 2 (Ni/CZ) catalysts for ethanol steam reforming. Different Ni contents (5, 10, and 15 wt%) were loaded onto the CZ support using two catalyst preparation methods, namely one-pot, and successive impregnation methods. Using the one-pot method, the Ni species over the Ni/CZ catalysts strongly interacted with the CZ support, resulting in smaller Ni nanoparticles with abundant oxygen vacancies. In contrast, the successive impregnation method mainly generated an isolated Ni phase at a high Ni content, resulting in large Ni clusters with limited oxygen vacancies. The poor Ni dispersion over the Ni/CZ catalysts prepared by the successive impregnation method induced low ethanol conversions and hydrogen production rates. In addition, the large Ni clusters over the Ni/CZ catalysts prepared by the successive impregnation method achieved a fast-coking behavior, thereby increasing the coke amount. Further, coke gasification was demonstrated to dominate the Ni surface with the Ni/CZ catalysts prepared by the one-pot method because of the high Ni dispersion and abundant oxygen vacancies. [Display omitted] • Ni/CeO 2 -ZrO 2 catalysts for ethanol steam reforming are prepared at different methods. • The one-pot method induces the strong Ni-CZ interaction over Ni/CZ catalysts. • Ni/CZ prepared by the one-pot method contains abundant oxygen species and Ni sites. • Ni/CZ prepared by the one-pot method enhances the H 2 production rate at 550 ℃. • Mild coking on the one-pot Ni/CZ catalysts is due to efficient coke gasification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, by a simple hydrothermal method vertically aligned ZnO nanorod arrays were grown on the carbon fiber paper (CFP) and then through a facile chemical bath deposition method CuO nanosheets were loaded on ZnO nanorod arrays, following by thermal spraying method, carboxylated carbon nanotubes (CCNTs) were successfully integrated with CuO/ZnO@CFP to form a binder-free CuO/ZnO-CCNT@CFP sensor. The sensor shows enhanced sensing activity for baicalein and luteolin determination due to the improved structural integration and synergism of different electrode material components. Remarkably, the CuO/ZnO-CCNT@CFP sensor showed good linear relationships over wide concentration ranges of 0.03–0.70 µM and 0.70–20 µM for baicalein and 0.03–0.45 µM and 0.45–8.5 µM for luteolin detection, with the detection limits of 1.7 nM for baicalein and 0.5 nM for luteolin, respectively. More importantly, the CuO/ZnO-CCNT@CFP sensor was utilized in the simultaneous determination of baicalein and luteolin, delivering linear ranges of 0.4–14 µM (baicalein) and 0.2–6 µM (luteolin) with the limit of detection of 0.05 µM and 0.03 µM, respectively. In addition, the developed CuO/ZnO-CCNT@CFP electrode was further investigated to detect baicalein and luteolin in traditional herbal medicine samples, showing satisfied results in comparison with analytic results from high performance liquid chromatography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elemental engineering has been employed to adjust molecular framework and electronic configuration of γ-graphyne for rapid lithium storage. Here, we construct a quasi-pyridinic nitrogen/sulfur co-doped γ-graphyne (N/S-GY) via a mechanochemical strategy and reveal its lithium storage behavior by quantitative kinetics analysis and theoretical calculations. The internal pyridinic-N atoms create rhombic channels for Li+ passing through, while sulfur dopants anchored with alkynyl groups induce electron cloud rearrangement to facilitate intralayer Li+ diffuse between C 12 -triangular channels and interlayer transfer through open rhombic channels. As a result, the as-prepared N/S-GY exhibits a high reversible capacity of 1003 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1 after 150 cycles, with Li+ diffusion coefficient up to 2.6 × 10−12 cm2 s−1, both of which are larger than that of N-doped γ-graphyne. This work highlights synergistic effect of sulfur and nitrogen co-doping in alkynyl carbon and inspires bottom-up heteroatom modification in framework design. [Display omitted] • Sulfur and nitrogen co-doped γ-graphyne has been prepared through a mechanochemical route. • The N/S-GY anode displays high lithium-ion capacity with 1003 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1 after 150 cycles. • The N/S-GY anode exhibits lithium diffusion efficiency with 2.6 × 10−12 cm2 s−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]