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Curdlan has unique gel properties and special triple helix conformation, and curdlan gel has great application potential in the fields of food and biomedicine because of its water-retention capacity, thickening capacity, film-forming capacity, freeze-thaw stability, pH stability. Curdlan hydrogels with physicochemical properties and application fields can be prepared by different methods. In addition, combination with other substances can improve gel properties and impart unique functional properties to hydrogels. In this paper, the preparation methods, gel properties, and gelation mechanism of curdlan hydrogels, as well as recent progress in research on curdlan-based composite hydrogels are reviewed. Meanwhile, an overview of the application of curdlan-based hydrogels in food and biomedical fields is provided. This review is expected to provide a reference for further research and application of curdlan-based hydrogels.

Citral is used in the food field because of its lemon-like aroma and antibacterial biological activity. However, due to its sensitivity to acid, oxygen and light, citral is prone to acid-catalyzed cyclization, oxidation and photochemical degradation, reducing its biological activity and consequently limiting its application. Polysaccharide encapsulation is an effective way to improve the physical and chemical stability of citral and delay its degradation. This article reviews the structural properties of citral and its application in food and beverage as a food preservative, summarizes the methods used for encapsulating and stabilizing citral with polysaccharides including emulsion systems, self-assembly, hydrogels and spray drying as well as the current status of the application of these methods to stabilize citral, and finally points out the problems existing in this field and future research directions. This review hopes to provide a theoretical reference for improving the biological activity of citral and expanding its application in the food field.

IDEAL PLANT ARCHITECTURE1 (IPA1) is a pivotal gene controlling plant architecture and grain yield. However, little is known about the effects of Triticum aestivum SQUAMOSA PROMOTER‐BINDING‐LIKE 14 (TaSPL14), an IPA1 ortholog in wheat, on balancing yield traits and its regulatory mechanism in wheat (T. aestivum L.). Here, we determined that the T. aestivum GRAIN WIDTH2 (TaGW2)‐TaSPL14 module influences the balance between tiller number and grain weight in wheat. Overexpression of TaSPL14 resulted in a reduced tiller number and increased grain weight, whereas its knockout had the opposite effect, indicating that TaSPL14 negatively regulates tillering while positively regulating grain weight. We further identified TaGW2 as a novel interacting protein of TaSPL14 and confirmed its ability to mediate the ubiquitination and degradation of TaSPL14. Based on our genetic evidence, TaGW2 acts as a positive regulator of tiller number, in addition to its known role as a negative regulator of grain weight, which is opposite to TaSPL14. Moreover, combinations of TaSPL14‐7A and TaGW2‐6A haplotypes exhibit significantly additive effects on tiller number and grain weight in wheat breeding. Our findings provide insight into how the TaGW2‐TaSPL14 module regulates the trade‐off between tiller number and grain weight and its potential application in improving wheat yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal, discusses the discovery of a gene in wheat called GRAIN WIDTH2 (TaGW2) that has a dual effect on enhancing leaf rust resistance and increasing grain weight. Leaf rust, caused by the fungal pathogen Puccinia triticina Eriksson, is a major threat to global wheat production. The limited number of cloned resistance genes often have undesirable agronomic traits, so finding new resistance genes while balancing yield is important for breeding strategies. The researchers used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to edit TaGW2 and found that knockout plants had increased resistance to leaf rust and increased grain weight, offering a novel approach to enhancing wheat's resistance without sacrificing yield. [Extracted from the article]

Ether‐based electrolytes are considered as an ideal electrolyte system for sodium metal batteries (SMBs) due to their superior compatibility with the sodium metal anode (SMA). However, the selection principle of ether solvents and the impact on solid electrolyte interphase formation are still unclear. Herein, we systematically compare the chain ether‐based electrolyte and understand the relationship between the solvation structure and the interphasial properties. The linear ether solvent molecules with different terminal group lengths demonstrate remarkably distinct solvation effects, thus leading to different electrochemical performance as well as deposition morphologies for SMBs. Computational calculations and comprehensive characterizations indicate that the terminal group length significantly regulates the electrolyte solvation structure and consequently influences the interfacial reaction mechanism of electrolytes on SMA. Cryogenic electron microscopy clearly reveals the difference in solid electrolyte interphase in various ether‐based electrolytes. As a result, the 1,2‐diethoxyethane‐based electrolyte enables a high Coulombic efficiency of 99.9 %, which also realizes the stable cycling of Na||Na3V2(PO4)3 full cell with a mass loading of ≈9 mg cm−2 over 500 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stable cycling of Mg‐metal anodes is limited by several problems, including sluggish electrochemical kinetics and passivation at the Mg surface. In this study, we present a high‐entropy electrolyte composed of lithium triflate (LiOTf) and trimethyl phosphate (TMP) co‐added to magnesium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (Mg(TFSI)2/1,2‐dimethoxyethane (DME) to significantly improve the electrochemical performance of Mg‐metal anodes. The as‐formed high‐entropy Mg2+‐2DME‐OTf−‐Li+‐DME‐TMP solvation structure effectively reduced the Mg2+‐DME interaction in comparison with that observed in traditional Mg(TFSI)2/DME electrolytes, thereby preventing the formation of insulating components on the Mg‐metal anode and promoting its electrochemical kinetics and cycling stability. Comprehensive characterization revealed that the high‐entropy solvation structure brought OTf− and TMP to the surface of the Mg‐metal anode and promoted the formation of a Mg3(PO4)2‐rich interfacial layer, which is beneficial for enhancing Mg2+ conductivity. Consequently, the Mg‐metal anode achieved excellent reversibility with a high Coulombic efficiency of 98 % and low voltage hysteresis. This study provides new insights into the design of electrolytes for Mg‐metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are among the emerging selenium supplements because of their high bioactivity and low toxicity. However, bare SeNPs are prone to activity loss caused by aggregation and sedimentation. This study aims to stabilize SeNPs with curdlan (CUR), a polysaccharide, to maintain or even enhance their biological activity. Herein, the stable SeNPs were constructed via the unique conformational transition of CUR induced by alkali-neutralization (AN) pretreatment. The physicochemical properties and structures of the prepared SeNPs were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and free-radical-scavenging activity assays. The results show that most SeNPs are stabilized within the triple helix of CUR that has been pretreated with high-intensity AN treatment. These amorphous, small-sized (average size was 53.6 ± 17.7 nm), and stabilized SeNPs have significantly enhanced free-radical-scavenging ability compared to the control and can be well-stabilized for at least 240 days at 4 °C. This work indicates that CUR, as a food additive, can be used to well-stabilize SeNPs by AN pretreatment and provides a facile method to prepare and enhance the stability and bioactivity of SeNPs via triple-helix conformational transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium metal batteries (SMBs) have been widely studied owing to their relatively high energy density and abundant resources. However, they still need systematic improvement to fulfill the harsh operating conditions for their commercialization. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in SMBs in terms of sodium anode modification, electrolyte exploration, and cathode design. Firstly, we give an overview of the current challenges facing Na metal anodes and the corresponding solutions. Then, the traditional liquid electrolytes and the prospective solid electrolytes for SMBs are summarized. In addition, insertion‐ and conversion‐type cathode materials are introduced. Finally, an outlook for the future of practical SMBs is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence rate of cardiovascular diseases is increasing year by year. The demand for coronary artery bypass grafting has been very large. Acellular blood vessels have potential clinical application because of their natural vascular basis, but their biocompatibility and anticoagulant energy need to be improved. We decellularized the abdominal aorta of SD rats, and then modified with bivalirudin via polydopamine. The mechanical properties, blood compatibility, cytocompatibility, immune response, and anticoagulant properties were evaluated, and then the bivalirudin‐modified acellular blood vessels were implanted into rats for remodeling evaluation in vivo. The results we got show that the bivalirudin‐modified acellular blood vessels showed good cytocompatibility and blood compatibility, and its anti‐inflammatory trend was dominant in the immune response. After 3 months of transplantation, the bivalirudin‐modified acellular blood vessels did not easily form thrombus. It was not easy to form calcification and could make the host cells grow better. Through vascular stimulation and immunofluorescence test, we found that vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells proliferated well in the bivalirudin group. Bivalirudin‐modified acellular blood vessels provided new idea for small diameter tissue engineering blood vessels, and may become a potential clinical substitute for small‐diameter vascular grafts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In particular, three main parts of sodium metal batteries are covered: cathode materials, electrolyte systems, and anode design. Dendrites, electrolytes, sodium metal anodes, sodium metal batteries, solid electrolyte interphases Keywords: dendrites; electrolytes; sodium metal anodes; sodium metal batteries; solid electrolyte interphases EN dendrites electrolytes sodium metal anodes sodium metal batteries solid electrolyte interphases 1 1 1 01/16/23 20230112 NES 230112 B Recent developments b in the field of rechargeable sodium metal batteries are summarized in herein. [Extracted from the article]

Plant architecture is a crucial influencing factor of wheat yield and adaptation. In this study, we cloned and characterized TaSPL14 , a homologous gene of the rice ideal plant architecture gene OsSPL14 in wheat. TaSPL14 homoeologs ( TaSPL14-7A , TaSPL14-7B and TaSPL14-7D ) exhibited similar expression patterns, and they were all preferentially expressed in stems at the elongation stage and in young spikes. Moreover, the expression level of TaSPL14-7A was higher than that of TaSPL14-7B and TaSPL14-7D . Overexpression of TaSPL14-7A in wheat resulted in significant changes in plant architecture and yield traits, including decreased tiller number and increased kernel size and weight. Three TaSPL14-7A haplotypes were identified in Chinese wheat core collection, and haplotype-based association analysis showed that TaSPL14-7A-Hap1/2 were significantly correlated with fewer tillers, larger kernels and higher kernel weights in modern cultivars. The haplotype effect resulted from a difference in TaSPL14-7A expression levels among genotypes, with TaSPL14-7A-Hap1/2 leading to higher expression levels than TaSPL14-7A-Hap3 . As favorable haplotypes, TaSPL14-7A-Hap1/2 underwent positive selection during global wheat breeding over the last century. Together, the findings of our study provide insight into the function and genetic effects of TaSPL14 and provide a useful molecular marker for wheat breeding., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The handling editor YF declared a shared affiliation with the authors TL, SG, YZ, YP, XZ, CH at the time of review., (Copyright © 2023 Cao, Li, Geng, Zhang, Pan, Zhang, Wang and Hao.)