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This study intended to determine the molecular subtypes of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) on the strength of anoikis-related genes (ARGs) and to assess their prognostic value and prospective relationship with immune cell infiltration and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Univariate Cox regression analysis yielded 66 prognosis-related ARGs and classified LIHC into two distinct subtypes, with subtype A demonstrating overexpression of most prognosis-related ARGs and a significant survival disadvantage. Furthermore, a reliable prediction model was developed using ARGs to evaluate the risk of LIHC patients. This model served as an independent prognostic indicator and a quantitative tool for clinical prognostic prediction. Additionally, subtype-specific differences in immune cell infiltration were observed, and the risk score was potentially linked to immune-related characteristics. Moreover, the study identified a significant association between CAF score and LIHC prognosis, with a low CAF score indicating a favorable patient prognosis. In conclusion, this study reveals the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of LIHC and identifies potential therapeutic targets for the disease.

The new development pattern has identified two key avenues for the sustained advancement of high-quality agricultural and rural development: digitalisation and low-carbon development. The measurement of the digital economy and the agricultural carbon emission performance, and their spatial and temporal heterogeneity, is a crucial step in promoting the spatial coordination and sustainable development of digitalisation and low-carbon agriculture. This paper employs the entropy value method, SBM model, and coupling coordination degree model to investigate the coupling coordination measurement and spatial-temporal heterogeneity of the performance of the digital economy and agricultural carbon emissions. The data used are provincial panel data from 2013 to 2021. The simulation results demonstrate that, between 2013 and 2021, the digital economy of all provinces exhibited varying degrees of growth, yet the development of the digital economy between provinces exhibited a more pronounced tendency to diverge. Concurrently, the agricultural carbon emission efficiency in China exhibited a fluctuating upward trend. The development of the digital economy and the efficiency of agricultural carbon emission were found to be highly coupled. Their coupling and coordination relationship showed a downward trend followed by an upward trend. In general, it is suggested that we should increase investment in digital economy infrastructure and technology, promote digital agricultural applications, strengthen policy guidance and financial support, establish a coupling coordination mechanism and strengthen farmers' digital literacy and environmental awareness.

This study constructed a multidimensional indicator system to evaluate spatio-temporal heterogeneity of China's import and export trade of 31 provinces from 2000 to 2022. This study describes the distribution of China's import and export trade by using location Gini coefficient and exploratory spatial analysis. Additionally, Multiple linear regression was used to ascertain the extent of contribution by various factors on the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of import and export trade. The simulation results show that inter-provincial import and export trade displayed distinct spatio-temporal differentiation characteristics with a prominent east-to-west disparity from 2000 to 2022. The trade links between various regions of the country have gradually strengthened, with a corresponding high correlation to the level of economic development. GDP, financial expenditure, freight transportation volume, technology market turnover, foreign investment, and disposable income of all residents, significantly influence the per capita export and import volume. In general, it is suggested that China and developing countries should take effective measures to promote balanced trade development, strengthen regional cooperation and coordination, and promote green trade and sustainable development.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a primary seafood-associated pathogen that could cause gastroenteritis. It can attach to various surfaces and form a biofilm, which poses serious threats to food safety. Hence, an effective strategy is urgently needed to control the biofilm formation of V. parahaemolyticus. Laurel essential oil (LEO) is used in food, pharmaceutical and other industries, and is commonly used as a flavoring agent and valuable spice in food industries. The potential antibiofilm effects of LEO against V. parahaemolyticus were examined in this study. LEO obviously reduced biofilm biomass at subinhibitory concentrations (SICs). It decreased the metabolic activity and viability of biofilm cells. Microscopic images and Raman spectrum indicted that LEO interfered with the structure and biochemical compositions of biofilms. Moreover, it also impaired swimming motility, decreased hydrophobicity, inhibited auto-aggregation and reduced attachment to different food-contact surfaces. RT-qPCR revealed that LEO significantly downregulated transcription levels of biofilm-associated genes of V. parahaemolyticus. These findings demonstrate that LEO could be potentially developed as an antibiofilm strategy to control V. parahaemolyticus biofilms in food industries.

Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained remarkable interest in water treatment due to their fascinating characteristics, such as tunable functionality, large specific surface area, customizable pore size and porosity, and good chemical and thermal stability. However, MOF particles tend to easily agglomerate in nanoscale, thus decreasing their activity and processing convenience. It is necessary to shape MOF nanocrystals into maneuverable structures. The in situ growth or ex situ incorporation of MOFs into inexpensive and abundant cellulose-family materials can be effective strategies for the stabilization of these MOF species, and therefore can make available a range of enhanced properties that expand the industrial application possibilities of cellulose and MOFs. This paper provides a review of studies on recent advances in the application of multi-dimensional MOF–cellulose composites (e.g., aerogels, membranes, and bulk materials) in wastewater remediation (e.g., metals, dyes, drugs, antibiotics, pesticides, and oils) and water regeneration by adsorption, photo- or chemocatalysis, and membrane separation strategies. The advantages brought about by combining MOFs and cellulose are described, and the performance of MOF–cellulose is described and compared to its counterparts. The mechanisms of relative MOF–cellulose materials in processing aquatic pollutants are included. Existing challenges and perspectives for future research are proposed.

Due to its wide source and low cost, biomass-based hard carbon is considered a valuable anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Lignins, as the second most abundant source in nature, are being intensively studied as candidate anode materials for next generation LIBs. However, direct carbonization of pure lignin usually leads to low specific surface area and porosity. In this paper, we design a porous carbon material from natural lignin assisted by sacrificing a metal–organic framework (MOF) as the template. The MOF nanoparticles can disperse the lignin particles uniformly and form abundant mesopores in the composites to offer fast transfer channels for Li+. The as-prepared carbon anode shows a high specific capacity of 420 mAh g−1 with the capacity retention of 99% after 300 cycles at 0.2 A g−1. Additionally, it keeps the capacity retention of 85% after long cycle of 1000 cycles, indicating the good application value of the designed anode in LIBs. The work provides a renewable and low-cost candidate anode and a feasible design strategy of the anode materials for LIBs.

Three microwave-synthesized non-digestible oligosaccharides (polydextrose, polygalactose and polymannose) were fermented using an in vitro pH-controlled batch incubation inoculated with human fecal slurries, simulating the events in the distal colon. Microbial changes and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and gas chromatography, respectively. Polydextrose and polygalactose significantly (P

In this study, the impact of ultrasound irradiation on the structural characteristics and antioxidant properties of yellow tea polysaccharides with different molecular weights (Mw) were investigated. Native yellow tea polysaccharide containing YTPS-3N, YTPS-5N and YTPS-7N were prepared through precipitation with ethanol at various concentrations of 30%, 50%, and 70%, respectively, and irradiated with high intensity ultrasound (20 kHz) for 55 min to yield yellow tea polysaccharide including YTPS-3U, YTPS-5U and YTPS-7U. The molecular weight (Mw) of YTPS-3N (from 37.7 to 15.1 kDa) and YTPS-5N (from 14.6 to 5.2 kDa) sharply decreased upon ultrasound irradiation, coincidentally particle size (Zavg) was also significantly reduced for YTPS-3N (40%), YTPS-5N (48%) and YTPS-7N (54%). The high-performance liquid chromatography and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed a partial degradation of native yellow tea polysaccharide treated with ultrasound, though the monosaccharide composition was not altered. Furthermore, changes in morphology and the breakdown of native yellow tea polysaccharide upon irradiation was confirmed with the circular dichroism spectrum, atomic force and scanning electron microscopy. As a consequence, irradiation of yellow tea polysaccharide increased free radical scavenging activity with YTPS-7U exhibiting the highest levels of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals scavenging activity. These results suggest that the alteration of the spatial structure of yellow tea polysaccharide can enhance its antioxidant activity which is an important property for functional foods or medicines.

Background: Plant natural products have many different biological activities but the precise mechanisms underlying these activities remain largely unknown. Hypericum longistylum has long been recorded in Chinese medicine as a cure for depression and related disorders, but how it repairs neural lineages has not been addressed. Methods: We extracted compounds from Hypericum longistylum and determined their effect on neural differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in vitro by using the Pax6-GFP reporter system. The amount of serotonin released during differentiation was measured by HPLC. The tail suspension test and forced swimming test was performed for determining the effect of compounds on depression-like behaviors in mice. Results: We found that one of the phloroglucinol derivatives not only facilitated differentiation of neural progenitor cells, but also increased the efficiency of differentiation into serotonergic neurons. This compound also improved the behaviors of mice placed in a stressful environment and reduced signs of depression. Conclusions: This is the first use of Chinese herb derived-natural products to promote neurogenesis of ESCs, including the generation of serotonergic neurons, and the first attempt to identify the active compound in Hypericum longistylum responsible for its beneficial effects on depressive diseases. Keywords: Cell differentiation, Chemical modification, Depression, Chinese medicine, Neural differentiation, Serotonergic neuron

Thermal stress evokes heat shock response and activates hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) axis. Additionally, liver injury is an important adverse effect of thermal stress. Considering the anti-stress effects of theanine, an amino acid found in tea plants, we hypothesized that theanine may protect against heat stress. Mice were administered intragastrically with theanine prior to whole body thermal exposure. Theanine prevented the heat-induced upregulation of heat shock proteins and reduced the heat-induced liver damage and oxidative stress. Theanine significantly prevented the heat-induced effects on inflammatory and acute phase responses as measured by plasma inflammatory cytokine concentrations, hepatic inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels, plasma nitric oxide and C-reactive protein levels. Additionally, theanine supplementation suppressed heat stress-related disorders associated with normalizing HPA axis hyperactivity. These findings suggest that theanine can have beneficial effects against heat stress and may be an attractive dietary application for people who are at high risk of developing heat stress.

To assess the possible effects of lignin on enzymatic hydrolysis, the structural characteristics of milled wood lignin (MWL) isolated from reed straw and corn stover pretreated with liquid hot water (LHW) at different severities were investigated. The changes in the chemical structure of the MWL were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. The results showed that the MWL isolated from reed straw and corn stover pretreated with LHW was more condensed. The non-conjugated and conjugated ketone groups, as well as the ether bonds of the MWL, disappeared after LHW pretreatment, while the phenolic hydroxyl and methoxy groups increased. The carboxyl groups of MWL from reed straw increased after LHW pretreatment, whereas the carboxyl groups of MWL from corn stover decreased. When MWL was added into the enzymatic hydrolysis system, the filter paper activity of cellulase, the protein content, and the conversion of cellulose to glucose all decreased.

The aim of this study was to investigate the ultrasound-assisted alkaline extraction process and structural properties of hemicellulose from sugarcane bagasse pith. Response surface model (RSM) was established in order to optimize the extraction conditions for the highest hemicellulose yield based on the single-factor experiments. A maximum total hemicellulose yield of 23.05% was obtained under the optimal conditions of ultrasonic treatment time of 28 min, KOH mass concentration of 3.7%, and extraction temperature of 53 °C, and it evidently increased 3.24% compared without ultrasound-assisted extraction. The obtained hemicellulose was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The monosaccharide composition and average molecular weight of hemicellulose were characterized by using ion chromatography (IC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The results indicated that xylose was dominant component in water-soluble hemicellulose (WH, 69.05%) and alkali-soluble hemicellulose (AH, 85.83%), respectively. Furthermore, the monosaccharides（otherwise xylose) and uronic acids contents of WH were higher than that of AH. Weight average molecular weight of WH was 29923 g/mol, lower than that of AH (74872 g/mol). These results indicate that ultrasonic-assisted alkaline extraction is an efficient approach for the separation of hemicellulose from sugarcane bagasse pith.

The effect of novel synthetic polysaccharides such as polydextrose and galactoglucomannan to host physiology has not been well studied. This study was conducted to test the impact of synthetic polysaccharides on lipid metabolism, antioxidant activity, and the composition of gut microbiota of mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD). The results showed that HFD supplemented with polysaccharides induced positive effects in relation to serum endotoxin, blood glucose, serum and liver lipids, decreased fat accumulation and Lee obesity index, and reduced liver adipose steatosis. Fifteen week treatment with polysaccharides significantly decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and increased total antioxidant capacity and the activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. The polysaccharides improved gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by HFD, including increasing the Bacteroidetes-to-Firmicutes ratios, significantly inhibiting the growth of Enterococcus faecalis, and promoting proliferation of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli. Furthermore, polysaccharides significantly increased the production of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in vitro. Thus, synthetic polysaccharides can be used as potential functional foods. Moreover, it can sufficiently decrease the risk of obesity and restore liver redox status under oxidative stress conditions mediated by HFD possibly by regulating gut microbes and increasing acetate, propionate, and butyrate.

In biomass pretreatment processes, both the properties of feedstock and process parameters play important roles in the yield of downstream enzymatic hydrolysis. More importantly, like many other industrial processes, the pretreatment system is multivariate and the variables in the system are inter-related to different extents, which means that studying the relationships of the key variables is of critical importance for the improvement of downstream enzymatic saccharification yield. In this work, two multivariate analysis methods of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Square (PLS) were employed to characterize the detailed relationships of the key process variables of alkaline sulfite pretreatment of corn stover. The results showed that the total alkali charge is positively correlated with the sugar content in pretreated biomass, lignin removal efficiency, and final sugar yield; pretreatment temperature has negative impact on the recovery of polysaccharides; and total alkali charge is more influential than other pretreatment process variables (such as Na2SO3/NaOH and temperature) under the conditions studied.

A protocol for the fractionation of lignin with 1-butanol as solvent has been proposed in order to improve the utilization of industry alkali lignin. 1-butanol soluble lignin (BSL) was used as a building block for temperature-sensitive hydrogel with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) through graft polymerization. The result shows that 1-butanol fractionation is an effective method to improve the molecular weight homogeneity of lignin (PDI, 2.5 to 1.83) and increase the hydroxyl group content (0.585–1.793 mmol/g). The incorporation of BSL into the temperature-sensitive hydrogel can enhance the thermal stability and increase the hydrophobicity of the gel, which leads to a decrease in lower critical solution temperature (LCST). In addition, the compression strength, swelling ratio, and pore size of the gel can be adjusted by the dosage of lignin. This stimuli-responsive gel, with an LCST around 32 °C, is expected to be applied in the agricultural field as a pesticide carrier by stimulating release and absorption properties based on the change in natural environmental temperature.

A series of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) samples were synthesized by adjusting the molar ratio of (NH4)2CO3 to Na2CO3 in a mixed precipitant for evaluating the effects of ammonia from (NH4)2CO3 as a complexing agent and Na2CO3 as a precipitant on the morphology and electrochemical performances of LNMO. In this research, a rapid precipitation method followed by hydrothermal treatment was used to prepare the precursors of LNMO, and different molar ratios (0:1, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, 1:0) of (NH4)2CO3 to Na2CO3 were used for mixed precipitants. The test results revealed that the cathode material exhibits the best electrochemical performance when the molar ratio of (NH4)2CO3 to Na2CO3 is set at 1:2, displaying a specific discharge capacity of 129.4 mA h g−1 at 0.5 C and a capacity retention of 82.3% after 200 charge–discharge cycles. In addition, it still shows a high rate performance with a discharge capacity of 112.7 mA h g−1 at 10 C and 98.8 mA h g−1 at 20 C, which is attributed to an accurate Ni/Mn ratio, smaller primary particle sizes and a porous spherical morphology.