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Simple Summary: As the precursor of pepsin, Pepsinogen C (PGC) is the final product of the maturation and differentiation of gastric mucosa cells. The latest bioinformatics analysis found that PGC may play a little-known role in the carcinogenic process, but there is no relevant experimental evidence to prove the effect of PGC on the biological function of cancer cells. In our research, we found PGC may act as a tumor suppressor in the development and metastasis of gastric cancer. PGC can downregulate its interacting protein IQGAP1 and inhibit the Rho-GTPase pathway, thereby participating in the inhibition of gastric cancer cell migration and invasion. Thus, PGC has the potential to be a new therapeutic target for gastric cancer. Aim: This study systematically explored the biological effects and mechanisms of PGC on gastric cancer (GC) cells in vitro and in vivo. Method: The critical biological roles of PGC in GC were assessed via EdU staining, Hoechst staining, flow cytometry, mouse models, CCK-8, wound healing, transwell, and sphere-forming assays. The interaction study with IQ-domain GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) was used by Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence staining, CHX-chase assay, MG132 assay, and qRT-PCR. Results: PGC inhibited the proliferation, viability, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, migration, invasion, and stemness of GC cells and promoted GC cell differentiation. PGC suppressed subcutaneous tumor growth and peritoneal dissemination in vivo. The interaction study found PGC inhibits GC cell migration and invasion by downregulating IQGAP1 protein and IQGAP1-mediated Rho-GTPase signaling suppression. In addition, PGC disrupts the stability of the IQGAP1 protein, promoting its degradation and significantly shortening its half-life. Moreover, the expression levels of PGC and IQGAP1 in GC tissues were significantly negatively correlated. Conclusion: PGC may act as a tumor suppressor in the development and metastasis of GC. PGC can downregulate its interacting protein IQGAP1 and inhibit the Rho-GTPase pathway, thereby participating in the inhibition of GC cell migration and invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of soil heavy metal pollution in decommissioned sites has become an environmental threat and challenge faced by countries around the world. Establishing a high-precision 3D model of contaminants is essential for pollution risk assessment and accurate monitoring of contaminated sites. In this study, 3D geological model and SSA-XGBoost model are proposed to predict heavy metal concentration in a site. These models can effectively improve the prediction accuracy of soil heavy metals, and the RMSE of the XGBoost model optimized by the SSA algorithm is reduced by 24.3%-34.3%. Compared with other machine learning models, the SSA-XGBoost model has optimal performance in improving the prediction accuracy of soil heavy metals. It is suitable for the areas with significant spatial heterogeneity of soil heavy metals. Using the SSA-XGBoost model and 3D geological model, the 3D spatial distribution characteristics of heavy metals in contaminated soil are determined. The concentration of soil pollutants ranked as As>Pb>Mo, and the overall pollution degree decreases gradually from top to bottom. The pollutants are mainly distributed in the production workshop area in the southwest of the site, and the miscellaneous fill layer is the main soil layer that needs to be remediated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Active and smart food packaging based on natural polymers and pH‐sensitive dyes as indicators has attracted widespread attention. In the present study, an antioxidant and amine‐response color indicator film was developed by incorporating bilirubin (BIL) into the κ‐carrageenan (Carr) matrix. RESULTS: It was found that the introduction of BIL had no effect on the crystal/chemical structure, water sensitivity and mechanical performance of the Carr‐based films. However, the barrier properties to light and the thermal stability were significantly improved after the addition BIL. The Carr/BIL composite films exhibited excellent 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl‐hydrazyl (i.e. DPPH)/2,2′‐azino‐bis‐(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (i.e. ABTS) free radical scavenging abilities and color responsiveness to different concentrations of ammonia. The application assay reflected that the Carr/BIL0.0075 film was effective in delaying the oxidative deterioration of shrimp during storage and realizing the color response of its freshness through the change of b* value. CONCLUSION: Active and smart packaging films were successfully prepared by incorporating different contents of BIL into the Carr matrix. The present study helps to further encourage the design and development of a multi‐functional packaging material. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomaterials integrated with both topological cues and biological modifications are urgently needed in regenerative medicine. Here, aligned nanofibrous scaffolds decorated with nanoscale SiO2 protrusions and galectin-1 coating are reported. Prospects in neurite outgrowth and neural stem cell migration are discussed for suitable use in neural tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunnel face stability is critical for tunneling safety, especially in constructing a tunnel adjacent to another. In tunnel construction, if there is an adjacent existing tunnel and the active failure of the tunnel face happens, there will be severe consequences. Therefore, the active stability of shield tunnel face should be studied considering existing tunnels nearby. In this work, a series of transparent clay model tests were conducted to investigate the active stability of a shield tunnel face adjacent to an existing tunnel based on the development process, failure mode, influence range and support force. In addition, discrete element method was used to study the shield tunnel face stability under various conditions. The role of existing tunnels on the shield tunnel face stability was discussed. The failure mode of the shield tunnel face is an overall failure mode and similar to a wedge shape and ladder shape along the longitudinal and transverse section, respectively. The critical support force ratio is approximately 4.5%. The relative vertical and horizontal distance have significant influences on failure mode, while the influence of burial depth and overlapping angles are not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) intervention could decrease the incidence of preeclampsia and other maternal and fetal outcomes among pregnant women with autoimmune disorders. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane databases were searched from inception until January 2022. Data on maternal or fetal outcomes of the control and hydroxychloroquine treatment groups were gathered and analyzed. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined. Cochran's Q test, I2 statistics, leave-one-out analysis, Baujat plot analysis, GOSH plot analysis, and multivariable meta-regression were applied to assess between-study heterogeneity. The meta-analysis was performed using the Stata V.16.1 software. Baujat plot analysis and GOSH plot analysis were performed using the R V.4.0.0 software. Our study included 21 cohort studies and one case–control study with a total of 3948 pregnancies with immune disorders. HCQ treatment significantly reduced the incidence of preeclampsia (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.33–0.63, p = 0.000, I2 3.68%). After outlier omission, HCQ treatment significantly reduced the incidence of premature delivery (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.73–0.96, p = 0.01, I2 44.81%) in pregnant women with autoimmune disorders. In sub-group analysis, HCQ also significantly reduced the incidence of gestational hypertension (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.26–0.68, p = 0.001, I2 49.33%) and preterm birth (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.48–0.82, p = 0.001, I2 27.63%) in pregnant women with lupus. The heterogeneity of the findings mentioned above was low to moderate. There were no significant differences in the risk of other outcomes, including gestational diabetes, HELLP syndrome, thrombosis, spontaneous abortion, fetal loss, small for gestational age infant (SGA), low birth weight, stillbirth, APGAR score < 7, and congenital malformation. This meta-analysis indicated that HCQ treatment could significantly decrease the incidence of preeclampsia and premature delivery in pregnant women with autoimmune disorders. In addition, HCQ could reduce the risk of gestational hypertension in pregnant lupus patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) are critical regulators of the biological activities of insulin-like growth factors. The IGFBP family plays diverse roles in different types of cancer, which we still lack comprehensive and pleiotropic understandings so far. Methods: Multi-source and multi-dimensional data, extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Oncomine, Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) was used for bioinformatics analysis by R language. Immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR were performed to validate the results of the database analysis results. Bibliometrics and literature review were used for summarizing the research progress of IGFBPs in the field of tumor. Results: The members of IGFBP gene family are differentially expressed in various cancer types. IGFBPs expression can affect prognosis of different cancers. The expression of IGFBPs expression is associated with multiple signal transduction pathways. The expression of IGFBPs is significantly correlated with tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, tumor stemness and tumor immune microenvironment. The qRT-PCR experiments verified the lower expression of IGFBP2 and IGFBP6 in gastric cancer and the lower expression of IGFBP6 in colorectal cancer. Immunohistochemistry validated a marked downregulation of IGFBP2 protein in gastric cancer tissues. The keywords co-occurrence analysis of IGFBP related publications in cancer showed relative research have been more concentrating on the potential of IGFBPs as tumor diagnostic and prognostic markers and developing cancer therapies. Conclusions: These findings provide frontier trend of IGFBPs related research and new clues for identifying novel therapeutic targets for various cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of highly efficient robust electrocatalysts with low overpotential and industrial‐level current density is of great significance for CO2 electroreduction (CO2ER), however the low proton transport rate during the CO2ER remains a challenge. Herein, a porous N‐doped carbon nanofiber confined with tin‐nitrogen sites (Sn/NCNFs) catalyst is developed, which is prepared through an integrated electrospinning and pyrolysis strategy. The optimized Sn/NCNFs catalyst exhibits an outstanding CO2ER activity with the maximum CO FE of 96.5%, low onset potential of −0.3 V, and small Tafel slope of 68.8 mV dec−1. In a flow cell, an industrial‐level CO partial current density of 100.6 mA cm−2 is achieved. In situ spectroscopic analysis unveil the isolated SnN site acted as active center for accelerating water dissociation and subsequent proton transport process, thus promoting the formation of intermediate *COOH in the rate‐determining step for CO2ER. Theoretical calculations validate pyrrolic N atom adjacent to the SnN active species assisted reducing the energy barrier for *COOH formation, thus boosting the CO2ER kinetics. A Zn‐CO2 battery is designed with the cathode of Sn/NCNFs, which delivers a maximum power density of 1.38 mW cm−2 and long‐term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tunnelling-induced ground deformation can be affected by the existing tunnel(s) in overlapped tunnels construction, especially when the existing tunnel is in operation. Therefore, the effect of subway train vibration loads on the ground movement induced by overlapped shield tunnelling is needed to further investigate. In this study, model tests and numerical simulations were conducted to investigate ground deformation caused by overlapped tunnelling while taking subway train vibration loads into account. The research results indicated that with increasing tunnel clearance, the settlement trough appeared to be a much steeper U-shape. At d/D = 0.5, the maximum ground settlement increased by 37.5% along the transverse section and 30.6% along the longitudinal section compared to the case of the vibration-free condition. As d/D increased from 0.5 to 1.0, the maximum value of ground settlement decreased by 34.1% along the transverse section and 31.25% along the longitudinal section. The ground lateral displacement appeared to be biconcave and flattened with increasing d/D. Based on the test results, a model was introduced to predict the ground settlement induced by overlapped tunnelling coupled with vibration loads in subway train. The findings in this study will help evaluate the ground deformation caused by overlapped tunnelling considering vibration loads of subway train in operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the potential factors that predict the risk of preterm birth (PTB) in pregnancies with a short cervix. These factors were used to create nomogram, which might be highly sensitive tools to predict the incidence of PTB. This retrospective cohort study enrolled pregnancies with a short cervix from 1 January 2017 to 1 January 2018. The primary outcomes were preterm birth <37 and 34 weeks. Logistic regression model was used to identify potential predictors of PTB. The identified risk factors were used to establish nomograms, which were validated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve. In the multivariate analysis, overweight or obesity, parity ≧3 times, twin pregnancy, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), gestational age at first observation of short cervix, cervical length (CL) at first observation of short cervix, history of PTB, and autoimmune disease were found to be predictors of PTB <37 weeks, while twin pregnancy, gestational age at first observation of short cervix, CL of short cervix, history of PTB, and prepregnancy hypertension were predictors of PTB <34 weeks. The area under the ROC curve of the nomogram predicting PTB <37 weeks and PTB <34 weeks were 0.803 and 0.771, respectively. Both models showed good discrimination Gestational age at first observation of short cervix, CL of short cervix and other factors are strong predictors of PTB in pregnancies with a short cervix. Both nomograms showed good discrimination and calibration, and hence might be effective in predicting PTB for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giardiasis is a common waterborne zoonotic disease caused by Giardia intestinalis. Upon infection, Giardia releases excretory and secretory products (ESPs) including secreted proteins (SPs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs). Although the interplay between ESPs and intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) has been previously described, the functions of EVs in these interactions and their differences from those of SPs require further exploration. In the present study, EVs and EV-depleted SPs were isolated from Giardia ESPs. Proteomic analyses of isolated SPs and EVs showed 146 and 91 proteins, respectively. Certain unique and enriched proteins have been identified in SPs and EVs. Transcriptome analysis of Caco-2 cells exposed to EVs showed 96 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with 56 upregulated and 40 downregulated genes. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) indicated that Caco-2 genes related to metabolic processes, the HIF-1 signaling pathway, and the cAMP signaling pathway were affected. This study provides new insights into host-parasite interactions, highlighting the potential significance of EVs on IECs during infections. [Display omitted] • Giardia extracellular vesicles (EVs) and secreted proteins (SPs) displayed different proteomic profiles. • Changes in gene expression in Caco-2 cells exposed to EVs were explored. • EVs induced transcriptional changes in genes related to metabolic processes, and the HIF-1 and cAMP signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple but robust strategy of ball milling (20 Hz, 30 Hz for 30 s, 60 s, 120 s, 180 s) was utilized to modify bamboo shoots fiber (BSDF) in shrimp surimi. The water holding capacity, swelling capacity, and oil binding capacity of 30 Hz-60 s milled BSDF exhibited the highest values of 5.61 g/g, 3.13 mL/g, and 6.93 g/g, significantly higher (P < 0.05) than untreated one (3.65 g/g, 2.03 mL/g, 4.57 g/g). Ball-milled BSDF exhibited a small-sized structure with the relative crystallinity decreased from 40.44 % (control) to 11.12 % (30 Hz-180 s). The myosin thermal stability, gelation properties of surimi were significantly enhanced by incorporating 20 Hz-120 s and 30 Hz-60 s BSDF via promoting protein unfolding, covalent hydrophobic interactions, and hydrogen bonding. A matrix-reinforcing and water entrapping effect was observed, exhibiting reinforced networks with down-sized water tunnels. However, BSDF modified at 180 s contributed to over-aggregated networks with fractures and enlarged gaps. Appropriate ball-milled BSDF (20 Hz-120 s, and 30 Hz-60 s) resulted in a significant decrease in α -helix (P < 0.05), accompanied by an increase of β -sheets and β -turn. This work could bring some insights into the applications of modified BSDF and its roles in the gelation of surimi-based food. • Characterization of bamboo shoots dietary fiber (BSDF) modified by ball milling is discussed. • Ball milling reduced the crystalline region and enhanced the hydration of BSDF. • Modified BSDF contributed to hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions of surimi. • Compact and integral gel matrix with modified BSDF was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To modulate immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and overcome the cancerous resistance to chemotherapy for effectively tumor killing, the novel nano-assemblies were developed for tumor chemo-immunotherapy. The broken of polydopamine (PDA) sensitized the tumor cells for reducing the tumor resistance against doxorubicin (DOX) and effectively induced immunogenic tumor cell death (ICD), respectively. The neo-antigen generated by the ICD effect in situ could be greatly presented by the simvastatin (SIM) activated dendritic cells (DCs) for specific T cells production. [Display omitted] • To modulate immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and overcome the cancerous resistance to chemotherapy for effectively tumor killing, the SIM@NPs-PDA/DOX nano-assemblies, was developed to sequentially delivery doxorubicin (DOX), polydopamine (PDA) and simvastatin (SIM) for tumor chemo-immunotherapy. • The nano-assemblies were made of two kinds of lipopolymer, PDA-conjugated DSPE-PEG and DOX-absorbed DSPE-PEG. The SIM was subsequently loaded into the hydrophobic core during the self-assembling process. • The PDA was found the function of sensitizing the tumor cells for reducing the tumor resistance against DOX by deactivating AKT signaling pathway. • The neo-antigen generated by the immunogenic tumor cell death (ICD) effect in situ could be greatly presented by the SIM activated dendritic cells (DCs) for specific T cells production. The combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy is the first line treatment for many cancers. However, resistance to chemotherapy is a common phenomenon, as well as the failure of antigen presentation and T cell infiltration are the fundamental obstacle for effective combined oncotherapy. Many studies have clarified the importance of increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) in reducing multidrug resistance (MDR) by disrupting oxidative balance and activating signaling pathways. Here, to modulate immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and overcome the cancerous resistance to chemotherapy for effectively tumor killing, the SIM@NPs-PDA/DOX nano-assemblies, was developed to sequentially delivery doxorubicin (DOX), polydopamine (PDA) and simvastatin (SIM) for tumor chemo-immunotherapy. When the nano-assemblies penetrated into tumor TME, PDA and DOX were released by the hypoxia and low acid condition of TME, which sensitized the tumor cells for reducing the tumor resistance against DOX and effectively induced immunogenic tumor cell death (ICD), respectively. The neo-antigen generated by the ICD effect in situ could be greatly presented by the SIM activated dendritic cells (DCs) for specific T cells production. Simultaneously, the released DOX was also expected to kill tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) for enhancing the specific T cell infiltration. In B16F10 and MCF-7 tumor cells with acquired drug resistance and relevant tumor models, the designed nano-assemblies showed powerful anti-tumor effects by reducing MDR, killing cancer cells and TAMs, promoting CD8+ T cells activation and infiltration. This study provides a novel nano-assemblies for effective onco-immuno-chemotherapy by overcoming cancer multidrug resistance and immuno-depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Antioxidant activity has been found in fermented fish sauce. In this experiment, the properties of endogenous protease and antioxidant activity were studied in anchovy sauce during fermentation. The correlation between protease activity and antioxidant activity in fermented anchovy sauce was analyzed using the partial least squares (PLS) method. RESULTS: The results showed that at least four proteases were present in the endogenous enzyme solution, and the optimum pH values were 2.5, 5.5, 9.0, and 12.5, respectively. The maximum inhibition rate of endogenous protease, from high to low, was: serine protease inhibitor > trypsin inhibitor > aspartic protease inhibitor (pepsin inhibitor) > cysteine protease inhibitor > metalloprotease inhibitor. At the sixth month of fermentation, fish sauce had stronger trypsin, pepsin‐like activity, and antioxidant activity. At the ninth month of fermentation, the cathepsin activity was greater. A model correlating changes in protease activity with antioxidant activity suggested that the trypsin and serine protease were the main factors affecting antioxidant activity. CONCLUSION: This study reports a model correlating changes in protease activity with the antioxidant activity of fish sauce. It lays a foundation for further exploration of the formation of antioxidant substances and antioxidant effects during the process of fish sauce fermentation. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ranking, evaluation, and the determination of the lower limit of physical properties (PPLL) are critical for selecting the sweet spots of tight reservoirs. This study investigated the tight reservoirs in the Longfengshan area in the southern Songliao Basin. Based on reservoir evaluation, this study determined the ranking criteria and the PPLL of tight sandstone reservoirs. The results are as follows. (1) Tight sandstone reservoirs can be divided into I, II, and III types based on the energy storage parameter and pore structure. Reservoirs with a porosity of > 6% are I-type reservoirs. The reservoirs of this type have high accumulation and seepage capacities, and their pore structures feature low displacement pressure and high structure coefficients. Reservoirs with a porosity of < 4% are III-type reservoirs. The reservoirs of this type have low accumulation and seepage capacities, and their pore structures feature high displacement pressure and low structure coefficients. The remaining reservoirs are II-type reservoirs. (2) The PPLL (denoted by porosity) of tight sandstone reservoirs was determined to be 2.50% using the water film thickness method and the minimum pore throat radius method. The water film thickness method, which comprehensively considers the geological factors including formation temperature, formation pressure, and the adsorption capacity of minerals, is innovative to a certain degree. As verified by the test data from the major exploration wells drilled in the Longfengshan area, the ranking criteria of tight reservoirs proposed in this study are effective and highly applicable and thus serve as effective guidance on the future exploration of the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is the standard of care for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma and selected patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. However, TACE does not achieve a satisfactory objective response rate, and the concept of TACE refractoriness has been proposed to identify patients who do not fully benefit from TACE. Moreover, repeated TACE is necessary to obtain an optimal and sustained anti-tumour response, which may damage the patient's liver function. Therefore, studies have recently been performed to improve the effectiveness of TACE. In this review, we summarise the detailed molecular mechanisms associated with TACE responsiveness and relapse after this treatment to provide more effective targets for adjuvant therapy while helping to improve TACE regimens. The graphical abstract of this review. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • SDZ was degraded in 5 min with the removal rate remaining at 78.2 % after 4 cycles. • Defect structures of the catalyst act as the active site to promote ROS production. • SDZ degradation involves synergistic effects of free radicals and non-free radicals. • Nitrogen-oxygen vacancies provide abundant local electrons for DO to form •O 2 −. This study utilized corn straw as the feedstock to synthesize biochar (BC) loaded with cobalt-zeolitic imidazolate framework nanoparticles and boron nitride quantum dots. The prepared BC composite, named BN 3 Z 0.5 BC, efficiently activated peracetic acid (PAA), resulting in the degradation of 94.8% of sulfadiazine (SDZ) in five minutes. Compared to pure BC, the SDZ removal rate increased nearly 5-fold. Mechanism analysis revealed that the main degradation pathway involves synergism between free and non-free radicals. The defect structure on the BC surface possesses a high charge density, stimulating PAA to produce more active species, while nitrogen–oxygen vacancy formation significantly promotes charge transfer. Besides, the unique structure of BC ensures good stability and recyclability, effectively controlling metal leaching. The BN 3 Z 0.5 BC/PAA system shows promising applicability across various water matrices, indicating a favorable application outlook. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Microplastics (>1 μm) were detected in chemical reagents, with the largest proportion at 1–5 μm. • Microplastics in chemical reagents were mainly from the reagent bottles and stoppers. • Batch and purity of reagents had little effect on the abundance of microplastics in chemical reagents. • Abundant nanoplastics (PE, PP) were also detected in chemical reagents based on Py-GCMS. There is an increasing concern about the potential effects of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics on human health and other organisms. For the separation and detection of MPs, there are various approaches, and the distinct procedures led to different results. However, the presence of MPs in the reagents was not addressed, which could cause false and/or inaccurate results during MPs detection. In this study, the chemical reagents commonly used for the separation and detection of MPs were selected to ascertain whether these reagents introduce MPs. It was shown that a large number of MPs were detected in the reagent and solvent samples. The largest number of MPs (>1 μm) was detected in the KOH reagent, with the abundance of 3070 items/g. The order of MPs abundance in the selected reagents was: KOH > NaCl > CaCl 2 > SDS > NaI > H 2 O 2. The types of MPs were the same as the body and stopper of the reagent packaging bottles. MPs size detected in reagent bottles was primarily smaller than 10 μm. The abundance of MPs in the reagents were independent of their purity, however, there was a certain difference in MPs abundance in reagents from different manufacturers. Furthermore, the presence of nanoplastics (< 1 μm) was verified in the reagents through Py-GCMS, with the abundance (39.47–43.01 mg/kg) higher than that of MPs. The obtained results in this study raised specific requirements and cautions for MPs and nanoplastics related research in terms of quality control. Also, this work can facilitate a more accurate assessment of MPs concentrations in the environment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is the primary medication in the treatment of pregnancy with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) for its efficacy and safety. However, the effect of HCQ on preeclampsia prevention remains controversial. Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether HCQ has an effect on preeclampsia prevention and other pregnancy outcomes among lupus pregnancy. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 119 pregnant women with SLE. After the propensity score matching of baseline characteristics, the population was divided into the HCQ treatment group and HCQ nontreatment group. Then, we compared the preeclampsia and other pregnancy outcomes between HCQ treatment and nontreatment groups. Furthermore, we combined our data and previous studies for a meta-analysis. Results: In our data, HCQ did not increase the risk of premature rupture of membranes, bleeding during pregnancy, preeclampsia, intrauterine distress, gestational age at delivery, preterm birth, and postpartum hemorrhage. There was no significant association between HCQ treatment and preeclampsia prevention. Besides, the meta-analysis showed a similar result that HCQ did not significantly decrease the rate of preeclampsia (RR = 0.61, 95%CI = 0.34–1.11). Conclusion: This study found that HCQ treatment was safe, but did not significantly reduce preeclampsia among lupus pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Biochar loaded by CoFe 2 O 4 composite was high-efficient in peracetic acid activation. • Biochar and Fe(IV), Co(IV) were conductive to 1O 2 production in TCH degradation. • 10 mg/L TCH could be nearly degraded at 60 seconds via 1O 2 in CFB-2/PAA system. Corn straw and sludge-derived biochar composite (BC) loaded with CoFe 2 O 4 was successfully prepared to activate peracetic acid (PAA) for efficient degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). Within 60 s, 96 % TCH removal efficiency was achieved through a non-free radical degradation pathway, primarily driven by singlet oxygen (1O 2). The mechanism involves the electron-rich groups on the biochar surface, which facilitate the cleavage of the PAA O O bond to generate •O 2 −/1O 2 and provide electrons to induce the formation of high-valent Fe(IV) and Co(IV). The oxygen vacancies on the surface of the CoFe 2 O 4 -loaded biochar composite (CFB-2) contribute partially to 1O 2 production through their transformation into a metastable intermediate with dissolved oxygen. Moreover, elevated temperatures further enhance PAA activation by CFB-2, leading to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production through PAA decomposition, thereby promoting TCH removal. This study offers new insights into the catalysis of metal-loaded biochar for efficient TCH degradation via non-free radical generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elaborately construct a novel and efficient photothermal antibacterial nanoplatform is a promising strategy for treating bacterial wound infections. In this work, a composite hydrogel (CS/AM NSs hydrogel) with outstanding antibacterial ability is constructed by incorporating antimonene nanosheets (AM NSs) with extraordinary photothermal properties into the network structure of chitosan (CS). When cultured with bacteria, the CS/AM NSs hydrogel can gather bacteria on the surface through the interaction of CS with the bacterial cell membrane. Subsequently, the intrinsic bactericidal property of CS will kill some of the bacteria. After the introduction of near‐infrared laser, the AM NSs effectively convert light energy into localized heat to eliminate residual bacteria. By virtue of the synergistic action between the capture effect of CS and the photothermal effect of AM NSs, the CS/AM NSs hydrogel shows predominant antibacterial behavior against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In vitro assay and in vivo tests of infected full‐thickness defect wound healing confirm the satisfactory biocompatibility and antibacterial ability. Overall, this work reveals that the CS/AM NSs hydrogel holds great potential as a broad‐spectrum antibacterial wound dressing for treating bacteria‐infected wounds. Additionally, this is the first report of the application of AM NSs in the field of antibacterial treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat bran is an abundant source of cellulose and is still going to waste because of the lack of knowledge about its further exploitation and comprehensive utilisation. Here, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were prepared from wheat bran via sulfuric acid hydrolysis. The effects of hydrolysis time on the morphology, surface charge, yield, structure, thermal stability, physicochemical properties, and cytotoxicity of CNC were investigated. Results showed that non-cellulosic components were extensively removed by the purification process. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that the obtained CNC displayed a needle-like shape with various dimensions. Zeta potential values of the CNC suspensions ranged from −36.5 to −39.8 mV. A hydrolysis time of 60 min resulted in CNC with the highest crystallinity (70.32%). The thermal stability of CNC shifted to lower temperature with increasing hydrolysis time. In addition, the obtained CNC exhibited interesting physicochemical properties (the water/oil retention capacities and the adsorption capacities to heavy metals) and good biocompatibility, suggesting their great potential as reinforcement for the manufacture of nanocomposites. • Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were successfully prepared from wheat bran. • The aspect ratio of CNC increased with acid hydrolysis time. • The water/oil retention capacities of CNC were investigated. • CNC exhibited excellent adsorption capacities to heavy metals. • CNC showed no obvious cytotoxicity to Caco-2 cells at 1000 μg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From connected sensors in soils, on animals or crops, and on drones, to various software and services that are available, "smart" technologies are changing the way farming is carried out. These technologies allow producers to look beyond what the eye can see by collecting non-traditional data and then using analytics tools to improve both food sustainability and profitability. "Smart Agriculture/farming" (SA) or "Digital Agriculture" (DA), often used interchangeably, refer to precision agriculture that is thus connected in a network of sensing and acting. It is a concept that employs modern information technologies, precision climate information, and crop/livestock developmental information to connect production variables to increase the quantity and quality of agricultural and food products. This is achieved by measuring and analyzing variables accurately, feeding the information into the cloud from edge devices, extracting trends from the various data, and subsequently providing information back to the producer in a timely manner. Smart agriculture covers many disciplines, including biology, mechanical engineering, automation, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and information technology-digital platforms. Minimum standards have been proposed for stakeholders with the aim to move toward this highly anticipated and ever-changing revolution. These foundational standards encompass the following general categories, including precise articulation of objectives, and baseline standards for the Internet of Things (IoT), including network infrastructure (e.g., stable 4G or 5G networks or a wireless local area network (WLAN) are available to end users). To sum up, SA aims to improve production efficiency, enhance the quality and quantity of agricultural products, reduce costs, and improve the environmental footprint of the industry. SA's ecosystem should be industry self-governed and collaboratively financed. SA stakeholders and end-users' facilities should meet standard equipment requirements, such as sensor accuracy, end data collectors, relevant industry compliant software, and trusted data analytics. The SA user is willing to be part of the SA ecosystem. This short perspective aims to summarize digital/smart agriculture concept in plain language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CRISPR/Cas9 system is widely used to manipulate viral genomes. Although Alphaherpesvirinae genomes are large and complicated to edit, in recent years several Pseudorabies virus (PRV) mutants have been successfully generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. However, the application of CRISPR/Cas9 editing on another member of alpha herpesviruses, bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), is rarely reported. This paper reports a rapid and straightforward approach to manipulating herpesviruses genome using CRISPR/Cas9. The recombinant plasmids contained the left and right arm of the thymidine kinase (TK) gene of PRV or of the glycoprotein I (gI) and glycoprotein E (gE) of BHV-1. Upon the cleavage of the TK or gIgE gene by Cas9 protein, this was replaced by the enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) by homologous recombination. With this approach, we generated recombinant TK-/eGFP+ PRV and gIgE-/eGFP+ BHV-1 mutants and then proceeded to characterize their biological activities in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, we showed that alpha herpesvirus, including PRV and BHV-1, can be rapidly edited using the CRISPR/Cas9 approach paving the way to the development of animal herpesvirus vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hg (II) decreased the content of α-helix of croaker myosin. • The croaker myosin particles length increased after adding Hg (II). • The quenching between croaker myosin and Hg (II) was static quenching. • Hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces were the main forces in complex formation. Heavy metals have long biological half-lives and are therefore a major threat to aquatic organisms, especially fish. Divalent mercury (Hg(II)) is an important form from a toxicological viewpoint. In this paper, we studied the interaction mechanism between large yellow croaker myosin and Hg(II) by multi-spectroscopies and molecular docking. Hg(II) had a positive effect on improving the elasticity of myosin gel, and the constant increase of charge would destroy the gel. Hg(II) caused myosin to aggregate, and the protein's apparent structure rapidly increased in length. The content of α-helix obviously decreased, β-turns and β-sheet increased. The myosin and Hg(II) quenching type was static quenching. Thermodynamic analysis suggested hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces were the main forces for the combination. The molecular docking further confirmed the mechanism of action. This study provides a theoretical guidance for the preventions and control of marine heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the present work, highly sensitive Raman detection of nitenpyram using superhydrophobic filter paper as substrates is introduced. The process is simple, and efficient. By sequentially coating silver dendrites and Octyltrimethoxysilane (OTMOS) on filter paper, we produced highly active surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates which show advancing and receding water contact angles of θ A / θ R = 159°/156°. Nitenpyram, a type of pesticides popularly used in agriculture, can be easily detected with the detection limit as low as 1 nM using the superhydrophobic filter paper as SERS substrates, which validates their use in Raman applications. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Sensitive and flexible SERS substrates based on silver dendrites-decorated filter paper are fabricated with great ease. • The SERS-active substrates show excellent water repellency with a sliding angle of ∼2°. • The substrate can detect nitenpyram with the LOD of ∼1 nM and the Raman AEF of ∼3.4 × 107. • The SERS substrate can be easily used to detect trace nitenpyram on fruits with high sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Silicon quantum dots show excellent selectivity to hydroquinone. • A highly selective and sensitive fluorescent probe for hydroquinone was developed. • The fluorescent probe can eliminate the interference from catechol and resorcinol. • The electron transfer and inner filter effect led to the fluorescence quenching. Abstract Hydroquinone (HQ) is a major phenol compound pollutant derived from industrial wastewater. Its content in environmental water is closely related to the water quality. Thus, it is in great need to develop facile, sensitive and selective detection methods for HQ. In this paper, an effective and selective HQ detection probe was fabricated based on novel silicon quantum dots (SiQDs), which were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method. Such SiQDs exhibited good water solubility and intensely green fluorescence. Interestingly, their fluorescence can be significantly quenched upon addition of HQ, which is attributed to the electron transfer from SiQDs to the generated 1,4-benzoquinone, and the inner filter effect of SiQDs-1,4-benzoquinone complex. This SiQD probe can detect HQ in a wide concentration range from 6 to 100 μM, with a detection limit of 2.63 μM. More importantly, compared with other reported methods, this probe can eliminate the interference from catechol (CC) and resorcinol (RS), and gives new insight on the discrimination HQ from its isomers. Furthermore, this fluorescent probe was also successfully applied for the determination of HQ in real water samples with satisfactory recoveries, indicating the reliability and potential application of this fluorescent probe for monitoring HQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Adding sponge into CAnSMBR could increase nitrate removal efficiency. • Sponge could adsorb EPS and minimize membrane fouling in SAnSMBR. • Protein-like components of SMP were more vital for membrane fouling. • Less SMP and longer operational cycle was found in the SAnSMBR. Abstract This paper investigated a strategy to minimize membrane fouling and increase treatment efficiency through an investigation of a specific approach by adding sponges into a conventional submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (CAnSMBR). During the operation, the protein-based soluble microbial products as the main factor affecting the membrane fouling could be reduced by sponge addition in the CAnSMBR (SAnSMBR). Furthermore, reducing HRT from 18 h to 12 h could shorten the membrane fouling cycle to 62% and 87% in CAnSMBR and SAnSMBR, respectively. At the initial of COD/NO 3 ratio ranges from 5 to 4, only 88% of nitrogen in CAnSMBR was removed, while the SAnSMBR could remove more than 90%. TOC removal efficiency could reach more than 95% under a good stirring scenario. It is evident that the SAnSMBR is a promising solution for improving overall CAnSMBR performance and substantially mitigating membrane fouling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The p-block elements are evaluated as axial ligands of single-atom Mo for highly efficient two-electron CO 2 reduction reaction. [Display omitted] • Single-atom Mo modified by 20 p-block elements as axial ligands was studied by first-principles calculation. • The axial ligand had a significant effect on adsorption strength of Mo atom for CO 2 RR intermediates. • Ge-MoN 4 exhibited the best performance in the two-electron CO 2 RR. • The CO 2 RR activity was related to the inherent properties of the axial ligands. Inspired by the structure of molybdenum-based metalloenzymes with high CO 2 conversion efficiency in nature, the catalytic performance of a series of modified MoN 4 for two-electron CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) was systematically studied using first-principles calculations. The effect of 20 p-block elements as axial ligands on the structure of MoN 4 was evaluated. Benefiting from the significant effect of the axial ligands on the adsorption strength of Mo for intermediates, both activity and selectivity were improved, especially Ge-MoN 4 exhibited the best performance in the formic acid (HCOOH) pathway. The orbital hybridization between Mo and the intermediate was weakened to varying degrees by axial ligands. Furthermore, the activity of the catalysts was related to the properties of the axial ligands, especially the Mo-N bond length and the electronegativity difference between Mo and the axial ligands. This work provides a thorough understanding and guidance for modifying the coordination environment of single-atom catalysts for CO 2 RR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the double-edged effect of curcumin (Cur) on Maillard reaction (MR) in model milk pasteurization process was demonstrated for the first time, where Cur inhibits MR at low concentrations (<5 μg/mL), while promotes it at high concentrations (>5 μg/mL). A nanocapsule strategy was introduced to resolve the disadvantages of Cur on MR at high temperature. In vitro experiments confirmed that curcumin @ polyvinylpyrrolidone nanocapsules (Cur@PVP NCs) synthesized by a one-pot method can control the continuous and slow release of Cur and exert inhibitory effect on MR by competing with lactose for casein, trapping the reactive dicarbonyl compounds and scavenging ROS, which might provide a new strategy for the application of functional food ingredients in the control of MR during food heat processing, including milk pasteurization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The quenching between BSA and Syr was mainly static quenching. • The interaction mechanism of BSA and Syr was studied by molecular simulation. • The formation of Syr - BSA complexes was confirmed by molecular dynamics simulation. • The QSAR of Syr and its analogues were studied. Syringaldehyde (Syr) is a natural product with significant biological activities. This study investigated the interaction mechanism of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and Syr through multi-spectroscopies and molecular simulation. The spectroscopy results indicated the binding mechanism of BSA and Syr was static quenching, and the microenvironment of Trp and Tyr residues had changed. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the hydrogen bond and van der Waals force were the main force during the formation of the BSA-Syr complex. The BSA secondary structure changed, and protein became disordered and aggregated with each other with the adding of Syr. Molecular simulation illustrated the Syr mainly bound Trp 213 and Ser 343 of BSA, and formed stable complexes in vivo. It provides guidance for further obtaining highly active Syr analogs. In conclusion, our research provides a theoretical direction for the practical application of Syr and a proposed framework for improving phenolic compounds utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, many methods are used to determine the lower limits of physical properties (PPLLs) of tight sandstone reservoirs, such as empirical statistics, oil occurrence, and logging parameter crossplots, but the accuracy with which these methods obtain the lower limit of physical properties depends entirely on the number of test production data, and they are not suitable for tight sandstone reservoirs with a low degree of exploration and a lack of prediction. Compared to these mature methods, it can be concluded that the water-film-thickness-based method, which integrates factors such as formation temperature, formation pressure, mineral wettability, and formation water salinity, can characterize PPLLs using the minimum pore throat radius for hydrocarbon migration, which has a better theoretical basis and technical advantages. However, the water-film thickness is not a fixed value and cannot be directly measured in the laboratory. The molecular simulation method, known as a computational microscope, has become an effective means of investigating nano effects. By accurately investigating the interactions between rock minerals and the formation of water on atomic and molecular scales based on increasingly improved studies of the molecular force field, this method can overcome the deficiencies of the laboratory study of water films and precisely characterize the water films' thickness. The intersection of molecular simulation and geology can bring about new methods and new research ideas for determining the lower limit of the physical properties of tight sandstone reservoirs and has broad application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fluorescein acted as a response signal and rhodamine B acted as a reference signal. • Zein/RhB-Flu label displayed a sensitive fluorescent color change for biogenic amine. • Zein/RhB-Flu label showed excellent reusability and stability. • Fluorescent label realized accurate, visual, in situ detection of shrimp freshness. A zein-based film functionalized with fluorescent dyes was constructed for visual, real-time monitoring of seafood freshness. The addition of fluorescent dyes had no significant effect on the mechanical property or water sensitivity of the zein-based film, and the fluorescent film exhibited dual emission response. When exposed to ammonia, fluorescein fluorescence increased whilst the fluorescence of rhodamine B was undisturbed. The fluorescent film presented a clearly distinguishable color transition from pink to green. Sample detection tests showed the fluorescent film served successfully as a response label for on-site visual detection of seafood freshness. Development of this intelligent fluorescent film provides a new platform for food safety and quality monitoring, benefiting economic value and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of energy conservation and emission reduction in China requires the specific and accurate evaluation of the energy efficiency of the industry sector because this sector accounts for 70 percent of China's total energy consumption. Previous studies have used a “black box” DEA (data envelopment analysis) model to obtain the energy efficiency without considering the inner structure of the industry sector. However, differences in the properties of energy utilization (final consumption or intermediate conversion) in different industry departments may lead to bias in energy efficiency measures under such “black box” evaluation structures. Using the network DEA model and efficiency decomposition technique, this study proposes an adjusted energy efficiency evaluation model that can characterize the inner structure and associated energy utilization properties of the industry sector so as to avoid evaluation bias. By separating the energy-producing department and energy-consuming department, this adjusted evaluation model was then applied to evaluate the energy efficiency of China's provincial industry sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unexpected noise generated during the process of remote sensing images formation and transmission process is a main factor undermining the images’ quality and usage. In recent years, thanks to its local self-adapting characteristics, formal normalization, and modeling flexibility, PDE has received wide attention for its image de-noising functions, thus pushing the realization of maintaining image details while successfully de-noising a new goal for remote sensing images filtering. Having firstly analyzed and discussed the TV model and M model, a modified variation-model (S model for short) based on edge adaptive guiding function is proposed in this paper. The model introduces edge adaptive guiding function based on the standard gradient into the non-linear diffusion term and re-constructed approaching term, which adaptively adjust the smooth intensity around edge and texture information-rich regions of remote sensing images. S-model does not only overcome staircase effect that is easily produced in the TV model, but also avoids losing details and texture information which is often seen in M model, it can efficiently eliminate noises, maintain a good image edge and keep texture details perfectly. The experimental results validate the effectiveness and stability of the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of isolating small flakesof atomically thin layersthrough mechanical exfoliation has triggered enormous research interestin graphene and other two-dimensional materials. For device applications,however, controlled large-area synthesis of highly crystalline monolayerswith a low density of electronically active defects is imperative.Here, we demonstrate the electrical imaging of dendritic ad-layersand grain boundaries in monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) grown by a vapor transport technique using microwave impedancemicroscopy. The micrometer-sized precipitates in our films, whichappear as a second layer of MoS2in conventional heightand optical measurements, show ∼2 orders of magnitude higherconductivity than that of the single layer. The zigzag grain boundaries,on the other hand, are shown to be more resistive than the crystallinegrains, consistent with previous studies. Our ability to map the localelectrical properties in a rapid and nondestructive manner is highlydesirable for optimizing the growth process of large-scale MoS2atomic layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An amine-response visual fluorescent tag was prepared by physical deposition. • Quantum dots with aggregation-induced emission effect acted as internal reference. • The tag can realize non-contact detection of biogenic amines. • The tag can be used for real-time and visual monitoring of seafood freshness. The method of monitoring the freshness of seafood is not satisfactory for ensuring food safety. Here, we develop a filter membrane-based smart fluorescent tag with excellent biogenic amine response, which can monitor the freshness of seafood in real time and visually. We use green fluorescent fluorescein as an indicator and red fluorescent carbon quantum dots (RQDs) with aggregation-induced emission property as an internal reference. After simple mixing, they are deposited on the commercial filter membrane by physical deposition method to prepare the fluorescent tag. When amine molecules are present, the molecular conformation of fluorescein changes and the fluorescence increases rapidly, while RQDs have no obvious response, thus achieving a clear fluorescence color response to biogenic amines. Under UV light of 254 nm and 365 nm, the fluorescent tag showed sensitive, rapid, and color-responsive to ammonia in a wide range of 250–2.5 × 104 ppm. To further verify the practical application potential, the fluorescent tag was used to monitor the freshness of shrimp and crab in situ in real time, and satisfactory results were achieved. More importantly, owing to the reversible conformational change of fluorescein, the fluorescent tag can be reused and manufactured at low cost, making it a more attractive platform for freshness monitoring in the field of food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spherical curcumin/polyvinylpyrrolidone nanocapsules (CurNC) with the improved water solubility and thermal stability than native curcumin (Cur) were synthesized. Subsequently, soy protein isolate-based pH-sensitive multifunctional packaging films reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), CurNC, CNC/CurNC, and CNC/Cur were developed for shrimp freshness detection. It was found that adding the CNC-containing agents improved the tensile strength, hydrogen bond interactions, thermal stability, and crystalline structure of the film and decreased its water solubility and water vapor and oxygen permeability. The Cur-containing agents decreased the L* (lightness/darkness) and a* (redness/greenness) values and increased the b* (yellowness/blueness) and ΔE (total color difference) values of the film. A more dense and uniform matrix of the nanocomposite films was likely responsible for delaying the release of Cur from the film matrix. Interestingly, CNC/CurNC film displayed higher antiradical scavenging activity than CNC/Cur film, as well as remarkable color responsiveness to pH changes and NH 3 presence. Moreover, the CNC/CurNC film was able to decrease the total volatile basic nitrogen of stored shrimp and visually monitor shrimp freshness in real-time. [Display omitted] • Curcumin nanocapsules (CurNC) had improved water solubility and stability than Cur. • pH-sensitive antioxidant film based on soy protein isolate was developed. • Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) delayed the release of Yu et al., 2017, 2018 curcumin from film matrix. • CNC/CurNC film showed good antioxidant activity and color response to pH and NH 3. • The film loaded with CNC/CurNC can visually monitor shrimp freshness in real-time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mechanism of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) to improve film properties was proposed. • Adding CNC restricted water mobility and improved the viscoelasticity of films. • Incorporation of CNC enhanced hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions. • CNC-induced conformational modifications promoted to form stronger film structures. • The obtained nanocomposite films can be used for pork and strawberry preservation. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) on the basic properties of soy protein isolate films, and especially to propose the corresponding formation mechanism. Tensile strength, barrier properties, and water resistance were effectively improved after the formation of nanocomposite films. Incorporating CNC could restrict water mobility and improve the viscoelastic properties of films. Appropriate content of CNC (0.50% and 0.75%) promoted the construction of a more homogeneous and compact film structure, which may be attributed to the CNC-induced conformational modifications and the enhanced hydrophobic and hydrogen-bond interactions. While excessive CNC (1.00%) was not conducive to the integrity and continuity of film structures, resulting in the weakened functional properties. The obtained films were able to decrease total viable counts and total volatile basic nitrogen of stored pork, and extend the shelf-life of strawberry. This work offers a theoretical basis for the application of CNC in packaging industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ASFV MGF100−1R was demonstrated in vitro that the gene is non-essential for virus replication. • In vivo evaluation, ASFV△MGF100-1R was inoculated intramuscularly and led to a similar pathogenesis that caused by the parental virus. • It confirmed that deletion of MGF100-1R gene from the ASFV genome does not impact virulence. African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a large nucleoplasmic DNA virus, in which the genome is around 170–198 kilobases (kb). More than 50 % genes have unknown functions. Here, MGF100-1R gene is chosen to study the primary function and sublocalization. The gene was located at the left variable region of the ASFV genome that belongs to MGF100 families. It located at the cytoplasm without cytotoxic activities. However, it related to induce the transcriptional levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. A deletion mutant of MGF100-1R gene was constructed based on ASFV Chinese strain GZ201801. The recombinant deletion mutant (ASFV△MGF100-1R) was demonstrated in vitro that the gene is non-essential for virus replication with a similar replication kinetics in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) cell cultures when compared to parental virus. In vivo evaluation, ASFV△MGF100-1R was inoculated intramuscularly and led to a similar pathogenesis that caused by the parental ASFV GZ201801, confirming that deletion of MGF100-1R gene from the ASFV genome does not impact virulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Nanozyme with high oxidase-like activity was prepared by doping Mn2+ into PCN-224. • A colorimetric and photothermal dual-mode probe was developed for OPs detection. • TMB was the common signal of colorimetric and photothermal. • The probe realized the detection of OPs in tea, brown rice, and wheat flour. • Results of the two modes can be verified mutually, thus increasing sensitivity. Herein, a novel dual-mode probe for organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) colorimetric and photothermal detection was developed based on manganese modified porphyrin metal–organic framework (PCN-224-Mn). PCN-224-Mn had excellent oxidase-like activity and oxidized colorless 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to blue–green oxidation state TMB (oxTMB), which exhibited high temperature under near-infrared irradiation. l -ascorbate-2-phosphate was hydrolyzed by acid phosphatase to produce ascorbic acid, which weakened colorimetric and photothermal signals by impacting oxTMB generation. The presence of OPs blocked the production of ascorbic acid by irreversibly inhibiting the activity of acid phosphatase, causing the restoration of chromogenic reaction and the increase of temperature. Under the optimal conditions, the probe showed a good linear response to OPs in the concentration range of 5 ∼ 10000 ng/mL, using glyphosate as the analog. The detection limits of glyphosate in colorimetric mode and photothermal mode were 1.47 ng/mL and 2.00 ng/mL, respectively. The probe was successfully used for sensitive identification of OPs residues in tea, brown rice, and wheat flour. This work proposes a simple and reliable colorimetric/photothermal platform for OPs identification, which overcomes the problem that single-mode detection probes are susceptible to external factors, and has broad application potential in the field of food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tunneling inevitably induces changes in soil stress and, hence, may adversely affect the surrounding ground and nearby existing tunnels. A model test and a series of numerical analyses were carried out to investigate the response of the ground and existing tunnels in sandy soil to nearby tunneling according to the relative spacing. The test results showed that increasing the distance-to-diameter ratio (d/D) changed the settlement trough from W-shaped to U-shaped along the transverse section. In addition, the major settlement area induced by each advancing step along the longitudinal section was within 0.75D in front of the tunnel face. The numerical results showed that the overall downward movement of the existing tunnel was due to the combined action of soil pressure and excavation unloading. In this article, the mechanism of the W-shaped surface settlement is discussed; a modified Peck formula is used to describe the W-shaped settlement trough, and the relation of typical parameters to d/D is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P -nitrophenol (PNP) has been widely applied to industry processing for many purposes, but the persistence and toxicity of residuum may pose risks to human health. To analyze PNP in industrial and agricultural wastewater, a versatile fluorescent probe sensing platform was proposed. In this work, we devised a fluorescence approach that utilized nitrogen, silicon co-doped carbon dots (N,Si-CDs) to monitor PNP originating from the inner filter effect (IFE). The N,Si-CDs were generated in a one-step hydrothermal synthesis, and which possessed outstanding fluorescence signal and water-dispersity. Emission at 441 nm was monitored with excitation at 360 nm using a common spectrofluorometer. The method achieved an exceptionally low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.011 μM. Furthermore, this method not only eliminates the interference from metal ions and acid ions, but also provides a potential application prospect for N,Si-CDs in the field of water monitoring. Analysis of tap and lake water led to 93.30–106.30% recoveries and <1% relative standard deviation at 2.5–25 μM PNP concentrations. Unlabelled Image • A novel fluorescence nanoprobe based on N,Si-CDs was designed for PNP detection. • The N,Si-CDs possessed outstanding fluorescence signal and water-dispersity. • This fluorometric assay has lower detection limit than other detection methods. • This fluorescence nanoprobe had been used to detect PNP in actual water samples with great recoveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, to prevent the spoilage of food by microbial contamination, copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuS NPs) with photothermal effect were successfully synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method and uniformly dispersed in natural carrageenan (Carr) to obtain Carr/CuS films. Photothermal-induced antibacterial testing confirmed that the Carr/CuS film has a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (99.2%) and Staphylococcus aureus (99.9%). Antibacterial test on beef also proved that near-infrared (NIR) irradiation significantly improved the antibacterial ability of the Carr/CuS film against bacteria on the food sample. In addition, compared with the Carr film, the Carr/CuS film with high transparency showed enhanced mechanical properties and thermal stability. The introduction of this NIR-induced strategy is expected to open a new way for broadening the application of antibacterial packaging. Image 1 • The Carr/CuS nanocomposite film exhibits controllable photothermal conversion effect. • The Carr/CuS photothermal film displays superior antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. • The antibacterial treatment time of this photothermal film decreased to 10 min under the 808 nm near-infrared irradiation. • The Carr/CuS nanocomposite film is almost colorless and highly transparent. • The addition of CuS NPs enhances the mechanical properties and thermal stability of carrageenan-based films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A chitosan-based aerogel embedded amino-MoS2 nanosheets were constructed. • The aerogel can be used as photothermal and adsorption agent to eliminate bacteria. • The aerogel showed prominent antibacterial properties in vitro and in vivo. The bacterial infection is one of the most common but critical problems in the wound healing process due to the general antibiotic resistance of bacteria. Hence it is increasingly necessary and urgent to develop an advanced and efficient sterilization strategy. Herein, a chitosan-based aerogel embedded amino-functionalized molybdenum disulfide nanosheets (abbreviated to CS/NMNSs) was successfully constructed through amino modification and physical assembly. Scanning electron microscopy characterizations and swelling experiments indicated that freeze-dried chitosan aerogel is provided with extremely regular sponge-like structure, high porosity, and favorable swelling property. The CS aerogel can be used as an ideal bacterial adsorption agent ascribed to its inherent positive charge. The result of antibacterial studies showed that the CS/NMNSs exhibited efficient bacterial elimination capacity via capture ability of chitosan aerogel and near infrared induced photothermal sterilization. Therefore, the CS/NMNSs have great potential in developing as a photothermal antibacterial agent in future application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop soy protein isolate (SPI)-based active nanocomposite films reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONP), CNC/ZnONP mixture (physical mixing), or CNC@ZnONP nanohybrids (in situ growth). The tensile strength, oxygen and water vapor barrier properties, water resistance ability, and thermal stability were substantially improved by the incorporation of nano reinforcements, particularly the CNC-containing agents. However, the nanocomposite films displayed a lower elongation at break, surface hydrophobicity, and transmittance compared with the pure SPI-based film. The filling effect of reinforcements and their hydrogen bonds with the film matrix contributed to the formation of a compact and homogeneous film structure. The ZnO-containing films obviously inhibited the growth of foodborne pathogens (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and also reduced the total viable counts and the total volatile basic nitrogen values in a pork sample. Furthermore, the CNC@ZnONP film prevented the migration of zinc from the film into the food system. Therefore, the obtained nanocomposite films have broad application prospects in the field of active food packaging. Image 1 • Cellulose nanocrystals@ZnO nanoparticles (CNC@ZnONP) nanohybrids were synthesized. • Soy protein isolate-based antibacterial nanocomposite films were developed. • CNC improved the tensile strength, barrier ability, and thermal stability of films. • The films containing ZnONP had potential to extend the shelf-life of fresh pork. • The CNC@ZnONP film prevented the migration of zinc from film to the food system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bacterial diversity of dry sausages was analysed by high-throughput sequencing. • L. plantarum and S. xylosus promoted the proteolysis and lipolysis in the sausages. • The inoculation with mixed strains improved the flavour of the sausages. • Growth of unwanted bacteria was inhibited in the inoculated sausages. • Flavour development was attributed to the improved microbiological quality. The use of starter cultures helps to improve the quality and safety of traditional meat products. In this study, the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum R2 and Staphylococcus xylosus A2 inoculation on microbial community, lipolysis, proteolysis, and volatile compounds in Chinese dry fermented sausages were investigated. Culture-dependent and culture-independent high-throughput sequencing) methods were employed to evaluate the bacterial communities. Results showed that the total contents of free fatty acids (FFAs) and free amino acids (FAAs) were increased by inoculating the starter cultures, especially a mixed culture. A significant decrease in pH and water activity was observed in the inoculated sausages (p < 0.05). Moreover, the inoculation treatment enhanced the competitiveness of dominant bacteria and inhibited the growth of unwanted bacteria. This was beneficial to promote the release of FFAs and FAAs and to prevent the formation of off-flavours and rancidity. Thus, the flavour development in the inoculated dry fermented sausages was attributed to the improvements in microbiological quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) strengthened heat-induced whey protein isolate gels. • CNC have good compatibility with protein matrixes at low concentrations. • Protein matrixes and CNC were combined by non-covalent interactions. • Active filling and enhanced cross-linking resulted in a stronger gel network. • CNC induced the formation of a stronger gel by concentrating protein matrixes. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were successfully prepared from wheat bran, and their effects on the gelling properties and microstructure of heat-induced whey protein isolate (WPI) gels were investigated. The results showed that the water holding capacity, gel strength, viscoelasticity, and thermal stability of the composite gels were improved by increasing the CNC concentration from 0 to 1.0 % (w/v). The incorporation of CNC restricted water mobility and facilitated conformation conversion of the secondary structure from α-helix to β-sheet. CNC has good compatibility with the protein matrixes at relatively low concentrations. At higher CNC concentrations, the agglomerated CNC can serve as an active dehydrating agent to absorb moisture in the protein matrixes, which promotes unfolding and cross-linking of the protein molecules. Moreover, the active filling effects of CNC contributed to the formation of a compact and homogeneous gel structure. Therefore, naturally sourced CNC is suggested as a potential gel modifier in food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Gallic acid serves as a green reducing agent to synthesize silver nanoparticles. • The photothermal conversion efficiency of GA-Ag NPs is as high as 48.7%. • GA-Ag NPs integrate photothermal effect with inherent antibacterial property. • GA-Ag NP hydrogel exhibits excellent broad-spectrum sterilization property. • Wound healing tests in vivo confirm the antibacterial effect and biocompatibility. Because of the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and threats of the drug resistance, bacterial wound infection remains one of the most difficult medical issues. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop novel antibacterial platforms. In this work, we successfully prepared gallic acid functional silver nanoparticles (GA-Ag NPs) by a one-pot method and then embedded them into the network structure of a biocompatible polysaccharide to obtain a novel hydrogel (GA-Ag NP hydrogel) with outstanding bactericidal effect. In this system, the embedded GA-Ag NPs not only act as an antibacterial agent sustainably released from the matrix of the hydrogel to realize sterilization, but also act as a photothermal agent that effectively and controllably converts 808 nm near-infrared ray light into heat to kill bacteria. In vitro testing verified the outstanding broad-spectrum sterilization property of the GA-Ag NP hydrogel against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In vivo wound healing experiments confirmed the practical potential of this hydrogel in combating bacterial infections and accelerating wound healing. Hemolysis and cytotoxicity experiments showed that it has good biocompatibility. The development of this novel antibacterial hydrogel opens a new way to strengthen the antimicrobial arsenal for fighting bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentration of copper ion (Cu2+) in drinking water is closely related to the water quality and human health. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a novel, efficient and selective method for the detection of Cu2+ in drinking water. In this work, natural food pigment—red beet pigment was selected as a colorimetric indicator for the detection of Cu2+, which possessed a bright color, excellent water solubility and safety. Under alkaline condition, red beet pigment reacted selectively with Cu2+ by redox reaction and chelation, resulting in a color change from purple to orange-red. After analyzing the blue (B) value of the red beet pigment solution, it could be found that there was a good linear relationship between B value and the concentration of Cu2+ in the range of 4–20 μM, with a detection limit of 0.84 μM. In addition, a smart phone application based on Android system was developed for visual detection of Cu2+ by identifying B value of the colorimetric probe solution. The feasibility of this method was successfully verified in the detection of Cu2+ in drinking water by the standard-addition method, reflecting its great potential of practical application in environment monitoring and food security controlling. The method provides a new insight for rapid detection of heavy metal ions using nature pigments. Unlabelled Image • A red beet pigment-based colorimetric probe for copper ions was developed. • The possible mechanism was oxidative dehydrogenation reaction and chelation effect. • A colorimetric analysis application was built on smartphone with Android system. • It provides a great potential for on-site detection of copper ions in drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]