Search

ABSTRACT Sliced bamboo veneer used as a high-end decoration material is a highly innovative material for the deep processing of bamboo. However, bamboo is rich in starch and small molecular soluble sugars, making it susceptible to mildew infection and limiting the wide application of sliced veneer plybamboo. Spice essential oils are considered green and safe antimildew agents, which are cheap and accessible. The natural phenolic substances in plant essential oil have a good inhibitory effect on bamboo mildew. In this study, three types of spice essential oils (clove essential oil, oregano essential oil, and fennel essential oil) were employed, and their antifungal activity against bamboo mildews was assessed using the Oxford cup method, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and a micro pH meter. The results demonstrated that the diameters of the Inhibition Zone against four common bamboo mildews (AN, Aspergillus niger; TV, Trichoderma viride; PC, Penicillium citrinum; MM, Mixed Mildews) caused by clove essential oil were 25.68 mm, 23.22 mm, 30.68 mm, and 25.43 mm, respectively. As an explanation, clove essential oil can inhibit or eliminate mildew by damaging and disrupting the cell membrane of the bamboo mildew, leading to significant shrinkage, distortion, surface roughness, formation of holes, or partial structural cracks in the mildew’s mycelium. Additionally, it may interfere with and disrupt the pH balance of the intracellular and extracellular fluids within the cell. Furthermore, we also report that sliced veneer plybamboo impregnated with clove essential oil on each layer showed fine inhibition rates of 50%, 75%, 100%, and 25% against AN, TV, PC, and MM, respectively. This research underscores a sustainable approach to mildew prevention, crucial for advancing bamboo’s utilization in high-value furniture decor applications.IMPORTANCEMildew growth in sliced veneer plybamboo poses a significant challenge, particularly in its use for high-end furniture and decor. Traditionally, chemical treatments have been the primary solution though they often raise environmental concerns. Essential oils, with their well-documented antimicrobial properties, have emerged as an important natural and eco-friendly alternative for preventing mildew. These oils inhibit mildew growth effectively while offering a sustainable, non-toxic solution that reduces harm to both the environment and human health. By leveraging essential oils, it becomes possible to extend the lifespan of bamboo products, making them more durable and suitable for broader applications in furniture and decor, all while addressing the ecological limitations of conventional mildew prevention methods.

BackgroundNarcolepsy type 1 (NT1) is primarily caused by a malfunctioning immune system in which T-cells damage the hypothalamus. To elucidate the causal relationships between biomarkers in T-cells and NT1, we employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.MethodsWe conducted a two-sample MR analysis utilizing genetically predicted T-cell traits to examine their effects on NT1. Genome-wide association study summary data were extracted from studies by Valeria (3,757 participants) for 211 T-cell traits, Ollila (6,073 cases and 84,856 controls) for NT1. The MR analysis was executed at two threshold levels. Inverse variance weighted, Wald ratio, weighted median, and MR-Egger regression methods were used for the MR analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated, and heterogeneity tests, as well as pleiotropy tests, were conducted.ResultsAfter Bonferroni correction at the significant level (p

BackgroundThe effects of heart failure (HF) on cortical brain structure remain unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the causal effects of heart failure on cortical structures in the brain using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.MethodsWe conducted a two-sample MR analysis utilizing genetically-predicted HF trait, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels to examine their effects on the cortical surface area (SA) and thickness (TH) across 34 cortical brain regions. Genome-wide association study summary data were extracted from studies by Rasooly (1,266,315 participants) for HF trait, Schmidt (36,548 participants) for LVEF, the SCALLOP consortium (21,758 participants) for NT-proBNP, and the ENIGMA Consortium (51,665 participants) for cortical SA and TH. A series of MR analyses were employed to exclude heterogeneity and pleiotropy, ensuring the stability of the results. Given the exploratory nature of the study, p-values between 1.22E−04 and 0.05 were considered suggestive of association, and p-values below 1.22E−04 were defined as statistically significant.ResultsIn this study, we found no significant association between HF and cortical TH or SA (all p > 1.22E−04). We found that the HF trait and elevated NT-proBNP levels were not associated with cortical SA, but were suggested to decrease cortical TH in the pars orbitalis, lateral orbitofrontal cortex, temporal pole, lingual gyrus, precuneus, and supramarginal gyrus. Reduced LVEF was primarily suggested to decrease cortical SA in the isthmus cingulate gyrus, frontal pole, postcentral gyrus, cuneus, and rostral middle frontal gyrus, as well as TH in the postcentral gyrus. However, it was suggested to causally increase in the SA of the posterior cingulate gyrus and medial orbitofrontal cortex and the TH of the entorhinal cortex and superior temporal gyrus.ConclusionWe found 15 brain regions potentially affected by HF, which may lead to impairments in cognition, emotion, perception, memory, language, sensory processing, vision, and executive control in HF patients.

IntroductionThe oxidative balance score (OBS) is a holistic measure that represents the overall equilibrium between prooxidants and antioxidants in one’s diet and lifestyle. Little research has been conducted on the correlation between OBS and 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk (ASCVD). Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to examine the potential correlation between OBS and 10-year risk.MethodsA total of 11,936 participants from the NHANES conducted between 2001 and 2016 were chosen for the study and their dietary and lifestyle factors were used to assess the OBS score. Logistic regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were employed in the cross-sectional study to evaluate the correlation between OBS and the 10-year ASCVD risk. The cohort study utilized Cox proportional hazards models and RCS to assess the correlation between OBS and all-causes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in individuals with high ASCVD risk.ResultsThe cross-sectional study found that the OBS (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.93–0.98), as well as the dietary OBS (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.92–0.96) and lifestyle OBS (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.69–0.79), were inversely associated with the 10-year ASCVD risk. A significant linear relationship was observed between OBS, dietary OBS, lifestyle OBS, and the 10-year ASCVD risk. The cohort study found that the OBS was inversely associated with all-cause (aHRs = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.96–0.99) and CVD (aHRs = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.93–0.98) mortality in individuals with high ASCVD risk. A significant linear correlation was observed between OBS, dietary OBS, lifestyle OBS, and all-cause and CVD mortality in participants with high ASCVD risk.ConclusionThe findings indicate that OBS, OBS related to diet, and OBS related to lifestyle were significantly inversely correlated with the 10-year ASCVD risk. Adopting a healthy eating plan and making positive lifestyle choices that result in increased OBS levels can help lower the likelihood of all-cause and CVD mortality in individuals with high ASCVD risk.

ObjectivesObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are common comorbidities that significantly impact individuals’ quality of life. However, the relationship between OSA and OA remains unclear. This study aims to explore the connection between OSA and OA and evaluate causality using Mendelian randomization (MR).MethodsA total of 12,454 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009–2012) were included. OSA participants were identified based on self-reported interviews. The association between OA and OSA was assessed through multivariable logistic regression analysis. A two-sample MR was employed to investigate the relationship between OSA and OA, specifically hip OA and knee OA, utilizing the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) approach.ResultsBased on the observational study, individuals with OSA exhibited a higher risk of OA (OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.40–1.98). IVW demonstrated that the risk of OA (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05–1.21, p = 0.001), hip OA (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.04–1.18, p = 0.002), and knee OA (OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02–1.14, p = 0.005) was significantly associated with OSA. Reverse MR analyses indicated no effect of OA on OSA. Additionally, body mass index (BMI) was found to mediate 36.9% (95% CI, 4.64–73.2%, p = 0.026) of the OSA effects on OA risk.ConclusionThe cross-sectional observational analysis unveiled noteworthy associations between OSA and OA. Meanwhile, findings from the MR study provide support for a causal role.

Mechanical thrombectomy is the gold standard in treating acute ischemic stroke complicated by large vessel occlusion. However, there are limited studies on repeated mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke. In this case, we report a 68-year-old male with atrial fibrillation who developed sudden left limb weakness and motor aphasia for 6 hours, and his National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 10. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed occlusion of the right internal carotid artery, and mechanical thrombectomy was performed immediately. The patient's neurologic disability was utterly relieved, and the NIHSS score returned to 0. At 30 hours postoperatively, he again developed left limb weakness with motor aphasia. The NHISS Score was 11, and the CTA showed that the right internal carotid artery was re-occluded. After computed tomography perfusion evaluation, the patient underwent mechanical thrombectomy again, and the etiological examination confirmed Cardioembolism. Anticoagulation therapy was commenced 1 week post-thrombectomy. The prognosis of the patients was good.

The Hosoya index is an important topological index in graph theory, which is defined as the total number of s-matchings, denoted as m(G,s), in a graph G. Therefore, computing the number of s-matchings for various molecular structures holds significant importance. By applying the concept of symmetry, defining the s-matching vector of the graph with a specified edge, using the transfer matrix, and iteratively applying two recursive formulas to derive the reduction formula, we compute the number of s-matchings of cyclooctatetraene chains.

The development of the bamboo industry has been hindered by environmental issues caused by the application of bamboo preservatives. Chinese herbal phenolic compounds have been shown to possess broad-spectrum, potent antimildew properties, making them promising candidates for the development of new bamboo mildew inhibitors. In this study, we investigated the antimildew properties of three phenolic compounds, eugenol, carvacrol, and paeonol, against common mildews in bamboo materials using the Oxford cup method and the double-dilution method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to analyze the antimildew mechanism and its effects on mildew cell morphology. Our results showed that carvacrol exhibited the strongest antimildew activity, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values of 1.56 mg/mL and 1.76 mg/mL, respectively, followed by eugenol and paeonol. At a concentration of 25 mg/mL, eugenol and carvacrol had an inhibitory rate of over 50% against various mildews. Different concentrations of the three compounds significantly disrupted the morphology and structural integrity of mildew hyphae, with the extent of damage increasing with concentration and treatment duration. In the sliced bamboo mildew prevention experiment, carvacrol at a concentration of 29.25 mg/mL was found to be highly effective against all tested mildews. Our study provides new insights and a theoretical basis for the development of eco-friendly bamboo mildew inhibitors based on plant phenolic compounds.

Neuromuscular characteristics, such as lower-limb joint strength, the ability to reuse elastic energy, and to generate force are essential factors influencing running performance. However, their relationship with running economy (RE) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlations between isokinetic lower-limb joint peak torque (PT), lower-limb stiffness, isometric force-time characteristics and RE among recreational-trained male runners. Thirty male collegiate runners (aged 20–22 years, VO2max: 54.02 ± 4.67 ml·kg−1·min−1) participated in test sessions on four separate days. In the first session, the body composition and RE at 10 km·h−1 were determined. In the second session, leg and vertical stiffness (Kleg and Kvert), knee and ankle stiffness (Kknee and Kankle) were evaluated. In the third session, isokinetic knee and ankle joint PT at velocity of 60°s−1 were tested. The force-time characteristics of isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) were evaluated in the final session. The Pearson’s product-moment correlations analysis shows that there were no significant relationships between knee and ankle joint concentric and eccentric PT, Kknee and Kankle, Kleg, and RE at 10 km·h−1. However, Kvert (r = −0.449, p < 0.05) and time-specific rate of force development (RFD) for IMTP from 0 to 50 to 0–300 ms (r = −0.434 to −0.534, p < 0.05) were significantly associated with RE. Therefore, superior RE in recreational runners may not be related to knee and ankle joint strength and stiffness. It seems to be associated with vertical stiffness and the capacity to rapidly produce force within 50–300 ms throughout the lower limb.

Ionic liquids are a class of organic molten salts that consist entirely of cations and anions. They are characterized by their low vapor pressure, low viscosity, low toxicity, high thermal stability, and strong antifungal potential. In this study, the inhibitory performance of ionic liquid cations against Penicillium citrinum, Trichoderma viride, and Aspergillus niger was investigated, along with the mechanism of cell membrane disruption. The Oxford cup method, SEM, and TEM were employed to examine the extent of damage and the specific site of action of ionic liquids on the mycelium and cell structure of these fungi. The results showed that 1-decyl-3-methylimidazole had a strong inhibitory effect on TV; benzyldimethyldodecylammonium chloride had a weak inhibitory effect on PC, TV, AN, and a mixed culture; while dodecylpyridinium chloride exhibited significant inhibitory effects on PC, TV, AN, and Mix, with more prominent effects observed on AN and Mix, exhibiting MIC values of 5.37 mg/mL, 5.05 mg/mL, 5.10 mg/mL, and 5.23 mg/mL, respectively. The mycelium of the mildews showed drying, partial loss, distortion, and uneven thickness. The cell structure showed separation of the plasma wall. The absorbance of the extracellular fluid of PC and TV reached the maximum after 30 min, while that of AN reached the maximum after 60 min. The pH of the extracellular fluid decreased initially and then increased within 60 min, followed by a continuous decrease. These findings provide important insights for the application of ionic liquid antifungal agents in bamboo, medicine, and food.

Neuromuscular characteristics, such as lower-limb joint strength and the ability to rapidly generate force, may play an important role in leg-spring stiffness regulation. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between isokinetic knee and ankle joint peak torque (PT), the force-time characteristics of isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and leg stiffness (Kleg)/vertical stiffness (Kvert) in recreationally trained runners. Thirty-one male runners were recruited and underwent three separate tests. In the first session, the body composition, Kleg, and Kvert at running speeds of 12 and 14 km⋅h–1 were measured. In the second session, isokinetic knee and ankle joint PT at 60°⋅s–1 were tested. The force-time characteristics of the IMTP were evaluated in the final session. Pearson’s product-moment correlations, with the Benjamini–Hochberg correction procedure, showed that the knee flexor concentric and eccentric and extensor concentric PT (r = 0.473–0.654, p < 0.05) were moderate to largely correlated with Kleg and Kvert at 12 and 14 km⋅h–1. The knee extensor eccentric PT (r = 0.440, p = 0.050) was moderately correlated with the 14 km⋅h–1Kvert. The ankle plantar flexor concentric and dorsiflexor eccentric PT (r = 0.506–0.571, p < 0.05) were largely correlated with Kleg at 12 km⋅h–1. The ankle plantar flexor concentric and eccentric and dorsiflexor eccentric PT (r = 0.436–0.561, p < 0.05) were moderate to largely correlated with Kvert at 12 and 14 km⋅h–1. For IMTP testing, high correlation was only found between the IMPT peak force (PF) and Kvert at 14 km⋅h–1 (r = 0.510, p = 0.014). Thus, superior leg-spring stiffness in recreational runners may be related to increased knee and ankle joint strength, eccentric muscular capacity, and maximal force production.

In order to reduce the oxidative degradation of citral, our research group modified citral with the natural antioxidant from tea polyphenols and applied it to bamboo processing to enhance the anti-mold effect of bamboo, but its application to the bamboo treatment process and the anti-mold effect is still not clear. For this reason, in this paper, the tea polyphenol-modified citral anti-mildew treatment of bamboo as well as the anti-mildew properties of bamboo were explored using the orthogonal testing method and a UV-vis spectrophotometer. The results showed that when the concentration of tea polyphenol-modified citral reached 175 mg mL−1 and above, the efficacy of the anti-mildew treated bamboo against common molds reached 100%; the improved anti-mildew treatment process parameters for bamboo were as follows: impregnation pressure 0.6 MPa, impregnation time 150 min, and tea polyphenol-modified citral concentration 200 mg mL−1. Following the tea polyphenol-modified citral anti-mildew treatment of bamboo, not only did it improve the anti-mildew properties of the bamboo materials, but it also added a fresh lemon fragrance without altering the original colour, microstructure, and chemical properties of the bamboo materials.

To reduce the oxidative degradation of citral and improve its antimildew performance, citral was modified with natural antioxidants such as tea polyphenols, ascorbic acid, and theaflavin in the present study. Additionally, the effects of these natural antioxidants on the citral degradation rate and DPPH radical-scavenging rate, as well as the effectiveness of antioxidant-modified citral in the antimildew treatment of bamboo were investigated. Ascorbic acid, theaflavin, and tea polyphenols improved the antioxidant performance of citral to some extent, and the tea polyphenols exhibited the best antioxidant performance. When the amount of tea polyphenols added to citral reached 1.0%, the oxidative degradation of citral was effectively prevented. Compared with citral, tea-polyphenol-modified citral could reduce the efficacy of the bamboo antimildew treatment against all four mildews and the effectiveness of the antimildew treatment reached 100%. Citral modification with antioxidants reduced the amount of citral required in the treatment, thereby reducing the treatment cost for bamboo mildew.

To reduce the amount of citral used without reducing the antimildew performance of bamboo, the citral compound preparation process, the distribution of the compound in bamboo, and its antimildew performance were investigated using the Oxford cup method, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The results revealed that the combination of citral with cinnamaldehyde or thymol may lead to partial chemical reactions, which may change the chemical structure of citral and affect its bacteriostatic properties. The bacteriostatic properties of the citraldehyde thymol compound against common molds of bamboo were considerably superior to those of the citral cinnamaldehyde compound. The limonaldehyde thymol compound showed a low distribution trend outside and vice versa inside in the treated bamboo. The citral thymol compound exhibited good antimildew performance at a concentration of 200 mg/mL. The citral thymol compound could reduce the amount of citral by approximately 67 mg/mL without reducing the antimildew performance of bamboo.

Presently, chemical agents remain the main antimildew agents for bamboo, which has a certain negative impact on the environment and human health. Therefore, it is urgent to develop new environment-friendly antimildew agents for bamboo. Here, citral, an environment-friendly natural antibacterial agent, was used as an antimildew agent for bamboo. The orthogonal test was used to explore the effects of citral concentration, impregnation pressure, and pressurization time on the drug loading capacity of treated bamboo strips. The effect of antimildew-treated bamboo strips on bamboo mold was also discussed. Furthermore, the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet spectrophotometer were used to investigate the distribution of citral in bamboo strips. Results showed that the optimum technological parameters of citral mildew-proof treatment of bamboo were as follows: citral concentration: 0.795 mg/ml, impregnation pressure: 0.3 MPa, and pressurization time: 90 min. Also, citral was easy to volatilize, which decreased the citral content of bamboo strips after vacuum drying and showed the trend of a lower surface layer and a higher inner layer. The concentration of citral therefore had a significant effect on the drug loading of the antimildew-treated bamboo strips. Thus, it was difficult to achieve effective prevention and control of bamboo mold when bamboo strips were impregnated with a lower concentration of citral solution. When the concentration of citral reached 200 mg/ml, the prevention and antimold efficiency of antimildew bamboo strips reached over 100%. This study will provide references for the development and application of environment-friendly natural antibacterial agents in the field of bamboo mildew prevention.

Bamboo has been widely used in architecture, decoration and other fields because of its advantages of short growth period, high strength and degradability. However, bamboo, as a combustible material like wood, are easy to burn and cause building fires. However, the existing bamboo water-based flame retardants have some shortcomings, such as strong hygroscopicity and easy loss, which limits the application of bamboo products. In order to improve the flame retardant performance of bamboo, CaAl-SiO2 layered double hydroxide (LDH) as bamboo flame retardant was synthesised by coprecipitation method. The influence of preparation technology on CaAl–SiO3–LDH structures and properties as well as the flame retardant and smoke suppression characteristics of flame retardant-treated bamboo was discussed. The results revealed that the crystallisation temperature, crystallisation time and crystallisation concentration of CaAl–SiO3–LDHs considerably affected its structure and properties. The optimum technological parameters for preparing CaAl–SiO3–LDHs by using the coprecipitation method are as follows: crystallisation temperature of 100 °C, crystallisation time of 9 h and Ca2+ solution molar concentration of 0.33 mol/L. Compared with nonflame-retardant wood, CaAl–SiO3–LDH flame retardant treatment delayed the peak time of the heat release rate by 20 s and the ignition time by 77.78% and increased the carbon residue rate by 9.54%. This study can provide reference for the research of new flame retardant for bamboo products.

In the present study, the sustained-release system loading citral was synthesised by using PNIPAm nanohydrogel as a carrier and analysed its drug-release kinetics and mechanism. Four release models, namely zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, and Peppas, were employed to fit the experimental data, and the underlying action mechanism was analysed. The optimised system was applied to treat a bamboo mould, followed by assessment of the mould-proof performance. Our experimental results revealed that the release kinetics equation of the system conformed to the first order; the higher the external temperature, the better the match was. In the release process, PNIPAm demonstrated a good protection and sustained-release effect on citral. Under the pressure of 0.5 MPa, immersion time of 120 min, and the system concentration ratio of 1, the optimal drug-loading parameters were obtained using the slow-release system with the best release parameters. Compared to the other conditions, bamboos treated with pressure impregnation demonstrated a better control effect on bamboo mould, while the control effect on Penicillium citrinum, Trichoderma viride, Aspergillus niger, and mixed mould was 100% after 28 days. Moreover, the structure and colour of bamboo remained unchanged during the entire process of mould control.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine associations between running economy (RE) and running sagittal plane kinematic and kinetic parameters. Method: A total of 30 male recreational runners (age: 21.21 ± 1.22 yr, VO2max: 54.61 ± 5.42 mL·kg-1·min-1) participated in two separate test sessions. In the first session, the participant's body composition and RE at 10 and 12 km·h-1 were measured. In the second session, measurements were taken for the sagittal plane of hip, knee, and ankle angles and range of motion (ROM), as well as ground reaction force. Results:Moderate correlations were found between lower energy costs at 12 km·h-1 and smaller hip flexion at toe-off (r = 0.373) as well as smaller peak hip flexion during stance (r = 0.397). During the swing phase, lower energy costs at 10 km·h-1 were moderately correlated with smaller peak knee flexion and smaller knee flexion and extension ROM (r = 0.366-0.443). Lower energy costs at 12 km·h-1 were moderately correlated with smaller peak hip and knee flexion as well as knee extension ROM(r = 0.369-0.427). In terms of kinetics, there was a moderate correlation between higher energy costs at 10 km·h-1 and larger peak active force, as well as larger peak braking and propulsion force (r = -0.470-0.488). Lower energy costs at 12 km·h-1 were moderately to largely correlated with smaller peak impact and braking force (r = 0.486 and -0.500, respectively). Regarding the statistical parametric mapping analysis, most outcomes showed associations with RE at 10 km·h-1, including knee flexion (42.5%-65.5%of the gait cycle), ankle plantarflexion (32.5%-36%of the gait cycle), active force (30.5%-35%of the stance phase), and propulsion force (68%-72.5% of the stance phase). Lower energy costs at 12 km·h-1 were correlated with smaller hip flexion (5.5%-12% and 66.5%-74%) and smaller knee flexion (57%-57.5%) during the running gait cycle. Conclusions: This study indicates that biomechanical factors are associated with RE in recreational runners. To design effective training methods to improve RE, coaches and runners should focus on the sagittal plane kinematics of the hip, knee, and ankle, as well as lower vertical and horizontal kinetic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]