Low-molecular-weight organic acid-mediated tolerance and Pb accumulation in centipedegrass under Pb stress.

Lead (Pb) is one of the most harmful, toxic pollutants to the ecological environment and humans. Centipedegrass, a fast-growing warm-season turfgrass, is excellent for Pb pollution remediation. Exogenous low-molecular-weight organic acid (LMWOA) treatment is a promising approach for assisted phytoremediation. However, the effects of this treatment on the tolerance and Pb accumulation of centipedegrass are unclear. This study investigated these effects on the physiological growth response and Pb accumulation distribution characteristics of centipedegrass. Applications of 400 µM citric acid (CA), malic acid (MA) and tartaric acid (TA) significantly reduced membrane lipid peroxidation levels of leaves and improved biomass production of Pb-stressed plants. These treatments mainly increased peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities and enhanced free protein (Pro), ascorbic acid (AsA) and phytochelatins (PCs) contents, ultimately improving the Pb tolerance of centipedegrass. Their promoting effects decreased as follows: TA>CA>MA. All the treatments decreased root Pb concentrations and increased stem and leaf Pb concentrations, thus increasing total Pb accumulation and TF values. MA had the best and worst effects on Pb accumulation and Pb transportation, respectively. CA had the best and worst effects on Pb transportation and Pb accumulation, respectively. TA exhibited strong effects on both Pb accumulation and transport. Furthermore, all treatments changed the subcellular Pb distribution patterns and distribution models of the chemical forms of Pb in each tissue. The root Pb concentration was more highly correlated with the Pb subcellular fraction distribution pattern, while the stem and leaf Pb concentrations were more highly correlated with the distribution models of the chemical forms of Pb. Overall, TA improved plant Pb tolerance best and promoted both Pb absorption and transportation well and is considered the best candidate for Pb-contaminated soil remediation with centipedegrass. This study provides a new idea for Pb-contaminated soil remediation with centipedegrass combined with LMWOAs.

Metabolome and transcriptome profiling reveals anthocyanin contents and anthocyanin-related genes of chimeric leaves in Ananas comosus var. bracteatus.

BACKGROUND: Ananas comosus var. bracteatus is a colorful plant used as a cut flower or landscape ornamental. The unique foliage color of this plant includes both green and red leaves and, as a trait of interest, deserves investigation. In order to explore the pigments behind the red section of the chimeric leaves, the green and red parts of chimeric leaves of Ananas comosus var. bracteatus were sampled and analyzed at phenotypic, cellular and molecular levels in this study. RESULTS: The CIELAB results indicated that the a* values and L* values samples had significant differences between two parts. Freehand sections showed that anthocyanin presented limited accumulation in the green leaf tissues but obviously accumulation in the epidermal cells of red tissues. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were performed by RNA-seq and LC-ESI-MS/MS. Among the 508 identified metabolites, 10 kinds of anthocyanins were detected, with 6 significantly different between the two samples. The cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside content that accounts for nearly 95.6% in red samples was significantly higher than green samples. RNA-Seq analyses showed that 11 out of 40 anthocyanin-related genes were differentially expressed between the green and red samples. Transcriptome and metabolome correlations were determined by nine quadrant analyses, and 9 anthocyanin-related genes, including MYB5 and MYB82, were correlated with 7 anthocyanin-related metabolites in the third quadrant in which genes and metabolites showing consistent change. Particularly, the PCCs between these two MYB genes and cyanidin-3,5-O-diglucoside were above 0.95. CONCLUSION: Phenotypic colors are closely related to the tissue structures of different leaf parts of Ananas comosus var. bracteatus, and two MYB transcription factors might contribute to differences of anthocyanin accumulation in two parts of Ananas comosus var. bracteatus chimeric leaves. This study lay a foundation for further researches on functions of MYBs in Ananas comosus var. bracteatus and provides new insights to anthocyanin accumulation in different parts of chimeric leaves.

Systematic identification and comparative analysis of lysine succinylation between the green and white parts of chimeric leaves of Ananas comosus var. bracteatus.

BACKGROUND: Lysine succinylation, an important protein posttranslational modification (PTM), is widespread and conservative. The regulatory functions of succinylation in leaf color has been reported. The chimeric leaves of Ananas comosus var. bracteatus are composed of normal green parts and albino white parts. However, the extent and function of lysine succinylation in chimeric leaves of Ananas comosus var. bracteatus has yet to be investigated. RESULTS: Compared to the green (Gr) parts, the global succinylation level was increased in the white (Wh) parts of chimeric leaves according to the Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis. Furthermore, we quantitated the change in the succinylation profiles between the Wh and Gr parts of chimeric leaves using label-free LFQ intensity. In total, 855 succinylated sites in 335 proteins were identified, and 593 succinylated sites in 237 proteins were quantified. Compared to the Gr parts, 232 (61.1%) sites in 128 proteins were quantified as upregulated targets, and 148 (38.9%) sites in 70 proteins were quantified as downregulated targets in the Wh parts of chimeric leaves using a 1.5-fold threshold (P < 0.05). These proteins with altered succinylation level were mainly involved in crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis, photorespiration, glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (CAC) and pyruvate metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that the changed succinylation level in proteins might function in the main energy metabolism pathways-photosynthesis and respiration. Succinylation might provide a significant effect in the growth of chimeric leaves and the relationship between the Wh and Gr parts of chimeric leaves. This study not only provided a basis for further characterization on the function of succinylated proteins in chimeric leaves of Ananas comosus var. bracteatus but also provided a new insight into molecular breeding for leaf color chimera.

MfbHLH38, a Myrothamnus flabellifolia bHLH transcription factor, confers tolerance to drought and salinity stresses in Arabidopsis.

BACKGROUND: The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins, a large transcription factors family, are involved in plant growth and development, and defensive response to various environmental stresses. The resurrection plant Myrothamnus flabellifolia is known for its extremely strong drought tolerance, but few bHLHs taking part in abiotic stress response have been unveiled in M. flabellifolia. RESULTS: In the present research, we cloned and characterized a dehydration-inducible gene, MfbHLH38, from M. flabellifolia. The MfbHLH38 protein is localized in the nucleus, where it may act as a transcription factor. Heterologous expression of MfbHLH38 in Arabidopsis improved the tolerance to drought and salinity stresses, as determined by the studies on physiological indexes, such as contents of chlorophyll, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline (Pro), soluble protein, and soluble sugar, water loss rate of detached leaves, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, as well as antioxidant enzyme activities. Besides, MfbHLH38 overexpression increased the sensitivity of stomatal closure to mannitol and abscisic acid (ABA), improved ABA level under drought stress, and elevated the expression of genes associated with ABA biosynthesis and ABA responding, sucha as NCED3, P5CS, and RD29A. CONCLUSIONS: Our results presented evidence that MfbHLH38 enhanced tolerance to drought and salinity stresses in Arabidopsis through increasing water retention ability, regulating osmotic balance, decreasing stress-induced oxidation damage, and possibly participated in ABA-dependent stress-responding pathway.

Effect of 24-epibrassinolide on reactive oxygen species and antioxidative defense systems in tall fescue plants under lead stress.

Lead is one of the most hazardous pollutants to both the environment as well as human beings. As one of the approaches to enhance phytoremediation, brassinosteroids are predicted as a potential candidate phytohormone for assisted phytoremediation. Few studies have focused on the physiological regulations of tall fescue plants (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), a potential phytoremediation species, for its responses to applications of brassinosteroids under lead stress. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of foliar application of 24-epibrassinolide, a brassinosteroids analogue, on reactive oxygen species accumulation and antioxidative defense systems of tall fescue when exposed to lead, and ultimately its potential to be used in phytoremediation. When exposed to lead (1000 mg/kg) for 80 d, decreases in shoot and root biomass of tall fescue biomass as well as chlorophyll and carotenoid productions were found. Foliar application of 24-epibrassinolide at three rates and five applications every 7 d improved the biomass of both shoots and roots, and increased the photosynthetic pigments. The improved lead tolerance in tall fescue plants after 24-epibrassinolide applications was associated with reduced H2O2 and O2.- accumulations and increased antioxidative enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and guaiacol peroxidase. Additionally, osmoprotectants increased and lipid peroxidation decreased. Ultimately, foliar applications of 24-epibrassinolide enhanced the lead recovery rate of tall fescue plants, proving its potential role in phytoremediation for soil contaminated with heavy metals such as lead.

Exogenous melatonin improves lead tolerance of bermudagrass through modulation of the antioxidant defense system.

Lead (Pb) is a major anthropogenic contaminant that can be devastating on both animals and plants. It is essential to develop methods to decrease the Pb contaminant in soil by phytoremediation using plants that are tolerance to Pb. In this study, we investigated the tolerance of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) and the role of exogenous application of melatonin for improving its tolerance to Pb. Bermudagrass growing in soil treated with Pb at 1,000 or 2,000 mg kg-1 were assessed with or without melatonin pretreatment at various concentrations. Under Pb stresses, bermudagrass plants showed stunted growth and increased cellular oxidative stress. Pre-treating bermudagrass plants with melatonin at 20 or 100 µM significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase) and the contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants (ascorbic acid and glutathione), and decreased reactive oxygen species (hydrogen peroxide, superoxide), and ultimately reduced membrane lipid peroxidation and permeability. These changes contributed to improvements in the water status, photosynthetic pigment synthesis, and biomass production of bermudagrass under Pb stresses. Our study provides the first evidence that melatonin may be a promising tool for enhancing Pb tolerance and phytoremediation potential of bermudagrass.

Development and Application of an MSALL-Based Approach for the Quantitative Analysis of Linear Polyethylene Glycols in Rat Plasma by Liquid Chromatography Triple-Quadrupole/Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.

Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) are synthetic polymers composed of repeating ethylene oxide subunits. They display excellent biocompatibility and are widely used as pharmaceutical excipients. To fully understand the biological fate of PEGs requires accurate and sensitive analytical methods for their quantitation. Application of conventional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is difficult because PEGs have polydisperse molecular weights (MWs) and tend to produce multicharged ions in-source resulting in innumerable precursor ions. As a result, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) fails to scan all ion pairs so that information on the fate of unselected ions is missed. This Article addresses this problem by application of liquid chromatography-triple-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q-TOF MS) based on the MSALL technique. This technique performs information-independent acquisition by allowing all PEG precursor ions to enter the collision cell (Q2). In-quadrupole collision-induced dissociation (CID) in Q2 then effectively generates several fragments from all PEGs due to the high collision energy (CE). A particular PEG product ion (m/z 133.08592) was found to be common to all linear PEGs and allowed their total quantitation in rat plasma with high sensitivity, excellent linearity and reproducibility. Assay validation showed the method was linear for all linear PEGs over the concentration range 0.05-5.0 µg/mL. The assay was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study in rat involving intravenous administration of linear PEG 600, PEG 4000, and PEG 20000. It is anticipated the method will have wide ranging applications and stimulate the development of assays for other pharmaceutical polymers in the future.

Simultaneous quantitation of the diastereoisomers of scholarisine and 19-epischolarisine, vallesamine, and picrinine in rat plasma by supercritical fluid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and its application to a pharmacokinetic study.

Dengtaiye tablet has been used to treat chronic bronchitis cough. Scholarisine, 19-epischolarisine, vallesamine, and picrinine are the representative constituents of Dengtaiye. A rapid and sensitive assay based on supercritical fluid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry has been developed and validated for the determination of the diastereoisomers of scholarisine and 19-epischolarisine, vallesamine, and picrinine in rat plasma using lamotrigine as internal standard. The analysis in a run time of only 6 min was performed on an ACQUITY UPC(2) Trefoil(TM) BEH 2-EP column (3.0 × 150 mm, 2.5 µm) at 50ºC. The mobile phase consisting of carbon dioxide and methanol (2 mM ammonium formate) was performed as follows: 15% methanol (2 mM ammonium formate) maintained at 0-2 min, 15-19% methanol (2 mM ammonium formate) at 2-4 min, 19-15% methanol (2 mM ammonium formate) at 4-6 min. The flow rate was 1.50 mL/min. The assay was linear over the concentration ranges 50-10000 pg/mL for scholarisine, 19-epischolarisine, vallesamine, and picrinine with corresponding lower limits of quantitation of 50 pg/mL. Intra- and interday precisions were in the range 1.42-12.85% with accuracies in the range -11.71-2.48%. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study involving a single oral administration of 108 mg/kg Dengtaiye tablet to rats.

Rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantification of yonkenafil and its major metabolites in rat plasma.

Yonkenafil is a promising drug for treatment of male erectile dysfunction. Previous studies showed that the piperazine-N,N'-deethylation metabolite, piperazine-N-deethylation metabolite, and piperazine-N-deethylation-N,N'-deethylation metabolite were the major metabolites of yonkenafil after extensive metabolism. We developed a sensitive and selective method for the simultaneous quantification of yonkenafil and its major metabolites using high-throughput liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Analytes and internal standard were extracted from a small quantity of plasma (50 µL) using liquid-liquid extraction with diethyl ether/dichloromethane (60:40, v/v), and the baseline separation was achieved on Zorbax SB-C18 column using ammonia/water/methanol (0.2:20:80, v/v/v) as the mobile phase. The assay was performed with an electrospray positive ionization mass spectrometry through the multiple-reaction monitoring mode within 2 min. Calibration curve of the method was linear within the range of 1.00-1000 ng/mL for all the analytes with the intra- and interday precisions of 4.0-5.2 and 4.0-5.3% for yonkenafil, 3.1-4.9 and 3.1-5.2% for the piperazine-N,N'-deethylation metabolite, 4.8-6.8 and 4.8-7.3% for the piperazine-N-deethylation metabolite, and 2.9-6.1 and 5.4-6.3% for the piperazine-N-deethylation-N,N'-deethylation metabolite, respectively. The recoveries were above 90% with low matrix effects. The validated assay was successfully applied to support a preclinical pharmacokinetic study in six rats using a single oral dose of yonkenafil (8 mg/kg).

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel freezing-inducible DREB1/CBF transcription factor gene in boreal plant Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule).

DREB1 of the AP2/ERF superfamily plays a key role in the regulation of plant response to low temperatures. In this study, a novel DREB1/CBF transcription factor, PnDREB1, was isolated from Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule), a plant adaptive to low temperature environments. It is homologous to the known DREB1s of Arabidopsis and other plant species. It also shares similar 3D structure, and conserved and functionally important motifs with DREB1s of Arabidopsis. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the AP2 domain of PnDREB1 is similar to those of Glycine max, Medicago truncatula, and M. sativa. PnDREB1 is constitutively expressed in diverse tissues and is increased in roots. qPCR analyses indicated that PnDREB1 is significantly induced by freezing treatment as well as by abscissic acid. The expression levels induced by freezing treatment were higher in the variety with higher degree of freezing tolerance. These results suggested that PnDREB1 is a novel and functional DREB1 transcription factor involved in freezing response and possibly in other abiotic stresses. Furthermore, the freezing-induction could be suppressed by exogenous gibberellins acid, indicating that PnDREB1 might play some role in the GA signaling transduction pathway. This study provides a basis for better understanding the roles of DREB1 in adaption of Iceland poppy to low temperatures.

Comparative analyses of physiological responses of Cynodon dactylon accessions from Southwest China to sulfur dioxide toxicity.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2), a major air pollutant in developing countries, is highly toxic to plants. To achieve better air quality and landscape, planting appropriate grass species in severe SO2 polluted areas is very critical. Cynodon dactylon, a widely used warm season turfgrass species, has good SO2-tolerant ability. In this study, we selected 9 out of 38 C. dactylon accessions from Southwest China as representatives of high, intermediate SO2-tolerant and SO2-sensitive accessions to comparatively analyze their physiological differences in leaves under SO2 untreated and treated conditions. Our results revealed that SO2-tolerant C. dactylon accessions showed higher soluble sugar, proline, and chlorophyll a contents under both SO2 treated and untreated conditions; higher chlorophyll b and carotenoid under SO2 treated condition; lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, oxidative damages, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities under SO2 treated condition; and higher peroxidase (POD) activities under SO2 untreated condition. Further results indicated that SO2-tolerant C. dactylon accessions had higher sulfur contents under both SO2 treated and untreated conditions, consistent with higher SO activities under both SO2 treated and untreated conditions, and higher SiR activities under SO2 treated condition. Taken together, our results indicated that SO2 tolerance of C. dactylon might be largely related to soluble sugar, proline and chlorophyll a contents, and SO enzyme activity.

The Effects of Ambient Temperature and Atmospheric Humidity on the Diffusion Dynamics of Hydrogen Fluoride Gas Leakage Based on the Computational Fluid Dynamics Method.

In order to investigate the impact of environmental temperature and atmospheric humidity on the leakage and diffusion of hydrogen fluoride (HF) gas, this study focused on the real scenario of an HF chemical industrial park. Based on the actual dispersion scenario of HF gas, a proportionally scaled-down experimental platform for HF gas leakage was established to validate the accuracy and feasibility of numerical simulations under complex conditions. Using the validated model, the study calculated the complex scenarios of HF leakage and diffusion within the temperature range of 293 K to 313 K and the humidity range of 0% to 100%. The simulation results indicated that different environmental temperatures had a relatively small impact on the hazardous areas (the lethal area, severe injury area, light injury area, and maximum allowable concentration (MAC) area) formed by HF gas leakage. At 600 s of dispersion, the fluctuation range of hazardous area sizes under different temperature conditions was between 3.11% and 13.07%. In contrast to environmental temperature, atmospheric relative humidity had a more significant impact on the dispersion trend of HF leakage. Different relative humidity levels mainly affected the areas of the lethal zone, light injury zone, and MAC zone. When HF continued to leak and disperse for 600 s, compared to 0% relative humidity, 100% relative humidity reduced the lethal area by 35.7%, while increasing the light injury area and MAC area by 27.26% and 111.6%, respectively. The impact on the severe injury area was relatively small, decreasing by 1.68%. The results of this study are crucial for understanding the dispersion patterns of HF gas under different temperature and humidity conditions.

Exploring the role of Maillard reaction and lipid oxidation in the advanced glycation end products of batter-coated meat products during frying.

The Maillard reaction occurs during the frying of batter-coated meat products, resulting in the production of advanced glycosylation products that are harmful to human health. This study investigated the effects of frying temperature (140, 150, 160, 170 and 180 ℃) and time (80, 100, 120, 140 and 160 s) on the quality, advanced glycation end product (AGE) level and the relationship between these parameters in batter-coated meat products were investigated. The results showed that with an increase in frying temperature and time, the moisture content of the batter-coated meat products gradually decreased, the thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance (TBARS) values and oil content increased to 0.37 and 21.7 %, respectively, and then decreased, and CML and CEL content increased to 7.30 and 4.86 mg/g, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that the moisture content and absorbance at 420 nm, as well as TBARS values, were highly correlated with the oil content in batter-coated meat products. Additionally, the absorbance at 420 nm and TBARS levels were significantly correlated with AGE levels. Moreover, the AGE content in batter-coated meat products was less variable at lower frying temperatures or shorter frying times, and the influence of temperature on AGE formation was greater than that of time. Overall, these findings may help to better control the cooking conditions of batter-coated meat products based on AGE profiles.

Probiotic Bacillus as fermentation agents: Status, potential insights, and future perspectives.

Probiotic Bacillus strains can solve the problems of single flavor and long fermentation time of fermented products caused by the lack of certain functional genes and insufficient metabolism ability of fermenter strains (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) at the present stage. There is a lack of systematic evaluation and review of probiotic Bacillus as food fermentation agents. In this paper, it is observed that probiotic Bacillus strains are involved to varying degrees in liquid-state, semi-solid state, and solid-state fermentation and are widely present in solid-state fermented foods. Probiotic Bacillus strains not only produce abundant proteases and lipases, but also effective antifungal lipopeptides and extracellular polymers, thus enhancing the flavor, nutritional value and safety of fermented foods. Bacillus with probiotic qualities is an underutilized group of probiotic food fermentation agents, which give a potential for the development of fermentation technology in the food business and the integration of ancient traditional fermentation techniques.

Effects of Different Bacteriostats on the Dynamic Germination of Clostridium perfringens Spores.

Bacteriostats, as chemical substances that inhibit bacterial growth, are widely used in the sterilization process; however, their effects on spindle spores are unclear. In this study, the effects of bacteriostats, including nine commonly used food additives and four detergents, on the growth of Clostridium perfringens spores were investigated. The results showed that 0.07‱ ethylenediaminetetraacetate had a good inhibitory effect on C. perfringens spore growth, and the spore turbidity decreased by 4.8% after incubation for 60 min. Furthermore, 0.3‱ tea polyphenols, 0.8‱ D-isoascorbic acid, and 0.75‱ potassium sorbate promoted leakage of contents during spore germination. Among the four detergents, 5‱ glutaraldehyde solution presented the best inhibitory effect on the growth of C. perfringens spores, and the spore turbidity decreased by 5.6% after incubation for 60 min. Further analysis of the inactivation mechanism of spores by the bacteriostats was performed by comparing the leakage of UV-absorbing substances during germination. The results revealed that bacteriostats could not directly kill the spores, but could inactivate them by inhibiting germination or damaging the spore structure during germination, thus preventing the formation of bacterial vegetative bodies. These findings provide important information and reference for the mechanism underlying the effects of different bacteriostatic agents on spore growth.

Effects of mowing on Pb accumulation and transport in Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.

Bermudagrass is a perennial herb with the potential to remediate Pb pollution in soils, and it has mechanical resistance to shearing. However, the effects of mowing on Pb absorption and accumulation in bermudagrass are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of different quantities (0, 1, 2, 4 applications) of mowing treatments under 200 mg L-1 Pb application on Pb accumulation and transport in bermudagrass and explored the related mechanisms. Compared to the Pb treatment, all of the mowing treatments greatly decreased root Pb concentration/accumulation, significantly enhanced Pb concentrations/accumulations in stubble stems and stubble leaves, and ultimately promoted Pb enrichment and transport. Of the treatments in this study, two applications of mowing best promoted Pb enrichment, and four applications of mowing best promoted Pb transport efficiency. Furthermore, mowing mediated the microdistribution and physiological patterns of Pb in bermudagrass and affected the Pb transport by changing the subcellar distribution patterns and chemical forms of Pb in various tissues. Additionally, mowing promoted the transport of all mineral elements and showed a synergistic relationship with Pb absorption and transport. The change in mineral element metabolism patterns may be an important reason why mowing promoted Pb accumulation in bermudagrass. Our study provides the first comprehensive evidence regarding mowing facilitating the absorption, accumulation and transport of Pb in bermudagrass. Moderate mowing may be an effective strategy to assist in soil Pb remediation using bermudagrass.

Cloudy or sunny? Effects of different environmental types of urban green spaces on public physiological and psychological health under two weather conditions.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that urban green spaces (UGSs) benefit human health, but few have focused on the influence of weather on environmental restorativeness. This study assessed how different weather conditions and environments affect human health. We exposed 50 participants to different UGS environments under cloudy and sunny conditions and collected physiological, psychological and aesthetic preference data. The result showed that the physical and mental benefits of UGSs were stronger on sunny days (pulse: [t = 2.169, p < 0.05]; positive affect: [Z = -10.299, p < 0.001]; perceived restortiveness: [Z = -3.224, p < 0.01]). The spaces with exposed sky had greater physiological restorativeness on sunny days; the spaces with calm water had greater emotional restorativeness on cloudy days, and natural spaces with less sky exposure had greater perceived restoration in both weather conditions. The spaces with water and less sky exposure promoted psychophysiological restoration in both weather conditions. This study demonstrates that weather significantly influences the restorative potential of UGSs, and there are also restorative variations in different green space environments under two weather conditions. In future UGS planning practices, it would be advisable to select appropriate environmental types and features based on the climatic characteristics of different regions. For instance, in areas with frequent overcast conditions, incorporating serene water bodies could be advantageous, while regions with predominantly sunny weather should encompass spaces with expansive sky views. By conducting comprehensive research on restoration environments that take weather conditions into account, new insights and nature-based solutions can be provided for creating healthy human habitats in the context of global climate change.

A case report of the treatment and care of decubitus ulcers in macaques with spinal cord injury.

Decubitus ulcers are a common spinal cord injury (SCI) complication that puts patients' lives in danger and has emerged as a more prevalent issue in modern clinical rehabilitation and care. Decubitus ulcers in humans can currently be treated in a number of different ways, but there are fewer studies on how to treat and care for decubitus ulcers in macaques. To treat a 20-year-old adult male macaque monkey with SCI and decubitus ulcers after a quarter transection of the thoracic spinal cord, a number of scientific care procedures and pharmaceutical treatments, such as dietary changes and topical or intravenous administration of medication, were carried out and continuously monitored in real-time. In comparison to the untreated group, we observed a significant improvement in decubitus wound healing in the macaques. In this article, we provide a good protocol for decubitus ulcer care after SCI and suggest that future experimental animal modeling needs to focus on issues such as care for postoperative complications.

Multiple Technologies Combined to Analyze the Changes of Odor and Taste in Daokou Braised Chicken during Processing.

This study analyzed the changes of odor and taste in Daokou braised chicken during processing by GC-MS, GC-IMS, e-nose and e-tongue. The 75 and 55 volatile compounds identified in Daokou braised chicken by GC-MS and GC-IMS, respectively, included hydrocarbons, aldehydes, alcohols, terpenes, ketones, heterocyclics, esters, acids and phenols; among them, aldehydes, alcohols and ketones were the most abundant. The number and proportion of volatile compounds in Daokou braised chicken changed significantly (p < 0.05) in the process. The proportion of volatile compounds with animal fatty odor, such as aldehydes and alcohols, decreased, while that of esters, ketones and terpenes from spices with fruity fragrance increased, especially in the braising stage. An e-nose showed that the odor intensities of sulfur-containing and nitrogen oxide compounds were higher (p < 0.05) after the braising stage, but weakened after 2 h braising. An e-tongue showed that saltiness and richness increased significantly (p < 0.05) after braising. The results of these four techniques showed that braising promoted the release of flavor compounds, and was beneficial to salt penetration and umami release. However, long braising could lead to weakened flavor intensity and the introduction of bitterness and astringency. This study also found that GC-IMS and e-nose were more sensitive to trace compounds such as sulfur-containing and nitrogen oxide compounds, esters, acids and phenolics in Daokou braised chicken than GC-MS. The use of multiple technologies could provide more comprehensive flavor profiles for Daokou braised chicken during processing. This study provides insights into the control of flavor of Daokou braised chicken, and may be of practical relevance for the poultry industry.

Nutritional Management of Children With Neurological Impairment in China: Current Status and Future Directions.

The aim of this study is to assess the awareness of Chinese physicians on gastrointestinal and nutritional management of children with neurological impairment (NI) and to assess the practical application of the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition guidelines on the management of nutritional and gastrointestinal problems in children with NI in Asian countries, particularly in several major medical centers in China. Methods: A web-based questionnaire was distributed between November 2020 and January 2021 among Chinese healthcare professionals involved in the clinical management of children with NI. Fifteen questions covering the most relevant aspects of nutritional management and gastrointestinal issues of children with NI were surveyed. A descriptive analysis of responses was performed. Results: A total of 577 healthcare professionals from over 28 provinces in China answered the questionnaire. Anthropometrics were the most used parameters (n = 539) to assess nutritional status. Most respondents (n = 455) indicated weight faltering and/or failure to thrive as definition of undernutrition. Direct observation of meals was considered the recommended method for diagnosing oropharyngeal dysfunction by 542 professionals. Fundoplication was indicated at the time of gastrostomy placement in patients with uncontrolled gastroesophageal reflux disease by 437 respondents. Conclusions: The clinical practice of Chinese healthcare professionals does not completely match the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition guidelines, probably due to the medical system and the economic, social, and cultural differences. Further studies are needed to improve clinical practice and knowledge. Multidisciplinary approach is crucial to optimize the overall medical care and quality of life for children with NI.