Effects of Airflow Ultrafine-Grinding on the Physicochemical Characteristics of Tartary Buckwheat Powder.

Five different ultrafine milled flours (UMFs) were prepared from Tartary buckwheat via airflow ultrafine-grinding at different grinding pressures. The airflow ultrafine-grinding resulted in marked differences in particle size (from 100 to 10 µm). The UMFs were all brighter in appearance (higher L*) than Tartary buckwheat common flour (TBCF). Illustrated by the example of 70 °C, the UMFs were also found to have a greater water holding capacity (from 4.42 g/g to 5.24 g/g), water solubility (from 12.57% to 14.10%), and water solubility index (from 5.11% to 6.10%). Moreover, as the particle sizes reduced, the moisture content decreased (from 10.05 g/100 g DW to 7.66 g/100 g DW), as did the total starch content (from 68.88 g/100 g DW to 58.24 g/100 g DW) and the protein content (from 13.16% to 12.04%). However, the grinding process was also found to have negative effects on the mineral content of the Tartary buckwheat. Additionally, several substantial variations were found in their hydration properties along with grinding pressure changes in the differently ground UMFs. Consequently, fine Tartary buckwheat powders of a bright yellow color, with superior food processing properties, were prepared in this study by airflow ultrafine-grinding.

Antifungal Effect of Chitosan/Nano-TiO2 Composite Coatings against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Cladosporium oxysporum and Penicillium steckii.

Postharvest pathogens such as C. gloeosporioides (MA), C.oxysporum (ME) and P. steckii (MF) are the causal agents of disease in mangoes. This paper presents an in vitro investigation into the antifungal effect of a chitosan (CTS)/nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) composite coating against MA, ME and MF. The results indicated that, the rates of MA, ME and MF mortality following the single chitosan treatment were 63.3%, 84.8% and 43.5%, respectively, while the rates of mycelial inhibition were 84.0%, 100% and 25.8%, respectively. However, following the addition of 0.5% nano-TiO2 into the CTS, both the mortality and mycelial inhibition rates for MA and ME reached 100%, and the mortality and mycelial inhibition rate for MF also increased significantly, reaching 75.4% and 57.3%, respectively. In the MA, the dry weight of mycelia after the CTS/0.5% nano-TiO2 treatment decreased by 36.3% in comparison with the untreated group, while the conductivity value was about 1.7 times that of the untreated group, and the protein dissolution rate and extravasation degree of nucleic acids also increased significantly. Thus, this research revealed the potential of CTS/nano-TiO2 composite coatings in the development of new antimicrobial materials.

Scented Tartary Buckwheat Tea: Aroma Components and Antioxidant Activity.

In this study, the aroma compounds of Huantai tartary buckwheat tea (TBH), three laboratory-produced scented tartary buckwheat teas, as well as the antioxidant activity of tea infusion was investigated. In total, 103 aroma components were isolated and identified from all samples. Tartary buckwheat rose tea (TBR) contained 57 aroma components and tartary buckwheat jasmine tea (TBJ) had 53, both of which were higher than those in others. In addition, the total flavonoid content (TFC) and the total phenolic content (TPC) of scented tartary buckwheat tea were much higher than those of TBH. After the tartary buckwheat tea (TBT) was soaked in hot water twice, the antioxidant activity of all samples decreased, and the antioxidant activity of TBR and TBJ infusions was more stable than those of others. Further, the antioxidant activity of the first tea infusion (FTI) of the TBT was higher than that of the second tea infusion (STI). Overall, considering the diverse aroma compounds of scented tartary buckwheat tea and higher antioxidant activity of tea infusions, the combination of scented tea and tartary buckwheat is a feasible approach to develop tartary buckwheat scented tea.

Antimicrobial Nanoparticles Incorporated in Edible Coatings and Films for the Preservation of Fruits and Vegetables.

Edible coatings and films (ECF) are employed as matrixes for incorporating antimicrobial nanoparticles (NPs), and then they are applied on the fruits and vegetables to prolong shelf life and enhance storage quality. This paper provides a comprehensive review on the preparation, antimicrobial properties and mechanisms, surface and physical qualities of ECF containing antimicrobial NPs, and its efficient application to vegetables and fruits as well. Following an introduction on the properties of the main edible coating materials, the preparation technologies of ECF with NPs are summarized. The antimicrobial activity of ECF with NPs against the tested microorganism was observed by many researchers. This might be mainly due to the electrostatic interaction between the cationic polymer or free metal ions and the charged cell membrane, the photocatalytic reaction of NPs, the detachment of free metal ion, and partly due to the antimicrobial activity of edible materials. Moreover, their physical, mechanical and releasing properties are discussed in detail, which might be influenced by the concentration of NPs. The preservation potential on the quality of fruits and vegetables indicates that various ECF with NPs might be used as the ideal materials for food application. Following the introduction on these characteristics, an attempt is made to predict future trends in this field.

Preservation Mechanism of Chitosan-Based Coating with Cinnamon Oil for Fruits Storage Based on Sensor Data.

The chitosan-based coating with antimicrobial agent has been developed recently to control the decay of fruits. However, its fresh keeping and antimicrobial mechanism is still not very clear. The preservation mechanism of chitosan coating with cinnamon oil for fruits storage is investigated in this paper. Results in the atomic force microscopy sensor images show that many micropores exist in the chitosan coating film. The roughness of coating film is affected by the concentration of chitosan. The antifungal activity of cinnamon oil should be mainly due to its main consistent trans-cinnamaldehyde, which is proportional to the trans-cinnamaldehyde concentration and improves with increasing the attachment time of oil. The exosmosis ratios of Penicillium citrinum and Aspergillus flavus could be enhanced by increasing the concentration of cinnamon oil. Morphological observation indicates that, compared to the normal cell, the wizened mycelium of A. flavus is observed around the inhibition zone, and the growth of spores is also inhibited. Moreover, the analysis of gas sensors indicate that the chitosan-oil coating could decrease the level of O2 and increase the level of CO2 in the package of cherry fruits, which also control the fruit decay. These results indicate that its preservation mechanism might be partly due to the micropores structure of coating film as a barrier for gas and a carrier for oil, and partly due to the activity of cinnamon oil on the cell disruption.

Preparation and application characteristics of microencapsulated Lactobacillus acidophilus as probiotics for dogs.

In this article, preparation and application characteristics of microencapsulated Lactobacillus acidophilus were investigated. Results indicated that the optimum condition for preparation of micro encapsulation were 10% (w/v) wall material and the temperature of 20°C, respectively. Many micropores in the porous starch micro particles was also observed by Scanning Electron Microscope. Furthermore, the released cell counts were increase from 2.43 log cfu/g to 9.17 log cfu/g for the time prolong to 3h in the simulated colonic pH solution. On the other hand, the visible cells of Lactobacillus acidophilus in the dog feces on the 10th day after the probiotics feeding was improve about 34.8% compare to the before feeding, which was decrease about 24.6%for Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the content of is ovaleric acid, indole and 3-methylindole, putrefactive substances in dog feces, before feeding were reduce 24%, 16% and 45% in dog feces on the 10th day after feeding compared to that before feeding, respectively. Micro encapsulation can be considered a useful technology to provide the protection for Lactobacillus acidophilus and better application effective.

Associated predictors of prolonged length of stay in patients surviving extensive burns: A large multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with extensive burns are critically ill and have long treatment periods. Length of stay (LOS) is a good measure for assessing treatment. This study sought to identify predictors of prolonged LOS in patients with extensive burns (≥50% TBSA). METHODS: This retrospective multicenter cohort study included adults aged ≥ 18 years who survived extensive burns in three burn centers in Eastern China between January 2016 and June 2022. Epidemiological, demographic and clinical outcomes data were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between patients with/without prolonged LOS, which was defined as LOS greater than the median. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of prolonged LOS. RESULTS: The study sample included 321 patients, of whom 156 (48.6%) had an LOS of 58 days (IQR 41.0-77.0). Univariate regression analysis showed that increased total burn area and increased full-thickness burn area; electrical, chemical and other burns; increased erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets or serum creatinine within 24 h of admission; concomitant inhalation injury, pulmonary edema, sepsis, bloodstream infection, wound infection, pulmonary infection, urinary tract infection, or HB < 70 g/L during hospitalization were associated with prolonged LOS in patients with extensive burns. Increased number of surgical operations, mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy were also associated with prolonged LOS (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that increased total burn area (ratio 1.032, 95%CI 1.01-1.055; P = 0.004), electrical and chemical or other burns (3.282, 1.335-8.073; P = 0.01), development of wound infection (2.653 1.285-5.481; P = 0.008) and increased number of operative procedures (1.714, 1.388-2.116, P < 0.001) were significant predictors. CONCLUSIONS: Increased area of full-thickness burn,occurrence of electrical and chemical or other burns,occurrence of wound infection and increased number of surgeries are the best predictors of prolonged LOS in patients with extensive burns. Clarifying relevant predictors of burn patients' LOS provides a reliable reference for clinical treatment.

Models predicting mortality risk of patients with burns to ≥ 50% of the total body surface.

BACKGROUND: Several models predicting mortality risk of burn patients have been proposed. However, models that consider all such patients may not well predict the mortality of patients with extensive burns. METHOD: This retrospective multicentre study recruited patients with extensive burns (≥ 50% of the total body surface area [TBSA]) treated in three hospitals of Eastern China from 1 January 2016 to 30 June 2022. The performances of six predictive models were assessed by drawing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and calibration curves. Potential predictors were sought via "least absolute shrinkage and selection operator" regression. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to construct a predictive model for patients with burns to ≥ 50% of the TBSA. A nomogram was prepared and the performance thereof assessed by reference to the ROC, calibration, and decision curves. RESULT: A total of 465 eligible patients with burns to ≥ 50% TBSA were included, of whom 139 (29.9%) died. The FLAMES model exhibited the largest area under the ROC curve (AUC) (0.875), followed by the models of Zhou et al. (0.853) and the ABSI model (0.802). The calibration curve of the Zhou et al. model fitted well; those of the other models significantly overestimated the mortality risk. The new nomogram includes four variables: age, the %TBSA burned, the area of full-thickness burns, and blood lactate. The AUCs (training set 0.889; internal validation set 0.934; external validation set 0.890) and calibration curves showed that the nomogram exhibited an excellent discriminative capacity and that the predictions were very accurate. CONCLUSION: For patients with burns to ≥ 50％of the TBSA, the Zhou et al. and FLAMES models demonstrate relatively high predictive ability for mortality. The new nomogram is sensitive, specific, and accurate, and will aid rapid clinical decision-making.

Ultra-restrictive red blood cell transfusion strategies in extensively burned patients.

In recent years, due to the shortage of blood products, some extensive burn patients were forced to adopt an "ultra-restrictive" transfusion strategy, in which the hemoglobin levels of RBC transfusion thresholds were < 7 g/dl or even < 6 g/dl. This study investigated the prognostic impacts of ultra-restrictive RBC transfusion in extensive burn patients. This retrospective multicenter cohort study recruited extensive burns (total body surface area ≥ 50%) from three hospitals in Eastern China between 1 January 2016 and 30 June 2022. Patients were divided into an ultra-restrictive transfusion group and a restrictive transfusion group depending on whether they received timely RBC transfusion at a hemoglobin level < 7 g/dl. 1:1 ratio propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance selection bias. Modified Poisson regression and linear regression were conducted for sensitive analysis. Subsequently, according to whether they received timely RBC transfusion at a hemoglobin level < 6 g/dl, patients in the ultra-restrictive transfusion group were divided into < 6 g/dl group and 6-7 g/dl group to further compare the prognostic outcomes. 271 eligible patients with extensive burns were included, of whom 107 patients were in the ultra-restrictive transfusion group and 164 patients were in the restrictive transfusion group. The ultra-restrictive transfusion group had a significantly lower RBC transfusion volume than the restrictive transfusion group (11.5 [5.5, 21.5] vs 17.3 [9.0, 32.5] units, p = 0.004). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of in-hospital mortality, risk of infection, hospital length of stay, and wound healing time after PSM or multivariate adjustment (p > 0.05). Among the ultra-restrictive transfusion group, patients with RBC transfusion threshold < 6 g/dl had a significantly higher hospital mortality than 6-7 g/dl (53.1% vs 21.3%, p = 0.001). For extensive burn patients, no significant adverse effects of ultra-restrictive RBC transfusion were found in this study. When the blood supply is tight, it is acceptable to adopt an RBC transfusion threshold of < 7 g/dL but not < 6 g/dL.

Application of 3D Transparent Facemasks in Long-Term Outpatient Rehabilitation of Facial Scars After Burns: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Improved Appearance of Target Scars With Different Healing Time.

Severe facial burns may cause scarring problems and affect living quality of patients. With the advent of 3D facemasks, it is being used to treat facial scars; however, its efficacy must be confirmed by adequate studies. A retrospective analysis of 26 patients who visited rehabilitation outpatient clinic from 2017 to 2022. Patients were separated into two groups based on the time to healing (TTH) following burn injury: early healing group (TTH ≤ 21 days) and late healing group (TTH > 21 days). To compare treatment outcomes and differences between the two groups, 3D facemask application was assessed using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), patient satisfaction, and complications. In both groups, there were significant improvements in the total VSS scores (P < .01) and each VSS subscore (P < .01). These scar characteristics improved over time as the treatment progressed. Compared with the late healing group, the early healing group had more obvious effects on improving scar pigmentation (P < .05) and vascularity (P < .05) at similar assessment time points after burns. At the last assessment, there was a significant difference in total VSS scores between groups (P = .009). For the early and late healing groups, respectively, the mean gradient value (SE) of the total VSS scores was 1.550 (0.373) and 1.283 (0.224) over the course of the treatment periods. 3D facemasks are effective in the rehabilitation of facial scars caused by burns, which should be used for prevention and treatment in the initial stages of scar development.

Effect of Composite Edible Coatings Combined with Modified Atmosphere Packaging on the Storage Quality and Microbiological Properties of Fresh-Cut Pineapple.

This study investigated the effect of edible coating (EC), modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), and edible coating + modified atmosphere packaging (EC + MAP) treatments on the quality of fresh-cut pineapples during storage at 4 °C. The quality differences were analyzed by measuring the quality, physiological indicators, and total microbial counts. After 8 d of storage, the brightness (L*) values of the EC + MAP and control samples were 72.76 and 60.83, respectively. The water loss and respiratory rate of the EC + MAP were significantly inhibited from 0% and 29.33 mg CO2 kg-1 h-1 to 4.13% and 43.84 mg CO2 kg-1 h-1, respectively. Furthermore, the fresh-cut pineapples treated with EC + MAP presented a good appearance, with lower total soluble solids (TSS) and relative conductivity and higher titratable acid (TA), ascorbic acid (AA), total phenol content, and firmness compared to the other treatment groups. At the end of storage, the EC + MAP samples exhibited the lowest polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content at 28.53 U, 60.37 U, and 1.47 nmol·g-1, respectively. Furthermore, the efficiency of EC + MAP treatment exceeded that of EC or MAP alone, preventing key problems involving the surface browning and microbiological safety of the fresh-cut pineapples. The results showed that EC + MAP treatment was more successful in maintaining the storage quality and extending the shelf life of fresh-cut pineapples.

Multi-scale structural characteristics of black Tartary buckwheat resistant starch by autoclaving combined with debranching modification.

The impact of autoclaving or autoclave-debranching treatments on the multi-scale structure of resistant starch (RS) and the relationship with starch digestion remains unclear, despite their widespread use in its preparation. This work investigated the relationship between RS structure in black Tartary buckwheat and its digestibility by analyzing the effects of autoclaving and autoclave-debranching combined treatments on the multi-scale structure of RS. The results showed that black Tartary buckwheat RS exhibited a more extensive honeycomb-like network structure and enhanced thermal stability than either black Tartary buckwheat native starch (BTBNS) or common buckwheat native starch (CBNS). Autoclaving and autoclaving-debranching converted A-type native starch to V-type and possibly the formation of flavonoid-starch complexes. Autoclaving treatment significantly increased the proportion of short A chain (DP 6-12) and the amylose (AM) content, reduced the viscosity and the total crystallinity. Notably, the autoclave-debranching co-treatment significantly enhanced the resistance of starch to digestion, promoted the formation of perfect microcrystallines, and increased the AM content, short-range ordered degree, and the proportion of long B2 chain (DP 25-36). This study reveals the relationship between the multi-scale structure and digestibility of black Tartary buckwheat RS by autoclaving combined with debranching modification.

Effect of autoclave-cooling cycles combined pullulanase on the physicochemical and structural properties of resistant starch from black Tartary buckwheat.

A starch-rich portion is produced as a by-product of black Tartary buckwheat processing. The effect of enzymatic combined with autoclaving-cooling cycles (one, two, or three times) on the physicochemical and structural properties of black Tartary buckwheat type 3 resistant starch (BRS) was evaluated. The autoclaving-cooling cycles enhanced solubility and reduced swelling, with the BRS content increasing from 14.12% to 25.18%. The high crystallinity of the BRS reflected a high molecular order. However, increasing the number of autoclaving-cooling cycles did not result in higher BRS content. The highest BRS yield in the autoclaved starch samples was 25.18% after double-autoclaving-cooling cycles. Furthermore, the autoclaving-cooling cycles altered the crystalline structure of black Tartary buckwheat, and the subsequent crystallinity changed from 36.33% to 42.05% to 38.27%. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy shows that the number of cycles results in more efficient double-helical packing within the crystalline lamella. Principal component analysis showed that the autoclaving-cooling cycle treatment leads to significant changes in the molecular structure of resistant starch (RS). These results indicated that autoclaving-cooling cycles might be a feasible way for producing RS from black Tartary buckwheat starch with better structural stability to expand their application range.

Green synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles: Structural characterization and photoinduced antifungal activity against P. steckii.

This study synthesized titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) nanoparticles (NPs) from mango leaf extract and investigated the features and antibacterial capabilities of three different. The microscopic morphological observation, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy results showed that all three NPs showed agglomeration phenomenon, and the TN-1 sample existed as large agglomerates, whereas the agglomeration phenomenon of TN-3 sample was improved by the modified, without large agglomerates. The biosynthetic TN-2 and TN-3 NPs were spherical and uniform in size, whereas those of the TN-3 sample was the smallest, ranging from 10 to 30 nm. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy results exhibited that these were highly pure anatase NPs. The result of ultraviolet (UV)-visible-near-infrared spectral analysis showed that the TN-2 and TN-3 samples displayed higher UV absorption properties than the TN-1 samples and were highest in the modified NPs, which was more suitable for preparing chitosan-based nanocomposite material in future experiments and studies. The colony diameters of the TN-1, TN-2, and TN-3 treatment groups were 7.99, 7.80, and 6.86 mm, respectively, after 120 min of UV light induction at a wavelength of 365 nm. Significant differences were evident between the TN-3 and the other two groups (p < 0.05), indicating that the TN-3 sample more effectively inhibited Penicillium steckii than the other TiO2 NPs. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Nanomaterials coated film preservation is widely used in fruit and vegetable preservation. In this paper, TiO2 nanomaterials will be green synthesized using mango leaf and structurally characterized, whereas antibacterial tests will be conducted against the mango fruit-specific bacterium Penicillium steckii, which will provide a theoretical basis for the storage and preservation of mango.

Effect of different drying technologies on the characteristics and quality of lemon slices.

This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of four drying methods, namely, hot air drying (HAD), microwave drying (MD), vacuum drying (VD), and microwave vacuum drying (MVD), on the quality of lemon slices. The relevant indicators, including total phenolic content, ascorbic acid content, browning, color, reducing sugar content, volatile component measurements, and principal component analysis of 0 and 30 days storage, were compared after exposure to the four drying methods. The shortest time of 64 min was used to treat the lemon slices via MVD at 1 KW. These samples displayed the least damage after drying and the highest rehydration ratio of 4.12. The contents of VC, reducing sugars, and total phenols of MVD samples were significantly higher than those in the HAD, VD, and MD groups, retaining 105.94 mg/100 g, 21.35 g/100 g, and 77.81 mg GAE/g, respectively, while their color difference values were also the smallest, with a browning degree of 3.55, significantly lower than those in the other treatment groups (p < 0.05), and the degree of browning of the samples in the HAD treatment group was the most serious; in terms of volatile flavor substances, the lemon slice samples in the MVD and HAD treatment groups were more diverse and of better quality. The order of product sensory evaluation was: MVD > VD > HAD > MD. The final scores after comprehensive analysis revealed the order of the four drying methods as MVD, HAD, VD, and MD. Therefore, MVD had a better effect on the sensory perception and nutritional properties of the lemon slices, providing a useful alternative to the conventional drying method. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Lemon slices during drying are affected by various aspects, leading to changes in its color, aroma substances, and nutrient composition. The results of this work will not only provide a technical reference for the future production of high-quality dried lemon slices, but also have important implications for fresh-cut lemons in processing and storage. It also generates important implications for fresh-cut lemons in processing and storage.

Photo-Induced Antifungal Activity of Chitosan Composite Film Solution with Nano-Titanium Dioxide and Nano-Silver.

ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to investigate the UV light-induced effect of chitosan-titanium dioxide-silver (CTS-TiO2-Ag) nanocomposite film solution against Penicillium steckii and the underlying physiological mechanism of this effect. With longer UV exposure time, pathogen inhibition increased. UV-photoinduced treatment for 120 min produced the smallest P. steckii colony diameter, at 4.85 mm. However, when this treatment was followed by 8 h of storage, the conductivity of the P. steckii culture medium reached its highest level, at 713 microsiemens per cm. After a 120-h growth period on mangoes under the same conditions, the lesion diameters and proportion of infected mangoes reached 12.61 mm and 41.67%, respectively. Because the P. steckii cell membrane was severely disrupted, its permeability increased, causing serious extravasation of intracellular protein and nucleic acid material. Malondialdehyde, catalase, and superoxide dismutase in the P. steckii cells reached maximum concentrations (2.1106 µmol/mL, 44.06 U/mL, and 24.67 U/mL, respectively) after 8 h of incubation. These results indicate significant P. steckii inhibition by the UV light induction of the CTS-TiO2-Ag nanocomposite film solution.

[Effects and molecular mechanism of exogenous L-carnitine on excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated hepatic pyroptosis in severely scald rats].

Objective: To investigate the effects and molecular mechanism of exogenous L-carnitine on hepatic pyroptosis mediated by excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress in severely scald rats. Methods: The experimental research method was adopted. According to the random number table (the same group method below), fifteen female Sprague Dawley rats aged 6-8 weeks were divided into sham-injury group, scald alone group, and scald+carnitine group (with 5 rats in each group), and full-thickness scald of 30% total body surface area were made on the back of rats in scald alone group and scald+carnitine group, and rats in scald+carnitine group were additionally given intraperitoneal injection of L-carnitine. At post injury hour (PIH) 72, The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine dehydrogenase (ALT) of biochemical indicators of liver injury were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer with the sample number of 5. At PIH 72, liver tissue damage was detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining. At PIH 72, The mRNA levels of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), cysteine aspartic acid specific protease 1 (caspase-1), gasderminD (GSDMD), and interleukin 1ß(IL-1ß) in liver tissue as pyroptosis-related markers and glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) in liver tissue as endoplasmic reticulum stress-related markers were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Protein expression levels of GRP78, CHOP, NLRP3, caspase-1, caspase-1/p20, GSDMD-N, and cleaved IL-1ß in liver tissue were detected by Western blotting, and the sample numbers were all 5. HepG2 cells as human liver cancer cells were divided into dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group, 0.1 µmol/L tunicamycin (TM) group, 0.2 µmol/L TM group, 0.4 µmol/L TM group, and 0.8 µmol/L TM group and were treated accordingly. After 24 h of culture, cell viability was detected by cell counting kit 8, and the intervention concentration of TM was screened, and the sample number was 5. HepG2 cells were divided into DMSO group, TM alone group, and TM+carnitine group, and treated accordingly. After 24 h of culture, the protein expression levels of GRP78, CHOP, NLRP3, caspase-1, caspase-1/p20, GSDMD-N, and cleaved IL-1ß in cells were detected by Western blotting, and the sample numbers were all 3. Data were statistically analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and least significant difference-t test. Results: At PIH 72, the AST and ALT levels of serum in scald alone group were (640±22) and (157±8) U/L, which were significantly higher than (106±13) and (42±6) U/L in sham-injury group, respectively, with t values of -46.78 and -25.98, respectively, P<0.01. The AST and ALT levels of serum in scald+carnitine group were (519±50) and (121±10) U/L, which were significantly lower than those in scald alone group, respectively, with t values of 4.93 and 6.06, respectively, P<0.01. At PIH 72, the morphology of liver tissue of rats in sham-injury group were basically normal with no obvious inflammatory cell infiltration; compared with those in sham-injury group, the liver tissue of rats in scald alone group showed a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration and disturbed cell arrangement; compared with that in scald alone group, the liver tissue of rats in scald+carnitine group showed a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration. At PIH 72, the mRNA expression on levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD, and IL-1ß in liver tissue of rats in scald alone group were significantly higher than those in sham-injury group (with t values of 34.42, 41.93, 30.17, and 15.68, respectively, P<0.01); the mRNA levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD, and IL-1ß in liver tissue of rats in scald+carnitine group were significantly lower than those in scald alone group (with t values of 34.40, 37.20, 19.95, and 7.88, respectively, P<0.01). At PIH 72, the protein expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, caspase-1/p20, GSDMD-N, and cleaved IL-1ß in liver tissue of rats in scald alone group were significantly higher than those in sham-injury group (with t values of 12.28, 26.92, 5.20, 10.02, and 24.78, respectively, P<0.01); compared with those in scald alone group, the protein expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, caspase-1/p20, GSDMD-N, and cleaved IL-1ß in liver tissue of rats in scald+carnitine group were significantly decreased (with t values of 10.99, 27.96, 12.69, 8.96, and 12.27, respectively, P<0.01). At PIH 72, the mRNA levels of GRP78 and CHOP in liver tissue of rats in scald alone group were significantly higher than those in sham-injury group (with t values of 21.00 and 16.52, respectively, P<0.01), and the mRNA levels of GRP78 and CHOP in liver tissue of rats in scald+carnitine group were significantly lower than those in scald alone group (with t values of 8.92 and 8.21, respectively, P<0.01); the protein expression levels of GRP78 and CHOP in liver tissue of rats in scald alone group were significantly higher than those in sham-injury group (with t values of 22.50 and 14.29, respectively, P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of GRP78 and CHOP in liver tissue of rats in scald+carnitine group were significantly lower than those in scald alone group (with t values of 14.29 and 5.33 respectively, P<0.01). After 24 h of culture, the cell survival rates of 0.1 µmol/L TM group, 0.2 µmol/L TM group, 0.4 µmol/L TM group, and 0.8 µmol/L TM group were significantly decreased than that in DMSO group (with t values of 4.90, 9.35, 18.64, and 25.09, respectively, P<0.01). Then 0.8 µmol/L was selected as the intervention concentration of TM. After 24 h of culture, compared with that in DMSO group, the protein expression levels of GRP78 and CHOP in cells in TM alone group were significantly increased (with t values of 10.48 and 17.67, respectively, P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of GRP78 and CHOP in TM+carnitine group were significantly lower than those in TM alone group (with t values of 8.08 and 13.23, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01). After 24 h of culture, compared with those in DMSO group, the protein expression levels of NLRP3 and GSDMD-N in cells in TM alone group were significantly increased (with t values of 13.44 and 27.51, respectively, P<0.01), but the protein expression levels of caspase-1, caspase-1/p20, and cleaved IL-1ß in cells were not significantly changed (P>0.05); compared with that in TM alone group, the protein expression levels of NLRP3 and GSDMD-N in cells in TM+carnitine group were significantly decreased (with t values of 20.49 and 21.95, respectively, P<0.01), but the protein expression levels of caspase-1, caspase-1/p20, and cleaved IL-1ß in cells were not significantly changed (P>0.05). Conclusions: In severely scald rats, exogenous L-carnitine may play a protective role against liver injury by inhibiting the pathways related to excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated pyroptosis.

Comparison of Different Varieties on Quality Characteristics and Microbial Activity of Fresh-Cut Pineapple during Storage.

This study compared the quality and storage characteristics of four pineapple varieties to select those displaying adequate storage resistance and those suitable for freshly cut processing. Four varieties of pineapple, namely Tainong No.16, Tainong No.17, Tainong No.11, and Bali, were used to analyze the quality differences in freshly cut pineapple during storage by measuring the quality, physiological indicators, and total microbial count. The results indicated that the nutritional quality and storability of freshly cut pineapples differed significantly among the varieties. During refrigeration at 4 °C, Tainong No.11 and Bali displayed the shortest storage period of 4 d, while Tainong No.17 and Tainong No.16 presented storage periods of 5 d and 6 d, respectively. A sensory evaluation indicated that the Tainong No.16 variety was superior in terms of consumer preference, while the Bali slices were generally rated lower than the other cultivars. Additionally, the sensory properties, weight loss, firmness, and ascorbic acid (AA) content of Tainong No.16 changed the least during storage, with values of 60.75%, 6.48%, 75.15%, and 20.44%, respectively. Overall, the quality order of the four varieties of freshly cut pineapples during storage was: Tainong No.16 > Tainong No.17 > Tainong No.11 > Bali. Moreover, two-way ANOVA showed that the main effect of variety and storage time on the storage quality of fresh-cut pineapple was significant (p < 0.05). The interaction effect of variety and storage time on other quality characteristics of fresh-cut pineapple was significant (p < 0.05) except for Titratable acid (TA) and AA. In conclusion, Tainong No.16 displayed higher storage potential than the other varieties. The results of this work provide application possibilities to promote the successful processing of pineapple cultivars as freshly cut produce.

Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized with the Peel Extract of Mango.

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from biological waste, as well as their excellent antibacterial properties, is currently attracting significant research attention. This study synthesized AgNPs from different mango peel extract concentrations while investigating their characteristics and antibacterial properties. The results showed that the AgNPs were irregular with rod-like, spherical shapes and were detected in a range of 25 nm to 75 nm. The AgNPs displayed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), showing a more significant impact when synthesized with 0.20 g/mL of mango peel extract. Therefore, the antibacterial effect of different diluted AgNP concentrations on the growth kinetic curves of E. coli and S. aureus after synthesis with 0.20 g/mL mango peel extract was analyzed. The results indicated that the AgNP antibacterial activity was higher against S. aureus than against E. coli, while the AgNP IC50 in these two strains was approximately 1.557 mg/mL and 2.335 mg/L, respectively. This research provides new insights regarding the use of postharvest mango byproducts and the potential for developing additional AgNP composite antibacterial materials for fruit and vegetable preservation.

Coupling Interface Constructions of FeNi3-MoO2 Heterostructures for Efficient Urea Oxidation and Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Urea electrolysis has prospects for urea-containing wastewater purification and hydrogen (H2) production, but the shortage of cost-effective catalysts restricts its development. In this work, the tomentum-like FeNi3-MoO2 heterojunction nanosheets array self-supported on nickel foam (NF) as bifunctional catalyst is prepared by facile hydrothermal and annealing method. Only 1.29 V and -50.8 mV is required to obtain ±10 mA cm-2 for urea oxidation and hydrogen evolution reaction (UOR and HER), respectively, showing great bifunctional catalytic activity. For overall urea electrolysis, it only needs 1.37 V to reach 10 mA cm-2 and can last at 100 mA cm-2 for 70 h without obvious activity attenuation, showing outstanding durability. Coupling interface constructions of FeNi3-MoO2 heterostructures, novel morphology with a mesoporous and self-supporting structure could be the reason for this good performance. This work thus proposes a promising catalyst for boosting UOR and HER to realize efficient overall urea electrolysis.