A portable hydrogel kit based on Au@GM88A/I combined with mobile phone for polychromatic semi-quantitative and quantitative sensing analysis.

The development of an affordable, portable, and instrument-free colorimetric biosensor holds significant importance for routine monitoring and clinical diagnosis. To overcome the limitations that traditional monochromatic colorimetric kits struggle to distinguish subtle color changes with the naked eye, we designed and constructed a portable hydrogel kit for polychromatic semi-quantitative and quantitative sensing analysis. When the actual samples and I- were introduced into a gelatin hydrogel encapsulated with MIL-88A(Fe), Au NRs and oxidase (Au@GM88A/I), a noticeable color change occurred. Additionally, a mathematic model between Hue and multicolor signal was set up for the first time by mobile phone photo technology, successfully applied to the glucose detection in serum. The visual detection had a wide concentration range of 0.02-0.80 mM with a limit of detection down to 0.02 mM. Above all, hydrogel kit prepared with gelatin as a carrier addressed the issues of uneven color and slow response rate commonly seen in gels like sodium alginate and agarose. This improvement would be beneficial for enhancing the accuracy of color captured by mobile phone assisted hydrogel kits, making it a valuable tool for biomarker analysis.

Recombinant human luteinizing hormone increases endometrial thickness in women undergoing assisted fertility treatments: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The optimal dosage of recombinant human luteinizing hormone (r-hLH) and its impact on endometrial thickness (EMT) when administered alongside recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) for in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer are uncertain, which formed the aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis. Method: A search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EMBASE, CNKI, and Wanfang from its inception to 10 July 2023. Twenty-seven Randomized controlled trials comparing r-hFSH/r-hLH co-treatment with r-hFSH alone during in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) were included. Pooled odds ratios (OR) for dichotomous data and mean differences (MD) for continuous data, with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CI), were generated. Meta-analysis employed fixed-effect or random-effect models based on heterogeneity, using Q-test and I2-index calculations. The main outcomes included EMT on trigger day, clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR). Results: r-hFSH/r-hLH significantly increased EMT on trigger day (MD = 0.27; 95% CI, 0.11-0.42; I2 = 13%), but reduced oocyte number (MD = -0.60; 95% CI, -1.07 to -0.14; I2 = 72%) and high-quality embryos (MD = -0.76; 95% CI, -1.41 to -0.10; I2 = 94%) than r-hFSH alone, more pronounced with the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist long protocol. A subgroup analysis showed r-hLH at 75 IU/day increased CPR (OR = 1.23; 95% CI, 1.02-1.49; I2 = 16%) and EMT on trigger day (MD = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.19-0.61; I2 = 0%). Participants ≥35 years of age exhibited decreased retrieved oocytes (MD = -1.26; 95% CI, -1.78 to -0.74; I2 = 29%), but an increase in EMT on trigger day (MD = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.11-0.42; I2 = 29%). Conclusion: r-hFSH/r-hLH during COS significantly improved EMT compared to r-hFSH alone. An r-hLH dose of 75 IU/day may be considered for optimal pregnancy outcomes, which still require further clinical studies to support this dosing regime. Systematic Review Registration: [www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO], identifier [CRD42023454584].

Assisted Reproductive Technology Outcomes in Women with Normal Ovarian Response Receiving Recombinant Luteinizing Hormone/Human Menopausal Gonadotropin: An Observational Study.

Objective: Additive human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG)/recombinant luteinizing hormone (r-LH) to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) can improve pregnancy outcomes in patients with poor ovarian response during assisted reproductive procedures. However, their effects on patients with normal ovarian response during such procedures are unclear, which formed the aim of this study. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 456 infertile women who underwent in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. Group 1 received FSH; Group 2 received FSH+HMG/r-LH; Group 3 received FSH+HMG+r-LH. Results: The age and Body Mass Index were significantly greater in Group III. The endometrial thickness was greater in Groups II and III, suggesting better endometrial receptivity. Better pregnancy and birth outcomes were seen in Group 3. In sub-cohorts of women older than 32 years old or with overweight/obesity, pregnancy and birth outcomes were also much better in Group 3, albeit without statistical significance. Conclusion: The addition of both HMG and r-LH to FSH may improve the chance of infertile women with normal ovarian responses to have more success in having live birth babies, specifically in those over 32 years of age or with overweight/obese patients who typically face challenges in conceiving and sustaining a pregnancy.

The performance of quaternary-ammonium chitosan in wastewater treatment: The overlooked role of solubility.

Quaternary-ammonium chitosan (CT-CTA) is a popular water treatment agent, and its electropositivity and cation strength are improved compared with chitosan. The use of CT-CTA is widely advocated to remove suspended particles and organic matter from wastewater. However, the solubility of CT-CTA is an important factor affecting the performance of CT-CTA, which is a neglected problem in previous studies. In the study, CT-CTA with different solubilities were prepared by adjusting pH from 2 to 7 in preparation, and their applications were explored in wastewater. When the pH was 2, 2.5, or 3, the obtained CT-CTA was a dissolved state. The turbidity and color removal were 95 % - 98 % and 60 % - 74 %, respectively. When the pH was 4, 5, 6, or 7, the obtained CT-CTA was a solid state. The turbidity and color removal were 30 % - 63 % and 90 % - 97 %, respectively. For domestic-wastewater treatment, CT-CTA in a dissolved state removed 92 % of turbidity and 50 % of chemical oxygen demand (COD). CT-CTA in a solid state removed 86 % of turbidity and 64 % of COD with poly aluminum chloride (PAC). The results illustrated the performance of CT-CTA with different solubilities, which can broaden its application in wastewater treatment.

Leaching potentials of microplastic fibers and UV stabilizers from coastal-littered face masks.

Synthetic fibrous textiles are ubiquitous plastic commodities in everyday existence. Nevertheless, there exists a dearth of understanding regarding their environmental occurrence and the releasing capacities of associated additives. In this study, ten additives were determined in twenty-eight kinds of daily used plastic products including face masks, synthetic clothing, and food containers. Our results revealed that a typical kind of fibrous plastic, face masks, contained a greater variety of additives with UV stabilizers in particular, when compared to other plastic commodities. The above phenomena triggered our field investigation for the occurrence and release potentials of face mask fibers and the co-existing UV stabilizers into the environment. We further collected 114 disposed masks from coastal areas and analyzed their UV stabilizer concentrations. Results showed that the abundance of littered face masks ranged from 40-1846 items/km2 along the Yangtze Estuary, China; and UV stabilizers were of 0.3 ± 0.7 ng/g and 0.7 ± 1.7 ng/g in main bodies and ear ropes, respectively. The UV stabilizer concentrations in the field collected masks were only ∼7 % of their new counterparts, implying their potential leaching after disposal. By simulating the weathering scenario, we predict that a substantial amount of microplastics, with 1.1 × 1010 polypropylene fibers and 3.7 × 1010 polyester fibers, are probably be released daily into the coastal environment after face masks disposal; whereas the accompanied leaching amount of UV stabilizers was relatively modest under the current scenario.

Emerging innovations in portable chemical sensing devices: Advancements from microneedles to hydrogel, microfluidic, and paper-based platforms.

With the public heightened emphasis on mitigating the occurrence risks of health-related ailment and optimizing personal physical performance, portable chemical sensing devices emerged as an indispensable component of pervasive health monitoring. Chemical sensing enabled the immediate and on-site identification of biomarkers in biological fluids by integrating colorimetry, fluorescence, electrochemical, and other methods into portable sensor devices. These sensor devices incorporated microneedles, hydrogels, microfluidic modules, and papers, facilitating conformal human-device contact and providing several visual sensing options for disease prevention and healthcare management. This review systematically overviewed recent advancements in chemical sensors for marker detection, categorizing them based on monitoring device types. Furthermore, we also offered recommendations and opportunities for developing portable chemical sensing devices by summarizing sensor integration methods and tracking sites on the human body.

Advancing ophthalmic delivery of flurbiprofen via synergistic chiral resolution and ion-pairing strategies.

Flurbiprofen (FB), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is widely employed in treating ocular inflammation owing to its remarkable anti-inflammatory effects. However, the racemic nature of its commercially available formulation (Ocufen®) limits the full potential of its therapeutic activity, as the (S)-enantiomer is responsible for the desired anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, the limited corneal permeability of FB significantly restricts its bioavailability. In this study, we successfully separated the chiral isomers of FB to obtain the highly active (S)-FB. Subsequently, utilizing ion-pairing technology, we coupled (S)-FB with various counter-ions, such as sodium, diethylamine, trimethamine (TMA), and l-arginine, to enhance its ocular bioavailability. A comprehensive evaluation encompassed balanced solubility, octanol-water partition coefficient, corneal permeability, ocular pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, and in vivo ocular anti-inflammatory activity of each chiral isomer salt. Among the various formulations, S-FBTMA exhibited superior water solubility (about 1-12 mg/ml), lipid solubility (1< lg Pow < 3) and corneal permeability. In comparison to Ocufen®, S-FBTMA demonstrated significantly higher in vivo anti-inflammatory activity and lower ocular irritability (such as conjunctival congestion and tingling). The findings from this research highlight the potential of chiral separation and ion-pair enhanced permeation techniques in providing pharmaceutical enterprises focused on drug development with a valuable avenue for improving therapeutic outcomes.

Whole-Transcriptome Analysis Sheds Light on the Biological Contexts of Intramuscular Fat Deposition in Ningxiang Pigs.

The quality of pork is significantly impacted by intramuscular fat (IMF). However, the regulatory mechanism of IMF depositions remains unclear. We performed whole-transcriptome sequencing of the longissimus dorsi muscle (IMF) from the high (5.1 ± 0.08) and low (2.9 ± 0.51) IMF groups (%) to elucidate potential mechanisms. In summary, 285 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 14 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMIs), 83 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs), and 79 differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) were identified. DEGs were widely associated with IMF deposition and liposome differentiation. Furthermore, competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks were constructed through co-differential expression analyses, which included circRNA-miRNA-mRNA (containing 6 DEMIs, 6 DEGs, 47 DECs) and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA (containing 6 DEMIs, 6 DEGs, 36 DELs) regulatory networks. The circRNAs sus-TRPM7_0005, sus-MTUS1_0004, the lncRNAs SMSTRG.4269.1, and MSTRG.7983.2 regulate the expression of six lipid metabolism-related target genes, including PLCB1, BAD, and GADD45G, through the binding sites of 2-4068, miR-7134-3p, and miR-190a. For instance, MSTRG.4269.1 regulates its targets PLCB1 and BAD via miRNA 2_4068. Meanwhile, sus-TRPM7_0005 controls its target LRP5 through ssc-miR-7134-3P. These findings indicate molecular regulatory networks that could potentially be applied for the marker-assisted selection of IMF to enhance pork quality.

MicroRNA-875-5p inhibits the growth and metastasis of cervical cancer cells by promoting autophagy and apoptosis and inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Introduction: MicroRNA-875-5p (miR-875-5p) is a cancer-related microRNA. It has been demonstrated that miR-875-5p participates in the development of various types of cancer such as hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, prostate and bladder cancer. Previous research suggested that miR-875 is implicated in the development of cervical cancer cells. However, the exact role and function of miR-875-5p in cervical cancer remain unexplored. It is important to examine the role and function of miR-875-5p and the associated signaling pathway, as the findings may have diagnostic and therapeutic significance. Thus, in this study, we investigated the effect of miR-875-5p on the growth and metastasis of cervical cancer cells and the possible underlying mechanisms. Methods: Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-875-5p in cervical cancer cells and normal cervical epithelium. After overexpression or co-expression of miR-875-5p in cells, the changes in cell function were analyzed. Western blot was used to detect the expression changes of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) -related proteins and autophagy-related proteins. Results: Functional studies demonstrated that miR-875-5p overexpression significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT, and promotes apoptosis and autophagy of cervical cancer cells., while miR-875-5p knockdown promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT, and inhibited apoptosis and autophagy cervical cancer cells. Furthermore, Western blot results showed that overexpression of miR-875-5p downregulated the expressions of N-cadherin, Snail, Vimentin and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B I (LC3B I). Conversely, miR-875-5p upregulated the expression of E-cadherin. Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings suggest that miR-875-5p functions as a tumor inhibitor suppressing the growth and metastasis of cervical cancer. Overexpression of miR-875-5p inhibits malignant behavior and promotes autophagy and apoptosis in cervical cancer cells. These findings advance our understanding of the role and function of miR-875-5p in cervical cancer and could facilitate the development of early genetic markers or biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cervical cancer.

Factors influencing the thriving of emergency department nurses in China.

INTRODUCTION: Thriving is a positive feeling arising from nurses' work and is increasingly valued by managers. Given their demanding workloads and various duties, it is necessary to research the determinants of ED nurses' thriving. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing thriving and the mechanisms of interaction between the factors among ED nurses. METHODS: 380 ED nurses from six tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province, China, participated in this cross-sectional study. The instruments used were the General Information Questionnaire, Challenge-Hindrance Stressors Scale, Psychological Detachment Scale, and Thriving at Work Scale. Data analysis methods included univariate analysis, Pearson correlation, PROCESS 4.0, and hierarchical multiple regression. RESULTS: Weekly working hours affected nurses' thriving. Challenge stressors and psychological detachment were positively related to thriving. Hindrance stressors had a negative link with thriving. Psychological detachment suppressed the relationship between challenge stressors and thriving; however, it mediated the relationship between hindrance stressors and thriving. CONCLUSION: Challenge-hindrance stressors and psychological detachment are significant elements influencing ED nurses' thriving. Nursing administrators should help ED nurses properly address stressors with different attributes and adopt appropriate strategies to improve nurses' thriving by enhancing psychological detachment.

Identification of a novel glioblastoma multiforme molecular subtype with poor prognosis and high immune infiltration based on oxidative stress-related genes.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly malignant primary brain tumor with a poor prognosis. Reactive oxygen species that accumulate during tumorigenesis can cause oxidative stress (OS), which plays a crucial role in cancer cell survival. Clinical and transcriptome data of TCGA-GBM dataset from UCSC Xena database were analyzed. Consensus clustering analysis was conducted to identify OS-related molecular subtypes for GBM. The immune infiltrate level between subtypes were characterized by ESTIMATE algorithm. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between subtypes were screened by DESeq2 package. Two OS-related molecular subtypes of GBM were identified, and cluster 2 had poorer overall survival and higher immune infiltration levels than cluster 1. Enrichment analysis showed that 54 DEGs in cluster 2 were significantly enriched in cytokine/chemokine-related functions or pathways. Ten hub genes (CSF2, CSF3, CCL7, LCN2, CXCL6, MMP8, CCR8, TNFSF11, IL22RA2, and ORM1) were identified in GBM subtype 2 through protein-protein interaction network, most of which were positively correlated with immune factors and immune checkpoints. A total of 55 small molecule drugs obtained from drug gene interaction database (DGIdb) may have potential therapeutic effects in GBM subtype 2 patients. Our study identified 10 hub genes as potential therapeutic targets in GBM subtype 2 patients, who have poorer overall survival and higher immune infiltration levels. These findings could pave the way for new treatments for this aggressive form of brain cancer.

Eco-friendly hydrophobic ZIF-8/sodium alginate monolithic adsorbent: An efficient trap for microplastics in the aqueous environment.

Microplastics (MPs), a newly emerging class of environmental contaminants, pose a severe threat to the entire ecosystem. The development of efficient and environmentally responsible adsorbents for removing the MPs is a particularly urgent research. Herein, a kind of monolithic ZIF-8 based adsorbents featuring stable hydrophobicity and micropore-mesopore-macropore hierarchical porous structure were fabricated by in situ growth of ZIF-8 nanoparticles on sodium alginate (SA) framework, and using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a hydrophobic agent. The monolithic nature of ZIF-8/SA allowed an easy solid-liquid separation process for adsorbents from water environment compared to powdered materials. The hierarchical porous structure ensures a remarkable MPs removal performance. The ZIF-8/SA showed high adsorption capacities of 594, 585, and 282 mg/g for polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), poly (vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) respectively, and rapid adsorption kinetic progress within 120 min. The ZIF-8/SA adsorbents also exhibited excellent stability in the presence of interfering ions, acid/alkali, and humic acid, and displayed adsorption performance of > 70 % even in actual aquatic environment such as tap water, river water, and seawater. The results of characterizations showed that the synergistic effect of electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic force, and van der Waals force was the main adsorption mechanism. The well-designed hydrophobic ZIF-8/SA monolithic materials would be promising to rapidly remove the MPs from the water environment.

Dissolution-precipitation method concatenated sodium alginate/MOF-derived magnetic multistage pore carbon magnetic solid phase extraction for determination of antioxidants and ultraviolet stabilizers in polylactic acid food contact plastics.

Antioxidants and UV stabilizers have some endocrine disrupting effects and liver toxicity. Both types of additives are still widely used in food contact plastics to improve the durability of plastic products. However, efficient and rapid detection of antioxidants and UV stabilizers has been a challenge due to the complexity of the plastic matrix and the low content of antioxidants and UV stabilizers. In this study, a sodium alginate/MOF-derived magnetic multistage pore carbon material (MIL-101(Fe)/SA-CAs) was developed, having the merits of abundant multistage pore structure, large specific surface area, and good magnetic separation properties. Thus, this material was selected as the sorbent for magnetic solid-phase extraction combined with a dissolution-precipitation method for the extraction and purification of antioxidants and UV stabilizers from polylactic acid food contact plastics. The extraction parameters such as sorbent type, sorbent dosage, sample solution pH, ionic strength, sorption time, elution solution type, volume, and time were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, all the analytes determined by UPLC-MS/MS showed good linear range (r > 0.99), detection limit (0.023-3.105 ng g-1), accuracy (70.6-102.3 %), and reproducibility (RSD<9.8 %). Further, the developed method was applied to determine the antioxidants and UV stabilizers in polylactic acid lunch boxes and straws, showing excellent applicability. The results showed that the antioxidants and UV stabilizers were detected in some of the samples, with a maximum detection of antioxidant 1010 at 7297 ng g-1. This study provided a sensitive, efficient, and environmentally friendly method for antioxidants and UV stabilizers in polylactic acid food contact plastics. The ideas for the design of environmentally friendly metal-organic frameworks and biomass composite multifunctional materials would promise in the sample pretreatment field for the emerging contaminants.

Effect of the Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program on postoperative liver cancer patients: A single-center randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is the most common complication in postoperative liver cancer patients. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program on postoperative liver cancer patients. METHODS: A total of 184 liver cancer patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (treated under the Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program) or a control group (treated with the general nutritional method). Nutrition-related indicators, such as prealbumin (PA) and albumin, were assessed before and after treatment in both groups. The incidence of complications (e.g., nausea or vomiting, bloating, difficulty defecating, ascites), length of hospital stay, first time to anal exhaust and out-of-bed activity, and patient satisfaction were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 184 liver cancer patients were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (treated under the Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program) or a control group (treated with the general nutritional method). Nutrition-related indicators, such as prealbumin (PA) and albumin, were assessed before and after treatment in both groups. The incidence of complications (e.g., nausea or vomiting, bloating, difficulty defecating, ascites), length of hospital stay, first time to anal exhaust and out-of-bed activity, and patient satisfaction were recorded. CONCLUSION: The Home to Hospital to Home nutrition management program improves the nutritional status of postoperative liver cancer patients, lowers the incidence of complications, shortens hospital stays, increases patient satisfaction, and promotes the early recovery of patients.

Matrix complete dissolution concatenated biochar magnetic solid-phase extraction of benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers in polyester fibers prior to UPLC-MS/MS analysis.

Matrix complete dissolution combined with magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) was applied to extract four benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVSs) from polyester curtains. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was coupled to perform the content of trace BUVSs. The procedure was being developed in two steps. The polymer matrix was initially thoroughly dissolved by 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) followed by the addition of precipitant to separate the target from the dissolved polymer matrix. Next, triiron tetraoxide/biochar magnetic material was prepared and utilized as the sorbent for purification of the extract. Ultrasonic extraction coupled with the MSPE method and the proposed method was compared. Better extraction recovery of four BUVSs was acquired by the novel developed extraction method. The purification effect of the new extraction method was established by comparing the matrix effect of the polymer complete dissolution method and the polymer complete dissolution combined with the MSPE method. The extraction parameters were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, correlation coefficient (r) ranging from 0.9969 to 0.9997, limit of detection of 0.2 to 0.8 ng·g-1, and the recovery varied from 81.5 to 102.7% with RSD smaller than 10.7% were obtained for four BUVSs, respectively. This study provides a potential strategy for the efficient extraction and sensitive determination of BUVSs in polyester fibers samples.

Self-reported and self-facilitated theranostic oxygen nano-economizer for precise and hypoxia alleviation-potentiated photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been extensively investigated for cancer treatment by virtue of singlet oxygen-induced oxidative damage to tumors. Nevertheless, the therapeutic efficiency of PDT is still limited by the low singlet oxygen yield attributed to the improper irradiation duration and the tumor hypoxic microenvironment. To tackle these challenges, we elaborately design a theranostic oxygen nano-economizer to self-report the optimal irradiation duration and alleviate tumor hypoxia simultaneously, which is engineered by fluorescent 9,10-anthracenyl bis (benzoic acid) (DPA)-MOF, tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP), triphenyl phosphine (TPP) and redox-responsive lipid-PEG (DSPE-SS-PEG2k). Upon laser irradiation, the fluorescence of DPA-MOF could be quenched, thereby self-reporting the optimal irradiation duration for sufficient PDT. The decoration of DSPE-SS-PEG2k and TPP endows the theranostic oxygen nano-economizer with a tumor-specific response and mitochondrial targeting capability, respectively. Notably, singlet oxygen generated from TCPP reduces oxygen consumption by disrupting the entire oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway in the mitochondria of tumor cells, further improving the level of singlet oxygen in a self-facilitated manner for hypoxia alleviation-potentiated PDT. As expected, such a self-reported and self-facilitated theranostic oxygen nano-economizer exhibits potent antitumor activity in the 4T1 tumor-bearing mouse model. This study offers a theranostic paradigm for precise and hypoxia alleviation-potentiated cancer therapy.

Genome-Wide Association Study and Identification of Candidate Genes for Intramuscular Fat Fatty Acid Composition in Ningxiang Pigs.

Ningxiang pigs exhibit a diverse array of fatty acids, making them an intriguing model for exploring the genetic underpinnings of fatty acid metabolism. We conducted a genome-wide association study using a dataset comprising 50,697 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and samples from over 600 Ningxiang pigs. Our investigation yielded novel candidate genes linked to five saturated fatty acids (SFAs), four monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and five polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Significant associations with SFAs, MUFAs, and PUFAs were found for 37, 21, and 16 SNPs, respectively. Notably, some SNPs have significant PVE, such as ALGA0047587, which can explain 89.85% variation in Arachidic acid (C20:0); H3GA0046208 and DRGA0016063 can explain a total of 76.76% variation in Elaidic Acid (C18:1n-9(t)), and the significant SNP ALGA0031262 of Arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) can explain 31.76% of the variation. Several significant SNPs were positioned proximally to previously reported genes. In total, we identified 11 candidate genes (hnRNPU, CEPT1, ATP1B1, DPT, DKK1, PRKG1, EXT2, MEF2C, IL17RA, ITGA1 and ALOX5), six candidate genes (ALOX5AP, MEDAG, ISL1, RXRB, CRY1, and CDKAL1), and five candidate genes (NDUFA4L2, SLC16A7, OTUB1, EIF4E and ROBO2) associated with SFAs, MUFAs, and PUFAs, respectively. These findings hold great promise for advancing breeding strategies aimed at optimizing meat quality and enhancing lipid metabolism within the intramuscular fat (IMF) of Ningxiang pigs.

Biochar/sodium alginate mixed matrix membrane as adsorbent for in-syringe solid-phase extraction towards trace nitroimidazoles in water samples prior to ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis.

In the present work, the herb (Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf) residue, as an environmentally friendly and renewable biomass source, was converted into novel biochar. Biochar/sodium alginate mixed matrix membrane was fabricated. On this basis, a biochar/sodium alginate mixed matrix membrane-based in-syringe solid-phase extraction was developed combined with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to determine nitroimidazoles in water samples. The factors including times of exaction, type, and volume of elution solvent, and sample solution pH were thoroughly optimized. Then the correlation coefficient was 0.9995-0.9997. The limit of detection of four analytes was between 0.006 and 0.014 ng/mL, and the recovery was between 79.02% and 99.1%. Consequently, the established method would provide a new perspective on monitoring nitroimidazoles in water samples.

Adsorption properties of active biochar: Overlooked role of the structure of biomass.

Vascular plants account for more than 80% of all biomass on earth and are potential precursors of biochar. However, the changes of vascular bundle have received less attention during the preparation of biochar. In this study, loofah sponge (LS), tangerine pith (TP), and rhodiola rosea (RR), were selected to show the role of vascular bundle in biochar through the pretreatment of vascular bundle. The results showed that the active biochar prepared with vascular bundle protection had high adsorption capacity for methylene blue (LS: 953.53 mg/g, TP: 714.77 mg/g, RR: 583.49 mg/g). The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method was used to measure the specific surface area (SSA) of active biochar. The SSA of LS active biochar prepared by vascular bundle protection was 2262.67 m2/g, and has high adsorption properties under different conditions. In conclusion, the protection of vascular bundle during biochar preparation is important to improve the utilization of biological resources and environmental adsorption.

Cellulose cryogels from herbal residues for oily wastewater purification.

Recycling herbal residues for oily wastewater purification is a potential way to use the wastes to treat wastes. Cellulose extracted from herbal residues is a fine material for cryogel fabrication. However, the cellulose cryogels were not suitable for oily wastewater treatment due to their amphiphilicity. To address this issue, the cryogels were modified with methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), which made them hydrophobic and reduced their surface energy. In this study, the herbal residues (Ficus microcarpa L. f) were used in cryogel preparation for the first time. The cryogels exhibit super lightweight and low density. The modified cryogels show excellent sorption capacity for free oils, especially silicone oil (51.22 g/g), and outperformed some recent sorbents. They also effectively separated water-in-toluene emulsion stabilized by Span 80, with a separation efficiency of 98.57 % and a flux of 1474.67 L/m2h. This study demonstrated a novel application of waste herbal residues in the field of environmental remediation.