Irreversible coherent matching bonding of van der Waals heterostructure lattice by pressure.

The key of heterostructure is the combinations created by stacking various vdW materials, which can modify interlayer coupling and electronic properties, providing exciting opportunities for designer devices. However, this simple stacking does not create chemical bonds, making it difficult to fundamentally alter the electronic structure. Here, we demonstrate that interlayer interactions in heterostructures can be fundamentally controlled using hydrostatic pressure, providing a bonding method to modify electronic structures. By covering graphene with boron nitride and inducing an irreversible phase transition, the conditions for graphene lattice-matching bonding (IMB) were created. We demonstrate that the increased bandgap of graphene under pressure is well maintained in ambient due to the IMB in the interface. Comparison to theoretical modeling emphasizes the process of pressure-induced interfacial bonding, systematically generalizes, and predicts this model. Our results demonstrate that pressure can irreversibly control interlayer bonding, providing opportunities for high-pressure technology in ambient applications and IMB engineering in heterostructures.

Single-cell analysis of CD4+ tissue residency memory cells (TRMs) in adult atopic dermatitis: A new potential mechanism.

The pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis (AD) is complex. CD4+ T cells play an essential role in the development of lesions in AD. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between adult AD lesioned and non-lesioned skin using two datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. 62 DEGs were shown to be related to cytokine response. Compared to non-lesioned skin, lesioned skin showed immune infiltration with increased numbers of activated natural killer (NK) cells and CD4+ T memory cells (p < 0.01). We then identified 13 hub genes with a strong association with CD4+ T cells using weighted correlation network analysis. Single-cell analysis of AD detected a novel CD4+ T subcluster, CD4+ tissue residency memory cells (TRMs), which were verified through immunohistochemistry (IHC) to be increased in the dermal area of AD. The significant relationship between CD4+ TRM and AD was assessed through further analyses. FOXO1 and SBNO2, two of the 13 hub genes, were characteristically expressed in the CD4+ TRM, but down-regulated in IFN-γ/TNF-α-induced HaCaT cells, as shown using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Moreover, SBNO2 expression was associated with increased Th1 infiltration in AD (p < 0.05). In addition, genes filtered using Mendelian randomization were positively correlated with CD4+ TRM and were highly expressed in IFN-γ/TNF-α-induced HaCaT cells, as determined using qPCR and western blotting. Collectively, our results revealed that the newly identified CD4+ TRM may be involved in the pathogenesis of adult AD.

Comprehensive analysis of phospholipid in milk and their biological roles as nutrients and biomarkers.

Phospholipids (PL) have garnered significant attention due to their physiological activities. Milk and other dairy products are important dietary sources for humans and have been extensively used to analyze the presence of PL by various analytical techniques. In this paper, the analysis techniques of PL were reviewed with the eight trigrams of phospholipidomics and a comprehensive fingerprint of 1295 PLs covering 8 subclasses in milk and other dairy products, especially. Technology is the primary productive force. Based on phospholipidomics technology, we further review the relationship between the composition of PL and factors that may be involved in processing and experimental operation, and emphasized the significance of the biological role played by PL in dietary supplements and biomarkers (production, processing and clinical research), and providing the future research directions.

Dysregulation of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Disturbs the Circadian Rhythm and Aggravates Epileptic Seizures by Inducing Hippocampal GABAergic Dysfunction in C57BL/6 Mice.

The interplay between circadian rhythms and epilepsy has gained increasing attention. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which acts as the master circadian pacemaker, regulates physiological and behavioral rhythms through its complex neural networks. However, the exact role of the SCN and its Bmal1 gene in the development of epilepsy remains unclear. In this study, we utilized a lithium-pilocarpine model to induce epilepsy in mice and simulated circadian disturbances by creating lesions in the SCN and specifically knocking out the Bmal1 gene in the SCN neurons. We observed that the pilocarpine-induced epileptic mice experienced increased daytime seizure frequency, irregular oscillations in core body temperature, and circadian gene alterations in both the SCN and the hippocampus. Additionally, there was enhanced activation of GABAergic projections from the SCN to the hippocampus. Notably, SCN lesions intensified seizure activity, concomitant with hippocampal neuronal damage and GABAergic signaling impairment. Further analyses using the Gene Expression Omnibus database and gene set enrichment analysis indicated reduced Bmal1 expression in patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy, potentially affecting GABA receptor pathways. Targeted deletion of Bmal1 in SCN neurons exacerbated seizures and pathology in epilepsy, as well as diminished hippocampal GABAergic efficacy. These results underscore the crucial role of the SCN in modulating circadian rhythms and GABAergic function in the hippocampus, aggravating the severity of seizures. This study provides significant insights into how circadian rhythm disturbances can influence neuronal dysfunction and epilepsy, highlighting the therapeutic potential of targeting SCN and the Bmal1 gene within it in epilepsy management.

Bisphenol A Analogues Induce Neuroendocrine Disruption via Gut-Brain Regulation in Zebrafish.

There is epidemiological evidence in humans that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenol A (BPA) is tied to abnormal neuroendocrine function with both behavioral and intestinal symptoms. However, the underlying mechanism of this effect, particularly the role of gut-brain regulation, is poorly understood. We exposed zebrafish embryos to a concentration series (including environmentally relevant levels) of BPA and its analogues. The analogue bisphenol G (BPG) yielded the strongest behavioral impact on zebrafish larvae and inhibited the largest number of neurotransmitters, with an effective concentration of 0.5 µg/L, followed by bisphenol AF (BPAF) and BPA. In neurod1:EGFP transgenic zebrafish, BPG and BPAF inhibited the distribution of enteroendocrine cells (EECs), which is associated with decreased neurotransmitters level and behavioral activity. Immune staining of ace-α-tubulin suggested that BPAF inhibited vagal neural development at 50 and 500 µg/L. Single-cell RNA-Seq demonstrated that BPG disrupted the neuroendocrine system by inducing inflammatory responses in intestinal epithelial cells via TNFα-trypsin-EEC signaling. BPAF exposure activated apoptosis and inhibited neural developmental pathways in vagal neurons, consistent with immunofluorescence imaging studies. These findings show that both BPG and BPAF affect the neuroendocrine system through the gut-brain axis but by different mechanisms, revealing new insights into the modes of bisphenol-mediated neuroendocrine disruption.

Accurate Prediction of Rat Acute Oral Toxicity and Reference Dose for Thousands of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Derivatives Based on Chemometric QSAR and Machine Learning.

Acute oral toxicity is currently not available for most polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), especially their derivatives, because it is cost-prohibitive to experimentally determine all of them. Here, quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models using machine learning (ML) for predicting the toxicity of PAH derivatives were developed, based on oral toxicity data points of 788 individual substances of rats. Both the individual ML algorithm gradient boosting regression trees (GBRT) and the stacking ML algorithm (extreme gradient boosting + GBRT + random forest regression) provided the best prediction results with satisfactory determination coefficients for both cross-validation and the test set. It was found that those PAH derivatives with fewer polar hydrogens, more large-sized atoms, more branches, and lower polarizability have higher toxicity. Software based on the optimal ML-QSAR model was successfully developed to expand the application potential of the developed model, obtaining reliable prediction of pLD50 values and reference doses for 6893 external PAH derivatives. Among these chemicals, 472 were identified as moderately or highly toxic; 10 out of them had clear environment detection or use records. The findings provide valuable insights into the toxicity of PAHs and their derivatives, offering a standard platform for effectively evaluating chemical toxicity using ML-QSAR models.

A Reference Profile of N-Glycosylation for Human Kidney and the Identification of Cell-Cell Interactions between Parietal Epithelial Cells and Capillary Endothelial Cells by Single-Cell Glycosylation-Sequencing.

BACKGROUND: N-glycosylation is one of the most common posttranslational modifications in humans, and these alterations are associated with kidney diseases. METHODS: A novel technological approach, single-cell N-acetyllactosamine sequencing (scLacNAc-seq), was applied to simultaneously detect N-glycosylation expression and the transcriptome at single-cell resolution in three human kidney tissues from zero-time biopsy. Cell clusters, glycation abundance in each cell cluster, functional enrichment analysis, cell-cell crosstalk, and pseudotime analysis were applied. RESULTS: Using scLacNAc-seq, 24,247 cells and 22 cell clusters were identified, and N-glycan abundance in each cell was obtained. Transcriptome analysis revealed a close connection between capillary endothelial cells (CapECs) and parietal epithelial cells (PECs). PECs and CapECs communicate with each other through several pairs of ligand receptors (e.g., TGFB1-EGFR, GRN-EGFR, TIMP1-FGFR2, VEGFB-FLT1, ANGPT2-TEK, and GRN-TNFRSF1A). Finally, a regulatory network of cell-cell crosstalk between PECs and CapECs was constructed, which is involved in cell development. CONCLUSIONS: We here, for the first time, constructed the glycosylation profile of 22 cell clusters in the human kidney from zero-time biopsy. Moreover, cell-cell communication between PECs and CapECs through the ligand-receptor system may play a crucial regulatory role in cell proliferation.

Enhanced osteogenic and antibacterial properties of titanium implant surface modified with Zn-incorporated nanowires: Preclinical in vitro and in vivo investigations.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to synthesize zinc-incorporated nanowires structure modified titanium implant surface (Zn-NW-Ti) and explore its superior osteogenic and antibacterial properties in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Zn-NW-Ti was synthesized via displacement reactions between zinc sulfate solutions and the titanium (Ti) surface, which was pretreated by hydrofluoric acid etching and hyperthermal alkalinization. The physicochemical properties of the Zn-NW-Ti surface were examined. Moreover, the biological effects of Zn-NW-Ti on MC3T3-E1 cells and its antibacterial property against oral pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans) compared with sandblasted and acid-etched Ti (SLA-Ti) and nanowires modified Ti (NW-Ti) surface were assessed. Zn-NW-Ti and SLA-Ti modified implants were inserted into the anterior extraction socket of the rabbit mandible with or without exposure to the mixed bacterial solution (S. aureus, P. gingivalis, and A. actinomycetemcomitans) to investigate the osteointegration and antibacterial performance via radiographic and histomorphometric analysis. RESULTS: The Zn-NW-Ti surface was successfully prepared. The resultant titanium surface appeared as a nanowires structure with hydrophilicity, from which zinc ions were released in an effective concentration range. The Zn-NW-Ti surface performed better in facilitating the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells while inhibiting the colonization of bacteria compared with SLA-Ti and NW-Ti surface. The Zn-NW-Ti implant exhibited enhanced osseointegration in vivo, which was attributed to increased osteogenic activity and reduced bacterial-induced inflammation compared with the SLA-Ti implant. CONCLUSIONS: The Zn-incorporated nanowires structure modified titanium implant surface exhibited improvements in osteogenic and antibacterial properties, which optimized osteointegration in comparison with SLA titanium implant surface.

Sex difference in nocturnal blood pressure dipping in adolescents with varying degrees of adiposity.

BACKGROUND: For adolescents, abnormal dipping patterns in blood pressure (BP) are associated with early-onset organ damage and a higher risk of cardiovascular disorders in adulthood. Obesity is one of the most common reasons for abnormal BP dipping in young people. However, it is unknown whether the severity of obesity is associated with BP dipping status and whether this association is sex-dependent. METHODS: 499 participants between 12 and 17 years old with overweight or obesity underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) between April 2018 and January 2019 in Beijing and Baoding. Participants were grouped by body mass index (BMI) into overweight (BMI 85th-95th percentile), obese (BMI ≥ 95th percentile) and severely obese (BMI ≥ 120% of 95th percentile or ≥ 35 kg/m2) groups. Non-dipping was defined as a < 10% reduction in BP from day to night. The interaction effect between sex and obesity degree was also analyzed. RESULTS: 326 boys and 173 girls were included, of whom 130 were overweight, 189 were obese, and 180 were severely obese. Girls with severe obesity had a higher prevalence of non-dipping, but boys showed no significant differences in BP dipping status between obesity categories. In addition, as obesity severity went up, a more evident increase in night-time SBP was observed in girls than in boys. CONCLUSIONS: Severely obese is associated with a higher prevalence of non-BP dipping patterns in girls than in boys, which suggests that the relationship between the severity of obesity and BP dipping status might be sex-specific.

Surface characteristics and in vitro biocompatibility of titanium preserved in a vitamin C-containing saline storage solution.

The purpose of this study is to explore a storage solution for titanium implants and investigate its osteogenic properties. The commercial pure titanium (cp-Ti) surface and double-etched (SLA) titanium surface specimens were preserved in air, saline, 10 mM Vitamin C (VitC)-containing saline and 100 mM VitC-containing saline storage solutions for 2 weeks. The surface microtopography of titanium was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the surface elemental compositions of the specimens were analyzed by Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and water contact angle and surface roughness of the specimens were tested. The protein adsorption capacity of two titanium surfaces after storage in different media was examined by BCA kit. The MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts were cultured on two titanium surfaces after storage in different media, and the proliferation, adhesion and osteogenic differentiation activity of osteoblasts were detected by CCK-8, laser confocal microscope (CLSM) and Western blot. The SEM results indicated that the titanium surfaces of the air group were relatively clean while scattered sodium chloride or VitC crystals were seen on the titanium surfaces of the other three groups. There were no significant differences in the micromorphology of the titanium surfaces among the four groups. Raman spectroscopy detected VitC crystals on the titanium surfaces of two experimental groups. The XPS, water contact angle and surface roughness results suggested that cp-Ti and SLA-Ti stored in 0.9% NaCl and two VitC-containing saline storage solutions possessed less carbon contamination and higher surface hydrophilicity. Moreover, the protein adsorption potentials of cp-Ti and SLA-Ti surfaces were significantly improved under preservation in two VitC-containing saline storage solutions. The results of in vitro study showed that the preservation of two titanium surfaces in 100 mM VitC-containing saline storage solution upregulated the cell adhesion, proliferation, osteogenic related protein expressions of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. In conclusion, preservation of cp-Ti and SLA-Ti in 100 mM VitC-containing saline storage solution could effectively reduce carbon contamination and enhance surface hydrophilicity, which was conducive to osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts.

Convolutional neural network-based measurement of crown-implant ratio for implant-supported prostheses.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Research has revealed that the crown-implant ratio (CIR) is a critical variable influencing the long-term stability of implant-supported prostheses in the oral cavity. Nevertheless, inefficient manual measurement and varied measurement methods have caused significant inconvenience in both clinical and scientific work. PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop an automated system for detecting the CIR of implant-supported prostheses from radiographs, with the objective of enhancing the efficiency of radiograph interpretation for dentists. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The method for measuring the CIR of implant-supported prostheses was based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and was designed to recognize implant-supported prostheses and identify key points around it. The experiment used the You Only Look Once version 4 (Yolov4) to locate the implant-supported prosthesis using a rectangular frame. Subsequently, two CNNs were used to identify key points. The first CNN determined the general position of the feature points, while the second CNN finetuned the output of the first network to precisely locate the key points. The network underwent testing on a self-built dataset, and the anatomic CIR and clinical CIR were obtained simultaneously through the vertical distance method. Key point accuracy was validated through Normalized Error (NE) values, and a set of data was selected to compare machine and manual measurement results. For statistical analysis, the paired t test was applied (α=.05). RESULTS: A dataset comprising 1106 images was constructed. The integration of multiple networks demonstrated satisfactory recognition of implant-supported prostheses and their surrounding key points. The average NE value for key points indicated a high level of accuracy. Statistical studies confirmed no significant difference in the crown-implant ratio between machine and manual measurement results (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: Machine learning proved effective in identifying implant-supported prostheses and detecting their crown-implant ratios. If applied as a clinical tool for analyzing radiographs, this research can assist dentists in efficiently and accurately obtaining crown-implant ratio results.

Intelligent wireless power transfer via a 2-bit compact reconfigurable transmissive-metasurface-based router.

With the rapid development of the Internet of Things, numerous devices have been deployed in complex environments for environmental monitoring and information transmission, which brings new power supply challenges. Wireless power transfer is a promising solution since it enables power delivery without cables, providing well-behaved flexibility for power supplies. Here we propose a compact wireless power transfer framework. The core components of the proposed framework include a plane-wave feeder and a transmissive 2-bit reconfigurable metasurface-based beam generator, which constitute a reconfigurable power router. The combined profile of the feeder and the beam generator is 0.8 wavelengths. In collaboration with a deep-learning-driven environment sensor, the router enables object detection and localization, and intelligent wireless power transfer to power-consuming targets, especially in dynamic multitarget environments. Experiments also show that the router is capable of simultaneous wireless power and information transfer. Due to the merits of low cost and compact size, the proposed framework may boost the commercialization of metasurface-based wireless power transfer routers.

Monitoring Changes in Biochemical and Metabolite Profiles in Garlic Cloves during Storage.

Storage is important for the garlic cloves industry because it is critical to enabling a year-round supply. This study aimed to investigate the changes in biochemical and metabolic profiles in garlic cloves in terms of different temperatures and cultivars during storage using nontargeted and targeted metabolomics. The results showed that the storage temperatures and times were important factors affecting the composition and metabolite content of garlic cloves. In detail, the metabolic profiling of garlic cloves changed significantly at 22 °C, which was mainly related to sprouting. Furthermore, γ-glutamyl peptide was converted into the corresponding flavor precursors or free amino acids, leading to the fluctuation in the amount of nutrients in garlic cloves. In contrast, the quality of garlic cloves remained stable for 290 days at 0 °C though metabolism still occurred, which indicated that the slight chemical changes did not impact the quality significantly and low temperature could prolong their dormancy.

PI3Kδ inhibition alleviates the brain injury during cerebral ischemia reperfusion via suppressing pericyte contraction in a TNF-α dependent manner.

The pericytes (PCs) surrounding capillaries are vital regulators of capillary constriction. Persistent PC contraction results in the increased capillary constriction, therefore leading to the impaired cerebral blood flow (CBF) recovery after reperfusion and worsening the clinical outcomes in stroke patients. However, the potential determinants of PC functions during ischemia/reperfusion are poorly understood. Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit Delta (PIK3CD/PI3Kδ) is a crucial factor involved with neuronflammation during ischemic stroke. PI3Kδ has shown the expression in PCs, while its effect on PC functions has not been explored yet. In this study, a rodent ischemia/reperfusion model was established in C57BL/6 mice via transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R). The PI3Kδ expression in ischemic penumbra was remarkably upregulated following MCAO/R induction. PI3Kδ inhibitor CAL-101 improved the CBF recovery, ischemic brain injury, and suppressed capillary constriction in MCAO/R mice. Besides, the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), an inducer for tissue injury, and the expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 2 (TRPV2), a channel protein permitting calcium (Ca2+) uptake, were significantly reduced in ischemic penumbra after CAL-101 treatment. In vitro, oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) enhanced the expression of PI3Kδ and TRPV2 in primary mouse PCs. CAL-101 suppressed the TNF-α-induced TRPV2 expression in OGD/R-treated PCs, thus inhibiting the Ca2+ uptake and PC contraction. Collectively, this study suggests that PI3Kδ is a critical regulator of PC function during ischemic stroke.

Alterations of the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation induced by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with antidepressants treatment for major depressive disorder.

We investigated the neuroimaging changes and clinical efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with antidepressants in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients. We scanned 35 patients with MDD and 27 healthy controls (HC) with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before and after treatment. We analyzed amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and the correlation with clinical variables. The rate of significant efficacy after treatment was higher in the combination treatment group than in the antidepressant group, although not statistically significant. At baseline, ALFF increased in the left middle temporal, brain stem, and left cerebellum and decreased in the right anterior cingulate (ACC), right orbital frontal cortex (OFC), and right caudate. ALFF increased in the left fusiform and decreased in the right lingual gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus, and left superior occipital gyrus after antidepressants. ALFF increased in the right ACC, right OFC, and right rectus after combination treatment. ALFF changes in the right ACC/OFC were negatively correlated with HAMD changes. After treatment, abnormal activity in some brain regions normalized, but these regions differed between the two treatment groups. rTMS combined with antidepressants therapy may improve MDD symptoms by improving neuronal activity levels in the right ACC and right OFC.

Research on Fabrication of Phononic Crystal Soft-Supported Graphene Resonator.

In aviation, aerospace, and other fields, nanomechanical resonators could offer excellent sensing performance. Among these, graphene resonators, as a new sensitive unit, are expected to offer very high mass and force sensitivity due to their extremely thin thickness. However, at present, the quality factor of graphene resonators at room temperature is generally low, which limits the performance improvement and further application of graphene resonators. Enhancing the quality factor of graphene resonators has emerged as a pressing research concern. In a previous study, we have proposed a new mechanism to reduce the energy dissipation of graphene resonators by utilizing phononic crystal soft-supported structures. We verified its feasibility through theoretical analysis and simulations. This article focuses on the fabrication of a phononic crystal soft-supported graphene resonator. In order to address the issues of easy fracture, deformation, and low success rate in the fabrication of phononic crystal soft-supported graphene resonators, we have studied key processes for graphene suspension release and focused ion beam etching. Through parameter optimization, finally, we have obtained phononic crystal soft-supported graphene resonators with varying cycles and pore sizes. Finally, we designed an optical excitation and detection platform based on Fabry-Pérot interference principle and explored the impact of laser power and spot size on phononic crystal soft-supported graphene resonators.

Research on image recognition of tomato leaf diseases based on improved AlexNet model.

Aiming at the problems that the traditional image recognition technology is challenging to extract useful features and the recognition time is extended; the AlexNet model is improved to improve the effect of image classification and recognition. This study focuses on 8 types of tomato leaf diseases and healthy leaves. By using HOG and LBP weighted fusion to extract image features, a tomato leaf disease recognition model based on the AlexNet model is proposed, and transfer learning is used to train the AlexNet model. Transfer the knowledge learned by the AlexNet model on the PlantVillage image dataset to this model while reducing the number of fully connected layers. Keras deep learning framework and programming language Python were used. The model was implemented, and the classification and identification of tomato leaf diseases were carried out. The recognition rate of feature-weighted fusion classification is higher than that of serial and parallel methods, and the recognition time is the shortest. When the weight coefficient ratio of HOG and LBP is 3:7, the image recognition rate is the highest, and its value is 97.2 %. From the model performance curve See, when the number of iterations is more than 150 times, the training set and test accuracy rate both exceed 97 %, the loss rate shows a gradient decline, and the change is relatively stable; compared with the traditional AlexNet model, HOG + LBP + SVM model, and VGG model, improved AlexNet model has the highest recognition rate, and it has high recall value, accuracy, and F1 value; Compared with the latest convolutional neural network disease recognition models, improved AlexNet model recognition accuracy was 98.83 %, and the F1 value was 0.994. It shows that the model has good convergence performance, fast prediction speed, and low loss rate and can effectively identify 8 types of tomato leaf images, which provides a reference for the research on crop disease identification.

Comparative analysis of Deinagkistrodon acutus venom from Taiwan and China utilizing chromatographic, electrophoretic, and bioinformatic approaches, along with ELISA employing a monospecific antivenom.

Deinagkistrodon acutus is a medically important pitviper inhabiting mainly South China and Taiwan. The hemorrhagic effects of its envenoming are compatible to its venom, which is abundant in metalloproteases (svMPs) and C-type lectin-like proteins. In this study, we investigated geographic variations in the venom of D. acutus collected from Taiwan and four Mainland Chinese provinces: Fujian, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Hunan. The variations were assessed through high-performance liquid chromatography, non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis, gel electrophoresis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a monospecific antivenom (DaMAV) generated against the Taiwanese D. acutus venom, and discussed based on venom-protein sequences in databases and literature related to D. acutus venom. Additionally, the cross-reactivity of DaMAV against Crotalus horridus and Calloselasma rhodostoma venoms was investigated. We noted differential abundances of D. acutus venom metalloproteases, C-type lectin-like proteins, and phospholipase A2, along with point mutations and selective expression of serine protease isoforms. The ELISA results revealed that the venom from Taiwan was more reactive toward Taiwanese DaMAV than the four Mainland Chinese venoms, consistent with chromatographic profile differences, whereas C. horridus venom presented moderate cross-reactivity with DaMAV. The observed immunoreactivities of these venom with DaMAV can be attributed to the high prevalence of their PIII-svMPs, which are the dominant antigens, and the conservation of PIII-svMP epitopes.

Levels, Toxic Effects, and Risk Assessment of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Foods: A Review.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are naturally occurring secondary metabolites of plants. To date, more than 660 types of PAs have been identified from an estimated 6000 plants, and approximately 120 of these PAs are hepatotoxic. As a result of PAs being found in spices, herbal teas, honey, and milk, PAs are considered contaminants in foods, posing a potential risk to human health. Here, we summarize the chemical structure, toxic effects, levels, and regulation of PAs in different countries to provide a better understanding of their toxicity and risk assessment. With recent research on the risk assessment of PAs, this review also discusses the challenges facing this field, aiming to provide a scientific basis for PA toxicity research and safety assessment.

Influence of biochar addition and plant management (cutting and time) on ryegrass growth and migration of As and Pb during phytostabilization.

Phytostabilization of metal-contaminated soils can be enabled or improved by biochar application. However, biochar-aided effects vary on biochar types, and little attention has been paid to plant management (time and cutting) to enhance phytostabilization efficiency in synergy with biochar. Therefore, biochars derived from pig manure (PM), Japanese knotweed (JK), and a mixture of both (P1J1) were applied to Pb and As mining soil with ryegrass cultivation to assess the biochar-induced effects on plant growth, dissolved organic matter (DOM), As and Pb mobility, and bioaccumulation within a phytostabilization strategy. Additional treatments involving the combined biochar (P1J1) and ryegrass were conducted to explore the influence of sequential cutting and growing time on facilitating phytostabilization efficacy. Biochar applications promoted plant growth, progressively increasing over time, but were not enhanced by cutting. Short and long-wavelength humic-like DOM substances identified in the soil pore water after biochar application varied depending on the biochar types used, providing evidence for the correlation among DOM changes, biochar origin, and metal immobilization. Biochar-treated soils exhibited reduced Pb availability and enhanced As mobility, with P1J1 stabilizing Pb significantly similar to PM while causing less As mobilization as JK did. The mobilized As did not result in increased plant As uptake; instead, all biochar-added plants showed a significant decrease in As and Pb concentrations compared to those without biochar. Soil available As decreased while available Pb increased with time, and cutting did not influence soil As behavior but did reduce soil Pb release. Nevertheless, plant As and Pb concentrations decreased over time, whereas those in multiple-cut plants were generally higher than those without cuts. Biochar, especially P1J1, along with growth time, holds promise in promoting plant biomass, reducing plant Pb and As concentrations, and minimizing the migration of PbAs within the soil.