Undernourished Household Contacts Are at Increased Risk of Tuberculosis (TB) Disease, but not TB Infection- a Multicenter Prospective Cohort Analysis.

Undernutrition is the leading risk factor for tuberculosis (TB) globally and in India. This multicenter prospective cohort analysis from India suggests that undernutrition is associated with increased risk of TB disease but not TB infection among household contacts of persons with TB.

Oral administration of herbal oligonucleotide drug JGL-sRNA-h7 ameliorates hyperglycemia in db/db mice and beagle dogs.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a prevalent metabolic disease, posing a considerable threat to public health. Oligonucleotide drugs have proven to be a promising field of therapy for the diseases. In this study, we reported that a herbal small RNA (sRNA), JGL-sRNA-h7 (B34735529, F1439.L002444.A11), could exhibit potent hypoglycemic effects by targeting glucose-6-phosphatase. Oral administration of sphingosine (d18:1)-JGL-sRNA-h7 bencaosomes ameliorated hyperglycemia and diabetic kidney injury better than metformin in db/db mice. Furthermore, glucose tolerance was also improved in sphingosine (d18:1)-JGL-sRNA-h7 bencaosomes-treated beagle dogs. Our study indicates that JGL-sRNA-h7 could be a promising hypoglycemic oligonucleotide drug.

Quantifying the effect of non-ionic surfactant alkylphenol ethoxylates on the persistence of thiabendazole on fresh produce surface.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the role of adjuvants in pesticide persistence is crucial to develop effective pesticide formulations and manage pesticide residues in fresh produce. This study investigated the impact of a commercial non-ionic surfactant product containing alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) on the persistence of thiabendazole on apple and spinach surfaces against the 30 kg m-3 baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3 ) soaking, which was used to remove the active ingredient (AI) in the cuticular wax layer of fresh produce through alkaline hydrolysis. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) mapping method was used to quantify the residue levels on fresh produce surfaces at different experimental scenarios. Four standard curves were established to quantify surface thiabendazole in the absence and presence of APEOs, on apple and spinach leaf surfaces, respectively. RESULTS: Overall, the result showed that APEOs enhanced the persistence of thiabendazole over time. After 3 days of exposure, APEOs increased thiabendazole surface residue against NaHCO3 hydrolysis on apple and spinach surfaces by 5.39% and 10.47%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that APEOs led to more pesticide residues on fresh produce and greater difficulty in washing them off from the surfaces using baking soda, posing food safety concerns. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Herbal inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro effectively ameliorate acute lung injury in mice.

Coronavirus disease 2019, a newly emerging serious infectious disease, has spread worldwide. To date, effective drugs against the disease are limited. Traditional Chinese medicine was commonly used in treating COVID-19 patients in China. Here we tried to identify herbal effective lipid compounds from the lipid library of 92 heat-clearing and detoxication Chinese herbs. Through virtual screening, enzymatic activity and inhibition assays, and surface plasmon resonance tests, we identified lipid compounds targeting the main protease (Mpro ) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and verified their functions. Here, we found that natural lipid compounds LPC (14:0/0:0) and LPC (16:0/0:0) could target SARS-CoV-2 Mpro , recover cell death induced by SARS-CoV-2, and ameliorate acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharides and virus poly (I:C) mimics in vivo and in vitro. Our results suggest that LPC (14:0/0:0) and LPC (16:0/0:0) might be potential pan remedy against ARDS.

Angiotensin Receptor Blocker is Associated with a Lower Fracture Risk: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are widely used in the treatment of hypertension. Hypertension is often accompanied by osteoporosis. However, the relationship between ACEI/ARB and fractures remains controversial. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to update the potential relationship between ACEI/ARB and fractures. Methods: This meta-analysis was identified through PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Related studies about ACEI/ARB with the risk of fracture were published from inception to June 2022. Results: Nine qualified prospective designed studies, involving 3,649,785 subjects, were included in this analysis. Overall, the RRs of ACEI compared with the nonusers were 0.98 (95% CI: 0.88, 1.10; P < 0.001) for composite fractures and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.87, 1.05; P=0.048) for hip fractures; the RRs of ARB compared to the nonusers were 0.82 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.91; P < 0.001) for composite fractures and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.74, 0.97; P=0.028) for hip fractures. Furthermore, in the subgroup analysis, male may benefit from ARB (RR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.89, P=0.028), and the European may also benefit from ARB (RR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.80, 0.93, P=0.015). Conclusions: ACEI usage will not decrease the risk of osteoporosis fracture. On the contrary, ARB usage can decrease the risk of total fracture and hip fracture, especially for males and Europeans. Compared with ACEI, for patients at higher risk of fracture in cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, the protective effect of ARB should be considered.

18:0 Lyso PC, a natural product with potential PPAR-γ agonistic activity, plays hypoglycemic effect with lower liver toxicity and cardiotoxicity in db/db mice.

Rosiglitazone, a specific agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), displays a robust hypoglycemic action in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and elicits serious adverse reactions, especially hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. Here, we aims to find a new natural PPAR-γ agonist with less adverse reactions than rosiglitazone in db/db mice. The method of virtual screening was used to identify a PPAR-γ agonist 18:0 Lyso PC from an in-house natural product library. We verified its pharmacological effects and adverse reactions comparing with rosiglitazone in vivo and in vitro. 18:0 Lyso PC exhibited pharmacological effects similar to those of rosiglitazone in db/db mice. Moreover, 18:0 Lyso PC showed a lower extent of liver injury and cardiotoxicity in db/db mice. The mechanism, by which this natural compound alleviates metabolic syndrome, involves a reduction in fatty acid synthesis mediated by activation of the phosphorylation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and an increase expression of uncoupled protein 1 (UCP1) and PPAR-γ coactivator-1 alpha (PGC1-α). 18:0 Lyso PC, a natural compound, can show a similar hypoglycemic effect to rosiglitazone by activating PPAR-γ, while eliciting markedly fewer adverse reactions than rosiglitazone.

The Combination of 2D Layered Graphene Oxide and 3D Porous Cellulose Heterogeneous Membranes for Nanofluidic Osmotic Power Generation.

Salinity gradient energy, as a type of blue energy, is a promising sustainable energy source. Its energy conversion efficiency is significantly determined by the selective membranes. Recently, nanofluidic membrane made by two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials (e.g., graphene) with densely packed nanochannels has been considered as a high-efficient membrane in the osmotic power generation research field. Herein, the graphene oxide-cellulose acetate (GO-CA) heterogeneous membrane was assembled by combining a porous CA membrane and a layered GO membrane; the combination of 2D nanochannels and 3D porous structures make it show high surface-charge-governed property and excellent ion transport stability, resulting in an efficient osmotic power harvesting. A power density of about 0.13 W/m2 is achieved for the sea-river mimicking system and up to 0.55 W/m2 at a 500-fold salinity gradient. With different functions, the CA and GO membranes served as ion storage layer and ion selection layer, respectively. The GO-CA heterogeneous membrane open a promising avenue for fabrication of porous and layered platform for wide potential applications, such as sustainable power generation, water purification, and seawater desalination.

Theoretical Study on Photoisomerization Mechanisms of Diphenyl-Substituted N,C-Chelate Organoboron Compounds.

N,C-chelate organoboron compounds are widely employed as photoresponsive and optoelectronic materials due to their efficient photochromic reactivity. It was found in experiments that two diphenyl-substituted organoboron compounds, namely B(ppy)Ph2 (ppy=2-phenylpyridyl) and B(iba)Ph2 (iba=N-isopropylbenzylideneamine), show distinct photochemical reactivity. B(ppy)Ph2 is inert on irradiation, whereas B(iba)Ph2 undergoes photoinduced transformations, yielding BN-cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene via a borirane intermediate. In this work, the complete active space self-consistent field and its second-order perturbation (CASPT2//CASSCF) methods were used to investigate the photoinduced reaction mechanisms of B(ppy)Ph2 and B(iba)Ph2 . The calculations showed that the two compounds isomerize to borirane in the same way by passing a transition state in the S1 state and a conical intersection between the S1 and S0 states. The energy barriers in the S1 state of 0.54 and 0.26 eV for B(ppy)Ph2 and B(iba)Ph2 , respectively, were explained by analyzing the charge distributions of minima in S0 and S1 states. The results provide helpful insights into the excited-state dynamics of organoboron compounds, which could assist in rational design of boron-based photoresponsive materials.

Advancing the predictivity of skin sensitization by applying a novel HMOX1 reporter system.

Reporter cell lines are a particularly useful tool to screen for the skin sensitization potential of chemicals. Current cell models based on Keap1-Nrf2 mimic induction by conducting antioxidant response element-luciferase plasmids. However, plasmid-based reporters may ignore comprehensive aspects of induction, thus affecting the accuracy of hazard identification. Herein, we developed a novel HaCaT-based reporter system, EndoSens, whereby luciferase was specifically inserted into the cassette for heme oxygenase (decycling) 1 (HMOX1, the most consistent marker induced by skin sensitizers) by CRISPR/Cas9. Testing data from 20 coded substances showed an accuracy of 90%, sensitivity of 91.7%, and specificity of 87.5%, which exceeded the OECD requirement. Among the 35 chemicals examined, predictivity was better than reported for the validated KeratinoSens™. These results indicate that the EndoSens assay could advance the predictivity of skin sensitization, thus making it a promising tool for in vitro skin sensitization testing.

Environmental governance-public supervision and participation nexus under state supervision system and carbon neutrality targets in China.

China is now experiencing severe environmental issues due to its rapid socio-economic advancement. Environmental governance is crucial to preserving China's rapidly degrading natural ecology. Public supervision and participation are important factors that effectively promote environmental quality. Therefore, this analysis primarily examines the relationship between China's public participation and environmental governance. Hence, the primary focus of the analysis is to investigate the asymmetric impact of public participation on environmental governance from 1996 to 2020. We have employed the nonlinear QARDL model that estimates the short- and long-run impact across different quantiles. The study's results support that long-run estimates for positive change in environmental NGOs (ENGOs) are significantly positive for almost all quantiles, while those for negative change in ENGOs are negative and have a significant impact at higher quantiles. In the short run, the estimates of positive change in ENGOs are positive and significant; however, the negative change in ENGOs does not significantly impact environmental governance at lower quantiles. The Wald test also confirms the asymmetric impact of ENGOs on environmental governance across various quantiles in short and long run. The findings of this analysis underscore the critical role of public supervision and participation in influencing environmental governance in China.

Effect of cadmium and polystyrene nanoplastics on the growth, antioxidant content, ionome, and metabolism of dandelion seedlings.

Cadmium is the most prevalent heavy metal pollutant in the environment and can be readily combined with micro/nanoplastics (M/NPs) to change their bioavailability. In the present study, we comprehensively investigated the effect of polystyrene (PS) NPs on dandelion plants grown under Cd stress. Cd exposure significantly inhibited the growth of dandelion seedlings, resulting in a decrease in seedling elongation from 26.47% to 28.83%, a reduction in biomass from 29.76% to 54.14%, and an exacerbation of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. The interaction between PS NPs and Cd resulted in the formation of larger aggregates, with the Cd bioavailability reduced by 12.56%. PS NPs affect ion absorption by regulating reactive oxygen production and increasing superoxide dismutase activity, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of Cd. PSCd aggregates induced significant changes in the metabolic profiles of dandelions, affecting various carbohydrates related to alcohols, organic acids, sugar metabolism, and bioactive components related to flavonoids and phenolic acids. Furthermore, based on a structural equation model, exposure to PSCd activated oxidative stress and nutrient absorption, thereby affecting plant growth and Cd accumulation. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the effects of PS NPs on Cd bioavailability, accumulation, and plant growth, which are crucial for understanding the food safety of medicinal plants in a coexistence environment.

Lysophosphatidic acid responsive photosensitive supramolecular organic frameworks for tumor imaging, drug loading, and photodynamic therapy.

Supramolecular organic frameworks have been widely applied for biological detection and drug delivery. In this study, a supramolecular organic framework (SOF) is constructed through the self-assembly of a highly photosensitive triarylphosphine oxide guest molecule, OTPP-6-Methyl, with cucurbit [8] uril (CB [8]). The formation of the SOF gradually enhances the weak fluorescence of OTPP-6-Methyl owing to the restriction of the molecular folding motion. Although the high positive charge of OTPP-6-Methyl facilitates binding to various negatively charged substances, the SOF system only demonstrated an obvious fluorescence response to LPA, a biomarker of ovarian cancer, via the disassembly of SOF and subsequent binding of OTPP-6-Methyl with LPA. The fluorescence changes during the entire process are insufficient to allow the sensitive detection of LPA; thus, we further designed a FRET system by introducing Cy5, which can act as an energy receptor to achieve a ratiometric readout for LPA. The tumor-targeting cRGD group was introduced into the SOF system as part of another guest molecule, OTPP-5-M-1-cRGD, to improve the tumor-targeting ability of the SOF system. The SOF system further improves the photosensitivity of guest molecules, and is therefore used in the in vivo imaging of ovarian cancer subcutaneous tumors and as a DDS for loading DOX for the combined in vivo chemotherapy and photodynamic treatment of tumors.

The cGAS-Ku80 complex regulates the balance between two end joining subpathways.

As the major DNA sensor that activates the STING-TBK1 signaling cascade, cGAS is mainly present in the cytosol. A number of recent reports have indicated that cGAS also plays critical roles in the nucleus. Our previous work demonstrated for the first time that cGAS is translocated to the nucleus upon the occurrence of DNA damage and inhibits homologous recombination (HR), one of the two major pathways of DNA double strand break (DSB) repair. However, whether nuclear cGAS regulates the other DSB repair pathway, nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ), which can be further divided into the less error-prone canonical NHEJ (c-NHEJ) and more mutagenic alternative NHEJ (alt-NHEJ) subpathways, has not been characterized. Here, we demonstrated that cGAS tipped the balance of the two NHEJ subpathways toward c-NHEJ. Mechanistically, the cGAS-Ku80 complex enhanced the interaction between DNA-PKcs and the deubiquitinase USP7 to improve DNA-PKcs protein stability, thereby promoting c-NHEJ. In contrast, the cGAS-Ku80 complex suppressed alt-NHEJ by directly binding to the promoter of Polθ to suppress its transcription. Together, these findings reveal a novel function of nuclear cGAS in regulating DSB repair, suggesting that the presence of cGAS in the nucleus is also important in the maintenance of genome integrity.

Effects of polyethylene and biodegradable microplastics on the physiology and metabolic profiles of dandelion.

Biodegradable plastics, such as poly(butylene adipate terephthalate) (PBAT) and polylactic acid (PLA), are potential alternatives to conventional polyethylene (PE), both of which are associated with the production of microplastics (MPs). However, the toxicity of these compounds on medicinal plants and their differential effects on plant morphophysiology remain unclear. This study supplemented soils with MPs sized at 200 µm at a rate of 1% w/w and incubated them for 50 days to investigate the impact of MPs on the growth and metabolites of dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.). The results demonstrated that the investigated MPs decreased the growth of dandelion seedlings, induced oxidative stress, and altered the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase). Based on the comprehensive toxicity assessment results, the ecological toxicity was in the following order: PE MPs > PBAT MPs > PLA MPs. Metabolomics analyses revealed metabolic reprogramming in dandelion plants, leading to the enrichment of numerous differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) in the leaves. These pathways include carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, suggesting that dandelions respond to MP stress by enhancing the activity of sugar, organic acid, and amino acid metabolic pathways. In addition, phenolic acids and flavonoids are critical for maintaining the balance in the antioxidant defense system. Our results provide substantial insights into the toxicity of biodegradable MPs to plants and shed light on plant defense and adaptation strategies. Further assessment of the safety of biodegradable MPs in terrestrial ecosystems is essential to provide guidance for environmentally friendly management.

Assessment of bidirectional relationships between multiple sclerosis and epilepsy: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Epidemiological studies indicate that multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with epilepsy. However, the causality and directionality of this association remain under-elucidated. This study aimed to reveal the causality between MS and epilepsy. METHODS: A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed by using summarized statistics derived from large genome-wide association studies of MS and epilepsy. We used the inverse variance weighted method as the primary approach, and then four other MR methods to bidirectionally evaluate the causality of the association between MS and epilepsy. Additional sensitivity analyses were performed to measure the robustness of the findings. RESULTS: Genetically predicted MS was positively correlated with developing all epilepsy [odds ratio (OR) = 1.027 (1.003-1.051), P  =  0.028] and generalized epilepsy [OR = 1.050 (1.008-1.094), P = 0.019]. In the reverse MR analysis, all epilepsy [OR = 1.310 (1.112-1.543), P = 0.001], generalized epilepsy [OR = 1.173 (1.010-1.363), P = 0.037], and focal epilepsy [OR = 1.264 (1.069-1.494), P  =  0.006] elevated the risk of developing MS. The result remained robust and congruous across all sensitivity analyses conducted. CONCLUSIONS: MS is potentially associated with a higher risk of developing epilepsy. Furthermore, epilepsy may be a causal determinant of MS risk. These findings may further the understanding of the interaction of the two conditions.

Characterization of lipids and volatile compounds in boiled donkey meat by lipidomics and volatilomics.

Lipids are crucial substances for the formation and retention of volatile compounds (VOCs). The lipid and VOC profiles of boiled donkey meat were investigated by lipidomics and volatilomics. In total, 4277 lipids belonging to 39 subclasses were identified, comprising 26.93% triglycerides (TGs), 15.74% phosphatidylcholins (PCs), and 9.40% phosphatidylethanolamines. The relative percentage of TG in the meat significantly decreases (p < 0.001) from 0 to 40 min, after which there is no significant change, whereas PCs, sphingomyelins, and methyl phosphatidylcholines (MePCs) show the opposite trend. TG(16:1_18:1_18:2) and TG(16:0_16:1_18:2) appear to be key lipids for retaining VOCs in boiled donkey meat. Furthermore, PC(18:3e_16:0) and MePC(31:0e) were found to be potential markers for discriminating donkey meat. A total of 83 VOCs were detected, including 25.30% aldehydes, 18.07% hydrocarbons, 14.46% ketones, and 13.25% alcohols. Eleven characteristic VOCs with relative odor activity values >1 were identified as the predominant flavor compounds in boiled donkey meat, mainly hexanal and 1-octen-3-ol. Of the 258 differential lipids, 72 of them, especially polyunsaturated-fatty acid-rich lipids, are the main contributors to the formation of VOCs. Together, the key lipids for retention and formation of VOCs in donkey meat were revealed, providing a theoretical basis for VOC regulation.

Targeting c-Myc transactivation by LMNA inhibits tRNA processing essential for malate-aspartate shuttle and tumour progression.

BACKGROUND: A series of studies have demonstrated the emerging involvement of transfer RNA (tRNA) processing during the progression of tumours. Nevertheless, the roles and regulating mechanisms of tRNA processing genes in neuroblastoma (NB), the prevalent malignant tumour outside the brain in children, are yet unknown. METHODS: Analysis of multi-omics results was conducted to identify crucial regulators of downstream tRNA processing genes. Co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry methods were utilised to measure interaction between proteins. The impact of transcriptional regulators on expression of downstream genes was measured by dual-luciferase reporter, chromatin immunoprecipitation, western blotting and real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods. Studies have been conducted to reveal impact and mechanisms of transcriptional regulators on biological processes of NB. Survival differences were analysed using the log-rank test. RESULTS: c-Myc was identified as a transcription factor driving tRNA processing gene expression and subsequent malate-aspartate shuttle (MAS) in NB cells. Mechanistically, c-Myc directly promoted the expression of glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase (EPRS) and leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LARS), resulting in translational up-regulation of glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 1 (GOT1) as well as malate dehydrogenase 1 (MDH1) via inhibiting general control nonrepressed 2 or activating mechanistic target of rapamycin signalling. Meanwhile, lamin A (LMNA) inhibited c-Myc transactivation via physical interaction, leading to suppression of MAS, aerobic glycolysis, tumourigenesis and aggressiveness. Pre-clinically, lobeline was discovered as a LMNA-binding compound to facilitate its interaction with c-Myc, which inhibited aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase expression, MAS and tumour progression of NB, as well as growth of organoid derived from c-Myc knock-in mice. Low levels of LMNA or elevated expression of c-Myc, EPRS, LARS, GOT1 or MDH1 were linked to a worse outcome and a shorter survival time of clinical NB patients. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that targeting c-Myc transactivation by LMNA inhibits tRNA processing essential for MAS and tumour progression.

Isotope engineering for spin defects in van der Waals materials.

Spin defects in van der Waals materials offer a promising platform for advancing quantum technologies. Here, we propose and demonstrate a powerful technique based on isotope engineering of host materials to significantly enhance the coherence properties of embedded spin defects. Focusing on the recently-discovered negatively charged boron vacancy center ([Formula: see text]) in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), we grow isotopically purified h10B15N crystals. Compared to [Formula: see text] in hBN with the natural distribution of isotopes, we observe substantially narrower and less crowded [Formula: see text] spin transitions as well as extended coherence time T2 and relaxation time T1. For quantum sensing, [Formula: see text] centers in our h10B15N samples exhibit a factor of 4 (2) enhancement in DC (AC) magnetic field sensitivity. For additional quantum resources, the individual addressability of the [Formula: see text] hyperfine levels enables the dynamical polarization and coherent control of the three nearest-neighbor 15N nuclear spins. Our results demonstrate the power of isotope engineering for enhancing the properties of quantum spin defects in hBN, and can be readily extended to improving spin qubits in a broad family of van der Waals materials.

Understanding the impact of a non-ionic surfactant alkylphenol ethoxylate on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic analysis of pesticides on apple surfaces.

Pesticide active ingredients (AIs) are often applied with adjuvants to facilitate the stability and functionality of AIs in agricultural practice. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of a common non-ionic surfactant, alkylphenol ethoxylate (APEO), on the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) analysis of pesticides as well as its impact on pesticide persistence on apple surfaces, as a model fresh produce surface. The wetted areas of two AIs (thiabendazole and phosmet) mixed with APEO were determined respectively to correct the unit concentration applied on apple surfaces for a fair comparison. SERS with gold nanoparticle (AuNP) mirror substrates was applied to measure the signal intensity of AIs with and without APEO on apple surfaces after a short-term (45 min) and a long-term (5 days) exposure. The limit of detection (LOD) of thiabendazole and phosmet using this SERS-based method were 0.861 ppm and 2.883 ppm, respectively. The result showed that APEO decreased the SERS signal for non-systemic phosmet, while increased SERS intensity of systemic thiabendazole on apple surfaces after 45 min pesticide exposure. After 5 days, the SERS intensity of thiabendazole with APEO was higher than thiabendazole alone, and there was no significant difference between phosmet with and without APEO. Possible mechanisms were discussed. Furthermore, a 1% sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) washing method was applied to test the impact of APEO on the persistence of the residues on apple surfaces after short-term and long-term exposures. The results indicated that APEO significantly enhanced the persistence of thiabendazole on plant surfaces after a 5-day exposure, while there was no significant impact on phosmet. The information obtained facilitates a better understanding of the impact of the non-ionic surfactant on SERS analysis of pesticide behavior on and in plants and helps further develop the SERS method for studying complex pesticide formulations in plant systems.