Generation of optical vortex beams with bandwidth exceeding 550†nm using a helical fiber needle exhibiting strong mode coupling.

A strong-coupling helical fiber needle (HFN) is proposed and demonstrated for the realization of bandwidth-enhanced broadband optical vortex beam (OVB) generation. The HFN is based on a single mode fiber and operates at the dispersion-turning-point (DTP) of the lowest radial order of the cladding mode (i.e., LP11) but with a remarkably high mode coupling efficiency. By utilizing this novel, to the best of our knowledge, HFN, successful generation of the first-order OVB with an impressive bandwidth up to 556 nm at -10 dB and a center wavelength of ∼1570 nm has been achieved. This represents the broadest bandwidth demonstrated among all fiber grating-based OVB generators to date. The proposed HFN-based OVB generator exhibits a relatively compact size, ultra-wide bandwidth, and customizable center wavelength, making it highly promising for applications in optical vortex-based endoscopic imaging as well as particle detection and manipulation.

N/O-Codoped Ultrathin Porous Biochar Derived from Casein for Fast Adsorption of Iodine.

The release of radioactive iodine into the environment poses a significant threat, as it can contaminate soil, water, and food chains, leading to detrimental effects on ecosystems and biodiversity. Hence, employing the adsorption method proves to be a simple yet effective approach for treating radioactive waste. N/O-codoped ultrathin porous biochar, synthesized from casein using NaHCO3 activation, emerges as a potential candidate for adsorption materials. The saturation level of I2 adsorption in 100 mg L-1 iodine-cyclohexane solution is 73 mg·g-1 at 20 min. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experiments attribute this phenomenon to the presence of graphite nitrogen (NG) and C-OH groups on the biochar surface. Furthermore, the pseudo-first-order model fits better with the experimental values, suggesting that the adsorption of iodine by the adsorbent is primarily physisorption-based. The Freundlich isotherm is suitable for iodine adsorption of biochar, owing to the abundance of adsorption sites within the porous structure, particularly at the edges, which enhance the adsorption activity. Significantly, the study highlights that NG adsorptive sites exhibit 1.5 times higher adsorption activity compared to C-OH adsorptive sites, underscoring the essential role of NG in iodine adsorption for electron transfer. Overall, these findings underscore the potential of N/O-codoped ultrathin porous biochar in effectively mitigating the presence of radioactive I2, showcasing its promise in addressing environmental challenges associated with radioactive contamination.

Unveiling the absorption, translocation, and metabolism of penthiopyrad in pakchoi under hydroponic and soil-cultivated conditions.

The efficient use of pesticides has long been a topic of public concern, necessitating a thorough understanding of their movement in plants. This study investigates the translocation and distribution of penthiopyrad in pakchoi plants cultivated both in hydroponic and soil-cultivated conditions. Results indicate that penthiopyrad predominantly accumulates in the roots, with concentrations of 11.3-53.9 mg/kg following root application, and in the leaves, with concentrations of 2.0-17.1 mg/kg following foliar application. The bioconcentration factor exceeded 1, with values ranging from 1.2 to 23.9 for root application and 6.4 to 164.0 for foliar application, indicating a significant role in the absorption and accumulation processes. The translocation factor data, which were <1, suggest limited the translocations within pakchoi plants. The limitation may be attributed to the hydrophobic properties of penthiopyrad (log Kow = 3.86), as evidenced by its predominant distribution in the subcellular solid fractions of pakchoi tissues, accounting for 93.1% to 99.5% of the total proportion. Six metabolites (753-A-OH, M12, 754-T-DO, M11, PCA, and PAM) were identified in this study as being formed during this process. These findings provide valuable insights into the absorption, translocation, and metabolism of penthiopyrad in pakchoi.

Switchable Control of Antibiotic Activity: A Shape-Shifting "Tail" Strategy.

Bacterial resistance is emerging as a global threat, stemming partially from continuous exposure of pathogens to antibiotics of sublethal concentrations. Thus, novel molecular approaches capable of inactivating antibiotics, which prevent their final build-up in the environment, are highly desirable. Here, we report a proof-of-principle demonstration of a mechanically new strategy for switchable control of antibiotic activity, which regulates drug uptake across the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria by externally triggered shape shifting of a short, covalently attached "tail". The rationale behind this strategy is grounded in the size-selectivity of porin channels exploited by a large proportion of antibiotics for accessing intracellular targets, thus representing a general approach to control antibiotic availability in the environment which alleviates undue selection pressure for resistance.

Reduction in the Residues of Penthiopyrad in Processed Edible Vegetables by Various Soaking Treatments and Health Hazard Evaluation in China.

Tomato and cucumber are two vital edible vegetables that usually appear in people's daily diet. Penthiopyrad is a new type of amide chiral fungicide, which is often used for disease control of vegetables (including tomato and cucumber) due to its wide bactericidal spectrum, low toxicity, good penetration, and strong internal absorption. Extensive application of penthiopyrad may have caused potential pollution in the ecosystem. Different processing methods can remove pesticide residues from vegetables and protect human health. In this study, the penthiopyrad removal efficiency of soaking and peeling from tomatoes and cucumbers was evaluated under different conditions. Among different soaking methods, heated water soaking and water soaking with additives (NaCl, acetic acid, and surfactant) presented a more effective reduction ability than other treatments. Due to the specific physicochemical properties of tomatoes and cucumbers, the ultrasound enhances the removal rate of soaking for tomato samples and inhibits it for cucumber samples. Peeling can remove approximately 90% of penthiopyrad from contaminated tomato and cucumber samples. Enantioselectivity was found only during tomato sauce storage, which may be related to the complex microbial community. Health risk assessment data suggests that tomatoes and cucumbers are safer for consumers after soaking and peeling. The results may provide consumers with some useful information to choose better household processing methods to remove penthiopyrad residues from tomatoes, cucumbers, and other edible vegetables.

Herbicidal Activity of Beflubutamid Analogues as PDS Inhibitors and SAR Analysis and Degradation Dynamics in Wheat.

In this work, a series of beflubutamid (BF) analogues' postemergent herbicidal activity was evaluated, and the structure-activity relationship (SAR) was discussed. At a dosage of 300 g ai/ha, compounds (Rac)-6h and (Rac)-6q showed excellent herbicidal activity against Amaranthus retroflexus, Abutilon theophrasti, and Medicago sativa, with inhibition rates of 90, 100, and 80% and 100, 100, and 100%, respectively, comparable to that of commercial herbicide BF, which showed inhibition rates of 90, 100, and 100%, respectively. Notably, at dosages of 150 and 300 g ai/ha, the chiral compounds (S)-6h and (S)-6q exhibited higher herbicidal activities than their racemates. Molecular docking results indicated that compounds (S)-BF and (S)-6h have stronger binding affinities with Oryza sativa phytoene desaturase (OsPDS), resulting in a higher herbicidal activity. Additionally, the degradation dynamics half-life of (S)-BF in wheat was determined to be 77.02 h. Consequently, compounds (S)-6h and (S)-6q are promising lead candidates for the development of highly effective herbicides.

Dissipation, Residue and Dietary Intake Risk Assessment of Penthiopyrad in Eggplants and Its Removal Using Various Household Processing Techniques.

A field trial was conducted to illustrate the dissipation and residue and assess the dietary intake risk of penthiopyrad in eggplants, and the distribution was further estimated after different household processing methods. Penthiopyrad dissipated quickly in eggplants, with half-lives of 1.85−2.56 days. The final residue data indicated that following the recommended spraying method, penthiopyrad would not threaten human health. Risk quotient results (<<100%) also demonstrated that the dietary intake risk of penthiopyrad in eggplants for Chinese consumers could be negligible. Washing, peeling and thermal treatments had significant removal effects on penthiopyrad from eggplants (0 < processing factor < 0.60). The characterization of the dissipation and distribution of penthiopyrad in field and processed eggplant samples could provide a more realistic reference for risk assessment of processed products, as well as some information for humans who may be exposed to penthiopyrad.

One-Step Pyrolysis Fabrication of Magnetic Bagasse Biochar Composites with Excellent Lead Adsorption Performance.

In the present study, a magnetically separable adsorbent, manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4)/sugarcane bagasse biochar magnetic composites (MFSCBB-MCs), was fabricated through a one-step pyrolysis method. The characterization of the prepared adsorbents indicated that MnFe2O4 nanoparticles were successfully embedded into the biochar matrix, offering magnetic separability and increasing the negative charges on the surface relative to the pristine biochar. Batch adsorption tests indicated that the adsorption of lead on MFSCBB-MCs was pH- and dose-dependent. The experimental results were effectively fitted using the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R 2 > 0.99) and the Langmuir isotherm equation (R 2 > 0.99), indicating the main chemisorption pathway and monolayer coverage process. Meanwhile, lead adsorption was found to be spontaneous and endothermic, as shown by the study of thermodynamic parameters. The maximum capacity, q m, calculated from the Langmuir model was 155.21 mg·g-1 at 25 °C, demonstrating excellent adsorption capability compared with several previously reported bagasse adsorbents. Based on adsorption mechanism analysis, physical adsorption, electrostatic attraction, and complexation were all involved in the lead(II) adsorption process on MFSCBB-MCs. Furthermore, the adsorbent was easily regenerated as indicated by the high magnetic separation and chemical desorption potential after five cycles, so it is a cost-effective and environmentally favorable adsorbent for wastewater lead removal.

Remediation and resource utilization of chromium(III)-containing tannery effluent based on chitosan-sodium alginate hydrogel.

In this work, chitosan­sodium alginate polysaccharide hydrogel (CS0.2-SA0.6(GA0.3)) was rationally designed and synthesized via electrostatic and covalent interactions. The structure and morphologies of the hydrogel were characterized, and the results showed CS0.2-SA0.6(GA0.3) with a layered and loose structure by virtue of glutaraldehyde (GA) cross-linking agent introduction. On the one hand, the porous and loose structure of the adsorbent facilitated the removal of chromium (III) from the tannery effluent. Furthermore, after chromium (III) adsorption, CS0.2-SA0.6(GA0.3)-Cr(III) could be mechanically degraded to CS/SA/GA/Cr(III) sol by a drum, avoiding traditional high-temperature, high-pressure reactor application. Due to the retanning and filling effects of CS/SA/GA/Cr(III) sol, the chemical and physical properties of the finished leather were improved. Based on these, this work aims to provide a strategy that integrates chromium (III)-containing tanning effluent treatment and retanning/filling resource utilization of adsorbent/adsorbate, which is an effective alternative on account of its convenient operation, environmental sustainability, and wide adaptability.

Initial measurement of ion nonextensive parameter with geodesic acoustic mode theory.

The consideration of nonextensivity effects is crucial to the accurate diagnosis of plasma parameters; common plasma nonextensive parameters include electron nonextensive parameter and ion nonextensive parameter, and the former can be measured, while the ion nonextensive parameter cannot be measured yet. Here we show the measurement of ion nonextensive parameter of plasma based on the theory of nonextensive geodesic acoustic modes. We assume that the plasma to be measured can be described by nonextensive statistical mechanics, and on this basis, the nonextensive geodesic acoustic mode theory is established. Utilizing this theory, we have measured the ion nonextensive parameter [Formula: see text] which cannot be diagnosed even by a nonextensive single electric probe. Our research points out that the proposed measurement method of ion nonextensive parameter may play a role in plasma diagnosis and will help us to grasp the nonextensivity of plasma more precisely. We hope the proposed method of ion nonextensive parameter diagnosis based on the nonextensive geodesic acoustic mode theory can be the starting point of more complex ion nonextensive parameter diagnosis methods. In addition, the measurement of ion nonextensive parameter is closely related to the study of various plasma waves, instabilities, turbulence and abnormal transport, and a defined and quantitative test of nonextensive geodesic acoustic mode theory will bound up deeply with such developments.

Two new glycosides from Leonurus japonicus.

Two new glycosides, 1,6-di-O-syringoyl-ß-D-glucopyranose (1) and quercetin 3-O-[(3-O-syringoyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranoside] (2), along with seven known compounds were isolated from the MeOH extract of Leonurus japonicus. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectral analysis.

Beyond temperature: controlling collagen fibrillogenesis under physiological conditions via interaction with cucurbit[7]uril.

Under physiological ionic strength and pH, temperature has long been appreciated as the only stimulus that can be applied to induce in vitro self-assembly of tropocollagen. Here, we report a second, mechanistically new control strategy that uses non-covalent and selective binding of cucurbit[7]uril, a macrocyclic cavitand, with midchain aromatic residues on the tropocollagen surface. This strategy directly demonstrates the decisive role hydrophobic interactions play in collagen fibrillogenesis. It also points the way to the temporally-controllable formation of collagen fibrils in vivo that is highly desirable, yet challenging, in some biomedical scenarios.

Matt Polyurethane Coating: Correlation of Surface Roughness on Measurement Length and Gloss.

Matt polyurethane coating was successfully prepared through the synergistic effect of castor oil and phenolic epoxy resin into polyurethane backbone. The formation mechanism may be ascribed to the modulus mismatch between the partially modified epoxy polyurethane and partially unmodified polyurethane. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the micro-rough surface morphologies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and three-dimensional (3D) surface profilometer were applied to calculate a series of surface roughness parameters in different dimensions, such as Sa, Sq, Sp, Sv, Sz, Sku, Ssk, etc. The exciting results of this paper-the correlation of surface roughness on measurement length and gloss-are explored in detail. It reveals the extrinsic property of measured roughness with measurement length and provides guidance for what kind of incident angle gloss meters (20°, 60°, and 85°) best describe the gloss of matt polyurethane coating.

Light-induced desorption of trivalent chromium from adsorbents: one step closer to sustainability.

The environmental sustainability of existing adsorbents in remediating chromium-contaminated water has long been plagued by the necessity of using chemical desorbents in regenerating the adsorbents. Here, we demonstrate that trivalent chromium can be repelled from surface-bound merocyanine upon visible-light irradiation, avoiding any chemical desorbent, and thus secondary contamination, to restore the adsorption capacity of the exhausted adsorbents.

Regulation of Cancer Stem Cell Self-Renewal by HOXB9 Antagonizes Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Melanoma Cell Apoptosis via the miR-765-FOXA2 Axis.

Adaptation to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been indicated as a driver of malignancy and resistance to therapy in human melanoma. However, the relationship between cancer stem cells and adaptation to ER stress remains unclear. Here, we show that the ratio of cancer stem cells is increased in ER stress-resistant melanoma cells, which inhibit ER stress-induced apoptosis and promote tumorigenesis. Further mechanistic studies showed that HOXB9 triggered by ER stress favors cancer stem cell self-renewal and enhances ER stress resistance. HOXB9 directly binds to the promoter of microRNA-765 and facilitates its transcription, which in turn targets FOXA2, resulting in a FOXA2 decrease and cancer stem cell increase. Additionally, an increase in HOXB9 promotes melanoma growth and inhibits cell apoptosis in a mouse xenograft model. Elevated HOXB9 is found in human melanoma tissues, which is associated with microRNA-765 up-regulation and FOXA2 decreases. Thus, our data showed that the HOXB9-dependent, microRNA-765-mediated FOXA2 pathway contributes to the survival of melanoma under ER stress by maintaining the properties of cancer stem cells.

Downregulation of miR-218-5p promotes invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells via activation of CD44-ROCK signaling.

The invasion front of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) harbors the most aggressive cells of the tumor and is critical for cancer invasion and metastasis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in OSCC progression. In this study, we modelled the OSCC invasion front on a microfluidic chip, and investigated differences in miRNA profiles between cells in the invasion front and those in the tumor mass by small RNA sequencing. We found that miR-218-5p was downregulated in invasion front cells and negatively regulates OSCC invasiveness by targeting the CD44-ROCK pathway. Thus, miR-218-5p may serve as a useful therapeutic target for OSCC. Moreover, invasion front cell isolation based-on microfluidic technology provided a useful strategy for cancer invasion study.

Effects of herbal mixture extracts on obesity in rats fed a high-fat diet.

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of three herbal mixture extracts on obesity induced by high-fat diet (HFD) in rats. The prescriptions-Pericarpium citri reticulatae and Fructus crataegi-were used as matrix components and mixed with Ampelopsis grossedentata, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) to form T1, T2, and T3 complexes, respectively. Results revealed that HFD feeding significantly increased body weight gain, fat deposition, plasma lipid profiles, hepatic lipid accumulation, and hepatic vacuoles formation, but decreased plasma levels of adiponectin in rats. Only the T1 complex showed the tendency, although not significantly so, for decreased HFD-induced body weight gain. T1 and T3 complexes significantly reduced HFD-induced fat deposition, and plasma levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Only the T1 complex significantly increased HFD-reduced adiponectin levels in plasma, but decreased HFD-increased triglyceride content in liver tissues. All complexes effectively inhibited HFD-induced vacuoles formation. The content of dihydromyricetin, salvianolic acid B, and EGCG in T1, T2, and T3 complexes was 18.25 ± 0.07%, 22.20 ± 0.10%, and 18.86 ± 0.04%, respectively. In summary, we demonstrated that herbal mixture extracts, especially T1 complex, exhibit antiobesity activity in HFD-fed rats.

Gastroprotective potential against indomethacin and safety assessment of the homology of medicine and food formula cuttlebone complex.

Cuttlebone complex (CBC), a homology of medicine and food formula, is comprised of five herbal medicines (Endoconcha Sepiae, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, fresh ginger, Fructus Amomi, and Radix Glycyrrhizae) and two food ingredients (Zingiber zerumbet and chitosan). Herein, the gastroprotective potential against indomethacin and a safety assessment of CBC were investigated. In a gastroprotective model, CBC effectively decreased the indomethacin-increased gastric ulcerous lesions, and increased the indomethacin-decreased prostaglandin E2 levels in the gastric mucosa. In genotoxicity tests, CBC treatment did not increase the numbers of revertant colonies in five Salmonella typhimurium strains and chromosome aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary CHO-K1 cells, with or without S9 metabolic activation. The oral supplementation of CBC did not increase micronucleus formation in the peripheral blood of mice. In a subacute toxicity study, the body weight and blood biochemical parameters observed in CBC-treated rats were normal. In conclusion, CBC was considered as a non-toxic formula and could be used to remedy indomethacin-induced gastric damage.

Five new homoisoflavonoids from the tuber of Ophiopogon japonicus.

Five new homoisoflavonoids, ophiopogonanone C (1), ophiopogonanone D (2), ophiopogonone C (3), ophiopogonanone E (4) and ophiopogonanone F (5), and six known compounds were isolated from an ethanol extract of the tubers of Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb) Ker-Gawl. Spectroscopic analyses were used to elucidate the structures of these compounds.