E3 ligases MAC3A and MAC3B ubiquitinate UBIQUITIN-SPECIFIC PROTEASE14 to regulate organ size in Arabidopsis.

The molecular mechanisms controlling organ size during plant development ultimately influence crop yield. However, a deep understanding of these mechanisms is still lacking. UBIQUITIN-SPECIFIC PROTEASE14 (UBP14), encoded by DA3, is an essential factor determining organ size in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Here, we identified two suppressors of the da3-1 mutant phenotype, namely SUPPRESSOR OF da3-1 1 and 2 (SUD1 and SUD2), which encode the E3 ligases MOS4-ASSOCIATED COMPLEX 3A (MAC3A) and MAC3B, respectively. The mac3a-1 and mac3b-1 mutations partially suppressed the high ploidy level and organ size phenotypes observed in the da3-1 mutant. Biochemical analysis showed that MAC3A and MAC3B physically interacted with and ubiquitinated UBP14/DA3 to modulate its stability. We previously reported that UBP14/DA3 acts upstream of the B-type cyclin-dependent kinase CDKB1;1 and maintains its stability to inhibit endoreduplication and cell growth. In this work, MAC3A and MAC3B were found to promote the degradation of CDKB1;1 by ubiquitinating UBP14/DA3. Genetic analysis suggests that MAC3A and MAC3B act in a common pathway with UBP14/DA3 to control endoreduplication and organ size. Thus, our findings define a regulatory module, MAC3A/MAC3B-UBP14-CDKB1;1, that plays a critical role in determining organ size and endoreduplication in Arabidopsis.

Targeted inhibition of m6A demethylase FTO by FB23 attenuates allergic inflammation in the airway epithelium.

Epithelial cells play a crucial role in asthma, contributing to chronic inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. m6A modification, which involves key proteins such as the demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO), is crucial in the regulation of various diseases, including asthma. However, the role of FTO in epithelial cells and the development of asthma remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the demethylase activity of FTO using a small-molecule inhibitor FB23 in epithelial cells and allergic inflammation in vivo and in vitro. We examined the FTO-regulated transcriptome-wide m6A profiling by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and RNA-seq under FB23 treatment and allergic inflammation conditions. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to assess the tissue-specific expression of FTO in asthmatic bronchial mucosa. We demonstrated that FB23 alleviated allergic inflammation in IL-4/IL-13-treated epithelial cells and house dust mite (HDM)-induced allergic airway inflammation mouse model. The demethylase activity of FTO contributed to the regulation of TNF-α signaling via NF-κB and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related pathways under allergic inflammation conditions in epithelial cells. FTO was expressed in epithelial, submucosal gland, and smooth muscle cells in human bronchial mucosa. In conclusion, FB23-induced inhibition of FTO alleviates allergic inflammation in epithelial cells and HDM-induced mice, potentially through diverse cellular processes and epithelial-mesenchymal transition signaling pathways, suggesting that FTO is a potential therapeutic target in asthma management.

Construction of a cross-species cell landscape at single-cell level.

Individual cells are basic units of life. Despite extensive efforts to characterize the cellular heterogeneity of different organisms, cross-species comparisons of landscape dynamics have not been achieved. Here, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to map organism-level cell landscapes at multiple life stages for mice, zebrafish and Drosophila. By integrating the comprehensive dataset of > 2.6 million single cells, we constructed a cross-species cell landscape and identified signatures and common pathways that changed throughout the life span. We identified structural inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction as the most common hallmarks of organism aging, and found that pharmacological activation of mitochondrial metabolism alleviated aging phenotypes in mice. The cross-species cell landscape with other published datasets were stored in an integrated online portal-Cell Landscape. Our work provides a valuable resource for studying lineage development, maturation and aging.

How many cell types are there in nature? How do they change during the life cycle? These are two fundamental questions that researchers have been trying to understand in the area of biology. In this study, single-cell mRNA sequencing data were used to profile over 2.6 million individual cells from mice, zebrafish and Drosophila at different life stages, 1.3 million of which were newly collected. The comprehensive datasets allow investigators to construct a cross-species cell landscape that helps to reveal the conservation and diversity of cell taxonomies at genetic and regulatory levels. The resources in this study are assembled into a publicly available website at http://bis.zju.edu.cn/cellatlas/.

Plasma Proteomics Analysis of Early Biomarkers for Predicting Female Fecundability: A Nested Case-Control Study.

The present study aimed to identify and verify new plasma protein markers to predict the female fecundability level. A nested case-control study was conducted involving couples who participated in the Chinese National Free Preconception Check-up Project. Women who successfully conceive within one year were defined as the high fecundability group, and those unable to conceive were defined as the low fecundability group. In the training cohort, potential protein biomarkers were identified using proteomics technology and were further tested in a validation cohort by the Western blotting assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and biochemical tests. Meanwhile, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used to evaluate the predictive value. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were conducted to calculate hazard ratios; restricted cubic spline analysis was used to assess the linear relationship between the the protein level and hazard ratios for fecundability. Pyruvate, a key product of glycolysis, was significantly increased in the high fecundability group (P < 0.01) compared to the low fecundability group, and its area under the curve value was 0.68 (P < 0.05). There was a linear positive dose-response association between the pyruvate level and fecundability possibility (hazard ratios = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.07-2.59, p for trend = 0.025, nonlinearity, p-value = 0.2927).

Oncofetal SNRPE promotes HCC tumorigenesis by regulating the FGFR4 expression through alternative splicing.

BACKGROUND: Due to insufficient knowledge about key molecular events, Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lacks effective treatment targets. Spliceosome-related genes were significantly altered in HCC. Oncofetal proteins are ideal tumor therapeutic targets. Screening of differentially expressed Spliceosome-related oncofetal protein in embryonic liver development and HCC helps discover effective therapeutic targets for HCC. METHODS: Differentially expressed spliceosome genes were analysis in fetal liver and HCC through bioinformatics analysis. Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide E (SNRPE) expression was detected in fetal liver, adult liver and HCC tissues. The role of SNRPE in HCC was performed multiple assays in vitro and in vivo. SNRPE-regulated alternative splicing was recognized by RNA-Seq and confirmed by multiple assays. RESULTS: We herein identified SNRPE as a crucial oncofetal splicing factor, significantly associated with the adverse prognosis of HCC. SOX2 was identified as the activator for SNRPE reactivation. Efficient knockdown of SNRPE resulted in the complete cessation of HCC tumorigenesis and progression. Mechanistically, SNRPE knockdown reduced FGFR4 mRNA expression by triggering nonsense-mediated RNA decay. A partial inhibition of SNRPE-induced malignant progression of HCC cells was observed upon FGFR4 knockdown. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight SNRPE as a novel oncofetal splicing factor and shed light on the intricate relationship between oncofetal splicing factors, splicing events, and carcinogenesis. Consequently, SNRPE emerges as a potential therapeutic target for HCC treatment. Model of oncofetal SNRPE promotes HCC tumorigenesis by regulating the AS of FGFR4 pre-mRNA.

Effect of genotyping errors on linkage map construction based on repeated chip analysis of two recombinant inbred line populations in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Linkage maps are essential for genetic mapping of phenotypic traits, gene map-based cloning, and marker-assisted selection in breeding applications. Construction of a high-quality saturated map requires high-quality genotypic data on a large number of molecular markers. Errors in genotyping cannot be completely avoided, no matter what platform is used. When genotyping error reaches a threshold level, it will seriously affect the accuracy of the constructed map and the reliability of consequent genetic studies. In this study, repeated genotyping of two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations derived from crosses Yangxiaomai × Zhongyou 9507 and Jingshuang 16 × Bainong 64 was used to investigate the effect of genotyping errors on linkage map construction. Inconsistent data points between the two replications were regarded as genotyping errors, which were classified into three types. Genotyping errors were treated as missing values, and therefore the non-erroneous data set was generated. Firstly, linkage maps were constructed using the two replicates as well as the non-erroneous data set. Secondly, error correction methods implemented in software packages QTL IciMapping (EC) and Genotype-Corrector (GC) were applied to the two replicates. Linkage maps were therefore constructed based on the corrected genotypes and then compared with those from the non-erroneous data set. Simulation study was performed by considering different levels of genotyping errors to investigate the impact of errors and the accuracy of error correction methods. Results indicated that map length and marker order differed among the two replicates and the non-erroneous data sets in both RIL populations. For both actual and simulated populations, map length was expanded as the increase in error rate, and the correlation coefficient between linkage and physical maps became lower. Map quality can be improved by repeated genotyping and error correction algorithm. When it is impossible to genotype the whole mapping population repeatedly, 30% would be recommended in repeated genotyping. The EC method had a much lower false positive rate than did the GC method under different error rates. This study systematically expounded the impact of genotyping errors on linkage analysis, providing potential guidelines for improving the accuracy of linkage maps in the presence of genotyping errors.

Visualization and Quantification of State of Charge-Dependent Young's Modulus of LiMn2O4 Nanosized Particles by Bimodal AFM.

Mechanical damage of LiMn2O4 active material caused by volume change, phase transition, and lithium diffusion-induced stress is the main degradation mechanism in lithium-ion batteries. Young's modulus is a key parameter of mechanical property, and its variation with lithium content x or state of charge (SOC) at the nanoscale is an important issue because such variation may have influences on the stress level and lithium-ion transport. In this study, we successfully developed bimodal atomic force microscopy (bimodal AFM) and related approaches to carry out surface topography imaging and Young's modulus mapping of LixMn2O4 nanosized particles. It was validated that the size of particles decreased with decreasing SOC due to delithiation during the charging cycle. The variation in Young's modulus with SOC was quantitatively determined using the silicon material as a reference, and the trend of the variation is consistent with the reported results of molecular dynamics simulation. Furthermore, spatially nonuniform distribution of Young's modulus on the nanosized particle surface was found even upon completion of charging. This phenomenon could be attributed to the coexistence of two phases during the charging process. Our experimental study reveals the correlation between Young's modulus of LiMn2O4 and SOC at the nanosized particle level, and we believe that the bimodal AFM will be widely used in the nanocharacterization of the electrode materials because lithium content- or SOC-dependent mechanical properties are common in battery electrode materials.

Nanoscale Composite Lignin Colloids with Tunable Visible Colors Used for Anti-UV Cosmetics.

Nanoscale composite lignin colloids were prepared on a large scale with a process of assembly-mediated internal cross-linking in a good solvent, thus possessing absolutely nanoscale dimensions, excellent robustness, and less aggregation. The therefore prime UV resistance and various natural visible colors contribute to the preservation and beautification of skin.

Incorporating participants' welfare into sequential multiple assignment randomized trials.

Dynamic treatment regimes (DTRs) are sequences of decision rules that recommend treatments based on patients' time-varying clinical conditions. The sequential, multiple assignment, randomized trial (SMART) is an experimental design that can provide high-quality evidence for constructing optimal DTRs. In a conventional SMART, participants are randomized to available treatments at multiple stages with balanced randomization probabilities. Despite its relative simplicity of implementation and desirable performance in comparing embedded DTRs, the conventional SMART faces inevitable ethical issues, including assigning many participants to the empirically inferior treatment or the treatment they dislike, which might slow down the recruitment procedure and lead to higher attrition rates, ultimately leading to poor internal and external validities of the trial results. In this context, we propose a SMART under the Experiment-as-Market framework (SMART-EXAM), a novel SMART design that holds the potential to improve participants' welfare by incorporating their preferences and predicted treatment effects into the randomization procedure. We describe the steps of conducting a SMART-EXAM and evaluate its performance compared to the conventional SMART. The results indicate that the SMART-EXAM can improve the welfare of the participants enrolled in the trial, while also achieving a desirable ability to construct an optimal DTR when the experimental parameters are suitably specified. We finally illustrate the practical potential of the SMART-EXAM design using data from a SMART for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Can China's carbon generalized system of preferences reduce urban residents' carbon emissions? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment.

The carbon generalized system of preferences (CGSP) is an innovative incentive mechanism implemented by the Chinese government, which has also become an important part of carbon emission reduction at the living end, and it is of great significance to study whether the Pilot Policy can reduce the carbon emissions of residents. This study firstly accounts for the total carbon emissions and per capita carbon emissions of the residents of 284 cities in China, and on this basis, adopts the SCM method to quantitatively study and analyze the overall and local implementation effects of CGSP in China by taking the first batch of CGSP pilots in China as an example, and further applies the mediation effect model to test the pathways of the role of CGSP. The main findings of the study are as follows: (1) During the period of 2010-2020, the total carbon emissions from urban residents' living in China showed a yearly growth trend, from 36,623.98 ×10-2Mt in 2010-85,241.20 ×10-2Mt in 2020, an increase of 8.83%. Total carbon emissions present a structural difference of "electricity consumption > central heating > private transport > gas (oil, natural gas) consumption". (2) Overall, the implementation of the CGSP had a robust positive impact on the overall carbon emission reduction in the pilot cities, with an average annual emission reduction effect value of 36.53 ×10-2Mt. Locally, the annual net policy effect values of Dongguan, Zhongshan, Heyuan, and Guangzhou are 6169.79 ×10-2, 26,600.17 ×10-2, 17,081.34 ×10-2 and 9393.36 ×10-2Mt respectively. (3) CGSP has a good carbon emission reduction effect by suppressing the impact on residents' carbon emissions through enhancing the city's innovation capacity and promoting electricity saving and consumption reduction, while the mediating effect played by the promotion of green and low-carbon travel in the pilot policy is not significant. Finally, based on the research findings, relevant suggestions are targeted.

Interlayer Structure Manipulation of FeOCl/MXene with Soft/Hard Interface Design for Safe Water Production Using Dechlorination Battery Deionization.

Suffering from the susceptibility to decomposition, the potential electrochemical application of FeOCl has greatly been hindered. The rational design of the soft-hard material interface can effectively address the challenge of stress concentration and thus decomposition that may occur in the electrodes during charging and discharging. Herein, interlayer structure manipulation of FeOCl/MXene using soft-hard interface design method were conducted for electrochemical dechlorination. FeOCl was encapsulated in Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets by electrostatic self-assembly layer by layer to form a soft-hard mechanical hierarchical structure, in which Ti3C2Tx was used as flexible buffer layers to relieve the huge volume change of FeOCl during Cl- intercalation/deintercalation and constructed a conductive network for fast charge transfer. The CDI dechlorination system of FeOCl/Ti3C2Tx delivered outstanding Cl- adsorption capacity (158.47 ± 6.98 mg g-1), rate (6.07 ± 0.35 mg g-1 min-1), and stability (over 94.49 % in 30 cycles), and achieved considerable energy recovery (21.14 ± 0.25 %). The superior dechlorination performance was proved to originate from the Fe2+/Fe3+ topochemical transformation and the deformation constraint effect of Ti3C2Tx on FeOCl. Our interfacial design strategy enables a hard-to-soft integration capacity, which can serve as a universal technology for solving the traditional problem of electrode volume expansion.

The Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial for Controlling Infectious Diseases: A Review of Recent Developments.

Infectious diseases have posed severe threats to public health across the world. Effective prevention and control of infectious diseases in the long term requires adapting interventions based on epidemiological evidence. The sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) is a multistage randomized trial that can provide valid evidence of when and how to adapt interventions for controlling infectious diseases based on evolving epidemiological evidence. We review recent developments in SMARTs to bring wider attention to the potential benefits of employing SMARTs in constructing effective adaptive interventions for controlling infectious diseases and other threats to public health. We discuss 2 example SMARTs for infectious diseases and summarize recent developments in SMARTs from the varied aspects of design, analysis, cost, and ethics. Public health investigators are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the related materials we discuss and collaborate with experts in SMARTs to translate the methodological developments into preeminent public health research. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(1):49-59. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307135).

Research progress of pattern recognition receptors in red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii).

Though Procambarus clarkii (red swamp crayfish) is a lower invertebrate, it has nonetheless developed a complex innate immune system. The crayfish farming industry has suffered considerable economic losses in recent years as a consequence of bacterial and viral diseases. Hence, perhaps the most effective ways to prevent microbial infections in P. clarkii are to examine and elucidate its innate immunity. The first step in the immune response is to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). PRRs are expressed mainly on immune cell surfaces and recognize at least one PAMP. Thence, downstream immune responses are activated and pathogens are phagocytosed. To date, the PRRs identified in P. clarkii include Toll-like receptors (TLRs), lectins, fibrinogen-related proteins (FREPs), and ß-1,3-glucan-binding proteins (BGRPs). The present review addresses recent progress in research on PRRs and aims to provide guidance for improving immunity and preventing and treating infectious diseases in P. clarkii.

Association of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals with All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality in the U.S.: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Wide exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) poses a great risk on human health. However, few large-scale cohort studies have comprehensively estimated the association between EDCs exposure and mortality risk. This study aimed to investigate the association of urinary EDCs exposure with mortality risk and quantify attributable mortality and economic loss. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were performed to investigate the association of 38 representative EDCs exposure with mortality risk in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). During a median follow-up of 7.7 years, 47,279 individuals were enrolled. All-cause mortality was positively associated with 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydroxynaphthalene, cadmium, antimony, cobalt, and monobenzyl phthalate. Cancer mortality was positively associated with cadmium. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality was positively associated with 1-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydroxynaphthalene, and 2-hydroxyfluorene. Nonlinear U-shaped relationships were found between all-cause mortality and cadmium and cobalt, which was also identified between 2-hydroxyfluorene and CVD mortality. J-shaped association of cadmium exposure with cancer mortality was also determined. EDCs exposure may cause 56.52% of total deaths (1,528,500 deaths) and around 1,897 billion USD in economic costs. Exposure to certain phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phytoestrogens, or toxic metals, even at substantially low levels, is significantly associated with mortality and induces high economic costs.

Demand-driven active droplet generation and sorting based on positive pressure-controlled fluid wall.

Droplet microfluidics is a rapidly advancing area of microfluidic technology, which offers numerous advantages for cell analysis, such as isolation and accumulation of signals, by confining cells within droplets. However, controlling cell numbers in droplets is challenging due to the uncertainty of random encapsulation which result in many empty droplets. Therefore, more precise control techniques are needed to achieve efficient encapsulation of cells within droplets. Here, an innovative microfluidic droplet manipulation platform had been developed, which employed positive pressure as a stable and controllable driving force for manipulating fluid within chips. The air cylinder, electro-pneumatics proportional valve, and the microfluidic chip were connected through a capillary, which enabled the formation of a fluid wall by creating a difference in hydrodynamic resistance between two fluid streams at the channel junction. Lowering the pressure of the driving oil phase eliminates hydrodynamic resistance and breaks the fluid wall. Regulating the duration of the fluid wall breakage controls the volume of the introduced fluid. Several important droplet microfluidic manipulations were demonstrated on this microfluidic platform, such as sorting of cells/droplets, sorting of droplets co-encapsulated cells and hydrogels, and active generation of droplets encapsulated with cells in a responsive manner. The simple, on-demand microfluidic platform was featured with high stability, good controllability, and compatibility with other droplet microfluidic technologies.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of Chinese propolis essential oil microemulsion against Streptococcus mutans.

AIMS: To solve the shortcomings of poor solubility, easy volatilization, and decomposition, propolis essential oil microemulsion (PEOME) was prepared. The antibacterial, antibiofilm activities, and action mechanism of PEOME against Streptococcus mutans was analyzed. METHODS: PEOME was prepared using anhydrous ethanol and Tween-80 as the cosurfactant and surfactant, respectively. The antibacterial activity of PEOME against S. mutans was evaluated using the agar disk diffusion method and broth microdilution method. The effects of PEOME on S. mutans biofilm was detected through the assays of crystal violet (CV), XTT reduction, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and calcium ions leaking, live/dead staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). And the antibiofilm mechanism of PEOME was elaborated by the assays of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production and glucosyltransferase (GTF) activity. RESULTS: The inhibition zone diameter (DIZ) of PEOME against S. mutans was 31 mm, while the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 2.5 µL mL-1. CV and XTT assays showed that PEOME could prevent fresh biofilm formation and disrupt preformed biofilm through decreasing the activities and biomass of biofilm. The leaking assays for LDH and calcium ions, as well as the live/dead staining assay, indicated that PEOME was able to damage the integrity of bacterial cell membranes within the biofilm. SEM revealed that PEOME had a noticeable inhibitory effect on bacterial adhesion and aggregation through observing the overall structure of biofilm. The assays of EPS production and GTF activity suggested that PEOME could reduce EPS production by inhibiting the activity of GTFs, thus showing an antibiofilm effect. CONCLUSIONS: The significant antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against S. mutans of PEOME meant that PEOME has great potential to be developed as a drug to prevent and cure dental caries caused by S. mutans.

Efficacy and safety of salvianolate and enoxaparin in the prevention of perioperative deep venous thrombosis in gastrointestinal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, the efficacy and safety of salvianolate were compared with enoxaparin in the prevention of perioperative deep vein thrombosis in gastrointestinal surgery. METHODS: From October 2017 to September 2019, 563 patients who underwent gastrointestinal surgery were collected. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 119 patients were divided into two groups: enoxaparin group (n = 65) and salvianolate group (n = 54). Comparisons were made regarding the outcomes: prothrombin time (PT), prothrombin activity (PTA), international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB), thrombin time (TT), D-dimer level (D-D), platelet count (PLT), hematokrit (HCT), and incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). RESULTS: The main outcomes showed no significance between enoxaparin group and salvianolate group (p > .05). The incidence of DVT in salvianolate group was 1.85%, significantly lower than that in enoxaparin group (12.3%) (p < .05). No serious adverse reactions occurred in the two groups during treatment. CONCLUSION: Compared with enoxaparin, salvianolate has an advantage in the prevention of perioperative thrombosis in gastrointestinal surgery with a lower incidence of DVT.

Paneth cells protect intestinal stem cell niche to alleviate deoxynivalenol-induced intestinal injury.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common toxin in grains and feeds, and DON exposure triggers severe small intestinal injury and inflammation, which harms the health of humans and livestock. DON treatment leads to a decrease in Paneth cells, whereas the role of Paneth cells in DON-induced intestinal injury is poorly understood. We utilized dithizone (40 mg/kg) to keep murine Paneth cell number at a low level. The results showed that dithizone-mediated long-term disruption of Paneth cells aggravated intestinal injury, intestinal stem cell (ISC) loss, and microbiota disorder in DON (2 mg/kg)-treated mice. Unexpectedly, the number of goblet cells and proliferative cells was boosted in mice treated with dithizone and DON. After dithizone and DON treatments, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio was reduced, and the increased abundance of Dubosiella and the decreased abundance of Lactobacillus were observed in mice. The functional recovery of Paneth cells by lysozyme (200 U/day) supplementation improved intestinal injury and ISC loss in mice after DON challenge. In addition, lysozyme also promoted the growth and ISC activity of intestinal organoids. Taken together, these results demonstrate the protective role of Paneth cells in DON-induced intestinal injury. Our study raises a novel target, Paneth cell, for the treatment of DON exposure.

Method Validation for Multi-Pesticide Residue Determination in Chrysanthemum.

The chrysanthemum can be consumed in various forms, representing the "integration of medicine and food". Quantitative analysis of multi-pesticide residues in chrysanthemum matrices is therefore crucial for both product-safety assurance and consumer-risk evaluation. In the present study, a simple and effective method was developed for simultaneously detecting 15 pesticides frequently used in chrysanthemum cultivation in three matrices, including fresh flowers, dry chrysanthemum tea, and infusions. The calibration curves for the pesticides were linear in the 0.01-1 mg kg-1 range, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.99. The limits of quantification (LOQs) for fresh flowers, dry chrysanthemum tea, and infusions were 0.01-0.05 mg kg-1, 0.05 mg kg-1, and 0.001-0.005 mg L-1, respectively. In all selected matrices, satisfactory accuracy and precision were achieved, with recoveries ranging from 75.7 to 118.2% and relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 20%. The validated method was then used to routinely monitor pesticide residues in 50 commercial chrysanthemum-tea samples. As a result, 56% of samples were detected with 5-13 pesticides. This research presents a method for the efficient analysis of multi-pesticide residues in chrysanthemum matrices.

SPE-UPLC-MS/MS for Determination of 36 Monomers of Alkylphenol Ethoxylates in Tea.

Alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs) represent a non-ionic surfactant widely used as adjuvants in pesticide formulation, which is considered to cause an endocrine-disrupting effect. In the current study, we established a detection method for the APEOs residue in tea based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) for the simultaneous analysis of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs) and octylphenol ethoxylates (OPEOs) by UPLC-MS/MS. In the spiked concentrations from 0.024 to 125.38 µg/kg for 36 monomers of APEOs (nEO = 3-20), the recoveries of APEOs range from 70.3-110.7% with RSD ≤ 16.9%, except for OPEO20 (61.8%) and NPEO20 (62.9%). The LOQs of OPEOs and NPEOs are 0.024-6.27 and 0.16-5.01 µg/kg, respectively. OPEOs and NPEOs are detected in 50 marketed tea samples with a total concentration of 0.057-12.94 and 0.30-215.89 µg/kg, respectively. The detection rate and the range of the monomers of NPEOs are generally higher than those of OPEOs. The current study provides a theoretical basis for the rational use of APEOs as adjuvants in commercial pesticide production.