Machine intelligence accelerated design of conductive MXene aerogels with programmable properties.

Designing ultralight conductive aerogels with tailored electrical and mechanical properties is critical for various applications. Conventional approaches rely on iterative, time-consuming experiments across a vast parameter space. Herein, an integrated workflow is developed to combine collaborative robotics with machine learning to accelerate the design of conductive aerogels with programmable properties. An automated pipetting robot is operated to prepare 264 mixtures of Ti3C2Tx MXene, cellulose, gelatin, and glutaraldehyde at different ratios/loadings. After freeze-drying, the aerogels' structural integrity is evaluated to train a support vector machine classifier. Through 8 active learning cycles with data augmentation, 162 unique conductive aerogels are fabricated/characterized via robotics-automated platforms, enabling the construction of an artificial neural network prediction model. The prediction model conducts two-way design tasks: (1) predicting the aerogels' physicochemical properties from fabrication parameters and (2) automating the inverse design of aerogels for specific property requirements. The combined use of model interpretation and finite element simulations validates a pronounced correlation between aerogel density and compressive strength. The model-suggested aerogels with high conductivity, customized strength, and pressure insensitivity allow for compression-stable Joule heating for wearable thermal management.

Effect of Far-Red Light on Biomass Accumulation, Plant Morphology, and Phytonutrient Composition of Ruby Streaks Mustard at Microgreen, Baby Leaf, and Flowering Stages.

Far-red (FR) light influences plant development significantly through shade avoidance response and photosynthetic modulation, but there is limited knowledge on how FR treatments influence the growth and nutrition of vegetables at different maturity stages in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Here, we comprehensively investigated the impacts of FR on the yield, morphology, and phytonutrients of ruby streaks mustard (RS) at microgreen, baby leaf, and flowering stages. Treatments including white control, white with supplementary FR, white followed by singularly applied FR, and enhanced white (WE) matching the extended daily light integral (eDLI) of FR were designed for separating the effects of light intensity and quality. Results showed that singular and supplemental FR affected plant development and nutrition similarly throughout the growth cycle, with light intensity and quality playing varying roles at different stages. Specifically, FR did not affect the fresh and dry weight of microgreens but increased those values for baby leaves, although not as effectively as WE. Meanwhile, FR caused significant morphological change and accelerated the development of leaves, flowers, and seedpods more dramatically than WE. With regard to phytonutrients, light treatments affected the metabolomic profiles for baby leaves more dramatically than microgreens and flowers. FR decreased the glucosinolate and anthocyanin contents in microgreens and baby leaves, while WE increased the contents of those compounds in baby leaves. This study illustrates the complex impacts of FR on RS and provides valuable information for selecting optimal lighting conditions in CEA.

Spectral Descriptors for 3D Deformable Shape Matching: A Comparative Survey.

A large number of 3D spectral descriptors have been proposed in the literature, which act as an essential component for 3D deformable shape matching and related applications. An outstanding descriptor should have desirable natures including high-level descriptive capacity, cheap storage, and robustness to a set of nuisances. It is, however, unclear which descriptors are more suitable for a particular application. This paper fills the gap by comprehensively evaluating nine state-of-the-art spectral descriptors on ten popular deformable shape datasets as well as perturbations such as mesh discretization, geometric noise, scale transformation, non-isometric setting, partiality, and topological noise. Our evaluated terms for a spectral descriptor cover four major concerns, i.e., distinctiveness, robustness, compactness, and computational efficiency. In the end, we present a summary of the overall performance and several interesting findings that can serve as guidance for the following researchers to construct a new spectral descriptor and choose an appropriate spectral feature in a particular application.

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) alleviate paclitaxel-induced spermatogenesis defects and maintain male fertility.

Chemotherapeutic drugs can cause reproductive damage by affecting sperm quality and other aspects of male fertility. Stem cells are thought to alleviate the damage caused by chemotherapy drugs and to play roles in reproductive protection and treatment. This study aimed to explore the effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) on alleviating paclitaxel (PTX)-induced spermatogenesis and male fertility defects. An in vivo PTX-induced mice model was constructed to evaluate the reproductive toxicity and protective roles of hUC-MSCs in male fertility improvement. A 14 day PTX treatment regimen significantly attenuated mice spermatogenesis and sperm quality, including affecting spermatogenesis, reducing sperm counts, and decreasing sperm motility. hUC-MSCs treatment could significantly improve sperm functional indicators. Mating experiments with normal female mice and examination of embryo development at 7.5 days post-coitum (dpc) showed that hUC-MSCs restored male mouse fertility that was reduced by PTX. In IVF experiments, PTX impaired sperm fertility and blastocyst development, but hUC-MSCs treatment rescued these indicators. hUC-MSCs' protective role was also displayed through the increased expression of the fertility-related proteins HSPA2 and HSPA4L in testes with decreased expression in the PTX-treated group. These changes might be related to the PTX-induced decreases in expression of the germ cell proliferation protein PCNA and the meiosis proteins SYCP3, MLH1, and STRA8, which were restored after hUC-MSCs treatment. In the PTX-treated group, the expression of testicular antioxidant proteins SIRT1, NRF2, CAT, SOD1, and PRDX6 was significantly decreased, but hUC-MSCs could maintain these expressions and reverse PTX-related increases in BAX/BCL2 ratios. hUC-MSCs may be a promising agent with antioxidant and anti-apoptosis characteristics that can maintain sperm quality following chemotherapy treatment.

Melatonin improves the ability of spermatozoa to bind with oocytes in the mouse.

CONTEXT AND AIMS: Melatonin is a powerful antioxidant regulating various biological functions, including alleviating male reproductive damage under pathological conditions. Here, we aim to analyse the effect of melatonin on normal male reproduction in mice. METHODS: Male mice received an intraperitoneal injection of melatonin (10mg/kg body weight) for 35 consecutive days. The testis and epididymis morphology, and epididymal sperm parameters were examined. PCNA, HSPA2, SYCP3, ZO-1 and CYP11A1 expressions in epididymis or testis were detected by immunohistochemistry or Western blotting. Male fertility was determined by in vivo and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) experiments. The differentially expressed sperm proteins were identified by proteomics. KEY RESULTS: No visible structural changes and oxidative damage in the testis and epididymis, and no significant side effects on testis weight, testosterone levels, sperm motility, and sperm morphology were observed in the melatonin-treatment group compared with the control group. Spermatogenesis-related molecules of PCNA, SYCP3, ZO-1, and CYP11A1 showed no significant differences in melatonin-treated testis. However, PCNA and HSPA2 increased their expressions in the epididymal initial segments in the melatonin-treatment group. Normal sperm fertilisation, two-cell and blastocyst development were observed in the melatonin-treated group, but melatonin significantly enhanced the sperm binding ability characterised as more sperm binding to one oocyte (control 7.2±1.3 versus melatonin 11.8±1.5). Sperm proteomics demonstrated that melatonin treatment enhanced the biological process of cell adhesion in sperm. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study suggests that melatonin can promote sperm maturation and sperm function, providing important information for further research on the physiological function and protective effect of melatonin in male reproduction.

Microgreens for Home, Commercial, and Space Farming: A Comprehensive Update of the Most Recent Developments.

Microgreens are edible young plants that have recently attracted interest because of their color and flavor diversity, phytonutrient abundance, short growth cycle, and minimal space and nutrient requirements. They can be cultivated in a variety of systems from simple home gardens to sophisticated vertical farms with automated irrigation, fertilizer delivery, and lighting controls. Microgreens have also attracted attention from space agencies hoping that their sensory qualities can contribute to the diet of astronauts in microgravity and their cultivation might help maintain crew physical and psychological health on long-duration spaceflight missions. However, many technical challenges and data gaps for growing microgreensboth on and off Earth remain unaddressed. This review summarizes recent studies on multiple aspects of microgreens, including nutritional and socioeconomic benefits, cultivation systems, operative conditions, innovative treatments, autonomous facilities, and potential space applications. It also provides the authors' perspectives on the challenges to stimulating more extensive interdisciplinary research.

Two MYB activators of anthocyanin biosynthesis exhibit specialized activities in petiole and fruit of diploid strawberry.

The R2R3-MYB transcription factor FveMYB10 is a major regulator of anthocyanin pigmentation in the red fruits of strawberry. fvemyb10 loss-of-function mutants form yellow fruits but still accumulate purple-colored anthocyanins in the petioles, suggesting that anthocyanin biosynthesis is under distinct regulation in fruits and petioles. From chemical mutagenesis in the diploid wild strawberry Fragaria vesca, we identified a green petioles (gp)-1 mutant that lacks anthocyanins in petioles. Using mapping-by-sequencing and transient functional assays, we confirmed that the causative mutation resides in a FveMYB10-Like (FveMYB10L) gene and that FveMYB10 and FveMYB10L function independently in the fruit and petiole, respectively. In addition to their tissue-specific regulation, FveMYB10 and FveMYB10L respond differently to changes in light quality, produce distinct anthocyanin compositions, and preferentially activate different downstream anthocyanin biosynthesis genes in their respective tissues. This work identifies a new regulator of anthocyanin synthesis and demonstrates that two paralogous MYB genes with specialized functions enable tissue-specific regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in fruit and petiole tissues.

Effectiveness of perampanel in the treatment of pediatric patients with focal epilepsy and ESES: A single-center retrospective study.

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect and influencing factors of perampanel (PER) on electrical status epilepticus during sleep (ESES). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of pediatric patients with focal epilepsy and ESES who were treated at the Epilepsy Center of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between January 2016 and March 2022. Changes in the spike wave index (SWI) after 24 weeks of PER add-on treatment were compared. Kaplan‒Meier survival analysis, the log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed. Results: A total of 54 pediatric patients met the inclusion criteria, including 33 males and 21 females. The mean age at the diagnosis of epilepsy was 6.41 ± 2.14 years and at ESES diagnosis was 7.58 ± 2.40 years. The mean ESES duration before add-on PER was 25.31 ± 15.12 months. The mean age of the patients at add-on PER initiation was 9.69 ± 2.12 years. The ESES resolved in 29 children after 6 months of PER add-on treatment, and the response rate was 53.7%. Univariate analysis with the log-rank test showed that the therapeutic effect of PER differed according to the age at ESES diagnosis and ESES duration before add-on PER treatment. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that only ESES duration before PER administration was a risk factor for PER treatment failure, and the other factors had no effect on the therapeutic effect. Conclusion: PER add-on treatment has a good therapeutic effect on ESES and can be used as an alternative to corticosteroid and benzodiazepines. The therapeutic effect of PER add-on treatment was not related to the dose. A longer ESES duration results in a worse therapeutic effect. Therefore, more aggressive treatment measures should be implemented for ESES.

Agarose hydrogel composite supports microgreen cultivation with enhanced porosity and continuous water supply under terrestrial and microgravitational conditions.

Hydrogels are attractive soilless media for plant cultivation with strong water and nutrient retention. However, pristine hydrogels contain mostly ultra-micro pores and lack air-filled porosity for root zone aeration. Herein we report a porous hydrogel composite comprising an agarose network and porous growing mix particle (GMP) fillers. The agarose backbone allowed the composite to sustain a 12-d growth cycle for red cabbage microgreens without the need for watering or crew interaction. Moreover, the GMP induced greater total pore volume and increased the prevalence of pores >30 µm by 8-fold. Further investigation suggested that the nutrients from GMP accounted for a 54 % increase in microgreen yield over pristine hydrogel, while the porous structure introduced by GMP improved the yield by another 44 %. Increased air-filled porosity accelerated the water transport and loss of hydrogel but maintained favorable water potential levels for plant extraction. Finally, the hydrogel composite supported microgreen growth satisfyingly under simulated microgravity despite some morphological changes. Results of this study reveal a novel growth substrate that is lightweight, convenient, and water-efficient, while effectively sustaining plant growth for multiple applications including indoor farming and space farming.

An Integrated Food Freshness Sensor Array System Augmented by a Metal-Organic Framework Mixed-Matrix Membrane and Deep Learning.

The static labels presently prevalent on the food market are confronted with challenges due to the assumption that a food product only undergoes a limited range of predefined conditions, which cause elevated safety risks or waste of perishable food products. Hence, integrated systems for measuring food freshness in real time have been developed for improving the reliability, safety, and sustainability of the food supply. However, these systems are limited by poor sensitivity and accuracy. Here, a metal-organic framework mixed-matrix membrane and deep learning technology were combined to tackle these challenges. UiO-66-OH and polyvinyl alcohol were impregnated with six chromogenic indicators to prepare sensor array composites. The sensors underwent color changes after being exposed to ammonia at different pH values. The limit of detection of 80 ppm for trimethylamine was obtained, which was practically acceptable in the food industry. Four state-of-the-art deep convolutional neural networks were applied to recognize the color change, endowing it with high-accuracy freshness estimation. The simulation test for chicken freshness estimation achieved accuracy up to 98.95% by the WISeR-50 algorithm. Moreover, 3D printing was applied to create a mold for possible scale-up production, and a portable food freshness detector platform was conceptually built. This approach has the potential to advance integrated and real-time food freshness estimation.

Use of a silver-based sanitizer to accelerate Escherichia coli die-off on fresh-cut lettuce and maintain produce quality during cold storage: Laboratory and pilot-plant scale tests.

Outbreaks and product recalls involving romaine and iceberg lettuce are frequently reported in the United States. Novel technologies are needed to inactivate pathogens without compromising product quality and shelf life. In this study, the effects of a process aid composed of silver dihydrogen citrate, glycerin, and lactic acid (SGL) on Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes concentrations on lettuce immediately after washing and during cold storage were evaluated. Sensory and quality attributes of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce were also evaluated. Laboratory results indicated that application of SGL solution for 30 s as a first step in the washing process resulted in a 3.15 log reduction in E. coli O157:H7 immediately after washing. For E. coli O157:H7 a significant difference between SGL treatment and all other treatments was maintained until day 7. On day zero, SGL led to a 2.94 log reduction of L. monocytogenes. However, there was no significant difference between treatments with or without SGL regardless of storage time. Pilot-plant results showed that samples receiving SGL spray followed by chlorinated flume wash exhibited a greater reduction (1.48 log) in nonpathogenic E. coli populations at the end of shelf life than other treatments (p < 0.05). Additional pilot plant tests were conducted to investigate the hypothesis that SGL residues could continue to impact microbial survival on the final washed lettuce. Results show that pathogens introduced subsequent to flume washing of lettuce pretreated with SGL solution were not affected by antimicrobial residues. The final quality and shelf life of flume washed lettuce were also unaffected by pretreatment with SGL. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that this new technology has the potential to accelerate E. coli die-off on fresh-cut lettuce during cold storage and improve product safety, while not affecting quality throughout the shelf life of the finished products.

Blind Face Restoration via Multi-Prior Collaboration and Adaptive Feature Fusion.

Blind face restoration (BFR) from severely degraded face images is important in face image processing and has attracted increasing attention due to its wide applications. However, due to the complex unknown degradations in real-world scenarios, existing priors-based methods tend to restore faces with unstable quality. In this article, we propose a multi-prior collaboration network (MPCNet) to seamlessly integrate the advantages of generative priors and face-specific geometry priors. Specifically, we pretrain a high-quality (HQ) face synthesis generative adversarial network (GAN) and a parsing mask prediction network, and then embed them into a U-shaped deep neural network (DNN) as decoder priors to guide face restoration, during which the generative priors can provide adequate details and the parsing map priors provide geometry and semantic information. Furthermore, we design adaptive priors feature fusion (APFF) blocks to incorporate the prior features from pretrained face synthesis GAN and face parsing network in an adaptive and progressive manner, making our MPCNet exhibits good generalization in a real-world application. Experiments demonstrate the superiority of our MPCNet in comparison to state-of-the-arts and also show its potential in handling real-world low-quality (LQ) images from several practical applications.

Melatonin ameliorates paclitaxel-induced mice spermatogenesis and fertility defects.

Chemotherapeutic drug of paclitaxel (PTX) has been shown to cause reproductive toxicity thus affecting male fertility, but its underlying molecular basis is unclear. Melatonin (MLT) can mitigate the reproductive damage caused by certain chemotherapy drugs. In this study, we aimed to identify impact of PTX on the main biological processes and protective effect of MLT on reproductive damage caused by PTX. Mice exposed to PTX mainly impaired spermatogenesis, such as decreased sperm counts, reduced sperm motility and increased abnormal sperm. Decreased expressions of germ cell proliferation-associated protein PCNA and meiosis-related protein SYCP3 induced by PTX were determined by Western blot, while MLT ameliorated this effect and increased the expressions of PCNA, SYCP3, DMC1, STRA8 and fertility-related protein of HSPA2, resulting in significantly improved spermatogenesis and sperm quality levels. In vitro fertilization experiment showed that PTX significantly decreased blastocyst formation rates, which can be improved by MLT administration, but not two-cell development rates. Taken together, this work demonstrated PTX can adversely affect germ cell proliferation and meiosis, which ultimately influence sperm quality and male fertility, and highlighted the protective ability of MLT on ameliorating the side effects of PTX, especially on sperm quality. The results provide information to further the study on the molecular mechanism of PTX's effects on male reproduction and the protective mechanism of MLT.

Expressions of HSPA1L and HSPA9 are associated with poor sperm quality of low-motility spermatozoa in fertile men.

Human semen is a heterogeneous group containing a portion of low-motility sperm, which may determine the sperm quality evaluation. Abnormally expressed proteins in low-motility spermatozoa will be the candidates for sperm biology research. By comparing proteomes of high- or low-motility spermatozoa from the same semen of normal fertile men, 21 differentially expressed proteins were identified. Proteins with molecular chaperone function were significantly over-represented, of which HSPA1L and HSPA9 significantly decreased in low-motility sperm. Compared with young adult testes with normal spermatogenesis, HSPA1L and HSPA9 had decreased expressions in elderly testis characterised with poor spermatogenesis, suggesting their associations with spermatogenesis. Decreased expressions of HSPA1L and HSPA9 in low-motility spermatozoa were validated by Western Blot and immunofluorescence quantification analysis. HSPA1L was mainly expressed on sperm post-acrosome and midpiece, whilst HSAP9 was mainly expressed on acrosome and sperm tail. HSPA1L antibody could inhibit sperm motility validated by antibody blocking experiment, whilst HSPA9 antibody showed no significant effect on sperm motility. The study demonstrated that low-motility spermatozoa from fertile men had poor sperm quality, in which differential expressed proteins were promising markers for evaluating sperm quality, understanding mechanism of male infertility with unexplained causes, and providing new idea for male infertility research.

An endoparasitoid uses its egg surface proteins to regulate its host immune response.

With proteomic analysis, we identified 379 egg surface proteins from an endoparasitoid, Cotesia chilonis. Proteins containing conserved enzymatic domains constitute a large proportion of egg surface components. Some proteins, such as superoxidase dismutase, homolog of C. rubecula 32-kDa protein, and immunoevasive protein-2A, are classical parasitism factors that have known functions in host immunity regulation. Melanization assays revealed that a novel egg surface protein, C. chilonis egg surface serpin domain-containing protein had the same function as a C. chilonis venom serpin, as both suppressed host melanization in a dose-dependent manner. C. chilonis egg surface serpin domain-containing protein is mainly transcribed in C. chilonis oocytes with follicular cells, and it is located on both the anterior and posterior sides of the mature egg surface. Additionally, we used LC-MS/MS to identify 586 binding proteins sourced from C. suppressalis plasma located on the eggshell surface of C. chilonis, which included some immunity-related proteins. These results not only indicate that C. chilonis uses its egg surface proteins to reduce the immune response of its host but also imply that endoparasitoid egg surface proteins might be a new parasitism factor involved in host immune regulation.

Metal-Organic Framework-Stabilized High Internal Phase Pickering Emulsions Based on Computer Simulation for Curcumin Encapsulation: Comprehensive Characterization and Stability Mechanism.

High internal phase Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs) have taken a center stage in the arena of delivery systems in the food industry because of their high loading capacity and stability. In addition, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a type of cutting-edge designable porous scaffolding material, have attracted attention in reticular chemistry, which satisfies fundamental demands for delivery research in the past years. Here, we demonstrate a novel metal-organic framework (MOF)-stabilized HIPPE delivery system for hydrophobic phytochemicals. First, a novel high-biocompatibility and stable MOF particle, UiO-66-NH2, was selected from atomic simulation screening, which showed proper electronegativity and amphiphilic properties to develop the HIPPE system. Monodispersed UiO-66-NH2 nanoparticles with the particle size of 161.36 nm were then prepared via solvothermal synthesization. Pickering emulsions with inner phase ratios from 50 to 80% with varied contents of polyethylene glycol (PEG) were prepared by in situ high-pressure homogenization, and their physicochemical properties including crystallography, morphology, and rheology were systematically characterized. Subsequently, curcumin, a model antioxidant, was loaded in the HIPPE system and named cur@UiO-66-NH2/HIPPE. It exhibited high loading capacity, up to 6.93 ± 0.41%, and encapsulation efficiency (19.76 ± 3.84%). This novel MOF nanoparticle-stabilized HIPPE delivery system could be practically utilized for other bioactive components and antimicrobial agents, which would find applications in food safety and biomedical areas in the future.

Salmonella inactivation and sponge/microfiber mediated cross-contamination during papaya wash with chlorine or peracetic acid as sanitizer.

Imported papayas from Mexico have been implicated in multiple salmonellosis outbreaks in the United States in recent years. While postharvest washing is a critical process to remove latex, dirt, and microbes, it also has the potential of causing cross-contamination by foodborne pathogens, with sponge or other fibrous rubbing tools often questioned as potential harboring or transmitting risk. In this study, Salmonella inactivation and cross-contamination via sponges and microfiber wash mitts during simulated papaya washing and cleaning were investigated. Seven washing treatments (wash without sanitizer; wash at free chlorine 25, 50, and 100 mg/L, and at peracetic acid 20, 40, and 80 mg/L), along with unwashed control, were evaluated, using Salmonella strains with unique antibiotic markers differentially inoculated on papaya rind (serovars Typhimurium, Heidelberg, and Derby) and on wash sponge or microfiber (serovars Typhimurium, Newport, and Braenderup). Salmonella survival and transfer on papaya and on sponge/microfiber, and in wash water were detected using selective plating or enrichment. The washing and cleaning process reduced Salmonella on inoculated papayas by 1.69-2.66 and 0.69-1.74 log for sponge and microfiber cleaning, respectively, with the reduction poorly correlated to sanitizer concentration. Salmonella on inoculated sponge or microfiber was under detection limit (1.00 log CFU/cm2) by plate count, but remained recoverable by selective enrichment. Transference of Salmonella from inoculated papaya to sponge/microfiber, and vice versa, could be detected sporadically by selective enrichment. Sponge/microfiber mediated Salmonella cross-contamination from inoculated to uninoculated papayas was frequently detectable by selective enrichment, but rendered undetectable by wetting sponge/microfiber in sanitizing wash water (FC 25-100 mg/L or PAA 20-80 mg/L) between washing different papaya fruits. Therefore, maintaining adequate sanitizer levels and frequently wetting sponge/microfiber in sanitizing wash water can effectively mitigate risks of Salmonella cross-contamination associated with postharvest washing, especially with regard to the use of sponge or microfiber wash mitts.

Genome-wide characterization and transcriptomic analyses of neuropeptides and their receptors in an endoparasitoid wasp, Pteromalus puparum.

In insects, neuropeptides constitute a group of signaling molecules that act in regulation of multiple physiological and behavioral processes by binding to their corresponding receptors. On the basis of the bioinformatic approaches, we screened the genomic and transcriptomic data of the parasitoid wasp, Pteromalus puparum, and annotated 36 neuropeptide precursor genes and 33 neuropeptide receptor genes. Compared to the number of precursor genes in Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera), Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera), Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera), Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera), Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera), and Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera), P. puparum (Hymenoptera) has the lowest number of neuropeptide precursor genes. This lower number may relate to its parasitic life cycle. Transcriptomic data of embryos, larvae, pupae, adults, venom glands, salivary glands, ovaries, and the remaining carcass revealed stage-, sex-, and tissue-specific expression patterns of the neuropeptides, and their receptors. These data provided basic information about the identity and expression profiles of neuropeptides and their receptors that are required to functionally address their biological significance in an endoparasitoid wasp.

Genomic and transcriptomic analyses of glutathione S-transferases in an endoparasitoid wasp, Pteromalus puparum.

Pteromalus puparum is a gregarious pupal endoparasitoid with a wide host range. It deposits eggs into pierid and papilionid butterfly pupae. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a family of multifunctional detoxification enzymes that act in xenobiotic metabolism in insects. Insect genome projects have facilitated identification and characterization of GST family members. We identified 20 putative GSTs in the P. puparum genome, including 19 cytosolic and one microsomal. Phylogenetic analysis showed that P. puparum GSTs are clustered into Hymenoptera-specific branches. Transcriptomic data of embryos, larvae, female pupae, male pupae, female adults, male adults, venom glands, carcass, salivary glands, and ovaries revealed stage-, sex-, and tissue-specific expression patterns of GSTs in P. puparum. This is the most comprehensive study of genome-wide identification, characterization, and expression profiling of GST family in hymenopterans. Our results provide valuable information for understanding the metabolic adaptation of this wasp.

Dynamic changes in the physicochemical properties of fresh-cut produce wash water as impacted by commodity type and processing conditions.

Organic materials in fresh-cut produce wash water deplete free chlorine that is required to prevent pathogen survival and cross-contamination. This research evaluated water quality parameters frequently used to describe organic load for their fitness to predict chlorine demand (CLD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), which are major needs identified by the industry-led produce food safety taskforce. Batches of romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, or carrot of different cut sizes and shapes were washed in 40 liters of water. Physicochemical properties of wash water including CLD, COD, total organic carbon (TOC), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, total sugar content, and pH, were monitored. Results indicate that pH is primarily commodity dependent, while organic load is additionally impacted by cutting and washing conditions. Significant linear increases in COD, TOC, CLD, TDS, and turbidity resulted from increasing product-to-water ratio, and decreasing cut size. Physicochemical parameters, excluding pH, showed significant positive correlation across different cut sizes within a commodity. High correlations were obtained between CLD and COD and between COD and TOC for pooled products. The convenient measurement of TDS, along with its strong correlation with COD and CLD, suggests the potential of TDS for predicting organic load and chlorine reactivity. Finally, the potential application and limitation of the proposed models in practical produce processing procedures are discussed extensively.