Preparation and characterization of fish-derived protein gel as a potential dysphagia food: Co-mingling effects of inulin and konjac glucomannan mixtures.

The study aimed to create a fish-derived protein gel with inulin/konjac glucomannan (KGM) mixture for dysphagia. The inulin/KGM complex improved the swallowing properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) emulsion gel. Interactions, physicochemical, and flavor properties were analyzed. Inulin/KGM mixture inhibited hydrophobic groups exposure, and maintained MP structure during thermal induction. Inulin/KGM-protein gels exhibited shear-thinning behavior, low deformation resistance and hardness. IDDSI test also indicated inulin/KGM gels is suitable for dysphagia. Inulin/KGM mixture improved flavor by increasing ethanol and 2-octen-ol while decreasing ichthyological substances such as hexanal and nonanal, enhancing the sensory experience of patients with dysphagia. An 8% inulin/KGM mixture effectively modulated mechanical, swallowing, and sensory properties of MP emulsion gels, offering insights for future marine-derived dysphagia foods development.

Zn2+ chelating peptide GFLGSP: Characterization of structure/Zn2+ chelating mode and the potential mechanisms for promoting Zn2+ transport in Caco-2 cells.

This study focused on exploring the Zn2+ chelating peptide GFLGSP: the characterization of structure/Zn2+ chelating mode and the potential mechanisms for promoting Zn2+ transport in Caco-2 cells. The findings revealed the bidentate chelating between Zn2+ and carboxyl oxygen atom in Pro6 residue. Thereafter, the secondary structure of GFLGSP remained unchanged, but there was an increase in zeta potential and particle size. Notably, the GFLGSP-Zn2+ complex enhanced the Zn2+ transport rate and modulated ZIP4 and ZNT1 expression in a Caco-2 cells monolayer model. As revealed by molecular docking analysis, GFLGSP interacted with ZIP4 through intermolecular hydrogen bonds as well as Van der Waals forces. The Zn2+ transport mechanisms of the GFLGSP-Zn2+ complex encompassed ZIP4 (vital channel), endocytosis (primary pathway) and paracellular transport (supplementary pathway). Based on these results, the tilapia skin collagen-derived GFLGSP hold promise as the potential dietary Zn2+ supplement.

Gegen Qinlian decoction inhibited M1 macrophage polarization and ulcerative colitis progression through regulating histone lactylation.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a persistent inflammatory condition affecting the bowels. Gegen Qinlian decoction (GQD) has been widely used in the therapy of gastrointestinal diseases. We investigated the protective impacts and mechanism of GQD against UC. To establish the UC model, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was utilized. The disease activity index (DAI), colon length and colonic pathology were assessed to examine the impacts of GQD on UC. The level of pan-lysine lactylation (Pan kla) and specific sites were detected using western blot. Then, the inflammatory factors and the oxidative stress parameters were measured via the corresponding kits, respectively. Our findings demonstrated that GQD suppressed the lactate generation and LDH activity. The western blot revealed that GQD inhibited the expression of Pan kla and specific sites of H3K18la, H3K23la, H4K8la, and H4K12la. Furthermore, the suppressive effects on inflammation and oxidative stress caused by GQD were counteracted upon the exogenous lactate. GQD suppressed the phenotypic differentiation of M1 macrophages by reducing the expression of M1 markers, which was also reversed by exogenous lactate. In conclusion, GQD effectively suppressed UC progression through histone lactylation. Our results broadened the theoretical basis for the clinical use of GQD.

Analysis of the adhesion mechanism of functionalized carbon nanotubes by molecular dynamics simulation.

Although a lot of research has been carried out on the adhesion mechanism of gecko bristles, the research on materials inspired by gecko bristles is still limited to the design of geometric structure and the optimization of preparation process, and the adhesion mechanism of materials is still unclear. In this paper, the molecular structure of the end of the bristle-like material is focused on, and the interaction between functional group modified carbon nanotubes and the interface is analyzed by molecular dynamics simulation. Thus, the influence of different polar functional groups on the interfacial force between carbon nanotubes and silica is revealed, and the adhesion enhancement mechanism of polar groups on the interface between carbon nanotubes and silica is further verified.

Extracellular Matrix Remodeling Alleviates Memory Deficits in Alzheimer's Disease by Enhancing the Astrocytic Autophagy-Lysosome Pathway.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is strongly linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, it is found that the injection of chondroitinase ABC (ChABC), mimicking ECM remodeling, into the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) reversed short-term memory loss and reduced amyloid-beta (Aß) deposition in 5xFAD mice. ECM remodeling also reactivated astrocytes, reduced the levels of aggrecan in Aß plaques, and enhanced astrocyte recruitment to surrounding plaques. Importantly, ECM remodeling enhanced the autophagy-lysosome pathway in astrocytes, thereby mediating Aß clearance and alleviating AD pathology. ECM remodeling also promoted Aß plaque phagocytosis by astrocytes by activating the astrocytic phagocytosis receptor MERTK and promoting astrocytic vesicle circulation. The study identified a cellular mechanism in which ECM remodeling activates the astrocytic autophagy-lysosomal pathway and alleviates AD pathology. Targeting ECM remodeling may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for AD and serve as a reference for the treatment of this disease.

The effect of acute sleep deprivation on cortisol level: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Acute sleep deprivation has aroused widespread concern and the relationship between acute sleep deprivation and cortisol levels is inconsistent. This study aimed to explore additional evidence and details. The PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CLINAHL and Cochrane databases were searched for eligible studies published up to June 7, 2023. All analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.4 and Stata/SE 14.0. A total of 24 studies contributed to this meta-analysis. There was no significant difference in cortisol levels between participants with acute sleep deprivation and normal sleep in 21 crossover-designed studies (SMD = 0.18; 95% CI: -0.11, 0.45; p = 0.208) or 3 RCTs (SMD = 0.26; 95% CI: -0.22, 0.73; p = 0.286). Subgroup analysis revealed that the pooled effects were significant for studies using serum as the sample (SMD = 0.46; 95%CI: 0.11, 0.81; p = 0.011). Studies reporting cortisol levels in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening did not show significant difference (p > 0.05). The pooled effects were statistically significant for studies with multiple measurements (SMD = 0.28; 95%CI: 0.03, 0.53; p = 0.027) but not for studies with single cortisol assessments (p = 0.777). When the serum was used as the test sample, the cortisol levels of individuals after acute sleep deprivation were higher than those with normal sleep.

Multiple stresses induced by chronic exposure to flupyradifurone affect honey bee physiological states.

Flupyradifurone (FPF) has been reported to have a potential risk to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, the effects of chronic FPF exposure on bees were systematically investigated at the individual behavioral, tissue, cell, enzyme activity, and the gene expression levels. Chronic exposure (14 d) to FPF led to reduced survival (12 mg/L), body weight gain (4 and 12 mg/L), and food utilization efficiency (4 and 12 mg/L). Additionally, FPF exposure (12 mg/L) impaired sucrose sensitivity and memory of bees. Morphological analysis revealed significant cellular and subcellular changes in brain neurons and midgut epithelial cells, including mitochondrial damage, nuclear disintegration, and apoptosis. FPF exposure (4 and 12 mg/L) led to oxidative stress, as evidenced by increased lipid peroxidation and alterations in antioxidant enzyme activity. Notably, gene expression analysis indicated significant dysregulation of apoptosis, immune, detoxification, sucrose responsiveness and memory-related genes, suggesting the involvement of different pathways in FPF-induced toxicity. The multiple stresses and potential mechanisms described here provide a basis for determining the intrinsic toxicity of FPF.

Dental Caries and Preventive Dental Visits Among Children in the U.S.: The Impact of Race/Ethnicity and Immigration.

Introduction: National data on dental caries and dental service use among immigrant children in U.S. are limited. It is not known whether race/ethnicity would interact with immigration status to increase these disparities. Using a nationally representative sample, this study assessed the interaction effects of immigrant generation status and race/ethnicity on dental caries and dental visits among children in the U.S. Methods: Data were from the 2020 and 2021 National Survey of Children's Health. All data were self-reported by parents/guardians. The 2 outcomes were (1) dental caries (yes/no) in the past 12 months and (2) preventive dental visits (yes/no) in the past 12 months. Racial/ethnic groups included non-Hispanic White, Black, Hispanics, and Asian Americans. The analytical sample included 66,167 children aged 2-17 years, including 1,243 first-generation immigrant children; 11,017 second-generation immigrant children; and 53,907 nonimmigrant children. Study authors ran separate multiple logistic regression models for the 2 outcome variables. All analyses accounted for the survey design of National Survey of Children's Health. Results: First-generation immigrant children were more likely to have dental caries than nonimmigrant children (AOR=1.44). The interaction of race/ethnicity and immigrant generation status was significant (p=0.04) in the preventive dental visits model, indicating increased challenges in getting dental visits among minority immigrant children in comparison with that among non-Hispanic White immigrant children, especially among first-generation immigrant children of Asian Americans (AOR=0.41) and non-Hispanic Black immigrant children (AOR=0.37). Conclusions: First-generation immigrant children were less likely to see a dentist and more likely to have dental caries than nonimmigrants. Moreover, first-generation immigrant children from minority racial/ethnic groups were the least likely to seek dental services. To further reduce disparities in oral health and dental use among children in the U.S., culturally sensitive health promotion is warranted to improve oral health literacy and reduce barriers to dental care for immigrants, especially immigrant children of the minority groups.

Supramolecular prodrug of SN38 based on endogenous albumin and SN38 prodrug modified with semaglutide side chain to improve the tumor distribution.

To improve the biodistribution of the drug in the tumor, a supramolecular prodrug of SN38 was fabricated in situ between endogenous albumin and SN38 prodrug modified with semaglutide side chain. Firstly, SN38 was conjugated with semaglutide side chain and octadecanedioic acid via glycine linkers to obtain SI-Gly-SN38 and OA-Gly-SN38 prodrugs, respectively. Both SI-Gly-SN38 and OA-Gly-SN38 exhibited excellent stability in PBS for over 24 h. Due to the strong binding affinity of the semaglutide side chain with albumin, the plasma half-life of SI-Gly-SN38 was 2.7 times higher than that of OA-Gly-SN38. Furthermore, with addition of HSA, the fluorescence intensity of SI-Gly-SN38 was 4 times higher than that of OA-Gly-SN38, confirming its strong binding capability with HSA. MTT assay showed that the cytotoxicity of SI-Gly-SN38 and OA-Gly-SN38 was higher than that of Irinotecan. Even incubated with HSA, the SI-Gly-SN38 and OA-Gly-SN38 still maintained high cytotoxicity, indicating minimal influence of HSA on their cytotoxicity. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that the circulation half-life of SI-Gly-SN38 was twice that of OA-Gly-SN38. SI-Gly-SN38 exhibited significantly reduced accumulation in the lungs, being only 0.23 times that of OA-Gly-SN38. The release of free SN38 in the lungs from SI-Gly-SN38 was only 0.4 times that from OA-Gly-SN38 and Irinotecan. The SI-Gly-SN38 showed the highest accumulation in tumors. The tumor inhibition rate of SI-Gly-SN38 was 6.42% higher than that of OA-Gly-SN38, and 8.67% higher than that of Irinotecan, respectively. These results indicate that the supramolecular prodrug delivery system can be constructed between SI-Gly-SN38 and endogenous albumin, which improves drug biodistribution in vivo, enhances tumor accumulation, and plays a crucial role in tumor growth inhibition.

Gut microbiota microbial metabolites in diabetic nephropathy patients: far to go.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the main complications of diabetes and a major cause of end-stage renal disease, which has a severe impact on the quality of life of patients. Strict control of blood sugar and blood pressure, including the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, can delay the progression of diabetic nephropathy but cannot prevent it from eventually developing into end-stage renal disease. In recent years, many studies have shown a close relationship between gut microbiota imbalance and the occurrence and development of DN. This review discusses the latest research findings on the correlation between gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in DN, including the manifestations of the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in DN patients, the application of the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in the diagnosis of DN, their role in disease progression, and so on, to elucidate the role of the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in the occurrence and prevention of DN and provide a theoretical basis and methods for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Carborane-FAPI conjugate: A potential FAP-targeted boron agent with improved boron content.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) has received extensive attention as an advanced binary radiotherapy method. However, BNCT still faces poor selectivity of boron agent and is insufficient boron content in tumor tissues. To improve the tumor-targeted ability and boron content, this research aims to design, synthesize and preliminary evaluate a new borane agent Carborane-FAPI, which coupling the o-carborane to the compound skeleton of a mature fibroblast activating protein (FAP) inhibitor (FAPI). FAP is a tumor-associated antigen. FAP expressed lowly in normal organs and highly expressed in tumors, so it is a potential target for diagnosis and treatment. Boronophenylalanine (BPA) is the most widely investigated BNCT drug in present. Compared with BPA, the boron content of a single molecule is increased and drug targeting is enhanced. The results show that Carboaren-FAPI has low toxicity to normal cells, and selective enrichment in tumor tissues. It is a promising boron drug that has the potential to be used in BNCT.

A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between oxidative balance score and 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2020).

BACKGROUND: The intricate interaction between oxidative stress and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is an essential area of research because of the potential role of oxidative homeostasis in regulating ASCVD risk. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the oxidative balance score (OBS) and the 10-years risk of ASCVD to gain insight into how oxidative balance affects cardiovascular health. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2020 data (40-79 age group), exploring OBS's link to 10-years ASCVD risk. OBS categorized dietary and lifestyle factors. Multivariate logistic regression controlled for age, sex, race, and demographics. A restricted cubic spline examined linear relationships; robustness was ensured through subgroup analyses. RESULTS: Analysis of 4955 participants reveals a negative association between OBS and 10-years ASCVD risk. Continuous OBS adjusted OR: 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95∼0.99, p < .001). Quartile analysis shows reduced risk in Q2 0.88 (95% CI: 0.63∼1.22, p = .43), Q3 0.92 (95% CI: 0.66∼1.28, p = .614), and Q4 0.59 (95% CI: 0.42∼0.83, p = .002) compare Q1. Quartile analysis indicated decreasing risk in higher OBS quartiles. Lifestyle OBS and Dietary OBS demonstrated similar trends. Stratified analyses highlight race and hypertension as effect modifiers (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests an association between higher OBS and a reduced 10-years ASCVD risk. However, causation should not be inferred, and in the future, more extensive clinical and fundamental research is required to delve deeper into this association.

Radiomics model based on MRI to differentiate spinal multiple myeloma from metastases: A two-center study.

Purpose: Spinal multiple myeloma (MM) and metastases are two common cancer types with similar imaging characteristics, for which differential diagnosis is needed to ensure precision therapy. The aim of this study is to establish radiomics models for effective differentiation between them. Methods: Enrolled in this study were 263 patients from two medical institutions, including 127 with spinal MM and 136 with spinal metastases. Of them, 210 patients from institution I were used as the internal training cohort and 53 patients from Institution II were used as the external validation cohort. Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (CET1) and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) sequences were collected and reviewed. Based on the 1037 radiomics features extracted from both CET1 and T2WI images, Logistic Regression (LR), AdaBoost (AB), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and multiple kernel learning based SVM (MKL-SVM) were constructed. Hyper-parameters were tuned by five-fold cross-validation. The diagnostic efficiency among different radiomics models was compared by accuracy (ACC), sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), area under the ROC curve (AUC), YI, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPY), and F1-score. Results: Based on single-sequence, the RF model outperformed all other models. All models based on T2WI images performed better than those based on CET1. The efficiency of all models was boosted by incorporating CET1 and T2WI sequences, and the MKL-SVM model achieved the best performance with ACC, AUC, and F1-score of 0.862, 0.870, and 0.874, respectively. Conclusions: The radiomics models constructed based on MRI achieved satisfactory diagnostic performance for differentiation of spinal MM and metastases, demonstrating broad application prospects for individualized diagnosis and treatment.

Interactive effects of dinotefuran and Nosema ceranae on the survival status and gut microbial community of honey bees.

Growing evidences have shown that the decline in honey bee populations is mainly caused by the combination of multiple stressors. However, the impacts of parasitic Nosema ceranae to host fitness during long-term pesticide exposure-induced stress is largely unknown. In this study, the effects of chronic exposure to a sublethal dose of dinotefuran, in the presence or absence of N. ceranae, was examined in terms of survival, food consumption, detoxification enzyme activities and gut microbial community. The interaction between dinotefuran and Nosema ceranae on the survival of honey bee was synergistic. Co-exposure to dinotefuran and N. ceranae led to less food consumption and greater changes of enzyme activities involved in defenses against oxidative stress. Particularly, N. ceranae and dinotefuran-N. ceranae co-exposure significantly impacted the gut microbiota structure and richness in adult honey bees, while dinotefuran alone did not show significant alternation of core gut microbiota compared to the control group. We herein demonstrated that chronical exposure to dinotefuran decreases honey bee's survival but is not steadily associated with the gut microbiota dysbiosis; by contrast, N. ceranae parasitism plays a dominant role in the combination in influencing the gut microbial community of the host honey bee. Our findings provide a comprehensive understanding of combinatorial effects between biotic and abiotic stressors on one of the most important pollinators, honey bees.

Iris neovascularization and neurotrophic keratopathy following ultrasound cycloplasty in refractory glaucoma: case series.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound cycloplasty is a noninvasive surgery used to reduce intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma, with fewer severe complications. This report presents several cases of iris neovascularization and neurotrophic keratopathy following ultrasound cycloplasty. CASE PRESENTATION: Six patients diagnosed with refractory glaucoma underwent ultrasound cycloplasty at our clinic. Three cases developed iris neovascularization at postoperative day 3, week 2 and week 4 respectively, with intraocular pressure ranging from 12 to 24 mmHg. The other three cases developed neurotrophic keratopathy at postoperative week 3, week 6 and week 8 which completely healed within 60 days. CONCLUSIONS: Iris neovascularization and neurotrophic keratopathy can be triggered after ultrasound cycloplasty, which are uncommon and self-limited but potentially vision-threatening. Preoperative risk assessment and regular postoperative follow-up are recommended to manage complications effectively.

"Simmer pus and grow flesh" method promotes chronic wound healing in rats via bFGF-Wnt ß-catenin signaling pathway.

The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of "simmer pus and grow meat" method based on bFGF regulating WNT / ß-Catenin signaling pathway. Of 100 SPF rats, 25 were randomly selected as blank group, and 75 rats were established chronic infectious wound model and divided into blank group, model group (normal saline treatment, n = 25), experimental group (purple and white ointment treatment, n = 25), and wet burn ointment group (wet burn treatment, n = 25). The wound healing rate of rats was compared. The protein expressions of PCAN, VEGF, bFGF, ß-Catenin, GSK-3ß and C-Myc in granulation tissues were detected. On the 7th day, the wound healing rate of the model group was lower than that of the other 3 groups (P<0.05), and the wound healing rate of the positive control group was higher than that of the experimental group and the control group (P<0.05). The expressions of bFGF, GSK-3ß and C-MyC in model group were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). The ß-catenin protein expression in the model group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05), and the ß-catenin protein expression in the experimental group and the positive control group was higher than that in the model group (P<0.05). The expressions of PCAN and VEGF in model group were lower than those in model group (P<0.05). We found that Zibai ointment promotes chronic wound healing by modulating the bFGF/Wnt/ß-Catenin signaling pathway.

In-depth discovery and taste presentation mechanism studies on umami peptides derived from fermented sea bass based on peptidomics and machine learning.

Umami peptides originating from fermented sea bass impart a distinctive flavor to food. Nevertheless, large-scale and rapid screening for umami peptides using conventional techniques is challenging because of problems such as prolonged duration and complicated operation. Therefore, we aimed to screen fermented sea bass using peptidomics and machine learning approaches. The taste presentation mechanism of umami peptides was assessed by molecular docking of T1R1/T1R3. Seventy umami peptides identified in fermented sea bass predominantly originated from 28 precursor proteins, including troponin, myosin, motor protein, and creatine kinase. Six umami peptides with the lowest energies formed stable complexes by binding to T1R3. SER170, SER147, GLN389, and HIS145 are critical binding sites for T1R1/T1R3. Four dominant interacting surface forces were identified: aromatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, hydrophilic bonds, and solvent-accessible surfaces. Our study unveils a method to screen umami peptides efficiently, providing a basis for further exploration of their flavor in fermented sea bass.

Refinement of Specialized Nursing Intervention in Elderly Patients with Diabetes Complicated by Pulmonary Infection and the Impact on the Patient's Condition and Prognosis.

Objective: Our aim was to analyze the effect of refined specialized nursing intervention in elderly patients with diabetes and concurrent pulmonary infection and the impact on patients' conditions and outcomes. Methods: Clinical data from 87 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) complicated by pulmonary infection treated in Lishui Municipal Central Hospital in China from February 2021 to February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients conformed to complete inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were divided into a control group (n=43) and an observation group (n=44) based on the nursing intervention they received. The control group received routine nursing intervention, while the observation group received refined specialized nursing intervention. The nursing intervention effects, hospitalization duration, disease knowledge acquisition, blood glucose indicators (fasting plasma glucose [FPG], 2-hour postprandial glucose [2hPG]), inflammatory marker indicators (C-reactive protein [CRP], heparin-binding protein [HBP]) levels, comfort levels and nursing satisfaction were compared between the 2 groups. Results: (1) Nursing intervention effect and hospitalization duration: The observation group showed significantly higher overall intervention effectiveness and notably shorter hospital stays compared with the control group (P < .05). (2) Disease knowledge acquisition and blood glucose indicator levels: Before the intervention, there were no significant differences in disease knowledge acquisition, FPG or 2hPG levels between the 2 groups (P > .05); after the intervention, the observation group exhibited significantly higher disease knowledge acquisition and lower FPG and 2hPG levels than the control group (P < .05). (3) Inflammatory marker indicator levels: Prior to the intervention, there were no significant differences in CRP or HBP levels between the 2 groups (P > .05); post-intervention, the observation group showed markedly lower CRP and HBP levels compared with the control group (P < .05). (4) Comfort levels: Prior to the intervention, there were no significant differences in physiological, psychological, environmental or social comfort scores between the 2 groups (P > .05); after the intervention, the observation group exhibited significantly higher scores in all comfort aspects compared with the control group (P < .05). (5) Nursing satisfaction: Nursing satisfaction in the control group was 74.42%, while in the observation group it was 90.91%, indicating significantly higher nursing satisfaction in the observation group (P < .05). Conclusion: Refined specialized nursing intervention significantly improved outcomes in elderly patients with diabetes and concurrent pulmonary infection. Compared with routine nursing intervention, refined specialized nursing intervention remarkably enhanced patient comfort during hospitalization, improved disease knowledge acquisition, rapidly adjusted blood glucose levels and reduced systemic inflammatory response, facilitating better patient recovery. Moreover, it moderately enhanced satisfaction for patients and their families, holding significant implications for promoting harmonious doctor-patient relationships, hence advocating for its clinical dissemination.

Highly Thermally Conductive Triple-Level Ordered CNT/PVA Nanofibrous Films.

The escalating thermal power density in electronic devices necessitates advanced thermal management technologies. Polymer-based materials, prized for their electrical insulation, flexibility, light weight, and strength, are extensively used in this field. However, the inherent low thermal conductivity of polymers requires enhancement for effective heat dissipation. This work proposes a novel paradigm, emphasizing ordered structures with functional units, to create triple-level, ordered, low-filler loading of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA) nanofibrous films. By addressing interfacial thermal resistance through -OH groups, the coupling between polymer and MWCNT is strengthened. The triple-level ordered structure comprises aligned PVA chains, aligned MWCNTs, and aligned MWCNT/PVA composite fibers. Focusing on the filler's impact on thermal conductivity and chain orientation, the thermal transport mechanisms have been elucidated level by level. Our MWCNT/PVA composite, with lower filler loadings (10 wt.%), achieves a remarkable TC exceeding 35.4 W/(m·K), surpassing other PVA composites with filler loading below 50 wt.%.

Differential Microbial Composition and Interkingdom Interactions in the Intestinal Microbiota of Holstein and German Simmental × Holstein Cross F1 Calves: A Comprehensive Analysis of Bacterial and Fungal Diversity.

Calf intestines are colonized by rich and complex microbial communities, playing a crucial role in animal physiology, metabolism, nutrition, and immune function. In this study, we provide insight into the composition of fecal microbial bacteria and fungi, respectively, as well as the cross-kingdom interactions. We investigated the intestinal microbiota of different breeds of calves by characterizing the bacterial and fungal communities in the rectal feces of Holstein calves and German Simmental × Holstein cross F1 generation (GXH) using 16S rRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing techniques. PICRUSt2 (version 2.2.0) were used to determine microbial diversity and function and explore the reasons why Holstein calves are more susceptible to diarrhea. The results revealed no significant difference in the diversity of fecal microbiota among the groups (p > 0.05). We identified Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria as the dominant bacterial phyla in the fecal bacterial communities of the two breeds of calves. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota play important roles in the fungal community but differ in relative abundance. Bacteroides was the dominant genus at the group level for calf fecal microbiota in both breeds. The relative abundance of Prevotella, Escherichia-Shigella, Peptostreptococcus, and Butyricicoccus was higher in Holstein calves, and the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium, Megamonas, Butyricicoccus, and Alloprevotella was lower than GXH group. Aspergillus and Cladosporium were the dominating genera of fecal fungi in both groups of calves. LEfSe analysis revealed 33 different bacteria and 23 different fungi between the two groups, with more differential strains found in GXH. In addition, the feces fungi-bacteria interkingdom interactions varied among breeds. Thus, the composition and structure of bacterial and fungal communities in calf feces varied by breed, indicating a potential association between breed and microbial communities. We also found differences in the network between bacterial-fungal kingdoms. We explain the reasons for Holstein calves being more prone to diarrhea. This indicated that breed makes differences in calf diarrhea rates by influencing gut microbial composition and interactions.