Identification and quality evaluation of Lushan Yunwu tea from different geographical origins based on metabolomics.

The relationship between the chemical composition and quality of Lushan Yunwu tea (LYT) from different geographical origins is not clear. Sensory evaluation, metabolomics analyses combined with chemometrics were conducted on LYT from 8 different geographical origins, and altitude was identified as the main factor responsible for the differences among LYT. A total of 32 non-volatile and 27 volatile compounds were identified as marker metabolites to distinguish the origins of high altitudes from those of low altitudes. LYT samples from higher altitude areas contained more free amino acids, sugars, and organic acids, and less catechins, which may contribute to the reduction of bitterness and astringency and the enhancement of umami. The contents of geranylacetone, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl caprylate, 3-carene, d-cadinene, linalool, nerol, and nerolidol in high altitude areas were higher than those in low altitude areas, indicating that LYT from high altitude had strong floral and fruity aroma. The altitudes were positively correlated with pH value, total flavonoids, soluble protein, total free amino acids, and the antioxidant capacities of the LYT. This study provided a theoretical basis for the study of the effect of altitude on tea quality.

Exploiting the advantages of cationic copolymers and AgBr nanoparticles to optimize the antibacterial activity of chitosan.

Recently, the chitosan (CS)-based composites have attracted increasing attention for controlling and preventing the spread of pathogenic microorganisms. Herein, an amphiphilic copolymer containing epoxy and quaternary ammonium groups (PBGDBr) was synthesized via three common acrylate monomers. The epoxy groups of this copolymer were then crosslinked with the amino groups of CS to synthesize a natural/synthetic (PBGDBr-C) composite to increase the water solubility of CS under alkaline conditions and enhance its antibacterial activity based on chemical contact-type modes. Moreover, silver bromide nanoparticles (AgBr NPs)-decorated PBGDBr-C (AgBr@PBGDBr-C) composite was prepared, which aimed to endow the final AgBr@PBGDBr-C composite with a photodynamic antibacterial mode relying on the formation of Ag/AgBr nanostructures catalyzed by visible light on AgBr NPs. The results showed that the final composite possessed satisfactory bactericidal effects at concentrations higher than 64 and 128 µg/mL against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. Additionally, The L929 cells treated with the final composite retained high cell viability (>80 %) at a concentration of 128 µg/mL, indicating its low toxicity to L929 cells. Overall, our synthetic strategy exploits a multi-modal system that enables chemical-photodynamic synergies to treat infections caused by pathogenic bacteria while delaying the development of bacterial resistance.

Arteriovenous metabolomics in pigs reveals CFTR regulation ofmetabolism inmultiple organs.

Mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene cause cystic fibrosis (CF), a multiorgan disease that exhibits diverse metabolic defects. However, other than specific CFTR mutations, the factors that influence disease progression and severity remain poorly understood. Aberrant metabolite levels have been reported, but whether CFTR loss itself or secondary abnormalities (infection, inflammation, malnutrition, and various treatments) drive metabolic defects are uncertain. Here, we implemented comprehensive arteriovenous metabolomics in newborn CF pigs, and the results revealed CFTR as a bona fide regulator of metabolism. CFTR loss impaired metabolite exchange across organs, including disrupted lung uptake of fatty acids yet enhanced uptake of arachidonic acid, a precursor of pro-inflammatory cytokines. CFTR loss also impaired kidney reabsorption of amino acids and lactate and abolished renal glucose homeostasis. These and additional unexpected metabolic defects prior to disease manifestations reveal a fundamental role for CFTR in controlling multi-organ metabolism. Such discovery informs a basic understanding of CF, provides a foundation for future investigation, and has implications for developing therapies targeting only a single tissue.

Genome-Wide Characterization and Functional Validation of the ACS Gene Family in the Chestnut Reveals Its Regulatory Role in Ovule Development.

Ovule abortion significantly contributes to a reduction in chestnut yield. Therefore, an examination of the mechanisms underlying ovule abortion is crucial for increasing chestnut yield. In our previous study, we conducted a comprehensive multiomic analysis of fertile and abortive ovules and found that ACS genes in chestnuts (CmACS) play a crucial role in ovule development. Therefore, to further study the function of ACS genes, a total of seven CmACS members were identified, their gene structures, conserved structural domains, evolutionary trees, chromosomal localization, and promoter cis-acting elements were analyzed, and their subcellular localization was predicted and verified. The spatiotemporal specificity of the expression of the seven CmACS genes was confirmed via qRT-PCR analysis. Notably, CmACS7 was exclusively expressed in the floral organs, and its expression peaked during fertilization and decreased after fertilization. The ACC levels remained consistently greater in fertile ovules than in abortive ovules. The ACSase activity of CmACS7 was identified using the genetic transformation of chestnut healing tissue. Micro Solanum lycopersicum plants overexpressing CmACS7 had a significantly greater rate of seed failure than did wild-type plants. Our results suggest that ovule fertilization activates CmACS7 and increases ACC levels, whereas an overexpression of CmACS7 leads to an increase in ACC content in the ovule prior to fertilization, which can lead to abortion. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that chestnut ovule abortion is caused by poor fertilization and not by nutritional competition. Optimization of the pollination and fertilization of female flowers is essential for increasing chestnut yield and reducing ovule abortion.

Changes in bacterial community composition in the uterus of Holstein cow with endometritis before and after treatment with oxytetracycline.

It is important to study the bacteria that cause endometritis to identify effective therapeutic drugs for dairy cows. In this study, 20% oxytetracycline was used to treat Holstein cows (n = 6) with severe endometritis. Additional 10 Holstein cows (5 for healthy cows, 5 for cows with mild endometritis) were also selected. At the same time, changes in bacterial communities were monitored by high-throughput sequencing. The results show that Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and other common pathogenic bacteria could be detected by traditional methods in cows both with and without endometritis. However, 16S sequencing results show that changes in the abundance of these bacteria were not significant. Endometritis is often caused by mixed infections in the uterus. Oxytetracycline did not completely remove existing bacteria. However, oxytetracycline could effectively inhibit endometritis and had a significant inhibitory effect on the genera Bacteroides, Trueperella, Peptoniphilus, Parvimonas, Porphyromonas, and Fusobacterium but had no significant inhibitory effect on the bacterial genera Marinospirillum, Erysipelothrix, and Enteractinococcus. During oxytetracycline treatment, the cell motility, endocrine system, exogenous system, glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, lipid metabolism, metabolism of terpenoids, polyketides, cofactors and vitamins, signal transduction, and transport and catabolism pathways were affected.

Myeloid Trem2 ameliorates the progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease by regulating macrophage pyroptosis and inflammation resolution.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasing year by year and has become one of the leading causes of end-stage liver disease worldwide. Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2 (Trem2) has been confirmed to play an essential role in the progression of MASLD, but its specific mechanism still needs to be clarified. This study aims to explore the role and mechanism of Trem2 in MASLD. METHODS: Human liver tissues were obtained from patients with MASLD and controls. Myeloid-specific knockout mice (Trem2mKO) and myeloid-specific overexpression mice (Trem2TdT) were fed a high-fat diet, either AMLN or CDAHFD, to establish the MASLD model. Relevant signaling molecules were assessed through lipidomics and RNA-seq analyses after that. RESULTS: Trem2 is upregulated in human MASLD/MASH-associated macrophages and is associated with hepatic steatosis and inflammation progression. Hepatic steatosis and inflammatory responses are exacerbated with the knockout of myeloid Trem2 in MASLD mice, while mice overexpressing Trem2 exhibit the opposite phenomenon. Mechanistically, Trem2mKO can aggravate macrophage pyroptosis through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and amplify the resulting inflammatory response. At the same time, Trem2 promotes the inflammation resolution phenotype transformation of macrophages through TGFß1, thereby promoting tissue repair. CONCLUSIONS: Myeloid Trem2 ameliorates the progression of Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease by regulating macrophage pyroptosis and inflammation resolution. We believe targeting myeloid Trem2 could represent a potential avenue for treating MASLD.

Mitochondrial alternative oxidase pathway accelerates non-motile cell germination by enhancing respiratory carbon metabolism and maintaining redox poise in Haematococcus pluvialis.

Low efficiency of the cultivation process is a major obstacle in the commercial production of Haematococcus pluvialis. Germination of red, non-motile cells is an efficient strategy for rapid acquisition of zoospores. However, the regulatory mechanisms associated with germination remain unexplored. In the present study, it was confirmed that the mitochondrial alternative oxidase (AOX) pathway accelerates H. pluvialis cell germination, and the regulatory mechanisms were clarified. When the AOX pathway was inhibited, the transcriptomic and metabonomic data revealed a downregulation in respiratory carbon metabolism and nucleotide synthesis due to NADH accumulation. This observation suggested that AOX promoted the rapid consumption of NADH, which accelerated carbohydrate and lipid catabolism, thereby producing carbon skeletons for DNA replication through respiratory metabolism. Moreover, AOX could potentially enhance germination by disturbing the abscisic acid signaling pathway. These findings provide novel insights for developing industrial cultivation models based on red-cell-germination for achieving rapid proliferation of H. pluvialis.

Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins protect human airway epithelial ciliated cells from oxidative damage.

Apical cilia on epithelial cells defend the lung by propelling pathogens and particulates out of the respiratory airways. Ciliated cells produce ATP that powers cilia beating by densely grouping mitochondria just beneath the apical membrane. However, this efficient localization comes at a cost because electrons leaked during oxidative phosphorylation react with molecular oxygen to form superoxide, and thus, the cluster of mitochondria creates a hotspot for oxidant production. The relatively high oxygen concentration overlying airway epithelia further intensifies the risk of generating superoxide. Thus, airway ciliated cells face a unique challenge of producing harmful levels of oxidants. However, surprisingly, highly ciliated epithelia produce less reactive oxygen species (ROS) than epithelia with few ciliated cells. Compared to other airway cell types, ciliated cells express high levels of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins, UCP2 and UCP5. These proteins decrease mitochondrial protonmotive force and thereby reduce production of ROS. As a result, lipid peroxidation, a marker of oxidant injury, decreases. However, mitochondrial uncoupling proteins exact a price for decreasing oxidant production; they decrease the fraction of mitochondrial respiration that generates ATP. These findings indicate that ciliated cells sacrifice mitochondrial efficiency in exchange for safety from damaging oxidation. Employing uncoupling proteins to prevent oxidant production, instead of relying solely on antioxidants to decrease postproduction oxidant levels, may offer an advantage for targeting a local area of intense ROS generation.

The Pendulum Movement of Orbital Fat and Retro-Orbicularis Oculi Fat: A New Strategy for Correction of Sunken Eyelid Deformity in Revision Upper Blepharoplasty for Asian Patients.

BACKGROUND: With an increasing number of East Asians undergoing blepharoplasty, the number of patients with secondary upper eyelid deformities is increasing. The sunken eyelid deformity is a common deformity after upper blepharoplasty in Asians due to over-resection, retraction, or atrophy of the nasal and central orbital fat pads. Herein, we present a novel procedure, the pendulum movement of orbital fat and retro-orbicularis oculi fat ("POR" technique), for correction of sunken eyelid deformity in secondary Asian blepharoplasty. METHODS: Patients who underwent secondary upper blepharoplasty with the POR technique by the senior author between January 2020 and October 2021 were identified retrospectively. Those with fewer than 6 months of follow-up were excluded. Patient charts and images were reviewed for demographic data, comorbidities, concomitant eyelid deformities, and postoperative complications. Pre- and postoperative aesthetics, including degree of sunken eyelid deformity, were assessed by two independent raters and by self-reported patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Forty-nine consecutive patients were identified, all of whom were female and had grade I or II sunken eyelid deformity. Median follow-up was 8 months. Concomitant deformities included high tarsal crease (N = 31 patients, 63.3%), ptosis (N = 13, 26.5%), and upper eyelid retraction (N = 5, 10.2%). Almost patients had improvement in their eyelid volume, and 95.9% had improvement in their aesthetic rating. Approximately 93.9% of patients were satisfied with the outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The POR technique is an effective technique for correction of sunken eyelid deformity and can be utilized in conjunction with other techniques during secondary blepharoplasty. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Mechanism Exploration of the Effect of Polyamines on the Polishing Rate of Silicon Chemical Mechanical Polishing: A Study Combining Simulations and Experiments.

Polyamines have become important chemical components used in several integrated circuit manufacturing processes, such as etching, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), and cleaning. Recently, researchers pointed out that polyamines can be excellent enhancers in promoting the material removal rate (MRR) of Si CMP, but the interaction mechanism between the polyamines and the silicon surface has not been clarified. Here, the micro-interaction mechanisms of polyamines, including ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetramine (TETA), tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), and pentaethylenehexamine (PEHA), with the Si(1, 0, 0) surface were investigated through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using the ReaxFF reactive force field. Polyamines can adsorb onto the Si(1, 0, 0) surface, and the adsorption rate first accelerates and then tends to stabilize with the increase in the quantity of -CH2CH2NH-. The close connection between the adsorption properties of polyamines and the polishing rate has been confirmed by CMP experiments on silicon wafers. A comprehensive bond analysis indicates that the adsorption of polyamines can stretch surface Si-Si bonds, which facilitates subsequent material removal by abrasive mechanical wear. This work reveals the adsorption mechanism of polyamines onto the silicon substrate and the understanding of the MRR enhancement in silicon CMP, which provides guidance for the design of CMP slurry.

Molecular modulating of amylopectin's structure promoted the formation of starch-unsaturated fatty acids complexes with controlled digestibility and improved stability to oxidation.

In this study, waxy corn starch (WCS) was modified by amylosucrase and pullulanase, producing linear starch chains with elongated length that favored the complexation with unsaturated fatty acids (uFAs). Compared to native WCS, the amylosucrase-modified WCS with an average chain length of 47.8 was easier to form V-type complexes with oleic acid, while increasing the degree of unsaturation impeded the formation of V-type complexes. The pullulanase treatment hydrolyzed the branching points of amylosucrase-modified WCS and the linear starch chains could forme V-type complexes with oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid, with V-type crystallinity decreasing from 38.2 % to 20.1 %. V-type complexes had a lower thermal stability than the B-type starch crystallites, and their peak melting temperature ranged from 67.2 to 79.0 °C. The content of resistant starch in the complexes was in the range of 21.8 %-40.9 % and the formation of V-type complexes decreased the susceptibility of uFAs to oxygen.

Metabolomics and network pharmacology reveal the mechanism of Castanopsis honey against Streptococcus pyogenes.

Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS) is one of the most virulent and infectious bacteria, severely threatening health and lives of people worldwide. Honey has been proven to have effective capability against GAS, but the underlying metabolites and mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, the Castanopsis honey (CH) showed significant antibacterial ability compared to other seven kinds of honey and artificial honey. Furthermore, the antibacterial metabolites and their targets in CH were screened by combined method of metabolomics, network pharmacology, and molecular docking. The results suggested that the activities of two antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase and tyrosyl tRNA synthetase identified as the primary targets, were significantly inhibited by CH, which significantly increased the level of oxidative stress in GAS. The results revealed a possibly novel mechanism regulating the oxidative stress and inhibits the growth in bacteria, providing strong experimental evidence to support the further development of CH as a novel antibacterial agent.

DFT Exploration of Metal Ion-Ligand Binding: Toward Rational Design of Chelating Agent in Semiconductor Manufacturing.

Chelating agents are commonly employed in microelectronic processes to prevent metal ion contamination. The ligand fragments of a chelating agent largely determine its binding strength to metal ions. Identification of ligands with suitable characteristics will facilitate the design of chelating agents to enhance the capture and removal of metal ions from the substrate in microelectronic processes. This study employed quantum chemical calculations to simulate the binding process between eleven ligands and the hydrated forms of Ni2+, Cu2+, Al3+, and Fe3+ ions. The binding strength between the metal ions and ligands was quantified using binding energy and binding enthalpy. Additionally, we explored the binding interaction mechanisms and explained the differences in binding abilities of the eleven ligands using frontier molecular orbitals, nucleophilic indexes, electrostatic potentials, and energy decomposition calculations based on molecular force fields. Based on our computational results, promising chelating agent structures are proposed, aiming to guide the design of new chelating agents to address metal ion contamination issues in integrated circuit processes.

Blockade of Hepatocyte PCSK9 Ameliorates Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Promoting Pink1-Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury is a significant complication of partial hepatic resection and liver transplantation, impacting the prognosis of patients undergoing liver surgery. The protein proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is primarily synthesized by hepatocytes and has been implicated in myocardial ischemic diseases. However, the role of PCSK9 in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the role and mechanism of PCSK9 in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: We first examined the expression of PCSK9 in mouse warm ischemia-reperfusion models and AML12 cells subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation. Subsequently, we explored the impact of PCSK9 on liver ischemia-reperfusion injury by assessing mitochondrial damage and the resulting inflammatory response. RESULTS: Our findings reveal that PCSK9 is up-regulated in response to ischemia-reperfusion injury and exacerbates hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. Blocking PCSK9 can alleviate hepatocyte mitochondrial damage and the consequent inflammatory response mediated by ischemia-reperfusion. Mechanistically, this protective effect is dependent on mitophagy. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibiting PCSK9 in hepatocytes attenuates the inflammatory responses triggered by reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial DNA by promoting PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy. This, in turn, ameliorates hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury.

GWAS identifies two important genes involved in Chinese chestnut weight and leaf length regulation.

There are many factors that affect the yield of Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), with single nut weight (SNW) being one of the most important. Leaf length is also related to Chinese chestnut yield. However, the genetic architecture and gene function associated with Chinese chestnut nut yield have not been fully explored. In this study, we performed genotyping by sequencing 151 Chinese chestnut cultivars, followed by a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on six horticultural traits. First, we analyzed the phylogeny of the Chinese chestnut and found that the Chinese chestnut cultivars divided into two ecotypes, a northern and southern cultivar group. Differences between the cultivated populations were found in the pathways of plant growth and adaptation to the environment. In the selected regions, we also found interesting tandemly arrayed genes that may influence Chinese chestnut traits and environmental adaptability. To further investigate which horticultural traits were selected, we performed a GWAS using six horticultural traits from 151 cultivars. Forty-five loci that strongly associated with horticultural traits were identified, and six genes highly associated with these traits were screened. In addition, a candidate gene associated with SNW, APETALA2 (CmAP2), and another candidate gene associated with leaf length (LL), CRYPTOCHROME INTERACTING BASIC HELIX-LOOP-HELIX 1 (CmCIB1), were verified in Chinese chestnut and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Our results showed that CmAP2 affected SNW by negatively regulating cell size. CmCIB1 regulated the elongation of new shoots and leaves by inducing cell elongation, potentially affecting photosynthesis. This study provided valuable information and insights for Chinese chestnut breeding research.

A new comprehensive quantitative index for the assessment of essential amino acid quality in beef using Vis-NIR hyperspectral imaging combined with LSTM.

The quality of beef is usually predicted by measuring a single index rather than a comprehensive index. To precisely determine the essential amino acid (EAA) contents in 360 beef samples, the feasibility of optimized spectral detection techniques based on the comprehensive EAA index (CEI) and comprehensive weight index (CWI) constructed by factor analysis was explored. Two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) was used to analyse the mechanisms of spectral peak shifts in complex disturbance systems with CEI and CWI contents, and 15 sensitive feature variables were extracted to establish a quantitative analysis model of a long short-term memory network (LSTM). The results indicated that 2D-COS had good predictive performance in both CEI-LSTM (R2P of 0.9095 and RPD of 2.76) and CWI-LSTM (R2P of 0.8449 and RPD of 2.45), which reduced data information by 88%. This indicates that utilizing 2D-COS can eliminate collinearity and redundant information among variables while achieving data dimensionality reduction and simplification of calibration models. Furthermore, a spatial distribution map of the comprehensive EAA content was generated by combining the optimal prediction model. This study demonstrated that the comprehensive index method furnishes a new approach to rapidly evaluate EAA content.

Transcriptomics data mining to uncover signature genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a bioinformatics analysis and RNA-sequencing based validation.

Due to its heterogeneous nature, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) had the worst prognosis. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel diagnostic and prognostic models for effective disease management. A multi-layer dry-lab and wet-lab methodologies were adopted in the present study to identify novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of HNSC. Initially, the GSE6631 gene microarray HNSC dataset was retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The R language-based "limma" package was employed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between HNSC and control samples. The Cytohubba plug-in software was used to identify the top four hub genes based on the degree score method. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, clinical HNSC tissue samples, HNSC cell line (FaDu), and normal cell line (HOK) were used to validate the expressions of hub genes. Moreover, additional bioinformatics analyses were performed to further evaluate the mechanisms of hub genes in the development of HNSC. In total, 1372 reliable DEGs were screened from the GSE6631 dataset. Out of these DEGs, only based on the four up-regulated hub genes, including UBE2C (Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C), BUB1B (BUB1 Mitotic Checkpoint Serine/Threonine Kinase B), MCM4 (Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 4), and KIF23 (Kinesin family member 23), we developed and validated a diagnostic and prognostic model for HNSC patients. Moreover, some interesting correlations observed between hub gene expression and infiltration level of immune cells may also improve our understanding of HNSC immunotherapy. In conclusion, we developed a novel diagnostic and prognostic model consisting of the UBE2C, BUB1B, MCM4, and KIF23 genes for HNSC patients. However, the efficiency of this model needs to be verified through more experimental studies.

Phylogenetic analysis, morphological studies, element profiling, and muscarine detection reveal a new toxic Inosperma (Inocybaceae, Agaricales) species from tropical China.

Tropical Asian collections of Inosperma are usually poisonous mushrooms that have caused many poisoning incidents. However, the species diversity and the toxic mechanisms of these Inosperma species are still unclear. In this study, we describe the discovery of Inosperma wuzhishanense sp. nov. from Wuzhishan City, Hainan Province, tropical China. The new species was identified based on morphological and multi-locus (ITS, nrLSU, and RPB2) phylogenetic analyses. The new species is characterized by its reddish-brown pileus, fibrillose stipes with finely protruding fibrils, rather crowded lamellae, smooth and ellipsoid basidiospores, and mostly clavate, thin-walled cheilocystidia. The new species is phylogenetically nested in the Old World tropical clade 2 and is sister to the tropical Indian taxa I. akirnum. Detailed descriptions, color photos of the new species, and comparisons with its closely related species are provided. Additionally, the muscarine content of the new species was analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The muscarine contents ranged from 4,359.79 ± 83.87 mg/kg to 7,114.03 ± 76.55 mg/kg, 2,748.37 ± 106.85 mg/kg to 4,491.35 ± 467.21 mg/kg, and 2,301.36 ± 83.52 mg/kg to 2,775.90 ± 205.624 mg/kg in the stipe, pileus, and lamellae, respectively. The elemental composition and concentration were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A total of 24 elements were detected. Among the heavy metals detected, arsenic showed the highest level of toxicity with a concentration of 36.76 ± 0.43 mg/kg.

Super-High-Frequency Bulk Acoustic Resonators Based on Aluminum Scandium Nitride for Wideband Applications.

Despite the dominance of bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filters in the high-frequency market due to their superior performance and compatible integration process, the advent of the 5G era brings up new challenges to meet the ever-growing demands on high-frequency and large bandwidth. Al1-xScxN piezoelectric films with high Sc concentration are particularly desirable to achieve an increased electromechanical coupling (Kt2) for BAW resonators and also a larger bandwidth for filters. In this paper, we designed and fabricated the Al1-xScxN-based BAW resonators with Sc concentrations as high as 30%. The symmetry of the resonance region, border frame structure and thickness ratio of the piezoelectric stack are thoroughly examined for lateral modes suppression and resonant performance optimization. Benefiting from the 30% Sc doping, the fabricated BAW resonators demonstrate a large effective electromechanical coupling (Keff2) of 17.8% at 4.75 GHz parallel resonant frequency. Moreover, the temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) of the device is obtained as -22.9 ppm/°C, indicating reasonable temperature stability. Our results show that BAW resonators based on highly doped Al1-xScxN piezoelectric film have great potential for high-frequency and large bandwidth applications.

The associations of gestational weight gain and midpregnancy lipid levels with placental size and placental-to-birth weight ratio: findings from a chinese birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The placenta serves as the sole maternal organ responsible for transmitting nutrients to the fetus, playing a crucial role in supporting standard fetal growth and development. To date, only a small number of studies have investigated the impact of maternal gestational weight gain and lipid concentrations on placental development. This study aimed to explore the influence of weight gain during pregnancy and lipid levels in the second trimester on placental weight, volume, and the placental weight ratio. METHODS: This birth cohort study encompassed 1,358 mother-child pairs. Placental data for each participant was gathered immediately post-delivery, and the study incorporated data on gestational weight gain throughout pregnancy and lipid profiles from the mid-trimester. A linear regression model was employed to assess the correlations between gestational weight gain, mid-trimester lipid levels, and metrics such as placental weight, placental volume, and the placental-to-birth weight ratio (PFR). RESULTS: In the study groups of pre-pregnancy underweight, normal weight, and overweight, the placental weight increased by 4.93 g (95% CI: 1.04-8.81), 2.52 g (95% CI: 1.04-3.99), and 3.30 g (95% CI: 0.38-6.22) per 1 kg of gestational weight gain, respectively. Within the pre-pregnancy underweight and normal weight groups, the placental volume increased by 6.79 cm^3 (95% CI: 3.43-10.15) and 2.85 cm^3 (95% CI: 1.31-4.39) per 1 kg of gestational weight gain, respectively. Additionally, placental weight exhibited a positive correlation with triglyceride (TG) levels (ß = 9.81, 95% CI: 3.28-16.34) and a negative correlation with high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) levels (ß = - 46.30, 95% CI: - 69.49 to - 23.11). Placental volume also showed a positive association with TG levels (ß = 14.54, 95% CI: 7.69-21.39). Conversely, PFR demonstrated a negative correlation with increasing HDL-C levels (ß = - 0.89, 95% CI: - 1.50 to - 0.27). CONCLUSIONS: Gestational weight gain was significantly correlated with both placental weight and volume. This association was especially pronounced in women who, prior to pregnancy, were underweight or of normal weight. Additionally, TG and HDL-C levels during the mid-trimester were linked to placental development.