Identification of floral aroma components and molecular regulation mechanism of floral aroma formation in Phalaenopsis.

BACKGROUND: Most Phalaenopsis cultivars have almost no aroma, with a few exceptions. Phalaenopsis presents significant challenges in fragrance breeding due to its weak aroma and low fertility. It is therefore necessary to identify the aroma components and key regulatory genes in Phalaenopsis cultivars like 'Orange Beauty', 'Brother Sara Gold', 'Purple Martin', 'H026', 'SK16', 'SX098', and 'SH51', to improve the aroma of the common Phalaenopsis. RESULTS: Floral aroma components were tested on nine Phalaenopsis species, using smell identification and headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The result showed that alcohols, esters, and alkenes were the key specific components in the different species and cultivar aromas and the aroma intensity and component content of cultivars with different colors were different. The main components of the floral aromas in Phalaenopsis were alcohols (including eucalyptol, linalool, citronellol, and 1-hexanol), esters (including hexyl acetate, leaf acetate, and dibutyl phthalate), alkenes (including pinene and sabinene) and arenes (like fluorene). The transcriptome of flowers in the bud stage and bloom stage of P. 'SH51' was sequenced and 5999 differentially expressed genes were obtained. The contributions of the phenylpropionic acid/phenyl ring compound and the terpene compound to the aroma were greater. Sixteen genes related to phalaenopsis aroma were found. TC4M, PAL, CAD6, and HR were related to phenylpropanoid synthesis pathway. SLS, TS10, and P450 were related to the synthesis pathway of terpenes. TS10 and YUCCA 10 were involved in tryptophan metabolism. CONCLUSION: This is the first report on the floral aroma components and regulatory genes in Phalaenopsis. The proposed method and research data can provide technical support for Phalaenopsis breeding. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Investigating the Corrosion Resistance of Different SiC Crystal Types: From Energy Sectors to Advanced Applications.

Silicon carbide, as a third-generation semiconductor material, plays a pivotal role in various advanced technological applications. Its exceptional stability under extreme conditions has garnered a significant amount of attention. These superior characteristics make silicon carbide an ideal candidate material for high-frequency, high-power electronic devices and applications in harsh environments. In particular, corrosion resistance in natural or artificially acidic and alkaline environments limits the practical application of many other materials. In fields such as chemical engineering, energy conversion, and environmental engineering, materials often face severe chemical erosion, necessitating materials with excellent chemical stability as foundational materials, carriers, or reaction media. Silicon carbide exhibits outstanding performance under these conditions, demonstrating significant resistance to corrosive substances such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and alkaline substances such as potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide. Despite the well-known chemical stability of silicon carbide, the stability conditions of its different types (such as 3C-, 4H-, and 6H-SiC polycrystals) in acidic and alkaline environments, as well as the specific corrosion mechanisms and differences, warrant further investigation. This Review not only delves deeply into the detailed studies related to this topic but also highlights the current applications of different silicon carbide polycrystals in chemical reaction systems, energy conversion equipment, and recycling processes. Through a comprehensive analysis, this Review aims to bridge research gaps, offering a comparative analysis of the advantages and disadvantages between different polymorphs. It provides material scientists, engineers, and developers with a thorough understanding of silicon carbide's behavior in various chemical environments. This work will propel the research and development of silicon carbide materials under extreme conditions, especially in areas where chemical stability is crucial for device performance and durability. It lays a solid foundation for ultra-high-power, high-integration, high-reliability module architectures, supercomputing chips, and highly safe long-life batteries.

A probabilistic approach for assessing the mechanical performance of intertrochanteric fracture stabilized with proximal femoral nail antirotation.

Maintaining post-operative mechanical stability is crucial for successfully healing intertrochanteric fractures treated with the Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation (PFNA) system. This stability is primarily dependent on the bone mineral density (BMD) and strain on the fracture. Current PFNA failure analyses often overlook the uncertainties related to BMD and body weight (BW). Therefore, this study aimed to develop a probabilistic model using finite element modeling and engineering reliability analysis to assess the post-operative performance of PFNA under various physiological loading conditions. The model predictions were validated through a series of experimental test. The results revealed a negative nonlinear relationship between the BMD and compressive strain. Conversely, the BW was positively and linearly correlated with the compressive strain. Importantly, the compressive strain was more sensitive to BW than to BMD when the BMD exceeded 0.6 g/cm3. Potential trabecular bone compression failure is also indicated if BMD is equal to or below 0.15 g/cm3 and BW increases to approximately 2.5 times the normal or higher. This study emphasizes that variations in the BMD significantly affect the probability of failure of a PFNA system. Thus, careful planning of post-operative physical therapy is essential. For patients aged > 50 years restrictions on high-intensity activities are advised, while limiting strenuous movements is recommended for those aged > 65 years.

Protective effects of ectoine on articular chondrocytes and cartilage in rats for treating osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease that primarily includes articular cartilage destruction and inflammatory reactions, and effective treatments for this disease are still lacking. The present study aimed to explore the protective effects of ectoine, a compatible solute found in nature, on chondrocytes in rats and its possible application in OA treatment. In the in vitro studies, the morphology of the chondrocytes after trypsin digestion for 2 min and the viability of the chondrocytes at 50°C were observed after ectoine treatment. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in chondrocytes pretreated with ectoine and post-stimulated with H2O2 were detected using an ROS assay. Chondrocytes were pretreated with ectoine before IL-1ß stimulation. RT‒qPCR was used to measure the mRNA levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), metallomatrix proteinase-3, -9 (MMP-3, -9), and collagen type II alpha 1 (Col2A1). In addition, immunofluorescence was used to assess the expression of type II collagen. The in vivo effect of ectoine was evaluated in a rat OA model induced by the modified Hulth method. The findings revealed that ectoine significantly increased the trypsin tolerance of chondrocytes, maintained the viability of the chondrocytes at 50°C, and improved their resistance to oxidation. Compared with IL-1ß treatment alone, ectoine pretreatment significantly reduced COX-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 expression and maintained type II collagen synthesis in chondrocytes. In vivo, the cartilage of ectoine-treated rats exhibited less degeneration and lower Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scores. The results of this study suggest that ectoine exerts protective effects on chondrocytes and cartilage and can, therefore, be used as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of OA.