How sediment dredging alters phosphorus dynamics in a lowland rural river?

China's lowland rural rivers are facing severe eutrophication problems due to excessive phosphorus (P) from anthropogenic activities. However, quantifying P dynamics in a lowland rural river is challenging due to its complex interaction with surrounding areas. A P dynamic model (River-P) was specifically designed for lowland rural rivers to address this challenge. This model was coupled with the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) and the Phosphorus Dynamic Model for lowland Polder systems (PDP) to characterize P dynamics under the impact of dredging in a lowland rural river. Based on a two-year (2020-2021) dataset from a representative lowland rural river in the Lake Taihu Basin, China, the coupled model was calibrated and achieved a model performance (R2>0.59, RMSE<0.04 mg/L) for total P (TP) concentrations. Our research in the study river revealed that (1) the time scale for the effectiveness of sediment dredging for P control was ∼300 days, with an increase in P retention capacity by 74.8 kg/year and a decrease in TP concentrations of 23% after dredging. (2) Dredging significantly reduced P release from sediment by 98%, while increased P resuspension and settling capacities by 16% and 46%, respectively. (3) The sediment-water interface (SWI) plays a critical role in P transfer within the river, as resuspension accounts for 16% of TP imports, and settling accounts for 47% of TP exports. Given the large P retention capacity of lowland rural rivers, drainage ditches and ponds with macrophytes are promising approaches to enhance P retention capacity. Our study provides valuable insights for local environmental departments, allowing a comprehensive understanding of P dynamics in lowland rural rivers. This enable the evaluation of the efficacy of sediment dredging in P control and the implementation of corresponding P control measures.

Nanoscale octopus guiding telomere entanglement: An innovative strategy for inducing apoptosis in cancer cells.

Telomere length plays a crucial role in cellular aging and the risk of diseases. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells can extend their own survival by maintaining telomere stability through telomere maintenance mechanism. Therefore, regulating the lengths of telomeres have emerged as a promising approach for anti-cancer treatment. In this study, we introduce a nanoscale octopus-like structure designed to induce physical entangling of telomere, thereby efficiently triggering telomere dysfunction. The nanoscale octopus, composed of eight-armed PEG (8-arm-PEG), are functionalized with cell penetrating peptide (TAT) to facilitate nuclear entry and are covalently bound to N-Methyl Mesoporphyrin IX (NMM) to target G-quadruplexes (G4s) present in telomeres. The multi-armed configuration of the nanoscale octopus enables targeted binding to multiple G4s, physically disrupting and entangling numerous telomeres, thereby triggering telomere dysfunction. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that the nanoscale octopus significantly inhibits cancer cell proliferation, induces apoptosis through telomere entanglement, and ultimately suppresses tumor growth. This research offers a novel perspective for the development of innovative anti-cancer interventions and provides potential therapeutic options for targeting telomeres.

Targeted/untargeted metabolomics and antioxidant properties distinguish Citrus reticulata 'Chachi' from Citrus reticulata Blanco.

Dried citrus peel (DCP), also called "Chen Pi", has edible and medicinal value. However, the specific differences among various sources remain unknown. Herein, we collected six DCP species, namely, one Citrus reticulata 'Chachi' (CZG) and five Citrus reticulata Blanco (CRB). Targeted high-performance liquid chromatography and untargeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were employed to comprehensively compare the phenolic compounds and metabolites in DCP. Interestingly, 13 different phenolic compounds were noted in DCP. The total phenolic compound content in all CRB samples (58.86-127.65 mg/g) was higher than that of CZG (39.47 mg/g). Untargeted metabolomic revealed 1495 compounds, with 115 differentially expressed metabolites for CRBs and CZG, particularly flavonoids (38), terpenoids (15), and phenolic acids and derivatives (9). Lastly, antioxidant assays revealed that all CRB samples exhibited higher antioxidant activities compared with CZG. Therefore, our study results provide a theoretical basis for the high-value utilization of citrus peels and their metabolites.

Migration of digital functional capacity assessments from device resident to cloud-based delivery: Development and convergent validity.

Decentralized clinical trials are leading to rapid changes in assessment technology, including an expansion of interest in remote delivery. As technology changes, some of the updates include migration to fully cloud-based software and data management, with attendant differences in hardware, response modalities, and modifications in the level of tester engagement. It is rare to see systematic descriptions of the process of migration and upgrading of technology-related assessments. We present comparative data on successive generations of two widely used functional capacity measures, the Virtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment Tool (VRFCAT) and the Functional Capacity Assessment and Training System (FUNSAT). Four samples of healthy older individuals completed either the original device-resident, computer-administered versions, or cloud-based, tablet-delivered versions of these tasks. For the VRFCAT, performance and correlations with age were similar across versions, although performance was slightly (5 %) faster with iPad delivery. For the FUNSAT, performance and correlations with age and cognitive task scores were generally similar across versions for English Speakers, though there were some differences related to the testing language for the cloud-based version. These results support the feasibility of migrating digital assessments to cloud-based delivery and substantiate fundamental similarity across delivery strategies.

Dual-element substitution induced integrated defect structure to suppress voltage decay and capacity fading of Li-rich Mn-based cathode.

Li-rich manganese-based oxide (LRMO) is considered one of the most promising cathode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries due to its high energy density. However, many issues need to be addressed before its large-scale commercialization, including significant voltage decay and capacity fading. Herein, a Sn4+/Na+ co-doping induced integrated defect structure (oxygen vacancies, stacking faults, and surface spinel phase) strategy is proposed to suppress the voltage decay and enhance the cycling performance of LRMO. The integrated surface defect structures have significantly favorable effects on the LRMO, where the oxygen vacancies remove surface labile oxygen and suppress surface oxygen release, the induced stacking faults alleviate the stress accumulation during cycling, the surface spinel phase promotes the Li+ diffusion and prevents the outward migration of cations, and the co-doped Sn4+/Na+ stabilize the layered structure. As a result, the modified sample Na2SnO3-1 % (NSO-1) achieves excellent cycling performance (capacity of 207 mAh/g and capacity retention of 96.71 % after 100 cycles at 0.5C) and a smaller voltage decay (less than 1.5 mV per cycle) compared with the unmodified LRMO. This work provides a new valuable strategy to suppress capacity fading and voltage decay of LRMO through dual-element substitution induced surface defect engineering.

Achieving high-durability aqueous Zn-ion batteries enabled by reanimating inactive Zn on Zn anodes.

The heavy by-products generated on Zn anode surface decrease the active surface of Zn anodes and thus induce uneven Zn deposition, seriously reducing the service life of aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs). Herein, we propose an elimination strategy enabled by the coordination chemistry to dissolve the main by-products (Zn4SO4(OH)6·xH2O). Urea as a proof-of-concept has been applied as the reactivator in the electrolyte to catalytically produce highly active NH3 on the surface of the by-products. Then the NH3 can powerfully coordinate with the Zn2+ ion in the by-products to form the soluble complex [Zn(NH3)4]2+. Consequently, the proposed electrolyte can not only lead to the timely decomposition of the by-products to prevent the Zn anode from inactivation during cycling, but also repair the waste Zn anodes for reutilization. The action mechanism has been systematically demonstrated via theoretical simulation and experimental study. As a result, the high durability with ultrahigh cumulative capacity of 10,600 mAh cm-2 for the Zn||Zn symmetric cell has been achieved at 40 mA cm-2. Particularly, the dead Zn||Zn symmetric cells and Zn||LiFePO4 full cells have been successfully reactivated. This study lights a new route to extend the cell lifespan and reuse waste Zn-ion batteries.

Regulating the zinc ion transport kinetics of Mn3O4 through copper doping towards high-capacity aqueous Zn-ion battery.

High working voltage, large theoretical capacity and cheapness render Mn3O4 promising cathode candidate for aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs). Unfortunately, poor electrochemical activity and bad structural stability lead to low capacity and unsatisfactory cycling performance. Herein, Mn3O4 material was fabricated through a facile precipitation reaction and divalent copper ions were introduced into the crystal framework, and ultra-small Cu-doped Mn3O4 nanocrystalline cathode materials with mixed valence states of Mn2+, Mn3+ and Mn4+ were obtained via post-calcination. The presence of Cu acts as structural stabilizer by partial substitution of Mn, as well as enhance the conductivity and reactivity of Mn3O4. Significantly, based on electrochemical investigations and ex-situ XPS characterization, a synergistic effect between copper and manganese was revealed in the Cu-doped Mn3O4, in which divalent Cu2+ can catalyze the transformation of Mn3+ and Mn4+ to divalent Mn2+, accompanied by the translation of Cu2+ to Cu0 and Cu+. Benefitting from the above advantages, the Mn3O4 cathode doped with moderate copper (abbreviated as CMO-2) delivers large discharge capacity of 352.9 mAh g-1 at 100 mA g-1, which is significantly better than Mn3O4 (only 247.8 mAh g-1). In addition, CMO-2 holds 203.3 mAh g-1 discharge capacity after 1000 cycles at 1 A g-1 with 98.6 % retention, and after 1000 cycles at 5 A g-1, it still performs decent discharge capacity of 104.2 mAh g-1. This work provides new ideas and approaches for constructing manganese-based AZIBs with long lifespan and high capacity.

Regulating the valence and size of the active center of Co/Al2O3 catalyst improved the performance and selectivity of NH3-SCO.

To improve the activity of Co/Al2O3 catalysts in selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia (NH3-SCO), valence state and size of active centers of Al2O3-supported Co catalysts were adjusted by conducting H2 reduction pretreatment. The NH3-SCO activity of the adjusted 2Co/Al2O3 catalyst was substantially improved, outperforming other catalysts with higher Co-loading. Fresh Co/Al2O3 catalysts exhibited multitemperature reduction processes, enabling the control of the valence state of the Co-active centers by adjusting the reduction temperature. Changes in the state of the Co-active centers also led to differences in redox capacity of the catalysts, resulting in different reaction mechanisms for NH3-SCO. However, in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectra revealed that an excessive O2 activation capacity caused overoxidation of NH3 to NO and NO2. The NH3-SCO activity of the 2Co/Al2O3 catalyst with low redox capacity was successfully increased while controlling and optimizing the N2 selectivity by modulating the active centers via H2 pretreatment, which is a universal method used for enhancing the redox properties of catalysts. Thus, this method has great potential for application in the design of inexpensive and highly active catalysts.

Effect of alantolactones on cardiac parameters of animals under artificially induced oxidative stress.

Purpose: Phytochemicals have been found effective in reducing the oxidative stress and damage to cardiovascular and other tissues. In this study, the effects of alantolactone (AL) on cardiac parameters in rabbits exposed to artificially-induced oxidative stress were investigated. Method: The oxidative stress was induced in a group of White New Zealand rabbits by injecting 40% hydrogen peroxide solution (1 ml/kg body weight) thrice with an interval of 72 h. The hydrogen peroxide-treated animals were orally treated with AL extracted from the roots of Inula helenium (1 ml/kg repeated thrice after 72 h). Blood samples were taken before and after the hydrogen peroxide and AL treatments, and the sera were subjected to analysis of oxidative damage in terms of malondialdehyde content (MDA), total antioxidant activity (TAOA), linoleic acid reduction capacity (LARC), hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity (HRSC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity (DPPH RSC), superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and catalase activity, and cardiac parameters including troponin-I content (Trop-I), creatine kinase-MB (CKMB), aspartate transaminase (AST). Results: The hydrogen peroxide treatment substantially enhanced MDA content and SOD activity and decreased LARC, HRSC, DPPH, and catalase activity. The AL treatment significantly decreased MDA content, TAOA, Trop-I, CK-MB, and AST levels and increased LARC, DPPH RSC, HRSC, and catalase activity. Conclusion: The observed effect of AL treatment on the animals' oxidative stress, antioxidant status, and cardiac biomarkers emphasizes that AL may effectively manage oxidative stress and cardiac damage.

Developing reliable and valid measures for evaluating collaborative governance and adaptability: An example from the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program.

In recent decades, there has been an increased emphasis on, and application of, collaborative and adaptive forms of environmental governance as a means to address complex social-ecological problems that cannot be achieved alone and support sustainable resource management. However, the majority of research in the collaborative governance and adaptability arena has relied on individual or small-n case studies. This has led to a multitude of definitions, indicators, and indices, which limits our ability to make inferences across cases and contexts. Relatedly, most research lacks formal tests of assumptions related to the dimensional structure and validity of constructs thought to represent collaborative dynamics and adaptability. There is a need for systematic and cross-case assessments situated within robust statistical frameworks to further our understanding of the forces and factors that cultivate collaborative governance and adaptability. We developed and administered a standardized survey assessment, grounded in the theory and practice of collaborative governance and adaptability, to fifteen collaborative projects funded under the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) in the United States. We then used confirmatory factor analysis to test the dimensional structure, reliability, and validity of our theoretically and empirically grounded measures. Results indicate the components of collaborative governance and adaptability comprise six dimensions - principled engagement, shared motivation, leadership, resources, knowledge and learning, and institutional arrangements. As expected, several dimensions were significantly related, and the pattern of inter-factor relationships aligned with theoretical and empirical assumptions. We also found that the six dimensions represent statistically reliable, valid, and distinct measures that may be used to evaluate collaborative governance and adaptability. While our focus was on the CFLRP, the assessment can be adapted in other collaborative environmental governance contexts and used as a foundation for addressing key research gaps, including relating collaborative environmental governance processes to social-ecological outcomes and collaborative adaptation and resilience through time. This is a critical line of work given the increased emphasis and reliance on long-term collaborative arrangements to achieve sustainability goals.

Trends and Outcomes in Elective Pediatric Surgery During Weekends.

PURPOSE: Limited operating room availability constrains hospital scheduling capacity for elective surgical cases. Leveraging weekends for elective surgical cases could increase operative capacity but must be balanced with practical considerations. Our study aimed to characterize trends and outcomes for elective pediatric surgeries performed during weekends. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the Pediatric Health Information System database from 2016 to 2019 to identify surgeries in children <18 years of age from 38 hospitals. Six elective surgeries, commonly performed on the weekend, were selected for analysis. Trends in elective surgeries during weekends (Saturday or Sunday) were evaluated using the Mann-Kendall trend test. Multivariable regression models were used to compare complications and costs between weekend and weekday surgeries. RESULTS: Of the 233,266 elective surgeries evaluated, 357 (0.15%) were performed during weekend hours. The proportion of surgeries performed on weekends was stable over time (p = 0.65). Following adjustment for clinicodemographic and hospital-level factors, no differences were observed when comparing weekend to weekday surgeries in terms of surgical complications [adjusted Odds Ratio: 1.59; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.65-3.90; p = 0.32] or mortality (n = 1 in cohort). Weekend surgeries were associated a small additional cost compared to weekday surgeries (ß-coefficient $312; 95% CI: $152 to $473; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Elective pediatric surgeries performed during weekends were uncommon, stable in occurrence, and not associated with substantial increases in complications or costs compared to weekday surgeries. Increasing surgical capacity by extending into weekend scheduling merits further assessment of patient and provider satisfaction, unexpected human resource costs, and thoughtful case selection to ensure patient safety. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Moving from helicopter research to proximity research and capacity building.

Health funding agencies are increasingly prioritizing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) strategies. This shift, while essential, can inadvertently lead to 'helicopter research', especially among junior researchers, due to insufficient institutional support. We warn against such unethical practices and propose strategies for academia and funding bodies to address them.

Effect of Extracting Solvent on the Quality of Lentinula edodes Oil Based on Chemical Composition, in vitro Antioxidant Activity and Correlation Analysis.

In this study, effects of 4 solvents (petroleum-ether, n-hexane, ethyl-acetate, and chloroform) on the chemical characterizations and in vitro antioxidant capacities of oil were assessed to determine the optimal extraction solvent for L. edodes oil. Three data analysis techniques including principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and multiple linear regression, were applied to determine the relationship between the nutrient and antioxidant capacity. The results showed that chloroform extracted L. edodes oil exhibited the largest amount of α-tocopherol, flavones, and unsaponifiable matter, chloroform was thus confirmed desirable for extracting L. edodes oil rich in nutrition. While based on the best DPPH and ABTS, the ethyl-acetate extracted oil show the strongest antioxidant property. More than that, the results also showed that different extraction solvents could induce large variations in minor components and free radical scavenging activity among the test oils, and the total phenol content was found positively correlated to the antioxidant capacity of L. edodes oil, which could be well predicted by all MLR models. These findings revealed the influence of solvent on the chemical characterization and in vitro antioxidant capacity of L. edodes oil, providing a theoretical foundation for future applications of L. edodes oil.

Single-Breath Simultaneous Measurement of DLNO and DLCO as Predictor of the Emphysema Component in COPD - A Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a respiratory condition characterized by heterogeneous abnormalities of the airways and lung parenchyma that cause different clinical presentations. The assessment of the prevailing pathogenetic components underlying COPD is not usually pursued in daily practice, also due to technological limitations and cost. Aim: To assess non-invasively the lung emphysema component of COPD by the simultaneous measurement of DLNO and DLCO via a single-breath (sDLNO and sDLCO). Methods: COPD patients aged ≥40 years of both genders were recruited consecutively and labelled by computed tomography as "with significant" emphysema (>10% of CT lung volume) or "with negligible" emphysema otherwise. Current lung function tests such as sDLNO, sDLCO and Vc (the lung capillary blood volume) were measured. All possible subsets of independent spirometric and diffusive parameters were tested as predictors of emphysema, and their predicted power compared to each parameter alone by ROC analysis and area under the curve (AUC). Results: Thirty-one patients with "significant emphysema" were compared to thirty-one with "negligible emphysema". FEV1 and FEV1/FVC seemed to be the best spirometric predictors (AUC 0.80 and 0.81, respectively), while sDLCO and Vc had the highest predicted power among diffusive parameters (AUC 0.92 and 0.94, respectively). sDLCO and Vc values were the parameters most correlated to the extent of CT emphysema. Six subsets of independent predictors were identified and included at least one spirometric and one diffusive parameter. According to goodness-to-fit scores (AIC, BIC, log-likelihood and pseudo R2), RV coupled with sDLCO or Vc proved the best predictors of emphysema. Conclusion: When investigating the parenchymal destructive component due to emphysema occurring in COPD, sDLNO, sDLCO and Vc do enhance the predictive power of current spirometric measures substantially. sDLNO, sDLCO and Vc contribute to phenotype of the main pathogenetic components of COPD easily and with high sensitivity. Organizational problems, radiation exposure, time and costs could be reduced, while personalized and precision medicine could be noticeably implemented.

Dietary alpha-linolenic acid supplementation enhances semen quality, antioxidant capacity, and sperm survival in aging breeder roosters.

Aging in breeder roosters is often accompanied by a decline in semen quality, negatively impacting reproductive performance. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, on semen quality, antioxidant capacity, and sperm survival in aging breeder roosters. Roosters were divided into 4 groups and fed diets supplemented with 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% ALA for 6 wk. Results indicated significant improvements in semen volume, sperm viability, and sperm density in ALA-supplemented groups compared to the control (P < 0.05). The 1% ALA group exhibited the most notable enhancements in sperm viability and density. Additionally, ALA supplementation increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicating enhanced antioxidant capacity (P < 0.05). Furthermore, ALA improved mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reduced early and late sperm apoptosis, with the 2% ALA group showing the highest MMP and the lowest ROS-positive rate (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that dietary ALA supplementation enhances semen quality and antioxidant defenses, and mitigates oxidative stress, thus supporting the reproductive health of aging breeder roosters. This study underscores the potential of ALA as a dietary strategy to improve reproductive efficiency in poultry production.

Structure and properties of mixed valent CeFe2Al8.

Temperature dependent magnetic, electrical transport and thermal properties of polycrystalline orthorhombic CeFe2Al8intermetallic compound have been studied along with its isostructural La counterpart, LaFe2Al8. For the cerium compound, low field dc magnetization exhibits an antiferromagnetic like ordering (TN) ~ 4 K. The main feature of the magnetic susceptibility plot is a broad hump spanning a large temperature range, indicating mixed valence of Ce in the compound, in good agreement with reported literature. However, contrary to the reported observations we find that the mixed valence state is very robust and was evident even up to very high magnetic fields (> 2 T). Further, in this work we report 3d core level photoemission spectra of cerium in CeFe2Al8, to understand the valence state of cerium ions in this system. Additionally, from resistivity measurements it is found that, CeFe2Al8is metallic with no indication of any anomaly, till the lowest temperature of measurement. Specific heat measurements show very low value of heat capacity and electronic contribution. The isostructural La analogue, LaFe2Al8compound shows broadness in susceptibility with maxima around 44 K which may be attributed to ordering of Fe moments. The comparison of Ce and La compounds brings out the role of Fe magnetic moments which may be responsible for competing with cerium moments and resulting in the dilution of long-range magnetic order, also contributing to magnetic frustration in CeFe2Al8. .

Insights into links between redox cycling of dissolved organic matter ranked by molecular weight and methanogen-bacteria symbiosis-driven methane production.

Molecular weight (MW) of dissolved organic matter (DOM) governs its redox capacity, playing pivotal roles in methanogen-bacteria symbiosis-driven CH4 production. However, the effect of redox capacity of DOM ranked by MW on these symbiotic associations during anaerobic digestion have never been investigated. The electron-donating (EDC) and -accepting capacity (EAC) of DOM with different MW were quantified, elucidating their impacts on bacteria-methanogen symbiosis-driven CH4 production. By contrast, DOM with 7000 > MW > 14,000 Da constituted the primary contribution to EAC, with an average contribution of 44.63 %. DOM with MW > 14,000 Da emerged as the predominant contributor to EDC, with an average contribution of 49.10 %. Random forest showed that EAC/EDC of DOM ranked by MW was the important factors for methanogenesis by driving shifts in microbial symbiotic relationships. 46 genera (relative abundance of 69.55 %) of microorganisms exhibited robust associations with EAC/EDC. EDC of DOM with 3500 < MW < 7000 Da exerted positive effect on CH4 by modulating the corporation of Caldicoprobacter, norank_o__TSCOR001-H18, norank_o__MBA03 and Methanobrevibacter. EDC of DOM (7000 < MW < 14,000 Da) promotes CH4 production by regulating cooperation of Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas and Methanosarcina, Methanothermus. EDC of DOM (MW > 14,000 Da) enhances CH4 production by modulating cooperation of Ureibacillus, Treponema and methanomassiliicoccus, methanogenium. EAC of DOMs were negatively correlated with CH4. This study broadens our knowledge on the intricate process of methanogenesis and holds significant importance in developing a microbial symbiosis regulation strategy based on electron transfer system.

Investigating antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of liquid smoke and physical-chemical stability of bacon subjected to liquid smoke and conventional smoking.

Liquid smoke, an alternative to traditional wood burning smoking, enhances product value by imparting desirable characteristics such as aroma, flavor, and color. Furthermore, it contains components with inherent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. This study compares the effects of liquid smoke and conventional smoking methods in bacon processing. Over a 90-day storage period at 22°C, physical-chemical stability, sensory attributes, and microbiological characteristics of the bacon were evaluated. The antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of liquid smoke were assessed. Liquid smoke exhibited antioxidant activity, with an inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 0.19 mg/mL, indicating the concentration of the extract needed to inhibit 50% of DPPH (2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radicals. Moreover, it demonstrated antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli, Salmonella choleraesius, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes, with a minimum bactericidal concentration ranging from 7.5% to 10%. Throughout the storage, bacon treated with liquid smoke showed no signs of rancid odor, supported by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values below 0.85 mg MDA/kg (where MDA is malondialdehyde). The utilization of liquid smoke yielded visually attractive bacon with enhanced color attributes, including a distinct yellow and red hue, as well as increased luminosity and brightness, surpassing the effects of traditional smoke. Remarkably, liquid smoke application significantly reduced processing time from 30 h to approximately 5 h, leading to substantial cost savings in the processing phase.

How can local government capacity lift the 'resource curse'? A study from the perspective of industrial structure transformation.

Industrial transformation is crucial for sustainable urban development and economic security. Although more studies have analyzed the relationship between resource endowment and urban industrial transformation, they have failed to include the key factor of local government capacity in the analysis. Based on the panel data from 267 cities in China from 2003 to 2018, the study examines the impact of resource endowment on industrial transformation and the role of local government capacity in it by using linear models and panel threshold models. This study finds that resource endowment promotes the development of the secondary industry in urban, but hinders the development of the tertiary industry. There is a moderating effect of local government capacity that mitigates the lock-in effect of resource endowment on industrial transformation. This moderating effect demonstrates heterogeneity among cities with different levels of resource endowment and geographic locations, and the results are robust. Furthermore, this study concludes that under different local government capacity, the moderating effect of local government capacity on the relationship between resource endowment and industrial transformation is nonlinear, and it also finds that the stronger local government capacity is not the better.

Pulmonary vascular structure and function are related to exercise capacity in health and COPD.

BACKGROUND: Although it is generally accepted that aerobic exercise training does not change lung structure or function, some work suggests that greater pulmonary vascular structure and function is associated with higher exercise capacity (VO2peak). RESEARCH QUESTION: Is there a cross-sectional association between the pulmonary vasculature and VO2peak? We hypothesized that those with higher computed tomography (CT) blood vessel volumes, and pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) would have higher VO2peak, independent of airflow limitation. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Participants from the CanCOLD study were categorized as: never-smokers with normal spirometry (n=263); ever-smokers with normal spirometry (n=407); and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): individuals with spirometric airflow obstruction (n=334). Total vessel volume (TVV), the volume for all vessels with a cross-sectional area ≤5 mm2 (BV5), and between 5-10 mm2 (BV5-10) were generated from CT scans and used as indices of pulmonary vascular structure. DLCO was used as an index of pulmonary microvascular function. VO2peak was evaluated via incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing. RESULTS: General linear regression models revealed that even after controlling for FEV1, emphysema severity and body morphology, DLCO, TVV, BV5 and BV5-10, were independently associated with VO2peak. Interaction effects were observed between COPD and TVV, BV5, and BV5-10 indicating a weaker association between pulmonary vascular volumes and VO2peak in COPD. INTERPRETATION: Our results suggest that pulmonary vascular structure and DLCO is independently associated with VO2peak, regardless of severity of airflow limitation and emphysema, suggesting that these associations are not limited to COPD.