Hot water mound drench treatment can be used for physical control of red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Hot water mound drench treatment has broad application prospects in the control of the red imported fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). However, much work still needs to be carried out to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the use of this method against RIFAs under field conditions. In this study, we monitored the temperature changes at different depths within RIFA nests during laboratory-simulated hot water mound drench experiments and evaluated the lethal effect of hot water treatment on RIFAs. Furthermore, the targeted removal effect of hot water mound drench treatment on RIFA nests under field conditions was evaluated. Results indicated that the temperature at depths of 5, 15, and 25 cm inside the simulated ant nests was higher than 51.1 °C within 30 min after treatment, resulting in a 100% mortality rate for RIFAs at all tested depths. Under field conditions, when nests were disturbed, the percentage of RIFAs crawling out of their nests gradually increased with time after disturbance, reached its maximum value at 25 or 30 s after the disturbance, and then gradually decreased. Single hot water mound drench treatment (each ant nest was treated with 17.8-21.6 liter of hot water at a temperature of 97-100 °C) can significantly reduce the RIFA population in ant nests and lead to a 72.7% reduction in the number of surviving ant nests. However, the safety, operability, and timelines of hot water mound drench treatment for RIFA field control still need further investigation.

Broadband Yellow-Emitting Oxynitride Phosphor Sr2Si7Al3ON13:Ce3+,Eu2+ for White Light-Emitting Diodes with a High Color Rendering Index.

The utilization of blue LED chips in conjunction with the commercial yellow phosphor YAG:Ce3+ currently represents the most straightforward and efficient approach for generating white light, albeit at a slight compromise to the color rendering index. However, by expansion of the spectral coverage of the yellow phosphor, it becomes feasible to achieve a high color rendering index for white light. In this study, we synthesized a broadband yellow oxynitride phosphor through codoping Ce3+ and Eu2+ on highly chemically stable Sr2Si7Al3ON13. We conducted an extensive investigation of the energy transfer process between Ce3+ and Eu2+ within Sr2Si7Al3ON13:Ce3+,Eu2+. By adjusting the doping concentration of Eu2+, we successfully obtained a higher emission intensity and improved thermal stability for Sr2Si7Al3ON13:Ce3+,Eu2+ under 450 nm blue-light excitation. Furthermore, we achieved a full width at half-maximum (fwhm) broadened to 130 nm along with an optimal external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 43.2%. The resulting WLED devices utilizing this yellow phosphor exhibited high color rendering index (CRI, Ra = 86.2) white light emission (0.3488, 0.3407). These exceptional properties highlight the significant potential application of Sr2Si7Al3ON13:Ce3+,Eu2+ in blue light-excited WLED as well as its promising prospects in indoor display lighting.

A phase-separated protein hub modulates resistance to Fusarium head blight in wheat.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating wheat disease. Fhb1, the most widely applied genetic locus for FHB resistance, is conferred by TaHRC of an unknown mode of action. Here, we show that TaHRC alleles distinctly drive liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) within a proteinaceous complex, determining FHB susceptibility or resistance. TaHRC-S (susceptible) exhibits stronger LLPS ability than TaHRC-R (resistant), and this distinction is further intensified by fungal mycotoxin deoxynivalenol, leading to opposing FHB symptoms. TaHRC recruits a protein class with intrinsic LLPS potentials, referred to as an "HRC-containing hub." TaHRC-S drives condensation of hub components, while TaHRC-R comparatively suppresses hub condensate formation. The function of TaSR45a splicing factor, a hub member, depends on TaHRC-driven condensate state, which in turn differentially directs alternative splicing, switching between susceptibility and resistance to wheat FHB. These findings reveal a mechanism for FHB spread within a spike and shed light on the roles of complex condensates in controlling plant disease.

Key Roles of Interfaces in Inverted Metal-Halide Perovskite Solar Cells.

Metal-halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs), an emerging technology for transforming solar energy into a clean source of electricity, have reached efficiency levels comparable to those of commercial silicon cells. Compared with other types of PSCs, inverted perovskite solar cells (IPSCs) have shown promise with regard to commercialization due to their facile fabrication and excellent optoelectronic properties. The interlayer interfaces play an important role in the performance of perovskite cells, not only affecting charge transfer and transport, but also acting as a barrier against oxygen and moisture permeation. Herein, we describe and summarize the last three years of studies that summarize the advantages of interface engineering-based advances for the commercialization of IPSCs. This review includes a brief introduction of the structure and working principle of IPSCs, and analyzes how interfaces affect the performance of IPSC devices from the perspective of photovoltaic performance and device lifetime. In addition, a comprehensive summary of various interface engineering approaches to solving these problems and challenges in IPSCs, including the use of interlayers, interface modification, defect passivation, and others, is summarized. Moreover, based upon current developments and breakthroughs, fundamental and engineering perspectives on future commercialization pathways are provided for the innovation and design of next-generation IPSCs.

Causal role of immune cells in inflammatory bowel disease: A Mendelian randomization study.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by an inflammatory response closely related to the immune system, but the relationship between inflammation and IBD remains unclear. We performed a comprehensive 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to determine the causal relationship between immune cell characteristics and IBD. Using publicly available genetic data, we explored the relationship between 731 immune cell characteristics and IBD risk. Inverse-variance weighting was the primary analytical method. To test the robustness of the results, we used the weighted median-based, MR-Egger, simple mode, and mode-based methods. Finally, we performed a reverse MR analysis to assess the possibility of reverse causality. We identified suggestive associations between 2 immune cell traits and IBD risk (P = 4.18 × 10-5 for human leukocyte antigen-DR on CD14+ monocytes, OR: 0.902; 95% CI: 0.859-0.947; for CD39+ CD4+ T cells, P = 6.24 × 10-5; OR: 1.042; 95% CI: 1.021-1.063). Sensitivity analysis results of these immune cell traits were consistent. In reverse MR analysis, we found no statistically significant association between IBD and these 2 cell traits. Our study demonstrates the close connection between immune cells and IBD using MR, providing guidance for future clinical and basic research.

Discovery of Near-Infrared Heptamethine Cyanine Probes for Imaging-Guided Surgery in Solid Tumors.

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging has attracted much attention in image-guided interventions with unique advantages. However, the clinical translation rate of fluorescence probes is extremely low, primarily due to weak lesion signal contrast and poor specificity. To address this dilemma, a series of small-molecule near-infrared fluorescence probes have been designed for tumor imaging. Among them, YQ-04-03 showed notable optical stability and remarkable sensitivity toward tumor targeting. Moreover, within a specific concentration and time range against oxidizing reducing agents and laser, it demonstrated better stability than ICG. The retention time of YQ-04-03 in tumors was significantly longer compared to other nonspecific uptake sites in the subjects, and its tumor-to-normal tissue ratio (TNR) outperformed ICG. Successful resection of in situ hepatocarcinoma and peritoneal carcinoma was achieved using probe imaging guidance, with the smallest visual lesion resected measuring approximately 1 mm3. Ultimately, this probe holds great potential for advancing tumor tracer.

Predictive value of peripheral blood leukocytes-based methylation of Long non-coding RNA MALAT1 and H19 in the chemotherapy effect and prognosis of gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: The predictive value of the methylation of Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and H19 promoters in peripheral blood leukocytes as a non-invasive biomarker for the chemotherapy effect and prognosis gastric cancer (GC) is unclear. METHODS: The DNA methylation of H19 and MALAT1 between chemotherapy-sensitive and non-sensitive groups and between groups with better and worse survival of GC was compared using regression analyses. Several predictive nomograms were constructed. The genetic alteration of MALAT1 and H19 and the association between gene expression and immune status in GC were also investigated using bioinformatics analysis. RESULTS: Higher genetic methylations in peripheral blood were noticed in GC groups with poorer survival. The constructed nomograms presented strong predictive values for the chemotherapy effect and 3-year survival of disease-free survival, progression-free survival, and overall survival, with the area under the curve as 0.838, 0.838, 0.912, and 0.925, respectively. Significant correlations between MALAT1 or H19 expression and marker genes of immune checkpoints and immune pathways were noticed. The high infiltration of macrophages in H19-high and low infiltration of CD8+ T cells in MALAT1-high groups were associated with worse survival of GC. CONCLUSIONS: MALAT1 and H19 have the potential to predict the chemotherapy response and clinical outcomes of GC.

Physicochemical properties and in vitro digestibility of ginseng starches under citric acid-autoclaving treatment.

In this study, the effects of citric acid-autoclaving (CA-A) treatment on physicochemical and digestive properties of the native ginseng starches were investigated. The results showed that ginseng starch exhibited a B-type crystal structure with a low onset pasting temperature of 44.23 ± 0.80 °C, but high peak viscosity and setback viscosity of 5897.34 ± 53.72 cP and 692.00 ± 32.36 cP, respectively. The granular morphology, crystal and short-range ordered structure of ginseng starches were destroyed after CA-A treatment. The more short-chain starches were produced, resulting in the ginseng starches solubility increased. In addition, autoclaving, citric acid (CA) and CA-A treatment promoted polymerization and recrystallization of starch molecules, increased the proportion of amylopectin B1, and B3 chains, and improved molecular weight and resistant starch (RS) content of ginseng starches. The most significant multi-scale structural change was induced by CA-A treatment, which reduced the relative crystallinity of ginseng starch from 28.26 ± 0.24 % to 2.75 ± 0.08 %, and increased the content of RS to 54.30 ± 0.14 %. These findings provided a better understanding of the structure and properties of Chinese ginseng starches and offered new ideas for the deep processing of ginseng foods.

Aviation Mutagenesis Alters the Content of Volatile Compounds in Dahongpao (Camellia sinensis) Leaves and Improves Tea Quality.

Aviation mutagenesis is a fast and efficient breeding method. In this study, we analyzed the effect of aviation mutagenesis on volatile compounds and odor characteristics in Dahongpao fresh leaves and gross tea for the first time. The results showed that aviation mutagenesis significantly increased the total volatile compounds of Dahongpao fresh leaves and gross tea. Aviation mutagenesis most critically significantly increased the content of beta-myrcene in Dahongpao fresh leaves, prompting its conversion to beta-pinene, cubebol, beta-phellandrene, zingiberene, (Z,Z)-3,6-nonadienal, and 6-pentyloxan-2-one after processing, which in turn enhanced the fruity, green, spicy, and woody odor characteristics of the gross tea. This study provided a reference for further exploration of aviation mutagenic breeding of Camellia sinensis.

Changes in the global epidemiological characteristics of cystic echinococcosis over the past 30 years and projections for the next decade: Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.

Background: Despite ongoing changes in the global epidemiology of cystic echinococcosis (CE), there is a lack of research conducted to date. Methods: We extracted data on incidence and disability-adjusted life years for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019 to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics and burden of CE through the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019. We used locally weighted linear regression to analyse the primary driving factors of the prevalence of CE at the national and regional levels and utilised a Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort model to forecast the global incidence of CE in the next decade. Results: Globally, the incidence of CE remained constantly high from 1990 (2.65 per 100 000 population) to 2019 (2.60 per 100 000 population), resulting in an estimated 207 368 new cases in 2019. We observed substantial variations in the disease burden regarding its spatiotemporal distribution, population demographics, and Socio-Demographic Index levels. According to established models, factors such as health care capacity, livestock husbandry, agricultural activities, rural populations, and education levels are likely to play significant roles in determining the prevalence of CE across different countries. By 2030, the worldwide number of CE cases could reach as high as 235 628, representing an increase of 13.63% compared to 2019. Conclusions: Over the past three decades, the global burden of CE has persistently remained high, especially in Central Asia, as well as North Africa and the Middle East. Efforts should focus on more effective prevention and control measures in these key regions and should specifically target vulnerable populations to prevent the escalation of epidemics.

Ginseng Glucosyl Oleanolate from Ginsenoside Ro, Exhibited Anti-Liver Cancer Activities via MAPKs and Gut Microbiota In Vitro/Vivo.

Ginseng is widely recognized for its diverse health benefits and serves as a functional food ingredient with global popularity. Ginsenosides with a broad range of pharmacological effects are the most crucial active ingredients in ginseng. This study aimed to derive ginseng glucosyl oleanolate (GGO) from ginsenoside Ro through enzymatic conversion and evaluate its impact on liver cancer in vitro and in vivo. GGO exhibited concentration-dependent HepG2 cell death and markedly inhibited cell proliferation via the MAPK signaling pathway. It also attenuated tumor growth in immunocompromised mice undergoing heterograft transplantation. Furthermore, GGO intervention caused a modulation of gut microbiota composition by specific bacterial populations, including Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Clostridium, Enterococcus, etc., and ameliorated SCFA metabolism and colonic inflammation. These findings offer promising evidence for the potential use of GGO as a natural functional food ingredient in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Direct and indirect effects of father-child attachment on academic burnout in college students.

The study aims to investigate the multiple mediating roles of core self-evaluation and sense of school belonging in the relationship between father-child attachment and academic burnout in college students. A sample of 418 college students completed the father-child attachment scale, the scale of sense of school belonging, core self-evaluation scale, and academic burnout scale. After controlling for variables such as mother-child attachment, gender, age, and grade, the results showed: (1) father-child attachment was significantly and negatively correlated with academic burnout, and positively correlated with core self-evaluation and sense of school belonging; both core self-evaluation and sense of school belonging were significantly and negatively correlated with academic burnout. (2) The multiple mediating model of father-child attachment influencing academic burnout in college students was established. Both core self-evaluation and sense of school belonging played a partial mediating role between father-child attachment and academic burnout. The direct effect of father-child attachment on academic burnout accounts for 33.3% of the total effect. The indirect effects of core self-evaluation and sense of school belonging between father-child attachment and academic burnout account for 50.0 and 16.7% of the total effect, respectively. These findings identify the internal mechanisms through which father-child attachment affects academic burnout in college students from personal traits and interpersonal perspectives.

Aesthetic impact of resin infiltration and its mechanical effect on ceramic bonding for white spot lesions.

BACKGROUND: Treating white spot lesions (WSLs) with resin infiltration alone may not be sufficient, raising questions about its compatibility with other treatments amid controversial or incomplete data. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the aesthetic feasibility of resin infiltration combined with bleaching, as well as its potential mechanical effect on ceramic bonding to WSLs. METHODS: One hundred and fifty flat enamel surfaces of bovine incisors were prepared. Ninety specimens were deminerailized and randomly assigned to three groups(n = 30): post-bleaching resin infiltration (Bl-R), pre-bleaching resin infiltration (R-Bl), and only resin infiltration (R). Color, surface roughness and microhardness were assessed in immediate, thermocycling and pigmentation tests. The remaining sixty samples were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 20): control (Ctrl), bonding (Bo), pre-bonding resin infiltration (R-Bo). Shear bonding strength, failure mode, micro-leakage depth and interface morphology were evaluated after ceramic bonding. The Tukey test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: For the effect of resin infiltration and bleaching on WSLs, the R-Bl group showed the worst chromic masking ability, with the highest |ΔL|, |Δa|, |Δb|, and ΔE values after treatment. Compared with those in the Bl-R group, the R-Bl and R groups showed significant time-dependent staining, which is possibly attributed to their surface roughness. For the effect of resin infiltration on the adhesive properties of WSLs, resin infiltration reduced the staining penetration depth of WSLs from 2393.54 ± 1118.86 µm to 188.46 ± 89.96 µm (P < 0.05) while reducing WSLs porosity in SEM observation. CONCLUSIONS: Post-bleaching resin infiltration proved to be advantageous in the aesthetic treatment of WSLs. Resin infiltration did not compromise bonding strength but it did reduce microleakage and enhance marginal sealing. Overall, resin infiltration can effectively enhance the chromatic results of treated WSLs and prevent long-term bonding failure between ceramics and enamel. Based on these findings, the use of post-bleaching resin infiltration is recommended, and resin infiltration before ceramic bonding is deemed viable in clinical practice.

Facile synthesis of Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanosheets with tunable S vacancies for highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

In order to effectively improve the separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers and thus the photocatalytic activity, in this work, porous Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanosheets with a controlled amount of S vacancies were prepared by a multistep chemical transformation strategy using the inorganic-organic hybrid ZnS-ethylenediamine (denoted as ZnS(en)0.5) as a hard template. The amount of S vacancies and the morphology of the Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanostructures were tailored by adjusting the hydrolysis time. Furthermore, we report the observation of S vacancies in porous Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanosheets at the atomic level using spherical aberration-corrected (Cs-aberrated) transmission electron microscopy (Cs-corrected-TEM). The results revealed that Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanosheets with S vacancies absorb more visible light and generate more electron-hole carriers due to their porous nanosheet structure. At the same time, sulfur vacancies are introduced into the Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanosheets to capture the electrons generated by the light and further extend the lifetime of the carriers. As expected, the photocatalytic activity of Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanosheets prepared by 4 h hydrolysis is 20.5 times higher than that of Zn0.5Cd0.5S(en)x intermediates. Moreover, Zn0.5Cd0.5S-4h showed excellent cycling stability. This work provides a new strategy for the optimization of Zn0.5Cd0.5S photocatalysts to improve photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

High-Precision Inertial Sensor Charge Ground Measurement Method Based on Phase-Sensitive Demodulation.

Inertial sensors are the key payloads in space gravitational wave detection missions, and they need to ensure that the test mass (TM), which serves as the inertial reference, freely floats in the spacecraft without contact, so that the TM is not disturbed by the satellite platform and the cosmic environment. Space gravitational wave detection missions require that the residual acceleration of the TM should be less than 3×10-15ms-2Hz-1/2. However, the TM with charges will interact with surrounding conductors and magnetic fields, introducing acceleration noise such as electrostatic force and Lorentz force. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out charge management on the TM, in which the high-precision measurement of charge is crucial. Space gravitational wave detection missions require a residual charge measurement accuracy of 3×10-13C for the TM. In this paper, we design a high-precision inertial sensor charge measurement method based on phase-sensitive demodulation (PSD). By establishing a torsion pendulum rotation model based on the force modulation method, the characteristics of the TM torsion angle signal are analyzed. The PSD is used to extract the amplitude of the specific frequency signal component containing the charge information, and then to calculate the value of the accumulated charges. The method is compared with the Butterworth band-pass filtering method, and the simulation results show that the method has a higher measurement accuracy, shorter settling time, and stronger anti-interference ability, meeting the TM residual charge measurement accuracy index requirement.

Effects of continuous monoculture on rhizosphere soil nutrients, growth, physiological characteristics, hormone metabolome of Casuarina equisetifolia and their interaction analysis.

Continuous planting is unavoidable in agricultural production, but continuous planting affects plant growth and physiological characteristics. In this study, we analyzed rhizosphere soil nutrients, physiological characteristics, hormone metabolome changes and their interactions of Casuarina equisetifolia (C. equisetifolia) with the increase of continuous planting number. The results found that C. equisetifolia root was significantly inhibited, the plant height was dwarfed and the biomass was significantly reduced as continuous planting number increased. Secondly, continuous planting caused a decrease in the rhizosphere soil nutrient transformation capacity, and a significant decrease in the total soil nutrient and available nutrient content. Analysis of physiological indexes showed that continuous planting resulted in a decrease in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content, a decrease in the activity of physiological indexes of resistance, and a decrease in photosynthetic capacity of C. equisetifolia leaves. Hormone metabolome analysis showed that continuous planting critically affected the accumulation of five characteristic hormones in C. equisetifolia leaves, in which salicylic acid 2-O-ß-glucoside (SAG), 2-oxindole-3-acetic acid (OxIAA), trans-zeatin-O-glucoside (tZOG) and gibberellin A3 (GA3) content decreased significantly while abscisic acid (ABA) content increased significantly. In conclusion, continuous planting lowered the rhizosphere soil nutrient transformation capacity of C. equisetifolia, lowered the soil available nutrient content, inhibited their root growth, and hindered the nutrient uptake and transportation by the root, thus led to the decrease of the nutrient accumulation capacity in the leaves of C. equisetifolia, and the decrease of SAG, OxIAA, and tZOG, GA3 synthesis ability decreased, ABA accumulated in large quantities, C. equisetifolia resistance and photosynthesis ability decreased, and their growth was impeded. This study provides insights for the effective management of continuous planting in the cultivation of C. equisetifolia.

Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in tea plantation soil around Tai Lake region in Suzhou, China.

Tea plant [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] is one of the important foliar cash crops in China, and its root system absorbs heavy metal (HM) elements enriched in the soil and transports them to the over ground part. In order to ensure the safety of the soil ecological environment and tea raw materials in the tea production area, the HM contents of soil and tea plant leaves in Suzhou tea plantations were detected, the relationship between HMs and soil physicochemical properties was analyzed, and the ecological risk of HMs in tea plantation soils was evaluated by using relevant detection techniques and evaluation models. The results showed that the average pH of tea plantation soils around Tai Lake in Suzhou was within the range suitable for the growth of tea plants. The pH, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium of tea plantation soil satisfying the requirements of high quality, high efficiency and high yield ('3H') tea plantation accounted for 47.06%, 26.47%, 8.82%, 79.41% and 67.65%, respectively. Site 2 fully met the requirements of '3H' tea plantation. In addition, the contents of cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) were extremely variable, and the average contents exceeded the background value of soil in Jiangsu Province, but the HM contents of tea leaves all met the pollution-free standard, and the HM contents of tea leaves around Tai Lake in Suzhou were generally at a safe level. The composite ecological risk index ranged from 0.05 to 0.60, and 32 of the 34 sample sites (except site 21 and site 23) are the most suitable agricultural land for tea plantations.

One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of noble-metal-free NiS on Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanosheet photocatalysts for high H2 evolution from water under visible light.

At present, the rational design and facile synthesis of highly active and low-cost photocatalysts are still facing great challenges. Herein, a series of Zn0.5Cd0.5S/NiS (x mol%) composite photocatalysts have been synthesized via a simple and mild one-pot hydrothermal method. Compared with pure Zn0.5Cd0.5S, the NiS-loaded samples exhibit enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen generation performance, in which the Zn0.5Cd0.5S/NiS-5% sample has the highest H2 production rate of 10 855 ± 461 µmol h-1 g-1 with a quantum yield of 11.82% at 365 nm, which is almost 6.3 times higher than that of pristine Zn0.5Cd0.5S. The high activity of the Zn0.5Cd0.5S/NiS nanosheets may be attributed to their distinct nanostructure, including a short transfer distance of photoinduced charge carriers, a large number of unsaturated surface atoms, and a large surface area. Moreover, the added NiS nanoparticles served as an effective cocatalyst to promote photoinduced electron transfer and enhance the surface kinetics of H2 evolution. Our work provides a simple and effective route for the preparation of sulphur-based photocatalysts, which can significantly improve the efficiency of hydrogen production from water.

The influence of cooperative fermentation on the structure, crystallinity, and rheological properties of buckwheat starch.

The effects of co-fermentation of yeast and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 104 on buckwheat starch physical properties were investigated by various analytical techniques. To investigate the regulations of starch modification during fermentation and to provide a foundation for improving the performance of modified properties of buckwheat starch food. The pasting properties were decreased by co-fermentation also resulted in a reduction in the relative crystallinity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that more holes and a relatively rough granule surface were seen in the co-fermentation group. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) results suggested that co-fermentation fermentation decreased the degree of short-range order (DO) and degree of t1he double helix (DD). The results demonstrated that co-fermentation altered these properties more rapidly than spontaneous fermentation. In conclusion, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 104 could be used for buckwheat fermentation to improve food quality.

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by the Yi people in Xiaoliangshan, Yunnan Province, SW China.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The Yi people in the Xiaoliangshan region in southwest China have a unique practice of combining ritual treatment and traditional medicine to care for patients. Despite increasing urbanization in the area, they have managed to preserve their distinctive lifestyle and extensive knowledge of traditional medicinal plants, setting them apart from other regions. However, there is a lack of systematic documentation on the knowledge of traditional medicinal plants used by the Yi people in Xiaoliangshan. AIM OF THE STUDY: This research aims to achieve the following objectives: 1. Document the diversity of medicinal plants used by the Yi people and explore their therapeutic usages. 2. Evaluate and analyze the main types of diseases with a high incidence in the local area and identify the types of medicinal plants used to treat these diseases. 3. Explore the underlying geographical and human factors influencing both disease prevalence and medicinal plant usage. METHODS: Ethnobotanical research methods were used to record and analyze the medicinal plants used by the Yi in Xiaoliangshan. Experts identified all plant specimens collected during ethnobotanical field surveys. The types of diseases treated by medicinal plants were classified according to the International Classification of Primary Care -2nd. RESULTS: A total of 125 medicinal plants were recorded after interviewing 193 participants. Of the medicinal plants identified, those with over 100 use reports were Paris polyphylla (202 use reports), Taxillus sutchuenensis (183), Artemisia indica (149), and Papaver somniferum (113). A total of 14 disease categories were recorded, with those related to the following categories having higher Informant Consensus factor values (ICF ≥0.85): Pregnancy, Childbearing, Family Planning, General and Unspecified, Urological, Respiratory, Musculoskeletal, and Skin. The highest quantity of medicinal plants is utilized to improve specific diseases and health problems, namely those related to Digestion, Skin, and Musculoskeletal. Fewer plant species were utilized for diseases or health issues associated with Eyes, Psychological, or Pregnancy, Childbearing, and Family Planning. The use reports from the informants also revealed how some medicinal plants are used to treat a variety of diseases or health issues. For instance, Malva pusilla is used for inducing abortion, treating postpartum hemorrhage, and joint sprains; Artemisia indica is used for treating malaria; Argentina lineata is used to remedy tuberculosis and malaria. Taxillus sutchuenensis is used for dealing with cold, pneumonia, and other ailments. CONCLUSIONS: The Yi people in Xiaoliangshan have a rich knowledge of traditional medicinal plants. Decoction and wine brewing are the most common processing methods used for these plants, which are utilized to treat a wide range of diseases. The characteristics of the medicinal use of the Yi people reflects the alpine mountainous environment in which they live, and their medical practices are closely related to traditional healing culture. This study enhances our understanding of the Yi traditional medicine via documentation and offers a valuable reference for future research and the development of new drugs.