Bamboo-like MnO2⋠Co3O4: High-performance catalysts for the oxidative removal of toluene.

The manganese-cobalt mixed oxide nanorods were fabricated using a hydrothermal method with different metal precursors (KMnO4 and MnSO4·H2O for MnOx and Co(NO3)2⋅6H2O and CoCl2⋅6H2O for Co3O4). Bamboo-like MnO2⋅Co3O4 (B-MnO2⋅Co3O4 (S)) was derived from repeated hydrothermal treatments with Co3O4@MnO2 and MnSO4⋅H2O, whereas Co3O4@MnO2 nanorods were derived from hydrothermal treatment with Co3O4 nanorods and KMnO4. The study shows that manganese oxide was tetragonal, while the cobalt oxide was found to be cubic in the crystalline arrangement. Mn surface ions were present in multiple oxidation states (e.g., Mn4+ and Mn3+) and surface oxygen deficiencies. The content of adsorbed oxygen species and reducibility at low temperature declined in the sequence of B-MnO2⋅Co3O4 (S) > Co3O4@MnO2 > MnO2 > Co3O4, matching the changing trend in activity. Among all the samples, B-MnO2⋅Co3O4 (S) showed the preeminent catalytic performance for the oxidation of toluene (T10% = 187°C, T50% = 276°C, and T90% = 339°C). In addition, the B-MnO2⋅Co3O4 (S) sample also exhibited good H2O-, CO2-, and SO2-resistant performance. The good catalytic performance of B-MnO2⋅Co3O4 (S) is due to the high concentration of adsorbed oxygen species and good reducibility at low temperature. Toluene oxidation over B-MnO2⋅Co3O4 (S) proceeds through the adsorption of O2 and toluene to form O*, OH*, and H2C(C6H5)* species, which then react to produce benzyl alcohol, benzoic acid, and benzaldehyde, ultimately converting to CO2 and H2O. The findings suggest that B-MnO2⋅Co3O4 (S) has promising potential for use as an effective catalyst in practical applications.

Types and Treatments of Surgical Diseases in Ancient China Found in Bamboo and Silk Texts: Focusing on External Injuries, Burns and Scalds, Intestines, Anus Diseases.

This article aims to analyze the types of surgical diseases and treatments in ancient China as documented in bamboo and silk texts, with a particular focus on (external) injury, tetanus, burns, rectal and anal diseases, and inguinal hernias. For this analysis, I gathered 85 instances of disease and treatments recorded in these texts. The 85 cases were further categorized into 13 (external) injuries, 13 metal wounds, 6 tetanus, 22 burns, 16 rectal and anal diseases, and 15 inguinal hernias. The analysis revealed that the treatment of (external) injury and burns focused primarily on the wound site, while the treatment of metal wounds and tetanus centered on addressing the internal body. Internal treatments were mainly prescribed through the use of medicine and food. Surgical intervention was recommended primarily for diseases of the rectum and anus, with medications applied to the woundspost-surgery. For inguinal hernias, a high-protein diet was typically prescribed. As we've seen, in ancient China, surgical diseases were mainly treated with medication, surgery, and dietary prescriptions. And among these prescriptions, drug prescriptions were utilized not only by medical doctors but also by witch-doctors treating diseases in civilian society and soldiers stationed at frontline military posts. In the absence of medical doctors in both civilian society and frontline units, witch-doctors and frontline units purchased or stockpiled prescription drugs and used them to treat patients according to prescription.

Fabrication of bamboo nanocellulose fibril-based food packaging with dual-antimicrobial property.

The development of cellulose-based packaging films with excellent antimicrobial properties and biocompatibility has garnered significant attention. In this work, nanocellulose fibrils (NCFs) derived from from bamboo parenchyma cells were utilized to fabricate nanocomposite film with antimicrobial properties. This system exhibited distinct release behaviors for two antimicrobial agents, with the slow release of Ag nanoparticle (AgNP) in the initial stage contributed to delaying food spoilage, while the subsequent pH change in the microenvironment facilitated the release of essential oil of sour orange blossoms (SEO) for secondary antimicrobial activity. Additionally, the composite film demonstrated improved thermal stability and UV blocking capacity. Moreover, AgNP has been proven to enhance the mechanical properties, with the tensile strength of the novel composite film increasing by 34.85 % compared to control group. The water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability of the novel composite film were reduced, which could potentially reduce weight loss and slow down the rate of after-ripening. Following the acidification treatment, the films containing EO@MPN (essential oil encapsulated with metal-polyphenol network) component performed different antimicrobial patterns, indicating their pH-responsive antimicrobial capabilities, and they are effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. After a 24-h exposure to a food simulant, the release amount of Ag was measured at 67.6 µg/dm2, within the acceptable limit, and the release profile of Ag was characterized. Cytotoxicity and Live/Dead staining tests confirmed that the novel composite film film had no significant toxicity, thus making it safe for application in food preservation. Furthermore, in a 15-day preservation experiment with mangoes, the novel composite film demonstrated the best performance, underscoring its potential as a sustainable antimicrobial packaging material.

Study on Joint Model Simplification for Finite Element Analysis of Bamboo/Wood-Oriented Strand Board Furniture.

Board furniture's performance and scientific design are making it popular. Research on simplifying furniture joints reduces design cycles and costs and improves structural safety. In this article, using a cantilever beam to calculate deflection theoretically simplifies the L-shaped component model and yields a joint elastic modulus formula. Finite element analysis (FEA) confirms the effectiveness of this simplified model by comparing its results with experimental data. In simplified components, the joint elastic modulus increases with length (l2) and stabilizes at l2/b ≥ 6 (b is the board's thickness). The variation pattern of the joint elastic modulus equals that of the stiffness, proving its usefulness in assessing component deformation resistance. Furthermore, the component strength and stiffness are also affected by the screw spacing and connector type. In particular, the connectors type affects bamboo-oriented strand board (BOSB) component performance more than wood-oriented strand board (WOSB). Compared to WOSB, BOSB components have superior strength and stiffness and are more stable. The recommended screw spacing for L-shaped components is 48 mm. BOSB components fixed with two-in-one and metal nuts utilizing threads embedded in the board have better strength and stiffness, while for WOSB components, nylon nuts, and wooden dowel pins are more appropriate for securing.

[Determination and antioxidant analysis of seven flavonoids in bamboo-leaf extracts].

The flavonoid contents of different bamboo-leaf extracts and their relationships to antioxidant activity were investigated in this study by preparing nine samples using two commercially available bamboo-leaf extract products and seven bamboo-leaf extracts such as Phyllostachys edulis. A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was established to determine seven flavonoid components (orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, isovitexin, tricin, luteolin and luteoloside) in these samples, which were separated using a SymmetryShieldTM RP8 column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 µm) under gradient-elution conditions using acetonitrile as mobile phase A and 0.5% (v/v) acetic acid aqueous solution as mobile phase B. The antioxidant activities of the samples were evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical-scavenging assays, with half inhibitory concentration (IC50) as an indicator and the butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) antioxidants as positive controls. Pearson correlation was then used to analyze the relationship between flavonoid content and antioxidant activity. The HPLC method was found to be accurate and reliable for determining the flavonoid contents of the bamboo-leaf extracts. The seven flavonoids were well separated, and good linear relationships were exhibited (correlation coefficients (R2)≥0.9990). Furthermore, the contents of the seven flavonoids in the bamboo-leaf extracts ranged from 14.97 to 183.94 mg/g, with the highest content of 183.94 mg/g recorded for Phyllostachys edulis. The bamboo species exhibited significantly different flavonoid contents, with Phyllostachys edulis showing the highest orientin, isoorientin, and vitexin levels of 38.45, 101.30, and 9.42 mg/g, respectively. Moreover, the bamboo-leaf extracts exhibited IC50 values of 78.23-179.41 mg/L for DPPH-radical-scavenging, while values of 203.48-1250.81 mg/L were recorded for hydroxyl radicals. The Phyllostachys edulis leaf extract exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity, with the lowest IC50 values of 78.23 and 203.48 mg/L for DPPH and hydroxyl, respectively; it showed greatly significant for the further development and application of Phyllostachys edulis. Finally, the relationships between flavonoid content and the DPPH- and hydroxyl-radical-scavenging activities (based on the IC50 values) were correlated, which revealed that the orientin and isoorientin contents are closely related to the antioxidant activities of the bamboo-leaf extracts. Consequently, the orientin and isoorientin contents can be used as indicators for evaluating the antioxidant activities of bamboo-leaf extracts.

Soil pH enhancement and alterations in nutrient and Bacterial Community profiles following Pleioblastus amarus expansion in tea plantations.

BACKGROUND: The expansion of bamboo forests increases environmental heterogeneity in tea plantation ecosystems, affecting soil properties and microbial communities. Understanding these impacts is essential for developing sustainable bamboo management and maintaining ecological balance in tea plantations. METHODS: We studied the effect of the continuous expansion of Pleioblastus amarus into tea plantations, by establishing five plot types: pure P. amarus forest area (BF), P. amarus forest interface area (BA), mixed forest interface area (MA), mixed forest center area (TB), and pure tea plantation area (TF). We conducted a comprehensive analysis of soil chemical properties and utilized Illumina sequencing to profile microbial community composition and diversity, emphasizing their responses to bamboo expansion. RESULTS: (1) Bamboo expansion significantly raised soil pH and enhanced levels of organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus, particularly noticeable in BA and MA sites. In the TB sites, improvements in soil nutrients were statistically indistinguishable from those in pure tea plantation areas. (2) Continuous bamboo expansion led to significant changes in soil bacterial diversity, especially noticeable between BA and TF sites, while fungal diversity was unaffected. (3) Bamboo expansion substantially altered the composition of less abundant bacterial and fungal communities, which proved more sensitive to changes in soil chemical properties. CONCLUSION: The expansion of bamboo forests causes significant alterations in soil pH and nutrient characteristics, impacting the diversity and composition of soil bacteria in tea plantations. However, as expansion progresses, its long-term beneficial impact on soil quality in tea plantations appears limited.

A Bamboo HD-Zip Transcription Factor PeHDZ72 Conferred Drought Tolerance by Promoting Sugar and Water Transport.

Drought drastically affects plant growth, development and productivity. Plants respond to drought stress by enhancing sugar accumulation and water transport. Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) transcription factors (TFs) participate in various aspects of plant growth and stress response. However, the internal regulatory mechanism of HD-Zips in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) remains largely unknown. In this study, we identified an HD-Zip member, PeHDZ72, which was highly expressed in bamboo shoots and roots and was induced by drought. Furthermore, PeSTP_46019, PeSWEET_23178 and PeTIP4-3 were identified as downstream genes of PeHDZ72 in moso bamboo by DAP-seq. The expressions of these three genes were all induced by drought stress. Y1H, DLR and GUS activity assays demonstrated that PeHDZ72 could bind to three types of HD-motifs in the promoters of these three genes. Overexpression of PeHDZ72 led to a remarkable enhancement in drought tolerance in transgenic rice, with significantly improved soluble sugar and sucrose contents. Meanwhile, the expressions of OsSTPs, OsSWEETs and OsTIP were all upregulated in transgenic rice under drought stress. Overall, our results indicate that drought stress might induce the expression of PeHDZ72, which in turn activated downstream genes PeSTP_46019, PeSWEET_23178 and PeTIP4-3, contributing to the improvement of cellular osmotic potential in moso bamboo in response to drought stress.

High-Capacity Zinc Anode Enabled by a Recyclable Biomass Bamboo Membrane Separator.

Aqueous zinc ion batteries have gained attention as viable energy storage systems, yet the occurrence of detrimental side reactions and Zn dendrite formation undermines the efficiency of Zn anodes. Controlling water activity have proven to be an effective strategy in mitigating these challenges. However, strategies such as electrolyte design and electrode protection layer show weakness to varying degrees. Here, a new oxygen-functionalized biomass bamboo membrane separator (denoted as BM) is proposed to restrain the activity of water molecules. This BM separator features a unique, multi-tiered 2D interlayer that facilitates rapid ion diffusion. Additionally, the oxygen functional groups of the BM separator can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, effectively transforming water molecules from a free state to a bound state. Consequently, the Zn/Zn asymmetric coin cell using BM can work at the ultrahigh rate and capacity of 30 mA cm-2 and 30 mAh cm-2 for more than 80 h while its counterparts using glass fiber can barely work. Moreover, full cells using BM separator exhibited a capacity retention of 89.7% after 1000 cycles at 10 A g-1. This study reveals the important influence of water-limited activity on Zn anode protection and provides an avenue for the design of novel separator.

Characterization and function of promoters of silicon transporter genes PeLsi1-1 and PeLsi1-2 from moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis).

KEY MESSAGE: Promoters of moso bamboo silicon transporter genes PeLsi1-1 and PeLsi1-2 contain elements in response to hormone, silicon, and abiotic stresses, and can drive the expression of PeLsi1-1 and PeLsi1-2 in transgene Arabidopsis. Low silicon 1 (Lsi1) transporters from different species have been shown to play an important role in influxing silicon from soil. In previous study, we cloned PeLsi1-1 and PeLsi1-2 from Phyllostachys edulis and verified that PeLsi1-1 and PeLsi1-2 have silicon uptake ability. Furthermore, in this study, the promoters of PeLsi1-1(1910 bp) and PeLsi1-2(1922 bp) were cloned. Deletion analysis identified the key regions of the PeLsi1-1 and PeLsi1-2 promoters in response to hormone, silicon, and abiotic stresses. RT-qPCR analysis indicated that PeLsi1-1 and PeLsi1-2 were regulated by hormones, salt stress and osmotic stress. In addition, we found that the driving activity of the PeLsi1-1 and PeLsi1-2 promoters was regulated by 2 mM K2SiO3 and PeLsi1-1-P3 ~ P4 and PeLsi1-2-P4 ~ 5 were the regions regulated by silicon. Overexpression of PeLsi1-1 or PeLsi1-2 driven by 35S promoter in Arabidopsis resulted in a threefold increase of Si accumulation, whereas transgenic plants showed deleterious symptoms and dwarf seedlings and shorter roots under 2 mM Si treatment. When the 35S promoter was replaced by PeLsi1-1 or PeLsi1-2 promoter, a similar Si absorption was achieved and the transgene plants grew normally. This study, therefore, demonstrates that the promoters of PeLsi1-1 and PeLsi1-2 are indeed effective in driving the expression of moso bamboo Lsi1 genes and leading to silicon uptake.

Green synthesis of multifunctional bamboo-based nonwoven fabrics for medical treatment.

Medical nonwovens fabrics are pivotal materials in modern healthcare systems, and find extensively application in surgical gowns, masks, nursing pads, and surgical instrument packaging. As healthcare requirements evolve and medical technology advances, the demand for functional nonwoven medical devices is continuously increasing. In addition, numerous environmental challenges and the need to transition to a sustainable society have increased the popularity of studies on environmentally friendly multifunctional nonwoven materials prepared from biomass fibers. Therefore, in this study, ecofriendly bamboo fibers were used to fabricate multifunctional medical nonwoven materials with superhydrophobic, antibacterial, flame-retardant, and biocompatible properties. Specifically, ZIF-67 was grown in situ on natural bamboo cellulose fibers (BCFs) extracted from natural bamboo and coated with polydimethylsiloxane to construct an environmentally friendly and versatile nonwoven fabric. The treated nonwoven fabric exhibited superhydrophobicity with contact angle of 163° and possess excellent self-cleaning properties. The antibacterial activity of the samples was investigated by the plate-counting method; the results showed that the untreated BCFs did not exhibit antibacterial activity, whereas the treated bamboo nonwoven fabrics demonstrated significant antibacterial activity (p < 0.001), with an antibacterial rate of >99 % against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans. In addition, when the samples were exposed to different temperatures (-4 and 50 °C) and humidities (0 % and 95 %), they demonstrated an antibacterial activity of >99 % against E. coli (F5,10 = 0.602; p = 0.670) and S. aureus (F4,10 = 0.289; p = 0.879). The heat release rate and smoke production rate of the nonwoven fabric decreased by 54.64 % and 93.18 %, respectively, compared to those of the BCFs, indicating excellent flame retardancy. The nonwoven fabric also exhibited satisfactory biocompatibility and breathability, ensuring user comfortability. This research not only has significant implications for producing low-cost, environmentally friendly, sustainable, and multifunctional medical products and openi up new pathways for the diversified utilization of bamboo, thereby expanding its applicability.

Slow-release antimicrobial preservation composite coating based on bamboo-derived xylan-A new way to preserve blueberry freshness.

In recent years, the biocompatibility and environmental friendliness of xylan-based materials have demonstrated great potential in the field of food packaging and coatings. In this study, the cationized xylan based composite coating (CXC) was developed using a hybrid system of cationic-modified bamboo xylan (CMX) and sodium alginate (SA) combined with thyme oil microcapsules (TM). The optimized CXC-B was composed of 1.27 % TM, 2.42 % CMX (CMX: SA = 3:2), and 96.31 % distilled water. When applied to the surface of a blueberry, the CXC-B treatment extended the ambient storage time of the fruit to 10 days while substantially reducing its morbidity (P < 0.05) and protecting its texture, flavor, and nutritional integrity. The resulting composite coating provides a promising solution to the problem of blueberry perishability during ambient storage.

A LBD transcription factor from moso bamboo, PheLBD12, regulates plant height in transgenic rice.

The regulation mechanism of bamboo height growth has always been one of the hotspots in developmental biology. In the preliminary work of this project, the function of LBD transcription factor regulating height growth was firstly studied. Here, a gene PheLBD12 regulating height growth was screened. PheLBD12-overexpressing transgenic rice had shorter internodes, less bioactive gibberellic acid (GA3), and were more sensitive to GA3 than wild-type (WT) plants, which implied that PheLBD12 involve in gibberellin (GA) pathway. The transcript levels of OsGA2ox3, that encoding GAs deactivated enzyme, was significantly enhanced in PheLBD12-overexpressing transgenic rice. The transcript levels of OsAP2-39, that directly regulating the expression of EUI1 to reduce GA levels, was also significantly enhanced in PheLBD12-overexpressing transgenic rice. Expectedly, yeast one-hybrid assays, Dual-luciferase reporter assay and EMSAs suggested that PheLBD12 directly interacted with the promoter of OsGA2ox3 and OsAP2-39. Together, our results reveal that PheLBD12 regulates plant height growth by modulating GA catabolism. Through the research of this topic, it enriches the research content of LBD transcription factors and it will theoretically enrich the research content of height growth regulation.

Altitudinal Effects on Soil Microbial Diversity and Composition in Moso Bamboo Forests of Wuyi Mountain.

Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forest is a key ecosystem and its soil microbial community plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem's functions, but it is very vulnerable to climate change. An altitude gradient can positively simulate environmental conditions caused by climate change, and hence, it provides an efficient means of investigating the response of soil microorganisms to such climatic changes. However, while previous research has largely concentrated on plant-soil-microorganism interactions across broad altitudinal ranges encompassing multiple vegetation types, studies examining these interactions within a single ecosystem across small altitudinal gradients remain scarce. This study took Moso bamboo forests at different altitudes in Wuyi Mountain, China, as the research object and used high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the soil microbial community structure, aiming to elucidate the changes in soil microbial communities along the altitude gradient under the same vegetation type and its main environmental driving factors. This study found that the structure of bacterial community was notably different in Moso bamboo forests' soil at varying altitudes, unlike the fungal community structure, which showed relatively less variance. Bacteria from Alphaproteobacteria phylum were the most dominant (14.71-22.91%), while Agaricomycetes was the most dominating fungus across all altitudinal gradients (18.29-30.80%). Fungal diversity was higher at 530 m and 850 m, while bacterial diversity was mainly concentrated at 850 m and 1100 m. Redundancy analysis showed that soil texture (sand and clay content) and available potassium content were the main environmental factors affecting fungal community structure, while clay content, pH, and available potassium content were the main drivers of bacterial community structure. This study demonstrates that the altitude gradient significantly affects the soil microbial community structure of Moso bamboo forest, and there are differences in the responses of different microbial groups to the altitude gradient. Soil properties are important environmental factors that shape microbial communities. The results of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the impact of altitude gradient on the soil microbial community structure of Moso bamboo forests, thus providing support for sustainable management of Moso bamboo forests under climate change scenarios.

Potential adaptive habitats for the narrowly distributed and rare bamboo species Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda J. R. Xue & T. P. Yi ex Ohrnb. under future climate change in China.

The global climate change has resulted in substantial modifications to the distribution patterns of narrowly distributed species across different time periods, leading to an imminent threat to the survival of some vulnerable species. Chimonobambusa tumidissinoda J. R. Xue & T. P. Yi ex Ohrnb., a bamboo species endemic to the transition zone from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to the Sichuan Basin with high economic and ecological value, exhibits a limited range and rarity. Utilizing eight environmental variables and 56 occurrence records, we employed the MaxEnt model to predict the potential distribution range of C. tumidissinoda under current and future climate scenarios. The findings revealed that precipitation of the driest month (Bio14), elevation and isothermality (Bio3) were the crucial factors determining the species' distribution, accounting for 31.24%, 28.27% and 17.24% of data variability, respectively. The distribution centroid of C. tumidissinoda is anticipated to shift towards higher latitudes in response to future climate change, and the projected habitat suitability is expected to expand under ssp245 and ssp585 scenarios while remaining unchanged or contracting under the ssp126 scenario. Despite these expansions, the suitable habitats remain limited, with the largest being approximately 2.08 × 104 km2, indicating a significant threat to its survival. Our study provides insights into the adaptive responses of C. tumidissinoda to climate change, enriching scientific knowledge for developing effective conservation measurements as well as sustainable utilization.

Unveiling the Structural Characteristics of Lignin and Lignin-Carbohydrate Complexes in Fibers and Parenchyma Cells of Moso Bamboo during Different Growing Years.

Understanding and recognizing the structural characteristics of lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs) and lignin in different growth stages and tissue types of bamboo will facilitate industrial processes and practical applications of bamboo biomass. Herein, the LCC and lignin samples were sequentially isolated from fibers and parenchyma cells of bamboo with different growth ages. The diverse yields of sequential fractions not only reflect the different biomass recalcitrance between bamboo fibers and parenchyma cells but also uncover the structural heterogeneity of these tissues at different growth stages. The molecular structures and structural inhomogeneities of the isolated lignin and LCC samples were comprehensively investigated. The results showed that the structural features of lignin and LCC linkages in parenchyma cells were abundant in ß-O-4 linkages but less with carbon-carbon linkages, suggesting that lignin and cross-linked LCC in parenchyma cells are simple in nature and easily to be tamed and tractable in the current biorefinery. Parallelly, the different ball-milled samples were directly characterized by high-resolution (800 M) solution-state 2D-HSQC NMR to analyze the whole lignocellulosic material. Overall, the scheme presented in this study will provide a comprehensive understanding of lignin and LCC linkages in fibers and parenchyma cells of bamboo and enable the utilization of bamboo biomass.

Evolution and modeling of texture changes and drying kinetics of bamboo shoots under high-humidity air-impingement blanching.

This study investigated the effect of hot water blanching (HWB), high-humidity air-impingement blanching (HHAIB), different HHAIB blanching times (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 min), and different HHAIB blanching temperatures (80, 85, 90, and 95°C) on texture quality, lignin content, weight loss, color, microstructure, and drying kinetics of bamboo shoots. After HWB treatment, the lignin content of bamboo shoots was apparently lower than that of HHAIB and the samples obtained the highest weight loss value of 6.13%. Both the texture values (brittleness and chewiness) and lignin content of bamboo shoots exhibited an overall downward trend as the HHAIB blanching time and blanching temperature increased. Specifically, the lignin content of bamboo shoots decreased from 5.59% to 4.58% with an increase in HHAIB blanching time from 2 to 10 min and dropped from 5.48% to 4.63% as HHAIB blanching temperature increased from 80 to 85°C, respectively. The lignin content was proved to be positively correlated (p < 0.05) with texture attributes (brittleness and chewiness). A second polynomial model was obtained for fitting the variation kinetics of lignin content during thermal processing. Reducing the HHAIB blanching time and blanching temperature would obtain a lower weight loss and a better color performance (ΔE and L*). Additionally, microstructure observation revealed that the distribution density of microchannels initially increased and then decreased with the extension of blanching time, while it continuously became firmer as HHAIB blanching temperature increased. Overall, the optimal processing parameters were achieved under the HHAIB blanching temperature of 85°C for 6 min, ensuring a high-quality performance of bamboo shoot products.

Fresh bamboo juice regulates the diversity of intestinal microflora in mice by promoting the function of ILC2 cells to mediate intestinal protection.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a growing global health concern, with current treatments facing challenges like drug dependence and side effects. Fresh bamboo juice (FBJ), known for its antimicrobial and potential immune-modulating properties, has shown promise as a natural therapeutic agent. The present study aimed to explore the protective effects of FBJ against colitis and further analyze the changes of gut microbiota composition, metabolite profiles, and underlying immune mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A colitis model in mice was established using DSS to investigate the effectiveness of FBJ. Intestinal tissue and fecal samples were also collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. Additionally, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry were employed to detect the proliferation and function of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the cytokines secreted by immune cells. RESULTS: FBJ demonstrated significant therapeutic effects against DSS-induced colitis in mice. At the genus level, the abundance of Bacteroides, Akkermansia and unassigned bacteria in the bamboo juice group increased compared with the DSS group. In contrast, the abundance of Alloprevotella, Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-014 significantly decreased. FBJ partially restored the balance of gut microbiota, as evidenced by the increased levels of beneficial bacteria. Metabolome analysis revealed significant alterations in fecal metabolites, including 3-Hydroxypyridine, Pyridoxine, SM(d18:1/16:0), and DL-Methionine sulfoxide were remarkably altered. Dysregulation of pathways such as Vitamin B6 metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and tyrosine metabolism was observed, which may contribute to protection against colitis. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence showed a significant reduction in the proportion of ILC2 cells following FBJ treatment in the DSS group (1.82 % v.s. 3.18 %, P < 0.05). ELISA showed that the FBJ group had lower levels of IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-33, TNF-α, IFN-γ in intestinal tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that FBJ exerts a protective effect against colitis, primarily by modulating the intestinal flora and metabolite profiles in mice with colitis. Furthermore, the observed alterations in bacterial flora and metabolites likely affect ILC2 function and cytokine production, thereby mediating the protective effects against colitis through modulation of the immune system.

Root Endophytic Microorganisms Contribute to the Attribute of Full-Year Shooting in Woody Bamboo Cephalostachyum pingbianense.

Cephalostachyum pingbianense (Hsueh & Y.M. Yang ex Yi et al.) D.Z. Li & H.Q. Yang is unique among bamboo species for its ability to produce bamboo shoots in all seasons under natural conditions. Apart from the physiological mechanism, information regarding the effects of endophytic microorganisms on this full-year shooting characteristic is limited. We hypothesize that root endophytic microorganisms will have a positive impact on the full-year bamboo shooting characteristic of C. pingbianense by increasing the availability or supply of nutrients. To identify the seasonal variations in the root endophytic bacterial and fungal communities of C. pingbianense, and to assess their correlation with bamboo shoot productivity, the roots of C. pingbianense were selected as research materials, and the 16S rRNA and ITS rDNA genes of root endophytic microorganisms were sequenced using the Illumina platform. Following this sequencing, raw sequencing reads were processed, and OTUs were annotated. Alpha and beta diversity, microbial composition, and functional predictions were analyzed, with correlations to bamboo shoot numbers assessed. The results showed that seasonal changes significantly affected the community diversity and structure of root endophytic microbes of C. pingbianense. Bacterial communities in root samples from all seasons contained more nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, with members of the Burkholderiales and Rhizobiales predominating. The relative abundances of ectomycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the autumn sample were significantly higher than in other seasons. Correlation analysis revealed that the bamboo shoot productivity was significantly and positively correlated with bacterial functions of nitrogen fixation, arsenate detoxification, and ureolysis, as well as with symbiotrophic fungi, ectomycorrhizal fungi, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. At the genus level, the bacterial genus Herbaspirillum and the fungal genera Russula, unclassified_f_Acaulosporaceae, and unclassified_f_Glomeraceae were found to have a significant positive correlation with bamboo shoot number. Our study provides an ecological perspective for understanding the highly productive attribute of C. pingbianense and offers new insights into the forest management of woody bamboos.

Deconstruction Engineering of Lignocellulose Toward High-Plateau-Capacity Hard Carbon Anodes for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Biomass-derived hard carbon is a promising anode material for commercial sodium-ion batteries due to its low cost, high capacity, and stable cycling performance. However, the intrinsic tight lignocellulosic structure in biomass hinders the formation of sufficient closed pores, limiting the specific capacity of obtained hard carbons. In this contribution, a mild, industrially mature pretreatment method is utilized to selectively regulate biomass components. The hard carbon with a rich closed pore structure is prepared by optimizing the appropriate ratio of biomass composition. Optimized etching conditions enhanced the closed pore volume of hard carbon from 0.15 to 0.26 cm3 g-1. Consequently, the engineered hard carbon exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, including a high reversible capacity of 346 mAh g-1 with a high plateau capacity of 254 mAh g⁻¹ at 50 mA g⁻¹, robust rate capability, and cycling stability. The optimized hard carbon shows an 88 mAh g⁻¹ increase in plateau capacity compared to hard carbon from directly carbonizing bamboo fibers. This mature approach provides an easy-to-operate industrial pathway for designing high-capacity biomass-based hard carbons for sodium-ion batteries.

Ultra-microstructure analysis and model development of bamboo fiber cell walls.

Bamboo fiber cell walls are crucial mechanical load-bearing units in plants, significantly influencing their physical and mechanical properties. This study explored the multi-layered structure and microfibril orientation of typical moso bamboo fiber with two broad layers. The microfibrils in the primary cell wall exhibited a disordered mesh-like structure with a microfibril angle (MFA) of 90°. The alternating narrow and broad layers in the secondary walls constituted the growth cycle layer together. Within this structure, the microfibrils were oriented in both Z-helices and S-helices. In the narrow layers, the MFA transitioned gradually from outer to inner layers, ranging from approximately 70° to 30°. Conversely, the broad layers had smaller MFA, ranging from about 5° to 20°. Finally, a typical model of multi-layered microfibril orientation of 4-year-old moso bamboo fiber cells was proposed.