The genome of Vicia sativa ssp. amphicarpa provides insights into the role of terpenoids in antimicrobial resistance within subterranean fruits.

Vicia sativa ssp. amphicarpa is a unique forage crop capable of simultaneously producing fruits above and below ground, representing a typical amphicarpic plant. In this study, we sequenced and assembled seven pseudo-chromosomes of the genome of V. sativa ssp. amphicarpa (n = 7) yielding a genome size of 1.59 Gb, with a total annotation of 48 932 protein-coding genes. Long terminal repeat (LTR) elements constituted 62.28% of the genome, significantly contributing to the expansion of genome size. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the divergence between V. sativa ssp. amphicarpa and V. sativa was around 0.88 million years ago (MYA). Comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of aerial and subterranean pod shells showed biosynthesis of terpenoids in the subterranean pod shells indicating a correlation between the antimicrobial activity of subterranean pod shells and the biosynthesis of terpenoids. Furthermore, functional validation indicates that overexpression of VsTPS5 and VsTPS16 enhances terpenoid biosynthesis for antibacterial activity. Metabolomic analysis suggests the involvement of terpenoids in the antimicrobial properties of subterranean pod shells. Deciphering the genome of V. sativa ssp. amphicarpa elucidated the molecular mechanisms behind the antimicrobial properties of subterranean fruits in amphicarpic plants, providing valuable insights for the study of amphicarpic plant biology.

Integrative analyses of metabolome and transcriptome reveal the dynamic accumulation and regulatory network in rhizomes and fruits of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua.

BACKGROUND: According to Chinese ancient books, both fruits and rhizomes of Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua have medicinal and edible values. Up to now, there is no report about the metabolite profiles and regulatory network in fruits and different year-old rhizomes of P. cyrtonema. RESULTS: In this study, we performed integrative analyses of metabolome and transcriptome to reveal the dynamic accumulation and regulatory network of fruits and different year-old rhizomes in P. cyrtonema. The relative content of phenolic acids, lignans and coumarins, flavonoids and alkaloids increased with growth years, while steroids and lipids decreased with it. In addition, the relative content of nucleotides and derivatives, flavonoids, organic acids, steroids and lipids in fruits were higher than rhizomes. Genes that might relate to the biosynthesis of polysaccharides, flavonoids, triterpene saponins and alkaloids biosynthesis were further analyzed by transcriptome analysis, including sacA, GMPP, PMM, CCoAOMT, CHI, ANR, CHS, DXS, GGPS, ZEP, CYP72A219 and so on, for their expressions were positively correlated with the relative content of the metabolites. Additionally, the correlation network in sugar and aromatic amino acids metabolites were constructed to further illustrate the biosynthesis of polysaccharides, flavonoids and alkaloids in P. cyrtonema, and some transcription factors (TFs) were screened, such as C2C2, MYB, bZIP, GRAS and NAC. CONCLUSIONS: This study can deepen our understanding of the accumulation patterns and molecular mechanism of the main compounds in P. cyrtonema, and provide reference for the standardize production of P. cyrtonema.

CmERF1 acts as a positive regulator of fruits and leaves growth in melon (Cucumis melo L.).

Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an important horticultural and economic crop. ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR1 (ERF1) plays an important role in regulating plant development, and the resistance to multiple biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, developmental biology, molecular biology and biochemical assays were performed to explore the biological function of CmERF1 in melon. Abundant transcripts of CmERF1 were found in ovary at green-yellow bud (GYB) and rapid enlargement (ORE) stages. In CmERF1 promoter, the cis-regulatory elements for indoleacetic acid (IAA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), salicylic acid (SA), abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA), light and low temperature responses were found. CmERF1 could be significantly induced by ethylene, IAA, MeJA, SA, ABA, and respond to continuous light and low temperature stresses in melon. Ectopic expression of CmERF1 increased the length of siliqua and carpopodium, and expanded the size of leaves in Arabidopsis. Knockdown of CmERF1 led to smaller ovary at anthesis, mature fruit and leaves in melon. In CmERF1-RNAi #2 plants, 75 genes were differently expressed compared with control, and the promoter regions of 28 differential expression genes (DEGs) contained the GCC-box (AGCCGCC) or DRE (A/GCCGAC) cis-acting elements of CmERF1. A homolog of cell division cycle protein 48 (CmCDC48) was proved to be the direct target of CmERF1 by the yeast one-hybrid assay and dual-luciferase (LUC) reporter (DLR) system. These results indicated that CmERF1 was able to promote the growth of fruits and leaves, and involved in multiple hormones and environmental signaling pathways in melon.

Different Sources of Fiber Intake and Risk of 17 Specific Cancers and All Cancers Combined: Prospective Study of 364,856 Participants in the UK Biobank.

Inverse associations between dietary fiber (DF) and colorectal cancer risk are well-established. However, evidence is limited in relation to other cancer sites. This study, of 364,856 participants from the UK Biobank, aimed to evaluate the associations between total and source-specific partial DF and risk of 17 specific cancers and all cancers combined. Partial DF was derived from baseline touchscreen questionnaire data on cereal, bread, fruit, and vegetable intake. The outcomes were incident cancer at 17 sites and all cancers combined. Cox proportional hazards models were applied. Over a median 8.8-year follow-up period, 30,725 people were diagnosed with cancer. After adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, those in the highest quintile of partial DF compared with the lowest quintile (<9.6 vs ≥19.1 g/day) had 10% lower risk of cancer overall, with the greatest risk reductions observed for cervical (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.33, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14; 0.82), esophageal (HR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.52; 0.84), lung (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.59; 0.76), bladder (HR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.56; 0.91), and kidney (HR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.61; 0.92) cancers. Associations between DF and lung cancer were observed only in current and former smokers. Higher DF intake, in particular cereal fiber and fruit and vegetable fiber, was associated with a lower risk of overall and multiple site-specific cancers.

Sex on steroids: how brassinosteroids shape reproductive development in plants.

Since the discovery of brassinolide in the pollen of rapeseed, brassinosteroids (BRs) have consistently been associated with reproductive traits. However, compared to what is known for how BRs shape vegetative development, the understanding of how these hormones regulate reproductive traits is comparatively still lacking. Nevertheless, there is now considerable evidence that BRs regulate almost all aspects of reproduction, from ovule and pollen formation to seed and fruit development. Here, we review the current body of knowledge on how BRs regulate reproductive processes in plants, and what is known about how these pathways are transduced at the molecular level. We then discuss how the manipulation of BR biosynthesis and signaling can be a promising avenue for improving crop traits which rely on efficient reproduction. We thus propose that BR hold an untapped potential for plant breeding, which could contribute to attain food security in the coming years.

Comparative physiological, metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal the mechanisms of differences in pear fruit quality between distinct training systems.

BACKGROUND: Canopy architecture is critical in determining the fruit-zone microclimate and, ultimately, in determining an orchard's success in terms of the quality and quantity of the fruit produced. However, few studies have addressed how the canopy environment leads to metabolomic and transcriptomic alterations in fruits. Designing strategies for improving the quality of pear nutritional components relies on uncovering the related regulatory mechanisms. RESULTS: We performed an in-depth investigation of the impact of canopy architecture from physiological, metabolomic and transcriptomic perspectives by comparing pear fruits grown in a traditional freestanding system (SP) or a flat-type trellis system (DP). Physiological studies revealed relatively greater fruit sizes, soluble solid contents and titratable acidities in pear fruits from DP systems with open canopies. Nontargeted metabolite profiling was used to characterize fruits at the initial ripening stage. Significant differences in fruit metabolites, including carbohydrates, nucleic acids, alkaloids, glycerophospholipids, sterol lipids, and prenol lipids, were observed between the two groups. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that a series of organic substance catabolic processes (e.g., the glycerol-3-phosphate catabolic process, pectin catabolic process and glucan catabolic process) were overrepresented in fruits of the DP system. Moreover, integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome at the pathway level showed that DP pear fruits may respond to the canopy microenvironment by upregulating phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway genes such as PpPOD. Transient assays revealed that the contents of malic acid and citric acid were lower in the pear flesh of PpPOD RNAi plants, which was associated with regulating the expression of organic acid metabolism-related genes. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide fundamental evidence that at the physiological and molecular levels, open-canopy architecture contributes to improving pear fruit quality and is correlated with increased levels of carbohydrates and lipid-like molecules. This study may lead to the development of rational culture practices for enhancing the nutritional traits of pear fruits.

Synthesis of Nanosized γ-Cyclodextrin Metal-Organic Frameworks as Carriers of Limonene for Fresh-Cut Fruit Preservation Based on Polycaprolactone Nanofibers.

To address the issue of bacterial growth on fresh-cut fruits, this paper reports the synthesis of nanosized γ-cyclodextrin metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) using an ultrasound-assisted method and their application as carriers of limonene for antibacterial active packaging. The effects of the processing parameters on the morphology and crystallinity of the CD-MOFs are investigated, and the results prove that the addition of methanol is the key to producing nanosized CD-MOFs. The limonene loading content of the nanosized CD-MOFs can reach approximately 170 mg g-1. The sustained-release behaviors of limonene in the CD-MOFs are evaluated. Molecular docking simulations reveal the distribution and binding sites of limonene in the CD-MOFs. CD-MOFs are deposited on the surfaces of polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers via an immersion method, and limonene-loaded CD-MOF@PCL nanofibers are prepared. The morphology, crystallinity, thermal stability, mechanical properties, and antibacterial activity of the nanofibers are also studied. The nanofiber film effectively inhibits bacterial growth and prolongs the shelf life of fresh-cut apples. This study provides a novel strategy for developing antibacterial active packaging materials based on CD-MOFs and PCL nanofibers.

MaHsf24, a novel negative modulator, regulates cold tolerance in banana fruits by repressing the expression of HSPs and antioxidant enzyme genes.

Transcriptional regulation mechanisms underlying chilling injury (CI) development have been widely investigated in model plants and cold-sensitive fruits, such as banana (Musa acuminata). However, unlike the well-known NAC and WRKY transcription factors (TFs), the function and deciphering mechanism of heat shock factors (HSFs) involving in cold response are still fragmented. Here, we showed that hot water treatment (HWT) alleviated CI in harvested banana fruits accomplishing with reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and increased antioxidant enzyme activities. A cold-inducible but HWT-inhibited HSF, MaHsf24, was identified. Using DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) combined with RNA-seq analyses, we found three heat shock protein (HSP) genes (MaHSP23.6, MaHSP70-1.1 and MaHSP70-1.2) and three antioxidant enzyme genes (MaAPX1, MaMDAR4 and MaGSTZ1) were the potential targets of MaHsf24. Subsequent electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR) and dual-luciferase reporter (DLR) analyses demonstrated that MaHsf24 repressed the transcription of these six targets via directly binding to their promoters. Moreover, stably overexpressing MaHsf24 in tomatoes increased cold sensitivity by suppressing the expressions of HSPs and antioxidant enzyme genes, while HWT could recover cold tolerance, maintaining higher levels of HSPs and antioxidant enzyme genes, and activities of antioxidant enzymes. In contrast, transiently silencing MaHsf24 by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in banana peels conferred cold resistance with the upregulation of MaHSPs and antioxidant enzyme genes. Collectively, our findings support the negative role of MaHsf24 in cold tolerance, and unravel a novel regulatory network controlling bananas CI occurrence, concerning MaHsf24-exerted inhibition of MaHSPs and antioxidant enzyme genes.

A cornucopia of diversity-Ranunculales as a model lineage.

The Ranunculales are a hyperdiverse lineage in many aspects of their phenotype, including growth habit, floral and leaf morphology, reproductive mode, and specialized metabolism. Many Ranunculales species, such as opium poppy and goldenseal, have a high medicinal value. In addition, the order includes a large number of commercially important ornamental plants, such as columbines and larkspurs. The phylogenetic position of the order with respect to monocots and core eudicots and the diversity within this lineage make the Ranunculales an excellent group for studying evolutionary processes by comparative studies. Lately, the phylogeny of Ranunculales was revised, and genetic and genomic resources were developed for many species, allowing comparative analyses at the molecular scale. Here, we review the literature on the resources for genetic manipulation and genome sequencing, the recent phylogeny reconstruction of this order, and its fossil record. Further, we explain their habitat range and delve into the diversity in their floral morphology, focusing on perianth organ identity, floral symmetry, occurrences of spurs and nectaries, sexual and pollination systems, and fruit and dehiscence types. The Ranunculales order offers a wealth of opportunities for scientific exploration across various disciplines and scales, to gain novel insights into plant biology for researchers and plant enthusiasts alike.

Fruit and Vegetable Intake Patterns, Kidney Failure, and Mortality in Adults with and without Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Fruits and vegetables (F&Vs) are vital components of healthy diets but may be restricted in chronic kidney disease (CKD) to avoid high-potassium intake. We previously generated F&V patterns for patients in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and demonstrated an increased prevalence of the overall low-intake pattern in patients with CKD. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of F&V patterns (overall low intake, high unprocessed, moderate processed, and high ultraprocessed) with the risk of kidney failure and its composite with death. METHODS: Adults in NHANES III with valid dietary data and longitudinal follow-up for kidney failure and death were included. F&V patterns were identified using 24-h dietary recalls and latent class analysis, yielding 4 patterns. Cox models were used to evaluate the prospective association between each pattern and hazard of kidney failure or a composite of kidney failure or death over ≤20 y. Models were adjusted for demographics and select comorbidities and weighted for the complex survey design. Secondary analyses evaluated serum carotenoids as objective biomarkers of F&V intake. RESULTS: Among 16,726 eligible participants in NHANES III, F&V consumption consistent with the high-ultraprocessed pattern associated with the highest risk of kidney failure after demographic and comorbidity adjustment, but attenuated with adjustment for kidney function. The high unprocessed pattern associated with the lowest adjusted risk of death or kidney failure combined [hazard ratio (HR): 0.73; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65, 0.81 relative to overall low intake]. Higher-serum carotenoids were associated with a lower adjusted risk of death or kidney failure combined (HR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.49, 0.65 for quartile 4 compared with quartile 1). Results were similar in patients with CKD at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Higher intake of unprocessed F&Vs was associated with better outcomes in the general population and patients with CKD. Results emphasize the need to safely improve F&V intake in CKD.

Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Risk of Disabling Dementia: Japan Public Health Center Disabling Dementia Study.

BACKGROUND: Fruits and vegetables contain abundant amounts of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C, α-carotene, and ß-carotene. Few prospective observational studies have investigated the effects of fruit and vegetable intake on the risk of dementia, and the results are inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to examine associations between fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of disabling dementia. METHODS: We conducted a follow-up survey within the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study involving 42,643 individuals aged 50-79 y at baseline (2000-2003). Dietary fruit and vegetable intakes and related antioxidant vitamin intakes (i.e., α-carotene, ß-carotene, and vitamin C) were determined using a food frequency questionnaire. The diagnosis of disabling dementia was made based on the daily living disability status related to dementia under the Japanese long-term care insurance program from 2006 to 2016. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for disabling dementia were estimated using area-stratified Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: A total of 4994 cases of disabling dementia were recorded. We observed an inverse association between total fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of dementia among males and females: the multivariate hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the highest compared with lowest quartiles of intake were 0.87 (0.76, 0.99) (P- trend = 0.05) among males and 0.85 (0.76, 0.94) (P- trend = 0.006) among females. Among antioxidant vitamins, vitamin C intake was inversely associated with the risk of dementia among males and females: the multivariate hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the highest compared with lowest quartiles of intake were 0.71 (0.61, 0.84) (P- trend < 0.0001) among males, and 0.76 (0.67, 0.86) (P- trend < 0.0001) among females. CONCLUSIONS: Fruit and vegetable intake and dietary intake of vitamin C may contribute to reducing the risk of disabling dementia among males and females.

Towards the Development of a Smart Detergent with Enhanced Safety and Efficiency for Pesticide Residue Removal from Fruits and Vegetables.

The research focused on the development and evaluation of special detergents for washing fruits and vegetables, with the primary emphasis on removing pesticide residues. The research aimed to improve food safety and meet consumer preferences for effective cleaning of food products. Using the cloud point characteristic of non-ionic surfactants, a 'smart' detergent was developed to adapt to typical washing conditions. Optimization of the detergent system composition was conducted and the properties of the surfactant system in relation to the cloud point were investigated to highlight the importance of precise control over detergent behavior in response to temperature changes. The physicochemical properties study of the model washing baths included surface tension, aggregate size, solubilization properties, and foaming ability. A model detergent, tailored for both cleaning efficacy and safety against the skin, was developed. Washing efficacy tests demonstrated the superior ability of the designed detergent to remove pesticide residues, eliminating consumer concerns and promoting healthier and safer food consumption. The conducted research paves the way for innovative and safe detergents for washing fruits and vegetables, thereby increasing food safety and consumer satisfaction.

Cretaceous and Paleocene fossils reveal an extinct higher clade within Cornales, the dogwood order.

PREMISE: Characterization and phylogenetic integration of fossil angiosperms with uncertain affinities is relatively limited, which may obscure the diversity of extinct higher taxa in the flowering plant tree of life. The order Cornales contains a diversity of extinct taxa with uncertain familial affinities that make it an ideal group for studying turnover in angiosperms. Here, we describe a new extinct genus of Cornales unassignable to an extant family and conduct a series of phylogenetic analyses to reconstruct relationships of fossils across the order. METHODS: Two permineralized endocarps were collected from the Cedar District Formation (Campanian, 82-80 Ma) of Sucia Island, State of Washington, United States. Fossils were sectioned with the cellulose acetate peel technique and incorporated into a morphological dataset. To assess the utility of this dataset to accurately place taxa in their respective clades, we used a series of phylogenetic pseudofossilization analyses. We then conducted a total-evidence analysis and a scaffold-based approach to determine relationships of fossils. RESULTS: Based on their unique combination of characters, the fossils represent a new genus, Fenestracarpa washingtonensis gen. nov. et sp. nov. Pseudofossilization analyses indicate that our morphological dataset can be used to accurately recover taxa at the major clade to family level, generally with moderate to high support. The total-evidence and scaffold-based analyses recovered Fenestracarpa and other fossil genera in an entirely extinct clade within Cornales. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings increase the reported diversity of extinct Cornales and indicate that the order's initial radiation likely included the divergence of an extinct higher clade that endured the end-Cretaceous Mass extinction but perished during the Cenozoic.

Metal-Organic Framework Based on Ratiometric dual-Fluorescent Sensor Using for Accurate Quantification and on-Site Visual Detection of Ascorbic Acid.

Ascorbic acid is very important to the metabolic process of the body, but excessive intake can lead to diarrhea, kidney calculi and stomach cramps. However, complicated production procedures and harsh experimental settings limit many detection methods, and a simpler and more accurate measurement method is needed. In this study, a smartphone-assisted ratiometric fluorescence sensor was developed for the portable analysis of ascorbic acid. Leveraging the catalytic properties of MIL-53(Fe) to expedite the conversion of H2O2 into hydroxyl radicals, thereby facilitating the oxidation of o-phenylenediamine and terephthalic acid bridging ligand. The sensor showcased exceptional sensitivity in detecting ascorbic acid within a linear range of 0.3-100 µM, boasting an impressive limit of detection at 0.15 µM. Furthermore, through the utilization of color extraction RGB values captured by smartphones, accurate detection of ascorbic acid was achieved with a detection limit of 0.4 µM. Real fruit samples exhibited robust spiked recovery rates ranging from 91 to 119%, accompanied by relative standard deviations ≤ 4.7%. The MIL-53(Fe) nanozyme-based smartphone-assisted ratiometric fluorescence sensor offers an ascorbic acid fluorescence detection device that is visible, accurate, sensitive, and reasonably priced.

A novel analytical approach for the determination of ethylene-thiourea and propylene-thiourea in vegetal foodstuffs by high-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated to inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry.

This study reports a novel analytical approach for the simultaneous determination of ethylene-thiourea (ETU) and propylene-thiourea (PTU) in fruits and vegetables by (reverse phase) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-QQQMS or ICP-MS/MS). A baseline separation of ETU and PTU was achieved in less than 5 min. A robust method validation by using the accuracy profile approach was performed by carrying out four measurement series in duplicate at six different levels over a timespan of 4 weeks (different days). The recovery factors ranged from 87 to 101% for ETU and from 98 to 99% for PTU (depending on the spiking level). The coefficient of variation in terms of repeatability (CVr) ranged from 1 to 4.7% for ETU and from 1.8 to 3.9% for PTU (depending also on the analyte level) while the coefficient of variation in terms of intermediate reproducibility (CVR) ranged from 3.4 to 10% for ETU and from 1.8 to 10.8% for PTU. The limit of quantification was 0.022 mg kg-1 (wet weight) for ETU and 0.010 mg kg-1 (ww) for PTU. This novel approach was proved to be highly robust and suitable for the determination of ETU and PTU in foodstuffs of vegetal origin.

Fruits and vegetables intake and bladder cancer risk: a pooled analysis from 11 case-control studies in the BLadder cancer Epidemiology and Nutritional Determinants (BLEND) consortium.

PURPOSE: High consumption of fruits and vegetables decrease the risk of bladder cancer (BC). The evidence of specific fruits and vegetables and the BC risk is still limited. METHODS: Fruit and vegetable consumptions in relation to BC risk was examined by pooling individual participant data from case-control studies. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate study-specific odds ratio's (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and combined using a random-effects model for intakes of total fruits, total vegetables, and subgroups of fruits and vegetables. RESULTS: A total of 11 case-control studies were included, comprising 5637 BC cases and 10,504 controls. Overall, participants with the highest intakes versus the lowest intakes of fruits in total (OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.68-0.91), citrus fruits (OR 0.81; 95% CI 0.65-0.98), pome fruits (OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.65-0.87), and tropical fruits (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.73-0.94) reduced the BC risk. Greater consumption of vegetables in total, and specifically shoot vegetables, was associated with decreased BC risk (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.68-0.96 and OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.78-0.96, respectively). Substantial heterogeneity was observed for the associations between citrus fruits and total vegetables and BC risk. CONCLUSION: This comprehensive study provides compelling evidence that the consumption of fruits overall, citrus fruits, pome fruits and tropical fruits reduce the BC risk. Besides, evidence was found for an inverse association between total vegetables and shoot vegetables intake.

Non-enzymatic electrochemical impedance sensor for selective detection of electro-inactive organophosphate pesticides using Zr-MOF/ZrO2/MWCNT ternary composite.

The existence of multiple pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables constitutes a direct peril to living organisms. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a low-cost screening method for determining organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) in food samples. This study describes the solvothermal synthesis of a ternary composite comprising multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), zirconium oxide, and a zirconium-metal-organic framework (Zr-MOF). The ternary composite was characterised using XRD, FESEM, FTIR, and BET. The ternary composite provides a large surface area (1158 m2/g) compared with the pristine Zr-MOF (868 m2/g). The composite-modified glassy carbon electrode was used to determine nine pesticides, including organophosphate (malathion, dimethoate, chlorpyrifos, monocrotophos, and glyphosate) and non-organophosphate (thiophanate methyl, carbendazim, atrazine, and 2,4, D). In particular, various chemical combinations of OPPs were selected, such as S-P=S, P=S, P=O, and non-OPPs such as C=S (with sulphur), and without sulphur. The sensor results show that the sensor selectivity is high for OPPs containing both phosphorus and sulphur molecules. The low detection limit of the sensor was 2.02, 2.8, 2.5, 1.11, and 2.01 nM for malathion, chlorpyrifos, dimethoate, monocrotophos, and glyphosate, respectively. The electrode exhibited significant chemical stability (93%) after 100 cycles, good repeatability, and a long shelf life. The sensor is reliable for qualitative real-time applications.

Dietary pattern and precocious puberty risk in Chinese girls: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The role of dietary intake on precocious puberty remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between the amount and frequency of dietary intake and the risk of precocious puberty in Chinese girls. METHODS: In this case-control study, we enrolled 185 precocious puberty girls and 185 age-matched controls. Their dietary intake was assessed through a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Their sociodemographic and lifestyle data were collected. The associations between dietary intake and risk of precocious puberty were assessed by conditional logistic regression models. RESULTS: After multivariate adjustment, consuming a higher amount of red meat was associated with higher precocious puberty risk (OR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.25-6.02), while a higher frequency of fruit ( P for trend = 0.024) and amount of vegetable intake was associated with a lower risk of precocious puberty (P for trend = 0.002). The high vegetable and protein dietary pattern was significantly negatively associated with precocious puberty (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.63-0.97), whereas the high animal food and fruits dietary pattern was remarkably positively associated with precocious puberty (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.09-1.69), after adjusting for age and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: High vegetable and protein dietary pattern is a protective factor against precocious puberty, while high animal food and fruits dietary pattern is a risk factor for precocious puberty in Chinese girls. Attentions should be paid to a reasonable intake of red meat, eggs, and fruits in children's daily diet, increase their intake of vegetables, in order to reduce the risk of precocious puberty.

Food rejection and the relation with category-based induction and memory in young children.

BACKGROUND: Childhood rejection of fruits and vegetables (F/V) has been associated with an immature food categorization system, characterized by difficulties in accurately categorizing and making inductions about foods. This may result in variations in the kind of category-based induction children use, such as relying on the color of a fruit/vegetable. Research indicates that children who reject food frequently tend to prioritize perceptual features like color and shape over abstract features, such as the type of food (e.g., tomato) when making food-related inductions. The way children categorize food can also impact what they remember about foods. Food rejection may therefore be related to better memory for perceptual features and diminished memory for abstract features. To explore this further, a pre-registered study was conducted to examine how category-based induction and memory relate to each other, and to children's food rejection. METHODS: 107 children aged 4-6 years old performed a category-based induction and memory task related to F/V, based on color and shape (perceptual features), and type of food (abstract feature). A vegetable photo task measured vegetable acceptance, and parents completed the Child Food Rejection Scale (CFRS). RESULTS: Children generally used color-based induction and displayed better memory for F/V color. Performance on the two tasks was related: higher type-based induction for F/V was linked to better memory for the type of F/V. However, there were no associations found with food rejection. CONCLUSION: Which category young children use for inductive reasoning about food, is related to what they remember best about food. Nevertheless, our study did not establish a relationship between an immature food categorization system and food rejection. Other factors, such as food familiarity, might play a stronger role in children's food acceptance.

Unveiling risks in healthy food: Vegetables and fruits are linked to the distribution chain of protozoan parasites.

Vegetable and fruit contamination is recognized as a significant parasite transmission route. This review presents the current state of vegetables ad fruits contamination with food-borne parasitic protozoa worldwide. We consider the methodologies and strategies for detecting parasitic stages developed in the last decade and the contamination data. Asia had the highest number of reports (94 studies), followed by Africa (74 studies). At the country level, with 41 studies, Iran had the most reports among other countries, followed by Nigeria (28 studies). According to the studies included in the current review, 41.22% of vegetables and fruits were contaminated with different species of protozoan parasites. Among different continents, Asia accounted for the highest contamination rate of protozoan parasites (57.12%). Giardia spp. (10%) had the highest contamination rate in vegetables and fruits, followed by Entamoeba coli (8%), E. histolytica/dispar (7%), and Cryptosporidium spp. (6%). This study provides essential data for health authorities to develop food safety programs. The presence of protozoan parasites in fruits and vegetables highlights the critical need for maintaining rigorous food safety measures across the entire production and distribution process, particularly in countries that are major producers and distributors of these food items.