Biology (Basel)
August 2025
The endangered Bengal slow loris () relies heavily on captive/rescue populations for conservation. This study investigated the critical link between Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II DRB1 exon 2 () genetic variation and gut microbiota in 46 captive individuals, aiming to improve ex situ management. Using standardized conditions across three enclosure types, we characterized polymorphism via targeted sequencing and analyzed fecal microbiota using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOff-white or yellowish shoots are common in tea plants ( L.), and such albino variations are often accompanied by metabolic reprogramming, including increased contents of amino acids and lower levels of polyphenols. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanisms that underlie these albino variations remain to be fully clarified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTopological states of matter, first discovered in quantum systems, have opened new avenues for wave manipulation beyond the quantum realm. In elastic media, realizing these topological effects requires identifying lattices that support the corresponding topological bands. However, among the vast number of theoretically predicted topological states, only a small fraction has been physically realized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Plant Biol
July 2025
Background: Glycosyltransferases (GTs) are key post-biosynthetic enzymes that catalyze the formation of glycosidic bonds in secondary metabolites, playing a critical regulatory role in plant cellular metabolic homeostasis. Biphenyl, dibenzofuran, and their glycosides, the most abundant phytoalexins in the apple subfamily, are synthesized de novo after infection by bacteria or fungi. Nevertheless, the biological functions of GTs in Sorbus aucuparia remain largely unexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Ciprofol (HSK3486) is a novel intravenous anesthetic structurally similar to propofol; however, its advantages over propofol remain unclear. This study aimed to compare the safety, efficacy, and satisfaction outcomes of ciprofol and propofol during gastrointestinal endoscopy.
Patients And Methods: This systematic review incorporated all available comparative trials assessing ciprofol versus propofol for endoscopic sedation following a comprehensive search strategy across eight biomedical databases-Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library, along with major Chinese repositories (CNKI, Wanfang, CBM, and VIP)-through September 2023.
For consumers and the food industry, monitoring food freshness poses significant challenges. This study successfully developed a smart composite film (PDTS-CEO-Cur) based on high amylose tigernut starch (TNS) to extend beef shelf-life and enable freshness monitoring. After 4 h of debranching TNS with pullulanase, the amylose content reached 48.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSmall cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 13-17% of lung cancer cases and is characterized by poor differentiation, high malignancy and a propensity for recurrence and metastasis. Limited-stage SCLC (LS-SCLC) typically has a better prognosis than extensive-stage SCLC due to its localized nature. However, even with standard concurrent chemoradiotherapy, the median overall survival (OS) for LS-SCLC is only 30 months, with a 5-year survival rate of merely 29-34%.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring polysaccharide recognized for its health benefits, has been approved for use in the food industry as a food additive and nutraceutical. This study aimed to explore the influence of HA with varying molecular weights (Mws) on the pasting, rheological properties, and in vitro digestibility of Cyperus esculentus starch (CES). High Mw HA (HHA) exhibited a more pronounced inhibition on starch solubility (15.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiological materials such as seashell nacre exhibit extreme mechanical properties due to their multilayered microstructures. Collaborative interaction among these layers achieves performance beyond the capacity of a single layer. Inspired by these multilayer biological systems, we architect materials with free-form layered microstructures to program multistage snap-buckling and plateau responses-accomplishments challenging with single-layer materials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnthocyanin accumulation plays a crucial role in enhancing Lilium petal colouration; however, breeding efforts are hindered by our lack of understanding of the complex molecular mechanism behind the pigment's synthesis. This study explores the potential role of the WRKY family gene WRKY75 in anthocyanin synthesis in lilies. Contrary to the inhibitory effect observed in Arabidopsis thaliana, both transient silencing and overexpression analyses of LvWRKY75 indicate that the gene positively regulates anthocyanin synthesis in lilies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs a light rare earth element, Sm and SmO are widely used in various fields such as electronics, chemistry, and medicine. Their distribution in the environment, accumulation in biological organisms and exposure through medicinal pathways have attracted increasing public attention. It is crucial to clarify the impact of SmO on human health.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch (G. uralensis) is a key species for windbreak and sand fixation, possessing notable pharmacological and economic value. However, the yield of G.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGiven the health concerns associated with excessive fat intake, reducing the fat content in lipid-based products such as mayonnaise has become a critical priority. This study aimed to achieve dual objectives: firstly, to prepare RS4-type resistant starch by the modification of starch with acyl groups of varying chain lengths. Secondly, to investigate how different types of acylated starch and varying fat substitution levels (40 % and 80 %) affect the viscoelastic and textural properties of low-fat mayonnaise prepared with these acylated starches.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPostoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is common in older adult patients and affects their prognosis. Studies suggested that autophagy and oxidative stress are key factors in the pathogenesis of POCD. This study aimed to determine whether electroacupuncture (EA) pre-treatment improves POCD in aged rats and the underlying mechanisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFis a valuable traditional Chinese fungus used as food and medicine. Hei29 is a strain derived from wild through systematic domestication and selection. It has been the primary variety in Northeast China for 30 years and offers the advantages of high yield, good commercial property, and stable traits.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study prepared complexes using corn starch and white kidney bean protein (KBP) and its hydrolysates (KBPH60 and KBPH180, hydrolysates derived via enzymatic hydrolysis for 60 and 180 min, respectively) through heat-moisture treatment (HMT). The impact of HMT on the structure, physicochemical properties, and in vitro starch digestibility of these KBP/KBPH-starch complexes was systematically analyzed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that KBP and its hydrolysates stabilized the starch structure weakened by HMT through hydrogen bonding, promoting a more ordered crystalline arrangement and decreasing starch digestibility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNitrogen (N) is a crucial macronutrient for plant growth, with nitrate as a primary inorganic N source for most plants. Beyond its role as a nutrient, nitrate also functions as a signalling molecule, influencing plant morphogenetic development. While nitrate utilization and signalling mechanisms have been extensively studied in model plants, the origin, evolution, and diversification of core components in nitrate uptake, assimilation, and signalling remain largely unexplored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe presence of exogenous protein can delay starch digestion. However, systematic studies on the effects of protein on starch digestion under various heat treatments still need to be completed. In this study, the effects of exogenous protein and heat treatments on corn starch digestibility were investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWhile flavonoid accumulation, light radiation, and cold stress are intrinsically connected in tea plants, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The circadian protein CCA1 and CCA1-like MYB transcription factors (TFs) play important roles in coordinating light and temperature signals in plant-environment interactions, their homologs in tea plants have not been addressed. Here we analyzed CsCCA1-like MYB subfamily in tea genome and found one member, a circadian gene CsMYB128 responding to cold stress.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ferroptosis in the occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) using a mouse model and to elucidate whether electroacupuncture (EA) can improve POCD by suppressing ferroptosis via the transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1)-divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1)-ferroportin (FPN) pathway.
Methods: The experiment involved three groups: the control group, the POCD group and the POCD + EA group. The POCD animal model was established using sevoflurane anesthesia and tibial fracture.
Int J Biol Macromol
February 2025
Insufficient hydrophobicity and mechanical properties pose significant challenges in the development of starch-based degradable films. This study prepared modified (crosslinked, acetylated, and crosslinked & acetylated) cassava starch films, and different concentrations of strengthening agents (polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, gelatin, and hyaluronic acid) were added to produce modified starch composite films. The physical properties, structure characteristics, and degradability of these films were systematically evaluated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs an essential reaction of water splitting in alkaline solution, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is seriously limited by its ponderous dynamics and the dissolution of Ru. Herein, we propose a strategy for the electrochemical deposition of Ru nanoparticles on the surface of Ag nanowires (Ag NWs) to generate a core-shell Ru@Ag/AgCl catalyst through an accelerated galvanostatic interaction conducted in RuCl solution. The active sites of Ru were precisely controlled by tailoring the number of cycles in cyclic voltammetry (CV).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMagnetic resonance vessel wall imaging (MR-VWI) is an emerging imaging technology used to assess the progressive risk of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). Unlike the standard evaluation model, MR-VWI is still debatable. This study aims to further define the potential relationship between aneurysm wall enhancement (AWE) and aneurysm stability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhysiol Plant
August 2024
Nitrate (NO ) is a significant inorganic nitrogen source in soil, playing a crucial role in influencing crop productivity. As sessile organisms, plants have evolved complex mechanisms for nitrate uptake and response to varying soil levels. Recent advancements have enhanced our understanding of nitrate uptake and signaling pathways.
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