Reproduction, metabolic enzyme activity, and metabolomics in earthworms Eisenia fetida exposed to different polymer microplastics.

Plastics degradation generates microplastics (MPs), posing a risk to soil function and organisms. Currently, the impact of MPs derived from different polymers remains poorly understood. In this study, the effects of three polymers (polypropylene (PP), polylactic acid (PLA), and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT)) were investigated at environmentally relevant levels (0, 0.

Comparative bioinformatics analysis of mtDNA conserved regions enhancing molecule absolute quantification of ovine and porcine authentication.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) plays a key role as a "Molecular ID" in the field of authentication of animal food ingredients. However, mtDNA sequences are highly mutable, making comparative analyses more difficult and leading to the inaccuracy of detection. In this study, bioinformatics techniques were employed to analyze ovine and porcine mtDNA sequences in depth.

Polymerase-based DNA reactions for molecularly computing cancerous diagnostic valences of multiple miRNAs.

Conventional miRNA-based diagnostic methods often treat all biomarkers equally, overlooking the fact that each miRNA contributes differently to disease classification. This differential diagnostic importance is captured by the concept of Cancerous Diagnostic Valence (CDV)-a metric that quantifies both the direction (oncogenic or protective) and magnitude of each miRNA's association with cancer. Here, we introduce a polymerase-based DNA molecular computing system that directly encodes and integrates CDVs to perform weighted molecular classification of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Probabilistic risk assessment of heavy metal (loid)s in lotus root from main production regions of China to propose daily intake limits.

This study investigated heavy metal(loid) sources and health risks of 346 lotus root (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) samples from eight key producing areas in China. Results showed arsenic (As) was the most prevalent contaminant, with a 100 % detection rate and 2.

Hybrid deep learning framework for environmental microplastic classification: Integrating CNN-based spectral feature extraction and transformer models.

Accurate classification of environmental microplastics (MPs) from FTIR spectra remains challenging due to spectral variability, environmental weathering, and the limitations of existing models in capturing both local and global spectral features. This study proposes a hybrid deep learning framework that integrates convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and Transformer models to classify MPs based on Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The CNN component efficiently captures local spectral patterns, while the Transformer module models long-range dependencies and global contextual relationships across the full spectral range.

Indirect determination of environmental polylactic acid microplastic residues using a single-atom nickel composite electrode.

The widely accepted application of polylactic acid (PLA) films as agricultural mulch films has led to the accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in soil ecosystems, causing severe white pollution. Developing a convenient method to detect PLA in the environment is essential for pollution control. In this study, single-atom nickel-doped nitrogen on carbon nanosheets (Ni-N-C) combined with gold-palladium nanoparticles (AuPdNPs) enabled highly sensitive lactic acid detection.

A novel C-type lectin, Nattectin-like protein, with the function of regulating AMP expression and phenoloxidase activity in Procambarus clarkii.

As a crucial member of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), C-type lectins (CTLs) play a pivotal role in innate immunity by recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns. In this study, we identified and characterized a novel CTL, Nattectin-like protein (PcNTC), from Procambarus clarkii and conducted a comprehensive functional analysis. PcNTC possesses a carbohydrate recognition domain and a signal peptide.

Behavior of Chiral Paclobutrazol in Soils: Enantioselective Degradation, Transformation Products, and Effects on Soil Microorganisms and Their Metabolic Functions.

Paclobutrazol, a triazole chiral plant growth regulator, has been widely applied as a racemic mixture in crop and fruit tree production. However, the enantioselective fate and effects of chiral paclobutrazol in the soil ecosystem are still unclear. In this study, systemic assessments of dissipation dynamics, transformation products (TPs) and pathways, and interactions between soil microorganisms and related metabolites are first carried out using suspect and nontarget screening, high-throughput sequencing, and soil metabolomics.

Geographical origin identification of sweet cherry based on quality traits combined with DD-SIMCA and XGBoost.

Geographical origin identification technologies based on physical and nutritional characteristics have recently been developed and applied. This study evaluated the feasibility of identifying the geographical origin of sweet cherries using organoleptic traits and phenolic compound profiles. Data-driven soft independent modeling of class analogy (DD-SIMCA) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) were applied to 170 sweet cherry samples collected in 2023 and 2024 from Beijing, Dalian, Tianshui, and Yantai, China.

Unveiling the gut's plastic predicament: How micro- and nano-plastics drive distinct toxicological pathways in Enchytraeus crypticus.

The gut microenvironment is crucial for maintaining health of its host. However, there is currently limited mechanistic understanding of how stress from microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) alter this environment and its resulting biotoxicity. Here, we systematically investigated the biological responses - from physiology to pathology and from molecular interactions to phenotypic changes - of the soil invertebrate Enchytraeus crypticus exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of polystyrene MPs (50 μm) and NPs (100 nm).

Composted PBST Biodegradable Mulch Film Residues Enhance Crop Development: Insights into Microbial Community Assembly, Network Interactions, and Soil Metabolism.

Biodegradable mulch film (BDM) is regarded as a key solution to combat plastic mulch film pollution due to its ability to degrade completely into CO and HO through environmentally friendly microorganisms. However, commercial BDM often fails to degrade fully after use, leading to the accumulation of BDM residues in soil and their transformation into microplastics (MPs) via various processes, posing a threat to the soil ecosystem. Given these discrepancies between the theoretical and practical degradation performance of BDM, there is an urgent need to understand the impacts of BDM residues on plant growth and soil health.

Engineering High-Amylose and High-Dietary-Fibre Barley Grains Through Multiplex Genome Editing of Four Starch-Synthetic Genes.

Barley, rich in beneficial ingredients, has been recognised as a healthy food and is widely used in the production of healthy foods for humans. The current study identified a new barley mutant with the , , , and genes inactivated in the genome-edited offspring of targeted mutagenesis of starch synthetic genes using multiplex genome editing. The grain compositions and starch properties of the mutant were analysed and compared with the corresponding parameters of , , , , and non-genome-edited lines (NE), respectively.

Simultaneous Determination of Chlorothalonil and 4-Hydroxy-Chlorothalonil in Sulfur-Rich Vegetables by UHPLC-MS/MS with a Synergistic Enzyme Inhibition Strategy.

Chlorothalonil and its toxic metabolite, 4-hydroxy-chlorothalonil, pose significant environmental and health risks. However, their simultaneous and accurate detection remains challenging due to their differing ionization efficiencies in mass spectrometry and the interference caused by enzymatic reactions in sulfur-rich vegetables. This study developed a UHPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous detection of chlorothalonil and 4-hydroxy-chlorothalonil, using an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) source, optimizing the probe temperature to 600 °C and a set of optimal chromatography parameters.

Study of the sensitization mechanism of immunoassay based on DNA tetrahedron spatial mediation for detecting imidacloprid in vegetables.

Introduction: Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) is a widely adopted method for detecting pesticide residues such as imidacloprid because of its speed, low cost, and simplicity. However, antibody adsorption immobilization on solid-phase surfaces often leads to spatial crowding, resulting in reduced accessibility of antigen-binding sites and compromised assay sensitivity.

Objective: This study aimed to address the limitations of conventional immunoassays by introducing DNA tetrahedron (TDN) as spatial mediators.

Interaction of Nanomaterials with Nucleic Acids and Their Applications in Nucleic Acid Analysis.

Nucleic acid analysis technology is the key to cracking the genetic information of life, which is very important for insight into disease diagnosis, drug development, food safety and environmental monitoring. The successful implementation of nucleic acid analysis depends on efficient and accurate nucleic acid sample purification technology. Traditional nucleic acid extraction methods are not only time-consuming and difficult to handle but also require skilled operators.

Advancements in SELEX Technology for Aptamers and Emerging Applications in Therapeutics and Drug Delivery.

Nucleic acid aptamers, selected through the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX), are short nucleic acid sequences that exhibit high affinity and specificity towards diverse targets. Over the past three decades, substantial advancements have been made in both the technology and applications of nucleic acid aptamers. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the historical development and defining characteristics of aptamers, highlighting recent technological innovations in SELEX, including Capillary Electrophoresis SELEX, Microfluidic SELEX, Cell-SELEX, and others.

A New Comprehensive Platform for Profile-Mode-Based Untargeted Metabolomics for Efficient Data Mining to Improve Compound Extraction and Identification.

The profile mode of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) is commonly utilized in metabolomics for its ability to comprehensively retain compound information in mass spectra. However, current data-analysis methods have not been optimized for the entire profile-mode-based untargeted metabolomics. To address this issue, we developed a set of novel algorithms, including centroiding transformation, extracted ion chromatogram construction, and feature extraction.

CRISPR-Cas12a/Aurora Deoxyribozyme Cascade: A Label-Free Ultrasensitive Platform for Rapid Detection.

The rapid and ultrasensitive detection of holds strategic significance for food safety surveillance and public health protection systems. This study innovatively developed a label-free biosensing platform based on the synergistic integration of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Cas12a and the fluorescent deoxyribozyme Aurora for the efficient detection of foodborne Salmonella. The detection mechanism operates through a molecular cascade reaction: target-activated Cas12a protein specifically degrades Aurora deoxyribozyme via its trans-cleavage activity, thereby abolishing the enzyme's catalytic capability to convert 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (4-MUP) into the highly fluorescent product 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU).

The increasing age of facility agriculture significantly enriched microplastics and affected soil bacterial communities.

Microplastic (MP) pollution in facility agriculture is increasingly concerning, yet its interaction with soil properties and microbial communities remains unclear. This study analyzed soil samples from 10 agricultural facility bases in Beijing, revealing an average MP abundance of 1760 ± 868.02 items/kg.

Application of Hyperspectral Imaging Technology in Nondestructive Testing of Core Chemical Components of Fruits.

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI), as a nondestructive testing method integrating spectral analysis and spatial imaging, has shown unique advantages in the dynamic monitoring of the core chemical components of fruits. In this paper, we focus on the application of HSI in the detection of core components of fruits, such as carbohydrates, organic acids, water, and polyphenols, and systematically analyze its chemical response mechanism and technical bottleneck. By comparison of the spectral differences of chemical bond vibration and electron jump features, the dynamic correlation between HSI and quality parameters such as sugar and acidity is revealed.

Chloroquine induces eryptosis in -infected red blood cells and the release of extracellular vesicles with a unique protein profile.

Introduction: Malaria is a vector-borne parasitic disease that affects millions worldwide. To achieve the objective set by the World Health Organization of reducing malaria cases by 2030, antimalarial drugs with novel modes of action are required. Previously, a novel mechanism of action of chloroquine (CQ) was reported involving features of programmed cell death in the parasite, mainly characterized by calcium efflux from digestive vacuole permeabilization.

Characterize the dynamic changes of volatile compounds during the roasting process of Wuyi rock tea (Shuixian) integrating GC-IMS and GC × GC-O-MS combined with machine learning.

Understanding aroma compounds' changes during Shuixian roasting is vital for scientific guidance. This study used gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and two-dimensional gas chromatography-olfactory-mass spectrometry (GC × GC-O-MS) to identify 100 and 183 compounds, respectively. The random forest algorithm combined with relative odor activity value (rOAV) was used to identify eight key differential compounds: 3-methylbutanal, (E)-2-octenal, 5-methylfurfural, 2-ethyl-5-methylpyrazine, 1-furfuryl pyrrole, 1-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-ethanone, 1-octen-3-ol, and (Z)-4-heptenal.

Organophosphate esters and their transformation products in megacity atmospheres: Size-dependent gas-particle partitioning and transformation potential.

The size-dependent gas-particle partitioning of transformation products (TPs) from organophosphate esters (OPEs) and the transform potential for OPEs to TPs in ambient atmosphere remain under-investigated. To fill this knowledge gap, we analyzed gaseous and size-fractionated particle samples collected from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in China under different meteorological conditions. The concentrations of OPEs were comparable to those in other major cities worldwide, but the levels of TPs were lower than those in these cities.

Structure Switchable Single Fluorophore Biosensor to Measure Dissociation Constant in PAT Aptamer Tailoring.

Aptamers, as synthetic oligonucleotide recognition elements, exhibit remarkable potential in biosensing applications with high specificity, chemical modifiability, and cost-effectiveness. Current approaches remain fundamentally limited by their reliance on expensive instrumentation, complex operation, and labor-intensive modification processes. Here, a structure-switchable single-fluorophore biosensor is developed integrating agarose-immobilized targets with fluorescent light-up extension primers for real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based dissociation constant (K) determination.

Multi-Omics Mining of Characteristic Quality Factors Boosts the Brand Enhancement of the Geographical Indication Product-Pingliang Red Cattle.

Pingliang Red Cattle, a renowned geographical indication product in China, is distinguished by its superior meat quality, yet the scientific basis for its unique attributes remains underexplored. This study integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses to elucidate the biochemical and physiological factors underlying the enhanced flavor, color stability, and tenderness of Pingliang Red Cattle beef compared to Qinchuan and Simmental cattle. Metabolomic profiling revealed significantly elevated levels of inosine monophosphate (IMP, 2.