Previous studies have demonstrated the antibacterial activity of paeonol against bacterial pathogens, but its anti-biofilm activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes remain ...largely unexplored. Here, the antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities of paeonol against S. aureus and L. monocytogenes were examined using the crystal violet staining assay (CVSA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analysis. Paeonol effectively inhibited the growth of S. aureus and L. monocytogenes with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 500 and 125 μg ml
−1
, respectively, and disrupted the integrity of cell membranes. Moreover, sub-MIC paeonol exhibited an inhibitory effect on the attachment of S. aureus and L. monocytogenes to the abiotic surface and biofilm formation. Further, paeonol effectively destroyed cell membranes within biofilms, and dispersed mature biofilms of both strains. The results indicate that paeonol might be a promising antibacterial and anti-biofilm agent for combating infections caused by S. aureus and L. monocytogenes.
The eco-friendly polyelectrolyte bilayer films were prepared by layer-by-layer (LBL) casting method using chitosan (CS) and four types of edible citrus pectin as film substrates. The results showed ...that the polyelectrolyte bilayer films exhibited excellent comprehensive properties. Furthermore, the interaction between CS and pectin was closely related to the degree of methyl-esterification (DM), molecular weight (Mw), and zeta potential of pectin. The low DM, Mw, and high zeta potential of the low methyl-esterified pectin (LM) resulted in a denser internal structure of the bilayer film, stronger UV shielding performance, and stronger gas barrier ability. The high DM and Mw of the high methyl-esterified pectin (HM) endow the bilayer film with stronger mechanical properties, thermal stability, and antifogging property. The microstructural and spectroscopic analysis showed that there are hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions between the layers. Overall, the developed CS-pectin polyelectrolyte bilayer films provided potential applications for food bioactive packaging.
Multi-active food packaging was prepared for strawberry fruit preservation where epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)-containing pectin matrix and natamycin (NATA)-containing chitosan (CS) matrix were ...utilized to complete LBL electrostatic self-assembly. The results showed that the physicochemical properties of the multi-active packaging were closely related to the addition of NATA and EGCG. It was found that NATA and EGCG were embedded in the CS/pectin matrix through intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. The CN/PE 15 % multi-active films prepared based on the spectral stacking theory formed a barrier to UV light in the outer layer, exhibited excellent NATA protection under UV light exposure conditions at different times, and provided long-lasting and sustained bacterial inhibition in the inner layer. In addition, the CN/PE 15 % multi-active packaging extended the shelf life of strawberry at room temperature compared with the control samples. In conclusion, the developed CN/PE 15 % packaging provided potential applications for multi-active food packaging materials.
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•A universal, facile and ultrafast precipitation polymerization method is developed.•Dual-aldehyde monomers are adopted to prepare hierarchical polymer particles.•Without using ...templates, hydrothermal devices, surfactants and catalysts.•The preparation process just cost 10 minutes.•Representative WBL carbon microsphere anodes exhibit high performance for LIBs.
Hierarchical polymer architectures have attracted considerable attention owing to their crucial roles in catalysis, drug delivery, biology, electronics and energy storage fields. Unfortunately, the current synthesis of polymer particles with hierarchical structures mainly relies on templates, hydrothermal devices, surfactants, and catalysts approaches that have the disadvantages of time-consuming procedures, complex manufacturing processes, high cost, the use of toxic agents (e.g. HF acid for templates removal) and potential risk of explosion (hydrothermal methods). Herein, for the first time, we have developed an ultrafast template-free, hydrothermal-free, surfactant-free, and catalyst-free precipitation polymerization method to synthesize a diversity of polymer particles with multi-dimensional (0D, 1D, 2D and 3D) hierarchical structures simply from polymerization of common dual-aldehyde and amino monomers at room temperature, and the fabrication process only took 10 min. After carbonizing one typical polymer particles (wool-ball-like structure) as an application example, we further tested the electrochemical performance of the as-obtained typical structures and the results show a reversible lithium-ion storage capacity of 226.5 mAh g−1 after 3200 cycles at the current density of 5 A g−1. Our technique provides a cost-effective, rapid, scalable, and green approach to prepare multi-dimensional hierarchical polymer structures and paves the way towards their application in a diversity of emerging fields.
A facile construction of Ru/RuO2 composite with porous reticular structure (denoted as Ru/RuO2-PRS) by controllable pyrolysis of Ru3+ coordinated cyanoguanidine was presented for oxygen evolution ...reaction (OER). The Ru/RuO2 heterostructure was identified in Ru/RuO2-PRS. Taking the advantages of the Ru/RuO2 heterostructure and large specific surface area, Ru/RuO2-PRS exhibits much more improved OER activity with much lower onset potential and overpotential to reach the current density of 10 mA cm−2 compared with RuO2 porous powder and RuO2 nano-particles counterparts in both acidic and alkaline solution. Specifically, Ru/RuO2-PRS exhibits much improved durability because the unique Ru/RuO2 heterostructure relieves the dissolution of RuO2 at high anodic potential that has been the bottleneck of Ru-based catalysts for OER, especially in acidic electrolyte. This study provides a new strategy to promote the OER application in acidic solution.
•We present a facile one-step calcination method to synthesize 3D porous reticular structure of Ru/RuO2 (Ru/RuO2-PRS).•The as prepared Ru/RuO2-PRS presents abundant Ru/RuO2 heterostructure, which benefits to the electrocatalytic process.•Ru/RuO2-PRS exhibits excellent OER activity and stability in both acid and alkaline electrolyte.
Active food packaging materials often possess barrier, hydrophobic and antioxidant properties, which are essential for maintaining food quality and safety. In this study, low acyl gellan gum (LAGG) ...and high acyl gellan gum (HAGG)-bacterial cellulose (BC) composite films (LAGG-BC and HAGG-BC) were respectively prepared by incorporating BC into LAGG and HAGG. The results showed that the mechanical, barrier properties and stability of the composite films were significantly improved after incorporating with BC. However, LAGG-BC film possessed higher mechanical, hydrophobicity, barrier properties and stability than HAGG-BC film. The structural characterization results indicated that BC and LAGG showed good compatibility and intermolecular interactions, and the formed film was smooth and flat. Furthermore, the added nano-TiO2/CuO further lowered its transparency and enhanced the UV-barrier, antioxidant activity and flexibility. The application experiments proved that LAGG-BC/T-0.4 %CuO film effectively inhibited the softening, reddening, browning and rotting of fresh-cut peppers during storage, and also provided excellent anti-fogging, bending and thermal reversibility properties. Thus, LAGG-BC/T-0.4 %CuO film could be used as a packaging material for fruits and vegetables preservation.
•BC enhanced the mechanical, barrier and stability properties of GG-based films.•LAGG-BC film possessed higher mechanical, hydrophobicity, barrier properties and stability than HAGG-BC film.•LAGG-BC/T-0.4 %CuO film showed excellent UV-barrier performance, antioxidant activity, anti-fogging and flexibility.•LAGG-BC/T-0.4 %CuO film improved the shelf life of fresh-cut pepper.
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) clinically reduce atherosclerosis and lower blood pressure. However, their impact on endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains ...unclear. In this study, we investigated the protective effect and underlying mechanism of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin in diabetes.
Vascular reactivity was measured to assess the vasoprotective effect of dapagliflozin in a mouse model of high glucose (HG)-induced T2D. Pulse wave velocity was measured to quantify arterial stiffness. Protein expression was assessed by western blotting and immunofluorescence, oxidative stress was evaluated using dihydroethidium, nitric oxide was evaluated using the Griess reaction, and cellular senescence was assessed based on senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA‐β‐gal) activity and the expression of senescence markers. Furthermore, the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) acetylation status was determined and eNOS interactions with SIRT1 were evaluated by coimmunoprecipitation assays.
Dapagliflozin protected against impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and improved arterial stiffness in the mouse model of T2D; mouse aortas had significantly reduced levels of senescence activity and senescence-associated inflammatory factors. HG-induced increases in senescence activity, protein marker levels, and oxidative stress in vitro were all ameliorated by dapagliflozin. The decreases in eNOS phosphorylation and nitric oxide (NO) production in senescent endothelial cells were restored by dapagliflozin. SIRT1 expression was reduced in HG-induced senescent endothelial cells, and dapagliflozin restored SIRT1 expression. SIRT1 inhibition diminished the antisenescence effects of dapagliflozin. Coimmunoprecipitation showed that SIRT1 was physically associated with eNOS, suggesting that the effects of dapagliflozin are dependent on SIRT1 activation.
These findings indicate that dapagliflozin protects against endothelial cell senescence by regulating SIRT1 signaling in diabetic mice.
Background. Hyperuricemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, but the impact of hyperuricemia and sex-related disparities is not fully clear in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome ...(ACS). Objective. To investigate the association between hyperuricemia and 1-year all-cause mortality in elderly patients with ACS. Methods. This retrospective cohort study included 711 consecutive ACS patients aged ≥75 years, hospitalized in our center between January 2013 and December 2017. Serum uric acid (sUA), in-hospital events, and 1-year follow-up were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to explore the risk factors for in-hospital events and 1-year all-cause mortality. Results. sUA levels were higher in males than in females (381.4 ± 110.1 vs. 349.3 ± 119.1 μmol/l, P<0.001). Prevalence of hypertension (80.5% vs. 72.6%, P=0.020), atrial fibrillation (16.2% vs. 9.5%, P=0.008), and severe heart failure (61.0% vs. 44.2%, P<0.001) were higher in patients with hyperuricemia than in patients with normal sUA. During the 1-year follow-up, 135 patients died (19.0%); all-cause mortality was higher in patients with hyperuricemia than in patients with normal sUA (23.1% vs. 16.7%, P=0.039). Hyperuricemia is related to in-hospital ventricular tachycardia and 1-year all-cause mortality (OR = 1.799, 95% CI 1.050–3.081, P=0.033; OR = 1.512, 95% CI 1.028–2.225, P=0.036, respectively). Multivariable regression analysis models showed that hyperuricemia was an independent risk factor of 1-year all-cause mortality in women (OR = 2.539, 95% CI 1.001–6.453, P=0.050), but not in men (OR = 0.931, 95% CI 0.466–1.858, P=0.839) after adjustment for confounding variables. Conclusions. Hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for 1-year all-cause mortality in elderly female patients with ACS.
The Tibetan Plateau and Indian Plain exhibit the largest altitudinal difference between two geographically contiguous areas on Earth, but the eastern margin of the Plateau has not experienced ...headward erosion of the Yarlung Zangbo River (YZR) since ~2.5 Ma. In the past, some scientists have argued that moraine dams on Mount Namcha Barwa (in the Eastern Himalayan syntaxis) frequently blocked the YZR, thus keeping the Plateau's margin intact at this point. In this study, three sets of moraines were identified in the Pai Valley alongside Namcha Barwa, and were dated using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and 10Be exposure dating. The resultant ages would suggest that three glaciations occurred at ~22.2, 4.7 and 1.3 ka, respectively. Comparison of OSL and 10Be ages for glacial advances with local paleoclimatic proxies would suggest that temperature was the dominant factor controlling glacial change. Because of the paleoglacial advance frequency, coupling with rapid fluvial incision, moraine dams were cut through by the YZR. Thus, any moraine dams that lost their efficacy in impacting upon knickpoint migration. Instead, similarities between rock uplift and fluvial incision, rather than moraine dams, might have been the main control impeding headward erosion of the YZR, thereby keeping this part of the eastern Tibetan Plateau margin intact.
•Glacial-fluvial landscape development explored in the Eastern Himalayan syntaxis were mapped and dated in the Pai Valley•OSL/TCN ages cluster to ~22.2, 4.7, 1.3 ka, associated with climate-glacial advances•Glacier extent-timings and knickpoints in relation to river gorge damming explored•Uplift-fluvial incision balance controls eastern Tibetan Plateau margin stability
The aim of the article is to introduce a novel laser-based frameless stereotactic device that can locate intracranial lesions quickly and with computed tomograph (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ...films. Preliminary experiences of application in 416 cases are also summarized.
From August in 2020 to October in 2022, a total of 416 cases of new minimalist laser stereotactic surgery have been performed on 415 patients. Of the 415 patients, 377 had intracranial hematomas, while the remaining cases were brain tumors or brain abscesses. Postoperative CT was used to evaluate the accuracy of catheterization of 405 patients according to the MISTIE study. The duration time of locating was recorded. Rebleeding refers to the definition: Compared with preoperative CT, the relative volume of postoperative hematoma increases by >33% or absolute volume increase >12.5 mL.
According to postoperative CT, the accuracy of 405 stereotactic catheterization cases was good in 346 cases (85.4%) and suboptimal in 59 cases (14.6%), with no poor results. Postoperative rebleeding occurred in 4 spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage cases and 1 brain biopsy case. The average localization time of supratentorial lesions was 13.2 minutes in the supine position, 21.5 minutes in the lateral position, and 27.6 minutes in the prone position.
The new laser-based frameless stereotactic device is simple in principle and convenient in positioning operation of brain hematoma and abscess puncture, brain biopsy and tumor surgery, and appropriate to the precision requirements in most craniocerebral surgery.
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