Intelligent films of marine polysaccharides and purple cauliflower extract for food packaging and spoilage monitoring.

In this study, metalloanthocyanin-inspired, biodegradable packaging films were developed by incorporating purple cauliflower extracted (PCE) anthocyanins into alginate (AL)/carboxymethyl chitosan (CCS) hybrid polymer matrices based on complexation of metal ions with these marine polysaccharides and anthocyanins. PCE anthocyanins-incorporated AL/CCS films were further modified with fucoidan (FD) because this sulfated polysaccharide can form strong interactions with anthocyanins. Metals-involved complexation (Ca2+ and Zn2+-crosslinked films) improved the mechanical strength and water vapor permeability but reduced the swelling degree of the films. Zn2+-cross-linked films exhibited significantly higher antibacterial activity than did pristine (non-crosslinked) and Ca2+-cross-linked films. The metal ion/polysaccharide-involved complexation with anthocyanin reduced the release rate of anthocyanins, increased the storage stability and antioxidant capability, and improved the sensitivity of the colorimetric response of the indicator films for monitoring the freshness of shrimp. The anthocyanin-metal-polysaccharide complex film showed great potential as active and intelligent packaging of food products.

The affection of plasma exosomes on airway obstruction and endothelial function in OSA patients.

This study aimed to investigate the effects on airway obstruction and endothelial function by extracting and analyzing plasma exosomes with OSA patients. For this purpose, the clinical data and imaging data of 60 patients with OSA were retrospectively analyzed, who were admitted to the Central Hospital from Apr．2018 to Jul．2021．By using an electron microscope for the observation of exosomes, the degree of airway obstruction was compared by pulmonary function instrument, and HE staining was performed to analyze them. The results showed that the diameter of exosome particles was concentrated at 80.5 ~ 158.6 nm, the diameter of OSA exosomes was concentrated at about 121.9 nm, and the diameter of exosomes in the control group was concentrated at about 145.0 nm. Compared with the patients in the control group, the level of miRNA-33b-3p in the control group was significantly different (P < 0.05). The content of exosomal miRNA-33b-3p in OSA patients decreased significantly, and the corresponding airway obstruction increased. The results of HE staining showed that there were obvious atherosclerotic plaques in the arterial endothelium of the OSA group, and the atherosclerotic plaques were significantly reduced after miRNA-33b-3p injection (P < 0.05). In general, OSA patients can regulate airway obstruction and endothelial cell function by controlling the expression of Plasma exosomes and miRNA-33b-3p, resulting in increased airway obstruction and endothelial cell atherosclerosis.

Active and intelligent gellan gum-based packaging films for controlling anthocyanins release and monitoring food freshness.

Active and intelligent packaging films with multiple functions including antioxidant, antibacterial and colorimetric pH indicator properties were developed by incorporating Clitoria ternatea (CT) extract into gellan gum (G) film. G enhanced the stability of CT anthocyanins and allowed the anthocyanins to release from G film in a pH-responsive behavior. Heat-treated soy protein isolate (HSPI) was able to interact with G and CT anthocyanins through the formation of electrostatic forces and covalent bonds. G film blended with HSPI greatly reduced the swelling capacity of G/HSPI composite film and controlled the anthocyanins release at pH greater than 6.0. The physical and mechanical properties of G films such as hydrophobicity, water vapor permeability, swelling capacity and tensile strength were also significantly modified by addition of HSPI to G films. The smart films changed their color with the increase of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) values during progressive spoilage of shrimp, revealing their potential application for monitoring seafood freshness.

Effects of Insect-Proof Net Cultivation, Rice-Duck Farming, and Organic Matter Return on Rice Dry Matter Accumulation and Nitrogen Utilization.

Insect-proof net cultivation (IPN), rice-duck farming (RD), and organic matter return (OM) are important methods to realize sustainable development of rice production. A split-plot field experiment was performed to study the effects of IPN, RD, and OM on the rice yield, dry matter accumulation and N utilization. Results showed that compared to inorganic N fertilizer (IN), wheat straw return, and biogas residue return increased the rice yield by 2.11-4.28 and 4.78-7.67%, respectively, and also improved dry matter and N accumulation after the elongation stage (EG), dry matter and N translocation, and N recovery efficiency (NRE). These results attributed to an increase in leaf SPAD values and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) after the EG. Compared to conventional rice farming (CR), RD promoted the rice yield by 1.52-3.74%, and contributed to higher the leaf photosynthesis, dry matter and N accumulation, dry matter and N translocation, and NRE. IPN decreased the intensity of sun radiation in the nets due to the coverage of the insect-proof nets, which declined the leaf Pn, dry matter accumulation and translocation, N absorption and translocation, and NRE compared to open field cultivation (OFC). The rice yield of IPN were 2.48-4.98% lower than that of OFC. Compared to the interaction between CR and IN, the interaction between RD and OM improved the rice yield by 5.26-9.33%, and increased dry matter and N accumulation after the EG, dry matter and N translocation, and NRE. These results indicated that OM, RD and the interaction between RD and OM could promote dry matter accumulation and N utilization, which was beneficial to improve the rice yield.

Effects of screenhouse cultivation and organic materials incorporation on global warming potential in rice fields.

Global rice production will be increasingly challenged by providing healthy food for a growing population at minimal environmental cost. In this study, a 2-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of a novel rice cultivation mode (screenhouse cultivation, SHC) and organic material (OM) incorporation (wheat straw and wheat straw-based biogas residue) on methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and rice yields. In addition, the environmental factors and soil properties were also determined. Relative to the traditional open-field cultivation (OFC), SHC decreased the CH4 and N2O emissions by 6.58-18.73 and 2.51-21.35%, respectively, and the global warming potential (GWP) was reduced by 6.49-18.65%. This trend was mainly because of lower soil temperature and higher soil redox potential in SHC. Although the rice grain yield for SHC were reduced by 2.51-4.98% compared to the OFC, the CH4 emissions and GWP per unit of grain yield (yield-scaled CH4 emissions and GWP) under SHC were declined. Compared to use of inorganic fertilizer only (IN), combining inorganic fertilizer with wheat straw (WS) or wheat straw-based biogas residue (BR) improved rice grain yield by 2.12-4.10 and 4.68-5.89%, respectively. However, OM incorporation enhanced CH4 emissions and GWP, leading to higher yield-scaled CH4 emissions and GWP in WS treatment. Due to rice yield that is relatively high, there was no obvious effect of BR treatment on them. These findings suggest that apparent environmental benefit can be realized by applying SHC and fermenting straw aerobically before its incorporation.

Integrated rice-duck farming mitigates the global warming potential in rice season.

Integrated rice-duck farming (IRDF), as a mode of ecological agriculture, is an important way to realize sustainable development of agriculture. A 2-year split-plot field experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of IRDF on methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and its ecological mechanism in rice season. This experiment was conducted with two rice farming systems (FS) of IRDF and conventional farming (CF) under four paddy-upland rotation systems (PUR): rice-fallow (RF), annual straw incorporating in rice-wheat rotation system (RWS), annual straw-based biogas residues incorporating in rice-wheat rotation system (RWB), and rice-green manure (RGM). During the rice growing seasons, IRDF decreased the CH4 emission by 8.80-16.68%, while increased the N2O emission by 4.23-15.20%, when compared to CF. Given that CH4 emission contributed to 85.83-96.22% of global warming potential (GWP), the strong reduction in CH4 emission led to a significantly lower GWP of IRDF as compared to CF. The reason for this trend was because IRDF has significant effect on dissolved oxygen (DO) and soil redox potential (Eh), which were two pivotal factors for CH4 and N2O emissions in this study. The IRDF not only mitigates the GWP, but also increases the rice yield by 0.76-2.43% compared to CF. Moreover, compared to RWS system, RF, RWB and RGM systems significantly reduced CH4 emission by 50.17%, 44.89% and 39.51%, respectively, while increased N2O emission by 10.58%, 14.60% and 23.90%, respectively. And RWS system had the highest GWP. These findings suggest that mitigating GWP and improving rice yield could be simultaneously achieved by the IRDF, and employing suitable PUR would benefit for relieving greenhouse effect.