Characteristics of JN.1-derived SARS-CoV-2 subvariants SLip, FLiRT, and KP.2 in neutralization escape, infectivity and membrane fusion.

SARS-CoV-2 variants derived from the immune evasive JN.1 are on the rise worldwide. Here, we investigated JN.1-derived subvariants SLip, FLiRT, and KP.2 for their ability to be neutralized by antibodies in bivalent-vaccinated human sera, XBB.1.5 monovalent-vaccinated hamster sera, sera from people infected during the BA.2.86/JN.1 wave, and class III monoclonal antibody (Mab) S309. We found that compared to parental JN.1, SLip and KP.2, and especially FLiRT, exhibit increased resistance to COVID-19 bivalent-vaccinated human sera and BA.2.86/JN.1-wave convalescent sera. Interestingly, antibodies in XBB.1.5 monovalent vaccinated hamster sera robustly neutralized FLiRT and KP.2 but had reduced efficiency for SLip. These JN.1 subvariants were resistant to neutralization by Mab S309. In addition, we investigated aspects of spike protein biology including infectivity, cell-cell fusion and processing, and found that these subvariants, especially SLip, had a decreased infectivity and membrane fusion relative to JN.1, correlating with decreased spike processing. Homology modeling revealed that L455S and F456L mutations in SLip reduced local hydrophobicity in the spike and hence its binding to ACE2. In contrast, the additional R346T mutation in FLiRT and KP.2 strengthened conformational support of the receptor-binding motif, thus counteracting the effects of L455S and F456L. These three mutations, alongside D339H, which is present in all JN.1 sublineages, alter the epitopes targeted by therapeutic Mabs, including class I and class III S309, explaining their reduced sensitivity to neutralization by sera and S309. Together, our findings provide insight into neutralization resistance of newly emerged JN.1 subvariants and suggest that future vaccine formulations should consider JN.1 spike as immunogen, although the current XBB.1.5 monovalent vaccine could still offer adequate protection.

Identification of candidate plasma miRNA biomarkers for the diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Aim: Current head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) diagnostic tools are limited, so this study aimed to identify diagnostic microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers from plasma. Materials & methods: A total of 76 HNSCC and 76 noncancerous control (NC) plasma samples underwent microarray analysis and quantitative reverse transcription PCR to screen for diagnostic plasma miRNAs. The diagnostic potential of the miRNAs was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: miR-95-3p and miR-579-5p expression was shown to be significantly upregulated, and that of miR-1298-3p to be downregulated in HNSCC patients compared with controls. The final diagnostic panel included miR-95-3p, miR-579-5p and miR-1298-3p with an area under the curve of 0.83. Conclusion: This three-miRNA panel has potential for the diagnosis of HNSCC.

Early detection of head and neck cancer is crucial. In this study, we established a diagnostic model based on blood samples. This is a convenient diagnostic and screening tool that can help people early detect head and neck cancer.

Parabacteroides distasonis-Derived Outer Membrane Vesicles Enhance Antitumor Immunity Against Colon Tumors by Modulating CXCL10 and CD8+ T Cells.

Purpose: Given the potent immunostimulatory effects of bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and the significant anti-colon tumor properties of Parabacteroides distasonis (Pd), this study aimed to elucidate the role and potential mechanisms of Pd-derived OMVs (Pd-OMVs) against colon cancer. Methods: This study isolated and purified Pd-OMVs from Pd cultures and assessed their characteristics. The effects of Pd-OMVs on CT26 cell uptake, proliferation, and invasion were investigated in vitro. In vivo, a CT26 colon tumor model was used to investigate the anti-colon tumor effects and underlying mechanisms of Pd-OMVs. Finally, we evaluated the biosafety of Pd-OMVs. Results: Purified Pd-OMVs had a uniform cup-shaped structure with an average size of 165.5 nm and a zeta potential of approximately -9.56 mV, and their proteins were associated with pathways related to immunity and apoptosis. In vitro experiments demonstrated that CT26 cells internalized the Pd-OMVs, resulting in a significant decrease in their proliferation and invasion abilities. Further in vivo studies confirmed the accumulation of Pd-OMVs in tumor tissues, which significantly inhibited the growth of colon tumors. Mechanistically, Pd-OMVs increased the expression of CXCL10, promoting infiltration of CD8+ T cells into tumor tissues and expression of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6. Notably, Pd-OMVs demonstrated a high level of biosafety. Conclusion: This paper elucidates that Pd-OMVs can exert significant anti-colon tumor effects by upregulating the expression of the chemokine CXCL10, thereby increasing the infiltration of CD8+ T cells into tumors and enhancing antitumor immune responses. This suggests that Pd-OMVs may be developed as a novel nanoscale potent immunostimulant with great potential for application in tumor immunotherapy. As well as developed as a novel nano-delivery carrier for combination with other antitumor drugs.

Repair of a "long and narrow" skin defect of the upper extremity with a modified design of a compound SCIP flap: a series of 12 cases.

BACKGROUND: Large skin lesions of the upper extremity tend to be ''long and narrow'' in shape, and the currently used repair and reconstruction protocols still have some drawbacks, including difficulty in closure of the donor area, poor cosmetic appearance of the donor and recipient areas, and low flap survival rates. The ilioinguinal flap has been more widely used for repair and reconstruction of various complex conditions. In order to improve the versatility of the flap design and to achieve better aesthetic results, we report a study on the improved design of Compound SCIP flap for repairing "long and narrow" large skin defects of the upper extremity by using a modified design of the ilioinguinal flap for the procurement of perforating blood vessels and flap excision. METHODS: From April 2005 to August 2015, a total of 12 patients underwent this modified design procedure, in which the anterior branch of the fourth lumbar artery or the posterior intercostal artery was selected to provide blood supply for the perforator flap together with the superficial branch of the superficial iliac artery to meet the blood supply needs of the flap for the one-time repair of a large "long and narrow" skin defect in the upper limb. Patient demographics, flap characteristics, and associated complications were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: 3 females and 9 males were included in this study, the mean age of the patients was 31.7 years (range, 22-44 years), the mean follow-up period was 15.3 ± 5.6 months (range, 7-24 months), and all patients had complete closure of the defect site and donor area, and all flaps survived. CONCLUSIONS: The Compound SCIP flap presents some advantages in repairing 'long and narrow' skin defects in the upper limb. While ensuring the survival rate of the elongated ilioinguinal flap, it amplifies the benefits of the ilioinguinal flap and enhances skin utilization. This can serve as a beneficial choice for repairing 'long and narrow' skin defects in the upper limb.

Gray matter volume and corresponding covariance connectivity are biomarkers for major depressive disorder.

The major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and severe mental disorder. To identify a reliable biomarker for MDD is important for early diagnosis and prevention. Given easy access and high reproducibility, the structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) is an ideal method to identify the biomarker for depression. In this study, sMRI data of first episode, treatment-naïve 66 MDD patients and 54 sex-, age-, and education-matched healthy controls (HC) were used to identify the differences in gray matter volume (GMV), group-level, individual-level covariance connections. Finally, the abnormal GMV and individual covariance connections were applied to classify MDD from HC. MDD patients showed higher GMV in middle occipital gyrus (MOG) and precuneus (PCun), and higher structural covariance connections between MOG and PCun. In addition, the Allen Human Brain Atlas (AHBA) was applied and revealed the genetic basis for the changes of gray matter volume. Importantly, we reported that GMV in MOG, PCun and structural covariance connectivity between MOG and PCun are able to discriminate MDD from HC. Our results revealed structural underpinnings for MDD, which may contribute towards early discriminating for depression.

Therapeutic efficacy of a K5-specific phage and depolymerase against Klebsiella pneumoniae in a mouse model of infection.

Klebsiella pneumoniae has become one of the most intractable gram-negative pathogens infecting humans and animals due to its severe antibiotic resistance. Bacteriophages and protein products derived from them are receiving increasing amounts of attention as potential alternatives to antibiotics. In this study, we isolated and investigated the characteristics of a new lytic phage, P1011, which lyses K5 K. pneumoniae specifically among 26 serotypes. The K5-specific capsular polysaccharide-degrading depolymerase dep1011 was identified and expressed. By establishing murine infection models using bovine strain B16 (capable of supporting phage proliferation) and human strain KP181 (incapable of sustaining phage expansion), we explored the safety and efficacy of phage and dep1011 treatments against K5 K. pneumoniae. Phage P1011 resulted in a 60% survival rate of the mice challenged with K. pneumoniae supporting phage multiplication, concurrently lowering the bacterial burden in their blood, liver, and lungs. Unexpectedly, even when confronted with bacteria impervious to phage multiplication, phage therapy markedly decreased the number of viable organisms. The protective efficacy of the depolymerase was significantly better than that of the phage. The depolymerase achieved 100% survival in both treatment groups regardless of phage propagation compatibility. These findings indicated that P1011 and dep1011 might be used as potential antibacterial agents to control K5 K. pneumoniae infection.

Transcriptomic atlas for hypoxia and following re-oxygenation in Ancherythroculter nigrocauda heart and brain tissues: insights into gene expression, alternative splicing, and signaling pathways.

Hypoxia is a mounting problem that affects the world's freshwaters, with severe consequence for many species, including death and large economical loss. The hypoxia problem has increased recently due to the combined effects of water eutrophication and global warming. In this study, we investigated the transcriptome atlas for the bony fish Ancherythroculter nigrocauda under hypoxia for 1.5, 3, and 4.5 h and its recovery to normal oxygen levels in heart and brain tissues. We sequenced 21 samples for brain and heart tissues (a total of 42 samples) plus three control samples and obtained an average of 32.40 million raw reads per sample, and 95.24% mapping rate of the filtered clean reads. This robust transcriptome dataset facilitated the discovery of 52,428 new transcripts and 6,609 novel genes. In the heart tissue, the KEGG enrichment analysis showed that genes linked to the Vascular smooth muscle contraction and MAPK and VEGF signaling pathways were notably altered under hypoxia. Re-oxygenation introduced changes in genes associated with abiotic stimulus response and stress regulation. In the heart tissue, weighted gene co-expression network analysis pinpointed a module enriched in insulin receptor pathways that was correlated with hypoxia. Conversely, in the brain tissue, the response to hypoxia was characterized by alterations in the PPAR signaling pathway, and re-oxygenation influenced the mTOR and FoxO signaling pathways. Alternative splicing analysis identified an average of 27,226 and 28,290 events in the heart and brain tissues, respectively, with differential events between control and hypoxia-stressed groups. This study offers a holistic view of transcriptomic adaptations in A. nigrocauda heart and brain tissues under oxygen stress and emphasizes the role of gene expression and alternative splicing in the response mechanisms.

In-situ precipitation zero-valent Co on Co2VO4 to activate oxygen vacancies and enhance bimetallic ions redox for efficient detection toward Hg(II).

Despite the widespread utilization of variable valence metals in electrochemistry, it is still a formidable challenge to enhance the valence conversion efficiency to achieve excellent catalytic activity without introducing heterophase elements. Herein, the in-situ precipitation of Co particles on Co2VO4 not only enhanced the concentration of oxygen vacancies (Ov) but also generated a greater number of low-valence metals, thereby enabling efficient reduction towards Hg(II). The electroanalysis results demonstrate that the sensitivity of Co/Co2VO4 towards Hg(II) was measured at an impressive value of 1987.74 µA µM-1 cm-2, significantly surpassing previously reported results. Further research reveals that Ov acted as the main adsorption site to capture Hg(II). The redox reactions of Co2+/Co3+ and V3+/V4+ played a synergistic role in the reduction of Hg(II), accompanied by the continuous supply of electrons from zero-valent Co to expedite the valence cycle. The Co/Co2VO4/GCE presented remarkable selectivity towards Hg(II), with excellent stability, reproducibility, and anti-interference capability. The electrode also exhibited minimal sensitivity fluctuations towards Hg(II) in real water samples, underscoring its practicality for environmental applications. This study elucidates the mechanism underlying the surface redox reaction of metal oxides facilitated by zero-valent metals, providing us with new strategies for further design of efficient and practical sensors.

Screening and identification of hub genes for ischemic cardiomyopathy and construction and validation of a clinical prognosis model using bioinformatics analysis.

Background: Myocardial ischemia and hypoxia may result in myocardial cell necrosis, scar formation, and hyperplasia. We aim to explore the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), construct and identify a clinical prognosis model using bioinformatics methods, so as to screen potential biomarkers of ICM to provide a basis for the early diagnosis and treatment of ICM. Methods: Based on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, R language was used to screen DEGs in healthy myocardial (n=5) and ICM myocardial tissues (n=12). DEGs were analyzed by Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and protein-protein interaction (PPI). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to verify the target genes. Results: A total of 259 genes with significantly changed fold change (FC) values were obtained through conditional screening, including up-regulated genes and down-regulated genes. The first two hub genes [interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Ras homologous gene family member A (RHOA)] with the largest degree value among the above up-regulated and down-regulated genes were selected and their expression values were combined in the gene chip to draw the ROC curve based on the pROC package of R language. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) values of IL-6 and RHOA were 0.956 and 0.995, respectively. The expression levels of Sqstm1, Nos2, IL-6, RHOA, and Zfp36 genes in the ICM group are lower than those in the blank control group and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). RHOA and Stat3 were identified as the key genes controlling the occurrence and development of ICM. Conclusions: ICM is closely related to the changes of extracellular matrix (ECM) and oxidoreductase activity. The IL-6 and RHOA are expected to become potential targets for ICM treatment.

Etiological diagnostic performance of probe capture-based targeted next-generation sequencing in bloodstream infection.

Background: A rapid and precise etiological diagnosis is crucial for the effective treatment of bloodstream infection (BSI). In this study, the performance of probe capture-based targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) was compared to that of blood culture and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in detecting potential pathogens in patients with BSI. Methods: A total of 80 patients with suspected BSI were prospectively enrolled from 24 November 2023 to 30 December 2023 at Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, China. All 80 participants underwent simultaneous blood culture, blood mNGS, and blood tNGS after admission when febrile, and the results were compared. Results: Among the 80 participants, 11 were clinically diagnosed with noninfectious fever, and 69 were diagnosed with BSI. Blood tNGS had a higher sensitivity for the diagnosis of BSI than blood culture (91.3% vs. 23.2%, P<0.001) and blood mNGS (91.3% vs. 69.6%, P=0.001). There was no significant difference in specificity between blood mNGS and tNGS (81.8% vs. 100.0%, P=0.13). Blood tNGS demonstrated a faster turnaround time than blood culture and blood mNGS. In 22 (31.9%) patients with BSI, targeted adjustment of the anti-infectious therapy according to the blood tNGS results resulted in clinical improvement. Conclusions: Blood tNGS may be a promising tool for detecting potential pathogens in patients with BSI. The application of blood tNGS for BSI could guide anti-infectious treatment strategies and might improve clinical outcomes.

Trilaciclib dosage in Chinese patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: a pooled pharmacometrics analysis.

This study aimed to analyze potential ethnic disparities in the dose-exposure-response relationships of trilaciclib, a first-in-class intravenous cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor for treating chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). This investigation focused on characterizing these relationships in both Chinese and non-Chinese patients to further refine the dosing regimen for trilaciclib in Chinese patients with ES-SCLC. Population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) and exposure-response (E-R) analyses were conducted using pooled data from four randomized phase 2/3 trials involving Chinese and non-Chinese patients with ES-SCLC. PopPK analysis revealed that trilaciclib clearance in Chinese patients was approximately 17% higher than that in non-Chinese patients with ES-SCLC. Sex and body surface area influenced trilaciclib pharmacokinetics in both populations but did not exert a significant clinical impact. E-R analysis demonstrated that trilaciclib exposure increased with a dosage escalation from 200 to 280 mg/m2, without notable changes in myeloprotective or antitumor efficacy. However, the incidence of infusion site reactions, headaches, and phlebitis/thrombophlebitis rose with increasing trilaciclib exposure in both Chinese and non-Chinese patients with ES-SCLC. These findings suggest no substantial ethnic disparities in the dose-exposure-response relationship between Chinese and non-Chinese patients. They support the adoption of a 240-mg/m2 intravenous 3-day or 5-day dosing regimen for trilaciclib in Chinese patients with ES-SCLC.

Analysis of functional connectivity changes in attention networks and default mode networks in patients with depression and insomnia.

PURPOSE: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Insomnia Disorder (ID) are prevalent psychiatric conditions often occurring concurrently, leading to substantial impairment in daily functioning. Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of these disorders and their comorbidity is crucial for developing effective interventions. This study aims to analyze changes in functional connectivity within attention networks and default mode networks in patients with depression and insomnia. METHODS: The functional connectivity alterations in individuals with MDD, ID, comorbid MDD and insomnia (iMDD), and healthy controls (HC) were assessed from a cohort of 174 participants. They underwent rs-fMRI scans, demographic assessments, and scale evaluations for depression and sleep quality. Functional connectivity analysis was conducted using region-of-interest (ROI) and whole-brain methods. RESULTS: The MDD and iMDD groups exhibited higher Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores compared to HC and ID groups (P < 0.001). Both ID and MDD groups displayed enhanced connectivity between the left and right orbital frontal cortex compared to HC (P < 0.05), while the iMDD group showed reduced connectivity compared to HC and ID groups (P < 0.05). In the left insula, reduced connectivity with the right medial superior frontal gyrus was observed across patient groups compared to HC (P < 0.05), with the iMDD group showing increased connectivity compared to MDD (P < 0.05). Moreover, alterations in functional connectivity between the left thalamus and left temporal pole were found in iMDD compared to HC and MDD (P < 0.05). Correlation analyses revealed associations between abnormal connectivity and symptom severity in MDD and ID groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate distinct patterns of altered functional connectivity in individuals with MDD, ID, and iMDD compared to healthy controls. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of depression and insomnia, which could be used as a reference for the diagnosis and treatments of these patients.

Recent Advances in Electrospinning Techniques for Precise Medicine.

In the realm of precise medicine, the advancement of manufacturing technologies is vital for enhancing the capabilities of medical devices such as nano/microrobots, wearable/implantable biosensors, and organ-on-chip systems, which serve to accurately acquire and analyze patients' physiopathological information and to perform patient-specific therapy. Electrospinning holds great promise in engineering materials and components for advanced medical devices, due to the demonstrated ability to advance the development of nanomaterial science. Nevertheless, challenges such as limited composition variety, uncontrollable fiber orientation, difficulties in incorporating fragile molecules and cells, and low production effectiveness hindered its further application. To overcome these challenges, advanced electrospinning techniques have been explored to manufacture functional composites, orchestrated structures, living constructs, and scale-up fabrication. This review delves into the recent advances of electrospinning techniques and underscores their potential in revolutionizing the field of precise medicine, upon introducing the fundamental information of conventional electrospinning techniques, as well as discussing the current challenges and future perspectives.

Gut microbiota microbial metabolites in diabetic nephropathy patients: far to go.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the main complications of diabetes and a major cause of end-stage renal disease, which has a severe impact on the quality of life of patients. Strict control of blood sugar and blood pressure, including the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, can delay the progression of diabetic nephropathy but cannot prevent it from eventually developing into end-stage renal disease. In recent years, many studies have shown a close relationship between gut microbiota imbalance and the occurrence and development of DN. This review discusses the latest research findings on the correlation between gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in DN, including the manifestations of the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in DN patients, the application of the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in the diagnosis of DN, their role in disease progression, and so on, to elucidate the role of the gut microbiota and microbial metabolites in the occurrence and prevention of DN and provide a theoretical basis and methods for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Cellular mechanism underlying leptin-induced anion secretion of rat epididymal epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND: A large number of studies have shown that leptin plays an important role in the regulation of fertility via the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis. However, its peripheral function in epididymis was still elusive. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the pro-secretion effect of leptin on the rat epididymal epithelium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunohistochemical analysis were employed to detect the expression pattern of leptin receptors in rat epididymis. The pro-secretion effect of leptin on epididymal epithelial cells was measured by short-circuit current, and the prostaglandin E2 and cyclic adenosine monophosphate level was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: We verified that the leptin receptor was located on the epididymal epithelium, with a relatively high expression level in corpus and cauda epididymis. Ussing chamber experiments showed that leptin stimulated a significant rise of the short-circuit current in rat epididymal epithelial cells, which could be abolished by the specific leptin receptor antagonist peptide Allo-aca, or by removing the ambient Cl- and HCO3 -. Furthermore, the leptin-stimulated short-circuit current response could be abrogated by blocking the apical cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator or the basolateral Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter. Our pharmacological experiments manifested that interfering with the prostaglandin H synthase-2-prostaglandin E2-EP2/EP4-adenylate cyclase pathways could significantly blunt the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator-mediated anion secretion induced by leptin. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated that leptin could induce a substantial increase in prostaglandin E2 release and cyclic adenosine monophosphate synthesis of primary cultured rat cauda epididymal epithelial cells. Our data also suggested that JAK2, ERK, and PI3K-dependent phosphorylation may be involved in the activation of prostaglandin H synthase-2 and the subsequent prostaglandin E2 production. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated the pro-secretion function of leptin in rat epididymal epithelium via the activation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator and Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter, which was dependent on the paracrine/autocrine prostaglandin E2 stimulated EP2/EP4-adenylate cyclase pathways, and thus contributed to the formation of an appropriate microenvironment essential for sperm maturation.

Discovery of BIO-8169─A Highly Potent, Selective, and Brain-Penetrant IRAK4 Inhibitor for the Treatment of Neuroinflammation.

Interleukin receptor associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) plays an important role in innate immune signaling through Toll-like and interleukin-1 receptors and represents an attractive target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer. We previously reported the development of a potent, selective, and brain-penetrant imidazopyrimidine series of IRAK4 inhibitors. However, lead molecule BIO-7488 (1) suffered from low solubility which led to variable PK, compound accumulation, and poor in vivo tolerability. Herein, we describe the discovery of a series of pyridone analogs with improved solubility which are highly potent, selective and demonstrate desirable PK profiles including good oral bioavailability and excellent brain penetration. BIO-8169 (2) reduced the in vivo production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, was well tolerated in safety studies in rodents and dog at margins well above the predicted efficacious exposure and showed promising results in a mouse model for multiple sclerosis.

Prediction of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) in fish meal using a metal-oxide semiconductor electronic nose based on the VMD-SSA-LSTM algorithm.

BACKGROUND: The total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) is the main indicator for evaluating the freshness of fish meal, and accurate detection and monitoring of TVB-N is of great significance for the health of animals and humans. Here, to realize fast and accurate identification of TVB-N, in this article, a self-developed electronic nose (e-nose) was used, and the mapping relationship between the gas sensor response characteristic information and TVB-N value was established to complete the freshness detection. RESULTS: The TVB-N variation curve was decomposed into seven subsequences with different frequency scales by means of variational mode decomposition (VMD). Each subsequence was modelled using different long short-term memory (LSTM) models, and finally, the final TVB-N prediction result was obtained by adding the prediction results based on different frequency components. To improve the performance of the LSTM, the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) was used to optimize the number of hidden units, learning rate and regularization coefficient of LSTM. The prediction results indicated that the high accuracy was obtained by the VMD-LSTM model optimized by SSA in predicting TVB-N. The coefficient of determination (R2), the root-mean-squared error (RMSE) and relative standard deviation (RSD) between the predicted value and the actual value of TVBN were 0.91, 0.115 and 6.39%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This method improves the performance of e-nose in detecting the freshness of fish meal and provides a reference for the quality detection of e-nose in other materials. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Insights on updates in sodium alginate/MXenes composites as the designer matrix for various applications: A review.

Advancements in two-dimensional materials, particularly MXenes, have spurred the development of innovative composites through their integration with natural polymers such as sodium alginate (SA). Mxenes exhibit a broad specific surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and an abundance of surface terminations, which can be combined with SA to maximize the synergistic effect of the materials. This article provides a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art techniques in the fabrication of SA/MXene composites, analyzing the resulting structural and functional enhancements with a specific focus on advancing the design of these composites for practical applications. A detailed exploration of SA/MXene composites is provided, highlighting their utility in various sectors, such as wearable electronics, wastewater treatment, biomedical applications, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The review identifies the unique advantages conferred by incorporating MXene in these composites, examines the current challenges, and proposes future research directions to understand and optimize these promising materials thoroughly. The remarkable properties of MXenes are emphasized as crucial for advancing the performance of SA-based composites, indicating significant potential for developing high-performance composite materials.

Changes in α-Dicarbonyl Compound Contents during Storage of Various Fruits and Juices.

α-Dicarbonyl compounds (α-DCs) are commonly present in various foods. We conducted the investigation into concentration changes of α-DCs including 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG), glyoxal (GO), and methylglyoxal (MGO) in fresh fruits and decapped commercial juices during storage at room temperature and 4 °C, as well as in homemade juices during storage at 4 °C. The studies indicate the presence of α-DCs in all samples. The initial contents of 3-DG in the commercial juices (6.74 to 65.61 µg/mL) are higher than those in the homemade ones (1.97 to 4.65 µg/mL) as well as fruits (1.58 to 3.33 µg/g). The initial concentrations of GO and MGO are normally less than 1 µg/mL in all samples. During storage, the α-DC levels in the fruits exhibit an initial increase followed by a subsequent decrease, whereas, in all juices, they tend to accumulate continuously over time. As expected, 4 °C storage reduces the increase rates of the α-DC concentrations in most samples. From the viewpoint of the α-DC contents, fruits and homemade juices should always be the first choice for daily intake of nutrients and commercial juices ought to be mostly avoided.