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Background Skin radiance represents both healthy and esthetic aspects of human skin, usually influenced by a compromised barrier and the aging process. The reduction of the stratum corneum by chemical peels is a prevalent procedure employed to enhance facial radiance, but peeling is not suitable for compromised skin. Objectives Prinsepia utilis Royle polysaccharides (PURP) is a natural extract with repairing properties, which has been reported as a barrier repairing agent. ESETRILLQ (EQ) peptide has been recently reported as a novel antiaging bioactive peptide. This study aims to investigate the combined efficacy of these two ingredients on skin radiance enhancement. Methods Reconstructed human full‐thickness skin models were subjected to UVA exposure, followed by treatment with 1000 ppm PURP, 20 ppm EQ9, and their combinations: PUR9‐1 (1000 ppm PURP + 10 ppm EQ9) and PUR9‐2 (1000 ppm PURP + 20 ppm EQ9). Transcriptomic profiling was performed as a preliminary study to define the synergistic effect. RT‐qPCR was performed assessing the regulation of skin barrier‐related genes. Thirty‐three Chinese sensitive skin individuals were enrolled in a placebo‐controlled split‐face clinical research for 2 weeks to evaluate a PUR9‐2 containing lotion. Instrument measurement and expert evaluation were conducted to evaluate the parameters of glossiness and skin tone at baseline, Day 7, and Day 14. Skin glossiness was determined by VISIA 7, Glossymeter, and Translucency Meter. TEWL was determined by Tewameter Hex. Wrinkel number and area were obtained by VISIA 7. Results Transcriptomic profiling identified PUR9‐2 to regulate significantly different genes distinct from PURP and EQ9. The combination increased the gene expression levels of TNFAIP3 and CRNN. PUR9‐2 also increased the expression of FLG, LOR, and DSG1on UVA‐irradiated skin model. PUR9‐2 containing lotion significantly decreased TEWL by 16.96%. Clinical evaluations demonstrated a statistically significant 22.32% (Glossymeter) and 35.56% (VISIA 7) improvement in skin glossiness on the PUR9‐2 lotion‐treated side by Day 14 compared to baseline. Translucency demonstrated a statistically significant 13.06% increase of K value, which all aligned with the expert evaluation of skin radiance enhancement. Conclusion PCA analysis revealed PUR9‐2 uniquely modulated gene expression compared to PURP and EQ9. Functional enrichment analysis based on Gene Ontology (GO) demonstrated PUR9‐2 restored UVA‐suppressed TNFAIP3 and CRNN gene. The results of RT–PCR also indicated that PUR9‐2 enhanced skin barrier integrity in 3D models via upregulated expression of FLG, LOR, and DSG1. The Chou‐Talalay method further validated PUR9‐2's synergistic potency (CI < 1) in accelerating keratinocyte scratch wound closure. The clinical research demonstrated protective effects of PUR9‐2 on compromised skin barrier and enhanced both glossiness of the sensitive skin surface and translucency within the skin structure. This study provides a potential solution for improving the radiance and overall conditions of compromised skin.

The advancement of cost-effective, high-performance catalysts for both electrochemical oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) and oxygen evolution reactions (OERs) is crucial for the widespread implementation of metal–air batteries. In this research, we fabricated leaf-like N-doped carbon frames embedded with Co nanoparticles by pyrolyzing a ZIF-L/carbon nanofiber (ZIF-L/CNF) composite. Consequently, the optimized ZIF-L/CNF-700 catalyst exhibit exceptional catalytic activities in both ORRs and OERs, comparable to the benchmark 20 wt% Pt/C and RuO2. Addressing the issue of diminished cycle performance in the Zn–air battery cycle process, further detailed investigations into the post-electrolytic composition reveal that both the carbon framework and Co nanoparticles undergo partial oxidation during both OERs and ORRs. Owing to the varying local pH on the catalyst surface due to the consumption and generation of OH− by OERs and ORRs, after OERs, the product is reduced-size Co particles, while after ORRs, the product is outer-layer Co(OH)2-enveloping Co particles.

Background Protein phosphatase 2 C (PP2C) proteins play crucial roles in plant growth, development, and stress responses. However, PP2C gene family members in Ipomoea trifida (wild relative of sweet potato) have not been comprehensively investigated, thereby limiting our understanding of their functions. Results We identified 91 PP2C genes ( ItfPP2C1–91 ) that were unevenly distributed across all 15 I. trifida chromosomes. On the basis of a phylogenetic analysis, these genes were classified into 13 subfamilies, with subfamilies E, A, and D containing the most genes. Conserved motif and gene structure analyses revealed subfamily-specific patterns, with motif 2 identified as the most conserved motif. Numerous promoter cis-acting elements related to hormone responses and stress tolerance were identified. Tissue-specific ItfPP2C expression patterns were observed, with several genes expressed at high levels in all examined tissues, while other genes were expressed in specific tissues. Under drought conditions, most PP2C genes had upregulated expression levels, with significant increases in ItfPP2C15 , 16 , 30 , and 77 (subfamily A) expression suggesting that they may be key drought-responsive candidate genes. In response to a stem nematode infection, ItfPP2C30 , ItfPP2C77 , and ItfPP2C89 were differentially expressed between resistant and susceptible varieties. Moreover, ItfPP2C90 expression was significantly induced in Z22 and L9 at 12 h. Hence, these genes may be involved in disease resistance. A protein interaction network analysis identified proteins that may interact with ItfPP2C30 and ItfPP2C77, most of which were ABA receptors (PYLs) and kinases (SnRK2s). Conclusions Our comprehensive analysis of the PP2C gene family in I. trifida provides valuable insights into their evolutionary relationships, structural features, and potential functions related to growth and stress responses. ItfPP2C30 and ItfPP2C77 were identified as promising candidates for improving both drought and nematode resistance, with the encoded proteins potentially interacting with PYL and SnRK2 proteins in stress-related signaling pathways.

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world, with outstanding stress tolerance, but drought stress can lead to a significant decrease in its yield. To reveal the response mechanism of sweet potato to drought stress, an integrated physiological, transcriptome and metabolome investigations were conducted in the leaves of two sweet potato varieties, drought-tolerant zhenghong23 (Z23) and a more sensitive variety, jinong432 (J432). The results for the physiological indexes of drought showed that the peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities of Z23 were 3.68 and 1.21 times higher than those of J432 under severe drought, while Z23 had a higher antioxidant capacity. Transcriptome and metabolome analysis showed the importance of the amino acid metabolism, respiratory metabolism, and antioxidant systems in drought tolerance. In Z23, amino acids such as asparagine participated in energy production during drought by providing substrates for the citrate cycle (TCA cycle) and glycolysis (EMP). A stronger respiratory metabolism ability could better maintain the energy supply level under drought stress. Drought stress also activated the expression of the genes encoding to antioxidant enzymes and the biosynthesis of flavonoids such as rutin, resulting in improved tolerance to drought. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of drought tolerance in sweet potato.

Certain dietary and physical activity (PA) behaviors may differentially predispose male and female adolescents to obesity and diabetes; however, sex differences in dietary and PA behaviors and in factors that impact these behaviors (e.g., self-efficacy, social support) in this population remain unknown. Using data from a community-based adolescent diabetes prevention intervention conducted in East Harlem in New York City, we examined sex differences in baseline characteristics including clinical measurements, lifestyle behaviors, and behavioral determinants. Among 147 overweight/obese adolescents aged 13–19 years, 61.9% were girls, 69.7% were of Hispanic ethnicity, 24.8% were non-Hispanic Black, and 60.5% were diagnosed with prediabetes. Boys had higher metabolic risk scores than girls (3.8 vs. 3.3, p  = 0.002) despite girls reporting more perceived barriers to healthy eating and PA. Boys reported doing more moderate to vigorous PA but also had more sedentary behaviors than girls. Boys reported higher self-efficacy and more peer support for PA. Girls reported more depressive symptoms and were more likely to compare their body images to those in magazines/social media. Overall, among a sample of urban adolescents with high metabolic risk, we found significant sex differences in many dietary and PA behaviors and related factors, which could be used to inform tailored strategies for weight management to reduce cardiometabolic risk among youth from similar high-risk populations.

Stem nematode disease can seriously reduce the yield of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam). To explore resistance mechanism to stem nematode in sweet potato, transcriptomes and metabolomes were sequenced and compared between two sweet potato cultivars, the resistant Zhenghong 22 and susceptible Longshu 9, at different times after stem nematode infection. In the transcriptional regulatory pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling was initiated in Zhenghong 22 at the early stage of infection to activate genes related to ethylene production. Stem nematode infection in Zhenghong 22 also triggered fatty acid metabolism and the activity of respiratory burst oxidase in the metabolic pathway, which further stimulated the glycolytic and shikimic pathways to provide raw materials for secondary metabolite biosynthesis. An integrated analysis of the secondary metabolic regulation pathway in the resistant cultivar Zhenghong 22 revealed the accumulation of tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine, leading to increased biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids and salicylic acid and enhanced activity of the alkaloid pathway. Stem nematode infection also activated the biosynthesis of terpenoids, abscisic acid, zeatin, indole, and brassinosteroid, resulting in improved resistance to stem nematode. Finally, analyses of the resistance regulation pathway and a weighted gene co-expression network analysis highlighted the importance of the genes itf14g17940 and itf12g18840, encoding a leucine-rich receptor-like protein and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase, respectively. These are candidate target genes for increasing the strength of the defense response. These results provide new ideas and a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanism of resistance to stem nematode in sweet potato.

In bio-medical mobile workstations, e.g., the prevention of epidemic viruses/bacteria, outdoor field medical treatment and bio-chemical pollution monitoring, the conventional bench-top microscopic imaging equipment is limited. The comprehensive multi-mode (bright/dark field imaging, fluorescence excitation imaging, polarized light imaging, and differential interference microscopy imaging, etc.) biomedical microscopy imaging systems are generally large in size and expensive. They also require professional operation, which means high labor-cost, money-cost and time-cost. These characteristics prevent them from being applied in bio-medical mobile workstations. The bio-medical mobile workstations need microscopy systems which are inexpensive and able to handle fast, timely and large-scale deployment. The development of lightweight, low-cost and portable microscopic imaging devices can meet these demands. Presently, for the increasing needs of point-of-care-test and tele-diagnosis, high-performance computational portable microscopes are widely developed. Bluetooth modules, WLAN modules and 3G/4G/5G modules generally feature very small sizes and low prices. And industrial imaging lens, microscopy objective lens, and CMOS/CCD photoelectric image sensors are also available in small sizes and at low prices. Here we review and discuss these typical computational, portable and low-cost microscopes by refined specifications and schematics, from the aspect of optics, electronic, algorithms principle and typical bio-medical applications.

Hydrogen energy plays an important role in the transformation of low-carbon energy, and electric hydrogen coupling will become a typical energy scenario. Aiming at the operation flexibility of low-carbon electricity hydrogen coupling system with high proportion of wind power and photovoltaic, this paper studies the flexibility margin of electricity hydrogen coupling energy block based on model predictive control (MPC). By analyzing the power exchange characteristics of heterogeneous energy, the homogenization models of various heterogeneous energy sources are established. According to the analysis of power system flexibility margin, three dimensions of flexibility margin evaluation indexes are defined from the dimension of system operation, and an electricity hydrogen coupling energy block scheduling model is established. The model predictive control algorithm is used to optimize the power balance operation of the electro hydrogen coupling energy block, and the flexibility margin of the energy block is quantitatively analyzed and calculated. Through the example analysis, it is verified that the calculation method proposed in this paper can not only realize the on-line power balance optimization of electric hydrogen coupling energy block, but also effectively quantify the operation flexibility margin of electric hydrogen coupling energy block.

Bacteriophage-encoded depolymerases are responsible for degrading capsular polysaccharides (CPS), lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and exopolysachcharides (EPS) of the host bacteria during phage invasion. They have been considered as promising antivirulence agents in controlling bacterial infections, including those caused by drug-resistant bacteria. This feature inspires a hope of utilizing these enzymes to disarm the polysaccharide capsid of the bacterial cells, which then strengthens the action of antibiotics. Here we have identified, cloned, and expressed a depolymerase Dpo71 from a bacteriophage specific for the gram-negative (G-ve) bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii in the heterologous host E. coli. Dpo71 sensitizes the multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii to the host immune attack, and also acts as an adjuvant to assist or boost the action of antibiotics, for example colistin. Specifically, Dpo71 at 10 µg/ml enables a complete bacterial eradication by human serum at 50% volume ratio. Dpo71 inhibits biofilm formation and disrupts the pre-formed biofilm. Combination of Dpo71 could significantly enhance the antibiofilm activity of colistin, and improve the survival rate of A. baumannii infected Galleria mellonella. Dpo71 retains the strain-specificity of the parent phage from which Dpo71 is derived: the phage-sensitive A. baumannii strains respond to Dpo71 treatment, whereas the phage-insensitive strains do not. This indicates that Dpo71 indeed is responsible for the host specificity of bacteriophages. In summary, our work demonstrates the feasibility of using recombinant depolymerases as an antibiotic adjuvants to supplement the development of new antibacterials and to battle against MDR pathogens.