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Starch is the most important component in potato tubers, whose structure and composition play key roles in properties of potato storage, processing, and applications. This review identifies the biodiversity of starch content, structure, and physiochemical properties, particularly the amylose and amylopectin content, molecular and granular structure, gelatinization, retrogradation, swelling power, solubility, and digestibility of potato in the past decade. Various functions of major potato starch biosynthesis‐related enzymes, such as AGPase, starch synthase, starch branching enzyme, debranching enzyme, and glucan/water dikinase, are also summarized. The potential utilization of native and modified potato starch in food and medicine fields owing to its high pasting viscosity is also analyzed. This review will contribute to a better understanding of the genetics–structure–functions of potato starch and may provide insights into potential potato starch utilization and further genetic improvement of starch quality.

Fruit acidity is an essential factor affecting blueberry organoleptic quality. The organic acid content in blueberry fruit mainly contributes to fruit acidity. This study aims to evaluate the effect of exogenous salicylic acid (SA), the principal metabolite of aspirin, on the organoleptic quality and organic acid metabolism in rabbiteye blueberry ( Vaccinium virgatum Ait, ‘Powderblue’) during cold storage (4 °C). Results showed that SA-treated fruit reduced fruit decay and weight loss delayed fruit softening, and decline of total soluble solids (TSS). TA and total organic acid amounts stayed the same during the late storage period in SA-treated fruit. Four kinds of organic acid components, malic acid, quinic acid, citric acid, and succinic acid, were at higher levels in fruit treated by SA as compared to control. SA enhanced the activities of PEPC, NAD-MDH, and CS to promote the synthesis of malic acid and citric acid. Meanwhile, the activities of NADP-ME, ACL, and ACO, which participated in the degradation of malic acid and citric acid, were inhibited by SA. qPCR results also showed that the expression of VcPEPC , VcNAD-MDH , and VcCS genes were upregulated. In contrast, SA downregulated the expression of VcNADP-ME , VcACL , and VcACO genes. In conclusion, SA could regulate the key genes and enzymes that participated in organic acids metabolism to maintain the freshness of blueberry during cold storage, therefore minimizing the economic loss.

Although corticosteroids and alcohol are two major risk factors for nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (NONFH), the effects of other factors have rarely been studied, thereby making early diagnosis and treatment of NONFH difficult. This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram to NONFH, but patients with alcohol- and steroid-related NONFH are not at all taken into account in this study. A training cohort of 790 patients (n = 434, NONFH; n = 356, femoral neck fractures [non-NONFH]) diagnosed in our hospital from January 2011 to December 2016 was used for model development. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) regression model was used for date dimension reduction and optimal predictor selection. A predictive model was developed from univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Performance characterisation of the resulting nomogram included calibration, discriminatory ability, and clinical usefulness. After internal validation, the nomogram was further evaluated in a separate cohort of 300 consecutive patients included between January 2017 and December 2018. The simple prediction nomogram included five predictors from univariate and multivariate analyses, including gender, total cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, white blood cell count, and platelet count. Internal validation showed that the model had good discrimination [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 0.80] and calibration. Good discrimination (AUC = 0.81) and calibration were preserved in the validation cohort. Decision curve analysis showed that the predictive nomogram was clinically useful. The simple diagnostic nomogram, which combines demographic data and laboratory blood test results, was able to quantify the probability of NONFH in cases of early screening and diagnosis.

Porous adsorption, a less powerful adsorptive force than chemical bonds, is based on the physical adsorption of small molecules onto a solid surface that is capable of adsorbing gas or liquid molecules. Antimicrobial permutite composite (containing Ag+, Zn2+ and Ag+/Zn2+), starting from Linde Type A-permutite (LTA), was obtained in this research. The permutite samples were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), colorimeter and nitrogen adsorption technique. Cinnamon essential oil (CEO) was encapsulated into Ag+/Zn2+-permutite. The FT-IR and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) confirmed that no chemical bond existed between CEO and Ag+/Zn2+-permutite. The loading capacity of Ag+/Zn2+-permutite/CEO was 313.07 µL/g, and it had a sustained release effect. The Ag+/Zn2+-permutite/CEO showed stronger efficacy against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp. than Ag+/Zn2+-permutite. Ethyl cellulose pads modified by composite antimicrobial particles were applied in the preservation of Chinese bayberry. Compared to the control group, treatment with the Ag+/Zn2+-permutite/CEO antimicrobial pads resulted in a significantly lower decay incidence. In addition, the amount of migrated silver, zinc and aluminum from LTA was below the legal limit. These results confirmed that the ethyl cellulose pads modified by the Ag+/Zn2+-permutite/CEO provided an active packaging to control decay of fresh Chinese bayberry.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive gaseous small molecule that regulates plant growth. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was used as an NO donor to study the effects of NO treatment on browning and antioxidant activity of button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus). The findings revealed that exogenous NO treatment alleviated the browning, decreased hardness, and increased weight loss of mushrooms stored at 4°C for 15 days, and reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and membrane lipid peroxidation. Moreover, exogenous NO treatment dramatically increased the anabolism of endogenous NO, maintained the content of antioxidant substances including flavonoids and total phenols, and kept catalase and superoxide dismutase activities at a high level. Further studies revealed that exogenous NO treatment inhibited the activities of enzymes that are involved in browning, which including polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and tyrosinase (TYR), and increased phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase (PAL) activity, with SNP treatment at 0.05 mM being the most effective. Furthermore, SNP treatment at 0.05 mM also inhibited PPO and TYR gene expressions while increasing PAL gene expression. Therefore, our findings suggest that exogenous NO has the potential for development in delaying postharvest browning and maintaining the quality of mushrooms. Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive gaseous small molecule that regulates plant growth.

The metabolism of polysaccharides in the Zizania latifolia cell wall helps maintain the postharvest quality during storage. Fresh Z. latifolia was stored at 4 °C and 25 °C to evaluate the hardness, cell wall polysaccharide composition, cell wall structure, active ingredients, and cell wall metabolism-related enzyme activities. The results showed that hardness declined concomitantly with an increase in water-soluble pectin content during storage, as well as with a decrease in propectin and cellulose contents. Correlation analysis showed that lower activities of cell wall-degrading enzymes, such as polygalacturonase, cellulase, and β-galactosidase in Z. latifolia stored at 4 °C, were associated with lighter fiberization and greater hardness, compared with those stored at 25 °C. Additionally, the results of infrared spectroscopy showed that texture softening may be attributed to a decrease in the degree of esterification of water-soluble polysaccharides at 25 °C compared to that at 4 °C.

Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes) form a great source of protein; however, the effect of enzymatic hydrolysis to improve its flavor has not yet been investigated. To explore the effects of different protease treatments on protein degradation and flavor compounds of shiitake mushrooms, papain, neutral protease, and flavourzyme were selected for the hydrolysis of shiitake mushrooms. Proteolysis index, Trichloroacetic acid‐nitrogen soluble index, and protein content were estimated to evaluate protein degradation. Flavor amino acids and volatile components of the hydrolysate were also analyzed. Results showed flavourzyme has an advantage over the others in promoting protein degradation and improving flavor. Compared to single‐enzyme treatment, a combination treatment with three enzymes, at 1:1:1 ratio, was found to perform greater protein hydrolysis. After protease‐mediated hydrolysis, the variety and content of flavor substances (free amino acids and eight‐carbon compounds) in L. edodes increased. We concluded that protease treatment is an effective method for improving the quality and flavor of L. edodes. Flavourzyme promoted protein degradation and improved flavor of Lentinus edodes. Combining the 3 enzymes at a 1:1:1 ratio had the best protein hydrolyzing effect. Protease treatment increased flavor substance variety and content in L. edodes.

Cuticular wax contributes to maintaining postharvest storage quality against fruit water loss and softening. Triterpenoids, such as oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA), are the main components in blueberry cuticular wax, but their role in water migration during the storage of blueberries remains to be determined. Here, we examined the relationship between the content of OA and UA and the storage quality of blueberry fruit (25 °C). The results revealed that the UA content during eight-day postharvest storage ranged from 58 to 77 μg cm−2, which was negatively related to weight loss. Additionally, we investigated the effect of exogenous OA and UA on water migration in the blueberry fruit during storage at room temperature; the weight loss was significantly lower (by 22%) with UA treatment than in the control fruit. Our findings indicate that OA and UA effectively affect water migration in blueberry fruit during postharvest storage, which could contribute to improving postharvest preservation techniques.

The lotus seed embryo, known as “Plumula nelumbinis,” holds significance in Chinese culture as a traditional medicinal and edible herb rich in beneficial bioactive compounds like flavonoids, alkaloids, and polyphenols. Using ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography‐quadrupole‐exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry, we meticulously analyzed the total flavonoids in Plumula nelumbinis (PNF) sourced from Hangzhou's West Lake. Our investigation preliminarily identified 29 flavonoid compounds, including 21 flavonoid O‐glycosides, five flavonoid C‐glycosides, and three aglycones, through comparisons with standards and literature references. Subsequent cellular anti‐inflammatory experiments using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced RAW264.7 cells demonstrated that treatment with 300 μg/mL of lotus seed flavonoids significantly reduced inflammatory factors' production, such as nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor, interleukin‐6, and interleukin‐1β. Additionally, PNF effectively lowered intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, mitigated LPS‐induced cell apoptosis, and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) p65 protein, collectively suppressing the NF‐κB p65 inflammatory pathway and demonstrating potent anti‐inflammatory properties. Crucially, the observed gene expression patterns of inflammatory factors aligned with their respective protein secretion levels. This study provides a comprehensive exploration of lotus seed flavonoids' anti‐inflammatory potential, highlighting their significance in potential therapeutic applications and laying the groundwork for future advancements in related functional foods. The UPLC‐QE‐Orbitrap‐MS/MS method was used to qualitatively analyze the flavonoids extracted from Plumula nelumbinis and explore their anti‐inflammatory effects on LPS‐induced RAW264.7 cells.

This study explored the memory‐enhancing potential of seven commercially available nuts through nutritional profiling, metabolomics, network pharmacology, and animal experiments. Significant differences were observed in nutrient content: Almonds had the highest soluble protein (263.13 mg/g), and walnuts showed the highest total phenolics (32.93 mg GAE/g). Active compounds were screened using SwissADME, and a compound–target network was constructed. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment identified key pathways, including neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction and cAMP signaling. Walnuts, almonds, and Torreya grandis were selected for in vivo testing in scopolamine‐induced memory‐impaired mice. In the Morris Water Maze, the walnut group showed the greatest improvement with a reduced escape latency (10.02 ± 3.69 s) and total distance (396.02 ± 125.29 mm). Biochemical analysis revealed increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (p < 0.01) and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin 6 (IL‐6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) levels (p < 0.05). Histological assays confirmed upregulation of postsynaptic density protein‐95 (PSD‐95) and brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression. These findings suggest that nuts, particularly walnuts, can mitigate cognitive decline through antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and neuroprotective mechanisms. This study highlights the memory‐enhancing effects of walnuts, almonds, and Torreya, with walnuts showing the strongest potential to improve cognitive function and delay brain aging.