Wiley最新文献

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of burdock fructooligosaccharide (BFO) treatment on postharvest blueberries, specifically focusing on the influence of membrane lipid metabolism on overall quality. Our findings revealed that BFO treatment effectively suppressed decay index and preserved firmness in blueberry fruit. At the same time, BFO treatment effectively mitigated the production of H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde (MDA), while reinforcing the activities of antioxidant enzymes and enhancing the expression level. Moreover, BFO treatment preserved high amounts of unsaturated fatty acids while suppressing the gene expression and enzyme activity of phospholipase D (PLD), lipase, and lipoxygenase (LOX). In summary, the application of BFO effectively retards the metabolism of membrane lipids and preserves the integrity of cell membranes, thereby delaying blueberry senescence.

Opioid Detection

Fentanyl and related opioids pose a serious threat to public health and safety. In article number 2407702, Matthew J. Webber, Yichun Wang, and co-workers created an effective sensor system by coupling drug-induced displacement of a fluorescent dye from a supramolecular macrocycle with dye quenching by graphene quantum dot nanomaterials. This sensor can broadly detect fentanyl analogues, even in trace amounts alongside other compounds.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are emerging as versatile, nonviral vectors for gene delivery, offering significant potential in therapeutic applications. Their structure comprises positively charged metal hydroxide layers intercalated with anions, enabling efficient encapsulation of genetic materials like plasmids, small interfering RNA (siRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA). The anionic exchange capacity of LDHs allows for the controlled release of nucleic acids, positioning them as promising tools for precision gene therapy. LDHs with tunable composition enable the optimization of particle size, charge density, and degradation rates to meet specific therapeutic requirements. At the cellular level, LDHs are taken up via endocytosis, followed by intracellular trafficking, and pH-triggered release of genetic material. This process protects nucleic acids from enzymatic degradation and ensures efficient delivery to the cytoplasm or nucleus. They have successfully encapsulated siRNA for effective gene silencing in vitro and in vivo, downregulating disease-associated genes in conditions like cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and chronic viral infections. With their structural versatility, biocompatibility, and efficient nucleic acid delivery, LDHs are poised to revolutionize gene therapy and personalized medicine, providing a safer alternative to viral vectors. This review highlights LDHs as innovative carriers for gene delivery, emphasizing their structure, biocompatibility, and versatility in targeted therapy.

Forest tree species are expected to experience a substantial redistribution due to climate change. While previous work has emphasized the effects of a warmer and drier climate on European tree-species distributions, to date no study has investigated the potential impact of a collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Here, we deploy climate-envelope models to quantile mapped, high-resolution (1km²) CMIP6 climate projections and compare tree-species distributions under an active AMOC vs. an inactive AMOC scenario. Across Europe, our tree-species projections indicate contrasting impacts of the two scenarios. In Scandinavia, many of the currently abundant tree species were projected a dramatic decline and partial disappearance due to the strong cooling under an inactive AMOC. In Central and Southern Europe, however, some of the currently abundant species suffered less under an inactive AMOC compared to an active AMOC scenario while others—such as the economically important species of Norway spruce—almost went extinct. As opposed to the classic climate-change scenario supporting Mediterranean species in Central Europe, projected European tree-species portfolios consisted of a higher share of boreal, cold-tolerant species in the inactive AMOC scenario. Finally, tree-species diversity was projected to decline even stronger under an inactive vs. an active AMOC scenario. Altogether, while an AMOC collapse may locally result in more favorable conditions for specific species in comparison to a classic climate-change scenario, the dramatic economic and ecological consequences suggested by our projections indicate the urgent need for climate-change mitigation to lower the likelihood of an AMOC collapse.

Controlling tumour growth systems presents significant challenges due to the inherent restriction of positive input in biological systems, along with delays in system output and input measurements. Traditional control methods struggle to address these issues effectively, as they rely heavily on real-time feedback from system outputs. The delays in output measurements can lead to instability in closed-loop systems, whereas the inability of conventional approaches to manage the positive input constraint often results in ineffective control. In this study, the authors propose a novel control system designed to overcome these challenges. First, a system state prediction observer that utilises delayed output measurements was developed. Next, a backstepping technique was utilized to develop a feedback controller that ensures the control input stays positive, thereby guaranteeing the system's asymptotic stability. Furthermore, numerical comparisons with previous research validate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. Overall, the approach offers a promising solution to the issues of delays and positive input constraints in tumour growth control systems.