With the increased environmental concerns and health awareness among consumers, there has been a notable interest in plant-based dairy alternatives. The plant-based yogurt market has experienced rapid expansion in recent years. Due to challenges related to cultivation, higher cost of production and lower protein content researchers have explored the viability of pulse-based yogurt which has arisen as an economically and nutritionally abundant solution. This review aims to examine the feasibility of utilizing pulse protein for yogurt production. The nutritional, antinutritional, and functional characteristics of various pulses were discussed in detail, alongside the modifications in these properties during the various stages of yogurt manufacturing. The review also sheds light on pivotal findings from existing literature and outlines challenges associated with the production of pulse-based yogurt. Pulses have emerged as promising base materials for yogurt manufacturing due to their favorable nutritional and functional characteristics. Further, the fermentation process can effectively reduce antinutritional components and enhance digestibility. Nonetheless, variations in sensorial and rheological properties were noted when different types of pulses were employed. This issue can be addressed by employing suitable combinations to achieve the desired properties in pulse-based yogurt.

Because of the decreasing supply of new antibiotics, recent outbreaks of infectious diseases, and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, it is imperative to develop new effective strategies for deactivating a broad spectrum of microorganisms and viruses. We have implemented electrically polarized nanoscale metallic (ENM) coatings that deactivate a wide range of microorganisms including Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria with greater than 6-log reduction in less than 10 minutes of treatment. The electrically polarized devices were also effective in deactivating lentivirus and Candida albicans . The key to the high deactivation effectiveness of ENM devices is electrochemical production of micromolar cuprous ions, which mediated reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. Formation of highly damaging species, hydroxyl radicals and hypochlorous acid, from hydrogen peroxide contributed to antimicrobial properties of the ENM devices. The electric polarization of nanoscale coatings represents an unconventional tool for deactivating a broad spectrum of microorganisms through in situ production of reactive oxygenated and chlorinated species.

In this research, the effect of grey mold inoculation and subsequent postharvest treatment with limonene‐liposomes and oxygen absorbers is observed on the storage characteristics of strawberries. The survival analysis of the end of sensory shelf‐life indicated that inoculated strawberries were 9.96 times more likely to be rejected compared to uninoculated strawberries. The inoculation also resulted in lower firmness, higher rate of weight loss, higher CO2 respiration rates, and higher total polyphenol contents. Among the inoculated strawberries, limonene‐liposome treated strawberries had a longer average shelf‐life by 1.5 days compared to control inoculated strawberries. Similarly, oxygen absorber treated strawberries had lower respiration rates and lower rate of weight loss. The sequential addition of variables in the multiple linear models fitting days till rejection (DTR) show that up to 52% of the variation in DTR can be explained from days of storage, state of inoculation, firmness, respiration rate and total anthocyanin content. The models built from storage characteristics other than state of inoculation can explain up to 26% of variation in DTR. The partial least square regression (PLSR) models for the prediction of DTR built from two different types of spectral data, UV‐VIS and NIR, yielded evaluation R2 up to 0.778 and 0.765 respectively.

Materials and composites with the ability to convert light into electricity are essential for a variety of applications, including solar cells. The development of materials and processes needed to boost the conversion efficiency of solar cell materials will play a key role in providing pathways for dependable light to electric energy conversion. Here, we show a simple, single-step technique to synthesize photoactive nanocomposites by coupling carbon nanotubes with semiconducting quantum dots using a molecular linker. We also discuss and demonstrate the potential application of nanocomposite for the fabrication of bulk heterojunction solar cells. Cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots (QDs) were attached to multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) using perylene-3, 4, 9, 10-tetracarboxylic-3, 4, 9, 10-dianhydride (PTCDA) as a molecular linker through a one-step synthetic route. Our investigations revealed that PTCDA tremendously boosts the density of QDs on MWCNT surfaces and leads to several interesting optical and electrical properties. Furthermore, the QD–PTCDA–MWCNTs nanocomposites displayed a semiconducting behavior, in sharp contrast to the metallic behavior of the MWCNTs. These studies indicate that, PTCDA interfaced between QDs and MWCNTs, acted as a molecular bridge which may facilitate the charge transfer between QDs and MWCNTs. We believe that the investigations presented here are important to discover simple synthetic routes for obtaining photoactive nanocomposites with several potential applications in the field of opto-electronics as well as energy conversion devices.

Scanning probe microscopy such as atomic force microscopy has become increasingly integrated and relevant in undergraduate laboratory investigations. As the "hands and eyes of the nanoworld", atomic force microscopes (AFMs) continue to be used to innovate the nanowriting process for data storage and in the exploration of novel materials suitable for ultrafast, nonvolatile, high density memory storage. Optical storage discs (OSDs) coevolved with AFM technology, are relatively inexpensive, and are easily available for purchase. They can, consequently, serve as a relevant phenomenon for undergraduate students to explore nanoscale material structure and macroscopic function through an AFM. The guided inquiry investigation presented here introduces students to the design and basic functions of an AFM through their identification of three unknown OSD samples (CD, DVD, or Blu-ray). The surface of each OSD is explored through students' collection and interpretation of topographic and force curve data using an AFM to identify differences in the structure of the grooves containing pits and lands, estimation of theoretical storage capacity, and finally distinguish OSD types by comparing their data and calculations to known structures and capacities.

Simultaneous writing and erasing of two and three molecules in one single step at the microscale using Polymeric Lithography Editor (PLE) probes is demonstrated. Simultaneous writing and erasing of three molecules was accomplished by rastering a nanoporous probe that was loaded with rhodamine B and fluorescein over a quinine-coated glass substrate. The solvated quinine molecules were erased and transported into the probe matrix, whereas both rhodamine and fluorescein molecules were simultaneously deposited and aligned with the path of the erased quinine on the substrate. The simultaneous writing and erasing of molecules is referred to as PLiSED. The writing and erasing speed can be easily tuned by adjusting the probe speed to as large as 10,000 μm2/s. The microscale patterns on the orders of square millimeter area were fabricated by erasing fluorescein with an efficiency (ηe) > 95% while simultaneously depositing rhodamine molecules at the erased spots. The roles of the probe porosity, transport medium, and kinetics of solvation for editing were also investigated─the presence of a transport medium at the probe-substrate interface is required for the transport of the molecules into and out of the probe. The physical and mechanical properties of the polymeric probes influenced molecular editing. Young's modulus values of the hydrated hydrogels composed of varying monomer/cross-linker ratios were estimated using atomic force microscopy. Probes with the highest observed erasing capacity were used for further experiments to investigate the effects of relative humidity and erasing time on editing. Careful control over experimental conditions provided high-quality editing of microscale patterns at high editing speed. Combining erasing and deposition of multiple molecules in one single step offers a unique opportunity to significantly improve the efficiency and the accuracy of lithographic editing at the microscale. PLiSED enables rapid on-site lithographic rectification and has considerable application values in high-quality lithography and solid surface modification.

BACKGROUND:The potassium channel encoded by the ether-a-gogo-related gene 1A (erg1a) has been detected in the atrophying skeletal muscle of mice experiencing either muscle disuse or cancer cachexia and further evidenced to contribute to muscle deterioration by enhancing ubiquitin proteolysis; however, to our knowledge, ERG1A has not been reported in human skeletal muscle.METHODS AND RESULTS:Here, using immunohistochemistry, we detect ERG1A immunofluorescence in human Rectus abdominis skeletal muscle sarcolemma. Further, using single point brightness data, we report the detection of ERG1A immunofluorescence at low levels in the Rectus abdominis muscle sarcolemma of young adult humans and show that it trends toward greater levels (10.6%) in healthy aged adults. Interestingly, we detect ERG1A immunofluorescence at a statistically greater level (53.6%; p < 0.05) in the skeletal muscle of older cancer patients than in age-matched healthy adults. Importantly, using immunoblot, we reveal that lower mass ERG1A protein is 61.5% (p < 0.05) more abundant in the skeletal muscle of cachectic older adults than in healthy age-matched controls. Additionally, we report that the ERG1A protein is detected in a cultured human rhabdomyosarcoma line that may be a good in vitro model for the study of ERG1A in muscle.CONCLUSIONS:The data demonstrate that ERG1A is detected more abundantly in the atrophied skeletal muscle of cancer patients, suggesting it may be related to muscle loss in humans as it has been shown to be in mice experiencing muscle atrophy as a result of malignant tumors.

Deposition of molecules on flat surfaces with sub-100 nm features of a plethora of combinations of inks and substrates, using flexible and hard probes on flat surfaces is extensively demonstrated in literature. However, the studies on the deposition and removal of fluorescent molecules and metal patterning on curvilinear twodimensional substrates are scarce. In this study, conical and pyramidal probes composed of polydimethylsiloxane and polyacrylamide were used to deposit and remove thin coatings on planar and curvilinear surfaces. Fabrication of micro-photodetector devices on curved surfaces is demonstrated by fabricating microscale inter-digitated electrodes using probe-based patterning. A comprehensive characterization utilizing optical, electron and atomic force microscopy, and x-ray spectroscopic measurements of the probes and patterned substrates is presented. Differences in pattern capacity, speed, and quality of patterns based on nano-porous and non-porous probes is discussed. The inherent porosity and flexibility of polyacrylamide hydrogels allowed storage of large amounts of etchants facilitating microscale patterning of fluorescent inks and silver films on planar and curvilinear surfaces. A single polyacrylamide probe containing 0.9-1.2 nmol of rhodamine 6G stored within the polymeric matrix, allowed microscale patterning of an area of approximately 2.1 mm2 at an areal speed of similar to 1800 mu m(2)/s. The modulation of size of the patterns was accomplished by changing the tip-substrate contact area. The experimental results showed a linear correlation between the displacement of the probe in the z-axis and the patterned area which agreed well with a physical model presented here. Importantly, the quality of micro-patterns was found to depend upon probe-substrate interfacial surface energy - high-quality patterns were obtained on low surface energy substrates. Finally, we demonstrated the fabrication of microphotodetectors on two-dimensional curvilinear surfaces that posssessed a radius of curvature (k) approximate to 0.14 mm 1 by selectively removing silver from the surfaces followed by deposition of organic electron donor-acceptor pairs. In general, polymer lithography editor allows fabrication of devices on both planar and non-planar surfaces PLE is an alternative tool to conventional microfabrication techniques.

Blackberries are an important seasonal fruit crop. However, their supply and market growth are negatively impacted by a short shelf-life. To address this problem, the shelf-life and quality characteristics of blackberries coated with edible alginate and limonene-liposomes were investigated. The weight loss, respiration rates (O2/CO2), physicochemical properties, and microbial loads of blackberries treated with edible coatings and stored under refrigeration (4 °C) were determined. The rate of weight loss in alginate-coated fruits was significantly lower (0.44 ± 0.02 g/day/100 g) compared to limonene-encapsulated liposome coated blackberries (0.50 ± 0.02 g/day/100 g) as well as uncoated blackberries (0.54 ± 0.02 g /day/100 g) after the first 10 days of storage. The alginate-coated fruits also had a lower rate of CO2 release (0.47 ± 0.03 mmol/h/100 g) compared to the uncoated blackberries (0.80 ± 0.27 mmol/h/100 g). Both alginate and limonene-liposome coated blackberries had a lower average respiratory quotient (RQ) compared to non-coated blackberries. The quality indices of total soluble solids, pH, total polyphenol content, and total anthocyanin content did not exhibit significant deviation from non-coated blackberries. The yeast and mold count on limonene-liposome coated blackberries was significantly lower than the control after 1, 7, and 12 days of storage. The results suggest that the alginate coating was more effective than the control in lowering respiration rates and weight loss. Similarly, the limonene-liposome coating was effective at lowering microbial growth on the berries.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel biofungicide encapsulated in nanoscale liposome particles (referred as nanobiofungicide) and its antifungal activity against Fusarium spp. are described. The nanobiofungicide was synthesized by encapsulating ethanol crude extract from plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) into nanoscale polymerized liposomes, and the nanobiofungicides were characterized through UV-vis spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM and UV-vis measurements confirmed encapsulation of biofungicides in nanoliposomes. Whereas nanoliposomes and PGPB crude extract were found to be ineffective against three fungi investigated in studies, in vitro growth inhibition assays revealed that the nanobiofungicide can inhibit 66 +/- 3% mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum fsp. cubense Tropical Race 1 (Foc TR1). It also effectively inhibited 44 +/- 4% of Fusarium oxysporum fsp. cucumerinum (Focu). Inhibitory effects of nanobiofungicide were modest (19 +/- 2%) against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (Fol) mycelial growth. On the basis of preliminary results, the nanobiofungicide showed an effective inhibitory effect against Foc TR1 and Focu. The optimization of nanobiofungicide is potentially a viable alternative biocontrol option for controlling Fusarium spp. Possible modes of an inhibition mechanism of nanobiofungicides against fungi are also discussed.

IntroductionA heteromultimer of the ERG1a/1b potassium channel is known to contribute to repolarization of the cardiac action potential. A homomultimer of the ERG1a subunit has been detected in the atrophying skeletal muscle of mice experiencing muscle disuse and cancer cachexia and has been shown to contribute to muscle atrophy by enhancing ubiquitin proteolysis; however, to our knowledge, ERG1 has not been reported in human skeletal muscle.Methods and ResultsHere, using immunohistochemistry we detect ERG1 immunofluorescence at low levels in Rectus abdominis muscle of young adult humans and show that it trends toward greater levels (10.6%) in the same muscle of healthy aged adults. Further, we detect ERG1 immunofluorescence at a statistically greater level (53.6%; p<0.05) in the Rectus abdominis muscle of older people having cancer cachexia than in age‐matched adults. Additionally, we observe ERG1 immunofluorescence in skeletal muscle sarcolemma and detect that its fluorescent pattern is consistent with I‐band localization.DiscussionThe data suggest that ERG1 may be related to muscle loss in humans and may be located in t‐tubules where it could influence calcium handling.Support or Funding InformationThis work was supported in part by Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (Research Seed Grant to ALP). The work was also supported in part by the Italian Society for Cancer Research (AIRC grant number 17388 to M Sandri) and by Austrian national co‐financing of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research; Ludwig Boltzmann Society (Vienna, Austria) to H Kern. PK would like to acknowledge National Science Foundation (CHE 0748676), NIH (GM 106364) for partial financial support of this research. The authors wish to thank Dr. Don Caspary who graciously provided FBN rat muscles. Human Pectoralis minor muscle samples were provided by the SIU School of Medicine Tissue Bank, a Simmons Cancer Institute funded program. Other investigators may have received samples from these same tissue specimens. UC thanks the IRCCS Fondazione Ospedale San Camillo, Venezia, Italy and the A&C M‐C Foundation for Translational Research for scientific support.

Background: The ERG1a potassium channel has been detected in the atrophying skeletal muscle of mice experiencing either muscle disuse or cancer cachexia and further evidenced to contribute to muscle deterioration by enhancing ubiquitin proteolysis; however, to our knowledge, ERG1 has not been reported in human skeletal muscle. Methods and Results: Here, using immunohistochemistry, we detect ERG1 immunofluorescence in human Rectus abdominis skeletal muscle sarcolemma. Further, using single point brightness data, we report detection of ERG1 immunofluorescence at low levels in the Rectus abdominis muscle sarcolemma of young adult humans and show that it trends toward greater levels (10.6%) in healthy aged adults. Interestingly, we detect ERG1 immunofluorescence at a statistically greater level (53.6%; p<0.05) in the skeletal muscle of older people having cancer cachexia than in age-matched adults. Importantly, using immunoblot, we reveal that ERG1 protein is 38% (p<0.09) more abundant in the skeletal muscle of cachectic older adults than in healthy age-matched controls. Additionally, we report that the ERG1 fluorescent pattern is consistent with I-band localization. Conclusions: The data suggest that ERG1 may be related to muscle loss in humans and is located in t-tubules where it could influence calcium handling.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a secreted cytokine that is an important mediator of the immune response in numerous tissues, including skeletal muscle. IL-6 is considered a myokine as it can be secreted by muscle. IL-6 is secreted following exercise, where it exerts both pro-myogenic effects as well as anti-myogenic effects such as promoting atrophy and muscle wasting. The regulation of IL-6 in skeletal muscle is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to determine if IFN-γ and TNF-ɑ stimulate IL-6 in skeletal muscle. We found that both IFN-γ and TNF-α stimulate IL-6 in skeletal muscle, but the stimulation is not cooperative as seen in monocytes. We have previously shown that the IFN-γ stimulated class II major histocompatibility complex transactivator (CIITA) mediates many of the effects of IFN-γ in skeletal muscle and we show here that CIITA directly stimulates IL-6. The regulation of IL-6 by CIITA is clearly complex, as we found that CIITA both stimulates and restrains IL-6 expression. To show that these effects could be observed in a physiological setting, mice were treated with IFN-γ and we found that both CIITA and IL-6 were upregulated in skeletal muscle.

From pathogen intrusion to immune response, the cell membrane plays an important role in signal transduction. Such signals are important for cellular proliferation and survival. However, measurement of these subtle signals through the lipid membrane scaffold is challenging. We present a chromatic model membrane vesicle system engineered to covalently bind with lysine residues of protein molecules for investigation of cellular interactions and signaling. We discovered that different protein molecules induced differential spectroscopic signals, which is based on the chemical and physical properties of protein interacting at the vesicle surface. The observed chromatic response (CR) for bound protein molecules with higher molecular weight was much larger (similar to 5-15x) than those for low molecular weight proteins. Through mass spectrometry (MS), we found that only 6 out of 60 (10%) lysine groups present in bovine serum albumin (BSA) were accessible to the membrane of the vesicles. Finally, a "sphere-shell" model representing the protein-vesicle complex was used for evaluating the contribution of van der Waals interactions between proteins and vesicles. Our analysis points to contributions from van der Waals, hydrophobic, and electrostatic interactions toward observed CR signals resulting from molecular interactions at the vesicle membrane surface. Overall, this study provided a convenient, chromatic, semiquantitative method of detecting biomolecules and their interactions with model membranes at sub-nanomolar concentration.

Electrochemical erasing of conductive coatings at microscale for the fabrication of functional devices on flexible and hard surfaces is demonstrated. The nanoporous pyramidal-shaped nano- and microscale polyacrylamide hydrogel PLE probes allowed delivery of electrochemical etchants to the surface, providing on-demand maskless patterning at microscale. Highly efficient erasing (silver and copper metals erasing efficiency ≈ 100%), areal erasing rate ≈ 80 μm2/s, and pressure dependent spatial erasing feature dimensions between 3 μm to many tens of microns on metal surfaces allowed for the fabrication of microelectrodes of various geometries. Overall, PLE-based microscale erasing allowed for rapid and accessible fabrication of organic electron–hole carrier pair-based microphotodetector, as well as the assembly of LED on flexible and rigid ITO substrates.

Strawberries are highly demanded fruits because of their color, nutritional values and appearance. The aim of this study was to develop and characterize alginate and limonene liposomes as edible coating materials and to determine their efficacy in shelf life extension and maintaining quality parameters of 'Chandler' strawberries. Alginate solution (1.5% w/v) and Limonene liposomes prepared from 80% lecithin and 20% PDA were used as edible coating materials. Fungal decay percentage, total yeast and mold counts, headspace atmosphere analysis, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, total anthocyanin content and total phenolics were analyzed to assess fruit quality during 14 days at 4 degrees C of storage. Days of storage was found to be significant in maintaining the quality of the strawberries. Among the coating types, limonene liposomes were found to be significantly more effective in maintaining the lower concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2), lower the change in pH (3.9), and had higher total anthocyanin (43.85) content during storage than those without a liposomal coating. Thus, limonene liposomes were found to be useful for extending the shelf life and maintaining quality of strawberry fruits.

Capabilities for controlled formation of sophisticated 3D micro/nanostructures in advanced materials have foundational implications across a broad range of fields. Recently developed methods use stress release in prestrained elastomeric substrates as a driving force for assembling 3D structures and functional microdevices from 2D precursors. A limitation of this approach is that releasing these structures from their substrate returns them to their original 2D layouts due to the elastic recovery of the constituent materials. Here, a concept in which shape memory polymers serve as a means to achieve freestanding 3D architectures from the same basic approach is introduced, with demonstrated ability to realize lateral dimensions, characteristic feature sizes, and thicknesses as small as ≈500, 10, and 5 µm simultaneously, and the potential to scale to much larger or smaller dimensions. Wireless electronic devices illustrate the capacity to integrate other materials and functional components into these 3D frameworks. Quantitative mechanics modeling and experimental measurements illustrate not only shape fixation but also capabilities that allow for structure recovery and shape programmability, as a form of 4D structural control. These ideas provide opportunities in fields ranging from micro-electromechanical systems and microrobotics, to smart intravascular stents, tissue scaffolds, and many others.

The rich composition of solutes and metabolites in sweat and its relative ease of collection upon excretion from skin pores make this class of biofluid an attractive candidate for point of care analysis. Wearable technologies that combine electrochemical sensors with conventional or emerging semiconductor device technologies offer valuable capabilities in sweat sensing, but they are limited to assays that support amperometric, potentiometric, and colorimetric analyses. Here, we present a complementary approach that exploits fluorometric sensing modalities integrated into a soft, skin-interfaced microfluidic system which, when paired with a simple smartphone-based imaging module, allows for in situ measurement of important biomarkers in sweat. A network array of microchannels and a collection of microreservoirs pre-filled with fluorescent probes that selectively react with target analytes in sweat (e.g. probes), enable quantitative, rapid analysis. Field studies on human subjects demonstrate the ability to measure the concentrations of chloride, sodium and zinc in sweat, with accuracy that matches that of conventional laboratory techniques. The results highlight the versatility of advanced fluorescent-based imaging modalities in body-worn sweat microfluidics platforms, and they suggest some practical potential for these ideas.

The combustion of conventional energy sources such as fossil fuels is linked to global climate change. The extraction, transportation, and supply of fuels based on fossil are also associated to local and regional geo-political and economic instability, and concerns over socio-economic sustainability in various parts of the world. Therefore, there is a strong push to enhance use of renewable energy without impacting economic growth. Further, it is becoming increasingly more important to utilize and incorporate renewable energy to meet ever increase world power consumption. The use of photovoltaics as a renewable solar energy has gained greater attention since 1990s. According to International Energy Agency (IEA), solar photovoltaics are expected to become the world largest producer of energy by contributing >15% to the global demand by 2050. Although more extensive reviews are available in the literature, in this mini-review we discuss various available alternative energy sources, and provide history, development, and characterization of photovoltaic devices (including first-, second- and third-generation photovoltaic devices with different chalcogenide materials). Emphasis is given to recent developments in the area of photovoltaic devices including Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and perovskite-based photovoltaics. The wide applications of photovoltaics in residential (>200 GW), construction (BIPV module), and space industry have also been reviewed in this article.