Abstract Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is recognized for its beneficial role in postharvest fruit and vegetable preservation. Postharvest goji berries are easy to mildew and rot which reduce the nutritional value, flavor, and shelf life. Hydrogen sulfide treatment could improve the quality attributes of postharvest goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.); however, it is not clear that the effects of H2S at the transcriptional level in postharvest goji berries. Our data revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of fresh goji fruits after H2S treatment were different with different storage time. There were 523 DEGs in the three comparison groups after H2S treatment on the 2nd, 4th and 6th day of storage. In the pathway of KEGG metabolic function, most of the DEGs were conserved in carbohydrate metabolism, secondary metabolites biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, energy metabolism, the metabolic pathways of terpenoids and polyketones. The genes in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, starch, and sucrose metabolism pathway were selected and validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Our results provide insights into the effect of H2S on postharvest goji berries at the transcriptional level and provide the basis for application of H2S as gas regulator for preservation of goji berry.

Abstract Measuring red blood cell survival (RBCS) by a carbon monoxide breath test can help diagnose and analyze disease type and progression of anemia. In this study, we reported the application of RBCS in the differential diagnosis of thalassemia and iron deficiency anemia (IDA). A total of 233 patients were selected in this study, including 48 IDA, 60 thalassemia, and 125 healthy individual controls. The endogenous alveolar CO of each subject was measured by RBCS-01 red blood cell lifespanmeter to obtain the RBCS values. The mean RBCS for mild β-thalassemia, severe β-thalassemia, α-thalassemia, IDA and the control were 67.5±22.0, 31.3±13.9, 69.3±27.7, 78.2±28.2 and 114.3±33.8 days, respectively (P<0.05). RBCS values for thalassemia and IDA patients showed obvious shorter lifespan compared to healthy controls. The cutoff points for thalassemia, IDA and control were <72.5 and <83.5, respectively. RBCS showed a strong positive correlation to red blood cells (RBC) and hemoglobin (HGB) in thalassemia patients. In IDA patients, RBCS demonstrated a moderate positive correlation with HGB, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and red cell distribution width (RDW). There were significant differences between RBCS in different types of thalassemia. RBCS by endogenous alveolar CO testing is a rapid and reliable method for the differential diagnosis of thalassemia and IDA.

Abstract To investigate the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on the postharvest physiology and storage quality of Lycium barbarum, fruits were treated with different concentrations of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), which was used as NO donor. Results showed that SNP soaked at 0.6 mmol/L for 20 min could inhibit the changes during storage of L. barbarum. Particularly, the decay rate and weight loss rate were reduced, and the quality parameters of the fruit were increased. By comparing the above indicators, it was found that 0.6 mmol/L soaking for 20 min was more effective in preserving freshness than other concentrations. It was found that total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were increased, soluble solids and solid acid ratio contents were decreased, ascorbic acid, total phenols and flavonoids contents were increased, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2-), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were increased. The polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities were decreased, and it was concluded that NO treatment improved the freshness of L. barbarum fruit and NO could be used as a postharvest preservative for L. barbarum fruit.

We here report on a comparative study of the microstructure and magnetic properties of as-cast and SPCJA-ed Co-based wires for potential sensor applications. Experimental results indicate that both as-cast and SPCJA-ed wires exhibit typical amorphous feature. There also exists the enhanced local ordering degree of atomic arrangement and obvious transformation (maximum magnetic permeability and minimum saturation magnetization) of magnetic properties after SPCJA treatment, resulting from variation of magnetic moment exchange coupling and magnetic anisotropy by coactions of high-density pulsed magnetic field energy and thermal activation energy. Moreover, SPCJA treatment can drastically improve the GMI property of melt-extracted wires. GMI ratio [ΔZ/Z0]max of 166.07% and field response sensitivity ξmax of 413.76%/Oe by more than 2.25 times and 1.73 times of as-cast wire at 5MHz. Therefore, the SPCJA-ed wire exhibits the improved GMI and magnetic properties at 5MHz~10MHz in contrast to AC annealed wire, which is more suitable for GMI sensor applications working at low-applied-frequency and relatively low-working-magnetic field.