Juan Zhang

To cope with the complex and ever-changing business environment, improving supply chain efficiency is an important issue that needs to be studied now. The development of digital technologies provides a new avenue for enhancing supply chain efficiency. Based on the theory of information asymmetry and the TOE framework, this paper uses panel data of 9 Chinese A-share listed fishing companies from 2015 to 2021 to construct a fixed-effects model and explore digital transformation’s impact on supply chain efficiency. The results indicate that digital transformation significantly improves supply chain efficiency, and this conclusion remains robust after a series of robustness tests. On this basis, the paper further verifies the positive impact of digital transformation on supply chain efficiency using the fsQCA method based on the TOE framework and provides pathways for improvement. The findings of this study provide a theoretical basis for promoting the digital transformation of Chinese fishery companies and improving supply chain efficiency. Based on research on China’s fisheries, this study further explores the implications of digital transformation for the efficiency of foreign fisheries supply chains. Digital transformation is a critical pathway to enhancing the efficiency of global fisheries supply chains. Foreign fisheries can draw on the digital research of China’s fisheries supply chains, integrating their characteristics to promote the intelligent upgrading of their supply chains.

Early diagnosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is essential to prevent disease from spreading and progression. Herein, a novel electrochemical biosensor was developed for ultrasensitive detection of HCV core antigen (HCVcAg) based on terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) amplification and DNA nanowires (DNW). After sandwich-type antibody-antigen recognition, the antibody-conjugated DNA was pulled to the electrode surface and further extended into a long DNA sequence by robust TdT reaction. Then, large numbers of methylene blue–loaded DNW (MB@DNW) as signal labels are linked to the extended DNA sequence. This results in an amplified electrochemical signal for HCVcAg determination, typically measured at around −0.25 V (Ag/AgCl). Under the optimum conditions, the proposed biosensor achieved a wide linear range for HCVcAg from 0.1 to 312.5 pg/mL with a low limit of detection of 32 fg/mL. The good practicality of the biosensor was demonstrated by recovery experiment (recoveries from 98 to 104% with RSD of 2.5–4.4%) and comparison with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Given the highlighted performance, the biosensor is expected to act as a reliable sensing tool for HCVcAg determination in clinics. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of the ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor based on terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) amplification linked with methylene blue–loaded DNA nanowires (MB@DNW), which can be applied to the determination of hepatitis C virus core antigen (HCVcAg) in clinical samples. dTTPs, 2′-deoxythymidine 5′-triphosphate.

Membrane-bound enzymes (MBEs), which make up a very high proportion of intracellular enzymes, catalyze a variety of activities that are currently analyzed by various techniques after purification. However, due to their amphipathic character, the purification of MBEs is difficult. Therefore, the most productive approach represents in situ analysis of MBEs in the cellular membrane.

Internal quality control (IQC) is a critical component of laboratory quality management, and IQC products can determine the reliability of testing results. In China, given the fact that most blood transfusion compatibility laboratories do not employ IQC products or do so minimally, there is a lack of uniform and standardized IQC methods. To explore the reliability of IQC products and methods, we studied 697 results from IQC samples in our laboratory from 2012 to 2014. The results showed that the sensitivity and specificity of the IQCs in anti-B testing were 100% and 99.7%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the IQCs in forward blood typing, anti-A testing, irregular antibody screening, and cross-matching were all 100%. The reliability analysis indicated that 97% of anti-B testing results were at a 99% confidence level, and 99.9% of forward blood typing, anti-A testing, irregular antibody screening, and cross-matching results were at a 99% confidence level. Therefore, our IQC products and methods are highly sensitive, specific, and reliable. Our study paves the way for the establishment of a uniform and standardized IQC method for pre-transfusion compatibility testing in China and other parts of the world.

Here we developed a saccharic colorimetric method based on the combination of chemoselective ligation and enzyme-specific catalysis using aminooxy/hydrazine-functionalized gold nanoparticles (AO/AuNPs or H/AuNPs). In the detection of galactose (Gal), galactohexodialdose (GHDA), the galactose oxidase (GalOx)-catalyzed product, has an aldehyde group, which allows it to chemoselectively react with an aminooxy or hydrazine group at the outer layer of AO/AuNPs or H/AuNPs by oxime/hydrazone click chemistry to form oxime or hydrozone. Consequently, through the specific recognition of 1,4-phenylenediboronic acid (PDBA) on cis-diols, GHDA, which contains two pairs of hydroxyls in the cis form, can bind not only with AO/AuNPs or H/AuNPs, but also with PDBA to form boronate diester, thereby triggering the aggregation of AuNPs and causing the corresponding color change. As GalOx catalyzed specific substrates, the amount of Gal correlated with the production of GHDA and the extent of AuNPs aggregation, thus allowing a simple and easily operatable colorimetric method for Gal detection to be developed. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the ratios of absorbance at a wavelength of 617 nm to that at 536 nm vary linearly with the logarithmic values of Gal concentrations within a wide range of 500 nM to 5 mM. Moreover, this colorimetric method shows anti-interference capability and high sensitivity with a detection limit of 21 nM. Thus, a universal platform for accurate and specific colorimetric analysis can be established through the integration of chemoselective ligation with enzyme specific catalysis.

Soluble dietary fiber (SDF) was prepared from Canna edulis Ker by-product by physical-enzymatic method and its structure was characterized using GC, FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, and solid ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. The results exhibit that SDF is mainly composed of polysaccharides with minor phenolic compounds. Moreover, influences of SDF on protease hydrolysis of β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) and lipase hydrolysis of tributyrin (TBG) were determined. The results indicate that SDF promotes N release of β-lg by pepsin, despite it inhibiting the enzymatic activity of pepsin. Inversely, tryptic hydrolysis of β-lg is inhibited by the addition of SDF, which has no obvious effect on tryptic activity. SDF also inhibits lipase hydrolysis of TBG and the inhibition rate increases with increasing SDF concentration. Furthermore, antioxidant activities of SDF were evaluated by six different modes, and the relationship between concentration and activity was discussed. The results indicated different activities determined by different methods, suggesting that antioxidant mechanisms of SDF are complicated.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic potential of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family inhibitor, herstatin, in an animal model of arthritis.Methods: Constructs of herstatin and modified tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)–herstatin were expressed in HEK 293T cells, and secreted protein was analyzed by Western blotting. Tissue PA–herstatin adenovirus (Ad‐tPA‐Her) was prepared, and titers established. Gene expression of Ad‐tPA‐Her was determined by polymerase chain reaction using HeLa cells. Pharmacokinetics of gene and protein expression in vivo in liver tissue and serum samples were confirmed via intravenous administration of Ad‐tPA‐Her. Clinical signs of disease were monitored in arthritic DBA/1 mice after therapeutic administration of Ad‐tPA‐Her, and histologic analysis of hind foot specimens was performed.Results: Native herstatin was not secreted in supernatants, while modified tPA‐herstatin was detected in abundance. HeLa cells stably expressed the tPA‐herstatin gene when infected with virus. Additionally, tPA‐herstatin gene and protein expression was observed over time in mice treated with virus. Importantly, Ad‐tPA‐Her, when administered therapeutically to arthritic mice, controlled clinical and histologic signs of disease and reduced the number of joints with severe damage.Conclusion: Our results support the notion that the human epidermal growth factor receptor family has a role in the progression of collagen‐induced arthritis. The novel tPA‐herstatin fusion protein could be used as an effective therapeutic tool for control of inflammatory disorders involving an angiogenic component.

The competition between bacteria and innate immune system of invertebrate animals is described by means of ODEs. Two different systems are considered corresponding to the absence or the presence of Quorum Sensing (Q.S.) mechanism. Qualitative properties of the solutions of both systems as well as the stability of their meaningful equilibria are analyzed. By constructing suitable Lyapunov functions, global asymptotic stability results have been proved when the quorum sensing is absent. In order to better illustrate the dynamics of competition, some numerical simulations, obtained by means of MATHEMATICA (Wolfram Research, 1989) are presented.