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High-moisture extrusion (HME) is an appealing strategy for the production of textured vegetable proteins (TVP) with meat-like structures. However, the processing parameters and formulation have a limited influence on the quality characteristics of the final HME-TVP. Therefore, we improved the component design of the cooling die, which is critical to protein texturisation, to yield the desired extruded products. In the present study, a multihole nozzle set was specifically designed to regulate protein texturisation in the cooling die. The fibrous structure, texture, and in vitro digestibility of the nozzle-produced HME-TVP were investigated at different cooling temperatures. The results showed that the integration of a multihole nozzle in the cooling die greatly improved protein texturisation. In contrast to the parabolic fiber distribution of conventionally extruded proteins, the resulting HME-TVP featured a meat-like structure with parallel and straight fibers. Furthermore, nozzle-produced HME-TVP at 40 °C exhibited excellent freeze-thaw stability and rehydration capacity. Significant structural changes in HME-TVP had little impact on protein digestibility unless the cooling die temperature was below 40 °C. These findings provide a valuable technical path to improve the quality of plant-based meat analogue products. [Display omitted] • The multihole nozzle sheet considerably promoted protein texturisation. • Nozzle-formed protein extrudates exhibited a fiber-rich, meat-like structure. • The cooling nozzle set yielded extrudates with improved processing characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO 2 fixation by autotrophic microbes has a significant effect on C cycle in agricultural filed. Organic fertilization is an eco-friendly strategy for environmental protection and agricultural sustainability via ameliorating soil microbial community. However, the information of the dose effect of organic fertilizer on soil CO 2 fixing microbes has been less documented. In this study, the cbbL gene, a key gene in the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle, was used to characterize the CO 2 -fixing microbes under the gradient rates of pig manure (PM) addition (0, 1400, 2800, 5600, 11,200, 22,400, and 44,800 kg ha−1) in a 5-year field experiment with a double-rice cropping system in the red soil region of China. The results showed that Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria accounted for ∼99.4 % of total cbbL -harboring bacteria in average. High PM doses (22,400 and 44,800 kg ha−1), rather than Low PM doses (11,200 kg ha−1 and less), would significantly change the cbbL -harboring bacterial community attributes. Specifically, high PM doses decreased the alpha-diversity of cbbL -harboring bacterial community and the relative abundances of some lineages belonging to Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, such as Bradyrhizobium Methylibium, and Variovorax , but increased the proportions of some stress-tolerant taxa (i.e. Hydrogenophaga and Methyloferula). Redundancy analysis (RDA) and partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) showed that pH, AP, and metals (Cu and Zn) negatively influenced the cbbL -harboring bacterial diversity and components through PM addition. Collectively, our study demonstrated that high PM addition would potentially threaten the soil cbbL -harboring microbes, and a rational application of manure-derived organic fertilizer should be addressed in agriculture for maintaining soil bio-diversity in future. [Display omitted] • PM dose influenced the cbbL-harboring community within 5 years. • High PM dose decreased the cbbL-harboring microbial diversity. • Soil pH, AP and metals negatively influenced the cbbL-harboring bacterial attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paddy methane (CH 4 ) production is biologically dominated by methanogenic archaea that metabolize a variety of organic and/or inorganic carbon sources. Though formate is easily dissimilated into H 2 /CO 2 , formate-metabolizing methanogenic archaea are distinct from CO 2 -utilizing methanogen taxa. The identity of formate-metabolizing methanogenic archaea in paddy soil remains elusive. In this investigation, molecular approaches based on stable isotope probing (SIP) technique were conducted to identify the formate-metabolizing methanogenic archaea in paddy soil. CH 4 emission monitor, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses consistently indicated that some methanogenic archaea metabolized 13 C-labeled formate in microcosm and accounted for a large portion of formate-metabolizing archaea in anoxic paddy soil. Phylogenetic identification further found that this guild was affiliated to Methanobacteriaceae . Taken together Methanobacteriaceae could be the dominant formate-metabolizing methanogenic archaea and play an important role in the CH 4 production in paddy soil. These findings would extend the extant knowledge on paddy methanogenic archaea and microbial-driven paddy CH 4 emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcalorimetry and BIOLOG are common tools in the study of soil microbial metabolism. When used combined, they may reveal further details about soil microbial metabolic diversity than individually. Through this study, we demonstrated the advantages of such a combinatorial methodology by comparing soil samples from two locations in China, each with (OM samples) and without (control) organic fertilization. We used BIOLOG and microcalorimetry to study soil microbes' ability to metabolize different C substrates. Microcalorimetric measurements helped us further reveal the differences in the microbial growth kinetics under different BIOLOG-identified C substrates. Results showed that soils differed in the preferred C substrates, as denoted by the thermodynamic parameters. Some C substrates stimulated the active microbial biomass, while some stimulated microbial growth rate. Most interestingly, certain C substrates (e.g., l-arginine for Shandong soil and glycogen for Henan soil) showed stimulating effects on both OM and control soils, which could be attributed to the pH value and P availability in soil. Hence, we believe microcalorimetry could be potentially used to explore the soil microbial metabolic diversity by combining BIOLOG measurement, especially in determining how microbes assimilate different nutrient sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the ever-increasing worldwide plantation of sweet leaf Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni), how to efficiently and effectively utilize the huge amounts of leaf residues that contain abundant nutrients after sweetener extraction becomes an eminent issue. One option is to return these residues into soil, as organic manure in the fresh or composted form, in order to both sustain soil fertility and avoid potential environmental pollution. In a field experiment, we studied if the Stevia leaf residue returning affected both plant and soil microbial growths as well as the possible change of soil microbial community composition. In doing so, four treatments were employed: (1) no chemical fertilization and no Stevia residue returning (no-fertilization control); (2) chemical N, P, and K fertilization (NPK); (3) fresh Stevia residue plus NPK (FS + NPK); and (4) composted Stevia residue plus NPK (CS + NPK). Responses of plant and soil microbial communities to Stevia residue input after 1-year fertilizations were investigated by multiple approaches, including soil enzyme assay, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Our results showed that compared to the sole NPK and no-fertilization control, returning Stevia residues to soil stimulated the enzyme activities of dehydrogenase, invertase, and urease, except neutral phosphomonoesterase; thereby, both the Stevia leaf biomass and sweet glycoside of rebaudioside A were increased. The soil microbial community abundance was increased by the returning of Stevia residues, and their composition was shifted, evidenced by an increase of relative abundance of some genotypic groups, such as Bacillales. Further molecular analysis of Bacillus confirmed that this guild composition was positively influenced by Stevia residue returning, especially for Bacillaceae. Our results demonstrated an effective use of Stevia residues as organic manure for promoting Stevia yield and quality through stimulating soil microbial growth and enzyme activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic C has many benefits for soil, but it is depleted by tillage and crop harvest, and especially so for biofuel crops. Accordingly, strategies such as partially retaining stover or planting a cover crop can help ameliorate the negative effect of C removal. We used a long-term field experiment to study the impacts of stover retention and planting a cover crop on soil organic matter (SOM), its extractable components, and the soil microbial community. SOM chemical composition characterization was determined by electrospray ionization (ESI) coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) in sequential water, methanol (MeOH), and chloroform (CHCl 3) extracts. The characteristics of the soil bacterial community were measured by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA), real-time quantitative PCR, and 16S rRNA gene sequence. The variations in total SOM content, total microbial biomass, and bacterial population were slight among treatments, but SOM chemical compounds, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) biomass, and bacterial structure changed significantly, and especially so in the coupled application of stover retention and cover crop. Specifically, stover retention enriched more lignin-like compounds in soil, whereas cover crop enriched more condensed hydrocarbons, and had more compounds with an aromaticity index (AI) > 0.5. The bacterial community was not altered by the cover crop, but the corn stover retention increased the relative abundances of Myxococcales (Deltaproteobacteria) and decreased that of Actinobacteria. Redundancy analysis (RDA) further revealed that the bacterial community in the stover treatments had a significant positive association with CHCl 3 -extracted chemical classes, i.e. unsaturated hydrocarbons and lipids, with the coupled application (stover and cover crop), and lignin and proteins with the corn stover only treatment. Taken together, our study shows how different C addition practices influence the molecular composition of SOM and the structure of soil microbial communities. • Soil carbon was characterized by ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. • Corn stover and rye cover crop changed composition of extractable soil organic C. • Corn stover retention enhanced lignin-like compounds. • Cover crop enriched more condensed hydrocarbons. • Soil bacterial community composition corresponded to certain SOM compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common male sexual dysfunction disorder, and is considered to have the genetic predisposition. However, the internal regulation mechanisms is still unclear. Hence, this study intended to explore the effects of genetic polymorphisms of CYP24A1 on the risk of PE. This case–control study genotyped three SNPs of CYP24A1 (rs2762934, rs1570669 and rs6068816) from 139 PE patients and 372 healthy men using Agena MassARRAY platform. Collected data was then processed in SPSS 18.0. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in logistic regression analysis to evaluate the associations between CYP24A1 polymorphisms and the PE risk. The results suggested that allele A of rs1570669 was significantly associated with the increased PE risk (OR=1.38, 95% CI=1.04–1.84, P=0.026). Meanwhile, we also identified rs1570669 as a risk factor of PE under the additive model (OR=1.47, 95% CI=1.02–2.11, P=0.039) by comparing the genotypic distributions between cases and controls, and genotype AA of rs1570669 was detected to be significantly related with an increased risk of PE under the codominant model (OR=2.26, 95% CI=1.06–4.83, P=0.036). This study is the first to proved that the genetic variants of CYP24A1 played essential role in affecting the susceptibility to PE in Chinese Han. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrite-driven anaerobic oxidation of methane (nitrite-driven AOM), mediated by ' Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera' (M. oxyfera)-related bacteria, is a newly-discovered CH 4 consumption process in coastal wetlands. Although Spartina alterniflora invasion significantly affects CH 4 emissions from coastal wetlands, its impact on the nitrite-driven AOM process and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we examined nitrite-driven AOM activity and M. oxyfera -related bacterial community in four coastal wetlands along the southeastern coast of China, under invasive Spartina alterniflora and native plants, including Kandelia candel , Avicennia marina or Phragmites australis. Linear mixed-effects models indicated that the Spartina alterniflora invasion stimulated the overall nitrite-driven AOM activity by an average of 61.5% in coastal wetlands (p < 0.05), but had no impact on the M. oxyfera -related bacterial abundance (p > 0.05). The nitrite-driven AOM activity was 7.1 times higher under Spartina alterniflora than under native species in Yueqing Bay (p < 0.05), and was 34.7%, 8.9% and 15.1% higher under Spartina alterniflora than under native species in Hengsha Island, Jiulong River and Zhanjiang, respectively (p > 0.05). Spartina alterniflora invasion increased the bacterial abundance in Yueqing Bay and Jiulong River Estuary by 6.8 and 7.6 times, respectively, while decreased the abundance by 34.4% and 51.4%, respectively, in Hengsha Island and Zhanjiang (p > 0.05). The partial least squares path model indicated an indirect impact of Spartina alterniflora invasion on the nitrite-driven AOM activity through its effect on soil properties, primarily including dissolved organic carbon content and nitrate content. The Spartina alterniflora invasion did not greatly alter M. oxyfera -related bacterial community. Overall, we shed new light on the potential impact of Spartina alterniflora invasion on CH 4 cycling in coastal wetlands. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil phosphorus (P) loss risk and environmental impact can be assessed by different soil test indicators such as soil P storage capacity (SPSC), a site-specific and reliable measurement of soil P status. In this study, the changing trends of soil P saturation ratio (PSR) and SPSC in red soil (equivalent to Ultisol) were discussed after 10 consecutive additions of P solution with 20 mg P L−1, and the relationships between Olsen-P, CaCl2-P, and PSR, SPSC also were evaluated. Results showed that the soil PSR was increased to 0.22 at the end of P addition, and the accumulated P was high to 1625 mg kg−1. The threshold PSR of the red soil was determined to be 0.10, and the SPSC significantly decreased from 242.0 mg kg−1 to −382.1 mg kg−1 with the increase of P addition times. When SPSC = 0, the accumulated P in red soil was 487.7 mg kg−1. Therefore, there existed four stages for the soil P management in red soil according to the changes of SPSC and Olsen-P: short supply stage of soil P (SPSC>88 mg kg−1 and Olsen-P ≤ 20 mg kg−1), stable supply stage of soil P (68 mg kg−1< SPSC≤88 mg kg−1 and 20 mg kg−1< Olsen-P ≤ 40 mg kg−1); over supply stage of soil P (0< SPSC≤68 mg kg−1 and 40 mg kg−1< Olsen-P ≤ 108 mg kg−1), and the high loss risk stage of soil P (SPSC≤0 and Olsen-P > 108 mg kg−1). In the last stage, P fertilization must be stopped and environmental protection measures must be taken immediately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a typical air pollutant and has adverse health effects across the world, especially in the rapidly developing China due to significant air pollution. The PM2.5 pollution varies with time and space, and is dominated by the locations owing to the differences in geographical conditions including topography and meteorology, the land use and the characteristics of urbanization and industrialization, all of which control the pollution formation by influencing the various sources and transport of PM2.5. To characterize these parameters and mechanisms, the 5-year PM2.5 pollution patterns of Jiangsu province in eastern China with high-resolution was investigated. The Kriging interpolation method of geostatistical analysis (GIS) and the HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model were conducted to study the spatial and temporal distribution of air pollution at 110 sites from national air quality monitoring network covering 13 cities. The PM2.5 pollution of the studied region was obvious, although the annual average concentration decreased from previous 72 to recent 50 μg m−3. Evident temporal variations showed high PM2.5 level in winter and low in summer. Spatially, PM2.5 level was higher in northern (inland, heavy industry) than that in eastern (costal, plain) regions. Industrial sources contributed highest to the air pollution. Backward trajectory clustering and potential source contribution factor (PSCF) analysis indicated that the typical monsoon climate played an important role in the aerosol transport. In summer, the air mass in Jiangsu was mainly affected by the updraft from near region, which accounted for about 60% of the total number of trajectories, while in winter, the long-distance transport from the northwest had a significant impact on air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic vegetable cultivation under plastic greenhouse conditions is expanding rapidly in the suburb of big cities in China due to the increasing demand for organic, out-of-season green vegetables and the sustainable development of agriculture. Phosphorus (P) is not only an important plant nutrient, but also a major contaminant in the water environment. However, information on the accumulation and distribution of P in organic vegetable soils under plastic greenhouse conditions is limited, relative to the open cultivation systems. Therefore, twenty-six plastic greenhouse vegetable soils (PGVS) were selected randomly from four representative organic vegetable cultivation sites located in the suburb of Nanjing, China. For comparison, 15 open vegetable soils (OVS) near the PGVS with similar soil and cultivation practices were selected. Soil pH, organic matter (OM) and the various P accumulation characteristics were investigated. We found that soil pH in PGVS were significantly decreased by 0.57–1.17 unit with obvious signs of acidification, compared with that in OVS. Soil OM was different for different sampling locations, but in general it was higher in PGVS than OVS. Soil total P (TP), inorganic P (P i ) and Olsen-P of PGVS were higher than those in the OVS. Olsen-P of all soil samples were far above the recommended optimum value of 20 mg kg −1 for field crops, and over 60% soil samples were considered excessive (>150 mg kg −1 ) in the PGVS and OVS. There were significant correlations between total P, available P and soil pH in those vegetable soils. Al-P/Fe-P ratio was also significantly correlated with vegetable soil pH (Y pH = 7.44–1.32 X Al-P/Fe-P , r = − 0.705, p < 0.01). Soil total P i was negatively correlated with soil pH in vegetable soils ( r = −0.328, p < 0.05), but the interactive effect of soil various P i and soil pH need to be further investigated through a series of controlled tests. Our results suggest that the rapid P accumulation and acidification make the current plastic greenhouse vegetable production in the study area unsustainable and better organic manure management practices need to be implemented to sustain crop yields while minimizing the impact of vegetable production on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]