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Constipation is directly related to the intestinal microenvironment, in which the promotion of gastrointestinal (GI) motility and improvement of gut microbiota distribution are important for alleviating symptoms. Herein, after the intervention of probiotic fermented milk (FMMIX) containing Lacticaseibacillus paracasei JY062 and Lactobacillus gasseri JM1 for 14 d in Kunming mice with loperamide-induced constipation, the results indicated that FMMIX significantly increased the secretion of serum motilin, gastrin and 5-hydroxytryptamine, as well as decreased the secretion of peptide YY, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and nitric oxide in mice. As determined by immunohistochemical analysis, FMMIX promoted an augmentation in the quantity of Cajal interstitial cells. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression of c-kit and stem cell factor (SCF) were upregulated to facilitate intestinal motility. High-throughput sequencing and gas chromatography techniques revealed that FMMIX led to an increase in the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus , Oscillospira , Ruminococcus , Coprococcus , and Akkermansia), reduced the presence of harmful bacteria (Prevotella), and resulted in elevated levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) with a superior improvement compared with unfermented milk. Untargeted metabolomics revealed significant upregulation of functional metabolites such as l -pipecolinic acid, dl -phenylalanine, and naringenin in FMMIX, presumably playing a potential role in constipation relief. Overall, our results showed that FMMIX had the potential to alleviate constipation symptoms in mice by improving the secretion of serum GI regulatory peptides and neurotransmitters, increasing the expression of c-kit and SCF proteins, and modulating the gut microbiota structure and SCFA levels, and may be associated with an increase in these functional metabolites. This suggested that FMMIX could be a promising adjunctive strategy for managing constipation symptoms and could contribute to the development of functional foods aimed at improving gut health. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The authors perform systematic search for high-performance and cost-effective materials toward electrochemical applications for Co-P system via advanced structural prediction. • Current results identified several stable monolayers, such as CoP, Co 2 P, and Co 3 P 2. • Especially, CoP was predicted to become as potential HER catalyst and anode material. • The paper disclosed the possible multifunctional applications for Co x P y monolayers and provided some theoretical guidance in designing electrocatalysts and anode materials from 2D transition-metal materials used in electrochemical processes. Exploring high-performance and cost-effective materials for electrochemical applications to meet eco-friendly and sustainable energy demands remain as an urgent need all the time. Large specific surface area and robust chemical activity endow two-dimensional (2D) materials with the potential as excellent candidates for electrochemical applications. Herein, we systematically study the 2D morphology for the Co-P system via advanced structural search and identify a series of stable monolayers, such as CoP, Co 2 P, and Co 3 P 2. Detailed first-principle calculations reveal that these monolayers showcase inherent metallicity which benefits boosting the electrochemical process. For hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), the activity of CoP could reach 54 meV, which is comparable to that of Pt. As anode material potassium-ion batteries, CoP exhibits a suitable open circuit voltage and high capacity to store metal ion. This work disclosed the possible multifunctional applications for Co x P y monolayers and provided some theoretical guidance in designing electrocatalysts and anode materials from 2D transition-metal materials used in electrochemical processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the quality of steel is of paramount importance in modern production, the defects detection of steel surface is significantly crucial. In this field, two‐stage detection algorithms have encountered issues about low detection speed, while one‐stage detection algorithms have room for improvement in detection accuracy. How to trade‐off between accuracy and speed of detection to better meet the demands of industrial production remains a challenge. To address this problem, this paper proposes a You Only Look Once version 5 (YOLOv5)‐based improved method ACD‐YOLO. ACD‐YOLO model incorporates anchors optimization, context augmentation module, and efficient convolution operators. In anchor optimization, the boundaries of anchors are optimized using an improved genetic algorithm. Moreover, to improve detection accuracy, a context augmentation module is incorporated into both the head and the backbone end of the network. Additionally, efficient convolution operators are adopted to address the increase of computation complexity caused by the context augmentation module. Experimental results show that ACD‐YOLO achieves mean average precision of 79.3%, with frames per second of 72. Compared to reference methods, ACD‐YOLO achieves the best balance between accuracy and speed of detection, and is more suitable for practice industrial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The NiFe-LDH nanosheets grow on the carbon nanofibers via an in-situ conversion strategy. • The CNF@NiFe-LDH interlayer can effectively restrict the diffusion of polysulfides. • The CNF@NiFe-LDH interlayer cells exhibit good cyclic and rate performances. • High initial discharge capacity of 799 mAh g−1 at 1 C with a low decay ratio of 0.045 % per-cycle over 500 cycles. To solve the shuttle effect of polysulfides and sluggish reaction kinetics in Li-S batteries, a functional interlayer added between the cathode and separator has been proven to be a very effective means. The pleasing interlayer is usually formed by the conductive skeleton and active components that have polysulfide adsorption and catalytic conversion abilities. In this paper, an electrospinning method assisted with in-site growth strategy has been developed to design a hierarchical functional film with NiFe-LDH nanosheets anchored on carbon nanofibers (CNF@NiFe-LDH). Structural characterizations and electrochemical measurements have been taken to indicate that the CNF@NiFe-LDH interlayer can effectively restrict the diffusion of polysulfides and accelerate the redox kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Probiotics can serve as immunomodulators that regulate the activation of immune cells. This study aimed to screen potential probiotic strains that can enhance NK cell toxicity to improve host immunity.In this investigation, we examined three potential probiotic strains, namely Lactiplantibacillus plantarum YZX21 (YZX21), Bifidobacterium bifidum FL-276.1 (FL-276.1) and Lacticaseibacillus casei K11 (K11), to assess their capacity in modulating NK cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo, while elucidating the underlying mechanisms involved.The findings demonstrated that K11 exhibited superior efficacy in enhancing NK cytotoxicity. Subsequent analysis revealed that K11 significantly augmented the secretion of perforin and granzyme B by NK cells through activation of receptors NKp30 and NKp46 via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Furthermore, heat-inactivated K11 also enhanced NK cell activity to an extent comparable to live bacteria, with lipoteichoic acid from K11 identified as a crucial factor mediating the activation of NK cell cytotoxicity.Our study suggests that K11 may have potential applications as probiotics or postbiotics for regulating NK cell cytotoxicity to enhance immunity.Methods: Probiotics can serve as immunomodulators that regulate the activation of immune cells. This study aimed to screen potential probiotic strains that can enhance NK cell toxicity to improve host immunity.In this investigation, we examined three potential probiotic strains, namely Lactiplantibacillus plantarum YZX21 (YZX21), Bifidobacterium bifidum FL-276.1 (FL-276.1) and Lacticaseibacillus casei K11 (K11), to assess their capacity in modulating NK cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo, while elucidating the underlying mechanisms involved.The findings demonstrated that K11 exhibited superior efficacy in enhancing NK cytotoxicity. Subsequent analysis revealed that K11 significantly augmented the secretion of perforin and granzyme B by NK cells through activation of receptors NKp30 and NKp46 via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Furthermore, heat-inactivated K11 also enhanced NK cell activity to an extent comparable to live bacteria, with lipoteichoic acid from K11 identified as a crucial factor mediating the activation of NK cell cytotoxicity.Our study suggests that K11 may have potential applications as probiotics or postbiotics for regulating NK cell cytotoxicity to enhance immunity.Results: Probiotics can serve as immunomodulators that regulate the activation of immune cells. This study aimed to screen potential probiotic strains that can enhance NK cell toxicity to improve host immunity.In this investigation, we examined three potential probiotic strains, namely Lactiplantibacillus plantarum YZX21 (YZX21), Bifidobacterium bifidum FL-276.1 (FL-276.1) and Lacticaseibacillus casei K11 (K11), to assess their capacity in modulating NK cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo, while elucidating the underlying mechanisms involved.The findings demonstrated that K11 exhibited superior efficacy in enhancing NK cytotoxicity. Subsequent analysis revealed that K11 significantly augmented the secretion of perforin and granzyme B by NK cells through activation of receptors NKp30 and NKp46 via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Furthermore, heat-inactivated K11 also enhanced NK cell activity to an extent comparable to live bacteria, with lipoteichoic acid from K11 identified as a crucial factor mediating the activation of NK cell cytotoxicity.Our study suggests that K11 may have potential applications as probiotics or postbiotics for regulating NK cell cytotoxicity to enhance immunity.Conclusion: Probiotics can serve as immunomodulators that regulate the activation of immune cells. This study aimed to screen potential probiotic strains that can enhance NK cell toxicity to improve host immunity.In this investigation, we examined three potential probiotic strains, namely Lactiplantibacillus plantarum YZX21 (YZX21), Bifidobacterium bifidum FL-276.1 (FL-276.1) and Lacticaseibacillus casei K11 (K11), to assess their capacity in modulating NK cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo, while elucidating the underlying mechanisms involved.The findings demonstrated that K11 exhibited superior efficacy in enhancing NK cytotoxicity. Subsequent analysis revealed that K11 significantly augmented the secretion of perforin and granzyme B by NK cells through activation of receptors NKp30 and NKp46 via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Furthermore, heat-inactivated K11 also enhanced NK cell activity to an extent comparable to live bacteria, with lipoteichoic acid from K11 identified as a crucial factor mediating the activation of NK cell cytotoxicity.Our study suggests that K11 may have potential applications as probiotics or postbiotics for regulating NK cell cytotoxicity to enhance immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteolysis is often used to improve gel-forming properties of protein, however, the proteolytic effect of lactic acid bacteria on protein gel properties has been rarely reported. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential role of proteolysis by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in casein gel formation during fermentation. A total of fifty-four L. plantarum strains were subjected to a screening of proteolytic ability and twenty-one strains were found possessing extracellular protease-producing abilities. The top nine strains with varying proteolytic abilities were investigated for their impacts on casein gel formation. Interestingly, the casein gels fermented by the strains with the highest and lowest proteolytic abilities both showed relatively low hardness and lower storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) in rheological analyses. However, two strains, namely L. Plantarum YM13-8.1 and L. Plantarum YN22-3.1, which possess a relatively moderate level of proteolytic ability among the nine strains, significantly improved the hardness and water-holding capacity of casein gels and presented a more dense and uniform gel structure, which was accompanied by an increased hydrophobicity and disulfide bond content. The results indicate that the strains YM13-8.1 and YN22-3.1 can facilitate the formation of casein gel by improving the aggregation of protein molecules in fermentation. Concludingly, we propose that the proteolysis by L. plantarum proteinases dramatically influences the casein gel properties, and the effects, to a certain degree, are strain-specific. [Display omitted] • Moderate hydrolysis of casein by L. plantarum facilitated gel formation. • Protease hydrolysis improved gel hardness and water-holding capacity. • Disulfide bonds and hydrophobic amino acids were increased by moderate hydrolysis. • Gel texture, rheology, and microstructure were characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spray drying is a promising technique for embedding and stabilizing lactic acid bacteria. However, bacteria are unable to withstand high-temperature environment. Naturally small molecules fall short in meeting the evolving demands of production. Therefore, it is imperative to explore non-chemical pretreatment methods urgently, with the aim of enhancing their protective efficacy. In this study, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) were synthesized by glycerin-betaine to improve the survival rates of spray-dried Lactobacillus bulgaricus sp1.1. Results revealed that the spray drying survival rate of L. bulgaricus sp1.1 after adding NADES was 30.54%, which was 4.72 times higher than adding equal amounts of untreated glycerin and betaine, and the number of viable bacteria decreased less than 1 log after 6 months of storage. The investigation revealed that the impact of NADES was localized external to the cell rather than within. Through crosslinking with the peptidoglycan on the cell wall, NADES bolstered the cell wall structure thereby creating a protective barrier. This resulted in a reduction of damage to the membrane and ribosome induced by high temperatures during the lactic acid bacteria’s exposure. This study synthesized NADES using current protective agents as an effective method to enhance heat resistance of lactic acid bacteria for spray drying for the first time, and the lactic acid bacteria powder with high survival rate and high storage stability was successfully prepared, which provides a new approach for its industrial application.Graphical Abstract: Spray drying is a promising technique for embedding and stabilizing lactic acid bacteria. However, bacteria are unable to withstand high-temperature environment. Naturally small molecules fall short in meeting the evolving demands of production. Therefore, it is imperative to explore non-chemical pretreatment methods urgently, with the aim of enhancing their protective efficacy. In this study, natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) were synthesized by glycerin-betaine to improve the survival rates of spray-dried Lactobacillus bulgaricus sp1.1. Results revealed that the spray drying survival rate of L. bulgaricus sp1.1 after adding NADES was 30.54%, which was 4.72 times higher than adding equal amounts of untreated glycerin and betaine, and the number of viable bacteria decreased less than 1 log after 6 months of storage. The investigation revealed that the impact of NADES was localized external to the cell rather than within. Through crosslinking with the peptidoglycan on the cell wall, NADES bolstered the cell wall structure thereby creating a protective barrier. This resulted in a reduction of damage to the membrane and ribosome induced by high temperatures during the lactic acid bacteria’s exposure. This study synthesized NADES using current protective agents as an effective method to enhance heat resistance of lactic acid bacteria for spray drying for the first time, and the lactic acid bacteria powder with high survival rate and high storage stability was successfully prepared, which provides a new approach for its industrial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive investigation of the differences in flavor profiles among different strains of fermented brown milk (FBM) is important to guide the improvement of the flavor quality of FBM. Seven samples were analyzed by dynamic headspace extraction (DHS) and gas chromatography–olfactometry–mass spectrometry (GC–O–MS), and a total of 73 odor compounds were identified. Key odor compounds including 3-methyl-1-butanol, ethyl acetate, linalool, furfuryl alcohol, 2-pentylfuran, hexanal, and 1-octen-3-ol, were screened by multivariate statistical analysis to reveal the flavor differences of FBM from different strains. 3-Methyl-1-butanol and ethyl acetate were found to be the key odor compounds distinguishing FBM by strain K56 from other strains, and the fermentation strains were found to be the key factors affecting the flavor of FBM compared to the fermentation substrate and fermentation process. This study provided a relatively systematic investigation of the flavor of FBM and could be used to monitor changes in odor components and sensory characteristics for product quality control. [Display omitted] • The odorants were detected in FBM using DHS–GC–MS for the first time. • Fermentation strains are a key factor in FBM flavor differences. • The FBM obtained from the K56 strain has fruity and whisky aromas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]