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A clean-label process to endogenously glycate and purify pea protein was investigated. The production of maltodextrin from pea starch with a specific dextrose equivalent (DE) was optimized. The produced maltodextrin (14.6 DE) was used to initiate a limited and controlled Maillard-induced glycation of pea protein. The partially glycated pea protein (PG-PP) was subjected to hydrophobic interaction chromatography to remove unreacted carbohydrate, followed by characterization of the purified product. The extent of Maillard-induced glycation was monitored by assessing changes in color, free amino groups, and protein/glycoprotein profiles. The purified PG-PP was evaluated for thermal denaturation, surface properties, protein secondary structure, protein solubility, thermal stability, and digestibility. Maillard-induced glycation was limited to initial stages and resulted in a moderate blockage of amine groups (∼30%). The purified PG-PP had a relatively low surface hydrophobicity, a markedly enhanced protein solubility (∼90%) at pH 3.4, and a nonimpacted protein in vitro digestibility (∼100%). This work provided the impetus needed for future scale-up and process optimization for the production of value-added pea protein ingredient intended for high protein beverage applications.

Grassland is not only an important part of the terrestrial ecosystem with multiple ecological functions, but also an important base for Chinese herdsmen to produce and live. However, the occurrence and spread of rodent infestation reduces the biodiversity and productivity of grassland ecosystems. It also severely threatens human life, health, and biosecurity through disease transmission. In this study, we explored the ability of the nanocomposite sterilant ND-1 to control grassland rodent populations. Semi-closed experimental and control plots were established in the desert area of Alashan, Inner Mongolia, China. In spring 2018, the nanocomposite sterile ND-1 (Nongda-1) was introduced once, and the control effect of ND-1 on the growth of the wild population of midday gerbils was measured for two years. We show that ND-1 significantly reduced the population of midday gerbils in the experimental area, with a negative population growth rate. In addition, in the second year, the ratio of female midday gerbils to sub-adults in the experimental area was significantly lower than that in the control area, which resulted in a significant difference in the sex ratio of midday gerbils. There were significantly fewer females than males, and the population growth of midday gerbils in the experimental area was significantly inhibited. ND-1 had no significant effect on the home range of midday gerbils, and sterile individuals continued to occupy the home range and consume resources. Therefore, ND-1 reduced the number of female midday gerbils during the breeding period and the sex ratio and population density and altered the age structure of the wild population. Additionally, competition between sterile and normal individuals had a significant control effect on the growth of wild populations. Our studies demonstrate the significance of ND-1 in the sustainable control of grassland rodent pests, with the potential for limiting grassland rodent damage in the future.

Large amounts of soluble salts in a soil enhance the soil sensitivity to changes in its properties induced by changes in environmental conditions, such as easy dissolution in water and easy occurrences of salt heaving in low-temperature environments, which make the soil volume swell rapidly, leading to a series of engineering disasters. Moreover, the growth and development of surface vegetation will be inhibited due to excessive salinity, resulting in a gradual decline in the ecological functionality of the area. A polymer active agent (CLI) was selected for the ecological improvement of sulfuric acid saline soils. Triaxial compression tests and a test on the soluble salt content of the treated soil were carried out to investigate the effects of polymer active agent content and maintenance time on the mechanical properties and soluble salt content of sulfate saline soils. The results showed that the addition of CLI can improve the soil strength by increasing the cohesion of the specimen, and the improvement increases significantly with the content of CLI and the curing age. Meanwhile, the calcium ions in CLI can react with sulfate ions in sulfate-salted soils to produce calcium sulfate precipitation to alleviate soil salinization. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated that an appropriate content of CLI (about 8%) can strengthen the soil structure through an excellent chelating ability, enhancing the strength of the soil.

Abstract The total flavone of Abelmoschus manihot (TFA), a compound extracted from the flowers of Abelmoschus manihot (L.) Medic, has been widely used for the treatment of Crohn's disease, chronic glomerulonephritis and other diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of TFA on the gut microbiota and intestinal barrier in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced experimental colitis. C57BL/6J mice were treated with 2.5% DSS in drinking water to induce colitis. Mice were orally administered TFA (62.5 mg/kg, 125 mg/kg) or prednisone acetate (PAT, 2.5 mg/kg) once daily for 7 days. Biological samples were collected for analysis of inflammatory cytokines, gut microbiota and intestinal barrier integrity. TFA-H (125 mg/kg) markedly attenuated DSS-induced colon shortening and histological injury in experimental colitis. The therapeutic effect was similar to that of PAT administration. TFA-H notably modulated the dysbiosis of gut microbiota induced by DSS and greatly enriched Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila). Moreover, TFA-H remarkably ameliorated the colonic inflammatory response and intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction. Interestingly, TFA directly promotes the growth of A. muciniphila in vitro. Taken together, the results revealed for the first time that TFA, as a prebiotic of A. muciniphila, improved DSS-induced experimental colitis, at least partly by modulating the gut microflora profile to maintain colonic integrity and inhibit the inflammatory response.

A novel angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide ser-ala-ser-val-ile-pro-val-ser-ala-val-arg-ala (SASVIPVSAVRA) was purified and identified from yak bone by Electrospray Ionization-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS). Results in vitro showed that the peptide exhibited strong ACE inhibition activities with an IC50 of 54.22 μM. Molecular docking results showed the binding between the peptide SASVIPVSAVRA and ACE mainly driven by van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonds and metal receptor. Interestingly, the ACE inhibition activities of the peptide increased about 19% after digestion, but none of its metabolites showed stronger activity than it. The in vivo experiment showed that the antihypertensive effect of peptide SASVIPVSAVRA at dose of 30 mg/kg is nearly equal to Captopril at dose of 10 mg/kg to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The antihypertensive effect mechanism of SASVIPVSAVRA should be further studied through plasma metabolomics and bioanalysis. Structure analysis of amino acids and peptides produced during digestion may help better understand the antihypertensive effect of peptides.

Acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylases (ACCs) are pivotal in fatty acid metabolism, converting acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA. While ACCs in humans, plants, and microbes have been extensively studied, insect ACCs, crucial for lipid biosynthesis and physiological processes, remain relatively unexplored. Unlike mammals, which have ACC1 and ACC2 in different tissues, insects possess a single ACC gene, underscoring its unique role in their metabolism. Noctuid moths, such as Trichoplusia ni, are major agricultural pests causing significant crop damage and economic loss. Their resistance to both biological and synthetic insecticides complicates pest control. Recent research has introduced cyclic ketoenols as novel insecticides targeting ACCs, yet structural information to guide their design is limited. Here, we present a 3.12 Å cryo-EM structure of the carboxyltransferase (CT) domain of T. ni ACC, offering the first detailed structural insights into insect ACCs. Our structural comparisons with ACC CT domains from other species and analyses of drug-binding sites can guide future drug modification and design. Notably, unique interactions between the CT and the central domain in T. ni ACC provide new directions for studying the ACC holoenzyme. These findings contribute valuable information for pest control and a basic biological understanding of lipid biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign-clay spraying is currently a common technology for ecological restoration of exposed rock slopes. However, under arid climate conditions, the large amount of internal water loss of the foreign-clay on the slope surface will easily cause shrinkage and cracking, which will affect the overall stability of the slope and the growth of surface vegetation. In this paper, aiming at the problem of cracking of the foreign-clay on the slope surface, by changing the thickness of the soil, polymer composite foreign-clay with different polyurethane (PU) concentrations is prepared to analyze the development characteristics of cracks through a series of indoor drying tests. In addition, particles (Pores) and cracks analysis system (PCAS) are used to conduct a quantitative analysis of the geometry of crack network, so as to further explore the influence of soil thickness and polymer additive concentration on fracture development.

PurposeThis article was designed to provide critical evidence into the relationship between ambient temperature and intensity of back pain in people with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).MethodsData concerning patient's age, gender, diagnostic logout, admission time, discharge time, residence area, and work area (residence area and work area were used to ensure research area) from 2017 to 2019 were obtained from the Neck-Shoulder and Lumbocrural Pain Hospital in Jinan, China. A total of 1,450 hospitalization records were collected in total. The distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) was used to evaluate the relationship between lag–response and exposure to ambient temperature. Stratification was based on age and gender. Days 1, 5, 20, and 28 prior to admission were denoted as lags 0, 5, 20, and 28, respectively.ResultsAn average daily temperature of 15–23°C reduced the risk of hospitalization the most in men. Conversely, temperatures

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) lead to 41 million deaths every year and account for 71% of all deaths worldwide. Increasing evidence indicates that gut microbiota disorders are closely linked to the occurrence and development of diseases. The gut microbiota, as a potential transmission medium, could play a key role in the transmission and treatment of diseases. The gut microbiota makes noncommunicable diseases communicable. New methods of the prevention and treatment of these diseases could be further explored through the gut microbiota.

Abstract The rapid development of wearable, highly integrated, and flexible electronics has stimulated great demand for on-chip and miniaturized energy storage devices. By virtue of their high power density and long cycle life, micro-supercapacitors (MSCs), especially those with interdigital structures, have attracted considerable attention. In recent years, tremendous theoretical and experimental explorations have been carried out on the structures and electrode materials of MSCs, aiming to obtain better mechanical and electrochemical properties. The high-performance MSCs can be used in many fields, such as energy storage and medical assistant examination. Here, this review focuses on the recent progress of advanced MSCs in fabrication strategies, structural design, electrode materials design and function, and integrated applications, where typical examples are highlighted and analyzed. Furthermore, the current challenges and future development directions of advanced MSCs are also discussed.

Abstract Background Emerging studies have disclosed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as pivotal modulators in the progression of prostate cancer (PCa). Current research planned to figure out the involvement of lncRNA nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase antisense RNA 1 (NNT-AS1) in PCa. Methods RNA expression was examined using RT-qPCR in PCa cells. Functional assays assessed the viability, proliferation, apoptosis and migration of PCa cells. RNA pull down and luciferase reporter experiments detected the interplay between miRNA and lncRNA or mRNA. Results NNT-AS1 was apparently upregulated in PCa cells. NNT-AS1 deficiency abrogated PCa cell viability, proliferation and migration but promoted apoptosis. Besides, miR-496 could be sequestered by NNT-AS1 to elevate the expression of DNA damage inducible transcript 4 (DDIT4) in PCa. Rescue assays indicated that overexpressed DDIT4 or restrained miR-496 could reverse the influence of NNT-AS1 depletion on malignant processes in PCa cells. Conclusion NNT-AS1 contributes to the malignant phenotypes of PCa cells through targeting miR-496 to boost DDIT4 expression.

The demand for pulse proteins as alternatives to soy protein has been steeply increasing over the past decade. However, the relatively inferior functionality compared to soy protein is hindering the expanded use of pulse proteins, namely pea and chickpea protein, in various applications. Harsh extraction and processing conditions adversely impact the functional performance of pea and chickpea protein. Therefore, a mild protein extraction method involving salt extraction coupled with ultrafiltration (SE-UF) was evaluated for the production of chickpea protein isolate (ChPI). The produced ChPI was compared to pea protein isolate (PPI) produced following the same extraction method in terms of functionality and feasibility of scaling. Scaled-up (SU) ChPI and PPI were produced under industrially relevant settings and evaluated in comparison to commercial pea, soy, and chickpea protein ingredients. Controlled scaled-up production of the isolates resulted in mild changes in protein structural characteristics and comparable or improved functional properties. Partial denaturation, modest polymerization, and increased surface hydrophobicity were observed in SU ChPI and PPI compared to the benchtop counterparts. The unique structural characteristics of SU ChPI, including its ratio of surface hydrophobicity and charge, contributed to superior solubility at both a neutral and acidic pH compared to both commercial soy protein and pea protein isolates (cSPI and cPPI) and significantly outperformed cPPI in terms of gel strength. These findings demonstrated both the promising scalability of SE-UF and the potential of ChPI as a functional plant protein ingredient.

A (Fe, Cr)-free Co39.2Ni39.2Al21.6 eutectic medium-entropy alloy (EMEA) was designed and fabricated to study the microstructure and its evolution during slow solidification under different intensities of high static magnetic field (0 T, 5 T and 10 T). It was found that the original microstructure was characterized by FCC/BCC mixed herringbone eutectics consisting of two types of lamellar structures: a curved and wormy anomalous eutectic in the fringe, and a straight and long regular eutectic in the center. Nano-sized L10-type martensite layers are also distributed on the BCC lamellar as the martensitic transformation product. The FCC and BCC phases were enriched in Co and Al elements, respectively, while Ni element was distributed homogenously in both phases. With increasing magnetic field intensity, the herringbone eutectic structures remained stable, without the formation of a primary phase, while the phase constitution and the orientation relationships in the eutectic structures remained unchanged, with no obvious magnetically induced alignments. However, the lamellar spacing of the regular lamellar eutectic decreased significantly from 3.3 μm (0 T) to 1.93 μm (10 T); by contrast, the volume fraction of the anomalous eutectics increased considerably from 28.35% (0 T) to 55.14% (10 T), and the assumption that the imposed convection and destabilization of lamellar eutectics is controlled by the magnetic field is discussed in depth. Our results show a great potential for tailoring microstructures and properties by applying a strong magnetic field during the solidification process of EMEAs.

Psychological disorders are associated with increased risk of severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by causing gut microbiota dysbiosis and colonic mucosal barrier damage. However, the interaction between chronic restraint stress (CRS), gut microbiota composition, and colonic mucus remains unclear. We demonstrated that mice under CRS conditions exhibited alterations in microbiota composition, disruption of colonic mucus, and aggravation of colitis. In addition, the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila was significantly decreased in mice under CRS and UC patients with depression, and positively associated with the expression of MUC2. After antibiotic treatment, the recipient mice colonized with CRS microbiota showed barrier defects and severe colitis. Administration of Akkermansia muciniphila was found to restore colonic mucus and modify the gut microbiota. We confirm that CRS-mediated gut microbiota dysbiosis results in colonic mucosal barrier damage and aggravation of colitis. Our results suggest that A. muciniphila is expected to be a potential probiotic to protect and treat colonic mucus that is involved in IBD with psychological disorders.

CSR has become a key issue for the qualitative growth of the Chinese economy, while digital transformation has emerged as a crucial strategy for enhancing company competitiveness. Thus, the complex impact of CSR and digital transformation on the firm value is an important research topic. This study analyzes the moderating effect of digital transformation and the three-way interaction effect of internal control on the CSR–firm value relationship. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis of Chinese listed companies shows a significant positive relationship between CSR and the firm value and a positive moderating effect of digital transformation on the CSR–firm value relationship. According to the three-way interaction analysis results, internal control strengthens the moderating effect of digital transformation, which strengthens the positive relationship between CSR and the firm value. This study has academic value as the first to present and empirically analyze a research model on the complementary effects of CSR, DT, and internal control on the firm value. It also presents corporate strategies to respond to changes in the business environment and provides political implications for promoting corporate and social development together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

End-of-life plastics present a significant challenge to achieving a sustainable economy. It is crucial to develop environmentally friendly technologies to process the waste streams beyond landfilling. This review provides a detailed overview of endof-life plastics management, covering mechanical recycling, pyrolysis and hydrocracking methods. Mechanical recycling is the predominant technique employed on a large scale in recycling end-of-life plastics, and this review discusses the technoeconomic assessment and life cycle assessment (LCA) of mechanical recycling. This review also summarises key studies concentrating on chemical recycling techniques for handling end-of-life plastics. Among these, pyrolysis and hydrocracking are discussed in depth. Recent advancements and fundamentals of these two techniques are covered, highlighting their significance in tackling the plastic waste challenge. The prospects of scaling up pyrolysis and hydrocracking technologies are interpreted in terms of technical and economic feasibility. The discussion concludes with recommendations for future research to commercialise chemical recycling of end-of-life plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of adequate guidance and control of the extraction conditions as well as the gap between bench- and industrial-scale production, contributes to the poor functionality of commercial pea protein isolate (cPPI). Therefore, pea protein extraction conditions were evaluated and scaled up to maximize protein purity and yield, while maintaining structural integrity, following mild alkaline solubilization with isoelectric precipitation and salt solubilization coupled with membrane filtration. Both extraction methods resulted in high protein yield (>64%) and purity (>87%). Structure-function characterization illustrated the preserved structural integrity of PPI samples and their superior solubility, gelation, and emulsification properties compared to cPPI. Results confirmed, for the first time, that double solubilization at mild pH (7.5) can replace single solubilization at high alkalinity and achieve a similar yield while preserving structural integrity. Additionally, this study demonstrated, the scalability of the benchtop salt extraction coupled with ultrafiltration/diafiltration. Scaling up the production eliminated some structural and functional differences between the salt-extracted PPI and pH-extracted PPI. Scaling-up under mild and controlled conditions resulted in partial denaturation and a low degree of polymerization, coupled with the superior functionality of the produced isolates compared to cPPI. Results of this work can be used as a benchmark to guide the industrial production of functional pea protein ingredients.

Rodents exhibit seasonal changes in their activity patterns as an essential survival strategy. We studied the activity patterns and strategies of the Siberian jerboa (Orientallactaga sibirica) in the Alxa desert region to better understand the habitats and behavioural ecology of xeric rodents. We conducted an experiment using three plots to monitor the duration, time, and frequency of the active period of the Siberian jerboa using infrared cameras in the Alxa field workstation, Inner Mongolia, China in 2017. The relationships between the activity time and frequency, biological factors (perceived predation risk, food resources, and species composition), and abiotic factors (temperature, air moisture, wind speed) were analysed using Redundancy Analysis (RDA). Our results showed that: (1) relative humidity mainly affected activities in the springtime; temperature, relative humidity and interspecific competition mainly affected activities in the summertime; relative humidity and perceived predation risk mainly influenced activities in the autumn. (2) The activity pattern of the Siberian jerboa altered depending on the season. The activity of the Siberian jerboa was found to be bimodal in spring and summer, and was trimodal in autumn. The activity time and frequency in autumn were significantly lower than the spring. (3) Animals possess the ability to integrate disparate sources of information about danger to optimize energy gain. The jerboa adapted different responses to predation risks and competition in different seasons according to the demand for food resources.

Wild (Bombyx mandarina) and domestic silkworms (B. mori) are good models for investigating insect domestication, as 5000 years of artificial breeding and selection have resulted in significant differences between B. mandarina and B. mori. In this study, we improved the genome assemblies to the chromosome level and updated the protein-coding gene annotations for B. mandarina. Based on this updated genome, we identified 68 cytochrome P450 genes in B. mandarina. The cytochrome P450 repository in B. mandarina is smaller than in B. mori. Certain currently unknown key genes, rather than gene number, are critical for insecticide resistance in B. mandarina, which shows greater resistance to insecticides than B. mori. Based on the physical maps of B. mandarina, we located 66 cytochrome P450s on 18 different chromosomes, and 27 of the cytochrome P450 genes were concentrated into seven clusters. KEGG enrichment analysis of the P450 genes revealed the involvement of cytochrome P450 genes in hormone biosynthesis. Analyses of the silk gland transcriptome identified candidate cytochrome P450 genes (CYP306A) involved in ecdysteroidogenesis and insecticide metabolism in B. mandarina.

The seven canonical members of transient receptor potential (TRPC) proteins form cation channels that evoke membrane depolarization and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) rise, which are not only important for regulating cell function but their deregulation can also lead to cell damage. Recent studies have implicated complex roles of TRPC channels in neurodegenerative diseases including ischemic stroke. Brain ischemia reduces oxygen and glucose supply to neurons, i.e., Oxygen and Glucose Deprivation (OGD), resulting in [Ca2+]i elevation, ion dyshomeostasis, and excitotoxicity, which are also common in many forms of neurodegenerative diseases. Although ionotropic glutamate receptors, e.g., N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, are well established to play roles in excitotoxicity, the contribution of metabotropic glutamate receptors and their downstream effectors, i.e., TRPC channels, should not be neglected. Here, we summarize the current findings about contributions of TRPC channels in neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on OGD-induced neuronal death and rodent models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. TRPC channels play both detrimental and protective roles to neurodegeneration depending on the TRPC subtype and specific pathological conditions involved. When illustrated the mechanisms by which TRPC channels are involved in neuronal survival or death seem differ greatly, implicating diverse and complex regulation. We provide our own data showing that TRPC1/C4/C5, especially TRPC4, may be generally detrimental in OGD and cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. We propose that although TRPC channels significantly contribute to ischemic neuronal death, detailed mechanisms and specific roles of TRPC subtypes in brain injury at different stages of ischemia/reperfusion and in different brain regions need to be carefully and systematically investigated.

Autophagy is a major degradation process of cytoplasmic components in eukaryotes, and executes both bulk and selective degradation of targeted cargos. A set of autophagy-related (ATG) proteins participate in various stages of the autophagic process. Among ATGs, ubiquitin-like protein ATG8 plays a central role in autophagy. The ATG8 protein is conjugated to the membrane lipid phosphatidylethanolamine in a ubiquitin-like conjugation reaction that is essential for autophagosome formation. In addition, ATG8 interacts with various adaptor/receptor proteins to recruit specific cargos for degradation by selective autophagy. The ATG8-interacting proteins usually contain the ATG8-interacting motif (AIM) or the ubiquitin-interacting motif (UIM) for ATG8 binding. Unlike a single ATG8 gene in yeast, multiple ATG8 orthologs have been identified in the plant kingdom. The large diversity within the ATG8 family may explain the various functions of selective autophagy in plants. Here, we discuss and summarize the current view of the structure and function of ATG8 proteins in plants.

Isoprenoids are the most abundant and highly diverse group of natural products. Many isoprenoids have been used for pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, flavors, cosmetics, food additives and biofuels. Carotenoids and isoprenoid-based biofuels are two classes of important isoprenoids. These isoprenoids have been produced microbially through metabolic engineering and synthetic biology efforts. Herein, we briefly review the engineered biosynthetic pathways in well-characterized microbial systems for the production of carotenoids and several isoprenoid-based biofuels.

Weak water stability of soil is one of the prime causes of soil erosion and slope damage. To understand the improvement on the water stability of sand by a soluble organic polymer (polyurethane, PU), we have conducted a series of water-stability and turbidity tests to evaluate the effects of different polymer content, densities, and immersion times. The mechanism of the improvements is investigated based on scanning electron and digital microscopes. Our results reveal that the polymer can effectively improve the water stability of sand, where the water-stability coefficient enhanced from zero to 100. The turbidity of the water after oscillation was determined, and its value reduced from 84.5 to 10 and kept stable, which further proved the PU improvement on the water stability of sand. The results can be considered as the reference for construction and management of riverbanks and drainage ditches.