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The aim of this paper was to explore the process of β-glucosidase-assisted extraction of flavonoids from thinned fruits of Guanxi pummelo and the inhibitory effect of the extracted flavonoids on tyrosinase. In this paper, the extraction amount of total flavonoids was used as the index, and the β-glucosidase activity, enzymatic hydrolysis pH, temperature and time were optimized by single factor and response surface experiments, and the inhibitory effect of total flavonoids extract on tyrosinase was studied. The results showed that the optimal conditions for the extraction of flavonoids from thinned fruits of Guanxi pummelo were as follows: β-Glucosidase enzyme activity 0.0128 U/mL, enzymolysis pH4.4, temperature 35 ℃, time 4.8 h. Under these conditions, the extraction amount of total flavonoids was 34.0 mg/g, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the flavonoids extract on tyrosinase was 0.31 mg/mL. The results of this study showed that the enzymatic process could significantly improve the extraction amount of flavonoids from thinned fruits of Guanxi pummelo, and the flavonoids from thinned fruits of Guanxi pummelo had strong tyrosinase inhibition. The results of this study provided a reference for the extraction and application of flavonoids from thinned fruits of Guanxi pummelo, which was conducive to promoting the high-value utilization of Guanxi pummelo.

Research incompetence has become a bottleneck hindering the professional development of many CETs (College English teachers) in China, and research on language teachers’ research engagement needs to be enriched. The study explores the CETs’ research engagement in the context of institutional performance evaluation reform at a Chinese non-key university. In-depth interviews of six practitioners show that the prospects of their research engagement are promising but restricted by many personal and contextual constraints. Their motivation to engage with/in research tends to be mainly external despite some gratifying internal drives. The symbiotic teaching-research nexus is not well maintained in practice, the research atmosphere needs improving, and competent research teams are expected to be established and well managed. The professional appraisal reform has initially enhanced the staff’s research enthusiasm, but the boost may wear off due to its weak implementation. The university administration should offer essential resources and relevant support to teachers struggling in their academic careers. Moreover, teachers’ agency to conduct research should be stimulated.

Tea products, such as instant tea, have been shown to improve the aroma of meat products. However, the mechanisms by which tea products enhance meat aroma have not been adequately explained. In this study, we analyzed the impact of instant tea on the aroma of duck meat. Our results showed that treatment with instant tea led to increases in floral, baked, and grassy notes while reducing fishy and fatty notes. Several alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, indole and dihydroactinidiolide exhibited significantly increased OAVs. Conversely, certain saturated aldehydes, unsaturated aldehydes and alcohols displayed significantly decreased OAVs. The enhanced floral, baked and grassy notes were attributed to volatile compounds present in instant tea. The reduction in fishy and fatty notes was linked to polyphenols in instant tea interacting with nonanal, undecanal, (E)-2-octenal, (E)-2-nonenal, (E)-2-decenal, and 2,4-decadienal through hydrophobic interactions and electronic effects. This study enhances our understanding of how tea products improve meat aromas.

Abstract The industrial applications of the κ-carrageenases have been restricted by their poor thermostability. In this study, based on the folding free energy change (ΔΔG) and the flexibility analysis using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation for the alkaline κ-carrageenase KCgCD from Pseudoalteromonas porphyrae (WT), the mutant S190R was identified with improved thermostability. After incubation at 50 °C for 30 min, the residual activity of S190R was 63.7%, 25.7% higher than that of WT. The T m values determined by differential scanning calorimetry were 66.2 °C and 64.4 °C for S190R and WT, respectively. The optimal temperature of S190R was 10 °C higher than that of WT. The κ-carrageenan hydrolysates produced by S190R showed higher xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity compared with the untreated κ-carrageenan. MD simulation analysis of S190R showed that the residues (V186–M194 and P196–G197) in F5 and the key residue R150 in F3 displayed the decreased flexibility, and residues of T169–N173 near the catalytic center displayed the increased flexibility. These changed flexibilities might be the reasons for the improved thermostability of mutant S190R. This study provides a useful rational design strategy of combination of ΔΔG calculation and MD simulation to improve the κ-carrageenase’s thermostability for its better industrial applications.

The genus Cinnamomum exhibits a rich variety of chemotypes and is an economically important essential oil (EO)-producing plant belonging to the family Lauraceae. Here, we aimed to explore the potential differences in the terpenoid (the principal components of EOs) biosynthesis pathways of different chemotypes at the molecular level in four Cinnamomum species—C. camphora var. linaloolifera, C. kanehirae, C. longipaniculatum, and C. micranthum. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to elucidate the discrepancies in the chemical profiles and compositions of leaf EO terpenoids among the four Cinnamomum species. The results revealed significant variations in leaf EO yields. The main constituents of the leaf EOs from C. camphora var. linaloolifera and C. kanehirae were the acyclic monoterpene linalool, and those of C. longipaniculatum and C. micranthum were the monoterpene eucalyptol and the sesquiterpene β-caryophyllene, respectively. Furthermore, a comparative transcriptome analysis of the leaves from the four Cinnamomum species revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in terpene-related entries. Specifically, 42 and 24 DEGs were significantly enriched to the mevalonate (MVA)/2-methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathways and terpene synthase (TPS) activity, respectively. Most genes encoding proteins involved in the terpenoid precursor MVA and MEP pathways exhibited differential expression across the four species, which correlated with the distinct terpenoid profiles observed in their leaf EOs. Four acyclic monoterpene linalool synthase genes—Maker00024100, Maker00014813, Maker00014818, and Maker00018424—were highly expressed in C. camphora var. linaloolifera and C. kanehirae. A monoterpene eucalyptol synthesis gene, Maker00001509, was highly expressed in C. longipaniculatum, and a sesquiterpene β-stigmasterol synthesis gene, Maker00005791, was highly expressed in C. micranthum. These expression levels were subsequently validated through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In conclusion, the combined results of the GC-MS and transcriptome analyses revealed a strong correlation between the metabolite content of the EOs and gene expression. This research contributes to a better understanding of the differences in terpene accumulation in various chemotypes of Cinnamomum at the molecular and mechanistic levels, laying a solid foundation for the cultivation of an ideal Cinnamomum variety.

Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SIMD) is associated with poor prognosis and increased mortality in patients with sepsis. Cytokines are important regulators of both the initiation and progression of sepsis. Interleukin-15 (IL-15), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, has been linked to protective effects against myocardial infarction and myocarditis. However, the role of IL-15 in SIMD remains unclear. We established a mouse model of SIMD via cecal ligation puncture (CLP) surgery and a cell model of myocardial injury via lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. IL-15 expression was prominently upregulated in septic hearts as well as cardiomyocytes challenged with LPS. IL-15 pretreatment attenuated cardiac inflammation and cell apoptosis and improved cardiac function in the CLP model. Similar cardioprotective effects of IL-15 pretreatment were observed in vitro. As expected, IL-15 knockdown had the opposite effect on LPS-stimulated cardiomyocytes. Mechanistically, we found that IL-15 pretreatment reduced the expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins cleaved caspase-3 and Bax and upregulated the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. RNA sequencing and Western blotting further confirmed that IL-15 pretreatment suppressed the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling in mice with sepsis. Besides, the addition of NF-κB inhibitor can significantly attenuate cardiomyocyte apoptosis compared to the control findings. Our results suggest that IL-15 pretreatment attenuated the cardiac inflammatory responses and reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by partially inhibiting NF-κB signaling in vivo and in vitro, thereby improving cardiac function in mice with sepsis. These findings highlight a promising therapeutic strategy for SIMD.

Abstract Objectives The incidence of multiple primary lung cancer (MPLC) has increased in recent years. The risk factors of MPLC are not well studied, especially in the Asian population. This case-control study investigated the association between a family history of cancer and MPLC risk. Methods We used data from people who surgically confirmed MPLC with at least 2 nodes of Fujian Medical University Union Hospital and matched 1:2 normal individuals as controls between 2016 and 2017. Information on age, sex, lifestyle, personal history, and family history of cancer was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, and odds ratios (OR) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. Results We included 2 104 patients. In total, 321 patients with histologically confirmed MPLC and 642 healthy controls were studied. The significantly higher ratio of current smokers was observed for the cases than the controls (54.1% vs. 30.0%). A family history of LC in first-degree relatives of the cases reported a significantly higher proportion than in the controls (15.3% vs. 8.6%). Family history of all cancers and LC significantly increased the risk of MPLC (OR = 1.64, P = 0.009 and OR = 2.59, P = 0.000, respectively). The multivariate analysis identified a significantly increased risk of MPLC (OR = 2.45, P = 0.000) associated with parents and siblings influenced by LC history. The younger age (aged

Erythritol, a natural sweetener, is widely used in the food, medicinal and chemical industries because of its advantages of low calorie, good stability and high food safety. Yarrowia lipolytica is widely used as an efficient fermentation strain for erythritol production. However, the current research on erythritol production by Yarrowia lipolytica concentrates on control of the fermentation process and metabolic pathway regulation and has bottlenecks in the yield of erythritol and the fermentation process. On this basis, this article reviews recent progress in research on erythritol production by Yarrowia lipolytica from three aspects: fermentation substrate utilization, fermentation process control and metabolic pathway modification by genetic engineering. This review is expected to provide a reference for breaking the bottlenecks in erythritol production by Yarrowia lipolytica.

In order to improve the quality of wheat noodles, the compounding gels were prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of konjac gum and carrageenan to study its effects on quality of wheat noodle. The additions of compounding gels, salt and water were selected as single factors, and cooking, texture, and sensory properties were used as evaluation indexes to optimize the processing condition of wheat noodles by response surface and principal component analysis. The optimum formula determined as follows: based on 150 g of wheat flour as 100%, the compounding gel was 3%, salt was 1% and water was 43%. Under these conditions, the improved noodles had the best comprehensive quality, with a cooking yield of 64% and a cooking loss of 4.5%. Compared with the traditional wheat noodles, the cooking yield, hardness and chewiness of the improved noodles were increased by 3.8%, 18.6% and 2.1%, respectively, whereas the cooking loss and stickiness values decreased by 7.3% and 2.9%, respectively. The comprehensive quality of noodles was improved with sensory score increasing from 69.9 to 82.9. This study showed that enzymatic konjac gum and carrageenan compound gelling agent could be used as a noodle improver to enhance the quality of wheat noodles, and the results of the study provided a certain reference for the development of konjac gum and carrageenan compound gelling agent and its application research.

It is important to eliminate the fishy odor and improve the aroma quality of seafood. In this study, the Saccharina japonica (S. japonica) seedling, which is a new food material, was investigated for the effects of fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) through sensory evaluation, GC–MS, and odor activity value (OAV) analysis. GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of 43 volatile compounds in the unfermented S. japonica seedling, with 1-octen-3-ol, hexanal, and trans-2,4-decadienal identified as the main contributors to its fishy odor. After fermentation with S. cerevisiae, 26 volatile compounds were identified in the S. japonica seedling. Notably, the major malodorous fish compounds, including 1-octen-3-ol, hexanal and trans-2,4-decadienal, were no longer present. The results indicate that fermentation with S. cerevisiae is an effective method for removing fishy malodor compounds and enhancing the volatile components with fruity, sweet, green, and floral notes in the Saccharina japonica seedling. This process facilitates the elimination of fishy malodor and enhance the fruity, sweet, green, and floral notes of S. japonica seeding and other seaweeds.

The potato rot nematode (Ditylenchus destructor) is a very economically important nematode in agronomic and horticultural plants worldwide. In this study, 43 populations of D. destructor were collected from different hosts across China, including 37 populations from Chinese herbal medicine plants. Obtained sequences of ITS-rDNA and D2–D3 of 28S-rDNA genes of D. destructor were compared and analyzed. Nine types of significant length variations in ITS sequences were observed among all populations. The differences in ITS1 length were mainly caused by the presence of repetitive elements with substantial base substitutions. Reconstructions of ITS1 secondary structures showed that the minisatellites formed a stem structure. Ten haplotypes were observed in all populations based on mutations and variations of helix H9. Among them, 3 known haplotypes (A–C) were found in 7 populations isolated from potato, sweet potato, and Codonopsis pilosula, and 7 unique haplotypes were found in other 36 populations collected from C. pilosula and Angelica sinensis compared with 7 haplotypes (A–G) according to Subbotin’ system. These unique haplotypes were different from haplotypes A–G, and we named them as haplotypes H–N. The present results showed that a total of 14 haplotypes (A–N) of ITS-rDNA have been found in D. destructor. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS-rDNA and D2–D3 showed that all populations of D. destructor were clustered into two major clades: one clade only containing haplotype A from sweet potato and the other containing haplotypes B–N from other plants. For further verification, PCR-ITS-RFLP profiles were conducted on 7 new haplotypes. Collectively, our study suggests that D. destructor populations on Chinese medicinal materials are very different from those on other hosts and this work provides a paradigm for relevant researches.

Due to its traditional fermentation, there are obvious limits on the quality improvements in black tea. However, microbial fermentation can provide an abundance of metabolites and improve the flavor of tea. The “golden flower” fungi are widely used in the microbial fermentation of tea and has unique uses in healthcare. To further explore the improvements in black tea quality achieved via microbial fermentation, we used widely targeted metabolomics and metagenomics analyses to investigate the changes in and effects of metabolites and other microorganisms during the interaction between the “golden flower” fungi and black tea. Five key flavor metabolites were detected, the levels of catechin, epigallocatechin gallate, (−)-epicatechin gallate were decreased by different degrees after the inoculation of the “golden flower” fungus, whereas the levels of caffeine and (+)-gallocatechin increased. Botryosphaeriaceae, Botryosphaeriales, Dothideomycetes, Aspergillaceae, Trichocomaceae, and Lecanoromycetes play a positive role in the black tea fermentation process after inoculation with the “golden flower” fungi. D-Ribose can prevent hypoxia-induced apoptosis in cardiac cells, and it shows a strong correlation with Botryosphaeriaceae and Botryosphaeriales. The interaction between microorganisms and metabolites is manifested in tryptophan metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. In conclusion, the changes in metabolites observed during the fermentation of black tea by “golden flower” fungi are beneficial to human health. This conclusion extends the knowledge of the interaction between the “golden flower” fungi and black tea, and it provides important information for improving the quality of black tea.

Abstract At present, the image encryption algorithm based on the bit‐plane has the problem that the encryption speed and the encryption effect cannot be well balanced. To address the problem, an image layered scrambling encryption algorithm is proposed in this paper. First, a new one‐dimensional Cosine Logistic compound chaotic map (1DCLC) is proposed. Several characteristics of the new chaotic map are analyzed by using various measures, such as bifurcation diagram, Lyapunov exponent, sample entropy etc. And the results show that the novel chaotic map has a better chaotic performance. Second, based on the chaotic map, an image encryption algorithm is proposed. The algorithm first performs an XOR encryption operation on the image. Second, the layered scrambling is applied to the XOR encrypted image. Then the layered and scrambled image is recombined for the second XOR encryption operation. In particular, in the layered scrambling, not only can the position of the pixel be changed but also the value of the pixel can be modified, which improves the security of the algorithm. In addition, in order to defend against various plaintext attacks and increase the security of the overall algorithm, the Hash function is introduced to update the key of the proposed algorithm. Finally, the original algorithm is improved and the improved algorithm's ability to resist differential attacks is analyzed. The experimental simulation and security test results show that the proposed encryption algorithm has a comparable encryption effect and a faster encryption speed.

Water loss is one of the most significant quality deterioration characteristics of passion fruit during postharvest storage, transportation and marketing, which seriously affects its commercial value. In this study, Low Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (LF-NMR) was employed to investigate the water loss process of golden passion fruit during storage, and the relationship between water loss and quality deterioration was analyzed. The results of LF-NMR showed that the proton density of the pulp and peel of golden passion fruit decreased significantly during storage, which was consistent with the appearance after severe water loss; additionally, the water loss of fruit was mainly free water with 14.98% decrease, while the bound water decreased significantly in the later stage of storage; and the degree of water loss was related to the process of postharvest ripening and senescence. Further studies showed that there were two respiratory peaks during postharvest ripening period of golden passion fruit, meanwhile the water and weight loss was low, and the decreased chlorophyll content and increased carotenoid content contributed to higher brightness and hue; moreover, the total soluble solids (TSS) content decreased slightly, but titratable acid (TA) and fruit firmness decreased remarkably, indicating a normal postharvest ripening of fruit with rare rot. However, in the senescence period, the respiration rate declined as the water and weight loss increased, and the brightness and hue decreased as the carotenoid reduced rapidly; Furthermore, the TSS and TA contents, and fruit firmness kept decreasing, along with a rapid increase of decay rate. Therefore, the severe water loss of golden passion fruit could not only cause significant loss of weight and freshness, but also induce changes in physiological metabolism, cellular and tissular structure, which reduced fruit storage tolerance and accelerated quality deterioration. This study can provide reference for the study on the mechanism of water loss and corresponding control technology of passion fruit, as well as the non-destructive testing of water status in postharvest fruit and vegetables.

This work evaluated the potential of Camellia pollen extracts as an antioxidant and lipase activity inhibitor from the pollen composition and the extraction solvent. The lipase inhibitory activity, the scavenging radical’s ability (ABTS and DPPH) and the ferric-reducing ability of the seven extracts were examined. The fatty acid profile of the extracts with excellent antioxidant and lipase inhibitory activity was also determined by GC-MS. The ethyl acetate (IC50 = 2.07 ± 0.20 mg/mL) and the acetone extracts (IC50 = 1.19 ± 0.07 mg/mL) showed better lipase inhibitory activity. For the antioxidant activity, the methanol (IC50 = 2.55 ± 0.34 mg/mL), ethanol (IC50 = 2.87 ± 0.23 mg/mL) and the water (IC50 = 2.62 ± 0.05 mg/mL) extracts had superior ABTS radical-scavenging ability. Greater DPPH radical-scavenging ability was seen in the ethanol (IC50 = 2.92 ± 0.04 mg/mL) and acetone extracts (IC50 = 3.09 ± 0.12 mg/mL). The ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts manifested better FRAP. The fatty acid composition of the methanol and ethyl acetate extracts belonged to the unsaturated fatty acids. This study indicated that the lipase inhibitory activity and the antioxidant activity found in Camellia pollen may exert dual benefits for preventing and treating obesity.

Intermittent partial discharge has become an essential threat to the safety and stability of high voltage electrical equipment. In order to reduce the sudden insulation breakdown failure due to the intermittent and latent partial discharge of the operating equipment, this paper analyzes the discharge characteristics of the intermittent partial discharge in the constant voltage mode. The UHF partial discharge spectrum of typical intermittent partial discharges is obtained, and the intermittent discharges are divided into low-risk and high-risk categories by adopting PCA and FCM cluster algorithms. Aiming at the characteristics of intermittent partial discharge and the on-line monitoring method of partial discharge, a partial discharge signal collection method based on dynamic frequency is proposed. An intelligent monitoring system of intermittent partial discharge is designed to acquire partial discharge signals initially locate defects. Then the BP neural network method is applied to automatically evaluate and early warn the internal insulation status. The test concluded that the designed monitoring system for intermittent partial discharge could dynamically track and warn the low-risk and high-risk, and evaluate the insulation status of the equipment.

Abstract Background Dandelion is an herb with high nutritional and medicinal values, which has been listed in Chinese Pharmacopeia, European Pharmacopoeia and British Pharmacopoeia, gaining increasing acceptance around the world. However, the current quality control of dandelion is lagging behind. Only in Chinese Pharmacopeia, cichoric acid is used as a marker compound for its quality evaluation, whereas, it can not comprehensively reflect the bioactivity of dandelion. Methods This study developed a strategy by integrating chemometrics with in silico pharmacology to reveal the bioactive markers of dandelion for its quality control. Firstly, the major chemicals in dandelion were characterized using HPLC-DAD-MS/MS, and the corresponding antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated in vitro. Subsequently, the active components were screened by relating the chemicals and bioactivity of dandelion via grey relational assay and partial least squares regression analysis. The potential active components were then subjected to a validation for their activities. Moreover, in silico pharmacology was utilized to evaluate the contribution of active components to efficacy. Results A total of 22 phenolic compounds were characterized. Among them, cichoric acid, caffeic acid and luteolin were identified as quality markers owing to their good correlations with the bioactivities of dandelion. These three markers were quantified in frequently-used dandelion species, viz. Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz. (TAM) and T. officinale F. H. Wigg. (TAO). TAM, with acceptably higher content of cichoric acid and caffeic acid, showed better antioxidant activity than TAO. While TAO included higher content of luteolin, presenting slightly more effective in anti-inflammation. Conclusion An useful strategy for the quality marker discovery was successfully designed. And the results provided more knowledge for the quality evaluation of dandelion.

Key points Microbulbifer sp. ALW1 has Laminaria japonica degradation capability. Genomic information of strain ALW1 is useful for analysing the polysaccharides degradation process. Microbulbifer sp. ALW1 could be potentially applied in producing functional materials.

Background Risk stratification for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is important for clinical decision-making and prognosis evaluation. As changes have been found in clinical characteristics and management of AMI, the current existing clinical risk score for AMI may be inapplicable to clinical practice. To effectively implement strategies of individualized management for AMI patients, it is necessary to improve the prediction accuracy of long-term major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in AMI after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) . Objective To develop a predictive model for long-term MACEs in AMI patients after PCI. Methods Among the 1 130 AMI patients treated with PCI in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from January 1 to July 31, 2019, 962 eligible cases were enrolled, and their clinical data and laboratory examination indices were collected. Follow-up of the patients was performed via telephone interviews at a median of 2.4 years. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, malignant arrhythmia, new heart failure or readmission due to exacerbated heart failure, and unplanned revascularization. Patients were divided into event (122 cases) and non-event (840 cases) groups according to the prevalence of MACEs during the follow-up period. Lasso regression was conducted to identify candidate risk factors of long-term MACEs. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to construct the prediction model and the nomograms. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the discrimination ability of the prediction model. The efficacy of the predictive model was assessed by comparing with that of the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score in terms of the net reclassification improvement (NRI) and the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) . Results The prevalence of MACEs was 12.7% (122/962) . Five predictive variables were identified by Lasso regression, which included ST-segment deviation, diabetes history, hemoglobin (Hb) , left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) , and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) . The algorithm of the prediction model developed using multivariate Logistic regression was: logit (P) =3.596-0.023×X1-0.014×X2-0.036×X3+0.726×X4+1.372×X5 (X1-X5 indicate Hb, eGFR, LVEF, diabetes, and ST-segment deviation, respectively) . ST-segment deviation, diabetes, LVEF, and Hb were associated with MACEs in AMI patients after PCI (P

Refined conditions of konjac glucomannan (KGM), physicochemical properties and structural characterization of KGM before and after refining and its blend with κ-carrageenan were explored in this study. Furthermore, the correlation between physicochemical properties of KGM and gel properties of the blend was also determined. The result showed that refined conditions of KGM were as follows: Refined ethanol concentration 60%, swelling time 2 h, swelling temperature 50 ℃. With this treatment, the glucomannan content, viscosity, brightness and whiteness of KGM were increased by 34.43%, 128.55%, 17.94% and 28.29%, respectively. Gel strength, hardness, chewiness and gumminess of its blend with κ-carrageenan were significantly increased by 47.39%, 60.47%, 55.44%, and 45.87%（P < 0.05）, respectively. The best gel properties of the blend were obtained with the enhanced hydrogen bond force, smoother and tighter gel network structure. In addition, physicochemical properties of KGM e.g. glucomannan content, viscosity, color and flavor were considered to be the key factors to improve quality of the blend gel. This study could provide an efficient and simple refined method for development of KGM and carrageenan blend with high gel strength, and lay a theoretical foundation for the industrial production of refined KGM in future.

Ecological forests are an important part of terrestrial ecosystems, are an important carbon sink and play a pivotal role in the global carbon cycle. At present, the comprehensive utilization of optical and radar data has broad application prospects in forest parameter extraction and biomass estimation. In this study, tree and topographic data of 354 plots in key nature reserves of Liaoning Province were used for biomass analysis. Remote sensing parameters were extracted from Landsat 8 OLI and Sentinel-1A radar data. Based on the strong correlation factors obtained via Pearson correlation analysis, a linear model, BP neural network model and PSO neural network model were used to simulate the biomass of the study area. The advantages of the three models were compared and analyzed, and the optimal model was selected to invert the biomass of Liaoning province. The results showed that 44 factors were correlated with forest biomass (p < 0.05), and 21 factors were significantly correlated with forest biomass (p < 0.01). The comparison between the prediction results of the three models and the real results shows that the PSO-improved neural network simulation results are the best, and the coefficient of determination is 0.7657. Through analysis, it is found that there is a nonlinear relationship between actual biomass and remote sensing data. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) can effectively solve the problem of low accuracy in traditional BP neural network models while maintaining a good training speed. The improved particle swarm model has good accuracy and speed and has broad application prospects in forest biomass inversion.

BackgroundST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients are at a high residual risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) after revascularization. Risk factors modify prognostic risk in distinct ways in different STEMI subpopulations. We developed a MACEs prediction model in patients with STEMI and examined its performance across subgroups.MethodsMachine-learning models based on 63 clinical features were trained in patients with STEMI who underwent PCI. The best-performing model (the iPROMPT score) was further validated in an external cohort. Its predictive value and variable contribution were studied in the entire population and subgroups.ResultsOver 2.56 and 2.84 years, 5.0% and 8.33% of patients experienced MACEs in the derivation and external validation cohorts, respectively. The iPROMPT score predictors were ST-segment deviation, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), age, hemoglobin, and white blood cell (WBC) count. The iPROMPT score improved the predictive value of the existing risk score, with an increase in the area under the curve to 0.837 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.784–0.889] in the derivation cohort and 0.730 (95% CI: 0.293–1.162) in the external validation cohort. Comparable performance was observed between subgroups. The ST-segment deviation was the most important predictor, followed by LDL-C in hypertensive patients, BNP in males, WBC count in females with diabetes mellitus, and eGFR in patients without diabetes mellitus. Hemoglobin was the top predictor in non-hypertensive patients.ConclusionThe iPROMPT score predicts long-term MACEs following STEMI and provides insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms for subgroup differences.

This narrative inquiry traces a Chinese college English teacher’s cognitive transformation in the teaching-research nexus over a 4-year time period from the perspective of sociocultural theory (SCT). Several stories were narrated based on the data from reflective journals, literature reading notes, and interaction notes to show how the participant walked out of the teaching-research contradiction and finally achieved professional development. The findings indicate that the college English teacher’s perception of the research-teaching nexus developed when she actively exercised her agency to take part in social interactions in a supportive sociocultural environment with the regulation of appropriate mediational tools. The conceptual progress in the research-teaching nexus finally contributed to her professional development in both teaching and research. The findings of this study have implications for non-key universities and their academics on how to effectively promote teaching-research integration.

Why do people who seem to be doing well in the workplace occasionally behave badly? Because these employees may be using impression management tactics to create an image. Existing studies have focused on comparing the differences in the use of impression management among different individuals, but cannot explain why a well-behaved individual sometimes behaves badly. Based on the theory of self-control resources, we adopts the survey method of job logs and collects the data of 121 employees. The results show that: (1) the use of self-promotion tactics and ingratiation tactics will promote the depletion of self-control resources. (2) The depletion of self-control resources will encourage employees to engage in counterproductive work behaviors. (3) The effect of self-promotion tactic and ingratiation tactic on the depletion of self-control resources was moderated by emotional intelligence. In the case of high emotional intelligence, this effect is attenuated. And vice versa. (4) Under high emotional intelligence and low emotional intelligence, the indirect effects of self-promotion tactic and ingratiation tactic on employees’ counterproductive work behaviors are significantly different. Our research breaks through the between-individual perspective and illustrates the double-edged sword effect of self-promotion tactic and ingratiation tactic on employee counterproductive work behavior and its mechanism from the internal perspective, which is highly innovative.

The extraction of cellulose from the young fruit of Guanxi honey pomelo was studied by ultrasonic assisted alkaline hydrogen peroxide method. On the basis of single factor experiments, taking the cellulose purity as the index, the combination experiment of Design-Expert 8.0 design center was used to optimize the extraction process of cellulose by response surface analysis, the cellulose was analyzed by IR and SEM. The results showed that the change of ultrasonic power had no significant effect on the purity and yield of cellulose, but water bath temperature, ultrasonic time, volume fraction of hydrogen peroxide solution and mass concentration of sodium hydroxide solution had significant effects on the purity and yield of cellulose. The optimum extraction conditions were as follows: Ultrasonic power 200 W, ultrasonic time 40 min, water bath temperature 80 ℃, H2O2 volume fraction 0.9%, NaOH mass concentration 9%. Under these conditions, the predicted value of cellulose purity was 88.48%, and the measured value was 88.95%, under this condition, the yield of cellulose was 17.65%. Infrared analysis showed that cellulose was successfully prepared. SEM analysis showed that the surface structure of cellulose was looser and the gully was deeper than that of Guanxi honey pomelo young fruit before treatment. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that cellulose had type I structure and the crystallinity was 44.26%. This experiment optimized the ultrasonic assisted alkaline hydrogen peroxide extraction process of cellulose from young fruits of Guanxi honey pomelo. It was an efficient and easy to popularize cellulose preparation method, which would provide a reference for the utilization of young fruits of Guanxi honey pomelo and the development of cellulose.

In this study, based on the traditional hot water extraction-ethanol precipitation method for fucoidan, the ethanol-free extraction process of kelp fucoidan was studied in accordance with the difference in the fucose contents and sulfate groups of fucoidans and their beneficial biological activities. Three extraction methods including hot water extraction-ethanol precipitation method, hot water extraction-acid precipitation method, and hot water extraction-acid precipitation-enzymatic hydrolysis assisted extraction method, were applied to prepare fucoidans, and three fucoidan samples (sample 1, sample 2 and sample 3) were obtained, respectively. Fucose and sulfuric acid group-contents and biological activities (antioxidant, antibacterial activities) analysis results showed that the contents of fucose and sulfate groups in fucoidan (sample 3) prepared by hot water extraction-acid precipitation-enzymatic assisted hydrolysis method were 41.10%±0.87% and 24.90%±0.15%, respectively, which were significantly higher than the Trade Standard requirements of fucoidan (SC/T 3404-2012), samples 1 and sample 2. Meanwhile, the sample 3 also had the best antioxidant and antibacterial activities in three fucoidan samples. The Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the key process conditions of hot water extraction-acid precipitation-enzymatic hydrolysis assisted extraction of fucoidan. The best extraction process parameters were obtained as follows: Extraction temperature was 90℃, extraction time was 2.0 h, liquid material ratio was 40:1 mL/g, and the extraction yield reached 9.65%±0.11%. In this study, raction rate of fucoidan and the biological activity of fucoidan prepared by hot water extraction-acid precipitation-enzymatic assisted hydrolysis method were significantly higher than those prepared by hot water extraction-ethanol precipitation method and hot water extraction-acid precipitation method, therefore, the hot water extraction-acid precipitation-enzymatic assisted hydrolysis method digestion would be a good process to effectively replace the hot water extraction-ethanol precipitation method for fucoidan extraction.

Abstract Purpose The microbial community in the pit mud correlated closely with the quality of the final product of Chinese strong-flavored Baijiu (CSFB). However, environmental conditions and brewing processes can vary by region and distilleries. This may lead to differences in microbial composition and function in pit mud. Therefore, revealing the features of the pit mud microbial community structure and functions of different distilleries will provide key information for understanding the diversity and difference of microbes in the brewing of CSFB, which will be beneficial for the improvement of the quality of pit mud and CSFB in the future. Methods and results Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons was used to analyze the similarities and differences in microbial community structure and function in pit muds of different distilleries located in Shihezi (Xinjiang), Xiangyang (Hubei), and Yibin (Sichuan). At the genus level, Clostridium, Lactobacillus, Aminobacterium, Petrimonas, Syntrophomonas, Methanoculleus, Syntrophaceticus, Sedimentibacter, Caloramator, Ruminococcus, Bacillus, Methanosarcina, and Garciella were the dominated genera of pit muds. There were great differences in the composition of microorganisms in pit muds used by different distilleries. The significantly enriched prokaryotic microbiotas of pit muds collected in the distilleries of Xiangyang were mainly affiliated with Bacillus, Lactobacillus, and Croceifilum, and the relative abundance of methanogens, such as Methanomicrobia and Methanobacteria, were only significantly enriched in the pit mud collected from the distilleries of Yibin (P < 0.05). Functional analysis indicated that the difference of microbial composition in pit mud will further lead to significant differences in various metabolic functions. Conclusion The compositions and functions of dominant microorganisms in pit mud used for the production of CSFB by different enterprises across regions in China were greatly different, and there was a close relationship between the compositions and functions of microorganisms in pit mud. Therefore, it may be an effective method to improve CSFB fermentation processes by directionally regulating the microbial community functions of pit mud using specific strains.

Aiming at the problems of complex equations, low accuracy, and the strict measurement point layout requirements of the existing electric field integration method, a non-contact measurement method based on the inversion voltage of the near electric field is proposed. Firstly, the field source relationship is clarified, the connection between the spatial electric field and the voltage is derived, and a near-end electric field inversion method is proposed. Secondly, a three-dimensional simulation model of an overhead line is established using COMSOL finite element software, the three-dimensional spatial potential distribution of the overhead line is obtained, and the voltage is inverted and calculated. Finally, an overhead line simulation test platform was built, and MEMS electric field sensors were used for testing and verification. The results show that the maximum error of the three-phase voltage inversion of the proximal electric field measurement is 6.8%, and the error between the voltage obtained by the experimental inversion measurement and the reference voltage is less than 7.2%. The simulation and experimental results also verify the accuracy and feasibility of the inversion voltage of the proximal electric field. The results of this paper can lay a foundation for the practical application of small and miniaturized electric field sensors, and help in the construction and development of smart grids.

ObjectiveDifferent semicircular canal surgery techniques have been used to treat patients with labyrinthine fistulas caused by middle ear cholesteatoma. This study evaluated postoperative hearing and vestibular function after various semicircular canal surgeries.Materials and methodsIn group 1, from January 2008 to December 2014, 29 patients with middle ear cholesteatoma complicated by labyrinthine fistulas were treated with surgery involving covering the fistulas with simple fascia. In group 2, from January 2015 to October 2021, 36 patients with middle ear cholesteatoma complicated by labyrinthine fistulas were included. Cholesteatomas on the surface of type I labyrinthine fistulas were cleaned using the “under water technique” and capped with a “sandwich” composed of fascia, bone meal, and fascia. Cholesteatomas on the surface of type II and III fistulas were cleaned using the “under water technique,” and the labyrinthine fistula was plugged with a “pie” composed of fascia, bone meal, and fascia, and then covered with bone wax.ResultsSome patients with labyrinthine fistulas in group 1 exhibited symptoms of vertigo after surgery. In group 2 Patients with type II labyrinthine fistulas experienced short-term vertigo after semicircular canal occlusion, but no cases of vertigo were reported during long-term follow-up. “sandwich.” In patients with type II labyrinthine fistulas, the semicircular canal occlusion influenced postoperative hearing improvement. However, postoperative patient hearing was still superior to preoperative hearing.ConclusionThe surface of type I labyrinthine fistulas should be capped by a “sandwich” composed of fascia, bone meal, and fascia. Type II and III labyrinthine fistulas should be plugged with a “pie” composed of fascia, bone meal, and fascia, covered with bone wax.

Abstract Due to their excellent mechanical properties and good biocompatibility, titanium alloys have become a popular research topic in the field of medical metal implants. However, the surface of the titanium alloy does not exhibit biological activity, which may cause poor integration between the interface of the titanium implant and the interface of the bone tissue and subsequently may cause the implant to fall off. Therefore, surface biological inertness is one of the problems that titanium alloys must overcome to become an ideal orthopedic implant material. Surface modification can improve the biological properties of titanium, thereby enhancing its osseointegration effect. Copper is an essential trace element for the human body, can promote bone formation and plays an important role in maintaining the physiological structure and function of bone and bone growth and development. In this study, a microporous copper-titanium dioxide coating was prepared on the surface of titanium by microarc oxidation. Based on the evaluation of its surface characteristics, the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells were observed. A titanium rod was implanted into the rabbit femoral condyle, and the integration of the coating and bone tissue was evaluated. Our research results show that the microporous copper-titanium dioxide coating has a nearly three-dimensional porous structure, and copper is incorporated into the coating without changing the structure of the coating. In vitro experiments found that the coating can promote the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. In vivo experiments further confirmed that the titanium copper-titanium dioxide microporous coating can promote the osseointegration of titanium implants. In conclusion, copper-titanium dioxide microporous coatings can be prepared by microarc oxidation, which can improve the biological activity and biocompatibility of titanium, promote new bone formation and demonstrate good osteoinductive properties. Therefore, the use of this coating in orthopedics has potential clinical application.