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The solar conversion efficiencies of photoelectrochemical catalysis are hindered by the light harvesting range. Here, the authors use near-infrared-active photoanodes that feature lattice-matched morphological hetero-nanostructures to realize efficient photoelectrochemical hydrogen production.

Summary: Solar thermal conversion (STC) evaporation is a practical and sustainable technology for seawater desalination and sewage abatement. However, both the limited evaporation efficiency and long-term conversion stability restrain its practical application. Herein, a lotus morphology-inspired biomimetic evaporator (MBE) with Janus wettability and bimodal pores is well designed for high-rate and enduring STC evaporation. Just like lotus leaves, the hydrophobic surface of the MBE cuts off the capillarity of water, hence achieving high-efficient salt resistance and solar absorption, while the hydrophilic substance provides fast water transportation. The bimodal-pore structures formed by incorporating lotus root-like mesopores into the 3D truss-like macropores effectively decrease density and thermal conductivity for self-floating and thermal regulation. This results in a low water vaporization enthalpy of 1846 J g−1, leading to a much higher evaporation rate at the same conversion efficiency. This work may open new avenues for developing high-performance evaporation systems.

To evaluate the crack sensitivity of Q350EW high-chromium weathering resistant steel during continuous cast⁃ ing， the high-temperature thermoplastic characteristics of Q350EW high-chromium weathering resistant steel were studied using Gleeble3500 thermal simulation testing machine， and the distribution of precipitates in the steel was calculated us⁃ ing Thermo-Calc thermodynamic software. Scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy were used to observe and analyze the macrostructure and microstructure morphology of high-temperature tensile fractures and microstructure at the fractures. The research results indicate that as the heating temperature increases， the tensile strength of the test steel de⁃ creases； The cross-sectional shrinkage curve shows a concave valley around 700 ℃-800 ℃， with the lowest cross-sectional shrinkage of 64. 9% at 775 ℃. The fracture morphology within the range of concave valley temperature is mainly composed of ductile dimples， and its fracture mechanism is ductile fracture. Microscopic analysis shows that ferrite appears at the grain boundaries of the original austenite， leading to a decrease in plasticity. However， due to the high content of ferrite， the plasticity of Q350EW high chromium weather resistant steel still remains at a high level. By optimizing key process pa⁃ rameters such as secondary cooling during continuous casting， the risk of cracking in Q350EW high chromium weather re⁃ sistant steel billets can be reduced. It is recommended that the temperature of the corner bending and straightening section of the billets be less than 750 ℃.

Abstract Our comprehensive understanding of the multi-species ACE2 adaptiveness of sarbecoviruses remains elusive, particularly for those with various receptor binding motif (RBM) insertions/deletions (indels). Here, we analyzed RBM sequences from 268 sarbecoviruses categorized into four RBM indel types. We examined the ability of 20 representative sarbecovirus Spike glycoproteins (S) and derivatives in utilizing ACE2 from various bats and several other mammalian species. We reveal that sarbecoviruses with long RBMs (type-I) can achieve broad ACE2 tropism, whereas viruses with single deletions in Region 1 (type-II) or Region 2 (type-III) exhibit narrower ACE2 tropism. Sarbecoviruses with double region deletions (type-IV) completely lost ACE2 usage, which is restricted by clade-specific residues within and outside RBM. Lastly, we propose the evolution of sarbecovirus RBM indels and illustrate how loop lengths, disulfide, and residue determinants shape multi-species ACE2 adaptiveness. This study provides profound insights into the mechanisms governing ACE2 usage and spillover risks of sarbecoviruses.

To extend its shelf life, vacuum freeze-dried Toona sinensis (VFDTS) powder was packaged in sealed polyethylene (PE) bags, sealed aluminum foil bags, composite vacuum bags, or aluminum foil vacuum bags. Changes in the sensory quality, moisture content, color, flavor components and total bacterial count of VFDTS powder were monitored during storage under accelerated conditions at (55 ± 1) ℃ and (40 ± 3)% relative humidity (RH). The results showed that VFDTS powder packaged in sealed PE bags exhibited severe moisture absorption and browning with prolonged storage time, and the total bacterial count significantly increased. On the other hand, the moisture content, color and total bacterial count of the powder stored in aluminum foil vacuum bags remained substantially unchanged. A total of 56 volatile compounds were identified in VFDTS powder stored in the different packaging systems, including 13 alcohols, 11 aldehydes, 3 acids, 3 terpenes, 7 ketones, 9 esters, one ether, 2 sulfur compounds, 3 alkanes, and 4 heterocycles. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the volatile compounds showed clear separation among VFDTS powder samples stored in the 4 packaging systems. Based on variable importance in projection (VIP > 1) from orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), a total of 14 differential volatile compounds were selected, and their clustering heatmaps could be used to effectively classify the samples in different packaging systems. The samples in aluminum foil vacuum bags had the best quality, followed by sealed aluminum foil bags and composite vacuum bags, while the greatest changes in moisture, color, flavor and microbiological quality were observed in VFDTS powder in sealed PE bags during storage.

Abstract Mammals exhibit different rates of cancer, with long-lived species generally showing greater resistance. Although bats have been suggested to be resistant to cancer due to their longevity, this has yet to be systematically examined. Here, we investigate cancer resistance across seven bat species by activating oncogenic genes in their primary cells. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that Myotis pilosus (MPI) is particularly resistant to cancer. The transcriptomic and functional analyses reveal that the downregulation of three genes (HIF1A, COPS5, and RPS3) largely contributes to cancer resistance in MPI. Further, we identify the loss of a potential enhancer containing the HIF1A binding site upstream of COPS5 in MPI, resulting in the downregulation of COPS5. These findings not only provide direct experimental evidence for cancer resistance in a bat species but also offer insights into the natural mechanisms of cancer resistance in mammals.

This study evaluated the β-glucosidase activities of 10 strains of Lactobacillus plantrum, L. helveticus, L. pentosus, and Streptococcus thermophilus) and compared the fermentation performance of the strains and the antioxidant properties and flavor quality of soymilk fermented by each of these strains. Moreover, the contents of isoflavones in fermented soymilk were analyzed. The results showed differences in the β-glucosidase activity of the different LABs, all of which showed good growth in soymilk, and L. plantarum was more suitable for growth in soymilk. LAB fermentation promoted the conversion of soybean isoflavones to active aglycones, and improved the nutritional characteristics of soymilk. Meanwhile, LAB changed the composition and content of volatile components, and effectively reduced the contents of hexanal, nonanal and 2-pentylfuran, which have been reported to be responsible for beany flavor, while retaining the characteristic aroma compounds of soymilk. Strains LPL044 and LPL051, with the highest β-glucosidase activity, showed the strongest ability to convert soymilk isoflavones, and the fermented soymilk had the highest contents of total phenols and total flavonoids, the strongest antioxidant activity and the best sensory quality, so they have greater research and development value compared with the other LABs.

Background It is urgently necessary to find new drugs for chronic prostatitis (CP) as desired treatment effect is still yet to be achieved. Our previous clinical study has found that Anemone tomentosa (Maxim.) Péi has a good effect on CP, but the specific mechanism of action remains to be further studied. Objective To investigate the role of prostasome-derived miRNA-146a in regulating toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB (TLR-4/NF-κB) pathway and the mechanism of action of Anemone tomentosa in treating chronic inflammation in experimental autoimmune prostatitis (EAP) rats. Methods This study was conducted between December 2021 and June 2022. Forty-two Wistar rats were equally divided into seven groups using a random number table, including normal group, model group, low-, medium- and high-dose Anemone tomentosa groups, miRNA-146a mimics and inhibitor groups. After drug intervention, miRNA-146a-5p mRNA in prostasome was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and TLR-4, inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB), phosphorylation of IκB (p-IκB) and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) protein were detected by western blot, and inflammatory cytokines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Compared with normal group, the expression level of miRNA-146a-5p mRNA in prostasome was down-regulated in each of the other six groups (P

AbstractThis study aimed to study the entrapment of Enterococcus faecalis HZNU S1 using a mixture of flaxseed protein isolate (FPI) and sodium alginate (SA) as an encapsulation agent. The characteristics of free and encapsulated cells during storage and under in vitro gastrointestinal conditions were investigated. The survival rate of encapsulated cells did not decline after 2 h exposure to pH 2.5 simulated gastric juice (SGJ), while viable free probiotics treated at the same conditions, were not found. After encapsulated probiotics were exposed to SGJ pH 2.0 for 2.0 h, the viability decreased from 10.01 to 8.01 Log CFU/g. After exposure to 1.0% and 2.0% bile salt solutions for 2 h, the viable amounts of encapsulated probiotics were still higher 8.0 Log CFU/g, whereas, viable free cells were not observed after treatment at the same conditions. Encapsulated probiotics were fully released from the microbeads in simulated intestinal juice (SIJ) in around 4 h. The viable numbers of encapsulated probiotics were only reduced 0.5 Log CFU/g after two weeks of storage (4 °C), and the viable amounts of encapsulated probiotics were reduced to 8.2 Log CFU/g at 25 °C after eight days of storage. However, the viable amounts of free cells were reduced from 10.01 to 8.8 Log CFU/mL (4 °C), and 4.0 Log CFU/mL (25 °C) during the investigated storage period, respectively. Encapsulated E. faecalis HZNU S1 showed enhanced resistance to environmental conditions, allowing the delivery of probiotics that could be used to increase foods added value.

We report a case of postoperative urinary leakage after bilateral laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) herniorrhaphy. A man in his upper 80s with a healed cystostomy and appendectomy underwent bilateral TEP herniorrhaphy. Urinary leakage was noted by ultrasound examination 4 days after bilateral TEP. Cystography and computed tomography conclusively confirmed a 6-mm extraperitoneal fistula at the site of the previous cystostomy. The fistula involved the anterior bladder wall and was associated with an extended urinoma. The patient was treated by indwelling catheterization using a Foley catheter and repeated ultrasound-guided puncture and aspiration of the inguinal effusion at the bedside. The patient was completely healed 69 days after the operation with no mesh infection or bladder dysfunction. We believe that urinary leakage is possible after TEP herniorrhaphy in patients with a healed suprapubic cystostomy. Therefore, indwelling catheterization using a Foley catheter should be implemented before surgery, and the Foley catheter can be removed within 1 week after surgery if no postoperative urinary leakage is observed. A history of suprapubic cystotomy should not be regarded as a contraindication for TEP surgery. This is the first report of urinary leakage after bilateral TEP herniorrhaphy in a patient with a healed cystostomy and appendectomy.

Objective: To compare the quality of low tube voltage coronary CT angiography (CCTA) images reconstructed with deep learning-based image reconstruction (DLIR) and with filter back projection (FBP) and with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-veo (ASiR-V). Methods: One hundred patients who underwent CCTA were included. The CCTA tube voltage were set as 70 kVp (n=50, BMI≤26 kg/m2) and 80 kVp (n=50, BMI>26 kg/m2) according to body mass index(BMI). The images were reconstructed with FBP (Group A), ASIR-V 50% (Group B), DLIR at medium (DLIR-M, Group C) and high DLIR(DLIR-H, Group D) levels, respectively. Objective evaluation indice including CT attenuation, noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR) were measured or calculated between groups, and Likert 5-point scale was adopted for subjective image quality assessment. Results: There were significant differences in image noise, SNR, CNR among the 4 groups(P

Armillariella tabescens is a traditional Chinese medicinal and edible fungus which holds importance for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of methanol extract of A. tabescens (AME) in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced ulcerative colitis (UC). The results showed that AME significantly attenuated UC symptoms, suppressed the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), decreased the levels of LPS, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-18, and increased the level of IL-10 in serum. Besides, AME could improve the expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1, occludin and claudin-1. Moreover, AME inhibited the activation of TLR4/NF-κB and NLRP3 signaling pathways in colon tissue. In addition, eight compounds were identification in AME by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-high resolution mass spectroscopy (HRMS). Therefore, this study indicated that AME was potential to be further developed into a suitable functional food additive or promising therapeutic agent for UC treatment.

Objective: This study focuses on realizing the reuse and resource optimization of corncobs. Methods: Using corncob as raw material, using cellulase and hemicellulase to synergistically degrade corncob to prepare reducing sugars. Based on single factor test, response surface methodology was used to determine the mass ratio of cellulase to hemicellulase and double-enzyme process conditions, including addition amount, enzymolysis time, enzymolysis temperature, were optimized. Results: The optimal process parameters for corncob degradation to produce reducing sugars were as follows. The mass ratio of cellulase to hemicellulase was 13∶2, and the amount of double enzyme added was 3.25%, hydrolyzed at 50 ℃ for 5.0 h. The reducing sugar content in the corncob enzymatic hydrolysate prepared under the conditions could reach 12.45 mg/mL. Conclusion: The use of cellulase and hemicellulase to synergize the degradation of corncobs to efficiently and directionally prepare reducing sugars can achieve high-value utilization of corncobs.

Thrombocytopenia can cause substantial morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. There are multiple etiology factors and various mechanisms associated with thrombocytopenia, of which drug-induced thrombocytopenia (DITP) deserves attention. Herein, we describe a case of severe thrombocytopenia during intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization that was likely to be associated with vancomycin. By revealing the process of identifying this case of DITP and reviewing relevant clinical studies, a risk alert of vancomycin-related severe hematotoxicity should be considered.

The materials used in variable temperature conditions are required to have excellent thermal fatigue performance. The effects of laser shock processing (LSP), solid solution and aging treatment (T6), and cryogenic treatment (CT) on both microstructure and thermal fatigue performance of ZCuAl10Fe3Mn2 alloys were studied. Microstructure and crack morphology were then examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The result showed that, after being subjected to the combination treatment of T6+CT+LSP, the optimal mechanical properties and thermal fatigue performance were obtained for the ZCuAl10Fe3Mn2 alloy with the tensile strength, hardness, and elongation of 720 MPa, 300.16 HB, and 16%, respectively, and the thermal fatigue life could reach 7,100 cycles when the crack length was 0.1 mm. Moreover, the ZCuAl10Fe3Mn2 after combination treatment shows high resistance to oxidation, good adhesion between the matrix and grain boundaries, and dramatically reduced growth rate of crack. During thermal fatigue testing, under the combined action of thermal and alternating stresses, the microstructure around the sample notch oxidized and became loose and porous, which then converted to micro-cracks. Fatigue crack expanded along the grain boundary in the early stage. In the later stage, under the cyclic stress accumulation, the oxidized microstructure separated from the matrix, and the fatigue crack expanded in both intergranular and transgranular ways. The main crack was thick, and the path was meandering.

Calcium is one of the essential minerals that enhances various biological activities, including the regulation of blood pressure, the prevention of osteoporosis and colorectal adenomas. Calcium-enriched edible mushrooms can be considered as one of the important daily sources of calcium in foods. Calcium accumulation in edible mushrooms is an effective way to enhance its activities because the organic state of calcium metabolites in edible mushrooms can be formed from the original inorganic calcium. The main calcium sources for calcium-enriched edible mushrooms’ cultivation are CaCO3, CaCl2 or Ca(NO3)2. The growth and metabolic process of edible mushrooms are significantly influenced by calcium enrichment. Generally, Ca at low levels is good for the production of edible mushrooms, whereas the reverse phenomenon for the growth of edible mushrooms at high Ca contents is observed. In addition, metabolites, for example, phenolics, flavonoids, polysaccharides, enzymes, minerals, etc., are improved when edible mushrooms are enriched at a moderate level of calcium. This review summarized the literature regarding the influence of calcium enrichment on edible mushrooms’ growth and major metabolites. Furthermore, the mechanisms of calcium enrichment in edible mushrooms were highlighted. Understanding calcium-enriched mechanisms in edible mushrooms would not only be beneficial to manipulate the cultivation of edible mushrooms having excellent biological activities and high levels of active Ca, but it would also contribute to the applications of calcium enrichment products in food industries.

The present experiment investigated the effects of galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) on growth performance, faecal microbiota, immune response and antioxidant capability in weaned piglets. Ninety 28-day-old weaned piglets were randomly allocated into 5 treatments with 6 replicate pens per treatment and 3 piglets per pen (n = 18). These five diets were formulated by adding 0, 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/kg GOS to the basal diet, respectively. The experiment was lasted for 28 days. Body weight and feed intake were determined. Faeces samples were collected to detect the amount of microbiota. Blood samples were used to determine antioxidative and immune parameters. The results indicated that GOS supplementation improved the growth performance, increased the number of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria and decreased the number of Escherichia coli in a linear or quadratic dose-dependent manner. Dietary GOS decreased serum concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a quadratic dose-dependent manner, but increased anti-inflammatory cytokines in a linear or quadratic dose-dependent manner. Moreover, GOS supplementation promoted the activities of antioxidant enzyme in a linear or quadratic dose-dependent manner during the experiment. The levels of MDA quadratically decreased on d 28. These results suggested that GOS exhibited positive effects on growth performance, immune function and antioxidant capability in weaned piglets.

Four new species of Russula subsection Sardoninae from northern and southwestern China under coniferous and deciduous trees are proposed as R. begonia, R. photinia, R. rhodochroa, and R. rufa. Illustrations and descriptions of R. gracillima, R. leucomarginata, R. roseola, and the above four new species are provided based on evidence of morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), as well as the multi-locus of mtSSU, nLSU, rpb1, rpb2 and tef1-α. The relationships between these new species and allied taxa are discussed.

Despite the increasing prevalence of CKD in the United States, there is a declining interest among United States medical graduates in nephrology as a career choice. Effective programs are needed to generate interest at early educational stages when career choices can be influenced. The Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program (KDSAP) is a novel program initiated at Harvard College that increases student knowledge of and interest in kidney health and disease, interest in nephrology career paths, and participation in kidney disease research. This model, built on physician mentoring, kidney screening of underserved populations, direct interactions with kidney patients, and opportunities to participate in kidney research, can be reproduced and translated to other workforce-challenged subspecialties.

With the deepening of research on Bitcoin privacy protection, Bitcoin, a new type of digital currency, has become more difficult to regulate. A Bitcoin privacy protection confusion scheme with regulatory RBmix is proposed for this problem. The model of RBmix uses a fair blind signature algorithm and introduces trusted third parties with regulatory, anonymity, scalability, Bitcoin compatibility, and anti-DoS aggression. Experimental results show that the RBmix protocol has good scalability and execution efficiency.

Aims: To determine the risk of liver injury associated with the use of different intravenous lipid emulsions (LEs) in large populations in a real-world setting in China.Methods: A prescription sequence symmetry analysis was performed using data from 2015 Chinese Basic Health Insurance for Urban Employees. Patients newly prescribed both intravenous LEs and hepatic protectors within time windows of 7, 14, 28, 42, and 60 days of each other were included. The washout period was set to one month according to the waiting-time distribution. After adjusting prescribing time trends, we quantify the deviation from symmetry of patients initiating LEs first and those initiating hepatic protectors first, by calculating adjusted sequence ratios (ASRs) and relevant 95% confidence intervals. Analyses were further stratified by age, gender, and different generations of LEs developed.Results: In total, 416, 997, 1,697, 2,072, and 2,342 patients filled their first prescriptions with both drugs within 7, 14, 28, 42, and 60 days, respectively. Significantly increased risks of liver injury were found across all time windows, and the strongest effect was observed in the first 2 weeks [ASR 6.97 (5.77–8.42) ∼ 7.87 (6.04–10.61)] in overall patients. In subgroup analyses, female gender, age more than 60 years, and soybean oil-based and alternative-LEs showed higher ASRs in almost all time windows. Specially, a lower risk for liver injury was observed in the first 14 days following FO-LEs administration (ASR, 3.42; 95% CI, 0.81–14.47), but the risk started to rise in longer time windows.Conclusion: A strong association was found between LEs use and liver injury through prescription sequence symmetry analysis in a real-world setting, which aligns with trial evidence and clinical experience. Differences revealed in the risks of liver injury among various LEs need further evaluation.

Background 25-hydroxyvitamin D can undergo C-3 epimerization to produce 3-epi-25(OH)D3. 3-epi-25(OH)D3 levels decline in chronic kidney disease (CKD), but its role in regulating the cardiovascular system is unknown. Herein, we examined the relationship between 3-epi-25(OH)D3, and cardiovascular functional and structural endpoints in patients with CKD. Methods We examined n  = 165 patients with advanced CKD from the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Renal Failure and After Kidney Transplantation (CAPER) study cohort, including those who underwent kidney transplant (KTR, n  = 76) and waitlisted patients who did not (NTWC, n  = 89). All patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing and echocardiography at baseline, 2 months and 12 months. Serum 3-epi-25(OH)D3 was analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results Patients were stratified into quartiles of baseline 3-epi-25(OH)D3 (Q1: <0.4 ng/mL, n  = 51; Q2: 0.4 ng/mL, n  = 26; Q3: 0.5–0.7 ng/mL, n  = 47; Q4: ≥0.8 ng/mL, n  = 41). Patients in Q1 exhibited lower peak oxygen uptake [VO2Peak = 18.4 (16.2–20.8) mL/min/kg] compared with Q4 [20.8 (18.6–23.2) mL/min/kg; P  = .009]. Linear mixed regression model showed that 3-epi-25(OH)D3 levels increased in KTR [from 0.47 (0.30) ng/mL to 0.90 (0.45) ng/mL] and declined in NTWC [from 0.61 (0.32) ng/mL to 0.45 (0.29) ng/mL; P  < .001]. Serum 3-epi-25(OH)D3 was associated with VO2Peak longitudinally in both groups [KTR: β (standard error) = 2.53 (0.56), P  < .001; NTWC: 2.73 (0.70), P  < .001], but was not with left ventricular mass or arterial stiffness. Non-epimeric 25(OH)D3, 24,25(OH)2D3 and the 25(OH)D3:24,25(OH)2D3 ratio were not associated with any cardiovascular outcome (all P  > .05). Conclusions Changes in 3-epi-25(OH)D3 levels may regulate cardiovascular functional capacity in patients with advanced CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The viability and high survival rate of probiotics through human gastrointestinal tract are very important to the host health. The present research was investigated to explicate the influence of encapsulation and wall materials on the survival of Enterococcus faecalis HZNU S1. Purposely, the microbeads were prepared using sodium alginate (SA) and flaxseed milk (FM) by extrusion method. The viability of investigated probiotics was accessed in simulated gastric juice (SGJ). Free cells exhibited a poor survival rate in SGJ. However, encapsulation improved the probiotic viability in the same circumstance. Encapsulated probiotics exhibited higher viability when they were exposed to pH 2.5 SGJ and 1.0 and 2.0% bile salt solutions. Furthermore, encapsulation could improve the storage stability of probiotics. The viable number of encapsulated cells was 10.01 Log CFU/g at 0 day and decreased to 9.6 Log CFU/g (4 °C) and 9.2 Log CFU/g (25 °C) after 8 days. Full encapsulated cells could be liberated after the microbeads were exposed to simulated intestine juice (SIJ) within 120 min. This study indicates that FM-SA microbeads can be suggested as good agents for encapsulating probiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the antibacterial characteristics and mechanism of Cordyceps cicadae polysaccharide were determined. A water-soluble polysaccharide from Cordyceps cicadae was separated, and antibacterial activity against common pathogens was investigated by Oxford cup method. To investigate its antibacterial mechanism, the change of bacterial (Escherichia coli as the indicator bacteria) growth curve, electric conductivity, alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and β-galactosidase activity were measured. And the mycoprotein, membrane protein were also studied. The results showed that Cordyceps cicadae polysaccharide had strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphyloccocus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella paratyphi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to Escherichia coli was 0.10 mg/mL. In addition, the electric conductivity, AKP and β-galactosidase activity in microbial broth increased. The growth curve, mycoprotein, membrane protein changed. Our results revealed that Cordyceps cicadae polysaccharide exerted its bactericidal activity by damaging bacterial cell wall and cell membranes, increasing the cell permeability which resulted in the structural lesions and release of cell components, thus led to cell death.

Background: To identify the critical amino acid residues that contribute to the high enzyme activity and good thermostability of Yersinia enterocolitica subsp. palearctica (Y. NSN), 15 mutants of Y. NSN were obtained by site-directed mutagenesis in this study. And their enzyme activity and thermostability were assayed. Effect of several factors on the enzyme activity and thermostability of Y. NSN, was also investigated. Results: The results showed that the I203F and D264E mutants retained approximately 75% and 70% enzyme activity, respectively, compared to the wild-type enzyme. In addition to the I203F and D264E mutants, the mutant E202A had an obvious influence on the thermostability of Y. NSN. According to the analysis of enzyme activity and thermostability of Y. NSN, we found that Glu202, Ile203 and Asp264 might be the key residues for its high enzyme activity and good thermostability. Conclusions: Among all factors affecting enzyme activity and thermostability of Y. NSN, they failed to explain the experimental results well. One reason might be that the enzyme activity and thermostability of Y. NSN were affected not only by a single factor but also by the entire environment.

Many phylogeographic studies on marine organisms in the Northwestern Pacific have supported for the biogeographic hypotheses that isolation in the marginal seas of this region during the Pleistocene glaciation lower sea level led to population genetic divergence, and thus population expansion was a common phenomenon when the sea level rebounded. However, most of these studies were based on maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA markers with limited sample sites and therefore, were unable to reveal detailed pictures encompassing paternal line information covering of the entire range. In this study, we used the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and nine nuclear microsatellite loci to investigate the phylogeography of the mud snail, Bullacta exarata (Philippi, 1849), a species endemic to the Northwestern Pacific. We sampled 14 natural populations spanning across 3800 km of the Chinese coastline, essentially covering most of the species distribution range. COI analysis identified a total of 149 haplotypes separated into two distinct groups with nine mutation steps, revealing a prominent phylogeographic structure. Nuclear microsatellite data also demonstrated a similar but weaker genetic structure. The estimated time to the most recent common ancestor between the two COI haplogroups is at ∼0.89 Ma, indicating that B. exarata populations survived the Pleistocene glaciation in the Sea of Japan and the Okinawa Trough, two marginal seas around the species range. The consistent significant patterns of isolation by distance of both COI and microsatellites suggests that limited mobility of adults and short planktonic stage of larvae may have played an important role in promoting or maintaining the genetic differentiation of B. exarata. Results from population demographic analyses support population expansion late in the Pleistocene era.

To enhance the survival ability of Enterococcus faecalis HZNU P2 (E. faecalis HZNU P2), soy protein–alginate microspheres used as the carriers were studied in this work. Characteristics of free and encapsulated cells under simulated conditions were investigated. The results so obtained showed that the viability of encapsulated cell did not decrease after 2 h incubation in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) at pH 2.5 and 2.0. Encapsulated cells experienced only minor viability reduction in bile salt solution after 1 or 2 h treatment. The viability of encapsulated cells was fully preserved after 21 days of storage at 4 °C, and only lost 0.70 and 2.0 Log CFU/g after 21 days of storage at 25 and 37 °C, respectively. Encapsulated cells could be released in simulated intestine fluid (SIF) with a fast rate. This study indicates that soy protein–alginate is a good encapsulation carrier for protecting E. faecalis HZNU P2 against adverse conditions.