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Backward erosion piping constitutes a major threat for dikes on sandy or silty foundations during high water and floods. This erosion mechanism results in the formation and development of shallow hollow spaces (pipes) at the interface between the impermeable top layer and the aquifer. Erosion at the tip of the pipe determines the progression of the pipe towards the upstream side. A valid criterion should be developed to predict the critical local gradient at which erosion at the pipe tip occurs. Based on the failure mode of the tip of the pipe that the erosion near the toe of the scarp of the pipe tip causes the collapse of the scarp, in combination with the seepage field near the pipe tip, analyses are conducted regarding the equilibrium of forces on single particles at the toe of the scarp and a group of particles of the scarp. The conditions for incipient motion for particles at the pipe tip are determined. And a novel criterion for predicting the critical local gradient at the pipe tip is developed, which is essential for assessing the risk of pipe progression in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deoxynivalenol (DON) and emerging Alternaria toxins often co-occur in cereal-based products, but the current risk assessment is commonly conducted for only one type of mycotoxin at a time. Compared to adults, infants and young children are more susceptible to mycotoxins through food consumption, especially with cereal-based food products which are the main source of exposure. This study aimed to perform a probabilistic risk assessment of combined exposure to DON and three major Alternaria toxins, namely including alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), alternariol (AOH), and tenuazonic acid (TeA) through consumption of cereal-based foods for Chinese infants and young children. A total of 872 cereal-based food products were randomly collected and tested for the occurrence of DON and three major Alternaria toxins. The results on mycotoxin occurrence showed the DON, TeA, AOH, and AME was detected in 56.4%, 47.5%, 7.5%, and 5.7% of the samples, respectively. Co-contamination of various mycotoxins was observed in 39.9% of the analyzed samples. A preliminary cumulative risk assessment using the models of hazard index (HI) and combined margin of exposure (MoET) was performed on DON and Alternaria toxins that were present in cereal-based food products for infants and young children in China for the first time. The results showed that only 0.2% and 1.5%, respectively, of individuals exceeded the corresponding reference value for DON and TeA, indicating a low health risk. However, in the case of AME and AOH, the proportion of individuals exceeding the reference value was 24.1% and 33.5%, respectively, indicating the potential health risks. In the cumulative risk assessment of AME and AOH, both HI and MoET values indicated a more serious risk than that related to individual exposure. Further research is necessary to reduce the uncertainties that are associated with the toxicities of the Alternaria toxins and cumulative risk assessment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • First multi-mycotoxin screening in samples randomly collected from an infant food company. • Multiple mycotoxins were detected in processed infant foods and related raw materials. • DON and TeA exhibited notably higher presence in processed infant foods and related raw materials. • Dietary exposure to AME, AOH, and TeA for infants and young children should be concerned. This study evaluated muti-mycotoxins in 199 samples including processed infant foods and raw materials collected randomly from an infant food company and assessed their role in dietary exposure in infants and young children via probabilistic risk assessment. Approximately 79.6 % (74/93) of the processed infant foods and 65.1 % (69/106) of the raw materials were contaminated by mycotoxins, with a mean occurrence level of 3.66–321.8 µg/kg. Deoxynivalenol (DON) and tenuazonic acid (TeA) were the more prevalent mycotoxins detected, based on their higher frequencies and levels across samples. Co-occurrence of more than two mycotoxins was detected in 61.3 % (57/93) of the processed infant foods and 53.8 % (57/106) of the raw materials. Wheat flour and derived products (e.g., infant noodles and infant biscuits) were contaminated with higher contamination levels and a greater variety of mycotoxins than other samples (e.g., infant cereal and rice grains). The estimated daily exposure to OTA, DON, ZEN, and TEN was lower than the corresponding reference health-based guidance values, indicating acceptable health risks. However, the estimated dietary exposure to alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), alternariol (AOH), and tenuazonic acid (TeA) exceeded the corresponding thresholds of toxicological concern values, indicating potential dietary intake risks. Among the various samples, cereals and cereal-based infant foods emerged as the primary contributors to mycotoxin exposure. Further research is advised to address the uncertainties surrounding the toxicity associated with emerging Alternaria mycotoxins and to conduct cumulative risk assessments concerning multiple mycotoxin exposure in infants and young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscovy ducks are among the best meat ducks in the world. The objective of this study was to identify genes related to growth metabolism through transcriptome analysis of the ileal tissue of Muscovy ducks. Duck ileum samples with the highest (H group, n = 5) and lowest (L group, n = 5) body weight were selected from two hundred 70-day-old Muscovy ducks for transcriptome analysis by RNA sequencing. In the screening of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the H and L groups, a total of 602 DEGs with a fold change no less than 2 were identified, among which 285 were upregulated and 317 were downregulated. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that glutathione metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and protein digestion and absorption processes played a vital role in regulating growth and metabolism. The results showed that 7 genes related to growth and metabolism, namely, ANPEP, ENPEP, UPP1, SLC2A2, SLC6A19, NME4, and LOC106034733, were significantly expressed in group H, which was consistent with the phenotype results. The validation of these 7 genes using real-time quantitative PCR results indicated that the expression level of ENPEP was significantly different between the H and L groups (P < 0.05). This study provides a theoretical basis for exploring the influence of the ileum on growth and metabolism in ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backward erosion piping is an important failure mechanism in both dikes and dams where uniform silts and sands are covered by a cohesive layer. It is an internal erosion mechanism during which shallow pipes are formed at the interface of the aquifer and the cohesive top layer in the direction opposite to the flow. The hydraulic conditions near the pipe tip determine the onset of erosion near the pipe tip, which causes pipe lengthening. The seepage field near the pipe tip was analysed using the analytical solutions. The two-dimensional (2D) analytical solution available for calculating the seepage field at the vertical section of the pipe tip in three-dimensional (3D) groundwater flow has been validated on the basis of experiments with 3D configurations. The motion characteristics of particles at the pipe tip were explained on the basis of the analysis of the effect of the ditch at the toe of the pipe tip on the hydraulic conditions near the pipe tip. The equilibrium of the soil in front of the pipe tip was analysed to determine the pressure distribution on the top of the sand layer in front of the pipe tip. The unified method for calculating the local critical hydraulic gradient at the pipe tip in both 2D and 3D experiments was proposed. The local critical hydraulic gradients at the pipe tip were analysed for the available experiments, indicating that the influences of grain diameter and scale on the local critical hydraulic gradient are limited, a finding that is essential for the development of a new model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) is an important economic freshwater aquaculture species in Asia. However, little is known about its immune response to bacterial pathogen infection. Here, two cytokines, the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10), were identified and characterized in the yellow catfish for the first time. We found that the full length of the IL-8 cDNA was 784 bp and contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 336 bp, while the IL-10 gene was 973 bp in length with a 549 bp of ORF. In addition, both the IL-8 and the IL-10 had similar tissue-specific expression patterns. They were more abundant in the spleen and lowest expressed in the liver. Furthermore, IL-10 but not IL-8 was significantly upregulated in the intestine of yellow catfish by feed supplementation of Clostridium butyricum (CB). More importantly, the expression levels of intestinal IL-10 and IL-8 were up- and downregulated by pathogen Aeromonas punctata stimuli with the presence of CB, respectively. Collectively, these results suggest that IL-10 and IL-8 mediate important roles in the immunity of yellow catfish, and feed supplementation of CB may able to reduce the intestinal inflammation caused by bacteria infections through regulating the expression of IL-10 and IL-8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backward erosion piping is a prominent failure mechanism in water-retaining structures. It is a phenomenon in which shallow pipes are formed in an upstream direction at the interface of a sandy aquifer and an impermeable top layer. Experiments were conducted at two different scales to investigate the erosion mechanism near the pipe tip that causes the pipe to lengthen at the grain scale. The erosion process of grains at the tip of the pipe was filmed from the top and the side. The observations and video recordings allowed for a better understanding of the features of the pipe tip. A zone of loosened sand grains was formed around the pipe during the pipe development. The extent of the loosened zone was determined by analysing the images captured during the lengthening of the pipe. The motion characteristics of particles at the pipe tip and the erosion mechanism near the pipe tip were obtained by analysing the erosion process observed. The findings can serve as a basis for the establishment of a criterion for pipe progression and the development of a novel piping prediction model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate changes in the molecular structures of whey proteins (WPI) caused by heat-induced interaction and reaction with varying concentrations of sugar beet pectin (SBP) in aqueous solution at neutral pH. The resulting complexes were examined using circular dichroism (CD) and steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. Far-UV CD spectroscopy combined with spectral deconvolution revealed noticeable reduction (up to 5%) in the amount of antiparallel β-sheet element of WPI upon interacting with SBP. Analyses from the UV-VIS and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopies showed changes in the molecular electronic states of both WPI and the feruloyl moieties of SBP upon heat-induced interaction and conjugation. The tertiary structural contacts in WPI, studied by the intrinsic Trp fluorescence, were also disrupted in the presence of SBP in the form of FRET (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer) complexes, most noticeably at a high level of SBP (3%), contrasting to the results from dry-heating. The thermal stability of WPI, at both secondary and tertiary structural levels, did not increase considerably by interacting and conjugating with SBP, especially at an equal concentration of SBP (3%). However, the stability of feruloyl groups of SBP saw moderate improvement and was less pronounced than that of the dry-state reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Maillard type reaction in the dry state was utilized to create conjugates between whey protein isolate (WPI) and sugar beet pectin (SBP) to achieve improved functional properties including solubility, colloidal stability and oil-in-water emulsion stability. To optimize the reaction conditions, mixtures of WPI and SBP at varying weight ratios, 3:1, 2:1 and 1:1, were heated at 60 °C, 79% RH for 72 h. Changes in the physical properties, i.e. solubility, and chemical compositions, i.e. free sulfhydryl and amine contents were assessed using chemical assays. Bradford assay results demonstrated that the protein solubility of WPI increased significantly, ∼20% by reacting with lower levels of SBP (3:1 and 2:1) whereas the total powder solubility was not affected until an equal ratio of SBP was used, and the reduction was only ∼15%. The free sulfhydryl (SH) and primary (NH 2 ) and secondary amine (NH) contents of WPI were also mitigated by conjugating with SBP. The formation of the covalent conjugates between WPI and SBP was confirmed by SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis through staining for both proteins and glycoproteins. The UV–VIS spectroscopy showed significant changes in the molecular electronic transition states of both WPI and the feruloyl moieties of SBP upon interaction and conjugation. Measurements of ζ-potential, particles size distribution and average particle size demonstrated that the WPI-SBP conjugates prepared at the weight ratio of 3:1 were most effective at stabilizing oil-in-water emulsions than other ratios used in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been shown previously that reacting whey protein isolate (WPI) with sugar beet pectin (SBP) through a Maillard type reaction in a dry-state led to noticeable improvement in the physical, chemical and functional properties of the end products. Studies on the changes in the molecular structure of whey protein as a result of the reaction were carried out in this work to provide a molecular understanding of these observed improvements. The effect of interacting and conjugating with SBP on the apparent secondary structure of WPI was examined by far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and followed by spectral deconvolution. Results showed that the structure of WPI, especially the antiparallel β-sheet element, was preserved by reacting with SBP at the weight ratios of WPI:SBP = 3:1, 2:1, and 1:1. The analysis of difference UV-VIS spectra indicated significant changes occurred in the molecular electronic states of both WPI and the feruloyl moieties of SBP. Initial Maillard reaction products were detected in the form of the FRET complexes with WPI as the donor, and SBP, the acceptor by the studies of the steady-state fluorescence and the lifetime of the excited states. The tertiary structural contacts in WPI, probed by the intrinsic Trp fluorescence, were disrupted significantly upon reacting with SBP at an equal ratio (1:1). The thermal stability of WPI, however, at both secondary and tertiary structural levels, was greatly improved by the dry-heating induced reaction with SBP at all levels. The thermal stability of the feruloyl groups of SBP was also enhanced by reacting with WPI. Furthermore, the fluorescence lifetime studies definitively identified the distinctive advanced Maillard reaction end products (AMREPs) formed between WPI and SBP at varying ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) has been shown to play a crucial role in the host defense of pathogenic microbes in innate immunity. In this study, the full-length cDNA of TLR2 in silvery pomfret ( Pampus argenteus ) was cloned by homology cloning and the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique. The complete cDNA sequence of TLR2 was 2932 bp, containing an open reading frame (ORF) of 2469 bp encoding 822 amino acids. A multiple alignment analysis of the silvery pomfret TLR2 protein-coding sequence with other known TLR2 sequences from Oplegnathus fasciatus , Epinephelus coioides , Larimichthys crocea , Miichthys miiuy , Oreochromis niloticus , Paralichthys olivaceus , Trematomus bernacchii , Sparus aurata, and Chionodraco hamatus exhibited a high degree of homology of 78.83%, 75.91%, 74.21%, 74.94%, 71.95%, 72.57%, 73.68%, 75%, and 72.52 respectively, between these fish. Analysis of the TLR2 domain structures indicated that TLR2 from the silvery pomfret has the typical structural features of proteins that belong to the TLR family, including one transmembrane domain, eleven leucine-rich repeats (LRRs), and one Toll/IL-1 receptor homology domain (TIR). In vitro immunostimulation experiments revealed that Lactobacillus plantarum and Clostridium butyricum induce high levels of TLR2 mRNA and protein expression, but they induce only moderate levels of IL-8 and TNF-α production compared to Vibrio anguillarum . This suggests that TLR2 might play a vital role in the L. plantarum and C. butyricum -mediated immune response. In contrast, V. anguillarum significantly increased the secretion of IL-8 and TNF-α and induced cell apoptosis and necrosis. Due to the lower expression of TLR2 and higher levels of IL-8 and TNF-α induced by V. anguillarum , we hypothesize that a V. anguillarum infection is independent of the TLR2-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These results indicate that TLR2 may be involved in molecular interactions between the host and commensal bacteria, that exist in the silvery pomfret intestinal tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural occurrence of mycotoxins like Alternaria mycotoxins in food commodities is concerning in terms of health risks for humans. Currently, detailed investigations of Alternaria mycotoxins, such as alternariol (AOH), alternariol methyl ether (AME), tenuazonic acid (TeA), tentoxin (TEN), and altenuene (ALT) in food commodities marketed through e-commerce stores in China remains scarce. In addition, not many studies have focused on the associated dietary risk of these mycotoxins. This study conducted a survey (486 samples) for five Alternaria mycotoxins using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) methods. Among five Alternaria mycotoxins, TeA had the highest occurrence rate (51.0%) and concentration (average concentration of 40.6 μg/kg) in food commodities, followed by TEN, AOH, AME, and ALT. Millet and tomato products were contaminated with higher levels of TeA than other types of food commodities. The combination of TeA + TEN and AME + TeA + TEN were the predominant two contamination patterns detected in cereal and fruit products. Chronic dietary exposures to Alternaria mycotoxins were performed by the threshold of toxicological concern (TTC) approach. The mean and 95th percentile chronic dietary exposures to AOH and AME indicated different risk levels for consumers in China, with the highest exposure observed in the 2–7 years group, indicating potential dietary health concern. The mean chronic dietary exposures to TeA and ALT did not indicate a risk for the consumers, but the exposure to TeA through cereal product consumption exceeded the TTC value in the 2–12 years group at 95th percentile evaluation. Therefore, strategies should be continuously adopted to decrease or eliminate the occurrence of Alternaria mycotoxins in food commodities in order to reduce the dietary risks for humans. • Alternaria toxins screened in food samples marketed through e-ecommerce stores. • About 60.3% (293/486) of samples were contaminated with Alternaria toxins. • Co-occurrence Alternaria toxins was detected in 36.8% (179/486) of food samples. • Dietary exposures to Alternaria toxins indicated different risk levels for consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat grains are susceptible to contamination with various natural mycotoxins including regulated and emerging mycotoxins. This study surveyed the natural presence of regulated mycotoxins, such as deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN), and emerging mycotoxins such as beauvericin (BEA), enniatins (ENNs such as ENA, ENA1, ENB, ENB1) and Alternaria mycotoxins (i.e., alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), alternariol (AOH), tenuazonic acid (TeA), tentoxin (TEN), and altenuene (ALT)) in wheat grains randomly collected from eight provinces across China in 2021. The results revealed that each wheat grain sample was detected with at least one type of mycotoxin. The detection rates of these mycotoxins ranged from 7.1% to 100%, with the average occurrence level ranging from 1.11 to 921.8 µg/kg. DON and TeA were the predominant mycotoxins with respect to both prevalence and concentration. Approximately 99.7% of samples were found to contain more than one toxin, and the co-occurrence of ten toxins (DON + ZEN + ENA + ENA1 + ENB + ENB1 + AME + AOH + TeA + TEN) was the most frequently detected combination. The dietary exposure to different mycotoxins among Chinese consumers aged 4–70 years was as follows: 0.592–0.992 µg/kg b.w./day for DON, 0.007–0.012 µg/kg b.w./day for ZEN, 0.0003–0.007 µg/kg b.w./day for BEA and ENNs, 0.223–0.373 µg/kg b.w./day for TeA, and 0.025–0.041 µg/kg b.w./day for TEN, which were lower than the health-based guidance values for each mycotoxin, with the corresponding hazard quotient (HQ) being far lower than 1, implying a tolerable health risk for Chinese consumers. However, the estimated dietary exposure to AME and AOH was in the range of 0.003–0.007 µg/kg b.w./day, exceeding the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) value of 0.0025 µg/kg b.w./day, demonstrating potential dietary risks for Chinese consumers. Therefore, developing practical control and management strategies is essential for controlling mycotoxins contamination in the agricultural systems, thereby ensuring public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most pathogens in intestine are opportunist, called 'opportunistic pathogens' that usually do not cause disease in a healthy host. Only when the host's resistance is lowered or the intestinal microecological balance is destroyed, the opportunistic pathogens are capable of causing disease. Here, two opportunistic pathogens, Salmonella enteritidis and Vibrio parahaemolyticus were chosen to test the possible antagonistic effect of the probiotic agent Clostridium butyricum on these pathogens infections in vitro using fish intestinal epithelial cells (FIECs). The C. butyricum and its spent culture supernatants exhibited significant inhibitory activity on S. enteritidis and V. parahaemolyticus growth and adherence to FIECs. The C. butyricum also showed significant inhibitory effects on S. enteritidis and V. parahaemolyticus induced apoptosis, which may due to its growth and adhesion inhibitory effects. These results indicated that the probiotic bacterium C. butyricum has preventive and therapeutic effects on S. enteritidis and V. parahaemolyticus infections in fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decontamination of fresh meats without negatively impact on their sensory quality is a big challenge. In this study, the single or combined effect of antimicrobials (chitosan, carvacrol, tea polyphenols) and low dose gamma irradiation (≤2 kGy) against Salmonella Typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus on fresh pork meat were assessed. The effects of these treatments on the color and lipid oxidization of pork meat were also evaluated. Irradiation at 1 kGy reduced 2.2 logs of S. Typhimurium and 1.6 logs of S. aureus , while the treatments of 1 kGy irradiation combined with chitosan (1%)-carvacrol (0.2%) or chitosan (1%)-tea polyphenols (0.5%) achieved 3.2 log reduction of S. Typhimurium and 5.1 log reductions of S. aureus. Irradiation at 2 kGy in combination with chitosan-carvacrol obtained over 5 log reductions of S. Typhimurium and S. aureus. There was no recovery/regrowth of S. Typhimurium or S. aureus in vacuum packaged meat samples throughout the 14 d storage period. There were no significant differences among all meat samples in color (L*, a*, b* values) after 7 d, while the combined treatments increased the lightness (L*) after 14 d of storage at 4 °C. The treated meat samples had lower content of malondialdehyde, indicating less lipid oxidation in pork meat during storage. This study demonstrates that the combined low dose irradiation with these antimicrobial surface treatments is promising for improving fresh pork safety and quality. • Chitosan enhanced bactericidal effects of irradiation on fresh pork. • Irradiation in combination with chitosan retarded lipid oxidation. • Irradiation combine with chitosan could improving meat safety and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in total mixed rations (TMR) and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in raw and commercial milk in northern China during winter season. A total of 22 feed samples, as well as the corresponding 84 raw milk and 69 commercial milk samples were randomly collected from northwest, northeast and north areas of China from November 2019 to January 2020. High performance liquid chromatography and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method were applied to detect AFB1 and AFM1. All samples presented AFB1 (30–370 ng/L) and AFM1 (10–430 ng/L) levels under the legal limit of China for raw milk (10 μg/L) and commercial milk (500 ng/L). While 31.8% of TMRs and 34.5% of raw milk samples exceeded the European Union (EU) legal limit for AFM1 in raw milk (5 μg/L) and commercial milk (50 ng/L). Compared with the samples from northeast and north areas of China with the similar AFB1 concentration, samples from northwest area of China exhibited higher AFM1 level (mean = 130 ng/L), thus presenting a higher transfer ratio from AFB1 to AFM1. A Linear relationship was observed between AFB1 in TMRs and AFM1 in raw milk. In conclusion, all samples from northern China presented AFB1 and AFM1 levels under Chinese legal limit and only about 30% of the tested samples exceeded the EU legal limit. However, the aflatoxin contamination in northwest area of China should be paid more attention to due to the high AFM1 levels and high variance in milk samples. • Aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin M1 contamination in northern China is under legal limit of China. • More attention should be paid to aflatoxin contamination in Northwest of China. • Linear regression was obtained between AFB1 of TMRs and AFM1 of raw milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An extended car-following model considering the perceived headway errors on gyroidal roads. • The stability condition of proposed model via Hurwitz criterion and the condition for transfer function in terms of H ∞ -norm. • A cooperative control signal based on electronic throttle angle is designed. • The simulation results are in good agreement with theoretical analysis. Gyroidal roads are not uncommon on mountainous freeways. In the provision of complex road information such as visual field and slope, some errors between the perceived headway and the real headway information may exist subject to the accuracy of sensors. With the penetration of automated and autonomous vehicles, there is an increasing need for developing a systematic controlling approach to ensure efficient and safe vehicular motion on gyroidal roads. This study contributes to devising a vehicle-to-vehicle communication-based feedback control method with such considerations. A modified car-following model considering perceived headway errors on gyroidal roads is presented. The neutral stability curves of the new model are derived according to the classical control method, which verifies the significant impact of the error coefficient, slope information, and perception time on the robustness of the model, and that the effect of the error coefficient and slope information is positive while that of the perception time is negative. Given the importance of electronic throttle angle information for vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology, a cooperative control signal is designed for the scenario when the above stability condition is unsatisfied. The numerical simulation example verifies the effectiveness of the controller in alleviating traffic congestion and improving road traffic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorothalonil (CTL), an organochloride fungicide applied for decades worldwide, has been found to be present in various matrixes and even accumulates in humans or other mammals through the food chain. Its high residue and diffusion in the environment have severely affected food security and public health. More and more research has considered CTL as a possible toxin to environmental non-target organisms, via influencing multiple systems such as metabolic, developmental, endocrine, genetic, and reproductive pathways. Aquatic organisms and amphibians are the most vulnerable species to CTL exposure, especially during the early period of development. Under experimental conditions, CTL can also have toxic effects on rodents and other non-target organisms. As for humans, CTL exposure is most often reported to be relevant to allergic reactions to the skin and eyes. We hope that this review will improve our understanding of the hazards and risks that CTL poses to non-target organisms and find a strategy for rational use. [Display omitted] • Chlorothalonil has high residues in the environment. • Chlorothalonil has multiple potential exposure routes to non-target animals and humans. • Chlorothalonil exposure has multiple toxic targets in vivo and in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Solution heating with SBP at all levels averted the losses of -SH and –NH 2 in WPI. • Changes in chemical composition were indicative of productive conjugation reaction. • Conjugates formed between WPI and SBP were critical for improved emulsion stability. • Electrostatic interaction contributed to the improved emulsion stability at pH 3.2. • Adverse conditions (unbalanced ratios, neutral pH) affected the emulsion negatively. We investigated changes in the chemical composition of WPI as a result of heating (60 °C, 72 h) with SBP in solution (pH 6.75). The concentration of WPI was kept at a constant (3%), whereas the level of SBP was varied at 1, 1.5, and 3%. The reaction products were examined using the Ellman's reagent, ninhydrin assay, and gel electrophoresis. The results demonstrated that the losses of the free sulfhydryl (-SH) and primary amine (–NH 2) contents in WPI were less severe compared to those occurring in the dry-state at similar conditions (mass ratio, temperature, and reaction duration). The mixtures were used as emulsifiers in an O/W emulsion system at pH 3.20 and 6.75 and showed an improved ability to stabilize the average size of the droplets than WPI alone at acidic pH. The mixtures at higher levels of SBP, ≥ 1.5%, however, adversely affected the emulsion stability at neutral pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the real traffic, drivers often perceive traffic information with delay time, while presenting asynchronous reactions that form non-constant delay time. Meanwhile, on-ramps are very common in the real traffic network environment, especially on highway sections. Traffic flow merging from the on-ramps has a significant impact on the traffic stability of the main road. Given these facts, we develop an extended lattice hydrodynamic model with drivers' continuous delay time and on-ramp. Based on the linear and nonlinear stability analysis, we derive the stability criterion and modified Korteweg–de Vries (mKdV) equation of the proposed lattice model; the kink-antikink soliton wave solution obtained by solving the above mKdV equation can be used to describe the propagation and evolution characteristics of density waves near the neutral stable curve. Results show that the ramp inflow ratio and delay time have a significant impact on the stability of traffic flow on the freeway main lane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A tiered method was developed to evaluate health risk of mycotoxins in infant foods. • The tiered method included hazard prioritization and margin of exposure-based risk ranking. • The MOE-based probabilistic risk ranking method was used to rank 19 mycotoxins in infant foods. • Tenuazonic acid, Deoxynivalenol, and Enniatin B1 were top three mycotoxins with highest risk. Chemical hazards in foods, especially naturally occurring food contaminants like mycotoxins, are of serious public health concern. It is important to develop a practical framework to assess and rank health risks of chemical contaminants which can be further utilized by regulatory agencies to prioritize resources for risk assessment and management. In this study, a tiered hazard-prioritization and risk-ranking approach, which included two steps: exposure-based screening and margin of exposure (MOE)-based probabilistic risk ranking; was proposed to efficiently identify and rank chemicals of health concerns. Given the exposure-based hazard prioritization, chemicals with negligible or low health risks were first excluded. The remaining chemicals, imposing a higher health risk, were then ranked to facilitate risk-based decision making. The proposed approach was applied to identify and rank the mycotoxins with substantial health concerns in food commodities randomly sampled in China. A total of 19 mycotoxins were analyzed in 783 food commodities, including infant cookie, noodle, rice flour samples, wheat flour, millet, and rice. Results showed that the mycotoxins in infant foods with the highest health risk were Tenuazonic acid, Deoxynivalenol, and Enniatin B1, but as indicated by the probabilistic MOE estimation, the risks were still in the acceptable range and generally lower than the risks imposed by trace elements (e.g., Arsenic and Cadmium). The health risks of the other 16 mycotoxins were negligible mainly due to their low exposure levels. This study demonstrated that the proposed tiered approach was an efficient and effective tool to quantify and prioritize health risks in support of human health risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pig gastrointestinal tracts harbor a heterogeneous and dynamic ecosystem populated with trillions of microbes, enhancing the ability of the host to harvest energy from dietary carbohydrates and contributing to host adipogenesis and fatness. However, the microbial community structure and related mechanisms responsible for the differences between the fatty phenotypes and the lean phenotypes of the pigs remained to be comprehensively elucidated. Herein, we first found significant differences in microbial composition and potential functional capacity among different gut locations in Jinhua pigs with distinct fatness phenotypes. Second, we identified that Jinhua pigs with lower fatness exhibited higher levels of short‐chain fatty acids in the colon, highlighting their enhanced carbohydrate fermentation capacity. Third, we explored the differences in expressed carbohydrate‐active enzyme (CAZyme) in pigs, indicating their involvement in modulating fat storage. Notably, Clostridium butyricum might be a representative bacterial species from Jinhua pigs with lower fatness, and a significantly higher percentage of its genome was dedicated to CAZyme glycoside hydrolase family 13 (GH13). Finally, a subsequent mouse intervention study substantiated the beneficial effects of C. butyricum isolated from experimental pigs, suggesting that it may possess characteristics that promote the utilization of carbohydrates and hinder fat accumulation. Remarkably, when Jinhua pigs were administered C. butyricum, similar alterations in the gut microbiome and host fatness traits were observed, further supporting the potential role of C. butyricum in modulating fatness. Taken together, our findings reveal previously overlooked links between C. butyricum and CAZyme function, providing insight into the basic mechanisms that connect gut microbiome functions to host fatness. Highlight: Significant differences in microbial composition and potential functional capacity among different gut locations were found in Jinhua pigs with distinct fatness phenotypes.Jinhua pigs with lower fatness exhibited higher levels of short‐chain fatty acids in the colon, highlighting their enhanced carbohydrate fermentation capacity.Clostridium butyricum might be a representative bacterial species from Jinhua pigs with lower fatness, and a significantly higher percentage of its genome was dedicated to CAZyme glycoside hydrolase family 13 (GH13).Isolated C. butyricum alleviated fat accumulation and increased the enrichment of GH13 in obese mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride with high concentration over a hollow microsphere S-doped g-C 3 N 4. [Display omitted] For the past few years, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) has been widely used to eliminate environmental pollutants, but limited active site on surface and low separation/migration ability suppress its practical uses. Herein, we adopted a supramolecular self-assembly route followed with S doping to synthesize S-doped g-C 3 N 4 with a hollow microsphere composition (SCNHM), where the shell was demonstrated to compose of ultrathin nanosheets. The unique structural characteristics endow the SCNHM with high specific surface area (∼81 m2 g−1) to provide abundant reaction sites and enhanced light-harvesting due to the light-scattering effect of hollow structure. Moreover, the S dopant meliorated the electronic structure to narrow the bandgap and promoted the charge separation/transfer capability. With this synergistic effect, the SCNHM presented greatly improved photocatalytic activity for degrading tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) compared to the CN, SCN and CNHM samples. This photocatalyst could eliminate high-concentration TC (50 mg L−1) in 18 min, and the 30 min removal efficiencies of 100 mg L−1 and 200 mg L−1 reached 92 % and 60 %, which is much better than the reported photocatalysts in literatures (usually ≤ 20 mg L−1). Additionally, the good photocatalytic durability was confirmed and the degradation pathway of TC was proposed. Furthermore, the SCNHM was proved to meanwhile possess superior performance for inactivating the typical Gram-positive bacterium of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and the typical Gram-negative bacterium of Escherichia coli (E. coli). Finally, based on determination of band alignment and detection of active species, a plausible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternaria species are invasive fungi that infect fruits and vegetables and produce Alternaria toxins resulting in loss of commodity values and harmful effects on human health. To establish a reliable analytical method for Alternaria toxins in fruits, vegetables and their derivatives (e.g., fruit and vegetable juices, purees and jams; dried fruit and vegetables; fruit and vegetable powders), a QuEChERS extraction method was developed and validated for the determination of most reported Alternaria toxins (alternariol monomethyl ether [AME], alternariol [AOH], tentoxin [TEN], tenuazonic acid [TeA], and altenuene [ALT]). The limits of quantitation (LOQ) of the target analytes in food matrices were 1.0–5.0 μg/kg. The extraction recoveries were 73.0%–120%, with good repeatability (<12.9%) and within-laboratory repeatability (<14.7%). The developed method was applied to 270 fruits, vegetables, and their derivatives randomly collected from the market in China. Approximately 45.2% of the samples were contaminated with varying levels of Alternaria toxins. The lowest incidence of contamination by Alternaria toxins was detected in fruits and vegetables (3.6%), and the highest incidence was found in fruit and vegetable powders (60.6%). TeA exhibited the highest detection frequency (22.6%) and the highest level of occurrence level (639 μg/kg) among the tested samples, followed by AOH (14.1%), ALT (11.9%), AME (4.4%), and TEN (3.3%). Furthermore, the simultaneous co-presence of two to five Alternaria toxins was detected in 13.7% of the analyzed samples. The combination of AOH + TeA was the most predominant, accounting for 4.8% of samples. This study developed a reliable and sensitive analytical method and provided representative occurrence data to support the assessment of emerging mycotoxins, especially Alternaria toxins, in fruit and vegetable products. • A QuEChERs extraction method developed for Alternaria toxins determination. • Five Alternaria toxins surveyed in 270 fruit and vegetable products. • High incidence and levels of Alternaria toxins found in fruit and vegetable powders. • Puree and juice samples detected various types of co-occurrences of Alternaria toxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging Alternaria and Fusarium mycotoxins are increasingly becoming a public health concern due to the frequent contamination of various food commodities with these mycotoxins, posing potential health risks to humans. This study developed QuEChERS extraction method coupled with LC–MS/MS for simultaneous quantification of alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), alternariol (AOH), tentoxin (TEN), tenuazonic acid (TeA), altenuene (ALT), enniatins (ENNs) A, A1, B, and B1, and beauvericin (BEA) in tomatoes and derived tomato products. The validated method was successfully applied for a survey of 194 tomatoes and derived tomato products. Overall, one or more mycotoxins were detected in 58.8% of the samples, 100% of tomato powders, 100% of canned tomatoes, 89.6% of tomato sauces, 82.1% of ketchups, 46.7% of tomato juices, and 20% of dried tomatoes, with no mycotoxins detected in fresh tomatoes. Various mycotoxins were detected at relatively higher contamination levels in tomato powders than in other tomato products. TeA, the most predominant mycotoxin, was detected in 56.7% of the samples with an occurrence level of up to 7,985 μg/kg. Approximately 39.2% of positive samples presented the co-occurrence of more than one mycotoxins, and AME + AOH + TeA was the most frequently detected combination. This study is the first to perform the deterministic risk assessment for children and adults on Alternaria and Fusarium mycotoxins that are present in tomatoes and derived tomato products in China. The results showed that the average and 95th percentile dietary exposures to these mycotoxins, especially to AME and AOH, in children might be higher than those in adults by a factor of approximately 2. The estimation of exposure to either Alternaria mycotoxins or Fusarium mycotoxins indicated that the presence of Alternaria and Fusarium mycotoxins in derived tomato products might be a health concern, especially among children and the populations consuming a high amount of these products. However, no firm conclusion could be drawn due to the lack of relevant in vivo toxicity data. This study serves as a useful reference for individuals and food safety authorities concerning mycotoxin contamination in food commodities. • Methods for emerging toxins determination in various tomato products were developed. • About 58.8% (114/194) of tomato-based products were contaminated with emerging toxins. • Co-occurrence of various emerging toxins was evident in 39.2% (76/194) of samples. • Dietary exposures to Alternaria and Fusarium toxins varied among children and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A nanoflares biosensor was designed for multi-target mycotoxin analysis. • EEM data of nanoflares biosensor was resolved by ATLD algorithm. • Spectral overlaps and unknown background can be solved by mathematical resolution. • Mycotoxins can be quantified at extremely low levels with the LOD of 0.02 μg kg−1. • The accuracy of this proposed strategy is far superior to current routine methods. A multi-functional nanoflares biosensor of spherical gold nanoparticle (Au NP) modified by fluorophore-labeled oligonucleotides (ONS) was designed for ultra-sensitive multi-target mycotoxin analysis in food. Au NP was densely modified with multiplex highly oriented hairpins of oligonucleotides (ONS), each ONS was hybridized to a reporter with a distinct fluorophore label and specifically affiliative to its corresponding mycotoxin target. The fluorescent signals of reporters were pre-quenched by Au NP based on ONS hairpin structures and recovered when exposed to ONS's targets. Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence detection was performed in EX and EM wavelength of 200–800 nm. Heavily overlapping spectra of fluorophores, mycotoxins and backgrounds were resolved by alternative trilinear decomposition (ATLD) algorithm, pure spectra of specific fluorophore responding to mycotoxin target can be extracted out for quantitative analysis. Four mycotoxins (Aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, Fumonisins B1, ochratoxin A) were simultaneously quantified at extremely low level with limit of detection <0.02 μg kg−1, the average recovery accuracies were higher than 91.7 % in various matrices of cereals, nuts, edible oils. This study realized an important breakthrough of the application of nanoflares biosensor and maybe promising to be as an alternative strategy for onsite mycotoxins monitoring of food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of moxifloxacin over a aminobenzaldehyde grafted graphitic carbon nitride. [Display omitted] Graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) has been demonstrated to be a potential visible-light-driven photocatalyst for eliminating organic pollutants. However, its practical application is limited by low photocatalytic efficiency originating from high recombination of photogenerated charges. In this work, the electronic structure of GCN was regulated by doping aminobenzaldehyde (ABA) into the skeleton through a solid-state Schiff base reaction. Photoelectrochemical characterizations illustrated that the obtained catalyst (CNABA) exhibited narrower band gap, lower recombination rate of photoinduced electron-hole pair and higher charge transfer ability than the pristine GCN, further indicating its excellent photocatalytic activity. Using moxifloxacin (MOX) as a model pollutant, the ABA doping content was firstly optimized and the optimal activity of the CNABA photocatalyst was 3.1 times higher than that of the GCN. Subsequently, the effects of pH value, photocatalyst dosage and MOX concentration on the photocatalytic behavior were also studied. Superior stability and photocatalytic reusability were confirmed by five repeated tests. By substituting tap water/natural lake water for deionized water and sunlight for xenon light, the CNABA also exhibited high elimination efficiency, implying its good practicability. Superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical and photogenerated hole were identified as the main active species to degrade MOX. Finally, possible degradation pathways for MOX to mineralize small molecules were proposed by determining intermediate products during photocatalysis. This work provides a solid-state method to rationally design aromatic system-modified GCN photocatalysts, and the obtained CNABA is a promising visible-light-driven photocatalyst for eliminating antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of moxifloxacin over a aminobenzaldehyde grafted graphitic carbon nitride. [Display omitted] Graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) has been demonstrated to be a potential visible-light-driven photocatalyst for eliminating organic pollutants. However, its practical application is limited by low photocatalytic efficiency originating from high recombination of photogenerated charges. In this work, the electronic structure of GCN was regulated by doping aminobenzaldehyde (ABA) into the skeleton through a solid-state Schiff base reaction. Photoelectrochemical characterizations illustrated that the obtained catalyst (CNABA) exhibited narrower band gap, lower recombination rate of photoinduced electron-hole pair and higher charge transfer ability than the pristine GCN, further indicating its excellent photocatalytic activity. Using moxifloxacin (MOX) as a model pollutant, the ABA doping content was firstly optimized and the optimal activity of the CNABA photocatalyst was 3.1 times higher than that of the GCN. Subsequently, the effects of pH value, photocatalyst dosage and MOX concentration on the photocatalytic behavior were also studied. Superior stability and photocatalytic reusability were confirmed by five repeated tests. By substituting tap water/natural lake water for deionized water and sunlight for xenon light, the CNABA also exhibited high elimination efficiency, implying its good practicability. Superoxide radical, hydroxyl radical and photogenerated hole were identified as the main active species to degrade MOX. Finally, possible degradation pathways for MOX to mineralize small molecules were proposed by determining intermediate products during photocatalysis. This work provides a solid-state method to rationally design aromatic system-modified GCN photocatalysts, and the obtained CNABA is a promising visible-light-driven photocatalyst for eliminating antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-1,3/1,6-glucan as a prebiotic improves immune performance in animals. These functions are closely related to the effect of β-1,3/1,6-glucan on gut microbiota structure. However, the effect of β-1,3/1,6-glucan on the gut microbiota structure of broilers is unclear. The aim of this study was to confirm the effects of β-1,3/1,6-glucan on the cecal microflora structure of yellow-feathered broilers. This study monitored the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) level of Escherichia coli in feces of yellow-feathered broilers by standard broth dilution method and mastered the AMR level of chickens selected. The effects of β-1,3/1,6-glucan on gut microbiota were investigated by 16S rRNA sequencing. The results showed that the number of isolated multidrug-resistant E. coli strains accounted for 98.41%. At 14, 21, and 28 days of age, supplemented of 0.2%, 0.1%, and 0.1% β-1,3/1,6-glucan in yellow-feathered broiler diets significantly altered gut microbial composition, and beneficial bacteria Alistipes, Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium were significantly increased. These findings provide guidance and recommendations for β-1,3/1,6-glucan as a broiler feed additive to improve the growth of broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance demands new antimicrobial strategies that are less likely to develop resistance. Augmenting the synthesis of endogenous host defense peptides (HDPs) has been proven to be an effective host-directed therapeutic approach. This study aimed to identify small-molecule compounds with a strong ability to induce endogenous HDP synthesis for further development as novel antimicrobial agents. By employing a stable HDP promoter-driven luciferase reporter cell line known as HTC/AvBD9-luc, we performed high-throughput screening of 5002 natural and synthetic compounds and identified 110 hits with a minimum Z-score of 2.0. Although they were structurally and functionally diverse, half of these hits were inhibitors of class I histone deacetylases, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway, ion channels, and dopamine and serotonin receptors. Further validations revealed mocetinostat, a benzamide histone deacetylase inhibitor, to be highly potent in enhancing the expression of multiple HDP genes in chicken macrophage cell lines and jejunal explants. Importantly, mocetinostat was more efficient than entinostat and tucidinostat, two structural analogs, in promoting HDP gene expression and the antibacterial activity of chicken macrophages. Taken together, mocetinostat, with its ability to enhance HDP synthesis and the antibacterial activity of host cells, could be potentially developed as a novel antimicrobial for disease control and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pedestrian flow models contribute to the effective design and operation of pedestrian spaces. In real traffic, pedestrians usually adjust their walking state in the movement procession according to perceptual information. Subject to the human capability, certain errors would exist between the perceptual information and the real traffic information, which can greatly affect the pedestrian flow performance. This paper proposes a bidirectional pedestrian flow model considering the effect of perceived uncertainty of preceding pedestrian information. In the linear and nonlinear stability analysis, we derive the stability criterion and modified Korteweg–de Vries (mKdV) equation of the proposed model. The kink–antikink solitary wave solution can be acquired via solving the above mKdV equations, which provides insight into the essential property of the formation and propagation of traffic jams near the neutral stability curve. Numerical examples demonstrate that the uncertainty terms and the perception time of pedestrians directly affect the pedestrian congestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The application of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to improve swine growth performance has been sporadically studied. Most of these studies used a single microbiota source and thus the effect of donor characteristics on recipient pigs' fecal microbiota development and growth performance is largely unknown. Results: In this study, we collected feces from six donors with heavy (H) or light (L) body weight and different ages (d 42, nursery; d 96, growing; and d 170, finisher) to evaluate their effects on the growth performance and fecal microbiota development of recipient pigs. Generally, recipients that received two doses of FMT from nursery and finisher stages donor at weaning (21 ± 2 days of age) inherited the donor's growth pattern, while the pigs gavaged with grower stage material exerted a numerically greater weight gain than the control pigs regardless of donor BW. FMT from heavier donors (NH, GH, and FH) led to the recipients to have numerically increased growth compared to their lighter counterparts (NL, GL, and FL, respectively) throughout the growing and most finishing stages. This benefit could be attributed to the enrichment of ASV25 Faecalibacterium, ASV61 Faecalibacterium, ASV438 Coriobacteriaceae_unclassified, ASV144 Bulleidia, and ASV129 Oribacterium and decrease of ASV13 Escherichia during nursery stage. Fecal microbiota transplantation from growing and finishing donors influenced the microbial community significantly in recipient pigs during the nursery stage. FMT of older donors' gut microbiota expedited recipients' microbiota maturity on d 35 and 49, indicated by increased estimated microbiota ages. The age-associated bacterial taxa included ASV206 Ruminococcaceae, ASV211 Butyrivibrio, ASV416 Bacteroides, ASV2 Streptococcus, and ASV291 Veillonellaceae. The body weight differences between GL and GH pigs on d 104 were associated with the increased synthesis of the essential amino acid, lysine and methionine, mixed acid fermentation, expedited glycolysis, and sucrose/galactose degradation. Conclusions: Overall, our study provided insights into how donor age and body weight affect FMT outcomes regarding growth performance, microbiota community shifts, and lower GI tract metabolic potentials. This study also provided guidance to select qualified donors for future fecal microbiota transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorine and its derivatives, such as sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and chlorine dioxide, are frequently employed as disinfectants throughout the pork supply chain in China. Nevertheless, the extensive use of NaClO has the potential to cause the creation of 'chlorine-tolerant bacteria' and accelerate the evolution of antibiotic resistance. This study evaluated the efficacy of NaClO disinfection by examining alterations in the microbiome and resistome of a pork wholesale market (PWM), and bacteria isolation and analysis were performed to validate the findings. As expected, the taxonomic composition s of bacteria was significantly different before and after disinfection. Notably, Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) , Salmonella bongori (S. bongori), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) were observed on all surfaces, indicating that the application of NaClO disinfection treatment in PWM environments for pathogenic bacteria is limited. Correlations were identified between antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) associated with aminoglycosides (aph(3′')-I, aph(6′)-I), quinolone (qnrB, abaQ), polymyxin (arnA, mcr-4) and disinfectant resistance genes (emrA/BD , mdtA/B/C/E/F). Furthermore, correlations were found between risk Rank I ARGs associated with aminoglycoside (aph(3′)-I), tetracycline (tetH), beta_lactam (TEM-171), and disinfectant resistance genes (mdtB/C/E/F, emrA, acrB, qacG). Importantly, we found that Acinetobacter and Salmonella were the main hosts of disinfectant resistance genes. The resistance mechanisms of the ARGs identified in PWM were dominated by antibiotic deactivation (38.7%), antibiotic efflux (27.2%), and antibiotic target protection (14.4%). The proportion of genes encoding efflux pumps in the PWM resistome increased after disinfection. Microbial cultures demonstrated that the traits of microbial contamination and antibiotic resistane were consistent with those observed by metagenomic sequencing. This study highlights the possibility of cross-resistance between NaClO disinfectants and antibiotics, which should not be ignored. [Display omitted] • Taxonomic compositions of bacterial were changed before and after disinfection. • The application of NaClO disinfection treatment on pathogenic bacteria was limited. • The Acinetobacter and Salmonella were main hosts of disinfectant resistance genes. • Significant correlations were found between ARGs and disinfectant resistance genes. • The proportion of genes encoding efflux pumps increased in the PMW disinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • DON-induced gut toxicity is partly mediated by gut microbiota. • L. murinus is a potential probiotic against DON. • L. murinus and its EVs effectively alleviated DON-induced intestinal barrier disorder. • LmEVs upregulate TLR2 to promote M2 macrophage polarization to protect the gut barrier. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common environmental pollutant that poses a serious health risk to humans worldwide. This study was aim to explore whether gut microbiota is involved in DON-induced intestinal toxicity as well as to reveal effect of probiotics derived from gut microbiota in protecting intestinal barrier and to elucidate mechanism. We found that DON caused disturbed gut microbiota, particularly Lactobacillus murinus (L. murinus) deficiency. DON enhanced M1 macrophage polarization and decreased tight junction protein expression. Microbiota transplantation experiments showed that transfer of DON-disrupted microbiota to healthy mice resulted in delivery of DON-induced intestinal toxicity. Besides, DON lost its damaging effect on macrophage and intestinal barrier in antibiotic-treated mice. Further intervention experiments revealed that L. murinus induce macrophage conversion from M1 to M2 phenotype through secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) to alleviate DON-induced intestinal barrier disruption. Mechanistically, EVs activate TLR2 to promote M2 macrophage polarization and release IL-10, which in turn enhances intestinal barrier function. Upon successful translation of its efficacy into clinical practice, EVs created from L. murinus could be a novel possible treatment strategy for DON-induced gut disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive fructose corn syrup (FCS) intake brings a series of health problems. The aim of the present study was to explore the mechanism of FCS-induced metabolic disorders from the perspective of gut microbiota. Mice were fed for 16 weeks with normal or 30% FCS drinking water. Compared to the control group, FCS caused significantly higher fat deposition, hepatic steatosis, liver and intestinal inflammatory damages (P <.05). FCS increased the abundance of Muribaculaceae in vivo and in vitro , which was positively correlated with the indices of metabolic disorders (P <.05). In vivo and in vitro data indicated that FCS enhanced the microbial function involved in pentose phosphate pathway and arachidonic acid metabolism, metabolomics further demonstrated that FCS led to an increase in prostaglandins (the catabolites of arachidonic acid) (P <.05). Our study confirmed that FCS can directly promote gut microbiota to synthesize inflammatory factor prostaglandins, which provides new insights and directions for the treatment of FCS-induced metabolic disorders and inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the occurrence of 34 common antibiotic (15 sulfonamides and 19 quinolones) residues were evaluated in 236 ready‐to‐eat duck eggs (salted and preserved duck eggs) marketed through e‐commerce stores by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, and subsequent dietary risk assessments for Chinese consumers were conducted. Among violated positives in duck egg samples, 11 analytes were found including sulfamethazine, sulfaquinoxaline, sulfamethoxazole, sulfadiazine, sulfamonomethoxine, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, ofloxacin, flumequine, sarafloxacin, and nalidixic acid. A higher number of antibiotics were detected in salted duck eggs (five sulfonamides and six quinolones) than in preserved duck eggs (one sulfonamide and two quinolones). The maximum contamination of sulfonamides and quniolones was 448.0 µg/kg (sulfaquinoxaline) and 563.7 µg/kg (enrofloxacin) in salted duck eggs, respectively. Dietary exposure was evaluated through the estimated daily intake (EDI) of risky antibiotics (sulfamethazine, ciprofloxacin, and enrofloxacin) and hazard quotients (HQs). The results showed that EDIs and HQs were in the range of 0.0004 to 0.0099 µg/kg bw/day and 0.0009 to 0.1594%, respectively. The risk was low since HQs obtained were less than 100%. However, a special attention should be paid to ready‐to‐eat duck egg products high percentile consumers with the prosperity of e‐commerce market in China. Practical Application: The present analytical method could be used for multiresidue determination of antibiotics in ready‐to‐eat duck eggs, and dietary risk assessments of risky antibiotics provided a support for the work of regulatory bodies to conduct surveillance programs regarding food safety evaluation of ready‐to‐eat foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has negative impacts on the postnatal survival, growth and development of humans and animals, with not only on newborns but also adulthood. However, the characteristics for nutrient digestion and absorption in IUGR offspring are still largely unknown. Therefore, the normal birth weight (NBW) and IUGR growing pigs were used in this study to investigate their differences in nutrient utilization, with an expectition for further nutritional optimization of the IUGR offspring during their later life. Methods: Twelve IUGR and 12 NBW growing pigs were fitted with catheters in their portal vein to measure blood flow rate as well as nutrients and metabolites in plasma. The digestibilities of nutrients in different intestinal segments, and bacterial fermentation in the large intestine were examined to reveal the characteristics of nutrients utilization in IUGR versus NBW pigs. Results: The rate of portal venous blood flow did not differ beween IUGR and NBW pigs. Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose were much lower but those of urea were higher in the portal vein of IUGR pigs, compared with the NBW pigs. The ileal digestibility of dry matter, gross energy and starch were lower in IUGR pigs than in NBW pigs. IUGR increased hindgut microbial diversity and bacterial fermentation activity in the caecum. In vitro cross-fermentation of ileal digesta by caecal microbes of NBW and IUGR pigs showed that gas production was much higher for IUGR ileal digesta regardless of the source of caecal inocula. Conclusion: IUGR impairs the nutrient digestion and absorption in small intestine, reduces caecal microbial diversity and promotes bacterial fermentation in the large intestine during the growing phase. These findings aid in our understanding of nutrient metabolism in IUGR pigs and provide the basis for future nutritional interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Efficient utilization of dietary fibers (DFs) is important for optimizing feed resource utilization and animal health. The aim of the current study was to assess the effects of DFs with varying physicochemical properties (bulky, viscous, and fermentable) on fermentation kinetics and microbial composition during in vitro fermentation by fecal inoculum from lactating sow. According to the physicochemical properties, three different DFs, lignocellulose (LC), modified cassava starch (MCS) and konjac flour (KF) were selected as bulky fiber, fermentable fiber and viscous fiber respectively. Gas production, short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) profiles and microbial composition were monitored during the fermentation. RESULTS: Results showed that the gas production in 72 h (GP72h) ranked as: KF > MCS > LC (P < 0.05). The halftime of asymptotic gas production ranked as: KF < MCS = LC (P < 0.001). At 36 h of fermentation, MCS group showed higher concentrations of formic acid and lactate than LC and KF groups, whereas KF group showed higher concentrations of propionate and butyrate than LC and MCS groups (P < 0.05). At 72 h of fermentation, KF group showed higher concentrations of formic acid, lactate and propionate than LC and MCS groups, whereas MCS group showed higher concentrations of acetate and butyrate than LC and KF groups (P < 0.05). At 36 h of fermentation, Anaerovibrio and Erysipelatoclostridium abundances were higher in KF group, whereas Proteiniclasticum abundance was higher in MCS group. At 72 h of fermentation, the abundance of Fibrobacter in LC group was higher than that in MCS and KF groups. In addition, we also observed that the abundances of certain specific bacteria (Anaerovibrio and Erysipelatoclostridium) were closely related to the SCFAs production (propionate and butyrate) at different fermentation times. CONCLUSION: Collectively, the present study revealed that KF is a fast fermentation fiber which could produce propionate and butyrate rapidly, whereas LC is difficult to be fermented by bacteria. In addition, the fermentation of DFs with different physicochemical properties had divergent impacts on microbial composition and SCFA production. These findings deepen our understanding of the mechanisms of interaction between DFs and intestinal microbiota, and provide new ideas for the rational use of fiber resources in lactating sows. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Three feijoa peel pectins were extracted using different methods. • Extraction methods had significant effects on the structure of feijoa peel pectins. • Structure of feijoa peel pectins affected their thermal and rheological properties. • Feijoa peel pectins had excellent antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. The structure characteristics, functional properties, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of pectins extracted from feijoa peel with water (FP-W), acid (FP-A) and alkali (FP-B) were investigated. Results showed that the feijoa peel pectins (FPs) were mainly composed of galacturonic acid, arabinose, galactose and rhamnose. FP-W and FP-A had higher proportion of homogalacturonan domain, degree of esterification and molecular weight (for main component) than FP-B; FP-B owned the highest yield, protein and polyphenol contents. FP-W had a compact and smooth surface morphology unlike FP-A and FP-B. FP-W and FP-A had better thermal stability than FP-B. The rheological analysis suggested that the FPs exhibited pseudoplastic fluid behavior, and the elastic characteristics were dominant. Results showed that FP-W and FP-B had superior antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities than FP-A. According to correlation analysis, monosaccharide composition, sugar ratios and degree of acetylation were chief factors affecting the functional properties, antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities of the FPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive fructose intake is associated with the rising prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The gut microbiome (GM) and bile acids (BAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, but the impact of fructose on their cross-talk is unclear. In this study, adult male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet with tap water (ND) or with 4% fructose in the drinking water (Fru), 60% high-fat diet with tap water (HF) or with 4% fructose solution (HFF) for 12 weeks. Targeted BA analysis was performed in five anatomical sites including the liver, ileum contents, portal serum, cecum contents, and feces. Metagenomic sequencing was performed to explore gut dysbiosis. Within 12 weeks, the 4% fructose diet could initially stimulate gut dysbiosis and BA upregulation in the ileum, portal serum, and cecum when the intestinal and hepatic transport system remained stable without hepatic lipid accumulation. However, the chronic consumption of fructose promoted HF-induced NAFLD, with significantly increased body weight, impaired glucose tolerance, and advanced liver steatosis. BA transporters were inhibited in HFF, causing the block of internal BA circulation and increased BA secretion via cecum contents and feces. Notably, lithocholic acid (LCA) and its taurine conjugates were elevated within the enterohepatic circulation. Meanwhile, the Clostridium species were significantly altered in both Fru and HFF groups and were closely associated with fructose and BA metabolism. In summary, excessive fructose caused gut dysbiosis and BA alterations, promoting HF-induced NAFLD. The crosstalk between Clostridium sp. and LCA species were potential targets in fructose-mediated NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defensins are a class of antimicrobial peptides in vertebrates that function as the first line of innate immunity with potent antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. Fourteen defensins, namely, avian β-defensin 1 to 14 (AvBD1-14), have been identified in chickens. Before characterizing the role of AvBDs in innate immunity during the early development of chickens, we collected tissue segments from the liver, spleen, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract including the esophagus, crop, proventriculus, gizzard, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon from broilers at days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28. After RNA isolation and reverse transcription, we determined the expression levels of the 14 AvBD genes in these tissues during the first 28 days after hatching by real-time PCR. The results suggested the AvBDs were widely expressed in the chicken liver, spleen, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Interestingly, we did not detect AvBD11 expressed in the GI tract, even in the liver and spleen. Additionally, AvBDs were differentially expressed in the chicken GI tract. AvBD5 and AvBD14 were expressed most abundantly in the proximal GI tract, especially the esophagus and crop. Moreover, AvBD5, AvBD7, AvBD9, and AvBD14 were expressed in an inverted-V pattern with the peak being the observed expression at days 3, 7, or 14 in the chicken spleen, esophagus, duodenum, and cecum. Other AvBDs presented biphasic or inverted-V expression patterns in different tissues. The expression levels of all detected AvBDs were strengthened after hatching rather than decreasing steadily. Therefore, AvBDs were found to be expressed widely in the chicken liver, spleen, and GI tract and their expression levels were primarily up regulated during the early development of chicken, implying the potential essential roles of AvBDs in early innate defense and infection resistance of chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defensins are a class of antimicrobial peptides in vertebrates that function as the first line of innate immunity with potent antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. Fourteen defensins, namely, avian β-defensin 1 to 14 (AvBD1-14), have been identified in chickens. Before characterizing the role of AvBDs in innate immunity during the early development of chickens, we collected tissue segments from the liver, spleen, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract including the esophagus, crop, proventriculus, gizzard, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon from broilers at days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28. After RNA isolation and reverse transcription, we determined the expression levels of the 14 AvBD genes in these tissues during the first 28 days after hatching by real-time PCR. The results suggested the AvBDs were widely expressed in the chicken liver, spleen, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Interestingly, we did not detect AvBD11 expressed in the GI tract, even in the liver and spleen. Additionally, AvBDs were differentially expressed in the chicken GI tract. AvBD5 and AvBD14 were expressed most abundantly in the proximal GI tract, especially the esophagus and crop. Moreover, AvBD5, AvBD7, AvBD9, and AvBD14 were expressed in an inverted-V pattern with the peak being the observed expression at days 3, 7, or 14 in the chicken spleen, esophagus, duodenum, and cecum. Other AvBDs presented biphasic or inverted-V expression patterns in different tissues. The expression levels of all detected AvBDs were strengthened after hatching rather than decreasing steadily. Therefore, AvBDs were found to be expressed widely in the chicken liver, spleen, and GI tract and their expression levels were primarily up regulated during the early development of chicken, implying the potential essential roles of AvBDs in early innate defense and infection resistance of chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Cathelicidins are a group of host defense peptides in vertebrates with both antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. In the present study, we identified the entire repertoire of the cathelicidin gene family from the forest musk deer genome. Sequence comparison, phylogenetic topology, and gene and genomic organizations collectively suggest that all cathelicidin genes have already been fixed in the genome of forest musk deer before the split of moschidae and bovidae, while independent pseudogenization events have occurred after species divergence. In addition, real-time PCR analysis suggested that all functional cathelicidins play important roles in the immune system. The results of this study will be helpful for further evolutionary and functional studies. The forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) is a small-sized artiodactyl species famous for the musk secreted by adult males. In the captive population, this species is under the threat of infection diseases, which greatly limits the increase of individual numbers. In the present study, we computationally analyzed the repertoire of the cathelicidin (CATHL) family from the genome of forest musk deer and investigated their expression pattern by real-time PCR. Our results showed that the entire genome of forest musk deer encodes eight cathelicidins, including six functional genes and two pseudogenes. Phylogenetic analyses further revealed that all forest musk deer cathelicidin members have emerged before the split of the forest musk deer and cattle and that forest musk deer CATHL3L2 and CATHL9 are orthologous with two cattle pseudogenes. In addition, the gene expression results showed that the six functional genes are not only abundantly expressed in the spleen and lung, but are also differently expressed in response to abscesses, which suggests that forest musk deer cathelicidins may be involved in infections. Taken together, identification and characterization of the forest musk deer cathelicidins provide fundamental data for further investigating their evolutionary process and biological functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The establishment of stable microbiota in early life is beneficial to the individual. Changes in the intestinal environment during early life play a crucial role in modulating the gut microbiota. Therefore, early intervention to change the intestinal environment can be regarded as a new regulation strategy for the growth and health of poultry. However, the effects of intestinal environmental changes on host physiology and metabolism are rarely reported. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of early inoculation with caecal fermentation broth on small intestine morphology, gene expression of tight junction proteins in the ileum, and cecum microbial metabolism of broilers. Results: Our data showed that early inoculation with caecal fermentation broth could improve intestine morphology. The small intestine villus height was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the intervened broilers compared to the control group, especially on day 28. A similar result was observed in the ratio of villus height to crypt depth (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, we found early inoculation significantly increased (P < 0.05) the expression levels of zonula occludens-1 (ZO1) on days 14 and 28, claudin-1 (CLDN1) on day 28, whereas the gene expression of claudin-2 (CLDN2) was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) on days 14 and 28. Gas chromatography time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (GC-TOF/MS) technology was further implemented to systematically evaluate the microbial metabolite profiles. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) displayed a distinct trend towards separation between the fermentation broth group (F group) and the control group (C group). The differentially expressed metabolites were identified, and they were mainly functionally enriched in beta-alanine metabolism and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. In addition, 1,3-diaminopropane was selected as a key biomarker that responded to early inoculation with caecal fermentation broth. Conclusions: These results provide insight into intestinal metabolomics and confirm that early inoculation with caecal fermentation broth can be used as a potential strategy to improve intestinal health of broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liver is an important organ that has pivotal functions in the synthesis of several vital proteins, the metabolism of various biologically useful materials, the detoxification of toxic substances, and immune defense. Most liver functions are not mature at a young age and many changes happen during postnatal liver development, which lead to differential functions of the liver at different developmental stages. However, the transcriptome details of what changes occur in the liver after birth and the molecular mechanisms for the regulation of the developmental process are not clearly known in chickens. Here, we used RNA-sequencing to analyze the transcriptome of chicken liver from the prenatal (at an embryonic day of 13) to the postnatal stages (at 5 wk and 42 wk of age). A total of approximately 161.17 Gb of raw data were obtained, with 4,127 putative and 539 differentially expressed lncRNAs, and with 13,949 putative and 6,370 differentially expressed mRNAs. Coexpression of lncRNAs-mRNAs in hepatic transcriptome analysis showed that the liver plays important roles in providing energy for organisms through the mitochondrial respiratory chain in chickens, meanwhile, acting as a crucial part of antioxidant stress. The developmental transcriptome date revealed that antioxidant defenses are likely to act on chicken embryo development and that significant functional changes during postnatal liver development are associated with the liver maturation of chickens. These results provide a timeline for the functional transcriptome transition from the prenatal to adult stages in chickens and will be helpful to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms of liver development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) has been demonstrated to be a potential piezocatalyst in environmental remediation. The common piezoelectric materials synthesized by GCN are often designed to have a larger specific surface area to increase the adsorption and degradation performance of environmental pollutants. However, these process will also decrease the particle size of two-dimensional GCN, which thus affect the in-plane polarization intensity and inhibit the piezoelectric catalytic performance. Herein, we proposed an NH 4 Cl assistant synthesis to obtain ultrathin Cl-doped GCN (Cl-GCN) with large surface area and developed porosity. The introduced Cl with strong electronegativity can better change the electron cloud density distribution in GCN. From the experiment measurements and the theoretical calculation, Cl dopant in GCN skeleton resulted in partially destroyed crystal symmetry, and increased the structural polarity. As a result, the Cl-GCN simultaneously possessing large surface area and high piezoelectric polarization contributed enhanced piezocatalytic activity for degradation of antibiotics compared to the pristine GCN. Within 30 min, the degradation efficiency of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) reached to ca. 94%. Besides, the effects of antibiotic concentration as well as the piezocatalytic durability for eliminating different antibiotics were investigated. Finally, based on determinations of mainly active species and the intermediate products during the piezocatalytic process, a plausible piezocatalytic degradation mechanism was proposed. This study implies that enhancing the piezoelectric polarization of piezocatalyst by heteroatomic doping and meanwhile improving its surface area are promising strategies to promoting piezocatalytic performance both for environmental application and for clean energy production. Piezocatalytic degradation of TC-HCl over a morphologic modified GCN nanosheet. [Display omitted] • The ultrathin structure of Cl-doped GCN was conducive to piezoelectric reaction. • Destruction of crystal symmetry by Cl promoted piezoelectric polarization. • The oxidizing groups and electrochemical mechanism were determined. • The degradation route of TC-HCl by piezoelectric catalysis was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]