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BACKGROUND: Hyperphosphatemia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Whereas clinical and observational studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of sucroferric oxyhydroxide (SO) in controlling serum phosphorus (sP) in ESKD, data on the real-world impact of switching to SO in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) are limited. In this retrospective database analysis, we examine the impact of SO on sP management over a 1-year period among PD patients prescribed SO as part of routine clinical care. METHODS: We analyzed de-identified data from adults on PD in Fresenius Kidney Care clinics who were prescribed SO monotherapy between May 2018 and December 2019 as part of routine clinical management. Changes from baseline in sP levels, phosphate binder (PB) pill burden, and laboratory parameters were evaluated during the four consecutive 91-day intervals of SO treatment. RESULTS: The mean age of the 402 patients who completed 1 year of SO was 55.2 years at baseline, and they had been on PD for an average of 19.9 months. SO was initiated with no baseline PB recorded in 36.1% of patients, whereas the remaining 257 patients were switched to SO from sevelamer (39.7%), calcium acetate (30.4%), lanthanum (1.2%), ferric citrate (14.0%), or more than one PB (14.8%). Mean sP at baseline was 6.26 mg/dL. After being prescribed SO, the percentage of patients achieving sP ≤ 5.5 mg/dL increased from 32.1% (baseline) to 46.5-54.0% during the 1-year follow-up, whereas the mean number of PB pills taken per day decreased from 7.7 at baseline (among patients on a baseline PB) to 4.6 to 5.4. Serum phosphorus and PB pill burden decreased regardless of changes in residual kidney function over the 12-month period. Similar results were observed for the full cohort (976 patients who either completed or discontinued SO during the 1-year follow-up). CONCLUSIONS: Patients on PD who were prescribed SO as part of routine care for phosphorus management experienced significant reductions in SP and PB pills per day and improvements in sP target achievement, suggesting the effectiveness of SO on SP management with a concurrent reduction in pill burden.

Development of high yielding cowpea varieties coupled with good taste and rich in essential minerals can promote consumption and thus nutrition and profitability. The sweet taste of cowpea grain is determined by its sugar content, which comprises mainly sucrose and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) including raffinose and stachyose. However, GOS are indigestible and their fermentation in the colon can produce excess intestinal gas, causing undesirable bloating and flatulence. In this study, we aimed to examine variation in grain sugar and mineral concentrations, then map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and estimate genomic-prediction (GP) accuracies for possible application in breeding. Grain samples were collected from a multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population grown in California during 2016-2017. Grain sugars were assayed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Grain minerals were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry and combustion. Considerable variation was observed for sucrose (0.6-6.9%) and stachyose (2.3-8.4%). Major QTLs for sucrose (QSuc.vu-1.1), stachyose (QSta.vu-7.1), copper (QCu.vu-1.1) and manganese (QMn.vu-5.1) were identified. Allelic effects of major sugar QTLs were validated using the MAGIC grain samples grown in West Africa in 2017. GP accuracies for minerals were moderate (0.4-0.58). These findings help guide future breeding efforts to develop mineral-rich cowpea varieties with desirable sugar content.

(1) Background: Clinical results on the effects of excess sugar consumption on insulin sensitivity are conflicting, possibly due to differences in sugar type and the insulin sensitivity index (ISI) assessed. Therefore, we compared the effects of consuming four different sugars on insulin sensitivity indices derived from oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT). (2) Methods: Young adults consumed fructose-, glucose-, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)-, sucrose-, or aspartame-sweetened beverages (SB) for 2 weeks. Participants underwent OGTT before and at the end of the intervention. Fasting glucose and insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), glucose and insulin area under the curve, Surrogate Hepatic Insulin Resistance Index, Matsuda ISI, Predicted M ISI, and Stumvoll Index were assessed. Outcomes were analyzed to determine: (1) effects of the five SB; (2) effects of the proportions of fructose and glucose in all SB. (3) Results: Fructose-SB and the fructose component in mixed sugars negatively affected outcomes that assess hepatic insulin sensitivity, while glucose did not. The effects of glucose-SB and the glucose component in mixed sugar on muscle insulin sensitivity were more negative than those of fructose. (4) Conclusion: the effects of consuming sugar-SB on insulin sensitivity varied depending on type of sugar and ISI index because outcomes assessing hepatic insulin sensitivity were negatively affected by fructose, and outcomes assessing muscle insulin sensitivity were more negatively affected by glucose.

Objective: Bacterial vaginosis is a disease caused by vaginal microecology disorder, which seriously affects female health. At present, there are many drugs to treat BV, and this study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of multiple drugs for BV through a network meta-analysis (NMA). Methods: All studies were sourced from PubMed and Embase databases from the establishment date to April 13, 2023. We evaluated the clinical cure success rate and adverse effects (abnormal increase in vaginal discharge, external genital irritation, and vulvar itching) and performed subgroup analyses of the clinical cure success rate for different modes of administration. All statistical analyses were performed using R and STATA 14.0 software for network meta-analysis. Results: Weincluded42studies thatmetthecriteria, involving a total of8382patients. Network meta-analysis results showed that metronidazole and secnidazole had a higher rate of adverse reactions than placebo (RR 7.06; 95%-CI 2.61-19.10, RR 4.03; 95%-CI1.63-9.98), theadverse reaction rateofprobioticsgroupwaslowerthanthat of metronidazole group (RR 0.44; 95%-CI 0.21-0.93). The clinical cure rate of oral ornidazole was better than clindamycin (RR 16.08; 95%-CI 1.72-150.47), Secnidazole (RR 8.17; 95%-CI 1.66-40.25) and probiotics. Directmeta-analysis results showed that ornidazole had a better clinical cure rate than Secnidazole (RR1.22; 95%-CI 1.10-1.34), oral ornidazole had a better clinical cure rate than Secnidazole (RR 1.23; 95%-CI 1.11-1.36). The clinical cure rate of vaginal application of sucrose was better than metronidazole (RR 1.12; 95%-CI 1.03-1.21) and metronidazole had a lower clinical cure rate than probiotics (RR 0.68; 95%-CI 0.52-0.88). Conclusions: The results of this systematic review and network meta-analysis suggest that ornidazole may be an effective alternative for the treatment of BV, and that sucrose and probiotics are potential BV treatments that need to be validated by more high-quality clinical studies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical Application Unlike many commercial sweeteners for which sweetness dose‐response curves have been constructed, honey's sweetness has yet to be quantified. Honey differs from most commercial sweeteners in that it has a robust aroma; this aroma may impact its perceived sweetness. This study quantified the sweetness intensity and the impact of aroma on the perceived sweetness of four different honey varieties (clover, wildflower, alfalfa, and orange) compared to sucrose. Each sweetener evaluated was diluted to six concentrations in water ranging from 12.5 g/L to 125 g/L. Panelists (n = 55) rated the sweetness intensities with and without aroma, in replicate, on the Global Sensory Intensity Scale. Additionally, the volatile organic compounds in the honey samples were profiled using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. Honey and sugar were equivalently sweet at a given concentration (g/L), with aroma present (p = 0.251). Additionally, honey and sugar were not equivalently sweet without aroma; aroma significantly increased sweetness intensities for all sweeteners (p = 0.042) and especially honeys. In a 100 g/L solution, the aromas in honey increased its sweetness by 23%–43%, depending on the floral source. Compounds with sweet aroma characteristics were identified at high concentrations in all honey samples using GC/MS analysis, including furfural, benzaldehyde, benzene acetaldehyde, and dimethyl sulfide. Additionally, (S)‐limonene and toluene were present in high quantities in the orange and alfalfa samples. This study can inform appropriate honey usage levels and identify major volatiles that may enhance sweetness.Honey sweetness has not been determined quantitatively, despite the widespread use of honey among consumers and product formulators. Sweetness enhancement by honey aroma volatiles may support a reduction in added sugars while maintaining sweetness intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several epidemiological studies have investigated the association between sugar intake, the levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the risk of hypertension, but findings have been inconsistent. We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to examine the associations between sugar intake, hypertension risk, and BP levels. Articles published up to February 2, 2021 were sourced through PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science. Pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a fixed- or random-effects model. Restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate dose-response associations. Overall, 35 studies were included in the present meta-analysis (23 for hypertension and 12 for BP). Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) were positively associated with hypertension risk: 1.26 (95% CI, 1.15–1.37) and 1.10 (1.07–1.13) per 250-g/day increment, respectively. For SBP, only SSBs were significant with a pooled β value of 0.24 mmHg (95% CI, 0.12–0.36) per 250 g increase. Fructose, sucrose, and added sugar, however, were shown to be associated with elevated DBP with 0.83 mmHg (0.07–1.59), 1.10 mmHg (0.12–2.08), and 5.15 mmHg (0.09–10.21), respectively. Current evidence supports the harmful effects of sugar intake for hypertension and BP level, especially SSBs, ASBs, and total sugar intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical Application Corn starch‐based direct expanded products incorporated with 2% and 10% (w/w) sugar (fructose, glucose, sucrose, and xylose) were produced using a 20 mm co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder. The pasting and thermal properties of raw corn starch‐sugar mixes were analyzed before extrusion processing. The independent variables for extrusion processing included two sugar inclusion levels (2% and 10% w/w) and two screw speeds (150 and 250 rpm). The extrudates were characterized by their initial expansion ratio (IER), expansion ratio (ER), and shrinkage. ER values were high for fructose at 2% and 150 rpm and 10% glucose and sucrose extrudates at 250 rpm. The extrudates with 2% sucrose inclusion shrunk significantly higher than the control. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of the extruded blends did not indicate the presence of any new covalent bond formed between starch and sugar post‐extrusion. The interactions between sugar concentration and screw speed significantly influenced extrudate expansion characteristics. Due to their thermal and plasticizing properties, sugar inclusion (glucose, fructose, sucrose, and xylose) enhanced the extrudate expansion by altering their melt viscosity.The findings of this study can improve the expansion characteristics of high‐fiber‐based extruded snacks. Ingredients high in fiber generally hinder the starch transformation during extrusion and negatively impact the expansion properties. The presence of sugar at low concentrations can improve melt properties during extrusion processing and, in turn, significantly improve the textural properties of snacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Carbohydrate compounds serve multifaceted roles, from energy sources to stress protectants, found across diverse organisms including bacteria, fungi, and plants. Despite this broad importance, the molecular genetic framework underlying carbohydrate biosynthesis pathways, such as starch, sucrose, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis in Salvia guaranitica, remains largely unexplored. Methods: In this study, the Illumina-HiSeq 2500 platform was used to sequence the transcripts of S. guaranitica leaves, generating approximately 8.2 Gb of raw data. After filtering and removing adapter sequences, 38 million reads comprising 210 million high-quality nucleotide bases were obtained. De novo assembly resulted in 75,100 unigenes, which were annotated to establish a comprehensive database for investigating starch, sucrose, and glycolysis biosynthesis. Functional analyses of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (SgGPI), trehalose-6-phosphate synthase/phosphatase (SgT6PS), and sucrose synthase (SgSUS) were performed using transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. Results: Among the unigenes, 410 were identified as putatively involved in these metabolic pathways, including 175 related to glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and 235 to starch and sucrose biosynthesis. Overexpression of SgGPI, SgT6PS, and SgSUS in transgenic A. thaliana enhanced leaf area, accelerated flower formation, and promoted overall growth compared to wild-type plants. Discussion: These findings lay a foundation for understanding the roles of starch, sucrose, and glycolysis biosynthesis genes in S. guaranitica, offering insights into future metabolic engineering strategies for enhancing the production of valuable carbohydrate compounds in S. guaranitica or other plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the exopolysaccharide (EPS) production of Lactiplantibacillus pentosus KS27 depending on temperature, incubation time, and medium composition and to determine the optimum conditions. Characterization was carried out for the exopolysaccharide produced under optimum conditions. In the study, three different conditions (25 °C, 35 °C, 45 °C) were used for temperature, glycerol, and sucrose as media, and three different periods (24 h, 36 h, and 48 h) were used. It was determined that the solubility of EPS produced under optimal conditions had the highest water content (98 ± 0.01%), while the water binding capacity was also found to be as high as 1970 ± 0.01% and complied with common EPS characteristics. Differential scanning calorimeter analysis showed a gradual deterioration up to 191.88 °C and a slow decline up to 400 °C. FTIR analysis deciphered peak values between 3289 and 517 cm−1, and functional groups were detected. When the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum was examined, a heterogeneous structure appropriate to the structure of EPS was found by defining the peak entities in three separate regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary purpose of this study is to synthesize biochar (Fe-SB) derived from sucrose through hydrothermal carbonization coupling with goethite activation and utilize it as an adsorbent to remove methylene blue (MB). FTIR, SEM, and BET were used to analyze the biochar characterization. Factors affecting the adsorption of MB on Fe-SB, including temperature, pH, salt, and different water sources, were also meticulously investigated. SEM results indicate that the morphology of the biochar derived from sucrose has a spherical shape, and the goethite crystal has a needle-like structure that successfully deposits on the adsorbent. The specific surface area of Fe-SB is 568 m2/g and contains enormous functional groups of O–H, C = C, and C–O. In the condition of pH 8, Fe-SB had a maximum adsorption capability of 476.2 mg/g. The adsorption capacity of biochar for MB removal consists of various adsorption mechanisms. In conclusion, Fe-SB, a novel material, pinpoints a promising and environmentally friendly adsorbent for the removal of MB from aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic liver disease is closely linked to dietary intake factors, such as high consumption of simple carbohydrates including sucrose. In this study, the influence of sucrose on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver malignancy, was explored. Using the hepatocarcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN) to induce HCC in the rat, we co-administered sucrose with DEN. The co-administration significantly modified body, liver and pancreas weight, as well as, serum fatty acids and triglycerides. DEN caused liver structural alteration, fibrosis, and tumor formation; surprisingly, co-administration with sucrose restored hepatic lipids, improved liver architecture, and reduced fibrosis and tumor development. Sucrose intake negatively regulated tumor markers and cell proliferation, and reduced the expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism and oxidative stress response. These findings highlight a hepatoprotective effect of sucrose during DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, underlining an intriguing role of high sucrose consumption during HCC development and providing new insights as well as possible pathways of cellular protection under sucrose intake on hepatocarcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractInvestigating the biotechnological potential of wild microorganisms is paramount for optimizing bioprocesses. Given this premise, we looked for yeasts in Brazilian native stingless bees, considering the recognized potential of pollinating insect-associated microorganisms for the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Two yeast strains of the species Meyerozyma caribbica were isolated from bees Scaptotrigona postica and evaluated for their fermentative capacity. Both yeasts were capable of fermenting sucrose (the main sugar used in the Brazilian ethanol industry) with over 90% efficiency and yields of up to 0.504 g/g. Through an experimental design analysis (CCD), it was verified that the ethanol productivity of these yeasts can also benefit from high concentrations of sucrose and low pH values, desirable traits for microorganisms in this biofuel production. At the same time, CCD analyses also showed the great capacity of these M. caribbica strains to produce another alcohol of broad biotechnological interest, 2-phenylethanol. Interestingly, the statistical analyses demonstrated that greater production of this compound can occur at high sugar concentrations and low availability of nitrogen sources, which can be easily achieved using residual low-cost feedstocks. Thus, our results suggest that these M. caribbica strains may be efficiently used in both ethanol and 2-phenylethanol production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poor anode/electrolyte interface triggered by abysmal dendritic growth and hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) hinders the development of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs). Here, a highly efficient electrolyte is formulated with sucralose (Sucral) additive to refresh solvated structure and steer interfacial renovation, for building highly electronegative Cl‐modulated trinity effect in the bulk‐interface between electrolyte and electrode. Experiment results and theoretical studies jointly reveal that Sucral with highly zincophilic and hydrophilic hydroxyl groups can remodel primary Zn2+ solvation shell and interrupt strong H‐bond network from H2O molecules, thus boosting fast de‐solvation and restricting undesirable HER. Simultaneously, three highly electronegative chlorides in the adsorbed Sucral possessing hydrophobic features can enable a H2O‐poor electric double‐layer (EDL), thus remodeling the Zn surface against corrosion. Additionally, it realizes preferential exposure of the Zn (002) plane for helping uniform interfacial deposition. The synergy of the above factors achieves a prolonged lifespan of 3000 h (1.0 mA cm−2, 1.0 mAh cm−2), much better than that with Sucrose (Suc) electrolyte. The Zn//V2O5 full cell at 5 A g−1 also maintains enhanced stability of 1500 cycles with 160 mAh g−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ingested toxins formulated as baits can be effective in the management of insect pests, but their efficacy may be influenced by insect foraging alongside active ingredients. There are several components that might influence insect consumption of toxic baits, one of which being prior nutritional exposure. In our study, we investigated how protein deprivation following adult emergence influences lethal and sublethal effects of boric acid on the pest tephritid melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae. We performed a series of experiments to address the impact of prior diet on mortality, diet consumption, enzymes involved in detoxification and antioxidation and fly activity. Newly emerged melon fly adults were provided either diet containing 3:1 sucrose/yeast hyrdrolysate or just sucrose for three days prior to bioassays. Overall, protein deprivation had a strong effect on fly interactions with boric acid. In two separate experiments (continuous exposure and short duration feeding), insects only pre‐fed sucrose had significantly higher mortality compared with those pre‐fed protein. Insects that were pre‐fed only sucrose removed more liquid diet over the same duration of the experiments, suggesting compensatory foraging behaviours. Adults pre‐fed sucrose had higher catalase (1.5×) and superoxide dismutase (1.7×) activities compared with adults pre‐fed sucrose‐yeast, but we found no effect of boric acid on their activity or that of glutathione‐S‐transferase or acetylcholinesterase activity. Boric acid consumption also significantly reduced the activity of melon flies. Overall, our results demonstrate that prior diet in fly adulthood can impact subsequent exposure to and efficacy of ingested toxicants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The hippocampus (HC) is recognized for its pivotal role in memory‐related plasticity and facilitating adaptive behavioral responses to reward shifts. However, the nature of its involvement in the response to reward downshifts remains to be determined. To bridge this knowledge gap, we explored the HC's function through a series of experiments in various tasks involving reward downshifts and using several neural manipulations in rats. In Experiment 1, complete excitotoxic lesions of the HC impaired choice performance in a modified T‐maze after reducing the quantity of sugar pellet rewards. In Experiment 2, chemogenetic inhibition of the dorsal HC (dHC) disrupted anticipatory behavior following a food‐pellet reward reduction. Experiments 3–5 impaired HC function by using peripheral lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. This treatment, which induces peripheral inflammation affecting HC function, significantly increased cytokine levels in the dHC (Experiment 3) and impaired anticipatory choice behavior (Experiment 4). None of these dorsal hippocampal manipulations affected consummatory responses in animals experiencing sucrose downshifts. Accordingly, we found no evidence of increased neural activation in either the dorsal or ventral HC, as measured by c‐Fos expression, after a sucrose downshift task involving consummatory suppression (Experiment 6). The results highlight the HC's pivotal role in adaptively modulating anticipatory behavior in response to a variety of situations involving frustrative nonreward, while having no effect on adjustments on consummatory behavior. The data supporting this conclusion were obtained under heterogeneous experimental conditions derived from a multi‐laboratory collaboration, ensuring the robustness and high reproducibility of our findings. Spatial orientation, memory update, choice of reward signals of different values, and anticipatory versus consummatory adjustments to reward downshift are discussed as potential mechanisms that could account for the specific effects observed from HC manipulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased allocation of behaviour to substance abuse at the expense of personal and social rewards is a hallmark of addiction that is reflected in several of DSM‐5 criteria for diagnosis of substance use disorder. Previous studies focused on refining the self‐administration (SA) model to better emulate an addictive state in laboratory animals. Here, we employed concurrent SA of sucrose pellets and morphine as two competing natural and drug rewards, respectively, to validate the feasibility of capturing pathological behavioural allocation in rats. A custom‐made three‐lever operant chamber was used. With one active and one inactive lever presented, rats were trained to self‐administer morphine (0.5 mg/kg/infusion; 2 h/day) under a fixed‐ratio 1 (FR‐1) schedule until a stable response was achieved. Next, they were trained to self‐administer morphine in the presence of a third lever dispensing sucrose pellets (20 mg) under FR‐1. Concurrent morphine‐sucrose SA sessions (2 h/day) were continued until stable morphine taking behaviour was re‐established. In another experiment, rats first established stable sucrose pellet SA (2 h/day, FR‐1) and then were trained to take morphine (0.5 mg/kg/infusion; 2 h/day). Subsequently, all rats underwent extinction training, in which morphine was replaced with saline while sucrose pellets were still available upon lever pressing, followed by cue‐induced reinstatement of morphine seeking behaviour. Results showed that rats retained morphine SA when sucrose pellets were also available, but they showed binge‐like sucrose intake when morphine was removed during the extinction sessions. However, morphine SA did not develop in rats that had previously established sucrose pellet SA. In conclusion, morphine SA developed even in the presence of a potent competing nondrug reward in rats. Adding an effort‐based contingent delivery of a natural reward to the standard SA model, this protocol may provide an improved model of drug addiction in laboratory animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dorsal region of the hippocampus (dHC) mediates many of the mnemonic functions traditionally associated with the hippocampus proper, such as spatial and episodic memory, whereas ventral hippocampus (vHC) has been extensively implicated in emotional memory and motivational processes. By contrast, the functions of the intermediate hippocampus (iHC) are far less understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the mnemonic functions of iHC by reversibly inactivating iHC prior to testing memory in behavioral tasks dependent on the integrity of dHC, iHC, or vHC, namely, rapid place water maze, inhibitory avoidance, spontaneous alternation, and temporal ordering of odors. Given our previous findings showing that dHC and vHC are involved in mnemonic control of ingestive behavior, we also assessed the effects of iHC inactivation on sucrose intake. The results showed that pharmacological inhibition of iHC impairs rapid place water maze memory, which has been previously shown to be dependent on iHC but not dHC or vHC. iHC inactivation does not impact memory dependent on dHC (spontaneous alternation), vHC (temporal odor memory), or either dHC or vHC (inhibitory avoidance), and only modestly affects sucrose intake. These findings provide support for the involvement of iHC in mnemonic functions that are distinct from dHC and vHC and highlight the need to further advance our understanding of the functions of this hippocampal region that has been relatively understudied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sucrose constitutes a non-toxic, biodegradable, low-cost and readily available natural product. To expand its utility, we developed total synthesis for a ligand based on a sucrose scaffold for potential use as a metal chelation agent. The designed target (compound 2) has a metal-chelating functionality at both the C-6 and C-6' positions, which can provide a first coordination sphere of eight valencies. The designed total synthesis was highly efficient. To demonstrate the utility of the ligand, we studied its complexation with Gd(III). Using potentiometric titration and high-resolution mass spectrometry, we confirmed the formation of a 1:1 complex with Gd(III), which has a respectable formation constant of ~1013.4. Further NMR relaxivity studies show that the Gd(III) complex has a relaxivity (r1) of 7.6958 mmol−1 s−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal the effect of sucrose concentration on the production of secondary metabolites, a metabolome and transcriptome joint analysis was carried out using callus induced from grape variety Mio Red cambial meristematic cells. We identified 559 metabolites—mainly flavonoids, phenolic acids, and stilbenoids—as differential content metabolites (fold change ≥2 or ≤0.5) in at least one pairwise comparison of treatments with 7.5, 15, or 30 g/L sucrose in the growing media for 15 or 30 days (d). Resveratrol, viniferin, and amurensin contents were highest at 15 d of subculture; piceid, ampelopsin, and pterostilbene had higher contents at 30 d. A transcriptome analysis identified 1310 and 498 (at 15 d) and 1696 and 2211 (at 30 d) differentially expressed genes (DEGs; log2(fold change) ≥ 1, p < 0.05) in 7.5 vs. 15 g/L and 15 vs. 30 g/L sucrose treatments, respectively. In phenylpropane and isoflavone pathways, DEGs encoding cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase, chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase, and flavanone 3-hydroxylase were more highly expressed at 15 d than at 30 d, while other DEGs showed different regulation patterns corresponding to sucrose concentrations and cultivation times. For all three sucrose concentrations, the stilbene synthase (STS) gene exhibited significantly higher expression at 15 vs. 30 d, while two resveratrol O-methyltransferase (ROMT) genes related to pterostilbene synthesis showed significantly higher expression at 30 vs. 15 d. In addition, a total of 481 DEGs were annotated as transcription factors in pairwise comparisons; an integrative analysis suggested MYB59, WRKY20, and MADS8 as potential regulators responding to sucrose levels in flavonoid and stilbene biosynthesis in grape callus. Our results provide valuable information for high-efficiency production of flavonoids and stilbenes using grape callus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to create and characterize an innovative granola, a popular choice in quick breakfasts. The granola samples were sweetened with agave syrup (A), honey (H), and stevia (S) and produced using conventional oven (1) and microwave (2) baking techniques at temperatures of 160°C and 300 W, respectively. Among the samples, H1 exhibited the highest total sugar content (26.64 ng/µL), with fructose being the predominant monosaccharide in A and H samples, whereas saccharose and maltose were more prominent in S‐containing samples. Hydroxymethylfurfural was absent in S2, but its concentrations ranged between 10.52 and 85.78 ppm in the other samples. Linoleic acid constituted nearly 52% of the fatty acid composition in all granolas. In terms of organic acid composition, malic acid ranged between 1189.55 and 2022.95 µg/mL, and citric acid fell within the range of 341.58 and 1824.04 µg/mL. The granola specimens also contained individual phenolic compounds, such as vanillic acid, vanillin, ferulic acid, propyl gallate, and pyrocatechol. Practical Application: This study demonstrates that both baking method and sweetener choice significantly impact the chemical quality attributes of granola, which is a popular breakfast cereal. Microwave baking can be a faster and potentially healthier option, whereas stevia offers a low‐calorie sweetener alternative. Further research is needed to maximize health benefits of granola products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The sweetness of apple fruit is a key factor in the improvement of apple varieties, with fructose being the sweetest of the soluble sugars, playing a crucial role in determining the overall sweetness of the apple. Therefore, uncovering the key genes controlling fructose accumulation and deciphering the regulatory mechanisms of fructose are vitally important for the improvement of apple varieties. In this study, through BSA‐seq and transcriptome analysis of the ‘Changfu 2’ × ‘Golden Delicious’ F1 hybrid population, MdNAC5 was identified as a key regulatory gene for fructose content. MdNAC5 was shown to significantly influence fructose accumulation in both apples and tomatoes. Furthermore, we conducted a detailed identification of sugar transporters and metabolic enzymes in apples, discovering that MdNAC5 can enhance fructose accumulation in vacuoles and the conversion of sucrose to fructose by binding to and activating the promoters of the vacuolar sugar transporter MdTST2 and the neutral invertase MdNINV6. Additionally, MdNAC5 regulated the MdEIN3.4‐MdSWEET15a module, strengthening the unloading of sucrose in the phloem of the fruit. Our results reveal a new mechanism by which MdNAC5 regulates fructose accumulation in apples and provide theoretical foundations for improving apple sweetness through genetic modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria of the genus Azotobacter sp. produce two classes of biologically important biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, polyoxyalkanoates, which are the bacterial reserve, and alginates (ALG), which perform the function of protecting nitrogenase from oxygen. Both polymers are becoming increasingly important for use in bioengineering, pharmaceuticals, and medicine, so studies of their biosynthesis and properties are currently highly relevant. The present work shows the possibility of regulating alginate and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) synthesis by a culture of A. vinelandii 12 depending on the increase in the sucrose concentration in the medium under different aeration conditions. At high aeration and high sucrose concentrations in the medium (50 g/L), the maximum yield of free (1.08 g/L) and capsular ALG (2.26 g/L) in the medium was obtained. Under low aeration conditions, the synthesis of free ALG was completely inhibited. The maximum value of РНB synthesis was observed at medium aeration and a high concentration of sucrose (50 g/L) in the medium. The maximum molecular weight (MW) of ALG was 477 kDa, while the maximum MW of PHB was much higher, reaching 1479 kDa. At low sucrose concentrations in the medium (5 to 20 g/L), capsular ALG is predominantly synthesized (up to 100% of the sum of all polymers) at all aeration levels. With increasing sucrose concentration, PHB is predominantly synthesized (68%) under low aeration conditions, an equal ratio of PHB and capsular ALG synthesis is observed under medium aeration conditions, and free ALG is actively synthesized under high aeration conditions. This work demonstrates the possibility of obtaining a selective synthesis of ALG or PHB by A. vinelandii 12 by modifying its cultivation conditions. The results obtained can be used for the development of directed biosynthesis of target products (PHB and ALG) in biotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen bonding is a crucial feature of biomolecules, but its characterization in glycans dissolved in aqueous solutions is challenging due to rapid hydrogen exchange between hydroxyl groups and H2O. In principle, the scalar (J) coupling constant can reveal the relative orientation of the atoms in the molecule. In contrast to J‐coupling through H‐bonds reported in proteins and nucleic acids, research on J‐coupling through H‐bonds in glycans dissolved in water is lacking. Here, we use sucrose as a model system for H‐bonding studies; its structure, which consists of glucose (Glc) and fructose (Frc), is well‐studied, and it is readily available. We apply the in‐phase, antiphase‐HSQC‐TOCSY and quantify previously unreported through H‐bond J‐values for Frc–OH1–Glc–OH2 in H2O. While earlier reports of Brown and Levy indicate this H‐bond as having only a single direction, our reported findings indicate the potential presence of two involving these same atoms, namely, G2OH ➔ F1O and F1OH ➔ G2O (where F and G stand for Frc and Glc, respectively). The calculated density functional theory J‐values for the G2OH ➔ F1O agree with the experimental values. Additionally, we detected four other possible H‐bonds in sucrose, which require different phi, psi (ϕ, ψ) torsion angles. The ϕ, ψ values are consistent with previous predictions of du Penhoat et al. and Venable et al. Our results will provide new insights into the molecular structure of sucrose and its interactions with proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of hollow AlN microsphere was studied because of its potential applications in various areas associated with high surface area and lightweight. A combined technique of hydrothermal and carbothermal reduction–nitridation (CRN) was adopted to synthesize spherical precursor and to transform to AlN, respectively, using Al-nitrate, sucrose, and urea. The precursor having different morphology were obtained after hydrothermal treatments at 180 °C for 12 h, depending on starting material combinations, where urea/Al molar ratio = 1 resulted in amorphous hollow microsphere. By CRN at 1500 °C for 4 h in a flowing N 2 atmosphere, approximately 5 μm-sized hollow microsphere composed of AlN, α -Al 2 O 3 , or γ -AlON could be synthesized. CRN at higher temperature (1600 °C for 4 h) or for longer holding time (1500 °C for 10 h) is required to obtain pure AlN microsphere. Further tests at nine different hydrothermal conditions were performed to find an optimal synthesis condition, while the possible formation mechanism for hollow AlN microspheres was also proposed based on observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilization of plant sap-derived sugars and syrups, such as palm sugar, birch syrup, maple syrup, and agave syrup, provides versatile alternatives to conventional sweeteners like cane sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, thereby enriching culinary options and catering to diverse consumer preferences. One noteworthy product derived from coconut palm sap is neera, a traditional beverage celebrated for its natural sugars, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds. Its nutritional value and cultural significance make it a cherished component of local diets. It is nutritionally important due to its natural sugars (sucrose, glucose, and fructose), rich in vitamins and minerals (potassium, magnesium, zinc, and iron). The focus of this study is to comprehend the biochemical changes that occur during the conversion of neera into sugar using an open double-jacket cooker. The process entails meticulous monitoring of various parameters, including total soluble solids (TSS), pH levels, total sugar content, reducing sugar content, total phenol content (TPC), antioxidant activity (measured by DPPH and FRAP assays), and ascorbic acid concentration. Throughout the 3 h heating process, samples are collected at 30 min intervals to track the changes in biochemical composition. Continuous stirring and precise temperature control ensure uniform heat transfer and accurate results. The findings reveal significant alterations in biochemical composition, with notable increases observed in TPC and antioxidant activity, possibly attributed to the Maillard reaction. The conversion from neera to coconut sugar yields a range of compositions suitable for various culinary applications, presenting opportunities for entrepreneurship and the development of value-added products. This not only enhances market competitiveness but also fosters economic growth in the food sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sucrose is a desirable component of processed soybean foods and animal feed, and thus, its content is used as an important characteristic for assessing the quality of soybean seeds. However, few studies have focused on the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with sucrose regulation in soybean seeds. This study aims to measure the sucrose content of 1014 soybean accessions and identify genes related to high sucrose levels using QTL analysis. Colorimetric analysis based on the enzymatic reaction of invertase (INV) and glucose oxidase (GOD) was employed to test the germplasms. A total of six high-sucrose genetic resources (IT186230, IT195321, IT263138, IT263276, IT263286, and IT276521) and two low-sucrose genetic resources (IT025668 and IT274054) were identified. Two F2:3 populations, IT186230 × IT025668 and Ilmi × IT186230, were then established from these germplasms. QTL analysis identified four QTLs (qSUC6.1, qSUC11.1, qSUC15.1, and qSUC17.1), explaining 7.3–27.6% of the phenotypic variation in the sugar content. Twenty candidate genes were found at the four QTLs. Notably, Glyma.17G152300, located in the qSUC17.1 QTL region, exhibited a 17-fold higher gene expression in the high-sucrose germplasm IT186230 compared to the control germplasm Ilmi, confirming its role as a major gene regulating the sucrose content in soybean. These results may assist in marker-assisted selection for breeding programs that aim to develop soybean lines with a higher sucrose content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, a series of nitrogen‐doped carbon (NC) supported transition metal oxide catalysts were prepared by pyrolysis of chitosan‐metal salt mixtures for the efficient synthesis 2,5‐diformylfuran (DFF) from 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and fructose. Among them, supported molybdenum‐based species on nitrogen‐doped carbon (Mo/NC) exhibited excellent activity and selectivity for selective oxidation of HMF to DFF. The presence of nitrogen species reduces the electron cloud density around the Mo species, thereby improving the catalytic activity. Moreover, the interaction between active MoO2 species on the catalyst surface and NC ensured the stability of the catalyst, resulting in no significant loss of activity after four catalytic cycles. 99.5 % and 55.1 % yields of DFF with full conversion were obtained from HMF and fructose respectively over Mo/NC‐chitosan‐600 in DMSO under ambient air. In order to enhance DFF yield from fructose, sulfonate groups were introduced into Mo/NC‐chitosan‐600 catalyst, leading to the highest DFF yield of 70.2 %. In addition, this catalyst also allowed 10.0%, 22.9% and 33.3% DFF yields from glucose, sucrose and inulin, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spent lithium battery is a polymetallic waste, and valuable to be recovered as Li-bearing chemical with the barriers of impurities separation, especially Fe and Al. Here in, Li-rich cathode powder was manually disassembled from spent battery, and then recovered as lithiophosphate plate in consideration of effective separation of impure Fe/Al. The powder comprised of 23.2% Fe, 3.2% Al, 5.5% Li and 19.6% P, and then dissolved by azotic acid as Li-rich solution. When the solution was heated to 190°C for 10 h with the supplementary of saccharose, more than 99.9% Fe and 98.9% Al were removed as spherical giniite particles, in accordance with the rest of Fe/Al at the concentrations of 2.1 and 14 mg/L, whilst the loss of Li was less than 1.5%. But without saccharose, the Fe/Al removals only achieved by 99.2% and 52.1%. It is also found that the Fe/Al/Li removal achieved by 99.6%, 96% and 25.3% after adjusting the solution to pH 2.7 by NaOH. After hydrothermal treatment, the rest Li can be recycled as lithiophosphate plate by pH adjustment, in contrast to the recovery efficiency of 98.5% Li. Such method raised a facile route to effectively separate impure Fe/Al from Li-rich cathode powder, and showed promising application in the industrial recovery of spent battery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased energy demand and decreasing fossil resources have driven the research community to look into a sustainable, green process to meet the energy demands. India being one of the top producers of sugarcane derived sucrose, and conversion of surplus sucrose to value chemicals is always an advantage. 5%Ni-15%Ce/TiO2 catalyst is found to produce high yield of 1,2-PDO (~ 74%) under very mild reaction condition of 180 °C, 30 bar H2 for 3-h reaction time. The characterization of the catalyst by using various physicochemical methods indicates the synergy between Ni-Ce bimetal which enhances the selective production of glycol. The low temperature and pressure requirement and the advantage of being the one-pot process will always attract the future scope of commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sucrose isomerase (SIase) catalyzes the hydrolysis and isomerization of sucrose to form isomaltulose, a valuable functional sugar widely used in the food industry. However, the lack of safe and efficient heterologous expression systems hinders SIase production and application. In this study, we achieved antibiotic-free SIase expression in Bacillus subtilis through genome integration. Using CRISPR/Cas9 system, SIase expression cassettes were integrated into various genomic loci, including amyE and ctc, both individually and in combination, resulting in single-copy and muti-copy integration strains. Engineered strains with a maltose-inducible promoter effectively expressed and secreted SIase. Notably, multi-copy strain exhibited enhanced SIase production, achieving 4.4 U/mL extracellular activity in shake flask cultivations. Furthermore, crude enzyme solution from engineered strain transformed high concentrations sucrose into high yields of isomaltulose, reaching a maximum yield of 94.6%. These findings demonstrate antibiotic-free SIase production in B. subtilis via genome integration, laying the foundation for its industrial production and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sucrose has a significant role in promoting microtuberization in potato. It acts as a crucial modifier, influencing the growth and development of microtuber in potato. Understanding the role of sucrose in microtuberization is vital for improving potato cultivation practices and enhancing crop productivity. In this experiment, different concentrations of sucrose (3, 6, 9, 12, and 15%) were investigated to determine their effects on the microtuberization of a potato cultivar 'Sante'. The findings revealed that high concentrations of sucrose (12 and 15%) inhibited microtuberization percentage, microtuber count, and shoot growth. Tuberization percentage reached its maximum value (100%) when exposed to a sucrose concentration of 9%. The microtuber count was 2 per explant and 4.6 per vessel. However, using a 12% sucrose concentration resulted in the highest microtuber diameter (5 mm), microtuber fresh weight (120 mg) and dry weight (26 mg), and microtuber yield (FW: 752 mg; DW: 170 mg). The highest explant fresh weight (44 mg) and dry weight (9.5 mg) occurred in response to 15% sucrose concentration. Biomass allocation was influenced by sucrose concentration, with higher concentrations leading to a greater biomass allocation to the microtuber and explant, rather than the shoot. Accordingly, it can be concluded that a sucrose concentration of 12% was an optimal treatment for 'Sante' potato microtuber production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There's a lack of studies on the structure–function aspect of linking non-structural carbohydrates to temperature, in particular phloem structure is yet a largely neglected subject. We studied gas exchange parameters and in parallel examined functional anatomy and non-structural carbohydrates status in leaf blades, petioles and branches in 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grapevines grown under three temperature regimes (22/16 °C, 28/22 °C, 34/28 °C day/night). After two months of growth, water use efficiency was the highest at 34 ºC. The individual organs size became progressively smaller as the temperatures increased, and was the smallest at 34 ºC for branch and petiole diameter, and for leaf thickness. The relative xylem cross-sectional area was largely not influenced by the temperature regime. In contrast, phloem cross-sectional area was significantly increased at high temperature in branches and petioles, and became 30% higher at 34 ºC in branches compared to 22 °C. The leaves had the highest non-structural carbohydrates concentration compared to petioles and branches. Sucrose content exhibited a temperature-dependent increase both in branches and petioles, and to some extent also in leaves, while starch, fructose and glucose content did not exhibit any statistically significant temperature trends. In grapevine, sucrose is the main non-structural carbohydrate used for long-distance transport. Our results indicate temperature dependent increased investment in phloem development in parallel with increased main long-distance transported sugar (sucrose) accumulation. Phloem and xylem development were apparently uncoupled, implying a differential cambium activity for each tissue. Our study could have wide structural–functional implications in the ongoing climate change scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to persistent mild stress is a frequently encountered chronic challenge in a rapidly evolving society. Depending on various factors including sex, the response to stressors varies and is closely linked to the phenomenon of resilience. Depression and anxiety can be considered maladaptive responses to such stress. In this rat study, we investigated the sex-dependent effects of low-grade systemic inflammation during 1 week in combination with chronic unpredictable mild stress during the following 4 weeks on anxiety-like behavior and episodic feeding behavior. Increased anxiety-like behavior and increased sucrose intake were identified in stressed compared to control animals regardless of sex. Interestingly, two nearly equally distributed subpopulations were found in the stressed groups within each sex at the end of the 5-week protocol of combined stress exposure: the resistant and the susceptible, which were characterized by unchanged and increased sucrose intake, respectively. This difference in susceptibility to protracted combined mild stress and ensuing response to a sucrose eating binge demonstrates the complexity of the underlying regulatory mechanisms associated with emotional hyperreactivity. This model carries the potential for further investigation of the molecular basis of resilience and susceptibility to combined stressors and for testing treatments with potential preventive or therapeutic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GQD) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula primarily utilized for treating gut disorders. GQD showed therapeutic effects on several diseases in clinical and animal studies by targeting gut microbes. Our recent studies also found that GQD efficiently alleviated anxiety in methamphetamine-withdrawn mice via regulating gut microbiome and metabolism. Given that various studies have indicated the link between the gut microbiome and the development of depression, here we endeavor to explore whether GQD can manage depression disorders by targeting the gut microbiome. Methods and materials: The depression-like model was induced in rats through chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and the depression levels were determined using the sucrose preference test (SPT). To address the depression-like behavior in rats, oral administration of GQD was employed. The colon microbiome and metabolite patterns were determined by 16s rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics, respectively. Results: We found 6 weeks of CUMS can induce depression-like behavior in rats and 4 weeks of GQD treatment can significantly alleviate the depression-like behavior. GQD treatment can also ameliorate the histological lesions in the colon of CUMS rats. Then, CUMS increased the abundance of gut microbes, while GQD treatment can restore it to a lower level. We further discovered that the abundances of 19 bacteria at the genus level were changed with CUMS treatment, among which the abundances of Ruminococcus, Lachnoclostridium, Pygmaiobacter, Bacteroides, Pseudomonas, and Pseudomonas Family_XIII_AD3011_group were stored by GQD treatment. Besides, we identified the levels of 36 colon metabolites were changed with CUMS treatment, among which the levels of Fasciculic acid B, Spermine, Fludrocortisone acetate, alpha-Ketoglutaric acid, 2-Oxoglutaric acid, N'-(benzoyloxy)-2-(2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl) ethanimidamide, N6-Succinyl Adenosine Oleanolic acid, KQH, Ergosta-5,7,9(11),22-Tetraen-3-beta-Ol, Gentisic acid, 4-Hydroxyretinoic Acid, FAHFA (3:0/16:0), Leucine-enkephalin and N-lactoyl-phenylalanine can be restored by GQD treatment. Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence supporting the therapeutic efficacy of GQD in alleviating depression-like behavior in CUMS rats, potentially being targeted on colon bacteria (especially the abundance of Ruminococcus and Bacteroides) and metabolites (especially the level of Oleanolic acid). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Relapse to drug use is a major clinical challenge in the treatment of addictive disorders, including psychostimulant use and may be exacerbated by reduced sensitivity to natural, non-drug reward. Given the relatively limited set of outcomes, and short withdrawal time in rodent studies, we conducted a more detailed assessment of the response to natural rewards in methamphetamine (METH) naive versus exposed monkeys during long-term abstinence. Methods: This study introduced an improved sucrose preference test (iSPT) to assess natural reward seeking and consumption in monkeys with long-term abstinence after methamphetamine (METH) use. The test was administered to sixteen naive monkeys and five METH exposed monkeys that had been abstinent for at least 3 months. Results: METH exposed monkeys showed a lower sucrose preference score in both the iSPT (z = -2.10, p = 0.036) and the sucrose preference test (z = -2.61, p = 0.009). The sucrose preference score was significantly correlated with the latency of the establishment of stable sucrose-preference (r = -0.76, df = 46, p < 0.001) but not with the other variables. Furthermore, water-sucrose switch latency and switch times were significantly negatively correlated (r = -0.50, df = 20, p = 0.02). Conclusion: These results show reductions in natural reward consumption during long-term methamphetamine abstinence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muffins are a popular pastry product around the world, but due to their high sucrose content, they are high in calories. To meet customer demand for muffins with less sugar content, in this research, sugar was replaced with apple puree in different percentages (0–100%). For replacement levels between 0 and 50%, the physical, textural, and rheological properties did not show significant changes compared to the control sample. Higher levels of replacement (50–100%) led to changes in some quality attributes: specific gravity and loss on ripening increased significantly, height and volume decreased significantly (from 49.66 ± 0.02 to 43.36 ± 0.12, respectively, and from 60.00 ± 0.04 to 51.00 ± 0.05), springiness decreased (from 0.689 ± 0.01 to 0.504 ± 0.00), and cohesiveness did not show significant differences. The results obtained suggest that successful reduction in sucrose in muffins is possible by using apple puree at replacement levels of up to 50%, thus maintaining a similar textural quality to muffins with sugar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical fruits such as cherimoya, soursop, and pineapple share sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) in common but may differ in the content of other phytochemicals. In the present work, confocal Raman spectroscopy and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were used to establish a classification model among the three fruits and to evaluate the effect of pre-processing methods on the model's performance. The Raman spectra showed that glucose was present in the fruits in the 800–900 cm−1 band and the 1100–1200 cm−1 band. While sucrose was present in the bands of 1131.22 cm−1, 1134.44 cm−1, and 1133.37 cm−1 in the three fruits, fructose was present in the bands of 1464.22 cm−1, 1467.44 cm−1, and 1464.22 cm−1 in cherimoya, soursop, and pineapple. The accuracy of the PLS-DA model varied according to the pre-processing methods used. The Savitzky–Golay first derivative method produced a model with 98.69–100% and 100% precision on the training and prediction data, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The part played by oxytocin and oxytocin neurons in the regulation of food intake is controversial. There is much pharmacological data to support a role for oxytocin notably in regulating sugar consumption, however, several recent experiments have questioned the importance of oxytocin neurons themselves. Methods: Here we use a combination of histological and chemogenetic techniques to investigate the selective activation or inhibition of oxytocin neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (OxtPVH). We then identify a pathway from OxtPVH neurons to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis using the cell-selective expression of channel rhodopsin. Results: OxtPVH neurons increase their expression of cFos after both physiological (fast-induced re-feeding or oral lipid) and pharmacological (systemic administration of cholecystokinin or lithium chloride) anorectic signals. Chemogenetic activation of OxtPVH neurons is sufficient to decrease free-feeding in OxtCre:hM3Dq mice, while inhibition in OxtCre:hM4Di mice attenuates the response to administration of cholecystokinin. Activation of OxtPVH neurons also increases energy expenditure and core-body temperature, without a significant effect on locomotor activity. Finally, the selective, optogenetic stimulation of a pathway from OxtPVH neurons to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis reduces the consumption of sucrose. Conclusion: Our results support a role for oxytocin neurons in the regulation of whole-body metabolism, including a modulatory action on food intake and energy expenditure. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the pathway from OxtPVH neurons to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis can regulate sugar consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to assess the suitability of the Droplet-vitrification protocol previously developed with Agave peacockii shoot tips for the cryopreservation of six Agave species. Shoot tips were precultured for 1 day on a medium with 0.3 M sucrose in the dark, loaded in a solution with 1.6 M glycerol and 0.4 M sucrose for 20 min, and dehydrated by exposure to Plant Vitrification Solution 2 (PVS2) at 0 °C for 20 min. Complementary studies using histological analysis, Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and evaluation of morphological characteristics in cryo-derived plants were performed. Survival rates ranged from 84% to 100% and from 76% to 97% before and after cryopreservation regardless of the Agave species belonging to two taxonomic subgenera. Thermal analysis of shoot tips subjected to the successive steps of the Droplet-vitrification protocol identified ice crystal formation after loading treatment and glass transition after osmotic dehydration with PVS2. The average glass transition temperature (Tg) was −55.44 °C based on the results of four Agave species. The histological studies showed the anatomical differences that could be found in the meristematic structures depending on the loss of apical dominance. This is the most advanced research on cryopreservation of Agave shoot tips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving enzymatic food processing at high substrate concentrations can significantly enhance production efficiency; however, related studies are notably insufficient. This study focused on the enzymatic synthesis of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) at high temperature and high substrate concentration. Results revealed that increased viscosity and limited substrate solubility in high-concentration systems could be alleviated by raising the reaction temperature, provided it aligned with the enzyme's thermostability. Further analysis of enzyme thermostability in real sucrose solutions demonstrates that the enzyme's thermostability was remarkedly improved at higher sucrose concentrations, evidenced by a 10.3 °C increase in melting temperature (Tm) in an 800 g/L sucrose solution. Building upon these findings, we developed a novel method for enzymatic FOS synthesis at elevated temperatures and high sucrose concentrations. Compared to existing commercial methods, the initial transglycosylation rate and volumetric productivity for FOS synthesis increased by 155.9% and 113.5%, respectively, at 65 °C in an 800 g/L sucrose solution. This study underscores the pivotal role of substrate concentration, incubation temperature, and the enzyme's actual status in advancing enzyme-catalyzed processes and demonstrates the potential of enzymatic applications in enhancing food processing technologies, providing innovative strategies for the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a significant focus on enhancing the overall quality of gluten-free breads by incorporating natural and healthy compounds to meet consumer expectations regarding texture, flavor, and nutritional value. Considering the high glycemic index associated with gluten-free products, the use of honey, renowned for its numerous health benefits, may serve as an optimal alternative to sucrose. This study investigates the impact of substituting sucrose, either partially (50%) or entirely (100%), with five Sardinian honeys (commercial multifloral honey, cardoon, eucalyptus, and strawberry tree unifloral honeys, and eucalyptus honeydew honey), on the rheological properties of the doughs and the physico-chemical and technological properties of the resulting gluten-free breads. The results demonstrated that an optimal balance was achieved between the leavening and viscoelastic properties of the doughs and the physical and textural attributes of the resulting breads in gluten-free samples prepared with a partial substitution of cardoon and multifloral honeys. Conversely, the least favorable outcomes were observed in samples prepared with strawberry tree honey and eucalyptus honeydew honey at both substitution levels. Therefore, the different behavior observed among all honey-enriched gluten-free breads was likely attributable to the distinct botanical origins of honey rather than to the substitution percentages employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Casuarina equisetifolia trees are used as windbreaks in subtropical and tropical coastal zones, while C. equisetifolia windbreak forests can be degraded by seawater atomization (SA) and seawater encroachment (SE). To investigate the mechanisms underlying the response of C. equisetifolia to SA and SE stress, the transcriptome and metabolome of C. equisetifolia seedlings treated with control, SA, and SE treatments were analyzed. We identified 737, 3232, 3138, and 3899 differentially expressed genes (SA and SE for 2 and 24 h), and 46, 66, 62, and 65 differentially accumulated metabolites (SA and SE for 12 and 24 h). The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that SA and SE stress significantly altered the expression of genes related to plant hormone signal transduction, plant–pathogen interaction, and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways. The accumulation of metabolites associated with the biosynthetic pathways of phenylpropanoid and amino acids, as well as starch and sucrose metabolism, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis were significantly altered in C. equisetifolia subjected to SA and SE stress. In conclusion, C. equisetifolia responds to SA and SE stress by regulating plant hormone signal transduction, plant–pathogen interaction, biosynthesis of phenylpropanoid and amino acids, starch and sucrose metabolism, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways. Compared with SA stress, C. equisetifolia had a stronger perception and response to SE stress, which required more genes and metabolites to be regulated. This study enhances our understandings of how C. equisetifolia responds to two types of seawater stresses at transcriptional and metabolic levels. It also offers a theoretical framework for effective coastal vegetation management in tropical and subtropical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The quality of processed products can be adversely affected by uncontrollable batches of mangoes, which exhibit heterogeneous characteristics. This study aimed to establish predictive models for sugar and organic acid contents (dependent variables) in processed products using the initial compositions of fresh mangoes. Three mango cultivars (cv. ‘Kent’, cv. ‘Keo Romeat’, and cv. ‘Keo Chen’) were classified as low‐density and high‐density groups. Each group of mangoes at the green‐mature, mid‐ripe, and ripe stages was processed into pasteurised purees, dried slices, and mango chips. Prediction models were established using a mix of simple linear regression (SLR) based on the initial content and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to identify the impact of qualitative variables (ripening stage, cultivar‐density, and processing technique). In processed mangoes, 13% sucrose content was estimated to accumulate with the three qualitative variables, whereas glucose and fructose contents decreased from their initial levels by 10% and 7%, respectively. Processing techniques can predict the ratio of sugars/acids (S/A) in processed products, regardless of the ripening stage or cultivar‐density. Similar to S/A, citric acid and malic acid contents in mango products were significantly increased by processing techniques. The initial content and processes were insufficient to predict the final contents of the same parameters in processed mangoes; therefore, some models need to include the effects of ripening stage and cultivar‐density to improve the prediction. These relevant explanatory variables contributed significantly to the development of the models, resulting the accuracy of predictive models with normalised root mean square errors (NRMSEs) lower than 10%, except for malic acid (14.04%). In conclusion, it is feasible to estimate the sugar and acidity levels in processed mangoes, offering promising possibilities for ensuring consistent quality of mango‐based products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sugarcane molasses, rich in sucrose, glucose, and fructose, offers a promising carbon source for industrial fermentation due to its abundance and low cost. However, challenges arise from the simultaneous utilization of multiple sugars and carbon catabolite repression (CCR). Despite its nutritional content, sucrose metabolism in Escherichia coli, except for W strain, remains poorly understood, hindering its use in microbial fermentation. In this study, E. coli W was engineered to enhance sugar consumption rates and overcome CCR. This was achieved through the integration of a synthetically designed csc operon and the optimization of glucose and fructose co-utilization pathways. These advancements facilitate efficient utilization of sugarcane molasses for the production of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), contributing to sustainable biochemical production processes. Results: In this study, we addressed challenges associated with sugar metabolism in E. coli W, focusing on enhancing sucrose consumption and improving glucose-fructose co-utilization. Through targeted engineering of the sucrose utilization system, we achieved accelerated sucrose consumption rates by modulating the expression of the csc operon components, cscB, cscK, cscA, and cscR. Our findings revealed that monocistronic expression of the csc genes with the deletion of cscR, led to optimal sucrose utilization without significant growth burden. Furthermore, we successfully alleviated fructose catabolite repression by modulating the binding dynamics of FruR with the fructose PTS regulon, enabling near-equivalent co-utilization of glucose and fructose. To validate the industrial applicability of our engineered strain, we pursued 3-HP production from sugarcane molasses. By integrating heterologous genes and optimizing metabolic pathways, we achieved improvements in 3-HP titers compared to previous studies. Additionally, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapA) repression aids in carbon flux redistribution, enhancing molasses conversion to 3-HP. Conclusions: Despite limitations in sucrose metabolism, the redesigned E. coli W strain, adept at utilizing sugarcane molasses, is a valuable asset for industrial fermentation. Its synthetic csc operon enhances sucrose consumption, while mitigating CCR improves glucose-fructose co-utilization. These enhancements, coupled with repression of gapA, aim to efficiently convert sugarcane molasses into 3-HP, addressing limitations in sucrose and fructose metabolism for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Invertases (INVs) are key enzymes in sugar metabolism, cleaving sucrose into glucose and fructose and playing an important role in plant development and the stress response, however, the INV gene family in passion fruit has not been systematically reported. Results: In this study, a total of 16 PeINV genes were identified from the passion fruit genome and named according to their subcellular location and chromosome position. These include six cell wall invertase (CWINV) genes, two vacuolar invertase (VINV) genes, and eight neutral/alkaline invertase (N/AINV) genes. The gene structures, phylogenetic tree, and cis-acting elements of PeINV gene family were predicted using bioinformatics methods. Results showed that the upstream promoter region of the PeINV genes contained various response elements; particularly, PeVINV2, PeN/AINV3, PeN/AINV5, PeN/AINV6, PeN/AINV7, and PeN/AINV8 had more response elements. Additionally, the expression profiles of PeINV genes under different abiotic stresses (drought, salt, cold temperature, and high temperature) indicated that PeCWINV5, PeCWINV6, PeVINV1, PeVINV2, PeN/AINV2, PeN/AINV3, PeN/AINV6, and PeN/AINV7 responded significantly to these abiotic stresses, which was consistent with cis-acting element prediction results. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose are main soluble components in passion fruit pulp. The contents of total soluble sugar, hexoses, and sweetness index increased significantly at early stages during fruit ripening. Transcriptome data showed that with an increase in fruit development and maturity, the expression levels of PeCWINV2, PeCWINV5, and PeN/AINV3 exhibited an up-regulated trend, especially for PeCWINV5 which showed highest abundance, this correlated with the accumulation of soluble sugar and sweetness index. Transient overexpression results demonstrated that the contents of fructose, glucose and sucrose increased in the pulp of PeCWINV5 overexpressing fruit. It is speculated that this cell wall invertase gene, PeCWINV5, may play an important role in sucrose unloading and hexose accumulation. Conclusion: In this study, we systematically identified INV genes in passion fruit for the first time and further investigated their physicochemical properties, evolution, and expression patterns. Furthermore, we screened out a key candidate gene involved in hexose accumulation. This study lays a foundation for further study on INV genes and will be beneficial on the genetic improvement of passion fruit breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Materials and Methods Results Conclusions Blood establishments strive to ensure the safety and comfort of blood donors while minimizing adverse events. This review aims to assess the efficacy and effectiveness of eating and/or drinking interventions before, during and/or after blood donation in reducing vasovagal reactions (VVRs).We analysed randomized and non‐randomized controlled trials comparing eating and/or drinking interventions to no intervention, placebo or usual practice on (pre‐)syncopal VVRs and related symptoms. The GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach was used to assess the risk of bias and overall certainty of the evidence.Pre‐donation water ingestion likely results in reduced on‐site VVRs, compared to no water (2 fewer per 100 donors, moderate‐certainty evidence). A pre‐donation isotonic drink likely results in reduced VVRs, compared to usual practice (2 fewer per 100 donors, moderate‐certainty evidence). Pre‐donation salt‐loaded sweetened lemon water may result in fewer off‐site VVRs, compared to sweetened lemon water only (1 fewer per 100 donors, low‐certainty evidence). Pre‐donation water and a gel cap containing sucrose with 250 mg caffeine may result in fewer blood donor reaction ratings, compared to pre‐donation water only (low‐certainty evidence).Pre‐donation plain water ingestion or isotonic drink probably results in a large reduction in on‐site and off‐site VVRs. Pre‐donation water ingestion with caffeine consumption or salt supplementation may result in a VVR reduction, compared to water ingestion only. Future large trials are required to increase the certainty of the effect of these and other interventions in the prevention of VVRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng. is a tropical dioecious plant belonging to the family, Cucurbitaceae also known as Gac, baby jack fruit, cochinchin gourd and sweet gourd. The plant is noted for its densely orange fruit, rich in nutrients, especially with 70 times more lycopene content than tomatoes. It possesses medicinal properties and the seeds are used in traditional Chinese medicine called Mubiezhi to treat fluxes, liver and spleen disorders, wounds and hemorrhoids. This study evaluated the effect of combination of pH, sucrose and BAP concentration on in vitro multiple shoot induction response of M. cochinchinensis according to guidelines of design of experiment. For those three factors, Response surface methodology (RSM) using the Box-Behnken design (BBD) was chosen and applied to the design matrix. The response shoot number/explant was evaluated by in vitro culture under variable conditions given in the design matrix. The response shoot number/explant was evaluated using in vitro culture under variable conditions given in the design matrix. The outcome of this method is an equation that calculates the shoot number as a function of pH, sucrose, and BAP concentration This study created response surface plots and contour plots for each factor, by analysing each factor's level of influence on the response shoot induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyse the clinical efficacy and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) of iron preparations. Methods: A total of 374 patients with iron deficiency anaemia admitted to our hospital between 1 January and 31 December 2020 were included in this study. They were divided into 2 groups based on their medication regimens: Group A (n = 187) took oral ferrous succinate tablets, and Group B (n = 187) received intravenous iron sucrose. The remission of major symptoms, laboratory test results, ADRs and other related data were collected after 4 weeks of treatment. Results: Compared with the pre-treatment baseline, haemoglobin (Hb), serum iron (SI), serum ferritin (SF) and the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) increased in both groups at 4 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05). After treatment, Group A had lower levels of Hb (108.41 ± 8.39 vs. 122.31 ± 6.04 g/L, t = 6.293, P < 0.001), SI (9.72 ± 4.24 vs. 15.62 ± 5.41 µmol/L, t = 5.482, P < 0.001) and SF (27.1 ± 10.82 vs. 39.82 ± 10.44 ug/L, t = 6.793, P < 0.001) compared with Group B. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the post‐treatment level of MCV (P > 0.05). The overall response rate significantly differed between the 2 groups (78.61% vs. 90.91%, χ2 = 10.949, P < 0.001). The incidence of ADRs of both groups were similar, and the difference was not statistically significant (χ2 = 0.035, P = 0.851). Conclusion: Iron sucrose demonstrates favourable efficacy and safety in treating iron deficiency anaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] The purpose of this paper was to investigate the changes in sugar content and metabolism-related enzyme activities and gene expression of longan fruits during postharvest storage at room temperature (RT) and low temperature (LT), and to provide a reference basis for postharvest storage and preservation of longan fruits. [Methods] Taking‘Chuliang'longan as the test material, 4 ℃ and 25 ℃ treatments were set to investigate the changes of total soluble solids (TSS), sucrose, glucose and fructose contents, and the change rules of related sugar metabolism enzyme activities and related gene expressions. [Results] Sugar content of longan fruit varied differentially at different storage temperatures. Sucrose content decreased, glucose and fructose content increased during RT storage, while LT storage maintained high sucrose content, glucose and fructose content decreased rapidly. Compared with RT storage, sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity increased, neutral invertase (NI), acid invertase (AI), sucrose synthase (SS), fructokinase (FRK) and hexokinase (HXK) activities were inhibited and the expression of DlNI, DlAI, DlSPS, DlFRK, DlHXK genes was inhibited at LT storage. Correlation analysis showed that the relationship about sucrose content, sugar metabolism-related enzyme activities and gene expression were altered in longan fruits at LT storage. In addition, principal component analysis also indicated that LT storage delayed the onset of sucrose metabolism in longan fruit and maintained better fruit quality. [Conclusions] By regulating the expression of genes related to sugar metabolism in longan fruits, low temperature storage affected the activity of related enzymes and then changed the sugar components, so that longan fruits maintained high sucrose content and delayed the quality deterioration of longan fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Latex Diagnosis (LD) is performed through the determination of dry rubber (DRC), sucrose (Suc), inorganic phosphorus (Pi) and thiol (RSH) contents. It is carried out through the colorimetric method using a single cuvette spectrophotometer, which is time-consuming and requires a high volume of chemicals. It also needs to be executed as soon as the samples are collected so that limits the adoption of LD. The adaptation of the protocol to a multiplate reader and suitable conservation aimed to overcome the limitations. The experiments were carried out at the Indonesian Rubber Research Institute, Sembawa, Palembang, and Research Center for Biotechnology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta. Various combinations of solution volumes, adapted from standard protocol, were tested. The closest slope of the standard curve to control was then applied to 7 randomly selected trees. The result showed that for Suc, the composition of 10 µL samples, 30 µL of 2.5 % TCA and 210 µL anthrone reagent was suitable for determination using a multiplate reader. The combination of 40 µL of sample, 85 µL of 2.5 % TCA and 125 µL mL FeSO4 solution was suitable for Pi determination, while 100 µL samples, 5 µL DNTB and 100 µL Tris is recommended for RSH. The measurement using a multiplate reader resulted in comparable contents (average deviations were 1.83, 2.69 and 3.51 % for Suc, Pi, and RSH, respectively), lower time and chemicals consumptions, and a larger number of sample handling compared to single cuvette method. This study also tested the effect of freeze-drying for sample conservation. The result indicated that freezedrying was able to maintain the Pi level (deviation 0.93 %). However, it increased Suc (deviation 19.43 %) and decreased ascorbate (AsA) significantly (deviation 43.60 %); therefore, freeze-drying might not be suitable for conserving serum samples in the LD method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]