The protective effects of Levilactobacillus brevis FZU0713 on lipid metabolism and intestinal microbiota in hyperlipidemic rats

Levilactobacillus brevis FZU0713, a potential probiotic previously isolated from the traditional brewing process of Hongqu rice wine, may have the beneficial effects on improving lipid metabolism. This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo protective effects and possible mechanism of L. brevis FZU0713 on the disturbance of lipid metabolism in hyperlipidemic rats fed a high-fat diet(HFD). Results showed that oral administration of L. brevis FZU0713 could significantly inhibit obesity, ameliorate the lipid metabolism disorder, including serum/liver biochemical parameters and hepatic oxidative stress in HFD-fed rats. Histopathological result also indicated that dietary intervention of L. brevis FZU0713 could reduce the accumulation of lipid droplets in liver induced by 8 weeks HFD feeding. Furthermore, L. brevis FZU0713 intervention significantly increased the fecal levels of short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs, including acetate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, valerate and isovalerate)in HFD-fed rats, which may be closely related to the changes of intestinal microbial composition and metabolic function. Intestinal microbiota profiling by 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that L. brevis FZU0713 intervention significantly altered the relative abundance of Coprococcus, Butyricicoccus, Intestinimonas, Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group, Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214 group, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005 and UCG-014 at genus levels. Based on Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, serum and liver lipid metabolism related biochemical parameters were positively correlated with genera Ruminococcus, Pediococcus and Lachnospiraceae, but negatively correlated with genera Pseudoflavonifractor, Butyricicoccus and Intestinimonas. Furthermore, liver metabolomics analysis demonstrated that L. brevis FZU0713 had a significant regulatory effect on the composition of liver metabolites in hyperlipidemic rats, especially the levels of some important biomarkers involved in the metabolic pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid, fructose and mannose metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, etc. Additionally, oral administration of L. brevis FZU0713 significantly regulated the mR NA levels of liver genes(including Acat2, Acox1, Hmgcr, Cd36, Srebp-1c and Cyp7a1)involved in lipid metabolism and bile acid homeostasis. In conclusion, our findings provide the evidence that L. brevis FZU0713 has the potential to improve disturbance of lipid metabolism by regulating intestinal microflora and liver metabonomic profile. Therefore, L. brevis FZU0713 may be used as a potential probiotic strain to produce functional food to prevent hyperlipidemia.

Indirect mineral carbonation of blast furnace slag with(NH4)2SO4 as a recyclable extractant

Large quantities of COand blast furnace slag are discharged in the iron and steel industry. Mineral carbonation of blast furnace slag can offer substantial COemission reduction and comprehensive utilisation of the solid waste. In this study, a recyclable extractant,（NH）SO, was used to extract calcium and magnesium from blast furnace slag（main phases of gehlenite and akermanite） by using low-temperature roasting to fix COthrough aqueous carbonation. The process parameters and efficiency of the roasting extraction, mineralisation, and Al recovery were investigated in detail. The results showed that the extractions of Ca, Mg, and Al can reach almost 100% at an（NH4）SO-to-slag mass ratio of 3:1 and at 370°C in 1 h. Adjusting the p H value of the leaching solution of the roasted slag to 5.5 with the NHreleased during the roasting resulted in 99% Al precipitation, while co-precipitation of Mg was lower than 2%. The Mg-rich leachate after the depletion of Al and the leaching residue（main phases of CaSOand SiO） were carbonated using（NH）COand NHHCOsolutions, respectively, under mild conditions. Approximately 99% of Ca and 89% of Mg in the blast furnace slag were converted into CaCOand（NH）Mg（CO）·4 HO,respectively. The latter can be selectively decomposed to magnesium carbonate at 100-200 °C to recover the NHfor reuse. In the present route, the total COsequestration capacity per tonne of blast furnace slag reached up to 316 kg, and 313 kg of Al-rich precipitate, 1000 kg of carbonated product containing CaCOand SiO, and 304 kg of carbonated product containing calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate were recovered simultaneously. These products can be used, respectively, as raw materials for the production of electrolytic aluminium, cement, and light magnesium carbonate to replace natural resources.

Process simulation and energy integration in the mineral carbonation of blast furnace slag

Large quantities of blast furnace(BF) slag and CO_2 are discharged annually from iron and steel industries, along with a large amount of waste heat.The mineral carbonation of BF slag can not only reduce emissions of solid waste but also realize the in-situ fixation of CO_2 with low energy consumption if integrated with the waste heat utilization.In this study, based on our previous works, Aspen Plus was employed to simulate and optimize the carbonation process and integrate the process energy.The effects of gehlenite extraction, MgSO_4 carbonation,and aluminum ammonium sulfate crystallization were studied systematically.The simulation results demonstrate that 2.57 kg of BF slag can sequester 1 kg of CO_2, requiring 5.34 MJ of energy(3.3 MJ heat and 2.04 MJ electricity), and this energy includes the capture of CO_2 from industrial flue gases.Approximately 60 kg net CO_2 emission reduction could be achieved for the disposal of one ton of BF slag.In addition, the by-product,aluminum ammonium sulfate, is a high value-added product.Preliminary economic analysis indicates that the profit for the whole process is 1127 CNY per ton of BF slag processed.

Enhanced Strength-Ductility Synergy in Submerged Friction Stir Processing ER2319 Alloy Manufactured by Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing via Creating Ultrafine Microstructure

Submerged friction stir processing(SFSP)with flowing water was employed to alleviate the porosities and coarse-grained structure introduced by wire-arc manufacturing.As a result,uniform and ultrafine grained(UFG)structure with average grain size of 0.83μm was achieved with the help of sharply reduced heat input and holding time at elevated temperature.The optimized UFG structure enabled a superior combination of strength and ductility with high ultimate tensile strength and elongation of 273.17 MPa and 15.39%.Specifically,grain refinement strengthening and decentralized θ(Al_(2)Cu)phase in the sample subjected to SFSP made great contributions to the enhanced strength.In addition,the decrease in residual stresses and removal of pores substantially enhance the ductility.High rates of cooling and low temperature cycling,which are facilitated by the water-cooling environment throughout the machining process,are vital in obtaining superior microstructures.This work provides a new method for developing a uniform and UFG structure with excellent mechanical properties.

Dexamethasone up-regulates TNFAIP3 to attenuate inflammatory response with smoke inhalation-induced acute lung injury based on the GEO database

To explore the protective effect of dexamethasone(Dex)on early inflammation in mice with smoke inhalation-induced acute lung injury(SI-ALI),we screened and analyzed bioinformatics gene chip data,followed by laboratory verification.The GEO database was used to search the ALI gene datasets,which were processed by the GEO2R online tool.The differential genes of each dataset were analyzed by Venn diagram to select the differential genes.A protein-protein interaction network was built on the String platform,and key protein modules were screened with Cytoscape software.The online databases DAVID and KOBAS were used for GO and KEGG enrichment analyses.A total of 45 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups as follows:control group,smoke inhalation group(smoke group),and smoke inhalation+Dex group(smoke+Dex group),with 15 in each group.Inhalation of smoke for 10 min caused SI-ALI in the smoke group and smoke+Dex group,and the air was given in the control group.Dex(0.4 mg/100 g)was injected in the smoke+Dex group.Animals were sacrificed 24 h later,the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)of the left lung was collected,and the levels of IL-1βand IL-6 were detected by ELISA.The expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 8(MAP3K8)and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced protein 3(TNFAIP3)in the right middle lobe were measured by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR.GSE1871,GSE2411,and GSE17355 gene datasets were included,and 60 differential genes were selected.The key modules mainly included IL-6,IL-1β,MAP3K8,and TNFAIP3.The biological process of GO was mainly concentrated in inflammation,immune response,and so on.Cell components were mainly concentrated in extracellular and molecular functions.KEGG was mainly concentrated in TNF,Toll-like receptors,and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways.Compared with the control group,the levels of IL-1βand IL-6 in BALF in the smoke group and smoke+Dex group were significantly increased(all P<0.05),and the levels of IL-1βand IL-6 in the smoke+Dex group were lower compared with the smoke group(all P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the expressions of TNFAIP3 and MAP3K8 in the smoke group and smoke+Dex group were increased significantly(all P<0.05),and the expression of TNFAIP3 in the smoke+Dex group was increased compared with the smoke group(t=5.701,P<0.01).Moreover,the expression of MAP3K8 was decreased(t=13.49,P<0.01).It could be concluded that inflammation signal pathways in lung tissues of SI-ALI mice were activated,the secretion of IL-1βand IL-6 was increased,and the expressions of MAP3K8 and TNFAIP3 were increased.Application of Dex could up-regulate TNFAIP3,down-regulate MAP3K8,and decrease the secretion of IL-1βand IL-6.Dex might inhibit MAP3K8 by up-regulating TNFAIP3,thereby negatively regulating the TNF/MAPK signaling pathway to reduce the inflammatory response of SI-ALI.