Alleviative effects of Bacillus coagulans strains on irritable bowel syndrome-unraveling strain specificity through physiological and genomic analysis

The high intraspecies heterogeneity of Baciillus coagulans leads to significant phenotypic differences among different strains.Thus,6 B.coagulans strains were tested in the present study using an irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)animal model to determine whether the IBS-alleviating effects of B.coagulans strains are strain-specific.The results of this study showed that the ingestion of B.coagulans GBI-30,6086,and B.coagulans CCFM1041 significantly alleviated IBS symptoms in mice.In contrast,other B.coagulans strains showed no or limited alleviating effects on IBS symptoms.According to our experimental results,the two main common features of these strains were as follows:1)The resistance of vegetative cells to bile salts,and 2)ability to synthesize specific lipids and secondary metabolites.Screening strains based on these two indicators may greatly reduce costs and provide a basis for mining new functional B.coagulans strains.Our results also suggest that administration of B.coagulans could significantly regulate microbiota dysbiosis in animal models.Moreover,the close relationships between the gut microbiota,gut microbiota metabolites,and IBS were further confirmed in this study.

Enhancing IELTS Speaking Scores:A Comparative Analysis of High and Low Performers and Effective Strategies for Improvement

This paper examines the challenges of achieving high IELTS Speaking scores,particularly due to preparation constraints and subjectivity in assessment.It contrasts speaking features of high and low scorers across four key areas:fluency and coherence,lexical resource,grammatical range and accuracy,and pronunciation.The study offers strategies for improvement,focusing on topic development,vocabulary,and grammar,aiming to enhance candidates’performance.

Comparative Analysis on Fruit Qualities of 7 Litchi Varieties from Vietnam

[Objective] The aim was to screen litchi varieties suitable for local production in Vietnam. [Method] The fruit botanical and quality characteristics of the seven litchi varieties introduced into Northern Mountainous Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute of Vietnam Academy of Agriculture Sciences were compared and analyzed. [Result] Three varieties with good general qualities including Lai Phu Ho,Thach Binh and Hung Long which were suitable to be cultivated in the local area were selected. In addition,Phu Dong was the available,early-maturing germplasm resource. [Conclusion] This research will provide reference for litchi production and breeding in northern mountainous area.

Comparative Analysis on Fruit Qualities of Longan Varieties form Vietnam

[Objective] The aim was to screen longan varieties suitable for local production in Vietnam.[Method] The fruit botanical characteristics and quality characteristics of longan varieties introduced into Northern Mountainous Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute of Vietnam Academy of Agriculture Sciences were compared and analyzed.[Result] Two varieties with good general qualities including PMP6 and PHS1-1 which were suitable to be cultivated in the local area were selected.In addition,Phu Dong was the available processed germplasm resource.[Conclusion] This research will provide reference for longan production and breeding in Northern Mountainous.

Comparative Analysis of Improving Effects of 12 Maize Populations with Improved S_1 Selection Method

ln this study, 12 maize populations were improved with the improved S1 selection method, aiming to increase the improvement efficiency of maize popula-tions. The results showed that number of rows per spike, number of grains per row and 100-grain weight were the three important component traits of maize yield. The highest genetic increment was found in Mengqun 2, fol owed by Mengqun 4, Mengqun 1 and other 7 maize populations. Negative genetic increment was shown in Mengqun 3 and 3 introduced foreign maize populations. Some changes were shown in spikes, plant traits and genetic diversity of maize populations. Based on our results, we concluded that Mengqun 2, Mengqun 4, Zhongzong 7, Mengqun C and Mengqun A could be directly used for the line breeding by selfing for their higher genetic increment of yield and better improvement effects of other agricultural traits. Compared with these 5 populations, the improvement potential of other maize populations was limited for their lower genetic increment.

Comparative analysis of chemical components between barks and leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver

The chemical components of the essential oils in the barks and leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver were analyzed and compared by chromatograms and mass spectra technique, heuristic evolving latent projections (HELP), alternative moving window factor analysis (AMWFA) algorithms and normalization method based on the peak areas; the flavones in the barks and leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver were separated on an ODS column by gradient elution carried out with the flow phase consisting of water, methanol and phosphoric acid (0.1%), and their contents were quantitatively determined by standard curve method and diode array detection (DAD) at 362 nm. The results show that 68 and 73 compounds respectively from essential oils of the barks and leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver are identified, and there are 33 mutual compounds among 108 compounds determined. The total contents of these volatile components of the two samples possess 92.9% and 97.75% of the gross of the relevant essential oils, respectively; the contents of the rutin, quercetin and kaempferol in the barks and leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver are 0.016 9, 0.003 6, 0.002 1 and 0.064 4, 0.030 2, 0.010 0 mg/g, respectively, and the determination recoveries are 95.2%-106.2%. The comparative analysis shows that for the barks and leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver, there are significant differences in their components of the relevant essential oils and flavones.

A Comparative Analysis of Evaporate Sediments on Earth and Mars: Implications for the Climate Change on Mars

The knowledge of Martian salts has gone through substantial changes during the past decades. In the 70th of last century, Viking landers have noticed the existence of salts on Mars. Several salt species have been suggested from then on, such as sulfates and chlorides. However, their origin was a mystery due to the lack of observations. The recent explorations and related studies at the beginning of this century revealed that the crustal composition of Mars is similar to that of Earth, and it was hypothesized that almost one third of Martian surface was covered by oceans and lakes in the early stage of Mars. The huge water bodies may have dissolved a large quantity of ions from Martian primary rocks during the whole Noachian and Hesperian epoch. After the enormous drought event happened during the late Hesperian and the early Amazonian, these dissolved ions have formed huge salts deposits and most of them were preserved on Mars until today. To date, carbonates, sulfates, chlorides have all been detected by orbital remote sensing and by landers and rovers. However, the salt mineral assemblages on Mars seems to have some differences from those on Earth, e.g., rich in sulfates and lack of massive carbonates. To explain this difference, we propose that most of the surface carbonates precipitated from the ancient oceans may have been dissolved by the later ubiquitous acidic fluids originated from the global volcanism in the Hesperian era, and formed the enormous sulfate deposits as detected, and this hypothesis seems to be supported by the evidence that most of the sulfate deposits distribute around the Tharsis volcanic province while the survived carbonates located far from it. This process can release most of the carbon on Mars to the atmosphere in the form of CO2 and then be erased by the late heavy bombardments, which might have profound influence on the climate change happened in the Hesperian age. The positive correlation between the GRS results of the potassium distributions and the distribution of chlorides on Mars, together with the high Br concentration measured from the evaporate sediments at two Mars exploration rover landing sites, indicate that the brines in the regions where the chlorides deposited may have reached the stage for potassium salts deposition, thus we propose for the first time that potassium salts deposits might be prevalent in these regions.

Comparative Analysis of Nutrient Composition of Caulerpa lentillifera from Different Regions

This study investigated the difference of nutrient composition in Caulerpa lentillifera collected from different regions.The nutrient compositions of C.lentillifera from China's Hainan and Shandong provinces were determined and compared with those from Semporna(Malaysia),Sabah(Malaysia),Petchburi(Thailand),and two other species of seaweeds(Malaysia).The results showed that the polysaccharide and protein contents of C.lentillifera from Hainan(44.82%±0.98%and 12.5%±0.70%),Shandong(43.22%±1.42%and 14.7%±0.72%),Petchburi(59.27%±2.31%and 12.49%±0.30%),and Sabah(44.02%±2.01%and 19.38%±1.48%)were higher than those of Eucheuma cottonii(26.49%±3.01%and 9.76%±1.33%)and Sargassum polycystum(33.49%±1.70%and 5.40%±0.07%),respectively.The polyunsaturated fatty acid contents in C.lentillifera from Hainan(29.98%)and Shandong(22.11%)were higher than that in Semporna(16.76%±0.27%),Sabah(9.49%),and S.polycystum(20.34%±0.43%),but lower than that in E.cottonii(51.55%±0.57%).In Caulerpa lentillifera of Hainan and Shandong provinces,the essential amino acid(EAA)/total amino acid(TAA)ratios were 35.22%and 38.78%,respectively;and the EAA/ETAA ratios were 54.36%and 63.35%,respectively.The EAA composition of C.lentillifera was close to the ideal model of Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization.C.lentillifera was rich in mineral elements,including calcium((3315.85±127.55)mg(100 g)^-1 and(3728.35±92.38)mg(100 g)^-1),magnesium((6715.74±82.58)mg(100 g)^-1 and(8128.59±242.72)mg(100 g)^-1),and trace elements,including iron((510.65±5.47)mg(100 g)^-1 and(1972.97±183.35)mg(100 g)^-1),selenium((1.04±0.08)mg(100 g)^-1 and(0.83±0.15)mg(100 g)^-1),and zinc((33.90±0.13)mg(100 g)^-1 and(11.75±2.05)mg(100 g)^-1).These results showed that C.lentillifera was more nutritious than S.polycystum or E.cottonii in terms of polysaccharide,protein,and fatty acid contents.Furthermore,both C.lentillifera species collected from Hainan and Shandong provinces show more basic nutrients.Therefore,C.lentillifera has important development and application prospects.

Natural Heritage Value of Xinjiang Tianshan and Global Comparative Analysis

Xinjiang Tianshan is a serial natural property that has been nominated for World Heritage status.This paper presents a systematically comprehensive and comparative analysis of the heritage resources of Xinjiang Tianshan according to the World Heritage criteria.Its biological,ecological and aesthetic values,which are of global importance, are documented.It is concluded that Xinjiang Tianshan meets the world heritage criteria(vii)and (ix).Xinjiang Tianshan is compared with other mountain world heritage sites,mountains in Central Asia,the Tianshan Mountains outside China,and with the protected areas of the Tianshan Mountains on the Tentative List for World Heritage Sites,so as to provide objective data for the world heritage application.

Shift-share Analysis on International Tourism Competitiveness——A Case of Jiangsu Province

Shift-share analysis has been confirmed a useful approach in the study of regional economics and many kinds of extended shift-share models have been advanced and put into practice in economic studies, but few have hitherto been introduced and applied to the tourism research in China. Moreover understanding the spatially competitive relationship is of paramount importance for marketers, developers, and planners involved in tourism strategy development. Based on international tourism receipts from 1995 to 2004, this study aims at probing into the spatial competitiveness of interna- tional tourism in Jiangsu Province in comparison with its neighbors by applying a spatially extended shift-share model and a modified dynamic shift-share model. The empirical results illustrate that exceptional years may exist in the ap- plication of dynamic shift-share models. To solve this issue, modifications to dynamic shift-share model are put forward. The analytical results are not only presented but also explained by the comparison of background conditions of tourism development between Jiangsu and its key competitors. The conclusions can be drawn that the growth of international tourism receipts in Jiangsu mainly attributes to the national component and the competitive component and Zhejiang is the most important rival to Jiangsu during the period of 1995-2004. In order to upgrade the tourism competitiveness, it is indispensable for Jiangsu to take proper positioning, promoting and marketing strategies and to cooperate and integrate with its main rivals.

Comparative Genomic Analysis of Enterovirus 71 Revealed Six New Potential Neurovirulence-associated Sites

In the present study,the complete genomes of four common（4/EV71/Wenzhou/CHN/2014,15/EV71/Wenzhou/CHN/2014,116/EV71/Wenzhou/CHN/2014,and 120/EV71/Wenzhou/CHN/2014）and two virulent（11/EV71/Wenzhou/CHN/2014and 109/EV71/Wenzhou/CHN/2014）enterovirus 71（EV71）isolates were sequenced and described.They are 7405 bp in length and belong to EV71 sub-genotype C4 （C4a cluster）.

Theoretical analysis of fluid mixing time in liquid-continuous impinging streams reactor

The mixing time of impact zone in liquid-continuous impinging streams reactor(LISR) is theoretically calculated by empirical model and modern micromixing model of the fluid mixing process, and the variation laws of macromixing time and micromixing time are quantitatively discussed. The results show that under a continuous and stable operating condition, as the paddle speed increases, the macromixing time and micromixing time calculated by the two models both decrease, even in a linkage equilibrium state. Simultaneously, as the paddle speed increases, the results figured by the two models tend to be consistent. It indicates that two models both are more suitable for calculation of mixing time in high paddle speed. Compared with the existing experimental results of this type of reactor, the mixing time computed in the speed of 1500 r/min is closer to it. These conclusions can provide an important reference for systematically studying the strengthening mechanism of LISR under continuous mixing conditions.

Computational interaction analysis of organophosphorus pesticides with different metabolic proteins in humans

Pesticides have the potential to leave harmful effects on humans, animals, other living organisms, and the environment. Several human metabolic proteins inhibited after exposure to organophosphorus pesticides absorbed through the skin, inhalation, eyes and oral mucosa, are most important targets for this interaction study. The crystal structure of five different proteins, PDBIDs： 3LII, 3NXU, 4GTU, 2XJ1 and 1YXA in Homo sapiens （H. sapiens）, interact with organophosphorus pesticides at the molecular level. The 3-D structures were found to be of good quality and validated through PROCHECK, ERRAT and ProSA servers. The results show that the binding energy is maximum -45.21 relative units of cytochrome P450 protein with phosmet pesticide. In terms of H-bonding, methyl parathion and parathion with acetylcholinesterase protein, parathion, methylparathion and phosmet with protein kinase C show the highest interaction. We conclude that these organophosphorus pesticides are more toxic and inhibit enzymatic activity by interrupting the metabolic pathways in H. sapiens.

Comparative Analysis of Extreme High Temperature Weather in the Summers of 2013 and 2003

The characteristics of regional high temperature(HT) weather in 2013 and 2003 and their causes were studied using daily maximum temperature data, National Center for Environmental Prediction(NCEP) reanalysis data, and outgoing longwave radiation(OLR) data. For these two years of HT weather, there were many similar characteristics, such as their long duration, wide range, high intensity, and severe influence. However, there were also three obvious differences: firstly, in 2013, the major area where HT weather occurred was farther north than in 2003; secondly, the HT weather in South China and the southeast area of Jiangnan in 2013 lasted fewer days than in 2003, but in other areas it lasted for more days than in 2003; thirdly, the intensity of the HT weather in 2013 was also stronger in the north and weaker in the south, similar to that of the duration. A strong and stable western Pacific subtropical high(WPSH), a continental warm high, and the distribution of the warm center in the lower troposphere played important roles in the HT weather formation. Several probable causes for the differences are that the cold air was weaker, the WPSH was farther north, and the tropical convective systems were stronger in 2013 than in 2003. Finally, a preliminary cause analysis of the WPSH anomaly was presented.

Comparative chloroplast genome analysis of medicinally important Veratrum(Melanthiaceae)in China:Insights into genomic characterization and phylogenetic relationships

Members of Veratrum are perennial herbs widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to induce vomiting,resolve blood stasis and relieve pain.However,the intrageneric classification and phylogenetic relationships within Veratrum have long been controversial due to the complexity of morphological variations and lack of high-resolution molecular markers.In this study,we reevaluated the infrageneric relationships with the genus Veratrum using complete chloroplast genome sequence data.Herein,the complete cp genomes of ten species of Veratrum were newly sequenced and characterized.The complete cp genomes of ten species of Veratrum had the typical quadripartite structure,ranging from 151,597 bp to 153,711 bp in size and comprising a total of 135 genes.The structure of Veratrum cp genomes(i.e.,gene order,content,and genome components)was highly similar across species.The number of simple sequence repeats(SSRs)ranged from 63 to 7&and of long repeats ranged from 31 to 35.Eight highly divergent regions(ndhF,psbC-psbZ,psbK-psbl,rpoB-tmCjGCA,tmK_UUU-tmQ_UUG,tmS_GCU-tmG_UCC,tmT_UGU-tmL_UAA and ycfl)were identified and are potentially useful for the DNA barcoding of Veratrum.Phylogenetic analysis among 29 taxa based on cp genomes,total genes,protein-coding genes and intergenic regions strongly supported the monophyly of Veratrum.The circumscription and relationships of the infrageneric taxa of Veratrum were well-presented with great resolution.These results will facilitate the identification,taxonomy,and utilization of Veratrum plants as well as the evolutionary studies of Melanthiaceae.

Comparative Analysis of the Multi-Frequency Bio-impedance and Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry on Body Composition in Obese Subjects

To examine accuracy of body composition predicted by the Multi-Frequency Bioelectric Impedance Analysis （MF-BIA） compared with the Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry （DXA） in adults with obese. We measured body composition of 749 adults with obese both by the MF-BIA and DXA. The Lin＇s concordance correlation and the Bland-Altman plots were used to examine the consistency. The concordance correlation coefficient of %BF between the MF-BIA and DXA in men and women was 0.560, and 0.669, respectively. Compared with the DXA, the MF-BIA significantly underestimated %BF by 4.33% in men （P 〈 0.001）, however overestimated %BF by 0.50% in women （P 〈 0.001）. After corrected by the correction equations established in this study, the differences were significantly decreased. Therefore, the MF-BIA （TANITA MC-180） may need to be corrected in estimating body composition for adults with obese.

Structural characterization and comparative analysis of the chloroplast genome of Ginkgo biloba and other gymnosperms

Ginkgo biloba is a famous living“fossil”and has played an important role in the evolution of the Plant Kingdom.Here,the complete chloroplast genome of G.biloba was sequenced and analysed.The chloroplast genome was 156,990 bp long and predicted to encode 134 genes including 85 protein-coding genes,41 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes.The chloroplast genome has a typical quadripartite structure with a pair of inverted repeat regions(IRa and IRb,17,732 bp),a large(LSC,99,259 bp)and small single(SSC,22,267 bp)copy region.After an extensive comparison to previously published gymnosperm plastomes,the gene content and organisation of G.biloba showed high divergence,although part was relatively conserved.The two typical IR regions in the G.biloba chloroplast genome were relatively shorter because it the ycf2 gene.In addition,it was obvious that the IR regions and gene loss were responsible for changes in chloroplast genome size and structure stability,which influenced plastome evolution in different gymnosperms.Phylogenetic analysis revealed that G.biloba is sister to cycads rather than to gnetophytes,cupressophytes,and Pinaceae.Overall,the study showed that the genomic characteristics of G.biloba would be of great help in the further research on the taxonomy,species identification and evolutionary history of gymnosperms,especially for their position in plant systematics and evolution.

Physicochemical Properties Comparative Analysis of Corn Starch and Cassava Starch, and Comparative Analysis as Adhesive

The morphology and properties of corn starch and cassava starch were compared by SEM, DSC and TGA. Theeffects of amylose and amylopectin content on starch properties were studied by FT-IR, XRD and XPS. The plywood was pressed with the prepared adhesive and the bonding strength of the plywood was tested to analyze thedifference among the adhesives from different plant sources and the difference after blending PAPI prepolymer.FT-IR results showed that the hydroxyl peak of cassava starch was stronger and wider. TGA showed that the residue of cassava starch was lower, but the thermal stability of cassava starch was almost the same. XPS data showedthat the oxygen content of cassava starch was slightly higher, but the carbon content was slightly lower. SEM analysis showed that corn starch granules were more irregular and sharper than cassava starch, and cassava starchgranules were more uniform, regular and round.

Comparative Analysis on Farmers' Specialized Cooperatives from the Perspective of Agricultural Industry Chain

Taking three typical farmers' specialized cooperatives in Jingyuan County of Gansu Province as example,this paper compared with the operating mode of three cooperatives and their position in the agricultural industry chain,and analyzed operating characteristics,problems,and similarities of three cooperatives and their functions in the agricultural industry chain.The study indicated that the farmers' specialized cooperatives can accurately find their position in the agricultural industry chain.This is helpful for raising their comprehensive competitiveness and it is very important to manage the survival and development of farmers' specialized cooperatives,which is of utmost importance to their effective operation.According to this study,the government should strengthen its support,speed up the cultivation of new-type professional farmers,while farmers' specialized cooperatives should grasp the operating characteristics,locate themselves and integrate multi-resources.These are effective measures for promoting healthy operation of farmers' specialized cooperatives.

Comparative Analysis of Gene Expression in Two Muskmelon Cultivars(Cucumis melo L.) Under Salt Stress

Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stresses that adversely affects crop growth and productivity. A subtractive suppression hybridization （SSH） library were constructed from the roots of salt-sensitive Yulu cultivar melon seedlings under salt stress; 557 high-quality expressed sequence tags （ESTs） were randomly sequenced, with an average size of 428 bp, which assembled into 68 contigs and 315 singletons. Compared with our previous SSH library generated from the salt-tolerant Bingxuecui cultivar, the proportion of transcripts involved in metabolism, protein fate, cellular communication/signal transduction mechanisms, and cell rescue/defense were 4, 1.46, 0.94, and 0.4% higher, respectively, in the salt-tolerant cultivar than the in salt-sensitive cultivar. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of eleven transcripts revealed temporal variations in their expression in the two cultivars under salt stress. One NAC gene （JZ477011） was heterologously expressed in yeast for functional characterization, and enhanced the sensitivity of yeast cells to high-salinity to salt stress and inhibited their growth. Information regards to their functions would aid in the understanding of response mechanisms to saline stress and in the development of molecular markers for selecting salt-tolerant melon cultivars.