Construction and screening of a functional metagenomic library to identify novel enzymes produced by Antarctic bacteria

A metagenomic fosmid library of approximately 52 000 clones was constructed to identify functional genes encoding cold-adapted enzymes. Metagenomic DNA was extracted from a sample of glacial meltwater, collected on the Antarctic Peninsula during the ANTARKOS XXIX Expedition during the austral summer of 2012-2013. Each clone contained an insert of about 35-40 kb, so the library represented almost 2 Gb of genetic information from metagenomic DNA. Activity-driven screening was used to detect the cold-adapted functions expressed by the library. Fifty lipase/esterase and two cellulase-producing clones were isolated, and two clones able to grow on Avicel as the sole carbon source. Interestingly, three clones formed a brown precipitate in the presence of manganese （II）. Accumulation of manganese oxides was determined with a leucoberbelin blue assay, indicating that these three clones had manganese-oxidizing activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a manganese oxidase activity detected with a functional metagenomic strategy.

慢性阻塞性肺疾病早期筛查方式研究进展

慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)是一种以持续呼吸道症状和气流受限为特征的常见慢性呼吸系统疾病,具有高发病率、高致残率和高死亡率的特点。据世界卫生组织预测,到2030年COPD将成为第三大全球死亡原因的慢性疾病,造成重大经济负担。由于早期COPD起病隐匿,部分患者对咳嗽、咳痰等临床症状认识不足,肺功能检查普及率低等原因,COPD早期临床诊断和早期有效治疗的比例极低,延误了诊断和治疗的最佳时间。早诊断、早治疗可延缓肺功能衰退的进展,减少急性加重次数,降低住院率,并提高早期COPD患者的生活质量。因此,有必要加强对COPD进行早期筛查,从而实现早诊断、早干预、早治疗。该文总结近几年国内外相关文献,对COPD早期筛查方式的研究进展作一综述。

活性小分子功能筛选平台M & Function的设计与实现

目的建立一个综合了生物信息学和化学信息学的网络信息平台M&Function,致力于新药筛选和研究。方法通过数据挖掘,整合小分子药物的名称、结构、功能、分类等信息,建立一个小分子药物信息资源库。在此基础上,借助基于最大公共子结构(maximum common substructure,MCS)和Fingerprint的结构比对软件,通过统计分析,建立了功能预测系统,对活性小分子进行生物学功能预测。结果 M&Function平台拥有丰富的数据信息、内嵌的图形显示和数据统计插件人性化的网站设计,具有直观、高效、简便易用、测试数据结果可靠等优点。结论 M&Function平台不仅是一个小分子药物信息资源库,也是一个小分子功能预测平台,可以为高通量先导化合物的筛选提供信息准备和数据支持。网站可以通过http://lifecenter.sgst.cn/mcs/home.do进行访问。

伊犁地区奶疙瘩中乳酸菌的筛选及其特性研究

为筛选出传统发酵食品中具有优良功能特性的乳酸菌,对伊犁地区奶疙瘩中的乳酸菌进行分离鉴定,并对其益生特性和功能特性进行研究。从奶疙瘩中分离出乳酸菌菌株并进行分子生物学鉴定,通过耐酸、耐胆盐、自聚集、疏水性和模拟胃肠液耐受性等益生特性指标对菌株筛选,并测定菌株的自由基清除能力和α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制率等功能特性。结果表明:从奶疙瘩样品中分离出的8株乳酸菌均表现出耐酸和耐胆盐能力,其中乳酸片球菌KT-7疏水率最高(77.2%),KT-7在胃液存活率最高(109.7%),副干酪乳杆菌KT-2在肠液存活率最高(103.4%);发酵上清液抗氧化实验中,KT-2的DPPH自由基清除率最高(79.8%),戊糖片球菌KT-8对羟基自由基清除率最高(96.8%),抑制α-葡萄糖苷酶活性实验中,菌株KT-2、KT-7、KT-8对α-葡萄糖苷酶的抑制率在20.0%以上,其中KT-8抑制率最高(34.9%)。因此,从伊犁地区奶疙瘩中筛选出的3株乳酸菌副干酪乳杆菌KT-2、乳酸片球菌KT-7、戊糖片球菌KT-8具有良好的益生特性与功能特性,可作为功能发酵食品的潜在菌株。

基于机器学习高通量筛选二氧化碳还原电催化剂的研究进展

随着全球能源需求不断增长,化石燃料资源有限和二氧化碳排放对气候变化的影响愈加严重,减少二氧化碳排放已迫在眉睫。基于绿电的电化学还原二氧化碳(CO_(2)RR)方法是缓解化石燃料消耗和温室气体排放的理想途径。传统催化剂的研发模式主要依赖实验试错方法,难以满足对高效催化剂的研发需求。快速发展的机器学习等数据科学技术为催化剂研发带来范式变革的契机。高通量计算结合机器学习已经成为近年来电催化剂配方设计中的重要手段之一。基于此,本文概述了近年来高通量计算结合机器学习指导催化剂开发的研究成果,包括催化剂设计的原理、模拟计算的策略以及机器学习模型的构建。通过将高通量计算和机器学习结合,可以加速催化剂设计过程,为CO_(2)RR催化剂的高效筛选和开发提供了新方法,拓宽人工智能在催化剂筛选设计中的应用。

基于营养风险筛查标准的营养支持在胃肠肿瘤手术后患者中的应用效果

目的观察基于营养风险筛查标准的营养支持在胃肠肿瘤手术后患者中的应用效果。方法选取2022年1月—2023年12月上海市浦东新区人民医院收治的120例胃肠肿瘤手术后患者,通过双盲法分为对照组(60例,常规营养支持)与营养组(60例,常规营养支持+基于营养风险筛查标准的营养支持),比较两组的营养水平、免疫功能、机体恢复时间、并发症、生活健康指数评分。结果干预后营养组营养水平、免疫功能、生活健康指数评分高于对照组,机体恢复时间快于对照组,并发症总发生率低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论胃肠肿瘤手术后患者接受基于营养风险筛查标准的营养支持可以显著提高营养水平,改善其免疫功能状况,加快机体恢复,降低术后并发症发生风险,提高生活健康指数。

Functional Metagenomics from the Rumen Environment—A Review

The rumen microbiome plays an essential role in ruminant physiology, nutrition and pathology as well as host immunity. A better understanding of rumen microbial processes and identification of which populations are responsible for specific functions within the rumen microbiome will lead to better management and sustainable utilization of the available feed base while maintaining a low environmental impact. Recent advance in the culture independent method of microbiology such as metagenomics, unravels potentially the rumen microbial process. There are two basic types of metagenomics studies: Sequence-based and function-based metagenomics. Sequence-based metagenomics involves sequencing and analysis of DNA from environmental samples. Its purpose is to assemble genomes, identify genes, find complete metabolic pathways, and compare organisms of different communities. Whereas functional metagenomics is the study of the collective genome of a microbial community by expressing it in a foreign host usually Escherichia coli (E. coli). It is a promising approach unearthing novel enzymes even from yet to culture rumen microbiota. Further advances in the screening techniques promise vast opportunities to rumen microbiologists, and animal nutritionist. The identification of novel enzyme through functional metagenomics consists of three parts: rumen sample collection;DNA library construction and screening of individual clone. Functional metagenomics was successfully applied to identify different antibiotics, hydrolytic enzymes, antibiotic resistance genes, and many other functions;moreover, it allowed characterization of genes encoding enzymes with a particular activity, which represents completely novel sequence. There are a number of outputs from functionally screened rumen product such as carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) that can break down plant cell walls. Company involved commercialization of metagenomics research such as Syngenta, Genencor International, BRAIN etc., has produced many biological molecules of commercial interest. The aim of this paper is to elucidate functional metagenomics, from rumen environment and its potential for commercial purpose.

Use of clinical movement screening tests to predict injury in sport

Clinical movement screening tests are gaining popularity as a means to determine injury risk and to implement training programs to prevent sport injury. While these screens are being used readily in the clinical field, it is only recently that some of these have started to gain attention from a research perspective. This limits applicability and poses questions to the validity, and in some cases the reliability, of the clinical movement tests as they relate to injury prediction, intervention, and prevention. This editorial will review the following clinical movement screening tests: Functional Movement Screen?, Star Excursion Balance Test, Y Balance Test, Drop Jump Screening Test, Landing Error Scoring System, and the Tuck Jump Analysis in regards to test administration, reliability, validity, factors that affect test performance, intervention programs, and usefulness for injury prediction. It is important to review the aforementioned factors for each of these clinical screening tests as this may help clinicians interpret the current body of literature. While each of these screening tests were developed by clinicians based on what appears to be clinical practice, this paper brings to light that this is a need for collaboration between clinicians and researchers to ensure validity of clinically meaningful tests so that they are used appropriately in future clinical practice. Further, this editorial may help to identify where the research is lacking and, thus, drive future research questions in regards to applicability and appropriateness of clinical movement screening tools.

Computational screening of doping schemes for LiTi2(PO4)3 as cathode coating materials

In all-solid-state lithium batteries,the impedance at the cathode/electrolyte interface shows close relationship with the cycle performance.Cathode coatings are helpful to reduce the impedance and increase the stability at the interface effectively.LiTi2(PO4)3(LTP),a fast ion conductor with high ionic conductivity approaching 10^(-3)S·cm^(-1),is adopted as the coating materials in this study.The crystal and electronic structures,as well as the Li^+ion migration properties are evaluated for LTP and its doped derivatives based on density functional theory(DFT)and bond valence(BV)method.Substituting part of Ti sites with element Mn,Fe,or Mg in LTP can improve the electronic conductivity of LTP while does not decrease its high ionic conductivity.In this way,the coating materials with both high ionic conductivities and electronic conductivities can be prepared for all-solid-state lithium batteries to improve the ion and electron transport properties at the interface.

益生菌基因组学在乳酸菌筛选和功能评价中的应用

乳杆菌和双歧杆菌是益生菌筛选的主要微生物类群,在促进人类、动物甚至植物健康方面都有重要的应用价值,被广泛应用于多种功能性食品、动物饲料和微生物菌肥。然而,这些细菌对宿主健康产生积极影响的分子机制还远未完全了解。另外,传统的益生菌筛选技术主要依靠表型和生理生化特性的测定以及随机对照试验,这些方法不仅耗时、费力,而且数据难以重复。不同研究小组之间数据难以共享,不能实现菌株有益特性的均一性和标准化验证,严重制约了益生菌科学研究的发展和菌株的产业化开发利用。基于新的测序技术和强大的计算机分析方法,被称为益生菌基因组学新学科的出现,允许研究者在短时间内通过筛选大量的生物学和基因组数据,显著提高益生菌筛选的效率和准确性。本文综述了通过基因组数据的分析,帮助人们高效、快速地确定益生菌,开辟益生菌新功能的评价途径。总结益生菌基因组学在阐明益生特性功效评价的分子基础等方面的最新研究成果,以期为扩展研究人员对这些有益微生物生物学的认知,揭示益生菌促进健康特性的分子机制提供新视角。

高等教育筛选功能缺失的表征、归因与重塑

高等教育不仅具有传播知识、技能、思想与文化的社会化功能,还具有将不适合接受高等教育或某一专业的人才筛选出来的社会筛选功能。高等教育筛选机制的前提是获取教育文凭的学生要经历严格的筛选过程,教育文凭能够有效区分不同能力的学生。目前,我国高等教育在过程阶段和出口阶段并没有对学生的能力进行严格筛选和区分,最终导致不同能力的学生却获取了相同的文凭,劳动力市场出现了混同均衡现象。不仅如此,担负筛选功能任务的阶段还发生了“前移”和“后移”的状况:“前移”至基础教育阶段,导致教育竞争的不断提前,并且对优质教育资源的需求增加;“后移”至毕业生就业阶段,导致就业招聘“学历论”导向加剧,且产生了高校毕业生过度的教育现象,极大地浪费了高等教育资源。造成高等教育筛选功能缺失现象形成的原因是多方面的:传统思想的积淀与延续是价值前提,利益主体的理性选择是重要推力,制度安排与环境的不兼容是现实基础。破解此问题需要从以下几个方面入手:一是要革新认知观念,由“宽出”到“严出”;二是要转变价值取向,由“利益取向”到“责任取向”;三是要深化学分制改革,由“刻板教条”到“自由灵活”。

Functional Starter Cultures for Meat: A Case Study on Technological and Probiotic Characterization

The selection of a starter is a complex process, involving different steps, like a preliminary characterization under laboratory conditions, the selection of the most promising strains, a lab validation and the final validation in a large-scale fermentation;the selection of a functional starter includes a further step, dealing with the assessment of the functional traits. This paper proposes a case study on how use a step-by-step approach, based on some rapid protocols, to select promising starter cultures with probiotic abilities. Nine strains, isolated from a commercial preparation, were studied in relation to some enzymatic activities (slime and acetoin production, reduction of nitrates, proteolytic activity and hydrolysis of tributyrin), technological (acidification and growth at different temperatures, pHs and salt amounts) and probiotic traits (hydrophobicity, co-aggregation towards Salmonella sp. and Escherichia coli, survival at pH 2.5 and in presence of bile salts, antibiotic resistance) and compared to some collection isolates. As a final step, a multivariate approach was used to select the most promising isolates. The isolates from the commercial preparation were able to perform the fermentation (e.g. acidification) at low temperatures with some interesting traits in terms of bioactivity towards E. coli O157:H7, whilst some interesting probiotic traits in terms of hydrophobicity and survival in conditions that mimicked the gut were found for the collection isolates.

适宜高钙环境的桑种质资源筛选

桑树是一种兼具经济效益和生态效益的树种,适宜在石漠化地区推广种植.高钙是石漠化地区土壤的重要特征之一,也是限制植物生长发育的主要因素之一.因此,了解我国大面积栽植的不同杂交桑品种的高钙耐受性,并筛选耐高钙胁迫的品种具有重要意义.以7个杂交桑品种幼苗为材料,研究不同桑树品种在高钙胁迫下的生理生化响应,并通过隶属函数法综合评价各品种的耐钙胁迫特性.结果表明:不同桑树品种在高钙胁迫下生长受到显著抑制,脯氨酸质量分数显著上升,而品种间抗氧化酶响应胁迫的模式存在差异.基于隶属函数值,聚类分析发现丰驰和桂桑优62为强高钙耐受品种,粤桑11和桂桑优12为中等高钙耐受品种,塘10×伦109、桂桑6和桂桑优2为高钙敏感品种.

不同运动水平和性别游泳运动员功能动作筛查得分比较

目的:采用功能动作筛查(FMS)评分方法对比分析不同竞技水平和性别游泳运动员的功能动作质量和均衡性。方法:以161名游泳运动员为研究对象,按竞技水平分为优秀组(n=60)和一般组(n=101),进行FMS测试并采集数据。结果:①两组运动员之间和组内男女运动员之间,FMS总分无显著性差异(P>0.05);②优秀组与一般组比较,分别在肩部灵活性、主动直腿抬高(P<0.05)和旋转稳定性(P<0.01)3项得分上存在显著性差异;③优秀组在线性弓步、主动直腿抬高(P<0.05)和躯干稳定俯卧撑(P<0.01)3项得分上存在明显的性别差异;④一般组在深蹲、线性弓步和主动直腿抬高3项得分上存在明显的性别差异(P<0.05);⑤在功能动作质量方面,优秀组与一般组相比,分别在深蹲、躯干稳定俯卧撑(P<0.05)和旋转稳定性(P<0.01)3项动作质量上存在显著性差异;⑥在功能动作均衡性方面,优秀组两侧不均衡性主要表现在线性弓步和跨栏步,分别占31.67%和30%;而一般组两侧不均衡性最明显的是肩部灵活性,占比31.68%。结论:FMS总分未能反映游泳运动员的竞技水平和性别差异。优秀游泳运动员有较好的肩部灵活性和均衡性,其中男运动员核心稳定性和力量优于女运动员;一般游泳运动员有较好的核心稳定性和腘绳肌柔韧性,其中男运动员深蹲能力优于女运动员。与男运动员相比,两组女运动员均表现出较好的腘绳肌柔韧性。

Feasible Method to Assess the Performance of a Lung Cancer CT Screening CAD System in Clinical Practice: Dependence on Nodule Size and Density

Detection of small pulmonary nodules is the goal of lung cancer screening. Computer-aided detection (CAD) systems are recommended to use in lung cancer computed tomography (CT) screening to increase the accuracy of nodule detection. Size and density of lung nodules are primary factors in determining the risk of malignancy. Therefore, purpose of this study is to apply computer-simulated virtual nodules based on the point spread function (PSF) measured in same scanner (maintaining spatial resolution condition) to assess the CAD system performance dependence on nodule size and density. Virtual nodules with density differences between lung background and nodule density (ΔCT) values (200, 300 and 400 HU) and different sizes (4 to 8 mm) were generated and fused on clinical images. CAD detection was performed and free-response receiver operating characteristic (FROC) curves were obtained. Results show that both density and size of virtual nodules can affect detection efficiency. Detailed results are possible to use for quantitative analysis of a CAD system performance. This study suggests that PSF-based virtual nodules could be effectively used to assess the lung cancer CT screening CAD system performance dependence on nodule size and density.

Modeling Breast Cancer Incidence Rates: A Comparison between the Components of Functional Time Series (FTS) Model Applied on Karachi (Pakistan) and US Data

Several studies showed that the breast cancer incidence rates are higher in high-income (developed) countries, due to the link of breast cancer with several risk factors and the presence of systematic screening policies. Some of the authors suggest that lower breast cancer incidence rates in low-income (developing) countries probably reflect international variation in hormonal factors and accessibility to early detection facilities. Recent studies showed that the breast cancer increased rapidly among women in Pakistan (a developing country) and it became the first malignancy among females of Pakistan. Although, the incidence rates may contain important evidence for understanding and control of the disease;however in Pakistan, the breast cancer incidence data have never been available in the last five decades since independence;rather, only hospital-based data are available. In this study, we intend to apply Functional Time Series (FTS) models to the breast cancer incidence rates of United State (developed country), and to see the difference between various components (age and time) of Functional Time Series (FTS) models applied independently on the breast cancer incidence rates of Karachi (Pakistan) and US. Past studies have already suggested that the incidence of US breast cancer cases was expected to increase in the coming decades. A progressive increase in the number of new cases is already predetermined by the high birth rate that occurred during the middle part of the century, and it will lead to nearly a doubling in the number of cases in about 4 decades. We also obtain 15 years predictions of breast cancer incidence rates in United States and compare them with the forecasts of incidence curves for Karachi. Development of methods for cancer incidence trend forecasting can provide a sound and accurate foundation for planning a comprehensive national strategy for optimal partitioning of research resources between the need for development of new treatments and the need for new research directed toward primary preventive measures.

功能性训练对我国高水平女子体操运动员高低杠项目关节损伤的康复促进研究

目的:对我国高水平女子体操运动员高低杠项目关节损伤的功能性体能康复训练进行研究。方法:采用问卷调查、专家访谈、测试等研究方法,对11名我国高水平女子体操运动员进行为期12周的功能性训练。采用功能性动作筛查(functional movement screen,FMS)测试评估运动员关节损伤的潜在风险。根据损伤现状调查与评估结果,制定功能性体能康复训练3个阶段的训练目标、任务和方案,提高肩关节灵活性和活动范围,加强肩关节肌肉组织力量,提升运动表现。结果:我国高水平女子体操运动员高低杠项目损伤率最高的部位为肩关节,占比78.18%;高水平女子体操运动员FMS测试损伤风险阈值为17分;功能性训练后肩关节测试均值由1分增加至2分,肩关节疼痛人数由3人下降至1人,总分均值由14分增加至17分。结论:功能性训练前损伤现状调查和FMS测试评估是制定功能性训练方案的依据。FMS测试分数前后具有显著差异,功能性训练能够有效提升肩关节灵活性,改善疼痛现象,促进损伤恢复。

六君子汤合玉屏风散对肺脾气虚型慢性阻塞性肺疾病稳定期患者免疫功能的影响

目的:探讨六君子汤合玉屏风散对肺脾气虚型慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)稳定期患者免疫功能的影响。方法:选取符合纳入标准的60例证属肺脾气虚型COPD稳定期患者,依据随机数字表随机分为对照组和观察组,每组各30例。对照组根据初始评估给予常规西医基础治疗方案,观察组在对照组治疗基础上加用六君子汤合玉屏风散,两组治疗时间均为4周。比较两组患者治疗前后中医证候积分、六分钟步行试验(6MWT)、改良版英国医学研究委员会呼吸困难量表(mMRC)分级、免疫球蛋白(IgA、IgG、IgM)含量和CD4^(+)、CD8^(+)水平及CD4^(+)/CD8^(+)比值的变化情况,并比较临床疗效。结果:观察组临床总有效率93.33%(28/30)显著高于对照组73.33%(22/30),两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);治疗后两组患者中医证候积分均较治疗前明显降低(P<0.01),且观察组优于对照组(P<0.01);与治疗前比较,治疗后两组患者6MWT、免疫球蛋白(IgA、IgG、IgM)水平以及CD4^(+)水平、CD4^(+)/CD8^(+)比值均明显升高(P<0.01),mMRC分级、CD8^(+)水平均明显改善(P<0.01,P<0.05),且观察组优于对照组(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:六君子汤合玉屏风散可明显改善肺脾气虚型COPD稳定期患者的症状及免疫功能。

递进式N×N型采样方式次谐波海洋湍流相位屏模拟方法

以N×N型采样方式次谐波法为基础,引入了递进式采样,提出了一种递进式N×N型采样方式次谐波法,用于数值模拟海洋湍流相位屏。该方法利用Nikishov提出的海水折射率波动谱模拟海洋湍流相位,通过相位结构函数和补偿效果验证该方法生成相位屏的准确性。通过改变递进区域个数、补偿阶数和谐波次数,比较分析相位屏参数对改变对相位屏准确性的影响。此外,将所提方法与N×N型采样方式次谐波法、改进的次谐波补偿法和改进的次谐波法进行比较。结果表明:递进式N×N型采样方式次谐波法只需谐波次数为11时,补偿效果即可达到0.9995,并且在准确度相同的情况下具有更快的模拟速度。

漳州市青少年排球运动员功能性动作筛查(FMS)特征分析——以漳州市少体校备战福建省第十七届运动会排球比赛为例

本文运用文献资料法、测试法、数理统计法、逻辑分析法等研究方法,对漳州市青少年男、女排球运动员进行功能性动作筛查(FMS),全面了解漳州市青少年男、女排球运动员身体运动功能特征和薄弱环节。结果显示:漳州市青少年男、女排球运动员的FMS水平不高,有接近一半(46.67%)的运动员存在发生运动损伤的风险;漳州市青少年男、女排球大部分运动员存在髋、膝和踝的灵活性不足、基础核心力量需要进一步巩固的问题,同时上下肢关节力量传导的动态平衡能力及肌肉神经传导的协调能力也应有所提高。