Relationship between nutritional therapy and beneficial bacteria ratio in severe disease

Objective:To evaluate relationship between changes in the beneficial bacteria in intensive care unit(ICU)patients and nutritional therapy type.Methods:Ten patients aged≥18 years admitted to the ICU between January and December 2020,were included.Good enteral nutrition was defined as early achievement of target calorie intake through enteral feeding.The ratio of beneficial bacteria at the first and second bowel movements after each patient’s admission was calculated and the patients were classified into the increase or decrease group.Among all patients,five each were in the increase and decrease groups.We investigated patient background,changes in sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation(APACHE)Ⅱscores,nutritional doses or methods,and clinical outcomes.Results:No relationship was found between changes in the ratio of beneficial bacteria and changes in SOFA/APACHEⅡscores at the time of admission.The rate of good enteral nutrition was significantly higher in the increase group than in the decrease group(4/5 vs.0/5,P=0.01).Conclusions:An increase in beneficial bacteria may be significantly related to the early establishment of enteral nutrition.In the future,accumulating cases may make it possible to establish a new nutritional strategy for critically ill patients from an intestinal microbiota perspective.

Recovery of metals and other beneficial products from coal fly ash： a sustainable approach for fly ash management

Increasing production and disposal of coal fly ash （CFA） is a matter of serious environment concern. However, CFA contains various beneficial metals and mineral matters whose demand is increasing in the industrialized world, while natural supplies are diminishing. Therefore, recovery of these potential resources from CFA can be an alternative way to save mineral resources, as well as to reduce the environmental burden of CFA disposal. There are numerous methods developed for the recovery of beneficial products from CFA. Based on the US patents and journal literatures, the present review describes the recovery status and technologies of major elements such as Al, Si, Fe and Ti, and trace elements such as V, Ga, Ge, Se, Li, Mo, U, Au, Ag, Pt groups and rare earth elements （REEs） and other beneficial products such as magnetic materials, cenospheres, and unburned carbon from CFA. It also highlights the recovery efficiency and drawbacks for their extraction, and suggests future research to develop satisfactory results in terms of selective recovery and purification.

Responses of Bruguiera sexangula propagules to beneficial microbes in the nursery

Bruguiera sexangula （Lout） Poir., a threatened mangrove tree, was inoculated with beneficial microbes in a nursery to assess any improvements in growth and bio- mass. From soil samples from the rhizosphere of B. sexangula in a mangrove forest in Panangadu of Kerala India, nitrogen-fixing bacteria Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum brasilense were isolated. The phosphatesolubilising bacterium Bacillus megaterium and potassiummobilizing bacteria Frateruria aurantia were also isolated and cultured on suitable media. Later, ripe propagules of B. sexangula were collected from matured trees and raised in sterilized soil bags （13 × 25 cm） containing sterilized soil and sand （2：1 ratio）. The cultured beneficial microbes were propagated and used to inoculate the ripe propagules of B. sexangula and maintained in the nursery for 6 months. After 6 months, growth and biomass of the inoculated propagules were greater than for the uninoculated control propagules. Shoot length, number of leaves, stem girth and root length were also significantly greater than in the controls. This study showed that the mangrove-specific beneficial microbes influenced the growth of B. sexangula

Diversity of cultivable endophytic bacteria associated with halophytes in Xinjiang of China and their plant beneficial traits

Endophytic bacteria from halophytes have a wide range of application prospects in various fields,such as plant growth-promoting,biocontrol activity and stress resistance.The current study aimed to identify cultivable endophytic bacteria associated with halophytes grown in the salt-affected soil in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China and to evaluate their plant beneficial traits and enzyme-producing activity.Endophytic bacteria were isolated from Reaumuria soongorica(PalL Maxim.),Artemisia carvifolia(Buch.-Ham.ex Roxb.Hort.Beng.),Peganum harmala L.and Suaeda dendroides(C.A.Mey.Moq.)by using the cultural-dependent method.Then we classified these bacteria based on the difference between their sequences of 16S rRNA(16S ribosomal RNA)gene.Results showed that the isolated bacteria from R.soongorica belonged to the genera Brucella,Bacillus and Variovorax.The bacteria from A.carvifolia belonged to the genera Micromonospora and Brucella.The bacteria from P.harmala belonged to the genera Paramesorhizobium,Bacillus and Peribacillus.The bacteria from S.dendroides belonged to the genus Bacillus.Notably,the genus Bacillus was detected in the three above plants,indicating that Bacillus is a common taxon of endophytic bacteria in halophytes.And,our results found that about 37.50%of the tested strains showed strong protease-producing activity,6.25%of the tested strains showed strong cellulase-producing activity and 12.50%of the tested strains showed moderate lipase-producing activity.Besides,all isolated strains were positive for IAA(3-Indoleacetic acid)production,31.25%of isolated strains exhibited a moderate phosphate solubilization activity and 50.00%of isolated strains exhibited a weak siderophore production activity.Our findings suggest that halophytes are valuable resources for identifying microbes with the ability to increase host plant growth and health in salt-affected soils.

Naringin as a beneficial natural product against degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic projection in the adult brain

The progressive degeneration of nigral dopaminergic（DA）neurons and the biochemical reduction of striatal dopamine levels are associated with major clinical symptoms,including tremor at rest,rigidity of the limbs,slowness and paucity of voluntary movement（bradykinesia）.

Beneficial roles silicon plays in agriculture

Silicon（Si）,asecondmostabundantelementinsoil,is nonessential but beneficial for higher plants.Silicon addition can result in improved plant growth, yield and quality.Indeed, application of Si fertilizer is a rather common agricultural practice in many countries and regions, especially in Southeast Asian countries.

Endophytic bacteria associated with halophyte Seidlitzia rosmarinus Ehrenb.ex Boiss.from saline soil of Uzbekistan and their plant beneficial traits

Endophytic bacteria of halophytic plants play essential roles in salt stress tolerance.Therefore,an understanding of the true nature of plant-microbe interactions under extreme conditions is essential.The current study aimed to identify cultivable endophytic bacteria associated with the roots and shoots of Seidlitzia rosmarinus Ehrenb.ex Boiss.grown in the salt-affected soil in Uzbekistan and to evaluate their plant beneficial traits related to plant growth stimulation and stress tolerance.Bacteria were isolated from the roots and the shoots of S.rosmarinus using culture-dependent techniques and identified by the 16S rRNA gene.RFLP(Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism)analysis was conducted to eliminate similar isolates.Results showed that the isolates from the roots of S.rosmarinus belonged to the genera Rothia,Kocuria,Pseudomonas,Staphylococcus,Paenibacillus and Brevibacterium.The bacterial isolates from the shoots of S.rosmarinus belonged to the genera Staphylococcus,Rothia,Stenotrophomonas,Brevibacterium,Halomonas,Planococcus,Planomicrobium and Pseudomonas,which differed from those of the roots.Notably,Staphylococcus,Rothia and Brevibacterium were detected in both roots and shoots,indicating possible migration of some species from roots to shoots.The root-associated bacteria showed higher levels of IAA(indole-3-acetic acid)synthesis compared with those isolated from the shoots,as well as the higher production of ACC(1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate)deaminase.Our findings suggest that halophytic plants are valuable sources for the selection of microbes with a potential to improve plant fitness under saline soils.

Ingredients from integral valorization of Isabel grape to formulate goat yogurt with stimulatory effects on probiotics and beneficial impacts on human colonic microbiota in vitro

Isabel grape(IG)products have high contents of phenolic compounds and fiber recognized for their positive impacts on microorganisms associated with health benefits to host.This study evaluated the effects of goat yogurts formulated with ingredients from IG integral valorization on the growth and metabolism of different probiotic strains,as well as on the population of selected bacterial groups and metabolic activity of human colonic microbiota in vitro.Goat yogurts with IG ingredients(IGI)stimulated the growth of tested Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium probiotic strains during a 48-h cultivation,as well as decreased the pH values and enhanced the organic acid production.Goat yogurts with IGI increased the population of Lactobacillus spp.and Bifidobacterium spp.during a 24-h in vitro colonic fermentation.A stable Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio close to 1 was found in media with goat yogurt formulations during the colonic fermentation,being similar to the effect caused by fructooligosaccharides.Goat yogurt formulations with IGI caused increased production of short-chain fatty acids and sugar consumption during colonic fermentation.Goat yogurts with IGI should be a valuable strategy for development of novel added-value foods with beneficial effects on gut microbiota and human health.

Effects of Crop Rotation and Microbial Fertilizer on Nutrient Absorption and Beneficial Bacterium Abundance in Rhizosphere of Continuous Cropped Eggplant

Rotation is a method to effectively regulate the soil microbial community structure and alleviate the obstacles of continuous planting of eggplant in facilities.High-throughput sequencing technology was used to study the change of beneficial bacteria diversity and structure at the first fruit stage of continuous eggplant rhizosphere soil affected by rotation combined with Bacillus subtilis fertilizer.The result showed that beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere soil samples of eggplant at the phylum classification level included Actinobacteria,Chloroflexi,Acidobacteria,Planctomycetes and Cyanobacteria.At the level of genus classification,the beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere soil samples of eggplant were Bacillus,Arthrobacter,Sphingomonas and Streptomyces.The significantly differences were observed in the abundance of soil dominant bacteria and beneficial bacteria at phylum level and genus classification among different treatments.At the phylum level,compared with CK treatment,the relative abundances of Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria in BB treatment were increased by 34.4%and 20.2%,respectively.At the level of genus classification,the beneficial bacterial Arthrobacter abundance in BB treatment was 1.44 times than that of CK treatment and was significantly higher than that in CF treatment.Moreover,the total uptake of N,P and K by eggplants in BB treatment and BFN treatment were 1.68 and 1.35 times than those of CK treatment,respectively.The above results showed that the combined treatment of microbial fertilizer and rotation could increased the soil bacterial community diversity and the abundance of beneficial bacteria in the first fruit stage of eggplant,which indeed enhanced the absorption of N,P and K by continuous eggplant plants,thereby alleviating the obstacles of continuous cropping of eggplant.

Beneficial Regulatory Effects of Sesamin on Intestinal Flora of Mice

The effects of sesamin on intestinal microflora of mice with normal diet were studied by in vitro animal feces anaerobic culture system.The results showed that treatment with sesamin could significantly change the intestinal flora structure of mice,increasing the abundance of probiotics Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria Enterococcus.High-throughput sequencing analysis showed that sesamin could affect the structure and composition of fecal microflora of mice,and the abundance of probiotics such as Bacillus and Bifidobacterium increased.Sesamin also could increase the expression of tight contiguous protein Occludin and Claudin-1 in colonic tissue of mice,which was benefit to the adhesion of probiotics.In conclusion,sesamin intervention could improve the composition and abundance of intestinal microorganisms in mice with normal diet,which had a beneficial regulatory effect on the intestinal health.

Chinese herbal medicines with beneficial effects

Among the vast resources of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)herbal species,only a handful of Chinese herbs are growing in frigid regions or extreme environment but they have a unique property.The most recognizable TCM herb falling in this category is Panax ginseng,which is widely considered the representative tonic herb with oceans of beneficial effects on human health.In this article,we will introduce several typical Chinese herbal medicines with beneficial effects aiming to arouse broader attention from the scientific community to expand the exploration and exploitation on this for their potential applications to meet the increasingly demanding medical needs.

The Game between FDI and the Beneficial Policies of Host Country

Foreign direct investment （FDI） has great function to the growth of the economy in various countries. The beneficial policies of the foreign capitals are the main means to various countries to absorb FDI. Utilizing this means appropriately and designing beneficial policies, which can make the host country get the maximized revenue of utilizing FDI, are the key to absorb FDI effectively. In this paper, we set up a game model between the level of the host country＇s beneficial policies and the scale of FDI, and analyze what the key factors that influence the level of host country＇s beneficial policies are and how to decide the level of beneficial policies according to these key factors.

Soil bacterial and fungal communities resilience to long-term nitrogen addition in subtropical forests in China

Atmospheric nitrogen(N)deposition is predicted to increase,especially in the subtropics.However,the responses of soil microorganisms to long-term N addition at the molecular level in N-rich subtropical forests have not been clarified.A long-term nutrient addition experiment was conducted in a subtropical evergreen old-growth forest in China.The four treatments were:control,low N(50 kg N ha^(-1)a^(-1)),high N(100 kg N ha^(-1)a^(-1)),and combined N and phosphorus(P)(100 kg N ha^(-1)a^(-1)+50 kg P ha^(-1)a^(-1)).Metagenomic sequencing characterized diversity and composition of soil microbial communities and used to construct bacterial/fungal co-occurrence networks.Nutrient-treated soils were more acidic and had higher levels of dissolved organic carbon than controls.There were no significant differences in microbial diversity and community composition across treatments.The addition of nutrients increased the abundance of copiotrophic bacteria and potentially beneficial microorganisms(e.g.,Gemmatimonadetes,Chaetomium,and Aureobasidium).Low N addition increased microbiome network connectivity.Three rare fungi were identified as module hubs under nutrient addition,indicating that low abundance fungi were more sensitive to increased nutrients.The results indicate that the overall composition of microbial communities was stable but not static to long-term N addition.Our findings provide new insights that can aid predictions of the response of soil microbial communities to long-term N addition.

Validating the use of ROS-scavenging bacteria as probiotics to increase coral resilience to thermal stress

Thermal stress causes the overproduction and toxic accumulation of reactive oxygen species(ROS),which seems to be correlated with coral bleaching and,ultimately,death.The reduction of ROS concentration within the coral holobiont could minimize the effects of thermal stress and support efforts to reduce coral decline globally.In the current study,we explored the physiological responses of Pocillopora damicornis to ROS-scavenging bacteria inoculation as well as the microbiome restructuring that correlates with P.damicornis’s resilience to thermal stress after probiotic inoculation.Inoculation of corals with ROS-scavenging bacteria enhanced coral health and reduced ROS concentration.Furthermore,the enhanced coral thermal resistance promoted by ROS-scavenging bacteria was also correlated with an overall coral microbiome restructuring.In addition,the complex network relationships between bacteria and Symbiodiniaceae in corals after ROS-scavenging bacteria inoculation contributed to corals’resilience to high temperatures.Besides,coral heat tolerance bacterial biomarkers,such as Myxococcota,were enriched in corals with added ROS-scavenging bacteria.Collectively,our findings validate the selected ROS-scavenging bacteria as coral probiotics that could help corals resist thermal stress on a short timescale.Additionally,our data contribute to our understanding of the potential interactions between different members of the coral holobiont and the use of probiotics as tools to aid coral restoration efforts.

The effect of abiotic stresses on plant C:N:P homeostasis and their mitigation by silicon

In crop plants, various environmental stresses affect the balance of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus(C:N:P), leading to biochemical and physiological alterations and reductions in yield. Silicon(Si) is a beneficial element that alleviates plant stress. Most studies involving silicon have focused on physiological responses, such as improvements in photosynthetic processes, water use efficiency, and antioxidant defense systems. But recent research suggests that stressed plants facing either limited or excessive resources(water, light, nutrients, and toxic elements), strategically employ Si to maintain C:N:P homeostasis, thereby minimizing biomass losses. Understanding the role of Si in mitigating the impact of abiotic stresses on plants by regulating C:N:P homeostasis holds great potential for advancing sustainable agricultural practices in crop production. This review presents recent advances in characterizing the influence of environmental stresses on C:N:P homeostasis, as well as the role of Si in preserving C:N:P equilibrium and attenuating biological damage associated with abiotic stress. It underscores the beneficial effects of Si in sustaining C:N:P homeostasis and increasing yield via improved nutritional efficiency and stress mitigation.

Enhancing sustainability in phosphate ore processing:Performance of frying oil as alternative flotation collector for carbonate removal

Recycling waste frying oils for the synthesis of flotation reagents presents a promising avenue for sustainable waste management.Moreover,it offers a cost-effective solution for crafting a specialized collector designed to efficiently remove carbonates and enhance phosphate enrichment in froth flotation processes.This study focuses on the synthesis of an anionic collector using the saponification reaction of a frying oil sample,subsequently applied to the flotation of calcite and dolomite.To elucidate the adsorption mechanisms of the frying oil collector(FrOC)and sodium oleate,a reference collector,on fluorapatite,calcite,dolomite,and quartz surfaces,comprehensive experiments were conducted,including zeta potential measurements and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.Results revealed diverse adsorption affinities of the molecules towards these minerals.To assess the practical performance of the collector,flotation tests were conducted using a natural phosphate ore mixture,employing a BoxBehnken experimental design.Notably,under optimized conditions(pH 9,1000 g/t of FrOC,3.5 min of conditioning,and 6 min of flotation),FrOC exhibited excellent performance,with calcite and dolomite recoveries exceeding 80%,while apatite recovery in the concentrate fraction remained below 10%.This work exemplifies both circular economy practices and the distinctive approach to sustainable mineral processing.

Offshore high-grade limemud resources of west coast of India:Economic potential and industrial applications

Limestone is one of the essential raw materials in the cement,paint,steel,ceramic,glass,chemical,pharmaceutical,paper,and fertilizer industries.In India,only 8%of the limestone resources are placed under the reserve category,of which 97%is of cement grade.Thus,India depends on imports to bridge the demand‐supply gap of steel,blast furnace,and chemical‐grade limestone.Efforts of Geological Survey of India(GSI)to locate alternate sources for limestone led to the discovery of enormous quantities of carbonate minerals called limemud from the continental shelf margin of the west coast of India.GSI carried out systematic studies to explore the nature of the disposition,quality,quantity,and suitability of the offshore limemud for various industrial applications.A preliminary estimate of resources using high‐resolution subbottom profiling and sediment core sample studies established the occurrence of more than 172 billion tonnes of high‐grade(The content of CaCO3 is greater than 80 wt%)limemud in 0.4–28.0m thick stratified sediment layers spread over an area of 18000 km2.Chemical,physical,mineralogical,beneficiation,and agglomeration studies found the offshore limemud as a potential replacement for limestone in the cement,filler,blast furnace,steel melting shop,lime production,paint,and Grade‐I steel industries.An assessment of mining and transportation costs indicates that the offshore limemud(USD 5–6/ton)is more cost‐effective than that imported from other countries(USD16‐18/ton).With several advantageous factors like low impurity,mode of occurrence in overburden‐free stratified form,fine‐grained slurry nature,and shallow water depth,sustainable mining of offshore limemud could be a future reality with controllable technological,economic,and environmental challenges.

Backwash Effects of Language Testing in EFL Classrooms

The article presents some major researches concerning the concept of backwash effect of language testing; analyses both the positive and negative effects and their implications in EFL classrooms; then provides some suggested ways to be followed when creating positive backwash effects on teaching and learning.