Supplementing the early diet of broilers with soy protein concentrate can improve intestinal development and enhance short-chain fatty acid-producing microbes and short-chain fatty acids,especially butyric acid

Background:Research on nutrition in early-life commonly focuses on the maturation of the intestine because the intestinal system is crucial for ensuring continued growth.To explore the importance of early nutrition regulation in animals,soy protein concentrate(SPC)was added to the early diet of broilers to investigate its effects on amino acid digestibility,intestinal development,especially intestinal microorganisms,and broiler metabolites.A total of 192 oneday-old Arbor Acres(AA)male broilers were randomly assigned to two experimental treatments with 8 replicates of 12 birds.The control group was fed a basal diet(control),and the treatment group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 12%SPC(SPC12)during the first 10 d(starter phase).From d 11 to 21(grower phase)and d 22 to 42(finisher phase),a basal diet was fed to both treatment groups.Results:SPC reduced the pH value and acid-binding capacity of the starter diet(P<0.05,d 10);SPC in the early diet enhanced the gizzard weight(P<0.05,d 10 and d 42)and the ileum weight(P<0.05,d 10)and decreased the weight and length of the jejunum(P<0.05,d 10)and the relative length of the duodenum and jejunum(P<0.05,d 10).At the same time,SPC enhanced villus height(P<0.05,d 10)and muscle thickness in the jejunum and ileum(P<0.05,d 10)and increased the number of goblet cells in the duodenum(P<0.05,d 10).Meanwhile,SPC increased the Chao1 index and the ACE index(P<0.05,d 10)and altered the composition of caecal microflora at d 10.SPC also increased the relative abundance of Alistipes,Anaerotruncus,Erysipelatoclostridium,Intestinimonas and Flavonifractor bacteria(P<0.05,d 10).At the same time,the concentrations of caecal butyric acid and total short-chain fatty acids(SCFAs)were also increased in the SPC12 group(P<0.05,d 10).Conclusions:In summary,the results showed that supplementing the starter diet of broilers with SPC has a significant effect on the early development of the intestine and the microflora.

Effects of inoculating feruloyl esterase-producing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum A1 on ensiling characteristics,in vitro ruminal fermentation and microbiota of alfalfa silage

Background Ferulic acid esterase(FAE)-secreting Lactiplantibacillus plantarum A1(Lp A1)is a promising silage inoculant due to the FAE’s ability to alter the plant cell wall structure during ensiling,an action that is expected to improve forage digestibility.However,little is known regarding the impacts of Lp A1 on rumen microbiota.Our research assessed the influences of Lp A1 in comparison to a widely adopted commercial inoculant Lp MTD/1 on alfalfa’s ensilage,in vitro rumen incubation and microbiota.Results Samples of fresh and ensiled alfalfa treated with(either Lp A1 or Lp MTD/1)or without additives(as control;CON)and ensiled for 30,60 and 90 d were used for fermentation quality,in vitro digestibility and batch culture study.Inoculants treated silage had lower(P<0.001)pH,acetic acid concentration and dry matter(DM)loss,but higher(P=0.001)lactic acid concentration than the CON during ensiling.Compared to the CON and Lp MTD/1,silage treated with Lp A1 had lower(P<0.001)aNDF,ADF,ADL,hemicellulose,and cellulose contents and higher(P<0.001)free ferulic acid concentration.Compared silage treated with Lp MTD/1,silage treated with Lp A1 had significantly(P<0.01)improved ruminal gas production and digestibility,which were equivalent to those of fresh alfalfa.Realtime PCR analysis indicated that Lp A1 inoculation improved the relative abundances of rumen’s total bacteria,fungi,Ruminococcus albus and Ruminococcus flavefaciens,while the relative abundance of methanogens was reduced by Lp MTD/1 compared with CON.Principal component analysis of rumen bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons showed a clear distinction between CON and inoculated treatments without noticeable distinction between Lp A1 and Lp MTD/1 treatments.Comparison analysis revealed differences in the relative abundance of some bacteria in different taxa between Lp A1 and Lp MTD/1 treatments.Silage treated with Lp A1 exhibited improved rumen fermentation characteristics due to the inoculant effects on the rumen microbial populations and bacterial community.Conclusions Our findings suggest that silage inoculation of the FAE-producing Lp A1 could be effective in improving silage quality and digestibility,and modulating the rumen fermentation to improve feed utilization.

Co-Production of High-Grade Dissolving Pulp,Furfural,and Lignin from Eucalyptus via Extremely Low Acid Pretreatment and Pulping Technologies and Catalysis

Hemicellulose and lignin are not reasonably utilized during the dissolved pulp preparation process.This work aimed to propose a process for the co-production of dissolving pulp,furfural,and lignin from eucalyptus.High-grade dissolving pulp was prepared from eucalyptus using a combination of extremely low acid(ELA)pretreatment,Kraft cooking,and elementary chlorine-free(ECF)bleaching.The obtained pre-hydrolysate was catalytic conversion into furfural in a biphasic system,and lignin during Kraft cooking and ECF was recovered.The process condition was discussed as well as the mass flow direction.The results showed that ELA pretreatment could effectively remove 80.1%hemicellulose.Compared with traditional hydrothermal pretreatment,the ELA pretreatment significantly increased the xylose yield from 5.05 to 14.18 g/L at 170℃ for 2 h,which had practical significance for furfural production.The 82.7%furfural yield and 82.9%furfural selectivity were obtained from xylose-rich pre-hydrolysate using NaCl as a phase modifier in a biphasic system with 4-methyl-2-pentanone(MIBK)as an organic phase by ion exchange resin catalysts at 190℃ for 2 h.Subsequently,the pretreated eucalyptus was subjected to Kraft cooking,and the optimal alkali amount was 14%.Then,the Kraft pulp was bleached using the O-D1-EP-D_(2) sequence,and dissolving pulp was obtained with an ISO brightness of 86.0%,viscosity of 463 mL/g,andα-cellulose content of 95.4%.The Kraft lignin which has a potential application was investigated by 2D-HSQC NMR and 31P NMR.The results showed that the S/G ratio of Kraft lignin was 1.93,and the content of phenolic hydroxyl groups was 2.53 mmol/g.Moreover,based on the above proposed process,30.5 g dissolving pulp,5.5 g furfural,and 21.2 g lignin per 100 g eucalyptus chips(oven dry)were produced.This research will provide new catalysis and pulping technical routes for dissolving pulp,furfural,and Kraft lignin products,which are in great demand in the chemical industry.

Influence of lactic acid bacteria, cellulase, cellulase-producing Bacillus pumilus and their combinations on alfalfa silage quality

This study assessed the effects of lactic acid bacteria(LAB), cellulase, cellulase-producing Bacillus pumilus and their combinations on the fermentation characteristics, chemical composition, bacterial community and in vitro digestibility of alfalfa silage. A completely randomized design involving a 8(silage additives)×3 or 2(silage days) factorial arrangement of treatments was adopted in the present study. The 8 silage additive treatments were: untreated alfalfa(control); two commercial additives(GFJ and Chikuso-1); an originally selected LAB(Lactobacillus plantarum a214) isolated from alfalfa silage; a cellulase-producing Bacillus(CB) isolated from fresh alfalfa; cellulase(C); and the combined additives(a214+C and a214+CB). Silage fermentation characteristics, chemical composition and microorganism populations were analysed after 30, 60 and 65 days(60 days followed by exposure to air for five additional days). In vitro digestibility was analysed for 30 and 60 days. Compared with the other treatments, selected LAB a214, a214 combined with either C or CB, and Chikuso-1 had the decreased(P<0.001) pH and increased(P<0.001) lactic acid concentrations during the ensiling process, and there were no differences(P>0.05) among them. Fiber degradation was not significant(P≥0.054) in any C or CB treatments. The a214 treatment showed the highest(P=0.009) in vitro digestibility of dry matter(595.0 g kg–1DM) after ensiling and the highest abundance of Lactobacillus(69.42 and 79.81%, respectively) on days 60 and 65, compared to all of other treatments. Overall, the silage quality of alfalfa was improved with the addition of a214, which indicates its potential as an alfalfa silage inoculant.

Bile acid increases expression of the histamine-producing enzyme,histidine decarboxylase,in gastric cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of bile acid on the expression of histidine decarboxylase (HDC), which is a major enzyme involved in histamine production, and gene expression of gastric transcription factors upon cooperative activation.

Selective leaching of lithium from spent lithium-ion batteries using sulfuric acid and oxalic acid

Traditional hydrometallurgical methods for recovering spent lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)involve acid leaching to simultaneously extract all valuable metals into the leachate.These methods usually are followed by a series of separation steps such as precipitation,extraction,and stripping to separate the individual valuable metals.In this study,we present a process for selectively leaching lithium through the synergistic effect of sulfuric and oxalic acids.Under optimal leaching conditions(leaching time of 1.5 h,leaching temperature of 70°C,liquid-solid ratio of 4 mL/g,oxalic acid ratio of 1.3,and sulfuric acid ratio of 1.3),the lithium leaching efficiency reached89.6%,and the leaching efficiencies of Ni,Co,and Mn were 12.8%,6.5%,and 21.7%.X-ray diffraction(XRD)and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer(ICP-OES)analyses showed that most of the Ni,Co,and Mn in the raw material remained as solid residue oxides and oxalates.This study offers a new approach to enriching the relevant theory for selectively recovering lithium from spent LIBs.

Recovery of Li, Ni, Co and Mn from spent lithium-ion batteries assisted by organic acids: Process optimization and leaching mechanism

The proper recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)can promote the recovery and utilization of valuable resources,while also negative environmental effects resulting from the presence of toxic and hazardous substances.In this study,a new environmentally friendly hydro-metallurgical process was proposed for leaching lithium(Li),nickel(Ni),cobalt(Co),and manganese(Mn)from spent LIBs using sulfuric acid with citric acid as a reductant.The effects of the concentration of sulfuric acid,the leaching temperature,the leaching time,the solid-liquid ratio,and the reducing agent dosage on the leaching behavior of the above elements were investigated.Key parameters were optimized using response surface methodology(RSM)to maximize the recovery of metals from spent LIBs.The maxim-um recovery efficiencies of Li,Ni,Co,and Mn can reach 99.08%,98.76%,98.33%,and 97.63%.under the optimized conditions(the sulfuric acid concentration was 1.16 mol/L,the citric acid dosage was 15wt%,the solid-liquid ratio was 40 g/L,and the temperature was 83℃ for 120 min),respectively.It was found that in the collaborative leaching process of sulfuric acid and citric acid,the citric acid initially provided strong reducing CO_(2)^(-),and the transition metal ions in the high state underwent a reduction reaction to produce transition metal ions in the low state.Additionally,citric acid can also act as a proton donor and chelate with lower-priced transition metal ions,thus speeding up the dissolution process.

Enabling heterogeneous catalysis to achieve carbon neutrality: Directional catalytic conversion of CO_(2) into carboxylic acids

The increase in anthropogenic carbon dioxide(CO_(2))emissions has exacerbated the deterioration of the global environment,which should be controlled to achieve carbon neutrality.Central to the core goal of achieving carbon neutrality is the utilization of CO_(2) under economic and sustainable conditions.Recently,the strong need for carbon neutrality has led to a proliferation of studies on the direct conversion of CO_(2) into carboxylic acids,which can effectively alleviate CO_(2) emissions and create high-value chemicals.The purpose of this review is to present the application prospects of carboxylic acids and the basic principles of CO_(2) conversion into carboxylic acids through photo-,electric-,and thermal catalysis.Special attention is focused on the regulation strategy of the activity of abundant catalysts at the molecular level,inspiring the preparation of high-performance catalysts.In addition,theoretical calculations,advanced technologies,and numerous typical examples are introduced to elaborate on the corresponding process and influencing factors of catalytic activity.Finally,challenges and prospects are provided for the future development of this field.It is hoped that this review will contribute to a deeper understanding of the conversion of CO_(2) into carboxylic acids and inspire more innovative breakthroughs.

Endogenous biosynthesis of docosahexaenoic acid(DHA)regulates fish oocyte maturation by promoting pregnenolone production

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids(n-3 PUFAs),particularly docosahexaenoic acid(22:6n-3,DHA),play crucial roles in the reproductive health of vertebrates,including humans.Nevertheless,the underlying mechanism related to this phenomenon remains largely unknown.In this study,we employed two zebrafish genetic models,i.e.,elovl2^(-/-)mutant as an endogenous DHAdeficient model and fat1(omega-3 desaturase encoding gene)transgenic zebrafish as an endogenous DHA-rich model,to investigate the effects of DHA on oocyte maturation and quality.Results show that the elovl2^(-/-)mutants had much lower fecundity and poorer oocyte quality than the wild-type controls,while the fat1 zebrafish had higher fecundity and better oocyte quality than wildtype controls.DHA deficiency in elovl2^(-/-)embryos led to defects in egg activation,poor microtubule stability,and reduced pregnenolone levels.Further study revealed that DHA promoted pregnenolone synthesis by enhancing transcription of cyp11a1,which encodes the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme,thereby stabilizing microtubule assembly during oogenesis.In turn,the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis was enhanced by DHA.In conclusion,using two unique genetic models,our findings demonstrate that endogenously synthesized DHA promotes oocyte maturation and quality by promoting pregnenolone production via transcriptional regulation of cyp11a1.

A comparison study on structure-function relationship of polysaccharides obtained from sea buckthorn berries using different methods:antioxidant and bile acid-binding capacity

In this study,the structural characters,antioxidant activities and bile acid-binding ability of sea buckthorn polysaccharides(HRPs)obtained by the commonly used hot water(HRP-W),pressurized hot water(HRP-H),ultrasonic(HRP-U),acid(HRP-C)and alkali(HRP-A)assisted extraction methods were investigated.The results demonstrated that extraction methods had significant effects on extraction yield,monosaccharide composition,molecular weight,particle size,triple-helical structure,and surface morphology of HRPs except for the major linkage bands.Thermogravimetric analysis showed that HRP-U with filamentous reticular microstructure exhibited better thermal stability.The HRP-A with the lowest molecular weight and highest arabinose content possessed the best antioxidant activities.Moreover,the rheological analysis indicated that HRPs with higher galacturonic acid content and molecular weight showed higher viscosity and stronger crosslinking network(HRP-C,HRP-W and HRP-U),which exhibited stronger bile acid binding capacity.The present findings provide scientific evidence in the preparation technology of sea buckthorn polysaccharides with good antioxidant and bile acid binding capacity which are related to the structure affected by the extraction methods.

Abiotic stress treatment reveals expansin like A gene OfEXLA1 improving salt and drought tolerance of Osmanthus fragrans by responding to abscisic acid

Sweet osmanthus(Osmanthus fragrans) is a having general approval aromatic tree in China that is widely applied to landscaping and gardening. However, the evergreen tree adaptability is limited by many environmental stresses. Currently, limited information is available regarding the genetic analysis and functional identification of expansin genes in response to abiotic stress in sweet osmanthus. In this study, a total of 29 expansin genes were identified and divided into four groups by genome-wide analysis from the sweet osmanthus genome. Transcriptome and quantitative Real-time PCR analysis showed that the cell wall-localized protein expansin-like A(OfEXLA1) gene was significantly induced by salt and drought treatment. Histochemical GUS staining of transgenic Arabidopsis lines in which GUS activity was driven with the OfEXLA1 promoter, GUS activity was significantly induced by salt, drought, and exogenous abscisic acid(ABA). In yeast, we found OfEXLA1overexpression significantly improved the population of cells compared with wild-type strains after NaCl and polyethylene glycol(PEG)treatment. Additionally, OfEXLA1 overexpression not only promoted plant growth, but also improved the salt and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis. To gain insight into the role of ABA signaling in the regulation of OfEXLA1 improving abiotic tolerance in sweet osmanthus, four differentially expressed ABA Insensitive 5(ABI5)-like genes(OfABL4, OfABL5, OfABL7, and OfABL8) were identified from transcriptome, and dualluciferase(dual-LUC) and yeast one hybrid(Y1H) assay showed that OfABL4 and OfABL5 might bind to OfEXLA1 promoter to accumulate the OfEXLA1 expression by responding to ABA signaling to improve abiotic tolerance in sweet osmanthus. These results provide the information for understanding the molecular functions of expansin-like A gene and molecular breeding of sweet osmanthus in future.

Dietary supplementation of benzoic acid and essential oils combination enhances intestinal resilience against LPS stimulation in weaned piglets

Background The benefits of combining benzoic acid and essential oils(BAO)to mitigate intestinal impairment during the weaning process have been well established,while the detailed underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated.Previous research has primarily focused on the reparative effects of BAO on intestinal injury,while neglecting its potential in enhancing intestinal stress resistance.Methods In this study,we investigated the pre-protective effect of BAO against LPS-induced stress using a modified experimental procedure.Piglets were pre-supplemented with BAO for 14 d,followed by a challenge with LPS or saline to collect blood and intestinal samples.Results Our findings demonstrated that BAO supplementation led to significant improvements in piglets’final weight,average daily gain,and feed intake/body gain ratio.Additionally,BAO supplementation positively influenced the composition of intestinal microbiota,increasing beneficial Actinobacteriota and Alloprevotella while reducing harmful Desulfobacterota,Prevotella and Oscillospira.Furthermore,BAO supplementation effectively mitigated oxidative disturbances and inflammatory responses induced by acute LPS challenge.This was evidenced by elevated levels of T-AOC,SOD,and GSH,as well as decreased levels of MDA,TNF-α,and IL-6 in the plasma.Moreover,piglets subjected to LPS challenge and pre-supplemented with BAO exhibited significant improvements in intestinal morphological structure and enhanced integrity,as indicated by restored expression levels of Occludin and Claudin-1 compared to the non-supplemented counterparts.Further analysis revealed that BAO supplementation enhanced the jejunal antioxidative capacity by increasing GSH-Px levels and decreasing MDA levels under the LPS challenge and stimulated the activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway.Additionally,the reduction of TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways activation and proinflammatory factor were also observed in the jejunal of those piglets fed with BAO.Conclusions In summary,our study demonstrates that pre-supplementation of BAO enhances the anti-stress capacity of weaned piglets by improving intestinal microbiota composition,reinforcing the intestinal barrier,and enhancing antioxidative and anti-inflammatory capabilities.These effects are closely associated with the activation of Nrf2 and TLR4/NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways.

Bile acids,gut microbiota,and therapeutic insights in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a prevalent and aggressive liver malignancy.The interplay between bile acids(BAs)and the gut microbiota has emerged as a critical factor in HCC development and progression.Under normal conditions,BA metabolism is tightly regulated through a bidirectional interplay between gut microorganisms and BAs.The gut microbiota plays a critical role in BA metabolism,and BAs are endogenous signaling molecules that help maintain liver and intestinal homeostasis.Of note,dysbiotic changes in the gut microbiota during pathogenesis and cancer development can disrupt BA homeostasis,thereby leading to liver inflammation and fibrosis,and ultimately contributing to HCC development.Therefore,understanding the intricate interplay between BAs and the gut microbiota is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms underlying hepatocarcinogenesis.In this review,we comprehensively explore the roles and functions of BA metabolism,with a focus on the interactions between BAs and gut microorganisms in HCC.Additionally,therapeutic strategies targeting BA metabolism and the gut microbiota are discussed,including the use of BA agonists/antagonists,probiotic/prebiotic and dietary interventions,fecal microbiota transplantation,and engineered bacteria.In summary,understanding the complex BA-microbiota crosstalk can provide valuable insights into HCC development and facilitate the development of innovative therapeutic approaches for liver malignancy.

Blood glucose-lowering activity of protocatechuic acid is mediated by inhibiting a-glucosidase

α-Glucosidase inhibitors are effective in controlling postprandial hyperglycemia,which play crucial roles in the management of type 2 diabetes.Protocatechuic acid(PCA)is one of phenolic acids existing not only in various plant foods but also as a major microbial metabolite of dietary anthocyanins in the large colon.The present study investigated the inhibitory mechanism of PCA on a-glucosidase in vitro and examined its effect on postprandial blood glucose levels in vivo.Results from in vitro experiments demonstrated that PCA was a mix-type inhibitor of a-glucosidase.Driven by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions,PCA reversibly bound withα-glucosidase to form a stable a-glucosidase-PCA complex in a spontaneous manner.The computational simulation found that PCA could insert into the active cavity of a-glucosidase and establish hydrogen bonds with catalytic amino acid residues.PCA binding aroused the steric hindrance for substrates to enter active sites and caused the structural changes of interacted catalytic amino acid residues.PCA also exhibited postprandial hypoglycemic capacity in diabetic mice.This study may provide the theoretical basis for the application of PCA as an active ingredient of functional foods in dietary management of diabetes.

Shikimic acid accelerates phase change and flowering in Chinese jujube

The juvenile-to-adult phase change with first flowering as the indicator plays a crucial role in the lifecycle of fruit trees. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying phase change in fruit trees remain largely unknown. Shikimic acid (ShA) pathway is a main metabolic pathway closely related to the synthesis of hormones and many important secondary metabolites participating in plant phase change. So,whether ShA regulates phase change in plants is worth clarifying. Here, the distinct morphological characteristics and the underlying mechanisms of phase change in jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), an important fruit tree native to China with nutritious fruit and outstanding tolerance abiotic stresses, were clarified. A combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis found that ShA is positively involved in jujube(Yuhong’×Xing 16’) phase change. The genes in the upstream of ShA synthesis pathway (ZjDAHPS, ZjDHQS and ZjSDH), the contents of ShA and the downstream secondary metabolites like phenols were significantly upregulated in the phase change period. Further, the treatment of spraying exogenous ShA verified that ShA at a very low concentration (60 mg·L^(-1)) can substantially speed up the phase change and flowering of jujube and other tested plants including Arabidopsis, tomato and wheat. The exogenous ShA (60 mg·L^(-1)) treatment in jujube seedlings could increase the accumulation of endogenous ShA, enhance leaf photosynthesis and the synthesis of phenols especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, and promote the expression of genes (ZjCOs, ZjNFYs and ZjPHYs) involved in flowering pathway. Basing on above results, we put forward a propose for the underlying mechanism of ShA regulating phase change, and a hypothesis that ShA could be considered a phytohormone-like substance because it is endogenous, ubiquitous, movable and highly efficient at very low concentrations. This study highlights the critical role of ShA in plant phase change and its phytohormone-like properties.

Gut microbiota induced abnormal amino acids and their correlation with diabetic retinopathy

AIM:To explore the correlation of gut microbiota and the metabolites with the progression of diabetic retinopathy(DR)and provide a novel strategy to elucidate the pathological mechanism of DR.METHODS:The fecal samples from 32 type 2 diabetes patients with proliferative retinopathy(PDR),23 with nonproliferative retinopathy(NPDR),27 without retinopathy(DM),and 29 from the sex-,age-and BMI-matched healthy controls(29 HC)were analyzed by 16S rDNA gene sequencing.Sixty fecal samples from PDR,DM,and HC groups were assayed by untargeted metabolomics.Fecal metabolites were measured using liquid chromatographymass spectrometry(LC-MS)analysis.Associations between gut microbiota and fecal metabolites were analyzed.RESULTS:A cluster of 2 microbiome and 12 metabolites accompanied with the severity of DR,and the close correlation of the disease progression with PDR-related microbiome and metabolites were found.To be specific,the structure of gut microbiota differed in four groups.Diversity and richness of gut microbiota were significantly lower in PDR and NPDR groups,than those in DM and HC groups.A cluster of microbiome enriched in PDR group,including Pseudomonas,Ruminococcaceae-UCG-002,Ruminococcaceae-UCG-005,Christensenellaceae-R-7,was observed.Functional analysis showed that the glucose and nicotinate degradations were significantly higher in PDR group than those in HC group.Arginine,serine,ornithine,and arachidonic acid were significantly enriched in PDR group,while proline was enriched in HC group.Functional analysis illustrated that arginine biosynthesis,lysine degradation,histidine catabolism,central carbon catabolism in cancer,D-arginine and D-ornithine catabolism were elevated in PDR group.Correlation analysis revealed that Ruminococcaceae-UCG-002 and Christensenellaceae-R-7 were positively associated with L-arginine,ornithine levels in fecal samples.CONCLUSION:This study elaborates the different microbiota structure in the gut from four groups.The relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae-UCG-002 and Parabacteroides are associated with the severity of DR.Amino acid and fatty acid catabolism is especially disordered in PDR group.This may help provide a novel diagnostic parameter for DR,especially PDR.

Elaidic acid leads to mitochondrial dysfunction via mitochondria-associated membranes triggers disruption of mitochondrial calcium fluxes

Elaidic acid(EA)stimulation can lead to endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS),accompanied by a large release of Ca^(2+),and ultimately the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in Kupffer cells(KCs).Mitochondrial instability or dysfunction may be the key stimulating factors to activate NLRP3 inflammasome,and sustained Ca^(2+)transfer can result in mitochondrial dysfunction.We focused on KCs to explore the damage to mitochondria by EA.After EA stimulation,cells produced an oxidative stress(OS)response with a significant increase in ROS release.Immunoprecipitation experiments and the addition of inhibitors revealed that the increase in the level of intracellular Ca^(2+)led to Ca^(2+)accumulation in the mitochondrial matrix via mitochondria-associated membranes(MAMs).This was accompanied by a significant release of m ROS,loss of MMP and ATP,and a significant increase in mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening,ultimately leading to mitochondrial instability.These findings confirmed the mechanism that EA induced mitochondrial Ca^(2+)imbalance in KCs via MAM,ultimately leading to mitochondrial dysfunction.Meanwhile,EA induced OS and the decrease of MMP and ATP in rat liver,and significant lesions were found in liver mitochondria.Swelling of the inner mitochondrial cristae and mitochondrial vacuolization occurred,with a marked increase in lipid droplets.

Tuning electronic structure of RuO_(2)by single atom Zn and oxygen vacancies to boost oxygen evolution reaction in acidic medium

The poor stability of RuO_(2)electrocatalysts has been the primary obstacles for their practical application in polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzers.To dramatically enhance the durability of RuO_(2)to construct activity-stability trade-off model is full of significance but challenging.Herein,a single atom Zn stabilized RuO_(2)with enriched oxygen vacancies(SA Zn-RuO_(2))is developed as a promising alternative to iridium oxide for acidic oxygen evolution reaction(OER).Compared with commercial RuO_(2),the enhanced Ru–O bond strength of SA Zn-RuO_(2)by forming Zn-O-Ru local structure motif is favorable to stabilize surface Ru,while the electrons transferred from Zn single atoms to adjacent Ru atoms protects the Ru active sites from overoxidation.Simultaneously,the optimized surrounding electronic structure of Ru sites in SA ZnRuO_(2)decreases the adsorption energies of OER intermediates to reduce the reaction barrier.As a result,the representative SA Zn-RuO_(2)exhibits a low overpotential of 210 mV to achieve 10 mA cm^(-2)and a greatly enhanced durability than commercial RuO_(2).This work provides a promising dual-engineering strategy by coupling single atom doping and vacancy for the tradeoff of high activity and catalytic stability toward acidic OER.

Effect of different drying methods on the amino acids,α-dicarbonyls and volatile compounds of rape bee pollen

The significant demand for high quality food has motivated us to adopt appropriate processing methods to improve the food nutritional quality and flavors.In this study,the effects of five drying methods,namely,pulsed vacuum drying(PVD),freeze drying(FD),infrared drying(IRD),hot-air drying(HAD)and sun drying(SD)on free amino acids(FAAs),α-dicarbonyl compounds(α-DCs)and volatile compounds(VOCs)in rape bee pollen(RBP)were determined.The results showed that FD significantly released the essential amino acids(EAAs)compared with fresh samples while SD caused the highest loss.Glucosone was the dominantα-DCs in RBP and the highest loss was observed after PVD.Aldehydes were the dominant volatiles of RBP and SD samples contained more new volatile substances(especially aldehydes)than the other four drying methods.Comprehensively,FD and PVD would be potential methods to effectively reduce the quality deterioration of RBP in the drying process.

The specificity of ten non-digestible carbohydrates to enhance butyrate-producing bacteria and butyrate production in vitro fermentation

Butyrate and butyrate-producing bacteria are important indicators of gut microbial metabolism in human health.Ten non-digestible carbohydrates(NDCs),including inulin,fructooligosaccharide(FOS),oatsβ-glucans(OGS),oatsβ-glucan oligosaccharides(OGOS),Astragalus polysaccharides(APS),Astragalus oligosaccharides(AOS),xanthan gum oligosaccharides(XGOS),gellan gum oligosaccharides(GGOS),curdlan oligosaccharides(COS),and pullulan oligosaccharides(POS)were used to investigate NDC specifi city in modulating butyrate-producing bacteria and butyrate production in 48 h in vitro fermentation studies in combination with fecal inocula from 7 healthy donors and 11 patients with type 2 diabetes(T2D).We observed that the amount of these ten NDCs utilized depended on NDC structure and inter-individual gut microbial differences.XGOS and GGOS fermentations signifi cantly increased butyrate-producing bacteria(especially f_Lachnospiraceae)and butyric acid production.Furthermore,XGOS and GGOS fermentations showed a better ability to consistently modulate gut microbiota composition and metabolic properties between individuals of healthy donors or T2D patients when compared to inulin,FOS,APS,AOS,OGS,OGOS,COS and POS fermentation.This research indicated that xanthan gum and gellan gum oligosaccharides have strong specifi city to enhance butyrate-producing bacteria and butyrate production.