黑曲霉菌丝球固定化异养小球藻处理食品废水的研究

食品废水因富含蛋白质、碳水化合物、脂肪、尿素、氨氮、P等多种物质,其净化处理难度较大、成本较高。黑曲霉菌丝球具有生物活性良好、沉降速度快、易于固液分离的特点。而小球藻具有繁殖速度快、生物量生产效率高的优点。因此,使用菌丝球固定化小球藻的菌-藻体净化处理食品废水是一种低成本、高效率、无污染、可持续发展的方法。该研究通过优化形成菌丝球的培养基、共培养方式达到高效处理食品废水的效果。结果表明CCM培养基、培养基A、改良BG-11三种培养基较适合黑曲霉形成菌丝球。采用菌丝球的形式比接种孢子的方式更有利于小球藻的收获。以豆制品废水为例,菌丝球固定化小球藻的菌-藻体可以去除90.25%的化学需氧量、43.53%的总氮、94.2%的总磷。因此使用菌丝球固定化小球藻可以对食品废水进行快速高效净化,为菌在处理食品废水的应用提供基础。

Major royal-jelly proteins intake modulates immune functions and gut microbiota in mice

In this study,we investigated the effects of major royal jelly proteins(MRJPs)on the estrogen,gut microbiota,and immunological responses in mice.Mice given 250 or 500 mg/kg,not 125 mg/kg of MRJPs,enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes in response to mitogens.The splenocytes and mesenteric lymphocytes activated by T-cell mitogens(Con A and anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies)released high levels of IL-2 but low levels of IFN-γand IL-17A.The release of IL-4 was unaffected by MRJPs.Additionally,splenocytes and mesenteric lymphocytes activated by LPS were prevented by MRJPs at the same dose as that required for producing IL-1βand IL-6,two pro-inflammatory cytokines.The production of IL-1β,IL-6,and IFN-γwas negatively associated with estrogen levels,which were higher in the MRJP-treated animals than in the control group.Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that feeding mice 250 mg/kg of MRJPs maintained the stability of the natural intestinal microflora of mice.Additionally,the LEf Se analysis identified biomarkers in the MRJP-treated mice,including Prevotella,Bacillales,Enterobacteriales,Gammaproteobacteria,Candidatus_Arthromitus,and Shigella.Our results showed that MRJPs are important components of royal jelly that modulate host immunity and hormone levels and help maintain gut microbiota stability.

Effects of prebiotics on the fermentation of traditional suancai of Northeast China

Suancai is a traditional fermented vegetable widely consumed in Northeast China.In this study,different prebiotics were used to improve the quality of suancai.Four prebiotics(inulin(INU),xylooligosaccharide(XO S),galactooligosaccharide(GOS),and stachyose(STA))were shown to reduce the pH value and increase the content of total titratable acidity(TTA)in suancai,while the contents of most organic acids were also increased.The addition of prebiotics had significant effects on the bacterial microbiota during the suancai fermentation process.All prebiotics were shown to contribute to the growth of Lactobacillus.The suancai sample with fructooligosaccharides(FOS)had the highest relative abundance of Lactobacillus.Besides,INU and XOS could increase the abundance of Weissella.To evaluate the quality of suancai fermented with prebiotics,profiles of volatile flavor compounds(VOCs)and free amino acids(FAA)were analyzed.The prebiotics affected the VOCs and FAA profiles via transforming the bacterial microbiota.In addition,the addition of prebiotics also changed the taste profiles of the suancai samples.This study is among the first attempts to reveal the effects of different prebiotics on suancai fermentation,and the findings provide a foundation to develop new ways for improving the quality of suancai.

Role of bitter contributors and bitter taste receptors:a comprehensive review of their sources,functions and future development

Bitterness,one of the 5“basic tastes”,is usually undesired by humans.However,abundant literature reported that bitter fruits and vegetables have beneficial health effects due to their bitter contributors.This review provided an updated overview of the main bitter contributors of typical bitter fruits and vegetables and their health benefits.The main bitter contributors,including phenolics,terpenoids,alkaloids,amino acids,nucleosides and purines,were summarized.The bioactivities and wide range of beneficial effects of them on anti-cancers,anti-inflammations,anti-microbes,neuroprotection,inhibiting chronic and acute injury in organs,as well as regulating behavior performance and metabolism were reported.Furthermore,not only did the bitter taste receptors(taste receptor type 2 family,T2Rs)show taste effects,but extra-oral T2Rs could also be activated by binding with bitter components,regulating physiological activities via modulating hormone secretion,immunity,metabolism,and cell proliferation.This review provided a new perspective on exploring and explaining the nutrition of bitter foods,revealing the relationship between the functions of bitter contributors from food and T2Rs.Future trends may focus on revealing the possibility of T2Rs being targets for the treatment of diseases,exploring the mechanism of T2Rs mediating the bioactivities,and making bitter foods more acceptable without getting rid of bitter contributors.

Development of Machine Vision-Based Algorithm for Counting and Discriminating Filled and Unfilled Paddy Rice in Overlapping Mode

In this study, a new method based on image processing was presented to count and discriminate paddy rice, even when they overlapped. This method was performed in three steps. In the first step, using a reference image that excludes any overlapping paddy rice, the average area, standard deviation, and a threshold value for paddy rice were determined.

Implantable Electrochemical Microsensors for In Vivo Monitoring of Animal Physiological Information

In vivo monitoring of animal physiological information plays a crucial role in promptly alerting humans to potential diseases in animals and aiding in the exploration of mechanisms underlying human diseases.Currently,implantable electrochemical microsensors have emerged as a prominent area of research.These microsensors not only fulfill the technical requirements for monitoring animal physiological information but also offer an ideal platform for integration.They have been extensively studied for their ability to monitor animal physiological information in a minimally invasive manner,characterized by their bloodless,painless features,and exceptional performance.The development of implantable electrochemical microsensors for in vivo monitoring of animal physiological information has witnessed significant scientific and technological advancements through dedicated efforts.This review commenced with a comprehensive discussion of the construction of microsensors,including the materials utilized and the methods employed for fabrication.Following this,we proceeded to explore the various implantation technologies employed for electrochemical microsensors.In addition,a comprehensive overview was provided of the various applications of implantable electrochemical microsensors,specifically in the monitoring of diseases and the investigation of disease mechanisms.Lastly,a concise conclusion was conducted on the recent advancements and significant obstacles pertaining to the practical implementation of implantable electrochemical microsensors.

Polyphenol components in black chokeberry(Aronia melanocarpa)as clinically proven diseases control factors——an overview

The black chokeberry is rich in polyphenols,including flavonoids with anthocyanins,flavanols and lavonols as the main components and a variety of phenolic acids represented by chlorogenic acid.Because of these polyphenols,black chokeberry has the effect of preventing and adjuvant therapy diseases.This study summarized the current research results on the types and contents of functional components in black chokeberry,and analyzed their digestion,absorption and metabolism in human body.On this basis,the disease control functions that have been proved effective in clinical research were reviewed and analyzed.These studies showed that black chokeberry have good prevention and adjuvant therapy effects on hyperlipidemia,hypertension,diabetes and inflammation.Because there are different functional components in black chokeberry,its prevention and treatment of the same disease can come from multiple pathways,which provides a more reliable effectiveness for the disease control of different populations.

Effect of length-width ratio of rounded rectangle aquaculture tank in dual-diagonal-inlet layout on hydrodynamics

To adapt to the change of aquaculture workshop site,optimize the shape of aquaculture tanks and improve the utilization rate of breeding space,it is necessary to determine the appropriate length width ratio parameters of aquaculture tanks.In this paper,computational fluid dynamics(CFD)technology is adopted to study the flow field performance of aquaculture tanks with different L/B ratios(L:the length;B:the width,of aquaculture tank)and different jet direction conditions(lengthways jet and widthways jet).A three-dimensional numerical calculation model of turbulence in rounded rectangle aquaculture tanks in dual-diagonal-inlet layout was established.Jet directions are arranged lengthways and widthways,and the water flow velocity,resistance coefficient change,vorticity,etc.are analyzed under two working conditions.Results show that the flow field performance in aquaculture tank decreases with the increase of the L/B ratio.The flow field performed well when L/B was 1.0-1.3,sharply dropped at 1.4-1.6,and poor at 1.7-1.9.The results provided a theoretical basis for the design and optimization in flow field performance of the industrialized circulating aquaculture tanks.

Anderson Acceleration of Gradient Methods with Energy for Optimization Problems

Anderson acceleration(AA)is an extrapolation technique designed to speed up fixed-point iterations.For optimization problems,we propose a novel algorithm by combining the AA with the energy adaptive gradient method(AEGD)[arXiv:2010.05109].The feasibility of our algorithm is ensured in light of the convergence theory for AEGD,though it is not a fixed-point iteration.We provide rigorous convergence rates of AA for gradient descent(GD)by an acceleration factor of the gain at each implementation of AA-GD.Our experimental results show that the proposed AA-AEGD algorithm requires little tuning of hyperparameters and exhibits superior fast convergence.

Preparation and characterization of pH-responsive metal-polyphenol structure coated nanoparticles

In this paper,tannic acid(TA)and Fe~(3+)were added to form a layer of metal-polyphenol network structure on the surface of the nanoparticles which were fabricated by zein and carbon quantum dots(CQDs)encapsulating phlorotannins(PTN).pH-Responsive nanoparticles were prepared successfully(zein-PTN-CQDs-Fe-~Ⅲ).Further,the formation of composite nanoparticles was confirmed by a series of characterization methods.The zeta-potential and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data proved that electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding are dominant forces to form nanoparticles.The encapsulation efficiency(EE)revealed that metal-polyphenol network structure could improve the EE of PTN.Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry experiment indicated the thermal stability of zein-PTN-CQDs-Fe~Ⅲnanoparticles increased because of metal-polyphenol network structure.The pH-responsive nanoparticles greatly increased the release rate of active substances and achieved targeted release.

Sustainable Biofuel Production from Brown and Green Macroalgae through the Pyrolysis

The escalating demand for energy coupled with environmental concerns necessitates exploring sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.The study explores the viability of using large ocean-based seaweeds as a source of thirdgeneration biomass,specifically focusing on their conversion to biofuel via the process of pyrolysis.Sargassum plagiophyllum and Ulva lactuca represent prevalent forms of macroalgae,posing significant discharge challenges for coastal regions globally.However,the exploration of their potential for bio-oil generation via pyrolysis remains limited.This study investigates the pyrolysis process of S.plagiophyllum and U.lactuca for biofuel production,aiming to provide valuable insights into their utilization and optimization.Pyrolysis experiments were conducted within temperature ranges of 400°C to 600°C and durations of 10 to 50 min using a batch reactor.The chemical analysis of the synthesized bio-oil indicated it contains critical compounds such as organic acid derivatives,furans,nitrogenous aromatics,and aliphatic hydrocarbons.The effectiveness of converting the initial biomass into bio-oil is significantly influenced by the pace at which the biomass undergoes decomposition,underscoring the importance of comprehending the kinetic aspects of this conversion.By applying the Arrhenius formula,we calculated the activation energies and frequency factors,with the findings for S.plagiophyllum being 15.27 kJ/mol and 0.477 s^(-1),and for U.lactuca,the values were 43.17 kJ/mol and 0.351 s^(-1),correspondingly.These findings underscore the potential of brown and green macroalgae as sustainable sources for biofuel production via pyrolysis,offering insights for further optimization and valorization efforts in the quest for renewable energy solutions.

Application of organic fertilizer for improving soybean production under acidic stress

The presence of acidic soil in rural areas poses difficulties for agricultural production.One factor regulating soil pH is the overuse of inorganic fertilizer.The increased use of fertilizers in soybean production not only raises sustainability concerns but also contributes to soil acidity.Therefore,the use of organic fertilizer could offer a solution for addressing both issues related to soil acidity and sustainability.The purpose of this study was to investigate the manipulation of soil pH using organic fertilizer for soybean production under acidic stress.The planting medium,consisting of a mixture of topsoil,rice husk charcoal,and organic fertilizer(in a ratio of 2:1:1),was supplemented with 0.5 g of NPK fertilizer as a basal treatment in each planting medium.To regulate the soil acidity to pH 4,we added FeSO_(4) and allowed the mixture to incubate for 30 days.The results demonstrate that the application of three types of organic fertilizers chicken manure(P1),oil palm empty bunch fertilizer(P2),and vermicompost(P3)positively impacts the growth of three soybean varieties.The findings indicate that the application of P2 organic fertilizer can increase vegetative growth almost 50%in soybeans on acidic soil,including plant height,leaf count,and root length.Meanwhile,applying P3 organic fertilizer can boost reproductive growth responses in soybeans on acidic soil,such as pod number(from around 0-4 unit to 42-51 unit),grain number(from around 0-5 unit to 88-90 unit),and grain weight(from around 0-0.37 g to 12-25 g).Organic fertilizer has the potential to regulate soil pH,promoting higher yields of soybeans under acidic stress.

Multifunctional catalytic sites regulation of atomic-scale iridium on orthorhombic-CoSe_(2)for high efficiency dual-functional alkaline hydrogen evolution and organic degradation

The earth-abundant and high-performance catalysts are crucial for commercial implementation of hydrogen evolution reaction(HER).Herein,a multifunctional site strategy to construct excellent HER catalysts by incorporating iridium(Ir)ions on the atomic scale into orthorhombic-CoSe2(Ir-CoSe_(2))was reported.Outstanding hydrogen evolution activity in alkaline media such as a low overpotential of 48.7 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2)and better performance than commercial Pt/C catalysts at high current densities were found in the Ir-CoSe_(2) samples.In the experiments and theoretical calculations,it was revealed that Ir enabled CoSe_(2)to form multifunctional sites to synergistically catalyze alkaline HER by promoting the adsorption and dissociation of H_(2)O(Ir sites)and optimizing the binding energy for H^(*)on Co sites.It was noticeable that the electrolytic system comprising the Ir-CoSe_(2)electrode not only produced hydrogen efficiently via HER,but also degraded organic pollutants(Methylene blue).The cell voltage of the dual-function electrolytic system was 1.58 V at the benchmark current density of 50 mA cm^(-2),which was significantly lower than the conventional water splitting voltage.It was indicated that this method was a novel strategy for designing advanced HER electrocatalysts by constructing multifunctional catalytic sites for hydrogen production and organic degradation.

Implications of Dynamic Interactions between Meteorological Patterns and Surface Water Quality on Environmental Health—A Case Study of the Nairobi River

Urban areas face significant challenges in maintaining water quality amidst increasing urbanization and changing climatic patterns. This study investigates the complex interplay between meteorological variables and water quality parameters in Nairobi City, focusing on the impacts of rainfall and temperature on surface water quality. Data from multiple sources, including the Water Resources Authority, Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company, and the World Bank’s Climate Change Knowledge Portal, were analyzed to assess the relationships between meteorological variables (rainfall and temperature) and water quality parameters (such as electroconductivity, biochemical oxygen demand, chloride, and pH). The analysis reveals varying impacts of rainfall and temperature on different water quality parameters. While parameters like iron and pH show strong relationships with both rainfall and temperature, others such as ammonia and nitrate exhibit moderate relationships. Additionally, the study highlights the influence of runoff, urbanization, and industrial activities on water quality, emphasizing the need for holistic management approaches. Recommendations encompass the establishment of annual publications on Nairobi River water quality, online accessibility of water quality data, development of hydrological models, spatial analysis, and fostering cross-disciplinary research collaborations. Implementing these recommendations can enhance water quality management practices, mitigate risks, and safeguard environmental integrity in Nairobi City.

Monitoring of Air Quality for Particulate Matter (PM2.5, PM10) and Heavy Metals Proximate to a Cement Factory in Ewekoro, Nigeria

A cement factory nearby communities raise pollution concerns. This study assessed air pollution levels for respirable particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and heavy metals (lead, chromium, nickel, cadmium, zinc and copper) adjacent to a cement factory in Ewekoro and neighbouring communities (Papalantoro, Lapeleko and Itori) in Ogun State, Nigeria. Respirable particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and heavy metals were measured using an ARA N-FRM cassette sampler. Each location sampled was monitored for eight continuous hours daily for 12 days. The PM2.5, PM10 and heavy metals results were compared with different standards, including those of the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria’s National Environmental Standard and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS). The PM levels fell within 11 - 19 μg/m3 of the air management level of CAAQS, which signifies continuous actions are needed to improve air quality in the areas monitored but below the NESREA standard. The mean Cd, Cr and Ni concentrations in the cement factory area and the impacted neighbourhoods are higher than the WHO/EU permissible limits, while Zn and Cu were below the WHO/EU permissible limit. A risk assessment hazard quotient (HQ) for Cr was above the WHO/EU safe level (=1) in adults and children throµgh ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact at all the monitoring sites. The HQ for Ni and Cd was higher than the safe level in the cement factory area and Papalantoro, while Zn was at safe levels.

Split Addition of Nitrogen-Rich Substrate at Thermophilic and Mesophilic Stages of Composting: Effect on Green House Gases Emission and Quality of Compost

Composting as a solution to the increasing generation of municipal solid waste (MSW), also contribute to GHGs emission when not controlled and could lack some basic nutrients, especially nitrogen. This study assessed the split-additions of nitrogen-rich substrate to composting materials and their effect on GHGs emissions as well as the quality of the composts. Nitrogen-rich substrates formulated from pig and goat manure were co-composted with MSW for a 12-weeks period by split adding at mesophilic (˚C) and thermophilic (>50˚C) stages in five different treatments. Representative samples from the compost were taken from each treatment for physicochemical, heavy metals and bacteriological analysis. In-situ CH4, CO2, N2O gas emissions were also analyzed weekly during composting. It was observed that all the treatments showed significant organic matter decomposition, reaching thermophilic temperatures in the first week of composting. The absence affects the suitable agronomic properties. All nitrogen-rich substrate applied at thermophilic stage (Treatment two) recorded the highest N, P and K concentrations of 1.34%, 0.97% and 2.45%, respectively with highest nitrogen retention. In terms of GHG emissions, CO2 was highest at the thermophilic stage when N-rich substrate was added in all treatment, while CH4 was highest in the mesophilic stage with N-rich substrate addition. N2O showed no specific trend in the treatments. Split addition of the N-rich substrate for co-composting of MSW produced compost which is stable, has less nutrient loss and low GHG emissions. Split addition of a nitrogen-rich substrate could be an option for increasing the fertilizer value of MSW compost.

Characterization and comparison of the aroma-active compounds on different grades of sesame-flavor Baijiu by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry

This study investigated the aroma-active compounds and compared the differences of three different grades of sesame-flavor Baijiu by headspace solid-phase microextraction(HS-SPME)coupled with gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry(GC-O-MS).A total of 54 aroma-active compounds were detected.Principal component analysis showed that JZ1,JZ2,and JZ3 were well separated from each other.JZ1 as the premium-grade Baijiu had the highest aroma intensities,concentrations.According to aroma intensities and concentrations,dimethyl trisulfide,butanoic acid,phenylacetaldehyde,2-furylmethanethiol,ethyl hexanoate,2,6-dimethylpyrazine,etc.could be potentially applied as volatile makers to distinguish the three different grades of sesame-flavor Baijiu as their significant difference(P<0.05)in three Baijiu samples.Roasted aroma had the significant difference(P<0.05)in three sample base on aroma profiles.Meanwhile,2-furylmethanethiol,2,6-dimethylpyrazine were related to the roasted aroma,they may be had a significant contribution to the differences of three different grades of sesame-flavor Baijiu.This study has provided a comprehensive understanding of the differences of three different grades of sesame-flavor Baijiu.

Understanding cell-extracellular matrix interactions for topology-guided tissue regeneration

Tissues are made up of cells and the extracellular matrix(ECM)which surrounds them.These cells and tissues are actively adaptable to enduring significant stress that occurs in daily life.This astonishing mechanical stress develops due to the interaction between the live cells and the non-living ECM.Cells in the matrix microenvironment can sense the signals and forces produced and initiate a signaling cascade that plays a crucial role in the body’s normal functioning and influences various properties of the native cells,including growth,proliferation,and differentiation.However,the matrix’s characteristic features also impact the repair and regeneration of the damaged tissues.The current study reviewed how the cell-ECM interaction regulates cellular behavior and physicochemical properties.Herein,we have described the response of cells to mechanical stresses,the importance of substrate stiffness and geometry in tissue regeneration,and the development of scaffolds to mimic the nature of native ECM in 3D for tissue engineering applications has also been discussed.Finally,the study summarizes the conclusions and promising prospects based on the cell-ECM interplay.

Effect of Glycosylation on the Physicochemical Properties,Structure and Iron Bioavailability of Ferritin Extracted from Tegillarca granosa

Iron deficiency anemia(IDA)is a major global health problem.Tegillarca granosa has been considered as an excellent source of iron given its high content of iron-binding protein,ferritin.The aim of the present study was to determine the physicochemical properties,protein structures,and iron uptake of ferritin extracted from T.granosa,and to evaluate the potential impacts of chitosan glycosylation on these characteristics.Based on Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology,the optimal conditions for glycosylation included a ferritin/chitosan mass ratio of 4:1,a pH of 5.5,a reaction time of 10 min,and a reaction temperature of 50℃.Glycosylation caused decreased surface hydrophobicity and elevated water-holding capacity of ferritin due to the introduction of hydrophilic groups.Additionally,glycosylation improved antioxidant capacity of ferritin by 20.69%–189.66%,likely owing to the protons donated by saccharide moiety to terminate free radical chain reaction.The in vitro digestibility of ferritin was elevated by 22.56%–104.85%after glycosylation,which could be associated with lessβ-sheet content in secondary structure that made the glycosylated protein less resistant to enzymatic digestion.The results of the iron bioavailability in Caco-2 cells revealed that ferritin(78.85–231.77 ngmg^(−1))exhibited better iron bioavailability than FeSO4(51.48–114.37 ngmg^(−1))and the values were further elevated by glycosylation with chitosan(296.23–358.20 ngmg^(−1)),which may be related to the physicochemical properties of ferritin via glycosylation modification.These results provide a basis for the development of T.granosa derived ferritin and its glycosylated products,and can promote the utilization of aquatic resources.

基于元分析揭示全球尺度下反硝化反应器中基质材料对硝态氮去除的显著影响

反硝化生物反应器(DNBR)被广泛用于减少农业废水中过量的硝酸盐。其性能取决于基质的物理和化学性质。在以前的研究中,已经对一部分常见基质做了总结。然而,很少有研究尝试确定基质类型在硝酸盐去除中起作用的一般模式。本研究利用从63篇同行评审文章中收集的数据总结了41种基质类型,包括219个独立DNBR单元。基质分为四类:(1)天然碳(NC),如木屑;(2)非天然碳(NNC),如可生物降解聚合物[如聚己内酯(PCL)和废品(如纸板)];(3)无机材料(IM),如非碳材料(如氧化铁);(4)复合材料(MM),如上述材料的混合物。通过对硝酸盐去除速率[NRR,氮去除(g·m^(-3)·d^(-1))]和硝酸盐去除效率(NRE,%)的元分析,对这些材料进行比较和评估。本文综合阐述了基质效果(NRR和NRE)、潜在机理、污染交换和成本分析。我们的分析表明,木屑和玉米芯是NC中最具成本效益的基质。对比所有参与研究的基质,我们建议将MM作为最优基质,尤其是具有很大的改进空间的基于木屑和玉米芯的基质。该分析有助于优化DNBR的设计,以满足使用者对环境、经济和实用的需求。