Exploring the effects of structure and melting on sweetness in additively manufactured chocolate.

In view of the health concerns associated with high sugar intake, this study investigates methods to enhance sweetness perception in chocolate without increasing its sugar content. Using additive manufacturing, chocolate structures were created from masses with varying sugar and fat compositions, where hazelnut oil served as a partial cocoa butter replacement. The study found that while variations in sugar content minimally affected the physical properties of the chocolate masses, hazelnut oil significantly modified melting behavior and consumption time. Chocolate masses with higher hazelnut oil content but similar sugar content exhibited a 24% increase in sweetness perception, likely due to accelerated tastant (i.e., sucrose) release into saliva. Multiphase structures, designated as layered, cube-in-cube, and sandwich structures, exhibited less sensory differences compared to the homogeneous control. Nonetheless, structures with hazelnut oil-rich outer layers resulted in an 11% increase in sweetness perception, even without sugar gradients. This suggests that tastant release plays a more critical role than structural complexity in modifying sweetness perception. This research highlights the efficacy of simpler multiphase structures, such as sandwich designs, which offer sensory enhancements comparable to those of more complex designs but with reduced manufacturing effort, thus providing viable options for industrial-scale production.

Molecular modeling of the carbohydrate corona formation on a polyvinyl chloride nanoparticle and its impact on the adhesion to lipid bilayers.

The pervasive presence of nanoplastics (NPs) in the environment has gained increasing attention due to their accumulation in living organisms. These emerging contaminants inevitably interact with extracellular polymeric substances along respiratory or gastrointestinal tracts, and diverse organic coating on the surface of NPs, known as bio- or eco-corona, is formed. Although its impact on altering the NP properties and potential cell internalization has been extensively examined, studies on its role in NP partitioning in the cell membrane are elusive yet. In this work, molecular dynamics is used to investigate the formation of chitosan (CT) corona centered on a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) nanoparticle and the uptake of the resulting complex onto lipid membranes. Coarse-grained models compatible with the newly developed Martini 3.0 force field are implemented for the two polymers employing the atomistic properties as targets in the parameterization. The reliability of the coarse-grained polymer models is demonstrated by reproducing the structural properties of the PVC melt and of solvated CT strands, as well as by determining the conformation adopted by the latter at the NP surface. Results show that the spontaneous binding of CT chains of high and intermediate protonation degrees led to the formation of soft and hard corona that modulates the interaction of PVC core with model membranes. The structural changes of the corona adsorbed at the lipid-water interface enable a subsequent transfer of the NP to the center of the saturated lipid membranes and a complete or partial transition to a snorkel conformation depending on the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance in the CT-PVC complex. Overall, the computational investigation of the coarse-grained model system provides implications for understanding how the eco-corona development influences the uptake and implicit toxicology of NPs.

Acetaminophen influences musculoskeletal signaling but not adaptations to endurance exercise training.

Acetaminophen (ACE) is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug with various applications, from pain relief to fever reduction. Recent studies have reported equivocal effects of habitual ACE intake on exercise performance, muscle growth, and risks to bone health. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of a 6-week, low-dose ACE regimen on muscle and bone adaptations in exercising and non-exercising rats. Nine-week-old Wistar rats (n = 40) were randomized to an exercise or control (no exercise) condition with ACE or without (placebo). For the exercise condition, rats ran 5 days per week for 6 weeks at a 5% incline for 2 min at 15 cm/s, 2 min at 20 cm/s, and 26 min at 25 cm/s. A human equivalent dose of ACE was administered (379 mg/kg body weight) in drinking water and adjusted each week based on body weight. Food, water intake, and body weight were measured daily. At the beginning of week 6, animals in the exercise group completed a maximal treadmill test. At the end of week 6, rats were euthanized, and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), fiber type, and signaling pathways were measured. Additionally, three-point bending and microcomputer tomography were measured in the femur. Follow-up experiments in human primary muscle cells were used to explore supra-physiological effects of ACE. Data were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA for treatment (ACE or placebo) and condition (exercise or non-exercise) for all animal outcomes. Data for cell culture experiments were analyzed via ANOVA. If omnibus significance was found in either ANOVA, a post hoc analysis was completed, and a Tukey's adjustment was used. ACE did not alter body weight, water intake, food intake, or treadmill performance (p > .05). There was a treatment-by-condition effect for Young's Modulus where placebo exercise was significantly lower than placebo control (p < .05). There was no treatment by condition effects for microCT measures, muscle CSA, fiber type, or mRNA expression. Phosphorylated-AMPK was significantly increased with exercise (p < .05) and this was attenuated with ACE treatment. Furthermore, phospho-4EBP1 was depressed in the exercise group compared to the control (p < .05) and increased in the ACE control and ACE exercise group compared to placebo exercise (p < .05). A low dose of ACE did not influence chronic musculoskeletal adaptations in exercising rodents but acutely attenuated AMPK phosphorylation and 4EBP1 dephosphorylation post-exercise.

JAK/STAT mediated insulin resistance in muscles is essential for effective immune response.

BACKGROUND: The metabolically demanding nature of immune response requires nutrients to be preferentially directed towards the immune system at the expense of peripheral tissues. We study the mechanisms by which this metabolic reprograming occurs using the parasitoid infection of Drosophila larvae. To overcome such an immune challenge hemocytes differentiate into lamellocytes, which encapsulate and melanize the parasitoid egg. Hemocytes acquire the energy for this process by expressing JAK/STAT ligands upd2 and upd3, which activates JAK/STAT signaling in muscles and redirects carbohydrates away from muscles in favor of immune cells. METHODS: Immune response of Drosophila larvae was induced by parasitoid wasp infestation. Carbohydrate levels, larval locomotion and gene expression of key proteins were compared between control and infected animals. Efficacy of lamellocyte production and resistance to wasp infection was observed for RNAi and mutant animals. RESULTS: Absence of upd/JAK/STAT signaling leads to an impaired immune response and increased mortality. We demonstrate how JAK/STAT signaling in muscles leads to suppression of insulin signaling through activation of ImpL2, the inhibitor of Drosophila insulin like peptides. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal cross-talk between immune cells and muscles mediates a metabolic shift, redirecting carbohydrates towards immune cells. We emphasize the crucial function of muscles during immune response and show the benefits of insulin resistance as an adaptive mechanism that is necessary for survival.

Targeted development and optimization of small-molecule ice recrystallization inhibitors (IRIs) for the cryopreservation of biological systems.

Despite the routine use of cryopreservation for the storage of biological materials, its outcomes are often sub-optimal (including reduced post-thaw viability, recovery, and functionality) due to the damage caused by uncontrolled ice growth. Traditional cryoprotective agents (CPAs), including dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), fail to prevent damage caused by ice growth and concerns over CPA cytotoxicity have fostered an increased interest in developing improved CPAs and cryoprotection strategies. The inhibition of ice recrystallization by natural antifreeze (glyco)proteins [AF(G)Ps] to improve cryopreservation outcomes has been examined; however, the ice binding properties of these substances and their challenging large-scale production make them poor CPA candidates. Therefore, the development and deployment of biocompatible, small-molecule ice recrystallization inhibitors (IRIs) for use as CPAs is a worthwhile objective. Extensive structure-activity relationship studies on AF(G)Ps revealed that simple carbohydrate derivatives could inhibit ice recrystallization. It was later discovered that this activity could be fine-tuned by delicately balancing the molecule's hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity. Current generation small-molecule IRIs have been meticulously designed to avoid binding to the surface of ice and subsequent biological testing (for both cytotoxicity and cryopreservation efficacy) has demonstrated significant improvements to the cryopreservation outcomes of several cell types. However, an individualized cell-specific approach for the simultaneous assessment of multiple cryopreservation outcomes is necessary to realize the full potential of IRIs as CPAs. This article provides a detailed overview of the development of small-molecule carbohydrate-based IRIs and highlights the crucial cell-specific biological considerations that must be taken into account when assessing cryopreservation outcomes. https://doi.org/10.54680/fr24210110112.

Low concentrations of cyantraniliprole negatively affects the development of Spodoptera frugiperda by disruption of ecdysteroid biosynthesis and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

In addition to the acute lethal toxicity, insecticides might affect population dynamics of insect pests by inducing life history trait changes under low concentrations, however, the underlying mechanisms remain not well understood. Here we examined systemic impacts on development and reproduction caused by low concentration exposures to cyantraniliprole in the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, and the putative underlying mechanisms were investigated. The results showed that exposure of third-instar larvae to LC10 and LC30 of cyantraniliprole significantly extended larvae duration by 1.46 and 5.41 days, respectively. Treatment with LC30 of cyantraniliprole significantly decreased the pupae weight and pupation rate as well as the longevity, fecundity and egg hatchability of female adults. Consistently, we found that exposure of FAW to LC30 cyantraniliprole downregulated the mRNA expression of four ecdysteroid biosynthesis genes including SfNobo, SfShd, SfSpo and SfDib and one ecdysone response gene SfE75 in the larvae as well as the gene encoding vitellogenin (SfVg) in the female adults. We also found that treatment with LC30 of cyantraniliprole significantly decreased the whole body levels of glucose, trehalose, glycogen and triglyceride in the larvae. Our results indicate that low concentration of cyantraniliprole inhibited FAW development by disruption of ecdysteroid biosynthesis as well as carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, which have applied implications for the control of FAW.

Microbe Profile: Cellvibrio japonicus: living the sweet life via biomass break-down.

Cellvibrio japonicus is a saprophytic bacterium proficient at environmental polysaccharide degradation for carbon and energy acquisition. Genetic, enzymatic, and structural characterization of C. japonicus carbohydrate active enzymes, specifically those that degrade plant and animal-derived polysaccharides, demonstrated that this bacterium is a carbohydrate-bioconversion specialist. Structural analyses of these enzymes identified highly specialized carbohydrate binding modules that facilitate activity. Steady progress has been made in developing genetic tools for C. japonicus to better understand the function and regulation of the polysaccharide-degrading enzymes it possesses, as well as to develop it as a biotechnology platform to produce renewable fuels and chemicals.

Exogenously applied gibberellic acid and benzylamine modulate growth and chemical constituents of dwarf schefflera: a stepwise regression analysis.

Ornamental foliage plants that have a dense appearance are highly valued. One way to achieve this is by using plant growth regulators as a tool for plant growth management. In a greenhouse with a mist irrigation system, a study was conducted on dwarf schefflera, an ornamental foliage plant, which was exposed to foliar application of gibberellic acid and benzyladenine hormones. The hormones were sprayed on dwarf schefflera leaves at 0, 100, and 200 mg/l concentrations, at 15-day intervals in three stages. The experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design, with four replicates. The combination of gibberellic acid and benzyladenine at 200 mg/l concentration had a significant effect on leaf number, leaf area, and plant height. The treatment also resulted in the highest content of photosynthetic pigments. Furthermore, the highest soluble carbohydrate to reducing sugars ratio was observed in treatments of 100 and 200 mg/l benzyladenine, and 200 mg/l gibberellic acid + benzyladenine. Stepwise regression analysis showed that root volume was the first variable to enter the model, explaining 44% of variations. The next variable was root fresh weight, and the two-variable model explained 63% of variations in leaf number. The greatest positive effect on leaf number was related to root fresh weight (0.43), which had a positive correlation with leaf number (0.47). The results showed that 200 mg/l concentration of gibberellic acid and benzyladenine significantly improved morphological growth, chlorophyll and carotenoid synthesis, and reducing sugar and soluble carbohydrate contents in dwarf schefflera.

Nutritional ecology of a prototypical generalist predator, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).

Generalist species, which exploit a wide range of food resources, are expected to be able to combine available resources as to attain their specific macronutrient ratio (percentage of caloric intake of protein, lipids and carbohydrates). Among mammalian predators, the red fox Vulpes vulpes is a widespread, opportunistic forager: its diet has been largely studied, outlining wide variation according to geographic and climatic factors. We aimed to check if, throughout the species' European range, diets vary widely in macronutrient composition or foxes can combine complementary foods to gain the same nutrient intake. First, we assessed fox's intake target in the framework of nutritional geometry. Secondly, we aimed to highlight the effects of unbalanced diets on fox density, which was assumed as a proxy for Darwinian fitness, as assessed in five areas of the western Italian Alps. Unexpectedly, the target macronutrient ratio of the fox (52.4% protein-, 38.7% lipid- and 8.9% carbohydrate energy) was consistent with that of hypercarnivores, such as wolves and felids, except for carbohydrate intakes in urban and rural habitats. The inverse relation between density and the deviation of observed macronutrient ratios from the intake target suggests that fox capability of surviving in a wide range of habitats may not be exempt from fitness costs and that nutrient availability should be regarded among the biotic factors affecting animal abundance and distribution.

Comprehensive Proteomics Analysis of the Hemolymph Composition of Sugar-Fed Aedes aegypti Female and Male Mosquitoes.

In arthropods, hemolymph carries immune cells and solubilizes and transports nutrients, hormones, and other molecules that are involved in diverse physiological processes including immunity, metabolism, and reproduction. However, despite such physiological importance, little is known about its composition. We applied mass spectrometry-based label-free quantification approaches to study the proteome of hemolymph perfused from sugar-fed female and male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. A total of 1403 proteins were identified, out of which 447 of them were predicted to be extracellular. In both sexes, almost half of these extracellular proteins were predicted to be involved in defense/immune response, and their relative abundances (based on their intensity-based absolute quantification, iBAQ) were 37.9 and 33.2%, respectively. Interestingly, among them, 102 serine proteases/serine protease-homologues were identified, with almost half of them containing CLIP regulatory domains. Moreover, proteins belonging to families classically described as chemoreceptors, such as odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs), were also highly abundant in the hemolymph of both sexes. Our data provide a comprehensive catalogue of A. aegypti hemolymph basal protein content, revealing numerous unexplored targets for future research on mosquito physiology and disease transmission. It also provides a reference for future studies on the effect of blood meal and infection on hemolymph composition.

Mitigating drought stress in wheat plants (Triticum Aestivum L.) through grain priming in aqueous extract of spirulina platensis.

BACKGROUND: The study focuses on the global challenge of drought stress, which significantly impedes wheat production, a cornerstone of global food security. Drought stress disrupts cellular and physiological processes in wheat, leading to substantial yield losses, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. The research investigates the use of Spirulina platensis aqueous extract (SPAE) as a biostimulant to enhance the drought resistance of two Egyptian wheat cultivars, Sakha 95 (drought-tolerant) and Shandawel 1 (drought-sensitive). Each cultivar's grains were divided into four treatments: Cont, DS, SPAE-Cont, and SPAE + DS. Cont and DS grains were presoaked in distilled water for 18 h while SPAE-Cont and SPAE + DS were presoaked in 10% SPAE, and then all treatments were cultivated for 96 days in a semi-field experiment. During the heading stage (45 days: 66 days), two drought treatments, DS and SPAE + DS, were not irrigated. In contrast, the Cont and SPAE-Cont treatments were irrigated during the entire experiment period. At the end of the heading stage, agronomy, pigment fractions, gas exchange, and carbohydrate content parameters of the flag leaf were assessed. Also, at the harvest stage, yield attributes and biochemical aspects of yielded grains (total carbohydrates and proteins) were evaluated. RESULTS: The study demonstrated that SPAE treatments significantly enhanced the growth vigor, photosynthetic rate, and yield components of both wheat cultivars under standard and drought conditions. Specifically, SPAE treatments increased photosynthetic rate by up to 53.4%, number of spikes by 76.5%, and economic yield by 190% for the control and 153% for the drought-stressed cultivars pre-soaked in SPAE. Leaf agronomy, pigment fractions, gas exchange parameters, and carbohydrate content were positively influenced by SPAE treatments, suggesting their effectiveness in mitigating drought adverse effects, and improving wheat crop performance. CONCLUSION: The application of S. platensis aqueous extract appears to ameliorate the adverse effects of drought stress on wheat, enhancing the growth vigor, metabolism, and productivity of the cultivars studied. This indicates the potential of SPAE as an eco-friendly biostimulant for improving crop resilience, nutrition, and yield under various environmental challenges, thus contributing to global food security.

Influence of salinity, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of two Chlorophyceae isolated from Fez freshwater, Morocco.

Microalgae are widely exploited for numerous biotechnology applications, including biofuels. In this context, Chlamydomonas debaryana and Chlorococcum sp. were isolated from Fez freshwater (Morocco), and their growth and lipid and carbohydrate production were assessed at different concentrations of NaCl, NaNO3, and K2HPO4. The results indicate a small positive variation in growth parameters linked to nutrient enrichment, with no considerable variation in carbohydrate and lipid levels in both algae. Moreover, a negative variation was recorded at increased salinity and nutrient limitation, accompanied by lipid and carbohydrate accumulation. Chlorococcum sp. showed better adaptation to salt stress below 200 mM NaCl. Furthermore, its growth and biomass productivity were strongly reduced by nitrogen depletion, and its lipid production reached 47.64% DW at 3.52 mM NaNO3. As for Chlamydomonas debaryana, a substantial reduction in growth was induced by nutrient depletion, a maximal carbohydrate level was produced at less than 8.82 mM NaNO3 (40.59% DW). The effect of phosphorus was less significant. However, a concentration of 0.115 mM K2HPO4 increased lipid and carbohydrate content without compromising biomass productivity. The results suggest that growing the two Chlorophyceae under these conditions seems interesting for biofuel production, but the loss of biomass requires a more efficient strategy to maximize lipid and carbohydrate accumulation without loss of productivity.

Multifaceted roles of plant glycosyl hydrolases during pathogen infections: more to discover.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Carbohydrates are hydrolyzed by a family of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) called glycosidases or glycosyl hydrolases. Here, we have summarized the roles of various plant defense glycosidases that possess different substrate specificities. We have also highlighted the open questions in this research field. Glycosidases or glycosyl hydrolases (GHs) are a family of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) that hydrolyze glycosidic bonds in carbohydrates and glycoconjugates. Compared to those of all other sequenced organisms, plant genomes contain a remarkable diversity of glycosidases. Plant glycosidases exhibit activities on various substrates and have been shown to play important roles during pathogen infections. Plant glycosidases from different GH families have been shown to act upon pathogen components, host cell walls, host apoplastic sugars, host secondary metabolites, and host N-glycans to mediate immunity against invading pathogens. We could classify the activities of these plant defense GHs under eleven different mechanisms through which they operate during pathogen infections. Here, we have provided comprehensive information on the catalytic activities, GH family classification, subcellular localization, domain structure, functional roles, and microbial strategies to regulate the activities of defense-related plant GHs. We have also emphasized the research gaps and potential investigations needed to advance this topic of research.

Warming Leads to Changes in Soil Organic Carbon Molecules Due to Decreased Mineral Protection.

Climate change affects the content and composition of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, warming-induced changes in the SOC compounds remain unknown. Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, molecular mixing models, and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, we analyzed the variations and relationships in molecular compounds in Mollisol with 10-56 g C kg-1 soil-1 by translocating soils under six climate regimes. We found that increased temperature and precipitation were negatively correlated with carbohydrate versus lipid and lignin versus protein. The former was consistent across soils with varying SOC contents, but the latter decreased as the SOC content increased. The carbohydrate-lipid correlations were related to dithionite-citrate-extractable Fe, while the lignin-protein correlations were linked to changes in moisture and pyrophosphate-extractable Fe/Al. Our findings indicate that the reduction in the mineral protection of SOC is associated with molecular alterations in SOC under warming conditions.

Paternal dietary macronutrient balance and energy intake drive metabolic and behavioral differences among offspring.

Paternal diet can influence the phenotype of the next generation, yet, the dietary components inducing specific responses in the offspring are not identified. Here, we use the Nutritional Geometry Framework to determine the effects of pre-conception paternal dietary macronutrient balance on offspring metabolic and behavioral traits in mice. Ten isocaloric diets varying in the relative proportion of protein, fats, and carbohydrates are fed to male mice prior to mating. Dams and offspring are fed standard chow and never exposed to treatment diets. Body fat in female offspring is positively associated with the paternal consumption of fat, while in male offspring, an anxiety-like phenotype is associated to paternal diets low in protein and high in carbohydrates. Our study uncovers that the nature and the magnitude of paternal effects are driven by interactions between macronutrient balance and energy intake and are not solely the result of over- or undernutrition.