Method to Study the Survival Abilities of Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens Under Food Processing Conditions.

Properly using controllable atmospheric containers can facilitate investigations of the survival abilities and physiological states of key and emerging-foodborne pathogens under recreated applicable food processing environmental conditions. Notably, saturated salt solutions can efficiently control relative humidity in airtight containers. This chapter describes a practical experimental setup, with necessary prerequisites for exposing foodborne pathogens to simulated and relevant food processing environmental conditions. Subsequent analyses for studying cell physiology will also be suggested.

Removal of signal peptide variants by cation exchange chromatography: A case study.

Signal peptide (SP) is required for secretion of recombinant proteins and typically cleaved by signal peptidase at its C-region to generate the mature proteins. Miscleavage of the SP is reported occasionally, resulting in a truncated- or elongated-terminal sequence. In the present work, we demonstrated that cation exchange (CEX) chromatography is an effective means for removing SP variants with a case study. With the selected resin/conditions, the chromatographic performance is comparable between runs performed at the low end and high end of load density and elution range. The procedure described in this work can be used as a general approach for resin selection and optimization of chromatographic conditions to remove byproducts that bind more strongly than the product to the selected resin.

High-throughput arousing interconnected interfaces for excellent sodium storage chemistry.

Heterostructures endow electrochemical hybrids with promising energy storage properties owing to synergistic effects and interfacial interaction. However, developing a facile but effective approach to maximize interface effects is crucial but challenging. Herein, a bimetallic sulfide/carbon heterostructure is realized in a confined carbon network via a high-throughput template-assisted strategy to induce highly active and stable electrode architecture. The designed heterostructures not only yield abundant interconnected Co9S8/MoS2/N-doped carbon (Co9S8/MoS2/NC) heterojunctions with continuous channels for ion/electron transfer but maintain excellent conversion reversibility. Serving as anode for sodium storage, the Co9S8/MoS2/NC framework displayed excellent sodium storage properties (reversible capacity of 480 mAh/g after 100 cycles at 0.2 A/g and 286.2 mAh/g after 500 cycles at 2 A/g). Given this, this study can guide future design protocols for interface engineering by forming dynamic channels of conversion reaction kinetics for potential applications in high-performance electrodes.

Electrochemical removal of nitrate in high-salt wastewater with low-cost iron electrode modified by phosphate.

Nitrate (NO3-) is a widespread pollutant in high-salt wastewater and causes serious harm to human health. Although electrochemical removal of nitrate has been demonstrated to be a promising treatment method, the development of low-cost electro-catalysts is still challenging. In this work, a phosphate modified iron (P-Fe) cathode was prepared for electrochemical removal of nitrate in high-salt wastewater. The phosphate modification greatly improved the activity of iron, and the removal rate of nitrate on P-Fe was three times higher than that on Fe electrode. Further experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that the modification of phosphoric acid improved the stability and the activity of the zero-valent iron electrode effectively for NO3- removal. The nitrate was firstly electrochemically reduced to ammonium, and then reacted with the anodic generated hypochlorite to N2. In this study, a strategy was developed to improve the activity and stability of metal electrode for NO3- removal, which opened up a new field for the efficient reduction of NO3- removal by metal electrode materials.

Cost of Using Laser Powder Bed Fusion to Fabricate a Molten Salt-to-Supercritial Carbon Dioxide Heat Exchanger for Concentrating Solar Power.

Advances in manufacturing technologies and materials are crucial to the commercial deployment of energy technologies. We present the case of concentrating solar power (CSP) with molten salt (MS) thermal storage, where low-cost, high-efficiency heat exchangers (HXs) are needed to achieve cost competitiveness. The materials required to tolerate the extreme operating conditions in CSP systems make it difficult or infeasible to produce them using conventional manufacturing processes. Although it is technically possible to produce HXs with adequate performance using additive manufacturing, specifically laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), here we assess whether doing so is cost-effective. We describe a process-based cost model (PBCM) to estimate the cost of fabricating a MS-to-supercritical carbon dioxide HX using LPBF. The PBCM is designed to identify modifications to designs, process choices, and manufacturing innovations that have the greatest effect on manufacturing cost. Our PBCM identified HX design and LPBF process modifications that reduced projected HX cost from $750 per kilo-Watt thermal (kW-th) ($8/cm3) to $350/kW-th ($6/cm3) using currently available LPBF technology, and down to $220/kW-th ($4/cm3) with improvements in LPBF technology that are likely to be achieved in the near term. The PBCM also informed a redesign of the HX design that reduced projected costs to $140-160/kW-th ($3/cm3).

Different taste map for amiloride sensitivity, response frequency, and threshold to NaCl in the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract in rats.

Studies on taste bud cells and brain stem relay nuclei suggest that alternative pathways convey information regarding different taste qualities. Building on the hypothesis that amiloride (epithelial Na channel antagonist)-sensitive neurons respond to palatable salt (low-concentration) and amiloride-insensitive neurons respond to aversive salt (high-concentration), we investigated the histological distribution of taste-sensitive neurons in the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract in rats and their NaCl and amiloride sensitivities. We recorded neuronal activity in extracellular single units using multi-barrel glass micropipettes and reconstructed their locations on the rostrocaudal and mediolateral axes. Seventy-three taste-sensitive neurons were categorized into the best-taste category. The amiloride sensitivities of the 31 neurons were examined for 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 M NaCl. The neuronal distribution of amiloride-sensitive neurons was located in the lateral region, while amiloride-insensitive neurons were located in the medial region. The amiloride-sensitive neurons responded to low salt concentrations, signaling the NaCl levels required by body fluids. Amiloride-insensitive neurons were silent at low salt concentrations but may function as warning signals for high salt concentrations. Low-threshold and/or high-response neurons were located in the rostrolateral region. In contrast, high-threshold and/or low-response neurons were located in the caudal-medial region.

Aquibaculum sediminis sp. nov., a halotolerant bacteria isolated from salt lake sediment.

An aerobic, Gram-stain negative bacterium was isolated from sediment samples of Barkol salt lake in Hami City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, with the number EGI_FJ10229T. The strain is ellipse-shaped, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, and has white, round, smooth, opaque colonies on marine 2216 E agar plate. Growth occurs at 4.0-37.0 â„ƒ (optimal:30.0 â„ƒ), pH 7.0-9.0 (optimal: pH 8.0) and NaCl concentration of 0-8.0% (optimal: 3.0%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene and genome sequences indicated that the isolated strain should be assigned to the genus Aquibaculum and was most closely related to Aquibaculum arenosum CAU 1616 T. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) and Average amino-acid identity (AAI) values between the type species of the genus Aquibaculum and other related type species were lower than the threshold values recommended for bacterial species. The genomic DNA G + C content of EGI_FJ10229T was 65.41%. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and unidentified phospholipid. The major fatty acids (> 5%) were C19:0 cyclo ω8c (42.0%) and C18:1 ω7c (33.78%). The respiratory quinone identified was Q-10. Differential phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of this strain and species of genus Aquibaculum showed that the strain should be classified as representing a new species belonging to this genus, for which the name Aquibaculum sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the proposed novel species is EGI_FJ10229T (= KCTC 8570 T = GDMCC 1.4598 T).

Highly Conductive Supramolecular Salt Gel Electrolyte for Flexible Supercapacitors.

Conductive gels have greatly facilitated the development of flexible energy storage devices, including supercapacitors, batteries, and triboelectric nanogenerators. However, it is challenging for gel electrolytes to tackle the trade-off issues between mechanical properties and conductivity. Herein, a strategy of all inorganic salt-driven supramolecular networks is presented to construct gel electrolytes with high conductivity and reliable mechanical performance for flexible supercapacitors. The salt gel is successfully fabricated by combining a salt supramolecular network constructed by NH4Mo7O24·4H2O and FeCl3·6H2O and a polymer network of poly(vinyl alcohol). The inorganic salt supramolecular network serves as a rigid self-supporting framework in the hydrogel system for improving the mechanical properties and providing abundant active sites for accelerating ion transport. Furthermore, the salt gel-enabled supercapacitors are equipped and exhibit a high specific capacitance (199.4 mF cm-2) and excellent energy density (27.69 µWh cm-2). Moreover, the flexible supercapacitors not only present remarkable cyclic stability after 3000 charging/discharging cycles but also exhibit good electrochemical stability even under severe deformation conditions. The strategy of salt-gel-driven flexible supercapacitors would provide fresh thinking for the development of advanced flexible energy storage fields.

Microbiome-metabolome analysis insight into the effects of high-salt diet on hemorheological functions in SD rats.

The present study examined the effect of two dietary regimens with elevated salt concentrations (4% and 8% salt) on hemorheological functions of SD rats, and explored the underlying mechanisms mainly through microbiome-metabolome analysis. An 8% HSD substantially altered the hemorheological parameters, and compromised intestinal barrier integrity and reduced the short-chain fatty acid levels. The microbiome-metabolome analysis revealed that 49 genus-specific microorganisms and 156 metabolites showed a consistent trend after exposure to both 4% and 8% HSDs. Pathway analysis identified significant alterations in key metabolites within bile acid and arachidonic acid metabolism pathways. A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis verified the link between high dietary salt intake and hemorheology. It also suggested that some key microbes and metabolites (such as Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136, Ruminiclostridium_6, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010, TXB-2, 11,12-diHETrE, glycochenodeoxycholate) may involve in abnormalities in blood rheology caused by high salt intake. Collectively, our findings underscored the adverse effects of high dietary salt on hemorheological functions and provide new insight into the underlying mechanism based on microbiome-metabolome analysis.

Knockdown of ß-conglycinin α' and α subunits alters seed protein composition and improves salt tolerance in soybean.

Soybean is an important plant source of protein worldwide. Increasing demands for soybean can be met by improving the quality of its seed protein. In this study, GmCG-1, which encodes the ß-conglycinin α' subunit, was identified via combined genome-wide association study and transcriptome analysis. We subsequently knocked down GmCG-1 and its paralogues GmCG-2 and GmCG-3 with CRISPR-Cas9 technology and generated two stable multigene knockdown mutants. As a result, the ß-conglycinin content decreased, whereas the 11S/7S ratio, total protein content and sulfur-containing amino acid content significantly increased. Surprisingly, the globulin mutant exhibited salt tolerance in both the germination and seedling stages. Little is known about the relationship between seed protein composition and the salt stress response in soybean. Metabonomics and RNA-seq analysis indicated that compared with the WT, the mutant was formed through a pathway that was more similar to that of active salicylic acid biosynthesis; however, the synthesis of cytokinin exhibited greater defects, which could lead to increased expression of plant dehydrin-related salt tolerance proteins and cell membrane ion transporters. Population evolution analysis suggested that GmCG-1, GmCG-2, and GmCG-3 were selected during soybean domestication. The soybean accessions harboring GmCG-1Hap1 presented relatively high 11S/7S ratios and relatively high salt tolerance. In conclusion, knockdown of the ß-conglycinin α and α' subunits can improve the nutritional quality of soybean seeds and increase the salt tolerance of soybean plants, providing a strategy for designing soybean varieties with high nutritional value and high salt tolerance.

Study on pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution of hyperin, astragalin, kaempferol-3-O-ß-D-glucuronide from rats with multiple administrations of Semen Cuscutae processed with salt solution with effect of treating recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Introduction: Semen Cuscutae is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that tonifies the kidneys and prevents miscarriage. According to Chinese medicine theory, kidney deficiency is one of the main causes of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). The previous studies showed that raw product of Semen Cuscutae (SP) and Semen Cuscutae processed with salt solution (YP) have ameliorative effects on RSA, and that YP is superior to SP. However, the active components of YP to ameliorate RSA remain unclear and require further studies. The objective of this study is to investigate the active components of YP in ameliorating RSA. Methods: First, a rat model of RSA was established using hydroxyurea in combination with mifepristone. Aqueous decoction of YP was given by gavage to rats. Second, pregnant rats were sampled on days 5, 7, 9, 10 and 12 during the modelling period. The content of Hyperin (HY), astragalin (AS) and kaempferol-3-O-ß-D-glucuronide (KA) in blood and liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney tissues were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The pharmacodynamic indicators including progesterone (P), chorionic gonadotropin ß (ß-HCG), estradiol (E2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TFN-α), interleukin 4 (IL-4), and tryptophan (TRP) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Pearson's correlation analysis and grey relational analysis were used to establish the relationship between the pharmacodynamic indexes and chemical constituents. Results: The pharmacokinetic results showed that the area under curve (AUC) value of KA was the largest. The tissue distribution results showed that astragalin was widely distributed in liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney in the RSA model rats, while HY was detected only in the uterus, and KA was detected only in the kidney. The pearson correlationl analysis showed that KA was significantly and positively correlated with the contents of E2, P, ß-HCG and TRP. Both AS and HY were significantly negatively correlated with the content of TNF-α, respectively. Discussion: This study reveals the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of KA, AS and HY in rats with RSA. It was elucidated that all three were involved in the regulation of progesterone levels and immune function. It initially revealed the mechanism of action of YP in enhancing the improvement of RSA, and it provided a theoretical basis for the quality assessment of YP.

The development of sodium reduction targets for New Zealand fast foods and a comparison with the current sodium contents of products.

Sodium intake attributed to fast food is increasing globally. This research aims to develop maximum sodium reduction targets for New Zealand (NZ) fast foods and compare them with the current sodium content of products. Sodium content and serving size data were sourced from an existing database of major NZ fast-food chains. Target development followed a step-by-step process, informed by international targets and serving sizes, and previous methods for packaged supermarket foods. Sodium reduction targets were set per 100 g and serving, using a 40% reduction in the mean sodium content or the value met by 35-45% of products. Thirty-four per cent (1797/5246) of products in the database had sodium data available for target development. Sodium reduction targets were developed for 17 fast-food categories. Per 100 g targets ranged from 158 mg for 'Other salads' to 665 mg for 'Mayonnaise and dressings'. Per serving targets ranged from 118 mg for 'Sauce' to 1270 mg for 'Burgers with cured meat'. The largest difference between the current mean sodium content and corresponding target was for 'Other salads' and 'Grilled Chicken' (both -40% per 100g) and 'Fries and potato products' (-45% per serving), and the smallest, 'Pizza with cured meat toppings' (-3% per 100 g) and 'Pies, tarts, sausage rolls and quiches' (-4% per serving). The results indicate the display of nutrition information should be mandated and there is considerable room for sodium reduction in NZ fast foods. The methods described provide a model for other countries to develop country-specific, fast-food sodium reduction targets.

Restriction of salt, alcohol and coffee intake and Ménière's disease: insight from Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Restricting salt, caffeine, and alcohol intake is commonly recommended as a first-line treatment for patients with Ménière's disease (MD). However, it remains unclear whether these interventions effectively improve symptoms of MD. Therefore, we conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to evaluate the relationship between these dietary modifications and MD. Methods: Summary statistics for salt added to food, alcohol consumption, coffee consumption, and MD were sourced from the United Kingdom Biobank, GSCAN, and the FinnGen study, involving up to 941,280 participants. The main analyses were performed using the random-effects inverse-variance weighted (IVW) approach and were complemented by four additional methods. Multiple sensitivity analyses were performed to validate the findings, and both forward and reverse MR analyses were employed to address potential reverse causality bias. Results: The primary MR results using the IVW method revealed that salt added to food (OR = 0.719, 95% CI: 0.429-1.206; p = 0.211), alcohol consumption (OR = 0.834, 95% CI: 0.427-1.628; p = 0.595), and coffee consumption (OR = 0.852, 95% CI: 0.555-1.306; p = 0.461) were not significantly correlated with MD. In reverse analysis, no evidence of significant effect was found from MD to salt added to food (OR = 1.000, 95% CI: 0.993-1.007; p = 0.957), alcohol consumption (OR = 0.998, 95% CI: 0.987-1.008; p = 0.682), and coffee consumption (OR = 0.998, 95% CI: 0.985-1.011; p = 0.72). Conclusion: This MR analysis did not identify convincing evidence to support the idea that restricting salt, caffeine, and alcohol intake is beneficial for the treatment of MD.

Recent innovations in 3D solar evaporators and their functionalities.

Interfacial solar evaporation (ISE) has emerged as a promising technology to alleviate global water scarcity via energy-efficient purification of both wastewater and seawater. While ISE was originally identified and developed during studies of simple double-layered two-dimensional (2D) evaporators, observed limitations in evaporation rate and functionality soon led to the development of three-dimensional (3D) evaporators, which is now recognized as one of the most pivotal milestones in the research field. 3D evaporators significantly enhance the evaporation rates beyond the theoretical limits of 2D evaporators. Furthermore, 3D evaporators could have multifaceted functionalities originating from various functional evaporation surfaces and 3D structures. This review summarizes recent advances in 3D evaporators, focusing on rational design, fabrication and energy nexus of 3D evaporators, and the derivative functions for improving solar evaporation performance and exploring novel applications. Future research prospects are also proposed based on the in-depth understanding of the fundamental aspects of 3D evaporators and the requirements for practical applications.

Single candidate gene for salt tolerance of Vigna nakashimae (Ohwi) Ohwi & Ohashi identified by QTL mapping, whole genome sequencing and triplicated RNA-seq analyses.

Salt tolerance has been an important issue as a solution for soil salinization and groundwater depletion. To challenge this issue, genetic diversity of wild plants must be harnessed. Here we report a discovery of a candidate gene for salt tolerance in Vigna nakashimae, one of the coastal species in the genus Vigna. Using intraspecific variation, we performed a forward genetic analysis and identified a strong QTL region harboring ~200 genes. To further narrow down the candidate genes, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis, using the genome sequence of azuki bean (V. angularis) as a reference. However the detected differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) did not include those related to salt tolerance. As we suspected that the target gene in V. nakashimae is missing in V. angularis, we sequenced the whole genome sequence of V. nakashimae with long-reads. By re-analyzing the transcriptome data with the new reference genome, we successfully identified POCO1 as a candidate gene, which was missing not only in V. angularis but also in the salt-sensitive accession of V. nakashimae. Further comparative analysis revealed that the tolerant genotypes conserved the ancestral form of the locus, while the sensitive genotypes did not. We also emphasize the pitfalls in our study, such as position effect in a growth chamber, missing important genes in the reference genome, and limited reproducibility of RNA-seq experiments.

Diversity of salt tolerance in Vigna nakashimae, wild related species of the azuki bean (Vigna angularis).

Vigna nakashimae is a wild species closely related to the azuki bean (V. angularis), with salt-tolerance abilities. The present study aimed to explore the genetic and salt tolerance diversity within the species, by evaluating the phylogenetic relationships of 55 accessions of V. nakashimae including 25 newly collected from the Goto Islands and Iki in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. We conducted salt-tolerance analysis for 48 of the accessions, including 18 of the newly collected accessions. Phylogenetic analysis based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms obtained from MIGseq and RADseq analyses revealed the genetic diversity of V. nakashimae to reflect the geographic arrangement of the habitat islands. Korean accessions formed one clade, while Japanese accessions predominantly grouped into Uku Island and Fukue Island subclades. Within this population, we identified "G4-2" (JP248291) as the most salt tolerant, surpassing even the previously reported "Ukushima" accession. Both accessions collected from Uku Island, with accessions belonging to the Uku Island subclade exhibiting a strong trend of salt tolerance. Our results strongly suggest the occurrence of genetic mutations conferring enhanced salt tolerance in specific clade and region. This study highlights the potential of genetic analyses for identifying regions suitable for collecting valuable genetic resources for stress tolerance.

Cerebral salt wasting syndrome in an elderly patient with cerebral small vessel disease.

Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disturbance seen among the acute geriatric admissions with two common diagnostic entities; the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) and cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSWS) that have different clinical and biochemical presentations, different pathogenesis and therapeutic approaches. Hyponatremia caused by CSWS in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) a prevalent condition among the elderly, can be masked in geriatric patients with concomitant fluctuating neurological deficits. Correct diagnosis is crucial to appropriate management. In this case report we describe an association between hyponatremia caused by CSWS in a patient with cSVD.

Associations between exposure to advertising of foods high in fats, salt and sugar and purchase of energy and nutrients: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess associations between self-reported advertising exposure to foods high in fats, salt and sugar and household purchases of energy, nutrients and specific product categories. DESIGN: A cross-sectional design was used. Advertising exposure data were gathered using a questionnaire administered to the main shopper of each household, and purchase data from supermarkets and other stores for these households were accessed for a 4-week period during February 2019. SETTING: Households in London and the North of England. PARTICIPANTS: Representative households (N 1289) from the Kantar Fast Moving Consumer Goods Panel. Main shoppers were predominantly female (71 %), with a mean age of 54 years (±13). RESULTS: Linear regression models identified that exposure to foods high in fats, salt and sugar advertising through traditional mediums (including broadcast and print), but not digital, transport, recreational or functional mediums, was associated with greater purchases of energy (9779 kcal; 95 % CI 3515, 16 043), protein (416 g; 95 % CI 161, 671), carbohydrate (1164 g; 95 % CI 368, 1886) and sugar (514 g; 95 % CI 187, 841). Generalised linear models showed that individuals who reported exposure to sugary drink advertising were more likely to purchase sugary drinks (1·16; 95 % CI 2·94, 4·99) but did not purchase more energy or nutrients from sugary drinks. There was no evidence of associations between exposure to advertising for sugary cereals or sweet snacks and purchases from these categories. CONCLUSIONS: There was a strong influence of traditional advertising and sugar-sweetened beverage advertising on household food and drink purchases, thus supporting the need for advertising restrictions across traditional formats and for sugary drinks specifically.

Effect of educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) on amount of salt intake in pregnant women with PreHypertension.

BACKGROUND: Prehypertension is one of the common disorders during pregnancy. Reducing salt intake is among the best cost-effective interventions to reduce the risk of hypertension. The present study aimed to explore the effect of an educational intervention based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) on amount of salt consumed by prehypertensive pregnant women. METHODS: The present quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2022 on 61 prehypertensive pregnant women visiting the Comprehensive Health Services Centers in Birjand, Iran. Pregnant women were selected through a convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. A blood pressure test and a 24-hour urine test were taken in 3 stages (before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention). A reliable and valid questionnaire based on the TPB was used to measure the cognitive variables. The intervention program included three training sessions based on the TPB held on an online platform (WhatsApp social network). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and longitudinal marginal model with the GEE approach in SPSS19. The significance level for all statistical tests was set at p < 0 0.05. RESULTS: After intervention, the mean score of perceived behavioral control (p = 0.02), intention (p = 0.004), and salt consumption behavior (p = 0.03) increased significantly in the intervention group, and the mean score of systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.01) decreased significantly in this group. In the control group, a statistically significant difference was observed in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the subjects (p < 0.01). However, the score of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intention, salt consumption behavior and the daily salt intake did not show a statistically significant difference over time (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present findings showed that the perceived behavioral control, intention, behavior, systolic and diastolic blood pressure can be modifiable variables to improve the amount of salt consumed by pre-hypertensive pregnant women. Therefore, we recommend that the present model be used to develop interventions to improve health indicators in pregnant women as a highly susceptible group in society.