Fermentation of soymilk by Lactobacillus acidipiscis isolated from Chinese stinky tofu capable of efficiently biotransforming isoflavone glucosides to dihydrodaidzein and dihydrogenistein.

BACKGROUND: The soy isoflavone microbial metabolites dihydrodaidzein (DHD), dihydrogenistein (DHG), equol and 5-hydroxy-equol are generally more biologically active than their precursors daidzein and genistein. Bacteria responsible for isoflavone metabolism have been isolated and identified. Fermented soymilk is a potential functional food; however, there are few lactic acid bacteria capable of metabolizing soy isoflavones. RESULTS: A newly isolated Gram-positive facultative anaerobic bacterium, which was named Lactobacillus acidipiscis HAU-FR7, was isolated from the traditional Chinese fermented soy product 'stinky tofu'. Bacterium strain HAU-FR7 can grow under aerobic conditions and can also convert most of the daidzin and genistin in soymilk into DHD and DHG, respectively. The concentrations of DHD and DHG produced were 183 and 134 µmol L-1 , respectively, after fermentation for 24 h. Strain HAU-FR7 does not produce the biogenic amines cadaverine, putrescine, histamine or tyramine, and an antibiotic susceptibility test showed that HAU-FR7 is sensitive to nine of the ten tested antibiotics, except for vancomycin. Moreover, the 1,1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging capacity of soymilk fermented with HAU-FR7 was significantly higher than that of unfermented soymilk. CONCLUSION: A facultative anaerobic lactic acid bacterium, designated Lactobacillus acidipiscis HAU-FR7, is capable of reducing the soy isoflavone glucosides daidzin and genistin in soymilk to DHD and DHG efficiently, even in the presence of atmospheric oxygen. The biotransformation activity of HAU-FR7 grown in soymilk is higher than that in de Man-Rogosa-Sharpe liquid culture medium. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Analysis of chemosensory genes in Semiothisa cinerearia reveals sex-specific contributions for type-II sex pheromone chemosensation.

Insects employ a sensitive chemosensory system to accurately recognize external odorants, which help them to make a behavioral response quickly. Semiothisa cinerearia has caused serious damages to Sophora japonica L. in recent years, and there is still a lack of effective strategy to control the pest. Although the two type-II sex pheromones of S. cinerearia, 6Z,9Z-cis-3,4-epoxy-17:H and 3Z,6Z,9Z-17:H, have been identified for 30 years, the molecular mechanisms underlying the chemosensation of the two sex pheromones are still unknown. Here, we found that there are differences in the types of antennae sensilla between sexes, and revealed 146 putative chemosensory genes in the antennal transcriptome. Among these genes, 11 and 40 of them displayed male-biased and female-biased expression, respectively. Our findings greatly improve the chemosensory gene resources for S. cinerearia and provide a foundation for functional studies of these sex-biased genes on the chemosensation of sex pheromones and on other sex-related behaviors.

Optimal control for a parallel hybrid hydraulic excavator using particle swarm optimization.

Optimal control using particle swarm optimization (PSO) is put forward in a parallel hybrid hydraulic excavator (PHHE). A power-train mathematical model of PHHE is illustrated along with the analysis of components' parameters. Then, the optimal control problem is addressed, and PSO algorithm is introduced to deal with this nonlinear optimal problem which contains lots of inequality/equality constraints. Then, the comparisons between the optimal control and rule-based one are made, and the results show that hybrids with the optimal control would increase fuel economy. Although PSO algorithm is off-line optimization, still it would bring performance benchmark for PHHE and also help have a deep insight into hybrid excavators.

[Muscles reposition in correction of nasal deformity after unilateral cleft lip].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effective method for correction of nasal deformity after unilateral cleft lip. METHODS: 50 cases with secondary nasal deformity after unilateral cleft lip were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients underwent nasal and lip muscle reposition operation to restore the symmetry of nasal alar. RESULTS: The nasal deformity was greatly improved in all the 50 cases. The malposition of nasal column and nasal alar was corrected. The symmetry was markedly improved. The measurement before and after operation showed significant difference ( P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The reasons of secondary nasal deformity after unilateral cleft lip are complicated. The muscle reposition operation can effectively improve the deformity.