Development of a coupled model to simulate and assess arsenic contamination and impact factors in the Jinsha River Basin, China.

With the increasing severity of arsenic (As) pollution, quantifying the environmental behavior of pollutant based on numerical model has become an important approach to determine the potential impacts and finalize the precise control strategies. Taking the industrial-intensive Jinsha River Basin as typical area, a two-dimensional hydrodynamic water quality model coupled with Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was developed to accurately simulate the watershed-scale distribution and transport of As in the terrestrial and aquatic environment at high spatial and temporal resolution. The effects of hydro-climate change, hydropower station construction and non-point source emissions on As were quantified based on the coupled model. The result indicated that higher As concentration areas mainly centralized in urban districts and concentration slowly decreased from upstream to downstream. Due to the enhanced rainfall, the As concentration was significantly higher during the rainy season than the dry season. Hydro-climate change and the construction of hydropower station not only affected the dissolved As concentration, but also affected the adsorption and desorption of As in sediment. Furthermore, As concentration increased with the input of non-point source pollution, with the maximum increase about 30%, resulting that non-point sources contributed important pollutant impacts to waterways. The coupled model used in pollutant behavior analysis is general with high potential application to predict and mitigate water pollution.

Superwetting PVA/cellulose aerogel with asymmetric structure for oil/water separation and solar-driven seawater desalination.

Extracting clean water from oily wastewater and seawater is one of the effective strategies to alleviate the freshwater crisis. However, achieving both high separation efficiency and excellent salt resistance remain challenges for materials. Herein, a novel methyltrichlorosilane-modified polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose aerogel (MPCA) was prepared by freeze drying, chemical cross-linking, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods. The superwetting MPCA presented an asymmetric structure, in which the small dense pores at the top surface facilitated the efficient separation of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions and the large pores on the bottom surface were beneficial for brine exchange. The as-prepared superwetting aerogel was suitable for the separation of various W/O emulsions with excellent separation flux (631.9-2368.7 L·m-2·h-1) and outstanding separation efficiency (99.5 %). In addition, MPCA achieved a high evaporation efficiency of 1.39 kg·m-2·h-1 and a satisfactory energy conversion efficiency of 89.7 %. Moreover, the unique asymmetric structure endowed the evaporator excellent salt resistance and could self-dissolve the accumulated salt in 20 min. The as-prepared MPCA could achieve efficient W/O emulsion separation as well as produce freshwater in seawater, providing a new strategy for oily waste seawater purification.

Unique Fluorescence of Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogens on Solid Surfaces Modified by Silicone Nanofilaments.

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) has revolutionized solid-state fluorescence by overcoming the limitations of aggregation-caused quenching. While extensively studied in solutions, AIE's potential on solid surfaces remains largely unexplored, which can be fundamentally interesting and practically useful. In this work, we demonstrate the successful dispersion of tetraphenylethylene (TPE), one of the most classical AIE luminogens, on solid surfaces coated with silicone nanofilaments (SNF). The high surface area of SNF enables the uniform immobilization of TPE luminogens, replicating their dispersal behavior in solutions. Compared to unmodified surfaces, TPE dispersed on SNF-coated surfaces exhibits significantly enhanced fluorescence intensity. Moreover, a fascinating dynamic blue shift in TPE emission on SNF-coated surfaces is observed, with the velocity controllable by the surface group of SNF by up to 4 orders of magnitude, showing that TPE can be applied to the judgment of the nanoscale morphology and surface free energy of the solid surface. Owing to the superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning properties of SNF, the on-surface fluorescence can be sustained underwater and is resistant to dust contamination and rain erosion, with potential applications of information encryption presented. Our approach of uniformly dispersing AIE luminogens on nanomaterials with high surface areas provides a general methodology for creating on-surface fluorescence and saving the usage of expensive AIE luminogens in applications.

Diagnostic value of D-dimer to fibrinogen ratio for pulmonary embolism in postpartum women.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism is a common disease associated with high mortality and morbidity. Diagnosing pulmonary embolism is challenging due to diverse clinical presentations and the lack of specific biomarkers. The study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value on pulmonary embolism for postpartum women by D-dimer to fibrinogen ratio, and it combined with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio or platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio. METHODS: A total of 537 women with suspected pulmonary embolism were selected as the research subjects from the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital between 1 January 2019 and 31 October 2022. The D-dimer to fibrinogen ratio and it combined with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio or platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were applied to evaluate the clinical probability of pulmonary embolism, and the positive predictive value of both scores were calculated using computed tomography pulmonary arteriography as a gold standard. The diagnostic value of D-dimer to fibrinogen ratio, combined with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio or platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio was evaluated by the area under the curve, sensitivity, specificity, and other indicators in the receiver operator characteristic curve. RESULTS: Among the 502 women included for analysis, 194 (38.65%) were definitely diagnosed as pulmonary embolism. The positive predictive values of D-dimer to fibrinogen ratio and it combined with platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio or neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were 70.1%, 50.5%, and 56.5%, respectively in the postpartum women, the area under the curve for the D-dimer to fibrinogen ratio and it combined with platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio or neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were 0.606 (95%CI: 0.562-0.650), 0.624 (95%CI: 0.575-0.673), and 0.639 (95%CI: 0.592-0.686), respectively. The negative predictive values of D-dimer to fibrinogen ratio, it combined with platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio or neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were 50.5%, 70.1%, and 69.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic value of the D-dimer to fibrinogen ratio was higher than the D-dimer for the postpartum women with suspected pulmonary embolism. The combination of either the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio or the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio with D-dimer to fibrinogen ratio is an appropriate strategy to rule out pulmonary embolism.

Day and Night Reversed Feeding Aggravates High-Fat Diet-Induced Abnormalities in Intestinal Flora and Lipid Metabolism in Adipose Tissue of Mice.

BACKGROUND: The incongruity between dietary patterns and the circadian clock poses an elevated risk for metabolic health issues, particularly obesity and associated metabolic disorders. The intestinal microflora engages in regulating various physiological functions of the host through its metabolites. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the impact of reversed feeding schedules during the day and night on intestinal flora and lipid metabolism in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. METHODS: Mice aged 8-10 wk were subjected to either daytime or nighttime feeding and were administered a control or high-fat diet for 18 wk. At the end of the experiment, various assessments were conducted, including analysis of serum biochemic indices, histologic examination, evaluation of gene and protein expression in adipose tissue, and scrutiny of changes in intestinal microbial composition. RESULTS: The results showed that day-night reversed feeding caused an increase in fasting blood glucose and exacerbated the high-fat diet-induced weight gain and lipid abnormalities. The mRNA expression levels of Leptin and Dgat1 were increased by day-night reversed feeding, which also reduced the expression level of adiponectin under the high-fat diet. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the protein concentrations of PPARγ, SREBP1c, and CD36. Inverted feeding schedules led to a reduction in intestinal microbial diversity, an increase in the abundance of inflammation-related bacteria, such as Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002, and a suppression of beneficial bacteria, including Akkermansia, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Anaeroplasma, Bifidobacterium, Carnobacterium, and Odoribacter. Acinetobacter exhibited a significant negative correlation with Leptin and Fasn, suggesting potential involvement in the regulation of lipid metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: The results elucidated the abnormalities of lipid metabolism and intestinal flora caused by day-night reversed feeding, which exacerbates the adverse effects of a high-fat diet on lipid metabolism and intestinal microflora. This reversal in feeding patterns may disrupt both intestinal and lipid metabolism homeostasis by altering the composition and abundance of intestinal microflora in mice.

Antigravity Autonomous Superwettable Pumps for Spontaneous Separation of Oil-Water Emulsions.

Oil-water separation based on superwettable materials offers a promising way for the treatment of oil-water mixtures and emulsions. Nevertheless, such separation techniques often require complex devices and external energy input. Therefore, it remains a great challenge to separate oil-water mixtures and emulsions through an energy-efficient, economical, and sustainable way. Here, a novel approach demonstrating the successful separation of oil-water emulsions using antigravity-driven autonomous superwettable pumps is presented. By transitioning from traditional gravity-driven to antigravity-driven separation, the study showcases the unprecedented success in purifying oil/water from emulsions by capillary/siphon-driven superwettable autonomous pumps. These pumps, composed of self-organized interconnected channels formed by the packing of superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic sand particles, exhibit outstanding separation flux, efficiency, and recyclability. The findings of this study not only open up a new avenue for oil-water emulsion separation but also hold promise for profound impacts in the field.

Isobavachalcone: A redox antifungal agent impairs the mitochondria protein of Cryptococcus neoformans.

Isobavachalcone (IBC) is a natural small molecule with various biological activities; however, its inhibitory effects on Cryptococcus neoformans remain unclear. In our study, IBC showed a good antifungal effect. Through in vitro experiments, its minimum inhibitory concentration was 0.5-1 µg/mL. It exhibited the same antifungal effect as Amphotericin B in brain and lung infections in in vivo experiments. IBC also showed a synergistic antifungal effect with emodin with lower toxicity, and C. neoformans did not develop drug resistance to IBC. In the mechanistic study, significantly damaged mitochondria of C. neoformans, a significant reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential and adenosine triphosphate production, and an increase in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) caused by IBC were observed using transmission electron microscopy. Through drug affinity-responsive target stability combined with phenotype detection, riboflavin synthases of aconitase and succinate dehydrogenase were screened. Molecular docking, quantitative polymerase chain reaction experiments, target inhibitor and agonist intervention, molecular interaction measurements, and minimum inhibitory concentration detection of the constructed expression strains revealed that IBC targeted the activity of these two enzymes, interfered by the tricarboxylic acid cycle, inhibited the production of adenosine triphosphate, blocked electron transport, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, and induced antioxidation imbalance and reactive oxygen species accumulation, thus producing an antifungal effect. Therefore, IBC is a promising lead drug and redox antifungal agent for C. neoformans.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of OSU-2S in the Treatment of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer and Screening of Potential Targets of Action.

(1) Background: OSU-2S is a derivative of FTY720 and exhibits significant inhibitory effects on various cancer cells. There is currently no research on the mechanism of the impact of OSU-2S on NSCLC development. We analysed and validated the hub genes and pharmacodynamic effects of OSU-2S to treat NSCLC. (2) Methods: The hub genes of OSU-2S for the treatment of NSCLC were screened in PharmMapper, genecard, and KM Plotter database by survival and expression analysis. The effect of OSU-2S on hub gene expression was verified by Western blot analysis. The ex vivo and in vivo efficacy of OSU-2S on tumour growth was verified using A549 cells and a xenografted animal model. (3) Results: A total of 7 marker genes for OSU-2S treatment of NSCLC were obtained. AURKA and S1PR1 were screened as hub genes. Significant differences in the expression of AURKA and S1PR1 between normal and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tissues were found in the GEPIA2 database; Western blot showed that OSU-2S could affect p-AURKA and S1PR1 protein expression. OSU-2S significantly inhibited tumour growth in A549 cells and xenografted animal models. (4) Conclusions: Our study confirms the inhibitory effect of OSU-2S on NSCLC, screens and demonstrates its potential targets AURKA(p-AURKA) and S1PR1, and provides a research basis for treating NSCLC with OSU-2S.

Analysis of the Effect of High-Simulation Teaching on Nursing Students' Learning of Nursing Knowledge on Double J Tubes after Ureteral Soft Scope Lithotomy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of high-simulation teaching on nursing students' learning knowledge related to stoma tube care after ureteral flexible mirror lithotripsy. METHODS: A total of 80 nursing students who were admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to December 2022 were selected as the study objects. They were divided into the control group (traditional teaching) and observation group (high-simulation teaching based on traditional teaching) in accordance with teaching method. General demographic information and specialty theory, Objective Structured Clinical Examination, Chinese Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory, Teaching Quality Evaluation Scale and System for Evaluation of Teaching Qualities scores were collected from both groups of nursing students. Data were analysed with t- and chi-square tests. RESULTS: The general demographics of the two groups were not statistically significantly different (p > 0.05). No significant differences in examination scores, clinical skills, thinking skills, teaching quality and nursing students' satisfaction were found between the two groups before teaching (p > 0.05). Examination scores, clinical skills, thinking skills, teaching quality and nursing students' satisfaction were higher in the observation group than in the control group after teaching (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: High-simulation teaching can effectively improve theoretical and clinical skill examination results, strengthen critical thinking, and improve teaching quality and nursing students' overall satisfaction with teaching. Therefore, it has application value.

[Total polyphenols of Cydonia oblonga inhibited proliferation and migration of renal cancer cells by PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway].

The mechanism of total polyphenols of Cydonia oblonga Miller(TPCOM) against kidney cancer was elucidated through a combination of network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and experimental verification. The active polyphenolic compounds from C. oblonga were screened by network pharmacological techniques and kidney cancer-related targets were collected through the database. The differential gene expression analysis was performed on RNA sequencing data from tumor tissue and normal tissue of kidney cancer patients obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO) database. The results of network pharmacology predictions and differential gene expression analysis were used to identify the core genes targeted by TPCOM in kidney cancer. Survival analysis was conducted to identify key targets that could impact patient survival, followed by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) and Gene Ontology(GO) enrichment analyses. Cell proliferation and activity experiments(cell counting kit-8) were conducted using TPCOM at concentrations ranging from 20 to 640 µg·mL~(-1) on 786-O and Renca cells. Additionally, TPCOM at concentrations of 40, 80, and 160 µg·mL~(-1) was applied to kidney cancer cells to assess its effect on cell migration and its regulation of protein expression levels related to the protein kinase B(Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K) signaling pathways. Network pharmacology predicted eight active polyphenolic compounds from C. oblonga. Survival analysis revealed 15 significantly differentially expressed genes in kidney cancer that were affected by TPCOM and had a significant impact on patient survival. KEGG and GO analysis results indicated that these 15 targets were primarily associated with the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, cell migration, and proliferation. The results showed that TPCOM could inhibit the proliferation of 786-O and Renca cells, with IC_(50) values of 121.4 and 137.9 µg·mL~(-1), respectively. TPCOM was also found to inhibit the migration of these cells and suppress the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. TPCOM may exert its anti-kidney cancer effects by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby restraining the proliferation and migration of kidney cancer cells. This study provides a foundation for the research on the anti-tumor effects of natural product C. oblonga, particularly in Xinjiang, and holds significance for further promoting its development and utilization.

Antitumor effects of a novel photosensitizer-mediated photodynamic therapy and its influence on the cell transcriptome.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising cancer treatment. This study investigated the antitumor effects and mechanisms of a novel photosensitizer meso-5-[ρ-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid-aminophenyl]-10,15,20-triphenyl-porphyrin (DTP) mediated PDT (DTP-PDT). Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis were measured with a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, DCFH-DA fluorescent probe, and Hoechst staining, respectively. Cell apoptosis- and autophagy-related proteins were examined using western blotting. RNA sequencing was used to screen differentially expressed mRNAs (DERs), and bioinformatic analysis was performed to identify the major biological events after DTP-PDT. Our results show that DTP-PDT inhibited cell growth and induced ROS generation in MCF-7 and SGC7901 cells. The ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and the P38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 alleviated DTP-PDT-induced cytotoxicity. DTP-PDT induced cell apoptosis together with upregulated Bax and downregulated Bcl-2, which could also be inhibited by NAC or SB203580. The level of LC3B-II, a marker of autophagy, was increased by DTP-PDT. A total of 3496 DERs were obtained after DTP-PDT. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses indicated that DERs included those involved in cytosolic ribosomes, the nuclear lumen, protein binding, cell cycle, protein targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum, and ribosomal DNA replication. Disease Ontology and Reactome enrichment analyses indicated that DERs were associated with a variety of cancers and cell cycle checkpoints. Protein-protein interaction results demonstrated that cdk1 and rps27a ranked in the top 10 interacting genes. Therefore, DTP-PDT could inhibit cell growth and induce cell apoptosis and autophagy, partly through ROS and the P38 MAPK signaling pathway. Genes associated with the cell cycle, ribosomes, DNA replication, and protein binding may be the key changes in DTP-PDT-mediated cytotoxicity.

Effects of MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126 on FGF10-enhanced buffalo oocyte maturation in vitro.

Fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) plays critical roles in oocyte maturation and embryonic development; however, the specific pathway by which FGF10 promotes in vitro maturation of buffalo oocytes remains elusive. The present study was aimed at investigating the mechanism underlying effects of the FGF10-mediated extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) pathway on oocyte maturation and embryonic development in vitro. MEK1/2 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase) inhibitor U0126, alone or in combination with FGF10, was added to the maturation culture medium during maturation of the cumulus oocyte complex. Morphological observations, orcein staining, apoptosis detection, and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to evaluate oocyte maturation, embryonic development, and gene expression. U0126 affected oocyte maturation and embryonic development in vitro by substantially reducing the nuclear maturation of oocytes and expansion of the cumulus while increasing the apoptosis of cumulus cells. However, it did not have a considerable effect on glucose metabolism. These findings suggest that blocking the MEK/ERK pathway is detrimental to the maturation and embryonic development potential of buffalo oocytes. Overall, FGF10 may regulate the nuclear maturation of oocytes and cumulus cell expansion and apoptosis but not glucose metabolism through the MEK/ERK pathway. Our findings indicate that FGF10 regulates resumption of meiosis and expansion and survival of cumulus cells via MEK/ERK signaling during in vitro maturation of buffalo cumulus oocyte complexes. Elucidation of the mechanism of action of FGF10 and insights into oocyte maturation should advance buffalo breeding. Further studies should examine whether enhancement of MEK/ERK signaling improves embryonic development in buffalo.

Experimental Investigation of Uncertainty Relations for Non-Hermitian Operators.

Uncertainty relations for Hermitian operators have been confirmed through many experiments. However, previous experiments have only tested the special case of non-Hermitian operators, i.e., uncertainty relations for unitary operators. In this study, we explore uncertainty relations for general non-Hermitian operators, which include Hermitian and unitary operators as special cases. We perform experiments with both real and complex non-Hermitian operators for qubit states, and confirm the validity of the uncertainty relations within the experimental error. Our results provide experimental evidence of uncertainty relations for non-Hermitian operators. Furthermore, our methods for realizing and measuring non-Hermitian operators are valuable in characterizing open-system dynamics and enhancing parameter estimation.

Musashi-2 potentiates colorectal cancer immune infiltration by regulating the post-translational modifications of HMGB1 to promote DCs maturation and migration.

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of the non-histone protein high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) are involved in modulating inflammation and immune responses. Recent studies have implicated that the RNA-binding protein (RBP) Musashi-2 (MSI2) regulates multiple critical biological metabolic and immunoregulatory functions. However, the precise role of MSI2 in regulating PTMs and tumor immunity in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. Here, we present data indicating that MSI2 potentiates CRC immunopathology in colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC) mouse models, cell lines and clinical specimens, specifically via HMGB1-mediated dendritic cell (DC) maturation and migration, further contributes to the infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and inflammatory responses. Under stress conditions, MSI2 can exacerbate the production, nucleocytoplasmic transport and extracellular release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs)-HMGB1 in CRC cells. Mechanistically, MSI2 mainly enhances the disulfide HMGB1 production and protein translation via direct binding to nucleotides 1403-1409 in the HMGB1 3' UTR, and interacts with the cytoplasmic acetyltransferase P300 to upregulate its expression, further promoting the acetylation of K29 residue in HMGB1, thus leading to K29-HMGB1 nucleocytoplasmic translocation and extracellular release. Furthermore, blocking HMGB1 activity with glycyrrhizic acid (Gly) attenuates MSI2-mediated immunopathology and immune infiltration in CRC in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, this study suggests that MSI2 may improve the prognosis of CRC patients by reprogramming the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) through HMGB1-mediated PTMs, which might be a novel therapeutic option for CRC immunotherapy.

Identification and Characterization of a ceRNA Regulatory Network Involving LINC00482 and PRRC2B in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: Implications for COPD Pathogenesis and Diagnosis.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, characterized by intense lung infiltrations of immune cells (macrophages and monocytes). While existing studies have highlighted the crucial role of the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network in COPD development, the complexity and characteristics of the ceRNA network in monocytes remain unexplored. Methods: We downloaded messenger RNA (mRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) microarray data from GSE146560, GSE102915, and GSE71220 in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. This data was used to identify differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs), miRNAs (DEmiRNAs), and lncRNAs (DElncRNAs). Predicted miRNAs that bind to DElncRNAs were intersected with DEmiRNAs, forming a set of intersecting miRNAs. This set was then used to predict potential binding mRNAs, intersected with DEmRNAs, and underwent functional enrichment analysis using R software and the STRING database. The resulting triple regulatory network and hub genes were constructed using Cytoscape. Comparative Toxicomics Database (CTD) was utilized for disease correlation predictions, and ROC curve analysis assessed diagnostic accuracy. Results: Our study identified 5 lncRNAs, 4 miRNAs, and 149 mRNAs as differentially expressed. A lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed, and hub genes were selected through hub analysis. Enrichment analysis highlighted terms related to cell movement and gene expression regulation. We established a LINC00482-has-miR-6088-PRRC2B ceRNA network with diagnostic relevance for COPD. ROC analysis demonstrated the diagnostic value of these genes. Moreover, a positive correlation between LINC00482 and PRRC2B expression was observed in COPD PBMCs. The CTD database indicated their involvement in inflammatory responses. Conclusion: In summary, our study not only identified pivotal hub genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of COPD but also constructed a ceRNA regulatory network. This contributes to understanding the pathophysiological processes of COPD through bioinformatics analysis, expanding our knowledge of COPD, and providing a foundation for potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for COPD.

Study on the Frying Performance Evaluation of Refined Soybean Oil after PLC Enzymatic Degumming.

It is known that phospholipase C (PLC) enzymatic degumming can hydrolyze phospholipids into diacylglycerol (DAG), which improves the efficiency of oil processing. However, it is unclear whether the presence of DAG and the use of enzymes affect the performance of the oil. This paper evaluated the frying performance of PLC-degummed refined soybean oil. Following the chicken wings and potato chips frying trials, results revealed that after 30 cycles of frying, free fatty acid (FFA) levels were 0.22% and 0.21%, with total polar compounds (TPC) at 23.75% and 24.00%, and peroxide value (PV) levels were 5.90 meq/kg and 6.45 meq/kg, respectively. Overall, PLC-degummed refined soybean oil showed almost the same frying properties as traditional water-degummed refined oil in terms of FFA, PV, TPC, polymer content, viscosity, color, foaming of frying oils, and appearance of foods. Moreover, FFA, TPC, polymer content, foaming, and color showed significant positive correlations with each other (p < 0.05) in soybean oil intermittent frying processing.

Mechanistic research: Selenium regulates virulence factors, reducing adhesion ability and inflammatory damage of Helicobacter pylori.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenicity of Helicobacter pylori is dependent on factors including the environment and the host. Although selenium is closely related to pathogenicity as an environmental factor, the specific correlation between them remains unclear. AIM: To investigate how selenium acts on virulence factors and reduces their toxicity. METHODS: H. pylori strains were induced by sodium selenite. The expression of cytotoxin-associated protein A (CagA) and vacuolating cytotoxin gene A (VacA) was determined by quantitative PCR and Western blotting. Transcriptomics was used to analyze CagA, CagM, CagE, Cag1, Cag3, and CagT. C57BL/6A mice were infected with the attenuated strains subjected to sodium selenite induction, and H. pylori colonization, inflammatory reactions, and the cell adhesion ability of H. pylori were assessed. RESULTS: CagA and VacA expression was upregulated at first and then downregulated in the H. pylori strains after sodium selenite treatment. Their expression was significantly and steadily downregulated after the 5th cycle (10 d). Transcriptome analysis revealed that sodium selenite altered the levels affect H. pylori virulence factors such as CagA, CagM, CagE, Cag1, Cag3, and CagT. Of these factors, CagM and CagE expression was continuously downregulated and further downregulated after 2 h of induction with sodium selenite. Moreover, CagT expression was upregulated before the 3rd cycle (6 d) and significantly downregulated after the 5th cycle. Cag1 and Cag3 expression was upregulated and downregulated, respectively, but no significant change was observed by the 5th cycle. C57BL/6A mice were infected with the attenuated strains subjected to sodium selenite induction. The extent of H. pylori colonization in the stomach increased; however, sodium selenite also induced a mild inflammatory reaction in the gastric mucosa of H. pylori-infected mice, and the cell adhesion ability of H. pylori was significantly weakened. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that H. pylori displayed virulence attenuation after the 10th d of sodium selenite treatment. Sodium selenite is a low toxicity compound with strong stability that can reduce the cell adhesion ability of H. pylori, thus mitigating the inflammatory damage to the gastric mucosa.

Combination of alkaline biodiesel-derived crude glycerol pretreated corn stover with dilute acid pretreated water hyacinth for highly-efficient single cell oil production by oleaginous yeast Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum.

Single cell oil (SCO) prepared from biodiesel-derived crude glycerol (BCG) and lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) via oleaginous yeasts is an intriguing alternative precursor of biodiesel. Here, a novel strategy combining alkaline BCG pretreated corn stover and dilute acid pretreated water hyacinth for SCO overproduction was developed. The mixed pretreatment liquors (MPLs) were naturally neutralized and adjusted to a proper carbon-to-nitrogen ratio beneficial for SCO overproduction by Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum. The toxicity of inhibitors was relieved by dilution detoxification. The enzymatic hydrolysate of solid fractions was suitable for SCO production either separately or simultaneously with MPLs. Fed-batch fermentation of the MPLs resulted in high cell mass, SCO content, and SCO titer of 80.7 g/L, 75.7 %, and 61.1 g/L, respectively. The fatty acid profiles of SCOs implied high-quality biodiesel characteristics. This study offers a novel BCG&LCB-to-SCO route integrating BCG-based pretreatment and BCG/LCB hydrolysates co-utilization, which provides a cost-effective technical route for micro-biodiesel production.

Pharmacological Effects of FTY720 and its Derivatives.

FTY720 is an analog of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) derived from the ascomycete Cordyceps sinensis. As a new immunosuppressant, FTY720 is widely used to treat multiple sclerosis. FTY720 binds to the S1P receptor after phosphorylation, thereby exerting immunosuppressive effects. The nonphosphorylated form of FTY720 can induce cell apoptosis, enhance chemotherapy sensitivity, and inhibit tumor metastasis of multiple tumors by inhibiting SPHK1 (sphingosine kinase 1) and activating PP2A (protein phosphatase 2A) and various cell death pathways. FTY720 can induce neutrophil extracellular traps to neutralize and kill pathogens in vitro, thus exerting anti- infective effects. At present, a series of FTY720 derivatives, which have pharmacological effects such as anti-tumor and alleviating airway hyperresponsiveness, have been developed through structural modification. This article reviews the pharmacological effects of FTY720 and its derivatives.