Vertical differences in carbon metabolic diversity and dominant flora of soil bacterial communities in farmlands.

The carbon cycle in soil is significantly influenced by soil microbes. To investigate the vertical distribution of the dominant groups in agricultural soil and the carbon metabolic diversity of soil bacteria, 45 soil samples from the 0 ~ 50 cm soil layer in Hunan tobacco-rice multiple cropping farmland were collected in November 2017, and the carbon diversity of the soil bacterial community, bacterial community composition and soil physical and chemical properties were determined. The results showed that the carbon metabolic capabilities and functional diversity of the soil bacterial community decreased with depth. The three most widely used carbon sources for soil bacteria were carbohydrates, amino acids, and polymers. The dominant bacterial groups in surface soil (such as Chloroflexi, Acidobacteriota, and Bacteroidota) were significantly positively correlated with the carbon metabolism intensity. The alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen content, soil bulk density and carbon-nitrogen ratio were the key soil factors driving the differences in carbon metabolism of the soil bacterial communities in the different soil layers.

Purification and biochemical characterization of a novel ene- reductase from Kazachstania exigua HSC6 for dihydro-ß-ionone from ß-ionone.

PURPOSE: We purified and characterized a novel ene-reductase (KaDBR1) from Kazachstania exigua HSC6 for the synthesis of dihydro-ß-ionone from ß-ionone. METHODS: KaDBR1 was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulfate precipitation and phenyl-Sepharose Fast Flow and Q-Sepharose chromatography. The purified enzyme was characterized by measuring the amount of dihydro-ß-ionone from ß-ionone with LC-MS analysis method. RESULTS: The molecular mass of KaDBR1 was estimated to be 45 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The purified KaDBR1 enzyme had optimal activity at 60 °C and pH 6.0. The addition of 5 mM Mg2+, Ca2+, Al3+, Na+, and dithiothreitol increased the activity of KaDBR1 by 25%, 18%, 34%, 20%, and 23%, respectively. KaDBR1 favored NADH over NADPH as a cofactor, and its catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) toward ß-ionone using NADH was 8.1-fold greater than when using NADPH. CONCLUSION: Owing to its unique properties, KaDBR1 is a potential candidate for the enzymatic biotransformation of ß-ionone to dihydro-ß-ionone in biotechnology applications.

A novel thermophilic ß-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase with broad substrate specificity from the marine bacterium Candidatus Pelagibacter sp. HTCC7211.

To characterize a novel thermophilic ß-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase BCMO7211 isolated from the marine bacterium Candidatus Pelagibacter sp. HTCC7211. BCMO7211 was functionally overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and Superdex-200 gel filtration chromatography. Labeling experiments with H218O demonstrated that the oxygen atom in the terminal aldehyde group of the produced retinal molecules was provided from both molecular oxygen and water, indicating that BCMO7211 is the first characterized bacterial ß-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase. BCMO7211 exhibited broad carotenoid substrate specificity toward α-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, ß-carotene, zeaxanthin, and lutein. The optimum temperature, pH, and concentrations of the substrate and enzyme for retinal production were 60 °C, 9.0, 500 mg ß-carotene/L, and 2.5 U/ml, respectively. Under optimum conditions, 888.3 mg/L retinal was produced in 60 min with a conversion rate of 89.0% (w/w). BCMO7211 is a potential candidate for the enzymatic synthesis of retinal in biotechnological applications.

Production, characterization, and bioactivities of exopolysaccharides from the submerged culture of Ganoderma cantharelloideum M. H. Liu.

In this study, the submerged culture conditions for exopolysaccharide (EPS) production by Ganoderma cantharelloideum M. H. Liu were screened and optimized, and the physicochemical and biological properties of EPS were investigated. Results showed that the glucose and tryptone were the best C and N sources for the maximum EPS production, respectively. Under the optimal culture conditions, the EPS production achieved 1.60 g/L at day 6 in a 5 L stirred tank reactor. Two purified fractions (i.e., Fr-I and Fr-II) were obtained from the G. cantharelloideum EPS by gel permeation chromatography. Fr-II had a higher yield (87.54%), carbohydrate (95.86%), and protein (3.07%) contents and lower molecular weight (74.56 kDa) than that of Fr-I. Both Fr-I and Fr-II were polysaccharide-protein complexes with different monosaccharide compositions and chemical structures. Fr-II also exhibited stronger radical scavenging abilities, antioxidant capacities, and α-amylase and α-glycosidase inhibitory activities in vitro than that of Fr-I. Therefore, Fr-II obtained from G. cantharelloideum EPS might be explored as potential natural functional components or supplements for applications in food, medicine, and cosmetics.

A pilot study to investigate the feasibility of the modified Blaylock Tool for Occupational Therapy Referral (MBTOTR) for use by nurses in acute care.

PURPOSE: Patients in acute care settings may have limitations in their functional capacity associated with multiple morbidities. Occupational therapy can address factors affecting functional decline, and early and accurate identification of patients requiring occupational therapy referral can facilitate safe discharge. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of the Modified Blaylock Tool for Occupational Therapy Referral to identify the characteristics of patients who would potentially require occupational therapy referral, for use by acute care nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using mixed methods. The Modified Blaylock Tool for Occupational Therapy Referral was completed for 305 patients by six acute care nurses across three clinical areas in an acute hospital setting. Data were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric statistics. Semi-structured interviews were then conducted with these six nurses to understand their perspectives of their use of the Modified Blaylock Tool for Occupational Therapy Referral. RESULTS: Nearly half (45%) of the assessed patients had Modified Blaylock Tool for Occupational Therapy Referral scores recommending occupational therapy referral. Items associated with risk of functional decline were mobility, memory and recent hospital admissions. Barriers to referral included resource limitations, lack of visibility, poor understanding of occupational therapy and lack of holistic assessment of patients. CONCLUSION: The Modified Blaylock Tool for Occupational Therapy Referral could be used by nurses to identify acute care patients at risk of functional decline. Future research should include larger and longitudinal studies to validate the Modified Blaylock Tool for Occupational Therapy Referral further. Implications for rehabilitation The Modified Blaylock Tool for Occupational Therapy Referral could be used by nurses to identify acute care patients at risk of functional decline. This allows the early and accurate identification of patients requiring occupational therapy referral to facilitate safe discharge from acute care.

The development of the modified blaylock tool for occupational therapy referral (MBTOTR): a preliminary evaluation of its utility in acute care.

PURPOSE: Acute hospitals are facing more complex admissions with older people at increased risk of functional decline. This study aimed to create and trial the feasibility of a new screening tool designed to identify patients at risk of functional decline who need an occupational therapy referral within acute care. METHOD: Ten screening tools were reviewed and the Modified Blaylock Tool for Occupational Therapy Referral (MBTOTR) was developed. The MBTOTR was applied in a retrospective chart review of 50 patients over the age of 65 years who were admitted to five acute wards. Data on patients identified at risk of functional decline were compared to patients who were referred to occupational therapy. RESULTS: Occupational therapy referrals were made by ward staff for 14 out of the 50 patients reviewed (32.5%). Only 14% (n = 7) of patients did not require a referral. The MBTOTR identified no irrelevant occupational therapy referrals. However, 66.5% of patients identified as needing an occupational therapy referral did not get one. CONCLUSION: The MBTOTR identified high risk acute patients requiring an occupational therapy referral who were not referred to occupational therapy. Use of the MBTOTR would facilitate early occupational therapy referrals for complex patients, and potentially better discharge outcomes. Implications for rehabilitation The MBTOTR can be used in acute care settings to facilitate relevant occupational therapy referrals. Without a screening tool, many older people who should have an occupational therapy assessment may not receive a referral for occupational therapy. Nursing and medical staff need to use this tool to identify older people in their care who may benefit from occupational therapy assessment and intervention. If occupational therapy referrals can be made early, this may contribute to reducing delays to discharge plans for complex patients.

Population Structure of Blue Marlin, Makaira nigricans, in the Pacific and Eastern Indian Oceans.

Hui Chen, Chia-Hao Chang, Chi-Lu Sun, Kwang-Tsao Shao, Su-Zan Yeh, and Gerard DiNardo (2016) Blue marlin Makaira nigricans is economically important for fisheries worldwide. However, overfishing has substantially reduced the stock size. Better knowledge of blue marlin population genetics will help improve management and conservation. Previous genetic studies concluded that the Pacific blue marlin should be considered a single stock. This study investigated the population genetic structure of blue marlin inhabiting the Pacific and eastern Indian oceans based on mtDNA cytochrome b (cyt b) and control region (CR) sequence variation. We collected tissue samples (n = 183) from three Pacific and one Indian Ocean, and determined the sequences of 1140 bp of cyt b and 905 bp of CR. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that blue marlin contain two clades, the Atlantic clade and the ubiquitous clade, and that all the eastern Indian and Pacific individuals collected for this study belonged to the ubiquitous clade. All eastern Indian and Pacific blue marlin possess extremely high haplotype diversity (h) and low nucleotide diversity (π). The results of pairwise ΦST, hierarchical analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and spatial analysis of molecular variance (SAMOVA) all support that there is no population differentiation among eastern Indian and Pacific blue marlin. Neutrality tests and pairwise mismatch distribution analysis both indicated that eastern Indian and Pacific blue marlin have undergone a rapid population expansion on the order of 0.30 to 0.65 million years ago (mya). This study demonstrates that blue marlin in the Pacific and eastern Indian oceans constitute a single stock. International cooperation will be required to preserve blue marlin as a resource; moreover, the high genetic variation of blue marlin in this region suggests that unique haplotypes in the population are sensitive to high harvesting levels and could disappear.

Susceptibility to cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury is modulated by chronic estrogen status.

The purpose of this study was to test whether the susceptibility of the heart to ischemia/reperfusion injury is modulated by the chronic estrogen status, i.e., increased with estrogen deficiency and attenuated by pharmacologic estrogen supplementation. In addition, the study tested whether estrogen-dependent changes in mechanical function are associated with alterations of cardiac high-energy phosphate metabolism. Rats were ovariectomized, not ovariectomized, or ovariectomized and treated with subcutaneous estrogen pellets (1.5 mg/21 d) (n = 8-11 per group). Three weeks later, hearts were isolated and perfused isovolumically under constant perfusion pressure conditions. Hearts were subjected to 15 min of total global ischemia (37 degrees C) and 30 min of reperfusion. Simultaneous [31P] nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were recorded throughout this protocol to monitor changes in ATP, phosphocreatine, and inorganic phosphate content. Whereas preischemic values for heart rate, end-diastolic pressure, and coronary flow were not different among groups, left ventricular developed pressure was slightly but significantly decreased in the estrogen-treated group (p < 0.05). However, treated hearts showed improved recovery of left ventricular developed pressure on reperfusion (89 +/- 4% in control rats, 70 +/- 8% in ovariectomized hearts, and 114 +/- 9% of preischemic values in estrogen-treated rats). However, changes in ATP, phosphocreatine, and inorganic phosphate during ischemia were as previously described and were unaffected by chronic estrogen status. In conclusion, in the isolated buffer-perfused rat heart, estradiol treatment caused improved functional recovery after ischemia/reperfusion injury. This improvement, however, did not include preservation of high-energy phosphate metabolism. Other potential mechanisms include an anti-oxidant activity of 17beta-estradiol-and estrogen-induced alterations in glucose metabolism.