Development of plant-based whole egg analogs using emulsion technology.

RuBisCO is a plant protein that can be derived from abundant and sustainable natural resources (such as duckweed), which can be used as both an emulsifying and gelling agent. Consequently, it has the potential to formulate emulsion gels that can be used for the development of plant-based replacements of whole eggs. In this study, we investigated the ability of RuBisCO-based emulsion gels to mimic the desirable properties of whole eggs. The emulsion gels contained 12.5 wt% RuBisCO and 10 wt% corn oil to mimic the macronutrient composition of real whole eggs. Initially, an oil-in-water emulsion was formed, which was then heated to convert it into an emulsion gel. The impact of oil droplet diameter (∼15, 1, and 0.2 µm) on the physicochemical properties of the emulsion gels was investigated. The lightness and hardness of the emulsion gels increased as the droplet size decreased, which meant that their appearance and texture could be modified by controlling droplet size. Different concentrations of curcumin (3, 6, and 9 mg/g oil) were incorporated into the emulsions using a pH-driven approach. The curcumin was used as a natural dual functional ingredient (colorant and nutraceutical). The yellow-orange color of curcumin allowed us to match the appearance of raw and cooked whole eggs. This study shows that whole egg analogs can be formulated using plant-based emulsion gels containing natural pigments.

Influence of pH and ionic strength on the physicochemical and structural properties of soybean ß-conglycinin subunits in aqueous dispersions.

Understanding the impact of pH and ionic strength on the physicochemical and structural properties of soy proteins at subunit level is essential for design and fabrication of many plant-based foods. In this study, soybean ß-conglycinin and its subunit fractions αα' and ß were dispersed in solutions with different pH values (3.7, 7.6, and 9.0) at low (5 mM NaCl) and high (400 mM NaCl) ionic strengths, respectively. The solubility, rheology, particle size, zeta potential, microstructure, secondary structure, and tertiary structure of the different dispersions were analyzed using a range of analytical methods. The ß-conglycinin, αα'- and ß-subunits aggregated near the isoelectric point (pH 3.7). Increasing the ionic strength led to the assembly of more homogeneous units. An increase in ionic strength at pH 7.6 and pH 9.0 led to electrostatic screening, which promoted dissociation of the aggregates. The ß-subunit showed a greater sensitivity to pH and ionic strength than the αα'-subunits. Based on the evidence from a range of analytical methods, the highly hydrophilic extension region of the αα'-subunits played an important role in determining the stability of the ß-conglycinin dispersions under different environmental conditions. Moreover, the N-linked glycans appeared to impact the conformation and aggregation state of the ß-conglycinin.

Phytic acid-modified manganese dioxide nanoparticles oligomer for magnetic resonance imaging and targeting therapy of osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant tumor in the skeletal system with high mortality. Phytic acid (PA) is a natural compound extracted from plant seeds, which shows certain antitumor activity and good bone targeting ability. To develop a novel theranostics for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and targeting therapy of osteosarcoma, we employed PA to modify manganese dioxide nanoparticles (MnO2@PA NPs) for osteosarcoma treatment. The MnO2 NPs oligomer was formed by PA modification with uniformed size distribution and negative zeta potential. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that PA has been successfully modified on MnO2 NPs, and the structure of MnO2@PA NPs is amorphous. In vitro experiments demonstrated that MnO2@PA NPs oligomer can be efficiently internalized by tumor cell, and the internalized NPs can react with H2O2 under acid microenvironment to produce Mn2+ and O2. In vivo experiments demonstrated that MnO2@PA NPs oligomer can passively accumulate in tumor tissue, and the accumulated NPs can produce Mn2+ and O2 for MRI and targeting therapy of osteosarcoma. In conclusion, we prepared a novel bone-targeting nano theranostics for MRI and therapy of osteosarcoma.

Heat-induced aggregation of subunits/polypeptides of soybean protein: Structural and physicochemical properties.

To reveal the nature of thermal aggregation of soybean protein at subunit level, structure and physicochemical properties of αα'- and ß-subunits isolated from ß-conglycinin, acidic polypeptide, and basic polypeptide from glycinin, as well as ß-conglycinin and glycinin, were characterized before and after heat treatment. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that ß-conglycinin, αα'-subunits and acidic polypeptide formed regular thermal aggregates, which exhibited high solubility, high ζ-potential value, and small particle size. While glycinin, ß-subunit, and basic polypeptide aggregated to insoluble clusters with large particle size distribution. The results of size exclusion chromatography and non-reducing electrophoresis showed that the disulfide bond was the important force in stabilizing the protein conformation of thermal aggregates in ß-conglycinin, glycinin, and their isolated subunits/polypeptides but ß-subunit. The results of surface hydrophobicity and intrinsic fluorescence spectra showed that the thermal aggregations of ß-subunit and basic polypeptide were mainly driven by hydrophobic interactions.

FIGNL1 is a potential biomarker of cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Fidgetin-like 1 (FIGNL1) participates in tumor resistance by playing the function of homologous recombination repair(HRR). However, the role of FIGNL1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still unclear. This study aims to understand the expression of FIGNL1 in NSCLC and preliminarily explore its relationship with cisplatin resistance. METHODS: FIGNL1 messenger RNA (mRNA) was analyzed in 1018 NSCLC tissues and 111 adjacent tissues using The Cancer Genome Atlas program. FIGNL1mRNA in cisplatin-resistant and cisplatin-sensitive cell lines was analyzed by the Gene Expression Omnibus project. FIGNL1 protein was detected in 58 NSCLC tissues and 58 adjacent tissues by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between FIGNL1, clinical pathological characteristics and disease-free survival was retrospectively analyzed. Gene ontology was used to analyze the biological process mainly involving FIGNL1, and STRING online constructed its protein interaction network and screened the key genes (hub genes). RESULTS: The Cancer Genome Atlas showed that FIGNL1mRNA was higher in 1018 NSCLC tissues than in 111 adjacent tissues (P < 0.05). In the dataset "GSE157692," FIGNL1mRNA was higher in cisplatin-resistant cell lines (P = 3.80e-05). The hub genes in FIGNL1 and HRR directions are RAD51 and CCDC36. Immunohistochemistry showed that the FIGNL1 protein in 58 NSCLC tissues was higher than that in 58 adjacent tissues (P < 0.01). FIGNL1 is associated with gender, histopathological type, and nerve invasion in NSCLC. The disease-free survival in NSCLC patients with high FIGNL1 expression was shorter (P = 0.032). CONCLUSION: FIGNL1 is associated with poor prognosis in NSCLC, and cisplatin resistance may be involved. These observations provide a clinical basis for exploring FIGNL1 as a potential biomarker for cisplatin resistance in NSCLC.

The role of the extension region on the structural and physicochemical characteristics of the α-subunit of ß-conglycinin: implications of pH value and ionic strength.

BACKGROUND: To clarify the role of the extension region on the structure-functional relationship of the α-subunit of ß-conglycinin, α-subunit and its segment of the core region (αc-subunit) were expressed via an Escherichia coli system. Their physicochemical properties were compared under acid, neutral or alkaline conditions (pH 4.0, 7.0, and 8.0) and high or low ionic strength (µ = 0.05 and 0.5), respectively. RESULTS: The results showed that the extension region contributed to increasing thermal stability, especially at low ionic strength under acidic and neutral conditions. The extension region stabilized the α-subunit with high solubility, low turbidity, and small particle size under neutral and alkaline conditions, whereas these impacts were suppressed at a high ionic strength and acidic conditions. Surface hydrophobicity of the α-subunit decreased under acidic and alkaline conditions without being interfered with by ionic strength. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the extension region played different roles under different pH and ionic strength conditions. These factors should be specified carefully and speculated individually to explore the more detailed and profound nature of ß-conglycinin at the submolecular level. The results could benefit a better understanding of the relationship between domain structure and functions of soybean protein. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Association of HER-2/CEP17 Ratio and HER-2 Copy Number With pCR Rate in HER-2-Positive Breast Cancer After Dual-Target Neoadjuvant Therapy With Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab.

Objective: To explore the correlation between HER-2 status and pathological complete response (pCR) in HER-2-positive breast cancer after dual anti-HER-2 neoadjuvant therapy with trastuzumab and pertuzumab. Methods: A total of 57 HER-2-positive breast cancer patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and Xijing Hospital Affiliated to Air Force Military Medical University, between January 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020, were enrolled in this multicenter retrospective study. HER-2 status, including HER-2/CEP17 ratio and HER-2/cell number ratio, was detected by FISH. The correlation between HER-2 status/clinicopathological data and pCR was analyzed. The ROC curve was drawn to determine the cutoff value. Results: IHC assessment revealed 40 (70.18%) patients with IHC 3+ and 17 (29.82%) with IHC 2+. 41/57 (71.93%) patients achieved pCR. FISH revealed that the ratio of HER-2/chromosome 17 centromere (HER-2/CEP17) (p<0.001) and the ratio of HER-2/cell number (p<0.001) was significantly correlated with the pCR rate. ROC analysis showed that patients with an HER-2/CEP17 ratio ≥4.495 or HER-2/cell number ≥11.650 have a high pCR rate after dual anti-HER-2 neoadjuvant therapy, suggesting its predictive significance. Conclusion: The response to dual-targeted neoadjuvant therapy with trastuzumab and pertuzumab was adequate in hormone receptor-negative, HER-2-positive breast cancer patients. HER-2/CEP17 ratio and HER-2/cell number ratio were crucial for predicting efficacy.

MAPK14 over-expression is a transcriptomic feature of polycythemia vera and correlates with adverse clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The transcriptomic signature has not been fully elucidated in PV, as well as mRNA markers for clinical variables (thrombosis, leukemic transformation, survival, etc.). We attempted to reveal and validate crucial co-expression modules and marker mRNAs correlating with polycythemia vera (PV) by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The GSE57793/26014/61629 datasets were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and integrated into one fused dataset. By R software and 'WGCNA' package, the PV-specific co-expression module was identified, the pathway enrichment profile of which was obtained by over-representation analysis (ORA). Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and hub gene analysis identified MAPK14 as our target gene. Then the distribution of MAPK14 expression in different disease/mutation types, were depicted based on external independent datasets. Genome-scale correlation analysis revealed the association of MAPK14 and JAK/STAT family genes. Then gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to detect the activated and suppressed pathways associating with MAPK14 expression. Moreover, GSE47018 dataset was utilized to compare clinical variables (thrombosis, leukemic transformation, survival, etc.) between MAPK14-high and MAPK14-low groups. RESULTS: An integrated dataset including 177 samples (83 PV, 35 ET, 17 PMF and 42 normal donors) were inputted into WGCNA. The 'tan' module was identified as the PV-specific module (R2 = 0.56, p = 8e-16), the genes of which were dominantly enriched in pro-inflammatory pathways (Toll-like receptor (TLR)/TNF signaling, etc.). MAPK14 is identified as the top hub gene in PV-related PPI network with the highest betweenness. External datasets validated that the MAPK14 expression was significantly higher in PV than that of essential thrombocytosis (ET)/primary myelofibrosis (PMF) patients and normal donors. JAK2 homozygous mutation carriers have higher level of MAPK14 than that of other mutation types. The expression of JAK/STAT family genes significantly correlated with MAPK14, which also contributed to the activation of oxidated phosphorylation, interferon-alpha (IFNα) response and PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling, etc. Moreover, MAPK14-high group have more adverse clinical outcomes (splenectomy, thrombosis, disease aggressiveness) and inferior survival than MAPK14-low group. CONCLUSION: MAPK14 over-expression was identified as a transcriptomic feature of PV, which was also related to inferior clinical outcomes. The results provided novel insights for biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PV.

The landscape of gene co-expression modules correlating with prognostic genetic abnormalities in AML.

BACKGROUND: The heterogenous cytogenetic and molecular variations were harbored by AML patients, some of which are related with AML pathogenesis and clinical outcomes. We aimed to uncover the intrinsic expression profiles correlating with prognostic genetic abnormalities by WGCNA. METHODS: We downloaded the clinical and expression dataset from BeatAML, TCGA and GEO database. Using R (version 4.0.2) and 'WGCNA' package, the co-expression modules correlating with the ELN2017 prognostic markers were identified (R2 ≥ 0.4, p < 0.01). ORA detected the enriched pathways for the key co-expression modules. The patients in TCGA cohort were randomly assigned into the training set (50%) and testing set (50%). The LASSO penalized regression analysis was employed to build the prediction model, fitting OS to the expression level of hub genes by 'glmnet' package. Then the testing and 2 independent validation sets (GSE12417 and GSE37642) were used to validate the diagnostic utility and accuracy of the model. RESULTS: A total of 37 gene co-expression modules and 973 hub genes were identified for the BeatAML cohort. We found that 3 modules were significantly correlated with genetic markers (the 'lightyellow' module for NPM1 mutation, the 'saddlebrown' module for RUNX1 mutation, the 'lightgreen' module for TP53 mutation). ORA revealed that the 'lightyellow' module was mainly enriched in DNA-binding transcription factor activity and activation of HOX genes. The 'saddlebrown' module was enriched in immune response process. And the 'lightgreen' module was predominantly enriched in mitosis cell cycle process. The LASSO- regression analysis identified 6 genes (NFKB2, NEK9, HOXA7, APRC5L, FAM30A and LOC105371592) with non-zero coefficients. The risk score generated from the 6-gene model, was associated with ELN2017 risk stratification, relapsed disease, and prior MDS history. The 5-year AUC for the model was 0.822 and 0.824 in the training and testing sets, respectively. Moreover, the diagnostic utility of the model was robust when it was employed in 2 validation sets (5-year AUC 0.743-0.79). CONCLUSIONS: We established the co-expression network signature correlated with the ELN2017 recommended prognostic genetic abnormalities in AML. The 6-gene prediction model for AML survival was developed and validated by multiple datasets.

HELQ and EGR3 expression correlate with IGHV mutation status and prognosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: IGHV mutation status is a crucial prognostic biomarker for CLL. In the present study, we investigated the transcriptomic signatures associating with IGHV mutation status and CLL prognosis. METHODS: The co-expression modules and hub genes correlating with IGHV status, were identified using the GSE28654, by 'WGCNA' package and R software (version 4.0.2). The over-representation analysis was performed to reveal enriched cell pathways for genes of correlating modules. Then 9 external cohorts were used to validate the correlation of hub genes expression with IGHV status or clinical features (treatment response, transformation to Richter syndrome, etc.). Moreover, to elucidate the significance of hub genes on disease course and prognosis of CLL patients, the Kaplan-Meier analysis for the OS and TTFT of were performed between subgroups dichotomized by the median expression value of individual hub genes. RESULTS: 2 co-expression modules and 9 hub genes ((FCRL1/FCRL2/HELQ/EGR3LPL/LDOC1/ZNF667/SOWAHC/SEPTIN10) correlating with IGHV status were identified by WGCNA, and validated by external datasets. The modules were found to be enriched in NF-kappaB, HIF-1 and other important pathways, involving cell proliferation and apoptosis. The expression of hub genes was revealed to be significantly different, not only between CLL and normal B cell, but also between various types of lymphoid neoplasms. HELQ expression was found to be related with response of immunochemotherapy treatment significantly (p = 0.0413), while HELQ and ZNF667 were expressed differently between stable CLL and Richter syndrome patients (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0278, respectively). By survival analysis of subgroups, EGR3 expression was indicated to be significantly associated with TTFT by 2 independent cohorts (GSE39671, p = 0.0311; GSE22762, p = 0.0135). While the expression of HELQ and EGR3 was found to be associated with OS (p = 0.0291 and 0.0114 respectively).The Kras, Hedgehog and IL6-JAK-STAT3 pathways were found to be associating with the expression of hub genes, resulting from GSEA. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of HELQ and EGR3 were correlated with IGHV mutation status in CLL patients. Additionally, the expression of HELQ/EGR3 were prognostic markers for CLL associating with targetable cell signaling pathways.

Effect of potato flour on quality and staling properties of wheat-potato flour bread.

To elucidate the impact of potato flour (PF) on quality changes and staling characteristics of the composite bread from wheat-potato flour (WPF), the physicochemical (specific volume, colority, sensory value, texture, and viscosity) properties, and staling (X-ray diffraction and water migration) properties of bread were investigated. The quality of composite bread was comparable to wheat bread when addition level of PF at 20%, but decreased when the addition level increased to 30% or more, and became unacceptable at 50%. A chewy mouthfeel and an elastic and none-crumbly texture were observed on composite bread, which had higher hardness than wheat bread, and could keep on both longer linear distance and higher linear force during compression test. It indicated that such new parameters other than hardness should be introduced to coordinate with the texture quality of composite bread. During storage, the higher addition level of PF significantly decreased crystallinity of composite bread and slowed water migration rate from the crumb to crust, suggesting that PF had antistaling effect on composite bread, which was further emphasized by the fact that the setback value of the WPF decreased with the increase of PF addition.

Identification and Characterization of Neuropeptides and Their G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) in the Cowpea Aphid Aphis craccivora.

Neuropeptides are the most abundant and diverse signal molecules in insects. They act as neurohormones and neuromodulators to regulate the physiology and behavior of insects. The majority of neuropeptides initiate downstream signaling pathways through binding to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) on the cell surface. In this study, RNA-seq technology and bioinformatics were used to search for genes encoding neuropeptides and their GPCRs in the cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora. And the expression of these genes at different developmental stages of A. craccivora was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). A total of 40 candidate genes encoding neuropeptide precursors were identified from the transcriptome data, which is roughly equivalent to the number of neuropeptide genes that have been reported in other insects. On this basis, software analysis combined with homologous prediction estimated that there could be more than 60 mature neuropeptides with biological activity. In addition, 46 neuropeptide GPCRs were obtained, of which 40 belong to rhodopsin-like receptors (A-family GPCRs), including 21 families of neuropeptide receptors and 7 orphan receptors, and 6 belong to secretin-like receptors (B-family GPCRs), including receptors for diuretic hormone 31, diuretic hormone 44 and pigment-dispersing factor (PDF). Compared with holometabolous insects such as Drosophila melanogaster, the coding genes for sulfakinin, corazonin, arginine vasopressin-like peptide (AVLP), and trissin and the corresponding receptors were not found in A. craccivora. It is speculated that A. craccivora likely lacks the above neuropeptide signaling pathways, which is consistent with Acyrthosiphon pisum and that the loss of these pathways may be a common feature of aphids. In addition, expression profiling revealed neuropeptide genes and their GPCR genes that are differentially expressed at different developmental stages and in different wing morphs. This study will help to deepen our understanding of the neuropeptide signaling systems in aphids, thus laying the foundation for the development of new methods for aphid control targeting these signaling systems.

LINC00649 underexpression is an adverse prognostic marker in acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) play a role in leukemogenesis, maintenance, development, and therapeutic resistance of AML. While few studies have focused on the prognostic significance of LINC00649 in AML, which we aim to investigate in this present study. METHODS: We compared the expression level of LINC00649 between AML patients and healthy controls. The Kaplan-Meier curves of AML patients expressing high versus low level of LINC00649 was performed. The LINC00649 correlated genes/miRNAs/lncRNAs and methylation CpG sites were screened by Pearson correlation analysis with R (version 3.6.0), using TCGA-LAML database. The LINC00649 associated ceRNA network was established using lncBase 2.0 and miRWalk 2.0 online tools, combining results from correlation analysis. Finally, a prediction model was constructed using LASSO-Cox regression. RESULTS: LINC00649 was underexpressed in bone marrow of AML group than that in healthy control group. The patients of LINC00649-low group have significantly inferior PFS and OS. A total of 154 mRNAs, 31 miRNAs, 28 lncRNAs and 1590 methylated CpG sites were identified to be significantly correlated with LINC00649. Furthermore, the network of ceRNA was established with 6 miRNAs and 122 mRNAs. The Lasso-Cox model fitted OS/PFS to novel prediction models, which integrated clinical factors, ELN risk stratification, mRNA/miRNA expression and methylation profiles. The analysis of time-dependent ROC for our model showed a superior AUC (AUC = 0.916 at 1 year, AUC = 0.916 at 3 years, and AUC = 0.891 at 5 years). CONCLUSIONS: Low expression of LINC00649 is a potential unfavorable prognostic marker for AML patients, which requires the further validation. The analysis by LASSO-COX regression identified a novel comprehensive model with a superior diagnostic utility, which integrated clinical and genetic variables.

Overexpression of HOXA10 is associated with unfavorable prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: HOXA family genes were crucial transcription factors involving cell proliferation and apoptosis. While few studies have focused on HOXA10 in AML. We aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of HOXA10. METHODS: We downloaded datasets from GEO and BeatAML database, to compare HOXA expression level between AML patients and controls. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate the impact of HOXA10 expression on AML survival. The differentially expressed genes, miRNAs, lncRNAs and methylated regions between HOXA10-high and -low groups were obtained using R (version 3.6.0). Accordingly, the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was accomplished using MSigDB database. Moreover, the regulatory TFs/microRNAs/lncRNAs of HOXA10 were identified. A LASSO-Cox model fitted OS to clinical and HOXA10-associated genetic variables by glmnet package. RESULTS: HOXA10 was overexpressed in AML patients than that in controls. The HOXA10-high group is significantly associated with shorter OS and DFS. A total of 1219 DEGs, 131 DEmiRs, 282 DElncRs were identified to be associated with HOXA10. GSEA revealed that 12 suppressed and 3 activated pathways in HOXA10-high group. Furthermore, the integrated regulatory network targeting HOXA10 was established. The LASSO-Cox model fitted OS to AML-survival risk scores, which included age, race, molecular risk, expression of IKZF2/LINC00649/LINC00839/FENDRR and has-miR-424-5p. The time dependent ROC indicated a satisfying AUC (1-year AUC 0.839, 3-year AUC 0.871 and 5-year AUC 0.813). CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified HOXA10 overexpression as an adverse prognostic factor for AML. The LASSO-COX regression analysis revealed novel prediction model of OS with superior diagnostic utility.

Different binding properties of two general-odorant binding proteins in Athetis lepigone with sex pheromones, host plant volatiles and insecticides.

Athetis lepigone (Alep) is a polyphagous pest native to Europe and Asia that has experienced major outbreaks in the summer maize area of China since 2011 and has shown evidence of resistance to some insecticides. Insect olfaction is crucial for recognition of sex pheromones, host plant volatiles and even insecticides, in which two general-odorant binding proteins (GOBPs) play important roles. To elucidate the functions of GOBPs in A. lepigone, we first expressed the two AlepGOBP proteins in the E. coli expression system. Then, the results of fluorescence competitive binding assays demonstrated that the high binding affinity of AlepGOBP2 with sex pheromones [(Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate (Z7-12:Ac), Ki = 0.65 µM; (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate (Z9-14:Ac), Ki = 0.83 µM], two maize plant volatiles [Ocimene, Ki = 9.63 µM; (E)-ß-Farnesene, Ki = 4.76 µM] and two insecticides (Chlorpyrifos Ki =5.61 µM; Phoxim, Ki = 4.38 µM). However, AlepGOBP1 could only bind Ocimene (Ki = 13.0 µM) and two insecticides (Chlorpyrifos Ki =4.46 µM; Phoxim, Ki = 3.27 µM). These results clearly suggest that AlepGOBP1 and AlepGOBP2 differentiate among odorants and other ligands. The molecular docking results further revealed different key residues involved in the ligand binding of AlepGOBPs. In summary, this study provides a foundation for exploring the olfactory mechanism of A. lepigone and identified two potential target genes for the development of highly effective insecticides in the future.

The effects of extruded corn flour on rheological properties of wheat-based composite dough and the bread quality.

The effects of extruded corn flour (ECF) on the rheological properties of the wheat-based composite dough and quality of the bread were investigated. The RVA results of the composite flour with ECF showed weak thermal viscosity and resistance to starch retrogradation. Mixolab tests revealed that the water absorption capacity increased with the increasing amount of ECF, while dough development time (DT) and dough stability (ST) showed a downward trend, and the composite dough became more resistant to retrogradation. The microstructure of the composite dough showed that the presence of both ECF and unextruded corn flour (UECF) resulted in a more broken gluten matrix. The breads made from the composite flour with ECF had significantly softer texture, lower hardening percentage with storage time, darker crust color, larger specific volume, and higher sensory scores than the UECF ones. It is concluded that the extrusion of corn flour is an effective way to improve the quality of the composite bread and retard staling during storage.

Fitness costs associated with acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase mutations endowing herbicide resistance in American sloughgrass (Beckmannia syzigachne Steud.).

Weed resistance to herbicide can be conferred by gene mutations, and some mutations can cause pleiotropic effects in some cases. We investigated the pleiotropic effects associated with five specific ACCase mutations (Ile1781Leu, Trp2027Cys, Ile2041Asn, Asp2078Gly, and Gly2096Ala) on the plant growth, seed production, and resource competitiveness in American sloughgrass.Resistant plants (M/M) homozygous for specific ACCase mutation and susceptible wild-type plants (W/W) were derived from single heterozygous mother plant (M/W) by genotyping. Plant growth assay and neighborhood experiments were performed to quantify variation between M/M plants and W/W plants.The Ile1781Leu mutation resulted in slight increases in plant growth in pure stands and improved resource competitiveness under low-competition conditions in pot experiments, but no clear variation was observed under high competitive pressure or field conditions. During competition with wheat plants under field conditions, American sloughgrass plants containing Ile2041Asn ACCase exhibited a significantly lower (12.5%) aboveground biomass but no distinct differences in seed production or resource competitiveness. No significant detrimental pleiotropic effects associated with Gly2096Ala were detected in American sloughgrass.The Trp2027Cys mutation distinctly reduced seed production, especially under high competitive pressure, but did not significantly alter plant growth. The Asp2078Gly mutation consistently reduced not only plant growth and seed production but also resource competitiveness. Synthesis. The Trp2027Cys and Asp2078Gly mutations led to significant fitness costs, which may reduce the frequency of resistance alleles and reduce the propagation speed of resistant weeds in the absence of ACCase inhibitor herbicides. The Ile1781Leu, Ile2041Asn, and Gly2096Ala mutations displayed no obvious fitness costs or displayed very small fitness penalties, which would likely have no effect on the establishment of resistant weeds in the field.

Two Odorant-Binding Proteins of the Dark Black Chafer (Holotrichia parallela) Display Preferential Binding to Biologically Active Host Plant Volatiles.

The dark black chafer (DBC), Holotrichia parallela, is an important pest of multiple crops. Insect host-searching behaviors are regulated by host plant volatiles. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanism linking the chemosensory system to plant volatiles at the molecular level will benefit DBC control strategies. Based on antenna transcriptome data, two highly expressed antenna-specific odorant-binding proteins (HparOBP20 and 49) were selected to identify novel DBC attractants using reverse chemical ecology methods. We expressed these proteins, mapped their binding specificity, and tested the activity of the plant volatiles in the field. The ligands used in the binding specificity assays included 31 host-plant-associated volatiles and two sex pheromone components. The results showed that (1) HparOBP20 and 49 are involved in odor recognition; (2) these proteins bind attractive plant volatiles strongly and can therefore be employed to develop environmentally friendly DBC management strategies; and (3) the green-leaf volatile (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate shows a high binding affinity to HparOBP20 (Ki = 18.51 µM) and HparOBP49 (Ki = 39.65 µM) and is highly attractive to DBC adults, especially females. In the field test, a (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate trap caught an average of 13 ± 1.202 females per day, which was significantly greater than the corresponding male catch (F2,6 = 74.18, P < 0.0001). (Z)-3-Hexenyl acetate may represent a useful supplement to the known sex pheromone for DBC attraction. In the present study, the binding characteristics of two HparOBPs with host plant volatiles were screened, providing behaviourally active compounds that might be useful for DBC control, based on reverse chemical ecology.

Plant Volatiles Increase Sex Pheromone Attraction of Holotrichia parallela (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea).

Holotrichia parallela (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) is a notorious pest of many crops. To improve the effectiveness of its female-produced sex pheromone (L-isoleucine methyl ester:(R)-(-)-linalool = 6:1), 14 plant volatiles, including dodecanoic acid, dodecanal, farnesol, α-farnesene, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, (E)-2-hexenyl acetate, (R)-(+)-limonene, α-phellandrene, α-pinene, ocimene, methyl benzoate, and benzaldehyde, were individually evaluated using electroantennography and olfactometer assays. (E)-2-Hexenyl acetate and (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate were found to elicit the strongest responses in both males and females. Further testing of these two compounds in mixtures with the sex pheromone indicated that (E)-2-hexenyl acetate had a stronger synergistic effect than (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate. Field evaluations showed that mixtures of (E)-2-hexenyl acetate and the sex pheromone resulted in significantly higher catches than the sex pheromone alone. Using a 5:1 mixture of the sex pheromone and (E)-2-hexenyl acetate, the maximum number of females per trap per day was 14, showing a synergistic effect of a factor of four. For males, a 3:1 mixture of the sex pheromone and (E)-2-hexenyl acetate yielded a maximum number of 310 individuals per trap per day, equivalent to a synergistic effect of 175%. These results may provide the basis for the development of efficient pest management systems against H. parallela using plant volatiles and insect sex pheromones.

Progress in revascularization strategy of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with multiple vessel disease / 天津医药

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is the most serious type of coronary heart disease, accounting for 25%to 40%of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The key to treat STEMI is to restore myocardial perfusion in the infarct area, to rescue the ischemic myocardium, and to reduce the size of infarction. About 41%to 67%of patients with STEMI have multiple vascular disease (MVD). Compared with single vessel disease, the clinical outcome of MVD is worse. In these patients, it still remains a controversial topic in emergency interventions for STEMI patients, the infarct-related artery only revascularization or multi-vessel revascularization, and the timing of revascularization. The clinical studies of revascularization strategy for MVD in STEMI patients have been ongoing, and the results have also led to the continuous updating of guidelines and treatment strategies.