Reduced human fecundity attributable to ambient fine particles in low- and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been associated with reduced human fecundity. However, the attributable burden has not been estimated for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the exposure-response function between PM2.5 and the infertility rate has been insufficiently studied. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the associations between long-term exposure to PM2.5 and human fecundity indicators, namely the expected time to pregnancy (TTP) and 12-month infertility rate (IR), and then estimated PM2.5-attributable burden of infertility in LMICs. METHODS: We analyzed 164,593 eligible women from 100 Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in 49 LMICs between 1999 and 2021. We assessed PM2.5 exposures during the 12 months before a pregnancy attempt using the global satellite-derived PM2.5 estimates produced by Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group (ACAG). First, we created a series of pseudo-populations with balanced covariates, given different levels of PM2.5 exposure, using a matching approach based on the generalized propensity score. For each pseudo-population, we used 2-stage generalized Gamma models to derive TTP or IR from the probability distribution of the questionnaire-based duration time for the pregnancy attempt before the interview. Second, we used spline regressions to generate nonlinear PM2.5 exposure-response functions for each of the two fecundity indicators. Finally, we applied the exposure-response functions to estimate number of infertile couples attributable to PM2.5 exposure in 118 LMICs. RESULTS: Based on the Gamma models, each 10 µg/m3 increment in PM2.5 exposure was associated with a TTP increase by 1.7 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: -2.3 %-6.0 %) and an IR increase by 2.3 % (95 %CI: 0.6 %-3.9 %). The nonlinear exposure-response function suggested a robust effect of an increased IR for high-concentration PM2.5 exposure (>75 µg/m3). Based on the PM2.5-IR function, across the 118 LMICs, the number of infertile couples attributable to PM2.5 exposure exceeding 35 µg/m3 (the first-stage interim target recommended by the World Health Organization global air quality guidelines) was 0.66 million (95 %CI: 0.061-1.43), accounting for 2.25 % (95 %CI: 0.20 %-4.84 %) of all couples affected by infertility. Among the 0.66 million, 66.5 % were within the top 10 % high-exposure infertile couples, mainly from South Asia, East Asia, and West Africa. CONCLUSION: PM2.5 contributes significantly to human infertility in places with high levels of air pollution. PM2.5-pollution control is imperative to protect human fecundity in LMICs.

Antifungal mechanism of phenyllactic acid against Mucor investigated through proteomic analysis.

The primary inhibitory targets of phenyllactic acid (PLA, including D-PLA and L-PLA) on Mucor were investigated using Mucor racemosus LD3.0026 isolated from naturally spoiled cherry, as an indicator fungi. The results demonstrated that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of PLA against Mucor was 12.5 mmol·L-1. Results showed that the growing cells at the tip of the Mucor were not visibly deformed, and there was no damage to the cell wall following PLA treatment; however, PLA damaged the cell membrane and internal structure. The results of isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) indicated that the Mucor mitochondrial respiratory chain may be the target of PLA, potentially inhibiting the energy supply of Mucor. These results indicate that the antifungal mechanism of PLA against mold is independent of its molecular configuration. The growth of Mucor is suppressed by PLA, which destroys the organelle structure in the mycelium and inhibits energy metabolism.

Improving the storage quality and suppressing off-flavor generation of winter jujube by precise micro-perforated MAP.

Introduction: Traditional modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) cannot meet the preservation requirements of winter jujube, and the high respiration rate characteristics of winter jujube will produce an atmosphere component with high CO2 concentration in traditional MAP. Micro-perforated MAP is suitable for the preservation of winter jujube due to its high permeability, which can effectively remove excess CO2 and supply O2. In this study, a microporous film preservation system that can be quickly applied to winter jujube was developed, namely PMP-MAP (precise micro-perforated modified atmosphere packaging). An experiment was designed to store winter jujube in PMP-MAP at 20°C and 2°C, respectively. The quality, aroma and antioxidant capacity, etc. of winter jujube at the storage time were determined. Methods: In this study, the optimal micropore area required for microporous film packaging at different temperatures is first determined. To ensure the best perforation effect, the effects of various factors on perforation efficiency were studied. The gas composition within the package was predicted using the gas prediction equation to ensure that the gas composition of the perforated package achieved the desired target. Finally, storage experiments were designed to determine the quality index of winter jujube, including firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acid, reddening, and decay incidence. In addition, sensory evaluation, aroma and antioxidant capacity were also determined. Finally, the preservation effect of PMP-MAP for winter jujube was evaluated by combining the above indicators. Results and discussion: At the end of storage, PMP-MAP reduced the respiration rate of winter jujube, which contributed to the preservation of high total soluble solids and titratable acid levels, and delayed the reddening and decay rate of winter jujube. In addition, PMP-MAP maintained the antioxidant capacity and flavor of winter jujube while inhibiting the occurrence of alcoholic fermentation and off-flavors. This can be attributed to the effective gas exchange facilitated by PMP-MAP, thereby preventing anaerobic stress and quality degradation. Therefore, the PMP-MAP approach is an efficient method for the storage of winter jujube.

Stillbirths attributable to open fires and their geographic disparities in non-Western countries.

Due to global warming, an increased number of open fires is becoming a major contributor to PM2.5 pollution and thus a threat to public health. However, the burden of stillbirths attributable to fire-sourced PM2.5 is unknown. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), there is a co-occurrence of high baseline stillbirth rates and frequent firestorms, which may lead to a geographic disparity. Across 54 LMICs, we conducted a self-matched case-control study, making stillbirths comparable to the corresponding livebirths in terms of time-invariant characteristics (e.g., genetics) and duration of gestational exposure. We established a joint-exposure-response function (JERF) by simultaneously associating stillbirth with fire- and non-fire-sourced PM2.5 concentrations, which were estimated by fusing multi-source data, such as chemical transport model simulations and satellite observations. During 2000-2014, 35,590 pregnancies were selected from multiple Demographic and Health Surveys. In each mother, a case of stillbirth was compared to her livebirth(s) based on gestational exposure to fire-sourced PM2.5. We further applied the JERF to assess stillbirths attributable to fire-sourced PM2.5 in 136 non-Western countries. The disparity was evaluated using the Gini index. The risk of stillbirth increased by 17.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6-35.7%) per 10 µg/m3 increase in fire-sourced PM2.5. In 2014, referring to a minimum-risk exposure level of 10 µg/m3, total and fire-sourced PM2.5 contributed to 922,860 (95% CI: 578,451-1,183,720) and 49,951 (95% CI: 3,634-92,629) stillbirths, of which 10% were clustered within the 6.4% and 0.6% highest-exposure pregnancies, respectively. The Gini index of stillbirths attributable to fire-sourced PM2.5 was 0.65, much higher than for total PM2.5 (0.28). Protecting pregnant women against PM2.5 exposure during wildfires is critical to avoid stillbirths, as the burden of fire-associated stillbirths leads to a geographic disparity in maternal health.

Methyl salicylate affects the lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant capacities of apricot by regulating carotenoid biosynthesis and phenolic metabolism.

The carotenoid biosynthesis and phenolic metabolism were studied to explain the effect of methyl salicylate (MeSA) on the lipophilic antioxidant capacity (LAC) and hydrophilic antioxidant capacity (HAC) in apricot during postharvest storage. Our results indicated that the HAC of apricot was higher than LAC and mainly responsible for total antioxidant capacity of apricot. Preharvest spraying of MeSA (0.2 mmol L-1) could improve the value of HAC but declined LAC of apricot. The enhanced HAC in MeSA treated apricot was positively related to the increased content of phenolics, especially to (+)-catechin, which was catalyzed by the enzymes related to phenolic metabolism. While, the decline of LAC in apricot treated by MeSA could be attributed to the inhibition of carotenoids accumulation, which was regulated by carotenogenic genes. We concluded that MeSA could affect the lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant capacity of apricot by regulating carotenoid biosynthesis and phenolic metabolism.

Integrative analyses of metabolome and transcriptome reveals metabolomic variations and candidate genes involved in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) fruit quality during development and ripening.

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), one of the most appreciated and most important commercial temperate fruits, has high sensory quality and nutritional value. Investigating its metabolic variations provides valuable information on the formation of fruit quality. In this study, widely targeted LC-MS/MS based metabolomics was used to identify and quantify metabolic changes during 'Black Pearl' sweet cherry development and ripening. A total of 263 significant differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were detected during the four fruit-development stages. Significant differences were observed in the composition and content of compounds in the four stages of cherry development, especially sugars, organic acids, and flavonoids. Moreover, transcriptome analysis provided a molecular basis for metabolic variations during fruit development. A total of 6724 significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Further correlation analysis of major DEMs and DEGs showed that 19 key DEGs were involved in sugar metabolism, 23 key DEGs in organic acid metabolism, and 13 key DEGs in flavonoid metabolism. The upregulated genes involved in the flavonoid pathway probably play an important role in regulating the rapid increase of anthocyanin content during fruit development. These comprehensive analysis data provide a better understanding to improve fruit quality traits based on molecular and metabolic levels.

Transcriptome co-expression network analysis identifies key genes and regulators of ripening kiwifruit ester biosynthesis.

BACKGROUND: Aroma is an important organoleptic quality for fruit and has a large influence on consumer preference. Kiwifruit esters undergo rapid and substantial changes contributing to the flavor during fruit ripening. Part of enzymes and their coding genes have been indicated potential candidates for flavor-related esters synthesis. However, there still exist obvious gaps in the biosynthetic pathways of esters and the mechanisms regulating ester biosynthesis in kiwifruit remain unknown. RESULTS: Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), volatile compounds of kiwifruit were quantified in response to ethylene (ETH, 100 µl/l, 24 h, 20 °C) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP, 1 µl/l, 24 h, 20 °C). The results indicated that esters showed the most substantial changes enhanced by ethylene and were inhibited by 1-MCP. Correlations between RNA-seq results and concentrations of esters, constructed using Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) indicated that three structural genes (fatty acid desaturase, AdFAD1; aldehyde dehydrogenase, AdALDH2; alcohol acyltransferase, AdAT17) had similar expression patterns that paralled the changes in total ester content, and AdFAD1 transcripts exhibited the highest correlation. In order to search for potential regulators for ester biosynthesis, 14 previously reported ethylene-responsive transcription factors (TFs) were included in the correlation analysis with esters and their biosynthetic genes. Using dual-luciferase assay, the in vivo regulatory activities of TFs on ester biosynthetic gene promoters were investigated and the results indicated that AdNAC5 and AdDof4 (DNA binding with one finger) trans-activated and trans-suppressed the AdFAD1 promoter. CONCLUSIONS: The present study advanced the molecular basis of ripening-related ester biosynthesis in kiwifruit by identifying three biosynthetic related genes AdFAD1, AdALDH2 and AdAT17 by transcriptome analysis, and highlighted the function of two TFs by transactivation studies.

In vitro studies on the interactions of blood lipid level-related biological molecules with gallic acid and tannic acid.

BACKGROUND: To provide the scientific evidence for a possible new mechanism of hypolipidemic effects of gallic acid (GA) and tannic acid (TA), the binding capacity of GA and TA with blood lipid level-related biological molecules, including fat, cholesterol and cholates, were investigated in vitro. Additionally, we attempted to study the interactions of cholates with GA and TA by spectroscopic methods, high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) analysis and molecular modeling studies. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that both GA and TA were capable of binding with the blood lipid level-related biological molecules in vitro. The fat-binding capacity of TA was 122.1% that of GA when the addition of polyphenol was 90 mg. The inhibitory effects of GA and TA on the cholesterol solubility in mixed micelles and liquid egg yolk exhibited a dose-dependent relationship (0.5-2.0 mg mL-1 ). In cholate-binding tests, TA showed higher affinity for sodium cholate than GA at a concentration of 2.0 mg mL-1 , while no significant difference in the affinity for sodium deoxycholate was found between GA and TA. Moreover, the data of spectroscopic methods, HPLC-ESI-MS analysis and molecular modeling studies indicated that GA and TA might precipitate cholates through hydrophobic interactions and intermolecular hydrogen bonds rather than covalent bonds. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study suggested that the binding capacity of GA and TA with blood lipid level-related biological molecules might play a crucial role in their hypolipidemic effects in animals. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cell wall polysaccharides degradation and ultrastructure modification of apricot during storage at a near freezing temperature.

The effects of near freezing temperature (NFT) storage at -1.9 °C on cell wall degradation of 'Shushanggan' apricot was studied comparing to 0 °C and 5 °C storage. Our results indicated that NFT storage strongly inhibited the solubilization of Na2CO3-soluble pectin and cellulose, by the suppression of cell wall modifying enzymes (polygalacturonase, ß-Galactosidase, pectin methyl esterase and cellulase) and related genes expressions. The loss of side chains was the main modification in CDTA (Cyclohexane-diamine-tetraacetic Acid)-soluble pectin during storage and made the main contribution to the softening of apricot, while the loss of side chain was suppressed by NFT storage. Microscopic observation showed that NFT storage delayed the degradation of pectin fraction and protected cell wall structure from loosing. This study proves that NFT storage is an effective technology to suppress the cell wall polysaccharides degradation and ultrastructure modification of apricot.

Dehydrofreezing of peach: Blanching, D-sodium erythorbate vacuum infiltration, vacuum dehydration, and nitrogen packaging affect the thawed quality of peach.

Peach slices were blanched (BL), vacuum infiltrated with D-sodium erythorbate (SE), predehydrated, and then nitrogen packaged (NP) before freezing to improve their quality. Our results showed that the BL, SE, and NP pretreatments remarkably improved the quality of frozen peaches. Frozen peaches pretreated by SE+NP+BL showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging capacity after thawing at 20°C for 24 hr. The soluble solids content and firmness of low-maturity peaches dehydrated to 25% dehydration of their weight were 11.1% and 211.2% higher than those of the control samples, respectively, while their drip loss was 71.9% lower than that of the controls. In conclusion, pretreatment by BL, predehydration, SE, and NP before freezing can significantly improve the quality of frozen peaches after thawing. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: We believe that our study results have practical applications because the method of vacuum dehydration combined with blanching, nitrogen packaging, and D-sodium erythorbate treatment of peaches maintains their original taste, inhibits color change, and decreases drip loss. This method is suitable for fruit frozen and stored at a commercial freezing temperature of -20°C and does not need advanced equipment or technology. It can be easily carried out during the fruit freezing process and can be applied to other frozen stored fruits besides peaches.

Near-freezing temperature storage enhances chilling tolerance in nectarine fruit through its regulation of soluble sugars and energy metabolism.

To avoid chilling injury (CI) of nectarines during storage, the impact of near-freezing temperature (NFT) (-1.4 ±â€¯0.1 °C), 0 ±â€¯0.1 °C and 5 ±â€¯0.1 °C on CI incidence, ion leakage, levels of soluble sugars and enzymatic activities related to soluble sugars and energy metabolism, were investigated over five weeks. NFT-stored fruit showed no CI symptoms and significantly (P < 0.05) lower increase of ion leakage than those kept at 0 and 5 °C. NFT significantly (P < 0.05) diminished the activities of sucrose metabolism-associated enzymes leading to a higher level of sucrose in fruit, and maintained higher activities of hexokinase and fructokinase. Additionally, NFT-stored fruit exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) higher activities of energy metabolism-associated enzymes than fruit stored at 0 and 5 °C, leading to high levels of adenosine triphosphate and energy in fruit. These results indicated that NFT storage can effectively enhance chilling tolerance of nectarine fruit by inducing the metabolism of soluble carbohydrates and energy.

Discrimination experience, family relations, and generalized trust in China.

Building upon how experiential learning theory explains sources of generalized trust, this study argues that discrimination experiences of others in individual's social network, especially those in close social ties, can have spillover influence on one's generalized trust. Empirically, this study focuses on family relations and examines whether another family member's discrimination experiences may shape an adult individual's generalized trust. Using husband-wife and parent-child linked data from the adult sample of China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) in 2012, this study confirms findings that an individual's discrimination experiences negatively impact their own level of generalized trust. Additionally, net of one's own experiences of discrimination, the disorder experienced by closely related others also affects generalized trust. This is true for effects that travel from husband to wife and wife to husband. However, these impacts are not found in parent-child relationships. The results of this study extend previous literature on sources of generalized trust by suggesting an additional mechanism whereby family members' experiences with discrimination spillover to affect generalized trust for closely related adults.

Chlorogenic acid protects against aluminium-induced cytotoxicity through chelation and antioxidant actions in primary hippocampal neuronal cells.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a major polyphenolic component of many plants, displays antioxidant and neuroprotective properties in neurodegenerative diseases. To investigate whether CGA may influence aluminium (Al) induced cytotoxicity, aluminium chloride (50 µM Al) was administered in primary hippocampal neuronal cells presupplemented with CGA (10, 50 and 100 µM). Our study shows that the exposure to Al caused cell death, Al3+ accumulation, reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial damage in cells. The administration of CGA (50 µM) increased cell viability by 37.5%, decreased the levels of Al3+ by 26.0%, together with significantly weakening the oxidative damage compared with Al treatment alone. CGA protected neurons against Al-induced oxidative stress by increasing the expression of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 and its target phase 2 enzymes. The administration of CGA remarkably promoted the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, creatine kinase and acetylcholinesterase and attenuated the rate of ATP hydrolysis. Our finding shows that CGA has neuroprotective effects against Al-induced cytotoxicity by chelation and antioxidant activation.