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Abstract Background Recently, the oral oncobacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), has been linked with ulcerative colitis (UC). Here, we aim to investigate whether Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) can alleviate UC by restoring gut microbiota and eliminating oral-derived F. nucleatum and virulence factor fadA. Method C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a healthy control group (HC), Dextran Sulfate Sodium group (DSS), oral inoculation group (OR), upper FMT group (UFMT), and lower FMT group (LFMT). Disease activity index, body weight, survival rate, and histopathological scores were used to measure the severity of colitis. The function of the intestinal mucosal barrier was evaluated by performing immunohistochemical staining of the tight junction protein Occludin. Real-time PCR was used to assess the relative abundance of the nusG gene and the virulence gene fadA. Cytokine levels were detected by ELISA. Full-length sequencing of 16S rRNA was used to analyze the changes and composition of gut microbiota. Findings Oral incubation of F. nucleatum further exacerbated the severity of colitis and gut dysbiosis. Peptostreptococcaceae, Enterococcaceae, and Escherichia coli were significantly enriched in OR mice. However, LFMT mice showed an obvious decrease in disease activity and were more effective in restoring gut microbiota and eliminating F. nucleatum than UFMT mice. Bacteroidota, Lachnospiraceae, and Prevotellaceae were mainly enriched bacteria in LFMT mice. In addition, Genera such as Lactobacillus, Allobaculum, and Bacteroidales were found negative correlation with TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Genera like Romboutsia, Escherichia Shigella, Enterococcus, and Clostridium were found positively correlated with TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Conclusions Oral incubation of F. nucleatum further exacerbates the severity and dysbiosis in DSS-induced colitis mice. Besides, lower tract FMT can ameliorate colitis by restoring the gut microbiota diversity and eliminating F. nucleatum and virulence factor fadA.

旨在为杜仲籽仁蛋白的开发与应用提供参考，以杜仲籽仁粕为原料，采用碱溶酸沉法提取蛋白，采用500 W、35 kHz超声波对杜仲籽仁蛋白处理不同的时间(0、10、20、30 min和40 min)，探究超声处理对杜仲籽仁蛋白微观结构、理化特性（粒径、Zeta-电位、内源荧光光谱、溶解性、持水性、持油性、起泡性、起泡稳定性、乳化性、乳化稳定性）的影响。结果表明：超声处理可改变杜仲籽仁蛋白的微观结构、粒径、Zeta-电位和荧光强度；超声处理20 min时，杜仲籽仁蛋白溶解度达到7535%；超声处理10 min时，杜仲籽仁蛋白乳化性最大，达到72.12 m2/g；超声处理40 min时，杜仲籽仁蛋白持水性、持油性、起泡性和起泡稳定性最大，分别达到4.32 g/g、3.46 g/g、23.12%和21.12%。综上，超声处理可改善杜仲籽仁蛋白的持水性、持油性、起泡性、乳化性等功能特性。To provide reference for the development and application of Eucommia ulmoides seed kernel protein, the Eucommia ulmoides seed kernel meal was used as material, the protein was extracted with alkali solution and acid precipitation, and Eucommia ulmoides seed kernel protein was treated by ultrasound (500 W, 35 kHz) for different time (0, 10, 20, 30 min and 40 min). The effects of ultrasound treatment on Eucommia ulmoides seed kernel protein′s microstructure and physicochemical properties (particle size, Zeta-potential, fluorescence spectrum, solubility, water holding capacity, oil holding capacity, foaming capacity, foam stability, emulsifying capacity, emulsifying stability) were studied.The results showed that ultrasound treatment could change microstructure, particle size, Zeta-potential and fluorescence intensity of Eucommia ulmoides seed kernel protein. When the ultrasound treatment time was 20 min, the solubility of Eucommia ulmoides seed kernel protein reached 75.35%. When the ultrasound treatment time was 10 min, the emulsifying capacity of Eucommia ulmoides seed kernel protein was the highest, reaching 72.12 m2/g. When the ultrasound treatment time was 40 min, the water holding capacity, oil holding capacity,foaming capacity and foam stability of Eucommia ulmoides seed kernel protein were the largest, reaching 4.32 g/g, 3.46 g/g, 23.12% and 21.12%, respectively. In summary, ultrasound treatment can improve the functional characteristics of Eucommia ulmoides seed kernel protein,such as water holding capacity, oil holding capacity, foaming capacity and emulsifying capacity.

This study examines resistive switching in a Cu/ZnO/ITO structure, uncovering an anomalous phenomenon that provides insights into the mechanisms of parallel conducting filaments in ZnO thin films. The current–voltage (I–V) characteristics exhibit a sharp switch at a positive threshold voltage around 2 V, transitioning from a high resistance pristine state to a low resistance state, interpreted as the formation of a Cu filament via electrochemical metallization. However, after this forming process, the device remains in the low resistance state and cannot reset to a high resistance state in either polarity of the applied voltage, suggesting the presence of a strong, unbreakable Cu filament after the forming process. What makes this phenomenon anomalous is the observed weak bipolar resistive switching in the cycles following the forming cycle, despite the presence of the Cu filament. The I–V characteristics of forward- and reverse-bias sweeps suggest that the weak bipolar resistive switching results from an additional filament formed in parallel with the existing unbreakable Cu filament. Using a parallel conducting filaments model, the resistivity of this additional filament is calculated to be ∼10−7–10−5 Ω m, indicating that this filament is likely generated by oxygen vacancies rather than metal atoms in the ZnO films.

Abstract The intermitochondrial cement (IMC) and chromatoid body (CB) are posited as central sites for piRNA activity in mice, with MIWI initially assembling in the IMC for piRNA processing before translocating to the CB for functional deployment. The regulatory mechanism underpinning MIWI translocation, however, has remained elusive. We unveil that piRNA loading is the trigger for MIWI translocation from the IMC to CB. Mechanistically, piRNA loading facilitates MIWI release from the IMC by weakening its ties with the mitochondria-anchored TDRKH. This, in turn, enables arginine methylation of MIWI, augmenting its binding affinity for TDRD6 and ensuring its integration within the CB. Notably, loss of piRNA-loading ability causes MIWI entrapment in the IMC and its destabilization in male germ cells, leading to defective spermatogenesis and male infertility in mice. Collectively, our findings establish the critical role of piRNA loading in MIWI translocation during spermatogenesis, offering new insights into piRNA biology in mammals.

Abstract Background Entomopathogenic fungi, representing a class of microbial agent, have been widely used in the field of pest management. The objective of this work was to isolate different species of fungi and to evaluate their virulence against the destructive and invasive red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Results Two new entomopathogenic fungal strains isolated from dead diseased RPWs were identified as Metarhizium anisopliae ZZ-A1 and Fusarium oxysporum ZZ-L1 using growth characteristics, morphology, and rDNA-ITS sequence amplification. Bioassays showed that M. anisopliae ZZ-A1 strain exhibited significantly higher corrected mortality than F. oxysporum ZZ-L1 strain (90.92 vs. 77.28%) in fourth instar RPW larvae 12 days after treatment with a concentration of 1.0 × 1010 conidia/ml, as well as low median lethal concentration (LC50) and median lethal time (LT50) values. Conclusions The results suggest that both fungal isolates can potentially be developed as effective and persistent a microbial agent against this widespread pest, RPW. However, M. anisopliae ZZ-A1 showed relatively higher insecticidal activity than F. oxysporum ZZ-L1.

The ultra-high pressure-assisted extraction (UHPE) of total phenols from Eucommia ulmoides leaves (TPEU) was optimized and its antioxidant activity on Eucommia ulmoides seed oil was studied. The effects of UHPE pressure, UHPE time, and ethanol concentration on the extraction yield of TPEU were examined by response surface methodology. In addition, TPEU was added to Eucommia ulmoides seed oil, and the effects of TPEU on the antioxidant activity (acid value, peroxide value) of Eucommia ulmoides seed oil during storage were studied. The optimal UHPE conditions were as follows: UHPE pressure, 406 MPa; UHPE time, 8.3 min; and ethanol concentration, 60.2%. Under these UHPE conditions, the yield of TPEU was 7.58%. TPEU had a good antioxidant effect when the TPEU content was 0.06%. The antioxidant effect of TPEU was lower than that of BHA. Both TPEU and BHA have a synergistic effect.

Background Activating signal cointegrator 3 (ASCC3) has been identified as an oncogenic factor that impairs host immune defense. However, the underlying mechanisms of carcinogenesis and its impact on the antitumor immune response remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of ASCC3 in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods Single-cell sequencing data from the Gene Expression Omnibus and gene expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas database were analyzed. The expression, clinical relevance and biological functions of ASCC3 in NSCLC were explored. Then, RNA sequencing, immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry analyses were conducted to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. In addition, in vivo experiments in mouse models were conducted to explore the probability of ASCC3 knockdown to improve the efficacy of anti-Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) therapy in NSCLC.Results ASCC3 was significantly upregulated in NSCLC and correlated with poor pathological characteristics and prognosis in patients with NSCLC. Overexpression of ASCC3 promoted malignant phenotypes of NSCLC cells and induced an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which was characterized by a decrease in CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells and dendritic cells but an increase in regulatory T(Treg) cells. Mechanistically, ASCC3 stabilized signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 signaling by recruiting Cullin-associated and neddylation dissociated 1 (CAND1), which inhibited ubiquitin-mediated degradation of STAT3, thereby impairing the type I interferon response of tumor cells and promoting the immunosuppression and progression of NSCLC. Furthermore, high expression of ASCC3 impaired the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy, and an anti-PD-1 antibody combined with ASCC3 knockdown exerted promising synergistic efficacy in a preclinical mouse model.Conclusion ASCC3 could stabilize the STAT3 pathway via CAND1, reshaping the tumor microenvironment and inducing resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy, which promotes the progression of NSCLC. It is a reliable prognostic indicator and can be a target in combination therapy for NSCLC.

In this work, the structures of deacetylated konjac glucomannan (DKGM) with different degrees of deacetylation were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and their viscosity, water-holding capacity (WHC) and thermal stability were evaluated and compared. The effects of DKGM with high degree of deacetylation (72.70%) on the texture and in vitro digestion characteristics of cold noodles were analyzed. The results showed that the characteristic absorption peak of acetyl group at 1 735 cm?1 in DKGM decreased, the surface became rough, the crystallinity and the thermal stability increased, and the viscosity and WHC decreased with the increase in the degree of deacetylation when compared with konjac glucomannan (KGM) (P < 0.05). After adding DKGM with high degree of deacetylation, the hardness, chewiness and cohesiveness of cold noodles showed a downward trend, and its in vitro digestibility decreased. In conclusion, addition of DKGM with high degree of deacetylation can improve the mouthfeel and digestion resistance of cold noodles, which may provide a theoretical basis for the application of DKGM and starch blends in low glycemic index foods.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of different sterilization on the quality of fermented jujube juice. Methods: The effects of cold plasma sterilization (CPS) and pulsed strong light sterilization (PLS) on the quality of jujube juice before and after fermentation were studied, with high pressure sterilization (SA) jujube juice as the control. Results: The contents of total sugar, reducing sugar and soluble solid in jujube juice before and after fermentation by CPS treatment were significantly higher than those of the other two sterilization methods, and the contents of total sugar, reducing sugar and soluble solid in jujube juice after fermentation were 1.7 mg/L, 1.64 mg/L and 12.4%, respectively. With SA treatment, the total phenol content of jujube juice before and after fermentation was the lowest, and the total phenol content of jujube juice after fermentation was only 2.19 mg/L. The color of jujube juice treated by PLS changed minimally before and after fermentation. The viable count of Lactobacillus plantarum in jujube juice treated by CPS, PLS and SA were more than 6.48 lg（CFU/mL） after 48 h fermentation by L. plantarum, and the viable count of L. plantarum in jujube juice was the highest 6.63 lg(CFU/mL) after PLS treatment. Conclusion: Non-thermal sterilization (especially PLS) has little effect on the quality of fermented jujube juice and could be applied in the processing of fermented jujube juice.