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Shelling rate and kernel breaking rate are the two key indicators of shelled materials, and mechanical shelling is one of the important methods to improve these key indicators. In this paper, the common mechanical shelling methods, mechanical shelling types, mechanical shelling principles and development status of shelling materials were analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of mechanical hulling equipment were summarized, and suggestions were made for the problems existing in the current application of mechanical hulling.

BackgroundThe house dust mite (HDM) is widely recognized as the most prevalent allergen in allergic diseases. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) has been successfully implemented in clinical treatment for HDM. Hypoallergenic B-cell epitope-based vaccine designed by artificial intelligence (AI) represents a significant progression of recombinant hypoallergenic allergen derivatives.MethodThe three-dimensional protein structure of Der f 36 was constructed using Alphafold2. AI-based tools were employed to predict B-cell epitopes, which were subsequently verified through IgE-reaction testing. Hypoallergenic Der f 36 was then synthesized, expressed, and purified. The reduced allergenicity was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoblotting, and basophil activation test. T-cell response to hypoallergenic Der f 36 and Der f 36 was evaluated based on cytokine expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients. The immunogenicity was evaluated and compared through rabbit immunization with hypoallergenic Der f 36 and Der f 36, respectively. The inhibitory effect of the blocking IgG antibody on the specific IgE-binding activity and basophil activation of Der f 36 allergen was also examined.ResultsThe final selected non-allergic B-cell epitopes were 25–48, 57–67, 107–112, 142–151, and 176–184. Hypoallergenic Der f 36 showed significant reduction in IgE-binding activity. The competitive inhibition of IgE-binding to Der f 36 was investigated using the hypoallergenic Der f 36, and only 20% inhibition could be achieved, which is greatly reduced when compared with inhibition by Der f 36 (98%). The hypoallergenic Der f 36 exhibited a low basophil-stimulating ratio similar to that of the negative control, and it could induce an increasing level of IFN‐γ but not Th2 cytokines IL-5 and IL-13 in PBMCs. The vaccine-specific rabbit blocking IgG antibodies could inhibit the patients’ IgE binding and basophil stimulation activity of Derf 36.ConclusionThis study represents the first application of an AI strategy to facilitate the development of a B-cell epitope-based hypoallergenic Der f 36 vaccine, which may become a promising immunotherapy for HDM-allergic patients due to its reduced allergenicity and its high immunogenicity in inducing blocking of IgG.

In the process of synaptic formation, neurons must not only adhere to specific principles when selecting synaptic partners but also possess mechanisms to avoid undesirable connections. Yet, the strategies employed to prevent unwarranted associations have remained largely unknown. In our study, we have identified the pivotal role of combinatorial clustered protocadherin gamma (γ-PCDH) expression in orchestrating synaptic connectivity in the mouse neocortex. Through 5' end single-cell sequencing, we unveiled the intricate combinatorial expression patterns of γ-PCDH variable isoforms within neocortical neurons. Furthermore, our whole-cell patch-clamp recordings demonstrated that as the similarity in this combinatorial pattern among neurons increased, their synaptic connectivity decreased. Our findings elucidate a sophisticated molecular mechanism governing the construction of neural networks in the mouse neocortex.

Summary: LMNA gene mutation can cause muscular dystrophy, and post-translational modification plays a critical role in regulating its function. Here, we identify that lamin A is palmitoylated at cysteine 522, 588, and 591 residues, which are reversely catalyzed by palmitoyltransferase zinc finger DHHC-type palmitoyltransferase 5 (ZDHHC5) and depalmitoylase α/β hydrolase domain 7 (ABHD7). Furthermore, the metabolite lactate promotes palmitoylation of lamin A by inhibiting the interaction between it and ABHD7. Interestingly, low-level palmitoylation of lamin A promotes, whereas high-level palmitoylation of lamin A inhibits, murine myoblast differentiation. Together, these observations suggest that ABHD7-mediated depalmitoylation of lamin A controls myoblast differentiation.

As a complex multiphase food, ice cream is composed of fat globules, bubbles and ice crystals dispersed in a semi-frozen solution. The fat content is usually 8%~16%, which plays an important role in the ice cream system. However, excessive fat intake can have a negative impact on health, so the use of fat substitutes to replace part or all of ice cream fat has become a research focus. This paper reviewed the research progress of fat substitutes in ice cream by domestic and foreign scholars in recent years, and focused on the introduction of different types of fat substitutes, as well as the effects on the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of low-fat ice cream. The applications were summarized and the future research direction and focus were also prospected.

Fusarium wilt in Cymbidium ensifolium, caused by Fusarium oxysporum, is highly contagious and poses a severe hazard. It significantly reduces the ornamental value of C. ensifolium and causes substantial economic losses in agricultural production. Nucleotide-binding site–leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) genes are key regulatory factors in plant disease resistance responses, playing vital roles in defending against pathogen invasions. In our study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the NBS-LRR gene family in the genome of Cymbidium ensifolium. Phylogenetic analysis identified a total of 31 NBS-LRR genes encoding NB-ARC proteins, which were categorized into five classes (CNL, CN, NL, N, RNL) based on their protein structural domains. These genes were found to be unevenly distributed across eight chromosomes. Physicochemical analysis revealed significant variances in molecular weight and sequence length among the family members. Subcellular localization results indicated that most genes primarily reside in the cytoplasm and cell membrane, suggesting that the primary sites of disease resistance responses may be the cell membrane and cyto-plasm. Furthermore, noticeable disparities were observed in gene structures and conserved motifs among different categories of family genes. Promoter analysis indicated that cis-regulatory elements are mainly associated with plant stress, jasmonic acid, gibberellin, and other development-related factors, suggesting that CeNBS-LRR genes mainly resist external stress through hormones such as abscisic acid and jasmonic acid. We characterized twenty-seven CeNBS-LRR gene expression patterns of healthy C. ensifolium at different periods after Fusarium wilt infection, and found that those genes exhibit a temporospatial expression pattern, and that their expression is also responsive to Fusarium wilt infection. By analyzing the expression pattern via transcriptome and qRT-PCR, we speculated that JL006442 and JL014305 may play key roles in resisting Fusarium wilt. This study lays the groundwork and holds considerable significance as a reference for identifying disease-resistant genes and facilitating genetic breeding in C. ensifolium.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to optimize the soaking and gelatinization process of semi-dry rice noodles. Methods: Taking semi-dry rice noodles as the research object, the effects of soaking temperature, soaking time, gelatinization temperature, gelatinization time and water addition amount on the cooking loss rate and texture characteristics were analyzed, and the better soaking process and gelatinization process were obtained. Results: Soaking temperature 40 ℃, soaking time 2 h, gelatinization temperature 90 ℃, gelatinization time 8 min, water addition 70% were the best process conditions. The semi-dry rice noodles prepared under the optimal process has better cooking quality and texture characteristics. Conclusion: The quality of semi-dry rice noodles can be improved by optimizing the soaking process and gelatinization process.