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Abstract Interactions among insects, plants, and microorganisms are fundamental to ecosystem dynamics, with floral nectar and pollen serving as key resources for various organisms. Yeasts, such as Metschnikowia reukaufii, commonly found in nectar, influence nectarial attraction through volatile compounds (VOCs), yet the underlying biological mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that isoamyl alcohol, a prominent yeast VOC, attracts oriental armyworm moths (Mythimna separata) to pollen-rich, yeast-fermented nectar. In a series of electrophysiological and behavioral assays, we show that isoamyl alcohol activates a single class of highly specific olfactory sensory neurons expressing the olfactory receptor MsepOR8. In the moth antennal lobe, these neurons target the AM2 glomerulus, which responds to isoamyl alcohol. Genetic disruption of MsepOR8 leads to complete abolition of both physiological and behavioral responses to isoamyl alcohol, resulting in an impaired ability to locate nectar sources. Moreover, we show that isoamyl alcohol-induced foraging behavior fosters a mutualistic relationship between yeast and moths to some extent, enhancing yeast dispersal and increasing moth reproductive success. Our results unveil a highly specific mechanism by which a yeast-derived VOC facilitates insect-yeast mutualism, providing insights into insect-microbe interactions within pollination ecosystems.

In this paper, isomaltooligosaccharides 50 syrup was used as raw material and purification of isomaltooligosaccharides by sequential simulated moving bed chromatography, and the related physical and chemical properties of high-purity isomaltooligosaccharide were analyzed. The stationary phase suitable for the separation of isomaltooligosaccharides was selected by single column fixed bed experiment. The separation degree of different types of cation exchange resin on isomaltooligosaccharides, monosaccharides and disaccharides mixture was compared, ZG106 K+ resin was selected as the suitable separation medium. Then, based on the single column evaluation test of preparative chromatography and the principle of material balance and the basic principle of sequential simulated moving bed. The initial operating parameters for the sequential simulated moving bed chromatographic separation high-purity isomaltooligosaccharides process were roughly determined. Further the separation conditions were optimized and the best technical parameters were as follows: feed refraction was 60% and column temperature was 65 ℃. At the same time quantity of flow in the entrance and eluent were 455 mL/h and 682 mL/h, respectively. The velocity of flow in the entrance and eluent were 40.2 mL/min and 31.8 mL/min, respectively. Besides, the circulating flow was kept within 409.5 mL/h. Finally, the outlet refraction of isomaltooligosaccharides was 18.70%. Products gained with purity was 92.80% and the yield was 83.20%. After 7 days of storage in environments with relative humidity of 43% and 81%, the moisture absorption rates of high-purity isomaltooligosaccharides were 61.63% and 67.10% respectively. Meanwhile, after 7 days of storage in environments with relative humidity of 43% and 0, the moisture retention rates of high-purity isomaltooligosaccharides were 77.96% and 15.56% respectively. Its chemical structure could still maintain high stability at 352.5 ℃. It was capable of performing the Maillard reaction. Syrup was a typical non-Newtonian "pseudoplastic fluid". Sequential simulated moving bed technology can efficiently purify isomaltooligosaccharides, which provides corresponding technical support for the large-scale commercial production and wide application of high-purity isomaltooligosaccharides. The good physical and chemical properties of high purity isomaltooligosaccharide provide a theoretical basis for its application in food and related functional sugar fields.

This study was performed to elucidate effects of corn bran soluble dietary fibers (CSDF) on loperamide-induced constipation and changes in intestinal flora in mice. Sixty male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, CSDF low, medium, and high dose groups (3, 6, and 12 g·kg−1·d), and a combination group (CSDF: Lactobacillus paracasei=30:1(v:v)), with 10 mice in each group. CSDF was administered for 14 d. At the end of the intervention, constipation was induced with single dose administration of a loperamide suspension (10 mg·kg−1), and mice were monitored for 7 d. Compared with the model group, CSDF intervention significantly shortened the time to the first black stool in constipated mice. The volume of defecation spanning 6 h and the water content of feces were also significantly increased (P

To maintain the stability of temperature and displacement of runway in frozen soil regions and ensure the safety of the aircraft taking off and landing, the runway with the parallel perforated ventilation subgrade is proposed. The numerical model of runway is established and verified by comparing with the air velocity field, temperature field, and displacement field in previous studies. Results show the parallel perforated ventilation subgrade is suitable for runway in frozen soil regions, and effectively reduce temperature and maintain stability of runway. The displacement of runway decreases rapidly after the subgrade is cooled by the parallel perforated ventilation for the first year, and tends to a fluctuated range of −2.5–0 mm after the tenth year. The maximum thawing settlement of runway appears on December 20th every year. The displacement of runway is increasing from the center of pavement to the natural surface, and the lateral inhomogeneous displacement between pavement and natural surface increases year by year. The annual maximum displacement in the center of pavement decreases rapidly in the first five years, then decreases slowly, and tends to fluctuate steadily after the seventeenth year. This study provides technical support for the design and construction, operation and maintenance of runway.

The runway in permafrost regions has remarkable temperature sensitivity. Therefore, this paper puts forward to the parallel perforated ventilation subgrade. The reliability and validity of the finite element model of the runway with the parallel perforated ventilation subgrade are verified by comparing with the previous studies. And the cooling effect of the parallel perforated ventilation subgrade is analyzed. Results show that the parallel perforated ventilation subgrade has a significant cooling effect on the pavement and has little cooling effect in the natural ground. Compared with the non-ventilation subgrade, temperature time-history curves for the parallel perforated ventilation subgrade change periodically each year and are gradually lower with the growth of time. Temperature-depth curves for the parallel perforated ventilation subgrade change significantly at the insulation layer, the crushed rock layer, and the perforated ventilation. The air velocity and working time of the parallel perforated ventilation have no effect on the temperature of the surface layer, base layer, and subbase layer, have little effect on the temperature of the insulation layer, and have great effect on the temperature of the crushed rock layer and subgrade. This study provides scientific support for the design, construction, and maintenance of the runway in permafrost regions.

Natural products are valuable medicinal resources in the field of anti-inflammation due to their significant bioactivity and low antibiotic resistance. Research has demonstrated that many natural products exert notable anti-inflammatory effects by modulating the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways. The research on related signal transduction mechanisms and pharmacological mechanisms is increasingly being discovered and validated. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive reviews focusing on the pharmacological mechanisms of natural products targeting the TLR4/NF-κB pathway for anti-inflammatory effects. In light of these considerations, this review comprehensively synthesizes recent research findings concerning the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, including the translocation of TLR4 activation to lysosomes within the cytoplasm, the assembly of protein complexes mediated by ubiquitin chains K63 and K48, and the deacetylation modification of p65. These discoveries are integrated into the classical TLR4/NF-κB pathway to systematically elucidate the latest mechanisms among various targets. Additionally, we summarize the pharmacological mechanisms by which natural products exert anti-inflammatory effects through the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. This aims to elucidate the multitarget advantages of natural products in the treatment of inflammation and their potential applications, thereby providing theoretical support for molecular pharmacology research on inflammation and the development of novel natural anti-inflammatory drugs.

This study comprehensively examines how combining γ-irradiation and enzymatic modification influences the microstructure and physicochemical properties of dietary fiber (DF) obtained from defatted rice bran. The resulting yields of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) were measured at 13.38 ± 0.40 g/100 g and 52.19 ± 0.97 g/100 g, respectively. The modifications led to a diminish in particle size, an increase in specific surface area, and an improvement in water-holding capacity, oil-holding capacity, swelling capacity, glucose adsorption capacity, and cholesterol adsorption capacity. Furthermore, the modified DF exhibited enhanced anti-digestive properties and probiotic activity. Cluster and principal component analysis results revealed that the modified SDF exhibited superior functional properties. Correlation analysis indicated a noticeable relationship between the monosaccharide composition of DF and its functional characteristics. These findings suggest that γ-irradiation combined with enzymatic modification represents a viable approach for enhancing the quality of rice bran DF.

ABSTRACT: Fermentation of feed with probiotic and biofunctional properties has gained global attention for its potential to enhance digestive absorption and improve overall functional quality. This study investigates the antioxidant capacity and expression of antioxidant-related genes in broiler chickens fed with fermented corn gluten meal (FCGM) containing mixed microbial cultures. Seventy-two male Yellow-Feathered broiler chickens were randomly assigned to 2 groups, each consisting of 3 replicates, and were fed experimental diets containing either corn gluten meal or FCGM for 42 d. The antioxidant capacity of FCGM was assessed in vivo. Chickens fed with FCGM exhibited significant increases in serum glutathione concentration, as well as enhanced activities of total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase (CAT) in their serum. Similar trends were observed in the liver, specifically in the activities of glutathione peroxidase and CAT. Additionally, the expression levels of key antioxidant-related genes in the liver, such as glutathione synthase, superoxide dismutase 1, superoxide dismutase 2, CAT, and glutathione peroxidase 1, were examined. The results indicated that FCGM significantly enhanced antioxidant capacity in broiler chickens. This study highlights the potential benefits of utilizing solid-state fermentation with mixed microbial cultures to improve the antioxidant properties of corn gluten meal, thereby contributing to the overall health and well-being of broiler chickens.

This study investigated the potential effects of corn protein activity peptides (CPAPs) on inflammation response levels and gastrointestinal microbiota in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection mice. CPAPs significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 and down-regulated the mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory factors TGF-β, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB, indicating that CPAPs may antagonize H. pylori-induced inflammatory responses by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathways. Through the intervention of CPAPs, H. pylori colonization in the stomach was significantly reduced. Additionally, the structural composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota improved, with an increase in abundance and diversity. These changes positively regulate gastrointestinal microbiota disorders in mice. In addition, the PICRUST function prediction of intestinal microbiota revealed that CPAPs may prevent or reduce metabolic disorders brought about by H. pylori, which improve biometabolic pathways by modulating intestinal microbiota composition. In conclusion, these findings suggest that CPAPs may prevent or mitigate metabolic disorders induced by H. pylori, offering theoretical support for the development of corn-protein-based functional foods.

The herpesvirus UL51 protein is a multifunctional tegument protein involved in the regulation of multiple aspects of the viral life cycle. This article reviews the biological characteristics of the UL51 protein and its functions in herpesviruses, including participating in the maintenance of the viral assembly complex (cVAC) during viral assembly, affecting the production of mature viral particles and promoting primary and secondary envelopment, as well as its positive impact on viral cell-to-cell spread (CCS) through interactions with multiple viral proteins and its key role in the proliferation and pathogenicity of the virus in the later stage of infection. This paper discusses how the UL51 protein participates in the life cycle of herpesviruses and provides new ideas for further research on UL51 protein function.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors enhance the tumor-killing ability of T-cells in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), thereby boosting overall survival (OS) and transforming treatment for advanced stages. However, challenges persist, including low response rates and the absence of effective markers for candidate selection. This study evaluated the impact of hemoglobin, albumin, and platelet (HALP), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) on immunotherapy efficacy and survival in advanced NSCLC. Furthermore, the study aimed to develop a nomogram based on these parameters. Clinical and hematological data from patients diagnosed with NSCLC who received immunotherapy were analyzed. Efficacy was assessed using the immune Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (iRECIST), and progression-free survival (PFS) and OS were analyzed. Prediction models were based on baseline and post-treatment HALP, NLR, and PLR. The 203 included patients had a median follow-up of 16 months, a median PFS (mPFS) of 7 months (6.0 – 8.0), while the median OS (mOS) was not available (24.0 – not available). The PLR before treatment (PLR0) was linked to a higher disease control rate (DCR) (odds ratio [OR] = 0.258), while initial immunotherapy and NLR after four cycles of treatment (NLR4C) significantly boosted the objective response rate (ORR). Cox regression showed that HALP before treatment (HALP0), HALP after four cycles of treatment (HALP4C), and NLR before treatment (NLR0) significantly influenced PFS. Additionally, HALP0, NLR0, and PLR after four cycles of treatment (PLR4C) were associated with OS. The C-indices for PFS and OS were 0.823 and 0.878, respectively, indicating good prediction accuracy. HALP, NLR, and PLR at various time points effectively predicted immunotherapy response in advanced NSCLC patients. Low HALP with high NLR and PLR indicated a poor prognosis. The findings can provide the basis for stratified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the future.

To investigate the optimal extraction process and functional characteristics of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) from corn bran. This study used corn bran, a by-product of corn processing, as raw material to extract soluble dietary fiber from corn bran through composite enzyme modification. The optimal process parameters were determined through single factor experiments and response surface methodology optimization, and their physicochemical properties were studied. The results showed that the extraction yield of SDF reached the highest value of 16.64%±0.21% when the content of cellulase was 1.5%, the content of xylanase was 1%, the enzymolysis temperature was 55 ℃ and enzymolysis time was 150 min. Its solubility was 87.63%±0.43%, the holding water capacity was 2.87±0.16 g/g, the oil holding capacity was 2.30±0.12 g/g, the glucose adsorption capacity was 5.32±0.12 mmol/g. Under simulated stomach (pH2.0) and intestinal environment (pH7.0), cholesterol adsorption capacity was 11.74±0.15 and 42.93±0.08 mg/g and sodium cholacte adsorption capacity was 15.43±0.17 and 50.67±0.10 mg/g, respectively. The research results can provide theoretical reference for the development and utilization of soluble dietary fiber from corn bran.

Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index in early pregnancy and the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the second trimester. The primary objectives were to evaluate the predictive potential of the TyG index for GDM, determine the optimal threshold value of the TyG index for GDM assessment, and compare the predictive performance of the TyG index alone versus its combination with maternal age and pre-pregnancy body mass index on GDM. Moreover, the study explored the association between the TyG index in early pregnancy and the risk of other pregnancy-related complications (PRCs), such as placental abruption and gestational hypertension. Patients and methods This prospective cohort study recruited 1,624 pregnant women who underwent early pregnancy antenatal counseling and comprehensive assessments with continuous monitoring until delivery. To calculate the TyG index, health indicators, including maternal triglycerides and fasting plasma glucose, were measured in early pregnancy (

Abstract Poor sleep health is associated with a wide array of increased risk for cardiovascular, metabolic and mental health problems as well as all-cause mortality in observational studies, suggesting potential links between sleep health and lifespan. However, it has yet to be determined whether sleep health is genetically or/and causally associated with lifespan. In this study, we firstly studied the genome-wide genetic association between four sleep behaviors (short sleep duration, long sleep duration, insomnia, and sleep chronotype) and lifespan using GWAS summary statistics, and both sleep duration time and insomnia were negatively correlated with lifespan. Then, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) and multivariable MR analyses were applied to explore the causal effects between sleep behaviors and lifespan. We found that genetically predicted short sleep duration was causally and negatively associated with lifespan in univariable and multivariable MR analyses, and this effect was partially mediated by coronary artery disease (CAD), type 2 diabetes (T2D) and depression. In contrast, we found that insomnia had no causal effects on lifespan. Our results further confirmed the negative effects of short sleep duration on lifespan and suggested that extension of sleep may benefit the physical health of individuals with sleep loss. Further attention should be given to such public health issues.

The study of matrix functions is highly significant and has important applications in control theory, quantum mechanics, signal processing, and machine learning. Previous work has mainly focused on how to use the Krylov-type method to efficiently calculate matrix functions f(A)β and βTf(A)β when A is symmetric. In this paper, we mainly illustrate the convergence using the polynomial approximation theory for the case where A is symmetric positive definite. Numerical results illustrate the effectiveness of our theoretical results.

Intestinal barrier is an important basis for intestinal function, which can strictly control the exchange of substances between the host and the external environment. An intact intestianl barrier is also the guardian of human health. In this study, the protective effect of corn protein hydrolysate with glutamine-rich peptides (APH) on intestinal epithelial cell barrier was evaluated in Caco-2 cell inflammatory damage model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Then, the sequences of glutamine peptides in APH were identified by Nano LC-MS/MS, and the structural characteristics of the identified glutamine peptides were analyzed. The results showed that the hydrolysate effectively alleviated LPS-induced cell damage and decreased the inflammatory response by down-regulating the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-1β) and up-regulating the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10). Moreover, the hydrolysate also up-regulated the gene expression of three tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1) to maintain the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier. More importantly, the hydrolysate protected the intestinal barrier function via down-regulating the key genes expression (TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB) in the NF-κB signaling pathway and inhibiting the overexpression of MLCK gene in the MLCK signaling pathway. Finally, 374 corn glutamine peptides were identified from APH, and their structural characteristics showed that corn glutamine peptides had high affinity with membrane proteins. Taken together, these results indicated that APH has excellent potential to protect intestinal barrier function and can be developed into a functional health food.

Self-generated magnetic field and electron jet are observed when ultra-intense lasers (>1×1018W/cm2) interact with plasma. It is found that the self-generated magnetic field plays a significant role in the generation of electron jets. The generation mechanism of electron jets under the influence of a self-generated circular magnetic field is examined. It is revealed that magnetic modulation of self-generated magnetic fields can result in the collapse of these fields, consequently leading to the production of electron jets. Furthermore, it has been discovered that the velocity of the electron jets is associated with the maximum growth rate of the modulational instability. As the maximum growth rate of the modulational instability decreases, the velocity of the electron jets is reduced. The present work aids in getting a deeper understanding of the generation of electron jets in relativistic laser plasmas.

Introduction: The relationship between sleep loss and cognitive impairment has long been widely recognized, but there is still a lack of complete understanding of the underlying mechanisms and potential biomarkers. The purpose of this study is to further explore the shared biological mechanisms and common biomarkers between sleep loss and cognitive impairment.Methods: The mitochondria-related genes and gene expression data were downloaded from the MitoCarta3.0 and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. We identified the differentially expressed mitochondrial-related genes by combing the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in sleep deprivation (SD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) datasets with mitochondria-related gene lists. Shared DEGs were then further analyzed for enrichment analysis. Next, the common biomarker was identified using two machine learning techniques and further validated using two independent GEO datasets. Then GSEA and GSVA were conducted to analyze the functional categories and pathways enriched for the common biomarker. Finally, immune infiltration analysis was used to investigate the correlation of immune cell infiltration with the common biomarker in SD and MCI.Results: A total of 32 mitochondrial-related differentially expressed genes were identified in SD and MCI. GO analysis indicated that these genes were significantly enriched for mitochondrial transport, and KEGG analysis showed they were mainly involved in pathways of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, ATPAF1, which was significantly down-regulated in both SD and MCI, was identified through machine learning algorithms as the common biomarker with favorable diagnostic performance. GSEA and GSVA revealed that ATPAF1 was mainly involved in metabolic pathways, such as oxidative phosphorylation, acetylcholine metabolic process, valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation. Immune infiltration analysis showed that the expression of ATPAF1 was correlated with changes in immune cells, especially those key immune cell types associated with SD and MCI.Discussion: This study firstly revealed that mitochondrial dysfunction may be the common pathogenesis of sleep loss and mild cognitive impairment and identified ATPAF1 as a possible biomarker and therapeutic target involved in SD and MCI.

Isomaltooligosaccharides (IMOs) are recognized as functional food ingredients with prebiotic potential that deliver health benefits. IMOs have attained commercial interest as they are produced from low-cost agricultural products that are widely available and have prospective applications in the food industry. This paper focuses on the enzymatic production processes of IMOs, as well as its key technology research, including enzyme conversion, enzyme membrane bioreactors, enzyme immobilization and biocatalysis are analyzed. Moreover, the shortcomings of the existing technology are analyzed. Combined with modern biotechnology, the research direction of related enzyme technology in the field of industrial production of IMOs is prospected, which provide some reference for its industrialization development.

The solid-fermented process conditions of producing feruloylated oligosaccharides (FOs) from corn bran were optimized in this study. The fungus Neurospora sitophila (generally recognised as safe, GRAS) was used as fermenting species, and FOs content was considered as the indicator, the single-factor and response surface experiments were performed to optimize the culture medium and culture conditions, including inoculation amount, fermentation time, fermentation temperature, and added amount of water. An FOs yield of 1.52 μmol/g was achieved under the following conditions: 5 g of corn bran and 2% of corn bran weight (w/w) of soybean meal in a 250 mL conical flask, an inoculation size of 1.17×105 spores/flask, a fermentation time of 75 h, a fermentation temperature of 28 ℃, and added water mount of 15.2 mL. The observed yield value was close to the theoretical value predicted by the model (1.56 μmol/g), and increased by 60.83% compared with that of the pre-optimized process. Therefore, the FOs content of the product significantly increased by the optimization of the fermentation process, which offered a novel thought for enhancing the added value and expanding the routes for preparing maize bran-derived FOs.

Abstract Despite advances in cancer treatment, immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) only achieves complete response in some patients, illustrating the need to identify resistance mechanisms. Using an ICB-insensitive tumor model, here we discover cisplatin enhances the anti-tumor effect of PD-L1 blockade and upregulates the expression of Ariadne RBR E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase 1 (ARIH1) in tumors. Arih1 overexpression promotes cytotoxic T cell infiltration, inhibits tumor growth, and potentiates PD-L1 blockade. ARIH1 mediates ubiquitination and degradation of DNA-PKcs to trigger activation of the STING pathway, which is blocked by the phospho-mimetic mutant T68E/S213D of cGAS protein. Using a high-throughput drug screen, we further identify that ACY738, less cytotoxic than cisplatin, effectively upregulates ARIH1 and activates STING signaling, sensitizing tumors to PD-L1 blockade. Our findings delineate a mechanism that tumors mediate ICB resistance through the loss of ARIH1 and ARIH1-DNA-PKcs-STING signaling and indicate that activating ARIH1 is an effective strategy to improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.

As we move into the next stages of the technological revolution, artificial intelligence (AI) that is explainable and sustainable is becoming a key goal for researchers across multiple domains. Leveraging the concept of functional connectivity (FC) in the human brain, this paper provides novel research directions for neuromorphic machine intelligence (NMI) systems that are energy-efficient and human-compatible. This review serves as an accessible review for multidisciplinary researchers introducing a range of concepts inspired by neuroscience and analogous machine learning research. These include possibilities to facilitate network integration and segregation in artificial architectures, a novel learning representation framework inspired by two FC networks utilised in human learning, and we explore the functional connectivity underlying task prioritisation in humans and propose a framework for neuromorphic machines to improve their task-prioritisation and decision-making capabilities. Finally, we provide directions for key application domains such as autonomous driverless vehicles, swarm intelligence, and human augmentation, to name a few. Guided by how regional brain networks interact to facilitate cognition and behaviour such as the ones discussed in this review, we move toward a blueprint for creating NMI that mirrors these processes.

A comprehensive investigation aimed to access the impacts of ultrasonic, microwave, and ultrasonic-microwave synergistic modification on the physicochemical properties, microstructure, and functional properties of corn bran insoluble dietary fiber (CBIDF). Our findings revealed that CBIDF presented a porous structure with loose folds, and the particle size and relative crystallinity were slightly decreased after modification. The CBIDF, which was modified by ultrasound-microwave synergistic treatment, exhibited remarkable benefits in terms of its adsorption capacity, and cholate adsorption capacity. Furthermore, the modification improved the in vitro hypoglycemic activity of the CBIDF by enhancing glucose absorption, retarding the starch hydrolysis, and facilitating the diffusion of glucose solution. The findings from the in vitro probiotic activity indicate that ultrasound-microwave synergistic modification also enhances the growth-promoting ability and adsorbability of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum. Additionally, the level of soluble dietary fiber was found to be positively correlated with CBIDF adsorbability, while the crystallinity of CBIDF showed a negative correlation with α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition activity, as well as water-holding capacity, and oil-holding capacity.

More than 50% of the world population is infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Potential anti-adhesive peptides from corn protein hydrolysate were developed using in vitro methodologies to prevent Helicobacter pylori infection. To obtain anti-adhesive peptides against Helicobacter pylori, corn gluten meal (CGM) was hydrolyzed by neutrase, and the hydrolysate (CPHN) was purified by using Superdex peptide gel filtration, Q anion exchange and Mono Q anion exchange. Then, sequences of peptides were identified by Nano-LC-MS/MS, and the structural and functional properties of the identified peptides were characterized. Three novel peptides Pro-Tyr-Ala-Glu-Tyr (PYAEY, PY5), Ile-Ile-Pro-Gln-Cys-Ser (IIPQCS, II6) and Thr-Ile-Ile-Pro-Gln (TIIPQ, TI5) were identified, respectively. PY5 exhibited the best anti-adhesive activity among the three novel peptides, and its anti-adhesive activity was 40.75 ± 0.72% at 4 mg/mL. Meanwhile, PY5 also possessed significant 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity and excellent 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging capacity, with IC50 values of 1.650 ± 0.184 and 0.007 ± 0.001 mg/mL, respectively, suggesting that PY5 could alleviate stomach damage induced by Helicobacter pylori infection. In addition, molecular docking and dot blot results showed that PY5 could also conjugate with the Helicobacter pylori adhesins, SabA and BabA, through hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bond inhibiting Helicobacter pylori adhesion. These results indicate that three novel peptides from corn protein hydrolysate have potential anti-adhesive and antioxidant effects and could serve as functional foods or drugs to prevent Helicobacter pylori infection.

Abstract Based on the coupling res model of vehicular and road, the influences of surface layer modulus, surface layer thickness and equivalent modulus of elasticity on the spectrum of the acceleration, surface deflection under wheels, and surface strain at the distance of 0.4 m to 0.8 m away from wheels are analyzed. Results show that the fundamental frequency of the road pavement increases with the growth of surface layer modulus and equivalent modulus of elasticity, and decreases with the increase of surface layer thickness. Both surface deflections and surface strains decrease with the increase of equivalent modulus of elasticity as well as surface layer modulus and thickness. Moreover, when the equivalent modulus of elasticity is more than 2500 MPa and surface layer modulus is more than 4000 MPa, surface deflections and surface strains have a little variation with the enhance of the surface layer modulus and equivalent modulus of elasticity. The solution method of the spectrum of the acceleration and equivalent modulus of elasticity, surface deflection under wheels, surface strain at the distance of 0.4 m to 0.8 m away from wheels, and surface deflection based on surface strain are established. The load bearing capacity assessment method of the road pavement based on surface strain and the spectrum of the acceleration is provided. Finally, the feasibility and accuracy of this method is verified by comparing measured values in field testing. The method in this paper provides a theoretical support for the design, construction and maintenance of road engineering.

In order to explore the protective effect of corn protein hydrolysate on intestinal barrier function, corn gluten meal was used as raw material and Alcalase was used as catalyst for enzymatic hydrolysis in current study. The effects of different enzymatic hydrolysis conditions on the content of glutamine in the hydrolysate were investigated, and the optimum hydrolysis system of corn protein was established. Then the sodium dextran sulfate was used as inducer to construct colitis model, and the alleviating effect of corn protein hydrolysate on colitis in mice was systematically evaluated. The results showed that the optimum hydrolysis conditions for Alcalase were a temperature of 64 ℃, hydrolysis time of 2.5 h, amount of enzyme of 1300 U/g. Under such condition, the content of glutamine in the hydrolysate could reach 8.79%. Corn protein hydrolysate (375 and 625 mg/kg·bw) significantly improved weight loss in colitis mice, reduced the colonic shortening and the disease activity index, diminished the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the colonic tissue, regulated the level of inflammatory cytokines, and played a good role in relieving colitis in mice. This study would provide theoretical basis for expanding high-value utilization of corn gluten meal and developing functional food for intestinal protection.