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Accurately profiling and characterizing factors shaping raw milk microbiota would provide practical information for detecting microbial contamination and unusual changes in milk. The current work was an observational study aiming to profile the microbiota of raw milk collected across wide geographic regions in China in different seasons and to investigate the contribution of geographical, seasonal, and environmental factors in shaping the raw milk microbiota. A total of 355 raw cow milk samples from healthy Holsteins and 41 environmental samples (farm soil and surface of milking room floor) were collected from 5 dairy farms in 5 Chinese provinces (namely, Daqing in Heilongjiang province, Jiaozuo in Henan province, Qingyuan in Guangdong province, Suqian in Jiangsu province, and Yinchuan in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region) in January, May, and September 2018. The microbial communities in raw milk and farm environmental samples were determined using the PacBio small-molecule real-time circular consensus sequencing, which generated high-fidelity microbiota profiles based on full-length 16S rRNA genes; such technology was advantageous in producing accurate species-level information. Our results showed that both seasonality and sampling region were significant factors influencing the milk microbiota; however, the raw milk microbiota was highly diverse according to seasonality, and sampling region was the less determining factor. The wide variation in raw milk microbial communities between samples made it difficult to define a representative species-level core milk microbiota. Nevertheless, 3 most universal milk-associated species were identified: Lactococcus lactis, Enhydrobacter aerosaccus , and Acinetobacter lwoffii , which were consistently detected in 99%, 95%, and 94% of all analyzed milk samples, respectively (n = 355). The top taxa accounting for the overall seasonal microbiota variation were Bacillus (Bacillus cereus , Bacillus flexus , Bacillus safensis), Lactococcus (Lactococcus lactis , Lactococcus piscium , Lactococcus raffinolactis), Lactobacillus (Lactobacillus helveticus , Lactobacillus delbrueckii), Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Streptococcus agalactiae, Enhydrobacter aerosaccus, Pseudomonas fragi , and Psychrobacter cibarius. Unlike the milk microbiota, the environmental microbiota did not exhibit obvious pattern of seasonal or geographic variation. However, this study was limited by the relatively low number and types of environmental samples, making it statistically not meaningful to perform further correlation analysis between the milk and environmental microbiota. Nevertheless, this study generated novel information on raw milk microbiota across wide geographic regions of China and found that seasonality was more significant in shaping the raw milk microbiota compared with geographic origin [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apoptosis repressor with caspase recruitment domain (ARC) is a potent inhibitor of apoptosis. Under physiological conditions, ARC is abundantly expressed in terminally differentiated cells, including cardiomyocytes, skeletal muscles and neurons. ARC serves a key role in determining cell fate, and abnormal ARC expression has been demonstrated to be associated with abnormal cell growth. Previous studies have revealed that ARC was upregulated in several different types of solid tumor, where it suppressed tumor cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the increased expression levels of ARC in cancer cells contributed to the development of therapeutic resistance and adverse clinical outcomes in patients with leukemia. However, the exact role of ARC, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms involved, remain poorly understood. The present review summarizes the characteristics of ARC and its cytoprotective role under different conditions and describes the potential ARC as a new target for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Deposition of atmospheric nitrate (NO 3 −) in precipitation can be an important source of reactive nitrogen (N) to ecosystems, particularly in regions with high nitrogen oxide (NO x = nitric oxide (NO)+nitrogen dioxide (NO 2)) emissions. However, high resolution deposition data are lacking for most systems. We conducted hourly precipitation sampling across six growing season storms in a forested area historically subjected to some of the highest levels of chronic N deposition in the United States. To characterize the influence of electricity generating unit (EGU), vehicle, and biogenic NO x emissions on NO 3 − deposition, we calculated the total NO x emitted from these sources within a 100 km radius of air mass back trajectories determined for Fernow Experimental Forest (West Virginia, USA). We combined these emissions estimates with established 15N isotope values for NO x sources in a three end-member mixing model to predict source-based δ15N values of deposition reaching the study site on an hourly basis. To evaluate the effect of NO x oxidation pathways on measured δ15N-NO 3 - values, we compared observed hourly isotope values to a coupled δ15N and Δ17O array representing N isotope exchange between atmospheric oxidized N molecules. Within individual events, δ15N, δ18O, and Δ17O values ranged by as much as 19.5‰, 28.9‰, and 13.8‰, respectively. This extreme short-term isotopic variability suggests a dynamic mix of NO x sources, oxidation pathways, and fractionation processes contributing to HNO 3 formation. During every storm, precipitation δ15N-NO 3 - values were lower than those expected to result from predominant HNO 3 formation pathways or oxidation of estimated NO x emissions along back trajectories, suggesting a systematic underestimation of NO x contributions to atmospheric HNO 3 formation from isotopically depleted soil emissions. Together, these analyses represent the most comprehensive assessment to date relating high temporal resolution δ15N-NO 3 - observations to NO x emission sources, oxidation chemistry, and isotopic fractionation effects. We present the first observations of extreme intra-storm δ15N, δ18O, and Δ17O variability, emphasizing the need for improved constraints on soil NO x emissions, forest canopy effects, and their role in atmospheric NO 3 − deposition and isotope dynamics in forests. Highlights • Triple NO 3 − isotopes in wet deposition demonstrate extreme intra-storm variability. • Anthropogenic and biogenic NO x sources contribute to precipitation NO 3 − formation. • Intra-system N recycling may be an important source of wet NO 3 − deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Recent advances in stable isotope measurements now allow for detailed investigations of the sources, transformations, and deposition of reactive nitrogen (N) species. Stable isotopes show promise as a complementary tool for apportioning emissions sources that contribute to deposition and also for developing a more robust understanding of the transformations that can influence these isotope ratios. Methodological advances have facilitated the unprecedented examination of the isotopic composition of reactive N species in the atmosphere and in precipitation including nitrogen oxides (NO x = nitric oxide (NO) + nitrogen dioxide (NO 2)), atmospheric nitrate (NO 3 −), nitric acid (HNO 3), ammonia (NH 3), and ammonium (NH 4 +). This isotopic information provides new insight into the mechanisms of transformation and cycling of reactive N in the atmosphere and moreover helps resolve the contribution of multiple NO x and NH 3 emission sources to deposition across landscapes, regions, and continents. Here, we highlight the current state of knowledge regarding the isotopic ratios of NO x and NH 3 emission sources and chemical alterations of isotopic ratios during atmospheric transformations. We also highlight illustrative examples where isotopic approaches are used and review recent methodological advances. While these highlights are not an exhaustive review of the literature, we hope they provide a glimpse of the potential for these methods to help resolve knowledge gaps regarding total N deposition to Earth surfaces. We conclude with promising opportunities for future research in the short-, medium-, and long-term. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Isotopes of reactive nitrogen species can aid in understanding emissions sources and chemical transformations that contribute to reactive nitrogen deposition. • Methodological advances have ushered in an unprecedented examination of reactive nitrogen isotope chemistry. • Here, we review advances in methods, applications, and gains in knowledge during the past decade. • We conclude with promising opportunities for future research in the short, medium-, and long-term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Recent analytical and conceptual advances related to the nitrate (NO 3 −) 17O anomaly (Δ17O) have opened the door to a new method that probes soil nitrification and NO 3 − consumption using Δ17O of soil NO 3 −. Because biological NO 3 − production and consumption processes in soil obey the mass-dependent fractionation law, Δ17O of soil NO 3 −, an index of excess 17O over that expected from 18O, can be used to trace gross nitrification and NO 3 − consumption in a way analogous to the 15NO 3 − tracer typically employed in studies of soil NO 3 − cycling. Moreover, coupling Δ17O with the dual NO 3 − isotopes (δ15N and δ18O) at natural abundances offers additional valuable insights into mechanisms that underlie soil NO 3 − dynamics. In this study, we conducted both laboratory and field experiments to assess the use of Δ17O-NO 3 - for tracing soil nitrification and NO 3 − consumption. Soil samples spanning a wide range of physical and chemical properties were sampled from four sites for batch incubations and amendments with a Δ17O-enriched NO 3 − fertilizer. After amendments, the triple isotopes (δ15N, δ18O, and Δ17O) of soil NO 3 − were measured periodically and used in a developed Δ17O-based numerical model to simultaneously derive gross rates and isotope effects of soil nitrification and NO 3 − consumption. The measured Δ17O-NO 3 - was also used in the classical isotope dilution model to estimate gross NO 3 − turnover rates. In situ field soil sampling was conducted in a temperate upland meadow following snowmelt input of Δ17O-enriched atmospheric NO 3 − to assess the robustness of Δ17O-NO 3 - as a natural tracer. The results show that the temporal dynamics of Δ17O-NO 3 - can provide quantitative information on soil nitrification and NO 3 − consumption. In the laboratory incubations, a wide range of gross nitrification and NO 3 − consumption rates were estimated for the four soils using the Δ17O-based models. The estimated rates are well within the range reported in previous 15N tracer-based studies and not sensitive to oxygen isotopic fractionations during nitrification and NO 3 − consumption. Coupling Δ17O-NO 3 - with the dual NO 3 − isotopes using the numerical model placed strong constraints on the δ15N and δ18O endmembers of nitrification-produced NO 3 − and revealed soil-specific N isotope effects for nitrification and NO 3 − consumption, consistent with the inferred differences in soil microbial community structure among these soils. Non-zero Δ17O-NO 3 - values, up to 4.7‰, were measured in the meadow soil following the snowmelt event. Although soil heterogeneity in the field prevents quantitative rate estimation using Δ17O-NO 3 -, active NO 3 − cycling via co-occurring nitrification and denitrification was revealed by the covariations in the triple NO 3 − isotopes. Integrating the field observations with the incubation results uncovered isotopic overprinting of nitrification on denitrification in the surface soil following the snowmelt, which has important implications for explaining the discrepancies between field- and laboratory-derived isotope systematics of denitrification. We conclude that Δ17O-NO 3 - is a conservative and powerful tracer of soil nitrification and NO 3 − consumption and future applications are expected to help disentangle soil NO 3 − cycling complexity at various scales. Highlights • Δ17O is a conservative tracer of gross nitrification and NO 3 − consumption. • Δ17O helps constrain isotope effects during nitrification and NO 3 − consumption. • Δ17O helps disentangle isotopic overprinting from nitrification and denitrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SPLUNC1 is a multifunctional protein of the airway with antimicrobial properties. We previously reported that it displayed antibiofilm activities against P. aeruginosa. The goal of this study was to determine whether (1) the antibiofilm property is broad (including S. aureus, another prevalent organism in cystic fibrosis); (2) the α4 region is responsible for such activity; and (3), if so, this motif could be structurally optimized as an antimicrobial peptide with enhanced activities. We used S. aureus biofilm-prevention assays to determine bacterial biomass in the presence of SPLUNC1 and SPLUNC1Δα4 recombinant proteins, or SPLUNC1-derived peptides (α4 and α4M1), using the well-established crystal-violet biofilm detection assay. The SPLUNC1Δα4 showed markedly reduced biofilm prevention compared to the parent protein. Surprisingly, the 30-residue long α4 motif alone demonstrated minimal biofilm prevention activities. However, structural optimization of the α4 motif resulted in a modified peptide (α4M1) with significantly enhanced antibiofilm properties against methicillin–sensitive (MSSA) and–resistant (MRSA) S. aureus, including six different clinical strains of MRSA and the well-known USA300. Hemolytic activity was undetectable at up to 100μM for the peptides. The data warrant further investigation of α4-derived AMPs to explore the potential application of antimicrobial peptides to combat bacterial biofilm-related infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale Nitrogen oxides or NOx (NOx = NO + NO2) play an important role in air quality, atmospheric chemistry, and climate. The isotopic compositions of anthropogenic and natural NO2 sources are wide-ranging, and they can be used to constrain sources of ambient NO2 and associated atmospheric deposition of nitrogen compounds. While passive sample collection of NO2 isotopes has been used in field studies to determine NOx source influences on atmospheric deposition, this approach has not been evaluated for accuracy or precision under different environmental conditions. Methods The efficacy of NO2 passive sampler collection for NO2 isotopes was evaluated under varied temperature and relative humidity (RH) conditions in a dynamic flux chamber. The precision and accuracy of the filter NO2 collection as nitrite (NO2-) for isotopic analysis were determined using a reference NO2 gas tank and through inter-calibration with a modified EPA Method 7. The bacterial denitrifer method was used to convert 20 μM of collected NO2- or nitrate (NO3-) into N2O and was carried out on an Isoprime continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Results δ15N-NO2 values determined from passive NO2 collection, in conditions of 11-34 °C, 1-78% RH, have an overall accuracy and precision of ±2.1 ‰, and individual run precision of ±0.6 ‰. δ18O-NO2 values obtained from passive NO2 sampler collection, under the same conditions, have an overall precision of ± 1.3 ‰. Conclusions Suitable conditions for passive sampler collection of NO2 isotopes are in environments ranging from 11 to 34 °C and 1 to 78% RH. The passive NO2 isotope measurement technique provides an accurate method to determine variations in atmospheric δ15N-NO2 values and a precise method for determining atmospheric δ18O-NO2 values. The ability to measure NO2 isotopes over spatial gradients at the same temporal resolution provides a unique perspective on the extent and seasonality of fluctuations in atmospheric NO2 isotopic compositions. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global inventory of NO x (NO x = NO + NO2) emissions is poorly constrained, with a large portion of the uncertainty attributed to soil NO emissions that result from soil abiotic and microbial processes. While natural abundance stable N isotopes (?15N) in various soil N-containing compounds have proven to be a robust tracer of soil N cycling, soil ?15N-NO is rarely quantified due to the measurement difficulties. Here, we present a new method that collects soil-emitted NO through NO conversion to NO2 in excess ozone (O3) and subsequent NO2 collection in a 20% triethanolamine (TEA) solution as nitrite and nitrate for ?15N analysis using the denitrifier method. The precision and accuracy of the method were quantified through repeated collection of an analytical NO tank and intercalibration with a modified EPA NO x collection method. The results show that the efficiency of NO conversion to NO2 and subsequent NO2 collection in the TEA solution is >98% under a variety of controlled conditions. The method precision (1?) and accuracy across the entire analytical procedure are ±1.1‰. We report the first analyses of soil ?15N-NO (-59.8‰ to -23.4‰) from wetting-induced NO pulses at both laboratory and field scales that have important implications for understanding soil NO dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global nitrogen (N) enrichment has resulted in increased nitrous oxide ( N2O) emission that greatly contributes to climate change and stratospheric ozone destruction, but little is known about the N2O emissions from urban river networks receiving anthropogenic N inputs. We examined N2O saturation and emission in the Shanghai city river network, covering 6300 km2, over 27 months. The overall mean saturation and emission from 87 locations was 770% and 1.91 mg N2O-N m−2 d−1, respectively. Nitrous oxide ( N2O) saturation did not exhibit a clear seasonality, but the temporal pattern was co-regulated by both water temperature and N loadings. Rivers draining through urban and suburban areas receiving more sewage N inputs had higher N2O saturation and emission than those in rural areas. Regression analysis indicated that water ammonium ( NH4+) and dissolved oxygen ( DO) level had great control on N2O production and were better predictors of N2O emission in urban watershed. About 0.29 Gg N2O-N yr−1 N2O was emitted from the Shanghai river network annually, which was about 131% of IPCC's prediction using default emission values. Given the rapid progress of global urbanization, more study efforts, particularly on nitrification and its N2O yielding, are needed to better quantify the role of urban rivers in global riverine N2O emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The causal effect and pathways of gut microbiota and plasma metabolome on lung cancer have been important topics for personalized medicine; however, the heterogeneity of lung cancer subtypes has not gained enough attention in previous studies. This study sought to employ a Mendelian randomization analysis to screen the specific gut microbiota and plasma metabolome, which may have a causal effect on lung cancer. We further extended our analysis to estimate the effects of these exposures on various pathological subtypes of lung cancer. Furthermore, a mediation analysis was performed to identify the potential pathway underlying the influence of microbiota and metabolites. Our study identified 13 taxa and 15 metabolites with a causal association with the overall risk of lung cancer. Furthermore, we found 8 taxa and 14 plasma metabolites with a causal effect on lung adenocarcinoma, 4 taxa and 10 metabolites with a causal effect on squamous cell lung carcinoma, and 7 taxa and 16 metabolites with a causal effect on SCLC. We also identified seven mediation pathways that could potentially elucidate the influence of these microbiota and metabolites on overall lung cancer or special subtypes. Our study highlighted the heterogeneity of the gut microbiome and plasma metabolome in a lung cancer subtype and elucidated the potential underlying mechanisms. This could pave the way for more personalized lung cancer prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) belongs to the β-herpesvirus family, which is transmitted in almost every part of the world and is carried by more than 90% of the general population. Increasing evidence indicates that HCMV infection triggers numerous diseases by disrupting the normal physiological activity of host cells, particularly apoptosis. Apoptosis disorder plays a key role in the initiation and development of multiple diseases. However, the relationship and molecular mechanism of HCMV-related diseases and apoptosis have not yet been systematically summarized. This review aims to summarize the role of apoptosis in HCMV-related diseases and provide an insight into the molecular mechanism of apoptosis induced by HCMV infection. We summarize the literature on HCMV-related diseases and suggest novel strategies for HCMV treatment by regulating apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans are capable of learning new concepts from small numbers of examples. In contrast, supervised deep learning models usually lack the ability to extract reliable predictive rules from limited data scenarios when attempting to classify new examples. This challenging scenario is commonly known as few-shot learning. Few-shot learning has garnered increased attention in recent years due to its significance for many real-world problems. Recently, new methods relying on meta-learning paradigms combined with graph-based structures, which model the relationship between examples, have shown promising results on a variety of few-shot classification tasks. However, existing work on few-shot learning is only focused on the feature embeddings produced by the last layer of the neural network. The novel contribution of this paper is the utilization of lower-level information to improve the meta-learner performance in few-shot learning. In particular, we propose the Looking-Back method, which could use lower-level information to construct additional graphs for label propagation in limited data settings. Our experiments on two popular few-shot learning datasets, miniImageNet and tieredImageNet, show that our method can utilize the lower-level information in the network to improve state-of-the-art classification performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil pollution in the ocean has been a great threaten to human health and the ecological environment, which has raised global concern. Therefore, it is of vital importance to develop simple and efficient techniques for oil–water separation. In this work, a facile and low-cost laser-heat surface treatment method was employed to fabricate superwetting copper (Cu) foam. Nanosecond laser surface texturing was first utilized to generate micro/nanostructures on the skeleton of Cu foam, which would exhibit superhydrophilicity/superoleophilicity. Subsequently, a post-process heat treatment would reduce the surface energy, thus altering the surface chemistry and the surface wettability would be converted to superhydrophobicity/superoleophilicity. With the opposite extreme wetting scenarios in terms of water and oil, the laser-heat treated Cu foam can be applied for oil–water separation and showed high separation efficiency and repeatability. This method can provide a simple and convenient avenue for oil–water separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is a major cause of neonatal neurodevelopmental disorders and serious complications in organ transplantation. Previous HCMV vaccines focused on humoral immunity but had limited effect on viral infection. T-cell responses are essential to prevent HCMV infection, indicating that effective vaccines require T cells activation. In this study, we designed a novel polypeptides vaccine conjugated to a CRM197 carrier protein, encoding 15 CD8+ T-cell epitopes, five CD4+ T-cell epitopes, and four B-cell epitopes from gB 287 – 320 and pp150 311 – 325 of HCMV to induce T-cell immune responses. To evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines, we subsequently measured the expression of surface molecule markers and proinflammatory cytokines from antigen presenting cells in vivo and in vitro as well as the activation of T cells and antibodies. The results demonstrated that this polypeptide vaccine could activate innate immunity including up-regulating MHCI, II, CD80, CD86, and cytokine expression through the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. Meanwhile, vaccinations elicited potent neutralizing antibody and cellular immune responses producing TNF-α, INF-γ and IL-2, indicating Th1-biased polarization. This finding underlines that CRM197-conjugated polypeptide vaccines facilitate a synergism of humoral and cellular immunity, providing enhanced protection against HCMV, which could be a potential strategy to prevent CMV-associated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to explore the potential of Antarctic krill-derived peptides as α-glucosidase inhibitors for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The enzymolysis conditions of α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM), a statistical method that efficiently determines optimal conditions with a limited number of experiments. Gel chromatography and LC-MS/MS techniques were utilized to determine the molecular weight (M w) distribution and sequences of the hydrolysates. The identification and analysis of the mechanism behind α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides were conducted through conventional and computer-assisted techniques. The binding affinities between peptides and α-glucosidase were further validated using BLI (biolayer interferometry) assay. The results revealed that hydrolysates generated by neutrase exhibited the highest α-glucosidase inhibition rate. Optimal conditions for hydrolysis were determined to be an enzyme concentration of 6 × 103 U/g, hydrolysis time of 5.4 h, and hydrolysis temperature of 45 °C. Four peptides (LPFQR, PSFD, PSFDF, VPFPR) with strong binding affinities to the active site of α-glucosidase, primarily through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. This study highlights the prospective utility of Antarctic krill-derived peptides in curtailing α-glucosidase activity, offering a theoretical foundation for the development of novel α-glucosidase inhibitors and related functional foods to enhance diabetes management. • The hydrolysates of neutrase showed the strongest α-glucosidase inhibition rate. • Four novel α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides were obtained by virtual screening. • The presence of PHE residue could be the key factor for its inhibition potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to explore the potential of Antarctic krill-derived peptides as α-glucosidase inhibitors for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The enzymolysis conditions of α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM), a statistical method that efficiently determines optimal conditions with a limited number of experiments. Gel chromatography and LC-MS/MS techniques were utilized to determine the molecular weight (M w) distribution and sequences of the hydrolysates. The identification and analysis of the mechanism behind α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides were conducted through conventional and computer-assisted techniques. The binding affinities between peptides and α-glucosidase were further validated using BLI (biolayer interferometry) assay. The results revealed that hydrolysates generated by neutrase exhibited the highest α-glucosidase inhibition rate. Optimal conditions for hydrolysis were determined to be an enzyme concentration of 6 × 103 U/g, hydrolysis time of 5.4 h, and hydrolysis temperature of 45 °C. Four peptides (LPFQR, PSFD, PSFDF, VPFPR) with strong binding affinities to the active site of α-glucosidase, primarily through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. This study highlights the prospective utility of Antarctic krill-derived peptides in curtailing α-glucosidase activity, offering a theoretical foundation for the development of novel α-glucosidase inhibitors and related functional foods to enhance diabetes management. • The hydrolysates of neutrase showed the strongest α-glucosidase inhibition rate. • Four novel α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides were obtained by virtual screening. • The presence of PHE residue could be the key factor for its inhibition potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to prepare a heat-sealable, water-soluble, edible film based on pullulan (PUL)/soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS) for the portable packaging of convenience foods. The effects of the PUL/SSPS ratios on the microstructure, physicochemical properties, barrier properties, and mechanical properties of the PUL/SSPS films were explored. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction showed an apparent hydrogen bonding interaction between SSPS and PUL in the PUL/SSPS films. As the SSPS proportion in the PUL/SSPS films increased, the water contact angle, moisture content, water vapor permeability, solubility, oxygen permeability, flexibility, and antioxidant activity increased, whereas light transmittance decreased. The heat-seal strength of the P9S1 film (PUL/SSPS ratio of 9:1) is slightly lower than that of the PUL film (p > 0.05). Furthermore, the application potential of the PUL/SSPS films for packaging peptide powder was evaluated. The P9S1 film exhibited a satisfactory packaging effect and was completely dissolved in water with low turbidity. Therefore, the P9S1 film is a promising packaging material for convenient powdered foods. [Display omitted] • Pullulan-based composite films were prepared by adding soy polysaccharide. • Soy polysaccharide increased dissolution rate of pullulan-based composite films. • Soy polysaccharide enhanced antioxidant activity of pullulan-based composite films. • Soy polysaccharide improved flexibility of pullulan-based composite films. • The P9S1 film performed satisfactorily in the packaging of peptide powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The growth of tumor was inhibited by Ag85B-ENO1 46-82. • Ag85B-ENO1 46-82 was beneficial for anti-tumor immune responses in the TME. • The CD8 + T cell immune responses were indispensable for the therapeutic effect of Ag85B-ENO1 46-82. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in China. However, the effect of traditional cancer treatment is limited. Herein, we designed a therapeutic cancer vaccine based on the tumor-associated antigen mENO1, which can prevent lung cancer growth in vivo, and explored the underlying mechanism of Ag85B-ENO1 46-82 therapy. Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumor-bearing immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice that received Ag85B-ENO1 46-82 treatment showed antitumor effect. Further, we detected CD8+ T, CD4+ T in LLC-bearing C57BL/6 mice to understand the impact of Ag85B-ENO1 46-82 therapy on antitumor capacity. The Ag85B-ENO1 46-82 therapy induced intensive infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in tumors, increased tumor-specific IFN-γ and TNF-α secretion by CD8+ T cells and promoted macrophage polarization toward M1 phenotype. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that CD8+ T effector memory (TEM) cells and central memory (TCM) cells were upregulated. qPCR and ELISA analysis showed that the expression of IFN-γ and TNF-α were upregulated, whereas of IL1β, IL6 and IL10 were downregulated. This study demonstrated that Ag85B-ENO1 46-82 vaccine augmented antitumor efficacy, which was CD8+ T cells dependent. Our findings paved the way for therapeutic tumor-associated antigen peptide vaccines to enhance anti-tumor immunotherapy for treatment of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US Corn Belt is a global hotspot of atmospheric ammonia (NH3), a gas known to adversely impact the environment and human health. We combine hourly tall tower (100 m) measurements and bi‐weekly, spatially distributed, ground‐based observations from the Ammonia Monitoring Network with the US National Emissions Inventory (NEI) and WRF‐Chem simulations to constrain NH3 emissions from April to September 2017–2019. We show that: (1) NH3 emissions peaked from May to July and were 1.6–1.7 times the annual NEI average; (2) average growing season NH3 emissions from agricultural lands were remarkably similar across years (3.27–3.64 nmol m−2 s−1), yet showed substantial episodic variability driven by meteorology and land management; (3) dry deposition was 40% of gross emissions from agricultural lands and exceeded 100% of gross emissions in natural lands. Our findings provide an important benchmark for evaluating future NH3 emissions and mitigation efforts. Key Points: Rare multiyear tall tower and ground‐based ammonia measurements were combined with WRF‐Chem to constrain emissions from the US Corn BeltMonthly ammonia emissions peaked in May through July and were 1.6–1.7 times the annual NEI averageEpisodic low WRF‐Chem bias versus tall tower observations underscore the importance of weather and land management as emission drivers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies suggest that probiotics and fermented milk can improve defecation in constipated patients. However, the mechanism of fermented milk containing probiotics on constipation remains poorly understood. Volunteers with chronic constipation symptoms were recruited and given 200 g/d of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei Zhang and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis V9 (PFM) for 4 wk. Clinical symptoms, cytokines, metagenomics, and metabolomics were evaluated in constipated participants before and after PFM intervention. After PFM intervention, we observed significant improvement of constipation symptoms. In the serum samples, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 increased and the proinflammatory cytokine C-reactive protein and lipopolysaccharides decreased. Metagenomics results showed that the increase of B. animalis was correlated with an increase in defecation frequency. Fatty acid biosynthesis and bile acid biosynthesis in stool samples as well as carnitine shuttle, vitamin E metabolism, and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism were identified as significantly altered metabolic pathways. Acylcarnitine, located on the carnitine shuttle pathway, had a significantly positive correlation with defecation frequency. It was speculated that PFM may contribute to alleviating constipation symptoms through 3 potential mechanisms: fine-tuning gastrointestinal microbiota, fighting inflammation, and regulating metabolic pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most threatening diseases to human health and life, and the number of patients is increasing year by year. Thus, it is of great significance to study the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of CVDs. The occurrence and development of CVDs involve dynamic, complex and delicate intracellular processes and the pathogenesis is not entirely clear. In contrast to genetic mutations, most of the protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) are reversible, and can affect the activity, stability, subcellular localization, protein-protein interaction etc., of the substrate targets, emerging as key mediators of a number of CVD progression. Under pathological conditions, the PTMs undergo aberrant balances which cause changes of the substrate target proteins in expression level, localization and capacity to activate downstream signaling pathways. Therefore, new approaches can be created aiming to correct the abnormal PTM alterations in treating CVDs. This review summarizes some of the more recent advances in PTMs, focusing on SUMOylation, neddylation, succinylation, and prenylation, and the effect of these modifications on cardiovascular function and progression, which may provide potential targets for future therapeutics. • Protein post-translational modifications play remarkable roles in cardiovascular pathologies. • SUMOylation plays important role in apoptosis, cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis by regulating multiple signaling pathways. • Neddylation mediates heart development by repressing Hippo kinases and activating YAP signaling. • SIRT5-mediated desuccinylation and regulation of SDH during IR injury in heart. • These PTMs may provide potential targets and novel therapeutic strategies in cardiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core IdeasWe investigated estuarine environmental factors on CH4 flux from two vegetation communities.Warming significantly affected on CH4 emission from the Phragmites australis community.There was a significant correlation between CH4 flux and water level in both communities.Salinity significantly affects CH4 emissions from the Phragmites australis community.The interaction between temperature and water level was the most important factor controlling CH4 flux. Global warming, rising sea levels, and saltwater intrusion interact to affect carbon cycling, specifically methane (CH4) flux in estuarine coastal wetlands. In the present study, Phragmites australis and Spartina alterniflora communities in the intertidal zone of the Yangtze estuary were selected for investigating CH4 flux under different temperature (natural/warming), water level (high/low), and salinity (0, 5, 15, and 30‰) conditions. The average CH4 flux (from April to October 2016) under natural conditions was 141.0 ± 21.5 and 502.8 ± 65.3 μmol m−2 h−1 for P. australis and S. alterniflora communities, respectively. Warming had a particularly pronounced effect on CH4 emissions from the P. australis community and increased CH4 flux by 130%. There was a significant correlation between CH4 flux and water level; at high water levels, CH4 flux was 2.64‐ and 3.78‐fold higher in P. australis and S. alterniflora communities, respectively. Salinity had a significant pronounced effect on CH4 emissions from the P. australis community, and there was a clear order (5‰ > 15‰ > 0‰ > 30‰) in CH4 flux. The interaction between temperature and water level was the most important factor controlling CH4 flux from wetlands; CH4 emissions were greater at higher temperature and higher water levels. However, at low water level, the effect of salinity was more prominent. The results suggest that CH4 flux from estuarine wetlands could be further enhanced in the future under the influence of rising sea levels due to global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Without considering rainfall events, GHG emissions from urban rivers will be underestimated by 31%. • The CO 2 –equivalent emissions of GHG from urban rivers during a typhoon are 13.55 times higher than during fair weather. • Pumping drainage, sediment disturbance, and high gas transfer velocity are the primary factors behind GHG release during typhoons. Urban rivers have been recognized as significant hotspots for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the impact of storms or typhoons on GHG emissions from urban rivers is not well understood. Suzhou Creek located in the highly developed urban area of Shanghai was selected to investigate of changes in CO 2 , CH 4 , and N 2 O concentrations and diffusive fluxes during different rainfall events from May to October 2021. The findings showed that urban rivers were sources of GHG emissions during various events. The average diffusive fluxes of CO 2 , CH 4 , and N 2 O during typhoon events were 1 to 2 orders of magnitude higher than those during non–typhoon period, revealing that typhoon greatly promote GHG evasion. GHG CO 2 –equivalents were ranked as follows: during typhoon (3.93 g m–2h−1) > post–typhoon (0.89 g m–2h−1) > high precipitation (0.33 g m–2h−1) > non–precipitation (0.29 g m–2h−1) > small precipitation (0.25 g m–2h−1). Rainfall dilution, pump station drainage, sediment disturbance, and a high gas transfer coefficient induced by typhoons were the main factors affecting GHG emissions. Nutrients, chlorophyll-a, and dissolved oxygen in river water were important control parameters for GHG production. Overall, typhoon would release large amounts of GHG from urban rivers. Given the projected increase in the frequency and complexity of extreme weather events, this study highlights the importance of better understanding the dynamic response of urban river GHG to rainfall and typhoons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of urban water environment renovation has shifted to high nitrate (NO 3 −) load. Nitrate input and nitrogen conversion are responsible for the continuous increase in nitrate levels in urban rivers. This study utilized nitrate stable isotopes (δ15N–NO 3 − and δ18O–NO 3 −) to investigate NO 3 − sources and transformation processes in Suzhou Creek, located in Shanghai. The results demonstrated that NO 3 − was the most common form of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), accounting for 66 ± 14% of total DIN with a mean value of 1.86 ± 0.85 mg L−1. The δ15N–NO 3 − and δ18O–NO 3 − values ranged from 5.72 to 12.42‰ (mean value: 8.38 ± 1.54‰) and −5.01 to 10.39‰ (mean value: 0.58 ± 1.76‰), respectively. Based on isotopic evidence, the river received a significant amount of nitrate through direct exogenous input and sewage ammonium nitrification, while nitrate removal (denitrification) was insignificant, resulting in nitrate accumulation. Analysis using the MixSIAR model revealed that treated wastewater (68.3 ± 9.7%), soil nitrogen (15.7 ± 4.8%) and nitrogen fertilizer (15.5 ± 4.9%) were the main sources of NO 3 − in rivers. Despite the fact that Shanghai's urban domestic sewage recovery rate has reached 92%, reducing nitrate concentrations in treated wastewater is crucial for addressing nitrogen pollution in urban rivers. Additional efforts are needed to upgrade urban sewage treatment during low flow periods and/or in the main stream, and to control non-point sources of nitrate, such as soil nitrogen and nitrogen fertilizer, during high flow periods and/or tributaries. This research provides insights into NO 3 − sources and transformations, and serves as a scientific basis for controlling NO 3 − in urban rivers. • Urban rivers have received significant amounts of nitrate through direct exogenous input and ammonium nitrification from sewage. • A weak permanent nitrate removal mechanism results in the accumulation of nitrate. • The main source of nitrate pollution in urban rivers is mainly due to the substantial input of treated wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant litter input is an important driver of soil/sediment organic carbon (SOC) turnover. A large number of studies have targeted litter-derived C input tracing at a global level. However, little is known about how litter carbon (C) input via various plant tissues affects SOC accumulation and mineralization. Here, we conducted laboratory incubation to investigate the effects of leaf litter and stem litter input on SOC dynamics using the natural 13C isotope technique. A 122-day laboratory incubation period showed that litter input facilitated SOC accumulation. Leaf and stem litter inputs increased soil total organic carbon content by 37.6% and 15.5%, respectively. Leaf litter input had a higher contribution to SOC accumulation than stem litter input. Throughout the incubation period, the δ13C values of stem litter and leaf litter increased by 1.5‰ and 3.3‰, respectively, while δ13CO 2 derived from stem litter and δ13CO 2 derived from leaf litter decreased by 4.2‰ and 6.1‰, respectively, suggesting that the magnitude of δ13C in litter and δ13CO 2 shifts varied, depending on litter tissues. The cumulative CO 2 –C emissions of leaf litter input treatments were 27.56%–42.47% higher than those of the stem litter input treatments, and thus leaf litter input promoted SOC mineralization more than stem litter input. Moreover, the proportion of increased CO 2 –C emissions to cumulative CO 2 –C emissions (57.18%–92.12%) was greater than the proportion of litter C input to total C (18.7%–36.8%), indicating that litter input could stimulate native SOC mineralization, which offsets litter-derived C in the soil. Overall, litter input caused a net increase in SOC accumulation, but it also accelerated the loss of native SOC. These findings provide a reliable basis for assessing SOC stability and net C sink capacity in wetlands. [Display omitted] • The effects of litter input from various plant tissues on SOC dynamics were studied. • Leaf litter input had a higher contribution to SOC storage than stem litter input. • The magnitude of δ13C in litter and δ13CO 2 shifts varied depending on litter tissues. • Leaf litter input promoted SOC mineralization more than stem litter input. • Litter input caused net increases in SOC storage, but it accelerated native SOC loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Traditional Chongqing radish paocai fermented with aged brine is considered to have the most intense flavor and authentic taste. Eight ‘Yanzhi’ (red, RRPB group) and ‘Chunbulao’ (white, WRPB) radish paocai brine samples were collected from Chongqing peasant households, and the diversity and community structures of bacteria present in these brines were determined using PacBio single‐molecule real‐time sequencing of their full‐length 16S rRNA genes. RESULTS: In total, 30 phyla, 218 genera, and 306 species were identified from the RRPB group, with 20 phyla, 261 genera, and 420 species present in the WRPB group. Obvious differences in bacterial profiles between the RRPB and WRPB groups were found, with the bacterial diversity of the WRPB group shown to be greater than that of the RRPB group. This study revealed several characteristics of the bacteria composition, including the predominance of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria, the species diversity of genus Pseudomonas, and the presence of three opportunistic pathogenic species. CONCLUSION: This study provides detailed information on the bacterial diversity and community structure of Chongqing radish paocai brine samples, and suggests it may be necessary to analyze paocai brine for potential sources of bacterial contamination and take appropriate measures to exclude any pathogenic species. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is multifaceted cytokine that regulates proliferation, differentiation, morphology, and motility within numerous stem cells. More recently, HGF has been reported to induce the differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into mature hepatocytes, but the underlying biochemical and molecular signaling is largely unknown. We isolated BMSC from the bone marrow of rats, which were then cultured and exposed to HGF for 15 days. We subsequently assayed these cells for liver functionality and markers, and blocked NF-кB signaling at various stages of the pathway. The present results demonstrate that HGF induces the differentiation of BMSCs toward hepatocyte-like cells through the NF-кB signaling. More specifically, HGF upregulated the translocation of NF-кB to the nucleus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency is urgently needed to achieve co-sustainability of agricultural productivity and environmental quality. Environmental conditions and farming management practices affect the N cycle in agroecosystems. Particularly, weather conditions during the pre-growing-season (e.g. winter and early spring for the U.S. Corn Belt) can influence the dynamics of soil inorganic N (SIN) content and have implications for the end-of-season crop yield. Here, we used an advanced agroecosystem model, ecosys , to assess the consequences of different pre-growing-season weather scenarios in terms of both SIN dynamics and crop productivity. We first benchmarked ecosys using extensive N trial data collected across the U.S. Midwest, and found that ecosys captured the N fertilizer-yield responses and field-scale N cycle dynamics. We then used ecosys to conduct multiple experiments by changing the pre-growing-season precipitation and temperature, and assessed how these changes affected soil N dynamics and crop yield. We found that: (1) wetter pre-growing-seasons reduced SIN content through increasing leaching, leading to a reduction in corn grain yield of 0.54–0.86 Mg/ha (5–14%) under no fertilizer and of 0.21–0.33 Mg/ha (1–3%) under the normal N fertilizer rate (167 kg N/ha; Illinois average N fertilizer rate in 2018); yield loss induced by higher pre-growing-season precipitation can be eliminated by applying more N fertilizer in spring; and (2) colder pre-growing-seasons can reduce SIN content through decreased N mineralization and enhanced leaching. Both factors further contribute to corn yield loss of 0.10–0.68 Mg/ha (2–8%) under no fertilizer and of 0.12–0.48 Mg/ha (1–4%) under the normal fertilizer rate; however, in this case adding more fertilizer does not necessarily eliminate the yield loss caused by the colder pre-growing-season, because the lower temperature not only causes SIN deficiency but also reduces early-growing-season active root nutrients uptake and crop N demand by cooling soil temperature. These findings expand our understanding of the impact of weather conditions on crop yield and can inform improvements in N fertilizer use efficiency in the U.S. Midwest agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Bifidobacterium diversity in gut was explored by Bifidobacterium -target procudure. • Baeline intestinal Bifidobacterium determine the response for the probiotic fermented milk (PFM). • High-load intestinal Bifidobacterium adolescentis was less likely to be interfered by PFM. The health-promoting attributes of bifidobacteria have piqued interest of researchers worldwide. However, scant published studies are available pertinent to bifidobacteria in microbiota/metagenomics datasets due to its intrinsic low abundance and limitations of detection methods. In this work, we designed a procedure to optimize the detection of the bifidobacterial population in complex biological samples with single-molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT) technology, including one primer pair designated as Bif-6 and a Bifidobacterium -specific database. The optimized procedure detected 14 bifidobacterial species/subspecies in ten human stool samples (2024 sequences per sample) and eight breast milk samples (3473 sequences per sample), respectively. Furthermore, by using the optimized procedure of SMRT, we investigated the effect of a 4-week-intervention of probiotic fermented milk (PFM; 200 g/day) on the gut bifidobacteria population of adults. The results showed that consuming PFM changed the structure and enterotype-like clusters of Bifidobacterium. After the consumption of PFM, the level of gut Bifidobacterium animalis increased significantly, replacing several originally dominating taxa in some subjects, including B. catenulatum , B. breve , and B. bifidum. On the other hand, B. adolescentis was, unaffectedly, the representative species in subjects having an original enterotype-like cluster of B. adolescentis. In conclusion, our work designed a procedure for detecting the bifidobacterial population in complex samples. By applying the currently designed procedure, we found that the PFM intervention changed the bifidobacterial enterotype-like cluster of some subjects, and such change was dependent on the basal bifidobacterial population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]