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A nonequilibrium periodic structure is induced by a magnetic field H applied to an aligned lyotropic uniaxial nematic phase of disodium cromoglycate–water. A series of parallel lines perpendicular to H represents boundaries between 180° out-of-phase regions of director reorientation. The distance between the lines decreases with increasing H. The line spacing is also directly proportional to thickness of the sample (in a limited range of thickness), and a secondary periodicity, consisting of nodes in these lines, is observed in thicker samples. An extension of a theoretical model by Guyon et al. is used to qualitatively interpret the abovementioned dependencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two hundred and sixty-six non-replicate Hong Kong isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were tested for their susceptibility to various anti-staphylococcal agents. Multiple resistance was common. More than 95% of patient isolates were resistant to both gentamicin and tetracycline, 68% to erythromycin, 37% to chloramphenicol, 10% to trimethoprim, 5% to rifampicin and 2% to fusidic acid. No isolate was resistant to all these agents, but nineteen different patterns of resistance were identified. Selected gentamicin-resistant isolates were tested against other aminoglycosides, and were sensitive to amikacin and netilmicin. The pattern of aminoglycoside resistance indicated that all isolates produced the aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes APH-(2") and AAC-(6')-I. All isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and teicoplanin. A single strain was resistant to three of the five quinolones tested, but resistance to all the quinolones could be induced easily in vitro by exposure to increasing subinhibitory concentrations of norfloxacin in broth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cathra system is a commercial multipoint inoculation method for the identification of aerobic Gram negative bacteria. The system uses a replicator technique in which 21 different agar media can be inoculated simultaneously with 36 organisms. Identifications are made by use of a special computer database. The performance of this system was compared with that of the API 20E for the identification of 372 clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and 133 miscellaneous Gram negative bacteria. For enterobacteria, the Cathra system was in 97% agreement with API 20E at species level and 98% at genus level. For miscellaneous Gram negative strains the two systems were in 59% agreement at species level and 77% at genus level. The Cathra system is suitable for use in diagnostic laboratories, especially those with a heavy workload and a wish to use break-point sensitivity testing. The identification database for miscellaneous Gram negative organisms, however, needs to be expanded. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Two hundred and forty-four clinical and environmental strains of nine species of halophilic vibrios isolated in Hong Kong were tested for their susceptibilities to 23 antimicrobial agents by an agar dilution method using unsupplemented Mueller-Hinton agar, an inoculum size of 10(5) cfu per spot and incubation for 18 h at 30 degrees C. Most strains were resistant to sulphamethoxazole, trimethoprim, penicillins and older cephalosporins, and most were susceptible to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, cotrimoxazole, the aminoglycosides, the newer cephalosporins, aztreonam, imipenem and the quinolones. However, there were significant differences between species, especially in their patterns of beta-lactam susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four-hundred and seventy-six isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from patients in Hong Kong were tested for methicillin-resistance by agar dilution and disc diffusion methods, using heavy inocula. With Mueller-Hinton agar incubated at 30 degrees C for 24 h, 216 (MRSA) isolates were resistant to 8 mg/l of methicillin and grew up to the edge of a 10 micrograms methicillin disc, and 260 strains were susceptible to greater than or equal to 4 mg/l methicillin and produced inhibition zones of at least 20 mm diameter. Incubation for 48 h, the addition of sodium chloride, or the use of a 5 micrograms disc had little effect on these results, but a significant number of MRSA strains produced inhibition zones when disc diffusion tests were incubated at 35 degrees C, and many sensitive strains showed scanty growth on salt-containing agar at high methicillin concentrations in agar dilution tests. Iso-Sensitest agar did not appear to support the growth of the minority resistant populations of MRSA unless supplemented with menadione and thiamine, and even with supplemented Iso-Sensitest medium a few presumptively resistant strains appeared methicillin-sensitive in both disc diffusion and agar dilution tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Microbact 24E (MB24E) system is a commercial microsystem for the identification of common clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and non-fermenting Gram negative bacilli, and consists of dehydrated substrates distributed in the wells of microtitre trays. This system was compared with the API20E for the identification of 386 bacterial isolates, which included 284 clinical and 102 environmental organisms. There was 97% and 91% agreement for the identification of clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae and other Gram negative bacilli, respectively. The identification of environmental isolates by both systems was less satisfactory. The API20E has a more extensive database than the MB24E and is thus more reliable for the identification of rare or unusual organisms, but the MB24E is cheaper, is easy and convenient to use, and is suitable for a routine microbiology laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Gastrointestinal malignancies are one of the major worldwide health concerns. In the present review, we have assessed the plausible therapeutic implication of Ursolic Acid (UA) against gastrointestinal cancer. By modulating several signaling pathways critical in cancer development, UA could offer anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and anti-metastatic properties. However, being of low oral bioavailability and poor permeability, its clinical value is restricted. To deliver and protect the drug, liposomes and polymer micelles are two UA nanoformulations that can effectively increase medicine stability. The use of UA for treating cancers is safe and appropriate with low toxicity characteristics and a predictable pharmacokinetic profile. Although the bioavailability of UA is limited, its nanoformulations could emerge as an alternative to enhance its efficacy in treating GI cancers. Further optimization and validation in the clinical trials are necessary. The combination of molecular profiling with nanoparticle-based drug delivery technologies holds the potential for bringing UA to maximum efficacy, looking for good prospects with GI cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With a variety of active ingredients, Hedyotis Diffusa (H. diffusa) can treat a variety of tumors. The purpose of our study is based on real-world data and experimental level, to double demonstrate the efficacy and possible molecular mechanism of H. diffusa in the treatment of lung adenocarcinom (LUAD). Methods: Phenotype-genotype and herbal-target associations were extracted from the SymMap database. Disease-gene associations were extracted from the MalaCards database. A molecular network-based correlation analysis was further conducted on the collection of genes associated with TCM and the collection of genes associated with diseases and symptoms. Then, the network separation SAB metrics were applied to evaluate the network proximity relationship between TCM and symptoms. Finally, cell apoptosis experiment, Western blot, and Real-time PCR were used for biological experimental level validation analysis. Results: Included in the study were 85,437 electronic medical records (318 patients with LUAD). The proportion of prescriptions containing H. diffusa in the LUAD group was much higher than that in the non-LUAD group (p < 0.005). We counted the symptom relief of patients in the group and the group without the use of H. diffusa: except for symptoms such as fatigue, palpitations, and dizziness, the improvement rate of symptoms in the user group was higher than that in the non-use group. We selected the five most frequently occurring symptoms in the use group, namely, cough, expectoration, fatigue, chest tightness and wheezing. We combined the above five symptom genes into one group. The overlapping genes obtained were CTNNB1, STAT3, CASP8, and APC. The selection of CTNNB1 target for biological experiments showed that the proliferation rate of LUAD A549 cells in the drug intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group, and it was concentration-dependent. H. diffusa can promote the apoptosis of A549 cells, and the apoptosis rate of the high-concentration drug group is significantly higher than that of the low-concentration drug group. The transcription and expression level of CTNNB1 gene in the drug intervention group were significantly decreased. Conclusion: H. diffusa inhibits the proliferation and promotes apoptosis of LUAD A549 cells, which may be related to the fact that H. diffusa can regulate the expression of CTNNB1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactococcus lactis is a lactic acid bacterium (LAB), generally recognized as safe, and has been widely used in the food industry, especially in fermented dairy products. Numerous studies have evaluated the technological and probiotic properties of lactococci; however, few studies have reported the probiotic characteristics of L. lactis strains isolated from dairy products. In this work, probiotic potential, including survival in simulated gastric juice, tolerance to bile salts, hydrophobicity, and auto- and co-aggregation, was evaluated in L. lactis strains from natural whey starter cultures. The results highlighted the potential probiotic properties of some strains under study, which showed high values of hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation and low values of co-aggregation with the tested pathogenic strains. In addition, studies of safety parameters, such as antibiotic susceptibility and haemolytic activity, confirmed the safety status of all strains under study. Finally, the four most promising strains were investigated for their ability to inhibit the enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) and Salmonella Typhimurium adhesion to epithelial cells, using a model of co-cultured epithelial cells. The results demonstrated that L. lactis strains A3-A5-I4-I7 showed the ability to compete with pathogens as well as the ability to exert a protective effect on cells previously infected with E. coli or S. Typhimurium. The identification of new probiotic LAB strains from dairy products aims to produce novel functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of air-entraining admixture (AEA), curing process, and core direction were studied as parameters in terms of their effect on the physicomechanical properties of 3D printed concrete. Four different AEA dosages (0%, 0.1%, 0.15%, and 0.2% by dosage of binder) were used to prepare the mixtures used for 3D printing. The influence of anisotropy on the printed concrete was studied by testing the cores drilled from the horizontal and vertical directions of the 3D concretes. The study also examines the efficiency of a specific spray-deposited chemical curing technique for improving the strength characteristics of 3D concrete. The addition of AEA reduced the unit weight significantly, thereby making the concrete ideal for lightweight structural members. Ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) testing on 3D printed samples showed that voids and air entrainment during the deposition process reduced the wave velocities. The ultrasonic wave velocity of cores drilled parallel to the printing direction was found to be slightly higher than cores perpendicular to the printing direction. However, the observation from the nondestructive tests did not agree with the compressive strength studies. The compressive strength of the cores drilled perpendicular to the direction of printing was higher than those drilled parallel, which can be due to the layers formed in the concrete during the filament deposition process. The 3D printing process reduced the compressive strength and induced anisotropy. The compressive strengths were reduced with air entrainment in the sample that was not 3D-printed. However, in the 3D-printed samples, 0.1% of AEA increased the vertical and horizontal strength compared to the samples without AEA. AEA in small quantities was found to be capable of improving the rheology of the mix and reducing the possible defects during the printing process, which resulted in better interlayer bonding. The durability aspect of air entrainment was studied using capillary water absorption, and it was found that the capillary water absorption increased with the addition of AEA. Microstructural studies using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) on the 3D concrete revealed that the volume and size of the pores in the hardened matrix increased with the addition of AEA. The mechanical and durability studies showed that the optimal percentage of AEA is 0.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three‐dimensional (3D) geopolymer printing (3DGP) technology is a rapidly evolving digital fabrication method used in the construction industry. This technology offers significant benefits over 3D concrete printing in terms of energy saving and reduced carbon emissions, thus promoting sustainability. 3DGP technology is still evolving, and researchers are striving to develop high‐performance printable materials and different methods to improve its robustness and efficiency. Carbon‐based nanomaterials (CBNs) with beneficial properties have a wide range of applications in various fields, including as concrete/geopolymer systems in construction. This paper comprehensively reviews the research progress on carbon‐based nanomaterials (CBNs) used to develop extrusion‐based 3D geopolymer printing (3DGP) technology, including dispersion techniques, mixing methods, and the materials′ performance. The rheological, mechanical, durability, and other characteristics of these materials are also examined. Furthermore, the existing research limitations and the prospects of using 3DGP technology to produce high‐quality composite mixtures are critically evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative cementitious materials able to partially replace or supplement the use of Portland cement, such as geopolymers, are becoming increasingly attractive due to lower emissions of air pollutants during their production. In addition, coupling geopolymers with additive manufacturing technologies such as 3D printing can contribute to achieving some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of settling housing issues. Additive manufacturing allows producing pre-fabricated building elements or even entire houses. However, enabling 3D printing using geopolymers requires understanding concepts of rheology, technology, and material sciences, such as different possibilities of formulations, rheological behavior, printing parameters, curing methods, reinforcement content, and fiber type. Cylindrical specimens were printed both with and without polypropylene fibers by controlling the geopolymer matrix formulation, printer displacement speed, mass percentage of fibers, and material flow through the printer's extruder nozzle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental contamination by chromium represents a serious public health problem. Therefore, it is crucial to develop and optimize remediation technologies to reduce its concentration in the environment. The aims of this study were to evaluate the uptake of chromium by live and complete microbial mats in experimental mesocosms under different pH and salinity conditions to understand how these factors affect the microphytobenthic community and, consequently, how chromium removal process is influenced. Microbial mats from the estuarine environment were exposed to 15 mg Cr/L under different pH (2, 4, and 8) and salinity (2, 15, and 33) conditions. Salinity, redox potential, and pH were measured throughout the trial in solutions and in microbial mats, while total Cr determinations were performed at the end of the assay. The results demonstrated that the removal efficiency of Cr by microbial mats was significantly improved in solutions at pH 2, remaining unaffected by variations in salinity. Notably, both cyanobacteria and diatoms showed remarkable resistance to Cr exposure under all conditions tested, highlighting their exceptional adaptability. Microbial mats have proved to be effective filters for reducing the concentration of chromium in aqueous solutions with varying pH and salinity levels., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The genus Berberis belongs to the Berberidaceae family, with 15 genera and 650 species around the world. It has valuable potential in the medicinal and food industries. In this study, the phytochemical diversity of 55 fruits of the Iranian Berberis genotype were investigated. The results of this study could be used in the breeding and determination of superior genotypes in the future. Plant materials were collected from the barberry Collection Garden of Mashhad and also different natural habitats of barberry in various provinces of Iran. The samples were air-dried, finely grounded, and extracted by methanol at room temperature. Then, total phenol and total flavonoid were measured by FolinCiocalteu and AlCl3 assays, respectively. Radicals neutralizing effects of extracts were examined through the 2,2-Diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The results showed a significant difference between phenolic content, flavonoid content, and antioxidant properties of various extracts, at a probability level of 1%. A methanol extract of B. integerrima × crataegina (genotype code 4-1) resulted in the highest phenolic content with an average of 4.2 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) ml-1 extract, while the lowest content was recorded for B. integerrima )genotype code 23-4) with an average of 1.7 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/ ml extract. The highest flavonoid content was observed with extracts of B. integerrima (genotype code 4-4) and B. orthobotrys × crataegina (genotype code 15-4) with an average of 6.3 mg quercetin equivalents (Q)/ ml extract. The least was recorded for B. integerrima (genotype code 23-4) with an average of 0.4 mg quercetin equivalents (Q)/ ml extract. The highest and lowest rates of free radical scavenging DPPH were 59.06% and 12.3%, respectively. The results showed that barberry has a great diversity in terms of phytochemical characteristics in different genotypes and is a valuable genetic source for breeding research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest among food industry producers for functional foods. In this context, the study aims to isolate new lactic acid bacteria strains with probiotic potential that could further be used to obtain valuable metabiotics with good technological potential and health benefits. In the current study, twenty-nine newly LAB strains were isolated from various natural sources, including artisanal cultures (like, kefir grains and kombucha membrane), and selected through fermentation potential on unconventional plant-base substrates, consisting red lentils flour, red potato peel powder, and okara. The strains identified using 16S rDNA sequencing, as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (encoded BL13, BL80, BL87) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (encoded BL21) were further screened considering their in vitro probiotic properties. The safety assessment evaluation highlighted that Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (BL13) and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (BL21) selected as performant strains have antimicrobial potential against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, being also susceptible to tetracycline, chloramphenicol and ampicillin. Furthermore, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (encoded BL21) proved good adhesion properties on the HT-29 cell line. These strains are new promising probiotic starter cultures candidates with approachable potential to be used for obtaining functional food and ingredients through fermentation processes, that could offer health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to screen a potential probiotic microbe with broad‐spectrum antagonistic activity against food‐borne pathogens and identify the antimicrobial compounds. Based on morphological and molecular analysis, a new Bacillus strain with the ability to produce effective antimicrobial agents was isolated from the breeding soil of earthworms and identified as having a close evolutionary footprint to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The antimicrobial substances produced by B. amyloliquefaciens show effective inhibition of Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium oxysporum in an agar diffusion assay. Antimicrobial agents were identified as a series of fengycin and its isoforms (fengycin A and fengycin B) after being submitted to RT‐HPLC and MALDI‐TOF MS analyses. To evaluate the probiotic activity of the B. amyloliquefaciens, antibiotic safety and viability of the isolated strain in a simulated gastrointestinal environment were carried out. The safety test result revealed that strain LPB‐18 is susceptible to multiple common antibiotics. Moreover, acidic condition and bile salts assay were carried out, and the results revealed that it couble be a potential probiotic microbe B. amyloliquefaciens LPB‐18 is good choice for biological strains in agricultural commodities and animal feedstuffs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry is thriving across the globe. Chicken meat is the most preferred poultry worldwide, and its popularity is increasing. However, poultry also threatens human hygiene, especially as a fomite of infectious diseases caused by the major foodborne pathogens (Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Listeria). Preventing pathogenic bacterial biofilm is crucial in the chicken industry due to increasing food safety hazards caused by recurring contamination and the rapid degradation of meat, as well as the increased resistance of bacteria to cleaning and disinfection procedures commonly used in chicken processing plants. To address this, various innovative and promising strategies to combat bacterial resistance and biofilm are emerging to improve food safety and quality and extend shelf‐life. In particular, natural compounds are attractive because of their potential antimicrobial activities. Natural compounds can also boost the immune system and improve poultry health and performance. In addition to phytochemicals, bacteriophages, nanoparticles, coatings, enzymes, and probiotics represent unique and environmentally friendly strategies in the poultry processing industry to prevent foodborne pathogens from reaching the consumer. Lactoferrin, bacteriocin, antimicrobial peptides, cell‐free supernatants, and biosurfactants are also of considerable interest for their prospective application as natural antimicrobials for improving the safety of raw poultry meat. This review aims to describe the feasibility of these proposed strategies and provide an overview of recent published evidences to control microorganisms in the poultry industry, considering the human health, food safety, and economic aspects of poultry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM), commonly referred to as 3D printing, is viewed as a method of rapid prototyping and an alternative to traditional manufacturing. Recently, there has been increasing interest on sustainability of AM approaches and the materials that can be used. Advances in both AM technologies and polymer chemistry present multiple pathways for AM to become more sustainable, such as raw material sourcing, green synthesis, and end-of-life processing. This review provides a brief overview of AM techniques for polymers, sustainable sourcing of polymers in AM, and the advances of degradable/recyclable polymers in AM. It also provides a perspective of the potential role of AM in economic and chemical circularity, as well as opportunities for digital manufacturing for the future. Biodegradable materials for medical or other biological applications are beyond the scope of this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development of carsharing plays an important role in reducing the number of private cars and relieving urban parking pressure. Understanding the behavior of users, such as spatiotemporal characteristics of carsharing users, can help operators find high-quality users and provide strong decision support for their service management. To this end, user loyalty based on user behavior is analyzed in this study. Moreover, station distribution of different loyalty types of users is revealed, which is beneficial to optimize the resource distribution. Deep belief network is constructed to predict the future loyalty of users based on order data. An improved two-stage clustering method is designed to mine station usage characteristics of users and determine activity areas of various users. Results show that prediction accuracy of user categories can reach 85% during the six-month observation period. The method of this study can provide a theoretical foundation for the development of a user-centric operation for carsharing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the human diet, bioactive compounds are additional nutrients that are available through fruits. They positively influence human health with their antioxidant activity. To extend shelf life and produce value‐added products, fruits are dried. However, in the process of drying, bioactive compounds are degraded and reduced. In the modern fruit drying facilities, fruits are dried as slices which find their market as snacks and as garnishes for ice creams, yoghurts, and cookies. Hence, it is essential to adopt drying methods that aim at maximum retention of bioactive compounds. Conventional drying methods poorly retain the bioactive constituents and have higher processing time. Potential drying systems that better retain the bioactive compounds include vacuum dryer, hybrid dryer, and freeze dryer. The review focus on different pretreatments and drying methods employed for drying fruit slices with a highlight to the retention of bioactive compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and ascorbic acid. The review also gives an outline of the latest techniques to process dried fruit slices with high retention of bioactive compounds. Practical Applications: Dried fruit slices are valued products from fruits that, after drying, retain a high level of bioactive compounds, fetch a reasonable price in the market. Various drying means for drying fruit slices have been discoursed in the study. Dry fruit makers can choose from various procedures and pretreatments, depending on the costs involved and the technology available. Consumers are watching for healthy snacking options which dry fruit slices can fulfill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antioxidant properties of both fresh and convection oven-dried guavas (Psidium guajava L.) were determined. Guava slices of 1.0 cm wide, 3.0 cm long and 0.5cm thick (20 g) were subjected to convection drying at 40°C for 9, 12 and 14 hours, respectively, and their water activity, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities were measured. Guavas that had been subjected to drying for 9, 12 and 14 hours were shown to achieve the water activity of 0.36-0.49. Ascorbic Acid Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (AEAC) of guava was found to decrease for all the drying durations. Convection oven-drying of guava for 12 and 14 hours showed a significant decrease in TPC (p < 0.01) and Ferric Reducing Power Assay (FRP) (p < 0.01). Nine hours of convection oven-drying was shown to retain most of the TPC, AEAC and FRP of guava. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon has been used in carbohydrate chemistry for half a century, but mostly as a protective group for sugar alcohols. Recently, the use of silicon has expanded to functionalization via C–H activation, conformational arming of glycosyl donors, and conformational alteration of carbohydrates. Silicon has proven useful as more than a protective group and during the last one and a half decades we have demonstrated how it influences both the reactivity of glycosyl donors and stereochemical outcome of glycosylations. Silicon can also be attached directly to the sugar C-backbone, which has even more pronounced effects on the chemistry and properties of the molecules. In this Account, we will give a tour through our work involving silicon and carbohydrates. 1 Introduction 2 Conformational Arming of Glycosyl Donors with Silyl Groups 3 Silyl Protective Groups for Tethering Glycosyl Donors 4. Si–C Glycosides via C–H Activation 4.1 C–H Activation and Oxidation of Methyl 6-Deoxy- l -glycosides 4.2 Synthesis of All Eight 6-Deoxy- l -sugars 4.3 Synthesis of All Eight l -Sugars by C–H Activation 4.4 Modification of the Oxasilolane Ring 5 C–Si in Glycosyl Donors – Activating or Not? 6 Si–C-Substituted Pyranosides 7 Perspective [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was performed to identify potential probiotic endophytes from Ageratina adenophora and evaluate their ameliorating effects on gut injury and integrity damage associated with microbiota dysbiosis in mice fed high fat diet. Using morphological and biochemical tests, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing technique, two bacteria endophytes were identified as strains of Bacillus toyonensis and were named Bacillus toyonensis SAU-19 (GenBank No. MW287198) and Bacillus toyonensis SAU-20 (GenBank No. MW287199). Sixty (60) mice were divided into five groups, group 1 was the negative control fed normal diet (NS), group 2 was fed High fat diet (HF), Group 3 was fed High fat diet + 106 Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG), group 4 was fed High fat + 106 Bacillus toyonensis SAU-19 and group 5 fed High fat diet + 106 Bacillus toyonensis SAU-20. After 35 days, histological and immunohistochemistry examination were performed in the ileum tissues. Furthermore, DAO and antioxidants activities were measured in serum, mRNA expressions of tight junction proteins (occludin and ZO-1) and inflammation related cytokines (IL-1β, TFN-α, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10) in the ileum tissues as well as sIgA levels and total bacteria (Escherichia coli , Salmonella , Staphylococcus , and Lactobacillus) in the small intestine and cecum content. The results showed an increase in the DAO activity, oxidative stress parameter (MDA), pro-inflammation cytokines (IL-1β, TFN-α, IL-2), reduce immunity (sIgA), and destroyed intestinal structure and integrity (reduce tight junction proteins) in the high fat diet group and this was associated with destruction of the gut microbiota composition (increasing pathogenic bacteria; E. coli , Salmonella , Staphylococcus and reducing beneficial bacteria, Lactobacillus spp.) in mice (P < 0.05). However, the administration of Bacillus toyonensis SAU-19 and SAU-20 reverted these effects. Our findings indicated that, Bacillus toyonensis SAU-19 and SAU-20 isolated from A. adenophora could prevent the excess weight gain from high fat diet feeding, improved antioxidant status and alleviated the intestine integrity damage as well as reduce the population of enteric bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella , and S. aureus and increasing the population of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus in the gut of mice fed high fat diet, therefore, can serve as a potential probiotics in humans and animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinetic spectrophotometric study of Ag(I)-promoted production of [Fe(CN)5PZA]3– was performed by monitoring the absorbance at 440 nm, the λmax of yellow-colored complex [Fe(CN)5PZA]3–. The formation of [Fe(CN)5PZA]3– proceeds via the Ag(I) catalyzed substitution of cyanide from [Fe(CN)6]4– with chromogenic ligand pyrazine (PZA). Pseudo-first-order conditions were used to study the reaction rate as a function of ionic strength, [Ag+], [PZA], temperature, pH, and [Fe(CN)64−] by varying one parameter at a time. According to the effect of reaction parameters on the initial rate, it was found that [Ag+] and pH strongly affect the reaction rate. The reaction displays variable order kinetics with [Fe(CN) ] and [PZA] in the studied concentration ranges. Inverse trend in the initial rate with ionic strength exhibits a negative salt effect. An interchange dissociative (Id) mechanistic scheme as predicted by us was also strengthened by the large negative entropy of activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer with complex heterogeneity, high invasiveness, and long-term poor prognosis. With the development of molecular pathology and molecular genetics, the gene map of TNBC with distinctive biological characteristics has been outlined more clearly. Natural plant extracts such as paclitaxel, vinblastine, colchicine etc., have occupied an important position in the treatment of hormone-independent breast cancer. Ursolic acid (UA), a triterpenoid acid compound derived from apple, pear, loquat leaves, etc., has been reported to be effective in a variety of cancer treatments, but there are few reports on the treatment of TNBC. This study performed comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiments to identify the effect of UA on TNBC treatment and its potential molecular mechanism. Our results showed that UA could not only reduce the proliferation, migration, and invasion in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines with a dose-dependent manner but also induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Meanwhile, we collected the gene expression data GSE45827 and GSE65194 from GEO for comparison between TNBC and normal cell type and obtained 724 DEGs. Subsequently, PLK1 and CCNB1 related to TNBC were screened as the key targets via topological analysis and molecular docking, and gene set enrichment analysis identified the key pathway as the p53 signaling pathway. In addition, quantitative real-time PCR and western blot verified the key genes were PLK1 and CCNB1. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that UA could inhibit the growth of TNBC cells, and down-regulate the protein expression levels of PLK1 and CCNB1 by mediating p53 signaling pathway. These findings provide strong evidence for UA intervention in TNBC via multi-target therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]