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Purpose: The present study aims to give a comprehensive evaluation of hydro-distilled essential oil and residual non-volatile extracts from Acorus macrospadiceus by determining their chemical composition and biological activities. Methods: A. macrospadiceus essential oil (AMEO) was obtained by hydro-distillation and analyzed by GC-MS and GC-FID. The aqueous and methanolic extracts were prepared from the distillation residues and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Their total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined. Biological activities of AMEO, aqueous and methanolic extracts were evaluated. DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays were employed for antioxidant activity evaluation. Antimicrobial activities were evaluated by determining MICs and MMCs against 9 microorganisms. Inhibitory effects on tyrosinase, α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase were also investigated. Results: The yield of aqueous extract was much higher than those of AMEO and methanolic extract. The most abundant compound in the AMEO was estragole. The methanolic extract showed higher phenolic and flavonoid contents than the aqueous extract. 8 phenolics and 9 flavonoids were tentatively identified in the extracts. The extracts displayed significant antioxidant activity, which could be attributed to the presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The methanolic extract demonstrated moderate antimicrobial activity against B. cereus while AMEO was more effective in inhibiting C. albicans. AMEO, aqueous and methanolic extracts were found to have inhibitory effects on tyrosinase. Both methanolic and aqueous extracts displayed inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase and butyrylcholinesterase. Conclusion: The present study provided valuable insights into the chemical composition and biological activities of A. macrospadiceus, establishing this species a valuable source of bioactive components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Amphetamine-type stimulants are very common, and their usage is becoming a very big social problem all over the world. Thousands of addicts encounter several health problems including mental, metabolic, behavioral and neurological disorders. In addition to these, there are several reports about the elevated risk of tendency on committing criminal cases by addicted persons. Hence, methamphetamine addiction is not only an individual health problem but also a social problem. In our study, we aimed to investigate the pathogenesis of chronic usage of methamphetamine via untargeted metabolomics approach. Methods: 38 plasma samples were carefully collected and extracted for untargeted metabolomics assay. A liquid–liquid extraction was performed to get as much metabolite as possible from the samples. After the extraction procedure, samples were transferred into vials and they were evaluated via time of flight mass spectrometry instrument. Results: Significantly, altered metabolites were identified by the fold analysis and Welch's test between the groups. 42 different compounds were annotated regarding to data-dependent acquisition method. Pathway analysis were also performed to understand the hazardous effect of methamphetamine on human body. Conclusion: It has been reported that drug exposure may affect several metabolic pathways for amino acids, fats, energy metabolism and vitamins. An alternative bioinformatic model was also developed and validated in order to predict the chronic methamphetamine drug users in any criminal cases. This generated model passes the ROC curve analysis and permutation test and classify the controls and drug users correctly by evaluating the metabolic alterations between the groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interglacial known as MIS 11c (c. 426 000–396 000 years ago) receives intensive international interest because of its perceived role as an analogue for the current interglacial and its importance for understanding future climate change. Here we review the current understanding of the stratigraphy of this interglacial in Europe. This study considers (i) the evidence for the environmental history of this interglacial as reconstructed from the varved lake records from northern Europe, (ii) the climate history of MIS 11c as preserved in the long pollen records of southern Europe and (iii) a comparison of both of these with marine records from the North Atlantic. The result of this review is a discussion of the evidence for millennial and centennial scale climate change found in European records of MIS 11c, the patterns of warming that are seen across this interglacial and the discrepancy in aspects of the duration of this interglacial that seems to exist between the marine and terrestrial records of this warm period. A review of the recent advances in the study of MIS 11c in Europe confirms its importance for understanding both the past evolution of the Holocene and the future patterns of long‐term climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, feces samples were collected from 7 individuals in Hainan gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) family group C by through non-invasive methods, and the levels of progesterone and testosterone were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. The results showed that the menstrual cycle of adult females in Hainan gibbon group C was 32±3.6 days and the duration of the menstrual period was 10±2.4 days. There was no significant difference in progesterone levels between individuals of different age and sex classes, no significant periodicity in the change of testosterone in the feces samples of Hainan gibbon group C, and no significant difference in the level of testosterone between individuals of the same sex and age. However, there was a significant difference in testosterone levels between adult males and adult females. By comparing the levels of testosterone in different individuals, it could be hypothesized that both juveniles in group C may be males. The results show that the circadian cycle of adult females and the sex identification of juveniles in Hainan gibbons may be inferred from differences in fecal progesterone and testosterone levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mashing is a decisive brewing step, affecting wort quality. Critical mashing parameters include time, temperature, pH, mash density and oxygen uptake. While the pH-dependent biochemical changes during mashing have been researched, the oxidative processes remain unclear. This work explores the impact of pH conditions during mashing on the biochemical composition and oxidative properties of wort. In laboratory trials, mashing was conducted at different mashing-in pH (4.5, 5.0, 5.2, 5.4, 6.0). The sweet worts were analyzed for extract, fermentable sugars, limit dextrins, amino acids, soluble proteins, polyphenols, color, aldehydes, transition metals, reducing potential, and rate of radical formation. Differences were found in enzymatic activities (particularly proteolysis), color, aldehydes, transition metal ions, the rate of radical formation and the rate of oxygen consumption. Notably, when adjusting the pH at mashing-in, the obtained wort tends to gravitate toward the pH of the unadjusted wort, underscoring its buffering capacity. This was reflected by similar properties of the produced worts, indicating pH playing a lesser role during mashing compared to time/temperature. However, under extreme acidified conditions (pH 4.5 at mashing-in), the produced wort markedly deviates. An intriguing negative correlation between the reducing potential and the content of transition metal ions with the rate of radical formation is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changing consumer preferences and increasing demands require adjustments in brewery operations and beer production methods. Recent trends indicate a marked decline in interest in high-alcohol beers and an increasing demand for low- and no-alcohol alternatives. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the volatile compound profiles produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. chevalieri, a yeast strain specifically developed for non-alcoholic beer production, with a reference sample fermented with a standard Saccharomyces cerevisiae US-05 strain. Two mashing profiles were compared (with and without saccharification pause). The wort obtained was fermented with and without hops. The chemical composition and aroma compounds of the resulting beers were analysed using different chromatographic techniques (HPLC, GC-FID, GC-MS and CG-O). The modification of the mashing profile helped to obtain wort with about 50% lower maltose content. A lower FAN (free amino nitrogen) content was also observed, but this did not affect the fermentation process. Beers fermented with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. chevalieri strain had an average alcohol content of 0.5–0.8% v/v. This strain consumed about 25% of the available maltose. The resulting beers were dominated by fruity, floral and herbal aromas. In addition, beers fermented with a non-alcoholic beer strain scored highest in the sensory analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the suitability of an analytical instrument, essential figures of merit such as the limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) can be employed. However, as the definitions k nown in the literature are mostly applicable to one signal per sample, estimating the LOD for substances with instruments yielding multidimensional results like electronic noses (eNoses) is still challenging. In this paper, we will compare and present different approaches to estimate the LOD for eNoses by employing commonly used multivariate data analysis and regression techniques, including principal component analysis (PCA), principal component regression (PCR), as well as partial least squares regression (PLSR). These methods could subsequently be used to assess the suitability of eNoses to help control and steer processes where volatiles are key process parameters. As a use case, we determined the LODs for key compounds involved in beer maturation, namely acetaldehyde, diacetyl, dimethyl sulfide, ethyl acetate, isobutanol, and 2-phenylethanol, and discussed the suitability of our eNose for that dertermination process. The results of the methods performed demonstrated differences of up to a factor of eight. For diacetyl, the LOD and the LOQ were sufficiently low to suggest potential for monitoring via eNose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lysine acylation, a type of posttranslational protein modification sensitive to cellular metabolic states, influences the functions of target proteins involved in diverse cellular processes. Particularly, lysine butyrylation, crotonylation, β‐hydroxybutyrylation, and 2‐hydroxyisobutyrylation, four types of four‐carbon acylations, are modulated by intracellular concentrations of their respective acyl‐CoAs and sensitive to alterations of nutrient metabolism induced by cellular and/or environmental signals. In this review, we discussed the metabolic pathways producing these four‐carbon acyl‐CoAs, the regulation of lysine acylation and deacylation, and the functions of individual lysine acylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a heterogeneous inflammatory arthritis, affecting approximately a quarter of patients with psoriasis. Accurate assessment of disease activity is difficult. There are currently no clinically validated biomarkers to stratify PsA patients based on their disease activity, which is important for improving clinical management. Objectives: To identify metabolites capable of classifying patients with PsA according to their disease activity. Methods: An in-house solid-phase microextraction (SPME)—liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) method for lipid analysis was used to analyze serum samples obtained from patients classified as having low (n = 134), moderate (n = 134) or high (n = 104) disease activity, based on psoriatic arthritis disease activity scores (PASDAS). Metabolite data were analyzed using eight machine learning methods to predict disease activity levels. Top performing methods were selected based on area under the curve (AUC) and significance. Results: The best model for predicting high disease activity from low disease activity achieved AUC 0.818. The best model for predicting high disease activity from moderate disease activity achieved AUC 0.74. The best model for classifying low disease activity from moderate and high disease activity achieved AUC 0.765. Compounds confirmed by MS/MS validation included metabolites from diverse compound classes such as sphingolipids, phosphatidylcholines and carboxylic acids. Conclusion: Several lipids and other metabolites when combined in classifying models predict high disease activity from both low and moderate disease activity. Lipids of key interest included lysophosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin. Quantitative MS assays based on selected reaction monitoring, are required to quantify the candidate biomarkers identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histone lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation (Khib) was identified as a novel posttranslational modification in 2014. Significant progress has been made in understanding its roles in reproduction, development, and disease. Although 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation shares some overlapping modification sites and regulatory factors with other lysine residue modifications, its unique structure suggests distinct functions. This review summarizes the latest advancements in Khib, including its regulatory mechanisms, roles in mammalian physiological processes, and its relationship with diseases. This provides direction for further research on Khib and offers new perspectives for developing treatment strategies for related diseases., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

By the addition of superplasticizer and air entraining agent, manufactured sand self-compacting concrete (MS SCC) with slump flow varying from 500 to 700 mm and air content varying from 2.0% to 9.0% were prepared and the pumpability of MS SCC was studied by a sliding pipe rheometer (Sliper). According to the Kaplan’s model, the initial pump pressure and the pump resistance of MS SCC were obtained. Meanwhile, rheological properties including the yield stress and the plastic viscosity of MS SCC were measured by a rheometer. The experimental results show that the increase of slump flow contributes to a higher pumpability and a proper air content, i e, 6% is beneficial for the pumpability of MS SCC. Due to the existence of stone powder and stronger angularity of MS, the initial pump pressure of MS SCC is only about 60%–88% that of river sand (RS) SCC with the same slump flow and air content, indicating that MS SCC possesses a higher pumpability than RS SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota is an economically and ecologically important tropical species. Following development into juveniles, H. leucospilota undergoes a color change from white to black, involving a pigmentation process for over a period of several months. In this study, a combination of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and Next-Generation sequencing (NGS) were employed to investigate the changes in metabolomic and transcriptomic profiles during pigmentation in H. leucospilota juveniles. The metabolomic analysis identified a total of 341 metabolites, of which 52 were found to be differentially regulated (P < 0.05 and VIP > 1), with 27 being upregulated in white individuals and 25 in black individuals. Additionally, 632 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, with 380 genes upregulated in white samples and 252 genes upregulated in black samples. Interestingly, the melanin content and tyrosinase transcript levels did not display significant differences between the two groups. Metabolomic data suggested the involvement of the linoleic acid metabolic pathway in pigmentation. Transcriptomic analysis, coupled with realtime PCR validation, revealed a decrease in the transcript levels of digestive enzymes like α-amylase, maltase-glucoamylase, and trehalase after the juveniles changed to black. Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of major yolk proteins showed a decline, indicating a shift in the accumulation of protein nutrient sources. Overall, our findings suggest that during the pigmentation process in H. leucospilota, no significant changes were observed in the classical melanin pathway, while notable alterations were observed in their nutritional status. This study provides valuable insights into the regulatory mechanisms of pigmentation in marine organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Deer antler base is a part of deer antler and a traditional Chinese medicine, which is effective in treating mammary gland hyperplasia and other diseases. However, deer antler base is very hard and not easy to crush, resulting in its under-utilisation and a waste of resources. At present, the potential mechanism of deer antler base in the treatment of diseases is still unclear. Aim: To encourage its utilisation and research, it is crucial to comprehend its composition and identify the key effective components. Methods: To explore the differences in metabolites between antler bases of different deer species, red and sika deer antler bases were used as samples, and metabolites from both deer antler base samples were screened and identified by Ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Key results: In all, 151 metabolites were identified in both red deer and sika deer antler bases. Metabolite types did not differ between the antler bases of red and sika deer, while there was some difference in metabolite abundance. After principal-component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA); a total of 43 metabolites with significant differences were identified. KEGG annotation showed that pathways with the most metabolites enrichment were mainly related to lipid and amino acid metabolism. The pathways significantly annotated with differential metabolites were mainly related to amino acid metabolism. Conclusions: On the basis of untargeted metabolomics analysis, this study systematically showed the differences in metabolites composition and abundance in antler bases between two deer species from a metabolomics perspective. The composition and abundance of metabolites in red deer antler base were similar to those in sika deer antler base, but the endogenous metabolites in different deer antler bases had some differences. Implications: The present study found that there was no significant difference in endogenous metabolites in antler bases between red deer and sika deer, which indicates that deer antler bases of different deer species may have similar medicinal value. It will provide some theoretical basis for research, development, and utilisation of antler bases. Deer antler base is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine, but the medicinal value of different deer antler bases has not been systematically evaluated. The present study used UHPLC–MS/MS and found that the composition of metabolites in antler bases of red and sika deer is similar, but there are differences in abundance. Investigating the differences in endogenous metabolites of different deer antler bases and the efficacy components of antler base is important for the utilisation of this traditional Chinese medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with the rapid advances in genomics leading to broad understanding of human disease, the linkage between chemical exposome and diseases is still under investigation. High‐resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is expected to accelerate the process via relatively accurate and precise biomonitoring of human exposome. This review covers recent advancements in biomonitoring of exposed environmental chemicals (chemical exposome) using HRMS described in the 124 articles that resulted from a systematic literature search on Medline and Web of Science databases. The analytical strategic aspects, including the selection of specimens, sample preparation, instrumentation, untargeted versus targeted analysis, and workflows for MS‐based biomonitoring to explore the environmental chemical space of human exposome, are deliberated. Applications of HRMS in human exposome investigation are presented by biomonitoring (1) exposed chemical compounds and their biotransformation products; (2) DNA/protein adducts; and (3) endogenous compound perturbations. Challenges and future perspectives are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Microbicidal violet-blue light in the visible spectrum (405 nm) has been under evaluation for pathogen inactivation in ex vivo human plasma and platelets (PLTs) stored in plasma. Results to date have demonstrated that several blood-borne infectious disease-causing pathogens can be successfully reduced to significantly low levels in the light-treated plasma and PLTs. Method: In order to evaluate whether the microbicidal 405 nm light is safe for the treatment of PLT concentrates for pathogen inactivation, LC/MS-based metabolomics analyses were performed to evaluate the overall impact of 405 nm violet-blue light treatment on ex vivo PLT concentrates suspended in plasma and on plasma itself, and to identify metabolome changes in intra-platelet and extra-cellular medium (i.e., plasma). Results: The metabolomics data identified that platelet activating factors (PAFs), agonists and prostaglandins, which can influence PLT basic functions such as integrity, activation, and aggregation potential were unaltered, suggesting that 405 nm light illumination is safe regarding PLT basic functions. Distinct increases in hydroxyl fatty acids and aldehydes, as well as decreases in antioxidant metabolites indicated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) were generated at high levels after only one hour of exposure to 405 nm light. Distinctly changed endogenous photosensitizer metabolites after 1 h of light exposure provided good evidence that 405 nm light was an effective microbicide acting through ROS mechanism and no external additive photosensitizers were required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many countries, adherence testing is used to monitor consumption behavior or to prove abstinence. Urine and hair are most commonly used, although other biological fluids are available. Positive test results are usually associated with serious legal or economic consequences. Therefore, various sample manipulation and adulteration strategies are used to circumvent such a positive result. In these critical review articles on sample adulteration of urine (part A) and hair samples (part B) in the context of clinical and forensic toxicology, recent trends and strategies to improve sample adulteration and manipulation testing published in the past 10 years are described and discussed. Typical manipulation and adulteration strategies include undercutting the limits of detection/cut-off by dilution, substitution, and adulteration. New or alternative strategies for detecting sample manipulation attempts can be generally divided into improved detection of established urine validity markers and direct and indirect techniques or approaches to screening for new adulteration markers. In this part A of the review article, we focused on urine samples, where the focus in recent years has been on new (in)direct substitution markers, particularly for synthetic (fake) urine. Despite various and promising advances in detecting manipulation, it remains a challenge in clinical and forensic toxicology, and simple, reliable, specific, and objective markers/techniques are still lacking, for example, for synthetic urine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pattern formation due to oscillating reactions represents variable natural and engineering systems, but previous studies employed only simple flow conditions such as uniform flow and Poiseuille flow. We studied the oscillating reaction in porous media, where dispersion enhanced the spreading of diffusing components by merging and splitting flow channels. We considered the saddle flow, where the stretching rate is constant everywhere. We generated patterns with the Brusselator system and classified them by instability conditions and Péclet number (Pe), which was defined by the stretching rate. The results showed that each pattern formation was controlled by the stagnation point and stable and unstable manifolds of the flow field due to the heterogeneous flow fields and the resulting heterogeneous dispersion fields. The characteristics of the patterns, such as the position of stationary waves parallel to the unstable manifold and the size of local stationary patterns around the stagnation point, were also controlled by Pe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying metabolites in model organisms is critical for many areas of biology, including unravelling disease aetiology or elucidating functions of putative enzymes. Even now, hundreds of predicted metabolic genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae remain uncharacterized, indicating that our understanding of metabolism is far from complete even in well-characterized organisms. While untargeted high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) enables the detection of thousands of features per analysis, many of these have a non-biological origin. Stable isotope labelling (SIL) approaches can serve as credentialing strategies to distinguish biologically relevant features from background signals, but implementing these experiments at large scale remains challenging. Here, we developed a SIL-based approach for high-throughput untargeted metabolomics in S. cerevisiae, including deep-48 well format-based cultivation and metabolite extraction, building on the peak annotation and verification engine (PAVE) tool. Aqueous and nonpolar extracts were analysed using HILIC and RP liquid chromatography, respectively, coupled to Orbitrap Q Exactive HF mass spectrometry. Of the approximately 37,000 total detected features, only 3–7% of the features were credentialed and used for data analysis with open-source software such as MS-DIAL, MetFrag, Shinyscreen, SIRIUS CSI:FingerID, and MetaboAnalyst, leading to the successful annotation of 198 metabolites using MS2 database matching. Comparable metabolic profiles were observed for wild-type and sdh1Δ yeast strains grown in deep-48 well plates versus the classical shake flask format, including the expected increase in intracellular succinate concentration in the sdh1Δ strain. The described approach enables high-throughput yeast cultivation and credentialing-based untargeted metabolomics, providing a means to efficiently perform molecular phenotypic screens and help complete metabolic networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide (EO) is performed industrially over catalysts comprised of silver particles supported on α‐Al2O3. In addition to various oxy‐anion and alkali promotors, alkyl chloride species ("chloride moderators") are continuously introduced into commercial reactors. The effect and usage of chloride moderators is a key requirement for industrial ethylene epoxidation catalysts to reach optimal selectivity. While not an exhaustive review, the aim of this perspective is to provide guidance to academic researchers on the operation of EO catalysts under commercially relevant conditions with particular focus on the importance of performance optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristic hoppy flavor of pale ales is known to be unstable and deteriorates during the beer's shelf life. Metal ions, in particular iron and copper, have a prooxidative effect and therefore accelerate beer flavor deterioration. Recent studies suggest that hop constituents may complex metal ions in beer thereby suppressing their negative effect on beer flavor stability. Using benchtop wort boiling experiments and quantitating metal ions in the cast wort, this study determined that different whirlpool additions of up to 3.0 g/L hop extract or up to 17.4 g/L pellets significantly reduced metal ion concentrations in wort, especially Fe, which was reduced by a factor of up to 6 compared to the control. Based on identified dose- and product-related effects, 2.5-hL brewing trials were performed using a selection of whirlpool hopping levels with either extract or pellets revealing significant differences in resinous and sweaty flavor. The flavor of the beer hopped with 5.8 g/L pellets was perceived as 8 times more resinous and 9 times sweatier than the control revealing clear differences between extract and pellets, especially at the lower hopping levels. The beer flavor stability was predicted using ESR spectroscopy and verified by performing forced aging experiments at 30 °C and monitoring beer flavor changes by sensory evaluation. Results indicate that both extract and pellet whirlpool hopping improve beer flavor stability by reducing the formation of age-related off-flavors and by supporting the retention of flavors related to freshness with only minor variations between the two hop products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolomics is an area of intriguing and growing interest. Since the late 1990s, when the first Omic applications appeared to study metabolite's pool ("metabolome"), to understand new aspects of the global regulation of cellular metabolism in biology, there have been many evolutions. Currently, there are many applications in different fields such as clinical, medical, agricultural, and food. In our opinion, it is clear that developments in metabolomics analysis have also been driven by advances in mass spectrometry (MS) technology. As natural complex products (NCPs) are increasingly used around the world as medicines, food supplements, and substance‐based medical devices, their analysis using metabolomic approaches will help to bring more and more rigor to scientific studies and industrial production monitoring. This review is intended to emphasize the importance of metabolomics as a powerful tool for studying NCPs, by which significant advantages can be obtained in terms of elucidation of their composition, biological effects, and quality control. The different approaches of metabolomic analysis, the main and basic techniques of multivariate statistical analysis are also briefly illustrated, to allow an overview of the workflow associated with the metabolomic studies of NCPs. Therefore, various articles and reviews are illustrated and commented as examples of the application of MS‐based metabolomics to NCPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Findings: What is the central question of this study?Whole‐body substrate utilisation is altered during exercise in hot environments, characterised by increased glycolytic metabolism: does heat stress alter the serum metabolome in response to high intensity exercise?What are the main finding and its importance?Alongside increases in glycolytic metabolite abundance, circulating amino acid concentrations are reduced following exercise under heat stress. Prior research has overlooked the impact of heat stress on protein metabolism during exercise, raising important practical implications for protein intake recommendations in the heat. Using untargeted metabolomics, we aimed to characterise the systemic impact of environmental heat stress during exercise. Twenty‐three trained male triathletes (V̇O2peak${\dot V_{{{\rm{O}}_2}{\rm{peak}}}}$ = 64.8 ± 9.2 ml kg min−1) completed a 30‐min exercise test in hot (35°C) and temperate (21°C) conditions. Venous blood samples were collected immediately pre‐ and post‐exercise, and the serum fraction was assessed via untargeted 1H‐NMR metabolomics. Data were analysed via uni‐ and multivariate analyses to identify differences between conditions. Mean power output was higher in temperate (231 ± 36 W) versus hot (223 ± 31 W) conditions (P < 0.001). Mean heart rate (temperate, 162 ± 10 beats min−1, hot, 167 ± 9 beats min−1, P < 0.001), peak core temperature (Trec), core temperature change (ΔTrec) (P < 0.001) and peak rating of perceived exertion (P = 0.005) were higher in hot versus temperate conditions. Change in metabolite abundance following exercise revealed distinct clustering following multivariate analysis. Six metabolites increased (2‐hydroxyvaleric acid, acetate, alanine, glucarate, glucose, lactate) in hot relative to temperate (P < 0.05) conditions. Leucine and lysine decreased in both conditions but to a greater extent in temperate conditions (P < 0.05). Citrate (P = 0.04) was greater in temperate conditions whilst creatinine decreased in hot conditions only (P > 0.05). Environmental heat stress increased glycolytic metabolite abundance and led to distinct alterations in the circulating amino acid availability, including increased alanine, glutamine, leucine and isoleucine. The data highlight the need for additional exercise nutrition and metabolism research, specifically focusing on protein requirements for exercise under heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The storage of liquified natural gas in concrete tanks is important for the adjustment of imbalance between consumption and supply. The mechanical properties of concrete under different water saturation and low temperature conditions are investigated from the uniaxial compression and splitting tensile strength tests. Both the elastic strain and peak strain at failure increase with the decrease of temperature in the compressive strength tests. The compressive and tensile strengths decrease with the increase of water content at 20 °C due to the water softening effects, while they increase with the water content at subzero temperatures resulting from the ice filling and binding effects. The elastic modulus follows the same trend with that of the compressive strength. Significant increases in the strength and brittleness index occur between − 30 and − 90 °C as the water in the vast nanopores is frozen. The freeze–thaw cycle at − 30 °C induces the increase in the number of larger pores, while the large pores are collapsed or filled after one freeze–thaw cycle at − 90 °C and − 180 °C due to the inward deformation resulting from the inconsistent contraction and expansion deformations between different particles. Our proposed prediction models show better fitting for the compressive and tensile strengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini (OV), which subsequently inhabits the biliary system and results in periductal fibrosis (PDF), is one of the primarily causes of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a bile duct cancer with an exceptionally high incidence in the northeast of Thailand and other Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries. Insights in fecal metabolic changes associated with PDF and CCA are required for further molecular research related to gut health and potential diagnostic biological marker development. Methods: In this study, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics was applied for fecal metabolic phenotyping from 55 fecal water samples across different study groups including normal bile duct, PDF and CCA groups. Results: By using NMR spectroscopy-based metabolomics, fecal metabolic profiles of patients with CCA or PDF and of individuals with normal bile duct have been established with a total of 40 identified metabolites. Further multivariate statistical analysis and hierarchical clustering heat map have demonstrated the PDF- and CCA-specific metabotypes through various altered metabolite groups including amino acids, alcohols, amines, anaerobic glycolytic metabolites, fatty acids, microbial metabolites, sugar, TCA cycle intermediates, tryptophan catabolism substrates, and pyrimidine metabolites. Compared to the normal bile duct group, PDF individuals showed the significantly elevated relative concentrations of fecal ethanol, glycine, tyrosine, and N-acetylglucosamine whereas CCA patients exhibited the remarkable fecal metabolic changes that can be evident through the increased relative concentrations of fecal uracil, succinate, and 5-aminopentanoate. The prominent fecal metabolic alterations between CCA and PDF were displayed by the reduction of relative concentration of methanol observed in CCA. The metabolic alterations associated with PDF and CCA progression have been proposed with the involvement of various metabolic pathways including TCA cycle, ethanol biogenesis, hexamine pathway, methanol biogenesis, pyrimidine metabolism, and lysine metabolism. Among them, ethanol, methanol, and lysine metabolism strongly reflect the association of gut-microbial host metabolic crosstalk in PDF and/or CCA patients. Conclusion: The PDF- and CCA-associated metabotypes have been investigated displaying their distinct fecal metabolic patterns compared to that of normal bile duct group. Our study also demonstrated that the perturbation in co-metabolism of host and gut bacteria has been involved from the early step since OV infection to CCA tumorigenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although alcoholic or "hard" cider is a beverage of growing popularity throughout the Northeastern and Mid‐Atlantic United States (US), the industry lacks a consistent language for describing the sensory quality of its products. The main objective of this research was to explore the sensory attributes that can be used to describe a large representative sample (N = 42 samples) of ciders from Virginia, Vermont, and New York, using classical descriptive analysis (DA). The secondary objective of the research was to determine if cider samples' sensory attributes differ based on extrinsic factors, such as style, packaging, and apple varieties. The study was conducted using a standard DA: 8 panelists were trained for 13 h to develop a lexicon of aroma, taste, and mouthfeel descriptors for 42 cider samples (15 single varietal ciders, 27 blended ciders). Then, subjects evaluated each cider in duplicate for all descriptive attributes in standard sensory‐evaluation conditions. Results were analyzed to determine overall differences among the individual cider samples, geographic origins, cider styles, and packaging formats, as well as significant differences across individual attributes. Herein, we report on 29 attributes that can be used to discriminate cider samples, as well as a subset of attributes which differentiate ciders based on extrinsic product variables. These results provide a framework for describing ciders from the Northeast and Mid‐Atlantic regions of the US, which may be further generalizable to other North American ciders. As well, these results highlight the potential for more descriptive, sensory‐based style guidelines may inspire future research related to cider production practices and terroir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the mainland of northwest Europe generally only remnants of former peat landscapes subsist. Due to the poor preservation of these landscapes, alternative approaches to reconstruct peat initiation and lateral expansion are needed compared to regions with intact peat cover. Here we aim (1) to find explanatory variables within a digital soil mapping approach that allow us to reconstruct the pattern of peat initiation and lateral expansion within (and potentially beyond) peat remnants, and (2) to reconstruct peat initiation ages and lateral expansion for one of the largest bog remnants of the northwest European mainland, Fochteloërveen. Basal radiocarbon dates were obtained from the peat remnant, which formed the basis for subsequent analyses. We investigated the relationship between peat initiation age and three potential covariates: (1) total thickness of organic deposits, (2) elevation of the Pleistocene mineral surface that underlies the organic deposits, and (3) a constructed variable representing groundwater-fed wetness based on elevation of the mineral surface and current hydraulic head. Significant relationships were found with covariates (1) and (3), which were then used for subsequent modelling. Our results indicate simultaneous peat initiation at several loci in Fochteloërveen during the Early Holocene and continuous lateral expansion until 900 cal BP. Lateral expansion accelerated between 5500–3500 cal BP. Our approach is spatially explicit (i.e. results in a map of peat initiation ages), and it allows for a quantitative evaluation of the prediction using the standard deviation and comparison of predictions with validation points. The applied method based on covariate (1) is only useful where remnant peat survived, whereas covariate (3) may ultimately be applied to reconstruct peat initiation ages and lateral peatland expansion beyond the limits of peat remnants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fresh flavor of a beer brand is one of its most important quality parameters and should be retained as long as possible through shelf-life. Early stages of beer production can have significant impacts on beer flavor stability. The use of cereal adjuncts – either malted or unmalted – is now widespread practice in brewing. This laboratory mashing study investigated the impacts of incorporating common solid adjuncts (corn and rice) at increasing grist percentages (0-50%) on flavor stability indicators measured in wort. Sweet worts were analysed for metal ion levels (ICP-MS), thiol content (RP-HPLC), oxidative stability (EPR spectroscopy), staling aldehydes (HS-SPME-GC-MS), trihydroxy fatty acids (GC-FID), t-2-nonenal potential (GC-MS), color and thiobarbituric acid (TBI). Mashing conditions for each formulation were adjusted in order to achieve target FAN values. Unmalted rice or corn adjuncts significantly reduced the total metal ion content, color, TBI and staling aldehydes in sweet worts at 50% adjunct incorporation (p < 0.05), relative in each case to the respective all-malt control mash. Our findings showed that unmalted rice or corn adjunct incorporation generally improved flavor stability metrics in sweet worts when similar mashing conditions were applied, whilst increasing the length of the 'protein stand' in mashing to reach target FAN in general had a negative impact on flavor stability indicators – e.g., wort T150 values significantly decreased in each recipe at 25% and 35% adjunct relative to the 12.5% adjunct brew but increased again at 50% adjunct, presumably due to the prolonged proteolytic stand employed to achieve target FAN content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria accumulate polyglucan as main carbohydrate storage. Here, the cellular polyglucan content was determined in 27 cyanobacterial strains from 25 genera. The polyglucan contents were significantly enhanced in 20 and 23 strains under nitrogen (–N) and phosphate (–P) deprivation, respectively. High polyglucan accumulation was not associated with particular evolutionary groups but was strain specific. The highest polyglucan accumulations of 46.2% and 52.5% (w/w dry weight; DW) were obtained under –N in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (hereafter Synechocystis) and Chroococcus limneticus, respectively. In Synechocystis, 80–97% (w/w) of the polyglucan was glycogen. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses during glycogen accumulation under –N were determined in Synechocystis. The genes responsible for the supply of the substrates for glycogen synthesis: glycerate-1,3-phosphate and fructose-1,6-phosphate, were significantly up-regulated. The genes encoding the enzymes converting succinate to malate in TCA cycle, were significantly down-regulated. The genes encoding the regulator proteins which inhibits metabolism at lower part of glycolysis pathway, were also significantly up-regulated. The transcript levels of PII protein and the level of 2-oxoglutarate, which form a complex that inhibits lower part of glycolysis pathway, were significantly increased. Thus, the increased Synechocystis glycogen accumulation under –N was likely to be mediated by the increased supply of glycogen synthesis substrates and metabolic inhibitions at lower part of glycolysis pathway and TCA cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single cell analysis has drawn increasing interest from the research community due to its capability to interrogate cellular heterogeneity, allowing refined tissue classification and facilitating novel biomarker discovery. With the advancement of relevant instruments and techniques, it is now possible to perform multiple omics including genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics or even proteomics at single cell level. In comparison with other omics studies, single‐cell metabolomics (SCM) represents a significant challenge since it involves many types of dynamically changing compounds with a wide range of concentrations. In addition, metabolites cannot be amplified. Although difficult, considerable progress has been made over the past decade in mass spectrometry (MS)‐based SCM in terms of processing technologies and biochemical applications. In this review, we will summarize recent progress in the development of promising MS platforms, sample preparation methods and SCM analysis of various cell types (including plant cell, cancer cell, neuron, embryo cell, and yeast cell). Current limitations and future research directions in the field of SCM will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell is an epithelial-like cell that produces proteins with post-translational modifications similar to human glycosylation. It is widely used in the production of recombinant therapeutic proteins and monoclonal antibodies. Culturing CHO cells typically requires the addition of a certain proportion of fetal bovine serum (FBS) to maintain cell proliferation and passaging. However, serum is characterized by its complex composition, batch-to-batch variability, high cost, and potential risk of exogenous contaminants such as mycoplasma and viruses, which impact the purity and safety of the synthesized proteins. Therefore, search for serum alternatives and development of serum-free media for CHO-based protein biomanufacturing are of great significance. This review systematically summarizes the application advantages of CHO cells and strategies for high-density expression. It highlights the developmental trends of serum substitutes from human platelet lysates to animal-free extracts and microbial-derived substances and elucidates the mechanisms by which these substitutes enhance CHO cell culture performance and recombinant protein production, aiming to provide theoretical guidance for exploring novel serum alternatives and developing serum-free media for CHO cells., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Consumers of Australian cider are currently trending towards higher-quality cider products. As a result, boutique and craft cider breweries are expected to experience a period of growth over the next five years. Supporting this trend and subsequent growth is paramount to rebuilding the cider industry post-COVID-19. Many current practices and procedures, such as must clarification and biomass reduction in cider brewing, have been adapted from the beer and wine industry. While these practices are beneficial to the quality of cider and often promote the production of favourable volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the targeted enhancement of specific VOCs has not been achieved. This work investigates the specific enhancement of 2-phenylethanol (2-PE), which is known to improve the organoleptic properties of cider and provide potential health benefits through its antioxidant properties. The effect of three levels of biomass reduction (90%, 80%, and 0%) and five levels of L-phenylalanine (L-phe) saturation (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 g L−1) for the enhanced production of 2-PE during cider fermentation were investigated. A high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed to accurately quantify the concentration of both 2-PE and L-phe, with a root-mean-square deviation (RSMD) of 0.41% and 1.60%, respectively. A significant increase in 2-PE production was achieved for all treatments, with 2-PE levels up to two orders of magnitude higher than respective controls. The highest 2-PE production was achieved by a moderate (80%) biomass reduction at a 2.5 g L−1 L-phe spike. Additionally, the VOC profile of several of the ciders was quantitively determined, and subsequent data underwent extensive chemometric analysis. Principle component analysis (PCA) showed that 2-PE and its derivatives (2-phenylethyl pivalate and phenylacetaldehyde) were correlated with the 80% biomass reduction treatment at the highest L-phe spike. Additionally, it was observed that several acids and alkanes were negatively correlated with the production of 2-PE and its derivatives. Additionally, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) showed clustering between the 80% and 90% biomass reduction treatments at several L-phe spike concentrations. However, the 0% biomass reduction treatments only showed similarity with other treatments with 0% biomass reduction. This work provides insight into the production of 2-PE during apple cider fermentation while building the foundation for more targeted biotechnological production of favourable compounds to improve cider quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether IR50404‐resistant protein (RP) rice is suitable for brewing. So, the RP was soaked in water pH 6.6 at room temperature for 24 h and germinated for 4 days to get green malt. This malt was dried at 50°C for 24 h to get rice malt (RM). The RM was mashed with an adjusted EBC program before being fermented by yeast at 13°C for 4 days to get rice beer (RB). The results showed that protein in RM showed a statistical difference in inhibitory zone diameter for proteinase K, which is similar to barley malt. Heat‐ and protease‐resistant proteins (HPRPs) in RM were ranged between 14.4 and 55–70 kDa. The HPRPs were detected as an alpha‐amylase/trypsin inhibitor (~14.4 kDa) in wort and RB. The beer foam was stable from 5 to 25 min after shacking. Therefore, IR50404 contains HPRPs that contribute to the stability of the foam of the RB. Novelty impact statement: It is necessary to find a method to determine the possibility of a rice variety in the Mekong Delta region can be used for beer making. This study focused on the heat‐ and protease‐resistant/inhibitor properties of the protein because the brewing process is always accompanied by heating and the presence of protease from yeast. So, the presence of these proteins group during malting and after beer fermentation could contribute to the stability of clarification as well as foam establishment and foam stability of rice beer. The results of this study indicate that the rice variety IR50404 was completely usable for beer making. This property is also an indicator for selecting rice that is suitable for beer making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a key role in cellular communication both in physiological conditions and in pathologies such as cancer. Emerging evidence has shown that EVs are active carriers of molecular cargo (e.g. protein and nucleic acids) and a powerful source of biomarkers and targets. While recent studies on EV‐associated DNA (EV‐DNA) in human biofluids have generated a large amount of data, there is currently no database that catalogues information on EV‐DNA. To fill this gap, we have manually curated a database of EV‐DNA data derived from human biofluids (liquid biopsy) and in‐vitro studies, called the Extracellular Vesicle‐Associated DNA Database (EV‐ADD). This database contains validated experimental details and data extracted from peer‐reviewed published literature. It can be easily queried to search for EV isolation methods and characterization, EV‐DNA isolation techniques, quality validation, DNA fragment size, volume of starting material, gene names and disease context. Currently, our database contains samples representing 23 diseases, with 13 different types of EV isolation techniques applied on eight different human biofluids (e.g. blood, saliva). In addition, EV‐ADD encompasses EV‐DNA data both representing the whole genome and specifically including oncogenes, such as KRAS, EGFR, BRAF, MYC, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). An EV‐ADD data metric system was also integrated to assign a compliancy score to the MISEV guidelines based on experimental parameters reported in each study. While currently available databases document the presence of proteins, lipids, RNA and metabolites in EVs (e.g. Vesiclepedia, ExoCarta, ExoBCD, EVpedia, and EV‐TRACK), to the best of our knowledge, EV‐ADD is the first of its kind to compile all available EV‐DNA datasets derived from human biofluid samples. We believe that this database provides an important reference resource on EV‐DNA‐based liquid biopsy research, serving as a learning tool and to showcase the latest developments in the EV‐DNA field. EV‐ADD will be updated yearly as newly published EV‐DNA data becomes available and it is freely available at www.evdnadatabase.com. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Premature adrenarche (PA) for long time was considered a benign condition but later has been connected to various diseases in childhood and adulthood which remains controversial. Objective: To investigate the effect of premature adrenarche on the metabolic phenotype, and correlate the clinical and biochemical data with the metabolic profile of children with PA. Methods: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based untargeted and targeted metabolomic approach in combination with multivariate and univariate statistical analysis applied to study the metabolic profiles of children with PA. Plasma, serum, and urine samples were collected from fifty-two children with Idiopathic PA and forty-eight age-matched controls from the division of Pediatric Endocrinology of the University Hospital of Patras were enrolled. Results: Metabolomic results showed that plasma and serum glucose, myo-inositol, amino acids, a population of unsaturated lipids, and esterified cholesterol were higher and significantly different in PA children. In the metabolic profiles of children with PA and age-matched control group a gradual increase of glucose and myo-inositol levels was observed in serum and plasma, which was positively correlated their body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS) values respectively. Urine 1H NMR metabolic fingerprint of PA children showed positive correlation and a clustering-dependent relationship with their BMI and bone age (BA) respectively. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that PA driven metabolic changes begin during the childhood and PA may has an inductive role in a BMI–driven increase of specific metabolites. Finally, urine may be considered as the best biofluid for identification of the PA metabolism as it reflects more clearly the PA metabolic fingerprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a cardiovascular disease that can be improved by risk factor modification. Mobile health (mHealth) intervention is an effective method of healthcare delivery to promote behavior changes. An mHealth platform can encourage consistent involvement of participants and healthcare providers for health promotion. This study aimed to develop an mHealth platform consisting of a smartphone application (app) synchronized with a wearable activity tracker and a web-based portal to support exercise intervention in patients with PAD.Methods: This study was conducted based on an iterative development process, including analysis, design, and implementation. In the analysis phase, a literature review and needs assessment through semi-structured interviews (n = 15) and a questionnaire-based survey (n = 138) were performed. The initial prototype design and contents were developed based on the users' requirements. In the implementation phase, multidisciplinary experts (n = 4) evaluated the heuristics, following which the mHealth platform was revised. User evaluation of the usability was performed by nurses (n = 4) and patients with PAD (n = 3).Results: Through the development process, the functional requirements of the platform were represented through visual display, reminder, education, self-monitoring, goal setting, goal attainment, feedback, and recording. In-app videos of exercise and PAD management were produced to provide information and in-app automatic text messages were developed for user motivation. The final version of the platform was rated 67.86 out of 100, which indicated "good" usability.Conclusions: The mHealth platform was designed and developed for patients with PAD and their healthcare providers. This platform can be used to educate and promote individualized exercise among patients with PAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enteroviruses (EVs) are among the most prevalent viruses worldwide. They are characterized by a high genetic and phenotypic diversity, being able to cause a plethora of symptoms. EV-D68, a respiratory EV, and EV-D94, an enteric EV, represent an interesting paradigm of EV tropism heterogeneity. They belong to the same species, but display distinct phenotypic characteristics and in vivo tropism. Here, we used these two viruses as well as relevant 3D respiratory, intestinal and neural tissue culture models, to highlight key distinctive features of enteric and respiratory EVs. We emphasize the critical role of temperature in restricting EV-D68 tissue tropism. Using transcriptomic analysis, we underscore fundamental differences between intestinal and respiratory tissues, both in the steady-state and in response to infection. Intestinal tissues present higher cell proliferation rate and are more immunotolerant than respiratory tissues. Importantly, we highlight the different strategies applied by EV-D94 and EV-D68 towards the host antiviral response of intestinal and respiratory tissues. EV-D68 strongly activates antiviral pathways while EV-D94, on the contrary, barely induces any host defense mechanisms. In summary, our study provides an insightful characterization of the differential pathogenesis of EV-D68 and EV-D94 and the interplay with their main target tissues. Author summary: Enteroviruses (EVs) are important human pathogens, associated with more than 20 clinical presentations. They replicate predominantly in the intestinal and/or respiratory mucosa. The respiratory EV-D68 can be considered an emerging virus because it caused an unprecedent outbreak in 2014, and contemporary isolates display increased virulence and novel neurotropic potential. The genetically related enteric EV-D94 is less common and its pathogenesis remains poorly defined, however, its infection has also been associated with neurological symptoms such as acute flaccid paralysis. To decipher the pathogenic mechanisms of these two viruses, we investigated their tropism and innate immunity induction in relevant human respiratory, intestinal and neural tissue culture models. Our results highlight the critical role of temperature in restricting EV-D68 tropism. Furthermore, using transcriptomic analysis, we identified key differences between respiratory and intestinal tissues, with the latter exhibiting higher cell proliferation and being more immunotolerant. More importantly, we could demonstrate the different strategies applied by EV-D94 and EV-D68 towards the host antiviral response, with EV-D68 strongly activating antiviral pathways and EV-D94, in contrast, inducing few host antiviral transcripts. This work identifies key differences in the pathogenesis of these representative respiratory and enteric EVs, which may contribute to the development of targeted antiviral therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]