Inhibitory effects of nobiletin-mediated interfacial instability of bile salt emulsified oil droplets on lipid digestion

Previous lipase inhibitors studies mainly focus on the binding between inhibitors and lipase, ignoring the impact of inhibitors on the oil-water interface of lipid droplets. This study aimed to investigate the effect of nobiletin (NBT) from Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium on the oil-water interface properties and lipid digestion. Here, we found that NBT could destroy bile salt (BS)-stabilized lipid droplets and thus inhibited free fatty acid release, owing to the interaction between NBT and BS at the oil-water interface, and reducing the stability of the oil-water interface (the stability index decreased from 91.15 ± 2.6 % to 66.5 ± 3.6 %). Further, the molecular dynamics simulation and isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that NBT could combine with BS at oil-water interface through intermolecular interactions, including hydrogen bonds, Van der Waals force, and steric hindrance. These results suggest that the interfacial instability of NBT mediated BS emulsified oil droplets may be another pathway to inhibit lipid digestion.

Pickering nanoemulsion loaded with eugenol contributed to the improvement of konjac glucomannan film performance

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is becoming a very potential food packaging material due to its good film-forming properties and stability. However, KGM film has several shortcomings such as low mechanical strength, strong water absorption, and poor self-antibacterial performance, which limits its application. Therefore, in order to enhance the mechanical and functional properties of KGM film, this study prepared Pickering nanoemulsion loaded with eugenol and added it to the KGM matrix to explore the improvement effect of Pickering nanoemulsion on KGM film properties. Compared to pure KGM film and eugenol directly added film, the mechanical strength of Pickering-KGM film was significantly improved due to the establishment of ample hydrogen bonding interactions between the β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex system and KGM. Pickering-KGM film had significant antioxidant capacity than pure KGM film and eugenol directly added KGM film (eugenol-KGM film) (~3.21 times better than KGM film, ~0.51 times better than eugenol-KGM film). In terms of antibacterial activity, Pickering-KGM film had good inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, and raspberry preservation experiment showed that the shelf life of the Pickering-KGM film could be extended to about 6 days. To sum up, this study developed a novel means to improve the film performance and provide a new insight for the development and application of food packaging film.

[Immune reconstitution and influencing factors in HIV infected men who have sex with men with access to antiviral therapy in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 2005 to 2021]

Objective: To analyze immune reconstitution and influencing factors in HIV infected men who have sex with men (MSM) with access to antiviral therapy (ART) in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi) during 2005-2021. Methods: The data were collected from Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The study subjects were HIV infected MSM with access to the initial ART for ≥24 weeks in Guangxi from 2005 to 2021 and HIV RNA lower than the detection limit within 24 months. The proportion of infected MSM who had immune reconstitution after ART was calculated. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of immune reconstitution. Software SPSS 24.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 3 200 HIV infected MSM were enrolled, in whom 15.56 % (498/3 200) had no immune reconstitution, 14.78% (473/3 200) had moderate immune reconstitution, and the rate of complete immune reconstitution was 69.66% (2 229/3 200). The M (Q1, Q3) of ART time for immune reconstitution was 12 (5, 27) months. Multivariate Cox proportional risk regression model analysis results showed that compared with those with initial ART at age ≥30 years, WHO clinical stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ illness, baseline BMI <18.50 kg/m2 and baseline CD4+T lymphocyte (CD4) counts <200 cells/µl, HIV infected MSM with initial ART at age <30 years, WHO clinical stageⅠ/Ⅱ illness, baseline BMI≥24.00 kg/m2 and baseline CD4 counts ≥200 cells/µl were more likely to have complete immune reconstitution. Conclusions: In the HIV infected MSM in Guangxi, failures to achieve moderate and complete immune reconstitution were observed. Surveillance and ART regimen should be improved for key populations, such as those with older age and low baseline CD4 counts.

A Novel Water-Soluble Polysaccharide from Daylily (Hemerocallis citrina Baroni): Isolation, Structure Analysis, and Probiotics Adhesion Promotion Effect

The daylily (Hemerocallis citrina Baroni) flower is a traditional raw food material that is rich in a variety of nutrients. In particular, the content of polysaccharides in daylily is abundant and has been widely used as a functional component in food, cosmetics, medicine, and other industries. However, studies on the structure-effective relationship of daylily flower polysaccharides are still lacking. In view of this, daylily flower polysaccharides were isolated and purified, and their physical and chemical properties, structure, antioxidant activity, and adhesion-promoting effect on probiotics were evaluated. The results showed that a novel water-soluble polysaccharide (DPW) with an average molecular weight (Mw) of 2.224 kDa could be successfully isolated using column chromatography. Monosaccharide composition analysis showed that DPW only comprised glucose and fructose, with a molar ratio of 0.242:0.758. Through methylation and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, it was inferred that DPW belonged to the fructans group with a structure of α-D-Glcp-1→2-β-D-Fruf-1→(2-β-D-Fruf-1)n→. Antioxidant analysis showed that DPW showed strong 2-Phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-Oxide (PTIO-scavenging activity with IC50 of 1.54 mg/mL. DPW of 1.25 to 5 mg/mL could significantly increase the adhesion rate of Lactobacillus acidophilu, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, and Lactobacillus plantarum on Caco-2 cells. Considering the above results, the present study provides a theoretical basis and practical support for the development and application of daylily polysaccharides as a functional active ingredient.

Molecular dynamics simulation techniques and their application to aroma compounds/cyclodextrin inclusion complexes: A review

Homeostatic technologies play a crucial role in maintaining the quality and extending the service life of aroma compounds (ACs). Commercial cyclodextrins (CDs) are commonly used to form inclusion complexes (ICs) with ACs to enhance their solubility, stability, and morphology. The selection of suitable CDs and ACs is of paramount importance in this process. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide an in-depth understanding of the interactions between ACs and CDs, aiding researchers in optimising the properties and effects of ICs. This review offers a systematic discussion of the application of MD simulations in ACs/CDs ICs, covering the establishment of the simulation process, parameter selection, model evaluation, and various application cases, along with their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, this review summarises the major achievements and challenges of this method while identifying areas that require further exploration. These findings may contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the formation and stabilization mechanisms of ACs/CDs ICs and offer guidance for the selection and computational characterisation of CDs in the AC steady state.

Antibacterial aroma compounds as property modifiers for electrospun biopolymer nanofibers of proteins and polysaccharides: A review

Electrospinning is one of the most promising techniques for producing biopolymer nanofibers for various applications. Proteins and polysaccharides, among other biopolymers, are attractive substrates for electrospinning due to their favorable biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, there are still challenges to improve the mechanical properties, water sensitivity and biological activity of biopolymer nanofibers. Therefore, these strategies such as polymer blending, application of cross-linking agents, the addition of nanoparticles and bioactive components, and modification of biopolymer have been developed to enhance the properties of biopolymer nanofibers. Among them, antibacterial aroma compounds (AACs) from essential oils are widely used as bioactive components and property modifiers in various biopolymer nanofibers to enhance the functionality, hydrophobicity, thermal properties, and mechanical properties of nanofibers, which depends on the electrospun strategy of AACs. This review summarizes the recently reported antimicrobial activities and applications of AACs, and compares the effects of four electrospinning strategies for encapsulating AACs on the properties and applications of nanofibers. The authors focus on the correlation of the main characteristics of these biopolymer electrospun nanofibers with the encapsulation strategy of AACs in the nanofibers. Moreover, this review also particularly emphasizes the impact of the characteristics of these nanofibers on their application field of antimicrobial materials.

Temporal Structures in Positron Spectra and Charge-Sign Effects in Galactic Cosmic Rays

We present the precision measurements of 11 years of daily cosmic positron fluxes in the rigidity range from 1.00 to 41.9 GV based on 3.4×10^{6} positrons collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The positron fluxes show distinctly different time variations from the electron fluxes at short and long timescales. A hysteresis between the electron fluxes and the positron fluxes is observed with a significance greater than 5σ at rigidities below 8.5 GV. On the contrary, the positron fluxes and the proton fluxes show similar time variation. Remarkably, we found that positron fluxes are modulated more than proton fluxes with a significance greater than 5σ for rigidities below 7 GV. These continuous daily positron fluxes, together with AMS daily electron, proton, and helium fluxes over an 11-year solar cycle, provide unique input to the understanding of both the charge-sign and mass dependencies of cosmic rays in the heliosphere.

Corrigendum: Use of autologous cord blood mononuclear cells infusion for the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely preterm neonates: a study protocol for a placebo-controlled randomized multicenter trial [NCT03053076]

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.00136.].

[Analysis of late-diagnosis and associated factors in newly reported HIV infections among men who have sex with men in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 2005-2021]

Objective: To analyze the trend of late-diagnosis of HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) before and after the AIDS Conquering Project in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi) and its influencing factors, in order to find out the population groups that need priority intervention at the present stage. Methods: The HIV-infected MSM in Guangxi from 2005-2021 were selected from the National Integrated HIV/AIDS Control and Prevention Data System. The Joinpoint 4.9.1.0 software was used to test the time trend of late-diagnosis and non-late-diagnosis cases, and logistic regression was applied to analyze the factors influencing the proportion of late-diagnosis at each stage. Results: From 2005 to 2021, 5 764 HIV-infected MSM were reported in Guangxi from 2005 to 2021, with an overall late-diagnosis of 28.45% (1 640 cases). Under the 2015 baseline data as the boundary, the proportion of late-diagnosis cases showed a trend of sharp decline followed by stabilization from 2005 to 2015, average annual percent change= -6.90% (P<0.001). The effect of factors such as resident population, occupation as a farmer or worker, and sample originating from medical consultation on late-diagnosis changed considerably before and after the implementation of the project, and the factors influencing late-diagnosis at this stage were age, resident population, occupation as a farmer, worker or student. The factors influencing late-diagnosis at this stage are age, resident population, and occupation as a farmer, worker and a student. Conclusions: The proportion of late diagnosis cases of HIV-infected MSM in Guangxi decreased significantly before and after the project. However, late-diagnosis should not be neglected and precise prevention and control should be carried out for the resident population, farmers, workers or students.

Efficacy of Nimotuzumab plus Concurrent Chemo-Radiotherapy for Unresectable Esophageal Cancer: A Real-World Study

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

The esophageal cancer ranked 7th in the morbidity of malignant cancer and the 6th contributed to carcinoma deaths. Most patients are diagnosed of advanced stage at first visiting. The 5-year survival rate of unresectable esophageal cancer is about 20% after the standard treatment of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy. Nimotuzumab, a humanized anti-EGFR antibody, has shown good efficacy and low toxicity in epithelial tumors. This two-center, real-world study evaluated the efficacy and safety of nimotuzumab combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy in unresectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

MATERIALS/METHODS

Totally 503 eligible unresectable ESCC patients from Jan 2014 to Dec 2020 were included. 1:2 nearest neighbor propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to match the Nimo group (nimotuzumab plus concurrent chemo-radiotherapy) and CRT group (concurrent chemo-radiotherapy), and the covariates included age, gender, tumor location, lesion length, TNM stage, clinical stage, and radiotherapy dose. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR).

RESULTS

A total of 61 patients were in Nimo group which received nimotuzumab (200 mg/w, 4-6 weeks) combined with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (chemotherapy: S-1/FP/TP/DP for 2-4 cycles; radiotherapy: 2DRT,3D-CRT or IMRT, 50-70 Gy in 25-35 fractions) and 107 patients in CRT group only received concurrent chemo-radiotherapy. The baseline characteristics were well balanced between the two groups. The efficacy of Nimo group was better than that of CRT group. The ORR was 85.2% vs. 71.0%, (P=0.037), the DCR was 98.4% vs. 91.6%, (P>0.05). The median PFS was 28.07 months vs. 19.54 months, and the 1-, 3- and 5-year PFS rates were 78.2% vs. 72.9%, 37.5% vs. 28.3%, and 29.1% vs. 21.3%, respectively (HR: 0.6860, 95% CI: 0.4902-0.9600, P=0.034). The median OS was 34.93 months vs. 24.30 months and the 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates were 88.5% vs. 81.3%, 46.8% vs. 35.2% and 37.4% vs. 28.0%, respectively (HR: 0.6701, 95% CI: 0.4792-0.9372, P=0.024). The adverse events including radiation esophagitis, radiation pneumonitis, bone marrow suppression, nausea, vomiting, and rash were no significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Nimotuzumab combined with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy improved the ORR, and prolonged PFS and OS in unresectable ESCC patients with a good tolerance.

Properties of Cosmic-Ray Sulfur and Determination of the Composition of Primary Cosmic-Ray Carbon, Neon, Magnesium, and Sulfur: Ten-Year Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

We report the properties of primary cosmic-ray sulfur (S) in the rigidity range 2.15 GV to 3.0 TV based on 0.38×10^{6} sulfur nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment (AMS). We observed that above 90 GV the rigidity dependence of the S flux is identical to the rigidity dependence of Ne-Mg-Si fluxes, which is different from the rigidity dependence of the He-C-O-Fe fluxes. We found that, similar to N, Na, and Al cosmic rays, over the entire rigidity range, the traditional primary cosmic rays S, Ne, Mg, and C all have sizeable secondary components, and the S, Ne, and Mg fluxes are well described by the weighted sum of the primary silicon flux and the secondary fluorine flux, and the C flux is well described by the weighted sum of the primary oxygen flux and the secondary boron flux. The primary and secondary contributions of the traditional primary cosmic-ray fluxes of C, Ne, Mg, and S (even Z elements) are distinctly different from the primary and secondary contributions of the N, Na, and Al (odd Z elements) fluxes. The abundance ratio at the source for S/Si is 0.167±0.006, for Ne/Si is 0.833±0.025, for Mg/Si is 0.994±0.029, and for C/O is 0.836±0.025. These values are determined independent of cosmic-ray propagation.

Temporal Structures in Electron Spectra and Charge Sign Effects in Galactic Cosmic Rays

We present the precision measurements of 11 years of daily cosmic electron fluxes in the rigidity interval from 1.00 to 41.9 GV based on 2.0×10^{8} electrons collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The electron fluxes exhibit variations on multiple timescales. Recurrent electron flux variations with periods of 27 days, 13.5 days, and 9 days are observed. We find that the electron fluxes show distinctly different time variations from the proton fluxes. Remarkably, a hysteresis between the electron flux and the proton flux is observed with a significance of greater than 6σ at rigidities below 8.5 GV. Furthermore, significant structures in the electron-proton hysteresis are observed corresponding to sharp structures in both fluxes. This continuous daily electron data provide unique input to the understanding of the charge sign dependence of cosmic rays over an 11-year solar cycle.

Pickering emulsions stabilized by β-CD microcrystals: Construction and interfacial assembly mechanism

β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) can combine with oil and other guest molecules to form amphiphilic inclusion complexes (ICs), which can be adsorbed on the oil-water interface to reduce the interfacial tension and stabilize Pickering emulsions. However, the subtle change of β-CD in the process of emulsion preparation is easily ignored. In this study, β-CD and ginger oil (GO) were used to prepare the Pickering emulsion by high-speed shearing homogenization without an exogenous emulsifier. The stability of the emulsion was characterized by microscopic observation, staining analysis, and creaming index (CI). Results showed that the flocculation of the obtained Pickering emulsion was serious, and the surface of the droplets was rough with lamellar particles. In order to elucidate the formation process of the layered particles, the GO/β-CD ICs were further prepared by ball milling method, and the X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and interfacial tension analyses found that β-CD and GO first formed amphiphilic nanoscale small particles (ICs) through the host-guest interaction, and the formed small particles were further self-assembled into lamellar micron-scale amphiphilic ICs microcrystals. These amphiphilic ICs and microcrystals aggregated at the oil-water interface and finally formed the Pickering emulsion. In this study, by exploring the formation process and evolution of GO/β-CD self-assembly, the formation process and stabilization mechanism of the β-CD-stabilized GO Pickering emulsion were clarified preliminarily, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the development of high-performance CD-stabilized Pickering emulsions.

Syringa oblata genome provides new insights into molecular mechanism of flower color differences among individuals and biosynthesis of its flower volatiles

Syringa oblata is a high ornamental value tree owing to its elegant colors, unique aromas and wide adaptability, however, studies on the molecular mechanism underlying the formation of its ornamental traits are still lacking. Here, we presented a chromosome-scale genome assembly of S. oblata and the final genome size was 1.11 Gb with a contig N50 of 4.75 Mb, anchored on 23 chromosomes and was a better reference for S. oblata transcriptome assembly. Further by integrating transcriptomic and metabolic data, it was concluded that F3H, F3'H, 4CL and PAL, especially the F3'H, were important candidates involved in the formation of floral color differences among S. oblata individuals. Genome-wide identification and analysis revealed that the TPS-b subfamily was the most abundant subfamily of TPS family in S. oblata, which together with the CYP76 family genes determined the formation of the major floral volatiles of S. oblata. Overall, our results provide an important reference for mechanistic studies on the main ornamental traits and molecular breeding in S. oblata.

U-shaped association between dietary thiamine intake and new-onset diabetes: a nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

The association between dietary thiamine intake and the risk of diabetes remains unknown.

AIM

We aimed to evaluate the relation of dietary thiamine intake with new-onset diabetes and examine possible effect modifiers.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

A total of 16 272 participants who were free of diabetes at baseline were enrolled from China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS). Dietary nutrients intake information was collected by 3-day dietary recalls in addition to using a 3-day food-weighed method to assess cooking oil and condiment consumption. New-onset diabetes was defined as a fasting blood glucose ≥7.0 mmol/l or a glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or diagnosed by a physician during the follow-up.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up duration of 9.0 years, new-onset diabetes occurred in 1101 participants. Overall, the association between dietary thiamine intake and new-onset diabetes followed a U-shape (P for non-linearity <0.001). Consistently, when thiamine intake was assessed as quartiles, compared with those in the 2-3 quartiles (0.75 to 1.10 mg/day), the significantly higher risks of new-onset diabetes were found in participants in the first quartile [adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10, 1.61] and the fourth quartile (adjusted HR, 1.39; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.67). Similar results were found when further adjusting for the intake of other major nutrients or food groups; or using the propensity score weighting to control the imbalance of covariates.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that there was a U-shape association between dietary thiamine intake and new-onset diabetes in general Chinese adults, with a minimal risk at 0.75-1.10 mg/day.

Lignocellulosic depolymerization induced by ionic liquids regulating composting habitats based on metagenomics analysis

The application of ionic liquids with sawdust and fresh dairy manure was studied in composting. The degradation of organic matter (OM), dissolved organic matter (DOM), and lignocellulose was analyzed. The DOM decreased by 14.25 mg/g and 11.11 mg/g in experimental group (ILs) and control group (CK), respectively. OM decreased by 7.32% (CK) and 8.91% (ILs), respectively. The degradation rates of hemicellulose, lignin, and cellulose in ILs (56.62%, 42.01%, and 23.97%) were higher than in CK (38.39%, 39.82%, and 16.04%). Microbial community and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) were analyzed based on metagenomics. Metagenomic analysis results showed that ionic liquids enriched Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in composting. Compared with CK, the total abundance values of GH11, GH6, AA6, and AA3_2 in ILs increased by 13.98%, 10.12%, 11.21%, and 13.68%, respectively. Ionic liquids can improve the lignocellulosic degradation by regulating the environmental physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, C/N) to promote the growth of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) abundance. Therefore, ionic liquids are a promising additive in lignocellulosic waste composting.

In-situ generation of H2O2 by zero valent iron to control depolymerization of lignocellulose in composting niche

Lignocellulosic degradation is a bottleneck of bioconversion during the composting process. In-situ generation of H₂O₂ in the composting system was an ideal method for efficiently promoting lignocellulase degradation, and zero valent iron (ZVI) was concerned because it can generate H₂O₂ by reducing dissolved oxygen. This study focused on the effects of ZVI treatment on lignocellulose degradation, microbial communities, and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) genes during composting. Its results indicated that ZVI increased H₂O₂ content during composting, accompanied by the formation of •OH. The degradation rates of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose in ZVI group (20.77%, 30.35% and 44.7%) were significantly higher than in CK group (17.01%, 26.12% and 38.5%). Metagenomic analysis showed that ZVI induced microbial growth that favored lignocellulose degradation, which increased the abundance of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes but reduced Proteobacteria. At the genus level, the abundance of Thermomonospora, Streptomyces, and Bacillus significantly increased. In addition, glycoside hydrolases and auxiliary activities were important CAZymes families of lignocellulose degradation, and their abundance was higher in the ZVI group. Redundancy analysis showed that the increased H₂O₂ and •OH content was a critical factor in improving lignocellulose degradation. Overall, H₂O₂ as a co-substrate enhanced the enzymatic efficiency, •OH unspecifically attacked lignocellulose, and the increase in functional microbial abundance was the main reason for promoting lignocellulose degradation in composting.

Properties of Daily Helium Fluxes

We present the precision measurement of 2824 daily helium fluxes in cosmic rays from May 20, 2011 to October 29, 2019 in the rigidity interval from 1.71 to 100 GV based on 7.6×10^{8} helium nuclei collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) aboard the International Space Station. The helium flux and the helium to proton flux ratio exhibit variations on multiple timescales. In nearly all the time intervals from 2014 to 2018, we observed recurrent helium flux variations with a period of 27 days. Shorter periods of 9 days and 13.5 days are observed in 2016. The strength of all three periodicities changes with time and rigidity. In the entire time period, we found that below ∼7  GV the helium flux exhibits larger time variations than the proton flux, and above ∼7  GV the helium to proton flux ratio is time independent. Remarkably, below 2.4 GV a hysteresis between the helium to proton flux ratio and the helium flux was observed at greater than the 7σ level. This shows that at low rigidity the modulation of the helium to proton flux ratio is different before and after the solar maximum in 2014.

Biochar-based solid acid accelerated carbon conversion by increasing the abundance of thermophilic bacteria in the cow manure composting process

This study investigated the effects of biochar-based solid acids (SAs) on carbon conversion, alpha diversity and bacterial community succession during cow manure composting with the goal of providing a new strategy for rapid carbon conversion during composting. The addition of SA prolonged the thermophilic phase and accelerated the degradation of lignocellulose; in particular, the degradation time of cellulose was shortened by 50% and the humus content was increased by 22.56% compared with the control group (CK). In addition, high-throughput sequencing results showed that SA improved the alpha diversity and the relative abundance of thermophilic bacteria, mainly Actinobacteria, increased by 12.955% compared with CK. A redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that Actinobacteria was positively correlated with the transformation of carbon.

SAFE and SBSE combined with GC-MS and GC-O for characterization of flavor compounds in Zhizhonghe Wujiapi medicinal liquor

Volatile compounds in Chinese Zhizhonghe Wujiapi (WJP) medicinal liquor were extracted by solvent-assisted flavor evaporation extraction (SAFE) and stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), respectively, and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results showed that a total of 123 volatile compounds (i.e., 108 by SAFE, 50 by SBSE, and 34 by both) including esters, alcohols, acids, aldehydes, ketones, heterocycles, terpenes and terpenoids, alkenes, phenols, and other compounds were identified, and 67 of them were confirmed as aroma-active compounds by the application of the aroma extract dilution analysis coupled with gas chromatography-olfactometry. After making a simulated reconstitute by mixing 41 characterized aroma-active compounds (odor activity values ≥1) based on their concentrations, the aroma profile of the reconstitute showed good similarity to that of the original WJP liquor. Omission test further corroborated 34 key aroma-active compounds in the WJP liquor. The study of WJP liquor is expected to provide some insights into the characterization of special volatile components in traditional Chinese medicine liquors for the purpose of quality improvement and aroma optimization.

Red mud conserved compost nitrogen by enhancing nitrogen fixation and inhibiting denitrification revealed via metagenomic analysis

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of adding red mud (RM) on denitrification and nitrogen fixation in composting. The results revealed that the retentions of NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N in experimental group (T) with RM were 16.20% and 7.27% higher than that in control group (CK) at the mature stage, respectively. The composition and structure of RM can effectively inhibit denitrification and enhance nitrogen fixation. Moreover, metagenomic analysis revealed that Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were the main microorganisms in denitrification process, while Firmicutes were the main microorganisms in nitrogen fixation process. In T, denitrifying genes nirK and nosZ were 11% and 18% lower than those in CK, respectively, while nitrogen-fixing genes nifK and nifD were 18% and 34% higher than those in control group, respectively. Therefore, adding RM could reduce nitrogen loss and improve the quality of compost via enhancing nitrogen fixation and inhibiting denitrification process.

Periodicities in the Daily Proton Fluxes from 2011 to 2019 Measured by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station from 1 to 100 GV

We present the precision measurement of the daily proton fluxes in cosmic rays from May 20, 2011 to October 29, 2019 (a total of 2824 days or 114 Bartels rotations) in the rigidity interval from 1 to 100 GV based on 5.5×10^{9} protons collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer aboard the International Space Station. The proton fluxes exhibit variations on multiple timescales. From 2014 to 2018, we observed recurrent flux variations with a period of 27 days. Shorter periods of 9 days and 13.5 days are observed in 2016. The strength of all three periodicities changes with time and rigidity. The rigidity dependence of the 27-day periodicity is different from the rigidity dependences of 9-day and 13.5-day periods. Unexpectedly, the strength of 9-day and 13.5-day periodicities increases with increasing rigidities up to ∼10  GV and ∼20  GV, respectively. Then the strength of the periodicities decreases with increasing rigidity up to 100 GV.

Humification process and mechanisms investigated by Fenton-like reaction and laccase functional expression during composting

This study aims to explore the impacts of the Fenton-like reaction on hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, humic substance (HS) formation, laccase activity and microbial communities during composting to optimize composting performances. The results indicated that the activity of laccase in the presence of the Fenton-like reaction (HC) (35.92 U/g) was significantly higher than that in the control (CP) (29.56 U/g). The content of HS in HC (151.91 g/kg) was higher than that in CP (131.73 g/kg), and amides, quinones, aliphatic compounds and aromatic compounds were promoted to form HS in HC by 2D-FTIR-COS analysis. Proteobacteria contributed most greatly to AA1 at phylum level, Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas abundances increased in HC. Redundancy analysis indicated that there was a strong positive correlation among the Fenton-like reaction, laccase and HS. Conclusively, the Fenton-like reaction improved the activity of laccase, promoted the formation of HS and enhanced the quality of compost.

Efficient decomposition of lignocellulose and improved composting performances driven by thermally activated persulfate based on metagenomics analysis

In this study, fresh dairy manure and bagasse pith were used as raw materials to study the effect of potassium persulfate in the aerobic composting process. The influence of sulfate radical anion (SO₄^-·) generated by thermally activated persulfate on physicochemical parameters, lignocellulose degradation, humic substance (HS) formation, microbial community succession, and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) composition were assessed during composting. Experimental results showed that the degradation rates of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in the treatment group with potassium persulfate (PS) (61.47%, 74.63%, 73.1%) were higher than that in blank control group (CK) (59.98%, 71.47%, 70.89%), respectively. Additionally, persulfate additive promoted dynamic variation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and accelerated the formation of HS. Furthermore, metagenomics analysis revealed that persulfate changed the structure of the microbial community, and the relative abundances of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria increased by 17.64% and 34.09% in PS, whereas 12.09% and 29.96% in CK. Glycoside hydrolases (GHs) and auxiliary activities (AAs) families were crucial to degrade lignocellulose, and their abundances were more in PS. Redundancy analysis (RDA) manifested that Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were closely associated with lignocellulosic degradation. In brief, persulfate could accelerate the degradation of organic components, promote the formation of HS, optimize the structure of microbial community, and improve the compost quality.

Erratum: Properties of a New Group of Cosmic Nuclei: Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on Sodium, Aluminum, and Nitrogen [Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 021101 (2021)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.021101.

Illite/smectite clay regulating laccase encoded genes to boost lignin decomposition and humus formation in composting habitats revealed by metagenomics analysis

The aim of this study was to use metagenomics to investigate how Illite/smectite clay (I/S) affected Auxiliary Activities (AA1, AA2, AA3) thereby enhancing lignin decomposition and humification. Metagenomics analysis illustrated that the abundances of AA1, AA2, AA3 in test group (TG) with 10% I/S were 28.98%, 15.18%, 14.36% higher than that in reference group (RG), respectively. Meanwhile, I/S greatly boosted the efficiency of lignin degradation (17.96%) and humus formation (7.16%) compared with RG (13.10%, 3.49%). Furthermore, Actinobacteria was the microorganism with the greatest contribution in RG and TG to secreting AA1 (41.12%, 57.37%), AA2 (62.42%, 65.28%), AA3 (47.04%, 55.47%). Redundancy analysis (RDA) demonstrated that I/S could make the laccase encoding gene-AA1 contribute more to HS formation relative to AA2 and AA3. In conclusion, applying I/S in cattle manure composting effectively improved the abundance, bioavailability of lignin degradation functional gene enzymes and the composting efficiency.

Hydrogen peroxide plus ascorbic acid enhanced organic matter deconstructions and composting performances via changing microbial communities

This work aims to investigate the influence of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and ascorbic acid (ASCA) on the physicochemical characteristics, organic matter (OM) deconstructions, humification degree and succession of bacterial communities for co-composting of bagasse pith and dairy manure. The results indicated that H₂O₂ and ASCA accelerated the degradation of lignocellulose, improved the transformation of dissolved organic matter (DOM), and enhanced the content of humic substance (HS) and the degree of its aromatization. The bacterial communities were significantly changed in the presence of additives, in which the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria significantly increased. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that the degradation of OM and lignocellulose more influenced the bacterial community compositions. Conclusively, adding H₂O₂ and ASCA accelerated lignocellulose degradation efficiency, and improved the composting process, which provided an optimized method to dispose of lignocellulose wastes and livestock manure.

Properties of a New Group of Cosmic Nuclei: Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on Sodium, Aluminum, and Nitrogen

We report the properties of sodium (Na) and aluminum (Al) cosmic rays in the rigidity range 2.15 GV to 3.0 TV based on 0.46 million sodium and 0.51 million aluminum nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment on the International Space Station. We found that Na and Al, together with nitrogen (N), belong to a distinct cosmic ray group. In this group, we observe that, similar to the N flux, both the Na flux and Al flux are well described by the sums of a primary cosmic ray component (proportional to the silicon flux) and a secondary cosmic ray component (proportional to the fluorine flux). The fraction of the primary component increases with rigidity for the N, Na, and Al fluxes and becomes dominant at the highest rigidities. The Na/Si and Al/Si abundance ratios at the source, 0.036±0.003 for Na/Si and 0.103±0.004 for Al/Si, are determined independent of cosmic ray propagation.

Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted extraction of polysaccharides from Hemerocallis citrina and the antioxidant activity study

The present study discussed the optimization of the ultrasonic-assisted extraction of polysaccharides from daylily polysaccharides (DPs). The extracted crude polysaccharides were further separated and purified, and the antioxidant activities including 1,1-diphenyl-2-111 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS) radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activities of the obtained fractions were also evaluated. The results showed that the optimal ultrasonic-assisted extraction parameters with DPs yield of 15.25 ± 1.13% were water to powder ratio of 25 ml/g, extraction power of 694 W, extraction temperature of 71°C, extraction time of 38 min, and three times extraction. By DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow column, four water-soluble polysaccharide fractions (DP-1, DP-2, DP-3, and DP-4) were successfully obtained. Monosaccharide component analysis showed that the four obtained fractions were all hetero-polysaccharides that mainly contained rhamnose, arabinose, fructose, galactose, glucose, galacturonic acid, and glucuronic acid in different molar ratios. All the four DP fractions did show obvious antioxidant activities in vitro, and the DP-3 component had relatively high ABTS free radical scavenging activity. Overall, our research showed that DPs could provide cheap raw materials for the development of natural antioxidants in medicines, functional foods, and even cosmetics. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This article deals with the optimization of the ultrasonic-assisted extraction of polysaccharides from daylily and its antioxidant activities. The results showed that the optimal ultrasonic-assisted extraction yield of DPs was 15.25 ± 1.13%. By DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow column, four water-soluble polysaccharide fractions were successfully obtained, and all the four DP fractions did show obvious antioxidant activities in vitro. Daylily polysaccharides could provide cheap raw materials for the development of natural antioxidants in medicines, functional foods, and even cosmetics.

The influences of illite/smectite clay on lignocellulose decomposition and maturation process revealed by metagenomics analysis during cattle manure composting

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of illite/smectite clay (I/S) on lignocellulosic degradation and humification process via metagenomics analysis during cattle manure composting. The test group (TG) with 10% I/S and the reference group (RG) were established. The results indicated that the addition of I/S made the degradation rate of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in TG (1.56%, 29.01%, 19.95%) was higher than that in RG (1.16%, 17.24%, 13.14%). Compared with RG, the abundance values of AA2, AA10, GH1 and GH10 in TG increased by 15.18%, 29.28%, 31.08%, 21.65%, respectively. Meanwhile, humic substance (HS) content was increased by 3.49% and 7.16% during RG and TG composting. Furthermore, the microbial community in TG changed, in which the relative abundance of Actinobacteria increased and Proteobacteria decreased. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that the temperature was positively correlated with the abundance of AA2, AA10, GH1 and GH10, whereas the organic matter content was negatively correlated. Overall, adding I/S to the composting could stimulate microbial activity, promote the degradation of lignocellulose and humification process.

Properties of Heavy Secondary Fluorine Cosmic Rays: Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

Precise knowledge of the charge and rigidity dependence of the secondary cosmic ray fluxes and the secondary-to-primary flux ratios is essential in the understanding of cosmic ray propagation. We report the properties of heavy secondary cosmic ray fluorine F in the rigidity R range 2.15 GV to 2.9 TV based on 0.29 million events collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment on the International Space Station. The fluorine spectrum deviates from a single power law above 200 GV. The heavier secondary-to-primary F/Si flux ratio rigidity dependence is distinctly different from the lighter B/O (or B/C) rigidity dependence. In particular, above 10 GV, the F/Si/B/O ratio can be described by a power law R^{δ} with δ=0.052±0.007. This shows that the propagation properties of heavy cosmic rays, from F to Si, are different from those of light cosmic rays, from He to O, and that the secondary cosmic rays have two classes.

The degradation of organic matter coupled with the functional characteristics of microbial community during composting with different surfactants

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of anionic and cationic surfactants on the physico-chemical properties, organic matter (OM) degradation, bacterial community structure and metabolic function during composting of dairy manure and sugarcane bagasse. The results showed that the surfactant could optimize the composting conditions to promote the degradation of OM. The most OM degradation and humic substances (HS) synthesis were observed in SAS. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were more abundant in SAS and CTAC, and Actinobacteria in CK. Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) showed that SAS and CTAC are more abundant than CK in genes related to metabolism, environmental and genetic information processing. The correlation analysis showed that the dominant bacteria had more significant correlation with environmental factors. In general, the anionic surfactant could better promote the degradation of OM, change the structure of microbial community, and improve the quality of compost.

Properties of Iron Primary Cosmic Rays: Results from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer

We report the observation of new properties of primary iron (Fe) cosmic rays in the rigidity range 2.65 GV to 3.0 TV with 0.62×10^{6} iron nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment on the International Space Station. Above 80.5 GV the rigidity dependence of the cosmic ray Fe flux is identical to the rigidity dependence of the primary cosmic ray He, C, and O fluxes, with the Fe/O flux ratio being constant at 0.155±0.006. This shows that unexpectedly Fe and He, C, and O belong to the same class of primary cosmic rays which is different from the primary cosmic rays Ne, Mg, and Si class.

Understanding the key regulatory functions of red mud in cellulose breakdown and succession of β-glucosidase microbial community during composting

The purpose of this research was to explore the effects of red mud on cellulose degradation and the succession of β-glucosidase microbial community in composting to better enhance the quality of compost. The activity of β-glucosidase in the treatment group with red mud (T) was 0.42-1.07 times higher than that in the control group without red mud (CK) from day 7 to 21 of composting. The final cellulose degradation ratios of the T (84.73%) were 10.02% higher than that of the CK (74.71%). In addition, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Ascomycota were the most dominant β-glucosidase-producing microbes, and these microbes were also the phyla causing composting performances differences in the high temperature, cooling, and maturity periods of CK and T. These results indicated that adding red mud can improve β-glucosidase activity and boost the breakdown of cellulose in composting process.

MiR-141 promotes cell proliferation and invasion in non-small cell lung cancer by targeting KLF9

OBJECTIVE

Non-small cell lung cancer is the cancer with the highest mortality rate in the whole world. MicroRNA-141 (miR-141) has been reported to be an abnormal expression in multiple tumors including in non-small cell lung cancer. The aim of this study was to verify the potential roles of miR-141 in non-small cell lung cancer and evaluate the effects on cell proliferative and invasive abilities.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) and transwell assays were conducted to calculate the tissues and cell lines' proliferative and invasive abilities. Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were utilized to evaluate the mRNA and protein levels of specific genes.

RESULTS

MiR-141 was significantly upregulated, while krüppel-like factor 9 (KLF9) downregulated in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and cell lines. MiR-141 and KLF9 mRNA levels had a negative correlation in NSCLC tissues. The overexpression of miR-141 promoted the proliferation and invasion of A549 cells, while caused contrast results when knockdown miR-141. In addition, KLF9 was a direct target gene of miR-141 and KLF9 partially reversed the roles of miR-141 in A549 cells. MiR-141 promoted the proliferation and invasion by binding to KLF9 in NSCLC.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-141 promoted the proliferation and invasion by targeting the KLF9 in non-small cell lung cancer, and the newly identified miR-141/KLF9 axis provides novel insight into the pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer.

[Characteristics of newly reported HIV/AIDS cases with non-marital or non-commercial heterosexual transmission in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 2015-2018]

Objective: To understand the characteristics and associated factors of newly reported HIV/AIDS cases with non-marital or non-commercial heterosexual transmission, in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi), 2015-2018. Methods: Information of newly reported HIV/AIDS cases aged ≥18 years in Guangxi between 2015 and 2018 was collected from the National Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Information System. Unconditional logistic regression model was used to access those factors that were associated with HIV infections through non-marital or non-commercial heterosexual contact. Results: Between 2015 and 2018, a total number of 35 497 HIV/AIDS cases, aged ≥18 years were newly reported in Guangxi. Among them, 32 648 (92.0%) were infected heterosexually while 10 500 were infected through non-marital or non-commercial heterosexual behavior. Non-marital or non-commercial heterosexual transmission accounted for 29.6% (10 500/35 497) of the newly reported HIV/AIDS cases, and 32.2% (10 500/32 648) of those with heterosexual transmission. Males counted for 53.5% (5 617/10 500) of non-marital or non-commercial heterosexual transmission and males to females ratio was 1.2∶1 (5 617∶4 883). Those married or had regular sexual partners counted for 55.9% (5 873/10 500). Commercial heterosexual transmission appeared the main mode of HIV transmission for males (64.4%,16 516/25 633) while main mode for females was non-marital or non-commercial heterosexual transmission and counted for 49.5% (4 883/9 864). Results from the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that adjusted OR of female HIV/AIDS infected HIV via non-marital or non-commercial heterosexual transmission, was 3.98 times (95%CI: 3.78-4.20) hight than that of males. Among the group aged<50 years and the aged 50-59 years, the adjusted ORs were 1.35 times (95%CI: 1.27-1.44) and 1.13 times (95%CI: 1.05-1.21) hight than that of aged ≥60 years. Those who were single/divorced/widowed, the adjusted OR was 1.53 times (95%CI: 1.45-1.61) hight than that of those married/regular partners. Those with junior high school education, high school education and above the adjusted ORs were 1.22 times (95%CI: 1.16-1.29) and 1.18 times (95%CI: 1.10-1.27), compared to those only with education levels of primary school or below. Conclusions: The number of HIV/AIDS cases via non-marital or non-commercial heterosexual transmission accounted for nearly 30.0% of all the routes of HIV transmission in Guangxi, 2015-2018. Female, aged<60 years old, single/divorced/widowed and having had junior and above high school education etc., appeared as risk factors on non-marital or non-commercial heterosexual transmission, among newly reported HIV/AIDS in Guangxi.

[Influence on physical development of children aged 18 months from HIV-positive mothers for prevention mother to child transmission of HIV]

Objective: To explore influence on physical development of children aged 18 months from HIV-positive mothers for prevention mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, and provide evidence for the improvement PMTCT program. Methods: This retrospective case control study was conducted in 554 HIV negative infants aged 18 months whose HIV positive mothers had received PMTCT services reported through PMTCT system database from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2017 and 1 109 healthy infants born in 2017, whose mothers were healthy, in Lingshan, Luzhai, and Hengxian counties, ranking top three counties with high HIV infection prevalence, in Guangxi. PMTCT data and physical development data such as height, weight and head circumference of children aged 18 months were collected. The physical dysplasia in the infants was defined as at least one of the three main indicators of height, weight and head circumference below the normal range. Results: The number of HIV-positive mother and their infants in the case group were 667 and 554 respectively, and the PMTCT rates were 91.15% (608/667) and 96.57% (535/554) respectively. HIV positive rate, mortality rate and mother to child transmission rate of the infants aged 18 months were 1.44% (8/554), 3.07% (17/554) and 1.91% (8/418) respectively, and the physical examination results of the infants aged 18 months showed that the physical dysplasia rate was 30.51% (169/554). Among the 1 109 infants in the control group, the physical dysplasia rate was 9.83% (109/1 109). The difference between the case group and the control group was significant (P<0.01). Conclusion: The PMTCT rates of HIV positive mother and their children were more than 90.00%, respectively. However, poor physical development rate of infants aged 18 months were more than 30.00%. The possible influence of PMTCT on physical development of the infants aged 18 months of HIV positive mother's needs to be further studied.