bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acetate Secretion Induces Bacteriocin Synthesis and Activates the Transcriptional Regulators rgg and rpoD
Authors: Kang Jie , Zhang Wen , Sun Rui , Song Gang , Ping Wenxiang , Ge Jingping
Published: October 2022

Bacteriocins from lactic acid bacteria are natural preservatives that inhibit foodborne pathogenic microorganisms. Co-culture is a form of population competition to induce bacteriocin production. In this study, we aimed to investigate the regulatory response of Lactaseibacillus paracasei HD1.7 to population competition and examine acetic stress during bacteriocin production. The cell-free supernatant of Bacillus subtilis positively and negatively regulated L. paracasei HD1.7 bacteriocin production, which depended on the growth period of B. subtilis ATCC 11774 and the addition ratio of the cell-free supernatant. We found that L. paracasei HD1.7 sensed B. subtilis ATCC 11774 through the cell-free supernatant, and then, acetic acid was secreted to promote bacteriocin production. There was a close connection between acetic acid metabolism and the bacteriocin regulatory system. In addition, transcriptomic analysis revealed that the functions of the transcriptional regulators rgg and rpoD in the bacteriocin regulatory system were enhanced with increasing acetic acid stress concentration. Collectively, the results of this study increase our current understanding of L. paracasei HD1.7 bacteriocin production and provide insights into high bacteriocin production by co-culture or acetic acid induction.
Development of Probiotic Fermented Sausages and Viability Monitoring of Supplemented Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BFL Strain
Authors: Sirini Noelí , Loyeau Paula , Ruiz María , Stegmayer María , Soto Lorena , Werning María , Frizzo Laureano , Ordoñez Vanesa , Fernández-López Juana , Rosmini Marcelo
Published: October 2022

The reformulation of meat products is a pending task for the scientific-technological sector. Fermented meat products can carry probiotics, and studying their effect during the product shelf life currently represents a large area of vacancy. The objective of this work was to study the viability of microencapsulated (E) and unencapsulated (P) Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BFL as well as their effects on the microbiological and physicochemical parameters of fermented sausages preserved at 20 °C and 5 °C during 60 days of storage. The inoculated sausages (P and E) had significantly reduced pH values and potential pathogenic microorganism counts. The viability of encapsulated L. plantarum BFL (E) did not decline during storage as it did in its unencapsulated state (P). In addition, L. plantarum BFL could present an antioxidant effect at 20 °C towards the end of storage. The probiotic L. plantarum BFL generally tolerated the meat matrix conditions; it could be used as a biocontroller since its high viability rates would allow it to be projected as an adjunct culture for the meat industry. However, spray-drying microencapsulation of the probiotic L. plantarum BFL is not recommended as a viability-enhancing strategy in the Salamines Criollos studied in this work.
Study on Membrane Damage and Collapse of Air-Supported Structures under Fire Conditions
Authors: Yan Fei , Sun Guojun , Xue Suduo
Published: October 2022

Air-supported structures are widely used as public buildings. Air-supported structures are soft and most traditional fire-fighting installations cannot be used in them. Existing design specifications only specify the fire resistance of the materials to be used for air-supported structures and there is no fire resistance design method for air-supported structures. The destruction process of air-supported structures can be divided into three stages: pre-fracture, leakage, and collapse. Theorical and numerical models were used to research the time span of all those stages. A framework to estimate the collapse and evacuation time was proposed in this paper. Air-supported structures with different spans were researched in this paper, and we found that the height of a structure has a significant influence on its fire resistance. The evacuation time increased by more than 52 times when the structure’s span increased from 20 m to 80 m. The pre-fracture stage contributed to more than 90% of the evacuation time when the span of structure was larger than 80 m.
Gene Expression Analyses Reveal Mechanisms of Inhibited Yellowing by Applying Selenium-Chitosan on Fresh-Cut Broccoli
Authors: Ren Gang , Liu Yaping , Deng Bing , Wang Yu , Lin Wenyan , Zhang Yulei , Di Jianbing , Yang Jiali
Published: October 2022

The yellowing of green broccoli is a phenomenon that indicates a serious deterioration of freshness. The green broccoli has been more popular than the yellow one, with its higher nutritional value. Chitosan coating has been employed in vegetables for green-keeping, owing to its functions of regulating chlorophyll metabolism and antioxidant defense. Furthermore, selenium was commonly utilized in the pre-harvest of fruit and vegetables as an antioxidant and chlorophyll regulator. However, there have not yet been concerns about the effects of selenium-chitosan on vegetable yellowing. This study first investigated the impact of selenium-chitosan on the quality of fresh-cut broccoli yellowing during storage by analyzing the chromatic aberration and phytochromes. Additionally, then, the gene expression related to chlorophyll metabolism (POR, CAO, HO, CHLI, NYC1), carotenoid metabolism (VDE, CCS, LCYE, ZEP, HYD), and transcription factors (NAC92, ZIPPER, bHLH66, APL, PIF4) were analyzed using the RT-qPCR technique. Test results showed that treatment with selenium-chitosan can slow down the reduction in h° (Hue angle values) and reduce ethylene release rate and respiration intensity. Via the molecular approach, it was further identified that this treatment could inhibit chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid biosynthesis, accompanied by lower expression levels of heme oxygenase (HO), chlorophyllide A oxygenase (CAO), violaxanthin de-epoxidase (VDE), β-carotene 3-hydroxylase (HYD), NAC92, basic leucine zipper (ZIPPER), bHLH66, PIF4 and APL, and higher expression levels of magnesium chelatase subunit I (CHLI) and lycopene ε-cyclase (LCYE) genes. This work can be used to explore the molecular mechanism of selenium-chitosan in inhibiting the yellowing of fresh-cut broccoli. This study will be of great economic importance in marketing and export by increasing the shelf life of fruits and vegetables.
Gluten-Free Sorghum Pasta: Composition and Sensory Evaluation with Different Sorghum Hybrids
Authors: de Oliveira Lívia de Lacerda , de Orlandin Lícia Camargo , de Aguiar Lorena Andrade , Queiroz Valeria Aparecida Vieira , Zandonadi Renata Puppin , Botelho Raquel Braz Assunção , de Alencar Figueiredo Lúcio Flávio
Published: October 2022

Although whole grain (WG) sorghum is affordable and a healthier alternative to gluten-free pastas (GFPa), sorghum diversity requires evaluation for application in pasta. We aimed to develop GFPa using six sorghum hybrids. White commercial flour (WCF) and sorghums with brown (BRS 305 and 1167048), red (BRS 330 and BRS 332), and white (CMSXS 180) pericarp colors. Total phenolic content (TPC), total condensed tannins (TAN), total antioxidant activity (TAA—FRAP and DPPH), resistant starch (RS), cooking properties, texture, and sensory evaluation were carried out in sorghum pasta. The statistical analyses were ANOVA, Tukey and Friedman test, and multiple factorial analyses. Brown sorghum GFPa showed the best results for bioactive compounds (RS (1.8 and 2.9 g/100 g), TPC (69.9 and 42.8 mg/100 g), TAN (16.9 and 9.4 mg proanthocyanidin/100 g), TAA for FRAP (305 and 195 mM Teq/g), and DPPH (8.7 and 9.0 mg/mL)), but also the highest soluble solids loss (8.0 g/100 g) and lower flavor acceptance for BRS 305. BRS 332 was highlighted for its higher flavor acceptance and intermediary phenolics content. The most accepted pasta was obtained with WCF, and the least accepted with the brown BRS 305. Sweetness (SWE), soluble starch (SS), and DPPH were associated with liking. The main negative variables were WG_flavor, brown color, FRAP, sandy surface (SAN), WG_odor, and TAN. Sorghum hybrids of different pericarp colors are feasible for GFPa production, leading to differences in pasta quality. SAN and GRA, associated with disliking in antioxidant-rich GFPa, could be improved by milling process adjustments. Increasing the SS proportion and SWE with flavors can contribute to the balance between liking and nutritional advantages.
Symbiotic Husbandry of Chickens and Pigs Does Not Increase Pathogen Transmission Risk
Authors: Kaeder Emma , Dorn-In Samart , Gareis Manfred , Schwaiger Karin
Published: October 2022

A symbiotic or mixed animal husbandry (e.g., pigs and chickens) is considered to have a positive effect for animal welfare and sustainable agriculture. On the other hand, a risk of infection and transmission of microorganisms, especially of zoonotic pathogens, between animal species may potentially occur and thus might increase the risk of foodborne illnesses for consumers. To prove these assumptions, two groups of animals and their environmental (soil) samples were investigated in this study. Animals were kept in a free-range system. In the first group, pigs and chickens were reared together (pasture 1), while the other group contained only pigs (pasture 2). During a one-year study, fecal swab samples of 240 pigs and 120 chickens, as well as 120 ground samples, were investigated for the presence of Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp. and E. coli. Altogether, 438 E. coli and 201 Campylobacter spp. strains were isolated and identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Salmonella spp. was not isolated from any of the sample types. The prevalences of Campylobacter coli and C. jejuni in pigs were 26.7% and 3.3% in pasture 1 and 30.0% and 6.7% in pasture 2, while the prevalences of C. coli and C. jejuni in chickens from pasture 1 were 9.2% and 78.3%, respectively. No correlation between the rearing type (mixed vs. pigs alone) and the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. was observed. All swab samples were positive for E. coli, while the average prevalences in soil samples were 78.3% and 51.7% in pasture 1 and 2, respectively. Results of similarity analysis of the MALDI-TOF MS spectra (for C. coli, C. jejuni and E. coli) and FT-IR spectra (for E. coli) of the same bacterial species showed no recognizable correlations, no matter if strains were isolated from chickens, pig or soil samples or isolated at different sampling periods. The results of the study indicate that the symbiotic husbandry of pigs and chickens neither results in an increased risk of a transmission of Campylobacter spp. or E. coli, nor in a risk of bacterial alteration, as shown by MALDI-TOF MS and FT-IR spectra. In conclusion, the benefits of keeping pigs and chickens together are not diminished by the possible transmission of pathogens.
Assessment of Natural Waxes as Stabilizers in Peanut Butter
Authors: Ferdaus Md. Jannatul , Blount Rycal J. S. , Silva Roberta Claro da
Published: October 2022

Manufacturers add sugar and fully hydrogenated vegetable oils to peanut butter to avoid its oil separation during storage. Unfortunately, hydrogenated oils are significant sources of saturated fats, and reducing their consumption is challenging for food scientists without affecting the desired characteristics of food products. Therefore, in a preliminary study, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% of three natural waxes (rice bran, carnauba, and beeswax) were added to the natural peanut butter to test their efficacy as a stabilizer. Rice bran and carnauba wax added to peanut butter presented a higher elastic modulus (G’) and lower oil separation percentages than beeswax. However, no significant differences were found between the different percentages of waxes. Thus, in the final experiments, 1% of these selected waxes (rice bran and carnauba waxes) were added directly to the roasted ground peanut. Due to the difficulty of adding high melting point waxes to the peanut butter, a second experiment added wax oleogel (rice-bran and carnauba wax) to defatted peanut flour. After four weeks of storage, all of the samples were examined for their texture (TPA) and oil separation. The sample with directly added bran wax had the highest values for spreadability and firmness, and the lowest oil separation, which was 11.94 ± 0.90 N·s−1, 19.60 ± 0.71 N·s−1, and 0.87 ± 0.05%, respectively. In the peanut flour sample, the spreadability, firmness, and separated oil of the rice bran wax oleogel added sample were 46.95 ± 0.99 N·s−1, 66.61 ± 0.93 N, and 1.57 ± 0.07%, respectively. However, the textural properties of the rice bran wax oleogel added sample were close to the commercial peanut butter (natural and creamy). Therefore, the results indicate that the rice bran wax oleogel could be the potential replacement of the fully hydrogenated oil as a stabilizer.
Will It Cricket? Product Development and Evaluation of Cricket (Acheta domesticus) Powder Replacement in Sausage, Pasta, and Brownies
Authors: Ho Isaac , Peterson Adelynn , Madden Jack , Huang Evan , Amin Samir , Lammert Amy
Published: October 2022

Insect powders used in food products may lower the overall quality when compared to conventional counterparts. This preliminary study was used to develop and evaluate insect-based food products and to utilize them in a future consumer test. Pork sausage, dried pasta, and chocolate brownie formulations were developed to either contain NO cricket powder (Control) or have cricket powder (CP). The products were evaluated for proximate composition and product-dependent parameters. The protein content increased in the CP pasta and brownies (p < 0.05) while no changes were found in the sausage (p > 0.05). Fat content increased in both the CP pasta and brownies while it decreased in the CP sausage (p < 0.05). The CP sausage had a higher carbohydrate content than the Control (p < 0.05). Overall, this may be attributed to cricket powder being high in protein and fat while also containing dietary fiber. Cricket powder replacement may lead to noticeable color differences by increasing green and blue coloring in sausage and pasta (p < 0.05). Changes in textural properties (p < 0.05) may be attributed to cricket powder affecting protein solubility and emulsion stability in sausage while gluten formation may be interfered with in the brownies. Overall, cricket powder replacement had improved nutritional content with minor changes in quality parameters.
Sensory Characterization and Acceptability of a New Lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam.) Powder-Based Soluble Beverage Using Rapid Evaluation Techniques with Consumers
Authors: Marín-Arroyo María Remedios , González-Bonilla Sofía Marcela
Published: October 2022

Recently, the interest in tropical fruits has increased widely even beyond their production areas, but the perishable nature of these fruits makes their marketing difficult. However, due to its special sensory characteristics and nutritional value, lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam.) is a good candidate for product development to meet this ever-growing demand. Therefore, a lulo-powder-based soluble beverage was prepared according to previously established formulations. Thus, the aim of the present research was to obtain the sensory characterization, study consumers’ overall acceptability, and identify drivers of liking for the new beverage. Eight samples were prepared with lulo juice or pulp + stevia, or a sweetener blend (erythritol + xylitol + stevia). Maltodextrin or inulin, as a drying aid, was added to freeze-dry the samples. The freeze-dried samples were rehydrated for consumption. The sensory characterization of the new beverage was carried out by using CATA questions with consumers (n = 69). The most influential attributes that affected acceptability were identified by using ideal product characterization and hedonic scores of the samples. The beverage formulations with stevia alone had the lowest acceptability. Most sensory differences among samples were found between the visual attributes. The attributes “clean”, “homogeneous”, “fruity” and “citrus” odor, “just-right acidity”, “just-right sweetness”, and “fresh” were necessary to increase global acceptance in the juice-only beverages (Js), whereas “cloudy”, “off-odor”, and “very acidic” negatively impacted acceptance. For products with pulp (Ps), “citrus” and “tropical fruit” odors, “just-right acidity”, “just-right sweetness”, and “fresh” attributes were needed to increase acceptance, while “cloudy” and “chemical/artificial” flavors negatively impacted acceptance. The lulo-powder-based soluble beverage was accepted by consumers; however, there is still potential for the sensory-quality improvement of this product.
Effects of Species, Post-Harvest Treatment, and Roasting on Fibre, Volatile Compounds, and Polyphenol Contents in Coffee Silverskin
Authors: Giordano Manuela , Bertolino Marta , Belviso Simona , Ghirardello Daniela , Zeppa Giuseppe
Published: October 2022

Although coffee silverskin (CS) has recently been used as a food ingredient, no knowledge has been reported on the effects of species or different post-harvest treatments on its chemical composition. Therefore, the fibre, volatile compounds, phenolic acid content, and antioxidant capacity of CS samples obtained at three roasting intensities (light, medium, and dark) from the Coffea arabica and C. canephora species, each subjected to a washing or a sun-drying (“natural”) post-harvest treatment, were studied. Obtained results showed that the chemical composition of CS is due to species, roasting, post-harvest treatment, and interaction. In particular, natural Arabica CS showed the highest content of volatile compounds of Maillard and varietal origin, whereas washed Arabica CS showed the highest content of soluble dietary fibre and chlorogenic derivatives. Pyrroles, sulphur compounds, and pyridines contents were higher in Canephora CS than in Arabica CS. The dark-roasted washed Arabica CS showed the highest content of 5-O- and 3-O-caffeoylquinic acids, while the natural Arabica CS highlighted the highest antioxidant capacity. The effect of post-harvest treatments seemed to be emphasised in Arabica CS, independent of roasting, which did not significantly affect the antioxidant capacity of CS from either species.
Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria on Bacterial Community Structure and Characteristics of Sugarcane Juice
Authors: Qiao Huahua , Chen Liwei , Yang Jinsong , Zhi Wenbo , Chen Rong , Lu Tianyu , Tan Haisheng , Sheng Zhanwu
Published: October 2022

Fermentation technology is of great significance for food preservation; through fermentation, while extending the shelf life of food, it can also improve the sensory quality of food and increase its nutritional value. Compared with natural fermentation, the use of specific microorganisms for fermentation can be used to determine the direction of fermentation. Therefore, in order to better explore the effect of bacterial community structure on the quality of sugarcane juice naturally fermented and inoculated with different lactic acid bacteria in the fermentation process, the most suitable method for sugarcane juice fermentation was found, which provided a theoretical basis for the safe production of fermented sugarcane juice. In this experiment, the sugarcane juice was treated differently and divided into four groups: natural fermentation, fermentation with Lactobacillus HNK10, fermentation with Lactococcus HNK21, and HNK10 + HNK21 compound fermentation. The changes in bacterial community structure of different treatments of sugarcane juice during fermentation were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing technology, and the quality change of different treatments of sugarcane juice during fermentation was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the change in its bacteriostatic ability was explored. The results showed that after the sugarcane juice treated with Lactobacillus HNK10 was fermented at 37 °C for 48 h, the final fermented sugarcane juice had a large abundance of lactic acid bacteria and high-quality and strong antibacterial activity. Conclusions: changes in the bacterial community structure during the fermentation of sugarcane juice affect the formation of organic acids and the change of bacteriostatic ability and directly determine the quality and shelf life of fermented sugarcane juice.
Parametric Family of Root-Finding Iterative Methods: Fractals of the Basins of Attraction
Authors: Padilla José J. , Chicharro Francisco I. , Cordero Alicia , Torregrosa Juan R.
Published: October 2022

Research interest in iterative multipoint schemes to solve nonlinear problems has increased recently because of the drawbacks of point-to-point methods, which need high-order derivatives to increase the order of convergence. However, this order is not the only key element to classify the iterative schemes. We aim to design new multipoint fixed point classes without memory, that improve or bring together the existing ones in different areas such as computational efficiency, stability and also convergence order. In this manuscript, we present a family of parametric iterative methods, whose order of convergence is four, that has been designed by using composition and weight function techniques. A qualitative analysis is made, based on complex discrete dynamics, to select those elements of the class with best stability properties on low-degree polynomials. This stable behavior is directly related with the simplicity of the fractals defined by the basins of attraction. In the opposite, particular methods with unstable performance present high-complexity in the fractals of their basins. The stable members are demonstrated also be the best ones in terms of numerical performance of non-polynomial functions, with special emphasis on Colebrook-White equation, with wide applications in Engineering.
Enhancement of the Catalytic Performance and Operational Stability of Sol-Gel-Entrapped Cellulase by Tailoring the Matrix Structure and Properties
Authors: Vasilescu Corina , Marc Simona , Hulka Iosif , Paul Cristina
Published: October 2022

Commercial cellulase Cellic CTec2 was immobilized by the entrapment technique in sol–gel matrices, and sol–gel entrapment with deposition onto magnetic nanoparticles, using binary or ternary systems of silane precursors with alkyl- or aryl-trimethoxysilanes, at different molar ratios. Appropriate tailoring of the sol–gel matrix allowed for the enhancement of the catalytic efficiency of the cellulase biocatalyst, which was then evaluated in the hydrolysis reaction of Avicel microcrystalline cellulose. A correlation between the catalytic activity with the properties of the sol–gel matrix of the nanobiocatalysts was observed using several characterization methods: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fluorescence microscopy (FM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA). The homogeneous distribution of the enzymes in the sol–gel matrix and the mass loss profile as a function of temperature were highlighted. The influence of temperature and pH of the reaction medium on the catalytic performance of the nanobiocatalysts as well as the operational stability under optimized reaction conditions were also investigated; the immobilized biocatalysts proved their superiority in comparison to the native cellulase. The magnetic cellulase biocatalyst with the highest efficiency was reused in seven successive batch hydrolysis cycles of microcrystalline cellulose with remanent activity values that were over 40%, thus we obtained promising results for scaling-up the process.
Frequency-Dependent Ultrasonic Stimulation of Poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide) Microgels in Water
Authors: Razavi Atieh , Rutsch Matthias , Wismath Sonja , Kupnik Mario , von Klitzing Regine , Rahimzadeh Amin
Published: October 2022

As a novel stimulus, we use high-frequency ultrasonic waves to provide the required energy for breaking hydrogen bonds between Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and water molecules while the solution temperature is maintained below the volume phase transition temperature (VPTT = 32 °C). Ultrasonic waves propagate through the solution and their energy will be absorbed due to the liquid viscosity. The absorbed energy partially leads to the generation of a streaming flow and the rest will be spent to break the hydrogen bonds. Therefore, the microgels collapse and become insoluble in water and agglomerate, resulting in solution turbidity. We use turbidity to quantify the ultrasound energy absorption and show that the acousto-response of PNIPAM microgels is a temporal phenomenon that depends on the duration of the actuation. Increasing the solution concentration leads to a faster turbidity evolution. Furthermore, an increase in ultrasound frequency leads to an increase in the breakage of more hydrogen bonds within a certain time and thus faster turbidity evolution. This is due to the increase in ultrasound energy absorption by liquids at higher frequencies.
Robocasting and Laser Micromachining of Sol-Gel Derived 3D Silica/Gelatin/β-TCP Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Reyes-Peces María V. , Félix Eduardo , Martínez-Vázquez Francisco J. , Fernández-Montesinos Rafael , Bomati-Miguel Óscar , Mesa-Díaz María del Mar , Alcántara Rodrigo , Vilches-Pérez José Ignacio , Salido Mercedes , De la Rosa-Fox Nicolás , Piñero Manuel
Published: October 2022

The design and synthesis of sol-gel silica-based hybrid materials and composites offer significant benefits to obtain innovative biomaterials with controlled porosity at the nanostructure level for applications in bone tissue engineering. In this work, the combination of robocasting with sol-gel ink of suitable viscosity prepared by mixing tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), gelatin and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) allowed for the manufacture of 3D scaffolds consisting of a 3D square mesh of interpenetrating rods, with macropore size of 354.0 ± 17.0 μm, without the use of chemical additives at room temperature. The silica/gelatin/β-TCP system underwent irreversible gelation, and the resulting gels were also used to fabricate different 3D structures by means of an alternative scaffolding method, involving high-resolution laser micromachining by laser ablation. By this way, 3D scaffolds made of 2 mm thick rectangular prisms presenting a parallel macropore system drilled through the whole thickness and consisting of laser micromachined holes of 350.8 ± 16.6-micrometer diameter, whose centers were spaced 1312.0 ± 23.0 μm, were created. Both sol-gel based 3D scaffold configurations combined compressive strength in the range of 2–3 MPa and the biocompatibility of the hybrid material. In addition, the observed Si, Ca and P biodegradation provided a suitable microenvironment with significant focal adhesion development, maturation and also enhanced in vitro cell growth. In conclusion, this work successfully confirmed the feasibility of both strategies for the fabrication of new sol-gel-based hybrid scaffolds with osteoconductive properties.
Polymer Gels Used in Oil–Gas Drilling and Production Engineering
Authors: Han Jinliang , Sun Jinsheng , Lv Kaihe , Yang Jingbin , Li Yuhong
Published: October 2022

Polymer gels are widely used in oil–gas drilling and production engineering for the purposes of conformance control, water shutoff, fracturing, lost circulation control, etc. Here, the progress in research on three kinds of polymer gels, including the in situ crosslinked polymer gel, the pre-crosslinked polymer gel and the physically crosslinked polymer gel, are systematically reviewed in terms of the gel compositions, crosslinking principles and properties. Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of the three kinds of polymer gels are also comparatively discussed. The types, characteristics and action mechanisms of the polymer gels used in oil-gas drilling and production engineering are systematically analyzed. Depending on the crosslinking mechanism, in situ crosslinked polymer gels can be divided into free-radical-based monomer crosslinked gels, ionic-bond-based metal cross-linked gels and covalent-bond-based organic crosslinked gels. Surface crosslinked polymer gels are divided into two types based on their size and gel particle preparation method, including pre-crosslinked gel particles and polymer gel microspheres. Physically crosslinked polymer gels are mainly divided into hydrogen-bonded gels, hydrophobic association gels and electrostatic interaction gels depending on the application conditions of the oil–gas drilling and production engineering processes. In the field of oil–gas drilling engineering, the polymer gels are mainly used as drilling fluids, plugging agents and lost circulation materials, and polymer gels are an important material that are utilized for profile control, water shutoff, chemical flooding and fracturing. Finally, the research potential of polymer gels in oil–gas drilling and production engineering is proposed. The temperature resistance, salinity resistance, gelation strength and environmental friendliness of polymer gels should be further improved in order to meet the future technical requirements of oil–gas drilling and production.
N-Alkylhydantoins as New Organogelators and Their Ability to Create Thixotropic Mixed Molecular Organogels
Authors: Ohsedo Yutaka
Published: October 2022

The author reported molecular organogels using N-alkylhydantoins as new low-molecular-weight gelators for the first time, and thixotropic mixed molecular organogels using a set of N-alkylhydantoin gelators with different alkyl chain lengths. These homologous compounds with different alkyl chains are found to form macroscopic crystals or solution states in polar solvents, but form homogeneous organogels in non-polar solvents, such as n-octane and squalane. Although there is no significant increase in the minimum gelation concentration of the mixed molecular gels using squalane as a solvent, these mixed molecular organogels show improved mechanical properties, especially in their thixotropic behavior, which is not observed in the single N-alkylhydantoin gels. Furthermore, they exhibit reversible thixotropic behavior with quick recovery of the gel state in a minute by quantitatively measuring dynamic viscoelasticity measurements of rheometry of mixed molecular gels. Based on the morphological observations of the xerogels, the self-assembling fibers of the gelators become finer, indicating an increase in the density of the mesh structure inside the gel, which could explain its thixotropic behavior. These thixotropic mixed molecular gels may be applicable to ointment base materials, because they are gelled with squalane oil.
Identification, Phylogeny, Divergence, Structure, and Expression Analysis of A20/AN1 Zinc Finger Domain Containing Stress-Associated Proteins (SAPs) Genes in Jatropha curcas L.
Authors: Jalal Abdul , Ali Qurban , Manghwar Hakim , Zhu Daochen
Published: October 2022

Jatropha is a small woody perennial biofuel-producing shrub. Stress-associated proteins (SAPs) are novel stress regulatory zinc-finger proteins and are mainly associated with tolerance against various environmental abiotic stresses in Jatropha. In the present study, the JcSAP gene family were analyzed comprehensively in Jatropha curcas and 11 JcSAP genes were identified. Phylogenetic analysis classified the JcSAP genes into four groups based on sequence similarity, similar gene structure features, conserved A20 and/or AN1 domains, and their responsive motifs. Moreover, the divergence analysis further evaluated the evolutionary aspects of the JcSAP genes with the predicted time of divergence from 9.1 to 40 MYA. Furthermore, a diverse range of cis-elements including light-responsive elements, hormone-responsive elements, and stress-responsive elements were detected in the promoter region of JcSAP genes while the miRNA target sites predicted the regulation of JcSAP genes via a candid miRNA mediated post-transcriptional regulatory network. In addition, the expression profiles of JcSAP genes in different tissues under stress treatment indicated that many JcSAP genes play functional developmental roles in different tissues, and exhibit significant differential expression under stress treatment. These results collectively laid a foundation for the functional diversification of JcSAP genes.
Associations between the COMT rs4680 Gene Polymorphism and Personality Dimensions and Anxiety in Patients with a Diagnosis of Other Stimulants Dependence
Authors: Chmielowiec Krzysztof , Chmielowiec Jolanta , Masiak Jolanta , Strońska-Pluta Aleksandra , Śmiarowska Małgorzata , Boroń Agnieszka , Grzywacz Anna
Published: October 2022

Background: Research on the hypodopaminergic hypothesis of addictions showed that hypodopaminergic activity in males predicted the number of drugs used and is associated with drug-seeking behavior. Variant alleles may cause hypodopaminergic functioning as a result of the reduced density of dopamine receptors, decreased response to dopamine, increased dopamine clearance or metabolism in the reward system. The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is involved in the metabolism of dopamine. Personality traits may mediate the genetic predisposition to substance use disorders additively by various motivations associated with reward-seeking and regulating negative emotions, and also relate to self-control and environment selection. The aim of the study: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the rs4680 polymorphism of COMT with personality dimensions and anxiety in patients addicted to stimulants other than cocaine (F15 according to WHO ICD-10 nomenclature) in the case of examined patients amphetamine. Methods: The study was conducted among patients addicted to stimulants other than cocaine (amphetamine). The study group included 247 patients addicted to stimulants (amphetamine) and the control group comprised 280 healthy male volunteers. The real-time PCR method was used to carry out genetic tests; personality dimensions were assessed using the standardized NEO-FFI and state and trait anxiety were assessed with STAI. All analyses were performed using STATISTICA 13. Results: The results of the 2 × 3 factorial ANOVA showed a statistically significant effect of the combined factor COMT rs4680 genotype on the group of patients diagnosed with other stimulants dependence/control (F2,252 = 3.11, p = 0.0465, η2 = 0.024). Additionally, we observed that the results of the 2 × 3 factorial ANOVA showed a statistically significant influence of the combined factor COMT rs4680 on the genotype in the group of patients diagnosis with other stimulants dependence/control (F2,252 = 6.16, p = 0.0024, η2 = 0.047). Conclusions: In our research, the polymorphism G/G COMT rs4680 genotype was associated with higher scores of STAI traits and STAI states in the patients dependent on amphetamine. In the control group we observed no such interactions.
Integrative Histology-Genomic Analysis Predicts Hepatocellular Carcinoma Prognosis Using Deep Learning
Authors: Hou Jiaxin , Jia Xiaoqi , Xie Yaoqin , Qin Wenjian
Published: October 2022

Cancer prognosis analysis is of essential interest in clinical practice. In order to explore the prognostic power of computational histopathology and genomics, this paper constructs a multi-modality prognostic model for survival prediction. We collected 346 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), each patient has 1–3 whole slide images (WSIs) and an mRNA expression file. WSIs were processed by a multi-instance deep learning model to obtain the patient-level survival risk scores; mRNA expression data were processed by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and the top hub genes of each module were extracted as risk factors. Information from two modalities was integrated by Cox proportional hazard model to predict patient outcomes. The overall survival predictions of the multi-modality model (Concordance index (C-index): 0.746, 95% confidence interval (CI): ±0.077) outperformed these based on histopathology risk score or hub genes, respectively. Furthermore, in the prediction of 1-year and 3-year survival, the area under curve of the model achieved 0.816 and 0.810. In conclusion, this paper provides an effective workflow for multi-modality prognosis of HCC, the integration of histopathology and genomic information has the potential to assist clinical prognosis management.
Sex-Biased Expression of Olfaction-Related Genes in the Antennae of Apis cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Authors: Du Hanchao , Su Wenting , Huang Jiaxing , Ding Guiling
Published: October 2022

The olfactory system is essential for honeybees to adapt to complex and ever-changing environments and maintain cohesiveness. The Eastern honeybee Apis cerana is native to Asia and has a long history of managed beekeeping in China. In this study, we analysed the antennal transcriptomes of A. cerana workers and drones using Illumina sequencing. A total of 5262 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (fold change > 2) were identified between these two castes, with 2359 upregulated and 2903 downregulated in drones compared with workers. We identified 242 candidate olfaction-related genes, including 15 odourant-binding proteins (OBPs), 5 chemosensory proteins (CSPs), 110 odourant receptors (ORs), 9 gustatory receptors (GRs), 8 ionotropic receptors (IRs), 2 sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs) and 93 putative odourant-degrading enzymes (ODEs). More olfaction-related genes have worker-biased expression than drone-biased expression, with 26 genes being highly expressed in workers’ antennae and only 8 genes being highly expressed in drones’ antennae (FPKM > 30). Using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), we verified the reliability of differential genes inferred by transcriptomics and compared the expression profiles of 6 ORs (AcOR10, AcOR11, AcOR13, AcOR18, AcOR79 and AcOR170) between workers and drones. These ORs were expressed at significantly higher levels in the antennae than in other tissues (p < 0.01). There were clear variations in the expression levels of all 6 ORs between differently aged workers and drones. The relative expression levels of AcOR10, AcOR11, AcOR13, AcOR18 and AcOR79 reached a high peak in 15-day-old drones. These results will contribute to future research on the olfaction mechanism of A. cerana and will help to better reveal the odourant reception variations between different biological castes of honeybees.
Identification of Genomic Regions and Candidate Genes Associated with Body Weight and Body Conformation Traits in Karachai Goats
Authors: Easa Ahmed A. , Selionova Marina , Aibazov Magomet , Mamontova Tatiana , Sermyagin Alexander , Belous Anna , Abdelmanova Alexandra , Deniskova Tatiana , Zinovieva Natalia
Published: October 2022

The objective of this study was to identify the SNPs and candidate genes related to body weight and seven body conformation traits at the age of 8 months in the Russian aboriginal Karachai goats (n = 269) by conducting genome-wide association studies (GWAS), using genotypes generated by Goat SNP BeadChip (Illumina Inc., USA). We identified 241 SNPs, which were significantly associated with the studied traits, including 47 genome-wide SNPs (p < 10−5) and 194 suggestive SNPs (p < 10−4), distributed among all goat autosomes except for autosome 23. Fifty-six SNPs were common for two and more traits (1 SNP for six traits, 2 SNPs for five traits, 12 SNPs for four traits, 20 SNPs for three traits, and 21 SNPs for two traits), while 185 SNPs were associated with single traits. Structural annotation within a window of 0.4 Mb (±0.2 Mb from causal SNPs) revealed 238 candidate genes. The largest number of candidate genes was identified at Chr13 (33 candidate genes for the five traits). The genes identified in our study were previously reported to be associated with growth-related traits in different livestock species. The most significant genes for body weight were CRADD, HMGA2, MSRB3, MAX, HACL1 and RAB15, which regulate growth processes, body sizes, fat deposition, and average daily gains. Among them, the HMGA2 gene is a well-known candidate for prenatal and early postnatal development, and the MSRB3 gene is proposed as a candidate gene affecting the growth performance. APOB, PTPRK, BCAR1, AOAH and ASAH1 genes associated with withers height, rump height and body length, are involved in various metabolic processes, including fatty acid metabolism and lipopolysaccharide catabolism. In addition, WDR70, ZBTB24, ADIPOQ, and SORCS3 genes were linked to chest width. KCNG4 was associated with rump height, body length and chest perimeter. The identified candidate genes can be proposed as molecular markers for growth trait selection for genetic improvement in Karachai goats.
A Novel Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism in WNT4 Promoter Affects Its Transcription and Response to FSH in Chicken Follicles
Authors: Zhong Conghao , Wang Yiya , Liu Cuiping , Jiang Yunliang , Kang Li
Published: October 2022

The signaling pathway of the wingless-type mouse mammary tumor virus integration site (Wnt) plays an important role in ovarian and follicular development. In our previous study, WNT4 was shown to be involved in the selection and development of chicken follicles by upregulating the expression of follicle-stimulating hormone receptors (FSHR), stimulating the proliferation of follicular granulosa cells, and increasing the secretion of steroidal hormones. FSH also stimulates the expression of WNT4. To further explore the molecular mechanism by which FSH upregulates WNT4 and characterize the cis-elements regulating WNT4 transcription, in this study, we determined the critical regulatory regions affecting chicken WNT4 transcription. We then identified a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in this region, and finally analyzed the associations of the SNP with chicken production traits. The results showed that the 5′ regulatory region from −3354 to −2689 of WNT4 had the strongest activity and greatest response to FSH stimulation, and we identified one SNP site in this segment, −3015 (G > C), as affecting the binding of NFAT5 (nuclear factor of activated T cells 5) and respones to FSH stimulation. When G was replaced with C at this site, it eliminated the NFAT5 binding. The mRNA level of WNT4 in small yellow follicles of chickens with genotype GG was significantly higher than that of the other two genotypes. Moreover, this locus was found to be significantly associated with comb length in hens. Individuals with the genotype CC had longer combs. Collectively, these data suggested that SNP−3015 (G > C) is involved in the regulation of WNT4 gene expression by responding FSH and affecting the binding of NFAT5 and that it is associated with chicken comb length. The current results provide a reference for further revealing the response mechanism between WNT and FSH.
No Association between Genetic Variants of the COMT and OPRM1 Genes and Pain Perception among Patients Undergoing Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasty for Primary Osteoarthritis
Authors: Jurewicz Alina , Bohatyrewicz Andrzej , Pawlak Maciej , Tarnowski Maciej , Kurzawski Mateusz , Machoy-Mokrzyńska Anna , Kaczmarczyk Mariusz , Lubkowska Anna , Chudecka Monika , Maciejewska-Skrendo Agnieszka , Leźnicka Katarzyna
Published: October 2022

Each year approximately 1 million total hip replacements are performed worldwide. The most common indications to choose this procedure are rest pain and pain after activity as well as functional limitations influencing daily activities. Experimental pain is highly variable by individuals, which is partly due to genetics. The aim of the study was to investigate a possible association of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and μ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) genotypes with pain perception in patients undergoing total hip replacement and total knee replacement taking into account aspects such as age, sex and diabetes. The study included 207 patients (119 females, 88 males, median age 65 years, range 33–77) that qualified for surgical treatment (total hip replacement and knee arthroplasty) due to osteoarthritis. Pain sensitivity measurement was performed using a standard algometer. The genomic DNA was extracted from the buccal cells.. Single locus analysis was conducted using a general linear model. In the study group, we did not find statistically significant genetic associations between variants of COMT and OPRM1 and pain thresholds/pain tolerance. The analysis of subjective pain perception using the visual analog scale did not show any relationship between the OPRM1 rs1799971A>G variant and COMT rs4680, rs4633, rs4818 and rs6269.
Mutation Analysis of Thin Basement Membrane Nephropathy
Authors: Hirabayashi Yosuke , Katayama Kan , Mori Mutsuki , Matsuo Hiroshi , Fujimoto Mika , Joh Kensuke , Murata Tomohiro , Ito Masaaki , Dohi Kaoru
Published: October 2022

Thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN) is characterized by the observation of microhematuria and a thin glomerular basement membrane on kidney biopsy specimens. Its main cause is heterozygous mutations of COL4A3 or COL4A4, which also cause late-onset focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) or autosomal dominant Alport syndrome (ADAS). Thirteen TBMN cases were analyzed using Sanger sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), and exome sequencing. Ten heterozygous variants were detected in COL4A3 or COL4A4 in nine patients via Sanger sequencing, three of which were novel variants. The diagnostic rate of “likely pathogenic” or “pathogenic” under the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines was 53.8% (7 out of 13 patients). There were eight single nucleotide variants, seven of which were glycine substitutions in the collagenous domain, one of which was a splice-site single nucleotide variant, and two of which were deletion variants. One patient had digenic variants in COL4A3 and COL4A4. While MLPA analyses showed negative results, exome sequencing identified three heterozygous variants in causative genes of FSGS in four patients with no apparent variants on Sanger sequencing. Since patients with heterozygous mutations of COL4A3 or COL4A4 showed a wide spectrum of disease from TBMN to ADAS, careful follow-up will be necessary for these patients.
Genome-Wide Survey and Analysis of Microsatellites in Waterlily, and Potential for Polymorphic Marker Development
Authors: Huang Xiang , Yang Meihua , Guo Jiaxing , Liu Jiachen , Chu Guangming , Xu Yingchun
Published: October 2022

Waterlily (Nymphaeaceae), a diploid dicotyledon, is an ornamental aquatic plant. In 2020, the complete draft genome for the blue-petal waterlily (Nymphaea colorata) was made available in GenBank. To date, the genome-wide mining of microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in waterlily is still absent. In the present study, we investigated the characteristics of genome-wide microsatellites for N. colorata and developed polymorphic SSR markers across tropical and hardy waterlilies. A total of 238,816 SSRs were identified in 14 N. colorata chromosomes with an average density of 662.60 SSRs per Mb, and the largest number of SSRs were present on chromosome 1 (n = 30,426, 705.94 SSRs per Mb). The dinucleotide was the most common type, and AT-rich repeats prevail in the N. colorata genome. The SSR occurrence frequencies decreased as the number of motif repeats increased. Among 2442 protein-coding region SSRs, trinucleotides, accounting for 63.84%, were the most abundant. Gene ontology terms for signal transduction (e.g., GO: 0045859 and GO: 0019887) and the lipoic acid metabolism (ko00785,) were overrepresented in GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, respectively. In addition, 107,152 primer pairs were identified, and 13 novel polymorphism SSR markers were employed to distinguish among nine waterlily cultivars, of which Ny-5.2 and Ny-10.1 were the most informative SSR loci. This study contributes the first detailed characterization of SSRs in N. colorata genomes and delivers 13 novel polymorphism markers, which are useful for the molecular breeding strategies, genetic diversity and population structure analysis of waterlily.