Investigation of Processing Technology for Aged Black Jujube

We investigated how to use jujubes from Xinjiang to make black jujube by temperature-controlled wet high-temperature curing. Single-factor and orthogonal experimental designs L9(3)3 were used to optimize the color change process of the black jujube. The effect of blackening temperature, blackening time and added water amount on the content of cAMP, 5-HMF, polyphenols, total acids, reducing sugars and moisture content were investigated and optimized. The results showed that the optimum process conditions of red jujube aging and blackening black include blackening temperature of 75°C, blackening time of 55 h, and water addition amount of 150 mL per 600 g. Under the best technological conditions, the black jujube was fragrant, sweet, and delicious, and the content of all functional substances, including cAMP (0.0137 g/100g), 5-HMF (0.103 g/100g), polyphenols (2.71 g/100g), total acids (17.09 g/kg), reducing sugars (76.7 g/100g), reached high levels, at a moisture content of 26%

A Nonlinear Crack Model for Concrete Structure based on an Extended Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method

Fracture mechanics is one of the most important approaches to structural safety analysis. Modeling the fracture process zone (FPZ) is critical to understand the nonlinear cracking behavior of heterogeneous quasi-brittle materials such as concrete. In this work, a nonlinear extended scaled boundary finite element method (X-SBFEM) was developed incorporating the cohesive fracture behavior of concrete. This newly developed model consists of an iterative procedure to accurately model the traction distribution within the FPZ accounting for the cohesive interactions between crack surfaces. Numerical validations were conducted on both of the concrete beam and dam structures with various loading conditions. The results show that the proposed nonlinear X-SBFEM is capable of modeling the nonlinear fracture propagation process considering the effect of cohesive interactions, thereby yielding higher precisions than the linear X-SBFEM approach

Peg Precipitation Coupled with Chromatography is a New and Sufficient Method for the Purification of Botulinum Neurotoxin Type B

Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins are used to treat a variety of neuro-muscular disorders, as well as in cosmetology. The increased demand requires efficient methods for the production and purification of these toxins. In this study, a new purification process was developed for purifying type B neurotoxin. The kinetics of C.botulinum strain growth and neurotoxin production were determined for maximum yield of toxin. The neurotoxin was purified by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation and chromatography. Based on design of full factorial experiment, 20% (w/v) PEG-6000, 4°C, pH 5.0 and 0.3 M NaCl were optimal conditions to obtain a high recovery rate of 87% for the type B neurotoxin complex, as indicated by a purification factor of 61.5 fold. Furthermore, residual bacterial cells, impurity proteins and some nucleic acids were removed by PEG precipitation. The following purification of neurotoxin was accomplished by two chromatography techniques using Sephacryl™ S-100 and phenyl HP columns. The neurotoxin was recovered with an overall yield of 21.5% and the purification factor increased to 216.7 fold. In addition, a mouse bioassay determined the purified neurotoxin complex possessed a specific toxicity (LD50) of 4.095 ng/kg

Bridge helix bending promotes RNA polymerase II backtracking through a critical and conserved threonine residue.

The dynamics of the RNA polymerase II (Pol II) backtracking process is poorly understood. We built a Markov State Model from extensive molecular dynamics simulations to identify metastable intermediate states and the dynamics of backtracking at atomistic detail. Our results reveal that Pol II backtracking occurs in a stepwise mode where two intermediate states are involved. We find that the continuous bending motion of the Bridge helix (BH) serves as a critical checkpoint, using the highly conserved BH residue T831 as a sensing probe for the 3'-terminal base paring of RNA:DNA hybrid. If the base pair is mismatched, BH bending can promote the RNA 3'-end nucleotide into a frayed state that further leads to the backtracked state. These computational observations are validated by site-directed mutagenesis and transcript cleavage assays, and provide insights into the key factors that regulate the preferences of the backward translocation

Effectiveness of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for weight loss and obesity-associated co-morbidities: a 3-year outcome from Mainland Chinese patients

AbstractBackgroundLaparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is becoming a stand-alone bariatric surgery for obesity, but its effectiveness for Mainland Chinese patients remains unclear.ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of LSG for Mainland Chinese patientsSettingA tertiary hospitalMethodsRetrospective analysis of patients admitted for LSG between January 2011 and February 2012 was performed. Medium-term outcome measures were: total weight loss (%TWL), excess weight loss (%EWL), co-morbidities, improvement, and complications.ResultsSeventy patients (body mass index [BMI] 40.8±5.9 kg/m2) underwent LSG, comprising 40 women and 30 men. The most common co-morbidity was diabetes (n = 29, 41.4%). Lost to follow-up rate for weight loss was 15.7%, 31.4%, and 41% at 1, 2, and 3 years. The %TWL was 34.4±6.1, 34.7±6.2 and 33.7±7.1 at 1, 2, and 3 years. The %EWL increased to 77.1±13.0, 77.9±12.2 and 77.2±13.1 at 1, 2, and 3years. The proportions of patients having successful weight loss were 100% or 85% at 3 years according the definition of %TWL>10% or %EWL>50%. Approximately 79.3%, 51.7%, and 44.8% of patients completed follow-up for glycemic control at each time point, respectively. The proportions of patients with optimal glycemic control (fasting blood glucose [FBG]<5.6 mmol/L; hemoglobin A1C [HbA1C]<6.5%) were 47.9%, 60.0%, and 69.2% at 1, 2, and 3years. The weight loss and glycemic control effect may be greater in the high BMI group (≥40 kg/m2). Early and late complications occurred in 8.6% and 7.1% of patients during follow-up.ConclusionsLSG is effective in weight loss and glycemic control and is safe for Mainland Chinese obese patients, especially for patients with a BMI≥40 kg/m2

D-mannose reduces adipogenesis by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Purpose. To explore the effects and potential mechanisms of D-mannose on adipogenic differentiation of two kinds of representative mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Methods. We cultured two kinds of representative MSCs, human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (hADSCs) as well as human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs), with adipogenic-induced medium containing D-mannose or D-fructose as the control. Oil red O staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blot (WB) were used to detect whether D-mannose had effects on adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) transcriptomic analysis was further used to explore the potential mechanisms of D-mannose on adipogenic differentiation of MSCs. After that, qRT-PCR and WB were used to verify the results of RNA-seq. Last, we removed bilateral ovaries of female rats to establish an estrogen deficiency obesity model, and gave D-mannose intragastric administration. One month later, the femurs of rats were sliced for oil red O staining, and the inhibitory effect of D-mannose on lipid formation in vivo was studied. Results. Oil red O staining, qRT-PCR and WB in vitro demonstrated that D-mannose inhibited the adipogenic differentiation of both hADSCs and hBMSCs. Oil red O staining of femur sections proved that D-mannose was able to reduce in vivo adipogenesis. The results of RNA-seq transcriptomic analysis revealed that the adipogenesis-inhibition effects of D-mannose were performed by antagonizing the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Besides, qRT-PCR and WB further verified the results of RNA-seq. Conclusion. Our study indicated that D-mannose was able to reduce adipogenic differentiation of both hADSCs and hBMSCs by antagonizing the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. D-mannose is expected to be a safe and effective treatment strategy for obesity

Transcriptome profiling reveals the crucial biological pathways involved in cold response in Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis).

Most bamboo species including Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) are tropical or subtropical plants that greatly contribute to human well-being. Low temperature is one of the main environmental factors restricting bamboo growth and geographic distribution. Our knowledge of the molecular changes during bamboo adaption to cold stress remains limited. Here, we provided a general overview of the cold-responsive transcriptional profiles in Moso bamboo by systematically analyzing its transcriptomic response under cold stress. Our results showed that low temperature induced strong morphological and biochemical alternations in Moso bamboo. To examine the global gene expression changes in response to cold, 12 libraries (non-treated, cold-treated 0.5, 1 and 24 h at -2 °C) were sequenced using an Illumina sequencing platform. Only a few differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified at early stage, while a large number of DEGs were identified at late stage in this study, suggesting that the majority of cold response genes in bamboo are late-responsive genes. A total of 222 transcription factors from 24 different families were differentially expressed during 24-h cold treatment, and the expressions of several well-known C-repeat/dehydration responsive element-binding factor negative regulators were significantly upregulated in response to cold, indicating the existence of special cold response networks. Our data also revealed that the expression of genes related to cell wall and the biosynthesis of fatty acids were altered in response to cold stress, indicating their potential roles in the acquisition of bamboo cold tolerance. In summary, our studies showed that both plant kingdom-conserved and species-specific cold response pathways exist in Moso bamboo, which lays the foundation for studying the regulatory mechanisms underlying bamboo cold stress response and provides useful gene resources for the construction of cold-tolerant bamboo through genetic engineering in the future