Partial Removal of Phenolics Coupled with Alkaline pH Shift Improves Canola Protein Interfacial Properties and Emulsion in In Vitro Digestibility

The effect of polyphenol removal (“dephenol”) combined with an alkaline pH shift treatment on the O/W interfacial and emulsifying properties of canola seed protein isolate (CPI) was investigated. Canola seed flour was subjected to solvent extraction to remove phenolic compounds, from which prepared CPI was exposed to a pH12 shift to modify the protein structure. Dephenoled CPI had a light color when compared with an intense dark color for the control CPI. Up to 53% of phenolics were removed from the CPI after the extraction with 70% ethanol. Dephenoled CPI showed a partially unfolded structure and increased surface hydrophobicity and solubility. The particle size increased slightly, indicating that soluble protein aggregates formed after the phenol removal. The pH12 shift induced further unfolding and decreased protein particle size. Dephenoled CPI had a reduced β subunit content but an enrichment of disulfide-linked oligopeptides. Dephenol improved the interfacial rheology and emulsifying properties of CPI. Although phenol removal did not promote peptic digestion and lipolysis, it facilitated tryptic disruption of the emulsion particles due to enhanced proteolysis. In summary, dephenol accentuated the effect of the pH shift to improve the overall emulsifying properties of CPI and emulsion in in vitro digestion

When Web 3.0 Meets Reality: A Hyperdimensional Fractal Polytope P2P Ecosystems

Web 3.0 opens the world of new existence of the crypto-network-entity, which is independently defined by the public key pairs for entities and the connection to the Web 3.0 cyberspace. In this paper, we first discover a spacetime coordinate system based on fractal polytope in any dimensions with discrete time offered by blockchain and consensus. Second, the novel network entities and functions are defined to make use of hyperdimensional deterministic switching and routing protocols and blockchain-enabled mutual authentication. In addition to spacetime network architecture, we also define a multi-tier identity scheme which extends the native Web 3.0 crypto-network-entity to outer cyber and physical world, offering legal-compliant anonymity and linkability to all derived identifiers of entities. In this way, we unify the holistic Web 3.0 network based on persistent spacetime and its entity extension to our cyber and physical world

What Large Sample Size Is Sufficient for Hydrologic Frequency Analysis?—A Rational Argument for a 30-Year Hydrologic Sample Size in Water Resources Management

The calculation of hydrologic frequency is an important basic step in the planning and design stage of any water conservancy project. The purpose of the frequency analysis is to deduce the hydrologic variables under different guarantee rates, and to provide hydrologic information for water conservancy project planning and design. The calculation of hydrologic frequency requires that the sample size is large enough, as only then can the statistical characteristics of samples take the place of the total statistical eigenvalues. This means that the samples can reveal the statistical characteristics of hydrologic variables and identify the randomness rule of hydrologic phenomena. Many countries in the East Asian monsoon climate zone (China, Japan and South Korea) have stipulated a sample size of 30 years for hydrologic frequency analysis. In this paper the rationality of the 30-year sample size is proved by analyzing the periodic and random rules of hydrologic phenomenon and the influencing mechanism of solar activity, and by adopting the general conclusion of the sampling theorem. Then, using the wavelet analysis method to examine annual precipitation data in a long series generated from representative precipitation observation stations in China, the strong-weak cycle of solar activity is proved to be 10 years, which is consistent with the wet-dry cycle of the representative precipitation stations (10–12 years). Finally, adopting numerical modeling to analyze the normal distribution of randomly generated samples and long-range annual precipitation data collected from representative stations, hypothesis testing (u, F and t) is used to prove that a 30-year sample size is reasonable. This research provides a reference as to how to prove the necessary sample size for relevant statistical analyses (for example, how large the sample should be for analyzing hydrologic factors trend evolution, hydrologic data consistency and ergodicity of statistical samples), thus ensuring the reliability of the analytical results

Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter and incidence of esophageal cancer: a prospective study of 0.5 million Chinese adults

Background & Aims Evidence is sparse and inconclusive on the association between long-term fine (≤2.5 μm) particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and esophageal cancer. We aimed to assess the association of PM2.5 with esophageal cancer risk and compared the esophageal cancer risk attributable to PM2.5 exposure and other established risk factors. Methods This study included 510,125 participants without esophageal cancer at baseline from China Kadoorie Biobank. A high-resolution (1 × 1 km) satellite-based model was used to estimate PM2.5 exposure during the study period. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% CIs of PM2.5 with esophageal cancer incidence were estimated using Cox proportional hazard model. Population attributable fractions for PM2.5 and other established risk factors were estimated. Results There was a linear concentration–response relationship between long-term PM2.5 exposure and esophageal cancer. For each 10-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, the HR was 1.16 (95% CI, 1.04–1.30) for esophageal cancer incidence. Compared with the first quarter of PM2.5 exposure, participants in the highest quarter had a 1.32-fold higher risk for esophageal cancer, with an HR of 1.32 (95% CI, 1.01–1.72). The population attributable risk because of annual average PM2.5 concentration ≥35 μg/m3 was 23.3% (95% CI, 6.6%–40.0%), higher than the risks attributable to lifestyle risk factors. Conclusions This large prospective cohort study of Chinese adults found that long-term exposure to PM2.5 was associated with an elevated risk of esophageal cancer. With stringent air pollution mitigation measures in China, a large reduction in the esophageal cancer disease burden can be expected

Causal association between snoring and stroke: a Mendelian randomization study in a Chinese population

Background: Previous observational studies established a positive relationship between snoring and stroke. We aimed to investigate the causal effect of snoring on stroke. Methods: Based on 82,339 unrelated individuals with qualified genotyping data of Asian descent from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB), we conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis of snoring and stroke. Genetic variants identified in the genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) of snoring in CKB and UK Biobank (UKB) were selected for constructing genetic risk scores (GRS). A two-stage method was applied to estimate the associations of the genetically predicted snoring with stroke and its subtypes. Besides, MR analysis among the non-obese group (body mass index, BMI <24.0 kg/m2), as well as multivariable MR (MVMR), were performed to control for potential pleiotropy from BMI. In addition, the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was applied to estimate the causal association with genetic variants identified in CKB GWAS. Findings: Positive associations were found between snoring and total stroke, hemorrhagic stroke (HS), and ischemic stroke (IS). With GRS of CKB, the corresponding HRs (95% CIs) were 1.56 (1.15, 2.12), 1.50 (0.84, 2.69), 2.02 (1.36, 3.01), and the corresponding HRs (95% CIs) using GRS of UKB were 1.78 (1.30, 2.43), 1.94 (1.07, 3.52), and 1.74 (1.16, 2.61). The associations remained stable in the MR among the non-obese group, MVMR analysis, and MR analysis using the IVW method. Interpretation: This study suggests that, among Chinese adults, genetically predicted snoring could increase the risk of total stroke, IS, and HS, and the causal effect was independent of BMI

The Reproducibility of Lists of Differentially Expressed Genes in Microarray Studies

Reproducibility is a fundamental requirement in scientific experiments and clinical contexts. Recent publications raise concerns about the reliability of microarray technology because of the apparent lack of agreement between lists of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In this study we demonstrate that (1) such discordance may stem from ranking and selecting DEGs solely by statistical significance (P) derived from widely used simple t-tests; (2) when fold change (FC) is used as the ranking criterion, the lists become much more reproducible, especially when fewer genes are selected; and (3) the instability of short DEG lists based on P cutoffs is an expected mathematical consequence of the high variability of the t-values. We recommend the use of FC ranking plus a non-stringent P cutoff as a baseline practice in order to generate more reproducible DEG lists. The FC criterion enhances reproducibility while the P criterion balances sensitivity and specificity

A genome-wide association study based on the China Kadoorie Biobank identifies genetic associations between snoring and cardiometabolic traits

Despite the high prevalence of snoring in Asia, little is known about the genetic etiology of snoring and its causal relationships with cardiometabolic traits. Based on 100,626 Chinese individuals, a genome-wide association study on snoring was conducted. Four novel loci were identified for snoring traits mapped on SLC25A21, the intergenic region of WDR11 and FGFR, NAA25, ALDH2, and VTI1A, respectively. The novel loci highlighted the roles of structural abnormality of the upper airway and craniofacial region and dysfunction of metabolic and transport systems in the development of snoring. In the two-sample bi-directional Mendelian randomization analysis, higher body mass index, weight, and elevated blood pressure were causal for snoring, and a reverse causal effect was observed between snoring and diastolic blood pressure. Altogether, our results revealed the possible etiology of snoring in China and indicated that managing cardiometabolic health was essential to snoring prevention, and hypertension should be considered among snorers