Regulating Intestinal Microbes to Decrease the Incidence of Heart Disease

This paper studies the correlation between intestinal microbes and heart disease. In the paper, the process of human body producing Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) under the role of intestinal microbes has been analyzed, and the ways to reduce the level of TMAO which can increase the incidence of heart disease has been designed. The expected result is that the level of TMAO in plasma is successfully reduced by regulating intestinal microbes. This paper can provide useful information for further studies in self-healing therapy by regulating intestinal microbes

Editorial: Targeting nucleotide metabolism for enhancing antitumor immunity.

Editorial

Recent Advances in Rapid Detection Techniques for Pesticide Residue: A Review

As an important chemical pollutant affecting the safety of agricultural products, the on-site and efficient detection of pesticide residues has become a global trend and hotspot in research. These methodologies were developed for simplicity, high sensitivity, and multiresidue detection. This review introduces the currently available technologies based on electrochemistry, optical analysis, biotechnology, and some innovative and novel technologies for the rapid detection of pesticide residues, focusing on the characteristics, research status, and application of the most innovative and novel technologies in the past 10 years, and analyzes challenges and future development prospects. The current review could be a good reference for researchers to choose the appropriate research direction in pesticide residue detection

Production of a Monoclonal Antibody for the Detection of Forchlorfenuron: Application in an Indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Immunochromatographic Strip

In this study, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific to forchlorfenuron (CPPU) with high sensitivity and specificity was produced and designated (9G9). To detect CPPU in cucumber samples, an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) and a colloidal gold nanobead immunochromatographic test strip (CGN-ICTS) were established using 9G9. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) and the LOD for the developed ic-ELISA were determined to be 0.19 ng/mL and 0.04 ng/mL in the sample dilution buffer, respectively. The results indicate that the sensitivity of the antibodies prepared in this study (9G9 mAb) was higher than those reported in the previous literature. On the other hand, in order to achieve rapid and accurate detection of CPPU, CGN-ICTS is indispensable. The IC50 and the LOD for the CGN-ICTS were determined to be 27 ng/mL and 6.1 ng/mL. The average recoveries of the CGN-ICTS ranged from 68 to 82%. The CGN-ICTS and ic-ELISA quantitative results were all confirmed by liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with 84–92% recoveries, which indicated the methods developed herein are appropriate for detecting CPPU in cucumber. The CGN-ICTS method is capable of both qualitative and semiquantitative analysis of CPPU, which makes it a suitable alternative complex instrument method for on-site detection of CPPU in cucumber samples since it does not require specialized equipment

Effects of water stress on starch synthesis and accumulation of two rice cultivars at different growth stages

Rice is a water intensive crop and soil water conditions affect rice yield and quality. However, there is limited research on the starch synthesis and accumulation of rice under different soil water conditions at different growth stages. Thus, a pot experiment was conducted to explore the effects of IR72 (indica) and Nanjing (NJ) 9108 (japonica) rice cultivars under flood-irrigated treatment (CK, 0 kPa), light water stress treatment (L, -20 ± 5 kPa), moderate water stress treatment (M, -40 ± 5 kPa) and severe water stress treatment (S, -60 ± 5 kPa) on the starch synthesis and accumulation and rice yield at booting stage (T1), flowering stage (T2) and filling stage (T3), respectively. Under LT treatment, the total soluble sugar and sucrose contents of both cultivars decreased while the amylose and total starch contents increased. Starch synthesis-related enzyme activities and their peak activities at mid-late growth stage increased as well. However, applying MT and ST treatments produced the opposite effects. The 1000-grain weight of both cultivars increased under LT treatment while the seed setting rate increased only under LT3 treatment. Compared with CK, water stress at booting stage decreased grain yield. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that LT3 got the highest comprehensive score while ST1 got lowest for both cultivars. Furthermore, the comprehensive score of both cultivars under the same water stress treatment followed the trend of T3 > T2 > T1, and NJ 9108 had a better drought-resistant ability than IR72. Compared with CK, the grain yield under LT3 increased by 11.59% for IR72 and 16.01% for NJ 9108, respectively. Overall, these results suggested that light water stress at filling stage could be an effective method to enhance starch synthesis-related enzyme activities, promote starch synthesis and accumulation and increase grain yield

Optimizing asset management portfolio performance in the Chinese stock markets using the black-litterman model

This thesis tries to develop a Black-Litterman model for portfolio and asset managers to yield a higher return than the MV model for the Chinese Stock Market and aim to find the optimal asset portfolio management model by using the new Black-Litterman model in Chinese stock market. The generated Black-Litterman model incorporate stocks expected returns, which is derived from ARMA model, into investor views as one of the input variable of the Black-Litterman model. Portfolios of 41 Chinese dual listed companies used in this research was selected from the constituent stocks of the Shanghai & Shenzhen 300 Index, which has dual listed A and B shares, or A and H shares. Mean-Variance model will also be employed for comparison purposes. The benchmark comparison is the expected return of the Shanghai & Shenzhen 300 Index. Apart of that, restricted and unrestricted versions are used for the comparisons. Based on the consideration of diversification and the implementation in the practice, the researcher found the Black-Litterman model can yield higher returns than the MV model, although the underperformance also appeared in the results

Improvement of RNA In Situ Hybridisation for Grapevine Fruits and Ovules

The European grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is one of the world’s most widely cultivated and economically important fruit crops. Seedless fruits are particularly desired for table grapes, with seedlessness resulting from stenospermocarpy being an important goal for cultivar improvement. The establishment of an RNA in situ hybridisation (ISH) system for grape berries and ovules is, therefore, important for understanding the molecular mechanisms of ovule abortion in stenospermocarpic seedless cultivars. We improved RNA in situ hybridisation procedures for developing berries and ovules by targeting two transcription factor genes, VvHB63 and VvTAU, using two seeded varieties, ‘Red Globe’ and ‘Pinot Noir’, and two seedless cultivars, ‘Flame Seedless’ and ‘Thompson Seedless’. Optimisation focused on the time of proteinase K treatment, probe length, probe concentration, hybridisation temperature and post-hybridisation washing conditions. The objectives were to maximise hybridisation signals and minimise background interference, while still preserving tissue integrity. For the target genes and samples tested, the best results were obtained with a pre-hybridisation proteinase K treatment of 30 min, probe length of 150 bp and concentration of 100 ng/mL, hybridisation temperature of 50 °C, three washes with 0.2× saline sodium citrate (SSC) solution and blocking with 1% blocking reagent for 45 min during the subsequent hybridisation. The improved ISH system was used to study the spatiotemporal expression patterns of genes related to ovule development at a microscopic level

Effects of Phosphorus Application Rate on Lipid Synthesis and Eating Quality of Two Rice Grains

Lipids are an important nutritional component of rice, and lipid content has an important effect on rice eating quality. However, the effects of the fertilizer application rate on lipid synthesis and eating quality of rice are poorly understood. To investigate the effects of phosphorus (P) fertilizer on lipid synthesis and eating quality of rice, we used Nanjing (NJ) 9108 (japonica) and IR72 (indica) rice as experimental materials, and four P levels, P0 (0 kg ha−1), P1 (45 kg ha−1), P2 (67.5 kg ha−1) and P3 (135 kg ha−1). The results showed that the lipid, free fatty acid (FFA) content, unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) content, malonyl-CoA (MCA) content, phosphatidic acid (PA) content, lipid synthesis-related enzyme activities and eating quality of both cultivars increased with increasing P. However, the saturated fatty acid (SFA) content showed the opposite trend. No significant differences were found in pyruvate (PYR) content between P treatments. Protein and oxaloacetic acid (OAA) contents and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase) activity first increased and then decreased with increasing P, which indicated that high P levels could stimulate lipid synthesis more than protein synthesis. Overall, increasing P optimized fatty acid components and increased the lipid content and eating quality of rice by enhancing lipid synthesis-related enzyme activities and regulating substrate competition for lipid and protein synthesis. The optimal P application rate for lipid synthesis and eating quality of both cultivars was 135 kg ha−1

Effects of Phosphorus Application Rate on Lipid Synthesis and Eating Quality of Two Rice Grains

Lipids are an important nutritional component of rice, and lipid content has an important effect on rice eating quality. However, the effects of the fertilizer application rate on lipid synthesis and eating quality of rice are poorly understood. To investigate the effects of phosphorus (P) fertilizer on lipid synthesis and eating quality of rice, we used Nanjing (NJ) 9108 (japonica) and IR72 (indica) rice as experimental materials, and four P levels, P0 (0 kg ha−1), P1 (45 kg ha−1), P2 (67.5 kg ha−1) and P3 (135 kg ha−1). The results showed that the lipid, free fatty acid (FFA) content, unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) content, malonyl-CoA (MCA) content, phosphatidic acid (PA) content, lipid synthesis-related enzyme activities and eating quality of both cultivars increased with increasing P. However, the saturated fatty acid (SFA) content showed the opposite trend. No significant differences were found in pyruvate (PYR) content between P treatments. Protein and oxaloacetic acid (OAA) contents and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase) activity first increased and then decreased with increasing P, which indicated that high P levels could stimulate lipid synthesis more than protein synthesis. Overall, increasing P optimized fatty acid components and increased the lipid content and eating quality of rice by enhancing lipid synthesis-related enzyme activities and regulating substrate competition for lipid and protein synthesis. The optimal P application rate for lipid synthesis and eating quality of both cultivars was 135 kg ha−1

Comparison of progression of morbus crohn and colitis ulcerosa diseases in regard of gender and AGE in the Czech republic

Ústav biofyziky a informatiky 1. LF UK v PrazeInstitute of Biophysics and Informatics First Faculty of Medicine Charles University in PragueFirst Faculty of Medicine1. lékařská fakult