Composition Analysis Research Articles

Effect of Intravenous Contrast on CT Body Composition Measurements in Patients with Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm

Background: The effect of differing post-contrast phases on CT body composition measurements is not yet known. Methods: A fully automated AI-based body composition analysis using DAFS was performed on a retrospective cohort of 278 subjects undergoing pre-treatment triple-phase CT for pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. The CT contrast phases included noncontrast (NON), arterial (ART), and venous (VEN) phases. The software selected a single axial CT image at mid-L3 on each phase for body compartment segmentation. The areas (cm2) were calculated for skeletal muscle (SM), intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). The mean Hounsfield units of skeletal muscle (SMHU) within the segmented regions were calculated. Bland–Altman and Chi Square analyses were performed. Results: SM-NON had a lower percentage of bias [LOA] than SM-ART, −0.7 [−7.6, 6.2], and SM-VEN, −0.3 [−7.6, 7.0]; VAT-NON had a higher percentage of bias than ART, 3.4 [−18.2, 25.0], and VEN, 5.8 [−15.0, 26.6]; and this value was lower for SAT-NON than ART, −0.4 [−14.9, 14.2], and VEN, −0.5 [−14.3, 13.4];] and higher for IMAT-NON than ART, 5.9 [−17.9, 29.7], and VEN, 9.5 [−17.0, 36.1]. The bias in SMHU NON [LOA] was lower than that in ART, −3.8 HU [−9.8, 2.1], and VEN, −7.8 HU [−14.8, −0.8]. Conclusions: IV contrast affects the voxel HU of fat and muscle, impacting CT analysis of body composition. We noted a relatively smaller bias in the SM, VAT, and SAT areas across the contrast phases. However, SMHU and IMAT experienced larger bias. During threshold risk stratification for CT-based measurements of SMHU and IMAT, the IV contrast phase should be taken into consideration.

Comparative analysis of nutritional and mineral compositions of Farfantepenaeus notialis and Macrobrachium vollenhovenii for dietary planning and food industry applications

AbstractThis study compares the nutritional composition of two commercially important crustaceans, Farfantepenaeus notialis and Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, to assess their dietary suitability. Proximate and mineral analyses were performed on dried samples of each species, evaluating fat, protein, ash, moisture, and mineral concentrations. Results reveal significant differences. F. notialis showed higher fat (1.79% ± 0.001%) and protein (6.69% ± 0.2%) compared to M.vollenhovenii (fat: 1.54% ± 0.001%; protein: 5.34% ± 0.4%), making it a more energy-dense protein source. Conversely, M. vollenhovenii had higher ash (5.38% ± 0.002%) and moisture (22.12% ± 0.004%), with higher calcium (256.24 mg/g ± 0.74) and potassium (71.02 mg/g ± 0.76) content, key for bone health and cardiovascular function. F. notialis was richer in iron (5.18 mg/g ± 0.03), useful for preventing iron deficiency. Both species had substantial zinc levels (~ 0.8 mg/g), essential for immune health. T-tests confirmed significant differences in nutritional parameters and minerals. The findings highlight the benefits of including both species in diets for improved nutritional diversity, especially in regions with limited food options. Graphical Abstract

Assessing the impact of 24-hour activity behaviors on cardiorespiratory fitness in the older adult: a component analysis approach

BackgroundCardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) serves as a critical measure of the cardiovascular system’s efficiency in delivering oxygenated blood to tissues and organs. Understanding the relationship between various activity behaviors and CRF is essential for devising effective health interventions for the older adult population.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the association between 24-h activity behaviors and CRF in older adult individuals, utilizing compositional data analysis.MethodsWe utilized baseline data from the “Fifth National Physical Fitness Monitoring Cohort Study in Tianjin, China,” which included 540 older adult participants. Physical activity and sedentary behavior were objectively measured using a three-dimensional accelerometer, and CRF was assessed via a gas metabolism analyzer. Compositional data analysis was employed to examine the relationships between 24-h activity behaviors—specifically, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep (SLP)—and CRF.ResultsThe analysis demonstrated that MVPA was significantly positively associated with CRF (βMVPA = 5.36, p < 0.01), whereas SB was significantly negatively associated (βSB = −3.97, p < 0.01). No significant associations were observed for LPA and SLP with CRF. The isochronous substitution model revealed that reallocating 15 min of MVPA to SB, LPA, or SLP significantly decreased CRF by 0.31, 0.27, and 0.23 mL/kg/min, respectively. Conversely, substituting 15 min of SB, LPA, or SLP with MVPA resulted in increases in CRF by 0.29, 0.22, and 0.17 mL/kg/min, respectively. Additionally, replacing SB with LPA or SLP led to improvements in CRF, though these changes were not significant, underscoring the potential benefits of reducing sedentary time and enhancing physical activity levels.ConclusionThese findings underscore the critical role of increasing MVPA and reducing SB in improving CRF among the older adult. This study provides a robust scientific foundation for health promotion and intervention strategies targeting older adults. Comprehensive modifications to daily activity patterns are imperative for optimizing cardiovascular health in this population.

Analysis of Mineral Composition and Isotope Ratio as Part of Chemical Profiles of Apples for Their Authentication

One of the consequences of the globalisation of food markets is the effort enabling the control of food security and its origin. This might be traced by using different chemical composition analyses. However, for Central Europe, there is a lack of knowledge about the original reference values as well as their heterogeneity among the lands and countries. This study focused on characterizing the mineral profiles of apple tree fruits and comparing these profiles among different districts in Central Europe. The fruits of the apple cultivars ‘Gala’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ originated in the Czech Republic and Poland. The mineral and isotopic content of the apple fruit flesh was analysed using ICP-MS. The data were processed using the ANOVA test and compositely analysed using the PCA and LDA models. The results show relatively high variation in element distribution, particularly 87Sr/86Sr, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ca, P, and B, ranging between 20.6 and67.9% for both cultivars on average. However, their high variability within particular districts complicates the resolution of the LDA model. The reasons are linked to the geomorphological and pedological heterogeneity of the analysed districts as well as the particular sensitivity of the set of chosen primers to agronomic practices and tree performance. For this region, only partial separation among districts could be obtained by P, Ca, and Cu content, as well as the isotopic ratio of 10B/11B. However, the resolution of the geographical discrimination needs to be improved by an enhanced set of primers, the use of more precise analytical techniques for the Sr isotopic ratio, or by multiple chemical analyses. Furthermore, the heterogeneity of the analysed districts could be tackled by more detailed analyses at the level of micro-regions.

Degradation mechanism of dual-phase thermal barrier coatings Gd2Zr2O7 + 8YSZ under hot corrosion in pure Na2SO4

AbstractThe research presented in the article concerns the identification and characterisation of degradation mechanisms of two-phase coating thermal barriers based on the 8YSZ/Gd2Zr2O7 (8YSZ/GZO) system, and analysed under the conditions of exposure to pure sulphate salts of the Na2SO4 type. The scope of the presented research included the characterisation of microstructural phenomena in conditions of heating at a temperature of 920 °C for 240 h, followed by heating at a temperature of 970 °C for another 96 h until visually significant degradation effects of the ceramic coating were achieved. Detailed studies of the phase and chemical composition using XRD and SEM/EDS methods were carried out on the surface of the tested coatings and their cross sections to describe microstructural phenomena. The analysis of the phase composition of the ceramic layer showed the course of degradation processes based on the disintegration of the pyrochlore phase into intermediate forms of non-stoichiometric fluorite with the simultaneous enrichment of tetragonal zirconium oxide into a cubic form with a high content of the stabilising phase (Gd2O3). Tests on model powder systems confirmed the degradation mechanism of two-phase TBC coatings.

Controlling large deformations in soft rock roadways with integrated anchor shotcrete and grouting techniques.

Effective and safe support in soft rock roadways remains a critical challenge in underground coal mining due to the extreme weakness of the rocks and their susceptibility to weathering and water invasion. This paper examines the tailgate of longwall panel 2606, a typical soft rock roadway excavated along the edges of mined-out areas with thin pillars at the Lvtang Coal Mine in Guizhou, China. Despite employing a combination of rock bolts, cable bolts, and surface support systems, significant roadway deformation was observed. The mechanisms behind this deformation were analyzed through in-situ tests and clay mineral composition analysis. These analyses revealed that the primary causes of the roadway's substantial deformation were the low strength and weathering susceptibility of the coal and surrounding rock. A novel synergistic control strategy combining anchoring, shotcreting, and grouting was proposed for supporting soft rock roadways. Detailed numerical simulations were conducted to evaluate the deformation and stability of the tailgate under various support scenarios, validating the effectiveness of the proposed support scheme. The synergistic support strategy was implemented to reinforce the 2606 tailgate, and field monitoring was conducted to assess its effectiveness. Monitoring data indicated that rib deformation with the new support design was reduced by 66% compared to the original design. The results demonstrate that the improved synergistic support system effectively mitigated large deformations and maintained the stability of the tailgate. These findings provide a valuable engineering reference for supporting and reinforcing soft rock roadways under similar geological conditions.

Antioxidant Compound of Curcuma mangga Val. with Variation in Rhizome Parts and Soil Types

The scientific name of Curcuma mangga Val. (CM), that is commonly known as temu mangga, contains polyphenols, categorized as antioxidant compounds. These antioxidant compounds can neutralize free radicals. The study aims to determine the influence of rhizome parts and soil types on the antioxidant properties of CM. The research stages include sorting, peeling, washing, blanching, drying, and compositional analysis (antioxidant activity, total phenolic, flavonoid, andtannin). The study utilized a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with rhizome parts (main, 1 tiller) and soil types (clay, lime, and sand) as variables. Both rhizome part and soil type have significant effects on the antioxidant activity and antioxidant compounds of CM. The chosen CM, specifically the main rhizome with clay soil type, exhibits an antioxidant activity of 82.50% RSA, total phenolic of 647.50 mg GAE/100 g db, flavonoids of 620.2 mg QE/100 g db (dry basis), andtannins of 167.07 mg CE/100 g db.

Whole-Genome Sequence and Characterization of Ralstonia solanacearum MLY102 Isolated from Infected Tobacco Stalks

Background/Objectives: Bacterial wilt disease is a soil-borne disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum that causes huge losses to crop economies worldwide. Methods: In this work, strain MLY102 was isolated and further identified as R. solanacearum from a diseased tobacco stalk. The genomic properties of MLY102 were explored by performing biochemical characterization, genome sequencing, compositional analysis, functional annotation and comparative genomic analysis. Results: MLY102 had a pinkish-red color in the center of the colony surrounded by a milky-white liquid with fluidity on TTC medium. The biochemical results revealed that MLY102 can utilize carbon sources, including D-glucose (dGLU), cane sugar (SAC) and D-trehalose dihydrate (dTRE). Genome sequencing through the DNBSEQ and PacBio platforms revealed a genome size of 5.72 Mb with a G+C content of 67.59%. The genome consists of a circular chromosome and a circular giant plasmid with 5283 protein-coding genes. A comparison of the genomes revealed that MLY102 is closely related to GMI1000 and CMR15 but has 498 special genes and 13 homologous genes in the species-specific gene family, indicating a high degree of genomic uniqueness. Conclusions: The unique characteristics and genomic data of MLY102 can provide important reference values for the prevention and control of bacterial wilt disease.

Distinct impacts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole on China's gross primary production

Abstract. Gross primary production (GPP), a crucial component in the terrestrial carbon cycle, is strongly influenced by large-scale circulation patterns. This study explores the influence of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on China's GPP, utilizing long-term GPP data generated by the Boreal Ecosystem Productivity Simulator (BEPS). Partial correlation coefficients between GPP and ENSO reveal substantial negative associations in most parts of western and northern China during the September–October–November (SON) period of ENSO development. These correlations shift to strongly positive over southern China in December–January–February (DJF) and then weaken in March–April–May (MAM) in the following year, eventually turning generally negative over southwestern and northeastern China in June–July–August (JJA). In contrast, the relationship between GPP and IOD basically exhibits opposite seasonal patterns. Composite analysis further confirms these seasonal GPP anomalous patterns. Mechanistically, these variations are predominantly controlled by soil moisture during ENSO events (except MAM) and by temperature during IOD events (except SON). Quantitatively, China's annual GPP demonstrates modest positive anomalies in La Niña and negative IOD years, in contrast to minor negative anomalies in El Niño and positive IOD years. This outcome is due to counterbalancing effects, with significantly larger GPP anomalies occurring in DJF and JJA. Additionally, the relative changes in total GPP anomalies at the provincial scale display an east–west pattern in annual variation, while the influence of IOD events on GPP presents an opposing north–south pattern. We believe that this study can significantly enhance our understanding of specific processes by which large-scale circulation influences climate conditions and, in turn, affects China's GPP.

Antibacterial activity of the biogenic volatile organic compounds from three species of bamboo

Plant biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) possess ecological functions in antimicrobial benefits and air purification. The objectives of the study were to determine the differences in antimicrobial capacity of bamboo forests at different sampling sites. Three common bamboo species—Phyllostachys edulis, Bambusa emeiensis, and Phyllostachys violascens—were selected to determinate the antimicrobial activity of bamboo forests as well as under ex vivo conditions. Natural sedimentation method was used to determine the microbe counts in bamboo forests, and the microbe counts in grassland in the same area was measured as control treatment. The results showed that except for the P. violascens in Ya’an, the airborne microbial content of the sampling sites in bamboo forests was significantly lower relative to that of grassland in the same area, and inhibition rate reached 74.14% in the P. violascens forest in Dujiangyan. P. edulis forest and P. violascens forest in Ya'an had significantly lower inhibition rates than the other sampling sites, and there was no significant difference in the inhibition rates among the rest of the bamboo forest. The bacterial inhibition rate of bamboo leaves under ex vivo conditions varied with bamboo species and bacterial strains, with higher antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria overall. Escherichia coli was sensitive to B. emeiensis leaves, while Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis were sensitive to P. violascens leaves. Moreover, Candida albicans, S. cremoris, and Shigella Castellani were sensitive to P. edulis leaves. An analysis of the BVOCs composition from P. edulis collected in Changning by SPME-GC/MS revealed that the relative content of ocimene was obviously higher than other components. This study showed that P. edulis BVOCs have strong inhibitory ability to the tested microorganisms, and its main constituent, ocimene, has health benefit. P. edulis has the potential to become a forest recreation bamboo species.

Origin of Intercrystalline Brine Formation in the Balun Mahai Basin, Qaidam: Constraints from Geochemistry and H-O-Sr Isotopes

The Balun Mahai Basin (BLMH), located in the northern Qaidam Basin (QB), is endowed with substantial brine resources; however, the genetic mechanisms and potential of these brine resources remain inadequately understood. This study investigated the intercrystalline brine (inter-brine) in BLMH, performing a comprehensive geochemical analysis of elemental compositions and H-O-Sr isotopes. It evaluated the water source, solute origin, evolutionary process, and genetic model associated with this brine. Moreover, a mass balance equation based on the 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratio was developed to quantitatively evaluate the contributions of Ca-Cl water and river water to the inter-brine in the study area. The results suggest that the hydrochemical type of inter-brine in the north part of BLMH is Cl-SO4-type and in the south part is Ca-Cl-type. The solutes in brine are mainly derived from the dissolution of minerals such as halite, sylvite, and gypsum. The hydrochemical process of brine is controlled by evaporation concentration, water–rock interaction, and ion exchange interaction. Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes suggest that the inter-brine originates from atmospheric precipitation or ice melt water and has experienced intense evaporation concentration and water–rock interaction. The strontium isotopes suggest that the inter-brine was affected by the recharge and mixing of Ca-Cl water and river water, which controlled the spatial distribution and formation of brine hydrochemical types. The analysis of ionic ratios suggest that the inter-brine is derived from salt dissolution and filtration, characterized by poor sealing and short sealing time in the salt-bearing formation. The differences in hydrochemical types and spatial distribution between the north and the south are fundamentally related to the replenishment and mixing of these two sources, which can be summarized as mixed origin model of “dissolution and filtration replenishment + deep replenishment” in BLMH.

Phytochemical Profiling by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS and InVitro Investigation of the Antidiabetic Activity of Cassia bakeriana Bark Extract and Fractions.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a global health problem, placing patients at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and cancer. This study investigates the antidiabetic potential of Cassia bakeriana bark extracts and fractions. We evaluate their ability to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). The antioxidant potential was also examined. Extracts were prepared through maceration with hexane (HE) and ethanol (EE), and the fractions were obtained via liquid-liquid extraction from EE. Anti-enzymatic, anti-glycation, antioxidant, and cytotoxic assays were conducted in 96-well plates using different concentrations of samples to determine the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). Active samples were further analyzed using HPLC-(-)-ESI-MS/MS. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) demonstrated a high percentage of α-amylase inhibition (94.0%) with a promising IC50 value of 1.05 μg mL-1. Additionally, EAF displayed 61.5% inhibition of α-glucosidase, with an IC50 value of 537 μg mL-1. The EE, EAF, and n-butanol fraction (BF) exhibited strong anti-glycation capacities. Furthermore, the EE, EAF, BF, and dichloromethane fractions showed promising antioxidant activity using the DPPH and ORAC methodologies. Cytotoxic activity was also evaluated with Vero cells, revealing no adverse effects on cell viability (CC50 > 512.0 μg mL-1). Active samples predominantly comprised proanthocyanidins, flavonoids, and anthraquinone, representing the main constituents of C. bakeriana bark. This study provides the first assessment of the antidiabetic potential of C. bakeriana bark and a comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of its active extracts and fractions, offering hope for future treatments.

Analysis of pericentromere composition and structure elucidated the history of the Hieracium alpinum L. genome, revealing waves of transposable elements insertions.

The centromere is one of the key regions of the eukaryotic chromosome. While maintaining its function, centromeric DNA may differ among closely related species. Here, we explored the composition and structure of the pericentromeres (a chromosomal region including a functional centromere) of Hieracium alpinum (Asteraceae), a member of one of the most diverse genera in the plant kingdom. Previously, we identified a pericentromere-specific tandem repeat that made it possible to distinguish reads within the Oxford Nanopore library attributed to the pericentromeres, separating them into a discrete subset and allowing comparison of the repeatome composition of this subset with the remaining genome. We found that the main satellite DNA (satDNA) monomer forms long arrays of linear and block types in the pericentromeric heterochromatin of H. alpinum, and very often, single reads contain forward and reverse arrays and mirror each other. Beside the major, two new minor satDNA families were discovered. In addition to satDNAs, high amounts of LTR retrotransposons (TEs) with dominant of Tekay lineage, were detected in the pericentromeres. We were able to reconstruct four main TEs of the Ty3-gypsy and Ty1-copia superfamilies and compare their relative positions with satDNAs. The latter showed that the conserved domains (CDs) of the TE proteins are located between the newly discovered satDNAs, which appear to be parts of ancient Tekay LTRs that we were able to reconstruct. The dominant satDNA monomer shows a certain similarity to the GAG CD of the Angela retrotransposon. The species-specific pericentromeric arrays of the H. alpinum genome are heterogeneous, exhibiting both linear and block type structures. High amounts of forward and reverse arrays of the main satDNA monomer point to multiple microinversions that could be the main mechanism for rapid structural evolution stochastically creating the uniqueness of an individual pericentromeric structure. The traces of TEs insertion waves remain in pericentromeres for a long time, thus "keeping memories" of past genomic events. We counted at least four waves of TEs insertions. In pericentromeres, TEs particles can be transformed into satDNA, which constitutes a background pool of minor families that, under certain conditions, can replace the dominant one(s).

Effect of exercise during pregnancy on offspring development through ameliorating high glucose and hypoxia in gestational diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) women require prenatal care to minimize short- and long-term complications. The mechanism by which exercise during pregnancy affects organ development and whether glucose transporter (GLUT) 1 plays a role in GDM offspring organ development remains unknown. AIM To determine the effect of exercise during pregnancy on the cardiac, hepatic and renal development of GDM mother’s offspring. METHODS Placenta samples were collected from humans and mice. GDM mouse models were created using streptozotocin along with a GDM with exercise group. The hearts, livers and kidneys of 3- and 8-week-old offspring were collected for body composition analysis and staining. The effects of high glucose levels and hypoxia were investigated using HTR8/SVneo. Transwell and wound-healing assays were performed to assess cell migration. Immunofluorescence accompanied with TUNEL and Ki67 staining was used to explore apoptosis and proliferation. RESULTS Exercise during pregnancy downregulated the GLUT1 and hypoxia inducible factor-1α expression in placenta from individuals with GDM. Cobalt chloride-induced hypoxia and high glucose levels also significantly decreased migration and apoptosis of HTR8/SVneo cells. In addition, exercise reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver and decreased the tubular vacuolar area in the kidneys of offspring. CONCLUSION GDM affects the growth and development of organs in offspring. Exercise during pregnancy can reverse adverse effects of GDM on the development of the heart, liver, and kidney in offspring.

Optimal levels of sleep, sedentary behaviour, and physical activity needed to support cognitive function in children of the early years.

Sleep, sedentary behaviour, physical activity, and the composition of these movement behaviours across the 24-h day are associated with cognitive function in early years children. This study used a Goldilocks day compositional data analysis approach to identify the optimal duration of sleep, sedentary behaviour, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity associated with desired cognitive function outcomes in early years children. This cross-sectional study included 858 children aged 2.8-5.5 years from the Sleep and Activity Database for the Early Years. 24-h movement behaviours (sleep, sedentary behaviour, light physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity) were measured using ActiGraph accelerometers. Cognitive function was measured using three tasks from the Early Years Toolbox: visual-spatial working memory, response inhibition, and expressive vocabulary. A Goldilocks day compositional data analysis approach was used in R software to identify the optimal time-use compositions associated with the best 10% of the cognitive function scores. The movement behaviour composition and the relative time spent in sleep and sedentary behaviour but not different intensities of physical activity were significantly associated with working memory (P ≤ 0.01). The movement behaviour composition and relative time spent in sleep, sedentary behaviour, and different intensities of physical activity were not significantly associated with response inhibition or expressive vocabulary (P > 0.2). Therefore, optimal time use was only determined for working memory. Optimal daily durations for working memory were observed with 11:00 (hr:min) of sleep, 5:42 of sedentary behaviour, 5:06 of light physical activity, and 2:12 of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Working memory was the only cognitive function outcome related to the 24-h movement behaviour composition. Optimal sleep for working memory was consistent with current recommended durations, while optimal moderate-to-vigorous physical activity greatly exceeded minimal recommended levels. Optimal sedentary behaviour was longer and light physical activity was shorter than the sample average.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the landscape of the cellular ecosystem of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, along with multiple nonmalignant stromal cells, such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells and immune cells, comprise an intricate cellular ecosystem, undergo dynamic phenotypic changes and present complicated cellular interactions, thus synergistically facilitating HCC initiation and progression and leading to treatment resistance. Clarifying the heterogeneity, cell plasticity and complexity of the cellular ecosystem of HCC will be highly beneficial for understanding HCC development and identifying novel therapeutic targets. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) refers to profiling the transcriptome at single-cell resolution, and the development of scRNA-seq technology and analysis algorithms has greatly promoted the analysis of cell composition, cell subpopulation heterogeneity, development trajectory and cell-to-cell interactions in cell populations. In this review, we systematically summarized and discussed scRNA-seq in treatment-naive primary HCC and revealed the global cell composition of HCC; the widespread molecular heterogeneity of HCC cells; the molecular subtypes of fibroblasts; the cell composition, functional states and development trajectory of immune cells; and the frequent interactions between different cell types to systematically draw the landscape of the cellular ecosystem of primary HCC.

Analysis of Characteristics of Bovine-Derived Non-Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis and Validation of Potential Probiotic Effects

Bacteroides fragilis is a new generation of probiotics, and its probiotic effects on humans and some animals have been verified. However, research on B. fragilis in cattle is still lacking. In this study, 24 stool samples were collected from two large-scale cattle farms in Wuzhong, Ningxia, including 12 diarrheal and 12 normal stools. A non-toxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (NTBF) was isolated and identified by 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and named BF-1153; genome composition and genome functional analyses were carried out to reflect the biological characteristics of the BF-1153 strain. A cluster analysis of BF-1153 was performed using Mega X to explore its genetic relationship. In addition, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) was used to determine the toxic effects of the strain on human ileocecal colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line cells (HCT-8), Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells (MDBK), and intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPECs). The results showed that BF-1153 conformed to the biological characteristics of B. fragilis. BF-1153 had no toxic effects on HCT-8, MDBK, and IPEC. Animal experiments have shown that BF-1153 has no toxic effects on healthy SPF Kunming mice. Notably, the supernatant of BF-1153 enhanced cell activity and promoted cell growth in all three cell lines. At the same time, a cluster analysis of the isolated strains showed that the BF-1153 strain belonged to the same branch as the B. fragilis strain 23212, and B. fragilis strain 22998. The results of the animal experiments showed that BF-1153 had a certain preventive effect on diarrhea symptoms in SPF Kunming mice caused by a bovine rotavirus (BRV). In summary, the strain BF-1153 isolated in this experiment is NTBF, which has no toxic effect on MDBK, HCT-8, and IPEC, and has obvious cell growth-promoting effects, especially on MDBK. BF-1153 promotes the growth and development of SPF Kunming mice when compared with the control group. At the same time, BF-1153 alleviated the diarrhea symptoms caused by BRV in SPF Kunming mice. Therefore, BF-1153 has the potential to be a probiotic for cattle.

Codon Usage Pattern and its Influencing Factors for Mitochondrial CO Genes Among Different Subfamilies of Cerambycidae.

This study examined nucleotide composition and codon usage of mitochondrial CO (cytochrome oxidase) genes from four subfamilies of Cerambycidae. Nucleotide composition analysis of the CO genes revealed an AT-rich pattern in the four subfamilies of Cerambycidae. Furthermore, by analyzing the correlation between the overall nucleotide composition of CO genes and the nucleotide composition of the 3rd codon, we found that mutation pressure and natural selection were the key factors affected the CUB. The regression of GC12 (The average of GC content of the entire gene first and second codon positions) vs GC3 (GC content of the entire gene third codon positions) scattered to a limited value, and all CO genes slope of the regression line was all less than 0.5, indicated that natural selection might have played a significant role in shaping the codon usage bias. ENC plot analysis further supported the predominant influence of natural selection on CUB, aligning with the findings from neutral plot analyses. These novel insights into the codon evolution of CO genes within Cerambycidae significantly contribute to our understanding of codon evolution.

Biochemical Analysis of Fruiting Bodies of Cordyceps Militaris Grown on Brown Rice

Cordyceps militaris is a medicinal fungus known for its diverse biofunctional properties. This subject has been extensively analyzed over the past decade. The diverse pharmacological potential of C. militaris has garnered significant global interest recently. This research aims to determine the proximate composition of in vitro cultivated C. militaris fruit bodies. The analysis of proximate composition included measurements of crude protein, fat, crude fiber, ash, total carbohydrate, and moisture content. The research focused on quantifying the overall nutritional value of the fruit bodies and evaluating biological efficiency, in addition to key bioactive compounds including cordycepin, ergosterol, and Vitamin D2. The results demonstrated that the carbohydrate content constituted 47.67% of dry weight, the protein content was 30.41%, and the fiber content accounted for 15%. The fruit bodies contained 39.82 mg/kg of cordycepin and 61.73 mg/100g of ergosterol, whereas vitamin D2 was absent in the cordyceps mushroom sample. The findings demonstrate that in-vitro-cultivated C. militaris fruit bodies exhibit considerable nutritional and therapeutic potential.

Exploring the Correlation Between Salt Tolerance and Seed Nutritional Value of Different Quinoa Genotypes Grown Under Saharan Climatic Conditions

Quinoa is an annual pseudocereal highly adapted to extreme environments and has become, at this point in time, an extremely popular food due to its exceptional and high nutritional quality. This study aims to investigate the association of quinoa salt tolerance at an early developmental stage with its grain nutritional value under the effect of severe climatic hurdles. The current findings revealed a significant variability between genotypes in salt response attributes at the first development stage, where genotypes Amarilla Sacaca (thereafter, A. Sacaca) and QQ57 exhibited high salt tolerance thresholds with a low salt sensitivity index (SI), and a high capacity for Na+ sequestration into vacuoles. A significant positive association was detected between salt tolerance degree and yield parameters, saponins (SAPs), and minerals contents, where genotype A. Sacaca exhibited the highest SAP content with 3.84 mg.g−1 and the highest amounts of K, Ca, P, and Fe. The analysis of fatty acid composition demonstrated a high significant negative correlation between crude fat content and salt SI, and between yield parameters. Despite its low harvest index (HI) and low seed oil content, the salt-tolerant genotype A. Sacaca showed a high nutritional quality for seed oil according to its lowest ω6/ω3 ratio (5.6/1) and lowest level of atherogenicity index (AI). The genotype 115R, defined as the most sensitive to salt stress, exhibited a high seed oil quality due to its low lipid peroxidation susceptibility as reflected by its oxidative susceptibility and peroxidizability indexes. The significance of this study includes the identification of valuable quinoa genotypes showing high efficiency in growth and yield under severe stress accompanied by a high nutritional value satisfying the market requirements for healthy, nutritious, and safe food products.