Effect Of Aggregation Research Articles

A method for improving the gelation properties and 3D printing performance of reduced-sodium chicken breast paste: The addition of tiger nut protein, transglutaminase, and calcium chloride

This study investigated the effects of tiger nut protein (TNP) (4%), transglutaminase (TG) (0.5%), and calcium chloride (CaCl2) (1.5%) on the gelling properties and 3D printability of reduced-sodium chicken breast paste, which contained 0.3% sodium chloride (NaCl). Compared with the control group, the addition of TNP-TG-CaCl2 increased the gel's hardness from 833.5 g to 1544.7 g, improved the water-holding capacity (WHC) by 2.4%, reduced the cooking loss (CL) by 2.3%, and enhanced the printing accuracy by 10.3%. Structural and rheological analysis indicated that the physical filling effect of TNP, the enhancement of protein interactions by TG, which includes increased hydrophobic interactions and disulfide bonds, along with the alteration of protein structure from α-helix to β-sheet, and the aggregation effect of Ca2⁺ during gel formation process, are the key factors that contribute to the formation of a dense network structure during gel formation, and help to improve the gel performance and 3D printing suitability of reduced-sodium chicken mince. Results of correlation analysis between the structure, gel performance and 3D printing performance indicate that the hydrophobic interactions are mostly responsible for the gel performance and 3D printing performance, and there exists a strong correlation between gel hardness, WHC and the 3D printing performance of the meat slurry. Collectively, gels with appropriate hardness and WHC may have the favorable printing adaptability, and the combined use of TNP, TG, and CaCl2 is an effective way to enhance the 3D printing precision and gel texture of low-sodium meat slurry.

Cyanobacteria's power trio: auxin, siderophores, and nitrogen fixation to foster thriving agriculture.

Cyanobacteria, often overlooked in traditional agriculture, are gaining recognition for their roles in enhancing plant growth and soil health through diverse mechanisms. This review examines their multifaceted contributions to agricultural systems, highlighting their proficiency in auxin production, which promotes plant growth and development. Additionally, we examined cyanobacteria's ability to produce siderophores that enhance iron absorption and address micronutrient deficiencies, as well as their capacity for nitrogen fixation, which converts atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can utilize, all with the goal of reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. A meta-analysis of existing studies indicates significant positive effects of cyanobacteria on crop yield, although variability exists. While some research shows considerable yield increases, other studies report non-significant changes, suggesting benefits may depend on specific conditions and crop types. The overall random-effects model estimate indicates a significant aggregate effect, with a few exceptions, emphasizing the need for further research to optimize the use of cyanobacteria as biofertilizers. Although cyanobacteria-based products are limited in comparison to seaweed-derived alternatives, for instance, ongoing challenges include regulatory issues and production costs. Integrating cultivation with wastewater treatment could enhance competitiveness and viability in the agricultural market.

Optimization of Filling Material Ratio in Yellow Phosphorus Slag Mine.

Yellow phosphorus slag has been considered as a potential cement substitute for mine filling material due to its cementing activity; however, its slow setting and low early strength have limited broader use. This study investigates the grading, compactness, and strength of yellow phosphorus slag combined with tailing sand. Using yellow phosphorus slag as an aggregate, cement as a binder, and mixing tailing sand in different ratios, this study evaluates its feasibility as a coarse aggregate in mine backfill. The key findings are as follows. (1) The grading index of tailing sand was 0.5, aligning with Fuller grading, but it required mixing with coarse aggregates to enhance strength and reduce cement consumption. Yellow phosphorus slag, with a grading index of 0.97, does not match Fuller's curve and thus benefits from mixing with tailing sand. (2) For mixtures of waste rock and tailings, the 5:5 ratio aligned closely with Fuller's theory, showing optimal packing density and strength. Mixtures of yellow phosphorus slag and tailings at ratios of 3:7, 4:6, and 5:5 had R2 values of 0.73, 0.80, and 0.85, respectively, confirming reliable fit. The 5:5 mixture provided the best packing density and strength. (3) A new strength prediction model, accounting for aggregate, cement, and water effects, suggests that a 5:5 ratio with a 71% mass concentration and 1/7 ash-sand ratio meets industrial strength requirements. FLAC3D simulations indicated that cemented backfill reduces stress concentrations caused by excavation and supports stability during mining while also absorbing energy through compaction, creating favorable conditions for safe mining operations.

The influence of urban new energy development orientation on new energy technology innovation in firms

Unlike existing energy policies that adopt a macro-level perspective, this paper examines the impact of China's new energy demonstration cities (NEDC) policy on micro-agents. Using longitudinal data covering Chinese publicly listed firms in new energy industries, the empirical results show that the NEDC policy significantly increases firm's new energy patents in pilot cities compared to those in non-pilot cities. We examine the potential channels via industrial upgrading effect, relative scale effect, direct incentive effect, and factor aggregation effect. In addition, we find that the NEDC policy performs better in areas with more governmental new energy attention and higher infrastructure levels, and state-owned businesses are more proactive.

Cost‐Effectiveness Analysis of Risky Health Interventions: Moving Beyond Risk Neutrality

ABSTRACTCost‐effectiveness analysis for health interventions is traditionally conducted in a risk‐neutral way, insensitive to risk attitudes in the population, which are potentially non‐neutral. While the standard outcome metric of quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) aims to be deferential to people's valuations of health states, cost‐effectiveness analysis of risky interventions using the QALY metric is not similarly deferential to people's risk attitudes. I argue that there is no good justification for this practice. Non‐neutral attitudes to risk, especially where they concern individually life‐changing interventions need not be irrational, and so imposing neutrality is not justifiable as a way of debiasing preferences. Many common justifications for deference to health state preferences extend to risk attitudes. But even if reasons for deference do not extend, imposition of risk neutrality as opposed to any other rationally permissible risk attitude is under‐motivated as default practice. Thus, either methods for measuring risk attitudes separately and incorporating them into cost‐effectiveness analysis should be used more widely or a richer set of information should be presented to political decision‐makers and the public to enable them to decide how to take into account the individual risks faced by members of the population, on top of aggregate effects on population health.

Sustainability or Technology - What Drives Consumer Purchase Behaviour in Digital Era?

Retail industry is undergoing transformation. Many changes are happening in this industry due to change in consumer behaviour. Every retailer is trying to understand, what drives the customers to select the retailer? It is technology, sustainability or both. Retailers are trying to identify the right technology for their business, which will delight customers and at the same trying to find out how to achieve sustainability in their business. The purpose of this paper is to find answers for these questions and help the retailers to invest their money wisely and satisfy their customers and remain relevant in the business. The outcomes of the study exhibit the shifting trend among customers which help the companies to cater the altering preferences of their customers. A well-structured questionnaire was developed and collected the primary data from 368 respondents adopting Convenient sampling method through online. Questionnaire was analysed by Factor extraction principal component analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis, Eigen values and scree plot. The relation between the independent and dependent variables was established with multiple regression analysis. Each factor effect on sustainability and Advanced digitalisation independently was tested for its significance by adopting t – test statistic. The aggregate effect of all independent variables in each equation, in multiple regression are shown by the multiple correlation coefficient (R2). This multiple relation is also tested by adapting the F – test statistic.

Effects of Single‐Axis and Fixed‐Tilt Photovoltaic Array Construction on the Soil Seed Bank Characteristics in Semi‐Arid Grasslands

ABSTRACTWith the rapid global development of photovoltaic power generation, research on its impact on land and ecosystems has become increasingly significant. However, its impact on soil seed bank characteristics has yet to be better assessed. In this study, monitoring plots were established in a semi‐arid grassland undergoing solar energy development. This setup allowed us, for the first time, to investigate how soil seed bank characteristics respond to the construction of two typical photovoltaic array systems: single‐axis and fixed‐tilt systems. This study demonstrated that in both single‐axis and fixed‐tilt systems, the establishment of photovoltaic arrays resulted in a significant increase in soil seed density, with seed counts rising by approximately 47.5% compared with control sites without arrays. The aggregation effect of soil seed density under the photovoltaic array primarily occurred in the 0–10 cm soil layer. The soil seed density under the single‐axis arrays was higher than that under the fixed‐tilt arrays. The construction of photovoltaic arrays resets local soil and directly changes the micro‐environment—including reductions in solar radiation, decreases in average temperature by 0.1°C, and wind speed decreases by 1.5 m/s—which negatively affected the richness and diversity of the soil seed bank, resulting in a 21.1% decrease in species richness and a 10.1% reduction in seed diversity. Furthermore, this study highlights that seed germination in semi‐arid grasslands is under pressure due to environmental changes associated with photovoltaic construction areas. Specifically, soil moisture and organic matter were the key factors affecting the vegetation restoration potential of the entire construction area. We recommend selecting the single‐axis system of photovoltaic components. This selection is crucial, which considers both energy production efficiency and supports the facilitation of future vegetation ecosystem succession. Altogether, this study provides information for future land‐use planning in photovoltaic construction areas and sustainable development of photovoltaic power generation.

Effect of aggregation on thermal conduction in ternary molten salt-based nanofluids: insights from a multiscale coupled MD–LBM method

Molten salts serve as primary heat transfer and storage media in thermal energy storage systems. Adding nanoparticles to molten salt to create nanofluids is known to significantly improve the thermal conductivity of the molten. However, nanoparticle agglomeration is inevitable and substantially affects the thermal conductivity of molten salts. Moreover, the mechanisms whereby agglomeration influences thermal conductivity remain unclear. This paper presents an innovative multiscale coupling model that combines molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) to investigate the thermal conductivity of CuO nanoparticles in ternary NaCl–KCl–LiCl molten salt-based nanofluids. Both nonaggregated and aggregated states were considered. After conducting MD simulations at the microscale to examine the thermal contact resistance at the interface between nanoparticles, we employed the LBM to determine the effective thermal conductivity of the nanofluids at the mesoscale. The findings reveal the formation of significant heat flow channels in nanofluids containing nanoparticles. However, an increase in the thermal contact resistance reduces these channels in agglomerated particles, potentially reducing the thermal conductivity compared with that in the nonaggregated nanofluids. In cluster-like structures, fewer nanoparticles are positioned within heat flow channels, in contrast to chain-like arrangements. This reduction limits the enhancement in the thermal conductivity and minimizes variations in the thermal conductivity due to differences in the aggregate particle number and orientation. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity exhibited notable variations with varying agglomerated nanoparticle diameters at identical mass fractions. Both smaller and larger particles can increase the level of contact thermal resistance, ultimately reducing the thermal conductivity.

Estimation of bearing capacity of bimsoils under shallow foundations

Bimsoils, consist of fine soil matrix and coarse rock aggregates, and are widespread as sedimentary soils. The bearing behavior of bimsoils are significantly affected by rock fraction. However, the mechanism governing the coarse fraction effect remains unclear. The traditional analysis methods are not effective in describing the rock fraction effect due to heterogeneous structure. To this end, 91 simulations have been performed to investigate the bearing capacity of bimsoils (mainly of two-dimensional, 2D) under shallow foundations using finite element method (FEM). It is found that the densified matrix bridge as well as the coarse aggregates forms a strong contact network which is responsible for the coarse fraction effect. A structure variable is introduced to quantify the reinforcing effect of rock aggregates. Then, a model incorporating the structural variable is proposed to evaluate the coarse fraction effect on the bearing capacity of bimsoils. Compared with the conventional method for pure soil matrix, only two additional parameters are required, and they can be readily calibrated by laboratory tests. The model is further validated by data available in literature, which can effectively estimate the bearing capacity of bimsoils under shallow foundations with a various of rock contents and rock characteristics.

Compressive properties and microstructure of hybrid fiber-reinforced fly ash/slag-based geopolymers at elevated temperatures

This study investigates the effects of fly ash ceramsite (FACM) and hybrid fibers (with varying steel fiber contents) on the mass loss, compressive performance, crack development, and microstructure of hybrid fiber-reinforced fly ash/slag-based geopolymers (HFRG) at high temperatures. HFRG samples with different steel fiber volume fractions (0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5%) were prepared and subjected to a controlled heating process (20°C, 200°C, 400°C, 600°C, and 800°C). Key properties, including mass loss, compressive strength, and crack patterns, were measured at elevated temperatures, with additional microstructural analysis conducted via SEM, XRD, and FTIR. Results showed that a 0.5% steel fiber content can suppress mass loss at high temperatures, while 1% steel fiber significantly enhances HFRG's compressive performance under heat. Compared to HFRG-0, HFRG-1.0 showed a 39% increase in peak stress, a 41% increase in strain, a 4.7% increase in elastic modulus, and a 108% increase in energy absorption capacity at 200°C. Surface observations revealed that crack area significantly decreased with increased steel fiber content. Microstructural analysis indicated that internal porosity increases, and thermal decomposition intensifies with rising temperature. This study provides key insights into the axial compression performance of HFRG for high-temperature applications and offers a detailed analysis of the effects of lightweight aggregates and hybrid fibers.

Emulsifying properties of quinoa protein fibrillar aggregates and their influence on quinoa protein emulsion gel formation

Fibrillization is a potential way to improve functionality of seed storage proteins. Herein, the solubility, morphology, wettability, interfacial adsorption and emulsifying properties of quinoa protein fibrillar aggregates were compared with those of quinoa protein isolate (QPI). Effect of fibrillar aggregates on the formation of heat-induced QPI emulsion gels was investigated in the presence 0 or 100 mM NaCl. The results showed that fibrillization enhanced relative solubility of QPI by ~10 %, and reduced contact angle from 130.5° to 83.4°. Both QPI and fibrillar aggregates exhibited outstanding emulsifying capacity and emulsion stability against flocculation/coalescence. The interfacial protein concentration of fibrillar aggregate-stabilized emulsions was higher than that of QPI-stabilized emulsions, ranging from 16.3 to 33.4 vs. 12.4 to 29.2 mg/m2 at emulsifier concentrations of 0.5–3 % w/w. The self-standing emulsion gels were formed by heating 10 % w/w QPI emulsions with the storage modulus of 1886 Pa and the fracture stress of 582 Pa. Fibrillar aggregates acted as active fillers in QPI emulsions gels (8 % w/w QPI + 2 % w/w fibrillar aggregates) with the storage modulus of 2566 Pa and the fracture stress of 741 Pa. The addition of 100 mM NaCl destructed the gel network, leading to a reduction of gel strength.

Improving the adsorption of cloud concrete stone porous aggregate to phase change materials by alkali modification

In this paper, the pore structure of cloud concrete stone (CCS) was optimized by alkaline hydrothermal treatment to improve its adsorption capacity for phase change materials (PCMs), thus enhancing the heat storage effect of phase change composite aggregates. The results showed that the adsorption rate of CCS modified by alkaline solution for 36 h was 21.49%, which increased by 30.64% relative to that without modification. The macroscopic and microscopic morphology showed that the 24-hour modified CCS appeared small cracks in the surface and the internal pores became more numerous. The 48-hour modified CCS appeared exfoliated on the surface and the internal pores and cracks increased. Hydrothermal treatment changes the pore structure of CCS, making it more conducive to the adsorption of PCM.

National Study Examining Excellence and Value in Physical Therapist Residency Education: Part 1-Design, Methods, and Results.

A challenge in health professions is training practitioners to navigate health care complexities, promote health, optimize outcomes, and advance their field. Physical therapist residency education offers a pathway to meet these needs in ways that "entry-level" (professional) education may not. Identifying key aspects of excellence in residency education and understanding its value in developing adaptive expertise will help devise strategies to enhance program, resident, and patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to examine current physical therapist residency education practices to identify and describe examples of excellence and value. A multi-site, multi-specialty qualitative case series was conducted, examining exemplary physical therapist residency programs and their contextual environments using a social constructivist theoretical lens. Six residency programs operating 20 individual residencies that were considered exemplar were selected for the study to participate in site visits. Qualitative case studies were generated from individual interviews, focus groups, review of artifacts, and field observations. The residencies were diverse in specialty area of practice, setting, and geographic location. A conceptual framework was generated grounded in the domains of excellence and value. These domains were connected by 3 signature indicators: (1) atmosphere of practice-based learning, (2) embodiment of professional formation, and (3) elevated practice. These signature indicators represent the aggregate effects of the interchange between the excellence and value domains which sustain residency education. This study builds upon the work of the Physical Therapist Education for the 21st Century (PTE-21) study and identifies key elements of excellence in residency education, the value of such education, and related outcomes. Findings from this study substantiate the need for a postprofessional phase of physical therapist education founded in practice-based learning encapsulated in residency education. Results from this study could have compelling and powerful implications on the dialogue and strategic direction in physical therapist residency education.

Defect-controlled confined growth of nano-MOFs to prepare materials with hierarchical micro/mesoporous structures for efficient CO2 capture

In recent years, nanoporous materials with special structure have been widely used in various fields. In view of the poor stability of MOFs materials and the poor mass transfer ability, in this study, we developed a simple method to restrict the growth of UiO-66-NH2 crystals in hollow silica by “vacuum evaporation” strategy, different kinds of acid regulators were introduced, to obtain a composite material with hierarchical pore structure. By characterizing the physical chemistry and microstructure of the composite adsorbent, and calculating the structural defects under different acid regulation, the adsorption and desorption performance and stability of the adsorbent for CO2 were comprehensively investigated. The mechanism of action on CO2 was further analyzed by in-situ infrared and other techniques. The results show that the change of coordination environment and coordination rate caused by the competition of organic acids, which increases the defects and reduces the nucleation and aggregation effect of UiO-66-NH2, promotes the formation of hierarchical pore structure of the composites. Among them, benzoic acid is the best regulating monocarboxylic acid, which makes UiO-66-NH2 have good dispersion in the cavity and suitable crystal size. The specific surface area of the composite material is 717.96 m2 g−1. At the same time, due to its excellent CO2 adsorption capacity (3.35 mmol g−1) at 298 K and 1.06 bar, it is 48.07 % higher than the original UiO-66-NH2. In order to accomplish the goal of effective CO2 adsorption performance of composites, this study offers a novel approach for the synthesis and modification of MOFs-based composites.

Hiring opportunities for new firms and the business cycle

AbstractWhether firms founded during or outside economic crises have greater growth potential is an important question for both prospective entrepreneurs and policy makers. Existing research offers conflicting answers, and mostly either focuses on aggregate cohort-level effects or selectively excludes small new firms from the analyses. Using extensive linked employer-employee data on young German firms around and during the Global Financial Crisis, a period of sharply reduced access to external capital and recession, we show that young firms respond to cyclical conditions in highly heterogeneous ways. Our firm-level results reveal that the average new firm found it easier to hire its first employees when it was founded during the crisis. These firms achieved countercyclical growth by hiring career entrants. More specifically, hiring in very young (<1.5 years) and small to medium-sized (below the 90th percentile) young firms was countercyclical, while this was not the case for older and larger young firms. Thus, the firm-specific effects for young entrepreneurial firms may be very different from those reported in previous research. Our results suggest that market entry during a crisis may facilitate hiring and that policies that promote entrepreneurship may usefully complement policies that encourage labor hoarding by incumbents during recessions.

Exploring the effects of waste plastic aggregate on styrene-butadiene-styrene-modified asphalt binders for sustainable rural pavements

In addressing the imperative need for sustainable and cost-effective solutions in rural pavement development, this study navigates the intricate balance of environmental and financial constraints to ensure the resilience of infrastructure in communities with limited resources. The focal point is the integration of waste plastic aggregate (WPA) into hot mix asphalt, augmented by the inclusion of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) for an elevated level of performance. The findings underscore a gradual decrease in the tensile strength ratio, emphasizing a manageable impact, transitioning from 82.4% in the control to 73.7% at 6% WPA. Noteworthy is the observation of marginal reductions in indirect tensile strength and stiffness, particularly notable at higher WPA levels. Dynamic modulus testing highlights susceptibility to rutting at lower frequencies, while high-frequency results demonstrate stability up to 6% WPA. The Hamburg wheel tracking test signals heightened rutting at 3% and 6% WPA, indicating potential challenges in deformation resistance. Despite a slight dip in strength, the discernible magnitude of this reduction is not substantial. This affirms that the incorporation of WPA achieves a harmonious enhancement of sustainability without compromising critical mechanical properties.

Evaluating the impact of uncertainty in ground motion forecasts for post-earthquake impact modeling applications

The US Geological Survey’s (USGS) ShakeMap system provides a rapid characterization of strong ground shaking in areas directly affected by an earthquake. This study focuses on studying the aggregate effects of macroseismic shaking estimates from ShakeMap, expressed in terms of modified Mercalli intensity (MMI), when accounting for the uncertainty in forecasted ground motions. We use a Monte Carlo approach to generate numerous spatially correlated realizations of ground motions by utilizing a combination of circulant embedding and kriging techniques for efficiently handling the correlations. We then assessed the aggregate effects of shaking by looking at bin counts across these realizations. We demonstrate that the aggregate shaking regarding the mean macroseismic intensity estimates (from the ShakeMap output) is a biased representation of the aggregate shaking when shaking uncertainty is included. Incorporating shaking uncertainty can help to improve various downstream earthquake impact applications, such as the USGS Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) overall earthquake fatality distribution or estimates of shaking-induced ground failure impacts from consequential earthquakes.

Spatiotemporal evolution of ecological environmental quality and its dynamic relationships with landscape pattern in the Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area: A perspective based on nonlinear effects and spatiotemporal heterogeneity

Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics between landscape pattern changes and ecological environmental quality is essential for optimizing regional landscapes and improving the ecological environment. However, previous studies have certain shortcomings in understanding both aspects: On one hand, ecological environment assessments that overlook air quality may be misleading; On the other hand, the spatiotemporal driving mechanisms between landscape patterns and ecological environmental quality are still unclear. This study considers air quality information, refines ecological remote sensing indices, and employs the Random Forest-Multiscale Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (RF-MGTWR) analytical framework to reveal the nonlinear effects and spatiotemporal heterogeneity between landscape patterns and ecological environmental quality across the dimensions of aggregation, connectivity, and diversity. The results indicate:(1) ARSEI (Advanced Remote Sensing Ecological Index) is more suitable for assessing ecological environment quality in areas with air pollution compared to RSEI (Remote Sensing Ecological Index). (2) Ecological environmental quality is most strongly influenced by landscape connectivity, followed by diversity and aggregation. The driving effects of landscape aggregation, diversity, and connectivity will change around the values of 91, 0.64, and 80, respectively, all exhibiting complex nonlinear relationships.(3) Landscape patterns exhibit opposing trends in ecological benefits between urban centers and rural areas: In urban centers, landscape aggregation is negatively correlated with ecological environmental quality, while increased connectivity and diversity have positive effects; this is reversed in areas with good ecological conditions. As urbanization progresses, the positive impacts of landscape connectivity and diversity are enhanced, although the positive effects of diversity gradually diminish. (4) The combination of random forests and MGTWR offers a comprehensive and innovative perspective for analyzing driving mechanisms. Based on the findings, landscape planners should pay attention to the impact thresholds, scales of action, and spatiotemporal heterogeneity between landscape indicators and ecological environment quality.

Aspirin inhibits atherosclerosis through macrophage pyroptosis by interacting with Lactobacillus johnsonii and its metabolite butyrate

Abstract Introduction Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is a chronic progressive disease closely related to metabolism and inflammation. Aspirin inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX) and has antiplatelet aggregation effects, considered as the cornerstone of ASCVD treatment. Numerous studies have shown that gut microbiota (GM) and its metabolites affects host metabolism. Studies have also shown that people taking aspirin exhibit specific changes in the microbiota profile. However, whether the interaction of aspirin with GM and its metabolites affects the therapeutic efficacy of aspirin in treating atherosclerosis (AS) have not been reported. Purpose This study aimed to explore the interaction of aspirin with the GM and its metabolites in the treatment of AS, to reveal the specific mechanism of the GM-metabolite axis and provide potential new targets for the combined treatment of AS. Methods To establish the mouse model of atherosclerosis by high-fat diet, and the atherosclerotic plaque burden and composition were analyzed. The role of GM in aspirin anti-atherosclerosis was explored by antibiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). The third generation 16S RNA sequencing was used to explore the effects of aspirin on species diversity and abundance of GM, and to screen differential microorganisms for intervention of AS mice. UHPLC-MS and GC-MS were used to explore the changes of intestinal metabolites induced by aspirin. The correlation between gut microbiota and metabolites was also investigated. Finally, in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to confirm the effects and mechanisms of metabolites on macrophage pyroptosis and atherosclerosis. Results Aspirin has anti-atherosclerosis effect. After removing gut microbiota, the therapeutic effect of aspirin on atherosclerosis was decreased. Three generations of 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed that aspirin supplementation alters the diversity of gut microbiota, and increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus johnsonii(L.johnsonii) and Ligilactobacillus murinus(L.murinus). After gavage of L.johnsonii and L.murinus, the plaque burden and macrophage pyroptosis were significantly reduced in AS mice. Colonization with L.johnsonii and L.murinus significantly increased the abundance of probiotics and butyrate level in the feces of AS mice and L.johnsonii and L.murinus were positively correlated with butyrate. Supplementation of butyrate inhibited macrophage pyroptosis and atherosclerosis in vivo. In vitro, butyrate could inhibit the expression of NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL-1β and pyroptosome production, and this process mainly by activating butyrate receptors GPR41, GPR43 and GPR109A. Conclusions The gut microbiota may mediate the anti-AS effect of aspirin by promoting an increase in the abundance of L.johnsonii and L.murinus. Butyrate produced by Lactobacillus may mediate the anti-AS effect of aspirin, and inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis and the progression of AS.

Regulating effect of glycated rice bran protein aggregates and resultant emulsions on the gelatinization and retrogradation properties of rice starch

The effects of the rice bran protein aggregates (RBPAs), glycated rice bran protein aggregates (gRBPAs) and resultant emulsions on the gelatinization and retrogradation characteristics of rice starch (RS) were investigated. The gelatinization and retrogradation properties of RS were determined by rapid viscosity analyzer (RVA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic rheology, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The addition of the protein aggregates and the emulsions reduced the swelling of starch during the gelatinization process and the enthalpy change (ΔH) of RS. Meanwhile, during the long-term storage (4 °C for 21 d), the existence of the protein aggregates and the emulsions decreased the storage modulus (G′) and hardness of RS gel, thereby decelerating the retrogradation of RS. Besides, XRD analysis proved that when heated for 2 h, the relative crystallinity of the RS-gRBPAs mixture decreased by 6.08%, and the relative crystallinity of the corresponding RS-emulsions mixture reduced by 6.85%, which indicated the grafting of Dex could impede the retrogradation of RS. The inhibitory effect of adding the emulsions was more pronounced than that of adding corresponding protein aggregates. Furthermore, SEM analysis confirmed that the gel network structures of mixture were more uniform and compact compared with RS, which resulted from the protein aggregates and the emulsions inhibiting the internal combination through hydrogen bonds between starch molecules. Overall, these findings suggested that the protein aggregates and the emulsions prevented the retrogradation of RS, and could be potently used as a natural substitutes to enhance the quality and nutrition of starch-based foods.