Microstructure Profiles Research Articles

Influence of Drying Methods on the Morphological Features, Microstructural Properties, and Antioxidant Performance of Floccularia luteovirens: A Metabolomic Analysis.

Floccularia luteovirens (F. luteovirens) has garnered increasing attention as an ingredient in both the pharmaceutical and food industries. Depending on the drying method, the accumulation of metabolites can greatly affect the quality. This research employed an untargeted metabolomics (LC-MS/MS) strategy to elucidate the similarities and differences in the morphological characteristics, microstructure, antioxidant capacity, and metabolic profiles of F. luteovirens subjected to three distinct drying methods: natural air-drying (YG), oven-drying (HG), and vacuum freeze-drying (DG). Our findings indicated that the color of F. luteovirens samples dried using the YG and HG methods was yellow-brown, exhibiting a high degree of browning, whereas the samples processed by the DG method displayed a golden-yellow hue and a desirable fullness. Regarding microstructure, the F. luteovirens samples from the YG and HG methods exhibited small and unevenly distributed pores, in contrast to the samples from the DG method, which were structurally intact and characterized by large inter-tissue pores. The antioxidant activity exhibited by F. luteovirens samples, which were processed using the DG method, was found to be significantly superior compared to the antioxidant activity of samples dried using two other methods. A correlation analysis indicated a significant link between antioxidant capacity and lipid as well as lipid-like molecules. Metabolomic analysis identified 1617 metabolites across 15 superclasses, with lipids, lipid-like molecules, organic acids and derivatives, and organic heterocyclic compounds being the predominant metabolites in F. luteovirens. Furthermore, KEGG enrichment analysis highlighted 20 pathways, indicating that the metabolism of amino acids could be significantly involved in the metabolic processes linked to the drying of F. luteovirens. This research clarifies how different drying techniques impact the metabolites or metabolic pathways of F. luteovirens, identifying the mechanisms that influence its quality and providing a reference for optimizing its processing and storage.

A study on the influence of laser hardening on microstructure, and microhardness of additively manufactured H13

ABSTRACT Laser surface treatment was employed as a promising approach to enhance the fatigue life of additively manufactured samples by increasing the surface hardness of the material. In this study, H13 tool steel was manufactured using the selective laser melting method, and lines of laser treatment were applied to the surface. Experimental and statistical approaches were utilised to investigate the microstructural changes, microhardness variations, and weld geometry resulting from different laser treatment processes. The aim was to control the laser parameters and analyse the behaviour of the microstructure and hardness profile of the laser-treated zone. The results revealed an amelioration in the hardness of the laser-treated surface, except for the heat-affected zone, which exhibited a lower hardness compared to the substrate. Statistical approaches were employed to study the effect of laser parameters on the weld geometry including width and depth of the laser-treated area using ANOVA method, elucidating the impact of each factor on these values. Finally, a predictive method for estimating the width and depth was proposed, to facilitate the adjustment of laser parameters for achieving specific outcomes, such as desired hardness profiles or geometrical characteristics, in the laser surface treatment process.

Evaluation of gray-matter and white-matter microstructural abnormalities in children with growth hormone deficiency: a comprehensive assessment with synthetic magnetic resonance imaging.

Pediatric growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a disease resulting from the impaired growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor-1 (GH-IGF-1) axis, but the effects of GHD on children's behavior and brain microstructural structure alterations have not yet been fully clarified. We aimed to investigate the quantitative profiles of gray matter and white matter in pediatric GHD using synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The data of 50 children with GHD and 50 typically developing (TD) children were prospectively collected. Group differences in brain volumetric parameters, individual-level T1 and T2 relaxometry values, and myelin volume fraction (MVF) were assessed. Subsequently, magnetic resonance-based indices with significant differences between groups were correlated with clinical variables via partial correlation. Compared with TD children, children with GHD showed significantly decreased whole-brain gray-matter volume [P false discovery rate (PFDR) <0.001] and increased non-gray-matter/white-matter/cerebrospinal fluid (NoN) volume (PFDR<0.001). For gray-matter microstructural profiles, altered T1 and T2 relaxometry values in children with GHD were mainly distributed in the default mode (PFDR<0.001) and central executive networks (PFDR<0.001). For white-matter microstructural profiles, widespread increased regional MVF was mainly distributed in the corpus callosum, corticospinal tract, internal capsule, external capsule, and cingulum (all PFDR values <0.001). Meanwhile, the T2 relaxation values in the left cuneus (r=0.400; P=0.005) and MVF in the right corticospinal tract (r=0.313; P=0.032) had a positive relationship with IGF-1. Altered T1 and T2 relaxometry values and MVF in gray and white matter indicate the relevance of the default mode, central executive, somatosensory, visual, and cerebellar networks underlying pediatric GHD, which may imply the involvement of the GH-IGF-1 axis and myelin in the pathophysiological mechanism of GHD. Moreover, the brain microstructure alteration in cortico-striatal-limbic loop might be influenced by the GH-IGF-1 axis and play an important role in the behavioral impairments in children with GHD.

Microstructures along the Indian west-coast continental shelf: layering and vertical mixing

During the month of October, the West Indian Coastal Current (WICC) is in a stage of transition from equatorward to poleward flow. The sea surface salinity near the Indian Coast is lower in the south compared to the north. Whereas the sea surface temperature is higher in the north than in the south. A salinity maximum (SM, Salinity ≥ 35.7 psu) exists in the sub-surface between depth ranges of 50–80 m. In situ vertical microstructure profiles collected along the continental shelf off the West Coast of India (WCI) for the first time, are used in this study to characterize vertical mixing under these complex thermodynamic regimes. Estimated sectional mean (median) values of the dissipation rates of turbulent kinetic energy (ɛ) and thermal variance (χ) are in the range 10−9−10−8 (10−9−10−8) W kg−1 and 10−8−10−7 (10−9−10−8) °C2 s−1 respectively. Sectional mean (median) values of the diapycnal diffusivity (Kρ) and eddy thermal diffusivity (KT) are in the range 10−6−10−5 (10−6−10−5) m2 s−1 and 10−4−10−2 (10−6−10−4) m2 s−1, respectively. The barrier layer (BL) was observed at most of the measurement locations. The layering structures in the salinity profiles observed within BL indicate the phase of transition of halocline reformation. Experiments using a one-dimensional model suggest that this layering is caused by the mixing of surface freshwater (surface freshening caused by heavy rains) with mixed-layer water. Double diffusion with weak staircase structures in temperature and salinity is observed predominantly in the interior layer of the ocean in this region. The presence of SM at most stations, with its thickness decreasing from north to south, created conditions favorable for double-diffusive mixing. Signatures of salt fingering (SF) and diffusive convection (DC) were observed in 40% and 8% of the water column, respectively. Turbulent mixing in the column below the mixed layer (ML) is weak (KT≤10−6 m2 s−1) to moderate (KT∼10−4 m2 s−1), with some highly turbulent intermittent regions (KT∼10−2 m2 s−1) conducive to DC. The data presented here show the prevalence of two mixing regimes in the vertical: (1) vertical mixing of freshwater (due to rain) with the ambient mixed layer water, and (2) small-scale double-diffusive mixing due to contrasting temperature–salinity gradients predominantly in the ocean’s interior layer (below the isothermal layer).

Structural Characterization and Bioactive Compound Evaluation of Fruit and Vegetable Waste for Potential Animal Feed Applications

Agricultural waste from the fruit and vegetable industry is used as an alternative source of animal feed, but detailed investigations are required. The aim of this work was to conduct a physico-chemical characterization, through analytical techniques, of fruit and vegetable wastes such as those of golden apples, red apples, carrots, celery, beetroots, and red potato peels. The bioactive compounds in the samples indicated a high carbohydrate content of 50.38 g/100 g in golden apples and 59.38 mg/100 g of organic acids in celery. In addition, the total phenolic content (TPC, mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight) varied between 3.72 in celery and 15.51 in beetroots. The antioxidant capacity values were significant. A thermal analysis showed thermal stability and weight loss, underscoring the composition of the solid samples. An infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed C-H, O-H, C=O, and N-H functional groups in non-starchy carbohydrates, organic acids, and proteins. Microscopic techniques revealed the microstructure, particle size, and semicrystalline profile of the samples. The ultrastructure (determined via atomic force microscopy (AFM)) of celery consisted of a smooth and uniform surface with a lignin and cellulose texture. These results highlight the importance of fruit and vegetable waste as an alternative source of essential nutrients and bioactive compounds for animal feed.

The association between metabolite profiles and impaired bone microstructure in adult growth hormone deficient rats

BackgroundAdult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is associated with an increased risk of fractures and impaired bone microstructure. Understanding the metabolic changes accompanying bone deterioration in AGHD might provide insights into mechanisms behind molecular changes and develop new biomarkers or nutritional strategies for bone destruction. Our study aimed to investigate the association between altered metabolite patterns and impaired bone microstructure in adult rats with growth hormone deficiency.MethodsThirty seven-week-aged adult Lewis dwarf homozygous (dw/dw) rats (five females and five males), and adult Lewis dwarf heterozygous (dw/ +) rats (five females and five males) rats were compared. Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) was used to examine the bone's microstructure. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining were used to quantify the histological characteristics. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry untargeted serum metabolomic analysis was applied in the study. ELISA was used to measure serum bone turnover markers and IGF-1 levels.ResultsAdult dw/dw rats exhibited great reductions in trabecular volume bone density (Tb.vBMD), bone volume/total volume (BV/TV), and cortical thickness (Ct. Th) compared with adult dw/ + rats (all p values < 0.05), indicating significant impairment in bone microstructure. The serum metabolite profiles revealed substantial differences between the dw/dw rats and dw/ + rats. A total of 134 differential metabolites in positive ion mode and 49 differential metabolites in negative mode were identified. Five metabolites, including Lysophosphatidylcholine(LPC) 20:3, LPC22:6, LPC22:4, cortisol and histamine levels were upregulated in dw/dw rats. The steroid hormone biosynthesis and bile secretion pathways were the main perturbed metabolic pathways. There were significant associations between differential metabolites and the impaired bone microstructure parameters, indicating that the selected metabolites might serve as potential biomarkers for deteriorated bone microstructure in AGHD.ConclusionAdult dw/dw rats exhibit impaired bone microstructure and distinct serum metabolic profiles, and the altered metabolites were significantly associated with bone microstructure destruction. This provides a new insight into understanding the mechanism of bone deterioration in AGHD patients from a metabolic perspective.

Effects of different drying methods on the nutritional components, microstructure, and metabolomic profile of Spirulina maxima

Spirulina maxima (S. maxima) is considered a potential solution to address the issue of human food security. In this study, three drying methods were employed: spray drying (SD), freeze drying (FD), and vacuum drying (VD), to process fresh S. maxima (FS). A comprehensive nutritional evaluation was conducted using principal component analysis and cluster analysis, along with an untargeted metabolomics study. The results indicated that after SD, FD, and VD treatments, the phycocyanin content decreased by 23 %, 9 %, and 80 %, respectively, compared to that of the FS. The polysaccharide content also significantly decreased by 36 %, 33 %, and 67 %, respectively. Comprehensive analysis showed that SD resulted in the least loss of nutritional indicators in S. maxima. Further metabolomics analysis revealed that prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to metabolic disruptions in 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism, purine metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and starch and sucrose metabolism. Additionally, the levels of coproporphyrin I and coproporphyrin III increased which ultimately led to a decrease in chlorophyll and phycocyanin contents. Therefore, VD resulted in the poorest quality of S. maxima. This study provided a theoretical basis for the quality assessment of S. maxima in response to drying.

Shear Instability and Turbulent Mixing by Kuroshio Intrusion Into the Changjiang River Plume

AbstractShear instability is a dominant mechanism for mixing in the stratified oceans and coastal seas. For the first time, we present fine‐scale, direct measurements of shear instabilities in the bottom front generated by the Kuroshio intrusion into the Changjiang (Yangtze) river plume. Shear instabilities were identified using a shipboard echo‐sounder and the resulting turbulent mixing was quantified using a turbulence microstructure profiler. The shear instabilities generate vigorous turbulent mixing with dissipation rate and vertical diffusivity up to O (10−4 m2 s−3) and O (10−1 m2 s−1), respectively, comparable to values associated with shear instabilities observed in river plumes and western boundary currents but several orders of magnitude larger than typical values in the open ocean. The enhanced turbulence may contribute significantly to mixing between the Kuroshio water and coastal water and thereby alter the coastal biogeochemistry cycles.

Fabrication of Microstructured Hydrogels via Dehydration for On-Demand Applications.

Microstructured hydrogels show promising applications in various engineering fields from micromolds to anisotropic wetting surfaces and microfluidics. Although methods like molding by, e.g., casting as well as 3D printing are developed to fabricate microstructured hydrogels, developing fabrication methods with high controllability and low-cost is an on-going challenge. Here, a method is presented for creating microstructures through the dehydration of double network hydrogels. This method utilizes common acrylate monomers and a mask-assisted photopolymerization process, requiring no complex equipment or laborious chemical synthesis process. The shape and profile of microstructures can be easily controlled by varying the exposure time and the mask used during photopolymerization. By altering the monomer and the mask used for fabricating the second network hydrogel, both convex and concave microstructures can be produced. To showcase the utility of this method, the patterned hydrogel is utilized as a mold to fabricate a polydimethylsiloxane microlens array via soft lithography for imaging application. In addition, a patterned hydrogel surface exhibiting obvious anisotropic wetting properties and open microfluidic devices which can achieve fast directional superspreading within milliseconds are also fabricated to demonstrate the versatility of the method for different engineering fields.

TRANSRETINAL PUNCTURE WITH A 41G CANNULA FOR POSTERIOR RESIDUAL SUBRETINAL FLUID IN FOVEA-OFF RETINAL DETACHMENTS TREATED BY VITRECTOMY VS FLUID TOLERANCE VS OTHER CONVENTIONAL DRAINAGE TECHNIQUES: A Comparative Study.

To compare functional and anatomical outcomes between posterior drainage of residual fluid using a 41G cannula, fluid tolerance (residual subretinal fluid), and conventional complete drainage methods, including removal through peripheral retinal breaks, perfluorocarbon liquid, and posterior retinotomy. In this retrospective, multicenter study, we evaluated cases for visual acuity at 3 months of follow-up. Secondary outcomes included surgical success, postoperative metamorphopsia, shifts, full-thickness folds, optical coherence tomography parameters, and safety. Subgroup analyses were also conducted. Visual acuity did not differ significantly between the three main groups. Subgroup analyses revealed worse visual acuity for posterior retinotomy (20/270 in Snellen conversion, P = 0.002), with significantly more Grade C proliferative vitreoretinopathy (40.0%, P = 0.003). Residual subretinal fluid tended to offer better secondary outcomes, without statistical significance except for postoperative epiretinal membrane (30.8%, P = 0.041). Subgroup analyses found significantly more shifts with PFCL (91.7%, P = 0.036). No cases of postoperative full-thickness folds or macular holes were observed with the 41G. Our study introduced the 41G technique, indicating favorable outcomes for fovea-off retinal detachments. Nevertheless, fluid tolerance appeared to be the best option, offering a cost-effective and faster method, with an optimal microstructural profile and visual acuity comparable with that of complete drainage techniques.

Nerve agent exposure and physiological stress alter brain microstructure and immune profiles after inflammatory challenge in a long-term rat model of Gulf War Illness

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a disorder experienced by many veterans of the 1991 Gulf War, with symptoms including fatigue, chronic pain, respiratory and memory problems. Exposure to toxic chemicals during the war, such as oil well fire smoke, pesticides, physiological stress, and nerve agents, is thought to have triggered abnormal neuroinflammatory responses that contribute to GWI. Previous studies have examined the acute effects of combined physiological stress and chemical exposures using GWI rodent models and presented findings related to neuroinflammation and changes in diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures, suggesting a neuroimmune basis for GWI. In the current study, using ex vivo MRI, cytokine mRNA expression, and immunohistological analyses of brain tissues, we examined the brain structure and immune function of a chronic rat model of GWI. Our data showed that a combination of long-term corticosterone treatment (to mimic high physiological stress) and diisopropyl fluorophosphate exposure (to mimic sarin exposure) primed the response to subsequent systemic immune challenge with lipopolysaccharide resulting in elevations of multiple cytokine mRNAs, an increased activated glial population, and disrupted brain microstructure in the cingulate cortex and hippocampus compared to control groups. Our findings support the critical role of neuroinflammation, dysregulated glial activation, and their relationship to disrupted brain microstructural integrity in the pathophysiology of GWI and highlight the unique consequences of long-term combined exposures on brain biochemistry and structural connectivity.

Effect of Scanning Speed on Microstructure Profile of Selective Laser Melted Stainless Steel 316L

Effect of Scanning Speed on Microstructure Profile of Selective Laser Melted Stainless Steel 316L

Effect of turbulent mixing on the formation of intermediate nepheloid layer over the northern continental slope of the Andaman sea

An intermediate nepheloid layer (INL) serves as an important conduit for the cross-slope transport of particulate matter, including organic carbon, biological nutrients and other lithogenic minerals. Despite extensive reports on the substantial sediment influx from the Ayeyarwady River into the northern continental slope of the Andaman Sea (AS), the transport route and fate of these river-borne sediments remain poorly understood, due to lack of in situ observations of turbid INL over the slope. In this study, we present direct evidence of an INL over the northern continental slope of the AS during the winter of 2019/2020, accompanied by enhanced mid-water turbulent mixing. Mooring measurements reveal energetic internal tides with high-mode vertical structure in the study region; and beam-like structures of internal tides are observed, which could be responsible for the enhanced mid-water turbulent mixing coinciding with the INL. Moreover, available microstructure profiles reveal energetic turbulent mixing with bottom-intensified turbulent diffusivity over the study area. Numerical experiments suggest that inhomogeneous distribution of turbulent mixing over the continental slope could induce local convergence of the upwelling transport in the upslope direction, resulting in an intrusion from the boundary to the interior and consequently promoting the INL formation. The discovery of the INL and its mixing-driven generation mechanism provide new insights into sediment transport dynamics over the northern continental slope of the AS.

Structural evolution in desalting Merluccius hubbsi fillets: comparative analysis of varied salting techniques

SummaryThis study investigates the reversible and irreversible structural changes in proteins induced by different salting methods (brining, mixed salting, and dry salting) during the desalting process of Merluccius hubbsi fillets. We focused on mass changes, water content, and NaCl content, employing mathematical models for kinetic analysis and sorption isotherms. Image analysis was utilised to examine tissue microstructure and texture profile analysis assessed the mechanical properties. Our results indicate that salting methods significantly influence mass changes and yield during desalting. Specifically, brining led to the highest weight gain due to controlled salt absorption and enhanced water retention. The Peleg model accurately described NaCl and water content dynamics during desalting. Microscopic analysis revealed substantial structural alterations, while mechanical properties showed significant differences; dry and mixed salting methods caused notable tissue damage and protein denaturation. These findings provide valuable insights for enhancing salting processes and improving the quality of desalted seafood products.

BundleAGE: Predicting White Matter Age using Along-Tract Microstructural Profiles from Diffusion MRI.

Brain Age Gap Estimation (BrainAGE) is an estimate of the gap between a person's chronological age (CA) and a measure of their brain's 'biological age' (BA). This metric is often used as a marker of accelerated aging, albeit with some caveats. Age prediction models trained on brain structural and functional MRI have been employed to derive BrainAGE biomarkers, for predicting the risk of neurodegeneration. While voxel-based and along-tract microstructural maps from diffusion MRI have been used to study brain aging, no studies have evaluated along-tract microstructure for computing BrainAGE. In this study, we train machine learning models to predict a person's age using along-tract microstructural profiles from diffusion tensor imaging. We were able to demonstrate differential aging patterns across different white matter bundles and microstructural measures. The novel Bundle Age Gap Estimation (BundleAGE) biomarker shows potential in quantifying risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases and aging, while incorporating finer scale information throughout white matter bundles.

Associations of Cerebral Blood Flow Patterns With Gray and White Matter Structure in Patients With Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

Neuroimaging studies in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) show widespread brain network alterations beyond the mesiotemporal lobe. Despite the critical role of the cerebrovascular system in maintaining whole-brain structure and function, changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) remain incompletely understood in the disease. Here, we studied whole-brain perfusion and vascular network alterations in TLE and assessed its associations with gray and white matter compromises and various clinical variables. We included individuals with and without pharmaco-resistant TLE who underwent multimodal 3T MRI, including arterial spin labelling, structural, and diffusion-weighted imaging. Using surface-based MRI mapping, we generated individualized cortico-subcortical profiles of perfusion, morphology, and microstructure. Linear models compared regional CBF in patients with controls and related alterations to morphological and microstructural metrics. We further probed interregional vascular networks in TLE, using graph theoretical CBF covariance analysis. The effects of disease duration were explored to better understand the progressive changes in perfusion. We assessed the utility of perfusion in separating patients with TLE from controls using supervised machine learning. Compared with control participants (n = 38; mean ± SD age 34.8 ± 9.3 years; 20 females), patients with TLE (n = 24; mean ± SD age 35.8 ± 10.6 years; 12 females) showed widespread CBF reductions predominantly in fronto-temporal regions (Cohen d -0.69, 95% CI -1.21 to -0.16), consistent in a subgroup of patients who remained seizure-free after surgical resection of the seizure focus. Parallel structural profiling and network-based models showed that cerebral hypoperfusion may be partially constrained by gray and white matter changes (8.11% reduction in Cohen d) and topologically segregated from whole-brain perfusion networks (area under the curve -0.17, p < 0.05). Negative effects of progressive disease duration further targeted regional CBF profiles in patients (r = -0.54, 95% CI -0.77 to -0.16). Perfusion-derived classifiers discriminated patients from controls with high accuracy (71% [70%-82%]). Findings were robust when controlling for several methodological confounds. Our multimodal findings provide insights into vascular contributions to TLE pathophysiology affecting and extending beyond mesiotemporal structures and highlight their clinical potential in epilepsy diagnosis. As our work was cross-sectional and based on a single site, it motivates future longitudinal studies to confirm progressive effects, ideally in a multicentric setting.

Evaluation of ultrasound-assisted tomato sour soup marination on beef: Insights into physicochemical, sensory, microstructural, and flavour characteristics

This study evaluated the quality attributes of tomato sour soup marinade and investigated the effects of ultrasound-assisted marination on the physicochemical properties, microstructure, texture, sensory quality, and flavour profile of beef. The results showed that tomato sour soup significantly increased the marinade absorption rate and improved beef tenderloin’s physicochemical properties, texture, and flavour attributes compared to static brine (P < 0.05), with organic acids playing an essential role in the marinade tenderisation process. Compared to static sour soup marination, ultrasound treatment significantly accelerated the marination process, reducing beef’s shear force, hardness, and chewiness while increasing its tenderness. Microstructural observations revealed that sour soup marination induced a fragmented and irregular muscle fibre structure. Furthermore, sour soup marination significantly increased the relative concentrations of volatile flavour compounds, including alkanes, organic sulphides, alcohols, aldehydes, and aromatic compounds. Appropriate ultrasound treatment positively affects the texture and flavour characteristics of beef marinated with tomato sour soup, and the optimal approach was 320 W ultrasound treatment for 60 min. Overall, tomato sour soup improved beef’s textural and flavour attributes, while ultrasound-assisted marination is an effective processing method to improve the quality of meat products.

Effects of Exidia yadongensis polysaccharide as emulsifier on the stability, aroma, and antioxidant activities of fat-free stirred mango buffalo yogurt

Because of the poor stability and rheological properties of fat-free stirred yogurt fortified with fruit pulp, new functional polysaccharides as a natural emulsifier, which can increase viscosity in the aqueous phase, may be needed. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Exidia yadongensis polysaccharide (EYP) as emulsifier on the stability, aroma, and antioxidant activities of mango buffalo yogurt at 4 °C for 25 days. The yogurt with 15 g/L EYP gave a higher content of 215 g/L total solids, 11.3 g/L exopolysaccharides, 0.10 g/L total polyphenols, 630.5 g/L water-holding capacity, and 11.43 g/kg total free amino acids, and maintained better texture, DPPH scavenging activity of 54.05 % and OH scavenging rates of 67.16 %. Moreover, the EYP exhibited the expected ability to weaken postacidification, syneresis, and growth of microorganism, and greatly promote the textural, rheological properties, suspension stability, microstructure, and aroma profiles of stirred mango-flavored buffalo yogurt (p < 0.05). In addition, the addition of 15 g/L EYP can inhibit protein degradation and improve the stability of secondary structure of the protein complex in mango yogurt during 25 days of storage. Therefore, EYP (15 g/L) could be used as natural positive functional factors and emulsifiers in such fat-free stirred yogurt industry.

Spatiotemporal analysis of microstructure, sensory attributes, and full-spectrum metabolomes reveals the relationship between bitterness and nootkatone in Alpinia oxyphylla miquel fruit peel and seeds

The Alpinia oxyphylla fruit (AOF) is a popular condiment and traditional Chinese medicine in Asia, known for its neuroprotective compound nootkatone. However, there has not been a comprehensive study of its flavor or the relationship between sensory and bioactive compounds. To address this issue, we examined AOF’s microstructure, flavor, and metabolomic profiles during fruit maturation. The key markers used to distinguish samples included fruit expansion, testa pigmentation, aril liquefaction, oil cell expansion, peel spiciness, aril sweetness, and seed bitterness. A full-spectrum metabolomic analysis, combining a nontargeted metabolomics approach for volatile compounds and a widely targeted metabolomics approach for nonvolatile compounds, identified 1,448 metabolites, including 1,410 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). Notably, 31 DAMs, including nootkatone, were associated with spicy peel, sweet aril, and bitter seeds. Correlational analysis indicated that bitterness intensity is an easy-to-use biomarker for nootkatone content in seeds. KEGG enrichment analysis linked peel spiciness to phenylpropanoid and capsaicin biosynthesis, seed bitterness to terpenoid (especially nootkatone) biosynthesis, and aril sweetness to starch and sucrose metabolism. This investigation advances the understanding of AOF’s complex flavor chemistry and underlying bioactive principle, encapsulating the essence of the adage: “no bitterness, no intelligence” within the realm of phytochemistry.

Differences in cortical microstructure according to body mass index in neurologically healthy populations using structural magnetic resonance imaging

Associations between brain structure and body mass index (BMI) are increasingly gaining attention. Although BMI-related regional alterations in brain morphology have been previously reported, the effect of BMI on the microstructural profiles, which provide information on the proxy of neuronal density within the cortex, is unexplored. In this study, we investigated the links between cortical layer-specific microstructural profiles and BMI in 302 neurologically healthy young adults. Using the microstructure-sensitive proxy based on the T1-and T2-weighted ratio, we estimated microstructural profile covariance (MPC) by calculating linear correlations of cortical depth-wise intensity profiles between different brain regions. Then, low-dimensional gradients of the MPC matrix were estimated using dimensionality reduction techniques, and the gradients were associated with BMI. Significant effects in the heteromodal association areas were observed. The BMI-gradient association map was related to the geodesic distance along the cortical surface, curvature, and sulcal depth, suggesting that the microstructural alterations occurred along the cortical topology. The BMI-gradient association map was further linked to cognitive states related to negative emotions. Our findings may provide insights into understanding the atypical cortical microstructure associated with BMI.