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Microorganisms May 2024Bacteria, fungi, and protists occupy a pivotal position in maintaining soil ecology. Despite limited knowledge on their responses to managed vegetation restoration...
Bacteria, fungi, and protists occupy a pivotal position in maintaining soil ecology. Despite limited knowledge on their responses to managed vegetation restoration strategies in karst regions, we aimed to study the essential microbial communities involved in the process of vegetation restoration. We compared microbial characteristics in four land use types: planted forests (PF), forage grass (FG), a mixture of plantation forest and forage grass (FF), and cropland (CR) as a reference. Our findings revealed that the richness of bacteria and protists was higher in FF compared to PF, while fungal richness was lower in both PF and FF than in CR. Additionally, the bacterial Shannon index in FF was higher than that in CR and PF, while the fungal and protist Shannon indices were similar across all four land use types. Significant differences were observed in the compositions of bacterial, fungal, and protist communities between FF and the other three land use types, whereas bacterial, fungal, and protist communities were relatively similar in PF and FG. In FF, the relative abundance of bacterial taxa Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, and Gemmatimonadetes was significantly higher than in PF and CR. Fungal communities were dominated by Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, with the relative abundance of Ascomycota significantly higher in FF compared to other land use types. Regarding protistan taxa, the relative abundance of Chlorophyta was higher in FF compared to CR, PF, and FG, while the relative abundance of Apicomplexa was higher in CR compared to FF. Importantly, ammonium nitrogen, total phosphorus, and microbial biomass nitrogen were identified as key soil properties predicting changes in the diversity of bacteria, fungi, and protists. Our results suggest that the microbial community under FF exhibits greater sensitivity to vegetation restoration compared to PF and FG. This sensitivity may stem from differences in soil properties, the formation of biological crusts and root systems, and management activities, resulting in variations in bacterial, fungal, and protist diversity and taxa in PF. As a result, employing a combination restoration strategy involving plantation forest and forage grass proves to be an effective approach to enhance the microbial community and thereby improve ecosystem functionality in ecologically fragile areas.
PubMed: 38930456
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061074 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) require considerable Pd in the cathode, hindering the widespread of alkaline fuel cells (AFCs). By alloying Pd...
The sluggish kinetics of oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs) require considerable Pd in the cathode, hindering the widespread of alkaline fuel cells (AFCs). By alloying Pd with transition metals, the oxygen reduction reaction's catalytic properties can be substantially enhanced. Nevertheless, the utilization of Pd-transition metal alloys in fuel cells is significantly constrained by their inadequate long-term durability due to the propensity of transition metals to leach. In this study, a nonmetallic doping strategy was devised and implemented to produce a Pd catalyst doped with P that exhibited exceptional durability towards ORRs. PdP with an average size of 6.41 nm was synthesized by the heat-treatment phosphorization of Pd nanoparticles followed by acid etching. After P-doping, the size of the Pd nanoparticles increased from 5.37 nm to 6.41 nm, and the initial mass activity (MA) of PdP/NC reached 0.175 A mg at 0.9 V, slightly lower than that of Pd/C. However, after 40,000 cycles of accelerated durability testing, instead of decreasing, the MA of PdP/NC increased by 6.3% while the MA loss of Pd/C was 38.3%. The durability was primarily ascribed to the electronic structure effect and the aggregation resistance of the Pd nanoparticles. This research also establishes a foundation for the development of Pd-based ORR catalysts and offers a direction for the future advancement of catalysts designed for practical applications in AFCs.
PubMed: 38930248
DOI: 10.3390/ma17122879 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Crop rotation has been considered a potential solution to mitigate the negative effects of the continuous cropping of sorghum, including soil quality issues, inadequate...
Crop rotation has been considered a potential solution to mitigate the negative effects of the continuous cropping of sorghum, including soil quality issues, inadequate plant development, and diminished yield and quality. A two-year field experiment was conducted to compare the effects of sorghum-sorghum continuous cropping and quinoa-sorghum rotation on soil properties and sorghum yield. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Sorghum seeds (Jinza 22) and quinoa seeds ('Jiaqi 1' variety) were used. Soil samples were collected before and during the experiment for the analysis of physicochemical properties. The yield traits of sorghum were measured at maturity. The results showed that soil nutrients and organic matter were higher in the top 0-20 cm soil depth compared to 20-40 cm depth, with significant differences observed between cropping systems. Sorghum-quinoa cropping increased soil total N and organic matter, particularly at the jointing and maturity stages of sorghum. However, the available phosphorus was higher under continuous cropping at all growth stages. Crop rotation significantly improved sorghum yield traits, including spike fresh weight, spike dry weight, grain weight per spike, and grain yield per hectare. A correlation analysis revealed positive relationships between soil total N, organic matter, and sorghum yield. Overall, sorghum-quinoa rotation demonstrated potential for improving soil fertility and enhancing crop productivity compared to continuous cropping, although further studies are needed to explore the long-term effects and optimize management practices.
PubMed: 38929728
DOI: 10.3390/life14060745 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jun 2024Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSH) in dogs is a condition that develops in response to a vitamin D deficiency or an imbalanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio...
Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSH) in dogs is a condition that develops in response to a vitamin D deficiency or an imbalanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in dog food. Puppies of large-breed dogs exclusively fed a non-supplemented, boneless raw meat diet are especially susceptible to developing NSH due to their elevated calcium requirement. Reports on NSH in companion animals have been sparse in the last decades due to dog owners having easy access to commercially balanced dog foods. However, with the rising popularity of meat-based raw feeding, this condition has re-emerged. In this case series, four large-breed puppies fed exclusively non-supplemented, boneless raw meat diets presented with complaints of acute onset of pain and paresis. Radiographs and/or computed tomography (CT) scans showed reduced radio density of the skeleton in all four puppies. Two of the dogs had pathological fractures, and these two puppies were euthanized. One was subjected to a post mortem examination, which revealed cortical bone resorption and hypertrophy of the parathyroid glands. The remaining two puppies rapidly improved after receiving pain medication and a commercial, balanced diet. This case series demonstrates a risk of young dogs developing severe neurological deficits when fed a non-supplemented, boneless raw meat diet.
PubMed: 38929402
DOI: 10.3390/ani14121783 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Royal jelly is a substance secreted by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of nurse honey bees, serving as crucial nutritional source for young larvae, queen honey...
Royal jelly is a substance secreted by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of nurse honey bees, serving as crucial nutritional source for young larvae, queen honey bees, and also valuable product for humans. In this study, the effect of the feed supplements on the nutritional composition and qualities of royal jelly was investigated. Two types of royal jelly samples were acquired: one from honey bees fed with sugar syrup as a feed supplement and the other from honey bees fed with honey. The production, harvesting, and storage of all royal jelly samples followed standard procedures. Parameters for quality assessment and nutritional value, including stable carbon isotopic ratio, moisture content, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) level, carbohydrate composition, amino acid composition, and mineral contents, were analyzed. The results revealed that despite variability in moisture content and carbohydrate composition, fructose was lower (2.6 and 4.1 g/100 g as is for sugar-fed and honey-fed royal jelly, respectively) and sucrose was higher (7.5 and 2.7 g/100 g as is for sugar-fed and honey-fed royal jelly, respectively) in the sugar-fed group. The stable isotope ratio (-16.4608‱ for sugar-fed and -21.9304‱ for honey-fed royal jelly) clearly distinguished the two groups. 10-HDA, amino acid composition, and total protein levels were not significantly different. Certain minerals, such as potassium, iron, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus were higher in the honey-fed group. Hierarchical analysis based on moisture, sugar composition, 10-HDA, and stable carbon isotopes categorized the samples into two distinct groups. This study demonstrated that the feed source could affect the nutritional quality of royal jelly.
PubMed: 38928885
DOI: 10.3390/foods13121942 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Recently, phosphorylation has been applied to peptides to enhance their physiological activity, taking advantage of its modification benefits and the extensive study of...
Recently, phosphorylation has been applied to peptides to enhance their physiological activity, taking advantage of its modification benefits and the extensive study of functional peptides. In this study, water-soluble peptides (WSPs) of sea cucumber ovum were phosphorylated in order to improve the latter's calcium binding capacity and calcium absorption. Enzymatic hydrolysis methods were screened via ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-Vis), the fluorescence spectrum, and calcium chelating ability. Phosphorylated water-soluble peptides (P-WSPs) were characterized via high-performance liquid chromatography, the circular dichroism spectrum, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis spectroscopy, surface hydrophobicity, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The phosphorus content, calcium chelation rate and absorption rate were investigated. The results demonstrated that phosphorylation enhanced the calcium chelating capacity of WSPs, with the highest capacity reaching 0.96 mmol/L. Phosphate ions caused esterification events, and the carboxyl, amino, and phosphate groups of WSPs and P-WSPs interacted with calcium ions to form these bonds. Calcium-chelated phosphorylated water-soluble peptides (P-WSPs-Ca) demonstrated outstanding stability (calcium retention rates > 80%) in gastrointestinal processes. Our study indicates that these chelates have significant potential to develop into calcium supplements with superior efficacy, bioactivity, and stability.
PubMed: 38928883
DOI: 10.3390/foods13121943 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024This study aims to improve press equipment for safflower oil production by using a mechanism that optimizes pressure distribution within screw turns. A detailed analysis...
This study aims to improve press equipment for safflower oil production by using a mechanism that optimizes pressure distribution within screw turns. A detailed analysis of the main components of the produced safflower oil was performed, encompassing both quantitative and qualitative assessments. Through the exploration of dependencies governing the safflower oil pressing process on the screw press, the optimal parameters were determined. As a result of the research, the optimal diaphragm gap between the gape cylinder and the pressing screw was determined, with the optimal oil yield percentage achieved at ω = 6.2 rad/s and δ = 5 mm. The study also compared the performance of the existing Dream Modern ODM-01 screw press and its upgraded version by analyzing the extracted oil. The results reveal changes in the quantitative and qualitative composition of the main oil components following the operation of the existing and the modernized screw presses. For instance, the amount of unsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid (7.7 ± 0.566%), linoleic acid (85.3 ± 1.185%), and linolenic acid (1.2 ± 0.223%), increased. There was an increase in the presence of inorganic substances in safflower oil: iron (0.023 ± 0.031 mg/kg), phosphorus (0.086 ± 0.059 mg/kg), silicium (0.136 ± 0.075 mg/kg), and others. The findings of this study hold significant commercial value and offer promising prospects for global market implementation.
PubMed: 38928850
DOI: 10.3390/foods13121909 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The present study explored the nutritional composition, phytochemicals analysis, and antioxidant capacity of two indigenous varieties of red and green water chestnut...
The present study explored the nutritional composition, phytochemicals analysis, and antioxidant capacity of two indigenous varieties of red and green water chestnut (WCN) fruit grown in Pakistan. Accordingly, this study was designed to investigate the proximate composition (moisture, ash, fiber, proteins, fat, and energy), physicochemical properties (pH, °Brix, and glycemic index), minerals, and vitamins. The methanolic extracts of WCN fruits were explored for phytochemicals (total phenolic and flavonoid content), and antioxidant potential was examined in vitro by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity (DPPH) and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Quantitative determination of mineral (sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, copper, and zinc) and vitamin (vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin A, and -Carotene) composition was also assessed. Based on the findings, the proximate compositions of WCN green and red varieties varied greatly as WCN green contained significantly higher protein (1.72%), fat (0.65%), dietary fiber (2.21%), moisture (70.23%), ash (1.16%), and energy content (112.8 Kcal) than WCN red. In WCN green, the macro-micromineral concentrations were significantly higher than WCN red. Among the minerals analyzed, potassium was the most abundant mineral found in both varieties. Levels of vitamin C, B, A, and -Carotene were significantly higher in WCN green. In this study, methanolic extract showed higher extraction efficiency than acetone, ethanol, and distilled water. WCN green had a significantly higher quantum of total phenolic (91.13 mg GAE/g) and total flavonoid (36.6 mg QE/g) and presented significantly higher antioxidant activity than the WCN red. This study showed that, among both varieties, WCN green extract has therapeutic potential against free radical mediated health conditions and suggested the potential use of this fruit as a source of natural antioxidants in nutraceuticals.
PubMed: 38928824
DOI: 10.3390/foods13121883 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Osteoporosis, a prevalent chronic health issue among the elderly, is a global bone metabolic disease. Flavonoids, natural active compounds widely present in vegetables,...
Onion ( L.) Flavonoid Extract Ameliorates Osteoporosis in Rats Facilitating Osteoblast Proliferation and Differentiation in MG-63 Cells and Inhibiting RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenesis in RAW 264.7 Cells.
Osteoporosis, a prevalent chronic health issue among the elderly, is a global bone metabolic disease. Flavonoids, natural active compounds widely present in vegetables, fruits, beans, and cereals, have been reported for their anti-osteoporotic properties. Onion is a commonly consumed vegetable rich in flavonoids with diverse pharmacological activities. In this study, the trabecular structure was enhanced and bone mineral density (BMD) exhibited a twofold increase following oral administration of onion flavonoid extract (OFE). The levels of estradiol (E2), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P) in serum were significantly increased in ovariectomized (OVX) rats, with effects equal to alendronate sodium (ALN). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) levels in rat serum were reduced by 35.7% and 36.9%, respectively, compared to the OVX group. In addition, the effects of OFE on bone health were assessed using human osteoblast-like cells MG-63 and osteoclast precursor RAW 264.7 cells in vitro as well. Proliferation and mineralization of MG-63 cells were promoted by OFE treatment, along with increased ALP activity and mRNA expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL). Additionally, RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast activity were inhibited by OFE treatment through decreased TRAP activity and down-regulation of mRNA expression-related enzymes in RAW 264.7 cells. Overall findings suggest that OFE holds promise as a natural functional component for alleviating osteoporosis.
Topics: Animals; Osteoblasts; RANK Ligand; Osteoporosis; Flavonoids; Mice; Onions; Cell Differentiation; Plant Extracts; Rats; Cell Proliferation; RAW 264.7 Cells; Osteogenesis; Humans; Female; Osteoclasts; Bone Density; Ovariectomy; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Osteoprotegerin
PubMed: 38928460
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126754 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024and , bacterial degraders of the herbicide glyphosate, were found to induce phosphonatase (phosphonoacetaldehyde hydrolase, EC 3.11.1.1) when grown on minimal media...
and , bacterial degraders of the herbicide glyphosate, were found to induce phosphonatase (phosphonoacetaldehyde hydrolase, EC 3.11.1.1) when grown on minimal media with glyphosate as the sole source of phosphorus. The phosphonatases of the strains were purified to an electrophoretically homogeneous state and characterized. The enzymes differed in their kinetic characteristics and some other parameters from the previously described phosphonatases. The phosphonatase of was first revealed to separate into two stable forms, which had similar kinetic characteristics but interacted differently with affinity and ion-exchange resins. The genomes of the investigated bacteria were sequenced. The phosphonatase genes were identified, and their context was determined: the bacteria were shown to have gene clusters, which, besides the phosphonatase operon, included genes for LysR-type transcription activator (substrate sensor) and putative iron-containing oxygenase PhnHD homologous to monooxygenases PhnY and TmpB of marine organophosphonate degraders. Genes of 2-aminoethylphosphonate aminotransferase (PhnW, EC 2.6.1.37) were absent in the achromobacterial phosphonatase operons; instead, we revealed the presence of genes encoding the putative flavin oxidase HpnW. In silico simulation showed 1-hydroxy-2-aminoethylphosphonate to be the most likely substrate of the new monooxygenase, and a number of glycine derivatives structurally similar to glyphosate to be substrates of flavin oxidase.
Topics: Glyphosate; Glycine; Achromobacter; Operon; Soil Microbiology; Bacterial Proteins; Herbicides; Multigene Family; Kinetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
PubMed: 38928116
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126409