Altered interaction network in the gut microbiota of current cigarette smokers.

The association between cigarette smoking and the gut microbiota remains unclear, and there is no agreement on how smoking affects the composition of gut microorganisms. In this study, the relationship between smoking status and gut microbial composition was investigated by performing 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analysis of stool samples from 80 healthy Chinese adults. The results showed that smoking did not cause significant changes to the composition and microbial functional pathways of the gut microbiota.

Coexistence of Ferromagnetism and Ferroelectricity in Cu-Intercalated Bilayer CrI.

Design of two-dimensional (2D) multiferroic materials with two or more ferroic orders in one structure is highly desired in view of the development of next-generation electronic devices. Unfortunately, experimental or theoretical discovery of 2D intrinsic multiferroic materials is rare. Using first-principles calculation methods, we report the realization of multiferroics that couple ferromagnetism and ferroelectricity by intercalating Cu atoms in bilayer CrI, Cu@bi-CrI ( = 0.

A novel method for evaluating load restraint assemblies to ensure the safety of railway freight transportation.

The violent goods vibration during curve negotiation is a huge threat to the vehicle running safety. Qualified load restraint assemblies that can significantly suppress the cargo vibration are necessary. This study proposes a novel method for evaluating the essential restraint strength, focusing on the relative motion between cargo and wagon.

Development of synthetic modulator enabling long-term propagation and neurogenesis of human embryonic stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells.

Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) are essential for in vitro drug screening and cell-based therapies for brain-related disorders, necessitating well-defined and reproducible culture systems. Current strategies employing protein growth factors pose challenges in terms of both reproducibility and cost. In this study, we developed a novel DNA-based modulator to regulate FGFR signaling in NPCs, thereby facilitating the long-term maintenance of stemness and promoting neurogenesis.

Genetic variations in the bitter taste receptor gene TAS2R38 are related to cigarette smoking behavior in Han Chinese smokers.

Background: Smoking behavior is influenced by multiple genes, including the bitter taste gene TAS2R38. It has been reported that the correlation between TAS2R38 and smoking behavior has ethnicity-based differences. However, the TAS2R38 status in Chinese smokers is still unclear.

Correction: Insects ( (Morgan)) change the stereochemical configuration of 1-phenylethanol emitted from tea () flowers.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C7RA03219F.].

Functional Characterization of An Involved in Biosynthesis of Jasmonic Acid and Its Influence on Metabolite Profiles and Ethylene Formation in Tea () Flowers.

Jasmonic acid (JA) is reportedly involved in the interaction between insects and the vegetative parts of horticultural crops; less attention has, however, been paid to its involvement in the interaction between insects and the floral parts of horticultural crops. Previously, we investigated the () gene that was found to be the only JA synthesis gene upregulated in tea () flowers exposed to insect ( (Morgan)) attacks. In our present study, transient expression analysis in plants confirmed that CsAOS2 functioned in JA synthesis and was located in the chloroplast membrane.

Study of the biochemical formation pathway of aroma compound 1-phenylethanol in tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) flowers and other plants.

After tea leaves, tea (Camellia sinensis) flowers are becoming a second tea plant resource because they contain not only functional metabolites similar to those found in tea leaves, but also predominant amounts of functional metabolites that only occur in tea leaves in small amounts. 1-Phenylethanol (1PE) is a predominant aroma compound found in tea flowers. A 1PE synthase in tea flowers was isolated, functionally characterized, and shown to have the highest catalytic efficiency for the conversion of acetophenone (AP).

Effect of Sling Exercise Training on Balance in Patients with Stroke: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effect of sling exercise training (SET) on balance in patients with stroke.

Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Ovid LWW, CBM, CNKI, WanFang, and VIP databases were searched for randomized controlled trials of the effect of SET on balance in patients with stroke. The study design and participants were subjected to metrological analysis.

Elucidation of Differential Accumulation of 1-Phenylethanol in Flowers and Leaves of Tea (Camellia sinensis) Plants.

1-Phenylethanol (1PE) is a major aromatic volatile in tea (Camellia sinensis) flowers, whereas it occurs in a much smaller amounts in leaves. Enzymes involved in the formation of 1PE in plants and the reason why 1PE differentially accumulates in plants is unknown. In the present study, enzymes in the last step leading from acetophenone to 1PE were isolated from tea flowers by traditional biochemical chromatography.