Optimizing gelation properties of mixed meat myofibrillar proteins: investigating the effects of different proportions of beef, pork and chicken on physicochemical, structural and gelation properties.

Background: The gelation properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) directly affect the texture, taste and water-holding capacity (WHC) of meat products. To enhance the gelation properties of single-species meat MP, the present study investigated the influence of different proportions of beef, pork and chicken MP on the physicochemical properties, structure and gelation properties of the MP.

Results: The results revealed that, when the proportion reached 5:2:3, the particle size decreases, leading to the maximum decomposition and unfolding of MPs, which exposes a greater number of hydrophobic amino acid residues.

Scaling relationships between the total number of leaves and the total leaf area per culm of two dwarf bamboo species.

Total leaf area per plant is an important measure of the photosynthetic capacity of an individual plant that together with plant density drives the canopy leaf area index, that is, the total leaf area per unit ground area. Because the total number of leaves per plant (or per shoot) varies among conspecifics and among mixed species communities, this variation can affect the total leaf area per plant and per canopy but has been little studied. Previous studies have shown a strong linear relationship between the total leaf area per plant (or per shoot) ( ) and the total number of leaves per plant (or per shoot) ( ) on a log-log scale for several growth forms.

Theoretical exploration of the phenolic compounds' inhibition mechanism of heterocyclic aromatic amines in roasted beef patties by density functional theory.

The ability of spices (bay leaf, star anise, and red pepper) and their characteristic phenolic compounds (quercetin, kaempferol, and capsaicin) to inhibit Heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) in roasted beef patties were compared. Density functional theory (DFT) was used to reveal phenolic compounds interacting with HAAs-related intermediates and free radicals to explore possible inhibitory mechanisms for HAAs. 3 % red chili and 0.

Effect of partial substitution of complex phosphates with sodium bicarbonate on aggregation, conformation and gel properties of beef-pork-chicken complex myofibrillar proteins.

Background: Complex phosphates (CP) can improve the physicochemical properties and gelation properties of myofibrillar fibrous protein (MP) in mixed meat products, but an excessive intake of phosphates over a long period of time is harmful to health. The present study investigated the effects of partial or complete substitution of CP with sodium bicarbonate (SB) on the physicochemical properties and gel properties of beef-pork-chicken mixed myofibrillar protein (BPC-MP), aiming to evaluate the feasibility of this method in reducing the amount of phosphate in mixed meat products.

Results: Under the optimal substitution conditions, the turbidity of BPC-MP was reduced by 37.

A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study of Gut Microbiota and Cerebral Small Vessel Disease.

Background: The causal nature of gut microbiota and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is still obscure regardless of evidence supporting their observational correlations.

Objectives: The primary objective of this research is to investigate the potentially pathogenic or protective causal impacts of specific gut microbiota on various neuroimaging subtypes of CSVD.

Methods: We obtained the latest summary-level genome-wide databases for gut microbiota and 9 CSVD traits.

Reinforcement and Deacidification for a Textile Scroll Painting (AD 1881) Using the CNF and MgO Suspensions.

The scroll paintings for ancestor trees have been used to inherit the spirit of ancestor worship as a historical record of family development since the late Ming Dynasty in China. A severely degraded scroll painting of an ancestor tree (made of cotton textiles) needs intervention and conservation treatment to mitigate further deterioration. On the basis of the previously reported characterization results for the painting, in this paper, a suspension that is composed of 0.

Formation and prediction of heterocyclic amines and N-nitrosamines in smoked sausages using back propagation artificial neural network.

Background: Heterocyclic amines (HAs) and N-nitrosamines (NAs) are formed easily during the thermal processing of food, and epidemiological studies have demonstrated that consuming HAs and NAs increases the risk of cancer. However, there are few studies on the application of back propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) models to simultaneously predict the content of HAs and NAs in sausages. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cooking time and temperature, smoking time and temperature, and fat-to-lean ratio on the formation of HAs and NAs in smoked sausages, and to predict their total content based on the BP-ANN model.

Assessing long-term trends in vegetation cover change in the Xilin River Basin: Potential for monitoring grassland degradation and restoration.

Under the influence of climate change and human activities, the problem of grassland degradation is becoming increasingly severe. Detection of changes in vegetation cover is crucial for a better understanding of the interaction between humans and ecosystems. This study maps changes in vegetation cover using the Google Earth Engine (GEE).

Laxiflorin B covalently binds the tubulin colchicine-binding site to inhibit triple negative breast cancer proliferation and induce apoptosis.

Laxiflorin B is a natural ent-kaurane diterpenoid that can be isolated from the leaves of the Isodon eriocalyx var. laxiflora, a perennial shrub native to parts of China. While this compound has potent cytotoxic activity against various tumor cells, the anti-tumor targets and molecular mechanisms of Laxiflorin B are unclear.

Bromodomain protein 4 mediates the roles of TGFβ1-induced Stat3 signaling in mouse liver fibrogenesis.

Epigenetic reader Bromodomain protein 4 (BrD4) functions as a global genomic regulator to direct hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation (a key step in liver fibrogenesis) and liver fibrosis. The pivotal pro-fibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) signals through both Smad and Stat3 to elicit a wide array of biological effects. Stat3 is widely acknowledged as a regulator of gene transcription and is involved in fibrosis of multiple tissues.

A Wearable Asynchronous Brain-Computer Interface Based on EEG-EOG Signals With Fewer Channels.

Objective: Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have tremendous application potential in communication, mechatronic control and rehabilitation. However, existing BCI systems are bulky, expensive and require laborious preparation before use. This study proposes a practical and user-friendly BCI system without compromising performance.

Bromodomain protein 4 is a key molecular driver of TGFβ1-induced hepatic stellate cell activation.

Liver fibrosis is characterized by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix in liver. Chronic liver injury induces the activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSCs), a key step in liver fibrogenesis. The activated HSC is the primary source of ECM and contributes significantly to liver fibrosis.

Shared Three-Dimensional Robotic Arm Control Based on Asynchronous BCI and Computer Vision.

Objective: A brain-computer interface (BCI) can be used to translate neuronal activity into commands to control external devices. However, using noninvasive BCI to control a robotic arm for movements in three-dimensional (3D) environments and accomplish complicated daily tasks, such as grasping and drinking, remains a challenge.

Approach: In this study, a shared robotic arm control system based on hybrid asynchronous BCI and computer vision was presented.

An unusual signal transducer GIV/Girdin engages in the roles of adipocyte-derived hormone leptin in liver fibrosis.

Obese patients usually have hyperleptinemia and are prone to develop liver fibrosis. Leptin is intimately linked to liver fibrogenesis, a multi-receptor-driven disease. Gα-Interacting Vesicle-associated protein (GIV) functions as a multimodular signal transducer and a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Gi controling key signalings downstream of diverse receptors.

The Status Quo and Influencing Factors of Care Activities and Support Behaviors of the Main Caregivers of Stroke Patients During the Transition Period from Discharge.

Objective: This study investigated stroke patients and their primary caregivers, examining the impact of stroke events on caregivers and families, identifying factors affecting burden levels, and proposing measures to improve caregivers' quality of life and reduce family burden.

Methods: This study adopted a questionnaire method, which includes a general information questionnaire, a patient self-care ability evaluation scale (Barthel index), a caregiver needs evaluation scale, and a social support evaluation scale (SSRS).

Results: A total of 163 primary caregivers, mostly spouses or children of the patients, participated with an average age of 55.

Mechanism for improving the gel properties of transglutaminase-mediated porcine myofibrillar protein by ultrasonic pretreatment combined with carrageenan.

To improve the limitation of transglutaminase on the quality of myofibrillar protein (MP) gel, this study investigated the synergistic effect of ultrasonic pretreatment in combination with carrageenan on the gel properties of transglutaminase-mediated MP gels. The synergistic effect generated gel with lower surface hydrophobicity and fluorescence intensity. Combined with the secondary structure results, it can be hypothesized that the synergistic effect caused the rearrangement of the proteins and the formation of aggregates wrapping hydrophobic groups, which changed the structure and phase behavior of the proteins.

Mechanical Alloying Behavior and Thermal Stability of CoCrCuFeMnNi High-Entropy Alloy Powders Prepared via MA.

CoCrCuFeMnNi (x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.

Potent Therapeutic Strategies for COVID-19 with Single-Domain Antibody Immunoliposomes Neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 and Lip/cGAMP Enhancing Protective Immunity.

The worldwide spread of COVID-19 continues to impact our lives and has led to unprecedented damage to global health and the economy. This highlights the need for an efficient approach to rapidly develop therapeutics and prophylactics against SARS-CoV-2. We modified a single-domain antibody, SARS-CoV-2 VHH, to the surface of the liposomes.

Extraction of anthocyanins from haskap using cold plasma-assisted enzyme.

Background: Haskap berries (Lonicera caerulea L.) are rich in anthocyanins. Cold plasma-assisted enzyme method (CPEM) is an innovative method for green extraction of anthocyanins, which was optimized by an artificial neural network-genetic algorithm (ANN-GA) to maximize the yield.

Heterocyclic aromatic amines in roasted chicken: Formation and prediction based on heating temperature and time.

The effects of chicken roasting temperature and time on the production of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) were investigated and an HAA prediction model based on heating conditions was established. Generally, the HAA content was significantly affected by the heating conditions in the roast chicken. Transportation of precursors from meat to skin, exposure of skin to high temperatures, and fat oxidation in the skin may result in higher HAAs than meat.

Mutual Coupling Suppression of GPR Antennas by Depositing Wideband Meta-Absorber with Resistive Film.

The direct wave between the transceiver antenna negatively affects the dynamic range and imaging quality of ground penetrating radar (GPR). Suppressing this direct wave is a vital problem in enhancing the performance of the whole GPR system. In this paper, a Minkowski-fractal metamaterial absorber (MMA) with the resistive film is proposed in the GPR transceiver antenna to reduce the mutual coupling.

Nanomedicine-Enabled/Augmented Cell Pyroptosis for Efficient Tumor Nanotherapy.

The terrible morbidity and mortality of malignant tumors urgently require innovative therapeutics, especially for apoptosis-resistant tumors. Pyroptosis, a pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death (PCD), is featured with pore formation in plasma membrane, cell swelling with giant bubbles, and leakage of cytoplasmic pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can remodel the tumor immune microenvironment by stimulating a "cold" tumor microenvironment to be an immunogenic "hot" tumor microenvironment, and consequently augment the therapeutic efficiency of malignant tumors. Benefiting from current advances in nanotechnology, nanomedicine is extensively applied to potentiate, enable, and augment pyroptosis for enhancing cancer-therapeutic efficacy and specificity.