Evaluating bio-physicochemical properties of raw powder prepared from whole larvae containing liquid silk of the domestic silkworm.

The domestic silkworm, , has been widely used in silk production for centuries. It is also used as a bioreactor by the textile and pharmaceutical industries to mass produce recombinant bioactive proteins containing silk-based materials. Furthermore, silkworms are well-known as a source of food and have also been orally administered to prevent and treat several human disorders.

Quantitative analysis of commercial coating penetration into Fagus crenata wood using X-ray microtomography.

Recent advances in wood treatment include the use of eco-friendly coatings to improve the wood's dimensional stability and appearance. Assessing coating performance during its service life is critical for establishing a knowledge base for product optimization. Numerous approaches, including microimaging, are available for analyzing coating behavior.

Effect of feeding calf starter with calcium salts of medium-chain fatty acids on the growth and metabolic hormones in calves.

We investigated the effects of a calf starter supplemented with calcium salts of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA-Ca) on growth and plasma hormone concentration in calves. Twelve Holstein calves were randomly assigned to two dietary groups (without supplementation [CON] and supplemented with MCFA-Ca [MCFA]) from 4 d of age. Calves were fed 1.

Selective biotic stressors' action on seed germination: A review.

In the realm of plant biology and agriculture, seed germination serves as a fundamental process with far-reaching implications for crop production and environmental health. This comprehensive review seeks to unravel the intricate web of interactions between some biotic stressors and seed germination, addressing the pertinent issue of how these stressors influence seed germination. Different chemicals produced by interacting plants (different parts), fungi, bacteria, or insects can either promote or inhibit seed germination.

Effective cultivation conditions and safety evaluation of filamentous cyanobacteria producing phycocyanins with antiglycation activities.

We investigated suitable culture conditions for the production of the blue pigment phycocyanin (PC) from the unique filamentous cyanobacteria Pseudanabaena sp. ABRG5-3 and Limnothrix sp. SK1-2-1.

Alternative localization of HEME OXYGENASE 1 in plant cells regulates cytosolic heme catabolism.

Heme, an organometallic tetrapyrrole, is widely engaged in oxygen transport, electron delivery, enzymatic reactions, and signal transduction. In plants, it is also involved in photomorphogenesis and photosynthesis. HEME OXYGENASE 1 (HO1) initiates the first committed step in heme catabolism, and it has generally been thought that this reaction takes place in chloroplasts.

Healthcare-seeking behavior and spatial variation of internal migrants with chronic diseases: a nationwide empirical study in China.

Individuals migrating with chronic diseases often face substantial health risks, and their patterns of healthcare-seeking behavior are commonly influenced by mobility. However, to our knowledge, no research has used spatial statistics to verify this phenomenon. Utilizing data from the China Migrant Dynamic Survey of 2017, we conducted a geostatistical analysis to identify clusters of chronic disease patients among China's internal migrants.

Protecting-Group-Free Synthesis of ADP-Ribose and Dinucleoside Di-/Triphosphate Derivatives via P(V)-P(V) Coupling Reaction.

Biomolecules containing adenosine di- or triphosphate (ADP or ATP) are crucial for diverse biological processes. Synthesis of these biomolecules and development of their chemical probes are important to elucidate their functions. Enabling reproducible and high-yielding access to these ADP- and ATP-containing molecules via conventional P(III)-P(V) and P(V)-P(V) coupling reactions is challenging owing to water content in highly polar phosphate-containing substrates.

Metabolomic and morphologic surveillance reveals the impact of lactic acid-treated barley on in vitro ruminal fermentation.

Objective: Lactic acid (LA) treatment of cereals is known to improve ruminant performance. However, changes in cereal nutrient levels and variations in rumen fermentation remain unclear.

Methods: This study was designed to compare the effects of 5% LA treatment on the trophic and morphological characteristics of barley and to discover the differences in rumen fermentation characteristics and metabolomes between LA-treated and untreated barley.

Revealing gene expression heterogeneity in a clonal population of through single-cell RNA sequencing.

We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on a population of 5,000 , using the 10x Genomics 3' gene expression analysis, to investigate gene expression variability within this clonal population. Initially, we estimated the 3'-untranslated regions (3' UTRs), which were absent in existing annotation files but are crucial for the 10x Genomics 3' gene expression analysis, using the peaks2utr method. This allowed us to create a modified annotation file, which was then utilized in our scRNA-seq analysis.

Novel role of homogalacturonan region of pectin in disrupting the interaction between fibronectin and integrin β1.

Pectin interacts with fibronectin (FN), a modular protein in the extracellular matrix. This interaction is significant as FN plays a pivotal role by binding to the receptor integrin α5β1. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the pectin-FN interaction and its impact on integrin binding remains unknown.

Quantitative assessment of urinary equol levels, equol-producing bacteria, and the faecal microbiota in healthy Japanese individuals.

Equol (4',7-isoflavandiol) has attracted considerable attention for its potential efficacy in treating hormonal diseases. In this study we collected samples from healthy Japanese individuals (n = 91) to observe the relationship between the abundance of equol-producing bacteria in their faeces and the concentration of equol in their urine. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting the dihydrodaidzein reductase gene (dhdr) was used to detect equol-producing bacteria.

Cloning of three type III polyketide synthases and formation of polyketides in recombinant using cinnamic acid analogs as substrates.

is an actinorhizal plant that coexists with the nitrogen-fixing actinomycete via nodules. It produces a variety of polyketides, including flavonoids, stilbenoids, and diarylheptanoids. These compounds have beneficial biological activities.

N-Acetylornithine deacetylase functions as a Cys-Gly dipeptidase in the cytosolic glutathione degradation pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Glutathione (GSH) is required for various physiological processes in plants, including redox regulation and detoxification of harmful compounds. GSH also functions as a repository for assimilated sulfur and is actively catabolized in plants. In Arabidopsis, GSH is mainly degraded initially by cytosolic enzymes, γ-glutamyl cyclotransferase, and γ-glutamyl peptidase, which release cysteinylglycine (Cys-Gly).

Reproductive Seasonality, Estrous Cycle, Pregnancy, and the Recurrence of Postpartum Estrus Based on Long-Term Profiles of Fecal Sex Steroid Hormone Metabolites regarding Zoo-Housed Female Golden Takins ().

This study investigates the non-invasive monitoring of the endocrine ovarian activities of captive female golden takins () based on long-term fecal sex steroid hormone metabolite dynamics. Fecal progesterone (P) metabolite dynamics were monitored in nine females for 0.5-15 years between 2004 and 2022.

Antidiabetic Effect of Urolithin A in Cultured L6 Myotubes and Type 2 Diabetic Model KK-A/Ta Mice with Glucose Intolerance.

Diabetes is caused by abnormal glucose metabolism, and muscle, the largest tissue in the human body, is largely involved. Urolithin A (UroA) is a major intestinal and microbial metabolite of ellagic acid and ellagitannins and is found in fruits such as strawberry and pomegranate. In this present study, we investigated the antidiabetic effects of UroA in L6 myotubes and in KK-A/Ta, a mouse model of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Bacterial community and genome analysis of cytoplasmic incompatibility-inducing in American serpentine leafminer, .

, an agricultural pest, is occasionally infected by A strain present in is associated with cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) effects, leading to the death of embryos resulting from incompatible crosses between antibiotic-treated or naturally -free strain females and -infected males. In this study, high-throughput sequencing of hypervariable rRNA genes was employed to characterize the bacterial community in -infected without antibiotic treatment. The analysis revealed that dominates the bacterial community in , with minor presence of , , and .

Gene expression and metabolite levels converge in the thermogenic spadix of skunk cabbage.

The inflorescence (spadix) of skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus renifolius) is strongly thermogenic and can regulate its temperature at around 23 °C even when the ambient temperature drops below freezing. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying developmentally controlled thermogenesis and thermoregulation in skunk cabbage, we conducted a comprehensive transcriptome and metabolome analysis across 3 developmental stages of spadix development. Our RNA-seq analysis revealed distinct groups of expressed genes, with selenium-binding protein 1/methanethiol oxidase (SBP1/MTO) exhibiting the highest levels in thermogenic florets.

Expression of Relaxin Family Peptide Receptors 1 and 3 in the Ovarian Follicle of Japanese Quail.

In our previous studies, we demonstrated that the primary source of relaxin 3 (RLN3) in Japanese quail is ovarian granulosa cells. Although several relaxin family peptide (RXFP) receptors have been sequenced, the intricacies of these receptors in avian species remain insufficiently clarified. Therefore, we assessed the expression of RXFP receptors, RXFP1 and 3, in Japanese quail.