Adaptive response and tolerance to weak acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii: a metabolomics approach

Weak acids inhibit the growth of probiotics, such as Saccharomyces boulardii. We explored the tolerance of S. boulardii to different weak acids. S. boulardii had better fermentation ability under lactic acid conditions compared with acetic and butyric acid conditions; however, the budding of S. boulardii was significantly stronger than that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae under acetic acid conditions. Although the surface structure of S. boulardii was destroyed, it produced more daughter cells. S. boulardii metabolites were also significantly different from S. cerevisiae under acidic stress. The growth of S. boulardii under weak acid conditions differed significantly from that of S. cerevisiae. S. boulardii-mediated fingerprints under weak acid conditions were identified as latent biomarkers, related to fructose and mannose metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and the glycolysis pathway. Identified biomarkers will aid in the genetic engineering of S. boulardii and other Saccharomyces strains for improved acid resistance and biomass yield.     

火电机组一次调频性能实时监测系统

为了实时监测和评价火电机组一次调频性能，开发了火电机组一次调频性能实测监测系统。该系统具有一次调频参数异动感知、一次调频性能量化预测及自适应校正等关键功能。某机组的实际应用表明，该系统能够实现火电机组一次调频关键参数的实时监测和调频性能的准确预测。     

Generalized differential quadrature analysis of MHD mixed convective motion of Casson fluids past an isothermal irregular slender geometry via Cattaneo–Christov's approach

Classical Fourier's theory is well-known in continuum physics and thermal sciences. However, the primary drawback of this law is that it contradicts the principle of causality. To explore the thermal relaxation time characteristic, Cattaneo–Christov's theory is adopted thermally. In this regard, the features of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) mixed convective flows of Casson fluids over an impermeable irregular sheet are revealed numerically. In addition, the resulting system of partial differential equations is altered via practical transformations into nonlinear ordinary differential equations. An advanced numerical algorithm is developed in this respect to get higher approximations for temperature and velocity fields, as well as their corresponding wall gradients. For validating our numerical code, the current outcomes are compared with the available literature results. Moreover, it is revealed that the velocity field is more prominent in the suction flow situation as compared with the injection flow case. It is also found that the Casson fluid is hastened in the case of lower yield stress. Larger values of thermal relaxation parameters create a lessening trend in the temperature distribution and its related boundary layer breadth.     

Pattern design and optimization of yarn-dyed plaid fabric using isolation niche genetic algorithm and rough set theory

Under the circumstance of perceptual consumption, it is still challenging to grasp consumer's emotions and demands due to the large search space, diversified preferences, and easy fatigue of consumers. To reduce user fatigue and enlarge search space, a novel method was presented to design and optimize the pattern of yarn-dyed plaid fabric using the isolation niche genetic algorithm and rough set theory. Each pattern was encoded as a chromosome based on the real number code. The population was initialized and evolved using INGA to maintain the diversity. The rough set theory was adopted as the fitness function of isolation niche genetic algorithm to extract the consumer's demands. After multiple evolutions, a large set of practical patterns of the yarn-dyed plaid fabric are obtained. Experiments were carried out by 24 testers of different ages and genders. The results prove that the proposed method based on the isolation niche genetic algorithm and rough set theory is feasible and effective, supplying references to the designer.     

Effects of alkali metal ion on imprinting GRIN microstructure in GeS2-Ga2S3-MCl (M=Na,K, Cs) glasses for visible to mid-infrared microgratings

Gradient refractive index (GRIN) micro-optics present unique opportunities for control of the chromatic properties, new degrees of freedom for optical design as well as the potential for use in new optical system applications. GRIN microgratings were imprinted in GeS₂-Ga₂S₃-MCl (M = Na, K, Cs) chalcohalide glasses by microthermal poling, and the effects of the type and concentration of alkali cations on their performance were investigated. Two effective imprinting formation regions of the GRIN microstructure based on the poling saturation voltage (U_s) and glass composition are observed at fixed poling time and temperature. The U_s increases from 140 to 750 and 2600 V in accordance with the activation energy (E_a) of alkali ions (Na⁺ to K⁺ and Cs⁺) increasing from 45.15 to 58.62 and 92.58 kJ/mol for studied samples. The saturated numbers of diffraction order (N_s) of the gratings in these samples are 7, 9 and 6, respectively, the highest number being provided by the K⁺-containing sample. This is in accordance with imprinting-induced phase differences (0.14λ, 0.19λ and 0.09λ) measured in the fabricated samples containing Na⁺, K⁺ and Cs⁺ ions. Furthermore, the U_s of samples decreases from 1500 to 300 V with four concentrations of K⁺ from 10 to 30%, associated with their E_a of K⁺ decreasing from 69.62 to 53.46 kJ/mol, while N_s increases from 8 to 14, which is attributed to the increase of the phase difference in the GRIN structures. The controllable GRIN microstructures are realized by adjusting the type and concentration of alkali cations in chalcohalide glasses, which is expected to drive the design of broadband GRIN microgratings.     

Spark plasma sintering of UO2 nanopowders: Pressure,heating rate and current effects

We analysed with different methods the densification of UO₂ nanopowders in SPS under constant heating rate (CHR) and isothermal sintering conditions. The apparent activation energy of densification in SPS (75 kJ/mol with CHR method) is significantly smaller than in conventional sintering. It is shown that this is likely not an effect of the applied current. We also observed a threshold stress at 64 MPa for the transition from pressure-insensitive sintering (stress exponent n≈0) to pressure-assisted sintering, suggesting that the contribution of the capillary stresses in such nanopowders is comparable with the typical stress applied in SPS.     

Molecular design for thermally stable SiZrBOC structure from single source precursor with high ceramic yield

A new type of high-temperature-resistant SiZrBOC ceramics was prepared by sol-gel method using polymethyl-hydro siloxane (PMHS), boric acid (B(OH)₃), and n-propyl zirconate (Zr(OPr)₄) as raw materials. After high-temperature pyrolysis, the SiZrBOC precursor was transformed into a crystalline ceramic material with a yield of 89.5 wt%. Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were applied to characterize the polymer-ceramic conversion process and thermal behavior of ceramic precursors. According to the results, the addition of boron elements led to the formation of Si-O-B links in the system. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to study the phase composition and microstructure of SiZrBOC ceramics. Finally, the oxidation test at 1200 °C revealed that SiZrBOC ceramics with a boron/zirconium molar ratio of 2.5:1 exhibited the best oxidation resistance at a weight gain of 0.4 wt% only.     

雪菊精油对希氏肠球菌产酪胺及相关基因表达的影响

探讨不同质量浓度雪菊精油对希氏肠球菌（Enterococcus hirae）N47产酪胺的影响机制。利用反转录实时定量聚合酶链式反应分析E. hirae在雪菊精油作用下酪氨酸脱羧途径相关基因的表达情况；利用高效液相色谱法检测不同质量浓度雪菊精油对E. hirae产酪胺的影响。并将E. hirae接入到含不同质量浓度雪菊精油的熏马肠中发酵，评估香肠pH值、菌落总数和酪胺积累量。结果表明：在E. hirae纯培养体系和熏马肠体系中，雪菊精油通过抑制微生物的生长和酪氨酸脱羧途径中tyr DC、tyr P基因的表达，降低酪胺的积累量（P＜0.05）。当雪菊精油添加量为1/2最小抑菌浓度（minimal inhibitory concentration，MIC）和MIC时，熏马肠中酪胺的含量分别为78.52 mg/kg和45.83 mg/kg，较对照组分别减少了64.72%和79.41%。     

基于乙酰胆碱酯酶和氧化应激研究海胆酮对阿尔茨海默症的作用机制

海胆酮是一种酮式类胡萝卜素，主要从海胆及藻类等海洋生物中提取。本文研究海胆酮对乙酰胆碱酯酶（acetylcholinesterase，AChE）的抑制作用，应用酶动力学、荧光光谱、圆二色光谱和分子对接技术研究海胆酮对AChE的抑制机理，并用淀粉样β蛋白片段25～35（amyloid beta-peptide 25-35，Aβ25-35）诱导大鼠肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤细胞（PC12细胞）建立阿尔茨海默症（Alzheimer’s disease，AD）模型，研究海胆酮对AD细胞模型氧化应激损伤的作用。结果表明，海胆酮有很强的AChE抑制活性，其半抑制质量浓度为（16.29±0.97）μg/mL，抑制常数Ki为3.82 μg/mL，表现为竞争性抑制；海胆酮可诱导AChE二级结构改变，更容易与AChE活性中心氨基酸Ser200、His440、Trp84和Tyr121结合，阻碍底物碘代硫代乙酰胆碱（acetylthiocholine iodide，ATCI）与酶结合，从而引起酶活力降低。海胆酮能有效抑制Aβ25-35诱导PC12细胞的AChE活力，降低丙二醛含量，增加超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活力，减轻Aβ25-35诱导的PC12细胞氧化应激损伤。本研究基于AChE和氧化应激阐明了海胆酮对AD的潜在作用机制，为海胆酮在功能食品、生物医药等领域的应用提供了数据支持和理论根据。     

Deterministic and probabilistic ship pitch prediction using a multi-predictor integration model based on hybrid data preprocessing,reinforcement learning and improved QRNN

The deterministic and probabilistic prediction of ship motion is important for safe navigation and stable real-time operational control of ships at sea. However, the volatility and randomness of ship motion, the non-adaptive nature of single predictors and the poor coverage of quantile regression pose serious challenges to uncertainty prediction, making research in this field limited. In this paper, a multi-predictor integration model based on hybrid data preprocessing, reinforcement learning and improved quantile regression neural network (QRNN) is proposed to explore the deterministic and probabilistic prediction of ship pitch motion. To validate the performance of the proposed multi-predictor integrated prediction model, an experimental study is conducted with three sets of actual ship longitudinal motions during sea trials in the South China Sea. The experimental results indicate that the root mean square errors (RMSEs) of the proposed model of deterministic prediction are 0.0254°, 0.0359°, and 0.0188°, respectively. Taking series #2 as an example, the prediction interval coverage probabilities (PICPs) of the proposed model of probability predictions at 90%, 95%, and 99% confidence levels (CLs) are 0.9400, 0.9800, and 1.0000, respectively. This study signifies that the proposed model can provide trusted deterministic predictions and can effectively quantify the uncertainty of ship pitch motion, which has the potential to provide practical support for ship early warning systems.