Sargassum swartzii extracts ameliorate memory functions by neurochemical modulation in a rat model

Food Science and Biotechnology - Recently, considerable attention has been paid to drug exploration from natural sources for treating memory loss, a major manifestation of various neurodegenerative...     

Supercritical fluid extraction of bacterial and archaeal lipid biomarkers from anaerobically digested sludge

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was used in the analysis of bacterial respiratory quinone (RQ), bacterial phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA), and archaeal phospholipid ether lipid (PLEL) from anaerobically digested sludge. Bacterial RQ were determined using ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). Determination of bacterial PLFA and archaeal PLEL was simultaneously performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The effects of pressure, temperature, and modifier concentration on the total amounts of RQ, PLFA, and PLEL were investigated by 23 experiments with five settings chosen for each variable. The optimal extraction conditions that were obtained through a multiple-response optimization included a pressure of 23.6 MPa, temperature of 77.6 °C, and 10.6% (v/v) of methanol as the modifier. Thirty nine components of microbial lipid biomarkers were identified in the anaerobically digested sludge. Overall, the SFE method proved to be more effective, rapid, and quantitative for simultaneously extracting bacterial and archaeal lipid biomarkers, compared to conventional organic solvent extraction. This work shows the potential application of SFE as a routine method for the comprehensive analysis of microbial community structures in environmental assessments using the lipid biomarkers profile.     

Differences in the Relative Abundance of ProBDNF and Mature BDNF in A549 and H1299 Human Lung Cancer Cell Media

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family, has been linked to several human malignancies and shown to promote tumorigenesis. The purpose of this study was to explore the relative abundance of pro-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (proBDNF) and mature BDNF (mBDNF) in A549 (p53 wild-type) and H1299 (p53-null) lung cancer cell media. Higher levels of proBDNF were detected in the media of A549 cells than in H1299 cell media. Using inhibitors, we found that the levels of proBDNF and mBDNF in the media are likely regulated by PI3K, AKT, and NFκB. However, the largest change in these levels resulted from MMP2/9 inhibition. Blocking p53 function in A549 cells resulted in increased mBDNF and decreased proBDNF, suggesting a role for p53 in regulating these levels. The ratio of proBDNF/mBDNF was not affected by MMP2 knockdown but increased in the media of both cell lines upon knockdown of MMP9. Downregulation of either MMP2 or MMP9 by siRNA showed that MMP9 siRNA treatment of either A549 or H1299 cells resulted in decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis, an effect diminished upon the same treatment with proBDNF immunodepleted media, suggesting that MMP9 regulates the cytotoxic effects induced by proBDNF in lung cancer cells.     

Unsteady Friction in Rough Pipes

An energy dissipation model is presented for the computation of unsteady friction losses adapted to smooth-to-rough transition and fully rough pipes. The eddy viscosity model used to compute the Reynolds stresses in turbulent flow is modified to include the effect of roughness, which is considered in the computation of the velocity profiles. The model is tested by comparing the computed transient pressures with measured data from a laboratory test facility and a prototype test. Details of the experimental setup, pressure-head measurements, and valve characteristics during transient flow conditions are presented. The quasi-steady approximation gives an inaccurate prediction of the pressure head history; however, significantly better results are obtained if the unsteady friction effects are included.     

Structural Characterization of Oat Bran (1→3), (1→4)-β-D-Glucans by Lichenase Hydrolysis Through High-Performance Anion Exchange Chromatography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection

Cereal mixed linkages (1 → 3) (1 → 4)-β-D-glucan is a linear polysaccharide composed of glucose units. Oat β-glucan is a natural polymer. The main products of β-glucanase are oligosaccharides with DP3 and DP4, i.e., 3-Ob-cellobiosyl-D-glucose and 3-Ob-cellotriosyl-D-glucose, which represent over 90% of the molecule. Keeping in mind all the benefits of oat bran, the present study was planned to investigate the structural properties of oat bran, high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection was used to examine these oligosaccharides. The structural analysis of oat bran of two oat varieties revealed that the ratio of soluble and insoluble triose to tetraose in β-glucan fraction was 1.44 and 1.78, respectively, for Avon variety; while the ratio of soluble and insoluble triose to tetraose in β-glucan fraction for Sargodha-81 was 1.49 and 1.77. The major units determined were cellotriose and cellotetraose. Other units cellopentaose and hexaoses were also existed but in minor fractions. Lichenase hydrolysis high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection appeared to be the best choice for structural analysis of purified samples of mixed-linkage β-glucan.     

Discovery of Five New Ethylene-Forming Enzymes for Clean Production of Ethylene in E. coli

Ethylene is an essential platform chemical with a conjugated double bond, which can produce many secondary chemical products through copolymerisation. At present, ethylene production is mainly from petroleum fractionation and cracking, which are unsustainable in the long term, and harmful to our environment. Therefore, a hot research field is seeking a cleaner method for ethylene production. Based on the model ethylene-forming enzyme (Efe) {"type":"entrez-protein","attrs":{"text":"AAD16440.1","term_id":"4323597","term_text":"AAD16440.1"}}AAD16440.1 (6vp4.1.A) from Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicol, we evaluated five putative Efe protein sequences using the data derived from phylogenetic analyses and the conservation of their catalytic structures. Then, pBAD expression frameworks were constructed, and relevant enzymes were expressed in E. coli BL21. Finally, enzymatic activity in vitro and in vivo was detected to demonstrate their catalytic activity. Our results show that the activity in vitro measured by the conversion of α-ketoglutarate was from 0.21–0.72 μmol ethylene/mg/min, which varied across the temperatures. In cells, the activity of the new Efes was 12.28–147.43 μmol/gDCW/h (DCW, dry cellular weight). Both results prove that all the five putative Efes could produce ethylene.     

Proteomic Biomarkers of the Apnea Hypopnea Index and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Insights into the Pathophysiology of Presence,Severity, and Treatment Response

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a disease associated with excessive sleepiness and increased cardiovascular risk, affects an estimated 1 billion people worldwide. The present study examined proteomic biomarkers indicative of presence, severity, and treatment response in OSA. Participants (n = 1391) of the Stanford Technology Analytics and Genomics in Sleep study had blood collected and completed an overnight polysomnography for scoring the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI). A highly multiplexed aptamer-based array (SomaScan) was used to quantify 5000 proteins in all plasma samples. Two separate intervention-based cohorts with sleep apnea (n = 41) provided samples pre- and post-continuous/positive airway pressure (CPAP/PAP). Multivariate analyses identified 84 proteins (47 positively, 37 negatively) associated with AHI after correction for multiple testing. Of the top 15 features from a machine learning classifier for AHI ≥ 15 vs. AHI < 15 (Area Under the Curve (AUC) = 0.74), 8 were significant markers of both AHI and OSA from multivariate analyses. Exploration of pre- and post-intervention analysis identified 5 of the 84 proteins to be significantly decreased following CPAP/PAP treatment, with pathways involving endothelial function, blood coagulation, and inflammatory response. The present study identified PAI-1, tPA, and sE-Selectin as key biomarkers and suggests that endothelial dysfunction and increased coagulopathy are important consequences of OSA, which may explain the association with cardiovascular disease and stroke.     

Synthesis of Clay/Poly (styrene/2-ethylhexyl acrylate) Nanocomposite Latexes via Emulsion Polymerization

Silicon - In this research, nanocomposite latex based on polystyrene-co-2-ethylhexyl acrylate with layered silicate was synthesized by emulsion polymerization procedure. For increasing...     

Environment-Friendly Synergistic Abiotic Stress for Enhancing the Yield of Lipids from Oleaginous Yeasts

The microbial lipids isolated from oleaginous yeasts are a potential alternative to tree borne oils. There is a need to optimize and enhance the production of lipid by various stress approaches. In the present study, yeasts are subjected to physico-chemical stresses, and growth, as well as lipid concentration at different time intervals are monitored. It is found that the nanoparticles (NP) such as Ag-NP and Zn-NP have an inhibitory effect on yeast growth. Most yeast strains show an increase in growth and lipid accumulation when ionic liquid (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate) ([EMIM][OAc]) and table salt (NaCl) stress are applied. Lipid is chemically characterized using gas chromatography furnished with flame ionization detector (GC-FID), GC/MS, and NMR techniques. It contains a higher percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFA: 74.3%), monounsaturated fatty acids (19.1%) with low amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (1.9%). The thermo-stability study reveals that the lipid have higher volatility (380–410 °C) as closely compared with coconut oil, and much lower with respect to the winged bean oil (430–470 °C). The melting point of the lipids (37 °C) is determined through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DSC and physico-chemical properties are supported that the yeast lipids may use as a cocoa-butter substitute. Production of lipid under NaCl stress (200 × 10⁻³ m ) is more than 60.4% higher as compared to the control. However, the combined stress effect of NaCl (200 × 10⁻³ m ) and 15 × 10⁻³ m of [EMIM][OAc] results in more than 96.4% yield of lipid. The exchange of inorganic and organic ions in combined treatment forces the microbial cells to accumulate more amounts of lipid, which may form a lipid-emulsion layer to protect the cell from osmosis. It is interestingly observed that the stress cells shift the flux to accumulate a significantly improved percentage of SFA, which could be provided better protection cover due to its expanded structure, less reactive characteristics, and completely insoluble nature in ionic-aqueous solvent. Practical applications: Oleaginous yeast is multiplied in a very limited space, and easily scalable for sustainable production of lipid to meet its commercial demand. This novel approach for enhancing the yield of lipid with the application of synergistic stress in between NaCl and the green solvent (ionic liquid) is being reported for the first time. This lipid has potential alternative applications as cocoa-butter.