Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effects of eugenol (Eu) at different concentrations (0, 10, 50, 100, 200, and 300 μM/g protein) on the gel properties and chemical structure changes of porcine myofibrillar protein (MP). The results showed that Eu inhibited the increase of surface hydrophobicity and carbonyl content but did not prevent the oxidation-induced loss of thiol groups. Moreover, Eu intensified the loss of the α-helical conformation as well as the tertiary structure of MP under oxidative stress. The physicochemical changes at 10 and 50 μM/g Eu resulted in a significant enhancement of the gelling ability of MP and enhanced the positive role of oxidation in building elastic gel networks. Conversely, Eu at the concentrations of 100, 200, and 300 μM/g was not conducive to gelling ability, especially at 300 μM/g, and these concentrations were associated with Eu-induced protein conformational changes.

Abstract Alternaria alternata is a fungus that infects jujube, causes black spot disease, and produces Alternaria mycotoxins, such as alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether, and tenuazonic acid. This study aimed to apply models to predict growth and mycotoxin production by A. alternata isolated from jujube as a function of temperature and water activity. The practicability of the model was verified on jujube agar medium. The growth conditions were water activity of 0.99 or 0.90 aw and temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 °C. The growth rate of A. alternata was highest at 0.99 aw and 25 °C, and the lag time was the shortest at 0.90 aw and 30 °C. The dry weight growth rate of mycelia increased gradually with the increase of temperature on PDA and jujube agar medium. Mycotoxin production by A. alternata was not correlated with growth, but no significant delay was detected in some cases. In general, the growth model predicted the growth of A. alternata.

Wound scarring remains a major challenge for plastic surgeons. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β plays a key role in the process of scar formation. Previous studies have demonstrated that truncated TGF-β type II receptor (t-TGF-βRII) is unable to continue signal transduction but is still capable of binding to TGF-β, thereby blocking the TGF-β signaling pathway. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multifunctional growth factor that promotes tissue regeneration and wound healing. Theoretically, the combination of HGF and t-TGF-βRII would be expected to exert a synergistic effect on promoting wound healing and reducing collagen formation. In the present study, lentivirus-mediated transfection of the two genes (t-TGF-βRII/HGF) into fibroblasts in vitro and in a rat model in vivo was used. The results demonstrated that the expression of t-TGF-βRII and HGF in NIH-3T3 cells was successfully induced. The expression of both molecules significantly reduced collagen I and III expression, and also inhibited fibroblast proliferation. Furthermore, histological examination and scar quantification revealed less scarring in the experimental wound in a rat model. Moreover, on macroscopic inspection, the experimental wound exhibited less visible scarring compared with the control. Therefore, the present study demonstrated that the combination gene therapy of t-TGF-βRII and HGF promoted wound healing, with less scarring and more epithelial tissue formation, not only by suppressing the overgrowth of collagen due to its antifibrotic effect, but also by promoting tissue regeneration.

Antibacterial monomers incorporated in dentin bonding systems may have toxic effects on the pulp. Thus, the cytotoxicity of antibacterial monomers and its underlying mechanisms must be elucidated to improve the safety of antibacterial monomer application. The influence of an antibacterial monomer, methacryloxylethyl cetyl ammonium chloride (DMAE-CB), on the vitality of L929 mouse fibroblasts was tested using MTT assay. Cell cycle progression was studied using flow cytometry. Production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) after DMAE-CB treatment was measured using 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate staining and flow cytometry analysis. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, disturbance of Bcl-2 and Bax expression, as well as release of cytochrome C were also measured using flow cytometry analysis or Western blot to explore the possible involvement of the mitochondrial-related apoptotic pathway. DMAE-CB elicited cell death in a dose-dependent manner and more than 50% of cells were killed after treatment with 30 µM of the monomer. Both necrosis and apoptosis were observed. DMAE-CB also induced G1- and G2-phase arrest. Increased levels of intracellular ROS were observed after 1 h and this overproduction was further enhanced by 6-h treatment with the monomer. DMAE-CB may cause apoptosis by disturbing the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax, reducing the mitochondrial potential and inducing release of cytochrome C. Taken together, these findings suggest that the toxicity of the antibacterial monomer DMAE-CB is associated with ROS production, mitochondrial dysfunction, cell cycle disturbance, and cell apoptosis/necrosis.

Hainan Island is located in the South China Sea. Basalts of different geological ages are widely distributed in the north of the island, and soils developed from them form a well dated soil chronosequence. The absolute ages of basalt from which soils have developed varied from 1.0×10(4) a to 1.81 Ma. A few indicative soil features, especially typical geochemical features, were studied and related to the stages of soil development. Relative depletion/enrichment ratios of macroelements and microelements, as well as of rare earth elements (REE), were calculated and several indices were proposed to illustrate the development of the soil chronosequence. The study found that Fe and Al were relatively enriched, while Ca, Mg, K and Na as well as Si were strongly lost during rock weathering and soil formation. Indices based on soil macroelements, such as the chemical index of alteration (CIA), the chemical index of weathering (CIW), the silicon-aluminum ratio (Sa), and the Silicon-aluminum-iron ratio (Saf) could not adequately express the sequential weathering degree of the chronosequence. The weathering index (WI) gave a good relationship with soil age and can be taken as an index of soil development. Ba/Nb correlated significantly with soil age and can be used as an indicator of soil development. REE content increased linearly with soil age so it can express the degree of soil development. The relative depletion rates of major elements showed that Si was lost up to 80% of the original content before 1 Ma and remained in constant concentrations afterwards. Easily mobilized elements were lost quickly during the initial stage of weathering and more than 90% of them were depleted within the first 1.0×10(4) a.

La isla Hainan se localiza en el Mar del Sur de China. Basaltos de diferentes edades geológicas están ampliamente distribuidos en la parte norte de la isla; a partir de ellos se desarrollaron suelos que forman una cronosecuencia de edad bien conocida. Las edades absolutas de los basaltos a partir de los cuales se desarrollaron los suelos varían de 1.0×10(4) a a 1.81 Ma. Algunas características de los suelos, especialmente las características geoquímicas típicas, fueron estudiadas y relacionadas con las etapas de desarrollo del suelo. Se calcularon las relaciones de empobrecimiento/enriquecimiento relativo de macroelementos y microelementos, así como de los elementos de las Tierras Raras, y se propusieron algunos índices para ilustrar el desarrollo de la cronosecuencia de suelos. En el estudio se encontró que Fe y Al están relativamente enriquecidos, mientras que Ca, Mg, K y Na, así como Si fueron fuertemente lixiviados durante el intemperismo de la roca y formación del suelo. Índices basados en macroelementos de los suelos, tales cmo el índice químico de alteración, el índice químico de intemperismo, la relación silicio-aluminio, y la relación silicio-aluminio-hierro no expresaron adecuadamente el grado secuencial de intemperismo de la cronosecuencia. El índice de intemperismo presentó una buena relación con la edad del suelo y puede ser tomado como un índice del desarrollo del suelo. La relación Ba/Nb presentó una correlación significativa con la edad del suelo y puede ser usada como un índice del desarrollo del suelo. El contenido de los elementos de las Tierras Raras se incrementó linealmente con la edad del suelo y por lo tanto pueden expresar el grado de desarrollo del suelo. Las tasas de empobrecimiento relativo de los elementos mayores mostraron que Si se perdió hasta en un 80% del contenido original antes de 1 Ma, permaneciendo después en concentraciones constantes. Los elementos que se movilizan fácilmente se perdieron rápidamente en la etapa inicial de inremperismo y más del 90% de ellos se empobrecieron en los primeros 1.0×10(4) a.