The fluorescent microspheres are prepared by the swelling-evaporation method. The optimal swelling conditions are obtained by researching related factors, such as types and dosages of swelling agent, dosages of fluorescent substance, swelling time and swelling temperature. Considering that the structure of microspheres can influence the swelling properties, the paper mainly focuses on the effect of molecular weight and surface carboxyl group content of polystyrene microspheres on swelling properties. When the molecular weight of microspheres is 75276 g mol-1, the density of carboxyl group on their surface is 6.94×10-4 mol g-1, and the doping amount of europium complex reaches the maximum of 24.9 mg g-1 with the strongest fluorescence intensity. Meanwhile, the as-prepared fluorescent microspheres have high monodispersity, uniform particles size and high thermal stability (the decomposition temperature is 385oC), which sets up the good foundation for biomolecule detection. So, this work provides a significant experience for the preparation of fluorescent microspheres.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effects of seven stages (Lonicera caerulea berry juice, after enzymatic hydrolysis, sugar and acid adjustments, fermentation, deacidification, clarification and ageing) in the making of Lonicera caerulea berry wine on the anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity were studied. The total anthocyanin content was determined by the pH-differential method. The composition of anthocyanins was measured by HPLC-MS/MS. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline- 6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing potential (FRAP), total antioxidant capacity and cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity assays were used to measure the antioxidant activities. Eight anthocyanins namely, cyanidin-3-hexoside derivatives, cyanidin-3-acetylhexoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, peonidin-3-rutinoside, peonidin-3,5-dihexoside, peonidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3,5-dihexoside and pelargonidin-3-glucoside were detected in Lonicera caerulea berry wine and in all samples taken from each of the brewing processes. Addition of pectinase significantly increased the anthocyanin content by 69.04% and the peak areas of the individual anthocyanins increased, except for peonidin-3,5-dihexoside and peonidin-3-rutinoside. Although the anthocyanin content decreased throughout the entire process, each sample showed good antioxidant capacity.

Abstract Tuberculosis (TB) induced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a serious global health burden. This study sought to investigate the expression and diagnostic value of serum miR-145 in TB patients and explore the biological function of miR-145 using macrophages. Serum expression levels of miR-145 were estimated by quantitative real-time PCR. A receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of miR-145. This study further focused on the effects of miR-145 on cell viability and inflammation in macrophages upon Mtb infection, and explored the potential target gene of miR-145. Serum expression levels of miR-145 were decreased in TB patients, and the upregulated inflammatory cytokines in TB patients were negatively correlated with the serum expression levels of miR-145. miR-145 had considerable diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing of TB patients from healthy individuals and differentiating between active TB cases and latent TB cases. Mtb infection induced an increase in cell viability and inflammatory responses in macrophages, but these promoting effects were rescued by the overexpression of miR-145. CXCL16 was determined as a target gene of miR-145 in macrophages. Overall, this study demonstrated that the decreased serum miR-145 expression serves a candidate diagnostic biomarker in TB patients. The overexpression of miR-145 in macrophages upon Mtb infection can suppress cell viability and infection-induced inflammation via regulating CXCL16, indicating the potential of miR-145 as a therapeutic target of TB.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of maternal dietary intake on the amino acid and fatty acid contents in eggs during the laying period. An experiment with a 2×2 factorial design was conducted with two maternal dietary intake levels (100 and 75% of dietary intake recommended by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture) and two broiler lines (fat and lean line). A total of 384 hens of fat line and 384 hens of lean line at 23 weeks of age were included in the experiment. Each line was randomly divided into two treatments (n = 192 in each treatment, with 12 replications), and each replication included 16 birds. The treatments were LN (lean line and normal maternal dietary intake, n = 192), LL (lean line and low maternal dietary intake, n = 192), FN (fat line and normal maternal dietary intake, n = 192), and FL (fat line and low maternal dietary intake, n = 192). The amino acid and fatty acid contents in eggs were tested (50 weeks of age). The fat line had higher levels of arginine, aspartic acid, glycine, histidine, leucine, methionine, and threonine in the egg albumen than the lean line. Low maternal dietary intake increased the cystine deposition in egg yolks. There were interactions between maternal dietary intake and line on the deposition of trans-oleic acid, docosanoic acid, and total fatty acid in egg yolks. Low maternal dietary intake increased the deposition of tetradecenoic and linolenic acids and the ratio of total polyunsaturated fatty acids to total saturated fatty acid in egg yolks but decreased the deposition of docosanoic acid. Maternal dietary intake and line affect the amino acid and fatty acid profiles in eggs.

Abstract The goals of this exploration were to find out the optimum conditions of ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) of L. Barbarum crude polysaccharides. Furthermore, to research the impacts of three multi-frequency ultrasound assisted extraction modes on the yield of L. Barbarum crude polysaccharides. The results showed that by applying the traditional single-frequency UAE mode, the optimum extraction time was 30 min, extraction temperature of 60 °C, and solid/liquid ratio of 20 g/600 mL, at a power density of 300 W/L, and ultrasound frequency of 28 kHz. Secondly; a comparison was carried out between three UAE modes using the optimum extraction conditions obtained previously. The energy aggregation counter flow dual-frequency UAE mode gave the highest yield of 38.93% of crude polysaccharides. Followed by the Opposite-sit dual-frequency UAE mode and the energy aggregation counter flow single-frequency UAE mode with yields of 33.60%, and 26.38% of crude polysaccharides, respectively. As a result the ultrasound assisted extraction with dual-frequency mode is more effective for the extraction of L. Barbarum crude polysaccharides. Furthermore, the yield of crude polysaccharides increased by 73.41% using the dual-frequency ultrasound extraction compared to traditional hot water extraction.

ABSTRACT Kosakonia cowanii type strain 888-76T is a human pathogen which was originally isolated from blood as NIH group 42. In this study, we report the complete genome sequence of K. cowanii 888-76T. 888-76T has 1 chromosome and 2 plasmids with a total genome size of 4,857,567 bp and C+G 56.15%. This genome sequence will not only help us to understand the virulence features of K. cowanii 888-76T but also provide us the useful information for the study of evolution of Kosakonia genus.