Improvement of the freezing resistance characteristics of yeast in dough starter.

Improving the freezing resistance of yeast in dough starters is one of the most effective methods to promote the healthy development of frozen dough technology. When the dough starter was composed of yeast, lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid bacteria, the microbial proportion was 10:1:5, and the ratio of wheat flour to corn flour was 1:1. The proline contents of the starters and the survival rates and fermentation capacity of yeast significantly increased compared with those of the starter composed of yeast and wheat flour only (P < 0.05). Laser confocal microscopy observation showed that the cell membrane damage of yeast obviously decreased. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance method revealed that the water distribution state of starters changed. Adding corn flour and acetic acid bacteria to dough starter in appropriate proportions improves yeast freezing resistance.

Fermentation properties and functional stability of dough starter Jiaozi and Laomian after frozen storage.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effects of frozen storage on the stability of traditional dough starters in China. Methods: The microbial community structure and abundance of related metabolic genes in different fermented sourdough prepared by Jiaozi (JZ) and Laomian (LM) starters before and after frozen storage at -20°C for half a year were analyzed using the shotgun metagenomic sequencing method, and differences in characteristics of texture in steamed bread were also compared by formal methods. Results: The fermentation ability (FA) and metabolic activities of yeast in the JZH sourdough (started by JZ which was stored at -20°C for half a year) were better than those of LMH sourdough (started by LM which was stored at -20°C for half a year). The dominant genera of Acetobacter were found to be increased in the JZH0 sourdough (started by JZH and fermented for 0 h) and those of Lactobacillus were found to be decreased. Lactobacillus (98.72%), Pediococcus (0.37%), Saccharomyces (0.27%), and Acetobacter (0.01%), were dominant in sourdough LMH0 (started by LMH and fermented for 0 h). The abundances of "oxidative phosphorylation-related enzymes" and the "biosynthesis of glutamate"-related enzymes and genes related to "biosynthesis of glutamate" and "unsaturated fatty acid" were higher in JZH0 than in the JZ0 sourdough (started by JZ without being frozen and fermented for 0 h). The good FA of yeast, the acid production capacity of bacteria in the sourdough, and the quality of the JZH steamed bread (made by the JZH starter) indicated the better freezing tolerance of the microorganisms in JZ than in LM. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study suggests the better application potential of the JZ as the fermentation starter in actual production.

Comparative transcriptome analysis in peaberry and regular bean coffee to identify bean quality associated genes.

BACKGROUND: The peaberry bean in Arabica coffee has exceptional quality compared to the regular coffee bean. Understanding the molecular mechanism of bean quality is imperative to introduce superior coffee quality traits. Despite high economic importance, the regulatory aspects of bean quality are yet largely unknown in peaberry. A transcriptome analysis was performed by using peaberry and regular coffee beans in this study. RESULTS: The result of phenotypic analysis stated a difference in the physical attributes of both coffee beans. In addition, transcriptome analysis revealed low genetic differences. Only 139 differentially expressed genes were detected in which 54 genes exhibited up-regulation and 85 showed down-regulations in peaberry beans compared to regular beans. The majority of differentially expressed genes had functional annotation with cell wall modification, lipid binding, protein binding, oxidoreductase activity, and transmembrane transportation. Many fold lower expression of Ca25840-PMEs1, Ca30827-PMEs2, Ca30828-PMEs3, Ca25839-PMEs4, Ca36469-PGs. and Ca03656-Csl genes annotated with cell wall modification might play a critical role to develop different bean shape patterns in Arabica. The ERECTA family genes Ca15802-ERL1, Ca99619-ERL2, Ca07439-ERL3, Ca97226-ERL4, Ca89747-ERL5, Ca07056-ERL6, Ca01141-ERL7, and Ca32419-ERL8 along lipid metabolic pathway genes Ca06708-ACOX1, Ca29177-ACOX2, Ca01563-ACOX3, Ca34321-CPFA1, and Ca36201-CPFA2 are predicted to regulate different shaped bean development. In addition, flavonoid biosynthesis correlated genes Ca03809-F3H, Ca95013-CYP75A1, and Ca42029-CYP75A2 probably help to generate rarely formed peaberry beans. CONCLUSION: Our results provide molecular insights into the formation of peaberry. The data resources will be important to identify candidate genes correlated with the different bean shape patterns in Arabica.

Transcriptome and carotenoid profiling of different varieties of Coffea arabica provides insights into fruit color formation.

The processability and ultimate quality of coffee (C offea arabica) are determined by the composition of the matured fruits. The basis of genetic variation in coffee fruit quality could be explained by studying color formation during fruit maturation. Transcriptome profiling was conducted on matured fruits of four C. arabica varieties (orange colored fruits (ORF); purple colored fruits (PF); red colored fruits (RF) and yellow colored fruits (YF)) to identify key color-regulating genes, biosynthesis pathways and transcription factors implicated in fruit color formation. A total of 39,938 genes were identified in the transcriptomes of the four C. arabica varieties. In all, 2745, 781 and 1224 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in YF_vs_PF, YF_vs_RF and YF_vs_ORF, respectively, with 1732 DEGs conserved among the three pairwise groups. Functional annotation of the DEGs led to the detection of 28 and 82 key genes involved in the biosynthesis of carotenoids and anthocyanins, respectively. Key transcription factors bHLH, MYB, NAC, MADS, and WRKY implicated in fruit color regulation were detected. The high expression levels of gene-LOC113688784 (PSY), gene-LOC113730013 (ß-CHY), gene-LOC113728842 (CCD7), gene-LOC113689681 (NCED) and gene-LOC113729473 (ABA2) in YF may have accounted for the yellow coloration. The differential expression of several anthocyanin and carotenoid-specific genes in the fruits substantially account for the purple (PF), red (RF), and orange (ORF) colorations. This study provides important insights into fruit color formation and variations in C. arabica and will help to develop coffee varieties with specific color and quality traits.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation in the treatment of strephenopodia after stroke: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Strephenopodia is a common complication after stroke, which is easily neglected in the early stage of the disease and seriously affects the rehabilitation process of patients' limbs, and brings huge security risks and family burden. A large number of studies have confirmed that acupuncture combined with rehabilitation (ACR) has a significant effect on strephenopodia after stroke (SAS), but there is still a lack of systematic scientific evidence to support this argument. In this systematic review, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ACR in the treatment of SAS, to provide evidence-based medical evidence for the clinical treatment of the disease. METHODS: We will search the following databases of 8 electronic databases from inception to January 2022: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, China National Knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), Technology Periodical Database (VIP), WanFang Data, and China Biology Medicine (CBM). All relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focus on ACR in the treatment of strephenopodia after stroke will be included. The primary outcome will be the Measurement of strephenopodia angle and Clinical Spasm Index Scale (CSI). The Secondary outcomes will include Holden Functional Walking Classification (FAC), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Modified Barthel Index Score (MBI). Two reviewers will independently conduct the Study selection and data extraction. The risk of bias will be evaluated according to the Cochrane tool. Risk ratio and 95% confidence intervals will be used to estimate the efficacy of treatment, and the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation approach to rate the certainty of evidence. The data analysis will be analyzed using by RevMan5.4. RESULT: This study will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of ACR in the treatment of SAS, with a view of providing more reliable evidence-based solutions for SAS. CONCLUSIONS: The conclusion of this study will provide evidence to judge whether ACR is effective and safe in treating SAS. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021290960.

Comparison of the efficacy of acupuncture-related Therapies for post-stroke motor aphasia: A Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Background: Motor aphasia, which can affect the communication ability of patients and even triggers severe psychological disorders, is one of the most common sequelae after stroke. Acupuncture (a typical complementary alternative therapy) is frequently combined with speech training (ST) to treat post-stroke motor aphasia (PSMA) and presents significant efficacy. However, the most effective acupuncture intervention is still unknown. This study aims to analyze the efficacy of several acupuncture approaches combined with ST for PSMA to identify the best intervention for clinical decision-making by using network meta-analysis (NMA). Methods: Eight major databases were searched from the time of their establishment to March 2022. Clinical efficacy rate (CER) was used as the primary outcome indicator. R software (version 4.13.0) and STATA software (version 16.0) were used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 29 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and six treatment regimens were included in this study. In the pair-wise meta-analysis, we found that the efficacy of scalp-tongue acupuncture (STA) combined with ST [OR = 8.30; 95% Credible interval (CrI): 3.87, 17.33], tongue acupuncture (TA) combined with ST (OR = 3.95; 95% CrI: 2.27, 6.89), scalp-body acupuncture (SBA) combined with ST (OR = 3.75; 95% CrI: 2.26, 6.22), scalp acupuncture (SA) combined with ST (OR = 2.95; 95% CrI: 1.74, 5.0), and body acupuncture (BA) combined with ST (OR = 2.30; 95% CrI: 1.26, 4.19) were significantly superior to that of ST. In addition, the efficacy of STA + ST was significantly superior to that of SA +ST (OR = 2. 82; 95% CrI: 1.24, 6.38) and BA + ST (OR = 3.61; 95% CrI: 1.40, 9.29). According to the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), STA + ST (SUCRA = 97.9%) may be the best treatment regimen to improve the clinical outcome in patients with PSMA. Conclusion: The NMA showed that STA combined with ST may be the best treatment to improve CER, compared with other combination treatments. However, since the overall quality and number of studies are limited, further RCTs with a large sample and multicenter are needed for further validation. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=316081, identifier CRD42022316081.

Impact of urbanization on energy intensity by adopting a new technique for regional division: evidence from China.

Using unbalanced data from 30 provinces in China between 1990 and 2015, this paper investigates the impact of urbanization on energy intensity with three control variables: economic growth, industrialization, and foreign direct investment. All the samples are divided into two sub-samples using a newly developed partially heterogeneous framework. For empirical estimations, we have used four models that deal with the homogeneous-heterogeneous slope with static-dynamic model specifications. Mainly, new estimation methods are used for dynamic models considering both heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence. Empirical results show economic growth is a steady factor that decreases energy intensity. Urbanization and industrialization have a significant and positive relationship with energy intensity, which illustrates that higher urbanization impacts negatively on energy intensity. The influence of foreign direct investment is negative. Moreover, these findings vary across different model specifications and samples. The heterogeneous effects suggest regional specific policies across the provinces.