[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1354241.].

Cecal microbiota has emerged as a prominent intervention target for improving the production and welfare of poultry. This is essential for the overall health and performance of broiler chickens. The current study focused on investigating the effect of cecal microbiota transplantation (CMT) from healthy donor chickens on the growth performance, immunity, and microbial composition of newly hatched chicks and evaluated the effect of sample storage on the microbial diversity of the cecal samples. A healthy \"Wannan Yellow Chicken line\" was selected as the donor, and 180 1-d-old chicks from the same line were used as recipients for a 60-d feed trial. The chicks were randomly allocated to three groups (60 birds per group) with three replicates in each group. The three treatment groups were CMT-0 (control, normal saline solution), CMT-I (1:12 cecal content, normal saline supplemented with 10% glycerol), and CMT-II (1:6 cecal content, normal saline supplemented with 10% glycerol). The results of weight gain and absolute organ weight showed significant improvements in the CMT-II group compared with the CMT-0 group. Serum IgG level was significantly improved (P < 0.05) in CMT-I compared with that in the CMT-0. However, IL-6 levels increased in CMT-I and then significantly decreased in CMT-II. The cecal microbial diversity of CMT treatment was compared between two groups, fresh samples (FS) and stored samples at-80 °C (SS). The results showed that beneficial taxa, such as Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobiota, were substantially more abundant in both CMT-I and CMT-II than in CMT-0 in both FS and SS. Microbial function analysis at levels 1, 2, and 3 showed improved metabolism, genetic information processing, cellular processes, environmental information processing, and organismal systems in CMT-I and CMT-II for both FS and SS groups. However, the SS group showed decreased microbial diversity and function. To conclude, cecal microbiota transplantation is a promising strategy for enhancing the productivity and health of broiler chickens.
The cecal microbiota refers to a diverse community of microorganisms that play a crucial role in digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall gut health, influencing the well-being and performance of the host bird. In this study, we aimed to improve the health and growth of broiler chickens by exploring a unique approach called cecal microbiota transplantation. A thorough investigation was conducted by transplanting the microbiota from healthy Wannan Yellow Chicken line donors into newly hatched chicks in a 60-d feeding trial. After dividing the chicks into three groups, each receiving different treatments, we found significant enhancements in WG and organ health in the groups that received cecal microbiota transplants. The results also showed improvements in Serum IgG levels in the treatment groups. Furthermore, the analysis of microbial diversity indicated that beneficial microorganisms were more abundant in the treated groups, suggesting a positive effect on chicken digestive health. To summarize, our findings suggest that transferring healthy gut microorganisms from mature parent chickens to young chicks can lead to improved growth, immune system function, microbial diversity, and overall health. This approach is a promising strategy for enhancing the productivity and well-being of broiler chickens.

To investigate the efficacy of sodium alginate-konjac glucomannan (SA-KGM) films with anthocyanins (LRA) and tea polyphenols (TP) in meat, beef and grass carp were selected as representative meat products for preservation and freshness monitoring experiments at 4 °C. Concurrently, storage experiments of the films were conducted in this controlled environment. The results of the storage experiment showed that the films delayed meat spoilage by 2-4 days, nearly doubling the preservation time compared to the blank control. Additionally, the film exhibited significant capability to monitor the spoilage process of beef and grass carp. It was revealed by curve fitting analysis that there was a significant correlation between the color change of the film and the spoilage index of the meat. Throughout the storage experiment with the film, it was observed that moisture significantly influenced the microstructure and bonding situation of the films, thereby impacting their mechanical and barrier properties. However, the films were still able to maintain satisfactory physicochemical properties in general. The above findings were crucial in guiding the promotion of the film within the food preservation industry.

Objective: The present study aimed to assess the bond strength and durability of six bonding agents concerning their application to metal or ceramic brackets and zirconia. Materials and Methods: Six resin cement bonding agents (XT, XTS, RSBU, RGBU, SBPM, and GMP) were chosen for this investigation. Specimens were either stored in distilled water at 37°C for 24 h or subjected to 5,000 thermocycles before conducting a Shear Bond Strength (SBS) test. Statistical analysis of the SBS data was performed using three-way ANOVA and Games-Howell tests (α = 0.05). The Adhesive Remnant Index was examined, and the debonding surface details on brackets and zirconia were observed. Results: For metal brackets, all groups demonstrated clinically acceptable bond strength, irrespective of storage conditions, except for the XT group. Regarding ceramic brackets, all groups displayed acceptable bond strength after 24 h of water storage. However, following thermocycling, a significant decrease in SBS was noted across all groups (p < 0.05), with SBPM exhibiting a higher bond strength. Three-way ANOVA analysis indicated that SBS values were notably influenced by each factor, and an interaction among the three independent variables was observed (p = 0.000). Conclusion: The reliable bond strength between ceramic brackets and zirconia was significantly lower after thermocycling compared to that of metal brackets and zirconia. SBPM exhibited consistent and robust bond strength between ceramic/metal brackets and zirconia across various storage conditions. Furthermore, the HEMA-free adhesive demonstrated a potentially more consistent bonding performance compared to the HEMA-containing adhesive employed in this study.

Filter mating experiment is widely used to study the conjugation behavior of plasmids and associated antibiotic resistance in environmental settings, however, the influence and biases brought by sample storage conditions (temperature and duration) were not yet systematically elaborated. This study systematically investigated the influence of standard storage conditions (4 °C, -20 °C, -80 °C) on plasmid conjugation behavior in influent (Inf) and activated sludge (AS) samples from sewage treatment plants (STP). The findings revealed a significant reduction in conjugation efficiency under all the tested storage conditions except for 1-week storage at 4 °C. Notably, storing at -80 °C maintained conjugation activities in activated sludge more effectively compared to -20 °C. However, the preservation performance was less effective for influent samples, which consist mainly of anaerobe-dominant communities. Systematic loss of IncH-type plasmids was observed in influent samples stored at 4 °C and -20 °C. Correspondingly, the plasmid-carrying resistome genotypes detected in the influent samples showed a clear downward trend with the increase in storage duration when stored at 4 °C and -20 °C. A relatively uniform composition in terms of incompatibility type and resistome profile was observed across activated sludge samples, regardless of the varied storage conditions. This study highlights the critical impact of storage conditions on plasmid conjugation behavior and resistome composition, offering valuable insights for optimal sample handling in resistome research.

BACKGROUND: There has been significant interest in pre-cooked noodles that have a long shelf life and are convenient to cook. However, the thermal processes during preparation, and their high moisture content, can lead to significant quality deterioration during storage. Nevertheless, a comprehensive evaluation of these quality losses has not yet been conducted.
RESULTS: The effects of different storage temperatures (25, 4, and -20 °C) on the retrogradation-related physicochemical changes in pre-cooked rice noodles were elucidated mainly from the water dynamics and structural viewpoints. Thermal analysis demonstrated that amylopectin recrystallization took place in the noodles stored at refrigerated temperature, followed by room temperature. The refrigerated storage accelerated the starch retrogradation that caused the water molecules to become entrapped within the crystalline structure by lowering the water hydration properties and weighted T2 relaxation times of the pre-cooked noodles. These water mobility patterns were correlated with the textural changes in the noodles (greater hardness and Rmax /extensibility). Furthermore, the higher structural density and thickness derived from starch retrogradation were observed in the tomographic and microscopic images of the refrigerated noodles. The principal component analysis demonstrated that various physicochemical changes of the pre-cooked noodles during storage showed high correlations with the degree of starch retrogradation (r > 0.83).
CONCLUSIONS: The physicochemical features of the precooked noodles stored under refrigerated conditions were involved in the molecular dynamics of water, showing a notable water mobility reduction derived from the starch retrogradation, which contributed to their thermal, tomographical, and textural changes. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

There is an increasing interest in investigating the human gut virome for its influence on the gut bacterial community and its putative influence on the trajectory towards health or disease. Most gut virome studies are based on sequencing of stored fecal samples. However, relatively little is known about how conventional storage buffers and storage conditions affect the infectivity of bacteriophages and influence the downstream metavirome sequencing.
We demonstrate that the infectivity and genome recovery rate of different spiked bacteriophages (T4, c2 and Phi X174) are variable and highly dependent on storage buffers. Regardless of the storage temperature and timespan, all tested phages immediately lost 100% (DNA/RNA Shield) or more than 90% (StayRNA and RNAlater) of their infectivity. Generally, in SM buffer at 4 °C phage infectivity was preserved for up to 30 days and phage DNA integrity was maintained for up to 100 days. While in CANVAX, the most effective buffer, all spiked phage genomes were preserved for at least 100 days. Prolonged storage time (500 days) at - 80 °C impacted viral diversity differently in the different buffers. Samples stored in CANVAX or DNA/RNA Shield buffer had the least shifts in metavirome composition, after prolonged storage, but they yielded more contigs classified as \"uncharacterised\". Moreover, in contrast to the SM buffer, these storage buffers yielded a higher fraction of bacterial DNA in metavirome-sequencing libraries. We demonstrated that the latter was due to inactivation of the DNases employed to remove extra-cellular DNA during virome extraction. The latter could be partly avoided by employing additional washing steps prior to virome extraction.
Fecal sample storage buffers and storage conditions (time and temperature) strongly influence bacteriophage infectivity and viral composition as determined by plaque assay and metavirome sequencing. The choice of buffer had a larger effect than storage temperature and storage time on the quality of the viral sequences and analyses. Based on these results, we recommend storage of fecal virome samples at in SM buffer at 4 °C for the isolation of viruses and at - 80 °C for metagenomic applications if practically feasible (i.e., access to cold storage). For fecal samples stored in other buffers, samples should be cleared of these buffers before viral extraction and sequencing. Video Abstract.

Paeonia ostii is an important woody oil crop mainly cross-pollinated. However, the low yield has become an important factor restricting the industrial development of P. ostii. Cross-pollination has become one of the important measures to increase the seed yield. Therefore, conservation of pollen with high vitality is crucial to ensure successful pollination of P. ostii. In this study, we found an effective methodological system to assess the viability, ability to germinate, and optimal storage conditions of P. ostii pollen grains. The optimal medium in vitro was 50 g/L sucrose, 100 mg/L boric acid, 50 g/L PEG6000, 100 mg/L potassium nitrate, 300 mg/L calcium nitrate, and 200 mg/L magnesium sulfate at pH 5.4. Optimal germination condition in vitro was achieved at 25 °C for 120 min, allowing easy observation of the germination percentage and length of the pollen tubes. In addition, the viability of pollen grains was assessed by comparing nine staining methods. Among them, MTT, TTC, benzidine-H2O2, and FDA were effective to distinguish between viable and non-viable pollen, and the results of the FDA staining method were similar to the pollen germination percentage in vitro. After evaluation of pollen storage, thawing and rehydration experiments showed that thawing at 4 °C for 30 min and rehydration at 25 °C for 30 min increased the germination percentage of pollen grains stored at low temperatures. The low-temperature storage experiments showed that 4 °C was suitable for short-term storage of P. ostii pollen grains, while -80 °C was suitable for long-term storage. This is the first report on the in vitro germination, viability tests, and storage of P. ostii pollen grains, which will provide useful information for P. ostii germplasm conservation and artificial pollination.

Tengkawang butter is an indigenous and traditional butter from Borneo that can be a lipid source for pharmaceutical and food applications. Studies found that Tengkawang butter is a cheaper cocoa butter substitution without compromising its quality. However, the current storage method is still very traditional, resulting in faster deterioration of Tengkawang butter. This study aims to calculate and evaluate the storage kinetics model with the Arrhenius model and the tengkawang butter oxidation stability index analysis. Storage conditions were carried out at temperatures of -5, 5, 24, and 60 °C to predict the tengkawang butter storage kinetics model. The addition of antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, tocopherol, and lignin to tengkawang butter help increase the oxidation stability index. The kinetics of the tengkawang butter acidity and peroxide models followed a zero-order reaction with activation energy values of 11.139 kJ mol-1 and 12.320 kJ mol-1, respectively. The prediction model for acidity is Acidity = 4.417-7.903t exp (-11,139/RT), and the model for peroxide is peroxide = 2.155-10.998t exp (-12,320/RT). The oxidation stability index values at 22 °C and the rate of oxidation when the temperature rises by ten degrees (Q10) of tengkawang butter, tengkawang butter with ascorbic acid, tengkawang butter with tocopherol, and tengkawang butter with lignin were 66,896 and 2.815; 224,680 and 1.993; 106,120 and 2.725; 81,658 and 2.961, respectively. The kinetic and oxidation stability index model data can be used as a reference for storage and preserving products made from tengkawang butter.

Polyamic acid (PAA) is the precursor of polyimide (PI), and its solution\'s properties have a direct influence on the final performances of PI resins, films, or fibers. The viscosity loss of a PAA solution over time is notorious. A stability evaluation and revelation of the degradation mechanism of PAA in a solution based on variations of molecular parameters other than viscosity with storage time is necessary. In this study, a PAA solution was prepared through the polycondensation of 4,4\'-(hexafluoroisopropene) diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) and 4,4\'-diamino-2,2\'-dimethylbiphenyl (DMB) in DMAc. The stability of a PAA solution stored at different temperatures (-18, -12, 4, and 25 °C) and different concentrations (12 wt% and 0.15 wt%) was systematically investigated by measuring the molecular parameters, including Mw, Mn, Mw/Mn, Rg, and [η], using gel permeation chromatography coupled with multiple detectors (GPC-RI-MALLS-VIS) in a mobile phase 0.02 M LiBr/0.20 M HAc/DMF. The stability of PAA in a concentrated solution decreased, as shown by the reduction ratio of Mw from 0%, 7.2%, and 34.7% to 83.8% and that of Mn from 0%, 4.7%, and 30.0% to 82.4% with an increase of temperature from -18, -12, and 4 to 25 °C, respectively, after storage for 139 days. The hydrolysis of PAA in a concentrated solution was accelerated at high temperatures. Notably, at 25 °C, the diluted solution was much less stable than the concentrated one and exhibited an almost linear degradation rate within 10 h. The Mw and Mn decreased rapidly by 52.8% and 48.7%, respectively, within 10 h. Such faster degradation was caused by a greater water ratio and less entanglement of chains in the diluted solution. The degradation of (6FDA-DMB) PAA in this study did not follow the chain length equilibration mechanism reported in literature, given that both Mw and Mn declined simultaneously during storage.