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SUMMARY: Xylan is one of the major hemicelluloses in plant cell walls and its xylosyl backbone is often decorated at O‐2 with glucuronic acid (GlcA) and/or methylglucuronic acid (MeGlcA) residues. The GlcA/MeGlcA side chains may be further substituted with 2‐O‐arabinopyranose (Arap) or 2‐O‐galactopyranose (Gal) residues in some plant species, but the enzymes responsible for these substitutions remain unknown. During our endeavor to investigate the enzymatic activities of Arabidopsis MUR3‐clade members of the GT47 glycosyltransferase family, we found that one of them was able to transfer Arap from UDP‐Arap onto O‐2 of GlcA side chains of xylan, and thus it was named xylan 2‐O‐arabinopyranosyltransferase 1 (AtXAPT1). The function of AtXAPT1 was verified in planta by its T‐DNA knockout mutation showing a loss of the Arap substitution on xylan GlcA side chains. Further biochemical characterization of XAPT close homologs from other plant species demonstrated that while the poplar ones had the same catalytic activity as AtXAPT1, those from Eucalyptus, lemon‐scented gum, sea apple, 'Ohi'a lehua, duckweed and purple yam were capable of catalyzing both 2‐O‐Arap and 2‐O‐Gal substitutions of xylan GlcA side chains albeit with differential activities. Sequential reactions with XAPTs and glucuronoxylan methyltransferase 3 (GXM3) showed that XAPTs acted poorly on MeGlcA side chains, whereas GXM3 could efficiently methylate arabinosylated or galactosylated GlcA side chains of xylan. Furthermore, molecular docking and site‐directed mutagenesis analyses of Eucalyptus XAPT1 revealed critical roles of several amino acid residues at the putative active site in its activity. Together, these findings establish that XAPTs residing in the MUR3 clade of family GT47 are responsible for 2‐O‐arabinopyranosylation and 2‐O‐galactosylation of GlcA side chains of xylan. Significance Statement: Xylan is one of the major hemicelluloses in plant cell walls and its GlcA side chains may be further substituted with 2‐O‐Arap or 2‐O‐Gal residues. We have uncovered the functions of a subgroup of MUR3‐clade GT47 members in catalyzing the transfer of 2‐O‐Arap and/or 2‐O‐Gal onto GlcA side chains of xylan, which expands our understanding of glycosyltransferases involved in xylan substitutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing inclination among consumers toward the consumption of natural products has propelled the usage of natural compounds as novel additives. Polyphenols are among the most popular candidates of natural food additives with multiple functionalities and bioactivities but are limited by instability. In this regard, a series of food-grade encapsulated polyphenols has been tailored for incorporating into food formulations as novel additives, which could better satisfy the complicated industry processing. This review seeks to present the most recent discussions regarding their application status in diverse foodstuffs as novel additives, involving functionalities, action mechanisms, and relevant encapsulation technologies. The scientific findings confirm that such novel additives show positive effects on physicochemical, sensory, and nutritional properties as well as the shelf life of diverse food matrices. However, poor heat resistance is still the major defect that restricts their application in thermal processes. Future research should focus on the evaluation of the compatibility and applicability of encapsulated polyphenols in real food processes as well as track and deepen their molecular action mechanisms in the context of complex foodstuffs. Innovation of existing encapsulation technologies should also be concerned in the future to bridge the gap between lab and scale-up production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing inclination among consumers toward the consumption of natural products has propelled the usage of natural compounds as novel additives. Polyphenols are among the most popular candidates of natural food additives with multiple functionalities and bioactivities but are limited by instability. In this regard, a series of food-grade encapsulated polyphenols has been tailored for incorporating into food formulations as novel additives, which could better satisfy the complicated industry processing. This review seeks to present the most recent discussions regarding their application status in diverse foodstuffs as novel additives, involving functionalities, action mechanisms, and relevant encapsulation technologies. The scientific findings confirm that such novel additives show positive effects on physicochemical, sensory, and nutritional properties as well as the shelf life of diverse food matrices. However, poor heat resistance is still the major defect that restricts their application in thermal processes. Future research should focus on the evaluation of the compatibility and applicability of encapsulated polyphenols in real food processes as well as track and deepen their molecular action mechanisms in the context of complex foodstuffs. Innovation of existing encapsulation technologies should also be concerned in the future to bridge the gap between lab and scale-up production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Two-step ethanol-mediated synthesis strategy was developed for preparing γ-CD-MOFs. • γ-CD-MOFs were used as microcarriers for EGCG with high load capability (334 mg/g). • γ-CD-MOFs maintained their morphology after EGCG encapsulation. • Molecular simulations revealed the binding interactions between γ-CD-MOF with EGCG. • Thermostability and antioxidative activity of EGCG increased after encapsulation. Here, an ethanol-mediated method was introduced to fabricate γ-cyclodextrin-based metal–organic frameworks (γ-CD-MOFs) as microcarriers for epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Through adjusting ethanol gas diffusion temperature and ethanol liquid feed speed, we achieved control of crystallization efficiency and crystals size without extra surfactants. Under the sequential regulatory by ethanol in two phases, the obtained γ-CD-MOFs with cubic shape exhibited excellent crystallinity, high surface area, and uniform size distribution. Through the interplay of hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions and π stacking, EGCG molecules could be stored efficiently within cavities and tunnels of the γ-CD-MOFs with high load capability of 334 mg g−1. More importantly, the incorporation of EGCG within frameworks wouldn't disintegrate the unique body-centered cubic structure of γ-CD-MOFs, in turn, would improve the thermostability and antioxidative activity of EGCG. Significantly, all food-grade materials ensured the γ-CD-MOFs high acceptance and applicability for food and biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influences of storage temperature (−20C, 4C, room temperature and 40C), light and oxygen on stability of a phospholipids-rich krill oil (PRKO) with storage time up to 8 weeks were evaluated. The acid value and free fatty acid content were constant when PRKO was stored at −20C, 4C and room temperature. The two values remained stable for 3 weeks, and then increased slowly when PRKO was stored at 40C. The peroxide value of PRKO stored at all conditions was constant during the 8-week storage. However, the thiobarbituric reactive substance of sample stored at most conditions showed a firstly increased and then decreased pattern. Meanwhile, after 8-week storage, the fatty acid composition of PRKO changed slightly, with a decrease in polyunsaturated fatty acids and an increase in saturated fatty acids. Furthermore, astaxanthin content of PRKO decreased when the sample was stored at 40C. Practical Applications These years, krill oil (KO) has captured increasing consumer interest and market share as an alternative source of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA). Especially, most of the n-3 LC-PUFA in KO is incorporated into phospholipids (PL). Some studies showed that n-3 LC-PUFA in PL form had higher bioavailability than those in ethyl esters (EE) form and triglycerides (TG) form, giving a basis for developing a new type of commercial krill product using krill PL. The present study prepared a PL-rich KO (PRKO) through a supercritical carbon dioxide coupled to ethanol extraction procedure. The influences of storage temperature (−20C, 4C, room temperature and 40C), light and oxygen on stability of the PRKO with storage time up to 8 weeks were evaluated. Results of this research revealed that the PRKO had very good storage stability, which provides information for determining the storage conditions of krill PL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longan peel, which is fruit by-product, is known for its antioxidant activities regarding the presence of phenolics. To minimize the use of synthetic antioxidants in food, natural antioxidants including phenolics from plant extracts have received much interest. This study screened combinatorial pretreatments between longan peel extract (LP) and food additives including vitamin E (E) and ascorbyl palmitate (AP) for application in refined tuna oil. Our results demonstrated synergistic effects of LP/E/AP pretreatment against lipid oxidation in the oil. Under Rancimat accelerated oxidation at 100 °C, the LP/E/AP combination exhibited a synergy by significantly increasing induction period in comparison to the blank control. Similarly, under accelerated storage at 50 °C, this combination significantly decreased peroxide value, conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Gas chromatography analysis demonstrated that the LP/E/AP combination maintained the levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which was comparable with that of a synthetic antioxidant i.e. butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). In addition, the combined pretreatment resulted in synergistic decrease of free radicals in the oil, which might contribute to the antioxidative effects. Collectively, our results have demonstrated the potential of LP used in combination with particular food additives to enhance protective effects against lipid oxidation. [Display omitted] • Combination of LP/E/AP significantly improved oxidative stability of tuna oil. • Combination of LP/E/AP significantly protected PUFAs from oxidation. • LP is a potential food additive against lipid oxidation in oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the method of fundamental solutions is applied to solve a Cauchy problem of Laplace's equation in a multi-connected domain. This problem is severely ill-posed in the sense of Hadamard. To solve effectively the discrete ill-posed problem resulted from a boundary collocation scheme, Tikhonov regularization and L-curve choice for a regularization parameter have been used for determining a stable approximate solution. The feasibility and validity of the proposed approach is demonstrated through several numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-assembled InAs/AlAs quantum dots embedded in a resonant tunneling diode device structure are grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Through the selective etching in a C6H8O7 · H2O-K3C6H5O7 · H2O-H2O2 buffer solution, 310 nm GaAs capping layers are removed and the InAs/AlAs quantum dots are observed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. It is shown that as-fabricated quantum dots have a diameter of several tens of nanometers and a density of 1010 cm-2 order. The images taken by this means are comparable or slightly better than those of transmission electron microscopy. The undercut of the InAs/AlAs layer near the edges of mesas is detected and that verifies the reliability of the quantum dot images. The inhomogeneous oxidation of the upper AlAs barrier in H2O2 is also observed. By comparing the morphologies of the mesa edge adjacent regions and the rest areas of the sample, it is concluded that the physicochemical reaction introduced in this letter is diffusion limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is very high, but there is no risk assessment model for early identification of AAA in clinic. The aim of this study was to develop a nomogram risk assessment model for predicting AAA. The data of 280 patients diagnosed as AAA and 385 controls in The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were retrospectively reviewed. The LASSO regression method was applied to filter variables, and multivariate logistic regression was used to construct a nomogram. The discriminatory ability of the model was determined by calculating the area under the curve (AUC). The calibration capability of the model is evaluated by using bootstrap (resampling = 1000) internal validation and Hosmer–Lemeshow test. The clinical utility and clinical application value were evaluated by decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curve (CIC). In addition, a retrospective review of 133 AAA patients and 262 controls from The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University was performed as an external validation cohort. Eight variables are selected to construct the nomogram of AAA risk assessment model. The nomogram predicted AAA with AUC values of 0.928 (95%CI, 0.907–0.950) in the training cohort, and 0.902 (95%CI, 0.865–0.940) in the external validation cohort, the risk prediction model has excellent discriminative ability. The calibration curve and Hosmer–Lemeshow test proved that the nomogram predicted outcomes were close to the ideal curve, the predicted outcomes were consistent with the real outcomes, the DCA curve and CIC curve showed that patients could benefit. This finding was also confirmed in the external validation cohort. In this study, a nomogram was constructed that incorporated eight demographic and clinical characteristics of AAA patients, which can be used as a practical approach for the personalized early screening and auxiliary diagnosis of the potential risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Golden pompano (Trachinotus blochii) fillets were dehydrated by four drying methods including vacuum freeze (VFD), vacuum microwave (VMD), hot air (HAD), and microwave (MD) drying in this study. The quality, water distribution and states, protein degradation of dried fillets were determined. VFD fillets had looser microstructure and higher contents of protein (62.72 g/100g) than VMD, HAD and MD, while the VMD fillets had the highest lipid content (15.13%). The transverse relaxation time of immobilized water significantly decreased during the drying process, and the water content was uniform during VFD and VMD compared with MD and HAD processes. In addition, regarding protein degradation, VFD maintained a higher ratio of α-helical structure and higher protein denaturation temperature compared to the heating process (VMD, HAD and MD). Thus, VFD was considered as the appropriate non-thermal drying method of golden pompano fillets with the advantages of high product quality and protein stability. And in the thermal drying processing, the VMD fillets had better quality and higher efficiency. • VMD and VFD were uniform drying methods. • The VFD samples had better thermal stability than the heating process. • The VFD maintained a higher ratio of the α-helical structure of fillets. • VFD was considered as the appropriate method for the non-thermal drying of fillets. • VMD was the thermal drying method of fish with high quality and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene/GaAs heterojunction has been demonstrated by transferring monolayer graphene on the surface of n-GaAs substrate, and the carrier transfer at the interface has been investigated by monitoring Raman shift of graphene on different substrates. The photovoltaic behavior and rectifying characteristic of the graphene/GaAs heterojunctions enable us to fabricate high-performance self-powered photodetector at zero bias. The device has been demonstrated to be sensitive to visible/near-infrared light (405–850 nm) at room temperature, giving rise to maximum responsivity of 122 mA W−1 and detectivity of 4.3 × 1012 Jones with quick response and recover time (0.5 ms and 0.35 ms), respectively. Such high photoelectric response is attributed to the efficient photo-generated carrier separation and transfer at the interface, which is caused by the strong built-in electric field between grapheme and GaAs because of a large barrier (0.87 eV). Our results confirm that the graphene/GaAs heterojunction has a great potential for high performance self-powered broadband photodetectors. • The carrier transfer at the interface of the heterojunction has been investigated by monitoring Raman shift. • High responsivity of 122 mAW−1 and detectivity of 4.3 × 1012 Jones are one order of magnitude greater than that of similar devices under NIR light illumination. • A large area graphene/GaAs heterojunction for self-powered broadband photodetector have been fabricated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic products are easily spoiled during storage due to oxidation, endogenous enzymes, and bacteria. At the same time, compared with synthetic antioxidants, based on the antibacterial and antioxidant mechanism of biological agents, the development of natural, nontoxic, low-temperature, better-effect green biological preservatives is more acceptable to consumers. The type and molecular structure of polyphenols affect their antioxidant and antibacterial effectiveness. This review will describe how they achieve their antioxidant and antibacterial effects. And the recent literature on the mechanism and application of polyphenols in the preservation of aquatic products was updated and summarized. The conclusion is that in aquatic products, polyphenols alleviate lipid oxidation, protein degradation and inhibit the growth and reproduction of microorganisms, so as to achieve the effect of storage quality control. And put forward suggestions on the application of the research results in aquatic products. We hope to provide theoretical support for better exploration of the application of polyphenols and aquatic product storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids results in the creation of numerous α, β‐unsaturated aldehydes, many of which are complicated by the development of diabetes. Trans, trans‐2,4‐decadienal (DDE) is a dietary α, β‐unsaturated aldehyde that is commonly found in food and the environment. However, it is unknown whether DDE exposure has some negative effects on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. This study investigated the biological effects of long‐term DDE exposure in normal chow diet (NCD)‐fed non‐obese mice and high‐fat diet (HFD)‐fed obese mice. Results showed that oral administration of DDE for 14 weeks did not cause severe toxicity in NCD‐fed non‐obese mice but had significant adverse effects in HFD‐fed obese mice. It was found that DDE exposure caused significant increases in LDL and ALT levels and aggravated glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in obese mice. Moreover, DDE robustly accumulated in adipose tissue and promoted the impairment of the insulin signaling pathway in the adipose tissue of obese mice while not affecting the skeletal muscle or liver. Mechanistically, DDE aggravated adipose tissue inflammation by promoting M1 macrophage accumulation and increasing proinflammatory cytokines in the adipocytes of obese mice, thus leading to impaired systemic insulin resistance. These findings provide crucial insights into the potential health impacts of long‐term DDE exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

4-Hydroxyphenylacetate 3-hydroxylase (EcHpaB) from Escherichia coli is capable of efficient ortho-hydroxylation of a wide range of phenolic compounds and demonstrates great potential for broad chemoenzymatic applications. To understand the structural and mechanistic basis of its catalytic versatility, we elucidated the crystal structure of EcHpaB by X-ray crystallography, which revealed a unique loop structure covering the active site. We further performed mutagenesis studies of this loop to probe its role in substrate specificity and catalytic activity. Our results not only showed the loop has great plasticity and strong tolerance towards extensive mutagenesis, but also suggested a flexible loop that enables the entrance and stable binding of substrates into the active site is the key factor to the enzyme catalytic versatility. These findings lay the groundwork for editing the loop sequence and structure for generation of EcHpaB mutants with improved performance for broader laboratory and industrial use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), which artificially creates a portocaval shunt to reduce portal venous pressure, has gradually become the primary treatment for portal hypertension (PH). However, there is no prefect shunting scheme in TIPS to balance the occurrence of postoperative complications and effective haemostasis. OBJECTIVE: To construct cirrhotic PH models and compare different shunting schemes in TIPS. METHODS: Three cases of cirrhotic PH with different liver volumes were selected for enhanced computed tomography scanning. The models for different shunting schemes were created using Mimics software, and following FLUENT calculation, all the models were imported into the software computational fluid dynamic-post for processing. In each shunting scheme, the differences in portal vein pressure, hepatic blood perfusion and blood flow from the superior mesenteric vein in the shunt tract were compared. The coefficient G was adapted to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages. RESULTS: (1) Concerning the precise location of the shunt tract, the wider the diameter of the shunt tract, the lower the pressure of the portal vein and the lesser the hepatic blood perfusion. Meanwhile, the pressure drop objective was not achieved with the 6 mm-diameter shunting scheme. (2) The 8 mm-diameter shunting scheme through the left portal vein (LPV) had the highest coefficient G. CONCLUSION: The 8 mm-diameter shunting scheme through the LPV may demonstrate a superior effect and prognosis in TIPS procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a severe lethal disease. Currently, immunotherapy has become an effective alternative therapeutic approach for cancers. Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells have a higher proliferation rate, increased efficacy with few side-effects, and non-MHC-restricted killing after co-culturing with dendritic cells (DCs). Therefore, it has been widely studied and applied in the treatment of cancers. In our study, we explored the antitumor effects of CIK cells co-culturing with DCs pulsed with non-cell derived targeting peptides, which could specifically bind to certain tumor cells. Our results indicated that targeting peptide-loaded DCs could enhance the differentiation and cytotoxicity of CIK cells. Moreover, CIK cells, which were treated with specific targeting peptide-loaded DCs, could effectively and specifically kill tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, as long as tumor cells were pre-coated with the specific binding peptides. In conclusion, targeting peptides could guide DC-CIK to effectively and specifically kill tumor cells which were pre-coated with these targeting peptides and non-cell derived targeting peptide-loaded-DC-CIK may work as a novel means for cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coumarins belong to an important class of plant secondary metabolites. Feruloyl-CoA 6'-hydroxylase (F6'H), a 2-oxoglutarate dependent dioxygenase (2OGD), catalyzes a pivotal step in the biosynthesis of a simple coumarin scopoletin. In this study, we determined the 3-dimensional structure of the F6'H1 apo enzyme by X-ray crystallography. It is the first reported structure of a 2OGD enzyme involved in coumarin biosynthesis and closely resembles the structure of Arabidopsis thaliana anthocyanidin synthase. To better understand the mechanism of enzyme catalysis and substrate specificity, we also generated a homology model of a related ortho-hydroxylase (C2'H) from sweet potato. By comparing these two structures, we targeted two amino acid residues and verified their roles in substrate binding and specificity by site-directed mutagenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to explore the function of microRNA (miR)‑204 in modulating cyclin‑dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (p27) mRNA stability in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Briefly, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were used to detect miR‑204 and Brd4 level. Cell viability, cell cycle and cell apoptosis were used to investigate the effects of miR‑204. Additional luciferase reporter and mRNA stability assays were used to explore the mechanisms contributing to miR‑204 effects. Here, miR‑204 was downregulated in HNSCC tissues compared with the adjacent normal tissues. The expression levels of miR‑204 and bromodomain‑containing protein 4 (Brd4) were negatively associated in HNSCC tissues. Ectopic expression of miR‑204 inhibited HNSCC cell proliferation, promoted cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase and promoted cell apoptosis compared with control cells. Additionally, upregulation of miR‑204 expression levels enhanced p27 mRNA stability. Notably, Brd4 was identified as a target of miR‑204, and the co‑expression of Brd4 with miR‑204 mimics attenuated the inhibitory effects of miR‑204 on cell proliferation and enhanced p27 mRNA stability compared with control cells. Thus, it was concluded that miR‑204 functions as a tumor suppressor by enhancing p27 mRNA stability through targeting Brd4 in HNSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Recently, food‐derived peptides were frequently studied and used as metal ion chelator against negative effects of trace element absorption induced by various human gastrointestinal environments. In this study, the scallop mantle hydrolysates (SMHs) were produced and characterised to study their intestinal promotion of zinc absorption. During production of hydrolysates, the results of degree of hydrolysis (DH) and proteins solubility suggested that the alcalase was suitable for the production of peptides from scallop mantle proteins where the chelating conditions were settled (30 °C, 10 min and 3 mg mL−1). The molecular distribution of SMH was mainly 1–5 kDa and chelation of zinc with SMH (involved in carboxyl and amine group of SMH) triggered no significant alteration on the secondary structure of SMH. Zinc morphologically altered the surface structures of SMH. Moreover, SMH could successfully carry and transport zinc while the fluorescence staining indicated free zinc accumulated inside the tissue of everted rat sacs. Finally, several representative transported peptides (intact or cleaved) were identified, such as FTGEPGPSGPT, AINDPFIDL and ALPHAILRI. This study provided a theoretical basis for the investigation of absorption of marine animal‐derived peptides as zinc carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) is well known for excellent chain‐breaking antioxidant capability. However, browning by oxidation and aggregation of EGCG is a non‐negligible defect that hinders its applications as an antioxidant in various foodstuffs. Therefore, how to eliminate or mitigate browning efficiently, while retaining functionalities as food additive is a challenge in the food industry. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that EGCG could be anchored within the internal cavity of γ‐cyclodextrin (γ‐CD) to form an inclusion structure, where hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and π‐stacking were identified to be the primary drivers. The interplay between two molecules and the steric hindrance from γ‐CD could restrict the motion and aggregation of EGCG efficiently, thus alleviating the browning effect. In addition, the conformational adaption of EGCG within the inclusions would result in general decreases in hydrogen‐bond dissociation enthalpies for the pyrogallol‐type structure on the b ring, thus enhancing the antioxidant capability. In practical application, the nanoscale γ‐CD/EGCG inclusion complexes were validated preliminarily as efficient additives in the preservation of shrimp surimi, presenting significant effects on prolonging the shelf‐life of products. CONCLUSION: Here, nanoscale γ‐CD/EGCG inclusion complexes as alternatives to EGCG were tailored as food antioxidants for the preservation of shrimp surimi products, exerting antioxidant effects while mitigating the browning effects of EGCG on products. Through self‐assembly, EGCG would be anchored with the cavity of γ‐CD, which could regulate the release modes and restrict the aggregation of EGCG. This facile strategy has great potential in food preservation. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atomic-level interface and strong interfacial interaction enable van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures to fabricate innovative photovoltaic devices by combing single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with bulk semiconductors, in which the device performance can be enhanced significantly using outstanding photoelectric property of SWCNTs. Herein, we reported a facile method to fabricate SWCNT/GaAs vdW heterojunction solar cell by transferring p-type (6,5)-enriched SWCNT film onto the n-type GaAs substrate, a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 7.23 % has been achieved without any other treatment. Furthermore, the PCE value can be enhanced to 11.24 % by introducing Nafion as a highly effective dopant with a short-circuit current density of 24.70 mA/cm2, an open-circuit voltage of 0.64 V and a fill factor of 0.71. Our results reveal that the introduction of Nafion not only induces a stronger and closer contact at the interface between SWCNTs and GaAs, but also shows strong p-doping effect due to the existence of sulfonic acid functional groups. This p-doping effect of Nafion increases the work function of SWCNTs and subsequently enlarges the barrier height at the heterojunction for more efficient carrier separation. In addition, Nafion can also serve as an antireflection and passivation layer, reducing the incident light loss and the carrier recombination rate. These findings suggest that Nafion could be used to improve the performance of SWCNT-based vdW heterojunction devices. [Display omitted] • The PCE of vdW heterojunction solar cell can be improved from 7.23 % to 11.24 % by Nafion doping. • Nafion increases work function of SWCNT, leading to a faster and more efficient charge transfer. • Nafion as antireflection and passivation layer improves light harvesting and reduces carrier recombination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of chitosan-wampee seed essential oil (WSEO) composite film coating before cold plasma (CP) treatment on the quality preservation of golden pompano fillets during refrigerated storage was investigated and compared with that of chitosan and CP alone. The results indicated that the chitosan-WSEO composite film coating before CP treatment and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), referred to as CPCW-M, exhibited the lowest total bacterial count, total volatile base nitrogen, and peroxide and thiobarbituric acid values of 4.03 log culture-forming units (CFU)/g, 13.45 mg/100 g, 24.65 meq/kg, and 1428.4 μg MDAeq/kg, respectively. Simultaneously, it contributed to the most profound inhibition of the lipid hydrolase, lipoxygenase, thus effectively preventing the oxidative deterioration of unsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, minimal color changes, drip loss, and texture deterioration of the fillets were observed. Therefore, the edible chitosan-WSEO composite film, together with CP and MAP, was effective in preserving golden pompano fillets and extending shelf life throughout the refrigerated storage period. • Chitosan-wampee seed essential oil composite (C-WEO) film was applied for golden pompano fillets preservation. • Cold plasma exerted antibacterial effect and induced lipid oxidation. • C-WEO film could inhibit microbial proliferation, maintain fillet texture profiles and inhibit lipid hydrolase, LOX. • Modified atmosphere packaging could enhance the preservation ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperlipemia is becoming a chronic disease that threatens human health. At the same time, people pay more and more attention to hyperlipemia. Holothuria Leucospilota polysaccharide (HLP) has been reported to ameliorate hyperlipidemia in high‐fat diet‐induced rats. Therefore, this study aimed to explore further metabolomics' role in improving liver function and reveal its mechanism. After oral administration of HLP for 4 weeks, total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) levels of the liver in 100 and 200 mg/kg HLP groups were both decreased significantly (p <.05). The results showed that serum AST and ALT activity decreased by professing to be convinced of HLP. HLP also exerted antioxidant activities and up‐regulated the expression of ACC, CD36, TNF‐α and NF‐κB in the liver of diabetic rats. Six potential biomarkers were recognized by UPLC‐Q‐TOF/MS and OPLS‐DA. HLP alleviated liver injury by regulating the contents of metabolic end products in the serum of hyperlipidemic rats, such as nadolol and glycodeoxycholic acid. The results indicated that HLP effectively relieved HFD‐induced hyperlipidemia by regulating metabolic disorders. Practical applications: As a chronic disease, hyperlipidemia has attracted more and more attention. Studies have shown that HLP regulates dyslipidemia, oxidative damage and inflammation to relieve hyperlipidemia. It mainly improved the liver damage caused by hyperlipidemia by inhibiting the expression of hepatic lipogenesis, oxidative stress and inflammatory factors. At the same time, we also detected six metabolites, among which high GDCA content indicated serious liver damage. Therefore, in the future, it can be suggested that HLP may be used as a functional, active substance in health products to assist in relieving hyperlipidemia, and GDCA may be used as an essential metabolic marker for the degree of liver injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Investigated the AST geometric isomerization of RTE shrimp during storage. • Summarized the AST optical isomerization of RTE shrimp during storage. • Identified the oxidation products of AST and AST-E of RTE shrimp during storage. • Revealed the AST and AST-E oxidation pathways of RTE shrimp during storage. Astaxanthin (AST), the natural pigment in Litopenaeus vannamei , is susceptible to oxidation and isomerization, leading to the fading of the orange-red color in ready-to-eat (RTE) shrimps. This study specifically investigated the changes mechanism in AST content, including geometric and stereoisomers, as well as oxidation degradation, throughout the storage process of RTE shrimps. The results showed that the total amount of AST decreased by 46.76 % after 45 days of storage at 40 °C. The levels of geometric isomers (all- E , 9- Z , 13- Z) and stereoisomers (3 S ,3′ S , 3 S ,3′ R , 3 R ,3′ R) gradually decreased over time. Notably, 9- Z and 3 S ,3′ S isomers, known for their strong antioxidant activity, were reduced by 83.57 % and 61.64 % respectively. Additionally, AST underwent oxidative degradation, forming short-chain compounds (astaxanthinal or astaxanthinone), with the main products being Apo-14′-astaxanthinal and Apo-7-astaxanthinone DHA ester. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for further research on the degradation mechanism of AST, and offer valuable insights into the color protection of RTE shrimps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethanol evaporation method was applied to synthesize phospholipid complexes from phosphatidylcholine (PC) and short-chain alkyl gallates (A-GAs, a typical representative of lipophenols) including butyl-, propyl- and ethyl gallates. 1H NMR, UV and FTIR showed that A-GAs were interacted with PC through weak physical interaction. Through the analysis of concentrations of A-GAs and gallic acid (GA) by an everted rat gut sac model coupled with HPLC-UV detection, phospholipid complexes were found to gradually release A-GAs. These liberated A-GAs were further hydrolyzed by intestinal lipases to release GA. Both of GA and A-GAs could cross intestinal membrane. Especially, the transmembrane A-GAs could also be hydrolyzed to produce GA. Undoubtedly, the dual release of phenol compounds from phospholipid complexes of short-chain lipophenols will be effective to extend the in vivo residence period of phenol compounds. More importantly, such behavior is easily adjusted by changing the acyl chain lengths of lipophenols in phospholipid complexes. • The two-step release of GA was achieved by combining phospholipid with A-GAs. • Controllable release rate will be achieved by changing acyl chain length. • Such release behavior is helpful to improve bioavailability of phenol compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot air drying (HAD) is an extensive method used on oysters and it causes the most intuitive change, a color change. However, the mechanism of color change remains unclear. This study showed that oysters underwent browning during the HAD process. The colorimetric parameter L * decreased while a * and b * increased, all of which were well described by the first-order color kinetic model. Mechanistically, the HDA process induced the oxidative browning of phenols and the generation of Maillard reaction products (5-hydroxymethylfurfural and hydrophilic pyrrole). Meanwhile, the HAD process caused lipid oxidation, leading to the reduction of phosphatidylethanolamine and the generation of reactive carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and α-dicarbonyl compounds). Moreover, the accumulation of hydrophobic pyrroles, a lipid-induced Maillard-like reaction product, was observed. These results suggest that, in addition to phenolic oxidation, sugar- and amino acid-mediated non-enzymatic browning reactions, lipid-mediated Maillard-like reactions play important roles in oyster darkening during the HAD process. • Effects of non-enzymatic browning on oysters during HAD process are investigated • Changes in L *, a *, b * of oysters during the HAD process are consistent with first-order kinetic models • Lipid-mediated Maillard-like reaction plays a crucial role in color change of oysters • Maillard reaction, phenolic oxidation, and lipid-related NEBRs work together to darken oysters [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Fish is one of the most popular foods for consumers because of its abundant nutrition, tenderness and delicious taste. With increasing demand for tilapia fillets, practical preservation is widely used to maintain quality and safety during long‐distance transportation and storage. Thus the effects of polyphenols (2 g L−1) on color, flavor quality and mechanism of tilapia fillets were studied during 49 days of partial freezing (−4 °C). RESULTS: Treatment with carnosic acid (CA), procyanidin (PA), quercetin (QE) and resveratrol (RSV) inhibited water migration, myoglobin oxidation and psychrophilic bacteria stability during partial freezing storage. Aeromonas and Acinetobacter were the dominant bacteria of tilapia fillets during −4 °C storage. The relative abundance of aromatic substances (T70/2) in the polyphenol groups (>20%) was richer than in the control (CON) group (17%). Partial least squares discriminant analysis results showed that the different odors of the control and polyphenol groups were completely separated. Moreover, 35 fatty acids were identified by gas chromatographic analysis. On 49 days, the ratios of unsaturated fatty acids in the PA group (58.64%), QE group (57.70%) and RSV group (57.25%) were higher than in the control group (57.19%), and the PA group was the highest. CONCLUSION: Polyphenol treatment effectively maintained freshness and improved the quality of tilapia fillets during partial freezing. The polyphenol treatment comprehensively sustained the color and flavor quality of tilapia fillets found in the proposed mechanism. In particular, PA treatment was considered a potential method for preserving the freshness of fillets. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive and rapidly fatal malignancy representing the common cancer worldwide. The specific cellular gene involved in carcinogenesis has not been fully identified. The ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10, a recently reported to be over-expressed in 90% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) carcinomas, and might be regarded as an ideal target for HCC therapy. In the present study, we utilized DCs transduced with FAT10 recombinant adenovirus to elicit CTLs in vitro. In addition, the Trimera mice were immunized with the transduced DCs to elicit the immune response in vivo. The results demonstrated that transduced DCs could effectively induce specific CTL response against HCC without lysing autologous lymphocytes, but also significantly inhibit the tumor growth and prolong the life span of tumor bearing mice. These results suggest that FAT10 recombinant adenovirus transduced DCs might be a promising therapeutical strategy for treatment of HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Efficient and sustainable production of structured phospholipids (SPLs) enriched in medium‐chain fatty acids (MCFAs) in a heterogeneous manner is crucial for their potential applications in functional foods and drugs. Herein, for the first time, Zn‐ and Al‐incorporated SBA‐15 silicas were prepared by the coprecipitation method and further researched for catalytic synthesis of MCFA‐enriched SPLs through acidolysis reaction of natural phospholipids with capric or caprylic acid. RESULTS: The as‐prepared Zn‐ and Al‐incorporated SBA‐15 samples exhibited superior catalytic activities under mild experimental conditions (50 °C, 6 h) to commercial homogeneous Lewis acids and benchmark enzymes. Correspondingly, the capric acid and caprylic acid incorporations were respectively achieved up to ~40.25 ± 0.40% (or 35.08 ± 0.09%) and 37.26 ± 0.38% (or 33.02 ± 0.13%) for Zn‐ (or Al‐) incorporated SBA‐15 catalyst. Moreover, various methods such as scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and pyridine–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were utilized to characterize the two catalysts in order to elucidate the possible structure–performance relationship. Accordingly, the above‐mentioned satisfactory results are most probably due to the well‐ordered mesostructures and large amounts of active Lewis acid sites existing in the investigated materials. Noticeably, the two catalysts featured good separation and excellent recyclability as well. CONCLUSION: The Zn‐ and Al‐incorporated SBA‐15 catalysts studied in this work might shed light on novel, sustainable and economic alternatives for effective SPL production to diminish the applications of conventional homogeneous catalysts and biocatalysts in food industries. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Zinc absorption in intestinal system could be strongly affected by the gastrointestinal digestion and absorption of zinc‐chelating peptides serving as zinc carriers. In this study, a novel zinc‐chelating sea cucumber synthetic peptide (SCSP) was synthesized to estimate its gastrointestinal digestion and promotive effect of zinc absorption in vitro. RESULTS: Analysis of isothermal titration calorimetry suggested that the binding of SCSP and zinc (N ≈ 1) was exothermic, with relatively weak binding affinity (K = 1.0 × 10−3 mol L−1). The formation of SCSP–Zn complexes brought morphological changes to the peptides confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which also indicated 6.88% of the existence of zinc element. In addition, the SCSP–Zn complexes remained stable under simulated human gastrointestinal digestion. In an in vitro study, the SCSP–Zn complex could successfully transport through the intestinal membrane in the model of everted rat gut sacs (nearly 7.5 μM cm−2) as well as Caco‐2 cells where the zinc transport reached 0.0014 mg mL−1 carried by SCSP. Fluorescence staining experiments revealed free zinc accumulation inside the tissues and cells treated with the SCSP–Zn complex. CONCLUSIONS: The chelation SCSP–Zn had the promotion ability of zinc absorption in vitro and ex vivo experiments, which suggested a theoretical basis for the design and production of effective zinc chelating peptides as zinc carriers to improve zinc bioavailability. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUD Zinc (Zn) is an essential catalytic element in the human health system but its absorption in the intestinal system can be strongly affected by gastrointestinal (GI) digestion. In this study, the food‐derived potential Zn carrier, scallop adductor hydrolysates (SAHs), was produced and characterized. RESULTS: During temporary storage at 4 °C, SAH decreased in Zn‐chelating capacity in the aqueous phase, whereas the SAH–Zn complex exhibited high stability. Moreover, the secondary structure of SAH had no significant alteration. Zn morphologically altered the surface structures of SAH, which was involving in carboxyl group of SAH. Results of in vitro GI digestion suggested that the SAH–Zn maintained good stability in GI system and only proportion of high molecular weight cleaved. In addition, SAH could successfully carry and transport Zn while the fluorescence staining revealed free Zn accumulation inside the tissue. Finally, three representative absorbed peptides (around 600 Da) were identified and synthesized. Three synthetic peptides exhibit higher Zn‐chelating capacity than SAH and could also successfully transported through the intestine. CONCLUSION: This study provided a theoretical basis for the investigation of digestion and absorption of marine animal‐derived peptides as Zn carriers. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The freeze-drying approach was used to create inclusion complexes utilizing alkyl gallates and β-cyclodextrin, namely dodecyl gallate, octyl gallate, butyl gallate, and ethyl gallate, which are exemplary examples of phenolic esters. The everted-rat-gut-sac model demonstrated that the inclusion complexes released alkyl gallates, which were subsequently hydrolyzed to generate free gallic acid, as evidenced by HPLC-UV analysis. Both gallic acid and short-chain alkyl gallates were capable of permeating the small intestinal membrane. The transport rate of gallic acid (or alkyl gallates) exhibited an initial rise followed by a drop when the carbon-chain lengths varied. The inclusion complex groups exhibited a superior sustained-release effect compared to the comparable alkyl gallates groups, thus possibly leading to higher bioavailability and stronger bioactivity. Moreover, altering the length of the carbon chain will allow for the effortless achievement of regulated release of phenolic compounds and short-chain phenolic esters from such β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes. [Display omitted] • β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes showed gradually release of alkyl gallates. • β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes showed excellent sustained-release of gallic acid. • Controllable sustained-release behavior will be achieved from different chain length. • Such inclusion complexes are potential as a functional food ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used ultra-high pressure processing (HPP) heat-assisted technology combined with L-cysteine (L-cys) to process ready-to-eat (RTE) shrimp. Subsequently, the effects of physical field and chemical modifications on the color of RTE shrimp were studied. The results showed that the RTE shrimp treated with HPP-Heat-L-cys showed better performance in terms of brightness value (65.25) and astaxanthin (AST) content (0.71 μg/g) during storage, maintaining the original color of RTE shrimp effectively. In addition, it was observed that the application of HPP-Heat-L-cys significantly delayed phenol oxidation, lipid oxidation, and Maillard reaction compared with traditional HPP or heat treatments. Specifically, the total phenolic content of RTE shrimp treated with HPP-Heat-L-cys was higher than that of other samples, but the TBARS and browning index were lower. Furthermore, HPP-Heat-L-cys could delay the production of dark products (such as 2-methylanthraquinone, p-benzoquinone, lipofuscin and melanin), ultimately safeguarding the color stability of RTE shrimp during storage. [Display omitted] • Combination of HPP and chemical modifications protects the color of RTE shrimp. • Generation of Maillard browning products are delayed by HPP and L-cys. • Dark oxidation products of lipid and phenols are inhibited by HPP and L-cys. • Mechanism of HPP and L-cys protecting the color of RTE shrimp is elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color deepening occurs during storage of ready-to-eat (RTE) shrimps, which seriously affects their marketing cycle. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms of color deterioration in RTE shrimps during accelerated storage, shedding light on the pattern of change in colored products and content. The findings revealed significant occurrences of phenolic oxidation, lipid oxidation, and Maillard browning reactions during accelerated storage. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted on the colored products resulting from these chemical reactions. Multivariate mathematical models were employed to analyze the phenolic oxidation products (2-methylanthraquinone and p-benzoquinone), lipid oxidation products (lipofuscin-like pigments and hydrophobic pyrroles), and Maillard browning products (pyrazines and melanoidins). These products were identified as the main contributors to the deepening of the color of RTE shrimps during storage. The outcomes of this research could enhance our understanding of the color change mechanism in thermally processed marine foods, providing valuable insights for quality maintenance and industrial advancement. [Display omitted] • Lipid oxidation colored products of RTE shrimps during storage were elucidated. • Phenolic oxidation colored products of RTE shrimps during storage were revealed. • Maillard browning colored products of RTE shrimps during storage were clarified. • Multivariate analysis was used to elucidate the browning mechanism of shrimp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petroleum-based diesel is the main energy supply for heavy-duty vehicles and industrial equipment. Excessive water in the diesel would affect engine performance directly and even lead to serious accidents. In this paper, a new on-board compact sensor for detecting water content in diesel is proposed, which is composed of LED, photodetector, special metal waveguide capillary and ultrasonic cavity. Especially, the metal waveguide capillary with extended optical path can significantly improves the measurement accuracy meanwhile decrease the size. The small ultrasonic oscillation cavity is connected with the metal waveguide capillary to ensure the saturated water droplets to be evenly mixed with petroleum-based diesel before being detected. Then, the photometric - turbidimetric fusion method is proposed to measure the total water contents in different states (i.e., dissolved water, emulsified water and free water) in the diesel. The designed metal waveguide capillary with extended optical path improves sensor accuracy by the way of multiple reflections of light. In addition, the sensor is installed in the line between the fuel tank and the engine, then, the actual water pumped into the engine can be accurately measured. The experimental results show that the root mean square of the prediction error (RMSEP) is only 7.34 ppm, which is much lower than the optical sensor based on non-dispersive infrared spectroscopy of 18.6 ppm. The sensor fabricated in this paper finds application in detecting water content in diesel, which has the advantages of high sensitivity, small volume, and are suitable for on-board detection. [Display omitted] • The photometric-turbidimetric fusion method is utilized to reveal the total water contents in different states in the diesel. • The small ultrasonic oscillation cavity is introduced to ensure that the oversaturated water droplets can be fully mixed with petroleum-based diesel. • The metal waveguide capillary with extended optical path can achieve 4.2 times the optical path longer than its physical length by making the light reflect multiple times in the tube. • The sensor can be installed in the line between the fuel tank and the engine without affecting the operation of the engine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, the preservation effect of plasma-activated water (PAW), coconut exocarp flavonoids (CF) and their combination on golden pompano fillets during refrigerated storage was investigated with emphasize on the treating sequence. PAW effectively inactivated spoilage bacteria and inhibited total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) increase, while boosted the TBARS and carbonyl values. PAW+CF exerted synergistic effect on extending the period before total bacterial count and TVB-N content reaching acceptance limit than PAW or CF alone (P < 0.05). In addition, their combined treatment effectively reduced fillets discoloration and texture deterioration. Simultaneously, lipid and protein oxidation were significantly inhibited, which was comparable to CF. It was indicated that the treatment sequence of PAW and CF profoundly impact the preservation effect. Specifically, prior CF marinating followed by PAW was more effective than the opposite sequence. Thus, combination of CF followed by PAW served as promising technique for fish fillets preservation. [Display omitted] • Coconut exocarp flavonoids (CF) combined with plasma activated water (PAW) on golden pompano preservation was investigated. • PAW exerted antibacterial effect while triggered lipid and protein oxidation. • CF combined with PAW significantly enhanced preservation on golden pompano and extended its shelf-life. • CF marinating followed by PAW was more effective than the opposite sequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CD inclusion complexes of A-GAs showed two-step release of gallic acid. • Controllable release rate will be achieved from different chain length. • Such release behavior is helpful to improve the bioactivities of gallic acid. • CD inclusion complexes of A-GAs may be a potential new functional food ingredient. The β-cyclodextrin and short-chain alkyl gallates (A-GAs), which are representative of phenolipids, such as butyl, propyl, ethyl, and methyl gallates, were chosen to form inclusion complexes by the use of the freeze-drying process. In the everted rat gut sac model, HPLC-UV analysis demonstrated that the released A-GAs from inclusion complexes were degraded to yield free gallic acid (GA) (sustained-release function 1). The small intestine membrane may be crossed by both the GA and the A-GAs. A-GAs may also undergo hydrolysis to provide GA (sustained-release function 2) following transmembrane transfer. Clearly, a helpful technique for the dual sustained-release of phenolic compounds is to produce β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes with short-chain phenolipids. This will increase the bioactivities of phenolic compounds and prolong their in vivo residence length. Moreover, changing the carbon-chain length of these β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes would readily modify the dual sustained-release behavior of the phenolic compounds. Thus, our work effectively established a theoretical foundation for the use of β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes containing short-chain phenolipids as new source of functional food components to provide the body with phenolic compounds more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Relationship between frying methods and nutrient loss of hairtail was established. • Flavor formation of hairtail under different frying methods were analyzed. • More harmful substances generated during air frying than traditional frying. • Vacuum frying contributes to the lowest amount of HAAs of hairtail. • The balance regulation between aroma and hazards for fried hairtail was proposed. The balance regulation between characteristic aroma and hazards in high-temperature processed fish is a hot spot. This study was aimed to explore the interactive relationship between the nutritional value, microstructures, aroma, and harmful substances of hairtail under different frying methods including traditional frying (TF), air frying (AF), and vacuum frying (VF) via chemical pattern recognition. The results indicated that VF-prepared hairtail could form a crunchy mouthfeel and retain the highest content of protein (645.53 mg/g) and the lowest content of fat (242.03 mg/g). Vacuum frying reduced lipid oxidation in hairtail, resulting in the POV reaching 0.02 mg/g, significantly lower than that of TF (0.05 mg/g) and AF (0.21 mg/g), and TBARS reached 0.83 mg/g, significantly lower than that of AF (1.96 mg/g) (P < 0.05), respectively. Notable variations were observed in the aroma profile of hairtail prepared from different frying methods. Vacuum frying of hairtail resulted in higher levels of pyrazines and alcohols, whereas traditional frying and air frying were associated with the formation of aldehydes and ketones, respectively. Air frying was not a healthy way to cook hairtail which produced the highest concentration of harmful substances (up to 190.63 ng/g), significantly higher than VF (5.72 ng/g) and TF (52.78 ng/g) (P < 0.05), especially norharman (122.57 ng/g), significantly higher than VF (4.50 ng/g) and TF (32.63 ng/g) (P < 0.05). Norharman and acrylamide were the key harmful substances in hairtail treated with traditional frying. The vacuum frying method was an excellent alternative for deep-fried hairtail as a snack food with fewer harmful substances and a fine aroma, providing a theoretic guidance for preparing healthy hairtail food with high nutrition and superior sensory attraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Phenolic esters are hydrolyzed by various carboxylesterases (CES). • Hydrolysis degrees by CES-1 are higher than those by CES-2. • Tyrosol acyl esters are hydrolyzed by pancrelipase. • Phenolic esters show slow release of phenolic compounds. • Controllable release of phenolic compounds is achieved from phenolic esters. HPLC-UV analysis was used to evaluate the enzymatic degradation characteristics of tyrosol acyl esters (TYr-Es) and alkyl gallates (A-GAs). Among various hydrolytic enzymes, TYr-Es can be hydrolyzed by pancrelipase, while A-GAs cannot be hydrolyzed by pancrelipase. Interestingly, carboxylesterase-1b (CES-1b), carboxylesterase-1c (CES-1c) and carboxylesterase-2 (CES-2) are able to hydrolyze TYr-Es and A-GAs, and thus to liberate tyrosol (TYr) and gallic acid (GA). By contrast, the degrees of hydrolysis (DHs) of TYr-Es and A-GAs by CES-1b and CES-1c were significantly higher than those by CES-2. Meanwhile, the DHs of TYr-Es were much higher than those of A-GAs. Especially, the DHs firstly increased and then decreased with the increasing alkyl chain length. Besides, DHs positively correlated with the unsaturation degree at the same chain length. Through regulating carbon length, unsaturation degree and the ester bond structure, controlled-release of phenolic compounds and fatty acids (or fatty alcohols) from phenolic esters will be easily achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed the "two‐step dialysis" method and AB‐8 or D101 macroporous resin chromatography to isolate the anthocyanins in red radishes (ARR). The red radish juice was dialyzed twice at 3000 and 500 Da, respectively. UHPLC‐QqQ‐MS/MS revealed 24 types of ARRs, of which pelargonidin (Pg)‐3‐diglucoside‐5‐(malonyl)glucoside (P3D5MG), Pg‐3‐diglucoside‐5‐glucoside (P3D5G), Pg‐3‐(feruloyl)diglucoside‐5‐(malonyl)glucoside (P3FD5MG), Pg, and malvidin (Mv) represented the main compounds. The total anthocyanin content in the ARR prepared via the "two‐step dialysis" method was 29.69% and 18.44% higher than that obtained using AB‐8 and D101 macroporous resins, respectively. The ARRs inhibited heat‐induced β‐lactoglobulin (β‐Lg) oxidation. The amino acid residue microenvironment and secondary β‐Lg structure were modified via ARR binding. The energy involved in P3D5MG and β‐Lg binding was −392 kJ/mol, which was significantly lower than that during the binding process of P3D5M, P3FD5MG, Pg, and Mv to β‐Lg (−338 to −168 kJ/mol). These results indicated that "two‐step dialysis" was a promising method for deriving natural pigment with strong antioxidant activity from red radishes. Practical Application: As a natural food colorant, anthocyanins have attracted increasing attention in the food industry in recent years. This study used "two‐step dialysis" to effectively separate ARRs. Moreover, the anthocyanins in ARR can bind to β‐Lg to protect against heating‐induced oxidation. Therefore, ARRs may not only act as a food pigment but also as antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS method was developed for analysis of iridoid glucosides (IGs) from Hedyotis diffusa Willd. The optimized separation condition was achieved with the Complex Sample Analysis Software System (CSASS) software, under which the whole analytes were achieved complete resolution especially for some isomeric IGs. Based on the UV and fragmentations, eleven IGs were detected. According to the fragmentation patterns of the three standard IGs, especially those of the isomeric standards, seven IGs including three pairs of isomers were unambiguous/tentatively identified. For the isomeric IGs with methyl ester or carboxyl group at C-4, the extents of the losses of CH3OH and/or H2O from their molecular and/or the aglycone adducts are useful for the differentiation of the stereoisomers in positive ion (PI) mode, which depends on the stereochemistry of the hydroxyl group on the cyclopentanoid unit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Here, a simple, economical one-step doping strategy is adopted to prepare N, S co-doped graphene hollow spheres (NSGHS). The NSGHS exhibits remarkable oxygen-reduction-reaction (ORR) activity with a high half-wave potential (E 1/2) of 0.847 V vs. RHE and considerable long-term stability. When applied as anode materials for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), it could deliver a high reversible capacity of 385 mAh g−1 at 500 mA g−1, excellent rate performance of 308 mAh g−1 at even 20 A g−1 and superior cycling performance at 10 A g−1 during 5000 cycles with negligible capacity fade. DFT calculation reveals that the doping of N and S endows the surrounding carbon with high positive charge and spin density, respectively, making them be highly active ORR catalytic sites except for S itself. Despite the possible oxidization of C–S–C active sites, the rest C atoms of NSGHS will still hold a considerably high catalytic activity superior to those of mono-doped or undoped cases. In addition, S doping will improve the binding between Na and graphene substrate to get a high capacity and N doping effectively curbs the rising of oxygen levels and oxidization of S in C–S–C active sites, thus the excellent stability for ORR and SIBs. [Display omitted] • A simple, economical one-step doping strategy is adopted to prepare NSGHS. • The NSGHS exhibits excellent ORR activity and Na storage performance. • The doping of N and S endows the surrounding carbon with high positive charge and spin density. • S doping will improve the binding between Na and graphene substrate to get a high capacity. • N doping effectively curbs the rising of oxygen levels and oxidization of S in C–S–C active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low energy conversion efficiency and low output power are the major limiting factors of isotope batteries as miniature power supplies for the broad applications, such as micro-electromechanical systems and aerospace electronics. In this work, highly efficient x-ray radioluminescent batteries are demonstrated based on single-crystal scintillators and spectra-matched photovoltaic batteries. X-ray sources are chosen to reduce the backscattering loss, and cerium doped Gd3Al2Ga3O12 (GAGG:Ce) single-crystal scintillators are adopted to improve the radioluminescence efficiency and light coupling efficiency, for their high x-ray absorption ability and high light-yield. The bandgap of photovoltaic battery is also optimized to match the luminescence spectrum of GAGG:Ce to maximize the photovoltaic efficiency. An optimal radioluminescent battery is achieved with an output power of 13.4 μW/cm2 and a conversion efficiency of 1.28%, which is a 10.7-times improvement in the previous best reports (0.12%). This exciting progress indicates the promising potential of radioluminescent batteries in broad applications and will inspire the further exploration for the research community of radioisotope batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CaCl 2 improved the emulsification performance of shrimp MP. • CaCl 2 induced molecular stretching of shrimp MP. • CaCl 2 improved the rheology properties and gel strength of shrimp MP. • CaCl 2 improved the digestibility of MP gel. In this study, the effects of CaCl 2 (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mM) on the gelling and digestive properties of the myofibrillar protein (MP) in Litopenaeus vannamei were investigated. The results showed that increasing CaCl 2 concentration led to changes in the tertiary structure of MP. Specifically, compared with the control group, a 64.31 % increase in surface hydrophobicity and a 45.90 % decrease in the sulfhydryl group were observed after 100 mM CaCl 2 treatment. Correspondingly, the water holding capacity and strength of the MP gel increased by 24.46 % and 55.99 %, respectively. These changes were positively correlated with the rheological properties, microstructure pore size, and content of non-flowable water. The mechanical properties of MP gel were improved, and the microstructure became more compact with the increase in CaCl 2 concentration. Furthermore, the particle size of the digested MP gels decreased in the presence of CaCl 2 , which improved the digestion characteristics of MP gels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is commonly used as a texture enhancer due to its distinctive gelling properties. This study aimed to investigate the changes in gelling and digestive properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) in Litopenaeus vannamei when modified with varying KGM (1/40, 1/20, and 1/10 of the MP weight, respectively). The physicochemical properties of KGM-modified MP including secondary and tertiary structures, emulsibility, particle size, and protein aggregation were significantly affected. In contrast, the KGM treatment group (1/20 of MP weight, MK20) exhibited the highest storage modulus, loss modulus, and thermal stability of MP. This resulted in an improvement in the water holding capacity, the stability of the three-dimensional space network, and the strength of the heat-induced MP gels. In addition, the digestion behavior of MP gel could be regulated by modifying MP with KGM. When compared to control sample, the digestion rate and hydrolysis degree of MK20 increased by 16.63% and 1.32 times, respectively. However, it should be noted that excessive KGM could result in the formation of a viscous hydrogel that permeates with MP, causing a loose degradation structure and reducing sensitivity to digestive enzymes. The molecular docking results indicated that KGM interacted with MP through hydrogen bonding, primarily relying on its hydroxyl group. This interaction disrupted the α-spiral structure of MP and promoted the expansion of its structure, and ultimately affected the physicochemical properties of MP and its heat-induced gel. [Display omitted] • Hydroxyl of KGM modified the structure of MP by hydrogen bonding interactions. • KGM improved the emulsifying functional properties of MP. • KGM enhanced the mechanical properties and thermal stability of MP gels. • KGM promoted the digestive properties of MP gels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of coconut exocarp flavonoids (CF) combined with cold plasma (CP) treatment on oyster preservation during refrigerated storage was investigated. It was observed oyster without preservation suffered the most serious microbial spoilage and chemical changes during storage. CP significantly inhibited spoilage bacteria, inactivated endogenous lipid hydrolases and LOX activities (P < 0.05). Simultaneously, it caused undesirable polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) oxidation and glycerophospholipid species depletion, while extended CP processing aggravated them. CF marinating collaborated with 10 min CP exposure exhibited least bacterial count, total volatile base nitrogen, peroxide and thiobarbituric acid values with 5.16 logCFU/g, 19.62 mg/100 g, 22.05 meq/kg and 801.8 μg MDAeq/kg, respectively, thus extending the shelf-life. Moreover, it enhanced the inhibition ability toward LOX activity and alleviated PUFA oxidation triggered by CP. Therefore, the collaboration of CF and CP serve as effective technology for oyster preservation, while the CP processing time should be optimized from the nutritional value perspective. • CF collaborated with CP were used for oyster preservation during cold storage. • CP exerted antibacterial effect and triggered PUFAs oxidation. • CF collaborated with CP inhibit bacterial, enzymes and extend shelf-life of oyster. • CP processing time should be optimized from the nutritional perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]