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Crude polyphenols were extracted with ethanol from the pericarps of Zanthoxylum bungeanum and fractionated by sequential solvent extraction with dichloromethane (F1), ethyl acetate (F2), n-butanol (F3) and water (F4). The phenolic composition in these fractions were identified and quantified using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time of flight-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS). Their α-glucosidase inhibitory effect and hypoglycemic activity in mice with type II diabetes mellitus were examined. Results demonstrated that 20 phenolic compounds were identified in the pericarps of Z. bungeanum, including nine phenolic acids and their derivatives, and 11 flavonoid compounds. The contents of total phenols, total flavonoids and polyphenols in the four fractions decreased in the following order: F2 > F3 > F4 > F1, indicating that fractional extraction can effectively enrich polyphenols. Polyphenols from Z. bungeanum pericarps had inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase, and F3 gave the highest percentage of inhibition (85.86%). The inhibition of α-glucosidase activity was found to be uncompetitive. The major bioactive components in F3, chlorogenic acid and rutin, were significantly positively correlated with the percentage of α-glucosidase inhibition. Additionally, F3 could reduce fasting blood glucose level and oral glucose tolerance in diabetic mice by 64.2% and 21.42%, respectively, and improve abnormal body mass and diet in diabetic mice. Therefore, polyphenols from Z. bungeanum pericarps have the potential for use as a therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

Anthocyanin-based smart packaging has been widely used for food freshness monitoring, but it cannot meet the requirements of smart films with antibacterial properties. This study aimed to enhance the antibacterial properties of intelligent films by incorporating Amomum tsao-ko essential oil (AEO) for mantis shrimp spoilage tracking and keeping the product fresh. A smart film was designed by introducing AEO and purple potato anthocyanin (PPA) to a polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose nanocrystal (PVA/CNC) polymer matrix. Our findings revealed that APP and AEO imparted the smart film with a favorable oxygen barrier, UV protection, mechanical properties, and antioxidant and pH/NH3-sensitive functions. Interestingly, the PVA/CNC-AEO-PPA film achieved 45.41% and 48.25% bactericidal efficacy against S. putrefaciens and V. parahaemolyticus, respectively. Furthermore, a visual observation confirmed that the target film (PVA/CNC-AEO-PPA) changed color significantly during mantis shrimp spoilage: rose red—light red—pink—light gray—dark gray. Meanwhile, the PVA/CNC-AEO-PPA film retarded the quality deterioration of the mantis shrimp effectively. The PVA/CNC-AEO-PPA film shows great application potential in mantis shrimp preservation and freshness monitoring; it is expected to become a rapid sensor for detecting seafood quality non-destructively and a multifunctional film for better preservation of product quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: D‐limonene is an important flavouring ingredient with a wide range of applications. However, its high volatility and low stability have severely impacted its application in the food industry. To address these limitations, temperature‐flavour release control system is expected to be established to reduce the loss of D‐limonene during processing and storage, as well as to control its release by temperature. The aim of the current study is to construct an oleogel system to encapsulate D‐limonene using carnauba wax as a gelling agent and palm oils (POs) as the base oil. POs with 24 °C, 38 °C, 42 °C, 48 °C, and 52 °C melting points were selected to systematically investigate the effects of the base oil melting point on the crystal morphology, interactions, physicochemical properties, microstructure, and D‐limonene release of the oleogels. The enthalpy of melting, enthalpy of crystallisation, hardness, stickiness, and gel strength increased in oleogels prepared using POs with a higher melting point. In addition, the oil‐binding capacity (OBC) (>95%) of the oleogels increased with the base oil melting point, while the fat crystal distribution became more homogeneous and denser. Based on the influence that extraction temperature has on the concentration of released D‐limonene (a lower concentration of aroma was released from high‐melting‐point POs oleogels at low temperatures (<1.9 mg mL−1), whereas the control group released >2.5 mg mL−1), suitable POs can be selected to achieve the release or retention of the aroma. These results demonstrate that a temperature‐responsive flavour delivery system can be prepared with different PO melting points. The molecular dynamics of flavour release revealed that storage temperature and fat crystalline state impact the cumulative release rate of D‐limonene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuprous sulfide constitutes the primary component of copper concentrate and matte. Due to copper's sulfur-affinity characteristics, achieving one-step separation and recovery of copper and sulfur has always posed a challenge in copper metallurgy. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as environmentally friendly electrolytes for the separation and recycling of metals and their compounds. This study demonstrates the feasibility of dissolving Cu2S, reducing it to copper (Cu), and oxidizing it to sulfur (S) through electrolysis in Reline DES. Optimised electrolysis conditions of 1.2 V, 80 °C, and 6 hours result in the deposition of pure nano-sized copper particles, ranging from 100–200 nm, and the production of sulfur particles with an average size of around 5 μm. The crystalline structure of the anode product is identified as S12 and S6. When Cu2S is introduced into Reline, it dissolves [CuCl2]− without disrupting the structure of the choline ion (Ch+). Furthermore, a kinetic study reveals that higher temperatures promote the redox processes of [CuCl2]− Cu and S2− to S, enhancing the overall reaction rates. Additionally, the diffusion coefficient (D) of [CuCl2]− increases with rising temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: We developed a new method phenotypic recombination BSA/BSR (PR-BSA/BSR), which could simultaneously identify the candidate genomic regions associated with two traits in a segregating population. Bulked segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq) has been widely used for identifying the genomic regions affecting a certain trait. In this study, we developed a modified BSA/bulked segregant RNA-sequencing (BSR-seq) method, which we named phenotypic recombination BSA/BSR (PR-BSA/BSR), to simultaneously identify candidate genomic regions associated with two traits in a segregating population. Lateral branch angle (LBA) and flower-branch pattern (FBP) are two important traits associated with the peanut plant architecture because they affect the planting density and light use efficiency. We generated an F6 population (with two segregating traits) derived from a cross between the inbred lines Pingdu9616 (erect and sequential; ES-type) and Florunner (spreading and alternating; SA-type). The selection of bulks with extreme phenotypes was a key step in this study. Specifically, 30 individuals with recombinant phenotypes [i.e., spreading and sequential (SS-type) and erect and alternating (EA-type)] were selected to generate two bulks. The transcriptomes of individuals were sequenced and then the loci related to LBA and FBP were simultaneously detected via a ΔSNP-index strategy, which involved the direction of positive and negative peaks in the ∆SNP-index plot. The LBA-related locus was mapped to a 6.82 Mb region (101,743,223–108,564,267 bp) on chromosome 15, whereas the FBP-related locus was mapped to a 2.16 Mb region (117,682,534–119,846,824 bp) on chromosome 12. Furthermore, the marker-based classical QTL mapping method was used to analyze the PF–F6 population, which confirmed our PR-BSA/BSR results. Therefore, the PR-BSA/BSR method produces accurate and reliable data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Household air pollution (HAP) from indoor combustion of solid fuel is a global health burden that has been linked to multiple diseases including lung cancer. In Xuanwei, China, lung cancer rate for non-smoking women is among the highest in the world and largely attributed to high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are produced from combustion of smoky (bituminous) coal. Alu retroelements, repetitive mobile DNA sequences that can somatically multiply and promote genomic instability have been associated with risk of lung cancer and diesel engine exhaust exposure. We conducted analyses for 160 non-smoking women in an exposure assessment study in Xuanwei, China with a repeat sample from 49 subjects. Quantitative PCR was used to measure Alu repeat copy number relative to albumin gene copy number (Alu/ALB ratio). Associations between clusters derived from predicted levels of 43 HAP constituents, 5-methylchrysene (5-MC), a PAH previously associated with lung cancer in Xuanwei and was selected a priori for analysis, and Alu repeats were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. A cluster of 31 PAHs reflecting current exposure was associated with increased Alu copy number (β:0.03 per standard deviation change; 95% confidence interval (CI):0.01,0.04; P -value = 2E-04). One compound within this cluster, 5-MC, was also associated with increased Alu copy number (P -value = 0.02). Our findings suggest that exposure to PAHs due to indoor smoky coal combustion may contribute to genomic instability. Additionally, our study provides further support for 5-MC as a prominent carcinogenic component of smoky coal emissions. Further studies are needed to replicate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oat milk has become preferential because of its low calorie nature and high dietary fiber content, but its ability to "curdle" when mixed with tea can affect the consumer acceptability for oat milk tea. In this study, a model system for oat milk tea was made by combining oat milk and green tea extract to evaluate the impacts of the oat milk matrix and green tea extract concentration on the stability and polyphenol bioaccessibility. The stability analysis results showed that adding green tea extract to oat milk influenced the stability of the oat milk tea model systems. In contrast, the 3.0% fat oat milk tea model system exhibited a higher stability than the 1.5% fat oat milk tea model system. In simulated gastrointestinal digestive experiments, tea polyphenols in the oat milk tea model systems were relatively stable in oral and stomach digestive stages, while they clearly degraded in the small intestine digestive stage. Furthermore, the bioaccessibility of tea polyphenols was higher for the 3.0% fat oat milk tea model system than for the 1.5% fat oat milk tea model system, especially at low concentrations of green tea extracts (0.05%~0.25%). These results may provide a theoretical reference and data for the formulation of oat milk tea and the bioaccessibility of tea polyphenols in food matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

W/O/W emulsions can be used to encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic bioactive as nutritional products. However, studies on protein stabilized gel-like W/O/W emulsions have rarely been reported, compared to the liquid state multiple emulsions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different oil–water ratios on the stability of W/O/W emulgels fabricated with salt-soluble proteins (SSPs) of Sipunculus nudus. The physical stability, structural characteristics, rheological properties, and encapsulation stability of vitamin C and β-carotene of double emulgels were investigated. The addition of W/O primary emulsion was determined to be 10% after the characterization of the morphology of double emulsion. The results of microstructure and rheological properties showed that the stability of W/O/W emulgels increased with the increasing concentration of SSPs. Additionally, the encapsulation efficiency of vitamin C and β-carotene were more than 87%, and 99%, respectively, and still could maintain around 50% retention of the antioxidant capacity after storage for 28 days at 4 °C. The aforementioned findings demonstrate that stable W/O/W emulgels are a viable option for active ingredients with an improvement in shelf stability and protection of functional activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Mangiferin (MGF) is a phenolic compound isolated from mango, but its poor solubility significantly limits its use. In this study, MGF was embedded into the inner aqueous phase of W1/O/W2 emulsions. Firstly, the dissolution method of MGF was determined. MGF remained stable in solution with pH 13 at 30 min, and its solubility reached 10 mg mL−1. When the pH of MGF solutions was adjusted from pH 13 to pH 6, MGF did not immediately crystallise, providing sufficient time to construct the MGF‐loaded W1/O/W2 emulsions. Subsequently, the MGF‐loaded W1/O/W2 emulsions were constructed using polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) and calcium caseinate (CAS). The formation and stability of the W1/O/W2 emulsions were investigated. The MGF‐loaded W1/O/W2 emulsions stabilised with 1% PGPR and 1% – 3% CAS exhibited a low viscosity, limited loading capacity, and poor stability. Conversely, the MGF‐loaded W1/O/W2 emulsions stabilised by 3%PGPR–3%CAS exhibited optimal loading capacity (encapsulation efficiency = 95.31% and loading efficiency = 0.91%) and stability, which was attributed to the fact that high viscosity and gel state retarded the migration of inner aqueous phase. These results indicated that the W1/O/W2 emulsions stabilised by PGPR and CAS may be a potential alternative for encapsulating mangiferin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peanut is an oil crop with important economic value that is widely cultivated around the world. It blooms on the ground but bears fruit underground. When the peg penetrates the ground, it enters a dark environment, is subjected to mechanical stress from the soil, and develops into a normal pod. When a newly developed pod emerges from the soil, it turns green and stops growing. It has been reported that both darkness and mechanical stress are necessary for normal pod development. In this study, we investigated changes in gene expression during the reverse process of peg penetration: developmental arrest caused by pod (Pattee 3 pods) excavation. Bagging the aerial pods was used to simulate loss of mechanical pressure, while direct exposure of the aerial pods was used to simulate loss of both mechanical pressure and darkness. After the loss of mechanical stress and darkness, the DEGs were significantly enriched in photosynthesis, photosynthesis–antenna proteins, plant–pathogen interaction, DNA replication, and circadian rhythm pathways. The DNA replication pathway was enriched by down-regulated genes, and the other four pathways were enriched by upregulated genes. Upregulated genes were also significantly enriched in protein ubiquitination and calmodulin-related genes, highlighting the important role of ubiquitination and calcium signaling in pod development. Further analysis of DEGs showed that phytochrome A (Phy A), auxin response factor 9 (IAA9), and mechanosensitive ion channel protein played important roles in geocarpy. The expression of these two genes increased in subterranean pods but decreased in aerial pods. Based on a large number of chloroplast-related genes, calmodulin, kinases, and ubiquitin-related proteins identified in this study, we propose two possible signal transduction pathways involved in peanut geocarpy, namely, one begins in chloroplasts and signals down through phosphorylation, and the other begins during abiotic stress and signals down through calcium signaling, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Our study provides valuable information about putative regulatory genes for peanut pod development and contributes to a better understanding of the biological phenomenon of geocarpy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Nanoscale tapioca starch (NTS) was successfully developed by high‐speed jet in our previous study. In this study, the adsorption capacity of Cu2+ onto NTS was further discussed. The optimal adsorption conditions (pH, contact time, contact temperature, initial Cu2+ concentration, and adsorbent concentration), adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamic were also evaluated. RESULTS: The results showed that NTS exhibited excellent performance in adsorption of Cu2+, with adsorption capacities of 122.31 mg g−1 for Cu2+ (pH 7, 0.04 g L−1, 0.2 g L−1, 313.15 K and 10 min). The pseudo‐second‐order and Langmuir isotherms models could be used to explain the adsorption kinetics and adsorption equilibrium, respectively. The thermodynamic results showed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic with an increase in entropy. Cu2+ was adsorbed onto NTS, which was confirmed by energy dispersive spectrometry analysis. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that NTS might be an effective, environment‐friendly and renewable bio‐resource adsorbent for removing heavy metals in industrial effluent. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food‐grade Pickering emulsions stabilised by plant protein have low toxicity. In this study, to explore the potential of Moringa seed residue protein (MSRP) as Pickering particles, MSRP was obtained from Moringa seed residue and used to fabricate emulsions at different pH and ionic strength. The molecular weight of MSRP ranged between 5 and 25 kDa. The particle diameter of MSRP with positive charge was > 233 nm. The highest MSRP solubility was achieved at pH 5 (206.89 mg g−1) and 0.2 M NaCl (202.55 mg g−1). MSRP generated an excellent interfacial layer as verified by confocal laser scanning microscope imaging, and had lower droplet size, and formed well‐developed elastic networks at pH 5 and 0.2 M NaCl. MSRP‐stabilised emulsion through steric hindrance, possessing excellent tolerance in salt (< 0.2M) and weakly acid (pH 5–7) environment. Our study finds MSRP can be used as potential Pickering particles applying in food and beverages industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The domestic combustion of smoky (bituminous) coal in the Chinese counties of Xuanwei and Fuyuan, are responsible for some of the highest rates of lung cancer in the world. Cancer rates vary between coal producing regions (deposits) in the area, with coals from Laibin exhibiting particularly high risks and smokeless (anthracite) coal exhibiting lower risks. However, little information is available on the specific burning characteristics of coals from throughout the area. We conducted an extensive controlled burning experiment using coal from multiple deposits in either a traditional firepit or ventilated stove, accompanied by a detailed examination of time-weighted and real-time size-aggregated particle concentrations. Smoky coal caused higher particle concentrations of all sizes than smokeless coal, with variations observed by geological source. Virtually all particle emissions were in the PM 2.5 fraction (98% - mass based), and 75% and 46% were in the PM 1 and PM 0.3 fraction respectively. Real-time concentrations of PM 1 and PM 0.1 peaked after coal was added and declined afterwards. Ventilation reduced particle concentrations by up to 15-fold and increased the coal burning rate by 1.9-fold. These findings may provide valuable insight for reducing exposure and adverse health effects associated with domestic coal combustion. [Display omitted] • Both historical (from 1980s) and recent (2010–2017) coal samples were tested. • Particle size-distribution and stove/fuel efficiencies were reported. • Particle emission levels varied by coal geological sources. • Stove improvements reduced indoor particle emissions of all sizes from coal. • Stove improvements promoted cooking efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]