Search

Piezocatalysis is an emerging catalytic method that efficiently harnesses mechanical energy from the environment and converts it into electrical energy to drive chemical reactions. Graphitic carbon nitride (CN), as a nonmetallic piezocatalyst, offers significant cost advantages and environmental friendliness. However, enhancing the catalytic efficiency of pristine CN is hindered by its weak adsorption ability and piezoelectric response. To overcome these challenges, this study introduces dicarboxylic acid as a precursor for CN synthesis, resulting in carbon-rich CN through a self-assembly process that enables precise control over the C/N ratio at the molecular level. Compared to pristine CN, carbon-rich CN exhibits enhanced cationic substrate adsorption due to altered zeta potential and an improved piezoelectric response stemming from reduced structural symmetry. These dual enhancements facilitate stronger substrate–catalyst interactions and accelerate substrate decomposition, thereby tripling the piezocatalytic activity of CN. This research introduces a novel approach for designing efficient and environmentally friendly piezocatalysts while contributing to a deeper understanding of piezocatalytic mechanisms.

ABSTRACTBy integrating the banks and firms’ latitude and longitude information, this study innovatively constructs firm-level bank competition indicators, and systematically examines the mechanism of bank competition on the financialization of nonfinancial listed companies. The findings revealed that bank competition could promote corporate financialization. The result is still valid after several robustness tests and consideration of endogenous issues. Bank competition primarily affects corporate financialization through two channels: easing corporate financial constraints and decreasing corporate loan costs. Moreover, this role is even more apparent in non-state-owned firms and well-managed firms.

Supplemental digital content is available in the text.

Ceramic dielectrics are reported with superior energy storage performance for applications, such as power electronics in electrical vehicles. A recoverable energy density (Wrec) of ∼4.55 J cm–3with η ∼ 90% is achieved in lead-free relaxor BaTiO3-0.06Bi2/3(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3ceramics at ∼520 kV cm–1. These ceramics may be co-fired with Ag/Pd, which constitutes a major step forward toward their potential use in the fabrication of commercial multilayer ceramic capacitors. Compared to stoichiometric Bi(Mg2/3Nb1/3)O3-doped BaTiO3(BT), A-site deficient Bi2/3(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3reduces the electrical heterogeneity of BT. Bulk conductivity differs from the grain boundary only by 1 order of magnitude which, coupled with a smaller volume fraction of conducting cores due to enhanced diffusion of the dopant via A-site vacancies in the A-site sublattice, results in higher breakdown strength under an electric field. This strategy can be employed to develop new dielectrics with improved energy storage performance.

Dielectric ceramics are highly desired for electronic systems owing to their fast discharge speed and excellent fatigue resistance. However, the low energy density resulting from the low breakdown electric field leads to inferior volumetric efficiency, which is the main challenge for practical applications of dielectric ceramics. Here, we propose a strategy to increase the breakdown electric field and thus enhance the energy storage density of polycrystalline ceramics by controlling grain orientation. We fabricated high-quality <111>-textured Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3–Sr0.7Bi0.2TiO3(NBT-SBT) ceramics, in which the strain induced by the electric field is substantially lowered, leading to a reduced failure probability and improved Weibull breakdown strength, on the order of 103 MV m−1, an ~65% enhancement compared to their randomly oriented counterparts. The recoverable energy density of <111>-textured NBT-SBT multilayer ceramics is up to 21.5 J cm−3, outperforming state-of-the-art dielectric ceramics. The present research offers a route for designing dielectric ceramics with enhanced breakdown strength, which is expected to benefit a wide range of applications of dielectric ceramics for which high breakdown strength is required, such as high-voltage capacitors and electrocaloric solid-state cooling devices.

Although extensive studies have been done on lead-free dielectric ceramics to achieve excellent dielectric behaviors and good energy storage performance, the major problem of low energy density has not been solved so far. Here, we report on designing the crossover relaxor ferroelectrics (CRFE), a crossover region between the normal ferroelectrics and relaxor ferroelectrics, as a solution to overcome the low energy density. CRFE exhibits smaller free energy and lower defect density in the modified Landau theory, which helps to obtain ultrahigh energy density and efficiency. The (1–x)Ba0.65Sr0.35TiO3–xBi(Mg2/3Nb1/3)O3((1–x)BST–xBMN) (x= 0, 0.08, 0.1, 0.18, 0.2) ceramic was synthesized by a solid-state reaction method. The solid solutions exhibit dielectric frequency dispersion, which suggests typical relaxor characteristics with the increasing BMN content. The crossover ferroelectrics of 0.9BST–0.1BMN ceramic possesses a high energy storage efficiency (η) of 85.71%, a high energy storage density (W) of 3.90 J/cm3, and an ultrahigh recoverable energy storage density (Wrec) of 3.34 J/cm3under a dielectric breakdown strength of 400 kV/cm and is superior to other lead-free BaTiO3(BT)-based energy storage ceramics. It also exhibits strong thermal stability in the temperature range from 25 to 150 °C under an electric field of 300 kV/cm, with the fluctuations below 3% and with the energy storage density and energy efficiency at about 2.8 J/cm3and 82.93%, respectively. The enhanced recoverable energy density and breakdown strength of BT-based materials with significantly high energy efficiency make it a promising candidate to meet the wide requirements for high power applications.

Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) is widely used in food and medicine as a biodegradable polymer. However, its effects on inflammation profile and colon health are not well investigated. In the present study, CMC was given to mice to evaluate its possible effects on body weight, blood glucose level, inflammation factors, intestinal permeability and colon microbiota. Results showed that blood glucose level of CMC treated mice was relatively higher than control ones. Glucose tolerance test revealed that CMC treated mice presented higher peak glucose level and lower lag level. CMC treatment increased serum LDL-c level, decreased serum HDL-c and IL-10 level in the fat tissue. Moreover, CMC treatment downregulated the expression of tight junction protein, occludin and ZO-1, in colon as evaluated by Western blot. Colon microbiota analysis demonstrated that CMC treatment significantly decreased the OTUs and relative species abundance. The level of Enterobacteriaceae, Lachnospiraceaeand several other bacteria were much higher in the colon content of CMC treated mice. The results collectively suggest that CMC treatment induces disturbance of glucose and fat metabolism, affects the inflammation profile, perturbs colon microbiota balance.

Sesame flavour baijiu is an important style of Chinese liquor (Baijiu). However, the characteristic flavour substances of sesame flavour baijiu and associated microbial metabolic mechanisms are unclear. In recent years, research on sesame flavour baijiu has grown. This review focuses on current studies on the brewing process, the diversity of microorganisms involved in fermentation and the important aroma compounds in sesame flavour baijiu. This review will be helpful in understanding the brewing process of sesame flavour baijiu, but also in highlighting measures for improving quality. © 2020 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling

Electrocaloric refrigeration utilizing ferroelectrics has recently gained tremendous attention because of the urgent demand for solid-state cooling devices. However, the low room-temperature electrocaloric effect and narrow operation temperature window hinder the implementation of lead-free ferroelectrics in high-efficiency cooling applications. In this work, chemical engineering and thick-film architecture design strategies were integrated into a BaTiO3-based system to resolve this challenge. Novel environmental-friendly Ba(Zr0.20Ti0.80)O3–Ba(Sn0.11Ti0.89)O3(BZT-BST) bilayer films of ∼13 μm in single-layer thickness were prepared by the tape casting process. A giant adiabatic temperature change, ΔT∼ 5.2 K, and a large isothermal entropy change, ΔS∼ 6.9 J kg–1K–1, were simultaneously achieved at room temperature based on the direct measurements, which are much higher than those reported previously in many lead-free ferroelectrics. Moreover, the BZT-BST thick films exhibited a remarkably widened operation temperature range from about 10 to 60 °C. These outstanding properties were mainly attributed to the multiphase coexistence near room temperature, relaxor ferroelectric characteristics, and improved electric-field endurance of the bilayer thick films. This work provides a guideline for the development of environment-friendly electronic materials with both ultrahigh and stable electrocaloric performance and will broaden the application areas of lead-free ferroelectrics.

Tetramethylpyrazine (TTMP) is a key bioactive alkaloid and flavour compound found in Chinese sesame flavour liquor. Changes in TTMP concentration during the production of sesame flavour liquor have received little attention. Here, TTMP was tracked from raw material, fermented grains and fresh liquor in storage using high‐performance liquid chromatographic–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS). The results showed that TTMP was formed during stack fermentation, solid‐state fermentation and distillation, while no TTMP was produced during the storage process of fresh liquor. Furthermore, a higher temperature fermentation and bacterial starter culture were beneficial to TTMP generation. Accordingly, technology strategies for increasing the concentration of TTMP in sesame flavour liquor include raising the temperature of stack fermentation and distillation, reducing the distillation speed and screening for high TTMP producing Bacillusspecies. © 2018 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling

In this study, kiwifruit-bitter gourdjuice was added to reconstituted milk at 5%, 10% and 15% (v/v) to prepare fermented milk (KBFM5, KBFM10and KBFM15). Fermented milk without kiwifruit-bitter gourd juice was used as control fermented milk (CFM). Compared with CFM, the viable counts of Streptococcus thermophiles (St)in KBFM5, KBFM10and KBFM15were increased by 4.5%, 6.5% and 5.9%, Lactobacillus bulgaricus (Lb)were increased by 2.9%, 7.1% and 4.3%, and Bifidobacterium adolescentis (Ba)were increased by 9.0%, 11.5% and 10.7%, respectively. The value of initial titratable acidity (TA) of CFM was 82.4°T, the TA values of KBFM5, KBFM10and KBFM15were increased by 3.5%, 6.4% and 5.7%, respectively. Compared with CFM (water-holding capacity (WHC) was 79.69%; syneresis value was 324.3 g/kg), WHC of KBFM5, KBFM10and KBFM15were increased by 2.2%, 14.8% and 7.1%, and the syneresis values were reduced by 9.7%, 11.3% and 10.7%, respectively. The firmness value of CFM, KBFM5, KBFM10and KBFM15was 22.71, 26.84, 27.90, 23.56 g, the cohesiveness value was 126.92, 139.82, 153.56, 132.82 g/s, the consistency value was 13.38, 16.36, 18.38, 14.58 g, and the index of viscosity was 4.93, 7.56, 9.29, 6.16 g/s, respectively. KBFM10has highest sensory scores (37.96-maximum 40) which was selected for investigation of volatile compounds and hypoglycemia activity. Thirty-six kinds of volatile compounds were identified in KBFM10and thirty kinds in CFM, which were mainly aldehydes, alcohols, acids, ketones, and esters. During 28 day refrigerated storage, the values of α-glucosidase inhibition of CFM was 21.6%, 30.27%, 26.61%, 24.59%, 22.82%. The values α-glucosidase inhibition of KBFM10was respectively increased by 28.61%, 34.13%, 38.67%, 36.07%, 37.77%. This study demonstrated that kiwifruit-bitter gourd juice can be added as an active ingredient in milk preparations to provide novel functional dairy products.

In this study, polyphenols (LSP) were obtained from the fermentation broth of Lachnum singerianum. Two fractions were isolated by Sephadex LH-20 chromatographic column, and the primary fraction (LSP-1) was collected. The comprehensive physicochemical properties of phenolic acids and polyhydroxy phenolic compounds of LSP-1 were determined by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Results of anticoagulant activity assay in vitroshowed that LSP-1 could lengthen prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time of mouse plasma. In addition, anticoagulant activity results in vivoshowed that high dose of LSP-1 could significantly prolong bleeding time, coagulation time, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time of hypercoagulable mice induced by adrenaline, reduce the content of fibrinogen and enhance antithrombin III activity. All results indicated that the LSP-1 could serve well as an anticoagulant, and might be used as a potential natural drug candidate for thrombosis.

Polysaccharides from Trichosanthespeel (TPP) were obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction. TPP-1 was separated from the TPP by Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. Phosphorylation of TPP-1 was carried out and phosphorylated TPP-1 was named as PTTP-1. The results of infrared spectra, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectra showed that the main structure of PTPP-1 was similar to that of TPP-1 and -H2PO3groups which were conjugated to C-6 of →4)-α-D-Manp-(1→, C-4 of →6)-α-D-Galp-(1→, C-2 and C-3 of →1)-α-L-Araf, C-2 of →1)-α-L-Araf-(3→, and C-6 and C-3 of →1)-α-D-Glcp. In vivoantiaging activity results proved that TTP-1 and PTTP-1 could both significantly improve the body weight, spleen index, and thymus index of the D-galactose-induced aging mice, increase the levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and reduce malondialdehyde contents in the liver, brain, and serum of aging mice. These results indicated that both TPP-1 and PTTP-1 presented significant antiaging activity. Moreover, PTTP-1 showed stronger antiaging effects in aging mice, indicating that phosphorylation improved antiaging effect.

The 2019 arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) risk model has proved insufficient in the capability of predicting ventricular arrhythmia (VA) risk in non-classical arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). Furthermore, the prognostic value of ringlike late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) of the left ventricle in non-classical ACM remains unknown. We aimed to assess the incremental value of ringlike LGE over the 2019 ARVC risk model in predicting sustained VA in patients with non-classical ACM.

The inhibitory activity of an angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), a key regulatory enzyme of blood pressure from the fermented anchovy sauce, was evaluated, and ACE inhibitory peptides were purified. The ACE activity significantly increased with an increase in salt concentration. In addition, the ACE inhibitory activity of the fermented anchovy sauce containing high salt content (25 %) significantly increased with an increase in fermentation time. The maximum activity (96 %) was reached after 15 months of fermentation. Four ACE inhibitors [Pro-Lys (PK), Gly-Cys-Lys (GCK), Asn- His-Pro (NHP), and Asp-Gly-Gly-Pro (DGGP)] in the fermented anchovy sauce were purified through various chromatographic techniques and identified by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometer analysis. Four newly identified peptides were synthesized and analyzed for ACE inhibitory activity in order to confirm that the purified peptides were actually ACE inhibitors. The IC50values for ACE inhibitory activities of synthesized peptides DGGP, GCK, NHP, and PK were 164, 178, 1172, and 4092 μM, respectively.

Zhuke-Hulu tea is an herbal tea widely enjoyed by people in Southern China. For the first time the phytochemical compositions of Zhuke-Hulu tea ethanol extract (ZHTE) were analyzed by GC-MS and UPLC-ESI-MS/MS, and the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated. Several categories of substances in ZHTE were identified, among which organic acids, phenolics/phenolic acids and flavonoids were the major components. ZHTE showed significant anti-oxidant activity as measured by free radical scavenging assays and reducing power test. Moreover, ZHTE exhibited cytoprotective effect against H2O2-induced oxidative stress damage by enhancing endogenous anti-oxidant defense system and Nrf2 nuclear translocation. In addition, ZHTE also exerted anti-inflammatory efficiency by down-regulating the protein levels of iNOS and COX-2 as well as the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In parallel, ZHTE alleviated intestinal inflammation induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) through reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines level, inhibiting inflammatory cell infiltration, and modulating gut microbiota. These findings provide a solid foundation for the nutraceutical benefits of Zhuke-Hulu tea and promote its consumption as a functional beverage.

The mechanisms underpinning high energy storage density in lead-free Ag1–3xNdxTayNb1-yO3antiferroelectric (AFE) ceramics have been investigated. Rietveld refinements of in-situ synchrotron X-ray data reveal that the structure remains quadrupled and orthorhombic under electric field (E) but adopts a non-centrosymmetric space group, Pmc21, in which the cations exhibit a ferrielectric configuration. Nd and Ta doping both stabilize the AFE structure, thereby increasing the AFE-ferrielectric switching field from 150 to 350 kV cm−1. Domain size and correlation length of AFE/ferrielectric coupling reduce with Nd doping, leading to slimmer hysteresis loops. The maximum polarization (Pmax) is optimized through A-site aliovalent doping which also decreases electrical conductivity, permitting the application of a larger E. These effects combine to enhance energy storage density to give Wrec= 6.5 J cm−3for Ag0.97Nd0.01Ta0.20Nb0.80O3.

ABSTRACTTumor-infiltrating tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are thought to have anti-tumor activity and are believed to indicate a favorable prognosis in cancer patients. However, the prognostic value of TLS in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) is unknown. We evaluated the prognostic value of TLS using two independent GIST cohorts. Pathological examinations identified TLS in 44.9% of patients in our discovery cohort (DC). TLS was significantly associated with smaller tumor size (P= .011), relatively well morphological classification (P< .001), lower NIH classification (P< .001), lower recurrence (P= .005), longer survival time (P< .001) and lower imatinib resistance (P= .006). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that TLS was remarkably associated with favorable survival (P= .0002) and recurrence (P= .0015) time. In addition, the presence of KITmutations and the absence of TLS suggested worst prognosis both in terms of overall survival (OS) (P= .0029) and time to recurrence (TTR) (P= .0150), while the presence of PDGFRAmutations and TLS suggested optimal prognosis for OS and TTR. Multivariate analyzes demonstrated that TLS was an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR:0.180, P= .002) and TTR (HR:0.412, P= .023). These results were confirmed using our validation cohort. Multiplexed immunohistochemistry staining was used to determine the composition of TLS. Therapies designed to target TLS may be a novel therapeutic strategy for GIST patients with imatinib resistance.

Fuqu is an important starter culture used for Chinese liquor brewing. And distillers’ grains (DGS) are the main by-product of the Chinese liquor industry. Tetramethylpyrazine (TTMP) is an important functional substance and key characteristic aroma component in Chinese liquor. A strain with high TTMP yield was identified as B. amyloliquefaciens XJB-104 and used to produce TTMP using DGS as the medium for solid-state fermentation (SSF). The cultures after SSF were used as Fuqu with high TTMP. DGS could be used as a raw material, and the production process for high TTMP producing Fuqu was developed. TTMP production (1.28 × 103 mg/kg, 365 mg/kg/d) using SSF for 3.5 d was higher than any previous results. Using SSF with DGS may provide a low-cost and effective strategy to produce high TTMP Fuqu.