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High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are considered to be promising multifunctional electrocatalysts because of their diverse constituent elements, structural uniformity, and multiple active sites that can be applicable for various reactions. In this study, the Fe 20 Co 20 Ni 20 Cr 20 Mo 20 HEA was utilized as a substrate to rapidly synthesize a nanostructured porous film with a highly active HEA surface area via an electrochemical one-step dealloying method. The dealloyed HEA exhibited an excellent oxygen evolution activity, with a low overpotential of only 370 mV at 40 mA cm−2, which is lower than those of the commercial IrO 2 –RuO 2 –Ta 2 O 5 /Ti (500 mV) and IrO 2 –RuO 2 /Ti (542 mV) catalysts, and a Tafel slope of 119 mV dec−1. After synthesizing a nanostructured porous film through dealloying, the active surface area of the HEA increased by 30%. Following a 60-h stability test, the overpotential difference of the HEA before and after the stability test is less than 30 mV, signifying outstanding stability. The obtained results indicate that the prepared FeCoNiCrMo HEA is primarily composed of two phases, namely the σ phase and the face-centered cubic (FCC) phase. The uneven distribution of the corrosion-resistant element Cr in these phases resulted in significantly different corrosion rates for the two phases, wherein the FCC phase underwent preferential corrosion. Additionally, synergistic electronic coupling among the surface atoms of the nanostructured porous film further enhanced the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance. This electrochemical dealloying method demonstrated a high reproducibility and provided an effective pathway for optimizing OER catalysts. • Nanostructure was obtained on the dual-phase HEA surfaces via single-phase corrosion. • The uneven distribution of Cr led to divergent corrosion rates in the duplex phase. • The HEA after dealloying exhibited impressive oxygen evolution properties. [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]

Purpose: With the increasing development of the surgical robots, the opto-mechatronic technologies are more potential in the robotics system optimization. The optic signal plays an important role in opto-mechatronic systems. This paper aims to present a review of the research status on fiber-optic-based force and shape sensors in surgical robots. Design/methodology/approach: Advances of fiber-optic-based force and shape sensing techniques in the past 20 years are investigated and summarized according to different surgical requirement and technical characteristics. The research status analysis and development prospects are discussed. Findings: Compared with traditional electrical signal conduction, the phototransduction provides higher speed transmission, lower signal loss and the immunity to electromagnetic interference in robot perception. Most importantly, more and more advanced optic-based sensing technologies are applied to medical robots in the past two decades because the prominence is magnetic resonance imaging compatibility. For medical robots especially, fiber-optic sensing technologies can improve working security, manipulating accuracy and provide force and shape feedback to surgeon. Originality/value: This is a new perspective. This paper mainly researches the application of optical fiber sensor according to different surgeries which is beneficial to learn the great potential of optical fiber sensor in surgical robots. By enumerating the research progress of medical robots in optimization design, multimode sensing and advanced materials, the development tendency of fiber-optic-based force and shape sensing technologies in surgical robots is prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Auxin is an important hormone in plants and the PIN-FORMED (PIN) genes are essential to auxin distribution in growth and developmental processes of plants. Peanut is an influential cash crop, but research into PIN genes in peanuts remains limited. Results: In this study, 16 PIN genes were identified in the genome of cultivated peanut, resolving into four subfamilies. All PIN genes were predicted to be located in the plasma membrane and a subcellular location experiment confirmed this prediction for eight of them. The gene structure, cis-elements in the promoter, and evolutionary relationships were elucidated, facilitating our understanding of peanut PINs and their evolution. In addition, the expression patterns of these PINs in various tissues were analyzed according to a previously published transcriptome dataset and qRT-PCR, which gave us a clear understanding of the temporal and spatial expression of PIN genes in different growth stages and different tissues. The expression trend of homologous genes was similar. AhPIN2A and AhPIN2B exhibited predominant expression in roots. AhPIN1A-1 and AhPIN1B-1 displayed significant upregulation following peg penetration, suggesting a potential close association with peanut pod development. Furthermore, we presented the gene network and gene ontology enrichment of these PINs. Notably, AhABCB19 exhibited a co-expression relationship with AhPIN1A and AhPIN1B-1, with all three genes displaying higher expression levels in peanut pegs and pods. These findings reinforce their potential role in peanut pod development. Conclusions: This study details a comprehensive analysis of PIN genes in cultivated peanuts and lays the foundation for subsequent studies of peanut gene function and phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the biomineralization activity of Zr-based amorphous alloys is key to advancing their use in implant materials. A nanoscale 3D porous structure was synthesized on the surface of Zr-based amorphous alloy by electrochemical dealloying in a ChCl-Thi DES. Cu and Al have the lowest corrosion potential in the DES, so the main elements eluted during dealloying are Cu and Al. After dealloying, the surface of the Zr-based amorphous alloy remained essentially amorphous, and several crystalline phases of NiZr 2 , Al 3 Ti, and CuZr 2 formed simultaneously. Among the amorphous phases, Cu and Ni were present in the form of simple substances, while Zr, Al, and Ti were oxidized. The formation of the porous structure mainly included the two processes of pitting corrosion and dealloying. The pitting corrosion was controlled by Cl-, which can destroy the passivation film. In the dealloying process, thiourea played a leading role in the dissolution of active metals. A porous surface structure is beneficial for improving the biomineralization activity of Zr-based amorphous alloys. • A nanoscale 3D porous structure was synthesized on the surface of Zr-based amorphous alloy by electrochemical dealloying in a ChCl-thiourea DES. • A porous surface structure is beneficial for improving the biomineralization activity of Zr-based amorphous alloys. • It is different from aqueous solution that Cu have the lowest corrosion potential in ChCl-thiourea DES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a nanoscale 3D porous structure is rapidly synthesized on the surface of a Zr-based BMG by dealloying in solutions containing Cl− and F−. The influence of the porous surface structure the electrolyte on the preparation of the porous surface structure is studied. The Zr-based BMG is more likely to be passivated when F− is added to the HCl solution. The corrosion potential gap between the five components in the alloy increases after the addition of F−. The phase transformation and structure formation of a Zr-based BMG during dealloying are studied. The main dissolved elements in the dealloying process are Zr, Ti, and Al. Cu 10 Zr 7 , Zr 2 Ni 7 and AlTi 3 are the main crystal phases after dealloying, but the Zr-based BMG remains dominated by amorphous phases. The formation of the porous structure can be divided into two stages, the pitting corrosion process and the dealloying process, and these two processes are dominated by Cl− and F−, respectively. A porous surface structure is beneficial to improve the biomineralization activity of Zr-based BMGs. • A method for quickly synthesizing porous structure on the Zr-based BMGs surface has been developed. • The main process of the porous structure formation is the pitting corrosion and the dealloying. • The porous structure is beneficial to improve the biomineralization activity of Zr-based BMGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractGelatin has played a great potential in food preservation because of its low price and superior film forming characteristics. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research progress and application of gelatin preservation technologies (film, coating, antifreeze peptide, etc.), discussing their preservation mechanisms and efficiency through the viewpoints of quality and shelf life of animal and aquatic products as well as fruits and vegetables. It showed that bioactive and intelligent gelatin-based films exhibit antibacterial, antioxidant, water resistance and pH responsive properties, making them excellent for food preservation. In addition, pH responsive properties of films also intuitively reflect the freshness of food by color. Similarly, gelatin and its hydrolysate can be widely used in antifreeze peptides to reduce the mass loss of food during freezing and extend the shelf life of frozen food. However, extensive works are still required to extend their commercial application values. [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]

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]

Background: Although titanium plates/screws are effective fixation methods (FM) after L-shaped osteotomy reduction malarplasty (LORM), the ideal FM remains controversial. This first finite element analysis (FEA) aimed to study the effect of various zygomatic body/zygomatic arch FM combinations and their placement vectors on the zygoma complex stability after virtual LORM under the effect of both average (150 N/mm2) and maximum (750 N/mm2) forces and three-dimensional (3D) mapping of stress and strain parameters distribution over the zygomatic bone, fixation methods, and total model. Results: The fixation methods about the short-arm of the L-shaped osteotomy showed lower stress, strain, and displacement values than those across the long-arm osteotomy site. Combined with any zygomatic arch fixation methods (ZAFm), the two bicortical screws group (2LS) on the zygomatic body osteotomy site resulted in smaller displacements and the lowest zygoma bone stress and displacement when combined with Mortice–Tenon structure (MT) as zygomatic arch fixation method. Applied forces caused statistically significant differences in zygomatic bone stress (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001) and displacement (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002). Conclusion: All FMs both on the zygomatic body and zygomatic arch provide adequate zygomatic complex stability after LORM. The 2LS group showed better resistance than rectangular plate (RP) and square plate (SP) with lower stress concentrations. The L-shaped plate with short-wing on the maxilla (LPwM) is more stable than having the short-wing on the zygoma bone (LPwZ). Future prospective clinical studies are required to validate the current findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to investigate the safety, preliminary clinical experience, and technical advantages of double C-arm digital subtraction angiography -assisted portal vein puncture for transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. Methods: Clinical data of 25 patients with portal hypertension caused by liver cirrhosis were retrospectively analyzed from January 2021 to June 2022. The fluoroscopy time, puncture time, mean portosystemic pressure gradient, dose area product, and intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded. Results: Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt was performed in all 25 patients, with a success rate of 100%. The fluoroscopy time, puncture time, and dose area product were 33.6 ± 8.5 min, 9.1 ± 5.7 min, and 126 ± 53 Gy·cm2, respectively. The mean portosystemic pressure gradient decreased from 22.5 ± 6.3 mmHg to 10.5 ± 2.3 mmHg (p < 0.01). No serious intraoperative and postoperative complications were found. Conclusion: Double C-arm digital subtraction angiography-assisted portal vein puncture is safe and feasible in transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt operation. It can reduce the difficulty of the operation and possesses evident technical advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to prepare a new pH-sensing film based on the immobilization of purple cabbage anthocyanins (PCA) into Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) reinforced by cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). FT-IR, XRD and TGA were used to assess the intermolecular interactions and thermo-stability of films. The addition of CNC and PCA resulted in an enhancement in UV–vis barrier, mechanical properties and moisture resistance. Inclusion of PCA imparted intelligent properties to the films. PCA-loaded films displayed strong visually detectable colorimetric responses to pH (2−13) and volatile ammonia. When applied to monitor shrimp freshness at 4 °C, PVA/CNC films containing 0.6 % PCA exhibited conspicuous color fluctuations from purple to gray blue upon deterioration. As a result, PVA/CNC-PCA colorimetric films were considered as intelligent packaging labels with significant mechanical, water vapor barrier properties and pH-sensing qualities for visual quality evaluation of fresh seafood products. [Display omitted] • Versatile PVA/CNC-PCA intelligent films are fabricated successfully. • Good compatibility and strong interactions are observed among PVA, CNCs and PCA. • PCA film produce naked-eye detectable colorimetric response to pH and ammonia gas. • PVA/CNC-PCA III film display sensitive color response to shrimp spoilage. [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]

A novel method to efficiently clean coal-dust-laden air method was proposed and its related equipment was developed. This method does not use conventional nozzles and filters, and has no requirements on the water quality of coal mine. It has strong adaptability and stable dust suppression efficiency. [Display omitted] During the green mining processes of coal energy, large amounts of coal-dust-laden air may be generated. This has caused serious health threats to mine workers. In this paper, a novel method for efficiently cleaning coal-dust-laden air was proposed. The method involved the use of air scrubbers composed of water inlet pipes, radial mixing impellers, water distribution plates, swirl vanes, and dehydrator. The radial mixing impellers were utilized to break up the water which flowed from the water inlet pipes to water distribution plates. As a result, water mist was formed, which then combined with the coal-dust-laden air, effectively sucking it using the negative pressure from the impeller rotation actions. The coal-dust-laden air and solid-liquid mixtures were moved along a certain trajectory by centrifugal force and gravity, and then discharged to the exterior. Experiments and field application processes were carried out in order to test the effectiveness of the proposed method. The experimental results showed that the dust removal efficiency of the method had reached 97.70 %. In addition, the proposed method was applied to a coal preparation plant in China's Shanxi Province. The test results indicated that the average concentrations of total dust and respirable dust were found to have decreased from 71.11 to 2.89 mg/m3 and from 47.675 to 1.958 mg/m3, which met the requirements of environmental standards. Therefore, since the proposed method had not used conventional nozzles and filters, and had no requirements regarding the water quality of the coal mine, it had displayed strong adaptability and stable dust removal efficiency. The results obtained in this study showed that this new method of cleaning coal-dust-laden air was a promising measure by which to significantly improve the working environments of coal mines. [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 fruits of wampee (Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels), which contain significant amounts of phenolics, are frequently applied as traditional medications to prevent or relieve inflammatory symptoms. Green honey wampee (GHW) is a local cultivar specially cultivated in Lianjiang City, Guangdong Province. This study aimed to investigate phenolic distribution profiles in the peels, seeds and pulp of GHW as well as elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of the effective compounds for anti-inflammatory activity. Phenolic compounds in the extract were identified through UPLC-MS/MS and their ability to alleviate inflammation was assessed using RAW 264.7 macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide. Among the three parts of GHW fruits, the total phenolic contents followed a descending order of peels > pulp > seeds. Additionally, eighty-six phenols were tentatively determined from the three parts, of which flavonoids accounted for the highest proportion. Furthermore, the phenolic extract of peels, seeds and pulp exhibited potential anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression effect on different pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, IL-6 and TNF- α). Among the three principal phenolic compounds (rutin, quercitrin, isorhamnetin-3- O -neohesperidoside) detected in GHW fruits, quercitrin was proved to be a more important anti-inflammatory compound inhibiting the iNOS and TNF- α mRNA expressions through the suppression effect on the phosphorylation of IκBα and ERK, belonging to the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathway respectively. Not only wampee pulp but also its by-products like peels and seeds are able to be comprehensively utilized as immunomodulatory supplements for daily diets due to their rich phenolic contents. [Display omitted] • Flavonoid-enriched phenolic profiles were identified in GHW peels, seeds and pulp. • The total phenolic contents: peels > pulp > seeds. • Crude phenolic extract of three fractions reduced distinct inflammation cytokines. • Quercitrin was an important anti-inflammatory phenol in GHW fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A glycoprotein (SGP1) was isolated from Sipunculus nudus for the first time. • SGP1 is a protein-dominate glycoprotein with O-glycosidic bonds containing 92.8% protein. • SGP1 was a predominantly β-sheet glycoprotein. • SGP1 exhibited strong immune-enhancing activity by promoting proliferation, phagocytosis and the secretions of NO, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 on RAW264.7 cells. • SGP1 exerts immune-enhancing activity via NF-κB signaling pathway. Sipunculus nudus , an edible marine invertebrate, has long been used as traditional Chinese medicine in folk remedies. In order to assess the immunoregulatory activity of glycoproteins in Sipunculus nudus and conduct a structure–activity relationship, a glycoprotein (SGP1) with molecular mass of 9.26 kDa was purified from Sipunculus nudus , and its chemical structure as well as immune-enhancing activity was investigated in this study. Structure analysis revealed that SGP1, a protein-dominate glycoprotein with O-glycosidic bonds, contained 92.8 % protein and 3.1 % saccharide. GC–MS result indicated that the saccharide moieties of SGP1 basically consisted of lyxose (Lyx), xylose (Xyl) as well as glucose (Glu) at a molar proportion of 0.87:4.16:1.36. The fourier transform infrared specoscopy (FT-IR) result proved that SGP1 have a typical characteristic of glycoprotein. Besides, circular dichroism (CD) result showed that SGP1 contained 4.1 % α-helix, 42.5 % β-sheet, 21.4 % β-turn, and 32.0 % random coil, indicating it's mainly a β-sheet glycoprotein. The amino acid sequence of SGP1 shared a similarity to the Myohemerythrin (sp|Q5K473|HEMTM) with protein sequence coverage of 28.3 %. Moreover, the activity evaluation results showed that SGP1 exhibited significant immune-enhancing activity to the RAW 264.7 macrophages by promoting macrophages proliferation, enhancing phagocytic capacity, and simultaneously stimulating the secretions of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) via NF-κB pathways. In this study, SGP1 as a novel glycoprotein had an obvious immune-enhancing activity to macrophages, and thus could be applied in the functional foods as a potential immunopotentiator for the hypoimmune population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Household air pollution (HAP) from indoor combustion of solid fuel is a global health burden linked to lung cancer. In Xuanwei, China, lung cancer rate for nonsmoking 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 used for cooking and heating. Epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), a DNA methylation-based biomarker of aging, has been shown to be highly correlated with biological processes underlying the susceptibility of age-related diseases. We aim to assess the association between HAP exposure and EAA. We analyzed data from 106 never-smoking women from Xuanwei, China. Information on fuel type was collected using a questionnaire, and validated exposure models were used to predict levels of 43 HAP constituents. Exposure clusters were identified using hierarchical clustering. EAA was derived for five epigenetic clocks defined as the residuals resulting from regressing each clock on chronological age. We used generalized estimating equations to test associations between exposure clusters derived from predicted levels of HAP exposure, ambient 5-methylchrysene (5-MC), a PAH previously found to be associated with risk of lung cancer, and EAA, while accounting for repeated-measurements and confounders. We observed an increase in GrimAge EAA for clusters with 31 and 33 PAHs reflecting current (β = 0.77 y per standard deviation (SD) increase, 95 % CI:0.36,1.19) and childhood (β = 0.92 y per SD, 95 % CI:0.40,1.45) exposure, respectively. 5-MC (ng/m3-year) was found to be associated with GrimAge EAA for current (β = 0.15 y, 95 % CI:0.05,0.25) and childhood (β = 0.30 y, 95 % CI:0.13,0.47) exposure. Our findings suggest that exposure to PAHs from indoor smoky coal combustion, particularly 5-MC, is associated with GrimAge EAA, a biomarker of mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously showed that exposure to 5-methylchrysene (5MC) and other methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) best explains lung cancer risks in a case-control study among non-smoking women using smoky coal in China. Time-related factors (e.g., age at exposure) and non-linear relations were not explored. We investigated the relation between coal-derived air pollutants and lung cancer mortality using data from a large retrospective cohort. Participants were smoky (bituminous) or smokeless (anthracite) coal users from a cohort of 42,420 subjects from four communes in XuanWei. Follow-up was from 1976 to 2011, during which 4,827 deaths from lung-cancer occurred. Exposures were predicted for 43 different pollutants. Exposure clusters were identified using hierarchical clustering. Cox regression was used to estimate exposure–response relations for 5MC, while effect modification by age at exposure was investigated for cluster prototypes. A Bayesian penalized multi-pollutant model was fitted on a nested case-control sample, with more restricted models fitted to investigate non-linear exposure–response relations. We confirmed the strong exposure–response relation for 5MC (Hazard Ratio [95% Confidence Interval] = 2.5 [2.4, 2.6] per standard-deviation (SD)). We identified four pollutant clusters, with all but two PAHs in a single cluster. Exposure to PAHs in the large cluster was associated with a higher lung cancer mortality rate (HR [95%CI] = 2.4 [2.2, 2.6] per SD), while exposure accrued before 18 years of age appeared more important than adulthood exposures. Results from the multi-pollutant model identified anthanthrene (ANT) and benzo(a)chrysene (BaC) as risk factors. 5MC remained strongly associated with lung cancer in models that included ANT and BaC and also benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). We confirmed the link between PAH exposures and lung cancer in smoky coal users and found exposures before age 18 to be especially important. We found some evidence for the carcinogen 5MC and non-carcinogens ANT and BaC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• l -Ascorbate palmitate (LAP) incorporated liposome was produced by simple hydration and microfluidization. • LAP increased the surface negative charges, antioxidant capacity, rigidity and orderliness of liposomes. • High LAP incorporated ratio could decrease the encapsulation ability of the control liposome. • The storage stability of hydrophobic polyphenol in liposomes could be improved by LAP. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of l -ascorbyl palmitate (LAP) as an additive to liposome formulations by self-assembling with soy lecithin to form hybrid liposomes, in order to enhance the physical stability and bioactivator-loaded retention ratio of the LAP incorporated liposomes (LAP-LP). The addition of LAP significantly increased its surface negative charge and strong hydrophobic interactions occurred between the hydrophobic tails of LAP and phospholipids resulting in more compactly ordered, rigid and hydrophobic phospholipid bilayers as indicated by surface tension, fluorescence probes and DSC. These changes enhanced the stability of hydrophobic polyphenol loaded LAP-LP during storage. Particularly, after four weeks storage at 37 °C for naringenin loaded liposomes, the retention ratio of pure liposome decreased dramatically to 12.5 %, while the LAP-LP remained above 74.5 %. This study opens up the potential for the LAP-LP to be developed as a food-grade multifunctional formulation for encapsulating and delivering bioactivators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of complexes between plant proteins and polyphenols is being explored for the development for functional ingredients with new or improved properties. In this study, complexes were fabricated from moringa seed residue protein (MSRP) and tannic acid (TA). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry suggested that the main interactions between MSRP and TA were hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding. The MSRP-TA complexes had near neutral wettability (θ ow = 86.1°), which meant that they could adsorb strongly to oil-water interfaces and thereby form and stabilize Pickering emulsions. The stability of the emulsions was improved by optimizing the MSRP:TA ratio. Confocal laser scanning microscopy indicated that higher tannic acid concentrations enhanced the thickness and compactness of the MSRP-TA interfacial layers formed around the oil droplets. The physicochemical properties of the emulsions were measured over a range of pH (3–9) and ionic strength (0–0.4 M NaCl) conditions. These results showed that the complexes were able to form stable emulsions at lower ionic strengths (<0.2 M) and higher pH values (pH 7–9). Overall, this study shows that self-assembly of MSRP and TA can improve the emulsifying properties of MSRP, which may increase its application as an emulsifier in foods. [Display omitted] • Interactions between MSRP and TA were hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction. • Tuning ratio of MSRP-TA to 1:0.5, the complexes had tuned near neutral wettability. • Complexation of MSRP and TA improved emulsifying properties. • Pickering emulsion stability was improved by proper MSRP-TA ratio, pH, or ionic strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A sheep breeding system based on blockchain was constructed. • The data of elite sheep verified by blockchain could be used as the basis for breeding sheep exchange between breeding farms. • The data in blockchain could be used for breeding sheep selection as genetic data. Joint breeding is an important way to develop new breeds, and the establishment of genetic data sharing channels among breeding farms plays an essential role in the joint breeding of sheep. To meet the needs of sharing genetic data and selecting breeding sheep in the process of joint breeding, in our study, we constructed a sheep blockchain breeding system (MSBBS) with distributed storage using blockchain technology. The breeding farms in the alliance were set as nodes, and a set of MSBBS was installed on each node to record breeding sheep data, automatically calculate Estimated Breeding Value (EBV), and write elite sheep data into the blockchain to realize real-time sharing of block data. blocks should be authenticated by more than two-thirds of nodes before they were written, and after writing, each node will get the same copy of the block data, so that the block data cannot be tampered with. MSBBS facilitates sheep farms' data management, and the block data could be used as reliable and shared genetic data for selection of breeding sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]