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The purpose of this investigation was to explore the fabrication of a self-assembled complex of potato starch (PS) and pomegranate peel polyphenols (PP) by ball milling and to investigate its digestion characteristics. The impact of ball milling time, ball milling speed, and PS/PP mass ratio on the total polyphenol content and digestion characteristics of the self-assembled complex was investigated. Then, the formed product was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results showed that the content of total polyphenols was (19.91 ± 0.32) mg/g in the product obtained under the following conditions: milling time 10 h, rotational speed 500 r/min, and mass ratio of PS to PP 1:0.15. The SEM results showed that many cracks and gullies appeared on the surface of the product, which was accompanied by an agglomeration phenomenon. The XRD results showed that the crystalline domain of starch was destroyed by ball milling, and the intensity of the diffraction peak became weakened or even disappeared, indicating that the granules were changed into an amorphous structure. The FTIR results showed that the absorption peak at 3 600–3 400 cm-1 was enhanced, which illustrated that PP and PS were self-assembled through hydrogen bonds. Hence, ball milling can be used to fabricate PS/PP self-assembled complex. The TGA results demonstrated that the thermal stability of the self-assembled complex was improved. Furthermore, in vitro simulated digestion and in vitro simulated gastrointestinal release tests showed that the proportion of resistant starch in the complex was significantly increased, which was beneficial to maintain the stability of the guest molecules during the digestion process, and allowed the targeted release of polyphenols in the large intestine and colon, enabling the guest molecules to exert their functions better, thereby improving their bioavailability.

Background: The human skin microbiome and lipidome are essential for skin homeostasis and barrier function, and have become a focus in both dermatological and cosmetic fields. However, the influence of surfactants commonly used in cosmetic products on the skin resident microbiome and lipidome remains poorly characterized. Methods: We conducted self‐control experiments to systematically study the effects of surfactant (sodium lauroyl sarcosinate [SLS]) on facial skin. Wrinkles, pores, porphyrins, and superficial lipids were examined to evaluate the biophysical state of skin. Quantitative real‐time PCR was used to detect the numbers of bacteria and fungi. The diversity and structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbiomes were assessed using 16S rDNA and ITS amplicon sequencing, respectively. Moreover, 22 lipids were identified to evaluate lipidome variations. SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. Results: SLS in facial cleanser did not extensively influence skin biophysical parameters, but caused a decrease in porphyrin. After using the SLS‐added facial cleanser for 3 weeks, the alpha diversity of the prokaryotic microbial community decreased significantly, while the eukaryotic microbial community showed a continuous downward trend but no statistically significant. A shift in the structure of prokaryotic microbiome was observed as a result of SLS exposure, mainly reflected by the increase in Acinetobacter, Escherichia‐Shigella, Streptococcus, and Ralstonia, while the SLS had little effect on the structure of the eukaryotic microbiome. Furthermore, SLS exposure had a great impact on skin lipidome, mainly manifested by the increase of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylcholine (PC), and the decrease of ceramides. Spearman's correlations analysis showed that Escherichia‐Shigella, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter are positively correlated with PG and PC; however, the correlation is not statistically significant. Conclusion: In this study, we found the SLS in facial cleanser primarily affected lipidome and the prokaryotic microbiome of facial skin. These findings are useful for reminding us to be vigilant about the ingredients in personal care products, even the common ingredients, and designing effective formulations for repairing ecological balance of skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this investigation, the starch-Lycium barbarum complex (CS-LB) was fabricated using corn starch (CS) and Lycium barbarum (LB) through a high-speed shear method. The stability of the guest molecules was also explored. The influence of shear time, rotational speed, and LB to CS mass ratio on Lycium barbarum pigment (LP) content and its stability were investigated. The CS-LB was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was found that the content of LP in the product was 0.99±0.03 mg per gram when the shear time was 1.5 hours, the rotational speed was 12000 r/min, and the mass ratio of LB to CS was 3:1. The SEM results illustrated that the products had an agglomerated morphology. The XRD results showed that the crystal domain of starch particles was destroyed and transformed into amorphous structures due to the high-speed shear treatment, but the CS-LP crystalline structure changed into a V-type, which was promoted by the interaction between CS and active components of LB. The FT-IR results showed that the absorption peak at 3421 cm-1 shifted, indicating that CS and LB were bound through hydrogen bonds. The TGA results showed that the thermal stability of the product was also enhanced, with a mass retention rate of 36% at 600 °C for the composite. Thus, the CS-LB could be effectively fabricated by high-speed shear treatment. Additionally, it was found that the composite could effectively reduce the effects of temperature, oxygen, and light on the stability of guest molecules in stability experiments. The shelf-life of guest molecules was also extended, enabling them to perform their related functions better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction and separation of ferrum and copper from waste ternary cathode material by Cyanex 302 (the main component is di(2,4,4-trimethylamyl) monothiophosphoric acid) was studied. The effects of H+ concentration, extractor concentration and temperature on the extraction and separation performance of Cyanex 302 were investigated. And the technological conditions for the stripping of ferrum and copper in supported organic phase were determined. The process flow of extracting ferrum and copper from waste ternary cathode material leaching solution is designed. The results show that the optimal extraction conditions are 0. 1 mol/L Cyanex 302 concentration, 0. 1 mol/L H+ concentration, room temperature. Under these conditions, the extraction rates of ferrum and copper are over 99. 9 %, while the extraction rates of Ni (II), Co (II), Mn (II), and Li (II) are all below 0. 003%. The optimal stripping agent for ferrum is 1 mol/L H2SO4 and that for copper is 1. 5 mol/L HNO3. The process can effectively separate copper and ferrum from the leaching solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Skin aging is a complex multifactorial progressive process. With age, intrinsic and extrinsic factors cause the loss of skin elasticity, with the formation of wrinkles, resulting in skin sagging through various pathways. A combination of multiple bioactive peptides could be used as a treatment for skin wrinkles and sagging. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the cosmetic efficacy of a multi‐peptide eye serum as a daily skin‐care product for improving the periocular skin of women within the ages of 20–45 years. Methods: The stratum corneum skin hydration and skin elasticity were assessed using a Corneometer CM825 and Skin Elastometer MPA580, respectively. The PRIMOS CR technique based on digital strip projection technology was used for skin image and wrinkle analysis around the "crow's feet" area. Self‐assessment questionnaires were filled on Day 14 and 28 of product use. Results: This study included 32 subjects with an average age of 28.5 years. On Day 28, there was a significant decrease in the number, depth, and volume of wrinkles. Skin hydration, elasticity, and firmness increased continuously during the study period, consistent with typical anti‐aging claims. A majority of the participants (75.00%) expressed overall satisfaction with their skin appearance after using the product. Most participants noted a visible skin improvement, with an increase in skin elasticity and smoothness, and confirmed the extensibility, applicability, and temperance of the product. No adverse reactions related to product use were observed. Conclusions: The multi‐peptide eye serum uses a multi‐targeted mechanism against skin aging to improve the skin appearance, making it an ideal choice for daily skincare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaching of spent lithium-ion battery (LIBs) cathode materials with non-aqueous systems has received widespread attention. In this paper, a binary non-aqueous system of glycerin(Gly)-formic acid(FA)and a ternary non-aqueous system of Gly-FA-choline chloride (ChCl) were used for the leaching of LiCoO2 cathode materials. The effects of leaching time, leaching temperature and liquid-to-solid ratio conditions on leaching rates were investigated. The results indicated that the addition of ChCl was able to significantly improve the leaching rates of the metals. Under the optimal conditions of time 210 min, temperature 120 °C and liquid-solid ratio 100 mL/g, the ternary non-aqueous system achieved leaching efficiencies of 99.77% and 89.09% for Li and Co respectively, higher than the 67.94% and 67.11% for the binary non-aqueous system. The leachate was analyzed by UV-Vis and FT-IR spectroscopy to reveal the leaching mechanism. The results showed that FA was able to reduce Co3+ to Co2+ in LiCoO2. However, Co2+ was present in different forms in the two non-aqueous systems, where the binary system was present as a hexa-coordination and the ternary system as a tetra-coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptomyces ansochromogenes SanG is a pathway-specific regulator that mainly controls the transcription of two transcriptional units involved in nikkomycin biosynthesis. SanG consists of three major functional domains: an N-terminal Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory protein (SARP) domain, a central ATPase domain, and a C-terminal half homologous to guanylate cyclases belonging to the LuxR family. SanG was expressed in Escherichia coil as a C-terminally [His.sub.6]tagged protein. The purified SanG-[His.sub.6] was shown to be a dimer in solution by dynamic light scattering. An electrophoretic mobility-shift assay showed that the purified SanG protein could bind to the DNA fragment containing the bidirectional sanN--sanQ promoter region. The SanG-binding sites within the bidirectional sanN--sanQ promoter region were determined by footprinting analysis and identified a consensus-directed repeat sequence 5'-CGGCAAG-3'. SanG showed significant ATPase/GTPase activity in vitro, and addition of ATP/GTP enhanced the affinity of SanG for target DNA, but ATP/GTP hydrolysis was not essential for SanG binding to the target DNA. However, real-time reverse transcription PCR showed that mutation of the ATPase/GTPase domain of Sang significantly decreased the transcriptional level of sanN--I and sanO--V. These results indicated that the ATPase/GTPase activity of SanG modulated the transcriptional activation of SanG target genes during nikkomycin biosynthesis. DOI 10.1099/mic.0.033605-0

A homologous gene (iunH) of a putative nucleoside hydrolase (NH), which had been identified from the exosporia of Bacillus cereus and Bacillus anthracis spores, was cloned from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp, kurstaki. Disruption of iunH did not affect the vegetative growth and sporulation of Bacillus thuringiensis, but promoted both inosine- and adenosine-induced spore germination. The inosine- or adenosine-induced germination rate decreased when the wild-type iunH gene was overexpressed in Bacillus thuringiensis. The iunH gene product was characterized as a purine-specific NH. The kinetic parameters of lunH with inosine as substrate were [K.sub.m]=399 [+ or -] 115 [micro]M, [k.sub.cat] = 48.9 [+ or -] 8.5 [s.sup.-1] and [k.sub.cat]/[K.sub.m]=1.23x[10.sup.5] [M.sup.-1] [s.sup.-1]. The optimal pH and temperature for lunH were found to be pH 6 and 80 [degrees]C. Meanwhile, the specific activity of inosine hydrolase in intact spores of the wild-type strain with inosine as substrate was 2.89 [+ or -] 0.23 x [10.sup.-2] [micro]mol [min.sup.-1] [(mg dry wt).sup.-1]. These results indicate that lunH is important in moderating inosine- or adenosine-induced germination of Bacillus thuringiensis spores.