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Nanofiltration (NF) membranes are widely used in many fields, including food, petrochemical and brackish water desalination. One of the challenges for preparing NF membranes is to make NF membranes with high both permeability and selectivity because of the "trade-off" effect. To weaken or break through the "trade-off" effect, the thin film composite (TFC) NF membranes with high permeability and selectivity were prepared by constructing porous organic polymers (POPs) interlayers via diazo coupling reaction in the wild condition. The effects of the monomers ratio used to prepare POPs interlayers on the separation performance of the as-prepared TFC NF membranes as well as on the surface characteristics of substrate and polyamide (PA) separation layer were investigated. Due to hydrogen bonding, the POPs interlayers with hydroxyl groups slow down the diffusion rate of PIP molecules, which changes the surface structure of the polyamide (PA) separation layer from the nodular structure to the folded structure that favors increased permeability. The pure water permeance of the optimal TFC-S4 membrane (47.5 ± 0.3 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) is 3.8 times higher than that of the commercial polyamide nanofiltration membrane NF270 (12.5 L m−2 h−1 bar−1). Na 2 SO 4 rejection of the TFC-S4 membrane is 98.7 ± 0.1 %, which is greater than that of NF270 (96 %). This study provides ideas for future applications of POPs materials in NF membranes desalination. [Display omitted] • Constructing POPs interlayers through diazo coupling reaction is effective strategy. • High performance of TFC NF membranes were fabricated by POPs interlayers. • POPs interlayers with –OH are helpful to store amine molecules and inhibit diffusion. • TFC-S4 presents 47.5 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 pure water permeance and 98.7 % Na 2 SO 4 rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot stamping technology has been widely used to produce high strength steel parts, but the elongation of the production is limited which leads to low ductility. In this paper, the quenching & partitioning treatment (Q&P) has been introduced into the existed hot stamping process to develop the Q&P hot stamping technology. Moreover, a fractional cooling strategy was also introduced, which improves the formability and helps to reduce the cooling requirement of the tool as well. By the presented process, the specimen was firstly quenched quickly to a suitable forming temperature by water spray method, then it was stamped and quenched inside the tool, and subsequently partitioned and secondly quenched to room temperature. The presented process can improve the elongation effectively and maintain the strength in a high level, which was proved by a series of Gleeble tests and real forming tests. OM and SEM observations were also provided to study the mechanisms of the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was conducted to investigate the antibacterial effects of essential oils (EO) in vitro and the influence of EO on growth performance, intestinal morphology and oxidation resistance and cecal microflora of yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 720 one-day-old male yellow feather broilers were randomly assigned into 4 treatments with 6 replicate cages of 30 broilers each. The groups were as follows: CON group (basal diet), EO200 group (basal diet + 200 mg/kg EO), EO400 group (basal diet + 400 mg/kg EO), and EO600 group (basal diet + 600 mg/kg EO). The experiment lasted for 48 d. Results showed that the growth and biofilm formation of avian pathogenic E. coli O78 and Salmonella pullorum were limited by adding EO to the diet (P < 0.05). Besides, birds fed with EO had greater (P < 0.05) average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and body weight (BW) during d 1 to 21, 22 to 42, and 1 to 48 and lower (P < 0.05) feed: gain (F:G) than those fed with basal diet during d 22 to 42 and 1 to 48. Moreover, the activity of antioxidant enzyme and the intestinal permeability were improved in the EO400 and EO600 groups rather than the CON group on d 21 (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in cecal microbial composition and enrichment of metabolic pathways of birds among all groups by 16S-based sequencing. In summary, some dose of EO improved bacteriostatic ability, antioxidant ability, and intestinal health of broilers which contributed to the growth performance improvement of yellow-feathered broilers, which can be a promising antibiotic alternative for improving poultry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular matrix proteins of hard tissues are thought to play a key role in biomineralization, but whether other types of protein-derived biomolecules can promote the formation of mineralized crystals remains to be explored. Recent studies have shown that functional ultrashort peptides, which are less than seven amino acids in length, can partially replace the function of proteins and show unique physiological advantages. In this study, for the first time, we designed ultrashort peptides composed of several acid amino acids (serine and glutamic acid) based on the intrinsically disordered extracellular matrix proteins predicted by AlphaFold2 to explore new ideas for promoting the formation of hydroxyapatite crystals. We synthesized several ultrashort peptides with different amino acid combinations and lengths, such as SE and SESSE to evaluate the correlation between the sequence characteristics and biomineralization ability. The morphological characteristics of the crystals, cell adhesion with ultrashort peptides, and their role in tooth remineralization and bone formation were examined. In conclusion, ultrashort peptides can play an active role in the biomineralization in vivo and in vitro , which provides new insights into novel molecules that induce biomineralization and explores new therapeutic strategies for mineral loss. [Display omitted] • Novel IDR-based strategies were used to identify ultrashort peptide molecules. • S + E combination ultrashort peptide could induce hydroxyapatite mineralization. • Ultrashort peptide SESSE promoted dentin remineralization and bone formation. • Ultrashort peptide had dual mechanisms in biomineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humanin peptides (including HN, HNG and other mutants) were reported previously that antagonize neurotoxicity caused by various familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) genes and Aβ derivatives. Herein, we describe the aggregation dynamics and the representative morphological characteristics of Aβ1–40 after different time of addition humanin peptides, which revealed that (a) the interactions of both HN and HNG with Aβ1–40 induced quick and significant increase of light-scattering intensity, and (b) HNG also caused obvious morphological alteration from fibrillary to amorphous. In the meantime, the experiments also revealed that the interaction of HNG with Aβ1–40 could decrease Aβ1–40-induced calcium rise, an initial event accompanying Aβ1–40-induced apoptosis of cultured neurons. Our results indicate that HNG can protect neurons by altering Aβ1–40 morphology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • A large number of nanoparticles occurred in porcine bone soup. • Their interaction with intestinal cells should be noted, but is barely studied yet. • Those particles restored intestinal barrier dysfunction caused by oxidative stress. • They restored oxidative stress caused damages on TJs and AJs related proteins. Safety concerns arose on the interaction between nanoparticles in food and intestinal tract. Food components could spontaneously assemble into a large number of nanoparticles during food processing. These nanoparticles may possess physiological effects differed from those of constituent components, are worth paying attention to, but are barely investigated yet, especially on their interaction with intestinal tract. Porcine bone soup is rich in nanoparticles, which can directly interact with oral macrophages disclosed by our previous study. In this study, the effects of bone soup nanoparticles on intestinal barrier function were subsequently evaluated on Caco-2 cell monolayers. The results revealed the nanoparticles did not develop but restore intestinal barrier dysfunction compared with engineered nanoparticles, indicated by barrier integrity, sodium fluorescein permeability, tight junctions and adherent junctions related proteins. These results showed the potential of bone soup nanoparticles on improving intestinal disorders, which resonated with traditional knowledge on the efficacies of bone soup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to identify the chemical composition, monosaccharide composition, and molecular weight (Mw) of the polysaccharide (LBP) extract from Lycium barbarum L., and investigate the effects of Ca2+ on the zeta potential, rheological properties, infrared spectra (IR), and structure as well as the gelation mechanism of the LBP. The results showed that the LBP was an acidic glycoprotein mixture with an Mw of 4.05 × 105 Da. The addition of Ca2+ first decreased and then increased the absolute value of zeta potential. The elastic modulus (G'), complex viscosity (η*), and stress relaxation modulus (G(t)) of LBP increased with an increase of Ca2+ concentration, and reached the maximum value at the concentration of 12 mM. IR showed that the typical peak wavenumber of the LBP has changed in the presence of Ca2+. SEM and AFM analysis confirmed that Ca2+ could improve the formation of gel network structure in LBP. In addition, the electrostatic interaction and the calcium bridges produced by the addition of Ca2+ played a key role in the formation of the gel network structure. These findings will benefit the application of LBP in the food and pharmaceutical industries. [Display omitted] • Effect of Ca2+ on the rheological properties and structure of LBP was investigated. • Gelation mechanism of LBP was also elucidated. • Increasing concentration of Ca2+ improved rheological properties of the LBP gels. • Ca2+ increased the stability of LBP gel network structure. • Electrostatic interaction was crucial to LBP gel network structure formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Catalase-induced vigorous superoxide production in fish oil nano-emulsion. • The resulting superoxide caused fatal oxidative damages in murine macrophage. • The fish oil induced cell death can be inhibited by a catalase-specific inhibitor. • The cell death involves ferroptosis but not apoptosis. • A hidden health risk of the fish oil nano-emulsion was discovered. Fish oil is increasingly utilised in the form of nano-emulsion as a nutrient and function fortifier. The nano-emulsions exceptionally high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and electron donors at the oil/water interface provide an ideal site of the redox reaction. Here we report that a vigorous superoxide production in the fish oil nano-emulsion was catalysed by mammalian catalase in acellular and cellular systems. The resulting superoxide increased cytosolic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and membrane lipid peroxidation of murine macrophage, which eventually causes fatal oxidative damages. Cell death, was significantly inhibited by a catalase-specific inhibitor 3-Amino-1,2,4-triazole (3-AT), was via ferroptosis and not apoptosis. The ferroptosis was independent of free iron or glutathione peroxidase suppression. Our findings discovered a hidden health risk of the widely acclaimed fish oil emulsion, suggesting a novel cellular damage mechanism caused by dietary unsaturated fats on the alimentary tract mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metal ions play a decisive role in regulating the redox balance of cells and subsequentially alter cellular functions. The pacifying ("cold") or irritating ("hot") effects of food on the human body have been traditionally recognized and utilized by Chinese for hundreds of years. The principal components of fruits and vegetables corresponding to these effects have been identified to be magnesium, iron, and copper cations in combination. This study aims to elucidate the regulatory effects of the three cations on the oxidative responses and inflammatory cytokines production in RAW264.7 macrophages. Two "cold" solutions and two "hot" solutions were prepared with MgSO 4 , FeSO 4 , and CuSO 4. The contents of three cations were calculated with a previously established regression equation and set to the physiologically meaningful levels (at ppm). It was found that the "cold" solution exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the macrophages. They reduced the intracellular ROS level and restored the mitochondrial respiratory of the AAPH-insulted macrophages, while suppressing the LPS-induced expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the cells. Conversely, the "hot" solutions exhibited pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory effects as they increased the intracellular ROS and expression of inflammatory cytokines in normal cells. It demonstrates the bidirectional regulation of the Mg2+, Cu2+, and Fe2+ cocktails on oxidative and inflammatory responses of murine macrophages. Inspired by the traditional Chinese food concept, the outcome of this study provides a new perspective and useful tool for future research and innovations in healthy and sustainable food. • The Mg2+, Cu2+, and Fe2+ cocktails could bidirectionally regulate the macrophages. • The "cold" mineral solutions exhibited antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity. • The "hot" mineral solutions possessed pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]