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The composition, structure, and proper positioning of amino acid in a peptide are closely related to its antioxidant activity. In this study, we purified antioxidant peptides from corn protein hydrolysates (CPH) and identified novel antioxidant peptides from fraction CPH2-III as Ala-Gly-Ile/Leu-Pro-Met (AGI/LPM; 487.62 Da) and His-Ala-Ile/Leu-Gly-Ala (HAI/LGA; 467.53 Da). AGLPM and HALGA exhibited better oxygen radical absorbance capacities than AGIPM and HAIGA did ( P < 0.05), as assessed using HepG2 cells with the cellular antioxidant activity assay (CAA) and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Finally, the secondary structure was determined using circular dichroism (CD). ESR showed that the AGLPM and HALGA peptides had the strongest abilities to scavenge hydroxyl radicals, by 79.41 ± 1.41% and 75.16 ± 2.26%, respectively. Thus, corn gluten meal could be used as a potential source of antioxidant peptides for food applications. Additionally, the amino acid Leu compared with Ile may be a critical factor contributing to strong antioxidant activity than the Ile in the peptide sequence (not C-terminus or N-terminus) and CD showed that the lower α-helix and random coil are the main causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The new “prognostic stage” in the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) incorporated important biologic factors such as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2), histologic grade and TNM stage into one system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the “prognostic stage” in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 database. Methods 10053 LABCs diagnosed between 2010 and 2013 were enrolled. TNM stage was based on AJCC 7th edition. Comparisons of biologic factor proportions among stage changes were performed using Pearson's chi-square test. Breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank testing with pairwise comparisons between different stages was conducted. Cox models were fitted to assess the independent prognostic factors. Results The prognostic stage grouped LABC into six stages: IB-IIIC among which IB-IIIA had a relatively better survival. It reassigned 74% LABCs to a different tumor stage. 60.4% cases in grade III and 68.3% cases with triple negative breast cancer were upstaged while 57.1% cases with ER/PR dual positivity were down staged. It was an independent prognostic factor of LABC. There were statistically significant survival differences among stage IB-IIIA, IIIB and IIIC. Among each TNM stage, there were statistically significant survival differences among stage changes. Conclusions The prognostic stage provided accurate prognostic information for LABC compared with anatomic TNM stage. It will lead to accuracy in prognosis prediction and optimal treatment selection, and therefore, better outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Standard mastectomy has long been the recommended breast surgical treatment for non-metastatic inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). The objective of this population-based study was to evaluate the significance of various breast surgical treatments for this highly aggressive subtype. Methods The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program registry was searched to identify women with non-metastatic IBC receiving standard treatment including breast surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy diagnosed between 1998 and 2013. Comparisons of the proportions of various breast surgery procedures over the years were performed using Pearson's chi-square test. Breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier product limit method and compared across groups using the log-rank statistic. Cox models were then fitted to compare the association between various breast surgical procedures and BCSS or OS after adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics. Results A total of 3374 cases were identified. Over the years, the proportion of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM), breast reconstruction and both were increasing. The proportion of implant-based reconstruction was also increasing with no difference in survival compared with other types of reconstruction. There was no statistically significant difference in BCSS or OS among various breast surgery treatments, such as breast conserving surgery, CPM, breast reconstruction and standard unilateral mastectomy. Conclusions Breast surgery is of great significance to the clinical outcome of IBC. Standard mastectomy should not be the only recommended breast surgical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Optimized conditions were obtained by one-factor-at-a-time test (OFAT) and ternary quadratic regression orthogonal composite design (TQROCD) respectively. By pulse electric fields (PEF) technology, the process of eggshell calcium citrate malate (ESCCM), eggshell calcium citrate (ESCC) and eggshells calcium malate (ESCM) were comprehensive compared. The levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and the bioavailability on mice fed with eggshell calcium citrate malate (ESCCM) treated by pulsed electric field (PEF) were evaluated. Results showed that the rates of calcium dissolution of the different acids studied can be arranged as ESCCM (7.90mg/mL)>ESCC (7.12mg/mL)>ESCM (7.08mg/mL) from highest to lowest rate of dissolution. At the same dose 133.0mgkg−1 d−1, the levels of TRAP in the ESCCM treatment groups were significantly lower than those in ESCM and ESCC (P <0.05). Bone calcium content in the mice fed with ESCCM was generally higher than fed with ESCM and ESCC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Anti-counterfeiting based on single/multi-beam and excitation power modulation. • Dynamic anti-counterfeiting schemes based on lifetime modulation. • The erasure schemes of luminescent patterns based on light irradiation and heating. • Binary optical information storage based on plasmonic photothermal properties. Rare-earth-doped materials with abundant electronic energy levels are capable of emitting bright multicolor radiation and are therefore considered irreplaceable candidates for optical anti-counterfeiting and optical information storage. This review summarizes recent theoretical and experimental advances of optical anti-counterfeiting and optical information storage based on rare earth ion-doped materials. Static and dynamic anti-counterfeiting schemes based on excitation light and luminescent center modulation, as well as hybrid modulation schemes based on mechanical force, thermal stimulation, etc., are discussed first. This is followed by a discussion of writing and reading of stored information, light-emitting pattern erasure schemes based on light irradiation and heating, and binary optical information storage based on plasmonic photothermal scheme. This review will promote a clear understanding of luminescence modulation in rare-earth-doped materials and contribute to the design of high-security multidimensional optical anti-counterfeiting systems and highly-integrated multiple-writable optical information storage systems, which are essential to the information security and storage. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The thermal calculation method is applied to the gasification modelling. • The calculated syngas composition is consistent with the industrial data. • The influence of structural characteristics is studied. A novel thermal-calculation method for membrane wall entrained-flow coal gasifier based on the equilibrium model was proposed in this study, and the method takes into account the heat transfer of the gasifier. The equilibrium model was established by the Gibbs free energy minimization method to avoid solving the intermediate chemical reaction process. The concepts of effective radiation heating area of furnace and flame center modification factor were introduced into the thermal-calculation method. This study not only analyzes the influence of oxygen-to-coal and water-to-coal ratios under normal operating conditions, but also investigates the impact of structural characteristics of a membrane wall entrained-flow gasifier on gasification characteristics. The model was effectively used to predict the syngas composition, the syngas temperature at the outlet of the chamber, and the energy distribution of the gasifier. The syngas composition and heat loss of gasifier obtained by thermal-calculation method are in good agreement with the experimental data of industrial-scale plants. The results show that the oxygen-to-coal ratio significantly impacts the syngas composition and heat loss than the water-to-coal ratio. Increase in the effective radiation heating area of furnace results in the decrease in the syngas temperature at the outlet of chamber, thus reducing the heat loss of flue gas and improving the heat absorption of the membrane wall tube. However, simultaneously, it can also reduce the CO concentration in syngas. Reduction in the flame center modification factor is helpful to increase the CO concentration; however, it also causes colossal heat loss of flue gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Industrial experiments of down-fired boiler with bituminous coal under various loads are taken. • The ignition heat of coal/air flow under different coal varieties and loads is given. • Burning bituminous coal has a large furnace flame fullness under the low-load. • Strong combustion stability is determined by the low ignition heat and high furnace temperature under the low-load. • The combustion performances of bituminous coal and anthracite under the low-load are analyzed and compared. The new energy generating capacity is increasing year by year in the electric industry structure, but it is greatly influenced by the natural conditions. Coal-fired power generation unit boilers connected to the grid have the ability of flexible peak-load regulation and long-term low-load operation is required. However, the combustion stability is weak under the low-load when the coal-fired boiler burning anthracite. Down-fired boiler fueled with bituminous coal gradually attract the attention. Ignition and combustion stability, burnout, and NO x emissions are experimentally studied under the various loads on a 300 MW down-fired boiler fueled with bituminous coal, and the results compared with anthracite under the low-load. The ignition distance of the coal/air flow burning bituminous coal is gradually advanced with the reduction of load. And under the corresponding load, the ignition heat of the coal/air flow when burning bituminous coal is more than 37% lower than that burning anthracite. With the reduction of load, the decreasing rate of the overall furnace temperature and the cross-sectional heat load in the primary combustion zone decreases, and the furnace temperature in the primary combustion zone is high under the low-load when bituminous coal is burned. Short ignition distance, low ignition heat and high furnace temperature ensures the strong combustion stability of burning bituminous coal under the low-load. Moreover, under three various loads with burning bituminous coal, the carbon in the fly ash are all less than 1.1%, and the NO x emissions at the furnace exit are 410, 397 and 288 mg/m3 @ 6% O 2 , respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The foaming properties of egg white protein (EWP) after pH-induced unfolding (pH 2, pH 4, pH 10 and pH 12) and refolding treatment (pH 2–7, pH 4–7, pH 10–7 and pH 12-7 (adjusting the above pH back to 7)) were studied by structure changes and quantitative proteomic analysis. It was found that all pH treatment improved foaming capacity (FC) and foaming stability (FS) of EWP, especially at pH 2 and pH 12, where EWP was in a molten globule state with unfolded structure (especially at pH 12), high surface hydrophobicity (except for pH 12-treated EWP), more free sulfhydryl groups and up-regulated adsorption proteins. However, adjusting the pH back to 7 limited the foaming properties due to protein refolding. Meanwhile the presence of down-regulated proteins was another reason for relatively poor FC at pH 2–7. Notably, the firmest foam and high FS at pH 12-7 were attributed to the generation of aggregates and the long-term stability of adsorbed proteins. The results of quantitative proteomics implied that lysozyme, ovalbumin and protein TENP were identified as key proteins associated with excellent FC at pH 2, pH 12 and pH 12-7, while β-ovomucin contributed the most to FC at pH 2–7. Moreover, protein TENP and ovomucoid were more relevant to maintaining and reducing FS. Overall, this work elucidated the mechanism of pH treatment to enhance the foaming properties of EWP, which would provide the necessary theoretical support for the quality improvement and product development of EWP powder. [Display omitted] • Molten globule structure of EWP at pH 2 and pH 12 markedly improved foaming ability. • Adjusting the pH back to 7 limited the foaming properties due to protein refolding. • The foams of pH-induced EWP were firmer, especially at pH 12-7. • The presence of up-regulated proteins explained high FC at pH 2, pH 12 and pH 12-7. • Protein TENP contributed more to FS, while ovomucoid had a negative effect on FS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single rare earth doped NaYF 4 nanoplate with different size of Ag nanoparticles is designed for the investigation of metal enhanced upconversion luminescence effect. Up to twice enhancement is obtained with big Ag nanoparticles. Luminescence quenching effect is also observed with small Ag nanoparticles. Exploration on the enhancement factors are carried out systematically based on the effect of local field enhancement, the coupling of LSPR with emission band, and even the enhanced far field distribution. It is suggested that the excitation enhancement is the reason for the enhancement at both wavelength. Emission enhancement also took a significant part in the result which is that in the system, the enhancement effect at 540 nm is greater than that at 650 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to elucidate the characteristics of water mobility and distribution in soybean antioxidant peptide powders (SAPPs) using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR). SAPPs of three different molecular weights (MWs) were exposed to a room temperature environment with a relative humidity of 45%, and the dynamics of water mobility and distribution were monitored by LF-NMR. Results revealed that there were four transverse relaxation time fractions in SAPPs. The major (over 90%) fraction was bound water, and the distribution of water in samples with different MWs was different. The moisture absorption capacity of SAPPs with MWs of less than 1 kDa was the strongest, and all T 2 fractions/water population contents in SAPPs with MWs of 1–3 kDa were the lowest. This study provided an effective real-time monitoring method for water mobility and distribution in SAPPs and may have applications for promoting peptides quality assurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel low-load stable combustion technology is applied on a 600MWe FW down-fired boiler. • 33% rated load stable combustion without oil support is achieved. • Full-scale industrial measurements are carried out at 200, 240 and 540MWe. • Combustion and NOx formation characteristics at high and low load are contrastively studied. The randomness and intermittence of solar and wind power generation require coal-fired thermal power boilers that have a low-load stable combustion capacity. This study proposed a novel low-load stable combustion technology in which the oil secondary air flow is arranged parallel to the fuel-rich coal/air flow and participates in pulverised coal combustion during boiler operation. The method was applied to a 600 MWe down-fired boiler manufactured with the technology of Foster Wheeler Corp. Full-scale industrial measurements of furnace flue gas temperature, fuel-rich coal/air flow ignition distance, and distribution characteristics of NOx, O 2 , and CO in the furnace at loads of 200, 240, and 540 MWe were performed. The results showed that the boiler can stably operate without oil support at 240 MWe (40% rated load) and 200 MWe (33% rated load) respectively burning a blended coal of anthracite and lean coal, and blending bituminous coal. At loads of 200, 240, and 540 MWe, the fuel-rich coal/air flow ignition distances were, respectively, approximately 1.4, 1.7, and 1.3 m. NOx emissions at the furnace exit were 406, 407, and 730 mg/Nm3 (O 2 = 6%), and the boiler thermal efficiencies were 92.42%, 92.45%, and 90.58%, respectively. This novel technology presents the characteristics of high efficiency and low NOx emission while realizing low-load stable combustion of down-fired boilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Oat bran protein concentrate (OBPC) was prepared from oat bran, and hydrolyzed using trypsin. Protein hydrolysates of three different degrees of hydrolysis (4.1%, 6.4% and 8.3% respectively) were obtained. SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated that oat globulin was the major protein component in OBPC. After trypsin treatment, acidic polypeptides were partly degraded into large peptides (M r =29,000–33,000) and small peptides (M r <20,000); however, basic polypeptides were almost intact. The functional properties of the resulting products were compared with those of control OBPC. Marked changes in the protein functionality were caused by proteolysis. The solubility, water-holding capacity, emulsifying activity and foaming ability of the hydrolysates gradually increased with the increase in DH. However, the oil-holding capacity, emulsifying stability and foaming stability of the hydrolysates reduced to a certain extent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]