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In the setting of Digital China, the smart city pilot strategy has become a fundamental part of the intelligent upgrading of the urban development model. Exploring the influence of smart city pilot policies on urban innovation performance is critical for achieving high-quality economic development and creating an innovation-driven country. This study views the experimental smart city policy in China as a quasi-natural experiment and assesses the improved influence of smart city development on urban innovation performance by constructing a multiple period difference-in-differences (DID) model, then confirms it using a variety of robustness test methodologies. The results show that urban innovation performance benefits from the construction of smart cities, and the promotion effect is sustainable. The level of economic development and information infrastructure, as well as the financial innovation expenditure, have a beneficial effect in encouraging smart city construction innovation performance, while the degree of opening-up hinders the improvement of smart city urban innovation performance. In addition, it is also found that there is heterogeneity in the promotion effect of smart city building on urban innovation performance. The research of this paper provides useful enlightenment for better exerting the promotion effect of smart city building on urban innovation performance. • Smart city construction positively promotes urban innovation performance. • There indeed exists economic region and city size heterogeneity of the positive effect. • The influencing factors of smart city innovation performance are discussed. • The multiple period difference-in-differences (DID) model was adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the dire state of global warming, it is critical to investigate the elements that influence carbon emissions intensity and to precisely monitor progress in carbon emissions intensity growth in order to meet the aim of lowering CO2 emissions. This research explores the association among renewable energy and non-renewable energy consumption, the urban population, research and development expenditure, technological innovation, and carbon emissions intensity in China using annual time series data over the period 1990 to 2019. The Dynamic ARDL simulation technique was utilized to investigate the long-run and short-run correlations between renewable and non-renewable energy consumption and CEI. The results suggest that there is strong evidence of a long-run correlation between the variables. The findings indicate that in the long-run, renewable energy and non-renewable energy consumption, and research and development expenditure have a positive influence on CEI by 0.27%, 0.75%, and 0.21%, whereas the urban population has a negative influence by 2.31%, respectively. However, the urban population and technological innovation have positively affected the short-run CEI by 12.17% and 0.23%, respectively. Policies should focus on continuous investment in renewable energy sources, clean energy innovation, improving energy efficiency, forest restoration, and carbon neutrality initiatives to lessen the environmental extreme pressure associated with CO2 emissions. • Renewable and non-renewable energy use positively affect carbon emission intensity. • Research & development expenditure has positive impact on carbon emission intensity. • Urban population negatively affect carbon emission intensity. • Dynamic Autoregressive Distributed Lag simulations model was used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, δ-MnO 2 and Fe/δ-MnO 2 -X (X = 0, 1, 2 and 5) nanomaterials were prepared by a one-step water bath co-precipitation method, and then their performance in catalytic oxidation of HCHO at room temperature was investigated. The catalytic oxidation performance of Fe/δ-MnO 2 -5 nanomaterials for formaldehyde was significantly improved by the modification with iron doping and sulfuric acid, and the conversion of 3.35 ppm HCHO reached 99.4% within 8 h at room temperature. Next, the nanomaterials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), spectroscopy scanning electron microscope (SEM), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM)，Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), temperature-programmed reduction by H 2 (H 2 -TPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) methods to investigate the structural properties of the nanomaterials. It was found that the specific surface area of the composite nanomaterials increased, the particle distribution was more uniform, and the distribution of Mn on the catalyst surface changed significantly. Among them, the content of Mn3+ increased significantly, which was beneficial to the catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde. [Display omitted] • One-step method prepared Fe/δ-MnO 2 -X (X = 0, 1, 2 and 5) nanomaterials. • The doping of ferrous ion is beneficial to the conversion of Mn2+and Mn4+ to Mn3+. • After modification, lattice defects on the surface of δ-MnO 2. • Mn3+ plays a decisive role in the catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Measured the carbon emissions of 231 cities in China. • Evaluated the effect of smart city construction on emission reduction. • Evaluated the effect of smart city construction on energy saving. • Energy efficiency is the mechanism for the construction of smart city to reduce emissions. Developing countries constantly face the predicament of how to achieve the common progress of economic growth and environmental protection, and smart city construction may be the key. This study takes a smart city pilot policy in China as the starting point, and systematically evaluates the effects of smart city construction on energy saving and CO 2 emission reduction using a progressive difference-in-differences method. The research conclusions show that: 1. Smart city construction has significantly reduced per capita CO 2 emissions, with a reduction effect of approximately 18.42 logarithmic percentage points. This conclusion remains valid in the placebo test, instrumental variable method, and a series of robustness verifications. 2. There is an inverted U-shaped relationship between energy efficiency and per capita CO 2 emissions, and most cities in China have crossed the inflection point; smart city construction achieves energy savings and reduces per capita CO 2 emissions by improving energy efficiency. 3. The effect of smart city construction on CO 2 emission reduction is more obvious in cities with higher administrative levels, higher levels of neutral technological progress and green innovation, and higher levels of advanced industrial structure. This research provides an empirical basis for how developing countries or regions can move toward sustainable development through digital and intelligent transformation and demonstrates the importance of providing new infrastructure construction such as smart cities from the perspective of a low-carbon economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The willingness of migrating due to air pollution is widespread in China. However, there is a lack of direct evidence and discussion regarding whether this willingness has been translated into action. In this study, PM2.5 concentrations were used to represent air pollution in each city and were compared with individual migration data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS) to examine population migration effects caused by air pollution. This study showed that (1) Population migration between Chinese cities shows sensitivity to air pollution, and air pollution increases the probability of moving away for local population. This finding is held under multiple robustness and endogeneity tests. (2) Population migration effects caused by air pollution were more pronounced among women, middle-aged people, those with lower educational levels, from agricultural households, Han Chinese groups, and populations in southern cities. (3) The use of individual self-rated health data verified that physical health is an important channel through which individual migration decisions are influenced by air pollution, the older an individual, the more his or her health was affected. In light of these findings, this study led to conclusions regarding targeted policy recommendations in terms of talent clustering, social equity, and demographic balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flaxseed gums (FG) previously reported were mostly isolated from hulls and seeds under a relatively low temperature, which led to an incomplete structural and functional understanding of the entire gum. In addition, the influences of processing conditions on the functional properties of FG have rarely been studied. In this study, FG was extracted by water at high temperature (90 °C) followed by ethanol precipitation. The physicochemical characteristics of the high temperature extracted FG were investigated, including its rheological and emulsion stabilizing properties in aqueous solution. The influences of homogenization and heating-cooling treatments on the functional properties of FG were also examined. Results indicated that FG could form a gel in aqueous solution (>0.5 wt%) at room temperature (25 °C). Mechanical shearing forces derived from homogenization (50 MPa) highly decreased the elastic properties of FG by disrupting the intermolecular network. However, the disrupted network could not be recovered by reheating (85 °C) and cooling (25 °C) processes indicating it was non-reversible. It was also observed that FG of 0.4 wt% demonstrated the best stabilizing effect on the oil/water emulsion systems for the appropriate viscosity and weak-gel properties. The study aims to provide a full understanding of the rheological and emulsifying properties of high temperature extracted FG under different treating conditions with an intent to promote its application in the food and non-food industries. Image 1 • Rheological properties of FG solution were systematically studied. • The gelling ability of FG solution increased with increasing concentration. • The viscoelasticity of FG solution decreased with increasing temperature. • The destroyed FG network could not be recovered after heating-cooling treatment. • FG of 0.4 wt% demonstrated best stabilizing effect against oil/water emulsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel BiOI/Bi 2 WO 6 heterojunction photocatalyst that responds to visible light was synthesized by hydrothermal method. The photocatalyst is a flower-like layered microsphere structure composed of many nanosheets. The influence of the molar ratio of BiOI and Bi 2 WO 6 on heterojunction photocatalyst activity was investigated, compared with pure BiOI and pure Bi 2 WO 6 , BiOI/Bi 2 WO 6 which formed heterojunctions showed higher photocatalytic activity, among which BiOI/Bi 2 WO 6 (2,1) had the highest photocatalytic activity for phenol. Five cycles of photocatalytic experiments, it was found that the photocatalytic performance of the sample did not significantly reduced, indicating that the photocatalyst has good stability and reusability. In addition, the enhancement mechanism of photocatalytic activity was explored, and it was proved that hole was the main active substance, and the enhancement of photocatalytic activity was mainly since the generated electrons and holes are separated in the two semiconductor materials, inhibiting their recombination. This study provides a new idea and method for visible light degradation of organic pollutants. Unlabelled Image • A BiOI/Bi 2 WO 6 photocatalyst responsive to visible light was synthesized by hydrothermal method. • Optimized conditions: 1.3 g/L of dose; PH 7; 20 mg/L of phenol; 3 h of reaction. • BiOI/Bi 2 WO 6 photocatalyst has a degradation efficiency of 90.27% for phenol in visible light. • Through 5 cyclic experiments, it is found that the photocatalyst has good stability and reusability. • The enhanced photocatalytic activity is due to the improvement of the effective separation rate of electrons and holes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haze has seriously threatened the ecological environment and public health, so researching environmental efficiency under haze constraints is significant in managing pollution and evaluating the balance between economic development and environmental health. Based on the panel data of China's 99 cities during 2005–2017, this paper uses α-convergence and β-convergence models to analyze the spatial convergence of environmental efficiency under haze constraints and its drivers in China,specifically in Eastern China, Central China, and Western China.The main results are as follows: (1) The trend of environmental efficiency under haze constraints in these regions evidently follows a dumbbell curve. In recent years, it has been growing slowly in Eastern China, Central China, and Western China, and the environmental efficiency in the Eastern China is the highest, the Central China is the second, and the Western China is the lowest; (2) it demonstrates both α-convergence and β-convergence in Central China, Western China, and Eastern China, and the speed of convergence is the fastest in the Central China, the second in the Western China and the slowest in the Eastern China; there is a "catch-up effect" in cities from less environmentally efficient regions to more efficient regions; and (3) Industrial structure and degree of trade dependence have a significantly negative correlation; characteristics of the region and dependence on foreign investment have significantly positive correlations with the environmental efficiency of Eastern China and Central China; environmental regulations and economic scale limit the improvement of environmental efficiency of Central China and Western China; and technological innovation significantly impacts Eastern China only. Although the paper refers to the specific evidence of China, with haze as a new indicator in the comprehensive evaluation of environmental efficiency can be extended to other developing countries as well as to other pollutants such as land pollution and waste water. The understanding of drivers of environmental efficiency under haze constraints in China provides international policy-makers with valuable reference for formulating effective measures to balance the dilemma between economic development and environmental health. • Haze was brought into the framework of environmental efficiency. • The environmental efficiency in China followed a dumbbell curve. • A "catch-up effect" in less environmentally efficient regions was confirmed. • Industrial structure had a negative correlation with the environmental efficiency [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Composition and nutritional value of white and green asparagus are compared. • The bioactive compounds of asparagus and their health benefits are summarised. • The processing properties of asparagus are discussed. • Asparagus related patents are herein listed. Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) is a perennial herb with various bioactivities and has been widely used as medicine and food since ancient times. With the reputation of "the king of vegetables" in the international market, its health benefits and biological functions have attracted increasing interests from both public and academia. This review summarizes the nutritional values, bioactive compounds, biological functions and the food and non-food applications of asparagus. Moreover, the relationships between health benefits and its bioactive components are also discussed. Asparagus contains various phytochemical compounds such as polysaccharides, polyphenols, anthocyanins and saponins, which exhibit anti-cancer, anti-tumor, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, hypoglycemic, anti-hypertensive and anti-epileptic effects through in vitro and in vivo experiments. However, it is critical to bridge the gap between bioactive components and human health and to uncover their corresponding mechanisms. This paper will help to facilitate the food and medicinal application of Asparagus in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a low-calorie sugar, D-allulose is produced from D-fructose catalyzed by D-allulose 3-epimerase (DAE). Here, to improve the catalytic activity, stability, and processability of DAE, we reported a novel method by forming organic–inorganic hybrid nanoflowers (NF-DAEs) and co-immobilizing them on resins to form composites (Re-NF-DAEs). NF-DAEs were prepared by combining DAE with metal ions (Co2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Ca2+, Ni2+, Fe2+, and Fe3+) in PBS buffer, and were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. All of the NF-DAEs showed higher catalytic activities than free DAE, and the NF-DAE with Ni2+ (NF-DAE-Ni) reached the highest relative activity of 218%. The NF-DAEs improved the thermal stability of DAE, and the longest half-life reached 228 min for NF-DAE-Co compared with 105 min for the free DAE at 55 °C. To further improve the recycling performance of the NF-DAEs in practical applications, we combined resins and NF-DAEs to form Re-NF-DAEs. Resins and NF-DAEs co-effected the performance of the composites, and ReA (LXTE-606 neutral hydrophobic epoxy-based polypropylene macroreticular resins)-based composites (ReA-NF-DAEs) exhibited outstanding relative activities, thermal stabilities, storage stabilities, and processabilities. The ReA-NF-DAEs were able to be reused to catalyze the conversion from D-fructose to D-allulose, and kept more than 60% of their activities after eight cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue light, as an important environmental factor, can regulate the production of various secondary metabolites of Monascus purpureus M9, including mycotoxin-citrinin, pigments, and monacolin K. The analysis of citrinin in Monascus M9 exposed to blue light for 0 min./d, 15 min./d, and 60 min./d showed that 15 min./d of blue light illumination could significantly increase citrinin production, while 60 min./d of blue light illumination decreased citrinin production. Analysis of long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) was performed on the transcripts of Monascus M9 under three culture conditions, and this analysis identified an lncRNA named AOANCR that can negatively regulate the mraox gene. Fermentation studies suggested that alternate respiratory pathways could be among the pathways that are involved in the regulation of the synthesis of citrinin by environmental factors. Aminophylline and citric acid were added to the culture medium to simulate the process of generating cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in cells under illumination conditions. The results of the fermentation showed that aminophylline and citric acid could increase the expression of the mraox gene, decrease the expression of lncRNA AOANCR, and reduce the yield of citrinin. This result also indicates a reverse regulation relationship between lncRNA AOANCR and the mraox gene. A blue light signal might regulate the mraox gene at least partially through lncRNA AOANCR, thereby regulating citrinin production. Citrinin has severe nephrotoxicity in mammals, and it is important to control the residual amout of citrinin in red yeast products during fermentation. LncRNA AOANCR and mraox can potentially be used as new targets for the control of citrinin production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) have been reported to exert therapeutic potential on managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Various mechanisms have been proposed; however, several studies have not considered the correlations between the anti-T2DM activity of NSPs and their molecular structure. Moreover, the current understanding of the role of NSPs in T2DM treatment is mainly based on in vitro and in vivo data, and more human clinical trials are required to verify the actual efficacy in treating T2DM. The related anti-T2DM mechanisms of NSPs, including regulating insulin action, promoting glucose metabolism and regulating postprandial blood glucose level, anti-inflammatory and regulating gut microbiota (GM), are reviewed. The structure-function relationships are summarized, and the relationships between NSPs structure and anti-T2DM activity from clinical trials are highlighted. The development of anti-T2DM medication or dietary supplements of NSPs could be promoted with an in-depth understanding of the multiple regulatory effects in the treatment/intervention of T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deltamethrin (DEL), a commonly used pyrethroid pesticide, results in higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in aquatic animals, which consequently unbalance the redox state. Phlorizin (PHL) is a flavonoid and a natural product promising to prevent or reduce pesticide-induced oxidative stress. Artemia is a micro-crustacean widely used in marine hatcheries and an experimental aquatic organism for environmental toxicology research. This research aimed to evaluate the toxicity of DEL on Artemia and the antioxidative effect of PHL against the toxicity. Results show that 0.08-mg/mL PHL exerted its antioxidative effects on hatching percentage of the cysts in 24-h incubation and on body length and survival rate of Artemia in 12-d culture. After 12-d culture, 12-, 24-, and 36-h DEL exposure showed significant drops in SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px enzyme activities, and significant increases in ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in Artemia (P<0.05). On the contrary, 0.08-mg/mL PHL application improved the enzyme activities and decreased the ROS and MDA levels (P<0.05). Moreover, 0.08-mg/mL PHL significantly increased mRNA expression levels of Cu/Zn SOD, CAT, GST, HO-1, NQO1, and Nrf2, and decreased mRNA expression level of Keap1 in the DEL-exposed Artemia (P<0.05). Therefore, DEL is toxic to Artemia, while PHL alleviates DEL-induced oxidative damage by possibly regulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway. This study provided a theoretical basis for PHL to reduce pesticide-induced toxicity in aquatic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural triterpene carboxylic acid with an underlying anti-hyperlipidemia effect. This study examined the mechanism of interactions of UA with cholesterol esterase (CEase), pancreatic lipase (PL), and micellar cholesterol solubility in vitro. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of CEase, PL, and micellar cholesterol solubility was determined to be 0.07 ± 0.01 mg/mL, 1.81 ± 0.13 mg/mL, and 1.73 ± 0.08 mg/mL, respectively. Multispectral combination revealed that UA changed the secondary structure and quenched the intrinsic fluorescence by static quenching of the two enzymes. The interactions were exothermic reaction as determined by enthalpy. Furthermore, molecular docking confirmed that UA was bound to amino acids of two enzymes at active site through hydrophobic interaction and van der Waals forces. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation found that CEase and PL rearranged with UA to form stable complexes. The strong inhibition effect of CEase and PL mediated by UA might provide additional insight into understanding the role of UA in the hypolipidemic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel visible-light-driven Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 /sepiolite ternary heterostructure photocatalysts were successfully prepared via a facile precipitation method. The presence of Si–OH on the surface of sepiolite converted the part of Ag + to Ag0 through the in-situ reduction. the visible light degradation rate constant of Rhodamine B by Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 /sepiolite was about 3.68 times higher than that of bare Ag 3 PO 4. The superior photocatalytic performance of Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 /sepiolite was attributed to the formation of Ag 3 PO 4 particles with smaller grain size and Ag0 nanoparticles due to the introduction of sepiolite, resulting in the enhanced adsorption capacity, improved light response ability and accelerated photogenerated electron transfer rate. In particular, the generated Ag0 played a very important role in improving the electron-hole separation efficiency through acting as the electron acceptor and regulating the carriers' separation path. On the other hand, the SPR effect of Ag0 can improve the light absorption ability of the photocatalys. The radical trapping experiment showed that holes (h+) and superoxide radical (•O 2 −) were the main reactive species, where the formation of •O 2 − was closely related to the presence of Ag0. This work provides new insights for the application of hybrid photocatalysts combined with mineral materials in wastewater treatment. A novel visible-light-driven Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 /sepiolite ternary heterostructure photocatalysts were synthesized via a facile precipitation method. The composite exhibited the enhanced visible-light-driven acivity due to the introduction of sepiolite. This work provides new insights for the application of hybrid photocatalysts combined with mineral materials in wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] • Ag/Ag 3 PO 4 /sepiolite composite was synthesized via a facile precipitation method. • Sepiolite with abundant Si–OH contributed to the formation of Ag0 nanoparticles. • The composite exhibited the improved photocatalytic activity under visible light. • Potential mechanisms for enhanced visible-light-driven activity were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective utilization of by-products still poses a challenge in the food industry. In this work, soluble dietary fiber (SDF) extracted from okara was modified by steam explosion (SE) via adjusting steam pressure (1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 MPa) and SE duration (60 and 120 s). The structural and emulsification properties of modified SDF were studied. The untreated SDF exhibited a low yield (5.17%) and poor emulsification properties due to its large molecular weight (162.67 kDa), compact structure, and high interfacial tension (14.27 mN/m). SE increased SDF content by a maximum of 30.31%, 4.86 times higher than that of untreated SDF. Under mild SE conditions (1.0 MPa for 60 s), SDF displayed a loose structure with abundant side chains and a higher glyoxylate content (26.77%). Its near-neutral contact angle (82.0°) and lower interfacial tension (12.69 mN/m) endowed it with higher emulsification capacity, smaller emulsion droplet size, and enhanced emulsifying stability. The molecular weight of SDF decreased and the specific surface area enlarged with increasing SE intensity. Notably, SDF exhibited the best interfacial adsorption characteristics under SE of 2.0 MPa for 120 s, attributed to its low molecular weight (46.99 kDa) and higher protein content (7.58%). Overall, the improved emulsification properties of SDF were attributed to the synergistic effects of amphiphilic equilibrium, electrostatic repulsion, spatial resistance, and enhanced droplet-to-droplet interactions. [Display omitted] • Soluble dietary fiber (SDF) derived from okara is modified by steam explosion (SE). • SDF content reaches 30.31% at 1.0 MPa for 120 s of SE, 4.86 times higher than okara. • SE-modified SDF has loose structure, proper wettability, and low interface tension. • SDF exhibits the best interfacial adsorption property at 2.0 MPa for 120 s of SE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, arabinoxylan (AX) isolated from wheat bran was used to prepare AX-fortified bread and biscuits, and the effects of the amount and method of AX addition on the nutritional properties of baked products were investigated through simulated digestibility and colonic simulated fermentability analysis in vitro. The purified AX demonstrated a high total sugar content (92.75%), high molecular weight (Mw) (669.8 kDa), low polymer dispersity index (PDI) and low arabinose to xylose (A/X) ratio (1.21). In vitro digestibility test indicated that AX addition could dose-dependently inhibit the starch digestibility in both bread and biscuits. Most importantly, it could also dose-dependently transfer more starch and protein into the colon through the gastrointestinal tract, leading to the changes in total amount and chemical composition of food residues. Results from the in vitro fermentability test showed that alterations in the composition of food residue affected its fermentability: a high relative ratio of carbohydrate to protein could enhance its prebiotic effect. This study provides valuable insights into the role of dietary fibres in baked foods, aiming to achieve precise nutrition for high-fibre food products. [Display omitted] • Arabinoxylan (AX) added to baked food dose dependently inhibited the rate of starch hydrolysis. • The starch digestibility in bread/biscuits prepared by mixing AX with flour is lower. • AX-fortified breads/biscuits translocate more starch and protein into the colon, affecting its fermentability. • A high relative ratio of carbohydrate to protein in colon could enhance its prebiotic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic degradation of pollutants is one of the most environmentally friendly and energy efficient technologies. Photocatalysts with porous structures not only enhance the adsorption of pollutants by the catalyst, but also accelerate the electron transfer and enhance the photocatalytic performance due to the exposure of more active sites. In addition, the S-Scheme heterojunction photocatalyst not only reduces the rate of electron-hole pair compounding, but also maintains the redox properties of the photocatalyst and improves photocatalytic performance. In this paper, the mesoporous material TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 S-Scheme heterojunction photocatalysts were prepared in one step by the sol-gel method using urea as a precursor. The particles of the prepared nanomaterials are between 20 and 50 nm in size and uniformly dispersed. The photodegradation efficiency of the photocatalyst for formaldehyde under visible light can reach over 85%. One-step preparation of TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 photocatalysts by sol-gel method with simple preparation method and high yield, solving the difficulties of low yield and high requirements for temperature and environmental conditions in the preparation of g-C 3 N 4 using urea thermal polymerisation. • One-step preparation of TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 S-Scheme heterojunction photocatalysts. • TiO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 is well dispersed with particle sizes in the range of 20-50 nm. • The photocatalysts can degrade formaldehyde with an efficiency of over 85%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is a challenge to prepare Ni-phyllosilicate catalysts deriving from the reaction of nickel salts and biomass-based silica with high Ni contents. In order to efficiently synthesize nickel phyllosilicate, the acid-treated rice husk without calcination (P-R) was directly used as the raw material. The as-synthesized Ni-phyllosilicate (N/P-R) exhibited high nickel content of 46.7 wt% owing to utilization of the abundant silanol group in the fresh rice husk. On the contrary, the Ni content of Ni-phyllosilicate sample (N/R–S) prepared using the calcinated rice husk-based silica was only 4.8 wt% because of the loss of silanol group during calcination process. As a result, N/P-R displayed much higher catalytic activity for CO 2 methanation than N/R–S. It was found that the silanol group was in favour of forming the important intermediate Si(OH) 4 , and thereby facilitated the formation of nickel phyllosilicate. In addition, the N/P-R catalyst demonstrated superior stability and excellent anti-sintering ability in the long lifetime test. In short, the proposed method in this work could not only efficiently synthesize nickel phyllosilicate with high Ni content, but also reduce energy consumption and operation steps compared to the one prepared using biomass-based silica. [Display omitted] • Ni-phyllosilicate was synthesized using rice husk as the raw material. • The rice husk without calcination possessed abundant silanol groups. • The more abundant silanol groups leaded in higher Ni-phyllosilicate content. • The optimal catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity for CO 2 methanation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• g-C 3 N 4 /stilbite was successfully fabricated by the in-situ synthesis method. • g-C 3 N 4 /stilbite composite exhibited the outstanding TC degradation performance. • h+ and •O 2 − were mainly responsible for TC degradation under visible light. In this study, the g-C 3 N 4 /stilbite composite was fabricated by the in-situ synthesis method, and the photocatalytic performance was investigated by degrading tetracycline (TC) under visible light. The results indicated that the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of g-C 3 N 4 /stilbite-6 (86.8 %) was about 2.7 times higher than that of pure g-C 3 N 4 (31.8 %). The introduction of the stilbite carrier effectively resolved the issues of g-C 3 N 4 such as easy self-agglomeration and the difficulty in separating photo-generated carriers, thereby improving the photocatalytic activity of g-C 3 N 4. From the quenching experiment, it was found that h+ and •O 2 − were main active species for TC degradation. By HPLC-MS analysis, TC degradation products were identified, and three degradation pathways were proposed. In addition, the impacts of solution pH, light intensity, and catalyst dosage on TC degradation performance were also evaluated. Overall, a simple and successful strategy has been proposed to synthesize high-performing visible-light-driven photocatalysts for efficiently eliminating organic contaminants from wastewater. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crude polysaccharides (HEP) extracted from Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus) using hot water soaking were focused in this study. The effects of steam explosion (SE) pretreatment (against H. erinaceus raw material) on the physical and chemical characteristics and in vitro fermentability of HEP were examined. SE increased the yield, the total sugar content, and β-glucan content for HEP by 244.96%, 51.22% and 34.60%, respectively. SE treatment also reduced the molecular weight of HEP and released relative lower molecular fractions, as reflected by the elution profiles from HPSEC. During in vitro fermentation (by human feces) process, HEP from SE treated (HEQ) and untreated samples (HEW) both demonstrated capability in regulating gut microbiota (GM) by improving the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Firmicutes and the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), while reducing the abundance of harmful bacteria such as Escherichia-shigella. Moreover, HEQ could increase the production of acetic, propionic and total SCFAs, while HEW could better increase the production of n-butyric acids. The findings of this study provide a reference for the efficient extraction and preparation of HEP, and highlighting its potential application in modulating GM. [Display omitted] • Steam explosion (SE) increased the yield of H. erinaceus polysaccharides by 244.96%. • The total sugar and β-glucan content of HEP were greatly improved by SE treatment. • HEW and HEQ could improve the abundance of beneficial bacteria. • HEW and HEQ could promote the production of short-chain fatty acids. • HEQ exhibited better effects on regulating human gut microbiota compared with HEW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides and polyphenols are bioactive components that co-exist in many plant foods. Their binary interaction in terms of the structure-function relationships, however, has not been well clarified. This study elucidated the correlation between the structural and physiological properties of galactomannan (GM) -catechin monomer complexes and GM with different branching or molecular weight (Mw). Results indicated that locus bean gum with lower branching degree (Gal/Man is 0.259) bound more readily to EGCG with adsorption rate of 19.42 %. EGCG and ECG containing galloyl groups were more inclined to form hydrogen bonds with GMs, significantly improving the adsorption by GMs. The introduction of EGCG could enhance the antioxidant activity and starch digestion inhibition of GM, which positively correlated with the adsorption capacity of EGCG. The guar gum (GG) with higher Mw (7384.3 kDa) could transport 71.51 % EGCG into the colon, while the retention rate of EGCG reaching the colon alone was only 46.33 %. Conversely, GM-EGCG complex with lower Mw (6.9 kDa) could be readily utilized by gut microbiota, and increased production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). This study elucidated the structure-properties relationship of GM-EGCG complexes, and provide a new idea for the development and precision nutrition of polysaccharides-polyphenol complexes fortified functional foods. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sepiolite was first used as the carrier of MnCo-LDH to improve the catalytic activity. • Abundant reaction active sites were achieved in mnco-LDH/sepiolite composite. • The synergistic effect of MnCo-LDH and sepiolite enhanced NF degradation efficiency. In this study, MnCo layered double hydroxide/sepiolite (MnCo-LDH/sepiolite) as PMS catalyst were synthesized using a simple water bath method. The results indicated that the composite exhibited the highest norfloxacin (NF) removal efficiency (90.14 % in 40 min), and its reaction rate constant (0.2049 min-1) was 2.0 times higher than that of pure MnCo-LDH. Compared with MnCo-LDH, MnCo-LDH/sepiolite catalyst had a larger specific surface area and pore volume which can provide more abundant active sites thereby improving the NF degradation performance. In addition, EPR and quenching experiments results revealed that SO 4 •- and 1O 2 were the main active substances. Moreover, the successive redox of Mn and Co species contributed to the main driving force to effectively activate PMS. Furthermore, the possible catalytic mechanisms and NF degradation pathways were systematically analyzed. Overall, this study provides a new strategy for developing an economical, efficient and environmentally friendly PMS catalyst for wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the changes in arabinoxylan (AX) during breadmaking, multi-step enzyme digestion was conducted to re-extract arabinoxylan (AX-B) from AX-fortified bread. Their structural changes were compared using HPSEC, HPAEC, FT-IR, methylation analysis, and 1H NMR analysis; their properties changes in terms of enzymatic inhibition activities and in vitro fermentability against gut microbiota were also compared. Results showed that AX-B contained a higher portion of covalently linked protein while the molecular weight was reduced significantly after breadmaking process (from 677.1 kDa to 15.6 kDa); the structural complexity of AX-B in terms of the degree of branching was increased; the inhibition activity against α-amylase (76.81 % vs 73.89 % at 4 mg/mL) and α-glucosidase (64.43 % vs 58.08 % at 4 mg/mL) was improved; the AX-B group produced a higher short-chain fatty acids concentration than AX (54.68 ± 7.86 mmol/L vs 44.03 ± 4.10 mmol/L). This study provides novel knowledge regarding the structural and properties changes of arabinoxylan throughout breadmaking, which help to predict the health benefits of fibre-fortified bread and achieve precision nutrition. [Display omitted] • Arabinoxylan (AX) in bread was re-extracted using a multi-step enzyme hydrolysis method. • Breadmaking decreased the molecular weight and increased the structural complexity of fortified arabinoxylan. • The re-extracted AX could better inhibit the α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity than the original AX. • The re-extracted AX showed different in vitro fermentability compared to the original AX. • The related mechanisms towards the structure and property changes of AX were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monascus yellow pigments (MYPs), as food colorants, are of great interest to the food industry, because of their beneficial biological activities. In this study, a comparative metabolomics strategy revealed the metabolic regulatory mechanism of MYP overproduction, comparing ammonium chloride with peptone as nitrogen sources. Metabolomics-based multivariate regression modeling showed that metabolic biomarkers/modules, such as glucose, lactate, and the pentose phosphate (PP) pathway, were closely associated with the biosynthesis of MYPs. Exogenous addition of glucose increased production of MYPs, whereas lactate reduced it. Inhibition of the PP pathway with dehydroepiandrosterone decreased MYP production, while increasing the shunting production of orange and red pigments. All these treatments significantly changed the expression profiles of the pigment biosynthetic gene cluster and the mycelial morphology. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of elucidating the mechanism of MYP biosynthesis by comprehensive metabolomics analysis, as well as discovering potential engineering targets of efficiency improvements to commercial MYP production. Key points: • Comparative metabolomics revealed the biomarkers/modules of MYP production. • A rational exogenously adding strategy was implemented to regulate MYP synthesis. • Expression profiles of gene cluster and mycelial morphology were characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the cell wall structure of Monascus purpureus M9 on the secretion of extracellular monascus pigments (exMPs) was investigated. To modify the cell wall structure, UDP-galactopyranose mutase (GlfA) was knocked out using Agrobacterium -mediated transformation method, leading to a significant reduction in the Gal f -based polysaccharide within the cell wall. Changes in mycelium morphology, sporogenesis, and the expression of relevant genes in M9 were also observed following the mutation. Regarding MPs secretion, a notable increase was observed in six types of exMPs (R1, R2, Y1, Y2, O1 and O2). Specifically, these exMPs exhibited enhancement of 1.33, 1.59, 0.8, 2.45, 2.89 and 4.03 times, respectively, compared to the wild-type strain. These findings suggest that the alteration of the cell wall structure could selectively influence the secretion of MPs in M9. The underlying mechanisms were also discussed. This research contributes new insights into the regulation of the synthesis and secretion of MPs in Monascus spp.. • A novel pathway to regulate the secretion of MPs through the inactivation of GlfA • Found a significant increase in the proportion of orange MPs unexpectedly • The CWI pathway potentially involved in cell wall stability in Monascus sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]