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In order to investigate the effect of inoculated fermentation with different Aspergillus strains on the umami taste of Liuyang Douchi, the differences in the umami taste and protein degradation of Liuyang Douchi fermented naturally (NF) or by four dominant Aspergillus flavus strains isolated from Douchi (A. flavus 7214, A. flavus 7622, A. flavus 6112, and A. flavus 5322) alone and their mixture in an equal proportion (M4) were compared. The results showed that the major protease produced by each of the four strains was serine proteases, and A. flavus 5322 had the strongest protease activity, with significantly higher activity of acidic protease than the other three strains. The contents of amino acid nitrogen and water-soluble protein in Aspergillus fermented Douchi were higher than those in NF Douchi after the end of pile-fermentation stage. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis showed that the degradation trends of six proteins in Douchi were consistent, all of which exhibited rapid degradation during the pile-fermentation process. Additionally, the results of sensory evaluation and electronic tongue analysis showed that Douchi fermented by A. flavus 5322 showed the strongest umami taste, which significantly increased when compared with NF. Using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray/quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS) combined with correlation and peptidomics analysis, a total of 43 potential umami peptides were identified. The total peak area of potential umami peptides in Douchi fermented by A. flavus 6112 was the highest, followed by A. flavus 5322 with little difference, significantly greater than that in NF Douchi. In summary, inoculated fermentation, especially with A. flavus 5322, could promote protein degradation and the release of potential umami peptides, thereby enhancing the umami taste of Liuyang Douchi. This study will provide theoretical guidance for improving the umami taste of Liuyang Douchi and development of industrial production strains.

To investigate the effect of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) transplantation on radiation-induced lung injury (RILI), Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) group, ASCs group, Radiation + PBS group, and Radiation + ASCs group. Radiation + PBS and Radiation + ASCs groups received single dose of 30 Gy X-ray radiation to the right chest. The Radiation + PBS group received 1 mL PBS suspension and Radiation + ASCs group received 1 mL PBS suspension containing 1 × 107 CM-Dil-labeled ASCs. The right lung tissue was collected on Days 30, 90, and 180 after radiation. Hematoxylin–eosin and Masson staining were performed to observe the pathological changes and collagen fiber content in the lung tissue. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot (WB) were used to detect levels of fibrotic markers collagen I (Collal), fibronectin (FN), as well as transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), p-Smad 3, and Smad 3. Compared with the non-radiation groups, the radiation groups showed lymphocyte infiltration on Day 30 after irradiation and thickened incomplete alveolar walls, collagen deposition, and fibroplasia on Days 90 and 180. ASCs relieved these changes on Day 180 (Masson staining, P = 0.0022). Compared with Radiation + PBS group, on Day 180 after irradiation, the Radiation + ASCs group showed that ASCs could significantly decrease the expressions of fibrosis markers Collal (IHC: P = 0.0022; WB: P = 0.0087) and FN (IHC: P = 0.0152; WB: P = 0.026) and inhibit the expressions of TGF-β1 (IHC: P = 0.026; WB: P = 0.0152) and p-Smad 3 (IHC: P = 0.0043; WB: P = 0.0087) in radiation-induced injured lung tissue. These indicated that ASCs could relieve RILI by inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad 3 signaling pathway.

We experimentally demonstrated that composites, being effective in optimizing the thermoelectric performance, can also enhance photothermoelectric effects in this work. In detail, we employed an alternating-growth in chemical-vapor-transport to grow the SnSe–SnSe2 composite crystals. The photo-responsivities of SnSe–SnSe2 (atomic-weight-ratio as 44%–56%) composite are comparable to SnSe crystals in the visible band (444 and 532 nm). However, the responsivities of SnSe–SnSe2 have remarkable 27.3% enhancement than those of SnSe crystal at the near-infrared band (1310 and 1550 nm). Supported by optical spectroscopy and theoretical electronic band structure, the enhanced optical responsivity of SnSe–SnSe2 composites is due to the formation of P–N junctions at interfaces between SnSe and SnSe2, leading to more optical transition channels and corresponding optical absorptions in near-infrared band. Our work verifies that hetero-junction formed among constituent compounds in composites is effective in optimizing the photothermoelectric response of thermoelectric materials in certain electromagnetic bands, paving the way to develop photoelectric detection devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of intestinal metaplasia (IM) in endoscopically resected early gastric carcinoma (EGC). Methods: Altogether 136 consecutive cases with EGC resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection over 5 years were included and divided into the early gastric cardiac (EGCC; n = 60) and non‐cardiac carcinoma (EGNCC; n = 76) groups. Goblet cell IM and subtypes were determined with histology and immunostaining. Recurrence‐free survival (RFS) was compared among various IM groups. Results: IM was identified in 128 (94.1%) EGC cases, including complete IM (n = 39), incomplete IM (n = 27), and mixed IM (n = 62). Incomplete IM was significantly more common in EGCC and exhibited a lower frequency of en bloc resection than the complete subtype. The frequency of synchronous or metachronous gastric tumor was significantly more common in EGCC with complete IM than in those with incomplete IM. Compared to EGC without IM, EGC with IM showed a significantly higher frequency of non‐poorly cohesive carcinoma, en bloc resection, and non‐eCuraC‐1 grade. EGNCC with IM was significantly associated with negative resection margins and en bloc resection. The 5‐year RFS was significantly lower in EGNCC patients with incomplete IM compared with those with mixed IM. The independent risk factors for RFS included tumor size >2 cm and eCuraC‐1 grade. Conclusions: Subtyping IM in EGC helped predict endoscopic resectability, prognosis, and risk of synchronous or metachronous gastric tumor. The significance of IM differed between EGCC and EGNCC. Large studies with longer follow‐up are warranted to validate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C12H8Cl2CdN2, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 16.969(5) Å, b = 10.515(3) Å, c = 7.238(2) Å, β = 110.710(10)°, V = 1208.0(6) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0245, wRref(F2) = 0.0806, T = 298(2) K.

Metal-organic framework material [Cd(tib)(dnbpdc) (H2O)]·2DMF·2H2O (1) [tib = 1, 3, 5-tris(1-imidazolyl)benzene, H2dnbpdc = 2, 2′-dinitro-4, 4′-biphenyldicarboxylic acid] was synthesized and characterized by Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analyses and Bruker D8 Advance X-ray diffractometer. The results showed that 1 was a 1D chain structure to be joined together by hydrogen bonds to generate a 3D supramolecular structure. CO2 and N2 adsorption behavior of the material was studied. It is significative that 1 can selective sorption of CO2.

The electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a core electrode reaction for the renewable production of high‐purity hydrogen, carbon‐based fuel, synthetic ammonia, etc. However, the sluggish kinetics of the OER result in a high overpotential and limit the widespread application of OER‐based technologies. Recent studies have shown that bimetallic‐based materials with the synergism of different metal components to regulate the adsorption and dissociation energy of intermediates are promising OER electrocatalyst candidates with a lower cost and energy consumption. In the past two decades, tremendous efforts have been devoted to developing OER applications of bimetallic‐based materials with a focus on compositions, phase, structure, etc., to highlight the synergism of different metal components. However, there is a lack of critical thinking and organized analysis of OER applications with bimetallic‐based materials. This review critically discusses the challenges of developing bimetallic‐based OER materials, summarizes the current optimization strategies to enhance both activity and stability, and highlights the state‐of‐the‐art electrocatalysts for OER. The relationship between the componential/structural features of bimetallic‐based materials and their electrocatalytic properties is presented to form comprehensive electronic and geometric modifications based on thorough analysis of the reported works and discuss future efforts to realize sustainable bimetallic‐based OER applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn metal-organic framework material [Zn2(tib)(HBTB)2(H2O)]·2H2O (1) [tib = 1,3,5-tris(1- imidazolyl)benzene, H3BTB = 4,4′,4″-benzene-1,3,5-triyl-tribenzoic acid] was synthesized and characterized by Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analyses and Bruker D8 Advance X-ray diffractometer. The results showed that 1 was a 2D network to be joined together by hydrogen bonds to generate a 3D supramolecular structure. Gas, vapor adsorption behavior of the material was studied. It is meaningful that 1 can selective sorption of CO2 and MeOH.