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This study investigates the effects of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on blueberry anthocyanins and their interaction. Findings showed that BSA could protect blueberry anthocyanins against degradation and retain their antioxidant activity at an ideal concentration of 0.15 mg/mL under three deteriorating treatments: illumination, vitamin C + illumination, and sucrose + illumination. The fluorescence and UV absorption spectra showed that malvidin-3-o-galactoside (M3G), the major monomer in blueberry anthocyanins, led to a static quenching of BSA and the binding site of M3G to BSA was approximately one. Further, the interaction was a spontaneous process with electrostatic interactions being the main force. CD spectra and synchronous fluorescence spectra presented alterations in the secondary structure and microenvironment of Trp and Tyr residues of BSA, respectively, upon interaction with M3G. Finally, molecular docking analysis showed that M3G mainly bound the II and III domains of BSA by hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interaction. In conclusion, our study highlights the protective effects of BSA on the stability and anti-oxidant activity of blueberry anthocyanins and their interaction analysis. Unlabelled Image • BSA protects blueberry anthocyanins against the degradation and loss of antioxidant capacity under illumination treatments. • Interaction between M3G and BSA is spontaneous and mainly attributed to electrostatic forces. • Secondary structural and microenvironments around tyrosine and tryptophan residues of BSA are influenced by M3G. • Molecular docking shows that M3G mainly bound II and III domains of BSA by hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Micro-droplet electrohydrodynamic deformations under multi-physics fields were experimentally studied. • A comprehensive micro-droplet deformation database was established for deep learning modeling. • Both DNN and DeepFM algorithms for micro-droplet deformation were leveraged and compared. • The DNN algorithm demonstrates a better universal prediction (relative errors within ±8 %). • The proposed method pioneers small-sample modeling problems in multi-phase fluids. Micro-droplet electro-hydrodynamic deformations under combined shear flow and electric fields were investigated experimentally where droplet deformation mechanisms were revealed. Here two deep learning algorithms (DNN and DeepFM) were applied for better prediction accuracy in deformation characteristics (deformation parameter D and tilt angle ϕ). The DNN model showed better universal predicting accuracy (verified not for our experimental data but for data from previous publications). Specifically, the majority of DNN-based predictions were within a relative error of ±8 %, gaining a major superiority compared with previous prediction models. Additionally, the use of a unique smart-sized training dataset for high accuracy without a large-scale data pool is another innovation, pioneering the deep-learning-based high-accuracy small-sample modeling. Considering the low accuracy from traditional models and the reduction in data scale requirement of the deep-learning-based method developed here, such a method can be extended to other complex multiphysics-controlled microfluidic droplet modeling in chemical and thermo-fluid engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenols are known for their various health benefits. Blueberries are dietary sources of polyphenols with reported health benefits. However, the role of blueberry polyphenols in alleviating obesity is not completely understood. This study investigated the potential positive effect of blueberry polyphenol extract (PPE) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in C57BL/6 J mice by modulation of the gut microbiota. Four-week-old C57BL/6 J mice were fed a normal-fat diet or HFD with or without PPE or Orlistat for 12 weeks. Mice fed HFD exhibited increased body weight and adipose tissue weight and disordered lipid metabolism. In contrast, PPE inhibited body weight gain and returned lipid metabolism to normal. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the fecal microbiota suggested that PPE changed the composition of the gut microbiota in C57BL/6 J mice and modulated specific bacteria such as Proteobacteria, Deferribacteres, Actinobacteria, Bifidobacterium, Desulfovibrio, Adlercreutzia, Helicobacter, Flexispira, and Prevotella. Orlistat also improved obesity and metabolic alterations of HFD mice and modulated the composition of the gut microbiota. Our findings suggest that PPE, as a potential prebiotic agent, influences the gut microbiota to positively affect HFD-induced obesity in C57BL/6 J mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A space sunlight energy wireless transmission prototype is established. • System coupling effect was investigated theoretically and experimentally. • Aspheric lenses are more proper to condense sunlight. • Optical fibre bending barely affects efficiency, showing flexible energy transmission. • Multiple engineering applications are identified to pursue carbon neutrality. Advancements in spacecraft formation and space solar power plant technologies promote wireless energy transmission among satellites and the Earth. Although microwave-based, laser-based, and sunlight-based wireless energy transmission technologies have been reported previously, none of them have been practically deployed because of major limitations. In this paper, a concentrated sunlight energy wireless transmission system (CSEWTS) using single plano-convex lenses to harvest space sunlight and a single corresponding optical fibre bundle (OFB) to realize flexible energy transmission is schematically developed and its prototype is established experimentally. This system utilizes sunlight as the transmission media to avoid intermediate energy conversion and where energy efficiency can be enhanced compared to microwave-based or laser-based energy wireless transmission. Furthermore, the OFB-based CSEWTS can lighten the mirror-based system, which was developed previously. Various effects of optical coupling, condenser outline in the energy receiver, smog, distance, and bending were experimentally or theoretically investigated. An optimized coupling incident angle into OFB of 18° was attained theoretically and validated experimentally where an improvement of 19.9% in system efficiency was acquired from a wrong angle to an optimal one. Besides, aspheric lenses were experimentally proved to be more appropriate to condense sunlight where a 16.5% − 19.5% enhancement was obtained. In addition, lens coating, condenser outline in the energy receiver, smog, and distance effects were also analyzed. Smog harms energy transmission which casts shadows on its space-Earth application. Energy transmission to a no-cloud area is the only probable option. The developed technologies can also be used in solar sail spacecraft, contributing to global carbon neutrality and clean aerospace flight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]