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Temperature-dependent nano SiC obtained from the polymer-derived ceramics method was used to modify ZrC coating by supersonic atmosphere plasma spraying. The crystallinity and grain size of SiC increased with increasing annealing temperatures. SiC annealed at 1400 °C exhibited the lowest crystallinity of 48.4 %, which led to massive re-pyrolyzing gas spillage from the modified ZrC coating during ablation, causing penetrating cracks. SiC annealed at 2100 °C exhibited the largest grain size of 190.4 nm, which could produce locally massive amounts of SiO 2 , accelerating the sintering of ZrO 2 in the coating and leaving maximum residual stress. SiC annealed at 1800 °C possessed a medium crystallinity of 81.5 % and a grain size of 12.2 nm, which was favorable to improve the ablation resistance of ZrC coating for forming fine-grained ZrO 2 scale with minimum residual stress. Our work provides a novel perception of the microstructure-property relationship for ablation-resistant coating under extreme conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the complications of diabetes. Long-term hyperglycemia in the kidney results in renal insufficiency, and eventually leads to end-stage renal disease. Epigenetic factor ASH2L has long been identified as a transcriptional activator, and we previously indicated that ASH2L aggravated fibrosis and inflammation in high glucose-induced glomerular mesangial cells, but the pathophysiological relevance and the mechanism of ASH2L-mediated H3K4me3 in DN is not well understood. Here we demonstrated that ASH2L is upregulated in glomeruli isolated from db/db mice. Loss of ASH2L protected glomerular injury caused by hyperglycemia, as evidenced by reduced albuminuria, preserved structure, decreased glomerular extracellular matrix deposition, and lowered renal glomerular expression of proinflammatory and profibrotic markers in db/db mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that enrichment of ASH2L-mediated H3K4me3 on the promoter regions of ADAM17 and HIPK2 triggered their transcription, leading to aberrant activation of Notch1 signaling pathway, thereby contributing to fibrosis and inflammation in DN. The findings of this study provide compelling evidence for targeting ASH2L as a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent or slow down the progression of DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the ablation resistance of ZrC coating on SiC-coated carbon/carbon composites above 2000 °C, SiC/TiC nanocomposites (SiC/TiC-NCs) powders derived from single-source precursor were incorporated into ZrC coating, denoted as ZrC-SiC/TiC-NCs, via supersonic atmospheric plasma spraying (SAPS). After SAPS, the incorporated SiC/TiC-NCs evolved into TiC/(SiC and Zr x Ti y C) embedded in amorphous SiC. The ablation resistance of the ZrC-SiC/TiC-NCs coating was evaluated by oxyacetylene flames with a heat flux of 4.18 MW/m2. For comparison, the ZrC-SiC-NCs coating without Ti modification was seriously damaged due to rapid gas denudation. The good ablation resistance of ZrC-SiC/TiC-NCs coating is mainly attributed to the distinctive "capsule-like" multi-crystalline microstructure of SiC/TiC-NCs. During ablation, TiO 2 and Zr x Ti y O 2 , due to the oxidation of TiC and Zr x Ti y C, contributed to the formation of Zr-Ti-Si-O glass with high viscosity and low evaporation pressure, improving the ablation resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve ablation resistance of ZrC-SiMOC-based (M = transition metal) coatings, a ZrC-SiHfOC-MoSi 2 coating was investigated. The results showed that the MoSi 2 shell limits the decomposition of SiC under SAPS and decreases pores of the coating. ZrC-SiHfOC coating showed large-area peeling after an Ar-O 2 plasma flame ablation for 90 s. In contrast, ZrC-SiHfOC-MoSi 2 coating revealed low ablation rates after ablation for 360 s, with the mass and linear ablation rates of −0.05 mg/s and 0.14 μm/s, respectively. MoSi 2 provides rich SiO 2 to form ZrSiO 4 to reduce the damage by plasma flame, thereby improving the ablation resistance of ZrC-based coatings. • Core-shell ZrC-SiHfOC@MoSi 2 powders were prepared by electrostatic adsorption and chemical grafting. • MoSi 2 shell preferentially melts during thermal spraying, which effectively protects SiC from direct decomposition. • After 6.0 MW/m2 plasma ablation, the ZrC-SiHfOC-MoSi 2 coating showed low ablation rates of −0.05 mg/s and 0.14 μm/s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) with available chlorine concentrations (ACC) of 35 and 70 mg/L is used instead of regular production water for soaking pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds and spraying the sprouts during seed sprouting. Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) with the same ACC and tap water are used as a control in this study. The population of total bacteria, coliform, yeast and mold are determined at day 2, day 5, day 8, and day 11, respectively during seed sprouting. The biological indicators, nutritive indicators, and nitrite content after the sprouts are harvested are measured as well. The results indicate that when treated with SAEW, the counts of total bacteria, coliform, yeast and mold are reduced by 0.99–1.58 log CFU/g, 0.57–1.02 log CFU/g, and 1.01–1.22 log CFU/g respectively, compared to tap water treatment. Fresh weight, length, and edible rate of the sprouts significantly improve when treated with SAEW (p < 0.05). No evident adverse effects are observed in the nutritive indicators after SAEW treatment. In fact, a slight improvement (soluble sugar, flavonoid) was evident. Moreover, after a storage period of 7 d, the nitrite content of the sprouts was significantly lower in the SAEW treated samples than in any of other treatments. Therefore, SAEW could be a promising application in the production of pea sprouts to ultimately improve food safety. • SAEW effectively reduced the natural microbiota on pea sprouts. • The biological parameters of the sprouts were slightly enhanced by SAEW. • SAEW showed no adverse effect on nutrients of the sprouts, and even improved. • SAEW could be used in pea sprout production instead of tap water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and alternative halogenated flame retardants (AHFRs) were measured in eleven mollusk species collected from the Chinese Bohai Sea. PBDEs and AHFRs were detected in all species, and their average total concentrations were in the range of 22.5–355 and 10.0–84.3 ng/g lipid weight, respectively. Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE) were the dominant halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), contributing 22.5% to 73.6% and 3.1% to 38.3% of the total HFRs, respectively. The levels of PBDEs and AHFRs were moderate to high from a global perspective. Interspecific differences in the accumulation of PBDEs and AHFRs were characterized by heat map and cluster analysis. Composition profile differences were also observed, with higher proportions of AHFRs in gastropods than in bivalves. These species-specific differences in concentrations and profiles in mollusks were attributed to different species traits, including feeding habit, trophic level, and metabolic potential. • PBDEs and AHFRs were determined in mollusks sampled from the Chinese Bohai Sea. • The concentrations of HFRs in Bohai Sea mollusks were at moderate to high levels from a global perspective. • Interspecies differences in the accumulation of AHFRs and PBDEs were studied among different mollusks. • Dietary habit, metabolic capacity, and trophic level were chosen to interpret species-specific bioaccumulation of HFRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is intended to find a more effective farming practice for improving proso millet production in semi-arid regions of China and a fast real-time method of estimating effects of ridging treatments on the growth and yield of proso millet. An experiment was conducted to investigate soil water contents (SWCs), soil temperatures, water use efficiencies (WUEs), growths and grain yields of proso millet in 2014 and 2015 in Yulin, Shaanxi, China. In the experiment, a control treatment (CK, a convention farming without mulching) and six ridging and mulching combined treatments were tested. The ridging treatments mostly improved the soil moistures, WUEs, growths and grain yields of proso millet compared with the CK. The highest grain yields of proso millet appeared in the ridging treatment with hills and furrows plastic film mulched (RHFPFM) in both of the years. Because of its beneficial effects in SWC, WUE and leaf area index (LAI), RHFPFM improved the growth of proso millet and increased its yield by 31.3%-35.3% in the experimental years. These benefits mostly intensified with the extensions of the corresponding mulched areas. The LAI was shown to have close relations with the aboveground dry matter, crop growth rate and yield of proso millet. The LAI regression formulae developed in the study would provide useful information for growth monitoring and yield estimation of proso millet in the ridging treatments. In this study, the RHFPFM was recommended as an effective farming practice for improving the growth and yield of proso millet in semi-arid regions of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yeast protein is a kind of yeast-source high-quality complete protein. The coexistence of bioactive molecules with yeast protein may influence its physicochemical property. This study discussed the interaction mechanism of yeast protein with two bioactive molecules, the hydrophobic curcumin and the hydrophilic epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Results indicated that curcumin and EGCG could interact with yeast protein with different binding stoichiometric numbers (0.8109 ± 0.0695 and 2.7248 ± 0.2422) and binding constants ((3.8152 ± 0.0078) × 104 and (1.1875 ± 0.0440) × 105), respectively. Both EGCG and curcumin decreased the α-helix content while increased the β-sheet proportion, and co-binding remarkably reduced the α-helix proportion relative to the single ligand binding. The co-binding of these two compounds decreased the association extent of the yeast protein, which in turn reduced the diameter of yeast protein-EGCG-curcumin complex. The binding of EGCG with yeast protein improved the thermal stability of curcumin. Moreover, the co-binding improved the emulsification stability of yeast protein, and curcumin exhibited a more remarkable effect in improving the foamability. This work provides a theoretical basis for clarifying the interaction mechanisms of hydrophobic/hydrophilic molecules with yeast protein, and extends the potential applications of the novel fungus protein sources for food function enhancement and bioactive molecule stabilization. [Display omitted] • Curcumin and EGCG bind to yeast protein (YP) with different binding stoichiometry. • EGCG and curcumin cause the structural change of YP by increasing the β-sheet content. • Co-binding of EGCG with YP effectively improve the thermal stability of the curcumin. • Curcumin and EGCG improve the foamability and emulsibility of YP to different extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Trace Sr2+ interacted with MPs and changed the secondary structure of MPs through intermolecular interactions. • Sr2+ promoted the cross-linking of MPs and facilitated the formation of stable gel structures. • Sr2+ could promote the formation of ionic bonds and disulfide bonds. • Sr2+ had a strong interaction with hydrophilic amino acids and acidic amino acid in MPs of sheep myosin. Myofibrillar proteins (MPs) and the quality of meat strongly depend on the properties of MP gels, which in turn depend on several parameters that include the thermal history and the concentration of metal ions. Strontium element (Sr) widely exists in mineral water and is found as strontium ions (Sr2+), which is an essential trace element for humans. This study investigated the effects of trace Sr2+ on the structure–function relationship of mutton MPs, as well as their gels with water. Trace concentrations of Sr2+ were found to significantly alter the conformation of the MPs. An increase in Sr2+ concentration was associated with a reduction in the tightness and strength of the gel and a significant increase in its water-holding capacity As compared to the untreated control sample, the solubility, particle size, and the magnitude of the Zeta potential of the gels increased by 13.03 %, 12.62 %, and 19.73 %, respectively, whereas the water retention capacity and the gel strength increased by 23.13 % and 21.90 %, at a Sr2+ concentration of 5.0 mg/L. Molecular docking predicted an increase in ionic bonds and disulfide bonds because Sr2+ had a strong interaction with hydrophilic amino acids and acidic amino acids. The analysis of molecular forces further verified the significant facilitation of interactions between MP molecules with the induction of Sr2+. As compare to the untreated control group, the ionic and disulfide bonds increased by 141.17 % and 66.94 %, when treated with 5.0 mg/L Sr2+. These changes were likely due to the enhancement of protein–protein interactions caused by Sr2+, which could induce MP molecules to properly unfold and aggregate in gel formation. The results could provide a basis for improving the texture and the quality of meat and meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]