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Policy politicization is an instrument used by modern states to achieve policy goals. Although politicization can facilitate a policy’s implementation by elevating its priority in the bureaucratic system, it may also create opportunities for the public to question the regime’s legitimacy and to call for broader political reforms. Using empirical evidence from 20 years of official narratives and public intellectual writings on environmental protection, we demonstrate this dilemma of politicization. Our research yields generalizable conclusions not only for environmental policy but also for other policy areas and political contexts, and thus paves the way for a new line of inquiry into governance under authoritarian rule. Methodologically, we demonstrate the potential of machine learning models for supporting qualitative textual analysis and overcoming limitations in data availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively utilize the by-products of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus Pelamis) for the preparation of peptides with lipid-lowering activity, alkaline proteinase was selected from six commercial proteases to hydrolyze dark muscle. An L16 (54) orthogonal design was employed to optimize the hydrolysis conditions, resulting in the production of a high-peptide-content hydrolyzate named KPHs-AL. This hydrolyzate exhibited the ability to significantly reduce TG content. KPHs-AL also showed higher persuasive pancreatic lipase (PL) and cholesterol esterase (CEase) inhibitory potential than various molecular weight (Mw) fractions and other enzymatic hydrolyzates, with IC50 values of 5.14 and 8.51 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, KPHs-AL exerted a combined effect of regulating lipid accumulation in FAA-induced steatosis HepG2 cells, leading to decreased total cholesterol (TC) and total triglyceride (TG). Based on the high binding likelihood and interaction with specific binding sites predicted by Pepsite2, 38 peptide sequences were identified as potential PL and CEase inhibitors. Hence, KPHs-AL holds promise as a beneficial component of functional food and exhibits the potential for anti-obesity effects through the alleviation of lipid accumulation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new cembrane diterpenes, 1,13-di-epi-13-acetoxy launine P (1), 13-oxo-thunbergol (2), isocrassumol B (3) and 7α, 8α-sarcophine (4), together with two known launine P (5) and sarcophytonin B (6), were isolated from the extract of the South China Sea soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, ECD analysis and comparison with literature data. All compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activity and antiviral activity. Compounds 1, 2 and 5 were found to exhibit weak antibacterial activity, while 6 showed strong inhibition activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis (MIC＜0.5 µg/mL). Compounds 2 showed moderate inhibitory effect against influenza A viruses H1N1 with IC50 of 17.8 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fucoxanthin, one of the most abundant carotenoids from edible brown seaweeds, for years has been used as a bioactive dietary supplement and functional food ingredient. Recently, fucoxanthin was reported to penetrate the blood–brain barrier, and was superior to other carotenoids to exert anti-neurodegenerative disorder effects via acting on multiple targets, including amyloid protein aggregation, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, neuronal loss, neurotransmission dysregulation and gut microbiota disorder. However, the concentration of fucoxanthin required for in vivo neuroprotective effects is somewhat high, and the poor bioavailability of this molecule might prevent its clinical use. As such, new strategies have been introduced to overcome these obstacles, and may help to develop fucoxanthin as a novel lead for neurodegenerative disorders. Moreover, it has been shown that some metabolites of fucoxanthin may produce potent in vivo neuroprotective effects. Altogether, these studies suggest the possibility for future development of fucoxanthin as a one-compound-multiple-target or pro-drug type pharmaceutical or nutraceutical treatment for neurodegenerative disorders. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03625284. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02875392. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03613740. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04761406. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The comprehensive pathological peculiarities of Neferine (NEF) have been testified in disparate diseases. But, the functions of NEF in choriocarcinoma progression remain unexplored. The research endeavoured to uncover the anti-tumour action of NEF in choriocarcinoma cells. NEF at diverse doses was employed to dispose JEG-3 and HTR-8 cells, and cell viability assessment adopted CCK-8 assay. After 60 μg/mL NEF management, BrdU-positive cells, apoptosis, migration, invasion and correlative factors were assessed. CHRF expression in choriocarcinoma tumour and choriocarcinoma cell lines was estimated via RT-qPCR. Then, the functions of overexpressed CHRF in NEF-disposed cells were determined. At last, impacts of NEF on PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK1/2 pathways were evaluated. Results showed that NEF restrained cell proliferation, triggered apoptosis and repressed migration and invasion in JEG-3 and HTR-8 cells. CHRF was ascended in choriocarcinoma tissues and NEF repressed CHRF expression in choriocarcinoma cell lines. Additionally, overexpressed CHRF abolished the above functions of NEF in choriocarcinoma cells proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. Further, NEF impeded PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK1/2 pathways via repressing CHRF. The explorations testified that NEF exhibited the anti-tumour action in JEG-3 and HTR-8 cells via hindering PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK1/2 pathways by mediating CHRF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many authoritarian regimes use participatory political reform to maintain control over the societies under their rule and survive global waves of democratization. Recent studies of transitional governance have underscored the importance and intricacy of institutional reform; however, no consensus has been reached on an explanation of the dynamism that shapes institutional reforms under non-democratic systems. Why do authoritarian apparatchiks reform their institutions of governance? How can the varied pathways of these reforms be explained? Post-Deng China provides an ideal laboratory in which to study these issues. Since the 1990s, growing tensions between the Leninist polity and a gradually opened society have compelled local governments in China to test a vast set of participatory reforms. In an examination of three major local participatory budgeting reforms in China, this article maps the main pathways – representation, consultation, and transparency – of these recent sub-national participatory reforms implemented by the incumbent regime, and explores the driving forces that sculpt a reformist model over the alternatives. By introducing an “incentive-contingent framework”, this article sketches out the “repertoire” of participatory reforms in the authoritarian governance of China and suggests an explanatory framework for the variation in the strategies and forms of such institutional innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The growth and reproduction of phytoplankton are controlled by macronutrients. Phytoplankton communities are important indicators of marine responses to environmental changes. Thus, it is important to study the relationships between phytoplankton composition and macronutrient concentrations. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrospray ionization/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (MS) was used for the determination of 13 pigments of phytoplankton taxa. Based on the pigments and optimized formulas for algae biomass conversion, the contributions of diatoms, dinoflagellates, chrysophytes, haptophytes, cyanobacteria, chlorophytes, prasinophytes, and cryptophytes to the total phytoplankton biomass were evaluated. The highest concentrations of pigments were found in the phytoplankton community treated with nitrogen/phosphorus/silicon for 9 days. By monitoring cholorophyll a in eight taxa, the phytoplankton biomass was found to increase in the following order: control>silicon>nitrogen/phosphorus/silicon. Diatoms/fucoxanthin and chlorophytes/lutein were the major phytoplankton present in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Today, with social protests a daily phenomenon in China, the Party-state’s survival hinges upon its institutional capacity to prevent, monitor, process information on, and overcome real and potential challenges. Over the past decade, the Communist Party has consistently stressed the critical importance of ‘stability preservation’ (weiwen) as central to ensuring the longevity of the authoritarian regime. Drawing upon intensive interviews and archival research, this article looks into the stability-preservation system in W County in North China. By exploring the institutional configuration, work mechanisms, daily activities and operational principles of the stability-preservation apparatus in the county, the author seeks to gain insight into the PRC regime’s mythical operations of ‘system maintenance’ and the ways in which the Party-state exerts control over society. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A facile method based on liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was established to determine floridoside and isofloridoside in red algae. Correlation coefficients of the calibration curves were larger than 0.9989, indicated good linearity. Detection limits of floridoside and isofloridoside were 0.05 and 0.20 ng/mL, respectively, and the limits of quantification were 0.1 and 0.4 ng/mL. The recoveries varied from 75.7% to 76.8%, and relative standard deviations of inter-day and intra-day precision were lower than 8.5% (n = 5). The effects of sea level variations in the intertidal zone on the osmotic role of floridoside and isofloridoside concentrations in seven red algae were investigated. It was shown that algae that inhabit higher levels in the intertidal zone contained higher concentrations of floridoside and isofloridoside. The results suggest that the presence of direct sun, exposure time, and temperature influenced to the concentrations of floridoside and isofloridoside due to the osmotic pressure adjustments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new enzyme assay method for screening α-glucosidase inhibitors with rapidity and simplicity was developed. The enzyme-substituted α-glucosidases for this assay was glucoamylase. Samples were spotted or developed on the silica gel plate. The agar solution containing substrate was poured on the plate, and paper impregnated with enzyme was layered on the agar. After incubation, an inhibitory circle would appear around the inhibitor. By using this method, more than 200 strains of marine microorganisms were screened. Among them, three active strains were found to secrete inhibitors in the culture medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local heat transfer coefficients from a flat plate to a pair of circular air impinging jets are investigated experimentally, A pair of well-controlled, fully developed circular air impinging jets at room temperature are used in the experiments. The experimental method in this investigation is the transient liquid-crystal technique. During the experiments, the surface liquid-crystal color distribution of the test plate is recorded using a video imaging acquisition system, and the color information is translated into a surface temperature distribution through a digital color image processing unit. Local heat transfer coefficients art obtained using a surface transient heat conduction analysis. The flow Reynolds number of the jet is kept at 23,000. The jet-to-plate distance and the jet-to-jet spacing are varied in the experiment. Detailed radial heat transfer distributions at different radial directions are obtained and analyzed for L/D = 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. The effect of jet spacing distance (S/D =1.75, 3.5,5.25, 7.0) is analyzed by comparing to data obtained from a single jet with similar flow configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An experimental technique, using liquid crystals and the transient method, was developed to measure in-tube condensing local heat transfer coefficients. Measurements wilh R-l2 inside a horizontal, smooth circular tube is presented. This article describes the experimental procedures used to achieve a step change in the surface temperature with a special valve. The test section consists of a transparent glass tube obserued from outside. The inside surface transient temperature response is measured by a thin layer of choksteric liquid crystals. The color distribution oflhe liquid crysIIJIs is then translated Ihrough a digital color image processing unit into a surface temperature distribution. The local condensing heat transfer coefficients are obtained using a transient heal conduction analysis. Results for stratified flow regime are compared wilh results from the literature. This experimental technique provides a new tool for the measurement of lhe condensing local heal transfer.The technique is applicabk 10 measurements of condensing local heal transfer coefficients inside noncircular passages with plain or enhanced surfaces, which are commonly employed in state-of-me-an and advanced phase-change heal exchangers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]