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BACKGROUND: Salted hen egg yolks are less oily and less flavorful than salted duck egg yolks. However, hen eggs have a more adequate market supply and have a broader application prospect than duck eggs. In the present study, egg yolks, plasma, and granules were dehydrated by adding 1% NaCl to simulate traditional curing process of salted egg yolk. The changes in the pickling process of hen egg yolks (HEY) and duck egg yolks (DEY) plasma and granules were compared to reveal the gelation mechanism and the underlying causes of quality differences in salted HEY and DEY. Salted HEY can be compared with the changes in DEY during the pickling process to provide a theoretical basis for the quality improvement of salted HEY to salted DEY. RESULTS: The results showed that both plasma and granules were involved in gel formation, but exhibited different aggregation behaviors. Based on the intermolecular forces, the HEY proteins achieved aggregation mainly through hydrophobic interactions and DEY proteins mainly through covalent binding. According to spin–spin relaxation time, HEY gels immobilized a large amount of lipid and interacted strongly with lipids. DEY gels showed much free lipid and had weak interaction with lipid. The microstructure showed that HEY proteins were easily unfolded to form a homogeneous three‐dimensional gel network structure after salting, whereas heterogeneous aggregates were formed to hinder the gel development in DEY. Changes in protein secondary structure content showed that pickling can promote the transformation of the α‐helices to β‐sheets structure in HEY gels, whereas more α‐helices structure was formed in DEY gels. CONCLUSION: The present study has demonstrated that different gelation behaviors of hen and duck egg yolk proteins (especially in plasma) through salting treatment led to the difference in the quality of salted HEY and DEY. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heating buildings with solar energy is challenged by the seasonal mismatch between solar availability and heating demand. Thermochemical energy storage is a promising technology to overcome this challenge because of its high energy density. In building applications, space requirement is also an important consideration. Therefore, both the storage space and collector areas are important considerations, with only the latter often being neglected in previous studies. This paper proposes a novel two-stage thermochemical heat pump heating system based on the working pair of NaOH/H2O. We demonstrate that this system can work with a concentration difference (70% wt–30% wt) for the climate in hot summer and cold winter regions in China. The energy storage density based on the discharged solution is 363 kWh/m3. With this solar-driven thermochemical heat pump heating system, 35.13 m2 of collectors and 10.48 tons of 70% wt NaOH solution are sufficient to complete a full charge–discharge cycle and meet the heating demand of a single-family house (winter space heating + DHW: 9370 kWh, summer DHW: 2280 kWh). The theoretical maximum storage for solution (discharged + water tank) is 32.47 m3. Compared with the sensible seasonal storage alternative, the collector area is reduced by 12.5% and the storage space is reduced by 59%, with a possible further reduction through optimization. With the potential to be further optimized for space saving, the two-stage solar–NaOH heat pump heating system is an energy-efficient and space-efficient heating system for buildings in the hot summer and cold winter regions of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of Personal Learning Environments (PLE) on the development of self-regulated learning (SRL) skills among postgraduate learners in China. 213 participants, divided into an experimental group (n = 113) using a researcher-designed PLE platform and a control group (n = 100) employing face-to-face instruction, joined a course on International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS). A mixed-methods approach was adopted, utilizing the Online Self-Regulated Learning Questionnaire (OSLQ) to explore SRL experiences, and weekly goal-achievement reports. Results demonstrated improvement in SRL skills in both groups, with the experimental group exhibiting significantly greater gains. Quantitative and qualitative results revealed that participants excelled in goal fulfillment but struggled with time management, help-seeking and self-evaluation skills. The study confirmed the positive influence of the PLE on postgraduates' SRL skills, with implications for online learning design and the potential for PLEs to effectively promote SRL skills in online learning contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation resolution is an active process via specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) to fight invading microbes and repair tissue injury. RvD1 and RvD2 are SPMs produced from DHA during inflammation responses and show a benefit in treating inflammation disorders, but it is not completely understood how they act on vasculature and immune cells in the lung to promote inflammation resolution programs. Here, we studied how RvD1 and RvD2 regulated the interactions between endothelial cells and neutrophils in vitro and in vivo. In an acute lung inflammation (ALI) mouse model, we found that RvD1 and RvD2 resolved lung inflammation via their receptors (ALX/GPR32 or GPR18) and enhanced the macrophage phagocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils, which may be the molecular mechanism of lung inflammation resolution. Interestingly, we observed the higher potency of RvD1 over RvD2, which may be associated with unique downstream signaling pathways. Together, our studies suggest that the targeted delivery of these SPMs into inflammatory sites may be novel strategies with which to treat a wide range of inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to understand the risk factors that contribute to medical device‐related (MDR) nasal mucosal membrane pressure injuries (MM PI) in ICU patients. Background: ICU patients require substantial tube‐based life support such as oxygen tubes, tracheal intubation and indwelling gastric tubes. As a result, there is an increased risk of PI occurrence; however, few studies have assessed the risk factors associated with nasal mucosal MDR‐MMPI in ICU patients. Design: A cross‐sectional study design was performed. Methods: From January 2019 to June 2020, data from 912 patients treated in the ICU of a tertiary first‐class a hospital in China were collected. The occurrence of PI of the nasal mucosa was obtained by nasopharyngoscope when replacing the nasal catheter fixation patch every day. The study methods were followed by the STROBE guidelines. Results: The incidence of nasal mucosal MDR‐MM PI was 10.9%. The degree of nasal mucosal MM PI was mainly grade 1 (62cases, 62.6%), and no grade 4 were observed. The columella (58 cases, 58.6%) was the most common site of nasal mucosal MM PI followed by the anterior septum (18 cases, 18.2%). A high patient APACHE‐Ⅱ score, the disturbance of consciousness, a history of diabetes, days of gastric tube indwelling, hypoproteinemia, fever (T > 37.5℃) and the use of vasoconstrictors were identified as significant influencing factors of nasal MM PI in ICU patients (p <.05). Conclusions: A high APACHE‐Ⅱ score, disturbance of consciousness, history of diabetes, days of gastric tube indwelling, hypoproteinemia, fever (T > 37.5℃) and use of vasoconstrictive drugs were risk factors for nasal mucosal MDR‐MM PI in ICU patients. This study informs on the risk factors of nasal mucosal MM PI that will allow medical support staff to carry out key interventional measures to prevent nasal mucosal MM PI. Relevance to clinical practice: This study illustrates the characteristics and risk factors of nasal mucosal pressure injury in intensive care units, potentially contributing to the prevention of the incidence of nasal mucosal MDR‐PI in ICU patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, several kinds of amino acids were successfully encapsulated in a W 1 /O/W 2 emulsion produced using a two-step emulsification process. Polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) was used as a hydrophobic emulsifier in the oil phase, while gum arabic (GA) and xanthan gum (XA) were used as an emulsifier and stabilizer in the outer water (W 2) phase, respectively. The stability and encapsulation efficiency of the W 1 /O/W 2 emulsions depended on the ratio of W 1 /O emulsion to W 2 phase, as well as the concentration of GA and XA within the outer W 2 phase. A W 1 /O/W 2 emulsion prepared using 2 % (w/w) GA and 0.3 % (w/w) XA in the W 2 phase exhibited good stability and a high encapsulation efficiency (>80 %) for several amino acids. As the hydrophobicity of amino acids and storage temperature increased, the leakage from the W 1 to W 2 phases increased, which can be attributed to increasing solubility in the oil phase. The encapsulation efficiency of lysine encapsulated in GA-XA-stabilized W 1 /O/W 2 double emulsion was over 84 % after 28 days storage at 4 °C. These results indicate that double emulsions may be useful for the encapsulation of amino acids, which may be useful to protect them from their environment and mask bitter flavors. • Natural macromolecular polysaccharides are selected as hydrophilic emulsifiers. • Several kinds of amino acids were successfully encapsulated in a W/O/W emulsion. • The W/O/W emulsions exhibited good stability and high encapsulation efficiency. • Storage stability of the emulsions depended on different amino acids and storage temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Water‐in‐oil‐in‐water (W1/O/W2) emulsions stabilized by protein–carbohydrate complexes were prepared from an inner water phase (W1), an oil phase (O) and an outer water phase (W2). The complexes consisted of heat‐induced aggregates (HIAs) of isomalto‐oligosaccharide/egg white protein Maillard conjugates. The effects of polyglycerol ester of polyricinoleic acid (PGPR) concentration, HIA concentration, W1‐to‐O volume ratio and W1/O‐to‐W2 volume ratio on the properties of the W1/O/W2 emulsions were systematically investigated. RESULTS: At sufficiently high PGPR concentrations (>2%), the emulsions possess a high negative charge (≈−44 mV). The encapsulation efficiency of the emulsions, which was determined by incorporating a hydrophilic yellow dye in the inner water phase prior to homogenization, was relatively high (up to 93%) and did not change significantly during 14‐day storage at 4 °C. All emulsions were fluids that exhibited shear thinning behavior. CONCLUSION: Overall, this study shows that nature‐derived emulsifiers can be used to create W1/O/W2 emulsions suitable for application in the food industry. In addition, we provided a viable strategy to encapsulate water‐soluble nutrients. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the multi‐level cyclic triaxial testing of bimsoils (block‐in‐matrix soils), which are chaotic, mechanically and/or spatially heterogeneous geological masses in geotechnical construction. The cyclic triaxial tests simulate the behavior of bimsoil material under varying number of passing vehicle wheels. It is found that the applied confining pressure alters the stress state of the tested bimsoil and a transmission from strain softening to strain hardening occurs. The bimsoil deformation, strength, fatigue life, and stiffness are improved as the ambient pressure increases. The strain rate analysis reveals that the strong volumetric dilatancy occurs earlier for a bimsoil under relatively low confining pressure. Post‐test CT scanning shows the mesoscopic structural changes inside the bimsoil, including the multiple interface cracking behaviors and crack propagation surrounding the rock blocks. It is suggested that the contact, interlocking, occlusion, and separation among the existing blocks greatly contribute to the volume dilatancy characteristics of bimsoil under high ambient pressure. Highlights: Fatigue failure of bimsoil under multi‐level cyclic loads was experimentally investigated.Strain softening to strain hardening for bimsoil is found as confining pressure increases.Strong volumetric dilatancy occurs earlier for a bimsoil under low confining pressure.CT imaging reveals multiple interface cracking and volumetric dilatancy behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Amorphophallus bulbifer (A. bulbifer) as a newly developed superior konjac variety has the advantages of short growth cycle, high reproductive coefficient, disease resistance and adaptation to humid or hot environments. Because of its good growth characteristics and high konjac glucomannan (KGM) content, A. bulbifer has great potential to be used as KGM resources in food industry. However, KGM from the A. bulbifer flour has very high viscosity even in low concentration, and the gels formed by KGM are easily browning during the alkali-induced process. These shortcomings are key factors that limit its application in the food industry. In order to solve this problem, KGM was modified by citric-acid treatment (CAT), and the effect of CAT on the physicochemical and gel properties of KGM was investigated in this study. The results indicated that the apparent viscosity and ΔE value of the KGM treated with 1.2 M CAT for 2 h were 948.66 Pa·s and 14.55, respectively, which were significantly lower than native KGM in the same variety. Moreover, the CAT did not significantly affect the texture properties of KGM gels. Hence, it will be extremely valuable for developing innovative low-calorie foods favored by consumers and industrial production based on KGM. • Konjac glucomannan (KGM) from A. bulbifer was treated with citric-acid treatment. • Change law of KGM properties under citric-acid treatment conditions was studied. • Apparent viscosity of KGM was decreased under citric-acid treatment. • Citric-acid treatment inhibit KGM gels browning without changing texture property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • P-E NPs improve the lipophilicity of EGCG. • P-E 1.5:1 NPs exhibit sustained release ability in in-vitro digestion. • P-E 1.5:1 NPs improve absorptive transport and transcellular permeability of EGCG. • P-E 1.5:1 NPs demonstrate inhibition of MRP2 and P-gp mediated efflux transport. • The uptake mechanism of P-E 1.5:1 NPs is through clathrin-dependent endocytosis. In this study, we prepared phosphatidylcholine (PC)-EGCG complex nanoparticles (P-E NPs) by solvent reflux method. The physicochemical properties, in vitro digestion, uptake in Caco-2 cells, and bidirectional permeability of P-E NPs were systematically investigated. The constructed P-E 1.5:1 NPs had an average particle size of 118 nm, a ζ-potential of −37.8 mV, and a polymerization dispersion index (PDI) of 0.16. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) of EGCG was 85.0% and the loading capacity (LC) was 24.4%. UV spectra, FTIR, XRD and intermolecular force results indicated that hydrophobic, electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions contributed to formate P-E 1.5:1 NPs. P-E 1.5:1 NPs exhibited first-order kinetics sustained release properties in simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Furthermore, P-E 1.5:1 NPs were able to enhance absorptive transport and inhibit efflux transport mediated by MRP2 and P-gp compared to EGCG. These results indicated that P-E 1.5:1 NPs may be a potential strategy to ameliorate EGCG bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-continuous phase composites of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) interpenetrated with five kinds of open-cell metal foams, Cu, Ni, Fe, CuNi and FeNi, were prepared via emulsion impregnation, vacuum impregnation and free sintering. The microstructure, mechanical performance, thermal stability and tribological behavior characteristics of these materials were investigated. The results showed that the filling efficiency of PTFE was between 76.1% and 98.7%. The developed composites generally exhibited enhanced strength and thermal stability. In particular, their wear rate under dry friction conditions was reduced by 63–95% compared with pure PTFE resin, which was ascribed to the effective transfer of friction heat and the enhanced load bearing capacity. However, their tribological performance weakened in a simulated seawater environment because of the diffusion of seawater in the materials and corrosion of the metal skeletons. • Metal foam-PTFE co-continuous phase composites were prepared and the filling efficiency of PTFE was studied. • The structure-strength relationship of co-continuous composites was illustrated. • The wear mechanism of co-continuous phase composites under dry friction and seawater lubrication were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Innovative use of egg white powder as a raw material to prepare low Phe peptides. • Shearing after pre-heating greatly improved the hydrolysis of egg white protein. • Trypsin combined with flavoenzyme can best release phenylalanine. • More than 97 % of phenylalanine in egg white protein was removed. Individuals suffering from phenylketonuria require foods containing low levels of phenylalanine (Phe). In this research, we therefore developed a two-step enzymatic hydrolysis method followed by activated carbon treatment to remove Phe from egg white powder (EWP). Nine proteases were tested for their ability to expose or release Phe residues from the egg proteins, while nine kinds of activated carbon were tested as an adsorptive medium for removing Phe residues. Our results showed that trypsin combined with flavourzyme released the most Phe residues, and No.4 activated carbon was most effective at removing Phe residues. The percentage of Phe removal varied from 91.71–97.78% and the final mass yield from 230.08–342.45 g low Phe peptide (LPP) / Kg of EWP. The LPP mixtures obtained mainly containing amino acids and oligopeptides (< 600 Da). The EWP-LPP mixture obtained therefore has the potential to prepare medical foods for patients with phenylketonuria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports the cooperative reactivity of rare‐earth aryloxide complexes with N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) or N‐heterocyclic olefin (NHO), showcasing their synergistic effect on the activation of H2 and diverse organic substrates. Reactions of RE(OAr)3 (RE=La, Sm, and Y; Ar=2,6‐tBu2−C6H3) with unsaturated NHC ItBu (:C[N(R)CH]2, R=tBu) isolated abnormally bound RE metal NHC complexes RE/aNHC. In contrast, no metal‐NHO adducts were formed when RE(OAr)3 were treated with NHO (R2C=C[N(R)C(R)]2, R=CH3). Both RE/aNHC and RE/NHO Lewis pairs enabled cooperative H2 activation. Furthermore, RE(OAr)3 were found to catalyze the hydrogenation of the exocyclic C=C double bond of NHO under mild conditions. Moreover, treatment of the La/aNHC complex with benzaldehyde produced a La/C4 1,2‐addition product. The La/NHO Lewis pair could react with (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane and α, β‐conjugated imine, affording an isocyanotrimethylsilyl lanthanum amide complex and a La/C 1,4‐addition product, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) are potential carriers of fat‐soluble nutrients due to their high loading capacity. In this study, egg white protein particles (EWPP) and rhamnolipid (Rha) were used to co‐emulsify oil/water HIPEs to carry curcumin (Cur). The results showed that the Cur loading efficiency, microstructure, protein composition, molecular distribution of protein hydrolysates, protein interfacial adsorption rate and Cur bioavailability were measured. The results showed that, incorporation with Rha was unhelpful for improving loading efficiency of Cur, which decreased from 80.8% to 73.7% at pH 3.8 after incorporation with Rha, due to the decreased viscosity and destroyed continuous interface membrane, while beneficial for restricting coalescence of oil droplets. As studied, Rha could effectively reduce the droplet size to slow down the speed of coalescence and form EWPP–Rha complex to inhibit proteolysis. Finally, Cur bioavailability in EWPP–Rha co‐emulsified HIPE was the highest (40.3%), indicating the synergistic effect of EWPP and Rha promoting the effective adsorption of Cur, related to the increased coalescence stability during digestion and participation of Rha in the micellisation reaction. In comparison, fibrous (pH 3.8) and granular (pH 7.0) EWPP stabilised HIPEs, showed no obvious difference in Cur bioavailability, due to the balance between the interfacial adsorption ability and the digestion resistance of EWPP with various morphologies. This study has important significance for the construction of lipid soluble nutrient 'carriers' with high load and high bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible alginate microgels are widely used to encapsulate, retain, protect, and release bioactive molecules in foods. Encapsulation of food proteins within alginate microgels may be advantageous for certain applications, such as creating controlled release delivery systems or for protection of other co-encapsulated bioactive components. Egg white protein-loaded alginate microgels were fabricated in this study using a simple injection-gelation method. The impact of pH (pH 3, 5 and 7) and thermal treatment (25 to 85 °C) on the encapsulation efficiency, retention, and physicochemical properties of the microgels was measured. Protein encapsulation efficiency and retention was highest at the lowest pH, which was attributed to the strong electrostatic attraction between the cationic egg white proteins and anionic alginate. Thermal treatment of the egg white proteins before microgel formation enhanced their encapsulation and retention, which was attributed to an increase in their physical dimensions due to unfolding and aggregation. As a result, it was more difficult for them to diffuse through the pores in the alginate microgels. The information obtained in this study may facilitate the design of more effective protein-loaded alginate microgels for food and other applications. Unlabelled Image • Egg white protein-loaded alginate microgel was fabricated using injection method. • Egg white protein encapsulation efficiency was highest at the lowest studied pH. • Protein retention increased and protein release decreased with decreasing pH. • Thermal treatment of protein solution enhanced their encapsulation and retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lung bacterial infections could result in acute lung inflammation/injury (ALI) that propagates to its severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ADRS) leading to the death. The molecular mechanism of ALI is associated with bacterial invasion and the host inflammation response. Here, we proposed a novel strategy to specifically target both bacteria and inflammatory pathways by co-loading of antibiotics (azlocillin, AZ) and anti-inflammatory agents (methylprednisolone sodium, MPS) in neutrophil nanovesicles. We found that cholesterol infilling in the membrane of nanovesicles can maintain a pH gradient between intra-vesicles and outer-vesicles, so we remotely loaded both AZ and MPS in single nanovesicles. The results showed that loading efficiency of both drugs can achieve more than 30% (w/w), and delivery of both drugs using nanovesicles accelerated bacterial clearance and resolved inflammation responses, thus preventing the potential lung damage due to infections. Our studies show that remote loading of multiple drugs in neutrophil nanovesicles which specifically target the infectious lung could be translational to treat ARDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) with its versatility has exhibited tremendous superiority in drug delivery. Despite plenty of researches on MWNT based delivery systems, precision-guided assistances to maximize their profitable properties are still lacking in substantive progress. We developed here a dual-targeting and co-delivery system based on MWNT for antiangiogenesis therapy in lung cancer which aimed at renin-angiotensin system (RAS) dysregulation by synergistically conducting angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT 1 R) and type 2 receptor (AT 2 R) pathway. In this work, iRGD peptide connected to polyethyleneimine (PEI) was linked to MWNT skeleton, accompanying with candesartan (CD) conjugated to MWNT mediated by cystamine (SS). The functionalized MWNT is assembled with plasmid AT 2 (pAT 2 ) to form iRGD-PEI-MWNT-SS-CD/pAT 2 complexes. iRGD and CD act as pilots for complexes to dually target symbolic ανβ3-integrin and AT 1 R both overexpressed on tumor angiogenic endothelium and lung cancer cell. CD as chemotherapy showed synergistic downregulation of VEGF when combining of pAT 2 and efficiently inhibited angiogenesis. iRGD-PEI-MWNT-SS-CD/pAT 2 complexes greatly appreciated drug activities by changing drug distribution and exhibited remarkable tumor growth suppression in A549 xenograft nude mice. Our work presents that such dual-targeting strategy highly improves the delivery performance of MWNT and open a new avenue for RAS related lung cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar application in buildings is limited by available installation areas. The performance of photovoltaic (PV) and solar collectors are compared in meeting the heating and cooling demand of a residential house using 100% solar energy through TRNSYS modelling of five systems that use air source heat pump and seasonal energy storage as optional assisting technologies. The results show that in a large scale, the PV working with air source heat pump is more efficient than the solar collector system. However, the photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) is the most spatially efficient with an energy capacity of 551 kWh/m2, 10.6% higher than that of the PV. Compared with the air source heat pump heating system using grid power, using solar energy regardless of system formats can reduce emission by 72% in a lifetime of 20 years. Solar energy can become cost-effective if the utility price is increased to above 0.7 CNY/kWh. The results can help in renewable planning in the studied climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algae is a potent renewable source with the favorable characteristics. However, there are still many barriers in the related theory, techniques and industrialization, which lead to the high cost of the algae biofuel. This paper reviewed the process of the microalgae biofuel's commercial process. Investigated the barriers of the technologies especially the energy-extensive part and the pilot scale test which is the crucial part of the process. The policy supports of American, EU and China for microalgae biofuel industry and the effect of them was summarized at this paper. Numbers of pilot scale program has launched in the support of the government and the private investment, while there is still some distance from scale up production. Algae fundamental biology research, co-products’ production to make profits in short term, and support from government are key strategies of algae commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to fabricate catechin-egg white protein (CT-EWP) conjugates as novel food-grade antioxidant emulsifiers designed to improve the physicochemical stability of β-carotene (BC) emulsions. CT-EWP conjugates were synthesized using free radical grafting, and the formation of conjugates was confirmed by electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The physicochemical stability of BC emulsions was characterized by measuring alterations in particle size, ζ-potential and BC retention. The particle size and ζ-potential changed more rapidly at 37 °C than at 4 or 25 °C, however no creaming or oiling-off were observed at any of the storage temperatures, suggesting all emulsions were physically stable throughout the 30-day storage period. Compared to emulsions stabilized by EWP or CT + EWP physical mixtures (no conjugation), CT-EWP conjugate-stabilized emulsions had better resistance to environmental stresses, such as thermal processing and high ionic strengths, which was attributed to a stronger steric repulsion between the oil droplets. CT-EWP conjugates also significantly reduced the degradation rate of BC in emulsions during storage ( p < 0.05), which was attributed to their strong antioxidant and interfacial activities. These results indicate that CT-EWP conjugates can be utilized to develop food-grade delivery systems to protect chemically labile lipophilic bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofuels are important substitute for fossil fuel with the advantages such as susatainablility, environmental friendly and good adaptability. In the last 10 years, biofuels development has been driven by the government policies. Many countries and areas have authorized laws and regulations to ensure the sustainable development of biofuels. By the support of the government, some biofuel projects have been commercialized. This paper reviews the national biofuel policies and strategy plans of the world׳s leading states, the government has provided sustained and cost-sharing privileges decreasing subsidies for the whole process from feedstock, from experimentation to industrialization of bioenergy industry in order to reduce investment risk. As a result of these supports, bioethanol and biodiesel have commercialized in several states, aviation biofuels are developing rapidly in the support of world׳s major airlines and US military. While there is political debate over the impact of biofuels on climate change and food security, it would be a challenge for the policy makers to continue trends of biofuels production while complying with sustainable production requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Research on bacterial membrane vesicles (BMVs) is an emerging topic, and the goal is to address whether BMVs can bring translational tools to improve current therapies. In this review, we provided the updated studies on BMVs including their production, their types, and therapeutic regimens for treating infectious diseases and cancers. We described several platforms of BMVs, such as outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), inner membrane vesicles (IMVs) and double membrane vesicles (DMVs), and those structures were produced from Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria. We also discussed how to engineer and formulate new and novel BMVs using chemical, physical, and genetic methods. For therapies, we analyzed current methods for loading drugs in BMVs and discussed their limitations. Finally, we reviewed several therapeutic platforms of BMVs that have been exploited in improving the treatments of infectious diseases and cancers. Although BMVs offer the promising biomedical applications, it is needed to develop rigorous approaches and methods to generate reproducible and scalable drug delivery systems for translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gel properties and secondary structures of soybean protein isolate/egg white composite gels with different blend ratios and protein concentrations were investigated in this paper. The hardness, springiness and water-holding capacity of composite gels were all increased with the increase in the protein concentrations. When total protein concentration was above 0.03 g mL, the soybean protein isolate/egg white proteins blended in ratio of 1:1 showed higher enhancement in springiness and water-holding capacity. The hardness and storage modulus of gels increased gradually with the increase in egg white in the composite gels. The content of α-helical structures of the gels were increased firstly and then decreased, whereas the content of β-sheet was increased gradually with the increase in egg white ratio. The tendencies of α-helical and β-sheet were in accordance with springiness and hardness of gels, respectively. The microstructure investigations showed that gels formed an even structure with less large particles at the soybean protein isolate/egg white ratio of 1:1, which was related to the higher springiness and water-holding capacity. The relationship between changes in the protein structure and the texture properties could be used to design product systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The novel study is using a complex mixture of ovalbumin–gum arabic. [•] Ovalbumin–ovalbumin aggregates do not influence complex formation. [•] The mechanisms underlying associative phase behavior become more clarity. [•] A large range of total biopolymer concentration is summarized (0.05–3%, w/w). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Previously, it was shown that activated carbon can remove phenylalanine from egg white hydrolysates to produce a low phenylalanine peptide ingredient that can be used by individuals suffering from phenylketonuria. However, the factors impacting the selective adsorption of phenylalanine and peptides to activated carbon is not fully understood, which is holding back the optimization of this process. In this research, two activated carbons with different morphologies and electrical characteristics were used to adsorb egg white hydrolysates with different degrees of hydrolysis. The selective adsorption behavior of the different constituents within the hydrolysates was studied to identify the nature of the adsorption mechanisms involved. The results showed that aromatic amino acids and components with higher molecular weight were preferentially adsorbed. Moreover, the main driving force for adsorption was hydrophobic attraction, followed by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. These results could facilitate the preparation of medical foods for patients with phenylketonuria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Traditionally, chicken embryo eggs are widely considered as an immunomodulatory health product in China and southeast Asia. Besides that, Compendium of Materia Medica, the most famous Chinese pharmacopoeia, has recorded that chicken embryo eggs contributed to the appetite increase and immune function enhancement, especially for the pregnant and aged. Aim of the study: Through assessing the immune efficacy of the chicken embryo extracts on immunocompetent cells, the immunomodulatory mechanism and components were explored preliminarily. Materials and methods: The raw material was subjected to in vitro gastric and pancreatic digestion successively, and then ligarine was added to separate the digested mixture to water-soluble fraction (WS) and lipid-soluble fraction (LS). Employing in vitro cell models, the immunomodulating activities of the extracts on immunosuppressed mouse were examined, at concentrations ranging from 10 to 500μg/ml. The cell experiments consisted of the following experiments: spleen lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 secretion, peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis and NO production. Before cell experiments, Kjeldal method and phenol–sulfuric acid method were employed respectively to determine the total protein and polysaccharide content of WS, and gas chromatography to analyze the fatty acid composition of LS. Results: LS significantly enhanced the spleen lymphocyte proliferation and IL-2 secretion, while peritoneal macrophage phagocytosis and NO production activity were elevated by WS. Both extracts exhibited an immunomodulatory effect with a dose–effect relationship. Conclusion: The findings confirmed the chicken embryo eggs as a potent immunopotentiator on the immunosuppressed mouse, which would be useful for the fruitful application of the chicken embryo eggs to serve as a superior immunostimulatory tonic. Furthermore, the two extracts exhibited a different bioactivity tendency which makes it a significative work to screen the bioactive component for further study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cationic elastin-like polypeptides (CELP) are thermally responsive polypeptides that undergo an inverse temperature phase transition, and the recombinant CELP fusion proteins may be purified by inverse transition cycling (ITC). To obtain high-purity antimicrobial peptide cecropin AD (CAD), CELP was placed at the N-terminus of CAD and the expression vector pET28a-CELP-CAD was constructed. The expression vector was then transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) to express the recombinant protein. After three rounds of ITC, enterokinase digestion and another hot spin, 1.2mg recombinant CAD was purified from 100ml culture medium. The antimicrobial test indicated that the high-purity CAD had strong antimicrobial activity against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CM-CTS) were developed and used as a novel magnetic absorbing carrier for the separation and purification of lysozyme from the aqueous solution and chicken egg white, respectively. The morphology of magnetic CM-CTS nanoparticles was observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). It was found that the diameter of superparamagnetic carboxymethyl chitosan nanoparticles (Fe3O4 (PEG+CM-CTS)) was about 15nm, and could easily aggregate by a magnet when suspending in the aqueous solution. The adsorption capacity of lysozyme onto the superparamagnetic Fe3O4 (PEG+CM-CTS) nanoparticles was determined by changing the medium pH, temperature, ionic strength and the concentration of lysozyme. The maximum adsorption loading reached 256.4mg/g. Due to the small diameter, the adsorption equilibrium of lysozyme onto the nanoparticles reached very quickly within 20min. The adsorption equilibrium of lysozyme onto the superparamagnetic nanoparticles fitted well with the Langmuir model. The nanoparticles were stable when subjected to six repeated adsorption–elution cycles. Separation and purification were monitored by determining the lysozyme activity using Micrococcus lysodeikticus as substrate. The lysozyme was purified from chicken egg white in a single step had higher purity, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE). Considering that the superparamagnetic nanoparticles possess the advantages of high efficiency, cost-effectiveness and excellent binding of a larger amount of lysozyme and easier separation from the reaction system, thus this type of superparamagnetic nanoparticles would bring advantages to the conventional separation techniques of lysozyme from chicken egg white. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hypocrellins, including hypocrellin A and hypocrellin B, are natural red pigments isolated from a traditional Chinese medicine. The present work was designed to investigate the influence of dietary HA supplementations on the colour and emulsifying properties of egg yolk and HA distributions in tissues of laying hens. A Chinese hen breed (black-bone silky fowl) was used. Ninety-six layers were assigned randomly to diets containing 0, 10, 30 and 50 mg HA per kilogram for 21 days. HA concentrations in egg yolk and tissues of laying hens such as ovary, liver, lung, heart, gizzard and breast muscle were determined by HPLC. Dietary HA supplementations improved the colour of egg yolk ( P < 0.05), whereas no significant differences ( P > 0.05) in the emulsifying properties of egg yolk were observed. There was a dose-dependent manner increase in egg yolk HA content in response to dietary HA supplementations ( P < 0.05). The highest HA concentration was measured in ovary followed by liver and egg yolk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy is a recently developed therapeutic option that combines a non-toxic photosensitizer with harmless visible light to damage the microbial cell. Hypocrellin A (HA), a natural occurring lipid-soluble perylenequinone pigment, has gained considerable interest since its anticancer and antiviral activities have been reported. Here, we examined the antimicrobial activity of HA against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium). The results indicate that HA has a photodynamic antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria when CaCl2 or MgCl2 was employed. A loose binding has been established between HA and the organisms. Molecular oxygen is significantly involved in the photodynamic action of HA. Furthermore, HA maintains a photodynamic activity in terms of both types I and II reactions. Our results confirm the potential of HA to be used as a photosensitizer in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hypocrellin A (HA) is a naturally occurring perylenequinone pigment with bright red colour. The inclusion complex of HA with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin was prepared successfully by lyophilization method for the first time. Phase solubility studies indicated that the inclusion complex was formed with possible stoichiometry of 1:1. The apparent stability constants and the thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy change (∆ H), entropy change (∆ S) and Gibbs free energy (∆ G) were calculated in the range of 25–45 °C. The values of apparent stability constants decrease with the increasing of temperature. The thermodynamic results showed that the inclusion process was an exothermic and enthalpy-driven process accompanied with a negative entropic contribution. The formation of inclusion complex was also conformed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry and spectroscopic studies. The inclusion complex showed much better water solubility and dissolution property than the free HA. Therefore, the inclusion complex can be used to expand the application of HA in food, feed and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of industrial egg white powder (EWP) was limited by the relatively poor foaming properties. Microwave treatment was proposed to be a creative and efficient technology to improve the functionality of EWP. This study focused on the physicochemical properties and baking performance of EWP undergoing microwave treatment at the presence of maltodextrin (MD). The solubility, fluorescent properties, molecular weight and secondary structure of protein were investigated to verify the glycation and structure transformation. The baking performance of the modified EWP was thoroughly investigated by foaming properties, specific volume, water content, microstructure, and sensory analysis. The microwave treated EWP at presence of MD showed smaller particle size and higher surface hydrophobicity than untreated EWP. The result of molecular weight distribution and FTIR spectrum verified the covalent binding of –OH abundant MD on the EWP molecule. The foaming ability of EWP after microwave treatment was increased from 4.84 mL/g to 6.18 mL/g at the presence of MD. The enhanced hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding between protein molecules were the main beneficial factors affecting foaming properties and baking performance of EWP. This study was meaningful for promoting the application of microwave-assisted glycosylation reaction in the functional modification of proteins. [Display omitted] • Microwave assisted Maillard reaction between of egg white protein (EWP) and Maltodextrin (MD). • Glycated EWP was characterized by structural expansion and hydroxyl enrichment. • Foaming ability of EWP was greatly improved after glycation related to the water holding ability. • Glycated EWP showed excellent baking performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short shelf-life of pasteurized liquid whole egg (LWE) has been a technical problem of the industry for a long time, and there was an urgent need to develop relevant methodologies for the control of spoilage bacteria. In this study, the spoilage potential of the selected strains at low temperature and the inhibition of cell-free supernatant (CFS) of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on the representative strains with strong spoilage ability was both investigated. The results showed that some high abundance strains such as Pseudomonas and Microbacterium had the strong spoilage ability which might dominate the spoilage of liquid egg products. Meanwhile, the CFS of the selected LAB had a good inhibitory effect on them, and the result was: CFS of Lactobacillus plantarum 90 > CFS of Lactobacillus rhamnosus 05 > CFS of Pediococcus pentosaceus L28-8. Also, the CFS of L. plantarum 90 had a good bacteriostatic effect on the selected representative spoilage bacteria in LWE in a dose-dependent manner. Combined with the experimental results, it is speculated that this was the result of synergistic action of many bacteriostatic substances such as organic acids and bacteriocins. Overall, this study provides a possibility for the application of CFS of LAB in pasteurized liquid egg products to extend the shelf-life. • Spoilage potential of psychrophilic bacteria from liquid whole egg was evaluated. • Pseudomonas and Microbacterium were the dominant spoilage bacteria in LWE. • CFS of L. plantarum 90 inhibited Pseudomonas and Microbacterium in LWE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the adult rheumatology workforce in the United States, assess change in rheumatology providers over time, and identify variation in rheumatology practice characteristics. Methods: Using national Medicare claims data from 2006 to 2020, clinically active rheumatology physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) were identified. Each calendar year was used for inclusion, exclusion, and analysis, and providers were determined to be entering, exiting, or stable based upon presence or absence in the prior or subsequent years of data. Characteristics (age, gender, practice type, rural, and region) of rheumatologists were determined for 2019 and in mutually exclusive study periods from 2009 to 2011, 2012 to 2015, and 2016 to 2019. The location of rheumatology practice was determined by billing tax identification and mapped. Demographics of physicians exiting or entering the rheumatology workforce were compared separately to those stable by logistic regression. Results: The clinically active adult rheumatology workforce identified in US Medicare in 2019 was 5,667 rheumatologists and 379 APPs. From 2009 to 2020, the number of rheumatologists increased 23% and the number of APPs increased 141%. There was an increase in female rheumatologists over time, rising to 43% in 2019. Women and those employed by a health care system were more likely to exit, and those in a small practice or in the South were less likely to exit. Conclusion: The overall number of clinically active rheumatology providers grew more than 20% over the last decade to a high of 6,036 in 2020, although this rate of growth appears to be flattening off in later years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The rapid shell‐less curing method significantly simplifies the processing cycle of salted egg yolks (SEYs). However, differences in flavour attributes between rapidly cured SEYs and traditionally cured SEYs have yet to be clearly established. Herein, a comprehensive evaluation of the volatile compounds in SEYs using HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS and HS‐GC‐IMS aims to delineate the flavour characteristics under varying preparation methods. Despite reduced oil exudation, the rapid salting process resulted in higher levels of free amino acids than the traditional approach. Hexanal, nonanal, 1‐octen‐3‐ol, 2‐pentyl‐furan, phenylacetaldehyde, benzaldehyde, 2‐octenal, and 2,5‐dimethyl‐pyrazine were identified as significant contributors to the SEY flavour profile. Conversely, salted hen egg yolks contained methional, decanal and 2‐methyl‐pyrimidine; whereas salted duck egg yolks presented with (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal, 2,6‐diethyl‐pyrazine and nonanoic acid. Principal component analysis of the E‐nose revealed that the aroma profile of rapid curing (SHY‐R25) was more similar to that of traditional curing (SHY). The rapid preparation technology presented a viable alternative to traditional pickling, capable of partially replicating the flavour of traditional salted egg yolks within a single day. These findings contributed to a more scientific application and preparation of SEY flavouring bases, providing a theoretical basis for flavour enhancement and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin is a lipophilic polyphenol with poor solubility and stability. This review summarizes the structural and physicochemical characteristics of curcumin and explores the various carrier materials to achieve nanocurcumin, with a view to elucidating their respective advantages and drawbacks. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the applications of curcumin in different food products, ranging from milk products and beverages to meat products and dressings. By highlighting these applications, this review offers invaluable insights into the potential for incorporating curcumin into a diverse range of food items, thereby capitalizing on its health-promoting properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Innovative flavoring enhancer method by enzyme hydrolysis and microwave irradiation. • Oil exudation and lipid oxidation in egg yolk were induced by microwave irradiation. • Lipids exudation, oxidation and interaction with amino acids account for flavor formation. • Hexanal, Heptanal, Benzaldehyde and 2-Pentylfuran were related with salted egg yolk flavor. The salted egg yolk (SEY) is very popular in China for its pleasant flavor and texture. However, the long production cycle of traditional pickling and the waste of salted egg white had limited its industrialization. To solve these problems, a salted egg yolk flavoring was generated through enzymatic hydrolysis and microwave irradiation from fresh egg yolk in this study. The combination of enzymatic hydrolysis and microwave irradiation could force water and lipids in egg yolk to migrate out, and lead to lipid oxidation in high temperature. Lipid oxidation and Strecker degradation were defined as the major pathways of flavor generation. Among the generated volatile compounds, Hexanal , Heptanal , Benzaldehyde and 2-Pentyl-furan were supposed closely related to SEY flavor. This method could be used as an alternative method for the production of salted egg yolk. Furthermore, it could provide a foundation for further investigation of egg yolk containing flavor system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutrophils and macrophages are major components of innate systems, playing central roles in inflammation responses to infections and tissue injury. If they are out of control, inflammation responses can cause the pathogenesis of a wide range of diseases, such as inflammatory disorders and autoimmune diseases. Precisely regulating the functions of neutrophils and macrophages in vivo is a potential strategy to develop immunotherapies to treat inflammatory diseases. Advances in nanotechnology have enabled us to design nanoparticles capable of targeting neutrophils or macrophages in vivo. This review discusses the current status of how nanoparticles specifically target neutrophils or macrophages and how they manipulate leukocyte functions to inhibit their activation for inflammation resolution or to restore their defense ability for pathogen clearance. Finally, we present a novel concept of hijacking leukocytes to deliver nanotherapeutics across the blood vessel barrier. This review highlights the challenges and opportunities in developing nanotherapeutics to target leukocytes for improved treatment of inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the method of subcritical fluid-propane extraction (SPE) used to coproduce egg yolk oil (EYO) and low-fat egg yolk powder from spray-dried egg yolk powder (EYP) was investigated. Results showed that the optimum parameters were: extraction temperature of 313.15 K, extraction time of 120 min, and solid-liquid ratio of 1:9 (g/mL). Under this condition, the residual oil rate of EYP was 21.04%, which was much lower than that of ethanol extraction (39.24%). Scanning electron microscopy reveled that serious disruptions of egg yolk sphere extracted by SPE were observed, facilitating the EYO extraction. In addition, oil extracted by SPE had lower acid value and peroxide value than that of ethanol extraction. Moreover, the emulsifying properties and solubility of low-fat EYP obtained by SPE were similar to the original egg yolk powder. This study provides a new technique for coproducing high-quality oil and protein. Image 1 • SPE was used to coproduce yolk oil and low-fat dried egg yolk powder. • Yolk sphere was severely damaged and released more lipids under SPE. • Compared to ethanol extraction, EYO extracted by SPE had better oil quality. • The emulsifying properties and solubility of LYP-P were similar to OYP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeking safe and environmentally friendly natural immunomodulators is a pressing requirement of humanity. This study investigated the differential binding characteristics of two polar polyphenols (PP), namely epicatechin (EC) and chlorogenic acid (CA), to ovotransferrin (OVT), and explored the relationship between structural transformations and immunomodulatory activity of OVT-PP complexes. Results showed that CA exhibited a stronger affinity for OVT than EC, mainly driven by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. Complexation-induced conformational variations in OVT, including static fluorescence quenching, increased microenvironment polarity surrounding tryptophan and tyrosine residues, and the transition from disordered α -helix to stable β -sheet. Furthermore, the structural conformation transformation of OVT-PP complexes facilitated the enhancement of immunomodulatory activity, with the OVT-CA (10:2) complex demonstrating the best immunomodulatory activity. Principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson correlation analysis revealed the immunomodulatory activities of the OVT-PP complexes were influenced by surface hydrophobicity (negatively correlated), β -sheet percentage and polyphenol binding constants. It could be inferred that PP complexation increased the surface polarity of OVT, consequently enhancing its immunomodulatory activity by promoting cell membrane affinity and antigen recognition. This study provides valuable guidance for effectively utilizing polyphenol-protein complexes in enhancing immunomodulatory activity. [Display omitted] • Epicatechin (EC) and chlorogenic acid (CA) non-covalently bound with ovotransferrin (OVT) • CA had a stronger affinity toward OVT than EC, driven by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals force. • Complexation induced conformational variations in OVT and improved immunomodulatory activity. • The immunomodulatory activity was most influenced by the hydrophobicity of OVT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a form of dementia that frequently displays significant visual dysfunction and relatively preserved cognitive and executive functions, thus hindering early diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to investigate possible fundus markers in PCA patients and compare them with those of typical Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients to seek potential diagnostic patterns. Methods: Age-matched PCA and AD patients and healthy controls (HC) completed optometry, intraocular pressure measurement, neuropsychologic assessments, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) examination in one visit. Overall, six outcomes of thicknesses of various retinal layers and seven outcomes of the retinal microvascular network were calculated. After adjusting for age, sex, and years of education, the OCT and OCTA results were analyzed using analysis of covariance and generalized linear models. Correlation analyses were performed using Spearman correlation, and ROC curves were plotted. Results: Twelve PCA patients, nineteen AD patients, and thirty HC, aged 45–80 years were included. Fifty HC, thirty AD, and twenty PCA eyes were available for foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area analysis; forty-nine HC, thirty-four AD, and eighteen PCA eyes were available for OCT and OCTA assessments. PCA patients had thinner retinal nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer + inner plexiform layer than HC in the 0–3 mm circle and 1–3 mm ring. Few structural differences were observed between the AD group and the other two groups. The flow area of the superficial capillary plexus and the intermediate capillary plexus was smaller in the PCA group than in the HC group in the 0–1 mm circle, 0–3 mm circle. MMSE performed better than any combination of optical parameters in identifying AD and PCA from HC (AUC = 1), while the combination of MoCA, retinal thickness and vascular density of ICP in the 1-3 mm ring, with flow area of ICP in the 0-1 mm circle showed the strongest ability to distinguish PCA from AD (AUC = 0.944). Conclusions: PCA patients exhibited similar impairment patterns to AD patients in the fundus structure and microvascular network. OCTA may aid in the non-invasive detection of AD and PCA, but still remains to be substantiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to develop soy protein isolate (SPI) and κ-carrageenan (KC) composite hydrogels as a delivery system for hydrophilic compounds. The pigment of monascus yellow was used as a model. A systematic study was performed to characterize the rheological, textural, microstructural properties and in vitro digestion release profile of monascus yellow of the composite gels. The results of power law modeling, electrophoresis patterns and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed that non-covalent interactions were involved in the formation of SPI/KC composite hydrogels. Compared to pure κ-carrageenan hydrogels, the incorporation of SPI could promote the formation of tougher, more uniform and compact composite gels with sustained-release property. In addition, the release behaviors of monascus yellow entrapped in the hydrogel network can be well described by the Ritger-Peppas mathematical model. Overall, our study provided a promising strategy to enhance the sustained release performance of hydrogels in digestive conditions. • Soy protein isolate modulated the gel network of κ-carrageenan-based hydrogel. • Compact gel network conferred superior gel strength of composite gels. • Firm gel should be responsible for the sustained release of Monascus yellow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Ovalbumin (OVA), accounting for 50% of proteins in egg white, is a kind of high‐quality protein with excellent nutritional and processing functions. Acid heat treatment will induce the deformation and filtration of OVA, endowing it with improved functionality. However, the molecular kinetic process during the fibrillation of OVA and the application of the fabricated OVA fibrils (OVAFs) have not been thoroughly studied and revealed. RESULTS: In this study, the fabrication mechanism and the application OVAFs as an interfacial stabilizer and polyphenol protector were investigated. Acidic (pH 3.0) heat treatment was used to induce the fibrillation of OVA, and thioflavin T fluorescence intensity, molecular weight distribution, and the tertiary and secondary structures of OVAF samples were recorded to determine the fibrillation efficiency and the molecular mechanism. The results showed that, in the initial stage of fibrillation, OVA first hydrolyzed to oligopeptides, accompanied by the exposure of hydrophobic domains. Then, oligopeptides were connected by disulfide bonds to form primary fibril monomers. Hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding may participate in the further polymerization of the fibrils. The fabricated OVAFs were characterized by a β‐sheet‐rich structure and possessed improved emulsifying, foaming, and polyphenol protection ability. CONCLUSION: The research work was meaningful for exploring the application of globular water‐soluble OVA in an emerging nutritious food with novel texture and sensory properties. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Liquid eggs have the advantages of high hygiene security, easy use, and convenient transportation, but their shelf life is only limited to 2~3 weeks. The microbial, physiochemical, and functional properties of pasteurized LWE were investigated in this study to evaluate the quality of pasteurized liquid whole egg (LWE) during refrigerated storage. RESULTS: The tested shelf life of the pasteurized LWE was 16 days when stored at 4 °C. During refrigerated storage, Pseudomonas gradually became the dominant bacterium in LWE following lactic acid bacteria, although the initial number of Pseudomonas after pasteurization was relatively limited (< 10 CFU mL−1). A total of 23 strains, including six Pseudomonas strains, were obtained. The pH of pasteurized LWE decreased with the growth of microorganisms, while the content of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N) increased curvilinearly. The average particle size increased almost continuously until the sample reached its shelf life. The functional properties of pasteurized LWE were also reduced after a week of refrigerated storage at 4 °C when the microorganisms in pasteurized LWE entered an exponential growth period and the TVB‐N content of pasteurized LWE reached its first peak. CONCLUSION: During refrigerated storage, Pseudomonas was the dominant bacterium in LWE next to lactic acid bacteria. After a week of refrigerated storage at 4 °C, the particle size of LWE increased, while the functional properties of LWE reduced. This study provides a basis for extending the shelf life of liquid egg products in future research. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a kind of polyphenol with various biological activities but poor stability and bioavailability. The encapsulation of EGCG in a nano-delivery system effectively improves its shortcomings. In this research, co-assembled nanoparticles of egg white protein, phosphatidylcholine (PC), and EGCG (EW/PE 1:5 NPs) were prepared by antisolvent precipitation to improve their bioavailability. The constructed EW/PE 1:5 NPs had an average particle size of 172 nm, a ζ-potential of −26.1 mV, and a polymerization dispersion index (PDI) of 0.33. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) of EGCG was 88.09% and the loading capacity (LC) was 20.10%. UV spectra, FTIR, XRD and intermolecular force results indicated that hydrophobic, electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions contributed to the formation of EW/PE 1:5 NPs. EW/PE 1:5 NPs exhibited Fick diffusion and sustained release characteristics in simulated gastrointestinal digestion. In addition, the transcellular permeability of EW/PE 1:5 NPs was significantly increased compared with free EGCG. At the same time, EW/PE 1:5 NPs increased EGCG absorption transport and inhibited MRP2 and P-gp-mediated efflux transport. These results suggest that EW/PE 1:5 NPs play a key role in improving the bioavailability of EGCG. Therefore, EW/PE 1:5 NPs are expected to provide a theoretical basis for the design and development of functional foods or dietary supplements that synergistically enhance the bioavailability of EW, PC and other flavonoids. [Display omitted] • EW/PE 1:5 NPs exhibit Fick diffusion and sustained release in in-vitro digestion. • EW/PE 1:5 NPs improve absorptive transport and transcellular permeability of EGCG. • EW/PE 1:5 NPs demonstrate inhibition of MRP2 and P-gp mediated efflux transport. • EW/PE 1:5 NPs are uptaken by clathrin-dependent endocytosis, macropinocytosis, and caveolin-mediated endocytosis. • EW/PE 1:5 NPs significantly improve the bioavailability of EGCG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia among elderly people worldwide. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is the optimal fluid source for AD biomarkers, while serum biomarkers are much more achievable. To search for novel diagnostic AD biomarkers, we performed a quantitative proteomic analysis of CSF and serum samples from AD and normal cognitive controls (NC). CSF and serum proteomes were analyzed via data-independent acquisition quantitative mass spectrometry. Our bioinformatic analysis was based on Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment. In comparison to the controls, 8 proteins were more abundant in AD CSF, and 60 were less abundant in AD CSF, whereas 55 proteins were more and 10 were less abundant in the serum samples. ATPase-associated activity for CSF and mitochondrial functions for CSF and serum were the most enriched GO terms of the DEPs. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the most significant pathways for the differentially expressed proteins were the N-glycan biosynthesis pathways. The area under the curve (AUC) values for CSF sodium-/potassium-transporting ATPase subunit beta-1 (AT1B1), serglycin (SRGN), and thioredoxin-dependent peroxide reductase, mitochondrial (PRDX3) were 0.867 (p = 0.004), 0.833 (p = 0.008), and 0.783 (p = 0.025), respectively. A panel of the above three CSF proteins accurately differentiated AD (AUC = 0.933, p = 0.001) from NC. The AUC values for serum probable phospholipid-transporting ATPase IM (AT8B4) and SRGN were moderate. The AUC of the CSF SRGN + serum SRGN was 0.842 (p = 0.007). These novel AD biomarker candidates are mainly associated with inflammation, ATPase activity, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Further studies are needed to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which these potential biomarkers are involved in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The particle size of EWP nanoparticle increased with addition of curcumin solution. • Ethanol would induce more α-helix transferred to β-sheet during heating treatment. • At pH 3.0, EWP behaved higher loading efficiency than pH 3.8. • EWP nanoparticle can effectively slow down curcumin degradation rate. Abstract This study investigated the encapsulation of curcumin into egg white protein (EWP) nanoparticles. Processing conditions used to formulate the nanoparticles, including pH and the addition of ethanol, were used to control the unfolding and aggregation behavior of EWP. The curcumin loading capacity of the EWP nanoparticles was found to be strongly linked to the structural transitions of the protein during heat denaturation, and the microscopic properties of the particles such as particle size and zeta-potential. Fibrous particles were formed at lower pH (3.0) and were associated with a higher curcumin loading than the granular particles formed at pH 3.8. Ethanol leads to an increase in β-sheet structure, and the formation of a coarser gel structure during heat denaturation, resulted in an increase in particle diameter. The highest curcumin loading capacities were 11.53 and 9.89 mg/g protein (with a final curcumin concentration of 312.5 μM and 268 μM respectively), at pH 3.0 and 3.8, respectively. Encapsulation in EWP nanoparticles was shown to both effectively slow the degradation ratio as well as protect the antioxidant activity of encapsulated curcumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing understanding in tumor pathology reveals that tumor microenvironment (TME), which supports tumor progression and poses barriers for available therapies, takes a great responsibility in inefficient treatment and poor prognosis. In recent years, the versatile nanotechnology employed in TME regulation has made great progress. The nanoparticles (NPs) can be tailored as needed to accurately target TME components by distinguishing healthy tissues from malignancy, and to regulate TME to promote tumor regression. Meanwhile, the emerging microRNAs (miRNAs) demonstrate great potentials for TME regulation, but are regrettably restricted by quick degradation. NPs systems enable the successful delivery of miRNA to TME without the limitation, expanding the application of nucleic acid drug. In this review, we summarized recent NPs-based strategies aiming at regulating TME in different ways, including anti-angiogenesis, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) treatment and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) treatment, along with the miRNAs-loaded NPs for TME regulation. Catching and utilizing the features of TME for NPs design can contribute to reversing drug-resistance, optimized drug distribution, and eventually more efficient cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Reliability of dynamic voting phased-mission systems is studied. • A novel and fast analytical modeling method is proposed. • Heterogeneous components with arbitrary time-to-failure distributions. • The pseudo codes of the algorithm are provided. • Efficiency of the proposed method is analyzed and compared to the existing approach. Many computing and technological systems can be modeled as a dynamic voting phased mission system (VPMS), which performs a pre-specified task in multiple consecutive phases and the number of components available for use n and the number of components required for the system operation k may vary for different phases. In addition to the changing system configurations, the failure behavior of each component may be phase-dependent due to changing load and operational environments. Furthermore, statistical dependencies across different phases take place for any given component. All those factors contribute to the difficulty and complexity of the VPMS reliability analysis. This paper suggests a new analytical modeling method based on multi-valued decision diagrams (MDD) for efficient VPMS reliability analysis. Unlike existing methods that typically require generating the system reliability model in a phase-by-phase manner and assume identical components and static k -out-of- n structure, the suggested approach encompasses a novel and fast MDD generation algorithm that takes behaviors of all the phases into consideration simultaneously, and can be applied to heterogeneous components with no limitations on their time-to-failure distribution types. Examples of VPMSs with different sizes are provided for demonstrating applications and advantages of the suggested approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egg yolk will undergo gelation when it is stored below −6 °C due to protein denaturation and aggregation. In this study, the cryoprotective effects of sugar alcohols with various molecular weights (erythritol, xylitol, mannitol and maltitol) on egg yolks stored at −18 °C were compared, and the corresponding mechanism was elucidated. The rheological and textural properties showed that small molecular weight sugar alcohol could greatly increase the fluidity of frozen-thawed yolk and weaken the gel strength. Smaller molecule sugar alcohol, such as erythritol, had better efficiency in inhibiting the aggregation of proteins during freezing, due to the restricted growth of ice crystals, which was verified by the decrease in the loss of immobile water and crystallization enthalpy. In addition, the dominant interaction between protein molecules changed from hydrophobic interactions to electrostatic interactions in the presence of erythritol. It could be concluded that, small molecule sugar alcohols especially erythritol could more effectively protect proteins from aggregation by inhibiting the denaturation caused by ice crystal growth and hindering intermolecular hydrophobic interactions. • Small molecule sugar alcohol can effectively improve fluidity of frozen egg yolk. • The improved fluidity of frozen egg yolk was related to the reduced aggregation and ice crystal formation. • Erythritol addition could restrict inter-molecular hydrophobic interaction between frozen egg yolk proteins. • The gelation and emulsifying properties of frozen egg yolk were significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]