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To evaluate the fermentation potential of Guizhou’s specialty fruits, the contents of organic acids and polyphenols juices in juices and laboratory prepared wines from crystal grapes, brier grapes, kiwifruits, golden prickly pears and blueberries grown in Guizhou were analyzed and compared with those of commercial wines. The results showed that the contents of organic acids and polyphenols varied significantly among the five fruit juices, with the highest contents of organic acids (72.30 g/L), total phenols (2 457.16 mg/L), and tannins (1 112.84 mg/L) being found in golden prickly pear juice and the lowest values (organic acids 7.63 g/L, total phenols 8.52 mg/L, and tannins 7.45 mg/L) in crystal grape juice. During the fermentation process, the contents of organic acids and polyphenols changed. The content of total organic acids significantly decreased in all wine samples, the contents of total phenols and anthocyanins increased in blueberry and brier grape wine, and the contents of total phenols and tannins decreased in kiwifruit and golden prickly pear wine but did not change significantly in crystal grape wine. Resveratrol was only detected in commercial red wine and blueberry wine at low levels ranging from 0.29 to 5.98 mg/L. Compared with commercial wines, laboratory prepared golden prickly pear wine had higher contents of organic acids, total phenols and tannins, and laboratory prepared kiwifruit wine had higher contents of organic acids. The anthocyanin content in laboratory prepared brier grape wine was the highest, which was two to three times higher than that of all commercial wines. To sum up, each of the specialty fruits from Guizhou has their own unique characteristics in the composition of organic acids and polyphenols, and their organic acid and polyphenol composition change differently after fermentation into wine. This study provides a theoretical basis for the selection of different technological methods such as maceration in wine processing from Guizhou’s specialty fruits and for the design of wine body from mixed fruit juices.

We have determined the interaction strengths of the common naturally occurring amino acids using a complete binding affinity matrix of 20 × 20 pairs of homo-octapeptides consisting of the 20 common amino acids between stationary and mobile states. We used a bead-based fluorescence assay for these measurements. The results provide a basis for analyzing specificity, polymorphisms, and selectivity of inter-amino-acid interactions. Comparative analyses of the binding energies, i.e., the free energies of association (ΔG A), reveal contributions assignable to both main-chain-related and side-chain-related interactions originating from the chemical structures of these 20 common amino acids. Side-chain-side-chain and side-chain-main-chain interactions are found to be pronounced in an identified set of amino acid pairs that determine the basis of inter-amino-acid recognition.

Medicine food homologous (MFH) plants provide therapeutic and health care effects through diet. Thus, a risk assessment system for hazardous ingredient residues is urgently required to ensure their safe use. In this study, the pesticide contamination of six root and rhizome Chinese herbs, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Panacis Quinquefolii Radix, Pseudostellariae Radix, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Codonopsis Radix, and Glehniae Radix, and the risks associated with their intake were investigated. A total of 420 MFH plant samples collected from 22 provinces in China were tested, and 61 pesticides were detected in 413 samples. Multiple pesticide residues were detected in each MFH sample, with contents ranging from 0.0002 to 3.010 mg/kg dry weight. Carbendazim (≥47.14%) and propham (≥40%) were the most frequently detected pesticides. Risk assessment determined by hazard quotients indicated that the risks were acceptable, with no short‐ or long‐term adverse health effects. However, considering the high incidence of residues and the detection of unregistered or even prohibited pesticides, strict supervision of soil quality and pesticide application (particularly cadusafos) in MFH plant cultivation are recommended to aid in monitoring MFH plant quality and ensuring diet and drug safety. Practical Application: Ensure the diet and drug safety of Chinese herbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2D Z-scheme BiVO4/g-C3N4 photocatalyst was successfully synthesized by a two-step hydrothermal/calcination method for overall water splitting. Morphology design to restrain the growth of BiVO4 nanoplates with thickness around 20 nm was achieved by adjusting the pH value and introducing graphene sheets. Then, the BiVO4/g-C3N4 (BVO-CN) hybrid photocatalysts were fabricated with different mass ratios of two components. The structures and optical properties of the BVO-CN photocatalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. In application, the BVO-CN photocatalysts exhibited the catalytic overall water splitting activity up to 15.6 μmol h−1 for H2 production and 7.3 μmol h−1 for O2 evolution under visible light irradiation. A possible Z-scheme mechanism is proposed for the enhanced photocatalytic activity and was further confirmed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. This study demonstrated enhanced overall water splitting photocatalytic performance of BiVO4/g-C3N4 photocatalyst by constructing a 2D nanoplates morphology and shed light on the morphology design of Z-scheme semiconductor materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and synthesis of effective photocatalysts for photodegradation of persistent organic pollutants is of significant importance. Novel CuFe2O4 microspheres were successfully synthesized through a facile one-pot hydrothermal route. The composite CuFe2O4-TiO2 photocatalysts with a heterojunction were then fabricated through a simple mixing and heating method. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed the clear hollow structure of the catalyst, and the TiO2 nanoparticles were attached tightly on the surface of the microspheres. Crystal structures and surface chemical composition of the photocatalysts were confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. The band structure of the CuFe2O4-TiO2 photocatalyst was confirmed using Mott-Schottky measurements and UV-Vis absorption results. As expected, the CuFe2O4-TiO2 photocatalysts exhibited an enhanced photodegradation activity of methylene blue compared to bare CuFe2O4 and TiO2. A Z-scheme system was proposed and the efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs through the heterojunction resulted in the enhanced performance. This study provides an effective noble-metal-free and low-cost photocatalyst, and opens up a new synthesis strategy to construct other types of photocatalysts with morphology design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The β-amyloid (A β) peptide plays an important role in the onset and progress of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, studies on inhibiting fibril formation and thus neurotoxicity of A β could be beneficial for the prevention and treatment of AD. We report a convenient synthetic approach for one-pot preparation of poly-( β-amino ester) copolymerized with the GGLVFF peptide, which is based on the frequently used inhibitor LVFF. The copolymer was found to efficiently inhibit the aggregation and fibrillation of A β42 by using fluorescence assay and atomic force microscopy. Reduced β-sheet formation of A β42 peptide after addition of copolymer was observed by circular dichroism. Furthermore, the cell viability assay confirmed that the toxicity of A β42 for SH-SY5Y cells was markedly reduced in the presence of copolymer. This could be beneficial for AD prevention and treatment and also for the molecular design of inhibitory agents for other amyloidoses. Copyright © 2015 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a long time, people have suffered from uncertainty, complexity, and a low success rate in generating and screening antibodies against small molecules, which have become the core bottlenecks of immunochemistry. Here, the influence of antigen preparation on antibody generation was investigated at both molecular and submolecular levels. Neoepitopes (amide-containing neoepitopes) formed in the preparation of complete antigens are one of the most important factors limiting the efficiency of generating hapten-specific antibodies, which was verified by different haptens, carrier proteins, and conjugation conditions. Amide-containing neoepitopes present electron-dense structural components on the surface of prepared complete antigens and, therefore, induce the generation of the corresponding antibody with much higher efficiency than target hapten. Crosslinkers should be carefully selected and not overdosed. According to these results, some misconceptions in the conventional anti-hapten antibody production were clarified and corrected. By controlling the content of 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) during the synthesis of immunogen to limit the formation of amide-containing neoepitopes, the efficiency of hapten-specific antibody generation could be significantly improved, which verified the correctness of the conclusion and provided an efficient strategy for antibody preparation. The result of the work is of scientific significance in the preparation of high-quality antibodies against small molecules., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Han, Lin, Chen, Wang, Zhang, Wei, Sun, Xie, Pavase, Cao and Sui.)