Dual-Responsive "Egg-Box" Shaped Microgel Beads Based on W1/O/W2 Double Emulsions for Colon-Targeted Delivery of Synbiotics.

In this study, for enhancing the resistance of probiotics to environmental factors, we designed a microgel beads delivery system loaded with synbiotics. Multiple droplets of W1/O/W2 emulsions stabilized with zein-apple pectin hybrid nanoparticles (ZAHPs) acted as the inner "egg," whereas a three-dimensional network of poly-L-lysine (PLL)-alginate-CaCl2 (Ca) crosslinked gel layers served as the outermost "box." ZAHPs with a mass ratio of 2:1 zein-to-apple pectin showed excellent wettability (three-phase contact angle = 89.88°). The results of the ζ-potentials and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrate that electrostatic interaction forces and hydrogen bonding were the main forces involved in the formation of ZAHPs. On this basis, we prepared W1/O/W2 emulsions with other preparation parameters and observed their microstructures by optical microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscope. The multi-chambered structures of W1/O/W2 emulsions were successfully visualized. Finally, the W1/O/W2 emulsions were coated with PLL-alginate-Ca using the solution extrusion method. The results of the in vitro colonic digestion stage reveal that the survival rate of probiotics in the microgel beads was about 75.11%, which was significantly higher than that of the free. Moreover, probiotics encapsulated in microgel beads also showed positive storage stability. Apple pectin would serve as both an emulsifier and a prebiotic. Thus, the results indicate that the "egg-box" shaped microgel beads, designed on the basis of pH-sensitive and enzyme-triggered mechanisms, can enhance the efficiency of probiotics translocation in the digestive tract and mediate spatiotemporal controlled release.

Placenta-Related Parameters at Delivery in Relation to Folic Acid Supplementation in Different Pregnancies.

Folic acid plays an important role in the synthesis, repair, and methylation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Currently, most studies have focused on the effects of periconceptional folic acid (FA) supplementation on fetal development, and there is still a lack of population-based research exploring the association between FA use during pregnancy and placental development. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of FA supplementation in different pregnancies on placenta-related parameters at delivery. The study included 2708 pregnant women recruited from Ma'anshan City, Anhui Province, China, between May 2013 and September 2014. Information on FA use from one month before conception to delivery was collected. Placental length, width, and thickness were measured. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the effects of FA supplementation in different pregnancies on placenta-related parameters. Based on multiple regression analysis, propensity score weighting was adopted to enhance comparability between different FA supplementation groups. Compared with FA non-users, FA supplementation before conception was associated with increased placental width (0.241 cm, 95%CI: 0.052-0.429, p = 0.013) and increased placental surface area (6.398 cm2, 95%CI: 1.407-11.389, p = 0.012), and FA use in early/middle pregnancy was, respectively, related with increased placental thickness (0.061 cm, 95%CI: 0.004-0.117, p = 0.036; 0.066 cm, 95%CI: 0.004-0.129, p = 0.038). FA use before conception could increase placental width and area, and FA use in early/middle pregnancy could increase placental thickness. To confirm the findings, further investigations are needed.

Research progress on Brassicaceae plants: a bibliometrics analysis.

The Brassicaceae is a worldwide family that produces ornamental flowers, edible vegetables, and oilseed plants, with high economic value in agriculture, horticulture, and landscaping. This study used the Web of Science core dataset and the CiteSpace bibliometric tool to quantitatively visualize the number of publications, authors, institutions, and countries of 3139 papers related to Brassicaceae plants from 2002 to 2022. The keywords and references were divided into two phases: Phase 1 (2002-2011) and Phase 2 (2012-2022) for quantitative and qualitative analysis. The results showed: An average annual publication volume of 149 articles, with an overall fluctuating upward trend; the research force was mainly led by Professor Ihsan A. Al-shehbaz from Missouri Botanical Garden; and the United States had the highest number of publications. In the first phase, research focused on the phylogeny of Brassicaceae plants, while the second phase delved into diverse research based on previous studies, research in areas such as polyploidy, molecular technique, physiology, and hyperaccumulator has been extended. Based on this research, we propounded some ideas for future studies on Brassicaceae plants and summarized the research gaps.

Vein hierarchy mediates the 2D relationship between leaf size and drought tolerance across subtropical forest tree species.

Previous studies have observed a 2D relationship (i.e. decoupled correlation) between leaf size (LS) and leaf economics as well as a tight correlation between leaf economics and drought tolerance. However, the underlying mechanism maintaining the relationship between LS and drought tolerance remains largely unknown. Here, we measured LS, water potential at 50% loss of hydraulic conductance, hydraulic safety margin and different orders of vein traits across 28 tree species in a subtropical forest in Southern China. We found that LS and drought tolerance were in two independent dimensions (R2 = 0.00, P > 0.05). Primary and secondary vein traits (i.e. vein diameter and density) explained the variation of LS, with R2 ranging from 0.37 to 0.70 (all Ps < 0.01), while minor vein traits accounted for the variation of leaf drought tolerance, with R2 ranging from 0.30 to 0.43 (all Ps < 0.01). Our results provide insight into the 2D relationship between LS and drought tolerance and highlight the importance of vein hierarchy in plant leaf functioning.

Predicting the Potential Distribution of Oxalis debilis Kunth, an Invasive Species in China with a Maximum Entropy Model.

Oxalis debilis Kunth, an invasive plant native to South America, has already spread extensively throughout various regions in China including West China, East China, Central China, and South China. It poses a certain degree of damage to the local ecosystem and demonstrates significant invasive potential. Utilizing distribution information along with environmental variables such as bioclimate, soil factors, elevation, and UV-B radiation, the MaxEnt model combined with ArcGIS was employed to forecast the potential distribution of O. debilis in China. The ROC curve was employed to assess the accuracy of the model, while the jackknife test was utilized to identify dominant environmental variables and determine their optimal values. The simulated AUC value was 0.946 ± 0.004, and the predicted results exhibited a remarkable concordance with the actual outcomes, thereby indicating that the Maxent model demonstrated a high level of confidence in its predictive capabilities. The potential distribution of O. debilis in China spanned 18,914,237 km2, accounting for 19.70% of the total land area. This distribution was primarily observed in East, Central, and South China, with Guangdong, Guangxi, and Guizhou being identified as highly suitable habitats for O. debilis. Furthermore, it was observed that the distribution of O. debilis is primarily influenced by environmental variables such as the precipitation of the driest month, the monthly diurnal range, the mean temperature of the wettest quarter, and the isothermality. The findings can serve as a valuable point of reference for the prevention and monitoring of O. debilis spread, thereby contributing to the protection of China's agricultural, forestry, and ecological environments. It is imperative to acknowledge the hazards associated with O. debilis, closely monitor its invasion, and prevent uncontrolled dissemination.

Controlled oxidation and digestion of Pickering emulsions stabilized by quinoa protein and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) hybrid particles.

In this study, we prepared Pickering emulsions stabilized by quinoa protein isolate (QPI) and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) non-covalent hybrid particles using ultrasonic emulsification technique and demonstrated lipid oxidation and in vitro digestion process of Pickering emulsions. The interaction forces between QPI and EGCG were characterized using fluorescence spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results indicated that the non-covalent QPI/EGCG hybrid particles were formed mainly via hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonds, and electrostatic interactions at pH 5. Then, the QPI/EGCG non-covalent hybrid particles were applied to modify the Pickering emulsion with ultrasonic homogenization. The rheological experimental results showed that the energy storage modulus (G') was higher than the loss modulus (G″), indicating that the emulsion had solid-like properties. As a physical barrier, interfacial layer fabricated by antioxidant QPI/EGCG hybrid particles limited lipid oxidation at 60 °C for 15 days. At 37 °C, the QPI/EGCG hybrid particles stabilized Pickering emulsions with robust antioxidant interfacial structure limited the lipid digestion under simulated gastrointestinal tract (gastric, small intestine phases). Thus, EGCG and quinoa proteins were more resistant to free radical oxidation and gastrointestinal digestion with the assistance of ultrasound. It provides a basis for better development of food and drug delivery systems by fully utilizing the antioxidant properties of plant polyphenols.

Statistics and Analysis of Digital Information on Vascular Plant Specimens and the History of Plant Collecting in Guangzhou, China.

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of digitized specimen data and relevant literature to investigate the vascular plant diversity in Guangzhou City, China. Specimen data were collected from various sources, including the China Digital Herbarium (CVH), the National Specimen Resource Sharing Platform (NSII), Global Plants on JSTOR, and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Following data standardization, the study identified 41,890 vascular plant specimens, encompassing 248 families, 1563 genera, and 4536 species, including subspecies and cultivated plants. Among them, the native plants of Guangzhou city accounted for 60.6% of the species. The temporal analysis identified three distinct peaks in specimen collection: 1916-1920, 1928-1936, and 1950-1964. Collection activities were primarily concentrated between the months of April and November. The distribution of collected specimens exhibited significant variation among different species, with families such as Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Myrtaceae having the highest number of specimens. Similarly, genera such as Eucalyptus, Ficus, and Citrus were well-represented. The most frequently collected species included Litchi chinensis, Eucalyptus robusta, and Cycas taiwaniana. Remarkably, 21 species had specimen counts exceeding 100. Unfortunately, approximately three-quarters of the species had fewer than 10 recorded specimens. Alarmingly, 1220 species were represented by only one specimen. Geographically, the majority of specimens originated from the former suburbs of Guangzhou, Conghua Delta Mountain, and Liuxi River areas, while other regions had limited representation. In terms of specimen collections, the Herbarium of South China Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IBSC) recorded the highest number of specimens (13,828 specimens), followed by the Tree Herbarium of South China Agricultural University (CANT; 3869 specimens) and the Herbarium of Sun Yat-sen University (SYS; 3654 specimens). The collection history in Guangzhou spans nearly 300 years and can be broadly divided into two distinct periods. The first period extends from the late 13th century to 1949, primarily encompassing the collection efforts of foreign visitors in Guangzhou, and represents the pioneering phase of plant taxonomy research in China. The second period, from 1949 to the present, is characterized by extensive investigations and collection activities conducted by local scholars, with a specific emphasis on native plant resources. By meticulously organizing and verifying information derived from historical documents and specimens, the paper effectively summarizes the plant collection and research history of Guangzhou, providing detailed profiles of the key collectors. These findings furnish reliable historical reference materials for the study of plant taxonomy and diversity in Guangzhou.

Ultrasound-assisted multilayer Pickering emulsion fabricated by WPI-EGCG covalent conjugates for encapsulating probiotics in colon-targeted release.

This study demonstrated the influences of ultrasound-assisted multilayer Pickering double emulsion capsules on the pasteurization and gastrointestinal digestive viability of probiotic (L. plantarum) strain liquid. Firstly, the role of ultrasonic homogenization on the morphology of W1/O/W2 double emulsions were studied. The double emulsion formed by ultrasonic intensity at 285 W had a single and narrow distribution with smallest droplet size. The double emulsion particles were then coated with chitosan(Chi), alginate (Alg), and CaCl2(Ca). The multilayer emulsion after pasteurization and gastrointestinal digestion both had the highest viability at 5 coating layers, but its particle size (108.65 µm) exceeded the limit of human oral sensory (80 µm). It could be noted that the deposition of 3-4 layers of coating had similar activity after pasteurization/GIT digestion. And droplets with 3 layers of coating were the minimum and most available formulation for encapsulated probiotics (L. plantarum). Hence, the results suggest that the use of ultrasound-assisted multilayer emulsions encapsulated with probiotics in granular food and pharmaceutical applications is a promising strategy.

Fabrication of WPI-EGCG covalent conjugates/gellangum double network emulsion gels by duo-induction of GDL and CaCl2 for colon-controlled Lactobacillus Plantarum delivery.

In this study, we demonstrated the role of whey protein isolate (WPI)/(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) covalent conjugates/gellangum double network emulsion gels by duo-induction of glucono-δ-lactone (GDL) and CaCl2 on the digestion viability of Lactobacillus Plantarum powders. We employed a novel one-step continuous cold gelation strategy to product double network emulsion gels. The gellan gum in continuous phase was first induced by CaCl2 to form a gel in a short time. Besides, the GDL was improved covalent cross-linking between WPI-EGCG covalent conjugate Pickering particles or particle-coated oil droplets because of the slowly pH reduction. The first cross-linked gellan gum gels could be more closely integrated into the GDL-induced second gel networks with synergistic role, which promoted the formation of compact and homogeneous networks through hydrophobic interactions and disulfide bonds. Thus, the results provide a promising strategy for probiotic powders encapsulation of double network emulsion gels in oral applications of gel type foods.

Species characteristics and cultural value of stone wall trees in the urban area of Macao.

The stone walls remaining in the highly urbanized Macao area provide a special habitat for plants, repair the fragmentation of the habitat caused by urbanization, and enhance the urban biodiversity. The main object of this survey are stone wall trees in Macao. The species composition, frequency of occurrence and distribution were ascertained, and the feasibility of establishing stone wall tree landscape trail systems was discussed. The results showed that there were 96 stone wall trees in Macao. Among them, 47.9% of the total in the historical center of Macao. In addition, research and analysis on the species composition, life form, frequency and similarity of the associated plants of stone wall trees were analyzed. The survey found that there were 101 species of companion plants, and herbaceous plants had the greatest growth advantage. Most of the companion species were selective and incidental to the stone wall habitat; the similarity of the companion plants in different habitats was less than 0.25, showing that the stone wall was conducive to species diversity. The results of this research aim to explore planning strategies for holistic conservation of stone wall landscape, and provide a theoretical basis for studying the biodiversity of special habitats in Macao.

Purification Efficiency of Three Combinations of Native Aquatic Macrophytes in Artificial Wastewater in Autumn.

Water pollution caused by excessive nutrient and biological invasion is increasingly widespread in China, which can lead to problems with drinking water as well as serious damage to the ecosystem if not be properly treated. Aquatic plant restoration (phytoremediation) has become a promising and increasingly popular solution. In this study, eight native species of low-temperature-tolerant aquatic macrophytes were chosen to construct three combinations of aquatic macrophytes to study their purification efficiency on eutrophic water in large open tanks during autumn in Guangzhou City. The total nitrogen (TN) removal rates of group A (Vallisneria natans + Ludwigia adscendens + Monochoria vaginalis + Saururus chinensis), group B (V. natans + Ipomoea aquatica + Acorus calamus + Typha orientalis), and group C (V. natans + L. adscendens + Schoenoplectus juncoides + T. orientalis) were 79.10%, 46.39%, and 67.46%, respectively. The total phosphorus (TP) removal rates were 89.39%, 88.37%, and 91.96% in groups A, B, and C, respectively, while the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rates were 93.91%, 96.48%, and 92.78%, respectively. In the control group (CK), the removal rates of TN, TP, and COD were 70.42%, 86.59%, and 87.94%, respectively. The overall removal rates of TN, TP, and COD in the plant groups were only slightly higher than that in CK group, which did not show a significant advantage. This may be related to the leaf decay of some aquatic plants during the experiment, whereby the decay of V. natans was the most obvious. The results suggest that a proper amount of plant residue will not lead to a significant deterioration of water quality.

Fabrication and Characterization of Quinoa Protein Nanoparticle-Stabilized Food-Grade Pickering Emulsions with Ultrasound Treatment: Effect of Ionic Strength on the Freeze-Thaw Stability.

The development of multilayered interfacial engineering on the emulsion freeze-thaw properties has recently attracted widespread attention, because of the essential freeze-thaw storage process in some emulsion-matrix food products. In this research, we studied the role of salt concentration on the freeze-thaw properties of quinoa protein (QPI) nanoparticles-stabilized Pickering emulsions. The QPI nanoparticles (particle concentration c = 2%, w/v) with increasing particle size and surface hydrophobicity ( H0) were fabricated by ultrasound treatment at 100 W for 20 min, by varying the NaCl addition (salt concentrations, 0-500 mM). The sonicated QPI nanoparticles with increasing salt concentrations showed higher ß-sheet structure contents and stronger hydrophobic interactions, which were attributed to the decreasing charged groups and particle aggregation by electrostatic interactions. As compared to the sonicated QPI nanoparticles-stabilized Pickering emulsions ( c = 2%, oil fraction φ = 0.5) without salt accretion, the emulsions with salt accretion exhibited better freeze-thaw properties after three freeze-thaw circulations, which might be mainly caused by the generation of gel-like three-dimensional structure and multilayered network at the droplets' interface with smaller droplet sizes. Increasing the salt concentration progressively enhanced the freeze-thaw properties of sonicated QPI nanoparticles-stabilized Pickering emulsions probably due to the inhibit formation of ice crystal by the "salting-out" effects. The results of this study would provide great significance to investigate the role of salt concentration in the freeze-thaw properties of protein-stabilized Pickering emulsions.

Fabrication and Characterization of Quinoa Protein Nanoparticle-Stabilized Food-Grade Pickering Emulsions with Ultrasound Treatment: Interfacial Adsorption/Arrangement Properties.

The natural quinoa protein isolate (QPI) was largely reflected in the nanoparticle form at pH 7.0 (∼401 nm), and the ultrasound at 20 min progressively improved the contact angle (wettability) and surface hydrophobicity of the nanoparticles. Ultrasound process also modified the type of intraparticle interaction, and the internal forces of sonicated particles were largely maintained by both disulfide bonds and hydrophobic interaction forces. In emulsion system, the ultrasound progressively increased the emulsification efficiency of the QPI nanoparticles, particularly at high protein concentration ( c > 1%, w/ v) and higher emulsion stability against coalescence. As compared with the natural QPI-stabilized emulsions, the 20 min sonicated emulsions exhibited higher packing and adsorption at the protein interface. The microstructure of emulsions that occurs is bridging flocculation of droplets at low c (≤1%, w/ v), while the amount of protein particles could be high enough to cover the droplet surface at high c ( >1%, w/ v) with hexagonal array model arrangement. Thus these results illustrated that both natural and sonicated QPI nanoparticles could be performed as effective food-grade stabilizer for Pickering emulsion; however, the sonicated QPI nanoparticles exhibited much better emulsifying and interfacial properties.

Comparative Structural Characterization of Spiral Dextrin Inclusion Complexes with Vitamin E or Soy Isoflavone.

In this study, the preparation and structural properties of spiral dextrin (SD)/vitamin E and SD/soy isoflavone inclusion complexes were studied. SD was obtained from debranched normal maize starch using isoamylases. After fractionation using a novel method of gradient ethanol precipitation, SD was separated into different fractions, among which SD-40 was found to be the optimal host molecule to prepare SD inclusion complexes with vitamin E or soy isoflavone. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and 13C cross-polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) suggested that the crystalline structures of SD-40/vitamin E and SD-40/soy isoflavone were V6II and V6III types, respectively. Small-angle X-ray scattering revealed that the SD-40/vitamin E inclusion complex formed a tighter and more compact crystallite than the SD-40/soy isoflavone inclusion complex. Furthermore, the connection structures of inclusion complexes were investigated by two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy NMR, indicating that part of vitamin E with an alkyl chain was encapsulated in the helix cavity of SD-40, whereas the aromatic ring B of the soy isoflavone molecule was complexed by the helix cavity and screw of SD.

Transglutaminase-set colloidal properties of wheat gluten with ultrasound pretreatments.

The low solubility of wheat gluten limits its accessibility. This work aimed to study the impact of ultrasonic pretreatments on the gelation of wheat gluten. The pretreatments included ultrasound combined with alkali, urea, Na2SO3, with or without the addition of transglutaminase (TGase). The gel strength of wheat gluten was 287g/cm2 after treatment with Na2SO3/ultrasound/TGase. The free sulfhydryl and disulfide bond content was significantly affected by ultrasound treatment. After treatments including TGase crosslinking, the molecular weight of wheat gluten complexes became larger. The network formed by the wheat gluten was transformed into a dense and homogenous structure after the pretreatment with Na2SO3/ultrasound/TGase. The content of random coil of wheat gluten increased. The gelation of wheat gluten could also be significantly enhanced by Na2SO3/ultrasound treatment followed by TGase treatment. Using physical and chemical pretreatments to allow TGase to enhance the gelation of wheat gluten may increase its uses as a food additive.

Transglutaminase-induced gelation properties of soy protein isolate and wheat gluten mixtures with high intensity ultrasonic pretreatment.

Soy protein isolate (SPI) and wheat gluten (WG) are widely used in commercial food applications in Asia for their nutritional value and functional properties. However, individually each exhibits poor gelation. In this study, we examined the microbial transglutaminase (MTGase)-induced gelation properties of SPI and WG mixtures with high intensity ultrasonic pretreatment. Ultrasonic treatment reduced the particle size of SPI/WG molecules, which led to improvements in surface hydrophobicity (Ho) and free sulfhydryl (SH) group content. However, MTGase crosslinking facilitated the formation of disulfide bonds, markedly decreasing the content of free SH groups. Ultrasonic treatment improved the gel strength, water holding capacity, and storage modulus and resulted in denser and more homogeneous networks of MTGase-induced SPI/WG gels. In addition, ultrasonic treatment changed the secondary structure of the gel samples as determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis, with a reduction in α-helices and ß-turns and an increase in ß-sheets and random coils. Thus, ultrasound is useful in facilitating the gelation properties of MTGase-induced SPI/WG gels and might expand their utilization in the food protein gelation industry.

Effects of microwave pretreatment and transglutaminase crosslinking on the gelation properties of soybean protein isolate and wheat gluten mixtures.

BACKGROUND: The integration of soybean protein isolate (SPI) with wheat gluten (WG) crosslinked via microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) may enhance the formation of ϵ-(γ-glutamyl)lysine covalent bonds, because SPI is rich in lysine and WG contains more glutamine. Microwave pretreatment may accelerate enzymatic reactions. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the effects of microwave pretreatment on the gelation properties of SPI and WG crosslinked with MTGase. RESULTS: Interestingly, the gel strength, water-holding capacity (WHC) and storage modulus (G') values of MTGase-induced SPI/WG gels were dramatically improved with increasing microwave power. Moreover, the MTGase crosslinking reaction promoted the formation of disulfide bonds, markedly reducing the free SH group and soluble protein content of gels. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis of SPI/WG gels showed that microwave pretreatment increased the proportion of α-helices and ß-turns and decreased the proportion of ß-sheets. Results from scanning electron microscopy indicated that the MTGase-induced SPI/WG gels had denser and more homogeneous microstructures after microwave pretreatment. CONCLUSION: The effect of microwave pretreatment is useful in advancing gelation characters of MTGase-induced SPI/WG gels and provides the possibility for expanding the application of food protein. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents of 56 wild fruits from South China.

In order to identify wild fruits possessing high nutraceutical potential, the antioxidant activities of 56 wild fruits from South China were systematically evaluated. The fat-soluble components were extracted with tetrahydrofuran, and the water-soluble ones were extracted with a 50:3.7:46.3 (v/v) methanol-acetic acid-water mixture. The antioxidant capacities of the extracts were evaluated using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays, and their total phenolic contents were measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Most of these wild fruits were analyzed for the first time for their antioxidant activities. Generally, these fruits had high antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents. A significant correlation between the FRAP value and the TEAC value suggested that antioxidant components in these wild fruits were capable of reducing oxidants and scavenging free radicals. A high correlation between antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content indicated that phenolic compounds could be the main contributors to the measured antioxidant activity. The results showed that fruits of Eucalyptus robusta, Eurya nitida, Melastoma sanguineum, Melaleuca leucadendron, Lagerstroemia indica, Caryota mitis, Lagerstroemia speciosa and Gordonia axillaris possessed the highest antioxidant capacities and total phenolic contents among those tested, and could be potential rich sources of natural antioxidants and functional foods. The results obtained are very helpful for the full utilization of these wild fruits.