In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms associated with the stabilizing effects of whey protein concentrate-80 (WPC80) and L-ascorbyl 6-palmitate (LAP) on folic acid (FA). Multispectral ...techniques show that WPC80 binds to FA and LAP mainly through hydrophobic interactions, and that energy is transferred from WPC80 to FA and LAP in a nonradiative form (FA/LAP); The combination of FA/LAP resulted in a change in the conformation and secondary structure content of WPC80, an increase in the absolute zeta potential of the system, and a shift in the particle size distribution towards smaller sizes. The compound system exhibits strengthened antioxidant properties and favorable binding properties. Besides, WPC80 improves the storage stability of FA under different conditions. These results demonstrated that the ternary complex formed by FA co-binding with WPC80 and LAP is an effective way to improve the stability against of FA.
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•FA and LAP spontaneously bind to WPC80 through hydrophobic interaction•The non-radiative energy transfer occurred between FA and LAP and WPC80;•FA and LAP modified and reorganized the conformation and secondary structural elements of WPC80•FA and WPC80 have excellent binding properties and antioxidant properties•WPC80 and LAP enhanced the stability of FA under different storage conditions.
Exploration of lignocellulosic biomass provides a sustainable and eco-friendly route for producing liquid fuels, materials, and chemicals. However, direct utilization of lignocelluloses is limited by ...the stable and complicated cross-linking structure of the plant cell wall. Hydrothermal pretreatment (HTP) is a green and cost-effective technology because it can disrupt lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) linkages, dissolve hemicelluloses and lignin, and redistribute lignin in the cell wall layers without utilization of any chemicals. Thus, HTP is expected to achieve industrial scale in second-generation biorefineries and circular bioeconomies. This review analyzed the deconstruction of lignocelluloses by HTP, with particular emphasis on the formation mechanism of hemicellulose degradation products and the structural evolution of hemicelluloses and lignin accompanying HTP. Meanwhile, the formation mechanism of pseudolignin and its effect on the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose as well as strategies for inhibiting lignin recondensation were discussed.
•Reviewing the hydrothermal deconstruction of lignocelluloses.•Potential degradation products in hydrolysates are focused.•Formation of pseudolignin and its inhibition on enzymolysis are discussed.•Tracking the structural changes of hemicelluloses and lignin during the treatment.•Strategies to suppress the acid-catalyzed condensation of lignin are summarized.
•Rice protein (RP) binding with anthocyanins (ACN) caused fluorescence quenching.•The formation of RP-ACN complexes was driven by the hydrophobic and hydrogen bonds.•The secondary structure of RP was ...altered by complexation with ACN.•A rod-like structure with a high aspect ratio was observed in RP-ACN at pH3.•The functionality and antioxidant ability of RP increased by binding with ACN.
This study investigated the functional properties and structural changes associated with the complexation of rice protein (RP) with anthocyanins (ACN). Furthermore, fractions (i.e., albumin, globulin, prolamin and glutelin) isolated from RP complexed with anthocyanins were examined. The interactions with ACN altered the structure of RP, leading to an increase in the β-sheet and spectral shift of the amide Ⅱ band. Additionally, fluorescence spectroscopy suggested that the hydrophobic and hydrogen bonds were the dominant forces in the formation of RP-ACN complexes. It was interesting to find that the RP-ACN particles exhibited the best functional properties at pH 3, likely due to the specific conformational changes upon interaction. In addition, the combination of RP and ACN increased the antioxidant ability of RP. Overall, this research suggested that RP-ACN particles at pH 3 can be designed to form and stabilize mesostructures such as foams and emulsion, which can lead to health benefits.
Diabetic kidney disease develops in approximately 40% of patients who are diabetic and is the leading cause of CKD worldwide. Although ESRD may be the most recognizable consequence of diabetic kidney ...disease, the majority of patients actually die from cardiovascular diseases and infections before needing kidney replacement therapy. The natural history of diabetic kidney disease includes glomerular hyperfiltration, progressive albuminuria, declining GFR, and ultimately, ESRD. Metabolic changes associated with diabetes lead to glomerular hypertrophy, glomerulosclerosis, and tubulointerstitial inflammation and fibrosis. Despite current therapies, there is large residual risk of diabetic kidney disease onset and progression. Therefore, widespread innovation is urgently needed to improve health outcomes for patients with diabetic kidney disease. Achieving this goal will require characterization of new biomarkers, designing clinical trials that evaluate clinically pertinent end points, and development of therapeutic agents targeting kidney-specific disease mechanisms (
, glomerular hyperfiltration, inflammation, and fibrosis). Additionally, greater attention to dissemination and implementation of best practices is needed in both clinical and community settings.
Structural reforms are currently the key way to achieve emissions reduction targets. A comprehensive investigation of the relationship between structural changes and carbon emissions is essential for ...further policy formulation. This paper aimed to discuss the impact of structural changes on per capita carbon emissions from the four aspects of energy, trade, society and economy, while considering the effects of economic growth and energy intensity. The ordinary least squares, fully modified ordinary least squares regression analysis and Granger causality test were used to analyze the situation of 147 countries and four income groups from 1990 to 2015. The results showed that at the global level, economic growth and economic structure were respectively the most significant positive and negative factors affecting carbon emissions. There was the bidirectional granger causality relationship between global per capita carbon emissions and economic growth, and between global per capita carbon emissions and economic structure. At the income group level, consistent with the global results, economic growth and energy intensity increase promoted the increase in carbon emissions, whereas increasing renewable energy consumption helped to reduce carbon emissions. The influence direction and degree of the remaining three factors differed among different income groups. In addition, the causal relationships among the variables of the income groups except the low income group were relatively complicated. Finally, policy recommendations were offered to reduce per-capita carbon emission through adjusting economic, energy, social, and trade structure.
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•The structural changes were clarified through fixed-point observation experiments.•The distribution and variation of shale minerals were determined.•The chemical mechanism of shale structural ...changes has been revealed.
The interaction between a water-based working fluid and shale causes a change in shale structure, resulting in wellbore instability and greatly increasing drilling costs. On the basis of the black rock samples of the Longmaxi Formation, the structural change characteristics and internal mechanisms of shale hydration are investigated using scanning electron microscopy, fixed-point observation experiments, X-ray diffraction experiments, ion analysis, and energy spectroscopy analysis. In this study, the changes in the microscopic elements during the propagation of macroscopic cracks to hydration were studied and the ion exchange of brine and mineral hydration was analyzed. The results indicate that the interaction between water and shale leads to shale fracture along the bedding plane, the expansion of primary fractures, the generation of new fractures, and the occurrence of a high number of dissolution phenomena. The ion exchange cation precipitation of shale and the fluid is dominated by Ca2+, and the anion precipitated is mainly SO42−. Through the energy spectrum analysis of the whole-rock mineral composition changes and shale structural changes, it is believed that shale dissolution is mainly from carbonatite minerals, such as calcite. While the oxidation of pyrite in the aqueous environment provides a large amount of SO42− and H+ and fracture propagation mainly occurs in areas where non quartz inorganic minerals are distributed on the bedding plane. The intrinsic mechanism of shale hydration structural changes is revealed through the structural changes, mineral composition changes, and chemical reactions present during the water–shale interaction, which is significant for ensuring the wellbore stability of drilling.
The paper analyzes the characteristics of the labor market in Croatia, the changes in the demographic potential of the working-age population, and the structural determinants of the labor system. The ...movement of the number of able-bodied, active and inactive population from 2013 until today, points to a trend of decreasing the able-bodied contingent, economic activity and unemployment of the population, and an increase in employment. The analysis showed that the structural problems on the labor market in Croatia are an insufficiency of educational staff, structural unemployment, youth unemployment, and the mismatch between the supply and demand of jobs. Such characteristics of the work system influenced the movement of the determinants of external migration in Croatia, especially after 2013. Simultaneously with the strengthening of emigration, the number of immigrated persons also increases, so that from 2013 to 2022, their number amounted to about 195 thousand of mostly foreign citizens. We can establish that we are talking about free economic migrations and an increased inflow of labor, mostly unskilled workers, which makes up for the lack of domicile workforce.Structural-selective unemployment in Croatia can be analyzed on a general level according to age groups and according to education, and on a specific level, through indicators of the skills mismatch on the labor market. The total unemployment rate in Croatia has experienced a significant decline since 2013, and current unemployment is the lowest in the youngest working age, and the highest in the age over 40. Compared to 2013, the share of unemployed persons with primary and lower secondary education in Croatia is continuously decreasing, the share of unemployed persons with upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education levels is slightly falling (with frequent oscillations), while the share of unemployed persons with tertiary education is increasing. Problems on the labor market in Croatia have been noticeable after the global economic crisis of 2008 and its high unemployment, and in the last ten years also in the areas with a low level of economic activity of the population and a lack of domestic labor for the functionality of certain sectors of activity.On the other hand, the structure of the emigrant contingent, in which the young and able-bodied population predominates, points to the outflow of labor force of medium and high qualification levels. The review of research on recent emigration confirms the complex conditionality of leaving Croatia, and among the main factors a group of economic ones arising from the macroeconomic situation and structural deficiencies in the labor market stands out. In addition to economic factors, other types of factors are strengthening, which is why the continuation of the emigration of the Croatian population and the immigration of the foreign population are likely to be expected. The isolated and presented indicators and trends point to the complexity of the relationship between economic and labor factors, contemporary migration patterns and demographic characteristics of the resident population, in accordance with previous theoretical and empirical knowledge.
Enzyme cross-linking is a pivotal method for enhancing the functionality of plant proteins, offering improvements in texture, stability, and nutritional value, which are essential for food ...applications. Pea protein is increasingly used as it is not identified as allergenic and has fewer other negative health concerns. However, the lower gelling capacity compared with soybean protein has limited its application in plant-based meat or protein-based products. Thus, this study focused on investigating the effects of transglutaminase (TG) and laccase (LAC) and their concentrations on pea protein isolate (PPI) gelation, towards comparison with that of soybean protein isolate (SPI). Results showed that TG and LAC both contribute to the formation of PPI gels while exhibiting different action ways. As the TG content increased, the particle size of PPI significantly increased from 97.27 ± 4.61 μm to 146.67 ± 9.87 μm at 0.8% TG concentration, whereas the particle size remained constant with increasing LAC content. Both TG and LAC significantly enhanced the PPI gel properties, with 0.4% TG addition resulting in gel strength comparable to SPI and 0.8% TG content increasing PPI gel strength by approximately 4.2 times compared to the control, surpassing SPI. Moreover, PPI with TG treated demonstrated superior effects compared to LAC-treated gels at the same concentration. Water retention of gels increased from 89.37 ± 1.97% to 94.90 ± 3.86% with TG concentration increasing, while it decreased with LAC increasing. SDS-PAGE results revealed that TG promoted the formation of larger aggregates in PPI, indicating that legumin and vicilin were the main target sites for TG, while LAC was inapparent on molecular weight. The viscosity of PPI increased from 36.91 ± 2.32 Pa·s to 70.57 ± 1.00 Pa·s with 0.8% TG, while 0.8% LAC increased viscosity to 61.79 ± 1.32 Pa·s. Hydrogen bonds and disulfide bonds play a crucial role in the gel formation process facilitated by TG and LAC. Besides, TG is also expected to contribute through the formation of isopeptide bonds. These findings validated the potential of TG and LAC in improving the quality of PPI gels and provided insights for the application and development of cross-linking enzymes in the protein processing industry.
A good pea protein gel property induced by TG/LAC and its mechanism. Display omitted
•0.4% transglutaminase or 0.8% laccase improved gelation of PPI, making it comparable to SPI.•Transglutaminase promoted to larger aggregates of PPI gel.•Thin-chain mesh gel of PPI was formed induced by laccase.
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•IDF extruded at different feed moisture lead different physicochemical properties.•Extruded IDF with the most swelling capacity showed highest fermentability.•Extrusion increased ...fermentability and boosts all three SCFAs production.•Extrusion created new niches favorable for Bacteroides spp.
To investigate the morphological changes of insoluble fiber and their effects on microbiota modulation, particularly Bacteroides, rice bran insoluble fibers were extruded at different feed moisture levels (E20, E40, and E60). The physicochemical properties and SEM revealed that E20 exhibited the highest water holding capacity and displayed the most fragmented edges. E40 had the highest swelling holding capacity and displayed the most lamellar gaps. E60 showed minimal change in physicochemical properties but had a rough surface. After 48h fermentation, E40 showed the highest levels of Bacteroides and SCFAs. E20 and E60 resulted in a modest increase in Bacteroides abundance. SEM showed that bacteria were attached to fragmented edges, loosened lamellar gaps, and rough surfaces of the extruded insoluble fibers. The results suggested that Bacteroides gained a competitive advantage within the extrusion treatment created structural changes. Extrusion treatment can be used to generate specific niches favorable for Bacteroides.
It is recognised that the tourism industry is vulnerable to some form of crises or disaster. However, despite the attention given to the nature and consequences of tourism crises and disasters, there ...is a gap in the literature regarding the ex-post detection of these events. In this article, we estimate both the number and date of structural breaks in international tourism arrival series for 25 countries and Madeira Island using the Bai and Perron (1998) structural break test. We compare the date of tourism crises and disasters to the dating of these structural breaks. We observe that tourism crises and disasters are largely consistent with the dates of breaks. Therefore, this method allows us to solve a gap in the tourism industry related to the correct allocation of negative shocks in international tourism arrival demand to crisis or disaster phenomena.
•We study the number and date of structural breaks in international tourism demand.•We use Bai and Perron (1998) structural break test for 25 countries and Madeira.•We fill a gap in the literature regarding the ex-post detection of tourism crisis.•We compare the date of tourism crises to the dating of these structural breaks.•We observe those tourism crises are largely consistent with the dates of breaks.
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