This study developed novel protein-based fish oil oleogels employing protein nanofibrils derived from sodium tripolyphosphate-phosphorylated (STPP) fava bean 11S globulin. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed successful phosphorylation through a P2p peak at 133.3 eV, supported by FTIR bands at 972 cm-1 (P-O stretching) and 894 cm- 1 (P=O vibration). Phosphorylation disrupted the crystalline structure of 11S globulin, increasing beta-turns and reducing random coils as revealed by XRD. Under acid-heat treatment (pH 2.0, 85 degrees C), phosphorylated 11S (P11S) formed finer and more uniform nanofibrils compared to the heterogeneous network of native 11S. Thioflavin T fluorescence showed faster nucleation and higher intensity for P11S fibrils, indicating enhanced fibrillation kinetics. P11S fibrils also exhibited superior emulsifying activity and emulsion stability. Mass spectrometry identified self-assembling peptide segments and phosphorylation sites, clarifying the molecular mechanism. When incorporated into oleogels, phosphorylated fibril oleogel (P11SG) displayed a softer, cream-like texture than the harder 11S oleogel (11SG). Rheological and texture analyses confirmed that P11SG had a lower storage modulus, hardness, and chewiness, but higher resilience and similar oil-binding capacity. Overall, phosphorylation effectively modulates the self-assembly and functional characteristics of 11S globulin. This providing a promising strategy to design protein-based oleogels with tunable textures and enhanced interfacial performance for food applications.

This study aimed to develop a green nanoemulsion system stabilized by soy protein isolate (SPI) to encapsulate Platycodon grandiflorum saponins (PGS), significantly enhancing their stability and bioavailability. The PGS-SPI composite nanoemulsions exhibited favorable physicochemical properties, robust interfacial interactions, and enhanced environmental stability. At a PGS loading of 60 mg/mL, droplets had a uniform size of 295.3 nm and a high absolute zeta potential of 58.17 mV, with an encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 83.64%, indicating strong electrostatic stabilization and efficient encapsulation. The formulations remained stable across neutral to moderate alkaline pH, at NaCl concentrations up to 0.2 M, and up to 70 degrees C. Long-term storage at 37 degrees C for 28 days demonstrated sustained encapsulation retention (64.89%) and delayed lipid oxidation, suggesting excellent shelf-life performance. Spectroscopic and thermodynamic analyses revealed that hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions between PGS and SPI establish a robust interfacial layer that mitigates droplet coalescence and oxidative degradation. These results demonstrate that an SPI-stabilized nanoemulsion is a promising delivery platform for PGS, offering a novel strategy for designing effective, stable, and bioavailable formulations for functional-food and nutraceutical applications.

Osteocytes are long-lived with underlying mechanisms largely unknown. Here, we report that osteocyte-specific knockout of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) results in excessive osteocyte death, proinflammatory cytokine surge, osteoclast overactivation and bone formation impairment leading to bone loss in adult mice. Consistently in MLO‑Y4 osteocyte‑line, CFTR-knockout causes progressive cell death, which is reversed by CFTR overexpression or medium replenishment. A massive proinflammatory osteocyte secretome is evoked by CFTR-knockout, which deteriorates wild-type osteocytes, inhibits osteogenic differentiation, while robustly stimulates osteoclastogenic differentiation in vitro. Patch-clamp/Cl--imaging verifies CFTR to mediate Cl- transport in osteocytes, while Cl--deprivation mimics CFTR-knockout to trigger transcriptomic/proteomic changes, cell stress and death. Additionally, osteocyte CFTR is downregulated in aged human bones; local delivery of CFTR via adenovirus or a CFTR modulator increases viable osteocytes and bone mass in aged mice. Together, the present study reveals a direct role of CFTR-mediated Cl- transport in sustaining osteocyte viability and skeletal homeostasis.

This study explores the development of a novel delivery system for the potent antioxidant ergothioneine (ET) using fava bean globulin nanofibers (FPF). FPF were generated from a 6 % fava bean 11S solution under controlled acid-heat treatment (pH 2.0, 85 degrees C). Increasing treatment duration triggered FPF formation through hydrolysis of the protein into peptides, which subsequently self-assembled. This process significantly altered particle size, secondary structure, viscosity, surface hydrophobicity, and free sulfhydryl group content. Notably, a 24-h reaction yielded FPF with optimal viscosity properties. The FPF-based delivery system was constructed by combining FPF, calcium ions (Ca2+), and kappa-carrageenan (KC) to form a gel matrix loaded with ET. Analyses using advanced techniques like Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed the formation mechanism. Calcium bridges facilitated gel formation through electrostatic interactions between Ca2+ and FPF. Furthermore, the addition of KC promoted crosslinking: sulfate ions from KC coordinated with Ca2+, and electrostatic interactions occurred between FPF and KC. Following simulated gastrointestinal digestion, the FPF-Ca2+-KC-ET composite gel retained its fibrous structure, enabling the sustained release of ET. This controlled release effect was superior to a similar gel formulation lacking the FPF component (FP-Ca2+-KC-ET). In conclusion, this research not only advances our understanding of protein nanofiber formation but also offers a promising approach for designing carriers for bioactive substances.

With growing emphasis on sustainable construction, fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars are increasingly being used as alternatives to steel rebars due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and environmental benefits. This study has investigated the bond behavior between FRP bars and concrete of different strength grades under dynamic loading conditions. To analyze the microscopic properties of FRP bar surfaces, the study employs a variety of techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and non-contact surface profilometry. In addition, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), water contact angle (WCA) measurements, and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) are used to further investigate surface characteristics. The results reveal a direct correlation between the resin surface roughness of FRP bars and their wettability characteristics, which in turn influence the cement hydration process. Pull-out tests under different loading rates and concrete strength grades have been conducted to evaluate the bond–slip behavior and failure modes. The results indicate that bond strength increases with increasing concrete strength. Dynamic pull-out tests further reveal that higher loading rates generate heterogeneous stress fields, which limit the deformation of FRP bars and consequently diminish the contribution of mechanical interlock to interfacial bonding.

Coastal saline dispersive soils (CSDSs), characterized by high sodium content and severe erosion susceptibility, are widely distributed in eastern China's coastal zones, posing significant challenges to the long-term stability of marine infrastructures. This study systematically evaluates the ionic soil stabilizer (ISS)-cement synergistic solidification method through direct shear tests, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) pore structure analysis, and SEM-EDS microcharacterization. The results indicate that the independent application of ISS reduces the strength of CSDS, whereas the synergistic incorporation of cement can enhance its strength by 41 %. Ca2 + substitution dominates ion exchange with CSDSs as ISS content increases, while the effects of Mg2+ and Al3+ diminish beyond 5 % ISS content. When ISS is used in conjunction with cement for solidification, the relative content of free water is predominantly influenced by ISS content, with a critical threshold observed at 5 % ISS. Due to the high content of montmorillonite in CSDS, even a small increase in free water content caused by ISS can hinder the effectiveness of solidification process. However, the hydration reactions of cement effectively consume excess free water, transforming its negative impact into a beneficial one. Based on the findings, a combination of 5 % ISS and 12 % cement is recommended for optimal solidification of CSDSs in engineering applications. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of ISS-cement synergistic solidification and offers a practical solution for improving the durability of dispersive soil in marine engineering.

The Directional Polarimetric Camera (DPC) aboard the Chinese GaoFen-5 02 satellite is designed to monitor aerosols and particulate matter (PM). In this study, we retrieved the aerosol optical depth (AOD) over the Jing–Jin–Ji (JJJ) region using multi-angle data from the DPC, employing a combination of dark dense vegetation (DDV) and multi-angle retrieval methods. The added value of our method included novel hybrid methodology and good practical performance. The retrieval process involves three main steps: (1) deriving AOD from DPC data collected at the nadir angle using linear parameters of land surface reflectance between the blue and red bands from the MOD09 surface product; (2) after performing atmospheric correction with the retrieved AOD, calculating the variance of the normalized reflectance at all observation angles; and (3) leveraging the calculated variance to obtain the final AOD values. AOD images over the JJJ region were successfully retrieved from DPC data collected between January and June 2022. To validate the retrieval method, we compared our results with aerosol products from the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) Beijing-RADI site, as well as aerosol data from MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the generalized retrieval of atmosphere and surface properties (GRASP)/models over the same site. In terms of validation metrics, the correlation coefficient (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE) indicated that our method achieved high accuracy, with an R2 value greater than 0.9 and an RMSE below 0.1, closely aligning with the performance of GRASP.

In this study, oyster peptide sequences with potential inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase were screened using molecular docking. Inhibition kinetics, ultraviolet and fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and in vitro simulated digestion were employed to investigate the inhibitory mechanism and gastrointestinal stability of the peptides NGDAGMV (P-N) and EAGAGGL (P-E) on pancreatic lipase (PL). The results demonstrated that both P-N and P-E could effectively inhibit PL activity, with IC50 values of 3.122 and 5.781 mmol/L, respectively. The inhibition type was non-competitive. P-N can alter the covalent structure of PL through charge interactions, hydrogen bonding, C-H bonds, pi-sulfur bonds, and pi-alkyl bonds. Meanwhile, P-E can efficiently quench the intrinsic fluorescence of PL and change its secondary structure primarily through static quenching mediated by salt bridges, hydrogen bonds, C-H bonds, and alkyl bonds. This study provides a theoretical basis for using oyster peptides as natural PL inhibitors.

Thunnus albacares (T.albacares) is plentiful with a promising research value and application. However, research on lipid-reducing activity and gut microbiota of T.albacares eggs yolk glycoprotein (TGP) remains unreported. In this work, we investigated the potential mechanism of TGP intervention to improve the disorders of lipid metabolism, and regulate gut microbiota in mice induced by high-fat diet (HFD). The results demonstrated that TGP improved the dyslipidemia, liver inflammation, and restored the liver tissue structure caused by HFD. TGP prevented lipid overaccumulation by downregulating the relative mRNA expression of lipid synthesis genes. TGP also prevented differential expansion of microbiota, increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria Lactobacillus and Akkermansia, and decreased the abundance of harmful bacteria Desulfovibrio. Moreover, TGP promoted the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). All the above results provided some theoretical basis for the in-depth development and application of TGP as a functional food for obesity and hyperlipidemia.

Ensuring project safety for maritime geotechnical structures primarily composed of calcareous sand is crucial. Cement-based reinforcement is a promising strategy to enhance integrity and deformability, especially for overlying infrastructures in high-pressure ocean engineering. Firstly, the specimens are created by blending Portland cement and Gypsum into calcareous sand at contents of 16% and 22% and then subjected to curing periods of 7 and 3 days to explore their resistance to loading. Secondly, a triaxial consolidated drained test is conducted, applying different confining pressures ranging from 100 to 1200 kPa. This test aims to assess the mechanical behavior, strength parameters, failure criteria, and stress dilatancy behaviors of treated specimen. The results illustrating the peak shear strength points of all treated specimens display a concave nonlinear shape sloping downwards. An equation is presented to modify the mean effective stress and accommodate the influence of bonding strength. Finally, A revised criterion is formulated by integrating this equation into the failure criterion. Significantly, this refined failure criterion accurately defines the failure envelopes. An equation was established to reveal the relationship between the brittleness index and confining pressure. Additionally, two stress ratio parameters are defined based on the brittleness index to describe bonding degradation comprehensively.

Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) are rich in proteins and a source of valuable peptides. Previous studies have revealed that oral administration of oyster peptides (OP) obtained by simulating gastrointestinal digestion reduced the weight of mice. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms are unclear. We speculate that OP may be able to reduce fatty acid absorption by inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity. Therefore, we investigated the regulatory effects of OP on lipid metabolism in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity. The body weight (BW), fat weight, lipid parameters, lipid metabolism-related gene expression, and serum lipid profiles were determined by MS-based lipidomics. Daily supplementation with 500 mg of OP/kg BW in obese mice reduced their BW gain and organ weights, improved dyslipidemia, and downregulated the genes expression of encoding proteins involved in fatty acid uptake, including acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase 1 (Acc1), fatty acid synthase (Fas), and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (Srebp-1c). Moreover, administration of OP resulted in significant changes in the lipid profile of mice. We screened 129 differential metabolites to identify biomarkers for OP intervention and analyzed the effects of OP on the metabolism of sphingolipids, glycerophospholipids, linoleic acid, and α-linolenic acid. In summary, OP can improve obesity-induced lipid metabolism dysfunctions by inhibiting enzyme activity and regulating fatty acid uptake.

With the increasing utilization of reinforced concrete (RC) beams in eco-friendly and fast-paced construction practices, evaluating their impact performance becomes imperative. These beams are susceptible to unforeseen impact loads resulting from accidents or terrorist incidents throughout their service lifespan. Five groups of RC beams, each subjected to different curing periods, stirrup reinforcement, and drop hammer heights, were fabricated. Among these groups, one underwent static load testing, while the remaining groups were subjected to impact load testing utilizing the drop hammer test system. The failure modes, static response, dynamic response, and energy dissipation of RC beams were analyzed. Static tests revealed that RC beams exhibited a flexure-governed failure mode with top surface concrete crushing, aligning with expectations. With increased stirrup reinforcement ratios, shear and flexural-shear cracks during impact tests decreased, with high impact loads causing diagonal shear failure, severe concrete crushing, additional diagonal shear cracks, and a broader crack distribution. Higher drop hammer heights were found to increase overall energy dissipation, whereas increased stirrup reinforcement ratios resulted in moderate decrease. Specifically, the overall energy dissipation increased with higher drop hammer heights. Conversely, an increase in the stirrup reinforcement ratio was linked to a certain degree of decrease in overall energy dissipation.

With the growing use of steel-fiber-reinforced-concrete (SFRC) beams in environmentally friendly and rapid construction, it is essential to assess their impact performance. These beams may encounter unexpected impact loadings from accidents or terrorist attacks during service life. This study explored the impact of steel fiber content and drop hammer height on the impact load testing of corrosion-treated SFRC beams. Experiments were conducted with varying steel fiber contents (0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1.0%), and drop hammer height (1 m, 2 m, and 3 m). The corrosion test demonstrates that SFRC beams supplemented with steel fibers showcase a diminished surface rust spot area in comparison to those lacking fibers. This improvement is ascribed to the bonding between fibers and the concrete matrix, along with their current-sharing properties. SFRC beams, subjected to impact testing, exhibit concrete crushing at the top without spalling, showcasing improved impact resistance due to increased fiber content, which reduces crack formation. Additionally, different fiber contents yield varied responses to impact loads, with higher fiber content notably enhancing overall beam performance and energy dissipation capacity. Energy dissipation analysis shows a moderate increase with higher fiber contents, and impulse impact force generally rises with fiber content, indicating improved impact resistance.

Fiber-reinforced composite materials have emerged as essential solutions for addressing the durability challenges of traditional reinforced concrete, owing to their lightweight nature, high strength, ease of construction, superior tensile capacity, robust corrosion resistance, and excellent electromagnetic insulation properties. This paper delves into the influence of loading rate and fiber bar type on the mechanical characteristics of concrete one-way plates through impact experiments on such plates fitted with glass/basalt fiber bars at varying drop weight heights. The test results reveal a direct correlation between increasing loading rates and escalating damage in fiber-reinforced concrete one-way plates, reflected in the progressive rise in peak deflection and residual displacement at the mid-span of the specimens. Notably, when subjected to higher impact loads, glass fiber-reinforced concrete specimens exhibit amplified deformation and intricate crack formations, consequently diminishing the overall deformation resistance of the plate. Furthermore, glass/basalt fiber-reinforced composites demonstrate notable vibration damping qualities, characterized by substantial residual displacement, minimal rebound, and rapid decay following vibration stimulation. Overall, glass fiber-reinforced one-way plates display marginally superior impact resistance compared to their basalt fiber-reinforced counterparts.

Calcareous sands often display wide ring grain configurations, high intragranular porosity, a complex structure, and low grain hardness. These attributes typically do not meet the strength criteria necessary to sustain overlying infrastructure in civil engineering applications. This study investigates gel stabilization techniques, blending gel material with calcareous sand at concentrations ranging from 5% to 22%, followed by curing periods of 3 to 28 days to evaluate the load-bearing capacity. Subsequently, an unconfined compressive test is performed to determine the gel material content in stabilized specimens and investigate the influence of gel material types. The gel material-to-sand ratios employed are set at 5%, 10%, and 16% for Portland cement and 13%, 16%, and 22% for gypsum. After that, a triaxial consolidated undrained test is conducted to assess mechanical behavior, pore water pressure, and mechanical properties. The findings reveal increased dilation, stress–strain hardening, and softening post-yield, regardless of gel material type. Principal stress ratios, secant modulus, and cohesion show a positive correlation with maintenance duration and binder content, with implications for improved load-bearing capacity. The study also elucidates the qualitative relationship between secant modulus E50 and confining pressure.

Recent research has extensively investigated the impact behavior of reinforced concrete beams (RC), with growing attention to the degradation caused by corrosion. Despite these efforts, the complex interplay between corrosion rate and impact loading parameters remains insufficiently understood. To address these knowledge gaps, this study examines the effects of corrosion rate and drop hammer height on the dynamic performance of RC beams, which is essential for understanding structural resilience under extreme conditions. Experiments were conducted with corrosion rates of 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, and 20 %, and drop hammer heights of 1 m, 2 m, and 3 m. The study provides novel insights into the failure characteristics, dynamic responses, energy dissipation, and load-displacement behavior of corroded RC beams. The results indicated that higher corrosion rates increased both the number and width of cracks. At the same drop hammer height, the peak impact load decreases as the stirrup corrosion level increases. The energy dissipation shows a positive correlation with drop hammer height, with impulse increasing as the height rises. A predictive model for peak impact load was developed, showcasing a strong correlation between experimental and simulation results, offering a new theoretical framework for assessing structural safety under varying degrees of corrosion.