Prebiotic Impacts of Soybean Residue (Okara) on Eubiosis/Dysbiosis Condition of the Gut and the Possible Effects on Liver and Kidney Functions

Okara is a white-yellow fibrous residue consisting of the insoluble fraction of the soybean seeds remaining after extraction of the aqueous fraction during the production of tofu and soymilk, and is generally considered a waste product. It is packed with a significant number of proteins, isoflavones, soluble and insoluble fibers, soyasaponins, and other mineral elements, which are all attributed with health merits. With the increasing production of soy beverages, huge quantities of this by-product are produced annually, which poses significant disposal problems and financial issues for producers. Extensive studies have been done on the biological activities, nutritional values, and chemical composition of okara as well as its potential utilization. Owing to its peculiar rich fiber composition and low cost of production, okara might be potentially useful in the food industry as a functional ingredient or good raw material and could be used as a dietary supplement to prevent varied ailments such as prevention of diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, as well as to stimulate the growth of intestinal microbes and production of microbe-derived metabolites (xenometabolites), since gut dysbiosis (imbalanced microbiota) has been implicated in the progression of several complex diseases. This review seeks to compile scientific research on the bioactive compounds in soybean residue (okara) and discuss the possible prebiotic impact of this fiber-rich residue as a functional diet on eubiosis/dysbiosis condition of the gut, as well as the consequential influence on liver and kidney functions, to facilitate a detailed knowledge base for further exploration, implementation, and development.     

Immune fluorescence test strips based on quantum dots for rapid and quantitative detection of carcino-embryonic antigen

A QDs-based immune fl uorescence test strips was built up for carcino-embryonic antigen detection to realize cancers POCT diagnostic, with a sensitivity of 0.72 ng/mL in 25 min.     

Monitoring of phthalates in foodstuffs using gas purge microsyringe extraction coupled with GC–MS

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are commonly used as nonreactive plasticisers in vinyl plastics to increase the flexibility of plastic polymers. Numerous studies have indicated that the PAEs as a class of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. In addition, the studies have also shown that a major source of human exposure to phthalates is the diet. To date, the largest problem in PAEs analysis is the high blank value because PAEs are widely used in various applications and products. To overcome this shortcoming, gas purge microsyringe extraction (GP-MSE) was applied, which established a new and low-blank-value analytical method for PAE analysis to analyse PAEs in foodstuffs. In this study, GP-MSE was used as a clean-up method, and the overall recoveries ranged from 85.7 to 102.6%, and the RSD was less than 10%. More importantly, this method can overcome the problem of the high blank value in PAE analysis. This method was applied for measuring PAEs in 78 foodstuffs. The results showed that a wide variety of PAE concentrations were found in the different groups, and the content of PAEs (varies from 658 to 1610 ng g⁻¹ fresh weight) is greatest in seafood. The concentrations were in the following order: DEHP > DBP > DEP ≈ DMP > BBP ≈ DNOP. Finally, the daily intake of PAEs was estimated for adults based on the levels of PAEs in foodstuffs. The total EDI_diet values of 3.2 and 12.9 μg kg⁻¹ bw d⁻¹ were calculated for DEHP based on the mean and highest concentrations in foodstuffs, respectively.     

可控合成具有氧化还原分区的Au-TiO2纳米哑铃光催化剂（英文）

太阳能因其环保清洁和来源丰富的特性被认为是最理想的资源之一.而光催化水分解是将太阳能转化为化学能的众多转换技术中,使用最广泛的策略之一.但H2和O2的逆反应显著降低了光催化水分解的效率,并且在实际应用中需要高昂的气体分离成本.因此,找到一种既可实现光催化有效水分解,同时抑制逆反应的策略具有十分重要的意义.到目前为止,为了实现光生电荷的有效分离,构建一维(1D)异质纳米结构光催化剂,被认为是抑制逆反应最有效的策略之一.其中哑铃状纳米结构,如Au-SiO2,Au-Fe3O4,Cu1.94S-CuS,Au-PbS(PbSe),Cu-Ag,Ag-Fe3O4,在促进光生电荷有效分离方面具有很大优势.但关于上述哑铃状纳米结构材料合成条件相对复杂,生长机理尚不清楚.对此,我们通过一种简便的合成策略制备了Au纳米棒/TiO2纳米哑铃结构光催化剂(Au NRs/TiO2 NDs).TiO2纳米颗粒(NP)仅包裹在Au NRs的两端.由于其独特的结构,可以实现电子空穴的定向分离,并减少它们在光照射下的复合,从而显著地提高电荷分离效率.同时,形成了氧化和还原反应的空间分离区域,从而有效地抑制了逆反应.通过SEM,XRD,和UV-Vis研究了可控合成哑铃状结构形态的关键因素.发现反应温度和酸度对Au NRs末端TiO2的包裹量有显著影响.基于此,我们提出了Au NRs/TiO2 NDs结构光催化剂的合成机理.并且通过改变加入的NaHCO3含量精准调节TiO2在Au NRs两端的包覆量,从而逐步提高Au NRs/TiO2 NDs光催化剂的产氢活性.在不断优化条件下,H2产率可达60264μmol/g/h,大约是报道的Au/TiO2光催化剂6倍.而电化学测试结果显示,在UV光照射下,Au NRs末端TiO2的包裹量越大,光电流相应越大.进一步证明光生电子定向从TiO2注入到Au NRs中,发生还原反应,而空穴留在TiO2上,发生氧化反应,从而实现氧化还原反应的分区.     

Growth of Eu-doped GaN by gas source molecular beam epitaxy and its optical properties

Eu-doped GaN with various Eu concentrations were grown by gas source molecular beam epitaxy, and their structural and optical properties were investigated. With increasing Eu concentration from 0.1 to 2.2 at%, deterioration of the structural quality was observed by reflection high-energy electron diffraction, atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Such a deterioration may be caused by an enhancement of island growth and formation of dislocations. On the other hand, room temperature photoluminescence spectra showed red emission at 622 nm due to an intra-atomic f–f transition of Eu³⁺ ion and Fourier transform infrared spectra indicated an absorption peak at about 0.37 eV, which may be due to a deep defect level. The intensity of the red luminescence and the defect-related absorption peak increased with increasing Eu concentration, and a close correlation in the increasing behavior was observed between them. These results suggest that the deep defect level plays an important role in the radiative transition of Eu³⁺ ion in GaN and the optical process for the luminescence at 622 nm was discussed with relation to the defect.     

Pseudo-almost periodic viscosity solutions of second-order nonlinear parabolic equations

In this paper we generalize the comparison result of Bostan and Namah (2007) [8] to the second-order parabolic case and prove two properties of pseudo-almost periodic functions; then by using Perron’s method we prove the existence and uniqueness of time pseudo-almost periodic viscosity solutions of second-order parabolic equations under usual hypotheses.     

控制图法对底排药剂组分结果的探讨

针对烟火剂型底排药剂组分分析结果与生产投料配比存在较大的差异,使用均值-极差(X)-R控制图法对结果数据进行统计分析,判定结果所处状态.结合药剂特性及生产工艺、取样情况、分析方法实际状况,对统计分析结果展开讨论,查找均值失控的原因,采取工艺控制、方法改进等措施,从而利用分析数据实现有效的质量控制,确保产品质量满足要求.     

Diameter-dependent, progressive alkylcarboxylation of single-walled carbon nanotubes

We demonstrate diameter-dependent, progressive alkylcarboxylation of single-walled carbon nanotubes by recycling a modified Billups-Birch reaction. The strong diameter dependence was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. Alkylcarboxylation made SWNTs soluble in water, allowing the more readily functionalized, smaller diameter nanotubes to be enriched by water extraction.     

烟火剂型底排药中氯丁橡胶和松脂酸钙测定方法研究

烟火剂型底排药成分分析用甲苯-乙酸乙酯混合溶剂溶解氯丁橡胶、松脂酸钙和六次甲基四胺,通过蒸馏水萃取除去六次甲基四胺组分,盛装于烧杯中蒸干的氯丁橡胶、松脂酸钙再用乙酸乙酯溶解松脂酸钙转移分离,从而实现氯丁橡胶和松脂酸钙定量分离检测研究。产品检测应用表明,甲苯一乙酸乙酯混合溶剂对单质氯丁橡胶、松脂酸钙、六次甲基四胺回收率在98％以上。试验研究和实际产品检验中,氯丁橡胶、松脂酸钙硷测误差均在±1．5％内（相对误差小于10％）.该方法也可应用于类似混合炸药的成分分析。     

One‐Pot Synthesis of Redox‐Responsive Polymers‐Coated Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles and Their Controlled Drug Release

A versatile one‐pot strategy for the preparation of reversibly cross‐linked polymer‐coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) via surface reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization is presented for the first time in this paper. The less reactive monomer oligo(ethylene glycol) acrylate (OEGA) and the more reactive cross‐linker N,N′‐cystaminebismethacrylamide (CBMA) are chosen to be copolymerized on the external surfaces of RAFT agent‐functionalized MSNs to form the cross‐linked polymer shells. Owing to the reversible cleavage and restoration of disulfide bonds via reduction/oxidation reactions, the polymer shells can control the on/off switching of the nanopores and regulate the drug loading and release. The redox‐responsive release of doxorubicin (DOX) from this drug carrier is realized. The protein adsorption, in vitro cytotoxicity assays, and endocytosis studies demonstrate that this biocompatible vehicle is a potential candidate for delivering drugs. It is expected that this versatile grafting strategy may help fabricate satisfying MSN‐based drug delivery systems for clinical application.