Abstract Tunable supramolecular assembly has found various applications in biomedicine, molecular catalysis, optoelectronics, and nanofabrication. Unlike traditional covalent conjugation, non‐covalent introduction of a photoswitchable moiety enables reversible photomodulation of non‐photosensitive dipeptide supramolecular assembly. Under light illumination, a long‐lived photoacid generator releases a proton and mediates the dissociation of dipeptide‐based organogel, thereby resulting in sol formation. Under darkness, the photoswitchable moiety entraps a proton, resulting in gel regeneration. Furthermore, accompanying the isothermal recycled gel–sol transition in a spatially controlled manner, renewable patterns are spontaneously fabricated. This new concept of light‐controlled phase transition of amino acid‐based supramolecular assemblies will open up the possibility of wide applications.
Sheep bones are a rich resource in China, but their deep processing is limited by outdated technology. Sausages are popular among various consumer groups due to their unique flavor. The purpose of this study was to optimize the preparation process of fermented-enzymatic sheep bone powder and develop calcium-fortified functional sausages with an excellent flavor, aroma, and taste. In this experiment, the fermented-enzymatic sheep bone powder was prepared by optimizing the two-bacterial fermentation process of Lactobacillus Plantarum BNCC336421 and Pediococcus Pentosaceus BNCC193259. The nutritional indexes and micro-structure were analyzed. Additionally, different ratios of fermented sheep bone powder were added into the sausages to investigate their effects on the nutritional indexes, physicochemical properties, and organoleptic quality of the sausages. The results showed that the optimal process conditions for the fermented sheep bone sludge were as follows: a strain inoculation of 3%; a compounding ratio of 1:1; a bone sludge concentration of 1:20; and fermentation time of 24 h. Under these conditions, the Ca2+ content and protein hydrolysis degree of the sheep bone were 2441.31 mg/100 mL and 23.78%, respectively. The fermented sheep bone powder analyzed using SEM, and the particle size analysis showed it was loose and porous with a small particle size. The addition of fermented sheep bone powder to the sausage increased its amino acid and calcium ion contents, improved the texture indexes such as cohesion, and enhanced both the L* value and sensory scores. The best result was observed in the 1% group (p < 0.05). It serves as a data source for developing fermented sheep bone powder and its application in sausage, offering a fresh idea and approach to achieving the high-value utilization of sheep bone.
Sunit sheep are famous for their high meat quality, but the meat quality of them has declined due to the change in feeding methods. Lactobacillus has a variety of probiotic effects and is widely used in animal diets to optimize meat quality. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with different levels of Lactobacillus on meat quality. A total of 24 3-month-old Sunit sheep with an average body weight of 19.03 ± 3.67 kg were randomly divided into control (C), 1% (L1), 2% (L2), and 3% Lactobacillus groups (L3), with 6 sheep in each group. Myofiber characteristics, meat quality, and metabolic enzyme activity were detected. Moreover, the regulatory mechanism of Lactobacillus on meat quality was explored by using Western blotting and real-time Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The results showed that dietary addition of Lactobacillus decreased LDH activity in the Biceps femoris of Sunit sheep (P < 0.05). Compared to the other groups, the 1% Lactobacillus group showed the conversion of myofibers from the glycolytic to the oxidative type, and the increasing b* values (P < 0.05), decreasing shear force and cooking loss of meat (P < 0.05) and the relative gene and protein expression levels of AMPK, PGC-1α, NRF1, TFAM, and COX IV (P < 0.05) in the Biceps femoris were also increased in the 1% Lactobacillus group. Therefore, the addition of Lactobacillus to the diet of Sunit sheep could regulate the AMPK signaling pathway to promote myofiber type conversion, which improves meat quality. This study provided a theoretical and data basis for improving the meat quality of sheep and supplied a novel way of applying Lactobacillus.
Abstract A gel‐to‐crystal phase transition of a dipeptide supramolecular assembly mediates active water transportation in oils. The addition of water into ultrafast‐assembling dipeptide organogels can induce a lamellar‐to‐hexagonal structural transformation of dipeptide molecular arrangement. Consequently, a phase transition from gel to crystal occurs and in turn water is transported in the dipeptide crystal via well‐defined channels. On a macroscopic scale, water transport in the bulk system exhibits an anisotropic characteristic, which can be tuned by the presence of ions in the Hofmeister series. These favorable features enable the automatic separation of dispersed nanoparticles from dissolved electrolytes in aqueous solution. These findings demonstrate the potential of this assembled system for active filtration without external pressure.
Achieving synthetic architectures with simple structures and robust biomimetic catalytic activities remains a great challenge. Herein, we explore a facile supramolecular assembly approach to construct a dipeptide-based hierarchical nanoarchitecture with enhanced enzyme-like catalytic activity. In this nanoarchitecture, nanospheres are put in a chain-like arrangement through coordination-driven directional self-assembly. The reversible transformation of anisotropic nanochains to isotropic nanospheres switches biomimetic activity. Notably, the assembled nanoarchitecture exhibits a high enzyme-like activity and remarkable long-term stability to promote hydroquinone oxidation, superior to the natural counterpart. This work will pave the way to develop reversible and reusable supramolecular biocatalysts with ordered hierarchical structures for accelerating chemical transformations.
Due to the complex operating environment of distribution network cables and the stringent requirements for outage maintenance, there is an urgent need for accurate and effective new live detection technologies. This study focuses on the induced current in the metal shielding layer of a 10kV single-core cable. Through theoretical derivation and modeling simulation, the evolution patterns, inherent mechanisms, and influencing factors of harmonic distortion in the induced current were investigated. The simulation results indicate that magnetic field distortions at the insulation defect locations cause abnormal harmonic components, specifically the 3rd, 5th, and 7th harmonics, in the induced current within the metal shielding layer. Further real-world experiments show that the main components of these harmonics are closely related to factors such as load current, the type of insulation defect, and the through-flow aging time of the insulation material. Finally, by applying the K-means clustering analysis algorithm to the measured harmonic data, effective classification of insulation defects in distribution network cables was achieved. At a conductor current of 400A, the recognition rate for water droplet defects reached 84.5%, providing a theoretical basis for timely warning and live diagnosis of insulation defects.
The energy router (ER) is key to realizing the coordinated management and efficient utilization of multiple forms of energy in Energy Internet. This paper proposes a novel design and configuration method for the physical layer of ER by using complex network theory. Firstly, an abstract model of the physical layer of ER is introduced according to its function, and important modules in the model are illustrated in details. Secondly, based on the electrical characteristics of ports, the community structure of the power networks inside ER is analyzed by the improved Girvan-Newman (GN) algorithm to design the independent bus systems (IBSs) and generate the network topology of the physical layer. Then, the optimization model of equipment configuration of the power supply and distribution systems of ER is developed considering the economy, utilization efficiency, and power supply reliability. Finally, two case studies demonstrate that the proposed strategy can effectively accomplish the module-level structure design and device configuration for the physical layer of ER.
Phospholipases As (PLAs) are acyl hydrolases that catalyze the release of free fatty acids in phospholipids and play multiple functions in plant growth and development. The three families of PLAs are: PLA1, PLA2 (sPLA), and patatin-related PLA (pPLA). The diverse functions that pPLAs play in the growth and development of a broad range of plants have been demonstrated by prior studies.Genome-wide analysis of the pPLA gene family and screening of genes for expression verification and gene silencing verification were conducted. Additionally, pollen vitality testing, analysis of the pollen expression pattern, and the detection of POD, SOD, CAT, MDA, and H2O2 were performed.In this study, 294 pPLAs were identified from 13 plant species, including 46 GhpPLAs that were divided into three subfamilies (I-III). Expression patterns showed that the majority of GhpPLAs were preferentially expressed in the petal, pistil, anther, and ovule, among other reproductive organs. Particularly, GhpPLA23 and GhpPLA44, were found to be potentially important for the reproductive development of G. hirsutum. Functional validation was demonstrated by VIGS which showed that reduced expression levels of GhpPLA23 and GhpPLA44 in the silenced plants were associated with a decrease in pollen activity. Moreover, a substantial shift in ROS and ROS scavengers and a considerable increase in POD, CAT, SOD, and other physiological parameters was found out in these silenced plants. Our results provide plausibility to the hypothesis that GhpPLA23 and GhpPLA44 had a major developmental impact on cotton reproductive systems. These results also suggest that pPLAs are important for G. hirsutum's reproductive development and suggest that they could be employed as potential genes for haploid induction.The findings of the present research indicate that pPLA genes are essential for the development of floral organs and sperm cells in cotton. Consequently, this family might be important for the reproductive development of cotton and possibly for inducing the plant develop haploid progeny.