104 research outputs found
Comparison of Structural Characteristics and Major Biological Activities of Polysaccharides from Soybean and Natto
In this study, crude polysaccharides from soybean and natto were prepared by water extraction followed by ethanol precipitation. The chemical compositions, structural characteristics, water solubility, water-holding capacity (WHC) and fat-binding capacity (FBC) of soybean and natto polysaccharides were analyzed. Their in vitro antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and lipid-lowering activities were compared and analyzed. The results showed that the content of uronic acid was significantly higher in natto polysaccharide than in soybean polysaccharide (P < 0.05). The molecular masses of soybean and natto polysaccharides were 5.256 and 33.532 ku, respectively, and the monosaccharide compositions of soybean and natto polysaccharides were similar in the types but different in the proportions of monosaccharide. The surface of soybean polysaccharide was rough, whereas the surface of natto polysaccharide was smooth and dense. The water solubility of natto polysaccharide was 2.04 times as high as that of soybean polysaccharide, and the FBC was 2.99 times as high as that of natto polysaccharide. Natto polysaccharide exhibited better antioxidant activity, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of (0.049 ± 0.015) and (2.640 ± 0.072) mg/mL for scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) cation radical, respectively. The IC50 for the inhibition of α-amylase activity by natto polysaccharide was (3.297 ± 0.395) mg/mL. Natto polysaccharide had significantly higher in vitro hypoglycemic activity (P < 0.05), stronger cholate binding capacity and in vitro hypolipidemic activity than soybean polysaccharide. This study has provided an important theoretical basis for the structural analysis and biological activity evaluation of natto polysaccharide
In-situ electrical and thermal transport properties of FeySe1-xTex films with ionic liquid gating
We combine in-situ electrical transport and Seebeck coefficient measurements
with the ionic liquid gating technique to investigate superconductivity and the
normal state of FeySe1-xTex (FST) films. We find that the pristine FST films
feature a non-Fermi liquid temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient,
i.e., S/T ~ AS lnT, and AS is strongly correlated with the superconducting
transition temperature (Tc). Ionic liquid gating significantly raises Tc of FST
films, for which the Seebeck coefficient displays a novel scaling behavior and
retains the logarithmic temperature dependence. Moreover, a quantitative
relationship between the slope of T-linear resistivity (A\r{ho}) and Tc for
gated films is observed, i.e., (A\r{ho})1/2 ~ Tc, consistent with previous
reports on cuprates and FeSe. The scaling behaviors of AS and A\r{ho} point to
a spin-fluctuation-associated transport mechanism in gated FeySe1-xTex
superconductors.Comment: 12 pages,5 figure
Transcriptome and association mapping revealed functional genes respond to drought stress in Populus
Drought frequency and severity are exacerbated by global climate change, which could compromise forest ecosystems. However, there have been minimal efforts to systematically investigate the genetic basis of the response to drought stress in perennial trees. Here, we implemented a systems genetics approach that combines co-expression analysis, association genetics, and expression quantitative trait nucleotide (eQTN) mapping to construct an allelic genetic regulatory network comprising four key regulators (PtoeIF-2B, PtoABF3, PtoPSB33, and PtoLHCA4) under drought stress conditions. Furthermore, Hap_01PtoeIF-2B, a superior haplotype associated with the net photosynthesis, was revealed through allelic frequency and haplotype analysis. In total, 75 candidate genes related to drought stress were identified through transcriptome analyses of five Populus cultivars (P. tremula × P. alba, P. nigra, P. simonii, P. trichocarpa, and P. tomentosa). Through association mapping, we detected 92 unique SNPs from 38 genes and 104 epistatic gene pairs that were associated with six drought-related traits by association mapping. eQTN mapping unravels drought stress-related gene loci that were significantly associated with the expression levels of candidate genes for drought stress. In summary, we have developed an integrated strategy for dissecting a complex genetic network, which facilitates an integrated population genomics approach that can assess the effects of environmental threats
Analysis of changes in water quality and treatment effectiveness of seven major river basins in China from 2001 to 2020
The seven major river basins (the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, the Pearl River, the Songhua River, the Huai River, the Hai River and the Liao River) are the most important surface water resources in China, but there is a lack of quantitative analyses of water quality change trends, horizontal comparisons of governance effects, and systematic review of effective policies since the 21st century. Based on the water resources bulletin and environmental status bulletin issued by government departments, the changes in water quality, pollutant indicators and treatment effectiveness of seven major basins from 2001 to 2020 have been scientifically analyzed using mathematical and statistical methods. (1) Over the period 2001 to 2020, the overall water quality in the seven major river basins exhibited a gradual improvement. Different basins demonstrated varied growth values for Grade I-III water, reduction values for Grade IV-V, and inferior Grade V water. (2) Between 2001 and 2020, changes in sewage discharge volume and types led to adjustments in the main pollutant indicators of the seven basins. (3) The ranking of the pollution degree in the seven major basins exhibited dynamic changes but also remained relatively stable during specific periods or years. (4) Assessing the average annual growth rate of Grade I-III water and the average annual reduction rate of Grade IV-V and inferior Grade V water, the Huai River basin demonstrated the most outstanding governance effectiveness, while the Liao River basin, the Yellow River basin, and the Songhua River basin also achieved notable treatment results. (5) The improvement in water quality across the seven major river basins can be attributed to scientific planning, enhanced policies and regulations, surge in investment in water conservancy infrastructure, heightened environmental protection awareness, application of green production technology. To sum up, the research findings not only provide a scientific foundation for the governance and protection of the seven major basins but also offer a valuable reference for other developing countries to strike a balance between economic development and environmental protection
Universal scaling of the critical temperature and the strange-metal scattering rate in unconventional superconductors
Dramatic evolution of properties with minute change in the doping level is a
hallmark of the complex chemistry which governs cuprate superconductivity as
manifested in the celebrated superconducting domes as well as quantum
criticality taking place at precise compositions. The strange metal state,
where the resistivity varies linearly with temperature, has emerged as a
central feature in the normal state of cuprate superconductors. The ubiquity of
this behavior signals an intimate link between the scattering mechanism and
superconductivity. However, a clear quantitative picture of the correlation has
been lacking. Here, we report observation of quantitative scaling laws between
the superconducting transition temperature and the scattering rate
associated with the strange metal state in electron-doped cuprate (LCCO) as a precise function of the doping level.
High-resolution characterization of epitaxial composition-spread films, which
encompass the entire overdoped range of LCCO has allowed us to systematically
map its structural and transport properties with unprecedented accuracy and
increment of . We have uncovered the relations , where is the critical
doping where superconductivity disappears on the overdoped side and
is the scattering rate of perfect -linear resistivity per
CuO plane. We argue that the striking similarity of the vs
relation among cuprates, iron-based and organic superconductors
is an indication of a common mechanism of the strange metal behavior and
unconventional superconductivity in these systems.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figure
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