Measuring the disparity among scientific disciplines using Library of Congress Subject Headings

Scientometrics - Examining the relationships among scientific disciplines is important today, but existing methods are limited by the contents and structure of their bibliographic databases. We...     

Ferulic acid and EGCG alter the structural characteristics of ovalbumin and its application in mineral loading

This study aims to fabricate mineral-loading nanocarriers using natural materials. The interaction patterns between ovalbumin (OVA) and four water-soluble polyphenols, namely ferulic acid (FA), (-)-Epigallo-catechin 3-gallate (EGCG), gallic acid (GA) and epicatechin (EC), were investigated. Results showed that the optimised conditions for preparing stable OVA–polyphenol complexes are at the OVA–polyphenol ratio of 4:1 at pH 6, under which OVA–FA and OVA–EGCG showed the highest stability and mineral-loading capacity among four OVA–polyphenol complexes. The fluorescence results indicated that the addition of EGCG and FA induced a significant fluorescence quenching to OVA. The interaction between OVA and polyphenols involved hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic interaction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis suggested that both FA and EGCG enhanced the stability and orderliness of the structure of OVA. The transmission electron microscopy images also exhibited the spherical structure of OVA after the addition of FA and EGCG. Furthermore, scanning electron microscope–energy dispersive X-ray spectrum results suggested that OVA–FA and OVA–EGCG complexes were better mineral carriers than OVA–GA and OVA–EC. This study may serve as the theoretical support for the promising application of OVA in the fabrication of mineral-loading nanocarriers in functional food and pharmaceutic.     

n-3PUFAs缓解溃疡性结肠炎的作用机制

日常饮食与机体的健康密切相关。食品的功能性成分在调节机体活性等方面发挥着至关重要的作用，已成为关注的热点，然而其具体机制不明确。microRNA(miRNA)作为一类非编码的小RNA分子，可通过调控靶基因的表达参与机体生命活动的调节。本文从miRNA出发，介绍miRNA介导人参皂苷、白藜芦醇、儿茶素、多不饱和脂肪酸、维生素等食品功能性成分，调节脂肪形成、心血管疾病、神经保护以及抗炎、抗癌的机制，为相关疾病的预防提供研究思路。     

填料毛细管精馏传质效率影响因素的数值计算

毛细管精馏通过利用毛细结构内固液分子相互作用力和微孔结构界面曲率影响，改变混合液的气液平衡，实现对共沸溶液的分离。为探究毛细管精馏的操作条件对气液相间传质效率的影响，通过使用CFD数值模拟研究影响乙酸乙酯-乙醇混合溶液相间传质的因素，如气相进口速度、气相进口质量分数和孔隙率。结果表明：气相速度越大，会降低对乙酸乙酯的分离效率；填料孔隙率为0.5时，对乙酸乙酯的分离效果较好；气相进口乙酸乙酯质量分数的增大会降低乙酸乙酯的分离效率。并使用Materials Studio软件对分子间作用力进行计算，结果发现填料与乙醇的结合能较强，进而促进乙酸乙酯的分离。研究对于开发适合工业应用的填料毛细管精馏分离共沸溶液技术具有一定的参考意义。     

Electrochemical performance of in situ LiFePO4 modified by N-doped graphene for Li-ion batteries

LiFePO₄ modified by N-doped graphene (NG) with a three-dimensional conductive network structure was synthesized via a one-step in situ hydrothermal method. The effects of N amount of NG on the phase structure, morphology, and electrochemical properties of LiFePO₄ are investigated in this study. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that doping suitable N amounts in NG do not alter the crystal structure of LiFePO_4, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images show that NG can slightly reduce the particle size of LiFePO₄. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) results show that the LiFePO₄ particles are well covered and connected by NG. The electrochemical performance confirms that LiFePO₄ modified by 20% N-doped graphene (named LFP/NG-4) displays a perfect specific capacity of 166.6 mAh·g^?1 at a rate of 0.2C and can reach 125 mAh·g^?1 at a rate of 5 C. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results illustrate that the charge transfer resistance value of the LFP/NG-4 composite is only 58.6 Ω, which is very low compared with LiFePO₄. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests indicate that the addition of 20% N-doped graphene can effectively reduce electrode polarization and improve reversibility. The LFP/NG-4 composite with a three-dimensional conductive network structure can be regarded as a promising cathode material for Li-ion batteries.