We investigated the interfacial instability of emulsion droplets via in situ measuring the oil/water interfacial tension (IFT) using the capillary suction method. The discrete phase of the oil-in-water emulsion contains a hydrophobic polymer (polystyrene, PS) and a fatty alcohol cosurfactant n-cetyl alcohol (CA) or n-octadecanol (OD), both of which were dissolved in an organic solvent (chloroform). The continuous phase is an aqueous solution of surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS). Upon removal of the organic solvent, the concentrations of CA and PS increase gradually, which induce a continual decrease of the IFT until the occurrence of interfacial instability. Micropipette tensiometry performed on an evaporating emulsion droplet reveals that interfacial instability is triggered when the IFT decreases close to ∼0.17 mN/m. As a result, micron particles with wrinkled surfaces can be obtained after the complete removal of the organic solvent. The effect of the initial concentration and alkyl chain length of the cosurfactant on the interfacial instability and surface roughness of the formed particles was studied. This study provides theoretical guidance for the preparation of micrometer-sized polymer particles with diverse morphologies via the interfacial instability of emulsion droplets.A novel, atomically dispersed carbon-based sorbent was synthesized by anchoring manganese atoms with N atoms for the capture of gaseous elemental Hg (Hg0). Oxygen atoms were also introduced into the synthesis process to adjust the oxidizing ability of the Mn atoms. High-valence Mn (Mn4+) anchored by the O and N atoms (Mn-O/N-C) in the carbon-based materials provided more exposed active sites. The mercury removal efficiency of the composite exceeded 99%. The composite with a Mn loading of 0.9 wt% exhibited high affinity for Hg0, and the capacity for Hg0 adsorption within 275 min at room temperature reached 16.95 mg·g‒1. The Mn utilization was ~56.61%, which is much larger than that of reported Mn-based oxide sorbents. The atomic-level distribution of Mn was well-evidenced by aberration-corrected high-angular annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy. Density functional theory calculations were conducted to evaluate the energy for adsorption of Hg0 on Mn-O/N-C. The results indicated that the amount of N and O atoms in the Mn coordination environment determined the Hg0 adsorption energy, and the presence of five optimized Mn adsorption structures in Mn-O\N-C was confirmed by Hg-temperature programmed desorption analysis. These materials may be utilized for mercury removal from disposal sites with high concentrations of mercury, broken mercury-containing lamps, or mercurial thermometers. The strategy of atomic dispersion during synthesis of the materials and adjusting the oxidizing ability in the single-atom strategy may be helpful for the development of environmentally benign functional materials.The role of small molecules on the somatosensory properties of prunes (Prunus domestica) was investigated. Sensory descriptive analysis defined two main somatosensations, "thickness" and "slippery". On the basis of these two attributes, sensory-guided multidimensional fractionation techniques allowed for the isolation of four main compounds, which were identified by mass spectrometry and comparison to authentic standards. Three compounds were identified as monosubstituted isomers of chlorogenic acid, namely, 1-O-caffeoylquinic acid (1-CQA), 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3-CQA), and 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4-CQA), in addition to a fourth, vanillic acid glucoside (VG). Sensory recombination model analysis of each compound at endogenous concentrations of the prunes indicated that all compounds significantly contributed to slippery sensations, whereas 3-CQA, 4-CQA, and VG contributed to thickness sensations (α = 0.05).Infrared difference spectroscopy probes vibrational changes of proteins upon their perturbation. Compared with other spectroscopic methods, it stands out by its sensitivity to the protonation state, H-bonding, and the conformation of different groups in proteins, including the peptide backbone, amino acid side chains, internal water molecules, or cofactors. In particular, the detection of protonation and H-bonding changes in a time-resolved manner, not easily obtained by other techniques, is one of the most successful applications of IR difference spectroscopy. The present review deals with the use of perturbations designed to specifically change the protein between two (or more) functionally relevant states, a strategy often referred to as reaction-induced IR difference spectroscopy.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/takinib.html  In the first half of this contribution, I review the technique of reaction-induced IR difference spectroscopy of proteins, with special emphasis given to the preparation of suitable samples and their characterization, strategies for the perturbation of proteins, and methodologies for time-resolved measurements (from nanoseconds to minutes). The second half of this contribution focuses on the spectral interpretation. It starts by reviewing how changes in H-bonding, medium polarity, and vibrational coupling affect vibrational frequencies, intensities, and bandwidths. It is followed by band assignments, a crucial aspect mostly performed with the help of isotopic labeling and site-directed mutagenesis, and complemented by integration and interpretation of the results in the context of the studied protein, an aspect increasingly supported by spectral calculations. Selected examples from the literature, predominately but not exclusively from retinal proteins, are used to illustrate the topics covered in this review.Sarcopenia commonly occurs in the elderly and patients with wasting diseases. The main reason is an imbalance in protein metabolism (protein degradation exceeding protein synthesis). It causes a serious decline in muscle strength and motion ability, even leading to long-term bed rest. Recent studies indicate that nutritional support is beneficial for ameliorating sarcopenia and restoring muscle function. This review will summarize the classical mechanisms of protein nutritional support for alleviating sarcopenia, such as modulating the ubiquitin-proteasome system, oxidative response, and cell autophagy, as well as the potential new mechanisms, including altering miRNA profiles and gut microbiota. In addition, the clinical application and outcome of protein nutritional support in the elderly and patients with wasting diseases are also introduced. Protein nutritional support is expected to provide new approaches for the prevention and adjuvant therapy of sarcopenia.