ScopeUrsolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclicterpenoid carboxylic acid that is present in a wide variety of plant foods. There are many beneficial health effects that are attributed to the properties of UA. However, the specific cellular targets of UA and the mechanism underlying downstream signal transduction processes linked to the anti‐inflammation pathway have not been thoroughly elucidated to date.Methods and resultsChemical biology strategies such as target fishing, click reaction synthesis of a UA probe and molecular imaging were used to identify potential target proteins of UA. Cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (CASP3) and its downstream signaling pathway were verified as potential targets by molecular docking, intracellular enzyme activity evaluation and accurate pathway analysis. The results indicated that UA acted on CASP3, ERK1 and JNK2 targets, alleviated inflammation‐associated downstream multiple signal transduction factors, including ERK1, NF‐κB and STAT3, and exhibited anti‐inflammation activities.ConclusionAs a natural dietary supplement, UA demonstrated anti‐inflammation activity via inhibition of CASP3 and shows the potential to improve the therapy effect of several inflammation‐associated diseases.

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have been exploited as an advanced energy storage systems owing to its high theoretical specific capacity. However, the shuttle effect from lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and sluggish redox...

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The self-assembly of a quadruple-stranded Eu(III) helicate induces the conformation transformation of DAE-based photochromic ligand from parallel to antiparallel, which brings a significant improvement on photocyclization quantum yield (Φo-c) as...

High internal phase Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs) have taken a center stage in the arena of delivery systems in the food industry because of their high loading capacity and stability. In addition, metal−organic frameworks (MOFs), a type of cuttingedge designable porous scaffolding material, have attracted attention in reticular chemistry, which satisfies fundamental demands for delivery research in the past years.Here, we demonstrate a novel metal−organic framework (MOF)-stabilized HIPPE delivery system for hydrophobic phytochemicals. First, a novel high-biocompatibility and stable MOF particle, UiO-66-NH 2 , was selected from atomic simulation screening, which showed proper electronegativity and amphiphilic properties to develop the HIPPE system. Monodispersed UiO-66-NH 2 nanoparticles with the particle size of 161.36 nm were then prepared via solvothermal synthesization. Pickering emulsions with inner phase ratios from 50 to 80% with varied contents of polyethylene glycol (PEG) were prepared by in situ high-pressure homogenization, and their physicochemical properties including crystallography, morphology, and rheology were systematically characterized. Subsequently, curcumin, a model antioxidant, was loaded in the HIPPE system and named cur@UiO-66-NH 2 /HIPPE. It exhibited high loading capacity, up to 6.93 ± 0.41%, and encapsulation efficiency (19.76 ± 3.84%). This novel MOF nanoparticle-stabilized HIPPE delivery system could be practically utilized for other bioactive components and antimicrobial agents, which would find applications in food safety and biomedical areas in the future.

BackgroundWe aimed to investigate the management of hypertension in Shanghai, China and to examine whether there was any difference of hypertension management among people enrolled in different health insurances.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, a total of 31,531 residents were selected in Shanghai, using a randomized, stratified, multi-stage sampling method, and were asked to provide their status of hypertension, condition of hypertension management, health insurances and other demographic information. A weighted propensity score model was used to adjust confounders and to analyze the differences on hypertension management among hypertension patients enrolled in different health insurances.ResultsIn Shanghai, most hypertension patients achieved good management of hypertension. However, patients enrolled in the New Cooperative Medical Scheme or the Urban Resident Basic Medical Insurance scheme were more likely to achieve publicity of precautionary knowledge about hypertension (OR = 2.36 [95 % CI :1.96,2.85] and 1.28 [95 % CI:1.12,1.45], respectively) and had their blood pressure under control (OR = 1.33 [95 % CI :1.09,1.62] and 1.22 [95 % CI:1.05,1.42], respectively) than patients enrolled in the Urban Employee Basic Health Insurance scheme.ConclusionThe study provided a comprehensive description of hypertension in Shanghai, China. To support the management of hypertension, publicity of hypertension prevention knowledge should be improved, especially to people enrolled in the Urban Employee Basic Health Insurance scheme.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3627-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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There is concern regarding the loss of ecosystem goods and services as a result of land use changes such as the expansion and intensification of agricultural activities. Assessments of these interactions require innovative analyses that combine qualitative and quantitative economic analyses. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment framework was applied to a peri-urban region in British Columbia, Canada to assess the effects of the integration of agricultural programs and the maintenance of waterfowl habitat located on the Pacific Flyway. The Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust, a non-governmental organization, has implemented several activities to enhance ecosystem goods and services by cooperative programs among the agricultural community and wildlife interests. The successful collaborative framework has resulted in enhanced soil quality, increased biodiversity, and the maintenance of valuable agriculture and waterfowl habitat.