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Although quantum dots (QDs) have unique properties that are different from conventional semiconductors, their photocatalytic activity and stability are far from expectations, and the preparation of semiconductor composites has become an important means to improve their photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. A convenient and safe coordinationassisted self-assembly method was used to encapsulate QDs into metal−organic frameworks and further formed AgInS 2 @ZIF-8/ ZnS nanostructures by converting part of ZIF-8 into ZnS composite materials, which enhanced their photocatalytic hydrogen production performance and cycling stability. The results show that AgInS 2 @ZIF-8/ZnS nanocomposites have the highest photocatalytic activity (the average hydrogen production reaches 9.79 mmol•g −1 •h −1 ; λ > 420 nm) after 6 h of sulfurization, which is far greater than that of AgInS 2 QDs. Compared with the AgInS 2 @ZIF-8 composite, their performance is improved by nearly 10 times. In conclusion, a simple, safe, and easily-controllable method is used to prepare a novel and efficient photocatalytic material, which provides a new idea about the rational design of novel QD photocatalytic composites.

Dietary fats serve multiple essential roles in human health but may also contribute to acute and chronic health complications. Thus, understanding mechanisms that influence fat ingestion are critical. All sensory systems may contribute relevant cues to fat detection, with the most recent evidence supporting a role for the sense of taste. Taste detection thresholds for fat vary markedly between individuals and responses are not normally distributed. Genetics may contribute to these observations. Using crowdsourced data obtained from families visiting the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, our objective was to estimate the heritability of fat taste (oleogustus). A pedigree analysis was conducted with 106 families (643 individuals) who rated the fat taste intensity of graded concentrations of linoleic acid (LA) embedded in taste strips. The findings estimate that 19% (P = 0.043) of the variability of taste response to LA relative to baseline is heritable at the highest concentration tested.

AimScar formation generally occurs in cutaneous wound healing in mammals, mainly caused by myofibroblast aggregations, and currently with few effective treatment options. However, the pedicle wound (about 10 cm in diameter) of the deer can initiate regenerative healing, which has been found to be achieved via paracrine factors from the internal tissues of antlers.MethodsEnzymatically digested velvet antler peptides (EVAP) were prepared along with other types of antler extracts as the controls. The effects of EVAP on healing of full-thickness skin wounds were evaluated using rats in vivo, and on myofibroblast transdifferentiation tested using transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced human dermal fibroblasts in vitro.ResultsEVAP significantly accelerated the wound healing rate, reduced scar formation, and improved the healing quality, including promoted angiogenesis, increased number of skin appendages (hair follicles and sebaceous glands) and improved the distribution pattern of collagen fibers (basket-wave like) in the healed tissue. Moreover, EVAP significantly down-regulated the expression levels of genes pro- scar formation (Col1a2 and TGF-β1), and up-regulated the expression levels of genes anti-scar formation (Col3a1 and TGF-β3), and suppressed the excessive transdifferentiation of myofibroblasts and the formation of collagen I in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, we found these effects were highly likely achieved by inhibiting the TGF-β signaling pathway, evidenced by decreased expression levels of the related genes, including TGF-β1, Smad2, p-Smad2, α-SMA, and collagen I.ConclusionsEVAP may be a promising candidate to be developed as a clinic drug for regenerative wound healing.