Unveiling the aromatic differences of low-salt Chinese horse bean-chili-paste using metabolomics and sensomics approaches.

To achieve salt reduction while ensuring flavor quality of Chinese horse bean-chili-paste (CHCP), we comprehensively explored the effect of indigenous strains Tetragenococcus halophilus and Candida versatilis on the aroma profiles of low-salt CHCP by metabolomics and sensomics analysis. A total of 129 volatiles and 34 aroma compounds were identified by GC × GC-MS and GC-O-MS, among which 29 and 20 volatiles were identified as significant difference compounds and aroma-active compounds, respectively. Inoculation with the two indigenous strains could effectively relieve the undesired acidic and irritative flavor brought by acetic acid and some aldehydes in salt-reduction samples. Meanwhile, inoculated fermentation provided more complex and richer volatiles in low-salt batches, especially for the accumulation of 3-methylbutanol, 1-octen-3-ol, benzeneacetaldehyde, phenylethyl alcohol, and 4-ethyl-phenol etc., which were confirmed as essential aroma compounds of CHCP by recombination and omission tests. The research elucidated the feasibility of bioturbation strategy to achieve salt-reducing fermentation of fermented foods.

Coordinated development of green finance and green technology innovation in China: from the perspective of network characteristics and prediction.

Under the path of sustainable development, the key to achieving green and low-carbon transformation lies in green technology innovation (GTI), and how to effectively coordinate the relationship between green finance (GF) and GTI is an issue worth studying. This paper constructed an evaluation system of GF and GTI and combined them with the coupled coordination degree model to explore their coordination of Chinese provinces from 2012 to 2019. Then, the core network evolution and spatial structure characteristics of GTI and GF were studied using the modified gravity model. Finally, based on the link prediction, the general future network prediction is made to provide guidance and direction for the future GTI and GF development and construction. The results found that the coordination level between GF and GTI has been continuously improved from 0.356 to 0.436. The core network structure is keeping changing with their connection becoming more complex, and there is still room for optimization. Network centrality characteristics show that the spatial spillover effects are stronger in the more economically developed regions. The overall network possibility prediction shows the potential network connections in different urban agglomerations. This paper provides a certain reference role for China and developing countries to predict the GF and GTI cooperation network development in the future.

Analysis of the spatial-temporal evolution of Green and low carbon utilization efficiency of agricultural land in China and its influencing factors under the goal of carbon neutralization.

Agricultural land is the most basic input factor for agricultural production and an essential component of terrestrial ecosystems, which plays a vital role in achieving carbon neutrality. Giving full play to the carbon-neutral contribution of agricultural land is a crucial part of China's economic transformation and green development. It incorporates carbon and pollution emissions from agricultural land use into the unexpected outputs of the Green and Low-carbon Utilization Efficiency of Agricultural Land (GLUEAL) evaluation system. The study utilized several advanced analytical tools, including the super-efficient Slacks-Based Measure (SBM) model, Exploratory Spatial-Temporal Data Analysis (ESTDA) method, Geodetector, and Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) model. The objective was to examine the spatial-temporal evolution of GLUEAL and identify the factors that influenced it in all 31 provinces of China from 2005 to 2020. The results show that: (1) The overall spatial-temporal evolution of GLUEAL showed an increasing trend, but the disparity between provinces and regions became wider. (2) Most provinces have not yet made significant spatial and temporal jumps. They have high spatial cohesion with specific "path-dependent" characteristics. (3) The Geodetector results reveal that the Number of Rural Labor Force with Higher Education (NRLFHE) and Technology Support for Agriculture (TSA) have insufficient explanatory power on average for GLUEAL. Agricultural Economic Development Level (AEDL), Urbanization Level (UL), Multiple Crop Index (MCI), Planting Structure (PS), Degree of Crop Damage (DCD), Financial support for agriculture (FSA), and Agricultural mechanization level (AML) had stronger explanatory power on average for GLUEAL and were important factors influencing GLUEAL levels. (4) The average influence of AEDL, UL, FSA, and AML on GLUEAL changed from negative to positive. The average influence of MCI and DCD on GLUEAL was negative, and the average influence of PS on GLUEAL changed from positive to negative. This study provides a comprehensive description of the spatial and temporal evolution of GLUEAL in China. It reveals the key factors influencing GLUEAL and analyzes their spatial variations and impact patterns. These findings offer robust evidence for government policymakers to formulate policy measures for sustainable agricultural development and optimized resource allocation, promoting the transformation of agricultural land towards green and low-carbon practices and advancing the achievement of sustainable development goals.

I2-Mediated [6 + 1] Annulation of Alkynes with MsONH3OTf: Direct Synthesis of Benzo[b]azepines.

The synthesis of benzo[b]azepines using protonated aminating reagent (MsONH3OTf) and alkynes through I2-mediated [6 + 1] annulation reaction has been developed. This protocol features excellent functional group tolerance and mild reaction conditions and affords the benzo[b]azepines in moderate to good yields under metal-free reaction conditions.

Does the Urban Agglomeration Policy Reduce Energy Intensity? Evidence from China.

With the expansion of the scale of China's economy and the acceleration of urbanization, energy consumption is increasing, and environmental degradation and other problems have arisen. In order to solve such prominent problems, China proposed the "carbon peak" and "carbon neutral" targets in 2020. Although there are research conclusions about the impact of urbanization on energy intensity (EI), conclusions about the impact of the urban agglomeration policy (UAP) on EI are still unclear. Therefore, the article studies the impact of the urban agglomeration policy on EI in 279 prefecture-level cities by constructing a Difference-In-Differences (DID) model and mediating effect model. The results show that UAP has a significant effect on reducing EI, but their effects are different with the impact of urban heterogeneity, and the urban agglomeration policy of "Core" cities is less effective than those of "Edge" cities. From the perspective of the influencing mechanism, UAP takes green innovation capability as the intermediary variable to influence EI. The placebo test, PSM-DID regression, counterfactual test, and instrumental variable method all reflect the robustness of the research conclusions. Based on this, the paper puts forward some suggestions for urban agglomeration planning and green technology innovation.

Influences of different drying methods on the structural characteristics and multiple bioactivities of polysaccharides from okra (Abelmoschus esculentus).

In this study, in order to evaluate the influences of drying methods on the chemical structures and bioactivities of polysaccharides from okra (OPPs), four drying methods, including microwave drying at 400 W, 600 W, and 800 W, freezing drying, hot air drying, and vacuum drying, were applied to dry okra fruits. Six different OPPs were extracted from okra dried by different drying methods. Results showed that physicochemical characteristics and bioactivities of OPPs varied by different drying methods. Noticeable variations in extraction yields, molecular weights, rheological properties, molar ratios of constituent monosaccharides, contents of uronic acids, degrees of esterification, and contents of total phenolics were observed in OPPs obtained by different drying methods. In addition, results showed that OPPs, especially OPP-H and OPP-V obtained by hot air drying and vacuum drying, respectively, exhibited remarkable antioxidant activities (ABTS, DPPH, and nitric oxide radical scavenging activities, and ferric reducing antioxidant powers), strong in vitro binding capacities (fat, cholesterol, and bile acids binding capacities), and obvious inhibitory activities on α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Results suggested that the hot air and vacuum drying techniques could be appropriate drying methods before extraction of OPPs with high bioactivities for applications in the functional food and medicine industries.