A Hybrid Model Integrating Elman Neural Network with Variational Mode Decomposition and Box–Cox Transformation for Monthly Runoff Time Series Prediction

Water Resources Management - Precise and reliable monthly runoff prediction plays a vital role in the optimal management of water resources, but the nonstationarity and skewness of monthly runoff...     

Scallops as a new source of food protein: high-intensity ultrasonication improved stability of oil-in-water emulsion stabilised by myofibrillar protein

In this study, the effect of high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) (200 and 400 W for 0, 5, 10 and 15 min respectively) on conformational changes, physicochemical, rheological and emulsifying properties of scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) myofibrillar protein (SMP) was investigated. HIUS-treated SMP had lower α-helix content and higher β-sheet content compared with the native SMP. HIUS treatment induced the unfolding of SMP and increased the surface hydrophobicity. The particle size of SMP decreased and the absolute zeta-potential increased after ultrasonication, which in turn increased the solubility of SMP. The conformational changes and the improvement of physicochemical properties of SMP increased the ability for SMP to lower the interfacial tension at the oil–water interface and increased the percentage of adsorbed protein. As a result, the emulsifying properties, rheological properties of SMP and storage stability of emulsions were also improved. In conclusion, HIUS treatment has future potential for improving the emulsifying properties of SMP.     

Simultaneous fractionation of multiple classes of polyphenols from honeybush tea using solid-phase extraction

The structural diversity of polyphenols and the inherent limitations of current extraction techniques pose a challenge to extract polyphenols using a simple and green method. Hence, in this study, a method was developed to simultaneously fractionate multiple classes of polyphenols by only varying ethanol-water solutions. Honeybush tea, which is rich in polyphenols, was selected as a model for this study. Solvent extraction followed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) was developed to obtain a polyphenol-rich fraction from six honeybush samples. Based on a gradient elution programme (10%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 90% (v/v) ethanol-water solution) of SPE, the Strata X cartridge showed a better recovery of most targeted polyphenols under 0.9 mL of the drying volume and 1 mL min⁻¹ of the dispensing speed. The elution programme for fractionating most polyphenols was as follows: single elution with 50% ethanol, followed by twice elution with 70% ethanol. The antioxidant capacity was used to analyse the differences among the polyphenol-rich fractions from six honeybush samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that unfermented C. genistoides (GG) has the greatest antioxidant capacity among the honeybush species studied. Additionally, mangiferin, isomangiferin and vicenin-2 were the main contributors to the antioxidant capacity in six honeybush fractions according to the correlation study.     

Adaptive response and tolerance to weak acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii: a metabolomics approach

Weak acids inhibit the growth of probiotics, such as Saccharomyces boulardii. We explored the tolerance of S. boulardii to different weak acids. S. boulardii had better fermentation ability under lactic acid conditions compared with acetic and butyric acid conditions; however, the budding of S. boulardii was significantly stronger than that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae under acetic acid conditions. Although the surface structure of S. boulardii was destroyed, it produced more daughter cells. S. boulardii metabolites were also significantly different from S. cerevisiae under acidic stress. The growth of S. boulardii under weak acid conditions differed significantly from that of S. cerevisiae. S. boulardii-mediated fingerprints under weak acid conditions were identified as latent biomarkers, related to fructose and mannose metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and the glycolysis pathway. Identified biomarkers will aid in the genetic engineering of S. boulardii and other Saccharomyces strains for improved acid resistance and biomass yield.     

The influence of white mud on the water absorption,surface wettability,mechanical, and dynamic thermomechanical properties of core–shell structured wood-plastic composites

European Journal of Wood and Wood Products - To obtain the optimum balance between performance and cost, white mud (lime mud) was incorporated into the shell layer of core–shell structured...     

Effects of Bacillus velezensis zk1 on the physiology and metabolism of peaches

Bacillus velezensis zk1 is the dominant bacterium that causing rot in peaches. However, the mechanisms through that this bacterium causes rot have not been elucidated. Here, we explored the mechanisms of peach decay caused by B. velezensis zk1. The invasion of B. velezensis zk1 in peaches resulted in an increase in glucose and arabinose contents in fruit tissues. Moreover, the relative conductivity of the fruit reached 84% after 4 days of culture with bacterial invasion. With the destruction of cells, the malondialdehyde content increased, whereas the vitamin C, dialdehyde, flavonoid and total phenol contents decreased. Polyphenol oxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and ammonia lyase activities also decreased. Overall, these findings demonstrated that B. velezensis zk1 infection damaged peach chloroplasts, mitochondria, respiratory chain activity and related free radical scavenging enzyme systems, thereby disrupting the normal physiological metabolism of peaches and causing rot.     

基于近红外光谱的橙汁中酸土脂环酸芽孢杆菌的生长预测

酸土脂环酸芽孢杆菌（Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris）是引起橙汁劣变的主要微生物，为研究酸土脂环酸芽孢杆菌在橙汁中的生长规律，利用近红外光谱获取橙汁中酸土脂环酸芽孢杆菌含量的信息，采用标准化（autoscale）、多元散射校正（multiplicative scatter correction,MSC）、标准正态变换（standard normal variate,SNV）、去趋势化（detrend）对光谱进行预处理，结合化学计量学，构建近红外光谱与酸土脂环酸芽孢杆菌含量预测模型。在此基础上，将近红外光谱转换为酸土脂环酸芽孢杆菌预测菌落数据，并采用“一步法”直接基于预测菌落数构建橙汁中酸土脂环酸芽孢杆菌的生长模型。结果表明，利用标准化进行光谱预处理建立的偏最小二乘（partial least squares,PLS）模型对橙汁中酸土脂环酸芽孢杆菌含量的预测效果相对较好，其预测决定系数（prediction determination coefficient,Rp2）与预测均方根误差（root mean square error of prediction...     

特低渗砂岩油藏CO2-低界面张力黏弹流体协同驱油机理研究

目的特低渗油藏储层物性差、层间非均质性强,造成CO₂驱易发生气窜,提高采收率效果欠佳,其中,CO₂水气交替驱作为结合CO₂驱和水驱优势的方法,具有较高的适用性。为进一步改善CO₂-水交替驱的开发效果,开展了CO₂-低界面张力黏弹流体协同驱油研究。 方法通过界面张力和润湿性能测试评价低界面张力黏弹流体基本性能,并利用微观可视化驱油实验及岩心驱油实验等,探究了不同驱替方式的驱油效果和CO₂-低界面张力黏弹流体协同驱油过程中二者之间的“协同作用”机理。 结果低界面张力黏弹流体具备良好的界面活性和改变岩石表面润湿性能力,水驱后开展CO₂驱、低界面张力黏弹流体驱、CO₂-低界面张力黏弹流体交替协同驱,采收率可在水驱基础上分别提高0.91%、10.66%、16.25%,其提高采收率机理包括降低界面张力、改善流度比、改变岩石表面润湿性及乳化作用的协同效应等。 结论CO₂-低界面张力黏弹流体协同驱既可有效增强非均质特低渗砂岩油藏注CO₂过程中气体流动性控制,又能够降低CO₂萃取轻烃导致重质组分沉积的影响,具有协同增效作用。 