Effect of high hydrostatic pressure pretreatment on flavour and physicochemical properties of freeze-dried carambola slices

Ripe carambolas are hard to store and transport, while freeze-dried ones are easy to store. However, its long production time leads to higher costs. This study shows that high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment could shorten the freeze-drying time of carambola slices. After HHP treatment (25–250 MPa), the drying time of the fresh sample can be shortened by 33.3–44.4% and the distribution of water and pigment in tissues is much uniform. With the increment of the pressure, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical scavenging rate are increased. At 250 MPa, the total phenolic content (TPC) increased from 11.34 to 13.36 mg GAE g⁻¹, and the total flavonoid content (TFC) of the control sample was increased from 10.77 to 12.73 mg RE g⁻¹. Compared with the untreated sample, HHP treatment can enhance the flavour and shorten the freeze-drying time. This work guides the application of HHP technology for drying food processing.     

磨料有序排布电镀砂轮的制备及其把持力研究

为解决电镀砂轮磨削加工中容屑空间不足的问题，采用点胶微粘接的方法制备了磨料有序排布的电镀砂轮，分析了磨料粘接效果和镀层力学性能。通过SEM分析了磨料/镀层/导电胶的结合界面，并进行了干磨削试验。研究结果表明，直径约为磨料粒径40%的胶点可粘接住磨料，单个胶点上粘接多颗磨料的占比小于6%；双脉冲电镀工艺制备的镀层显微硬度大于500HV，表层残余应力小于100MPa，磨料/镀层/导电胶之间的界面贴合紧密，无明显缺陷；砂轮在磨削时没有出现磨料脱落现象。     

Prediction of Chameleonic Efficiency

Chameleonic properties, i. e., the capacity of a molecule to hide polarity in non-polar environments and expose it in water, help achieving sufficient permeability and solubility for drug molecules with high MW. We present models of experimental measures of polarity for a set of 24 FDA approved drugs (MW 405-1113) and one PROTAC (MW 1034). Conformational ensembles in aqueous and non-polar environments were generated using molecular dynamics. A linear regression model that predicts chromatographic apparent polarity (EPSA) with a mean unsigned error of 10 Ų was derived based on separate terms for donor, acceptor, and total molecular SASA. A good correlation (R²=0.92) with an experimental measure of hydrogen bond donor potential, Δlog P_oct-tol, was found for the mean hydrogen bond donor SASA of the conformational ensemble scaled with Abraham's A hydrogen bond acidity. Two quantitative measures of chameleonic behaviour, the chameleonic efficiency indices, are introduced. We envision that the methods presented herein will be useful to triage designed molecules and prioritize those with the best chance of achieving acceptable permeability and solubility.     

珠江口盆地珠一坳陷古近系高自然伽马砂岩形成机制及油气地质意义

运用放射性元素寻找油气是一种非常规油气勘探手段。近年来,在珠江口盆地珠一坳陷富烃凹陷周边古近系钻遇高自然伽马(GR)砂岩,其GR值(100~300 API)甚至大于同区泥岩的GR值(100~200 API)。为了弄清该特殊现象背后的地质意义,对珠江口盆地珠一坳陷古近系高自然伽马砂岩开展了铀(U)、钍(Th)、钾(K)等3种元素含量与GR值的相关趋势线分析,从井震特征、岩性特征及矿物成分特征等入手分析了砂岩GR值增高的主要原因及成因机制,探讨了放射性元素聚集的条件、运移通道、驱动力以及油气意义。结果表明:西江、惠州地区由U含量增高导致砂岩GR值偏高,恩平、番禺地区由K,Th含量增高导致砂岩GR值偏高;砂岩GR值增高有两大成因机制,一是地下流体带来的放射性元素离子U4+在氧化-还原面处富集后导致地层GR值偏高,这种特殊现象说明在具有连通基底大断裂旁的圈闭中,U4+的富集指示了曾经油气的存在,证实了研究区油气运移通道的有效性,对于油气藏的预测有着非常重要的指导性意义,二是地表流体带来的含放射性元素的矿物大量沉积后导致地层GR值偏高,含放射性元素矿物性质不稳定,可指示近源供给的存在,对于判断物源及沉积环境有着非常重要的意义。该研究成果为预测研究区油气成藏有利区带提供了依据。     

Agronomic performance of high oleic,low linolenic soybean in Tennessee

Soybean oil hydrogenation alters the linolenic acid molecule to prevent the oil from becoming rancid, however, health reports have indicated trans-fat caused by hydrogenation, is not generally regarded as safe. Typical soybeans contain approximately 80 g kg⁻¹ to 120 g kg⁻¹ linolenic acid and 240 g kg⁻¹ of oleic acid. In an effort to accommodate the need for high-quality oil, the United Soybean Board introduced an industry standard for a high oleic acid greater than 750 g kg⁻¹ and linolenic acid less than 30 g kg⁻¹ oil. By combing mutations in the soybean plant at four loci, FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B, oleate desaturase genes and FAD3A and FAD3C, linoleate desaturase genes, and seed oil will not require hydrogenation to prevent oxidation and produce high-quality oil. In 2017 and 2018, a study comparing four near-isogenic lines across multiple Tennessee locations was performed to identify agronomic traits associated with mutations in FAD3A and FAD3C loci, while holding FAD2-1A and FAD2-1B constant in the mutant (high oleic) state. Soybean lines were assessed for yield and oil quality based on mutations at FAD2-1 and FAD3 loci. Variations of wild-type and mutant genotypes were compared at FAD3A and FAD3C loci. Analysis using a generalized linear mixed model in SAS 9.4, indicated no yield drag or other negative agronomic traits associated with the high oleic and low linolenic acid genotype. All four mutations of fad2-1A, fad2-1B, fad3A, and fad3C were determined as necessary to produce a soybean with the new industry standard (>750 g kg⁻¹ oleic and <30 g kg⁻¹ linolenic acid) in a maturity group-IV-Late cultivar for Tennessee growers.     

Influence of pulse-jet cleaning pressure on performance of compact dust collector with pleated filter operated in clean-on-time mode

To operate a bag filter continuously, pulse-jet cleaning of dust particles from the filter medium is commonly required, and the pulse-jet pressure significantly affects the filter performance. In this study, the accumulation structure of residual dust particles inside and on the surface of a filter medium at different pulse-jet pressures was investigated by constructing a simple model, and the influence of the dust structure on the filter performance was clarified. Using a simple model, we determined the effective ratio of filtration area β, which represents the ratio of the filterable area to the total filtration area, the true resistance coefficient due to the primary dust layer ζ_p’ thinly deposited on the filter surface, and the true resistance coefficient inside the filter media itself ζ_f’_. The effective ratio of filtration area β decreased with operation time for all pulse-jet pressures; however, it maintained a high value when the pulse-jet pressure was high. The validity of β analyzed by the model was verified using two different methods, and the results showed good agreement, indicating that the model is effective in identifying real conditions. The true resistance coefficient due to the primary dust layer ζ_p’ decreased as the pulse-jet pressure increased; however, the true resistance coefficient inside the filter media itself ζ_f’ was the highest at 0.5 MPa. In addition, the dust collection efficiency was different at each pulse-jet pressure, which was considered to be caused by the difference in the dust particle accumulation structure.     

Salt-assisted solution combustion synthesis of NiFe2O4: Effect of salt type

The effects of three types of salt including NaF, KCl, and NaCl on the properties of NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles using salt-assisted solution combustion synthesis (SSCS) have been investigated. The synthesized powders were evaluated by SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD, and VSM analysis. Also, the specific surface area (SSA), as well as size distribution and volume of the porosities of NiFe₂O₄ powders were determined by the BET apparatus. The visual observations showed that the intensity and time of combustion synthesis of nanoparticles have been severely influenced by the type of salt. The highest crystallinity was observed in the synthesized powder using NaCl. The SSA has also been correlated completely to the type of salt. The quantities of SSA was achieved about 91.62, 64.88, and 47.22 m²g^-1 for the powders synthesized by KCl, NaCl, and NaF respectively. Although the magnetic hysteresis loops showed the soft ferromagnetic behavior of the NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles in all conditions, KCl salt could produce the particles with the least coercivity and remanent magnetization. Based on the present study, the salt type is a key parameter in the SSCS process for the preparation of spinel ferrites. Thermodynamic evaluation also showed that the melting point and heat capacity are important parameters for the proper selection of the salt.     

Zika Virus Growth in Human Kidney Cells Is Restricted by an Elevated Glucose Level

Mosquito-borne Zika virus (ZIKV) became a real threat to human health due to the lack of vaccine and effective antiviral treatment. The virus has recently been responsible for a global outbreak leading to millions of infected cases. ZIKV complications were highlighted in adults with Guillain–Barré syndrome and in newborns with increasing numbers of congenital disorders ranging from mild developmental delays to fatal conditions. The ability of ZIKV to establish a long-term infection in diverse organs including the kidneys has been recently documented but the consequences of such a viral infection are still debated. Our study aimed to determine whether the efficiency of ZIKV growth in kidney cells relates to glucose concentration. Human kidney HK-2 cells were infected with different ZIKV strains in presence of normal and high glucose concentrations. Virological assays showed a decrease in viral replication without modifying entry steps (viral binding, internalization, fusion) under high glucose conditions. This decrease replication was associated with a lower virus progeny and increased cell viability when compared to ZIKV-infected HK-2 cells in normal glucose concentration. In conclusion, we showed for the first time that an elevated glucose level influences ZIKV replication level with an effect on kidney cell survival.     

High-surface-area mesoporous silica-yttria-zirconia ceramic materials prepared by coprecipitation method ― the role of silicon

A high surface area is one of desired properties for yttria-zirconia (Y₂O₃–ZrO₂) ceramic materials given their catalytic applications. The objective of this study is to develop high-surface-area Y₂O₃–ZrO₂ materials by silicon (Si) modification and investigate the role of Si. Si-modified yttrium-zirconium hydroxides were prepared via a one-step precipitation process and calcined at 800 or 950 °C to form Si-modified Y₂O₃–ZrO₂ (denoted as SiO₂–Y₂O₃–ZrO₂) materials containing 0-20 wt% Si as SiO₂. These hydroxides or materials were characterized by ²⁹Si NMR, XPS, TG-DSC, XRD, UV Raman, TEM, and N₂ physisorption measurements. Si species uniformly distributed in the hydroxides tended to be enriched on the material surface at high temperatures. These Si species dominated by the silicates blocked the migration of Y and Zr atoms, which resisted the crystallite growth of Y₂O₃–ZrO₂ components and reduced their crystallite size. Therefore, the SiO₂–Y₂O₃–ZrO₂ possessed a surface area of 59-112 m²/g after calcination at 950 °C for 9 h, which was significantly higher than that of the Y₂O₃–ZrO₂ (23 m²/g). This study may stimulate ideas for developing high-surface-area crystalline ceramic materials calcined at high temperatures.