Search

Salmonella Schwarzengrund and Escherichia coli O157:H7 are ones of foodborne pathogens that can produce biofilms and cause serious food poisoning. Bacteriophages are an emerging antibacterial strategy used to prevent foodborne pathogen contamination in the food industry. In this study, the combined antibacterial effects of the polyvalent phage PS5 and sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) against both pathogens were investigated to evaluate their effectiveness in food applications. The combined treatment with phage PS5 (multiplicity of infection, MOI = 10) and 1.0% SHMP inhibited the growth of S. Schwarzengrund and E. coli O157:H7, and the viable counts of both decreased by more than 2.45 log CFU/mL. In KAGOME vegetable and fruit mixed juice, the combined treatment with PS5 (MOI = 100) and 1.0% SHMP also resulted in significant pathogen inactivation at 4 °C after 24 h. PS5 (1010 PFU/mL) and 1.0% SHMP showed stronger synergistic effects on biofilm formation and the removal of established biofilms on polystyrene plates. Additionally, we evaluated their combined effects on reducing the biofilms of S. Schwarzengrund and E. coli O157:H7 on glass tubes and cabbage leaves at 4 °C. These findings indicate the utility of this approach in the biocontrol of the planktonic and biofilm cells of S. Schwarzengrund and E. coli O157:H7 on foods and food contact surfaces. • Phage PS5 and SHMP (PS5-SHMP) killed Salmonella and Escherichia coli cells in juice. • PS5-SHMP inhibited Salmonella and E. coli biofilm formation. • PS5-SHMP reduced biofilm growth on polystyrene, glass, and cabbage leaves at 4 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With honey adulteration, not only consumers and masses are defrauded, but also the normal market order is adversely upsetting due to the unfair competition. Therefore, it is necessary to establish an accurate and fast method for the identification of honey adulteration. A new chemometrics-assisted high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection (HPLC–DAD) method was developed to rapidly and sensitively quantify seven phenolic compounds (i.e., gallic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid, abscisic acid, and cinnamic acid) in honey and identify three types of adulteration in honey samples. This strategy has proven to be a useful tool for co-eluting and strong background interference problems in chromatographic analysis, and is able to quantify seven target analytes in complex samples within only 5.4 min. The average recoveries of seven target analytes in honey and adulterated honey samples ranged from 85.25 to 109.60%, with a low quantification limit and good sensitivity. In addition, the contents of major phenolic compounds were utilized as input variables for the identification of real honey and adulterated honey samples by principal component analysis (PCA). The experimental results showed that there was a close relationship between the content of phenolic acid compounds and the quality of honey, and therefore, the analysis in this paper would provide a powerful reference to fight with honey adulteration by combining chemometric technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Abundant oil and gas reservoirs in the deep-water are the valuable non-renewable energy sources. However, sea-water could enhance the corrosion of marine equipment such as submarine pipe trees. Various coatings, for example, polyurethane (PU) coatings are sprayed on the steel surfaces to enhance the anti-corrosion performance. Thus, to improve the anti-corrosion behavior of PU coatings in sea-water is imperative. Design/methodology/approach: In this paper, the corrosion behaviors of 4130 carbon steel with and without PU coatings were discussed by electrochemical mean in sea-water. And the graphene additive in different concentrations (0.1, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 per cent) were also studied. A series of characterized methods were introduced to identify the anti-corrosion performances of 4130 carbon steel with and without coatings, respectively. Findings: The results showed that the anti-corrosion property of 4130 carbon steel can enhance obviously with the PU coatings. The graphene additive can further improve the anti-corrosion behaviour of PU coatings and in the concentration of 0.6 per cent the PU/graphene coatings worked best. Originality/value: This is beneficial for enhancing the service life of marine equipment in an eco-friendly method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides from fungi are good free radical scavengers. However, there are no enzymes digesting these polysaccharides in the human body, which limits the use of fungal polysaccharides. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the preparation methods of fungal polysaccharides to improve the utilization rate of fungal polysaccharides. In this paper, the acidic polysaccharide of Tremella fuciformis was extracted by boiling and precipitated by ethanol. The total sugar content obtained by freeze-drying after ion exchange chromatography purification was 93.6%. It is mainly composed of mannose, glucuronic acid, xylose and fucose. According to the peak area, the mass ratio of the substance is about 6.8:1:1.5:0.6, which indicates that TFP is a polysaccharide with mannose as its main chain and glucuronic acid, fucose and xylose as well as a small amount of glucose as the branch chain. Molecular weight is 1.86 × 106 Da. The existence of glucuronic acid endows polysaccharides with negative charge in aqueous solution and can be assembled into nanostructures with chitosan. By measuring the swelling property in aqueous, it shows the TFP separated from Tremella fuciformis fruits is suitable for drug controlled release. • The polysaccharide extracted from Tremella Fuciformis Fruiting body, and characterized by HPLC, FTIR, HPGPC, 1H NMR/13C NMR. • Methods of nanostructures assembly of Tremella Fuciformis polysaccharide with chitosan were reported. • The nanostructures were characterized by FTIR, SEM and DLS. • The properties of medicine encapsulation and heavy metal ions absorption of the nanostructures were investigated [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The vibration of the pipeline act on the gasket sealing surface in the form of fretting wear, reducing the sealing performance. In this paper, an experimental study was described on the fretting wear and frictional mechanism of interface between spiral wound gasket (SWG) and flange. The results showed that the gasket winding structure affects the variation of the friction coefficient fluctuation. Moreover, only the fretting behavior of mixed friction regime (MFR) and slip regime (SR) can be expressed stably. Additionally, fretting wear is dominated by abrasive and adhesive wear, and plastic deformation occurs under high load. The intense wear behavior mainly presented in the circumferential direction of small displacement and the radial friction process of large displacement. Highlights • The fretting wear of commonly used spiral wound gasket (SWG) in pipelines was studied. • The effects of different fretting parameters on the SWG worn surface are presented especially the fretting direction. • The damage caused by fretting wear on the contact surface of the SWG reduce the rebound resilience of the gasket. • Research on fretting wear has guiding significance for sealing and safety evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The higher level ab initio methods are performed to reduce an accuracy of three-dimensional adiabatic potential energies. And the accurate numerically fitted method, 3D-spline method, is used to get an accuracy adiabatic potential energy surfaces for the three lowest states of CCO molecule. Starting from reactants, the title reaction through the first two lowest states have no reaction barrier should be very fast. The title reaction pathways should be different depending on the angles that the oxygen atom O(3P) attacked the C 2 ( a 3 Π u ) molecule. If the angles less than 60 ° , the reaction pathway should be O(3P) + C 2 ( 3 Π u ) → CCO( C ∞ ) → CO( X 1 Σ) + C(1D); On the other hand, if the angles great than 65°the transition state should be take into account, the reaction pathway is O(3P) + C 2 ( 3 Π u ) → CCO( C 2 v ) → TS → CCO( C ∞ ) → CO( X 1 Σ) + C(1D). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Resiniferatoxin (RTX), a selective transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor agonist, can eliminate TRPV1+ primary sensory afferents and blunt cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex for a relatively long period. The present study determined the effects of intrathecal RTX administration on transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced cardiac dysfunction and cardiac remodeling in rats. Five days before TAC, RTX (2 μg/10 μl) was injected intrathecally into the T2/T3 interspace of rats. Cardiac sympathetic nerve activities (CSNAs) and cardiac structure and function were determined eight weeks after TAC. Intrathecal RTX administration abolished TRPV1 expression in the dorsal horn and reduced over-activated CSNA in the TAC rat model. Hemodynamic analysis revealed that RTX reduced left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, indicating the improvement of cardiac compliance. Histologic analysis, real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and Western blots showed that RTX prevented TAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, and cardiac apoptosis and reduced the expression of apoptotic proteins and myocardial mRNAs. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that focal chemo-ablation of TRPV1+ afferents in the spinal cord protects the heart from pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling and cardiac dysfunction, which suggest a novel promising therapeutic method for cardiac hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand deposition has caused damages to downhole equipment during energy exploitation. The frictional behavior of washing tool against casing under sand condition has been investigated using home-developed tribometer. Experimental results show that friction process has three stages, initial friction, fluctuation friction, stable friction stage. Sand particles get and crush into small during friction process in contact area. The wear rate is inversely related with tool material hardness. The growth rate of tool wear rate decreased with load increasing for surface hardened by small crushed particles indentation, demonstrated by surface morphology and element analysis after test. The wear rate decreased with rotation increasing for more crushed particles indentation. The dominate wear form is abrasive wear and micro-cutting, accompanied with adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Donepezil, a widely used cholinesterase inhibitor for treating Alzheimer’s disease, has been reported to induce bradyarrhythmias and torsade de pointes. In this study, we aimed at determining electrocardiogram changes of donepezil administration in elderly patients with ischemic heart disease, who tend to suffer from cognitive disorders. Methods. Sixty patients with ischemic heart disease and mild cognitive impairment were treated with donepezil (5 mg/day) and followed up for at least four weeks. A twenty-four-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram was performed for the analysis of heart rate variability. The ECG parameters including heart rate (HR), PR and RR intervals, QT interval, and QRS duration were recorded at the baseline and after donepezil administration. Results. Donepezil administration resulted in significant reduction in mean HR and the lowest HR and prolongation of PR and RR intervals, whereas it had no significant effects on QRS duration and QT parameters including QT, corrected QT interval, QT dispersion, and Tpeak-end interval. HRV analysis showed that donepezil administration significantly improved parasympathetic function, indicated by decreased low/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio and high frequency (HF) components and oscillation of RR intervals. Conclusions. These data demonstrated that donepezil administration decreased HR, prolonged PR interval, and increased parasympathetic function without affecting QRS duration and QT intervals, suggesting that it can be used safely in elderly patients with ischemic heart disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new application of electrical explosion of wire (EEW) used in petroleum industry is to enhance oil recovery (EOR). Because of the complex environment underground, the effect of underground water conductivity on EEW should be considered. This work describes the effect of water conductivities on discharge current, voltage and shock waves. It was found that the effect of water conductivity contains two parts. One is the shunt effect of saline water, which can be considered as a parallel load with the copper wire between the electrodes connected to the discharge circuit. The peak pressure of shock waves are gradually decrease with the increase of water conductivity. The other is the current loss through saline water directly to the ground ends without flowing through the electrodes. The shunt effect is the main factor affecting the wire discharge process. As the charging voltage increased, the energy loss caused by these two parts are all reduced. These indicate that increasing the charging voltage to a certain value will increase the energy efficiency to generate a more powerful shock waves in conductive water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical explosion of wire (EEW), which can generate a convenient, stable, and controllable shock wave (SW), is gradually acted as a physical and environmentally friendly enhanced oil recovery technology in petroleum industry. In order to establish the relationship between the SWs and EEW, the process and mechanism of underwater EEW were investigated and discussed as a function of recipe current, voltage, and pressure in the test conditions. This work describes the effect of wire diameter, capacitance, energy deposition, water conductivity, and temperature on the pressure of SWs. It was found that the amplitude of SWs has a close relationship to the energy deposition in vaporization process. Under the same stored energy of different capacitors, the energy deposition in vaporization stage is more efficient with high charging voltage and low capacitance in a stable explosion, because of the high magnetic pressure and short discharge time. While, the water conductivity and temperature have a significant effect on current and voltage in vaporization stage. The shunt effect of saline water and high thermal conductivity of high-temperature water effect the energy deposition in this stage, which made the amplitude of SWs are falling. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Relaxin is safe and efficient to use for treating acute heart failure. However, the electrophysiological and arrhythmogenic effects of relaxin in an experimental healing infarction model remain unknown. In this study, a rat model with myocardial infarction (MI) received relaxin (0.5 mg/kg per day) or vehicle (sodium acetate) infusion via implantable mini-pumps for 2 weeks. Thereafter, hemodynamic measurement, electrophysiological study, histological examination, and immunofluorescence labeling were performed. Relaxin treatment significantly attenuated tachyarrhythmia inducibility and cardiac dysfunction in healing infarcted heart. Epicardial monophasic action potentials showed that relaxin significantly reduced the dispersion of action potential duration in postinfarcted hearts. Histological study revealed that relaxin significantly reduced myocardial apoptosis and cardiac fibrotic collagen deposition. Western blot revealed that relaxin treatment significantly suppressed the protein expression levels of TGFβ1, α-SMA, and type I collagen. Furthermore, abnormal alterations of Connexin 43, including reduction and lateralization, were significantly attenuated by relaxin treatment at the infarcted border zone. This study provides strong evidence that continuous relaxin intervention ameliorates cardiac fibrosis and apoptosis, attenuates remodeling of gap junction and focal heterogeneity of repolarization, and reduces vulnerability to tachyarrhythmias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particles are widely used as the fracturing proppant component. In order to better understand the mechanism of particles moving behavior for hydraulic fracturing, the frictional behavior at the contacts of grains has been investigated by using a self-developed testing device. The particles used in the tests are quartz sand particles, a kind of fracturing proppant particles. The in-situ observation results indicate that particle interaction process during sliding movement can be divided into four stages: initial slide stage, up slide stage, peak slide stage, down slide stage. Results also show that inter-particle friction properties in the sliding process are different when test conditions are changed. The friction mechanism and the influences of water absorption and surface layer peeling are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds and Objective. During the procession of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), transthoracic electrical cardioversion (ECV) is required to terminate AF. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of additional ECV on cardiac function and recurrence of AF. Methods and Results. Persistent AF patients received extensive encircling pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and additional line ablation. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they need transthoracic electrical cardioversion to terminate AF: electrical cardioversion (ECV group) and nonelectrical cardioversion (NECV group). Among 111 subjects, 35 patients were returned to sinus rhythm after ablation by ECV (ECV group) and 76 patients had AF termination after the ablation processions (NECV group). During the 12-month follow-ups, the recurrence ratio of patients was comparable in ECV group (15/35) and NECV group (34/76) (44.14% versus 44.74%, P=0.853). Although left atrial diameters (LAD) decreased significantly in both groups, there were no significant differences in LAD and left ventricular cardiac function between ECV group and NECV group. Conclusions. This study revealed that ECV has no significant impact on the maintenance of SR and the recovery of cardiac function. Therefore, ECV could be applied safely to recover SR during the procedure of catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technique of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) utilizes four (or six) primers targeting six (or eight) regions within a fairly small segment of a genome for amplification, with potential for greater specificity than two primer methods such as polymerase chain reaction. In this study, a set of LAMP primers was designed targeting the 16S–23S ribosomal RNA intergenic spacer region ofStaphylococcus aureus, and tested for sensitivity and specificity in real-time LAMP reactions. Under optimized conditions, the detection limit of our developed assay was 10 fg DNA template ofS. aureusper reaction, with no detectable false-positive response, which was 103-fold more sensitive than previously reported LAMP assay. The assay was shown to detect two strains ofS. aureus, and did not detect 24 non-S. aureusstrains, providing improved specificity over previously reported LAMP assays. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The material properties and drill pipe hardbanding performance of PCD reinforced WC matrix composites were investigated in an attempt to understand the relationship between the raw material's properties and its tool performance. The PCD reinforced WC matrix composite consists of two parts: a PCD part and a WC matrix part. The diamond grains and WC grains in different parts are diffusely distributed which make the material combine closely to improve the bonding strength. A height difference is found at the border of these two parts, which is advantageous to form a lubricant film. The drill pipe hardbanding with a composition of PCD reinforced WC matrix composites exhibits the best tool performance under drilling conditions. The excellent anti-friction property and reasonable hardness of this PCD reinforced WC matrix composite are the primary reasons for its enhanced tool performance. The overall results demonstrate that the PCD reinforced WC matrix composites are extremely promising for drill pipe hardbanding applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to develop instant coarse cereal porridge to improve the convenience of coarse cereals by precooking. The effects of cooking time on the rehydration rate and gelatinization degree of coix seeds, red beans, lotus seeds, wheat kernels, and glutinous rice are investigated using the atmospheric pressure precooking process. Cooking time and quality variations of the coarse cereals are analyzed before and after precooking. The optimal cooking times for coix seeds, red beans, lotus seeds, wheat kernels, and glutinous rice under atmospheric pressure cooking are 110, 65, 40, 40, and 35 minutes (abbr. min), respectively. The rehydration rates are 171.5%, 190%, 170.67%, 224%, and 182.67%, respectively, and the gelatinization degrees are 90%, 74.54%, 80.1%, 92.85%, and 96.97%, respectively. The cooking times of pre‐cooked and pressed coix seeds, red beans, lotus seeds, wheat kernels, and glutinous rice are 10, 8, 12, 10, and 6 min, respectively. Compared to coarse cereals without precooking, the cooking time is reduced by 6.6, 6.5, 3, 4, and 2.3 times, respectively. Instant porridge prepared by combining precooked coarse cereals and dried fruits and vegetables can be consumed after soaking in boiling water for 20 min or boiling for 10 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation is a promising new therapy to improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction (MI). The electrophysiological consequences of MSC implantation has not been systematically studied. Methods: We investigated the electrophysiological and arrhythmogenic effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy in experimental infarction model. Rats were subjected to MI operation by LAD ligation and randomly allocated to receive intramyocardially injection PBS (MI-PBS) or 5×105 EGFP labeled MSCs (MI-MSCs). Electrophysiological study, histological examination, and western blotting were performed 2weeks after cell transplantation. Results: Programmed electrical stimulation (PES) showed a significant reduced inducible ventricular tachycardias (VTs), raised ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) and prolonged ventricular effective refractory period (VERP) in MSC-treated rats compared to PBS-treated animals. MSC implantation led to markedly longer action potential duration (APD) and shorter activation time (AT) in infarcted border zone (IBZ) of left ventricular epicardium compared with PBS-treated hearts. Histological study revealed that fibrotic area and collagen deposition in infarcted region were significantly lower in MI-MSC group than in MI-PBS group. Abnormal alterations of Connexin 43 including reduction and lateralization were significantly attenuated by MSC treatment. Conclusions: This study provide strong evidence that MSC implantation ameliorates interstitial fibrosis and the remodeling of gap junction, attenuates focal heterogeneity of reporlarization and conduction and reduces vulnerability to VTs. The results suggest that MSC transplantation might emerge as a new preventive strategy against VAs besides improving cardiac performance in ischemic heart disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) allows a rapid amplification of nucleic acids under isothermal conditions. It can be combined with a rhodamine-based dual chemosensor for much more efficient, field-friendly detection of Listeria monocytogenes. In this report, LAMP was performed at 63 °C for 10 min, followed by a rapid reaction of DNA amplification and the byproduct, pyrophosphate ion, with a rhodamine-based dual chemosensor and Cu2+ is visualized as a disappearance of red color. The detection limit of L. monocytogenes by the LAMP-chemosensor was 8 to 10 cells per reaction tube, and the total assay time including 10 min for rapid DNA extraction was approximately 30 min. Data on naturally contaminated raw milk samples indicated that the LAMP method was highly specific and sensitive, giving 100% concordance with the ISO 10560 reference method. The results showed that the LAMP-chemosensor method has the advantages of better sensitivity and speed and less dependence on equipment than the standard Polymerase Chain Reaction for specifically detecting low levels of L. monocytogenes DNA, and this can be useful in the field as a routine diagnostic tool. Practical Application: The LAMP-chemosensor method reported here provided a powerful tool for detection of L. monocytogenes in raw milk samples due to its specificity, sensitivity, and rapidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of a Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detecting food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes was presented in this paper. Three pairs of primers were specially designed for recognizing eight distinct sequences of iap gene (P60 extracellular protein, invasion associated protein IAP). Time and temperature conditions for amplification of L. monocytogenes were optimized to be 40 min at 63C. Detection limit level for artificially contaminated raw milk samples by the LAMP assay was 186 cfu/mL corresponding to 8–10 cells per reaction tube, while the detection level by conventional PCR was 1.86 × 105 cfu/mL. Data on natural raw milk samples indicated that the LAMP method was highly specific and sensitive, giving 91.67% concordance with the ISO 10560 reference method for the samples without enrichment and 100% concordance after enrichment. PRACTICAL APPLICATION The LAMP method in this paper provided a powerful tool with the specificity, sensitivity and rapidity for detection of Listeria monocytogenes in raw milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Multilayer polyelectrolyte films containing silver ions were obtained by molecular deposition method on a glass plate or a quartz substrate. The in situ Ag nanoparticles were synthesized in the multilayer polyelectrolyte films which were put into fresh NaBH4 aqueous solution. The structure and surface morphology of composite molecular deposition films were observed by UV–vis spectrophotometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Tribological characteristic was investigated by AFM and micro-tribometer. It was found that the in situ Ag nanoparticles/polyelectrolyte composite molecular deposition films have lower coefficient of friction and higher anti-wear life than pure polyelectrolyte molecular deposition films. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The molecular deposition films of poly (diallyl dimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and poly (acrylicacid) (PAA) with Cu2+ on quartz and glass substrates were prepared in laboratory first, then different bilayers films were dipped into fresh Na2S aqueous solution. As a result, CuS nanoparticles were fabricated in multilayer molecular deposition films in situ. The structure and nanotribological properties of the composite films were analyzed by ultraviolet-visible (UV-visible) spectroscopy, XPS and atomic force microscope (AFM). It was found that the CuS nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed throughout the whole film. And these films had a much smaller friction force than their substrates and higher antiwear life than pristine PDDA/PAA molecular deposition films. The fluctuation and variation trend of the topography, hardness, and friction with the AFM indentation length were also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey adulteration has been on the rise with the increasing demand for high-quality honey, and the authentication of A. cerana honey is a major problem that the current bee industry needs to solve. The aim of this research was to establish the proofreading enzyme-mediated probe cleavage combined with ladder-shape melting temperature isothermal amplification (Proofman-LMTIA) method for the authentication of Apis cerana honey. The LMTIA primers were designed to target the specific 18S rRNA sequence of A. cerana, and the conditions for Proofman-LMTIA amplification were optimized. The specificity and sensitivity of the method were determined and compared with that of the droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The optimal temperature of the established Proofman-LMTIA method was 62 °C. The method can specially to detect the A. cerana gene without cross-reactivity with the genomes from other animal and plant species, and the amplification reaction can be finished within 20 min with the sensitivity of 10 pg A. cerana genomic DNA, which was more sensitive than the droplet digital PCR method. The obtained results demonstrate that the established Proofman-LMTIA procedure was specific, sensitive, and rapid, and can be used for authentication of A. cerana honey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey adulteration has been on the rise with the increasing demand for high-quality honey. The ladders-shape melting temperature isothermal amplification (LMTIA) was a newly developed nucleic acid amplification technique, and the aim of this study was to establish a method combining the LMTIA with the proofreading enzyme-mediated probe cleavage (Proof-man probe) for detecting the thaumatin-like protein (TLP) genes of Brassica rapa var. oleifera in honey. The LMTIA primers was selected as a target to be designed, the temperature of the Proof-man LMTIA reaction was optimized, and the specificity, sensitivity, and applicability to the honey samples were determined. The results showed that the Proof-man LMTIA method was highly specific with a detection sensitivity of 30-40 copies genomic DNA/reaction at the optimal temperature of 60°C, and the amplification could be completed within 20 min. This method can detect the adulteration of low-price B. rapa honey into high-price honey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Ni content and maceration metal on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the WC based diamond composites were investigated in an attempt to seek optimal Ni addition concentration and alloy type. The results indicate that the Cu-10Ni-5Mn-29Zn alloy is more suitable to be used as the matrix maceration metal of WC matrix materials. The bending strength of matrix samples increased up to approximately 10% upon 5 wt% Ni addition. The WC based diamond composite with 5 wt% Ni exhibited an optimal overall performance. The strengthening mechanisms of bending strength and diamond retention capabilities were revealed. The good diamond-holding and WC-holding capabilities and the reinforcement of toughness and the plastic of this Cu-10Ni-5Mn-29Zn alloy are the primary reasons for the excellent performance of composites. • The Cu-10Ni-5Mn-29Zn alloy is more suitable to be used as the matrix maceration metal of WC matrix materials. • The WC based diamond composite with 5 wt% Ni exhibited an optimal overall performance. • The primary reasons for the excellent performance of composites was put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NiTi alloy is widely used in extreme working conditions due to its pseudoelasticity, shape memory effect and wear resistance. In this study, the NiTi alloy coating (Ni49.8Ti50.2 (at%)) was fabricated by high-frequency induction heating. The coating was well-formed on the surface of cemented carbide YG8 and converted to crystalline after aging treatment. The results of 70h erosion wear experiments carried on the rotary erosion wear test device showing that the erosion wear amount of the coating was reduced by 93 % compared with that of YG8, resulting from the deformation recovery effect. Moreover, the main erosion wear mechanism of the coating was micro-cutting and ploughing. This study can provide technical support and theoretical basis for preparing of NiTi alloy coating and erosion wear resistance. • The coating was prepared using high-frequency induction heating technology. • The coating has better erosion and wear resistance at different test temperatures. • The ability of recoverable deformation improves the erosion wear resistance of the coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the widespread application of pipelines in engineering, more and more accidents occur because of pipeline leakage. Therefore, it is particularly important to continuously monitor the pipeline pressure. In this study, a non-intrusive and high-sensitivity structure based on FBG (Fiber Bragg grating) sensor is proposed. Firstly, the basic sensing theory of FBG and the state of a pipeline wall under inner pressure are analyzed. Then, structural sensitivity is deduced based on the flexure hinge and mechanical lever. Subsequently, finite element simulation for the whole sensitization structure is carried out, and optimal parameters are determined to obtain the maximum sensitivity. Finally, laboratory experiments are conducted to verify the function of the designed sensitivity structure. The experimental results show a good agreement with the simulation results. In the experiment, it can be found that the designed structure has a strain sensitivity of 9.59 pm/με, which is 11.51 times the pipeline surface strain. Besides, the structure is convenient to operate and has a good applied prospect for the engineering practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to extend the storage time of fresh-cut lotus roots. A quantitative evaluation was conducted using the grey–correlation analysis method based on the variation–coefficient weight to observe the treatment of acetic acid (0, 2%, and 5%) and ozone (0, 0.3 mg/L, and 0.6 mg/L). Their effects on weight loss rate, browning degree, and the content of reducing sugar, ascorbic acid, and free amino acid were determined. Under varied treatments and storage time, the weight loss rate, browning degree, and content of nutritional components in fresh-cut lotus root differed. Result of the weighted correlation degree showed that for fresh-cut lotus root stored for more than 4 days, 0.3 mg/L ozone could be used as preservative to ensure the storage quality. These findings could provide a scientific basis for using acetic acid and ozone as preservative to extend the storage time of fresh-cut lotus root. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ventricular arrhythmia is commonly provoked by acute cardiac ischemia through sympathetic exaggeration and is often resistant to anti-arrhythmic therapies. Thoracic epidural anesthesia has been reported to terminate fatal ventricular arrhythmia; however, its underlying mechanism is unknown. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham, sham plus bupivacaine, ischemia/reperfusion (IR), and IR plus bupivacaine groups. Bupivacaine (1 mg/mL, 0.05 mL/100 g body weight) was injected intrathecally into the L5–L6 intervertebral space prior to establishing a myocardial IR rat model. Thereafter, cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac function, myocardial injury, and electrical activities of the heart and spinal cord were evaluated. Results: Intrathecal bupivacaine inhibited spinal neural activity, improved heart rate variability, reduced ventricular arrhythmia score, and ameliorated cardiac dysfunction in IR rats. Furthermore, intrathecal bupivacaine attenuated cardiac injury and myocardial apoptosis and regulated cardiomyocyte autophagy and connexin-43 distribution during myocardial IR. Conclusion: Our results indicate that intrathecal bupivacaine blunts spinal neural activity to prevent cardiac arrhythmia and dysfunction induced by IR and that this anti-arrhythmic activity may be associated with regulation of autonomic balance, myocardial apoptosis and autophagy, and cardiac gap junction function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doxorubicin (DXB) is one of the most commonly used anticancer agents for treating solid and hematological malignancies; however, DXB-induced cardiorenal toxicity presents a limiting factor to its clinical usefulness in cancer patients. Costunolide (COST) is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactone with excellent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties. This study evaluated the effect of COST on DXB-induced cardiorenal toxicity in rats. Rats were orally treated with COST for 4 weeks and received weekly 5 mg/kg doses of DXB for three weeks. Cardiorenal biochemical biomarkers, lipid profile, oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, histological and immunohistochemical analyses were evaluated. DXB-treated rats displayed significantly increased levels of lipid profiles, markers of cardiorenal dysfunction (aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, troponin T, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid and creatinine). In addition, DXB markedly upregulated cardiorenal malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 levels and decreased glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. COST treatment significantly attenuated the aforementioned alterations induced by DXB. Furthermore, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that COST ameliorated the histopathological features and reduced p53 and myeloperoxidase expression in the treated rats. These results suggest that COST exhibits cardiorenal protective effects against DXB-induced injury presumably via suppression of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ladder-shape melting temperature isothermal amplification (LMTIA) is a newly developed technique with advantages of simple mechanism, easy primer design, quick turn-around time, high specificity, high sensitivity and short target sequence compared to the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique. The objective of this research was to establish the LMTIA assay for detection of chicken in beef. The LMTIA primers targeting the prolactin receptor gene of Gallus gallus were designed, the LMTIA reaction system was optimized, the specificity and the sensitivity of the LMTIA assay were determined. Our results showed that the LMTIA assay was able to specifically detect 100 ng genomic DNA of Gallus gallus, without detecting the 100 ng genomic DNA of Anas platyrhynchos, Felis catus, Sus scrofa, Canis lupus familiaris, Bos taurus or Capra hircus. The sensitivity of the LMTIA assay was 100 pg genomic DNA of G. gallus. Furthermore, the LMTIA assay was able to detect the chicken adulterated in beef with ≥0.1% (w/w) detection limit (LOD). This study holds a promise for facilitation of the surveillance of the commercial adulteration of chicken in beef. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ladder-shape melting temperature isothermal amplification (LMTIA) is a newly developed technology, and the objective of this study is to establish the LMTIA assay for detection of pork in beef. The LMTIA primers were designed with the prolactin receptor gene of Sus scrofa as the target. The LMTIA reaction system was optimized, and the performance of the LMTIA assay in specificity, sensitivity and detection limit (LOD) was determined. Our results showed that the LMTIA assay was able to specifically detect 10 ng genomic DNA (gDNAs) of Sus scrofa, the sensitivity of the LMTIA assay was 1 ng genomic DNA of Sus scrofa, and the LMTIA assay was able to detect the pork adulterated in beef with 0.1% LOD, which was the same as that of reported PCR assay or LAMP assay. This study holds a promise for facilitating the surveillance of the commercial adulteration of pork in beef. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• LAMP assays were developed for detection of African swine fever (ASF). • The LAMP assays were comparable to the well-established real-time PCR assay. • The LAMP assays are suitable for detection of current ASFV strains in Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and China. African swine fever (ASF) is a fatal disease caused by a virus in domestic pigs. In this study, a real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay and visual LAMP assay were developed for the detection of African swine fever virus (ASFV). LAMP primers targeting the p10 gene of ASFV were designed, the LAMP reaction system was optimized with plasmid pUC57 containing the p10 gene sequence, and the specificities of the real-time LAMP and the visual assays were tested with the DNA or cDNA of pseudorabies virus (PRV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), classical swine fever virus (CSFV), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine parvovirus (PPV) and ASFV, as well as the plasmid pUC57 containing the p10 gene sequence. The detection limits were determined using a serial dilution of plasmid pUC57 containing the p10 gene sequence. Our results showed that the LAMP assays could accurately and specifically detect ASFV with a detection limit of 30 copies per μ l−1 of pUC57 containing p10 gene sequence. In addition, the LAMP assays were further evaluated using various genotypes of ASFV strains. Furthermore, the LAMP assays are comparable with the well-established real-time PCR assay. This study provides promising solutions for facilitating preliminary and cost-effective surveillance for prevention and control of ASFV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene, as the earliest discovered two-dimensional (2D) material, possesses excellently physical and chemical properties. Vast synthetic strategies, including chemical vapor deposition, mechanical exfoliation, and chemical reduction, are proposed. In this paper, a method to synthesize multilayer graphene in a semi-opened environment is presented by introducing arc-discharge plasma technology. Compared with previous technologies, the toxic gases and hazardous chemical components are not generated in the whole process. The synthesized carbon materials were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectra technologies. The paper offers an idea to synthesize multilayer graphene in a semi-opened environment, which is a development to produce graphene with arc-discharge plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) noodles are a traditional Chinese food with a high nutritional value; however, starch adulteration is a big concern. The objective of this study was to develop a reliable method for the rapid detection of cassava (Manihot esculenta) components in sweet potato noodles to protect consumers from commercial adulteration. Five specific Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) primers targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of cassava were designed, genomic DNA was extracted, the LAMP reaction system was optimized, and the specificity of the primers was verified with genomic DNA of cassava, Ipomoea batatas, Zea mays, and Solanum tuberosum; the detection limit was determined with a serial dilution of adulterated sweet potato starch with cassava starch, and the real-time LAMP method for the detection of the cassava-derived ingredient in sweet potato noodles was established. The results showed that the real-time LAMP method can accurately and specifically detect the cassava component in sweet potato noodles with a detection limit of 1%. Furthermore, the LAMP assay was validated using commercial sweet potato noodle samples, and results showed that 57.7% of sweet potato noodle products (30/52) from retail markets were adulterated with cassava starch in China. This study provides a promising solution for facilitating the surveillance of the commercial adulteration of sweet potato noodles from retail markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to establish a real-time LAMP assay for authentication of rape (Brassica napus) honey to protect consumers from commercial honey adulteration. The LAMP primers targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of Brassica napus were designed, and its specificity was tested. The LAMP reaction temperature was also optimized, and the detection limit of the LAMP assay was determined with a serial dilution of genomic DNA from the seeds of Brassica napus. The results showed that the real-time LAMP assay can accurately and specifically detect the rape component in honey, and the detection limit was 10 pg genomic DNA of Brassica napus. Data on monofloral honey samples indicate that the real-time LAMP assay was 100% in concordance with the reported TaqManTM PCR assay. This study provides a promising solution for facilitating the authentication of rape honey in food retail market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to develop a reliable visual method for rapid detection of donkey components to protect consumers from commercial adulteration. Six specific loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) primers targeted at donkey mitochondrial cytochrome b gene were designed, the mitochondrial DNA extraction simplified, the LAMP reaction system optimized, the specificity verified with mitochondrial DNA of horse, pork, cow, sheep, chicken, duck, and rabbit as negative controls, the detection limit determined with gradient dilution of adulterated meat with donkey meat, and the visual LAMP method for detection of donkey-derived ingredient in common meat products established. The results showed that the modified mitochondrial DNA extraction method was simple and repeatable, and the visual LAMP method with 4-(2-pyridylazo)-resorcinol sodium salt as indicator can accurately and specifically detect the donkey meat in common meat products, 1% detection limit. The study provided a promising solution for facilitating the surveillance of the commercial adulteration in processed meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ocean exploration is of importance and in great demand throughout the world. This results in a huge challenge in tribology in the marine environment. Moreover, polymeric materials with large molecules or macromolecules play an important role in marine equipment. Design/methodology/approach: The tribological performance of sea-water-eroded polyether polyurethane (PU) was systematically studied by using a multi-specimen test machine for different durations from 0 to 60 days. Surface characterization technologies, such as scanning electric microscopy energy dispersive spectroscopy, were used to analyze the PU samples. Findings: It can be found that the COF measured against 316 steel increases with the testing load because of the change of contact areas for the original PU samples. The effect of hydrodynamic lubrication and heat resulted in the decline of the COF with the increase in testing speed. The COF of PU sample immersed for 20 days was the lowest compared with other samples. With the immersion time increased to 60 days, the COF increased first and then decreased. The reduced COF of PU resulted in improved anti-wear performance of the PU sample. Originality/value: These results enhanced the comprehension of the tribological performances of PU immersed in sea-water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The friction and casing wear behavior of TSP composites sliding against N80 casing steels and lubricated by drilling fluids were investigated. It was found that the water-based drilling fluid reduced friction coefficient and casing wear effectively. The surface lubricating films with iron oxide grains formed on the surface of casings are all observed for the three hardbandings, while the discontinuous lubrication film of N3 alloy might account for the higher casing wear therewith. The lowest friction coefficient and casing wear was recorded for TSP composite under load of 10–130 N. This is dependent on the adsorbed lubricating liquid on the rubbing surface and the formation of height difference between the TSP part and the WC matrix part. Highlights • The water-based drilling fluid reduced friction coefficient and casing wear effectively. • The tool performace of three hardbanding rings can be ranked as TSP composite>A3 alloy>N3 alloy. • The surface lubricating films with iron oxide grains formed on the surface of casings are observed. • The TSP composite exhibited excellent performance, mainly because of the more lubricant adsorbed on the rubbing surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In order to save land resources for pipeline construction and reduce maintenance costs, a method of parallel laying pipeline has been adopted. The safety spacing was the primary problem to ensure the security of pipeline laying and operating. A numerical simulation method of buried parallel gas pipelines leakage-induced explosion based on TNT equivalent was presented. According to the combustible gas explosion theory, the damage law of shock waves impact on the parallel pipeline was analyzed. The maximum displacement with different parallel space and different thickness were simulated and discussed. Ultimately, the degree of risk of buried pipelines parallel spacing was analyzed and the safety spacing was determined. It provided guidance for the construction and operation of buried parallel gas pipelines. Highlights • Numerical simulation of buried parallel natural gas pipeline explosive was carried out based on TNT equivalent method. • The fracture failure position was perpendicular to the maximum deformation position when the distance was less than 3 m. • The maximum deformation position was gradually transferred to the top of pipeline coinciding with fracture failure position. • The safety distance between two buried parallel pipelines was more than 8 m for pipeline thickness 22 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PAH/Au/PAH/PAA film was prepared by the layer-by-layer (LbL) method. AFM and micro-tribometer were used to evaluate the frictional and wear behaviors of the film. The result indicated that heat treatment can improve the bonding force of the film because of the conversion from electrostatic interaction to covalent bond. Which greatly enhanced the film's anti-wear life. However, the film surface's roughness increases dramatically and uniformity decreases with longer heating time. Which would influence the friction and wear performance of the film. Thus, the heating time is a critical parameter in the prospect of improving the film layers bonding strength, consequently enhancing the wear-resistant of the polyelectrolyte/Au nanoparticles multilayer film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract The heating generated from sliding friction significantly influence the friction and wear behaviors of soft PVC. It is attributed to the softening and mobility of the PVC polymer chains caused by the heating generated from the friction at the contact interfaces. Polymer chain just like a “snake”, which won’t be able to move into some new positions below its T g. So, it cannot relieve the interface stress which applied during the sliding process, just like the hibernation phenomenon of snake. Nevertheless, polymer chains can be easily moved when the temperature exceed T g. Thus, when it sliding against with steel surface, the interfacial molecules, already being in motion, which can help for relieving the stress at the contact interface. Highlights • The tribological behavior of PVC was assessed by a pin-on-disk tribometer. • The anti-wear of PVC specimens improved under higher speed and normal load. • Friction heating is benefit to reduce the wear of PVC. • Softening and mobility of PVC polymer chains reduce the friction and wear of PVC. Abstract Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has been widely used in our daily life and industry because of its low cost, lightweight, chemical resistance and corrosion resistance. Tribological properties of soft PVC were studied in regard to sliding conditions of rotation speed and normal load. And the friction heating was observed with an infrared camera. The results indicated that the anti-wear performance of PVC specimens are improved under higher speed and normal load due to the increase of friction heating during sliding. It is attributed to the softening and mobility of the PVC polymer chains caused by the heating generated from the friction at the contact interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the interaction mechanisms between a bit and rock is a focus of the field of rock breaking theory in drilling engineering. The bottom hole shape, which directly affects the effectiveness of rock breaking at different positions around the bottom hole, is the key factor in research on the interaction between a bit and rock. This paper aims to discuss the influences of bottom hole shape on effectiveness of rock breaking. Firstly we established the mathematical model of rock breaking strength and used it as an evaluation index to analyze the influence of bottom hole shape on effectiveness of rock breaking. Secondly, the relationship between the rock breaking strength and cutting speed, cutting depth, rock lithology and bottom hole shape are verified by experimental approach and numerical simulation. The mathematical model of the relationship between the rock breaking strength and the bottom hole shape is established with a finite element method. Finally, this paper takes minimum rock-breaking energy consumption as the goal and introduces the “crown breaking work per revolution” as an objective function to optimize the bottom hole shape. This paper uses the fact that the shape of the bottom hole is symmetric and corresponds to the crown shape to determine the optimal design of a PDC bit crown profile by inverse design. This paper will help to expend the ideas of bit design and promote the development of research on rock breaking theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to establish a rapid identification method based on the Proofman-LMTIA technique for distinguishing between Panax quinquefolium and Panax ginseng. By targeting specific 18S rDNA sequences, suitable primers and Proofman probes labeled FAM or JOE were designed for LMTIA. Initially, single-species-primer Proofman-LMTIA assays were performed separately for each ginseng type to optimize reaction temperature, assess sensitivity and specificity, and determine the detection limit. Subsequently, both sets of primers and their corresponding probes were combined in the same reaction system to further optimize reaction conditions, evaluate sensitivity, and assess stability. Finally, the developed Proofman-duplex-LMTIA technique was employed to detect P. quinquefolium and P. ginseng slices available in the market. Single-plex Proofman-LMTIA assays revealed that the optimal reaction temperature for both P. quinquefolium and P. ginseng was 62 °C. The sensitivity was as low as 1 pg/μL, with a detection limit of 0.1%, and both showed excellent specificity. The optimal temperature for Proofman-duplex-LMTIA assays was 58 °C. This method could simultaneously identify P. quinquefolium and P. ginseng. Testing 6 samples of P. ginseng and 11 samples of P. quinquefolium from the market resulted in a 100% positive rate for all samples. This study successfully established a rapid, simple, sensitive, and specific Proofman-duplex-LMTIA identification method for P. quinquefolium and P. ginseng. It provides an effective means for quality control of P. quinquefolium, P. ginseng, and related products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are the major chronic metabolic diseases that threaten human health. In order to combat these epidemics, there remains a desperate need for effective, safe, and easily available therapeutic strategies. Recently, the development of natural product research has provided new methods and options for these diseases. Numerous studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of metabolic diseases, and natural products can improve lipid and glucose metabolism disorders and cardiovascular diseases by regulating the expression of miRNAs. In this review, we present the recent advances involving the associations between miRNAs and natural products and the current evidence showing the positive effects of miRNAs for natural product treatment in metabolic diseases. We also encourage further research to address the relationship between miRNAs and natural products under physiological and pathological conditions, thus leading to stronger support for drug development from natural products in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose With the rapid development of rail transportation and energy-delivery systems, such as buried oil and gas pipelines and high-voltage transmission lines, the alternating current (AC) corrosion of buried steel pipelines is becoming more serious. This paper aims to study the corrosion behaviours of Q235 buried steel pipelines induced by the alternating stray current, with a set of indoor simulated experiment apparatuses.Design/methodology/approach The corrosion of the coating holidays of the buried steel pipelines at various AC current densities from 0 to 200 A/m2 in the soil-simulating environment was revealed by the electrochemical and weight-loss methods.Findings The results showed that the corrosion potential of the steel shifted negatively obviously and the corrosion rate of the steel increased with the increasing of AC current density. At a low AC current density, the negative deviation of the corrosion potential of the steel was small and the increase of corrosion rate was slight. However, the negative deviation of the corrosion potential was remarkable and the corrosion rate was greatly increased at a relative higher AC current density. The geometrical shape of the corrosion images indicated the corrosion forms changed from uniform corrosion to local corrosion due to the increase of AC interference.Originality/value Investigation results are of benefit to provide a new strategy to forecast and evaluate the AC-induced corrosion of the buried pipelines which could improve the safety of pipeline transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many buried oil and gas pipelines are parallel to the high-voltage transmission lines and electrified railways in a long distance. Alternating current (AC) corrosion of these pipelines are very significant in such cases, and might lead to leakage even serious accidents. Laboratory experiment was carried out through weight-loss method in a simulated soil solution at various AC densities from 0 to 200 A/m 2 and frequencies from 10 to 200 Hz. The results indicated that the corrosion rate increased with the increasing of AC current density. Furthermore, with the increase of AC interference frequency, the AC current involved in the electrode reaction process is decrescent, which caused a lower corrosion rate of pipeline steel. Morphology and corrosion product investigations explained that a better anti-corrosion behavior of X80 than that for X60 and X70 under AC interference. The investigation results are benefit to provide a new strategy to forecast and evaluate of the AC-induced corrosion, and design of the buried X series oil/gas pipelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial factors, including bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, are significant contributors to foodborne illnesses, posing serious food safety risks due to their potential for rapid growth and contamination. Listeria monocytogenes is one of the most common types of foodborne bacteria that can cause serious foodborne diseases or even fatalities. In this study, a novel nucleic acid amplification method called Proofman-LMTIA was employed to detect Listeria monocytogenes contamination in food. This method combines proofreading enzyme-mediated probe cleavage with ladder-shape melting temperature isothermal amplification. A positive recombinant plasmid was used as a control to ensure the accuracy of the detection results, and primers and Proofman probes were specifically designed for the LMTIA. Genomic DNA was extracted, the reaction temperature was optimized, and the primers' specificity was verified using foodborne pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Salmonella. The sensitivity was assessed by testing serial dilutions of genomic DNA, and the method's applicability was confirmed by detecting artificially contaminated fresh pork. The established LMTIA method exhibited both high specificity and sensitivity. At the optimal reaction temperature of 63 °C, the primers specifically identified Listeria monocytogenes contamination in pork at a concentration of 8.0 ± 0.7 colony-forming units (CFUs) per 25 g. Furthermore, the Proofman-LMTIA method was applied to test Listeria monocytogenes DNA in 30 food samples purchased from a Chinese retail market, and reassuringly, all results indicated no contamination. Proofman-LMTIA can serve as a reliable and rapid method for detecting Listeria monocytogenes in food, contributing to public health by safeguarding consumers from foodborne illnesses, and strengthening food safety regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to improve the steaming process of black sesame seeds. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted using the grey-correlation method based on the variation-coefficient weight to observe the treatments of normal-pressure (NPS) and high-pressure (HPS) steaming (with/without soaking in water) for nine cycles. Their effects on the contents of water, protein, fat, ash, melanin, sesamin, and sesamolin of black sesame seeds, as well as the sensory score of the black sesame pill, were determined. We found that with varied steaming methods and increased steaming cycles, the contents of the nutritional and functional components of black sesame seeds and the sensory score of the black sesame pill differed. The results of the variation-coefficient method showed that water, protein, fat, ash, melanin, sesamin, sesamolin, and sensory score had different effects on the quality of black sesame seeds with weighting factors of 34.4%, 5.3%, 12.5%, 11.3%, 13.9%, 11.3%, 7.8%, and 3.5%, respectively. The results of two-factor analysis of variance without repeated observations indicated that the grey-correlation degree of HPS was the largest among the different steaming treatments, and the following sequence was HPS after soaking in water (SNPS), NPS, and SNPS. There was no significant difference between NPS and SNPS (p < 0.05). Moreover, with increased cycles, the value of the grey-correlation degree increased. The comprehensive score of the procedure repeated nine times was significantly higher than other cycles (p < 0.05). The results of the grey-correlation degree and grade analysis showed that the best steaming process of black sesame seeds was HPS for nine cycles, followed by HPS for eight cycles and NPS after soaking in water (SNPS) for nine cycles. These findings could provide a scientific basis for replacing SNPS with HPS to simplify steaming and realize the parametric steaming of black sesame seeds, and thus, ensure the quality of black-sesame products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the effects of hollow glass beads (HGB) fillers on the tribological behaviors of nitrile rubber (NBR). Properties like tensile strength, fracture energy and glass transition temperature were studied. The tribological tests show that the HGB hybrid into rubber matrix can reduce the friction coefficient of NBR and enhance its anti-wear ability. The fracture energy and interfacial strength investigation indicated that the HGB filler have a good interfacial action and can enhance the anti-wear behaviors of original rubber. Furthermore, the greater apparent effective aspect ratio of filler could improve the interfacial strength and benefit to the enhancement of anti-wear behaviors of polymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]