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Biotechnological and pharmaceutical processes based on bacteria require an inoculum with high long-term viability. In order to provide a stabilized bacterial culture for biodegradation of ammonia and ammonium, the model species Kocuria rhizophila DSM 348 was spray-dried using different protective agents. Providing a medium with 200 g/L skimmed milk powder (SMP) and 12.5 g/L monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) resulted in a survival rate of 99.1% ± 3.6% immediately after spray drying, whereas 200 g/L trehalose and 12.5 g/L MSG led to a lower viability (34.7% ± 5.9%). A reference medium with phosphates (7 g/L KH2PO4 + 7 g/L K2HPO4) accomplished a survival rate of 9.8% ± 2.9%. Long-term experiments confirmed high viability of spray-dried bacteria after 52 weeks at 4 °C with less than 1 log-reduction compared to the first day of storage, resulting in powders with at least 1010 CFU/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T-2 toxin is one of the most widespread and toxic fungal toxins in food and feed. It can cause gastrointestinal toxicity, hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity in humans and animals. T-2 toxin is physicochemically stable and does not readily degrade during food and feed processing. Therefore, suppressing T-2 toxin-induced organ toxicity through antidotes is an urgent issue. Protective agents against the organ toxicity of T-2 toxin have been recorded widely in the literature, but these protective agents and their molecular mechanisms of detoxification have not been comprehensively summarized. In this review, we provide an overview of the various protective agents to T-2 toxin and the molecular mechanisms underlying the detoxification effects. Targeting appropriate targets to antagonize T-2 toxin toxicity is also an important option. This review will provide essential guidance and strategies for the better application and development of T-2 toxin antidotes specific for organ toxicity in the future.

Copyright of Food & Machinery is the property of Food & Machinery Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, a protective agent was added to prepare a high-activity Lactiplantibacillus plantarum x3-2b bacterial powder as a fermentation agent and explore its effect on the physicochemical quality, biogenic amines, and flavor of fermented lamb jerky. A composite protective agent, composed of 15% skim milk powder and 10% trehalose, was used, and bacterial mud was mixed with the protective agent at a 1:1.2 mass ratio. The resulting freeze-dried bacterial powder achieved a viable count of 5.1 lg CFU/g with a lyophilization survival rate of 87.58%. Scanning electron microscopy revealed enhanced cell coverage by the composite protective agent, maintaining the cell membrane's integrity. Inoculation with x3-2b bacterial powder increased the pH and the reduction in aw, enhanced the appearance and texture of fermented lamb jerky, increased the variety and quantity of flavor compounds, and reduced the accumulation of biogenic amines (phenethylamine, histamine, and putrescine). This research provides a theoretical basis for improving and regulating the quality of lamb jerky and establishes a foundation for the development of bacterial powder for the commercial fermentation of meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This research aimed to study the preparation of standardized and stable sourdough starter, to explore the effects of different drying processes and protective agents on the survival rate of sourdough, and examine its storage activity. Methods: A variety of fruits were selected to prepare sourdough, the fermentation process was studied, and the strains were isolated and identified by ITs and 16s gene sequencing in the database. The optimum scheme was obtained by selecting the drying process, sample state and protectant formulation with the activity after drying and storage activity as indexes. Results: It was found that the bread prepared with grape sourdough had the best specific volume, porosity and hardness. On this basis, the drying survival rate and storage activity were used as indexes to study the combination of drying protectants. Finally, two better protective agent formulations were obtained by orthogonal experiment: ① Freeze-dried the dominant pure bacterial solution, skim milk 35%, maltodextrin 7.5% and trehalose 25%, and the drying survival rate was about 93%. ② Spray dried sourdough germ whole, skim milk 35%, maltodextrin 10% and trehalose 15%, and the drying survival rate was about 90%. Conclusion: It was found that the storage activity of the spray-dried starter decreased rapidly, while that of the freeze-dried starter was slower.

The heat resistance of the spore directly affects the production efficiency and cost of the dry powder of technical concentrate for Bacillus biocontrol bacteria. In order to develop the techniques to enhance the spore heat resistance of B. amyloliquefaciens PHODG36, a mutant strain BBW-11 of B. amyloliquefaciens PHODG36 with enhanced spore heat resistance was obtained by heat-treated mutagenesis and variable temperature mutagenesis. The spore survival rate of BBW-11 increased by more than 55.0%, while no significant difference in terms of colony morphology, biofilm formation,growth dynamics and antifungal activity compared to the wild-type strain PHODG36. The appropriate protective agent and treating conditions of BBW-11 were determined by orthogonal tests, and the technology to enhance the spore heat resistance of strain PHODG36 was established such as ‘the heat resistant mutant strain BBW-11 + 0.5% sucrose + 55 ℃ temperature treating for 0.5 h’, the spore survival rate was 2.3 times higher than that of the untreated mutant strain BBW-11 and 2.8 times higher than that of the wild-type strain PHODG36. In conclusion, the technique to enhance the spore heat resistance of strain PHODG36 was established in this study, which provides a technical support for the optimization of the spray drying process of the dry powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Petroleum Refinery Engineering is the property of Petroleum Refinery Engineering Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Microbial pesticides can be significantly improved by adjuvants. At present, microbial pesticide formulations are mainly wettable powders and suspension concentrations, which are usually produced with adjuvants such as surfactants, carriers, protective agents, and nutritional adjuvants. Surfactants can improve the tension between liquid pesticides and crop surfaces, resulting in stronger permeability and wettability of the formulations. Carriers are inert components of loaded or diluted pesticides, which can control the release of active components at appropriate times. Protective agents are able to help microorganisms to resist in adverse environments. Nutritional adjuvants are used to provide nutrients for microorganisms in microbial pesticides. Most of the adjuvants used in microbial pesticides still refer to those of chemical pesticides. However, some adjuvants may have harmful effects on non-target organisms and ecological environments. Herein, in order to promote research and improvement of microbial pesticides, the types of microbial pesticide formulations were briefly reviewed, and research progress of adjuvants and their applications in microbial pesticides were highlighted, the challenges and the future perspectives towards sustainable green adjuvants of microbial pesticides were also discussed in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a protective agent was added to prepare a high-activity Lactiplantibacillus plantarum x3-2b bacterial powder as a fermentation agent and explore its effect on the physicochemical quality, biogenic amines, and flavor of fermented lamb jerky. A composite protective agent, composed of 15% skim milk powder and 10% trehalose, was used, and bacterial mud was mixed with the protective agent at a 1:1.2 mass ratio. The resulting freeze-dried bacterial powder achieved a viable count of 5.1 lg CFU/g with a lyophilization survival rate of 87.58%. Scanning electron microscopy revealed enhanced cell coverage by the composite protective agent, maintaining the cell membrane’s integrity. Inoculation with x3-2b bacterial powder increased the pH and the reduction in aw, enhanced the appearance and texture of fermented lamb jerky, increased the variety and quantity of flavor compounds, and reduced the accumulation of biogenic amines (phenethylamine, histamine, and putrescine). This research provides a theoretical basis for improving and regulating the quality of lamb jerky and establishes a foundation for the development of bacterial powder for the commercial fermentation of meat products.

The experiment was to determine the best protective agent combination and preservation temperature for improving the freeze preservation effectiveness of lactic acid bacteria preparations. The study used Pediococcus pentosaceus, Enterococcus hirae and Lactobacillus pentosus as the research objects, to explore the effect of different protective agents and preservation temperatures on freeze-drying survival rate and preservation survival rate of lactic acid bacteria. The results showed that protective agent 3 (skim milk 9.51%, glucose 7.56%, and maltodextrin 7.77%) had the best freeze-drying preservation effect on Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactobacillus pentosus, and the survival rate after freeze-drying was 81.80% and 79.90%. Protective agent 1 (skim milk 12%, trehalose 1%, sodium glutamate 1%, glycerol 3%) had the best freeze-dried preservation effect on Enterococcus hirae, the survival rate after freeze-drying was 84.83%. Lactic acid bacteria freeze-dried powder had the best preservation effect at -80 ℃. The results show that preservation with protective agent 1 and -80 ℃ has the best long-term preservation effect on the three lactobacillus preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, histidine, as a protective agent, was applied for the synthesis of copper nanoclusters (histidine-Cu NCs) by using ascorbic acid as an efficient reducing agent. The as-fabricated fluorescent histidine-Cu NCs displayed blue-green emission wavelength at 492 nm with the excitation of 410 nm. Using histidine-Cu NCs as a novel nanoprobe, the fluorescent "turn-off" mechanism was developed for the determination of furaltadone accompanying linear attenuation of fluorescence at 492 nm. Furaltadone acted as a quencher and ln (F0/F) value of histidine-Cu NCs had an excellent linear relationship of furaltadone concentrations (0.5–500 μM) (the F0 and F are referred to the fluorescence intensity of probe without and with furaltadone), along with the detection limit and linear fit constant of 0.085 μM and 0.9948, respectively. The fluorescence quenching of histidine-Cu NCs demonstrated good selectivity for furaltadone over other potential control substances. The quenching mechanism might be assumed to be static quenching. This system was proved to be an appropriate detection pattern for furaltadone sensing in real medical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Petroleum Refinery Engineering is the property of Petroleum Refinery Engineering Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: Total circulatory arrest (TCA) technique is a method used in cardiac surgery accompanied by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). It has been shown that Tulbaghia violacea extract increases antioxidant capacity, regulates blood pressure, decreases lipid peroxide, and reduces atherosclerosis. In this experimental study, we aimed to investigate the effect of T. violacea extract administration on serum oxidative stress parameters (Total antioxidant status [TAS], total oxidant status [TOS] and oxidative stress index [OSI] and deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA] damage level with 8-Hydroxy-2-Deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG]) and histopathological changes in the heart and other organs in rats with deep circulatory arrest model. Methods: In this study, 48 Wistar Albino adult rats, 24 female and 24 male, obtained from Harran University Experimental Animals Research Center were used. The average weight of female rats was 250-300 g, and the average weight of male rats was 450-500g. These rats were randomly divided into four groups. 6 male and 6 female rats were used in each group (Group 1 = Sham, Group 2 = Injury, Group 3 = Treatment and Injury, Group 4 = Treatment). Results: As a result of this experimental study, the changes in the biochemical 8-OHdG, TOS, OSI and TAS levels of the groups were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.001). In the subgroup analyzes of the data, 8-OHdG level, which is an oxidative DNA damage marker in Group 2 was higher than the Group 1, Group 3 and Group 4 and there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001, p = 0.027 and p < 0.001; respectively). The TOS level of the injury group was higher than Group 1, Group 3 and Group 4 and there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001, p = 0.003 and p < 0.001; respectively). Conclusions: As a result of our study, we revealed that T. violacea extract has a protective effect on organ and tissue damage in the TCA model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial pesticides can be significantly improved by adjuvants. At present, microbial pesticide formulations are mainly wettable powders and suspension concentrations, which are usually produced with adjuvants such as surfactants, carriers, protective agents, and nutritional adjuvants. Surfactants can improve the tension between liquid pesticides and crop surfaces, resulting in stronger permeability and wettability of the formulations. Carriers are inert components of loaded or diluted pesticides, which can control the release of active components at appropriate times. Protective agents are able to help microorganisms to resist in adverse environments. Nutritional adjuvants are used to provide nutrients for microorganisms in microbial pesticides. Most of the adjuvants used in microbial pesticides still refer to those of chemical pesticides. However, some adjuvants may have harmful effects on non-target organisms and ecological environments. Herein, in order to promote research and improvement of microbial pesticides, the types of microbial pesticide formulations were briefly reviewed, and research progress of adjuvants and their applications in microbial pesticides were highlighted, the challenges and the future perspectives towards sustainable green adjuvants of microbial pesticides were also discussed in this review.

Copyright of Petroleum Refinery Engineering is the property of Petroleum Refinery Engineering Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

T-2 toxin is one of the most widespread and toxic fungal toxins in food and feed. It can cause gastrointestinal toxicity, hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity in humans and animals. T-2 toxin is physicochemically stable and does not readily degrade during food and feed processing. Therefore, suppressing T-2 toxin-induced organ toxicity through antidotes is an urgent issue. Protective agents against the organ toxicity of T-2 toxin have been recorded widely in the literature, but these protective agents and their molecular mechanisms of detoxification have not been comprehensively summarized. In this review, we provide an overview of the various protective agents to T-2 toxin and the molecular mechanisms underlying the detoxification effects. Targeting appropriate targets to antagonize T-2 toxin toxicity is also an important option. This review will provide essential guidance and strategies for the better application and development of T-2 toxin antidotes specific for organ toxicity in the future., (© 2024 The Authors.)

L. lactis is known as industrial starter in the fermentation of dairy and meat products, and it plays an important role in human health as an edible probiotic. During industrial production, L. lactis often experiences different stresses that delay the growth and decrease the survival in some serious conditions. In this study, the protective effects of hydroxypropyl β‐cyclodextrin (HP β‐CD) on L. lactis under multiple stresses were investigated. The microbial cells were treated with different stresses including heat, NaCl, cold, and H2O2 stresses, and the results were showed by measuring the OD600 or spot plating method. The growth and tolerance were improved when HP β‐CD was added during different stress conditions, better than that of trehalose. Besides, the scanning electron microscopic and fluorescence spectrum studies showed that HP β‐CD could combine with L. lactis to protect the cell structure, suggesting that HP β‐CD may act as a protective agent of L. lactis. Therefore, HP β‐CD could be considered as a potential protective agent to be applied in food industry, and its protective mechanism on L. lactis still needs further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Petroleum Refinery Engineering is the property of Petroleum Refinery Engineering Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most prevalent mycotoxins in feed, which causes organ toxicity in animals. Therefore, reducing DON-induced organ toxicity can now be accomplished effectively using protective agents. This review provides an overview of multiple studies on a wide range of protective agents and their molecular mechanisms against DON organ toxicity. Protective agents include plant extracts, yeast products, bacteria, peptides, enzymes, H2, oligosaccharides, amino acids, adsorbents, vitamins and selenium. Among these, biological detoxification of DON using microorganisms to reduce the toxicity of DON without affecting the growth performance of pigs may be the most promising detoxification strategy. This paper also evaluates future developments related to DON detoxification and discusses the detoxification role and application potential of protective agents. This paper provides new perspectives for future research and development of safe and effective feed additives. • DON caused organ toxicity, so mitigating its toxicity is essential. • Plant extracts such as resveratrol and baicalin reduced organ toxicity of DON. • Amino acids/adsorbents antagonized DON-triggered organ toxicity. • Antioxidant/anti-inflammatory are mechanisms in protective agent detoxification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To develop a multi-purpose protective cream with waterproof, sunscreen and jellyfish sting protection and optimize the formulation to provide good water resistance, high SPF, suitable viscosity and good stability.Methods The mass fraction of the film former VP/Hexadecene copolymer (Antaron V-216) in the formulation was optimized through the measurement of SPF value, critical wavelength and water resistance. Based on viscosity, centrifugal stability and freeze-thaw stability, the central composite design-response surface method was used to optimize the mass fraction of two emulsifiers and CaCl2 aqueous solution in the cream. Results When the film former Antaron V-216 has a mass fraction of 3%, the SPF value of the cream is significantly increased. When the mass fraction of emulsifier lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 methicone (DC5200) is 0.76%, the mass fraction of emulsifier cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 dimethicone (EM180) is 2.32% and the mass fraction of CaCl2 aqueous solution is 44.86%, the cream has suitable viscosity and good stability. Conclusion The optimized formulation has high water resistance and SPF value, suitable viscosity and good stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics (1001-1803) is the property of China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is used as an important plasticizer in a wide range of products such as paints, food packaging, medical devices and children's toys. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the toxic effects of DEHP on the male reproductive organs, the testicles. Here, we reviewed the basic pathways of testicular damage caused by DEHP. The mechanism involves oxidative stress, ferroptosis, interfering with hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPGA) and testosterone level. We summarized the protective agents that have been shown to be effective in repairing this type of testicular damage in recent years. This provides a new perspective and direction for future research into the health effects and molecular mechanisms of DEHP. • DEHP exposure can lead to testicular tissue damage and spermatogenic dysfunction. • The mechanism of DEHP damage to testes involves oxidative stress, ferroptosis, interfering with HPTA and testosterone level. • We summarized the protective agents that have been proven to be effective in repairing testicular damage caused by DEHP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary supplementation with lactic acid bacteria to maintain or improve intestinal health is advocated. Weissella spp. are present in different fermented vegetable‐based foods like kimchi, as well as in the normal gastrointestinal (GI) tract of humans. Weissella cibaria strains have been proposed as potential probiotics. Freeze‐drying is a promising treatment method for these strains for industrial applications and to increase the accessibility of their health‐promoting benefits. Moreover, probiotic strains need to be able to survive in the host GI tract, and acid and bile are both environmental stressors that can reduce strain survival. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of the combination of protective agents on the acid and bile resistance of W. cibariaJW15 after freeze‐drying. A protective agent combination with a 1:1 ratio of 5 g + 5 g/100 ml w/v soy flour + yeast extract (SFY) retained nearly 100% viability after freeze‐drying and was resistant to artificial bile acids. Remarkably, skim milk + soy flour (SSF) was resistant to an acidic solution, and the viability of W. cibariaJW15 in artificial gastric acid was enhanced when treated with this mixture. Furthermore, SFY and SSF were found to maintain high numbers of viable cells with a low specific rate of cell death (k) after storage at 50°C, 60°C, and 70°C. These results support an effective probiotic formulation system with a high number of viable cells, and its protective effects can be leveraged in the development of probiotic products with health benefits. The addition of soy flour and yeast extract powder (SFY, 5 g + 5 g/100 ml w/v) as a protective agent during the freeze‐drying process can maintain the viability of Weissella cibaria, ensuring the proper administration of probiotics to their destinations. Furthermore, SFY was evaluated for its effects on storage stability of the freeze‐dried powder through an accelerated storage test. We found that this protective agent is an effective method for protecting the health benefit of probiotic products and is desirable for industrial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch is promising candidate material for enhancing the catalytic activity of α-amylase during the crosslinking process. To help meet industrial needs, here we tested the influence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and starch on the performance of crosslinked α-amylase aggregates (CLEA), α-amylase-prepared as CLEA with starch (CLEA-S), and BSA (CLEA-BSA). Our results showed that the activities of CLEA, CLEA-S, and CLEA-BSA were 1.1-, 1.0-, and 0.74-fold higher than the free α-amylase, respectively. The stability of the immobilized enzyme slightly changed. After immobilization, the enzyme increased its pH and temperature ranges with the optimal pH values of 5.5, 7.5, 5.5, respectively for CLEA, CLEA-S, and CLEA-BSA, and an upper temperature limit of 50 °C for all three immobilized forms. Among the three immobilized forms, the CLEA-S was the most thermostable, losing only 3% of its initial activity during 390 min incubation at 50 °C. Our microscopic observations of CLEA-S showed that porous structures were formed and such structures could help substance diffusion. In addition, there was excellent affinity between CLEA-S and the substrate. The results suggest that CLEA-S have great potential for industrial application, including for use in starch-based alcohol fermentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different sunscreens are employed to prevent photo damage (cancer, inflammation, etc.), including ZnO. ZnO is safe when applied as micro-size particle. To overcome some visual problems of ZnO micro-size particles, this sunscreen has been introduced as nano-size particles. Unfortunately, ZnO nanoparticles have raised some health concerns, due to Zn +2 release. On the other hand, it has been shown that ZnO metallic lattice change by metal doping decreases its solubility and toxicity. Therefore, we have decided here to develop new ZnO metallic lattice to reduce its cytotoxicity. In this study, Ag +1 -promoted Zn-based nanocompounds [Zn(O):Ag] were synthesized as a novel compound and were characterized. XRD analysis showed that Ag +1 ion percolates into ZnO crystalline lattice and changes its lattice properties (strength bond, vacancies, and etc.). Cell culture studies and MTT assay on human skin (HFF-1) cells exposed to UVA radiation showed that [Zn(O):Ag] was increased cells viability in the presence of UVA radiation compared to ZnO. Actually, Ag +1 ion has catalyzed photoactivity of ZnO compound. UV-blocking tests showed that UVA-absorbance of [Zn(O):Ag] has increased compared to ZnO. Dichlorofluoroscein diacetate-ROS assay and Zn +2 release experiments in the presence of cells showed that [Zn(O):Ag] has reduced Zn +2 ions release into culture medium and its toxicity. Our study shows that doped ZnO nanostructure has the potential to be applied as a safe and effective nanoparticulate sunscreen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, conditions of the spray-drying process of Meyerozyma caribbica were optimised using response surface methodology (RSM). The effect of three parameters (protective agent, inlet air temperature and protective agent concentration) on the cell viability of Meyerozyma caribbica was evaluated. Each parameter was evaluated at three levels. All of the evaluated factors presented an effect on the viability of the control agent. According to RSM, optimal conditions include the use of trehalose with a concentration of 7.75% (w/v) and inlet air temperature of 112.5°C. The validation of the optimal spray-drying conditions allows obtaining a formulation of M. caribbica with 95.41 ± 0.93% viability, 5 ± 0.37% humidity and aw of 0.33 ± 0.11. Storage for six months at 4°C presented a 5% loss in cell viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Printed electronics on flexible substrates has attracted tremendous research interest research thanks its low cost, large area production capability and environmentally friendly advantages. Optimal characteristics of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) based inks are crucial for ink rheology, printing, post-print treatment, and performance of the printed electronics devices. In this review, the methods and mechanisms for obtaining Ag NPs based inks that are highly conductive under moderate sintering conditions are summarized. These characteristics are particularly important when printed on temperature sensitive substrates that cannot withstand sintering of high temperature. Strategies to tailor the protective agents capping on the surface of Ag NPs, in order to optimize the sizes and shapes of Ag NPs as well as to modify the substrate surface, are presented. Different (emerging) sintering technologies are also discussed, including photonic sintering, electrical sintering, plasma sintering, microwave sintering, etc. Finally, applications of the Ag NPs based ink in transparent conductive film (TCF), thin film transistor (TFT), biosensor, radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna, stretchable electronics and their perspectives on flexible and printed electronics are presented.

Freeze-drying is a well-known dehydration method widely used to preserve microorganisms. In order to produce freeze-dried yeast starter culture for the brewing purpose of African sorghum beer, we tested protective agents (sucrose, glucose, glycerol) in combination with support materials (millet, maize, sorghum, and cassava flours) at 1:1 ratio (v/v). The yeast strains Saccharomyces cerevisiae F12-7 and Candida tropicalis C0-7 previously isolated from sorghum beer were used in a mixed culture at a ratio of 2:1 ( C. tropicalis/ S. cerevisiae). After the freeze-drying, the residual water contents were between 0.78 -2.27%, 0.55 -4.09%, and 0.40-2.61%, respectively, with sucrose, glucose and glycerol. The dried yeasts viabilities were between 4.0% and 10.6%. Among the protective agents used, sucrose was found to be the best protectant giving cell viabilities of 8.4-10.6%. Considering the support materials, millet flour was the best support after drying. When the freeze-dried yeast powders were stored at 4°C and room temperature (25-28°C) for up to 3 months, the survival rates were the highest with cassava flour as the support material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a facile method for protecting keratin fiber with water soluble N-substituted maleimides during high temperature processing in aqueous solutions. Three water soluble N-substituted maleimides, including aliphatic and aromatic maleimides, were synthesized and applied. Their treatment effects were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and evaluated on the fiber's physical and mechanical properties. An aliphatic maleimide, 3-maleimidopropanoic acid, was demonstrated to be an excellent protective agent for keratin fiber, as evidenced by the significantly reduced permanent set and improved wet burst strength of the protected substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The hole depth of China continental scientific drilling project will be over ten thousand meters, and the bottom-hole temperature can approach 300oC. The performance of drilling fluid would be seriously damaged by the high temperature and high pressure (HTHP) downhole environment, then affect the stability of hole's wall, the rock cuttings transporting, well-construction safety and cost, etc. Based on the laboratory results of additives selection, a new kind of ultra-HTHP drilling fluid formula containing high temperature resistant fluid loss agent DDP and assorted viscosity adjusting agent DESCO is achieved: 4% Sodium bentonite + 2% HPS + 4% SMP-I + 4% JSSJ + 4% SPNH + 4% JSJ-1 + 4% LQT + 1% JNJ + 1% GBJ + 0.5% DDP. Laboratory experiments shows that: the formula has good high temperature stability and rheology at a temperature of 240 oC, HTHP water loss is low. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The ability of two types of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and lactulose to protect Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus upon freeze-drying was evaluated on the basis of their capacity to form glassy structures, using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. After freeze-drying in the presence of protective agents, microorganisms were stored at 4°C at different relative humidities (RH) (from 11 to 80%) up to 21days. The loss of viability was determined by plate count and referred to viability before freeze-drying. For each storage condition, glass transition temperatures (Tg) were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In parallel, near infrared spectra registered in the 900–1700nm region provided information about viability and RHs that could be correlated with the results obtained by plate counts and DSC. The comparison of NIR spectra of freeze-dried samples stored at the same RH but differing in the time of storage allowed the identification of spectral features related with viability. The spectral differences observed on samples stored in the same conditions (same time of storage and same protective agent) but differing in RHs were ascribed to the formation of amorphous and rubbery states. Based on the spectral information, a multivariate based classification model (PLS-DA) was defined to determine whether samples are in a rubbery or an amorphous state. As the physical state of starters is related with their shelf-life, this model provided support for the use of NIR spectroscopy as a quick method to assess the proper storage of starters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The chromatic aberration, different color pattern, uncertain location of color point and figure, poor color fastness, bad color saturation and hand touch feeling exist in the process of cashmere fabric screen printing. To solve these problems the choices and dosages of levelling agent, protective solute and acid-releasing agent were analyzed with the actual production of Ordos in this paper. And their influences to fabric strength, chromatic aberration, K/S value and dye fastness were also investigated to decide the optimal process. The results were : VS acid was better than any other acid-releasing agent in dye yield and dye fastness and suitable for cashmere fabric printing. The optimum dosages of VS acid were 4% when printing the light figure and 6% of dark figure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypothermic preservation of bioartificial liver (BAL) has long been appreciated in BAL storage and transportation. However, the deterioration of cell activity during hypothermia/rewarming limits its clinical use and the complete prevention of hypothermia-induced hepatocyte injury has not been achieved. In this article, a miniaturized BAL that underwent three preservation stages (i.e. pre-incubation, hypothermia and rewarming) was applied as a hypothermic preservation model to locate the protection of several protective agents against hypothermia-induced cell injury. The agents, including vitamin E, schisandrin B, glycyrrhizic acid, N-acetyl-cysteine, ruthenium red, trehalose, anisodamine, fructose-1, 6-diphosphate, cyclosporin A and matrine (Mat), were found to exert their functions at different preservation stages, which were speculated to associate with the specific protection of each agent as well as the corresponding cell injuries at each stage. Such hypothesis was further strengthened by focusing on Mat, which only suppressed the hypothermia-induced injury through the inhibition of Ca2+ overload at the rewarming stage, whereas its presence at the hypothermic stage excessively down-regulated the cytosolic free Ca2+ and then aggravated cell death. The results indicate that the specific cell injury at each preservation stage requires a corresponding protective agent. However, the untimely misuse of the agents may inversely aggravate cell injury. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The lethal effects of aluminum ion (Al3+) in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) raised in concrete tanks were investigated. Tilapias were fed daily with commercial feed enriched with known concentrations of Al3+ and analyzed by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). The concentrations of Al3+ in feces, water, muscle tissue, viscera, and heads were determined every 3 months for a period of 365 days. The Tilapia head was the most affected tissue by Al3+. In general, Al3+ bioaccumulation reached the lethal dose (LD50) after 335 days of experiment as follows: 34.9 mg kg-1 (muscle tissue), 88.2 mg kg-1 (viscera), and 126.9 mg kg-1 (head without gills). After determining Cu2+, Zn2+, and Ca2+ by absorption spectrometry, a decrease in the Ca2+ concentration was noted in the head during the experimental period. These observations were associated with the occurrence of a decalcification in the bone tissue in the presence of Al3+. In contrast, it was found that Zn2+ ions may act as a protective agent against Al3+-induced contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifteen maleic acid derivatives and two commercial wool protective agents were applied in the dyeing of wool at 120°C without dyestuff. The dimensional properties of the fabric were evaluated in terms of dyeing shrinkage, hygral expansion and fabric thickness. The results show that there is a good relativity among hygral expansion, dyeing shrinkage, and thickness. These chemicals were also found to provide beneficial effects on reducing dyeing shrinkage and limiting the amount of hygral expansion introduced during dyeing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: The protective effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on the palladium nanoparticles has been investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Palladium nanoparticles have been obtained by ultrasonic irradiation of Pd(NO3)2 solution in presence of ethylene glycol (EG) and PVP. The sonochemical reduction process of palladium ions (Pd(II)) to palladium atoms (Pd(0)) can be explained by considering the intense ultrasonic waves that are strong enough to produce cavitation: formation, growth and collapse of bubbles. The UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy revealed that the reduction of Pd (II) to metallic Pd has been successfully achieved. The FT-IR spectroscopy spectra analysis show that, in presence of ethylene glycol, the stabilization of the nanoparticles results from the adsorption of the PVP chain on the palladium particle surface via the coordination of the PVP carbonyl group to the palladium atoms. The transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and electrondispersive X-ray (EDX) results confirm the dispersion, the nanometric size and the composition of the obtained palladium particles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of neuronal degenerative diseases. In our search for protective substances against glutamate-induced oxidative stress using mouse hippocampal cell line HT22, we have isolated crambescidin 800, a pentacyclic guanidine alkaloid, from the Indonesian marine sponge, Monanchora ungiculata. Crambescidin 800 ( 1) protected HT22 cells against glutamate-induced oxidative toxicity at 0.06 μM (EC50) concentration. Crambescidin 800 ( 1) also protected HT22 and neuroblastoma cells from the oxidative stress induced by a hypoxic condition or nitric oxide (NO). Crambescidin 800 ( 1) showed no effect on the depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH) of HT22 cells induced by glutamate, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were inhibited only by the high concentration (1 μM) of 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Aluminum (Al) is widely used in many aspects of daily life, such as food packaging, cooking utensil components, food additives, cosmetics and water distillation. This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of nanocurcumin on the cerebral cortex of one and two-month-old mice exposed to 200 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt; b.wt., aluminium. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; The Swiss Webster mice were used in this study. The control group only received sterile distilled water, the Al group was administered 200 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt; b.wt., of AlCl&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; solution and the Al+Na Cur group was administered 200 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt; b.wt., AlCl&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;+200 mg kg&lt;sup&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt; nanocurcumin by intraperitoneal injection. The nanocurcumin was administered one hour after AlCl&lt;sub&gt;3 &lt;/sub&gt;exposure and then on days 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27 and 30. All the mice were anaesthetized and their brains were collected and fixed in a neutral formalin buffer solution for histological analysis. The paraffin method was used in this study. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The death of granular neuron cells and karyolysis cells and the vacuolation of the pyramid cell layer of the cerebral cortex could be prevented by the intraperitoneal administration of nanocurcumin. The effect of nanocurcumin administration on the Al group at two months of age was more effective than on the Al group at one month of age. &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Nanocurcumin can be a promising candidate protective agent against cerebral cortex changes after aluminium administration.