Physicochemical and antioxidant properties of pectin from Actinidia arguta Sieb.et Zucc (A. arguta) extracted by ultrasonic.

Pectin was extracted from Actinidia arguta Sieb. et Zucc (A.arguta) using the ultrasound-assisted acid method and the single acid method. The physicochemical properties, structure, and antioxidant properties of two different pectins were investigated. The results showed that the extraction yield of the ultrasound-assisted acid method is higher than that of the single acid method. The molecular structure of A. arguta pectin extracted by the ultrasound-assisted acid method belongs to a mixed structure of RG-I and HG-type domains. Through structural feature analysis, the ultrasound-assisted extraction pectin (UAP) has a more branched structure than the single acid-extracted pectin (SAP). The SAP has a higher degree of esterification than the UAP. The physical property results show that the viscosity, solubility, and water-holding capacity of the UAP are better than those of the SAP. The antioxidant test results show that the hydroxyl radical scavenging and reducing powers of the UAP are superior to those of the SAP. This study shows the composition, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant activity of A. arguta pectin extracted by the ultrasonic-assisted extraction method to provide a theoretical basis for its application as an antioxidant and other food additives in the food industry.

Limited Cheese Intake Paradigm Replaces Patterns of Behavioral Disorders in Experimental PTSD: Focus on Resveratrol Supplementation.

Currently, the efficacy of drug therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD leaves much to be desired, making nutraceutical support a promising avenue for treatment. Recent research has identified the protective effects of resveratrol in PTSD. Here, we tested the behavioral and neurobiological effects of combining cheese consumption with resveratrol supplements in an experimental PTSD model. Using the elevated plus maze test, we observed that cheese intake resulted in a shift from anxiety-like behavior to depressive behavior, evident in increased freezing acts. However, no significant changes in the anxiety index value were observed. Interestingly, supplementation with cheese and resveratrol only led to the elimination of freezing behavior in half of the PTSD rats. We further segregated the rats into two groups based on freezing behavior: Freezing+ and Freezing0 phenotypes. Resveratrol ameliorated the abnormalities in Monoamine Oxidize -A and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor gene expression in the hippocampus, but only in the Freezing0 rats. Moreover, a negative correlation was found between the number of freezing acts and the levels of Monoamine Oxidize-A and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor mRNAs in the hippocampus. The study results show promise for resveratrol supplementation in PTSD treatment. Further research is warranted to better understand the underlying mechanisms and optimize the potential benefits of resveratrol supplementation for PTSD.

Oxidation and ordering of fine structure of corn starch under an ultrahigh magnetic field.

In this study, corn starch (40 % moisture content) was placed in an ultra-high magnetic field(UMF)(5-20 T) to investigate the ordering and stabilization process under the magnetic field. With the increase of the intensity of UMF, C-OH and O-C-O were oxidized to O = C-OH and cross-linked to form ester bonds. When the UMF intensity was 15 T, the effect was the most significant with the ordered short-range structures formed; since the O = C-OR enhanced carbon skeleton structure, the crystallinity increased comparatively and amylose content reached the minimum value (15.32 ± 0.04 %). Additionally, UMF has a compressive effect on the void structure of A-type starch, and the average particle size decreased. RVA and DSC demonstrated that the UMF-treated starch had better thermal stability and shear resistance. This study suggested that UMF could serve as a prospective technique for starch product processing.

The removal of NO from flue gas by NaOH-catalyzed H2O2 system: Mechanism exploration and primary experiment.

Currently, most advanced oxidation denitrification technologies require long flue gas residence time to obtain ideal NO removal efficiency. The NaOH-catalyzed H2O2 system proposed in this paper can obtain 98% NO removal efficiency under the condition of flue gas residence time of 3 s. The mechanism of NO removal and H2O2 decomposition to O2 were proposed. It was confirmed with ESR (Electron-spin-resonance), inhibitor experiments and UV-Vis spectrophotometer that the main group in the reaction process was·O2- radicals, which reacted with NO to form ONOO-, and ONOO- would be gradually transformed into NO3- and NO2- in the air. The effect of some primary factors on the NO removal efficiency and the percentage of H2O2 decomposition to O2 were also investigated. The increase of initial pH has a positive effect on NO removal, while the promotion of NO removal by increasing H2O2 concentration and reaction temperature is limited and the increase of NO has a negative effect on NO removal. Initial pH has a dual impact on the percentage of H2O2 decomposition to O2, H2O2 concentration and reaction temperature promote the decomposition of H2O2 to O2, while NO concentration has an inhibiting effect on it.

Assessing the efficiency of low-cost cleaning methods for diatoms from intertidal sediment samples.

This study aims to compare the effectiveness of several low-cost reagents in obtaining high-quality diatom slides for microphytobenthos research. We evaluated the performance of eight reagents in sediment samples of beach intertidal zones. For each of the tested reagents, different pre-treatment conditions (pre-washed; non-washed) and three different temperatures (room temperature at 26 °C, 60 °C, and 100 °C) were also evaluated. For each treatment (combinations between reagents, temperatures, and pre-treatment conditions), we counted diatoms cells that met the criteria necessary for taxonomic identification (Whole/Half frustules or valves without cell material) in 30 randomly chosen fields of view in definitive preparations made from the treated samples. We also compared the treatments regarding species richness and diversity observed in the definitive preparations. The reagents influenced more the conditions of diatoms cells than the temperature and pre-treatment. H2O2, HNO3, NaClO were the methods that had the best performance in relation to the number of identifiable items. The six treatments with H2O2 presented similar amounts of identifiable items, regardless of pre-treatment and temperature. HNO3 presented a higher number of identifiable items in non-washed and pre-washed treatments at 60 °C and non-washed at 100 °C. NaClO had its best performance the following treatments: non-washed at room temperature and non-washed and pre-washed at 60 °C. H2O2 and HNO3 also showed better results for diatom species richness and diversity, followed by NaClO. The use of H2O2 was more robust since it obtained good results regardless of temperature and pre-treatments and should be preferred. HNO3 and NaClO should be used only with the appropriate temperatures, and pre-washing should be avoided.

A sensitive and selective fluorescence probe for detection of hypochlorite (OCl-) and its bioimaging in live cells.

A novel indolium-based fluorescent probe (probe 1) for the recognition and detection of hypochlorite (OCl-) has been explored via a double oxidation reaction mechanism. Probe 1 exhibited excellent selectivity and sensitivity for OCl- over other analytes, and with a detection limit of 0.11 µM. Meanwhile, probe 1 showed fast response toward OCl- in less than 3 min with obvious changes in color, which could be observed by naked eye. Moreover, fluorescence imaging experiments by using Eca109 cells were performed utilizing the new probe, demonstrating its practical applications in living cells.

Post-treatment Method for the Synthesis of Monodisperse Binary FePt-Fe3O4 Nanoparticles.

To obtain the optimal 1:1 composition of FePt alloy nanomaterials by polyol synthesis, the iron precursor (iron pentacarbonyl, Fe(CO)5) must be used in excess, because the Fe(CO)5 exists in the vapor phase at the typical temperatures used for FePt synthesis and cannot be consumed completely. Fabrication of Fe3O4 nanoparticles by consuming the excess iron precursor was an effective strategy to make full use of the iron precursor. In this paper, a facile post-treatment method was applied to consume the excess iron, which was oxidized to Fe3O4 after post-treatment at 150 and 200 °C, and a monodisperse binary FePt-Fe3O4 nanoparticle system was generated. The post-treatment method did not affect the crystal structure, grain size, or composition of the FePt nanoparticles. However, the content and grain size of the fcc-Fe3O4 nanoparticles can be increased simply by increasing the post-treatment temperature from 150 to 200 °C.

DGGE diversity of manganese mine samples and isolation of a Lysinibacillus sp. efficient in removal of high Mn (II) concentrations.

Manganese contamination has become a serious environmental problem in the world and bacterial removal plays an important role in global cycling of manganese. In this study, microorganism distribution within samples from a manganese mine was analyzed with PCR-DGGE technology. The results suggested that Manganese oxidizing bacteria (such as Bacillus, Hyphomicrobiaceae and Erythrobacter) were dominant in the soil. In addition, a Lysinibacillus sp. Isolate, strain MK-1, revealed robust growth at high Mn(II) concentrations up to 1 mM. At that concentration, 55.94% of added Mn(II) was oxidized and 36.23% of the Mn(II) was adsorbed by MK-1(total manganese removal reached 94.67%) after 7 days of culturing. By measuring its metabolic process, the great role of biological adsorption was found. Additionally, the spectroscopic result demonstrated that Mn(III) was an intermediate during the biological oxidation process. These findings increase the knowledge of biological manganese removal mechanisms and show some potentials to the operation of manganese treatment.

Deoxynivalenol induced oxidative stress and genotoxicity in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most common mycotoxins. The aim of this study consists in using diverse cellular and molecular assays to evaluate cytotoxicity, genotoxicity as well as oxidative damage and to investigate their mechanisms in human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The human lymphocytes were cultured in eight different doses of DON (0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 250 and 500 ng/mL) during 6, 12 and 24 h. DON was able to decrease cell viability and cause damage to the membrane, the chromosomes or the DNA at all times of culture. It was also able to induce lipid peroxidation and raise the levels of 8-OHdG and ROS in 6, 12 and 24 h. The results of the RT-PCR and the Western Blot indicated that DON is able to enhance mRNA or protein expressions of DNA repair genes and HO-1 in 6 h and to inhibit these expressions in 24 h. DON potentially triggers genotoxicity in human lymphocytes. This mechanism is probably related to depletion of antioxidase and oxidative damage to the DNA that reduced expression of HO-1, thereby inhibiting the ability of DNA repair.

Biological nutrient removal with limited organic matter using a novel anaerobic-anoxic/oxic multi-phased activated sludge process.

An anaerobic-anoxic/oxic (A2/O) multi-phased biological process called "phased isolation tank step feed technology (PITSF)" was developed to force the oscillation of organic and nutrient concentrations in process reactors. PITSF can be operated safely with a limited carbon source in terms of low carbon requirements and aeration costs whereas NAR was achieved over 95% in the last aerobic zone through a combination of short HRT and low DO levels. PCR assay was used for XAB quantification to correlate XAB numbers with nutrient removal. PCR assays showed, high NAR was achieved at XAB population 5.2 × 10(8) cells/g MLVSS in response to complete and partial nitrification process. It was exhibited that low DO with short HRT promoted XAB growth. Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) via nitrate were observed obviously, SND rate was between 69-72%, at a low DO level of 0.5 mg/l in the first aerobic tank during main phases and the removal efficiency of TN, [Formula: see text], COD, TP was 84.7 .97, 88.3 and 96% respectively. The removal efficiencies of TN, [Formula: see text], and TP at low C/N ratio and DO level were 84.2, 98.5 and 96.9% respectively which were approximately equal to the complete nitrification-denitrification with the addition of external carbon sources at a normal DO level of (1.5-2.5 mg/l).