Impact of immediate initiation of antiretroviral therapy among men who have sex with men infected with HIV in Chengdu, southwest China: trends analysis, 2008-2018.

BACKGROUND: Given the rampant HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Chengdu, southwest China, Treat All policy, defined as immediate antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation after HIV diagnosis, was implemented since 2014. Real-world research evaluating impacts of immediate ART on HIV epidemics is needed to optimize policy-making as national and international guidelines have been lowering ART eligibility threshold. The purpose of this study is to: assess temporal trends of the HIV epidemic and impacts of Treat All policy among MSM; and lay foundation for HIV-related policy evaluation using longitudinal routine data from health information systems. METHODS: Data used in this study were HIV sentinel seroprevalence, annual reported HIV cases and ART coverage rate among MSM in Chengdu from 2008 to 2018, derived from national HIV/AIDS information system. Temporal trends of the HIV epidemic were described using Joinpoint Regression Program. Interrupted time-series method was deployed to evaluate Treat All policy. RESULTS: HIV sentinel seroprevalence rose from 11.20% in 2008 to 17.67% in 2013 and Annual Percent Change (APC) was 8.25% (95% CI - 2.40%, 20.07%), then decreased to 5.17% in 2018 (APC = - 19.63%, 95% CI - 27.54%, - 10.86%). Newly reported HIV cases increased from 168 cases in 2008 to 1232 cases in 2015 (APC = 26.99%, 95% CI 21.32%, 32.93%), and reduced to 1014 cases in 2018 (APC = - 8.80%, 95% CI - 18.45%, 2.01%). ART coverage rate has been climbing from 11.11% in 2008 to 92.29% in 2018 and Average Annual Percent Change was 16.09% (95% CI 11.76%, 20.59%). Results of interrupted time-series models showed that compared to an annual increase of 0.87% during pre-policy period, there was a decline of 3.08% (95% CI - 0.0366%, - 0.0250%) per year of HIV sentinel seroprevalence since 2014; and compared to an annual increase of 116 cases before 2014, there was an annual drop of 158 newly reported HIV cases (95% CI - 194.87%, - 121.69%) during the post-policy period. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate ART after HIV diagnosis could potentially curb HIV transmission at population level among MSM, along with other strategies. Future assessment of HIV prevention and control policy can be carried out using routinely collected longitudinal data from health information systems.

Supercritical CO2 Fluid Extraction of Elaeagnus mollis Diels Seed Oil and Its Antioxidant Ability.

Supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SF-CO2) was used to extract oil from Elaeagnus mollis Diels (E. mollis Diels) seed and its antioxidant ability was also investigated. The effect of extraction pressure (20⁻35 MPa), extraction temperature (35⁻65 C), extraction time (90⁻180 min) and seed particle size (40⁻100 mesh) on the oil yield were studied. An orthogonal experiment was conducted to determine the best operating conditions for the maximum extraction oil yield. Based on the optimum conditions, the maximum yield reached 29.35% at 30 MPa, 50 C, 150 min, 80 mesh seed particle size and 40 g/min SF-CO2 flow rate. The E. mollis Diels seed (EDS) oil obtained under optimal SF-CO2 extraction conditions had higher unsaturated fatty acid content (91.89%), higher vitamin E content (96.24 ± 3.01 mg/100 g) and higher total phytosterols content (364.34 ± 4.86 mg/100 g) than that extracted by Soxhlet extraction (SE) and cold pressing (CP) methods. The antioxidant activity of the EDS oil was measured by DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging test. EDS oil extracted by different methods exhibited a dose-dependent antioxidant ability, with IC50 values of no significant differences. Based on the results of correlation between bioactive compounds, lupeol and -tocopherol was the most important antioxidant in EDS oil.

Deactivation kinetics and the effects of additives on storage stability and structure of D-psicose 3-epimerase.

OBJECTIVE: To explore deactivation kinetics and the effects of some additives on the activity and conformational changes of D-psicose 3-epimerase (DPEase) during its storage. RESULTS: The experimental data of DPEase inactivation during storage at 4-45 °C fitted with the first-order expression model. The inactivation rate constants of DPEase stored at 4, 10, 25, 35 and 45 °C were 0.0076, 0.01, 0.0223, 0.0351 and 0.0605 day, respectively. A regression formula of half-lives as storage temperatures, ln t 1/2 = 4.7396/T × 103 - 12.536, was obtained. MnSO4 at 0.15 g l-1 enhanced the residual activity by 16% after 15 days and 17% after 30 days compared with control, but 2 g ascorbic acid l-1 reduced activity by 69 and 58% at the same time. In addition, 0.15 g MnSO4 l-1 and 20 g ethylene glycol l-1 maintained the secondary and tertiary structure of DPEase. CONCLUSIONS: MnSO4 and ethylene glycol actively promoted the storage and conformational stability of DPEase. In contrast, ascorbic acid was disadvantageous.

Effect of Guar Gum with Sorbitol Coating on the Properties and Oil Absorption of French Fries.

This paper investigated the effects of guar gum with sorbitol coating on the oil absorption of French fries by combined dye oil methods, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that pretreatment of blanching with calcium ions and coating with guar gum and sorbitol could significantly reduce the structural oil (STO) and penetrated surface oil (PSO) of French fries and have no negative effects on its texture and also effectively control the final moisture content (p < 0.05). Compared with control or samples coated with guar gum (blanching with or without calcium ions), the total oil (TO) of French fries with guar gum and sorbitol reduced by 50.8%, 33.1% and 30.6%, respectively. CLSM photographs confirmed that STO significantly reduced after coating with guar gum and sorbitol, followed by PSO. In the process of frying, the coatings of guar gum or guar gum with sorbitol could effectively prevent oil from infiltrating the potato tissue, which can be seen in the SEM photographs. The barrier properties of French fries were enhanced by coating guar gum, and sorbitol was added to avoid pores and cracks. Blanching with calcium ion can significantly reduce the final moisture content of coating French fries.

Increased frequency of circulating follicular helper T cells in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: The relationship between circulating follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) remains unclear. The aims of our study were to measure the levels of circulating Tfh cells and several related parameters in patients with AS, and examine the correlation of these factors with disease activity. METHODS: We designated CD4 + CXCR5 + ICOS+ T cells as circulating Tfh cells. The percentage of circulating Tfh cells was detected using flow cytometry. Plasma IL-21 and immunoglobulin (IgA, IgM, and IgG) levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 60 AS patients and 60 healthy controls (HC). RESULTS: The percentage of circulating Tfh cells was increased in AS patients compared with that in HC. As AS patients were divided into active and inactive groups, the percentage of circulating Tfh cells was significantly increased in active group compared with both inactive group and HC. Plasma IL-21 and immunoglobulin levels were elevated in AS patients, and the differences were significant except IgG. In addition, the percentage of circulating Tfh cells was positively correlated with Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and plasma IL-21 levels were positively correlated with plasma immunoglobulin levels. But neither circulating Tfh cells nor BASDAI was significantly correlated with plasma IL-21 and immunoglobulin levels in AS patients, with the exception of significant correlation between BASDAI and plasma IgM levels in active AS patients. CONCLUSION: Our study has shown the increased percentage of circulating Tfh cells correlated with disease activity, and the high plasma IL-21 levels were associated with high plasma immunoglobulin levels in patients with AS, indicating that the circulating Tfh cells may be associated with the development of AS.

Association of HLA-B27 genetic polymorphisms with ankylosing spondylitis susceptibility worldwide: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Many publications have evaluated the correlation between HLA-B27 polymorphisms and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), with conflicting results. We carried out this new meta-analysis in order to collect all the relevant studies to further clarify the association of HLA-B27 polymorphisms with AS susceptibility. METHODS: Relevant published data were retrieved through Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and the Chinese BioMedical Literature Database on disc. The statistical analysis was conducted using Review Manager Version 5.0 and STATA 11.0. From these data, the odds ratio (OR) with a 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI) was calculated. RESULTS: (1) A total of 38 studies, including 3,410 AS cases and 1,735 healthy controls, were collected in this meta-analysis. (2) Our results showed that B2704 was a risk factor but B2703, B2706, B2707, B2727, B2729, and B2747 may be protective factors for AS worldwide. (3) These subtypes, such as B2701, B2702, B2705, B2708-15, B2717-20, B2723-24, B2733, B2735, B2740, B2746, B2749, and B2767, showed no association with susceptibility to AS. There was a huge difference with previous reports for B2702 and B2705. (4) The B2702, B2704 and B2705 subtypes have existed high heterogeneity but no publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis in our study suggested that B2704 might be a potential risk factor, however, B2703, B2706, and B2707 might be potential protective factors of AS, especially in Asia.

Association between KIR polymorphisms and ankylosing spondylitis in populations: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Published association studies of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in populations are inconsistent. The aim of this study is to determine whether the KIR polymorphisms confer susceptibility to AS in populations by conducting a meta-analysis. METHODS: A computer search was carried out up to August 2013 for literature pertaining to AS and KIR polymorphisms. Publications addressing the association between the KIR polymorphisms and susceptibility to AS in populations were selected from the Pubmed, Elsevier Science Direct, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) databases. The odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 13 case-control studies in 9 articles were included in this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis results identified two positive associations of 2DS4 and 3DS1 with susceptibility to AS in populations. In subgroup analysis, there was a positive association between 2DS4 and susceptibility to AS in Asians, but not in Caucasians. And there were associations between 3DL1, 3DS1 and susceptibility to AS in Caucasians, but not in Asians. Results of subgroup analysis also showed that there were associations between 2DL5, 2DS4, 2DS5, 3DL1, 3DS1 and susceptibility to AS in HLA-B*27-positive patients and HLA-B*27-positive healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis confirms that 2DS4 and 3DS1 might be potential risk factors for AS in populations.

Galactooligosaccharides in infant formulas: Maillard reaction characteristics and influence on formation of advanced glycation end products.

As prebiotics supplemented in infant formulas (IFs), galactooligosaccharides (GOSs) also have many other biological activities; however, their Maillard reaction characteristics are still unclear. We investigated the Maillard reactivity of GOSs and their effects on advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation during IF processing. The results showed that AGE and HMF formation was temperature-dependent and reached the maximum at pH 9.0 in the Maillard reaction system of GOSs and Nα-acetyl-L-lysine. Acidic conditions accelerated HMF formation; however, protein cross-linking was more likely to occur under alkaline conditions. The degree of polymerization (DP) of GOSs had no significant effect on AGEs formation (except pyrraline); however, the greater the DP, the higher the concentration of HMF and pyrraline. Besides, compared with arginine and casein, lysine and whey protein were more prone to Maillard reaction with GOSs. GOSs promoted AGEs formation in a dose-dependent manner during the processing of IFs. These results provide a reliable theoretical basis for application of GOSs in IFs.

Association between tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) promoter -308 G/A and response to TNF-α blockers in rheumatoid arthritis: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α promoter -308G/A polymorphism has been shown to be associated with high TNF-α production and poor response to anti-TNF-α treatment. However, not all patients show a good response to TNF-α antagonists, so this association remains controversial. This study was designed to investigate whether TNF-α promoter -308 G/A polymorphism is associated with responsiveness to anti-TNF therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS) 28 or the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) improvement criteria 20 were used to measure patient response. METHODS: A meta-analysis was performed. Pooled ORs and 95 % CIs were calculated by both dominant and recessive genetic models. RESULTS: Fifteen studies with a total of 2127 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that patients with the G allele responded better to the treatment (OR = 1.87, 95 % CI 1.26-2.79). A subanalysis showed similar results. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this meta-analysis, RA patients with the TNF-α promoter -308 G allele respond better to TNF-α antagonist treatment, suggesting that this allele plays a major role in anti-TNF-alpha treatment response.

Association of KIR genotype with susceptibility to HLA-B27-positive ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have explored the role of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) in chronic autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate whether KIR genes contribute to the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Chinese populations. METHODS: Sixteen KIR genes were genotyped from 60 unrelated patients with AS and 60 HLA-B27-positive matched healthy controls by PCR-SSP. The frequencies of the KIR alleles and genotypes in the AS and control groups were assessed by the χ(2) test. RESULTS: Our results showed that the frequency of the activator receptor KIR3DS1 gene in the AS group was significantly increased compared to the controls (χ(2) = 5.263, P = 0.006, OR = 3.059, 95 % CI = 1.357-6.896). Moreover, the frequency of the KIR3DL1/3DS1 genotype was greater in the AS group than in the control group (P = 0.039, OR = 3.059, 95 % CI = 1.357-6.896). In contrast, the frequency of the no KIR3DL1/no 3DS1 genotype was lower in patients with AS compared with the controls (P = 0.032, OR = 0.110, 95 % CI = 0.013-0.911). CONCLUSION: KIR3DS1, in addition to HLA-B27, may play an important independent role in the pathogenesis of AS in the Chinese population.

Study on the Performance of Recycled Coarse and Fine Aggregates as Microbial Carriers Applied to Self-Healing Concrete.

The contradiction between the scarcity of natural resources and the demand for construction materials has given rise to the application of recycled aggregates. Microbial self-healing concrete (SHC) is a clean and smart material, and its carrier has a great influence on repair performance. In this paper, recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) and recycled fine aggregate (RFA) were used as carriers, and their different repair effects over time were intensively investigated. The results showed that the RCA carrier had a better repair effect compared with that of RFA, and the maximum healing width could reach 0.27 mm by 28 day. The microbial repair efficiency was significantly influenced by the distribution of old mortar, with the RFA specimen having a small volume and wide distribution of repair products, while the RCA repair showed a centralized tendency. In addition, SEM, MIP and XRD characterization were used to analyze the repair mechanism. The time-dependent repair model was developed, and the applicability of the model for concrete enhancement under microbial repair was verified through experimental results. The research results could promote industrial applications by giving intelligent and green properties to recycled aggregates.

Antifungal Activity and Mechanism of Electron Beam Irradiation Against Rhizopus oryzae.

Electron beam irradiation is a physical fungicidal technique that has emerged as a potential application in China. However, its antifungal activity and mechanism against Rhizopus oryzae have not been reported. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity and mechanism of electron beam irradiation of R. oryzae. The antifungal activity analysis showed that the D10 value and complete elimination dose of R. oryzae irradiated by electron beam were 1.73 kGy and 8.08 kGy, respectively. Electron beam irradiation has a strong inhibitory effect on the filamentous biomass of R. oryzae. To reveal the antifungal mechanism of electron beam against R. oryzae, this study analyzed the dynamic changes in the cell wall, cell membrane, and oxidative stress induced by different irradiation doses. The results showed that electron beam irradiation destroyed the cell wall structure of R. oryzae, increasing chitinase activity and decreasing chitin content. Cell membrane integrity is disrupted, increasing relative conductivity, decreasing pH values, and decreasing soluble protein content. Electron beam irradiation causes oxidative stress in cells, increasing H2O2 content, decreasing antisuperoxide anion activity, decreasing DPPH free radical scavenging activity, and inhibiting defense enzyme (CAT and SOD) activity. This phenomenon indicates that electron beams can cause structural damage to and metabolic dysfunction of cells and disorders of redox homeostasis, which may be the main cause of growth inhibition and cell death in R. oryzae.

Variety-Specific Flowering of Sugarcane Induced by the Smut Fungus Sporisorium scitamineum.

Sugarcane smut is the most severe sugarcane disease in China. The typical symptom is the emerging of a long, black whip from the top of the plant cane. However, in 2018, for the first time we observed the floral structures of sugarcane infected by smut fungus in the planting fields of China. Such smut-associated inflorescence in sugarcane was generally curved and short, with small black whips emerging from glumes of a single floret on the cane stalk. Compatible haploid strains, named Ssf1-7 (MAT-1) and Ssf1-8 (MAT-2), isolated from teliospores that formed black whips in inflorescence of sugarcane were selected for sexual mating assay, ITS DNA sequencing analysis and pathogenicity assessment. The isolates Ssf1-7 and Ssf1-8 showed stronger sexual mating capability than the reported Sporisorium scitamineum strains Ss17 and Ss18. The ITS DNA sequence of the isolates Ssf1-7 and Ssf1-8 reached 100% similarity to the isolates of S. scitamineum strains available in GenBank. Inoculating Ssf1-7 + Ssf1-8 to six sugarcane varieties, i.e., GT42, GT44, GT49, GT55, LC05-136 and ROC22, resulted in different smut morphological modifications. The symptoms of floral structure only occurred in LC05-136, indicating that the flowering induction by S. scitamineum is variety-specific. Furthermore, six selected flowering-related genes were found to be differentially expressed in infected Ssf1-7 + Ssf1-8 LC05-13 plantlets compared to uninfected ones. It is concluded that the flowering induction by S. scitamineum depends on specific fungal race and sugarcane variety, suggesting a specific pathogen-host interaction and expression of some flowering-related genes.

Interleukin-23 receptor genetic polymorphisms and ankylosing spondylitis susceptibility: a meta-analysis.

Up to now, many publications have evaluated the correlation between IL-23R polymorphisms and ankylosing spondylitis with conflicting results. We perform this meta-analysis to collect all the relevant studies up to date to further clarify the association of IL-23R polymorphisms with AS. Relevant published data were retrieved through Medline, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Chinese BioMedical Literature Database on disc, and the statistical analysis was conducted using Stata 11.0. (1) A total of 11 literatures, including 13 population samples, were studied. (2) The allele A frequency of rs11209032 was higher in the AS group than in the controls (A vs. G: OR = 1.173, 95% CI = 1.107-1.243, P < 0.001). (3) The allele A of rs1004819 was higher in the AS group than in the controls in both all-pooled population (A vs. G: OR = 1.147, 95% CI = 1.022-1.287, P = 0.02) and Europe-pooled population (A vs. G: OR = 1.199, 95% CI = 1.007-1.429, P = 0.042). (4) The allele frequency T of rs1343151, G of rs10489629, and A of rs11209026 was lower in the AS group than in the controls. (5) No significant differences were found in allele frequency of rs10889677 polymorphism between cases and controls by random effects model. We concluded that the genetic susceptibility for AS is associated with the IL-23R gene polymorphisms. The protective SNPs include rs1343151, rs10489629, and rs11209026 while rs1004819 and rs11209032 may be the susceptibility SNPs.

Measurement of Water Absorption of Recycled Aggregate.

Owing to the high absorption capacity of recycled aggregate (RA), it is crucial to accurately measure its saturated-surface-dried water absorption (WSSD), which largely affects an effective water-to-binder ratio of recycled aggregate concrete. In this study, existing measurement methods for the WSSD of RA are extensively reviewed, including Wiping, Slumping, Centrifugation, Infrared, Evaporation, Airflow drying, Conductivity, Pycnometer, Hydrostatic balance, and Extrapolation. In particular, the physical principles and operability of these methods are emphasized. It was determined that the accuracy of all test results was not satisfactory. For example, the water in pores with an open-ended direction that was opposite to the centrifugal force could largely be retained. In Airflow drying, the temperature change was significantly delayed. In addition, in Hydrostatic balance, RA would pre-absorb water before determining the initial reading. Therefore, several suggestions for optimizing these methods are presented, such as the combination of Evaporation and Airflow drying, the liquid selection in Hydrostatic balance, and the addition of a tiny mixer in each centrifuge tube. In summary, this review facilitates the development of an accurate and convenient method for measuring the WSSD of RA.

Accelerated Curing for Glass-Based Mortars Using Water at 80 °C.

The substitution of river sand with glass aggregate (GA) and cement with glass powder (GP) is a mainstream method to recycle waste glass. Traditionally, standard curing was widely used for glass-based mortars. However, it is time-consuming and cannot address low mechanical strengths of the early-age mortars. Therefore, the effect of water curing at 80 °C on the properties of GA mortars is investigated. Furthermore, the effect of the GP size is also considered. Results show that compared with the expansion of alkali-silica reaction (ASR), water curing at 80 °C has a negligible effect on the volume change. Moreover, the compressive strength of GA mortars under 1-day water curing at 80 °C is comparable with that under 28-day water curing at 20 °C. Therefore, the 1-day water curing at 80 °C is proposed as an accelerated curing method for GA mortars. On the other hand, the addition of GP with the mean size of 28.3 and 47.9 µm can effectively mitigate the ASR expansion of GA mortars. Compared with the size of 28.3 µm, GA mortars containing GP (47.9 µm) always obtain higher compressive strength. In particular, when applying the 1-day water curing at 80 °C, GA mortars containing GP (47.9 µm) can even gain higher strength than those containing fly ash.

Influence of Alkali-Activators on Acid Rain Resistance of Geopolymer-Recycled Pervious Concrete with Optimal Pore Size.

Geopolymer-recycled pervious concrete (GRPC) is a novel concrete that can effectively inhibit the corrosion of acid rain and alleviate urban waterlog. The goal of this study is to ascertain the optimal pore size of GRPC and study its acid rain resistance activated by different alkali-activators. Three different sizes (0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 mm) were separately chosen as the pore diameters of GRPC. The alkali-activator solution adopted sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium silicate (Na2SiO3), and a mixture of the two. The mechanical properties and permeability coefficient were tested to determine the optimal pore size of GRPC. After that, specimens with the optimal pore size were immersed in a simulative acid rain solution (sulfuric acid solution with pH = 4.0) for 6 d and were dried 1 d until 56 d. The effects of different alkali activators on acid rain resistance of GRPC were analyzed by compressive strength, neutralization depth, and mass loss. The results manifested that the mechanical properties of GRPC were excellent, the compressive strength of GRPCH+N reached more than 60.1 MPa, and their splitting tensile strength attained more than 5.9 MPa, meeting the strength requirement of the road for heavy traffic load. Considering the mechanical properties and the acid rain purification effect of alkaline GRPC required a relatively small permeability coefficient; the optimal pore size was 1 mm. When specimens with optimal pore size were exposed to acid solution, the corrosion products (gypsums) would block the pores of GRPC to inhibit further corrosion, keeping the stability of the compressive strength. GRPC activated by the mixture of NaOH and Na2SiO3 generated a more stable amorphous three-dimensional network structure, endowing GRPCH+N with better mechanical properties and acid corrosion resistance.

Reduction of oil uptake in vacuum fried Pleurotus eryngii chips via ultrasound assisted pretreatment.

The reduction of oil uptake in vacuum-fried Pleurotus eryngii chips by ultrasound assisted pretreatment was investigated regarding the pore structure changes. Pore structure of P. eryngii chips with four pretreatments, such as blanching, blanching + osmosis, blanching + ultrasound and blanching + ultrasound assisted osmosis was determined by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the quality parameters of vacuum-fried P. eryngii chips such as hardness, rehydration ratio, reducing sugar, protein and oil content were also measured. The results showed that the oil absorption of vacuum fried P. eryngii chips was affected by the porous structure. The oil content of vacuum fried P. eryngii chips was significantly and positively correlated with the pores with diameters above 50, 5-50, and 0.5-5 µm in the samples both before and after vacuum frying, while negatively correlated with the pores with diameters below 0.5 µm. Ultrasound pretreatment changed the microporous structure of P. eryngii chips, effectively hindering the oil absorption of samples. In particular, ultrasound assisted osmosis pretreatment induced the formation of more micropores. It was concluded that blanching + ultrasound assisted osmosis pretreatment is a promising method to reduce oil absorption and improve the quality of vacuum fried foods.

Effect of Ordinary Portland Cement on Mechanical Properties and Microstructures of Metakaolin-Based Geopolymers.

Geopolymers have been considered a sustainable alternative to ordinary Portland cement (CEM I) for its lower embodied carbon and ability to make use of industrial by-products. Additionally, its excellent engineering properties of high strength, low permeability, good chemical resistance, and excellent fire resistance also strike a chord in the minds of researchers. The goal of this study is to clarify the effect of calcium sources on the mechanical properties and microstructures of the geopolymers. CEM I was chosen as the sole calcium source, while metakaolin was used as the source material. Five distinct geopolymers were prepared, having various ratio of CEM I: 0%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 30%. The alkali-activator was a mixture of 12 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (Na2SiO3), utilizing compressive strength and flexural strength to evaluate the changes of the geopolymers' mechanical properties. SEM, XRD, and FTIR were used to examine microscopic features, evaluate internal morphology, and analyze changes in components of the geopolymers containing different amounts of CEM I. The experimental results indicated that the optimal incorporation of CEM I was 5%. Under this dosage, the compressive strength and flexural strength of the geopolymers can reach 71.1 MPa and 6.75 MPa, respectively. With the incorporation of CEM I, the heat released by cement hydration can accelerate the geopolymerization reaction between silica-alumina materials and alkaline solutions. Additionally, the coexistence of N-A-S-H gel from components of an aluminosilicate mix and C-S-H gel from the CEM I promoted a more densified microstructure of the geopolymers and improved the geopolymer's strength. However, as the amount of CEM I in the mixture increased, the geopolymer matrix was unable to provide enough water for the CEM I to hydrate, which prevented excessive CEM I from forming hydration products, weakening the workability of the matrix and eventually hindering the development of geopolymer strength.

Effect of pectin oligosaccharides supplementation on infant formulas: The storage stability, formation and intestinal absorption of advanced glycation end products.

Pectin oligosaccharides with a molecular weight greater than 700 Da was obtained from the pomace of kiwi (Actinidia arguta). Based on characteristics analysis and inhibitory activity of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation in vitro, the target pectin oligosaccharides was added to infant formulas and then subjected to accelerated storage. Results showed that pectin oligosaccharides supplementation inhibited the browning of infant formulas and glassy transition of lactose, and slowed down the increase of water activity under accelerated storage conditions. Pectin oligosaccharides also inhibited the formation of AGEs in infant formulas, such as 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural, Nε-carboxymethyl-lysine, Nε-carboxyethyl-lysine, methylglyoxal hydromidazolones, glyoxal hydromidazolones, glyoxal-lysine dimer, methylglyoxal-lysine dimer and pyrraline. Besides, permeability studies using Caco-2 cell monolayer also showed that pectin oligosaccharides supplementation inhibited the intestinal absorption of AGEs, especially 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural, Nε-carboxymethyl-lysine, Nε-carboxyethyl-lysine and glyoxal hydromidazolones. These results provide a reliable theoretical basis for the application of pectin oligosaccharides in infant formulas.