Ultrasonic-assisted extraction of bioactive chlorogenic acid from heilong48 soybean variety: Parametric optimization and evaluation of physicochemical and bioactive properties.

Chlorogenic acid (CA), especially that found in soybeans, is a rich bioactive compound but has received very little attention in research settings in past decades. Ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) could be an efficient method to increase CA release from soybeans. Hence, this study aimed to optimize UAE parameters for CA extraction from heilong48 soybean (HS) variety and evaluate the physicochemical and bioactive properties of the soybean. Optimization of ultrasound parameters with a Box-Behnken design found a frequency of 20.0 kHz, a power density of 30.0 W/L), a temperature of 37.9°C, and a time of 28.0 min to be the best conditions, which gave a CA yield of 5.007 ± 0.033 mg/g and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of 93.197 ± 0.213 µmol of AA eq/g dry sample; these were higher than those of a non-ultrasound-treated (raw) HS sample (CA yield of 1.627 ± 0.528 mg/g and DPPH radical scavenging activity of 10.760 ± 0.207 µmol of AA eq/g dry sample). A satisfactory model was obtained. Scanning electron microscopy results confirmed the structural changes of the HS variety caused by the optimized UAE parameters. High total polyphenol contents (TPCs; 4.726 ± 0.002 mg GAE/g) and total phenolic acids (1.883 ± 0.005 mg GAE/g) and low total flavonoid contents (0.040 ± 0.008 mg RE/g) were obtained. A positive linear correlation between antioxidant activity and TPC was established. A protein-phenolic interaction in the HS variety was observed. The results established that polyphenols should be considered a significant component of the HS variety. Likewise, the HS variety could be used for CA extraction.

Single-frequency ultrasonic extraction of bioactive chlorogenic acid from heilong48 soybean variety: Parametric optimization and comprehensive evaluation of physicochemical and bioactive properties.

Chlorogenic acid (CA), especially that found in soybean, is a rich bioactive compound but has received very little attention in research settings in past decades. Ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) could be an efficient method to increase CA release from soybean. Hence, this study aimed to optimize UAE parameters for CA extraction from heilong48 soybean (HS) variety with comprehensive physicochemical and bioactive properties evaluation. Optimization of ultrasound parameters with Box-Behnken design (BBD) found frequency (20.0 kHz), power density (30.0 W/L), temperature (37.9℃), and time (28.0 min) as the significant optimized parameters, which gave CA yield of 5.007 ± 0.033 mg/g and DPPH of 93.197 ± 0.213 µmol AA eq/g dry sample and were higher than that of nonultrasound-treated (raw) HS sample (CA yield, 1.627 ± 0.528 mg/g, and DPPH, 10.760 ± 0.207 µmol AA eq/g dry sample). A satisfactory model was obtained. SEM results confirmed the structural alterations of HS variety caused by the optimized UAE parameters. High TPC (4.726 ± 0.002 mg GAE/g), TPA (1.883 ± 0.005 mg GAE/g), and low TFC (0.040 ± 0.008 mg RE/g) were obtained. A positive linear correlation between antioxidant activity and TPC was established. Protein-phenolic interaction in HS variety was observed. The results proposed that polyphenols should be considered as a significant component of HS variety. Likewise, HS variety could be utilized for CA extraction.

Preparation of Gold Nanoplates Using Ortho Carbonyl Compounds as Capping Agents for Electrochemical Sensing of Lead Ions.

In this study, gold nanoplates were synthesized using plant molecules (gallic acid) following a kinetic control mode. The growth of nanoplates is mainly due to the specific adsorption of capping agents on certain crystal facets. Through systematical characterizations, it is found that the distance between two oxygen atoms in ortho carbonyl compounds matches well with the lattice spacing of gold (111) facets exactly, which is beneficial to the formation of twin seeds and further the growth of plate-like gold nanoparticles. The gold nanoplates on glassy carbon electrode show a remarkably improved electrochemical sensing activity of lead ions compared to the bare glassy carbon electrode or spherical gold nanoparticle-modified electrode. The modified electrode is expected to be used in the detection of lead ion concentration in heavy metal wastewater.

Establishing Performance Evaluation for Quality Inspection of Specialty Nurses.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to establish an index system for the performance evaluation of specialty nurses (SNs) in tertiary hospitals. BACKGROUND: An objective index system for performance evaluation of SN has not yet been established in China. DESIGN: A 2-round Delphi survey sought opinions from experts about the index system for SNs' performance evaluation in tertiary hospitals in China. METHODS: Delphi survey was used to inquire approximately 20 experts from the fields of nursing management, nursing education, and clinical nursing. We determined the weight coefficient of each index of performance evaluation based on the opinion. Finally, the index of the quality evaluation was established for SN. RESULTS: A total of 20 experts from 10 provinces in China reached a consensus on the tertiary indexes of the assessment model. The indexes contained first-level (4), second-level (16), and third-level (24) indicators. The 4 aspects of the performance evaluation, including clinical specialist practice assessment, nursing research, education assessment, medical cooperation recognition, and personal comprehensive ability assessment, reached consensus. CONCLUSION: Establishing the performance evaluation for SNs aided the SNs in achieving the best clinical practice after training. The performance evaluation still needed to be continuously improved.

Contingency Nursing Management in Designated Hospitals During COVID-19 Outbreak.

Background: In December 2019, early cases of COVID-19 were identified in Wuhan, China. By late January 2020, it was evident that COVID-19 was rapidly spreading and represented a national health emergency. In order to contain the spread of COVID-19, China adopted a centralized treatment plan by appointing designated hospitals in each region. Shantou Central Hospital is a Grade A Class A general hospital in Guangdong Province. It was appointed as a provincial COVID-19 designated treatment hospital on January 21, 2020, to provide all COVID-19-related treatments for the city of Shantou. The nursing department at Shantou Central Hospital is fully responsible for hospital nursing administration, nursing human resource management, nursing quality management, and all nursing tasks related to hospital medical care, nursing, teaching, scientific research, preventive healthcare, and so on. Objective: To summarize the role of nursing management in transforming a general hospital into a designated hospital for treatment of COVID-19 patients. Methods: We undertook a series of nursing management measures in the strategic phase and the implementation phase. Findings: Through a series of nursing management measures, all COVID-19 patients admitted to our hospital were cured and discharged. All non-COVID-19 patients and staff hospitalized during the same period were not infected with the virus. During this period, our hospital completed 7,466 operations. Hence, our nursing management measures were effective. Conclusions: Our efficient nursing management system, first of all, effectively mobilized all available manpower; secondly, up-skilled and trained personnel within a very short period of time; thirdly, provided reliable logistical support for front-line protection equipments; and finally, motivated nurses during this very difficult time to make a significant positive contribution to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.