Effect of Corn Starch Granules on Stabilizing the Foam Structure of Ultrasonically Modified Whey Isolate Protein.

In this study, the mechanism of ultrasound combined with corn starch granules (CSG) treatment improved the foam properties of whey protein isolates (WPI) and was systematically investigated. The results showed that ultrasound combined with corn starch granules treatment increased foam capacity and stability by 15.38% and 41.40%, respectively. Compared with the control group, corn starch granules enhanced the surface charge (52.38%) and system turbidity (51.43%), which certainly provided the necessary conditions for the improvement of foam stabilization stability. In addition, corn starch granules as microgel particles increased the mechanical properties of the interfacial protein film, thus delaying the instability of foam. This research would provide new insights into the design of new protein-based foam foods in the future food industry.

Effect of Cold Application on Pain and Bruising in Patients With Subcutaneous Injection of Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin: A Meta-Analysis.

To evaluate the effect of cold application on pain and bruising after the subcutaneous injection of low-molecular-weight heparin, 8 electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials and quasiexperimental studies from the inception of the databases to June 2019. Review Manager 5.3 software was used for the heterogeneity test and meta-analysis. A total of 8 studies including 694 participants were analyzed. The cold application group assessed with the Verbal Descriptor Scale pain assessment tool showed significant reductions in pain intensity immediately after injection. Compared to the control group, the cold application group showed a reduction in the occurrence of bruises at 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours after injection. There was no significant difference in the area of bruising in the cold application group at 48 hours after injection, but the area of bruising at 72 hours after injection was significantly reduced. These results show that cold application can reduce the incidence of pain and bruising after subcutaneous injection of low-molecular-weight heparin and reduce the area of bruising 72 hours after injection. Additional studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.

Correction: Effect of molybdenum carbide concentration on the Ni/ZrO2 catalysts for steam-CO2 bi-reforming of methane.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C5RA22237K.].

A theoretical insight into furfural conversion catalyzed on the Ni(111) surface.

Biomass-derivatives, e.g., furfural, have been widely reported to become new-generation renewable sources of chemicals and fuels. However, it is too complicated to understand the product selectivity of furfural conversion in diverse reactions. Accordingly, by using density functional theory calculations, both the hydrodeoxygenation and decarboxylation of furfural on the Ni(111) surface to form furan, 2-methylfuran, furfuryl alcohol, tetrahydrofuran, and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol have been thoroughly investigated. On the basis of the minimum energy path, furfural decarbonylation leads to the formation of furan via F-CHO + 2H → F + CO + 2H → F + CO + H → F-H, and then tetrahydrofuran forms via sequential hydrogenation on the carbon atoms of the furan ring, while furfuryl alcohol (F-CHO + 2H → F + CHOH + H → F-CH2OH) can be obtained via furfural hydrogenation. More importantly, 2-methylfuran tends to form through the hydrodeoxygenation reaction, and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is generated via furfural hydrogenation, which is realized with furfuryl alcohol identified as the likely intermediate. Overall, among all these products, furan is a dominant product. More importantly, it has been found that different types of metal doping will also lead to different adsorption configurations of the reactants. These findings should provide guidance in catalyst design for converting furfural to value-added products.

Rationally designing mixed Cu-(µ-O)-M (M = Cu, Ag, Zn, Au) centers over zeolite materials with high catalytic activity towards methane activation.

The direct conversion of methane to methanol on [Cu(µ-O)M]2+ (M = Cu, Ag, Zn, Au) bimetal centers in ZSM-5 zeolite is investigated using periodic density functional theory for the first time. Some conclusions are drawn: (1) methane activation on [Cu(µ-O)M]2+ (M = Cu, Ag, Zn, Au) in the ZSM-5 zeolite proceeds through radical-like transition states, and the ability for CH4 activation decreases in the sequence [Cu(µ-O)Ag]2+ > [Cu(µ-O)Au]2+ > [Cu(µ-O)Cu]2+ > [Cu(µ-O)Zn]2+. (2) There are two factors that can dramatically enhance C-H bond activation: a greater spin density and a less negative charge of the µ-O atom. (3) The angles ∠CuOM play a minor role in the reactivity difference among [CuOM]2+-ZSM-5 (M = Cu, Ag, Zn, Au). Our findings will provide insight into methane activation for designing highly effective catalysts applied in industrial processes.

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes via a facile two-step approach as an efficient catalyst for the direct dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene.

A novel and efficient nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube (A-M-CNT) catalyst has been prepared by a facile two-step method, including prior air activation and subsequent pyrolysis of the carbon nanotubes with melamine. The as-synthesized A-M-CNT affords superior catalytic activity to the nitrogen-doped CNT without air activation (M-CNT) and pristine CNT, ascribed to its unique microstructure and surface chemical properties.

Explosive decomposition of a melamine-cyanuric acid supramolecular assembly for fabricating defect-rich nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes with significantly promoted catalysis.

A facile and scalable approach for fabricating structural defect-rich nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (MCSA-CNTs) through explosive decomposition of melamine-cyanuric acid supramolecular assembly is presented. In comparison to pristine carbon nanotubes, MCSA-CNT exhibits significantly enhanced catalytic performance in oxidant- and steam-free direct dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene, demonstrating the potential for metal-free clean and energy-saving styrene production. This finding also opens a new horizon for preparing highly-efficient carbocatalysts rich in structural defect sites for diverse transformations.

Factors Related to Job Burnout Among Community Nurses in Changchun, China.

BACKGROUND: Community nurses are an important component of the community health service system. Job burnout among community nurses not only leads to a decline in satisfaction and an increased turnover rate but also may seriously affect the service quality and professional development of nurses. PURPOSE: This study aims to elicit the conditions and factors that cause job burnout in community nurses in Changchun, Jilin Province, China. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was administered to 420 registered nurses in Changchun using a convenience sampling method. RESULTS: Job burnout was found in 362 community nurses (86.2%), with a total mean job burnout score of 2.27 ± 0.65 points. Job burnout was related to marital status, educational level, job satisfaction, and interpersonal relationship difficulties. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that community nurses have a high rate of job burnout. Experts should be employed to train nurses in interpersonal communication skills. The community working environment should also be improved.

[Quantitative evaluation of the upper airway by CT scan with the Muller maneuver].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the quantitative evaluation of upper airway by CT scan with Muller maneuver, and study the difference of the pharynx wall resilience between OSAHS patients and normal adults. METHOD: Twenty-five patients with OSAHS and 20 normal adults were included in the study. CT evaluated the upper airway from roof of nasopharynx to glottis with the use of a Phlips Tomoscan AV Expander E1 spiral scanner. The cross section area and the dimension of palate, uvula, lingua and epiglottis region upper airway were studied. Then repeated the same scan process when testee play-ed Muller maneuver, and calculated the total pharynx wall resilience (TPWR), lateral pharynx wall resilience (LPWR) and anterior post-pharynx wall resilience (APPWR) of different levels of upper airway. RESULT: Between OSAHS patients and normal adults, there are obviously difference in the TPWR and LPWR of palate, uvula, lingua region upper airway, and no difference in epiglottis region upper airway. There are obviously difference in the APPWR of palate and uvula region upper airway, and no difference in lingua and epiglottis region upper airways. The LPWR is much more than APPWR in all four level of upper airway in both OSAHS patients and normal adults. CONCLUSION: The study suggest that we can get quantitative data of upper airways by CT scan. And there are obviously TPWR, LPWR and APPWR difference at different levels of upper airway between OSAHS patients and normal adult, the increasing of TPWR, LPWR and APPWR is one etiology of OSAHS.

[The effects of body posture on upper airway in OSAHS patients].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of body posture on upper airway shapes in OSAHS patients. METHOD: Thirty-one male OSAHS patients were included in the study. The fibre endoscopic photos were taken on palate and lingua region upper airway at normal breath at supine with 30 degree neck flexion, supine and right lateral recumbent position, respectively. The cross section area and the dimensions of palate and lingua region upper airway were studied by running image tools software in computer. RESULT: In OSAHS patients, there were obviously difference in the area and arrowy dimension of palate airway among three posture, and so to in area, arrowy and coronary dimension of lingua airway. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that the body posture changes have obviously influence on upper airway, and the influence is the base of apnea increasing at special posture.

A controlled study of the upper airway structure and function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and normal adults.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the major factors associated with the development of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) by logistic step regression analysis. METHOD: Fifty-nine patients with OSAS and 57 normal adults were included in the study. The dependent was whether the subject had OSAS, and the independents included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), as well as the measured data of palate, uvula, lingua and epiglottis by CT scan. Logistic regression was performed by using SPSS software. RESULTS: Among 40 independents, 8 were chosen by logistic regression as the major factors associated with the risk of developing OSAS. These factors were the increase of pharyngeal wall resilience in the uvula region, the thickness of the retropharyngeal soft tissue in the uvula and palate region, the increase of genioglossus width, the decrease of cross section of the palate region, the decrease of the coronal diameter of the uvula and lingual region, and a narrowed diameter of the uvula region. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that anatomic changes of the upper airway at different levels and an increase of the pharyngeal wall resilience in the uvula region are major etiological factors for OSAS.

[The upper airway CT scan in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the CT scan results in OSAS patients and normal adults so as to explore its value in measuring upper airway structure. METHOD: 53 patients with OSAS and 53 normal adults were included in the study. The upper airway from roof of nasopharynx to glottis was evaluated with the use of a Phlips Tomoscan AV Expander E1 spiral scanner. The area and the dimensions of palate, uvula, lingua and epiglottis region was studied, and the thickness of retropharyngeal and lateral pharyngeal tissue were evaluated, too. RESULT: There were obviously differences between OSAS patients and normal adults in the areas of palate, uvula, lingua, and there are differences of dimension and thickness in different sites. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that there is a obviously difference between the patients with OSAS and normal adult in upper airway by CT scan. The anatomic structure of upper airway is one of causes of OSAS.

[Localization of upper airway stricture in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome by CT scan].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic significance of CT scan in the localization of the stricture in the upper airway in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). METHODS: Fifty-four patients with OSAS were included in this study. CT scan evaluated the upper airway from the roof of nasopharynx to the glottis using a Phlips Tomoscan AV Expander E1 spiral scanner. The areas and the dimensions of palate, uvula, lingua and epiglottis region, as well as the thickness of retropharyngeal and lateral pharyngeal tissue was evaluated. The reference values had been set-up in 225 normal adult upper airways CT scan, some patients' results were compared with the CT scan results during apnea. RESULTS: There were no any upper airway stricture in 12 patients with OSAS, and there were one or more upper airway stricture sites in other 42 patients. Twenty-four patients had only one stricture site. Fourteen patients had 2 adjacent stricture sites. One patient had three stricture sites. Three patients had 4 upper airway strictures. There was a good concordance between the results of CT scans during awakening and sleeping in 14 patients. CONCLUSION: Most patients with OSAS had anatomic upper airway strictures, the CT scan can localize the stricture site very well.

[The relationship of lingua and uvula in OSAS].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the relationship between lingual base and uvula, the relationship between lingua and jaw dentition in normal adults, snorers and patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and to study the difference of the relationships among them. METHOD: 21 patients with OSAS, 25 snorer and 30 normal adults were included in the study. The relationship between lingua and uvula and the relationship between lingual base and jaw dentition were observed. The difference of the relationships among the OSAS patients, snorers and normal adults were studied. RESULT: Among the OSAS patients, snorer and normal adults, there are obviously difference in the relationship between lingua and uvula and the relationships between lingual base and jaw dentition. In normal adults, the lingua below to jaw dentition and the uvula is visible at opening of mouth; in snorers, the lingua match the jaw dentition and the uvula is visible at pronunciation; in OSAS patients, the lingua tower above the jaw dentition and the uvula is sightless at pronunciation. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that the enlarge of lingua and uvula be the one of etiology of OSAS.