Search

Drying treatment can significantly increase the oil yield of tiger nuts, and the full utilization of starch by-products in tiger nut meal is an important aspect of improving its industrial value. Consequently, the effects of roasting, microwave and roasting treatments on the structure, functional properties and in vitro digestive characteristics of tiger nut starch were investigated. The results showed that compared to that of CS (untreated control starch), samples of BS (baked starch), MS (microwaved starch), and RS (roasted starch) showed deeper color, surface cracks, partial aggregation on the granules, and larger particle size. In addition, baking, microwave and roasting treatments all decreased the relative crystallinity and short-range ordering of the tiger nut starch, explaining the decrease in enthalpy in the DSC results, the increase in the stability of the freeze-thaw, the solubility and the swelling. From the rheological analysis of starch, it was found that the gel structure of tiger nut starch decreased after the aforementioned treatments. This indicates that the branched chain starch was damaged, which impacing the digestibility of the starch. Further in vitro digestion tests demonstrated that three drying treatments increased slow-digestible starch and resistant starch content. Among them, microwave drying treatment had a significant effect on the structural and functional properties of the isolated starch of tiger nut. This study aimed to provide theoretical guidance for the comeplete utilization of tiger nut starch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of gas hydrates due to temperature and pressure changes during gas storage in the wellbore poses significant danger, necessitating the prediction of temperature and pressure distribution as well as of hydrate formation locations. We establish a temperature model that couples total thermal resistance and temperature in the wellbore-stratum composite medium system. Utilizing the two-phase pressure model alongside the temperature model, we conduct coupling calculations of temperature and pressure. Based on both temperature and pressure distribution within the wellbore and hydrate formation curve, we predict hydrate formation regions during production and analyze factors influencing temperature and pressure distribution. Results indicate that gas production rate and specific gravity of natural gas are major influencers on wellbore temperature and pressure distribution, while production time has minimal impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote the rational use of cabozantinib (CBZ), this paper studied the influence of several nutritional supplements on the interaction between CBZ and bovine serum albumin (BSA), an appropriate alternative model for human serum albumin (HSA) that is one of the important transporter proteins in plasma, by fluorescence spectroscopy and UV–vis spectroscopy. The results showed that CBZ could quench the fluorescence of BSA via a dynamic–static quenching process, and the six nutritional supplements did not change the quenching mode of BSA by CBZ. However, all of them could reduce the binding constant of the CBZ–BSA system at 293 K and increase the polarity around tryptophan residues. Among them, nicotinamide and vitamin B12 (VB12) had a greater effect on the binding constants of the CBZ–BSA system. In the meantime, the thermodynamic parameters of the CBZ–BSA system were examined, indicating that the interaction of CBZ with BSA was spontaneous and dominated by hydrophobic forces. Further research discovered that the combining of CBZ with BSA was primarily located within Site I of BSA, and the binding distance r was 2.48 nm. Consequently, while taking CBZ, patients should use VB12 and nicotinamide carefully, which may interfere with the transport of drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in the environment including coastal wetlands. The influence of different types and intensities of human activities on the occurrence of MPs in coastal wetlands is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of MPs and the contribution of human activities in different areas of Yellow River Delta wetland. MPs were widely detected in different areas of the wetland even in the protection area with little human activities. Direct human activities resulted in more severe MPs contamination in the protection area than the tourism area. In the soil of different areas, the MPs abundances ranged from 136 to 2060 items/kg. The concentrations of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) ranged from 536 to 660 μg/kg, and the concentrations of polycarbonate (PC) ranged from 83.9 to 196 μg/kg. The MP abundances of the three areas had significant correlations with PET concentrations. These results indicate that the direct influence of human activities has much greater contribution than indirect influence. These results also suggest that PET concentration can be used as a potential marker of MPs contamination in wetland soils. Image 1 • MPs were widely presented in the protection area of wetland with little human activities. • Direct human activities result in more severe MPs contamination in the protection area than the tourism area. • The concentrations of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the wetland soil ranged from 536 to 660 μg/kg. • The concentrations of polycarbonate (PC) in the wetland soil ranged from 83.9 to 196 μg/kg. • The PET concentration can be used as a potential marker of MPs contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of flow and heat transfer in microchannel with dimples were numerically investigated. The geometric parameters of dimpled channel, including aspect ratio, dimple depth and dimple spacing, were independently studied under constant Reynolds number 500. A constant heat flux 1 W/mm 2 was adopted in the central area at the bottom of the microchannel heat sink to simulate a high power device. In comparison to straight channels, dimpled surface reduced the local flow resistance and also improved thermal performance of micro-channel heat sink. Compared to flat channel case, the optimal dimpled case has 3.2 K decrease of temperature, 15% gain of Nusselt number and 2% reduce of pressure drop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxicity of microplastics (MPs) in granular form to aquatic animals has been frequently tested, whereas the effects of fibrous MPs remain further explored. In this study, the effects of polyethylene terephthalate granular particles (p -PET, approximately 150 μm in diameter) and fibers (f -PET, approximately 3–5 mm in length and 20 μm in diameter) on the development of zebrafish embryos and their joint effects with cadmium (Cd) were compared. p -PET and f -PET accelerated the velocities of blood flow and heart rate and inhibited hatching in zebrafish embryos because of their barrier effects on the channels in the embryonic chorion and enhanced the mechanical strength of the chorion. The Cd content in the chorion increased by p -PET due to the adsorption of p -PET on the chorion. By contrast, more f -PET dissociated in culture medium and resulted in low Cd content in the chorion. Given that chorion can effectively block p -PET and f -PET, the Cd accumulation in eggs significantly decreased (p < 0.05) under p -PET/ f -PET and Cd combined treatment because of the reduction in the bioavailability of Cd. Therefore, p -PET and f -PET decreased the toxicities of Cd on all the target endpoints in this study, and the detoxification effect of f -PET at 72 hpf was more significant than that of p -PET. These results suggest that the toxicity induced by MPs might be form-related. Image 1 • PET fibers and granules have affinities with zebrafish embryonic chorion. • PET fibers or granules inhibited the embryonic development of zebrafish. • PET granules adsorbed more Cd in the chorion and reduced Cd content in eggs. • PET fibers were more significant in decreasing Cd toxicity than PET granules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A simple Fourier series method is used to establish surface roughness up to 2% in flat channel, wavy channel and dimpled channel. • In general, roughness could increase the flow resistance and average Nusselt number under laminar flow. • The local influence of roughness is highly depended on the local flow field. This phenomenon is more pronounced in channels with secondary flow. • Roughness could be either beneficial or adverse to overall performance of microchannel heat sink. We present a numerical study of the effects of surface roughness, which is unavoidable due to manufacturing tolerance, on laminar flow and heat transfer in microchannels. Three different channel types namely, square channel, wavy channel and dimpled channel are studied. Surface roughness is modeled as a superposition of waves described by Fourier series and exponential correlation function. Up to 2% relative roughness is introduced to one of the four side walls. We introduce the surface roughness by meshing a smooth channel. The boundary nodes are then displaced to introduce surface roughness. Periodic boundaries are used to study the flow and heat transfer features in the fully developed region. The Reynolds number keeps at 500, and 0.5 W/mm2 heat flux is adopted on the bottom of heat sinks. Results show that roughness could increase the overall flow resistance and Nusselt number. While relative roughness is about 2%, pressure drop increased by 3%, 5.3%, 5.9%, Nusselt number increased by 10%, 6.5%, 19.8% in square channel, wavy channel and dimpled channel respectively. Moreover, local influence of roughness highly depends on the geometric shape of the microchannel. The simulation results are expected to provide guidance to roughness control in microchannel manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To promote the rational use of cabozantinib (CBZ), this paper studied the influence of several nutritional supplements on the interaction between CBZ and bovine serum albumin (BSA), an appropriate alternative model for human serum albumin (HSA) that is one of the important transporter proteins in plasma, by fluorescence spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. The results showed that CBZ could quench the fluorescence of BSA via a dynamic-static quenching process, and the six nutritional supplements did not change the quenching mode of BSA by CBZ. However, all of them could reduce the binding constant of the CBZ-BSA system at 293 K and increase the polarity around tryptophan residues. Among them, nicotinamide and vitamin B 12 (VB 12 ) had a greater effect on the binding constants of the CBZ-BSA system. In the meantime, the thermodynamic parameters of the CBZ-BSA system were examined, indicating that the interaction of CBZ with BSA was spontaneous and dominated by hydrophobic forces. Further research discovered that the combining of CBZ with BSA was primarily located within Site I of BSA, and the binding distance r was 2.48 nm. Consequently, while taking CBZ, patients should use VB 12 and nicotinamide carefully, which may interfere with the transport of drugs., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Clinical evidence suggests that there exists a strong correlation between Zika virus (ZIKV) infection and abnormal development of the nervous system. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elusive. In this study, recombinant lentiviral vectors coding for ZIKV structural proteins and truncations (prM-Env, M-Env and Env) were transduced into PC12 cells. Envelope (Env) overexpression induced significant inhibition of proliferation and triggered G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in PC12 cells. Flow cytometry and western blot analysis showed that the apoptosis was associated with up-regulation of both p53 and p21 Cip1/Waf1 and down-regulation of cyclin B1. Presence of aberrant nuclei clusters were confirmed by immunofluorescence staining analysis. The data indicate that overexpression of prM-Env, M-Env or Env led to apoptosis via an intrinsic cell death signaling pathway that is dependent on the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 and accompanied by an increased ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 in transduced PC12 cells. In summary, our results suggest that ZIKV Env protein causes apoptosis in PC12 cells via an intrinsic cell death signaling pathway, which may contribute to ZIKV-induced abnormal development of the nervous system., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.