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Traditional thawing techniques can cause certain losses to beef quality. Due to the increasing demand for high-quality beef, there is an urgent need to research new thawing techniques. Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), as an innovative non-thermal thawing technology, still has a lot of work to be studied. In order to explore the influence of DBD on the thawing characteristics and quality of beef, different discharge parameters were used for thawing. The results show that voltage and needle distance have significant effects on ion wind speed and composition. Ion wind can improve the thawing rate, and the thawing time of DBD is 50% shorter than that of natural thawing. DBD improved the water-holding capacity, nutritional components, and color of beef, and the ordered structure of beef protein could be improved by 6.25% at most. The plasma emission spectrum shows that the plasma produced by DBD is mainly active substances of nitrogen and oxygen, which can reduce the fat oxidation of thawed beef and improve the quality of beef. This work provides the theoretical basis and practical guidance for deeply understanding the influencing parameters and thawing mechanism of DBD thawing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alfalfa seeds were directly treated with corona discharge plasma radiation and compared with the control group, which was covered by a Petri dish, blocking the etching effect of ionic wind and thus simulating the effect of a non-uniform electric field. The results showed that corona discharge plasma radiation changed the chemical structure of the seed coat. The peak value of the Fourier transform infrared spectrum of the seed coat at 2 856 cm‒1 and 1 729 cm‒1 changed after treatment, indicating that the wax, lipids, and cellulose in the seed coat may have been degraded. Measurements of the seed floating rate and apparent contact angle in the treated seeds compared to the measurements in the control group indicated that corona discharge plasma radiation also improved the hydrophilicity of the alfalfa seeds. In the control group, the Petri dish cover effectively reduced the physicochemical etching by ionic wind; thus, it appears that ionic wind has a greater influence on the seed coat than does the non-uniform electric field. Scanning electron micrograph images showed that the etching of the seed coat in the treated seeds was severe; the cellulose of the seed coat was degraded, and the surface was cracked, which improved the water absorption capacity of the seed. The seedling height of the seeds treated with corona discharge plasma radiation increased significantly compared to that of the control group, indicating that the physicochemical etching of the ionic wind had resulted in a macroscopic biological effect. This study provides experimental data support for the analysis of surface modification and chemical structure composition of alfalfa seeds treated with corona discharge plasma radiation and also provides a basis for further study of the biological effect mechanism of the corona discharge field.

Exotic topological domains in BiFeO3 nanoislands have attracted much attention regarding their potential applications in advanced electronic devices. Here, different from the earlier reported disordered distributed BiFeO3 nanoislands formed by a self-assembly method, we fabricated an ordered BiFeO3 nanoisland array by mask-assisted pulsed laser deposition on a SrTiO3 substrate, which exhibits a center-converged in-plane polarization component and a monodomain pattern along the vertical direction. Such center-type quad-domain structures exhibit high stability, maintaining their topological structures after heating to 250 °C and subsequently cooling to room temperature. Moreover, they can be switched by applying a scanning electric field and recovered by applying a heating and cooling process. Observing this topological structure in BiFeO3 nanoislands might provide a suitable platform for further exploration of its topological phase transition properties, new functions, and potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect and mechanism of plasma-activated water (PAW) on Aspergillus niger, PAW was prepared using a needle array–plate dielectric barrier discharge plasma system. The concentrations of long-lived reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), namely, H2O2, NO2−, and NO3−, in the PAW were 48.76 mg/L, 0.046 mg/L, and 172.36 mg/L, respectively. Chemically activated water (CAW) with the same concentration of long-lived RONS was also prepared for comparison. A. niger A32 was treated with PAW and CAW. After treatment, the treated strains were observed and analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to screen probable mutants. The results indicated that the pH, conductivity, and ORP values of PAW were 2.42, 1935 μS/cm, and 517.07 mV, respectively. In contrast, the pH and ORP values of CAW were 6.15 and 301.73 mV, respectively, which differed significantly from those of PAW. In addition, the conductivity of CAW showed no change. SEM and TEM analyses revealed that A. niger A32 treated with CAW exhibited less damage compared with the control. In contrast, A. niger A32 treated with PAW showed significant shrinkage, deformation, and exudate attachment over time. Following PAW treatment, after four passages, a high cellulase-producing stable mutant strain A-WW5 was screened, exhibiting a filter paper enzyme activity of 29.66 U/mL, a cellulose endonuclease activity of 13.79 U/mL, and a β-glucosidase activity of 27.13 U/mL. These values were found to be 33%, 38%, and 2.1% higher than those of the original fungus sample, respectively. In total, 116 SNPs and 61 InDels were present in the genome of the mutant strain A-WW5. The above findings indicate that the impact of PAW on A. niger is not only attributed to long-lasting H2O2, NO2−, and NO3− particles but also to other short-lived active particles; PAW is expected to become a new microbial breeding mutagen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-voltage discharge plasma drying (HVDPD) is a non-thermal and efficient drying technique. In this study, we compared the drying characteristics and physicochemical properties of alfalfa dried via HVDPD, hot-air drying (HAD), and natural air-drying (AD) and analyzed the experimental results using infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, colorimetry, and other detection techniques. The results showed that HVDPD had a higher drying rate than AD and saved more energy than HAD. Alfalfa dried via HVDPD had the most intact internal structure, the highest rehydration ratio (RR), the best color quality, and the best nutrient retention, resulting in the highest relative quality and feeding value. Therefore, HVDPD is an excellent drying technique for alfalfa, providing a new and effective way to improve the storage, transportation, and drying quality of alfalfa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high nutritional value of alfalfa hay makes it a widely utilized component in animal feed. However, the current prevalent drying methods for forage have a significantly detrimental impact on the quality of alfalfa during the drying process. This study investigates the effects of high-voltage corona discharge (HVCD) treatment on post-cut alfalfa. Gradient experiments are conducted by adjusting the air-gap spacing at a voltage of 25 kV. The results demonstrate that as the distance decreases, there is an observed increase in the drying rate, rehydration rate, and color intensity of the HVCD-treated material. HVCD treatment significantly enhances crude protein content, which increases with decreasing air-gap spacing. Meanwhile, it negatively affects lignin, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) levels. The relative forage quality (RFQ) of alfalfa reaches its peak at an air-gap spacing of 7 cm. The application of HVCD disrupts the fiber structure and induces significant electroporation effects in cells. Minimal changes in functional groups preserve nutrient integrity. Furthermore, HVCD exhibits lower energy consumption compared to hot air dryers. The HVCD treatment is a highly efficient and effective method, with a gradual improvement in alfalfa hay quality as the air-gap distance decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topological quad-domain textures in ferroelectric nanoislands have been considered as enablers for nanoelectric devices. However, the fabrication of ordered arrays of ferroelectric islands exhibiting this domain structure is a challenge. By using substrate patterning to create nucleation sites, highly ordered quad-domain ferroelectric polarization configurations were achieved in BiFeO3 nanoisland arrays. Reversible switching of the quad-domain between the center divergent state with highly conductive domain walls and the center convergent state with insulating domain walls can be realized, resulting in a resistance change with a large on/off ratio. This templated growth strategy enables the controllable fabrication of exotic topological domains and sheds light on their applications for configurable electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the seeds of Medicago truncatula are treated with plasma and plasma‐activated water (PAW), and the RNA sequencing (RNA‐Seq) of the seedlings is performed to analyze the gene expression changes. It is found that plasma treatment has no significant effect on seed survival rate, but PAW has an obvious lethal effect. Both methods result in the differential expression of a large number of genes in seedlings, and the expression of genes with the function of promoting plant growth and metabolism is significantly upregulated. The roots of seedlings in PAW group grow lateral roots. This study provides new ideas and experimental evidence for PAW plant culture research and has a guiding significance for leguminous plant breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effects of plasma-activated water (PAW) on gene expression, the combined treatment of PAW and discharge plasma on Astragalus adsurgens Pall seeds were performed, and then the gene expression of seedlings after treatmentwas analyzed at the molecular level. A needle array-plate dielectric-barrier discharge plasma was used to treat Astragalus adsurgens Pall seeds for 1, 2, and 3 h, and PAW was prepared at the same time to cultivate seeds. When the treatment time was 3 h, the survival rate of Plasma + PAW seedlings was only 9.2% of that of the CK. The Astragalus adsurgens Pall seedlings were analyzed using reactive oxygen species (ROS) and RNA-Seq. The ROS content of the seedlings in treatment group was significantly higher than that in the CK after 3 days of culture, that PAW cultivated can cause oxidative stress damage to Astragalus adsurgens Pall. The enzyme activity of the treated plant increased and the metabolic rate was accelerated. It helped to regulate the growth process of plants and improve the yield and quality of crops. This study discussed the gene expression of plasma and PAW induced Astragalus adsurgens Pall at the molecular level, and provided experimental data support for plasma and PAW treatment and selection of Astragalus adsurgens Pall. [Display omitted] • Cultivation with PAW can make Astragalus adsurgens Pall median lethal dose. • The ROS content of seedlings inoculated for 3 days was significantly higher than CK. • Treatment groups had a large number of up or down regulated gene expression. • This study is of great significance to the breeding of A. adsurgens Pall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plasma-activated water (PAW), as a new environmentally friendly nonthermal processing technology, has attracted wide attention for its applications in agriculture, food, and biomedical fields. This paper used the needle array-plate dielectric barrier discharge (needle array-plate DBD) device to activate deionized water and prepare PAW simply and efficiently. It was found that the concentration of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) generated in the process of needle array-plate DBD was large and varied. Especially in the wavelength range of 600–770 nm, the spectral intensity is stronger. And, the ionic wind is more likely to interact with the deionized water. The changes in PAW parameters and UV/Vis spectra with treatment time were measured under different voltages and needle-dielectric plate distances. Results show that increasing discharge voltage or decreasing needle-dielectric plate distance increases the concentration of RONS, ionic wind speed, water evaporation, and conductivity of the PAW and decreases pH. UV/Vis spectra results show that prolonged treatment time results in increased total absorbance and concentrations of H2O2 and NO 3 − and that a new absorption peak appears at 210 nm in the UV/Vis spectra. When the wavelength is larger than 210 nm, a redshifted new peak and color enhancement are observed. The seeds of Astragalus adsurgens Pall were treated by discharge plasma, PAW, and the combination of plasma and PAW. It was found that high voltage and long-time activated PAW could significantly increase the ROS level of seeds and seedlings after germination for 3 days, resulting in oxidative stress damage. The survival rate of seeds was lower than that under the half lethal dose. This paper provides a feasible device design for treating activated water in large quantities with high efficiency, which is important for the application of PAW and mutation breeding of A. adsurgens Pall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the drying characteristics and mechanism during electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying with ultrasonic pretreatment, the ultrasonic pretreatment-assisted EHD drying method at different power values was used to carry out the drying experiment of potatoes. To carry out this study, potato slices were pretreated with different ultrasonic power values (150, 180, 210, 240, and 270 W) or without ultrasound for 30 min at 30°C. The corresponding voltage was 18 kV during EHD drying. The moisture ratio, drying rate, color, shrinkage, and rehydration rate of potatoes were determined. The microstructure of potatoes was analyzed using infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Eight mathematical models were used to fit the drying of potatoes. Results showed that, compared with the control group, the ultrasonic pretreatment combined with the EHD drying group had improved the drying rate of potato slices, which was different at varying ultrasonic power values. Ultrasonic pretreatment had a remarkable effect on the color of the potato but had little effect on the shrinkage rate. The maximum rehydration rate is 5.7704 at 180 W. The minimum and maximum values of effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) were 3.4070 × 10−7 m2/s and 4.1160 × 10−7 m2/s, respectively. The effect of ultrasonic power pretreatment on the microstructure of potato in the EHD drying process was significant (p > 0.05). According to the statistical parameter evaluation, eight mathematical models could satisfactorily describe drying curves of potato slices dried under EHD with ultrasonic pretreatment, and the logarithmic model was best suited. This work provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance to further understand the parameter characteristics and mechanism of ultrasonic pretreatment combined with the EHD drying technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a direct-current multineedle-plate corona discharge with different parameters was used to treat Ammopiptanthus mongolicus (Maxim. ex Kom. Cheng f.) seeds and study the effect of corona discharge physicochemical etching on these seeds. Results showed that the surface of the seed coat of A. mongolicus had wind erosion after corona discharge treatment, a large number of small ravines were generated and the surface crack of the seed coat was serious. Analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed that the hydrophilic functional groups increased and corona discharge changed the chemical structure of A. mongolicus seed coat. The apparent contact angle decreased significantly from 99.82° ± 4.86° to 60.11° ± 8.44°, suggesting that corona discharge could significantly improve the hydrophilicity of A. mongolicus seeds. All the corona discharge treatment groups had seed germination at 24 h, whilst the control group had zero germination. This finding suggested that corona discharge treatment could significantly affect the structure and properties of A. mongolicus seed coat, improve the seed hydrophilicity and water absorption rate and promote the germination and growth of A. mongolicus seeds. This study provided ideas and experimental data support for the analysis of the mechanism of corona discharge biotechnology and seed-surface modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to comprehensively investigate the effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying process of goji berry, the drying experiments of goji berry by ultrasonic pretreatment combined with EHD drying were studied in this paper. The results showed that the drying speed of goji berry after ultrasonic pretreatment was significantly higher than that of the control. Among them, the best effect was achieved when ultrasonic power was 200 W, the treatment time was 20 min, and the treatment temperature was 35°C. Ultrasonic pretreatment has a great influence on the drying rate, effective moisture diffusion coefficient, and rehydration rate, and has little effect on the shrinkage rate. By means of scanning electron microscope and infrared spectrum, it was found that the microstructure of goji berry was significantly changed by ultrasonic pretreatment and the structural change has a great positive effect on improving the goji drying speed and preserving the effective ingredients. Practical applications: In this paper, the optimal process condition of ultrasonic pretreatment on electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying process of goji berry was crystallization, which provided a reference for the design and optimization of ultrasonic pretreatment on the EHD drying process. At the same time, the rehydration rate and drying rate of goji berry were improved by ultrasonic pretreatment, which is of great significance for further research on ultrasonic pretreatment on the EHD drying process of goji berry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the drying characteristics of Chinese wolfberry using the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) partially combined with oven drying method, in this paper, the drying experiment of Chinese wolfberry was carried out by different combinations of EHD drying and oven drying. The drying parameters, active ingredients and microstructure of Chinese wolfberry under different drying processing were measured. The results showed that under the two-stage drying processing of EHD drying and oven drying, at the early stages the EHD drying has a greater effect on the drying of Chinese wolfberry, and in the later stage the oven drying has a greater effect. The drying rate of Chinese wolfberry using the EHD partially combined with oven drying was significantly higher than those of the oven drying and the control. The EHD partially combined with oven drying have great influence on drying rate, rehydration rate and polysaccharide content, and have little effect on shrinkage and flavonoid content. Compared with the EHD drying or oven drying, the EHD drying partially combined with the oven drying significantly increased the effective moisture diffusion coefficient of the Chinese wolfberry. The results also showed that the EHD drying partially combined with oven drying caused a significant change in the microstructure of Chinese wolfberry according to scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. It provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for understanding the parameter characteristics and drying mechanism of EHD drying partially combined with oven drying technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to study the effects of different needle spacings on goji berry structure during electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying. The drying characteristics and the product quality parameters of goji berry during the drying process were measured. The infrared spectrum of the dried product was analyzed in detail. The results showed that the average drying rate of goji berry under different needle spacing conditions was significantly higher than that of the control group, and the average drying rate decreased with the increase of needle spacing. The change of needle spacing has great influence on goji berry polysaccharide content and flavonoid content. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the infrared spectra of goji berry in each treatment group were generally similar. The first-order infrared spectra of different treatment groups were mainly different in the range of 1740 cm−1 and 2800 cm−1–2950 cm−1. The shape and intensity of the absorption peaks of the second derivative infrared spectrum of goji berry in different needle spacing treatment groups were different. When the needle spacing is 2 cm and 4 cm, there is a highly variant peak ratio and a low common peak ratio, which proves that the best drying effect is at 2 cm and 4 cm. It provides experimental and theoretical basis for the study of the application and drying mechanism of infrared spectroscopy in the field of electrohydrodynamic drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the thawing time and water-holding capacity under high-voltage electric field (HVEF), we studied the thawing experiments of frozen beef in a multiple needles-to-plate electrode system. The electric field, thawing characteristics, and quality parameters during the thawing process were measured. The results showed that compared with the control, the thawing time of beef under HVEF was significantly shortened, the thawing rate increased significantly, the drip loss decreased, and the centrifugal loss increased during the thawing process. By the response surface analysis and single-factor analysis of variance, the best thawing conditions for each thawing parameter were determined. It provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for understanding the characteristic parameters of the high-voltage electric field thawing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the mechanism of high-voltage electric field (HVEF) biotechnology, corona discharge produced by a multi-needle-plate HVEF was used to treat naked oat seeds, each treatment dose was divided into two groups, one group was covered with a petri dish cover, the other group was directly exposed to HVEF without a petri dish cover. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) results show that the etching degree of the uncovered group was more serious than that of the covered group, it indicates that ion wind etching has a greater impact on the micro-morphology of seed coat, being covered can effectively reduce the etching degree of discharge plasma on seed. Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of the seed coat shows most of the HVEF treatment group can form a new absorption peak at 1740 cm−1, which is closely related to the hydrophilicity of the seed. Comprehensive analysis shows that HVEF treatment can improve the hydrophilicity of seeds, whether they are covered or not. Being covered can reduce the degree of etching of the seed coat, but increase the hydrophilicity of the seed, indicating that the non-uniform electric field has a greater impact on the hydrophilicity of the seed. Our study showed that ion wind had an effect on the micro-morphology of seeds, but this effect didn't translate into a macroscopic effect. This study provides ideas and experimental data support for the study of the biotechnological mechanism of HVEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying high-voltage electric field (HVEF) to some food materials has been shown to increase the thawing rate. To investigate the effect of process parameters and electrode configuration in high-voltage electric field system, we took the frozen tofu as the research object and investigated the influence of the different voltages, electrode configuration, and electrode distances on thawing process. The thawing time, center temperatures, and loss rate of samples were measured. The results showed that the thawing time of frozen tofu decreases with the increase of voltage and the thawing time has a great relevance with configuration and distance of electrodes. The electric parameters have a major effect on thawing loss and thawing time when center temperatures of frozen tofu are from −2°C to 0°C. This work provides clues and experimental basis for the further application of high-voltage electric field thawing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carrots have one of the highest levels of carotene, and they are rich in vitamins, fiber and minerals. However, since fresh carrots wilt rapidly after harvest under inappropriate storage conditions, drying has been used to improve their shelf life and retain nutritional quality. Therefore, to further investigate the potential of this method, carrot slices were dried in an EHD system in order to study the effect of different voltages on drying rate. As measures of quality, carotene content and rehydration ratio were, respectively, compared against the conventional oven drying regime. Carotene, the main component of the dried carrot, and rehydration characteristics of the dried product can both indicate quality by physical and chemical changes during the drying process. Mathematical modeling and simulation of drying curves were also performed, using root mean square error, reduced mean square of the deviation and modeling efficiency as the primary criteria to select the equation that best accounts for the variation in the drying curves of the dried samples. Theoretically, the Page model was best suited for describing the drying rate curve of carrot slices at 10kV to 30kV. Experimentally, the drying rate of carrots was notably greater in the EHD system when compared to control, and quality, as determined by carotene content and rehydration ratio, was also improved when compared to oven drying. Therefore, this work presents a facile and effective strategy for experimentally and theoretically determining the drying properties of carrots, and, as a result, it provides deeper insight into the industrial potential of the EHD drying technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work is to select the most suitable mathematical model to describe the thin layer electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying of cooked beef based on voltage and such geometrical characteristics as thickness and cross-sectional area of the material. To accomplish this, the EHD drying technique was employed at 0 kV, 6 kV, 14 kV, 21 kV and 32 kV for alternating current (AC). The drying temperature was 21 ± 2°C, and the drying relative humidity was 30 ± 5%, while the ambient wind speed was 0 m/s. Samples of cooked beef of different thickness and cross-sectional area were put into a high voltage electric field at 24 kV for AC. Six different mathematical drying models were then compared to simulate drying curves based on root mean square error, reduced mean square of deviation and modeling efficiency. The results showed that the drying rate of cooked beef was notably greater in the EHD system when compared to control. Both thickness and cross-sectional area of cooked beef had more impact on drying rate during the first half hour, and the Demir et al. model was the best mathematical model. Therefore, this work provides guidance for optimizing and improving the drying efficiency of EHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Serum amyloid P component (SAP) is a member of pentraxins. Previous studies indicate that SAP exists in human atherosclerotic aortic intima and the plasma SAP levels are associated with cardiovascular disease. In this study, we characterized SAP in normal and atherosclerotic intima, investigated the source of SAP in atherosclerotic lesions, and assessed the effect of SAP on HDL function. Immunohistochemical staining and electroimmunoassay indicated that SAP is not present in normal aortic intima which excludes the possibility that SAP non-specifically deposits in aortic intima via its binding to microfibrils. Notably, SAP levels are correlated with the severity of atherosclerotic lesions. Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and Western blot analysis revealed that SAP exists in atherosclerotic lesions in multiple forms. Soluble SAP accumulates in the lesions as decamer in free or bound forms via ligand-binding to its ligand(s). Insoluble SAP accumulates in the lesions in covalent-bound forms conjugated to collagen/collagen-like substances via disulfide (–S–S–) bonds. In situ hybridization and RT-PCR analysis revealed that SAP is generated in atherosclerotic lesions, at least partly, by macrophages and smooth muscle cells in neointima. Functional analysis demonstrated that SAP associated with HDL promotes SR-BI-dependent cholesterol efflux and lipid-free SAP enhances ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that SAP is specifically accumulated and expressed in atherosclerotic lesions. SAP may be involved in cholesterol clearance through its role in promoting cholesterol efflux. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Flood depth monitoring is crucial for flood warning systems and damage control, especially in the event of an urban flood. Existing gauge station data and remote sensing data still has limited spatial and temporal resolution and coverage. Therefore, to expand flood depth data source taking use of online image resources in an efficient manner, an automated, low-cost, and real-time working frame called FloodMask was developed to obtain flood depth from online images containing flooded traffic signs. The method was built on the deep learning framework of Mask R-CNN (regional convolutional neural network), trained by collected and manually annotated traffic sign images. Following further the proposed image processing frame, flood depth data were retrieved more efficiently than manual estimations. As the main results, the flood depth estimates from images (without any mirror reflection and other inference problems) have an average error of 0.11 m, when compared to human visual inspection measurements. This developed method can be further coupled with street CCTV cameras, social media photos, and on-board vehicle cameras to facilitate the development of a smart city with a prompt and efficient flood monitoring system. In future studies, distortion and mirror reflection should be tackled properly to increase the quality of the flood depth estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to systematically and comprehensively investigate electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying characteristics and mechanisms in a multiple needle-to-plate electrode system, drying experiments of Chinese wolfberry were conducted by blocking ionic wind and changing needle spacing in a multiple needle-to-plate electrode system. Drying characteristics, quality parameters, and the microstructure of Chinese wolfberry fruits were measured. Results show that ionic wind plays a very important role during the drying process. Drying rates of different needle spacing treatments are significantly higher than that of the control, and the drying rate decreases with the increase of needle spacing. Needle spacing has a great influence on the speed of ionic wind, rehydration rate, and polysaccharide contents. The effective moisture diffusion coefficient and the electrical conductivity disintegration index decreases with an increase in needle spacing. Ionic wind has a great influence on the effective moisture diffusion coefficient and the electrical conductivity disintegration index of Chinese wolfberry fruits. The microstructure of Chinese wolfberry fruits dried in an EHD system significantly changed. This study provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for understanding characteristic parameters and mechanisms of EHD drying technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim is to find better pretreatment method to improve the drying speed of goji berry under electrohydrodynamic (EHD) drying process. The drying characteristics and microstructure of goji berry using different pretreatment methods under EHD drying process were investigated. The results showed that the drying rate after pretreatment was significantly higher than those of non-pretreated goji berry, and the different pretreatment methods had different effects on the drying characteristics of goji berry in an EHD drying system. The effects of different pretreatment methods on effective moisture diffusion coefficient were listed in descending order as follows: KOH > NaOH > Na 2 CO 3 > ultrasonic > sucrose ester. The pretreatment has a great influence on the rehydration rate, specific energy consumption and microstructure of goji berry dried by EHD. Two index sequence analysis of infrared spectroscopy during goji berries drying process were established. The difference among five pretreatment methods was analyzed. • Different pretreatments combined with EHD drying significantly improved the drying rate of goji berries. • The two index sequence analysis of FTIR was investigated during goji berries drying process. • The pretreatment significantly affects characteristics, quality and microstructure of goji berry dried by EHD. • The difference among five pretreatment methods of goji berry was analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether and how the aperiodic component in electroencephalograms affects different quantitative processes of steady-state visually evoked potentials and the performance of corresponding brain-computer interfaces., Methods: We applied the Fitting Oscillations & One-Over-F method to parameterize power spectra as a combination of periodic oscillations and an aperiodic component. Electroencephalographic responses and system performance were measured and compared using four prevailing methods: power spectral density analysis, canonical correlation analysis, filter bank canonical correlation analysis and the state-of-the-art method, task discriminant component analysis., Results: We found that controlling for the aperiodic component prominently downgraded the performance of brain-computer interfaces measured by canonical correlation analysis (94.9% to 82.8%), filter bank canonical correlation analysis (94.1% to 87.6%), and task discriminant component analysis (96.5% to 70.3%). However, it had almost no effect on that measured by power spectral density analysis (80.4% to 78.7%). This was accompanied by a differential aperiodic impact between power spectral density analysis and the other three methods on the differentiation of the target and non-target stimuli., Conclusion: The aperiodic component distinctly impacts the quantification of steady-state visually evoked potentials and the performance of corresponding brain-computer interfaces., Significance: Our work underscores the significance of taking into account the dynamic nature of aperiodic activities in research related to the quantification of steady-state visually evoked potentials. The source code for our approach is available at https://github.com/didi226/scut_ssvep_aperiod.

Objective: Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have tremendous application potential in communication, mechatronic control and rehabilitation. However, existing BCI systems are bulky, expensive and require laborious preparation before use. This study proposes a practical and user-friendly BCI system without compromising performance., Methods: A hybrid asynchronous BCI system was developed based on an elaborately designed wearable electroencephalography (EEG) amplifier that is compact, easy to use and offers a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The wearable BCI system can detect P300 signals by processing EEG signals from three channels and operates asynchronously by integrating blink detection., Result: The wearable EEG amplifier obtains high quality EEG signals and introduces preprocessing capabilities to BCI systems. The wearable BCI system achieves an average accuracy of 94.03±4.65%, an average information transfer rate (ITR) of 31.42±7.39 bits/min and an average false-positive rate (FPR) of 1.78%., Conclusion: The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and practicality of the developed wearable EEG amplifier and BCI system., Significance: Wearable asynchronous BCI systems with fewer channels are possible, indicating that BCI applications can be transferred from the laboratory to real-world scenarios.

The effects of deionized water thawing (DT), plasma-activated water thawing (PT), ultrasound (150 W, 40 kHz) combined with deionized water thawing (UDT), and ultrasound combined with plasma-activated water thawing (UPT) on the thawing characteristics and the physicochemical properties of the beef were investigated. The results showed that the UPT group had a faster thawing rate (38 % higher compared to the PT group) and good bactericidal ability (75 % higher compared to the UDT group), and had no adverse effect on the color and pH value of the beef. Plasma-activated water (PAW) can maintain the stability of the beef fiber, improve the water holding capacity (WHC), inhibit lipid oxidation, and reduce the loss of soluble substances such as protein. Therefore, UPT thawing is a promising meat thawing technology, which provides practical guidance and methods for the wide application of UPT in the field of meat thawing., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Purpose: To investigate the expression of thrombospondin 2 (THBS2) in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its relationship with clinicopathological features and prognosis., Methods: THBS2 expression was evaluated with tissue microarrays (TMAs) immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining in 100 CRC samples., Results: High THBS2 expression was found in 73 patients (45 male and 28 female). THBS2 expression was significantly correlated to TNM stages (p=4.1×10-5), T classification (p=0.005), lymph node metastasis (p=3×10-4) and AJCC stages (p=0), while no significant association was found in gender, age, distant metastasis or tumor size. In both univariate and multivariate analyses, THBS2 showed statistically prognostic significance [p<0.001, HR (hazard ratio) = 0.237, 95% CI (0.101-0.557) and p<0.001, HR=0.158, 95% CI (0.062-0.401)]. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis further confirmed that THBS2 expression was significantly correlated with clinical outcomes (p<0.001)., Conclusions: All the results indicated THBS2 expression might become a prognostic marker for CRC.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) have been found to participate in the development and malignant progression of human cancers by negatively mediating the expression of their target genes. Recently, miR‑33b has been reported to be involved in multiple types of human cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of miR‑33b in HCC cell growth and metastasis remain largely unclear. In the present study, RT-qPCR revealed that miR‑33b was significantly downregulated in HCC tissues compared to their matched adjacent normal tissues. Moreover, the miR‑33b level was significantly lower in advanced-stage HCC (stages T3-T4) compared to early-stage HCC (stages T1-T2). Furthermore, it was also downregulated in the HCC cell lines, LH86, HepG2, LMH and PLHC-1, when compared with the THLE-3 normal human liver cells. We further demonstrated that the overexpression of miR‑33b led to a significant decrease in the proliferation, migration and invasion of HepG2 and LH86 cells. Luciferase reporter assay identified Sal-like protein 4 (SALL4) as a target gene of miR‑33b, and its protein expression was negatively regulated by miR‑33b in HepG2 and LH86 cells. Moreover, the restoration of SALL4 expression markedly reversed the inhibitory effect of miR‑33b overexpression on the proliferation, migration and invasion of HepG2 and LH86 cells, indicating that SALL4 is involved in miR‑33b-mediated malignant phenotypes of HCC cells. Furthermore, we found that SALL4 was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues compared to their matched adjacent normal tissues, and its increased expression was significantly associated with the advanced malignancy of HCC. Moreover, SALL4 was also upregulated in HCC cell lines compared to the THLE-3 normal human liver cells. Finally, we found that the SALL4 expression inversely correlated with the miR‑33b level in HCC tissues. On the whole, the findings of our study demonstrate that miR‑33b suppresses the proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells through the inhibition of SALL4 expression. Therefore, miR‑33b/SALL4 may become a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.

Wild-type Escherichia coli K12 strain W3110 was irradiated by 10 keV nitrogen ions. Specifically, irradiation was performed six times by N(+) ions, followed by the selection of lac constitutive mutants, and each time a stable S55 mutant was produced. By sequencing the whole genome, the fine map of S55 was completed. Compared with reference sequences, a total of eighteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), two insertions and deletions (Indels), and nine structural variations (SVs) were found in the S55 genome. Among the 18 SNPs, 11 are transversional from A, T or C to G, accounting for 55.6% of point mutations. GCCA insertion occurs in the target gene lacI. Four SNPs, including three in rlpB and one in ygbN, are connected with cell envelope and transport. All nine structural variations of S55 are deletions and contain insertion sequence (IS) elements. Six deleted SVs contain disrupted ISs, nonfunctional pseudogenes, and one more 23 252 bp SV in the Rac prophage region. Overall, our results show that deletion bias observed in E. coli K12 genome evolution is generally related to the deletion of some nonfunctional regions. Furthermore, since ISs are unstable factors in a genome, the multi-ion irradiations that caused these deleted fragments in S55 turn out to be beneficial to genome stability, generating a wider mutational spectrum. Thus, it is possible that the mutation of these genes increases the ability of the E. coli genome to resist etch and damage caused by ion irradiation.

Scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI) is an HDL receptor. It binds HDL and mediates the uptake of cholesteryl ester from HDL. Early studies have pointed out that the extracellular domain of SR-BI is critical for SR-BI-mediated cholesteryl ester uptake. However, the extracellular loop of SR-BI is large: it contains 403 amino acids. The HDL binding site and the modulation of SR-BI-mediated cholesteryl ester uptake remain to be identified. In this study, using C323G mutant SR-BI, we showed that C323G mutant SR-BI lost its HDL binding and cholesteryl ester uptake activity, indicating that the highly conserved C323 is required for SR-BI-mediated HDL binding and cholesteryl ester uptake. Using a blocking antibody against C323 region, we demonstrated that C323 is directly involved in HDL binding and likely an HDL binding site. Using C323G mutant transgenic mouse model, we further demonstrated that C323 of SR-BI is required for regulating plasma cholesterol levels in vivo. Using redox reagents, we showed that physiological relevant levels of H(2)O(2) upregulated the SR-BI-mediated cholesteryl ester uptake activity by 65%, whereas GSH or DTT significantly downregulated SR-BI-mediated cholesteryl ester uptake activity by 45%. C323 of SR-BI is critical for SR-BI-mediated HDL binding and cholesteryl ester uptake, and changes in redox status may be a regulatory factor modulating SR-BI-mediated cholesterol transport.

Sepsis is a leading cause of death, which is characterized by uncontrolled inflammatory response. In this study, we report that caveolin-1, a major component of caveolae, is a critical survival factor of sepsis. We induced sepsis using a well established sepsis animal model, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). CLP induced 67% fatality in caveolin-1 null mice, but only 27% fatality in wild type littermates (p = 0.015). Further studies revealed that mice deficient in caveolin-1 exhibited marked increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 production 20 h following CLP treatment, indicating uncontrolled inflammatory responses in the absence of caveolin-1. Caveolin-1 null mice also had a significant increase in bacteria number recovered from liver and spleen, indicating elevated bacterial burdens. In addition, caveolin-1 null mice had a 2-fold increase in thymocyte apoptosis compared with wild type littermates, indicating caveolin-1 as a critical modulator of thymocyte apoptosis during sepsis. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that caveolin-1 is a critical protective modulator of sepsis in mice. Caveolin-1 exerts its protective function likely through its roles in modulating inflammatory response, alleviating bacterial burdens, and suppressing thymocyte apoptosis.

Sepsis is a leading cause of death that is characterized by uncontrolled inflammatory response. In this study, we report that scavenger receptor BI (SR-BI), a high density lipoprotein receptor, is a critical survival factor of sepsis. We induced sepsis using an established septic animal model, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). CLP induced 100% fatality in SR-BI-null mice but only 21% fatality in wild type littermates. SR-BI-null mice exhibited aberrant inflammatory responses with delayed inflammatory cytokine generation at the early stage of sepsis and highly elevated inflammatory cytokine production 20 h after CLP treatment. To understand the mechanisms underlying SR-BI protection, we elucidated the effect of macrophage SR-BI on inflammatory cytokine generation. Macrophages from SR-BI-null mice produced significantly higher levels of inflammatory cytokines than those of wild type controls in response to LPS. Importantly, transgenic mice overexpressing SR-BI were more resistant to CLP-induced septic death. Using an HEK-Blue(TM) cell system, we demonstrated that expression of SR-BI suppressed TLR4-mediated NF-kappaB activation. To understand why SR-BI-null mice had a delayed inflammatory response, we elucidated the effect of SR-BI on LPS clearance during sepsis. Compared with wild type controls, SR-BI-null mice had lower plasma LPS levels in the early stage of sepsis and elevated plasma LPS levels 20 h following CLP treatment. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that SR-BI is a critical protective modulator of sepsis in mice. SR-BI exerts its protective function through its role in modulating inflammatory response in macrophages and facilitating LPS recruitment and clearance.