Low Water Content Research Articles

Effects of oxidative stress on the changes of viability of Paeonia lactiflora seeds with different water content before and after cryopreservation.

Cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen (LN) is an efficient long - term seed preservation strategy and water content is one of the main factors affecting seed viability after cryopreservation. In this study, Paeonia lactiflora seeds with varying water content were used as materials to determine changes in the antioxidant system before and after cryopreservation. When the water content of P. lactiflora seeds was 15.96% - 10.12%, the viability of P. lactiflora seeds decreased significantly compared with that of the seeds without cryopreservation, but at the water content of 8.14% - 7.56% there were no significant differences. However, when the water content of P. lactiflora seeds decreased to 6.01% - 5.19% the viability was slightly increased compared to the seeds without cryopreservation. The content of superoxide anion (O2-), hydroxyl radical (·OH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl group (PCO) of seeds with high water content (15.96% - 10.12%) were significantly increased after cryopreservation. However, superoxide anion (O2-), hydroxyl radical (·OH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) did not change significantly in seeds with low water content (6.01% - 5.19%) after cryopreservation, while oxidative stress indexes MDA and PCO decreased. These three substances were significantly negatively correlated with seed viability. In terms of antioxidant substances, the contents of catalase (CAT), ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) decreased and the activities of glutathione reductase (GR) and dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) increased during the cryopreserved process of seeds with varying water content. These changes were significantly correlated with ROS content and the changes of MDA and PCO, among which AsA content, GSH content and CAT activity were positively correlated with seed viability. The changes of GR and DHAR activity were negatively correlated with seed viability. In summary, when the water content of the seeds ranged from 8.14% - 5.19%, ROS content did not increase significantly after cryopreservation compared with that of before preservation. The changes of MDA and PCO contents before and after cryopreservation, it was inferred that no obvious oxidative damage occurred in seeds, so the viability of seeds did not decrease compared with that of before cryopreservation. Therefore, the optimum water content of P. lactiflora seeds for cryopreservation is 8.14% - 5.19%.

Abstract 4116486: Association of assessment of clinical congestion in patients with heart failure compared with assessment using bioimpedance and microwave spectroscopy

Background: Physicians have to find a balance between decongestion therapy and the risk of dehydration so non-invasive methods assessing congestion are of great importance. Purpose: The study aimed to compare the clinical assessment of congestion to bioimpedance and microwave spectroscopy. Methods: 27 hospitalized HF patients with congestion (40% females) (Congestion Group) and 59 HF patients without fluid overload (66% females) (NON-Congestion Group) were included. Clinical examination, chest x-ray, laboratory results, echocardiography, non-invasive body mass analysis (Tanita Pro), NT-poBNP, and selected modern biomarkers concentrations [GDF-15, galectin-3, FABP, copeptin, VEGF were performed. Additionally, we assessed pulmonary congestion using a proprietary sensor with a microwave spectroscopy method based on analyzing the dielectric properties of an object (patent applications P.442466). Results: There were no differences in body mass index, blood pressure values, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and echocardiographic parameters of diastolic left ventricular function between groups. In the Congestion Group, we observed significantly more patients in NYHA Class 3 and 4 (p<0.001), lower values of fT3 (median 2.4 vs 2.7; p=0.02), higher a FIB-4 index (p=0.04), lower GFR MDRD (median 52.7 vs 66.7;p=0.04), higher concentrations of: NT-proBNP (pg/ml) (median 545 vs 101; p<0.001), galectin-3 (ng/ml) (median 15.01 vs 11.35; p=0.01), GDF-15 (pg/ml) (median 2069.27 vs 734.64; p=0.01), FABP (pg/ml) (median 293.6 vs 101; p=0.008) compared to NON-Congestion Group, and a larger number of detected congestion in chest x-ray (p<0.01) and more patients with limb edema (p= 0.0037). The patients with congestion also needed longer hospitalizations (p=0.008). Patients with congestion had lower total body water content in kg and intracellular water (ICW) (kg) (p=0.02 and p=0.01, respectively), and the higher extracellular water/total body water index (ECW/TBW) (p=0.001) assessed in bioimpedance and significantly higher Absorption Loss evaluated with the use of microwave spectroscopy (p=0.02). In a multiple logistic regression model, the factor that was independently associated with clinically diagnosed congestion was NT-proBNP >1095 pg/ml (OR 111.6, 95% CI: 2.6-50.6; p=0.001) (Figure 1). Conclusions: Absorption Loss and ECW/TBW are valuable new diagnostic tools in diagnosing lung congestion in patients with heart failure.

Effect of Microwave–Vacuum Drying and Pea Protein Fortification on Pasta Characteristics

The widespread popularity of pasta has driven innovations in formulations and production technologies to enhance its versatility. Techniques such as alternative drying methods and fortification of wheat pasta seek to improve the nutritional value and functional properties of pasta products, thereby increasing their attractiveness to consumers. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of microwave–vacuum drying versus conventional drying on the characteristics of durum wheat semolina pasta, including moisture content, water activity, microstructure, colour, texture, weight gain factor, and cooking loss. Three types of pea protein concentrates (80, 84, and 88% dry matter) were used at levels of 3, 6, and 9% (g/100 g flour). Results indicated that microwave–vacuum drying had a significant impact on the physical properties and cooking quality of pasta. Microwave–vacuum drying caused material puffing, resulting in microstructure with high open porosity (64.1%) and minimal closed porosity (0.1%). This has likely contributed to the short rehydration time (2 min in boiling water) of produced pasta, effectively transforming it into an instant food product. All pasta samples had low water content (<9%) and water activity (<0.4), which ensure food safety. The microwave–vacuum-dried pasta weight gain factor (2.2) was lower than in the conventionally dried pasta (2.8). The firmness of microwave–vacuum-dried pasta was significantly higher (135 g) than that of conventional pasta (16 g). Fortification with pea protein enhanced porosity but did not affect pasta’s culinary parameters, such as weight gain or cooking loss, although it resulted in darker pasta (p = 0.001), especially notable with a 9% pea protein addition.

Formation of giant copper deposits driven by rapid uplift and sudden depressurization

Abstract Porphyry Cu deposits (PCDs) in collisional orogens are new targets for modern mineral exploration. A series of post-collisional (Miocene; 22-12Ma) porphyry copper deposit (PCDs) with Cu reserve over 45 Mt have been discovered in the Gangdese magmatic belt, southern Tibet. These magmas derived from partial melting of sulfide-bearing Tibetan juvenile lower crust are fertile for porphyry Cu in many aspects, such as high oxidation state, and rich volatiles such as water, S, and Cl, but some of individual plutons ended up with economic concentrations. The fundamental question remains what accounts for the significant Cu endowments. We measured the igneous zircon water contents of ore-related and barren high Sr/Y magmas in the Gangdese belt, southern Tibet and found that magmas that produce giant PCDs have lower zircon water contents than barren and small-deposit related magmas. Combined with previous fluid inclusions, magmatic breccias, apatite geochemistry, and thermal histories, which demonstrated higher initial water content in causative porphyries such as giant deposits of Qulong and Jiama, we believe that the lower zircon water content may be attributed to these magmas experiencing of faster cooling and sudden depressurization of a large, primed, volatile-saturated or supersaturated mid-upper crustal magma chamber, which could lead to rapid and voluminous volatile exsolution and fluid discharge. These processes caused intense hydrothermal alteration and large ore deposition. In contrast, magmas that experienced slow cooling and deep emplacement would undergo steady state degassing and weak alteration. The variable intrusive and thermal histories across Gangdese reflects interplay between surface and lithospheric dynamics within the Himalaya—Tibet orogen. Our findings suggest the difference of zircon water content reflects the emplacement rate and depth of granitic body, and therefore may serve as an indicator for tectonics and potential for mineralization.

CO2 hydrate formation in superabsorbent hydrogels for carbon capture—A comparison of water-confined framework vs non-water framework

This study investigates the kinetics of CO2 hydrate formation in saturated hydrogel particles—water-confined frameworks—through both experimental and numerical methods, and compares the results with those obtained in silica gels, silicon-based frameworks. Three hydrogel materials with varying swelling ratios were synthesized via radical polymerization. An advanced shrinking core model was developed, incorporating factors of CO2 solubility, gas diffusion, gas–water reaction, capillary effects, and hydrogel functional groups. Results showed rapid CO2 hydrate growth within the first 100 min, with CO2 uptake reaching 78%–82% of the final amount by 600 min. The highest percent water conversion achieved was 96.6%. Simulations indicated a significant decrease in CO2 diffusion coefficient through the hydrate shell over time, especially in hydrogels with higher methacrylic acid content. Capillary effects diminished as the reaction proceeded, with final water consumption via capillaries accounting for 14.4%–26.7% of the total. Hydrogels with higher swelling ratios and higher agglomeration degree formed more porous hydrate shells, enhancing CO2 diffusion but resulting in lower overall CO2 uptake due to their lower water content. Comparisons with hydrophilic porous silica gel revealed that, although hydrogels initially posed greater mass transfer resistance, they ultimately exhibited superior CO2 absorption capacity and rate.

Textured vegetable protein from flaxseed press cake and pea – syntonizing chemical and structural properties

Flaxseed press cake (FS) was mixed with pea protein isolate and low-moisture twin-screw-extruded to valorize the oil production side stream as meat analogue. Water input, FS content, barrel temperature, and throughput were varied in a Box-Behnken design to test these factors’ influences on extrusion response parameters (pressure, temperature, mechanical energy input), lipid oxidation product and process contaminant formation (by liquid chromatography and head-space gas chromatography mass spectrometry), and mechanical properties of the TVPs.The water input was identified as the strongest influencing factor, reducing shear forces in the extruder and thereby reducing mechanical energy input, pressure, and temperature and affecting several TVP properties. Volatile lipid oxidation products from enzymatic oxidation in the raw materials are decomposed and steam-stripped during extrusion. Higher melt temperatures and lower water contents enhance this effect and promote the formation of masking “roasted” flavour compounds. However, acrylamide (<100 µg/kg) and trans-fatty acids (<0.4 g/kg) are also formed under flavour-improving conditions and TVP hardness is reduced. FS increases TVP density and reduces expansion and hardness. Reconciling mitigation of undesired chemical compounds and meat-like mechanical properties (at 16-18% water, 55-65% FS, mass flows <8 kg/h), a FS-based TVP can be created, combining nutritional and sustainability benefits of FS.

Do Cover Crops Influence In Situ Soil Water Potential After Termination?

Soil water movement is energy-dependent and is influenced by various management practices. It can be understood by measuring the soil water potential (SWP); however, the influence of cover crops (CCs) on SWP is not currently well understood. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of CCs on SWP before and after termination in order to understand their effects on soil water availability for the subsequent cash crop. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with two levels of CCs (CCs vs. no cover crop [NC]) with three replicates. The SWP sensors were buried at 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm depths before CCs were planted. Additionally, soil samples were collected at the aforementioned depths just before CC termination for soil organic carbon (SOC), bulk density (BD), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) analysis. Results showed that CCs increased SOC and Ksat, and significantly lowered BD compared with NC management. Before termination, CC plots had significantly lower SWP values compared with NC management, suggesting that the transpirational needs of the CCs can lead to lower water content. After termination, CC management also resulted in lower SWP, suggesting that CCs can increase water-use efficiency by improving soil health parameters. However, effective planning is required for CC implementation, especially in semiarid and arid regions.

Characterization of Phosphogypsum Blended Red Mud as Geo-material

Red mud (RM) is a toxic material discarded after extraction of aluminum from the Bauxite and is disposed of in the form of slurry or as low-water content cake as stacking. Either form of disposal is a threat to the environment due to the alkaline nature of RM and also consumes vast tracts of land. Occasional failure of the dyke of the RM pond causes a slurry flooding over a large area, which creates geo-environmental problems. The highly alkaline nature of the RM restricts its bulk utilization, as the high pH value supports the leaching of the heavy metals. On the other hand, phosphogypsum (GYP) is an acidic (pH &lt; 7) material produced from the phosphate industry, blending of which can reduce the alkalinity of the mixture. In the present study, an attempt has been made to use GYP blended RM as a resource geomaterial. The GYP is mixed with RM in 5%, 10%, and 15% on a dry basis to evaluate the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of the newly developed resource material after 3, 7, and 28 days of curing period. The addition of 5% and 10% GYP lowered the maximum dry unit weight, however, 15% GYP increased the maximum dry unit weight upto 15.47 kN/m3. The 28-days strength of 5%, 10%, and 15% GYP blended RM was found as 433.57 kPa, 592.44 kPa, and 711.53 kPa, respectively, which further increased to 752.11 kPa, 1120.38 kPa, and 1371.80 kPa, respectively, after alkali activation.

Pemanfaatan Sampah Organik dan Tempurung Kelapa Menjadi Briket Ramah Lingkungan

The aim of this research is to determine the feasibility of producing environmentally friendly briquettes using organic waste and coconut shells as the main ingredients. 3 (three) briquette compositions, including: (1) 25% organic waste, equivalent to 75% coconut shell; (2) 75% organic waste, 25 percent coconut shell; and (3) 50% organic waste, 50 percent coconut shells. The research method used to analyze the water content, ash content and heating value of briquettes is a quantitative research method. The results of this research show that organic waste and coconut shells can be converted into environmentally friendly briquettes. Briquettes with a mixture composition of 75%:25% have a reduced ash percentage. Meanwhile, mixed briquettes containing 25%:75% have a low water content, meaning more coconut shell, the lower the water content and the better the properties of the briquettes.

Early clinical efficacy study on the efficacy of a three-stage conservative Chinese medicine external treatment for acute lateral ankle ligament injuries

To evaluate the clinical effect of a new three-phase Chinese medicine (CM) external treatment for acute lateral ankle ligament injuries. From July to December 2023, 64 patients with acute lateral ankle ligament injuries were randomly assigned to receive either the new three-phase CM external treatment combined with the POLICE(protect, optimal loading, ice, compression, elevation) treatment (observation group) or the POLICE treatment (control group), with 32 cases in each group. The observation group consisted of 17 males and 15 females, with an average age of(30.59±3.10) years old ranging from 25 to 36 years old, while the control group included 14 males and 18 females, with an average age of(30.03±3.19) years old ranging from 24 to 37 years old. Visual analogue scale (VAS) evaluation and Figure of 8 measurement were used to evaluate the degree of ankle joint pain and swelling of the subjects at the initial enrollment and after 1 week and sixth weeks of treatment. At the same time, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) and Karlsson Ankle Function Score System were used to evaluate the improvement of ankle joint function in patients at all stages. MRI imaging was employed to observe the degree of biological healing of the anterior talofibular ligament, with the signal to noise ratio(SNR) indicating the level of healing. A lower SNR suggests better ligament healing, as it represents lower water content in the ligament. All patients completed a 6-week follow-up. There was no significant difference in VAS, AOFAS score and Karlsson score between the two groups before treatment (P>0.05). After 1 week and 6 weeks of treatment, the VAS, AOFAS score and Karlsson score of the two groups were significantly improved (P<0.05). After 1 week of treatment, the VAS score of the observation group (3.21±0.87) was lower than that of the control group (4.21±1.50), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After 1 weeks of treatment, the AOFAS and Karlsson scores [(50.84±4.70) points, (49.97±4.00) points] of the observation group were higher than those [(46.91±5.56) points, (46.66±5.36) points]of the control group (P<0.05). MRI images showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, the SNR value of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant(SNR of the observation group was 75.25±16.59, the contral gruop was 85.81±15.55), (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the new three-phase CM external treatment is significantly effective in reducing pain and swelling, enhancing ligament repair quality, and promoting functional recovery of the ankle joint in patients with acute lateral malleolar ligament injuries.

Influence of the water content in polyamide 6 on atmospheric pressure plasma jet pre-treatment and adhesion for adhesive bonding

AbstractTo quantify the influence of absorbed water in PA6 on the pre-treatment and bonding process, an unfilled and unreinforced PA6 material is investigated in a dried and saturated state. The material is pre-treated by atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) with varying jet distances. The surfaces are investigated by contact angle measurements, DSC and FTIR to detect molecular and morphological changes in the surface. To evaluate the bonding strength, samples are bonded with a two-component polyurethane adhesive and a two-component acrylate adhesive and tested in a lap shear and a tensile configuration. The results show that water content has a significant influence on the effectivity of the pre-treatment process and the resulting bonding strength and failure mechanism. The adhesion is majorly affected, however these effects do not influence the macroscopic wetting behavior and cannot be measured in contact angles. FTIR spectra and DSC scans do not show significant changes in molecular groups or crystallinity that would explain the observed adhesion improvement in dried samples. High bonding strength is only achieved with adherents at low water content.

Water Relations and Physiological Traits Associated with the Yield Components of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Water stress in agricultural systems may occur slowly or abruptly. Plant reactions to stress differ with regard to its level and duration. The level of plant susceptibility to water deprivation primarily depends on the management of the water content and metabolism adjustments. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between water-based plant parameters and the yield components of 90 genotypes of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Since the loss of water is frequently used as a selection criterion to assess drought tolerance, the relationships between the yield and leaf water content, osmotic potential, and gas exchange characteristics were examined. Genotypes 1, 25, 34, 36, 42, 43, 46, 57, 66, 73, and 90 showed 33–45% larger numbers of grains/plant, 19–25% higher weights of grains/plant, and 4% higher thousand grain weights compared to other genotypes. The higher values of the yield components were accompanied by 20–30% lower leaf water content, 39–52% lower osmotic potential, and 4–39% lower water use efficiency. The principal component analysis revealed that the wheat genotypes had noticeable differences in a few physiological parameters that depended on the sowing date. Electrolyte leakage showed a substantial correlation with the sowing date, suggesting that it may not be a suitable factor for the prediction of drought tolerance. The factors that distinguished the examined genotypes the most were the leaf water content, osmotic potential, and water use efficiency. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between the mentioned parameters and yield components. As a result, these parameters may be helpful in genotype characterization in relation to water stress susceptibility, offering a trustworthy plant selection test.

Effect of CHAPS on the selective synthesis of (S)-n-octyl ibuprofen ester in AOT reverse micelle catalyzed by lipase

CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]-1-propane sulfonate), a biocompatible zwitterionic surfactant derived from bile salt, has attracted great attention due to its distinct molecular structure and aggregation behavior. Addition of a low level of CHAPS to AOT (sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate) reverse micelles has been found to be able to enhance the catalytic activity of the solubilized lipase. In this study, the effect of CHAPS on the lipase-catalyzed selective synthesis of (S)-n-octyl ibuprofen ester was investigated in AOT reverse micelles at 37 °C. The results demonstrate that the presence of CHAPS in AOT reverse micelle enhances both the yield and the enantiomeric excess (ee) value of (S)-n-octyl ibuprofen ester, especially at low water content. With 8 mM CHAPS in AOT reverse micelle ([AOT] = 100 mM, [H2O]/[AOT] = 12, pH = 7.0), a 48-hour yield of 34.2 % could be obtained, which is approximately twice that without CHAPS. In addition, the ee value of the product is increased from 89.1 % to 98.2 %. To understand the mechanism of the CHAPS effect, dynamic light scattering, fluorescence emission spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques were used to characterize the size of the reverse micelle, the conformation of the solubilized lipase and the activity of the bulk water in the reverse micelle. It reveals that at low water content, the addition of CHAPS enlarges the size of AOT reverse micelle, stabilizes the lipase conformation and reduces the nucleophilicity of bulk water in AOT reverse micelle. The synergistic effect of the aforementioned factors results in the improvement of the enzymatic synthesis of the ester. The above research provides scientific support for the lipase-based preparation of chiral acids/alcohols in the reverse micellar system.

Impact of multi-frequency ultrasound processing with different treatment times on the structural quality of frozen wheat dough

This study investigates the effects of multi-frequency ultrasound treatment on the quality of frozen dough. We analyzed frozen wheat dough comprehensively for texture, viscosity, rheology, and structural quality characteristics under multi-frequency ultrasound (20 kHz, 20/40 kHz, and 20/40/60 kHz) with different treatment times (10, 20, and 30 mins). The dough treated with multi-frequency ultrasound increased elasticity and reduced hardness. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that 20/40/60 kHz for 30 min minimized freezing-induced morphological damage, decreased the tan δ in rheological analysis, and led to higher pasting and gelatinization enthalpy in starch granules, resulting in a more cohesive structure and lower free water content. Frozen dough hardness decreased by 52.1 %, which is associated with the control frozen dough with ultrasound frequency and duration changes. The spectral peaks in wheat flour frozen dough treated with single, dual, and tri-frequency ultrasound had the same forms and positions as the control samples but were arranged in an orderly manner. This study demonstrates the potential of multi-frequency ultrasound to enhance the quality of wheat frozen dough by mitigating freezing-induced deteriorations, offering a promising approach to improving the processing of frozen dough.

Proton transport mechanisms in aqueous acids: Insights from abinitio molecular dynamics simulations.

The solvation and transport of protons in aqueous solutions of phosphoric acid (PA), sulfuric acid (SA), and nitric acid (NA) were studied using abinitio molecular dynamics simulations. Systems with acid-to-water ratios of 1:1 and 1:3 were examined to understand the similarities and differences in transport mechanisms. The solvation structure of H3O+ in these systems is similar to that in slightly acidic water, with variations in the strength of hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) accepted by acid molecules. In aqueous PA systems, strong H-bonds between PA molecules are slightly affected by water, leading to significantly greater H3O+ diffusion compared to aqueous SA and NA systems. This enhanced diffusion is attributed to the participation of PA molecules in H3O+ transport, where the PA molecule can shuttle a proton for H3O+, facilitating a large displacement via collective proton hopping. This shuttling mechanism is prominent in aqueous PA but rare in aqueous SA and absent in aqueous NA. Moreover, the decomposition of H3O+ diffusion into vehicular and structural components indicates that the higher diffusion in aqueous PA is primarily due to the structural mechanism with the aid of PA molecules. In the aqueous NA systems, the vehicular diffusion is dominant at low water contents and the increase in water content improves the structural diffusion by forming connected H-bonds within water molecules. Our findings elucidate the role of acid molecules in proton transport within their aqueous solutions, thereby advancing the fundamental understanding of proton transport mechanisms.

Flow and heat transfer characteristics of low water content jet fuel in U-bend tubes: A numerical study using LES and DPM approaches

This study provides an in-depth analysis of the flow and heat transfer behavior of low-water-content jet fuel (α ≤ 2 %) in U-bend tubes, utilizing Large Eddy Simulations (LES) and Discrete Phase Models (DPM). The research focus on the influence of radii of curvature ratio (r/D), flow rates (Qtp) and α on flow dynamics and heat transfer mechanisms. Flow fields for r/D = 1 and r/D ≥ 2.5, where distinct secondary flow structures, play a critical role in shaping internal flow behavior. These vortices significantly enhance flow mixing and heat transfer, especially on the inner wall, through complex multi-level vortex interactions. The local wall Nusselt number shows a close correlation with vorticity trends, initially increasing and then decreasing, with notable deviations near the inlet and outlet regions. This non-uniform heat transfer is primarily driven by the interaction of secondary flow structures and adverse pressure gradients near the inner wall, while higher Qtp and smaller r/D can improve heat transfer uniformity under certain flow conditions. The presence of droplets increases the total wall Nusselt number by 4 % to 60 % compared to single-phase jet fuel flow, due to two-phase interaction and boundary layer disruption. Finally, the study proposes modified correlations for pressure drop gradients and total wall Nusselt numbers, accounting for effects of r/D and multiphase heat transfer processes. These correlations, validated with RRMSEs of 3.54 % and 6.80 % respectively, provide valuable insights for improving heat transfer efficiency in fuel systems and form a theoretical foundation for real-time monitoring technologies in aircraft fuel lines.

Composite film based on carboxymethyl cellulose and gellan gum with honokiol-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex: Characterization and application in strawberry preservation

The aim of this study is to fabricate a biodegradable film based on carboxymethyl cellulose and gellan gum (CMC/GG) with the honokiol/β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex (HNK/β-CD). The HNK/β-CD was prepared by freeze-drying and its physicochemical properties were investigated. Then HNK/β-CD was added to CMC/GG solution to form CMC/GG honokiol inclusion complex (HIC) composite film by the casting method. The physicochemical properties, antioxidant and antibacterial effects, and strawberry preservation function were investigated. The composite film with 0.18 % inclusion complex (CMC/GG/0.18 % HIC) was found to be the optimal formulation. The film had a tensile strength of 8.20 MPa and an elongation at break of 115.17 % with water vapor permeability of 0.48 g·mm·(cm2·h·KPa)−1. The increase of HNK/β-CD content yielded lower optical transmittance and water content of CMC/GG/HIC composite film, while improved the hydrophilicity value. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate) scavenging capacities of CMC/GG/0.18 % HIC composite film were 80.83 % and 53.10 % respectively. CMC/GG/HIC composite film was bacteriostatic against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans but not against Escherichia coli and Aspergillus niger. Packing strawberries with the optimized composite film can retain the appearance, titratable acidity and vitamin C content of strawberries, which was better than the commercially fresh-keeping film control group. The CMC/GG/HIC composite film overcame the shortcomings of a single material, and gained importance in food packaging applications.

GENESIS OF EXTREMELY MAGNESIAN DAUGHTER OLIVINE OF SECONDARY MELT INCLUSIONS FROM OLIVINE MACROCRYSTS IN KIMBERLITE FROM THE UDACHNAYA-EAST PIPE (SIBERIAN CRATON)

The paper presents the results of studies of daughter olivine within secondary melt inclusions marking healed cracks in olivine macrocrysts from unserpentinized kimberlite from the Udachnaya-East pipe. Macrocrysts compose four olivine generations: core olivine (Ol1); olivine marking healed cracks (Ol2); daughter olivine of melt inclusions (Ol3); thin outer rims of olivine (Olr) around macrocryst cores. The relationship between different olivine generations and variations in its chemical composition indicate that macrocrystal cores (Ol1) are grains or grain fragments of disintegrated mantle rocks; melt inclusions and Ol2 were formed due to infiltration of kimberlite melts into the grain cracks. Crystallization of a hybrid melt of inclusions and formation of an extremely magnesian daughter olivine (Ol3) occurred later, at lower PT conditions. Among the daughter minerals in the melt inclusions, in addition to Ol3 there were identified alkaline carbonates, sulfates, chlorides, oxides, and sulfides. It has been shown that the daughter olivine of melt inclusions (Ol3) has high Mg# (97–98) content, high MnO (0.18–0.41 wt. %) and CaO (0.12–0.25 wt. %) concentrations, and low NiO (0.02–0.04 wt. %) contents. The ratios between the daughter minerals of the melt inclusions indicate that the hybrid melt from which extremely magnesian olivine was formed was alkaline carbonate or silicate-carbonate liquid with a low water content. Our study directly showed for the first time that almost pure forsterite is able to be crystallized from evolved kimberlite melts of carbonate or silicate-carbonate composition, which confirms the previously proposed model for the formation of extremely magnesian outer rims of olivine crystals from worldwide kimberlites during crystallization of evolved kimberlite melts of carbonate composition.

Unveiling Eco-Friendly Reverse Micelle Systems: Dimethyl Carbonate as a Novel Biocompatible Solvent.

In this study, we systematically explored the characteristics of dimethyl carbonate (DMC)/sodium 1,4-bis-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate (AOT) reverse micelles (RMs) in the presence of water using dynamic light scattering (DLS), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), and molecular probes. DMC, a biocompatible solvent, enables the formulation of AOT RMs without the need for a co-surfactant. DLS revealed that as the water content increased, the droplet sizes grew larger. 1H NMR studies indicated that at low water content, water molecules interacted with DMC via hydrogen bonding. This interaction promoted the penetration of DMC toward the interface, affecting the solvation of AOT's sulfonate group. At higher water content, a competition for hydrogen bonding emerged between water-water and water-surfactant molecules, leading to distinct interfacial properties, as evidenced by molecular probes. The critical micellar concentration for DMC/AOT/water RMs was 7x10-3 M, similar to RMs formed with other biocompatible solvents. The presence of water facilitated the solvation of the surfactant's polar regions, promoting the RMs formation. The polarity of this system was measured using the ET(30) value. This novel micellar system holds significant potential in various fields, including catalysis, nanomaterials, and green chemistry.

Insect Meal as a Dietary Protein Source for Pheasant Quails: Performance, Carcass Traits, Amino Acid Profile and Mineral Contents in Muscles.

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of replacing soybean meal with insect meal on the body weight and the chemical composition of selected muscle groups of common pheasant females and males, including the mineral composition and the amino acid profile of the thigh and breast muscles. The study was conducted on three feeding groups, namely one control and two experimental groups. In the control group, plant feed components were used, which are commonly used to feed pheasants in confined breeding facilities. In the experimental groups, 100 g (group II) and 200 g (group III) portions of insect meal were introduced instead of the plant-protein components. The experiment used a preparation of insect larvae (Hermetia illucens) containing approximately 52% crude protein. The pheasant diet supplementation applied contributed to an increase in the proportion of muscles in the carcasses, with the highest effectiveness obtained for a 20% addition of insect meal. Lower and significant differences were noted in the feed conversion by birds from the experimental groups, as compared to the control group. The chemical composition of the birds' muscles also changed. The experimental groups exhibited higher protein and fat contents and a lower water content. No significant changes in the amino acid profile or the mineral composition of the muscles were noted. The few exceptions concerned the methionine levels in both muscle groups and the isoleucine levels in the breast muscles. In most cases, the mineral composition did not vary significantly (p < 0.05). When supplementing the diet of breeding pheasants for improving meatiness, a 20% addition of insect meal is recommended, which affects the production effect of this trait while reducing feed consumption and maintaining the fatty acid profile.